Category: TRAVELS
I had decided by the end of 2006 to do a end-of-the-year Christmas cruise. At that time I had chosen Celebrity Cruises, on the Zenith. Zenith – this was an older ship and has been retired since – and Horizon were the first ships introduced to the Celebrity fleet
[ http://cruiseline.com/ship/zenith-retired-62-11 ].
The cruise was around 5 nights, embarking from Tampa, FL, ports of call including Nassau – Bahamas, Philipsburg – St. Maarten, San Juan – Puerto Rico, Key West, FL, past Miami and ending in port Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Both my flight to Tampa and from the disembarkation at Ft. Lauderdale, FL, were from Vancouver, BC.
As far as the ship itself goes, what I observed and experienced was not what I would call a nice, exciting and interesting Christmas cruise. The food had been standard as far as I recall. The cabin – being this was an older ship – started to take water soon after departure, such that I had to call a steward to pump it out. At night after dark, on the upper decks, unfortunately one could see the roaches running up the walls. Who knows, maybe my cabin on a low interior deck was close to the kitchen as well ? Effort had been put into preparing a real fancy Christmas dinner and Buffet including large fanciful ice sculptures decorating the tables. The towns of the ports of call were pretty much empty around this time of year. Maybe not a good idea to expect a shore excursion during that season to be worthwhile.
The “from hell” comment does not really refer only to the cruise and ship portion, but what followed after disembarkation once arrived at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The ‘Flight from Hell’. (Dates: Approx. between 21 and 23 December 2006.)
The flight back to Vancouver was to take off from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Dallas, Fort Worth Airport, TX, then on to Vancouver, BC, which should have gotten me safely in one day back to Vancouver. Instead, we had gotten into the middle of a hurricane. All regular planes wanting to touch down at Dallas Fort Worth Airport [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas-Fort_Worth ] could not do so and had to be re-routed to Shreveport, LA. [ https://www.google.ca/maps/@32.454546,-93.828496,469m/data=!3m1!1e3 ].
Prior to landing the pilot had to wait for approval by the control towers and circle the air plane for quite some time (with advice that we are running low on fuel). Terrible feeling. Lots of families on board with smaller children.
Upon touch down and due to extreme airport security, we could not leave the air plane for five (5) hours. Even more terrible situation, as there was no water left on board, toilets could not be used and were all clocked up, children were crying.
Shreveport is a smaller airport, with a few landing strips only (most re-routed larger planes that night had to find a place to set down somewhere). When eventually leaving the plane, all passengers had to walk in those hurricane winds and heavy rain to the Airport building across a length of tarmac.
Then waiting in endlessly long lines for a solution. Where to go and spend the night. The airline American Airlines company eventually gave each passenger US$20 to spend the night in a motel. Twenty dollars for one night ? you must be kidding. It cost much more. I spend a terrible noisy night in there in that sleazy place. Next morning up early, some breakfast, then to the Terminal Hall and check out when to leave.
By noon finally we were allowed to leave (after re-fuelling the plane) and go on to Dallas Fort Worth Airport. There a situation like during a war. Passengers in all halls on the floor in sleeping bags (some had spend already days at that airport). Waiting for planes. To go home. Vancouver announced late that afternoon.
Amazing to observe passengers’ reactions. The first to crack were usually men, also presumably people who never experienced a war. I myself found the entire experience during those days and nights rather amusing. I went through an entire war, WWII, from start to end as a very young child. This here was nothing to me !
Lucky I had met earlier some nice people on board the ship, we shared some chocolate (the only food for a day and a night for us) while waiting in lines at that airport.
Anyways, finally got my return flight to Vancouver, landing at midnight. Another night at a hotel at Vancouver Airport. Next morning finally caught the ferry back home to Victoria, Vancouver Island.
Thanks for that trip !
Besides worry about what clothes to take ** – being that carry on and other luggage is now severely limited – the most important item when traveling is still the passport. Without passport you cannot get anywhere easily. Example of compromised passport: During the sixties we spent each summer vacation in Italy with the family. Once while boating on the Garda Lake, Northern Italy, my friend lost his passport in the lake – slipped out of his back pocket together with wallet and drivers license. Difficult situation to resolve, there was no proof of passport documention. I personally always take with me a copy of my passport (outside pages, couple of inside pages with picture). Not that I have lost my passport, but I have used the copied pages many times, when in certain countries where even a passport is required to get some foreign currency in a bank. The copy of my passport was accepted.
Credit cards. I also always take copies of my cards with me, in case of loss or theft, for proof at a Bank or Police.
