Wayne & Holly's Wedding

Pictures

All the gallery links are collected here, but you can follow along with each section in the story as well.

Starting out...
Horley, UK
Steyning, Bramber, and Brighton, UK
Hastings, Bodiam Castle, Tenterden, and Canterbury, UK
Canterbury and Dover, UK
Cruise
Copenhagen, Denmark
Germany
Tallinn, Estonia
St. Petersburg, Russia
Helsinki, Finland
Stockholm, Sweden
Hever Castle, UK
Coming Home...

Story

Once upon a time, there were two young people who thought they could dance. But you already know that story and helped celebrate their marriage. It’s been a year since that joyous occasion and a lot has happened since then. Here is the story of Wayne and Holly’s first year.

The year began with a "lazy" Father’s Day morning. A rarely glimpsed gathering of male Seales and family was spotted near Comox Harbour. Three generations had gathered to continue the celebration with the eldest, Keith Seale.

Pictures
From there, the eager travelling began. That week would see the newlyweds sleeping in a new bed each night. Our intrepid couple began their journey by going home to finish packing. Onward to Richmond the next day, they would take a rest before continuing by plane to Calgary. Acquiring a new set of flight crew, the plane returned to flight on its way to Gatwick Airport outside London, England. Wayne and Holly had now become an international dancing sensation, taking their dancing miles above... sea level.

Pictures
Back on solid ground, it was time to retrieve their trusty steed; a Vauxhall Astra with a shiny black coat. Taking to the open road, tentatively, and following the voices in their heads (read: the GPS or in foreign lands, SatNav), they made their way towards their home for the night in Horley. In his sleep-deprived state, Wayne had no problem driving on the wrong side of the road. Roundabouts were only a minor complication, never circling more than twice. (Wayne: Not bad for encountering about 500 of them.) Arriving safely at their destination, they scoured the neighbourhood in search of a payphone and food. Success!

Pictures
The next morning, they encountered their first of many English breakfasts: eggs, toast, bangers, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, and tea. It was time to hit the road again. Taking a scenic drive to Steyning, Wayne and Holly explored the small town and its narrow roads. Driving to the nearby town of Bramber, they picnicked in the ruins of the old Bramber Castle. Onward to Brighton.

Walking along the beaches of Brighton, they enjoyed the sights and sounds, avoiding "The Black Lion ...den of iniquity" (see picture), and intended to come back after finding a place to stay. The SatNav proved less than reliable for this endeavour as the trusting couple found, in turn, a large parking lot and a dead-end industrial road, where the promises of a warm bed were proffered. Regrouping, they headed back to the beautiful coastal road to seek an oracle (read: Tourist Information) or a friendly inn. Stopping in the nearby town of Seaford, they found success by following an advertisement posted on the window of the closed Office of the Oracle. Arriving at Malvern House, "a pleasant home in the seaside town of Seaford in East Sussex," Wayne and Holly visited the local pub and never quite made it back to Brighton, instead deciding to recharge for the adventures of the next day.

Pictures
A new day, a new set of adventures. First on the list was the Smuggler’s Adventure in St. Clements Caves in Hastings. As it turned out, getting there was half the adventure. The SatNav proved reliable in its directions this time; however, the path wound through the winding, narrow country lanes. The couple travelled down "two-way" roads barely wide enough for one, speed limits reaching 50mph, mirrors tucked. One incident required driving on the only sidewalk they encountered to allow the oncoming bus to pass. The route was surrounded by the beautiful countryside scenery, including a white horse carved in a chalk cliff.

Finally arriving at Hastings, the couple wound through some narrow city streets in an attempt to reach the cave entrance at the top of West Hill. However, when they found themselves heading downward again on a street barely wider than their car, they turned around and tried again. Successful on their second attempt, they parked at the top and descended into the bowels of the hillside. Stepping back in time through mysterious tunnels and caverns, they discovered the dark secrets of the smugglers... and danced in the ballroom carved into the cave, now the Gift Shop. Wayne and Holly had now become an international dancing sensation again, taking their dancing feet below... the ground.

