Boat Ride 07

Final Post

2007-06-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

An appropriate end to a Most Excellent Adventure. Banner by Laura (?)

Traditional Homecoming Offerings

2007-06-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

It is traditional (in some parts of the world) to place old electronic devices on the doorstep of those travelling to The Continent, upon their safe return. Here we have a typical display, arranged in the customary style. Contributors unconfirmed, but we suspect it was left by a band of gay young men that may include Sir David Van Stretch; Michael, Prince of Dumbarton; Sir Hector Scott; Douglas the Idiotte of Greater Leemon; and possibly others.

The Greeting Party

2007-06-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

John's friends welcoming him back to St. John's ... 1:00 am-ish Sunday June 3

View from hotel in London

2007-06-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Last view from the window of our hotel, the Holiday Inn Kensington in London.

View from the Thames

2007-05-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Big Ben and Parliament, view from our boat tour on the Thames

Medieval toilet

2007-05-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Honest - that's what it is.

Tower of London

2007-05-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

We toured it ...

In the Silver Cross

2007-05-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

In the Silver Cross Pub

2007-05-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

Pub where we ate

2007-05-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

Parade

2007-05-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

Also in the parade near Bucky House. Who IS this guy?

Parade

2007-05-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Part of the parade near Bucky House

Ian & Mom in London

2007-05-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

Walking from Bucky Palace back to the bus. We stopped to watch some sort of parade or procession with horsies and everything.

Buckingham Palace

2007-05-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

Shot from outside Buck House. The flag tells us the Queen is in the House today.

Westminster Abbey

2007-05-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

John & Rob outside the Abb.

First morning in London

2007-05-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the tour bus in London, Thursday morning

Baden Powell House

2007-05-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

Around the corner from our hotel in London. Any Boy Scouts reading this?

Adjacent to our hotel in London

2007-05-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

After getting kicked off the boat

2007-05-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here we are just after disembarking at Harwich

After a day in London

2007-05-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hey there !

Sorry we dropped out of sight ... as I said, we were dis-embarking and I didn't know how easily we'd get Internet access in London. Easy enough at the hotel, but it's cheaper at one of the 5000 million Internet cafes in London. So here I am, around 10:00 pm here, in the cafe just 30 seconds from our hotel.

We got off the boat alive and well. Long trip to London, and today we did a wicked tour of London by bus. We saw all the major sites within the city, plus we had a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, and a self tour of the Tower of London. The Abbey was incredible. We walked over the tombs of famous kings, queens, poets, writers, and scientists (Chucky Darwin !!!, G Chaucer!!!, Chucky Dickens!!!, and on and on.) The tour includede a boat tour on the Thames which was excellent as well. Also a lunch in a traditional English pub. We had a long, packed day that was every bit as enjoyable as anything we've done so far. It's been an amazing trip.

Tomorrrow we plan to visit the British Museum, and then tomorrow evening we have tickets for Spamalot.

I may get a chance to post again - not sure, because we're fairly busy, but if I can I will. I know you won't sleep well without an update. (Before I leave here now I'll try to post some pics before my time expires.)

Thanks again for your comments and posting, and feeble attempts at wit. Hi to Ms. Mesh and all Ian's classmates from his Uncle Rob :)

Rob (Jack, Irene, Michele, Heather, Keith, Ian, John)

Stuff from Paris

2007-05-29T14:38:00.001-07:00

Leaving the Rotterdam in the morning ... not sure when we will be able to post again ... soon, I hope.

John with our superb cabin steward, Christian

2007-05-29T14:37:00.001-07:00

Bus people

2007-05-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

Le moo

2007-05-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Garcon avec tour

2007-05-29T14:34:00.002-07:00

Too cool to be French

2007-05-29T14:34:00.001-07:00

A cool shot, again dining on the Seine, with that stupid tower in the background again

2007-05-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dining on the Seine

2007-05-29T14:32:00.002-07:00

Here we are having lunch on a boat on the Seine

2007-05-29T14:32:00.001-07:00

Voltaire's crib

2007-05-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

A beautiful shot of Paris' most important monument, view obscured by a truck

2007-05-29T14:30:00.002-07:00

A view of the Louvre

2007-05-29T14:30:00.001-07:00

L'Arc de Triumph, from our tour bus

2007-05-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Le Havre to Paris, May 29

2007-05-29T14:28:00.001-07:00

A nice nurse from Florida took this lovely group shot, but she got some stupid tower in the background.Today we did a bus tour of Paris, and a lunch cruise of the Seine. (John couldn't make it)

Taken during our ship tour

2007-05-29T14:27:00.002-07:00

On the bridge

2007-05-29T14:27:00.001-07:00

The lads chatting with the Captain, in his office.

