Bucket List Cruise Jerry and Marcia Abbott Celebrating 55 Years Together Queen Elizabeth: British Isles and Norway July 31 to August 17, 2013 Jarold and Marcia Abbott 1 This Album is dedicated to: My wife, Marcia, for whom this “Bucket List Cruise” was planned, and with whom it was enjoyed. The pleasures of this cruise are metaphors for the pleasures of our fifty-five (55) years together. Our grandchildren for whom this album was written. They were the ones I thought about most as I prepared the text and selected the photos for this album. Marcia and I hope they will enjoy reading the text and viewing the pictures. I have tried to include interesting information about the history and culture of Great Britain and Norway along with stories that will reveal something about the personalities of the “grandparents.” Marcia and I hope the reading of this photo album will remind our grandchildren of our love for them, and know how special they are to us. We treasure our memories of them as we watched them grow up. 2 Table of Contents Content __ Page Letters from Grandparents ……………………………………………………………………………… 1 Itinerary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Map of United Kingdom…………………………………………………………………………………. …. 7 Maps of Norway……………………………………….……………………….. …….………………….…. 8 Planning our Bucket List Cruise……………………………………………………..………………….. 9 July 30: British Air Flight 206 to London…………….……………………………………. 11 July 31: Embarkation from Southampton…………………………………………………. 12 August 1: “Sea Day” En Route to Queensferry and Edinburgh……………………………… 15 August 2: Queensferry and Edinburgh………………………………………………………………. 16 August 3: Invergordon and Dornach in Scotland ……………………………………………. 21 August 4: Kirkwall and the Orkney Islands……………………………………………………… … 25 August 5: Sea Day from Kirkwall to Liverpool…………………………..………………… 34 August 6: Liverpool, England and Wales…………………….…………………………….. 37 August 7: Dublin, Ireland………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 August 8: Sea Day en route to St Peter Port and Guernsey Island ……………………….. 63 August 9: St Peter Port and Guernsey Island (Channel Islands) …………………………… 65 August 10-11: Southampton to Stavanger (including Sea Day) ……………………………. 76 August 12: Stavanger, Norway – Lysefjord ……………………………………………………….. 80 August 13: Olden, Norway and the Nordfjord ……………………………………………………. 92 August 14: Geiranger Fjord, Norway ………………………………………………………………… 98 August 15: Bergen, Norway ……………………………………………………………………………. 105 Cruise Photos of Marcia ………………………………………………………………………………….. 114 ©This photo album is copyrighted and may not be used for any commercial purpose. Its contents are intended solely the enjoyment of friends of Jerry and Marcia Abbott. 3 Jarold “Jerry” Abbott 8557 Belfry Place Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986-9913 August 12, 2013 Dear Jason, Lindsay, Logan, Patrick, Michael, Matthew, and Peyton: I just finished the first draft of the “Bucket List Photo Album.” I may still make some changes in the album, but I wanted you to know where we were in the family‟s “time line” when I wrote this letter. At the moment there are only 108 pages. The final draft may have more or fewer pages. I just want you to know how much I have enjoyed writing this account of our “Bucket List Cruise.” Your Nana and I have had many good times together, and the best times we remember are the times we have shared with you. It has been fun to watch you from birth to now. One of the great pleasures of our lives has been to see you all grow and mature. The last time we saw Jason, he had just accepted a transfer to a new location and was so happy and confident in the opportunities it represented. Today, Mark called and told us about last weekend when Lindsay and Logan came home after their first weeks at the University of Florida. Unlike many college freshmen, they know what they want to do, and are committed to doing what it takes to do well in college. We are so proud of that. Patrick, Michael, Matthew, and Peyton have made an excellent adjustment to a new life in Texas. It wasn‟t easy for them to leave their New Jersey friends and activities, but they have done so well making new friends and in getting involved in many worthwhile activities in Southlake. Our “Bucket List Cruise” was one of the best trips Nana and I have taken together alone. I am sure she would agree that the only thing that would have made it better would have been for our family to have been with us. As great as our cruise was, it does not compare to our family reunion in Missouri in 2001, or our family Christmases in California, New Jersey, or Tampa. At the moment, we are looking forward to Thanksgiving in Coral Springs and Christmas in Southlake. Family and friends are very important to the Abbott and Dembiec families. We hope the writing of our family history and this album will help us all to retain the memories that help to nurture the love we share with each other. Love, Papa 4 Marcia Abbott 8557 Belfry Place Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986-9913 August 12, 2013 Dear Jason, Lindsay, Logan, Patrick, Michael, Matthew, and Peyton: As I look at all these pictures, I look back on all the past years and realize how much each of you has meant to me. Jason, you were the first grandson. My love for you was just the beginning of a long love for my grandsons. You were so cute. You reminded me so much of your Dad. Lindsay and Logan. You were such sweet babies. As individuals, you were all I expected and more. As twins, you were much more than we expected. Wow! I never knew two babies could bring so much happiness to our families. You have grown up to be two beautiful young ladies. I am so proud that you have a small part of me in you. Patrick. What a handsome baby you were. Your beautiful blue eyes melted my heart. We waited a long time for you, and you were well worth the wait. You have been a great older brother. Your brothers may not always appreciate your leadership, but some day they will. Michael. You always had a ready smile, and for me you were like a handsome curly headed doll. It made me proud when people said you looked like me. Matthew. You are another handsome Dembiec boy. It has been so much fun watching you develop. You have a way of figuring things out and getting things done. I love the way you cock your head and give me a warm smile. You are truly another beautiful Dembiec boy. Peyton. You are as handsome as your brothers. You often remind me of your Mom. This always warms my heart, and it is always so good when you call me on the phone Our “Bucket List Cruise” was so much fun for Papa and me. I could hardly wait to tell you about the places we visited and the stories we heard. Papa and I were the ages of Patrick, Michael, and Matthew during World War II. When we visited places that were occupied by the Germans in Guernsey and Norway, I thought about what the kids lived through during the War while I was safely sleeping in my bed at home. I remember my father helping to guard our beaches when he was in the Coast Guard Reserve. I have some stories of my own. I am so grateful that my grandmother brought her children to America. You and I are so lucky we were born in this wonderful country. When I am not with you, I miss you so much. I am proud to be part of the Abbott and Dembiec families. Love, Nana 5 “Bucket List Cruise” Cunard‟s Queen Elizabeth Around the British Isles: July 31-August 10, 2013 7/31 Southampton 8/2 South Queensferry (Edinburgh) 8/3 Invergordon 8/4 Kirkwall 8/6 Liverpool 8/7 Dublin Bay 8/9 St. Peterport (Guernsey) 8/10 Southampton Norway and the Fjords: August 10-17, 2013 8/11 At sea 8/12 Stavanger 8/13 Olden 8/14 Geiranger 8/15 Bergen 8/17 Southampton 6 The United Kingdom 7 Norway and Surrounding Area Norway and Europe 8 Planning for Our “Bucket List Cruise” I went to bed on July 9 with my usual routine in mind for a smooth transition into restful sleep. I lay on my right side for a while as I tried to remove any thoughts from my mind that might keep me awake. I positioned my pillow beneath my head for a more comfortable position as I lay quietly in the dark. After a few minutes I made my usual turn to my left side. Quite often this is my last turn as I doze off to sleep. Only this night I found myself repeatedly turning back to my right side and then back to my left side. I was thinking about the trip we had planned to Cape Cod to visit Dom and Linda. We had enjoyed many good times with the Pacis and were looking forward to seeing them in August. Our timing for an August trip was not convenient for either the Pacis or the Cibottis, and we had to think about another vacation alternative. Marcia and I had planned the Cape Cod trip as our gifts to each other for our 55th anniversary. Cape Cod was a favorite place for us and was the place where our kids had given us a great party for our 50th Anniversary. 9 Where could we go that both of us would think was a great anniversary gift? My first and only answer to this question was a cruise we had been thinking about for 2014. Our friends, Rich and Marie Lubelski, had recently enjoyed a cruise around the British Isles and to Scandinavia.