The other important gadget is a small LED flashlight. Also needed many times when in a country where power outages occur. Especially couple times in Mexico, where night comes early and fast. Besides that, also a small radio. Usually I buy a new one in any of the continents I travel, because those do not last long. Good for local news and keeping up with the language of that particular country. OTHER gadgets I always take: Mini KC Pro travel tool kit; my Swiss Army knife; mini (credit card size) OptiCard (magnifier/light) [some items go into check-in luggage].
CLOTHING. When leaving Canada it it always cold, and therefore when leaving I wear multiple layers of clothing, that I need again when returning to Canada. No need to pack in any suit case.
** clothes – easily can be bought anywhere in the world in second-hand stores
Before planning a voyage, what is most important ? not only deciding on the destination, but planning the entire package and logistics. The question mostly asked by most is: “do I get value for my money ?” Because, let’s face it, most of us are restricted by a budget.
In my many years of traveling, I mostly traveled alone, except for that particular year 2012, when I decided to purchase a complete trip package directly from the (overseas) agent.
Examples of value for money:
One entire month in a resort by the Gulf of Hammamet, Tunisia, all inclusive, a bright big room with terrace on the second floor facing the ocean, two large swimming pools, daily and nightly entertainment, all day food and drink (bottled water, wine, champaigne) – all included. Also included return flight from and to Frankfurt/DEU and a full-coverage travel insurance with emergency health. All of this for 1.046EUR ($1,500). I only had to add return flight from/to Canada
There is a deal.
Another deal: Cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco, cabin with balcony (double occupancy), return flight for two San Francisco to Victoria, pickup at home, and nice hotel room on the Wharf, San Francisco. Per person CAD$900. We only needed to buy the food for the three days in San Francisco.
Another one: Eight days St. Petersburg, return flight Berlin, Hotel Moscwa, food, dinners, lunches, daily guided tours, admission to Eremitage [ http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eremitage_%28Sankt_Petersburg%%5D and many palaces. Around 1.000EUR. (Russian Visa around 50).
I do not understand why travel medical and emergency insurance costs three or four times as much when bought in North America instead of in the destination country.
Continuation of Part One {Alberta-Montreal}. Québec, still the largest province within Canada, and also the name of its Capital, La Ville de Québec/Quebec City. Situated high up on Cap Diamant, and looking down on the mighty St. Laurent River. Quebec, the cradle of French civilization in North America, distinct from the rest of Canada’s subdivision areas in terms of language and culture – French.
Why I love its capital city La Ville de Québec is, because of its special charm and uniqueness. Founded over 400 years ago in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain ], the city today has still retained its many stone walls and structures. Built high up (I believe 200 steps to climb up to La Haute Ville – the upper city), winters can tend to present a challenge. Therefore, houses have largely steeply slanted metal roofs, so that the ice and snow can slide off easily. When visiting the city in 2002 (previous visits during 1986), I slept overnight in my mini van somewhere at a quiet outside area. No problem.
When I visited again in 2008 for the 400 year celebrations of that city, I also took the time to check out some real estate. Amazingly, some of the old stone churches (Quebec is largely catholic) had been converted to condominiums. I walked up one such with an agent. It is narrow and with a steep staircase to the upper floor bedroom. A challenge as well !
My visit in August 2008 was one month long. I had then rented a suite with kitchen in one of the University of Quebec dorm buildings, E.Fleurie Uni. Quebec. Wonderful experience, all new modern furniture and kitchen, very nice admin staff on site. I paid $200 a week. Nearby the main Library (La Bibliotheque de Quebec rue Saint-Joseph Est, La Roche. Quebec has one of the largest networks of higher education institutes and universities in Canada. Also nearby a Dollar store. Very handy. Daily trips to Upper City (Haute Ville), climbing either steep streets or stairs built into the rock structures, returning to Lower City (Basse Ville). The city’s historical old walled-in section is in contrast to the other large modern buildings that make up this historical Capital. La Ville de Quebec has also one of the most beautiful and unique train stations.
In 2008 during the 400-celebrations of the city, daily activities (extending throughout the entire year 2008) fantastic sights , celebrations and presentations with folks from all over the world performing and visiting. Special events included the Grand Military Tattoo with many visiting international bands, and for the first time out of their country The Russian Army Choir and Parade Band. Because of their beautiful music everybody followed the Russians (like “Der Rattenfänger von Hameln”) back to their buses.
Couple of slide shows from this extended visit to Quebec in 2008 – incl. side trips to the Chutes de Montmorency (water falls) and north to Tadoussac, whale watching. [ http://www.traversiers.gouv.qc.ca/ferries/tadoussacbaie-sainte-catherine_14.php ]
Canada compared to many countries is rich in nature, wildlife, natural diversity and immensity of area. The second largest landmass after Russia. True, some of the northern areas have a long winter. Also true that even some of the more southern areas suffer from bitter temperatures during the winter season. I have travelled this great country and the northern part of North America from coast to coast several times. Distances are mind boggling. Just think: With a total area of (+/-) 8,985,000 sq.km and a population density of around less than 4 per sq.km, Canada compares to Germany which has a (+/-) area of 357,022 sq.km and a population density of 235 per sq.km, like a wide open space where one can travel for days without seeing anybody or any human settlement. Wow !
In 2002 I took the trip across, starting from West of Calgary (Cochrane) near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and going East, using the Trans Canada Highway, then returning from the Atlantic travelling all the way back West until I reached Victoria, Vancouver Island. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Canada_Highway ]. With my new Dodge Caravan minivan that I had customized to create my home in it. Alone and as a woman, no worries. Never once a problem. Using the nice little Dodge Caravan is handy. I had removed the inside seats to create a (foam) bed, the small rear compartment serving as a kitchen, complete with an electric one burner to cook, big canisters for water, extension cords, flashlights, first aid kids and much more. All compacted in. While the remaining seats out front served for moving my office stuff and my suitcases at night to crawl back to sleep. On camp grounds I always stopped for the shower room of course. During that year we had a lot of rain and never ending rain storms. Which resulted before I even started in that my car battery went dead on me while opening the rear hatch door too long.
The first leg of this long voyage had been to Montreal, Quebec. Usually around the Great Lakes (L. Superior and Huron) it takes – with a slow vehicle – 3 days, while from Alberta across Saskatchewan and Manitoba it can be done in a day. Starting June 2002 and arriving Montreal after 4 days and around 4,000 km later. I took my time. There were sections of the Highway which had been completely flooded from that endless rain. Coming through Ontario, sections of the Highway were closed and bridges out. I had to drive around this.
In Montreal I rented a dorm at Mac Gill University for weeks. July 2002 one of the hottest summers. It was so hot during the night that I actually slept in my van in their parking area, instead of in that room. Spending some time in Montreal, which I had visited several times before, is always a treat, especially Vieux-Montréal. [ http://www.sdcvieuxmontreal.com/ ]. [Chez moi j’ai toute une bibliothèque de livres et guides de Montréal et Québec. Util = Centre Infotouriste Centre-ville, 1255 Peel; et Infotouriste centre à Vieux-Montréal, 174 Notre-Dame Est.].
Montreal exploded during that summer of 2002 – the FIFA World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan, and won by Brazil. Montreal has a large number of Brazilians. All major city streets were closed and Brazilians celebrating. At Mac Gill Uni Lounge we spent all night watching the games.
In between I also made a day trip from Montréal to Québec Ville, distance 230 km. Because of the tremendous traffic in a city the size of Montreal and since Mac Gill is on Rue Sherbrouke #138, the center of it, I left at 4 AM very early, to avoid the traffic. One hour to be out of the city, then onto #40 Trans Canada off to Quebec City. This city, also the seat of Government of the Province Québec, is the most beautiful city in North America (even when considering New Orleans, LA, and San Francisco). [Ville de Québec next time more.] [This blog covers a long trip and will be continued.] 
I am sure this will be a super Winter Games. Exotic location by the Black Sea, “Russian Riviera”. My last visit to one of the resorts by the Black Sea was in 1967 – long time ago. Varna, Bulgaria. That was the week of the 7-day (Israel/Arab) war in June 1967. We arriving from the Netherlands, which was pro-Israel, wanting to also visit Odessa, Russia. But no can do ! Because of that war. Instead, at that time we took the boat to Istanbul, Turkey.
Now Sochi [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sochi ] very near the Georgian border also on the Black Sea. There is good things, and there is bad: The Good – shortly before the end of last year, the Russian Parliament has accorded Amnesty to close to 25,000 prisoners, many of those political opponents of the Regime. (Appreciated gesture.) And many newly constructed super facilities and resort hotels. The Bad – the Head of Russia is now accused of corruption as by-product of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, in the order of close to 30 billion dollar. (But then again, who is not ?) [Needs to be verified.]. More bad are the expected threats to the Games. Latest news: [ http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/ _news/2014/01/23/22418216-pentagon-will-send-two-warships-into-black-sea-in-case-of-olympic-terror –]
I like the Sochi official web site for the Games = [ http://talisman.sochi2014.com/en/ ]. Neat little videos showing the mascots. Among those, the Leopard.
The Amur Leopard (from the most easterly Amur region of Russia by the Pacific) one of the very endangered wildlife species. Also, my most recent symbolic adoption on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund (I have a half a dozen of those adoptions). Almost the same day that I adopt my beautiful Amur Leopard, one more of those charismatic big cats has been killed in China [ http://phys.org/news/2014-01-rare-amur-leopard-china.html ]. Very distasteful, all that killing of endangered wildlife !!!
Before the city was built, the area was still a part of Novgorod, dating back to the 9th century, a trade center by the Baltic Sea. Peter The Great (Пётр Вели́кий, Pyotr Velikiy 1672-1725), the builder of the city, was instrumental in opening the city to its Western influences. One of Peter’s main goals was to regain access to the Baltic Sea and Baltic trade. In 1700 he started the Northern War with Sweden, which lasted for 21 years, and resulted in a victorious Russia taking the vast lands on the Baltic coast as its spoils of war. During the course of the war St. Petersburg was founded (1703) on the delta of the Neva River. It truly became a European centre of culture. Peter designed the city as another Amsterdam and Venice. Having visited St Petersburg recently and also having lived in Holland eight years and visited Amsterdam many times, I can say it is in many of its aspects reminiscent of the streets of Amsterdam, with the difference that the grand boulevards (such as the nevsky prospect [ http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/nevsky-prospect/ ]) in St. Petersburg are of a much grander scale. I walked it from the shores of the Neva back to Hotel Moskwa. This is a city I would always enjoy to re-visit.
I had joined an organised tour group from Germany – flying from Berlin to Saint Petersburg with Rossiya Airlines. Our group then met at St. Petersburg’s airport. It is almost imperative to go with a tour group, because of the wealth of cultural sights this city has to offer. I would have missed many where I to do this on my own. We stayed at the Hotel Moskwa, a huge (couple of blocks long) hotel, so big that it feels like a small city when coming down for breakfast. And what a breakfast it was, huge amounts of diverse healthy foods, fabulous. The city of St. Petersburg is one of the few grand cities in European style which has so much to offer in cultural history, buildings, churches, and museum treasures. I enclose here the first instalment only of my visit: Summer Palace of Catherine The Great of Russia, Tsarskoe Selo, Pushkin, Pushkin (Russian: Пу́шкин) is a municipal town in Pushkinsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located 24 kilometers (15 mi) south from the center of St. Petersburg proper,[6] and its railway station, Detskoye Selo, 
“Blackfish” is the English translation of a word Pacific Northwest indigenous peoples gave to killer whales or Orca, holding them in respectful regard while keeping a traditional safe distance. [ http://notmytribe.com/2013/blackfish-has-a-name-its-tilikum-thats-mister-tilikum-to-you-kemosabe-839413.html ]
Myths: (1) Orca or Killer Whales are fish. No. (2) Orca are aggressive enough to attack humans. NO. The only attacks on humans, some fatal, occurred by Orca’s in captivity. This, one has to understand. (3) The large back fin of the orca always flaps over. NO. Only in orca’s in captivity. (4) The orca has one of the largest brains within the animal world. YES.
I was privileged enough to meet these wonderful creatures in 1978 when I and my little son visited Victoria, BC in Canada NW Coast, when the Marine Park SEALAND OF THE PACIFIC – Oak Bay Marina – was still in operation. One of the major attractions has been Tilikum, a big beautiful bull whale. All whales, it should be remembered, were kept in captivity in cages. They were also at that time thrown together independent of their ‘family’ or pod relationship, a dangerous concept because of frequent infighting among the animals.
Tilikum (“Tilly”) had been involved in several deadly attacks on humans. While at Sealand of the Pacific, he with two other orca’s submerged the trainer Keltie Byrne who subsequently drowned. That tells you: “do not play with 12000 lbs of killer whale assuming that they are only song birds.” These whales were frustrated with their captivity, their stressful lifestyle (kept at night in 20×30 metal pens), and the unnatural acts they were asked to perform for the public’s enjoyment. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealand_of_the_Pacific ]
SEALAND closed down 1993. (This facility like similar others for large marine animals had a dark history of acquiring their whales: separating them with boats from their pods and chasing them into inescapable waters, to then trap them and move them into the facility.) It is heart breaking to see how many marine parks exist on the basis of such abuse to an extremely intelligent mammal.
Where is Tilikum now ? SEAWORLD Orlando, Florida. His life ? He lives in isolation, deeply unhappy, an intelligent animal that craves companionship and a whale family to share. The only thing it seems he shares is his semen that is collected and frozen for breeding purposes. More shocking news in a new book with interviews by former trainers= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175966/Killer-whales-Seaworld-teeth-removed-power-drills-left-mourn-separated-young-claims-shocking-new-book.htmlBookmarks Toolbar .
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