DFR Travels: October 2024

To Southampton and Home...

Friday, October 4. Sunny and mild. 15 C.

We had a great Last Dinner in the steakhouse last night, we packed our cases for the staff to pick up after the 10:00 pm deadline and waited for the Sandman to come.

Next thing I knew was Fellette was up and dressed and we were docking in Southampton. We nipped up for a light breakfast and soon vacated the cabin and off to a lounge. There we awaited until we were called to go. We marched off the ship, claimed our two bags, and went to our assigned Coach.

We were soon on our way to London Heathrow. An hour or so in a comfortable lounge before boarding.

The End!

And to home!

Falmouth, Cornwall...

Thursday, October 3. Sunny, milder, no wind. 12 C.

A strange yellow object was spotted in the sky in the morning at Falmouth, in Cornwall today! It was the SUN, last seen by passengers eons ago. Sadly, this is the last day of touring for these people as tomorrow morning they start the long journey home to equally similar climate and lack of sun.

We had booked a Tour to 'The Eden Project.' It was never on our Bucket List but when you are this close, why not. The coach ride took about 1.25 hours with the coach about 1/3 full. Great ride in a clear blue-sky-day through the Cornish Countryside.

Once again the trip turned into a Trip Down Memory lane. In 1960 I hitch-hiked through this part of the world including the quaint towns of Truro and St. Austell which amazingly we drove through. Hiking around the winding and intermingling twisting hilly streets streets was a challenge indeed.

At The Eden Project it was an interesting today, but not terribly stimulating. If you are a tree hugger and and believe in ALL things green, super! It was nice to see the sun and countryside more than anything.

One thing that I found interesting was the obvious affect that this place would have on young children, whose parents themselves are very young. 'Get Them Young' and you can change the world I suppose. Lord knows us older generations did not do too good a job on looking after this world in so many ways did we?

A Good Day.

This is two of several structures. Note the size of the two workers on the right dome.

In the Rain Forest Bio Dome.

Same.

Just like in West Africa.

There is no 'rain' in the Dome, just very high humidity. That water is recirculated and pumped up there.

This four year old was having a blast at this machine puffing out steam rings.

The Packing Wizard goes to work right after we got back from the visit.

Bags out after dinner tonight and off the ship by 8:15 tomorrow morning and then straight onto the coach to London Heathrow Airport.Maybe a four hour drive. Flight leaves around 3:00 and home around 4:00. [A nine hour flight with an eight hour time difference!]

Cork, Ireland...

Wednesday, October 2. Gray sky, cool. 11 C.

We are at the Port of Cork, arriving here at 7:00 am. We were here just 16 months ago with Jim and Gail. This was the last port in Europe before starting our journey to the Azores and home. Unfortunately I woke up with an upset tummy this morning. So, we cancelled the bus tour and took the day off. It is rather a strange feeling to be on a ship when most people are ashore. Strangely quiet. So, we took a Sea Day, in port.

We received our luggage tags and all the information about the flight home on Friday afternoon. That means that the next thing is to pack up all our stuff and get it out after bedtime tomorrow.

This cruise seems to be over almost as soon as it started, however it proved its purpose, I have doubts that we will be back in this neck of the woods in this lifetime.

Lazy Day.

The 'Port' of Cork is different than the city of Cork, above and a 'proper' city.

A bit chilly out and about

Sun Beds optimistically with fresh sheets on them.

The coaches for morning tours just by the gangway and the Railroad Station right behind them. Very compact.

This was the last piece of land that The Titanic saw as it sailed off from here and sunk shortly after.

We ate at This Restaurant last night. Canadian Lobster for the main course. [Could he be the reason for my Rumbly Tummy?]

Dinner.

Baggage tags and info for Friday.

Wales, Holyhead...

Tuesday, October 1. A decent day. 15 C.

Behold, the Blog is working again!

Today we went on a Coach Tour to Caernarfon Castle some 25 minutes from the port at Holyhead. These coaches are never rear full at all and are quite luxurious indeed.

This Castle was built between 1283 and 1330 AD, [47 years]. The native Welsh population was not too happy about having their land now governed by French speaking people but after all, William the Conqueror was head Honcho now, and he was French. The dispute went on for hundreds of years and there is to this day, some issues.

We did an in depth visit of the Castle that dominates this tiny town that still has the original wall surrounding it. It was not a terribly touristy town, like so many towns and villages in the UK that are just interesting to see. Some, like this Town/Village/City, appear to be stuck in time where the folks just live out their whole life much like their ancestors have done for hundreds of years, but much improved facilities and services.

We were back on the ship in time for a late lunch and a rest before going to a Specialty Restaurant. We are certainly getting our share of rest nowadays. Three more sleeps!

A Good Day.

There, you can now say you have seen an Irish Ferry!

On the way to the Castle, pleasant countryside. Not terribly exciting.

Mid river fish catching facility, quaint but low impact.

The spelling is obviously Welsh.

It dominates the countryside.

Guns again, time for Doug to be in the picture.

A rock-splitting exhibit, tough work indeed.

A Chess board with life-size Pieces, here a King.

Here a Knight.

One of 1400 chairs used for the invited dignitaries when Charles was made The Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth. They could buy the chair for a modest sum and keep it as a souvenir.