Emerging from the darkness, the couple explored the town on foot, realizing just how small the roads actually were. Returning to the vehicle, they carried on toward picturesque Bodiam Castle near Robertsbridge in East Sussex. Encountering a sord of hungry ducks, they narrowly escaped with their lives and lunch and retreated to the safety of the classic storybook castle. The curious couple wandered through Bodiam, from the ruins of its kitchen to the peaks of the watchtowers. Crossing back over the moat, they began their pilgrimage to Canterbury. On the way was a quick stop in Tenterden for dinner. Arriving in Canterbury as the night fell, they found a home for the night on their second attempt. An evening walk to the center of town brought Wayne and Holly past the ruins of the old city wall, through a graveyard, and down narrow streets.

Pictures
In the morning, the couple headed out for a whirlwind tour of Canterbury’s streets, waterways, shops, and cathedrals, before their transportation for the last few days had to be returned in Dover by 11:00am with a full tank of diesel. Leaving Canterbury, their SatNav gave their arrival time within minutes of the deadline. A wrong turn and a quick recovery cost them another minute. As the deadline approached, they merged onto the busy streets of Dover. Narrowly beating the clock, Wayne stood in line at the rental place and waited for five minutes. Sadly bidding farewell to their trusty friend, they hauled their bags up a hill, down the other side, across busy streets, over a long bridge, and down to the far, far pier where their floating home for the next twelve days awaited.

Pictures
The Norwegian Jewel, a thousand foot long, 94,000 ton behemoth, set sail that afternoon with a couple thousand new travellers. Leaving the white cliffs of Dover in their wake, Wayne and Holly settled into their life at sea.

Pictures
Two days hence, they landed in Copenhagen. Wayne and Holly joined a small band of merry men (and women) on a walking tour of the city. Sites included many interesting and colourful buildings, former homes of Hans Christian Andersen, a man painting his window ledge, several statues of the Little Mermaid (including the most famous one), the Danish Royal Palace, pretty shoes, lots of bicycles, Soren Kierkegaard, and more. Tired of walking, they returned to the water on a canal cruise where they saw more interesting and colourful buildings, the Black Diamond (the Royal Library), a black dog by the water, a strange black geodesic pod, many low bridges, a man working on his boat, the corkscrew spire of the Church of Our Saviour, and more. Back on land, Wayne and Holly ventured back into town on their own. Here they saw the Kastellet, one of the best preserved fortifications in Northern Europe, in which stood a windmill, lots of red buildings, and several bridges. Also seen was the Gefion Fountain, a large fountain on the waterfront depicting the Norse goddess, Gefjun, driving a group of animal figures. The fountain was donated to the city by the Carlsberg Foundation on the brewery’s 50th anniversary. As they left Copenhagen, they marvelled at the wind farm and captured it with many, many pictures.

Pictures
Bright and early the next day, Wayne and Holly boarded a train in the port city of Warnemünde, Germany. Alternating from sleeping to chatting to sticking their heads out the window like puppy dogs, they travelled the countryside on their way to Berlin. It was going to be a full day. By bus and by canal boat on the river Spree, they saw many things including:

various sections of the Berlin Wall including the famous East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie,
a man on a ladder,
the symbolic Brandenburg Gate,
the Reichstag, the seat of German parliament,
Ampelmann, the iconic strutting crosswalk man with a hat,
the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island,
a mobile library,
Charlottenburg Palace where they almost got left behind,
Opernpalais, a former Prussian palace where they ate one of their best lunches,
Moby Dick,
the Holocaust Memorial covering a 19,000 square meter site, and
the Rathaus Schöneberg, where John F. Kennedy famously proclaimed to the world that he was a jelly-filled donut ("Ich bin ein Berliner!").

Some of what struck the couple most about Berlin were the juxtaposition of old buildings ruined by war and the new construction, the peaceful settings marked by the bullet holes as a reminder of war, and how recently Berlin had been reunited by the fall of the Wall on November 9, 1989. Back to the train to return to their ship, Wayne and Holly alternated from sleeping to chatting to sticking their heads out the window like puppy dogs. Wayne and Holly had now become an international dancing sensation again... again, taking their dancing to the countryside... speeding along on a train.

At sea for Canada Day, the couple celebrated their marriage and Canadian citizenship by wearing Canada paraphernalia, speaking like stereotypical Canadians, having a romantic dinner, and watching a truly stunning sunset, eh.

