Every year, Janet and I look for new light displays at Christmas time. One year we went down to Boston to see if they could match the displays of Kansas City and New York. Sadly we were disappointed. I wrote a post about that a few years ago. A few years later I found that Boston had more to offer than I’d initially declared. This year though, we decided to stay closer to home. If you recall from a previous entry, we visited LaBelle Winery in Amherst last year for Janet’s birthday. We had a great time touring the winery and partaking in a tasting and dinner. Since then, they’ve expanded to a second location that is only a few miles from us in Derry. We had dinner at the new location in for my birthday and loved it!!
We had seen the advertisements for LaBelle lights and Janet made plans for us to go. Originally we planned to go Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, but Janet wasn’t feeling well so we chose Friday instead. Fortunately the weather was much better on Friday and we had a beautiful night to enjoy the spectacle.
Last year we went to a light display in Newport, RI and this was about the same size. We traveled along the golf cart trail on the golf course and enjoyed the myriad of lights. It’s similar to those you drive through, but you can go at a slower pace. We enjoyed it a lot.
I don’t rely on municipalities and other enterprises to decorate for the holidays. I’ve made it a tradition to decorate on Veteran’s Day for the last three years. I think we add our own beauty to the New England Christmas landscape!
An acquaintance recommended we check into the site Only in Your State to see what New England adventures we may have missed. Veteran’s Day has become my day to decorate the apartment for Christmas so I thought I’d look through the site to see if there was something Christmas like to go visit. Fortune favored me and I found this cool place called the Christmas Dove in Barrington, NH. We dropped off my car at the dealership for a 30,000 mile checkup and deemed Janet’s car the official transport for our little adventure. Barrington is about an hour from Salem so we enjoyed our first dose of Christmas music on the drive.
Big house, little house, back house and barn is a unique New England housing style that linked farm buildings into one structure. The Christmas Dove is housed in one of these buildings and provides a large area to create over thirty rooms of Christmas displays. Each room was decorated with a theme with hundreds of ornaments to peruse and purchase. Upstairs there were nostalgic Star Wars ornaments and model villages with working trains. The whole place takes about a half hour to see, and we gladly made our way through the entire labyrinth of rooms and corridors.
Dover is the next town over and is really popular with the kids from UNH. I like to think of it as Portsmouth’s little sibling of a town. We found a cute little breakfast and lunch diner to enjoy a meal. As we got back on the highway the dealership called to report the car was done which made it feel that the timing was perfect.
This adventure was a great kickstart to the holiday season! If you haven’t checked out https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ I highly recommend it for getting out and seeing your own state like a tourist!
It’s not often we get a 76° day in November here in New England. When we do, it seems a huge shame to stay inside. Today we decided to drive out to Rockport, MA. We haven’t been there in a few years so we were excited to revisit this beautiful little town on Cape Ann. Though the colors peaked a couple of weeks ago, many of the leaves are still beautiful and were falling from the trees like a tender snowfall.
Rockport is an old fishing village that has been reclaimed by artists and boasts a thriving downtown filled with studios, eateries, and gift shops. The town is a nice mix of Colonial and Victorian architecture. Apparently, half the state had the same idea as us as parking was very difficult to come by. We finally found a spot on the north side of town. The day was so nice that the small beach in town was filled with sun worshipers!
Janet has often reminisced of all the fudge and taffy shops that used to be found at the beaches during her youth. Unfortunately most are gone, but we saw this one and laughed at her overstated recollection.
As I said, the town is filled with art studios. Mostly we just admired the works from the windows, but occasionally we ventured inside to get a better look. This trip, we discovered the Rockport Artists Association that housed a multi studio museum showcasing many artists works. Between the galleries was a cute little courtyard. The manager invited us to come back in the season and have lunch there. We made a mental note to do just that.
Our best memory of the day came from a metal works studio managed by a kind gentleman whose hearing aid was on the blink. He shared with us that it was being replaced tomorrow at the VA. However, today we needed to speak very loudly or look directly into his face. We motioned that we wanted sailboats on the wall. As he took it down, he also took out a whale and some other pieces. The poor man was having a bad day, but it was all good and we gained a new piece to add to a blank wall.
On the way back we enjoyed the drive through Gloucester along the Essex County Scenic Coastal ByWay. The twists and turns throughout this ideal New England town topped off this beautiful day. Rockport is one of my favorite New England towns. It never disappoints!
The nation can’t figure out if the second Monday in October is Columbus day or Indigenous People’s day. For school personnel in New Hampshire it’s a three day weekend. We haven’t seen Jim and Autumn since July, and even longer since we’ve been to their home, so this was a great time to go see them. I have to say right here that we’ve gotten spoiled by the train. Though our last trip had some tight turnovers from bus to train, it was still so nice to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. We’ve done this weekend before and the driving is never fun. Massachusetts took three hours to get through turning a five hour trip into eight. I missed a turn in the Bronx and ended up paying an extra toll to go into Manhattan instead of the GW Bridge. Nonetheless we made it to New Jersey and checked into our usual haunt, the Comfort Inn of Manchester Township.
When I first moved here nine years ago, I’d visit them and pretty much demand that we do something exciting. Age and experience have mellowed me. We’re good with watching movies, grabbing a bite to eat and just being together. I bought Janet a Sushi making kit for her birthday. We tried it out a few weeks ago and were eager to make it for Autumn as it’s one of her favorite foods. She loved it and wants to try it on her own as well. These two are pretty much done living in New Jersey and want to move back to Missouri. We spent a good part of the day looking at houses and making plans for a big move! When that happens, we can quit driving down here and take the train instead!!!
As is our custom, we stayed the night in Manchester then drove into Manhattan to see a show. Being Harry Potter fans, we’ve been thinking about seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for awhile. Up until this year it has been a two-show show. After the pandemic they shortened it to a one seating show which was nice! We arrived in plenty of time to get out and walk the city before brunch. Janet made mention that she liked just being able to walk around, which was music to my ears. Walking a city on a Sunday morning is just about one of my favorite things to do! Our journey took us through the preparations for the Columbus Day parade on 5th Avenue which appeared to feature floats from Latin American countries.
Breakfast eateries around Times Square were pretty busy but we happened to find a nice place in Hell’s Kitchen just as it opened. Though still accessible to tourists, 44 & X at Hell’s Kitchen appeared popular with many locals, a feature we love! New Yorkers are used to crowds with limited space. Fortunately we’ve grown accustomed to dining in close quarters didn’t mind being in the corner listening to the conversations around us. The food was fantastic and the service was outstanding! I found the bathroom quite interesting. The top half of the room was mirrored all around, and votive candles lined the ledge giving the place a very romantic feel. Though romantic is not a word I would normally attribute to a bathroom, it seemed to fit. Overall, this is definitely a place I would come back to.
