Transiting the English Channel enroute to our first port. White Cliffs of Dover in the distance.
Last fall I submitted my fourth post-retirement application for teaching on Semester at Sea. It was my last opportunity before my three years of non-teaching limitation came up. I wasn't hopeful. Then I got an email one night in Reykjavik. Fifteen minutes later I was Facetiming in an interview from my hotel room. I went to bed hopeful and woke up the next morning to an acceptance letter. What followed was months of course proposals and preparation.
Bremerhaven
North Sea red fish for dinner.
On September fourth (delayed a day so I could spend an extra day with my new granddaughter Ida!) I flew Delta nonstop to Amsterdam, caught a short flight to Bremen and then took a tram, train and bus to my hotel in Bremerhaven, Germany. I had that evening and the next morning to explore the city before an orientation for faculty and staff that afternoon in the Climate Museum. On the 7th we set sail from Bremerhaven bound for the port of IJmuiden in The Netherlands where we picked up the 450 students on the 9th. I had time to explore the town of Ijmuiden one evening and the nearby Zuid-Kennemerland National Park the next morning.
I enjoyed a visit to the Emigration Museum. Bremerhaven was the port to which Captain von Trapp was to be posted and it was the port from which many Germans and Europeans to the east set sail to safer climes.
A German U-boat
Our orientation was held here.
Dinner the second night was Fattoush salad made by an immigrant to Germany. His parents fled Palestine in 1948 for the refuge of Syria, and he fled Syria in 2015 or the safety of Germany.
My 7th deck starboard cabin.
The North Sea
Germany navy frigate.
Love all the wide, well-marked bike paths and the biking culture of the Dutch.
Even immigrants join in the fun.
Sadly this Indonesian restaurant was closed on Mondays.
Solidarity in opposition to past and current invaders.
Stopped at a grocery store and bought some snacks--including some Dutch licorice in all its varieties and German chocolate--Ritter Sport Marzipan..
Life Long Learners and students boarded throughout the day. After my 8;00 -10:00 shift helping to onboard students I went out for a fun walkabout.
I headed south up and over a dike to a large recreational area.
Caravans for vacationers during the summer.
Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. A lovely combination of wide beaches, and coastal scrub and back waters.
German fortifications and bunkers used in WWII to prevent an allied invasion, to protect the port, and to fire at air raid flights heading towards German targets.
After a rough transit of the English Channel (fortunately no sea sicknes for me) we found out the planned strikes in France during the middle of our four day stay in Nantes necessitated a change of plans. Porto in northern Portugal is now our first port.
Off we go from IJmuiden with 450 students in tow.
