STONEHENGE

STONEHENGE 

We arrived in Southampton and greeted by. Beautiful sunny day.

Southampton is a pretty little town and the second largest port in England. The only problem is that they drive on the wrong side of the street!

The ride to Stonehenge is about an hour but since it's a sunny day...and Sunday...traffic was terrible. We drove through a very scenic forest and small towns and villages, houses with thatched roofs and row houses with the neatest looking chimneys. I really need to come back, rent a car and just drive and stop when and where I choose. Anyone interested in joining me?

We drove through Salisbury which is a very pretty town and definitely needs a revisit. That's the only problem with a cruise... You're in port only one day.

You can walk around the site but can't get close to it because it separated by a low road since there is been vandalism in the recent past.

Anyway, we finally got there....in the middle of nowhere. The drive was definitely worth it. And to realize that it's 5000 years  old makes it even more amazing!

The visitor center has busses that run you up to the ruins. As I said, it's out in the middle of nowhere. But you are struck by the awesomeness of the place. Even though there were hundreds of people it was relatively quiet. You can walk around the site but can't get close to it because it separated by a low road since there is been vandalism in the recent past.  As you're walking around you see the Darkside of stones as the sun is in the background as you come around and the sun is hitting the stones it's a totally different scene.

 Back at the visitor center they have samples of the hits that were used at that time  and replicas of the tools and closing of every day life .

A CORUNA, SPAIN

A CORUNA, SPAIN

Our first stop in Spain is A Coruna which is located on the northwest tip of Spain. It is known as the Glass City because of the fishermen houses facing the harbor that have so many windows. The wrought iron balconies are called gallerias. 

A very well run company, Tours 4 Cruisers, a two hour bus tour with several stops was only 15€. The only downside was that it didn't leave until 11...interrupting my shopping time at El Cortez!!!

A NEW EXPERIENCE!

Another new experience! The Shells (Jane and Ed) and Brenda Greathouse (isn't that a great name) and I went to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner (a fine dining restaurant that charges a surcharge). We had a wonderful evening and then I headed over to the show to see a 'mind reader'. I was part of the show and had a great time. 

Went to bed and about 3 in the morning my stomach went crazy. Was Pinnacle trying to kill me? I was in no shape to go on a tour and tried to cancel but when I mentioned my stomach they told me I needed to go to medical. 

Having had dinner a couple of nights with the good doctor, Ludmilla, I figured no problem, she'd give me a pass and I could get a refund only tour. No such luck. They isolated me in my room for 24 hours. That evening there's a knock on my door. A uniformed officer asked if they could clean my room. In walks two of the room stewards with masks and gloves hands to clean. My bed was stripped put in plastic bags and hauled out. It was hilarious! You'd think I had the plague. Same thing next day.

Finally I was released from my prison to stop more pots and create havoc on the ship!

FROM NARVIK TO SWEDEN AND BACK

Well, I made it to Sweden. The bus brought us through a beautiful portion of Norway outside of Narvik with lakes, cabins, and rock formations formed by the glaciers to Sweden where we will catch the train back to Narvik. The sun was out and the scenery was unbelievable and so clear you could see for miles. The fjord was so clear and seemed to go on forever.

 Hopefully it will stay clear do that I can see more lights tonight.

HUNTING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Hunting the Northern Lights

HAL offered a tour to see the Northern Lights ...$200...expensive, but well worth it if you see them. Well we drove for two hours and finally stopped. The stars were beautiful and then suddenly there they were. The only problem was the clouds came in and that was the end of it. For those having their first experience it was worth it, but after seeing the fantastic show in Iceland, this was nothing.

And then it happened....

During dinner they announced that the lights were visible.

The sky had more stars than I have ever seen. The Big Dipper was shining brightly and the lights, although only green, danced across the skies. There are many legends about the lights, mostly having to do with spirits returning home. As I watched the lights dancing in the skies it almost looked like a gate opening and then it closed and the lights disappeared. Could it have really been welcoming a spirit home? 

You can easily become mesmerized by the dancing lights, the twinkling stars, and the majestic, endless night sky in the middle of a deep and dark ocean. Your imagination takes flight and you truly feel at peace. It makes you want to come back to see them again and again.

TROMSO

TROMSO

we arrived in Tromso this morning; weather still overcast....it doesn't look too good for tomorrow night and the lights.

On the map it shows we can't go much further north (as far as land is concerned).

Tromso is a cute little town..again not much to do except for souvenir shops. They had a street fair going on..different foods. They were roasting a lamb and of course all kinds of smoked fish. The best though were the donuts I found. I went back twice. (And yes I'm on a diet!)

The physician, Ludmilla, sat at our table for dinner.  She's from Canada but is Ukrainian. She had such wonderful stories about her travels, including see the mountain gorillas and native tribes in Sumatra.

ALESUND, NORWAY

T

Alesund is a very pretty town ...actually three islands connected by bridges. Their claim to fame is the breathtaking view from the highest point in the city.

Brenda and I opted for the hop on hop off which was a much better deal and we went at our own pace. The center of town is very quaint and known for its wooden houses. There was a huge fire in 1904 which destroyed most of them but they rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style which was popular at that time and it's wonderful.


Tomorrow is a sea day and we should be crossing the Arctic Circle around noon. Time to start looking for the Northern Lights.

..."He's moves as slow as maple syrup in the wintertime."

FLYING THE FRIENDLY SKIES

Flying the friendly skies

8400 miles...and the journey begins. Flight was a bit bumpy but there was some nice eye candy to make up for the bumpiness.

When I pulled the window shade down I was watching the sunset...when I put it up I watched the sky lighten the day as we rode above giant grey cotton balls that seemed to rise and fall until they disappeared as we descended into them.

I feel a bit punch drunk since I wasn't able to sleep at all...even after 2 glasses of wine in the club and 4 with my dinner. Hopefully my cabin will be ready and I can take a nap before I set off in Rotterdam to find...of course, wine and water.

It's 56 degrees at 7am...maybe I should have left the long pants on. The sunrise is beautiful! Bright orange-red, so glad I had a window seat.

It turns out the transfer is at 9 am, so here I sit with my fellow shipmates....there's a younger couple...he's got his NY sweatshirt on, another couple off to the side with their cell phones, two older couples, and a woman (I think is traveling alone)....appears to be high maintenance and uses a crystal cane. I can only hope that my dinner mates are as wonderful as the last group....could I be that lucky?

I'm sitting here hoping I have enough warm clothes...considering I have 2 suitcases that weigh 50lbs each, a backpack with all my electronics, and a tote that I carried on the plane. Guess I'm going to have to purge if I want to bring anything home....two months is a long time!

Sunrise over Amsterdam

Eidfjord, Norway

We headed back to town to see what was going on there. While we were walking two Dutch women who asked us where the center of town was. I spread my arms and said this is it and she looked at me in total shock. There were a few souvenir shops café and a supermarket. Needless to say we went back on the ship early and I napped the entire afternoon.

Our first stop in Norway....Eidfjord. Brenda got me up early and we were off the ship by 8:15, picked up tickets and on the bus by 8:30 to see the waterfall..,,the only real site in  Eidfjord. It was a nice ride and the falls were impressive.

Met a lovely couple from Ruston, Louisana, Jane and Ed, who are real hoots. They reminded me of my friend Carol with all their Southern-isms which I will try to include in my postings. The first being....

It wad darker than a sack of black cats!

THE RIDE HOME - A WEEK - JUST JIM, ME AND THE ROAD

THE RIDE HOME

 

After three years, Jim's bike is on its way to its new home with Jim Jr. it took three years for Jimmy to come down but now he's here and were having a really good time. Of course, I put him to work and he planted some new plants for me, hung some shelves, and took care of the myriad of other things.

 

Our original plan was to meet Thursday figuring it would take three days to get home. Wednesday morning were sitting around talking and he told me that he want to ride the Blue Ridge Pkwy. and do the tail of the Dragon. Okay, so I thought this was going to be a straight run, but it might be fun.

 

I've really missed writing on the bike and was really looking forward to this, my last trip. So at 1030 we decided we were leaving on Wednesday. I got together my stuff straightened up the house little bit and we were on the road by 1 o'clock.

 

It was a beautiful afternoon and we headed up 75 with no problems at all. We hit Georgia and got off the interstate and onto one of the local highways. Those are really the best places to see what life is like along with the architecture and landscapes.

 

Writing through Georgia there were more magnolia trees that you could count fragrance was beautiful. As we were riding through Madison, Georgia, one of the small towns where everyone knows everyone and the antebellum homes were beautiful and you would've thought that the magnolia was the local tree because they were all over.

 

We decided to stop for the night in Macon and had dinner over at a Logan steakhouse. Two glasses of wine and I was ready for bed. I crashed about 9:30 and didn't know anything until the next morning.

 

Thursday morning we left Macon about 8 AM and hit Route 23, a backroad, tree-lined   highway heading north to Athens. It was a bit cold this morning and I'm really glad I put my sweatshirt on under my leather jacket.

 

The morning was beautiful but there was rain predicted for the afternoon. Along our drive we went through the city of Dahogea and throughout the town on each side street approximately every 20 feet there were white crosses with a name each one and the war that the person who fought and/or died in. It was a very moving site; they even honored the veterans who were still alive.

 

Well the rain came! We were on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. and it started about 1 o'clock and did it come down with no let up in sight. It was coming down so hard that Jim could not see through the windshield. Said he was leaning to the right to see where he was going and I was leaning to the left to make sure he didn't go over the center line and watch for cars coming in the other direction. It took about 20 minutes before we got to an exit and then another 15 minutes to find someplace where we could part with an overhang.

 

While we were waiting for the rain to let up a good ole boy

 

We're just outside of New Jersey and I really had to go. Jim got off the highway and what do I see but a Panera's. Our last stop before we get to Linden and I felt myself with iced tea while Jim relaxed along the fence having a smoke.

 

 

PERGE

PERGE, ANTALYA, TURKEY

 

PERGE is one of the most is one of the most important ancient cities in the world. Settlements in this area were as early as 1500 BC and St. Paul stopped here on one of his journeys. Today it is a large site of ancient ruins about 9 miles east of Antalya. It was renowned for the worship of Artemis's temple stood on a hill outside the town.

 

Alexander the Great occupied Perge. During the first half of the fourth century, during the reign of Constantine the Great Perge became an important center of Christianity. St. Paul the Apostle and St. Barnabas visited  Perge several times.

The ruins are magnificent and are still in the process of being rebuilt. Just walking through the rooms he can imagine the apostles walking through, preaching, converting the people to Christianity.

 

As I walk through the ruins I'm amazed how they actually have underground water systems to keep the baths both hot and cold wherever it is needed. Boy, I wish I was an archaeologist!

 

There was a magnificent aqueduct in the area; the only problem was all the vendors hawking their wares which took so much away from the atmosphere although I guess back in the day that's exactly how was that was still annoying. The aqueduct in pretty good shape stood probably three or four stories high and portions could be found throughout the area.

 

It amazes me how when you were driving to a site you have snow-covered mountains and yet you were in a subtropics client with a beautiful Mediterranean just a few feet away.

 

ASPENDOS

ASPENDOS, ANTALYA, TURKEY

ASPENDOS, another area in Antalya, about 16 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea was founded around 1000 BC by the Greeks. It is known for having the best preserved theater of antiquity with a diameter of 315 feet, it provides seating for 7000. It was built in 155. The acoustics are amazing in the theater; even the slightest sound made at the center of the orchestra can be easily heard as far as the uppermost galleries.

 

One of the tales that have been passed down from generation to generation is that the came proclaimed that he would have a contest to see what man could render the greatest service to the city; the winner would have the king's daughter in marriage. Artisans of the city began to work; at last from the Dave decision came and McCain had examine all their efforts he designated to candidates. The first of them had succeeded in setting up a system that enabled water to be brought to the city from great distances site aqueducts. The second built the theater.

 

As the king was on the point of siding in favor of the first candidate, he was asked to have one more look at the theater. While he was wandering about in the upper galleries, a deep voice from an unknown source Saying again and again," the king's daughter must be given to me." Astonished, the king looked around for the owner of the voice could find no one. It was of course the architect speaking in a low voice from the stage. In the end it was the architect who won the beautiful girl in the wedding ceremony took place in the theater.

 

The aqueduct, over 1 km long series of arches brought water to the city from the mountains at the North and is one of the rare examples surviving antiquity. The arches were 45 feet high. Near both ends of the aqueduct the water was collected in towers some 30 m high which was distributed to the city.

 

It is truly a magnificent sight; both the aqueduct even though it is overrun with vendors, but I guess it was like that back in the day and the theater.

 

I LOVE TURKEY!!!! And I truly hope and pray that all these beautiful sites will not be destroyed because of the war that's going on in the area.