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Where are Paul and Donna
Where are Paul and Donna
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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    Waiting for the pontoon boat to take us to the island.
    1

    Day 78: Azerai (Part 1)

    9. marts 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Donna and I - along with about 70 other Viking Neptune passengers - took the Mekong Delta Overnight excursion. I have a bunch of photos from the last day and we aren’t even finished yet.

    This set of photos is us arriving at the Azeria Resort Island. Yes, our resort is on an island we had to take a pontoon boat to get there and check-in. It was actually nice to spend a couple of days on land. We had a suite with a view of the river, very luxurious.

    The pictures are as follows: Pontoon Boat Ride to Island, pictures of the property, our Suite, the view from our suite, and the video at the end is really cool - Now Donna wants these installed in our bedroom when we get home.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    The Viking Sky our Sister Ship

    Day 77: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    8. marts 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F

    We had four days and three nights in Viet Nam.

    Day One, Friday, March 8th we arrived after lunch time, and the shuttle service was very poorly planned. They only had 4 buses scheduled to go at certain times. the first bus at 3:00 pm was full with an overflow of 20 people wanting to get on. We got on the 4:30 shuttle. To end up in the city, at 6:40 pm. The bus we rode in on became the 7:00pm shuttle back to the ship. We never got off the bus. The traffic is crazy. I personally feel Viking dropped the ball on this one.

    Viet Nam traffic was the worst of any of the cities we visited. 4 and 5 people on a scooter. More scooters than people. Traffic in Viet Nam is a great example of fluid dynamics in motion.

    Day Two & Three we did the Mekong RIver Delta Over night . It was fabulous. See other posts.

    Day Four we did the Viking included excursion around Ho Chi Minh City and got some good pictures on that day.

    Knowing what we know now. We should have gotten a hotel and stayed in the city, We would have seen move of the city. I do think Viet Nam is easily a two week holiday. To be able to capture both the excitement of the city and the peacefulness of the country.

    Several wise people who did stay in the city were able to get outfits and suits made in 24 to 48 hours. That would be a thing we would do if we ever went back.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Meet Oscar “Ozzy” Thomas Wilson

    7. marts 2024, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    On March 7, 2024 our first Grandchild came into the world. Meet Oscar “Ozzy” Thomas Wilson. 7 lbs. 20”. Red hair like his daddy.

    Once we get home the next excursion is to Indiana to meet Ozzy.

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Academy of Mixology: Rum 1:3

    7. marts 2024, South China Sea ⋅ 🌙 81 °F

    So we are continuing our life long learning as we attend today’s Mixology Session on Rum. We learned how to make; Blue Hawaii, Daiquiri, and Shark’s Tooth.

    Everyone attending is having way too much fun.

    I needed to create three separate posts so I could include all the photos of everyone making and drinking their course work.

    This first post is of the wonderful display on the bar the staff created for the event, also the recipes for each of the three drinks, and a video of drone shots flying over the display.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Cruising South China Sea

    7. marts 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Another jammed packed Sea Day traveling the South China Sea towards Viet Nam, we arrive tomorrow. We will be there for four days.

    Breakfast, Laundry, Calligraphy Class, Lunch, Felting Class, Desert Wine Tasting Class, unplanned nap due to wine tasting class, dinner, Academy of Mixology: Rum class, A great show with Ben Mills. To those back home you may notice a trend of eating & drinks & eating & drinking — rinse and repeat.

    Another jammed pack day. Looking forward to exploring Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow afternoon. Then two days in the Mekong Delta.

    I was born in 1956, High School Class of 1974 - 1956 was the last birth year of the draft numbers - the date of that drawing was March 12, 1975. My draft number was 319. I was fortunate to miss the draft. The last draft call was on December 7, 1972 until it was resumed in July 1980 for men born in 1960 and later.

    To those onboard who are not visiting Viet Nam for your first time and came here back in the 60’s & 70’s a sincere “Thank you for your service.”    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Learning about Desert Wines

    7. marts 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Today we attended a session on “Desert Wine Tasting” under the leadership of Sommelier, Goran Prosic and his team.

    We explored five different desert wines.

    You know when they hold up a glass of wine and look at in the light - what are they looking for? Color is the first thing, the other thing I learned today is does it stick to the side of the class as you tilt it and tilt it back. If it does it will most likely be a thicker more full bodied wine.

    Also learned pairing a nice wine with that fruit cake you got given for the holidays can help the fruit cake go down in a nice way.