The creative staff for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have gone all out to theme the theater in order to immerse the audience in the story. Feathers cover one wall of the exterior and a nest with feathers containing a child is perched on top of the fly well. Inside the lobby has places to take pictures with Hogwarts paraphernalia as well as gifts and refreshments that are themed to the story. You can tell this is a show that is aimed at families. We’re such big fans, I forgot this was based on children’s literature and was surprised to see kids. The show was great, and I think that some children may have been frightened by dementors flying over the audience, or Delores Umbridge taking over the school. I thought it a nice sequel to the books, and left some options open for future stories.
The drive home was pretty uneventful. Traffic was much lighter on the way back so we were home at a decent hour. While perusing Facebook Monday morning, I noticed that our friends, Bruce and Barb Dickerson from Missouri, were sightseeing in Boston. I student taught with Bruce just before graduating college. After coming back to Missouri from Oregon, we reconnected at a local church and sang together in choir and the praise team, and in the Kansas City Symphony Chorus. He and Barb have been good friends of ours for a long time. I reached out to them and they excitedly accepted our offer to get together for lunch. We met at Boston Commons and enjoyed French crepes in the theater district. We had a great time catching up and sharing stories of our grandchildren. While normally I would have escorted them through the city and played tour guide, the weekend was long and we needed some rest. We let them get on with their trolley tour, while we headed home.
The country may not know what to call it, but it’s the first three day weekend after the start of school that we can go on adventures. I think I’m going to start calling it “Back to School Adventure Day!”
Sometimes adventures happen when you don’t plan for them. A couple of weeks ago we were invited to join Dillard, Laurie, Priscille, Ronnie, Joanne, and George to see Mr. Holland’s Opus at the Ogunquit Playhouse. With school just starting and our recent trip to the Cape, we weren’t eager to fill up a weekend with another adventure. But as fate would have it, Ronnie and Priscille couldn’t go, so we bought their tickets and committed to the day. Dillard and Laurie were gracious to pick us up and drive for the day. A welcome change to our adventure routine. Normally I wouldn’t write about another trip to Ogunquit, but today we did something new and different.
Stonewall Kitchen is a local specialty food brand that has its home office/factory in York right on the way. They’re known for jams, sauces, mixes and other tasty treats. Dillard and Laurie have been there many times and thought it would be a great place to stop for lunch on the way. Janet spent a great deal of time perusing all the varieties of foods offered. This is one of those stores that you kind of have to explore each area as there are hidden treasures to be found in niches throughout the space. Of course a good food store is nothing without free samples, and I enjoyed plenty. Lunch was great and we enjoyed the sunshine out on the flower adorned porch.
I’ve written about the Ogunquit Playhouse many times. Most of the time the venue features shows that had successful runs on Broadway or the West End. Like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which we saw a few years ago, Mr. Holland’s Opus was one of those instances where a show is being worked on to see if someday it might end up on Broadway. Of the six in our group, four are teachers. And of those four, three are music teachers. To say the show resonated with us would be an understatement!! It still needs polishing before it would ever play in New York, but we enjoyed the show immensely. A unique feature to this performance was the use of subtitles on screens to the side of the stage. Because half the story is about the relationship with their hearing impaired son, it made total sense for this accommodation. I kind of wished they’d do that in more theaters.
After the show JoAnn and George suggested we eat at The York River Landing. With a beautiful view to the surrounding nature, it made a great ending to an unexpected day. We’re thankful for the friends who make our adventures even sweeter!
My father hated driving downtown to Kansas City. Our home was in a suburb about twenty miles away from the city. Consequently, I didn’t get to see much of the city until after I was an adult and could make my own travel arrangements. I remember getting a job at Crown Center and being thrilled to drive there everyday. When Janet & I got married, we never let the traffic or the hustle of the city keep us from finding new restaurants, enjoying a play, attending a concert or even going to a Royals game. We did the same in Portland when we lived in Oregon. We’re about thirty miles from Boston but for me it may as well be ten. I love to drive down, park, get on a train and just get out and walk around the city.
As much as I love to go by myself, it’s always better when Janet goes with me. She needs purpose though, so today I made reservations for a place we’d intended on eating at for our anniversary, until we changed our plans and went to New York instead. State Street Provisions is right off the harbor and in the heart of the one of the more touristy areas of Boston. The Orange line was down, so I braved finding a parking garage. Luckily I found one in the North End that only charged $20 for a whole day of parking. It was a beautiful day for walking, and we killed some time before our reservation watching the boats in the harbor and enjoying the sun. One of our favorite places is the Christmas in Boston store in Quincy Market. Like the TARDIS on Doctor Who, it’s larger on the inside. We try to explore every inch to see if there’s something new and different we can add to our tree, but alas, few things jump out. Still it’s fun to look!
We ate brunch outside with a mix of locals and tourists. Janet enjoyed pancakes, while I treated myself to fish and chips. Since losing weight, I don’t normally eat fried foods, but everyone needs to splurge now and then. One of the changes since COVID has been the prevalence of outdoor dining venues. An interesting observation is how many people bring their dogs to eat with them now. That was something I’d seen in Paris, but not here in the states.
After brunch we walked up to the North End to find a gelato stand. Surprisingly, there were only two on Hanover Street. Fortunately the second was close to where we parked so it made the perfect ending to our trip.
Adventures don’t have to be long or exciting. They just need to get you out of your house for a little bit. Upon returning home I took a picture of our Tuscan themed porch decorated with fall flowers and lighting and thought about what an awesome privilege it is to live in New England and experience it like a tourist.
What a summer!! As soon as school was out we went to NYC, then the kids were here. Before we knew it, we were on an Alaskan cruise. Now August has come and we were asked to spend the weekend at Cape Cod with our friends, Dillard, Laurie, Pam, and Mike at Dillard’s mother’s house. I got off work early on Friday and we joined the Cape traffic to journey south. The GPS directed us to take I-495 around the city as it would have been an additional hour to take I-93 through the city. As we planned, we arrived just in time for dinner, and what a spread! Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, rolls, and quite a bit of other food was laid out on the table. Such was our welcome to the Cape!
After stuffing ourselves for dinner we decided to journey to the beach in Sandwich to see the sunset. I’ve seen many sunsets, but I wasn’t really prepared for this. New England sunsets are amazing by themselves, but add the water element and they become truly spectacular. Lots of people had beach chairs set up just to view the spectacle. We really enjoyed our first evening and felt prepared for a weekend of fun and friendship!
