TravelStream™ news feed for member kfsandiego on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kfsandiego en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:17:47 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1204887900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1204887900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1204887900/tpod.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:17:47 -0500 Kit and Grandma's Great Adventure: Around the World in 114 Days!

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Singapore, Singapore

March 7, Friday
Singapore was our last port in Southeast Asia-it´s a tiny country just at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. Few of the 63 islands that make up the country are inhabited-the largest, Singapore Island, has a population of more than 3,000,000. The city is a mix of old and new, with huge skyscrapers and high-rise apartments standing next to older, much smaller buildings. Lots of the older streets are narrow and filled with little shops. Above the shops, tall shutters hide the windows and stand as reminders of colonial times.
We were all interested in the very strict laws in Singapore but were not really impacted by them-of course, it was pretty easy for us to avoid gum chewing and spitting. The city is clean- there is no litter and no graffiti-and very safe, even in the middle of the night.
We took a tour of the city called "A Taste of Singapore" and our guide (who pays close attention to the nuances of words) really did focus on "tastes." We started out in the Chinese section of the city, where we had time to walk through the markets, sample some spices, and visit a Hindu temple. It was a large and colorful place with intricately painted and decorated figures.
We then walked over to a tea shop and enjoyed a lesson on the proper way to serve tea and to appreciate its aroma and flavor.
Then, we headed for the Raffles Hotel, a classic reminder of the colonial period, where we could ponder the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham, who frequented the Long Bar in the hotel. It was a very hot day, so we were pleased to seek refuge in the hotel with its high ceilings and wide, shaded porches.
We had lunch in the Royal China Restaurant, and were treated to a special selection of Dim Sum, and crispy chicken and duck. Before heading back to the ship, we stopped at the Indian Market and sampled some spicy crackers (our guide really wanted us to "taste" Singapore), and watched the artistic application of Henna tattoos on customers who were ready and willing to have their arms decorated. Jude and I splurged on several yards of silk before we headed back to the ship.
On our way back we drove by the Sultan Mosque and a huge construction site where a casino complex is being built (an "integrated entertainment center", according to our guide, who also noted that Singapore was not a "small" city but a "compact" one and that prices in the bazaars are not "cheap" but "reasonable." He´s been schooled well in the careful use of language.)
March 8, Saturday
Today was spent shopping near the terminal complex. Jude and I went to a Reflexology Center and got our legs and feet worked over-we felt great afterward and ready to keep on walking.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1209353580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1209353580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1209353580/tpod.html Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:37:53 -0400 Kit and Grandma's Great Adventure: Around the World in 114 Days!

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Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

We're back! We have just arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, having completed our circumnavigation of the world, we are ready to go again!
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Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda

We had a short stop in Bermuda--what a beautiful place!
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New York, New York, United States

We are home!! It's truly exciting to sail up the Hudson River, watching for the Statue of Liberty, and thinking of all those who have done so before us. We watched the sun rise over Manhattan--and it was just as exciting as the sunrise over Sydney and Hong Kong. What a beautiful city this is!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208351880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208351880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208351880/tpod.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:21:04 -0400 Kit and Grandma's Great Adventure: Around the World in 114 Days!

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Funchal, Portugal

Madeira, a tiny island in the Atlantic, and a haven for tourists from Portugal and other parts of Europe, would be a wonderful place to stay for a few weeks. Our day in Funchal was sunny and warm, and perfect for walking through the area on the leeward side closest to the sea. We did not take the funicular to the top of one of the peaks and avoided the ride down the hill in a basket-but we enjoyed ourselves exploring the little streets, wandering around embroidery and ceramic shops, and admiring the masses of flowers for sale on nearly every corner-and on display in the wonderful parks in the city.
There was a wonderful, two-story Mercado much like the open market we saw in Tahiti. Several flower stalls, fruit and vegetable tables, and vendors selling typical caps, embroidered goods, and, of course, Madeira.
We stopped for lunch at one of the small restaurants that dot the waterfront-and I had ravioli (it must be an Italian thing!). Jude and I sampled green wine (Vhino Verde)-which was the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon meal. The sun was warm and the sky was blue and the water just beyond the park next door was sparkling-it was a wonderful spot.
Later, we visited one of the oldest wineries in Funchal, a former Franciscan monastery, to taste Madeira made from several very different grapes, and made following very different processes-some have other grapes added, some are baked at a very low heat, some are aged in oak casks. The age of the wine, the grape used, and the processing make for very different wines-some better suited to accompany light meals of consommé, for example, and to complement desserts.
April 17, Thursday
Our trip across the Atlantic started out as a very quiet endeavor, with smooth seas, blue skies, and just a little bit of wind. The waves got larger and the wind was stronger as we passed to the south and west of the Azores, but the ship is rocking just enough to let us know we are on the ocean-not enough to be uncomfortable.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208178960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208178960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1208178960/tpod.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:18:07 -0400 Kit and Grandma's Great Adventure: Around the World in 114 Days!

