A Walk Through Cape Town
On our last day in Cape Town we set out to see some of what we had not seen on foot, well we took a cab to the starting point and another back to the V&A Waterfront but this was … Continue reading A Walk Through Cape Town
Tag: Holland America Line
Reformed and re-Reformed.
In Stellenbosch I expected the austere Dutch Reformed Church I was used to seeing as a kid, emphasis on the pulpit and perhaps the organ, clear glass and little other ornamentation. From the outside the Stellenbosch Moedergemeente Reformed Church fit … Continue reading Reformed and re-Reformed.
Card-Bordeaux in Stellenbosch
Although I enjoy drinking wine, and Stellenbosch is the in the middle of one of South Africa’s finest wine regions, that’s not the reason we took the Stellenbosch wine tour. I went because we would have an hour and a … Continue reading Card-Bordeaux in Stellenbosch
Home Port
Simons Town sits on the peninsula that ends in the Cape of Good Hope. It was home port for one of the British fleets that patrolled the critical waters where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans met, a sheltered port in … Continue reading Home Port
Walking with African Penguins
People who follow me on Facebook know that I love to take my daily walk in Sitka, take pictures, and post them. I try to walk on vacation as well. On Tuesday we took a cab to the Cape of … Continue reading Walking with African Penguins
Cape of Big Storms — Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is not the southernmost point of Africa, Cape Agulhas is. Although the Cape of Good Hope is certainly the most prominent peninsula off the southern coast of Africa and many Cape Towners like to believe … Continue reading Cape of Big Storms — Cape of Good Hope
Blessed by the Bishop
Today Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a guest on the MS Amsterdam. He received Holland America Line’s first “Shared Humanity Award.” Along with the award $40,000 went to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation. Robert Taylor, an associate of Tutu since … Continue reading Blessed by the Bishop
Manueline or Gustave Eiffel, Contrasts in Maputo.
The White Cathedral (Nossa Senhora da Conceição) is just off of Independence Square. To me it looks Art Deco but we are told it has some touches of Manueline decorative style. Manueline is named for King Manuel I who died … Continue reading Manueline or Gustave Eiffel, Contrasts in Maputo.
Maputo’s Classic Railway Station
It wasn’t hard to find the Maputo railway station. We docked, I looked out my window, and there it was, with its distinctive dome, designed in the Paris studios of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel and fabricated in South Africa. Eiffel never … Continue reading Maputo’s Classic Railway Station
Easter on MS Amsterdam
Easter on Amsterdam I was not sure I would go to Easter Services on the Amsterdam. First of all it was at sunrise. My spiritual needs have largely met this trip by Rabbi Gan. I’m attending his daily lectures and … Continue reading Easter on MS Amsterdam
Shipmates
In Cape Town we lose probably the most popular passenger on the ship, Lily. Lily was 14 months old when we set sail from Ft. Lauderdale and very unsteady on her feet, especially on a moving deck. Now she runs … Continue reading Shipmates
French Bureaucrats Can’t Ruin a Sunset
French bureaucrats! Once in Serbia we were co-sponsoring a seminar on Internet regulation. Each speaker had a time limit. The French Bureaucrat stood up and said “I am a French Bureaucrat. I cannot possibly be bound by a time limit.” … Continue reading French Bureaucrats Can’t Ruin a Sunset
Sharks Can Hurt the Economy.
I’m not talking about loan sharks but shark sharks. Reunion, a French overseas department, had a growing tourist industry; it was becoming a surfer’s Mecca, until the sharks came. For years there were no shark attacks on the island. Everything … Continue reading Sharks Can Hurt the Economy.
A Pirate’s Grave — Reunion
I don’t particularly like visiting cemeteries and I don’t like pirates at all. This is a post about a Pirate’s grave in a cemetery on the French Island of Reunion. Go figure. First, cemeteries — I would rather remember my … Continue reading A Pirate’s Grave — Reunion
Beau Vallon Beach, Mahe, Seyschelles
This is a continuation of “World’s Smallest Capital.” With pics of the beach. I even have a shot of the little blue fishes. I’m sitting on the back deck using the good 3G service to upload these posts. All aboard … Continue reading Beau Vallon Beach, Mahe, Seyschelles
World’s Smallest Capital City
It was because of the Seychelles that Public Broadcasting picked up some degree of protocol. In the beginning all called each other by our first names. NPR presidents were Frank or Doug, the CPB people were Clyde, Rick or Priscilla. … Continue reading World’s Smallest Capital City
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Colombo makes a statement. When you sail in the first thing you see is a giant stupa raised on stilts telling any approaching mariner that this is a Buddhist country. But the skyline of Colombo has monuments to other religions. … Continue reading Colombo, Sri Lanka
How Do You Pronounce “Phuket?”
At about 11 AM I wanted to pronounce Phuket with the “Ph” as in Philosophy and the accent on the first syllable. It has not been a good morning. Myron, one of the ship’s lecturers told us that if they … Continue reading How Do You Pronounce “Phuket?”
Singapore Miscellany
Now, tired and happy, we’re cruising the Malacca Straits, ships all around us are moving at 17 knots. The water is calm but full of all sorts of floating crap. I am sitting in a deck chair with my computer … Continue reading Singapore Miscellany
Asia for Beginners — Singapore
Hong Kong has Disneyland. Singapore IS Disneyland. Like Disneyland it’s clean, well ordered, and controlled. Disney employees have to follow a strict code of behavior. It’s like everyone in Singapore is a Disney employee and is expected to follow the … Continue reading Asia for Beginners — Singapore
Merlion Found, Singapore’s “Reclaimed” Land.
About 23% of Singapore, almost a quarter of the country, is reclaimed land. I’ve always wondered about that term “reclaimed.” Since Earth is “the water planet” shouldn’t we just say claimed? Much of this land is used for industry or … Continue reading Merlion Found, Singapore’s “Reclaimed” Land.
Little India — Singapore
I’ve written about how clean and well-ordered Singapore is. Little India is a bit of an exception. It is clean, especially compared with India, but the wet market has a wet floor, the houses and shop houses are more colorful … Continue reading Little India — Singapore
The Courts of Hell with a Trigger Warning.
Har Par was a business man from Rangoon. He and his brother invented s salve called “Tiger Balm.” I use it myself. In the 1930s they moved to Singapore and were very successful. Har par built a mansion for … Continue reading The Courts of Hell with a Trigger Warning.
Five O’Clock Follies
This is a continuation of the narration in the post “Good Morning Vietnam.” As I pondered what I was supposed to do in Saigon I looked up and saw it, the Rex Hotel, and I knew. The Rex is where … Continue reading Five O’Clock Follies