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Postcards from the Transition

Postcards from the Transition.

  • Topics
    • Winds of Change
      • Winds of Change, Africa
      • The Fall of the Wall
      • Velvet Revolution
      • Arab Spring
      • Balkan Turmoil
      • 9/11
      • Soviet Union
    • Christmas Markets
    • Lent and Easter
    • Holy Land
    • Pillars of Hercules
    • Architecture
      • Boardwalk Towns
      • Bridges
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      • Religious
    • Transportation
      • Trains
      • Ferries
  • Europe
    • Balkans
      • Albania
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Montenegro
      • Serbia
      • Turkey
    • Central Europe
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Poland
      • Slovakia
    • Southern Europe
      • Gibraltar
      • Malta
      • Spain
    • Northern Europe
      • United Kingdom
      • Iceland and Faroes
      • Isle of Man
      • Baltic States
    • Western Europe
      • Belgium
      • Germany
      • Netherlands
  • Africa
    • Kenya
    • South Sudan
    • Tanzania
  • Caucasus
    • Armenia
    • Azerbaijan
    • Georgia
  • MENA
    • Ceuta (Spain)
    • Egypt
    • Israel
    • Jordan
    • Morocco
    • Oman
    • Qatar
    • Palestine
    • United Arab Emirates
  • N. America
    • Canada
    • Contiguous US
    • Cuba
    • Greenland
  • S. America
  • Alaska
    • Sitka
    • South Central Alaska
    • South East Alaska
  • Cruises
    • Iceland, Greenland & Scotland 2017

Tag: Holland America Lines

2023 Grand World Voyage, MV Zuiderdam2 Comments

Martyrs’ Night Out

January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 Rich McClear

With all travel it is the unexpected that delights, the deviations from plan that make a trip special.  After transiting the Panama Canal (I will get to that post later when I have time to sort through 300 exposures) we … Continue reading Martyrs’ Night Out

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Velvet waves on Ash Thursday

February 28, 2020February 28, 2020 Rich McClear

February 27, 2020, Sailing between the Cook Islands and Tonga. “There’s a sign over a bar saying ‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.’ Well it’s Wednesday somewhere.”  That’s how Father Lew opened the service.  Pastor Bruce added “Welcome to Ash Thursday.”  The … Continue reading Velvet waves on Ash Thursday

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That BIG Elephant Over There*

February 13, 2020February 13, 2020 Rich McClear

February 13, 2020, At Sea A few days ago, we got an email from a friend contemplating a cruise and asking us how we thought the 2020 Coronavirus would affect their leaving from Singapore.  Suzi explained that we are the … Continue reading That BIG Elephant Over There*

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Too Many Pisco Sours.

February 12, 2020February 10, 2021 Rich McClear

February 11, 2020, Santiago, Chile. The shore lecturer said that there was not much to do in San Antonio, the container port for Chile’s capital Santiago, but there were a lot of tours that the cruise line offered to take … Continue reading Too Many Pisco Sours.

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The Joy of the Moment

February 8, 2020February 8, 2020 Rich McClear

February 6, 2020 Punta Arenas, Chile Punta Arenas has seen better days.  At least the Plaza Muñoz Gamero, has also seen better days.  It’s the city’s main plaza with its statue of Ferdinand Magellan.  In November a riot ran through … Continue reading The Joy of the Moment

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‘Round the Horn.

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020 Rich McClear

February 4, 2020, Beagle Channel between Chile and Argentina I mean that literally.  We actually sailed (motored, steamed) around Cape Horn Island allowing us to see the cape from every possible approach.    I suspect that with the power of Amsterdam … Continue reading ‘Round the Horn.

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Hanging Gardens of Singapore

March 17, 2018 Rich McClear

When traveling I’m struck by how tied together we are and always have been.  Three years ago on a trip up the Amazon we learned how rubber trees were smuggled out of Brazil to Kew Gardens in London, and from … Continue reading Hanging Gardens of Singapore

Cruises, MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage, 2018Leave a comment

Tying up loose ends in Bali

February 28, 2018 Rich McClear

Bali was a McClear field trip rather than a vacation trip.  During our two days we visited three temples, rice terraces, a coffee plantation, drove all around the island in a taxi, listen traditional music, seen traditional dance, been harassed … Continue reading Tying up loose ends in Bali

Cruises, MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage, 20181 Comment

Gamelan,

February 28, 2018 Rich McClear

I’ve played Gamelan music on the radio often enough but had never heard it live until this week.  I suppose it’s because I’ve chosen to live in mostly rural communities.  The Gamelan is not one instrument but an ensemble from … Continue reading Gamelan,

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Bad Monkey – Ulu Watu

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 Rich McClear

I wished I could have seen more of Ulu Watu, the Cliff Temple on our second day in Bali.  But I couldn’t because monkeys have opposable thumbs.  Before getting out of the cab the driver told me to take off … Continue reading Bad Monkey – Ulu Watu

Cruises, MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage, 2018, ReligiousLeave a comment

Jatiouwith Rice Fields

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 Rich McClear

After visiting Pura Luhur Batukau we drove along a winding road through the Jatiouwith Ricce Fields and got a chance to get out and walk a little.  As I mentioned in the last post, they, and the whole rice growing … Continue reading Jatiouwith Rice Fields

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