Early Inhabitants of Florida
There were an estimated 350,000 Native Americans in what is now Florida when Europeans first arrived early in the 16th century. They belonged to three major nations, the Calusa along the southwestern coast, the Timucua in the northern half of the peninsula, and the Apalachee where the peninsula joins the panhandle. Peoples dominated by the Calusa lived along the southeastern coast. All were settled agricultural peoples, as skilled with the hoe as they were with canoes or with bows and arrows. They lived in villages, where they cultivated corn, beans, and other crops. Noted warriors, they fiercely resisted early attempts to bring them under submission, but coexisted peacefully with the Spaniards for most of the first 198 years of Spanish occupation. Diseases introduced by the European explorers drastically reduced the populations of these Native Americans. They had no resistance to pathogens such as measles, smallpox, and typhoid fever that Europeans normally survived. The Native Americans also lost ground because of slaving raids by English forces from South Carolina and Georgia. By mid-18th century these nations no longer existed. The modern Native Americans of Florida are the Seminole, originally Creek from the Georgia-Alabama border, who entered Florida in the period 1716 to 1767. Today they have five reservations in the state.
Labels: Travel information
The Climate of the Atlantic Ocean
The climate of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent land areas is influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the waters. Because of the ocean’s great capacity for retaining heat, maritime climates are more moderate and have fewer tendencies toward extreme seasonal variations than inland climates. Precipitation can be approximated from coastal weather data and air temperature from the water temperatures. The oceans are the major source of the atmospheric moisture that is obtained through evaporation. Climatic zones vary with latitude; the warmest climatic zones stretch across the Atlantic north of the equator. The coldest zones are in the high latitudes, with the coldest regions corresponding to the areas covered by sea ice. Ocean currents contribute to climatic control by transporting warm and cold waters to other regions. Adjacent land areas are affected by the winds that are cooled or warmed when blowing over these currents. The Gulf Stream and its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, for example, warms the atmosphere of the British Isles and north-western Europe, and the cold water currents contribute to heavy fog off the coast of eastern Canada (the Grand Banks area) and the north-western coast of Africa. In general, winds tend to transport moisture and warm or cool air over land areas.
Atlantic Ocean History
• In 1858, the first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid by Cyrus Field.
• In 1919, the American NC-4 became the first airplane to cross the Atlantic (though it made a couple of landings on islands along the way).
• Later in 1919, a British airplane piloted by Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland.
• In 1921, the British were the first to cross the North Atlantic in an airship.
• In 1922, the Portuguese were the first to cross the South Atlantic in an airship.
• The first transatlantic telephone call was made on January 7, 1927.
• In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight in an airplane (between New York City and Paris).
• After rowing for 81 days and 2,962 miles, on December 3, 1999, Tori Murden became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat alone when she reached Guadeloupe from the Canary Islands.
Labels: Travel information
Welcome to New York City, New York
New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the largest city in the United States by population and one of the world’s major global cities. Located in the state of New York, the city has a population of 8.2 million within an area of 321 square miles (830 square kilometers), making it the most densely populated city in North America. With a population of over 22.1 million, the New York Metropolitan Area is one of the largest urban areas in the world. New York City is an international center for business, finance, fashion, medicine, entertainment, media and culture, with an extraordinary array of museums, art galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and financial markets. The city is also home to the United Nations and to many of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Popularly known as the “Big Apple,” and the “City That Never Sleeps,” it attracts people from all over the globe who come for its economic opportunity, culture and fast-paced cosmopolitan lifestyle. The city’s geography is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor. This position helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. The city’s land has been altered considerably by human intervention, with substantial land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times. Reclamation is most notable in Lower Manhattan with modern developments like Battery Park City. Much of the natural variations in topography have been evened out, particularly in Manhattan.
