After a fabulous graduation trip during spring break, it was time to make Granddaughter Haley’s graduation a reality.  It was also time to celebrate Kai’s accomplishment and enjoy his graduation trip to Bryce and Zion NP’s. So – off to Ridgecrest for all the festivities.

First up – Burrough’s high school ceremony on the football field! This outdoor setting is perfect for the accompanying flyover from China Lake Naval Weapons Station.

A week separated the events in Ridgecrest and Carmel was calling for a cool break. The route indicated a National Park not visited before – Pinnacles NP – was on the way. Couldn’t turn that down. So there was a little diversion from US 101 on to CA 146. The Pinnacles formations were created when the Pacific Plate moved north along the San Andreas fault some 23 million years ago! It is a real geological study. Pinnacles is also home to the endangered California Condor, as it is one of 6 release sites for the captive-bred birds. Unfortunately, we did not see any of these great birds during our brief visit;-(

On to Carmel and a very cute little bungalow just off Ocean Blvd. Plans here included hiking, the 17-mile drive with lunch at Pebble Beach, lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur and lots of good eating. First afternoon out walking to a wonderful path along the ocean E found a tree just begging to be climbed! Well – maybe NOT. As it ejected her resulting in a visit to the ER with a dislocated shoulder;-( Hiking was a bit curtailed for a couple of days but other activities proceeded as scheduled.

Carmel was not as expected, but beautiful none the less, as the weather provided stunning blue skies and incredible ocean views. But time passed quickly and Ridgecrest was calling for a celebratory dinner for Kai and our graduation adventure with him.

An overnight stop in Las Vegas broke up the drive to Bryce NP. This also provided the opportunity to check out the Sphere and see the Wizard of Oz in this amazing venue. If you are in the area – check it out. The experience is incredible!

On to the Main events. First up Bryce Canyon NP. Pictures can not really do this incredible scenery justice. Ten million years ago forces within the earth created and moved massive blocks known as the Aquarius and Paunsaugunt plateaus. Ancient rivers carved the tops of these blocks and sculpted intricate formations known as Hoodoos. The colors of the rock are so beautiful and at sunrise or sunset when hit with different lighting the white rocks look like a clear alabaster. Since a sunrise photography tour was on the agenda, the opportunity to see this beauty was waiting.

After a taste of the park on our arrival afternoon, it was time for that sunrise tour at 4 the next morning. Nick was a wonderful guide and photographer and spent hours with Kai teaching about camera settings, lighting AND leading wonderful hikes into the Hoodoos!

An extra afternoon provided time for a visit to Kodachrome Basin State Park for another hike and more red tinged spires against a bright blue sky. It is this color and contrast that prompted the National Geographic Society in 1949, with consent from Kodak, to name the park Kodachrome. The Panorama Trail wound 3 miles across the western side of the park providing views of many red spires including the Ballerina Spire and the Mammoth Spire.

As is always true, time passed much too quickly. Another longer visit to Bryce has to be in our future. But, now it was time to head to Zion NP. First – another tour was scheduled on our way with another fantastic photographer – Seth. Seth took us via 4-wheel drive to Peekaboo – an off the beaten path slot canyon. Again, his patience with Kai, knowledge of photography and knowledge of the canyon made the afternoon an awesome experience. He got us to all the right places at the right time and lighting to get some stunning photos – –

The hike in and out of Peekaboo, and all the photos taken, really worked up an appetite. So, as we left Seth behind and headed to Zion a stop for lunch was in order at the “Home of the Ho-Made Pies”! Love their sign and the food was pretty good too. Especially the pies.

The last part of our week was waiting for us – Zion NP. When one visits here try VERY hard to stay at the Lodge in the Park. Due to the number of visitors here (it is the 2nd most visited NP!), no cars are allowed in the main part of the park – UNLESS you are staying in the Lodge. Otherwise one must find parking outside the park and take the shuttle in. Doable, but not near as convenient as staying inside.

Zion was significantly hotter than Bryce, so it required VERY early mornings or evenings for hikes with ice cream breaks and puzzles in the afternoons;-) The first morning the sun came up over the rim of the canyon as we headed up the Emerald Pools Trail to the Lower and Middle pools. After crossing the Virgin River one follows the well marked, but unpaved climb, to the pools wandering underneath a waterfall. This time of year the falls were minimal, but enough to cool one off.

