We did an excursion called Panoramic Drive.

Lots of wild lupines along the road.

A small church with a museum just behind. We didn’t stop.

Then to the Gardens. I can’t pronounce the name or spell it.

And back to the ship for dinner and an American treat.

Another Puffin photo.

And guillemot.

The owners of the island harvest Eider Duck down which is used in expensive blankets and coats.

Then we were served rhubarb cake.

Although we couldn’t dock, we did have a great time on the ship especially at dinner. We remember crew members from previous cruises such as Anita.

Dinner was special for me. Lamb and lobster. Great combination!!

And a corn muffin and bok choy.

NOT!

The ice was too thick to get towards the shore anywhere near us. No docking and no tender possible.

At least we had a good dessert with dinner. Pistachio eclair!

Our excursion took us to L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland. This is the site where Leif Erikson established a settlement in North America in approximately 990. Years before Columbus in 1492.

There were several buildings in the village.

Including a church.

All buildings were wood structures covered in sod. Interesting!

Special for me was being in Newfoundland. I have now visited every Province in Canada, every state in USA and every continent. Wow! There are still places I have not visited.

We took the Hop On, Hop Off bus around the city. We first left the bus at the Gardens.

Then we went to city center and Water Street. There we found a good restaurant.

We shared a lunch at the Bicycle Thief!

Lobster roll, fries and a salad. Great!

We saw the yacht of the author JK Rowlings. Wow!

And the city’s lighthouse.

Kathy and I flew to New York City to get on yet another cruise. As soon as we arrived on board, we were found by some crew friends. Philip is a Restaurant Manager and was involved with our table being labelled the Naughty Table. Natasha served us many times and actually found us.

Dinner was a duck leg, risotto, fries and a bacon wrapped scallop. No lamb yet. But wait!

The next day was a sea day with not much happening other than getting organized.

I had a lamb shank with couscous and some vegetables.

January 1, 2024

Happy New Year

Our excursion was a Zodiak (rubber boat) ride going near some land and many icebergs.

I thought this berg looked like King Neptune looking at a seal.

We saw a whale near our ship but I was too slow in focusing the camera. One blurry photo.

December 30, 2023

Kathy and I are on the Viking Octantis cruise ship. It is an icebreaker ship. We are headed to Antarctica for a few days.

We started our exploration by flying to Buenos Aires and spending the night. We found a great restaurant (Huacho) a few blocks from the hotel. Great start to another adventure.

I love lamb and Kathy had a local trout fish. It looked and tasted like salmon.

The next morning, we flew to Ushuaia Argentina where we got on the ship. Then we sailed into the Drake Passage soon after leaving the port. It can be very rough seas. But wasn’t for us. Then we had a whole series of briefings as to what to wear, what we can’t bring and all sorts of other info. Then we got our boots. We were given new Viking winter coats.

All we can see at the moment is water and gray skies. No land anywhere.

Greenwich, England

Last day on board the Viking Neptune.

We could see the Royal Observatory but had no time to walk that far. We have been there while living in London. This is the ground zero for time zones. There is a brass strip that separates east from west. Oh well!

At dinner it was time to say our goodbyes. First with the Viking Managers.

Casper, the restaurant manager.

Philip who decorated our table a few times.

Artem and his wife. She is a server and we had not met her previously.

Then our new friends.

Kathy and CJ from Ohio.

Graham and Helen from Australia.

Steve and Linda from Tennesse with one of Philip’s naughty signs.

And Clifford the Chef. He made certain I got lamb chops whenever I asked.

Barbara and Judge Nace from California again with the naughty sign.

We did have fun on the ship!!!