Netherlands

On Jul 21 “Maasdam” docks in Charlottetown in the Canadian province Prince Edward Island (PEI). Again, I do a tour. We drive through the city. No high rise building here. There are fields and woodlands outside the city. Potatoes are the main crop. There is a stop at the “Confederation Bridge” built 1992-97 connecting PEIwith the rest of Canada. After lunch I take a walk-through Charlottetown by myself.
On Jul 22 our ship comes to Sydney in the Canadian province Nova Scotia. In the afternoon I take a bus trip to Baddeck on the Cape Breton Island to see Graham Bell’s Museum.Next day we land in Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Here I do a city tour on my own. First, I walk uphill to the “Citadel.”Then down and through the city.
On Jul 24 “Maasdam” drops anchor in Bar Harbor, Maine in USA. We go on tender to shore, then on bus through Bar Harbor and its vicinity. Many rich people built villas here.
Our ship docks in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in the morning. Many passengers depart and new board the ship here. I take a taxi to Aquarium in downtown. I am at Long Wharf. I buy a 45-min. boat ride on the Boston harbor and 1 hr. bus tour of the city. In the Navy Yard we see the ship “USS Constitution” called “Old Ironside.” Then a bus tour of the city. I return in a taxi to ship. Next day is a sea day going north to Canada. There are interesting lectures available.
On Jul 27 “Maasdam” inches its way through the fog to “Cap-Aux MeulesMagdalen Islands, Quebec, CANADA. By a tender to the island. We seethe island individually.The following day our ship drops anchor in Bonne Bay on Newfoundland, another province of CANADA. To shore by tender. Next day we anchor in Red Bay in Labrador which is part of Newfoundland province of CANADA.
“Maasdam” spends another day on the North Atlantic Ocean before dropping its anchor at Nanortalik in Greenland, dependency of DENMARK. A ship tender brings us to the village. I notice the Greenland flag with rising sun. I walk through the place taking pictures of local kids. No trees or bushes just grass and few flowers like dandelions. Some houses are nice. There are 2,500 people living here. In the whole Greenland there are 56,366 inhabitants.The following day we sail through the Prins Christian Sund bordered by sheer cliffs. Day after is on the ocean with interesting lectures.
On Aug 3 we land in Isafjordur innorthwestern corner of ICELAND. My first visit to Iceland since 1969. In the afternoon I take a boat to one of the local islands. I see the “puffins” funny looking birds of the arctic region. Day after we moor in Akureyri on the north coast of the island. The shore excursion takes us to a large waterfall called “Godafoss.” From here to Lake “Myvatn.” In the afternoon we visit a break in the crust where the European and American plates meet. There is a hot water in it. Then we pass used to be sulphur mine and later a power plant run by volcanic steam. Following day, we are at Husavik also on the north coast. We see the small town individually. The day after a stop at Seydisfjordur in a deep fjord on the east coast of the island. Again, we walk through the town individually. The next day we are sailing towards Scotland.
On Aug 8 our ship docks in Invergordon in Scotland in UK. During the shore excursion we stop at “Colloden Battle Field,” where the last battle in Great Britten took place on Apr 16, 1746. The second stop is a “Cawdor Castle” sitting in a beautiful garden still run by the Cawdor family.
On Aug 9 “Maasdam” anchors at South Queensferry near the famous cantilever bridge on Firth of Forth. We get to shore by a local boat. Buses take us to “Falkirk Wheel” (from 2002), which amazingly connects two vertically distant canals. We experience it on a canal boat, which takes us to the near Antonie Wall built by Romans in 142AD. There is a walk to one of the wall fortification, Rough Castle. Past a castle where Mary Queen of Scots was born we return to our ship.
After a sea day, when a sick passenger was extracted from “Maasdam” by a helicopter,the ship docks in Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS on Aug 11. Here most of the passengers leave and new board the ship. Today shore excursion takes us through Rotterdam and on the levees outside the city. That brings us to “Kinderdijk Windmills.” There used to be some 10 thousand windmills throughout this country. There are about 1,000 now. We get full explanation of past and present use of windmills. By a different route back to Rotterdam. Then “Maasdam”leaves Rotterdam through the Maas River into the North Sea and to the English Channel. We continue sailing also the next sea day.
