My World Travels

Ancaster Old Mill

2011-08-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

I have not posted here for a while because I have not been travelling as much as before. However, during the last few weeks, we have visited a couple of local places, and took a one week trip to Boston.

The picture is of me outside the Ancaster Old Mill. This restaurant is in Ancaster, a small town west of Hamilton, Ontario. The setting for the Old Mill is beautiful. The interior is country style with low lighting. They probably consider this romantic, but in my opinion, it was too dark.

Unfortunately, our visit did not get off to a good start. It took far too long for our waiter to take our order. In fact, a couple that arrived at the same time as us, whom I could see from our table, had almost finished their appetizer before our order was taken. Also the waiter, at first, seemed rather rushed and distracted.

Once our order was taken, our experience improved greatly. We ordered their Sunday special. This is a complete meal that is served "family style." That means that all the items come in large bowls or plates and everyone helps themselves. We had a seafood salad and a mixed greens salad. Both were excellent. The main course was chicken and prime rib. Both were well prepared.

Overall, we enjoyed our visit. However, considering the entire experience and the price of eating here, I am not sure we will return.

Westminister Abbey

2010-11-15T03:20:00.001-08:00

The history of Westminister Abbey, according to tradition, goes back to the 7th century. We do know that Monks began living here in the 10th century. In 1065, King Edward consecrated a stone abbey on this site.

Since 1066, the English and then British monarchs have held their coronations here. In 1579, Elizabeth I made it a Royal Peculiar. This means that the church is responsible directly to the King or Queen, not to a bishop.

There are many tombs inside the Abbey. The Abbey is open for tourists from Monday to Saturday. The entrance fee is 12 pounds. The income is used to maintain the building and run the Abbey. It receives no money from the Queen, the Government or the Church of England.

Worship services are held every evening during the week, Saturday afternoon and on Sunday. All are welcome to attend.

Where East and West Meet

2010-11-06T13:06:00.001-07:00

Here at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the East is divided from the West. This is the location from which the Prime Meridian is measured. Since 1884, this spot marked 0 degrees Longitude.

Actually, modern reference systems have caused the Prime Meridian to shift. These systems mark 0 degrees about 102.5 meters East of the traditional line in Greenwich.

The observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in 1675. It was the first purpose built scientific research facility in Britain. It is no longer used for its original purpose but is a museum.

Kensington Palace

2010-10-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

Kensington Palace is a Royal Residence. The Royal Family has owned it since the 17th century. It is best known now as the home of Pincess Diana. She lived here from 1981, when she married Prince Charles, until her death in 1997.

Is is still a residence to members of the Royal Family. It is the official residence of the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Price Michael of Kent, along with their families. Prince Harry also stays in here on occasion.

Parts of the Palace are open to the public. There is an exhibit honoring Princess Diana. The State Apartments have exhibits covering the history of the palace from the time of William and Mary up to young Queen Victoria, who lived here as a child.

Canal Boats

2010-10-12T15:38:00.001-07:00

Canals in the United Kingdom date back to the days of the Romans. Over the centuries they were constantly improved and lengthened. But they reached their peak use during the 18th and 19th Centuries. During the later part of the 19th century, railroads increasingly took cargo away from the canal boats.

Today, canal boats are used for mobile homes and for passenger travel, mainly tourist. It is an unique way of seeing London. Just a short distance away from the hustle and noise of the city, these boats slowly and calmly make their way through tree lined canals.

We took "Jason's Original Canal Boat Trip" along the Regent Canal from Little Venice to Camden Lock. The trip takes less than an hour. It was a nice relaxing trip, very enjoyable.

Clock Tower

2010-10-02T07:27:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of the Clock Tower taken from the Thames. The Clock Tower is connected to the Parilment Buildings which are the Palace of Westminister. The orginial palace that was on this site was a residence of the Royal Family until it was destroyed by fire in 1512. After this, it became the meeting place of Parilment and has been ever since.

The Clock Tower is often called Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the nickname for the largest bell in the tower. The bell weighs over 13 tonnes. The nickname is often used to refer not just to this bell, but also the clock and the tower.

The first Clock Tower on this site was built in 1288. The present tower was built in 1834. When it was built, it was the largest four faced clock in the world. On the clock faces, in Latin, are the words, "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First."

Thames Cruise

2010-09-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

One of the nicest ways to see London is by taking a cruise along the Thames. The city exists because of the river and many of its most historical sites are near the Thames.

We cruised the Thames at low tide as you can see from the picture. We went from Tower Pier to Greenwich Pier. Later in the day, we cruised from Greenwich Pier to Westminister Pier.

The pub in this picture is the Prospect of Whitby. It claims to be the oldest riverside pub in London dating back to 1520. It is also believed that Charles Dickens often came here. We never had time to go back and visit it.

Castles of Bellinzona

2010-08-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

Since I happen to be in Bellinzona Switzerland on a business trip, I thought I would take a break from our trip to England in 2008 and show you a picture of one of the castles of Bellinzona.

In Medieval times, Bellinzona occupied a strategic spot, and therefore became more and more fortified over time. The result for us today is the three castles of Bellinzona. The picture is from inside Castelgrande. These castles are a World Heritage Site.

Although they do not compare to the Tower of London or Warwick Castle, these castles are charming as is the town. If you are ever in the southern part of Switzerland near the Italian border, take time to visit Bellinzona.

The View from Tower Bridge

2010-08-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

This is the view from the walkway between the towers of Tower Bridge. I took this picture looking up river.

Just left of center in the distance is St. Paul's Cathedral.

Right of center near the bottom is HMS Belfast. It is a light cruiser that saw active service during World War Two in the Royal Navy. It is now a floating Navy Museum.

Tower Bridge

2010-08-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

This is Tower Bridge not London Bridge. London Bridge is a plain non-descript bridge just up river from here.

Tower Bridge was built 800+ years after the Tower of London, but was designed to match the ancient architecture. Hidden behind the facade is the engineering marvels of Victorian England. It is a draw bridge that was designed to work using stream power. I am told that while using steam, it never failed to open, but since being switched to electrical power, it has failed.

The Tower Bridge Exhibit gives you access to the walkway between the two towers of the bridge. The Exhibit also explains the history and design of the bridge. I think just the view from the walkway is worth the admission price.

Tower of London

2010-07-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

This is the White Tower. It was the first building on the site of the Tower of London. William the Conqueror had it built in the 11th Century.

For me, no visit to London is complete without a visit to the Tower of London. It represents 1000 years of English history. It was a royal palace for several hundred years. It was a royal dungeon. It was the site of many beheadings. It is still home to the royal jewels, which are on display.

The tour by one of the yeoman warders is a must. These former soldiers live at the tower with their families. They know the history with all its gruesome details, and share those details with a sense of gory humor.

If you have one day in London, spend it at the Tower.

Roman Ruins

2010-07-21T07:19:00.001-07:00

This section of London's old wall is near Tower Hill Tube Station. It is one of the larger sections remaining of the wall. It vividly shows how old the city of London is.

The lower section of this wall was built by the Romans around 200 AD. The wall at that time was about 6.4 meters (20.8 feet) high. It included turrets and a sentry walk on top.

In Medieval times, the wall was repaired and heightened. The upper section is from that time. Beginning in the 17th century, the wall fall into disrepair. Many sections were removed and used for other buildings.

St. Paul's Cathedral

2010-07-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most famous building in London. Finished in 1710, it was designed by the famous Sir Christopher Wren. At 111 meters (365 ft) high, it was the tallest building in London until 1962.

The present Cathedral is the fourth to occupy this site. The previous one was destroyed by the Great Fire of London.

We explored the interior of St. Paul's and then made the 530 step climb to the Golden Gallery. At 85 meters above street level, this gives you some great views of the city. But it is not an easy climb. My wife did not attempt it.

Many important services have been held here including the funerals of Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Thanksgiving services have been held here for many important events including: the Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the end of both World Wars, the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother, and the 80th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

For anyone interested in British History, it is worth a visit.

Trafalgar Square

2010-05-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Trafalgar Square is the best known of the many squares in London. It is a popular place for tourist. Nelson's column is on one side of the square.

The column is guarded by four lion statues. It stands 46 m (about 151 ft) high. On top is a 5.5 m (18 ft) statue of Admiral Nelson. He was killed at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Around the square are several important buildings including the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Both have free admission. Other building around or nearby are: St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Canadian High Commission (Canada House), South Africa High Commission (South Africa House), the Institute of Contemporary Art and the English National Opera.

War Rooms

2010-05-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

The Cabinet War Rooms are where the leaders of Britain planned World War II. The location was chosen because it is near Downing Street and the Parliament Buildings. It is now a small museum. They have tried to restore the rooms as much as possible to how they were when the War ended.

Attached to the War Rooms is the Churchill Museum which celebrates one of the most colorful and important Prime Ministers of England. It relates both his personal setbacks and personal victories.

In the War Rooms, you can see where Churchill ate, slept and worked during the dark days of the War. You can walk the halls that he walked. You can get a sense of how cramped and uncomfortable those days were.

London Parks

2010-05-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Buckingham Palace taken from the middle of St. James Park. One of the nice things about London is the amount of green space. It seems like you are never more than walking distance from a park.

The three parks that I have visited most are: St. James Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. James Park stands between Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards Parade. It is also close to the Parliament Buildings ("Big Ben") and Trafalgar Square.

Green Park is north of Buckingham Palace. On the other side is Piccadilly and Green Park Tube Station, which I have often used.

Hyde Park is huge and is the best known park in London. It is a popular location for a picnic or just a lazy afternoon.

Regents Park is another popular park. Baker Street Tube Station is on the South West Corner of it. With all of the tourist attractions in this area, it makes for a busy park.

If you visit London, take time to walk through and if possible, relax, in one of the parks. It may be one of the highlights of your trip. The simple pleasures are often the best.

Wellington Barracks

2010-04-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

Just East of Buckingham Palace is Wellington Barracks, which has a large parade ground that can be viewed from the road.

When we were walking past, some soldiers were in the parade ground. They were marching and forming lines. We watched them for sometime.

Next to the parade ground is the entrance to a small Army museum for the British Army Guards. We went into the museum and although it is small, there are many interesting exhibits.

Small museums are often more interesting than larger ones. They focus on a specific topic rather than trying to cover everything like the British Museum, the Hermitage or the ROM. They are usually less crowded. Often the staff have more time to interact with you and seem friendlier.

Royal Mews

2010-04-26T16:37:00.001-07:00

Mews is the official term for a place that houses hunting birds. The King's Mews was originally used to house the king's falcons. By the 16th century, it was being used to stable horses.

The present location for the Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace was never used for falcons. It has always been a working stable. Today, some of the Queen's cars are also on display here.

This picture shows the Gold State Coach. It has been used for every coronation since 1821 when George IV became king. The last time this coach was used was 2002 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Eight horses are used to pull this carriage.

The Royal Mews is open to the public. We saw several other carriages, a limo and two of the Queen's horses.

Changing of the Guards

2010-04-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

There is always a huge crowd at Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. If you want the best view, get there early. I think it is the best free show in London.

You can find the schedule for this and other events at http://www.changing-the-guard.com.

It is a short walk from three tube stations: Victoria Station, Green Park and St. James.

Dover

2010-04-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

This was the scene from the ship as we left dock: the White Cliffs of Dover. The same view greeted us on our return.

We enjoyed the cruise. We enjoyed the cities of the Baltic. But I was glad that we planned a few days to visit London. It helps that we could stay with family.

My wife and I lived there for over three years early in our marriage. Our son was born there, but had no memories of it. Our family friend that travelled with us was seeing Europe for the first time.

Whenever someone who has never been to Europe asks me where they should go, I always suggest London. There is so much to see and do. Plus for those who have not travelled much, it helps that language is not an issue. My next few posts will show places that we visited during this trip.

The Crew

2010-04-15T15:28:00.001-07:00

This shows some of the crew from the Norwegian Jewel. It takes a lot of people to make a cruise run smoothly. The Jewel has a crew of about 1100.

She carries up to 2376 passengers. She began service in 2005. Her tonnage is 92,000. With a top speed of 25 knots, she is 294 m long, 32 m across the beam, and has 15 decks.

Special Meal

2010-04-11T06:22:00.001-07:00

A few days before the end of the cruise, we spoke to the manager of the Tsar's Palace restaurant on board the ship. We asked about ordering a special meal for the last night of the cruise. He had one of the chefs come speak to us. This picture shows the result.

We had a meal with 4 Filipino dishes plus rice. None of these were on the menu. So it is possible to order a special meal ahead of time.

The limitations on what you can order are simple. The chef has to know how to prepare your request. The ingredients most be available on board. You need to give them plenty of warning so that they can arrange for it. Usually, they will try to fulfill your request.

We had a great meal!

Where To Eat?

2010-04-08T15:12:00.001-07:00

These live displays are throughout the ship. They tell you at a glance which restaurants are open, and how full they are. I took this picture in the middle of the afternoon before regular dinner service had started. Only two of the restaurants were operating at this time.

On Norwegian Cruise Lines there is no set time or place to eat. You can eat when you want and where you want and with whom you want. For the "Speciality Restaurants," there is an extra charge.

We ate breakfast and lunch in the Garden Cafe. For dinner, we ate at the Tsar's Palace or Azura. The food was good. One of the things I like about cruises is because the food is already included in the cost of the cruise, I will try new dishes that I would not normally order. If I do not like it, I know I can just order something else without any additional charge.

Ice Carving

2010-04-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

One of the standard events on a cruise ship is an ice carving demonstration. In a few minutes, a block of ice is changed into a sculpture while you watch. We meet the man who carved the ice on this cruise when we went to Hawaii. On that ship, he was doing vegetable carvings.

He is from my wife's hometown: Paete in the Philippines. This town is famous for wood carving. The same skills apply to ice and vegetable carvings. There is a good chance that the person doing this on your cruise is from Paete.

There are more Filipinos working on ships (both cruise and cargo) than any other nationality. The cruise director told me that without them there would be no cruise industry.

Pool Deck

2010-04-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

The two Sapphire Pools are located mid deck 12 on the Norwegian Jewel. As you can see, even on a Baltic cruise, they were popular. One of the pools has a slide. Between the pools was a stage that was used for the various bands to play and for the ice-carving demo.

Beside each pool are two hot tubs, four in total. There are many deck chairs around the pool and on the deck above overlooking the pool. On the side of the deck are tables and chairs.

We found the tables on this deck a nice place to sit around, relax with a cup of coffee and chat. Also a great place for a game of cards or a board game. Depending on the weather, this deck can be packed or deserted. However, the table are protected by the deck above, so even in cooler or wet weather, you can sit here if you wear a light jacket.

Stardust Theatre

2010-04-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

The main theatre aboard the Norwegian Jewel seats over 1000. I enjoy the shows. They are entertaining and there is enough variety to keep me happy.

Is the quality on level with a play at the Princess of Wales in Toronto? No. But I do not expect that.

If you want top level shows, do not go on a cruise. But if you want some light entertainment and a few laughs, the shows fulfill those expectations. It is a chance to seat back and relax after a busy day at sea or on shore.

