Let the World Begin!

Once again, I was fortunate to be asked to work as Future Cruise Consultant (I help people plan and book their next cruises) on Holland America Line's Grand World Voyage, a 110-day cruise roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale Florida. This is the route we will take in a westerly direction.

The 2011 Grand World Voyage has begun! The sailaway party on deck was most enjoyable as connections were made from friends who had met previously. From the very first day I have been extremely busy with people already making reservations for next year’s Grand Voyages. Our grand voyages are very special in offering itineraries that sail roundtrip from North America and are at least two months in length. Itineraries vary each year so people keep coming back to see new places. We have a very loyal following.


After stops in Grand Cayman and Costa Rica, we transitted the Panama Canal then visited Manta Ecuador, the home of the famous Panama hats. Most tours included demonstrations of these hand woven hats that were originally made for sun protection for the workers who built the Panama Canal.

Lima, Peru is our two-day stop before we head west across the Pacific. This is a very clean city where people are friendly and helpful.

Holiday Cruise

I joined Holland America's Amsterdam in Long Beach California on December 22, 2010 for a 14-day Christmas/New Year's cruise sailing from Long Beach to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The ship had just come out of a one-week dry dock. The ships are taken into dry dock approximately every 2-1/2 years to do maintenance that they cannot perform when the ship is sailing.

Early Very Merry Christmas

I have been off the ship since the end of October and as usual, time went by quicky. I celebrated a "big" birthday with a trip to Key West with my BFF Nan Costello, also having a "big" birthday.

Since I was scheduled to join Holland America's Amsterdam on December 22, 2010, my family celebrated Christmas on the Saturday before I left. I'm attaching some photos. We have gotten too big to all be in one photo so there are generation photos.

I'm currently at my daughter's in Pasadena where they are busy getting ready for this year's Rose Bowl and Parade. Our neighbors, Wisconsin, are in it this year. There is a charge to sit in the bleachers along the parade route. They expect a crowd of 100,000 people for the parade.

The End of the World

And so ends my blog for the 114 day 2010 Grand World Voyage on Holland America Line's ms Amsterdam. I am so grateful to have had such an opportunity to see the world this way, meeting many new friends along the way. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. If you have, you must e-mail me (gypsychar@hotmail.com) and let me know as I have the honor of being invited to do it again in 2011 with a whole new itinerary. I would like your feedback as to what you have enjoyed. Thanks for reading!

I have had 2 1/2 months before I return to sea to enjoy my new home. Outside my bedroom window was a blank concrete wall. I had an idea that when I am home from the ship, it would be nice to have a reminder of my life at sea. My dream has now become a reality! This is now the view looking out of my room, with my ship, the PATTONDAM:

The Final Chapter - Finally

Our last major stop on this Grand World Voyage was in Siberia Russia, a land-locked town called Petropovlask. The scenery was spectacular with an active volcano in our background.





Temperature was not what you think of when you think of cruising - a mere 30 degrees F. But everyone was well prepared. This is an old military base so the vehicles we were transported in were old military vehicles. When we arrived at their local dog sled farm, we were warmly welcomed by friendly people in native costumes. They loaded everyone on snowmobiles with trailers and took us into where the dogs lived.



We were all broken into "teams" for a dogsled race - mine was lucky team # 13 - and our guide took us around the camp where a Russian lady explained how the dogs lived - all in Russian! However there was another guide with her that translated it into English for us. But the Russian woman was so enthusiastic in her descriptions, we all hung on her every word as if we could understand her and I think for parts of it, we actually could tell what she was saying by her expressions.

The race was started and while the dogs and sleds were racing, we were entertained with some wonderful local dancers and musicians. Then they had us join in with some local dancing and relay games.






When the dogs came across the finish line - MINE WON!!! It was a fabulous day with a good time had by all. Their home made vodka added to the festivities!

Japan

Kagoshima was our first stop in Japan. On a visit to some military housing, there was a gutter on the main street that had live fish in it. They were for decoration purposes - people did not fish in these areas. The gardens are beautifully groomed all over Japan.



















Our first overnight stop was Kobe which is the port city near Osaka. Japan is very crowded but very organized. One city just runs on into the next city. We had a beautiful evening in Japanese gardens with typical Japanese cuisine - I had gotten quite good with chopsticks by this point. Dinner was followed with samari warrior dance/entertainment.