On Aug 13 our ship drops anchor at Dunmore East in IRELAND. By tender to the shore. Our bus takesus to Waterford. There used to be a famous glass company here, but this spring it was closed. Then we go to town Inistioge and stop at “Woodstock Gardens.” From here we drive to New Ross, the place Kennedy family came from. There is an Irish show on the ship in the afternoon.
The following day our ship is moored at a pier in Liverpool, England (UK) . I take a bus tour to “Conway Castle” in the town of Conway in Wales (UK) . After about 30 min. we cross to Wales. An hour later we are in Conway encircled by a 1.2km wall. Above it is now ruined “Conway Castle” built by the English king Edward I. and finished in 1287. This king built several castles to stop the Welsh attacking the English.
On Aug 15 “Maasdam” docks in Greenock, west of Glasgow, Scotland (UK) . For the shore excursion I picked up a trip to “Stirling Castle.” Our bus needs 1.5-hr to get there.A fortress used to be here.The current buildings date between 14th and 16thcenturies, when it was a residence of Stuart monarchs. It is the grandest of all Scottish castles. We get a full sightseeing tour of the castle. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. After our return, our shipdeparts Greenock. Next day it sails the Atlantic Ocean north.
On Aug 17 “Maasdam” lands at Torshavn on Faroe Islands,dependency of DENMARK. A shuttle bus takes me through harbor to town. The sightseeing is on my feet. The town is on inclines leading to the harbor. Faroe Islands are fully autonomous region of Denmark and with their own currency. Faroe Islands and Greenland are not part of EU though Denmark is. I am walking around the town making pictures. On the end I visit a grass covered fortress with a lighthouse and a great view of the town and its harbor.
Overnight our ship reaches a small town Djupivogur on the southeastern coast of ICELAND. Tenders take us to shore. I spend about an hour walking here before I return to ship. After lunch on Aug 19 “Maasdam” docks in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Afternoon a bus takes people from ship to city. I browse through the city on my own. I am thinking about the 2 days I spent here 40 years ago. By chance I come to the building of Salvation Army. I slept in Salvation Army hotel that time, but I don’t recognize this building. Inside I ask in reception, if this building was here 40 years ago. A young man tells me that it was. It was built in 1912. The following day I am taking part in a bus tour outside Reykjavik. First stop at the greenhouses in Hveragerdi, then through Selfoss a place I traveled to 40 years ago looking for waterfall (foss) I did not find it. A photo stop at Kerid volcano. Another one at a two-storeyed Gullfoss waterfall. It is very impressive. We have lunch at Geyser Hotel near the famous Geyser. All geysers got their name from this one. In the afternoon we see the rift valley where American and European plates move from each other. There is a place here, where the Icelandic Parliament met first time in 930AD. Back in Reykjavík we stop at “Perlan.” It is a glass building from where the hot volcanic water is pumped through the city. There is a museum, shops, and a restaurant in it. From its roof there is 360 degview of the city.
Next day we sailwest. On Aug 22 in the afternoon our ship navigates the “Prins Christian Sund.”The following day we anchor at Qaqortog village with 3,500 people at the southern tip of Greenland,which is an autonomous part of DENMARK.After tender brings me to shore, I do some walking with my cameras in the harbor and the village. Again, I make few photos of children. Then we have another ocean day with lectures.
On Aug 25 “Maasdam” drops anchor off the northern tip of Newfoundland, a province of CANADA. A tender takes us to a village St. Anthony. From there by bus to the visitor center of “L’Anse aux Meadows.” A foundations of a 1000-year old Viking village was excavated here. We get 2.5 hours to see the visitor center, the foundations of the Viking village and a make-believe village showing the life 1000 years ago here. Next day we dock in St. John’s, which is the capital of Newfoundland province. There is a bus tour of the city and its vicinity.
In the morning on Aug 27 our ship should anchor off the coast of 2 French islands, St. Pierre and Miquelon. They are the last vestiges of once large French possessions in North America. However, the first I hear from intercom this morning is that for bad weather and few other excuses we can’t anchor there, and the visit of the islands is canceled. I don’t want to believe it. The weather is beautiful, and we are far from any land. The cruise companies use this excuse to prolong its ocean going to keep their stores and casinos open and get more income. While in harbor all above must be closed. I am very disappointed, I complain to the staff, but nothing would help. So today and tomorrow we are on the ocean.
In the morning on Aug 29 “Maasdam” docks in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and our cruise is over. In midmorning I take a taxi to my hotel in the city. It is often raining over next 2 days. With an umbrella I do some sightseeing of the city on foot. On Aug 31 in the afternoon I take a taxi to the airport. I fly from Boston on United Airlines plane to Los Angeles. In LA I get a car at AVIS and drive home to Vista where before midnight.

Travel office: Holland America Line (HAL) with help from Spiekermann Travel Service
Who took part: “Maasdam” can take 1,258 passengers and 560 crew members
Maasdam: 55,451 gross tons, length 720ft. (220m), width 101ft. (31m), max speed 21k

After night sailing we find ourselves in Banjul, capital of GAMBIA, in the morning on Dec 11. This narrow country is wedged inside Senegal. During the day trip we visit “Abuko Nature Reserve,” “Makasutu Forest” and a museum in Banjul.
Another day on the ocean. On Dec 13, Freetown, a capital of SIERRA LEONE. This was the first place where Blacks from America were brought back to Africa. There is a sightseeing trip of the capital. Our bus is escorted by 2 motorcycle policemen. When out of this 1 million people city the road goes past beautiful but empty beaches. At one we stop for refreshment. Pleasant music and interesting dances performed by a local group. For lunch we are in a nice hotel while getting an interesting speech of American ambassador to Sierra Leone. On the end of the tour is a visit to “National Rail Museum.”
The following day afternoon we should visit Monrovia in Liberia. Our ship is waiting several hours for a Liberian pilot to take our ship into the harbor, but nobody shows up, so we leave for our next destination. It is a disappointment. Next almost 2 days Corinthian II. rounds Africa to Gulf of Guinea.
At noon on Dec 16 we land in Takoradi, GHANA. In the afternoon there is a bus trip through towns Takoradi and Sekondi. Next day another trip from Takoradi on the main highway along the coast east visiting local villages and an impressive fortress, “Cape Coast Castle,” started 1652 by Swedes and finish by British. Served for slaves to be sent to Americas and the British ruled Gold Coast from here until 1876 when they moved the capital to Accra. After lunch we see the “Emina Castle” and its “St. Jago” fort. At night Corinthian II. sailed to another Ghana harbor, Tema. In the morning on Dec 18 a bus tour to sightsee the 3 mil. people capital Accra. Among other places we stop at the extensive “Memorial Park” of the first president Kwame Nkrumah. The following 2 days in Tema we make a visit to “Shai Game Reserve” to see animals, later to a beads factory and the second day to a “Aburi Botanical Gardens” and “Mompong Center” for herbal medicine.
On Dec 21 morning our ship is moored at a pier in Lome, TOGO. Next two days we are in this on the map skinny country. There are 2 armed policemen in our bus. First visit is to a royal palace where we hear speech of the local king then a local school. In the afternoon there is a sightseeing of the capital Lome including a woodoo market. Next day morning a visit to a village with another king. In the afternoon a voodoo village s voodoo ceremony.
On Dec 23 morning our ship moves to the next country BENIN. We are in the harbor of its largest city Cotonou. There is a trip to the capital of Benin, Porto Novo, on the border with Nigeria. Again we have 2 armed policemen in each bus. One has a machine gun. The buses are escoted by motorcycle policemen. We visit an ethnographic museum in Porto Novo. Later we stop at Honme Museum, where the kings used to live. Afternoon trip is to Ganvie a village built on stilts in a large lake. We get there on a local boats. I have been here 9 years ago coming from Mali through Burkina Faso in a 4WD car.
Then we spend a day on the Gulf of Guinea, a day filled with lectures as always when on the ocean. On Dec 25 Corinthian II. put anchor at Limbe in CAMEROON. This is an English speaking part of this country which joined the French speaking one during the decolonization. The rest of the British Cameroon joined Nigeria. In the morning a visit to oil palm plantations and then we stop at a tea plantation and see the processing of tea leaves. Later on we see a palace, where a German governor had a seat, when Cameroon belonged to Germany before WWI. In the afternoon there is a stop at lava flow from 1999 when Mt. Cameroon erupted. The volcano is in the clouds above us. We also visit a collection of apes and monkeys in a zoo.
On Dec 26 morning we get to shore on zodiacs. Our ship anchors in Kribi in the French part of Cameroon. The countryside is covered by a rain forest. First on buses then on Lobe River we board boats of local pygmies a go to visit their village deep in the forest. There are not as small I thought the pygmies might be. They are hunters and gatherers and their children don’t go to school. In the afternoon we visit waterfalls on Lobe River. They fall practically into the ocean.
Our next visited place is an island country SAO TOME & PRINCIPE in the Gulf of Guinea. It used to be a Portugal colony. Originally uninhabited islands were used by the Portuguese over 500 years for coffee and cacao plantations. The work force was brought from Africa. The revolution in Portugal in 1975 withdraw that country from its colonies and the whole system collapsed. On Dec 27 we come to the Island of Principe. Again using zodiacs we get on the island. Four vans take us around the island. The following day a visit to the bigger Sao Tome Island where 160 thousand out of 200 thousand people of the country live. A tour around the island. High humidity and temperature. A stop at a waterfalls. We learn about the coffee production. Local women dancing in the street. A visit to a museum in an old Portuguese fort and local villages.
On Dec 29 we are back at the African continent in Libreville, GABON, practically on the Equator. In the morning there is a sightseeing of Libreville. At noon a lunch break some 40 km outside Libreville. Here we have an interesting talk with 7 employees of American embassy about their work in this country. In the afternoon, a visit of Monday Forest.
Another day on Atlantic Ocean with several lectures. On Dec 31 in Pointe-Noire, REPUBLIC of CONGO. This used to be a major French colony. Its capital is Brazzaville. Our bus goes through Pointe-Noire on its main drag, Blvd. De Gaulle, bordered by important buildings. We see a soccer stadium built by Chinese. Out of the city our bus follows the highway to Gabon. At noon, some 25 km from Pointe-Noire, we leave the bus and enter Diosso Gorge reminding Badlands in So. Dakota. Close by we see a museum which used to be a residence of Loando kings. Interesting was the royal succession: from the king to his nephew. After lunch in a beach hotel back to our ship.
Originally we were to enter the Congo River, but that was cancelled due to possible pirates on the river. Then there were to be 2 stops in Angola (Luanda and Lobito), but according to the information those harbors do not work around the first of the year. So we have now 3 days on the ocean going south to Namibia.
At noon on Jan 4, 2011 Corinthian II. lands at Walvis Bay in NAMIBIA. Until WWI it was a German colony, then it was run by South Africa and from 1990 it is an independent country. There is a bus tour to Swakopmund in the afternoon. Until quite recently the streets of this city carried names from the German era. The main street was “Kaiser Wilhelm Strasse.” Now it is “Sam Nujoma Avenue,” named after a Swapo member. There are high sand dunes near Walvis Bay. We have a dinner in a large tent under “Dune #7,” which is with its 800 m the highest. Next morning a trip in 4WD’s south to salt ponds, the coast and making runs among dunes. After lunch a visit to a township.
On Jan 6 we leave our ship and fly from Walvis Bay to Cape Town in SOUTH AFRICA. Our accommodation is in a 5* hotel “Mount Nelson.” The following day we take a cable car to the Table Mountain, visit the Peninsula with the Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Later a visit to the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The last day morning a wine tasting in Stellenbosch wine area outside Cape Town.
Early in the morning on Jan 9 I am taking a KLM plane from Cape Town to Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, where in the afternoon. Due to 2.5 hour delay at departure I missed my plane to Los Angeles. On account of KLM I am spending a night in a hotel here. In the evening I take a train from the airport to downtown Amsterdam for a little sightseeing there. Next day, Jan 10, before noon I fly from Amsterdam to Los Angeles. Here I rent a car and drive home to Vista where just after 5 PM the same day after 42 days traveling.

Travel office: “Destinations & Adventures” and “Travel Dynamics International”
Who took part: Nov 30 through Dec 19 there were 59 passengers in 49 cabins, in addition there were 2 lecturers with wives and 4 people from Travel Dynamics who directed the trip. On Dec 19 some passengers and people from Travel Dynamic left and new came on board.
Corinthian II: The ship had 57 cabins each could take 2 passengers (so max 114 passengers). Gross Tonnage: 4,200; Length: 297 ft. (90 m); Beam: 50 ft. (15 m).