Sailing in Sweden

2010-03-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Leaving Stockholm harbour, the scenery is beautiful. It is similar to Georgian Bay here in Ontario. Only on Georgian Bay, you never see large cruise or cargo ships.

I took over 50 pictures in the 90 minutes after we left the dock in Stockholm. It was the best view we had from the ship during our trip.

Vasa Museum

2010-03-28T13:30:00.001-07:00

When His Majesty's Ship Vasa sailed on her maiden voyage, she was considered the most powerful warship every built. It was 10 August 1628. Many had come down to the harbour to watch her sail.

As she left the docks, four sails were set. Moving into the harbour, the wind caught and she heeled. She righted herself then heeled again hard over to port. The water gushed in, and minutes after sailing she sank!

In 1961, the well-preserved wreck was salvaged. Today she sits 95 percent original in the Vasa Museum. The ship is a powerful testimony to another time, when sailing ships ruled the waves. And she is a witness to how much navel engineers did not know in the 17th century.

The ship is the main attraction at this wonderful museum. However, the museum also has exhibits about life in Sweden at this time, life aboard 17th century ships and naval warfare during those times. This was a highlight of our trip for me.

Stockholm Palace

2009-10-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

The final stop on our cruise before returning to Dover was Stockholm, Sweden. This picture is of the southern side of the Stockholm Palace. This is the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family.

The first building on this site was a 13th century fortress. This grew into a palace. Many renovations and rebuildings have occured over the centuries.

The palace has over 600 rooms. These include offices for the King and other members of the Royal Family.

Kadrioru Kunstimuuseum

2009-10-05T15:37:00.001-07:00

This is the Kadrioru Kunstimuuseum or Kadriorg Art Museum. It was the Kadriorg Palace. When the Tzars ruled Russia and Estonia, this was a summer "cottage" for the Tzars.

Peter the Great built it for his wife Catherine. Their daughter, Elizabeth, enjoyed coming here. The upper flower garden behind the palace has been restored in 18th century style.

The palace itself now is home to the foreign art collection of the Art Museum of Estonia. I enjoyed our time visiting this historic building.

Tallinn Lower Town

2009-09-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken from the Upper Town of Tallinn. It shows some of the roofs of the Lower Town. In the background, you can see the Norwegian Jewel and another cruise ship.

At one time, the Upper and Lower Towns were different cities. The Upper Town was populated mainly by the upper class. The Lower Town was populated by the workers.

There was a single road between the towns. If there was a dispute, one or another or both towns would barricade the road and prevent people from travelling between the towns. Now both are part of Tallinn.

Estonia

2009-09-13T11:58:00.001-07:00

After spending a pleasant day in Finland, our ship sailed overnight to Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The population of this small nation is around 1.34 million. The capital and largest city has around 400,000 residents. This means that the although Tallinn is the capital, it has the charm of a large town or small city.

The national flag is in the picture atop the castle tower. It has a blue, black and white strip. We were told that the blue represents the sky. The black represent the earth. The white is for purity.

Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It had been under Soviet, German and then Soviet control again since 1939.

After gaining independence, aggressive reforms resulted in it being the most prosperous region of the former Soviet Union. It joined the European Union in 2004.

The White Church

2009-08-17T16:13:00.001-07:00

This is the Helsinki Cathedral. It is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in the heart of Helsinki. It was finished in 1852.

It forms one side of the Senate Square. Tall steps lead from the square up to the church building. It is quite a climb.

The area around the church is not busy, but it is within walking distance of downtown and many shops. The day that we were there, an outdoor market was open a short distance away by the harbour.

The Rock Church

2009-08-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

This picture is of the inside of the Rock Church or Rock Temple in Helsinki, Finland. This church is built into the side of a hill. It's walls are solid rock. I found it absolutely beautiful.

The name of the church is actually Temppeliaukio Church. It is a Lutheran church. It opened in 1969.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this church every year. It is also frequency used for concerts.

Helsinki Olympic Stadium

2009-08-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

From St. Petersburg, Russia, we sailed overnight to Helsinki, Finland. One of the first stops on our tour while there was the Olympic Stadium.

This stadium was built for the 1940 Olympics. However, these Olympics were cancelled. In 1952, the Olympics were finally hosted here.

It is still the largest stadium in Finland and is used for many sporting events and concerts. The 2005 World Championships in Athletics were held here. The tower is 72 meters (240 feet high).

Russian Entertainment

2009-07-26T06:02:00.001-07:00

On our last day in St. Petersburg, two hours before "All Aboard," a local troupe put on a show of Russian Folk dancing and singing. They were headlined as the "St. Petersburg Military Ensemble." It was a great show.

With globalization, more and more of the world is becoming the same. The worst example of this is airports and hotels. Few new airports give an indication of where you are in the world.

Folk music and dance helps to preserve the historical culture. We should support it when we travel, and at home so that our own culture is remembered.

City of Romance

2009-07-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of one of the three brides that we saw in St. Petersburg. We were there on a Monday and Tuesday. I was surprised to see that many weddings during the week. Most weddings in Canada occur on weekends.

My wife and I celebrated our 2oth Anniversary the day after I took this picture. My sister-in-law and her husband celebrated their 25th Anniversay on the cruise. A cruise is a great way to enjoy such a special occasion.

All of the brides that we saw wore wedding dresses that I would consider western in style. I wonder if this would be typical throughout Russia or only in the European section.

St Peter and Paul Fortress

2009-07-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the church inside the St Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. It is a lovely building. Inside are the tombs of the rulers of Imperial Russia, from Peter I to Alexander III.

The fortress was built by Peter the Great in the early 18th century to protect his new capital city. It served as a military garrison and prison from the time it was built until the Russian Revolution.

I enjoyed the visit to the Fortress. Inside the cathedral was crowded, but outside there is lots of room to stretch your legs and take pictures. There is also a small gift shop where my son bought a Russian Army hat.

2009-06-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

The double headed eagle was an important symbol for the Russian imperial family. It is still used as a national symbol. It is believed that the two heads represent Europe and Asia. One head looks west to Europe, the other east to Asia.

Double headed eagles have been used as symbols for many centuries going back at least to the ancient Hittites. It was used by the Byzantine Empire, which like Russia straddled Europe and Asia.

We saw many examples of this during our trip. The one pictured is at the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Inside Catherine Palace

2009-05-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

None of the pictures I took inside the Palace do justice to the grandeur and decadence. The expression of gilding the lily may have been based upon this place.

The craftsmanship is great. The art is marvelous. But the gold covering everything is just too much. It is unnecessary except as a means to flaunt wealth. Wealth that is being used for no purpose except to show off.

I could not help wondering how many common people in Russia were barely surviving while the Tsars lived surrounded by obscene expressions of wealth. It was nice to visit. But I would not want to live in this place.

Tsar's Village

2009-05-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Located in Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar's Village), this is one of the summer residences used by the Russian Tsars. It is called Catherine Palace because it was the favorite palace of Catherine, wife of Peter the Great.

The original palace was built in 1717. It was torn down by order of Empress Elizabeth and replaced with a larger palace that was finished in 1756.

It has been largely restored and is open to tours. This picture only shows part of the 325 m (350 yard) long palace. It is a monument to both the wealth of the Tsars and their extravagance.

Russia

2009-05-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Our next port of call for our Baltic Cruise after Germany was St. Petersburg, Russia. We were greeted on the dock by a local band. This was the only stop on our cruise where we had to go through Immigration Control. Of course, that means you get a stamp in your passport!

If you are visiting Russia by cruise, you either have to get a visa before the cruise, or you can go on a tour arranged by the cruise line. So even if you normally do not book tours with a cruise line, this is one time when you should.

We were docked in St. Petersburg for two days. We went on one tour each day. St. Petersburg is all about Peter the Great, the first Emperor of Russia.

