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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 29: From Polliwog to Shellback

    January 20, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

    It’s official Donna and I have crossed the equator for the first time in our lives. This means we are no longer ‘polliwogs’ we have risen to “Shellback” status.

    Around 9:30 A.M. people started to gather at the pool. Beka and other staff were passing out nice rum punch drinks while the music played and the excitement built.

    Aoibhin, our Cruise Director, led the ceremonies, reading the story of Neptune and crossing the equator. First, she held court over all the new polliwog crew members who had never crossed the line separating the hemispheres. They were all found guilty and had to take the plunge.

    All the polliwogs, lined up - 1) Salute the fish (it use to be kiss the fish) 2) Plunge into the pool, 3) take your Aquavit shot when you get out of the pool. You are now officially an “Order of the Shellback” member. I am sure our certificates will be delivered to our room later.

    The Captain and Senior Crew members also got in on the fun and took the plunge. Finally, like Cinderella losing her glass slipper after the ball, Aoibhin shed her 4 inch heels and took the plunge.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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    Day 29: Sunrise, Birds, & the Equator

    January 20, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 82 °F

    It’s been busy the past few days - little time to get my blog posts created - I never posted Pearl Harbor, and other activities we have been doing. So I will be playing catch up.

    It’s eighty degrees this morning. I beat the sun and was able to capture its glory, as it broke past the morning horizon. A few birds continue to fly alongside the ship - got a couple of nice snaps of them as well.

    Today at 10:30 we will cross the equator - We take a Plunge & Aquavit Shot, to receive our official “Order of the Shellback” status documenting today’s bucket list event.

    Yesterday, Donna & I participated in a felting class - we are making a Gnome out of wool; Will show the photos from the class once our Gnomes are completed tomorrow.

    There is so much to do onboard ship - You really have to pick and choose what you want to do. Last night we choose to do the Nordic Spa - Into the Steam Room then to Snow Room - do this three times - dump the cold bucket of water over your head - then the jacuzzi - to finally relax on the heated lounge chairs. We like doing this around 6:30 while people are eating - the Spa is rarely busy during dinner hours.

    Hard to believe it’s been four weeks at sea. It feels like fours days. Still 110 more days of this adventure is ahead of us.

    Well, there are tons of photos to go through, delete most of them, to then share the keepers with you.

    Hope you all have a great day.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 28: Cruising is hard work.

    January 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Today’s Schedule:

    9:00 - Think about getting out of bed.
    9:15 - Splash water on face, three aspirin (See Limoncelli post) More water one face.
    9:30 - Rush to get our seats at Watercolor class. Picked up muffins & soda for breakfast to eat during class. Still feeling sluggish.
    10 to 11 - Watercolor class - We started our pop-up cards.
    11:00ish - Donna heads for a walk - Paul is still painting
    12:00ish - Light Lunch in the World Cafe
    1:00 - “Bring a Gnome Home” we joined in a felting class - this is part one - We will show you our finished Gnomes later.
    3:00 ish - Donna heads to the spa, Paul to writing class.
    6:00ish - Nordic spa time - we deserve it.
    8:00 - Watched the last episode of our binging Downton Abbey.

    Nobody believes us “Cruising is hard work.”

    My old IT workmates at Yale would agree I didn’t work this hard when I was working.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 27: Donna & Paul Meet Limoncelli

    January 18, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Donna & I had dinner at Manfredi’s - Italian - restaurant. Donna had chicken - Paul the salmon. The wine, meal, and desert were all excellent.

    The first time we ate here we experienced Grappa - Basically Italian White Lighting with a sexy European name. This evening’s mission was to try out Limocelli for the first time. We learned they served two types; 1) Pallini Limoncello, and 2) Villa Massa, Pianudi Sorrento. The first is more clear the latter cloudy. - The clearer is steeped in Vodka for 4 weeks (with lemon) and holds its pure race car fuel like flavor. The cloudy has been ‘over-steeped’ on purpose to release more of the lemon flavor into the mixture. Donna liked the cloudy Limoncelli - I still like the flavor of Sunoco Race Car Fuel from our days of racing the number 34 at Waterford Speedway.

