TLCOhio

As mentioned above by Texas Tillie, we did our sailing up and down the Norway coast in early July. We were up to the top of Norway and Europe and enjoyed very good weather. Our ship Captain told us that historically the best weather for this area is July. Maybe early June could work. September seems a little more risky. Need proof and/or more information? You can check out the below live/blog with many visuals. Below are just a couple as a warm-up sampling. Happy to answer any additional questions. Below is a puffin at the top of Norway, plus second at the North Cape: 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 246,963 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Say it ain't so. Don't want this adventure to end. Like the visual by Mrs. Fletcher. More, more, more!!! What's next for your future travel plans and dreams? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the London/UK Telegraph this morning, they had this headline: “Australia’s 10 greatest islands" with this sub-headline: "The best Aussie isles to discover, from the sandy paradise of Fraser Island to the home of the country’s cutest marsupial.” Ranked right behind Fraser Island, they had Lizard Island as number two with a spotlight on its "Seclusion on the Great Barrier Reef". We were fortunate in 2014 to have visited and LOVED two of these top ten islands in Australia. Move details from my live/blog connected below. Here were some of their reporting highlights: “It’s an hour’s flight north of Cairns but Lizard Island may as well be a million miles away. Tucked between the north Queensland coast and the outer barrier reefs that line the edge of the continental shelf, Lizard is home to an island resort and a small camping area close to a network of walking tracks. Cod Hole is a bucket-list dive site and the snorkelling is superb. The best views are from Cook’s Look, from where the explorer scanned the ocean for a navigable passage through the reef. Unless you book a resort package, access is by private boat or plane charter only.” For Kangaroo Island, their profile shared: "Fringed by spectacular white-sand beaches and crisscrossed by visitor-friendly bush-walking trails, KI is the best place in Australia to see kangaroos in the wild. Following devastating bushfires in 2020 the island’s story is now about regeneration. Book a ranger-led tour to see the Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park, visit a eucalyptus oil distillery, go foraging with the island’s first gin distiller or head out on a boat from Seal Bay. Refuel at farm gates, oyster shacks and beach cafes and book a table under the gnarled limbs of a 120-year-old fig tree." In addition to Fraser, Lizard and Kangaroo, their top ten listing also includes: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales; Norfolk Island; Bruny Island, Tasmani;a; Rottnest Island, Western Australia; Hamilton Island, Queensland; Magnetic Island, Queensland and Cockatoo Island, New South Wales. Agree with this listing? Any major "star" islands missing? Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/australia/australia-best-island-holidays/ 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 243,085 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the London/UK Telegraph this morning, they had this headline: “Australia’s 10 greatest islands" with this sub-headline: "The best Aussie isles to discover, from the sandy paradise of Fraser Island to the home of the country’s cutest marsupial.” Ranked right behind Fraser Island, they had Lizard Island as number two with a spotlight on its "Seclusion on the Great Barrier Reef". We were fortunate in 2014 to have visited and LOVED two of these top ten islands in Australia. Move details from my live/blog connected below. Here were some of their reporting highlights: “It’s an hour’s flight north of Cairns but Lizard Island may as well be a million miles away. Tucked between the north Queensland coast and the outer barrier reefs that line the edge of the continental shelf, Lizard is home to an island resort and a small camping area close to a network of walking tracks. Cod Hole is a bucket-list dive site and the snorkelling is superb. The best views are from Cook’s Look, from where the explorer scanned the ocean for a navigable passage through the reef. Unless you book a resort package, access is by private boat or plane charter only.” For Kangaroo Island, their profile shared: "Fringed by spectacular white-sand beaches and crisscrossed by visitor-friendly bush-walking trails, KI is the best place in Australia to see kangaroos in the wild. Following devastating bushfires in 2020 the island’s story is now about regeneration. Book a ranger-led tour to see the Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park, visit a eucalyptus oil distillery, go foraging with the island’s first gin distiller or head out on a boat from Seal Bay. Refuel at farm gates, oyster shacks and beach cafes and book a table under the gnarled limbs of a 120-year-old fig tree." In addition to Fraser, Lizard and Kangaroo, their top ten listing also includes: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales; Norfolk Island; Bruny Island, Tasmani;a; Rottnest Island, Western Australia; Hamilton Island, Queensland; Magnetic Island, Queensland and Cockatoo Island, New South Wales. Agree with this listing? Any major "star" islands missing? Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/australia/australia-best-island-holidays/ 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 243,085 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the London/UK Telegraph this morning, they had this headline: “Australia’s 10 greatest islands" with this sub-headline: "The best Aussie isles to discover, from the sandy paradise of Fraser Island to the home of the country’s cutest marsupial.” Ranked right behind Fraser Island, they had Lizard Island as number two with a spotlight on its "Seclusion on the Great Barrier Reef". We were fortunate in 2014 to have visited and LOVED two of these top ten islands in Australia. Here were some of their reporting highlights: “It’s an hour’s flight north of Cairns but Lizard Island may as well be a million miles away. Tucked between the north Queensland coast and the outer barrier reefs that line the edge of the continental shelf, Lizard is home to an island resort and a small camping area close to a network of walking tracks. Cod Hole is a bucket-list dive site and the snorkelling is superb. The best views are from Cook’s Look, from where the explorer scanned the ocean for a navigable passage through the reef. Unless you book a resort package, access is by private boat or plane charter only.” For Kangaroo Island, their profile shared: "Fringed by spectacular white-sand beaches and crisscrossed by visitor-friendly bush-walking trails, KI is the best place in Australia to see kangaroos in the wild. Following devastating bushfires in 2020 the island’s story is now about regeneration. Book a ranger-led tour to see the Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park, visit a eucalyptus oil distillery, go foraging with the island’s first gin distiller or head out on a boat from Seal Bay. Refuel at farm gates, oyster shacks and beach cafes and book a table under the gnarled limbs of a 120-year-old fig tree." In addition to Fraser, Lizard and Kangaroo, their top ten listing also includes: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales; Norfolk Island; Bruny Island, Tasmani;a; Rottnest Island, Western Australia; Hamilton Island, Queensland; Magnetic Island, Queensland and Cockatoo Island, New South Wales. Agree with this listing? Any major "star" islands missing? Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/australia/australia-best-island-holidays/ 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 103,313 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Here is more to verify the greatness of Lizard Island. From the London/UK Telegraph this morning, they had this headline: “Australia’s 10 greatest islands" with this sub-headline: "The best Aussie isles to discover, from the sandy paradise of Fraser Island to the home of the country’s cutest marsupial.” Ranked right behind Fraser Island, they had Lizard Island as number two with a spotlight on its "Seclusion on the Great Barrier Reef". Here were some of their reporting highlights: “It’s an hour’s flight north of Cairns but Lizard Island may as well be a million miles away. Tucked between the north Queensland coast and the outer barrier reefs that line the edge of the continental shelf, Lizard is home to an island resort and a small camping area close to a network of walking tracks. Cod Hole is a bucket-list dive site and the snorkelling is superb. The best views are from Cook’s Look, from where the explorer scanned the ocean for a navigable passage through the reef. Unless you book a resort package, access is by private boat or plane charter only.” Their Aussie Top Ten Islands also included Kangaroo Island that we visited and super loved in 2014. Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/australia/australia-best-island-holidays/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals, Our firsts in these scenic areas! Now at 19,195 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Sorry, to have been away from this thread for some time. But, it looks with the Covid over and the transition to their nation's new leader, things have been working well in Oman. From the London/UK Telegraph last month, they had this headline: “The perfect holiday in Oman” with these highlights by Sarah Marshal: “Revered by great adventurers such as TE Lawrence and Wilfred Thesiger, classic Arabia rarely exists beyond the pages of novels or history books. But in Oman, the wild, unadulterated Sultanate set at the mouth of the Gulf, ancient traditions and practices have been carefully woven into the modern world. Tucked between rumpled mountain peaks and rolling ocean surf, historic forts and gritty souks rise alongside flashy five-star resorts in the capital city of Muscat. On the coast, wooden dhows are proudly built using techniques refined over hundreds of years, and all that glitters at night is a canopy of shining stars. Unlike its flashy neighbours, the oldest Arab state has resisted too much change, opting for crumbling watchtowers in place of shiny skyscrapers and sticking to a more conservative way of life. As a result, the country’s varied landscapes have remained largely intact; from the rose-scattered terraces of Jabal Akhdar to the golden dunes of Wahiba Sands, little has altered over the years.” Here is a key suggestion: "Rise early to visit the extravagant Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (sultanqaboosgrandmosque.com), only open to non-Muslims from 8am to 11am (closed Fridays). Located in Wilayat Bawsh, it’s a 45-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Dress respectfully in long sleeves to enter the blinding-white marble building, gifted to the nation by Sultan Qaboos to mark his 30th year of reign. The opulence is staggering – from a 14-metre chandelier glittering with over 1,000 bulbs, to an enormous prayer carpet woven by 600 women." Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tours/ultimate-itineraries/perfect-oman-holiday-muscat-tour/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

Appreciate this kind follow-up and knowing that so many others have had super fun experiences on Lizard Island. Who would have guessed?? Be careful what you wish for in suggesting that i post more visuals. I have thousands and thousands, but I will spare you with only a few more from these scenic and wonderful areas of Australia. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/ This Kuranda Scenic Railway is fun and interesting with many great sights and experiences. When hiking in the Daintree Rainforest, as shown in the third picture, you do feel like you are on an Indiana Jones adventure, right?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) The beach areas in this region are spectacular and generally not too crowded: On Lizard Island, our small group is gathered with our pilot and guide before snorkeling and having our beach lunch. Plus, another underwater sight!: In flying over the Great Barrier Reef, you better appreciate how far out it is and then you see the fast drop-off to the deep Pacific Ocean waters. It is an amazing and unique part of the natural world.:

YES, Turkey's election is not final and completed. They will have a run-off and there are disagreements about the election counting and results. From the New York Times this morning, they had this headline: “Four Takeaways From Turkey’s Nail-Biting Presidential Election" with this sub-headline: "Recep Tayyip Erdogan is headed for his — and his country’s — first presidential runoff vote. But the first round showed the longtime leader’s continued strength.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Turkey’s nail-biter election will go to a runoff, election officials announced on Monday, extending a pivotal vote that has demonstrated that the incumbent, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is still a formidable political force, despite his failure to secure a first-round victory. Turkey’s Supreme Election Council said the runoff would be held May 28 after official preliminary results showed that Mr. Erdogan had won 49.5 percent of votes and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, 44.9 percent, with nearly all ballots counted. Sunday’s voting was closely watched around the world for how it could shape the course of Turkey, an important NATO ally with a wide array of diplomatic and economic ties across continents. The election council said that turnout on Sunday surpassed 88.9 percent of the 64 million eligible voters in Turkey and overseas.” Will be watching on May 28 for how those results turn out. Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/world/middleeast/turkey-election-results-erdogan-runoff.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

From US News magazine this past week, they had this headline: “Free Things To Do in Bruges” with a highlights for Rozenhoedkaai: “Considered one of the most photographed areas of Bruges, Rozenhoedkaai, or Quay of the Rosary, is a picturesque spot where the Dijver and Groenerei canals meet. Sit back and relax while enjoying the lovely canals, beautiful old buildings and charming bars, restaurants and hotels. Visitors also recommend checking out Rozenhoedkaai during the evening hours and say it's a great spot to hop on a boat for a canal tour.” For its historic center, they noted: "Since 2000, the Historic Centre of Brugge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval European settlement, the historic center is among the first places you should visit in Bruges, according to past visitors. Take time to wander the cobblestone paths or a hop on a boat ride through the canals that lead to the Gothic and neo-Gothic buildings that make up this historic city. Once a bustling metropolis of trade, this area was also a hub of the Flemish Primitive style of painting." Full story and links at: https://travel.usnews.com/Bruges_Belgium/Things_To_Do/Free/ https://travel.usnews.com/Bruges_Belgium/Getting_Around/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,975 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Appreciate this above follow-up and helpful sharing. Don't be shy with your experiences and any questions. From MSN News and a travel website two days ago, they had this headline: “Porto, Portugal, Is Europe's Best Non-Capital City” with these highlights: “Europe has many visit-worthy non-capital cities, but none can compare to Portugal's Porto. The Atlantic Ocean surrounds the city on one side and the UNESCO-protected Douro Wine Valley on the other. Split by the Douro River, the town center provides a charming fluvial scenery of traditional boats bobbing on the water. Colorful houses stacked one on top of the other, provide visitors with pretty views as they make their way up hilly streets.” Great summary and exciting background. Have friends/neighbors who are there in Portugal right now. Look forward to hearing their highlights and loves. Here is more from this reporting: "Portugal is Western Europe's most affordable country, so you'll be able to find decent accommodations at relatively good prices in this lovely city. The magic of most European cities is that they're easily walkable. If you stay near Porto's historic Ribeira District, you can easily walk to most of the must-see spots." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/porto-portugal-is-europe-s-best-non-capital-city/ar-AA19e1yw THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,975 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

