News from Cunard with new solo
cabins................
Just saw this from Cunard! The newly remastered Queen Mary 2 now has single staterooms. We invite you to book one of these oceanview staterooms in category KC or KB or enjoy a double occupancy stateroom with a lower single supplement. All you have to do is contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard at |
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Be a Traveler not a tourist Learn something new Find a new adventure Experience the local life!
Off the Beaten Path in German
Friday, May 13, 2016
Has Cunard decided SOLO clients are Important?
FINALLY A CRUISE LINE WHO UNDERSTANDS SOLO TRAVEL!
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Wifi at .50 a minute!
Have you ever paid this much for wifi? Why do ships exploit their clients?
They want to keep you shopping, in the casino and bars.
They want to keep you shopping, in the casino and bars.
Friday, March 11, 2016
London: Following Charles Dickens
I wanted to walk into a Charles Dickens novel and Context Travel generously offered to show me this part of London on their Charles Dickens walking tour
I met my Context tour guide at The Old Bell bar on Fleet Street. Dating back 300 years, the pub was rebuilt after the Great fire of London and is exactly what I think a pub should be.
The Old Bell bar |
A very rainy day did not dampen the enthusiasm of my amazing guide and we were soon off to our first stop
The Brides Church.
Tucked behind this entrance is a shady, quiet courtyard. |
St Bride's Church on Fleet street, also known as The Journalist's Church, has been the location of a church for centuries. From the long history, as described by my guide and found on the church's web site, I learned that St. Bride's is "know worldwide as the 'journalists' Church, a spiritual home to all who work in the media."
The Brides Church is also know as the Journalists' Church |
Below this quiet oasis is remnants of Roman pavement and visitors are welcome to explore the narrow passage way with artifacts and original walls exposed.
Guides at the palaces, cathedrals and famous houses in London never fail to amaze me with the centuries of history they can share.
We stopped at the Old Curiosity Shop only to find it closed and now selling shoes. Over the centuries the building has listed to the side a little. It is under a protective order so shall remain a wonderful reminder to the story Charles Dickens wrote and Little Nell and her grandfather.
Peering in the windows you can see wood floors, low ceilings, small doorways.
The Streets Dickens Walked
Most of the streets and alleys that Dickens wrote about have been replaced with office buildings and modern architecture. But a few small streets or narrow lanes still remain.
I was surprised to learn Dickens spent time as a law clerk in London and our tour visited many of the Inns of Court in London. The heavy rain may have kept the clerks and solicitors inside. All the courtyards were empty and quiet. I wonder if you can see wigged and robed barristers traveling too and from at other times?
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
The British system is far different than that of the USA and it may take a bit-of-a-study to understand the Inn's concept. A tour of the Inns alone would share a rich history of legal London.
Fountain Court in the center of Middle Temple |
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Middle Temple hall |
We also visited The Temple Church. If you saw The Da Vinci Code you may recognize the Temple Church. The 800 year old church was built by the Knights Templar. According to church web site "the order of crusading monks were founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th century."
The domed portion of the Temple Church is modeled after the domed Church of the Rock in Jerusalem.
The dome over the round part of the church |
There is a wonderful collection of stone faces around the circular part of the church See more photos here.
My thanks to Context Travel London for this wonderful complementary tour.
All photos are the property of Mature Solo Travel 2016
1from Wickipdia as referenced
1from Wickipdia as referenced
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Gargoyles: stone photos
Gargoyles, original caricature art!
You can find these unusual stone portraits in many cities across Europe. They have always fascinated me .
As part of my walking tour in London, courtesy of Context Tours, I
visited a church with amazing carving...............the photos of the day
This one shows a little fear? |
Let me whisper in your ear? |
Photos were obtained during a complementary tour with Context Travel.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
People You Meet on the Road: QMII
ON trans-ocean trips the ship will offer to seat you with other solo travelers. It is a gamble if you will get along or as happened on my April crossing, most people did not show up for dinner after the first 2 night......
A special crossing on the Cunard line several seasons back was a different group who attended every evening. And I credit it to the two most interesting people I have met on my yearly crossing to work in Italy. Mary and John were engaging, interesting and a joy to sit with.
Being a story teller and asking questions that others do not, I was very interested in John's military history. He was kind to share some of it with me and I hope he does write his book in the future.
Even though the video was only about John, I believe Mary could write the book on how to speak to strangers and make them feel at ease.
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