gregorykemp

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North Sea Cruise Aug 2008

This photo series is a combination of my original 7-post blog story on our North Sea Cruise. Why seven parts? you ask. One for each member of our party? No, there were only five of us, unless you counted me three times, but that doesn’t make sense at all. You might think seven posts, one for each of the seven seas. I say no way, Bubba. We only visited the North Sea. So now you’re thinking seven posts for the seven wonders of the world then. Wrong again, you. I just said we went to the North Sea, and there ain’t none of the seven wonders up there. I’ll tell you why there were seven posts. Seven posts for seven ports: Amsterdam, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Alesund, Flam, and Bergen. What an itinerary! We encircled the island of Great Britain on our way through the harrowed waters of the North Sea. Twenty foots swells, horizontal rain, limitless booze. Text book cruising. Along the way we kissed the Blarney Stone, sampled international wines, explored the Norwegian Fjords and realized that if rains a lot in this part of the world. I also learned my novel, The Legend of Vinny Whiskers was getting published.
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  • The Attaché's grandmother, "Grammy", the fastest 84-year old of the Stair Descent Competition at the Guinness Factory brew house in Dublin.

    The Attaché's grandmother, "Grammy", the fastest 84-year old of the Stair Descent Competition at the Guinness Factory brew house in Dublin.

  • The Attachés mom, "Valarie", expert of the finer things in life: coffee, desserts; source of the gene that makes the Attaché go into Souvenir Shops.

    The Attachés mom, "Valarie", expert of the finer things in life: coffee, desserts; source of the gene that makes the Attaché go into Souvenir Shops.

  • The Attachés dad, "Philip", aka "Captain Philip", the source of the rare gene that makes the Attaché hunch over and look at rocks.

    The Attachés dad, "Philip", aka "Captain Philip", the source of the rare gene that makes the Attaché hunch over and look at rocks.

  • The Attaché.

    The Attaché.

  • Mission Commander Mister Hausfrau.

    Mission Commander Mister Hausfrau.

  • We met the Attaché's family in Haarlem, Holland, about 20 km from Amsterdam. We spent the night there before boarding the ship. We like the town. Here is the Attache and her dad at a cheese shop.

    We met the Attaché's family in Haarlem, Holland, about 20 km from Amsterdam. We spent the night there before boarding the ship. We like the town. Here is the Attache and her dad at a cheese shop.

  • If you didn't know the Dutch like to ride bikes...well, now you know.

    If you didn't know the Dutch like to ride bikes...well, now you know.

  • I still can't get over all the bikes in Holland.

    I still can't get over all the bikes in Holland.

  • The Haarlem train station.

    The Haarlem train station.

  • Grammy is from Maine. Mainers do strange things when they see lobsters. (Photo in the coastal town of Zandvoort, Holland.)

    Grammy is from Maine. Mainers do strange things when they see lobsters. (Photo in the coastal town of Zandvoort, Holland.)

  • In Zandvoort looking toward the UK.

    In Zandvoort looking toward the UK.

  • We boarded the ship in Amsterdam. Here's the Celebrity Century. Quite a ship.

    We boarded the ship in Amsterdam. Here's the Celebrity Century. Quite a ship.

  • On the ship heading out to sea from Amsterdam. As we set out it was comforting to have Captain Philip on the lookout of for icebergs and whatever.

    On the ship heading out to sea from Amsterdam. As we set out it was comforting to have Captain Philip on the lookout of for icebergs and whatever.

  • The Attache and her family onboard.

    The Attache and her family onboard.

  • On the deck of the ship as we set out from Amsterdam.

    On the deck of the ship as we set out from Amsterdam.

  • Valarie.

    Valarie.

  • Sunset from the ship in Amsterdam as we headed out to sea.

    Sunset from the ship in Amsterdam as we headed out to sea.

  • Grammy, Philip and Valarie shared a 3-person cabin. Don't ever do this on Celebrity Cruise lines. In the past, we've seen 3-person cabins that were quite spacious. On Celebrity, their idea of a 3-person room was a two person room with a roll-away bed. Problem was, the roll-away was too big for the room. No joke, the bed could not open all the way. After three hours of arguing with the ship Celebrity said they could do nothing because there were no other rooms. But when we suggested that we were going to roll the bed into the corridor and sleep there, Celebrity suddenly found a room open.

    Grammy, Philip and Valarie shared a 3-person cabin. Don't ever do this on Celebrity Cruise lines. In the past, we've seen 3-person cabins that were quite spacious. On Celebrity, their idea of a 3-person room was a two person room with a roll-away bed. Problem was, the roll-away was too big for the room. No joke, the bed could not open all the way. After three hours of arguing with the ship Celebrity said they could do nothing because there were no other rooms. But when we suggested that we were going to roll the bed into the corridor and sleep there, Celebrity suddenly found a room open.

  • Would you look at that! Celebrity, you suck.

    Would you look at that! Celebrity, you suck.

  • Grammy loves her picture taken.

    Grammy loves her picture taken.

  • Our first stop after leaving Amsterdam was Cork, Ireland. There is Blarney Castle.

    Our first stop after leaving Amsterdam was Cork, Ireland. There is Blarney Castle.

  • Atop Blarney Castle.

    Atop Blarney Castle.

  • Kissing the Blarney Stone! That's the Attaché doing the backwards hang at Blarney Castle near Cork. The legend of the stone isn't what most people think…. Kissing the stone doesn't bring you luck, it brings you the gift of gab. Even Grammy did the backwards hang. Go Grammy! We got a special order of good ole Irish weather for our first port, a week of rain in one day. I had arranged to have a rental car delivered to the port, so I got to drive all over Cork County on the left hand side of the road in blinding rain. We saw the city of Cork, Blarney, and the fishing village of Kinsale (about an hour south of Cork).

    Kissing the Blarney Stone! That's the Attaché doing the backwards hang at Blarney Castle near Cork. The legend of the stone isn't what most people think…. Kissing the stone doesn't bring you luck, it brings you the gift of gab. Even Grammy did the backwards hang. Go Grammy! We got a special order of good ole Irish weather for our first port, a week of rain in one day. I had arranged to have a rental car delivered to the port, so I got to drive all over Cork County on the left hand side of the road in blinding rain. We saw the city of Cork, Blarney, and the fishing village of Kinsale (about an hour south of Cork).

  • Near Blarney Castle.

    Near Blarney Castle.

  • This is in the small fishing village of Kinsale, Ireland. We drove there from Cork. Valarie was later coached on exactly how to pose for a photo.

    This is in the small fishing village of Kinsale, Ireland. We drove there from Cork. Valarie was later coached on exactly how to pose for a photo.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale. Yes, it was raining that hard.

    Charles Fort, Kinsale. Yes, it was raining that hard.

  • I don't understand what I'm supposed to do here.

    I don't understand what I'm supposed to do here.

  • St. Finbarre's Cathderal, Cork.

    St. Finbarre's Cathderal, Cork.

  • Nothing like having Grammy to carry our bags.

    Nothing like having Grammy to carry our bags.

  • Arriving in Dublin the next morning.

    Arriving in Dublin the next morning.

  • The Attaché fueling up on the ship for Dublin.

    The Attaché fueling up on the ship for Dublin.

  • Here's the part where I put a plug in for my hard-working wife. That's the Attaché checking her work emails on her Blackberry. If that's what it takes to keep us in Austria, I've got no problem with it, but she was supposed to be the tour guide for the day.

    Here's the part where I put a plug in for my hard-working wife. That's the Attaché checking her work emails on her Blackberry. If that's what it takes to keep us in Austria, I've got no problem with it, but she was supposed to be the tour guide for the day.

  • This is what happens when the tour guide is doing work emails.

    This is what happens when the tour guide is doing work emails.

  • The Attaché came around with the nav skills and got us to Trinity College: Ireland's oldest university

    The Attaché came around with the nav skills and got us to Trinity College: Ireland's oldest university

  • Trinity College

    Trinity College

  • Trinity College

    Trinity College

  • Kegs of beer! Follow that truck!

    Kegs of beer! Follow that truck!

  • Streets of Dublin.

    Streets of Dublin.

  • The Attaché way in front of her tour group. The tour guide is supposed to carry a flag or something to make it easier to find them.

    The Attaché way in front of her tour group. The tour guide is supposed to carry a flag or something to make it easier to find them.

  • Valarie is on the right there. She has not yet learned how to pose for photo.

    Valarie is on the right there. She has not yet learned how to pose for photo.

  • Dublin was the second port, and we had perfect skies and 65 degree weather. Too bad we spent most of the day in the Guinness Brew House. (Well, I can't say that was bad…)

    Dublin was the second port, and we had perfect skies and 65 degree weather. Too bad we spent most of the day in the Guinness Brew House. (Well, I can't say that was bad…)

  • The Guinness Brew House is shaped like a keg, and supposedly they can fit 8 trillion swallows of beer in there. On the top floor (the top of the keg) you get your free "after you pay 20 bucks to do the tour" beer sample. It's a nice view from up there, 360 degrees of all of Dublin. Here Phil and Grammy enjoy their free beer.

    The Guinness Brew House is shaped like a keg, and supposedly they can fit 8 trillion swallows of beer in there. On the top floor (the top of the keg) you get your free "after you pay 20 bucks to do the tour" beer sample. It's a nice view from up there, 360 degrees of all of Dublin. Here Phil and Grammy enjoy their free beer.

  • Valarie has learned to pose for a photo. Philip seems to have forgotten what to do now.

    Valarie has learned to pose for a photo. Philip seems to have forgotten what to do now.

  • In the Guinness Museum, the Attaché expresses her hatred for the camera.

    In the Guinness Museum, the Attaché expresses her hatred for the camera.

  • Grammy back onboard. Next stop: Belfast.

    Grammy back onboard. Next stop: Belfast.

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    We boarded the ship in Amsterdam. Here's the Celebrity Century. Quite a ship.
    On the ship heading out to sea from Amsterdam. As we set out it was comforting to have Captain Philip on the lookout of for icebergs and whatever.
    The Attache and her family onboard.