Iceland
Prior to our cruise, we visited Reykjavik, Iceland and its surrounding areas for three days.
Norway
Our cruise on the Viking Star began in Bergen, which has the feel of a small town but is the second largest city in Norway. Around 1350, Bergen was the center of trade between Norway and the rest of Europe. It is surrounded by mountains and fjords.
From Bergen, we cruised north taking the Inside Passage route to the North Cape, the northernmost land in Norway. Along this route are fjords surrounded by majestic mountains, small cities, fishing villages and an opportunity to cross the Arctic Circle. During the summer, it is called the Land of the Midnight Sun because the sun does not set.
At the North Cape, we headed south to visit Scotland and England.
Scotland
Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands, was our first port in Scotland. From there we visited the Orkney Islands stopping at Kirkwall; and then on to Edinburgh. We saw evidence of Viking settlements dating back 5,000 years in the Shetlands and the Orkneys. Edinburgh's historic castles and churches were features of our visit.
England
Departing Edinburgh, we headed for the English Channel where we entered the River Thames at Southend-on-Sea and followed its serpentine course to a floating dock at Greenwich, a London borough. Our visit to London included an evening river cruise to Westminster, a ride on the gigantic London Eye ferris wheel and spectacular views of Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
Before leaving for the USA, we took a taxi to Bexhill-on-Sea to visit our friends, Brenda and Michael Dodge. In addition to a relaxing catch up visit with Mike and Brenda, their friends, Eric and Wendy joined us for a traditional lunch at an old Pub in the rolling countryside.