Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Day 14 (Last day at sea)

Our last day at sea was rather uneventful, unless you find packing your luggage as exciting. We did leave our swimsuits out and again, had the Solarium pool to ourselves that night. Well, almost. There was some sort of squabble and it looked as if two dudes were going to fight. Turns out, one of the guys had accidentally splashed the other guy's wife and her hair got a little wet. The husband got really mad about this stating "Now she's going to have to do her hair in the morning!"

Well, probably shouldn't be swimming in a pool then.

Anyways, we pass our tips to the appropriate staff and get our bags out for the shuttle in the AM. Yes...uneventful.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Cobh/Cork, Ireland

Day 13

We walk thru Cobh, a pretty little coastal town, famous for being the last port that the Titanic sailed from. Very colorful town, quiet, large church. Meet Snubby the cat and Stubby the dog on our walk. Gina and Shellie go to confession. Dad can't get into pub due to it being packed with Futbol fans cheering on a game, very loudy! We catch a taxi to nearby Cork for shopping. Back on boat we watch Irish dancing from local dancers. Then head out to hear brass band on dock. Seems the town has come out to see the ship and send it off. People all over, waving, cheering. Absolutely amazing! Must have been what the passengers on Titanic saw. ;)

Did I say we love Ireland? Yes, we do!

And another beautiful day here. We skip entertainment that night for the Solarium pool again, which we have all to ourselves. Dad gets 2nd place in pool tourney. Gets medal.

Our rating: Kevin9 Gina 8.5

Dublin, Ireland

Day 12
Long wait for shuttle bus then lots of traffic. We take city bus out of city to nearby town of Enniskerry to see Powerscourt gardens. Have lunch at Peggy Murphy's pub. Dad has a Guiness, Gina and Shelly get beer mustaches! Shellie doesn't like food. Soooooo picky. 1 mile walk to gardens. Gardens beautiful as is the weather, again! Unbelieveablely good weather. Ireland so pretty. Bus ride is about 1 hour each way on double decker bus, we sat in front on top for the full experience but ride back has arabic chatty kathy behind us and he is so loud. Durka Durka Mohamed jihad.
Cutting it close on time has us jump off bus early in Dublin and hail a cab. He is very friendly and gives us a little tour guide on the way back to the ship. Ship leaves at 6pm so we have pretty sunset for dinner but wish the day was longer in port. Kevin climbs again but arms sore from yesterday! We really love Ireland.

Ilia and Valerie from Cirque Du Soleil perform. Excellent. Kevin to start lifting weights and Gina to loose weight so we can do same stuff! Love and Marriage gameshow is very funny. Gina upset we weren't picked to be contestants!

Our rating: Kevin 9.5 Gina 9.5 (would have been a 10 except for long city bus ride.)

Day 11 At Sea

K & G sleep in way late and miss Waltz lesson. BUT, it is sunny and warm out today. English coastline off of starboard side. Dolphins spotted in water (4 pods). K & G climb wall. Gina makes it up 2 times (Tracey P will be so proud!). So warm out, people are sun bathing and it's Oct. Unheard of! K& G read books on top deck and get some sun. Gina's SAD is finally cured! Dad wins mini-golf tourney, Gina comes in 2nd. Kevin achieves goal of using all 9 pieces of silverware at dinner! Food has definitely gotten better. Entertainment is production called City of Dreams, very good!

Our rating: Kevin 10 Gina 10

Le Havre, France

Day 10 (for sure)
We taxi to Hertz to rent a car. An Opel Zafira! Sweet. Drive North to coastal town of Etretat, along the Alabaster coast for the white cliffs. Again, foggy day. Pretty town, small. Pretty beach of stones. Rock collecting! Gina wades in water but rocks hurt feet and it's 'cold'. Shellie's shoes gets soaked from rogue wave. Old german WWII bunker. Gina tries to pet sea gull. Big tide here (>20') and it's low tide. Amazing how high it comes up! Continue North to town of Fecamp, another pretty coastal town. Again, tide out and is way low. Hike out to end of marina.

We make our way to freeway, navigating all the round-a-bouts to get there. Lots of countryside. and cows that need milking! Long drive to Caen then Bayeau to Normandy coast with lots of tolls and large futureistic suspension bridge. Pretty drive. Gina and Shellie snoozing. Kevin stops us at Arromanches, where the Allies brought all the gear ashore after D Day. Pretty town. Left overs from artifical bay the Allies created. French public toilets the pits Gina sez. A hole with 2 footprints on each side. Women hold out for a proper toilet! Cool old houses along beach.
Drive back along coastline past beaches of Juno and Gold thru towns named Luc Sur Mer and such. Getting lost in some of the small towns, but always manage to find to old church in the middle somehow! Taxi drivers in France don't seem to speak to us. Hal and Pat from dinner went to Paris and said the taxi drivers there won't even pick up Americans.

Italian violinst for evening entertainment. Very good. Solarium pool to ourselves!

Our rating: Kevin 9.5 (Hey, I got to drive and it's lovely exploring foreign countries) Gina 9

Brugges, Belgium

Day 9 I think.
Catch bus to Blankenberg then train to Brugges. Short hike along narrow, cobblestone streets to city centre, navigating via tall, church spires at center of city. Kevin and Gina hike 366 steps up spiral staircase to top of Bell Tower. Great panoramic views of city but obscured by fog. Get to see bell mechanism work that controls bells that are ringing up above us. We then find Chocolate Museum but don't pay to go in as you can't eat the displays. Bummer. Gina and mom go chocolate shopping, Shelly loads up on the goods but they don't take credit cards. Mom pissed. We take boat tour of canal that surrounds city and see many cool old things such as the Basilica of Holy Blood and old bridges. You don't want to fall in nasty canal water! Find way back to train station and back to boat. Impressions: Very pretty, very crowded ("Where'd all these damn tourists come from!!!")

Our Rating: Kevin 8.5 Gina 8.5

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Amsterdam, Holland (The Netherlands)

Start with a tour of town of Edam (a picturesque town from the 1600s), a cheese factory and some Windmills (very nice AND they actually served a purpose...) Made friends with a Dutch feline. Many wooden shoes in the gift shop and FINALLY affordable gifts!!! Lots of canals, cows, sheep and tourists on tour. Afternoon spent touring around Amsterdam on our own. Millions of bikes here, just like in Copenhagen, but here they are LOCKED up. Lunch at local cafe. Kevin: Hamburger. Gina: Apple pancakes. Window shopping in Red Light District (look but don't touch!), Magic mushroom stores and strong aroma of pot from the coffee houses. Watch out for contact buzzes and the muchies! Gina fires Kevin as tourguide as he misses R turn and we detour for a little bit. Mom's back starting to tighten so we ship her and dad back to the ship on the city tram. We tour the Jordaan neighbourhood for a bit then head to the Anne Frank Huis and do the tour. Pretty amazing. (You should read the book if you haven't) Amsterdam is canal central (and I bet very stinking and mosquito-ey in the Summer!). Witnessed bike/ped/bike accident, no-one hurt. Found way back to the boat. Dinner and coffee/dessert after. Mom gets tipsy from 'Captain's Call' (Coffee with Kahlua and Cognac). Good production show tonite. Hello Solarium (again!), got it all to ourselves. Very nice! (say it like Borat!)

Our Rating: Kevin 8 Gina 8

Day 7 at sea

Extremely windy outside today! Dad making lots of friends playing pool. Kevin goes on 3-0 run on the $100,000 gyroscopic self-leveling pool tables! (then loses to some old grandpa dude). Foxtrot lesson- Gina struggles with the whole counting thing. :) Gina actually has trouble counting for 2, but Suzi the instructor reminds her that Gina must cherish Kevin (and all the women's male partners) for coming to dance class!!! Cheesy singer for show tonight. Gina sez "Gag me with a spoon". Kevin watches whole Rugby game but struggles to actually understand the rules of the game. France kicks Georgia's ass! (74-7). Early bedtime.

Our rating: Kevin 7.5 Gina 8.5

Hamburg, Germany

I shall never forget the Haare (hair) exhibit at the art museum. I can't believe Kevin doesn't take any pics! I think he was in shock. Lots of old stuff also in art museum - but no translation. Gina very tired took a little nap. Did some shopping for Kevin a jacket, he is cold and his jacket is somewhere in India? Shopped in Hamburg H&M (thought of Krista). Lots of rowdy futbol fans at train station. Loud chanting and beer drinking, a bit too intimidating to actually attend the game. We have been walking forever - sooooo tired. Gina getting emotional/grouchy. Starving and Kevin hands me a footlong bratwurst(yuck) in the rain - no place to sit - very crowded city. Kevin says yum to bratwurst. Saw cool old church (St. Michaels) bombed and burned ruins left as memorial against war. Not enough Euros for harbor tour, back to boat for long nap. Missed main dinner - hello buffet! Still no email from kids - I will take that as a good sign. :) Solarium night and room service!

Rating: Kevin - 7 Gina - 7

Day 5 at sea

Slept in, breakfast - swam in Solarium pool. Read and slept again until 4pm!! We were a bit suprised at the time we spent sleeping. Mom taking German lessons and Dad playing pool. Dinner with Hita and Leandro and Chatty Cathy (Lady seated next to us from NYC now from FL) That is very common here on the ship. Karoke superstar night again - poor craig from LA. Next, we sang along with Piano lounge singer surrounded by many drunk people. Getting sick of the never-ending Lounge singer Lady on deck 4 (our deck!)

rating Kevin - 9 Gina - 9 I love naps.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Kobenhavn, Danmark

Day something or another. I've forgot!

A hearty breakfast and we're off! Nope. Shellie's back is no good and elects to guard her bed an tv. Nyoman brings her ice for her back.

We're off without a map to find the Hertz rent-a-car. Fortunately, having viewed the Hertz from outerspace via Google maps and using some intuition and a little luck, we find our car. Upgraded to an Audi from a Ford. Score!!! Now, find Helsingor and you'll find Kronborg Slot (castle). We do. Nice drive nord on e47 through what looks like Kentucky. Some houses still have thatch-like roofs. Kronborg castle is cool and very old but we elect not to do the tour but instead walk the grounds and take many a picture. Lots of jellyfish in the canals.

Off to Fredericksborg castle but instead we find Fredensborg castle, complete with marching (and armed guards with large black, furry hats). They don't appear to want to let us in. Maybe we're NOT at the right castle. Nope, 1/2 way there. Off you go then...

Fredericksborg Slot is THE castle to see in Danmark. Elaborate baroque gardens, moats, fountains, killer swiss mountain dog that wants to eat Kevin. This castle is also a museum and is filled with paintings from the 1600s, all right there ready for you to touch (ooops, don't touch anything!). 2 1/2 hours later, we're exhausted from looking at so much stuff. All great old original furniture from 1600s thru 1800s, Exquisite Great Hall and Chapel. Just incredible! Eat at Lenora restaurant (Danish Meatball open faced sandwich. Gina doesn't want any herring.)

Drive back to Kobenhavn. Walk back to ship thru city. What we liked best was ALL the bikes everywhere! Great bike friendly city with large bike lanes everywhere. What a great way to get around AND nobody locks up their bikes! Imagine THAT in America!!!

Rating: Gina 9.5 Kevin 10 (Hey...I got to drive an Audi!!!)

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Oslo, Norway

Viking Heritage Tour with Lille the opera singer! Fun listening to her explain things in English with her accent and many songs. Old houses from 1600s, Cool stave church with Last Supper painting from ~1500.





Naked statue park.


















Askershus fortress with lots of cobblestones.














Real Viking ships and artifacts.














Gift shops too expensive. Mum doing better with bak-outta-wak.

Oslo very pretty, very woodsy, great fjords and very narrow passages on the way back out to sea. Gina asleep in Solarium. Kevin climbs climbing wall til he can't hold on. Many lighthouses are passed out towards the North sea. Tomorrow....Copenhagen!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Traveling to London


After much anticipation, we are finally off!
SLC to NYC: Gina sick, seats more cramped than any flight we've ever taken.
Our rating for flight: Kevin 2 Gina -2

NYC to London Heathrow on Air India: Slightly less cramped. Indian food for late dinner, Indian films on the tv, Indian music playing throughout plane. Stewardesses in cool, Sari outfits. Hello Dramamine. Mom hilarious on Ambien. Little sleep to be found. Plane delayed leaving NYC. 7/8 of luggage arrives in LHR. 1/8 of luggage (Gina's) probably floating around the metropolis of Mumbai, India!
Our Rating: Gina 1 ("Better than being sick!") Kevin 6.5 (I Love Indian food! yes...even airplane Indian food) Gina sez....Kevin will eat anything.


London Baby!
Part 1 The Tube
Pretty cool, unless you're dragging around 8, I mean, 7 bags of luggage and your carry ons! Disabled people are screwed here. Lots of stairs. "Mind the Gap between the train and the platform" heard in a lovely female British accent heard 100+ times. Gina got to be at Tottenham Court Road but no deatheaters to be seen!
Our Rating: Gina 5 Kevin 5







Part 2 The London Eye
A large, enclosed Ferris wheel where you ride around in a pod to great heights overlooking Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and many other old buildings and the river Thames. Good Ice Cream with a chocolate flake. Jet lag SUCKS! Cool but too expensive.
Our Rating: Gina 5 Kevin 5.5







Part 3 The Tower of London
Very Cool site. Great Castle. Cool torture stuff (The Rack and Scavenger's daughter) and old weapons. Entertaining and funny Beefeater guide. Saw the Queen's Bling (Crown Jewels). Too bad the moat wasn't filled, it's sooooooo big!
Our Rating: Gina 8 Kevin 9.75








Part 4 The transfer to Harwich
Gina speechless. Gina tired and jet lagged, hits breaking point after tranferring all our luggage from the train to the top of the double decker bus! Last train to Harwich. Taxi to Hotel. Everyone soooooooooo dog tired. Good food at hotel. Beds seemed like heaven. So did the shower!!!! Love the British accent. Very cheery.
Our Rating: Gina -2 Kevin 3.9 (the crazy bus ride thru too narrow of streets too fast, just like in Harry Potter!)

Day 2
Gina's bag still hasn't made it to London. Shopping at Peacock's for clothing. Kevin missing jacket, very rainy on Monday morn. But getting on the ship today! Hooray!

Room is nice. Touring around the boat. Verrry nice and big. Lots of old people getting on the boat. Hmmmmm. Looks like we're still at work!!!! But we have email and we're happy to get some emails from Macey and Krista!
Solarium ALL Gina hoped it would be!!! Can't wait to eat!
Our Rating: Gina 7 Kevin 7











Day 3
A Day at Sea.
Slept in til almost 10! Man, those rooms are dark! Ate breakfast. Solarium: warm, swishing water, salty. Tried to read book but we fell asleep for another 2.5 hours! Damn jet lag. (It's only 6am at home!) Woke up and ate lunch. Played pool on 'self leveling pool tables'. Very cool and kinda weird to watch the tables move. I'm going to sleep on the pool table tonight to help alleviate any possiblity of seasickness! Shellie's back went out after pulling luggage thru London. Hello Doc. Hello Massage therapist. Hello Kevin and Gina, PTAs!!! Mum resting in bed, being spoiled with dinner, pillows, movies, ice packs and drugs. "Use your call button if you need anything." Entertainment with ex-Foreigner rocker dude rockin' the old folks!!!
Young folks on cruise: few and far
Old folks: dime a dozen!
Our Rating for Day 3:
Gina 7 Kevin 7

Friday, September 21, 2007

European Tour 2007

Posts to begin on 22 Sept. 2007!

Monday, April 9, 2007

Disneyland 2007

Wednesday:
We decided that rather than wake up at o' dark thirty in the morning that maybe we should leave tonite, in a couple of hours. What the heck?! By 8:30 PM we are packed and ready to go, except Gina manically trying to get multiple DVD players to work for the kids. Macey's DVD player is skipping as we pull out of the neighborhood. Stop #1: Wally World for a fix. 30 min. later we have a new DVD player. Disneyland, here we come!
9PM and on the road. In the rain. In the snow. Shhhh..nikes! Snow from SLC to almost Cedar City. Thanks Fed Ex truck for leading the way! When you absolutely, positively have to be there overnight...
1:30AM: Hello Motel 6.

Thursday:
On the road again...
Ah yes, sunny weather, clear skies.
Jack in the Box.
Reach Anaheim around 2:30
Kids missed the trip due to DVD players.
LaQuinta luxury. Spacious room, cool (cold) pool.
Quick trip out to the beach finds lots of wind and freezing kids. Oh well.
Engine light in minivan comes on, 700 miles from home. :(
But hey, Disney tomorrow!

Friday:
0800 Front Gate. We have a plan.
0801 AM. Plan goes into effect!
0805 AM. Macey is bawling at entrance to Indiana Jones ride. Seems it's a little TOO realistic for her liking. We press on, she cries louder. Come on kid, this is Disney, it's not scary. Our child suffers PTSD like symtoms the rest of the trip. Mention we're going back to Indiana Jones, instant tears, crying, etc...
We get four rides in just over an hour! Doing pretty good, plan working!
Food really not too bad or as expensive as we thought.
Space Mountain rocks. Everyone's favorite.
8:30PM. Is it time to go yet???
Peter Pan stinks, Small World is Large Nightmare.
Parade Princesses blow kisses to Macey but not Alex.
Ryley is the mad hatter after 3 different hats in 1 day.
Traffic Jam on Autopia freeway. Hey, this is LA!

Sat.
Van fixed for free! Shoddy maintenance by either 1. Dodge dealer or 2. Jiffy Lube
One of them left a vaccum hose undone! Engine check light OFF.
Alex misses out of breakfast with LOTS of cheerleaders. Whines alot.
Aquarium of the Pacific today.
"Where did all these school kids come from? It's Saturday!"
Lots of fat people barging in front and holding their cellphones to the aquariums. Seriously irritating.
Go to Chili's and then walk to lighthouse. Very Nice. See Queen Mary in distance. Go to beach in Long Beach. Not very nice. BUT, nice drive down to Huntington Beach.

Sunday:
"Is this all the sleep I get?" Macey asks first thing upon waking.
Disney and California Adventure: Round 2