A wonderful, easy little trail for the sunset hours is the Pa’rus Trail, which takes off from the Visitor Center and follows the river. There are beautiful shots from this trail as the lighting changes when the sun drops from the sky.

Some of the best was saved for last. Nick (from Bryce) was back for another sunrise tour in Zion. The changing colors as the sun hit The West Temple were magnificent. Bryce provided the colors and lighting as seen from the top of the canyon looking down where at Zion one is in the canyon to get the light as it progresses down the rock. Very different experiences – both just as beautiful in different ways.

Nick then wanted to test the nerves on the Overlook Trail. Not a long hike but with narrow walks on ledges, out over the canyon and under rock croppings! Woo-hoo!!!!

One last hike on the last night in Zion – the Riverside Walk from the Temple of Sinawava to the beginning of the Narrows. This trail is generally flat following the Virgin River in a deep canyon. If followed beyond the paved path, through the river, it begins the trip up The Narrows.

Before the graduation trip, there were a few other ‘get togethers’ with friends. Late April, prior next door neighbors from Park City were visiting in Cottonwood. So, a little escape from the valley took us up there for a ride on the Verde River RR and dinner. Nice to see Jane and Jack.

Then a good friend from Oregon was down to Phoenix for a worldwide Parkinson’s conference. Much to our delight, a whole day was spent with Priscilla in our territory. Unfortunately, we did not have fresh eggs to make her an omelette – which was always their treat when visiting their ranch in Oregon!

Of course there were also our rounds of golf, hikes and many dinners with friends. E&G also celebrated a 32 year anniversary.

So ends the first 6 months of the year. Where does the time go?!?! The next postings will come as a 78 day cruise is embarked upon out of NY city. If you are not yet bored – come along as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Iceland, Northern Europe and much of the British Isles are discussed;-) Til then, have a firecracker 4th of July.

E & G getting ready for many points East.

 

 

After the Grad trip, it was Gramma and Gramps time. There would be even more museums and FIVE more plays! But first – time to celebrate 79 wonderful years here on earth and the continued ability to enjoy life and all it brings with it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY G!!!

And before being drug through more museums, a visit to something meaningful in a musician’s life. A walk up Central Park South to The Dakota – one of NYC’s most iconic and storied addresses. Notable residents have included Judy Garland, Lauren Bacall, Rosemary Clooney, Leonard Bernstein, Roberta Flack and John Lennon lived in the building from 1972 until his death in 1980.

OK – time for more antiquities. Welcome to The Met Cloisters. This branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art sits on a hilltop in Fort Tryon Park with commanding views of the Hudson River and is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. The collection of George Grey Barnard forms the nucleus of the collection on display here. Barnard traveled extensively in France, where he purchased medieval sculpture and architectural elements which were incorporated into the fabric and structure of the Cloisters building. Thank you to John D. Rockefeller Jr. who provided for the building, the land and the acquisition of Barnard’s collection.

Within the cloisters, the capstones of the pillars and other components come from monasteries in France including one at Tarbes. The herb garden contains more than 250 species cultivated in the Middle Ages and is the primary teaching garden of The Met Cloisters. The views from the cloisters and gardens across the Hudson River are fantastic! In fact, Rockefeller wanted to be sure this view stayed this way without development across the river. Therefore he purchased 100’s of acres across the river to ensure the view into the future.

Over to Park Avenue and The Guggenheim – perhaps Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site this building is an architectural icon. The building is as much of an attraction as the art contained in it. Treasures found in the collection here include Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and modern French masterpieces such as Degas, Manet and Van Gogh. Special exhibits are housed in the circular gallery – Carol Bove was the highlight of this visit.

Further up Park Avenue is a wonderful museum housed in the residence of Henry Clay Frick, a steel magnet, who bequeathed his home and collection for the enjoyment of the public. Unfortunately, pictures were only allowed in the atrium of the home – but that can give you a feel for how exquisite the facility is. And, a new addition to the museum houses a delicious Cafe for lunch. Don’t miss the Cafe or the Museum.

Now – those FIVE more plays. Maybe Happy Ending, Ragtime, The Fear of 13, Oh, Mary and Buena Vista Social Club kept us busy almost every night.

The Fear of 13 was NOT a musical. It was a very heavy play staring Adrien Brody and was excellent as it told the true story of a man sent to death row for 22 years before DNA determined his innocence. A must see if you are in NY.

The weather finally warmed up which allowed a walk along the High Line – a railroad bed turned into a walkway with incredible artwork and plantings to entertain along the way.

One last look at Central Park with all the trees in full bloom and it was time to say goodbye for this trip. We were off to Wilmington, NC to see niece Demi.

Demi had worked hard to drum up an itinerary to keep us busy and fed. There were some new sights for us and a few seen before – as they were her favs!!

The Aquarium at the point of Cape Fear was quite interesting and provided a fun photo op – –

Her very favs are the beaches around her environs – Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach, which also includes her favorite coffee shop;-)

The dinner spots were excellent with views of the river, inland water ways and old town Wilmington.

Suddenly, it was time to say goodbye to Demi and the east coast. Phoenix was calling.

Back home it was the usual hiking on Fridays with our community, golfing on Mondays and Thursdays (with whoever would golf with us!) and walking, dining, etc. etc. etc.

A new community activity is Bocci Ball. This particular day an owl was the spectator – until everyone wanted to see the owl!!

Weather had finally warmed up so everyone was out to enjoy. Even the rattlers!! Yikes!

Hard to believe it is almost June. Soon off to CA for two graduations with one more grad trip. The first five months have flown by – but they have been enjoyable months. Even fairly cool for Phoenix, except for one little stint in March;-(

E & G – still enjoying life and looking forward to that looooong cruise beginning in July;-)

 

This seems to be the year for grandchildren’s graduations! And this family is no exception;-) A mere two years ago we were traipsing around horse country in Kentucky and Missouri with the first granddaughter’s graduation trip. This year spring break took us to New York City for all the iconic spots as well as a few evenings at the theater with Granddaughter Haley, who is into her drama/theater class.

Name the sight to see in New York and it was visited-perhaps even a few you might not put on the ‘iconic’ list;-) There is the skating rink at Rockefeller Center (it was still cold enough to maintain the ice), Time Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial and the Empire State Building.

Perhaps the MOST iconic symbol is Lady Liberty herself. Designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel (yes – of tower fame) she was a gift from France to commemorate the Union victory in the Civil War and abolition of slavery. After design and assembly in France, the statue was disassembled, shipped to the US and reassembled before dedication by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. It stands on Liberty Island and with Ellis Island comprises the State of Liberty National Monument. In order to visit the islands one must take a ferry from Battery Park if in NY. This excursion not only provides the means to visit the islands but exquisite views of the statue and Manhattan Island.

Fantastic views of Ellis Island can be obtained when up in the Statue of Liberty prior to a visit to the island. Ellis Island served as the principal federal immigration station for the US from 1892 to 1954. A visit here is a very good reminder of what immigrants went thru in order to enter this country and, in many cases, what they left behind.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is incredibly moving for those who lived through it as well as those not yet born, as we learned from our granddaughter. It tells the story of 9/11 through narratives and collections of authentic artifacts. Housed in space under the towers, the museum has exposed supports that remained from the fallen towers. Truly an experience not to be missed – and best told by a guide who may have personal ties to the losses.

Many may not remember that NY was the first capitol of our country and many activities of our first president took place just blocks from this memorial scene. A pleasant walk from the 9/11 Museum to the Financial District and Wall Street, one can find The Trinity Church and the historic Fraunces Tavern, among other points of interest. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay worshiped at the Trinity Church, and Hamilton and members of his family are buried in the Trinity Churchyard.

A good meal can be enjoyed at Fraunces Tavern. The tavern played a prominent role in history before, during, and after the revolution. Before the war, Fraunces Tavern served as a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty. In late 1783, the tavern is where General George Washington was honored at a banquet celebrating the British Army evacuation and, days later, where Washington bid farewell to his officers. Later, when the US capital was located in New York City, Fraunces Tavern was rented in 1785-1788 by the Congress of the Confederation to house the departments of Foreign Affairs and War, and offices of the Board of Treasury – serving, in essence, as the Nation’s first executive office building.

Back uptown a bit is the Empire State Building. An early morning visit would allow us to see the view of Manhattan Island from the top before it got too crowded. The tour now includes a wonderful museum telling of the property and the building of this iconic structure. Many photo ops were provided at this early morning hour with few people and ‘special’ tix that took us all the way to the TOP – – –

And then there are the museums! The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the most visited museum in the U.S. The popular centerpiece of the museum, and specifically the Egyptian Art department, is the Temple of Dendur. Dismantled by the Egyptian government to save it from rising waters caused by the building of the Aswan High Dam, the large sandstone temple was given to the United States in 1965 and assembled in a new wing at the Met in 1978. Many special events take place in this fabulous space including the Met Gala – –

Leaving the Met, one goes back many years to the Museum of Natural History. Remember “Night at the Museum”? Well – here is where you live it!!!

And now to the theater part. There are soooo many good plays – how does one choose a few? Maybe before one sits down in the audience for the incredible entertainment provided, a tour of the backstage inner workings would be in order – especially for someone who wants to be a part of it all. So – off to The Lincoln Center for a fabulous ‘behind the scenes’ tour by a lovely young aspiring actress. Such a tour when in NYC would be highly recommended. Included was a tour of two of the five theaters utilized by the Center with lots of information.

It is hard to choose plays, but Haley chose Hadestown, The Lion King and the Great Gatsby – all great musicals. Of course there were great dinners before settling in for wonderful entertainment. First up – Hadestown – –

There are just a few other places that one might want to visit when in NY. Maybe not iconic adventures – but so NY nevertheless. With all the walking back and forth to the various museums from the Time Square area – one MUST walk through Central Park. And in April it can be a beautiful walk as all the trees are in bloom. AND – one might want to stop into The Tavern on the Green for a bite of lunch. Completely redone in recent years, it is still a pleasant scene for lunch.

Just a couple of FUN sights – the largest Apple store ever seen!! Haley managed to score a watch here;-)

Last but not least is the M&M store. Gramps even scored some M&M’s with our beautiful pictures on them for his b-day;-)!!!

Unfortunately, the time came for Haley to return to California to finish up her last semester of high school. The TSA lines at JFK were non-existent, but flight delays required some changes. All’s well that end well and we all had a fabulous visit to the city that never sleeps.

E & G – What fun to have grandkids!

 

Back in Scottsdale, friends and family filled the calendar. G was off to California for theater performances by a granddaughter while E was organizing her Sr. community to participate in the Alzheimers Walk. Sister Barb was even coerced to participate – –

As always happens this last quarter of the year – time flies by. One turns around and it is Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year was no different. The Shoe Crew came to Phoenix this year for Thanksgiving and among the activities was a visit to the Museum of Illusions. If in Phoenix and looking for something to do – this is great fun for all ages.

Thanksgiving was followed quickly by Christmas and it was our turn to travel – so off to beautiful Ridgecrest for more family celebrations. Didn’t want to miss our daily hike – so rousted the crew out for a wander in the nearby hills.

Tradition there is Christmas dinner with poppers that provide hats, jokes and musical instruments for a hilarious attempt at Christmas carols followed by favorite holiday movies.

Christmas and New Year’s were then celebrated back in Scottsdale with family and friends. This year niece Demi didn’t arrive until New Year’s, so all was celebrated then.

There were a few other activities mixed in with the holidays. The Canal Convergence, which occurs the first couple of weeks of November in Old Town Scottsdale, has become a tradition with distant relatives Suzy and Rick. It is a good time to wander Old Town, have dinner and observe and participate in all the activities Scottsdale puts together for this event.

Of course there was golf, dinners and especially hiking with our many Vi friends – no matter the weather. It all keeps us VERY young;-)

And another year is over. How fast they seem to be going now. A wonderful, humorous saying heard recently says it all – Life is like a roll of TP – the closer to the end you get the faster it goes!

Spend each day wisely – E & G wishing all a wonderful new year;-)

Four days at home proved to be enough to unpack, do laundry and repack in order to head north to cooler weather in Park City, Utah.  Having lived there for almost 20 years, there are spots that call us back every year and many friends that are our reason for returning year after year.  The Campbell’s – our prior next door neighbors – are some of those friends.  Every year there are new experiences with them and this year it happened to be a celebration of Jimmy Buffett’s life in Salt Lake City;-)  What a happy afternoon/evening – –

A favorite adventure that takes one to the BEST smothered chicken burrito ever is to take the lift(s) up to Bearclaw Summit at Sundance Resort.  Not only does one experience this great lunch but does it with a 360-degree view of the Wasatch Range.  Again, luck gives us great friends to do this with.

Of course there is incredible golf in Park City and the surrounding area in the summer.  This year provided a really new experience in Morgan, Utah – of all places.  Morgan’s Round Valley Golf Course is a great little course with fantastic views and a one-of-a-kind restaurant – Taggerts – nearby.  All introduced to us with more great friends, Tina and John.

Just so happened that another great cause occurred while in Park City – the walk for Alzheimer’s.  We encourage our fellow residents in our senior community to support this walk in Phoenix and thought it would be nice to do the same in Park City.  So – off to a beautiful, meaningful walk on a Saturday morning.  Even the little sprinkle was fun;-)

There is always a trip up into the Uinta’s!  Favorite hikes are located there as is Mirror Lake.  Today was a wonderful, drizzly day.  So much different from the dry, arid Arizona.  BUT, the breeze and rain meant the ‘mirror’ part of the lake wasn’t there.  No matter, it provided a cool day for the walk around the lake;-)

The weather is a true gift of the Park City area – and this year provided lots of much needed rain.  But, the real love of the area is all the animal sightings.  Sad to report there were no moose visits this year.  Instead the regular old deer had to suffice.  There were also great glimpses of our favorite – the Sand Hill Cranes.

There was a brief interlude while in Park City!!  It had been a month since leaving a cruise ship and another fix of the ocean was needed.   The Journey of Jazz Cruise from Vancouver to LA was the cure.  If one hasn’t spent much time in Vancouver, it is a great, metropolitan city on the water.  Stay close to the harbor at any one of many hotels there.  And just walk!  The port area is fabulous with a plethora of eating and drinking establishments, harbor cruises, float plane adventures, Fly Over Iceland or Canada, museums and FREE bus transportation to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and other activities!  If one is a shopper – a Rodeo type street is also close by.  Way too much to do in a couple of days.

Just north of the city is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  Yes, it contains the world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge that spans the Capilano River at a height of 230 feet and a span of 450 feet.  The Park also contains a Treetop Adventure and a thrilling Cliffwalk along with Raptor talks and viewings and of course food and beverage;-)  One can arrive on that free shuttle from the port and stay as long as you like with a return shuttle when ready.

Time to end all the fun in Vancouver and board the Celebrity Summit – the venue for all the upcoming Jazz.  The Jazz was fantastic (the ship not so much)!

There was music, presentations and interviews by/and about the artists from morning to late night. Diana Krall was among the headliners and left a lot to be desired.  Thankfully she only performed one night and left the real incredible Jazz to the dozens of other artists on the ship;-)

Many Grammy winners and nominees entertained for a week.  These included DeeDee Bridgewater, Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter, John Clayton, Cecile McLorin Salvant, the Brubeck Brothers, Ravi Coltrane, Emmet Cohen, Sullivan Fortner, Niki Haris, Warren Wolfe and many, many more.  What a blast!!!!

In addition to all the performances on the ship two concerts were performed in iconic venues in Victoria (a very old venue) and San Francisco (a brand new very contemporary Jazz Collective Auditorium).

A side excursion on the cruise was an adventure to Muir Woods – a National Monument.  This is an escape to an ancient forest of coast redwoods that were protected by William and Elizabeth Kent from loggers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  In 1908 they donated this small old-growth redwood forest to the public and named it after John Muir.  Thankfully President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the area a national monument so that we can all still enjoy its beauty, splendor and tranquillity;-)

A healthy walk through the redwoods can be rewarded by a lunch in beautiful Sausalito with fabulous and interesting views back to the city – –

The music on the cruise was fantastic!  But – all good things come to an end.  This was true of not just the cruise, but our time in Park City.  Autumn leaves were falling and the Harvest Moon was out.

Scottsdale here we are.  A wonderful summer filled with so many new places to see in the world and the very familiar spots in Park City.  Our blessings are many with all the old and new friends that fill our lives.

E & G – Grateful for our lives and those in it💕💕

 

 

So – everyone reading this knows Hawaii pretty well, I’m sure.  It’s a lot of volcanoes sitting in the ‘Ring of Fire’ that have exploded creating mountains and spewed lava which flowed and added to the islands created.  Over time that lava – and coral – have eroded and created beautiful beaches.  All of this activity can currently been seen at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Thus ends 72 days at sea.

It has been a wonderful time with lots of memories;-)

E & G at the end of a wonderful experience with no more history or geography lessons!!!

 

What will one do with 4 days at sea???  The answer is another question – how can we do all there is to do in 24 hours?

A typical day might begin around 7AM with breakfast in the cabin served by a fantastic Butler like Aakash – –

One needs to be in the gym by 8AM in order to stake out their favorite place for the Pilates class.  While waiting for class to begin a few weight exercises can be done.  If you are not a “class” type of person, the treadmill and/or bike is a good alternative.

Fitness class is barely over before putting and shuffleboard begin on the top deck.  It is either incredibly beautiful up there or blowing a gale, in which case everything gets moved indoors;-(

It has now been a while since breakfast and a lot of activity has taken place, so a break for hot chocolate and a muffin or chocolate croissant is probably needed!  On Oceania that means you head to the 10th deck and Horizons –

Eat, drink and move quickly as it is time for an OLife Enrichment Speaker in the Regatta Lounge on the 5th deck.  This cruise has had some of the most fascinating speakers – especially Dr. Ron Orenstein, who knew everything about every animal or fish in all the areas we were cruising in.  Also, Dr. Linda Bradley who educated us on every culture encountered.

Boy – time passes quickly!  It is already lunch time.  A favorite spot to enjoy the noon hour might be the Terrace Cafe, where you can sit on the rear deck, enjoy the fresh air and watch the world go by – –

Don’t lollygag too long though, because there is more putting and bean bag toss on the 10th deck in Horizons at 2PM.  (These games are all VERY important, as you can win BIG O points to redeem at the end of the cruise for luggage tags, hats, tee shirts, etc!  They are all FREE with points.  OH BOY!!!!!)

There is now a free hour which can be effectively used to get in the three miles walked almost every day.  When at sea, there are no excursions to accomplish this feat (no pun intended), so walking the halls satisfies the requirement.  It just so happens that five times around deck 7 on the Oceania Regatta is one mile.

This also takes exactly an hour, so you can be finished right on time for Afternoon Tea back on the 10th deck in Horizons at 4PM.  There are the nicest servers there that now know chocolate is all this cruiser wants;-)

You don’t even have to move, once finished with tea, to enjoy Lu & Sebastian at happy hour beginning at 5;-). The biggest decision one has to make each afternoon is – do you get ready for dinner before tea so you can go right thru tea and Happy hour to dinner OR take a break somewhere between tea, happy hour and dinner to change for dinner?!?  Decisions – decisions.

Well – sandwiches and sweets from tea and snacks from happy hour have now settled, so it must be dinner time.  Every once in a while Chef scores something incredible in port.  In Nuku Hiva he managed to acquire 400 pounds of fresh tuna and prepared it in all kinds of special ways the next three days.  He even set up a cooking station out on the Terraces deck and cooked up an incredible fresh tuna dinner.

Sometimes surprises also come in the form of desserts.  Something chocolate was asked for one night – and a cheeseburger was served;-).

The food is so delicious, one wants to linger and savor.  This is fine as long as it’s not too long as the evening entertainment comes on at 9:30.  The ship’s entertainment team is extremely talented and became family over the 70 days on the ship as they also do all the daily activities (like putting, baggo, etc).  But, there is also a lot of talent that is brought on like pianists, vocalists, etc – –

When the crew really wants to get the passengers moving and shaking, they create extra competition days pitting passengers against crew.  Strange how the crew always won!

Or, the crew creates teams of passengers to ‘build’ sea worthy vessels from plastic bottles.  These creations must float from one end of the pool to the other and then actually carry ‘freight’.  If the vessels proved worthy, they were voted on to determine the favorite.  What an event this turned into, especially since the seas were really rolling so the pool was sloshing big time!

And then maybe a really special day is when the entire executive chef team decides to prepare a brunch of all brunches!  They truly outdid themselves this day – –

If none of the above tickles your fancy, there is also the casino, poker, mah jongg, table tennis, shuffleboard, bridge, bingo, trivia, name that tune, needlepoint and jewelry making.

By the end of a sea day, the sunset and the thought of sleep is a welcome sight.  And out here the sunsets are always beautiful – –

It’s not what will we do all day while at sea – it’s how will we have time to do it all?!?!

E & G – Ready to be in port to rest up;-)

The Marquesas Islands are yet another group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia.  The largest island of this group is Nuku Hiva and its capital is the charming Taiohae.  This cruise is lucky to be on a smaller ship, as many of the recent small island ports can not be visited by the larger ships.  This is one of those, as the Regatta anchored with just a quick 10 minute tender to shore.

The visual coming in to the beautiful bay is stunning.  Once again, the mountains created by the volcanos come straight down to the water and are covered with very lush greenery.  The tender takes one right into town with the warm island welcome.

Watching over the bay is a massive female tiki – Tiki Tuhiva – with a warrior by her side.  They are a quick 10-15 minute walk up the hill from the tender dock.  Worth the time for the view of the bay.

Another 1/2 mile walk up the Main Street will take one to the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Another charming sight with exquisite wood carvings inside instead of the usual stained glass windows.

Back to the Main Street and another short distance is Temehea Tohua, a ceremonial site filled with tiki statues – and quite peaceful.

If you are hungry – or need a place to stay – there is a Relais and Chateau property on up the road, Le Nuku Hiva by Pearl Resort.  It will provide not only good food and drink, but an excellent view to go with it;-)

With the visit to this quaint little island it is time to say goodbye to French Polynesia and the Islands of the South Pacific.  It has been very eye opening to see the number of tiny little islands out here, with very small populations, that have very exclusive, expensive resorts to escape to.  And, the number of relatively small sailboats that are anchored off shore.  In talking with many of the sailing folks, they are living on their boats for many months (in some cases years) and often with small children!  What a life and what an education!!!!

In a day and a half, this cruise will once again cross the equator and will return to the North Pacific on the way to the Hawaiian Islands.  Then it will only be a short week before it all ends and these passengers will return to the ‘real world’;-(  But – that is another week.  So ‘til then – keep enjoying.

E & G – Amazed and Awed

Today is a visit to Tahiti’s little sister Raiatea, the second largest of the Society Islands.  The very friendly, musical welcome was waiting –  –

An incredible tour can be had here with Tara.  She is absolutely fabulous and a great wealth of information about the island and its culture.  She is a local, but took advantage of the French education benefits obtaining her degrees in French and Italian at a university in France.  She also speaks perfect English and many dialects of the Polynesian language.  Her story telling keeps one attentive and engaged throughout the four hour tour.  What a gem;-)

Tara claims everyone on the island is a relative!  So – the first stop on her tour was at her uncle’s pearl production operation.  No matter how large or small the island – in these South Pacific isles, pearls are the name of the game.  They are everywhere and the buying opportunities are a plenty.

A beautiful visit – and an educational one if Tara is your guide – is the botanical gardens, Jardin Botanique de Faaroa.  As is true in most of the islands, every plant and tree has some health or nutritional benefit or use.  Tara knew them all – even if it was a particular leaf that could be used as both a plate and then TP;-)

This island is no different than most in this area – it is the result of a volcano and the lush green mountainous terrain runs right down to the ocean.  Here in Raiatea, Mount Temehani is its jewel.  It is the Polynesian Mount Olympus and just like Olympus, it creates its own weather so the top is rarely seen;-(

Raiatea is widely regarded as the center of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia. It is likely that migrations to Hawaii, New Zealand and other parts of East Polynesia began here – looking like the arms, or tentacles, of an octopus as the people and cultures spread.  In fact, the traditional name of this island is Havai’i!

Situated on the south east coast of the island is the historical Taputapuatea Marae, which was established by 1000AD.  It is considered the center of the “Polynesian Triangle” and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The remains of this marae form an ancient religious, cultural and political grouping that played a vital role in the history of the Ma’ohi people.  The site contains many marae utilized for different functions and rites.  As said in a prior post, think of the wonderful Kivas of the ancient Puebloans and this is the Polynesian version.

A fascinating island that brought home the origination and meaning of the marae.  It also introduced us to Tara who was a true Polynesian gem;-)  But, as always, time came to move on.

Still in French Polynesia – visit Rangiroa.  The island is unlike all its sister islands in that it is pancake flat and does not have a volcano at its center.  In fact, this is not one island, but a string of coral encircling a beautiful turquoise and jade-green lagoon.  It is the largest atoll of French Polynesia and the second largest in the world!  It has been called “God’s aquarium” and classified by Captain Cousteau as one of the most beautiful sites in the world.  It is included in “1000 Places to See Before You Die” but it is nothing like the island of Bora Bora.  It does have its expensive resort – but the real sight to see is under water.  A short time from end to end on the island is all one needs before heading for the lagoon – –

As this trip was started, there was no thought that a little tiny island/atoll in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean could provide such an incredible day.  Words on a page can provide ideas – but there is nothing like seeing for oneself!  What a great few days.

E & G with smiles

Way out there in the South Pacific is French Polynesia, made up of a group of islands called the Society Islands – the largest of which is the ever popular Tahiti.  Here resides the bustling city of Papeete, the capital of all of French Polynesia, which is (as the name implies) a French protectorate.  With a population of just shy of 30,000 people, Papeete is truly the BIG city. It also has the only international airport of the area, so all visitors to any of the other islands enter and exit through Papeete.  A cruise, however, will bring you directly into the center of the downtown area of the city.  AND – if you cruise in early morning or late night, the sight is quite beautiful – –

Of course throughout these islands the water and sea life are the attraction.  But, there is a rich culture that grew here.  The ancient Ma’ohi civilization settled the area as much as 1,000 years ago.  Their ‘temple’ or place of worship was a Marae.  The Marae included a sacred square, an altar, a surrounding low wall that could be seen over to experience the ceremony by the ‘congregation’ and wooden sculptures of ancestors.  (If one thinks of the ancient Puebloans in the western US, the Marae is much like the Kiva!)  There were also often Tikis leading the way to the Marae.

More beautiful scenery can be found at Vaipahi Botanical Gardens – and cooling waterfalls – –

On another lighter note, a visit to the Grotte De Mara’a is quite cool and refreshing on a hot, humid day.  This site is composed of three natural caves, thought to have been created by lava tubes.  There is a permanent trickle of water which has formed pools of cool water and the ceilings of the caves are covered with ferns and moss.  But, beware – the surrounding mud can be quite slippery and send one into the brown mirk, as was seen on a recent  trip;-)

After exploring the coasts of Tahiti, a walk through town will take you to the Robert Wan Pearl Museum.  This museum provides a complete guide to the history and legends of pearls including the historical figures who used them to adorn themselves.  It also provides in depth information on the intricacies of pearl farming and choosing the perfect pearl.  It is really quite an interesting place to visit.

Almost all of the coast on both sides of the city are garden areas along the ocean.  A stroll will take one by many nice places for an afternoon snack and beverage with fantastic views – –

Another day comes to an end and Bora Bora is calling.  So – it’s goodby to Papeete.

Bora Bora!!!  Not enough can be said about this island.  It is for the rich and famous – the who’s who – and E&G;-)

It is one of the many islands of the Society Islands of French Polynesia and is located about 140 miles northwest of Papeete.  The island is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef with an extinct volcano rising to two peaks in the center.  As is true of all the islands, the lush, green vegetation grows right down to the waters edge.

Vaitape is the big city on this island – and that is a stretch.  The main street has lovely, but not inexpensive, shops with many places to buy those ever present South Pacific Pearls.  A stroll up and down will not take long.  But a place to relax for a bite is always welcome.

Bora Bora has become a major international tourist destination with its many resorts touting ‘over the water’ bungalows.  These, too, are not cheap.  Think Four Seasons, Intercontinental, St. Regis and Westin $$$$. But – you only live once – right?  AND – it’s in “A Thousand Places to See Before You Die” – so why not check it out for a night.  What an experience.

Many experiences are truly once in a lifetime and not to be repeated.  This is one of those.

As always, time marches on and ships sail away.

It is impossible not to like these islands.  The next is just as beautiful as the last.  It was a map at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix that made this trip a ‘bucket list’ item.  So glad to get to see this part of the world with its many exquisite views, distinctive cultures and fabulous music.

E & G – awed by this South Pacific beauty