Ukulele Playing Saint — In Nuka Hiva
The Notre Dame Cathedral is a remarkably cool building in which to shelter in the heat of the day, and if you go there you are rewarded with magnificent wooden sculptures including the stations of the cross, pulpits, alters, and … Continue reading Ukulele Playing Saint — In Nuka Hiva
Looking for Bali Hi — in the Marquesas
The search for earthly paradise is one of the recurring themes of the lectures on Amsterdam. The Polynesian cultural center representatives and the Astronomy professor have given lectures and held discussions on this topic. They have reviewed literature, paintings, film … Continue reading Looking for Bali Hi — in the Marquesas
Day at Sea (X8) or Sailing Through the Doldrums.
One of the entertainers leaving the ship in Panama told us he was happy to get off because we were about to have 8 days at sea before reaching the Marquesas Islands. He performed a parody of the Beatles “Let … Continue reading Day at Sea (X8) or Sailing Through the Doldrums.
Panama etc.
“TRAVEL becomes a strategy for accumulating PHOTOGRAPHS.” – Anonymous We get a different saying on a card every evening along with our chocolate on MS Amsterdam. This is one of them. And this blog page is a reflection of that … Continue reading Panama etc.
Frank Gehry in Panama
During the construction of the Panama Canal more than a century ago scientists were concerned about how the canal would affect the environment. What would be the impact of damming the Chagres River? Would building a Canal straight across the … Continue reading Frank Gehry in Panama
NeoPanamax
Panamax is the name for the largest ship that could pass through the old locks of the Panama Canal, just under 1000 feet. That limited the size of the SS United States (“The Big U”) the largest superliner built in … Continue reading NeoPanamax
The Second Time Around… The Panama Canal.
Three years ago I wrote about getting up at 5:15 so we wouldn’t miss a minute of transiting the Panama Canal. I got to the forward Crow’s Nest lounge a little early. This year we set the alarm for 6:15 … Continue reading The Second Time Around… The Panama Canal.
Sloths, Crocs and Herons
Central America is a land bridge where different species from North and South America meet, and sometimes cross paths. It is also on a major avian flyway. The Tortguero Canal is a fresh water canal that runs parallel and within … Continue reading Sloths, Crocs and Herons
Banana Train
If there’s the possibility to ride a train I will take it. Puerto Limon is connected to San Jose by a narrow gauge railway. It no longer carries passengers, except for a few miles through the outskirts of Limon and … Continue reading Banana Train
Brutalist or Welcoming? The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
“The TRAVELER sees what he sees. The TOURIST sees what he has come to see.” — GK Chesterton Every night on the ship, on the bed, we get a card with a quote about travel along with two pieces of … Continue reading Brutalist or Welcoming? The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Ethnically Rich, Biologically Diverse, Economically Poor. Puerto Limon.
The first thing I saw getting off the ship in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica was a sign that said “Costa Rica, Since 1048, No Army.” I saw that repeated on T shirts and other souvenirs, I half expected to see … Continue reading Ethnically Rich, Biologically Diverse, Economically Poor. Puerto Limon.
No Taxes Forever, On Order of the King
David Foster Wallace wrote an essay for Harpers “A Supposedly Fun Thing That I Will Never Do Again.” It was about cruising in the Caribbean. I read it right after we took our 68 day South America, Antarctica cruise and … Continue reading No Taxes Forever, On Order of the King
Building Civil Society on a Cruise Ship
At times I feel like I’m crashing someone else’s party. Many of the people here have been on the world cruise before, perhaps most. Coming onboard is like being the spouse at a high school union, except both of us … Continue reading Building Civil Society on a Cruise Ship
A Sandman Shivering on the Fort Lauderdale Beach.
“It gets pretty cold here at night, down to 60 degrees.” Michael Franks That line from a Michael Franks’ song comes to mind today in Fort Lauderdale. When we got up the temperature was actually 40 (“feels like 35” says my … Continue reading A Sandman Shivering on the Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Will this be the Ship…. That carries us into the storm?
“Will this be the ship that carries you away?” It’s a question my grandfather asked as a boy in Ireland. An uncle surnamed Morrison had sailed away to America to make his fortune. When he came back, rich enough to … Continue reading Will this be the Ship…. That carries us into the storm?
The Alaska Airlines Milk Run.
The MS Amsterdam sails on Thursday, but out of caution, and knowing winter in Southeast Alaska we left Sitka on New Year’s Day. While we did not need that caution our prudence was justified. Last night, after more than a … Continue reading The Alaska Airlines Milk Run.
Excited and a Bit Nervous.
Throughout our marriage Suzi and I have always had “Date Nights.” Often they were in the mid-afternoon while the kids were at school, long lunches. We talked about the kids, of course, but the main thing we did was dream, … Continue reading Excited and a Bit Nervous.
2018 MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage
Suzi and I celebrated our 50th anniversary (a little early, our anniversary is in June) by taking a World Cruise. The MS Amsterdam is took us to Central America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia, Indian Ocean … Continue reading 2018 MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage
Christmas Whale Watch
Our family has a Christmas Tradition of going out on the water over the Christmas Weekend to look for whales. It is a good tome to look because their breath crystallizes in the cold air and they are easy to … Continue reading Christmas Whale Watch
Frank Gehry in Minnesota
Frank Gehry’s Frederick Weisman Art Museum on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota is at least as interesting as the art it houses. From the West Bank, looking across the Mississippi it is a sculpture of stainless steel, … Continue reading Frank Gehry in Minnesota
2017 Family Christmas Letter
To see our 2017 Family Christmas Letter, please click on the link below. Continue reading 2017 Family Christmas Letter
Reflections on Turning 71
60 years ago, when I was eleven, I got a lot of birthday cards, but they all came from New York and New Jersey. Probably all came from within a 30 mile radius of the Empire State Building. Five years … Continue reading Reflections on Turning 71
Whales, Whales, Whales!
This weekend we were out on the water with the Sitka Whalefest. When we got off the Allen Marine boat on Saturday we wondered if it could get any better, with lunge feeding, bubble nets, a breach and whale bows … Continue reading Whales, Whales, Whales!
Tap Dancing on the Slime Line. (Sitka Whalefest 2017)
Is that a headline worthy of “The Sun”? Sitka Whalefest, is a multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary party that shows what a small town can do when it goes crazy. And it’s good for you. One minute we’re all singing sea chanteys … Continue reading Tap Dancing on the Slime Line. (Sitka Whalefest 2017)