Wednesday September 4. Calm seas, 24 C.
Correction: The other day I mentioned the Sino-Russian war, I meant the Russo-Japanese war, [1904].
Correction: The other day I mentioned the Sino-Russian war, I meant the Russo-Japanese war, [1904].
A Rambling today...
I would like to devote this blog to talking about travelling, cruising in particular if I may.
Firstly, I dislike the word Cruising, to me it has a snobby feel. I cannot however find a substitute word for what it is.
I like to think that Fellette and I are Travellers as opposed to Tourists. We go to places, far and wide to Experience the destination not so much as to See what is there. Slight difference but maybe you understand what I mean.
I think that I got the Travel Bug in 1959 when I went to Europe for seven months, age 24, when I got laid off at work. Thinking about it, I travelled with good friend Andy prior to that when we drove down to Mexico a couple of years earlier. In 1962 we got married married and in March 1963 Jeanette was born. Three months later we packed up our family of three and went camping on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Rough going in those days.
We travelled to Maui as a family of five several times in the 70's. In 1981 Fellette and I went on a Caribbean Cruise for 10 days. We were hooked! Next year our family, along with sister Moe's family of four took an eight day quickie cruise, also in the Caribbean.
From there on we just kept going: Travel Trailer, Cruises, Africa, [several times] and the our first long [90 day world cruise in 1999], when Wally officially took over at CTI and several more over the next 20 years.
I will not go on, but travel has become part of our life and what we do, although home, family, friends and garden are the the focus of our life, travelling is a spare time thing.
This cruise has been a bit of an eyeopener for us. Yes, it is more expensive, but the total experience is absolutely wonderful and far different than any other cruise we have ever had, bar none. Possibly it is a result of us ageing somewhat the past 35 or 40 years!
Viking seems to have come up with a formula for success appealing to a certain age group, [elderly], confident and mature people, who appreciate a bit of peace and quiet and space to be alone or relax as a quiet group, or just read, take in interesting lectures of all sorts. The ship is never 'In your face', they treat us like mature adults, recognizing that we are definitely not a group of young Holiday Makers on a 5 day cruise in the Caribbean!
Obviously ports play a major role in any cruise, but we still need some semblance of our life at home as well. Things like a leisurely two hour wake up, a quiet time each day, a regular bedtime, a bit of entertainment, [TV at home or here, the Show at night]. Exercise has to be worked in to take the place of our gardening or whatever we are working on at home.
Another thing to consider is that the ship is like floating resort: a place to relax that happens to stop at some very interesting places for you to explore for a few hours before returning to your 'home' and after a couple of weeks that is exactly what it has become, complete with a wonderful cook and a very neat maid!
Six lectures today and some interesting conversations, a bit of food and drink a great Beatles Show and a healthy walk in the morning. Great day.
Tokyo Tomorrow!
Obviously ports play a major role in any cruise, but we still need some semblance of our life at home as well. Things like a leisurely two hour wake up, a quiet time each day, a regular bedtime, a bit of entertainment, [TV at home or here, the Show at night]. Exercise has to be worked in to take the place of our gardening or whatever we are working on at home.
Another thing to consider is that the ship is like floating resort: a place to relax that happens to stop at some very interesting places for you to explore for a few hours before returning to your 'home' and after a couple of weeks that is exactly what it has become, complete with a wonderful cook and a very neat maid!
Six lectures today and some interesting conversations, a bit of food and drink a great Beatles Show and a healthy walk in the morning. Great day.
Tokyo Tomorrow!
6:00 AM this morning.
Lunch desserts, for some.
More.
Lunch on deck at the stern of the ship. The ship was steering through Japanese fishing nets 20 miles off the coast of Japan, hence the wavy wake.
Us two between lectures. That is The main Island of Japan in the background.
No comments:
Post a Comment