Day Zero
When we got back to the ship after a day of sightseeing on Tahiti I had a mild sore throat, a runny nose, and a cough, nothing unusual for me, especially on a blossom filled island. But since we were … Continue reading Day Zero
Tag: Holland America Line
Chinese New Year with Ukuleles
Sometimes you set out looking for something, and when you find it, it was not what you started out looking for. We went ashore in Papeete, Tahiti looking for a shirt shop with shirts my size. (Some of our baggage … Continue reading Chinese New Year with Ukuleles
Nuka Hiva Redux
Today as pulled into Taiocha’e bay in Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas Islands I could almost hear cell phones awaken after 8 days’ sleep, pinging the presence of texts, lots of texts, collectively probably thousands of texts as we sailed … Continue reading Nuka Hiva Redux
Sea Interludes (first movement)
We’ve been on the ship two weeks. Most cruises will have ended by now. We’ve just started, still establishing the rhythm of a long cruise, shedding the tensions of packing, air travel and the holidays. We are ending our first … Continue reading Sea Interludes (first movement)
Shadows on Teak
In Sitka I walk most days. I walk because, Penny, the Public Health Nurse told me I needed to. I went into the “Backdoor” coffee shop (The backdoor of the local bookstore) and announced that I would walk every day … Continue reading Shadows on Teak
Panama City, From a Distance
We have never actually been in Panama City’s new town, but we’ve seen it three times from three perspectives, from the deck of a ship, from the causeway connecting it with the cruise port, and from the perspective of the … Continue reading Panama City, From a Distance
A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama
… is probably the best know palindrome in the English language. I had to get it in. We’ve sailed through the Panama Canal three times and each time it brings wonder at what people and our technology could do 110 … Continue reading A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama
Potemkin Jamaica
I once wrote a satire “Potemkin Sitka.” I proposed we build an artificial Sitka on a nearby island for tourists to visit. That way the chains like Diamonds International could own a piece of the town, it could attract the … Continue reading Potemkin Jamaica
Who Was That Masked Man Anyway?
It was me! … and everyone else on the ship, including the guy who delivered 5 more gallons of distilled water to our cabin. First there was no distilled water for medical devices now I have more than I can … Continue reading Who Was That Masked Man Anyway?
Am I Excited Yet?
My kids used to say our family never took vacations, we took field trips. I always planned out things to see, what books we should read while seeing them, and discussions about where we were going, where we were and … Continue reading Am I Excited Yet?
Around the World in 80 Days — A Coda
March 31, 2020, Sitka, Alaska We hadn’t planned to go around the world in 80 days but that’s what happened. We left Fort Lauderdale on January 4 and arrived in Sitka on March 24, 80 days later. The first 77 … Continue reading Around the World in 80 Days — A Coda
Penultimate Thoughts
March 28, 2020, Sitka, Alaska Evacuations seldom go smoothly, they’re chaotic, and messy, changing by the hour. I know, I’ve been through several, either as the evacuee or the guy on the other end of the phone trying to organize … Continue reading Penultimate Thoughts
Take Off Your Mask for the Border Guard…
… Your Glasses Too. March 26, 2020, Sitka Alaska. Usually I’m a good sleeper, a short sleeper but a good one. I fall into a deep sleep and 6 and a half hours later my mind is racing with things … Continue reading Take Off Your Mask for the Border Guard…
A Final Port Call
March 23, 2020, Perth. Australia Yesterday Suzi and I were sitting in a café where each table was separated by a couple of meters watching the hop-on/hop-off bus drive by with exactly three people on the top open deck. I … Continue reading A Final Port Call
A Chaotic Ending*
March 22, 2020, Fremantle, Australia “For the first time in our marriage, when my wife offered me one of her tranquilizers last night, I took it,” said a lap swimming buddy yesterday afternoon as we were working our frustrations in … Continue reading A Chaotic Ending*
Waiting
March 21, 2020, Fremantle, Australia We were lolling along at 12 knots toward Fremantle when all of a sudden Amsterdam picked up speed and started racing along at 22 knots. Captain Mercer came on the horn saying that we were … Continue reading Waiting
Practicing Gratitude
March 18, 2020, Off the West Coast of Australia Last night we crossed another time zone, the last one we will cross on this ship. We’re gone as far “west” as the ship will go. We’re lucky that we took … Continue reading Practicing Gratitude
Chaos Theory
March 16 and 17 2020, in the Indian Ocean off of Australia “…as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there … Continue reading Chaos Theory
The Ides of March Come One Day Early.
March 14, 2020, Cruising off the North Coast of Australia. As the elevator door opened, I heard one of the staff say to a colleague who was holding a box of pencils and pads of paper for trivia “I’m not … Continue reading The Ides of March Come One Day Early.
Ersatz Reef
March 12, 2020, Cairns, Australia Rain, Old Testament rain. The slight rain in Townsville was just the preview for the heavy rains Cairns. We went to Great Barrier Reef HQ in Townsville as kind of an insurance policy. It was … Continue reading Ersatz Reef
The Australian Trash Bin Bird and Other Downtown Delights.
March 8, 2020, Sydney, Australia Two years ago, two days in Sydney wasn’t enough, we explored “The Rocks” the original part of town, did the Opera House tour, explored Circular Quay, went to Bondi Beach, had tea in the Queen … Continue reading The Australian Trash Bin Bird and Other Downtown Delights.
Sunday on the Ferry
Sunday Sydney Ferry. March 8, 2020, Sydney Harbor The ferry sails through fleets of Sunday sailors in every sort of sailboat. There are hundreds of them, sometimes tacking and heeling over like some sort of synchronized ballet regatta. There was … Continue reading Sunday on the Ferry
Wilderness Theme Park
March 7, 2020, Katoomba, Australia. Our family likes playing a game called “Empire Builder, Australian Edition” where we get to build track to different Australian cities, collect loads, deliver tourists and have our tracks wiped out by sandstorms, bush fires … Continue reading Wilderness Theme Park
Water Light (Songlines)
March 7. 2020, Sydney Opera House Two years ago, we stumbled on Badu Gili, a projection of animated Australian aboriginal art onto one of the sets of sails on the Sydney Opera House. I found a flyer tucked into a … Continue reading Water Light (Songlines)