London

Greetings,

We docked, disembarked and I am now at the Holiday Inn, Mayfair, London. I am down the street from the Ritz and around the corner from Green Park. The city is trying to calm down after the Royal Wedding.

For our final dinner on board we had champagne, wedding cake, a toast by the Captain. The entire ship was aglow with the wedding including an opportunity to view the wedding either in the Queens Room, Theater, and on everyone's TV. The ship was decorated from bow to aft. You could not avoid getting in the midst of all this excitement.

I will be in London till Thursday and fly home Thursday.

Take care.

Bill

Vigo, Spain - Santiago de Compostela

Buenos Dias,

Boy has this stop been a surprised. In the best sense possible. I had heard of Santiago de Compostela, but I did not associate with Viro. Santiago is the burial sight of the Apostle St. James. It has been honored as such for centuries. The Catholic nobility, i.e. Kings and Queens visited this sight for years. I paid for this tour. I missed the opportunity of being an escort. It was well worth. Santiago is a little over an hour outside of Viro. The tradition is that people hike to the Cathedral and I mean hike. There are number of approaches each with a different name such as the French trail, the British trail etc. They all lead the pilgrim to the plaza in front of the Cathedral. When I got to the plaza in front of the Cathedral I saw hikers/pilgrims entering the plaza embracing each other in tears of joy. Each hiker has their walking stick. On the stick is a shell with a cross in red. A symbol of St. James. It was a spectacular sight. The entire complex is from the middle ages. The Cathedral is spectacular. I'll have stories galore on this visit.

This trip has a turn of a pilgrimage, Rome, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela not to mention the cities,islands,sights all of which was unbelievable. I am a blessed person, I recognize this and am fortunate to celebrate with people like you because of your support, love and care. Thank you one all.

Next stop Southampton and then London till May 5th then home to Newark Airport. I will be in touch once I get to London. I'll miss the royal wedding by one day, but I am sure there will be an afterglow. There are activities on board ship with champagne, cake and a viewing of the event in the theater. I'll get involved, I don't have much of a chance with all the Brits around.

Take care.

Love,

Bill

Madeira

Greetings,

Madeira is a beautiful island. Mountains all over the place. The roads are steep and very very curvy. Today's tour was not the best. I visited a wicker "factory". I can see me getting on a plane with wicker baskets or even better table and chairs. We then visited an embroidery "factory". The work is spectacular. I have never seen work like this. All work is hand done and it is spectacular. We then went to the Madeira wine plant and sampled their four basic wines. What I found interesting is that the older the wine the better and so they have a room where one can purchase wine back to the 30's and beyond. The plant is 200 years old. All one needs is money. I think what fascinated me is that they store the wine year by year and market it, for a significant price. The older the wine is the more expensive. Supply and demand right before your eyes, influenced by one's test buds.

As we wandered from place to place we got to see the beauty of the island and the crazy terrain. We were up over 2500 feet visiting the wicker plant. The harbor is beautiful. Main St is lined with flowers, a park filled with flowers moat of them blooming. I found callow lilies blooming in a couple of parks. What a great sight. The island exports flowers and wine, nice products. The island imports lots of tourists. There are no really sandy beaches, mountains plunge into the ocean, but there are hotels with beautiful pools. The other element is that the climate is beautiful. Madeira is off the coast of Morocco and north of the Canary Islands. The island is part of Portugal and the locals are broad of this connection. The total population of the island is around 280,000.

Gran Canaria - Off To Madeira

Happy Day after Easter,

I need to correct info I share on the last blog. Madeira is part of Portugal not part of the Canary Islands which are Spanish in nature. Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal. This is where Madeira wine comes from, which as we know is exported around the world.

another correction, we are not going to Oporto, Portugal. I slept through that notice. We are going to Vigo, Spain instead. Apparently the dock in Oporto is not completed and we are not able to dock as a result. I have no idea as to what to expect in Vigo. You and I will find out together.

Today, was a nice tour of Gan Canaria. Begin in Las Palmas where we docked. Las Palams has a population of over 200K. It is an attractive city with the amenities of a European experience. We drove south along the coast to visit the sand dunes on the beach at Porto del Ingles, this is an over populated setting with hotel after hotel and apartment after apartment. We the went to Puerto Rico (not in the Caribbean) a beautiful harbor with condos growing out of the hillsides. The town is surrounded by hills filled with condos. In the valley is the town at the end of which is the beach. The beach is horse shaped with the condos looking down on the water etc. From there we went to another waterfront community, the name of which I forget. We spent over an hour hear wandering the streets and shops. There is a beautiful hotel complex on the beach with gorgeous flowers creating arches as you walk among the low standing buildings. This was a great visit. After we gathered the Brits we headed home. It was a little over an hour drive. The ride home was filled with a vista of the diversity that makes the climate on the island unusual. the island has arid area, plush green areas, lots of mountains, beautiful coast line--somewhat like the coast of California,mountains plunging into the ocean. There are plains where farming is done and so forth. For a small piece of real estate there is a lot going on here