    There were a couple of dry wines that really surprised those of us who might not prefer a dry wine that when it is paired with the right fruity desert it creates a pleasant balance to the palette.

    Also a sweet desert chocolate cake can be paired with a drier wine. If the desert is sweeter the wine can be more tart, and visa versa if the desert is more bland you can perk up the tasting experience with a fruitier wine.

    Color, Nose, Palette, Linger are key areas we explore and judge as we taste each wine. I staff is doing an excellent job, teaching us about each wine and what to look for as we taste them.

    I think many of my sense buds are lacking - I find it hard to smell (nose) the differences others can sense.

    What I tend to enjoy the most is when a wine is “complex” (Another cool buzz word to use) that it has different flavors happening on your palette.

    It is funny to watch others when they taste something they clearly don’t like. We have all experienced that at one time or another.

    There really is an art to pairing wines with the different parts of a meal. Donna and I are truly a newbies in this arena. But, we are enjoying the lessons.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 75: Java Sea Day, Karimata Island

    6. marts 2024, Natuna Sea ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Yesterday around 6:00 PM we left port; Semarang (Borobudur), Indonesia heading towards Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam. This gives us a couple of sea days. One would think I should be able to catch up on my blogging.

    Here is today’s schedule:

    7:30 - Get up, take a shower, head towards World Cafe (Deck 7) for breakfast. I need to get up earlier like I did at the beginning of the cruise.

    8:00ish - Breakfast with Brian & Sue - I finally got my first taste of Vegemite. Brian was happy to give me a taste from the stash Sue carries in her purse. So, not only was this my first taste of Vegemite - most likely it may be my last taste as well. Brian says, “It’s an acquired taste.” He’s right!

    9:15 Head to The Restaurant (Deck 2) to be sure to get a seat for the 10:00 AM Calligraphy Workshop. People were already there when I got there 45 minutes early. Already with only a couple of hours of practice Donna and I are slowly getting better.

    11:00 Attended an informational meeting about our upcoming Mekong Delta overnight excursion in Vietnam in The Torshavn (Deck 2)

    11:45 Paul goes back to The Restaurant to get on the list for today’s Wool Felting class - Making Turtles - we must return by 12:30 or loose our spot.

    11:53 Paul & Donna head to the World Cafe (deck 7) for a very quick lunch.

    12:19 iPhone Alarm goes off - get Chocolate Cookies for Gail (our felting instructor). Yes, sucking up to the felting instructor pays dividends. She can be bought with Chocolate Chip cookies.

    12:28 With a huge leap over tables, I crossed the finish line and located a table, by the window, at The Restaurant (Deck 2). Then we started learning how to make our turtles. We will finish them up tomorrow.

    (1:00) We could have attended a Desert Wine Tasting - but signed up too late for today’s and are on the waitlist for the next one. And felting with Gail is more important to us over tasting wine. We get to taste wine every day - 24 x 7 if we want.

    2:30ish Felting class is over - Donna wants to get some steps in and I land at the Glass Table (Deck 8) in the Explorer’s Lounge and get to work on some posts.

    3:19 That is what time it is RIGHT NOW as I am writing these words.

    Today’s Crystal Ball: So, I think the plan is to get caught up on a couple of the back due blog posts, most likely dinner at the World Cafe, unless I am told otherwise, then attend the 9:00 PM show with Jennifer Gray in the Star Theater.

    I have attached a couple of pictures of our Sea Day sailing the Java Sea. We are at -1.89480 Long. 108.74611 Latitude. It’s gray skies, raining on and off, with calm seas.

    I did miss a few of the other offerings on ship during a sea day. The Spa, Dance Classes, Lectures, find a quiet place and read, play cards with friends, there are tons of things to do.

    3:39 PM. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

    All of a sudden 10 of the Neptune Supermodels appear from the door behind me (on Deck 8) . Under the fine leadership of Christian the Ship’s Gemologist leads a showing of over $ 1,000,000 dollars of jewelry to the audience below on Deck 7.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 72: Benor (Denpasar), Indonesia

    3. marts 2024, Indonesien ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We explored rice fields, art, food, festivals, and the back roads of Indonesia.

    For the art alone I would love to go back and study with some of the artisans in this country.

    Also, the saying in Indonesia is “Unified in diversity.” I really think this country really understands the difference between church and state - better than we do in the United States.Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 71: Balinese Artist at Work

    2. marts 2024, Indonesien ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    We were in Bali for three days. On the second day we hired a taxi cab driver to take us round Bali. Since we were docked we knew we didn’t have to get back to the ship at any certain time. Travel tip: “Make sure your driver speaks good English.” Our driver was barely okay in his English. However, he did give us a wonderful day, in spite of the language barrier.

    One of the stops we made was at an Art Cooperative (of which there are many in Bali). I really became enthralled with Balinese Art, especially the attention to detail and the use of color.

    When we arrived an artist was sharpening his bamboo brushes, each with different style tips. I watched him prepare his tools, mix his color, and start to apply the color to the canvas. He first took the color he had mixed off of the palette and put it on his hand - from his hand he applied the paint to his bamboo brush, then onto the canvas. The attention to detail was mind-blowing.

    We moved on to view the works in the many rooms of the coop - which seemed to go further and further back - I was amazed by everything I saw. You know art is special when you feel the energy from it as you view it. So many of the pieces transported me to different places and emotions. I could have spent hours - days in this magical place. I know they are selling their work to the many tourists who happen by - To me this was so much more inspiring then the formal settings of ‘The Met’ or ‘MoMa’ in New York City - which Donna and I are members and love to visit when we can.

    Upon leaving I stopped by the artist to see how far he had progressed - you can see the last photo. This was one of those unplanned moments which I will never forget.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 70: Ogoh Ogoh Bali Festival

    1. marts 2024, Indonesien ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    “Extra-sensory-overload” -> I learned this term the first time I jumped out of an airplane over 30 years ago. Your mind just can’t handle all the input you are taking in at once, That is what happened today on our excursion in Bali.

    I learned to drive on the South East Expressway in Boston Massachusetts - I have driven tour buses when I was in college — there is NO WAY IN HELL I would have driven a bus through Indonesia today during the Bali New Years celebration. The traffic was totally crazy. The bus drivers deserve a medal.

    Millions of scooters like locust were every where. I saw 4 people on one scooter more than once. Driving in flip flops, with small children. Totally crazy, So you park your scooter, then later you went looking for your scooter - where the heck did we park it? Yeah, mine’s the black one.

    The people were very friendly - they smiled and waved when I took their picture from the bus window. The young girls all dressed up for the parade. The excitement was Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve In Time Square rolled up into one. I would love to have time to walk the streets and experience and take in everything. This is a photographer’s heaven.

    The architecture was lovely and sacred, the plants were amazing. My senses were over-loaded at times - I wanted to hide - but the energy of the day was thrilling,

    I did get to a point where too many vendors were in my face - How many times do I have to say NO? I did buy 2 hand fans, and two shirts. Donna got a pair of lovely pants that look tres chic on her.

    Tomorrow we have a private all day tour for the two of us for only $75. I am looking forward to a more controlled experience.

    While my senses were overloaded with the energy of the festival and over one million people all jammed in one place - We could not have picked any better day in the year to experience Bali.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 69: Komodo National Park

    29. februar 2024, Indonesien ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Good morning everyone, the ship just gave a huge shake as the anchors are lowered to the ocean floor below. We had a late Chef’s Table last night and decided to not see the show. Paul woke up and got his morning smoothie and cappuccino, Donna will be up sometime I am sure - she likes to sleep in.

    This quick little post shows some iPhone pictures of the our morning vista as we are anchored at Komodo National Park (Rinca) in Indonesia. We have a 2:30 excursion to see the Komodo Dragons to which I will post pictures later. There are twenty-six small islands and three larger islands making up the National Park. The National Park is a protected area and pretty much the plan is to have tenders taking people on to the Island, do the tour, and then return back to the ship.

    Years ago we took care of our neighbor Ellie’s Bearded Dragon - weighing it a over 150 pounds and up to ten feet long, I doubt if I will be holding any of these Komodo Dragons we see today.

    I see this is Day 69 which makes tomorrow, Friday, March 1st, the end of the four segment (out of eight) marking halfway through our 139 day adventure.

    When we first got on the ship back on December 23 - when we met someone - it would go something like this. “Hello what’s your name? Where are you from? Have you cruised before?” Et cetera, Et cetera.

    Now with the change of itinerary when we meet each other it goes something like this. “Hi, how are you? Are you staying on the ship to England or getting off? We will miss you? What was your name again?”

    People are making their plans, there is no one right answer every couple has to make the decision based on their past experiences and current situation. It’s not easy. Some new friends are getting off early, with some more new friends to meet. Donna and I are staying on to the end. This being our first cruise every port we stop at - every sea mile we travel is still giving us a bucket list experience beyond our wildest imaginations.

    Happy to have made this post this morning marking Day 69 - Now, I just have to go backwards and fill in the days I missed. I will try to get the Komodo Dragon pics posted quickly.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    2

    Day 68: Cruising the Timor Sea

    28. februar 2024, Savu Sea ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Today was a sad day - we had to say goodbye to-bye to Jonathan & Lucy who made other plans for their travels. I was fortunate enough to be given two of Jonathan’s watercolors - which he painted based on two photographs I took. I was humble to have someone want to paint one of my photos. When I get home his paintings and my photos will share some wall space.

    I miss the chess lessons. And their friendship. I do hope our paths cross again.

    The evening Donna and I had dinner at the CHef’s Table.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 67: Meet Shai & Gede - Room Stewards

    27. februar 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Meet Shai & Gede. This crew vignette is long over due. Our room stewards are the first line of contact on a daily basis with us to the rest of the VIking experience. Shai and Gede both great us in the morning with smiles, asking if we had a nice sleep, and did there was anything we needed. We wander off to breakfast and magically when we return our stateroom is clean, fresh towels, clean mirrors, our bed is made, the mini-fridge is restocked. I am pretty sure they have a lot to do with this daily feat of magic.

    In the evening our beds are turned down and they always ask us if there is anything we need throughout the day. We can’t thank them enough for watching over us each and every day. Let me share with you what we know about Shai & Gede.

    Shai we will be leaving us on March 2nd, we will miss her, the end of her 7th six month contract with Viking. She is from the Philippines, is the oldest of three girls in her family. She graduated in Hospitality Management with plans to stay with the ship life for 3 to 5 more years - holding a vision of starting her own business in the future. When asked what does she like to do when she is home - Sleep and rest was her first answer. I think we can all agree it is a well deserved rest. From there she likes spending time at the beach and on restaurant outings with her family.

    As we talk with many of the crew while they like their jobs here on the Neptune and with us their Neptune family; As Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.”

    Gede, is from Indonesia and lives in a small village where a crystal clear river runs through it. Gede and his family visit this river often. As he talked about this place, I saw it in his eyes and with his smile - it must be wonderful to give him this much happiness as he talks about it to us. Their culture is different from ours - his father has four wives, and Gede is the fourth child - of four total. His other older siblings have passed, He is provider for his family and you can see he has a deep commitment to them. He has graduated from Hotel Management, plans on doing more ship contracts in the near future.

    Shai, Gede, and the many other room stewards onboard the Neptune - all take very good care of us - we can’t thank them enough.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 67: Arafura Sea Day & Bubbles

    27. februar 2024, Timor Sea ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Manfredi’s was a full house at 1:30 PM on this sea day cruising the Arafura Sea and not because of the great Italian cuisine being served. This was another wine tasting event.

    The tables were jammed packed with wine glasses neatly laid out on a paper place mat numbers one to five.

    Today’s wine tasting was all about various bubble wines and champagne.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 67: Sunrise over Donut Island

    27. februar 2024, Arafura Sea ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We are sailing in Arafura Sea. At about 6:10 AM this morning from deck seven off of Neptune’s stern the clouds painted the skies with all sorts of shapes, textures, and sizes. The morning sunrise colors on the horizon were calm not overly brilliant giving me a peaceful reminder to slow down and breathe. Turing around towards the east - high in the dark blue sky a full moon guides our captain towards our next destination. Much to the surprise of all of us this morning we enjoyed the mountain vistas of Donut Island. Please enjoy these morning images.

    Life does it so busy when cruising it is easy to forget to slow down, wake-up early and enjoy a sunrise.

    This morning I did fit in a quick excursion to Donut Island. Met another passenger, Don from North Carolina. We enjoyed coffee and getting to know each other a bit. We apologized to each other in advance for forgetting each other’s name the next time we cross paths. I really do hate it - forgetting people’s names. Also, spent a bit of time with Brian & Sheryl in the World Cafe.

    Life on a cruise is busy. Especially, for first-timers like Donna and myself. We still feel like kids in a candy store. (Off topic question: Is anyone from West Roxbury, Massachusetts do they remember the glass candy case at The Little Red Shop on Weld Street? Just curious.) Life is busy - Often times we have to get an early tender for our morning excursion - or maybe the late night caused you to want to sleep in on a sea day? With the art classes, wine tastings, lectures, time in the cold plunge, getting steps in (Donna more than I) talking with friends, planning our new route excursions, and just about every time we look at our watch it is time to eat again. I have fallen behind on my blog posts, I am going to do my best to fill in some missing gaps.