Pictures
When Wayne and Holly arrived in Tallinn, Estonia, the city was abuzz with activity in preparation for the massive Song Festival, which occurs every five years. A small place with a lot history, Tallinn offered an exceptionally captivating experience. Joining a different band of merry men (and women), they saw:

the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox cathedral built during the Russian occupation in the 19th century,
the Dome Church, built in the 13th century, the oldest church in mainland Estonia, surviving a fire in the 17th century,
Toompea Castle from the outside and Tall Hermann,
St. Catherine’s Passage, a modern day artist’s guild,
the 15th century Town Hall,
the door to the Fraternity of the Black Heads,
a long leg and a short leg, the two streets connecting the Upper and Lower Towns,
a woman walking the cobbled streets in high heels,
the Holy Ghost Church,
many roasted nut vendors dressed in traditional attire,
two walking Matryoshka dolls, and
a large, accordion playing bear (see picture).

Striking out on their own, they wandered the town in search of food and treasure. Returning to the Balthasar, a garlic restaurant that they had seen on the walking tour, they had their fill of garlic. With menu options rated on a scale of cloves by their garlic-ness, they enjoyed a combined four-clove meal of mixed vegetables in garlic sauce with a bowl of garlic soup. Garlic-y. After finishing their meal, Wayne and Holly were joined by a club-footed pigeon in search of crumbs. Stomachs satisfied, they went shopping. Finding a myriad of treasures in the abundance of shops, they realized they couldn’t bring it all home with them. Restrained, they still bought a bunch. With an eye on their watches, they meandered back to the boat, passing a large stage featuring live music for the Song Festival and Inferno, the local disco bar. They also encountered a couple round "City Bikes."

Pictures
Entering St. Petersburg, Russia, Wayne and Holly were greeted with a long line-up. Everyone entering St. Petersburg required their passport and a visa (or a group visa). After having their passports stamped, the couple were given passes that were not to be lost, sold, or traded. These would allow them to leave Russia when the time came.

On their tour bus, they travelled past acres of industrial shipping yards and buildings before entering the city. Their first stop was Peterhof Palace, built to rival Versailles in France. On the way, wireless headsets were distributed so the tour guides could be heard and the group didn’t wander off. They had to check all large bags and jackets, don little booties, and, sadly, put away their cameras. Words and pictures would not do justice to the spectacular rooms and artefacts of the Palace. It’s incredible to think that much of the Palace and grounds were destroyed during World War II. In 2003, as St. Petersburg celebrated its 300th anniversary, many of the buildings and statues were restored. As the tour of the Palace buildings finished, they witnessed the gravity-fed fountains and waterfalls of the Grand Cascade come to life as the reservoir sluice gates were opened. The Samson Fountain is supplied by its own aqueduct, measuring over 4km in length. Thankfully, cameras were allowed outside. Leaving the Palace grounds, the group walked to the waiting hydrofoil boats and sped across the Gulf of Finland into town.

In town, they criss-crossed the Neva River until eventually stopping at the Peter and Paul Fortress, where they ate borscht. After lunch, it was on to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which houses the tombs of Romanov monarchs. As well, it houses the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, and his family, who were massacred with their servants by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Before leaving the cathedral, their tour group was treated to a couple songs by the Male Choir of St. Petersburg. Continuing on their tour, Wayne and Holly saw many more sights by bus, including many, many weddings in and around The Bronze Horseman monument. This monument, one of St. Petersburg’s most famous monuments, was built by Catherine the Great to honour Peter the Great, her predecessor. The Bronze Horseman sits atop a large pedestal of red granite called the "Thunder Stone." This 1,500 tonne boulder was hauled 6km to its present location by manpower alone.

Returning to the cruise ship for a quick dinner and rest, Wayne and Holly headed back into town for a Russian Folklore Extravaganza, a live show by the Bagatitsa dance company showing the Cossacks’ traditions of the Northwestern Region. It didn’t matter that Wayne and Holly could not understand a word of the performance, it was still a very entertaining and energetic show. After the performance, it was back to the ship for a well-deserved rest.