From the Los Angeles Times three days ago, they had this headline: “What you need to know to stay safe from COVID now that the public health emergency has ended” with these highlights: “Ready or not, it’s over. The country’s public health emergency touched off in January 2020 by the sudden appearance of a novel coronavirus formally enters the history books when the day ends Thursday. Almost every state, territory and tribal entity in the country has declared its health crisis over. Americans generally seem fine with that. A Gallup Poll released in March found that 49% think the pandemic is 'over' in the U.S.” Here is more from this reporting: "Asked when the public health emergency might defensibly end, Dr. Lara Jirmanus, a Boston physician and a spokesperson for the People’s CDC, cited the ongoing threat to the elderly, communities of color and those with compromised immune systems. 'How about when they are as safe as they were before?' she said. That March Gallup Poll found that 3% of U.S. respondents remained 'very concerned' about coming down with COVID-19, with an additional 22% calling themselves 'somewhat concerned.' Dying of COVID-19 is hardly impossible, but compared with the pandemic’s earliest days, it’s become pretty rare — especially if you’ve not yet reached middle age." Interesting background and perspective? It seems that we are shifting to providing more targeted attention to those more at risk, including those older, etc. Added reactions and thoughts? Full story at: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2023-05-11/what-you-need-to-know-to-stay-safe-from-covid-after-the-public-health-emergency-ends THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 49,563 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

I did find a way to access most of this book's visuals through the Silversea website. Here is a link: https://brochures.silversea.com/worldwide-voyages-2024/full-view.html?_gl=1*z06w3*_ga*MTgyMDc2MDQwMS4xNjgyNDYxNzAy*_ga_ZXCJY21NXY*MTY4NDA2OTA1OC4xMi4xLjE2ODQwNjkxMjQuMC4wLjA. Through this connection, it also links into some video items that might be of interest. Below are a couple of visual samples. One of the best point for Silversea that attracts us is their very wide selection of worldwide destination options. They make that point in this book and through their varied visuals. Not just a cruise line too narrowly focused on the Caribbean and Europe. We like unique and interesting itineraries and special ports. That is what we are looking forward to with our upcoming early 2024 plan is to arrive in Delhi/India, then doing some type of private tour options for Agra, New Delhi, etc. Then fly to Mumbai/Bombay Feb. 11, a day there, then starting 18-day Silver Moon cruise with stops at Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore and Cochin. Then stops in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., before finishing Feb. 29 in Singapore. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,975 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Yes, Lois, appreciate your catching of my "goof" in leaving out the important word of "Great". Also, with our two grandsons, our son and his wife are "done" with children. My wife's disappointment is not having a granddaughter. But, we are super happy with the two grandsons. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

