Gold Medal Tourists
Back in 1999 we took my mother on a Mediterranean cruise on Norwegian America’s Vistafjord, part of the Cunard group. Before Pop died, they had cruised a few times on Norwegian American and mom was invited to a ceremony where … Continue reading Gold Medal Tourists
A Sea Interlude (Musical Decks)
Holland America used to be known for its evening classical music. On every cruise I’ve been on there has either been a group branded “adagio” that plays light classics (high class Central European Grand Café music) in the Explorer lounge, … Continue reading A Sea Interlude (Musical Decks)
Everything is Beautiful — Mazatlan
We arrived in Mazatlan at 7 AM the day after the eclipse. Suzi and I didn’t get off the ship until close to noon. The night before I had two zoom meetings, one with the Raven Board and one of … Continue reading Everything is Beautiful — Mazatlan
Eclipse Redux
After my eclipse post several people asked where we were when we took the pictures. I gave a general answer but yesterday the chief navigation officer came up to the “Crow’s Nest” and marked on a paper chart exactly where … Continue reading Eclipse Redux
The Final Cruise Coda of the Final Cruise Coda of the Final Cruise Coda for 2023. Honest.
When I started posting the 2024 Koningsdam Eclipse and Repositioning Cruise blog I got several questions from people asking how we finally ended up with our insurance claims from the 2023 Grand World Cruise. I also got questions about my … Continue reading The Final Cruise Coda of the Final Cruise Coda of the Final Cruise Coda for 2023. Honest.
Mexican Lawyers…
…are probably no worse than American lawyers but right now I am not happy with them. We had wanted to go snorkeling in Cabo St. Lucas, but the tour operator told us that there was an age limit of 75. … Continue reading Mexican Lawyers…
San Diego Sailout
Unlike Fort Lauderdale where the cruise terminals are in a port zone or Miami where they are on Dodge Island, or even New York where ships now leave from Red Hook in Brooklyn, San Diego’s pier is downtown, right at … Continue reading San Diego Sailout
Eclipse Bookends
I was too excited to sleep. Would the cloudy weather forecast for Mazatlan hold? Would the weather be the same out at sea? Would I miss an eclipse again? At about 5 AM, in order not to disturb Suzi with … Continue reading Eclipse Bookends
Solar Eclipse!
I am jumping this post in the queue because I think it will interest you more than our sail our or my post on Cabo. Those are coming. It’s an odd cruise when the climax comes on day three of … Continue reading Solar Eclipse!
More Neon than Gas lamps…
And more LEDs than either. The Gas Lamp quarter is an entertainment and restaurant district in San Diego. It’s close to the convention center and ballpark with a number of Victorian era buildings. One brochure says it’s noted for it’s … Continue reading More Neon than Gas lamps…
It Always Starts With the Milk Run.
The Extension of the Pacific Coast highway beyond Vancouver is Alaska Airlines’ “Milk Run.” (Ok there is the State Ferry but the Governor has line item vetoed it to the extent that it hardly counts.) Except during the three months … Continue reading It Always Starts With the Milk Run.
Fly Free!
It used to be a regular event around Eastertide. But Sitka hasn’t seen it since 2019, the annual eagle release at the Alaska Raptor Center. The Center takes in injured raptors, nurses to health those it can, and releases them … Continue reading Fly Free!
Fractals and Fractures, Potholes and Oxbows
Every time I fly across even half the continent, I wonder at how easy it is. OK, airplane travel isn’t exactly pleasant but compared to walking next to a covered wagon or even sitting on the wooden seat on a … Continue reading Fractals and Fractures, Potholes and Oxbows
“42”
Raven Radio is about to discover the meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything tomorrow Feb 19, (with apologies to Douglas Adams and Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe) when it turns 42. At just before 5 PM, Pacific Time, on … Continue reading “42”
“In the Zone”
You’re “In the Zone” when you see the “Dave Ray Avenue” sign. The street is a renamed portion of Franklin Ave. in St. Paul, honoring Minnesota folk and blues legend Dave “Snaker” Ray of Koerner, Ray and Glover. On our … Continue reading “In the Zone”
2023McClear Family Christmas Letter
Happy Independence Day, Albania!
November 28 is Albanian Flag Day, or independence day. Thirty years ago in 1993 I celebrated Flag Day at the 55th anniversary of Radio Tirana, founded on Albania’s national holiday. It, like everything else in Albania in 1993 was fraught … Continue reading Happy Independence Day, Albania!
Titanic’s Back Story
Several posts in this blog have discussed Titanic. But the moral is that sometimes you can’t resist a force of nature. On our flight out of Keflavik we crossed over Greenland. We got good views of the East Coast. The … Continue reading Titanic’s Back Story
Ersatz Iceland
In 1968 it was easy to “experience” a slice Iceland without large crowds on a 48 hour stopover. The tour companies developed the “Golden Circle,” a day tour that take you to a waterfall, geothermal area with a geyser, the … Continue reading Ersatz Iceland
Hippie Airlift (Exploring Reykjavik)
When I was in grade school Iceland was a distant land, stuck between two continents, that, our teacher assured us, was not all ace and snow. But the odds of any of us getting there, unless one of us were … Continue reading Hippie Airlift (Exploring Reykjavik)
“Money, Money, Money. Must be Funny.”
(I can’t believe I’m referencing ABBA.) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man are all on the British Pound. English Coins and Bank of England notes are accepted all over. But each jurisdiction also issues its … Continue reading “Money, Money, Money. Must be Funny.”
Ukrainian Modernism.
After visiting the Cathedral Suzi and I sat in an outdoor café on the plaza in front of the cathedral enjoying a coffee and deciding what to do next. There are a good number of chalk artists in the plaza … Continue reading Ukrainian Modernism.
Cologne Cathedral
I first saw the cathedral at dusk from a train pulling into the station. I was staying on the train, on my way from a student seminar in Bonn in 1964. The Cathedral seemed dark and menacing, backlit by a … Continue reading Cologne Cathedral
“I don’t know what’s happened to our country, it’s a shame.”
German trains do not run on time. We were on our way to Cologne from Copenhagen. This was the last of our missed stops from the 2023 World Cruise. No the Zuiderdam did not sail up the Rhine to Cologne, … Continue reading “I don’t know what’s happened to our country, it’s a shame.”