    Donna’s reactions captured on my iPhone tell the story.

    Once the tasting challenge was over - we stood up - That alone was a challenge. Never-ending glasses of Herederos Del Marques de Riscal - Sauvignon Blac served with our fine meal - then topped with Limocelli - the act of standing up with our falling was an accomplishment to be rewarded.

    Manfedi’s is located on deck 1 in the aft section of the ship. Our stateroom is forward - really forward up on deck 8. So, the next goal was to quickly get past all the people on deck one enjoying the music - while we held on to everything within reach to not fall down - and the rocking of the ship really helps - Not. We made it to the forward elevators - no stairs today. No alarm was set for the morning - we slept in - I knew there wouldn’t be a morning sunrise photo this time.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Bring Your Daughter to Work Day

    January 18, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    In a couple of my earlier posts I introduced you to “Carl, The Reefer Engineer” Carl has two daughters back home in Norway - not yet teenagers - but he is seeing the teenage influence coming on very soon.

    Today, I got to spend more time with Carl and learn about the various HVAC and other systems of the ship. In connecting with Carl, I meet Chief Engineer Orvar from Sweden. He has a son and a daughter.

    I asked them both, “How long they have been with Viking?” Carl has seven weeks with Viking, while Orvar has seven years. Their contracts are ten weeks on, ten weeks off. I asked them both “What they like to do with their free time when they are home?” They both laughed simultaneously - “Free time? We have young children.” They needn’t say more.

    As we were talking in Orvar’s office, he got a phone call from Ester, his daughter. Ester is over the minimum age of 18 and is able to go to her father’s work onboard the Neptune. Ester consented to having a picture with her dad, for one of the crazy passenger’s onboard ship.

    Thank you Ester. How cool would it be to go to work with your dad — Hawaii, Bora Bora, etc, etc?

    Carl, Orvar, and Ester thank you for letting me spend a bit of time with you today.

    #myvikingjourney. #myvikingstory #vikingNeptune    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Meet Trina Beckett, Author, Instructor

    January 18, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Trina Beckett is one of the excellent lecturer’s onboard the Viking. She is only with us for this the second segment of our eight segment journey,

    Trina’s bio: Trina Beckett has written for Wanderlust, Conde Nader Traveler and Heritage Realm, contributed short stories to anthologies, and run writing workshops for local literary festivals. Her book Deadlier than the Male: Wives of the Generals 1677-1937 was published by Pen & Sword in 2018.

    On sea days, at 3:30 pm - I make sure to be at her writing workshop presentations. More than anything Trina has given me encouragement to keep at it - writing & this blog.

    In one of her sessions she spoke about “Flash Fiction” really it is “Flash Any Genre” my blogging ties into this.

    Here is a bit I wrote during her first session.

    “The room was filled with hungry writers - all wanting to learn the secret. This sweet little lady reminds me of my grandmother - her German butter cookies neatly arranged in a round cookie tin.

    Each Christmas, the cookie tins would be under the tree with our names on it - inside an envelope with a crisp new dollar bill inside and an assortment of the best German cookies you could ever imagine.”

    Our speaker feeds up spoonfuls of writing tips from her recipes of words and phases. Her guidance is a flavor and sweetness which fills our minds with imagery, ideas, and motivations.

    Trina, we all thank you.

    #myvikingjourney #myvikingstory #TrinaBeckett #writing #vikingNeptune    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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    Day 27: North Pacific Ocean Sunrise

    January 18, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 75 °F

    This morning I beat the sun as we both raced to start our day. The sunrise was on our port side while the ship heads in a southerly direction from Hawaii towards Bora, Bora.

    Having been to California, Mexico, Hawaii in the past, believing the world is flat - today really feels like the start of the adventure beyond the edge of the earth. Next stop Bora Bora.

    I learned something today about sunrise photos; from deck 8 you get a better reflection of the sun off the ocean - from deck 2 you are a bit closer to the sunrise horizon.

    Gorgeous sunrises are easy when the puffy clouds hover above the horizon - However, when the skies are clear - majestic sky drama is limited. Some of this mornings images are looking at what is happening ship side while the sun ushers in the day.

    In the first picture you will see Venus [I think] in the upper corner,

    Photos of the waves, a video (turn up your volume) and hear and feel the water crashing against the hull give you a sense of my morning today.

    By 7:15 AM the traffic in deck 2 starts to look like memories of Route 91 on my way to work - as walkers and joggers start their day. Make sure you stay in your lane, and keep the left clear.

    A bit of ‘old school’ B&W seemed to work well today. I like the B&W sunrise shot. My favorite shot today is the shadow of the boat and my shape against the wall of deck two.

    Do I wish I was home right now? “No, not really.” Look at the last image of snow in our yard - as one of the East Windsor police officer does a quick drive by our property - It was fun I did get to speak to him on my Ring camera. The officer told me “Enjoy your trip, we are looking out for you; you have nothing to worry about.” This is one of the joys of living in a small town.

    I have a lot of footprints to post of the last couple of days in Hawaii. So there is much more to come.

    #myvikingstory. #myvikingjourney #eastWindsorPolice #sunrise    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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    Day 26: Meet Michael Bowie

    January 17, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    Michael Bowie, is the Neptune’s Assistant Cruise Director. Michael supports the many happenings and events administratively that go on to make the entertainment, excursions, fun parties, and many other activities to keep us all active and entertained.

    But wait, he can sing too.

    Michael put on a great show for us out of The Great American Songbook. Emily & Lois surprised the stage as they joined Michael for a song. Ralph and Michael also shared in a nice duet.

    As a photographer I can not stress how hard it is to take great pictures of singers - Their mouths, eyes, bodies can be contoured into shapes which don’t seem possible - and in pretty much all cases can be quite embarrassing - to this end I took over 400 pictures to narrow it down to these 20 “keepers” - I did slip in one goofy one - Can you find it?

    Please take a moment and flip through the twenty images I posted. Let me know your favorite. There is one photo in which Michael looks like Dean Martin - Can you find it?

    I think my favorite is the last photo as he closed the show - you can sense the joy and humility - and he knows he nailed it!

    Great show Michael, we all enjoyed it.

    #MichaelBowie #myVikingJourney #myVikingStory #vikingNeptune    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 26: Pearl Harbor, HI, USS Arizona

    January 17, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    The USS Arizona holds meaning to many of us in different ways. Over 30 years ago I visited her for the first time. My Uncle Eddie & Uncle Fred joined the Navy right after Pearl Harbor was attacked. They survived WWII, my thoughts are with them today.

    There is no need for personal commentary here. If my images bring back a memory, and you would like a safe place to share it, please feel free to do so.

    To all you have served their country (not just the USA) … thank you for your service.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 25: Wake-up Honolulu

    January 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    It’s almost sunrise - a bit before 7:00 AM - I climb up one level to deck 9 - the Sports Deck to get an unencumbered view of the city and sunrise. It’s warm out in the 70’s.

    The port is jumping to life - you can hear the beeping of trucks and fork lifts as they navigate their way through the docks. Police or emergency vehicle sirens are heard in the distance, the city street traffic is picking up, planes fly directly over head; using the Neptune as a waypoint for their safe landing.

    Looking eastward, behind the city skyscrapers and mountains - the morning sun makes way to usher in another day of this fantastic journey. Please enjoy these morning photos; as Honolulu wakes up to another day.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 25: Hawaii - Up Before the Sun

    January 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    We are at port, Pier 2, in Honolulu, Hawaii. We got to bed early - surprisingly I woke up before the sunrise (7:11 A.M.) and my wake up call 5:45 A.M.) . Here are some early morning pictures from the deck of our floating home.

    How many times have I been working on a car and lost a tool I just had in my hand only to find I was sitting on it? Countless times. Last night I left my computer bag on the glass table - I wasn’t worried - headed down to guest services they had picked it up for me and held it safely. Viking really does cater to those of us who constantly put something down - and forget where we put it. One of the benefits of being on this Viking cruise is Safety. Maslow’s first stage is “Safety” - we are safe here.

    Today, we will do the included excursion - Hawaiian Highlights at 9:30 this morning. Later at 5:00pm we are meeting up with friends of one of my students this evening for dinner at Monkey Pod Kitchen. I hope to have some fun images of our time in Honolulu to share with you.

    The ship is quiet - slowly staff are emerging to start their day’s work. I haven’t seen any other early risers this morning. I have the whole Explorer’s lounge to myself. Calming music is playing over the speakers - I will get a cappuccino and wait for the sun to catch up with me. It’s nice to have the house to myself this morning.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 24: Sunrise - The First Hour

    January 15, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    The morning light through the balcony curtain woke me up pleasantly today. I was out of bed and dressed by 6:05 A.M. Today’s sunrise was scheduled for 6:21 A.M. I was not going to miss it this morning.

    Neptune is heading in a south-westerly direction which meant the sun rising from the east would be off of the port side of the stern. With long pants and a t-shirt I headed aft. A breeze would send a slight shiver down my spine this morning. I found refuge undercover where I could sit, wait , and watch the sun enter the day. I took over 50 photos on my iPhone watching the sunrise for a complete hour. After deleting many of them I got it down to about 20.

    This post will be in two parts - Here are three photos, 6:10, 6:21, and 7:10 AM along with a video to show you the rocking of the ship, the waves, the wake from the propeller’s, and the morning sky. My goal here is to show the start of the hour (6:10) - the scheduled sunrise time (6:21) - Finally the end of the hour (7:10). I know I can often get too rushed and not slow down to just look and sense the moment which is right in front of me. The second post will be just of pictures I took. It was hard to narrow it down to 20 images.

    It was nice to spend a full hour with the sun this morning. The sunrise is a slow subtle movie of images. To hear propellers, feel the cool wind on my face, the sounds of the ocean, the smell of the salt air just really ushered in a peaceful morning.

    #myvikingstory #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune #sunrise    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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    Day 24: Land Ho’

    January 15, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    The bridge crew is guiding the Neptune westward. The sun is setting ahead of us. We will make port in Honolulu, Hawaii ahead of schedule. Sneaking out the port side door I am able to grab a snap of one of the Hawaiian Islands. “Land Ho” the lookout shouts!

    It’s about 5:30 pm Hawaiian time. No plans for dinner tonight. After our huge duck dinner last night - we think we need to take a break - Tomorrow we will explore Hawaii.

    Let’s recap today’s activities.

    Out of bed after 8:00 AM totally missed the sunrise.

    8:30 AM breakfast at Mamsen’s - Donna had her oatmeal & fruit, and I the famous Mamsen’s waffle, extra fruit, 2 cappuccino’s, and a smoothie of the day. The waffle is made up of hearts in memory of the heart shaped waffle the owner of Viking’s Grandmother use to make.

    Then it was off to our Art Class. Deborah Ayres , an Australian Artist continues to lead amazing classes on various skills & techniques using watercolor. I have taken art courses where the instructor just tells you to draw or paint without real guidance on technique & skills. Deborah is working with all of us - no matter our skill level - it’s a great way to spend an hour on a sea day.

