Our 11-Day Voyage began Sunday, August 9th at Southampton, England. Little did we know two historic events occurred at that very city. The Mayflower sailed from Southampton on August 15, 1620 and then the Titanic on April 10, 1912. We set sail on the Norwegian Sky along with about 2000 other passengers and approximately 900 crew members. While aboard we learned the Sky had been sold to an Indian company and would soon be cruising the Indian Ocean with stops such as Singapore and Vietnam.
Our first port of call was Invergordon, United Kingdom near Inverness. We had our first excursion to Dunrobin Castle and it was truly spectacular filled with priceless paintings, furniture, jewelry and various treasures.
The following pictures indicate how opulent the castle was. Please zoom in to see all the detail.
Edinburgh was our second stop and I was mesmerized by the antiquity and charm of the city. After taking the tender from the ship, we decided to absorb the views via a Hop On Hop Off bus. The following photos are scenes of fabulous Edinburgh.
“Rod Stewart” and his co-worker with the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours. They were both so delightful and helpful!
So many chimneys!
Edinburgh Castle
Day 5 was spent on the ship. We were docked at Stornoway, but to be honest I had no desire to fight the wind, drizzle and cloudiness of the northern tip of Scotland.
This is a perfect time to show some of the delicious desserts.
We were now headed to Ireland. Our first stop was Belfast.
This monument listed every person who perished on the Titanic
Day 7 we docked at Dun Laoghaire/Dublin and took a tender to the mainland. What a delightful city full of history and Guinness!
Guinness Country
Day 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Our group decided to forgo an excursion through NCL and venture out on our own. Unfortunately that was a mistake in that directions to the canal boat were not explicit and the trek was not well-marked. Any help requested was not supplied with a smile or added pleasantries. We managed to locate the canal boat and were able to view Amsterdam from one of the many waterways. The following photos provide you with various styles of architecture and the Netherland’s way of life.
Day 10’s excursion to Ghent, Belgium was one of my favorites. Ghent, one of the largest and richest cities in Northern Europe in the 1300’s, was a sensual blend of yummy chocolates, stunning medieval architecture and famous paintings, lively and creative individuals and MORE!
Saint Nicholas’ Church
Belgium is known for their lace. An adorable children’s store.
Day 11 - France
We started the day early as our excursion consisted of a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to Paris. When booking this particular trip I knew that we would need to travel quite a distance to view the capital of France due to its inland location from the LeHavre port. Convinced we would be able to visit outdoor cafes and quaint boutiques, I went ahead and made reservations for the excursion. Unfortunately we disembarked the bus only twice… a 15 minute stop at the Eiffel Tower and an hour stop adjacent to the Grand Palais which is a museum/exhibition hall. We were able to drive past the highlights of Paris, but I had really hoped to walk the streets of Paris and possibly have a croissant!
When my sister and I traveled to the Mediterranean last year, we both claimed it was “A Trip of a Lifetime.” We are now saying the British Isles trip was “A Trip of a Lifetime - Part Two!” Who knows where we will travel next.
Peace to the World
