Tuesday, 18 September 2011
Tucson, AZ: Home Again
This is the final posting for my transatlantic cruise--although I will be posting lots more photos once I get everything in order. The Kodak website has closed down, so I will have to find a new venue for posting and sending.
Friday, 14 September 2012, 6 am
Just as the captain announced last night, at precisely 6 am we pass the Statue of Liberty, brightly lit in the dark early morning sky. We pass her on the port side, which means I can step onto my verandah in my pj's to get a close-up view. It's much too dark for photos without special settings on the camera--which I haven't bothered to lern yet (it's a new camera).
The Eurodam is absolutely silent (even on the outer decks) as we glide up the Hudson and turn to the starboard into the pier at 57th Street. Disembarkation is very carefully choreographed, and my number is even called about 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
The biggest problem is trying to get a taxi. The port authorities have a good system; everyone gets a numbered ticket, so there is no pushing and shoving (except for the stupids with very high numbers who put their luggage on the curb and block everyone else's access). The problem is there just are no taxis. I had a 45-minute wait for the 10-minute ride down to my cousin's place on 15th Street.
Friday Afternoon: 911 Memorial
Fortunately it was a beautiful New York Autumn day (my cousin claims I always bring good weather to the City). In the afternoon we head downtown to the 911 Memorial--which is a maze of lines and security to get into--where the two memorial pools, with their central voids that stand in the footprints of the Twin Towers, have been completed. The museum building looks almost comp,eye, but none of the underground exhibits have been put in place yet. The area is actually still a huge construction site, and access and views are somewhat limited. But when everything is completed there will be open access from all sides of the memorial.
Friday Dinner
Although I am starting my post-cruise withdrawal from all the bad things I ate, I did manage to enjoy a fine dinner of country pate with two mustards and skirt steak with "French" French fries ("pommes frites" to those who have tasted the difference) and root vegetables at Cafe de Loup, a typical West Village bistro with reasonable prices, good food, and, of course, a great deal of noise! Our cousin Harvey, who lives in Brooklyn, and Helen's friend Cathy, whom I've met before, joined us for dinner.
Saturday Travel
A long day of travel, but the flights left on time and arrived early, and nobody threatened to bump me off, so I don't have much to complain about. I must take a final moment to commend Delta Airlines for sending out brief service surveys when you reach your destination. And more importantly for responding to the comments. I received a phone call from Delta the very next day regarding my complaint about having to wait 30 minutes for wheelchair service in Atlanta. They actually track down the people involved. So take the few minutes to fill out the form on line. I don't know if other airlines do the same, but Delta is very good about it.
Farewell
Goodbye for this trip. Will and I already have a Scandinavia-Russia cruise planned or next August, and I would really like to do South America.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Thursday, 13 September
2012
In my last posting I mentioned that although the food is quite good, some of the standards of classic shipboard cuisine seem to be fading. Well, wouldn’t you know, that very night the menu served up duck pate, escargot, and two giant lobster tails! And the next night brought the late-night chocolate extravaganza. Perhaps tonight we will have the requisite parade of Baked Alaska.
St John’s, Newfoundland, the port on the eastern edge of Canada that we skipped, was really battered by hurricane winds and floods. The captain made a wise choice to take a course through the channel that runs on the northwestern side of that Island and separates Labrador from Newfoundland (check your maps!). Instead of coming around the eastern and southern sides of Newfoundland Island into the Atlantic (and the worst of the storms), we took a course through the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Strait down to the southern side of Nova Scotia and into Halifax, where we arrived one day ahead of schedule. Although there was lots of rain during those two sailing days, the winds were calm and the ride was quite comfortable.
We arrived in Halifax on Tuesday at noon to bright sunshine, which continues to be with us as we sail to New York.
Tuesday and Wednesday in Halifax
Final Day at Sea
I
have just returned from the “disembarkation information session” in the Eurodam’s two-level theatre, which is a
real reminder that the cruise is coming to an end. We are scheduled to sail under the Verrazano
Bridge at 5:30 am tomorrow morning and to pass the statue of liberty at
6:00. Because this is the Eurodam’s first visit to an American
port in over four months, the customs and immigration officials will be doing a
major check of the ship before anyone is allowed to disembark. So even though we will be at the pier by 7 am,
it will be a while after that before disembarkation actually starts. Each passenger receives a specific
disembarkation time and the ship’s crew is very diligent in making sure
everyone follows the rules. I am set to
leave the ship at 10 am, which means I will have time for a nice breakfast and
a nap after getting up early to capture our entrance into New York harbor.In my last posting I mentioned that although the food is quite good, some of the standards of classic shipboard cuisine seem to be fading. Well, wouldn’t you know, that very night the menu served up duck pate, escargot, and two giant lobster tails! And the next night brought the late-night chocolate extravaganza. Perhaps tonight we will have the requisite parade of Baked Alaska.
St John’s, Newfoundland, the port on the eastern edge of Canada that we skipped, was really battered by hurricane winds and floods. The captain made a wise choice to take a course through the channel that runs on the northwestern side of that Island and separates Labrador from Newfoundland (check your maps!). Instead of coming around the eastern and southern sides of Newfoundland Island into the Atlantic (and the worst of the storms), we took a course through the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Strait down to the southern side of Nova Scotia and into Halifax, where we arrived one day ahead of schedule. Although there was lots of rain during those two sailing days, the winds were calm and the ride was quite comfortable.
We arrived in Halifax on Tuesday at noon to bright sunshine, which continues to be with us as we sail to New York.
Tuesday and Wednesday in Halifax
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Halifax, Nova Scotia
This has been a cruise of extremes. The captain has never had to deal with three hurricanes in one transatlantic journey. At the same time, he has never had such wonderful weather for our two days in Greenland.
We arrived in Halifax just before noon yesterday to bright sunshine and warm temperatures. And today promises to be the same.
Halifax is a lovely city built on hills that climb upward from the magnificent harbor, which has been transformed into a vast playground of restaurants, shops, and museums. The city is home to two major universities and has a youthful population well supplied with pubs, clubs,and bars. I will post pictures later today.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
This has been a cruise of extremes. The captain has never had to deal with three hurricanes in one transatlantic journey. At the same time, he has never had such wonderful weather for our two days in Greenland.
We arrived in Halifax just before noon yesterday to bright sunshine and warm temperatures. And today promises to be the same.
Halifax is a lovely city built on hills that climb upward from the magnificent harbor, which has been transformed into a vast playground of restaurants, shops, and museums. The city is home to two major universities and has a youthful population well supplied with pubs, clubs,and bars. I will post pictures later today.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, 10 September
2012
Sailing the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Straits
Anthony, the wine steward from two of my previous cruises on the Eurodam, has returned to the ship after doing an around-the-world cruise on the ms Amsterdam—which is why he wasn’t on my cruise to Norway and Scotland last August. He is working the other side of the dining room, but when I went over to greet him, he remembered my first and last names without any hints. Last night was the Philippine Crew Show, in which he performs, but I just couldn’t stay awake long enough to take in the midnight show.
Tonight is the final formal night and the Officers’ Black and White Ball. The late-night “snacks,” which used to a highlight of cruising, are pretty much played down now-a-days. I wonder if there will be a chocolate buffet at all on this cruise.
All the rain today makes me miss the sunny and warm skies of Tucson.
Sailing the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Straits
Although
we have been forced to miss two ports (Shetland Islands and St John’s,
Newfoundland), it looks like we have skirted the worst of the bad weather. Although it has been raining quite hard all
day, there is little wind and the seas are calm. Surprisingly we have had good weather for all
our port stays (except for a little rain the second day in Reykjavik), and the
captain has promised that fair weather will return when we arrive in Halifax
tomorrow (for our now two-day stay).
There are lots of activities to keep everyone busy on board the Eurodam—if one chooses to
participate. I have been using the time
productively to edit my more than 1,000 photographs taken on the cruise (so
far), with which I will bore everyone after I get back to Tucson.
The
food and service in the dining room continues to live up to HAL standards. I have a table to myself on the balcony of
the dining room and my two servers, Nandi and Teddi (both from Indonesia), are
cordial and helpful—especially when it comes to removing lobster tails from
their casings and removing the central bones from fresh fish. Having said that, however, I do think the
menus have changed over the past four years, moving away from classical cuisine
to more trendy and adventurous recipes.
So far there has been no escargot and only one serving of paté!Anthony, the wine steward from two of my previous cruises on the Eurodam, has returned to the ship after doing an around-the-world cruise on the ms Amsterdam—which is why he wasn’t on my cruise to Norway and Scotland last August. He is working the other side of the dining room, but when I went over to greet him, he remembered my first and last names without any hints. Last night was the Philippine Crew Show, in which he performs, but I just couldn’t stay awake long enough to take in the midnight show.
Tonight is the final formal night and the Officers’ Black and White Ball. The late-night “snacks,” which used to a highlight of cruising, are pretty much played down now-a-days. I wonder if there will be a chocolate buffet at all on this cruise.
All the rain today makes me miss the sunny and warm skies of Tucson.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Saturday, 8 September
2012
Nanortalik, Greenland
As the Eurodam departs from Greenland the captain tells us we will be missing another port--St Johns, Newfoundland, and taking an interior route between Labrador and Newfoundland Island, rather than heading south around the island. We will head through the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Strait to try to reach Halifax without going through the center of the now-combine hurricanes Leslie and Michael. We will spend an extra day in Halifax before heading down the coast to New York on Friday.
Nanortalik, Greenland
These
two days in Greenland have been worth all the bumpy nights and worries about
hurricanes hovering off in the near distance.
What a spectacular place to be privileged to have seen up close.
Yesterday’s
sailing through the sounds and fjords of southern Greenland was a majestic reflection of the creative majesty
of Nature in its most "sublime"—Wordsworth and Coleridge would have found a
oneness with nature here, even at its most frightening heights and dizzying verticals. The flowing glaciers and tall crags bring
one closer to the spirit of self combined with whatever spirits lurk out beyond us.
Today’s visit to Nanortalik demonstrates how a few hundred happy people celebrate
this closeness on a daily basis. Having
a ship as large as the Eurodam drop
anchor off the village square is quite an event for the natives. You can’t blame them for trying to make a few
dollars off the tourists (the lineup at the post office for stamps was especially long). But on the whole they are a
friendly and welcoming people, happy to share a wave and a smile, and to pose for
the endless photographs we tourists insist on taking.
