Sunday, August 25
No port today. Just cruising Lake Huron. As mentioned earlier, it is the 2nd largest of the Great Lakes. It is shared on the north and east by Ontario, and south and west by Michigan. The main inlet is the St. Mary’s River; the main outlet is St. Claire River. There are 30,000 islands on the lake.
After breakfast, Katharine spoke on Niagara Falls—its history, some facts and figures, stories of survivors and daredevils going over the Falls.
We took the Bridge Tour this afternoon, which very interesting and informative.
Second Officer, Adriano, told us about each of the instruments, and stories about ships’ accidents and disappearances before some of these instruments were used. We took turns at the helm wearing a captain’s hat.
Later we attended the Vienna-themed tea; the waiters were dressed in Viennese costume with white wigs. The main table was beautifully decorated with tea sandwiches and other goodies, including the famous Sacher Torte.
The highlight was the piano concert performed by famed European pianist and conductor, Bernardo Marquez DePargues. He was vacationing with his father, our Hotel Director, Louis.
Monday, August 26
Neither Doug nor I slept much last night. I looked at the clock every 30 minutes or so all night; Doug tossed and turned. We finally got up at 5:30. We were docked in Windsor, Ontario by 7:30. Our sister ship, Victory II, is docked across the Detroit River from us in Detroit, MI.
Our tour today took us to Detroit, which is known for automotive innovation, and for singers, such as Eminem, Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Motown Records. We crossed the Ambassador Bridge, from Canada to US. They call it the “friendly handshake”. It’s the longest privately-owned bridge in the world. It was built in 1929 and is owned by billionaire Manny Maroun; the money from all the tolls goes to him. He also owns the tunnel under the river from the abandoned Michigan Central Train Station. Detroit was founded by the French; then it was British, before it became part of the US. The city is 140 square miles; its population is only 700,000, and has more than 80,000 abandoned homes. More than 40% of the land is vacant. Between 2008 and 2013 the city looked desperate. In 2014 it started to come back. Now it is dynamic with some wonderful programs and initiatives in place.
Once we crossed into the US, we had to get off the bus and go through Customs. Then we went to Dearborn where everything is Ford. Dearborn has the highest Muslim population of anywhere outside the Middle East. We arrived at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. It is a huge and very beautiful building. I expected to see lots of automobiles here,
but I was not prepared for such an extensive museum which included steam engines,
stage coaches,
old fast-food restaurants,
appliances, home furnishings, doll houses, clocks, hand-blown glass, firearms, heating stoves,
aircraft, agricultural machines, as well as the round Dymaxion House, constructed of materials used in the aircraft industry.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was here too.
It had everything that showed the ingenuity of Americans. From there we walked to Greenfield Village, the living history portion of the Henry Ford, with nearly 100 buildings situated on 200 acres. It shows how people lived and worked since America was founded.
The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village is the largest indoor/outdoor museum complex in the US. We walked to the 1850’s style Eagle Tavern for an excellent lunch. We each had been given $20 of “funny money” which paid for our meal. From there we took the train around for a narrated overview of the village.
It reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg. We planned to visit some of the buildings, see some of the demonstrations of farmers and craftsmen at work, and ride on a Model T, but it started raining, so we returned to the Henry Ford to see some of what we’d missed earlier, like Lincoln’s chair when he was the assassinated,
and Rosa Parks’ bus.
On our way back to the ship, we had to go through Customs on the Canada side. We had an early dinner, followed by guest entertainers from Detroit, the Diversity Duo. They were really good, and many of our fellow passengers and crew were dancing. Fun! Victory I left port a little before 10 pm.
Tuesday, August 27
Another sleepless night. First it was the sound of something heavy being dragged across the deck above. Later it got really rough, and although the waves hitting the hull were loud, it was sound of iron doors slamming that kept me awake.
We are now on Lake Erie, the smallest of the Great Lakes. Because it is the shallowest at only 65’ deep, its water is the warmest. It borders NY, PA, OH and MI in the US and Ontario in Canada. It’s the walleye capital of the US. I had walleye the other night for dinner, and it was tasty, but challenging to eat because of the many small bones.
We arrived in Cleveland, and had to go through Customs again, before we could go ashore. From where we docked it was a 10-minute walk to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It’s quite an interesting building. The many exhibits took us through the history of Rock and Roll starting with the early influences.
There were exhibits on Woodstock from 1969,
protests against Rock and Roll,
Elvis memorabilia,
Motown,
the Mamas & the Papas, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson,
the Beatles, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, and so many more. We all had fun playing the pinball machines from the early Rock and Roll era. On another floor were old TV shows like the Ed Sullivan Show and Dick Clark and American Bandstand. If you are a musician, you can actually play in The Garage on the 2nd level. Then there was the hotdog car that Phish used for 3 New Year’s Eve performances.
Johnny Cash’s bus was outside. It was a very enjoyable morning.
Our afternoon was spent on a city trolley tour. Unfortunately it rained all afternoon. Cleveland was founded in 1796 by Moses Cleveland. It was considered the Western Reserve of Connecticut. The Cuyahoga River runs through the city. There are 21 bridges over the river. There are 335 bridges in the city. At one time 57% of the world’s wealth was in Cleveland. Euclid Avenue was known as Millionaire’s Row. Mark Twain called it the most beautiful street in the world. Most of the mansions have been torn down; a few have been repurposed. It was the fist city with home mail delivery. Wyland’s 75th Whale Wall is here. I was impressed by the Cultural Gardens in John D. Rockefeller Park, which honor all nationalities and ethnicities in the city; the only one in the US. There are also many beautiful stone bridges donated by Rockefeller. We stopped in the Lake View Cemetery to see the Wade Chapel.
It was designed entirely by Tiffany. “Voyage of Life” is the theme. The beautiful stained glass window was just part of this exquisite chapel.
Glass tile mosaic murals lined the walls.
The chandeliers were each a single piece of alabaster. The doors are bronze and each weigh a ton. A monetary value could not be put on this chapel; it is truly priceless.
We had only 40 minutes to explore the Cleveland Museum of Art. Antoine was in love with Monet’s “Water Lilies”; he is an artist, and this is his style.
Back on the trolley, we passed the Botanic Gardens, and drove along Euclid Avenue and Millionaire’s Row, and passed the Cleveland Clinic, one of the finest in the world. We got back to the ship late, because of traffic due to an accident.
Tonight was the Captain’s Farewell Dinner and speeches.
Although we don’t leave until Thursday, tomorrow will be a very full day, and we’ll also have to pack.
Wednesday, August 28
We docked in Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie, at the southern part of the Welland Canal. This canal, finished in 1932, is the 4th Welland Canal. The original had 27 locks; this one has only 8.
Niagara Falls, which is made up of 3 falls—Horseshoe on the Canadian side, and American and Bridal Veil on the US side, was the first stop on today’s excursion. 22% of the world’s fresh water goes over Niagara Falls. It is the Honeymoon Capital of the world. We took the funicular
down to the Hornblower boat
that took us close to the falls. We got drenched from the heavy mist, even though we wore ponchos.
It was sunny and warm, so we dried quickly once we were ashore. From there we stopped at the Whirlpool, where the Niagara River makes a 90° turn.
The Niagara River is the boundary between US and Canada, and the largest undefended border in the world. It produces more electricity than any other river.
Our next stop was the Floral Clock, which is 40 feet across and made of 15,000 plants.
While here we saw the Snowbirds, the Royal Canadian Air Force formation planes, which were apparently part of an air show.
Lunch was at the Château des Charmes Winery.
The vineyards were beautiful.
The buffet lunch was delicious, and the wine tasting included ice wine, which was surprisingly good. Niagara wine region produces 80% of the world’s ice wine.
We finished our tour with time to walk around the beautiful city of Niagara-On-The-Lake Heritage District, settled in 1778.
The city has lots of firsts in Ontario—apothecary, newspaper, historical society, and lending library. It was a lovely day to walk around and browse the many shops.
We went into the historic 5-star Prince of Wales Hotel.
After dinner, Vantage had a get together and disembarkation talk. Antoine and Kathi gave out gifts—souvenirs from the places we visited.; it was really nice. Time to pack. Tomorrow we leave Victory I.
Thursday, August 29
Not much sleep again last night. We passed through the 8 locks of the Welland Canal, which took us until 3 am; it was very noisy. Then we were up at 6 am for an early breakfast and disembarkation. We are in Toronto on Lake Ontario, the smallest of the Great Lakes, and shared by Ontario and New York State. The Saint Lawrence River connects Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean.
The panoramic tour of Toronto first stopped at The Distillery Historic District, a pedestrian-only area with art galleries,, boutiques, bars and restaurants.
