Jim_Iain Apex Key West, TansAtlantic and British Isle with a Week in Amsterdam

Lena11033 · May 23, 2023

7 hours ago, Redking said:

Wow oil rigs near Invergordon. Clearly a long time since I lived in Scotland. I only ever knew them when I was a student in Aberdeen and they were out in the North Sea half way to Norway. It would have been around the time of the terrible Piper Alpha disaster.

They used to be way out my uncle used to work on them as a chief engineer and his phone signal would be picked up as Norwegian but they destroyed the local area with all the oil rigs in the local area which is a shame.

JeanieC,Aston · May 23, 2023

The oil and gas rigs in Cromarty Firth are not working flat forms,,,most are mothballed or in for repair/refurbishment,,,,the nearby Nigg Bay oil fabrication facility was built for this purpose.

As for destroying the local area,I believe Nigg Bay and its surroundings are a Nature Reserve.

I sailed into Invergordon last year and I agree all those platforms are a sight to see.

hcat · May 23, 2023

16 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Queens College on the way

such great photos, very nice reunion!

Among my fav photos was the large geode ( seems a good price?) grandson, 7, is fascinated by them..dh too

and the stained glass window.

Bet you could do a book on lovely windows!

btw..I went to "Queens College" for a year....in Flushing, NY.! not quite as impessive!

Edited May 23, 2023 by hcat

ijscheer · May 23, 2023

Queens College (CUNY) class of 1958 here

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

On 5/22/2023 at 2:44 AM, MMMCruiser said:

The California poppies are in full bloom now, and there are more this year than I can remember seeing in the past 10 years at least. 🙂

I think it's all the rain we got this year. A super bloom for sure

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

20 hours ago, kwokpot said:

By whom, Celebrity, Port, City?

City of Belfast. They were their hot Pink Busses.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

19 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

City last year….the redish pink bus.

Came in at the same time as some tour buses,,,the next one was better.

Those were the ones we had also. Very convenient.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

19 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I was asking who was actually providing the shuttle they took for $10/pp. There was no indication who's service they were using. My July sailing will also includes Belfast. We port on a Sunday so we may do a 90 minutes Troubles Mural Taxi Tour in the morning and then be dropped of in the City Center.

We were indeed in Belfast and the City put on the shuttle. We later saw it would have been cheaper for the 4 of us to use a Cab. They have the "Traditional London Cab's) I think it was $20 each way.

I think you had to buy the bus tickets (Round Trip) at the port. At least didn't see anyone selling on the way back. Just had to give them back the rigid cardbord ticket.

We also were in Belfast on a Sunday. Not much open until after noon but the City Market is open early and is quite interesting

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

18 hours ago, kwokpot said:

We've done the Guinness Tour in Dublin many years ago when we did a weeks land tour in Ireland. That was great!

Now Iain is the Master of the Guiness Tour. When we lived in Dublin he would talk all our Guests there while I worked. I've to this day never been.

I would say he has been there over a dozen times and of course the Fresh Guiness is so much better than that which is canned.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

17 hours ago, JackE said:

Still no Lamb Balls?? 🙂

I did have Lamb Meat Ball.. nothing like a Rocky Mountain Lobster.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

16 hours ago, hawkesbaynz said:

@upwarduk beat me to it!

Thanks for both.

We just ended up spending the day in Invergordon. Nice little town. Amazing that we probably have a larger population on the ship than ashore. Lots of nice shops and places to grab a bite.

Since Inverness is only 3 1/2 hours from Iain's Sister's home they have been many times. I do remember taking the kids there an searching for Nessie.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

12 hours ago, Redking said:

Wow oil rigs near Invergordon. Clearly a long time since I lived in Scotland. I only ever knew them when I was a student in Aberdeen and they were out in the North Sea half way to Norway. It would have been around the time of the terrible Piper Alpha disaster.

I was seeing them from ashore on our walk today. Incredible that they have them so close to the harbor entrance.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

12 hours ago, maggie.1008 said:

Jim, I have been enjoying your travels. I was born in Glasgow and my grandparents lived in Kilwinning. Inverness is on of my favorite stops on a British Isle .

love living in Laquinta CA now. Cheers, Heather

Incredible. Iain was born in Kilwinning and his family have been there since the Mid 1880's. Not many people know where Kilwinning is.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

4 hours ago, Lena11033 said:

They used to be way out my uncle used to work on them as a chief engineer and his phone signal would be picked up as Norwegian but they destroyed the local area with all the oil rigs in the local area which is a shame.

I was surprised how they have been changing the landscape with both oil rigs and now Windmills. It is incredible how many you see coming into Birmingham.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

1 hour ago, ijscheer said:

Queens College (CUNY) class of 1958 here

How exciting. I was born on the Campus of Syracuse NY when my father was doing his Masters.

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

Must be May 23

Liam (not to be mistaken for Iain) has outdone himself.

I think he thought all of you were coming over for Hor dourves.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Jim_Iain

Jim_Iain · May 23, 2023

Invergordon is a fun little town with so much to discover. One thing they are known for are the War Murals. They actually have an Invergordon Wall Art App.