It was beautiful weather throughout Japan so the flowers were in full bloom. We did a lot of walking here to see the highlights of the city. It was interesting to find a Chinatown here in Japan. Our stop in Japan was planned to take in the lovely blooming of the Cherry Blossom trees.


















And our final stop was the most fun in Hakodote. One of the high schools let the students have the day off when the ship was in port. The girls were all available at the visitors center to answer questions and direct us tourists around their charming city. There was one corner with 4 totally different styles of churches - one on each corner. This was a chance for the giggly girls to practice using their English skills. This was probably the most enjoyable day in Japan - a great way to end our visit there - in spite of the snowflakes!

South Korea

Our next stop was Cheju City, in island on the south side of South Korea that is very popular for honeymooners and warm-weather vacationers. I didn't make it to the beaches but did make it into the market in the city.

China - Xingang (Bejing)

Our last stop in China was Xingang which is the gateway into Bejing as Bejing is not on the sea. It was about a 2-1/2 hour ride into the city. The ship was docked there for two days so I was able escort the overnight tour into Bejing so we had more touring time. Our first stop was to the Temple of Heaven. It's surrounded by a beautiful park which was filled with people, young and old, all enjoying a beautiful day.

After a Chinese buffet lunch, we visited The Forbidden City where for centuries, only royalty were allowed to enter the grounds. It is a massive structure with lovely gardens.

Tian’anmen Square is the largest gathering spot in the world. Families flock here in the late afternoon to fly kites and exercise in the enormous open space. There's a gatherin each evening of several thousand people to witness the flag being lowered as the sun sets.



Our dinner was a special treat - we had Peking Duck. Peking/Bejing is the same city. Different accents make the word sound different in different areas. We checked into our 5-star hotel which was one block from the "Bird's Nest" stadium where many of the 2008 Olympic ceremonies were held.



A highlight of my Grand World Voyage, probably #1 on my personal Bucket List, was to climb on the Great Wall of China which we did early the second morning in Bejing. It's quite steep but the spectacular views were worth the climb.


Here's an example of how some things are translated for us.



We toured the Ming Tombs of which the most famous is the mound of Chang Ling.



Next we were off to the Sacred Way which is lined with mythical creatures made of stone.

China - the Mainland

Then we got into the real China. I went on a crew tour where we flew inland to Xian where they are famous for the Terra Cotta Warriors. There is a mausoleum where Emperor QinShihuang, the first emperor of China lies along with wealth from 30+ years of his reign. In 1974, a farmer was digging a well and came upon a clay face of a warrior. They discovered there was an army of 8000 soldiers plus horses that were built to guard the emperor’s tomb. All the soldiers have different facial features and body types. The site is now series of museums. There are still archeologists piecing things together. They have determined there is so much wealth in the tomb but on trying to retrieve it, such things as fine silk disintegrate a few minutes after they are touched by air. So they are saving it until there is a technology which will protect whatever is inside.



I bought a book telling the whole story and met the farmer who first discovered this national treasure and had him sign my book! We don’t have to feel so bad about our Indian treaties – this man was paid 100 lbs of wheat by the Chinese government for all these treasures.



We had a traditional “dumpling dinner” that evening where the dumplings are in the form of what is inside – duck, pork (pig), chicken, etc. And everywhere we went, we ate with chopsticks. We attended the Ding Dynasty Chinese show that evening for some local music and dancing. One of our crew had a Canadian friend living in Xian and teaching English that we connected with. It was great to hear his stories. One of his teaching methods was to give an incentive to his students where the top 8 in the class were invited to his home for a traditional turkey dinner where they learned to eat with a knife and fork. We also visited the city wall – in the old city there were street markets of fresh fish and produce from the nearby farms. The custom is to exercise each day so on the new side there were ping pong tables as far as you could see with people playing, some doing tai chi, others kick-boxing and there were women with special chairs who gave free haircuts in the park each day. It’s quite an interesting culture and I hope to return some day.








I’ll have to continue my China story of the Great Wall at a later time as I am running late and as when we arrive in Japan, they block all internet so I’ll get this much posted for now.