Last night we had dinner at the specialty restaurant in the Kings Court. It was an Indian feast with
all the curry. Dario arranged the table by a window overlooking the ocean which was as smooth
as a lake. In fact this was the mildest crossing we ever made in my memory.
Jenny is on a tour of Stonehenge and Salisbury while we chose to stay aboard and do some
housekeeping chores.
The QM2 will be sailing for Hamburg at 1600 hours and will host another sail-away party
at the end of deck 8.
So far, our journey has been excellent although the movies haven't been to our liking. Maybe
the current crop of pictures are too high tech for our generational tastes. Too much flash and
very little storyline.
The lectures have been stimulating. One speaker had spent a few years roaming the Arabian
desert on camels and had many stories to tell about his life among the Arabs in the region.
The other, Nigel West, is a writer of non-fiction spy tales and was quite interesting.
We have one more day at sea before we head into Hamburg on August 24, two days there
then on the 27th we leave for home.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
On Our Way
We arrived in NYC and went straight to our hotel Marco-Lexington where we met Jenny. Had
dinner at the Italian restaurant within and hit the sack shortly after. We were pooped out.
The next morning we took the Premium Limousine Service to the Brooklyn Port Terminal
to board the QM2. It was great seeing the big ship and fortunately we moved quickly through
the boarding routine and went straight to our rooms on deck 8. We had stateroom 8051( the
same one Barri and John had in 2012 crossing). Jenny had 8041, down the passageway.
Today, Friday August 16, the weather is great and last night's rest was comfortable, a calm sea
and freedom of care from the busy schedule of moving out of our house in Sandia Park. As
usual, the meals on board are first rate. We did manage to see Dario, one of our waiters during
the "Round The World Tour". He's a supervisor now and strolls about in a dark suit with a
gold tag on his breast pocket.
Took a brief hike around the deck before lunch. Attended a lecture about Saudi Arabia and
the Arab Spring. As usual, the system on the ship isn't too reliable so this blog may be
disjointed but hang in there to the end.
At dinner last night, I kept thinking about Aubrey and Walter, how they roamed around the
ship and covered so much territory. Maybe we can make another voyage together again
before our time runs out.
Annabelle is in our stateroom resting before this afternoon's lecture and I'm ready to sign off.
Saturday, August 17...Just got word from our broker that the appraisal of our house was well
over the sale price. I thought it would but I'm glad everything is now set for closing on Sept. 16.
Expect to leave for Austin on the 17th,
The sea is quite calm. Very little wind. This afternoon we went through immigration procedures
for England and Germany. All this is managed on board to avoid the hassle of doing it ashore.
Attended a lecture by author Margaret Attwood. Not much of a speaker and am not too impressed
by her literary skills. Of course, she write fiction which is not my cup of tea.
Tonight, passengers are scheduled to meet with the Capt. at the usual cocktail event. We're going
to skip this one since we will see him at a later date on a more informal occasion. Jenny is going.
Saw our old waiters, Chris and Dario, who served us on the 2009 Round the World Cruise. Both
are now Supervisors at the Kings Court.
A portrait of mother and daughter at the center of deck 3 on the way to dinner at the Britannia.
Hopefully, this picture will arrive on your computer.
dinner at the Italian restaurant within and hit the sack shortly after. We were pooped out.
The next morning we took the Premium Limousine Service to the Brooklyn Port Terminal
to board the QM2. It was great seeing the big ship and fortunately we moved quickly through
the boarding routine and went straight to our rooms on deck 8. We had stateroom 8051( the
same one Barri and John had in 2012 crossing). Jenny had 8041, down the passageway.
Today, Friday August 16, the weather is great and last night's rest was comfortable, a calm sea
and freedom of care from the busy schedule of moving out of our house in Sandia Park. As
usual, the meals on board are first rate. We did manage to see Dario, one of our waiters during
the "Round The World Tour". He's a supervisor now and strolls about in a dark suit with a
gold tag on his breast pocket.
Took a brief hike around the deck before lunch. Attended a lecture about Saudi Arabia and
the Arab Spring. As usual, the system on the ship isn't too reliable so this blog may be
disjointed but hang in there to the end.
At dinner last night, I kept thinking about Aubrey and Walter, how they roamed around the
ship and covered so much territory. Maybe we can make another voyage together again
before our time runs out.
Annabelle is in our stateroom resting before this afternoon's lecture and I'm ready to sign off.
Saturday, August 17...Just got word from our broker that the appraisal of our house was well
over the sale price. I thought it would but I'm glad everything is now set for closing on Sept. 16.
Expect to leave for Austin on the 17th,
The sea is quite calm. Very little wind. This afternoon we went through immigration procedures
for England and Germany. All this is managed on board to avoid the hassle of doing it ashore.
Attended a lecture by author Margaret Attwood. Not much of a speaker and am not too impressed
by her literary skills. Of course, she write fiction which is not my cup of tea.
Tonight, passengers are scheduled to meet with the Capt. at the usual cocktail event. We're going
to skip this one since we will see him at a later date on a more informal occasion. Jenny is going.
Saw our old waiters, Chris and Dario, who served us on the 2009 Round the World Cruise. Both
are now Supervisors at the Kings Court.
Hopefully, this picture will arrive on your computer.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
All That Stuff!
When an old person like myself gets ready to move to new quarters he gets the rare chance to review his life from way back when and it offers one the opportunity to see where you've been and what you did. It's all there in the
boxes of pictures, personal papers and bric-a-brac collected throughout a long
and eventful life. Usually, children, other family members or friends have the
task of sorting through all the debris of a person's history after he dies. No one engaged in this thankless task has a clue as to who is in the photo or what
that picture or paper really meant in that life. It is just a thankless task
that must be done and it is a back breaking trek to the city dump. Not so, when
the old person has to venture among the stuff, collected and saved during his
lifetime. These bits and pieces of things are real life memories that become
alive, one piece of paper at a time. One soiled photo of a father, mother or
favorite aunt who died ages ago, but who become alive even for just one moment.
I began looking through all that stuff today and I must confess that I relived
at least 70 years of my past as I lovingly held pieces of my life, each by each.
My eyes watered frequently after looking at an array of photos that were hidden
in card board boxes for years that I knew were there but couldn't summon up the courage to open. My wonderful aunts on my mother's side,in their 1930's outfits, who I loved dearly, and remembered how they watched over and pampered me and cooked such tasty meals whenever we visited. The reports I wrote on my jobs, how hard I worked to please everyone...vanity, all is vanity. Whatever happened to the high school I developed at Lower Brule? That dusty proposal in a cardboard box tells the whole story but no one can know how much it meant to me. All that stuff in the boxes that I sorted through made up the story of my life, however, I alone, can live it again, I alone, can laugh, cry or cringe at each memento. No one who waded through these dusty boxes could know what all that stuff meant. It, in many ways,tells the story of my life. What do I keep and what do I discard? It probably makes little difference to others but it tells me so many things that I can now recall but our new home is too sparse for those dusty boxes and the memories they contain will have to remain with me.
boxes of pictures, personal papers and bric-a-brac collected throughout a long
and eventful life. Usually, children, other family members or friends have the
task of sorting through all the debris of a person's history after he dies. No one engaged in this thankless task has a clue as to who is in the photo or what
that picture or paper really meant in that life. It is just a thankless task
that must be done and it is a back breaking trek to the city dump. Not so, when
the old person has to venture among the stuff, collected and saved during his
lifetime. These bits and pieces of things are real life memories that become
alive, one piece of paper at a time. One soiled photo of a father, mother or
favorite aunt who died ages ago, but who become alive even for just one moment.
I began looking through all that stuff today and I must confess that I relived
at least 70 years of my past as I lovingly held pieces of my life, each by each.
My eyes watered frequently after looking at an array of photos that were hidden
in card board boxes for years that I knew were there but couldn't summon up the courage to open. My wonderful aunts on my mother's side,in their 1930's outfits, who I loved dearly, and remembered how they watched over and pampered me and cooked such tasty meals whenever we visited. The reports I wrote on my jobs, how hard I worked to please everyone...vanity, all is vanity. Whatever happened to the high school I developed at Lower Brule? That dusty proposal in a cardboard box tells the whole story but no one can know how much it meant to me. All that stuff in the boxes that I sorted through made up the story of my life, however, I alone, can live it again, I alone, can laugh, cry or cringe at each memento. No one who waded through these dusty boxes could know what all that stuff meant. It, in many ways,tells the story of my life. What do I keep and what do I discard? It probably makes little difference to others but it tells me so many things that I can now recall but our new home is too sparse for those dusty boxes and the memories they contain will have to remain with me.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Reflections On Leaving Our Mountains
I always new the time would arrive when we had to leave our home in Sandia Park. I never wanted to think about that day but just like every thing in life I've
known, there is an end. Although a person in his 80's should be accustomed to
the conclusion of all things, I hide behind the the wall of denial that all this
is part of wonder of living yet also part of the torture one goes through up to
old age. The death of one's grandparents, parents and sometimes, children. The
homes you close and friends who have gone. The beautiful objects that you collect and admire, that too will fade into the night when the time arrives.
I walked through our home we designed and built to last forever but forever
was a dream too far and my heart only told me that dreams are only part of the
deception that plays out in the stream of years. I gazed at the pieces
of my past, the furniture, old and worn, owned by my aunts, Rose, Min and Ettie and the ancient sewing machine Grandma Bettie worked at while I, a mere child,
watched in awe on tip toes as she made that machine do her bidding. All these
objects will travel to other places, I know not where, but will the new owners
know how much they meant to me and how they stirred the memories of the past? I
fear not.
The mountains will remain unchanged when we leave. We will begin to change as
soon as they're out of sight. Until the end of my run, I will ski the slopes
and hike the trails with Annabelle and hope that these memories remain alive.
known, there is an end. Although a person in his 80's should be accustomed to
the conclusion of all things, I hide behind the the wall of denial that all this
is part of wonder of living yet also part of the torture one goes through up to
old age. The death of one's grandparents, parents and sometimes, children. The
homes you close and friends who have gone. The beautiful objects that you collect and admire, that too will fade into the night when the time arrives.
I walked through our home we designed and built to last forever but forever
was a dream too far and my heart only told me that dreams are only part of the
deception that plays out in the stream of years. I gazed at the pieces
of my past, the furniture, old and worn, owned by my aunts, Rose, Min and Ettie and the ancient sewing machine Grandma Bettie worked at while I, a mere child,
watched in awe on tip toes as she made that machine do her bidding. All these
objects will travel to other places, I know not where, but will the new owners
know how much they meant to me and how they stirred the memories of the past? I
fear not.
The mountains will remain unchanged when we leave. We will begin to change as
soon as they're out of sight. Until the end of my run, I will ski the slopes
and hike the trails with Annabelle and hope that these memories remain alive.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
26 Pine Ridge Road...........For Sale
It is with mixed emotions that we have contracted with a realtor to put our home
for almost 30 years, up for sale. We put a great deal of love and effort into
this place and enjoyed every moment of our time here. From the time when we decided to build, to our detailed planning of the total structure, to hiring the
architect and builder and finally moving in, has been one of our greatest adventures. We have cherished our relationship with the Gravagnes, our neighbors
and have watched their children develop into fine young adults. The skiing in
the winter and the hiking in the mountain so nearby has been a luxury that few
people can enjoy on such a regular basis. It is difficult to let go of such a
satisfying existence but there comes a time when the current chapter is complete
and a new one awaits to be opened. I know it can't be as fulfilling as the stay
here in Sandia Park but what else can one due when old age is a daily reminder and Father Time is feverishly knocking at the door. Take it from this ancient
mariner that it's true," time and tide wait for no man." Don't wait for tomorrow to do the things you want to do or see now. Annabelle and I have always tried to
set short term goals and still prepare for the future. It has worked for us these 40 decades together and we're going to make every effort to stretch this
out just a trifle longer.
We had our first contact, a couple looking for a home for their daughter. They certainly liked our home, darn it!
for almost 30 years, up for sale. We put a great deal of love and effort into
this place and enjoyed every moment of our time here. From the time when we decided to build, to our detailed planning of the total structure, to hiring the
architect and builder and finally moving in, has been one of our greatest adventures. We have cherished our relationship with the Gravagnes, our neighbors
and have watched their children develop into fine young adults. The skiing in
the winter and the hiking in the mountain so nearby has been a luxury that few
people can enjoy on such a regular basis. It is difficult to let go of such a
satisfying existence but there comes a time when the current chapter is complete
and a new one awaits to be opened. I know it can't be as fulfilling as the stay
here in Sandia Park but what else can one due when old age is a daily reminder and Father Time is feverishly knocking at the door. Take it from this ancient
mariner that it's true," time and tide wait for no man." Don't wait for tomorrow to do the things you want to do or see now. Annabelle and I have always tried to
set short term goals and still prepare for the future. It has worked for us these 40 decades together and we're going to make every effort to stretch this
out just a trifle longer.
