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!!!)

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!

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

European Tour 2007

Posts to begin on 22 Sept. 2007!