Labels: Travel information
Dreams Do Come True…
When the great explorers of the past set out to sea to discover new lands, they did so in vessels not much larger than the size of three of our lifeboats, end to end. Food was scarce, the accommodations were spare and the hope of a safe return was only that – a hope, not a guarantee. How things have changed! We set sail on January 15 to circumnavigate the globe with the hope that we might discover something new. Unlike those explorers of the past, we set sail in a beautiful ship designed to navigate the 7 seas. The food was plentiful and delicious, with different menus every day. The accommodations plush and sumptuous, brimming with exquisite art, antiques and fragrant flowers. The vessel was manned with hand-selected and well-trained crew ready to cater to every need and guarantee a safe return after our circumnavigation of the globe. The navigators of yore set out with a fervent “dream of discovery” and for some, the dream never became a reality. On the ms Amsterdam, over six hundred and fifty crew members went to work every day with just one goal in mind – to make your dream of discovery come true. The months of intense preparation and planning all come down to these 105 days and the hope that at some point every day, something we offered you, or somewhere we sailed, or someone you met put a smile on your face. Perhaps the most significant discovery is what we discover inside ourselves as an adventure of this magnitude unfolds. A true discovery should change you. How can we not be changed by the generous hospitality of fellow citizens of the world in over three dozen ports of call, greeting us in their native language? How can we not be changed by the heartwarming smiles of the world’s children, eager to see and be seen with you? How can we not be changed by walking the same path where extraordinary history was made? How can we not be changed by our participation in On Deck for the Cure or the Gifts of Love program? Our hope is that your own personal discoveries will bring you warm and lasting memories of this unique experience. Dreams do come true when we discover a new blessing every day. All we need is the open mind and heart of an explorer to find it. It has been a privilege to be your Cruise Director on this “Dream of Discovery” voyage. Until we meet again…
Labels: Travel information
Welcome to King’s Wharf, Ireland Island, Bermuda
King’s Wharf, better known as the Royal Naval Dockyard, is located on Ireland Island, on the western most tip of Bermuda. Work began on this massive complex in 1809, shortly after the Napoleonic War. Built by slave and convict labor, it was to be a strategic British military outpost, but closed its gates in 1951 when the US military established a military presence on the island with two bases. Since then, the 75 acre site has been renovated to accommodate shops, restaurants, museums, a movie theatre, The Arts Center and the Bermuda Craft Market. In 1989, the Bermuda Government decided that, owing to the increasing size of cruise ships, they required a deep water facility for visiting cruise ships to come alongside rather than lie off in the harbor. They also needed to upgrade their ferry terminal facilities for the ferry route from the capital, Hamilton, to the west end of the island. As a result, the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) was formed to develop the historic Royal Naval Dockyard into a cruise ship terminal, a ferry terminal and a destination tourist attraction encompassing the historic dockyard buildings.
Labels: Travel information
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (Personal)
Bermuda
What a surprise. I thought Bermuda was much like the rest of the Caribbean islands. I had always envisioned it as a tropical island with beaches and beach babes and all of those trappings. Not so! It is in a temperate zone so there are deciduous trees, some tropical vegetation, and a mild climate. It wasn’t too hot for me, which says a ton.
When you approach the island the first impression is that of houses in pastel colors, all with white roofs. The whole environment is neat and orderly, no trash, very British. We were late getting off because there were yet again several disembarkations of injured or sick passengers. We had about 1-1/2 hours, but also had to do some shopping for the ship. They had run out of backup discs for the ship’s medical records. They have had over twice the expected patients, so they had used up all of their supply. The first several streets in this little town are all lined with very upscale shops, so we had to find someone to direct us to the techie part of town. In addition, I had just run out of chocolate, so there HAD to be a quick stop at a grocery store to a new supply.