We had our first contact, a couple looking for a home for their daughter. They certainly liked our home, darn it!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Age and Remembrance
Friends and family have been writing and calling me about my approaching age 88
on May 11. Most all of them want to know how it feels to reach this ripe old age. Of course, I inform them all that it is better than the alternative but
in truth, old age is not that great. I'd rather be as old as my grandchildren,
just starting out in this brave new world. Instead of old memories that seem to
infect much of my daylight hours, I would prefer to think of the things that I
could look forward to in the coming years, worlds that are out there to conquer
just as I used to dream about in my youth. I have few regrets during my long life. I lived through some exciting times; the great depression of the '30s,
World War 2 in which I served for 4 long years, a marriage to Norma of 25 years with 3 wonderful children, gainful employment in responsible positions, including
a High School principalship then a beautiful marriage of 40 years to sweetheart,
Annabelle and be a close friend to her children as well. To top it all off,
I retired at age 54 and have been able to see the world and visit countries that
my father only talked about but never lived to see. Throughout this time, I
managed to accumulate the finances to accommodate all of our aspirations to travel, buy what we need and share some of our good fortune with others. Now
where do we go from here. They say that people who are afraid to die are also
afraid to live. I'm not certain about that since the next few years will be
a challenge to both Annabelle and I as we open the final chapter in this episode.
People also want to know how one knows when one is getting old. For me, the
response is quite simple. Here's how I know that I reached that point in life.
Of course, you will have different markers to tell you when age has crept in.
When I still find the big band sounds of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw still
exciting and I find myself thinking of how I used to do the Lindy Hop at the
high school proms. When I cringe after hearing some of the raucous language
on the TV, after listening in the old days to the mild comments of Jack Benny or
Phil Silvers on the radio. When I remember Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby croon
their melodies, so sweet and tender. When I seek out the old TV classics of
Gary Cooper or Jimmie Stewart or Kirk Douglas and the westerns I enjoyed. Oh! yes, there were the ball players; Di Maggio, Mantle and even Babe Ruth that my
dad took me to see in New York. When we traveled to the city to see Al Jolson,
Eddie Cantor and Will Rogers at the Palace in Manhattan. How I remember the
1939 World's Fair which demonstrated the brand new gadget, television, which
was predicted would be the rave in the distant future.
These memories are so fresh in my mind and I still enjoy these vicarious
experiences.
The other day while strolling through Costco, Annabelle mentioned to me that
a good looking girl just walked by wearing too tight jeans. I hadn't even noticed. Doesn't that tell you all you have to know about the aging process.
(Barri wrote to remind me that "too tight jeans weren't nice". She's probably
right.)
on May 11. Most all of them want to know how it feels to reach this ripe old age. Of course, I inform them all that it is better than the alternative but
in truth, old age is not that great. I'd rather be as old as my grandchildren,
just starting out in this brave new world. Instead of old memories that seem to
infect much of my daylight hours, I would prefer to think of the things that I
could look forward to in the coming years, worlds that are out there to conquer
just as I used to dream about in my youth. I have few regrets during my long life. I lived through some exciting times; the great depression of the '30s,
World War 2 in which I served for 4 long years, a marriage to Norma of 25 years with 3 wonderful children, gainful employment in responsible positions, including
a High School principalship then a beautiful marriage of 40 years to sweetheart,
Annabelle and be a close friend to her children as well. To top it all off,
I retired at age 54 and have been able to see the world and visit countries that
my father only talked about but never lived to see. Throughout this time, I
managed to accumulate the finances to accommodate all of our aspirations to travel, buy what we need and share some of our good fortune with others. Now
where do we go from here. They say that people who are afraid to die are also
afraid to live. I'm not certain about that since the next few years will be
a challenge to both Annabelle and I as we open the final chapter in this episode.
People also want to know how one knows when one is getting old. For me, the
response is quite simple. Here's how I know that I reached that point in life.
Of course, you will have different markers to tell you when age has crept in.
When I still find the big band sounds of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw still
exciting and I find myself thinking of how I used to do the Lindy Hop at the
high school proms. When I cringe after hearing some of the raucous language
on the TV, after listening in the old days to the mild comments of Jack Benny or
Phil Silvers on the radio. When I remember Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby croon
their melodies, so sweet and tender. When I seek out the old TV classics of
Gary Cooper or Jimmie Stewart or Kirk Douglas and the westerns I enjoyed. Oh! yes, there were the ball players; Di Maggio, Mantle and even Babe Ruth that my
dad took me to see in New York. When we traveled to the city to see Al Jolson,
Eddie Cantor and Will Rogers at the Palace in Manhattan. How I remember the
1939 World's Fair which demonstrated the brand new gadget, television, which
was predicted would be the rave in the distant future.
These memories are so fresh in my mind and I still enjoy these vicarious
experiences.
The other day while strolling through Costco, Annabelle mentioned to me that
a good looking girl just walked by wearing too tight jeans. I hadn't even noticed. Doesn't that tell you all you have to know about the aging process.
(Barri wrote to remind me that "too tight jeans weren't nice". She's probably
right.)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Great Flood
When we arrived back in Sandia Park, a disaster had occurred prior to our arrival.
Although we weren't sure of the exact day or time, however, the water was still
flowing out of our water heater through the brick flooring to the wine cellar
below. The water was about two feet high and still rising. I quickly shut the
water intake valve to the house and called Roy. He insisted that all was well
the previous Wednesday. After surveying the damage, I called Servpro, the outfit
that deals with house disasters like this and, fortunately they responded with
a team of men in high boots. At the same time, I called multiple plumbing
companies about replacing our now defunct water heater that same evening. It was
Saturday late afternoon one difficult time to round up willing plumbers but after
calling about 7 outfits I managed to get a positive response from one company
who dispatched two men who brought an appropriate tank. They worked until 11pm
to install the heater with the right connections for our solar system. At least
we were able to have hot water that same evening. Servpro worked for an entire
week to bail out the wine seller and dry all the areas. You can imagine the cost
for all this service on a Saturday. Fortunately, my insurance covered most of
the expense, however, it took awhile for on adjuster to make his appearance but
he did a fair appraisal of the situation. This past week, we had a contractor
work on the wine cellar damage and today, Saturday, March 30, the job is over
and we are waiting for the sealant to dry on the concrete below.
