JetSetWay

Europe – Summer, 2009

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:52:43 +0000

After taking some time off to play in The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, we are back on the road this summer, starting on July 18.

Our trip will have a few segments. First is a land tour of Switzerland and the Italian Lake Country. Then it is off to Italy’s Amalfi Coast for a week, where we will be headquartered in Positano. The third segment is a cruise on Silver Seas from Rome to Barcelona.

Following that, we visit Syracuse, NY, where Allyn’s son Julian will be starting law school. We then finish up in Boston, where Allyn’s daughter Jessica starts her Senior year at Boston University.

In late September, after spending some time back in Las Vegas, it is back to London for ten days or so, where we will be playing poker tournaments at The World Series of Poker Europe and the European Poker Tour.

On Vacation

Sun, 31 May 2009 15:20:53 +0000

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Vancouver B.C., Canada; Cruise Day 122

Thu, 28 May 2009 16:05:32 +0000

After four months, The Ring of Fire world cruise ended today as we docked in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, our 15th country.

We spent the day with Keith and Betty Beedie who live here. We met them on our last Seven Seas Mariner cruise and have been friends ever since.

Note: We will be “on vacation” for six weeks during the World Series of Poker. I will be back reporting approximately mid August when we take six weeks in Europe.

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Enroute to Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Cruise Day 121

Wed, 27 May 2009 16:34:04 +0000

Today was the last full day of this wonderful voyage. Like yesterday, it was a day full of goodbyes, trading emails, comparing travel schedules, and all around fond memory sharing.

There is something eerily symmetrical about the fact that we have been at sea four months, are now visiting our 15th country, yet I am only a couple hundred miles away from Seattle, where I was born and raised.

I am so happy with the hair salon that I opted for one final haircut instead of waiting until I get home.

Although it has absolutely nothing to do with this blog, I am delighted with the Supreme Court nomination that President Obama made.

Ketchikan, Alaska; Cruise Day 120

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:24:34 +0000

It rains 350 days a year here, with measurable precipitation in excess of 160 inches (13.3 feet). Today was drizzly most of the time.

However, that certainly did not take away from our experience.

Along with three other people, we flew on a floatplane to Misty Fjords National Monument and actually stopped in the water for a while before returning. Perhaps you are getting tired of me saying this but it was so beautiful and serene.

The monument is called Yosemite of the North because of similar geology, but it is three times bigger (with 2.3 million acres of pristine wilderness).

The cliffs rise up as sheer rock, with or without trees, for 2,000 – 3,000 feet, and plunge straight down to a depth about 1,000 feet.

Remember the bridge to nowhere that was going to cost $400 million, which Palin supported as governor then stopped supporting as a Vice – Presidential candidate? This is a picture of the road to nowhere that was built for $26 million to connect to the bridge to nowhere.

Skagway, Alaska; Cruise Day 119

Mon, 25 May 2009 16:20:54 +0000

It was another beautiful day today. We have been so fortunate all the way around the world.

Today we visited Skagway, a fun city with a population of 800, and about 500,000 tourists annually.

Its heyday was during the 1889 gold rush. Then it fell asleep until the cruise industry woke it up.

We hung around downtown, which is about ten blocks total.

Then we sailed past Haines, Alaska, which according to Captain Cook is the most beautiful place on earth. He would know.

I am officially declaring the Alaskan glaciers and fjords prettier even than those in South America. They are spectacular.

Juneau, Alaska; Cruise Day 118

Sun, 24 May 2009 16:25:02 +0000

What a day, what a tour. I booked this tour six months ago because it is always one of the first to sell out. I was shut out last time I came to Juneau, and didn’t want to get shut out again.

The scenery from the 15 minute helicopter ride each way alone made the trip worthwhile.

We actually went dog sledding on Mendenhall Glacier, with real huskies that race the Iditarod.

Then, it was a charming walk around Juneau, which is beautiful when it is sunny like today (which doesn’t happen all the time).

We had a great, casual dinner at Twisted Fish, which I highly recommend.

Sitka, Alaska; Cruise Day 117

Sat, 23 May 2009 15:18:09 +0000

The social highlight of the day was none other than the cocktail party in our cabin this evening.

We invited over about 50 of our closest friends for a “thank you for making this the best trip we have ever had” party.

Allyn was an extraordinary hit with her art project which had photos of each of the guests that she mounted on cardboard this afternoon.

All of the world cruisers have made new friendships. The sad goodbyes and business card trading are already happening.

Many of us have booked the world cruise starting next January, and will see each other then if not before.

Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Alaska; Cruise Day 116

Fri, 22 May 2009 17:06:42 +0000

Although we were at sea today, we spent most of the time at Hubbard Glacier, taking in the beauty, as well as learning about this glacier and glaciers in general.

Half of all the glaciers in the world are located in Alaska. Hubbard is the biggest tidewater glacier in the world, which means it ends in the sea.

It is about 76 miles long and six miles wide. As you know glaciers flow. The ice starts at the top and flows (gets pushed) down.The ice at the foot is about 400 years old.

About 75% of the world’s fresh water supply is in glaciers. Washington and Alaska are the only two states that get any material drinking water from glaciers.

For more information about glaciers, check these previous blogs from when we circled South America.

Seward, Alaska; Cruise Day 115

Thu, 21 May 2009 16:09:23 +0000

Most people left the ship today and over 500 new cruisers boarded. We are full and everything is different now.

I found a local kayak company on the Internet, which was highly recommended, and we decided to give it a shot. It was a great choice.

Notwithstanding the fact that the water was 40 degrees, we had a wonderful time. Where else can you get a three-hour aerobics class, freeze, get soaked, and feel so fortunate?

Along the way we saw a bald eagle, a sea otter, and sea lions.