    After art class, I head to Guest Services, where Jordan, and others, are always there ready to help everyone, no matter how big or small the concern. I needed to set up an excursion and to learn the details of policy to get on and off the ship while at port for the next two days. Bottom line if we are not onboard on Wednesday by 1:00 PM we will be swimming to Tahiti.

    After connecting with Jordan, I locate one of my favorite Bartender’s on deck 1 by the Living Room Bar - Igor serves me a nice glass of wine - just because.

    It’s now heading towards lunch time (say 12:30). Donna is finishing up her laundry - I relax on a lounge chair waiting her arrival. And “No” she is not doing my wash while I relax. I have to do my own.

    Lunch at the World Cafe - I found a nice wine pairing to go with my Chocolate Sorbet.

    (1:50 pm ) So, being a newly retired IT guy - I have turned into tech support for some of my fellow traveller’s. Especially those that are learning how to use this “Find Penguins” app. I really don’t mind - it has been a great way to meet people otherwise I might not have met. - So, it’s okay to ask me techie questions. I connected up with Jay - Helped him with a couple of simple Find Penguins question - Jay is ready to go.

    At 3:30 pm Donna & I headed to Trina Beckett’s Writing Workshop - Today we learned about writing “Flash Fiction”. Actually, it is “Flash <any Genre>”. What was really great is when different members of the audience read “bits” they wrote.

    As we left Trina’s session a couple of people came up to me and told me they enjoyed reading my Find Penguins blogging on our adventure. Many of you have as well - I can’t thank you enough for your kind words of encouragement. I am having fun writing the story - it’s an added plus that some of you are enjoying the read.

    It’s 6:03 P.M. the Explore’s lounge, below me on deck 7, it is getting hectic - as people have a before dinner drink - the music plays - It’s just a totally cool vibe. I think I could live on this ship forever. Life is good.

    #myvikingjourney #myvikingstory. #vikingneptune    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 23: Duck again?

    January 14, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    Remember those days back home, when each meal just seemed like a rinse and repeat from the meal the day before?

    It was two days ago (Day 21, 1/12/2024) we had our first experience at The Chef’s Table. You can read that footprint of the details of a wonderful meal. I have no pictures of our meal again on Day 23. “You know - it just gets kinda of redundant, five course meal, 4 great wines, duck, crème brûlée, cheesecake.

    However, tonight’s dinner was very different. Orlando & Deirdre, from Colorado Springs joined Donna and I at the Chef’s Table. Funny thing is they too had the same meal two days earlier as well.

    Orlando is retired Air Force (27 years), and Deirdre retired O.R. nurse. The places we are traveling to are amazing, the people we are meeting along the way continue to make this journey the best thing Donna & I have ever done. We talked about our families, grandchildren - they have 3 - we have our first on the way in March. Ton’s to talk about we are all products of the 70’s …

    So, “Yes!” We had to have duck again in the same week. This time we got to meet a wonderful couple — I am sure we will share a couple of more meals on our voyage.

    After dinner we were entertained by Travis Cloer of Broadway ‘Jersey Boys’ fame at the Star Theater. Travis is a great story teller and has a voice with a power range. He brought back 50s, 60s, and 70s memories through song.

    Donna & I continue our binging of Downton Abbey, so another episode - then off to bed after 11:00PM. A late night.

    “Cruising is such hard work.”

    #myvikingjourney #vikingNeptune #travisCloer #myVikingStory    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 23: Meet Nick

    January 14, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    If you have not seen Nick Evett, Associate General Manager, of our Viking Neptune, it means you have locked yourself in your cabin never to come out. Nick is EVERYWHERE — ALL THE TIME!

    If you are counting your steps - it is highly unlikely (possible but …) to match what Nick puts in for a normal day. Nick’s cabin is on deck A. Five times a day he does the stairs (that’s 160 steps) up to deck 9 to do his rounds. He circles every deck on the way down. Nick is looking at everything, everywhere, all the time. Looking for anything that might need fixed, a paint touch up, you name Nick cares about it. On an average day Nick will easily do 15,000+ steps - On port days Nick says “It will easily go over 30,000 steps” since he has to go back and forth to and from the ship.