Then we took off for some parks and walking. There are multiple smaller parks that have cute little nooks and crannies, beautiful flowers, pools, fountains, and a cool breeze. Carter loved the simple displays and even I could hear all of the birds in the parks. I didn’t start sneezing uncontrollably here as I did in the Black Sea area, so most of the initial blooming must be over. Then back to stand in line for the tender to take us back to the ship. There were only 4 tenders for the entire day, so we didn’t dare miss the last one back. It ended up that we had to stand in line for almost an hour because the tender was later than anticipated. Some smart people went to a bar overlooking the ferry terminal and sat in peace, sipping wine while we sweat in the sunlight.
One more day until NYC and disappointingly, none of the crew will be let off in New York. I guess they have trouble with crew disappearing into New York and because of all the security and immigration worries we are all confined to the ship. Why would I want to escape into NYC? This is my own country. I guess they had to make a blanket rule and since we are crew, we must follow.
Our surprise entertainers for the last segment of the cruise have been the Osmond brothers. They have been fun to have on board – and as all the entertainment staff says, “They are nice!” Most entertainers of their stature bring along all sorts of “keepers” and refuse to even speak with any of the passengers or crew. These guys just blend right in. Their show was oh, so polished, almost effortless. You can tell they have been performing for a long time. One of the Osmonds brought along his son – must be around 13-15. He is very polite, but more into his iPod that anything else. Carter has gotten to know them socially and is enjoying them.
Well, I am thinking of packing. I think we have shocked most of the passengers because they brought up to 12 suitcases each – and we feel like peasants because we only brought 2 each. Granted, I haven’t had a different handbag for each formal dinner, but I haven’t been an embarrassment, I hope. Carter keeps saying that they will change uniforms again, back to the whites, so I don’t dare pack his stuff until we figure out when that will happen.
Labels: Personal
April 18, 2008 (Personal)
At Sea in the Atlantic
Well, it is not smooth sailing, but it isn’t unreasonable. We are in what is termed “moderate seas” which means about 5-7.5 ft waves. I think they speed up at night when they figure everyone is in bed and we can take the bumping more. We are undergoing an hour time change every day for 4 days in a row. That makes our days longer, but it also seems to get people up much earlier. Usually when I work on the computer in the morning between 6 and 7 am I am the only person awake – maybe one or two regulars. This morning, there were multiple people who wanted to talk. Luckily, I hadn’t signed onto the internet yet, so I sat and listened. Then once I was on-line I just ignored all who passed. Each minute costs money, so I try to be efficient.
Before we came I had told Carter that I needed internet access or I wouldn’t be able to come with him. I was assured that it would be no problem. After the first week or so, it has been fine, until yesterday and his computer refused all internet access. It seems there have been some computer system changes in the office in Seattle, and his computer was simply shut out. So, I am back to using my computer and paying per minute. I have to use my computer for the on-line banking and other duties, so that isn’t too much of a strain and I can work off-line for all of the letters and blog things, but my work is another story. Luckily, I am not working for the weekend, so I am ok for the next 3 days. I hope they get it fixed.
I finally figured out where the smell of blueberry muffins is coming from. Several days ago I saw a slivered almond on the floor in the stairwell. I then saw another and started following it up the stairwell. The stairs go up to the Crow’s Nest, the highest part of the ship, a bar, but also the place where they have afternoon tea. Now I get it. The stairwell is where they store the goodies before they serve tea. It also explains the occasional smell of coffee and the fact that it isn’t always smelling of blueberries, but sometimes even almonds or lemons. Mystery solved.
Labels: Personal
April 14, 2008 (Personal)
Lisbon, Portugal
Carter and I went our separate ways again today. I was assigned to escort a tour called Lisbon Highlights. Carter struck out on his own. My tour tended up being fantastic, other than the fact that there were 42 other people on the bus and it took more time to empty and load the bus than it took at each stop. I got a ton of history, saw many sights and felt good about my stay in Lisbon. Carter took the hop on/hop off bus, then found a quaint restaurant and was able to eat a true Portugese meal. Of course, he has photos of it and said it was amazing. The fish was fresh, the veggies pristine. Who could ask for more.
Carter took 149 photos and posted about 25 on the blog. I took about 50 (many for me) and posted 6. We loved the different sidewalk designs that are so Portugese, and were amazed at the varying architecture. There were the very old buildings from the 1500’s and then totally modern office buildings and malls. There were quaint areas of town, with the squares and statues of old, but then very functional apartment buildings. And they were biting the bullet and building a huge light rail system. It was a mess and traffic was at a standstill many times, but they know it will get better.
The favorite story was that in the Palace there is a man who feeds all of the stray cats. He has a following of about 30-40 and he plays the flute prior to feeding them. He walks around the castle, playing his flute and all the cats follow him. It was quite a sight. There are also a flock of peacocks in the castle. Whenever they are laying, there is a special place set aside for them. When questioned if the cats bothered the eggs or the baby peacocks the answer was, “No, the peacocks chase the cats away, so they never bother the birds.”
April 16, 2008
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
It was strange, but it felt almost as if we were coming home when we docked here. We were here 2 years ago, had a wonderful time, and today was similar. The weather was my kind of weather. It was a high of about 62, a few clouds, a little breeze. Perfect! The white houses with their red tile roofs, the banana trees, flowers everywhere and volcanic mountains. Someone was comparing Madeira with Santorini and although there are similarities with the volcanic islands, these are lush and green, while Santorini was dry and a little dusty.
We were late getting off the ship, so we ran to the shuttle bus which took us to town, then had a plan to go see the Botanical Gardens way up on the top of the mountain. Little did we know how difficult it was to get to. First we had to ride a funicular for about 25 minutes to the top of the mountain (definitely, not my favorite activity. I just sat looking up the hill, holding onto the seat.). Then we had to walk a ways downhill to another funicular which took us down the hill about ½ way. This one was much slower and took us over beautiful green areas with waterfalls and streams all thru it. Once we got off we walked to the park entrance, only to find out that we had to pay again for admission to the Gardens. We thought the 2nd funicular fee was the garden fee as well. So, we had spent all of our Euros and they didn’t take credit cards, so we went to the shops, browsed and started the trek back to the ship. It was the day of the funiculars.
Now we head back to the States across the Atlantic. Hope it isn’t too bumpy.
Labels: Personal
Welcome to Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Funchal is the capital of the Madeira Islands of Portugal and is also the largest city on the island. It was founded by Gonsalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to city by King Manuel I in 1508. The city is named after fennel, which grows on the island. Funchal is passed with a main road linking to both parts of the island and another road linking north to Faial and Santana. Part of Funchal Municipality is Ilhas Selvagens (Savage Islands and Desertas Islands), two beautiful nature reserve islands south of the city. In the early 1400s, Alvaro Fernandes was the commander of Funchal. And, in the 16th century, Funchal was important as a stopping place between the Indies and the New World, and was known as a wealthy place. Portugal, located in southwest Europe on the western Iberian Peninsula, includes the Madeira Islands and the Azores in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Originally inhabited by the Lusitanians, a Celtiberian people, the mainland area was subjugated by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and was later conquered by the Visigoths and Moors. Spain recognized Portugal as an independent kingdom in 1143, and it soon flourished as a maritime and colonial power with holdings stretching from Africa to the Far East and Brazil in the New World. Much of its empire was lost to the British and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the remaining colonies in Africa became independent in the 20th century.
Madeira Archipelago
Madeira is one of the autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands. Although it is part of the African Plate, some 400 miles (650 kilometers) off the coast of Africa, it belongs politically and culturally to Europe, some 535 miles (860 kilometers) from the mainland. Madeira, known originally to the Romans as the Purple Islands, was rediscovered, possibly accidentally, by Portuguese sailors some time between 1418 and 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first discovery of the exploratory period initiated by Henry the Navigator of Portugal. It is a popular year-round resort, noted for its Madeira wine, flowers, and embroidery artisans.
