July 27 - Tilbury, England
Tilbury was the end of the first of our two cruises. We have very dear friends (Peter and Carol) whom we met on a cruise around South America in 2015. They live in a city called Southend-on-Sea which is an easy 33 minute train ride from Tilbury. There were a number of passengers staying over like we are so Regent offered a shuttle bus to a large shopping mall in the area with an optional dropoff at the train station. Very convenient! After doing some research, we had the train schedule and Carol told us which station to get off, so we were set. The train had a very convenient way of paying: you put your credit card on the little yellow pad and the gate opens to let you in. Then on the other end, you put the same credit card on the yellow pad there and the gates open and you are charged the appropriate fare. When we got to Thorpe Bay, there were Peter and Carol waiting for us. It was so good to see them again. Besides that first...