London

We spent the morning packing. We juggled and shifted stuff around until we could get the suitcases under 50 pounds each. They don’t make it easy for you. We packed all of the heavy stuff, Michael’s bridge books and supplies, into the roll-a-board.  By the time we were done doing this, it was almost 2 pm in the afternoon!  

We spent the rest of the afternoon resting as we had an excursion planned for the evening.  The evenings excursion was a boat ride down the Thames River at night. The boat we were on had a top deck that was open to the elements and the bottom deck that was enclosed. In order to get the best view, we sat on top.  I wish I had worn my hoodie or a hat – – all of it was packed. It was extremely chilly, but we wanted to get some good pictures.  As soon as the boat turned around to go back, it was time to go downstairs and warm up.

After a place has been your home for 4 1/2 months, it was a very sad feeling when we checked back onto board showing our ships card for the last time. For me, the feeling was pretty brief as it meant I am going home.  

Parliament

Tower of London

The Eye

Uber

Thames barrier

One of the oldest pubs on the river

Big Ben

Tower Bridge

London Bridge

I am signing off. This is my final post for this World Cruise. Thank you all for taking this trip with us and look forward to seeing you when we get home.

Dover, England

Today I just physically crashed. I woke up in so much pain that I canceled an excursion to a castle and to the town of Sandwich. I don’t often cancel, but today there was no choice. So I have spent part of the day packing, resting, packing, reading. 

We are in the port of Dover and of course we can see the white cliffs. It is a beautiful sight. Here’s some information about the White Cliffs of Dover.

https://britishheritage.com/travel/facts-white-cliffs-dover

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Cliffs_of_Dover

White Cliffs of Dover

Dover Castle 

Michael went on an exciting excursion today and I will let him tell you what he did. 

Beverly stayed in today, and I decided to take a very enjoyable excursion – Britain at War.  For the first 20 years following the end of World War II, Britain, along with most of the rest of the world, did everything possible to eradicate all vestiges of the war. Since then, having recognized the error of that decision, Britain has put together some wonderful, and often fully authentic representations of the war.

We started with a 45 minute trip to Ramsgate.  At first, I didn’t recognize the name of the town, but it came back quickly when we realized that this was the launching point for the Dunkirk rescue. Nearly 300 boats, some as small as 35 feet, sailed from here over to Dunkirk and helped in the rescue of someone 175,000 French and Belgian troops that were stranded there and became sitting ducks for the Germans. Today, Ramsgate is a sleepy little beach resort, with it seems, more fish and chip restaurants than there are people. It is, unfortunately, on the wrong side of England weather wise. The water temperature here rarely gets above 55°. 

From here, we traveled to the Spitfire Museum. This is a small, but delightful museum with a real Spitfire, and a real Hurricane, the two planes that featured prominently in the battle of Britain. Of course, like most, I had forgotten the importance of that battle. Essentially, 6,000 extraordinarily brave RAF flyers toiled for three months to prevent the Luftwafa from gaining access to Britain to drop bombs in preparation for a land invasion. Think about it – if Germany had been  successful  in softening up England in preparation for a land invasion, then Normandy never would’ve happened and we probably would’ve lost the war. We could easily owe everything to these 6,000 men.  Their task was incredibly dangerous; once an RAF flyer began this mission, his life expectancy was reduced to approximately six weeks.

Our next stop was the Jackdaw.  Originally named the Red Lion, the Jackdaw was the pub where many of the RAF Flyers retreated after a sortie for fish and chips and beer. Today, there are pictures and other artifacts,not to mention initials and other writings on the wall from these fellas. The owners were originally very unhappy with those scratchings, but today they are priceless. It was a beautiful old building.

Our next, and final stop was The Wing.  After so many years, a proper memorial to the battle of Britain was erected here, and it is quite beautiful. In fact, the museum is in the shape of a Spitfire wing.  It has several unique and very fitting sculptures including an RAF airman sitting and looking across the Channel at France, and a crashed Messerschmitt. Both the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth were here to dedicate these monuments. Most striking was a wall inscribed with the names of the 6,000 RAF flyers, only one of whom is still alive.

It was so easy to be emotionally overcome here.  We have all heard Winston Churchill’s speech where so many owe so much to so few.  These were the few to whom he was referring.  From here, it was back on the bus for a very short return ride to the ship, and a delicious steak dinner at Manfredi’s.

Normandy and D-Day

It was another all day affair. I am exhausted and I still haven’t started packing. And tomorrow we have another excursion I do not remember signing up for it.  I need to come home so I can get some rest.  Today was a very emotional day.

Traveling to the Normandy Coast, we passed the three beaches - Gold, Juno and Sword - where British and Canadian troops came ashore. In Arromanches, we saw the remains of the ingenious Mulberry Harbor, a port that allowed the Allies to land vast quantities of troops and supplies.  In the picture below, you can see parts of the artificial breakwater (in the far distance) that was created to protect the floating dock.

We had lunch at Hotel de Normandie with four bus loads of our “closest friends." It is amazing how many people they were able to squish into such a small area.  They served a lovely salad, and chicken and potatoes family style. The highlight of the meal was dessert — an apple tart.  