WOW!! Great news. Glad that I mentioned a shout-out for Great Grandmothers. If you have a Great Granddaughter, that must mean you are in your 60's and being "Middle-Age", right? Isn't it wonderful to be able to celebrate these children's, grandchildren and now for many, great grandchildren. Nashville is nice, but too bad she is so far away from you in the UK. Congratulations!! Our two grandsons are only ages ten and twelve. No grandchildren for us for many years. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate the very kind comment and follow-up from highplanesdrifters. You also said: "If you have any pics feel free to post. I'm sure everyone would love to see them." Be careful what you wish for??? Glad you mentioned and have a connection with Lizard Island. We flew over the Great Barrier Reef and then landed at Lizard Island for snorkeling and lunch on the beach there, etc. Spectacular!!! Great history there with Captain Cook, the damage done to his ships in trying to navigate through those coral reefs, etc. Yes, we saw lizards on Lizard Island!! 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 243,085 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/ In this area, we enjoyed our ride through these dramatic areas on the Kuranda Scenic Railroad.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) When hiking in the Daintree Rainforest, we encountered a number of scenic sights.: In flying out over the Great Barrier Reef on our way to Lizard island, you better appreciate the size and importance of this major natural wonder. Also, it's lots quicker to get there than riding on a crowded, long boat ride.: Here is just one example for the fun of exploring and seeing the unique sights under water in these reef areas.:

Best wishes for ALL of the Mothers and Grandmothers out there in Cruise Critic World. Any Great Grandmothers? Enjoy your day and celebration!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From this British Columbia newspaper in the past week, they had this headline: “Rick Steves: Enhancing the old with the new in Athens" with this sub-headline: "Today’s Athens is full of vibrant neighborhoods and spiffed-up ways to show off its ancient treasures — most notably at the thoughtfully designed Acropolis Museum.” Here is some of his reporting highlights: “A century and a half ago, Athens was a humble, forgotten city of about 8,000 people. Today one out of every three Greeks packs into this city of more than three million. Given that Athens has none of the astounding natural beauty that’s so abundant elsewhere in Greece, my advice had long been to see the capital’s big sights, then get out of town to explore the Peloponnese and an island or two. But in more recent visits, I’ve seen dramatic changes. The city has made a concerted effort to clean up and pedestrianize the streets, spiff up the museums, build a new airport, and invest in one of Europe’s better public-transit systems. And today’s Athens is dotted with trendy neighborhoods filled with edgy street art and creative eateries just a short walk from the famous sights and museums. At its center, the Acropolis (literally “high city”) is now lassoed by a delightful pedestrian boulevard. Winding up the hill you’ll find yourself in an ensemble of grand temples. Led by the visionary architect/sculptor Pheidias, the Athenians built this complex of supersized, ornate temples worthy of the city’s protector, Athena.” Great historic background and insights by experienced travel expert and author Rick Steves. He correctly points out this background for an area we enjoyed during our last visit in 2018: "At the southern base of the Acropolis hill stands the relatively new Acropolis Museum, which houses artifacts from the Acropolis. The striking, glassy building gives a postmodern jolt to Athens’ otherwise staid, midcentury-concrete cityscape, even as it echoes the ancient history all around it." Full story at: https://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/rick-steves-enhancing-the-old-with-the-new-in-athens-6960538 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

From the Washington Post, I found this headline: “A local’s guide to Tokyo" by Yukari Sakamoto with these highlights: “The sprawling metropolis is so big that even lifelong residents will never really know certain neighborhoods. There is always something to uncover or a new area to explore. The food is amazing, and it’s easy to eat like an emperor, even on a budget. There is respect for others, which explains why packed trains are quiet. The city is devoid of litter despite the relatively few trash cans. The country is so safe that 6-year-olds are expected to walk to school by themselves, and attention to detail is evident across the landscape, from how stores present items for sale to how food is packaged. It’s a peaceful society. Our transit-system cars are clean and frequent. And we have the best toilets in the world. It all makes visitors fall hard for Japan.” Here is an example for the many various options offered: "The 'Shibuya scramble' crossing is the busiest intersection in the world and must be experienced — or at least observed. Young Tokyoites come here for food, fashion and secondhand music shops near this busy but very safe station. It is a short walk to explore other hip neighborhoods like Ebisu, Nakameguro and Daikanyama. Shibuya Station has many train lines (including two that many tourists will use: Ginza subway line and Yamanote JR line) that make it convenient for seeing the rest of the city." Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/japan/tokyo-local-guide/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,975 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