It was a difficult two weeks, that began after our long drive from Austin only
to find this situation. We were looking forward to a rest but confronted this
disaster before us. We are now thinking that managing a home of this size may
be too difficult especially since we spend at least 4 months away in Texas.
Despite all the turmoil with The Great Flood, today April 7, we completed our
bottling of 2012 wine. Sadly, it may be our last wine harvest since both of
us are finding the task of growing grapes, harvesting them and finally, the
arduous task of bottling them. I know all of our wine recipients will be
sorry to see us close shop. Right now we are completely exhausted from the
task. An interesting thing happened during the flood cleanout when the workmen
broughtn out some of the debris. They uncovered a stash of wine bottles from
1987 somehow unused. They look intact and in the near future I plan to uncork
one in celebration of our 26 years of wine making. Quite an accomplishment.
The photo below is our now replenished wine racks. The eagle above is on guard.
Although we weren't sure of the exact day or time, however, the water was still
flowing out of our water heater through the brick flooring to the wine cellar
below. The water was about two feet high and still rising. I quickly shut the
water intake valve to the house and called Roy. He insisted that all was well
the previous Wednesday. After surveying the damage, I called Servpro, the outfit
that deals with house disasters like this and, fortunately they responded with
a team of men in high boots. At the same time, I called multiple plumbing
companies about replacing our now defunct water heater that same evening. It was
Saturday late afternoon one difficult time to round up willing plumbers but after
calling about 7 outfits I managed to get a positive response from one company
who dispatched two men who brought an appropriate tank. They worked until 11pm
to install the heater with the right connections for our solar system. At least
we were able to have hot water that same evening. Servpro worked for an entire
week to bail out the wine seller and dry all the areas. You can imagine the cost
for all this service on a Saturday. Fortunately, my insurance covered most of
the expense, however, it took awhile for on adjuster to make his appearance but
he did a fair appraisal of the situation. This past week, we had a contractor
work on the wine cellar damage and today, Saturday, March 30, the job is over
and we are waiting for the sealant to dry on the concrete below.
It was a difficult two weeks, that began after our long drive from Austin only
to find this situation. We were looking forward to a rest but confronted this
disaster before us. We are now thinking that managing a home of this size may
be too difficult especially since we spend at least 4 months away in Texas.
Despite all the turmoil with The Great Flood, today April 7, we completed our
bottling of 2012 wine. Sadly, it may be our last wine harvest since both of
us are finding the task of growing grapes, harvesting them and finally, the
arduous task of bottling them. I know all of our wine recipients will be
sorry to see us close shop. Right now we are completely exhausted from the
task. An interesting thing happened during the flood cleanout when the workmen
broughtn out some of the debris. They uncovered a stash of wine bottles from
1987 somehow unused. They look intact and in the near future I plan to uncork
one in celebration of our 26 years of wine making. Quite an accomplishment.
The photo below is our now replenished wine racks. The eagle above is on guard.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Hamburg Über Alles
To all the loyal followers of Despicable Tours, your patience will be rewarded because Annabelle,
my beautiful Frau and I are boarding the QM2 on August 15 for a journey to Hamburg, Germany
by way of Southampton, UK.
This will be a follow up to our previous visit to Berlin immediately after the fall of the infamous
Wall where half of the local population was making a living by selling small chunks of
Wall where half of the local population was making a living by selling small chunks of
said wall to eager tourists. It was a memorable journey since we were able to spend a few days
in East Berlin exploring different sights previously hidden from tourists especially Potsdam,
which was the venue for one of the major conferences that settled some issues regarding Germany
following WW2.
Today, Sunday March 3, we met Barri near Costco for our walk around Arbor Trail then
Ducked inside for the weekly hot dog. The weather was Spring like and the traffic was fierce
since the kite flying festival was in full swing at Zilker Park.
We are happy to announce to all followers that Jenny will be joining us on the QM2 to Hamburg.
This will be her second trip with Cunard. In 2000, Jenny, Peter and Anna made the crossing
with us on the Elizabeth 2 to the UK. It was a wonderful voyage. Anna was a mere lass of 12,
who was anxious to see all the places made famous by the legendary Sherlock Holmes. It also
included the music of Dave Brubeck and Co.on the cruise.
We are leaving our home in Austin for New Mexico early Friday March 15. Tomorrow we're
having lunch with Pam and Rob who plan to spend some time at the South by Southwest" SXSW"
celebration here in town.
The photo above was taken at Barri's home with Aubrey and Walter while the one of Annabelle, along the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
Our 4 month stay in Austin has been wonderful. Most of the time, the weather has been moderate
with only 2 days of light rain. I'm going to miss our time here especially the chance to visit with
Barri, John and the children.
It's Saturday March 16 and we're halfway home. Stopping in Brownfield, Texas for a night's
sleep. If you're ever out this way, stay at the Holiday Inn Express. It's the best hotel in mid-Texas.
So far the trip has been pleasant, nice weather and little traffic even though the driving has been
tedious, few sights except miles of newly planted cotton fields interspersed with oil pumpers.
Occasionally there are arrays of wind turbines which is a big thing in western Texas.
Today, Sunday March 3, we met Barri near Costco for our walk around Arbor Trail then
Ducked inside for the weekly hot dog. The weather was Spring like and the traffic was fierce
since the kite flying festival was in full swing at Zilker Park.
We are happy to announce to all followers that Jenny will be joining us on the QM2 to Hamburg.
This will be her second trip with Cunard. In 2000, Jenny, Peter and Anna made the crossing
with us on the Elizabeth 2 to the UK. It was a wonderful voyage. Anna was a mere lass of 12,
who was anxious to see all the places made famous by the legendary Sherlock Holmes. It also
We are leaving our home in Austin for New Mexico early Friday March 15. Tomorrow we're
having lunch with Pam and Rob who plan to spend some time at the South by Southwest" SXSW"
celebration here in town.
Our 4 month stay in Austin has been wonderful. Most of the time, the weather has been moderate
with only 2 days of light rain. I'm going to miss our time here especially the chance to visit with
Barri, John and the children.
It's Saturday March 16 and we're halfway home. Stopping in Brownfield, Texas for a night's
sleep. If you're ever out this way, stay at the Holiday Inn Express. It's the best hotel in mid-Texas.
So far the trip has been pleasant, nice weather and little traffic even though the driving has been
tedious, few sights except miles of newly planted cotton fields interspersed with oil pumpers.
Occasionally there are arrays of wind turbines which is a big thing in western Texas.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Hermitage......A Must See
We made it to the Hermitage and with the help of our guide, Melishka, we had a most enthralling
experience. We walked for almost three hours through magnificent rooms and corridors viewing
many of the world's priceless objects, portraits and sculptures. This note is for granddaughter, Amber,
if you have the chance visit this Museum in St. Petersburg.
It was an exhausting trip on this day, August 2, and although we often had to navigate many marble
staircases, Annabelle was up to the task. She probably did as well as other folks half her age.
It is clear that the Russian Tsars had expensive tastes because money was no object as they scoured
all of Europe for the art treasures in this collection. The collection is so vast that they tell you it would
take almost 11 years to see everything if you spent just one minute looking at each object. We
walked at a rather brisk pace to keep up with Melishka who kept on speaking about the objects
in front of her. Fortunately, we had an electronic device on our ear to listen as she broadcast her
information on a microphone.
This will be my last blog from the ship. We sail this evening to Estonia where, in Tallin, we're
scheduled for a lunch and tour, then on to Gothenberg, Sweden for a visit to the Volvo museum..
Back to Harwich, where we will have transportation to Heathrow and a flight to New York.
We should be back at the homestead on August 8 if all goes well and we don't get caught in
the Olympic crush around London.
Goodbye to all you patient readers. This was a great journey and glad you came along.
Duz vidania or Hasta Lavista!
experience. We walked for almost three hours through magnificent rooms and corridors viewing
many of the world's priceless objects, portraits and sculptures. This note is for granddaughter, Amber,
if you have the chance visit this Museum in St. Petersburg.
It was an exhausting trip on this day, August 2, and although we often had to navigate many marble
staircases, Annabelle was up to the task. She probably did as well as other folks half her age.
It is clear that the Russian Tsars had expensive tastes because money was no object as they scoured
all of Europe for the art treasures in this collection. The collection is so vast that they tell you it would
take almost 11 years to see everything if you spent just one minute looking at each object. We
walked at a rather brisk pace to keep up with Melishka who kept on speaking about the objects
in front of her. Fortunately, we had an electronic device on our ear to listen as she broadcast her
information on a microphone.
This will be my last blog from the ship. We sail this evening to Estonia where, in Tallin, we're
scheduled for a lunch and tour, then on to Gothenberg, Sweden for a visit to the Volvo museum..
Back to Harwich, where we will have transportation to Heathrow and a flight to New York.
We should be back at the homestead on August 8 if all goes well and we don't get caught in
the Olympic crush around London.
Goodbye to all you patient readers. This was a great journey and glad you came along.
Duz vidania or Hasta Lavista!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
St. Petersburg....We made it
We will spend two days in this town. This morning we took a panoramic tour of the highlights and tomorrow The Hermitage Museum.
Our guide, Yanna, opened up with the statement that if you want to get things done here you have to bribe the officials. All during our ride, she kept describing the bad conditions in Russia; the low
salaries, poor housing, etc. I began to wonder how she ever obtained a job as a tourist guide. When
I was here 50 + years ago as a guest of the Russian gov't everything was milk and honey. Of course,
that was under the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, St. Petersburg is a remarkable city, filled with history
of the early Tsars, founded by Peter the Great in the 1700s after his visits to Western Europe where
he was enchanted by its culture and buildings.
I tried to get a picture of the last tsar of the Russians but I could only find one of the early monarchs
and his royal family. (Please note that this photo was taken many years ago)
I'll try to write tomorrow after our visit to the Hermitage.
Our guide, Yanna, opened up with the statement that if you want to get things done here you have to bribe the officials. All during our ride, she kept describing the bad conditions in Russia; the low
salaries, poor housing, etc. I began to wonder how she ever obtained a job as a tourist guide. When
I was here 50 + years ago as a guest of the Russian gov't everything was milk and honey. Of course,
that was under the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, St. Petersburg is a remarkable city, filled with history
of the early Tsars, founded by Peter the Great in the 1700s after his visits to Western Europe where
he was enchanted by its culture and buildings.
and his royal family. (Please note that this photo was taken many years ago)
I'll try to write tomorrow after our visit to the Hermitage.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Helsinki....few people can speak Finnish
Argentinians on deck.
Today we toured Helsinki, a small country with very cold winters and pleasant the rest of the year.
Population 5.4 mil.
Our guide, Cynika, struggled with her English but was diligent in getting people back on the bus
when it was time to leave for the next venue. She kept on advising us that it was dark and gloomy
in the winter so Finns always celebrated too much when the warm summer months arrived.
Two famous Finns, Paavo Nurmi, the flying Finn of Olympic fame years ago and Sibelius their
famous composer. I remembered Nurmi from my youth and Sibelius from his Finlandia Symphony.
The Finns have a long history of being overrun by their neighbors, Swedes and Russians. Both
of these countries have left some cultural vestiges of their occupations.
As for the economics in 2012, the Finns have a type of socialistic system with a tinge of capitalism.
They have a long tradition of shipbuilding and manufacture many of the world's cruise liners.
To show the complexity of their language check out Annabelle below a hair emporium sign.
Tomorrow, at last, St. Petersburg and the object of our long journey.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Monday, It must be Sweden
We arrived early in Stockholm and the good weather is still with us. The temp. is a cool 65F.
Took a panoramic tour of the city with a tall Swedish gal, Amanda as our guide. The walk to
the terminal was quite long but fortunately, a cart pulled along side and we hopped aboard for
ride to our bus.
I'm impressed with Stockholm. It is a beautiful city. many flowers in bloom, trees everywhere.
The city is situated on 14 islands and everyone here seems to have some type of boat. We were
told that there are more than 600,000 boats in the country that has a population of about 9 1/2
million population. City was founded in 1252 and is famous for Alfred Nobel, he of the Peace
Prize, etc. and Greta Garbo, she of "I want to be alone" fame. Annabelle also informs me that
she had tea with the great Garbo while in Vermont where Garbo was visiting the author,
John Gunther.
By the way the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway while the other prizes are given in
Stockholm. Taxes average about 31% but all Swedes are entitled to free education as well as
universal health care for all under 18.
Took a panoramic tour of the city with a tall Swedish gal, Amanda as our guide. The walk to
the terminal was quite long but fortunately, a cart pulled along side and we hopped aboard for
ride to our bus.
I'm impressed with Stockholm. It is a beautiful city. many flowers in bloom, trees everywhere.
The city is situated on 14 islands and everyone here seems to have some type of boat. We were
told that there are more than 600,000 boats in the country that has a population of about 9 1/2
million population. City was founded in 1252 and is famous for Alfred Nobel, he of the Peace
Prize, etc. and Greta Garbo, she of "I want to be alone" fame. Annabelle also informs me that
she had tea with the great Garbo while in Vermont where Garbo was visiting the author,
John Gunther.
By the way the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway while the other prizes are given in
Stockholm. Taxes average about 31% but all Swedes are entitled to free education as well as
universal health care for all under 18.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Onward to Copenhagen
To the tooting of a brass band and beating of drums, the graceful Jewel of the Sea left its berth at Harwich. It was 5PM and after the passengers' muster in the Schooner Bar on deck 7, we gazed
from our balcony, enthralled once again at our good fortune in beginning another sea voyage.
This vessel is not as ample as QM2 but the service is good. Most of the waiting staff appears to
be Indian which is the case among Cruising personnel. The Manager is Indian and probably brings
his group with him. Our waiter, Mishela hails from Mumbai.
We spotted the tower of our hotel off to starboard as we left and although we had a pleasant respite
at Harwich, it was good to be leaving.
Annabelle as usual, is scanning the horizon with her binocs as we plow Northeast. "I can actually see the window of our room at the Tower Hotel, she bellowed." I responded with a grunt, "check out
the bar." We then passed The Pier where we gorged on fish and chips a few times. The sky is clear
and the temperature, a comfortable 68 degrees F.
The dress code for the evening is casual, not even elegant casual as per QM2. Back at our stateroom,
Katcha, our gal attendant from Trinidad was busy getting things set for our first night at sea but no
chocolates on our pillow this trip.
Saw the movie, My Fair Lady and thought that Aubrey and Walter would find it better to understand
since they had their first experience in England. A great musical based on a GB Shaw story.
Also attended The Capt'.s welcome on board party. Captain Stig Nielson is a Norwegian with many
year's experience in the Baltic. There were a few Scotsmen in kilts which also added more color
to the celebration as well as caviar goodies and champaign to wash them down.
Saturday, our first city tour and we started in the Windjammer Restaurant early in the morning.
The Windjammer is a food court with different stations where you run about to locate the items you
want.
Elizabeth, our tour guide, a Danish gal with a perfect command of American English spouted off
a string of statistics about Copenhagen...1.2 mil people out of a total Danish population of 5.4 mil.
Of course, Hans Christian Anderson of fairy tales fame is their famous son and we stopped to see
where he grew up. Remember the story of the Little Mermaid well her statue is sitting on a rock
offshore. Just a bit of trivia, Harold Bluetooth was an early Danish king.
Meearsk Lines is one of their largest employers along with Carlsberg, our favorite brew.
from our balcony, enthralled once again at our good fortune in beginning another sea voyage.
This vessel is not as ample as QM2 but the service is good. Most of the waiting staff appears to
be Indian which is the case among Cruising personnel. The Manager is Indian and probably brings
his group with him. Our waiter, Mishela hails from Mumbai.
We spotted the tower of our hotel off to starboard as we left and although we had a pleasant respite
at Harwich, it was good to be leaving.
Annabelle as usual, is scanning the horizon with her binocs as we plow Northeast. "I can actually see the window of our room at the Tower Hotel, she bellowed." I responded with a grunt, "check out
the bar." We then passed The Pier where we gorged on fish and chips a few times. The sky is clear
and the temperature, a comfortable 68 degrees F.
The dress code for the evening is casual, not even elegant casual as per QM2. Back at our stateroom,
Katcha, our gal attendant from Trinidad was busy getting things set for our first night at sea but no
chocolates on our pillow this trip.
Saw the movie, My Fair Lady and thought that Aubrey and Walter would find it better to understand
since they had their first experience in England. A great musical based on a GB Shaw story.
Also attended The Capt'.s welcome on board party. Captain Stig Nielson is a Norwegian with many
year's experience in the Baltic. There were a few Scotsmen in kilts which also added more color
to the celebration as well as caviar goodies and champaign to wash them down.
Saturday, our first city tour and we started in the Windjammer Restaurant early in the morning.
The Windjammer is a food court with different stations where you run about to locate the items you
want.
Elizabeth, our tour guide, a Danish gal with a perfect command of American English spouted off
a string of statistics about Copenhagen...1.2 mil people out of a total Danish population of 5.4 mil.
Of course, Hans Christian Anderson of fairy tales fame is their famous son and we stopped to see
where he grew up. Remember the story of the Little Mermaid well her statue is sitting on a rock
offshore. Just a bit of trivia, Harold Bluetooth was an early Danish king.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
One Last Goodbye to Harwich
We took our final walk to Harwich Town and on our way sat down on a bench to rest when a man
with two dogs sat down beside us and said, "Welcome foreigners, what brings you to Harwich."
I replied, "Your fine city, my good man". He countered with, "No one ever comes to visit our town".
He went on, "I've lived here all my life and have been trying to leave". All the while his pooches were
growling at all the passersby. He did visit the USA once and visited the Grand Canyon and he thought,
New Mexico, but wasn't sure where it was. We conversed for almost a half hour when he finally
arose and reached in his pocket and handed me a pointed bit of black plastic, I thought. He said it
was a shark's tooth that was a million years old. People in this area roam over the seafront for these
relics and sell them to collectors. He gave it to us as a gift and remembrance of our visit to Harwich.
Before I could express my thanks, he dashed off and yelled, "Goodbye foreigners" as he dragged
his dogs along.
We then headed to the Seafront opposite The Pier, where we ate our final meal and took a taxi back
to our hotel. I'm back at the hotel bar this morning, July 26, where I've been doing my blog since
this place is where WiFi connects and where all the locals can be found from early morn to late at
night. Fortunately, I can also keep my eye on the stock market in case something comes up that
I might fancy.
Annabelle is back in the room putting our gear together for checkout in a couple of hours. We are
able to see The Jewel Of The Sea from our window and she looks majestic. The weather is still
sunny and it looks perfect for tomorrow's Olympic Games opening session.
with two dogs sat down beside us and said, "Welcome foreigners, what brings you to Harwich."
I replied, "Your fine city, my good man". He countered with, "No one ever comes to visit our town".
He went on, "I've lived here all my life and have been trying to leave". All the while his pooches were
growling at all the passersby. He did visit the USA once and visited the Grand Canyon and he thought,
New Mexico, but wasn't sure where it was. We conversed for almost a half hour when he finally
arose and reached in his pocket and handed me a pointed bit of black plastic, I thought. He said it
was a shark's tooth that was a million years old. People in this area roam over the seafront for these
relics and sell them to collectors. He gave it to us as a gift and remembrance of our visit to Harwich.
Before I could express my thanks, he dashed off and yelled, "Goodbye foreigners" as he dragged
his dogs along.
We then headed to the Seafront opposite The Pier, where we ate our final meal and took a taxi back
this place is where WiFi connects and where all the locals can be found from early morn to late at
night. Fortunately, I can also keep my eye on the stock market in case something comes up that
I might fancy.
Annabelle is back in the room putting our gear together for checkout in a couple of hours. We are
able to see The Jewel Of The Sea from our window and she looks majestic. The weather is still
sunny and it looks perfect for tomorrow's Olympic Games opening session.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Harwich.....The Cliff Road
Today we had an English breakfast at The Muppets, a small breakfast nook not far from the Tower.
It gave us a different view of the town, sitting alongside the locals having their morning coffee.
Since it was early Monday morning, the streets were alive with people either going to work or
women doing their daily chores. Today was also trash day and the trucks were banging and clanging
as the garbage boys were doing their thing, all the while stopping to chat with their friends along
the route. Another nice day in Harwich and after our rubbery English bacon and strange tasting
sausage, we headed to Cliff Road to the seacoast walk. Both of us are still foot sore from yesterday's
long hike so we sought out the nearest bench , unhooked the binoculars and scanned the horizon.
We also strolled to the park at the end of the road a came across a few enormous oak trees for which
this isle is noted. The photos show your's truly nestled in one of the largest. The house is on the
corner of Cliff Road and is typical of structures in this part of Harwich. Tomorrow is our final day here
and I'm getting ready to put our boarding papers in order and tagging the luggage. So far, I haven't
screwed up on the paper work or connections. Here's hoping the good weather holds out for sailing.
The first stop is Copenhagen and a morning tour.
Wednesday, July, 25 and the weather is still looking good. This is our last day in Harwich and we
had an early breakfast in the bar which is covered with photos of the Beatles.
It gave us a different view of the town, sitting alongside the locals having their morning coffee.
Since it was early Monday morning, the streets were alive with people either going to work or
women doing their daily chores. Today was also trash day and the trucks were banging and clanging
as the garbage boys were doing their thing, all the while stopping to chat with their friends along
the route. Another nice day in Harwich and after our rubbery English bacon and strange tasting
sausage, we headed to Cliff Road to the seacoast walk. Both of us are still foot sore from yesterday's
long hike so we sought out the nearest bench , unhooked the binoculars and scanned the horizon.
We also strolled to the park at the end of the road a came across a few enormous oak trees for which
this isle is noted. The photos show your's truly nestled in one of the largest. The house is on the
and I'm getting ready to put our boarding papers in order and tagging the luggage. So far, I haven't
screwed up on the paper work or connections. Here's hoping the good weather holds out for sailing.
The first stop is Copenhagen and a morning tour.
Wednesday, July, 25 and the weather is still looking good. This is our last day in Harwich and we
had an early breakfast in the bar which is covered with photos of the Beatles.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Harwich and still going strong
Another bright sunny day on the east coast, of England that is. We had our breakfast in the bar this
morning. A bright and cheerful place until a family arrived with a 3 year old who was bent on
crawling over and under tables while his parents were busy chomping on their Wheatabix. After
he nearly tripped up a scowling waitress, the little one was brought up short, screaming aloud while
Mum, dragged him to her side and lectured him on proper manners which he couldn't understand.
Although our room service is quite good, the restaurant staff needs some concentrated training.
Today, the mid-point of our stay in Harwich we plan to take another stroll along the seacoast
and, if possible, stop for fish and chips at the hotel where we had our Carlsberg yesterday.
The Tower is beginning to fill up with guests probably joining the Baltic cruise. The bar was getting
a little lively last night but fortunately, we are out of range.
The weather is still excellent, not a cloud in sight for July 23 and we hiked the seacoast trail to Harwich
Town. This time we strolled in the old section of town and checked out some of the historic structures
such as Sam Pepyes house as well as the place where the Capt. of The Mayflower spent his youth
and finally sailed to Plymouth, England for the voyage across the Atlantic.
Then we had our fish and chips at The Pier overlooking the waterfront. This time instead of getting a
taxi ride back to the Tower, we hoofed it. Boy were we pooped. Today's walk was more than 5 miles
a bit too much for us. Getting old is no fun but according to Somerset Maughn, "Don't complain about
getting old, many folks don't get the privilege".
The Electric Company was the first building that was used exclusively to show movies in England
and probably, the world.
morning. A bright and cheerful place until a family arrived with a 3 year old who was bent on
crawling over and under tables while his parents were busy chomping on their Wheatabix. After
he nearly tripped up a scowling waitress, the little one was brought up short, screaming aloud while
Mum, dragged him to her side and lectured him on proper manners which he couldn't understand.
Although our room service is quite good, the restaurant staff needs some concentrated training.
Today, the mid-point of our stay in Harwich we plan to take another stroll along the seacoast
and, if possible, stop for fish and chips at the hotel where we had our Carlsberg yesterday.
The Tower is beginning to fill up with guests probably joining the Baltic cruise. The bar was getting
a little lively last night but fortunately, we are out of range.
The weather is still excellent, not a cloud in sight for July 23 and we hiked the seacoast trail to Harwich
Town. This time we strolled in the old section of town and checked out some of the historic structures
such as Sam Pepyes house as well as the place where the Capt. of The Mayflower spent his youth
and finally sailed to Plymouth, England for the voyage across the Atlantic.
Then we had our fish and chips at The Pier overlooking the waterfront. This time instead of getting a
taxi ride back to the Tower, we hoofed it. Boy were we pooped. Today's walk was more than 5 miles
a bit too much for us. Getting old is no fun but according to Somerset Maughn, "Don't complain about
getting old, many folks don't get the privilege".
and probably, the world.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
The Harwich Lifeboat Festival
Sunday morning and we headed to Harwich Town along the seacoast. The weather was good and the
sea, calm. There is a long winding walking and biking path a short distance from the hotel that winds
it way northeast by the beaches where the locals and their dogs romp in the surf. Nearby ocean going
ships and passenger ferries leave for the continent, Netherlands and Germany. Today, there were
crowds of people going to Harwich for the annual festival that raises money for the lifeboat crews
which patrol the ocean areas to keep the sailors safe.
The festival is like an American County Fair. Lots of food stalls, music groups and boating activities.
We had to fight our way through the bustling crowds including little children on bicycles, dogs of all
sizes and breeds. We finally sat down at a local eatery and downed a Carlsberg and thought of having
a fish and chips lunch but the service wasn't ready so we just roamed about looking at the sights.
A few Scotsmen in full regalia strolled by and then a fellow with bagpipes followed. Unlike London
there aren't many ethnic groups in Harwich, mostly Brits and white.
We happened to pass a life boat group who were booking a cruise around the harbor and we signed
up for the 1PM cruise. It was somewhat difficult for us to wend our way down boarding ladders to
board the old lifeboat that was used for the tour, however, the crew was helpful and managed to
help Annabelle on board. Not like the old days when we jumped on board the Amber or Marandi, raised sail and headed out to sea. It's hard to get used to the impediments of old age when you want
to do things that were simple in earlier years.
The Festival included a great display of old Rolls Royces and some kind soul offered to take a picture
of us together among some of these treasures.
sea, calm. There is a long winding walking and biking path a short distance from the hotel that winds
it way northeast by the beaches where the locals and their dogs romp in the surf. Nearby ocean going
ships and passenger ferries leave for the continent, Netherlands and Germany. Today, there were
crowds of people going to Harwich for the annual festival that raises money for the lifeboat crews
which patrol the ocean areas to keep the sailors safe.
The festival is like an American County Fair. Lots of food stalls, music groups and boating activities.
We had to fight our way through the bustling crowds including little children on bicycles, dogs of all
sizes and breeds. We finally sat down at a local eatery and downed a Carlsberg and thought of having
a fish and chips lunch but the service wasn't ready so we just roamed about looking at the sights.
A few Scotsmen in full regalia strolled by and then a fellow with bagpipes followed. Unlike London
there aren't many ethnic groups in Harwich, mostly Brits and white.
We happened to pass a life boat group who were booking a cruise around the harbor and we signed
up for the 1PM cruise. It was somewhat difficult for us to wend our way down boarding ladders to
board the old lifeboat that was used for the tour, however, the crew was helpful and managed to
help Annabelle on board. Not like the old days when we jumped on board the Amber or Marandi, raised sail and headed out to sea. It's hard to get used to the impediments of old age when you want
to do things that were simple in earlier years.
The Festival included a great display of old Rolls Royces and some kind soul offered to take a picture
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Walking to Town
After this morning's continental breakfast, we walked to the small shopping area not far from the hotel.
Since this community is very close to the water, I expect that the locals here make their living from
the seagoing travelers who leave for foreign ports.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped to rest at a bench nearby and get some exposure to the sun
which so far has been fleeting during our trip to England. Not long after we sat down, a middle aged
chap and his wife came over to talk. He sat down and began telling us about his recent trip to the US.
He went on nonstop for at least 1/2 hour covering a variety of topics about America, including WW2,
the prevalence of guns in the States and how friendly people were to them while visiting New York
and California. His poor wife remained standing throughout the conversation and when she complained that the sun was getting too hot on her face, he replied, "Just turn about and get suntan
on the other side." I finally had to cut through the one man conversation and let him know that we
had to leave for a meeting. I was afraid that he might follow us back to renew his talk so we slowly
diverted our journey to cover our tracks.
Tomorrow, we plan to attend some type of sea festival in Harwich Town, that is if we can get a ride.
Since this community is very close to the water, I expect that the locals here make their living from
the seagoing travelers who leave for foreign ports.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped to rest at a bench nearby and get some exposure to the sun
which so far has been fleeting during our trip to England. Not long after we sat down, a middle aged
chap and his wife came over to talk. He sat down and began telling us about his recent trip to the US.
He went on nonstop for at least 1/2 hour covering a variety of topics about America, including WW2,
the prevalence of guns in the States and how friendly people were to them while visiting New York
and California. His poor wife remained standing throughout the conversation and when she complained that the sun was getting too hot on her face, he replied, "Just turn about and get suntan
on the other side." I finally had to cut through the one man conversation and let him know that we
had to leave for a meeting. I was afraid that he might follow us back to renew his talk so we slowly
diverted our journey to cover our tracks.
Friday, July 20, 2012
The Tower Hotel..... Harwich
We said are final goodbyes to the Trapps early this morning as they left Nell Gwynn for Heathrow and the long flight back to Austin. We grabbed a taxi for Liverpool Station and the rail trip to Harwich.
It was a long ride through London, made even more difficult by the new lane set aside for the Olympic
participants that were beginning to invade London. We managed to find our way through the mob at Liverpool, dragging our luggage behind us. We must have made a funny pair, a 90 year old following
an 87 year old with a baseball style cap huffing and puffing until we reached the train about a mile from the gate. Nowhere was a porter to be found. Glad we have been walking up the mountain all these years. The ride was pleasant enough and quite short until we got off at Harwich International Station.
We did have to make a change at Mannington and, fortunately, a couple of friendly chaps helped us with the bags while we trudged down, then up long flights of concrete stairs to board the train on the opposite platform. A final taxi ride brought us to The Tower Hotel, a structure from the 19th century that once was the residence of a former stalwart of the community. It has been kept in its former elegance and is beautifully furnished. We had a brief lunch in the restaurant and quickly headed to our room which is bright and cheerful, overlooking a flower garden. Glad we arrived, tired, but happy to collapse on the bed, where Annabelle is now watching to British Open while I'm studiously punching out this blog.
The photos above will give you some idea of the style of this place.
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