Boston

Boston – 15^th June

This is our final port in America, after which we set an easterly course for home via Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

As our tour was in the afternoon we had a free morning to explore the town of Boston. The shuttle bus dropped us off outside Quincy Market – a newly restored market which consists of international speciality foods, shops and craft stools. Needless to say Doreen did not explore further into Boston. However, Geoffrey wandered off and took some photographs of the impressive downtown architecture.

After a quick lunch in the market consisting of a chowder and steak sandwich, we returned to the ship to board our coach to take us on a Land and Sea excursion. This was an extremely good tour and gave us an overall picture of Boston, which was similar to New York, but far less hectic.

We had to leave town early as we understand there was a crucial ice hockey game being played between Boston and Vancouver. (Sorry Tom and Jenny, but we understand Vancouver lost 4-0!!!).

Along with other passengers we watched the sun set over Boston as we left America for the last time.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island – 14^th June

Last night we departed New York with a glorious sunset silhouetting New York on the horizon.

Today we arrived in Rhode Island, where we had to board our lifeboats to ferry us ashore.

Our tour today was entitled Land and Sea and we boarded our coach to drive around peninsular, viewing the summer retreats owned by the rich and famous – the Kennedys, Eisenhowers and Roservelts. Unfortunately the weather deteriorated for the first time this cruise and the heavens opened.

After this we boarded our very small boat for a sail around the harbour to view the sites and see the playthings of the rich and famous.

The weather had improved by the time we had completed our trip so we had a quick walk around the town before finding a riverside café for a light lunch, a lobster roll and a burger, after which we returned to our ship for an early sailaway at 2.30pm.

New York-Day1

New York – 12^th June

Today we had an early arrival in New York. We were up at 4.30am in readiness to sail past the Statue of Liberty at 5.00am. As we sailed in through the early morning mist was saw the Statue of Liberty, Downtown New York and finally berthed near Uptown New York.

After a quick breakfast we joined our tour which was New York by Land and Sea. After a short drive downtown we boarded a catamaran for a trip under Brooklyn, Madison and Williamsburg Bridges, before sailing down the Hudson River past Ellis Island (where 12 million immigrants past through in the early 1900s) and the Statue of Liberty. When we returned ashore we had a further coach trip seeing the sights of New York, before returning to the ship.

After a quick lunch we decided to venture in to town on our own and after grabbing a yellow cab we went to hunt down Andrew’s favourite shops.

After a successful shopping expedition we ended up near the Lincoln Centre, where we asked the security guards at the New York National Ballet of somewhere good to eat. Don’t laugh but, next thing we knew they gave us two free tickets to Ballet and we were sitting inside watching the first act of Apollo, which although very enjoyable, we needed some food, so we sneaked out .

We found a nice Irish pub/restaurant for a steak, and afterwards hailed a cab to return us to the ship via Times Square, where we admired the view of New York at night.

New York-Day 2

New York – 13^th June

This morning we decided to have a lazy day so boarded a coach to again see the sights of New York. Geoffrey was fascinated with the various forms of skyscrapers.

We finally arrived at Ground Zero, where we walked into the World Financial Centre, a building directly adjacent to Ground Zero, which was partly damaged during 9/11. First, we saw a very moving memorial to the eleven people who worked for American Express, who died on that fatal day. We then went to an observation area where we could view the site of the six skyscrapers that collapsed and the new 120 storey building under construction.

We re-boarded our coach for a drive around other areas of New York, including Central Park, Greenwich Village, Soho, Manhattan and Times Square (Cian note the advertising for Cars).

This was a perfect finale for our two day visit to New York.

Charleston-South Carolina

Charleston – 10^th June

Today the ship arrived early in Charleston in South Carolina. You may note the similarity between our first view of Charleston and our latest art effort! (or not).

We had a free morning so we walked into town through the market and the upmarket shopping area. On route we spotted many horse drawn carriages (note all horses have to wear diapers!). The temperature was extremely warm up high in the 80 degrees, so we were pleased to find a restaurant called Bubba Gump (themed on the film Forrest Gump), where we had a light lunch and a few beers to cool us down.

Our afternoon tour was to Magnolia Gardens, once a great cypress swamp area. Here we got on a open sided tram for a hour long tour round the swamp area, which was not too much of a swamp as they were experiencing a two month drought, but nevertheless interesting.

After a trip round the house we toured the garden, which was not at its best as it is a azalea/camellia and magnolia garden, which had all gone over. However, it was a pleasant walk and we came within twenty feet of a fifteen foot alligator with the tour guide saying come away and people with cameras going after it.

We both returned to the ship again drained with the heat, where we were treated to yet another spectacular sunset. Thank goodness we have a day at sea to prepare us for two days in New York.