In 1832, it housed a large whisky distillery. Lots of movies have been filmed in this location. Unfortunately, it was too early and nothing was open.
From there we went to the St. Lawrence Market. National Geographic named it the #1 market in North America. We had 30 minutes to quickly check out all the stalls with fresh meats, 
seafood,
cheeses, fruits,
vegetables,
breads, pastries,
maple products, clothes, and more. Very impressive.
Then it was a short stop at the Cathedral of St. James, built in the late 1700s.
We drove through the University of Toronto, past the Bata Shoe Museum with its history of shoes, and went by the Casa Loma Castle with its 98 rooms.
We continued through Chinatown and on to get a glimpse of the CN Tower. I loved this building.
We finally reached our hotel, Sheraton Centre Toronto, which is now a Marriott Bonvoy. Our rooms weren’t quite ready, so we went down the hall to Quinn’s Steakhouse for a nice leisurely lunch. By the time we finished, we went directly to our rooms. From our window we had a nice view of the Toronto sign and City Hall. This picture was taken at night.
We met Randy and Mary and went downstairs to see a bit of PATH Toronto, the world’s largest underground shopping complex; it’s 19 miles long. Then we walked a few blocks to Golden Thai Restaurant for a delicious dinner. On our way back, we stopped for pictures at the Toronto sign. I’d had a lot of nights with little sleep, so it was an early night for me.
Friday, August 30
Thankfully I had a good night’s sleep, so I was ready to enjoy Toronto on our own today. We had a wonderful included breakfast buffet with Mary and Randy. We made our plans for the day; it would be a walking day.
We walked to Chinatown and looked around.
Then to nearby Kensington Market, which is not actually a market, but a neighborhood of shops and restaurants of all nationalities.
Back in Chinatown, we found a nice restaurant, A Taste of China, for lunch. We were the only non-Asians there.
Next we walked to the CN Tower, which looked pretty close, but it wasn’t. It was a steep price to go to the observation floor, so we were happy to see it from the ground.
Next to the Tower was the Roundhouse,
so we went to see the old trains.
Part of the building houses a train museum.
The rest of it is the Steam Whistle Brewing Company. We stopped in there for a beer.
The following are pictures of interesting things we saw on our 7 mile walk.
Three blocks from our hotel Mary tripped and had a bad fall. She was able to walk the rest of the way, but her arm was clearly hurting. We had walked about 7 miles today. She and Randy skipped dinner. Mary spent the evening icing her arm. Doug and I went downstairs to eat; we split a bowl of soup and sandwich at Shopsy’s.
Saturday, August 31
We met Randy and Mary for breakfast. Except for her wrist and elbow, she didn’t feel too bad. We said goodbye to Antoine, and thanked him for everything, as he showed us to our limo, and we were off to the airport. He was a wonderful tour director. We went through Customs and Immigration in Toronto, so we didn’t have to in Orlando, which was very nice. We had lots of time to enjoy a burger at Wahlenburger’s for lunch.
When our group was called for boarding, I asked if it was a full flight. The attendant laughed and said, “Are you serious? You are the only ones wanting to fly into a hurricane.” Category 5 Hurricane Dorian had been heading straight for Central Florida a few days ago, but it stalled in Grand Bahama, devastating the island. There were only 71 passengers on the Boeing 767-300 that holds 282. They needed the plane in Orlando to bring people back. We left a little late, and it was bumpy at times, but overall a good flight.
When we got back, Randy took Mary directly to Urgent Care. She had sustained a fractured elbow when she fell yesterday. Thankfully it was at the end of our trip.
I would highly recommend this trip, both with Victory Cruise Lines and Vantage Adventures.
The green depicts the water; ripples look like waves; buildings curve as the river turns; round windows look like ships; triangles resemble
One interesting building we saw shows the Chicago River on its side with a large red
On the Navy Pier is a Ferris Wheel.
The first Ferris Wheel was built for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair by George Ferris. It had 36 railway cars each holding 60 people with a total capacity of 2160. It was a wonderful tour and we were all so glad we went.
We also watched the 2 towers of the Crown Fountain with their changing faces that, every so often, spit a stream of water. There
and again to walk around Millennium Park. As soon as we got back on the bus, it started to pour, and the rest of our tour we saw from rain-streaked windows, so no pictures. When we past Wrigley Field, we saw the apartments with rooftop viewing of the field; what a clever idea.