2007-05-29T14:26:00.001-07:00

Ha ha ... yep, it's us, and that IS the captain. Our new friend Arjen took us on a tour of the unseen parts of the ship (which they used to do prior to 9/11), and introduced us to the captain.

Dinner crowd

2007-05-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

In the background standing are Oliver (our wine steward), Riris (our server), Panca (dining room assistant manager?), Semuel (Riris' assistant?). And our friend Arjen seated.

Dinner with 1st Engineer, May 28

2007-05-29T14:23:00.003-07:00

This is the whole crowd, with the ship's 1st EngineerYep, it's us with Arjen Devries. He's Dutch. He's the ship's 1st Engineer. And he's from Mount Pearl :)One day I wore a Newfoundland shirt, and the Cruise Director (also a Canadian) noticed, mentioned a Newfie on board who would love to meet us, and hooked us up. He hosted our table that evening. Great guy! Married a girl from Botwood and has been living in Mount Pearl for 15 years !

Indonesian Tea, in the afternoon

2007-05-29T14:23:00.001-07:00

Ian in pool

2007-05-29T14:22:00.001-07:00

Believe it or not, this is Ian in the pool on the Rotterdam. There was a heavy swell so the water was sloshing. (They eventually closed the pool for safety reasons, of course)

Dessert extravaganza on the Rotterdam night of May 26

2007-05-29T14:21:00.001-07:00

That's one of the many ice sculptures in the background, and watermelon carvings in the foreground.

At Sea - May 27-8

2007-05-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all. Rough day at sea May 26. Instead of a lineup for shore excursions there was a line at the Doctor's office across
the hall from us. Seas were listed as 'Rough' or 'Heavy' - about 7 on the Beaufort scale. Similar today (May 28) as I write
this. Swells are about 25 ft. Not nearly as bad as it can get, but not good for a bunch of landlubbers. We have been
praying to the ancient Greek god of Calm Waters, named Gravol. He has been kind. No post made last night, however, lest we
anger him.
I'll try to post later this evening. (Port stop at Le Havre, for Paris, tomorrow)

Europe's largest casino (Estoril)

2007-05-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is what inspired Ian Fleming to write his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

The hotel near the Casino Estoril

2007-05-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Fleming stayed here when he was a spy, and he started writing Casino Royale while staying there.

The crew in Lisbon

2007-05-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

John on the beach in Lisbon.

2007-05-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Some famous landmark castle fortress thing in the background.

Looks like line dancing in Lisbon

2007-05-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Monument of the Explorers in Lisbon

2007-05-26T14:00:00.002-07:00

Casa Canada in Lisbon

2007-05-26T14:00:00.001-07:00

Seedy side of Lisbon

2007-05-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

After some shopping

2007-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

The April 24th Bridge (Copy of the Golden Gate, made by the same company)

2007-05-26T13:57:00.002-07:00

Passing directly underneath the April 24th Bridge as we leave Lisbon

2007-05-26T13:57:00.001-07:00

Nanny & Poppy at dinner May 26

2007-05-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Nanny in Lisbon

2007-05-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Lisbon, Portugal - May 26

2007-05-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

This morning we did a really nice city tour by bus, with some photo stops. Even went to the beach. Lisbon is very beautiful, and the people seem very nice. All hands ('cept John and Mrs) went back in to town after lunch. (The taxis have two speeds (1) 100 mph, and (2) faster.) Really nice visit. The City Centre is a beautiful sort of 'pedestrian' mall with cool tiled streets. People there playing music etc, and there was a guy trying to sell drugs to me & Keith. Like I said - the people are really nice. We didn't buy any.

A garden in Cadiz

2007-05-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Bit hard to make out through the rain, but the hedges/shrubs are sculpted like they used to do in England. Our guide was a
really funny guy - he said a bunch of hairdressers take care of these.

Horse monument

2007-05-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Also hard to make out in the rain, but it gives it that je ne sais quois, don't you think?

H K & I next to the big momma cask they call Jesus.

2007-05-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is a huge wine keg they named Jesus, in the Sherry place. It is surrounded by other kegs that are named and labelled with the names of the Apostles, arranged in order as they sat at the last supper.

Here's John next to the Apostle John.

2007-05-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Part of a really old 'tradition'

2007-05-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

They have a tiny ladder for mice to drink the Sherry (seriously)

In case you don't believe me

2007-05-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ian & John outside Tio Pepe Sherry place.

2007-05-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

An early morning Sherry tasting.

2007-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

The crew at the Sherry place.

2007-05-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

The bald guy in the left, background, is Ian, the ship's art auctioneer.

Ian and John & Michele

2007-05-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Our ship in the port of Cadiz

2007-05-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Cadiz, Spain - May 25

2007-05-26T13:38:00.002-07:00

Bus tour, started out cool and raining in the morning, but cleared up before we returned. We visited Gonzalez Byass which is an old winery. We tasted some Sherry. These guys make the very famous Tio Pepe wine. I think you can only buy it in Spain and England.

Took it easy in the afternoon - did not go ashore again. THe boat darn near flipped overnight. Rocking and a Rolling. Bad lop on the Pond sir. No one got sick, but lots of Gravol on the go.

Leaving Barcelona on May 24

2007-05-26T13:38:00.001-07:00

In Barcelona port - you see lots of cruise ships

2007-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

Rob gearing up for a formal dining experience

2007-05-26T13:36:00.002-07:00

Ian and John Chillaxing

2007-05-26T13:36:00.001-07:00

At Sea - May 24

2007-05-26T13:34:00.001-07:00

Nice deck view

This is JP from New Brunswick.

2007-05-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

I took this pic of him today for a laugh (he was on tour with us), and because he is a piano player who looks like Billy Joel. (He gets that that a lot.) I am posting it now because as I am doing this post, I'm in one of the lounges where he is singing and playing piano. He's excellent! Play anything you ask.

Spanish dancers on board

2007-05-24T08:05:00.002-07:00

These are the ones we saw on board. That's Keith in the middle.

John from Cape Breton doing John C's flambe in the Pinnacle Grill.

2007-05-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

Rob atop Barcelona

2007-05-24T08:04:00.001-07:00

John atop Barcelona

2007-05-24T08:03:00.001-07:00

Spanish dog

2007-05-24T08:02:00.001-07:00

Photo by John. No Spanish dogs were hurt in the taking of this picture.

Three amigos in Barcelona

2007-05-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

In front of Sagrada Familia

2007-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Barcelona - May 23

2007-05-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

(Wrote this up on Wed evening but had network problems, so I'm just posting it today, May 24)

Hit port in Barcelona around 7:00 am. A little cooler today (yesterday was around 32 Celsius) - only around 20 plus a bit, today. Tiny speck of rain when we left.

Did a bus tour (with Beatrice). We drove through the 'old' Barcelona, the "Gothic" part. Very nice. We visited the Barcelona Cathedral, another awesome Gothic Cathedral. Another highlight was the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. This was designed by Gaudi ... it was totally bizarre. Even after seeing all the castles and fortresses and cathedrals and churches we've seen in the past week or two, this one is something else. Gaudi was an architect who died in the 1920s, and his work was VERY different - it was 'organic'. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics.

We did some more touring by bus, and stopped on Mont Juic. There's not a lot of green space in Barcelona, so on the top of this mountain they have a municipal park basically. Great view.

We came across several people in these places playing beautiful Spanish classical guitar.

Michele, Heather and I got a cab back in after lunch to poke around Las Ramblas (sp?) where there are lots of little shops. Bought some souveniers & stuff.

This evening we had dinner at the Pinnacle Grill. We had originally scheduled this for Nanny & Poppy's anniversary, but ended up rescheduling. It was incredible. The food, the presentation, the service, was unbelievable. Our waiter was John from Cape Breton (who I've met before) - he was great.

We beat it from there to catch some local dancers performing on board - various types of Spanish dance. At one point they wanted volunteers, and Keith got up and pulled me (Rob) up too! The only reason I didn't kill him is because he made me look so good on stage.