    Meanwhile, while Nick is looking for anything which needs attention - he is always smiling - I am pretty sure it is a Viking Policy to always smile. Nick will stop and chat with those of us who draw his attention.

    Nick has been in the cruise line service industry for a long time - with Viking a relatively short time. He is excited about his role as Associate General Manager. Nick originally hails from England, now the Philippines are his home - where his wife and 12 year old daughter patiently await dad’s return home. Clearly the biggest thing Donna and I have learned is the sacrifice the crew members make to leave their families for a such along stretch. Nick compared it to a person in the military - where husband/dad are away for a long period of time. The internet has really helped to keep those connections alive. Think of the days when communication was done via snail mail.

    So, if you have not seen or talked with Nick Evett - I suggest you leave your cabin and you will run into him at least once or twice during the day. Say, “Hi and thank you” to him - Nick has our back and will do all he can to help ensure we have a please journey.

    #myvikingjourney #myvikingstory #VikingNeptune. #NickEvett    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 23: More Sunrise Photos

    January 14, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 72 °F

    Here are 19 more images from the over 50 I took - deleting many of them. These images are in sequential order so you can really see how the skies changed in the hour of time a spent watching this morning’s sunrise.

    #myvikingstory #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune #sunrise    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
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    Day 22: Morning North Pacific Ocean

    January 13, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    Somewhere in the North Pacific Ocean, not sure where, it doesn’t really matter anyway. Our ship continues towards Hawaii - We will arrive in a couple of days. The seas are a bit rough but not enough to really matter - over the past three weeks we have all developed sea legs and walk with a slight drunken sway as the ship moves to and fro.

    Do you believe it has already been three weeks at sea? Today ushers in week four. Donna and I will attend the watercolor painting class - walk the decks of the ship, to get our steps in - most likely attend the 9:00 P.M. show in the Star Theater. We both agree this is a very easy lifestyle to get use to.

    The people we continue to meet, from all walks of life, really make our experience more complete. Both fellow travelers and crew have life stories which enrich this journey. Last night we dined at “The Chef’s Table” for the first time. I will create a separate post about our dinner.

    Well, Donna will be waking up soon - time to get our day started - I need my morning cappuccino & smoothie.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 21: Our 1st “The Chef’s Table”

    January 12, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    We haven’t taken advantage of The Chef’s Table at all - shame on us. This is a dinning experience even Chef Ramsey would have a hard time creating - a five course adventure into an array of flavor we have never tasted before. This was a new journey for the two of us.

    The Chef’s Table has various themes - and serves them for three evenings - tonight was “Asian Panorama”. We are now going to get a list of the themes to make sure we experience each of them.

    While each of entree’s stood on their own as magnificent - it is the wine pairings (4 different wines) that complete each entree step. You take a bite of the food and then a sip of the chosen wine for that entree and the flavor mixture is completed as it melts pleasantly on your palette. I think the days of washing food down with a Coke are over for us,

    A meal like this is a journey - an experience - with flavor footprints along the way. A welcoming Japanese tea - followed by Amuse Bouche of Chilled King Crab - accompanied by “Ponte Prosecco Trevino Spumante Millesimato, from Glera Veneto, Italy. This is the start of our journey.

    Our first course is Shanghai’s style Lobster & Chicken Shu Mai - accompanied by Chateau Landereau Entre-deuce-Mers Semillion, Sauvignon. Blanc, Muscadelle Bordeaux’s, France. These wine to food pairings are so perfect.

    Peking Duck with a crispy skin, Mandarin pancake, in hoisin sauce, accompanied by Honoro Vera, Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain. I have had duck in the past, this duck was very tender and the mixture of flavor along with the wine really made for a premier main course.

