My first trip to London, to enjoy the sights in the city and the Christmas decorations. Although United Kingdom and the United States are similar in many ways, there are some differences which make it clear we are in a different country. In the United Kingdom, people drive on the left side of the road and drivers sit in the right side of vehicles. Everything is priced in Pounds. Also in UK English, some terms differ from US English. For example:
Chips = Fries
Concession = Discount
Lift = Elevator
Queue = Line
Take-away (when ordering food) = To-go
Toilets = Restroom
Tube (in London) = Subway
For the flights, I cashed in frequent flyer miles to upgrade to business. On the flight to London, the seats are like a recliner. The return flight was on a new airplane with updated business seats - these new seats convert to a bed and have more storage space. The main meal is served in multiple courses, like in a cruise dining room. Business class makes for a much more enjoyable experience on those long overseas flights, especially for sleeping.
December 26
We arrived London's Heathrow airport and took the Tube to the city. Checked in to the Doubletree by Hilton in Victoria which would be our London home for the trip. This hotel is a few minutes walk from Victoria station and is close to many London attractions. We spent the evening walking along Oxford and Regent streets, enjoying the Christmas decorations.
December 27
Took a tour of the House of Parliament. This place used to be a royal residence and now serves as a meeting place for the legislature. Hard to believe this building is almost 1000 years old. Next place was Museum of London, which showcases London's history going back 2000 years. We then attended the evensong service at Westminster Abbey, which featured singing hymns and scripture reading. We also got to see Big Ben and House of Parliament at night.
Central London pictures
December 28
Headed to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. It is a ceremony where many guards enter, along with a marching band. The old and new guards meet, the band performs a short concert, and the new guard takes over. If you're going to watch, get to the Palace at least 1 hour early. Afterwords we walked across Westminster bridge, with great views of Big Ben, to the London Eye. We joined a Thames River cruise, with great views of the Tower Bridge and Tower of London. Great way to relax as you see sight along the river. After the cruise, we took a ride on the London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel with enclosed capsules. It was a sunny day so we had great views of London from all directions, including the House of Parliament, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. In the evening we visited Harrods, an elegant upscale mall. The highlight of the mall is the Egyptian area, which includes a Princess Diana memorial.
December 29
Joined a tour group for a day trip to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford University. Windsor Castle is home to England's royal family and consists of luxury state apartments, Queen Mary's dollhouse, St George's Chapel, and an art gallery. Stonehenge is a series of stones aligned with the sun's movements. The reason for building Stonehenge remain a mystery. Oxford is one of the world's most famous universities. Admission is highly competitive and rigorous - applicants must have excellent academic records, submit applications, and go through an interview to gain admission. After enrolling, all students must pass exams to continue their studies. Oxford highlights include Christ Church college and the Cathedral.
December 30
Visited the Tower of London. This castle served as a fortress, palace, and prison. I loved the crown jewels - so many artifacts made of gold, diamonds, and shiny stones. Other highlights include: White Tower, Medieval Palace, Wall Walk with a great view of Tower Bridge, and the Bloody Tower where you try to solve a murder mystery. We then headed to the financial district to see Bank of England, London Stock Exchange, and the Royal Exchange.
December 31
We spent most of the day at the British Museum. This museum has many artifacts from many cultures and different points in history. Best way to see the museum: look at the maps and focus on the exhibits that interest you the most. Around midnight, we hung out in the hotel lobby to have drinks and watch the New Years Eve coverage near Big Ben and the London Eye. A very spectacular way to ring in the new year.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Chicago - October 2013
Fall trip to Chicago. I was in Chicago primarily for a conference, but took time to visit friends and enjoy a taste of fall colors in downtown Chicago. Because of recent warm weather, the leaves changed colors at a slower than normal pace. There were still several trees with colored leaves. I stayed at Intercontinental hotel on Michigan Avenue, then stayed at Holiday Inn in Elk Grove for the conference. The Intercontinental has an elegant swimming pool on the 12th floor (an engineering marvel when it opened in the 1920s) that is Olympic sized and has been used by Olympic swimmers in the past.
Highlights:
1) Lincoln Park zoo - camels, zebras, mountain lion, rhino, North Pond
2) Segway tour along Lake Michigan, around sunset. My first evening Segway tour. We could see the Chicago skyline light up as it got darker.
3) Millennium Park, including the giant bean.
4) Chicago Seminar - a weekend seminar for frequent travelers. It is a networking event for people who like to travel. There are sessions to learn about many travel related topics including using miles and points, credit cards that provide rewards towards travel, and online travel sites such as Expert Flyer and ITA.
5) Hike in Busse Woods with 2 of my friends who live in Chicago. We saw elk.
Highlights:
1) Lincoln Park zoo - camels, zebras, mountain lion, rhino, North Pond
2) Segway tour along Lake Michigan, around sunset. My first evening Segway tour. We could see the Chicago skyline light up as it got darker.
3) Millennium Park, including the giant bean.
4) Chicago Seminar - a weekend seminar for frequent travelers. It is a networking event for people who like to travel. There are sessions to learn about many travel related topics including using miles and points, credit cards that provide rewards towards travel, and online travel sites such as Expert Flyer and ITA.
5) Hike in Busse Woods with 2 of my friends who live in Chicago. We saw elk.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Sacramento
Labor day weekend trip to Sacramento. Highlights:
California State Capital
The California capital combines a visitor's museum with the state's government offices. Good place for visitors to learn of California's history. Key places in the capital are the historic Governor's Office, Senate Gallery, and Assembly Gallery. A large golden bear statue marks the entrance to the office of the Governor of California.
Old Town Sacramento
This historic district goes back to the California Gold Rush. Its shops have been preserved and some are converted to museums, most notably the California State Railroad Museum and Delta King Riverboat. The railroad museum contains replicas of old trains and you can go inside some of the cars to see kitchens, dining rooms, sleeping areas, food storage areas, and even a mail car (basically a post office on rails). The Delta King is a boat that has been converted to a hotel along with a restaurant - like a mini-cruise ship with a long history. I also took a ride on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, in a vintage 1920s train. I was in the El Dorado, an observation lounge on the train.
Downtown Sacramento
The Capital Park adjacent to the Capital consists of many trees, monuments, and memorials. There is the Vietnam Memorial (honors Californians who fought in the Vietnam war), California firefighters memorial (honors those who died while fighting fires in California), California Veterans Memorial (honors Californians who have served in the military since California became a state), and rose garden. A few blocks from the Capital Park is the California Governor's Mansion.
California State Capital
The California capital combines a visitor's museum with the state's government offices. Good place for visitors to learn of California's history. Key places in the capital are the historic Governor's Office, Senate Gallery, and Assembly Gallery. A large golden bear statue marks the entrance to the office of the Governor of California.
Old Town Sacramento
This historic district goes back to the California Gold Rush. Its shops have been preserved and some are converted to museums, most notably the California State Railroad Museum and Delta King Riverboat. The railroad museum contains replicas of old trains and you can go inside some of the cars to see kitchens, dining rooms, sleeping areas, food storage areas, and even a mail car (basically a post office on rails). The Delta King is a boat that has been converted to a hotel along with a restaurant - like a mini-cruise ship with a long history. I also took a ride on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, in a vintage 1920s train. I was in the El Dorado, an observation lounge on the train.
Downtown Sacramento
The Capital Park adjacent to the Capital consists of many trees, monuments, and memorials. There is the Vietnam Memorial (honors Californians who fought in the Vietnam war), California firefighters memorial (honors those who died while fighting fires in California), California Veterans Memorial (honors Californians who have served in the military since California became a state), and rose garden. A few blocks from the Capital Park is the California Governor's Mansion.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
2013 Alaska Cruise
I joined a group of 40 people from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston on a cruise to Alaska.
Pre-Cruise: Seattle
We arrived Seattle early afternoon and checked in to the Sleep-Inn SeaTac hotel near the airport. Most of us took the light rail to downtown Seattle. I went in a group to Pike Place Market for lunch and also stopped by the first ever Starbucks, on 1912 Pike St. We then went towards the waterfront and saw Mt Ranier behind the football stadium. In all my trips to Seattle, this was the first time I could see Mt Ranier from downtown. We took the monorail to Seattle Center and visited Chihuly Garden and Glass, an art museum that showcases the work of Dale Chihuly. Most of his work are done on glass - very beautiful. There was also a glasshouse and garden. We also saw the parade, part of Seafair, Seattle's summer celebration.
Cruise Day 1: Vancouver
We traveled by bus to the cruise port in Vancouver, then boarded Holland America Statendam cruise ship for our week long cruise. After settling into our staterooms and the mandatory emergency drill, we hung out on the aft deck as we watched our ship depart Vancouver. Dinner was at the Rotterdam, the Statendam's elegant 2-story dining room. The dinners at Rotterdam are very luxurious, 4-course meals with pampering from the servers.
Cruise Day 2: Inside Passage
The day started foggy, but cleared by noon. Did a walking tour of the Rotterdam kitchen and saw first hand the wine area, seafood and meat storage, cooking and cleaning areas, and the bakery where chefs make bread and desserts. The kitchen area spans both floors of Rotterdam and the chefs use escalators to travel between the floors. Lunch was part of a Singles and Solos event arranged by the staff, but most attendees of this were people from our group.
Tonight was the first (of 2) formal nights and everyone dressed up for dinner. Then we attended the captain's toast in the showroom and that included an introduction of the crew. Afterwards, I went to the Crow's Nest, a lounge offering 270 degree views, to see some whales and watch the sunset.
Cruise Day 3: Ketchikan, Alaska
Weather: sunny, clear; high temperature: 78 F
We arrived at Ketchikan port in the morning. Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in the US, often nicknamed liquid sunshine. However, we had sunny skies today. Our first excursion was Zodiac boat tour, an expedition along the Alaska coastal waters. Each boat had four people, and I got a chance to drive the boat. We saw several bald eagles during the expedition and the guide tossed a fish into the water and a bald eagle swooped down to catch it. The guide also brought a large tube made of kelp and blew into it as if it were a trumpet.
Our next excursion was a flightseeing tour of the Misty Fjords National Monument, consisting of inlets of the sea, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and lush rain forests. We were blessed with sunny skies which enhanced the natural beauty of the monument. My group boarded a De-Havilland Beaver DHC-2 aircraft, an airplane capable of taking off and landing on water. Being roadless, airplane tour is the best way to see and enjoy Misty Fjords. We flew across Alaska's Inside Passage and over the monument then landed at a lake and exited the plane to take in the solitude in the middle of the Misty Fjords. During the return to Ketchikan, we enjoyed bird-eye views of the town including the totem poles.
Cruise Day 4: Juneau, Alaska
Weather: mostly sunny with a few clouds; high temperature: 75 F
Juneau is the capital of Alaska. There are no direct roads into Juneau so access is by airplane or ferry. We started out walking around downtown Juneau including a visit to the Alaska state capital. Juneau has lots of government activity so its population is more steady year-round and less subject to seasonal fluctuations. Our excursion in Juneau is a Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching combo. We traveled in a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Valley where the Mendenhall Glacier is located. In addition to the glacier, there is also the Nugget Falls, a HUGE waterfall, and hiking trails where some people in our group saw bears. We then boarded a boat with decks for watching the humpback whales. The whales traveled to Alaska from Hawaii. We saw lots of whales shooting water from their spouts, swimming near the top of the sea, and diving. Definitely a nice showing by the whales.
In the evening I took the Mt Roberts Tramway up to enjoy views of Juneau area. Highlights include downtown Juneau, Douglass, the cruise port, and a spectacular sunset.
Cruise Day 5: Skagway, Alaska and Yukon in Canada
Weather: sunny; high temperature in Skagway: 70 F; high temperature in Caribou, Yukon: 82 F
Skagway has around 800 residents, and its population booms during the summer as cruise ships arrive. Being a drier climate, much of the buildings built around 1900 remain intact.
Our excursion was a bus tour, leaving from Skagway and traveling into the Yukon, in Canada, along the Klondike Highway which is close to the 1898 Gold Rush Trail. On our way to Caribou, we saw waterfalls, and the Denver Glacier. We passed by Bennett, Tutshi, and Tagish Lakes and Bove Island. We also took a group picture in front of the Yukon Sign and hiked in the world's smallest dessert. Nearing Caribou, we stopped at Emerald Lake - this emerald green lake reminds many people of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Upon arrival at Caribou, we saw mountain goats but they may have been fake since they didn't move. We went to the Dog Musher's Village and took a sled ride. The sled was pulled by Iditarod and Yukon Quest dogs through an area Gold Rush people traveled. This is the same sled ride that occurs during the winter snow. After the sled ride, we had lunch at the Caribou Crossing Trading Post including BBQ chicken and homemade donuts. Then we visited the Wildlife Museum that was filled with stuffed life-sized animals of the Yukon including bison, woolly mammoth, grizzly bears, polar bears, and moose. As we returned to Skagway, we stopped at the Skagway City Overlook to take in the city views including the airport and cruise port. Then we visited the Gold Rush Cemetery and took a short hike to Reid Falls.
Some of us watched the "Days of 98 Show", depicting events from Skagway during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898. Then we went on a tour of the town, led by a National Park Ranger who shared lots of information about Skagway's history.
Cruise Day 6: Glacier Bay, Alaska and a Rescue
Weather: sunny, clear skies; high temperature: 66 F
Please refer to the route map (you may have to zoom in to see clear), to get a better overview of Glacier Bay.
The sunny weather provided reflections of the mountains in the sea. Cruising through Glacier Bay, we saw the Rendu Inlet with Rendu Glacier in the background. Then cruised into the Tarr Inlet and we saw Grand Pacific Glacier (mostly dirt and silt) and the spectacular Margerie Glacier. As the ship slowly turned around, we watched calving icebergs from the Margerie Glacier. Calving is where pieces of ice crack, making a loud rumbling sound, and fall into the water. I saw a very big piece of ice fall into the sea. The ship then sailed to Jaw Point, in front of the Johns Hopkins Inlet. Here, we got close-up views of the Topeka Glacier, a hanging glacier on Mount Cooper, and could see Johns Hopkins Glacier from a distance. Johns Hopkins Glacier is actually growing, a rarity in 2013.
While at Jaw Point, the captain got a notice that a sightseeing boat with 103 people onboard was having engine problems and was stuck near Johns Hopkins Glacier. So he and the crew decided our cruise ship will go rescue the people onboard the stranded boat. The ship sailed into the Johns Hopkins Inlet (where cruise ships don't normally go because the seals are birthing) and docked near the boat. Our ship lowered two tenders and sent them towards the boat to pick up the passengers and bring them to the cruise ship. Many of the passengers were excited to be on a cruise ship for the first time and they enjoyed a 4-hour cruise to the visitor center where they were dropped off. Meanwhile, we got to enjoy close up views of the Johns Hopkins Glacier as well as see the Hoonah Glacier - definitely a rare event for Alaska cruisers.
This evening was our second formal night. For dinner, I had the lobster tail with a small steak, also known as Surf and Turf. It was my favorite of the dinners. After dinner, I went to the Adagio, a classical duet featuring a violinist and a pianist. A relaxing way to close out the evening.
Cruise Day 7: At Sea
I attended a cooking show, where the chef demonstrated how to make fish tacos, which looked more like fish burritos. Then watched an ice carving show, where the carver started with a big block of ice and carved it into a bald eagle. After watching a magic show and enjoying afternoon tea and snacks, I attended a towel folding presentation, where they showed us how the stateroom attendants make animals out of the towels. It's a lot like origami. We saw them make a butterfly, rabbit, dog, turkey, swan, and a monkey.
Tonight was the final evening, and at dinner the servers put on a celebration show. I had the duck dinner. We got our group picture with our server, who had been very good to us. After catching the final moments of Dancing with the Stars, I went back to the Adagio. The previous night I mentioned to the violinist I also played violin so she invited me to the stage to perform a piece, with her violin. I think I did well :)
Post-Cruise: Seward to Anchorage
Weather: cloudy with occasional drizzle; high temperature in Seward: 57 F; high temperature in Anchorage: 66 F
After disembarking the cruise ship in Seward, we set off for our day tour in South-Central Alaska. We started with a visit to Exit Glacier, including a hike to the edge of the glacier. I got to show my "mountain climbing" skills here. Then we visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and saw black bears, grizzly bears, bison, elk, caribou, and a porcupine. These animals are in their natural setting. The highlight was getting up close to a bear who looked happy to see us. Next up was Alyeska Ski Resort, where we took the tram up the Alyeska Mountain to enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers, lodge, and town. Some people chose to hike down the mountain, 2.5 miles total; the fastest got down in 38 minutes. We arrived Anchorage and visited the Earthquake Park, which stands on the land that collapsed during the "Good Friday" earthquake in March 1964. We then visited the Lake Hood Small Plane airport, the world's largest and busiest floatplane base. Next was a visit to Alaska Railroad Depot where we walked to a nearby stream to see fish swimming upstream and people fishing. One man caught a salmon. Finally, we had dinner at Sourdough Mining Company before heading to the Anchorage airport for our flight home.
Pre-Cruise: Seattle
We arrived Seattle early afternoon and checked in to the Sleep-Inn SeaTac hotel near the airport. Most of us took the light rail to downtown Seattle. I went in a group to Pike Place Market for lunch and also stopped by the first ever Starbucks, on 1912 Pike St. We then went towards the waterfront and saw Mt Ranier behind the football stadium. In all my trips to Seattle, this was the first time I could see Mt Ranier from downtown. We took the monorail to Seattle Center and visited Chihuly Garden and Glass, an art museum that showcases the work of Dale Chihuly. Most of his work are done on glass - very beautiful. There was also a glasshouse and garden. We also saw the parade, part of Seafair, Seattle's summer celebration.
Cruise Day 1: Vancouver
We traveled by bus to the cruise port in Vancouver, then boarded Holland America Statendam cruise ship for our week long cruise. After settling into our staterooms and the mandatory emergency drill, we hung out on the aft deck as we watched our ship depart Vancouver. Dinner was at the Rotterdam, the Statendam's elegant 2-story dining room. The dinners at Rotterdam are very luxurious, 4-course meals with pampering from the servers.
Cruise Day 2: Inside Passage
The day started foggy, but cleared by noon. Did a walking tour of the Rotterdam kitchen and saw first hand the wine area, seafood and meat storage, cooking and cleaning areas, and the bakery where chefs make bread and desserts. The kitchen area spans both floors of Rotterdam and the chefs use escalators to travel between the floors. Lunch was part of a Singles and Solos event arranged by the staff, but most attendees of this were people from our group.
Tonight was the first (of 2) formal nights and everyone dressed up for dinner. Then we attended the captain's toast in the showroom and that included an introduction of the crew. Afterwards, I went to the Crow's Nest, a lounge offering 270 degree views, to see some whales and watch the sunset.
Cruise Day 3: Ketchikan, Alaska
Weather: sunny, clear; high temperature: 78 F
We arrived at Ketchikan port in the morning. Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in the US, often nicknamed liquid sunshine. However, we had sunny skies today. Our first excursion was Zodiac boat tour, an expedition along the Alaska coastal waters. Each boat had four people, and I got a chance to drive the boat. We saw several bald eagles during the expedition and the guide tossed a fish into the water and a bald eagle swooped down to catch it. The guide also brought a large tube made of kelp and blew into it as if it were a trumpet.
Our next excursion was a flightseeing tour of the Misty Fjords National Monument, consisting of inlets of the sea, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and lush rain forests. We were blessed with sunny skies which enhanced the natural beauty of the monument. My group boarded a De-Havilland Beaver DHC-2 aircraft, an airplane capable of taking off and landing on water. Being roadless, airplane tour is the best way to see and enjoy Misty Fjords. We flew across Alaska's Inside Passage and over the monument then landed at a lake and exited the plane to take in the solitude in the middle of the Misty Fjords. During the return to Ketchikan, we enjoyed bird-eye views of the town including the totem poles.
Cruise Day 4: Juneau, Alaska
Weather: mostly sunny with a few clouds; high temperature: 75 F
Juneau is the capital of Alaska. There are no direct roads into Juneau so access is by airplane or ferry. We started out walking around downtown Juneau including a visit to the Alaska state capital. Juneau has lots of government activity so its population is more steady year-round and less subject to seasonal fluctuations. Our excursion in Juneau is a Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching combo. We traveled in a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Valley where the Mendenhall Glacier is located. In addition to the glacier, there is also the Nugget Falls, a HUGE waterfall, and hiking trails where some people in our group saw bears. We then boarded a boat with decks for watching the humpback whales. The whales traveled to Alaska from Hawaii. We saw lots of whales shooting water from their spouts, swimming near the top of the sea, and diving. Definitely a nice showing by the whales.
In the evening I took the Mt Roberts Tramway up to enjoy views of Juneau area. Highlights include downtown Juneau, Douglass, the cruise port, and a spectacular sunset.
Cruise Day 5: Skagway, Alaska and Yukon in Canada
Weather: sunny; high temperature in Skagway: 70 F; high temperature in Caribou, Yukon: 82 F
Skagway has around 800 residents, and its population booms during the summer as cruise ships arrive. Being a drier climate, much of the buildings built around 1900 remain intact.
Our excursion was a bus tour, leaving from Skagway and traveling into the Yukon, in Canada, along the Klondike Highway which is close to the 1898 Gold Rush Trail. On our way to Caribou, we saw waterfalls, and the Denver Glacier. We passed by Bennett, Tutshi, and Tagish Lakes and Bove Island. We also took a group picture in front of the Yukon Sign and hiked in the world's smallest dessert. Nearing Caribou, we stopped at Emerald Lake - this emerald green lake reminds many people of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Upon arrival at Caribou, we saw mountain goats but they may have been fake since they didn't move. We went to the Dog Musher's Village and took a sled ride. The sled was pulled by Iditarod and Yukon Quest dogs through an area Gold Rush people traveled. This is the same sled ride that occurs during the winter snow. After the sled ride, we had lunch at the Caribou Crossing Trading Post including BBQ chicken and homemade donuts. Then we visited the Wildlife Museum that was filled with stuffed life-sized animals of the Yukon including bison, woolly mammoth, grizzly bears, polar bears, and moose. As we returned to Skagway, we stopped at the Skagway City Overlook to take in the city views including the airport and cruise port. Then we visited the Gold Rush Cemetery and took a short hike to Reid Falls.
Some of us watched the "Days of 98 Show", depicting events from Skagway during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898. Then we went on a tour of the town, led by a National Park Ranger who shared lots of information about Skagway's history.
Cruise Day 6: Glacier Bay, Alaska and a Rescue
Weather: sunny, clear skies; high temperature: 66 F
Please refer to the route map (you may have to zoom in to see clear), to get a better overview of Glacier Bay.
The sunny weather provided reflections of the mountains in the sea. Cruising through Glacier Bay, we saw the Rendu Inlet with Rendu Glacier in the background. Then cruised into the Tarr Inlet and we saw Grand Pacific Glacier (mostly dirt and silt) and the spectacular Margerie Glacier. As the ship slowly turned around, we watched calving icebergs from the Margerie Glacier. Calving is where pieces of ice crack, making a loud rumbling sound, and fall into the water. I saw a very big piece of ice fall into the sea. The ship then sailed to Jaw Point, in front of the Johns Hopkins Inlet. Here, we got close-up views of the Topeka Glacier, a hanging glacier on Mount Cooper, and could see Johns Hopkins Glacier from a distance. Johns Hopkins Glacier is actually growing, a rarity in 2013.