Backed
up against the sheer gray granite of the mountains, the colorful native
cottages create a mosaic of bright design.
In the bright sun and mild temperatures a
walk through the whole village—and the surrounding suburbs--takes merely a
pleasurable hour even at a slow pace.As the Eurodam departs from Greenland the captain tells us we will be missing another port--St Johns, Newfoundland, and taking an interior route between Labrador and Newfoundland Island, rather than heading south around the island. We will head through the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Cabot Strait to try to reach Halifax without going through the center of the now-combine hurricanes Leslie and Michael. We will spend an extra day in Halifax before heading down the coast to New York on Friday.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Wednesday, 5 September
2012
Reykjavik, Iceland
For our second full day in Reykjavik we enjoy another day of sunshine—only this time it’s liquid sunshine (as the Icelanders like to describe rain). I am certainly glad I did my touring yesterday when the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky.
For those who have been missing my food descriptions, dinner is chilled pear soup with caramelized apples; frisee and maiche salad with dried cherries and cherry tomatoes; chicken Kiev with assorted vegetables; and a lemon-chocolate layered concoction for dessert.
Although I don’t get up at six to watch for whales as we enter Prins Christian Sund, I am up at eight, early enough for the start of a most incredible day. Rather than sailing around the southern coast of Greenland’s smaller islands, we are sailing through a series of inter-connected sounds, fjords, and narrow passages that first takes the Eurodam westward for about 30 miles. The scenery along the Sund is majestic: tall mountains with glaciers that stream all the way down to the water and breach calves that float out to sea. At some points the Sund is barely wider than the Eurodam itself.
At the upper end of the Sund, we make a series of hard right and left turns as we navigate through narrow channels that take us north to the tiny village of Aapppilattoq (where we drop off supplies and pizzas for the locals). From there we had west and then south down the long and narrow Torsukattaq channel before reaching the ocean water that takes us around the southernmost tip of the mainland. If you look at a map of Greenland, you can see how our route literally slices across the southern end of the island. The total journey is 66 miles, but it takes a full day to reach open water.
All the decks and the bow are open to passengers for the entire journey and a lunch buffet is served outdoors by the pool on the Lido Deck.
Reykjavik, Iceland
For our second full day in Reykjavik we enjoy another day of sunshine—only this time it’s liquid sunshine (as the Icelanders like to describe rain). I am certainly glad I did my touring yesterday when the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky.
For those who have been missing my food descriptions, dinner is chilled pear soup with caramelized apples; frisee and maiche salad with dried cherries and cherry tomatoes; chicken Kiev with assorted vegetables; and a lemon-chocolate layered concoction for dessert.
Thursday, 6 September
2012
Sailing from
Iceland to Greenland
Today
is a lovely day with smooth sailing, which the captain tells us is pretty rare
for this part of the world at this time of the year. As part of the ship’s cultural program, Jon
Vidur Sigurdsson gives a preview of tomorrow’s sailing route through the fjords
of southern Greenland. It sounds (and
looks from the pictures) like an exciting day; and the captain has promised
more fair weather.
Friday, 7 September
2012
Sailing Prins Christian Sund, GreenlandAlthough I don’t get up at six to watch for whales as we enter Prins Christian Sund, I am up at eight, early enough for the start of a most incredible day. Rather than sailing around the southern coast of Greenland’s smaller islands, we are sailing through a series of inter-connected sounds, fjords, and narrow passages that first takes the Eurodam westward for about 30 miles. The scenery along the Sund is majestic: tall mountains with glaciers that stream all the way down to the water and breach calves that float out to sea. At some points the Sund is barely wider than the Eurodam itself.
At the upper end of the Sund, we make a series of hard right and left turns as we navigate through narrow channels that take us north to the tiny village of Aapppilattoq (where we drop off supplies and pizzas for the locals). From there we had west and then south down the long and narrow Torsukattaq channel before reaching the ocean water that takes us around the southernmost tip of the mainland. If you look at a map of Greenland, you can see how our route literally slices across the southern end of the island. The total journey is 66 miles, but it takes a full day to reach open water.
All the decks and the bow are open to passengers for the entire journey and a lunch buffet is served outdoors by the pool on the Lido Deck.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Tuesday, 4 September
2012
Reykjavik, Iceland
After two days at sea it’s nice to be in port again—with the sun shining brightly. Although it is very cold out here by the dock, warmer central Reykjavík is just a quick taxi ride away. Taxis are metered and the driver will take almost any currency or credit card. His meter has built-in currency conversion rates so there is no problem in paying in my remaining Norwegian Kroner (and a credit card on the way back).
I bundle up in t-shirt, shirt, two sweatshirts and a jacket—I should have brought gloves. But my costume is a little over-kill since the temperature rises as soon as I get away from the water. I spend this morning doing a short walking tour of central Reykjavik. It is interesting that most homes are built of corrugated metal; the more expensive ones have a layer of stucco on top of the metal. Homes are built up the sides of hills surrounding the city, most with lovely gardens and wonderful views.
As we head south the terrain becomes more interesting, changing continuously from moss-covered green hills to moon-like fields of lava and boulders. NASA astronauts trained for the moon missions in this part of Iceland since the terrain is the most-lunar-like they could find.
Further on glacial lakes of deep blue and green lap against black lava sand beaches. The rift that separates the European and North American tectonic plates runs right through this area and I stand with one foot in each continent as we visit the Sultun geothermic site (you can’t quite do this in Istanbul unless you are in the middle of a suspension bridge). This small area is full of bubbling hot lava beds that continuously spout and give off funnels of steam (along with that wonderful sulphuric smell). If you have visited the northern part of Yellowstone Park you will get a sense of this terrain, although the colors here in Iceland are more muted than those in Wyoming.
We drive through scenes of lush farmland and small villages. The world-famous Icelandic horses run free here. They are part of a pure breed that goes back to the very first settlers of the land in 700 AD. The breeding rules are very strict; if a horse leaves Iceland for any reason it can never come back and must either be settled or sold abroad.
We stop at a small fishing village to watch the last of the day’s catch being unloaded and then head to the westernmost point of the peninsula and the nearby lighthouse. There is plenty of wild surf crashing against the rocks and black lava sand beaches, all watched over by a six-foot life-size statue of a Great Auk, a species now extinct.
From the lighthouse we drive a short distance to one of the most important tourist sites in all of Iceland—The Blue Lagoon. Created from the exhaust steam of the nearby power plant, the Lagoon’s blue-white waters are gathered in a large pool with modern bathing facilities. The water is supposed to have therapeutic value and there are many swimmers today who emerge from the waters covered in a thin layer of white silt. But the sight of the blue-white water against the background of lava boulders is startlingly beautiful. For those who wish to spend the day, there is a restaurant, snack bar, changing rooms, and—of course—souvenir shop.
From the Blue Lagoon, the coach takes a more direct route back to Reykjavik, passing Keflavik International Airport, several golf courses built by the American military during the Cold War, and growing suburbs with their shopping centers and high-rise apartments. Our guide has been quite good, providing factual and interesting background at each of the stops.
The tour arrives back at the Eurodam just in time to dress for dinner and have a glass of champagne.
Reykjavik, Iceland
After two days at sea it’s nice to be in port again—with the sun shining brightly. Although it is very cold out here by the dock, warmer central Reykjavík is just a quick taxi ride away. Taxis are metered and the driver will take almost any currency or credit card. His meter has built-in currency conversion rates so there is no problem in paying in my remaining Norwegian Kroner (and a credit card on the way back).
I bundle up in t-shirt, shirt, two sweatshirts and a jacket—I should have brought gloves. But my costume is a little over-kill since the temperature rises as soon as I get away from the water. I spend this morning doing a short walking tour of central Reykjavik. It is interesting that most homes are built of corrugated metal; the more expensive ones have a layer of stucco on top of the metal. Homes are built up the sides of hills surrounding the city, most with lovely gardens and wonderful views.
After
lunch back on the Eurodam I prepare
for my afternoon excursion—“Photogenic Iceland.” This
is an intensive five-hour tour to visit some of the most scenic spots on the Reykjanes Peninsula, that juts out
westward into the Atlantic south of Reykjavik.
First stop is a fish-drying frame, used as part of Iceland’s largest
export—dried fish bones (don’t ask about the smell). The tour guide was so happy and proud that
this stop was available—it’s almost the end of the fishing season—that most of us on the tour
didn’t want to puncture his balloon with our total lack of interest.
As we head south the terrain becomes more interesting, changing continuously from moss-covered green hills to moon-like fields of lava and boulders. NASA astronauts trained for the moon missions in this part of Iceland since the terrain is the most-lunar-like they could find.
Further on glacial lakes of deep blue and green lap against black lava sand beaches. The rift that separates the European and North American tectonic plates runs right through this area and I stand with one foot in each continent as we visit the Sultun geothermic site (you can’t quite do this in Istanbul unless you are in the middle of a suspension bridge). This small area is full of bubbling hot lava beds that continuously spout and give off funnels of steam (along with that wonderful sulphuric smell). If you have visited the northern part of Yellowstone Park you will get a sense of this terrain, although the colors here in Iceland are more muted than those in Wyoming.
We drive through scenes of lush farmland and small villages. The world-famous Icelandic horses run free here. They are part of a pure breed that goes back to the very first settlers of the land in 700 AD. The breeding rules are very strict; if a horse leaves Iceland for any reason it can never come back and must either be settled or sold abroad.
We stop at a small fishing village to watch the last of the day’s catch being unloaded and then head to the westernmost point of the peninsula and the nearby lighthouse. There is plenty of wild surf crashing against the rocks and black lava sand beaches, all watched over by a six-foot life-size statue of a Great Auk, a species now extinct.
From the lighthouse we drive a short distance to one of the most important tourist sites in all of Iceland—The Blue Lagoon. Created from the exhaust steam of the nearby power plant, the Lagoon’s blue-white waters are gathered in a large pool with modern bathing facilities. The water is supposed to have therapeutic value and there are many swimmers today who emerge from the waters covered in a thin layer of white silt. But the sight of the blue-white water against the background of lava boulders is startlingly beautiful. For those who wish to spend the day, there is a restaurant, snack bar, changing rooms, and—of course—souvenir shop.
From the Blue Lagoon, the coach takes a more direct route back to Reykjavik, passing Keflavik International Airport, several golf courses built by the American military during the Cold War, and growing suburbs with their shopping centers and high-rise apartments. Our guide has been quite good, providing factual and interesting background at each of the stops.
The tour arrives back at the Eurodam just in time to dress for dinner and have a glass of champagne.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Saturday, 1 September
2012
Fläm, Norway
This morning’s scene is even more incongruous than yesterday’s—we are docked alongside the tiny village of Fläm, whose sole purpose is to sell trinkets and serve as the lower end of the Fläm-Myrdal railway connection, the steepest non-rack train in the world. The line was built to connect the shipping routes of the Aurlandsfjord and the longer Sognefjord with the Oslo-Bergen rail line in Myrdal. The ride is only 50 minutes each way, but the views of farms, villages and waterfalls are spectacular, as are the tunnels drilled through the mountainside. The train loops around sharp climbing curves and as I look below I can see the tunnels and covered track protectors I passed through only a few moments before. The train stops for a 15-minute picture opportunity at a three-tier waterfall that cascades down below the tracks to the fjord; the year-round ice fields at the top of the mountains provide a constant source of torrential water.
There’s not much to do at the top, except admire the views (and the engineers who built the railway), and enjoy Norwegian waffles with jam and sour cream at the Vatnahalsen Hotel, just a few meters below the Myrdal station. The ride down to Fläm is equally exciting, especially given the opportunity to sit on the other side of the train. I share seats with a retired couple from Belgium, who are really excited about their first trip to New York.
On my first trip to Europe in 1968 I took an overnight train from Oslo to Bergen, saving some money by sleeping enroute. I hadn’t even planned to visit Norway at all during that 12-week trip, but Sweden was very expensive (I was a poor graduate student at the time), so after one day in Stockholm, I spent several nights on trains getting to and back from Bergen. Since I hadn’t researched this part of my trip, I was surprised when most everyone got off the train in Myrdal instead of heading directly west to Bergen. I soon learned that it was the spectacular train down from Myrdal to Fläm and then the trip by boat from Fläm to Bergen that everyone was opting for. Since I missed this trip back then I am happy to report that I have finally made that ride, albeit 44 years later.
After the train ride I have plenty of time to wander the few shops and local railway museum in Fläm before returning to the ship. The cruise director had informed everyone that the souvenir shop in Fläm is known as “the most expensive store in Norway.” And they sure have a captive audience, since there’s nothing else in town.
At six pm the Eurodam does another big U-turn as we prepare for a scenic sail down the Sognefjord. I visited several wonderful fjords on my Norway-Scotland cruise last summer, but the Sognefjord gives the best views for the money—and it’s the narrowest and deepest in Europe. Tour Guide Ian provides narration as the ship glides quietly (it’s amazing how quiet this big ship can be) down to the North Sea near Bergen. The bow of the ship is again open for passengers to feel as close as possible to the mountains that tower above.
Those of you who have followed my earlier cruises will note that I’m not saying much about food this time. I’ll just report that it is as varied and well-prepared as on other Holland America cruises and I am quite pleased with the servers at my table.
The Captain keeps us updated on the weather and hopes to outrun the storm by skipping our next port, Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, and heading straight for Reykjavik. I hope he’s right.
Fläm, Norway
This morning’s scene is even more incongruous than yesterday’s—we are docked alongside the tiny village of Fläm, whose sole purpose is to sell trinkets and serve as the lower end of the Fläm-Myrdal railway connection, the steepest non-rack train in the world. The line was built to connect the shipping routes of the Aurlandsfjord and the longer Sognefjord with the Oslo-Bergen rail line in Myrdal. The ride is only 50 minutes each way, but the views of farms, villages and waterfalls are spectacular, as are the tunnels drilled through the mountainside. The train loops around sharp climbing curves and as I look below I can see the tunnels and covered track protectors I passed through only a few moments before. The train stops for a 15-minute picture opportunity at a three-tier waterfall that cascades down below the tracks to the fjord; the year-round ice fields at the top of the mountains provide a constant source of torrential water.
There’s not much to do at the top, except admire the views (and the engineers who built the railway), and enjoy Norwegian waffles with jam and sour cream at the Vatnahalsen Hotel, just a few meters below the Myrdal station. The ride down to Fläm is equally exciting, especially given the opportunity to sit on the other side of the train. I share seats with a retired couple from Belgium, who are really excited about their first trip to New York.
On my first trip to Europe in 1968 I took an overnight train from Oslo to Bergen, saving some money by sleeping enroute. I hadn’t even planned to visit Norway at all during that 12-week trip, but Sweden was very expensive (I was a poor graduate student at the time), so after one day in Stockholm, I spent several nights on trains getting to and back from Bergen. Since I hadn’t researched this part of my trip, I was surprised when most everyone got off the train in Myrdal instead of heading directly west to Bergen. I soon learned that it was the spectacular train down from Myrdal to Fläm and then the trip by boat from Fläm to Bergen that everyone was opting for. Since I missed this trip back then I am happy to report that I have finally made that ride, albeit 44 years later.
After the train ride I have plenty of time to wander the few shops and local railway museum in Fläm before returning to the ship. The cruise director had informed everyone that the souvenir shop in Fläm is known as “the most expensive store in Norway.” And they sure have a captive audience, since there’s nothing else in town.
At six pm the Eurodam does another big U-turn as we prepare for a scenic sail down the Sognefjord. I visited several wonderful fjords on my Norway-Scotland cruise last summer, but the Sognefjord gives the best views for the money—and it’s the narrowest and deepest in Europe. Tour Guide Ian provides narration as the ship glides quietly (it’s amazing how quiet this big ship can be) down to the North Sea near Bergen. The bow of the ship is again open for passengers to feel as close as possible to the mountains that tower above.
Those of you who have followed my earlier cruises will note that I’m not saying much about food this time. I’ll just report that it is as varied and well-prepared as on other Holland America cruises and I am quite pleased with the servers at my table.
The Captain keeps us updated on the weather and hopes to outrun the storm by skipping our next port, Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, and heading straight for Reykjavik. I hope he’s right.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sunday, 2
September 2012
At
sea on the Eurodam, 3 pmThe good news is that my laptop has decided to cooperate and run normally again, so I will try to provide photos again.
The bad news is that we are skipping the port of Lerwick in the northern Shetland Islands. The captain has announced that there is a big storm in the North Atlantic that he hopes to avoid by making a change in itinerary and heading straight for Reykjavik, Iceland. He hasn’t said anything about what happens after our two days in Reykjavik, so let’s hope the next announcement is good news. In the meantime, I will continue where I left off . . .
Friday, 31 August 2012
Stavanger, Norway
I wake to spectacular views of the center of Stavanger from my balcony. The ship has docked right alongside the streets of the Old Town and we could not be closer to the city—in fact, the massive presence of the ship towering over the cozy wooden houses is quite surreal. Although the sun is shining, the weather is rather and windy and cool, so I do the old layering-on of clothes and after breakfast in the Lido I head ashore.
Stavanger, the fourth largest city in Norway, lies at the top of the Lysfjord, which connects to a series of larger fjords, as it heads out to the North Sea. The old town has a series of wooden residences preserved from the 18th and 19th centuries that have managed to avoid the fires that routinely destroy the old neighborhoods. Rich in forestry, lumber was the cheapest and most readily available building material and the risk of conflagration is always great. There are no major museums or tourist stops, so the best thing is to wander and enjoy the atmosphere of the compact city center and harbor, where another large cruise ship has anchored just behind us.
From the open bow of the ship, there are spectacular views of islands, mountains, as small villages as we make the journey down the fjord and head to tomorrow’s port, Fläm.
Pics
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At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Friday, August 31, 2012
30 August 2012
Day at Sea
We spend the day sailing north toward Norway so there is not much to report. Have already sent out two bags of laundrey from the 12 days travelling to NJYC, Berlin, and Amsrterdam. The ship offers an all-you-can-get-dirty-laundry-package for the entire 16 days of the cruise--so I am taking advantage of that.
Tour Director Ian is still with the Eurodam; I'll be sure to greet him personally since we have shared four cruises. I know he remembers me beacuse I gave him some heavy negatives in my frist end-of-cruise review (which HAL takes very seriously)--too much attitude and general snideness about everything. But he obviously took the criticism to heart and his performance on the last three cruises has been much better. There will be a good deal of scenic cruising narration as we sail to New York, so his role is pretty important.
The seas are a little high as evening approaches so I decide to skip the dining room and have room service instead before settling in for the night.
I'm still blogging from my ipad. I haven't tried to resurrect my laptop since it wouldn't work in Amsterdam. It's a good thing I backed up everything on my external hard drive before leaving Tucson.
It may have gotten bumped one time too many as I travelled to get here. But the ipad is also a good ice-breaker; everyone who has one feels the need to talk to others.
Tomorrow I shall report form our first port: Stavanger, Norway
Day at Sea
We spend the day sailing north toward Norway so there is not much to report. Have already sent out two bags of laundrey from the 12 days travelling to NJYC, Berlin, and Amsrterdam. The ship offers an all-you-can-get-dirty-laundry-package for the entire 16 days of the cruise--so I am taking advantage of that.
Tour Director Ian is still with the Eurodam; I'll be sure to greet him personally since we have shared four cruises. I know he remembers me beacuse I gave him some heavy negatives in my frist end-of-cruise review (which HAL takes very seriously)--too much attitude and general snideness about everything. But he obviously took the criticism to heart and his performance on the last three cruises has been much better. There will be a good deal of scenic cruising narration as we sail to New York, so his role is pretty important.
The seas are a little high as evening approaches so I decide to skip the dining room and have room service instead before settling in for the night.
I'm still blogging from my ipad. I haven't tried to resurrect my laptop since it wouldn't work in Amsterdam. It's a good thing I backed up everything on my external hard drive before leaving Tucson.
It may have gotten bumped one time too many as I travelled to get here. But the ipad is also a good ice-breaker; everyone who has one feels the need to talk to others.
Tomorrow I shall report form our first port: Stavanger, Norway
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Somewhere on the North Sea
Thursday, 30 August 2012, 3:30 pm
Greetings from the North Sea as the Eurodam heads toward Stavanger, Norway. The waters are remarkably smooth (even the Captain said so during his noon address today) and the weather is bright and balmy. I had a good night's rest after first night's dinner on board and I am ready to start catching up on blog entries. My own computer is on the fritz, so I'm not sure I'll be uploading more photos, but I will certainly send them all when I return home to Tucson.
Monday, 17 August 2012
Amsterdam
I arrive at the Hotel Mowenpick around 6pm and am treated to a spectacular view of the waterfront and Central Station from my 7th floor windows. So rather than unpack and relax, I head back into town by the tram in front of the hotel for an evening stroll and dinner.
Although much of Amsterdam has not changed over the past 50 years, the city has become more crowded and dirty---this seems especially so after bering in the cleanliness and order of Berlin. The waterfront along the River Ij has been redeveloped into a busy and trendy area, but there's not much here for tourists. The streets and byways round the Damrak and Leidesplein offer wonderful opportunites for window shopping, even if one can't afford the prices. Men's fashion here is way ahead of America and it's fun to see what will filter down to New York in a couple of months.
One of the things that hasn't changed here is the red-light district, which in spite of new buildings and general spiffiness, is still home to the bars and clubs of my younger days.
Tuesday, 29 August 2012
Amsterdam
A lovely day, in spite of the forecast for rain, to continue exploring the shops and streets of Amsterdam. Although I was at first disappointed that de Bejinkoop, the city's main department store, no longer carries the socks I bought two years ago, I was able to find 12 pairs at a sport shoe store just a few blocks away
(it's not easy finding Puma in Tucson).
After a Turkish barbecue dinner its back to the hotel for repacking for the start of the cruise tomorrow.
So I'll save embarkation and sailing days for the next blog entry.
Thursday, 30 August 2012, 3:30 pm
Greetings from the North Sea as the Eurodam heads toward Stavanger, Norway. The waters are remarkably smooth (even the Captain said so during his noon address today) and the weather is bright and balmy. I had a good night's rest after first night's dinner on board and I am ready to start catching up on blog entries. My own computer is on the fritz, so I'm not sure I'll be uploading more photos, but I will certainly send them all when I return home to Tucson.
Monday, 17 August 2012
Amsterdam
I arrive at the Hotel Mowenpick around 6pm and am treated to a spectacular view of the waterfront and Central Station from my 7th floor windows. So rather than unpack and relax, I head back into town by the tram in front of the hotel for an evening stroll and dinner.
Although much of Amsterdam has not changed over the past 50 years, the city has become more crowded and dirty---this seems especially so after bering in the cleanliness and order of Berlin. The waterfront along the River Ij has been redeveloped into a busy and trendy area, but there's not much here for tourists. The streets and byways round the Damrak and Leidesplein offer wonderful opportunites for window shopping, even if one can't afford the prices. Men's fashion here is way ahead of America and it's fun to see what will filter down to New York in a couple of months.
One of the things that hasn't changed here is the red-light district, which in spite of new buildings and general spiffiness, is still home to the bars and clubs of my younger days.
Tuesday, 29 August 2012
Amsterdam
A lovely day, in spite of the forecast for rain, to continue exploring the shops and streets of Amsterdam. Although I was at first disappointed that de Bejinkoop, the city's main department store, no longer carries the socks I bought two years ago, I was able to find 12 pairs at a sport shoe store just a few blocks away
(it's not easy finding Puma in Tucson).
After a Turkish barbecue dinner its back to the hotel for repacking for the start of the cruise tomorrow.
So I'll save embarkation and sailing days for the next blog entry.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, 27 August 2012
Amsterdam
Monday, 9 pm
I am looking out my 7th floor window on the River Ij as the lights of the city come on. The Mowenpick Hotel is built directly over the Cruise Passenger Terminal and if I wake up early enough on Thursday I will be able to watch as the Eurodam docks below my window.
Amsterdam has finally been developing the riverfront behind Centraal Station--a new concert hall, hotels, office blocks, the new cruise terminal. All this is just a 5-minute walk from the station, or an even quicker ride on the tram that stops across the street (although I recommend a taxi if you have luggage).
The train ride from Berlin was uneventful. I must have done something really bad in a previous life to end up sitting in front of two women whose shrill voices went non-stop the entire 6+ hour trip. Even my noise-reducing headphones could not keep out the unintelligible gibberish.
So I will make this a short entry and give a fuller report on the vibes of Amsterdam tomorrow.
Amsterdam
Monday, 9 pm
I am looking out my 7th floor window on the River Ij as the lights of the city come on. The Mowenpick Hotel is built directly over the Cruise Passenger Terminal and if I wake up early enough on Thursday I will be able to watch as the Eurodam docks below my window.
Amsterdam has finally been developing the riverfront behind Centraal Station--a new concert hall, hotels, office blocks, the new cruise terminal. All this is just a 5-minute walk from the station, or an even quicker ride on the tram that stops across the street (although I recommend a taxi if you have luggage).
