17 August - Barcelona, Spain

Well after a 90 minute delay we were off for Barcelona! Nice flight all the way on Air Canada. On arrival because we were late getting in my pre-planned transfer was no where to be found. After two hours of trying to reach someone who spoke English on the phone finally we got someone who arranged a transfer! Got to the hotel 3 hours later than we were supposed to so I missed my time slot to see the Sagrada Familia which I had booked 6 months ago!

I decided to go anyways at 3PM instead of 1:30 but Jacques was not feeling up to it so off I went prepared to beg to get in anyways....lol.

Sooooo glad I went since it was magnificent! Took some great shots.

Barcelona Coming Soon!

Well we are off tomorrow! Can't wait to be in Barcelona, Spain!

Now I have to pack!  LOL I always wait til the last minute but I will be ready by tomorrow...lol

Speak to you in Barcelona!

Princess Cruise 2023!

There are only 55 days until my 2023 cruise on Princess! On August 19th. I will sail on the Enchanted Princess for a 14 day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, Spain to Athens, Greece!

You can check out my daily itinerary at this link: 

https://francinv.wixsite.com/grandexplorer

17 December 2023 - Tortola, British Virgin Islands

 

Time stands still even in Road Town, the island's biggest community, where the hands of the central square's clock occasionally move but never tell the right time. The harbor, however, is busy with sailboats—this is the charter-boat capital of the Caribbean. Tortola's roads dip and curve around the island and lead to lovely, secluded spots.

Tortola is definitely busy these days, particularly when several cruise ships tie up at the Road Town dock. Passengers crowd the streets and shops, and open-air jitneys filled with them create bottlenecks on the island's byways. That said, most folks visit Tortola to relax on its deserted sands or linger over lunch at one of its many delightful restaurants. Beaches are never more than a few miles away, and the steep green hills that form Tortola's spine are fanned by gentle trade winds. The neighboring islands glimmer like emeralds in a sea of sapphire. It can be a world far removed from the hustle of modern life.

Still a British colonial outpost, the island's economy depends on tourism and its offshore financial-services businesses. With a population of around 24,000, most people work in those industries or for the local government. You'll hear lots of crisp British accents thanks to a large number of expats who call the island home, but the melodic West Indian accent still predominates.

Initially settled by Taíno Indians, Tortola saw a string of visitors over the years. Christopher Columbus sailed by in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World, and Spain, Holland, and France made periodic visits about a century later. Sir Francis Drake arrived in 1595, leaving his name on the passage between Tortola and St. John. Pirates and buccaneers followed, the British finally laying claim to the island in the late 1600s. In 1741 John Pickering became the first lieutenant governor of Tortola, and the seat of the British government moved from Virgin Gorda to Tortola. As the agrarian economy continued to grow, slaves were imported from Africa. The slave trade was abolished in 1807, but slaves in Tortola and the rest of the BVI did not gain their freedom until August 1, 1834, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read at Sunday Morning Well in Road Town. That date is celebrated every year with the island's annual Carnival.

15 September - Kristiansand, Norway

 

Today we were in Kristiansand, Norway. Every year thousands of tourists visit the local coastal area, enjoying its fjords and thousands of small islands. The Kristiansand area has more days of sunshine than any other location in Scandinavia, and the beaches and smooth rocks are ideal for sunbathing. The area is considered being the number one holiday area in Norway. By charter boats tourists can visit the unique scenery and the charming fishing villages with their traditional white wooden houses. Salmon fishing is popular at the river that runs through the city. At the Fisherman's wharf one can find an exciting fish market, lively restaurants, small boat traffic and sight-seeing boats.

Since the renaissance town was founded in 1641, Kristiansand has boasted one of the world largest fleets of sailing ships until the beginning of the last century. Often being the first Cruise Port for ships arriving from Europe.

Posebyen is what's left of Kristiansand's old town. It occupies several blocks on the eastern part of the town center. Here you can still see small, white, single-storey, wooden houses occupy a whole block. Very peaceful just a few minutes' walk from the busy shopping streets. Ravnedalen (Ravens' Valley) is a lovely park just outside the city center. It is surrounded with steep cliffs and presents the visitor with lush flower gardens and manicured laws perfect for picnics.There's also a café.The Odderøya peninsula (just to the right if you walk off the cruise pier) is a former military area that has been converted into a recreational park a few years ago. It makes for pleasant and quiet nature strolls, with views across town or across the sea.

This was the last port on the cruise, tomorrow we will be at sea before returning to Southampton on Saturday, it sure has gone by fast!

14 September - Copenhagen, Denmark

 

MY EXCURSION:   CASTLES OF NORTH SEALAND (Princess Tour)

Today was our second day in Copenhagen and I booked a tour to some castles on the outside of the city. Before we hit the countryside to see the castles we made a stop at the most famous of Copenhagen's attractions, The Little Mermaid.

The sculpture of The Little Mermaid was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land. Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince. Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen. The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and sits in the water at Langelinie Pier. Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid. The sculpture was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the lead role in the ballet The Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre. However, Ellen Price would not model in the nude for sculptor Edvard Eriksen. Thus Eriksen’s wife, Eline Eriksen, posed for the sculpture of The Little Mermaid.

Since cars are discouraged in Copenhagen for bicycles people have gotten used to the cargo bike, a bicycle with a large storage cart in front to carry produce as well as people! We spotted one on the boardwalk along the river.

I then set off on an enjoyable, narrated tour to my first destination of Hillerød, home of Frederiksborg Castle. Seeing Frederiksborg Castle, you might think that this elegant Dutch Renaissance structure sitting on three small islands, is right out of a fairytale! In fact, the Castle had been the royal residence and setting for important ceremonial events since the beginning of the 17th century to the 1850s. Your guided tour begins at the Neptune Fountain and visits the rooms of the King's Wing, the Church, and the impressive Knight's Hall, which boasts an intricate carved wooden ceiling. Today, the castle has been transformed into a national historical museum and is best known for its outstanding collection of portraits - the largest of its kind in Denmark.

This was one of the most beautiful castles I have even seen!

After the visit to Frederiksborg Castle, the tour continued through the picturesque countryside of Northern Zealand. Before reaching our next destination, Kronborg Castle, there was a photo stop at Fredensborg Castle, one of the Queen's most used residences. 

Kronborg Castle, situated in the narrow sound between Denmark and Sweden, is often called 'Hamlet's Castle.' This dramatic Renaissance castle was the inspiration for Shakespeare's tragedy, 'Hamlet.' Originally built in 1420 and expanded between 1574 and 1584 by King Frederik II, the castle's historic and rustic surroundings are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We continued along the coastal road with the lovely view of the sea past impressive manor houses and small marinas. 

We returned to the ship around 6PM. Got ready for dinner and had an early night.