Labels: Travel information
At Sea in the Mediterranean (Personal)
April 12, 2008
Our ship is able to desalinate the sea water, but it takes a moderate amount of energy, work, etc, so when the ship is able they will take on water at the ports that have “safe” water. As you can expect, most of the Asia ports were not acceptable, so the water had to be made as we cruised along. They can only desalinate while we are moving, so when we are in a port for a day or two, we have to store up the water ahead of time, necessitating several days between ports.
As I wrote the last time, we ended up in Malta early. I’m not sure if it was planned, but we took on water the first night we were there. They usually sequester that water until it has been tested, then release it to the general ship’s water supply. The evening we left Malta I thought the water in our room was a little strange tasting, but it seemed better when it was hot or extremely cold. I knew they wouldn’t give us anything unhealthy. By the next day, many of the passengers were truly upset. One woman thought she was being poisoned, others were complaining because they couldn’t get any lather when they shampooed their hair, and I must admit, the taste was even stronger than the night before.
Then like magic, the water supply has returned to normal. There is no taste and the uproar has subsided. I felt sorry for the environmental officer because he was one of those poor souls on the tender bouncing around as he embarked in Split. I would have needed more than a day or two to recover from that.
Our speakers have been wonderful this segment. They are history professors. One from Oxford/Vancouver and the other from U of WA. They have been able to take us from one empire to another and make some sense of the European history. The prof from U of WA even explained the natural history of the European Union, how it truly started right after WWII and had evolved slowly. He was able to explain it as an American, but kept warning us that much of what they are doing is totally an experiment – not anything that we can compare with our own experience. Many times the newscasters try to relate their structure to the US Congress, etc., but he showed how that isn’t correct.
Gibraltar tomorrow. I am escorting a tour which sounds short and low key. Carter is staying on the ship for most of the time.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Gibraltar
Carter and I went our separate ways today as I had an escort job and he went out on his own. I went in a 22 person bus (They can’t use anything bigger because of the limited road space here.), and Carter took off walking. I didn’t realize how small this country is – only 2.5 square miles – and it is considered one of the most densely populated places in the world. They are continually reclaiming land and building out. They have exhausted most of the building into the hillside and are now up against rock.
We did the usual visiting the viewpoint where you can see Spain, the Straits of Gibraltar and Africa, then up to the top where there are miles of underground roads, a huge limestone cave, then down to see the monkeys. We were told over and over not to mess with the monkeys because, after all, they are wild animals. Of course, one passenger got bit – and it was on my tour! These monkeys are treated like gold because there is a legend that if the monkeys leave, the British will have to leave, so Winston Churchill passed some ordinance that protects the monkeys. Even one of the human hospitals has a special ward just for the monkeys. They are all give rabies shots and given physicals yearly. So for once, there was no worry about obtaining the rabies shots for the passenger.
Carter decided to go to the Botanical Gardens, walking about 5-6 miles at a rapid pace. He went thru the center of town which is a stone-bordered city, mainly pedestrian streets, shopping and historical sites. He even took the tram up to the top – which would have done me in. I found that when we were driving up one lane roads to the top of the Rock, I had to look the other direction. It was just plain too scary. If you took at the photos, you can tell that Carter spent quite a long time in the Gardens. He had a hay day.
The ship left this port by 3pm, which is very early by ship’s standards. Unfortunately, several people missed the ship and will have to join us in Lisbon tomorrow. This ship waits for only those who are on their sponsored tours. Woe to those who go on their own and are late.
Labels: Personal
Welcome to Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. The metropolitan area in total has around 2.8 million inhabitants, and 3.34 million people live in the broader area of the Lisbon Metropolitan Region. Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, the Grande Lisboa (Greater Lisbon) subregion is considered the second most important financial and economic center of the Iberian Peninsula. The Lisbon region is the wealthiest region in Portugal and it is well above the European Union's GDP per capita average – it produces 45% of the Portuguese GDP. It is also the political center of the country as seat of government and residence of the Head of State. Lisbon was under Roman rule from 205 BCE; Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city for the Christians and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural center of Portugal. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon’s status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal.
