LONDON – ENGLAND

Sunday July 5, 2009

I’m sitting in Heathrow Airport, along with at least five million other people. It’s unbelievably crowded here in Terminal 3, and unbelievably chaotic. But it doesn’t seem to matter, because I’m in a bit of a daze.

Our Mad Midlife adventure in Scandinavia and St Petersburg has (as you can probably guess) ended. We disembarked a few days ago, kissed goodbye to the Prinsendam and its crew, and have been enjoying enduring old London ever since – still (if I may add) under glorious sunny skies!

On Friday we did a sightseeing tour of all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods … the Houses of Parliament beside the Thames … Big Ben, the largest tick-tock in the UK … St Paul’s Cathedral (we spent some time inside, under that stunning dome) … Westminster Abbey’s lattice-work towers … Whitehall’s mounted horse-guards … the Prime Minister’s Downing Street … Buckingham Palace where the Queen stays when she’s in town … the London Eye, with its observation capsules … and 101 other places that all seemed so familiar (thanks to Monopoly).

Big Ben

The London Eye

St Pauls Cathedral

Tower Bridge

On Saturday, we Kiwis headed off on our own (in our case, down some oh-so-lovely country lanes to some oh-so-old country villages). And then, that evening, we toddled out again for our final ‘fling’: a Midlife Madness farewell meal at Chez Gerard (right by the infamous Tower of London) – followed by an after-dinner cruise on the truly beautiful River Thames.

It’s hard to believe how much we’ve crammed into the past 20-something days. (Is it any wonder I’m in a daze?) It’s hard to believe it’s over. And it’s hard to believe that some of us (those few who aren’t going on to do all sorts of other things in the UK and Europe) will soon be home.

It’s been a BLAST … this combination of luxury-at-sea and discovery-on-shore! We’ve seen so much, done so much, learned so much, gained so much and laughed so much that we don’t know where to put it all!

But all good things come to an end.

Although, it hasn’t quite ended. We’ll be flying home in one of Singapore Airlines big new A380 Airbus jets – just one more new experience to add to our list!

Yours bloggedly – JOHN

P.S. If following this travel diary has whet YOUR appetite and got you thinking, “Hey, I’D like to go on one of these Mad Midlife adventures!” … click on the TOURS list/logos on this page, and read all about our upcoming schemes and dreams. Or go to our website: www.johncooney.co.nz. Or phone our travel colleague and booking agent, Roger Glynan (Lion World Travel) in a week’s time when we’re all back in New Zealand – tollfree 0800 277 477.

P.P.S. You can also follow the ‘blogs’ from some of our previous trips by clicking on the titles under ‘Categories’ (on the left). And remember, if you want a better look at our route map and photos, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!

IN THE NORTH SEA

Thursday July 2, 2009

The Prinsendam

All too quickly our Grand Baltic Adventure is drawing to a close. We’ve spent yesterday and today resting up, catching up, living it up, and eating up aboard our floating hotel, while sailing south through the waters of the North Atlantic. And tonight, while the Prinsendam makes its way up England’s famous Thames River, we’ll also be packing up!

Our days at sea have been anything but boring – in fact, there’s so much to do onboard that there’s TOO MUCH to do onboard, and it’s darn-near-impossible to fit everything in. Like entertaining lectures … artwork auctions … trivia games … recent-release movies (with popcorn to munch on) … gourmet cooking classes at the Culinary Arts Centre … route-marches around the deck and work-outs in the gym (oohh, the pain!) … sweat-it-outs in the thermal-steam-and-aromatic room (phew!) … and a relaxing Swedish massage in the Spa (aahh, yes!).

Food, glorious food!

Then there’s the 24-hour-a-day food, glorious food (like our late-night chocolate extravaganza a few evenings back) … and the night-time entertainment in the expansive Queens Lounge (like the show-time performance we enjoyed last night: ‘Dancing Under the Stars’) … and the – oh, look, I could go on forever!

Dancing Under the Stars

Anyway, this afternoon we Kiwis got together in the Crow’s Nest (way up high on the top deck) for our private ‘Midlife Madness Cocktail Party’ – a chance to say a few fond final words, and toast the success of our cruise, and wish each other the very best, and say some early goodbyes.

Tonight, you see, we’ll be dropping anchor in Greenwich. And tomorrow morning, we bid farewell to the Prinsendam and its friendly crew, and go ashore to experience a little of majestic London.

Our Mad Midlife Kiwis! (click to enlarge)

PEOPLE NEWS: We celebrated Anne Ten Hove’s 70^th birthday yesterday – with much hooting and singing and fun. (Once again we Kiwis have proved a bit noisy for some of the much older, more conservative passengers on board. Isn’t that great!)

TOMORROW & THE NEXT DAY: A city tour awaits us … plus lots of time to explore on our own … plus our Mad Midlife Farewell Dinner and River Cruise. Stay with us, folks …

Yours bloggedly – JOHN

OSLO – NORWAY

Tuesday June 30, 2009

Norway’s capital creeps up on you and makes you very glad you came. Set four hours sailing-time up the end of the magnificent Oslofjord, it was founded way back in the 11^th century by the cheerful-sounding Harald the Severe.

Off on our Tall Ship

Today’s highlight tour of Oslo (pronounced ‘Oos-low’) started with us on the deck of a lovely old sailing ship – chugging gently around this magnificent deep-water harbour, past eye-poppingly-gorgeous islands, lighthouses galore, rocky beaches, summer-houses, and even a few keen swimmers.

Juicy prawns ... mmm!

En route a light buffet of juicy prawns, fresh bread, and a refreshing drink helped us maintain our energy levels. I mean, sitting around on the deck of a tall ship in glorious sunshine and 32 degrees (that’s right) really takes it out of you!

Our tall ship docked at the Kon-Tiki Museum where we witnessed the original flimsy balsa raft used by Thor Heyerdahl on his 1947 voyage from Peru to Polynesia. Then we were off to Oslo’s acclaimed Viking Ship Museum, where three excavated Viking longboats from the 9th and 10th centuries (that’s REALLY old!) lay in wait.

1100-yr-old Viking ship

Final stop on this our final day in Scandinavia was the remarkable Frogner Park, where we did our level best to take in 225 granite and bronze sculptures by Gustav Vigeland – a stunningly lifelike memorial to human and family relationships from the cradle to the grave.

Sculpture Park

Oslo was another winner, we all agreed. And 34 Mad Kiwi Midlifers will be sad to leave this part of the world when the sun finally sets … sometime after 11pm tonight.

PEOPLE NEWS: The clock is ticking and the pressure’s on, but people are still doing silly things and Mad Midlife Awards are still being given out:

* The ‘E-Snail-Mail Award‘ went to Christine – who, over the past couple of weeks, has been sending long newsy emails to someone who, it turns out, is a total stranger. Christine’s had her email wires crossed somehow – not that the stranger’s complaining: Christine’s reports on the Baltic have apparently been greatly enjoyed!

* The ‘Safer On The Floor Award‘ goes to Caith – who, twice in the past few days, has ended up on his backside: once when he slipped over on carpet wearing only his socks … and then again today during our tall-ship ride, when the table he was sitting on collapsed, sending Caith sprawling! (Caith remains unhurt.)

TOMORROW (and the day after): We’re steaming south through the North Sea – destination London. But don’t go away, folks, because the show aint over yet …

Yours bloggedly – JOHN

P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) under the title for the day’s blog, and type away! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief. And don’t worry: we’ll make sure they get these messages. Also, if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!

COPENHAGEN – DENMARK

Monday June 29, 2009

 Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen 

Friendly old girl of a town

‘Neath her tavern light

On this merry night

Let us clink and drink one down

To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

Salty old queen of the sea

Once I sailed away

But I’m home today

Singing Copenhagen

Wonderful, wonderful

Copenhagen for me!

Dragoer Village

Tivoli Gardens amusement park

Nyhavn canal district

The Little Mermaid

 In the 15th century, this ‘friendly old girl of a town’ was capital of not only Denmark, but also Norway and Sweden … and it’s also home to the oldest monarchy in the world (including an Aussie princess).

Even though it was cooler and a little cloudy today, the city’s history and charm were reflected everywhere we looked. First port-of-call on our whistle-stop tour was the (surprisingly little) statue, the Little Mermaid – Copenhagen’s world-famous symbol. Then it was on to Amalienborg Palace (winter residence of the Royal Family) and the city centre with its museums and stately old buildings … bronze statues to burn … pedestrianised shopping streets … and church steeples thrusting skyward at every turn.

Next, on our list was the city’s amusement park and romantic hang-out, the colourful Tivoli Gardens, where we had time for a refreshment-stop, flowers and fun.

And then we crossed to the island of Amager and the beautiful little village (and one-time herring marketplace) of Dragoer (pronounced ‘Trou-yer’) for a stroll down cobbled lanes amongst yellow-painted houses (some still sporting thick thatched roofs) and gorgeous postcard-size gardens (with hollyhocks galore).

Sounds appealing? Copenhagen is, for sure!

TOMORROW: We’ve got our last Scandinavian port-of-call (sob!) on this grand Baltic adventure – Oslo, Norway’s capital – where we’ll go sailing in a tall ship on the Oslofjord, and visit a Viking ship museum. So stay tuned …

Yours bloggedly – JOHN

P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) under the title for the day’s blog, and type away! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief. And don’t worry: we’ll make sure they get these messages. Also, if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!

VISBY – SWEDEN

Sunday June 28, 2009

 

17th Century warehouse

Medieval walled Old City

Altar in 600-yr-old Church

One of Prisendam’s Tenders

While we were eating breakfast this morning, the Prinsendam was dropping anchor just outside the port entrance of Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland (100 kms west of the mainland). And the crew were preparing to ferry us all ashore in the ship’s bright-orange tenders (lifeboats).

Best known as the Town of Roses & Ruins, Visby (or ‘Wisby’ as the locals say it) claims a swashbuckling history spanning the Viking (or ‘Wiking’) Age, a flourishing medieval period, and the growth of the powerful Hanseatic League. Today, its sandy beaches, generous gardens and ye-olde-worlde architecture make this red-roofed island town one of Sweden’s most beloved resorts.

In search of something a little different, we Mad Kiwi Midlifers travelled north into the countryside where an ancient treasure-trove (old churches, even older ruins, strange limestone formations, and beautiful Gotland scenery) awaited us. We poked around inside a wooden church that dated back to the 13^th century … inspected an unusual Swedish farming operation (cropping, beef and dairy) … and sampled some of the owners’ homemade cheese and jam.

Back in Visby, before returning to the Prinsendam, we had time for a brief wander amongst the ancient walls, turrets, alleyways and historic buildings of this one-time powerful fort.

Not hard to see why Visby’s Old City has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Just a shame we couldn’t stay a few hours more …

TOMORROW: We’re in “Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen, friendly old girl of a town.” The show’s not over yet, folks, so stay tuned …

Yours bloggedly – JOHN

P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) under the title for the day’s blog, and type away! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief. And don’t worry: we’ll make sure they get these messages. Also, if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!