Transatlantic Cruise from Barcelona to Barbados - November 2017

November 10, 2017 - Barcelona, Spain

The Silversea Silver Wind left Barcelona on Novermber 10.  I was glad I made it, having missed my connection at JFK.

The Silver Wind is the tiny ship between the two mega ships.

I requested three bottles of my favorite gin and raspberry vodka.

November 12, 2017 - Malaga, Spain

I’ve been to Malaga many times and spent my time there wandering through the old part of town, before hitting the beach area.

The Roman theatre

The bull fighting ring

November 13, Gibraltar, UK

I walked to the airport runway, which opens up to let traffic cross from Gibraltar to Spain.  I then walked to the other side of the rock.

Walking across the runway

Gibraltar apes

The Rock

Caves in the Rock

November 14, 2017 - Casablanca, Morocco

I took a tour today to visit the Grand Mosque.  It was one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.  The rest of the city was very forgettable.

From the movie

An amazing mosque

November 15, 2017 - Agadir, Morocco

This resort town is on the Atlantic side of Morocco.  I walked along the ocean, admiring sights such as KFC and Burger King.

Walking along the boardwalk

November 16, 2017 - Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain

I walked around a colorful lagoon and made a few small purchases.

November 17, 2017 - Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain

I took the Hop On Hop Off bus tour so I could cover the beaches as well as the beautiful old town.

November 18-24 - At Sea

During the days at sea, my friend Angela and I built our third boat for the boat building contest.  The ship, the Silver Sang III, took first prize and held over 150 cans of soda and beer.

The Silver Sang III

With my co-captain, Angela

November 25, 2017

The Silver Wind docked in Barbados early in the morning.  After two days, I flew home.

Cruise from Anchorage to Tokyo

Cruise from Anchorage, Alaska to Tokyo, Japan - September 2017

I’m glad to be traveling again and missing the excitement of Hurricane Irma.

September 5-7, 2017 - Anchorage, Alaska

Flying to Anchorage is almost as long as flying to Europe.  The flight from Dallas was 6 1/2 hours.

The highlight of Anchorage was having Alaskan King Crab two nights in a row.  I definitely like king crab better then lobster.

Look at those prices

We took a scenic 4 hour train ride from Anchorage to Seward, where the cruise ship was docked.  It felt great joining my Silversea family.  Quite a few staff members remembered me from previous cruises.

Glacier

Another glacier

September 8, 2017 - Kodiak, Alaska

This quaint town is the home to Kodiak bears and the Kodak camera (it was so cold the dropped the i for all the ice.  Thank you Dianne for coming up with this story, but I believe it.

I walked into town from the ship, giving me enough exercise to eat another fantastic dessert.  It was formal night and we feasted on Maine lobster, confirming my decision that king crab is by far superior.

Salmon?

September 10, 2017 - Dutch Harbor, Alaska

I walked into town and missed it.  Eventually I realized my mistake and returned to the Safeway store, the post office and the hotel.

I did see some seals playing in the water and two bald eagles.

King Crag pots

Bald Eagle

September 15, 2017 - Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Today’s excursion was to a few of the 29 active volcanos.  Luckily none erupted during our visit.  We traveled by a six wheeled ATV one a very bumpy dried river bed.  At the base camp we continued up the slope for another few miles.  The sights were breathtaking.  The gourmet lunch of borscht and salmon were not as good, but the vodka was plentyful.  The ride down the mountain and riverbed was much rougher then the assent, since I bounced for hours in the back seat.  Even the paved roads were bumpy.  The sailaway with the volcanos in view was a great way to end the day.

ATV

September 18, 2017 - Kushiro, Japan

Today’s port was cancelled due to a typhoon.  I have never been in seas this rough.  Glasses were flying and tables were falling in the dining room.

September 19, 2017 - Hakodate, Japan

Today’s excursion was sushi and Mt. Hakodate.  It was the first time I had sushi at 10:30 in the morning.  I’m not a big sushi fan but they carved a whole tuna and it was the best I’ve had.  I then opted for tempura.  We took the cable car to the top of Mt. Hakodate for the magnificant panoramic view of the city.

In the afternoon I walked to the warehouse district which as in most places has become a shopping mecca.

View from Mt. Hakodate

Which way?

Father and son

September 20, 2017 - Aomori, Japan

Today’s excursion took us to Hirosaki Castle, a long hour’s bus ride from the pier.  There was no real castle to see.  We then saw some local talent playing a stringed instrument I’ve never seen.

Julie, this is real

Tepees?

September 22-25, 2017 - Kyoto, Japan

I finally had to give up my cabin on the Silver Shadow, but I got to take the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto.  The 318 mile trip took less then 2 and a half hours at a speed of 150 miles per hour.  The cars on the freeway were left in the dust.  You really didn’t notice the speed.

On the 23 I took the rapid local train to Osaka.  I did a long walk ending up in the shopping district.  There must be a square mile of shops, from the finest to the ¥100 store.  So far I have avoided the temptation, but tomorrow is my last day in Japan, so who knows if I will give in.

Somewhere over the rainbow

..

Ferris wheel attached to two buildings in Osaka

Shopping in Osaka

Spiderman in Osaka