Group hugs.

We're off the boat and through Norwegian customs in under three minutes. The drive to the airport is traffic free and, wonder of wonders, we catch an earlier much delayed flight back to Edinburgh. The whole journey completed door to door in under six hours. You couldn't get back from Norway to St Andrews that quickly if you planned ahead.

The weather on our trip has been 'challenging'. The force 10 gales and snow followed us a thousand miles North and then followed us a thousand miles South. This morning, after two weeks of being bounced around like laundry in a spin drier we're still swaying with the motion of the boat.

Here in Scotland the weather is bright and sunny but bitterly cold. The neighbours inform us the view of the Northern Lights was wonderful. We bite our tongues.

On Tuesday night we arrange a final dinner ashore with the Arizonans . A chance to let them try a really good little restaurant and Norwegian cuisine that's not been produced in the ships galley. They photograph every course ( and pose for Selfies with Annie, Sven and Olaf the ever patient restaurant staff ), post images on instagram and call friends back at home to say that fresh halibut in Oslo isn't a bit like the product for sale in Whole Foods in Tucson. The concept of an amuse bouche is something they think is wonderful. They discover blackberry sorbet with white chocolate which causes an outbreak of delighted laughter. We discuss wine and one lady says she has some bottles of Grgich Hills Fume Blanc in her fridge. When she discovers this was the wine President Reagan served President Mitterrand at a dinner in the US embassy in Paris she gets on the phone and orders another case. She calls her daughter to do the same. We can't get it in the UK so I envy them. A chat with the wine waiter brings out a rather good Meursault which they agree is wonderful. 

They all talk politics with sophistication and insight and a hint of weariness. All, bar two couples, were MAGA supporters in 2024. This time round the hike in health care premiums has disillusioned them. They make their views plain. The men, who are all veterans, are decidedly not fans of the new Secretary of War. The two ex-Marines voice opinions about him that cause their wives to tell them off in that ' You can't say that ' sort of way. They all admired - and voted for - John McCain and wonder whatever happened to Lyndsey Graham. Prostate issues are discussed alongside the ever rising price of chuck steak. There is some excitement ( mixed with trepidation ) about taking a flight back home on Scandinavian. 'The Font' reassures them that SAS is tied in with United and is 'quite safe' and that the cabin crew will speak English. 

The meal flies by and ends with an enthusiastic group hug in which we are coopted. It can safely be said Arizonans are more tactile than Europeans.  E-mails are swapped ( as they always are on such occasions ) and promises to keep in touch are made. Our Christmas card list has certainly expanded. They like the difference between saying Au Revoir and Adieu. We all agree this is an Au Revoir. At this point some of the gruffer men shed a few tears. It transpires that we are the first Europeans that any of them have ever had dinner with. This is a source of delight for them ... and for us. For those blog readers who had been worried about what they read in the press we can report the America of courage, honour and kindness is not only alive and well but is thriving. 

Back on the boat some late night revelers  have been busy.

One of the more unusual things we saw on out trip was a collection of early 20th century enameled tea strainers.

A Fish and Chip outlet in Alesund informs passers by that their product is ' Probably the best in the world '.

The boat had a kennels. At every stop the kennel master would bring the dogs down the gangplank so their owners could walk them. Having a kennel on board is a very Norwegian thing. The dogs seem to take to sea travel with greater aplomb than some humans.

Today will be spent recovering.