TLCOhio

To share more from our visit to the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan, it has the ruins of an ancient city as previously shown. This charming village is situated along the Jaipur-Agra Highway. We had a chance to meet and interact with several craftspeople, learn about their production means, see various finished items, etc. Hoping this weekend to complete final review of the many, many visuals taken during our "Golden Triangle" exploring and being able to get them posted here. Sorry for my delays and distractions (including to get our April 15 taxes done and filed). Don't be shy with any and all questions, comments, info needs, etc. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 22,620 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/ In Abhaneri, here are two visuals of a craftsman using fire and his techniques to create a wide variety of colorful bracelets. Yes, my wife bought a few to take home as gifts.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) These visuals show how my wife got to see "up close and personal" how weaving is done in villages in India. In the third picture, it shows the woven item we bought and that is now gracing a glass table in our family room. My wife liked how these colors would fit in that room for us at home. Plus, remember our exploring in fascinating India.: Here was a craftsman doing his pottery "magic".: Here is our skilled guide as we visited inside the home of the family who did the weaving crafts. Second is our guide with a friend of hers in this charming India village. Getting a good sampling for life in large cities and small villages was important to learn more about life in India.:

From CNN, the cable news network, and MSN News two days ago, they had this headline: “What to see at the 2024 Venice Biennale” with these highlights: “This week sees the opening of the Venice Biennale, an 8-month-long festival of art and culture staged every other year. A central show, housed in a series of sprawling industrial buildings; 88 national pavilions, most of which are located in the Giardini parkland area of the city; and finally, a series of satellite or “collateral” exhibitions and pop-up events dotted throughout the city. The main event is running from April 20 to November 24 2024. This exhibition showcases the works of over 30 emerging and established international artists (including Cindy Sherman, Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas, Irving Penn) spanning the realms of painting, sculpture, photography, and film." Many artists featured during this Venice program are detailed in this article, including: "One of the most revolutionary and influential artists of the 20th century, Willem de Kooning is the subject of a major exhibition exploring his time in Italy in 1959 and 1969 and the impact it had on his work." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/other/what-to-see-at-the-2024-venice-biennale/ar-AA1ndX4r THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

From the Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, below are their charts for the most recent five days of trading. Interestingly, these three stocks moved in different ways and patterns during this past week. Especially for Royal Caribbean, it was a rather "rocky" and negative week. Not as much for the other two major cruise lines. Coming up May 1, Norwegian will be doing its quarterly report for the stock analysts. That might create some stories and headlines. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Love the Caribbean? Here are popular posts/links with around 29,000 views with much info for . . . . Barbados: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2179164-barbados-50th-birthday-our-pixs-experiences-feb2015/page/3/#comment-65530134Or, Dominica: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2169714-dominica-love-our-experience-pictures-etc/page/3/#comment-66637276 Here are the WSJ charts for the three major cruise stock during the most recent five days of trading. Is any trend clearly showing?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For added perspective, here is the overall S&P 500 index from the Wall Street Journal for the past one month period of trading. Looks like a fairly negative slide during this period, especially most recently. Right?:

Great to know you are in Manaus and sailing along the Amazon. Look forward to your keen insights, nice visuals, excellent sharing, etc. Keep it rolling!! Look forward to learning more and enjoying great entertainment. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 74,904 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Nice to know, now, that their survey can and should be done on a mobile device. At the end of our late February Mumbai to Singapore Silver Moon cruise, I did "it" on the suite TV screen. Terrible, shallow and painful experience!! So much that I wanted to share to help Silversea's management fix and fine-tune their operations. Plus, salute some outstanding staff members. Wanted to give them some more, better options to complete our feed-back and help insure Silversea remains a "luxury" product. If, management wants to hear it and learn?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Agree 100% with Spins that this "interactive app" is terrible. Very hard on a silly TV screen to express substantive details compared to a more conventional print version. In late February 2024 in Singapore at the end of our cruise from Mumbai on the Silver Moon, I wanted to be highly detailed and very specifics. That was "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" with this shallow, simplistic technology. Maybe the "bean-counters" in Miami and Monaco think they are so super smart and savvy with this type of technology. They can push buttons and get some data, but they are totally missing the opportunity to learn more, fix and fine-tune as needed, let customers know they are being heard, etc. Silversea management is changing, maybe, but do they really want to listen to customers who expect consistency with a promised "luxury" product at a premium price???? As noted on my live/blog, the Silver Moon is wonderful and the staff on the ship performed, overall, very well. But, a number of management decisions from the higher levels needs better focus and serious improvement. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

YES, in Manaus, their fish market is great and fascinating. Need to grab a couple items from there. Here is one of my visuals from being there in 2015 while on the Silver Cloud. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 74,904 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

While some are guessing and speculation, many, including me, have posted based on recent and actual Silversea sailing and observing in-person as to our actually experiences. As noted, most on the ship for us ranged good to excellent. BUT, other aspects show signs of management goof-ups and miscommunications from the higher administrative/finance sides of Silversea. I call it "bean-counter" errors. The stock, as detailed on another thread, for Royal Caribbean has been better than has happened with Celebrity and Norwegian. But, RCL is far from its peak three plus years ago. Still billions of debt to be recovered and much more in future new-ship costs to be financially covered, etc. Agree, much is TBD!!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 249,855 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

YES, Tokyo Station is an excellent location and handy for many options. Below is a picture from just a month ago when we were in front of this location with its nice, interesting architecture and many nearby hotels and potentials. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Appreciate these above great comments and follow-up from our Bermuda friend. Well summarized!! YES, there are various pro/con, plus/minus factors involved. During our 18-days, Mumbai to Singapore experiences with Silversea and on the Silver Moon, many aspects were very good to excellent. But, there were aspects in the three-days in Mumbai where what was promised/claimed by Silversea fell significantly short. Way off and not good. Sorry to be so blunt. If you need specifics, I can provide them. Plus, some goofs in connection with the SS-provided tours during our cruise. The challenges are more with the "bean-counters" in Miami and Monaco. Those finance-types are out of touch with promised and expected "customer service" priorities. Their short-sightedness dictates policies that tarnish the brand. Overall, as someone following closely the finances of the three major cruise companies, Royal Caribbean has done better as viewed by the stock market compared to Carnival and Norwegian. BUT, RCL and the others are still far, far away from their past value peaks. And, most of the big billions of debt are still hanging over their heads. Plus, billions of dollars in new ship orders, etc. And, when does the next recession hit to affect future bookings? I understand the need to "pinch pennies", but how do they balance that with maintaining a high, superior level of service/quality. Not easy to make everyone happy?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

From the Wall Street Journal later on this Friday afternoon, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines. Overall, it was not a good week for either the cruise lines or the overall S&P 500. See the charts below. Also below is a look at Royal Caribbean during the most recent one month of trading. Not exactly a positive upswing after rising to 52-weeks high earlier in this month? Predictions for the cruise stock and/or the overall market during the rest of this month? Or, for later 2024? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 64,323 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008 Here are the WSJ charts for the three major cruise stock during the most recent five days of trading. Two of the five days for Royal Caribbean involved sharp, negative drops. Is this all about the overall market slide? Or, something else?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For the most recent one-month period, here is the RCL chart from the Wall Street Journal. Up the mountain and then, down, down?: Here is the WSJ chart for the past week with the wider S&P 500 group of stock values.:

Great above guess and speculation!! The "transition" from her husband as CEO to Barbara was fascinating and raising interesting questions. Now this?? Inquiring minds want to know more as to the "Rest of the Story"!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

WOW!! Big, surprising news. How much does the new CEO for Silversea understand and appreciate about "customer service" with and for a luxury brand. With a customer base of people with high expectations? Will he stand up to the "bean counters" at Royal Caribbean who want to cut corners, save pennies and not understand a different, more sophisticated audience than for the larger, mass brands? AND, what is the "rest of the story". The change was IMMEDIATE!! Barbara quickly gone in one day. The new guy from outside Silversea there instantly! No smooth transition period. Lots of unknowns and questions. Fair or unfair?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Next, we visited Chand Baori, a step well in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Extending approximately 100 feet into the ground, it is one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. Its construction is dated back to the 8th-9th century. It has 3500 steps cascading 13 stories deep into a large tank at the bottom and has been constructed in an upside-down pyramid-style. Chand Baori is considered one of the oldest surviving step wells in the country. Also, an upper palace building was added to the site, viewed from the tabulated arches used by the Chauhan rulers. Part of that structure is shown in the first picture below. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 33,037 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580 Here is a sampling from Chand Baori, a step well in the charming village of Abhaneri. Many interesting carved items are located at this historic site.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

In traveling from Agra to Jaipur, we stopped for lunch at a dining location associated with the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat. It was constructed in 1890 by the Gaekwad family, a prominent Maratha family, who ruled the Baroda State. Large interesting buildings there. They receive many tour groups there with a large buffet. Decent food, OK, but nothing that special. Below are some visual samples from this stop. Per Wikipedia, this is reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built until that time, and four times the size of Buckingham Palace. At the time of construction, it boasted the most modern amenities such as elevators and the interior is reminiscent of a large European country house. When India got its independence in 1947, many of the old regional rulers with money/property lost out. BUT, for some, they had enough skill/power/position to hang on and adjust to gain revenue from tourism and other businesses. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 34,813 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358 At the dining location associated with Lakshmi Vilas Palace, here are some visual samples. This includes one of its exterior, the music/dancing folks outside as we entered, an interior visual and one from the gardens outside.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is a short video sampling of the music and setting at this newer, but historic India location.: DSC_3529.mov Here are a couple more "cattle" visuals. Yes, at limited times, you see them used for transportation. Or, just "hanging out" and/or roaming.:

Here in Central Ohio, we had the 100% total eclipse and it was TOTALLY AMAZING!! When things went dark for nearly four minutes, not only did we get the ability to see the Moon/Sun combo with our safety glasses off and be feeling things cool down. BUT, the biggest surprise was to experience a 360 degree "sunset" in all directions around us. North. South. West. East. There were light clouds around and that made this all-directions "sunset" look and experience seem much more unique and "unreal". In 2017, we had the partial eclipse. That was nice and good. BUT, the full 100% is so very much better. Egypt in 2027?? Maybe we could make that one. Sounds interesting. Glad we do not have to wait till around 2095 when the next full eclipse comes through Central Ohio. How many of us will be around in 2095?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

On the way to Jaipur, we toured Jodha Bai Mahal, the largest palace in Fatehpur Sikri commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1569 for his favored queen. This Mahal is the largest complex of the zenana (palace for women belonging to the royal household). It features a fusion of Hindu and Persian architecture made with red sandstone. Akbar moved his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri in honor of the prayers of Sheikh Salim Chisti. Those blessings were sought and Akbar believed that this led to the long-sought birth of a male heir for his empire's future. As added background, Akbar (1542-1605) was the third Mughal emperor, reigning from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent who helped the young emperor expand and consolidate Mughal lands and control over a wider portion of the Indian subcontinent. And Akbar, like other Mughal rulers, were great builders who left many structures and treasures for future generations to explore and experience. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 53,728 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227 At Jodha Bai Maha in Fatehpur Sikri, here is a sampling of the many, various structures and design details at this palace with a large area used by the various women connected to this royal family. Look interesting and spectacular? Great, amazing crafting?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) This is an example from one of the interior garden areas at this royal palace.: These sandstone structures do not always hold up over hundreds of years to the weather and winds. Here was part of the craftsmen on-site preparing replacement pieces. Second is an interior view for one of the structures, showing my wife and our guide examining its details.: In this area, here is the flag of India, plus one of the nearby, historic gates/walls.:

Appreciate these great comments and follow-up from our experienced travel friend. Keep it coming with any and all posts, questions, shared experiences in this areas, etc. Sorry for my distractions and delays to be finishing up the visuals and details from our exploring of India's famed and amazing "Golden Triangle" prior to Mumbai and boarding the Silver Moon. Below are some visuals of the Red Fort near Agra and the travels from the Taj Mahal to colorful Jaipur. One key sight was the Agra Red Fort where Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned. It was later renovated by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565 and the present-day structure was completed in 1573. It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi, per Wikipedia. In 1983, the Agra fort was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance during the Mughal Dynasty. It is about 1.6 miles northwest of more famous Taj Mahal. This fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. It is built of red sandstone, helping to give this fortress its name and as used in many other locations in these parts of India. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 55,636 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193 Here are a couple of visual samples for the scale and design details of Agra's Red Fort. Big and impressive?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) In departing Agra, below is a visual of the many monkeys climbing up on the fence at a military location at the edge of this historic city. Second is example as to how motorcycles are creatively used to transport even large items such as natural gas containers.: Along this routing exiting Agra there are colorful street markets, many locals using their bicycles for transportation and also a random, protected cow along a roadway.:

Appreciate this great question and follow-up. Sorry for my delay in responding. Which Cape? Cape of Good Hope? As I recall, we flew down the dramatic coastal areas, saw near/around False Bay, then over part of Wine Country to the east, etc. Do not think we went far enough by helicopter south to go over the actual Cape of Good Hope. We had visited the Cape of Good Hope with our ground/land touring when we also saw the fun and interesting Boulder Beach with their free-roaming colony of African penguins. Does this help? Need more? Here is another visual that I captured of this scenic coast south of Cape Town that had not previously been posted. Look interesting and exciting? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 249,855 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3

Great comments and follow-ups above. Super glad you are planning for added time in Istanbul prior to starting your cruise. Lots to see, love and do in historic and charming Istanbul. From the Lonely Planet website late last month, they had this headline: “7 of the best neighborhoods in Istanbul” with these highlights by writer Jennifer Hattam: “With its huge size and centuries of history, it would be impossible to see all of Istanbul in one trip – or perhaps even in one lifetime. Still, its central neighborhoods are relatively compact, and each has its own distinct character. First-time visitors and those on a tight schedule will likely want to book a hotel in Sultanahmet, smack in the middle of Istanbul’s star attractions, while time spent in other districts gives insights into different aspects of local life in a city that contains multitudes.” Many options and potentials are outlined in this profile. After you get back later this year, follow-up here and let us know what you loved most about Istanbul, etc. Keep up the great researching and planning. Smart being prepared for this amazing city and culture. Full story at: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-neighborhoods-in-istanbul?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_9486400&utm_usr=f541a9e649534cc2931bd57d58d8c2cac2bb8c5d298f722bad5b05cc8ad5ece2 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

Glad that the Gate Hotel is of interest. Below is visual from their website of the fourth floor lobby that has nice views, plus a large outdoor area that can be fun to use, etc. As to guides, we used, work with and loved both of the folks we located through Tours by Locals for our two and a half days in Japan. They are Kumi H. and Makayla S. Tokyo and its many subway and train options are wonderful, but they can be a little "complex" to navigate. Excellent to have skilled guides to make things more efficient, answer ALL of our many questions and give us background as to Japan's interesting history, traditions, etc. Here is Kumi trying to explain to us how to use chopsticks while having lunch in Tokyo. She did well. We were poor, slow-learning students!: Here is Makayla with my wife on the left at one of the best temples in charming and historic Kamakura.: THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 251,049 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

From the Wall Street Journal late Friday afternoon, below are the stock value charts for the three major cruise lines during this past week's five days of trading. Good or bad? I would summarize that things look both rocky and negative. BUT, the overall market had some serious "bumps" this past week as traders try to figure out where the Federal Reserve and interest rates are headed during the remaining months of this year. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 74,854 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

From the Wall Street Journal's Barron's and MSN News today, they had this headline: “Cruise Operator Viking’s IPO Could Be Valued at Over $10 Billion” with these highlights: “Viking Holdings, the parent high-end Viking Cruise Lines, generated an impressive $1 billion of adjusted free cash flow last year on $4.7 billion of revenue in 2023, according to a preliminary prospectus for an initial public offering. Based on its revenue and profitability, Viking could have a market value of $10 billion or more, Barron’s estimates. The company has sizable debt of $5.4 billion.” This reporting also shared: "The deal could prove popular with investors because of the company’s growth, profitability, and niche among affluent consumers. Its focus is on travelers aged 55 and older who will spend over $7,000 per passenger for a cruise. Viking plans to list under VIK on the New York Stock Exchange. The cruise industry is back in vogue on Wall Street after its near-death experience during 2020." Is Viking, with its growing ocean-sailing expansion/focus, now somewhat of a potential competitor to Silversea and other luxury lines? There are difference between RCL/Silversea, but there are some overlaps as both seek customers who can afford to pay more. Right or wrong? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/cruise-operator-viking-s-ipo-could-be-valued-at-over-10-billion/ar-BB1l8L98 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 111,961 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Appreciate these above great comments and follow-up from our New Jersey neighbor. Yes, there are differences as to how varied generations approach these short-term versus long-term economic situations/challenges. Money and spending? What could go wrong? Or, right? From the Wall Street Journal's sister publication of Barrons yesterday morning, they had this headline: “Buy Carnival Stock. Choppy Market Conditions Will Pass" with this sub-headline: "Shares of the cruise operator have dropped since it reported earnings last month. It looks like a dip worth buying.” Here are some of their reporting/analysis details: “Carnival has hit some rough waters, but its recent post earnings selloff looks like a great opportunity to book a cruise on its stock at a discount. At first blush, Carnival’s fiscal first-quarter earnings report on March 27 should have been reason for celebration on the Lido deck. The company reported a loss of 14 cents a share, better than its own guidance for a 22-cent loss and the 18-cent loss that analysts were expecting. In addition, Carnival said it saw record bookings during the quarter, with significantly higher pricing.” Ready to pull out your wallet, place a "bet" on this and other cruise stocks? So far, this week has been fairly "rocky" for the market and cruise stocks. More later after the markets close later this afternoon. Full story at: https://www.barrons.com/articles/buy-carnival-stock-pick-price-658e03c1 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 111,961 views.

YES, have a suggestion based on recent, March 2-5 experiences doing three nights in Tokyo after completing a Mumbai to Singapore Silver Moon cruise/adventure. It was the Gate Hotel Tokyo by Hulic. Clean, modern hotel that has a super, great location in the busy, exciting Ginza. It is eight miles from the Tokyo Haneda International Airport. Access from Ginza station is only one minute away.(Ginza line, Marunouchi line, Hibiya line, Chiyoda line, plus access to a range of nearby rail options). It has a rooftop terrace/bar, plus dining options there. It gains high TripAdvisor ratings. Many dining, shopping, etc., options are nearby. My live/blog below, starting near the top of page five, has many visuals and options to consider for Tokyo, Kamakura, etc. Be ready! Hotels are not cheap in Tokyo and some locations are at decent distance from their fast, efficient (but complex) transit system. And, we hit a weekend when the Tokyo Marathon was happening. That added to the costs and challenges. Let us on these CC boards know any and all added questions about Japan. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/ In the Ginza near our hotel, here is one example for the night action/excitement.: Nearby in Kamakura, to help build for the excitement in visiting Japan, here is the Great Buddha and an early cherry blossom flowering.: