At sea approaching Portsmouth, U.K. … We have calm water today, much appreciated by all and sundry. The other DrC announces she has a cold, and her cough does sound juicy. I remain healthy so far, knock wood. She cancelled her trip to Paris in honor of her cold.
We’re sitting in the central atrium on the middle deck, listening to a piano and flute duo playing classical airs, killing time until the vocalist goes on at 9 pm in the theater forward.
Observation … Viking pax are younger than Holland America pax, I see fewer walkers and wheelchairs on this cruise.
The singer last night was loud without being especially charming. Thus ended Monday.
Next day … We have been in Portsmouth harbor since early this Tuesday morning, this has been a Royal Navy base for centuries. It is an entirely protected harbor and the other DrC informs me it was the base from which Ike coordinated the D-day landings in Normandy. It’s where he made the famous decision about the iffy weather that June in 1944: a day’s postponement followed by the “go” signal on the 6th.
For lunch today I had not 1, 2, or 3, but 4 generous scoops of Rum Raisin gelato. It is my favorite and nearly impossible to find in the US. On the other hand, in the Commonwealth countries it is a usual flavor so I eat it in Canada, Oz, and EnZed and of course in the U.K. itself. Yay, Viking, for having my favorite flavor!
Tomorrow we will be in port at Le Havre and the energetic among the pax contingent will go to Paree for the day. Taking caution as a result of her cough, the other DrC has cancelled the trip to Paris she was going to make with the wife of the other couple with whom we’re traveling.
We’ve not been to Le Havre but were once moored across the bay at Honfleur in a Seine cruiser, and it was from there we toured the D-day beaches where the invasion occurred, and saw the Bayeux tapestry. Alas, all the brave and tiring things we once took for granted but can no longer do. Aging is a sad business.