    Desert was an ‘Asian Trilogy’ of spring roll, crème brûlée & cheesecake. Donna had a lactose free cherry chocolate cake which she throughly enjoyed. The accompanying wine pairing was Torrevento Dulcis in Fundo, Moscato Reale do Trani Puglia, Italy.

    Donna and I are not wine aficionado’s by any means - we know when we taste something if we like it or not. This evening continue to develop our palettes for both food and wine.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 21: Calm Seas - Busy Schedule

    January 12, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    The seas are calm this morning, the sky overcast, the early risers are having morning coffee in the World Cafe where I choose to sit this morning to watch the morning come into bloom and write this entry. Breakfast will start shortly.

    A quick look at our Ring camera’s show that our local East WIndsor, CT Police Department continues to do a house safety check at all hours in the day. We live in a small town and the town garage is just down the street from us - so it is easy for the officers when getting their gas tanks filled to do a check on our property. One of the nice things of small town life. #EastWindsorPolice

    Donna and I just want you to know - “Cruising is hard work.”

    Yesterday’s schedule was hectic.

    6:30 - Wake Up watch the sunrise
    7:00 - Make Cappuccino
    7:05 - Write Morning Blog entry & personal Journalling
    8:00 - Breakfast at Mamsen’s with Donna
    8:30 - Another cappuccino while sitting at our spot on deck 8 - spent time going through photos - catching up on Find Penguins posts
    10:00 - Watercolor Painting Class
    12:00 - Caught up with Donna
    1:00 - Lunch at the World Cafe
    2:00 - Back to room - to relax and continue our binge watching of Downton Abbey - We are in season five. We have decided we were meant to live as the Monarchy -
    3:15 - Met up with Tim for planning details about our upcoming Tahiti excursion coming up in a few days.
    3:30 - Attended and excellent writing seminar
    4:30 - Paul played chess with Johnathan (Johnathan won - he always does - but Paul is making it harder for him with each game they play.
    Donna got in her steps walking the deck - she is doing really well to get at least 10,000 steps a day.
    5:30 - Another episode of Downton Abbey.
    6:45 - We decided no evening meal and spent time at the spa - Steam Room to the Ice Grotto (Repeat 3x) - Then into the jacuzzi - and finally relax on the heated lounge chairs.
    8:15 - We left the spa on deck one - as we headed for the stairs to our room located on deck 8 - we both looked at each other and said “No stairs this time - we don’t want to counteract our spa time relaxation - We took the elevators.
    8:30 - We decided to not attend the evening show in the Star Theater - it was another episode of Downton Abbey - then off to sleep.

    So, you can see - “Cruising is hard work.” But, we both agree we are up to the task - we can do this! As I look at today’s schedule another hectic day of crying is before us. Dinner this evening will be at the Chef’s Table - we have not eaten here yet - So, lunch will be light.

    Well - the curtain has risen at the World Cafe - I think I will have a Swiss & Mushroom omelette to go with my Salmon Eggs Benedict.

    #myVikingJourney. #VikingNeptune    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 20: Sea Day, Pacific Ocean

    January 11, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 59 °F

    Another catch-up post. We had just a left Santa Barbara and are now heading towards Hawaii.

    At 9:45 AM there was a Crew Emergency Drill. They do those every so often - just in case. Pretty sure these safety drills are mandatory - that’s a good thing.

    At 10:00 AM Donna and I attended a water color painting workshop with Deborah Ayres. We really liked her workshops - she taught new skills to people at all levels. At the end of the segment there was an Art Show in the Wintergarden. Everyone did amazing work. It seems so long ago.

    At 3:30 Paul attended a writing workshop led by Trina Beckett.

    For dinner we ate at the Chef’s Table.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 20: Somewhere in the Pacific

    January 11, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 59 °F

    We are heading towards Hawaii - We have 5 sea days before we make Honolulu. The sky is gray, and raindrops adorn the windows while the ship tosses about the ocean like a cork in a bucket.

    This is considered the second leg of our journey - many of the wait staff are assigned to different locations. It mixes it up for the staff - which most likely makes their travels a bit better with new locations and groups to work with. We have to learn new names.

    Viking has brought on board many new lecturers with differing areas of specialities - Wildlife, World History, Acupuncture seminar, Wine Tasting, Astronomy, Art, Crafting, Writing, and more. So there is plenty to do on sea days. I still have tons of photos to go through and post. I hope to get caught up on some of the places we have been and images I have captured on both my iPhone 14 Pro Max and Sony RX10 IV.

    It’s 7:30 A.M. the ship is coming to life as people get up for their morning coffee. Donna will be rising soon - so we will head to breakfast.

    This morning I have posted a couple of short videos of the ship tossing about and pics of the gray skies.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    Our ship the Viking Neptune in Santa Barbara.The view from in front of the mission.Donna, Lucy, & Johnathan2The four of us.This cracks me up. Read the plaque its a dedication to a tree they cut down.

    Day 19: Santa Barbara, California

    January 10, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Here are the typical tourist like iPhone selfies of Donna’s and my day in Santa Barbara, California. We got to see the Mission and the Courthouse. As we drove through the city the architecture is lovely. The climate is pretty much perfect year around.

    Our friends Johnathan & Lucy were on the same bus with us. The tour bus was full. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the city - at one time he worked for NPR producing several of their programs. He had the perfect NPR voice as he told us the details and history of the city.

    It was a short tour - but a very nice day.    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    1

    Day 19: Good Morning Santa Barbara

    January 10, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    It’s 7:45 AM - I slept in this morning - Look at the last to photos and you will see why. We are happy to report my CPAP machine finally made it to our room … From losing it on Day One at the Atlanta, GA airport. Then on Day Two Delta calling me to say they found it and emailed instructions to have it shipped, From there it took some time to have Delta get it to UPS - Then UPS sent it to our friends in Carlsbad - We were hoping to spend time with them in LA, their plans changed. So, they shipped it to Viking at the Port of LA, who got it to our room last night. Donna and I are both happy to have our CPAP machines back. I think that is why we slept in this morning.

    One of today’s photos is John a young man here on holiday with his mom, John & I pretty much grab the glass table on deck 8 and call it our home office. Linda likes to come up in the morning and grab a front row seat, Don is on the right taking a photo - We are creatures of habit.

    They expect a high of around 65 degrees in Santa Barbara’s …. Will need a light wind-breaker on shore today. Back home is Connecticut looks like a warm front is coming in at 45 degrees.

    We have dropped anchor off the shoreline and will be tendered on to shore for our excursion, Tonight is the huge welcome party in the Star Theater to welcome the new passengers onto the ship.

    We will have four sea days to get to Hawaii - I plan on getting caught up with some blog posts & photos I have missed - Let me tell you — “Cruising is hard work.”

    Well breakfast is served, Time to post this entry, Please enjoy today’s wake up photos, from the the shore of Santa Barbara, California,

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune #SantaBarbara    Read more

  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 18: Beverly Hills & LA Traffic

    January 9, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Today we woke up by 8:00 went to Mamsen’s for breakfast, then at 9:00 to Star Theater to gather up for our excursions.

    We opted for the Beverly Hills - Self Tour - Rodeo Drive etc. — The traffic was bad in the late 70’s & early 80’s when I went to school at Azusa Pacific University. It’s gotten much worse.

    Enjoy some pictures of our day, We are happy to be back on board the Neptune. The short timers have left and there are many new faces walking around the ship as our new fellow travelers board. You can sense their excitement. We will all, pretty much, be going all the way to London. May 9, 2024 seems really far away.

    Tomorrow we will be in Santa Barbara for the day .. then four sea days to get to Hawaii.

    #myvikingjourney #vikingneptune #LosAngeles #BeverlyHills    Read more

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