We also spent some time on deck this evening watching the proceedings to leave port. Tomorrow we have a day at sea, which we really need for purposes of rest. Next port - Cadiz Spain.

Rob et al

The crew in Avignon. The German boy is Johann (Ian)

2007-05-22T14:29:00.001-07:00

John at the Pope's place

2007-05-22T14:28:00.001-07:00

Keith & Ian outside the winery

2007-05-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

The Pope's place John & I toured

2007-05-22T14:25:00.001-07:00

Just another old castle on the way to Avignon

2007-05-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sur le Pont d'Avignon

2007-05-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is actually the "Pont d'Avignon" as in the famous song!!

Marseilles and Avignon France - May 22

Hey there!

Today we did a long tour. Arrived at the French port of Marseille (France's 2nd largest city) around 7:00 am. We left early in the morning for a bus tour.

First stop was Chateauneuf du Pape, a town in south France where there's a bunch of wineries. The wine maker guy gave us a tour, a talk, guided us through a wine tasting etc. He is the 4th generation of that family making wine in the same place. Very interesting.

We left there and continued in to Avignon, a very old (medeival) French town ... it still has stone walls around the 'old' city, which is where we went. This is where the Pope resided for a period (about 100 years, from around 1420 AD or so, if I recall correctly.). In fact for a time, there were TWO Popes ... one in Avignon, and one in Rome. We (the tour group) had a really nice lunch in a restaurant there, and continued on to the 'town square', I guess you'd call it. From there, we had free time, so we split up ...

John and I toured the Palace of the Popes (could be wrong on the name, but you get the picture), which is a huge Medeival 'castle' that was these Popes' crib in Avignon. The rest of the Happy Wanderers explored the Town Square area, with its shops etc. So I can't report much on their adventures. John and I had a great time. It's a huge old stone castle, built maybe 12 or 1300's. In amazing shape.

Arrived totally worn out back on the ship in time to get ready for dinner @ 6:15. Michele & Poppy & I went to a performance by Ian Cooper, an Australian violin virtuoso. Amazing. I got a CD, and autograph, and a chat.

Getting late ... gotto go - need my beauty sleep.

Rob et al

In Eze

2007-05-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

Taking a break. This is in Eze, France.

Monte Carlo from up high

2007-05-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Fool on the Hill

2007-05-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

Typical shot

2007-05-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Monaco - May 21 - 11:50 pm

2007-05-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today we visited Monaco. We tendered in (boat term) and got a bus tour from there. Monte Carlo itself is really nice ... there's no garbage! I saw one piece of paper and a drink can. We drive through all of Monaco ... it's less than one square mile.
We visited some nearby places in France also ... medieval villages like Eze. We drove through Nice. Incredibly beautiful.

Everything is on a hill. Money money money ... Some of the people who have homes in this area are Mick Jagger, Roger Moore, Tina Turner, etc. They are summer homes primarily, but we drove by Bono's house (3 of them), and he actually lives there full time, his kids go to school there etc.

Dad - lots of yachts. Some are for sale!!! I have some phone #s for you. And there's a really big pond for sailing on. (the Mediterranean).

Anyway - only time for a short post this evening. The days are quite busy.

Oh - I wore one of my Newfoundland shirts today, and it's amazing how many people see it and ask you about it - people who have lived there, or visited, or have relatives there. The Cruise Director (Michelle, from Victoria BC) spotted it and asked about it. She said one of the ship's engineers is from Newfoundland and would be really excited to meet us, so she gave him a call and he wants to get together, get a photo, etc. Hopefully we'll be able to do that.

(Listening to the live jazz band as I write this). Good night, please write. We don't get a chance to respond to every post individually, but we do look forward to them and read every one.

Keith in St. Peter's Square, doing his best Pope.

2007-05-20T13:04:00.002-07:00

Keith, Michele, John, Poppy - in St. Peter's Square

2007-05-20T13:04:00.001-07:00

Pope waving to us.

2007-05-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Heather & Ian praying in St. Peter's Basilica

2007-05-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Poppy in front of Trevi Fountain.

2007-05-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

St. Peter's Basilica

2007-05-20T13:00:00.002-07:00