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The bus winds its way to the Albert Docks for the next part of the tour Here we had to wait outside for 20 minutes as there was already another tour group packing the narrow warren of rooms beneath the street. I don't recommend this stop and will tell you why when I leave it early I'm curious as to what lies through yonder archway... It's a nice sunny day Ok-we can go in now. We file down the steps into the exhibit only to line up and wait for another 10 minutes. Then we are free to roam. There were headsets in many languages offering help in understanding what you were seeing. Carol got one but I declined. More

Sarah-thanks for reading all 18 pages and for your enthusiasm! Temps in Iceland were low 40s F to low 50s F and yes layer-up. The coldest was when approaching at sea with the ship doing 18 knots into the wind. On land it was much less biting. I was toasty ashore in my thermals and puffy coat but Carol had neither and survived.She did get cold during the whale imagining tour but again a boat flying along into the wind on a choppy sea. All the walking on excursions warmed one up. I took hiking boots as I thought I might be walking on slippery rocks at Dynjandi Falls but would't suggest you need them unless you plan to hike up the falls. I let the zoom lens bring the falls closer as I didn't have the energy for a hike that far. Hope this helps. You will be blown away by the scenery inland in Iceland! Norris

Before we start this 4 hour tour here's a note from my mother explaining why the original Cavern club is no longer with us https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cavern_Club * There will be some bus window shots during this ramble We parked the bus for this 10 minute stop Tour did not include the museum A statue who wishes he looked more like John Lennon back on the bus....

LIVERPOOL Another beautiful sunny morning as we sail up the Mersey. I went to Guest Relations/Services first thing and rang the bell. A young lady came out and I inquired about my missing camcorder. She went in back. Once up on deck with a coffee I sent this photo to Carol in a text Hooray! What a relief. It had been found at boarding security in an X Ray machine. We have an early excursion today -"In the steps of the Beatles" with a meet up at 8.30 on the dock. We breakfast in the buffet (no pics) I had a full English breakfast and Carol a custom omelet. We needed sustenance just to walk the long trek to dry land along floating pontoon docks that could rise and fall with the tide. Over 1/4 mile including a steep covered ramp. We found our bus, got our stickers and climbed aboard sitting at the back as is our custom. Our guide would be Chris who could talk (and talk) and who would play us some old Beatles cuts from the Hamburg days. Liverpool had hosted the Eurovision Song Contest this year so had been spruced up for the cameras. It was looking mighty fine as we snaked our way through it this morning.

We are back onboard Apex with a lot of swag. Billy gave us a framed photo of Portavogie taken when the boats were looking their best as I had described. Freda gave us a big bag of British candy bars including some Cadbury chocolate bars. Luckily Carol had just bought an expandable suitcase! I was totally out of room before we left Chicago. The only thing missing was my Sony camcorder. I recalled setting it on the ground to shake hands with Billy as he was leaving. I scampered back to the dock to the spot in question. Not there. I figured someone might have found it and (a) kept it or (b) handed it in. So I went to Customer Service on Deck 3 and told them to let me know if found. It cost mucho but more importantly had this cruise's videos. The camcorder could be replaced. We sailed at 8 pm. My sister Freda told me she saw Apex pass Portavogie at 10 p.m and she mentally waved but we were asleep by 9 and had no dinner as we were well stuffed at Joyce's buffet and worn out by the fun of our brief visit. In the morning we would be docking in Liverpool at 8 a.m.

It was a very special day for me after so long away. I put the cameras down and just enjoyed the company of people I have known for all my life. It was a private get together and I made a speech of sorts thanking everyone for playing a part in my very rich life. I was very moved. Norris

Oh- I forgot to mention that while in the buffet on our June 13 sea day, I met the Eden waiter Desy who was at a host stand there. We got talking and I asked her if there was a chance of a window seat in Eden as we left Liverpool. She had her computer there and fired up the Eden booking page. She could give us a window table if we could eat at 6 p.m. I'll take it! it wasn't in her section but she and her team would serve us. That's all I needed to hear. Norris

We arrived back in Newtownards 5 minutes early (A.B.E) Freda and Stuart were already there and we spent a wonderful 2 hours. Tim was my bartender and poured me a welcome beverage A professional pour by a Master! We sojourned to their garden Joyce created a fabulous buffet including some Portavogie prawns in my honor. We dined indoors with the french windows open. Two hours passed very quickly, in my case aided by Tim and his Jamesons pours. We had just 8 hours for all we have enjoyed today and soon Billy would be driving us back to the ship in Belfast. Carol took a photo of the three Adairs I hope to see everyone again next year on a land visit! So much catching up to do...

A mural honoring Britain's most famous footballer George Best from Northern Ireland. He lived in Portavogie in the later years of his life. We leave Portavogie on time to make our last appointment- a buffet at Joyce and Tim's and the appearance of my older sister Freda and her husband Stuart. We last saw them in Las Vegas in 2004, so they have met Carol before. 30 minutes would get us there on time.

Along twisty narrow roads we drove until Greyabbey before turning east to meet up with the Irish sea for our drive to Portavogie, the Easternmost harbor in Northern Ireland (Norn Iron as the locals pronounce it fondly). Here both Billy and I were born and grew up. A place where front doors were left open on warm days. When kids stayed out playing soccer under the streetlamps at night, where seldom was heard a discouraging word and neighbors mingled and respected each other. Billy still has a home here-the home he was born into. He also has a home near London. I lived with my grandparents from age 5 to 15. My parents took me there one night to visit and a storm came up so rather than have me walk home with them (half a mile) they left me with my granny. She spoiled me with treats and when I woke up and looked out the window in the morning and saw the harbor filled with trawlers and the sea crashing ashore I was hooked....and stayed 10 years. I went home to mum on Sundays for fantastic Sunday lunches. Most of my adult relatives were men who one to sea. Billy and I spent our free time on the beach or the harbor which was an exciting place to be at night when the boats came home to unload their catch of cod, haddock, herring, whiting and prawns. In this picture the window under the 2nd chimney from the right is where I watched the harbor and the sea every day. If it was stormy it was quite a show. If sunny I could see the Isle of Man in the distance. The dirty trawlers in this shot have been abandoned due to the expense of having them broken up. Not good behavior. In the 1960s the boats were all made of wood and varnished and painted with pride. Those days are gone. I had the keys to my grand dad's trawler and Billy and I could play on it on weekends. We destroyed a lot of German U Boats in our play acting. My bedroom window as seen from the harbor-between the two chimney's at center Billy who was an award winning Creative Director for some premium Ad Agencies in the UK made a plaque for my old home Alas the owner of the house heard us talking outside and opened the front door to see that was going on. Billy explained very diplomatically and there was no conflict. Billy was peeling off the sticker during this explanation. More

My dear old friend Astrid, came to find us on her day off work. She's the friend, originally from the Faroe Islands that I mentioned many pages ago. We had to leave soon to keep to my schedule. Joyce and Tim were going home to prepare a garden buffet for us while Carol Billy and I were going to my birthplace and the place I lived until I was 17.

Thank you! I was using a camera which isn't a one-button press and so it is rewarding to see the result.

Palm trees grow happily in the temperate N. Ireland climate More

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The walkers including my young sister Joyce and husband Tim The CC photo software is often not up to snuff More

MOUNT STEWART GARDENS Our school bus passed this twice a day. I had last visited it in 2003 my last visit home. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Stewart

There is a monument on a hill in Newtownards called Scrabo Tower and from our school bus in the 1960's we could see it from 12 miles or so away once the bus turned onto Strangford Lough Joyce and Tim would meet us at the parking lot near the summit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabo_Tower They were waiting and we walked the last 500 yards which was uphill. We walked at a leisurely pace as those yards were steep. Pics of Joyce and Tim will follow at our next stop. I was here to take bird's eye photos of the town I went to high school in and later moved to when 17 and working in Belfast. There's a golf course up this high which Tim declares very tricky. He's a rabid golfer as is Joyce. The Mourne Mountains in the distance Strangford Lough appears at left Strangford Lough now at left. Our school bus followed its contours-a very scenic way to get to school. The runway is used by light aircraft and helicopter tours are available at the small airport My high school is in this shot-halfway up the shot at right. Look for the green rectangle which is the sports field-red brick buildings with pale green roofs to the R of the field. Rugby was the main sport played. Billy and I also ran for the cross country team and Scrabo Hill was a route we had to run. The town of Newtownards has sprawled somewhat since the 1970s when I left It's time to move down the coast of the lough a few miles to our next stop which I had chosen with Carol in mind...

Billy was already on the dock, watching us berth. I had told him we would meet at 10.30 half an hour after mooring but he's like me-that meant 9.30 latest! ABE... A Always, B Be, E Early! He texted me a pic to show he was in position. Cars can get close to the ship here. I waved to him from the Sunset Bar once I saw him standing by his red Audi A1. We came off soon after 10 and in the meantime he changed his clothes... Yes, he's a lifelong (since age 10) Beatles fan, even more rabid than I am. Starting with the Please Please Me album he would come to my home on the harbor and we'd sing along (loudly) with the record. I took the John part and he the Paul. We sang with sweat pouring down our young faces. My interest lessened with the White album. He met Carol for the first time. In his car he had a cooler full of N Irish drinks and snacks. Needless to say conversation was animated as there was much catching up and Carol had a new voice to add. We were leaving Belfast and heading to Newtownards 10 miles away, over the hills on narrow roads with beautiful vistas. There awaited local residents my sister Joyce and her husband Tim, just returned from seeing their daughter and her family during a month's stay in Bangkok.

We had breakfast in Cosmopolitan between Carrickfergus and Belfast harbor. So simple, so perfect. My Frosties My omelet, corned beef hash and hash brown set me up for the day Carol's waffles and hash brown

A better shot of the castle now entering Belfast harbor Cave Hill in the distance Mein Schiff 3 is the cruise ship The familiar Harland and Wolff cranes (H & W) Apex is turning to face out to the sea again docked.

June 14 and I got my morning coffee from the buffet on 14 as usual but instead of seeking shelter on deck 5 by Eden I stayed on deck 14/15 as there was sunshine and warmth for the first time since Rotterdam. I love this art work between the buffet and the pool deck... The orange color is the smoke from the funnel. My first sighting of land... Looking East As you sail from the North on this route you will first see Scotland to the East then Northern Ireland to the West. You can see both at once. Fast ferries cross between the two. The tall chimney I instantly recognize as Ballylumford Power Station near Larne It's gas powered now but in the 1960s my dad used to deliver coal in his ship, part of the John Kelly Fleet of the time I went on some of his voyages to England-Liverpool and Preston most frequently during my school summer holidays. Ballylumford only once to unload. It can supply half of the country's power needs. more county Antrim coast shots Carrickfergus Castle dead center in this next shot at sea level. Click to magnify then click again. more...

Wednesday June 14 2023. A day I had been looking forward to since booking this cruise way back when. We have no ship's excursions booked today even though Belfast had the most excursions to offer and many-particularly the Game of Thrones ones were long sold out. Today's "excursion" would be my idea. We are meeting friends and family here and will visit places meaningful to me and known to those we are meeting. We have a personal driver for the day-someone I have known and stayed in touch with since we met in 1957. We shared a desk in Primary/Elementary school and later went to the same High School. We sat together on the 45 minute bus ride there and back through lovely countryside on the beautiful Ards Peninsula. We went our seperate ways in 1968 but met up in New York in 1990 and Cape Cod in 92 and later at his home on Bedfordshire, England in 1994 which was the last time we met. 29 years had passed since but we've kept in touch via email and FB. He's Billy and the one on the right in this photo. We will be in County Down all day and then be returned to the dock in time for sailaway. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

At last!! A sunset Tomorrow-Belfast!

Our entertainment tonight is Phil Tag, a stand-up comedian we have seen on various cruise ships over the years. Guaranteed chuckles. A quick wit. Introduced by Shawna and I hoped for a quick intro but she talked for almost 8 minutes and I was video taping. I got 8 minutes of her and 8 of Phil and have been unable to load it into YouTube (been trying for the past hour) but the file is corrupted. If it does work in a day or two I'll show it. For now it's a no-go. Suffice it to say our faces were soaked in tears of laughter and we slapped our knees a lot.