Author Archives: P.J. Gardner
August 15: Hiking in Hope Cove
Arjan went on a hike on the Devon South Coast at Hope Cove. I couldn’t walk that much, so I took the car up to the heights and did my own walking tour with my camera. It’s a beautiful place. … Continue reading
August 13: Dartmoor National Park
Arjan: We made an afternoon trip to Dartmoor National Park. The English moors have a character all their own. We had afternoon tea at the Two Bridges Hotel. We kind of got into an afternoon tea habit in England. When … Continue reading
August 4: Urk & Flevoland
On our way to Groningen, we drove over Flevoland, the newest part of Holland, a series of four “polders” reclaimed from the sea, one at a time, about a decade apart, from the 1930s though the 1960s. Most of the … Continue reading
August 2-August 3: Visiting in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, we visited a family friend, Greetje, in her lovely (and quintessentially Dutch) home in Sloten, a suburb of Amsterdam. Whereas Rotterdam is thoroughly modern, having been essentially demolished during World War II and rebuilt, Amsterdam retains its historic … Continue reading
July 29-August 2: Visiting in Rotterdam
The weather in Rotterdam has been quite nice. We have spent pleasant afternoons sitting on the outdoor patio at Gerard and Diane’s house, enjoying their garden, sipping tea, conversing, and eating pastries. Whenever everyone notices me falling asleep sitting up, … Continue reading
July 29: Arrival in the Netherlands
When we arrived in Amsterdam, we found we were two of only about 280 people stopping the tour after 17 days. That means (if the cruise was fully booked) that about 1000 passengers are continuing for the full 35-day round trip … Continue reading
July 28: Last Day at Sea
Today we are getting ready for a total mind reset. Seventeen days at sea is a long time. An out of time experience with its own daily schedule of activities, pampering, ports of call…. By now, we have explored most … Continue reading
July 26: Disappointing Edvard Grieg Excursion
In Bergen, I was really looking forward to the excursion to Troldhaugen, Edvard Grieg’s house by a lake. After all, Grieg is one of Norway’s most famous composers and we were promised a concert of his music on location. On … Continue reading
July 24: The Beautiful Faroe Islands
Today was my best day yet. The Faroe Islands are one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Although Tórshavn, the capital, remained enshrouded in fog the entire day, luckily, my chosen excursion to the Vestmanna Seacliffs took … Continue reading
May 17: Summer on the Water
All summer long, until she makes the Voyage of the Vikings on July 12, the Holland America Line cruise ship ms Veendam travels back and forth between Boston and Quebec City. By looking up the schedule, we discovered we could … Continue reading