The blog was published last night UK time, but for some reason, did not get distributed by email.
Jet lag: we slept until almost noon
Heat wave continues: Manchester at 70F.
If you walk through that archway now, you’ll find the intersection where the Ashton Canal meets the Rochdale Canal, a spot that was once one of the busiest “parking lots” for barges in the world. (SD personally believes it’s ancient Roman)
This on a Wednesday night
We start with a few days in Manchester, followed by a hiking trip in the areas pictured, London for a while, the Queen Mary 2 to NYC and onto RI.
Easy flight.
I rarely watch movies but I wanted to see Marty. Why? I played table tennis against him in NYC. Lost, not close, but a good lesson. The movie: lost, not close.
Plan was as follows: taxi to Euston Station, travel on one of many trains to Manchester.
Euston station closed due to construction.
Eep.
Taxi from Euston to St. Pancras, train to Sheffield, then train to Manchester.
Took quite a few discussions to find a route with minimum changes.
Getting There: The Hope Valley Line is one of the most scenic train journeys in England, connecting Sheffield and Manchester. It makes the valley incredibly accessible for day-trippers.
While this was not our original plan, it was the only route we could take and we got lucky. The scenery was beautiful.
Train full with day hikers. Primarily school age as this is Easter school break.
🏙️ via AI
Manchester
Manchester is a lively, modern city with deep industrial roots, known for its red-brick architecture, music history, and unmistakable energy. Once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, it has reinvented itself as a cultural and creative hub, with galleries, restaurants, and a strong sense of local pride. Even in a short visit, you will feel the contrast with the quiet countryside — a bustling, urban landscape to start a journey among fells and stone walls.
Dakota Hotel is a nice place with good service. They sent us to the Bay Horse Tavern for dinner.
End of a very, very long day. Now begins jet lag.
We saw a rusted out gardening cart, but there was no signage so I don’t know whether it was art or an abandoned rusted out gardening cart
Return visit to chelsea passage, this time to eat chow fun. However, they had only pulled noodles and Dan Dan noodles. Most dishes were marked spicy or very spicy. They must’ve been New York spicy.
And now the lighted version
Thursday
Not to do a decimal system. Look carefully and you can figure it out.
We are temporarily past noodles out
Terrible first act singers took a long time to warm up. Excellent Second act
And so I travel Adventure ends. 
A day of wandering the hood followed by dinner at John’s- a tradition.
Wednesday
Chores for leaving done and trip to Trinity church to hear their restored organ. A concert.
We came to hear this renovation of the organ. Details, more than one is likely to need, follow.
First 10 of 15 seconds mostly organ than the choir jumps in 
The village Halloween parade is tonight. We will be seeing it from sixth Avenue not far away.
Found a new place we like: a tavala calda.
Note the little pumpkin pastry above: almond mousse base (“dirt”), almond cake, chocolate mousse and pumpkin cream. We didn’t have the nerve to try it.
Big presence in case there is crime
Anish Kapor exhibit at the Jewish museum. Went especially to see the VANTABLACK, known as the blackest black there is and owned by him; explained in the wording below
So black that there is no shadow and you can’t see the depth
Then we went up to the museum of the city of New York. Same exhibits as we saw in our previous visit.
Select pics from village walk.
35,238 steps today. Legs tired but rejuvenated by dinner at Eataly.
Sunday:
When we got to Newark airport, the line to get in through immigration was probably an hour and a half long due to they’re being only one or two immigration desks open. Fortunately, we had global entry.
Global entry now is face only no form not a single piece of paper not even a way to declare how much we brought back walked right through
We got a nice collection of russet and a few others
Try to get into a Vietnamese restaurant that I had read about many months ago. The line looked like it was about two hours so we left and went to the Ramen place above.
At the Morgan Library
Fabulous collection of rarely seen drafting
Rain, heavy today. Very heavy at times.
Early morning departure from the ship for late departure from the airport; there’s lots of time look around HND
Modern airport with many shops nicely arranged on the second and third floor.
 The airport even has two onsens. 
Sampled cheese, flavored macadamia nuts with sugar and cheese filled cookies and brie I think at one of the shops.
Nice lounge with acceptable food, but certainly not as good as the ANA lounge in Chicago even less so the Polaris lounge San Francisco
We were able to check in especially early. Flight departed on time.
Final port of tour. Castle tour, shrines, beach
Considered one of the most beautiful ports by the cruise company. Been here on previous cruise but did fish market etc but not the castle.
Long process to clear customs then for a walk in the dock area. QB will not go on the tour today. Still recovering
Found these in a sporting good store. They had to turn the display around, undo a combination lock and then reach in through a small hole to get to them. I tested a few of them, but the mechanism was so tight. I could barely open it. They agreed it was too tight, but did not offer to open another box of them, there were several so I left.
Premium stuff and there was a surcharge for the pear. Other is green tea they were out of Matcha.
This being a Monday the garden, which is a major part of the castle is closed, but they made an exception for us to open this magnificent garden, which was built just for one person the shogun. They also gave us a special pass to go in the garden, which, according to the guide she has never gotten before and she has been here many times.
The layout which is not obvious from the pictures mirrors, the bay and Mount Fuji area, where the boat is docked, and the mound is a representation of Fuji
Lots of extra pictures, including the entrance gate, etc., especially as QB has missed this tour 
Castle was destroyed an earthquake, and has not been rebuilt as they are still looking for the plans to rebuild it in the original design, so they have left it until they find the design.
Apparently lucky to have seen.
Several of the guests got lost on the way back to the bus and delayed the return. Guide explained she can leave them after 10 minutes, but she chose not to. She went to look for them.
Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
There was no time to Climb as we were rushed for time
Naturally photographs were not permitted
Fuji
Fuji is about 3750 m high
Walking towards the beach
Cruising the Kanmon Strait. 
A very quiet day of relaxation. Group dinner at Pacific Rim restaurant.
Lots of food to keep one busy and occupied. There seems to always be some place open. No all day buffet on this line.
Red Lightening
Not here. Just a pleasant diversion.
Added a couple of pictures for those who don’t have subscriptions or access to The New York Times. There is a fabulous time lapse in the article.
Dinner
Same group. Boat significantly rocking more. Big noisy wind. Will we have flying fish? Stay tuned.
Nothing slid off the plate 
No tours for us today. Based on a recommendation from Heelan: visit Centrum City and the worlds largest department store. In fact, seven hundred stores there.
QB very much under the weather today had a bad night stomach. Will not join.
Just a bunch of shots from the ship balcony
Taxi conversation. had a very good conversation using Google Translate he also was using Google translate so we each spoke into our phone and could hear the other speaking- phone worked perfectly.
it was especially easy as each phone could hear the other phone.
City has a feel a little like Singapore modern and everything seems to work.
like Singapore, no jaywalking
Centrum City
I got to the area a few minutes early, so I took a walk and why would I run into?grrrr
Think of 10 brands all 10 will be here 
supermarket with lovely marketing, different rooms for each specialty all of it laid out quite nicely and very well labeled
ice-skating rink
Almost 1501 to the dollar
Spa
Very much like the Japanese ones. No photos allowed, of course.
Gallery Tour: compliments of our travel agent through virtuoso organization
QB still horizontal and will miss this. I think she’s getting better.
Room remarkably cool due to filtration system did not get hot in there. Executive chef said it does not get hot.
Dinner
QB went back to sleep after a cuppa.
 | boogkb on Manchester |
 | bmorgen1 on Manchester |
| boogkb on Boogs sack the UK- Hike … |
 | dianneellsworth on Boogs sack the UK- Hike … |
| boogkb on Boogs sack the UK- Hike … |
Boog's Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.