TLCOhio

Appreciate, Lois, this follow-up and these details. Sorry the guide and bus were not good. Glad things improved once you arrived there in Plymouth. Keep up the great sharing! Look forward to any and all details. What was most of interest once you arrived in Plymouth? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

In the morning network news, the hurricane is getting closer to a part of Florida that does not get normally hit as hard by such storms. Good luck to those there. Then there is the challenges with Franklin. See AccuWeather chart below. Have a good friend on his way to New York City today to board a cruise going up the Atlantic Coast to Nova Scotia and then on to finishing in Quebec City. Will Franklin stay farther out in the Atlantic and not impact them? Or, shift its path to threaten them?? Lots of weather questions?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

BUT, not helping RCL and the cruise stock through mid-afternoon today. All are down! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Doing this afternoon a session at the Apple Store for using the iPhone for photography. Will make notes and maybe share more later. From that NY Times story originally cited and linked, one reader posted this comment: "I was once showing some vacation photos to a pro video friend and apologized for some of them by saying I'm not a very good technical photographer. She told me 'You can learn the technical stuff, but you have a really good eye and you can't really teach that.' I'd never thought about any of that, as I just shot what I thought was interesting. Her kind comment gave me more confidence that I had some idea of what I was doing and went on to take some classes to learn more of the mechanics." Great comment about having the "EYE" for the better, more interesting visual pictures. That skill and/or gift makes all of the difference of capturing those memorable and key images. 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 248,537 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Sorry, Lois, that I was late to catch up with your Silver Dawn sailing, the flight challenges, etc. I look forward to reading all about your travel details, any updates (and maybe even some visuals, hint, hint!) from this Silversea adventure and about this ship. Hope all is good during this sailing. Am I correct that your ports/stops scheduled are including: Plymouth/UK, Cobh-Cork/Ireland, Glengarriff/Ireland, Galway/Ireland, Killybegs/Ireland, Ullapool/Scotland, Scrabster/Scotland, Skagen/Denmark and finishing in always wonderful and charming Copenhagen. Is that, Lois, the correct schedule/plan? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Below are more visuals from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. It is the oldest pilgrimage site north of Mexico and 19 miles east of Quebec City. The current Basilica was built in 1926, It was visited last summer by Pope Francis in late July 2022. Then, we arrived this past summer? Were we in great company? As noted, we were amazing by the design, details and overall, moving impression at this religious site. We are not Roman Catholic, but we viewed this location as one of our top highlights for our time in and around Quebec City. It has been credited by the Catholic Church with a variety of miracles for curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic religious sanctuary, which receives about a half-million pilgrims each year. Per Wikipedia, the total length of the building is 344 feet long, 157 feet wide; with a transept width of 200 feet. The height of the building's steeple is 299 feet. 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 245,156 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/ Here are more visuals from our visit to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. It can seat up to 1300 and has this long central part of the cathedral. Second shows some of the special doors created by cooper artist Albert Gilles. Also shown are various other parts of this main sanctuary.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here are two, added exterior views of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. This includes a closer view of the gold-leafed statue of Jesus at the front.: Here is the daughter of famous artist Albert Gilles at their Copper Museum where a demonstration was made for the gold, silver, etc., designs that her father did at the nearby church and at other locations.:

From this Asian newspaper two days ago, they had this headline: “5 most romantic cities around the world” with these highlights for Venice being in this top, fun category: “There's something undeniably romantic about boat rides, and there is no better city than Venice to offer such an enchanting experience. Simply drifting along the stunning Gothic and Renaissance architecture aboard a gondola, the picturesque waterways of this city effortlessly foster an ambiance of romance. Captivating is the sight of the colourful sun setting over the Grand Canal or the Rialto Bridge.” Here is more from this reporting by Abdullah Al Zobayer: "To get a more immersive cultural journey, setting your sights on a February visit is advisable to partake in the renowned Carnival of Venice, and amid your explorations, should your quest for the perfect souvenirs commence, please do remember to seek out the iconic Venetian masks, an embodiment of the city's unique artistic heritage." Full story at: https://www.thedailystar.net/life-living/travel/news/5-most-romantic-cities-around-the-world-3403511 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

