tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90911954330896745582024-03-12T16:02:15.457-07:00The Merry Marsden TravelsThe Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-14218007224753490732019-09-06T12:12:00.001-07:002019-09-06T12:12:56.761-07:00Baltic Cruise – June 2019<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Wednesday June 19, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Stopped at Questrade and to see Grampa in Toronto on route to Larry and Annette’s for tea and dropping off van before our Icelandair (Frequent Flyer # F14004039760 and F14004039745) flight 602 to Reykjavik, Iceland at 9 PM. We had time to have a relaxed dinner in the Premium Lounge at the Toronto Airport. That was fortunate since all we got on the flights that night was a bottle of water.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Thursday, June 20, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> - We flew 5½ hours to Iceland to change planes (one hour layover) to complete our trip to Stockholm, Sweden in 3 more hours from 7:35 AM (Iceland time) to 12:40 PM (Sweden time). On arrival we located the 20 minute high speed train terminal under the airport and boarded the downtown Stockholm train (Arlanda Express Train - $49 CAN - prearranged) for a 20 minute ride to Central Station. We walked about a kilometer with our luggage to the Stockholm Sheraton Hotel for our 2 night stay. We were fortunate there to have a concierge lounge pass which we used well. After settling in, I walked around the area since I researched information on taking Free City Tours Stockholm and I located the meeting point for the next day tours. Don rested and then we met my second cousin (as prearranged), Nico Van Gelderen who married a Swedish woman (Maria) and lives south for Stockholm but works as a landscape architect in Stockholm. They have one daughter. After some dinner in the hotel lounge Nico toured us around the old city (Gamla Stan). Back to hotel and bed by 10:30 PM. Happy for black-out blinds since at this time of year it doesn’t get really dark – just twilight from 11 PM to 3 AM.) Sweden time is 6 hours ahead of Toronto time. </span><img height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oO52IOsX_dACQIrHr7rKDUhcj2ToFDEDlv2oMb-1N1f9m3VJ40nIedndqfxgPcJOlK3UPzdDa1T4V82JmSv8dwVQH-GyTxYHzjV5y5sNYrJnk1vh1AU22lV-MotW5BLKAmJv5jw" style="border: none;" width="325" /><img height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uW92fo0X_fix4nOHp0TqkKhh_5--ujComL5k7OxVh5qaDBCLmL9ZTY7KeJaEHD-lIgo5FqbxHA5fk_Un_obgqofAHX9EalgZgcSAFuq1j8TEFzWN1k4QZRmiM-JSu4ipOSlzeso" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="336" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Stockholm was founded in 1252. Stockholm (means log island in Swedish) has been called Nordic Venice because 14 islands comprise the city and it has 57 bridges. Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm and is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in the world. Its’ location was chosen because it could be defended from pirates. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Friday, June 21, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Stockholm Sweden – Up after 8 AM for a shower and breakfast in the lounge. I joined the 10 AM Free City Tour Stockholm with Zenin (nice young man from Croatia) for 2 hours. (Guide works for tips). This first tour was of the modern city of Stockholm. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We learned that Sweden remained neutral in WW1 and WW2 and believed their world influence is with commerce rather than fighting. Present companies from Sweden include H&M, Ikea and Spotify. On the main shopping street (Drottning) there were 9 H&M stores in a few blocks. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Stockholm’s Alfred Nobel was discussed. Alfred was a chemist and discovered dynamite (clay added to nitroglycerin) in the 1800’s to make explosives safer. After reading a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_obituary" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">premature obituary</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> which</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> condemned him for profiting from the sales of arms, (apparently he didn’t care about money) he bequeathed his fortune to institute the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Nobel Prizes</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. These million dollar prizes are awarded yearly for literature, peace, medicine, physics, chemistry and economics. Mathematics is not awarded a Nobel Prize because Nobel’s fiance ran off with a mathematician. We went by the theatre where the awards are presented.</span><img height="222" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sy-RBqJaMZWNl3Av8IIHdBIzsYbGkdZfoG2p7_wwf_KkG_OhMvsty_RAlOWb7erKTSo5ksZu5sZj4PuCyt7yQ235rrHKk6W9WlPLJlOZboJXwAtY4lMzCRCEysNqFfT_ZuYsoaY" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="194" /><img height="135" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/61jFj64fhrzuHB59-L0AJFJvMraiT61Pv90wJnQJBH8q9iQiquiShdusvXgr0PZCHYN2kT51le1-Jr2BOXWVEbVk5y7IUUX9E7B4LcZJpaU0YlHuRuPQi9WABpaXm-g4p-D4tFQ" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="253" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The bank that was robbed starting the “Stockholm Syndrome” where hostages protect their captors was pointed out. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Donnie L, the personal trainer, who married into the Swedish Royal Family is the only native Swede in this French bloodline. He fell in love training with the anorexic princess in a free gym and after 3 years they asked the king to marry them but the king said Donnie had to study for 5 years to be royal and if he did that then they could marry. He fulfilled the requirement and they married. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After this morning tour, I went back to our hotel and ate some lunch before joining up with the 1 PM Tour of Gamla Stan with Zenin again. There was lots of excitement and celebration in Stockholm this day of “Midsummer” – the longest day of the year. The women wear Flower Headresses and there are late picnics and parties all night. They celebrate summer since their winters are long and dark with light hours from 10 AM to 3 PM and school children in lower grades wear reflective vests year round. </span><img height="194" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/D0DPMVk7k4xUCktSDJqZYnVeBmACZ9zcCPkrBScV3PSJJCaqiC0U_V3Cop5kRTK-Pt35nEgNdHVFYdehkuf1846RprrVlQF9LV9lq03Jzgwji2lVT-EdWDr6GvNlCLoEuLhRdyk" style="border: none;" width="259" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Located on the island of Gamla Stan is the Royal Palaces, Parliament, Stockholm Cathedral, Nobel Museum and many shops and restaurants.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After that tour I waited for the 3:30PM walking tour of the yuppie area called Soder with Francesca from London England who was married to a Spotify computer engineer and now lived in Sweden. Formerly Soder was where the servants and workers of Gamla Stan lived because it was hilly and undeveloped but now is the place to live since it is walkable from the city centre. From Francesca we learned about the </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Swedish witch trials, Fika (coffee breaks with buns, cake or cookies), and Baby Latte Daddies (since Swedish paternity / maternity leaves are generous).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back to the hotel for dinner and relaxation. Don had done his own walking touring in the day and found the local Firehall. </span><img height="139" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VkclC_v58osWXB3OE70R3dTbu6235uJOjm2yeL8Mmk6CWEfszrD287EaIOvrmFQHtBrSbSRm22nucalh-raD6XM-x7Khv9T7ZRZ-RBIw5-spi0oEAAtASxPSxFFwBQ_fMOMDMvI" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="185" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Friday, June 22, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Stockholm Sweden – Had the morning to explore before going to the Azamara Cruise Ship for boarding that afternoon. I walked over to the Stockholm City Hall for a guided tour. This is where the annual Nobel Prize Banquet on December 10th is held in its Blue Hall – that is not blue. There is also a Golden Hall named after the decorative </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mosaics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of motifs of Swedish history made of more than 18 million tiles. There were many Chinese tourists to keep me company there. I did not go up the tower. The top of the tower has 3 golden crowns which is an old national symbol of Sweden. </span><img height="187" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aCSiWLsNZOnopiCtsatrRMrw-UUsxSlcfbX-XVFZMcQfmBG3036OjRf1Od2T2wZL46I-jrubNMaskyMuIwBFjy9eupYNKklf0vsn5Jo28Hqz7dwB92Jn4IuUY4FrpVaagM_MWWw" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="224" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I continued walking and went back to Gamla Stan to visit the Stockholm Cathedral (Lutheran Church of St Nicholas) to see the most famous of its treasures is the dramatic wooden (oak) statue of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_and_the_Dragon" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint George and the Dragon</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The Saint George is a symbolic representation of Sten Sture (leader of Sweden in the Battle of Brunkeburg in 1471), the dragon is the Danish King Christian I, and the Princess is Sweden.</span><img height="252" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/H-rbCCy-AJM1twN_GjH-351ZjHtq5iSETpx3_alN7TsHnh-LdE0afFYby6IvTeN1yienkqgfTB9oI_vy4SDkwyQzJhnj5JxLXXRMzyNOQs0o9V_-0Ws6fgcDOLCPGKaPFBSeGrE" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="243" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back to the hotel to get packed up for our Uber ride to the Cruise Ship Terminal to board the Azamara Journey for our Baltic Cruise. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Baltic Capitals and Russia </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Arrive</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Depart</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/22/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/23/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tallinn, Estonia </span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">10:00 AM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">05:00 PM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/24/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">St. Petersburg, Russia </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">08:00 AM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/25/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">St. Petersburg, Russia </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/26/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">St. Petersburg, Russia </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">06:00 PM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/27/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Helsinki, Finland </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">07:30 AM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">06:00 PM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/28/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">At Sea </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/29/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Copenhagen, Denmark </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">08:00 AM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">10:00 PM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6/30/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Aalborg, Denmark </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">08:00 AM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">03:00 PM </span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="padding: 3.75pt 15pt 3.75pt 15pt; vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">7/1/2019 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Oslo, Norway </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">06:30 AM </span></div>
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<br /><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/T4cWiRC_ZhwQuSPRxXZ7ZZST5SCk1DRmfSyux0vYqaYL0UKrmYvCouBQQJcVi8Q0emc_6mifN8nRzL5zB5YUs7lGZgXe4aMQIqx7ElAzQvPjWSeyolI360e-VE_Z1iWmEe4iESE" style="border: none;" width="609" /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="0"></col><col width="0"></col><col width="0"></col></colgroup><tbody>
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<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This cruise was booked after Don saw an advertisement in the Saturday Globe and Mail in April through Cruise Connections Canada from Vancouver for $3909 CAN each with airfare, pre-paid gratuities, Azamazing Evening and beverage package included. Excursion costs were extra for Mary ($1000).</span><img height="252" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jE-GBkTHmHuuzhFPod94kWII7j-fv081YadJ2puDyd9olXPN0Mvzq4PSST2ARE9fEU5Ywr-M4NhSAHHNmUeWvCewEJU_9hHiK4A22rtxWIc96gzAQmaFASJgi-iMYGlA7huVmhc" style="border: none;" width="260" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Azamara Journey has a capacity for 690 (double occupancy) with 408 international officers, crew and staff. It has 9 guest decks and on this journey we will travel 1,530 nautical miles. Azamara is a proud member of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Family of cruise lines with their ships registered in Malta. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Mike Harris, former Ontario Premier, was on our cruise with 3 golfing buddies.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We settled into our cabin on the 6th floor #6030 – no balcony and slight obstructed view with the small rescue boat hanging outside our window. Before sailing there was a mandatory Emergency and Lifeboat Drill. Each day we received the Azamara Insider Daily Program that was all the information for the following day’s activities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The ship was full with over 600 passengers, 11 floors. Half the passengers were from USA, over 100 Canadians, 100 UK and less than 100 from Australia and NZ and some others. The majority of the staff were from The Philippines. There was a retired professor on board who gave 4 lectures on destinations on the cruise (Dr Joe Cofey from Florida). The first was this evening on Tallinn Estonia which we attended. We were also introduced to the Captain, department heads, the entertainment staff and our cruise director Eric DeGray who was from Toronto. We had our dinner in the Discoveries Restaurant on Deck 5 where we dined most evenings. The chef was very accommodating to our “no grain, no sugar” restrictions and made us special desserts most nights. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sunday, June 23, 2019 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">– Tallinn, Estonia – Sunshine with high of 21 and low of 10, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 4 AM sunset 10:42 PM </span></div>
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<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="636"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 24pt;"><td style="vertical-align: middle;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is one of the oldest cities on the Baltic Sea, founded in 1154. It’s old town has remained remarkably unchanged for the past 600 years. St Olav’s Church was once the tallest building in the world at least until 1625. In 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, Estonia became the Baltic’s smallest independent nation. Voice-over-internet calling service Skype was developed in Estonia.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Old Town is divided into the Upper Town, which was home to the nobility, and the Lower Town, inhabited in the Middle Ages by merchants and artisans. One of the main attractions is Toompea Castle on Toompea Hill and is the seat of Estonian government since the 13</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Alexander Nevsky Cathedral dominates the Palace Square. This Russian Orthodox Cathedral was built in the late 19</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century in the style of Russia’s 17</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century Orthodox churches. </span><img height="231" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Dmu4K9Zvd3j_8egcP0qDK5FhIJb11YHe03eB1aXfIPzrA7YKfVs2437awrwzWkwAT2NcfGn6hTNFxMg38W62v0j__YnBcIUgtHp1YEQ0Y_UIj2haW87XJLsGjH_xKDa_44YJ1co" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="220" /><img height="186" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Fazhrn6uqGmnaqfFftqWIna6GdI16b-AswHubPfWZAFzZVZvDEICBHs6c6Eny-_2jfBFhKUE799JwWz7mD01ikfbF732zfvr7GvX-GmJDPBImceARrmIf86kUSBwf4ofLnHYn3g" style="border: none;" width="226" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Old Town’s Town Hall Square is a central meeting place, as it has been since the gothic town hall was built in 1402. This is where the world’s first Christmas tree stood in 1441. </span><img height="147" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KLhpqbUUqIA4Rl3BNfNj3bDygSiiUQ4_21iMpuaInMO-bUQBZJrXB3NIjaM2SoQGc7ZysavBOG9Sb8bsGTlnw0QYWBl4Y9WHQy8qLWK_o6BMb8Uu0wrVctNznSW3lVgwnjRnAQ8" style="border: none;" width="196" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Don and I walked around the Old Town and after lunch I took the 2 hour tour of Panoramic Tallin which included their famous Song Festival Grounds which played a role in Estonia’s independence. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back in board the ship we had a St Petersburg Destination Enrichment seminar, dinner, the Captain’s Welcome Toast followed by the Entertainment Singers and Dancers in the Cabaret Lounge on Deck 5. We never made it to the DJ at 10:30 PM on Deck 10.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Monday, June 24, 2019 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">– St Petersburg, Russia – Sunshine with high of 22 and low of 12, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 3:35 AM sunset 10:30 PM Clocks turned back one hour. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint Petersburg (Petrograd / Leningrad) considered the most European of all Russian cities. It is Russia’s second largest city and Europe’s fourth largest after Moscow, London and Paris. Saint Petersburg is an important maritime center for Russia, built on a network of islands, featuring 65 rivers and canals that crisscross the city. Along with about 400 bridges, the city also closely resembles Venice or Amsterdam. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Situated on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neva_River" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Neva River</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, at the head of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Finland" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Gulf of Finland</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Baltic Sea</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, it was founded by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tsar</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> on 27 May 1703. During the periods 1713–1728 and 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the capital of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Imperial Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. In 1918, the central government bodies moved to Moscow, which is about 625 km (388 miles) to the south-east.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Up early to start my 3 day St Petersburg tour at 8 AM. Through customs right at the dock in central St Petersburg to board our coach bus and travel to our first stop a half hour away in Pushkin (named for the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin of the 1800’s; compared to the English Shakespeare). We arrived at “Catherine Palace” for a 90 minute tour of the palace and grounds. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The residence originated in 1717, when </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catherine I of Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (Peter the Great’s second wife – a friend’s maid and mother of their 12 children – of which only 2 survived to adulthood – both girls) constructed a summer palace for her pleasure. In 1743, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Elizabeth" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Empress Elizabeth</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (their daughter) expanded the Catherine Palace. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Elizabeth" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Empress Elizabeth</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, however, found her mother's residence outdated and in May 1752 demolished the old structure and replaced it with a much grander edifice in a flamboyant </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rococo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> style. Construction lasted for four years, and on 30 July 1756 the brand-new 325-meter-long palace was completed. </span><img height="185" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9NV5kHtYPMUS0SVHTCd7M9eZcwoSDHWlZP-gDxUG0rea3QXtJpPx3agMXG1ZgKuyNclY26ap8NwVqeN2EojuRtnpLTLu80sl8OIiXomXA59nx86bjUt068pmB5JV6jOnWM6CZAw" style="border: none;" width="344" /><img height="163" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OYLGOKTxSO-B9zTc19brkjsKsfx5araLk3Z0hHS0AHH0Ryd3UxRRaps_TvCSYmr7lLXsTGYRwMyKgCBebf0u6UnWnjw8Kk_0XYYNhBy5qDDaGETSxCfdpgYDykTPYaI3Uyk8E8k" style="border: none;" width="217" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">More than 100 kilograms of gold were used to gild the sophisticated stucco façade and numerous statues erected on the roof. In front of the palace a great formal garden was laid out. It centres on the azure-and-white Hermitage Pavilion near the lake. The grand entrance to the palace is flanked by two massive "circumferences", also in the Rococo style. Although the palace is popularly associated with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catherine the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, she actually regarded its "whipped cream" architecture as old-fashioned. When she ascended to the throne, a number of statues in the park were being covered with gold, in accordance with the last wish of Empress Elizabeth, yet the new monarch had all the works suspended upon being informed about the expense. In her memoirs she censured her predecessor's reckless extravagance. (Catherine the Great was a German princess and was </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Emperor%20of%20All%20Russia%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Empress of Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power </span><img height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_BuM5jr3mf1gN5hLFrdMnqK86yUUTf8XiGn9dhWl70B_Y69NLy3Ikc5FS9jns_kW3Shh1jsyx4jAnMiAW2twRv8mgc83bCS1_FctP3NUQ_MxiSAW99o65pY8CG7TSMEOyALkEys" style="border: none;" width="240" /><img height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NOPKnjInWZz33YYVdXR1f56pv4CuVbSy1e-bVPJoargcClPsASMnzKnrTTy2bV8cFXHFCAwso0yG5rf3As8P2Dhx4VY4P9yMlRN4UzzuE0rKdHzM8bvO-zV4RlnYfhUzoeE73-U" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="199" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">following a </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Coup%20d%27%C3%A9tat%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">coup d'état</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> that she organized—resulting in her husband, </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Peter%20III%20of%20Russia%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter III</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, being overthrown. Under her reign, Russia was revitalized; it grew larger and stronger and was recognized as one of the </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Great%20power%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">great powers</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of Europe).</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Of special note in the Catherine Palace is the Amber Room. The Amber Room is a reconstructed chamber decorated in </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Amber%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">amber</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> panels backed with </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Gold%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">gold</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> leaf and </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Mirror%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mirrors</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> .Constructed in the 18th century in </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Prussia%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Prussia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, the original Amber Room was dismantled and eventually disappeared during </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=World%20War%20II%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">World War II</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Before its loss, it was considered an "</span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Eighth%20Wonder%20of%20the%20World%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Eighth Wonder of the World</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">". A reconstruction was installed in the Catherine Palace between 1979 and 2003.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We went on to a 4 course lunch at a restaurant outside the Palace grounds and then on the coach back to St Petersburg to visit the Yusupov Palace. The building was the site of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Grigori Rasputin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">'s murder in the early morning of December 17, 1916. The Yusupovs were immensely wealthy (2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> richest Russian family and known for their philanthropy and art collections. </span><img height="157" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2ghO9QgO1zlwk9Nu_NBtcCtJHd0QL1FiTK7Aq6Ujw2Xd6JxOKtAyVKS244qfYXTAUvd0vVYj_q-xJtx2sGtOuclFfXoFFQXxcIEG8E4cr19lEbajZ1SUlPOPFJNKdOfdLd73uis" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="209" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The luxurious interiors of the palace were not inferior to those of contemporary royal palaces with more than 40,000 works of art, including works by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rembrandt" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rembrandt</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, jewelry, and sculptures decorated the palace. Following the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Russian Revolution</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, the palace was nationalized and its works of art were largely relocated to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermitage_Museum" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Hermitage</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and other museums. The private theatre was a high point. </span><img height="168" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6adqJxCc0V2lm1A7TB_RMd_o29N6rAKohHWlG1IZY1eTnrTc55G5Kw-8W46lz40zKtDCXj0ktIhq9N60XABeuJnwb5Yr03iLzeb33u7dqOAXAhaw3ONjnucw2CK0KjXhjF146ek" style="border: none;" width="224" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then the short drive through Russian traffic to the Peter and Paul Fortress. We had an inside visit to the Peter and Paul Cathedral. It is the first and oldest landmark in St. Petersburg, built between 1712 and 1733 on </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Island_(Saint_Petersburg)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Hare Island</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> along the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neva_River" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Neva River</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Both the cathedral and the fortress were originally built under </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The cathedral houses the remains of almost all the Russian </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">emperors</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and empresses from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Nicholas II</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and his family, who were finally laid to rest in July 1998. Among the emperors and empresses buried here was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catherine the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, Empress of Russia for 34 years.</span><img height="199" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/c0MJP_r0p60odCL3jYG5m_NsbVIbJ7TMK6JLZWG6pISAAR6S4_k-CuRW9DQUs9azeMfrh-eHHoz8Cxizu2LVayyPKHwN4970kxM3xkNXRo8qkqiX799JfbzL2w2BcSMe5bsZYEo" style="border: none;" width="265" /><img height="232" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lWlWF2cdfj8_-fLEC3428_Z5kSqWfuBm8D9sDRCPcPL8RwXG4j8xxjkaBH71Vmkb1kDZ1kyEToirvnGatMThXxQIIH37w6lLtTcSUCPBH1a1pzAj8vynwyP-K7zRox7xpXsbcnQ" style="border: none;" width="309" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">By 6 PM we drove back to the ship. There was “White Night Outdoor” Dinner on the deck but we chose to dine inside in the Discoveries Restaurant. Russian dancers entertained with a folkloric show. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tuesday, June 25, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – St Petersburg, Russia Sunshine with high of 22 and low of 13, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 3:36 AM sunset 10:26 PM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back on the coach for a short drive to the Hermitage Museum. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_art_museums" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">second-largest art museum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in the world, it was founded in 1764 when Empress </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catherine the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> acquired an impressive collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Ernst_Gotzkowsky" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The museum celebrates the anniversary of its founding each year on 7 December, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine%27s_Day" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint Catherine's Day</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. It has been open to the public since 1852. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings along </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_Embankment" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Palace Embankment</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, including the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Palace" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Winter Palace</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, a former residence of Russian emperors.</span><img height="167" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZDk2tvZhH29YvArsAI0UuRntCir2zA4GHQsjt96QZ1m9FNRwms9OckLhaDB7Gl0PAPWJCo3RWvVvsKJEXJXTdHlwZPFnfq_dgg-7WzhM7ZX0D4NZVEZGMIhn62ggA_pTTURk1Nc" style="border: none;" width="243" /><img height="122" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4G2cPDD2XCPBSSUBnxFpJzGg4vRwVWZc9fvBtOWhhhnC22CJfaFvB5lU22TSjXsDlwqy1Q8hZm50jyS8IKeZfWnZwM5s9mxp7AMYCGun9KdElp5Vk6Ihro_ngwd7wAx5NgpziuM" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="163" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were driven to St. Isaac’s Cathedral. It is dedicated to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Isaac_of_Dalmatia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint Isaac of Dalmatia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patron_saint" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">patron saint</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, who had been born on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_day" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">feast day</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of that saint. It was originally built as a cathedral but was turned into a museum by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Soviet</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> government in 1931 and has remained a museum ever since. In 2017, the Governor of Saint Petersburg offered to transfer the cathedral back to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Russian Orthodox Church</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, but this was not accomplished due to the protests of St Petersburg citizens opposing the offer.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We took a short stroll over to the monument of Peter the Great. The Bronze Horseman is an </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">equestrian statue</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_Square_(Saint_Petersburg)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Senate Square</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint Petersburg</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Commissioned by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_II_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catherine the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The name comes from an 1833 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronze_Horseman_(poem)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">poem of the same name</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksander_Pushkin" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Aleksander Pushkin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, which is widely considered one of the most significant works of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_literature" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Russian literature</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The statue is now one of the symbols of Saint Petersburg. The statue's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestal" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">pedestal</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> is the enormous Thunder Stone, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_monoliths_in_the_world#Moved_monoliths" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">largest stone ever moved by humans</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. The stone originally weighed about 1500 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonne" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">tonnes</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, but was carved down during transportation to its current size.</span><img height="262" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IN3NprKRZWmAVx4qoQt8E4gAELnLOeQhTbFbqHOYcT7cVvm9VNwBTuQM9Iko6Pc0bLBvJUhrZZFVgFk5EJdXPzZml_skQoGw9phpCPzGGNodMCz2u7bqNpKmVELBDg0TpXucIGw" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="249" /><img height="157" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8zgWB3bEuwKNc9bf-mDnyLxQn8mY_8-DKnV74nTn7nVveIqP0TJruvwNrh2pjQEFd5DSUnhQXPEOZSCKoOSiqnVx9yuJTDSqpdh1Ycp74HnM8vhUZIId-OAIdtujWWiCpy_7aRk" style="border: none;" width="209" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A 19th-century legend states that while the Bronze Horseman stands in the middle of Saint Petersburg, enemy forces will not be able to conquer the city. During the 900-day </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Leningrad" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Siege of Leningrad</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> by the invading Germans during the Second World War (Leningrad being the city's name from 1924–1991), the statue was covered with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbags" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sandbags</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and a wooden shelter. Thus protected it survived 900 days of bombing and artillery virtually untouched. True to the legend, Leningrad was never taken.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From there we enjoyed a 4 course lunch at the Luce Restaurant. Then for a boat ride along the river and canals to view all the palaces along the way. Another highlight along the way was the waving running boy who stopped for tips at the end of our ride. </span><img height="101" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XaewVxVqJAEldpNu6CsCPth1p-EVHGBoLKi_Mg3oOQBBIqdswpP_e4iBAUzJJbHFNybnJ9C0FvSpcilCQS3v4_dkazkxIo9fIslgIsIoyJ-oyphT8Kj0-J_a5ftSI0zjFNAZDXI" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="101" /><img height="75" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/En5hpqvri3ukem1aPKkbUL0UaA9clP5iBKrgEH2FQ7OAfEE4PZ9b9tVgyfYVH1USp0zmBX-Fzr6NAMqZwdGHAOoCac8vfuaKHPLOpgTddJVCNc-2LakQCcamvG3XKheH7Y5GOhY" style="border: none;" width="209" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our last stop on today’s tour was the Cathedral of the Spilled Blood (or Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ). We had difficulty getting near the Cathedral due to traffic gridlock and walked from where the bus could not go any further and then pushed and shoved through the line-up of tourists to get to our appointed tour time. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Erected on the site where </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_nihilist_movement" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">political nihilists</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> fatally wounded Emperor </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Alexander II</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in March 1881, the church was constructed between 1883 and 1907, funded by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Romanov" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">imperial family</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. It intentionally resembles the 17th-century </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Yaroslavl</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> churches and the celebrated </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Basil%27s_Cathedral" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">St. Basil's Cathedral</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Moscow</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The walls and ceilings inside the church are completely covered in intricately detailed </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mosaics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> — the main pictures being biblical scenes or figures — but with very fine patterned borders setting off each picture. The church contains over 7500 square meters of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mosaics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">—according to its restorers, more than any other church in the world.</span><img height="180" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XYG1BiCeUa_P7fDsEa2DMlCpTIK1KLhcNS7LOjRpsK_Mpo48eUD-UnRvrYj6EdDOhLbNI2DgqH_61_nvro9-LaQT-PqtTds6Ib6Zg5L6pulbUZHIfzW4QbsZjS43cEJHyOOgSAQ" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="221" /><img height="198" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/blUYrffdcvIl7EgMP5bDquMGXnQms7C6fi8tmVhrHoFr9VpDPqSQVSk2jxKeVorBFBnU2gF_pafl2GNMt9FATjZ7PoA2ipx6Zchy3neMM8Atcygjh_EOWp8a9K5gc4jla79bPfE" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="264" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bus back to the ship and through Custom check and then fine dining and a quiet evening. Don keeps busy on the ship since he does not have a tourist visa and can not wander about St Petersburg without it even though we are docked in the centre of the city. Don plays the trivia games to win Azamara points for tshirts and other items at the end of our cruise, walks around the ship’s track, eats well (loves the blacken grouper at the lunch café – fried in olive oil) and today did our laundry too. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Wednesday, June 26, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – St Petersburg, Russia Sunshine with high of 21 and low of 14, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 3:37 AM sunset 10:25 PM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Early morning to catch the 7:30 tour bus to Peterhof to be there for the first tour at 9AM of this Grand Palace. Many tourists in St Petersburg because 8 mega ships are in port and many independent tourists since it is high tourist season. Coincidentally I met Dolly, a OTOW exercise buddy who was on a totally separate tour with her son at Peterhof that day. </span><img height="134" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nuWAigNNjZmH_8CJc7NECZMwkhVnuB4LMbGUTW9z-12pVwGYqP3NCNou4yHhtF8Q0JRUDuEyn_H6eHb4TY3aNOk9zVDSSDMo3Fc7kgmNqx-8nraXhesc4rUk8J5DG9O2AkQM7zU" style="border: none;" width="179" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Peterhof Palace is a series of palaces and gardens located in </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Petergof%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Petergof</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Saint%20Petersburg%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saint Petersburg</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Russia%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, commissioned by </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Peter%20the%20Great%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Peter the Great</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> as a direct response to the </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Palace%20of%20Versailles%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Palace of Versailles</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> by </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Louis%20XIV%20of%20France%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Louis XIV of France</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Originally intending it in 1709 for country habitation, Peter the Great sought to expand the property as a result of his visit to the French </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Royal%20court%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">royal court</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in 1717, inspiring the nickname used by tourists of "The Russian Versailles". </span><img height="164" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zbsbWwp7hG4o03k5zq3Ad8DKZ9m2q88AldZ00nxBqoUFJPFJIJMwazy9p2zjSoE0x2vMdAuHURc_vUJ943zLkJeQeK-uZ6tSn9s39CWEoSdzdNecHtszx7LYz9QHQmdV9D-fiMc" style="border: none;" width="109" /><img height="280" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MsTFbBkMu4r65yYnLhvGHXbyt04RexAI5h_NCC2BRsCIYMcMHVOAm7nOF85va5mN5DogiczjIHrmHaI2J2_VoGAb_RM5ssU3UdactNjBrzMCJk_vbNNg0oIQkib4RdtWGYlTbzs" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="224" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Until the Revolution of 1917, it was the residence of the Tsars. In 1918 it was transformed into a museum, though during World War II it was occupied and destroyed by German troops. After World War II it began its restoration, which still continues.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The center of Peterhof complex is what is known as the Grand Palace (of Baroque style), though something much more spectacular than the palace itself are the gardens and a complex of the world’s largest fountains surrounding it, and you can visit smaller palaces and buildings that house museums. It covers an area of over 100 hectares. The water sources used comes from natural springs. There is the Great Cascade waterfall comprising of 64 different fountains and over 200 bronze statutes including Samson’s fountain which we watched launched at 11 AM. There are also many playful fountains for the children. </span><img height="160" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6BEUyf-YrUjqdZL9qkqVLYTVn6LaMm8XNHFDDBxOHqLqezhi3oOBiY8mvSx_kNI1ssyLCD_E7BfTSaZlaXw9dihFStFeY02BqmH0AQGHmwnic4shqshh2zj_LpEbkjcbcEmnsyg" style="border: none;" width="214" /><img height="144" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZADOdV_X_1uFVF496AtuBDaoMZojgDLCtWFUNMhO2ykDava6fgXIAD_mjj6vc-LdhYYHjUgIQiDSecN0vmt6KxXu9hxS-RCB_-aLZp-O_meJBSflIze_zfzkcQ-i5hGgZc6KDWc" style="border: none;" width="169" /><img height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/niA_7gqP5V65YsizMA49YlM4JkZZRcAeSwOZxW-6Lgczc0kNqeNmVbc5Jv7-pD1bovVtj26OrlLSjAQMjkDcfkvkRLCOKnnDk3q0D0XIARKCBRm5pwNk3DMhWk_vMmHWnm8bGYQ" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="176" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were back to the ship for lunch and a quiet afternoon which included trivia and sail away at 6 PM to Helsinki, Finland. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Learned to say ”Spiceba” meaning hello in Russian and “Yellow Blue Bus” meaning I love you from our great Guide Jana. Some of the ship’s passengers took the 4 hour high speed train to and from Moscow yesterday and had a little tour of Moscow for the day ($1300 per person) and there was also the White Night boat ride between 12 and 2 AM to see the bridges in St Petersburg lit up and open. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Thursday, June 27, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Helsinki, Finland Sunshine with high of 18 and low of 10, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 3:56 AM sunset 10:50 PM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We arrived in port at 7:30 AM and will depart at 6 PM. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I did the Helsinki Highlights tour in the morning. Our first stop was the Senate Square and the</span><img height="104" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/oV_9TR9xVdVnusC_raBwdVtq61nhVZkz1IRpukxKoPBHMSxwcTb56H9EFRbySRSJnVACIQpEBf9MTZcG8ftym9QcbOgJIZTKDdQwFf4EGoQpcJYhhYafX6cLSwwFSrFQHZhVayU" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="144" /><img height="114" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oUxuiW7OFsSKmZqFVLwaJqXbITjVdCKeo3DKndskFup65IFDBS20jjxXbO-CuclR3ON7Ze2931dohUAWdOELNQyLRlRjEKrUi33-Q6kXUmecNmtIODE_6ZaCO36kBiISqw2OUP8" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="166" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> historic Lutheran Cathedral. The church was originally built from 1830-1852 as a tribute to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Finland" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Grand Duke of Finland</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tsar</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_I_of_Russia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Nicholas I of Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. It was also known as St Nicholas' Church until the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_independence" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">independence of Finland</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in 1917. It is a major landmark of the city.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our next stop was the Church in the Rock (Temppeliaukio Church).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock and is bathed in natural light which enters through the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylight" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">skylight</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> surrounding the center copper dome. The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustics" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">acoustics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Construction finally began in February 1968, and the rock-temple was completed for consecration in September 1969.</span><img height="108" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RBUdctf3Iwbyp3Dlin9uvwUhoYJT9lpI5BKSLIRFfjHc8sru_LYAATTHq7kEvCffmze_Vkiqr_QgEZ47p4HGf9w4rQtQ5j-_rHdVvLiCCbh5EN01RIDbDc1UQZRsL7CTQMvwYBw" style="border: none;" width="206" /><img height="136" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/A7B07zqc-2ND35vd86LY7DV5d1gNDkTf-qaciO3Ic8UkfZjc9V2sVpuKJ7YNKkuGncQXLWQPXS_ZTBifjZ7jJWSO3CE4tru7R7tbYwXMxO5AZQ-seQtctN7xr81hRA_4_bapF5U" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="197" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On to Sibelius Park, home to an unusual monument featuring hundreds of steel pipes that pays homage to famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). His music is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia.</span><img height="178" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OPcs30RFEnlShpeBf5tG_RgVHPXIlP59oZCPGLJSmRF-LsbhX6rcAvZiE2dDk_tzhw0CaS2yQNWp2h0ptDN96UbIntkr2LQ9evqi4aoWKU_uxB5kqug4u_qF9riGCmfsqm8kp7w" style="border: none;" width="160" /><img height="154" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XkK1DTWUxJKmoZrbuHXC__Jir5V9xbBpAdk5xxAvNTV6r5DvK3lQrGY65QFcCiYv3bsOlwS1bt_9-HS7vtGkliALMbFBuWQsh8OiYFlKAsgWDsUQQmMzY0gM0xKfT8k4HuAOJ_8" style="border: none;" width="205" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From our guide we heard all about the Finnish love of saunas. We were driven back to the ship in time for lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After lunch I headed out into Helsinki to see more sights. My first stop was the open air market which we were docked close to. I was looking through the booths for a souvenir of a special stone called “specrolite” found only in Finland close to the Russian border. I did find a Columbian man who founds his own stones and polishes them and makes them into jewellery and bought a necklace and earrings. </span><img height="212" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HD45DZc89UpPH3PJ9qBEvK7FSP-bnhFX0J6h8iU0Dq8Jn0DW-qxQin2PRx3WybAW88rytKNK0j-p2N5hvXYYFUuNdWVDNA_SIQYd4jO_qSBRF6JeYvTnOq2YZNoz9iG2NrNOJvc" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="283" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From the market, I went by the shopping district and their biggest department store “Stockmans” and went up to the 8</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> floor hoping to get a view of the city from the rooftop patio but unfortunately it was not open. </span><img height="214" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1wVhFxe3KVH9_RrYUrczeAcU7wuK5A8we5EpeNZZD2i57t7YaJRZAnliJqlMAhQlLJjesmGt6_jAmbwq5ElFtJVh6PI69KW1t-_5C9XDnY3e0Dy8n8eVGyzaKtfhiXoGbiNQXFk" style="border: none;" width="285" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On to the Central Train Station with it’s special distinguishing feature of two pairs of statues holding spherical lamps, lit at night-time, on either side of the main entrance. From there I spotted an ALDI supermarket and bought some chocolate and Finnish Rooibos tea. </span><img height="115" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3qoPA9daqoaFtDXYnycCztYLrHi-7rP46pc_8qO8hrAC-qClYbBBGLrS71J-kRorOxmEvLSJ2MR1yiWOJgnHzJ8BocmgW59DZSFCUbFE9ZS7Sn_dZH62jaArQF-3ICxgVg2Qs0E" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="167" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then strolled over and explored to the newly opened Helsinki Library “Oodi” with it’s distinctive wave design. Headed back to the ship and actually bypassed it and climbed the hill to visit the Uspenski Cathedral.</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #48505b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Completed in 1868 it is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history. </span><img height="119" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VqVxZdzpFm1YkSvwFErZVmk2O6aKrzViuJC8r3YMETo6d6TylyD8PUgqUq5WrIRm6oOuDiKbcsfeTjWMZp6NQT4CU3BIqbl6t7HuhBIVed0MAa6jxxHU59QXxB_JDzyftIn0NIs" style="border: none;" width="399" /><img height="192" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zcERQKVzDXYDVqvse0r3kPKxzjNn5tYgZlwE91_ZMZUyViFbzf5JZpWy-V1InypcT5-Iq1CnWvAh72lA7orEHt8rOn6WOvnKYl7S4BglUZ0hopAAypJmRSo3oOHu9hVS49Q7Fmc" style="border: none;" width="256" /><img height="204" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rf2m9LqGI8CoOn2TaFj0tj2idjBklBJe1DtnR5nWLsQp3APf9PrHs4gTEQsaZGktSr_-o-gTmtqQPfhifCIbt6KjecoPSvZsudk5FQBwCdjH1rcbuU9vBeMNlQgH9_elYQnKgLQ" style="border: none;" width="135" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Don roamed on his own and found a firehall to talk to his brothers there. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back for dinner and set sail for Copenhagen, Denmark after a day at sea.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Friday, June 28, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Day at Sea Sunshine with high of 18 and low of 13, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 4:12 AM sunset 10:19 PM Clocks go back one hour. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Relaxing day aboard the Azamara Journey. In the afternoon we attended the “Destination Enrichment Seminar with Dr. Joe on Copenhagen: The Happy and Green City” followed by a seminar on “Carl Faberge and the Treasures of the Czars”. At night I went to our Cruise Director Eric De Gray’s show “From Vegas to Broadway”. Big day tomorrow exploring Copenhagen on my own. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saturday, June 29, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Copenhagen, Denmark Sunshine with high of 26 and low of 16, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 4:26 AM sunset 10:00 PM Arrive 8 AM Depart 10 PM</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Copenhagen is situated where the North Sea and Baltic Sea meet. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Did not go on a planned tour today because from my precruise research I understood that Copenhagen was a very walkable city and I planned my own tour for all the highlights I wanted to see. And I certainly walked and walked which resulted in a giant blister on the heel of my foot but I saw lots!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The ship was docked fight in the city so after some breakfast I started out. The first stop was the statute of the Little Mermaid before hordes of tourists descended on that spot. The Little Mermaid (</span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Danish%20language%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Danish</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">: Den lille Havfrue) is a bronze statue depicting a </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Mermaid%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">mermaid</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> becoming human and is displayed on a rock by the waterside. It is small at 1.25 metres (4.1 ft) tall and weighs 175 kilograms (385 lb). Based on the </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Fairy%20tale%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">fairy tale</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=The%20Little%20Mermaid%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of the same name</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> by Danish author </span><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Hans%20Christian%20Andersen%20wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Hans Christian Andersen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, the small and unimposing statue is a Copenhagen icon and has been a major tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1913.</span><img height="141" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FDTSTxC9CI9bQGHnF8GDdBWSDZfHrfhXs5n1mpWqHFZBii9RufHVfnMf0TxYbdlGp9hrDVU_SpEHku28YQRdhX98vaWjgCEsR-UdIV5OR5ZIIPHMmkPC2r7dR6g5Y-XiTpyjXWs" style="border: none;" width="188" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Continuing on through a barracks area to Rosenborg in the King’s Garden. Rosenborg Castle was built by one of the most famous Scandinavian kings, Christian IV, in the early 17th century. I did not go in the Castle but enjoyed the beautiful gardens. The gardens are the country's oldest royal gardens and were established in the Renaissance style by Christian IV in the early 1600's.</span><img height="129" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iUQXAHDCbru2tbQIlAdn1eymLyJiokubHIZG_ZdjTqZCUW5uMX-gTerYy4lioh6lPUKfwC2JNQNX6fIfUNXkiN-RbOetslD_rJjlpVZdTfFxOcqmgEvS2F3dmgGfRuwCsJBckyU" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="202" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From there I went down to the Nyhavn area. Nyhavn (New Harbour) is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district and is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townhouse" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">townhouses</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and bars, cafes and restaurants. The canal harbours many historical wooden ships. Nyhavn was constructed by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_V_of_Denmark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">King Christian V</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> from 1670 to 1675, dug by Swedish prisoners of war from the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dano-Swedish_War_(1658%E2%80%931660)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Dano-Swedish War 1658–1660</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. It is a gateway from the sea to the old inner city at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongens_Nytorv" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Kongens Nytorv</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> (King's Square), where ships handled cargo and fishermens' catch. It was notorious for beer, sailors, and prostitution. Danish author </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Hans Christian Andersen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> lived at Nyhavn for some 18 years.</span><img height="178" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TeUizZsSUYnfn5NCNmoCebDOu2_czWjbz4CkobjMSYKkEmUa6_3OO0deQ2fWGjOh-aioG4Pdcqa75GUTgLmalLWjqM_EFvC96mOlXg4nJNNr8XnVInoqqnkNVySHVk-s4JkEHbQ" style="border: none;" width="237" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then heading back to the ship for lunch through the Amalienburg Palace area. Amalienborg is the home of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Danish_monarchs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Danish royal family</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and it consists of four identical classical palace façades with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">rococo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> interiors around an octagonal courtyard (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_language" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Danish</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">: Amalienborg Slotsplads); in the centre of the square is a monumental </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_sculpture" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">equestrian statue</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of Amalienborg's founder, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_V_of_Denmark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">King Frederick V</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. </span><img height="235" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9vLz3HjedLnEYopiY8s7kUmGyaVXydIsv8naZ01EWLVYMSkKiOvZOgVP9lWRPC9h2EiE2Yph2gui02bjJxmDXvBxbHRq3_Uv_U-wCAh9SJqTYoDrtR2RQHcS-8QsFXK8BNXOsV4" style="border: none;" width="449" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families; however, when </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiansborg_Palace" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Christiansborg Palace</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> burned on 26 February 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My afternoon walking tour took me pass the Marble Church, Christianborg Palace, National Museum of Denmark, City Hall and Tivoli Gardens Amusement Park to the Round Tower. The Round Tower (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_language" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Danish</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">: Rundetårn) is a 17th-century tower and one of the many architectural projects of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_IV_of_Denmark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Christian IV of Denmark</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, built as an astronomical observatory. It is most noted for its </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_staircase" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">equestrian staircase</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, a 7.5-turn helical corridor leading to the platform at the top at 34.8 meters above ground, and for the expansive views which it affords over Copenhagen. </span><img height="84" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/X5SnIp0dcQEYOWKia7aFnxr5gHRcGghkVJr8SPEDWue1Zmf7JmCB1VIOPM9oTT7ldDcyS5-0FQHukAAmLQ9KcwYbf47dYD-Yo_vFPHhrEigY1WJb2L0NLI2w4w8-ftg2cyKUlQ0" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="175" /><img height="155" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bLLaIM8ylOhCBaHc1zLg26HTNtoYnlIbm6BqC9DwMA9OuTOL6Six19LwS57sntkQtz722TM2SaGE2TW9yiPPQtpSaVd83d3aluPjpvIiae5Mlqnro42CplvMiZ0pa0C7X8oyP_U" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="184" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Proceeded over the bridge to Christianshawn and soaked my blistering feet in the harbour. Christianshavn was founded in the early 17th century by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_IV_of_Denmark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Christian IV</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> as part of his extension of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortifications_of_Copenhagen_(17th_century)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">fortifications of Copenhagen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. Originally, it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Dutch</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> cities but it was soon incorporated into Copenhagen proper. Dominated by canals, it is the part of Copenhagen with the most nautical atmosphere. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">For much of the 20th century a working-class neighbourhood, Christianshavn developed a bohemian reputation in the 1970s and it is now a fashionable, diverse and lively part of the city with its own distinctive personality. Businessmen, students, artists, hippies and traditional families with children live side-by-side. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A wedding was taking place at the Church of Our Saviour. This is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">baroque</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_(building)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">church</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, most famous for its </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">helix</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spire" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">spire</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> with an external winding staircase that can be climbed to the top, offering extensive views over central Copenhagen. It is also noted for its </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carillon" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">carillon</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, which is the largest in northern Europe and plays melodies every hour from 8 am to midnight. I was too tired and a little frighten of heights to attempt the climb up the spire. </span><img height="207" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NBPGzlB1XnTBYm3qHKQfeMXy8AQj60hpsvDrdw1uHByDAPaScgdodl5srv-P5wWhGQ4RdBb0oa1SHtc49jLsQv2_jWxqW0U7UqcX9eBvgfSAUjU9BolmXFRfW9zJopLZAmUD9e8" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="176" /><img height="116" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/opOMvEUGFBExo-X9Y6gA6_-ALWNuA9hsVohaPvr6zYFsfNsIaTXKny24rATJ3uAAui1yTnxHLX3bvnRgdbZDFM_VnqAOTLTWSAFoPS4fzsFivWm4zfywdrvOw6kCivWHCq9fQIA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="244" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Walked through “Freetown Christiania”. The spirit of Christiania is one of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the hippie movement</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squatter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the squatter movement</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">collectivism</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">anarchism</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> in contrast to the site's previous military use (barracks).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Hiked back to the ship for an early buffet dinner before we were boated across the harbour to the Royal Danish Opera House as our Azamazing Event. There we enjoyed a 40 minute performance by 2 of Denmark’s renowned opera singers (tenors) in the foyee. The sang to me the Maria song and Don received a beautiful coffee table book on the building of this new Opera House because a waiter almost spilt sparkling wine on him. </span><img height="191" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UYvIKKhmfF_gHM_3mSwqdGcAR2ZKiNM3Pj4GXnyG7sf4vKJ2Zt0FDlCISzKi_dlqTr9AJ9bUW839HRysMOfIVsFAmQO9HcuDgbvXBnuH67E6cW4vnGRGZ3dbZheFiux7Eun0RUs" style="border: none;" width="219" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sunday, June 30, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Aalborg, Denmark Sunshine with high of 27 and low of 14, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 4:29 AM sunset 10:18 PM Arrived at 8:30 AM Depart at 3 PM</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This smaller city in the north of Denmark on the Limfjord in the northern part of Denmark and is a new stop for cruise ships. I did the “Aalborg:A Burst of Art and Culture” tour. Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art on the outskirts of Aalborg. Then on to Nordkraft, an old coal burning power plant in the town that has been transformed into a small theatre and galleries. The guide gave us some snacks and a taste of a liquor (flavoured vodka) that he made too. Then we walked over to the Utzon Centre. This modern gallery was designed by Jorn Utzon, the Danish architect best known for Australia’s iconic Sydney Opera House and had his designs on display. Back to the ship for lunch and since we were docked in the town, I explored the Old Town Aalborg with its’ cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings in the afternoon before sailing away. The 17</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century salted herring boom and industries such as the Portland Cement Company (chalk available close by) helped establish Aalborg. </span><img height="124" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/j7wzTsYcVjdHL4nrzHNhT2rSgvUU58vTxuamA-HyBP_E42lygjHgtcIatuuJ9151oTKZrchcVsF1M9Xpf-Krhbxue-RXp9CxjssooBigBDR9v07PDGAt4XbG2f0BWudZ4j1nbWU" style="border: none;" width="168" /><img height="151" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/v_vYir4u4e871kXNip5d7xeoh3-c_ECIK1kP8ML5UNb1eTNjSzjXmRsT6TPNSYKnIV0VSmMJMqtHgHjhL_EQf24zXf8nctHbLXQUUbulLdttIOnYeE4EGaJ-h8FK3t1R6ALouEc" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="201" /><img height="133" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IyKfrAToL2Md0YepOpvYrlTo3qh4L6YTsDArQOmEgPH8AjI06ov7RD10xjw3FNVnO4b8wiu9Hix3u4bEqtCP1mbbY9hxE4vK26xWOvHEtRXeDOLS2GDyTSV5AWLdRSN3xCvi18Y" style="border: none;" width="199" /><img height="139" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MmaYdp8mG71phUw6q2Em1LAQ3OxirFfbUl2ZDvtx6NpyGa1trGPfKMsXhLoJOeqUc0fmNpxLZBauPHK2w1AKTK1ThezjmJi0IhE46rGogTj8iUGhnbpmKQKl4dCA2hZA6zDNoDc" style="border: none;" width="185" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Jens Bangs Stenhaus by the harbour is the 4 story mansion owned by the wealthy disliked merchant across from the CityHall (Radhaus). It was later a pharmacy and remained one for 300 years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I went through the Budolfi Domkirke, The existing Budolfi Cathedral (Danish:Budolfi Domkirke) was built in the last decades of the 14th century over and around the original St Budolfi Church and was listed for the first time in the Atlas of Denmark in 1399. The church was named after </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Botolph" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">St. Botolph</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, an </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_Christianity" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Anglo-Saxon</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> abbot and saint. His reputation as a learned and holy man in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_England" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Anglo-Saxon England</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and as the patron saint of farmers and sailors made him a popular saint in pre-</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_in_Denmark" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Reformation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Denmark. The tower was added to the west front in 1779. The square 28-metre-high (92-foot) brick tower is topped with a 35-metre (115-foot) metallic Baroque cupola and spire. Four identical clock faces were installed on each of the four sides of the tower in 1817. The south side has a sundial mounted on it as well. The tower houses four bells and rings hourly. </span><img height="175" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/A2olm5LCnLNBFZvvkwrT7MWQVdnyPBDwHaRElj7HU-31Pm2oKvVVg7mJ6WA-QL0X2aG7ze_R2brnecdX5l89a8OKtqnAHM3IgXtaIkJXTIQT9lF4rxxqIUxgmwEgLwGoCKAT7o8" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="203" /><img height="177" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/x5EuY8JRXXZBOrvcWv4yH2K-XyP7I0a6THS3aiiT-mmpuTk6lssQqgeIRd9w6xD0R8LN0FA_SVrSArxCKjIhwWq94O508xRUJyGzVO4Eq9FNiHSB0LzVdR2TYxkjc0DM0YmD8EU" style="border: none;" width="236" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back on board, we attended the final seminar with Dr. Joe on “Destination Enrichment” on Scandinavia – Northern Light. Then on to Journey Farewell Trivia in the Living Room Lounge on the 10</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> floor. Don did well on the Activity Prize Redemption where his points earned him several t-shirts and other promotional trinkets. We had our final Azamara delicious dinner followed by a Chocolate Buffet which I could not miss. I attended the entertainment of a comedian named Mel Mellers who had a quick dry wit with lots of audience participation. Unfortunately the audience kept leaving due to some high seas we went through unexpectedly on the North Sea. Sea sick bags were posted on all the stairwells. We took some sea sick pills and went to bed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Monday, July 1, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Oslo, Norway Sunshine with high of 21 and low of 9, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sunrise 4 AM sunset 10:41 PM Arrived at 8 AM </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">After our last Azamara breakfast we disembarked. We were docked in central Oslo by the Oslo City Hall (Radhus) and spent some time looking around to discover the train station to board the high speed train out to the Airport to stay for a night at the Oslo Radisson Blu Hotel for $2000 Norwegian Krones (over $300 CAN with no concierge lounge but breakfast was included.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On our walk through the downtown we saw the yellow Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott) at the end of the Main Street (Karl Johan) but were too early for an English tour; National Theatre; Parliament Building; beautiful flowers, begging gypsy women; the Oslo Lutheran Domkirche; Opera House by the Central Train Station.</span><img height="128" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/VAZyTRvn897T6dIlE2_cjNQrqI8xk6_xAVs1xbMVT4K4fodiCX0_3Rm5nZHiRmTL51wmbKKw2kJAxsP5LN4tTJB8y6KChoA_MsFH_jOztUXG4wdIc4Q817VvU1OTnuW5uVdDNnE" style="border: none;" width="279" /><img height="132" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XsoKl_AnPOt-fxTXHwXLHcdCQk6c3mXXoAtlrNxnFa_yMLF1orc3m2KdV4zVHtMHmViR-KZTSK1PKVqdxPeN2nj1wT7VuxvnCb10vDr989OAczvFlmXiryO4fUOl9NH8uGzk3j0" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="175" /><img height="161" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bteVPcsRIaHoz6jJD2x3cR75KgFpm3WCWsYVqTdJrauU2dPd2T91kcQJEDNJ38sO4map8puVVymOoqVRgHek1BvG2OZPhlGk7P6GnO5qk5EZz8AvLH9uXOLpQlo5G5UrIdQ9_cU" style="border: none;" width="214" /><img height="206" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JFcYLQu2JsjKeSFLfSK_hMTaQOOMGbCk81pKTu3_kQ5EOF5II6AonAm6jY7PrqTXO4hlnJgJ2d367WYuH8CCF8vUPuR4OY8n1Femh858b5H8HAHmdD4qss2QGxhhueNF94w-LTQ" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="234" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Honourable mention for all the Scandinavian cities we visited, we were amazed to see the number of motorized scooters (skateboards) that zoomed around. We did not try them but they did look dangerous. </span><img height="223" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yDVsLmcCf3V2iqVzZJkZEzcZ1A1AekqKUcxYx00NMB2sRTxYlM7LEICsqHICWKI0gAfj3gHmDSggnRDXgwSUL3JqYx0PSB-TkiLsCfhn9NB3bfl_AeX0uoCzUnTo8zR2qzcypus" style="border: none;" width="184" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The FLYTOGET high speed train took us to the airport in 19 minutes and we walked over to the Hotel since it was connected to the airport. We met our Ship’s Captain Gianmario Sanguineti and his Peruvian wife in the hotel lobby. They were flying to their home in Miami. They also mentioned that they had a cottage on Sturgeon Point in Ontario but had it rented and hadn’t been there for 6 years. We purchased our chicken salad dinner from Burger King in the Airport. It was poor quality and cost us $12 CAN each. Our First Canada Day spent in another country.</span><img height="140" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RxVUJr19zqFcSR2fNgWez4mhGdEvBj_F_d6-iw7i64KuJhHgwm2D5CiWsy4uWtb5DBckqjlpxUUTR3gdvTa8OFCmLxHQHKQEtYZGyGCDfQyRYJqRbT_tEpJwgYawFcF3lZ8vojs" style="border: none;" width="257" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tuesday, July 2, 2019</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Oslo, Norway to Lakefield Canada</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We slept peacefully and ate a lovely breakfast in their restaurant and packed up for the flight home. No airport lounge for us at the Oslo Airport. Icelandair left at 3:50 PM to Iceland in 2:40 hours with a 4 hour layover leaving at 8:30 PM to arrive in Toronto at 10:25 PM for a 6 hour flight. We shared a Chicken Caesar Takeout meal for $24 CAN. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Larry picked us up and we dropped him off in Mississauga and continued on to Lakefield. Great trip!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-1533719383234624152018-11-05T18:08:00.001-08:002018-11-05T18:11:40.024-08:00European River Cruise - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Budapest to Amsterdam River Cruise “Jewels of Europe” on Scenic Amber </span><img alt="https://content.scenicglobal.com/webfile/STC-2-6531.jpg?width=470" height="385" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PXpPpvH0wVvMjuW5jcxc_SI-gZzQ5M4urSoKufyADWDm6VjWojRnRBTr_SNpS7NXt_zIf9LrMAQY1bCFUuBz3EZWfXF3HwPrY9XHygYNJZrOUx1y8hBDln63Zvn8P7w_fDATXhDD2jDxIBu1zw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="523" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">September 24 to October 13/18 - Celebrating 40</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Anniversary</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Monday, September 24/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Drove to Toronto, Lunch with Grampa, Tea with Larry and Annette and then Larry drove us to Airport to catch the 6:55 PM Air Canada Rouge flight to Budapest. Had time in the Airport Lounge and ate and drank so we could ignore the bad airplane cuisine. Overnight flight. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tuesday, September 25/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Arrived in Budapest on schedule and passed through Customs and waited for our luggage and caught prearranged ride to Marriott Hotel in downtown Budapest. Fueled up at Concierge Lounge and Mary explored the city as Don rested. Mary climbed to the Liberty Monument on Buda Hill and walked on both sides of the Danube River. Back to hotel and Don came out for walk to Hungarian Parliament Buildings. Dinner in Lounge and early bedtime since missing sleep last night. </span><img height="154" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rLrqvMFHVDal0uS52Le6WT7ykO9-BkiybZv7oEcirGWvrsYMyw5zKg8GtTDBCdMooDomcbOGCXRGu391vhBn6kVTdMWtdipkdpVCeJoGtXS6oEgJK6VtFejilHkqJxdHj2j7-8xw7V7UDJVnTQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="205" /><img height="133" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J3T1IQn44YUotMJcAa85pPo8TT7kU_Guc3cXUqrLrVgbD7tTJlhAyMUuO-qH-7cuPWW1gMQtJ-vbhPegoBJ5vfUIlFy0n2aJDEK0HXVJLUndcTxzmQPuaEkH8SVjdGsIR1olGXxLsCbaPuF5Eg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="178" /></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10bfe27a-7fff-d1b7-49f5-8e12f7216d87" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /><img height="137" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UqDKRudMGkESzIhVz1iqLC9qqi0a4aqCOtOkB3_w6jqeg_snzlu-aaavGKofuvFtmqrkd4eIHLp0uYzlytipqKTYOkZVYj_8CcTk0aG0YBmPKqu9bmTaRPU_nrt01skq4b-GpxUcM-yWB_fOQQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="379" /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Wednesday, September 26/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Mary explored more of Budapest – St Stephen’s Cathedral and walked all the way to Heroes Square and got back to the hotel for lunch. Caught the 2 PM Scenic bus to the ship – the Scenic Amber – not the Scenic Opal as booked due to low river level problems – Room 236 at back of ship. Looked around ship and had dinner. After dinner the ship cruised on the Danube in Budapest to see the sights by night. </span><img height="248" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cYeSF0BePexAeU4yGphcFQ1xtPZ-vHKKfC5a5pVqpgeqN-aR9KC8lETQNv8baCxKujupgoaX4XzfFNStLOGVk0WoX8Q7YKxydSmf1iFor1zcMt_3Q-bsYVfCh3Md-DDohNZ6YRGzbOvKXEU1Nw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="257" /><img height="168" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/yB3ZDLQHOkRE16RLRKtN-957bFD2gy2fpXwdvtkckMO6ep-mLnl-yMWVk0PEotGsY1cZAv96eZVmkS1GR1QoKvmU3BxAek2gNrU8k18-_g1-hvFn3AQNcYpEwyYFDBZqQtFGcKnEt76MhX6wSw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="395" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Hungarian National Museum </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Thursday, September 27/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Budapest Tour – On Buda side we visited the St Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Fortress (Fairytale Castle with seven towers in pale stone built for city celebrations in 1896 on eastern rim of Castle Hill) and then over chain bridge to Pest side to Heroes Square – also erected for 1896 and entrance to City Park. This was followed by a piano/organ concert by the music teacher at a School for the Blind. Back to the ship for lunch and I took a walk after lunch over the bent bridge and to do a little shopping – bought Hungarian Paprika, dark chocolate and a little pottery hedgehog that is a toothpick holder. </span><img height="141" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jaPb3-Vc-_V7G0BvVSF8G4Weepbs_8FDnZIazqO2DSGn2n9n0eJon1-pW0F3dX37ZEoZEDosmgQ63_4nRnP1MYw2cWwLzLUsDJ3aomR5ThgFEblMyUQxYNJfBujwSPA472lPjJtd0aKCIhsUAw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="188" /><img height="124" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/VRCIfYWmggmIzZpqtxgOh9zk4YyMfEmHYWDdfcTGD7FYL0C4EqqlmudlONDYTwwhLf_V1JShNgLHTUD0zuiidhQV2stSC1iPu_4xu3Au57z2tMQGXtOORMr7i_v9xLRpHz8x-eIKN02afIpXcw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="166" /><img height="152" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_TeRCPoRNVi09jjvv_wS2kef-kWNHbxy8UBKDfMySTvytd5alAQ8ZshH2-Edf-YEdSsKYOGCIp46SEf-QuIZhv6LKUxiogEpb1XuUN6PsRwYswwFjGsm8dCO0mAgYEHsdqwpnIHSihwUkB-Uhw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="250" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We sailed at 4:30 and had a safety drill at 5 PM and Captain’s welcome dinner that evening. We will pass through 68 locks on our way to Amsterdam. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">For entertainment in the lounge there was a Hungarian Folk Show. </span><img height="169" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cs-uLvodVDSmpzp6w4N0Swr5O57KLErRna_093l2za9TKVXafiqq_znJtyn1UhZtnGiMxj98GGfqU4_k9qb3AckvKEe-zmxzfmkxp8sSm5YmFS97ZamXtxnLhIvfpWexc3JG7XHjyKV35PRLjQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="225" /><img height="143" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s_kbwMiJW3kCTcDPaS8LpXEmQcL3BAMqqS9XZEoFV3B9E689vFskrEoTC7tdL3X5Zmhq29V-NO3-fQiUIQTyaLTU_I8jCNZW_btAKpJNhVS2Fw8yN7BMNmxD3kHUdaR8YeG0MjcFOZEOnx_iHA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="191" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Passed by Esztergom in the dark – Former Royal City and birthplace of King Stephen 1 which was destroyed by the Turks in 1543 and rebuild to have Hungary’s largest Cathedral (1820s) and is 41 miles north of Budapest. </span><img height="121" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dJ5_KEJfh1HpyLN0yfXqHZfUNM5SuECXvKLefSHIaC_ijRC_I8DLGnSCLs_9EalMFpN18RJtfxO6DlI9TnkWj4IZVLPniFFPaHBEwjWJeTEXEPMdaSGHFKqgt2NznnhN_iR6HTya3LRKYr07HQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="161" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Friday, September 28/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> - After Breakfast we received a Cruise Overview talk with the Cruise Director Tadej. Our Tailor-made devices were explained and we were introduced to the e-bikes. Had Lunch and we arrived in Vienna at 4 PM. Dinner was at 5 PM and then we enjoyed a private Classical Music Concert (Strauss and Mozart)at Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna. </span><img height="149" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sNzkJwYLwPJUNNZ5Yw1oUFzyTksk-jeSZKeoG9QjdlSGjOIa8SZsA8H10HVMoTER800Z1tZpN6sJJhIiWlQfQVrusEOEhOJfUp4GZc406EyvlXyaPy7-noEUZbpYeSNj_e-ZCH-xnHI22s_whg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="199" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Saturday, September 29/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Vienna – Bus to Schonbrunn Palace for morning tour. Imperial Summer Baroque Palace for the Habsbergs built in 1695 just outside of Vienna – 1441 rooms to compete with Versailles in Paris. Empress Maria Theresia built on to the palace and remodeled it as she received it as a wedding gift in the mid 1700s. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Maria Theresia and her husband, Francis 1, Holy Roman Emperor, had eleven daughters and five sons. Of the 16 children born in 20 years, 10 survived to adulthood. Marie Antionette was a daughter. Our guide said that Francis was rumoured to have 54 illegitimate children because Maria was frigid? </span><img height="136" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/36OFEvlHrY2Z7W7CmrGej5yFkkZwtpQPdl79HQXhMxQlI5fiYEd03C69zWQk1uJ7m9mevXJqZnKXkNxJK_y2xfJQZqxixuLf4Yc5JvkfJsRGJ0puttlDG08Y6pExoDYN7XT-BMFWPKMBUHTt0Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /><img height="166" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZkEvw_mqJFkGtmOCmp9Hu5DwTX2j7ShO9Mhmh8VRwW8JH3Lf6bYIdyqSDofQ-MtEuU9ULCRCi6XIbpcVyobKPQFzpNvs3HqPDA3ZLbg4TJ8CgQfvfO6EHbXZ5HCK2T1RUi4azmQvNJ5a5oenhA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="296" /><img height="166" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WRxwKGyDmFr1kny72xEWTDG5Xi1t7gLKRrRSdBzoIHzi1E6TULxuHCo0l1JXulXXXiO8dapTFXpeqBwgS3T7JLKAeXQMJOzSfPknPfyAMrr9kaHGMU-o5N_QH47IxZrhjSMqCI6v_LdZUpOYbw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="312" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There is a Gloriette structure at the end of the formal gardens on a 60 metre high hill. It was built to glorify Habsburg power (ruled for over 600 years). It was destroyed in WW2 but restored in 1947 and again in 1995. Today it houses a café. </span><img height="145" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cnp1oQmO7QfhO7F5SemnP11ZwTMvhJA0-Ei1ugVEMcOfpFpdbB-D-3bBAAZBU4XVt8XUlsWxjdOkkQ2AE50ThHRvUzF5WKRMu9fuOrjQHasULVCFkD9AXD0awPraQVN6pp_2KTxoqGz6em1z3w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="193" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Schonbrunn Palace is now owned by the Republic of Austria and is a UNESCO site on the World Heritage List. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On the return drive to the ship, there was an option to stop in the downtown area of Vienna to sightsee and take the shuttle service back to the ship later. Mary took advantage of this. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Exploring Vienna on this Saturday afternoon there were lots of crowds on this sunny warm day so in the 90 minutes I was there I took the elevator to the top of St Stephen the Martyr Cathedral with its black, yellow and green tiled roof and 446 foot gothic south tower. I also visited St. Peter’s Church (baroque) nearby the Cathedral and enjoyed an organ recital there. I wandered down more streets and came to the front of the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) which took 6 centuries to build and has 2600 rooms. It houses the Spanish Riding School (with the Lippazzner horses), Apartments, Empress Sisi Museum(Empress Elizabeth of Austria /Queen of Hungary). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="163" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NAKXj0Cxqhu0dgfvjmwTP91K2y1bRDhcIvyA0eC-yf9_J3DIE9sLEjLohW4xXnENv6cU_PLHp029Op0vlLPaGWbR5XgtBTba1oTVLp4Ga2HJPw6jg087pjNYsS9DKLLvdV-VW3khN6xV8UuFIA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="217" /><img height="115" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bEykGYBSPg0xRhnTR0KI3zFZ-cSm8xTPDhdy_Qd6thAw8j-fFtyPjN0bUFV_pPohxLboYtyTDlA47KhVQt3FDiEXxD5VMIZ05NDxFGhdRNUZzWQBKXuCH6HTayqO8z5uNelE_zt6tfMGE2PRbA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="148" /><img height="123" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/avGLs0ewsKn26d0C3lu9zANL_eXyVCJbe86Dyh41f5u7_5DgsVS8wN6pw9R_7erslt4bs_BycKuw5Y6ECZX3ryulCHFNOHbZHS4E61aL4j6Disse-QGSi3ddfB3aFV0lcCg_l7AOiF_4ECBbrg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="246" /><img height="331" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/D_b2txEJrYJbPIiuvliuJRsjq5WWjuQJEG8FxtBhgSFj30VwKKxnwWKg_ZSySJcnB-rj1F239GHbYRfDEAUfizr3VWfJ2wUkQzhaYVl7r8T0m7MkTjmPZVyRit-dyzy_4i6YkbvbPvsFz_DIew" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="299" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But no time to tour. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back to the ship for 3 PM and we sailed off at 10 PM for Durnstein. Rough night with our room at the end of the ship by the engines – noise and vibration. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sunday, September 30/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Durnstein, Austria – Arrived at 6 AM. We had free time after breakfast to explore the small village of Durnstein. Too early for Church, I strolled to the town and climbed up the hill behind the town to the castle ruins (1000 feet above sea level). This castle is where King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionhearted) returning from the Third Crusade was imprisoned after being captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold V of Austria. </span><img height="338" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WEal9gIESK34DTijTp48SczOKERL76-Wlvqw2AKXyLfbFFbNF5MGPfyMNgQ9Jsaf1zV7pGroE_xPNXOHHHUEkE7MJqkTNNP0E4IvdAzJlbBiUtABvZBOY2NVzlBwiJvw6IXBOGos2I0-Oq2eDw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="324" /></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">At 10:15 AM we had a briefing on our 35 km bike ride for Durnstein to Melk along the Danube river in the beautiful Wachau Valley passing through small villages and many vineyards. The ship had electric bikes on board and a few extra were provided by the bike tour company. An American woman from Vermont who went to university in Austria and stayed to marry and have a family was our leader. About 24 passengers participated. </span><img height="221" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ly0Nf6lECzwGFgZPyirkQq56pcINg8P61udRibXiHVS75DhYr2JfbIHvGD2AkZI5qIka1QiZfYUb_UE-LYiTgZU-FiqBQ2IgMppSlRABuKzNooRB5ZNUCYDQmj8ll8ib6V7sdMMDYLHXUbMong" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="275" /><img height="285" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/veE_V8soXv2wEs2zaWwsR6lcSJmk1nIyMFdwio6U283ZfbOMzTTY8dh7LcyfIS4-eE3OOEi7m9RKXl_O27kiVfy6qHLvwRwMy8usQZqQyjNVfdCr1-qfiyOM7yzyZcgAxsXxWV3dBPWt6X6eCg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="349" /></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">While we cycled, the ship sailed on the Danube (Donau) from Durnstein to Melk and docked and we then had lunch.The afternoon excursion was to the Melk Benedictine Abbey. (Mary) I toured through its museum, Marble Hall, 2 storey library and magnificent Baroque church. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On the Melk site, the Romans built a fortress 2000 years ago, then a castle around 950 AD for Duke Leopold III of Babenburg who later handed it over to Benedictine monks who made it into an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul. In the 1700’s the abbey was rebuild because it was badly damaged by Turkish troops. Today it is also a secondary school for about 900 students – male and female. </span><img height="124" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IxNo6UQFWKV-oE0-wUTwkUB1jA3nsner2XyIZMDrVmU8NjRXpeqpDxklYTcBHRZrn8cK6IsxN03_WozqmYQw_jTA7k2P_UqQLuu_ZX-Q9Af8Y25Hg4_RVzJs1hoan6jfRQIzKUVSpUtUDe1eog" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="182" /><img height="202" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hWyfAJMl_q1qQ4onw9CkuKPXntaCR8dLFIwE94iUEba8Gm7QyoJL3VcUf45z1Eih0WmzSO9Zmqf3dGSi7Xku5MFcQGMA9YWL-hibMZeq18a4SGHNuSM-cN115ZReRtLrFzn3l6oAg36PH-wX2Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="224" /><img height="116" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/URymxq6AtsSgesB68fUiIxxlxSTmDIjv-e8XYBwWq0RzgZ08pRanD9xg2swtBBwawfCus0DPUERQynN7Oci3LmynefrguwuleXNv6X0SqrRVQyKNS8SDvrew_nPyV7DyswxemVUP4CHC3dDHdw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="196" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><img height="130" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oG71xsW6XWHnLXMXpV2iL4QVLQc7hPAKcBgAJqAqFeQj2u7dSzH65T7HEU4bmyOH4b4SQN8iOzeCIxq8bfIemXaHIduvMJX0h4du72urpz7tgLs5QzJs56BjcIUx9dmc3S1wojpeIxNPMbwNmg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="193" /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As Empress Maria Theresia holds the sign which says – “I would regret if I had not been here.” Apparently she visited 3 times and had with her a staff of over 100. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We had a peak at the gardens but time was short as we were bussed away to a special “Sundowner” Event at Eggstein Castle. (Don and Mary)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Aggstein – Austria’s most well-known castle ruin. High above the Danube, it sits atop 2 steep rocky outcrops and is located in the heart of one of the finest river landscapes in the world: the Wachau. It has been entered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">With its strategically favourable position, Aggstein Castle was an important fortress that belonged to various well-known Austrian noble families over the centuries. We enjoyed a glass of wine , were entertained and watched the sunset before returning to the ship for dinner. </span><img height="160" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xzt0NmHM0HPjCl2XPCYrGMh_Njt6hBmD3UL2JWEcL9bQ6wzQbvU4J31Sd0oKhmi_CKuDtB5z-JlwRG7QWHa2BEcNQclwsJkgtnqsvBp-jtLiUjadEB59k7QqF_Ki8z8tywfgds81Rt0jetjeA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="213" /><img height="163" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ry7hznlwGzIqlqNtidSANVMFDUqK99mCxpi-XvUYj6aXmvaNaC9x9cwKYNim7HM-nF0ZoLEf1ABhuDWIH8-zn4ysUuy121WCdTA-p76XJFhDLLU3H6SKDUXlKP2_aIv0faasZ98ddV7SESfa7g" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="214" /><img height="201" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RXmAA77linYUYwsitYz2Z-QnizR8_RzqzjzFRRa-nuE5m_SQdtWBsiTt0l0IWQqza55tm4gY4o1KSwGnpkIVsYnVo_lSGRAqmsKjwpLIRYhWyFF-bfWyunqZk9_trULibhQMITx7-ncxEYUyVA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="268" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Monday, October 1/18 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">– “Sound of Music Tour” to Salzberg (Mary). After a scenic 2 hour bus ride we arrived for old town tour of Salzberg – birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91). (We did learn from our tour guide on the bus that the Alps are still growing. The rivers are green due to the limestone. The Bavarian forest has granite stone. Austria has 9 million people. Austria has the Porsche – Badden factory and some BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) engines are also built in Austria.) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We walked into the old town to Mozartplatz and the site of the baroque Salzberg Cathedral (Dom) (1614 -1628). Mozart was bapised in the Dom and he was its organist while still a teenager. Mozart’s father was a musician and his sister as well. We went by Mozart’s birthplace (Geburtshaus) but did not cross a bridge to see his family’s apartment there. We passed by an open market area and famous shopping area. </span><img height="201" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HI8cPdLS2eFNzCmsQu5OKW-dFM8fudWrNk0OKiO-QGlx40iePcasPlU7lLzq1ukBXMK0BcY-R0kwt_KJ9YK9po3kPHyUewthMMIHH7AUE-Rfs3iEiIEO47dyn_olaSzZBROq859cWkHuacy4yQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="268" /><img height="204" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wSosRe3MKMvRkQY3_SQswM5NPVoPcdVosN-Ex3e3xA0Bfw6SNpeRNTUEJKiCFxPwYIEJTYrbkHmInZjx7qi6LuWCPgYqKPGQwjnOrO9qdVN0pNk8viQCwYV9Ger7-fFWeAt917GQcTt4pm8P2A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="271" /><img height="143" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v_CZqiAROLmY24kPaXQVh1oKHMeYZDnd05LpuoOsJwNYa1L9Hw1B4vm2dTZYkAFExYl_Tx4xhV4f0Bj99nkYhn-4yxHOofTbRjvHjy-nC1VOVJ90xun6yNyt01DwPzznVOXvbCkJzBwoYejsvw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="275" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We were given some free time and I strolled with a fellow Scenic traveller John Brown from Nova Scotia (wife Irene as still on the ship where Don was too). We visited some churches (even below to the Crypts) and wandered behind Church of St Peter to an old cemetery. We stopped into the tiny Furst Chocolate shop at Brodgasse 13, to purchase the celebrated Mozartkugein – Mozart Balls – delicious round chocolates with creamy marzipan filing. These were first created in 1890 by Paul Furst. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><img height="166" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/llAaY4Zr2WBNtw6Xti_ItjkY39NlMUiDuTzUiqglFOqJxyQGqt12IyAa18zq9g1v46ac-uL6cGIkdwQ3Ci_scK6ucVLrNBECuzl0VM6YX0JCGnmmyu0twqn5YMZviPzwZz79F0DyBpIgzVUHXA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="204" /><img height="201" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bj7vKP7Z49CDrzTpXuMH70l9YUTrUV52d8F6qxcZIHGuiGmcfQGaFAgRw0lmbr1pSS-LFFzZ0Bsfb7gRH6Ly_UP3VX4uF8eswG2SC-iGz0BoZv9ThMyt4uS2H0ldFHJC_cbv4KwF2p8xh7xYNA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="262" /><img height="165" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lp5YeCDC-jNYILIH5KK3GUfuYU4iTu1aLnNDnBM_ku0kAO6OFZWlPD7qTDg_1VjDmML1jMrromhjxhbxsp3QNTv5kW3EABuVm9KpPaRXaMaaY5CdU3gHHik6AQ5DW8V3ic_WGnisUuU6MMUbvQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="219" /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then the touring groups were reassembled to stroll back to the busses to travel up the mountain to have lunch at a lovely restaurant “Zistelalm” – 1100 metres above sea level (unfortunately it was a foggy rainy day so no scenic views from up high) and enjoyed live entertainment playing and singing classical, traditional and Sound of Music songs. </span><img height="182" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HRAjO7TxSe9DVBHODPOfE1zvpW5jsrVmO_rYnTR0V2QT-ck5XoS7W5LUkFVHsSEVg8cwyWlC2jsjGfWjrIk-xzSPWdKExewNtxJVIjDZcp-fw9XLcRUfM73eTiarqoohzNyQV4lVAzEgYZ3KGg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="287" /><img height="179" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/b6qXpm-CddAvUosySBLeixSoXSflF-b-GCkOCD3urwenAxCP5Q1Eh5EiwBy95cUT301aDjFttmcEFY9ByIk3xNdSnh6FmQ8K2CH6KCtAWRvnFCm5KMM_vdBYA5StnSjUp5v_y6kJxLtpD_XJ4Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="355" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On the bus our tour leader told us many things about the “Sound Of Music:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Captain von Trapp was in the Austrian Navy – at that time Austria had a coastline on the Mediterrean Sea (now Croatia has the coast) and he was involved with submarines and testing torpedoes. This eneavour involved the Whitehead family from the US. Von Trapp’s first wife was a Whitehead and they had 7 children. His first wife died in 1921 but that connection brought the family to the US?|</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Maria was not hired as a governess for all the children but only for one of the girls who was sickly and could not attend school. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Captain von Trapp and Maria married in 1927 (he was 25 years older) and they had 3 children together. Apparently Maria was very strict and not as loving and kind as depicted in the movie. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Captain von Trapp was the owner of several companies and was rich after his military career but had all his money in an Austrian bank and those banks went bankrupt in 1935.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Then life changed and the family started their singing career for money – singing traditional Austrian Folk Songs. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- The Von Trapp family had a professional singing teacher that was not mentioned in the movie and this teacher came with them to the US.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- 1937 – Salzberg Music Festival – Captain von Trapp did not sing with the family because he was a noble so that was not acceptable in that society. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- The family was invited to sing on radio in Vienna and then went on tour in Europe. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- in 1938 Captain von Trapp was invited to Berlin by the Nazis – because of his experience with submarines but he did not report. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">-The family did not climb over a mountain in Austria. Captain von Trapp was called a second time by the Nazis and did not report. They escaped to Ellis Island USA by ship after a concert in Italy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- in 1947, Captain von Trapp died but the family continued to perfom to the mid 1950’s.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- 1959 – Broadway show of “the Sound of Music”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- 1965 – US film “Sound of Music” made in Salzberg. The “do, ray, me” song was shot at Mirabelle Castle which was home to a mistress of the Prince- Archbishop of Salzberg.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> In 1955, a European black and white film was made of the von Trapp family so the American version was not well received since it was poorly dubbed in German and different songs were substituted. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We returned to the ship in time for dinner. We had a delicious dinner – at the Captain’s Table at the front of the Dining Room with Don and I, John and Irene Brown, Mike and Debbie Nichol from Regina (we bonded on the long bus ride) and Mark and Cheryl from Seattle. I dissected a Mozart Ball to share with the table at dessert time. Served by our favourite server Andi from Indonesia. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tuesday, October 2/18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> – Bavaria, Germany - Passau and Regensburg – After breakfast, Don and I loaned 2 bikes from the ship and cycled about 5 km into Passau and looked around. Passau is the city of the meeting of 3 rivers. It was the site of a Roman military base and flourishing medieval city, fires in the 16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and 17</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century destroyed the city and it was rebuilt in Baroque style. I visited the Cathedral of St Stephen with its gigantic organ – 17,000 pipes and 230 registers. I also took a tour inside the Old City Hall(Rathaussaal) with it’s Baroque Council Hall (1662) and gothic staircase dating from 1446. </span><img height="166" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/scenqI0ci1q3cJozUOr_b7c0PodG5oPpSj8V5TZkxucpeFCTC5n4S5xtOTe5687_tIZKXBfRY71LAlax4JHZgqFAj4V8oPXARxdit-OUOOsgy-AVTZLWRJVwTGJ5EwE22Ih2iCNObNHTR6uDXA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="221" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Old City Hall</span><img height="162" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SI7LphmudtEpI2avGNmQ_9bFxKwd1MNfI74oXK7JQnTMn5S2Dibf8hhAFBIF0qG8H4TUkZWa1uvQhq1AIoTnw_PuSSerXHG13LLJv-1WymFs-396KfjxYn9kk8YDTgdggnp--p6iYyJXlQHOkg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="174" /><img height="163" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fPa-mEqYhgefaSdWNtbCN06Jy8n9jGMOseV0FR206IJ70Dh5XKLQwe2clmMPRkLvw1NkNMEYGMtzb98OhaBn-PTdFcdjyW2x5enVXVFx9hOrPy5s5OjH7OeHXupBWYoVIRI125b1CWRe73sC3A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="217" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><img height="206" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jr28DKiKBk-6z7cIHg85VvCa95MrU1kYRykaQYm5d0t33r5MtIYr9UCH2JTaHG9yDYWRUg6YPzHOHWtrS-P42v40KprhM39nQ6RUNUMNdP0vPZgWkl3GrZqZga-E4PJSexv9NjRDxNGHln2lkg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="275" /><img height="259" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MVx5KkyGTzUiAn4xFsddK9Fmqdf5L_eM4zaCmJzz3qbbZf3tkjb5wvusRp8xdLERNYDbCur0WO5N_xE-6B2rIW7-dXYGSvzwFpinhVVdgolE0xWvBJgy_KyVbiKKQJOw3gD_vZiHsbV94TbseQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="305" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Fresco in Council Chambers of Old City Hall</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Furnace unit in Council Chambers. Stoked from the back just like the ones at that time period in Palaces.</span><img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4r24aRsrcE4znc5ad81VMB3Pm72o7Fa6j5P-exkQmzwt2HjhzbtIx9jTUHEXHu4XH-yn9UFwyWGqCVcDCiZy7MHWEkmLyHf2dUn35yPtEpXd_v_TFmQ-Eld61530o3fI07f9wYhe-Z2ai2_H_A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="534" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><img height="233" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9uddThx9W_G39xxIpQVn8woodF_HZxKXpol1M_bbHZkxcUGrbUeNerF418hX2e-S_yrWjC7PIwkbMQptCTdOmnm0cEBNF8yHB0FTmu9aBXmZE4YdrHf_elZUlzXaeAmnI8rQMmRK8c7PDe7E6A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="310" /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Ceiling in Council Chambers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Water Levels noted on side of Old City Hall – note level of 2013! That is a man standing beside the chart. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Back to the ship for lunch and then on a bus for a tour to Regensburg. (Mary) It is located at the northernmost point of the Danube River. A Roman city in the 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century, christenized in the 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century and delared a Free Imperial City in 1245. It is a UNESCO World Heritage historical town. The city was often chosen as the venue of meetings of the German Parliament, the so-called Imperial Diet (courts) and from 1663 to 1806 it was the seat of a Permanent Diet. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On arrival, we walked across the medieval Danube Stonebridge with its 16 arches and is one of Europe’s earliest surviving bridges constructed between 1135 and 1146. Note the little spy on the pedestal.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We stopped at the historic Wurstkuchl which is the oldest sausage restaurant where the workers on the bridge and cathedral ate. We noted the Porta Praetoria – a 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> century Roman gateway. On to Goliath Haus (Shindler family lived there for a time) and the statue of Jon Paul (story) and then Cathedral of St. Peter with its amazing stained glass windows and story to the devil and his grandmother. </span><img height="216" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YmoEfn0d9V1zKopCm0qF-DjP50H2gjiccL32-bYhQcJIEx3BpJyrd9l3C2aIHcSTn5raRmrfxSkU7pdtbRTysufwGzfJPtXEJDojyqJx1NgxC6PDeXPg_5k0QrvRbD2Z01TNZ5P-zwvaqUZiig" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="346" /><img height="119" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_1ZIRvZCf5mBt9nrzn66FWdubFQOeG5eOjro8kYsgVYHzcU3fzfB8iBm_XN5P1RfQy2pmRSWz1v2RrQfYSjJi07VOMHbiOtsOa2aGyYXACzZlPl8otNxYNgs8Yv5JjT69CdNbR7EqZ-d9Sl7aw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="204" /><img height="158" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jlQiVf5MaCdYbecC3sK9BV4LSS-nvsvcYJO_JTSwYJY9kEX5FtTaBhP9LLZl-rswAoJY3lfcXUyydaAnyrcX8ypEfpb-YP_vtDFo2xpfOhiRGzbbX9VxonjInQgRIyCOBCmtD1H01dEnqXWSQw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="220" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bus ride back to Ship for dinner and night. </span><img height="188" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9N-tUb0hbhhxWKimkJCMIeEQWQMQxUcuiyhscq8rhUea1j52d5TVXfQ6aohXUVWPAf7H_xyz3rwdvaErMCgJEJO5hHKoO50JCZnuAAzpFm8G_zg21aJaN_PsuFX21h6ZGaQNv4xkYKDedgMejQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="331" /><img height="173" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1l4QmY4nlCKFU6E4gaikBgpJHg51m9qazxuJ7piXDbFe-6x-w_vB_hDOCdXNF6Twx6TykNwvsCadKNc_oa0u9LoYnVakvCjuY-p8fLJDDzTU_Nqr5MrK_JD1PaEptn_VJGBgNyqCbKtCDxLKdw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="267" /><img height="204" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jbFRephRY8XAp6_nab7XOLvMxJ40BoxHuMr1BaSumrF4yHkynATHMIcw1sxi8m9IEvuygd82BFFGzvUK3pBPpq8z22IqO2GaJZylyOtpX0y1pndqRn_BwPRnAcdqZ-JK5akXPn_pUTG2hPaNWg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="271" /><img height="221" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TdNfwBCOjfPgndjlB-AenBKLI6m6xvPNeruj7sXgP0wr2jgriZ3xTKIaY3ercWm-BFaiv73x-P__OGA3DOnatERJH0q0XWbJJYPaIz7KcT1zGSjeajUAKri30FaeO7d2NCeA-HGmjbNGv9TO7w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="257" /></div>
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The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-28754343993148395802018-07-06T05:50:00.001-07:002018-07-06T05:50:08.306-07:00Trip to London England - June 2018<div dir="ltr"> <b style="font-weight:normal" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-e1a4d43b-6fa4-2959-ed61-184000b9c2b2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Trip to London England June 19 to 27, 2018</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In November 2017, my sister Dorothy asked if I might be interested in going to London England with her for a week or so in June 2018. The reason she asked me was that her husband Ed was not interested in going and she was offered a holiday to go back with Ed's distant cousins – Cheryl and Alan Doherty from Hazlemere, England – after their 2 week holiday in Canada staying with Dorothy and Ed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">So I asked Don and he said go ahead so plans were made. We booked our flights (Air Canada from Toronto - $ 1109.41 each). Alan and Cheryl flew British Airways at the same time but it happened that we booked with Air Canada?) Then we ordered London City Passes for 3 days and 25 pound Oyster Cards – for travel in London (132.08 pounds each – x 1.8 for Can $ = $237.75). And we booked an Airbnb flat in London for 2 nights in the Westminister area for $203.65 each). So before taking off we had invested $1550.51 in the trip. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Trip:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Monday, June 18, 2018</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> – Left Lakefield around 9 AM and had a lovely lunch at Canterbury Place in Toronto with Grampa Marsden ( day after Father's Day) and Annette ( birthday girl) and Larry Marsden. Did the bimonthly haircut and toenail clipping for Grampa – Father's Day present. Larry and Annette dropped me off at Toronto Airport around 2 PM and I meet up with Dorothy shortly after. Ed had dropped Dorothy, Cheryl and Alan off at Terminal 3 for British Airways and Dorothy had taken the Link train over to Terminal 1 to join me for Air Canada. We spent the next 2 hours in the Plaza Premium Lounge (–thanks to getting free passes by applying for a BMO credit card) drinking some wine and nibbling on their free food before lining up for our 6:35 PM flight to Heathrow. Flight left a bit late but we arrived on time. Food left a lot to be desired so we were happy we had the goodies form the lounge.) Didn't really sleep on the flight but did rest. A little bumpy on the 6 hour flight but arrived safely.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tuesday, June 19, 2018 </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">– Arrived at 6:45 AM London time after circling London due to heavy air traffic volume. Spent some time clearing British customs and picking up Dorothy's suitcase and emerged to find Cheryl and Alan's daughter Kelly waiting for us. Cheryl and Alan took the train over from their terminal and we were together in 10 minutes. Dorothy purchased a SIM card for her phone and then we were off to Hazlemere to begin our holiday. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We spent a quiet day. Checked out the Parade – shops within a short walk from their house. (Completed our first challenge from our sister Anne – to send a photo of us with fascinators on – which we spotted in a Thrift Store on the Parade). After lunch, Cheryl and I did a hike around the country fields behind their subdivision. Dorothy and I again revised our plans of what we were going to see in London and one what day so we were organized. Lovely curried chicken dinner expertly prepared by Alan and to our 3</span><span style="font-size:7.2pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:super;white-space:pre-wrap">rd</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> floor bed by 9 PM to catch up on our lost night's sleep when we were flying and tomorrow our early up to get into London. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1562 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ysVjZer6ES7nhyyvZ3xXDFh8PmaSG3w4Qbp3zbDmChWNlVhFyofeO2NI5blgb2T_1EigaEOgHTUGUGRCUt4e1mGe_YE5Uv16CldZ0GLUBZDaft7eZkXylXCRc1UW9ZBEuPvrY-tZ3YA3DM7s5g" width="130" height="98" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wednesday, June 20, 2018</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> – Up at 6:30 AM for breakfast and Alan dropped us off at the local train station around 7:30 with our luggage for the 2 nights in London. The first part of the trip was roomy and above ground but going into London the train went underground and more people boarded all the time. We had to change trains to get to our St James Park station and then it was rush hour and sardine time – very crowded. We found our way to the Airbnb London 3H flat at The Peabody Trust Bldgs, Abbey Orchard Street – near Westminister Abbey. We had a lot of instructions on where to pick up the keys and things about the flat and the tiny flat served our purposes since we did not spend a lot of time there – only the 2 nights – but the mattress was crappy. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">So by 9:30 we had found the flat and unloaded our luggage and were ready for exploring London. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">First stop – audio tour inside Westminister Abbey. Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. The building itself was a Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was dissolved in 1539. Between 1540 and 1556, the abbey had the status of a cathedral. Since 1560, the building is no longer an abbey or a cathedral, having instead the status of a Church of England "Royal Peculiar"—a church responsible directly to the sovereign. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The week before our visit was the funeral of Stephen Hawking who is buried in the Church. More than 3,300 people are buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey. This has also been the setting for every coronation since 1066, and for many other royal occasions, including 16 weddings.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Lady Chapel was my favourite spot. Built by </span><a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/henry-vii-and-elizabeth-of-york/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King Henry VII,</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> first of the Tudor monarchs. It has a spectacular fan-vaulted roof and the craftsmanship of Italian sculptor Pietro Torrigiano can be seen in Henry's fine tomb. </span><img alt="The Lady Chapel" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/FEZuXQDyDokIB0KvfWvh3sbfI6AWDC4AzIQhJ1VBKJvao0sJJIbrtWf3dS2nOfcuhtUf3BGv95FgKrJTZVRY1NDJJAIMgZw83ayVDtrBhg74py9yjtfOQdXUyC2rmS2JJjJZCnZWRP9ZUds6kA" width="185" height="238" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1567 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OXLcqeowQptRePIMo604yA1vBBmmnywqOMcKpp4ipuLm3xSH96rQMZCUEBFrWzRBjM6c7FaMfriJe7RzYj6DImhP8xy_HhDqA1XsjiDmDBKxl94DWhOz2r-lFJgSMZnSTP8KzHcVYYw1FAnNBw" width="174" height="174" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From there we strolled over to Buckingham Palace (home of the present Queen Elizabeth II) to catch the Changing of the Guard at 11:30 AM. It was very crowded so we took some pictures and moved on before the ceremony actually began. Our mother would have loved the beautiful red geraniums in the gardens there. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1576 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QX4d4sHK4uyi1eYlVhn74NUh9JcXiv5KTajusBZoYvKf7jIh5QvE-cABvhzGHIfl4Ked5BRY7sjZNelazUZh_0fyCv1L0LQhEEsY9m-QyHVK3XxUS5mGrTuglBRLnhpjrpUPoXyYHoH8DQHx3Q" width="211" height="158" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1578 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZUgjE3SYwr9Z3JyUomeMUEavj2p1ynSVDlVWJx5I-zf9ghWyKsFj3O091Lf3ODWzFd8LjJXlOJSiAk-4oRpIfnZ1hOMiUkkCjtKVpbxCgqVP2ufUu23ues0FwUoqw7i4Bhr3vOtG-yb8_xvuww" width="148" height="126" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We kept walking and reached Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus connects to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Piccadilly</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, a thoroughfare whose name first appeared in 1626 as Piccadilly Hall, named after a house belonging to one Robert Baker, a tailor famous for selling </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadill" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">piccadills</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, or piccadillies, a term used for various kinds of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collar_(clothing)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">collars</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster. It was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning "circle", is a round open space at a street junction. Piccadilly now links directly to the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as the Haymarket, Coventry Street and Glasshouse Street. The Circus is close to major shopping and entertainment areas in the West End. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We did stop at a small market in front of a Church and purchased "bamboo socks" which we had to carry around with us for the rest of the day. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We continued walking and reached Trafalgar Square – the very heart of London and it contains Nelson's Column and several galleries around it. Nelson's Column is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">monument</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Trafalgar Square</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_London" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">central London</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> built to commemorate </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_Horatio_Nelson" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Admiral Horatio Nelson</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, who died at the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Battle of Trafalgar</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in 1805. The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Railton" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">William Railton</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> at a cost of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_sterling" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">£</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">47,000. It is a column of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_order" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Corinthian order</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> built from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmoor" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dartmoor</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> granite. The Craigleith sandstone statue of Nelson is by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hodges_Baily" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">E.H. Baily</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and the four bronze lions on the base, added in 1867, were designed by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Edwin_Landseer" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sir Edwin Landseer</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It was refurbished in 2006 at a cost of £420,000, at which time it was surveyed and found to be 14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) shorter than previously supposed. The whole monument is 169 ft 3 in (51.6 m) tall from the bottom of the pedestal to the top of Nelson's hat (supposedly the height of the mast of his ship – so the Hop On Hop Off Bus tour guide told us?)</span><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Piccadilly_Circus_Dawn_BLS.jpg/800px-Piccadilly_Circus_Dawn_BLS.jpg" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/G0izUFeZ1lnQnMa_IgU1z18vTGsSntPDiHUbJGVuJvbkhW7k9ytSActV_LkFr8jiVEQBbn28EQsQXkO59DBTlrPkkw13wTIfC4SkROBEGaNMUiVZZfWSIfAefPMYxDK11D4YkeL14WZAUmlGwg" width="624" height="204" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1600 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3x47xMitUtKyX6I-_xtxXX74RL8sKdBEloyjDa7oxPwTTXNNP3ew5whWRFux8oT12apu6nhaSvBxrCZnGv8hw2vfcV9C0SzNRF2E5A3EzohvqrOm1D2b-VLsioS8_SAm0Y2LBQ4U-BFMloM_Jw" width="337" height="127" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1587 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RNy6kDINUJQnusHm8hpUGCve0AZaKE2LFBKWNWjhZXbG8cV4enit_uVPQjmPXv6Ws6sltqTiHe36Pdm6qSstSha2-VLZSLoK_6xR0j0hJScWshMdoGDJmbhJpTDth3j0sP--Y5rbVPbVeEKAEQ" width="167" height="203" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We took a quick trip into The National Gallery (free admission) on Trafalgar Square to search for a painting done by Michelangelo Caravaggio (a second challenge for our sister Anne).</span><span style="font-size:2.25pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1586 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nURMYr6-Vogl5PyzmmuEEZV3q5XAQfhHFdWeBO7sedznX0BRP4GFx9IGFdwe9B9HBJw9THOfIQRuFWlONN0FjRpsEcC8mGmiwGEQOAr2llzgM5Itl3wGb27yhALOyAWQ326_DtChDSbxTOE2rA" width="173" height="159" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After this we walked back to towards Westminister Abbey along Whitehall Street and stopped for a tour of Banqueting House of Whitehall Palace. Designed by Inigo Jones for King James I and completed on 1622, the Banqueting House is the only complete surviving building of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence from 1530 until 1698 when it was destroyed by fire. It was also the site of King Charles I execution in 1648. Originally built for state occasions, plays, and masques.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><img alt="See the source image" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FXPIE2Tyu1OBS9MdTDTP9QDwWK_qQoGLuSaYQH6a-Eq-3Hc8AQHqUNLEM52Te77KPVUe3sBh6uNExz_R7dgCk0mhn5YHq9ekBEMp6V_hKkmYOtINQ8ImLElfCX2j5rKB_HBhIsbwUfeZxfG_tQ" width="101" height="127" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We continued walking up Whitehall past 10 Downing Street (home of the British PM Theresa May) and turned at Edward Street to check out the Churchill War Rooms which cousin Rita recommended. The line-up for this attraction was too long for us at 3 PM so we finally located the right spot to catch the Hop On Hop Off Bus and rode very slowly due to traffic to St Paul's Cathedral. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">St Paul's Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London, Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The present cathedral, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed in Wren's lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding programme in the City after the Great Fire of London.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Lora;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">One of the other exciting features on the tour of the main cathedral floor is the famous St Paul's Cathedral dome. Scenes from the life of the apostle Paul were painted over the course of four years onto the dome's ceiling by a man named James Thornhill. However, the paintings on the dome today are actually reproductions. Thornhill's scenes had to be repainted in the late 1800's due to deterioration from London's smog. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Services held at St Paul's have included the funerals of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson,_1st_Viscount_Nelson" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Admiral Nelson</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Wellesley,_1st_Duke_of_Wellington" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Duke of Wellington</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sir Winston Churchill</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher,_Baroness_Thatcher" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Baroness Thatcher</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; jubilee celebrations for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Queen Victoria</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Charles,_Prince_of_Wales_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; the launch of the Festival of Britain; and the thanksgiving services for the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Silver</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Golden</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Diamond</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilees" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jubilees</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and the 80th and 90th birthdays of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Elizabeth II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The crypt (largest in Europe) is the resting place for famous Britons such as Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and the cathedral's architect Sir Christopher Wren. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We decided the bus was too slow so we took the London tube (subway) over to the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum (free admission) – Dorothy's choice. It is the world's leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. We took in a fashion through the ages exhibition, silver collection and jewelry and a little stained glass exhibition too before closing time. Then we had a long stroll back to the flat and collected wine from Salisbury's grocery store and salmon takeaway dinner from "Pret a Manger" deli and some berries from a street vendor on the way. It was a busy day and we were spent. The owner of the flat we were in seemed to be a Steve McQueen fan and shown is the large picture above the bathtub. </span><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral_Nave%2C_London%2C_UK_-_Diliff.jpg/800px-St_Paul%27s_Cathedral_Nave%2C_London%2C_UK_-_Diliff.jpg" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EM26zO52_ML_binOx3fhdeYXEK9g6difc0-Uavd2smmPK5OBj3_cfNfgfFkxsDvnfts6DQgE6iOo_wgCEyD6OebawRvF4cKOWzXASaVLn-J6XCKNkJlvhynLN-SlrFPaxKk7MzCokO3qbBmSpQ" width="210" height="183" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/St_Pauls_Cathedral_from_West_adj.JPG/800px-St_Pauls_Cathedral_from_West_adj.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nllQHEYFu3IOqYHA9X7t5PfqzcTI5IdR88ThaxeNsfNOn0GfQqikfaOhkUU9eepfXIiwwq5ogGJKaZydilqR2nwBSNTm-y0tzDURu2yper5Sw2EJ2x3Z9soker7GCAgXoR4oohVq7O0Ze4h-ZQ" width="173" height="171" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="See the source image" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mOEHrrk5oMVDd3EqAsJH4b1vmuW7c1PunNPVtMobfzbac9QgXDx-VaFYJLPQyZgQ0rDu_lR5zYyJKCHNriulcCjYk1hwOUouEXRsBEPJOxbivIYJ8GH5l92due_yFKiSgegrFsDkNXhEBR_rVg" width="242" height="136" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="See the source image" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ssMKdRb4xyQqm1sbt88Xzck7H7zun8daO84eS67Iu7a0qbisQVyuy4JdC_0HVHoE58McA_CnpvVwT9av5qMA59-ugm8T1dXv_q8a15ZpE_ONoHoXzdRhoJMrtKThIruTz4TaWBnVwCVdhkcfbQ" width="227" height="151" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="A Look Inside St Paul's Cathedral In London" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8TV1cCviQ6zm24-NHAi7SDkuDBFYBg00f9XSb6j6aozgeA6bLKJ-e_Zhu7RrdmrqsJyWNMeisqPPLKPbdlYfIpGJ_oIQFebUXL8szXUS_iQMjREIDBsOc_pR6EU3niBxshl8bApM4R_6QYS4Bw" width="241" height="161" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1565 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7wCtCeJgGeUxVgkEOaaCqchLcEmyHkfMm3cWa_rNm6UtseNvFrrCTf8QsXnvLgAAS-XAMfVX47aDdto5JdnoJ1MKGxdxiwpBg3jwxOSy6EYqjUPxdSq9-l1FY8XkkTynxX3-nx8uiEcmTSyydw" width="204" height="138" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thursday, June 21, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Up early, had a yogurt parfait with berries we bought yesterday and headed off to stand in line outside the Churchill War Rooms attraction. We had to wait for 45 minutes in the cool shade – we would have preferred the sunshine since we were cool – but we enjoyed the audio tour – very comprehensive and interesting. It was the underground headquarters that acted as the top secret nerve centre for where Churchill and his inner circle determined the course for the Second World War. It has a large exhibit of Winston Churchill's personal and political life. The recent movie "the Darkest Hour" depicts this time and environment. Learned during the tour that Churchill could not stand the sound of typewriters so silent typewriters had to be used around him – didn't know silent typewriters existed myself.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From here we walked over to the Westminister Pier on the Thames River to board the City Cruise boat to the London Bridge and Tower of London Pier. Before boarding we had a chance to admire "Big Ben" and the back of the Parliament Buildings from the pier. As you can see in the picture, Big Ben was undergoing renovation and is surrounded by scaffholding. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On our river cruise we passed by many London attractions such as the The London Eye, known for sponsorship reasons as the Coca-Cola London Eye. It is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames. The structure is 135 metres tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres. When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. A rotation takes an hour and our guide said you can arrange to be married on it too. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We also passed a beautiful $55 million US yacht named Aventa that was parked beside the HMS Belfast and owned by a Russian diplomat.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Thames River in London is tidal with a variation of 7 metres. The Thames is the longest River in England flowing 215 miles from it's source. It runs by Windsor and Hampton Court. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We landed at Tower Pier and toured the Tower of London – seeing the vast array of armour and weapons. I learned what a "garberobe" was – a toilet/privy in a medieval castle. The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">castle</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Norman Conquest of England</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_(Tower_of_London)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">White Tower</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">William the Conqueror</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moat" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">moat</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_I_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Richard I</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_III_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Henry III</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_I_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Edward I</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">While I toured the White Tower, Dorothy had a peak at the Crown Jewels since she had already toured the White Tower on a previous trip 5 years earlier. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Onward to tour "All Hallows (All Saints) by the Tower" Church beside the Tower of London. This small church survived the Great Fire of London (1666), rebuilt after extensive bomb damage in WWII and was rededicated in 1957.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We then strolled over to do the Tower Bridge Exhibition.Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the world. We walked across the high level walkway with it's new glass floor, toured the Victorian Engine Rooms – home of the original steam engines. The bridge consists of two </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_tower" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bridge towers</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_(physics)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">tension</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical components of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. Before its restoration in the 2010s, the bridge's colour scheme dated from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Queen Elizabeth II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">'s </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Silver Jubilee</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Its colours were subsequently restored to blue and white.</span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1605 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Jlo5XlogcmOQqbRPShj6nZaZLyz7j6f-KICAQDnlvq8OPhOUd4bN84C7CS7VbTS841muckuwPk8Q1-YyN2J2WBp4fhcwvyvTc9vI_VdObH41AzCiu2uKHJN0qEd1DKwOlMl8AxFQotlU36uHyQ" width="191" height="143" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1607 (002).JPG" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mHdkssqR_hSXvJzPc9gRSdVeXg5oz_Sdzh1QhNedDGbDPJ-Z_bAmdbZOWNAre2kj0p7cW7ltHgfsNwxIvBFMRey0JAKGieH7N25lliXWX_F3-Bwrj2j11ODqozIpR1aItWdqbxAHJ3X9qjxKew" width="228" height="138" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1609 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kgRY6kTJY6vxdrn7InE5ymvBC4OG990jes93__Vo6JgWHHKczEIU_GeNlnsn5Zy_Eo_MOC1opVBfCm-Y8hhhRyx2TLUyQg6RG2MzTa3tdwwijky5Os_oIKjiXzUMQvw854J7yluVphMQoOF4cQ" width="208" height="115" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1630 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eDFSZaf5VAzjruEI1j0Ld47cftWa4CJ8EruUw82zWymdf4mLxjEjMCDZGkyMkGZI8cQT8KYCHUjNH64h9W-1CO1hq3gQR2LNmYkYCZzJnvq509Lind2OMFTeWOhr7zFcBkSFfcOYrsIDz8xZEw" width="258" height="140" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1635 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/j9hK5CtdJdZewCF2J1P4QiDtkItXOq9i57CbntXxPrZ44tkJ0sPJc3gaj3vJXB2h60aSE69fKcpZAVQmNHznn7qBw_AXWQ8V6bxxkHg23CDBr5E5FZ0ffTrlcbh6N9HIdbBBGtsuYBK0_sjgaA" width="239" height="99" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1671 (002).JPG" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KqOvCAVOSfjpOSvNTT7AVvWBsQTmqicpBm3JZNBaFN0xFtFZxVj9ai1y0rS-xJGGw4OJTdbMFZI86mgK-889joMKZpKLBEjDKmi5vTb78aScCEDQ6D8Hh54fhkBirO8CtvLKiHSZVliTLxnkgA" width="157" height="221" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">So on the south side of the Thames we took in the "Tower Bridge Experience" – a dramatization of London's history done by local actors but bypassed the Tomb maze experience – not too impressive and Dorothy was accused of being a witch but escaped being burnt at the stake. We had a nice dinner at an English Pub directly across from the entrance of this Tower Bridge Experience. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">One more stop today is "The Shard" (designed to appear like a shard of glass at the top) to get a great view of the city. At the height of 800 feet or 244 metres (open air observation deck) and almost twice the height of any other vantage point in London, it has a 360 degree view of up to 40 miles on a clear day. Level 69 is the observation deck and we were pleasantly surprised when we used the ladies room that the there was a floor to ceiling window there too. The Shard, is a 95-story </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscraper" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">skyscraper</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, designed by the Italian architect </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renzo_Piano" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Renzo Piano</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_United_Kingdom" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">tallest building in the United Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_European_Union" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">tallest building in the European Union</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Europe" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">fifth-tallest building in Europe</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">96th-tallest building in the world</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The Shard's construction began in March 2009 and practical completion was achieved in November 2012. The glass-clad </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_(geometry)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">pyramidal</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> tower has 72 habitable floors.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We walked over London Bridge to the north side of the Thames and down to the Tower Pier (pass the fancy Savoy Hotel) to catch one of the last city cruise boats back to Westminister Pier and then the short walk back to our Flat. Tired but happy and a glass of wine awaited us. </span><img alt="The Shard from the Sky Garden 2015.jpg" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3_CTGtWnpZ8wIdIbveNedN0ORIQL_4_gqbD10fyYJNwxWemtifDL2weg1kN0cMpaHsC0L-89eHbaRcSM34qrdu-_qNdvKWBsYciiaZ_kIRgY6ES8m2Q7EUXLHKXIIgLkClhTRYDsDEj7plhWIg" width="154" height="309" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Friday, June 22, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Up early again and following a yogurt, berry and granola breakfast we were packed and left our London flat bound for Windsor Castle. We took the tube to Paddington Station (crowded in the downtown core area) and our London Pass enabled us to take the train to Slough and then transfer to the Windsor train with no charge. Alan very kindly met us at the Windsor Train Station by Queen Victoria's Train Engine – the Queen and took our luggage so we would not have to drag it around Windsor Castle with us. We then strolled over to Windsor Castle and joined the queue to get in which took some time at 9:45 AM. We picked up our audio tour equipment and headed over to the State Apartments tour. Windsor Castle is a royal residence at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor,_Berkshire" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Windsor</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in the English county of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Berkshire</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is notable for its long association with the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">English</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and later </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_royal_family" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">British royal family</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and for its architecture.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><img alt="An aerial photograph of a castle, with three walled areas clearly visible, stretching left to right. Straight roads stretch away in the bottom right of the photograph, and a built-up urban area can be seen outside the castle on the left. In the upper right a grey river can just be seen." src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Rr4Wu632OeFHhz4R0NdNk9mNxQAdrcdl-buqijawjG9qSc1hpcCROqZNX83_9serDsGBYVkV9EZ_OIPUSKYXkFXJzqHOPUWRsY3br0eOaBWeMRVL6q0_S-f5o02g4RT2mZEHCiLcLq3TqsJqig" width="382" height="183" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The original castle was built in the 11th century after the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_invasion_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Norman invasion of England</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">William the Conqueror</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Since the time of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_I_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Henry I</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish early 19th-century State Apartments were described by the art historian </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Roberts" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hugh Roberts</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste". Many of the rooms on the eastern end of the castle had to be restored following the 1992 fire, using "equivalent restoration" methods – the rooms were restored so as to appear similar to their original appearance, but using modern materials and concealing modern structural improvements. We were fortunate to see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony in the Inner Courtyard – done there this week because it is Ascot (horse racing) Week and the Queen is in residence at Windsor Castle and her private apartments look out on this inner courtyard. Then we went on to the 15th-century </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George%27s_Chapel,_Windsor_Castle" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">St George's Chapel</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, considered by the historian </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martin_Robinson" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">John Martin Robinson</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to be "one of the supreme achievements of English </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpendicular_Gothic" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Perpendicular Gothic</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" design. This huge building is the spiritual home of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Order of the Knights of the Garter</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and dates from the late 15th and early 16th century The vault in front of the altar houses the remains of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Henry VIII</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Seymour" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jane Seymour</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Charles I</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_IV_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Edward IV</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> buried nearby.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We reunited with Alan and had lunch at a lovely outdoor café on the River Thames with a large flock of beautiful white swans resting nearby. Apparently the Queen owns all the swans in Britain and they are counted annually and there are big fines for anyone harming them. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After lunch we strolled over Windsor Bridge to see Eton College. As luck would have it, it was 2 PM and a guided tour was just starting and we joined in to learn all about the College. Eton College is an English </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_school_(United_Kingdom)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">independent</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boarding_school" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">boarding school</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for boys. It educates more than 1,300 pupils, aged 13 to 18 years. It was founded in 1440 by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King Henry VI</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor", making it the 18th-oldest </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headmasters%27_and_Headmistresses%27_Conference" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (HMC) school.</span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1674 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_36pE_gsiIIca5YDkDMaPUqB-8j7IHC_th8bo-W-T5Km7tvp_XMW2rkCrRc_oCANGzYocKPBT4pMnFO0kGV1V5eKS7ZCD0g4lLFJnAsj7ssWXsbf-lBJn3bpVl6rWQhInxakhpU1wuGp7BYUGQ" width="264" height="119" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1683 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KrndiLZ7qN3LEp1vNJclB98onRS5t0S2Ps3bLYUdDMafIrWlZxSyV9QLVnum7YNbPq-SqdJcjw6ljDfn8jdxeEg8bhoFeJTCbWWR7OnJTubbh7xsrUen7vsVkqsXfbxqu9KPEC9kRz-k4iANQg" width="317" height="142" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1678 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0_nFVePBfQN3P9g6y4NuXc7ctdEVHpWC8yoGVjlIM7rxZVDjcCknHLKNcKJlVWqMnga4k4WpZRRTWQhcxrf2hAJFsLlaW-AHpq8U5Iv_hszEkLgR4X6kvrC3FFDPEJl6JfuIyWE3wuC7L25BPg" width="253" height="138" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1687 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CUZ27o9ktC5rOSP-F2XQkPPUzmpXtV66yb2zYNSb0qNq4KSdkBQ-xQga5KrzbktfSzlWSf1vtHIiyVadKrbbm1myXDC1Nt1aj7eaQebBDDLoIL865BjvotXYo6S09O-agCfILxxRd-UylObmgQ" width="169" height="127" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1688 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iljtFLm4-eWv9GQc_mgDzogbVVXlwT9nBMBvOiiElvO8XdWX-cTb-fqvXJ0tA5NzJti8-59uOLpCG2SeBdbiXv_Qp6rDYJSPvvO4QXw4rXPiHyka_GqUB-f8YtQOnFjuyL0lfoRFcCRWspGh3w" width="180" height="135" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eton is one of the original seven </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_school_(United_Kingdom)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">public schools</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as defined by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Schools_Act_1868" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Public Schools Act 1868</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and it is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">United Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (the others being </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrow_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Harrow</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radley_College" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Radley</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_College" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Winchester</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) to continue this practice. The four other public schools have since become co-educational; </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rugby</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1976), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charterhouse_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Charterhouse</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1971), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Westminster</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1973), and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewsbury_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Shrewsbury</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (2008). Eton has educated 19 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister#History" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">British prime ministers</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and generations of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">aristocracy</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eton charges up to £12,910 per term (x 1.8 for CAN $), with three terms per academic year, in 2017/18. Eton was noted as being the sixth most expensive HMC boarding school in the UK in 2013/14, However the school admits some boys with modest parental income: in 2011 it was reported that around 250 boys received "significant" financial help from the school, with the figure rising to 263 pupils in 2014, receiving the equivalent of around 60% of school fee assistance, whilst a further 63 received their education free of charge. Eton has also announced plans to increase the figure to around 320 pupils, with 70 educated free of charge, with the intention that the number of pupils receiving financial assistance from the school continues to increase. Eton College was founded by King </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Henry VI</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as a charity school to provide free education to 70 poor boys who would then go on to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_College,_Cambridge" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King's College, Cambridge</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, founded by the same King in 1441. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1691 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5IaT0ShjB3IT-SawZNp3cdfHPxD-Ot5lE5t_B8CczuJXLfxHU3rusgfid7plrxt1tjNUhw3DnFuz0k6oHohc2s25vNWF3DtmcXAtWbfGp9SyLj1Ic1dEaep4Us98_LQYB3OLZiB_da9y7PuyhA" width="210" height="158" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After this tour we strolled to the carpark and Alan drove us the hour ride to their Doherty home in Hazlemere. Alan and Cheryl were busy looking after their 3 grandsons – Harry(10), Thomas(7) and Alexander(1) but had provided our chicken salad dinner for Dorothy and I. Quiet evening. Watched half of "the Golden Bowl" movie form the Henry James Collection – not recommended. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Saturday, June 23, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This day's adventure took us to Blenheim Palace. Cheryl skillfully drove us there and we took in the Upstairs Tour of this beautiful place. Blenheim Palace is a monumental </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_country_house" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">English country house</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> situated in the civil parish of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim,_Oxfordshire" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Blenheim</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> near </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock,_Oxfordshire" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Woodstock, Oxfordshire</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">United Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is the principal residence of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukes_of_Marlborough" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dukes of Marlborough</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and the only non-</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_family" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">royal</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> non-</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">episcopal</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> country house in England to hold the title of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">palace</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between 1705 and circa 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">UNESCO</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">World Heritage Site</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in 1987. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The building of the palace was originally intended to be a reward to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Churchill,_1st_Duke_of_Marlborough" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, from a grateful nation for the duke's military triumphs against the French and Bavarians during the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Spanish_Succession" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">War of the Spanish Succession</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, culminating in the 1704 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blenheim" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Battle of Blenheim</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. However, soon after its construction began, the palace became the subject of political infighting; this led to Marlborough's exile, the fall from power of his duchess, and lasting damage to the reputation of the architect Sir </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vanbrugh" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">John Vanbrugh</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Blenheim_Palace_cropped.jpg/500px-Blenheim_Palace_cropped.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FpO3VymbpBChibOSIkWTfGTlEc36RRG98xVxkmdOLQZ5JEUg6qAO637Nb7FQt9hYxZwkeuW0qViIHks9ubIHNGXS9py8Ww5tMtbL1RwsQnoFILsYKd0nDwgXMncjAlYmmBchY8XT8HvAMQBTFw" width="325" height="146" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Designed in the rare, and short-lived, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Baroque" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">English Baroque</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> style, architectural appreciation of the palace is as divided today as it was in the 1720s. It is unique in its combined use as a family home, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausoleum" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">mausoleum</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and national </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">monument</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The palace is also notable as the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Winston Churchill</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Following the palace's completion, it became the home of the Churchill, later Spencer-Churchill, (note – Spencer – as in Princess Diana who was a Spencer) family for the next 300 years, and various members of the family have wrought changes to the interiors, park and gardens. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was saved from ruin by funds gained from the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Spencer-Churchill,_9th_Duke_of_Marlborough" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">9th Duke of Marlborough</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">'s marriage to American railroad heiress </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consuelo_Vanderbilt" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Consuelo Vanderbilt</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The exterior of the palace remains in good repair. Learned on the tour that the Churchill family had heavy eyelids as seen in their portraits? We had a little lunch and took a 50 cent train ride to some gardens and children's play area. We also strolled (Dorothy slid) to the Harry Potter tree on the grounds before driving back to Hazlemere. There was the annual Blenheim Flower Show on the grounds but we had no time to attend. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> At 5 PM we were treated to a local women's choir in a Parish Hall and Cheryl's sister Theresa was in the Choir. While enjoying the uplifting music we were introduced to Pimm's No.1 summer drink which Dorothy and I developed an instant liking for. We also had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl's Mother Janet and Stepfather Max at the concert. Following the concert we were treated by Cheryl and Alan to a delicious dinner at one of their favourite local restaurants. We walked around the little village there and saw the small worker cottages of the local estate that Cheryl's maternal grandparents and other relatives lived in. Another beautiful day we had in England. The weather has been exceptional with blue sky days and warm temperatures. I did not bring a rain coat for the trip and glad for that because we never needed one. I did tuck in a little collapsible umbrella in my luggage but it never came out. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sunday, June 24, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lovely fried egg breakfast before Alan and Cheryl took us to tour Hampton Court Palace– over and hour drive away south of Hazlemere. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the borough of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Richmond_upon_Thames" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Richmond upon Thames</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, London, England, 11.7 miles (18.8 kilometres) south west and upstream of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_London" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">central London</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">River Thames</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Building of the palace began in 1515 for Cardinal </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wolsey" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thomas Wolsey</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favourite" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">favourite</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Henry_VIII" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King Henry VIII</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the Cardinal gifted the palace to the King to check his disgrace; Henry VIII later enlarged it. Along with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_James%27s_Palace" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">St James's Palace</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII.</span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1706 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_oiygSlHMRtObkFY5ulhXzDQ_R2P76E0WxxdYWdqp-etQimdsFDOS89TBtwHbj1EJwk-VykgTbfwax5pmRmvZK7L5HYVWQUdX31XTqe8KEKs1OxBwgP3ZwQz4RDsckPBBOnuHgeNoVBxOlcs9Q" width="242" height="114" style="border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1718 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LlM0WMTT-HPOwTTtLqFzoFn4he4weFRE5Pwoc-m45LZ7KDhNZKYGWy8YqwGvVoF9f-A4Y-C34A_ZSO5qA_gAHgvJVxZkIXmeuhHs5eE7det27QBYLoIjlfvQoEgCmbGDc-ox6Di-aEOUk6sIFQ" width="171" height="120" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1715 (002).JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/934FIKenE1B9xVKZlxuXkDFIzhqgRtxBbQR9DU7pua9bFW5O7SjIIaUXGLzmpvI2-ZzU9H8rTfB_vCdKzAGWRnuHM0Eitnrw3R1fDz0kXHq9OVDyopsdKX8alDqOBRkPtAWOgdE7QAtC19UAlg" width="251" height="135" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="See the source image" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4boK1pHX0c4pFpXdh3tgkUaTKvQWqj5R-ryMRY29hA9yBv0cEIRCGKSEFqyIxDWd0Ri7DwUFc1UxiDaJrECCJhBkqX1cjtYbKZxK_yz-8CMVgrYFMv7LSOyQBYTd2TFP2DJabigqwYCFFhiRrA" width="223" height="147" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In the following century, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_William_III" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King William III</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">'s massive rebuilding and expansion work, which was intended to rival </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Versailles</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, destroyed much of the Tudor palace. Work ceased in 1694, leaving the palace in two distinct contrasting architectural styles, domestic </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_style_architecture" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tudor</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Baroque</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. While the palace's styles are an accident of fate, a unity exists due to the use of pink bricks and a symmetrical, if vague, balancing of successive low wings. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_II_of_Great_Britain" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">King George II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> was the last monarch to reside in the palace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We started our tour in the vast royal kitchens and costumed actors were bringing it to life for the day and talk about what it was like to feed 400 people per day – and King Henry would serve 40 different dishes at a meal. Next we went on to King Henry VIII's apartments. During the Tudor period, the palace was the scene of many historic events. In 1537, the King's much desired male heir, the future </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VI" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Edward VI</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, was born at the palace and the child's mother, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Seymour" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jane Seymour</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, died there two weeks later. Four years afterwards, whilst attending </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(liturgy)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mass</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in the palace's chapel, the King was informed of the adultery of his fifth wife, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Howard" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Catherine Howard</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. She was then confined to her room for a few days before being sent to Syon House and then on to the Tower of London. Legend claims she briefly escaped her guards and ran through The Haunted Gallery in this area to beg Henry for her life but she was recaptured. We also took in the Cumberland Art Gallery there and found another Michelangelo Caravaggio painting to email a picture to sister Anne to impress her again. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Next was a tour of William III and Mary II apartments. It was in 1689, England had joint monarchs, Dutch Prince of Orange King </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">William III</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and his wife (and first cousin) Queen </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_II_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mary II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Within months of their accession they embarked on a massive rebuilding project at Hampton Court. The intention was to demolish the Tudor palace a section at a time, while replacing it with a huge modern palace in the Baroque style retaining only Henry VIII's Great Hall. Half the Tudor palace was replaced and Henry VIII's state rooms and private apartments were both lost; the new wings around the Fountain Court contained new state apartments and private rooms, one set for the King and one for the Queen. Each suite of state rooms was accessed by a state staircase. The royal suites were of completely equal value in order to reflect William and Mary's unique status as joint sovereigns. After the death of Queen Mary, King William lost interest in the renovations, and work ceased. However, it was in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_Park" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hampton Court Park</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in 1702 that he fell from his horse, later dying from his injuries at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Palace" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kensington Palace</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. He was succeeded by his sister-in-law </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne,_Queen_of_Great_Britain" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Queen Anne</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> who continued the decoration and completion of the state apartments. On Queen Anne's death in 1714 the Stuart dynasty came to an end. Queen Anne's successor was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_I_of_Great_Britain" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">George I</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; he and his son </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_II_of_Great_Britain" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">George II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> were the last monarchs to reside at Hampton Court. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We met Cheryl and Alan for a lunchtime recital in the Chapel Royal featuring 3 young men from King's College School, Wimbledon – separate soloists – clarinet, harp and piano. Magical indeed.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After a delicious potato and leek soup in the Privy Kitchen Café, we were fortunate to catch a 2 PM Garden History Tour.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The grounds as they appear today were laid out in grand style in the late 17th century. There are no authentic remains of Henry VIII's gardens, merely a small </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_garden" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">knot garden</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, planted in 1924, which hints at the gardens' 16th-century appearance. Today, the dominating feature of the grounds is the great landscaping scheme constructed for Sir Christopher Wren's intended new palace. From a water-bounded semicircular </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parterre" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">parterre</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the length of the east front, three </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_(landscape)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">avenues</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> radiate in a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_arrow" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">crow's foot</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> pattern. The central avenue, containing not a walk or a drive, but the great canal known as the Long Water, was excavated during the reign of Charles II, in 1662. The design, radical at the time, is another immediately recognizable influence from Versailles, and was indeed laid out by pupils of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Le_N%C3%B4tre" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">André Le Nôtre</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, Louis XIV's landscape gardener. On the south side of the palace is the Privy Garden bounded by semi-circular wrought iron gates</span><span style="font-size:2.25pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Tijou" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jean Tijou</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.(Who our guide said never did get paid for his work.) This garden, originally William III's private garden, was replanted in 1992 in period style with manicured </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">hollies</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">yews</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> along a geometric system of paths.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On a raised site overlooking the Thames, is a small pavilion, the Banqueting House. This was built circa 1700, for informal meals and entertainments in the gardens rather than for the larger state dinners which would have taken place inside the palace itself. A nearby conservatory (greenhouse) houses the "Great Vine", planted in 1769; by 1968 it had a trunk 81 inches thick and has a length of 100 feet. It still produces an annual crop of grapes. It is in the Guinness Book of World Records.</span><span style="font-size:2.25pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1723 (002).JPG" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OVMUTAtxg_XCJjXaCxKgxKsNTMKLBnLxkaz2Ht7E4yQVnkdNV2XqGntiGWBiLau1pbknJWyx0FB7Z01TCvawr-RAEgX8g_DWJWm3t93y-me3RHvwcfhfbvhzx7gIVcUSDXgDzj_S624zHSNpWQ" width="174" height="162" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1724 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zzzOY2nwYkA9WGKFDR13tiJeALc4EwnCceMDrkAwHmxPeVJ8hNRgmPlLdQBTsh-kp8MQqPjjT9YoTkjpFFYQmsegJjPnyzQwdOb3vHVKq11TS9UDImIx6CJGh6NMUgieKNnYutt79jqejTpg5Q" width="219" height="163" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1760 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KNodynAe-yGaZ-atCHtDhQ2Q7F7S_U-kyDQcrXB5qQqRNytZNioTj2FI0gt4-amSr84gKTvwz0zpU85mZMzouLjRS_3XM1xkqA6eUGROMph3ALKrYVqZKuJYB5tMs0q7naFwTJDIMDE4ZY31yA" width="223" height="167" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1761 (002).jpg" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YFR-FYhr8rExCWD_w4nt4oi43jl4kEhrD1qnAckRBtG1CMB-7tpVpuiSTjdt1Fevo23OJAGz9Ac6Jgqe12f8LTB2wcsvUAQR6a3p8uynSpqI3KDmlftiFaWsLANC05Me2GYZugDsE0t3jx3YtA" width="201" height="262" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1769 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TU7U6YkMPqszwhjJ7q-HMW4qAVCnpRJ-5cTRm30d9veXICwDbKmVqQzABPipe1_SIMj8Q3wbzXCDqC1Ih0Rr-Av_K-pZDQSaiWzWQd3m3e_bMaXLn89hPnwr0QA1mLICL8CTHVITFmNHzDGkXg" width="176" height="132" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1770 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rD9ZbsaEJeV1A9qdVtbw58RLMRbT8bnugNRWqaXTeStGB-k1Cs7rwtlXgV8rABnwbA02ZyqNJ-GdYYDW4oim616v3h9B1b4rlAcBuEiLnlAONKJc1puLKs3Fz0Q-KOj1nJBI3SJYWTibt1CxLQ" width="165" height="124" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Other Notable Mentions Regarding Hampton Court</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Grace and favour residencies</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(84,89,93);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From the 1760s, the palace was used to house </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_and_favour" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">grace and favour</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> residents. Many of the palace rooms were adapted to be rent free apartments, with vacant ones allocated by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chamberlain" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lord Chamberlain</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to applicants to reward past services rendered to the Crown. From the 1960s the number of new residents declined, with the last admitted in the 1980s. However existing residents could continue to live there. In 2005 three remained, with none by 2017. It was the elderly recipient of one such grace and favour apartment, Lady Daphne Gale, widow of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gale_(British_Army_officer)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">General Sir Richard Gale</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, who caused a major fire that claimed her life and spread to the King's Apartments in 1986. This led to a new programme of restoration work which was completed in 1990.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In an age of central heating, supermarkets and instant hot water, the chimney might seem an odd choice but in the 16th Century, heat and food on tap were essential components of luxury living and certainly not something that the majority had. To achieve this required fireplaces and lots of them – to put the level of consumption of this ruling class into perspective, the excessive appetite of Henry VIII's residences were such that he and his court had to move to different Palaces around the country so not to completely exhaust the resources (firewood, meat and grain) of the surrounding region. Today Hampton Court Palace is adorned with 241 </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">chimney stacks</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> but in the 16th Century there would have been even more. It was not just the number of chimney stacks however, but the detail bestowed upon them. In contrast to the simple brick construction that makes up much of the palace, the chimneys stacks are formed from ornate cut brickwork embossed with differing geometric patterns. This detail is purposely done to draw your eye up and highlight the wealth and power of it's owner. The chimney stacks are constructed from intricately patterned brickwork with each chimney featuring a different pattern. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt half of Hampton Court Palace in the much grander Baroque Style. Behind the formal facades peak the still all important chimneys however these are no longer given prominence or detail.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Royal Tennis Court – Not to be confused with Lawn Tennis, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Real Tennis</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> goes back centuries. Henry VIII, Charles I, William III and Prince Albert all played at Hampton Court. The court is enclosed in a building and the cork ball can bounce off the walls. Royal interest in England began with Henry V (reigned 1413–22) but it was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Henry VIII</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (reigned 1509–47) who made the biggest impact as a young monarch, playing the game with gusto at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hampton Court</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> on a court he had built in 1530 and on several other courts in his palaces. His second wife </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Anne Boleyn</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> was watching a game of real tennis when she was arrested and it is believed that Henry was playing tennis when news was brought to him of her </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">execution</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Queen Elizabeth I was a keen spectator of the game. During the reign of James I (1603–25), there were 14 courts in London.</span><img alt="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Tudor_chimneys_on_Hampton_Court_Palace%2C_Middlesex.jpg" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0aT_CAtXOSAImu4YBvlBb8BJ7GvcESDAz_ZmHHQMVZu8kNcAPd_1VYsmZf1sUCK0VKuQ_0D6w5KVuPQVr2JPdqKHDXzczfBST0p6It8Ms-z7GG3SKUPrxoFQV4YDACfUdzeV8kl1mzBR5e4WTA" width="129" height="150" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Back to Hazlemere for a delicious English Roast Beef Sunday dinner made by Cheryl and Alan complete with Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy. On TV that night we were treated to a new episode of Poldark. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Monday, June 25, 2018</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - Another adventure today with Cheryl and Alan driving us up to Waddesdon Manor - Waddesdon Manor is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_country_house" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">country house</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in the village of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddesdon" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Waddesdon</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckinghamshire" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Buckinghamshire</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, England. It is located in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aylesbury_Vale" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Aylesbury Vale</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 6.6 miles (10.6 km) west of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aylesbury" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Aylesbury</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The Grade I listed house was built in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Renaissance" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Neo-Renaissance</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> style of a French </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">château</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> between 1874 and 1889 for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Ferdinand_de_Rothschild" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1839–1898) as a weekend residence for grand entertaining and as a setting for his large art collection. The last member of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothschild_family" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rothschild family</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to own Waddesdon was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_de_Rothschild_(politician)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">James de Rothschild</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1878–1957). He bequeathed the house and its contents to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Trust_for_Places_of_Historic_Interest_or_Natural_Beauty" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">National Trust</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation chaired by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Rothschild,_4th_Baron_Rothschild" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is one of the National Trust's most visited properties, with over 467,000 visitors annually. Waddesdon Manor won </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visit_England" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Visit England</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">'s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category in 2017. But we drove up the driveway to read the sign that said the House and Grounds were closed for the day – so we had to make another plan. The decision was to drive 30 minutes further to visit Bletchley Park. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Bletchley Park was the central site for British (and subsequently, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Allied</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_cryptography" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">codebreakers during World War II</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It housed the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Code_and_Cypher_School" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Government Code and Cypher School</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (GC&CS), which regularly penetrated the secret communications of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_Powers" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Axis Powers</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> – most importantly the German </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_(machine)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Enigma</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_cipher" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Lorenz</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> ciphers. According to the official historian of British Intelligence, the "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ultra</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" intelligence produced at Bletchley shortened the war by two to four years, and without it the outcome of the war would have been uncertain. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In 1938, the mansion and much of the site was bought by a builder planning a housing estate, but in May 1938 Admiral Sir </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Sinclair" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hugh Sinclair</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, head of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Intelligence_Service" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Secret Intelligence Service</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (SIS or </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI6" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MI6</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">), bought the mansion and 58 acres (23 ha) of land for £6,000, using his own money after the Government said they did not have the budget to do so, for use by GC&CS and SIS in the event of war. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1772 (002).JPG" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/S89o_NdFzMDR3pc5DhUq_NOK7m13OarDEwH6OjdqPY-qNSyyWr0GO-Fcq6cFLeh7yVa5ACgMhXaj9SVXUkqgoAWQY2PPkChFzaaNtlRmfqB-fp44_Vg4tnlPp_2pjmuM8mS0ebyvw7La-026fQ" width="326" height="194" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A key advantage seen by Sinclair and his colleagues (inspecting the site under the cover of "Captain Ridley's shooting party") was Bletchley's geographical centrality. It was almost immediately adjacent to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_railway_station" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bletchley railway station</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, where the "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Line" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Varsity Line</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" between </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Oxford</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cambridge</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> – whose universities were expected to supply many of the code-breakers – met the main </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Main_Line" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">West Coast railway line</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> connecting London, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Birmingham</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Manchester</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Liverpool</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Glasgow</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Edinburgh</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watling_Street" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Watling Street</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the main road linking London to the north-west (subsequently the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A5_road_(Great_Britain)" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A5</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) was close by, and high-volume communication links were available at the telegraph and telephone repeater station in nearby </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenny_Stratford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fenny Stratford</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From an initial staff of 120 people in 1938 , in January 1945, at the peak of codebreaking efforts, some 10,000 personnel were working at Bletchley and its outstations. About three-quarters of these were women. Many of the women came from middle-class backgrounds and held degrees in the areas of mathematics, physics and engineering. Personnel did not live in the Park but there were social clubs on site and food provided. All staff signed the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Secrets_Act_1939" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Official Secrets Act (1939)</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and a 1942 security warning emphasised the importance of discretion even within Bletchley itself: "Do not talk at meals. Do not talk in the transport. Do not talk travelling. Do not talk in the billet. Do not talk by your own fireside. Be careful even in your Hut ..."</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We toured the Museum there and after a Tomato Soup lunch we joined a guided tour in the grounds – all very interesting and mine-boggling in the intelligence of the geniuses that worked there such as Oxford's Peter Twinn, Cambridge's Alan Turing and Gordon Welchman and Mathematicians Derek Taunt, Jack Good, Bill Tutte and Max Newman and Cryptanalyst Joan Clarke.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bletchley Park's story in the movie "The Imitiation Game" and </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1777 (002).jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rxmy8T4wYE7yCIRKu1HVTXN76NzZv93gxveS5ccC25djYMrckKjOgjWCnxoa2hyeaUuW4SD7Tui5SC736-ZjyoklVunZ0mbdO90rLnVl8cvTxz6tnO2P27oUD4p8kkCOLKsJXiRFW3GK1WH1kA" width="167" height="176" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1778 (002).jpg" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/U9rQmSxrfCUJSfNE4n134iowIQloSTrnjEHi3CgOSUXBm4wcWqtjx6zya430RNDRtVCrqmlkUdP_8m1IzVKbSvc4nDJnegkBPA_zGGfGQxDGBadNIGD2azkXTcemEzn1qWouWQS1-RR17LmouA" width="142" height="217" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1779 (002).jpg" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7Tc1EGpTnIjN9RDZd7XaBnELl4cyEPqCOs0TOtORI732_RNzmnIczH48zmhuznZVQmoUgBOd1ic3XBhgKgHpiZxHv_pqg5AzpdgC8j134j280vSy8svBEGPTw7gi4-rP2j6iEA6fXl0qCQ8PlA" width="151" height="208" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">the BBC TV series "the Bletchley Circle."</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Back to our Hazlemere base, Dorothy treated us to a delicious dinner at the The Royal Standard of England – The Oldest Freehouse in the UK, Beaconsfield. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tuesday, June 26, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our last full day in England was a drive with Cheryl to visit Oxford. We had a personal tour of Oxford College Highlights by Cheryl's sister Teena who has worked in the Admissions Office there for the past 20 years. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">University of Oxford</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of the most famous and prestigious higher education institutions of the world, averaging nine applications to every available place, and attracting 40% of its academic staff and 17% of undergraduates from overseas. It is currently ranked as the world's number one university, according to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Oxford is renowned for its </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutorial" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">tutorial</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">-based method of teaching, with students attending an average of one one-hour tutorial a week. The university is made up of a variety of institutions, including </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleges_of_the_University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">38 constituent colleges</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and a full range of academic departments which are organised into four divisions. All the colleges are self-governing institutions within the university, each controlling its own membership and with its own internal structure and activities. Being a city university, it does not have a main campus and instead its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the city centre. Most </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undergraduate_education" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">undergraduate teaching</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postgraduate_education" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">postgraduate teaching</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> at Oxford is organised around weekly </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutorial_system" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">tutorials</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> at the colleges and halls, supported by classes, lectures, seminars, and laboratory work provided by university faculties and departments. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Oxford has educated many notable alumni, including </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_university_affiliation#University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">29 Nobel laureates</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, 27 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_the_United_Kingdom_by_education" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prime ministers of the United Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and many heads of state and government around the world. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_university_affiliation#University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sixty-nine Nobel Prize winners</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fields_Medal_winners_by_university_affiliation" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">4 Fields Medalists</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Turing_Award_laureates_by_university_affiliation" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">6 Turing Award winners</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> have studied, worked, or held visiting fellowships at the University of Oxford. Oxford is the home of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_Scholarship" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rhodes Scholarship</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, one of the world's oldest international scholarships.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Before we met Teena, we had a little time to check out some of the shops in Oxford such as Primark and Marks and Spencer. Our first stop on our Oxford College experience was a brief visit into the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashmolean_Museum" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ashmolean Museum</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the world's first </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_museum" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">university museum</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and the oldest museum in the UK. Its first building was erected in 1678–1683 to house a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_curiosities" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">cabinet of curiosities</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> given to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">University of Oxford</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in 1677. The museum reopened in 2009 after a major redevelopment. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From there Teena whisked us off to the Bodleian Library. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">University of Oxford</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> maintains the largest university library system in the UK, and, with over 11 million volumes housed on 120 miles (190 km) of shelving, the Bodleian group is the second-largest library in the UK, after the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Library" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">British Library</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The Bodleian is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_deposit" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">legal deposit</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> library, which means that it is entitled to request a free copy of every book published in the UK. As such, its collection is growing at a rate of over three miles (five kilometres) of shelving every year. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We enjoyed seeing the Graduation hall, Examination hall, and the beautiful Queen's College Library on our whirlwind tour. Dorothy and I had our picture taken under the Bridge of Sighs as requested by sister Anne. We had a lovely lunch at an outdoor café. Plus we scoured the area for "Green Men" and actually found a pretty "Green Woman". A Green Man is a sculpture or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">leaves</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> – maybe pagan culture? Found in many cultures from many ages around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetation_deity" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">vegetative deities</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. It is primarily interpreted as a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">symbol</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring.</span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1780 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KpB2TlHkjVWgXoJ8SeV9oMSwNqmXZHVafFYqyPTe6glJtBpLr6F3bAElLZOYaEGLAnrrZdGq1ULUrwLBUFvlyHsxL7XPRwrv8-0Kl7ZZVxCYtk5nTUbxUzeWb4WYv4Z7-GuJjxcZ8jECg2zXUA" width="199" height="149" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1809 (002).jpg" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/DTDhmfJmwgHD9SewmkJmRgPhZFhHlaIBHiKJ172GAMDdxjPZWQ3Jl4LkUyLHi3sqgSma_NCNZoUUd7_bXbPXtUzL6heeM4MpYNW2YbH8bfpXEsketFPeKn1fBYV5Y5b6J4NTaQQNgeVj5QS14g" width="177" height="133" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1815 (002).jpg" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CSMk4geN6pTZZ0NyaHWnOeR5r2g8tR0vmwSNvouztNBsco03rcjh1Ly0L16h9WyZs3E2Ib4zAOM6I707LcawZU9fyjThIIAmGa6fbfjIXGhdJtqWxKPeOAaVLhlgvTOd5NOon1d_JGOlO1N_Jg" width="168" height="224" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);"><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\IDBLIWXE\IMG_1817 (002).JPG" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UjigTPYbB3x4t4ZBEUTahTfz32bzQLjHnjSaFi2Ca50P_eu5zdFQSBvxIp3l9fLOQkAfde3ADyt7KcnoLMGfUMXVO5jmA78Ay30bTl4QikXrFlXuDDUuBi9sjtCenKPypLYm3PdRWDJYmoj5Uw" width="200" height="150" style="border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Back to Hazlemere for our last supper and time to pack for our journey home tomorrow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wednesday, June 27, 2018 – </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Time for some retail therapy before we return to the colonies. Cheryl guided us around the shops of West Wycombe – of which there are many – including Primark and M&S again. Even a fabric store was on the agenda. But we had to stop again at the Hazlemere Parade to pick up some items we had spotted on our first day. We had stopped one day at an Aldi to pick up a few treasures too to drag home with us. Back to home base for a farewell bacon and egg lunch before the hour drive to Heathrow and the plane back to Toronto. A great BIG THANKS to our wonderful hosts – Cheryl and Alan Doherty for looking after us so well and taking us to great places! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The full Air Canada plane took off on time at 6PM London time and arrived in Toronto as scheduled at 8:40 PM and Don was right there to pick me up and Dorothy had an express car booked to take her home to Beamsville. The food on the plane was pitiful but they gave us two little bottles of wine with our dinner – that probably kept the complaints down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:5.2pt;margin-bottom:5.2pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Great Trip! Learned lots and enjoyed it all – except for the bed in the London Flat and the fat Hazlemere pigeons that started cooing at 4:30 AM – and a loud big dog woffing at 1 AM one morning. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br class="gmail-kix-line-break"></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><br><br><br><br><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><br><br><br></b> <br></div> The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-74290129080407691712018-04-17T17:48:00.001-07:002018-04-17T18:03:43.612-07:00Winter 2017 to April 2018<span id="docs-internal-guid-0f6e3e51-d646-c46f-6f11-bcd07efa6914"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter 2017 to April 2018</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arrived at On Top Of World condo on November 2 after a Halloween stop in Virginia. Had new kitchen installed in November. </span><img height="85" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QDDeKo9URk2LXrAJkIJVPJ1XtRURMQDkR-FnI_ehq_Mw48uWlE0anVeG821KQba0quHmBhe5tDf_zJYxz-sQsb5wgji3lFZcAwB_Pbvr1NR0AQpwhxpeW0xaGng18aW6t2nVSMgD2eGWk-mnng" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="113" /><img height="103" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CoR6ue8Dy2dHc82zoYjJ2okAL4Sv1CvQZ2d1pB9sPB_kYXwrvss9o4kqhH8mRGzn9n684YfQJyL84Z4yhLd_oqLDpSemiOREqC4P3eHl4Rd4v5ObYDY63NrgFORhYs7ow07qEim0njBxu2LkQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="113" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie and Davis visited for a week at the end of November and Tom and family met us in Orlando for fun at Seaworld and Disney and then a few days at Clearwater Beach. </span><img height="122" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XYkKSMtCJU3ztXcM06O64WCADXEz4NAVW8V9MWf9N4f7cxn8HKIl6eXVBZ5bPINKHfvBaMtrZpi4UGxZmbjvInbynTHhClvBLG60jis81poF87vqPyoLGbptLA8Y13RycAzL6T3S6ci8H_Kjwg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="153" /><img height="120" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3pZUdmV4_KP3-0mNR5AhkVnU0rP6Re78A2rJVpE7_KtusDBO6q3cK-atJ9ZMJG_jAk5upg8fZBgP02wTZRk9gIEt6FrC-IL1fFD1jXUxLSTyj4LfBb4g6lEDJf5YYfPDIkZx_mjiSI7jCDZmMA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="178" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter and Marianne Raps from Haarlem, The Netherlands visited for a few days in December. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don and I volunteered at the Canadian Junior Golf Association Tournament at Innisbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbour in December. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mirek and Dianne Sip joined us for 2 weeks in January. Enjoyed local sightseeing and especially seeing the many manatees floating around the Apollo Power Station south of Tampa enjoying warm waters. </span><img height="107" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/W9lTaD3IeVATWJH_Z_H2Nzn9RmQ-FElWY2R6g4MeWLbUXCjJNKY4cOYkkP0y-r-x5uMD4nU_QTUu9sRKvo9Hfw3Uvqn55wFh4NkNAk2OaXmOEj7x1SMbrJjABFS5hcvrJCwksgTVKcArkmZagw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="143" /><img height="103" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RwJY_qAcQKlVcNFUbDQeG1mBOI5DoHykoUPlKgOgxPNTECuLJy9hjkMnwbMkrYS4ssNLFP8H_vPVztMfJC5vK99VV-hpqmr8hLeiDUFlik5K0-7frsZOboJlBMtU4xyN3-ceR9HoB9ISQX_P-Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="137" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From February 13 to 20</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Mary visited Tom Brudnicki, Bruce and Barb Bellchambers and Barb’s sister Mary in Casa Grande, Arizona. Barb, Bruce, the 2 Marys and friend Bill Redtke spent 2 nights at a Wyndam Timeshare Resort in Sedona, Arizona enjoying the fantastic scenery there. On the way to Sedona, north of Phoenix, we stopped at Montezuma’s Castle. Southern Sinagua farmers built this 5 storey 20 room dwelling sometime between 1100 and 1300. It occupies a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Our next stop was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Built to a twin pinnacled spur, about 250 feet high, jutting out a thousand foot rock wall, “solid as the rock of Peter” the building of the Chapel was completed in April 1956. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marguerite_Brunswig_Staude&action=edit&redlink=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marguerite Brunswig Staude</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who had been inspired in 1932 by the newly constructed </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Empire State Building</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to build such a church. After an attempt to do so in Budapest, Hungary (with the help of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Wright" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lloyd Wright</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, son of architect </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frank Lloyd Wright</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) was aborted due to the outbreak of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">World War II</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, she decided to build the church in her native region. Built as a Roman Catholic Chapel, it is open to all. </span><img height="149" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hCBo5rmBb_6D-TO7kXk0tF0mKTMK58270l9tPRwadZ6hWCfz565vGoUoJCMe1h3CwRLskfs-v_1j3Oox1HioffpSdWRlvg5cxpuwVeIojOx4aRe_MOHnpZndtGZRu2NcmFvE4C9XFTG4KLilg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="199" /><img height="147" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nrXqexqUOK1BYkwRZNKAQDI3avwLCvkV8rczkEGtaQ57a8-VqrgnH18zQQCwy_KbQtYKM1kspXvmwirrpXs9zRPZ2haGqkv3Kmw-J-G12TQ38Fq-azOfbmNzLJBE2yTYw8PV-JQYuxpqpY3NCQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="209" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of the deal at the Wynham Resort, on the morning of the second day we had a 90 minute tour around Sedona which included a scenic stop at the Sedona Airport.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bruce and Barbara did a 90 minute Wynham timeshare presentation and Bill and I went on a hike close to the resort in a creek valley – only got a little lost and were rescued by a friendly Hispanic landscaper in his truck. </span><img height="154" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xS9-E0mAtxaQkj_TkncRyOyaNF1XcVGzh_QeUyZl90gymnlCOL5-ZtgXMUqVBoVT95iwNd4QAGH5fQh8MpmdYKNk9B_MPI3-c5cRUIO-S6CPJa0e74ZxUSATmLQSwe8Rb5wb8fqhkvxRbScTzA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="160" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the afternoon we ventured out of Sedona to the little artistic town of Jerome. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerome, Arizona</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a ghost town alive and well. From wickedly wild to wildly artistic. Located high atop Cleopatra Hill between </span><a href="http://www.arizona-leisure.com/sedona-oak-creek-canyon.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sedona</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://www.arizona-leisure.com/prescott-arizona.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prescott</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, this historic copper and gold mining town founded in 1876. When gold was discovered in Jerome, miners, gamblers and bad boys of the old west flocked here. Saloons and bawdy houses were the entertainment after a hard days work. At one time, Jerome was the fourth largest town in the Arizona Territory with a rowdy population that reached over 15,000.</span><img height="117" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gTRM5Ei-nKz2mnJIwUudMIL6TzhrpAf3rvGjWtzMHXe3Z7ClHqqwq6xzx_wBWZ-XTeGIXmYVOHN4NWLZy_WqiqKZT-D4qIrH16vSMmFz2sQk2xZ2bbyifdab49GJNPefatQZIOJrBdUgScYufw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="156" /><img height="130" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sT6DV9S2ibcsl9dMe1d8ITZLigG1x6X2NqKXQXLlQ4J-fCnr7zcTVJeYT86OogWlGfx5fAp2joGCtEwXylLjYT416bZaAxSqllRGMRydesmjDrG0Rxm38XxiF3AW3mRrRg4CdF6_uv3LK9LOsw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="173" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We enjoyed touring the Douglas Museum – former home of a mining baron and the home became a museum and state park in 1965. We visited the Nellie Bly Kaleidoscope Shop and other artistic shops and then drove straight up to the Jerome Grand Hotel and Asylum Restaurant – Arizona’s Mile High Historic Landmark for afternoon tea /dessert. </span><img height="117" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oOtXeqqgujJsLioF0pAiRMi-BOGIRoD4Iifz6PgM65FZiJYgsDhR0E4VllxuHHz2xlShdqx0FxiMXc0HnNbnjOzOtrDvzA_Z59hJQORhi2p9UO9Hi26vckZe9IxT9_GJUKE4SIOYqKHecB0JUA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="222" /><img height="106" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3PzvA786yj7EOsB0SiMwoPmzVjMTAl5P0v67-lpu1CS3cy3i9FfQ1G5UQkhYQTLXf41shqYbcNF9lxWHbIz0hkXhyHNU26ZGF7ogQc6XKNB5knf2Grn8wTFLqNJoghfc4Q8gdkTJo25oYHGNSA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="231" /><img height="155" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Dmxke-UIUcBXt1a4zzf5vfNW-GoYI-kAZze21Z-8D3xG7UEMIG7kGqjmtbCy5h33dCmyXwtIMKs1jZ-GSGoV8kZdNU6aL6RJ4Wp8ESsLFWYWIJDZ2vdY87adL3S7q7DNCdhNtRvWBxukLh7gjw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="174" /><img height="155" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/yeH0RzbSnt1JRdFGjT-yP9dCQVoH_EC05nkReA2hfahbGjb6eXygjJVp9LN_OI16QYjQFA1M_iL1v5BSI6l1vwD1J7zHWkb5zvN0xLtWQ0MGV93nOZCwYpzT0onBbr6W-T2-bTUXvXudFwnZuQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="164" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Day 3 we toured downton Sedona and spent time at the Sedona Heritage Museum. The Sedona Heritage Museum was once a homestead for the Jordan Family (who had a large apple orchard business) and is now, along with the Sedona Historical Society, working with the community to preserve the ever-growing history of Sedona.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After our picnic lunch we headed south to Phoenix and stopped at the V Bar V Ranch to view the Petroglyphs carved into rock by the Southern Sinagua Indians.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><img height="152" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VJlRNVvq8UQdNqunj2lOlM9s6EQwJVWiSE8Hkz2L-IlUnORZIqZTuCxUR0TrytjNtNMS9r73nb-2VpEU7xtoQIrBtN7CXoEDpq95FKo85b4kghw66nbctefBU8R3COUDJKt78dplSsEC4oxQNw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="203" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back in Casa Grande to enjoy time with our host Tom and dog Dotty. Saw the annual O’Odham Tash (Cowboy/Indian) Parade, hiked on a trail of Picacho Peak State Park with </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bill, dropped in on a quilt show at a huge RV Resort and toured St Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery out in the desert land by Florence Arizona with Barb and Bill. </span><img height="128" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AB--Tsekba66n-fumck7xItXKnhKcO1TWHoEGnUcuOOQ58Vy-I5pFW4fWCVV-QolRn4gw8R9GwUrjCWHUZlK8Qsomc8stnxH0GtDmj0FRqWg8iDKmF47A0zQ1_6dmHz5Q3XHFZrpBc6rqhl2sA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="120" /><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Fe1EuSWtyZSa2MaU7Oe2eXVlqzGDGuMiDEGkYSxezINgO_pz-ejGwQrSiWwHcRFfuqaD-x4CNvtdB0SCp2lzHJzXy_LrGxLDS6OwYzQ43LNBJo2Y1jWZPjNE-BkvKqBSqjmxdirWD4rFML795Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="142" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the Arizona time, we watched 3 current movies – “The Shape of Water”, “Wonder” and the remake of “Murder on the Orient Express” thanks to son Tom’s Air Video connection. </span></div>
<br /><img height="90" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/iuZuP4dWx21LxuiOBUlOlkoaNwQtruVEnErLpDcVe0lNpSW3QJuxHSSkxJWRBSlMomIIxvo4FALD7HsvJUmb2Lw0pv53jAB_Q6SJk6kK8k5AZ7jxnudGx_HucCu1r8oK-fgD6iETj_YOLy8OoA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="135" /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary flew back to Don in Clearwater. Our good friend Sina from Zwolle, The Netherlands arrived the next day and we spent many happy hours touring around on our bicycles, working out at the OTOW exercise classes, and relaxing with good wine and food. </span><img height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XD5ULEUU23tOa9MfQisAe7g9wrxkNKsdaSowMOjhPJjUhrR6WbVfVgEojOlztubYN6LX793CNpDOEtgtLTSh35oZ_l9eHD74jNBC-heLUNg20y_vm1_p5-yuPZ_ApB7-5vrLWv3NQTpA8y5_lA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sina and Mary spent a lovely day with Brian and Thery </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King touring the Henry B. Plant Museum in the old Tampa Hotel, which is now part of the University of Tampa. The Henry B. Plant Museum is housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, the Victorian railroad resort that defined the elegant frontier, now a National Historic Landmark. Unlike most museums dedicated to lifestyles of the past, it contains the actual furnishings enjoyed by the first guests to visit here. The Museum accurately reflects the opulence of turn-of-the-century America and the vision of American transportation pioneer, Henry B. Plant. Followed by lunch at the Oxford Exchange nearby.</span><img height="103" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3G-9puLwriTGur9HzBLB1y0kcZbG6UueuRgCM-FRS4A7CMt3NXuQqRRCKTsEeHqa94Mv9IaLBIXOzlyT0gzOtL2yifIEkkGNIDAlZBU1HhMx2-34nbhivrDD-GHK0mmy3n-UaZKqAvRT38-qtA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="89" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary flew back to Ontario for 2 weeks in March to be with Katie and family to assist during a sudden illness and returned to pack up at the end of March to start the journey north.</span><img height="157" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hjj9JHJLrnzx5TcKxlpzJKEpW8xJoCKUM6fXqOPTx4ntWKWkUOakXjUYiaWmD4dwrgrx-ANpvUab1edIh0lKpowCMqbZ9Xdx6MCHyMqQsyJBxAsuio9-QcBWu587rp-7JhwNXCDFtd29vWEDvQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="198" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easter Sunday was the start of a 3 day Wynham Resort getaway in North Myrtle Beach which they shared with Diana, Jacob, Hannah and Benjamin as the kiddies were on Easter school break. </span><img height="147" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sY3BZQdGE7T1JFFmsuja4crSP3M6DxMlv4S9_u3fIlFjQPLaXdudYXgHo30CpFSMYBoSG-seIiDSzgHBFNzIzNrC9DXFJ8xMf6KWDyNMezf3bJhiA9XzqUGNftg6qbLlnKATNDL6h9xNdpBvwA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="214" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travelling north to Chesapeake Virginia, Oma and Opa spent 4 days looking after the 3 kiddies as Diana and Tom escaped to Cancun for some much deserved R&R. </span></div>
<br /><img height="167" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uaIOZIJRKzr1Hs8LZeHJkYjmPG6it0ltIef_bHSDE6a_jCBF7DtAHJw5CNc_lz19IRSqHYV-o5zUhj6kSUzMqfJ1btMw8qKp6NX3zjWaIakJornq6XeKiHn5Al-5gNlT9NqM2MwqziXJrgLUCw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="143" /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to Ontario on April 11 but the weather didn’t realize it was spring so we still had an April snow/ice storm to endure.</span><img height="110" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/4ZW9XMZhy23g-NqtQ0dzBwSNJYoQ9njapJfi61AKKayDnkKnCDLA1K7kvZXTTnmBwk8fQGlzGomT_TCQvr7caAI9JnL9WUWEIhd4olwREhVSbNWct_tggAoYcCKGGIZ1nG1WSRDnCk9b2czhxA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="146" /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">COME ON SUMMER! </span></div>
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</span>The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-35562417829446028302017-11-13T08:48:00.002-08:002017-11-13T08:48:56.820-08:00 Trip to LA and 10 day Cruise around the French Polynesian Islands<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 23/17 to October 12/17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, September 23/17 Lakefield to Beamsville – Sunny 28 degrees - </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left Lakefield at 9:30 Am. Had a lovely lunch with Grampa Ken Marsden at Canterbury Place in Toronto, tea with Larry and Annette Marsden in Mississauga, supper with Katie, Davis and Dave Whitehead in Winona and stayed the night with Dorothy and Ed Holdenmeyer at their “Comfort Inn” in Beamsville. </span><img alt="'Lunch with KTM and @[688141204:2048:Mary Marsden]'" height="112" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pF9y9sH7PB4V54pzZG9-x7aNCniRRazAFeNMeiRCHEs0FVPXSblMxot8Njy3hMG_07Uwhcuo7eapWNLDndNpAdv2Ydlwp5YDvJ8VWhwm33muCAUyD0cRVZUZ-Hsi8uJcDTcM9KUAorZkBQwKMg" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="167" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, September 24/17 Beamsville to Buffalo</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Crossed over the border into the USA and checked into the Days Inn Buffalo Airport. Spent time shopping at the Walden Galleria Mall – finding deals at JC Penney and looking for Sip’s Luzianne Southern Iced Tea. Roast chicken and salad from Kroger for picnic dinner at the hotel. </span><img height="197" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Cuhb4y8BlAt6JJE3qai3kzdRl7Fq0t5WOjj5Gq15ch5uIYjhxUzGB8bexx1PeUlm3o19PHYj-KTe-OGZAchq_vCWkLkjaGcauv-v3GHSnZ7p7UmExOvkA1oFB6VLvZNBearxViIYfiylpL1TEA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="111" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, September 25/17 Buffalo – Chicago- Los Angeles, California – Sunny 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Shuttle to Buffalo Airport after breakfast –our van to stay at hotel till we return Oct 12. Southwest Flight Buffalo to Chicago Midway 12:30 to 1:05 PM. Volunteered ourselves to be bumped to a 4 hour later flight to LA to earn $405 each in SW credits – good for one year. Flatbread pizza dinner then 4 hour flight to arrive after 9 PM (Pacific time) and shuttle to Hyatt Regency LAX Airport Hotel. Snack from Regency Room on 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor, then bed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, September 26/17 – LA to Papeete Tahiti – Sunny 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> C– Shuttle to airport after breakfast – 10 AM for 1 PM flight to Tahiti. Had to walk to the last gate in lower level, ride on a bus to get to the Air Tahiti Nui airbus. Pilot spoke in French and then English with a quiet voice – announcing an hour delay due to problem with the aircraft. We did meet 2 couples from California going through security etc. – Buck (retired vet born in Nebraska) and Mary Anne (real estate broker) Brillhart from Santa Barbara; and Larry (photographer now but jack of all trades) and Clare (property consultant in local government) Fletcher from Orange County – both couples celebrating their 25</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wedding anniversaries on our cruise and we became friends while on the cruise. Took off at 5 PM for the 7.5 hour flight – 2 meals, 2 movies and a little nap before arrival at Fa’a’a International Airport. Processed through customs and then a bus to the Le Meridien Hotel – after midnight. Nice room – pretty resort. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\DSC09162.jpg" height="158" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jvPTXTY6X4SRn959OwxZONLZe0pIKirq14GuYYP1_WWzYocDTba_IBRLP74Hgn3PGX40D1idn5_5aRiqoi-X-zhbKf475ibdnvAUxX4Im4EcW6zlgYN1H9_UKeWch_f5E6nHQUjsvUe4WofWTg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="237" /><img alt="http://get-to-bora-bora.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/bora-bora-map.png" height="213" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dBlMACRRTipu4hcc_HUeLHaaZ4euryOmFkI2piFsz1ogG5g1V48E2tCrOgoEncI7-cmiuvvqL6JBofKYMbvnwketz7gulFuZbZNjXhXwRHS_gwyaBgR4hgWGapNjmwkbC6kh_V03RsLVhuyufA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="348" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, September 27/ 17 – Papeete Tahiti – Sunny 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Lovely breakfast in hotel dining area, explored hotel grounds and Don did a little snorkeling. Left hotel at 1 PM on bus to go to Wind Spirit sailing yacht at Fingers Pier to start our cruise. Assigned to Room 133 on First Floor – ship had 4 floors. Room is small but very functional and has many storage areas and 2 portholes. Had lunch on board. Had drill at 5:15 PM and then a talk from the Captain Krasmir Ivanov. Bad news from the Captain – weather report for the next 10 days is high winds and rough seas so itinerary changed to decrease our time in rough seas and seek shelter on the lee side of islands as possible. So we would not be setting sail for the Taumotu and Rangiroa Islands as planned and instead spend the days around the Society Islands.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This ship does 10 knots/hr under power and 12knots/hr if the winds were favourable. Don visited the bridge many times to talk with the crew – the third mate was from Brampton, Ontario.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Picked up our snorkel gear from the Marine Deck. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sailed away at 6 PM with 4 sails up just for show – play special songs as each sail unfolds. Rocky night due to high seas – Mary missed dinner at Candles due to queasiness even with seasick patch applied – Just went to bed and was better the next day. Don pounded back the filet mignon no problem.</span><img height="153" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/e3_d8PByWsJbltQdy37GzEjiJXhS9nlQKAcdmdQ9F1PjqDrK9vVsrzKBGcQtt-spSNf5K9kZ92Zpro_mu8JW2EsOF87TeVrCt3MA1bZewvFwBaWYQZoFYrfYZjd1HHK_tGEyDzkjavYsayi7uQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="229" /><img height="163" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UQuv7HHAS8vUYTVS4-af4JYc2TSCW4Q3nQjouqv_LqcgdxHE7_5v_ZpeWLQrzkIIk07XilLcKrh7TGbNadm-sErgsMCxiRpcaM-MgI8AfwYUDQVVnKd1uo-RRFqmQHDuhZg_q-VYd0bQ7hpKgg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="122" /><img height="164" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2uepuhx12vYhIzNIxJYWmGpcsRxoBGBHYUbLtlyJh49xtRgHiaiRInKYGbVeks1LYMmkPFp6s5CF6YQPTxGsgO2ZwXoiRbpi64h1dqMJix8ySbPakzLQGmeCkVS6CntI_JqnIi70AITK8aTbJw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="259" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTE: Tahiti is legendary for seducing sailors and is the capital of French Polynesia. Both Captain Cook, and later Captain Bligh, dealt with sailors who longed to stay in this tropical paradise. We watched “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando and “The Bounty” with Anthony Hopkins and Russell Crowe before we went on this trip. I also read “The signature of All Things” by Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Love, Pray author) because it had chapters dealing with Tahiti. Awaiting to discover what Breadfruit looks like. </span><img height="123" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci5Zbh4z52nnCEa_0zv24NFE4AT5zuhKGaFABnbMIdWAxVWxlxw8DdHUVdIy85b313dgVK7hf9NkmJjnc_n50QazFM7mcK5ocqaEX_4pNxmSfuAOXZ9I9E5rAICCNXZ-ZqZ4jUPdFGfxcCHt6Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="164" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, September 28/17 – Raiatea – Windy 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Rough night but docked at 7 AM. Light from 6 AM to sunset at 6 PM. Had Breakfast in the Veranda Dining Room and then Yoga and Stretch Class on the upper back deck with Susan from the Spa. Then we walked into the town of Uturoa to explore. Visited their shops and market. Back for lunch. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: Raiatea which means “faraway heaven” is the 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> largest island of the Society Islands next to Tahiti. It is off the beaten path when it comes to tourism mostly due to its lack of beaches – but beautiful with it’s dramatic steep slopes of the mountains. The island is considered to be sacred and was the spiritual centre of the Polynesian Triangle. Chiefs came from as far as New Zealand for ceremonies here. It was the centre of a fierce resistance to the French takeover of Tahiti in 1842. It was not until 1888 when the French made a real attempt to take the island. The rebellion was finally quashed by French troops in 1897.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raiatea is home to one of the world’s rarest and loveliest flowers, the tiare apetahi (forbidden to pick them.) The tiare apetahi is a member of the tropical “campanulaceae” family, the tiare apetahi only grows on one island on the planet, the French Polynesian Leeward Island of Raiatea, and only grows there in one place Temehini Plateau, on the extinct volcano, Mount Temehani.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After lunch, attended the Black Pearl Seminar given by the Gift Shop Manager Martina from Croatia.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very informative - Tahiti Cultured Pearls are commonly known around the world as Black Pearls. Polynesian Legend has it that ORO, the god of peace and fertility, would use his rainbows to visit the earth. He offered to the oysters’ mother of pearl its iridescence and thus, gave Tahitian pearls their amazing spectrum of colors. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fragile Pinctada Marganitifera cumingi is commonly known as the black lipped oyster. In the 19</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century, its shell was in great demand by the European button industry. In those days of shell harvesting, one would have to open more than 15,000 oysters before finding a natural pearl. These rare gems would then only be seen in the realms of Pashas and Royalties. Soon the pearl of Tahiti became known as “Pearl of Queens” or “Queen of Pearls.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first trials of Tahitian Pearls culturing began in 1961 in the lagoon of Bora Bora, where Japanese grafting techniques were applied to the Pinctada Marganitifera oyster. The first successful harvest of 1963 proved that a pearl culturing industry was possible in the region. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tahiti Cultured Pearls are best known for their diversity of size, shape, surface quality and endless shades of natural colours, ranging from pale grey to anthracite black. The pearl is made of thousands thin layers of nacre containing organic substances and calcium carbonate (aragonite). Luster is the most important – metallic is good and darker. The peacock color in rare in the round pearl. There is a 50 % rejection rate of the nucleus and the oyster has only 2 chances to produce. There are many pearl farms now with some having 2 million oysters. There were tours of Black Pearl Oyster Farms available but we did not go on them but we did purchase a Black Pearl necklace on Bora Bora. </span><img alt="Image result for tiare apetahi" height="105" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HtM1NRIldi3a9SNuhP1A-Uh-kbNETUK0ivvTrOQ0D2OhFqAESgG2m8T1tDfJLG7ak-lzzOc5W69DWUI_K9FglBwhpccsIZ_zJITfWHD1Pnw3Zid4_2QF4aRqbAGb7WgdAEwYBqYRtHeTuaNovw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="134" /><img alt="Image result for black pearl farming" height="228" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VUelTXNafh6dLn24V8mZregTSQI_wyNuNh4dO-ZHEe4ZMZqkjs1WzOkP3K8LTs5kTObYpISK3mNMgCNai6QkRfAsyiVuX3dZwmpeGlhflCNRgYSTMYKMiAam16VNYHNQ3x5OhG5MJ3ZVBuFKnA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="152" /><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\Pictures\Tahiti trip\DSC09178.JPG" height="199" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_FmV30Ic_eckvBx2cRYQhHLGIgGgGAfzqkXG4Et6MaB6piLKQmOoSeKjfqTjgpS0wTzW4o61K00_RK8y-uw2NNEJ9zewXLGbtN8hGE4V5msE1mdzzxOpobo-V642dFM1eBSzuvWAbM_Di_NZcw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="133" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quiet relaxing afternoon on board the ship and we attended the “Captain’s Champagne Welcome Reception” before dinner. Lovely dinner in the AmphorA Restaurant. Bed after.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, September 30/17 – Raiatea – Windier 28 degrees – occasional short shower</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – After breakfast Mary took the “Kayak the Faaroa River” tour with 12 other guests – (some of the 5 Canadian couples from Newmarket). Raiatea is the only island that has a river on it. We were picked up in a van from the pier and had a 15 minute drive to the mouth of the river. It was a difficult paddle from where we set out to the mouth of the river due to the wind and the current but conditions improved greatly when we were on the sheltered river. These were sit on top double kayaks and the guide’s helper for the day was a large Tahitian called Christian and he was a powerhouse so my paddling was much easier. Back to the ship for lunch. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tropical foliage on the trip was lovely – flowering ginger, bananas, breadfruit. The guide was a young man – born in France but brought to Raiatea by his mother since she was a teacher. He married a Tahitian girl and they had 2 children. He was a landscaper and botanist now but did these tours as well. He mentioned the Breadfruit tree – tradition was when a Tahitian child is born, the placenta is taken and buried with a breadfruit tree so that child would always have enough to eat in their life. </span><img alt="Image result for breadfruit tree" height="184" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1g4OTnghDPFnqWACFifcY3XTd4WIUXqM8ifvPkFORtlW78VIggORsOvDf2iZDIbPJxMYPnSRubBcLZMFqHMsJcgczoePnmU7Ir0zeAG2XVeo3t8iwt5xkRN107Q7OGBa_UnyKKZdol4kUZN1cw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="245" /><img height="133" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RLNvt4Dzt46Tbj1Xko0MyhbGNDspO6jZstIW3-poL4ZQJLfxY2TSvkkX4NDsEnKLQ_jiv75gO6UJ2kw4V1BhMUubrfGiI02jD9qU8jTCn8aJen3Kq_IoSqYybrWbc0dULVxjWfsKhd5EwFvetw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="177" /><img height="129" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/73n29-U6Hkr5EHZsToGbc5Bwe0k8Azwpi2m2-iv234nsoW6O7qp31H9FAS0bhjtU-_DnT2molgIhUKKY3EVd7rwXQOxsC-JpM-0H6CRsuvGBbHhREPtbUlozk2qXGav3yygkVs3T5RFpuqLWIQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="172" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don spent his morning in the town and found an Internet Café and paid $5 US for 30 minutes. We did not have internet on the ship – very expensive and intermittent. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After lunch we spent a quiet afternoon outside on the back deck of the ship reading – hiding in the smoker’s alcove – out of the wind and the sun. (Read the Shell Seekers and passed it on to the Spa girls when I was done). At 4 PM there was some local entertainment – dancers, singers and musicians from Raiatea and a Lei Making Demonstration. At 4:30 Mary had a lovely Spa Body Massage, Facial and Head Massage – Don won a $100 gift certificate on our first day from the Spa and gave it to me because I put his name in the draw. So it only cost me $33US more for the hour long treatment. At 5:45 we sat in the ship’s lounge and listened to local story tellers Heimau and Tihoti. Heimau was 80 years old and had never been off the island – he had everything he needed – food and shelter – apparently he lived in a hut on a large property with no electricity. His nephew Tihoti was covered in Tattoos - traditional patterns that told much about the profession, history and position of a person. </span><img height="119" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XBknoAtBsH781TA1D29LyOVyLYvrVZiTW0576ZG1a8F85ojK3SKbR0Z_Ipq8CPFjbjW9HeZhF1FDeHuTKY3rXXfSrdGsP1scmYkITHG1tpP8WscEAYxTeclcZncH1EzMldFqABxGmpWkZDFdgA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="159" /><img height="120" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/A6JlZ3FZgAQJ7VxsYFGbQE2FLq8T9jSUXlGAsXXgSlkoBX0YagzJ4AJ5jaNJ03GjdlkJs6tqi6MGcsZPEF5c5jIQLW4IgkJqzNHGc_sp2frR1rctH6JMp2fUWsGeaaDOvw2mpY2Mk3-tnovBUw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="160" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After this we enjoyed a BBQ on the back deck of the ship – included lobster tails. It did start to rain a little at the end but we were done and off to bed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, October 1/17 – Bora Bora – Sunny and Windy 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Left Raiatea at 6 AM and arrived in Bora Bora at noon. It was a rocky start to the day with the wind and high seas. Mary did yoga and stretch class in the Lounge with Susan from the Spa – too rocky on the outside deck. Had breakfast and then attended the 10 AM lecture on “A World of Islands” by Dr. Teri Sowell – professor from University of California who specializes in the art and culture of the Polynesian Islands. Things I learned from this lecture: Polynesians came originally from Taiwan. The Population of the islands dropped by 90% with European immigration. Navigation is an oral skill. Polynesian Voyaging Society – back to wayfinding. 1951 – Magellan discovered the islands on his way to Asia. 1768-1780 – Captain Cook did more exploring of the islands and made maps. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After this lecture I attended another one at 11 AM on the expensive Spa facial products – no purchase made. Lunch then quiet afternoon on the ship. Marina deck was open at the back of the ship on the 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor but it was too choppy to swim, kayak or snorkel where we were anchored in the Bora Bora Lagoon – a Paul Gauguin cruise ship was there as well in the same lagoon. Supper in Candles. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: The main island of Bora Bora is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising in two peaks. Produce of the island is mainly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and the plentiful coconut trees. There are many aqua-centric resorts – overwater bungalows. The present name actually comes from a mistake in pronunciation by James Cook as the “b” sound does not exist in Tahitian so the actual name is Pora Pora which mean “first born”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bora Bora is surrounded by a number of tiny islets called “Motu” – small pristine, secluded paradises that offer privacy, beauty and relaxing ambiance.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The attack on Pearl Harbour transformed Bora Bora into an important strategic position and supply base but despite this, the island never saw any action during the WWII South Pacific Campaign. At its height, approximately 6000 men were stationed here. The most significant legacy of its military history if the runway that was left behind, enabling tourism to thrive. </span><img alt="Image result for map of bora bora island" height="217" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JghW-wu5Nrm4bZ_Cp3fipnvqGl8jsqgjd7en05zvISwU9sUtYOS1OG58dlw3lIR0vnep0lzUVp1pATuwgimJnGqRtll85xHs0a1I10vIoIqCOt6z7_cccoh-cx469ggPhHhAQwb8AR3PoE5kqA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="186" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, October 2/17 – Bora Bora -</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny and Windy 29 degrees </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Took Tender to Town of Viatape after breakfast to take the “Island Discovery Tour of Bora Bora” on an open air bus. Highlights were feeding the crabs hibiscus flowers, tie dyed wraps made (bought one - $10 US - as blue as the seas there), and stop at Bloody Mary’s bar for a drink and internet access. Back on ship for lunch. Then tender to Motu Tapu - a tiny motu rented for the day by our ship only – price of $10,000 / day - for snorkeling and paddleboarding. Back to ship to change and return for “Celebration Festival” via catamarran. Dinner, Dancers and Fire Dancers entertained. (Fire Dancing has long been embedded in the Polynesian culture as a way to send messages to the gods. Back to ship after 8 PM. Saw rainbow there at sunset time. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(News from USA – Concert shooting in Las Vegas – 59 died and over 500 injured.)</span><img height="155" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zi_vI7B06zb4AWmSANjyeIjDpk7gFCjH7ajro2lwq4LinchlrYjTZBuIhZ_pFztEzgKIJt-jBs4LekgiLuZIF_GNHWLsXGuDYeFPo3o9wJ4zoz-T1DY7sq3E2KWEteVvTeRluek5GsG_qd17Hw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="207" /><img height="123" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_XdUsHIvRU6je_oztoBM4W8LVHfMCgE2mD8xgI9kLptg8PuUHC-Gyj-5Cmb3WN-UFOaaAjQy7QHhECl4UxFay5Y-eUmpXrYCzKjukUJ2CkN5he29mXlOUi0T1G0EKp94Scv5l907aHF29yhiOQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="164" /><img height="130" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kzeBHYIFfcnz11G89pgv5f-KDuz6qiNU01cI8Mh6uw3CdQdG712QXsmhEve5fZIO0QP75LQd6EQLYxgjmdR3acWwx1wHuaNB-5ydIpYINfGoDifJVen8MFayPJJ6EJLSoioadMS-oUJrNTe0VA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="173" /><img height="85" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/A2r9IlBp6tNVHtPhnBkPtTBIQLEF6t5mfnEbLrUjkAgnZ35o7B73ejC35JKZGjRepeduCwFTOJbzuwApkVxR7YXmpjwZw7VZ1sHK7hJwkn0Erp1Aw8e7fF7tVXQrjqk8FGPhCo1eImDx3bvRPw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="127" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, October 3/17 -</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bora Bora -</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny and Windy 29 degrees – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga and Stretch class on open deck and then breakfast. Lecture at 10 AM – “Polynesian Encounters”. Notes I took at this lecture:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History of the 16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to 18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century. The “Noble Savage” - European view of Polynesians – primitive, connected to nature. European visitors were welcomed, sexual permissiveness – wanted lighter skinned children, simple life – no bastard children – all were accepted.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Captain James Cook had 3 voyages from 1768 to 1780. He collected information on culture and language. There were scientists, naturalists and botanists on board. Omai – native man from Tahiti was taken back to Europe – was the interpreter for Captain Cook. But then diseases came – VD, Smallpox – reduced islands populations by 90%. Noble Savage changed to “Brute” Savage after death of Captain Cook in Hawaii – then less exploration. Then missionaries came bringing Christianity in the 19</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century. Spiritual darkness – destroyed the pagan idol – natives to be tamed – 1900 – colonial control. 20</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century – tourism with airplanes. </span><img height="228" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/NoC3ru_PBPVr8BiADqZn8Rf5b5i0Wh4vuf3XvUpg7q_H_i-AXI6Ky1yFQTqDIaoBMSLAwERI-Cn6CK8TkwNz-I1g6YNnfqPUlxuQGIbNYg3UeMZ83SPAklvVmkEi1RWE-crmYBTSe57xsbMldA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="207" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did TT for Susan in Spa – interested in energy work. Quick lunch and then tender into town. Many Black Pearl shops – even Robert Wan – very plush. Purchased single black baroque pearl necklace in Baldini shop – 40% off – had free internet and sofa in shop too. Don traded apparel at local Firehall. Back to ship for a lazy afternoon. Dinner with Buck and Mary Anne from California. </span><img height="120" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vLEHP0upg2GkugOIeCCPRvT3altDZDF7a-7EJMAmVNhrHNK4PK80Zcg1k1MciXo6LlaQOIoVZAyYMXzfFU6Njw1HeLIQTCz2Uw3rv7wrFnfen9LrYPy-wgfgjKjJG5gOfJbEGYg2uGw_N4P8xQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="121" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, October 4/17 Motu Mahaea</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Taha’a) - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny/ cloudy and Windy 29 degrees – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sailed from Bora Bora at 4 AM to here – a private island with swaying palm trees and white-sand beaches. Had breakfast and then zodiac ride over to motu. Did yoga on the beach with Spa Susan. Tried paddleboarding again but failed – current? Wind? Did not due snorkeling due to current. Had lunch on motu and then back to ship before a little rain storm. Lazy afternoon and dinner with Claire and Larry Fletcher. </span><img height="127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PokJE6lCnWYFj_n-BCEVigHHwIJzfjhu67KjjSM0CSjDxhRZziVwASRueS5MH5UzjFLeHHXO8oebJftqMNwV3HMCR03KhrY5U20A99O6M_D9CiZPG9ek0DzSJMPmelZsKFt5_7SM4e2_y2v6-g" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="190" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: Taha’a is known as “The Vanilla Island” and produces 70 to 80% of all French Polynesia’s vanilla which is of very high quality. The island always has a fragrance of both vanilla and hibiscus. Taha’a and Raiatea are encircles by the same reef and it is believed that they were once a single island. They are believed to be the first islands to be settled in French Polynesia by people most likely from Samoa. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, October 5/17 – Huahine – Partly cloudy and Windy 27 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Sailed from Motu Mahaeu at 6 AM and arrived to Huahine at 12 PM. Did Pilates and Stretch class in the Lounge because we were sailing on the sea again. Attended lecture on “Tattoos from Paradise” and learned : tattoos were first done by priests – it was spiritual with specific protocols – done on adults – used bone combs with sharp teeth – some tapped – done on hands making dots. Marquesians had tattoos all over but later were prohibited by Christians. Samoans – never lost doing tattoos – may be hand tapped – had to feel the process to merge with ancestors. Males had tattoos like a protective armour and you would know of their status and family. For women there were lacey, spacier designs and maybe private – like stockings on legs – pride of family. Maori of New Zealand had more chiseled designs on face and men with designs on thighs and buttocks and women would have less. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hongi – was the nose pressing greeting – signifying the exchange of breath (seen in Mutiny of the Bounty movie). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had lunch and took tender to pier. Rented a bicycle from ship for $15US for the afternoon to explore the island. Made my way to the town of “Fare” with only one wrong turn. Roundtrip of 20 miles? But Fare was not a pretty town and there was quite a bit of up and down on rolling landscape but the exercise was good. Don walked around the pier area and when back to the ship. Supper with our California friends. </span><img height="140" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_PzoyZkM7cjwl0C58dNP2O80zGpyZKc6mUB-2yMibFA74LBtSpz0gmMc1Ct-z3_UoVOMvdw4qAnDGEINEY5GptTLge-0FiTMUo9zwEWtP9BjK2pKe-QJCLmNxSQ1gWVUTrdkFOhXgnPNTdVh_A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="186" /><img height="136" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Xl0fpL6zXJauAv49QQA9_qa5qMOZtwJuXoxte5ild-zZubIv9dIxElMExBARL0prKGdJb5CrL_KNiLva3lnulZ6RmYAXs2dIEDN7lqnUgTKrIdpD7ZKpcAdZRdLBLobdnMMSqRICTH4zEJVQvA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="181" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: Huahine is located 119 miles northwest of Tahiti. It is made up of Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti which are joined at low tide by a sandbar. The island is lush and tropical but not very developed. Blue eyed eels can be found here and crops of vanilla, melons and bananas. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Europeans arrived in 1769 – James Cook. They were referred to as popaa which refers to the many layers of clothing they wore. 1808 saw the arrival of the London Missionary Society. Like Raiatea, Huahine resisted the French presence in the islands and numerous clashes took place from 1846 to 1888 when France finally prevailed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, October 6/17 – Hauhine – Partly cloudy and less wind 28 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Yoga and Stretch class on outside deck and then breakfast. Then watersports off Marine Deck – Kayaked, swam and Don waterskied – after a 20 year sabbatical from this sport! That was a big effort! Had lunch and a quiet afternoon. Set sail for Moorea at 3 PM. Attended 4 PM Cooking Class with 2 other ladies – delicious risotto and shrimp. Learned from the head chef that the ship gets all its supplies from The Netherlands – in container loads picked up in Tahiti. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dinner with California friends to celebrate Mary Anne’s 70</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> birthday. </span><img height="128" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kID8eUZHkb7rhE15fef4I6_k0MQJ0gepYWttsQtuueNoyDixJdt5zCY2QZT-MZGB5aJ0esu_-TUuBzSc8K1kwvvDSQF_44JfOWlDS9jLog8_8C6K2mYFn_QQBEj6gwCF7B7BNk41BFD8AaUqKQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="160" /><img height="210" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EXxyiHo35JXsLYjUGyDdAnTf51nMQmoAFNXiS0jhoUJWUWmOS0goytdfQ0fFWuXyl2vhjGo5HKvXEsRA4bJKk9tCOKXQuPdAN43HuOJsvM_xKfmHn2J3aEfBmmqxP3iZEaYdYUeEHE_tGAYWiA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="140" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, October 7/17 Moorea</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Partly cloudy and less wind 28 degrees – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had breakfast, the tender to pier to pick up ebike tour with Buck and another couple from Alaska. Had guide and biked 27 miles – half way was the climb up to Mt Belvedere to lookout over this beautiful island. Saw pineapple fields along the way. Don did walk of the little town. Back for lunch and then swam off back deck and kayaked. Quietest water we had been in for the whole cruise. Attended final lecture on “Births, Weddings and Funerals”. Learned that Polynesian Chiefs were treated as gods – had much power – spiritual. Human sacrifice was rare. Captain Cook was treated like a god too. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did sail around yacht for pictures since it had it’s sails up. Sail away at 5 PM. Dinner and then packing. </span><img height="174" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J03BXLwvY3rRKHZQEyJeXJv1nkgek0wxEkg4RDQYoCaqkRQE_S3vTQK5uVLuCu_ARKRCZsT2m-Hc2Yx1Jt7mmcBZ5vpe31jlnsIhhmpIiNKmJ1_lIQi6mWMfDC4Dr8jczgQcnJ9l5SGG3rj7YQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="235" /><img height="205" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WmeiSzHKale1SbF46j2o7BmwFDvqcvwMQTa0BzAkVMZJD7okGqUjBmb1DUAMmG7ZNa3XGu9Pl16r8TzAkfKea24oQrVKRYU3KNXmpVG3IRBQqNG03q5SDOicIJ4EUtBNawpJVXx-PDyhzPma1Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(3.14rad); border: none; transform: rotate(3.14rad);" width="273" /><img height="170" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8AR8QNIoHtI2T7Wo1n1pFFUxyaB69KkfIopgaqdmuE_rBjAFYZYpQWl2qy7BDTE-f4q4v1Pb49dxczl_lzByD8qDVGjvk0Go-0GHlVQQHkjVJU1BwnUTRkm0whTaZ6RY_DswD4-MdmSCJweudg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="171" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Moorea means “yellow lizard” in Tahitian and is known as one of the most beautiful of the Polynesian Islands. It is only 11 miles to the northwest of Tahiti. It’s heart shape and two nearly symmetrical bays (Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay) give it a very distinctive coastline. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Disease, alcohol and new weaponry were all introduced to the island which had disastrous effects on what was once a densely populated area. Copra (the dried white meat of the coconut) and vanilla were once very important for Moorea but it is now the pineapple growing centre of French Polynesia. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, October 8/17 – Papeete, Tahiti – Sunny and 29 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Arrived in port at 8 PM last night. Had breakfast and left ship at 8:30 AM for morning tour of Papeete. Saw Papeete Sunday market, Government houses, stopped at park with lighthouse and statue to Mutiny on the Bounty descendants. Dropped off at noon to Le Meridien Hotel for day use – assigned room. Went snorkeling. Left for airport at 7 PM via bus for overnight flight back to LA. Sat at back of plane beside a stretcher – ill woman headed for Paris? – had 3 nurses in attendance. Lousy meals on Air Tahiti Nui. </span><img height="221" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KmMdOKdZt8E38Od_m1Z09K8QyWCQxWzszGtePcL6n9amhCepprL84yEdkTTapXLV_impQgevdXQwW-FwO8ihzNeNG0GVtBuNWW5ZdoDVuwTaAxBid0QorkAZgZGx51quwtZE_yWFQLkb4otkzA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="232" /><img height="171" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6dpXDM8tE9XUvQszNnRrBb_iy-77Nad5XC4KICfD_hVhr4lPnvW2lxL7NBAQsxE4A9onap28ns7Yn_pOTEM3oiNt1lBUvtVen0Y9KAjDzn3gpjtQnuW_miC90DwueVEy7nX-I281Q1HHt6v8ug" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="149" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, October 9/17 - Los Angeles California – Sunny and 29 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Arrived at 10 AM and caught hotel shuttle to Hyatt Regency for early check-in. Spent quiet day. Spent time at hotel pool. Getting caught up on emails. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, October 10/17 – Los Angeles California – Sunny and 29 degrees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Mary went on “A Day in LA Tour”. Don stayed at hotel and walked around the area – finding the walking route into LAX. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary was picked up at the hotel in the green, yellow and red mini bus and taken to Santa Monica picking up other passengers along the way. Changed buses to start tour – visiting Venice Beach and walked around there – saw the skateboarders in the cement bowls. On to Rodeo Drive to walk around there – shops were empty but the street was full of people just walking. Visited the Beverly Wilshire Hotel (President Obama’s favourite stop in LA and the Pretty Woman Film location) for a washroom stop. On to Beverly Hills – which actually developed because of a hunter shooting squirrels and oil was discovered – still has 2 oil wells under it. Had lunch break at the Original Farmer’s Market and The Grove – fancy shopping area. Back on the bus to travel up to the Griffith Observatory situated in the Santa Monica hills – and you can see the Hollywood Sign from there and views of LA and the Pacific Ocean. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Hollywood sign originally said Hollywoodland to advertise a housing development. By the late 1970’s, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce determined that the Sign required a complete rebuilding – carrying a price tag of a quarter million dollars. Thankfully, some of showbiz’s biggest names came to the rescue. In ’77, Fleetwood Mac pledged a charity concert, but local residents prevented it. The next year, however, Hugh Hefner hosted a gala fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion, where individual Sign letters were ceremonially ‘auctioned’ off at $27,700 per letter. The effort to preserve the Sign brought together an odd mix of celebrity sponsors: Glam-rocker Alice Cooper ‘bought’ an “O” (in honor of Groucho Marx), while singing cowboy Gene Autry sponsored an “L” and Andy Williams sponsored the “W.” The H for Hefner. Thanks to the help of these and other donors, the Sign was poised for its overhaul. The old Sign was scrapped in August ’78, and yes, for three lonely months Hollywood had no Sign. 194 tons of concrete, enamel and steel later, the Sign was re-born, poised and polished for a new millennium.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Griffith observatory and planetarium was featured in two major sequences of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James Dean</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> film </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Without_a_Cause" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebel Without a Cause</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1955), which helped to make it an international emblem of Los Angeles. A </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust_(sculpture)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bust</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Dean was subsequently placed at the west side of the grounds.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During World War II the planetarium was used to train pilots in celestial navigation. The planetarium was again used for this purpose in the 1960s to train </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apollo program</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> astronauts for the first lunar missions.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Admission has been free since the observatory's opening in 1935, in accordance with the will of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffith_J._Griffith" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Griffith J. Griffith</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the benefactor after whom the observatory is named.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tunnel entrance to the Observatory on Mount Hollywood Drive is the entrance to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toon_Town" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toon Town</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the movie </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Framed_Roger_Rabbit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1988). Our guide said this tunnel is also filmed as the entrance to the Batcave in Batman. </span><img height="136" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2KvGqyMc-9tdmzw8Gb4-RTG2foXPMJ4mvRej5feKHJ8Mmh7pIw3LVgp44hc4fafp3jE_iJdvi7WLhpGO2xwUTxEkrmALjKErvduLAQcRmPNgJwQjbGCxvrL8JtJRJEOUsbqB3crEvtKYcckkmw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="204" /><img height="167" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/csWicn-2fU6FpPidxekVzxh6LDPTMXuD8JOxmpjzWwj28BZfXRMwTvzAEdeEPAx1tdEgbNxAkbR-NAeJIec8v0k-K88yQcwR5Q9R80aPrXQ_f2nXIsFb_lYRtdLQSQ-vdLOZ8jQhKkDHIT3klg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="250" /><img height="223" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/895uujr9YCtQQk_cikOVIShOLmJo8UTuHYAp-j-eIJiQdDXCDTwoM9cGLdkszxp0Y2K1Ou4khD5xCECB_txTc-yOxg0MWxINdb_PvMIpdKbfyrF1-1fedHgPOlHuz98ua2wFdrG1TSBqUZ9ezg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="167" /><img height="171" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jyssQiVmKh4Cv876GWisQpLkkg0OET_rCpF2G8VmCYLvccaNDGSDXil2kgzk0cEZNUkXSsESy1om9Aqqh9e9tpDbPosZUfIMAQxWshZM846Fv_4YBqmevvCNQXyL7So5zjwNROcW6UNRzers8A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="262" /><img height="162" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ImqJUfM-8MSqG0bltoqUKS3mB5FkKFAGIf5voryFQL9crVb2gQ6ut2JNRw5mIvYxrwibDPqu85IJqLyCR9vnedNLQ74suKYweI_TvMeZmMi9Y9f0iMO505CkjcW0TwRFWrbPIebhiyw2PeMzUw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="417" /><img height="177" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qZI-1jhdRo4R0mfr90whmAbWSpZipne0FJ5aVE7AJHT3QDoDXVbMZn3OTJ_FQfEDdSO0oHo675MxWvoAtstdJigZIoU6SBHuiDedPd7sDkbiHeAwKrPLpzTlPwcVKVgKVF-EMisyOuWQYymbnA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="157" /><img height="222" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/A9EqUwfHIchl6GJtDogI1lI9kaZ-YGRr1nMglizt1xhZejid9TwXMvTZ5QIs_KF9iTM_smJskWFVu85GH9eAl_nK9lqS-7qNnFYi0QZwMxRDMzlF3QnMYRsfIzZzpFKa-HssGir8f_rYjTLxmQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="162" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our last stop was Hollywood Boulevard and a Walk on “The Walk of Fame”. We say the Chinese Theatre and the street was booked off for the Film Premiere of “Thor”. </span><img height="135" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9MVBounoMGAteWOT5BchE8QsZvDIZXXclZ91PspdiYhtKxDLBbXrXo4EOq-J-2NdLoUYSXeFzIjY54u-R13-U3RINC0zBR9zJc6kPHOR8Ys-1dUgp-yltILRWhpYREHHUg6ZC2ssgDErBumOTg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="203" /><img height="192" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GaPitXQXerSVjWijAKxy1kLZz6pthcBDg6diNm1MXBIUrUnfow2Zs23ouhp0ia2Hs3yn5Xx8bkBayE0k_gpiJwe7TQwLgCsiygRg7_WmzY9c6E9Lynml5W9_ACjkQaNIr0Q2fuz5fMubbpP_pg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="231" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did drive by different studios but not by movie star homes – apparently buses are not allowed in those subdivisions. We learned that local LA’ers do not call their interstate highways – I-10 or I-405, they are “the 10” or “the 405”. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Met nice lady from India – Anja Godbole who was travelling on her own too and another couple from Calgary who did press releases for mining companies. The bus took me back to the hotel via Marina Del Rey and arrived after 6 PM. </span><img height="147" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Cm65DPvdNmfljcMAfYR_OTqaJCK1-EQVOyF5YfTfnzgo-sI-6Rq8LerELTEVIEtltK6F__xpNb9khG3Zlb5n9cL0G15zfIxYGVkNsZzROaWZplEz8FGHVV0720RxNInbEN1c0kaHISstNSCjXA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="221" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, October 11/17 LA to Buffalo (via Midway airport in Chicago)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Left LA via Southwest flight to Chicago at 2:15 PM and arrived at 8:15 PM. Changing planes we left at 10:20 PM and arrived in Buffalo at 12:45 AM and quickly got the shuttle to the Days Hotel for the rest of the night. Don Note: The southwest 737’s are much roomier and comfortable than those damn airbuses.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-d0b2969e-b648-34c2-267d-9e8627380727"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, October 12/17 Buffalo to Lakefield</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Ate breakfast at the hotel and took off for the border by way of Walmart – to buy Sip’s tea and a van gas fill-up. Over the border and stopped at Costco in St Catherines and then Katie’s for lunch and visit. Took 407 over TO and made it home to Lakefield around 4 PM. </span></div>
The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-82536822625643966912016-06-28T13:26:00.001-07:002016-06-28T13:26:24.452-07:00Regent Seven Seas Cruise around the British Isles and Ireland<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 5 to June 16 2016 – Regent Seven Seas Cruise around the British Isles and Ireland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday June 5/16 – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lakefield – Toronto – Air Canada 856 to Heathrow – London, England</span><img height="127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pZjRi610yof-wfjiGHgHkzEq9uJx2uynVTU92g_6ntYURkgnxLPGox7D0ohT7DtUYJeIfnrXS1WCCrbZHnWUEMqrnioNRHphQgmRj1rQI88c6Y4GZbPmGn4rSnOwXwM1q8T8joTK3S-2RElSWg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="154" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left Lakefield at 9 AM for Lunch with Gramma and Grampa Marsden in Toronto and Katie and Davis Whitehead joined us. Davis is almost 18 months and has just started to walk on his own – adorable. Left for the Toronto airport at 2 PM and parked the van in the Economy Park n Fly lot. On the 6:35 PM flight for England with 7 hour flying time. No sleep. Arrived on time at 6:30 AM. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday June 6/16 – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Heathrow Airport London, England to Southampton, England to board Regent’s Seven Seas 700 passenger Voyager ship. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Don doesn’t like the overnight flight east so he is tired today.)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through Customs and no Uber ride available so we took the bus. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we find the Bus Terminal at Heathrow and purchase our tickets to get to Southampton port which is over an hour south of London. The tickets cost 54 pounds = $100 Canadian. It took at least 2 hours since we had to go to all the terminals at Heathrow – which is really spread out and through some little towns like Winchester. We arrived at the Southampton Bus Terminal and figured out our way to the ship – 2 mile stroll with our luggage but the weather was very nice. We arrived at the port terminal about 11:45 AM and boarding started at 12 so we were some of the first passengers on the ship and we went right to lunch. We had time after lunch to check out the ship, organize our trips and dinner reservations, exercise classes and unpack before the emergency drill at 5:15 PM. We had dinner in the Compass Rose Diningroom at 6:30 PM. It was still light at 9 PM but we had to sleep anyway. 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Floor midship Room # 734. (category F…2 cat. Upgrade)</span><img height="123" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nObOVsuN2tYQGW2bDQ8TGD7BvrIyt6IaiqpiWiuxsD3z7gxipCtiNYE0sYACYDnkFZQbw3UXnXLUx7mdXg8osLzrLYd8jFeyzPI1Zw9TKh9EOHvDGob5cPCLEJDA_iff1tr8jNXWWuqnoLAGzg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="184" /><img height="99" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QxhHg-i0D-3CwwFnbxQPPg7N5VlzwEI5bocoEvClJI-GL-tJZtW6Rsh5GHdPZ4kashghMpj7E-Wid8Dmk8ggGn-s009k9OShWYo5fXHn-FsQXRIhU28-kXdMc6UjenCsRh_KoGUttcDhxx0-9g" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="104" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday June 7/16 – Day at Sea – Sunny and 20 degrees C</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up at 7 AM for shower, then breakfast, Stretch class at 8:30 and then a lecture by Christopher Griffin – retired Irish Professor who taught English literature in Washington DC. “Destination Britain and Ireland” Lunch in Compass Rose. Another lecture in the afternoon – Good Friday Agreement, Irish Immigration, etc. 9:30 PM Broadway Show with dancers and singers. Sundown at 10 PM – sailing north. Don busy collecting Regent Points for t-shirts through games and trivia. Free Internet on board. </span><img height="134" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/A2aW06BAQoCfZBVt7W2aREC9QLm01feE4e8aRtg1xcy-_2bEb7iiacmM2lMyHrasqGeJHNmKm48gUREvYWRK7eloaa3Fmihq7UKCEkrykev8dd2RZhWluukWd74R8snaTGfYfyOpQuhKQgyEow" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="201" /><img height="124" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0UxGQ1BdbN9I0qau1XtkxN2NuwYfcG15mykCQJbVNKWftcMmOf9FDMxqzWnB68gbVEh47H5wykkYHbAtI9IoRj-JZqzeBd4Mm8H0-rn9B_DME_uYqn3SE46XD0OrtkxJzPyCTC0eCU37zsrvBw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="185" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday June 8/16 – Newcastle (Tyne) England – Mostly sunny and 18 degrees C</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Excursion “Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Fort” at 9AM with Guide Sue. Hadrian’s Wall was built under the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 122AD. It was a stone wall 8 to 10 feet wide and 18 feet high in places that stretched across Northern England 150 miles for protection from the Barbarians of the North (Scotland) – the Picks. It was built by a force of 15,000 men in under 6 years. Milecastles, barracks, ramparts and forts punctuate the route and the landscape of Whin Sill, the rock on which much of the Wall was built and quarried from. </span><img height="149" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TLfS7nPY0iVA-q7-sfr9iBxf5E1obrrHyAONOB5BPdXKd8YhpUDGJGpivVTMS96XyrSeCOU3T7WiV7tU66h9CuCXcHMrHw_Rr85R3oHvsybmTvLEVA1bh92CP0GIUghPFBBqaQLo38hsvSJacA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="223" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our first stop was at Heddon-on-the-Wall which has the longest and best preserved stretch of Hadrian’s wall. </span><img height="140" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uDj1brmdizKmvTfM9cb98gjfO4pZbajja-9d9kluNbUz8xZCY7nSBDicjYD1gf_k__xhWAI4Oni9ANGPRtlUA8jvTwU9RIzz7V7xcTB8Ieos3_JMWK4ogWL3UMpxU7oSmB_ZRZghziTG8PSSRg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="210" /></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c87a0b09-98b0-d857-342c-9dbd606394c6" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our next stop was Chesters Roman Fort and Museum – Britain’s most complete ruins of a Roman cavalry fort on Hadrian’s Wall. It has Britain’s best preserved military bath house. On site is a Victorian Museum of John Clayton’s monument collection from his 40 years of saving Chester Fort. Without John Clayton’s passion, much of Hadrian’s Wall would have vanished forever. He purchased and excavated a large part of the wall to save it from destruction. Now it is protected by English Heritage. </span><img height="369" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UTGvq6sH8iT2XN2hjFIUyvA8-dLIVSw2Fh9DZ_4yBWTdEUz8oQ6z-_mI5mKEyFf6ekDZDoV5S7XHQWBj99yiqInXCI11aS9pDRTvlZTD0gWOx-V4rwUIpYT26E2Le_vWaXlQ8Om9mMG0o04jJg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><img height="168" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yaPFP98oce9YdaPnbvFjGwDuSv97-DXje9kDZWeHPORETOglCTSUhgjc0YzDqv9_GmsVYyZhX267b4Uwhoz7gfHRODutCJpabK2D7ovqTky6Nu5YlOYNT6fp8rFYN133yMpyj2UESMAVUa6r2A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="174" /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Don at the kissing gate. The ruins were fenced off to protect them from animals. Bath House heated from furnace outside of building and hot air piped under floors. </span><img height="144" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IbjED5ZRWhNEvZiCig24i1G8NY6zp3Omia-qCe2N1qSeE7HFrU13lGKzI5Pqpj1h9Cf5PxrsYh4z2A06drkZbJ4QY8N_TEjEmitC69RRcFEcA5bSWYz3KL57G7biTOfTJPhat8iW1RgdkEWNVg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="216" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to ship for a late lunch. Mary took a tour of the ship’s Bridge with 2 other passengers. Tour conducted by Ship’s Second Mate Sante. The Bridge was located at the front of the ship on the 10</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hallway party at 6 PM. We meet North Texans – Scott and Lindy(Ranchers), Teresa and Randy(Banker) and had a very nice dinner in the Compass Rose with them. (Sea Bass Special).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Irish Magician/Comedian show at 9:30 PM. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday June 9/16 – cloudy/sunny and 17 degrees C – Edinburgh (Newhaven) Scotland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up early for 7:25 – breakfast in room - call to Tender to Port of Leith. We were anchored in the Firth of Forth. Our excursion “Royal Mile Walking Tour” in Old Edinburgh. The historical heart of Old Edinburgh is known as the Royal Mile. It runs between Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse (Palace). Bus dropped us off at Edinburgh Castle but we were too early to go in and there was a lot going on there with setting up for the upcoming Royal Tattoo. Edinburgh Castle was built over centuries beginning in 1130. It is built on an old volcano. This castle is where Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth in 1566 to the future King James VI of Scotland, who also became King James I of England. </span><img height="143" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O3YCiqZ4zzx0VswYvjr1D_2-O_hcMT61MMuFi1vaI1ZKNbUtjcyGL8TYARRPVWOKCbBDiMljYVvlt6p2CEqF12AIjn9hlBtVAQRvzpHgs5PT7449z6OsgzmjobvlpBYUyeK4Qu3Y3v93Jo22kw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="215" /><img height="169" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3TapdcvEiP62rsiEeQTLUJ3Rs9yAhSZD56IgkEcErjpdt37bXmFfWPHSLwZvWj28tcki8QS_aGeSyeRH-XRbvEO4Zu_zk7SvcpnZITxg6M1fSJwFPgE7BfeVGOmKKq-jN6Lkf5uv5htdcoVJEg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="253" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We walked up High Street and learned about life in the old city from a very knowledgeable guide – a borough needed a church, a market area, a jail and a townhall. He showed us how the house frontage was narrow but the building went back a long way with courtyards behind. There were many passageways called – close or wynd or pend.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We stopped at St Giles Cathedral which was about midway. This impressive cathedral dates from the 14</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and 15</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> centuries and is famous for its crown spire. The cathedral is adjacent to Parliament Square. Charles II of Scotland on horseback monument in front of Court House. </span><img height="111" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lmKtVIve-LsaUhaWX9JikE6VYoEOI1n2Ko2djWZUl6cDFMIELBxKnUO1XtuDBrtk5LwvgJyyjgF-MtWAdHn-7vNiNwkh90rOIvLRiyGRFKQQU9cZGz64GXHhBEK3OO3KHV7qGYmxQqGk5lxh7A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="167" /><img height="107" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ECEoO35v0Mv9PXH4V2a6-AGsRTk5wnJE_rZBx0J7z-SYwrN5LjLmZV52nI1P3GOXoxR1uS2yDFNSFEs3B0KNvUNraZKqWQhMWGmshNWqVk1GzZUXvu2ileWF_W0QKsGDMbSZEqDllwgILrcPmQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="161" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passed by one of the oldest houses with its upper levels protruding over the street since taxes were levied on the street level. </span><img height="151" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8dl4zOCcjketccBhD4AybDcY8FuV3ETqWkKN7hzrTjjCThcOlUdu8KMzN2SRegAU5lFR1erqYfL0pG532ABWv1SM62d8dwiXoFNb1mtxkYIXbSmF013OchUmxlMvojBwIiMhk0cbwWMj2oJGYA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="214" /><img height="111" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_BT0k6UDIxYkyIzRYv4vk3FcbBcRKGdcIoDplJdVwErxFmKi3aYeTLA35TUYQx9ruN2UUIRdOKzka6zyN29lHWCJyDUyjiqEwR_LBYtZwLGDPhV-D4woIwDO3Rpv70cy4yktz4rP1f0oCWMfJg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="167" /><img height="118" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/f0Cva_uSvqjbMjhgD0pRR6ttWm67AIOcKLMNcMP0CPX10hWyQjU01ADuhv0xQNaJO6Qduj51vSOr2eVxGQnPAlKk96RmJxogHL7WHUWugDpRsfFFpZTNFAX6zagaz_WWQkKoWhJ-6WlgFtI0rw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="177" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We ended at Palace of Holyroodhouse. (Holyrood – Holy Cross – on the site of an abbey)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the British monarch’s official residence in Scotland. It is closely associated with Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Queen Elizabeth spends one week in the summer in residence here. We enjoyed an audio tour inside and there are 10 acres of gardens surrounding it and hills in the distance.</span><img height="211" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/V1R8KeUSwukvuM_OZ9DXuEYBeNi4HgEyAfR5E06py_SrDuGIHItZILsYNRYdPqDuRNC55a73ndEbhX4yPgulYuc9siKngU3f74cpsMmk7J8AnouKmgJhvlhSHhMjTq4EbTDGehygZt7S3VEcwA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="151" /><img height="133" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1mn13XH1CJ7_wz8By8s9Lq3r3hJj5lMmLkFLiPts9p3rVuh0xN6Lf6Wi9Xja_dCGvB8amD2dyIqhKwrF1JYK8VuuOK3LV3FpVCMKdGGguMaFS2Sriun_9iATRWJv-Dcf8fpQ1fa582DfJNiL4A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="230" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back on bus and then tender back to ship for late lunch. Played golf, crocket, trivia in afternoon and Stretch Class. Great dinner in Compass Rose. Played Name That Tune in Voyager Lounge with Dutch Maaike piano player and team of Steve and Joanne from San Francisco, California (Boston) and Lorie (newly retired project manager from IBM) and Richard (Fire Chief) from Texas. Dusk at 10:30 and light again at 4:30 AM. </span><img height="154" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xHnMDJx5CWCYzIpP8gReVCWv-GaZonwF91HQ0Q9Ep0MNqb7DORMezLCdlHEPawo9vjfIMCIJnXGwFv3CVK8h5ZRtIaC7tzeZMIkhfl6-PcE-KA8BTPsM4b9itZHbvsPfkCGpa6lmZc77dm8sig" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="231" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note – Tide change in the 4 hours we were out on tour. This was our only tender port. Tide goes in and out every 12 hours – 10 metre change. </span><img height="155" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/x1niaaLUKpfMm2QUzzdhucKDA_o9ckydHTIqVdVNxJlcfffkUvkxW6jJMCF0YyElv-ryTVT8Q-XHGYrhwmuTA_0xsm309PM6oKHkMpSEHyr8tLezTgkZtpGazYELoewpkHHV52DxVInL2rYbew" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="233" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday June 10/16 – Sun and Clouds</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- 16 degrees C – At Sea over the Top of Scotland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up at 8 AM for Stretch Class at 8:30. Breakfast at 9 and then Lecture at 10 AM on “Belfast as Part of Ireland and the UK: The Historical Background” and again at 2:30 PM “Dublin and the Republic of Ireland”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don did Photo Scavenger Hunt with Lorie and Richard and got 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Place for more Regent Points. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quiet afternoon with needlepoint and Tea Trivia at 4:30 – first place today. Had Seven Seas Society Cocktail Hour in Theatre before dinner. Dinner in Prime 7 at sharing table with 2 Florida couples – one couple owned gas/convenient stores around Tampa and the other couple sold his share of a big company and lived around Melbourne, Florida – East coast. Quiet evening.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, June 11/16 – Sun and clouds and 17 degrees C – Belfast, Ireland</span><img height="136" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JzrAdEdyOiBwtfonenQNgCou7IVI_WZw-r1tK6ZxO5wH-FygHA4TvF9Ep3jAXnjUQb94ZDE2FNBcZcwcxqBlia-60kh1iLlOx0oC4t0MfEvezl4EdQBIn6VQuMxsbXHRAsblNbNT3zxZ8ChAvg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="204" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up for our morning excursion of the Ard’s Pennisula and Grey Abbey. (Ard is the Viking word for Hills). Our first stop was in a little seaside village of Donaghadee where we had some free time to wonder the streets and then have Irish Coffee at Pier 36 – pub, restaurant and hotel. Donaghadee had a lighthouse on the edge of a sheltered harbour. Copeland Islands can be seen from the shore.</span><img height="98" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u-6xiCcUEuOdhCskLAck7f9ocVQkCtW-poIGAi0lVNf9MFUOfdm7orXPftcF-NQQOFHuiyxnGKhTRLsQX-gfHi5YqFvBSkUD9mblqYBA4ryyMvvVW4tkHC6TF4JlNUJEYbY6SHfMvrb8tkwEww" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="147" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We passed through the Village of Millisle where 100 Jewish children were sheltered for the 4 years of WW2. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We continued on to the Grey Abbey Ruins. Grey Abbey was a Cisterian Monastery in the 1200s which was destroyed by fire in the 1500’s by the Irish so British troops could not use it as a base. The land is now owned by the Montgomery family and their residence (Rosemount) is behind the ruins. </span><img height="127" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cWFcKIdDwDD7WwL4v8LA-NVDxMPMdY75c0iBn-E8-btHlxJvUemY6gAxYZnY-C3Mv8eD156T4jjnSkTeEg-8RCdZ6AMM-nH5YwUck5_Ur9c7M6StXJPOi3JCowCp-TznYsXemOOPFb-g8l-VHw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="190" /><img height="114" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hkR0x3vPP2QT9SNWGYk0cor7fl5qW1mLdfjncl0xMIwxatU6pxb62_o7gYuZRZt8dOaYd0Cu3RVLUlaJGzmt3MMwd_Thruz8VoRqP6uK2OTcvl0eu10seG-9O5kspdJBU5vhW6GBo7GxnTxx1A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="171" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our return to the ship we had a photo stop at Stormont – Northern Ireland’s Parliament Building which sits on a hill of 400 acres once owned by a Rev. Cleland – a tax collector / Presbyterian minister of Mt. Stewart. There was a bagpipe band competition on the grounds. </span><img height="113" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9L0J6YbJP_n6GCLyRXOWnb0d3zKj3O-IqzdwngCZwdAUV-bjv_gmV669sY67uT4U3Ijgeh8RtmvV9e7dq4WMMtx5VsfNitxnuL0Nlet6w5MAkmDCPUjS9ERrxxGKaXB0eVJL9rdL8XxtlgEitg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="169" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We also learned that the port is reclaimed land. The H&W large yellow cranes in the Harbour were involved in the building of the Titanic and there is a new Titianic Museum that sits above the shipbuilding dry dock where it was manufactured. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom Hanks owns 80% of the Titanic Studios in the Belfast Harbour and visits often to produce and direct movies there. Bombardier has a factory in Belfast Harbour area. Belfast is promoting tourism now that there is less violence?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to the ship for a quick lunch and I was fortunate to catch the afternoon excursion to Mt Stewart which was in the same area as Grey Abbey. Don stayed on the ship. We didn’t actually get into Belfast at all. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our bus ride to Mt Stewart, we stopped at Stormont again – closer to the building this time. Our guide mentioned that in WW2 this building was covered in tar and cow dung to hide it from bombing raids of the Germans. Northern Ireland was engaged in WW2 as part of the United Kingdom but the Republic of Ireland remained neutral but Soldiers did enlist there and fought. At this time Northern Ireland is about 50/50 Protestants and Catholics. No shops are open on Sunday mornings so people can go to church. </span><img height="115" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZSHcaqBUlMattZ1zD_GGvNNEx4n4a__mC8y6ow2EYdW5Bc7UmQNgBnuCbsotp0b_FPPade_1UPs0QK-umqTOGIkxzsy4BaLU-P62QBXIjetxfn33r7X8KBSZVFnet5xZ0FUWHVYQnHHvGvsZRQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="172" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mt Stewart House and Gardens – Elegant Neo-classic estate house of the Londonderry family since the early 18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century (now owned by National Trust). Lord Castlereagh resided here during Napoleonic times and the house contains a wealth of historic memorabilia. First created in 1921 by Edith, Lady Londonberry, the gardens feature a magnificent collection of exceptional trees and shrubs and unique and unusual plants. It has a micro climate and tropical plants can survive here because there is no snow or frost. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The house was passed on to Mairi – one of Lady Edith’s daughters (Lady Mairi noted to be a pilot and a cigar smoker) (Mairi Mairi Quite Contrary sculpture in Gardens) and now passed on to her daughter, Rose – in her 70’s now. Rose and her husband (surname Lawrence) live in Mt Stewart for 6 months and Venice for the other 6 months. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mt Stewart House had just gone through a 7.5 million pound restoration that was almost completed.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rhododendrons were blooming all over the gardens. Took lots of pictures.</span><img height="140" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8YcTSFEf1zT5sOfH3VMhwDAq5r9SD3HeFbwe-lIjQP49aumLRiHSGma5t1i-LndCyNMV1XRJVhZyedDZjH7hFn14OF5xCypMuXRNk7Nh5eZxv61cogoFihgf9nRQZlL3yzaLMq1UyLpOCu84hQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="210" /><img height="91" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MqYNqVK1dCUhmw-4sSHBaCSDyFTloIbiBL97z0KhiGHY6kwwoggm3ZTspMBAsF9YleuJGN0YyYLT_jWdmFC1vnUAyEVNGPtO7hBXIac-4lCssdgGSQ_kHUDrOoZJkQLdJjXFHbb39VUImaewaQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="136" /><img height="127" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_705zOANcKRnzgWmcR1QOmGSWWzr_ktVM83RfhgF7jsINGlzsZ73aMteFfyGf_eapQVrnGTi9lG1TZoWKDhoGmKYSKzO3XfCmQDkeciqB5DTTsXPJz-kX2c_MU0UYrinLOS0liw5kkAfnZU8xw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="190" /><img height="132" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dzfheucDJHBldvHW_Ddx4AmHVvggxN74HqaNGnXCoFQJvNcB_KQWPP4JVZWTC3xb0jhtNU4lfcEWO0B4TWFY3IA8Qd2YVhByTQmuTJboXxy_8Rrfn_aPvsFZhT5F1R3oEH1zcXI1GvD06-cGmw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="198" /><img height="138" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/g2YW9KUasA4PgfpSlS5MBneXNL8j3lHt-x3t21Cu_o3vMSq3rETRCTpyxRRePx2J5eRwHBfiAT1Y8bz3rLNnAqq5mruufPr3IY7UMmgL7GOGvbctur2uS90EAaNw3UikPpImgxxYzcbGlvYSBg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="207" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our return to the ship we drove along the Strangford (meaning strong current) Lough – tidal lake. Saw the Scarbo (soft rock like limestone) Tower built by local people – as a folly? – like moat castle in Donaghadee. Drove through town of DunDonald and back to ship by 5:30. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Delicious dinner with our Texan friends. Relaxing evening. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday June 12/16 – Cloudy with some sun and 16 degrees C – Dublin, Ireland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We left at 8:20 for a bus excursion of “Dublin Highlights”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our first stop was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Founded in 1220 and now designated as the Anglican National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland and the largest of Dublin’s cathedrals. It is still a working church. According to tradition, Saint Patrick used a nearby well to baptize converts to Christianity and a small church was built marking it as a sacred place in the heart of Dublin. Falling into disrepair after centuries of fires and the elements took their tolls, the grand church was fully restored in the late 19</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century by the famed Guinness Family. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonathan Shift’s Pulpit – He is best known as the author of Gulliver’s Travels. He was Dean of the Cathedral from 1713 to 1745 and is buried under the Cathedral floor. He had a famous sermon entitled “upon sleeping in church”.</span><img height="116" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_5O0IH4EElucE871rrXOCuxSrQ-3zIKgzztYNbb33yzP2dDwHKLntnUdLNMyrIMFcLGISGR_A-SxqiGPFHggOURG0N53zubNrhDPME6OCn_QeIguts55j3ETc15But-QY6woxwU8rDQ-BluZtw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="174" /><img height="145" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WywS4_NmY7TUz7aGHhuxrGc09j26UIyYRyAyW40PvfY8hAnKKKdFnU6dcVA_EtOtB4ZUw0CEzg4k6RxXiIvY9FptWU1k5BTvG6sJZxD0bgnTyQmv2LAgAractJ3neiu1gN2S6MfUXfmS6RyeSg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="218" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next stop was Trinity College – Ireland’s oldest university. Granted foundation by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. (A Protestant college until 1970.) In the Old Library is the Book of Kells, a renowned artifact of early Christianity. Created by Celtic monks circa 800 AD, the ornate book contains the four Gospels of the New testament in Latin and is one of Ireland’s national treasures. The main chamber of the Old Library, the Long Room, is nearly 65 meters in length and houses around 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books. </span><img height="123" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qt_S0k8gAZk5WPsNCijqJ8cPYAszY4J_eXn56ZN6dQ2vNbPRy0sPsIsrIvGLO8dLeJzsphnmsaKYEYrG2g7KT1kk_CP-IqsU1uLqFDdgOzCRlRqz-5N5k-3oXCetYcWOJsacx1EzMZYJl0ktvg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="82" /><img height="147" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lfyXkhhfw9_s89hSZVJQ-YfurXkWpVBy2GSDOZgU_Aki0JnhJhxDiZQsKz3offYdEE1TYe0-3WusapZsFjFcxX9DwAxzXOWuF_whHLbkFuYSs4D2v0aE7SimunFLT5dr2Ji1EaIVw2m30H-m6g" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="220" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had free time to wander around the streets of Dublin and ventured to try and find a firehall for Don to buy a Dublin Firefighter t-shirt. We did find a firehall but unfortunately they did not have any t-shirts for sale. </span><img height="104" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9IWJytepcIfUOSVCd2kKTZGTcVe3ULAm2ieisausep1ABYCzMcQQztr-k5KhxWv4vApm-sLIiZZXInfmOptOYy-rsVAxa-wvK4npb12RS-_CSjc4PWCjWRT1TqRLm1asjGxJyksGvjIWVzOFA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="156" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back to the ship for a late lunch. Quiet afternoon. Supper in Compass Rose. 9:30 Show was Alan Kavanagh – a Dublin guitarist/singer performing Irish songs including Danny Boy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday June 13/16 – Mostly cloudy with some showers 17 degrees C – Liverpool, England</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Got on as standby for Liverpool Highlights tour in the morning (Don stayed back – still on one tour a day schedule). On our drive around Liverpool, we passed by 2 soccer stadiums – an expansion for the Liverpool Team was almost complete – to increase its capacity to 54,000; iconic buildings at the pier area including the converted old warehouses of Albert Dock. Our first stop was at the Museum, Library and St George Concert Hall on the hill. </span><img height="121" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KB7DF0zsQJ21lE-Um8lXS1-gRKqvl1SH-ZY-1QZEr2sYNHsssYcZf-upeyiaiPnNNGod4aWXKH1FfRd2ZjXwYNvMlZ-UCU3akQz4StsDhS2t4KMTdx4oqGihGYMCw4aa2PcDn-tLtDpe_LapxQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="161" /><img height="148" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OLazGq7iHaGYmjY4wjmqTdr3vy4boBGXrxA-Fu2HyKt8bPzrpkTp58gehuLpcpMMV1lh_QIJt8WwUnSzwPco9Nva3cDuoQq0H29JywSb23FQYklbxoKAfDV4FgtGhDmojdD9Fet71X_41wJOlQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="198" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our main stop was at the Liverpool Cathedral – Britain’s largest Anglican Cathedral was started in 1902 and it took almost 80 years to complete. It was designed by 22 year old – Sir Giles Gilbert Scoot who came from a cathedral building family. It was originally to have 2 spires but was redesigned to have just a Central one which is 331 feet high. Sir Scott other claim to fame was the design of the famous red telephone booth. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in 1951 was the first ringing of the Church Bells. Sir Scott to did not live to see the completion of the Cathedral but his granddaughter was the first baptism. It had a “Ladies Chapel” on one side which suffered damage in WW2 – all the stained glass windows were destroyed but have since been restored. During our visit there were preparations happening for a youth mass that afternoon and a small children’s choir was practicing. </span><img height="125" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z2Ma8aXrpclpjGGGRa8HgUn1Lc_8T0dr_OefzgRZwbnoZHe9vtkHC4SiauuPtlLa5bvf2iFwZtDaNM2xr414Jri2WUEOnR52WNWh1-_Nptj9VH75wYf1spQaXLc6-Rzqyi1NDWENu0WhhFViZQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="187" /><img height="143" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yqfAKa_fhvkvO64U8B3zgbl5Ip4IMDYo9fDdy8VugF0mwKJsttVtzPT9n3Ep4X6ze-s2tjw2oi-SwH3xzt9Gn7MdjoTQEWuRgVqTI7oYG4G8coeozoxeo9dl8MLzswt7oKMP4E4qQ2iH7Spudg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="187" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Got back to the ship for a quick lunch before the afternoon tour “In the Steps of the Beatles”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had a fantastic tour guide who was a Liverpool teenage fan in the Beatle era and now an expert resource on the Beatles – also custodian of John Lennon’s and Paul McCarthney’s boyhood homes. The tour’s first stop was besides the “Hard Days Night” Beatle Hotel on Mathew Street where the famed “Cavern Pub” is – where the Beatles played 292X. The original Cavern was destroyed but has been remade like the old one (maybe ½ size) and there is live music played there daily. We got to go down into it.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We walked around that area a bit and saw the “Eleanor Rigby” sculpture – lady sitting on a bench, the gold records and special bricks in Mathew Street and Grapes pub where the Beatles hung out after their sets at the cavern – the cavern at that time did not serve alcohol.</span><img height="162" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tU4Ov3QrYh26bQx1wdlxRC2rRfpwYkpymf4uJy_P__x7Oo1gfi-ENaB6ZJJhxqf37aGOqlrywMp8PdyAbvPGsaxrAXxfpZyjpSGImh1EoCM9ViOhaHe26Nq6R1i2U3IyrxZLqy_PXkkiazhSfA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="216" /><img height="119" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tpLmCQ7pE5fpm03_gw1D3V9DpZFox3PfWJOiGXNSxFDHzVgwhly1topvJyAadEyu9JXoEUe7Iea6DxHzzn85Cy6ZdQfVBR4oaINbW-lpagL1226J9qjGWdUDMd-CuONckGk3dp61pvpEj3NRHA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="178" /><img height="179" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xTm8r_HcEzKDepP_hqSUgMrD1v44sIUlz7CoHIc0FYK5HYw4ig6_O_tceZlS2q7SS7JF03icoR6IPP6Xkbvl2_Q0n34LveOF4QlK8Oh9HxMg5OkzG-30gryAh80vT-txowhXHWBbUH7Tx0hBmg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="269" /><img height="182" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NEkR7f0u2nUU4iS3bJSe2SrF9InLQd86mwO2yV2ju8YU2HuvU_0of5FssQECgFQKqdd7iunnV3Hu6OJeS37KZQDdpnTRlCV2il6ymULNVadAYIYLLgz0NS2Nw1qz7yvlLiSJXChav4aN7dk0ug" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="243" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back on the bus we toured by Lewis’s Store where Paul McCarthney worked (under Father Mackenzie), by Strawberry Fields Gate ( a Salvation Army children’s home near John Lennon’s boyhood home in Woolten), down Penny Lane , to John Lennon’s boyhood home and the Art School he attended. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our final stop was at a Beatles Museum in the port area. We had an audio tour and then returned to the ship. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were back in time to play Tea Time Trivia and the lecturer Christopher Griffin and his daughter Deardra joined us and we won 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> place. Then we did a Galley Tour of compass Rose conducted by the Main Chef. Dinner was in Compass Rose and then watched the 9:30 show of “come Sail Away” – A Tribute to the 1970’s. Wavy night in the Irish Sea – had calm seas until now.</span><img height="108" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bUh0BXzOISQA4RQU4NFwi6FYunmKwH_Gjy_muDQNOH7xu4p1xtewyYrlCIcTB8uDzzEgNLZQQOpq_68Qsm-WSENVk8frdqB2ht5bZqs114eBVwA39y-5NyRiA3E-CxpuVW_F1eH9ZnwvMwQArw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(1.57rad); border: none; transform: rotate(1.57rad);" width="111" /><img height="137" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/raCDzdvKRKt4FP7PU5Y1r0uuug90b4dE4ky5DUQ9xhiTEHzd2HS3XdNsTTurU7NQceaYU9xUnegQfpOhbRpsX9pkTotQ4SrwYQ6YE5O3ZCI_B_-O3OjYZByATr3Vuud2iUoJhyiJvZX-ocxoGQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="205" /><img height="134" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/19F67JB7RkcWETd1L0FduPeaMcAWIbEDue-_QuqKNKYsQvdUKVE45YgU-aK2twHxUGjkrhLswT274rj3eh4icm81yNkz3RjGclEoc8KOlxCod0nJPmEXVk0DUEZB1a78An46KPe50GC-90iz8w" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="148" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We also had to remember “Gerry MARSDEN and the Pacemakers” while in Liverpool. On the morning bus tour, the tour guide played a tape recording of the song for us as she spoke of the ferry system in Liverpool. Pop Art giant and Sgt Pepper album artist Sir Peter Blake created the Everybody Razzle Dazzle design for one of the ferries.</span><img height="131" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/F-M3pMa7tjMzykiJzBqotL6J3XJcy3HaEmb9tNKykYy1khSxHT6_EI8zbEBK1JE_78c8Zk3c83fzdaV2ndxGdf2-1SI9nOoqfqfWVrLyc1ir_BTd67hgL3MvpdnhPGOO1mhhIf8w5lgUmAG9Kg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="212" /><img height="227" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TOm6qK16m63P42loTU7e30CkoAaukVVjvfZFIaquKMHa9wZKVwnSMslD8FwNyqR9whmlXsJxMqJSeUiqWFGKe64Zb0_LJHN8wZd8TQikYy5kUDg9lxVbGCv9nZtysLAUMkqkPZRMaPa7427JIA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="151" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/sir-peter-blake-give-mersey-8550789" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everybody Razzle Dazzle</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the third in a series of Dazzle Ship commissions to mark the centenary of World War I.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday June 14/16 – Cloudy mostly and 15 degrees C – Cork (Cobh), Ireland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Late excursion at 9:30 so had time for 8:30 Stretch Class. Our tour took us to Lakemount Gardens – a private garden of 1 ½ acre around a family home – the husband who was the gardener recently died so this garden may be open for tours for much longer. Then we drove on to the restored Jameson Distillery in Midleton to learn the history of Jameson Irish Whiskey and that it is triple distilled. Don was one of 8 in a whiskey tasting and received a certificate for his participation. We saw the fully operational water wheel and the copper pot sill that holds 32,000 gallons, the largest in the world.</span><img height="153" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/uERG9aeyjZPS5wNxaBHrIO7O5nnd8i4H64TlK2_ozAkShYLDFtbk52iKvZ5i5M1YqS3oJxM9hSqSS1mDuE_tFgrI-j0SrqdJSCwMxaWqbZSyeldgD5HUeT7w7bYLTFx-iKxYZzxLu_b1Qk-SSA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="102" /><img height="100" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cZAsQv75080gUD2ahBnvv27aveN15xSNQIiog4WjA1S2Js1pyUDQ6VycAUOe9CTdUP9vR3v31Zlay4dkcIDBIX9fsPF_qBkI8PNKAKoLWnTQ7ERctntv3PrygYUDuA_o6TYKLAWUlCb59VghSg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="150" /><img height="123" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/0auk-TCUxVFljbPeyKq2FOsT9gfu4VeJK-w7lwVU5zon-SNxXAQXIspyq8-Xzwx780isoNSzf0mc9AF4DsFNs1uN6a-qdhMWkPW7sY5jala4q8efT5V0gSvHgan5XDQ2OF2mGqigqNaUUL_CxA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="184" /><img height="149" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/DjmL285ZYIhc_mHhQmlQrfi7RIEdI2yhl79buT-O5SxCBWxgvENJTmfl6RUUZC1tcW9LacLJ2UhSgaaToudqQ8Ia0f4ZH8-vetpcM5PZov-6oZ1ca5-_Mm76KAwNpuPNEKF4NcFf90yNIEwySg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="157" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On return to the ship I spent an hour wandering around the village of Cobh (pronounced Cove). I climbed the steep hill to reach the Cobh Cathedral famed for its carillon bells. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cobh was also a port where many Irish immigrants (from County Cork) left for America. There is a statue of Annie Moore – a 15 year old Irish girl with her 2 younger brothers. She was the first immigrant to be processed through Ellis Island in New York City Harbour and there is a statue there of her as well. </span><img height="122" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__eacd0JOFU6Cx9xn0fhaYeAudRAL_lMM-jKsCy1HQojd3j9GC3loATzn-iBdDdqVmY1Ivftwb8dbPYmMS-3ZaBwWG3_EWHDGgk5h01tSg3X_MGckV34berN4CLdg5WtL4l_6iBA3tfsVyBmwQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="164" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nearby Cork is known for the many pharmaceutical companies there – and the most famous product being Viagra. It is the European headquarters for Apple Inc. and the home to Heineken Brewery that brews Murphy’s Irish Stout. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back on the ship was the 3:30 Lecture of “Celtic Films”, Tea Time Trivia, Stretch Class and Staff Show at 6 PM. Dinner in the Prime 7 with our Tea time Trivia mates. 9:30 Celtic Show. Another wavy night. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday June 15/16 – Cloudy, some showers and 16 degrees C – Plymouth, England</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excursion at 9 AM to Slapton Sands and Dartmouth with old fellow guide who was a war historian but not too good on directions – or the bus driver either since we got lost twice and was not able to walk around the centre of Dartmouth since we ran out of time. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Slapton Sands, American tours trained for the Normandy landing since there was a similar beach on this coast. British troops were also training and there was poor communication between these forces resulting in British troops firing on American Troops – over 700 deaths resulted – this fiasco was covered up for 40 years. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is an amphibious Tank that was pulled out of the water years later and restored by a local pub owner (Ken Small) who wrote a book about the tragedy “The Forgotten Dead”. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was another disaster further up this coast of an army group practicing for a beach landing in the night and they thought they were close to shore but in fact were on a sandbar about a mile offshore and all drowned since they were loaded down with their equipment. </span><img height="102" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/LU78AaRclqnSqIDtVMddTNaeAxOvue6TeR6wl8iWFeUJ6M38jgwoRg8nLttM_EgQObgPFXl_G-yLzHdLY9Je0e2FTjNCrI08GR8Pf8Wtj3eLKt4jBMl08Y8j_R38oOnpBhpkeSvTkfE_pau19A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="153" /><img height="127" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SFOOTwbtjo0CCbZHcM6Ai2tLpT11JdzBC6bJ6PxHCy_-C6MBijAcYf_QzU0ANMTCJL2U4AJL9mQDpo8y_JpH_Sg9bmNx_CYLnhzCgJSj6-s-IyCb454HtjgYt0HpJTP83dhkLOhsA-NKWbrzEw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="190" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We went on to the Best Western Dartmouth Golf Hotel to have Devonshire Tea – scones with cream and jam and tea. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then on to Dartmouth for just a tour around in the bus. We saw the gates for the Britiannia Royal Naval College entrance. Also Christopher Robin had a bookstore in Dartmouth in his adult life and never stocked his father A J Milne’s Christopher Robins (Winnie the Pooh series) books. We got back to the ship after 2 PM. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Played Afternoon Crazy Golf and Tea Time Trivia for the last time. Don traded in his 116 Regent points for 7 Regent t-shirts and I went to Stretch Class. We had dinner at Signatures, packed our suitcases and spent a little time listening to Beatles songs in the Horizon Lounge. </span><img height="153" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GN8iWopcvwVQmEa1L8x7dGwKCe1MRcGqMMgXMN1e_wcIoF5z_zgyTQH_w6kTWwhw_9bQy8xohUrEVGDqKJG1a0_BPqW1Stpc-nBRrAwqKeZAPBB9TtDDJc53w0fZqpFE957khxfi8e1udtQYRw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="143" /><img height="131" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DZ4k4mxWqv7DsvHRFNThhOehrBNWfF_kpbxcQOyQd03hljdVDezD1VgEtLNVsHxot2jHsQOIosrj0L9UrPZzomqXDiRbTz64aMNgyVc2EM4J3iXOwOumwT0i4fxroW_Abu3rkm_4895jvyQhnw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="197" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday June 16/16 – Sunny and 17 degrees C – Southampton, England</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up early with breakfast in our room and disembarked from the ship at 7:15 AM for our last excursion (we paid $200 each but used our $100 Shipboard Credit so $150 each) to Windsor Castle and then Heathrow Airport in London to catch our 6PM flight home. This solved our problem of getting to the Airport on our own and we got to see Windsor Castle!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had a very knowledgeable guide for this excursion. Windsor Castle is close to Heathrow as we could see by the planes flying low overhead. We were fortunate that the queen was in residence at Windsor Castle (queen’s flag flying) and it was Ladies Day at Ascot – so fancy hats around. </span><img height="174" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/L4POlcVaw-GUzYhz38aMNWKtvpYNDRz037z90NmcFARHoNxGnbT8voy-h_kq30lLznOz-YifiYi1HTRmpKeQAxuM2G69_5zK97K5CuEuX7w0tsPuz0wP-t-0PsQ0EsMld_ovOWtihJSJnpMJEg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="198" /><img height="123" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LuKvye8GcUnfZ04kjwxfZrr07UqwQYUiJ0P4kdyKceil62TY_jm-ai6uNZ76YWiAjN7k1Tal5B17-9pjwkqWL7PE1NC8rSrv7WlmsByKBHMnl4_jHgt9a6Oj9IIepCQi8fLiB_O2A-t2MDUAxg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="185" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We toured the State Apartments (no photos allowed), Queen Mary’s Doll House exhibit, and St George’s Chapel with an audio tour. We were fortunate to see the Changing of the Guard from the State Apartment windows. </span><img height="141" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oGoDdR2ye334Uima8jqfCf36C8qzO_vYafQwAfkftptucD3o2JT0sUaKrnu5P5zc2tHpwTe9avEiBhKapkmZ_Xj4Zl7_ixrSq20_X1GwisMkcDd-n5wZHs83QCJyiLBtatdOWDSyNyqRglpRBw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="211" /><img height="137" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OsQ6dZwk6smV03FhEJ_WGD7j2O_CHkAtMhmRqzktxT8R5EukJ31S_5eybO7C7riJlEDBiJURPy1ReCc08axQH0uEzhpFYuHUjRevQ1Irw2A9hXp7iFeiF6XPF7ULZqHxeO0WicS4c8cEC1U-ZQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="115" /><img height="243" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/06c09hVQNO6ZT_mbL4r5OiMo5zIxKHCYpYxmJCbh2XNhHe18vblyvpGBSvIdzFKdHxTkkCOkGV6GRP_tug3CYT_ojmLCgYqJh9NzfoCjT6H23xd6sUmfRZknNxADKqo0QYTEyoqIGY2N36SQbA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="268" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mget8Cztui8dL8XpqTFGibbuJ2HY5HRjdocDVunkjeibCBMds4WKBOXPo0AbBs60j-k-M1vi-mrvfGmO1l6L_GsZXJKRElPXhDdcVgro-j0eublVJynM_7YDokOrP8YWBEsE9cgds4Sno3vWEQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="248" /><img height="166" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1Zn0T1S5-iH3NBlz72X1F44o-dNc8rYwrWxHaFx-HJyiDQk89OAQ5xkADtrikXKzCA1mtIIPsg4h8OYey9nm_3tdaqLk54u-IJCkM2vhKy8O-24vyBWnF0MAgkrBA2QAbuMZc8cCXGOK8nrxhw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="124" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left Windsor Castle at 12:30 PM. Dropped off at Heathrow Terminal 2 to catch Air Canada Flight 859 to Toronto at 6 PM. Flying time of almost 8 hours and arrived in Toronto around 8:30 PM. Through Customs and shuttle to Economy Park n Fly and home to Lakefield at Midnight. Fell into bed. Great Trip!</span></div>
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<br /><br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-48264352243003028752016-04-10T17:05:00.003-07:002016-04-10T17:05:18.147-07:00Winter 2015– April 2016<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">October 29, 2015 Started journey to Florida with first night in Beamsville, Ontario at the Holdenmeyer B&B+ after saying bye to Katie, Dave and Davis. Quick stop at the Lechs before crossing the border. Night of October 30</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> spent in Winchester PA and reached Chesapeake in time to carve some pumpkins and have Halloween Fun. Enjoy a few nights with Tom, Diana, Jacob, Hannah and Benjamin. </span><img height="156" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fWuKoRIZF7F5tbQL525O0vHKBXiv2XJhIg_kka-s9gpC__AJ8V7cdPY--4k4k_6W7rFOxdBl6JdHqECs6C6boIiXZUw1Fzf7a9_C50JvEp35AGLL_Dpo-YcQT8hNt9bwYwaliNbgFT07NPZ_cA" style="border: none; line-height: 1.38; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="208" /><img height="210" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZrA5LBZsWchhrSYcHlKSwIAKeo8EtJzgBYGE181zAKhNn5mQp1qtqsf1V8eEsa1JAATk79pk1oTfVv4yanxbTKaaheMuXH3tz319aR9i0Npc68qMSRyEuAUvx1yDqaYAMQYZcSbhNfO8k0llaw" style="border: none; line-height: 1.38; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="280" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 3/15</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Arrived at Condo to unpack and start setting up our “New to Us” condo at On Top Of The World, Clearwater Florida. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks to Charity Thrift Stores, Garage Sales, Craig’s List and our building free bins we had the place comfortable for our needs. Only big retail items were the new TV and mattress set for the guest bedroom. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, November 13/15 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tom and family joined us at the Silver Lake Resort in Kissimmee Florida for a week. We went back to OTOW on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 19</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">after a day with the family at Tampa Busch Gardens. They had a quick look at the condo before returning to Kissimmee for another night. Tom and Diana and family came down and went back via the Orlando-Washington Train. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I flew back to Buffalo – sister Dorothy picked me up and took me to Winona to be with Katie, Dave and Davis for a few weeks. Celebrated Katie’s birthday on the 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and flew back to Tampa on December 15</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Celebrated Christmas Dinner with Brian and Thery King at their mobile home in Pinellas Park.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 7/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Drove with Brian and Thery to rented house of Gord and Jill Hill in Davenport to have a “Firefighter’s Day”. Joined by Richard and Barb Croft and Debbie and Al Bentley (new Tesla car).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 22/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Drove across Florida to spend a night at Richard and Barb Croft’s house in Atlantis subdivision of West Palm Beach. Drove into Miami Port area the next day to board the Norwegian Cruise Ship “Escape”. We were escorted VIP onto the ship since were were “Haven Spa” guests bypassing the other 4000 regular passengers. Our Spa room was on the 16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor # 16110. Tom and family and Diana’s father Jan Lech (all flew down – bad weather on the East Coast) are on the 17</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor – in a 2 bedroom suite #17110. </span><img height="279" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VqMDjfYuBQELoQkeGZ6LFB-DHDZK-X-q2GLtbA-d9FnToPJivmXf00XrjrI6pDFSbAuAnhgvJWDBxrWtEV6I6mBQWis3cWjUB3d2gxLKHmb3rd7lzAO_lOdmerndD_RS8Jf7-F6r-YuZIoFAhQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="195" /><img height="167" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/a85vB7cc0xxSItUozGNw5wVNLsE0ZNIpszvHt_BrD7wfEQ2Ww1ZWDCYK40r3abstjkMl38XPKh4lUS483spywgBp7h-BelrdQwVb7aB3DR_AtQgXVKRcbPfoM9QtjljaIx__EQiqWZFn2TT2xA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="183" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After sailing out of Miami we were 2 days at sea enjoying the ship’s activities (upper deck rope course, mini golf; spa with steam room; salt room; snow room – not working; hot whirlpool and heated stone recliners) and shows (like After Midnight – Haarlem Jazz show; Million Dollar Quartet – Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins at Sun Records; and a female hypnotist), dining – Moderno; Cagney’s; La Cucina; Le Bistro; and our own spa restaurant, and kids clubs – Splash Academy for Hannah and Jacob but Ben did not stay too long in the 2 and under Guppie group. Tom, Don, Diana and Jan all accomplished the rope course at the top of the ship. Jacob took some training on the small rope course. I was happy just to take photos of the daredevils – it looked my version of Hell to have to do it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 26/16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, we visited St Thomas, BVI. By local taxi, we crossed from the port, over the island to famous Megan’s Bay for a day at the beach. There was even a kayak rental included in our time. The beach had an undertow with strong waves and a foot dropoff near the shore so we had to be careful with the kiddies. Sandcastle making was fun. </span><img height="154" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ckiddBx4mDMuMVjnN7BNqfxPLoj5TJm_JXs4Ahg9MVAYqS8WORawVfXjRhXNFjHCljQHduLD_JcTPHZjOYPOc3Bs7p8-Wfg0msYDmtOpUG69cdEcR9nk32GSeCtjg3cdFssfbC4FauU_UwKH7A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="98" /><img height="207" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tEyfIhgCVif1Mv-1uWHEJp4DkhWlV1dnOcb1NCQNAZXRGRreeHhSSwLR4k6JBdREBPBEvBDVuM8sw76XITbvaLFkrhs2riIFwKgkaF0rwWUvJt1yxqg7H6X9RXK9CR24mx19bkh-YIYznvBQow" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="310" /><img height="259" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YnWiE5gTQjb3vHmTMnvRfdJapPpnLcX8QcMtvWyQnSSadTb4MPYZQm6ZXU4Xz_7jonq666fAn0Ia8KYL4xaSnnpWUq5aIMeZ9xwl9LDhUwH99sgEDxKDhAIJrWyD9a3lBETjFLRK1xq7F40unw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="269" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On return to the ship from the beach we had a little time to check out the duty-free shops in the port of Charlotte Amelie. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 27/16, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we sailed on to Tortola, BVI. Our adventure started with a long walk to the ferry which took us over to a port at Virgin Gorda (another island). The sea was a bit rough and Jacob’s breakfast didn’t stay down but that was his only seasickness for the whole week. Off the ferry we caught a taxi to the dropoff at the head of a Trail which lead to hugh boulders at the beach – spit out there thousands of years ago by the island volcano and the rocks stuck in the cooling lava. Don came along but stayed in the shade and feed the hermit crabs banana skins. I had a little fall carrying Benjamin on the way back up the path to the taxi scraping my forearm and leg but did heal after a few weeks. It rained when we were on the ferry back to port but we made it in lots of time before the ship sailed off. Thanks to Tom for planning our excursions and saving us lots of cash but using local transportation rather than the expensive shore excursions sold on ship. </span><img height="170" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drA_6L4Mndtq_XhAs96mS-F86ise8pB0by6UKRHjXwxyCAoTvAsiBiypadW_yqkQ-QCKnDB_LMWhWIxlSaKfPoUQm9jXn4k7AyOUjh7K4tc-dnYy5UxcAqIHNiPx_EnxyQD80oF_olmOwvhYDA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="154" /><img height="191" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qeWWO0BQfscRK-AOx9nZCtq8qMLw1CDXMTzE645gwYgCljjhwc1IzB5t8mU6uDx-aPiO-vQlalQ7jhCL9-wQuZi88IC_WRJkQ-X_fvTp-vyU02eLqyp7NOOc4-ieLFQWFvhPX1YB0naPibGhCA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="286" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 28/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were we at sea again and arrived in Nassau Florida on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jan 29/16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We took a taxi over to the Atlantis Resort and spent a few hours at their waterpark. It wasn’t a very hot day but we had fun - especially on their lazy river tube ride which wasn’t lazy at all – many rapids – glad to get out alive with the kiddies. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Few Extra notes and Pictures of the Cruise. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a games room – video arcade that the kids enjoyed. Here they are having fun with Opa. No money was spent on the games but the wheels turn and little videos play on the screens so it is still amusing. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 28</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it was Diana’s Mom - Ellie’s birthday and she was back at home in Canada looking after Lincoln – her lovely Irish Wolfhound We were sending her greetings! Jan looked all over the shops in the ship and in port to find a special gift for Ellie but I think only found a pretty pink balloon. But he took a lot of video so she wouldn’t miss the highlights of the trip.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did get all dressed up in our Nautical wear for an appointment in the Ship’s Photo Studio. But Hannah was not in the mood at all for her photo shoot so it did not go so well. Plus the pictures were way overpriced so they did not make any money on us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hannah enjoyed the kid’s club so much she wanted to go back to it after they got home in Chesapeake. Jacob could take it or leave it but Hannah went to it even without her brother. </span><img height="192" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JyecQLe4FLcwP_W-h6LiNZ8heLKmy1mTjz-9BT4Njc7Yrg6izGozV6lyjnpzlMMw50Wro88gA3135pZRILWuhNk1EhVI_rUfLTVrvJluxOHOBgCCnPS4gfJRR1idj1Pt17Vu2c3DYI57As0nfw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="222" /><img height="106" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WuR2oXb8JDaTFxulBuNZ68UwbU0KIsKiMdp8G5J1lB70c_ShQfdqPHVin9oP6wac5kswZJECPo39Bf87JeFlHpn1Y_NPSPlPCCPZCLMN0tOuaXr0_jy5vcU1P_PP_V81H_1ckDfb1nYFM6hbdA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="159" /><img height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KtWRYDt_L7vLfXQ4R1mRIbO-qwF5-cTDKB8_ioSHKJVuyDRreuDmnvN5uDUIpCv4xn-lVktqj52ofpa9w9LMY83227dwBsEG3p9pxyUwVD_KQGY9EMgrAeI3Y2eRcpLzL0Pla2Cx9L-0ujPLiw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="160" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 30/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– docked in Miami Florida and Don and I drove back to Clearwater after dropping Tom, Diana and the children off at the Ritz – Carlton Resort on Key Biscayne so they had a few more days of vacation before flying home to Norfolk. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rest of Winter in Clearwater Florida – Don enjoyed playing slow-pitch baseball with the Clearwater Three Score league for 2 mornings a week. He also did daily walks around OTOW – up and down and around the many buildings for an hour to keep his “Fitbit” happy. He did suffer from plantar fasciitis but kept going. He also volunteered for the Valspar Golf Tournament as a driver. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I kept busy doing the morning exercise classes – in the Activity Centres or in the heated pool, lots of cycling, line-dancing, walking and checking out garage sales and thrift stores for the finishing touches for the condo. </span><img height="189" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hYTLgBAG-ycLLfyptn23nVwVN5xI2TVQyy2g77L6XRSWUcqkh8DfWoQ4MWGdvGYlchwrRW0T74xmQuQDub6Z9EMSBRiaG4las9K45uJ_xGZTJEBVultPKF20aBhwT9un1cBCLQSqnxyj3qj5Ng" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="142" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visitors:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moe and Wanda Daoust from Lakefield (5</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wheel trailer in Lakeland Florida) came for one night, We had a long bike ride over to Safety Harbour.</span><img height="117" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9_auBCcbaD9lsJyTHOr2XRKYp-Q3CTW_V-sPb-UQjU2H7q8B-ukbiMH6vKIMJJycEFyV0EqAngKquN1VyrVUwlUals0fnUP26UViYW8DDNL57RTUtcWC1Pb0SbQ1nBY8M73FDevRCnqiAuxnvg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="106" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rita (my cousin) and John Delo flew down from Toronto on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb. 18 to Feb 23 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to take in some Florida sunshine and golfing. The weather cooperating beautifully and they did a lot of biking to see the area sites. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even took in the Clearwater Blues Festival on the waterfront of downtown Clearwater, Honeymoon Island and the Clearwater Aquarium. Special Dinner by the water in Dunedin. </span><img height="168" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KZxRy_A0fpPZH_n7-TRR-84eh3qD9lg2o8AgJxOO475uCmzInTk2aq_TZrtqtPjfVp5BtHERe9tK9r6vvpGvvPtkQBFqqE9SXxYlxEU33vx0HSoJVfwHsOw7zslqqPhT5opBVMexswI-Cd2BDg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="231" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On February 25/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sina vanderPijl (my girlfriend of over 30 years) flew from Amsterdam for a 2 week stay with us in the Florida sunshine. We biked many miles and took in many area attractions including the Dali Art Gallery in downtown St Petersburg, Safety Harbour, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. No rain fell on Sina’s holiday. Checked out the local Trolley systems too. </span><img height="173" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GPyQuqtGvvLSs1gXqCD2Cg0ERSxp6RWmSWZpp32ePyJEzkM3DZfnDd8L3H2YFVVoBrr7YsgOfXPhF2D7zk4mD6Dq1YeCvXTK1DZNPkiYFEX-ko0C7IqK4MY5CaBX5-QKdyBPzg7crEPI0WRSjw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="246" /><img height="196" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TvMOljR4_03W7SfPH06OmTo69e-2opP4TprhnZtoU7ACwFhUi_80YGZPgmruch7WqJo5dGalT3yvCpqelKathtiDVY9Yf7haNCOJuZeObSZ5fYzX7zZOH1mrVjqVpnVqIsBwSwCxMjgcE0XPxQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="142" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 25 to 28/16 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom and Jacob flew down to see us and take in a few Blue Jay Spring Training Days. Jacob had some fun with some new toy sharks, a church Easter egg hunt, ice skating at the local mall, swimming in the OTOW pools, Safety Harbour Chalkfest and hikes. </span><img height="108" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6x0NRLXs7vtvMYSEQnHlv32xJ9Wtvo4rR08uH6XOAKDAqHhGMSWLv8M7dVEirebUWrJmBxS4tCT3ZvaZ0FVIUHRcCdWG-XCHgkWyCytmXT336NKghWzh00a3F_mwTJQKNXqlnm2njl02Kczkig" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="162" /><img height="163" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PuOL0E4i3KXxFawYHZ_j9S4aJLux3VL0aaAeNtTPRm2SnlHpxe72DhYNry2fiO4CtIdWDQ9YH--paz_ZhMgBrokmP6u-lPX2_WGagrKDIdbivcMaEBt1Q0giJRhuWiYt3ibA_r5HsaEs1-_FRQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="245" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 25/16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we shut the door on our Clearwater condo to return after the summer in Lakefield. We spent a night in Hinesville Georgia before arriving in Chesapeake to celebrate Easter with Tom and Diana and children. It was a rainy Easter. On the Monday we planted pansies and the vegetable gardens. Back on the road on Tuesday, March 29/16 with our night stop in Winchester, PA. Over the border on March 30</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and spent the next 2 nights at the Holdenmeyer Beamsville B&B+. We spent Thursday in Winona with Katie and Davis and Dave. Lunch at Gramma and Grampa’s in Toronto on April 1 and back to Lakefield by 3 PM after a grocery stop at Costco. We had a water problem with the Hot Water Heater on arrival but a new water heater was installed the next night. </span></div>
<br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-11704767057553652372015-10-07T18:37:00.000-07:002015-10-07T18:37:14.289-07:00Holland – Kenya Trip 2015 - Mary, Peter and Brenda<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, September 11, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Toronto – Amsterdam</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Air Transit 4:40 PM to 5:30 AM arrival in Amsterdam</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, September 12, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Met at Airport by Peter Raps. Breakfast in Hoofddorp with Peter and Marianne Raps. Drove into Amsterdam Central. Did Canal Tour, followed by Capacino and Apple Tart at a café in front of the Central Train Station. Strolled through the Red Light District and then back to car. Drove north to Monnickendam and saw Speltoren play at 2 PM. Saw street market there and went in St Nicholas Church. Did not find Gerbrand Tessel at home but spoke with Mieke’s daughter, son-in-law and 2 small children who were living in Maarten Tessel’s renovated home. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Off to Volendam . Ate some fish on the harbour and had our Dutch picture taken in a photo shop. Back to Hoofddorp for a lasagna dinner. Joined by Piet and An vanGelderen. Bed by 8:30 PM – very tired. </span><img height="93px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CLTu2A2n1F3MdYFY6DIr0ki-GepjW4itzg2nCpcOyEPDqiD7svAM48CLhd9qWpwFlqFGeSBC-DIq4XV48ET51Q_v9Wtg4d8ZIjJJb5oWYKiKb76nObwDhqRSVWDtCb9KE2VVPiFz" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="110px;" /><img height="106px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UmY7W8ukfwHc5pSD3Vk0hKIB5OQEm4YuyrYj3mNVFXbMK6Nh1IhoNofNLmn-JrgEHir6MPn9GnfRleNacHl_WLEkhicK16_w78cqDHM1mYp6IWivO96LP-7vn8Qnlz12YSaTnpZ-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="142px;" /><img height="188px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UECHN9UiMktW6XeOBkJScsr5083YC1KDbxEGQ7nfrSz52ZxajC5QalfvpSZBiavrczb5PJB_jEt4UN9s7z4rwVbXRnibj0FVLdiU4XCDFxn57I3IbpNiUibrF1aj3X9S90iHMV-u" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, September 13, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hoofddorp Holland to Nairobi Kenya</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast at Peter and Marianne Raps. Followed by little stroll around the Hoofddorp Windmill before being dropped at Schiphol airport for our 11:15 AM flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Had a 30 minute delay, watched 3 movies and had 2 meals. Were met at Nairobi Airport by Julius from LoveLiveAfrica for ride to Best Western Hotel Nairobi. </span><img height="102px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vZjjW6fO8au7SvYQrd_ucyNQ2AfzT8CpbP9t-Vod85CkJQxIgfB05F48zLwkvwK1ZWwMwaZ3Vb4DsX7i28YfImnFCujnB9N1AHNrOMMo0A-xch1L3nAZT-T1qIF_pktFM9vs4B7i" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="153px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, September 14, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nairobi to Maasai Mara</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast at hotel and Julius picked us up and drove us to Wilson Airport for our 10:30 flight in a small plane to the Maasai Mara. Had one stop before our stop – only an hour flight. Met our safari driver Simon and hopped in the Toyota Land Cruiser – we would be together for the next 9 days. On our way to the Ilkeliani Camp we picked up Mike at the Hard Rock Café in Talek ( a very poor Maasai town). On our way we saw large numbers of White-Bearded Wildebeests, zebras and Thomson Gazelles. We had a delicious lunch and settled into our tent. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At 4 PM, Simon picked us up with Mike and we had a 2 hour safari drive – seeing giraffes, elephants, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, African Buffalo, Marabou Storks, Tobi, Impala, Black-Backed Jackals and Vultures. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had fish dinner with Diplomatic Pudding at 7:30 PM. Staff turned down beds, chocolate on pillow and inserted a Hot Water Bottle to warm the bed. Lots of night sounds – Brenda’s snoring sounded like a lion creeping nearby. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="129px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Mq9T33K8HyyUlAInwBGeAcKaPjmu2bBxHCuH7v_73wJv9Ldw7bLaHY_red_X9qcd5cKT_Vgom2bqPkTLtwrwfowbslJi3qzOw7URzBFmvsKuidFip4NgeAG9T8KtD2t7nfUXrtWX" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="193px;" /><img height="129px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fxW3CQ8BIALbziAUaSkthetKqowsXBtf-oXSeTCwcBcCRpWP3G3DMLkyEujL5Bm0k2l_-fhkrGZfPfP654-Z0o2C_vBjUsosqbCfSTe1g_zK5xMDk33hW7vcYuZIzk_Ixh4s4Acr" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="199px;" /><img height="137px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MdYUPL2qav-w5aRi7GcsedkUcVHviNYoumSmMHzdiPQgsEcU-J1Y4YcDlMp0HM17JFCqrp4mbEgqxAuiIpD9JdULdXtbYjtcatXfyHIzqdHjHcf1ZCSNoW4mushx4xt2p3ezEWfA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="204px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, September 15, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Maasai Mara Ilkeliani Camp</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quiet wake-up call at 6:30 Am, Breakfast at 7 AM and into Safari Truck at 7:30 AM with Simon and Mike. Spent the entire day out on Safari with the challenging dusty roadways. Saw giraffes first thing and then on to Hippo Pool to see 9 or 10 hippos enjoying the muddy waters. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Picnic Lunch under an Acacia Tree. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lots of time spent at the Mara River hoping to see the migration crossing of the wildebeests and zebras- very confused animals, teasing us. Got back to camp around 6:30 PM, had shower and then Buffett Dinner in dining tent with Mike. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="158px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/H4LZZJ-8QtNy5_nS8BFPnK91KbCTa4eFSoP_d5MduAt5H6ElZqiaRMP-32AbMiYkAZrlU8-6rgnZbtvJnYObKqhiHeV-50wei0UicmszJFFOnszyuMn90Fc5XiqEv5vY3gp1SjuR" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="237px;" /><img height="147px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fxZCpHTwA-zm7YleLquAePjj4tki4HCfN-yM0o2jfly6a3HGUQjhCVqkWlp4XnaMhby32lkB09J68Www7O4-EYwXzgEt3EcRxY7cithvhn-pebbL23KWzuwpXkaIU25BV7l6Itgd" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="249px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, September 16, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Maasai Mara Ilkeliani Camp.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another 6:30 Am wake-up call followed shortly after by a laugh over Peter’s dream of his dance with Dave Carson – thanks to the Malaria pills? 7:30 Am back on Safari Drive with Simon – no Mike today since he was balloon piloting – all 4 of their balloons were going up since they had 53 passengers booked and $450 US each!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Explored the Sand River area. Had fantastic morning – had private showing of ostrich mating ritual – feather dancing – red neck of male. Saw Leopard perched in a tree. Back to camp for lunch. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had afternoon with Mike – Market Day in Talek – bought some salad tongs for Sina and Tante. Saw Mike’s camp and his tent. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Went out with Ciera – hyena (fici) research assistant at 5 to 8 PM to hyena den – in Maasai Mara in the dark. All hyenas had names identified by their markings. Matriarchal Society – oldest female hyena is boss of the den. Learned a lot about hyenas – hard to distinguish sex of animal, can digest bones – very strong bite, kill 90% of food and don’t waste any of it. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barbecue supper and to bed for early wake-up call for Balloon Ride!</span><img height="122px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FeIh-vi8E_1FH1nz8WpLTUwdb5WoHHc4hDgT52FYn577A7hYcZvqu5Glf4QD9ty6h4ejQJv_hpNZFtgAmd87YYx6yzsdLF4SoatKkzg_Onb3cO9TcCiaDFM5pjUkauNWeG5mXN5u" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="120px;" /><img height="115px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yR84no9asD0qS7btwSBVY9h5zWv1rwoMXMJPm3IOv6BxHRfTIojz8PmOgAbsQ0pKaV0U0SAE2ZncGedury5qpemFlSgFG-p5Oem8GbC0L214EDTVB3cqA4DvgHTMkmDK7KTT-Fvu" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="150px;" /><img height="107px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/128R5et9h2C1ppNr5xjuALR_R7X9RXYT-X9lOCHHTwG7AyxhEQlZgf-YCX84FpoeqfjK6RiXYdeWwHwWqIdSfDEkPsMnJLtR9PnQrv6qQkCNYysW-D4ckMkrvMaQh4yinuzCg1N9" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="118px;" /><img height="100px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SLvJDOf-1dZhC2ki0ibQ4mezNNHMmY169JVSD4tAvkciq-yG0epQYHAnsTrVg2gcxdZwOijejeFq2RGCUuRUq2lPgKqQA5lLo03WXhuUVw7hs29eecb1Hg2cYPPJaGQlKDQPIFZz" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="151px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, September 17, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Maasai Mara Ilkeliani Camp</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wake-up call service at 5 AM with hot coffee and tea. Drove with Simon, picked up Pilot Mike at 5:45 AM and headed to Balloon site. Big balloon with 16 passengers this morning. One hour ride over the Maasai Mara. Half way through ride, Mike turns the balloon basket around so the back row becomes the front row. Fantastic silent flowing ride – not cold or scary. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the balloon landed, got in safari trucks to go back to Champagne Breakfast set up under an Acacia Tree on the Mara. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simon picked us up from breakfast with Mike for another safari drive to the Mara River hoping to see a crossing this day. We crossed the Mara River to the Mara Triangle side and waited between several sites – one had hippos and the other had up to 9 crocodiles. Again we were teased for hours and only saw a reverse crossing of 3 silly wildebeests – rejoining their family? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even drove to concrete Kenya / Tanzania Km marker on border (marker every km) so we stepped in Tanzania momentarily. Back to camp for shower and dinner and good-bye to Mike – who will be flying back to Canada at the end of September – one month short of 4 month contract – not enough tourists around. </span><img height="170px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/i-PPQmDeY8JIL5ec5gjPC4BfOQHWzoS1ypX3yM69aRR8CsiUQeUvH_jk8mBYakyheDsB5GWTkIy5GAa_OgzaookcRafPVHU-8oKVyaCkmJiDoT-YgjSXSZFtDzcUsgzWIfv8vS3m" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="255px;" /><img height="137px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Dj3witaQ4gohxR8yFK07fKiTlpx63D0_ZrIkxjLhXKJBPazDF--VQqkWuGAhDhUekUN8RzUs0Kpkm-vpcx7c354RTGboPisVIuSIV1iSZPylkvUMy1otYyp6yBZPYnK1qA8rpudI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="206px;" /><img height="119px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sj9qStP-Wwf5ebdqYLuPGETGgvFCFtehXy9RCR1kbSaJYGqGpcm8QAliqXjbAdiw1Sd4bugdeZpkAybsc4_HmVc9IvJ_Fe8YVJIgxIqFy5L3Q7Iku2AZKAWbErNNR8DLln4U8RY-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="178px;" /><img height="130px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JUe-OoS0hX7qXjx4j_vXCcTn0Zg_D6SSyumo0vClMhnXaRjCbrG-8Ke-5tr6jjBt9gk42XjGPm-APwLLxUtA4IWebXVKuKIx9wzDFgi9LiaEU80LFxOVzQB_IAqBLJwPS_z_n-FB" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="195px;" /><img height="132px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e90cn8qwqBgx-2-whVMXMoUMHFzSjDcTm-tpo3E2JqeCYzThF-1vxJ-hiWOn0HXItxvI4ihAFvHOQmcq9mBsqAflo3YiRiLNgzirAuPcixGgxeM_wy2saAtqjRXGTziqkJeZVJ69" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="198px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, September 18, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Maasai Mara to Flamingo Hill Camp Lake Nakura</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Early wake-up call, quick breakfast and drove away from Maasai Mara to Nakura. Very bumpy dusty ride for the first hour of journey before joining the Trans- Africa Highway – passing many many big trucks on the 2 lane road – with many speed bumps through little towns. Arrived for lunch at Flamingo Hill Camp outside the Lake Nakura National Park. Park fees of $80/person, $90/car, $40 for resident = $370 to do a safari drive in this park for a day. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At lunch, had Naan bread made of us – baked on sides of clay oven. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Safari drive at 3:30 PM in Park. Saw Flamingos (pink and white) and white pelicans on Lake Nakura. Visited high look out and later spotted to 2 white rhinoceros grazing. Back to camp for supper, emails and bed. </span><img height="114px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/f_CisJA6Lkg8kwH6W8GqEev25toRMtZ0KsFbCpWwGQdvAan_n7En3MPhHIUHBiw9o12fyxdWcZomDToNXL23lmMXSsekbj5EbSwPQZGGJaX84qoBb7sXSarDQpgWbVJtn-6SRROy" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="171px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, September 19, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lake Nakura to Lake Naivaisha Sawela Lodge</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast at Flamingo Hill Camp and then south to Lake Naivaisha area. Visited Hell’s Gate National Park for a 90 minute gorge walk which was very challenging, scary in some places. Guide James – a Maasai dancer looked after us. Noted Hot Springs in Gorge and Chinese drilling operations for harnessing the thermal water drilling down 3 to 4 km. This gorge was used for filming several movies and has the mount that inspired the Disney Lion King lookout. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then on to a small boat launch of Lake Naivaisha and motored over to Crescent Island. We walked around the island where giraffes, African buffalos, wildebeests, gazelles and impalas roamed free. Filming for the movie “Out of Africa” was done on Crescent Island. When we were in the boat leaving the island, the captain threw a fish into the water for a Fish Eagle to get and it turned into a fight of 3 Fish Eagles in mid air. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had lunch at the Sawela Lodge where we stayed for the night. There was a wedding taking place at the Lodge and we were the only white faces around. This lodge was only 2 hours north of Nairobi so it was used as a weekend resort for Nairobi people and less for safari types like ourselves. We spent time at the pool in the afternoon and got caught up on my journal notes. Lots of greenhouses in this area – have buses to pick up workers and schools for the worker children but the workers are not well paid. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had TV in our room (first since Nairobi ) and watched some BBC news to catch up and had the best internet reception yet.</span><img height="191px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fxHFrdRvGrDRt-I6978QWSW5DRaqU2_QmYNjpFUaCrIeAiT0bcVvagIfCw8C0XVFtNJHDxZXTRztfFiZ3sLJPx8H_-R4ax63g_hZjGGXjLCs9eJ4p550HjxNlZS_96-Rwbv51uMI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="286px;" /><img height="129px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/oPj4QxNxP3VlHYFsMpf-N3yZRk0tB63t11Bil8hTxHzuWcgho-NZ_ZvR-1OtrebWVWQMPUypeFsf9LdnrAu2X4E2ys79MUBFc0sEBTl_ZztvPdJjoAa9A4pDAJVYWmBH1dZYeVlf" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="141px;" /><img height="112px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_F_RXn3SxjW5qTHHKFMaXWzTQy5qdDkj1-53oRsEwj-BuLKAxGTtsHpHQDKL04oJGyj0feK7bRwBOlQLfdNXyz5Nj7sr5pFivOcSnSy5eatDz6_XkmgLDZHbAmQZT961WxB-OsP" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="168px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, September 20, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lake Naivaisha – Nairobi – Amboseli National Park</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up at 6:30 AM. Peter is grumpy because he did not sleep well due to Brenda’s snoring – poor Brenda has a cold. He had a mosquito bothering him in the night even though there was mosquito netting on the beds. We had breakfast and then left for a long drive south. We stopped at a souvenir shop at the top of a hill overlooking the Rift Valley. The Rift Valley is still shifting – the lakes have flooded more land because their bottoms are lifting so you see many dead trees on the shores of the lakes. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our weather in Kenya has been hot in the middle of the day 90 degrees tops (29 degrees C) and 60 to 70 degrees (20 degrees C) at night. It has rained 2 x so far – late afternoon and only short times – we were at camp both times – at Ilkeliani Camp. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our drive through Nairobi we passed the 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> largest slum in Africa – largest is in South Africa. The government has built new apartment buildings close by but the transition was having big problems. More education would help but public teachers were very unhappy asking for a 100% pay increase since they are so poorly paid. There are many private schools but they cost at least $5000 per child and most people do not have that. Also the Kenya society is very male dominated so women are little more than a possession. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again we travelled on the Trans-Africa Highway. Through Nairobi it is not completed sending us through several miles of dusty, bumpy dirt road on the outskirts of the city close to the airport – bad diversion – unbelievable really. After getting off the Trans- Africa road (passing hundreds of trucks again) we travelled on a much quieter highway to a 4 km dusty road leading to Amboseli Sopa Lodge where -we stayed the next 2 nights. We had a late lunch and then off for an afternoon game drive – 18 km down the dusty road to Amboseli National Park – with a view of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It was a windy day – Amboseli – meaning dirt devils – little tornados of dust – red dust funnels. We could hardly see the Mountain for the flying red dust. But the park had lots of elephant families walking about and ostriches. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We got back for dinner and then bed – no internet – the lodge’s connection was down for our stay so family was a bit concerned because otherwise we stayed in regular touch. </span><img height="196px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jiYkBOE_SbWjpYIlb52ULtDRCokVk1PLESpzIkbMIvC5XUCefDuHPjV-G_hMkCzGP8A2lxKlrDyRCXdrGbGWPwCWZyfozMMO3F9Q97Y1i7UTbHZuCmfMf683xdeF_F-fCoecjMNu" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="269px;" /><img height="118px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6egLRfW3YyOs-r6JjaCN9fBreKqXpyztFhvIPkaA2_3MokvgkHNum9pWNx2PlZefhONHyEp6ilS-bd8mp4NYyYQF_0yjU7o7-Og7NuGheCY_EGki7g2ivdIVRMzcQqwYzo972YHq" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="239px;" /><img height="121px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fSijxF1LflbA0zLBPijRAquxfflhw_hT3KPak6p-5g_yyXf0xroqnJ_8vVCjdygv2UClgLf5UFV5sgM6e2HQJ8DwCON87y8D2IFM9QMpziP9Jl-Dpq00RY043rnDpxwR2oKfdtYK" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="216px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, September 21, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Amboseli Sopa Lodge</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up for morning game drive. Could see Mt Kilimanjaro clearly this morning – wind calm. Back to the park to see the elephants, African buffalos, hippos, ostriches, gazelles, etc. Went up look-out hill over swampy area. Took lots of pictures with animals in the foreground and the mountain as the backdrop. Went back to the lodge for lunch. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the afternoon, Simon arranged for us to visit a working Maasai Village close to the Lodge. This village had 130 inhabitants living in mud huts positioned in a circle with livestock – sheep, goats, cows corralled in the centre – for nighttime protection. A thorny hedge surrounded the entire village giving them protection from wild animals. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were welcomed to the village with the welcome dance and were included in the dancing. Peter had to do the Maasai male jumping – the higher you jumped, the better wife you could have. Maasai men (warriors) marry at 25 years of age and the women at 16 or 17 years of age. More than one wife is allowed. Saw the Medicine Man and learned about different roots he used as medicines for the people of the village. They showed us how they start fires by friction. We were allowed to enter one of the huts and hear how it was constructed and the different roles men and women had in the village. The women have to haul the water from wells miles away and wash the clothing in the rivers. Men shepherd the animals for many miles every day to pastures and water. Their diet consists of one meal a day of fried meat, milk and blood drink. There are no overweight Maasai men or women seen. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the visit we had to tour their handicrafts which they had displayed on blankets in front of them on the ground. I had to leave to go back to the safari truck but Brenda and Peter did some shopping and were danced out at the end. I missed supper that night at the Lodge since I was ill with nausea and vomiting, diarrhea; consuming pepto bismol and started the prescribed antibiotic. Brenda had a severe nosebleed that night too. </span><img height="87px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FCzPbZXiDVu8j85cpayu8Ntlv9uLIMJnxvks4m9s5yK6sUaK5h-75_0nmtNVfhYpaZ3mMFVKe4_oL87F3_3GzBT7GPIqb0swXls9qkBUvwB8ZuYDxYVGss2VYayECmOFYGjiweBF" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="97px;" /><img height="142px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KrCI-BOcBGmLdX5d-fzDDRtS3gaBIvJ6Ym453xD4ow3PBZPaHCf03malv3n6Ad8fK7aB5_EWXTlYBTLVPp4XSMbI2Kj8sSB2cNOyckvOdQ4FDhwhIqDTNEX-3waSUNUwUAwfjx44" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="214px;" /><img height="126px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/shSWGJL5eL5tyG3fjvOrtiAzBug68IHIijTl0ua4Ijg0fXaL621sEHQneg82foyCRLrH-Qa1Itd5MuvyiJLFIr8hte1amp_k0JAg3jSBRbG4V_HzmTUOddNPcnwZBdHsuAVbx_x-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="189px;" /><img height="147px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7DNt2bKv4zSy2VZ-YNoTfLh7w0VEdA1uWx8AdJqBSAHgre1Pt_gUgpeUeg-VDRQJoM5wpkTfeGZ8C1wPPn0vCmNvRq21pQyiBBlg6NtjDN4OHyDj0o4Idkt4sHE8fle_UypuCg_7" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="163px;" /><img height="158px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nX0QnzzG1fuViYh-aj6rZgAyHTuKKEoSbJ5yJ5Pu7SWwM3QfHmQIVwhAmvtE3yGenGbLzXyo6rhK9md35FJvP9T8loJ_lAuB13qRV-1bfbLgq0vwRO9o9ejdLA-TQaGEnKbw2-2J" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="323px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, September 22, 2015 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Amboseli to Nairobi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the road at 8 AM for Nairobi. Terrible traffic in Nairobi – on way to Best Western Hotel. Peter and I walked around the neighbourhood and bought some Rooibos trea at a Safeway Grocery Store using the credit card since we ran out of the Kenya Elephant Schillings. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sidewalks are not sidewalks – no wheelchairs or strollers could manage the uneven ground. Brenda hung out by the rooftop pool on the 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> floor. We had lunch and dinner in the Best Western Hotel Diningroom. Got caught up on emails. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gas prices in Kenya is about $1 US a litre and Diesel is .80 a litre and they drive on the opposite side of the road since they were a British Colony. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gave Simon his $240 US tip for our days together and he reported we covered almost 1700 km (over 1000 miles) together on our Safari. </span><img height="191px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IFlKegiKk4kIIR9dZjoQ0cHSvMAi5KMe64HYY1Zobe7kr371ffymwGEVma17YMVGFd2yeCEJk344-SP2-qRDqn2ZyrQr4on2R-U6r39bnsME7fvXhkIJarNdhT0WTTc0llebAoxE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="286px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, September 23, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nairobi, Kenya</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up at 7:30 AM for shower, breakfast and checkout. Our favourite driver Simon picked us up in the Safari truck for a day of sight-seeing in Nairobi – Karen neighbourhood – upscale area where British descendants live. First stop was the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giraffe Manor –</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> an environmentally friendly place for the endangered Rothschild giraffe – the gentlest of the 3 kinds of giraffes in Kenya – no spots on legs – killed by lions easily. We fed small food pellets to the giraffes from a balcony. The giraffes have very long tongues – 40 to 50 cm from the base at the back of their throats. These tongues can heal from acacia tree thorn piercings in 20 minutes. There were warthogs below the balcony cleaning up the dropped pellets. Tortoises were also on site. </span><img height="171px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FlAFird5zrO5JVPV1aPvVBHWSaEjDT1UoyWJ6ELmCwkOvzo25hAVOYkBtcgWXBvP10QHfGCebvkCD6_cWJAwVb9RKS9CJcxtptxSlv2AcCKPJa4TsWsTVSCELFAPKXgSDTYNx5mr" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="147px;" /><img height="183px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/71ijMyOC6jd5HJc-4w4CR8vJf0g4xbBcDJ6KgM0MIWfSr6cIdvRmhxPU1vhJUo7TKbaxe1ZbtHv0fE2UiCNWKmnsT_abGt0EhNpb1O1YcBjdlwFZ_rmYcuuwrmKzqnIXlnpXBNeG" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="274px;" /><img height="161px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vJcRfJNcBhnjdDu_jYhGMpKh4YQ5VqwCwGuzVNwgeBSkJwfLAfuUeGg1UGjxWZMVOAjGDWMo-pSOUZx7vEO0g3Hi0A1stoOeoj9Wj18WyQ-lkm3AXDJyuRQcvKkAev53DymeIcbU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="241px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stop was the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elephant Orphanage</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which is open to the public only from 11 to 12 each day – the time they bring the baby elephants in for feeding. At this time there were 29 elephants under 3 years of age in this orphanage. We heard of the reason each baby elephant was rescued from – some had fallen in wells, some of their mothers were killed by ivory poachers, some just abandoned. After 3 years of age these elephants go to another location until they are 5 years of age. During this time they are assisted to be wild again and are released to join elephant families in the wild. You could adopt one of these baby elephants for $50 US/year for 18 years. . The baby elephants are feed hugh bottles of baby formula (cow’s milk is too fatty) – 2 each – which they hold with their trunks. We learned elephants have the potential to live to 60 years of age and get 6 sets of teeth in those years – a new set every 10 years and after the last one they may starve to death because they can’t chew their food anymore. The gestation period is 22 to 24 months. The oldest female in the family leads the family. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stop was the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Karen Blixen House / Museum – “Out of Africa”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> book and movie fame. Story of a Danish women who married a Count in Kenya and ran a coffee plantation in the 1920’s. She was also very dedicated to the natives who lived on her land and even built a school for them and doctored them as needed. Then lunch with Simon at Karen Bixen Café down the road. Big lunch – rare burger loaded. On to the Utamaduni Craft Centre followed by a tour of the Kazuri Bead Factory where 350 women now work. Kazuri , which means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting in making handmade beads. Its founder, Lady Susan Wood started with 2 African women – single mothers who needed employment. They handmake clay beads and pottery sold worldwide now by the World Fair Trade Organization.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then through the hellish Nairobi traffic to the Kenyan Airport for our 10:25 PM flight to Amsterdam.</span><img height="111px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rH4SDtM-HB-ljMlguKvcrBmVbWM6aqYW4IxDdoc1-tor7UrzzMAB4orZ_Zz6yIrlYO__x_kB4Lhe1xofplOg_8DqPlX4whPlATKIOdCOU458LlW_9DqzceSkBX-04kmOGzL6HYXU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="168px;" /><img height="144px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1alM4p0gbt2kozjZbHxVAdTYXiRCNad7txMsB9Sij1HDSHYr0X_hCYR-Qwzh-tkA9G31PKukWJnqfom6STLvPmoNvCvlJe86dcBjeTZ4HJerhiZEyGMgqMohe6new1c1wuB73NIx" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="216px;" /><img height="142px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QHW8QCMYk-WrGDmYM9EseQE_av0A2IBymTK9ecPzVC5mAfE3qvzgVJyS4ErwvRAtdxEKyxi6TlamXz_q7JRtq8_m4witj0RHVkQhpHjeWRFm3tJREgqwAHPHYGipVabLzalSLuMM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="244px;" /><img height="106px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JJD1m_tor-Lg69lDgFahuQPUqHb_IxURc_j1aSUwJ6EgScjyOzbkjCYfioRPKeipUFWFwc6FAmnbqsqESPDBFlDCMd8-6G-NtbjPNuqlU1-xzVSz3DYI-dzeIAu10RF1CuvGwCUp" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="165px;" /><img height="187px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cavSmBa38_69FQRth46RkAlCmqOoF048pdCIcTabbhnZn-bvpATnlvpCgihkQF94n73-wZ5Ad03PsSqujUNi36hRZeFF2XZmnubXPP769Mv-V6npEVjerZsBovo1gJUp1gzAjicf" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="282px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thursday, September 24, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Kenya to Amsterdam to Zwolle, Holland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slept a little on the plane. Sat beside a British man who lived in Nairobi – worked on construction and was on his way to England for bowel surgery. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arrived in Schiphol and took train to Sina’s in Zwolle (20 euros – about 1 ½ hour journey – free wifi on train). Sina picked us up at train station with her neighbour’s car and took us home for breakfast. Quiet day. Mustard soup for lunch. Walked around neighborhood in the afternoon. Sweet beets for supper. Quiet evening. Bikes are rented for tomorrow. Weather was overcast but warm with a little rain – first time to get my rain jacket out. Headache through night – Sina took some stuffing out of a big pillow – sore neck?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, September 25, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Zwolle, Holland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny morning with clouds in the afternoon. High of 16 degrees C.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oatmeal breakfast. Biked to Giethoorn (Goat’s Horn) – Venice of Holland. Village of canals – no cars. Had picnic lunch and walked around old village. Brenda got a very sore butt – we did about 55 km. Used electric bikes. Sina made us Nasi Goring for supper and boerenjeunigs for dessert. Good sleep in Sina’s bed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, September 26, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Zwolle, Holland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny morning and clouds in the afternoon. High of 17 degrees C.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oatmeal breakfast. Peter, Sina and I took off for a 67 km bike ride around Zwolle for the day and Brenda had a day to herself and explored Sina’s neighbourhood a bit. I biked on Sina’s Flyer electric bike and Sina had a Gazelle electric bike. Peter had a high class regular bike rented from the bike store. We stopped in the morning and went through a wheat grinding windmill. Then to Hattem – where Sina and Hank lived after selling their hotel restaurant the “Witte Berken”. We crossed the Ijssel twice on little barges. Went by motorcycle races and cable waterskiing in a big park. We got back to Brenda at Sina’s condo at 6 PM. We enjoyed a little skillet/grill supper and played “ Rummikub” at night. I finished reading “the Orphan Train” on my ipad. Spoke to Don on phone. Good sleep.</span><img height="173px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jS0-tfb5jCQTLRsUE5l6teJfiOWnh_QbmKHQgBxxduu64QjWeYZaXITHKsesTK6o7X4aoeBd4MFcvmtDyQyfBXVAQS5UafkXCl7sQ2bMPqeKjYyxhQgSkIApdpR_XYNT8wVRcyQl" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="259px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, September 27, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Zwolle to Oss, Holland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny / cloudy day. Oatmeal breakfast and bye to Sina. Train to Oss (20 Euros) instead of Deurne because Tante Miep has a bigger house than Tante Nel and Tante Nel and Yvonne met us in Oss. Lunch on patio – lovely garden. Dutch family questions answered by Tantes and notes taken. Biked with Tante Miep to Ome Cees’ Nursing Home. Yvonne, Brenda and Peter walked there. Left after Tante Miep helped Ome Cees with his dinner – which she does every day for lunch and dinner and has a dinner there herself. Back to house for our supper which Brenda (salad)and I (sweet potatoes)helped prepare. Bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, September 28, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Oss – Enkhuizen, Holland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny / Cloudy day. Breakfast with Tante Miep at 8 AM. Had to use Tante Miep’s car – bigger than Yvonne’s to tour us around. First stop was the Zaanse Schans – Dutch shops and windmills close to where Opa’s farm was. Tante Nel bought me delft numbers 1 and 2 for our Florida condo and I bought a bike seat cover and bike bell for my bike back home. On to Ome Bay’s house for afternoon tea. Ome Bay (Bert) is almost 95 years of age and hopes to live to 100. He is looked after by his son Rick who has his Phd in agriculture? And has lots of gardens around the house and the old farm. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On to Enkhuizen to visit Bert and Lizabeth van Blokland where we will stay for the night. Unfortunately we had a slight car accident by being rear-ended about 5 minutes from reaching our destination. No one was injured and the car bumpers had minor bumps but it was very upsetting for Yvonne and Tante Nel. Peter, Brenda and I took a pleasant stroll around the pretty town and came back to their house for a delicious Chinese dinner. Bed.</span><img height="110px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/k9oN4EWtvfMLudsKAfGmp_gi5vtl9uKqRiEZ-UBFQiKe19PJVQ9lW0rPus0pNbdoCZwdHg3bUEfz_Wdm7bE6eaR9Gg1fDm5oQ0t2nnxoMXcKeHYbpQt2r1pgTKzA4HcJg0xQ7_Qx" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="163px;" /><img height="126px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Exgk76JJfUhlsVqS1LkPOzZ2nwjH-m2uiyVrSvrdYlfi62HVreNs0EnVzneeVjif0LxPJWJy1w3XfR1jVz6-O6GBCBwNSaxqfDlw08VGzPScT5AFDfQ9B7G6ALeuYYnW6hYWcL9U" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="189px;" /><img height="176px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/oWuMiFnEp-mwte1pBcZzhKjgYt0IF7rMpBfUzH4gEfMnZps2U_W7mque_ucnbQCzuAdUZ5NdkhGy0xIpppxHvVFqb_1FktrtN3kci9nirfoJnIak06GbzmvJxH5tWw7EsDYc9jF2" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="117px;" /><img height="97px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/K-KX2JLIFWO2H6o0xBzAAva7dOj-G60bCeWFdtJAPFCDkC-akOPBCuzn3q2rAQfkiHcr5v84fFNJMgRtw0wAZyDSRz4pZUObCKEKqac8lruktvsDBAja5VcM8xjEOvw9Jbq5mS2L" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="146px;" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, September 29, 2015</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Enkhuizen, Holland to Toronto, Canada</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunny / cloudy again. Up at 7 Am for shower and then breakfast. Took 9:24 Am train to Schiphol (14 Euros) Shopped at Albert Hein grocery store in Airport. Had delicious warm Euro Strop Waffel. Went through lots of checks and line-ups before getting to our waiting area. Bought some Dutch cheeses and bulbs to take home. The 2:15 PM Air Transit flight was delayed – first they told us there would be no hot tea or coffee on the plane because there was a problem with the hot water. Later there was a fuel leak that happened on fuelling the plane that the firetrucks had to come. They gave us a voucher for 15 euros each to have dinner and we finally left at 8 PM. Air Transit also gave us a $100 voucher (good for 18 months) to use towards our next Air Transit flight. Arrived in Toronto at 10 PM and Don picked me up and we got home after midnight. While I was away - New granite countertops in my kitchen, plumbing done for house with new pipes and shutoffs and new laundry tub in laundry room – Don was busy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Additional Notes:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kenya has 40 million residents and 4 million live in Nairobi – the capitol.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kenya is 7 hours ahead of time than Toronto and Holland is 6 hours ahead. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While in Kenya I listened to the audiobook “An Affair with Africa” by Alzada Carlisle Kistner – looking at many trips to different parts of Africa in the 1960 – 1975 time frame. They were looking at beetles that cohabitat with Army ants and termites. Lots of interesting facts and history of African countries talked about in their travels. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On some evenings, Brenda and I watched some episodes of “Land Girls” which I had downloaded to my ipad. Great BBC series of British girls who worked on farms in WW1. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Nairobi Airport, I converted $220 USD to 22376.40 Kenyan Schillings which did not last me for the whole time in Kenya – due to extra night’s payment to Ilkeliani Camp and tips in hotel and driver. Needed a little extra – used charge card. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazed at herds of sheep, goats and cattle right beside busy roads. On their way to water holes. Women washing their clothing in little creeks and gathering water from there and carrying it home. Even car washes by water holes. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many road side vendors in shacks and people selling their wares on the busy roadways through the towns. Lots of garbage everywhere. Many plastic water bottles. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chinese money is building a super fast train from Mombasi to Nairobi – speed to 250 km/hr – to reduce freight transport on Trans- Africa highway. But what about the wandering wildlife?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preparation for trip:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travel Clinic in Peterborough and trip to family Doctor for prescriptions</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yellow fever shot – not required but recommended – if a serious ailment or accident occurred and you had to be airlifted out of Kenya – they may transfer you to South Africa and there you would need a Yellow Fever Shot certificate to enter the country.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukoral – 2 doses orally for traveller’s diarrhea</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride tablets for bloody diarrhea</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Typhoid Oral Vaccine - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Atovaquone Proguanil 250 – 100mg – anti-malaria pills – started 2 days before Kenya and continued 7 days after Kenya. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clothing:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good deals at Thrift stores for Safari clothing – Royal Robins Safari pants – online for $80 – cost me $2.50 at Vinnies, Safari hat from Garage Sale - $1 – retail on-line for $39. Also long sleeved Columbia shirt and top and more pants and capries. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-11134041352531797312015-06-25T05:23:00.003-07:002015-06-25T05:23:58.768-07:00Winter 2014 – April 2015<span id="docs-internal-guid-3b2f98b6-2aac-3d09-41ff-419e49780c8d"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left Lakefield on Saturday, </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 1, 2014</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to attend the wedding of Brynn Kennedy and Bradley Wiffen at 5 PM in the Storys Building on Duncan Street in Downtown Toronto. We stayed overnight at by Marriott on Wellington Street and parked the car at the local Firehall. </span><img height="92px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9eswWFPsZS-gVFQGmHsIveSFKj0DPJDQ623fcltyIBDhIyZ3AIBNLYDmC75VRxGn9TGlItMyFIwWeS4y80uk7Ca6wv72ORi5ivnal9v5r8AKTKLIyfO3vn-l1lMIlut9tgZeyxmuDjMwassK" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; line-height: 1.38; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="105px;" /><img height="119px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zE3sWTX2YN0ChMCERXrJysE3jpYCRGZUd0UgIhUHoEQl9RKyUKerZfMzcW5vHVbS9spMJPhwnaS8XLVWOliHKTNP_vrv0MbqXKET5rvOL5ZvdNz-iTDKHA8VDZQQkvV-4OxVzelRZUASW-Pu" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; line-height: 1.38; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="205px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moving on </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 2, 2014</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we stopped for lunch with Katie and David Whitehead in Winona and then a quick stop at Ellie and Jan Lech to pick up a package for Tom and Diana Marsden in Virginia. Crossed the Canada-USA border and spent the night at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Dubois, PA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arrived at Tom and Diana’s on </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 3, 2014</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and had fun with Jacob, Hannah and Ben before a 2 hour flight from Norfolk to Miami, Florida on </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 5</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\Pictures\Kennedy wedding,\DSC06122.JPG" height="86px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tl06uq9KrEAw0h1jlGwH8CtTt2YXjXa7Wt_JntfOxX312DnVr_3IHfFSkWvgiIsLvkA9OZz7wnOgsZ9AcRZiCHB8AGymFnC1xsxgUbTcJD5hQbo8w7WfCWnXT0URLm2ShCp27lkmCm4XkQfs" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="93px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We stayed at the Residence Inn near the Miami Airport for the night. </span></div>
<br /><img alt="C:\Users\Mary Marsden\Pictures\Kennedy wedding,\DSC06124.JPG" height="111px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OXz_uB5h7tHK9KTy4kJmQ0WkN9zQj3UI46mMZqgDumzCA4nEmYN6ArTEehncWfaidyNrmJIV1XtOgRGm-Wkww16ai9XqoM5j8EyDpcJ-nUvMuGACef4ohyk7GjEjyXBNEwB-KL7cDUvEd4rH" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="227px;" /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 6/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We had breakfast at the hotel and a morning walk before taking the Shuttle (complimentary since it was 45 minutes late) to Terminal J at the Miami port to board the SS Navigator from Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Time for Lunch on Deck 10. Luggage arrived and we had an emergency drill at 5:35 PM. Sailed out of Miami port at 6 PM. 6:30 PM dinner in Prime 7 – Seafood and Steak Specialty Restaurant. We had shrimp cocktail, seafood chowder, I had Seafood Cobb Salad and Don had a 10 oz Filet Mignon – best he had ever had! Berries and Chocolate Cake for dessert. Felt like we were ready to explode already. Don had a bath and I went to the Comedy Show in the big Seven Seas Lounge – New York Comic “Tony Dani”.</span><img height="117px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uj6GOy6vhr-oyc4WZftQQTyJ_dymWfFJdT47zNVmt5SaITT362VviB6eTKNDwNSUUGjZeuLLzbKC-2tryR8WQrgvhfw-0b59oIZBxY-XqYcbt0hdKcGujqP5A1EXADmIjmtDxY_dzKdcQ_Yc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="175px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 7/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cruise Yucatan Channel and Florida Straits – Day at Sea</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Stretch Class at 8 AM followed by breakfast on the Pool Deck. Went to Talk on Belize – excursions. At 10 AM went to lecture by Historian on Cozumel, Roatan and Belize – Mayan civilization. Don took in a Fitness talk on Fat Burning. We played Bingo at 11:45 - $30 for 4 cards and played 4 games but lost. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lunch at 12:30 in the main Dining Room – Compass Rose. In afternoon played Bean Bag and Bocce for points to cash in for t-shirts. I attended a lecture in the Spa on Hairstyles for Face Shape. There was a block party in the hallway at 5:15 and meeting at 6 PM in the Lounge to introduce top staff followed by a Captain’s Reception. Dinner at 6:30 in the Setti Mari (Italian Restaurant). 9:30 PM Broadway Musicals for Entertainment in the Seven Seas Lounge. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 8/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cozumel, Mexico</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don did the Scuba Adventure and enjoyed it. I did the “Cozumel Highlights and Shopping Tour”. First stop was a Mexican Museum with an outdoor garden of Mexican Mayan Temples and Spanish Cathedrals. We watched 5 Mexicans do a pole ceremony. Then on to the Oldest Village on the island which had a church and temple and lots of little shops – Black Coral. I bought 2 pairs of earrings bargained down from $65 to ext a tequila factory and Gift Shop. Back to the ship for a late lunch, some Regent Point Games and tea Time Trivia. Dinner in the main Dining room. Margaret Lynn (Cruise Director) did Country and Western Songs at 6 PM and listened to the Piano Player at 9:30 PM.</span><img height="117px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/j4i7GcCT4Q4RkIi-KeMEeAEKZiKhk8oiFejc6SWPNAEXqhnci_0KOqEnIi5JpAZtLHeKHrTb9kyv_u9rJ2KzN0-obvImAne0W39dhlO6e_SxxGKFihy8ZliRAXD2boR6-XZYEsS6IBUfbfQa" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="175px;" /><img height="100px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/R8YbLep-YLyiqt5UzXuGqrBqyuWh7uhQvYGrGLeEB4wVryWbMKxNWKyOc3f_DjvI9Yb6qy66cuD0Ze5t4gPE04pXxPSDoMs1Bp44XP4lmbd7pCDRpC6SeIngfyAJxb8ME0Bf9Gpn7xprJDS2" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="100px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 9/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Roatan (Honduras Island)</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slept in till 8 AM. Had breakfast and got ready for Snuba Adventure for Don and I did the Dolphin Encounter. These tours had bus and boat rides included. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Late lunch then shuffleboard and Tea Time Trivia. Did some laundry and had delicious supper in Compass Rose (Main Dining Room) of Scallops with Crème Brulee for dessert. Watched the Cirque Navigator show in the Seven Seas Lounge at 9:30 PM.</span><img height="96px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fvWjLIhpk0nn99nhJvhL9T8cq-dFsp0nYLuyF5cTotT0PN2Y3MBHunII1-WGFV5nSNrjfT81vDOwpJmiRLrQTQXkxsa5yT3yLl7L71Y49HDav4-bEvwYrisGTtwyxYnwnmXolir1j4Ls9M3d" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="159px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 10/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Belize City</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast in room. Don off to Barrier Reef Snorkel and Island Getaway for 3 ½ hours. I went to Lamanai Mayan Ruins and New River Cruise for 7 ½ hour tour. We drove through Belize City and then one hour to boat cruise – saw spider and howler monkeys but no fresh water crocodiles. Long windy fast boat ride to ruins. Good guide – BMW – better me walk. Gas is $6 USD/gallon. Driver has PHD – professional hole dodger. Climbed Mask Temple – but not other 2 – scary and steep. River cruise was more like a race – top speed about 30 to 35 miles per hour. Tender port of Belize City. (Even Mennonites and Amish communities are in Belize). Back to ship for Tea Time Trivia at 4:30 PM and 6 PM Yoga class. Sailed at 5:30 PM. Delicious dinner in the Main Dining Room – Compass Rose. “Age of Aquarius” Show at 9:30 PM. Clocks moved an hour ahead this night. </span><img height="129px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uTH5zYCfc1Qd8WNlHBX_nSWEw2wwM_umZGEfKa1ACrsmjN0e9VkSvA0xGfL3Vch3gwLxtfIlxqlKyPVROOwwDwmnOqoaN98oZW8YKOIeSe4m0UKnPQ4nqmJR-7bQ-4vLBnsFPYkE-hcZIL-W" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="135px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 11/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cruise Yucatan Channel and Florida Straits – Day at Sea</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up at 8 AM. Yoga class and ½ mile deck walk before breakfast. Went to 2 lectures – “Caribbean Civilizations and Sea Explorers” and upcoming Regent Cruises. Had pedicure. Don played Regent Point Games. Attended Remembrance Day Ceremony. Dinner in Compass Rose and show of Piano Man. </span><img height="74px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b00AVVsFn7yPeSvBa0z_hYGo0dqVgXDXhMpGlF7XzH1-QY-JyvAMrAj8EoLwaMKl3mwneHBQy_drqyX-PpWVMDdrT9G62ImohLXGZMm0l8QgL17119BFkPBKway_OROqWIaHQSKpsUY-H6Bt" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="111px;" /><img height="79px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RSAJ4kO-ChU-7YPKwXUCc9PTeRj2iJ0clxh1ras5ka4Bx3CZ4wmJ-R15UGfxW3Zm7JjN13BQdBSLFgop2RPHGUXPz675ChOHhOVL_f_V5e_SGQ5ZySZe2LHX75gpX6IMeAdHNGAYUP7oFf54" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="97px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 12/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Key West, Florida USA</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast in room. Had to clear USA customs. Don did the Catamarran Ride and Snorkel Adventure and I did the Key Lime Bike Tour of town of Key West. Even had a slice of Key Lime Pie at the end of our tour. Had lunch on ship and went out to explore the town in the afternoon. I saw the Truman Whitehouse, toured Ernest Hemingway’s house (6 toed cats) and walked Whitehead Street. Back to ship at 4 PM in time for Tea Time Trivia. Watched staff show at 6 PM and then dinner in Compass Rose. Quiet evening and went to bed early. Redeemed Regent Points. </span><img height="111px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IEuoJRWrUaaKPqpbpPY-B58yt20bnFkpQ42ng7PGLHgXK0Ah069Sm5JKXt8Z-4O0-tlyIJyldnZOaoFLOJzTpPHzorPKMMVRlehimTwbjRZ1jmMzYjgRbhnq4e9YraYuJe8QOzlXnejI8q0V" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="122px;" /><img height="138px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6Yqim6GsoVcW0XWGD32bZUkqD5qmXbZBoaA9yS-SxNaR03JzkmKzs70Dm5Kg16vWaf4FE5Pokx0t9rFdY49VeMCR2nkDeHpTt0gs0AlkOZNmrhNMpCVaVMsYFOC5cI2Xz-0MVeD4rgIjgYUD" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="207px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 13/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Miami, Florida</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change over day. Breakfast in Room. All guests must leave ship and clear Customs. Our adventure today was the Hop On / Hop Off double decker bus tour of Miami. We toured South Beach, the Art Deco area and Miami Beach area. We experienced a bus problem – smoke coming up last seat on the top of the bus. Had to change buses and see rest of Miami Beach loop and then changed bus again to see Miami highlights route – Coral Springs, Little Havana, Biltmore Hotel. Back to ship for lunch. Had to repeat the Emergency Drill for new passengers. Supper in Prime 7 and went to Galileo Lounge for Margaret singing Blues. </span><img height="107px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/vtWN__Z0eIDUN9FRQWDroJOY1sexubjgAfy1IRbWcp3ZZhfcCNXrXJml96PXF66MZtHt_N7t_SYrw5bldCjOjORAyfCN0VAEBF-HsLDGgjeS2kx67DsTJQEOtHEMaPqX0UeIG7gwUdKNolC3" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="161px;" /><img height="76px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/exR9RAuVaXv8MM78jVVO7578EmOOCZoQ1xB2J30L4gyrkIPMrq3T7rtsVI1lk2iF9nOeNn_s-Mq0h4TCbLjAIYV5C724qxQdStPozOQ5h8hF2jEYjKHNIaqPEDydEF4CFve1dHDkPOQlwSgO" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="114px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, November 14/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nassau, Bahamas</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breakfast in room. Off via boat to Dolphin Adventure at Blue Lagoon. Danced with, hugged and kissed dolphin. Rainstorm on return boat trip. Shared table for dinner with Harlingen couple – retired pharmacist Bob and his wife Lil. I went to Magician / Comedy act at 9:30 PM.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="71px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ABbgTIt1QBQlQT85V9X3hpNMaIMmnOxjeH3ULesIFN3x7EDbllDHDhevfI_fhluVdcuJoLAsUwK33OV9fO5U1jGadWORQtq22rHq5K1b3Ul1XyyAdixlZWPg6ZPqHBJAiRqDyMbQCwvnE7al" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="95px;" /><img height="99px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ds1RlHDc8zC2dQgnxFDAhjAmFMpVRH0IUlcm1nvpcvrNzwG7xarI997p-EHYyPWbI6xXRLOvhOb_L-D98TXiDdETBUTyK5uvOwOam8QXpSQGexdmD9yBdIxAYfYeBXiUo4I1J891iDrm4p8D" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="148px;" /><img height="133px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/G7RjepCt0Fedgl7Jeqqv3kNFfQQAJ2QPD5rONd3j3VLAlulVoG3_j3zS7IIkPrquU56JRy81f-Umuh4iWK1Dr0ok9DBglIYPsqQf0hPli9bDXVk4mF8NEYMp7gXkvuytV1yc71xp65x0vfqg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="241px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, November 15/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cruise the Old Panama Channel At Sea</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga at 8 AM. Did needlepoint and cooking class in AM. Quiet afternoon and evening. Broadway musical show at 9:30 PM.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, November 16/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> San Juan, Puerto Rico</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stretch class at 8 AM. Quiet morning doing needlepoint on back deck. Lunch on ship and then docked in San Juan. Did El Yungue Rainforest Walk – saw LaCoca Falls and Yokahu Tower.( a one hour drive from San Juan). Didn’t rain on us. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visited CVS pharmacy before getting back on board. Had massage / reflexology session in Spa. Late dinner and did not go to show. </span><img height="106px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kL_TuH5m0g4cPpDY39GFVdKujMAlzlflGeItj-s0SXLZ0MuV8LwMORGunR3k2pPbnrvq2s5FPxqbJHpnHImt8dcbCH0_LSV8j7SO1f4WBo5GaH_48OD6P7W6GeTcRp5GluHgHg1BUj-ylJlr" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="89px;" /><img height="117px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_my4f2Q3b958XdG3NwOwUcnCsE5ywNPJLLBahCvRBaP-ovf2WgYnTs38P4iRSnomy3IL0zH3s4K4Uqpz9lmFA4NAfI4-SL_ixc4Tk_00bgu122TMbMfj89yRquvidFkbs2SRp3q3tk_7qe6u" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="157px;" /><img height="99px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cGkYYLOMTiwIrO5n4EJ4VjoUkFeTH6Rf3ati-a2XLv3B3wjt-FLnZ7oYkx4XFGxuVgn4Djs2OYnRclDgar3lajjKrxI7_aArc_ZS67zjJPkIGqfhgNHqwt9QA4rINy6eulgbuRdy1DV6021a" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="131px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, November 17/14 Gustavia, St Barts</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stretch class at 8 AM. Quiet morning of needlepoint and reading. Arrived to St Barts at noon. Tender port. All excursions were on a wait list but we got on stanby for the Catamarran Sailing Trip on the Leeward Coast with Captain Matt. We stopped for a swim but I did not go in. Back to ship before 6. Had dinner in Compass Rose but there was a barbecue on Deck. Piano Man Performance again. </span><img height="165px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xQuuQ4ljUrXGnGN9kcDJYZzDKLadyNLhpkDIUjcxLaxpVwYdlsZb3u-VIlX1l4ghm4GLRRVZf9bGmLsakVLyl9OdExE3n_pQy9I8k1bNJ9lQUBs-Ywh5Xjoaf7BhPekrhgFLx1oYv93QpGY" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="248px;" /><img height="175px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EI4olOa1JHW-yYkLArDtefzzpiqmFcyXO-wsqjBAfH18IaywvSOSWDe0M9meLEKOQbDhQd4UeAtSmBSa9d5HDaNogXGGtkleqg0yBQXlqnNOad9p7I2VCtVi6KBEK_U0FhYjgZSJHFYXfdni" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="262px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, November 18/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> St John’s Antiqua</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don and I did the kayak, hike and snorkel adventure. Docked at St John’s Harbour from 8 to 5 PM. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><img height="119px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KjysXRPixwKjrjn8wRBeKLiU-K3KgWR-qU0PziMgO0MjucvAI6jwJ8xbuH51TiJI9l9AX9Q8Fwc1fgQzrnai_t0z1onXNmw8pa1qE0Z-e_m5sj1dsjlBE5Bsw809ne35nCRLb3EzSPZ0eYiM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="288px;" /><img height="110px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JRvFqa4L39jeXVcN7KVneRkMaMXXbW3NJBGB0U_Csr9yYU35GX3rHYAvr5an6JHThCIxZkDgw1B_2W2X0ZRoTC9xkeb9bGd7nEqFvhqtJWx_pqgSal1vgAsiyLzcXl69-hX5oblDd6fRedUd" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="165px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, November 19/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Castries, St Lucia</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up for self exercise, breakfast and left for Snuba Adventure at 10:30 AM – minibus ride to Pigeon Island National Park (30 Minutes). Hike to hilltop. Had long wait to get to Snuba – combination of scuba and snorkeling – you are connected to oxygen tank on surface via air hose. Back to ship at 2:30 PM. Late lunch and did laundry, tea time trivia and then supper.</span><img height="78px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JbsxSiducZXdO2A7A9SCzJcU8NHHMqWmqmFN8Xnh_17iYq0z7geR519ChN3JiHt7EbatSQ3SRizdSr3IA78R_DzLbfzB9oWxTC0hnZRGWABKoPsV9pS9Nwr-pytcoMuPOxSEFtRckExFNtib" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="117px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, November 20/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> St Maarten, Phillipsburg</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Went on the 12 metre Sailing Regatta Race in Phillipsburg harbour. 3 sailing ships – Stars and Stripes, True North and Canada 2 . We were on the Stars and Stripes with Captain Morgan. I was a Rear Winch and Don was the Grinder – it was hard work but very exciting too. We had a bartender and an iceberg watcher aboard too. Our ship’s staff captain from Estonia took part as well in our team of 14. We won! Don went back to the ship but I wandered the streets of Phillipsburg. There were many jewellery shops for diamonds, a shop with alcohol and cheese and Little Switzerland too. Quiet evening. </span><img height="145px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LDu4LtPyJEbvzw-8wafBEGQdJvHYr1blxCnSTXl3iQu3usOBesPVArcloq1em9sbsNrm8hyBwEk3lE1lhkYdX3m-Btwt3Lp-12DP7_LfikY_zANLOlnWDlRNOQH2f-ZkcAQMKoSBD6qLWp-q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="217px;" /><img height="177px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Rlnrd6zUDHqUUggmsC2ZqyQCxv8cFz7DmtpJQwGUjBYDMjdpOdVRBy0vUwzWTy3YCJaEk7a-qpaGnLiQNQuomK6bjABq-2zNt33A59240nstntBZEuS-jLTOkTyvHiejXJwRUAIOgNgcXwgu" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="217px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, November 21/14 and Saturday, November 22/14 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At Sea on the Atlantic Ocean</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did needlepoint and played games. Packed up. Handed in Regent Points for t-shirts and things. Saturday was rainy and rocky on the boat – worst weather on trip. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, November 23 and 24/14</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Miami, Florida</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arrived in port at 7 AM. Through USA Customs again. Taxi to the JW Marriott Marquis Miami for one night. Had very spacious modern suite. Hotel had large outdoor stainless steel bottomed swimming pool and gymnasium for visiting basketball teams to practice in. Simon Cowell (American Idol) and Mark Cuban (Shark Tank) had their yachts parked in harbour below. We walked around harbour area and downtown Miami and took free above ground subway around – and free trolley. Had bellboy knocking on the door at 3:30 Am to deliver luggage of visiting basketball team – got all Marriott points back for this night due to this rude interruption. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second night we were back at the Airport Marriott Hotel. Visited nearby casino – rather rundown area. </span><img height="113px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Lid-zsoYi6B2-Q7BeUoQqIQhbhK6QxUV6sGHRcOoP-1Xk5TLWsVx0BzLg7ZmtsrkWPYxIW2TB6mSYO3LVLAbCq8FLzg9oRZOIKdHK7q2ajW08MFHvG0Bf3EKaIHFGrieQfX41ok_Fbn0Ckrw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="169px;" /><img height="116px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dHopl-lLxhHchqQS1RfjdgnTkG_7HUz4AfFMAijDeJzHdKQN0iSqhAY14XrxhGtXPrx2WChvu7A8nCI3WGznpKLV5Cv-fBlQFpIZnpAEhuYG_3na9tMOTIMHP3_rmXjuI-tm3baNk4uJnrLE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="174px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, November 25/14 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Flight back to Norfolk Virginia to celebrate American Thanksgiving with Tom and Diana and family. Stayed a few days and on November 30</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we moved on to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and stayed at Coral Reef Resort. Did lots of walking and biking and did 3 day modified Dr Oz Detox Diet. Tom and family joined us there on the 4</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of December for a night before we moved on to Silver Lake Resort in Kissimmee Florida. Enjoyed Disney again and this time with the Holdenmeyers – who stayed on Disney. Tom and Diana and family went back home via the Orlando-Washington Train on December 12. Don and I moved on to Tampa and I flew to Buffalo to be with Katie and Dave in Winona to await the birth of Davis Frederick Theodore Whitehead. Little Davis was born on December 19</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – 8 lb 4oz – beautiful little boy. Don explored Clearwater area and stayed with Brian and Thery King in their Pinellas Park mobile home. He connected with a friend Paul Fice from Peterborough and even played slow pitch baseball with his team. He checked out the On Top of the World Resort (OTOW) for a possible move from Texas to Florida for us.</span><img height="103px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/SzDT-zc4jo8Br6Ew9EWiTwVhLF-8UAYKGBo1yrXhjJ779avcNIzuoQtkaP4jzYNuWAioqqOHOf779hErh4Ke_UXoruJHG2TnuYUiUZss8pH8gDOIn7OLnQCTQhjvEbDiXnPdGlMFCNcDzn9p" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="154px;" /><img height="134px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6d0QDUdiERADXxtAa413utoP2IxmVDZ6Rf2_WQH1NkFbgQ424SCnZ9vFk7k7ZbwzPC-6g-oS9CeWQKwjPDzKzlgUrg7wiR6ORltB1dNHg-mkWgE7QRPTqdfDh4kXX0P58XozM4ITS26KPr2-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="201px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 21/14 – Tampa. I flew back to Tampa from Buffalo and Don met me at the Airport and we started our trip to Texas which took us 2 nights and we arrived at Trophy Gardens on December 23/14. I spent 2 nights in our trailer and had to fly back to Toronto because Katie was not doing well. I stayed in Winona helping with Baby Davis till February 10</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when I flew back to McAllen Texas. Don had sold the Trailer for $13,500 to Linda from Calgary and purchased a 8 x 5 cargo trailer to carry our bikes, golf clubs and things to a new location. We had 2 weeks to pack and say goodbye to Texas – no more being Winter Texans – which I will miss but Florida is closer to home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 2015 – Stayed with Brian and Thery King again in Pinellas Park Florida and visited Diana and Dave Twiner in Bradenton for a few days and looked for a place in Florida. Settled on a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo on the First floor of the Viking Building - #88 – unfurnished. I had fun going with Thery to garage sales and bought a few pieces of furniture for our new place. We closed the deal on March 31</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and moved in what we had. We slept in our new place for 2 nights and then left for Tom and Diana’s on April 2 to celebrate Easter with them and headed home to Ontario on April 6</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 2015. </span><img height="203px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XOmLtj0J-RSeMZ7eAEkQsgJrjDLG5vsqH00iWQ5W0aGDiPMYyvY4m1Q9tU7_kUBiFqfn6Z9E7RIfWSRcmmp08KGJdJzawCAXUWE-jmmwz8hlzHX7OuLf1N2iBk5rxDOBfqS0IDdikuzoAxux" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="305px;" /><img height="199px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IHbg3vwpuzyqjtmUwj8sJXaSfejJ47CQlIdMr6ZreqCUG4zqwAuyBLVPAXesbgGG9rFaRBE1AV2EMz95jzhzmtN-_sPdrT_gBtsABkyGiqAHLzofL3kHoYFkP68qma_LRmWycLuX2t3dMGzA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="298px;" /></div>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-84679849902500921162015-05-10T18:48:00.001-07:002015-05-10T18:49:26.257-07:00October 2014October 2014<br />
Busy month with working for the Toronto Municipal Election in Ward 23 at Edithvale Community Centre on Finch Avenue. Worked Oct 14 to 19th - 6 days of advance polls and Election Supervisors on Election Day October 27th - not a great way to celebrate my birthday but we made some fun money.<br />
<br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-91733208952783389192014-04-19T19:40:00.002-07:002014-04-19T19:40:53.864-07:00The Trip Home to Canada<b>Easter 2014</b><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ6zv39ADE/U1LRdYbYd6I/AAAAAAAAHNI/ShWEzgharlw/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ6zv39ADE/U1LRdYbYd6I/AAAAAAAAHNI/ShWEzgharlw/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" height="141" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALj4hq1eGiY/U1LRgGRMoBI/AAAAAAAAHNk/xpifsi2nz9Y/s1600/DSC05511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALj4hq1eGiY/U1LRgGRMoBI/AAAAAAAAHNk/xpifsi2nz9Y/s1600/DSC05511.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZD5yxrBasto/U1LRd2rtOkI/AAAAAAAAHNM/ffPJ0S-D5MA/s1600/DSC05508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZD5yxrBasto/U1LRd2rtOkI/AAAAAAAAHNM/ffPJ0S-D5MA/s1600/DSC05508.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P71ALtgm5tA/U1LRgo5xgXI/AAAAAAAAHNw/4X17u_TRiOY/s1600/DSC05512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P71ALtgm5tA/U1LRgo5xgXI/AAAAAAAAHNw/4X17u_TRiOY/s1600/DSC05512.JPG" height="173" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ6zv39ADE/U1LRdYbYd6I/AAAAAAAAHNI/ShWEzgharlw/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>We started out from Trophy Gardens in Alamo as planned on April 2/14 and landed our first night in New Braunfels to visit our Lakefield friends Marlene and Heinz Loth in their Texas home. We went for 2 lovely walks together and had a lovely dinner at the Gruene Gristmill (restaurant is a former cotton mill) followed by a walk around the historical town of Gruene. We walked through the Gruene Dance Hall - oldest continuous used Dance Hall in Texas. George Strait had his start here. The Texas Bluebonnets were in bloom on our drive north of San Antonio - known as Hill Country.<br />
April 3/14 - spent the night in a Fairfield Inn in Mesquite, Texas - suburb of Dallas.<br />
April 4 - 5/14 - HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS<br />
We traveled north to spend a few nights with our Trophy Gardens' friends, Rick and Brenda Watts in their beautiful huge condo in Hot Springs - boyhood home of Bill Clinton.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDcXkofwVkQ/U1LRs5WxZPI/AAAAAAAAHP0/wY4dWTUAH1o/s1600/DSC05529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDcXkofwVkQ/U1LRs5WxZPI/AAAAAAAAHP0/wY4dWTUAH1o/s1600/DSC05529.JPG" height="116" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oX-ME8xNegA/U1LRyRVWxMI/AAAAAAAAHQ0/8F4xhae7dG8/s1600/DSC05538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oX-ME8xNegA/U1LRyRVWxMI/AAAAAAAAHQ0/8F4xhae7dG8/s1600/DSC05538.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>The first afternoon we had a lovely pontoon boat ride on Lake Hamilton over to scenic Garvan Woodland Gardens to see the spring tulip display. Brenda is a Master Gardener so she knew the plants and trees.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Po6zGfmNLT0/U1LSYEWpzfI/AAAAAAAAHYE/QaZmF0kjnBQ/s1600/DSC05599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Po6zGfmNLT0/U1LSYEWpzfI/AAAAAAAAHYE/QaZmF0kjnBQ/s1600/DSC05599.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2sDMDkKsKo/U1LSFeVnkMI/AAAAAAAAHUM/FI13x-FE6lY/s1600/DSC05567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2sDMDkKsKo/U1LSFeVnkMI/AAAAAAAAHUM/FI13x-FE6lY/s1600/DSC05567.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>On the 5th we toured the beautiful city of Hot Springs - a worldwide destination which draws 2 million visitors annually to its famed thermal waters, scenic beauty, lakes and family attractions. We climbed their Mountain Tower (216 feet high) for beautiful panoramic views.<br />
We strolled along the Promenade and visited Bath House Row along the main street.<br />
President Andrew Jackson designated Hot Springs as the first federal reservation in 1832 - which really made it America's first national park. The naturally thermal spring waters that flowed into the bathhouses were believed to have healing properties, which is why presidents, outlaws, athletes and other celebrities visited the Spa City.<br />
We dropped in to the famous Arlington Hotel and actually Bill Clinton was there that day to deliver a speech - but we didn't see him. We ate a delicious lunch at the 1217 Cafe and later had a delicious dinner with Brenda's family - Cousin Bobby and Tamera, Brother Sonny and wife Sandy from California, Brenda's son and family and Rick's son and family - at Bobby's house outside Benton close to their farm and church.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYjBrq_agcU/U1LSoDxdktI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/NvAIZrge1Zs/s1600/DSC05624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYjBrq_agcU/U1LSoDxdktI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/NvAIZrge1Zs/s1600/DSC05624.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hiZnaSmpDow/U1LS53A4n5I/AAAAAAAAHeU/S3XW8wx6eAY/s1600/DSC05649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hiZnaSmpDow/U1LS53A4n5I/AAAAAAAAHeU/S3XW8wx6eAY/s1600/DSC05649.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>April 6-13/14 - Moved north - along a windy scenic road (stopped in Russellville for a special What aBurger lunch) and moved into our Sky Auction Timeshare unit in Fairfield Bay Arkansas - a Wyndham Resort. During our week we did hikes - Indian Falls, Indian Caves, Hidden Cove and Mountain View. We used the facilities of the town - the Hart Centre to do aquacize, zumba and yoga - even tried a few games of pickleball; the library; and the resort office for internet since there was no internet available in our unit. We even took a day trip up to Mountain View - old town with their Court House in the centre square.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCFL_CjfXyw/U1LTGjW8skI/AAAAAAAAHgs/2TZTe7fbAx0/s1600/DSC05718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCFL_CjfXyw/U1LTGjW8skI/AAAAAAAAHgs/2TZTe7fbAx0/s1600/DSC05718.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHQvuFvc-hE/U1LTIsHvz7I/AAAAAAAAHhE/kPZGu1r4QGo/s1600/DSC05713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHQvuFvc-hE/U1LTIsHvz7I/AAAAAAAAHhE/kPZGu1r4QGo/s1600/DSC05713.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>April 13/14 Moved on the Harrah's Casino Resort - Terrace Hotel in Tunica Mississippi. Before we arrived at our hotel we went through Memphis and I toured Elvis Presley's Graceland Home.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjd38zTjD3c/U1LTy0EQYTI/AAAAAAAAHpk/bYVfIZSyQ6k/s1600/DSC05741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjd38zTjD3c/U1LTy0EQYTI/AAAAAAAAHpk/bYVfIZSyQ6k/s1600/DSC05741.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddq1eQTfOoM/U1LTlO35FUI/AAAAAAAAHm8/mwsvAlS9Xy8/s1600/DSC05737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddq1eQTfOoM/U1LTlO35FUI/AAAAAAAAHm8/mwsvAlS9Xy8/s1600/DSC05737.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>April 14-15/14 Nashville, Tennessee Spent our first night at the Millenium Maxwell House Hotel (booked thru Hotwire) - which was closer to downtown and our second night at the Best Western (booked thru Booking.com) - Opryland Area. Visited 4 major sites with my $60 Music City Total Access card from the Tourist Information Office. First toured the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Very interactive - well worth the visit. Then walked over to the Musicians Hall of Fame - to learn about the studios and background musicians of Nashville. On the way home from there I stopped in the Wild Horse Saloon and did a line dancing class for 15 minutes. Had dinner at our hotel - original Millenium hotel had chef that made fabulous coffee.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCeX_jhgj2M/U1LT7hbsFpI/AAAAAAAAHrU/tWSlf8lQhAg/s1600/DSC05743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCeX_jhgj2M/U1LT7hbsFpI/AAAAAAAAHrU/tWSlf8lQhAg/s1600/DSC05743.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiWRRE3NDtw/U1LT8wwHDHI/AAAAAAAAHrg/FuotZpIgeJk/s1600/DSC05760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiWRRE3NDtw/U1LT8wwHDHI/AAAAAAAAHrg/FuotZpIgeJk/s1600/DSC05760.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>I toured the Ryman Auditorium (Back Stage Tour for an extra $5) on the morning of the 15th. Interesting place with lots of history. Revered by many as the "Mother Church of Country Music", the Ryman was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. The building was built in 1892 and named for Captain Tom Ryman, a wealthy riverboat captain, Ryman was inspired to sponsor the building's cinstruction after his religious conversion at a tent revival held by Sam Jones. Originally known as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Lula C. Naff was its famous manger for many years. After the Opry left for its new building, the Ryman deteriorated but has been revived and holds concerts again.<br />
Lunch at Cracker Barrel Restaurant and in the afternoon I did the Backstage Tour at the Grand Old Opry - <br />
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saw the 18 dressing rooms - all themed, the famous Green Room, Opry member plaques and mailboxes, and the wooden circle floor taken from the Ryman Auditorium. I walked back to our hotel by way of the big shopping centre (Opry Mills) and the Marriott Gaylord Hotel and Convention Centre.<br />
Luckily I got a seat at the evening performance of the Grand Ole Opry and saw Terri Clark, Riders in the Sky, Lindsay Ell. Sam Palladio (Deacon on the TV show - Nashville), Bill Anderson, Jana Kramer and Hunter Hayes. All had 3 songs and Hunter had 5. This was a live performance broadcast and some taping was done on the Hunter Hayes portion to be televised on July 4/14 as part of a Macy's 4th of July special.<br />
April 16/14 - Drove on to Hickory North Carolina for a night at the Fairfield Inn before driving on to Tom and Diana's in Chesapeake Virginia for Easter weekend before motoring home to Lakefield on April 22.<br />
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bDZ6zv39ADE%2FU1LRdYbYd6I%2FAAAAAAAAHNI%2FShWEzgharlw%2Fs1600%2FDSC05507.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ6zv39ADE/U1LRdYbYd6I/AAAAAAAAHNI/ShWEzgharlw/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" -->The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-24886683808610898282014-04-19T13:17:00.001-07:002014-04-19T18:00:01.670-07:00Spring update<strong>Monday, March 24, 2014</strong> Damp cool day in Texas<br />
Good time to get caught up with this blog. Some of our Winter Texan friends have started the trip north. This winter has been cooler and damper than others we have experienced here but then the conditions up north have been a lot more wintery too. We still keep busy.<br />
Don completed his baseball season healthy but not victorious this year - even losing the US - Canada game. Many games had to be postponed due to bad weather. Don is staying fit by walking at least 10,000 steps a day encourage by his "fitbit force" wristband tracker.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgDoN7PzvBU/U1LOxmrBbRI/AAAAAAAAHLE/OVbGIEeRKbw/s1600/DSC05405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgDoN7PzvBU/U1LOxmrBbRI/AAAAAAAAHLE/OVbGIEeRKbw/s1600/DSC05405.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>We enjoyed a "Texas Gold Shrimp" talk and boat tour one morning in the Brownsville Harbour in February. It is a family run Shrimp Company that has been doing these talks and tours for the past 2 winters for Winter Texans to educate them about the shrimping business and only consuming wild domestic shrimp and the reasons for that. I won a pound of shrimp and a shrimp shelling tool from a little contest they had - and we barbequed the shrimp and it was delicious!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LC6XKSgSnzw/U1LVTDIC6VI/AAAAAAAAH4E/n0JFX1_4iY8/s1600/DSC05430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LC6XKSgSnzw/U1LVTDIC6VI/AAAAAAAAH4E/n0JFX1_4iY8/s1600/DSC05430.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>With fellow Bike Club member Bob Wollin, I did the 25 mile Harlingen Ride on March 22 and we stopped on the way home in Mercedes for the "Smokin on the Rio" cookoff and judged the bean and fajita competition. The day before in Mercedes, Brenda, Maureen, Judy and I enoyed the Winter Texan Happy Hour - music by Jeff Gordon. Leslie Blasin and John Sager.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRBGT9bWbCY/U1LVGM3h2AI/AAAAAAAAH1s/CMDUOIbUYN4/s1600/DSC05411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRBGT9bWbCY/U1LVGM3h2AI/AAAAAAAAH1s/CMDUOIbUYN4/s1600/DSC05411.JPG" height="200" width="195" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s98Zey5zc54/U1LVAISmsmI/AAAAAAAAH0c/RhTbG734JNQ/s1600/DSC05401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s98Zey5zc54/U1LVAISmsmI/AAAAAAAAH0c/RhTbG734JNQ/s1600/DSC05401.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>Bonnie, Ruth, Amelia and I attended the Victoria Palms Quilt/Craft Show on Feb 13.<br />
Bonnie and John Paulusse enjoyed the Open House Event at Santa Anna Nature Park on February 14 followed by lunch at Willie's Barbecue for their famous Baked Potatoes.<br />
Another day my lady buddies went with me to the Westlaco Knapp Medical Centre $5 Jewellery Sale followed by Martha's "fried" ice cream treat.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJhuFeZGe3Y/U1LVWQwpVuI/AAAAAAAAH40/oZ524AUultc/s1600/DSC05436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJhuFeZGe3Y/U1LVWQwpVuI/AAAAAAAAH40/oZ524AUultc/s1600/DSC05436.JPG" height="88" width="200" /></a>Also enjoyed the local culture with a Mariachi Concert with 4 groups at the San Juan Basilica. One of the groups was an all woman mariachi band.<br />
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There was a change up this winter in the Park Managers and the Activity Director (Fran resigned) and the way the Activity Advisory Board worked so - my monthly movie nights were cancelled but hopefully next winter there will be new activities happening. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LB8geCNZb8w/U1LVfGfky6I/AAAAAAAAH6g/HTpEnfHQQIQ/s1600/DSC05450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LB8geCNZb8w/U1LVfGfky6I/AAAAAAAAH6g/HTpEnfHQQIQ/s1600/DSC05450.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>Cousin Maureen celebrated her 65th birthday in February and her daughter Tiffany from Winnipeg flew down to join the party. Friend John Paulusse also celebrated his 65th birthday and Bonnie and John bought a park model home too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRP7Sz-ZX64/U1LWn-REsYI/AAAAAAAAH-Q/ydLCXQqzTog/s1600/DSC05479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRP7Sz-ZX64/U1LWn-REsYI/AAAAAAAAH-Q/ydLCXQqzTog/s1600/DSC05479.JPG" height="138" width="200" /></a>From March 5 to 18, Mary flew to Norfolk Virginia to babysit Benjamin, Hannah and Jacob with the assistance of daughter Katie (flew down from Buffalo) while parents Tom and Diana had some relax time in Miami and on the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship for a 5 day cruise down to the Cayman Islands. All survived and lessons learned - it took Katie and I to replace Diana and there is a reason we are meant to have children when we are young. Naps are sacred. We continued on the potty training quest for Jacob and Hannah but it was not accomplished. Only injury was that Jacob had a splinter in his thumb. When I got back to Texas, I needed to take a nap for 2 more days before my batteries were recharged.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Da80sBdjig/U1LWuATbjcI/AAAAAAAAH_Y/v-JUofNggUw/s1600/DSC05490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Da80sBdjig/U1LWuATbjcI/AAAAAAAAH_Y/v-JUofNggUw/s1600/DSC05490.JPG" height="163" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYaV0z8AAFM/U1LVm28qb3I/AAAAAAAAH8E/SqCK6Y5RkpA/s1600/DSC05463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYaV0z8AAFM/U1LVm28qb3I/AAAAAAAAH8E/SqCK6Y5RkpA/s1600/DSC05463.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>We have enjoyed parties and dinners with friends and two special dinners this year - a progressive dinner party and a psychedelic mystery dinner party. I taught exercise class a few mornings a week again and helped with some fundraising dinners and pancake breakfasts. The Garden Club completed their big garden by the entrance to TG - complete with stepping stones. We continue to golf on the TG course and our golf clubs stay behind until we return next winter. Mary assisted neighbor Gladys in planning and running the Masters Drive block party - 3 to 5 on a Sunday afternoon - finger foods and talking - about 50 <br />
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attended. <br />
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Take-off date of Wednesday, April 2 - headed for New Braunfels to visit friend Marlene and Heinz Loth. <br />
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<br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-50401988290324710122014-02-05T19:01:00.001-08:002014-02-05T19:01:08.630-08:00Winter in Texas 2013-14<b>February 2014 Trophy Gardens Alamo Texas</b><br />
Don and I started the trip south on November 24/13 from Lakefield - lunch with Gramma and Grampa Marsden in Toronto, dinner with Katie and Dave in Winona, overnight in St Catherines with Ellie and Jan and Lincoln Lech and crossed over the Canada/USA border on the morning of November 25th. We spent the next night along the route to Virginia ( our 35th wedding anniversary)and arrived at Tom and Diana's to celebrate Thanksgiving and the lighting of the Charlie Pugh's Christmas house next door.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqZqdQYRCqM/UvLd2AkrWxI/AAAAAAAAHIE/zIKJx9cOeho/s1600/2013-12-05+13.12.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqZqdQYRCqM/UvLd2AkrWxI/AAAAAAAAHIE/zIKJx9cOeho/s1600/2013-12-05+13.12.09.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>After a few days, Don and I moved further south to North Myrtle Beach for a week at Wyndham Towers timeshare resort right across the road from the Beach. Tom and Diana and the kiddies joined us there for a few nights and then moved on to Orlando for a week together enjoying each other, Disney World and Universal.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVV6MGRsAZI/UvLhYjiHJlI/AAAAAAAAHIc/qQvTkiwYd_E/s1600/DSC05356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVV6MGRsAZI/UvLhYjiHJlI/AAAAAAAAHIc/qQvTkiwYd_E/s1600/DSC05356.JPG" height="141" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNl6pp4QmvU/UvLfrUQsv9I/AAAAAAAAHIQ/2ldVmSFJfQg/s1600/2013-12-09+11.32.20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJSLTYl45J8/UvLhxVkc-jI/AAAAAAAAHIk/wY5ax3zOyQ0/s1600/DSC05355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJSLTYl45J8/UvLhxVkc-jI/AAAAAAAAHIk/wY5ax3zOyQ0/s1600/DSC05355.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNl6pp4QmvU/UvLfrUQsv9I/AAAAAAAAHIQ/2ldVmSFJfQg/s1600/2013-12-09+11.32.20-1.jpg" height="150" width="200" />Little Benjamin spent some quality time with Oma and Opa when the others went to the parks and even experienced two timeshare presentations. One of the highlights was a lunch at the Dinosaur Restaurant at Disney Downtown. Don and I even gave Tom and Diana a day to themselves at Universal Studios and we took Jacob, Hannah and Benjamin to Chick fil A for lunch. We had a great zero entry pool at the Silver Lakes timeshare in Kissimmee that the kiddies could just walk into. The weather cooperated and we spent time enjoying that pool almost every day. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhS2H16VKAE/UvLkg3DHtfI/AAAAAAAAHIw/r9MC3XLgXEo/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhS2H16VKAE/UvLkg3DHtfI/AAAAAAAAHIw/r9MC3XLgXEo/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>We had a lovely Santa picture taken at Disney downtown. Jacob really wasn't a big fan of Santa again this year. Later looking at the Santa pictures taken that day, Jacob's comment was "I don't like that man."<br />
The week ended and Tom and family drove their car north of Orlando to catch a train ride north to Washington - an overnight ride so they had a berth and had dinner and breakfast in a diningroom - more relaxed than driving themselves.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzGRURORQ9o/UvLrH6i5YKI/AAAAAAAAHJA/Y5Z57v4JypE/s1600/DSC05372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzGRURORQ9o/UvLrH6i5YKI/AAAAAAAAHJA/Y5Z57v4JypE/s1600/DSC05372.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>Don and I visited our friends Moe and Wanda Daoust at their Sanlon<br />
Park RV Resort on our way to spend a weekend with our friends Brian and Thery King in Pinellas Park, St Petersburg Florida.<br />
From Florida, We headed over to Biloxi, Mississippi for a night and then over to San Antonio for the last night before reaching Trophy Gardens in Alamo to find our 5th wheel trailer waiting for us. While in San Antonio, we visited the SAS Shoe Factory - set up like an old fashioned store - even had a personal shopper named Rita to wait on me for at least 90 minutes - great place.<br />
Christmas was celebrated at our park clubhouse and New Year's Eve with our friends Ron and Judy Ross and Linda and Brian Philpott - Winter Texans from Winnipeg Manitoba.<br />
Don got back to playing Senior Texan Slow Pitch Baseball on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I teach exercise classes 3 mornings a week, go biking with the Bike Club and do some line dancing and help the Garden Club too. We play golf on-site on the 9 hole Par 3 course several times a week and take part in the tournaments when the weather permits. It has been a cooler winter with a lot more rainy days that we are used to here.<br />
I organized a Nurses Pot Luck Luncheon in January and about 20 nurses of the park attended. I encouraged 16 members of our bike club to do the McAllen Arbour Day 25 mile bike tour - too bad it was a cold morning but the ride did go well. I also did a Healthy Eating Demo and Discussion in early January and plan to repeat it in February - featuring kale and pomegranate seeds etc. I did a workshop for making stained glass stepping stones - for our Garden Club garden at the entrance to our park. Always lots to do.<br />
I went on a couple of mystery trips - one to Brownsville and the other to Port Isabel.<br />
Beside our golf course was a cabbage field and below is a picture of how the harvesting was done.<br />
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<br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-51706729311930641322013-11-14T12:07:00.000-08:002013-11-14T12:07:15.981-08:00Mediterranean Cruise Oct 28/13 to Nov 10/13<strong>Monday, Oct 28/13</strong> <strong>35th Anniversary Trip - Venice to Barcelona</strong><br />
Started out in AM from Lakefield and had lunch with Mom and Dad Marsden in Toronto before parking at the Park and Fly Economy lot (1/2 price internet coupon) near YYZ for our 7:40 PM KLM Flight to Venice via Amsterdam. (Thought we may be flying Air France due to wind storm in England but this was cancelled.) <br />
Flew overnight on full 747 - no sleep in cramped seats in 31st row in middle - 6 hours - had gluten free meals). <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihO1phVGKxY/UoOnd8ofJgI/AAAAAAAAHCc/FPj7OPbeT2U/s1600/DSC04981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihO1phVGKxY/UoOnd8ofJgI/AAAAAAAAHCc/FPj7OPbeT2U/s200/DSC04981.JPG" width="200" /></a><strong>Tuesday, Oct 29/13</strong> 8AM to 10 AM in Amsterdam Airport and then smaller KLM 2 hour flight to Venice. Arrived to rain in Venice. Met Oceania personnel and bussed to ship Marina in Venice Harbour. Rain stopped. Settled in our Room 7063 (Veranda Stateroom), had lunch, looked around ship and then unpacked. <br />
M/S Marina is a medium sized cruiseship of Oceania Cruises with 15 decks, 8 restaurants, 1,250 guests and 800 staff from over 50 nationalities. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOKvUU6fD4/UoOrwZJrC5I/AAAAAAAAHCo/fihXyi8p2cQ/s1600/DSC04424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOKvUU6fD4/UoOrwZJrC5I/AAAAAAAAHCo/fihXyi8p2cQ/s200/DSC04424.JPG" width="200" /></a>Mary went to Venice Grand Canal for gondola ride at 6PM. This involved a walk to the water taxi and a 30 minute ride to dock near Piazza San Marco and 15 minute walk along waterfront to gondolas. Each gondola had seats for 6 and I was lucky to be seated with 2 other ladies and the accordian player and singer (2 Men) were added to our gondola. Our striped shirted gondolear steered us for the hour ride and was talented because he could check his email on his cellphone at the same time - another one was talking on his cellphone. My favourite spot was going through a small canal while the singer was singing "Voloray" and the church bells were ringing. That was magical. Back to ship by 9 PM and ready to sleep on the very comfy bed.<br />
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<strong>Wednesday, Oct 30/13 Venice, Italy</strong> - sun/cloud 20 degrees C<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-w1J_z1aNc/UoO6T-DEVoI/AAAAAAAAHC4/IlMrauXz2Es/s1600/DSC04423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-w1J_z1aNc/UoO6T-DEVoI/AAAAAAAAHC4/IlMrauXz2Es/s200/DSC04423.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txVkGpK8Mx4/UoPOE6EEu8I/AAAAAAAAHDI/_DcLazaXi7c/s1600/DSC04437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txVkGpK8Mx4/UoPOE6EEu8I/AAAAAAAAHDI/_DcLazaXi7c/s200/DSC04437.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWj0jNZoPo8/UoPPqOIcqlI/AAAAAAAAHDc/FlU1bvaIKPg/s1600/DSC04467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWj0jNZoPo8/UoPPqOIcqlI/AAAAAAAAHDc/FlU1bvaIKPg/s200/DSC04467.JPG" width="200" /></a>Up at 6:30 AM and breakfast in the Terrace Café. Mary left for "Secret Corners of Venice and Grand Canal Tour" at 7:45 AM. Following a one hour water taxi tour around Venice we walked around the city of Venice which is built on 117 islets separated by 177canals and spanned by some 400 bridges. There are no cars or bicycles in Venice - everyone walks and goes by boat. Visited the Rialto Bridge and Fish and Vegetable Market. Then on to Piazza San Marco for an hour to see the Basilica - went behind the altar and up to the balcony to see the Bronze Horses of St Mark in the Museum. Had my first coffee flavoured gelato for 1.5 euro. Loved the bronze bell ringers at the top of the clock tower. Back to ship at 12 PM for lunch.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxj3Tntq_yM/UoPPTtV4ynI/AAAAAAAAHDU/nhCXFpoFsFk/s1600/DSC04478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxj3Tntq_yM/UoPPTtV4ynI/AAAAAAAAHDU/nhCXFpoFsFk/s200/DSC04478.JPG" width="200" /></a>Back on the ship, Don played minigolf, croquet and pingpong to start his collection of Big "O" points. <br />
In the afternoon, we played miniature golf, attended an acupuncture lecture, the ship emergency drill and the ship cruised out of Venice around 4 PM. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the Polo Grill Restaurant (steak and seafood) at 6:30 and played a Trivia game in the Martini Lounge at 8:45PM. Bed by 10:30 PM.<br />
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<strong>Thursday, Oct 31/13 Kotor, Montenegro (Black Mountain) - </strong>clear skies, 21 degrees C<br />
Morning on ship with room service breakfast. Attended 7 AM stretch class in Fitness club and then 10 laps on upper deck for "Walk a Mile", and then Legs, Bums and Tums class at 8:15AM. Mary had 15 minute complimentary acupuncture assessment and Don had 9AM acupuncture treatment for his sinuses and Mary attended the Maximize Your Metabolism lecture with Fitness Instructor Mauricio from Mexico. Then we did Brunch in the Grand Dining Room. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k37FsYc-6J8/UoPYMFB62VI/AAAAAAAAHDs/ByZsKQLH8x4/s1600/DSC04506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k37FsYc-6J8/UoPYMFB62VI/AAAAAAAAHDs/ByZsKQLH8x4/s200/DSC04506.JPG" width="200" /></a>By noon the ship was docked at the medieval walled town of Kotor (a UNESCO world Heritage Site) after sailing in the Bay of Kotor - the deepest and biggest fiord in Southern Europe. Montenegro is a free, democratic and newly independent country - formerly part of Yugoslavia. Small population of 650,000.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pzyEJPcIoPM/UoPZoFro8_I/AAAAAAAAHD4/c2FgNGkg61s/s1600/DSC04498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pzyEJPcIoPM/UoPZoFro8_I/AAAAAAAAHD4/c2FgNGkg61s/s200/DSC04498.JPG" width="200" /></a>In the afternoon, Mary went on the "Highlights of Montenegro" bus tour which included a road of 25 switchbacks to reach an elevation of 1000 metres on limestone mtn. There was a stop in a small village for some lunch of homemade bread with local cheese (from goat and cow milk) and salted thinly sliced meat. Bought some handmade slippers. Then off to Cetinje town to tour Museum of King Nikola (had 12 children - 9 girls and 3 sons - well connected in European royalty and was monarch for many years). Drove back down mountains to Kotor and looked around old town and then back on ship. <br />
Captain's cocktails in Martini Lounge and dinner in Polo Grill again with 3 other couples. Went to bed early since we lose an hour sleep with our visit to Corfu Greece tomorrow - different time zone.<br />
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<strong>Friday, Nov 1/13 - Corfu, Greece - </strong>Sunny and 23 degrees C<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--C8zOKbWhZ0/UoPqcIWdpWI/AAAAAAAAHEU/eD9BLAboEEs/s1600/DSC04525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--C8zOKbWhZ0/UoPqcIWdpWI/AAAAAAAAHEU/eD9BLAboEEs/s200/DSC04525.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByLzrhS7zpY/UoPomFc8V8I/AAAAAAAAHEI/BU1ioUFRLRo/s1600/DSC04515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByLzrhS7zpY/UoPomFc8V8I/AAAAAAAAHEI/BU1ioUFRLRo/s200/DSC04515.JPG" width="200" /></a>Sailed into port of Corfu and Mary left after breakfast on bus tour to Achilleion Palace - built by the Empress Elizabeth (Sissy) of Austria in 1891. Named for Homer's hero Achilles - 2 large statues on grounds of triumphant Achilles and defeated Achilles. Elizabeth had 4 children - 3 girls and one son and the son committed suicide. Elizabeth was a smoker, very vain of her looks - portraits had to show her 29 years of age or younger, she was a devout Catholic - also anorexic. She was assassinated in 1898 by a crazy man who wanted to be famous. In 1907 the palace was sold to the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia - Kaiser Wilhelm 11. This Palace houses the Terrace of Muses, which was built as a tribute to the nine muses of Greek mythology. <br />
Went back to Old Town of Corfu and shuttled back to ship for lunch. Bussed back to old town with Don and did walk about. Bought olive oil with spices and brown belt for Don. Visited St Spyridon church - a Greek Orthodox church that houses the remains of Corfu's patron saint, which was smuggled from Constantinople after the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The mummified remains are kept in a silver coffin and are carried in a procession 4x/yr.<br />
Back on ship, spent a little time at pool and sailed off at 6 PM. Saw "Bon Voyage" show in Marina Lounge featuring the Marina Singers and Dancers at 9:45 PM. <br />
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<strong>Saturday, Nov 2/13 Naxos (Taormina), Italy - </strong>Sunny and 23 degrees C<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKWuP8W8JY/UoPxEmoN0bI/AAAAAAAAHEs/Pp25tGyxukU/s1600/DSC04606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKWuP8W8JY/UoPxEmoN0bI/AAAAAAAAHEs/Pp25tGyxukU/s200/DSC04606.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TBsWwtkk3Q/UoPwpRjIBiI/AAAAAAAAHEk/DRCYBK0b2M0/s1600/DSC04564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TBsWwtkk3Q/UoPwpRjIBiI/AAAAAAAAHEk/DRCYBK0b2M0/s200/DSC04564.JPG" width="200" /></a>Tendered off ship to port of Nexus and then bus tour to hill town of Taormina (3rd largest town on Island of Sicily). Shuttle into old town - toured through old Greek - 3rd century BC / Roman - 2nd century AD theatre - Teatro Greco. Had great view - also of Mt Etna (45 minute drive away) which erupted just a week earlier. Then through Public Gardens donated by a wealthy woman - includes a large play castle for the local children. <br />
Back to ship for lunch and time around the pool in the afternoon and Don busy with his on board activities for "O" points. Dinner in the Italian restaurant on board - Toscana. <br />
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<strong>Sunday, Nov 3/13 Naples (Capri) Italy</strong> - Sun/Cloud and 20 degrees C<br />
Up early to start excursion to Capri. The ship docked at Naples rather than Sorrento as planned because we would be tendering at Sorrento and the waves are 3 1/2 feet would make that difficult so we docked at Naples.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3tQfgtKFjw/UoQP1JAQoOI/AAAAAAAAHFE/OtKzG6hdM_A/s1600/DSC04651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3tQfgtKFjw/UoQP1JAQoOI/AAAAAAAAHFE/OtKzG6hdM_A/s200/DSC04651.JPG" width="149" /></a>Took Jetfoil (large) across to Capri and little bus up to Anacapri (town above Capri). Went on single chair lift up to Mount Solero - 15 minute ride - for amazing vistas. Then walked around Anacapri - took bus back down to Capri and walked around Capri for a few hours. Took Funicular to port (Marina Grande) and Jetfoil back to ship in Naples.<br />
Don walked into Naples but said he wasn't impressed with the city.<br />
Dinner in Grand Dining Room.<br />
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<strong>Monday, Nov 4/13 Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy</strong> - Sunny and 21 degrees C<br />
From port of Civitavecchia travelling 90 minutes by bus to reach central Rome. Did Rome on my own starting point of Piazza del Popolo. Saw Spanish Steps, got lost several times on way to Trevi Fountain - tossed in a coin so I can return some day.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tNhB0mezE0/UoQTzdHPv1I/AAAAAAAAHFY/VB22uVEX8Gg/s1600/DSC04789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tNhB0mezE0/UoQTzdHPv1I/AAAAAAAAHFY/VB22uVEX8Gg/s200/DSC04789.JPG" width="200" /></a> Used the red Hop On / Hop Off bus that I had prepaid for before the trip. Saw the Colosseum and Ancient Rome Ruins but didn't get off bus. Got off at Vatican and stood in line an hour to get into St Peter's Basilica and paid the 5 euro to climb the almost 500 steps to the top of the Dome - great view. Climbed down and saw the inside of the Basilica including Michelangelo's Pieta. Rushed back to starting point and bus ride back to ship. Learned that you can't see all the sites of Rome in one day. <br />
Dinner in Terrace Café, played Trivia game and listened to singer Jackie LaCroix in Marina Lounge.<br />
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<strong>Tuesday, Nov 5/13 Livorno (Pisa, Florence, Tuscany) Italy</strong> - Sun/cloud 21 degrees C<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6syYCXi9Nc/UoQcqHCt38I/AAAAAAAAHFs/wm5pWYH4NNo/s1600/DSC04806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6syYCXi9Nc/UoQcqHCt38I/AAAAAAAAHFs/wm5pWYH4NNo/s200/DSC04806.JPG" width="133" /></a>Docked in Livorno port. Bus Tour to Pisa - was in church but too early - not all open yet. Did not get to climb Leaning Tower or tour inside of Baptistery. Bought scarf and Pinocchio puppet - home town of Pinocchio story author. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_KIud9mtqM/UoQdnTXM6pI/AAAAAAAAHFw/yaXxXrKo2Gw/s1600/DSC04861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_KIud9mtqM/UoQdnTXM6pI/AAAAAAAAHFw/yaXxXrKo2Gw/s200/DSC04861.JPG" width="200" /></a>On to Florence and started with 2 hours of free time so I did a 2 hour tour of Basilica di Santa Croce (Holy Cross) with audio. Had Franciscan monastery attached and started as people's church. Many famous burials in church - Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini and Dante.<br />
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Had walking tour through central Florence ending at Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore -one of the world's largest cathedrals. A Gothic structure with an exterior ornately decorated with red, green and white marble. In front of the Cathedral is an octagonal baptistery and a 14th century campanile or bell tower. Saw the famous bridge Ponte Vecchio over the Arno river and a copy of the famous Michelangelo's David statue. Bus ride back to the ship through the Tuscan countryside. Dinner in Grand Dining Room, trivia game and then to bed. <br />
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<strong>Wednesday, Nov 6/13 Monte Carlo, Monaco</strong> - Sun 22 degrees C<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGSeTa1hVSw/UoTMutzrdlI/AAAAAAAAHGI/u2R0c64te1M/s1600/DSC04949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGSeTa1hVSw/UoTMutzrdlI/AAAAAAAAHGI/u2R0c64te1M/s200/DSC04949.JPG" width="133" /></a>Sailed into Monaco harbor at sunrise. Left on tour bus to St Paul de Vence for morning tour. St Paul is a 16th century town on a high hill. It has lots of artist galleries and the artist Marc Chapell is buried in their hillside cemetery. Back to ship by 12:30 PM.<br />
Don twisted his knee when he walked into Monaco in the morning so he could not explore Monaco with me in the afternoon as planned so I hopped standby to the afternoon bus tour of "Highlights of Monaco" leaving at 1 PM. <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYG9AHW3ycg/UoTOX5OztEI/AAAAAAAAHGU/ZxtxEgqOW-U/s1600/DSC05014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYG9AHW3ycg/UoTOX5OztEI/AAAAAAAAHGU/ZxtxEgqOW-U/s200/DSC05014.JPG" width="200" /></a>On this tour we went through Monaco's tropical garden, by the Aquarium with the yellow submarine outside, Castle, and the Monte Carlo Casino area. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1a_t8ErNfpM/UoTO7EMgnPI/AAAAAAAAHGc/QMjf4ETVzw4/s1600/DSC05071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1a_t8ErNfpM/UoTO7EMgnPI/AAAAAAAAHGc/QMjf4ETVzw4/s200/DSC05071.JPG" width="200" /></a>We had dinner at "Jacques" - the French restaurant on the ship. checked out the hot tub after dinner and early to bed. Don did get a baseball cap from the Monte Carlo firehall. <br />
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<strong>Thursday, Nov 7/13 Marseille, France - </strong>Sunny and 23 degrees C<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xIKp19suLbs/UoUMF7JTdlI/AAAAAAAAHGs/Y6FEPbKYASE/s1600/DSC05093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xIKp19suLbs/UoUMF7JTdlI/AAAAAAAAHGs/Y6FEPbKYASE/s200/DSC05093.JPG" width="200" /></a>Took morning trip of "Highlights of Marseille and Cassis". Marseille is the second largest city in France, after Paris. It is France's largest commercial port and largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and capital of the Provence - Alpes-Cot d'Azur region. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua-4UUWNGGQ/UoUOEeDTSwI/AAAAAAAAHG4/-TzFy5pOhMk/s1600/DSC05130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua-4UUWNGGQ/UoUOEeDTSwI/AAAAAAAAHG4/-TzFy5pOhMk/s200/DSC05130.JPG" width="200" /></a>On a hill overlooking Marseille is Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. This church was built in the 19th century in the Romanesque-Byzantine style and is crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary. <br />
Cassis is a small resort / fishing village on the Mediterranean Sea at the base of a medieval castle - which is now a luxury hotel. Even put my feet in the cold Mediterranean Sea. <br />
Had a quiet afternoon and supper in the Grand Dining Room, had a hot tub and then the trivia game before bed. <br />
<strong>Friday, Nov 8/13 Day </strong>at Sea Windy, Sunny 20 degrees C<br />
Did mile walk, stretch class, then breakfast and Energize your Soles class (using bumpy semicircle bubbles that were painful). Don had another acupuncture treatment for his sinuses in the Canyon Spa. Don collected more "0" points to a total of 175 points which he traded for 5 t-shirts, a ball cap and an umbrella. I attended a Thai Cooking Class on board in the afternoon - rice roll, duck and watermelon appetizer, lobster pad thai, and tasted Chilean sea bass. Then dinner in the "Red Ginger" Restaurant - the Thai restaurant on board. Had hot tub and went to "Groovin" show in Marina Lounge. <br />
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<strong>Saturday, Nov 9/13 Barcelona, Spain</strong> Sunny 21 degrees C<br />
Off on "Highlights of Barcelona and Montserrat" bus tour from 8 AM to 5 PM. Drove through beautiful central Barcelona and stopping at the Sagrada Familia, the famed architect Gaudi's masterpiece church of the Holy Family that is still in progress. We didn't have time to go in but marveled at the outside. <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qo_K9Pgorpc/UoUaJ3ucRjI/AAAAAAAAHHg/Ts7JQPr960Y/s1600/DSC05299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qo_K9Pgorpc/UoUaJ3ucRjI/AAAAAAAAHHg/Ts7JQPr960Y/s200/DSC05299.JPG" width="200" /></a>We drove by the Olympic stadium and other structures on our way out of the city to Montserrat (serrated mountain), also the huge SEAT factory (owned by the Volkswagon group). <br />
Montserrat and its sacred monastery are perched atop a mountain between oddly shaped pillars of stone. This is the home of the Black Madonna - the revered wooden statue of the virgin and baby Jesus, which has attracted pilgrims since the 12th century. With fellow tourist Cheryl from NC, we took the vunicular tram to the very top of the mountain and walk 50 minutes back down to the monastery area. Tasted 4 kinds of liquor made by the Benedictine monks, watched the 15 minute audio visual movie, then toured the museum and joined the line-up to touch the hand of the "Black Madonna". Back to the ship by 5:30 PM. <br />
During the day, Don had taken the shuttle bus into Barcelona and found the Firehall and traded some clothing.<br />
We had supper in the Grand Dining Room and had our last hot tub, finished packing and went to bed.<br />
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<strong>Sunday, Nov 10/13 Barcelona Spain to Lakefield Canada</strong> - 21 degrees to 0 degrees C<br />
Up at 6 AM to get transferred at 7 AM for a 10 AM American Airlines flight to JFK airport in New York. We volunteered to be bumped off the overbooked flight (offer was $800Euro and vouchers for hotel and transfers) to stay an extra night in Barcelona but unfortunately they only bumped 2 and we were #3 and #4. We spent 2 hours awaiting our connection to Toronto @JFK - having to go through Customs in USA - and waiting another hour on the tarmac in NY before taking off. Arrived in TO around 7 PM and took shuttle bus to car and drove home to Lakefield. Bed by 9:30 PM - exhausted but happy after a great trip!<br />
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<br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-52267248880676349582013-06-25T16:41:00.001-07:002013-06-25T16:41:06.431-07:00June 4 to 18/2013 Newfoundland Trip<strong>Tuesday, June 4, 2013</strong> <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCQjmIhbtK0/UciUCH_Aw1I/AAAAAAAAE8E/oYeRqdl0Dm0/s1600/DSC03717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCQjmIhbtK0/UciUCH_Aw1I/AAAAAAAAE8E/oYeRqdl0Dm0/s200/DSC03717.JPG" width="200" /></a>Off to Deer Lake, Newfoundland via WestJet with my brother Peter and his wife, my sister-in-law Brenda - Tessels from Varney, Ontario. We left at 9:30 AM and landed in Deer Lake at 1:30 PM (NFLD time) after a 2:15 hour flight. We picked up our rental car from Enterprise - a Toyota Corolla - no cruise control and roll up windows - and drove in to Deer Lake and stopped at Tim Hortons. It was misty and 60 degrees. <br />
We drove north to Gros Morne National Park and checked out the Information Centre and then on to Rocky Harbour to check into the Oceanview Hotel. We signed up for a few boat tours in the area and the pub show "Anchors Aweigh" for the next night in the hotel lobby and admired the art of Ben Ploughman. We walked about in Rocky Harbour - to the cemetery and the out on the pier and stopped for our first fish dinner at Jackie's Restaurant and walked back to the hotel for the night.<br />
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<strong>Wednesday, June 5, 2013</strong><br />
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Up at 7 AM for a lovely breakfast in the hotel restaurant and then drove back down the road to the Gros Morne Discovery Center and picked up an audio tour for our Tablelands trail walk up the road. It was still misty and cool and we got cold and wet on the walk but enjoyed it anyway. We got back in the car and drove around Woody Point (known for an August Literary Festival that Sheilagh Rodgers from CBC hosts each year) and then back to Rocky Point and changed our clothes and took them to the local laundrymat to throw in the dryer while we had lunch. We had delicious seafood chowder at Java Joe's, gathered our dry clothes and drove over to nearby Norris Point to board the boat tour of beautiful Bonne Bay. We saw a mincke whale, bald eagles and a moose on our 2 1/2 hour $40 tour and enjoyed a few Newfie songs by the skipper - on accordion, 2 mates on guitars - one being the guide as the boat was in the middle of the bay. Brenda and I were glad we had taken some gravol for the trip because it was rough when we attempted to leave the bay and go into the Gulf of St Lawrence. <br />
We drove back to Rocky Harbour and up to Lobster Point lighthouse and then back to our hotel. We ate our dinner in the hotel pub ensuring good seats for the "Anchor's Aweigh" musical group from 8 to 11. We were so impressed that we bought some cds and P&B have the group's show DVD too.<br />
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<strong>Thursday, June 6, 2013</strong> Sunny but windy and cool<br />
Up at 7 AM and ate breakfast at Fisherman's Landing Restaurant up the street from our hotel. We <br />
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checked out and drove up the road to our "Western Brook Pond" boat tour ($60 each) - it was a 40 minute drive and a 45 minute hike into the boat launch. It was a 2 hour boat ride into a fiord - fantastic scenery and some of the purest water on the planet since there is little vegetative growth due to the depth of the water - it is not attached to the Gulf so it is fresh water now. The cliffs are so high that fisherman on the Gulf can see the fiord's opening from 40 miles away on a clear day - it is a landmark. But there was a strong wind that was sending water spray right over the top of the boat - another day we were thankful for gravol. Also noted were the beautiful waterfalls in the fiord and the water devils swirling. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cf-5AXC_hy0/UciU-soGHGI/AAAAAAAAE8c/5RmMdsucR8g/s1600/DSC03780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cf-5AXC_hy0/UciU-soGHGI/AAAAAAAAE8c/5RmMdsucR8g/s200/DSC03780.JPG" width="200" /></a>We had hot chocolate to warm up and did a little hike on our way out to the road and motored on up the road to Cowhead. Checked into J&J B&B at the Shallow Bay Motel. The B&B was a 4 bedroom house with a kitchen common room and we were the only ones in the house that night. Brenda and I indulged ourselves with a lobster dinner at the Motel's Restaurant. Then we enjoyed a live theatre show at the Warehouse Theatre. Two very talented actors did the production of "Two". It was part of the 2013 Gros Morne Theatre Festival. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwXrzq4JwrQ/UciVRgBjQKI/AAAAAAAAE8k/9wrLHWGOlWw/s1600/DSC03792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwXrzq4JwrQ/UciVRgBjQKI/AAAAAAAAE8k/9wrLHWGOlWw/s200/DSC03792.JPG" width="200" /></a><strong>Friday, June 7, 2013</strong> - Sunny bright day but the wind was cold<br />
Up at 7 AM and ate our included breakfast in the motel restaurant. We drove north and stopped for pictures at the Arches Provincial Park. Beautiful sea sculptured arches on the Gulf and rounded rocks for the strong wave action. Continued on this drive north - fantastic scenery on this sunny day. We stopped to see Port aux Choix - info centre not yet open so we took a bumpy ride out to the Lighthouse. We drove back down the road to Port Saunders and walked around their marina and dry docks to take pictures of the boats. <br />
We drove back into Port aux Choix to have a delicious seafood chowder lunch at the Anchor Café - <br />
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followed by Figgy Duff Pudding. Stopped at Ben Ploughman's Studio and Whale Museum and meet Ben and had a tour of his workshop - saw the lobster crates that he used as frames and the plywood for his skies. <br />
Then further north on the coast and cross country to St Anthony. We checked into the Grenfell Heritage Suites (Suite 210). Checked "Iceberg Finder" on the internet and drove outside town to see a small iceberg stuck in a shallow bay. <br />
Then we went on the Lightkeepers Restaurant for a wonderful seafood platter dinner. (This was in the hotel package - a $25 coupon each for a dinner at this restaurant, a boat tour and admittance into "Norstead" in L'Anse aux Meadows.)<br />
Back to hotel and Brenda did laundry, Peter did pictures and watched the hockey game and I caught up on bookkeeping and journaling. <br />
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<strong>Saturday, June 8, 2013</strong> Sunny calm day 60 degrees<br />
Up at 7 AM and ate breakfast in the Hotel Boardroom ( which was next door to our suite). At 9 AM <br />
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we went on the Boat Tour (Almost got kicked off since the hotel forgot to book our tour with the boat but we were told by the hotel that we had reservations.) Saw two small icebergs up close but the large one was too far off shore. Saw large cave in rock and story of Bob Earle - 6 nights in the cave - hypothermia, starved but survived. Saw dead seal and loons and bald eagle but no whales. <br />
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Heard about their roadside gardens, moose and wood piles. Back to dock at 11:30 AM and on to lunch at Tim Hortons for chili and iceberg donut. (Celebrating the Iceberg Festival.)<br />
Drove north to L'Anse aux Meadows - Viking settlement excavated by a Norwegian couple in the 1960s - now a National Historic Site - circa 1000 AD - Eric the Red. Nice discovery centre and knowledgeable guide in restored village. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnuJgpUufs8/UcihhcAVQJI/AAAAAAAAE9M/sxLSc1ScAwg/s1600/DSC03854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnuJgpUufs8/UcihhcAVQJI/AAAAAAAAE9M/sxLSc1ScAwg/s200/DSC03854.JPG" width="133" /></a>Then across the road to Norstead Village - mixture of Danish, Finnish and Norwegian settlement. Great interpreters and learned about one needle knitting (nailbinding) and trading post and chieftain and his wife role in village, Snorri the Viking vessel and there was a chapel on site too. Bought earrings for $6 in giftshop.<br />
Drove back to St Lunaire-Griquet and saw the French Coast exhibit in the Dark Tickle shop - lots of jams and jellies - bakeapple items - bought some Bakeapple tea. Then a little backtrack to the "Daily Catch Restaurant" and Brenda had "brewis"(salted cod and hardtack with fried pork rinds). Peter had fish cakes and I had fish chowder and deep fried ice cream with bakeapple sauce. P&B had partridge berry pie. Then back to St Anthony and Peter and I climber 476 steps up satellite hill behind the Lightkeepers Restaurant and I counted 30 icebergs on the horizon in the Atlantic Ocean through the binoculars. Beautiful sunset and sunrise for:<br />
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<strong>Sunday, June 9, 2013 </strong>Sunny day 60 degrees<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0wpuxyNvas/UcijcGTeU0I/AAAAAAAAE9c/uL_7qI0XUYI/s1600/DSC03868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0wpuxyNvas/UcijcGTeU0I/AAAAAAAAE9c/uL_7qI0XUYI/s200/DSC03868.JPG" width="200" /></a>Long travel day. (650 km to Grand-Falls Windsor) Had breakfast at hotel and started drive across and down coast - same way as up. Stopped to see "Thrombolites" in Flowers Cove. Had a little walk out to them. Tried to have lunch at Norris Point but ended up at Deer Lake Subway. Arrived in Grand-Falls Windsor around 4 PM and stayed the night at the Highliner Inn (2 1/2 star converted motel). Went for supper at another hotel (had toutons with beans and molasses). Then took walk around Corduroy Path Park around pond. Bed by 10 PM. <br />
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<strong>Monday, June 10, 2013</strong> Sunny Warm Day<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JtadGAtojJs/Uci0QmvOTeI/AAAAAAAAE9s/akosnnUWouE/s1600/DSC03879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JtadGAtojJs/Uci0QmvOTeI/AAAAAAAAE9s/akosnnUWouE/s200/DSC03879.JPG" width="200" /></a>Up at 7 AM and breakfast at the hotel. Back on road going north to Twillingate. Had a little rain but then it cleared and we had a hike "Top of Twillingate." Found Harbour Lights Inn B&B and got coupons of deal. Had lunch at R&J Restaurant and then boarded the 1 PM Boat Tour. We did not see <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJtQ6FhNDaI/Uci0eA-lQMI/AAAAAAAAE90/VwKiqK3Il5k/s1600/DSC03898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJtQ6FhNDaI/Uci0eA-lQMI/AAAAAAAAE90/VwKiqK3Il5k/s200/DSC03898.JPG" width="200" /></a> any whales or icebergs but lots of beautiful scenery and it was sunny and warm. It was a 2 hour boat ride with a female guide - her brother drove the boat. (Their family name was Young and they owned the restaurant, the boat tour business and the B&B house we were staying in so a package deal was a great idea for them) She was very informative about NFLD fishing - she fished with her father offshore for many years. She lived in area all her life and told of how things used to be before the fishing moratorium in 1992 and climate change too. There were 4 Mennonites on our boat tour - car they were driving was from St Jacobs - and Peter knew a brother of one of them. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHtswVsccj4/Uci0zqbMGrI/AAAAAAAAE98/4I5IQwmHVxg/s1600/DSC03908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHtswVsccj4/Uci0zqbMGrI/AAAAAAAAE98/4I5IQwmHVxg/s200/DSC03908.JPG" width="133" /></a>We checked into our 3rd storey room and then went out to the Twillingate Museum. First we had a delicious "Hoofprints" ice cream cone- we had gone the wrong direction for the Museum but the ice cream straighten us out. We had a short stop in the Anglican Church since we passed by some ladies and one was the organist there - and she played us a tune. She was also part of the "Split Peas" singing group in town but they didn't start their summer program until next week. A thunderstorm came and went as we were in the Museum (which was the manse for the Anglican church years ago) so we were glad we were not on the 4 PM boat tour. <br />
Had supper at the Boat Tour Restaurant - seafood platters with cod tongues. <br />
After supper we drove up to the Lighthouse (past Crow Head) and did a hike to Sleepy Cove (former site of copper mining - but copper was a poor quality)and Nana's hole.<br />
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<strong>Tuesday, June 11, 2013 </strong>Cooler, Cloudy, Brief showers<br />
Up at 7 AM with B&B breakfast. Went on a 2 hour hike to French Beach and French Head. Beautiful <br />
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vistas. Then Durrell Museum - saw stuffed polar bear -( had come down on an iceberg and got off in that area and got into trouble and<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds-m3s4ALbk/Uci6vpT--_I/AAAAAAAAE-U/huEUUwpDD_I/s1600/DSC03934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds-m3s4ALbk/Uci6vpT--_I/AAAAAAAAE-U/huEUUwpDD_I/s200/DSC03934.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
had to be killed). Had lunch at a Tea Room in Twillingate - beans, molasses bread and toutons. Then back to Durrell to tour the Auk Island Winery - do some wine sampling and buying and treated ourselves to a wine flavoured soft ice cream waffle cone - really good too. (Mine was bakeapple.) Then to the Twillingate Dollar Store to buy each of us a $4 yellow South - Wester Rain Hat for being Screeched in at a local pub that night. <br />
Around 3 PM we headed up to the Crow Head Lighthouse and did the Titanic Billboard Tour. We rested an hour and then were off to the Crow Head "All around the Circle" dinner show. Had a delicious pan fried cod dinner($32) and then the show - music and skits by 3 fellows and 4 ladies - they cooked, served, and performed - 2 hour show - corny but good. This group had done this 7 times a week for the summer months for 15 years - heard next year will be their last. We sat a table with Darlene and Del Sharpe from Haliburton - travelling in the area like us and were on the first 3 boat tours with us.) <br />
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Finished off the day at the Anchor Inn Pub to be "Screeched-In" - 12 of us with ringleaders Cricket - really Nancy from Nova Scotia - TD bank employee - and her sister Sandra (VON nurse). "Right you are y'old cock, and long may your big jigg drop." We kissed the cod and slugged down a shot of Screech rum. Walked back to B&B at 11 PM - first time we saw the stars in NFLD. Back to my cot in our crowded room. <br />
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<strong>Wednesday, June 12, 2013 </strong>Foggy to start and later sunny<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3R9Y1ZvLQo/Uci-YLNiNTI/AAAAAAAAE-0/R0P3rViONas/s1600/DSC03960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3R9Y1ZvLQo/Uci-YLNiNTI/AAAAAAAAE-0/R0P3rViONas/s200/DSC03960.JPG" width="200" /></a>Breakfast at Inn and then travelled over 300 km - stopped at McDonalds in Gander and tried Visitor's Ctr in Terra Nova National Park - it wasn't open from Mon - Wed yet. and continued on the Historic Trinity. Had a great lunch at Eco-Tour Restaurant that had just opened and toured it after since it is a new B&B too. We toured the town for a bit and then hiked up Gunner Hill - seeing a hillside of lupins, an old cemetery and a bald eagle near the top of our climb. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVGH-UjOmac/Ucj5H_iEGgI/AAAAAAAAE_c/5XXS9bhDJ-k/s1600/DSC03996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVGH-UjOmac/Ucj5H_iEGgI/AAAAAAAAE_c/5XXS9bhDJ-k/s200/DSC03996.JPG" width="125" /></a>Then up the bumpy road to Elliston - the Root Cellar Capital of Canada and saw the Puffins nesting on a rocky island. Great to watch these small Penguin like birds up close. Then to White's B&B in Bonavista. Supper at the Dairy King Restaurant on way to the Cape Bonavista lighthouse and the John Cabot statue. During dinner on the water front we saw a mincke whale feeding with <br />
many gannet birds diving in the water from 40 feet high straight down - an amazing sight. We indulged in desserts - P&B had banana splits and I had cheesecake with a bakeapple sauce - yummy. We also saw the "Dungeon" landmark on our way back into Bonavista off a bumpy road. <br />
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<strong>Thursday, June 13, 2013 </strong>Foggy in AM and Rainy in PM<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XaAwkSl3gR0/Ucj8u25FfsI/AAAAAAAAFAU/ZWG4s5-Ndao/s1600/DSC04055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XaAwkSl3gR0/Ucj8u25FfsI/AAAAAAAAFAU/ZWG4s5-Ndao/s200/DSC04055.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RW1fWmqNyU4/Ucj7xCuB8RI/AAAAAAAAFAE/ELXteQFeChA/s1600/DSC04036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RW1fWmqNyU4/Ucj7xCuB8RI/AAAAAAAAFAE/ELXteQFeChA/s200/DSC04036.JPG" width="150" /></a>Up at 8 AM for breakfast of oatmeal and homemade bread and 42 jars of jams and jellies made by our hostess Marie and her husband Arch. On road to Trinity Bight - Port Rexton to walk the famous Skerwink Trail. Beautiful vistas on a well planned trail overlooking cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean. We were now on the other side of Historic Trinity. It started to sprinkle as we left so luckily we didn't get soaked. We then took a cross country gravel road for 20 km to get over to the west coast of the Bonavista peninsula to see Tickle Cove and the red rocks and archway that was there. <br />
Back in the car for a 3 hour drive through rain to St Bride. We did stop for lunch in Clarenville for pizza at 3:30 PM. Arrived at the Capeway Motel in St Bride about 6 PM and had some snacks and wine and watched the DVD of "Anchors Aweigh."<br />
Wrote postcards, emails and journal and to bed by 10 PM.<br />
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<strong>Friday, June 14, 2013 Brenda's Birthday!</strong><br />
Waited for a continental breakfast at the motel at 9 AM. Then packed up and drove to the Cape Mary <br />
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Ecological Reserve to see the nesting shorebirds up close on rock cliffs. The biggest birds at the top were the gannets and then the murres and other little ones on the lower cliffs. Unbelievable sight and sound and fishy smell too. Sounded like you were in the middle of a chicken coup. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--S6t2u7uPO4/UcoT9Mc6ZnI/AAAAAAAAFBU/Bd09Kx0IVw4/s1600/DSC04087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--S6t2u7uPO4/UcoT9Mc6ZnI/AAAAAAAAFBU/Bd09Kx0IVw4/s200/DSC04087.JPG" width="133" /></a>Then the drive up the coast with lunch of soup at a trucker's stop and finally reaching Bay Bulls - beautiful Bread and Cheese Inn. <br />
We did a hike into a suspension bridge of La Manche Prov. Pk. - saw a partridge on way in and a seal in the inlet swimming. Walked trail out and went for Brenda's birthday dinner at the Captain's Table Restaurant. I had delicious Cod au Gratin and we had decadent Ice Flow for dessert. Back to the B&B for a cribbage game with Peter and then bed on the 3rd floor. <br />
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<strong>Saturday, June 15, 2013 </strong>Fog/cloudy/showers/sun<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NqdBqdI11uM/UcoRq7JAWEI/AAAAAAAAFBE/V08yUOJHKcY/s1600/DSC04098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NqdBqdI11uM/UcoRq7JAWEI/AAAAAAAAFBE/V08yUOJHKcY/s200/DSC04098.JPG" width="157" /></a>(As Newfoundlanders say of the weather - if you don't like what you see out the front door, look out the backdoor. )<br />
Had delicious French toast, kiwi and bacon breakfast at Inn. Then drove up coast through rain and <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bread and Cheese Inn</td></tr>
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fog to "The Colony of Avalon" at Ferryland - first permanent British colony on Island started by Lord and Lady Baltimore - who after one rough winter went on to Virginia and Maryland. Now there is a museum and archeological dig on site which we toured with a guide and found it very interesting. You can dig with the experts for $125 a day. <br />
We drove up to the Ferryland Lighthouse and could have had lunch there but we cancelled that because it was $25 each and we decided we could pick up our own lunch at Foodland for a better price. <br />
We also looked into the big stone RC Church in Ferryland and then drove back to the B&B. Peter and I went for an hour hike on the East Coast Trail before supper. We had a supper place picked out in Bay Bulls but that was closed so we went into St John's and found Keith's Diner in the subdivision of Goulds - Parking lot was full - all locals for fish and chips piled high on the plate - only veggie on the menu was peas. Poor gall bladder had to go into overtime. <br />
After dinner we did a little drive out to Petty Harbour and then back to B&B for another cribbage game, computer, reading and then bedtime. <br />
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<strong>Sunday, June 16, 2013 </strong>Sunny, windy 17 degrees C<br />
Up at 7 AM. Breakfast of sausage, omelette, toast and fruit cup. Paid bill and left at 9 AM to Cape <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_6D0GuT5Y8/UcofAYdoB4I/AAAAAAAAFBs/5zDDiTX4PJg/s1600/DSC04130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_6D0GuT5Y8/UcofAYdoB4I/AAAAAAAAFBs/5zDDiTX4PJg/s200/DSC04130.JPG" width="200" /></a>Spear via Petty Harbour. Brenda found Alan Doyle (of Great Big Sea fame)'s family home in Petty Harbour. <br />
Did lighthouse tour in Cape Spear with Parks Canada pass. Then on to Signal Hill <br />
for lunch there and almost blew off the hill but watched a freighter come into St John's Harbour. Also viewed a informative movie in the Signal Hill Information Centre.<br />
(My second camera battery ran out here.)<br />
Back down in St John's we drove to the Quidi Vidi Brewery but did not do the tour or tastings.<br />
Checked into Marriott Hotel for a Junior Suite looking onto St John's Harbour (thanks to Tom). Brenda and I walked down Duckworth Street to George Street and back via Water Street. We cam back for supper in the hotel restaurant - Smitty's. Peter and Brenda went for a pint ($7 beer) in a pub downtown and I stayed and got myself organized back in the room.<br />
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<strong>Monday, June 17, 2013 </strong>Cloudy but warm. <br />
Peter left at 3:30 AM to drive 6 1/2 hours to Deer Lake to deliver the rental car back and then board a bus at 12 PM to get back to St John's by 10 PM. <br />
Brenda and I got up after 7 AM and had breakfast in Smitty's in the hotel. Veronica Lech and her twin almost 3 year old adorable busy boys picked us up at 9 AM and we drove to their home in St John's to visit for a few hours - even got out to the playground park. Veronica and the boys (daddy Gareth was in Glasgow Scotland attending a conference) took us back downtown and dropped us at "The Rooms" - art gallery and museum. Mary Pratt was the featured artist and there was a Bata Shoe Exhibit there too. We spent about 3 hours there and enjoyed a delicious lunch in the 4th floor café overlooking the city. We left there to see St John the Baptist RC Cathedral. We walked back to the hotel passing by the colorful row houses St John's is known for. Veronica said the colored houses came from the fisherman painting their homes the color of their boats - after the many fires that St John's had. <br />
Back at the hotel we printed passes for the flight the next day and had dinner at hotel restaurant Smitty's. The diningroom overlooked the harbour and we spotted a humpback whale swimming outside the harbour area - in the ocean. We could see it spouting and it's tail too - through the binoculars. We then went back to the room to pack and await Peter's return. He made it back at 10 PM - safe and sound - tired and hungry - and didn't see any moose all day. Delivered the car in - 3600 km done in our 2 weeks. <br />
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<strong>Tuesday, June 18, 2013 </strong>Sunny and warm - warmer still in TO<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WnkLL2zs7_A/UcomBqaNbQI/AAAAAAAAFCE/GXNyUdyCW7E/s1600/DSC04132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WnkLL2zs7_A/UcomBqaNbQI/AAAAAAAAFCE/GXNyUdyCW7E/s200/DSC04132.JPG" width="133" /></a>Up at 7 AM and had breakfast in the hotel restaurant - Smitty's again. Could see some whale action outside the harbour again. Went for a walk around hotel area - Harbour Park - tribute to Newfoundlander dog and Labrador dog - bronze statues and War Memorial too. Back to hotel to check out and take $20 cab ride to airport for our 1:25 PM flight to TO on WestJet via Halifax - which we got off the plane to visit the washrooms and Tim Hortons and reboarded. Arrived in TO at 4:30 PM, collected luggage and Don picked us up and delivered us to 44 Transwell - for supper and pick up Peter and Brenda's car and off to our homes we went.<br />
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A Great Trip to a Beautiful Province - glad to have done it, saw lots, weather cooperated in our plans for the most part - only wished Don had the experience too. But there is a new member of our home appliance group since I was away - new kitchen frig - freezer on the bottom - beautiful. <br />
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<strong></strong><br />The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-25488046695884403692013-04-07T14:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T14:30:04.970-07:00<strong>Sunday, April 7, 2013</strong> <br />
Arrived home in Lakefield around 4 PM on Thursday, April 4/13 after lunch with Gramma and Grampa Marsden in Toronto, morning tea with Ellie and Jan Lech in St. Catherines and breakfast at the Fallsview Marriott Hotel Concierge Lounge in Niagara Falls. The car was ready to explore with all the stuff we were travelling with plus we stopped for some groceries in Peterborough at Costco. <br />
All was well at the Lakefield house, internet was on, water got turned on the next morning and then Bell telephone and Satellite TV the next day.<br />
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Backtracking to when we left the timeshare in South Carolina on Friday, March 29th we drove 9 hours to Tom and Diana's house in Chesapeake Virginia to spend Easter with them. <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UR2LcQhsnE/UWHfxl0bstI/AAAAAAAAE2M/aQA39BvMfNM/s1600/DSC03595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UR2LcQhsnE/UWHfxl0bstI/AAAAAAAAE2M/aQA39BvMfNM/s200/DSC03595.JPG" width="200" /></a>Saturday morning we went to a big park in Chesapeake and participated in an Easter Egg Hunt and other activities sponsored by the City of Chesapeake. It was a beautiful sunny warm day and lots of kiddies were up for the action. I assisted Jacob get 6 eggs - no hunting involved - just had to pick them up off the grass. All the eggs were picked up in about 1 minute so you had to be fast to get<br />
any. These festivities were followed by a big hamburger lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and we got to sit outside on their patio to enjoy the sunshine. Oma and Opa babysat to let Diana and Tom enjoy a dinner out at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse. The kiddies survived. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIihDIuajqU/UWHiGa5WNTI/AAAAAAAAE2U/-Z7woU-r6nQ/s1600/557992_10101717645097532_1995230478_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIihDIuajqU/UWHiGa5WNTI/AAAAAAAAE2U/-Z7woU-r6nQ/s200/557992_10101717645097532_1995230478_n%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a>We had a quiet Easter Sunday with taking the kiddies to church and an Easter chicken dinner. Tom had Monday off work and put Opa to work on a back fence gate and constructing a garden shed which just got erected before we left on Wednesday. <br />
Jacob got lots of time outside and Oma got her exercise that way too by pushing Jacob in his two red cars and his little bike. We look forward to seeing them again this summer when they visit us in Canada. Hannah was almost walking, just getting confidence in standing alone. <br />
So we took off for Niagara Falls at 5:30 AM on Wednesday morning. It was a long 11 hour drive passing through 5 states progressively getting colder and a few snow flakes sailed through the air and once into Pennsylvania we saw snow at the top of the hills and skiers on the slopes in Ellicotville New York. <br />
We spend the night at the Fallsview Marriott Hotel in downtown Niagara Falls Canada on a hotel deal from TravelZoo with a room upgrade from Tom's Marriott platinum status which gave us the Presidential Suite on the 10th floor directly overlooking Niagara Falls. Katie and boyfriend Dave drove from Hamilton to join us for dinner at Milestones Bar and Grill onsite in our hotel. Home to Lakefield the next day. <br />
Winter 2012 - 2013 trip done - C'mon Spring!<br />
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The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-40847215873826443582013-03-26T15:18:00.000-07:002013-03-26T15:18:02.424-07:00Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Chilling out in Foxwood Hills, South Carolina<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVJ7XtEIdS4/UVIYTWJwgMI/AAAAAAAAE1c/OSAFoegdCMU/s1600/DSC03550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVJ7XtEIdS4/UVIYTWJwgMI/AAAAAAAAE1c/OSAFoegdCMU/s200/DSC03550.JPG" width="200" /></a>We left Texas as scheduled on Wednesday March 20th after a delicious barbecued rib dinner done by cousins Maureen and Don. Also have to mention we participated with friends from the Garden Club in the annual TG St Patrick's Day parade. A very fun green event - 4 PM parade in the park and it was about 90 degrees but we biked on. Didn't miss the Bike Club Picnic at Anz ---- Park on the Rio Grande before our take-off day.<br />
So onward to Sulphur Louisiana (8 hour drive) for one night - with a cookroach encounter in the room - so our night was free? Don got a great photo of it before stepping on it so he could show the manager. <br />
March 21nd night (another 8 hour drive) was at Harrah Casino - Veranda Hotel in Tunica Mississippi. No bugs and no winnings either but the room was only $20 since we have player cards. Good Deal.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0xyqxj8Ddw/UVIeLWZUdmI/AAAAAAAAE1s/DLTzx_34vYk/s1600/DSC03558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0xyqxj8Ddw/UVIeLWZUdmI/AAAAAAAAE1s/DLTzx_34vYk/s200/DSC03558.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HFgPOlt0E-k/UVIb0G8GmyI/AAAAAAAAE1k/whmqlOY8KSQ/s1600/DSC03559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HFgPOlt0E-k/UVIb0G8GmyI/AAAAAAAAE1k/whmqlOY8KSQ/s200/DSC03559.JPG" width="200" /></a>March 22 (after a 9 hour drive) we arrived at Kinston Manor and the Villas at Foxwood Hills to spend a week before moving on to Tom and Diana's in Chesapeake Virginia. It is cooler here - about 50 degrees but there are daffodils blooming but the hardwood trees are still leafless. Our goal of the week is to make it through another 3 day Dr Oz cleanse/detox (we are now on Day 2 and surviving) and rest up before heading north to the cold in another week. I participated in the indoor pool aquacise class yesterday morning and today instructed the class for the ladies - about 8 of them that are in this neighbourhood and use the pool. They usually do it from an adudio CD that plays - same one for the last 10 years??? Thought they could use a change?<br />
This is an old timeshare rustic resort that Don found on SkyAuction. It is showing it's age and tomorrow there is an auction of weeks that can be purchased in their program for as low as $100. We won't be doing that. One of the big drawbacks is no internet in the units so we have to go to the clubhouse but there is a free movie channel so we have watched a few of those. <br />
Time to close now. The last shake of the day is calling me. Our new Vitamix is getting a workout. <br />
The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-49505447103346191622013-03-16T19:53:00.001-07:002013-03-26T15:21:34.395-07:00<strong>Saturday, March 16, 2013 Soon to Move North again</strong>. <br />
It has been a busy March and we leave Texas on March 20th so we are trying to get organized for the trip between events. <br />
Don's slowpitch team won their championship against the 1st place team (who hadn't lost a game all season) on a very windy Tuesday morning. He then took the game ball and presented it to this team manager's widow at the "Fun-eral" the RV park they resided in was having that afternoon. On the Thursday of that week, Don played in the CAN-AM slow-pitch game and Canada won! So ends his ball season. <br />
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The Chili and Jello Dinner went very well with 10 couples participating. Brenda was the maker of the prize winning chili and was rewarded with a chili pepper sunvisor. <br />
The Garden Club mulched the new garden near the entrance to Trophy Gardens. Hoping the plants make it through the hot dry summer - there are severe drought conditions in the RGV. <br />
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I had a trip out to South Padre Island with the Bike Club but it was a very windy day and we had our bikes but didn't ride them because of the wind. We did enjoy the Island's Birding Centre and a nice lunch at Daddy's on the Island. <br />
I also went with TG friends to a Ropa and came home with 20 ties dug out of the gigantic clothing piles. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg-NEWvoG2E/UVIfG52KZPI/AAAAAAAAE10/jcR2_RIyASo/s1600/DSC03534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg-NEWvoG2E/UVIfG52KZPI/AAAAAAAAE10/jcR2_RIyASo/s200/DSC03534.JPG" width="179" /></a>Enjoyed a few more lunches out with friends - Amelia and Ruth and I at the Corner Bakery Cafe in McAllen, Sue, Bev, Bonnie, Barb and I at Feldman's Liquor Store Deli, and the Morning Exercise Group at Renee's Boutique in Mission. Bonnie and I biked 14 miles (roundtrip) on Monday morning to have breakfast at the local Shriner's Club - biscuits with gravy tried - not my favourite. <br />
Did my last night rocking babies at the Hospital NICU - they had 2 sets of twins - 2 boys and 2 girls - all born to parents as their first children. The little one I spent the most time with was born on Dec 5th so she had been there for awhile and was still less that 5 pounds. <br />
Tomorrow is St Patrick Day and there will be a parade and party after it. I am decorating my bike to ride in it. Pictures later. The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-84310740597266517792013-02-28T19:34:00.002-08:002013-02-28T19:34:52.782-08:00Thursday Feb 28/13 Time is getting shorter in the Texas Sunshine<br />
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We have been busy enjoying the Texas Sunshine. Our street party was on Feb 16 and we had a potluck lunch on the street and played beanbag and ladder golf games after. <br />
Unfortunately Canada lost the CAN-AM golf tournament last week but we keep playing golf anyway. <br />
We have been doing some new things too. Last Saturday, I went with Maureen, Bonnie and John to "Smokin on the Rio" in Mercedes and were judges for a smoked ribs competition - tasting 10 different rib entries. Maureen, Bonnie, Brenda, Judy and I spent the afternoon before at the same place watching 3 top valley singers for an afternoon happy hours party for Winter Texans. <br />
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Last Monday Brenda, Maureen and I went to the local Aloe Vera Farm - where I had been 2 times before but I like going to see the 90 year old couple who do the tours of the place. This time the plants were all flowering too. Later Bonnie and John hosted Maureen's birthday dinner with a raclette burner with shrimp,beef and chicken with fancy cheeses. <br />
Last Tuesday we held the first M A Ladies luncheon. 22 ladies enjoyed a potluck lunch together and shared stories of how they got there M A name. <br />
Today, 28 members of our TG Bike Club enjoyed a tour hosted by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation showing us a warehouse of the McAllen Free Trade Zone ( only Free Trade Zone in the USA that isn't attached to a port), a plastic injection molding plant and the technical campus of South Texas College. Very interesting. <br />
Don played his first slow pitch playoff game but did not complete it because very sadly his team manager suffered a massive coronary at the end of the 7th inning and was pronounced dead at the hospital. That ruins the fun of the season. <br />
I continue to rock babies for 4 hours per week and still feel very privileged to be able to do it.<br />
Also our Garden Club keeps busy with our new garden and the new plants are doing well.<br />
Next week is another golf competition, final slow pitch games and the big chili contest and movie on Friday night. Full speed ahead. <br />
The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-28163956123804344362013-02-14T19:48:00.001-08:002013-02-28T18:59:04.388-08:00<strong>Thursday, February 14/13 Happy Valentine's Day</strong><br />
Continuing AT&T internet problems have caused delays in blogging and keeping in touch with family and friends but we persevere. <br />
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Good trip to Casa Grande Arizona from Jan 29 to Feb 5 for Gourdfest. Our friend Tom Brudnicki was a wonderful host to myself, Barbara, Sally and Russell for the week. Barbara and Sally worked hard increasing their gourd art skills and I went on adventures and shopping trips with Tom and Russell. <br />
On our last full day we toured the Phoenix Botanical Gardens and did some shopping in the big city. <br />
Don survived well back in Texas with friends in the park feeding him dinners so he didn't go hungry.<br />
Coming back to Texas, life continues to be busy. 16 members of our TG Bike Club participated in the 20 mile bike tour for Arbor Day in McAllen. We completed the ride in 2 hours - starting early at 7 AM. There are birthdays to celebrate and potluck dinners for different reasons - the Canadian potluck as an example. I am planning one for all the ladies in the park whose first name begins with M A and that adds up to 40 ladies. Another one I am planning is a chili competition with 10 couples. Next week is the Can-Am Golf Game and Don has a Can-Am baseball game coming up in March. Don carried the Canada Flag for Flag Sunday this past Sunday at Church in the Hall. We signed up for 5 one hour massages at a local Massage School - only $100 for us Winter Texans. <br />
The weather has been great so life is good. March 20th is set as take off day - heading for a week in South Carolina and then Easter weekend at Tom and Diana's in Virginia. The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-69902736055312354212013-01-22T16:47:00.003-08:002013-01-22T16:47:50.861-08:00<strong>Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013</strong><br />
Time flies when your having fun. The weather has had some cool spells here in January - Florida seemed to have missed the cool and wet and today Florida is cool and we are just fine at 75 or so.<br />
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There are some special projects happening here at the park. I am working with friends building some new gardens - funding them through pancake breakfasts. Also getting 16 members of our bike club to do an Arbor Day 20 mile ride on Feb 9 in McAllen - for which each member will get a t-shirt and a tree - which fits into our garden project. Last year there were just 2 of us that went on this ride. <br />
I have also went to more high school plays - "Chicago" done by Edinburg High School and "The Wizard of Oz" done by Edinburg North High School. High schools in Southern Texas have large theatres attached to their schools to promote the arts - and it seems to be paying off since their productions are very well done. We are going to another one this Sunday called "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To the Forum" at Col. Rowe High School in McAllen.<br />
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Also I started a Movie Club - showing a movie a month. The first one was "It's a Wonderful Life" on Dec 28th - about 20 people came out - unbelieveably some of the audience had not seen the movie before? The January film was "The Story of Florence Nightingale" with 25 attendees and on Feb 8th I will show "Amazing Grace". Several years ago they would show movies regularly in the clubhouse but then learned that a license was required to show movies so that put an end to that entertainment. I advertise my movies as a movie club so a license is not required - it is like a book club. <br />
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We did take in a few movies ourselves in local theatres - Django Unchained with Jamie Fox and Leonaro DiCaprio, Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal and Bette Midler and the Hobbit in 3D. <br />
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One more memorable outing was the Mission Health Fair which took place on Sunday Jan 13 from 8 to 11 AM. Advertised was that the first 500 people would have a health screening through blood tests. So we got up by 6 AM and were in line by 6:50 and we received our wrist band and were already numbered in the late 300s. By 7 AM the first 500 had wrist bands. We had our test done about 10:30 and the announcer there said they had over 1500 at the Health Fair. Results aren't to us yet but we aren't worried.<br />
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I continue to go to Edinburg Women's Hospital for 4 hours a week to cuddle babies in the nursery. A few weeks ago I was in the neonatal unit holding a baby girl who was born in September - a little over a pound and now was a little over 5 pounds and would be going home finally. With that hospital bill - maybe a million dollar baby?<br />
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Next Tuesday, Jan 29th I take off to Arizona for a week to meet friends Barbara, Sally and Russell at friend Tom's house to enjoy Gourdfest in Casa Grande.The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-12124906632002940132012-12-24T12:42:00.001-08:002012-12-24T12:42:33.186-08:00Monday, December 24, 2012 Christmas Eve<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awaiting Baby Jesus at Basilica San Juan</td></tr>
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Don and I drove 9 hours from Orlando to Buloxi Mississippi and stayed at a Casino Hotel there for the night. After a nice Senior buffett breakfast at a nearby Casino, we drove another 9 hours to SanAntonio, Texas and stayed at a Marriott Residence Inn - enjoyed the manager's special dinner and nice breakfast. Mary investigated the evening Riverwalk Lights - chilly night since a cold front (from Canada of Course) came through that afternoon. <br />
Tuesday, December 12/12<br />
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel we drove the 4 hours to Trophy Gardens in Alamo and set up for our winter stay. <br />
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Since we have been here, Mary has been teaching her exercise class for 3 monings, Don is back playing Masters Slow Pitch in McAllen in the competitive league, we bike and golf and swam etc. <br />
Mary went to see "Beauty and the Beast" play at the Sharyland High School in Mission, donated blood, cleaned the trailer outside and inside and set-up an awning. <br />
Tonight we will go to the Candlelight Christmas Service in the Clubhouse and tomorrow we will join lots of other folks here for our Christmas lunch in the Clubhouse. Merry Christmas to all.The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-10490702647483308072012-12-24T12:22:00.000-08:002012-12-24T12:22:11.982-08:00Friday, December 7, 2012 Katie's Birthday - Magic Kingdom - Disney, Orlando Florida<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t11ueLTqbLg/UNi28pccJ7I/AAAAAAAAEeI/q9QCL0T-cQ0/s1600/DSC03301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t11ueLTqbLg/UNi28pccJ7I/AAAAAAAAEeI/q9QCL0T-cQ0/s200/DSC03301.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoqmxbJNwvQ/UNi2RowBkdI/AAAAAAAAEeA/VhM4sttdPIc/s1600/DSC03282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoqmxbJNwvQ/UNi2RowBkdI/AAAAAAAAEeA/VhM4sttdPIc/s200/DSC03282.JPG" width="180" /></a>Got up early to make it to the front gates of Magic Kingdom before opening to see the Disney Characters arrive on the Train. Katie got her Birthday Button at the Town Hall and all day the staff wished her "Happy Birthday" which she loved. On entering the Magic Kingdom, we hurried off to Fantasyland, which had just opened some new attractions and we visited the "Beauty and the Beast" area, then on to "It's a Small World", a 3 D show and more rides. We dined outside the Sky Cafe for lunch, Jacob fell asleep on the peoplemover ride in Tomorrowland and Hannah enjoyed a nap at the same time while Diana, Tom and Katie snuck off to Space Mountain and Oma minded the sleeping children. A picture with Santa was tried but Jacob doesn't seem to like Santa yet. But he did like some other Disney characters. <br />
We lasted all day until 7PM with our last stop at the Child Care Center to feed the kiddies and got a beautiful Disney balloon on the way out for Jacob. Opa Don opted out of the Disney adventure and spent the day back at the Resort. <br />
In our stay in Orlando area we also visited Disney Downtown for some shopping and an evening stop at the Disney town of Celebration - which had hourly snow falls - from soap blowers on the lampposts. <br />
Don and I left Orlando on Sunday morning and Tom, Diana, Katie, Jacob and Hannah moved accommodation to a fancy resort hotel beside Universal Studios where Tom will be attending a conference from Monday to Friday and then flying home to Virginia. They did Universal Studios for a few days and then Diana and Katie drove back with the kiddies to Chesapeake on Tuesday. Katie stayed in Chesapeake until that Sunday and then flew home to Buffalo and drove back into Canada. The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-68606683975417949042012-12-24T11:59:00.001-08:002012-12-24T11:59:40.901-08:00update to FloridaMonday, December 3, 2012<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crab Trap Xmas Tree in Duck</td></tr>
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Now located at Summer Bay Resort in Orlando Florida<br />
Don and I survived our Dr Oz 3 day detox/cleanse and enjoyed the rest of last week in Duck NC. Diana visited with Jacob and Hannah on Friday, Nov 30 - her birthday. We visited Duck Donuts, had lunch at The Blue Point and went swimming with the kiddies in the big resort pool. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana and Jacob @ Busch Gardens</td></tr>
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Saturday morning we packed up and drove back to Chesapeake. Katie arrived at Tom and Diana's last night. Saturday afternoon, all of us but Don went to see the beautiful Christmas light displays at Busch Gardens. We stayed till after dark and then returned home to get packed for our Orlando trip on Sunday. <br />
Sunday was a 12 hour drive to warmer weather - destination of Summer Bay Resort in Orlando Florida. We rented a 2 bedroom unit that is on the 4th floor of one of their buildings. It is a lovely place with lots of pools and things to do. Tom and Diana and kids will join us here on Wednesday to do Disney and Universal Studios later in the week. The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091195433089674558.post-41148760162718003372012-11-26T17:39:00.001-08:002012-12-24T12:00:00.226-08:00Saturday, November 24, 2012<br />
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Photographer session at 8 AM on the home turf and it all worked out better. Christmas card worthy. <br />
Ate more turkey, pumpkin and the TV played more Football games but the kids are fun to be with. Hannah hums and smiles and is rolling all over. Jacob keeps busy and can work an iphone better than I will ever - and he is 18 months old. At night we watched the TV documentary on "The Dust Bowl". <br />
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Sunday, November 25, 2012 (Our 34th wedding anniversary)<br />
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Poor Jacob and Tom are not up to top form today - darn cold. Don and I moved on down the road to Duck, NC - only an hour away. We checked into Barrier Island Station - reserved through a certificate from Sky Auction a few months ago. We have a lovely 3 bedroom unit on the top (3rd) floor with a view of the ocean. This resort is showing it's age but is nice and quiet since it is off season and has a nice indoor pool and access to the beach. The picture above is taken from our balcony. <br />
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Monday, November 26, 2012 Duck NC<br />
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Quiet day at the resort. Don and I started a 3 day Dr Oz Detox Cleanse - just blender drinks of fruits and vegetables. We went for a lovely walk on the beach - not a cloud in the sky. Picked up some nice shells. I did the 45 minute water exercise class in the recreation centre. After lunch we walked into Duck to explore. It is a pretty little tourist town that has a 3/4 mile boardwalk on the inland waterway side. They have a crab trap Christmas tree that is supposed to be lighted on the weekend. The Merry Marsdenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14917260045934961526noreply@blogger.com1