I had forgotten about Hamlet and if my old English literature teacher Mrs. Martin knew that I had she would be mad…………….and when Mrs. Martin got mad her face would go red and the mole on one of her seven chins from which sprung 3 long hairs would grow before our eyes.
Mrs. Martin or Martin the Mole as we used to call her out of ear shot read Hamlet to us time and time again and there I was today in Frederiksberg castle today listening to the legend of Hamlet and before I knew it I could picture Mrs. Martin’s mole and those three hairs that used to give me nightmares.
I would like to say a few nice things about Mrs. Martin…………………..but I can’t ………..she was a tyrant who used her ugliness to scare us kids………….and we were 14 years old at the time. This was back in the day when teachers could if they wanted use physical violence on pupils to advance their education…………..today, a teacher just has to look at a kid in the wrong way and they are immediately fired and burnt at the stake.
Mrs. Martin used her chalkboard eraser to hit us over the head with when we spoke out of turn or when reading the Bard’s work and we showed even the slightest disinterest. Her biggest pet hate was yawning and anyone of us who yawned would receive the good news with the chalk board eraser…………..I became great friends with it and can still feel her rancid breath as she breathed “Heald, did you just yawn?” and then her huge hand would bring the eraser for a close up meeting with my head.
She was though ………….not the worst teacher……………there was one who we all feared………and his name was Mr.Waknen – Renyolds………….he taught biology ……….. and his favorite weapon of choice was …………….a slipper…………….an old leather thing which probably belonged to his great grandfather and which he used on our bottoms whenever he could.
I would like to say that his strictness caused us to listen and learn more ……….but it didn’t……….it just made me hate biology and it’s his fault that until the age of 16 I thought babies really were delivered by a stork …………….it’s probably his fault I never had girlfriends as well then.
Anyway, I digress as usual so back to today. When guests come to Denmark they will mostly want to see Copenhagen and all its wonderful sites. However, today’s trip to Zeeland and the Royal Palaces was remarkable. These fairy tales (do you write tail or tale?) castles are usually found in Hans Christian Andersen stories or in a Disney Film and, of course, in the story of Hamlet.
To walk around these structures that were built in 1308 like Fredericksburg Castle was is an event you will never forget.
In between visiting the castles we went for lunch and of course there was herring in a white sauce, herring in a red sauce and herring in a Toblerone sauce or herring with no sauce………oh how I long for a plate of fries.
Seriously, if you want peace, tranquility and feel the need to step back in time then the castles and Palaces of Zeeland tour is something very special.
The morning started though with a very early canal boat tour. These canal boats are similar to the ones in Amsterdam and this morning at 9 am we rode the canals. This is a perfect way to see the royal palace, canals and all the famous sites without walking. The tour includes a photo stop at The Little Mermaid and if you can manage to walk down three small steps even guests with walking challenges may enjoy it.
If you are lucky enough to take a canal boat called Laudrup please have a look at the second row on the left as half my buttock is still there frozen to the plastic seat………..9 am…………canal tour……………-2 degrees………….someone’s having a laugh!
Also this morning we visited the Calsberg Brewery which produces some of the world’s favorite beers. If you love beer (you get two free ones at the end of the tour) this tour is for you. If you don’t drink beer then taking this tour would be like asking someone from Paris to tour a factory making soap ………………….pointless.
No, for me the highlight of the day was the Palaces and Castles of Zeeland …………….. simply brilliant.
Let’s see what Bubba has been up to today………………Bubba, over to you mate.
Alaska Fam 2008 – the last couple of days….
Hey all greetings from Skaaaaaggggggway! I like to say it like that. It’s fun to say cause this is a fun place. Sorry could write yesterday but we were in Haines Alaska and they had us staying in a very small motel…looked like something out of a movie…not that it was bad. It was actually quite comfortable but it just looked like one of those road side motels you see in the movies. So the internet was sparce. I was wondering around the streets of Haines trying to find a signal, but couldn’t seem to find something. Now that we are in Skagway, I have found some wifi so on with the show!
We went to Haines yesterday which is located about 70 miles as the eagle flies to the northwest of Juneau. Two ways to get to Haines from Juneau….flying, or the Alaska Marine Highway which is the state’s ferry system used by many to get around to different cities. We were flying on Wings of Alaska Airlines which was a lot like flying on that TV show “wings.” A small business that does service between these smaller cities. When you check in they just ask for your name. No taking your shoes off or anything thing like that and they don’t give you a ticket. You just check in, the call your name and you walk out to the plane. There were 11 passengers on the flight and that was every seat occupied. Ross got to sit in the copilot seat which he was thrilled with and was making jokes the whole way….all though it entertained the people in the plane the pilot didn’t seemed too pleased. Just a short jump over, the flight only lasted 30 minutes and even though it was raining the whole way, it was pretty smooth.
Haines is not a port of call for the Carnival Spirit, all though some other cruise lines do call there. There is room for one ship to dock. Haines is/was home to one of the first military installation of the U.S. which is FT. Seward. We were visiting this town as it is very close to Skagway…bout 15 miles as the eagle flies and we run about 4 different excursions near the town of Haines.
This is the town of Haines.
We greeted by our hosts in Haines and began our adventures. We quickly learned that these excursions over to Haines are great for those who want to see nature in the wild. Haines is home to The Bald Eagle Preserve which is a massive piece of protected land that the eagles like to hunt in during the salmon season. Not only will you see the mighty bald eagles in this area, you’ll also have pretty good opportunities to see moose and bears in this area….this whole trip we have been arguing over what is the plural of moose? We’ve had some pretty funny answers since our group comes from all over: England, Belgium, South Africa, Australia, & America. Some of them include Mice, Moosi, Mooses and more.
Both of these tours that go through the eagle preserve are Jetboat & the Float Trip. The Float trip you go in Rubber Rafts down the Chilkat River. Your guide does all the work with the paddles. You just sit along the edges and have your cameras ready to shoot the wildlife.
An example of one of the float trip rafts.
The Jetboat Tour used powered Jetboats to go up the Chilkat river which usually has a better chance of seeing moose if that’s what you are looking for. In fact our guides let us know that last season there were over 1500 moose sightings on this excursion. That’s a lot of moosies.
Eagles are usually pretty easy to spot with the white heads. It almost looks like golf balls are in the trees.
Now the last one I will mention for going over towards Haines is the Glacier Point Tour. This goes over to Davidson Glacier by way of Canoe. All though there’s too much snow and ice there now for them to take us over there, I have this pic from last season when I was on the Fam trip then.
With this tour you will ride the ferry over near Haines, take a shore nature walk through the forest and then board these large canoes and paddle out to the face of Davidson Glacier.
One highlight of our trip to Haines is that the sun finally poked it’s head out and the view was incredible.
The view from our “Bates” like motel. The spring is definitely coming.
Our hosts were very nice in showing us around and we had a great time here. But we would not gather any moss as we would be on the move for the next day. We were up early for breakfast and all though there is no Waffle House in Haines, there is a great little diner call the Bamboo Room which had all the elements of a Waffle House. Had a great breakfast, biscuits and GRAVY!!! Then we were back to the airport.
We were flying to Skagway via Helicopter thanks to our friends who run the helicopter excursions in Skagway. They too offer similar helicopter type excursions like the ones in Juneau. So if you miss out on the chance to do this type of activity in one port you can always have another chance in another.
Now as I mentioned in the beginning Skagway is a lot of fun because it is full of history and the past comes alive in this town. Skagway was the starting point for the great gold rush of 1898 in the Yukon. Many great stories of the propectors are interesting to learn about during your stay. I love this kind of stuff. It’s like having the history channel in 3D!
The oldest running excursion in Alaska started in Skayway and is still running today. It’s the street car tour. Now all though Skayway is only 4 blocks wide & 23 blocks long, there is so much to learn about this town. So hop on the Street Car and their in character drivers will take you all around and show you the town in just 2 hours. Very entertaining…..
Our guide Elsie telling us about the demise of the Famous “Soapy Smith” shot by the town hero Frank Reid.
If you want to strike it rich you can also do the Gold Dredge where folks in period costumes will tell you all about the Gold Dredge and how to pan for gold.
Above is the gang learning how to pan at the Gold Dredge and then Ross showing off his big find. Turned out to be $47.70 worth. With the price of gold on the rise, this stop sure could pay off.
