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England

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  Canterbury, England May 4, 2025 As our ship entered the English Channel, the dramatic white chalk cliffs of Dover England towered above.   William the Conqueror is said to have set the Dover Castle afire on his way to London after his victory at the Battle of Hastings.  Dover also served as a bastion and command center during World War II.   Today we took a walking tour of the historic city of Canterbury which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   Narrow row homes painted in various bright colors line the streets.   As we walked along the narrow cobblestone streets, the Morris dancers were celebrating the arrival of spring!!!!   Jim made friends with the local Beefeater – usually guarding the Tower of London.  Of course, there were plenty of the ubiquitous English pubs on nearly every corner! We began our tour at the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral.   Our guide was most colorful wearing one British sock and one Amer...
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Rouen, France

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  ROUEN, FRANCE May 3, 2025 Rouen was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It was one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman and Angevin dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. From the 13th century onwards, the city experienced a remarkable economic boom, thanks in particular to the development of textile factories and river trade. Claimed by both the French and the English during the Hundred Years' War, it was on its soil that Joan of Arc was tried and burned alive on 30 May 1431. Severely damaged by the wave of bombing in 1944, it nevertheless regained its economic dynamism in the post-war period thanks to its industrial sites and its large seaport, which merged with the ports of Le Havre and Paris in 2021 to form the HAROPA Port. The cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral of Rouen) is famous for its three towers, each in a different style. The cathedral, built and rebuilt over a period of more th...
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Galicia, Spain

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  VIGO, SPAIN APRIL 30, 2025 Known as Spain’s “Gateway to the Atlantic,” the history of Vigo dates back to the Romans.   Today, Vigo is one of the largest cities in Galicia, Spain’s autonomous northwestern region with a rich farming and fishing heritage.   We planned to take the Cies Islands tour here but much cooler weather and rain was predicted so we cancelled the catamaran and strolled along the waterfront instead. We did notice one pigeon with very bad table manners! A CORUNA, SPAIN MAY 1, 2025 The stunning Atlantic setting of A Coruna lends this historic city a wide-open feel that is unique in Spain.   The busses were lined up on the pier next to the ship, ready for the day’s excursions!   The heart of Coruna is famous for its distinctive window balconies that adorn historic houses.  The glazed glass style of these balconies was originally created for ships so that navy captains could see in inclement weather. The coastal San Anton Castle once def...
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Portugal

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  Algarve, Portugal April 28, 2025 We were very much looking forward to our visit to Algarve where we were to explore the Benagil Cave by boat but the ship needed to anchor and tender guests to the pier.   Rain and high winds were coming making the tender operations unsafe with high waves!   So, the decision was made to continue to Porto, Portugal. Happily, this gave us another “sea day,” and Team Baggo was back on. And the blue team was victorious yet again! That evening, our favorite cocktail waitress, Kathleen, who is from the Philippines, made Sandy’s favorite after-dinner drink – Irish Coffee – BUT she makes it a double with Cappuccino and it is Spectacular!!!!  Kathleen is now on her holiday at home before her new contract begins.  And, of course, there’s Chris – who mans the bar in the Atrium! If he sees either one of us coming, he automatically pours a double Gray Goose on the rocks and a cranberry and tonic, and has them ready for us!! Porto, Portugal...
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