Boarding the Eclipse

Saturday, August 30th

We slept real well......didn't wake up until after 8AM!  Too late to wander as we had an 11AM pickup scheduled.  Settled for coffee and a granola bar.  Figured we could eat as soon as we got on board.

Check in went about as good as possible.  We were on board by 11:30AM.  In our cabin before 1PM.

Charlie took  his nap!

Nice balcony

Charlie at the Muster drill

Sunday, August 31st

This morning we had the Connections Party that is sponsored by Celebrity for Cruise Critic members.  I was able to meet most of the people that are on my Flam Railway tour.  A lot of the senior officers were in attendance.  They look so young!

Tonight is formal night so we will get dressed up a little better.  No more Tux for Charlie.  You really see very few of them anymore.  Tomorrow is Bergen.  The weather doesn't look too good but we will keep our fingers crossed.

Arrival in Southampton

Friday, August 29th

Uneventful flights except for terribly hard seats on American!  We had upgraded to economy comfort and did have a little extra leg room and a quiet location.  Got a decent sleep with a little help from my friend

Ambien!

View from window on way to Chicago

Arrival in Heathrow 

As we were walking towards customs, I had a little problem.  As I was walking down a short flight of stairs with my carry on, I fell down the last 3 steps and landing square on my face!  Not a pretty sight.

Cut my right hand and my mouth.  My 2 front teeth are sensitive. I guess I was really lucky that was all the damage.

Glad we had arranged transport to Southampton (Smith's for Hire).  Easy ride and I stretched out and slept on the back seat.

Went out to a pub for dinner with Shirley and John Dawson.  Enjoyed the company and the food was OK.

Then it was back to the Premier Inn to get a good night's sleep and get ready to board the Eclipse in the morning.

Getting ready

Tuesday, August 26th

The packing is pretty much done.  One bag closed and locked...50 lbs! The other bag is ready to close up after I add the toiletries.

Credit cards notified....Tina ready to take care of Itsy.  Arranging for Jim to clean the house was the best thing I have done.  Makes getting ready to leave for the cruise much less stressful.

Been following the weather forecast on the Weather Channel.  Not very promising.  Glad we have the GoreTex jackets and the waterproof shoes.  At least the volcano in Iceland has not erupted.  If that happens that will really mess up the itinerary.

Tomorrow is hair cuts and of course, Mah Jongg. Jane and Mike are taking us to the airport on Thursday.......LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!

Isafjordur, Iceland

Sunday, September 14th

Isafjordur- 

Our port was cancelled this morning.  This was a tender port and the winds were very high and it was also raining!  Conditions were forecast to deteriorate during the day.  The captain made the decision to head on to Reykjavik.

View from our balcony this morning.......

Guess I'll spend the day playing Mah Jongg.....

Arrival in to Reykjavik 

Tug boat to help us dock.....

Akureyri, Iceland

Saturday, September 13th

Today is our first of three stops in Iceland. Charlotte Nelson has arranged private tours in all 3 ports. 

Akureyri: Scenic Drive, Cost 15.000 ISK (125 USD/person)

Akureyri is the gateway to the famous "Land of Fire and Ice".......Iceland's dramatic landscape of volcanic craters, extinct lava lakes and majestic waterfalls.

-Godafafoss Waterfall......The name, which means Falls of the Gods, has nothing to do with it's beauty.  Rather, it recalls an event about 1,000 AD, when Iceland still followed the Norse religion.  The chieftain Porgeir meditated for 24 hours on what he had learned from missionaries, the decided that Iceland should become a Christian nation.  On his way home, he decided to underscore his decision by throwing his carvings of the old gods in to the waterfall.

-Lake Myvatn: A drive partially around this most beautiful 37 km lake filled at one end with pseudo-craters (odd shaped stone formations everywhere)

-Dimmunborgir: The walk among the dark lava castles of this stunning place created many thousands of years ago with eruptions of the Heroubreio volcano

Lovers

Reminded Charlie of the pyramid he climbed in to in Egypt

-Namaskard: The steam eruptions and boiling mud pits naturally oozing right from the ground. The area almost made you feel like you were on the moon......it was such an eerie beauty.  It also stunk!! SULFUR!

-Viti: The explosion crater that means HELL!! Now laying peacefully high in the pass with crater filled sparkling green water.

There were so much beauty....following are some of the views I will remember for ever.......

Geo thermal eruptions are every where!

Junction point between two tectonic plates, the European and the North American.

We had a wonderful day.  The beauty was everywhere.  What an amazing place!!

Shetland Islands (Lerwick), Scotland

Thursday, September 11th

Today we have booked a private tour with Sarah of SeeShetland.com.

The South Mainland Tour This was really a great day!  Sarah had to be one of the best guides we have ever had.  This morning, I sat on my glasses....NO LAUGHING.....obviously they broke.  Sarah arranged for some one to drop them off at an eyeglass place and we picked them up at the end of the tour.   Listening to Sarah, it was evident that she loved these islands.  To be honest, I really didn't know anything about them but I found them fascinating .
	We'll visit at least four attractions from this selection: Scalloway: Scalloway Castle: Built for Earl Patrick Stewart in the late 16th century. Scalloway Museum: Home of the Shetland Busexhibition, and much more besides. Monument to the Shetland Bus   Shetland ponies. A dog that greets visitors     Boddam: Shetland Crofthouse Museum: Discover the nature of Shetland life in the mid 1800s.         Sumburgh: Scatness Archaeological Dig: Unearthing the past 3000 years. Jarlshof prehistoric settlement   Sumburgh Head: Sumburgh Lighthouse
Then it was back to the ship after a wonderful day.  The weather was just about perfect and we had a good group and a great drive! View from our balcony Sea day tomorrow and the Iceland.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the good weather continues.