White Cliffs of Dover

It is 4 PM and we are onboard the Carnival Legend Cruise Ship at dock.  Outside our Cabin the bright sunlight reflects off the white cliffs of Dover it is a beautiful setting.  I have unpacked two suitcases and Charlotte is doing hers now.  So far there is more than enough room in the cabin for our stuff.

This morning we left the Double Tree after breakfast.  Lyle and Marlene brought their luggage to our hotel just after 10 we were due to be picked up by a driver at 11.  At 11:08 no driver so I called and discovered that he was waiting outside.  He had come in an asked for Snow and off course they were not registered at the hotel so his company told him to wait.

It was a 3 year old Ford   driven by Mohammed a 38 year old British citizen born in Bangladesh.  His story is interesting and shows how the Brits have melded a diverse population that we have been noticing over the last 4 years.  His father who died a couple of years ago at age 84 went to work as a teenager as a coal shoveler on a British Cargo ship.  After 12 years employment he was granted British citizenship and then he returned to Bangladesh married and started a family.  Since he was British his children were British and he brought the family to London when Mohammed was 12.  He was the only Asian in a sea of white which he had never seen before.  Even though he qualified for university he flitted away the opportunity and now drives a car for a firm with 120 drivers.  He is working hard so his children 3 boys and a girl will have a chance for education which he realizes is the key to wealth creation.  Mohammed or “Mo” as everyone calls him is very proud of his father, his family and of Great Britain for having the better life he has over most in Bangladesh.  We may meet Mo again as I suggested he drive us to Paris at the end of our trip.  He has never been there but I said I would give him 80% of the costs for the four of us to pay ferry and train costs.  I think it may be a good deal for both of us.

The boarding process went very smoothly and at 1:30 just when were ready we were allowed to board and proceed to our cabin.  While we ate a light lunch the luggage arrived and I have now purchased the internet package so we should be all set.  At lunch Charlotte made arrangements for her gluten free menu finding out they have bread and ice cream gluten free.

Well it is now time for the safety drill….maybe more later.

It is now Wednesday.  The safety drill was fine a warm day and we faced the cliffs as the crew covered the drill.  Afterwards Charlotte and I opened a bottle of wine we bought in Atlanta duty free and enjoyed a wonderful bon voyage moment.

 

Our first dinner in Truffles Main Dining Room was slightly crowded; we ate with the Snows and had a nice dinner with excellent service.  Played a little poker on the automatic machines in the casino (15% rake is brutal) and then at 10:30 went to the Follies for a show hosted by a very capable and humorous cruise director in fact at this moment he is briefing on all the ports we are visiting.  Charlotte is talking that in while I catch you up.

Today is a day at Sea and tomorrow at 8 we arrive at Copenhagen until 3:30 PM

With slow internet and paying by the minute I will post the pictures to the blog at a better time you can be sure there is one of the White Cliffs…………….

 

 

It is 4 PM and we are onboard the Carnival Legend Cruise Ship at dock.  Outside our Cabin the bright sunlight reflects off the white cliffs of Dover it is a beautiful setting.  I have unpacked two suitcases and Charlotte is doing hers now.  So far there is more than enough room in the cabin for our stuff.

This morning we left the Double Tree after breakfast.  Lyle and Marlene brought their luggage to our hotel just after 10 we were due to be picked up by a driver at 11.  At 11:08 no driver so I called and discovered that he was waiting outside.  He had come in an asked for Snow and off course they were not registered at the hotel so his company told him to wait.

It was a 3 year old Ford   driven by Mohammed a 38 year old British citizen born in Bangladesh.  His story is interesting and shows how the Brits have melded a diverse population that we have been noticing over the last 4 years.  His father who died a couple of years ago at age 84 went to work as a teenager as a coal shoveler on a British Cargo ship.  After 12 years employment he was granted British citizenship and then he returned to Bangladesh married and started a family.  Since he was British his children were British and he brought the family to London when Mohammed was 12.  He was the only Asian in a sea of white which he had never seen before.  Even though he qualified for university he flitted away the opportunity and now drives a car for a firm with 120 drivers.  He is working hard so his children 3 boys and a girl will have a chance for education which he realizes is the key to wealth creation.  Mohammed or “Mo” as everyone calls him is very proud of his father, his family and of Great Britain for having the better life he has over most in Bangladesh.  We may meet Mo again as I suggested he drive us to Paris at the end of our trip.  He has never been there but I said I would give him 80% of the costs for the four of us to pay ferry and train costs.  I think it may be a good deal for both of us.

The boarding process went very smoothly and at 1:30 just when were ready we were allowed to board and proceed to our cabin.  While we ate a light lunch the luggage arrived and I have now purchased the internet package so we should be all set.  At lunch Charlotte made arrangements for her gluten free menu finding out they have bread and ice cream gluten free.

Well it is now time for the safety drill….maybe more later.

It is now Wednesday.  The safety drill was fine a warm day and we faced the cliffs as the crew covered the drill.  Afterwards Charlotte and I opened a bottle of wine we bought in Atlanta duty free and enjoyed a wonderful bon voyage moment.

Our first dinner in Truffles Main Dining Room was slightly crowded; we ate with the Snows and had a nice dinner with excellent service.  Played a little poker on the automatic machines in the casino (15% rake is brutal) and then at 10:30 went to the Follies for a show hosted by a very capable and humorous cruise director in fact at this moment he is briefing on all the ports we are visiting.  Charlotte is talking that in while I catch you up.

Today is a day at Sea and tomorrow at 8 we arrive at Copenhagen until 3:30 PM

With slow internet and paying by the minute I will post the pictures to the blog at a better time you can be sure there is one of the White Cliffs…………….

 

Next from Copenhagen