Lisbon (GOOD FRIDAY) - Tenerife ( EASTER)

Happy Easter One and All,

I spent part of Good Friday touring Lisbon. When I was here the last time I went to Fatima. This time I got a great tour of Lisbon. It is a beautiful old world city, with so much charm and beauty. The city is built on 7 hills, and I mean hills. The sidewalks are done in white stone looks like inlaid tile. Parts of the city have a design in the sidewalks of black and white. It is beautiful. The buildings are majestic, the squares are big and full of life. The are boulevards that are wide and lined with majestic trees. Of course there are shops galore. I got to see many statues and monuments all nicely done and surrounded by plantings or a water feature. All in all I would like to return to Lisbon there is much to see and do. I got the feeling it has a great vitality about it and I saw a significant number of young people, which suggest to me life.

After the tour I returned "home" and got ready for an ecumenical Good Friday service with a minister from Boston. The service went well and the 100 in attendance liked what was done. I was pleased.

Spent Saturday at sea, which has become my favorite pass time. Easter Sunday morning we arrived at Tenerife at Santa Cruz in the Canary Islands. What a surprise. I had no idea what to expect and boy was I excited and pleased by what I experienced. There are 7 major Canary Islands. Tenerife, is the largest, I believe 50 miles by 37 miles at it widest point. There is a mountain on the island that is over 12,000 feet high, which I did get to see, with snow on its peak. I escorted a tour to La Porto de la Cruz, a resort town about 35 miles from Santa Cruz, where we docked. The drive was beautiful, informative and enjoyable. This is a Spanish environment, highly developed with a University, hospitals, etc. etc. Not having been exposed to this neck of the woods, I had no idea what to expect. The islands attract Brits, Germans, Spaniards and the rest of Europe. The American presence is minimum. Understandable given the distance from USA. There are a little over 2 million people living on the islands. Last year there were 5 million visitors.

Porto de la Cruz is a beautiful seaside resort on the Atlantic with the ocean ponding on the cliffs of the shoreline. The beaches are black lava sand, unusual and strange to me, given the Jersey shore beaches. All along the shore are these gigantic pools filled with salt water. Absolutely beautiful. The pools are lined with lounges, palm trees and people serving whatever. The walks overlooking the pools and ocean are broad and lined with cafes, shops, hotels and more cafes. It has an aristocracy about it that is magnificent. This Easter morning there were people all over.
I came upon a chapel overlooking the ocean, it was filled
with Easter people. I later found a church with all kinds of activity. There member of a band around, people in while wearing different colored copes. There were children, young children, boys, young and old men, a few women. It is my assumption they were getting ready for a procession through the neighborhood after the 12 noon Mass. I was there at 11:30. I had to leave before anything got going. It was just interesting. The front of the church had palms and beautiful flowers all around. As a matter of fact, this island exports flowers on a daily basis to Europe. They also grow bananas, produce wine, and loves tourists.

My Easter visit to Tenerife was a pleasant surprise. I would love to return, but it is not around the corner from NJ. Tomorrow I will be in Gran Canaria and then Madeira. Each of these islands are off the coast of Africa with their ports facing east. After Madeira I will have a day at sea and then Oporto, Portugal. After that visit a day at sea and then Southampton and I get off - April 30, 2011. This is and has been a once in a life time experience. It does not mean that I will not be at sea again. Let's take one day at a time.

Happy Easter.

Love,

Bill

Southampton, England

Happy Holy Week,

Arrived in Southampton this morning and all but 8 people disembarked. That would be about 1800 people. I left the ship early to avoid the chaos of baggage and good byes. During the day another 1800 + people got on board. I spent the day wandering around Southampton. There is not a lot to see in town. There are just attractive streets and comfortable outside cafes. I found one on Oxford Street and settled in, enjoyed the scenery, food and liquid refreshment. I grabbed a taxi and went back to the ship around 3pm.

I sat in the grand lobby and watched guest stream on board. I made an observation that the average age of this cruise has decreased by at least 14.2 years. But there still are wheel chairs and lots of canes. There are a number of children on board this time. In all do respects for the world cruisers they are up there in age. I should talk ! ! !

Next port is Lisbon, seems I have been there before. this time I will work on seeing the city. We arrive in Lisbon on Good Friday. I may get involved with the local Church. I have a feeling the people really get into this day. I'll see. I have services on board at 5pm Friday, once everyone is back onboard. I have met the minister who just got an board from Boston and we are meeting tomorrow for lunch to explore an ecumenical service for Friday. Let's see what happens.

Take care one and all. Make the most of Holy Week.

Joyfully,

Bill

Lisbon / Fatima, Portugal

Greetings Fellow Travelers,

I think my last blog got cut off. I was so impressed with the passage through the strait of Messina. Calabria on our starboard and Sicily on our port. I could see both cities as we passed by them. We can to a part where there is a discussion of building a bridge connecting mainland Italy with Sicily. It would be a two mile connection. But money being what and where it is, I do not see a bridge if ever. It will have to be mighty high to enable ships to get through. This passage saves shipping over 400 miles. We'll see.

I ran through Lisbon to go to Fatima. The shrine is spectacular experience. The weather was perfect, sunny, mild and a beautiful breeze. The numbers of people were indeed reasonable all contributing a fantastic visit. Our guide pointed the various buildings and then set us free for four hours, which included my presiding at Mass in a chapel of the new Church - Most Holy Trinity. Mass was in the chapel of the Jesus' Death. The chapel could hold 1000; the church above 9000 people. The day was great. The shrine was overpowering in its beauty, message, devotion and faith of all the people gathered whether at the chapel of apparition, the basilica, walking the grounds or just lost in prayer. It was magnificent. There were a few non-catholics on the bus and they too were moved by what they felt.

We did not leave Lisbon until 1am. After Mass on the ship I went to visit the water front in town. It too was beautiful, alive and relaxing. The beverages were great and the food was enjoyable.

I am now on my way to Southampton - the end of a 105 day voyage around the world. I have done it and I enjoyed every moment of it. The ship is home for me. I met some wonderful folk. As you traveled with me you remember I have had great experiences. I will never forget this part of my life. Oh, by the way, I stay on board for an 11 day trip to the Canary Islands. I will view this excursion as my vacation.

Take care, I remembered you all at Fatima. I will continue writing as the days go on. Hope you have a great Palm Sunday.

Joyfully,

Bill

Athens - Sail - Rome

Greetings,

At this moment I am on my way to Lisbon. I have been trying to write, but the connections with the outside world have been difficult. None the less here I am.

Athens was great. I led a tour through the city seeing everything, just about, had a great lunch in the Plaka (shopping district) including dancing, wine and great food. The visit was good the sights spectacular. There were kids all over the place. I think every school in Greece decided to send the children on a filed trip at the same time. The weather was perfect, sunny, mild with a gentle breeze. Loved the day. The details will be filled in with pictures, when I return.

We left Greece and sailed for Civitavecchia the sea port for Rome. While at sea I had the joy of watching us sail through the Strait of Messina. We met the Queen Mary and sailed through the strait in tandem. It was beautiful. On our right was the area of Calabria, mainland Italy on our left (port) was the city of Messina. The passage is about a ten mile journey

Cairo, Pyramids, and Camels

Happy Sunday One and All,

Egypt was a great experience. The day began at 2am for me. We met in the Queen's Room and then boarded launches that took us ashore. We had to wait till everyone was on their respective bus. There were 7 buses on this expedition. Once everyone was in place each with their respective armed security in suit and tie. We had an escort to Cairo. We were then taken to the Meridian Hotel for breakfast. I dined n the patio overlooking the pool, palm trees and the pyramids. It was spectacular. I looked more than I ate. Got on the bus and went to visit three big, rally big pyramids and the Sphinx. It was an overwhelming experience including a camel ride for yours truly. I'll show pictures when I see you all. Getting on and off is an trip in itself. We visited another pyramid site and went in side to see the design of the interior. The art was impressive. To think all this was done over 2500 years ago is impressive in itself. We then went to a magnificent hotel, again overlooking the pyramids. As we got off the bus we were greeted with musicians playing the Grand March from Aida. That was only the beginning. We ate in the grand ballroom, which looked like something out of a hollywood movie set, complete with eight gigantic chandeliers, red wallpaper, lots of gold and big wooden doors. Beautiful to say the least, again great pictures of the pyramids. We were then taken to a shop to help improve the local economy.

We then went to Port Said to board the ship. We didn't get back to 7:18pm. I had Mass scheduled for 7:15. Need less to say I did a lot of running around and began Mass at 7:30. It was a day and a half. But a day I truly enjoyed.

Today we are sailing the Med. Tomorrow we are in Athens for another day of adventure. After Athens, we are off to Rome. Hopefully, I will spend part of the day in the Sistine Chapel. We are then off to Lisbon with a trip to Fatima. After that we head to Southampton. The end of a World Cruise that was spectacular. I can not believe this aspect of my journey is coming to an end. I have found the Queen Elizabeth to be very comfortable and home like. At the end of a given excursion I long to get "home" for the comfort of the ship and familiar surroundings.

Once back at Southampton and I say so long to the many folk I got to know over these 100 + days. I then take off for the Canary Islands for 11 days and then 5 days in London. This is and has been a fabulous trip and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have indeed been blessed and I am most grateful for all who have made it happen, not the least being the God of my life. Life is good and beautiful. I am fortunate to have been able to live the life given me to the fullest. I am happy that I can share this aspect of life through my eyes with you. My prayer is that you too have enjoyed this trip.

Take care,

Love,
Bill

Upper Red Sea - Egypt

Greetings,

We are in the upper Red Sea with Egypt on either side of us. We are moving slowly with traffic of oil barges on either side of us. The sea is only 20/25 miles wide at this point. The traffic lanes are only 1 mile wide and this is oil country. Traffic is heading to the Med or Asia, busy part of the shipping world. Beautiful day mild, gentle breeze just right for our cruise to get in line to enter the Suez Canal.

Yesterday was Petra, Jordan. What an experience. It was a two hour bus ride through amazing terrain, barren fields, sheep, goats, Bedouin tents, mountains devoid of any trees, stark to say the least. Unusual to say the least, but beautiful. Arrived at Petra, one of the new seven wonders of the world. Began a trek that last six miles, down hill was easy, coming up was difficult - for me, but I made I ridding the last section on horse back - a sight for sore eyes - a silver mount at that. This is a lost city that was not public for over 1000 years. The city is lost in the mountains. Take a look at one of the Indian Jones movies it was filmed here. The most famous sight is a building referred to as the treasury. I have pictures for all to see. The entire area is breath taking. In total it is a six mile walk past buildings carved out of the mountain, royal tombs, cliff dwellings and a theater that sat over 4000 people. The entire experience was overpowering, but beautiful.

After the "walk", lunch was served at a Crown Plaza hotel. In total there were 32 buses from the ship at Petra. The buses brought guest to different hotels in the area for lunch. Lunch worked well, but the mob visiting the City was significant. The guide said tourists are down, due to the unrest in the overall area. If yesterday was down in number. I would not want to be there when it is in full gear.

All I can say is that Petra was an exciting experience which I enjoyed very much. The next adventure is Egypt with its pyramids and sphinx. I am confident that this will be a great day as well. After Egypt we sail to Greece. These final few stops are filled with so much. I need to take a breath and try to record mentally all that I am exposed.
I'll be in touch after Egypt. Take care. Enjoy the approaching season of Spring.

Love,

Bill

Red Sea

Greetings one and All,

I believe my last blog got cut off. Sorry, I am at a lost as how to retrieve what got cut. I'll have to save it for a conversation in the future.

Had an interesting morning with a presentation from a Commander of the British Royal Navy. He spoke to a packed theater of over 800 guests. I believe the rest of the guests were eating or up on what I call the melinoma deck. The Commander told us about the pirate world what they have done, how they do it and why they do it. It looks like relatively young men, without much background other than knowing how to make a buck quickly. So far this year they have attacked 50 ships and captured 17. The average ransom for a ship is $2.8 million. As far as we are concerned we have followed the directions offered by NATO etc. Yesterday, I mentioned a convoy of 11 ships that we passed traveling at about 15 knots. This is the recommendation of the forces to be and they are protected by military escorts. It helps. The ships are equipped with barb wire, water canons, noise repelants

Dubai (lost blog) / Salalah / Araabian and Red Seas / Off to Petra

Greetings from the Arabian Sea home of the Samali Pirates,

Aloow me to start with today and then retract my steps. We just passed a convoy of 11 merchant ships protected by three warships from China, France and the USA. They move slowly so we sped pass them. we are in pirate land. Everyone on board are going about their day as usual. As a matter of fact I just finished a wine tasting seminar. As a platinum member of the World Cruise Club we are offered these little events. The Captain informs us of varying groups of vessels that we may pass in this narrow corridor protected by international war ships. It is a fascinating experience.

I have lost track if I mentioned our barb wire and water canons on the third deck aft. Interesting to see, but not necessary thus far. It is a beautiful day at sea, sun gentle breeze comfortable to sleep on a lounge, part of this morning's activity.

I would have sworn I sent a blog after Dubai, but apparently it got lost in ciber space.