From the London/UK Independent and MSN News this morning, they had this headline: “India’s capital to be brought to standstill for three-day G20 summit” with these highlights: “India’s national capital New Delhi will come to a standstill for three days in September as it will play host to several world leaders for the G20 summit. Travel and access to Delhi, known for having a high population density, is expected to be severely restricted ahead of the event as world leaders like Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau will reach the city to attend the multilateral event.” Here is more from this reporting: "No buses will be allowed to move on the city roads between the midnights of September 7 and September 10, people are advised to use the Metro for commuting to their destination. Police officials have also directed the Delhi Metro to shut services at some stations." Sounds like things will be crazy in the Sept. 7-10 period for in and around Delhi. Glad our trip there is not until early February 2024. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/india-s-capital-to-be-brought-to-standstill-for-three-day-g20-summit/ar-AA1fSLTz 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 this great follow-up and helpful details from Stumblefoot. Yes, many technical and medical factors to consider as things move forward. Agree 100% on the savvy summary point of "Only time will tell"!! From the Miami Herald in the heart of cruise country, they had this headline: “‘Florida fatigue’ slows South Florida tourism this year, after pandemic breakout” with these highlights: “The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area is leading big cities nationwide with a 9% jump in consumer prices during the 12 months that ended in April. That inflation level is more than twice the national average, according to the Consumer Price Index of 4%. Miami’s steep prices should concern area tourism officials. After three strong pandemic years when business flourished for South Florida’s critical tourism industry because this area was one of few destinations in the world that essentially kept beaches and other visitor attractions open, travelers have many other places to go in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean for vacations this year.” Here is more: "Miami and Fort Lauderdale tourism marketing leaders got the proof recently in the form of an array of visitor measures for the first half of 2023. The erosion of tourism business was apparent, particularly at hotels." How do the cruise lines ramp up and move forward when these factor play into people considering starting or ending cruises in the Miami/FLL area? Full story at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article278232248.html 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 57,939 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

Appreciate this reminder and follow-up for Lois and her happening-now UK/Ireland adventure. Will look forward to getting updates (and maybe even some visuals, hint, hint!) from Lois. Hope all is good for Lois during this sailing. Just to share, her ports/stops scheduled including: Plymouth/UK, Cobh-Cork/Ireland, Glengarriff/Ireland, Galway/Ireland, Killybegs/Ireland, Ullapool/Scotland, Scrabster/Scotland, Skagen/Denmark and finishing in always wonderful and charming Copenhagen. Is that, Lois, the correct schedule/plan? Good luck to Emtbsam for surviving safely that part of storm-affected Florida. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate the above and other great comments and follow-ups related to Singapore. Keep it coming. Very interesting and helpful. From Yahoo News two days ago, they had this headline: “Singapore's New Attraction 'Trifecta' Offers Snowboarding, Surfing, and Skating Under One Roof” with these highlights: “Singapore is about to redefine sports attractions with the grand opening of Trifecta on October 28th. Located in Singapore, Trifecta introduces an experience for enthusiasts of skateboarding, surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. The snow arena features virtual reality ski simulators, a freestyle area with airbags and slopes, while the surf arena boasts Asia's largest standing wave pool.” Not sure in coming from a Midwest U.S. winter and at my age that these are my highest personal priorities. But, interested that these will be offered in Singapore. Seems like a "happening" place, right? Full story at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/singapores-attraction-trifecta-offers-snowboarding-000936008.html 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

For our friends in Florida, including Lois in Jacksonville, below is the latest official projection chart for how things will hit the Sunshine State on Wednesday, plus heading up the Georgia and Carolina Coasts, etc. Good luck! THANKS! Terry in Ohio

Below are more visuals from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. It is the oldest pilgrimage site north of Mexico and 19 miles east of Quebec City. The current Basilica was built in 1926, It was visited last summer by Pope Francis in late July 2022. Then, we arrived this past summer? Were we in great company? As noted, we were amazing by the design, details and overall, moving impression at this religious site. We are not Roman Catholic, but we viewed this location as one of our top highlights for our time in and around Quebec City. It has been credited by the Catholic Church with a variety of miracles for curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic religious sanctuary, which receives about a half-million pilgrims each year. Per Wikipedia, the total length of the building is 344 feet long, 157 feet wide; with a transept width of 200 feet. The height of the building's steeple is 299 feet. 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 245,156 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/ Here are more visuals from our visit to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. It can seat up to 1300 and has this long central part of the cathedral. Second shows some of the special doors created by cooper artist Albert Gilles. Also shown are various other parts of this main sanctuary.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here are two, added exterior views of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. This includes a closer view of the gold-leafed statue of Jesus at the front.: Here is the daughter of famous artist Albert Gilles at their Copper Museum where a demonstration was made for the gold, silver, etc., designs that her father did at the nearby church and at other locations.:

Below are some of my visuals from our visit to Cartagena in early 2017 as we were on our way to go through the Panama Canal in an adventure going up to San Francisco. There is much to experience and enjoy in Cartagena. Much more to share later. Feel to share your loves and visuals from visiting Cartagena. 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 From our 2017 visit to Cartagena, here is a small, initial visual sampling. As our ship approached, this first picture shows the new, high-rising urban growth for this large city. But, then you get a sampling of the history, charm and character that is present in Cartagena. Yes, there is a large fortress there going back to the early Spanish days. Lots to see and enjoy there!!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate this great follow-up about the rapid growth in Ho Chi Minh City. And, the congestion, traffic, motorbikes, etc., can be very challenging. Just walking across the street in their downtown required skill, courage and fast feet!! Fortunately when we were in that city for three days before starting a Mekong River sailing in early 2018, we experienced much, both during the day and in the evenings. And, we did not have to do any driving there!! Below are a few of my visual samples for a city that I found to be very interesting and highly stimulating. More to come later. Feel free to share your experiences in this city, with its people, enjoying food there, etc. Don't be shy to post your visuals and what you loved most there. 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 Lots of character and history in Ho Chi Minh City, including below the French-connected Saigon Opera House. Seeing a live performance there was a culture highlight. At the bottom is the interior for their historic Post Office building.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Very new and upscale was The Reverie Hotel where we stayed. Lavish might be an understatement for the style in this hotel within one of their new skyscrapers.: Here is their City Hall lighted dramatically at night in Ho Chi Minh City.: Here is one of their newest buildings with a unique helipad located at a high, high level for this structure with special styling.: YES, the motorbikes are many and create much "drama" as the traffic moves around this large and growing metro region.:

While doing cruises and travel trips, my main camera is a Nikon D7200. Many pluses and reasons for using that camera, its lenses, etc. BUT, cell phone cameras and quality keeps getting better. Plus, quick and handy to shoot a variety of visuals, capture fun moments when a bigger camera is too much, etc. From our Quebec City exploring in mid August, the cell phone was quick and adjusts well in lower light circumstances. This is especially true to capture "food porn" moments. Plus, the quality of that image can be very good and easy to work with on my MacBook Pro laptop. Nice to have that cell phone option to use . . . quickly!!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio While in historic and charming Quebec City earlier this month, below are three quick cell phone visuals that worked well to capture the moment with our food experiences and in one of the interesting dining locations in this walled town with so much character and dining excitement.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

From MSN News and a news website yesterday, they had this headline: “A rare blue supermoon rising August 30 will be the biggest full moon of 2023 — and won't happen again until 2037” with these highlights: "On Wednesday, a full, luminous moon will appear in the sky. While experts debate the exact definition of a supermoon, this last full moon of the summer meets all the criteria. In general, the moon is a supermoon when it reaches the point nearest to Earth in its orbit. At about 226,000 miles from our planet, the moon looks about 7% bigger than a regular full moon. Supermoons aren't rare in and of themselves. There are typically three or four a year. Blue Moons are less common: Only one in about 33 moons qualifies.” Here was their visual used to illustrate this reporting: Look exciting and interesting?? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/a-rare-blue-supermoon-rising-august-30-will-be-the-biggest-full-moon-of-2023-and-wont-happen-again-until-2037/ar-AA1fMAIa 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 this great, very interesting background and follow-up by Older Party. Your comments about the "more sophisticated" audience with Silversea does indicate challenges and opportunities as to the staffing required with the talents to be hired. If you are doing a longer cruise (as we have upcoming, February 2024 on the Silver Moon, Mumbai to Singapore), the quality and variety with these performers is of strong interest. Clearly, Silversea has challenges as their ships are smaller and the number of passenger more limited. They cannot financially do the "Big Shows" like done by Princess, Celebrity, etc. Seeing how they "evolve" from the Voices to the Silversea of the future is of curiosity to many, including for our purposes. 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 For the "good old days" sake, below are a couple of visuals from our sailings with the "Voices of Silversea". For a small ship, appreciate the various songs, music, costumes, sets, etc.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

AND, now that Atlantic storm named Franklin is up to being a real hurricane. WOW!! It's still only late August. What happens in September? See the graphic below with storm impacts to be felt along the East Coast of the U.S. THANKS! Enjoy?? Terry in Ohio

YES, the Gulf of Mexico is very hot with its water temperatures. Below is a chart I found this am from AccuWeather that seems to project what is coming for this week. Fasten your seat belts!! THANKS! Enjoy?? Terry in Ohio

Great and interesting background, history and insights. Keep it going on this thread, especially as more is learned and known in the coming months as to what the Silversea entertainment will be for the future. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the New York Times Travel Section this past weekend, they had this headline: “Travel Photography: How to Make the Most of Your Cellphone Camera” by James Hill with these highlights: “A cellphone allows travelers to have a camera always at the ready. The latest phones offer multiple lenses with better resolution and enhanced macro and telephoto capabilities, enabling virtually every moment to be captured for posterity. This can be both a blessing and a curse. When should we be taking a photograph and when should we simply be taking the time to look and wonder at the world around us?” A wide variety of ideas and tips are offered. This includes: "Try to capture a wide variety of images. While it is important to concentrate on classic landscape shots and portraits, also search for photographs with arresting colors and shapes, as well as the details of objects, works of art and food — the things that flavor a place and weave its visual tapestry." Also: "Choosing the best pictures is just as important as taking them. If you have been making a separate album of your favorites, you already have a base from which to start. Nonetheless, take your time and go through all the photographs you have taken, scrolling through the images at least twice." Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/travel/travel-photography-cellphones.html 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

Good luck to those worrying, with reason, about those threatening storms, plus the official early September start of the hurricane season. For Jolly getting on the Silver Moon, would appreciate any special tips, insights, secrets, visuals, etc., about this ship, its entertainment future, dining treats, etc. Getting closer for early February 2024 when we board the Silver Moon for the first time on our 18-day Mumbai to Singapore adventure. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the New York Times Travel Section this weekend, they have this headline: “36 Hours Cartagena” with these highlights by Shannon Sims with photographs by Tony Cenicola: “Cartagena can be so hot (even with the ocean breeze and occasional tropical downpour) that visitors may feel like they are drifting through a dream world of cobblestone lanes and Afro-Colombian drum beats. For a robust introduction, explore through two adjacent, walkable neighborhoods. The Old Town is still surrounded by the stone walls built by the Spanish colonists, who also left behind opulent mansions and churches. Neighboring Getsemani is an artsy, semi-residential enclave with a popular street-party scene, overlooked by the 16th-century fortress that looms on a hill nearby.” We super loved Cartagena when we did our adventure there during a Panama Canal cruise as detailed in the live/blog connected below This NY Times profiles provides a wide range of potentials for restaurants and bars. shopping, attractions and outdoor activities, where to stay and getting around. Many visuals and options to review and consider. Here is more: "Some of Cartagena’s most exquisite moments are impromptu scenes found when strolling aimlessly through the Old Town’s narrow streets, past bougainvillea-covered colonial buildings and palm-tree studded squares. Walk through Parque del Centenario, a compact park that some monkeys and sloths call home." Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/24/travel/things-to-do-cartagena-colombia.html 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 32,278 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580 Here is their exciting cover visual used to illustrate this NY Times profile.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

While in Canada last week, we loved our time there last week. Below are a few more to prove and share the "Joy" of Canada, its people, history, character. 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 Not one, but two Canada flags flying proudly in Quebec City. Plus, the Quebec flag with their famed hotel in the background: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Quebec City is unique with its still-standing walls surrounding its historic areas.: Here are a couple more views/angles of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Hotel. It was built by Canadian Pacific Railway, first opened in 1893. This most photographed hotel in the world twice hosted Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt for World War II planning.: Here is a view of Montmorency Falls, 272’ tall, 99’ higher than Niagara Falls. with tourism ship in the foreground in this part of the Saint Lawrence River.: