With a little bit of luck our trip from the Hilton Canary Wharf out to the port of Harwich and the Jewel of The Seas went flawlessly.
We trundled our rollaboards over to the Tube and two transfers later found ourselves at Liverpool Station. We navigated the automated ticket machine with a little help from a kind local waiting behind us in line and found ourselves on 12:00 noon "Jewel of The Seas" train that dropped us off a short walk away from the ship.
Again, carrying rollaboards only allowed us to the front of the line while most other folks were getting tags for their suitcases, and by 2:00 p.m. or so we were completely unpacked.
We ventured back down to Deck 4 where we'd embarked, and immediately exchanged amazed stares with two old teaching colleagues from our years in Hope. We hadn't seen Vic and Stephanie Fast in quite some years, and we'll be sure to get together for lunch or drinks as soon as they've recovered from their long flight.
It can indeed be a small world.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.