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Postcards from the Transition

Postcards from the Transition.

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    • Iceland, Greenland & Scotland 2017

Tag: 2023 Holland America Grand World Voyage

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV ZuiderdamLeave a comment

Mauritius Beaches

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 Rich McClear

Mauritius has miles of clean and shaded beaches.  Ian, Zuiderdam’s Cruise Director, suggested several beaches and told us that some of the beachfront hotels may offer a day pass.  I called around and did not find one that was willing … Continue reading Mauritius Beaches

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Multicultural Mauritius

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 Rich McClear

One of the tours offered by HAL was entitled “Multicultural Mauritius.”  Before I was released for day trips around Mauritius, I experienced that multi culturalism.  The staff of the hospital reflects many of the communities of Mauritius, Hindu, Moslem, Catholic … Continue reading Multicultural Mauritius

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam3 Comments

Mauritius, Our Final Port of Call

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 Rich McClear

Holland America listed 6 tours of Mauritius in its shorex brochure.  Ian, the Cruise Director suggested at least two other activities.  One advantage we had, being let off the ship in Mauritius is that, in one way of the other, … Continue reading Mauritius, Our Final Port of Call

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam6 Comments

Is it Cyclone Freddy Kreuger?

March 18, 2023March 18, 2023 Rich McClear

On my fifth day in the City Clinic’s High Dependency Unit, (HDU), March 7, I was moved to a regular hospital room across the corridor from where Suzi is staying.  My room has a window overlooking a park strip where … Continue reading Is it Cyclone Freddy Kreuger?

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam13 Comments

Well, At Least This Time We Made It Past Fremantle

March 5, 2023March 5, 2023 Rich McClear

On Tuesday afternoon the Zuiderdam’s Staff Captain made an announcement asking for anyone with a blood donor card. A+ or O-  who was willing to donate blood to help a critically ill passenger to come to the front desk.  That … Continue reading Well, At Least This Time We Made It Past Fremantle

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam4 Comments

Remembering 2020

February 25, 2023February 25, 2023 Rich McClear

Several cruise mates who had been on the 2020 world cruise expressed strong feelings on leaving Fremantle.  Some expressed a sense of closure, some that they felt that they were continuing their interrupted journey.  I examined my feelings and realized … Continue reading Remembering 2020

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

Jammin’

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 Rich McClear

Several folks who had been on past HAL Grand Voyages, couldn’t make this one, but are planning one in the future, have asked me “How is it post covid?,” or “Is the Grand Voyage any Less Grand?”   This is a … Continue reading Jammin’

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Looking for the Tooth Fairy

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 Rich McClear

In Fremantle, “Freo” the port for Perth, we started looking for stamps for our postcards and the perfect beach and ended up looking for the tooth fairy.  Along the way we found a delightful small city, some nice beaches, and … Continue reading Looking for the Tooth Fairy

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Perth with People!

February 23, 2023February 23, 2023 Rich McClear

The simple reason we wanted to go to Perth is to see what the city looked like with people in it.  We had been in Perth in 2018 and it had people but was largely under massive reconstruction.  In 2020 … Continue reading Perth with People!

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Not a Rats’ Nest

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 Rich McClear

A Dutch Sea Captain (Not Captain Friso of Zuiderdam) named Willem de Vlamingh “discovered” an island about 12 miles off the West Coast of Australia in 1696.  He said it was infested by giant rats so named the island Rott-Nest … Continue reading Not a Rats’ Nest

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam3 Comments

An American River on Kangeroo Island

February 20, 2023February 21, 2023 Rich McClear

The first ship built in South Australia flew the Stars and Stripes.  She was the US Schooner Independence, built by American sailors from the brig Union in 1803 on American River, which is not actually a river but a long … Continue reading An American River on Kangeroo Island

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Suzi and I have a generous taste from a $1,000 bottle of wine!

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Rich McClear

In 1844 Doc Christopher Penfolds and his wife Mary arrived in South Australia on the ship Taglioni with some vine cuttings from the South of France.  They bought some land outside Adelaide and named it “The Grange.”  Doc Penfolds prescribed … Continue reading Suzi and I have a generous taste from a $1,000 bottle of wine!

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Before the Fringe — Adelaide

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Rich McClear

Objectively speaking I should like the Adelaide cruise terminal less well than the White Bay terminal in Sydney.  It is at outer Harbor, which is further from downtown Adelaide than White Bay is from Sydney.  There is no shuttle bus, … Continue reading Before the Fringe — Adelaide

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Tall Ships and Long Memories

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023 Rich McClear

I first learned about Hobart from Pop.  During the Second World War he was on a troop ship, the George Washington, sailing from San Francisco to Calcutta (as it was then known).  They zigged and zagged for weeks.  The first … Continue reading Tall Ships and Long Memories

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

MONA

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023 Rich McClear

David Walsh has gifted Hobart and the world with a strange and wonderful institution.  MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, is dug into a sandstone headland that juts into Derwent River 12 kilometers from Hobart.  You can reach … Continue reading MONA

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam3 Comments

Organ Pipes Sail By — Cape Raoul, Tasmania

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 Rich McClear

Approaching and departing Port Arthur from the sea is breathtaking.  We sailed in around Cape Pilar and out round Cape Raoul with rock formations called “The Organ Pipes” that reminded me of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.  Please enjoy … Continue reading Organ Pipes Sail By — Cape Raoul, Tasmania

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

“You Just Can’t Let Nature Run Wild”  — Wally Hickel.

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 Rich McClear

Alaska’s former governor Wally Hickel really said that, pointing out that Walt Disney had it right, you need to enhance nature.  Aside from the prison, there are formal gardens going down from the church, not as formal as they once … Continue reading “You Just Can’t Let Nature Run Wild”  — Wally Hickel.

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

Despair in a Beautiful Place

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 Rich McClear

Port Arthur, Tasmania, I was going to call this post “The English Gulag” because Britain operated a string of penal colonies and labor camps throughout Australia to rid itself of criminals.  Some of the “Convicts” were convicted of, essentially being … Continue reading Despair in a Beautiful Place

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Sydney Sailout 2023

February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 Rich McClear

The sail out happened in afternoon daylight, giving us the views of the harbor we were denied on the sail in.  Our last sail out was right at sunset, this one was a little earlier.  Everyone held their breaths as … Continue reading Sydney Sailout 2023

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

Remember me to Herald Square

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023 Rich McClear

We went by a certain corner near Circular Quay in Sydney several times.  Suzi mentioned the interesting angles of the buildings, almost like architects were trying to outdo each other.  It is what Dr. Arnie Flaten, my architecture prof at … Continue reading Remember me to Herald Square

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

A Night on the Town

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023 Rich McClear

We got to bed after midnight.  We don’t even do that on New Year’s Eve, but we wanted to enjoy a little Sydney nightlife, which for us was mainly people watching.  From Darling Harbor we waked to the light rail … Continue reading A Night on the Town

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam1 Comment

Sydney, Main Post

February 14, 2023February 15, 2023 Rich McClear

Sydney almost cannot help but make a good first impression when you sail into her harbor.  It is one of the world’s magnificent sights.  It’s a complex harbor with bays and inlets, small ferries dart about dodging sailboats.  The sails … Continue reading Sydney, Main Post

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

Check Multiple Sources

February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 Rich McClear

After four concentrated days in New Zealand, it’s nice go get three sea days to rest, sort out memories, do a little writing, download pictures, play some dominos and just plain chill out.  Suzi and I are trying to get … Continue reading Check Multiple Sources

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam3 Comments

Carpenter Gothic and Cable Cars — Wellington

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 Rich McClear

The Wellington docks are industrial, lots of logs in the round going to China.  You can’t walk away from the ship, you need to take a bus to one of two stops in the center of Wellington.  The problem is … Continue reading Carpenter Gothic and Cable Cars — Wellington

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