April, 2015 - DEN HAAG (THE HAGUE), HOLLAND #1

Den Haag is the capital of Holland and a center for many international institutions, including the Peace Palace.  We would highly recommend a visit.

Our chariot arrives.

Fountains and pumps are everywhere.  Water is not very far from the surface here.

Flowers and flags.

The Peace Palace.  Construction started with a 1.3 million donation from US industrialist Andrew Carnegie

The Peace Palace.  Home to the International Court.

Peace Tree.  Add a ribbon if you like.

Gate donated by Germany.

Bench is not for the ticklish.

Peace Dove Bench.

Perpetual Peace Flame.

April, 2015 - IPSWICH - FINAL DAYS AND NOZZEL DISASTER

Terry, Joann and James visit us just before we leave Ipswich.  then we are delayed a week as Sandra needed to recover from a nasty cold.

I purchased a new European style "snap-on" brass nozzle for the water hose.   It "snapped-off" and fell into the hose connecting the deck fitting to the tank.  After much effort we were able to free the hose and release the nozzle, but it fell into the bilge, between the hull and the aluminum water tank.  Brass and aluminum do not mix.  Over time the brass would eat a hole in the water tank.  It had to be found and removed.  This involved dismantling the pipes draining the shower, using the camera as a scope to locate it and making a tool to drag it out.  Sigh.

We say a fond farewell to Ipswich and sail overnight to Scheveningen, the port at Den Haag.  A great overnight sail with the wind from the SW on our starboard stern quarter.  LOTS of traffic, but otherwise uneventful. We took 24 hours dock to dock.

Pub lunch in Ipswich.

Brass nozzle in bilge.

Locking out of Ipswich.

April, 2015 - LONDON REVISITED - RIVER CRUISE, GLOBE THEATRE AND GOLDEN HINDE

Another part of our package was a fast cat ferry trip on the Thames.  This provided an opportunity to take some pictures of the skyline from another prospective.  I think that London has much more interesting architecture then New York.  We got off at the Globe Theatre and walked by an interesting sculpture and a replica of the Golden Hinde.

Tterry Joann and Sandra on our Fast Cat Ferry.

Apil, 2015 - LONDON REVISITED - SHEEP SHEEP EVERYWHERE

Throughout London there were these sheep.  Likely a part of a fund raiser, similar to the one Victoria had years ago with the Orca whales. 

April, 2015 - LONDON REVISITED - BEATLES SOHO

Our bus tour package included a walking tour of Soho, titled Beatles Soho.  The guide used the story of the Beatles in Soho as the framework for the tour.  It was an interesting diversion from the usual London offerings.

The Central Square.

Art in the Park.

Terry and Joann in front of Paul McCartney's office.

China Town is part of Soho.

Gate to Chinatown.

Theater district.

Pawn shops.  Fender or Strata anyone?

Rock history marker #1.

Early rock???

A talent cut short by drugs.

Home of Tower Records.

Remind you of a record album cover???

April, 2015 - LONDON REVISITED - TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Our next stop is Trafalgar Square.  The home to Nelson's Monument, The National Gallery and the Canadian High Commission (read Embassy). 

 

Tribute to Nelson.

Joann and Sandra at the Dolphin Fountain.

More monuments.

Main fountain, with National Gallery in background.

Weird sculpture in square.

The National Gallery.

This portrait is so realistic you can see the water in the eyes.

 

The villain in the Three Musketeers.

Lots of things happening in this fun picture.

The Canadian High Commission.