Next was a brief visit to the small Arromanches D-Day Museum.  After visiting the museum, we walked around town and along the waterfront. What was notable was that the tide was so far out it was just unbelievable. You can then understand why so many of our fine people were slaughtered as they made landfall.  

We loaded up the buses again and followed the coast to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer. Located high on a cliff over Omaha Beach, it is the final resting place of nearly 9,400 American servicemen and -women. I was overwhelmed with emotion as they played taps. The young people in America should see this, and give thanks to these people who selflessly gave their lives so that they have the right to do these protests.  Veterans held their caps over their hearts and stood at attention and saluted the flag. I was crying and a woman walked up to me and asked if she could give me a hug. The greatest generation would be appalled at today’s destruction of traditional values.  I know I am.  

Our final stop was to Omaha Beach where several memorials were erected. Michael walked the sands of the beach.  He felt that if these people hadn’t sacrificed their lives the world would be so different and that we might be speaking German or more likely, as Jews, we’d be dead.

Piece of the floating dock 

Embattlement

Omaha Beach 

Mont St. Michel, France

Today we went to Mont Saint Michel, perched on an island off the coast of the Normandy region of France. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This most incredible place was a can’t miss stop, but we were on the waitlist to go through Viking. We tried to book private tours, but they were all sold out.  So having our fingers crossed, we put in a request to escort. And lo and behold both Michael and I were escorts on this excursion today.  The ship anchored in the bay and we tendered to shore. 

If you have never heard of this place or seen pictures of it, click on this link to get a summarized explanation of its history.  It was/is one busy place.

https://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/en/discover/visit-the-mont-saint-michel/visit-the-mont-saint-michel/history/

According to our guide, there are 700 steps, quite steep and shallow. Now that’s 350 steps going up and 350 steps going down. I will tell you that it felt like 2,000 steps going up and maybe 1,500 steps going down. Just when you thought you were done climbing, you turn the corner and there’s more steps staring at you. This is absolutely an incredible place and it’s not for the faint of heart to go all the way to the top to see the Abbey. Since I was the escort today, I helped Miss Barbara, who is a sweet tiny little lady who is 88 years old who was bound and determined to get up the steps.  The guide and the rest of the group left us in the dust, but the two of us just kept plugging away one step at a time.  Believe it or not, we finally caught up with the group, and the guide was absolutely blown away that we made it.  It was tough going for me as I am mindful of the pain I am going to be feeling tonight. But being a stubborn mule, I had to go do it.

We had six buses full of Vikings, and we had lunch three buses at a time in a restaurant called Saint Pierre.  The restaurant was absolutely packed and as one group finished, the staff cleared  the tables and set them back up for the new group to come in. We had sourdough bread and a plate of some sort of pate, chicken with french fries, and a baked apple, followed by a cheese plate and then a dessert which was a custard type of tart. Most people did a pretty good job of cleaning their plates after working up quite an appetite from that climb up to the Abbey.  

We were pretty lucky weather-wise as it was quite cool with a heavy overcast that threatened rain all day. We had to walk from the parking area to pick up a shuttle to drive over the causeway and drop us off short from the entrance. During that walk we did get rained on a little, but after lunch, the sun actually came out.  

There was time for shopping and some people can’t pass up an opportunity to buy all sorts of crap/souvenirs.  Michael was in the same restaurant at the same time, but neither one of us knew it.  After lunch we found each other.  We still had free time to wander, but I was concerned about the timing to meet the guide back at the bus as Barbara walks extremely slow. And I will admit, that I was really slow today, too. So we headed back to the bus.

Return trip back to the tender dock took about an hour. We got a short panoramic drive through the town of Saint Malo.

Saint Malo

North Atlantic Ocean

Today was our final sea day. Lots going on; it seemed like the day was about food.  Michael got up at his regular sea day time—7:30 am.  It took me a lot longer to get going as I was in a lot of pain this morning. Takes me a good one to two hours to shake it all off and get moving.

Today was our grand finale pool deck brunch.  They had food stations scattered all around the pool deck, including the grill and the Winter Garden where I hold my knitting classes.  There was a pasta bar, a huge selection of fruits and appetizer type food, omelette station, barbecued lobster, nachos, ribs, donuts and other desserts. I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Sometimes a picture is worth 1,000 words so here they come.  

In the afternoon we held our final bridge game, a club championship. And we even got to play, but came in third because we made a few mistakes. Then we went and gathered up all the bridge supplies that we were going to take home.  I don’t know where we’re going to find room for all the stuff, but we haven’t even started packing yet. Later that evening, we held a bridge dinner for all of our players and spouses, about 35 people. We were grouped together in the restaurant and it was a very enjoyable evening. Michael got up and gave a little speech.  After dinner, Michael mention my birthday to the group and everyone sang happy birthday to me.  I love celebrating birthdays because it beats the alternative!!!

After dinner, we attended a very special show in the Star Theater.  Brian Rodriguez and Heather Clancy, people we worked with previously, were visiting the Neptune and put on one hell of a show.