We spent the previous night in a Dallas hotel located near DFW airport and were checked in and ready well before the departure time. However, there was fog in Detroit and our departure was delayed for well over 3 hours. Finally, we were allowed to depart on this Northwest Airlines flight which was packed and noisy. Sylvia was seated in a window seat and I was in the middle seat in a group of 3 with a center aisle. Seated next to me on the right was a woman who I found out during the flight was a Methodist minister in a southern city of the US. During the flight we talked about various subjects that interested the three of us. With the late arrival of our plane, I was very concerned about missing the departure of our overseas flight and inquired of the attendant if she would call ahead and inquire so we would know what gate our departure flight was leaving from. She refused my request, so we had to wait until we had deplaned to learn that info. Anticipating the horde of people all trying to deplane at the same time, my minister friend told me she would stand in the aisle and block everyone behind us trying to leave until we were able to merge into the group already in the aisle starting to walk off. She did, and we made it off, stopped to read the posted info about our departing flight, and began running to arrive at the proper gate before it departed. We made it--thanks to the help from our minister friend--but with very little time to spare.
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008 - GATWICK (LONDON) ENGLAND - Overnight we had completed our 9-hour flight, landing about 1 p.m. local time at Gatwick (London) England. Collecting our luggage we proceeded to an area where we spotted the representative for Celebrity Cruises who directed us where to locate the bus for our ship, the Constellation, and boarded the bus. Once seated we were told to wait for other passengers arriving on later flights. So, we sat on the bus a good 2+ hours before all those awaited passengers arrived. Then, we departed driving a freeway that beside the road had field after field of beautiful yellow flowers which we were told were canola. Finally, we arrived at the Harwick cruise ship port The check in was easy and once on board, we were soon in our inside room unpacking and getting settled. Below are some pictures of our inside cabin.
A wall of mirrors behind the bed somewhat distorts the view. The cabin was rather compact with bed, two chairs, a small table on each side of the bed, all items not fastened to the walls. Those items fastened or built in included: television, vanity, drawers, closets with the bathroom through a door to the left.
Originally, we had booked this trip along with two other couples from Las Vegas one couple being our friends, Marlys & Tom Thompson who we had traveled with for years, and the second couple, their neighbors, Josh & Claudette Kruger who we had never met. As it turned out, a few months before departure Marlys became very ill and they had to cancel the trip. So, our group of six shrunk to four who had never met even though we had talked on the phone and exchanged emails. Our meeting came when we showed up at our assigned dining table the first evening of the cruise. Our table companions were two couples from England who didn't know each other and two couples from the USA who didn't know each other. Below, is a picture of the eight of us, taken the last "formal" night of the cruise. Names: obviously Sylvia & Jim (from TX) in forefront; (clockwise) Alan & Val (from England); Claudette (with red hair) & Josh (from Las Vegas); Ian & Penny (from England).
MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008 - DAY AT SEA
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008 - OSLO, NORWAY - We arrived early at this port and proceeded off the ship to board a bus for a tour. Our first stop was at Frogner Park, showing Monolith Plateau.
The tour left us in the downtown area and we began a walk through it that ended up back at the ship.
Here, mounted officers walked the road.
This is the city hall building for the city of Oslo, Norway.
Another view of city hall.
Some mention was made of the headquarters building of the Nobel Peace Prize organization. So much is sometimes lost in passing that at the time I believed this building shown above of Oslo City Hall was it. Researching now, I think perhaps we didn't see the Nobel Peace Prize organization building. Anyway, I don't locate any photos of it in my pictures
Don't know why the light was so bright here, but in the background you can see our ship.
The castle has also been used as a military base, a prison and is currently the temporary office of the Prime Minister of Norway.
No comments:
Post a Comment