Awakening bright and early the next morning, the tired couple prepared for another full day in St. Petersburg. Arriving at the closed Hermitage museum, the tour group and their fearless leader descended upon a small souvenir shop nearby, where the group was offered samples of Russian vodka to start their day. Reconvening at the Hermitage, they began a tour of the main building that only scratched the surface of the depth of the displayed collection, not even counting the works not displayed. If one were to spend only a minute at each piece of artwork, it would take over 10 full days to see all the displayed pieces. Another lifetime would be required for the artwork not on display. Wayne and Holly rejoiced in the fact that cameras were allowed. Their tour guide deftly led her group through the throngs of visitors to see many of the most acclaimed pieces of artwork on display. Wayne and Holly were glad this was a quiet time for the museum, considering the mass of people already there. There were far too many spectacular pieces to create a list of highlights, but some highlights included:

the complex, ornate floors,
the restored Rembrandt painting, Danae, that had suffered multiple stabbings and an acid attack from a crazed madman in 1985, and
the grand Jordan Staircase.

Carrying on from the Hermitage, the tour next visited the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood, where a revolutionary fatally wounded Tsar Alexander II in 1881. The interior contains an amazing collection of mosaics, covering nearly every available surface. The five exterior domes are extensively decorated. It truly has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Despite its beauty, it was used as a temporary morgue during World War II and later as a warehouse for vegetables. It, like many other buildings, suffered significant damage during the war. A quick stop at the open-air market across the street, where Holly found a pretty, red scarf, and it was back to the boat. Having not lost, sold, or traded their passes; they were allowed to leave Russia. As the boat left the harbour, they passed a significant artefact of Communist Russia, the last remaining sign of the city’s former name, Leningrad (in Russian).

Pictures
Into the land of saunas, Wayne and Holly began their tour of Helsinki, Finland by joining yet another band of merry men (and women). They saw and enjoyed:

the Seurasaari Open Air Museum which showcases the traditional ways of Finnish life, where they had deliciously fresh cinnamon buns, were entertained by a very friendly squirrel, and got the evil eye from a pigeon,
Kauppatori, an open air market, where they bought many things, including fresh strawberries,
Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral,
Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral,
a café, where they saw expressive stone relief cats,
Parliament House,
a very expensive, beautiful chess set (22,850€ or about $29,000CAD),
the National Museum,
Finlandia Hall,
cans of reindeer meat, which Wayne almost brought home to try,
the Olympic Stadium, built for the 1952 Summer Olympic Games,
Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church), and
Sibelius Park, with the unique Sibelius Monument consisting of over 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern.

The Rock Church was dug into the natural granite hill so as to preserve the community park. Wayne and Holly only had a few minutes to marvel at the inside, as a wedding was scheduled to take place shortly. On the bus tour through the city, they were regaled with stories about the incredibly long maternity leaves, the underground pathways, and the Finnish obsession with saunas and ice swimming.

Pictures
Into the land of islands, Wayne and Holly began their tour of Stockholm, Sweden by joining yet still another band of merry men (and women). They saw and enjoyed:

the Vasa Museum, home of the 17th century Vasa warship that sank on her maiden voyage,
the interior of a diving bell in the Vasa Museum,
the City Hall and its magnificent Golden Hall and Blue Hall, in which the annual Nobel Banquet takes place,
the Royal Palace, the largest European palace still in use,
Storkyrkan, the Great Church,
Stortoget, the small public square in Gamla Stan, the old town,
many small, interesting shops in Gamla Stan, including a shop devoted to all things Viking and several ice cream shops with their enticing smells of waffle cones,
horse-riding police, horse-drawn carriages, and a Maserati,
the Slussen, the area named after the locks between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea,
vendors selling candy-filled licorice, of which Holly could not resist, and
giraffes disguised as cranes (or possibly the other way around).

As the cruise ship left Stockholm, it wound its way through the maze of small islands surrounding the city, accompanied by a flock of seagulls playing in the ships air streams.

On the first of two days at sea, they took up the Egg Drop Challenge. A small assortment of supplies was handed out to the competitors with which they would create safe transportation for an unsuspecting egg. This transportation was to protect its egg cargo from a drop from the Sun Deck to the poolside two storeys below. The blustery wind provided an extra challenge. Very few eggs survived the drop. With the main parachute of Wayne and Holly’s not fully deploying; their egg went SPLAT! Following the Egg Drop Challenge, the cruise ship made its way under the expansive Great Belt Bridge. They were glad the tides were low, as the ship’s smoke stacks cleared the bridge with little room to spare (see video). So far, Wayne and Holly’s trip had lovely weather, with only a couple light showers here and there. The waters during the cruise so far had been nice and calm, but that was about to change. The wind picked up and the waves followed. That night, Wayne and Holly (and many others) were entertained by Le Cirque Bijou, a circus of acrobatic displays, music, and dancing. In spite of the rough seas, their performances were impressive.

On the second day at sea, they headed to the Spinnaker Lounge at the bow of deck 13 for some live music. The roughness of the water was amplified by the waves crashing on the bow. Wayne and Holly had now become an international dancing (and stumbling) sensation yet again, taking their dancing decks above... the rough waters of the North Sea.

Later that night, the cruise ship passengers were treated to a special talent show by members of the crew. But before that would begin, another challenge was made: to design, build, and fly a paper airplane. Wayne took up that challenge! With a majestic flight across the stage, his airplane sailed into the lead. That lead, however, was momentary as his distance mark was subsequently bested. Wayne’s performance landed him in the Top 5 by the end. On with the show! Performances included songs, dances, and more from the kitchen staff, servers, and room stewards. The show’s finale of "Fountains" was performed by the entertainment directors and staff. It was a truly hilarious finale that is best seen... but not from the first couple rows (see pictures).

Bidding farewell to the Norwegian Jewel, Wayne and Holly hauled their bags up from the far, far pier, over a long bridge, across busy streets, up a hill, and down the other side. Stopping into a gas station to ask about the train station, they encountered a little taste of home in the form of a Tim Hortons. On the way to the train station, they took a detour to the Post Office to send some postcards. Riding the rails again, Wayne and Holly marvelled at the beautiful countryside, small towns, and hamlets on their way back to Horley by way of London. They made their way to Holly House, the bed and breakfast they had booked on their previous visit in Horley; next door to Glenalmond Guest House, where they stayed on their first night.

Pictures
That night, they planned their trip to Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, for the next day. They planned to take the train to Edenbridge Station and take the "hour" walk to the castle. "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley," as Robert Burns once said.

The next morning, the adventurous couple set out with high hopes. They caught the train as scheduled, arrived at Edenbridge Station unscathed, and chose the right side of the tracks to begin their walk. Consulting a local gas station attendant, their plans were corroborated. Wayne and Holly continued on their planned route, spotting all the landmarks given by the local. As they passed through Edenbridge and headed toward the country roads, things took a turn for the interesting. With sidewalks disappearing and shoulders narrowing, they followed the well-marked public paths, traversing farmer’s fields, the roads, and backyards. As Robert Frost wrote in "The Road Not Taken":

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Having taken the road less traveled, Wayne and Holly ended up crossing the road again and continued following the marked path directly into a large, large wheat field with a path cut diagonally through it (see map). Ever optimistic and thinking they couldn’t be too far away, Wayne and Holly scanned the horizon for any signs of a castle-like structure. Not seeing anything, they soldiered on, encountering a field of cows. When they saw a sign warning of a bull, they decided to turn back and regroup. Heading back toward town, they found what they thought was a restaurant, only to discover they had entered a senior’s village. Retracting their steps, they found The Old Eden pub. After a hearty lunch, they hired a driver. As they watched the scenery pass from the safety of the car, they realized the walk was less friendly than they had imagined. They had made it to Hever Castle! Before the car drove away, they made sure to record their contact information.

Exploring Hever Castle and its extensive grounds, Wayne and Holly decided it was worth the effort. Some highlights include:

the preserved history in the castle,
the Yew Maze,
the Tudor Chess Set, topiaries formed from Golden Yew,
the Water Maze Challenge,
the Italian Garden,
and more.

Calling a driver to return them to the train station, Wayne and Holly had a relatively uneventful trip back to Horley for their last night before their flight home.

Pictures
Driven to the airport by the friendly owner of Holly House, Wayne and Holly bid farewell to England and boarded their plane back home. What a trip!

The rest of the year flew by for Wayne and Holly as they settled into their happily ever after. The year saw many celebrations and gatherings with family and friends, including milestone birthdays, several weddings, and lots of good food (like freshly baked bread from their new bread machine). The year also saw lots of change, with new jobs and scholastic endeavours. It’s hard to believe the year went by so quickly.

Wayne and Holly celebrated their first anniversary hidden away in a cozy cabin by the sea, zip-lined for charity, and relaxed with side-by-side massages.

To be continued...