Minster Bad Doberan

2009-04-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

This 700 year old Minster was a Cistercian Monastery. The interior is considered the best preserved example of its type in all of Europe. When it was built, it was the outstanding religious center of the area. Even after the dissolution of the Abbey in the 16th century, it still retained its importance in the local community.

The exterior of the building and its surroundings are beautiful. The interior is large and contains several tombs, monuments and much furniture. Our guide was able to give us a lot of information about the history of the Minster from its planning up to the present day. When we arrived, a wedding party was just leaving the building.

It is an interesting and thought provoking place to visit from several perspectives: history, religion, architecture, sociology and art. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm

2009-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Grand Hotel in Heilingendamm was used during the G8 summit. I was told that President Bush stayed in the building in this picture. This summit occured in 2007.

We passed this hotel on the bus ride during our tour of East Germany. Heilingendamm, like Warnemunde, is a seaside resort.

Train in Town

2009-04-14T15:41:00.001-07:00

As the "Moli" narrow gauge train leaves the station, it travels along the streets of the town. The tour guide told us that we would be close enough to steal a coffee off the tables of the cafes. She was just about right.

Cars had to make way for us and wait for us to pass.

It reminded me of St. Catherines in Ontario, Canada. They have train tracks in one part of town as well. Only there the trains are pulled by diesel engines, not steam engines!

"Molli" Train

2009-04-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Molli train runs on a narrow gauge railroad. We boarded the train in Bad Doberan. I took this picture in Heiligendamm when our train was waiting at the siding for another train to pass. The journey ended in Kuhlungsborn.

The trains are pulled by steam engines. I believe they are 2-8-2s. I took 60+ pictures of them, but not a single one has a really clear view of all the wheels. :(

For me this was a high point in our trip. I love trains, especially old steam engines. The trip was only about 30 minutes, but is really enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

Church in Warnemunde

2009-03-24T03:21:00.001-07:00

This church is in the old section of the town of Warnemunde. It is just a short walk from the harbour. When we were there, an outdoor market was nearby. There are also many small shops in this part of the town.

The church was open. We went inside. This church is by no means famous, and there are thousands like it in Europe. However, I found it interesting that it had survived the Communist period of East Germany.

Later, when we went on a tour, our guide told us that her uncle had been the pastor of this church during the Communist period. Her family had remained Christian in spite of the intense pressure to abandon their faith.

Lighthouse

2009-03-09T16:51:00.001-07:00

The all brick lighthouse in Warnemunde was built in 1897. I am not sure of the height. The values that I have read vary between 30 and 40 meters (100 to 135 ft). I am told that it is still in operation.

We enjoyed our walk out on the pier, and then a long stroll along the seashore. We were there on a Saturday, but few people were on the beach. Once we got into the shopping area, it was crowded.

Warnemunde, Germany

2009-01-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

The next stop on our Baltic cruise was the small Germany town of Warnemunde. It is oversized for the less than 9000 residents, because it is a popular seaside resort. Tourists have been coming here for 160 years.

I did not realize when I booked the cruise that this town is in former East Germany. This made the visit more interesting, as we learned about conditions during that time from our tour guide. More about that in another post.

Because tourism is so important to this town, they welcome cruise ships with open arms. Rather than jump on a train for Berlin, we wondered around town and then took a local tour in the afternoon.

A Taste of Denmark?

2009-01-10T11:25:00.001-08:00

When I saw this, I just had to take a photo of it. This illustrates the dominance of American Fast Food worldwide. There are chain restaurants from other nations that have crossed national boundaries but the USA is the undisputed world leader in spreading its chain restaurants.

Is this a bad thing? Well, I have to admit that, although I try local food and love to eat at good restaurants, when you are far from home for an extended period finding a place that you recognize can be a relief. So for North American tourists, it can be a good thing.

I have eaten KFC by the Great Wall of China, Subway by the Tower of London, Pizza Hut in Lahore Pakistan, and McDonald's near Nazareth in Israel. None of these were great meals. But it was something familiar. Do not be ashamed of grabbing an occasional quick meal at one of these. However, make sure you try local food more often.

Old Copenhagen Stock Market

2008-11-25T16:54:00.001-08:00

This building housed the Stock Market in Copenhagen until 1974. It is a wonderful 17th century building. The sphere is over 50 meters high, and is formed from the tails of four dragons.

We passed this while on our walking tour of the city. I enjoy walking tours because you have a bit more time to observe your surroundings and take pictures. On a bus tour, it is hard to get a good view of the sights and almost impossible to get a decent picture.

Light House Boat

2008-11-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

The boat in the background of this picture is a floating light house! I had never heard of this before, but we saw this one in Copenhagen. I have learned that the proper term is Lightvessel.

They were used to warn ships of danger in areas where it was not possible to build a lighthouse. There are some records that indicate that the Romans built ships with large fires for beacons. Modern lightvessels were first used in the 18th century.

They are no longer used. They have been replaced by light houses or automated light buoys.

Canals in Copenhagen

2008-10-27T15:57:00.001-07:00

Copenhagen, like many other European cities, has many canals. The name of the city means Merchant's Harbor. So the city has always had a close connection to water and commerce. So it's canals are not a surprise. Canals were used to transport goods before railroads existed.

Although canals are not important now for commerce, they make an excellent way to tour the city. While in Copenhagen, we combined a walking tour with a canal tour.

The canal pictured here passes by some of the homes where Hans Christian Anderson lived. He never owned his own house. He would rent a room in this area, between his many foreign trips.

Little Mermaid

2008-09-26T16:49:00.001-07:00

The bronze statue of the Little Mermaid or "Den Lille Havfrue" is a popular attraction in Copenhagen, Denmark. The small statue was unveiled in 1913 as a tribute to Hans Christian Anderson. It is only about 1.25 m (4 ft) high. We walked to it from the pier where our ship docked.

Hans Christian Anderson published the fairy tale of the Little Mermaid in 1837. The original story differs greatly from the Disney version. Hans Christian Anderson was not born in Copenhagen, but lived here in between his many trips.

Copenhagen is the largest city in Denmark. It is located on Sjaelland, an island east of the Danish mainland. The city itself has about 500 000 people, but the area around it has over 3 million.

Baltic Cruise

2008-08-05T16:56:00.001-07:00

I have not blogged for a few weeks. But I will try to post more frequently.

My family and I just returned from a three week trip to Europe. We flew to London and spent a couple nights there. Then we took the train to Dover and boarded the Norwegian Jewel for a 12 day Baltic Cruise. After the cruise, we spent another 5 nights in London.

We had a great time. The weather was great. The ship was nice. The crew was excellent. We visited some interesting places.

I was reminded again of what a friend who was living in France back in the early 1990s told me. "In North American, 200 years is a long time. In Europe, 200 miles is a long way."

I will be putting up some of the pictures I took over the next several weeks.

Canadian War Museum

2008-04-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

When we were in Ottawa, we told the kids (4 teenagers) that we were going to visit one museum but they could pick which one. They all wanted to go to the Canadian War Museum, and see Hitler's car. This is a picture of it.

I am not sure how Canada got the car, but the black armoured Mercedes Benz limousine, which Hitler used as a parade car, is on display in the Forged in Fire Gallery. This covers the period of 1931 to 1945.

The museum's permanent Exhibition covers the entire history of Canada. It even has a small gallery on battles before 1885 that effected the shaping of Canada. To cover all of the exhibits, you have to walk over 2 km (1.2 miles), so there is a lot of ground to cover. The kids enjoyed it, and hopefully learned something, and the adults as well. Three of the adults with us are new Canadians so this helped them to understand some of the history of a great country.