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Lisbon, Portugal

Now here's a beautiful city! I hate to keep adding to my "must return" list, but Lisbon is now on it! Our sail-in just before dawn was a beautiful ride inland for several miles along the Tagus River. A huge statue of Christ the Redeemer graces the hillside to the south and a city filled with white, orange-tile colored buildings stretches along the north side of the river. The statue is modeled on the monument in Rio and was erected in gratitude for Lisbon's being able to stay out of World War II. As the sun came up, the port was already alive, with boats of every type on the move.
We spent several hours along the waterfront on the commercial plaza, and in Baixa (a pedestrian area that is several blocks long, reaching from the sea to the hills) and in Rossio Square, the heart of the city. The government buildings were impressive, with lots of arches and wonderful detail everywhere. The walkways were made up of stones in mosaic designs and there was tile work in evidence everywhere. Above the Baixo area, narrow streets climbed into the hillsides and wound around above the water.
There was a lot in Lisbon to remind us of San Francisco. The bridge across the Tagus was designed by the same architect who designed the Golden Gate Bridge-and the hills with their colorful street cars make you feel as if parts of the City have been carried across the Atlantic.
Mom and I stopped at one of the sidewalk cafes for delicious coffee-and a pizza, of course!
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Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Gibraltar was another great port, with lots of history and an impressive setting on the Mediterranean Sea. The weather was perfect as we strolled through the town. We had lunch in a little pub in Irish Town.
The buildings seem to emerge from the hillsides as the town is nestled into the rock. The town has been extended (on reclaimed land) beyond the sea walls, where new shopping areas and hotels are being developed.
Gibraltar's walls are enormous-which were necessary because of the sea and the military sieges it has endured-and rise much like the enormous rock faces on the end of the peninsula. Our anchorage allowed us to see Spain and Morocco as well. There would be plenty to see on both sides of the strait were we to come back for a longer visit. We missed the apes at the top, the military installations and tunnels in the mountain, and the ferry ride to Tangier. So much to do, so little time!
The sail-away was beautiful-we sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar with Spain on our right and Morocco on the left. All the cities along both coasts looked white in the sunshine, sail boats and ferries ventured out in the Strait, and the shallow waters of the Mediterranean along the coasts looked pale in contrast with the deep blue of the Atlantic waters-it was absolutely beautiful! An hour later, we felt the chilled air of the Atlantic and waved good bye to the warmth of the Mediterranean.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1207841400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1207841400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kfsandiego/1/1207841400/tpod.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:58:44 -0400 Kit and Grandma's Great Adventure: Around the World in 114 Days!

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Malta, Malta

Malta was another beautiful island and is definitely on my list of places to come back to! Imagine cream-colored limestone buildings and fortresses, standing in sharp contrast to the blue of the Mediterranean, and you've got a good image to begin with. We arrived late in the day on Wednesday and were able to stay until Thursday evening.
Old warehouse buildings along the pier have been modernized and converted to shops and restaurants. Up the hill, the town is laid out in a grid with the gates to the town opening onto the main street. Buses stand ready to take you to the medieval town of Mdina and into the countryside,but we had only a few hours so we stayed in the older section of the city. Many of the streets run right to the edge of the hill, offering spectacular views of the sea, and then turn into steps that offer a shortcut down the hill.
Just a few blocks up the main street was St. John's Co-Cathedral-the church built by the Knights of Malta, when they came here from Jerusalem. The outside of the church is very plain-and is built of the limestone from the island. Inside, however, is another story, as the nobles throughout Europe contributed furnishings, paintings, monuments, and marble tombstones to show their support (and buy a little piece of heaven, it seems) for the Knights of Malta. Eight leagues, representing nations and alliances in Europe, were part of the Knights of Malta (hence, the design of the Maltese Cross with its eight points), and each League sent the best they could offer in terms of art work and décor. The church has a huge collection of golden vestments, given by kings and other nobles, as well as one of the largest collections of Flemish tapestries in existence. The tombs in the floor of the church are covered by slabs that are made up of marble, bronze, and gold inlay. The designs are intricate and filled with flowers, angels, and skeletons-very impressive work!
Malta is very close to Italy and seems to have lots of Italian tourists-and lots of good Italian food! We stopped at a café near the church for lunch and enjoyed pizza and wonderful Italian coffee.
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Split, Croatia

We arrived in Split, Croatia, today at 7 am and dropped anchor. However, the swells were enormous and the winds were at about 45 knots, so the Captain decided it was too rough to go ashore. One tender went out to drop off disembarking passengers and to pick up passengers who had gone overland from another port. We were all glad not to be in that tender as it was bounced around on the waves and blown away from the ship by the high winds. The ship had to move out of the bay and turn to the lee side, blocking the wind for a few minutes, in order to give the tender a chance to make a run at the ship and get hooked up. It took a good hour of hard work by those on the tender and those on the ship to get the vessel hooked onto the ship and back on board. With passengers and crew still on the tender, the lifts had to be cranked by hand-and it was slow going getting the craft raised to the level of the Promenade Deck in the wind. The tenders are our lifeboats, so we were all very interested to see how they behaved in rough seas. Suffice it to say, that a roller coaster ride would be a relatively mild imitation of the ride taken today by the folks in Tender #10.
So, we have had our excitement for the day. Split is very picturesque-and is supposed to be in the perfect spot, in terms of climate-but we'll have to wait until another time to enjoy its beaches.
We are now sailing on a southerly course, along the Dalmatian Coast in the Adriatic Sea, on our way to Malta. We had a perfect day yesterday, with exquisitely beautiful weather, which makes it easier to accept a stormy sea today.
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Venice, Italy

We arrived in Venice at about 9 am and had the rare opportunity to see the city from the top deck of a cruise ship as we sailed in from the Adriatic and westward along the Guidecca Canal to our berth. Venice has a unique and very beautiful position on the Adriatic coastal plain-from our perch on the ship we could see for miles across tile roofs and beyond the steeples of the many churches in this city. We couldn't decide where to look-it was beautiful on both sides of the ship. Lido Island on portside, then St. Mark's Square on starboard-then the Church of the Holy Redeemer (built to commemorate the end of the Black Plague in Venice) on port side. It was a treat to see such beauty and to get a sense of the history of the city as each new area was revealed to us.
Our first day in Venice was cold and sometimes rainy. But, we had a shuttle boat available to us from the ship to an area that was fairly close to St. Mark's Square. We got in a nice long stroll through the city, wandering around St. Mark's and then wandering in and out of shops on our way to the Rialto Bridge. At the bridge, we walked along the Grand Canal for a bit and then headed back into the maze of streets (narrow walkways, really) and canals to try to find Teatro Fenice-the Fenice Opera House that had been destroyed in a fire and rebuilt. We had all read City of Falling Angels (John Berendt's book, which told the story of the fire-and something of Venice itself-and the commitment to rebuild the Opera House) and wanted to see the site. The new Opera House is impressive-though impossible to see from a distance if you approach it, as we did, through alleyways and tiny piazzas!
We braved a gondola ride in the evening in a light rain. Winding our way silently through very narrow canals and under low bridges, we were happiest when we passed under a window or near a piazza where music was playing. We really wanted Puccini or Vivaldi, but any score sounds beautiful over the water.
In the Grand Canal, where we ended our ride, the water was choppy and the narrow boats tilt precariously with the slightest movement, so getting out of the gondola was a bit of a challenge. There were only a couple of mishaps with some of the less agile guests getting a dunking as they tried to negotiate the edge of the boat and get onto the dock. Luckily, we were only wet from the rain!
April 7, Monday
Today Venice was perfect! It is spring and there is a strong breeze off the sea, but today was sunny and clear, and much warmer than yesterday-another perfect day for a walk through the city. We visited the Basilica of St. Mark-it's a beautiful church, of course, with exquisite mosaics, marble inlay, and gilded domes. The last time we were here, in June, 2002, it was summer and much darker inside. (It rained, then, too, as I recall.) Today, the Basilica was filled with sunshine and the gold sparkled in the light.
The sail way was another spectacular event as we sailed out from a city bathed in the afternoon sun. The sight was impressive. I was sorry we had only two days here.
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