Sun. June 15th

Sunday is our first day at sea sailing out of the English Channel across the North Sea to the southern coast of Norway to our first port of call, Stavanger.   Our ultimate destination is the little gold star on the right below or the furthest point on the northern coast of Norway.  We hope to see the Midnight Sun if the weather continues to hold as it has been sunny but chilly so far; there is rain in the forecast.

We found the library with a great selection of hard back books and selected a book each.  Robert picked up the daily crossword puzzle and found a table with a Plexiglas top with a puzzle underneath.  After a bit he was stumped even after stopping people walking by to assist.  Robert is not shy, you know.  So he took a picture and we left without erasing hoping others would stop and help finish it. Want to try your hand at some answers?

The three of us, Robert, Mike and Michael, played dominoes until lunch and then went to the Rotterdam Dining Room where we got mixed in with the singles and solos luncheon.  We did get a free glass of wine.  All the food you can eat is free but beverages cost extra.  And of course, the obligatory afternoon naps...the beginning of many.   Dinner was the first of three formal nights and since our dress slacks, shirt and ties were still in our luggage on the way back home we went to the casual buffet in the Lido Restaurant which was excellent.   After dinner we went to the song and dance performance in the theater, which was excellent and very professional...good talent, set design, and lighting.  Stay tuned, they are not all of good quality!

We started meeting very interesting people.  Christine, one of many Australians on the cruise, took a fancy to us four guys.   More as we go about the adventures with Christine.

Our first day at sea and in bed by 9:30pm missing the sunset at 10:46pm.  The sunset is getting later and later!  Sunrise in morning is about 4:30am.   (We are now 7 hours ahead of folks at home in Colorado.)

Sat. June 14th

We woke early to meet the bus coming to our hotel to take us to Dover.   Robert said he got a text at 5am from BA saying our bags were found in Austin, TX and asked if we would like them sent to London or back home.  BA said they could express the bags and have them in London by 9am Sun..  Being that we are about to leave London, he sent them a message requesting the bags be sent back to Durango where we would pick them up on our return.  We did not want to even try to get those bags sent somewhere along the way in Norway.  They would never catch up.  Ah, now we know for sure, it is good opportunity to buy new clothes!

The bus ride to Dover was a chance to see the English countryside which was very much like rolling hills and farm land of Tennessee, to me anyway.  There was only one stop on our drive which was the Battle of Britain National Memorial which is a tribute to the RAF which provided a significant victory in the skies over the coast and southern UK during the summer and fall of 1940 against the German attacks. This was a significant turning point of World War II.  While we were walking around the memorial, two spitfires circled the area above us giving us all Goosebumps. We walked out to the coastline to see the coast of France way in the distance across the English Channel.  The city of Calais is the closest point in France to England and the Channel Tunnel goes there from Dover.   (Hint:  click on a picture to enlarge and see the pics in slideshow.)

It began to mist rain and everyone from the bus started running for the very small gift shop, the only place to get out of the rain.  While waiting for the bus to turn around in the parking lot and come pick us up, I thought, what a pity, it is going to rain on her parade, the Queen that is.

But in putting this blog together, I went to You Tube ( who knew that was such a great resource of info ) to see if there was a video of the Queen's birthday celebration.  Sure enough and it is included here just in case you want to check it out.  It did not rain on her parade...beautiful day in London.

Queen Elizabeth’s 88^th birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/dmjfgpvsbNE?rel=0&autoplay=1

We boarded the cruise ship after a short wait, found our cabin and unloaded our bags.  Oh, forgot, did not have any.   It was time for lunch and we made our way to the buffet, the first of many on the course of the next several days.  Let the feast begin.

Sailing away for our first day at sea from the Dover port: 

 Dover port and the White Cliff off to our port side (that would be your left for the non-nautical folks):

 White Cliffs of Dover:

 Mike and Robert in our borrowed pants.  The pair we wore originally is now in laundry!