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  9/04/2023 New York City and Home               In the predawn hours we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  Paul was able to get a video and picture from the veranda.  He had wanted to be on the Explorer’s veranda to video the approach, but it snuck up on him.  Then the excitement began.  Sailing into New York Harbor is the stuff of legend.  Paul and Ann thought of our German and Swedish ancestors sailing in and stopping at Ellis Island before continuing to Minnesota.  (Shirley and Bob’s folks predated the USA, but it was awesome to think about nonetheless.)          Then the Manhattan skyline took center stage as the Viking Sky slowly made its way up the Hudson Diver to Pier 90, the New York Cruise terminal.  Since Paul worked in NYC in 2008, there have been many new additions to the skyline.  We, along with many guests and crew ...
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  9/3/2023 Sea day     The last day is full of goodbyes, of packing, of last-minute arrangements, of enrichment and fun.  Like learning the Celidh (Kay-lee) as Shirley and Cheryl are pictured above.  (Paul did the line dance, Jazz dance and Salsa dance lessons, but those spent all the dance in Paul.)   Dr. Beth’s lecture on Washington Irving was very good.  She spent some time on the Dutch settling on Manhattan (where Bob’s ancestor, John Pederson Van Deusen, came to the new world).  As well as the life and works of Washington Irving.  We recalled last year when we went to the Alhambra in Granada, seeing a plaque commemorating his stay there.  Now we know the rest of the story.  It inspires us to re-read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle.   Aoibhin (Aye-Vee) was in her element as when taught the Irish dance.  Paul took videos and pictures as Shirley and her friend Cheryl...
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9/2/2023 Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                  Sunrise on Saturday 9/2   Arrived in Halifax at 7:30 AM, ready to leave ship at 9.  Our tour was to Peggy’s Cove, a very scenic lighthouse area a bit south of the city.  The bus we rode was a double decker and we managed the front 4 seats on the second level.            The trip took about 45 minutes and we wound through city streets, took a freeway for a few miles to the “Lighthouse Trail” Nova Scotia’s scenic byway along the coast of Margaret’s inlet.  Fishing boats, Lobster boats, grand houses and a few shacks dotted the area as we drove along.  As we approache...
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  9/1/2023 Sydney Nova Scotia               The world biggest fiddle (Is it really a fiddle if it can’t be played?  Or is it merely the world’s biggest statue of a fiddle?  Pondering thought that.)   We docked at Sydney, Nova Scotia and were cleared to disembark @ 8:30 AM.  After a leisurely breakfast and such we left to explore @ 10 AM.  The ship is docked at the Cadillac parking spot right next to the statue of the fiddle.  Where, by coincidence, is a pavilion housing shops, restaurant, a craft fair, the Odditorium with an alien and a very big Adirondack chair.                    Sydney Dock Shirley in the big red chair   Paul in the big red chair Bob and Ann in the big red chair                                     ...
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  8/31/2023 In the Gulf of St. Lawrence               We are now on Atlantic Time.  It is a very rainy morning, but the weather is schedule to clear up later as we pass through the current cold front.  We were scheduled to stop at L’Anse aux Meadows.  We are glad they cancelled because it would have been miserable slogging through the Muskeg looking at ruins on this cold and wet day.  Of course, we would have done it, and therefore have the right to complain.  This is the lot of the pilgrim – there is no reward without suffering.  (Shirley and Paul considered our transfer at the Toronto Airport our bit of suffering this trip.)   As the picture of our ship’s position shows, we are in the Strait of Belle Isle, northern entrance from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and eastern Canada. The strait, 90 mi (145 km) long, 10 to 17 mi wide, and lying between Newfoundland (...
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  8/30/2023     In the Labrador Sea               So, we have a sea day and that means lots of activity on board.  Lectures, dance classes, eating, walking the promenade and more eating are just some of the activities available.  We could also just sit in one of the comfortable spots and watch the sea go by as we pretend to read a book. (Or, in Shirley’s case – actually read a book.    )   Thinking about the voyage, one of the striking things is the people one meets, and, how they differ from other cruise lines.  Viking has a no child policy and has many enrichment programs designed for the niche of people they want cruising.  Other cruise lines specialize in different niches and that is as it should be.  For Shirley and Paul (Bob and Ann too) this niche is perfect.  And so, we meet a lot of people like us (PLU).  That is not a value judgement at a...
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  8/29/2023   Farewell to Greenland.   It seems that there is a hurricane in the Atlantic.  According to the National Hurricane center, Hurricane Franklin is currently (11:00 AM EDT Tue Aug 29) located at 30.8°N 70.4°W (that’s off the coast of Savannah some hundreds of miles), with the following characteristics: Moving: NNE at 12 mph, Min pressure: 941 mb and Max sustained: 130 mph.   Here is the future-cast:               For this reason, our port of L’Anse aux Meadows has been cancelled. we will now be at sea for the next two days porting in Sydney Nova Scotia on September 1.  Although Franklin is expected to miss the Newfoundland/Labrador area, they are expecting strong winds.  As L’Anse aux Meadows is a tender port, the risk of life and limb versus the safety of the passengers has influenced the Captain to make this change. Good for him!   L’Anse aux Meadows , turned conventional wisd...
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