Another area that people can see period style costumes and entertainment is Liarsville. This tent city is where the base camp was where prospectors would get their supplies together before heading up the white pass trail to go into the Yukon. You can also pan for gold here as well as check out a show & see the full campsite. Including the general store, Barber tent, press, tent, & the madam’s tent..where $5 can get you 15 minutes.
Got another day in Skagway tomorrow.. We’ll bring you those adventures as they come.
Until tomorrow…Chris
I want to thank Bubba again. I know what its like to tour from early morning to late at night and then try and write ……………. especially has Bubba has not been able to eat any Grits for the last few days. He did walk into a breakfast place in Juneau and ask the waitress “d’yall server Grits?”……the waitress replied……………sure, we serve everyone, sitdown.
Now, what am I going to do with my sister Suedrip who seems to be enjoying spilling the beans about me and Alan. She tried to mask it with the “I am so proud of my big brother” routine but deep down I know she is loving a chance to tell thousands and thousands of people all about me. I therefore feel the need to warn her that should any other stories of my past emerge on my thingy I shall reveal everything about a certain function she and her hairdresser/cable TV friend Debbie attended ………………..in fancy dress…………………so Sue Drip……….you have been warned.
I love Denmark…………I love the people’s honesty…………their love of drinking, the fact that history shows their army was crap and never won a war……………..even today our guide said that Rhode Island could take them. Most of all I love their sense of humor and their ability to laugh at themselves.
Now, what what I do if I had just a day in Copenhagen…………….that’s a tough one…………I love the tour today to the Palaces of Zeeland……………the canal boat was a great and relaxing way to see it all…………….however……………I think for me it would be the Wonderful Copenhagen or Royal Copenhagen tours. These tours visits the must sees………..The Little Mermaid ……….The Royal Palace for the changing of the guard………….Tivoli Gardens and so much more. With Wonderful Copenhagen you also get free time to shop or to enjoy more at Tivoli Gardens
Joking aside you have to try the Herring and drink a Carlsberg to wash it down ………….those are my hot tips. Taking a shore excursion from the ship is the best way to do all this………….not because I want this blog thingy to be all about tours but the fact that it’s true that the guides will show you their city and their pride and passion will be something which will further enhance your time. I will answer questions at the end of the trip I promise.
So, it’s now 9:35 pm and tomorrow we have a flight with Air Blue…………who…………..at 8 am to Helsinki, Finland. This means the alarm sounds at 5:45am…………….bugger.
One more thing about Denmark ………….. everyone has the same name………..the men especially. They are called Hans, Eric or Lars………………I mean everyone ……………it’s like in Grand Cayman………….if you stand in the main street and shout “hey, Mr. Boden,” thousand men will say “What?” in unison.
Teachers………………they should be paid a million dollars…………….I know my dad was one and all of mine were excellent and wonderful caring people but tonight I am sure I will dream of Mrs. A Martin and Mr. B Wakenen – Reynolds. I never knew their first names and although I think I had a good education those two made my Biology and English classes a living hell ………….. and…………….if I met them today………….and I thought I could get away with it……………..I would probably sneak into Mrs. Martin’s house and cut of those mole hairs and as for Mr. Biology man…………..well…………..I would probably buy a Great Dane ……………. feed it ten bars of Exlax and then hold his favorite slipper under his bottom and wait for the flood gates to open.
I will leave you with some photos…………….by the way; the one of the finished product from my glass blowing will be posted soon.
Good Night.
Your friends,
John and Heidi
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Wow! That was a wonderful thingy tonight, very beautiful pictures. Thanks! I must have checked every half hour to see what you had to say, & it was well worth the wait. Can’t explain the excitement when a new one is posted. Love to Heidi.
Jan
John and Heidi, Those were wonderful pictures of Copenhagen. Thank you.
Will the weather be warmer there by the time the Splendor docks? I hope so for the cruisers sake……LOL
By the way, it’s story TALES.
Cheers,
Cindy
Absolutely love the pictures ~ almost as good as being there. Thanks for sharing them with us!
today, a teacher just has to look at a kid in the wrong way and they are immediately fired and burnt at the stake.
True John, so true……. ahhhh and no pay. Now everything is our fault and we are bad.Not easy and everyday is even more difficult.
The castles are beautiful and you both look great happy and relaxed. Thats good!
I want to go to Northern Europe and Alaska.Soooo many things to do.
Suzanne dont let John scare you. Keep talking!!
The battle of the Heald’s FUN! LOL
John, on Tuesday at 7:00 am im leaving for the teacher’s convention in Utah. Im meeting Kathie at the airport in Atlanta.You must be proud of the network of friends you have created.We really love each other. I have no laptop thingy so Im going to be disconected.No blog until Sunday. Im going to miss you and my friends.
Muchos huggos !!
Nanni
Suzanne, don’t worry Stephanie is part of My Evil Krewe and she has the last shot at the delete key so she can remove THAT story. You have to get Alan to follow your lead and start telling his side of the stories John tells about him.
BIG ED
We’re all waiting one of the pictures you promised. That of the results of your “glass-blowing project”. So glad all is going well in Denmark. I hope the weather is much warmer by the time “Splendor” passengers visit.
John,
Sounds like you had some wonderful teachers…not. And then you said so matter of factly, inbetween visiting castles we had some lunch…sounds like a tough life.
Once again, I enjoyed the blog from Bubba.
Now John, you are now blackmailing your sister through the blog??? This is going to be good!! I think your sister should join forces with Hedi!! I’m sure they both have some wonderful stories to share!! I think I will grab me a Diet Coke and watch the evil fun!!
Princess Susan
Dr. John CD,
First of all I think your sister is a great new addition to the blog maybe she can get upgraded from the comments above the line? And the story about you and Alan in Spain priceless. And that it actually worked is even stranger. Unless thats the story your going with die to well other reasons. I know once while in college me and my roomate who name is Ben went to Cancun for spring break, we told a few girls we were Air Force Pilots, well it worked out rather well for a few days. Then once they got sober and looked at us said umm what kind of planes do you fly. We both looked at each other and said F-16′s. To that they said, really you two fit into one of those, wow they must use crisco to lube the walls. Well at that point we new we were done so we went with the, well see we don’t fly F-16′s we fly a new classified plane that is bigger and faster. Ahh those next 4 days were great. But John be careful I think ED is going to try to get help to plot his retaliation from her. At preventive strike might be in order. Or maybe we just feed him taco bell on the ship and then cover his toilet in plastic wrap funny for everyone except his stewards. We’ll have to write great things about that person and tip extra after that. Great pictures looking forward to tomorrows update Best to Heidi who seems to be enjoying her brew.
Kevin
John, the pictures tonight are stunning! You look like you are losing weight in your pic., and Heidi looks adorable as usual! Did Mr. Murphy decide to move on, or just leave y0u alone for a day? I checked the blog frequently today checking for a new blog from you so I could have some laughter and burn a few calories! You always seem to come thru for us! Thanks! You are on a whirlwind shore excursion trip, eh? Have fun, and thanks for picking out the best of the best for all of us!
Sheryl
Your recollection of some of your memorable teachers brings yet another song to mind…..From the incomparable Roger Waters ala Pink Floyd….
When we grew up and went to school
There were certain teachers who would
Hurt the children in any way they could
By pouring their derision
Upon anything we did
I didn’t have any teachers that had the propensity to hurl things at us. But I do remember a rather emotionally fragile band instructor that would be regularly reduced to tears when some unruly members of the percussion and brass sections would not cooperate or when they played their instruments horribly.
I have always heard it wasn’t a good idea to stick your tongue on a cold metal surface but perhaps other body parts also adhere to cold surfaces….. this could be just tongue-in-cheek or tongue-and-cheek.
Future guests may be pleased that you have left a little of your left behind…. behind or that you really stand (or sit) behind this particular tour and that you personally have put a bit (butt) into it.
Herring again…. (gag) and for dessert ….whipped herring mousse.
Mark
The Flying Dutchman
Cheers to You Heidi !!! NIce pictures…Thanks for the great information John !!
Morning all …. and a special hello to the Krewe and to Stephanie who thankfully is not vetting my comments – yet !!
As you can tell, my brother can see through me so easily and has always known the right buttons to press to get a certain reaction from me, so I write today with slight trepidation.
I fear his retaliation maybe harsh and something along the lines of this ….the fateful day when Heidi and I went house hunting together and I reversed into a boulder the size of … well Boulder and it made a huge hole in the bumper of my husbands car – which was due to be sold … of which we have always denied all knowledge of but John secretly knew. Sorry Paul … it wasn’t our neighbours son shooting cannonballs from an 18th century cannon afterall … !
Or the time when I had my first ever dinner party – cooking an amazing meal for my brother and a group of friends. I told stories of sourcing rare organically grown Scottish salmon hand reared from the highland spring, of cattle that produced beef so melt-in-the-mouth tender because it was massaged and kissed goodnight everynight by blonde Southern heiresses .. of me using an old family recipe for a sauce so rich and creamy that even Victoria Beckham used it as a night cream … when it was in actual fact totally and cheatingly store bought – … which my brother saw through in an instant and has commented on for the last 15 years … and my husband is still, to this day, totally oblivious to – so sorry Paul …. again … and thankyou to John and Heidi for keeping stum !
So now I have confessed to a couple of sins … does this mean I’m let off the hook slightly and can continue the History Of John So Far ???
I also have a fear that I am so English, some of my comments need explanation … and so I have decided that maybe a few cockney rhyming slang words/phrases may help your understanding … and even make John feel more at home and less American than he normally sounds. So feel free to ask him questions and make new comments in your new second language … Cockney.
Trouble and Strife = Wife
The trouble’s been shopping again.
Scarpa Flow = Go
Scarpa! The police are coming!
Adam and Eve = Believe
Would you Adam and Eve it?
Barnet Fair = Hair
I’m going to have my barnet cut.
Apples and Pears = Stairs
Get up those apples to bed
Butcher’s Hook = Look
I had a butchers at it through the window.
Rabbit and Pork = Talk
I don’t know what she’s rabbiting about.
Great great photos Heidi … loved the one of you with the beer in your hand … and not a single other woman in sight …. !!! Denmark looks wonderful can’t wait to hear more
Sue-Drip
So, John, how are you managing with only half your butt? Guess you’ll need new trousers (smaller). Nah, with the amount of Toblerone you’re consuming it’ll grow back in no time.
I can only say the pictures are lovely, but I’d have to be there in summer as I don’t tolerate cold weather very well. Tend to hibernate if the temperature drops below 70. Guess Bubba is doing okay for a Florida boy. He must be “feeling the pain” of the Alaskan cold.
Don’t be picking on Suze…we like her little tales of John and Alan.
Well, it’s 5:20am here in Clermont, Florida so I guess you’re roaming around Helsinki by now. Have fun and keep those tour descriptions coming!
BTW are the date and time at the top of your posts when you actually write them or when Suzanne does whatever she does with them. In other words, what sort of time lapse is there between you writing and us reading…do you know?
Stay warm (cuddle with Heidi!),
Myra
Hej, hej Heidi and John!
It’s a long time since we’ve posted a message, but we’ve been reading the blog.
Wonderful pics of the beautiful Kobenhavn, but you are missing an important one of the Radhus (city hall), where we married in 2004!
In case you’re tired of eating herring, try the steaks at Jensens Boefhus, a nice and inexpensive (for Scandinavian standards) steakhouse.
Groetjes en beijos vanuit Karlsruhe,
Thais and Fabian
WOW! The pictures are fantastic, thanks for writing one last blog from Denmark being leaving. Where to now? Your adventures are wonderful. I feel like I am reading a book, and can’t wait for the next chapter. As I said in a previous blog you two sure lead a charmed life! I can tell from the pictures today that you and Heidi had a fantastic time there. I am like Jan, I keep checking the blog site to see if anything new is posted. I must check at least a dozen times a day. Have a safe trip to your next stop, can’t wait to hear more soon. Linda
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Smurf,
Finally got through the weekend’s blogs. John, you and Heidi look adorable all in blue. But the pictures and descriptions of Denmark are magnificent. I can’t wait for the next chapter.
And Bubba too. These are probably as close to Alaska and Europe as I will get.
The Battle of the Heald Siblings – Suzanne, it’s priceless. Which one will outdo the other’s stories?
Stephanie – a really big thank you for your excellent work for the blog thingy. Brava!
OK, time to work. I’ll check back on the blog thingy later.
Hugs,
Carol
P.S. I see my “Let’s Pick a Blogger’s Cruise from NY” is gaining momentum. Yesss.
Hi Sue-Drip: By the way is that John’s name for you? Keep telling us stories, we love hearing them. You and John have that same sense of humor! Love it! Are your dad and mum as funny? Tell us more stories of him as a teenager, and as a child, we love them! Are you just visiting Hong Kong, or do you live there? When was the last time you saw your brother? It is so nice that you are now among the bloggers, especially being John’s sister. Write more soon! Linda
John…
You have summed up Copenhagen WONDERFULY!!! I have truely enjoyed my tour with you!! THANK YOU!!! Where are we off to next???
These are wonderful blogs… You have a great way of adding those little anecdotes about your life (and Alan’s and Heidi’s and the doghouse) to spice them up… and that’s what makes them truly YOUR’S!!!
Until our next vision into your life…
Regards to everyone and a huge thank you to Stephanie!!
Lambie
Have been a reader for the longest time…but never a blogger. I enjoy the blog very much and look for new entries each and every day.
I am, however reading the “sister” entries and believe that it is John himself writing them and setting his sister up…
The writing style gives him away….
Suzanne,
You just wont adam and eve what my strife porked about when I told her to scarpa a butcher at your post. She said she was going apples to do her barnet before she meets you.
Thanks for the Cockney lesson.
John now if we can just get Alan posting here we would really be getting the full and true stories of the life of John Stephan Heald.
BIG ED
I must confess to being like Jan and Linda and keep checking every time I’m near my PC for updates.
Thanks for another brilliant blog, excellent photos.
Gav and Em
dude! your sister is spilling the beans! bwahahahahahah this is really getting good now…
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
John:
As with anything in life, you have to have a couple of irritants to truly appreciate the rest of your teachers; who were wonderful.
As for “revenge”…. the best revenge would be to send Ms. Mole and Mr. Slipper a copy of your blog. This way they can see the wonderful life you are living, traveling the world with a beautiful wife and loved by millions!!!
One of my cherished possessions is a book by Hans Christian Anderson of all his fairy tales. My oldest sister (who passed away from cancer when she was in her mid 50′s) brought it from Europe and gave it to me as a child. She and her husband were stationed there for years in the military. If she were still living, she would be 80 years old this year. But you can’t tempt fate by smoking 3 packs of Camel unfiltered cigarettes a day and win.
Anyway, it was a delightful Christmas gift that I have kept all these years. It reminds me to never lose the “wonder” of a child’s imagination.
Linda (Lady In Waiting)
The Domestically Challenged Goddess of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe
What wonderful pictures! Heidi, I wish I had been there to share a beer with you. Just seeing that picture made me want to get up and get one — even at 9:00 a.m.!
Love the beautiful pictures you posted today. Looks like you are having a grand time. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to read the next blog thingy.
Lori
John, your thingy just gets better and better (kudos also to Heidi, Bubbba, Stephanie, Vance, Suedrip, etc.). Now that spring has sprung I am ready for thougths of new places and Denmark sounds wonderful (and Samantha Brown [Travel Channel] mentioned some of the same attractions on her show yesterday so that must be a sign that I need to go there). But if all goes as planned, it will be 2011 before I can take a European cruise.
This is my second week of retirement and I am enjoying it thoroughly. My next adventure is a cruise in the Galapagos Islands at the end of April. It is on an X ship that holds fewer than a hundred guests and doesn’t even have a CD! But the animals on the islands are the real entertainment and the reason for going.
I’ll have to watch the Olsen Twins mystery cruise video a few times before I go to help me survive a week with no blog and no CD.
Shirley
Loved the pics from Denmark!! Can’t wait to see what you get into in Finland!
Mel
Well John, now you’ve done it! My wife now thinks that you and Heidi have the most excellent jobs and has started sentences with things like, “Wouldn’t it be great to work on a cruiseline and…”! I keep telling her to think about the kids from UofK and the 5:00 “Have you seen this woman” announcements, and the irritable pax, but she thinks the rest overshadows it all! I’m thinking maybe when we retire, I’ll encourage her to go work on a ship, maybe I can get some cheap cruising in before she realizes it’s not all roses and fancy trips! LOL! She might have the patience for it, but I don’t think I ever would! First of all, there is no way I am going on any tour in -2 degree weather! I would much rather enjoy your beautiful pictures, heck I can even open my own beer and a tin of herring, and if I squint just right while looking at your pics…. Well you guys sure do make it look appealing though. Thanks for sharing with us. And Bubba too! At least Bubba’s going on the right ship! The grits on the Spirit aren’t bad! Now it’s no Pancake House, but I’ve had a lot worse!
Safe travels one and all.
Mike & Mary
Wonderful as always! I’m loving Bubba’s posts as well. I hope he comments on the train ride in Skagway, it’s definately worth it
Thanks for the fantastic pictures!!!. I am also enjoying Bubba’s reports from Alaska…the pictures brought back many memories of my cruise there (sorry that one was not on Carnival). I had actually been on some of the excursions that he had photos of on the blog.
I’ll try to send some warm FL weather to you, although we had a very rainy and dreary weekend.
Take care and regards to Heidi.
Linda
John,
Hamlet… bruuuuuuuuuuuuhh. Sends chills down my spine just thinking about it.
_BM
Chief of B.S.
John:
Loved the photos of Denmark. I’d want to do the canal boat! Perhaps Larry & I will consider the Baltics cruise one of these years. The one thing holding us back is Russia. We’ve read that you cannot even get off the ship unless you have arranged a tour with a certified or licensed tour guide, and that those BEGIN at about $300 per person! With two days in St. Petersburg, we’ll have to save a bit just to be able to get OFF the ship! Do you have any idea how much the ship excursions run in St. Petersburg?
I’m also enjoying the Alaska photos/blog from Bubba. Alaska is the one place Larry has said he will never cruise to (we do prefer more tropical climes!), but I think he’s actually considering it, now.
Suzanne: I’ve learned a few bits of cockney slang over the years, but decided I might not want to continue when I heard someone being called a “berk”…asked what it meant and…..uh-oh! I’m wondering if that little phrase is considered as offensive over there as it is here!
Terri
Hi John, I have really enjoyed your blogs on this trip. Your tours have really been helping me decide what I might want to do on our 8/30 and 9/11 Splendor cruises. It would help us all if you could give us some idea how far away the area is where the ship will dock from the area where the tours will visit. Also it would be nice to know if there is anything to do where the ship docks. I know the pier for Berlin is several hours drive from the city. Is there anything interesting near the pier? That kind of thing.
I have also enjoyed Bubbas’ Blogs. We have been to Alaska several times and loved it. People have to remember that it is cold there now but when the cruise ships visit it is summer and warm. We were in Ketchikan over July 4th one year and it was warm enough to wear shorts. At that time of year there are over 20 hours of daylight. It would be a great place to have a bloggers cruise.
Thanks again for taking me along on your travels. You always put a smile on my face.
Jo
Oh, mine! I am praying hard that 10~15 years from now, my students wouldn’t have such lasting memories of me!
Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Can’t wait for our July 13 sailing on the Splendor.
Suzanne, make sure you take the bus ride from Victoria Peak down on the upper level of the double-decker bus while you are in Hong Kong, if you have not already done so. OMG!
Hi John & Heidi, (aka The Travelers)
I didn’t mention it before but I’m probably the only one in my family who is not a certified teacher (except for my classes teaching how to write & proofread business correspondence, etc.). After all the years of school, I decided I didn’t want to be in a classroom anymore and I wanted to deal with adults, not children. So I went to work in the garment business. (and dealt with lots of grown-up children).
I know you said PA007 was working on the identity of the Splendor’s Godmother, but has anyone even mentioned Mrs. Cahill?
Regards,
Carol
Hi John/Heidi:
Beautiful pictures today. I love that yacht. Its gorgeous.
Great hearing about Bubba’s adventures as well. I hope he makes it back to reality safely.
Thanks for another great blog and hope you’re enjoying all of the excursions.
Take care,
David