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Paulette Welch
Paulette Welch

Paulette Welch

traveled in 26 countries Read more
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  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
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    Sea Day to Thursday Island - Day 63

    February 24, 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Our new travel literary was announced today!
    What Is the Indian Ocean
    Dipole?
    There is no more dramatic illustration of the relationship between the world's oceans and its land masses than the weather patterns created by sea surface temperature. Residents of North America are familiar with the heavy precipitation and drought effects of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. Similarly, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has a dramatic impact on both Indonesia and Australia.
    The IOD is an irregular cycle of warmer and colder sea-surface temperatures that periodically oscillates throughout this massive body of water.
    Scientists have observed that surface temperatures exhibit three phases. The neutral phase is the ocean's more balanced state, when thermometer readings are normal. An average and predictable rainfall coming off the ocean helps crops flourish and land is easily managed. The two other phases create extreme conditions that can be harmful. In the positive phase, warmer sea temperatures in the western region of the Indian Ocean create more rainfall in East Africa while cooler temperatures in the east may cause droughts in
    Australia and Southeast Asia. The negative phase creates opposite conditions-warm waters and more rainfall in the east and cooler waters with less rain in the west.
    Coral samples have allowed contemporary scientists to trace the occurrence of IODs all the way back to 1846. Historically, about four positive and four negative IOD events transpire over each 30-year period, each lasting about six months.
    However, positive IODs have become more frequent since 1980, inserting the Indian Ocean Dipole into the debates over climate change. We are going between the Indian and Pacific Ocean.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Day 62

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    AUSTRALIA
    Queensland's seaside resort town, Cairns is the gateway to a rich array of natural beauty onshore and off.
    Catamarans and other ships take marine lovers to the Great Barrier Reef; stretching for 1,400 miles, it is the largest continuous coral reef system on Earth. Inland, the wet tropics have given rise to Daintree and Kuranda National Parks, vast rainforest systems of extraordinary biodiversity and a profusion of birdlife. For all its appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, Cairns's thriving culture is a pleasure to absorb from outdoor cafés or along the scenic waterfront promenade. The city's rich history lives on in its many heritage-listed buildings and memorials, many of them lining popular Abbott Street.
    We took a 3 decker Cat. For 1 1/2 hours to the barrier reef today and snorkeled in the beautiful, one of a kind, waters around this amazing continent in our stinger suites.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Whitsunday Island Day 61

    February 22, 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS (AIRLIE BEACH), AUSTRALIA
    The Whitsunday archipelago emerges from the Coral Sea amid the Great Barrier Reef and consists of 72 islands. Sid harbor was a timber transferring harbor and named for Sid a ships dog who was lived and given a honorable burial at sea, but the sailors put too big of a charge in the cannon and Sid was delivered to this island via the cannon. Thus, they called it Sid Island. The seafaring Ngaro people called this paradise home until 1870 and hunted these waters in bark canoes. Nature's colors are astonishing here: pure-white sands meet cerulean waters, swirling together at sandbars to merge into a palette of turquoise, cream and emerald-green hills.
    Even on a very cloudy day the glassy, invigorating and impossibly blue waters provide the ideal oasis for relaxing and idling away a few hours on the unusual silica sand beach. Whitehaven Beach is a seven-kilometre stretch of pure white silica sand located on Whitsunday Island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in world. With its crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery, Whitehaven Beach is 5 hour excursion. Airlie Beach is the main hub for tourism in the Whitsunday Islands and offers a range of attractions from beach combing, shopping, exploring, snacking/dining, and just soaking in the vibes.. tourist island is called Hamilton Island. Tay Tay and her football boyfriend are here now enjoying this little piece of heaven.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    Preview of Tomorrow.

    Coral Sea Day to Whitsunday Day 60

    February 21, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    SAIL THE CORAL SEA
    With waters stretching far beyond the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea is far deeper but no less spectacular for its crystalline clarity. Many divers pass by the shallower and more famous reef for the countless treasures found here, donning scuba gear to descend into an undersea wilderness said to have a visibility of 160 feet.
    Fish are said to grow to enormous sizes in these mineral rich waters, and some shipwrecks host an astonishing variety of marine life. At sea level, waters lap at tranquil atolls, uninhabited except for the offshore coral growing on the rising seabed. This pristine body of water, a paradise for divers, is pure pleasure to sail.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    1

    Brisbane, Australia - Day 59

    February 19, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
    The capital of Queensland, Brisbane is situated on its namesake river and spreads over picturesque hills rising from Moreton Bay. One of the oldest cities in Australia, its first European settlers were the secondary offenders from the Sydney penal colony. Famously, it served as one of Douglas MacArthur's Pacific headquarters during World War II.
    Among its riverside skyscrapers, the city is host to some decidedly less dramatic architecture: the quaint Queenslander homes characterized by their terraces and raised living spaces. These picturesque houses are just a fraction of Brisbane's rich arts and design scene. Art galleries, museums and beloved musical venues make the city one of Australia's most vibrant and active cultural centers.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day - Day 58

    February 18, 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    The Great Barrier Reef & Its
    Insatiable Starfish
    Stretching for more than 1,400 miles along
    Australia's coast, the Great Barrier Reef is home to a staggering array of marine life. Contrary to popular belief, it is not one coral reef but as many as 2,900, all blanketed on the ocean floor among 600 tropical islands and 300 cays. One-third of the planet's colorful soft corals and about 360 species of vibrant hard coral thrive here, drawing all manner of rainbow-colored fish eager for a nibble.
    A multi-hued universe of untold beauty lives beneath these waters.
    One of the most common predators in the Great Barrier Reef patrols the ocean floor in silence: the crown-of-thorns starfish. It measures up to 14 inches and boasts up to 21 arms. These primordial-looking creatures prey on hard coral, sometimes to devastating effect. Once it is clinging to the coral, it suctions onto its prey and expels its stomach through its mouth to cover a surface area equal to its own diameter. The enzymes it releases allow it to liquefy the coral and take in its nutrients. One starfish can destroy 65 square feet of reef each year.
    To the forgiving eye, crown-of-thorns starfish may be pretty to look at-some of them sporting bright colors themselves meant to deflect predators. But the many spines on their bodies (from which they get their name) deliver a venomous toxins, which also make them dangerous to the marine life that might prey on them, and on curious humans.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sydney - Day 57

    February 17, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Celebrated for its magnificent natural harbor, the world's largest, Sydney was founded as a penal colony in 1788.
    Since then, it has grown into the major cultural center of Australia, beloved for its all-embracing, free-spirited nature. The cultural jewel in its crown is the iconic Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled harborside like a gleaming white bird taking wing. Adjacent, the Royal Botanic Garden displays one of the world's most important horticultural collections across its 70 acres of flora-lined pathways. Nearby, The Rocks, a district named for the sandstone from which its original buildings were made, once hosted drunken sailors and ex convicts. Today, its history rich streets are alive with shops of every interest, cafes, markets, crafts and arts. We switched ports and are going to the Hunter Valley Winery today.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    3

    Eden, Australia. Day 55

    February 15, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Eden and its surrounding villages lie along the scenic Sapphire Coast, some of Australia's best coastal districts. These sheltered waters are home to the award-winning oysters of the Sapphire Coast. We strolled through the streets of Pambula, and explored the the town lined with colonial-era buildings on the Main Street. At the Eden Killer Whale Museum, we learned about the story of Old Tom, Eden's most famous orca, and how he established a unique arrangement with human whalers. To alert them of the presence of baleen whales in the bay, he would breach and slap his tail at the mouth of the Towamba River. Old Tom's skeleton is now on display at the museum.
    Eden was an important port for Australia's powerful whaling industry for more than a century. The whalers who operated out of Eden had an advantage over their competitors. In a unique example of mutualism, a local pod of orcas, apocryphally led by Old Tom, would assist in the hunt by herding the whales into nearby bays for easy dispatching by the whalers, in exchange for an easy meal. Today, the town's focus is on whale conservation, but its intriguing whaling history is on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum, including the skeleton of Old Tom.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Eden - Day 54

    February 14, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    We talked with Candice at lunch- hope her new wallet and credit cards, DL turn up! We saw dolphins swimming next to the ship. Shirley and Jim fell last night at the penguin parade and were injured. Black eye, head and back injury… no Baggo for them today. We were one off on Trivia today Valentine’s Day trivia.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Phillips Island, Penguin Parade Day 53

    February 13, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Penguin Parade of the little penguins as they return to shore after a day's fishing. At Summerland Beach, each evening at sunset, hundreds of penguins head for the safety of the sand dunes. Phillip Island is home to an estimated 32,000 breeding pairs of the world's smallest species of penguin. In 1920, island residents Bern Denham, Bert West and Bert Watchorn introduced visitors to the penguins' nightly procession, sparking
    conservation efforts to protect wildlife and invest in research and education initiatives. We took a seat on tiered viewing platforms to observe the penguins as they waddle from the ocean. We took a stroll along the boardwalk to witness the furry creatures as they head for the dunes. We also spent time at the visitor center to learn more about the little penguins of Phillip Island. What a treat!
    Capital of the Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne has been called the world's most livable city. It enjoys a scenic setting on the large bay of Port Phillip. Soon after Queen Victoria declared it a city of the Crown in 1847, the rush to find gold in its rivers and streams made it one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities.
    Today, it is celebrated as the country's cultural capital of the arts and exudes a rich and lively British flair, from its    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Melbourne - Day 52

    February 13, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Melbourne exudes a storied elegance, with broad tree-lined boulevards, botanic gardens and Georgian municipal buildings birthed from 19th-century gold rush wealth. With a bustling business district and the Arts Center, it is very much a city to be explored by foot. The Fitzroy Gardens, just a short walk from St. Patrick's Cathedral, boasts Captain Cook's Cottage, owned by Cook's father in the 1750s and mosed uire og in Australia trom a small village in North Yorkshire, England, in the 1930s-making. The gardens are truly beautiful. Melbourne has 5.2 million multicultural diverse people. (10% Chinese). Taylor Swift will be in town on Saturday, at one of the biggest football ovals in the world. (1.2 million). 80 miles from here there was a gold rush in the 1850’s -massive nuggets, biggest in the world. Pokies are slot machines. Busiest bit, not part. Victoria - the garden state.
    Today, we go to Healesville Sanctuary. It will be 97 degrees. We are following the Yarrow river - running water. Yarrow valley has 80 gourmet wineries. Much of the industries have gone to China. Education is a huge industry in Australia and especially Melbourne. Gambling is big in Melbourne. 15k rotary members attend conventions here annually. Gasoline is $8.00 per gallon. Unemployment in Australia is 3.8%, US is 3.7%. Dingos are not dogs, and do not bark they howl. They can rotate their neck 180 degrees. They are the intermediate between foxes wolves, dogs, and come from Indonesia. Flying foxes (fruit bats) are not foxes.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Melbourne, Australia Day 51

    February 12, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Station Pier
    Melbourne has been called the world's most livable city. It enjoys a scenic setting on the large bay of Port Phillip, which is very shallow.
    Soon after Queen Victoria declared it a city of the Crown in 1847, the rush to find gold in its rivers made it one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities. Today, it is celebrated as the country's cultural capital of the arts and exudes a rich and lively British flair, from its narrow shopping lanes to the fanciful Victorian buildings along Collins Street. A literal slice of England can be found within 64 acres of beautiful blooms at Fitzroy Gardens.
    Tour Shrine of Remembrance and    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    4 of 4 Sea Days - Melbourne - Day 50

    February 11, 2024, Tasman Sea ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Clocks back 1 hour - Sunrise: 6:34 AM | Sunset: 8:26 PM
    Pacific Islands: In Search of Terra Australis
    One could say that the discovery of the South Pacific Islands was based in folly, an attempt to prove a theory that had been proposed as far back as Aristotle's day. That ancient (4th century BC) philosopher, and many great thinkers afterward, believed there must have been a land mass in the far southern reaches of the world.
    They called this hypothetical continent "Terra Australis," or "Land of the South." Come the 16th century, it appeared on maps; all that remained was for explorers to discover it.
    Instead, Dutch and English explorers happened upon the paradisiacal South Pacific islands of soaring emerald mountains and crescent beaches in crystalline turquoise seas. Abel Janszoon Tasman (c.1603-c.1659), seeking to further establish trade routes for the Dutch East India Company on Terra Australis, landed on Fiji in 1643, though Europeans did not settle here for another 200 years. He discovered Tongatapu (on the main island of Tonga) that same year, naming it Amsterdam Island. It was not until 1767 that English Captain Samuel Wallis made landfall on Tahiti during his circumnavigation of the globe on
    HMS Dolphin. Just three years later, famed English explorer James Cook set foot on Bora Bora, setting the stage for the London Missionary Society to settle here in 1820. While transporting the Society's Reverend John Williams in 1823, Captain John Dibbs arrived on the shores of Rarotonga, on the Cook Islands.
    By then, the idea of Terra Australis had fallen into obscurity; what was discovered in its place, however, was quite magnificent indeed.
    Nautical term - as the crow flies. Ships would keep caged crows in the crow nest, and when released they would fly straight to the nearest land. We docked at Melbourne in Phillips Bay by 9:45 pm.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    3 of 4 Sea Day to Melbourne -Day 49

    February 10, 2024, Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    SAIL THE TASMAN SEA
    Just as many Americans and Europeans refer to a trans-Atlantic journey as "hopping the pond," Kiwis and Aussies refer to the Tasman Sea voyage between their countries as "crossing the ditch." The Tasman was named for Dutchman Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first European to set foot on New Zealand and the island of Tasmania in the 1640s. Sailing to trade spices for the Dutch East India Company, he was also in search of "Beach," a fabled land recorded by Marco Polo to overflow with gold. Later, British explorer James Cook sailed these waters, famously passing by the entrance to Milford Sound, believing it too narrow to lead anywhere.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    2-4 Sea Days to Melbourne Day 48

    February 9, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    The Viking Heritage Museum
    Norwegian culture plays a significant role in the essence of Viking, with deeply rooted Scandinavian heritage that truly sets itself apart. It showcases the history of the people during the Viking Era lasting from 782 AD-1066 AD through the present day, with items like replicas of sculpture, jewelry, Nordic artifacts, books, photographs and even a replica of a drekar, a Viking longship.
    In fact, the Viking ships made their expansion into new lands possible, with their immaculate design and craftsmanship that stood against the harsh conditions of rivers, lakes, fjords, various straits, and open sea. In addition to the longships, vessels came in various forms like wide-bellied cargo ships.
    They had an edge over their contemporaries, as Viking ships were constructed with watertight clinker-built shells where the edges of hull planks overlap with one another, creating a sturdy foundation that remained a universal method of
    The Viking people themselves did not belong to a particular race or culture. The name Viking originated from the Scandinavians themselves, from the Old Norse word vik, meaning bay or creak. This formed the root of viking, or pirate. They originated from areas known today as Norway, Sweden and Denmark.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    1 of 4 Sea Days to Melbourne - Day 47

    February 8, 2024, Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Coral is alive… it is easy to think of coral as the same as a rock or a plant. But coral is an invertebrate creature. This colony of countless tiny animals known as polyps is alive. Coral originate when swimming larvae attached themselves to rocks that line a cove or rest in shallow waters. Over time the polyps and coral reproduce and secrete calcium carbonate, which hardens into a skeleton and gives the reef its shape. The reef can grow to comprise many miles and attract myriad species of fish.
    Even then, the coral does not sit passively. Though difficult to discern during a snorkeling expedition, this vibrant ecosystem is constantly changing. Surprisingly on alert for tiny fish and plankton they deploy minuscule stinging cells to catch their prey and engulf them deep in their nutrients much like plants do, from a process similar to photosynthesis. These species thrive in clear, shallow water where sunlight is plentiful.
    Coral may appear in three reef configurations. Fringing reefs grow directly from a shoreline in shallow water and may even be exposed at low tide. Barrier reefs are located farther from the shore; its coral therefore remain underwater. An atoll reef, also called coral atoll, completely or partially encircles a shallow lagoon. Whatever its form, coral is an integral part if marine life and comprises some of the oceans’ most colorful and thriving ecosystems.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Wellington, NZ - Day 46

    February 7, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Wellington, 300,000 population, is the capital of New Zealand, and enjoys a lovely setting. It is hailed by many as the "coolest little capital in the world." Its history is embodied in a rich collection of architecture, from classic weatherboard wooden cottages and the clean lines of art deco to Edwardian as well as postmodern. Unlike the Art Deco buildings of Napier, the city's neoclassical Parliament House stands out, and is listed as a Heritage New Zealand building for its historic significance. The city has an array of arts and cultural institutions, including museums, symphonies, ballet and film.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Napier, NZ - Day 45

    February 6, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    The second largest wine growing region in NZ , the Hawke’s Bay Area boasts more than the 70 vineyards. The 1st ones were introduced by French missionaries in the mid-19th century. This scenic bar area is also home to Napier, an impressive cityscape of art deco architecture often compared to Miami Beach for its artsy vib. Built after much of the city was destroyed during a 1931 earthquake, the stunning “Main Street” design and art deco flair combine to create a city unlike any other in the world. The National Aquarium, one of the finest in NZ, can be found in Napier, The city also holds claims claim as the largest wool center in the Southern Hemisphere. The dock clearly demonstrates the extensive exported lumber - radiata pine, from Napier, NZ. $4 billion industry annually. Kauri has been over produced and is now endangered in NZ. We were met at the peer by entertainers - Haka dancer, a band and old restored car collection, and period dressed locals who were celebrating Waitangi Day. The town was wonderful and not packed. What a great place! The Takapu birds are beautiful. After a quick dinner in the WC, at sunset we were joined by pods of dolphin swimming beside the Neptune, some with babies by their sides. It was a spectacular evening… The Māori name for NZ was long white cloud (Aotearoa) which was clearly visible this evening. Aotearoa, the cloud, could be seen from many, many miles away when the land was not.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Rotorua (Tauranga), NZ - Day 44

    February 5, 2024, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Nestled on the Bay of Plenty, the Port of Tauranga is watched over by the dramatic Mt. Maunganui, an extinct volcano that helped shape this spectacular region of white- sand beaches and blue waters. The Māori arrived here in the 13th century, followed by the British 600 years later. Today, the city is home to a thriving culture scene and stunning vistas of mountains raising from the surrounding water. Tauranga is best known as the gateway to the bubbling mud pools, thermal fields of Rotorua. The local Māori believe this cauldron-like region to be a gift of fire from the gods. The dramatic phenomenon derives from sulfurous steam rising from within the earth through deep crevices.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    3rd Day in Auckland - Day 43

    February 4, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Straddling the narrow isthmus on New Zealand’s North island, Auckland enjoys a beautiful setting between 2 harbors: Waitemata and Manukau. This cosmopolitan city of outdoor enthusiasts is a vibrant marine hub (City of Sails). One of the great pleasures of exploring the city by foot is witnessing countless masts bobbing everywhere, with the tide at the city’s marinas and jet-setting yacht clubs, and drooling over the many full blown sails as they traverse the glittering waters in the distance.
    Kiwi are a significant national icon, equally cherished by all cultures in NZ. Kiwi are a symbol for the uniqueness of NZ wildlife and the value of their natural heritage. The bird itself is a treasure to Māori, who have strong cultural, spiritual and historic associations with Kiwi.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Auckland, New Zealand - Day 41

    February 2, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    Cultural capital on New Zealand’s North Island, Auckland’s known as the City of Sails for its residents’ love boating. The seafaring city has hosted 3 America’s Cup challenges, and its marinas are brimming with world class yachts. Alberta Park has towering plans and beds of beautiful flowers, and a cast iron central fountain. The observation deck of the Sky Tower offers breathtaking views of the Auckland city. Nautical Term - Know the Ropes - There were miles and miles of cordage in the rigging of a square-sail rigged ship. The only way of keeping track of the lines was to know where they were located. It took an experienced seaman ‘to know the ropes.’Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    Rainbow FallsArt bathroom - Friedensreich Hundertwasser

    Waitangi (Bay of Islands) Day 40

    February 1, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    NZ is located in a remote area of the South Pacific, with 2 major islands and 600 smaller islands. NZ was one of the last SP lands to be settled by humans. Some the most beautiful land in the world. The Bay of Island, (the most northern point, is subtropical with corresponding flora and fauna unlike anywhere else in the country), has over 144 islands making it a haven for boating enthusiasts around the world. Feb. 6 1840 The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here between Britain and the Māori people. Kororareka - how sweet is the Penguin. War canoesRead more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    4th Dea Day to NZ - Day 38

    January 29, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Crossing the Line - Brunch on the Pool Deck - The international date line (IDL) crosses from the North to South Poles at approximately 180 degrees longitude and marked the boundary on the globe between consecutive calendar dates. This completely imaginary line helps keep everyone’s calendars aligned. If it is Monday east of the IDL, then it is Tuesday to the west of it. Put another way westward travel crossing the IDL jump ahead 24 hours, losing a day; on an eastbound voyage, travelers fall behind, gaining a day. It is the inevitable result of dividing the globe into time zones: in the simplest terms, members of the International Meridian Conference - attended by 26 nations in 1884, knew there had to be a line on the earth where the 24 time zones were “reset.” The IDL was invented and “drawn” on the opposite side of the globe from the prime meridian in Greenwich, England. But the IDL and its adjacent time zones were not bound by international law, maritime or otherwise. Several South Pacific island nations, such as Kiribati, were spread across archipelagos that straddled the 180 degree line. In order for these countries to stay on the same time zone, the IDL was redesigned to zig zag around them. It all goes to prove Einstein theory that, particularly around the IDL, time is relative. A special Viking Bunch for crossing the dateline in the pool and Wintergarten.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    1
    A different method of marking channels

    3rd Sea Day to NZ - Day 37

    January 28, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Viking has a special partner and relationship with the Edward Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, the Viking ocean ships are proudly displaying some of the Munch’s original pieces and Viking holds rights to the digital catalog, that can be seen day and night in the Atrium stairwell. These impressionistic works depict emotion and stories of struggle, joy, fear, achievement and more. He lost his sister and mother before the age of 26 and these life events may have shaped his artistic talent.Read more

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