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Paulette Welch

Paulette Welch

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    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 140 London to Chicago to SLC

      May 9, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

      We started the day with room service and took our remaining bags down to the Atrium to wait for our Uber boat to take us to our bus to Heathrow . I asked the Explorers Desk to print out our boarding passes because the Internet connection would not allow me to do it. Mark told me that guests with VPN s use up all of the band width and Viking doesn’t stop them so other guests and especially staff suffer not being able to get their emails, while some guests stream movies. 😏 Heathrow is very efficient in how they manage security, TSA could learn much from them. We didn’t take anything out of our bag and they were very kind. The United first class (lounge with Internet) was great for me, and I was able to sleep for a few hours on the plane. Chicago’s O’Hare International is huge and our time was tight but we made it - as our flight was delayed. We were delayed further once we boarded because the head attendant deemed we were a meal short and we waited 30 minutes for it to be delivered. We took an Uber home and will unpack tomorrow.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 139 greenwich, United kingdom

      May 9, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Our anchor point at Greenwich was interesting and took an hour and a half.. The ship doesn't actually dock as such, but positions itself in the middle of the river as it is too shallow to get any closer to the shoreline. A barge is then secured to the side of the ship which has full services as any cruise terminal would have; i.e. baggage scanners, toilets etc.
      Shuttle boats (Uber) then get you ashore from the barge.
      Greenwich, a borough of London, is home to the Royal Observatory. From here, the world's longitude is measured from the prime meridian, and Greenwich Mean Time sets the global time standard. At the port, the clipper ship Cutty Sark, one of Greenwich's renowned historic landmarks, is preserved as a fascinating museum.      Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 138 - London (Greenwich), England

      May 7, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

      LONDON (GREENWICH), ENGLAND
      Greenwich, a borough of London, is home to the Royal Observatory. From here, the world's longitude is measured from the prime meridian, and Greenwich Mean Time sets the global time standard. At the port, the clipper ship Cutty Sark, one of Greenwich's renowned historic landmarks, is preserved as a fascinating museum. Upriver, London is home to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. In addition, this major economic and cultural hub boasts a long tradition of arts and architectural innovation-from Shakespeare's Globe Theater to West End musicals. Discover Greenwich's maritime and royal history by foot. You will join your guide for a walk that will take you past the famous Cutty Sark, the world's only surviving tea clipper and the fastest sailing ship in the world when it was built in 1869, and the Greenwich Market, an eclectic mix of arts and crafts, and street food. Continue on to St. Alfege Church, dedicated to the archbishop of Canterbury who was killed on this spot in 1012 and where Henry VIII was baptized. Then, we stopped for photos at the Queen's House, the first classical building built in England. See the National Maritime Museum, housed in a former royal palace and the world's largest seafaring museum, and the iconic Old Royal Naval College, the architectural centerpiece of Maritime Greenwich.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 137 Dover, England

      May 6, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      DOVER, ENGLAND
      Most famously known for its dramatic white-chalk towering cliffs, Dover is the nearest city to France across the English Channel. Its strategic location as a doorway into England has earned it the moniker "Key to England." As the port was under constant threat because of its location, the massive Dover Castle overlooking the channel grew over the centuries to become the nation's largest edifice and remains so today. Dover also served as a bastion and command center during World War II.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 135 - Saint Malo, France

      May 4, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

      SAINT MALO, FRANCE
      A walled city in the north of France, St. Malo was devasted during the World Wars, however several important structures still remain. Along cobblestoned streets, opulent homes from the 16th to the 19th centuries remain, once owned by wealthy privateers. Five lavish houses are still standing today, known as the "Malouinières." Puits Sauvage has been in the same family for more than 200 years. Brittany's oyster capital, Cancale, lies along the coast; Louis XIV is said to have enjoyed this delicacy daily. The town's famous export is cider-a sweet, acid drink with a light fizz. We explored the charming seaside city of Honfleur, a once-thriving trading hub near the mouth of the Seine River. The city now attracts artists and romantics with its lovely quays lined with colorful slate-fronted houses. We had a local guide, as usual, who showed us around this medieval gem during a walking tour along the boat-filled harbor front. Its quaint narrow houses were a favorite subject of impressionist painters, including Claude Monet. Cobblestone streets led us to the fascinating and unique Saint-Catherine's Church. The largest wooden church in France, St. Catherine's dates from the 15th century. The roof is covered with chestnut shingles while the bell tower stands apart from the main church building to protect one or the other building from fire. We had a some time in town before we returned to Neptune by tender.

      Alas, we are getting near to the day we disembark, with a few more ports of call beforehand.

      Last night the traditional Viking Farewell ceremony/concert was put on, and to a packed out theatre. Why wouldn’t it be. There were two groups of passengers in attendance. Those that boarded the ship in Los Angeles, and those of us who boarded in Fort Lauderdale, some 137 days ago (by the time we get to Greenwich).

      Boxes of tissue 🥲 were handed around as performances were put on by the Viking Band, the entertainment team and of course our lovely Cruise Director A’veen. Also, speeches from the Hotel General Manager Ronald and of course the wonderful Captain Richard.

      All the senior officers, department heads and many crew from all the various departments paraded in front of the passengers.

      It was a wonderful show and sad to think that it is nearly over, but we take home such great memories.

      Once back in the cabin, there were our certificates and patches confirming our completion of the world cruise.

      As mentioned, we have a few more ports left, then the dreaded task of packing the suitcases and the long haul flight back home.

      More to follow.
      Cheers from The Boyz (Steve and Alan)
      🥂👬      Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 136 - Honfleur / Paris, France

      May 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

      (HONFLEUR), FRANCE
      Honfleur is set along the Seine estuary and is considered one of the coastal jewels of Normandy. Dating back to the 11th century, this bustling port changed hands many times during the Hundred Years War, before finally coming under French control. A thriving commercial port until the 19th century, it has since become a popular destination for artists; they can be frequently seen perched at their easels along the old harbor. Honfleur is renowned for its historic houses, quaint galleries and charming cafes that line the water, as well as the timbered Church of St. Catherine.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 133 - Coruna, Spain

      May 2, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      A CORUÑA, SPAIN
      The stunning Atlantic setting of A Coruña lends this historic city a wide-open feel. The Roman-era Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since the 2nd century. The coastal San Antón Castle once defended northern Spain from seafaring intruders. The city is known for the historic row of houses along Avenida de la Marina; these 19th-century buildings are fronted by white-glazed glass balconies that, viewed side by side, form a wall of white. The city s bicycle-friendly promenade leads to the glass Millennium Obelisk monument and Orzán Beach.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 132 - Porto, Portugal

      May 2, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      PORTO (LEIXÕES), PORTUGAL
      Porto holds a place of great traditional importance. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone (like Czech) streets brimming with romantic red roofed buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral. At the riverside, small barcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene. We are scheduled for a walking tour and Port tasting excursion.Read more

    • Paulette WelchTravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23

      Day 131 - Lisbon, Portugal

      May 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      LISBON, PORTUGAL
      Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this proud city's story. Along the riverfront, in Praça do Comércio, an equestrian statue at its center represents Portugal's King José I, who capably rebuilt the city following the devastating 1755 earthquake. Among the most recognized of Lisbon's monuments is the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the banks of the Tagus River, displaying statues of more than 30 contributors to exploration, whose bravery and spirit still shape the culture of this vibrant European capital.
      We traveled around in a tuk-tuk around the most beautiful and interesting areas of Lisbon, while sampling Portuguese cuisine. Our driver will was our guide, pointing out the sights and stopping for us to enjoy a few culinary treats. We stopped at one of Lisbon's most visited plazas, Praça do Rossio (Rossio Square); here, we again tasted a traditional Portuguese liquor, Ginjinha, that amazes everyone's palate. Then we drove to the São Pedro de Alcântara belvedere overlooking downtown Lisbon for a photo stop, and then visited the Alfama District, Lisbon's most emblematic quarter. Here, we were able to sit and taste cheese and wine from the different regions of Portugal.
      After which we returned the Neptune ship and had drinks with John, Steve, Allen and dinner with Heather and Marie at 8.      Read more

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