By the time we got to our cabin, our luggage was already there, so
It was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures 58°-76°.
for a ride through the forest, to the stone arch,
where we walked through all the buildings of this wonderful museum.
No motor vehicles are allowed on the island, so bicycles and horse-drawn carriages are the mode of transportation here. I have no idea how many bicycles there are, but there are over 500 horses and 1000 carriages.
where we thoroughly enjoyed an amazing buffet lunch.
The room holds 1000 people. Then we explored the hotel, and got a peek at one of the guest rooms. All the rooms are decorated with flowers. Very
and in and out of many of the shops. Mackinac Island is
It is the largest
& Block House
from the 1800s. They were part of the fur trading business that played a major role in this area at that time. It was an interesting tour.
Upstairs was an art gallery with one of Mishibinijawa’s prints, and a small museum. It was lunchtime, so we went to the Anchor Inn, sat out on the deck, and had a bowl of soup.
Mary and I each had Manitoulin Brewery’s Pale Ale; Randy had Split Rail
I spoke to one man who’s been at sea on his boat for 14 months and traveled 6500 miles. Impressive.
Next we crossed the street to the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. First we went to the Healing Lodge for a smudging ceremony or spiritual washing.
They gather
Then to the Museum. 
An excellent show.
This is the largest tribe in Canada.
and passed the beautiful
There was a really nice children’s play area in the mall.
We walked around and checked out all the stores while we waited for our driver to return at the prearranged time. When we returned to the port, we paid him $20 US for the round trip. It’s 90° and sunny today, a typical day in Thailand this time of year.
We left Laemchabang about 6 pm.
I am
These tunnels, which were very close to a US military base, played a major role during the Vietnam War for the Viet Cong, who used these underground spaces for living. There were 3 levels that consisted of trenches, bunkers, booby traps, storage, workshops, dining and hospitals. They cooked, ate, slept, worked and even went to school there. The entrances and
Air ventilation holes looked like termite hills. I chose not to go into the one tunnel we could enter. Doug did go, but had to crawl on his knees through part of it. The Viet Cong were very clever. They even designed their shoes so their footprints could not be followed. It had been very emotional walking through this entire area and seeing the many displays of life here during the war. The heat was nearly unbearable with high humidity and the temperature above 100°. I was dressed in light clothing; I can’t imagine what it was like for the soldiers during the war. I chose not to add any other pictures to this writing, due to the sensitive subject matter.
the Chinese assembly hall,
and an old home, where the 7th generation still lives upstairs.
and for a photo stop at China Beach, now called Danang Beach. We drove over the Dragon Bridge in Danang, through the long tunnel, and arrived back at Millennium about 4:30.
Back on the bus, we saw a man getting his hair cut in a barber chair beside the road.
We should have had views of Cheung Chau and Lantau Islands, but the windows were fogged over.
Then we walked back to the bus.
and spectacular views from the revolving restaurant.
When we were done eating, we watched as people jumped from the 61st floor on the world’s highest bungee jump.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Blu, the Aqua Class exclusive restaurant. Showtime was Venus Tsai, a violinist from Taiwan. She put on an excellent show, but we were so exhausted, we barely made it through. When it was over, we went straight to bed.
It had been sunny and in the 70s yesterday when we arrived, but today it was cool and overcast. As we strolled along the top of the terminal, we spotted the Oriental Dragon anchored in the harbor, which looked like an old Royal Caribbean ship. When I Googled it, I found out it was one of Royal Caribbean’s original 3 ships, the Sun Viking, put into service in 1972 and sold in the late 1990s. She is now a gambling ship.
We had been on
Then it was wait,
What a sight! Spectacular and very moving.
We stuck close to Muse as we made our way
We were given an hour of free time to grab something to eat. Doug and I each got a sausage wrapped in a rice bun, and shared a potato chip stack on a stick. Both were tasty. Then the long trek back to the bus where we breathed a sigh of relief to finally sit. After an hour ride, we were back to Millennium, with feet hurting and exhausted, yet excited to have had this once in a lifetime experience.
Doug and I both made it through 2 rounds of Extreme Baggo (Cornhole) before we both were eliminated. We had to throw the bags from different decks each round. We tried to watch the Rooftop movie, “Robin Hood”, but there were no seats available, so we spent the afternoon on our balcony, and Doug took a nap. We enjoyed listening as the guitarist played on the deck below us before dinner. Showtime was the production show, Elysium, which we enjoyed later in the evening.
It would be another 2 hours before we would reach our dock. Our 
Local legend says to assist the Vietnamese to defend their country, the gods sent a family of dragons to protect them. These dragons spit out jewels which turned into these 1600 islands, making a wall against invaders. Halong means “descending dragon”. It was a cool 66° and quite overcast, but it was still magnificent to see. We went ashore at Dau Go Island to
The one-way path led us through to the other side and then the long stairways
It was a wonderful tour of a place I’ve wanted
We traveled through the 5-mile long
We rode past the famous Han Market, the pink Danang Cathedral, TV broadcasting station, and the golden Dragon Bridge over the Han River. It was a bit unnerving riding in the middle of the busy streets with motorcycles, cars and trucks whizzing past.
Some of these well-hidden caves were used as hospitals for Vietcong during the war. Our tickets included a one-way elevator ride to the top, but we would have to walk down.
As we very slowly made our way down the steep steps, we encountered a huge group of young school children running up the stairs.
I especially enjoyed all the
As one would expect on Monkey Island, we saw lots of monkeys also.
During the war, this mountain was a prominent US Air Force and Marine observation base.
When we got back on the bus, Kanya taught us how to fold the leaves of a lotus bud into a flower.
Behind the temple is the Amulet Market, where one can buy a lucky charm.
and the Skyway. 
It was
but if you really want to see what it looks like, watch the movie, “Crazy Rich Asians”. Downstairs there is a huge casino with 600 tables, and a huge high-end shopping center. Outside the hotel we had the opportunity to watch the incredible laser light show at 8 pm. I felt like I was in Disney World. Truly beautiful. My video was posted on Facebook.
where sits the beautiful St. Mark’s
We found a nice little restaurant and had a delicious breakfast.
Then we just walked
What a wonderful place.
A perfect day.
Here our guide talked to us about the Greek Christian Orthodox religion, and the differences between it and Catholicism.
We had extra time to shop. Of course there were
Tourism is the main industry of Corfu, as well as the production and export of olive oil. There are 4 million olive trees, and each tree grows olives every other year. The trees live a long time. Here is a picture of one more than 1000 years old. 
They also have a lot of cypress trees on Corfu.
the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena,
the Old Temple of Athena Nike,
and the Erechtheion with the
From there we walked to the Acropolis Museum in the rain. It opened in 2009, and has 4000
Then back to the ship.
Mary, Randy, Doug and I tendered ashore to wander around through the twisting streets with the whitewashed buildings.
We walked to the windmills which were built by the Venetians in the 16th century.
Next to that area are the colorful buildings of Little Italy.
We had a nice lunch, then went back to the ship.
We saw cats and geese on the island, but we never saw the pelican that is the mascot of Mykonos.
As we left, we spotted 2 kittens, the only cats we saw today.
We are looking forward to visiting Venice next week.
Croatia was part of communist Yugoslavia, along with the Republics of Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia and Slovenia wanted democracy; in 1991 with the breakup of Yugoslavia, war started. For 3 months they had no water or electricity and very little food. By the time war ended in 1995, 200 soldiers and 100 citizens had been killed. Croatia was left in devastation. It did become a democratic nation. It is a member of NATO. Croatia was the first country to abolish slavery.
Dubrovnik’s worst
We got a quick breakfast, then off to take a tender ashore for today’s tour, Montenegro Highlights. It was a chilly 60° when we started, but it would eventually warm to the 70s.
It was a narrow 1- lane, but 2-way road, which made it even more interesting. It took 15 years to build
We went to St. Triphon’s Cathedral, one of Europe’s oldest churches, dating back to 1166 and restored after the 1667
There were many cats in Kotor, and all the souvenir shops were filled with cat souvenirs. 
Apparently it is known as the “city of cats”. We will be back here next week, and plan to spend more time here then.
The whitewashed
There are also cats everywhere in this little town, which is always a highlight for Doug, and Randy too.
When we left Oia, we drove around the other side of
Most of the roofs on the island are rounded, to make them better able to withstand earthquakes, which occur every 10-15 years; the last one was in 2007. We walked around Fira, then stopped at a nice Greek restaurant that overlooked the sea, and enjoyed a gyro and local beer with Randy and Mary.
Then our
The Christ of Havana statue was across from us.
We had planned to go to the Money
There were dancers, and many from the tables, joined them. We stayed about an hour, then left.
