Jan – May 2024

World Cruise

Mary and I are traveling on the Viking Neptune for a 120 day World Cruise. We start in Los Angeles, CA on January 9, 2024 and end in London, England on May 9, 2024. Please follow along as we post "footprints' around the world. Read more

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- Day 79
- Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 4:20 PM
- ☀️ 33 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- India Ernākulam Channel 9.967492, 76.2701349°58’3” N 76°16’12” E
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Cochin, India
March 27, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Sailed into Cochin, India at dawn. Mary and I took a boat tour of the Backwaters of Kerala. A maze of rivers, canals and lakes that spill into the sea. This area has been occupied for centuries with people farming and fishing for a living. Most of the land is below sea level making it ideal for rice production. Everything comes and goes by boat. Even the bus system is by boat. Hundreds of Rice barges have been converted to Floatels. They plow the waters for one, two or three days, cooking for and entertaining the guests as they go. The Chinese Fishing Nets are very interesting. They lower the nets at night, turn on a light, the light attracts bugs, the bugs attract fish, up comes the net. Done in 15 minute intervals they catch all kinds of fish.Read more
Traveler So colorful
3/27/24Reply
Traveler That’s a lot of rice!!
3/27/24Reply
TravelerThat boat couldn’t have held another bag without sinking!
3/27/24Reply
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- Day 85
- Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 1:58 PM
- 🌬 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Mauritius English Channel -20.132339, 57.48134620°7’56” S 57°28’53” E
Port Louis, Mauritius
April 2, 2024 in Mauritius ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
Called on Mauritius for the day on our way to Africa. The beautiful Island Nation gained independence in 1968. Toured the Botanical Gardens with beautiful mature trees, spices, birds and even a few Flying Foxes. Caught one on camera hanging in a tree. Some of the largest Water Lillies in the world were spectacular. Many were at least 48”. Visited Fort Adelaide/Citadel perched on top of a dormant volcano towering over the city. Great views!Read more
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- Day 91
- Monday, April 8, 2024 at 3:19 PM
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 162 m
- South Africa Ncanaha -33.603619, 25.91557933°36’13” S 25°54’56” E
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Port Elizabeth, South Africa
April 8, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
After days of rough seas and Gail Force winds with two failed attempts to land, we finally made port in Africa! Drove to the Addo Elephant National Park. A few hours of game viewing in the third largest wildlife park in Africa. Check out the photos of our visit.Read more
Beautiful pictures! So glad you encountered nice elephants. Didn’t want to see you on the news!❤️ [Joanne Bowen]
4/9/24Reply
Wow that’s incredible! [Cheryl]
4/9/24Reply
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- Day 93
- Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 5:05 PM
- 🌬 17 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- South Africa Sea Point -33.898472, 18.34859833°53’54” S 18°20’55” E
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Cape Town, South Africa
April 10, 2024 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Sailed into Cape Town before dawn. Had a great private wine tour in the Stellenbosch area. Visited Hartenberg, Tokara and Post House Wines. Tasted some incredible wines and had a great lunch at Tokara. Carried a couple of boxes of wine back to the ship! The mountains are incredible. Want to come back and spend some time here…

Update: Be careful what you ask for. High winds prevented us from leaving the narrow port exit. Spent an extra 28 hours tied up at the berth and the customs officials would not let us off the boat! The Queen Mary 2 and The Queen Elizabeth 2 had to wait outside the port for us to leave. Our tour guide checked in and said our predicament made the news!Read more
I love this serene picture of you Mary.... [Liz Rose]
4/10/24Reply
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- Day 96
- Saturday, April 13, 2024
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Namibia Walvis Bay -22.949211, 14.50525422°56’57” S 14°30’19” E
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Walvis Bay, Namibia
April 13, 2024 in Namibia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Sailed to Walvis Bay from Cape Town. Namibia by is a beautiful country with huge dunes meeting the ocean. This area is known as the “Skelton Coast” with hundreds of ship wrecks over the centuries of exploration. The cold currents from Antarctica meet the warm desert air, shrouding the waters with thick fog. The ocean is rich with sea life, caught some Fur Seals fishing on video. The bay is home for thousands of Pink Flamingo. We had a 4x4 excursion into the desert sands stopping at #7 (the seventh largest sand dune in the world. Finished at the Valley of the Moon with a large Viking Sunset Party!Read more
This would make a cool painting. [Marian O'Shaughnessy]
4/14/24Reply
TravelerLove the flamingos!!
4/14/24Reply
Why are all those people gathering there in the desert? Is it hot ,warm or cool. [Liz Rose]
4/14/24Reply
TravelerThat is the party for the Viking Neptune passengers. We all rode out there in 4x4’s or buses. Mold temperatures, when the sun went down it cooled rapidly.
4/14/24Reply
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- Day 100
- Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 3:45 PM
- ☁️ 30 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- South Atlantic Ocean -0.251018, -2.8511050°15’4” S 2°51’4” W
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Null Island
April 17, 2024, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Today Mary and I joined the rare “Order of the Emerald Shellback”. Our ship sailed over the point where the Equator intersects the Prime Meridian. Zero degrees latitude and zero degrees longitude. (0°N 0°E) The last photo is a screen shot of the actual coordinates. (top right corner) This is in a very remote area of the Atlantic Ocean, 370 miles off the coast of West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. Our Captain has been at sea for 23 years and had never been to this remote spot. He went way off course to allow us to receive the rare title of Emerald Shellback. A weather buoy named Soul Buoy has been moored at the point since 1997. It has recently gone missing and we had great fun unsuccessfully looking for it. The point has been named Null Island in public domain database since 2010. While there is no physical Null Island in this location, many individuals have made maps and even a flag to commemorate the fictitious island. Great fun and just one more reason for a big party on the pool deck! Maybe an Emerald Shellback tattoo is in order.Read more
Is this really the marker? So very cool [Marian O'Shaughnessy]
4/17/24Reply
Traveler Yes, but it was removed recently.
4/18/24Reply
This is so interesting. What an experience you two are having!! [Carol Eiseman]
4/19/24Reply
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- Day 104
- Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:44 PM
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- Senegal Sézam 14.752358, -17.43462614°45’8” N 17°26’5” W
Dakar, Senagal
April 21, 2024 in Senegal ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Sailed past Gorée Island on our way into Dakar this morning. The island served as the main slave trading center for over 300 years. An estimated 20 million slaves passed through. The infamous Door of No Return is on the red building. Senegal gained independence from the French in 1960. The Renaissance Monument is a tribute to the event creating this young country. We visited a Sand Art Factory and a typical market as well. The great African Boabob tree is a national treasure in Senegal. We saw an exquisite example of one that was over 1000 years old. There are thousands of buildings going up in the city with very little evidence of any being finished. Most seem to be stalled with some showing slow progress. Very strange skyline.Read more
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- Day 107
- Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 4:18 PM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Spain Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port 28.472321, -16.24129328°28’20” N 16°14’29” W
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Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
April 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Sailed into Santa Cruz on the Island of Tenerife under a full moon! The volcanic coastline of Tenerife is breathtaking. Visited the town of Candelaria, with a beautiful Basilica housing the famous “Black Madonna” On to the Pyramids of Guimar. An interesting set of pyramids that perfectly align the sun at Winter and Summer Solstice. Ended the day with a long drive over the mountains and through the Teide National Park. Hopefully we will be back to spend some time in these islands.Read more
I love old churches!! [Dona Crumbley]
4/25/24Reply
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- Day 108
- Thursday, April 25, 2024
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 80 m
- Morocco Lakhyam 30.425258, -9.57867530°25’31” N 9°34’43” W
Agadir, Morocco
April 25, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
After a very rough sail and circling the waters outside of the port, we land at midnight. 6 hours late! Luckily the driver that Charlie and Kelly booked was very accommodating and waited to pick us up first thing in the morning. Mary and I just passed through the port on our overland trip to Marrakesh. The two planes on the cliff overlooking the Atlantic are actually a restaurant. It was a very scenic drive through the Atlas Mountains and desert on the way to Marrakesh. Argon farms large and small surround the city a Agadir.Read more
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- Day 109
- Friday, April 26, 2024
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 461 m
- Morocco Marrakesh 31.618532, -8.00808531°37’7” N 8°0’29” W
Marakesh, Morocco
April 26, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Marrakesh is an incredible city with sights, sounds and smells around every corner. We stayed at the Riad Hayati, a 200 year old residence with 4 suites. The photo of the bath lit up at night was in our room. This place was unbelievable! Located in the Medina (old city) just a short walk to the main market square. Our tour guide took us all over the Medina sharing much about the city, buildings, markets and religion. The Souks are filled with thousands of stalls with merchants selling everything you could imagine. We toured every significant historical site in the Medina, taking hundreds of photos. After a tour of the Bahia Palace the next morning, we drove to Casablanca to rejoin the ship. Here are 20 of the best photos and a couple of videos of the square Friday night.Read more
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- Day 110
- Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 5:37 PM
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Morocco Bassin du Tourisme 33.605453, -7.60727433°36’20” N 7°36’26” W
Casablanca, Morocco
April 27, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Drove in to meet the ship at the port in Casablanca. Got in with not much time to spare. Rick’s Cafe, inspired by the movie Casablanca was closed until 6:30pm. We couldn’t get there ☹️. Struck by the thousands of birds at the port. They must be unloading something they consider a delicacy. Beautiful sunset as we sailed toward Tangier. Pushing some big swells as we go.Read more
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- Day 111
- Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 5:27 PM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 32 m
- Morocco Port De Tanger 35.781193, -5.80792635°46’52” N 5°48’29” W
Tangier, Morocco
April 28, 2024 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Tangier was a wonderful surprise as we close out our journey around Africa. We enjoyed a great private tour of the area. Our guide took us to the northern most cape, great scenic overlooks and the Medina inside the city walls. Tangier originally had many quarters with 9 European countries occupying the city at the same time. This gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has been of great strategic importance for hundreds of years. The coast of Spain is across the water and can be seen in the background of our photographs. The city has a wonderful mixture of architecture and cultures. We topped it off with a Camel ride on the beach!Read more
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- Day 112
- Monday, April 29, 2024 at 1:50 PM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Spain Playa Santa María del Mar 36.524453, -6.2942636°31’28” N 6°17’39” W
Cadiz, Spain
April 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Arrived at the port of Cadiz at sunrise. Spain’s ancient gateway to the Americas. Transferred inland on our way to Seville.
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- Day 112
- Monday, April 29, 2024 at 1:54 PM
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Spain Triana 37.382759, -6.00833537°22’58” N 6°0’30” W
Seville, Spain
April 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Arrived in Seville for a few hours on our own in the historic city center. Walked to the Seville Cathedral, a huge Gothic structure completed in 1519. On to the Plaza de Eslpaña, constructed for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Several musicians performing in the plaza. Caught a Flamenco Dancer on film. Wonderful city. A great Iberian Ham sandwich for lunch!Read more
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- Day 112
- Monday, April 29, 2024 at 1:56 PM
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 36.555656, -6.34666336°33’20” N 6°20’48” W
Leaving, Cadiz
April 29, 2024, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Goodby Cádiz, sailing on to Lisbon, Portugal…
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- Day 113
- Tuesday, April 30, 2024
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Portugal Campo de Santa Clara 38.711269, -9.12292138°42’41” N 9°7’23” W
Lisbon, Portugal
April 30, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Sailed under the 25 de Abril Bridge on the Tagus river arriving in Lisbon, just before noon. Toured the amazing Jeronimos Monestary, opened in 1495. Walked around the Tower of Belem, a defensive stronghold on the Tagus river completed in 1519.Read more
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- Day 114
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 1:43 PM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 39 m
- Portugal Alfama 38.712868, -9.12622938°42’46” N 9°7’34” W
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Lisbon, Portugal walking tour
May 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Spent the day on a walking tour of Lisbon. The highlight was a tour of the Lisbon Patriarchal Cathedral a 12th century church. Down to the waterfront to see the Lisbon Story Centre. The treasures from the Portuguese colonies were unloaded under the watchful eye of the king. A cool Funicular Car ride, built in 1885, up to the top of one of the seven hills in Lisbon. Mary and I had a quick Cod fish lunch and explored on our own.Read more
Traveler Cool
5/2/24Reply
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- Day 115
- Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 1:12 PM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Portugal Porto de Leixões 41.178946, -8.70374341°10’44” N 8°42’13” W
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Porto, Portugal
May 2, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Porto was our port of call today. The city is famous for port winemaking, dating back centuries. I took a walking tour visiting several landmarks and the historic area on the Douro River. The Clérigos Tower was the tallest structure in Porto for hundreds of years. The Igreja do Carmo is an incredible church with blue tile on the side. Porto’s signature architecture would be its 6 beautiful bridges that span the Douro River.Read more
I want that hat!! [Judy]
5/2/24Reply
Traveler My fav color. Interesting fountain.
5/2/24Reply
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- Day 116
- Friday, May 3, 2024 at 6:38 AM
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Spain Plaza de Maria Pita 43.369518, -8.396243°22’10” N 8°23’46” W
A Coruña, Spain
May 3, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Sailed into A Coruña at dawn. The area had been a hub for fishing for centuries. Our stop for our overland to Santiago de Compostela.
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- Day 116
- Friday, May 3, 2024 at 3:52 PM
- 🌧 13 °C
- Altitude: 359 m
- Spain San Lázaro 42.899384, -8.52753342°53’58” N 8°31’39” W
Santiago de Compostela
May 3, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Toured the important religious site of Santiago de Compostela. The Cathedral holds the remains of St. James the Apostle. For more than a thousand years it has been one of the most important pilgrimages in Christianity. The shell is the symbol of the pilgrimage, seen all over town. Over 200,000 people per year make the long trek to the Cathedral. Some travel 600km on foot collecting stamps in their passports along the way. We saw hundreds of pilgrims celebrating the end of their journey. In the photos you will see backpackers and some bicyclists in the square. A whole range of emotions from tears to cheers. A moving experience.Read more
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- Day 116
- Friday, May 3, 2024 at 3:50 PM
- 🌧 15 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 43.457812, -8.4120443°27’28” N 8°24’43” W
Adios España!
May 3, 2024, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Sailing out of A Coruña, Spain in the rain! France here we come…
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- Day 117
- Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 12:44 PM
- 🌬 14 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Bay of Biscay 45.391116, -3.72128345°23’28” N 3°43’17” W
Last Sea Day
May 4, 2024, Bay of Biscay ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
The crew put on quite a show for the Farewell Brunch.
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- Day 118
- Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 8:22 AM
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- France Pointe de la Jument 48.63063, -2.03524248°37’50” N 2°2’7” W
St. Malo, France
May 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Sailed into St. Malo at first light. Tendering ashore this morning on our way to Mont St. Michelle. Beautiful harbor.
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- Day 118
- Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 4:13 PM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- France Mont Saint-Michel 48.6362, -1.51215648°38’10” N 1°30’44” W
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Le Mont Saint Michel
May 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Toured the incredible Le Mont Saint Michel. The abbey was built in honor of the Archangel Michael. Built on a rock island in the middle of a salt marsh. Construction of the first church was completed in the 9th century. Another in the 11th century. The main facade of the church was built in the 13th century. With its location and thick granite walls it was never conquered during the 100 year war. You pass through 4 fortified doors at the main entrance. The English tried to lay siege to the Mont in 1423 and again in 1433, failing miserably. The thick tidal mud flats bogged down the English and their equipment. Today it is one of the most important religious sites in europe, with 3 million visitors per year.Read more
Traveler Love this
5/5/24Reply
TravelerWow!!Wow!! Amazing. Was that Richard playing the organ?
5/7/24Reply
TravelerI don’t think they would let me anywhere near it. Had patrols of French Commandos with fully automatic weapons!
5/8/24Reply
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- Day 118
- Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 6:37 PM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- France Île Harbour 48.655582, -2.05816448°39’20” N 2°3’29” W
au revoir saint malo!
May 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Sailing out as the sun sets on St. Malo, France…
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