TYPICAL ICLANDIC LANDSCAPE

HOT POOLS IN ICELAND

VIKING SHIP FROM 900AD

ZOE AND THE VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE

Iceland

The main attraction that drew us on this cruise was that it visited Iceland. Finally we were pulling into the port at Reykjavick, Iceland. Reykjavick is among the smallest capitols in the world. Water from nearby hot springs heats all of its buildings and the steam is also used to provide electricity for all of the country. Reykjavick means "smoke bay" after all the steam rising from the hot springs.
Iceland was not settled until the late 9th and 10th centuries and was originally ruled by Denmark but gained independence in 1944. The confluence of two tech tonic plates runs though the middle of the country and allows hot magma to come to the surface and heat the water. It is almost the only place in the world where you can view the Mid-Atlantic Ridge magma on dry land. This is one of the most active volcanic countries in the world.
The weather here is milder than might be expected because the Gulf Stream comes by the island. The average temperature is 32 degrees in the winter and 52.2 in the summer. It was cold and rainy the day we visited (59 degrees plus the chill factor). We drove past lava fields that cover the whole country. There were no trees. The only greenery came from moss or lichen covering the lava rocks. There are over 500 species of moss and lichen and 1200 species of fungi. A tour of a geothermal field revealed powerful jets of steam and multicolored pools of boiling mud, similar to Yellowstone National Park. The Blue Lagoon here is famous for its huge pool created by the water run-off from a huge steam plant. It is supposed to have healing properties especially for persons with psoriasis. There are no swimmers here but the people just stand around in the heated water. (sort of like many of the RV park pools.)
We visited the Viking Museum there that had a replica of a Viking ship and various historical artifacts. The Viking ship was about 70 feet long, 16 feet wide and weighs 80 tons. It would have carried a crew of 70. The Museum had the artifacts from an interesting grave of an ancient woman who was buried with a cart, horses, and values that signified that she was of great importance. The Icelandic horse has never been allowed off the island or other horses allowed in. So the horse is as 'pure' as in Viking days. It is small and sturdier that most modern horses.
The main industries of Iceland are fishing and pharmaceutical companies. The economy of Iceland has been hit severely by world economic downturn.but it was one of the most different places that we have visited.

COTTAGE AT LUSS ON LOCH LOMAND

LOCH LOMAND

Scotland

The next stop was Glasgow, Scotland on the River Clyde. A huge mud slide blocked the original route of our tour to Loch Lomond so we had to take a narrow windy road through a very scenic area. I am always amazed at the ability of the bus drivers to meet the challenges of roads like these. We followed the edge of the Loch Garr to the village of Luss on Loch Lomond. Luss has lovely flower-bedecked stone cottages built by a local owner of of a slate quarry for his workers. Loch Lomond is one of a series of lakes and the largest at 23 miles long and 5 miles wide. A low fog lay on the lake with grey clouds giving a background against the distant hills.

Our guide shared with many geological and historical facts about Scotland including the origin of the song about Loch Lomond. According to her, the Scots believe that when they die, their spirit always comes back to Scotland no matter where they are. This is called the 'high road'. The composer of the song was in an English prison and due to be hanged. His friend was also imprisoned but was going to be released. So the song refers to his friend going back to Scotland on the 'low road' but he would be there first because he would have died and gone back on the 'high road'. It gives a whole new meaning to the song.

We also heard about the 'little people' who hide among the hills and stones and only reveal themselves to certain people. This was similar to the stories about fairies and such that our Irish guide had told us.

STATUES OF THOSE STARVING DURING THE POTATO FAMINE

TRINITY COLLEGE BELL TOWER, IRELAND

IRELAND ON OUR CRUISE

Our next stop was in Cork, Ireland. We took a tour out to the countryside and were amazed at the vibrant green everywhere from abundant rain (52 inches a year) and the lime in the soil. The weekly farmer's market was in full swing when we got to the small town of Kinsale, so of course, we had to explore it. We bought a chunk of a local smoked cheese, a baguette of wheat bread and a meat pasty (meat pie) that we had with a bottle of red wine from our mini-bar for dinner that evening on our veranda.

Everywhere we went we saw large posters for and against Ireland approving the Lisbon Treaty that would streamline decision making in the EU. It is a very hot topic in Ireland. They have since approved it. The voters are hoping it will help their economy that, like the US, has been in a severe downturn from the 1990s boom period. It always amazes us the lack in the the US media of news happenings in other countries.
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Dublin was our next stop in Ireland. We toured the city with the first stop at Trinity College, the
oldest university in Ireland, founded by Elizabeth 1 in 1592. It covers 40 acres with buildings mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The famous Book of Kells (900AD), a beautifully illustrated text by monks of the four gospels, is in the library here and is thought to be the oldest book in the world.

A stop at the St. Patrick church enlightened us that he was neither Irish nor Catholic but Welsh and Protestant. Also he probably did not drive the "snakes" from Ireland but that was probably a metaphor for his conversion of the inhabitants from animism to Christianity. Jonathan Swift of Gulliver's Travels fame was the minister here for many years. Zoe was interested to hear that he suffered from Menier's Disease like her. But, unlike her, he thought he was going crazy.

A short history of "The Troubles" was shared about the control of the island by the British who did not allow the Irish to education or positions and only potatoes to eat. Independence from England was granted in 1782 but Parliament abolished that in 1807 by the Act of Union. This was followed by the Potato Famine in 1845 where many starved or immigrated to the US, Canada and Australia. Today there are more Irish in the US than in Ireland. Ireland was partitioned in 1913 after a war of independence but England kept Northern Ireland. The rest of the Island is the Irish Free State.

HOUSES, SHORE AND IRISH GREENERY

MARKET IN KINSALE, IRELAND

OUR DECK ON THE SHIP

OUR SHIP: CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION

We finally made it! After the trip cancellations that we had to make last year because of illness, we actually made it to our transatlantic cruise. In the next blogs, we will summarize descriptions of our visits along the way from England to New Jersey.

Our flights were some of the smoothest we have ever had. We flew non-stop from San Francisco to London. I called for a wheelchair at the airport so we were wheeled directly through all of the check-in procedures. After overnight at an airport hotel, we took a shuttle to our ship at the port in Harwich on the east coast. Our cabin was beautiful with fresh fruit and flowers awaiting us. We had fresh fruit and flowers each day of the cruise. We especially loved our veranda that was even big enough for two lounges. Wrapped in the cozy bathrobes furnished, we could enjoy the ocean and shore views.

Our first stop was in Le Havre, France. Many passengers opted for the tour to Paris but we chose the Alabaster Coast one that took us to the towns of Etretat and Fecamp. We drove along the northwest coast with white cliffs like those of the famed Dover ones in “England. Etretat is a beach town with mostly restaurants and souvenir shops. Many people were sunning themselves on the beach and even some were in the chilly waters of the Atlantic. It didn’t look very comfortable on the rock-strewn beach.

The stop in Fecamp was to visit the Benedictine abbey where the monk Bernardo Vincello invented Benedictine liquor in 1510. We were shown the distillation process and then given the choice of sampling the different forms of the liquor. The Benedictine Abbey also contained a museum and works of art.

The next stop was Cherbourg, France but we opted to relax on the ship and enjoy the many amenities available.

ETRETAT (ALABASTER COAST)

WHERE BENEDICTINE IS MADE