Here we got our Euros exchanged for CUCs, although it was not at a very good rate. 
We were glad to get back early, because tomorrow will be an early and long day.
The embargo
Outside the grounds of the Hemingway house, we saw many classic cars. Randy and Doug were happy campers.
On our way to lunch, Eddie told us that Cubans love their parties, and love to drink; they celebrate almost everything. It is a safe place with a low crime rate. No guns or knives are allowed. No drugs either. If caught with anything, you will get a stiff jail sentence. Pickpockets are the biggest problem. There were lots of clubs and casinos before 1959, but not anymore. Gambling is illegal. Hitchhiking is a common mode of transportation in Cuba.
In contrast to that, the following are photos that represent other buildings we also saw, but unfortunately, I did not think to get those shots, so these have been taken from the internet. There were many dilapidated buildings such as these, and in some areas, it looked like a
No tour would be complete without a stop for shopping. We had only 30 minutes at
For a couple days I had been
Time for bed when we were done.
Also in the complex is Kondo (the main hall), a 5-storied pagoda, and several other buildings. As we walked along the tree-lined Green Corridor, I was drawn to all the beautiful colors of the red camellia, the white cherry blossoms, and the pink cascading cherry blossoms. We passed an area of pinwheels; these are for blessings for unborn children. What a peaceful place.
It was very crowded, because it was a beautiful Sunday and the cherry blossoms were in bloom. Families were picnicking among the 1600 cherry trees in Goryokaku Park behind the tower.
It was magnificent to see this; a definite highlight of the trip for me. The observatory was on the top two floors of the tower; the museum of the history
One can see the
But it was the cherry blossoms that I was there to see. Cherry blossoms are only in bloom about a week. The following is a quote from Homaro Cantu: “The significance of the cherry blossom in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and beauty of life. It is a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful, but that is also tragically short.”
While there Doug and I bought a large king crab croquette that was chock-full of crab. As I started to take my first bite, a large-billed crow flew up and snatched it out of my hand with a great deal of force. Very bold! We watched as he ate it. When he was done, he stole an entire bag of souvenirs from another tourist.
This region has hot springs, and an active volcano, Mount Usu, which has erupted 4 times in the last 100 years, most recently in 2000.
The class isn’t over, but it’s over for me; it’s just way past my abilities.
After we had lunch, the four of us hiked the Panorama Trail.
It sprinkled on and off as we hiked. JoAnne and Jim waited for us at the lodge. 
After dinner we attended the Destination Talk, but skipped the evening entertainment in exchange for bed.
Next was a 45-minute drive to the Shimioshi Grand Shrine. There are 2000 Shimioshi shrines in Japan. Shimioshi means a good place to live. This one represents ships and soldiers and is a National Treasure. The stone lanterns in front symbolize lighthouses. 3 million people visit here on New Years Day. I found 3
We walked through the entire complex with our guide, then crossed the orange arch bridge.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Again there were lots of steps up to the temple, which apparently is the case with all temples. These Japanese must be in really good physical condition. There were beautiful views from there.
Then there many more stone steps, through the pines and along a path, to get down to the dark gravelly sand beach. Swimming is prohibited due to dangerous waves, currents and rocks, plus
When we got off the bus, we walked to see the Noradokei Field Clock (Nora Clock), which was built in 1887 and worked for 120 years. The field workers
Due to Doug’s shrimp allergy, he got the vegetarian meal, which was nice.
It is a residential and trading site; 20 people now live there. It was originally built in 1636 as a Dutch trading post, a place of direct trade and exchange between Japan and the outside world during the Edo period.
Very impressive. Busan is on the southeast tip of the Korean Peninsula. It’s known for its beaches, mountains, and temples.
Our guide, Genie, gave us a lot information about
After an hour of this very complicated ritual, we had more trouble getting up.
Following that we climbed the stairs to get a closer look at the Buddha.
Aomori is supposed to be a great place for cherry blossoms. Our table mates, who took the tour to the castle for the Cherry Blossom Festival, had wonderful pictures to share.
On the ceiling of the Temple Hall is a beautiful painting of a dragon, the symbol of water and power, which will keep it safe from fire. This Tokyo district is a festive and entertainment area with lots of souvenir shops. It was pouring when we got there, so we stayed at the temple awhile before venturing out to shop.
It finally stopped raining.
The Emperor has no political power, but he is expected to write poetry and be a good orator. Emperors have always remained until their death, but Akihito will abdicate (retire) next year at the age of 85.This is a large park-like area with beautiful gardens. We didn’t have time to see the gardens, because we had lost so much time in traffic on the way to Tokyo. 
The views from here were really lovely.
It used to be the tallest structure in Japan, but in 2010 the Skytree became the tallest, and the second tallest in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
This was the last night of the first cruise. The adventure continues.
We unpacked, then showered in the toasty bathroom with heated floor. 
Doug and I attended the port talk on tomorrow’s tours in Rome by Jenna, cruise director, and Rob, shore excursion manager. Dinner is open seating; we prefer to share a table with others. Tonight we enjoyed a wonderful dinner of diver scallops with 2 lovely ladies, a mother and daughter. We were exhausted after our trip, so after dinner, we called it a day.
The origin of the City Wall dates back to the 4th century BC, and parts can still be seen today. We passed the Baths of Caracalla, the city’s 2nd largest Roman baths. 
They were the inspiration for the original Pennsylvania Station in NY and the Chicago Union Station. The Coliseum, or Flavian Amphitheater, is the symbol of Ancient Rome.
It was used for 5 centuries for gladiator fights. It is the largest amphitheater ever built, and is estimated to hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. It is built of travertine, a limestone. An amphitheater is a full circle; a theater is a semicircle. Next, we passed the Arch of Constantine, constructed between 306 and 312 AD. Then we had a photo stop to see the Imperial Palace built on Palentine Hill, and the Circus Maximus below.
Chariot races were held here, as seen in the 1959 movie “Ben-Hur”. The Roman Forum is on the other side of the palace. We got a glimpse of the lovely St. Mary Bell Tower on our way to Capital Square on Capital Hill; this was the political and religious center of Ancient Rome.
The Vittoriano or “Wedding Cake” Monument holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and eternal flame.
We drove past Republic Square and Basilica Santa Maria and Baths as we left the center of Rome and back outside the City Wall.
We crossed the Tiber River to reach the other side of the city. We drove past the 
Courthouse on the way to The Vatican, which is a city-state, and also a country, the smallest in the world. The Pope is the head of state. It’s population is about 1000; the official language is Latin. Within Vatican City is St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s painted ceiling, and the Vatican Museums.
We had 1 1/4 hours in St. Peter’s Square. Since we had toured here several times previously, Doug and I just walked around, then stopped for a pizza
before returning to the ship. The weather wasn’t particularly nice today, with occasional showers and temperatures in the 50s.
We had a photo stop to view Mt. Vesuvius, which we couldn’t see as it was covered by clouds. Its last eruption was in 1944, and although it is now quiet, it is considered an active volcano. Doug and I climbed it when we were here in October 2014. Next we got off the bus and walked awhile to a piazza, and the Santa Chiara Monumental Complex, which includes the church, convent, monastery, tombs, and archeological museum. It is famous for the majolica cloister with its beautiful colored tiles, paintings, and lovely gardens.
The Roman Baths beneath were recently discovered, and there is a walkway to view this archeological find. 
There was also a lovely Nativity Scene there. 
We then strolled the narrow pedestrian streets and browsed the shops before meeting our group back at the piazza.
We had some time at the Santa Rosalia Sanctuary cave, where Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo, retired to live as a hermit. Tradition says she was led to the cave on this mountain by 2 angels. Many gifts were given for her blessings. It was a very impressive display.
At the bottom of the steps leading to the cave, we enjoyed fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice; truly delicious.
There were many beautiful views on the way up and back down the mountain.
The first car race in the world was held in the mountains near Palermo. Founded in 1906, the Targa Floria International Car Race, an endurance race, was begun. The Porsche Targa was named for this race. Most of the Italian wines are produced in Sicily. 85% of Sicily is hills and mountains. On the east coast of the island is Mt. Etna, one of the most active volcanos in the world, and is in an almost constant state of activity. There are 2 ski resorts on Mt. Etna, although I’m not sure I would want to ski on an active volcano. Fishing is big in Sicily; bluefin tuna, amberjack, sea bass and grouper are plentiful. The Florio Family is a prominent Italian family who started many businesses and activities in Sicily; therefore, many things bear the Flavio name. Many caves along the northeast coast have rock paintings dating back to 20,000-50,000 BC. Our next stop gave us free time in Mondello, a beach resort just outside Palermo, with its beautiful beaches and turquoise clear water. 
Here we enjoyed delicious gelato—me, pistachio, and Doug, coffee, of course. It was extremely windy, and carried off Doug’s hat quite a distance; we were lucky to get it back. Pistachios grow on Mt. Etna, and we wanted to get some, but the only ones we found came from California. Then on to the ancient city of Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians. Then the Greeks arrived, followed by Romans, then Arabs. This ancient city has the largest surface in the world of mosaics, many with gold leaf. In 1943 Palermo was bombed, and the new city was built. We saw statues, City Hall, and the Fountain Pretoria or Fountain of Shame. 
We passed the marketplace, 
12th century city gate,
the Royal Palace,
the Palermo Cathedral, 
and the opera house before returning to the ship.
Before we exited the bus, our guide told us about a Sicilian Street food called spleen bread, which is actually made with veal spleen and lungs. Gross! And just before lunch.
We would have a leisurely day at sea. Since we have free movies in our cabin and a 42-inch TV, after breakfast we watched “Zookeeper’s Wife”, an excellent movie. Following lunch in the dining room, Doug and I went to the Spa to take advantage of the Thermal Suite, with it’s Thermal Pool, which was more like a wave pool with bubbles. Then to the hut tub. We rested on the tile lounges awhile, before braving the Snow Grotto briefly, followed by the steam room. We did not use the sauna.
Our shore excursion, “Scenic Mallorca”, followed lunch. Palma is on the Mallorca Island, the largest island of the Balearic Islands located off the coast of eastern Spain. We drove up to see Castell Bellver, the Castle on the Hill, which we could see from our ship.
Its name means “nice view”, and it certainly was. It was built of sandstone in the 1300s. The 4 towers at its corners and 2 surrounding moats protected it. At one point it was used as a military and political prison. The views of the city below were beautiful.
The sun was shining and the temperature was about 60°. Next we drove to a lookout in Deià for a photo stop, but other than some interesting rock formations, it was too hazy to see much.
Then we stopped in the picturesque village of Valldemossa, where we had an hour to explore.
We were treated to some wonderfully rich hot chocolate, and we bought a slice of almond cake to go with it.
On our way there we passed many almond groves in full bloom with their snowy-white blossoms; they have 4 million almond trees that are harvested in August and September.
Besides almonds, Mallorca’s main products are cereal, olive oil and wine. Mallorca (Majorca) is famous for Pearls. As we walked through a rose garden (there were no roses since it’s winter), all we could smell was the unpleasant odor of cat pee. We were told that it was the English boxwood hedges, and that only some find them unpleasant; to others, there is either no smell, or a pleasant fragrance. Strange. On the way back to the ship we drove through the Old City and past the huge gorgeous Palma Cathedral.
There is a Formula 1 Race held in this area. We saw the old Port Authority, 138 BC, settled by the Romans. 
The new area of Valencia was built in the 1990s; until then it was orange fields. What beautiful new buildings with the Art and Science Museum, the Aquarium, Palm Tree Garden, 
and the Opera House.
It’s a wonderful mix of new and old.
Next to the 1852 Plaza Del Torres Bull Ring, 
where 17,000 people can still watch bull fights, is the new train station. Valencia is the largest port in, not only Spain, but the entire Mediterranean. Valencia oranges came from here, and it’s the birthplace of paella. It’s a beautiful and clean city. They have an average of 300 days of sun a year with very little rain, The many parks are green due to irrigation. Children go to school from 9 to 5. The work day starts at 9, with a coffee break at 11, their large meal and siesta is from 2 to 5, work again until 8. The light evening meal starts about 9. We got off the bus and continued with a walking tour. In one square we saw a funny narrow building built between 2 others. 
In another place painted wall murals.
We went in to the inviting 1238 Cathedral of Valencia. 
The alabaster windows give it a warm light. Its bell tower is the symbol of Valencia. It is said that if a woman walks around 9 times at the end of her pregnancy and prays for a healthy baby, her prayer will be answered. We saw a woman doing this while we were there. We were also treated to organ music.
We saw the Santa Catalina Bell Tower several times from different directions.
As we walked back to the bus, we went through the 14th century Torre de Serrano stone gate, which had been at one time a prison.
We crossed the Flower Bridge with its bright red flowers on the return trip to the ship.
Valencia is definitely a city I would like to return to.
Then we had some entertainment.
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