We rose early the next day for more of Mrs. Collins fantastic cooking. A mountain of bacon accompanied eggs, bisquits, and fruit. She made enough to feed an army so we were well prepared for our day. We decided to visit the National Seashore which is on the east side of the cape. Though a little chilly, we decided to brave it anyway. Our GPS led us to Coast Guard Beach. We parked about a half mile away and took a tram to the beach. We were greeted at this beach with a sign warning us of Great White sharks that feed on seals. As luck would have it we saw at least half a dozen seals that morning. The lifeguard chair also had a shark flag flying so we stayed clear of the water. Most of us wrapped up in jackets or our towels because the temperatures was in the low 70s with a cool breeze. We tried to have fun, but eventually it was just too cold to stay, so we packed it up and headed out to explore more of the cape.
Heading back west, we found a fun little seafood restaurant for lunch. Janet & I don’t care for fried fish so we opted for clam chowder and potato skins. We proceeded down 6A which is more scenic than Hwy 6. Dillard spotted the Cape Cod Natural History Museum and thought it would be fun to explore. Though mostly geared towards children, we especially enjoyed the aquarium portion of the venue. Perhaps the most interesting exhibit was a lobster that had just molted within 24 hours. We were told that the creature would eat most of the old shell for the minerals. We were amazed at how much it appeared that there were 2 lobsters in the tank. A rare blue lobster was also on display. The tide pool exhibit was fascinating with all its hermit crabs, sea stars, shrimp and other sea life.
After the museum we drove over to Hyannis to explore the town and eat dinner. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed our meal outside. Afterwards, we walked down to the harbour to make final arrangements for our ferry ride to Nantucket on Sunday. We told Mrs. Collins that we would need to leave early the next morning, but again a big breakfast was waiting.
We boarded our ferry and headed for the island. Our ferry was listed as the fast ferry as it is a hydroplane. What that means is it’s faster than the slower ferry, that contains cars. Janet and I visited Nantucket a few years ago so we were regarded as something of the experts. We found a cute little place for lunch and also made arrangements for a bus tour of the island. Nantucket is a great place to visit for the day, but it’s also very expensive. We enjoyed seeing it again, especially with friends!
We ate another dinner under a beautiful evening sky and then it was time to return to the mainland. We chose to sit outside despite the chill. I didn’t regret it as once again we were blessed with a brilliant sunset and beautiful views. This month begins my tenth year living in New England. We are revisiting places, but continue to enjoy them. New England is a wonderful place and I will never tire of seeing all its wonderful sites.
All good things come to an end. This cruise was more than I’d ever imagined. On Day 7, our ship left the waters of Alaska and entered the maze of islands known as the Inside Passageway of British Columbia, CA. More beautiful skies and summer temperatures made the scenery even more impressive. A pilot usually boards a ship as it enters the port to guide the ship into the docking area. Our pilot boarded the ship a full day in advance to steer the ship through all its twists and turns. What appeared a short distance on the map actually took over 24 hours to navigate.
Vancouver, B.C. is a beautiful city. Someday I’m going to have to go back and visit it again as a destination and not just a city to pass through. We stopped long enough for some pictures, but alas another adventure was waiting and meant we had to move on.
In 1991 Janet and I left our home in Missouri and took our three year old son and newborn daughter to live in Portland, OR so I could lead music at the Beavercreek Baptist Church. During that time, I established my teaching career, beginning in elementary music, then moving to kindergarten and finally third grade. We left Oregon in 1998 and moved back to Kansas City, but that’s a story for another blog. Getting back to the point, we decided it would be a total shame to be this close and not take a trip to Portland and spend the weekend reconnecting and seeing how things have changed in 25 years. We booked a shuttle bus to Sea-Tac airport where we rented a car and braved the traffic to Portland. Traveling consumed more of our time than I’d anticipated, but we made it in time for at least one visit before checking into the hotel. On the shuttle I couldn’t help but snap a picture of Mt. Baker, one of the crown jewels of the Cascades.
Our friend Karl has recently converted to the religion of sailing. I say religion because his passion is infectious and he shares his knowledge as if he’s on a proselyting mission. He invited us to join him on his boat for a sailing adventure on the Columbia River and we eagerly accepted. We’ve been on many boat excursions, but few that we had to work for our ride. The work was anything but toil. Janet chose to steer while Karl had me manning lines and raising sails. The wind wasn’t strong, but we certainly had a fantastic time navigating the river in the shadow of Mount Hood. We docked in Vancouver, WA and enjoyed a Latin lunch in the new development along the shore. Though the cruise was over, the excursions continued!
The remainder of the day was spent retracing routes we’d followed decades ago, seeing places we’d lived, and schools the kids had attended. The highlight of the evening was dinner with our dear friend Del and his daughter Jacque. Del is the pastor who invited us to Oregon 30 years ago, He and his wife Tammy became our closest friends shortly after Janet and I married. We spent many years working and playing together both in Missouri and later in Oregon. We lost Tammy two years ago to Myotonic Dystrophy, a disease that Jacque also shares. This was our first time seeing them since Tammy’s death and it was good to reconnect and share memories.
On Sunday we attended the services to hear Del preach. We appreciated the newer building, hugged familiar necks, and relived memories in the room with colored windows where we used to lead music. It was a wonderful day and brought a needed closure to this amazing adventure.
On our way to the airport, we stopped by two of the schools where I began my teaching career. So much has changed in my life, but these buildings looked almost exactly the way I remembered them.
Janet and I are amazingly blessed at this time in our lives to be able to travel as we do. Many people have asked if we’re retired. Though I wish we were, alas we still work and I have to use my 25 vacation days wisely. We made our way back to the airport to board our red-eye flight back to Boston so I could be back to work the next day. I can’t waste any of those 25 days sleeping! As the plane rose to cruising altitude I got some awesome pictures of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. We made our connection in Salt Lake City and were pleasantly upgraded to first class. We’ve had many outstanding adventures, but I know this one has risen to one of the top five! It may be a once in a lifetime trip as there are so many other places to see and things to do. Until the next one, I’ll continue living in New England like a tourist!
Day 6 brought us to the beautiful town of Ketchikan. As we sailed into port, we were greeted by a gloriously cloud free morning that promised great weather. Our excursion wasn’t due to begin until afternoon so we decided to get off the ship and explore the town. I started in long sleeves, jeans, and a jacket. This was soon to change as the temperature began to climb and the jacket was the first to go. I’d seen some YouTube videos of Ketchikan and knew I wanted to visit Creek Street, an area where the houses are built on stilts above the creek below. We reached the area early before many other visitors and found it to be beautifully maintained with lots of shops and eateries.
As we neared the end of the street, a woman in costume reminiscent of the 1920s beckoned us to come into Dolly’s House. She shared with us that Creek Street had been the red light district in the early part of the 20th Century and these shops had mostly been bars and brothels. We paid our $10 a piece and toured Dolly’s home. It was certainly a journey back into time as the house has been preserved almost perfectly as it looked when Dolly died in the 1950s. The self guided tour explained how whiskey made her more money than managing prostitutes. Due to prohibition, alcohol had to be smuggled into the house through a trap door in the floor. No more than one bottle and one shot glass could be kept in the house at a time for easy disposal into the creek below. Dolly’s shower curtain was embossed with rosettes made of early condoms made of silk that she sewed together, after recognizing they had no other real purpose. Our host was extremely happy we enjoyed her museum and graced us with a selfie.
After the museum we journeyed farther up the creek to a waterfall that included a fish ladder for the salmon. We didn’t see any fish, but the scenery was beautiful.
Ketchikan is host to many shops, both local and industry owned. I found a nice Alaska T-shirt to replace my long sleeved sweater that by now was becoming insufferably hot. We also found some bamboo sheets at the Cariloha store to have delivered home before heading back to the ship.
After lunch, we embarked on our last excursion of the cruise. By now, the temperature was in the 80s and I was ready for shorts and short sleeves. They say packing for an Alaskan cruise can be difficult, and I can certainly attest to the variety of clothing you should bring. Our excursion was to the Saxman Native Totem Village. This village was home to Tlingit, Ts’msyen, and Haida people and was a carving center for many of the regional totem poles. We were taken first to a cultural center for a brief presentation about the village and some exhibits of tribal artifacts.
After the presentation, we took a short walk through the woods to the clan house. This replica of traditional clan houses is used for more of the presentation and demonstrations of native dances. Many members of the community of all ages participated in the dances and it was quite informative and enriching.
After the dances, our guide took us outside to share the meanings of the totems on the grounds. While some represented stories, others were made to identify who lived in the village. The other two types of poles were for honoring and for ridiculing. The lawn included examples of all four.
The final stop on our tour was the carving house. A team of craftsman led by the master, Nathan Jackson, worked on poles which could take up to nine months to complete. As I leafed through the master’s portfolio, I came upon a picture of the totem that graced the pool deck of the ship. I made mention of it out loud and Mr. Jackson was excited to find out that our group was on the Radiance of the Seas. He had designed that totem and appeared to be really excited that our group was from that ship.
Ketchikan was our last stop in Alaska, and was certainly one of our best. With so much to see and do and the weather getting warmer, it represented a perfect ending to this spectacular adventure. We still have a cruising day left, but it’s time to say goodbye to this marvelous state.
The cruise industry has created many venues throughout the world to enhance the experience of its passengers. Some lines own their own private islands. Sometimes many lines work together to manufacture shared ports like Costa Maya in Mexico. Icy Strait Point, outside the Tlingit village of Hoonah, is one such port. With the ability to accommodate two vessels at a time, the port hosts many activities of its own including a mountain tram, zip lines, and a ropes courses. The campus also includes restaurants, gift shops, and a launching area for other excursions.
Our excursion of Day 5 was the Spasski River Valley, Wildlife & Bear Search. Our meeting time was an early 7:15 AM where we were loaded onto our transport and ferried through the small village and into the wild interior of the island. Our knowledgeable guide informed us that more than 4,000 brown bears claimed the Chichagof Island as their habitat. With rivers and streams rich with salmon, the bears find it easy to fatten up for their long months of hibernation.
We finally reached our destination and headed into the woods. All groups include a guide and a bear guard who is equipped with bear mace and a firearm. I asked the guide if bears find their way onto the paths to which she replied, “that’s why we have the guards.” The paths were well constructed, and often became boardwalks. Three observation platforms lined the Spasski river and we were blessed to see a bear while standing on the first platform. All of us excitedly took our pictures and marveled at our good fortune. We moved on to the second and third platforms, but alas, that was all the bears we were destined to see. At the third platform we were introduced to the resident bear which had been sculpted into a stump. The artist required an armed bear guard during its construction. With 4000 bears around, you can’t be too careful.
On the ride back our guide shared with us some traditional native stories recounting how the Tlingit came to be on the island and how peace was achieved among the tribes. I love storytelling and she did a nice job! The bus dropped us off at the old cannery that had been converted to a gift shop mall of sorts. One of the stores, a book store, gave all its proceeds to the student activity fund of the local school. So we added to Janet’s class library with a couple of new books. The walkway between the cannery and the center featured an Orca statue and a nice rock beach. Unfortunately no real Orcas were visible on this trip. Maybe next time. Back at the center, we enjoyed a ride on the tram to where the Princess Cruise ship was docked. This ride was free, but the tram to the top of the mountain would have been $50/ea. We decided to skip that ride and again availed ourselves of the free trip back to our ship.
As we continued south, the days were getting shorter and the weather warmer. After the evening show we ventured out onto the promenade deck for a walk around the ship and were pleasantly surprised by the elevated temperatures. The skies were clearing and the vistas continued to be beautiful!
Day 4 began docking in Skagway, Alaska, the gateway to the Yukon and Goldrush of 1849. Our planned excursion, a train ride through the White Pass, wasn’t scheduled to begin until 11:45 so we spent the morning exploring this beautifully maintained frontier village. Quaint little shops line the main street of the historic part of town, and we did our share of browsing and buying souvenirs. As in the Caribbean, Alaskan ports are often filled with cruise industry jewelry and clothing stores. Those seemed abundant in Juneau, which was why we weren’t too disappointed to go back straight to the ship. Skagway was much different. Sure there were a few of the standard stores, but mostly the shops were local venues featuring products that were made in Alaska, or at least relevant to the area. One of Janet’s favorites was a quilting shop that featured beautiful patterns of Alaskan culture and wildlife. We found a souvenir totem pole for our display shelves at home, and another nativity for Janet’s collection, score!
Our main activity was boarding the White Pass Yukon Railway for a trip through the mountain pass leading to Canada. Rising over 4000 feet, the train made many switchbacks along rivers, waterfalls, and past other trains. Over bridges and through tunnels, we finally made it to the peak and crossed into Canada, only to loop around and descend via the same track. Along the way we learned of all the risk taking adventurers who put their lives on the line to maybe strike it rich. A very small percentage were actually successful finding enough gold to make it worth the sacrifice. I’ve taken chances in my life, but I’m not sure I’d have been cut out for that type of adventure.
The ship left port earlier than usual because we were scheduled to make a second stop that day in the bustling metropolis of Haines. I say that with all the sarcasm one can muster in the written word. Billed as the adventure capital of Alaska, many of our cruise companions joined us scratching our heads as to why a cruise ship would stop here. Boasting a hammer museum and another local museum, the town really had very little to offer. To add insult to injury, most of the stores had closed before we arrived. The town is apparently home to a dense population of bald eagles, and we did see some catching fish in the harbor. As usual, I found the wall murals fascinating and captured a few pictures.
Though Haines wasn’t as exciting as most of the other stops, it did provide a magnificent backdrop for the ship. We enjoyed our walk. The weather was mild, and at 9:00 PM, we still had plenty of light to enjoy the sites. Another day of amazing adventure! Time for some rest!
It still seems so strange to be on a cruise ship wearing jeans, long sleeves, and sometimes coats. Saturday, Day 2, was mostly a cruising day. We spent the morning finding things to do on the ship like playing a game of Scrabble and attending a lecture on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The highlight of the day was sailing into Disenchantment Bay to view the largest tide water glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier. We didn’t splurge on a balcony cabin, so we needed to don our coats and move up to the pool deck to see the glacier. To be honest, I was a little disappointed at the distance from the glacier that the ship stopped and began to rotate. Pictures always depict the ship practically within throwing distance of the wall of ice, but today we were at least two to three miles away. Thank goodness we brought our binoculars and that the camera had a zoom lens. I suppose we could have gotten closer had we paid for the excursion, but $500 didn’t seem quite worth it. Still the experience was amazing and we really enjoyed being there.
Sunday, Day 3, we woke to a rainy day as we docked in Juneau. We’d been warned that Alaska is quite rainy so we came prepared with rain gear including water proof shoes, jackets, and even umbrellas. After breakfast, we exited the ship and boarded a bus to the marina for a whale watching tour. About 5 years ago, we went whale watching out of Boston. It was a truly spiritual experience so we were really excited to repeat the adventure. We came upon our first whale after about 45 minutes into the Favorite Channel. Our guide, a marine biologist, enthusiastically described her feeding patterns and encouraged us to look all around as her dives would make her emerge on either side of the boat. Our skipper, an old sea salt of a captain, wasn’t overly impressed. Noticing her pretty flaccid fluke as she dived, he called her a lazy whale, and told us we were going to find some more energetic whales.
We rounded Lincoln Island and were pleasantly rewarded by spotting at least a half dozen whales. Other boats had spotted the marine mammals and eagerly surrounded the feeding creatures. One young calf caught the attention of the skipper and he graciously made his way back to this youngster so we could watch him practice his breaching and diving techniques. One astute whale watcher was able to capture Cinder has he launched into the air, and shared his shot with others of us on the tour. We followed Cinder for a good twenty minutes as he played and gave us a good show. We learned all about his mother, Flame, who was the first known whale to bring calves back to the area four consecutive years. Most whales wait a year before birthing new offspring. She’s not the most consistent maternal figure, and our marine biologist could not discern whether the nearby adult was actually Flame or another whale. We certainly got our money’s worth as both our guide and the skipper mentioned that this many whales in one trip is certainly a rare site. On the way back to the marina, we stopped to see a group of sea lions lazing on the buoy. A truly great day for wildlife.
The second part of our excursion included an outdoor restaurant featuring an all you can eat grilled salmon buffet. Though still raining, these folks were prepared with covered tables and space heaters. The food was really good, and probably the best salmon I’ve eaten. The waterfall behind the restaurant previously powered a mill on the location, but served now only to provide beautiful photographs.
All too soon, it was time to get back on the ship. Our shuttle driver got so caught up in telling us his life story, he forgot to drop us off in town and took us all the way back to the ship. We didn’t mind, though. I knew there would be more shopping experiences later in the week. Our first port of call was certainly a day to remember.
We’ve been trying to take an Alaskan cruise for three years. We originally booked this cruise in 2019 for the summer of 2020. As fate would have it, the pandemic made the trip impossible. That cruise rolled over to a Caribbean in 2021, which rolled over to another Caribbean in 2022. Finally, cruises opened back up again and as you’ve read, we’ve already been on two this year. With COVID restrictions lightening up throughout the year, it seemed positive that our trip would be successful. We ordered our home tests and both tested negative ensuring that our trip would finally become a reality.
Beginning our cruise in Seward, Alaska meant that a full day of travel was necessary before boarding our ship, even though we were not scheduled to sail until 8:30 PM. We left Boston the day before our sailing around 11:00 AM and flew 5 hours to Seattle for a two hour layover until our 3 hour journey to Anchorage. Our Delta Gold/Silver medallion status bought us some perks though, so our time in the air and in the airport wasn’t quite so grueling. On our way into Seattle, the skies were blissfully clear giving us excellent views of Mount Rainier and many other ridges in the Cascade Range. Likewise, from Seattle to Anchorage, the Olympic Mountains of Western Washington as well as the coastal mountains of British Columbia’s inside passage were awesome to behold.
We spent the night in Anchorage under a sun that never sets. In the summertime, this area only gets about 2 or 3 hours with no sun. We quickly realized we were not in the lower 48 anymore and bundled up in the coats we’d brought. It felt quite strange to be experiencing temperatures in the lower 50s in late July.
As nice as it would have been to explore Anchorage and nearby Denali National Park, we rose early to board a train that would take us to Seward to board our ship. Little did we know that the adventure would begin the moment the train pulled out of the station. Immediately we were plunged into the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness as the train chugged past tidal mud flats, glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, and lush forests. Though it rained, the beauty shown through bright and clear. The train moved too quickly for a picture, but we were fortunate to see two moose calves grazing in a meadow. Eagles were plenty along the route, but unfortunately that was the limit of our wildlife experience.
The train passed three glaciers in its three hour journey through the mountains and to the sea port. These frozen rivers are marvelous to behold in person. As we climbed the mountain passes, beautiful gorges with glacier filled rivers captured the attention of most of us on the train, and our cameras were filled with beautiful memories.
Coming into Seward Station, the train ride felt like a pre cruise excursion. We quickly disembarked and began a walking tour of the tiny seaside village. This was our first opportunity to act as Alaskan tourists. I bought a Puffin Christmas tree ornament. Apparently they are abundant in the area, however none were to be found during our short stay.
The town was small, and our stomachs began to crave food. Knowing that the ship contained an endless bounty of food, we headed toward the cruise terminal. We’ve been on many cruises now and are used to being herded through embarkation like cattle. To our great surprise, the terminal was practically empty. As we approached, we were virtually the only cruisers entering the facility. We made our way onto the ship with ease, and were soon seated at the Windjammer buffet enjoying lunch.
The Radiance of the Seas is the same class of ship we sailed on in April. With only slight differences, it felt extremely familiar and more than appropriate for exploring the Alaskan wilderness. We dinked around till our cabins were ready, then unpacked our cabin and settled in. When sail away finally arrived, we were blessed with plenty of sunshine and a bald eagle to send us off.
It’s hard to believe we’d only experience one day of the cruising and yet seen so much. Sleep was quick to come by knowing that tomorrow would be the beginning of a week filled with awe and adventure.
It’s kind of embarrassing to admit that I haven’t visited one of the most touristy destinations in New Hampshire. It wouldn’t be so bad, but Canobie Lake Amusement Park is located in the very town I live. When I invited my kids and grandchildren to visit during the 4th of July weekend, I determined that I would correct this grievous error. Just for context, my grandchildren are ages 7, 4, and 1. Last time they visited, there were only 2 of them and we traveled all the way to Storyland in the White Mountains. Though the day was great, the drive was excruciating. The lure of a five minute transport was too much to pass up. Not only that, but Canobie Lake boasts a plethora of children’s rides.
Canobie Lake Park is one of the few remaining “Trolley Parks” of the early 20th century. A rail line from Boston to Manchester conveyed passengers to the little town of Salem on the state line, and to the humble amusement park on Canobie Lake. As the years passed, the rail line was abandoned but the park remains, and has grown to be a major attraction in the southern New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts area. Incidentally, the rail line became a paved trail that I walk regularly. The park is clean and well kept with many floral displays and themed buildings. Not quite Disney World, but more than just a traveling carnival.
We arrived early to avoid crowds, and were greatly rewarded. The morning was filled with laughter and excitement. Katelyn, the one year old, was able to enjoy just as many rides as her sisters. Grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles all joined in the fun of our little thrill seekers! Adults joined the children when necessary, but watching them ride by themselves was worth every penny of admission.
The adults found ways to have fun as well, but young children tire easily, especially when the temperatures rise to 90 degrees. We left early in the afternoon and enjoyed the rest of the day in air conditioned comfort.
The following day was spent with the Sheppard clan at Silver Lake. We had a marvelous day enjoying the water and family! Janet and I have been there many times before, but it was great to share this experience with our children! They don’t often get to see their grandparents and extended family, so this made it extra special.
Our last adventure of the week was an obligatory trip to Hampton Beach. We arrived early and were able to secure a prime parking spot in the first lot. Janet and I routinely arrive early and leave before lunch to avoid the crowds. Our children appreciated this strategy and we had a great time building sandcastles and playing in the water.
This will probably be the last trip to New Hampshire for all the family as Autumn and Jim are planning to move to Missouri soon and our family get togethers will be there. It was great to have everyone here. Not only did I get to see my children, but also add to my New England tourist experiences.
If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you know that it’s hard for me to let an anniversary go by without getting out of town and doing something special. Last year we celebrated in Las Vegas. You can read all about it in my Viva Las Vegas posts of 2021. When I was in New York singing at Carnegie Hall, I saw the poster for Funny Girl which included among the cast, Ramin Karimloo, one of our all time favorite Broadway stars. I took a picture and texted it to Janet who replied “When will we go.” Well there’s no time like the present! I got home and began my planning for our next adventure.
I took the train for my last trip and found it quite relaxing, so I though Janet would enjoy the experience, not having to worry about traffic. A commuter bus runs from our town, Salem to South Station so I booked tickets to correspond with our train. Interestingly, the margin of transfer was only 10 minutes between bus and train. I knew that if there was any delay by the bus, we’d miss our train, but I booked it anyway.
The day arrived and we boarded the Boston Express. The driver arrived a few minutes later than scheduled and seemed to take her time departing from the station. As we drove it appeared she was making up the time However, as we exited the highway, the bus hit every red light reducing the final time of transfer to five minutes. Janet doesn’t run. But in this instance she kicked it into high gear. Fortunately we boarded the train upon the final call and found our seats. Such a close call, but totally worth it!!
Upon our arrival, I made sure that we exited into the new Moynihan train hall so that Janet could see this marvelous structure. I know I raved about it in my last post, but it is totally worth viewing if you’ve ever had to navigate through the maze under Madison Square Garden.
Streaming services have changed the way we view programs. What once took years to view twenty seasons can now happen in weeks or even days. For the past six months, Janet and I have binge watched over 20 seasons of Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars. In nearly every episode, the designers visit Mood Fabric store in the garment district. I told Janet that the next time we went we’d stop and see the place, so I made it an important stop in our plans. After checking into our hotel we strolled down a couple of blocks and visited the famed store. It was indeed one of the most completely stocked fabric stores I have ever seen. Just about anything a clothing designer could want was located within the three floors. It was everything Janet had anticipated and more. Before leaving she echoed those infamous words “Thank you Mood.” We didn’t see Swatch, but we certainly enjoyed our visit.
Our dinner reservation wasn’t till 6:00 so we decided to kill some time revisiting Hudson Yards West. The place has certainly filled out since our last visit about 3 years ago. Many new stores and things to do made me wish I’d have planned more time to be there. Interestingly, the wind was traveling through the urban canyons at a high velocity and felt as though we were in hurricane like conditions. Unseasonably cool, this really made us glad we chose to wear jackets for the weekend!
Seven years ago we had dinner at Mama Mia 44SW in Hell’s Kitchen. Unfortunately Janet was not feeling well and wasn’t able to enjoy the dinner. I thought it would be nice to give the restaurant another chance and we were so glad I did. Mama Mia’s is a family owned restaurant that prides itself in traditional Italian cuisine. The daughter of the original owner, Connie, bustles around the dining room taking orders, seating guests, and making sure everyone is happy. She stopped and talked with us for a few minutes and insured we would be back on our many trips to the city. The food and service were excellent, and a server even ran across the block to find me and deliver my bag I’d left on my chair.
Funny Girl hasn’t been seen on Broadway since Barbra Streisand appeared in her star making role of Fanny Brice in 1964. Beanie Feldman has donned the mantle in this long awaited revival and unfortunately did not measure up. She is a wonderful comedic actress, however the role also requires superb vocal abilities. We wanted to love her, but simply couldn’t. Ramin, however was all we hoped for and made seeing the show worth the weekend. I realize my blog isn’t a theater critique, but most of the critics thought the same, so I included my review as well.
We debated about taking the subway back to the hotel or walking. I misjudged the distance and we ended up walking twenty blocks through Pride parties and New York night life. Though I never felt threatened, I knew that we probably should have taken the subway after such a long day.
The next morning we found a nearby Starbucks for breakfast and boarded our Boston bound train. As before, the margin of time in our transfer was scheduled to be less than 10 minutes. The train was early that day so we were able to leisurely walk to the bus.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience and a great way to celebrate our 36th anniversary. Once again, the New England residential experience has provided us with the ability to experience things we’d only dreamed about living in the Midwest!
In the midst of all the chaos of the pandemic, my college friend, Debra Lynn, posted an invitation on Facebook to join her choir in performing her original work, A Family Portrait, at Carnegie Hall on Memorial Day 2022 in New York City. Another friend from my community theater days expressed interest and I thought it would be awesome to sing with Wendy in that venue with our mutual friend. Wendy backed out but I signed up. After all, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” as Helen Keller so eloquently stated. I made my deposit and booked my hotel a year in advance, concerned that Memorial Day 2022 would see the city booked up. Janet hates choral music, and didn’t care to go so I asked her if she would mind if I invited my good friend Michael to join me in this bucket list activity. Both she and Michael thought it would be great so it was settled and we were both committed.
The year passed and it was time to sing. As fate would have it, I contracted COVID-19 two weeks before the concert. I survived two years, two cruises, and multiple plane trips, but caught it in a movie theater. Fortunately I tested more than ten days prior to the trip, so was able to go.
I’ve always wanted to take the train to NYC so I thought this was the perfect opportunity. I’m so glad I did, because I’m hooked. The train avoids all the highway traffic and is so smooth. I think that will be my mode of travel throughout the northeast any time I can.
By good fortune I was able to book a boutique hotel in the Rockefeller Center area for a really decent price. The view from the solarium on the 9th floor was awesome!! With St. Patrick’s Cathedral only a stone’s throw away, it’s no wonder it is constantly booked for weddings. There were three during our weekend stay. After checking in, I took the subway to LaGuardia to meet Michael. I was astounded at the improvements they’ve made. The airport is actually beautiful! That’s quite a feat as it was once declared one of the worst in America.
After dinner at a local pub, we found that Rockefeller Center on a warm spring evening can be quite beautiful.
It was so wonderful to see Debra again. Both she and her husband were college classmates and it was great to catch up. Our rehearsals were only during the mornings of Saturday and Sunday so we had the rest of the days free to explore the city. Michael and I had visited the city a couple of years ago and didn’t feel the need to visit highly touristed areas. On Saturday we explored Central Park before going to to see the Broadway show, “Company”. Sunday we took the subway up to Greenwich Village and marveled at the beauty the city on a sunny day!
After a little bit of stress, wondering if I was cleared to sing due to my previous COVID status, the concert finally arrived. I was put on the approved list and granted permission to sing. It was all I’d hoped for. The piece sounded marvelous with the full orchestra. Just being on the stage in this historic hall was quite the thrill. For once, my height was advantageous in that I was placed on the front row in the center of the choir. This gave me the awesome ability to use my iPad not only to read my music, but also as a camera to take a marvelous picture during the performance.
The remainder of the concert included a treble choir from Louisiana, and a mixed chorus directed by celebrated choral composer, John Rutter. My ticket was front row center. My mind was spinning as I sat watching maestro Rutter conduct his original work, A Prayer for Ukraine, in Carnegie Hall. I really don’t know how this night could have gotten any better.
After the concert we were shuttled to a dinner cruise out of Chelsea Pier. The lights of the city were the perfect ending to a perfect day. We ate, sang, and danced till way past midnight. Though late for two old men, it was fun and well worth it!
Alas, the weekend was over and time to go home. Michael and I both had a wonderful time experiencing something so few get to do. On the way home, I got to see one of NYCs newest marvels, the Moynihan Train Hall at Pennsylvania Station. Few of us alive can remember the original Penn Station that stood where Madison Square Garden now sits, but this old post office hearkens back to the Beaux Arts wonder that used to be. It’s so much nicer than the maze of tunnels under the arena. New York always surprises me, but it’s time to get back to New England.
After our February cruise, we discovered we had over $800 in future cruise credit that was in Janet’s name that was not applied to our southern Caribbean sailing. We tried to apply it to our Alaska cruise in July, but it is completely paid for. They wouldn’t let us apply it to our Mediterranean cruise next summer because it’s scheduled for 2023. That mean that the only option to redeem the credit was to book another cruise. With our year already booked with other activities, the only time available was during the April break. So here we are again, but on the Western side of the sea. We’ve never sailed from Miami, so this was new. We have sailed on the Jewel of the Seas before, so that was familiar. I watch the Miami cruise port webcam frequently, so it was neat to see our ship on the webcams as we were on it preparing to sail. Miami was beautiful and we love eating on the outdoor patio behind the buffet. It’s one of our favorite aspects of the Radiance class of ships.
Our second day was a sea day. After catching a beautiful sunrise, we decided to investigate the art auction. I knew we couldn’t pass on it for too many cruises. We did find a beautiful piece that will hang above our buffet nicely.
Our third day was spent in Cozumel where we had one of the most interesting excursions ever, Salsa and Salsa. It started with a trip to the local market to pick up ingredients for our Salsa making experience. It was the kind of market you see in travel shows, but don’t expect to experience on a cruise. It was fascinating, but I’ll stick to my supermarkets.
After the market we were taken to the Playa Mia beach resort. Our fare was all inclusive so we had access to the buffet, open bar and all the pool and beach amenities. Our instructor, Angel was a prince. He instructed us in three salsas, Pico di Gallo, Guacamole, and Roasted pepper salsa. All three were awesome, partly because we got to make them ourselves. Then it was time to dance. A simple step forward, together, step backward, together, step side, together, step other side together, and an open step on each side and we were doing the salsa. It was amazingly fun and we picked it up quickly. We even had time to lay out on the beach and enjoy some sunshine. Janet and I both agreed it was one of the best excursions we’ve ever gone on.
The evening was capped off by a fantastic headliner group called the Barricade Boys, a group of West End Singers who have all appeared in Les Miserebles. The hit for everyone was a complete rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. A perfect sunset ended this thrilling day.
The following day was spent in Costa Maya. As in St. Croix on the last cruise, we didn’t plan an excursion. Janet stayed on the ship and I went for a walk. Unfortunately it decided to rain all morning so I returned to the ship and spent the day in the Solarium with Janet. Still found time to get some beautiful sunrise shots.
Our last port of call was Nassau. As in all our trips, we booked a catamaran snorkeling adventure. We have such a great time in the water. This cruise I got my camera to work and was able to get pictures under water. I was so fortunate to see a large crab about 2 feet across. Totally amazing experience.
Usually our cruises are seven nights. This cruise was only six. Since our plane wasn’t scheduled to leave till 9:00 PM we arranged to get a day pass at a Miami beach hotel. It felt as if we’d added the 7th day to our cruise. The water was beautiful and the sun enhanced our golden tans. It was the perfect way to come down from the exhilarating week. We’ve been very fortunate to have already gone on two cruises. Alaska is only three months away and we can’t wait.
I haven’t traveled for work since I left Hampstead. For the past two years I’ve been honored to be the president of the New Hampshire Chief Technology Officers Council (NHCTO), the state chapter of the Consortium of School Networks (CoSN). Each year CoSN hosts a national conference. This year’s conference was held in Nashville and the NHCTO volunteered to pay my way as president of the chapter. I’ve driven through Nashville before, but never ventured into the city. I didn’t know what to expect as I’m not a huge fan of country music. However, the experience was one I’ll not soon forget.
The conference was amazing, but this blog is about my travel adventures. I never realized why Nashville is called music city until visiting there. The whole of downtown is filled with multi-story honkytonks. Each level houses a bar with its own stage. Four or five bands might play in a single venue. Music is everywhere. The CMAs were held while we were there and a large stage was set up in the middle of the street. People were everywhere like a mini Las Vegas. Though I’m not a big hat fan, I gave a cowboy hat a fleeting thought.
Perhaps, to my biggest amazement I enjoyed the bands. We visited at least half a dozen venues. While some played country music, there was a wide variety of popular music as well. I guess this old dog can learn a few new tricks. Like the song says, “you change the world when you change your mind.”
We were honored to be able to visit the African American Music Museum. Besides the factual information, the venue had interactive exhibits for singing and dancing as well. It was truly a highlight of the week.
I’ve wanted to see the Parthenon in Nashville since I was a kid. I used one of my morning walks to hike to Centennial Park and fulfill this life long dream. It was worth every step. My only regret was that it wasn’t open to see the inside. I guess I’ll just have to make another trip.
I work hard, but I also play hard. This was on opportunity to do both, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity.
In 2020, we booked a July cruise to Alaska. I remember when the world shut down, I thought that it would be short term and that the cruise would take place regardless. Then that day came when the I received the email stating our cruise had been cancelled. We used that credit to book another cruise in the following February. That trip was also cancelled. With extreme optimism, we booked another February cruise for 2022. Thankfully, the world appeared to begin healing and miraculously our cruise actually happened. Despite a huge snow storm, our flight was only delayed by a couple of hours at JFK and we made it to Puerto Rico by early morning.
We had planned to meet Mark and Maria for a day in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, their condominium is still under repair from hurricane Maria and were not able to join us. We rented a VRBO on the beach and enjoyed some time in the sun before the cruise. Before embarkation, we enjoyed breakfast on the beach thanks to Maria’s recommendation.
At embarkation, we got our negative tests and were questioned at least 5 times regarding our vaccination and test before boarding the ship. But finally, we were on the ship. The Explorer of the Seas is a mid-size ship capable of handling a little more than 3,000 passengers. With the slow return to cruising, the ship only had about half that capacity, making it feel somewhat empty, but nice as well. There were no crowded venues with plenty of room to breathe. Because of the lower percentage of passengers we were able to upgrade to a Jr. Suite. One could get really spoiled with the added space.
Our first port of call was St. Thomas. We’ve been there twice before but this time we visited Mago Beach, rated one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Our excursion also took us to a mountain tram ride where we enjoyed some local drinks and chips and salsa. The views were amazing and the day was beautiful.
Our next port was St. Croix. There’s not much to do in St. Croix so we didn’t purchase an excursion. While Janet stayed on the ship, I took the opportunity to walk through the town. Over the past year, I’ve lost 70 lbs. and maintain that loss through rigorous walking. The island was a great place for a 6 mile walk. The town itself is pretty residential, not like other ports of call. There wasn’t even a Diamond International. However, there was a lot of street art and some of the most beautiful beaches and water in all the Caribbean. Our day was topped off with a dinner at Chops Grille, the ships steak house. A beautiful ending to a simple but beautiful day.
St. Maarten is the opposite of St. Croix. It is filled with touristy beaches and stores. We didn’t book an excursion here either because it’s so easy to just get out and walk around town. We take the water taxi in and just visit the stores. Our favorite is Mr. Tablecloth with their embroidered linens. We bought a couple of new covers for our buffet and were good. There are other cool shops like the Yoda Guy. Maybe sometime I’ll stop in and see his Star Wars museum. On the way back to the ship, we were stopped in our tracks by the iguana in the middle of the road. Apparently, they’re everywhere.
Our friend, Joanne, loves the Pitons of St. Lucia. Today we’re there enjoying these beautiful mountainous formations. After a two hour bus ride through banana plantations and rain forests, we reached our destination and were well rewarded. St. Lucia is an amazingly beautiful, but relatively poor country. We learned a lot during our tour, including how fortunate we truly are.
Barbados is my favorite of the Caribbean islands. I admire their dedication to educating their children. They have a great infrastructure as well as beautiful beaches and landscapes. Today we took a catamaran to go snorkeling to see sea turtles. We were lucky enough to see two before moving on to another area to go swimming. The day was amazing. I love the catamaran snorkeling adventures and try to book at least one on every Caribbean cruise.
Our final port was St. Kitts. The last time we were here, we hired a taxi to take us to a beach on the northern end of the island. We got exactly what we paid for which was not very much. This time we opted for a beach club and got a little more. It was another beautiful day, but all good things must come to an end. We ended our day at the ship’s Italian restaurant for a perfect end to a perfect cruise.
Cruises are known for their entertainment venues. We had some really great experiences on this cruise but three stood out among the rest. We’ve seen ice shows on ships before, and they all do an amazing job. This one was a tribute to the seasons and was absolutely beautiful. The headline singer, a Celine Dionne impersonator blew us away. Not only was she spot on with her vocals, but she nailed the personality as well. The real star of the cruise, though was Perry Grant, the piano bar entertainer. Night after night he drew a crowd of regulars which included myself and Janet. We’ve seen many piano bar entertainers on cruises, but Perry was the best so far.
As if to say we were blessed to be on this cruise, the trip was capped off with a beautiful sunrise and a rainbow. It’s been too long since we’ve been on the seas. It was fantastic to be back. I can’t wait until we can do it again.
It seems the country is obsessed with Vincent Van Gogh these days. There appears to be multiple versions of an immersive experience of Van Gogh art work scattered throughout the country. In January there were two scheduled to be in Boston. I thought this would be a great outing for Janet and I to share with Mark and Maria. I purchased the tickets in August and finally the day came. Located in an old abandoned theater, the exhibit contained three parts. The first part was much like any museum that explained the life and career of the artist. There were life size exhibits as well as multi-media displays that changed and morphed before your eyes.
The second part was the immersive experience. The main hall of the theatre had been converted into a large room with panels reflecting the projected images of Van Gogh. Narration was provided that explained the periods and his works. Participants were able to lay/sit on the floor or in chairs scattered throughout the room. Being surrounded by art is a surreal experience. The music was crafted to enhance the venue and provided a fantastic accompaniment to the moment.
The third venue was a virtual reality experience where no pictures could be taken. We glided through Van Gogh’s house, and the fields, and the starry night, to the village along the sea and into the sea itself. It was totally amazing and worth the entire trip.
My brother has wanted me to eat at Limoncello’s in the North End for years. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. We had reservations for 3:00 and made our way over to the harbor. I understand why Dave badgered me. While a block away on Hanover street, restaurants cater to tourists, Limoncello’s has that homey feel that reminds you of the corner grill. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. Good friends made the day ultra special.
I’m not sure why Van Gogh is so popular right now, but the experience was amazing.
Living in New England Like a Tourist 