Day 3 -Eidfjord, Norway 
Scenic Norwegian Nature Center
Sunday, August 28 - 14:15
Enjoy a sweeping view of one of Norway’s most beautiful regions and explore nature. Meet your guide and drive up the valley to Øvre Eidfjord and the Norwegian Nature Center. Here, you can learn about the nature and wildlife on Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau. In this lively center of exhibitions, aquariums and an inspiring “Super Videography,” you will gain insight into the staggering beauty of this pristine slice of Norway. You will enjoy more than an hour to explore the exhibits independently. Don’t miss the center’s highlight: a five-screen panoramic movie where you can immerse yourself on a journey past fjords, mountains and waterfalls, with drops over steep gorges and gentle sequences over mountain lakes and glaciers. After your visit, your bus will drive you back to Eidfjord.

August - 28 Sunday - Day 3
Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 20:48
07:10 Docked at Eldfjord.  Very small village and ‘port’ is the one and only hotel.
Interesting scenery coming up the fjord.  Still a little dark because high cliffs do not let the sunshine reach the bottom.  Steep banks on both sides and small patches of snow in places.  Water is very calm with hardly a ripple.
After breakfast did a short walk around the village.  Massive cliffs on both sides of fjord and at end.  Then back on board for lunch and depart for afternoon excursion.
13:15 board buss for Nature Museum 
Saw a very interesting ‘in flight’ movie of the entire length of fjord, up the mountain, across the glacier to the end.  ‘Flight’ included, ups and downs,twists and turns, giving the impression of a real flight.  Then walked through the museum area which showed the physical development of the world and Norway from the beginning of time until the early 20th century.  An interesting display of human development over the centuries.
To gift shop and bought some souvenirs
18:00 met up with new friends for supper
19:00 Depart for Stavanger
MEAL is for 29th
SUPPER 
Wendy
Destination menu, shrimp and avocado salad, braised pork loin, chocolate cake with a name you can’t pronounce with ice cream 
Bill
Prime rib and the Same dessert 
​

Day 4 – Stavanger, Norway  
Stavanger Walking Tour & Oil Museum
Sunday, August 29 - 8:45
Get well acquainted with Stavanger and its beautifully preserved Old Town on this included tour. From our berth right in the heart of town, you can walk with ease to Gamle Stavanger, or Old Stavanger. In this attractive pedestrian district, you will stroll cobblestone streets among close to 250 buildings protected by a conservancy. They range in date from the 18th to the early 20th centuries and are considered the best kept wooden houses in Northern Europe. Destined for demolition in the 1950s, they were saved largely by the city’s architect, Einar Hedén. You will also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. Browse its fascinating exhibits about geology, technology and harnessing the power of oil. You will learn about life on board oilrigs and the drama of everyday life at sea. After, you can linger in Stavanger at your leisure and return the short distance to your ship on your own.


August 29  - Sunday Day 4
Arrive Stavanger 
Walking tour & oil museum 
Who would have thought that an oil museum was so interesting.  A great guide who worked as a scientist on the off-shore rigs.
Interesting walk through the old town.
Only a half day in port 
12:00 Back on board
13:00 Depart for Oslo
SUPPER 
Wendy Destination menu 

Day 5 – Oslo, Norway 
Oslo Highlights & Vigeland Park
Tuesday, August 30 - 15:00
Take in Oslo’s eclectic blend of contemporary flair, rich history and spectacular natural views.
With your local guide, you will drive past the medieval Akershus Fortress, built in the 1290s by Norse king Håkon V. Pass Oslo City Hall, the Royal Palace, Parliament and the National Theater. Travel to the district of Holmenkollen, home to the world-famous ski jump set atop the most prominent hill in the city. This impressive structure dates back to 1892. Back in the city, you will tour Vigeland Park, named after the sculptor whose work adorns this expansive green space. Your local guide will accompany you on a stroll along its pathways to view some of the 200-plus fascinating stone and bronze sculptures depicting the human life cycle. Afterward, return to your ship via the affluent suburb of Frogner.

​Wendy did free laundry 
12:00 Arrived Oslo
15:00 Oslo highlights & Vigeland park tour - Located in Frogner Park.
Very interesting with well informed guide.  Marvelous statues.
Sculptor Gustav Vigeland created the sculpture arrangement in the centre of the present enlarged park from the 1920s until his death in 1943
19:00 Supper 
Wendy 
Destination menu salmon roe, Reindeer stew, rhubarb charlotte
Bill
Fruit cup, pork loin, chocolate bomb
Overnight in Oslo 

Day 6 – Oslo, Norway
Wednesday, August 31
​FREE DAY

THE REST OF MY NOTES ARE MISSING :(


Day 7 – Århus, Denmark 
Århus on Foot
​Thursday, September 01 - 14:00
Discover the iconic sights of Århus during a walk through one of Denmark’s oldest cities. Meet your guide at the pier, then set out on a journey past some of the newest and most modern buildings of Århus, as well as some of its older landmarks. See the Gothic-style medieval Cathedral, the longest and tallest church in Denmark, and stroll the narrow cobblestone streets of the lively Latin Quarter, the city’s oldest neighborhood, en route to the Vor Frue Kloster, a neoclassical monastery that is home to the oldest bells in Denmark. Admire the massive Dokk1 complex that dominates the waterfront of the inner harbor and walk along the historic street of Møllestien to the ARoS, the country’s newest art museum. Stop to gaze at City Hall, its asymmetrical design a fine example of modern functionalistic architecture, before returning to the pier and your ship.

Day 8 – Copenhagen, Denmark 
Copenhagen by Foot
​
Friday, September 2 - 14:30
Explore the landmarks of Copenhagen and learn about the city’s history during a walking excursion. With a local guide, you will stop to see the Little Mermaid statue sitting serenely in the harbor at Langelinie and visit the courtyard at the 18th-century Amalienborg Palace. Continue to Copenhagen’s largest monument, the Gefion Fountain, followed by Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Queen of Denmark, the sovereign of one of the world’s oldest monarchies. Here, admire the royal rococo buildings and square, plus the stunning Marble Church, New Opera House and flourishing Amaliehaven (Amalie Garden) with its geometrical layout, colorful plants and centerpiece fountain. En route back to your ship, walk through the 17th-century Citadel—one of Europe’s best-preserved fortresses surrounded by eight moats, tall ramparts and cannon bastions.

Day 9 – Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany
​Berlin Your Way

​Saturday, September 3 - 7:30 AM - 12 Hours
Follow your own interests in Berlin, from its historic sites to its lesser-known gems.
Transfer to the city by train early in the morning along with your escort, who will provide you with a map and some tips during an orientation tour. Set off on your own in the city center, with 3½ to 4 hours to explore. Call on Checkpoint Charlie and see remnants of the Berlin Wall or explore Alexanderplatz. Admire the remarkable glass cupola of the Reichstag or visit a museum on the renowned Museum Island. For lunch, perhaps stop at a sidewalk café and enjoy a fine German wine while you observe modern Berliners strolling by. At the allotted time, meet your escort at a prearranged location and return to your ship via train in time for dinner.

Day 10 – Bornholm (Rønne), Denmark
​Scenic Bornholm
Sunday, September 4 - 11:30
Discover the natural beauty and charming villages of the idyllic island of Bornholm. This picturesque Danish island is nicknamed solskinsøen (Sunshine Island) and klippeøen (Rock Island) for its weather and geology, respectively. Drive to Nylars, where you will stop to view the Nylars Church. A small circular building that dates back to the 12th century, it was used as a fortress as well as a place of worship. After time for photographs, continue on to Gudhjem, a quaint fishing village which clings to the side of a rocky bay and where smoked herring was first prepared. Learn about the community’s fishing tradition as you take a stroll along the harbor and into the town center, where you can admire the slanting little half-timbered houses. Travel through picturesque Almindingen, one of the largest forests in Denmark, as you return to your ship.

The only 'stop' on this tour was at ​Hammershus - Northern Europe’s largest castle completed in the late 1200s.

Day 11 – Gdańsk, Poland 
Monday, September 5

In the morning Wendy and I took the shuttle bus into the city of Gdańsk for a quick look around.  It would have been nice if we could have spent a little longer as it was another beautiful old city.  Even more amazing is that it was completely rebuilt have being bombed and destroyed during WWII.  We wish he had more time to wander around this beautiful old city.

​Stutthof Concentration Camp
Monday, September 5 - 14:00

​Hear the stories behind some of the events of World War II on a sobering visit to the Stutthof concentration camp. A local guide will accompany you to the camp, located east of Gdańsk and today preserved as an educational site. Stutthof was the first camp built outside German borders. Though it was established in 1939, the idea to expand camps into the Gdańsk region of Poland — then known as the “Free City of Danzig” — had been conceived three years earlier. During your visit, you will learn that very soon after the outbreak of war, “undesirable Polish elements” were sent here. Over the course of the war, prisoners from all the occupied territories were brought to Stutthof. You can see the prisoners’ barracks and pause to reflect at the camp memorial.

A very sobering and thought provoking tour.  From the 'the showers' a euphemism for the gas chamber, the crematorium, moving gas chamber disguised as a train box car, 100,000's discarded shoes, the living quarters and infirmary are an indication of the depravity that humanity can since.  It is unbelievable and sobering to see just how inhumanly one group of people can act towards another.  The sad part is that it could all happen again.  
​The camp was and still is surrounded by trees so it was 'hidden' from local prying eyes.
What made this tour even more memorable was that our guide's grandparents had been prisoners in this camp.  Sadly her grandmother was one of the many women who were chosen to have a visit to 'the showers.'  Her grandfather did survive this camp as well as some others simply because he was a baker and the nazis needed professional kitchen help.

An informative web site:
 http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/othercamps/stutthof.html

Day 12 – Karlskrona, Sweden 
​Karlskrona by Foot
Tuesday, September 6 - 13:45
Discover Karlskrona’s rich maritime tradition and unique landmarks during a walk through this charming port town. Sweden’s chief naval base since its founding in 1680, Karlskrona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its baroque-style buildings. Follow your guide past notable sights such as the King’s Bridge, the Regional Governor’s Residence and the 18th-century Bastion Aurora. See the impressive Admiralty Church, the town’s oldest building and the largest wooden church in the country, and its famous statue of “Old Man Rosenbom.” Continue your stroll to the Stortorget, a cobblestone square, and pass by the neoclassical Town Hall, the old Norman-style water tower, and the baroque Church of Fredrik and the Holy Trinity Church. You will also view the quaint 18th-century wooden houses in Björkholmen and the old main entrance to the Naval Shipyard en route to your ship.

Day 13 - Sail the Baltic Sea
Wednesday, September 7


Day 14 – Stockholm, Sweden 
Thursday, September 8
Wendy and I took advantage of the shuttle bus and took a morning stroll through the old part of Stockholm and then to the bus tour in the afternoon which only had one stop at City Hall.

Panoramic Stockholm
Take in the sights of Stockholm, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, stunningly set on Sweden’s east coast. Stockholm is a thriving city and is known as the "Venice of Scandinavia" with its 14 islands and 57 bridges that connect them to the mainland. Begin your tour by motor coach as you hear exciting stories from your guide about Swedish life and culture. Learn about the history of the city and see the famous sights including the City Hall, Parliament, the Royal Palace and the Royal Opera. You can choose to end your tour with a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Town on your own, and take a complimentary coach back to the ship. Or, if you prefer, you can resume your panoramic tour and take the coach directly to your ship.

Stockholm, Sweden 
Friday, September 9
DEPART - FLIGHT AT 06:30

Up bright and early for the flight.  Packed all up on Thursday evening and watched TV until it was time to meet up in one of the lounges.  Well ok Wendy did have a bit of a nap.
Great escort to the bus then from the bus to airport check-in and again to the security gate.
Eventful flights home but we made it and so did our bags.

The number of cases of Covid-19 spreading around the world and increasing even more so in the United States of America.  




​




​Just one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s lies about Covid-19. The one that worries me the most.  

When: Wednesday, March 11
The claim: In an Oval Office address, Trump said that private-health-insurance companies had “agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing.”
The truth: Insurers agreed only to absorb the cost of coronavirus testing—waiving co-pays and deductibles for getting the test. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the second coronavirus-relief bill passed by Congress, later mandated that COVID-19 testing be made free. The federal government has not required insurance companies to cover follow-up treatments, though some providers announced in late March that they will pay for treatments. The costs of other non-coronavirus testing or treatment incurred by patients who have COVID-19 or are trying to get a diagnosis aren’t waived either. And as for surprise medical billing? Mitigating it would require the cooperation of insurers, doctors, and hospitals. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/04/trumps-lies-about-coronavirus/608647/


The number of American citizens who do not have access to, even affordable, healthcare is staggering. As the  information below shows the United States does not have a full funded health care system that is available to all citizens.  With the number of people who simply can not afford adequate health insurance I believe many will simply not apply to be tested and even some will not even seek medical attention if they do fully develop the disease.  These people will then continue to infect others further exacerbating the pandemic.


The United States stands out from many other countries in not offering universal health insurance coverage. In 2010, 50 million people (16 percent of the U.S. population) were uninsured (DeNavas-Walt et al., 2011). Access to health care services, particularly in rural and frontier communities or disadvantaged urban centers, is often limited. The United States has a relatively weak foundation for primary care and a shortage of family physicians (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2009; Grumbach et al., 2009; Macinko et al., 2007; Sandy et al., 2009). Many Americans rely on emergency departments for acute, chronic, and even preventive care (Institute of Medicine, 2007a; Schoen et al., 2009b, 2011). Cost sharing is common in the United States, and high out-of-pocket expenses make health care services, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies increasingly unaffordable (Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance System, 2011; Karaca-Mandic et al., 2012). In 2011, one-third of American households reported problems paying medical bills (Cohen et al., 2012), a problem that seems to have worsened in recent years (Himmelstein et al., 2009). Health insurance premiums are consuming an increasing proportion of U.S. household income (Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance System, 2011). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK154484/)


An item from before The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
About 44 million people in this country have no health insurance, and another 38 million have inadequate health insurance. This means that nearly one-third of Americans face each day without the security of knowing that, if and when they need it, medical care is available to them and their families.


And then in 2019
Lack of health coverage has been a persistent problem in the U.S. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to address gaps in the health coverage system and led to historic gains in health insurance coverage by extending Medicaid coverage to many low-income individuals and providing Marketplace subsidies for individuals below 400% of poverty. The number of uninsured non-elderly Americans decreased from over 46.5 million in 2010 (the year the ACA was enacted) to just below 27 million in 2016. However, for the second year in a row, the number of uninsured people increased from 2017 to 2018 by nearly 500,000 people. This issue brief describes how coverage has changed in recent years, examines the characteristics of the uninsured population, and summarizes the access and financial implications of not having coverage. (https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/ Published: Dec 13, 2019)


The number of Americans without health insurance climbed to 27.5 million in 2018, according to federal data that show the first year-to-year increase in a decade, before the Affordable Care Act began reducing the ranks of the uninsured. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/number-of-americans-without-insurance-shows-first-increase-since2008-11568128381 April 10, 2020)


Health care seems to be such a problem in the U.S. that it is even counted on their annual census report.
 In 2018, 8.5 percent of people, or 27.5 million, did not have health insurance at any point during the year. The uninsured rate and number of uninsured increased from 2017 (7.9 percent or 25.6 million). 
• The percentage of uninsured children under the age of 19 increased by 0.6 percentage points between 2017 and 2018, to 5.5 percent.
• Between 2017 and 2018, the percentage of people without health insurance coverage at the time of interview decreased in three states and increased in eight states.


Not even all types of health care are covered:
In 2018, private health insurance coverage continued to be more prevalent than public coverage, covering 67.3 percent of the population and 34.4 percent of the population, respectively. Of the subtypes of health insurance coverage, employer-based insurance remained the most common, covering 55.1 percent of the population for all or part of the calendar year
(https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-267.html)


Insured persons from 2018Number of persons under age 65 uninsured at the time of interview: 30.1 million
Percent of persons under age 65 uninsured at the time of interview: 11.1%
Percent of children under age 18 uninsured at the time of interview: 5.2%
Percent of adults aged 18-64 uninsured at the time of interview: 13.3%
Percent of persons under age 65 with private insurance at time of interview: 65.1%
Percent of children under age 18 with private insurance at time of interview: 54.7%
Percent of adults aged 18-64 with private insurance at time of interview: 68.9%
Percent of persons under age 65 with public insurance at time of interview: 25.5%
Percent of children under age 18 with public insurance at time of interview: 41.8%
Percent of adults aged 18-64 with public insurance at time of interview: 19.4%
(Three tables from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-insurance.htm)

Canada's health care system

"About Medicare
Medicare is a term that refers to Canada's publicly funded health care system. Instead of having a single national plan, we have 13 provincial and territorial health care insurance plans. Under this system, all Canadian residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services without paying out-of-pocket. 
Roles and responsibilities for health care services are shared between provincial and territorial governments and the federal government. 
The provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health care services for their residents.

Comprehensiveness The provincial and territorial plans must insure all medically necessary services provided by: 
hospitals
physicians
dentists, when the service must be performed in a hospital Medically necessary services are not defined in the Canada Health Act. The provincial and territorial health care insurance plans consult with their respective physician colleges or groups. Together, they decide which services are medically necessary for health care insurance purposes. 
If a service is considered medically necessary, the full cost must be covered by the public health care insurance plan. 
Universality The provincial and territorial plans must cover all residents.
PortabilityThe provincial and territorial plans must cover all residents when they travel within Canada. Limited coverage is also required for travel outside the country. 
When a resident moves to another province, they can continue to use their original health care insurance card for 3 months. This gives them enough time to register for the new plan and receive their new health insurance card."
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-health-care-system.html)

In Ontario our health care insurance is provided by ​The Ontario Health Insurance Plan
"What services does OHIP cover?
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays for a wide range of health care services. It pays for most basic medical and emergency services. It can pay for all or part of the cost. 
There are some services that OHIP does not pay for such as cosmetic surgery (dental or physical), dental services or chiropractic services. 
For some treatments, OHIP pays part of the cost. For example: 
Some services from your doctor, and podiatrists
Physiotherapy treatments 
Dental services in hospitals 
Eye tests 
Travel costs: if you live in northern Ontario and must travel long distances for specialty medical care, OHIP may pay some travel costs.
What is covered under OHIP+?
OHIP+ covers many prescription medications for youths 24-years-old and under. You can find out if your medicines are covered through the online search tool. OHIP+ starts January 1, 2018."
(https://settlement.org/ontario/health/ohip-and-health-insurance/ontario-health-insurance-plan-ohip/what-services-does-ohip-cover/)

More comprehensive information can be found at:
(http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/default.aspx)

Yes, I also have private insurance which is provided by Government Service Medical Insurance Plan (GSMIP) through payroll, now pension deduction.  When I was working for the government I was required to have this. While in Canada I was only required to have the minimum coverage (Level II) which would provide for some services not covered by OHIP.  When I was posted overseas where my Provincial plan would not cover any medical expenses I was required to increase the coverage to Level III.  This was coverage covered all expenses which occurred overseas, including doctor, hospital, and any other costs such as hotels and meals.  Upon return to Canada I had the option of reverting back to Level II or maintaining the Level III coverage.  In Canada the added coverage provides for a semi-private hospital room and added prescription coverage.
While we say that our provincial health coverage is free it really isn't.  After all nothing is free in this world.  Different Provinces have different ways of collecting the funds not provided by the Federal Government.  In Ontario it is now an employers responsibly to pay the monthly OHIP fee.  In other Provinces it may be through added sales tax, or a specific tax on gasoline, or user pay through payroll deductions.  No matter how the fee is collected it appears as if we do not directly pay, consequently the general idea is free because when we walk out of the doctor's office or hospital we do not have to reach into our pocket before we leave or dread a bill demanding payment.