The train ride from Berlin was uneventful. I must have done something really bad in a previous life to end up sitting in front of two women whose shrill voices went non-stop the entire 6+ hour trip. Even my noise-reducing headphones could not keep out the unintelligible gibberish.
So I will make this a short entry and give a fuller report on the vibes of Amsterdam tomorrow.
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, 26 August 2012, 9 pm
BERLIN
I am back again with today's blog entry, but if you haven't logged on recently you might want to check the previous entry as well, since that was delayed by wifi failure.
Another beautiful day of sunshine in Berlin. After fumbling with the lobby computer for a while (Europeans use a different keyboard than Americans; “z” and “y” are transposed and you have to belong to a secret society to find the right key for “@”), I give up and head out for my last day in the city. I am actually looking forward to a restful day on the train to Amsterdam tomorrow.
Berlin is actually a collection of small communities that have joined over the years to make up the larger city. Each neighborhood has its own identity and cultural history and it would be nice to spend a few days in each, exploring local shops, restaurants, and back streets—but the 21st century tourist must make the most of five days.
Today I explore the area southwest of Alexanderplatz, the old Nicholasviertel. Formerly in East Berlin, these old streets have been restored to their historic “look” and Sundays are obviously the time for locals to enjoy the festive atmosphere of cafes, street musicians, and shops. The River Spree has been cleaned up and tourist boats make the rounds of canals and locks, with tourists thinking they might have dreamed themselves to Amsterdam.
My next stop is the Scheunenviertel, the old Jewish quarter north of the city center. In addition to the “New Synagogue” (opened in 1866), whose exterior has been lovingly restored (the interior was gutted after the War and has yet to be rebuilt), and the old DorotheenstädtishcerCemetery (home to Bertolt Brecht, Heinrich Mann, GWF Hegel, and Herbert Marcuse), the highlight of this part of town is Hackesche Hofe. This is a series of apartment blocks built around connecting courtyards that now contain restaurants and shops. The courtyards are decorated with glazed tiles in fabulous colors and designs that have been restored to their original 1906 luster. It’s a good place for lunch (grilled lamb salad with iced coffee for dessert).
But fun must end and it’s back to the hotel to pack and consolidate everything into two bags plus my computer so that I can maneuver it all onto the train tomorrow. Since the web seems to be working really quickly tonight, I'll add some more pictures from the past several days. Enjoy:
Philharmonic Hall
Mies van der Rohe's Modern Art Gallery
A Section of the Berlin Wall
Daniel Liebeskind's Jewish Museum
BERLIN
I am back again with today's blog entry, but if you haven't logged on recently you might want to check the previous entry as well, since that was delayed by wifi failure.
Another beautiful day of sunshine in Berlin. After fumbling with the lobby computer for a while (Europeans use a different keyboard than Americans; “z” and “y” are transposed and you have to belong to a secret society to find the right key for “@”), I give up and head out for my last day in the city. I am actually looking forward to a restful day on the train to Amsterdam tomorrow.
Berlin is actually a collection of small communities that have joined over the years to make up the larger city. Each neighborhood has its own identity and cultural history and it would be nice to spend a few days in each, exploring local shops, restaurants, and back streets—but the 21st century tourist must make the most of five days.
Today I explore the area southwest of Alexanderplatz, the old Nicholasviertel. Formerly in East Berlin, these old streets have been restored to their historic “look” and Sundays are obviously the time for locals to enjoy the festive atmosphere of cafes, street musicians, and shops. The River Spree has been cleaned up and tourist boats make the rounds of canals and locks, with tourists thinking they might have dreamed themselves to Amsterdam.
My next stop is the Scheunenviertel, the old Jewish quarter north of the city center. In addition to the “New Synagogue” (opened in 1866), whose exterior has been lovingly restored (the interior was gutted after the War and has yet to be rebuilt), and the old DorotheenstädtishcerCemetery (home to Bertolt Brecht, Heinrich Mann, GWF Hegel, and Herbert Marcuse), the highlight of this part of town is Hackesche Hofe. This is a series of apartment blocks built around connecting courtyards that now contain restaurants and shops. The courtyards are decorated with glazed tiles in fabulous colors and designs that have been restored to their original 1906 luster. It’s a good place for lunch (grilled lamb salad with iced coffee for dessert).
But fun must end and it’s back to the hotel to pack and consolidate everything into two bags plus my computer so that I can maneuver it all onto the train tomorrow. Since the web seems to be working really quickly tonight, I'll add some more pictures from the past several days. Enjoy:
Philharmonic Hall
Mies van der Rohe's Modern Art Gallery
A Section of the Berlin Wall
Daniel Liebeskind's Jewish Museum
At home in Tucson, AZ, since 2005, I live with my partner of over 47 years--and husband of six years--Will Feathers. I grew up in New York City (1947-67), earned my BA from CUNY in 1967 and my PhD in English from Indiana University/ Bloomington in 1974. I served on the full-time faculty of the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, from 1971 to 2004 (33 years), when I accepted an offer for early retirement. Last year (April 2022), we sold our house and moved into an Independent Living Senior Retirement Community in Tucson, where we have made many new friends.
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