HeinBloed

I wasn't expecting such a great breakfast the following day at Fred and Hervé's. Well strengthened, our plan was: Reims Cathedral, other champagne houses, Étratat in Normandy on the English Channel, and on to our destination on the border with Brittany. Nothing came of it: the refinery workers went on strike, and there was a shortage of diesel. Instead, we hoped at the only gas station in Reims that the diesel would still be enough before we made it to the pump. So we had to choose the straight path: no "blue lobster" in Étratat - recently a classmate of mine was there, and I decided: I want to see and eat that too! No - we had to shave every mile if I was going to let tomorrow's and ferry tickets expire. In the evening, we arrive in Le Mont-St-Michel. Also, UNESCO World Heritage and also on my bucket list. So far. Unfortunately, there were no gay hosts here who would cook for you in the evening. But the view of Mont-St-Michel from the room makes up for it. Since we couldn't foresee when we would arrive, we didn't reserve a table anywhere. Only a few restaurants are open, and they all turn us away. Luckily we didn't have to starve, but we still had to drive a bit: La Paranthèse de la Baie. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2022/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Finally - the blog about the QUEEN VICTORIA trip to the Northern Lights has started. The Northern Lights are on my bucket list, and I've shortened them. I no longer feel like doing two long-haul flights in a short space. Since REGAL PRINCESS in spring and the Covid-19 infection afterward, I'm happy if I can doze during the day without the stress of going out. The situation at the German airports and the departure on a Tuesday ensure that we use the time wisely to experience something on the go that we could not see from a port on an excursion. On the way to Southampton by car, we first go to a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Champagne - although I don't drink any alcohol and live in a wine-growing region myself. I discover a new form of travel: bed and breakfast with other gay hosts who also cook for you. Better than sitting in a restaurant in the evening, especially when the hosts are in the hospitality industry: With Fred and Hervé in their La Crapounette at the gates of the cultural capital of Champagne: Épernay. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2022/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Finally - the blog about the QUEEN VICTORIA trip to the Northern Lights has started. The Northern Lights are on my bucket list, and I've shortened them. I no longer feel like doing two long-haul flights in a short space. Since REGAL PRINCESS in spring and the Covid-19 infection afterward, I'm happy if I can doze during the day without the stress of going out. The situation at the German airports and the departure on a Tuesday ensure that we use the time wisely to experience something on the go that we could not see from a port on an excursion. On the way to Southampton by car, we first go to a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Champagne - although I don't drink any alcohol and live in a wine-growing region myself. I discover a new form of travel: bed and breakfast with other gay hosts who also cook for you. Better than sitting in a restaurant in the evening, especially when the hosts are in the hospitality industry: With Fred and Hervé in their La Crapounette at the gates of the cultural capital of Champagne: Épernay. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2022/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Thanks - he is "well" - like he has a cold/flu. I am still lucky: negative. But I was the "lucky" one after REGAL PRINCESS in April 2022. So obviously I have more antibodies now. Maybe we should all go soon to a cruise and come back with infection... and hopefully with more antibodies to have the best protection the following cruises after for better relaxation. I am sure: so many guests caughing around in MDR etc. but without keeping an eye on self-tests like we did. The most dangerous place was the queue before restaurant opening: here we had our masks on since the ceiling is extremely low and you cannot spread. I hope the situation will releax when now they have flexible dining and so not many are queuing up anymore.

My partner left the ship with positive Covid-19 self-test result on the morning of debarkation. Confirmed by another self-test of another producer and PCR external laboratory. After four self tests since then, I am still negative although I left the ship with thousands of positive impressions. But it was nice to see a few days the smile of the crew members again. We informed the ship and told them the crew members we were in contact the day before debarkation. Wishing all the crew to stay safe and healthy. And the following fellow-cruisers as well.

This is wonderful! We can see their smiles again!!! No more masks for the crew from today!!! I need to reshot all selfies to catch the most, I was missing: their smiles!!!

Day 3: Back home, but not without the pictures from the ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS, CARNIVAL PRIDE, OOSTERDAM, SEABOURN SOJOURN, MSC SEASIDE. And for the first time with Civitatours to the airport. https://heinbloed-hal.blogspot.com/2022/09/tagday-3-shipspotting-weekend-in.html

Day 2: CELEBRITY EDGE, STAR CLIPPER, and REGAL PRINCESS. Eat well at Enoteca Sebastiani and La Bomboniera in Civitavecchia. And it goes under St. Peter's Basilica, in the footsteps of Saint Peter. https://heinbloed-hal.blogspot.com/2022/09/tagday-2-shipspotting-weekend-in.html

I was last in Civitavecchia for ship spotting. Mainly to catch the OOSTERDAM and the CARNIVAL PRIDE because we're going with those in 2023, but I don't have any pictures of those. But other ships also were present this weekend: CELEBRITY EDGE, STAR CLIPPER, REGAL PRINCESS, ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS, SEABOURN SOJOURN, MSC SEASIDE. Luckily we didn't have to embark/disembark, so we could look around in Civitavecchia and test and discover new things: e.g., a bed and breakfast, the shuttle to the airport, and more. And we could go under the Vatican. Last but not least, eat well. And summarized in a small blog: Day 1: Arrival at Civitavecchia. https://heinbloed-hal.blogspot.com/2022/09/tagday-1-shipspotting-weekend-in.html