Rideau Hall

2008-03-30T06:24:00.001-07:00

One of the highlights of our visit to Ottawa, at least for me, was visiting Rideau Hall. It is the official residence of the Governor General. The grounds are open to the public. When we visited, the building was in the middle of renovation and restoration.

The grounds and gardens are lovely, and really serve as a public park. Many locals come to enjoy them. There are many trees on the grounds planted by various visiting dignitaries marked by plaques. The kids were not satisfied until they found the tree planted by JFK.

There are free tours of part of the building. Some visitors, although not us, have been surprised by the Governor General herself meeting them. You can take pictures with the guards, although I saw one boy who was startled when the guard he was standing beside moved. The guards are changed on a regular basis. This involves a "parade" of just five soldiers.

I had not visited Rideau Hall on my previous trips to Ottawa, but am glad I did on this trip. I would recommend taking the time to visit and stroll the grounds.

Changing the Guards

2008-03-24T03:14:00.001-07:00

One of the most popular tourist events in Ottawa is the Changing of the Guards on Parliament Hill. This takes place every day from June to August at 10 AM. If the weather is bad, it may be canceled. It best to get there early in order to get a good spot.

I found it better than the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace in London for several reasons. You have a better view of the entire ceremony because it takes place in the open on the lawn. It is not as crowded. If you want, you can interact with some of the officers before and after the event.

My son and the children of the other family that was with us had their picture taken with one of the officers.

Parliment Hill Grounds

2008-03-21T03:12:00.000-07:00

Around the buildings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa are many different statues. These commemorate Prime Ministers, various people important to the history of Canada, and important events in the history of Canada.

This picture is of the statue of Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada. She is shown mounted on the horse that was given to her by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A free guide book is available that gives the location of each statue, and a brief description of who is portrayed and their importance to the history of Canada. When we were there, in the summer, there was a tent with tourist information including these tour books set up on the left side of the Centre Block. This was also where you signed up for the free tour of the Centre Block.

Parliament Tour

2008-03-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken inside the library of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. The library is the only part of the Centre Block (the main building on Parliament Hill) that survived the fire of 1916.

The tour of the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings is free. Depending on what is occurring at the time, the tour may include the Library, the Senate Chamber, the House of Commons, and other areas of the building. The guides are knowledgeable.

After the tour, you can visit the Peace Tower on your own.

Ottawa: Canada's Capital

2008-03-08T07:43:00.001-08:00

This is a picture of the Centre Block of the Parliment Buildings in Ottawa. I took this in August 2006 when my family and another family visited there for a long weekend.

We rented a room at a hotel within walking distance of Parliment. Between walking and using a tourist bus (we bought all day passes), we were able to visit all the sites that we wanted to visit. There is also good public transit. It was nice not to have to drive in an unfamiliar city.

Ottawa is a great place to visit. There is so much to see. Because it is the capital of Canada, there are all the government buildings. Also many of the best museums in Canada are located here. We visited the War Museum, which is fairly new. Ottawa also has many festivals. When we were there the Busker Festival was in full swing.

Druze Market

2008-03-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

This is the picture of the open air market in Carmel City, Israel on a Saturday. Carmel City was formed in 2003 from the merger of two Druze towns. It is near Haifa and has a population of around 24 000.

The Druze in Israel are considered by the government of Israel as a distinct ethnic community. They are Arabs. Their religion is an offshoot of Islam. Those living in Israel are strong supporters of their nation. They serve in the Israeli army, and many have reached high rank.

Uri Buri, Acre (Akko)

2008-02-28T23:27:00.000-08:00

Acre is a city in Israel with a population of around 46 000. It existed before the nation of Israel invaded the land under Joshua. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

This is picture of the restaurant Uri Buri which is in Acre by the sea shore. Uri Buri is a seafood restaurant. On the right side of the picture, there is a gentleman with a beard sitting at a picnic table. He is the chef and owner.

I am not a big fan of seafood, but the food here was great. The chef offered to bring us different dishes that he would select. If we did not like something we could send it back and not pay for it. We sent nothing back. All the food was excellent.

El Al from Toronto to Tel Aviv

2008-02-26T03:54:00.000-08:00

Normally when I am travelling to an International destination, I arrive at the airport about 110 minutes before departure. I knew the security for El Al could take longer, so for this flight I arrived about 170 minutes before departure. Now I know what I experienced is not typical, but this is what I had to go through to get on an El Al flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv.

Before checking in, there are several El Al security agents interviewing the passengers. The lady who interviewed me, asked the same basic questions that you usually get: Did you pack your bags yourself? Did anyone give you something to take without on the plane? Why are you travelling to Israel? And so on.

She also looked through my passport. My passport has a Visa for Pakistan as well as the entry and exit stamps from my last couple of trips there. I suspect that this is what caused her to get her supervisor. He came to talk to me and told me that I would need to undergo a few extra security measures. He said that after I checked in for the flight, they would take my carry on bag and return it to me at the gate. So after I checked in, I went back to the security supervisor. He told me I needed to take my bag and follow one of the security agents.

She took me to a small room crowded with equipment and shelves. She asked me to remove my jacket, sit down and remove my shoes. She took my shoes. From where the chair was, I could not see what she did with them. Eventually she returned and gave me my shoes, and told me that my coat and carryon would be returned to me at the gate.

It was strange going through the regular airport security with no coat and no carryon.

At the gate, just as the boarding started, I was asked to sit by the gate with two other gentlemen who were going through the same extra measures. The agent dealt with the other two first.
When it was my turn, an agent tested my shoes for explosive reside. Then he asked me to go with him to a corner of the waiting area that was screened off. When we got there, he asked me to empty my pockets and remove my belt. He then put on plastic gloves, and gave me a thorough pat down. He paid especial attention to the shirt collar, the upper part of my jeans, and the hem of my jeans. He was very professional.

After this we returned to the seating area, he asked me to remove my shoes, and ran his metal detector around my feet. Then he said I could board the plane. By this time, almost all the other passengers had already boarded.

As I write this I am still in Israel, I am sure I will go through the same hoops for my return flight. All this so the company I work for could save $500 on the cost of my trip.

San Francisco, California

2007-12-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

My wife and I visited California in 1990. We spent only a day in San Francisco. It is a wonderful city to visit.

Among the highlights of our visit was the Cable Car Museum. This museum shows the history of the famous Cable Cars and how they operate.

We also visited China Town, Fisherman's Wharf and Golden Gate Park.

San Francisco can be cool even when it is hot farther inland. So bring a jacket or sweater with you.

Breakfast in China

2007-10-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

I have been to China many times over the last ten years. I have hundreds of pictures. This is one of my favorites.

When in China, I often go on early morning walks. This vender was out every morning selling breakfast to those on their way to work or school. Her food was simple but tasty.

I took this picture in Jiangyin near the International Hotel. There is not much in the area that would attract tourists. But if you are ever there, stop by one morning and buy breakfast from this young lady. If you turn right when you leave the hotel, she is just 100 meters down the road.

Mendenhall Glacier

2007-09-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

My family visited Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Alaska in 2003. This picture was taken looking across Mendenhall Lake towards the Glacier. It is as close as we got.

There is a small museum here that is run by the US Forest Service. It has a lot of information about glaciers in general, and the Mendenhall Glacier in particular.

A glacier is a slow moving river of ice that is fed from an ice field. Mendenhall Glacier is fed by the Juneau Icefield. For the last 300 years, this glacier has been slowly retreating. It has lost about 4 km of length during this time.

There are many glaciers to see in Alaska. If you visit this state, you should plan to see at least one.

Helsinki Cathedral

2007-06-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

This is a picture that I took of the Helsinki Catherdral. It is a beautiful white church building. It was built in the mid 1800s. I heard it referred to as the White Church.

