Having had a good bit of rest from the day before, I figure that it is time to collect my thoughts about my recent cruise. It is truly a "once in a lifetime" cruise for, as the UN has declared the Norwegian Fjords to be a World Heritage Site and Norway is using this (for its own reasons) to eliminate conventionally powered ships from entering the fjords to reduce CO2 pollution. Next year, it will be virtually impossible for us to go to Flam or Geiranger with the cruise lines of our choice because Norway is gradually banning cruise ships from their fjords, a process which will be complete by the end of the decade.
This was our first time traveling internationally by air. For the most part, my worries were unfounded. However, it was something well worth thinking about, as we would not be protected by US law while we were overseas and we might make mistakes that would be tolerated in the US, but not overseas. If anything, the mistakes we could make are violations of custom, and not of law. Most of these mistakes would identify us as uncouth foreigners and not as lawbreakers, such as when I raised my voice at the Tower Bridge.
London itself, proved to be a place that we need to explore when we have the time to do so. To do this, we would need to visit in the early spring or in late autumn, so that we could ride the tube without needing to be cooled by non-existant air conditioning. (We'd also have to corral my niece into being a tour guide for a few days for this.) Like the fjords, we would need several large capacity memory cards for the photos we'd be taking on this trip.
I found that having a universal travel adapter to be an essential part of my travel kit. I needed it for my CPAP machine in London, as well as for an extra electric socket on the ship. (Thinking about my CPAP unit, it is time that I schedule an appointment with the sleep doctor, as my machine has reached end-of-life.) Having extra USB-A to USB-C cables also helps, as most of my electronic gear uses the newer cabling standard.
The fjords are must-visit places, awe inspiring wonders that people should see at least once in their lifetimes. If possible, the Flam railway is a must if you can get to Flam. (it will not be accessible in the future to most cruise ships.) If in Alesund, one must take a cruise into the fjords, as we were gobsmacked there as much as we were on the Flam railway.
After Norway, we arrived at the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. It's about 45-60 minutes from Ghent, which I consider a place worth spending a long weekend, instead of a short day. 60 minutes touring the old town plus a 60 minute canal cruise is not enough. As much as I wasn't impressed with the idea of stopping here, instead of stopping at another Norwegian port, I was glad that we came here. Too bad that the port is so far away from Ghent, otherwise more people might have taken this excursion.
Finally, we had to return home. If one can avoid returning to the USA in an airline that goes to JFK Terminal 4, do so. If the weather is bad, this can be a taxing place for one's return home. (Avoid Delta and Virgin Atlantic flights for this trip.) I can't make any excuses for Terminal 4, nor should I try to do so. The Port Authority of NY and NJ has no excuse for allowing any airline to subject passengers to this poor excuse for the international arrivals process for airlines using Terminal 4. But then, JFK has been a mess from the time it was called Idlewild, and it will remain a mess long after I have passed from the scene.
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