It's all about the weather!

Well did we get lucky. Everyday has been sunny, a few clouds floating by, but over all great weather. Yesterday was 27 degrees in Skagway and today it got up to 18. Last stop today is Ketchikan and then we are on the marine highway towards home tomorrow, arriving Saturday morning.

Internet service has been by satellite most days and it takes way too long for uploading pictures, but today Sandra and I are sitting on our balcony enjoying free wifi (from someone out there near the dock) Thankyou.

Here's my gray whale sighting the other day:



and a few sunbathers out on the buoy:

Day 2

Did I tell you the food on a cruise ship is great? The downside is I'm not doing nearly the walking we were in Europe. Mmmm this is going to have to change if I don't want to miss a meal. Today is cloudy and cool, so no suntanning on the deck for us. Tomorrow we cruise up Tracy Arm and then head into Juneau.

On Board

Yes, we are on board, enjoyed a great lunch and are now relaxing "waiting for take off". Oh and dinner!!!

Internet is about dial up speed, so pix will be at a minimum until we find a faster connection.

Planes, trains, automobiles and now boats

I'm leaving with my parents and sister on May 22nd for Alaska.

London wrap up

Last day, we took in another tour and museum.








Buildings are similar in the front to France, but they don't have the fancy courtyard doors.




There are a lot of people moving around in this city, on foot and by car and bus.



Saw a familiar sight on our way by Trafalgar Square.



I should have stopped in to tell them they could take down the Olympic notice, its over now.

We finished off the day going through the Victoria and Albert museum.






Tomorrow morning we catch the "tube" to Victoria train station and then the train to the plane. (Sounds like Planes, Trains and Automobiles). Wish us luck, we have to start out at 7 am.

London

Jolly good, welcome to London. We arrived at 11:30 on the fast train from Paris, which left there at 10:13. Just over two hours (we gained an hour, time change) traveling 450 km. Its just like time travel and you get to enjoy the scenery on the way. We went through the Chunnel in 15 minutes, didn't see a thing, ha.

It was lunch by the time we got checked into the hotel, so it was fish and chips with a half pint of ale. Took in a walk around the neighbourhood and then hopped on a double decker bus to Harrods. I've seen it now, its expensive and I'm not buying anything there either.

Au Revoir Paris

Today we used our Eurorail pass and took the train out to Versailles Palace. The pictures don't capture anything at all how enormous the palace and grounds encompass. "Ornate" there isn't a spot on the building, wall or ceiling that isn't covered in decor of that period in time.



On the way back I hopped off the train on my own to walk down the Champs Elysees, just to see all the high end stores. $$$$$, no I didn't buy anyone something from that street. From there I had to figure out which Metro (subway) to catch, transfer to and get off at so I could arrive back at our hotel. I happy to report I made it!!



When I was transferring at one of the major connection, deep down in the bowels of the earth there was an impromptu orchestra playing. The sound was incredible as it echoed through the tunnels down there. I stood and enjoyed for a while.



Tomorrow we are back on the fast train to London. Bonne nuit.

p.s. Happy Birthday to Theresa. Laurie brought you and all our Wednesday lunch friends along with us. Here you are looking out our Paris window from the hotel.

Paris

Wow, it is just unbelievable, overwhelming, so much to see in such a short stay. We have been on the go steady from early in the morning until late at night trying to see as many sites as possible. We've been on a few bus tours which take you around the city, much like Barcelona. You can hop on or off anytime to go into the points of interest.



Food deserves a post all by itself. So.... good, we don't miss many meals.



And then there is the Louvre. You really need to spend a week here to take it all in.



I know you won't feel sorry for us, but the temperatures have gone from 28 degrees in Arles to about 4 to 8 degrees today. Here were the two Babushkas on the bus ride yesterday.



Dinner tonight at the restaurant around the corner

On to Paris

On the train at 10:30, half an hour late, but very entertaining just waiting on the platform.





Many people are very helpful, conductors grabbed our luggage, locals translated the announcement when it was arriving late.




Did I mention the train goes between 170 and 220 kmh!!!!! It is a distance of 700 km from where we left in Avignon to Paris, which should take 6 or 7 hours by car and we did it in 2 hours 45 minutes. (Pretty amazing).



I don't know if this is a worth while clip on not, I tried to use the movie option from the computer, but it might give you an idea of the speed we traveled.


Au revoir Arles, it was very enjoyable.