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  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters
  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters

Europe

Our FIRST visit to the U.K. Read more
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  • Europe
    FOLLOWUP Irish Coffees

    Cobh Port, Ireland-4 of 4 SHIP SAILAWAY

    July 4, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Friday evening began with my leading Shabbat Services, a sailaway with a view of some very colorful homes, dinner and Irish Coffees, the show Ignite the Light and then the 4th of July Celebration!

  • Europe

    Waterford, Ireland OR Celtic Sea

    July 5, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 64 °F

    Waterford, SE Ireland, is the country's oldest city, founded by Vikings in 914 AD, and as the birthplace of Waterford Crystal.

    To ALL our friends and relatives: We going to surprise you and bring back Waterford Crystal for every one of you but now since we did NOT STOP here today due to 8' waves and 25 knot winds and impossibility to tender here, you can select your own piece for us to buy NEXT TIME we are here.
    https://www.waterford.com/en-gb/collections/all…    Read more

  • Europe
    2

    Regent Seven Seas Grandeur - 1 of 3

    July 5, 2025, English Channel ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    This ship is quite beautiful and has venues and features we have never seen in any other ship we have been cruising on. See photos.

  • Europe
    1CUSTOMIZED pistachio milk shakequiche1monte cristobanana fried ice creamRACEVIDEOKrew KapersLast stand for these shoes

    Sea Day - 1 of 2

    July 6, 2025, English Channel ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    One of the incredible guest speakers we heard from in 4 presentations he made was US Ambassador Marc Ginsberg. A simple upbringing from Brooklyn NY, many years in the Middle East mostly living in Israel, he became the first Jewish Ambassador to an Arab nation- in Morroco (‘94-‘98) and as a consultant to many Presidents, Senators and Congressman. Currently he owns a company that combats extremism and cyber terrorism.

    His lectures:
    -With Far left & Far-right: Violence incitement is escalating. A prescription for action
    -Israel Iran and the US - A Triangle of Trouble
    -Ukraine & Taiwan -Global Hotspots
    -Tales from the Diplomatic Woods – we are not always serious in diplomacy, behind the scenes at Foggy Bottom (US State dept)
    He was very interesting every time, with many provoking thoughts and questions.

    The Regent Silver Seas Grandeur had wonderful places to hang-out, drink and eat including: The Observation lounge, Meridien Lounge, Coffee Connection, Grandeur Lounge, Compass Rose, Sette Mari, La Veranda, Pacific Rim, Chartreuse, Prime 7 and a great Pool Grill & Bar.

    We were entertained by: guitarist Camilo, pianist abner sanchez, the group The Stick2 One Duo -Charmie and Efrimo , and the Regent Signature Orchestra. It was incredible to have so many venues for live music and fresh cooked food/drink on a ship with only a little over 700 passengers and 539 crew (1.3:1 ratio)!

    The evening had special guest performers every night and two great shows:
    -Pasion-celebrating the Tango, a dance that originated in Buenos Aires and one that is a captivating blend of cultures, captures the essence of this dance style by blending it with modern hits and creating dynamic vignettes.

    -Ignite the Night- an unexpected mix of dance, style, and design. Inspired by the visual grandeur of American Idol, the exhilaration of the Video Music Awards, and the contagious energy of Dancing with the Stars, choreographed by the incomparable Dancing with the Stars Pro-Dancer Britt Stewart

    Although Waterford was cancelled (no crystal from the Kilkenney design center where it originated) due to conditions we got to cruise the Celtic Sea and the English channel for two days unexpectedly and had a great time. We also had an early evening shared experience watching live the Moments of glory- Formula One team – Aston Martin Aramco Formula One British Grand Prix, a great Backstage Tour with not only a view behind the stage but a tour of the changing and costume rooms, the sound and music booth and a chance to see what its like to be onstage and ask questions on-on-one to the cast. We saw Krew Kapers crew talent show (best we have ever seen) a geography quiz with Will O’Hurley (yes, his son) and a Beatles farewell dance party.

    see 1 video    Read more

  • Europe
    Moo
    Prime on the Seven SeasMany dishes and sides2YES, 14 layers when 7 is just now enough2LAST DANCEVIDEO

    Sea Day - 2 of 2

    July 6, 2025, English Channel ⋅ 🌬 63 °F

    Last night - great steakhouse and then Beatles goodbye ... and then we closed down the last bar open.

  • Europe
    Us from our balcony with Southampton in the backgroundIKEA is walkable from the shipOur last photo from the shipWe took the ship's bus transfer to the hotel at Heathrow - we had the bus to ourselves!

    Southampton, England

    July 6, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Final post from this trip on the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. It is true that we may have not gone too far BUT it was a great trip to Liverpool, Dublin and Cork!

  • Europe
    Lobster Telephone by Salvador DaliMUSICVIDEO MusicBabelVIDEOBruce under Babel

    A Bonus Day in London-Tate Modern Museum

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    We got off the ship, checked into a hotel at the airport and quickly grabbed a bus to London to take advantage of our one overnight until our flight tomorrow. We spent the afternoon at the TATE Museum.

    We are not "big" fans of Modern Art but once in awhile it is interesting to visit a modern art museum in a city (yes, we have been to NY MoMA many times) to see what is being shown. The Tate is celebrating 25 years and therefore showcasing some permanent collections along with special exhibits they think represents their history. https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/anniv….

    Tate Modern is located in the old Bankside Power Station, a former industrial space that was originally built between 1947 and 1963, a project completed in 2000. They largely retained the building's industrial character and features, most notably the towering Turbine Hall and the iconic chimney. The collections in Tate Modern consist of works of international modern and contemporary dating from 1900 until today. There are 11 floors to the Tate but only 5 have exhibits with each floor having an East and West wing dedicated to different exhibits. The museum's collection includes works by artists like Picasso, Warhol, and Matisse, as well as British artists who contributed to the development of modern art.

    We enjoyed our visit as some of the room we quickly “discounted” as to works we did not consider art and other room that had very creative and clever exhibits. Bruce particularly enjoyed what we called the “Modern Living Tower of Babel” (not Tower of London) by Cildo Meireles, a tower of radios playing at once, addresses ideas of information overload and failed communication he calls “tower of incomprehension." Comprising hundreds of radios, each tuned to a different station, the sculpture relates to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, a tower tall enough to reach the heavens. The sight and sounds it produced made a great analogy and statement.    Read more

  • Europe
    St. Paul's Cathedral2VIDEO MusicTHE EYE

    A Bonus Day in London - The Thames

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Then we enjoyed walking to "major sites" in London that Bruce had not seen in 40 years and Karen hadn't been to in 15 years. It was fun to see these icons once again. We walked along the Thames for 2 miles and watched the boats, people and explored the bridges, street art, statues, buildings and "major new construction" going on in the City. It was a beautiful day for a walk (yes, in London).
    -See 1 video of street music    Read more

  • Europe

    London-Westminster Abbey & Big Ben

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    UNESCO refers to Westminster Abbey as a ‘national Valhalla’ for burials and memorials of figures of national significance, Westminster Abbey holds Britain’s most important collection of tombs and funerary monuments.

    It has been the The Coronation Church since 1066 where forty monarchs have been crowned since 1066 and for numerous other royal occasions, including sixteen royal weddings. An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great.

    Today it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation. It is called a "Royal Peculiar" under the jurisdiction of a Dean and Chapter, subject only to the Sovereign and not to any archbishop or bishop. Westminster Abbey is a place of daily worship as well as a burial place of kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors and musicians.

    Abbey bells
    The Abbey built by Edward the Confessor was dedicated in 1065 and had a central tower and two western towers and was furnished with bells. The first recorded information concerning Abbey bells, however, is found in the Close Rolls of King Henry III, where an instruction in 1250 to Edward of Westminster required that he make a bigger bell than any of those he had made previously and 1255 five bells were in use.

    A bell cast for the Abbey c.1310 by Richard de Wimbis had the inscription "Christe Audi Nos" and still exists on display. By the late fifteenth century a ring of six bells was installed and remained at six until the twentieth century. In 1919 King George V and Queen Mary two bells were newly cast to form a ring of eight. The eight bells continued in use ringing out in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI and in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and on 8th May 1945 for VE Day. In 1971 all 10 bells were replaced and the two oldest bells, which dated from the sixteenth century and the reign of Queen Elizabeth I were retained.

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2931777683518…

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=7537480986464…

    Big Ben is the world's most famous clock. Six monarchs and 41 prime ministers have come and gone since the bells first struck their now familiar music across Westminster.

    The Elizabeth Tower is 11 floors, 315’, 292 steps to the clock faces and 334 steps to the Belfry where the Great Bell hangs. Climb another 65 steps and you reach the Ayrton Light, the lantern thatshines when the Houses of Parliament are sitting.

    The Great Clock has 4 clock dials, each dial is made of 324 pot opal glass pieces in a cast iron frame. The hour figures are 2’ in length. The dials are 23’ in diameter.  The minute hands are made of copper sheet each weighs 220 lbs and are 14’ long. They travel the equivalent of 118 miles a year. Hour hands are made of gun metal and three times heavier at 661 lbs and are 9’ in length. The mechanism keeps the Great Clock ticking and Big Ben striking.   Each pendulum ‘beat’ lasts for 2 seconds.  Outside pressure like the wind on the clock hands can affect the clock's accuracy. The 'Double Three-legged Gravity Escapement' compensates for the effects of outside pressure on the mechanism and is crucial in helping the clock keep accurate time.

    The mechanism: weighs 5 tons is made of cast iron is 15’ long and 5’ wide. The pendulum: is 14’ long weighs 683 lbs and the bob weighs 448 lbs and is made of concentric tubes of steel and zinc (a bob is a weight hanging from a cable that swings from side to side).

    Big Ben is not the only bell in the clocktower. The bells are fixed and struck by hammers from outside, rather than swinging and being struck from inside by clappers.   There are four other bells in the Belfry. Their notes all combine to form the famous tune. Big Ben weighs 13.7 tons, the hammer is 441 lbs. The first quarter bell weighs 1.1 tons, the second quarter bell weighs 1.3 tons, the third quarter bell weighs 1.7 tons and the fourth quarter bell weighs 4 tons.

    For 6 weeks in 2007 it had the longest stoppage since 1990, and 6 months in 1956, 2 months in 1934, and 2 days in 2005 so that the brake shaft could be inspected.    Read more

  • Europe
    Very large and cool sundial with some descriptions that followCheesy, but since we didn't see the real thing...

    London - Tower of London 1 of 2

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames. It was founded toward the end of 1066. The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 until 1952 although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

    The Tower has served variously as an armory, treasury, the Royal mint, and home of the Crown Jewels. The zenith of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace. Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, in 16th-century religious propaganda and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle. The Tower was used as a prison again in WWI & WWII and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage.    Read more

  • Europe
    VIDEO2Looking from the London Bridge to Tower Bridge

    London - Tower Bridge & London Bridge

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    It is an iconic landmark and architecture, an engineering marvel, a symbol of London and also a muse, a source of inspiration to many artists. The biggest issue when it was to be built was how to build another bridge (London Bridge was already there) without disrupting the busy Thames. In 1884 it was started and took 8 years and 432 workers to build.

    Two piers were built as foundations and 11,000 tons of steel, covered in granite and stone. It was the largest most complex bascule (see-saw) bridge operated by hydraulics with steam powered engines but only took 60 seconds to raise to 86 degrees (in 1976 the steam was replaced with oil/electricity). About 800 vessels still pass through each year. The types of boats, barges and ships that visit continue to change, from cargo vessels and paddle steamers to pleasure cruises and royal yachts.

    Some key openings: 1954 Queen Elizabeth II finished a world tour with a ride through the bridge on the Royal Yacht which draped a Welcome Home sign. In 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee it was painted red/white/blue. In 2012 (with an audience of approx. 900 million) for the London Summer Olympics, David Beckham drove the speedboat Max Power carrying the Torchbearer Jade Bailey and the flame on the final step on the Thames through the bascules and fireworks were set off on the walkways. The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 5/6/23 at the Abbey and a procession to Buckingham Palace and on 5/6 & 7 the Tower Bridge was lit up in red, white and blue
    - see London Bridge Song video

    London Bridge, one of several bridges over the River Thames (there have been many!):
    London Bridge (Roman times), London Bridge (Early medieval times), London Bridge (1209) (or "Old London Bridge"), London Bridge (1831) (or "New London Bridge"), the replacement for the 1209 London Bridge, London Bridge (1973), and the present-day London Bridge and replacement for the 1831 bridge, and London Bridge (Dublin), a bridge over the River Dodder, Ireland AND of course, London Bridge (Lake Havasu City), Arizona, U.S., re-assembled from the 1831 British bridge    Read more

  • Europe
    Welcoming Karen, the first visitor!hear ye, hear yeVIDEOTHE KEYEdwardKatherine Parr

    Ceremony of the KEYS!

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    While the Tower remains a living fortress, changing and adapting as times demand, it still maintains centuries of colorful traditions. We had RARE tickets (only 50 per day) and went to the best known ceremonial, locking and unlocking of the gates of the fortress, which has taken place for 700 years, The Ceremony of the Keys. This the time-honored challenge that has been barked out by a soldier guarding the Tower, every night:

    'Halt! Who comes there?’.

    What is there to guard? The Crown Jewels have been stored and displayed at the Tower of London since 1661, continuing a long tradition of storing precious objects here. This magnificent world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones is part of the Royal Collection and boasts items that are still used in royal ceremonies today.

    The Crown Jewels are under armed guard in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. Following their use in the Coronation ceremony of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023, the regalia returned to public display in the Treasury of the Jewel House. Her Majesty Queen Camilla's Crown was originally made for Queen Mary by Garrard for the 1911 Coronation. The Crown was modified for Queen Camilla ahead of the 2023 Coronation. In addition, when the ceremony first started, there were many other valuables kept there including the materials for making the currency.

    Set amidst the mighty battlements of this ancient historic fortress, the Ceremony of the Keys is one of the oldest surviving enactments of its kind. Although the monarch may no longer reside at the Tower, the Crown Jewels and many other invaluable objects still do, therefore its importance is still relevant today.

    The formal locking and unlocking of the Tower gates started in the mid 1300s, on the orders of a furious Edward III. The King turned up unannounced at the Tower one night in December 1340 and walked straight in, unchallenged! After imprisoning the Constable of the Tower, Edward de la Beche, for dereliction of duty, Edward decreed that the castle should be locked at sunset and unlocked at sunrise. The King was also inspired to carry out a thorough review of security and generally improve the Tower’s rather neglected state. Edward III ordered the Sheriffs of London to contribute £40 to improvements at the Tower, around £30,000 in today’s money!

    Two hundred years later, a nervous Mary I (rein 1553-8) was keen to improve security at the Tower as she grew increasingly unpopular. In 1555, after the failed Protestant plot and execution of Lady Jane Grey, the Queen ordered the Constable of the Tower to beef up the Beefeaters. The Constable was to ensure that there should be no fewer than 21 discreet, trusty and personable yeomen of middle age, none above 50 or below 30. Mary also decreed that 9 Yeoman Warders were to patrol during the day, and 6 at night. Yeoman Warders (royal bodyguards) have been guarding the Tower of London since Henry VIII. They come from the armed forces taking an oath from 1337. Often called “Beefeaters”, a nickname, as a thank you, Beefeater Gin annually send every Yeoman Warder a bottle of gin on his or her birthday! Yeoman Warders need to have at least 22 years’ military service, have reached a the highest rank within their service and to have been awarded the long service and good conduct medal (described to us as no negative events in their file for 15 of their 22 years).

    Detailed instructions were also laid down for securing the keys at night. The original text describes the form of the ceremony that has been performed nearly every night since:

    “And it is ordered that there shall be a place appointed under lock and key where in the keys of the gates of the said Tower shall be laid in the sight of the constable, the porter and two of the Yeoman Warders, or three of them at the least, and by two or three of them to be taken out when they shall be occupied. And the key of that lock or coffer where the keys be, to be kept by the porter or, in his absence, by the chief yeoman warder.”

    Fast forward 300 years in 1826, the Duke of Wellington, then Constable of the Tower, ordered that the time of the ceremony should be fixed at 10pm, rather than the more vague “sunset”. This was to ensure that all his soldiers stationed at the Tower were inside the walls before the gates were locked (rather than out carousing, as we were told they were known to do). The only time the ceremony has ever been disrupted in 700 years was when a bomb fell on the Tower on 12/29/1940. The Chief Yeoman Warder was blown off his feet, but otherwise unhurt.

    What happens at the Ceremony?
    Since 1826, at exactly seven minutes to ten at night, the Chief Yeoman Warder of the Tower emerges from the Byward Tower, wearing the traditional red Watch Coat and Tudor Bonnet. In one hand, he carries a lantern, still lit to this day with a single candle. In the other he carries a set of keys – the King’s Keys!

    Footsteps echo in the darkness as the sentry cries out, 'Halt, who comes there?' The Yeoman Warder replies, 'The keys.' 'Whose keys?' 'King Charles' keys.' 'Pass then, all's well.' Aside from the monarch's name, this is the exact exchange that has been spoken for centuries and forms part of the traditional 'locking up' of the Tower of London.

    He proceeds at a dignified pace to the archway of the Bloody Tower, where an escort is formed in readiness. This escort is made up of soldiers from the military garrison at the Tower. It comprises two sentries, a sergeant and another guard who represents the role of drummer (but who actually plays a bugle). The Chief Yeoman Warder then hands the lantern to the drummer and they all march to the outer gates of the Tower. The Chief, assisted by the Tower’s Watchman, closes, locks and secures the outer gates, while the escort stand guard. The same process takes place at the inner gates.

    As the clock strikes 10, the Chief Yeoman Warder moves two paces forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air and says: ‘God preserve King Charles’. The guard answers ‘Amen’, exactly as the clock chimes ten, the soldier representing the drummer sounds 'The Last Post' on a bugle.

    The Chief Yeoman Warder takes the keys back to the King's House, to hand them back to the King’s representative at the Tower, The Resident Governor, and the Guard is dismissed.
    - see video of EMILY    Read more

  • Europe
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    POPPIES

    July 7, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    Wizard of Oz: "And now my beauties, .... attractive to the eye and soothing to the smell... poppies, poppies, poppies will put them to sleep."

    The display at the Tower has nearly 30,000 of the original poppies, made for the 2014 installation, "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red", is now at the Tower from 5/6 (to coincide with the 80th anniversary of VE Day and 8/15 VJ Day) until 11/11r, culminating in a moment of remembrance for Armistice Day.

    It marks the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War. The specially commissioned installation resembles a "wound" at the heart of the Tower, which was itself bombed during the Blitz. Poppies pour across the lawn overlooked by the ancient White Tower, where the blood-red flowers form a crater, with ripples flowing outwards reminding us of loss through war, and of the long-lasting impact of conflict. The poppies are on loan from Imperial War Museums and were designed and made by the artist, Paul Cummins.    Read more

  • Europe
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    12THE TRIP

    Home Sweet Home- 29 Days

    July 8, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
    Trip end
    July 8, 2025
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