From this financial news website, this morning, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Recovers 141.59% From Low: Sitting In The Catbird Seat?” with these highlights: “Royal Caribbean Cruises concluded the trading at $75.11 on Friday. Considering stock’s 52-week price range provides that RCL hit a high price of $78.38 and saw its price falling to a low level of $31.09 during that period. With its current market valuation of $18.26 billion, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is set to declare its quarterly results on May 04, 2023. Analysts are in estimates of $1.51 per share for company’s earnings in the current quarter and are expecting its annual EPS growth moving up to $4.7 for 2023 with estimates of that growing to $6.94 in next year. These estimates are suggesting current year growth of 162.70% for EPS and 47.70% growth next year. Digging deeper we become aware of the PEG ratio of the RCL stock which is currently positioned at 0. It further provides that stock’s current price level is 11.53% away from its 20-day simple moving average and is 14.13% off its SMA50.” Not sure that I understand all of the "technical talk" of Wall Street, but their bottom line is that RCL is doing better than their cruise competition from the financial types' perspective. Agree or disagree? Full story at: https://stocksregister.com/2023/05/13/royal-caribbean-cruises-ltd-rcl-recovers-141-59-from-low-sitting-in-the-catbird-seat/ 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 103,313 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Nice church!! Have not been, yet, to Ravenna, but this all looks spectacular and very interesting. Keep up the great sharing. Since I have had all of these "religious experiences" through these pictures, do I still need to attend church tomorrow morning? Am I holy enough already? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these great comments, sharing and follow-ups by Grandma Cruising, ducruiser01, aussie cruizer and patrinka. Keep it coming with good questions and info. From the London/UK Sunday Times this weekend, they had this headline: “When will the Grand Egyptian Museum open?" with this sub-headline: "A new home for Egypt’s ancient treasures has been two decades in the making — and we’re still waiting for its official unveiling. Our Egypt expert Anthony Sattin, who got an early look, has the inside story.” Here are a few of their reporting highlights: “We should forgive Egypt for being a little boastful and brash. After all, you can be a bit shouty when you are home to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, as well as Karnak in Luxor — one of the greatest religious complexes — and some of the most sublime art created by man. And that’s not to mention several deserts, Mediterranean and Red Sea coastline and the last, beautiful stretch of the world’s longest river. The country also has what they are calling a 'new wonder in the making', the Grand Egyptian Museum, but they are being uncharacteristically shy about that.” A specific date for this museum opening seems unclear. Here is more from their story: "Staff at the museum are tight-lipped about opening plans, either because they do not know or have been sworn to secrecy. The museum’s website (visit-gem.com, not grandegyptianmuseum.org, which was acquired by a separate entity) says nothing about an estimated opening date. Several Egyptian ministers and well-connected commentators had floated the idea of the museum opening last November, to coincide with the centenary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, but that date came and went. " Full story at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/when-will-the-grand-egyptian-museum-open-2jb9ppwk5 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 256,457 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1362155-solstice-livefirst-timer-reportspix’s-italycroatian-june-7-19/

Appreciate your "Eagle Eyes" and sending this bird visuals and the video. Fun and interesting. Just the name of "red footed boobies" sounds very exotic!! Now that you are in Cairns and Australia, your mention of the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, the Kuranda Rail adventure, their scenic beaches, etc., brings back excellent memories from when we visited there in early 2014. Keep up the great sharing, visuals, etc. Good luck with the weather. 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 243,080 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

What was the quick bottom-line from the stock market for the three major cruise lines during the past week? DOWN-HILL! From Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, below are their charts for these three corporations. Royal Caribbean did better than than the other two companies who slid negative at a higher rate. Tuesday morning, RCL actually hit a high-water mark for the past year's trading. Things, however, slowly moved negative for the rest of the week. Norwegian had the most negative slide. What will next week show and how will these values shift in June and July? 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 243,080 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Yes, J.P., I went back to our original letter and found that this personalized message with both my name and that of my wife at the top, was actually more "confused" in my opinion. See below. Two of the three items financially are in Aussie money, but another, also underlined in red above, promises a savings of $650 per suite. It's a mix of U.S. and Aussie money in one letter??? The SS CEO needs to watch more carefully what goes out over her name. BUT, good news, I have AU$155 left from our trip there in 2014. See below for what that current looks like. On Silversea ships now, do they accept Aussie dollars equal to US dollars? Is that good or bad at today's exchange rates? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio