Day 14 – Geiranger, Norway

On Friday, July 27, 2012, Henry and Granby got up early around 5:30 am to go outside to watch the ms Maasdam sail down the Sunnylvenfjord, a branch of the Storfjord and then down the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the small village of Geiranger at the end of Geirangerfjord.

Geiranger has 247 full-time residents.  During the summer months, 150 or more cruise ships call at Geiranger.  Tour guides and tour companies come from all over Norway and nearby countries during the summer to provide tours for cruise ship passengers and other visitors to Geiranger.  The night before, we hung our breakfast order card with desired time for delivery on the outside handle of our cabin. On Holland America, you can order a full breakfast with both hot and cold items.  Eggs, omelets, bacon, toast, and coffee always arrived nice and hot.  Milk was always cold for cereal.  Breakfast was delivered to our cabin a little before six.  After an early breakfast, Granby took her coffee in her travel coffee mug up to Deck 12.  Henry and Granby enjoyed seeing all the spectacular waterfalls along Geirangerfjord, including the three most famous, the Bridal Veil,

the Seven Sisters with a 5,000 foot plunge to the fjord,

and the Suitor on the opposite side of the fjord from the Seven Sisters.

Geirangerfjord is one of Western Norway’s narrowest and most dramatic fjords.  It is over 900 feet deep and winds its way through sheer cliffs that rise thousands of feet above the water.  Because the area is so mountainous, it is difficult to travel overland.  That is one of the reasons that the Vikings turned to the sea as their primary mode of transportation.  Many Norwegians still use ships to get from one fjord town to another and Fjord1 provides frequent ferries for people and their cars.

We arrived in Geiranger around 9:00 am and the last tender ashore was scheduled for 10:30 pm.  The weather was sunny and warm with temperatures in the mid 60s.  Granby and Henry had been to Geiranger before in 2008 on a Norwegian cruise.  On their previous visit, they had taken a bus tour from the valley winding along switchback roads to the top of Mount Dalsnibba for scenic views 5,000 feet above the valley floor with a second stop at the Norwegian Fjord Center, an interactive exhibition hall designed to illustrate the principle features and geological science that created Western Norway’s scenic landscape.

After tendering ashore, Granby and Henry walked to the car ferry dock and paid for round trip tickets from Geiranger to Hellesylt, another storybook town located about an hour away through Geirangerfjord and in a section of Sunnylvenfjord where the ms Maasdam had not traveled earlier in the day.

Hellesylt was an important port in Western Norway for the Vikings.  Both Geiranger and Hellesylt are easily described as tiny, charming villages.

We walked on board the car ferry using the same entrance as the cars.  Our car ferry left Geiranger at 12:30 pm, arrived in Hellesylt at 1:30 pm, and returned to Geiranger at 3:00 pm.  Roundtrip tickets were 200 NOK for each of us.  Henry and Granby sat on the bow of the Fjord1 car ferry for the roundtrip.  Commentary was provided in English, Norwegian, and several other languages.
     
     
Here are two views of the Norwegian fjords from the bow of Fjord1.

Along the way to Hellesylt, we passed one of the Hurtigruten boats.  These boats have regular schedules with stops at 42 small villages along the Norwegian coast to deliver mail and small cargo.  It is possible to book passage on the Hurtigruten boats as a tourist.
When we returned to Geiranger, Newfie got a handshake from a troll.

Day 13 – Molde, Norway

Thursday, July 26, 2012.  After a picturesque sailing through the Romsdalsfjord, the ms Maasdam docked at Storkaia Pier near the center of Molde, Norway.  It was an overcast day with the temperature in the mid-sixties.  Henry’s holding Newfie in this picture.

The name of the city comes from the word mold which means “fertile soil.” The city of Molde was once Molde farm.  It was incorporated under Danish rule in 1742.  A person from Molde will refer to him/herself as a Moldenser.  While Molde is a city with a population of 24,795, the area around the cruise ship dock has a small town feel.  Molde calls itself the Town of Roses and we saw a many beautiful roses and other flowers.  The cruise ship dock was surrounded by a wrought iron fence with climbing roses.  Newfie investigated some of the roses.

Henry, Granby, and Newfie walked around the the town.  We saw an advertisement for candy bars.  Six Norwegian krone or NOK are equal to one US dollar.  How much are candy bars in Norway?  Newspapers for sale were displayed on a rack outside this same small convenience type store named MIX.

       

There were lots of outdoor cafes and most had blankets on the chairs in case people needed a little warmth while sitting outside during the summertime.

 

Gasoline costs approximately $10 US for a gallon.  It is sold by the liter rather than by the gallon.  There are approximately 4 liters to a gallon.

Shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  On Thursdays, the shops stay open later.  Shops are closed on Sundays.

There is a pretty little park with free WiFi next to the cruise ship dock.

In the park, Granby watched a playful little bird who was looking for something to eat while Henry connected to the Internet using the netbook.

Interesting fact:  Norwegians pay approximately 2434 NOK annually as a tax if they want to own a television.  Football is a favorite sport.  Molde Stadium is Norway’s most modern football stadium.  It was built in 1998 and can hold 11,200 spectators.  It’s located near the cruise ship dock to the far left in the picture below.  The stadium’s “U” shaped top edge looks like it has a black inner tube around it.  The “fin” shaped building behind the stadium is another building.

Day 12 – Elves, Trolls, and Hobbits

Today is Wednesday, July 25th.  It’s a day at sea.  The sun came up at 4:07 am and will set at 10:28 pm.  It’s overcast with moderate sea.  This morning at 8:30  am the outside temperature was 50 degrees.

Some people think that the Vikings believed in elves or the hidden people and many Icelanders believe in them today. The huldufólk or hidden folk are thought to live in another dimension, invisible to most. They build their homes inside rocks and on craggy hillsides, and they seem to favor lava formations.

Our Reykjavik Excursions Golden Circle tour guide said Icelandic mythology tells the story of one of the Norse goddesses who did not have time to wash her children and hid them from the Norse god Thor. When Thor discovered this deception, he declared that they would always be hidden from sight and invisible.

Elf-spotting is a phenomenon in Iceland reported by people of all ages, although more children than adults report seeing huldufólk. Having the ability to see the huldufólk is not limited to Icelanders. Anyone, from any country, might have the power to communicate with elves. Clairvoyants can see and communicate with elves year-round, sometimes in their own backyards. There are thought to be at least 13 types of elves, some of whom are as tall as humans. Others, like the Blómálfar, or flower elves, are just a few inches tall.

The port town of Hafnarfjördur, near Reykjavík, reportedly has a large settlement of elves. According to local clairvoyants, the huldufólk royal family lives at the base of a cliff in Hafnarfjördur. When road contractors in the early 1970s tried to move a large rock to make way for a new highway near Reykjavík, they experienced repeated equipment failures and other problems that prevented them from moving the rock. A clairvoyant was hired who detected the presence of elves living in the rock. The clairvoyant was able to reach a compromise with the elves and their rock was finally moved, but not destroyed.

National Geographic video about Elves in Iceland (3:54 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvOeiGHgfw

Elves in Iceland video (8:48 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6ugqrmngN0

Have you read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?
It’s said that Tolkien hired a nanny from Iceland for his four children and he was influenced by her stories of elves and the hidden people.  With or without this influence, Tolkien is said to have created stories about elves from his own imagination to entertain his children and these stories became the basis for his books.  The movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is based on Tolkien’s book The Hobbit.  The movie is scheduled to be in theaters on December 14, 2012.  Would you like to go with Granby and Henry to see this movie? After we see the movie, we can talk about whether we like the book better or the movie.

Here is a link to the movie trailer for The Hobbit:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/ (2:32 minutes)

Icelandic horses are featured in the movie The Hobbit.  Granby and Henry saw and took pictures of some Icelandic horses on our Golden Circle tour while in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Sunday, July 22.

Here are some behind the scenes of the movie, The Hobbit (10:27 minutes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2m2x8qJcGQ

Narrated by Peter Jackson, the Director of the Tolkien movies, Jackson shows some of the the movie sets and behind the scenes production for parts of the movie being filmed at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand
http://www.thestudiotour.com/stonestreet/index.shtml
Did you know that Granby and Henry will be visiting Wellington, New Zealand next year?  We might be able to visit Stone Street Studios.

The ms Maasdam is now on its way to Molde, Norway, the first of four ports in Norway.  We should be in Molde on Thursday morning, July 26th.  The last time Granby and Henry were in Norway, we saw trolls.

Day 11 – Djupivogur, Iceland – Almost

We sailed 232 miles from Reykjavik to Dijupivogur, Iceland and arrived on Tuesday morning, July 24, 2012.  Dijupivogur (pronounced Ju-pew-view)  is a quiet fishing village with 450 residents located at the head of Berufjord.  This is an area of natural beauty that features mountains, fjords, glaciers, and waterfalls.  Langa-Búð, the oldest house in Dijupivogur is made of logs and was originally built in 1790. Langa- Búð has been renovated and is now the cultural center of Djúpivogur.  It houses a museum for Ríkharður Jónsson the sculptor as well as a gallery for local crafts and a coffee shop.

Dijupivogur is a tender port.  It is the oldest port in the Eastfjords of Iceland.  When we sailed into Berufjord, we found 40 to 50 knot winds funneling down the fjord.  The Captain said that he would keep the engines running on the ship and wait to see if the winds would abate enough to make it safe to lower the tender boats.  As we ate breakfast in the Rotterdam dining room, we could see the towering mountain Búlandstindur with low hanging clouds.  This mountain is pyramid-shaped and some believe it to be a source of mystical energy.  Folklore is an important cultural aspect of Iceland.  Dijupivogur was named for a female troll and legend says that the troll is buried just outside the town beneath a small rocky mound.

The winds did not die down, so reluctantly our Captain decided that we needed to leave Dijupivogur without tendering ashore.  Perhaps Beware of Sea Monsters really means Beware of Strong Winds.

For the first time on this cruise, we saw “barf bags” by the elevators on each deck as the winds caught up with us in the evening.  Thank goodness Granby and Henry do not get seasick.  We didn’t see anyone who was seasick.  Precaution is good, so we thought about this little ditty.
T’was a night of high seas, when all through the ship
not a passenger was stirring, not even a bit.
The barf bags were hung by the elevators with care
In hopes that the Maasdam’s new carpets would stay sanitary and bare.

Granby and Henry had a nice dinner in the Rotterdam dining room.

After dinner we listened to Barry from Boston in the piano bar.  Newfie found another towel animal.

Day 10 – An Evening in the Showroom at Sea

The Maasdam dancers and singers returned to the Showroom at Sea for “Road House,” a production show with a little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll.  Our Cruise Director Bruce Scudder welcomed us to a pre-show cocktail party with an open bar for all passengers.  Our bartender was Alvin from the Crow’s Nest.

             

Granby and Henry sat with new VoV friends from Jacksonville, FL.   After the show, Newfie found another towel animal in our cabin.

Day 10 – Panoramic Reykjavik

On Monday, July 23, 2012, Granby and Henry went on a Panoramic bus tour of the city of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and the only city in Iceland.  Many houses in the older area of Reykjavik were constructed of wood and covered in corrugated steel that had been painted different colors such as blue, red, and green.  In the newer areas, due to frequent earthquakes, homes are built to strict building codes and are constructed with concrete reinforced with steel.  Eighty percent of the population of Iceland are members of the Lutheran Church, the state church of Iceland.  Eighty percent of the population of Reykjavik own their own homes – either single family homes (left) or condominiums (right). 

The most popular car to own in Reykjavik is the Toyota.  Due to the weather in Iceland and a love of winter-time outdoor sports activities, 4-wheel drive cars are preferred.

As we were driving around Reykjavik we made some observations of our own.  The roads in the city were well maintained and free of trash.  There wasn’t much traffic on the roads.  Gasoline was 246.5 ISK per liter or around 8 US dollars per gallon.  Reykjavik also has hydrogen gas stations for cars that are powered by hydrogen gas.

  There were roundabouts at many of the road intersections. We did not see any sign clutter along the roads – no billboards.  We also did not see flowers, even around homes.  Trees are sparse, but there is now an ongoing tree planting program.  Our guide said that since Iceland is known for having so few trees that two trees together is considered a forest and if one becomes lost in a forest, the solution is to just stand up to see your way out of the forest.   Architecture around Reykjavik was diverse and interesting.

There was even a concert hall built inside a glass sculpture.  The outside of the glass sculpture reflects light into many beautiful colors.

Here is a picture of Höfdi House where the Cold War officially ended in 1986 with a meeting between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev.

Reykjavik has indoor malls.  Kringlan is large indoor shopping center.

 

We stopped at the Pearl or Perlan for great views from the 360 degree viewing platform.  The Perl is perched on Oskjuhlid Hill and consists of six hot water tanks one of which now houses the Saga Museum.  Five tanks provide hot water for residents of Reykjavik.  The tanks were unsightly until the problem was solved by placing a glass dome on top to transform the resulting interior into space for concerts, a cafeteria, souvenir shops, viewing platforms, and a revolving restaurant at the very top.  Outside the Perl are bronze statues of four dancing musicians created in 1970 by Icelandic sculptor Torbjorg Palsdottir (1919-2009).

 

The sun finally came out and Newfie had a good view of Reykjavik from the viewing platform at the Perl.  So did Granby and Henry.

Back on board ship it was time for the Reykjavik harbor pilot to help guide us safely out to sea, leaving us with this last view of the skyline of the city of Reykjavik. 

Day 9 – Iceland’s Geography and Geology

On Sunday, July 22, 2012, Granby and Henry left the Maasdam and walked through the security building at the dock past the bus parking lot to the street where we waited until a bus from Reykjavik Excursions picked us up along with some other Maasdam passengers.  At their bus terminal in Reykjavik about 20 minutes away we switched to one of two buses designated for the all day Golden Circle Tour from 9 am to 5 pm.  All Reykjavik Excursions buses have free WiFi, so we took our netbook with us.  We had excellent Internet connection while on the tour bus.  It was just a little challenging to type while the bus was moving as not all the roads were smooth and Granby is use to a standard size keyboard rather than a smaller keyboard.  It was unique, however, to send e-mail messages from the bus.

Our tour guide Conner let us know that for the last 3 months, Reykjavik had not had any rain.  The ms Maasdam must have a rain cloud hovering over it because heavy rains appeared just before the Maasdam docked in Reykjavik exactly as it did when we arrived in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.  Our weather on Sunday was misty and foggy.  The skies were overcast.

The Golden Circle Tour highlights some of the geography and geology of Iceland and includes many stops during the day to walk around and take pictures.  Our Golden Circle Tour included stops at Eldhestar, a horse farm where we saw a show that featured Icelandic horses; the Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation centre where delicious, pesticide-free tomatoes and cucumbers are being grown year round with the aid of geothermal heat; the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall, a thundering double-decker waterfall, created where the river Hvítá tumbles and plunges into a crevice some 105 feet deep; the Geyser centre where the hot spring Strokkur shoots a column of water up to 98 feet in to the air every 4 to 8 minutes; and Thingvellir (Þingvellir) NationalPark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

Iceland is an active volcanic island.  As we drove toward the mountains south of Reykjavik, we saw an uninhabited landscape of black lava fields covered with green moss and low shrubs and plants – no trees.  It was eerie.  Some people said that it reminded them of the lava fields on the island of Hawaii, but when Henry and Granby visited Hawaii, we remember those lava fields as being barren black rock without any green growth.  Here are some pictures of what we (and Newfie) saw outside the bus windows.

There is geothermal activity under the lava crust.  To heat homes and provide electricity, Icelanders drill bore holes in the ground to release steam.  This steam is used to heat water that is carried by pipes to homes and businesses as a source of heat.  Geothermal steam is also used to create electricity.  The first picture below shows a bore hole.  The second picture shows a pipe carrying hot water.

 

At the Eldhestar horse farm, we were treated to a horse riding show where we learned about the five gaits of the Icelandic horse and its historic importance to the Icelandic nation for transportation over Iceland’s rough terrain before there were roads. Icelandic horses are pure bred.  By law, no other breed has been allowed into Iceland for almost 1,000 years. If an Icelandic horse is taken outside of Iceland, it is not allowed re-entry.  Icelandic horses are smaller than many other breeds of horses. Each one of the five gaits has a different look and sound.  To demonstrate each gait, horses went across a wooden board in the center of the horse barn that made it easy to hear the sounds that the different gaits made.

 

At the family owned Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation centre, we saw glass greenhouses using geothermal energy for heat and electricity for artificial sunlight to grow vegetables. 10,000 tomato plants were growing in peat along vertical strings.  It takes 13 weeks from seed to harvest.  Bees from cardboard box beehives are used to make sure that each tomato blossom is fertilized.  This allows continuous harvesting 12 months a year.  Newfie investigated some of the tomatoes that were almost ripe.

Gullfoss or Golden Waterfall is Iceland’s most famous waterfall.  Pictures do not do it justice. Click on this link to see a video (2:25 minutes):
http://youtube.ng/watch?v=4edmInFCzHQ

The Geysir Centre is only 15 minutes from Gullfoss.  Henry and Granby had lunch before going to see the geysers.  We had two cheeseburgers @ 890 Iceland Krona (ISK) each and one Coke at 300 ISK for a total bill of 2080 ISK.  If one Iceland Krona is worth 0.008 cents US, how much was our lunch in US dollars?  If you e-mail Granby with your answer, we will e-mail you back.  Across the road from where we ate lunch are the hot springs.  Steam was rising from the ground and puddles of boiling water were bubbling as milky pools.  In the midst of all the steam, the smell was slightly sulfur – like rotten eggs.

Geysir, pronouned in Iceland as GAY-zeer, are formed when geothermally heated water becomes trapped in narrow fissures. The water at the surface cools, but the water below ground becomes super-heated and eventually turns to steam that blasts out the cooler water above it.

Thingvellir National Park is located a little over 14 miles east of Reykjavik.  Thingvellir or Þingvellir literally translates to “Parliament Plains.” The Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament or general assembly here in AD 930. Inside the park is an immense rift valley caused by the separating of the North American continental plate from the Eurasian continental plate.  Thingvellir is part of the fissure zone running through Iceland and is the only place in the world where it is possible to see the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with its faults and fissures above water.

The ms Maasdam was still docked at Korngardur Pier in Sundahofn Harbor when we returned from our tour.

Day 8 – Land Ho! Iceland!

Saturday, July 21, 2012.  The rain finally stopped this morning while we were still at sea.  The sun rose at 4:00 am and it will not set until 11:05 pm tonight.  It’s 55 degrees and cloudy as we see land on our way to Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik means “Smoky Harbor.”  Reykjavik sometimes seems smoky or hazy due to the geothermal activity.

The Maasdam is scheduled to dock at Korngardur Pier in Sundahofn Harbor.  The Captain anticipates that we will be cleared to go ashore around 2:30 pm.  The pier is a 10-minute drive from the city center.  Shuttles will be available today to take Maasdam passengers from the port into the city center town for a nominal fee of around $10 roundtrip.  The Captain has advised passengers to take their rain gear with them when leaving the ship as the fringe of the storm that is following us will bring rain and strong winds to Reykjavik this afternoon and evening.

Henry changed some U.S. dollars for Iceland Krona at the Purser’s Desk so that we would have local currency for our tours on shore.  He exchanged $47.50 U.S. dollars for 5500 Iceland Krona (1 U.S. dollar is approximately 125.220 Iceland Krona).  We will be docked in Reykjavik for two nights.  The ms Maasdam will leave Reykjavik at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012.

The Republic of Iceland is an island that lies east of Greenland and north of the United Kingdom in the North Atlantic Ocean.  Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and its latitude at 64°08′ N, makes it the world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state.  Iceland is one of the world’s least densely populated nations with a total population of approximately 319,575. Two thirds of the country’s population live in Reykjavik.

Here is an interesting fact.  Most Icelanders have no family name.  Their second name or last name is their father’s name with “son” or “dottir” appended.  Your name in Iceland would be Lindsay Russelldottir.

On Sunday, July 22, 2012, Granby and Henry have booked a full day Golden Circle Tour with Reykjavik Excursions.  We will leave the ship around 8:00 am to find and take Reykjavik Excursions’ shuttle bus from the harbor to the BSI Bus Terminal in the Reykjavik where we will board a bus for the Golden Circle Tour scheduled from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

On Monday, July 23, 2012, before our 1:00 pm departure, Granby and Henry have booked a shore excursion through Holland America from 9:30 am to 12 noon that promises to be a panoramic bus tour of the city of Rekjavik with one stop at the Pearl or Perlan, a collection of six 10-story hot water tanks covered with a glass dome that serves greater Reykjavik’s water storage needs as well as providing space for concerts, a cafeteria, souvenir shops, a viewing platform for tourists, and a revolving restaurant.

Iceland Food Facts:  It is difficult to grow vegetables and almost impossible to grow fruits in Iceland’s arctic climate. Root vegetables—such as potatoes, rutabagas, beets and carrots—often appear on the Icelandic menu, as well as cold weather vegetables—such as cabbage and rhubarb. Other fruits and vegetables are available as imports or grown in hothouses.

Lamb is the most commonly served meat in Iceland. Many types of fish and seafood are abundant in Iceland, with haddock, carpelin, herring, cod, plaice, lobsters, clams and shrimp being some of the most common varieties eaten. Fish is traditionally served boiled and accompanied by potatoes. Icelanders are big coffee drinkers. Starbucks is not in Reykjavik. Small coffee shops or cafés can be found on nearly every street corner in downtown Reykjavík. Most cafés offer free Wi-Fi and some places offer free coffee refills.

Icelanders eat more cheese per capita than almost any other nation in the world. More than 100 different varieties of cheese are produced in Iceland. Skyr is a type of yogurt-like cheese that Icelanders have been producing for centuries. It is like a very thick Greek yogurt and can be eaten sweet or savory.

Bun Day or Bolludagur is celebrated on the Monday before Lent starts, seven weeks before Easter. On this day, children wake their parents up with chants of “Bolla, Bolla, Bolla!” (“Bun, bun, bun!”). These buns are very light and tasty. They are filled with cream and raspberry jam and have a chocolate icing. Yum!

Click here for a recipe to make Icelandic Cream-Filled Buns.
http://www.food.com/recipe/bolludagur-buns-icelandic-cream-filled-buns-427258

Tonight, Granby and Henry have reservations for dinner at the ms Maasdam’s Pinnacle Grill, a specialty dining room.  We haven’t decided what we will do for entertainment after dinner, but we have lots of choices after looking at the daily Explorer.  There is a romantic comedy in the movie theater, “Delicacy,” a sing along with Barry from Boston on the piano, a variety show in the Showroom at Sea theater, a DJ in the Crow’s Nest, and dancing in the Ocean Bar.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for rain with temperatures around 61 degrees.

The Puffins of Iceland

See if you can find this book in the library.

Nights of the Pufflings by Bruce McMillan. Off the southwest coast of Iceland is the Icelandic island Heimaey. Each spring, puffins return to the island to nest, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. Then, in August when the young puffins known as pufflings, take their first flight at night from the cliffs high above one of the villages, many are unable to make it to the sea. In this photo documentary, Bruce McMillan explains an annual tradition where Icelandic children with flashlights and cardboard boxes spend several nights rescuing thousands of stranded pufflings that they safely place on the beach by the sea out of harm’s way.

Click here to play the Nights of the Pufflings Rescue Game:
http://www.brucemcmillan.com/FRB_PuffinGame.html

Click here to hear a puffin:
http://www.brucemcmillan.com/Sounds/Puffin-Fratercula-arctica.wav

Bruce McMillan has written other books about Iceland that might also be in the library. Days of the Ducklings
Gletta the Foal
How the Ladies Stopped the Wind
My Horse of the North
Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme

Day 7 – Rain, Rain. . . .

Last night, Thursday, July 19th, was a formal night.  Granby and Henry took Newfie to Happy Hour in the Crow’s Nest located on the front of the ship on Deck 12.  Our bartender Alvin gave Newfie some peanuts.  Alvin will be going home for a 3-month vacation with his wife Jenny and son A. J. who live in the Philippines after the Maasdam docks in Amsterdam.  Alvin is excited about going home and we are helping him count down the days until he flies home from Amsterdam.  After his vacation, Alvin will be returning to work for Holland America on another cruise ship. 

Granby had a Land and Sea entree (steak and shrimp) for dinner that was very good.

Newfie discovered a new towel animal Thursday night.  What animal do you think this is?

Heavy rain and wind continued through the night and all day on Friday, July 20th.  We were dry and safe on board ship.  We are not feeling any motion, but if we got near one of the doors to the outside decks, we could hear the wind howling.

Granby and Henry both had Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner on Friday, July 20th.

Newfie found this animal Friday night.  I know that you correctly identified this one as an elephant!

The ship set its clock forward another hour, so now we are four hours ahead of the time in South Carolina.