Helsinki has many older buildings and is an interesting place to walk around. When I was there, we parked near the harbour and spent the day strolling the streets. There are plenty of coffee shops, stores and small resturants to visit, as well as the wonderful buildings.

Tampere Train Station

2007-06-07T03:24:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of the tracks leading into the train station in Tampere. Although, I am not as fanatical as some people I know, I love trains. As long as I can remember, I have been interested in them.

Europe is a great place to travel by train. The schedules, service and coverage is many times better than North America. It is a great way to see the countryside without having to drive yourself. Take the train, and relax.

Tampere Baptist Church

2007-03-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the Baptist Church in Tampere, Finland, It is located at Kissanmaankatu 19. I have attended their Sunday morning service twice.

The people at the church were friendly and welcomed me. There is a nice lady who translates the service into English. She sits behind the last pew on the left side, and those who need the translation sit on the last pew and listen to her.

An older lady told me that this is the oldest Free Church in Finland. This would mean that it was the first church in Finland that was not connected to the state church. The state church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. She told me that this church is over 100 years old.

Walking in Finland

2007-01-24T03:28:00.000-08:00

I forget the name of this restaurant. It is on the south side of Vesijarvi lake, a short distance from downtown Lahti. There is a small driveway out to the island where this is.

I was out walking on one of my few days off work while I was in Lahti. I came across this in the early afternoon, and had a very nice lunch here. The soup was especially good on a rather dreary day.

Finland is a great place to walk. Like many northern countries that have long dark winters, in the summer, people want to be outside. Because of this, there are many walking trails. When you explore by walking, you always discover places that you would never notice from a car.

Finland

2007-01-19T02:16:00.000-08:00

I have been on business trips to Finland a few times. When I travel on business, the opportunities for sight seeing are limited. So, there will not be many posts on this country.

During my trips, I have visited three cities: Helsinki (the capital), Tampere, and Lahti. The picture is of ski jumps in Lahti. Ski jumping is a popular sport in Finland.

The population of Finland is just over 5 million. Two-thirds live in urban areas. Because they are far north, they have long days in the summer and short days in the winter. They were ruled by Sweden for 700 years, then by Russia for 100 years. They became independent in 1917, and are now a member of the EU.

The land has a rugged beauty, much like northern Ontario. The people are friendly. Many speak some English, but few are fluent in English. Sadly, according to one article I read, two-thirds of Finns view life as gloomy and devoid of hope. I have seen evidence of this in the abuse of alcohol which seems common.

The Bus

2007-01-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

In Hawaii, when you say that you are taking "The Bus," that is the exact truth. Their public transit system is called "The Bus." For $2, my wife and I rode the bus from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. There are two different routes that make this trip. We rode one there, and the other back, so we saw different areas during the journey.

Taking public transit is not usually the fastest way to travel, but it is cheaper and usually more interesting than a taxi. By the way, in Hawaii, there is a taxi company called, "The Cab."

This is my last post on Hawaii, at least, until we travel there again. If you are in Waikiki, there is an excellent Thai restaurant called Keo's. The food there is excellent. If you have any questions about any of the places we visited, post a comment and I will respond.

My next post will be about Finland.

Pearl Harbor

2007-01-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

This picture shows the USS Arizona Memorial on the right, and a US Navy ship on the left. None of the pictures I took can relate the impact that Pearl Harbor had on me.

Regardless of your nationality (I am Canadian), every person should be moved by the knowledge of the tragedy that occurred at this place. In a few hours, 2390 Americans and 64 Japanese died. Early in the surprise attack by the Japanese fleet, the USS Arizona was hit by a bomb. This ignited the forward ammunition magazine. Within nine minutes, the ship and its 1177 men rested on the bottom of the Harbor.

It remains where it sank. The bodies of most of those who died remain inside her. The memorial, dedicated in 1962, spans the width of the sunken ship. The names of all those killed on the Arizona are listed inside the memorial.

War is an awful thing. Places such as this remind us of this truth.

Wo Hing Museum

2006-12-31T15:17:00.000-08:00

Lahaina on the island of Maui was the capital of the old Kingdom of Hawaii. It has many historical sites. We visited several of these including the Wo Hing Museum.

This building and the adjcent cook house were built in 1912. This building served as a meeting place for the local Chinese community until the 1940s. It was used for weddings, birthday parties, funerals and other celebrations. The second story was a temple area. The building was restored by the Lahaina Restoration Society and opened to the public in 1984.

The Lahaina Restoration Society has published a brochere for a self-guided walking tour of the historic and cultural sites of Lahaina. We heard about this from a tour guide, but it was difficult to find one. We finally got a copy of this at the Wo Hing Museum.

The walking tour includes 25 sites. The map shows two options: a short tour of 30 to 45 minutes and a long tour of 1 1/2 hours. My wife and I has already been wondering around town for some time when we got the map, so we did not follow either of these tours. There is also a web site (http://www.lahainarestoration.org/) that shows several of these historic sites.

Maui Ocean Center

2006-12-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

We visited the Maui Ocean Center. The photo is from one of their exhibits. The Center features marine life from around the Hawaiian islands. I would suggest that you plan at least a couple hours for visiting here.

The exhibits include many aquariums. One includes live coral. Another is a walk through aquarium. The tunnel through the aquarium is 54 feet (16.6 m) long. There is also a pool containing Hammerhead Sharks, a lagoon with sea turtles and a discovery area featuring information about seals, dolphins and whales.

We really enjoyed our visit here. For more information their website is http://www.mauioceancenter.com/.

Haleakala

2006-12-21T03:13:00.000-08:00

I took this picture of the Haleakala Crater from the Visitor Center. We were 9740 ft (2969 m) above sea level. The summit, which was near by, is 10023 ft (3055 m) above sea level.

Although Haleakala's last eruption was in 1790, it is still considered an active volcano. Its crater is the largest in the world. It is 7 1/2 miles (12 km) long and 2 1/2 miles (4 km) wide. This mountain makes up the southern part of the island of Maui.

As you travel up the winding road to the top of this mountain, you eventually find yourself above the clouds. You also pass many cyclists going down the mountain. Several tour groups provide the opportunity to travel down the mountain on bicycle. They drive you to the top, put you on your bike, and away you go. My wife and I took the bus up and down.

Buffets

2006-12-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

There is no reason to go hungry on board a cruise. The regular meals are good quality. You seat at your table, order what you want, the servers bring it to you, and when you are finished you leave. You can order two starters, two entrees, two deserts.

On our cruise, the Sports Bar had a buffet for every meal. If you were in a hurry, you could eat there. The Pizzeria has snacks until 10:30 PM, and pizza until 5:30 AM! 24 hour room service is available.

On top of the regular meals, there are special buffets during the cruise. The picture is of the chocolate buffet. We also enjoyed a couple on deck BBQs and a fruit buffet. Did I mention the Ice Cream Parlor?

Atlantis Submarines

2006-12-15T02:15:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the top of the submarine that we rode. Eight feet (2.5 m) of it's height is under water.

Atlantis Submarines launched, in 1985, the world's first battery-powered passenger submarine in Caymon Islands. They now have 14 submarines in 13 sites. For my engineering friends, here are some of the specifications.

They have two sizes. My wife and I were in a 48 passenger sub. They also have a 64 passenger version. They are both certified for a maximum depth of 150 feet (46 m). They both have a top speed of 2.5 knots.

The Atlantis 48 is 65 ft (20 m) long, 17.5 ft high (5.4 m) and has a beam of 13 ft (4 m). It has a displacement of 160,000 lbs (73,000 kg). The 26 viewports are 2.5 inches (64 mm) thick. The height includes the conning tower.

The Atlantis 64 is 100 ft (31 m) long, 19.8 ft high (6.1 m) and has a beam of 17.5 ft (5.4 m). It has a displacement of 320,000 lbs (146,000 kg). The 32 viewports are 4.4 inches (112 mm) thick.

The website for Atlantis Submarines is http://www2.atlantisadventures.com.

Under Water

2006-12-14T06:07:00.000-08:00

My wife and I are officially submariners! This is a picture that I took from inside the submarine. I believe we were around 80 ft (about 25 m) under water at this time. You can see the coral reef at the bottom.

We were on the submarine Atlantis VII. It is stationed in Kona on the big Island of Hawaii. (This is the city closest to the recent earthquake. We were there ten days after the quake. We did not see any damage from it.)

I really enjoyed the trip. I have always been fascinated by submarines. It was great to be inside one and go under water. During the trip, the deepest we went was 103 ft (just over 31 m) below the surface. We toured a coral reef. There were a lot of fish. We did not see any larger sea creatures. At one point, the sub came to a large sandy area on the ocean floor, and the captain set the sub down on the sand.

It was our most expensive shore excursion. For me, it was worth it. I know for many people, it would not be too exciting. It is not extreme, or scary, or physically demanding. It is an unique experience, and an unusual way to see a coral reef.

(P.S. I made it home safely from Finland.)

Hula Graduation

2006-12-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

In an earlier posting, I mentioned a lady named Iuneu'imaumahealani Teruya. (She said to call her, June.) In that posting, I mentioned that she taught us to make leis. If you want to read about that, look for my posting last month (November 2006), entitled "Making Leis."

I wrote that she taught another class as well. She taught Hula lessons. Each of the four sea days, she taught a class. The last sea day, in the afternoon, there was a Hula Graduation Ceremony, which included the students showing what they had learned.

This is a picture of the graduating class. As you can see, it was a large class. My wife is on the right just in front of the bottom of the stairs. I did not attend the class. However, my wife really enjoyed it. She purchased from June a CD of the music and a DVD of the lessons. All of the students received a Hula Master Diploma. I told my wife that she should add this to her resume.

Personal Note

2006-12-06T06:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a few days since I have done a posting. I had a rather busy weekend. There was a personal matter that kept me busy from Friday Night to Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening I caught a flight to Finland. I am in Tempere, Finland now. Hopefully I can add some more pictures of our trip to Hawaii while I am here. Sometime in the future, I will post some pictures from my trips to Finland. This is my third time here.
Please keep checking back for my pictures and postings.

Vegetable Carvings

2006-12-01T03:19:00.000-08:00

We had two sea days on the way to Fanning Island, and two days at sea on the way back to Hawaii. During these four days, there were many activities on board the ship. I have already mentioned some of them in my postings.

There were Lei making classes, hula classes, lectures on Hawaii and Fanning Island, an ice carving demonstration and a food show. Part of the food show was vegetable carvings. Two of the many carvings that were made while we watched are pictured here. The food show also had chefs making sushi, displaying different cuts of meat, and showing some of the types of fish served on board.

Besides the special events during the cruise days, there were many other things to do. I spent some time on the internet e-mailing our son back home. We used the walking track that goes around the ship on Deck 7. We enjoyed a nap. We talked with other guests. There is always food to eat. There are shows every night. During sea days, you can experience what the ship has to offer.

Passenger Services Act

2006-11-29T03:26:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the Norwegian Wind as we were leaving English Harbor on Fanning Island. I almost forgot that I wrote in a previous post that I would explain why the ship visits such a remote island.

The Passenger Services Act is a US law that came into force in 1886. Because of this law, a foreign flagged ship must visit a foreign port before disembarking passengers. The Norwegian Wind is such a ship.

There are no foreign ports near Hawaii. Fanning Island, which is about 1000 miles away, is one of the closest. So in order to comply with this law, the Norwegian Wind's 10 day cruise includes a 5 day round trip journey to Fanning Island.

For more information, you could look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Services_Act

Polynesian Cast

2006-11-28T03:03:00.000-08:00

My wife and I had our picture taken with two members of the Matagi Polynesian Cast after their second show. This group of dancers performed three shows during the cruise. The second was in the evening after we had spent the day on Fanning Island.

The cast is made up of three men and four ladies. They presented native dances from the various islands of the Pacific, with several costume changes during each show. Each show was different and each show was entertaining.

The day after leaving Fanning Island, we learned that one of the four engines on the ship had broken down. Because of this, the speed of the ship dropped from 20 to 15 knots. As a result, the Capitan was forced to change our itinerary. Rather than going to Nawiliwili, we were going to Kona. Then because we could not get into the Nawiliwili port on Friday, we ended up staying in Lahaina for two days.

When things like this happen on vacation, you should just adjust. Complaining does not change circumstances. Many times in my travels, events occur that change my plans.

Johnny's Store

2006-11-24T02:27:00.000-08:00

This is the only store that we saw on Fanning Island. It is next to the area where the cruise line has built its facilities.

The store has basic supplies that the local people can purchase such as canned goods. It also has a selection of t-shirts and other souvenirs for the tourists off the ship. I bought some stamps at the store. As you can imagine, Republic of Kiribati stamps are not common and are collectible.

Many of the other passengers were also buying postcards to mail back home. We were told that a post card would take about four months to get to a North American address.

NCL Primary School

2006-11-22T03:21:00.000-08:00

I took this picture of the Grade 1 teacher and part of the class at the Primary School on Fanning Island. We also visited another class and the Staff Room. The other class did not even have tables for the students. This teacher kneels on the ground in order to write on the blackboard. She was doing this when we first approached the classroom.

Each classroom is in a separate building. There are no doors to the rooms and the windows have no glass. I suspect that vandalism is not a problem here.

Since Norwegian Cruise Line started visiting the island, the local people renamed the school after the cruise line. The school even flies the NCL flag. We were told that the cruise line provides supplies and other help for the school.

If you visit Fanning Island, the school is about a mile walk from the dock used by the tenders. For my wife and I, it was well worth the time and effort. Education is important to the future generations of the Republic of Kiribati, and these students and teachers are doing their part. In the other class we visited (I think it was Grade 3), two of the students were singing a song in English for the other students.

Fanning Island Home

2006-11-21T12:44:00.000-08:00

We saw a local man building a new hut. As I took this picture, he moved behind a tree. I did not realize this until I downloaded the picture to my PC. You can see his arm coming out from behind the tree.

This picture gives you an idea of the homes on Fanning Island. This is fairly typical. We saw some that seemed a bit more solid than this, but many were like this: open sided huts made of natural material. Others were of similar design but had walls.

Visiting a place like this brings with it a lot of mixed emotions. Should you be jealous of these people because they have such a simple life? Or should you feel sad for them that they do not have many of the modern devices that you enjoy? Truthfully, their life is likely more hard than simple, and we get more stress than enjoyment from our modern toys. Life is never simple, and we all have our own problems.

Tug Boat

2006-11-20T02:16:00.000-08:00

This picture is of a tug boat that sank at English Harbor on Fanning Island. It is close to the docks used by the tenders from the ship.

This is the story I was told about the tug boat. This tug boat was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941. It survived that attack. During World War 2, the US Navy established a base of operations at Fanning Island and sent the tug here. While it was here, it caught on fire and sank. It has remained where it is since World War 2.

Craft Market

2006-11-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

Near the dock on Fanning Island, the local people set up a craft market when the cruise ship is there. When Norwegian Cruise Line first started to visit the island, there were no crafts for purchase. The people only made things that they needed. But as the years have gone by, more and more of the local people have started making them. I was told that some of the vendors can earn in one day as much as many of the islanders used to earn in a year!

Most of the crafts are fairly simple, however some do have a lot of detail. I am sure that as the years go by, the quality of items for sale will steadily increase.

One of the items that we purchased was a simple wooden cane. It was smooth and painted with simple designs and a message. There were no carvings on it or other details to make it unusual. One of the other passengers had a cane with him that he was using to walk that was detailed and unique. I saw one of the men selling canes speaking to the man, and then spending some time carefully looking at his cane to see how it was made.

Welcome to Fanning Island

2006-11-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

When we got off the tender at the dock, there was a group of local people singing. This was our welcome to Fanning Island. All of the local people that we meet on the island were friendly and quick to smile.

There is some evidence of early Polynesians living on the island, but when Captain Fanning arrived in 1798, there were no inhabitants. In 1846 a coconut plantation was established on the island. Workers were brought from other islands. The local people are either descendents of these settlers or of others who have moved to the island over the last 200 years. Most of the population growth has occurred in the last 20 years, as families from other islands in the Republic of Kiribati have moved here.

Fanning Island

2006-11-16T03:09:00.000-08:00

Our second port was English Harbor on Fanning Island. The locals call the island Tabuaeran. It is a circular coral atoll ringed with palm trees. There are three breaks in the ring. The picture shows the break that our tenders used to get to the dock which is on the inside of the island.

The island is part of the Repulic of Kiribati. The United Nations considers this one of the poorest nations in the world. The average income in Kiribati is less than $1000 per year. The total land area of Kiribati is 849 square km (about 330 square miles) but it covers 2 million square km (about 800,000 square miles) of the Pacific Ocean.

Fanning Island has no electricity except for that provided by a few generators. There are no telephones. About 1900 people now live on the island. A few times each year a supply ship will stop at the island. The local population is mostly self-sufficient and mainly eat fish from the ocean.

Making Leis

2006-11-15T03:12:00.000-08:00

On three of the sea days, there was a lei making class. This picture is from the first class where we learned to make flower leis. A lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. Normally, they are worn around the neck.

The flowers are fresh orchids. Orchids grow wild in Hawaii. We saw some growing in the ditch along the road.

The second class, we learned to make leis from Kukui nuts. Kukui is the state tree of Hawaii. The final class, we made leis with ribbon.

The classes were taught by a lady who was referred to as the Hawaiian Ambassador. Her name is Iuneu'imaumahealani Teruya. She told us, "people call me June." She is one of the most delightful people I have ever meet: kind, patient and with a great sense of humor. In a future post, I will tell you about the other class that she taught.

Ice Carving

2006-11-14T02:43:00.000-08:00

During one of the sea days on the way to Fanning Island, there was an ice carving demonstration on the deck of the ship. In about ten minutes, this man turned a block of ice into an image of a native American with a feather head dress.

My wife and I were not surprised to learn that the ice carver is from her home town in the Philippines: Paete, Laguna. This town is well known for its wood carvings. Many of those who do ice, vegetable and fruit carvings on cruise ships are from this town. In the future, I will do some postings on my travels to the Philippines.

We were told that there were 15 crewmen on board from Paete. We were able to meet about half of them during the cruise.

Thurston Lava Tube

2006-11-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken inside the Thurston Lava Tube, which is southeast of the Kilauea Caldera. Lava Tubes are formed when a lava flow is deep enough for a crust to form over it. This lava tube is extinct; no lava flows through it now. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_tube) has a good article on lava tubes if you want to learn more about them.

Going through the lava tube requires walking down a rather steep uneven path and coming back up a number of steps. However, it is not a difficult walk. Anyone who can walk unassisted should be able to handle it. You just may need to take your time. Be sure you have a pair of shoes with good traction.

Our Cousin From Hawaii

2006-11-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

Standing with my wife and I by the 1982 lava flow is our travel guide/bus driver. He told us that one of the reasons, people in Hawaii are so friendly is that they consider everyone to be their cousins! Throughout the bus ride, he would say, "Cousins, look out the left side of the bus . . ."

We also learned that his mother is Hawaiian, but his father was from the Philippines. Since my wife is from the Philippines, he may really be our cousin.

Hawaii is a beautiful place. But it is the people who live there that make it a joy to visit.

1982 Lava Flow

2006-11-09T03:14:00.000-08:00

In this picture, I am standing on a lava flow from 1982 inside the Caldera. This is the most recent lava flow inside the Caldera. Before this, there was one in 1974.

Our tour guide/bus driver was at the Caldera when the last two eruptions occurred. He told us that in 1982, two buses were very close to the site of the eruption but, thankfully, were able to get away without anyone being injured.

We were warned to be careful if we visited a site where there is an active flow (which my wife and I did not). When lava turns black that does not mean it is cool. Black lava can still be up to 260C or 500F! Warnings from the Park Rangers at Volcanoes National Park are to be taken seriously.

Even walking on old lava as I did, you need to be careful. The lava flow is jagged, and if you fall, you could suffer some bad cuts.

Kilauea Caldera

2006-11-08T03:05:00.000-08:00

This is a picture I took of the Kilauea Caldera. Within the Caldera, you can see the Halema'uma'u Crater. Also visible are some volcanic fumes escaping from the ground.

This area is part of the Volcanoes National Park. Mount Kilauea is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world. We were told that it is the most active.

The Caldera is about 1200 meters above sea level. The park has a good road that goes around most of the Caldera and even goes into part of it. There is a Visitor Center and a Museum. When we were there, no lava flows were visible. The last lava flow inside the Caldera was in 1982.

On the south side of the mountain, there are two active flows coming from the side of the mountain through lava tubes into the ocean. When we left Hilo, the ship sailed around the south side of the island and we were able to view these flows from the ship. Because it was at night, I was not able to get a good picture of this with the camera I had. But it was a awe inspiring sight.

The "Big Island"

2006-11-07T02:31:00.000-08:00

Our first port was Hilo. The town is on the island of Hawaii. It is called the "Big Island." I believe it is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined.

We booked a shore excursion. Our first stop on this excursion was the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. This was primarily a stop at their gift shop where we had free samples and purchased some good quality Macadamia Nut products.

We booked our excursions through the cruise line. This is not the cheapest option. You can wait until you get to port and book an excursion on your own. You can book an excursion in advance with a tour operator on your own. Some people, on this cruise, rented a car for the day at each port and went places on their own.

There are advantages to booking the excursion through the cruise line. The staff on the ship know where you are. If there is a problem, such as a vehicle breakdown, the ship will not leave without you. The ship does not sail until all excursions booked through the cruise line return.

You also know ahead of time what you are doing in each port. You are not standing on the dock trying to decide what to do. If you book an excursion in port on your own, you may not get the best possible tour. All the excursions offered by the cruise line are with tour operators who are insured, reputable and fully licensed.

If you book a tour with the cruise line, and the ship's itinerary is changed for any reason (which happened on this cruise), you do not pay for any cancelled excursions made with the cruise line. If required, they will attempt to reschedule excursions based upon the change in itinerary.

I am not saying that booking excursions with the cruise line is the best way. It is one option. It is a personal choice. Just understand the advantages and risks involved with each option.

Emergency Drill

2006-11-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

My wife and I were among the first passengers to board. You can wait up until one hour before sailing to board, but we had to check out of the hotel at 11 AM. So we were on board by 1 PM. The sailing was at 8 PM.

For those who board early the ship has a buffet lunch ready. So we ate lunch, and walked around the ship. We went on a tour of the onboard spa.

Late in the afternoon, they have a life boat drill, so that you know where your muster station is, and what you should do in an emergency. This picture is of my wife and I in our life jackets during the drill. Those who board after the drill is done, are required to take part in an emergency drill the next morning. Just like when the instructions are given on a plane, people tend to talk over or ignore the person explaining the emergency procedures.