While at Jaw Point, the captain got a notice that a sightseeing boat with 103 people onboard was having engine problems and was stuck near Johns Hopkins Glacier. So he and the crew decided our cruise ship will go rescue the people onboard the stranded boat. The ship sailed into the Johns Hopkins Inlet (where cruise ships don't normally go because the seals are birthing) and docked near the boat. Our ship lowered two tenders and sent them towards the boat to pick up the passengers and bring them to the cruise ship. Many of the passengers were excited to be on a cruise ship for the first time and they enjoyed a 4-hour cruise to the visitor center where they were dropped off. Meanwhile, we got to enjoy close up views of the Johns Hopkins Glacier as well as see the Hoonah Glacier - definitely a rare event for Alaska cruisers.
This evening was our second formal night. For dinner, I had the lobster tail with a small steak, also known as Surf and Turf. It was my favorite of the dinners. After dinner, I went to the Adagio, a classical duet featuring a violinist and a pianist. A relaxing way to close out the evening.
Cruise Day 7: At Sea
I attended a cooking show, where the chef demonstrated how to make fish tacos, which looked more like fish burritos. Then watched an ice carving show, where the carver started with a big block of ice and carved it into a bald eagle. After watching a magic show and enjoying afternoon tea and snacks, I attended a towel folding presentation, where they showed us how the stateroom attendants make animals out of the towels. It's a lot like origami. We saw them make a butterfly, rabbit, dog, turkey, swan, and a monkey.
Tonight was the final evening, and at dinner the servers put on a celebration show. I had the duck dinner. We got our group picture with our server, who had been very good to us. After catching the final moments of Dancing with the Stars, I went back to the Adagio. The previous night I mentioned to the violinist I also played violin so she invited me to the stage to perform a piece, with her violin. I think I did well :)
Post-Cruise: Seward to Anchorage
Weather: cloudy with occasional drizzle; high temperature in Seward: 57 F; high temperature in Anchorage: 66 F
After disembarking the cruise ship in Seward, we set off for our day tour in South-Central Alaska. We started with a visit to Exit Glacier, including a hike to the edge of the glacier. I got to show my "mountain climbing" skills here. Then we visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and saw black bears, grizzly bears, bison, elk, caribou, and a porcupine. These animals are in their natural setting. The highlight was getting up close to a bear who looked happy to see us. Next up was Alyeska Ski Resort, where we took the tram up the Alyeska Mountain to enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers, lodge, and town. Some people chose to hike down the mountain, 2.5 miles total; the fastest got down in 38 minutes. We arrived Anchorage and visited the Earthquake Park, which stands on the land that collapsed during the "Good Friday" earthquake in March 1964. We then visited the Lake Hood Small Plane airport, the world's largest and busiest floatplane base. Next was a visit to Alaska Railroad Depot where we walked to a nearby stream to see fish swimming upstream and people fishing. One man caught a salmon. Finally, we had dinner at Sourdough Mining Company before heading to the Anchorage airport for our flight home.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Seattle (Independence Day 2013)
My retreat from the Texas summer heat brought me to Seattle for Independence Day weekend. On the flight to Seattle, the plane passed near Mt Ranier for a spectacular view of the mountain from the plane. I stayed at Grand Hyatt hotel, in downtown Seattle.
MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry)
This museum highlights Seattle's history and growth. The Seattle Journey exhibit has many rooms highlighting the city over the years. Seattle started as wilderness, where Native Americans often settled. As more natives settled here, it became a small town. Seattle's growth took off with the Klondike Gold Rush (there is a museum in Seattle dedicated to the Gold Rush). Seattle overcame many obstacles in its growth - people took down mountains, filled in lakes, straightened a river, built passageways, and even raised Pioneer Square neighborhood to allow for easier access to the city and more building opportunities. Seattle is known for innovation - many companies that provided innovation in their industries have their headquarters in Seattle. Examples: Microsoft (software and computing), Boeing (air travel), Costco (bulk shopping), Nordstrom (high-end shopping), Amazon (online shopping), Holland America (cruise), Expedia (online travel), and Starbucks (cafes).
Lake Union
MOHAI is located in the southern end of Lake Union. The lake got its name by connecting Puget Sound and Lake Washington - something Thomas Mercer predicted would happen in 1854. Floating homes exist on the west and east sides of Lake Union, including the home shown in Sleepless in Seattle.
Tillicum Village and Fireworks
Tillicum Village is located on Blake Island, about 8 miles from Seattle. Travel to the village is by boat and during the boat ride I got pictures of the Space Needle and Seattle skyline on a clear day. The village is set up to showcase Native American life and culture. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted with steamed clams. Inside the log house are totem poles and a fire room where salmon are cooked Northwest Indian style. And yes, we got to eat the salmon for dinner :). There is also a show highlighting Native American life through stories and symbols. After exploring Blake Island a bit we returned to the boat and traveled to Eagle Harbor, near Bainbridge Island to see the fireworks show. As always, very spectacular and patriotic. One set of fireworks was shaped like a heart.
Boeing Tour
I joined a tour group to Everett, to tour Boeing's factory where they build 747, 767, 777, and 787 planes. Boeing's 737 planes are build in Renton. The factory is the world's largest building - you could put all of Disneyland inside and have ample room for covered parking. During the tour, we learned about the building process for the airplanes and visited each of Boeing's twin-aisle (aka widebody) lines. Each line had airplanes in various phases of production. For the 747, there was a cargo plane for Cathay Pacific and a completed passenger plane for Lufthansa. There was also a passenger plane for Korean that was being painted - a rare sight for visitors. We saw part of the 767 line but there was no observation deck there. Next was the 777 line and there were 2 planes being built - one for Cathay Pacific and the other for Air Canada. Finally, we saw Boeing's newest airplane, the 787. Currently, the 787-8 is in production and planes for British Airways and Aeromexico were being built. There were many 787s parked in the tarmac near the factory awaiting delivery. The 787-9 is a larger version, and we saw part of the prototype plane in the factory. There were workers in the factory and they were working on computers and inspecting parts. In the Boeing flight museum, there is an observation deck with views of the test/delivery area with a clear view of the Dreamlifter, the specialty airplane that carries the 787 parts. On the drive back to Seattle, we drove over the Highway 520 bridge, a floating bridge across Lake Washington.
MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry)
This museum highlights Seattle's history and growth. The Seattle Journey exhibit has many rooms highlighting the city over the years. Seattle started as wilderness, where Native Americans often settled. As more natives settled here, it became a small town. Seattle's growth took off with the Klondike Gold Rush (there is a museum in Seattle dedicated to the Gold Rush). Seattle overcame many obstacles in its growth - people took down mountains, filled in lakes, straightened a river, built passageways, and even raised Pioneer Square neighborhood to allow for easier access to the city and more building opportunities. Seattle is known for innovation - many companies that provided innovation in their industries have their headquarters in Seattle. Examples: Microsoft (software and computing), Boeing (air travel), Costco (bulk shopping), Nordstrom (high-end shopping), Amazon (online shopping), Holland America (cruise), Expedia (online travel), and Starbucks (cafes).
Lake Union
MOHAI is located in the southern end of Lake Union. The lake got its name by connecting Puget Sound and Lake Washington - something Thomas Mercer predicted would happen in 1854. Floating homes exist on the west and east sides of Lake Union, including the home shown in Sleepless in Seattle.
Tillicum Village and Fireworks
Tillicum Village is located on Blake Island, about 8 miles from Seattle. Travel to the village is by boat and during the boat ride I got pictures of the Space Needle and Seattle skyline on a clear day. The village is set up to showcase Native American life and culture. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted with steamed clams. Inside the log house are totem poles and a fire room where salmon are cooked Northwest Indian style. And yes, we got to eat the salmon for dinner :). There is also a show highlighting Native American life through stories and symbols. After exploring Blake Island a bit we returned to the boat and traveled to Eagle Harbor, near Bainbridge Island to see the fireworks show. As always, very spectacular and patriotic. One set of fireworks was shaped like a heart.
Boeing Tour
I joined a tour group to Everett, to tour Boeing's factory where they build 747, 767, 777, and 787 planes. Boeing's 737 planes are build in Renton. The factory is the world's largest building - you could put all of Disneyland inside and have ample room for covered parking. During the tour, we learned about the building process for the airplanes and visited each of Boeing's twin-aisle (aka widebody) lines. Each line had airplanes in various phases of production. For the 747, there was a cargo plane for Cathay Pacific and a completed passenger plane for Lufthansa. There was also a passenger plane for Korean that was being painted - a rare sight for visitors. We saw part of the 767 line but there was no observation deck there. Next was the 777 line and there were 2 planes being built - one for Cathay Pacific and the other for Air Canada. Finally, we saw Boeing's newest airplane, the 787. Currently, the 787-8 is in production and planes for British Airways and Aeromexico were being built. There were many 787s parked in the tarmac near the factory awaiting delivery. The 787-9 is a larger version, and we saw part of the prototype plane in the factory. There were workers in the factory and they were working on computers and inspecting parts. In the Boeing flight museum, there is an observation deck with views of the test/delivery area with a clear view of the Dreamlifter, the specialty airplane that carries the 787 parts. On the drive back to Seattle, we drove over the Highway 520 bridge, a floating bridge across Lake Washington.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
New York (June 2013)
An early summer weekend trip to New York. I was mainly in New York to attend a travelers convention - which is a causal gathering of people who like to travel. I consider it a networking with other travelers. We had two events - dinner at La Bonne Soupe and an upscale dinner party at North Square. I stayed at the Omni Berkshire hotel on Madison Avenue and 52nd street. I have stayed here before and love the hotel for its rooms and location.
In addition to the traveler meetups, I visited the US Military Academy in West Point. There is a large visitors center with a museum and a guided tour of the campus and church. I had lunch at the Thayer, a historical hotel just outside the Academy. There are good views of the Hudson river at the hotel.
I also visited the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. This museum is located inside the USS Intrepid, a warship used in World War II and the Vietnam War. On the flight deck are fighter planes and helicopters. Inside, there are control rooms, a ready room, and a food court located in the ship's dining area. In addition to the USS Intrepid, there is also the submarine USS Growler, Space Shuttle Enterprise (the exhibit is currently closed for repairs from Hurricane Sandy), and a Concorde. There is a tour for the Concorde where you go inside the supersonic airplane to see the passenger cabin and cockpit. Inside the Concorde, it feels like a regional jet with the seats arranged in 2x2 with the legroom of American's economy extra seats. In order to achieve the high speeds, the Concorde is basic - no inflight entertainment systems (other than altitude information) or fancy chandeliers. However, the service is first class with gourmet meals and attentive service (5 or 6 flight attendants for up to 100 passengers). Celebrities, doctors, lawyers, and some business executives fly on the Concorde. Speed is the main luxury of the Concorde - it can fly across the Atlantic in about 3.5 hours where other jets take 7-8 hours. When flying the Concorde sounds like a fighter plane and the sonic boom sounds like a cannon.
More New York pictures.
In addition to the traveler meetups, I visited the US Military Academy in West Point. There is a large visitors center with a museum and a guided tour of the campus and church. I had lunch at the Thayer, a historical hotel just outside the Academy. There are good views of the Hudson river at the hotel.
I also visited the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. This museum is located inside the USS Intrepid, a warship used in World War II and the Vietnam War. On the flight deck are fighter planes and helicopters. Inside, there are control rooms, a ready room, and a food court located in the ship's dining area. In addition to the USS Intrepid, there is also the submarine USS Growler, Space Shuttle Enterprise (the exhibit is currently closed for repairs from Hurricane Sandy), and a Concorde. There is a tour for the Concorde where you go inside the supersonic airplane to see the passenger cabin and cockpit. Inside the Concorde, it feels like a regional jet with the seats arranged in 2x2 with the legroom of American's economy extra seats. In order to achieve the high speeds, the Concorde is basic - no inflight entertainment systems (other than altitude information) or fancy chandeliers. However, the service is first class with gourmet meals and attentive service (5 or 6 flight attendants for up to 100 passengers). Celebrities, doctors, lawyers, and some business executives fly on the Concorde. Speed is the main luxury of the Concorde - it can fly across the Atlantic in about 3.5 hours where other jets take 7-8 hours. When flying the Concorde sounds like a fighter plane and the sonic boom sounds like a cannon.
More New York pictures.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Las Vegas (May 25-28)
Memorial Day weekend trip to Las Vegas.
Hotels:
Luxor the first two nights. This Egyptian theme hotel is shaped like a pyramid. The elevators are located in the corners of the hotel and due to the diagonal shape of the building the elevators move diagonally. At night, the top of the Luxor lights up like a beacon.
Excalibur the third night. This castle theme hotel has a connection to the Luxor enabling easy transition between the hotels.
Highlights:
* Bellagio conservatory and fountain show.
* Volcano eruption at the Mirage.
* Venitian shopping area with the ceilings painted like the sky making it feel like you're outdoors.
* Titantic exhibit with items from the ship. There are mockups of the 3rd class stateroom (2 bunk beds) and 1st class stateroom (like a suite). There is also a replica of the Promenade deck with the ceiling looking like a clear night with stars and you could hear the sound of the sea. There is even a model of the iceberg and it is made of real ice.
* Criss Angel Believe magic show. The magic acts happen very quick and it is hard to believe what you see (ie motorcycle appearing in a box)
* Stratosphere tower to see a birds eye view of the strip. The south stripis partially visible. There are also rides on the observation deck and a skyjump where you're tied to a big bungee cord and you jump from the top to the bottom.
More Las Vegas pictures.
Hotels:
Luxor the first two nights. This Egyptian theme hotel is shaped like a pyramid. The elevators are located in the corners of the hotel and due to the diagonal shape of the building the elevators move diagonally. At night, the top of the Luxor lights up like a beacon.
Excalibur the third night. This castle theme hotel has a connection to the Luxor enabling easy transition between the hotels.
Highlights:
* Bellagio conservatory and fountain show.
* Volcano eruption at the Mirage.
* Venitian shopping area with the ceilings painted like the sky making it feel like you're outdoors.
* Titantic exhibit with items from the ship. There are mockups of the 3rd class stateroom (2 bunk beds) and 1st class stateroom (like a suite). There is also a replica of the Promenade deck with the ceiling looking like a clear night with stars and you could hear the sound of the sea. There is even a model of the iceberg and it is made of real ice.
* Criss Angel Believe magic show. The magic acts happen very quick and it is hard to believe what you see (ie motorcycle appearing in a box)
* Stratosphere tower to see a birds eye view of the strip. The south stripis partially visible. There are also rides on the observation deck and a skyjump where you're tied to a big bungee cord and you jump from the top to the bottom.
More Las Vegas pictures.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Eastern CaribbeanCruise
A cruise in the Caribbean. We departed from Port Canaveral, Florida (about 1 hour east of Orlando) and made stops at Bahamas, St Thomas, and St Maarten.
Freedom of the Seas
We sailed with Royal Caribbean, on the Freedom of the Seas. This ship has many amenities for cruisers, including a full-sized gym, swimming pool, 2 hot tubs, surf simulator, theater, ice skating rink, rock climbing, and lounges. For dining, there is a coffee shop, pizza place, the Windjammer Cafe with buffet meals, and a dining center. The dining center consisted of 3 levels - we were on the middle floor. Our evening activities on the ship were: a show featuring live acting Broadway style, 3-course dinner, and hanging out at a lounge. My favorite dinner was the seafood plate featuring lobster. My favorite shows were the ice skating show and the magic show. Some memorable events were the captain's speech, ice carving, and a singing performance by the restaurant staff. We had staterooms on the 8th floor, near the center of the ship and with balconies. The housekeeping staff made animals out of the towels, including a stingray, dog, swan, and bat.
Bahamas
We visited Cococay, an island in the Bahamas that Royal Caribbean owns. The island offers beach and water activities as well as a bar-b-q lunch. We did snorkeling, and saw many colorful fish, a sunken boat, and a sunken airplane.
St Thomas
As we neared St Thomas, we passed many other islands in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. We watched the ship approach St Thomas from our stateroom balconies. We also saw someone using a water powered jet pack to soar above the sea. Upon arrival at St Thomas we joined a tour group for an overview of St Thomas. The tour started out with shopping, then climbed the mountain for spectacular views of the coastline, the cruise port, and other islands nearby. Finally, we visited Magen's Bay Beach. This beach is one of the best beaches I have been to - clear blue water, good sand, and free of debris and rocks.
St Maarten
St Maarten is divided between two nations: the south part is Dutch, part of The Netherlands and the north part is part of France. The island gets many visitors; its airport is the second busiest in the Caribbean - only San Juan, Puerto Rico is busier. We did a tour of the island, including many views of the coastline, bay, Great Salt Pond, cruise port, and beaches. We also did a party boat ride along the Simpson Bay. The boat ride included drinks, music, and a narrator who also served as an entertainer. There were views of the bayside residences - great place to live if you could afford it.
Many more pictures.
Freedom of the Seas
We sailed with Royal Caribbean, on the Freedom of the Seas. This ship has many amenities for cruisers, including a full-sized gym, swimming pool, 2 hot tubs, surf simulator, theater, ice skating rink, rock climbing, and lounges. For dining, there is a coffee shop, pizza place, the Windjammer Cafe with buffet meals, and a dining center. The dining center consisted of 3 levels - we were on the middle floor. Our evening activities on the ship were: a show featuring live acting Broadway style, 3-course dinner, and hanging out at a lounge. My favorite dinner was the seafood plate featuring lobster. My favorite shows were the ice skating show and the magic show. Some memorable events were the captain's speech, ice carving, and a singing performance by the restaurant staff. We had staterooms on the 8th floor, near the center of the ship and with balconies. The housekeeping staff made animals out of the towels, including a stingray, dog, swan, and bat.
Bahamas
We visited Cococay, an island in the Bahamas that Royal Caribbean owns. The island offers beach and water activities as well as a bar-b-q lunch. We did snorkeling, and saw many colorful fish, a sunken boat, and a sunken airplane.
St Thomas
As we neared St Thomas, we passed many other islands in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. We watched the ship approach St Thomas from our stateroom balconies. We also saw someone using a water powered jet pack to soar above the sea. Upon arrival at St Thomas we joined a tour group for an overview of St Thomas. The tour started out with shopping, then climbed the mountain for spectacular views of the coastline, the cruise port, and other islands nearby. Finally, we visited Magen's Bay Beach. This beach is one of the best beaches I have been to - clear blue water, good sand, and free of debris and rocks.
St Maarten
St Maarten is divided between two nations: the south part is Dutch, part of The Netherlands and the north part is part of France. The island gets many visitors; its airport is the second busiest in the Caribbean - only San Juan, Puerto Rico is busier. We did a tour of the island, including many views of the coastline, bay, Great Salt Pond, cruise port, and beaches. We also did a party boat ride along the Simpson Bay. The boat ride included drinks, music, and a narrator who also served as an entertainer. There were views of the bayside residences - great place to live if you could afford it.
Many more pictures.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Whistler 2013
I joined a group of 88 people on a ski trip to Whistler in Canada.
My travels went smoothly, with all my flights arriving on time. On the Dallas to Vancouver flight, I had an aisle seat in the exit row (lots of legroom) and the middle seat was empty (even more space) so was almost as good as first class. On the return, I got upgraded into first class - very nice treat on the 4 hour flight. I flew into Vancouver, and this airport has glass jetways - first time I've ever seen such jetways. I booked my transfer between Vancouver airport and Whistler via RideBooker, an online tool for booking transportation to/from Whistler. Ridebooker partners with various transportation companies to arrange ground transportation to/from Whistler. Ridebooker ensures frequent service to minimize waiting times. Highly recommended.
We all stayed in Aspens condos. This ski in/ski out property is near the base of Blackcomb mountain, and is a short walk to Whistler village. There are two hot tubs, valet for checking in skis overnight, and even a ski shop for ski/snowboard/boot rentals. Whistler village has lots of restaurants and shops, a great place to look around after a day of skiing. One restaurant that we liked is El Furniture Warehouse - here, all entrees costs $4.95 though some have additional options that cost extra. Still, that restaurant has reasonably priced food and the food is good.
I spent most of my skiing time on Whistler mountain, which has more variety of trails and the trails are wider. I traveled between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains on the Peak-to-peak gondola. There are 2 units with glass bottoms, allowing you to see the ground below. There are some breathtaking views! The glass bottom units come by every 15 minutes, but we once got lucky and there was one approaching right as we arrived at the gondola entrance. My favorite run starts at the peak of Whistler mountain. There are some amazing views of the mountains up there. You take the Peak Express lift to get there, and although signs on the lift say expert only there is a green (easiest) trail to get down from the peak. That trail is not shown on the map. After getting off the Peak Express lift, turn left, then follow the markers with green circles.
One night, 32 of us traveled up the Blackcomb mountain to go on a sleigh ride. The sleigh is pulled by Perchoeron draft horses through Whistler's snow covered forested trails on a 50-minute sleigh ride. At the midway point, we went inside a warm hut and drank hot chocolate.
My travels went smoothly, with all my flights arriving on time. On the Dallas to Vancouver flight, I had an aisle seat in the exit row (lots of legroom) and the middle seat was empty (even more space) so was almost as good as first class. On the return, I got upgraded into first class - very nice treat on the 4 hour flight. I flew into Vancouver, and this airport has glass jetways - first time I've ever seen such jetways. I booked my transfer between Vancouver airport and Whistler via RideBooker, an online tool for booking transportation to/from Whistler. Ridebooker partners with various transportation companies to arrange ground transportation to/from Whistler. Ridebooker ensures frequent service to minimize waiting times. Highly recommended.
We all stayed in Aspens condos. This ski in/ski out property is near the base of Blackcomb mountain, and is a short walk to Whistler village. There are two hot tubs, valet for checking in skis overnight, and even a ski shop for ski/snowboard/boot rentals. Whistler village has lots of restaurants and shops, a great place to look around after a day of skiing. One restaurant that we liked is El Furniture Warehouse - here, all entrees costs $4.95 though some have additional options that cost extra. Still, that restaurant has reasonably priced food and the food is good.
I spent most of my skiing time on Whistler mountain, which has more variety of trails and the trails are wider. I traveled between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains on the Peak-to-peak gondola. There are 2 units with glass bottoms, allowing you to see the ground below. There are some breathtaking views! The glass bottom units come by every 15 minutes, but we once got lucky and there was one approaching right as we arrived at the gondola entrance. My favorite run starts at the peak of Whistler mountain. There are some amazing views of the mountains up there. You take the Peak Express lift to get there, and although signs on the lift say expert only there is a green (easiest) trail to get down from the peak. That trail is not shown on the map. After getting off the Peak Express lift, turn left, then follow the markers with green circles.
One night, 32 of us traveled up the Blackcomb mountain to go on a sleigh ride. The sleigh is pulled by Perchoeron draft horses through Whistler's snow covered forested trails on a 50-minute sleigh ride. At the midway point, we went inside a warm hut and drank hot chocolate.
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