Random thoughts from the sea
Day 27, Grand World Voyage Monday, Jan. 30, 2023; Nuku’alofa, Tonga. I sent my new dress from Tonga to the laundry on board the ship. I’m not sure what to expect when it comes back. I loved the fabric pattern and the simple A-line design. Its light weight, I thought,
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Day 25, Grand World Voyage Friday, Jan. 27, 2023; South Pacific Ocean Watercolor may be second only to arts and crafts in popularity on Holland America’s grand cruises. Of course, it’s not a competition. And some people, including my sisters, participate in both activities. Since my introduction to watercolor in
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Day 22, Grand World Voyage Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023; Uturoa, Raiatea, French Polynesia. As anyone who cruises much knows, the itinerary can change. Bad weather or unfavorable seas can prevent the ship from docking safely, as happened to us in Samoa a few years ago. Political unrest can make it
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Day 21, Grand World Voyage Monday, Jan. 23, 2023; Uturoa, Raiatea, French Polynesia. My friends Barbara and Richard love the Tales of the South Pacific cruises, with their many stops at the tropical islands from Tahiti to Fiji. They spend the days snorkeling and enjoying the beautiful beaches under the
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Day 19, Grand World Voyage Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023; Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia. Papeete is just as I remember from three years ago – a bustling city harbor with ferries and unusual luxury yachts, crazy traffic, buskers with ukuleles on street corners and fragrant flowers everywhere. Three years ago, Elaine
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Day 16, Grand World Voyage Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023; Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia. After eight days at sea with nary a sight of land, the mountains of Nuku Hiva rose in the darkness from the vastness of the ocean. At least that’s how I imagined it. By the time
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Day 14, Grand World Voyage Monday, Jan. 16, 2023; South Pacific Ocean. Formal night is back! And boy did the Zuiderdam passengers dress for the occasion. But first, we are in the middle of nowhere, it seems. Above is the map my iPhone app gives me when its GSP works,
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Day 13, Grand World Voyage Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023; South Pacific Ocean. Today is Sunday. I know that because the elevator carpet says so. Otherwise, it’s just another beautiful day in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Two days ago I saw dolphins and yesterday tiny flying fish from my
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Day 7, Grand World Voyage Monday, Jan. 9, 2023; Fuerte Amador, Panama. It’s not easy planning for 61 ports, especially when I’m not familiar with most of them. The planning can be hit or miss – and sometimes I miss. Fuerte Amador, by Panama City, may have been one of
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Day 6, Grand World Voyage Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023; Panama Canal. For all my cruising, I’ve never sailed through the Panama Canal. So today’s transit is one of the highlights of this voyage. After passing the pre-dawn lights of Colón, we started into the first of three chambers of the
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