    It is Day 67 (67 times 2 = 134 days) so in about five days this puts us at the half way point of our 139 adventure. We still pinch ourselves with everything we have already done. Submarine ride 105 feet below sea level in Mexico, Helicopter ride over the the Bay of Islands, traveling through the Panama Canal, Mini-Golf in New Zealand, exploring the jungles of Tahiti, the list goes on.

    Today it’s now 11:00 AM I just added a photo of a little art project we did in our art class a map of our travels on the eastern coast of Australia.

    We still have more of the world to experience.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 66: Sailing the Arafura Sea

    26. februar 2024, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☀️ 36 °F

    Today was a sea day. I remember looking at the itinerary before leaving on our cruise bitching about how many seas there were. "I am paying big money, I want to see places no be in a floating hotel room." You quickly learn that you cannot goo 100 mph each and everyday. If it was even possible to get from one port to the next with no sea days (which it isn't) you will just totally wear yourself out.

    So today was a sea day. Breakfast in the World Cafe with my mate Brian. A great way to start the day. A bit of time in the Explorer's Lounge to relax. Attending an Art Class in the morning and a Wine tasting in the afternoon.

    In the evening the Viking Neptune Entertainers put on an amazing show around the theme of Motown. It is music we all knew and loved.

    I screwed up. -- somehow my nose on the touch screen of my Sony RX10 pushed its way to setting the Custom Settings to "Anime Mode" the photos I took were hilarious. Later when I gave them to the entertainers the loved my faux pax -- the pictures are a laugh.

    A nice relaxing and entertaining day at sea on the VIking Neptune.

    #myvikingstory    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 65: Thursday Island, Australia

    25. februar 2024, Australien ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Our stop at Thursday Island was very quick. We set anchor at 8:00AM and had to be to the last tender no later than 4:30PM. It didn't help that it was a Sunday and raining. The little village was pretty much closed up.

    What made today's adventure more fun was our encounter with Joey and Emily at the Thursday Island Supermarket which was going to close at 1:00PM.

    Donna and I took the walk and found the supermarket we had a couple of supplies we needed to stock up on. When we got out of the market there were Joey and Emily, two of the Viking Neptune Entertainers with a bunch of bags of assorted supplies, treats, and other items hard for the crew to get on the ship. It was raining - really raining. We felt so sorry for them. But, we came up with and idea to help them out.

    We happen to have a few of those cheap rain ponchos the ship supplies us in our daypacks. We helped them out using the ponchos to put their paper bags into to them them from getting soaked and breaking apart for the walk back to the dock. It was fun turning the ponchos into make-shift waterproof bags. We did see them later that night and the supplies made it safely back to the ship.

    We did see where the free excursion was happening. It was in a local community center. We peeked in to see what was happening. it was a showing of youth performing cultural dances on the stage. Honestly, by this time into the trip - two months now - we had seen one too many of these types of performances. We are happy we didn't stick around to jump into our later excursion and snuck into this earlier one.

    We went back to the ship - food and wine were on our agenda in the World Cafe.

    Note: I am writing this post a month after our return home catching up on the missing posts, of which I have 17 days not blogged about.

    Once again, people ask what was the best part of our cruise. They are looking for us to tell them about the cool places. Eiffel Tower, Great Barrier Reef, Panama Canal et cerea. What we remember and treasure the most are all the people and interactions we had with them. We will always remember the raining day in Thursday Island and helping Emily & Joey out with getting the needed supplies to their friends back to the ship.    Læs mere

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 64: Academy of Mixology: Vodka (1:2)

    24. februar 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Continuing our journey as life long learners Donna and I attended a Mixology class in the Torshavn lounge. We learned how to prepare three drinks using Vodka:

    - Cosmopolitan
    - Lemon Drop Martini
    - Sex on the Beach

    The pictures on this post are mainly of the display on the bar we are treated with as we enter the Torshavn. Everyone agrees that the 4+ hours to create this display it is said that it is taken down in 15 minutes. This is so well done, there are many little stories of each of the drinks and types of vodka displayed as a creative walk away up and down the bar. Watch the video to see what I mean.

    These mixology classes are becoming very popular - it is always a full house. I am wondering if we complete all of the courses, do we get a degree? Can I add this to my LinkedIn education profile?    Læs mere

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