FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 21 – Cape Town
March 25, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 21 – Cape Town
The ABC’s of Africa
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 52 – Friday, March 22 – Arrive Cape Town, South Africa – sunny, windy – high low 70’s
Clock Tower at V & A
- BB – (big bummer) – 6:50 – wake up over PA for sunrise
- A – I was sleeping so good
- 7:50 – get up cause I can’t fall back to sleep
- A – I see land@ – we’re almost to Cape Town
- B – need to bunker (fill up the gas tank on boat takes 3 hrs) & not the same place we moor
- 9:15 – clear customs in theatre
- A – 1:00 – lunch of chips, salsa, guacamole, beans, jalpenos – YEAH! (not the same as in San Diego but works)
- 1:00 – shuttle bus takes us from bunker pier to Victoria & Alfred (V & A) Waterfront
- C – on land!
- A – lots of walking, shopping, music & fresh air
- 3:00 – iced coffee break
- 5:00 – Pinotage – happy hour at V & A w/shipmates Kathy & Larry – first time tasting Pinotage & kingclip fish for them
- 6:30 – shuttle back to ship for more happy hour
- 8:00 – dinner & bed!
FF – (FUN-fact) – Cape Town is Africa’s most popular tourist destination. It is famous for its harbor and Table Mountain which was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2007.
FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 19 – At Sea
March 24, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 19 – At Sea
The ABC’s of Islands
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 50 – Wednesday, March 20 –At Sea – heavy cloud cover w/sporadic filtered sun – high 70
St. Andrew’s Bay, South Georgia
- 8:30 – wake up & typical breakfast
- B – 10:30 – cabin fever
- A – fresh air break – 24 laps on deck 6 = 3 miles
- 12:30 – lunch – made to order wrap station – nice change
- A – 2:00 –“Samsara” – movie in theatre – non-narrative, beautiful, & impactful film of images around the world
- 4:00 – room R & R
- 6:45 – recap & debrief
- 8:15 – dinner w/ship mates
- A – 10:00 – crew talent show – singing & dancing
- C – Alfredo sings Puccini for 1st time ever! VG
- 11:30 – more FUN w/Alfredo in lounge
- 1:00 – bedtime
- B – 1 hr time change again
FF – (FUN-fact) – “Samsara” was filmed over nearly five years in 21 countries on 5 continents and was shot on 70mm film. It transports you to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes and natural wonders. Director Ron Fricke’s first film “Baraka” was released in 1992 and I’m told is even better than this.
FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 18 – At Sea
March 24, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 18 – At Sea
The ABC’s of Islands
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 49 – Tuesday, March 19 –At Sea – clouds mixed w/sun – calm seas – high 70
Macaroni Penguins at Hercules Bay, South Georgia
- 8:30 – wake up & typical breakfast
- B – 9:45 – cabin fever
- A – fresh air break – 20 laps on deck 6 = 2.5 miles
- 12:30 – lunch at Grill outside deck 6
- B – not many options & hamburger just so-so
- 2:00 – room R & R
- 4:00 – team trivia – animal kingdom – really bizarre questions & have to just guess
- A – Chris actually plays & our team takes 3rd place
- 6:45 – Recap & Briefing – Cape Town
- A – slide show of photo contest finalists & winners on landscape, wildlife, penguins, people & most boring photos
- B – none of Chris’ pictures take 1st
- A – but all of them were in the finals
- 7:30 – happy hour
- 8:15 – dinner Oriental theme – Thai, Chinese & Japanese appetizers & entrees – dining room decorated w/Chinese/Japanese lanterns & flags
St. Andrew’s Bay
FF – (FUN-fact) – There are 17 different species of penguins in the world and we have now seen 9 of them.
FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 17 – At Sea
March 22, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 17 – At Sea
The ABC’s of Islands
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 48 – Monday, March 18 –At Sea – high cotton ball clouds w/filtered sun – high 67
Molting Gentoos
- 8:15 – wake up (only so-so sleep)
- 8:30 – typical morning routine
- A – 10:30 – 16 laps on deck 6 = 2 miles – less wind & calmer seas today
- A – 12:30 – International themed lunch – dining room decorated w/flags from around the world – lots of different food options from sushi to German sausages
- 2:00 – room R & R
- 7:00 – happy hour w/Alfredo
Great Shearwater’s
- 8:15 – dinner w/the Tristanian couple Sean & Marina
- C – Karaoke w/Alfredo
- C – lots of ship mates – lounge is packed!
- 12:00 – music usually stops
- 12:30 – Alfredo finally calls it a night
- 1:00 – time for bed
- B – time change again – lose an hour
FF – (FUN-fact) – Sean works for the UK Foreign Office and Marina is a teacher. He is the administrator for the island council of 11 members. They only stay for three years on an assignment. They are currently applying for their next assignment in 2014. They said living on Tristan has been a wonderful experience. There is no crime, the speed limit is 20, and the children are free to run, ride their bikes and play with none of the worries that city life brings. The community is in essence a co-op with every home having a cow and potato field. Tristanians either work at the fish factory or have a government position.
St. Andrew’s Bay King Penguins
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #450: Juxtaposition
March 21, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #450: Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition – putting side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
Is this a word you are familiar with? Have you ever used it in a conversation? Do you remember the last time you noticed any contrasts?
This week’s WOW came from my good friend and fellow speaker Sarita several years ago. She came into my mind on my travels this month and I decided to rerun it. Sarita said, “I love the word ‘juxtaposition.’ I think the word would give you a great opportunity to talk about your recent travels…traveling is when I most notice ‘contrast.’”
Example: “When I spoke in Hong Kong years ago, I remember that I was struck by the juxtaposition of the old-world Chinese boats and the modern high-rise buildings.”
St. Andrew’s Bay, South Georgia
It was this photo that Chris took on the island of South Georgia that made me think of Sarita’s WOW. It is such an example of contrasts. Reindeers belong on the North Pole right? As it turns out, the reindeer were brought her by the whalers as a source of food in the early 1900’s. The island is governed by the U.K. and they are in the process of removing any animals that are not indigenous. Rats are another problem and the reindeer have been eating the bait put out for them. By this time next year their goal is to be reindeer and rat free.
This week’s focus is on contrasts. Do you have an example from your travels? Have you noticed any contrasts in your daily life?