Last summer Dana and I went on an 11-night cruise, and it was oh so nice! We met in London and spent a day, then went to a small port northeast of city and boarded our Celebrity cruise ship. We've been on two cruises now with Celebrity, and it would take some serious selling to get us to try another line.
With an upcoming trip this year, it occurred to me that I never posted any images from last year, and there are some very nice ones. So please indulge me as I take you on a whirlwind look, with two images from each port of call.
In London we went to Greenwich - you know, where the time starts - and saw the Royal Observatory built by Sir Isaac Newton, among other notable scientific figures. But for me the highlight was visiting the Cutty Sark, for a time the fastest clipper ship in the world. Sadly, she came along right before the advent of steam ships. If you like ships, this is a stunning display!
Our first port of call was north of the UK, at the Faroe Islands. We arrived on a cool, cloudy day which was lovely. No trees to speak of on this island, but lush and green were pleasant to see.
Next we were off to Reykjavik, Iceland, where we overnighted in port. The first day was cool, wet, and cloudy all day - but we had fun touring in a monster truck going through rivers and lava fields! Day two was as bright and brilliant as the first day was wet. We went on a bus tour back to some of the same places, but got an entirely different view with clear skies!
Our third stop was the Shetland Islands, the northernmost part of Scotland. It was lovely - we enjoyed a mild day, beautiful mountains, a perfect light lunch in a quilting shop/cafe/ham radio museum!
The penultimate stop on the cruise was at a little village in Norway, at the end of the most scenic fjord in the country (well, some people said so!). So we visited the Geirangerfjord, and it is breathtaking! I showed my name to some of the locals, and am still surprised that they didn't give me the key to the city - it's almost the same! Again it was a cloudy, rainy, cool day, but the weather broke just long enough for us to capture some stunning images! Here are two of my favorites.
Geirangerfjord from not too far above!
Finally we returned to London for two final days. We had a great time, and saw some lovely sights. I feel like I could spend a month here and not see everything I want to see! But we did spend several hours of loveliness at Kew Garden, the first botanical garden in the UK - oh my, so much color! Near the end of the second day we found our way to the Crusader's Church featured in The daVinci Code film, and there was one feature so stunningly unique that we just had to catch it!
So there, in a quick look, is our summer trip last year! I promise to be more timely about posting any images from a trip this year if we ever get around to taking one. And I may pop in a few more from last year here and there.
Best to all! Mark
With an upcoming trip this year, it occurred to me that I never posted any images from last year, and there are some very nice ones. So please indulge me as I take you on a whirlwind look, with two images from each port of call.
In London we went to Greenwich - you know, where the time starts - and saw the Royal Observatory built by Sir Isaac Newton, among other notable scientific figures. But for me the highlight was visiting the Cutty Sark, for a time the fastest clipper ship in the world. Sadly, she came along right before the advent of steam ships. If you like ships, this is a stunning display!
Masts of the tall ship Cutty Sark in Greenwich, England
Cutty Sark bow and keel
Our first port of call was north of the UK, at the Faroe Islands. We arrived on a cool, cloudy day which was lovely. No trees to speak of on this island, but lush and green were pleasant to see.
The bridge across the Atlantic Ocean (joins two islands!)
Village and church on the coast
Tiny flowers growing from an 8000 year old lava field.
A lake near the coast under brilliant sky!
Our third stop was the Shetland Islands, the northernmost part of Scotland. It was lovely - we enjoyed a mild day, beautiful mountains, a perfect light lunch in a quilting shop/cafe/ham radio museum!
Wildflowers over the bay.
The Laird's manor house, overlooking the North Atlantic,
and towering above the ruins of a Viking village
The penultimate stop on the cruise was at a little village in Norway, at the end of the most scenic fjord in the country (well, some people said so!). So we visited the Geirangerfjord, and it is breathtaking! I showed my name to some of the locals, and am still surprised that they didn't give me the key to the city - it's almost the same! Again it was a cloudy, rainy, cool day, but the weather broke just long enough for us to capture some stunning images! Here are two of my favorites.
Geirangerfjord from way above (but not as high as we went - more later)
Geirangerfjord from not too far above!
Finally we returned to London for two final days. We had a great time, and saw some lovely sights. I feel like I could spend a month here and not see everything I want to see! But we did spend several hours of loveliness at Kew Garden, the first botanical garden in the UK - oh my, so much color! Near the end of the second day we found our way to the Crusader's Church featured in The daVinci Code film, and there was one feature so stunningly unique that we just had to catch it!
Kew Garden in West London
Gargoyle at Crusader's Church (please click the image)
So there, in a quick look, is our summer trip last year! I promise to be more timely about posting any images from a trip this year if we ever get around to taking one. And I may pop in a few more from last year here and there.
"Travel
is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
Best to all! Mark
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