Say it in Portuguese
Yes Sim
No Não
Thank you Obrigado
Please Por favor
Goodbye Adeus
How are you? Como está?
Where is the restroom? Onde é a casa de banho?
How much is it? Quanto
Labels: Travel information
Welcome to Gibraltar, British Territory
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and shares a border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base. The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic name Jabal Tāriq, meaning “mountain of Tariq”, or from Gibel Tāriq, meaning “rock of Tariq”. It refers to the geological formation, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the Berber Umayyad general Tariq ibn-Ziyad, under the orders of Caliph Al-Walid I who led the initial incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711 CE. Earlier, it was known as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The Rock. A one-year investigation and analysis of 235 countries and territories by Jane’s Country Risk listed Gibraltar as the top stable and prosperous British Territory, in 5th position overall. The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major issue of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain requests the return of sovereignty, ceded by Spain in perpetuity in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarians strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.
Early Gibraltar History
There is evidence of human habitation in Gibraltar going as far back as the Neanderthals. The first historical people known to have settled there were the Phoenicians around 950 BCE. Semi-permanent settlements were later established by the Carthaginians and Romans. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar came briefly under the control of the Vandals, and would later form part of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania until its collapse due to the Muslim conquest in 711 CE. At that time, Gibraltar was named as one of the Pillars of Hercules, after the legend of the creation of the Straits of Gibraltar.
Labels: Travel information
April 8th, 2008 (Personal)
Split, Croatia was a bust. It was starting to get a little rough as we got into the later evening last night and by this morning the waves looked worrisome. It wasn’t that rough on board because of the direction of the wind and the way the Captain had placed the ship, but after only a few minutes of watching those poor tenders go to shore, I knew we weren’t going to get off here.
So, some entertainers and crew were disembarked, other crew picked up and those two tenders rocked and rolled their way back to the ship. I couldn’t figure out what was taking so long, but as I watched the water fly over the top of the tenders, then they were jostled from side to side, I got the picture. Thank goodness I wasn’t on board them. If I had been one of those entertainers, I would have had to call in sick, for sure.
Just some funny happenings from Venice that I remembered too late to add in the correct place. I just love the Italians and their attitude. The port agent came on and told the medical team that since it was Sunday on the first day we were there, they should keep the patients who needed consults on board. She said that the Italians work better if they are under pressure, so if we waited until Monday and were leaving Monday, we would get better service – and it worked!
Also, Venice was an important port for picking up supplies. There were truckloads of stuff. And not one thing was taken off the containers until Monday morning. It was all accounted for, but I was worried.
April 10, 2008
Valletta, Malta
We got to Malta about 12 hours earlier than intended. Carter had a patient who needed to get to the hospital quickly, so the Captain had extra time due to the skipping of Split, so he sped up and we landed here at 5pm. The ambulance people were so efficient, it was a little mind-boggling. Within 15 minutes of docking, I heard the ambulance siren going and the patient was off to the hospital. That would never happen in India! The other thing that was remarkably efficient was the rapidity with which the restaurants in Malta opened up and were serving food. This is still not their high season, so most of them were closed as we came into the harbor, but once there was word that the ship was docking early, lights started to come on and food was cooking. Carter and I stayed on board last night because we had been here before, so the rest of the crew took off.
Then today, after clinic, Carter and I walked to the top of the fortified hill, bought some bread and water and took a 3 hour hop on, hop off bus around the north part of the island. Most people go to the south part, but we wanted to see all the sights that our friends Freddie and Steve experienced during their week-long stay here several years ago. Carter took over 200 photos. The one smell and sight that I will always remember was a lady feeding about 6 homeless cats right there on the steps leading up to the main cathedral in town. She didn’t pet any of the cats, probably because they were feral, but she spoke to them very lovingly. The cats were happy.
I’m beginning to realize that we have only a little time until we return to real life. Back to cooking, making my own bed, washing the bathroom. And then to do taxes, fix my checkbook after 4 months. This is depressing to consider. I’ll just have to enjoy the last 2 weeks and remember how nice it has been.
Labels: Personal
Welcome to Valletta, Malta
Valletta is the capital city of Malta with a population of 6,315 and is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, where Scebberras Hill juts out into the surrounding harbors. The city is Baroque in character; however, it has elements of Mannerism, Neo-Classical with hints of Modern architecture located in selected areas. In 1980 the City of Valletta was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The population of Valletta has steadily decreased over the years, and is now reduced to about a third of its peak. This process was heavily accelerated after World War II as new development in outlying suburbs marked a shift of the population away from the capital city, but it continues as the centre of Malta’s commercial and administrative activity. The city contains several buildings of historic importance, amongst which are St John’s Co-Cathedral, formerly the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta and home to the largest single work by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, his only signed work, and a priceless collection of 17th century Flemish tapestries; the Auberge de Castille et Leon, formerly the official seat of the Knights of Malta of the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal, now the office of the Prime Minister of Malta; the Magisterial Palace, built between 1571 and 1574, formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, now housing the Maltese Parliament and the offices of the President of Malta; and the National Museum of Fine Arts.
What’s in a Name
The official name the Order of Saint John gave to the city was Humilissima Civitas Valletta (“The Most Humble City of Valletta”); however, with the building of bastions, curtains and ravelins, along with the beauty of the baroque buildings along its streets, it became known as Superbissima (“Most Proud”), amongst the ruling houses of Europe. In Maltese it is colloquially known as Il-Belt, simply meaning “The City”.
Etymology of Malta
The origin of the term Malta is uncertain, though the modern day variation is from the Maltese language. One commonly stated point of origin (although now proven false) is that the name can be traced back to the Phoenician word Maleth meaning “a haven”; however, even earlier than Phoenician influence on the island, Malta had a period of Greek influence dating back to 700 BCE. The Greeks called the island Melita meaning “honey” or “honey-sweet”. Malta has long been known for its unique production of honey, due to an endemic species of bee which lives on the island.
Labels: Travel information
Early History of Valletta
The foundation stone of Valletta was laid by the Grandmaster of the Order of Saint John, Jean Parisot de la Valette, on March 28, 1566; The Order, which was the long-time ruler of the city and the island, decided to found a new city on the Xiberras Peninsula just after the end of the Siege of Malta in 1565, so as to fortify the Order’s position in Malta, effectively binding the Knights to the island. Valletta, hence, is an urban area which boasts many buildings from the 16th century and onwards, but most of them were built during the time of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller, or Knights of Malta). The city's plan was somewhat new to the Maltese Islands, as while other towns and cities had irregular winding streets and alleys; the new city had a rectangular design, without any Collacchio (an area restricted for important buildings). The streets were to be wide and straight, with the one in the middle starting from the City Gate and ending up at Fort Saint Elmo on the other end. Some of the bastions were to be 153 feet (47 meters) tall. After the Knights and the brief French interlude, the next building boom in Valletta occurred during the British rule. Gates were widened, buildings demolished and rebuilt, houses widened and civic projects installed; however, the whole city and its infrastructure were damaged by air raids in World War II, notably losing its majestic opera house constructed at the city entrance in the 19th century.
Labels: Travel information
Welcome to Split, Croatia
Split is the largest city in Dalmatia, the administrative center of Croatia's Split-Dalmatia County, and the country's second-largest city. It is a Mediterranean city, situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. Since 1979, the historic center of Split has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Split is also known as one of the centers of Croatian culture. Its literary tradition can be traced to medieval times, and includes names like Marko Marulić, while in more modern times Split produced authors famous for their sense of humor. Split's economy has slowly emerged from the recession caused by the transfer to a market economy and privatization. During this privatization process and the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, a large number of the city's prosperous companies were ruined as people enjoying the new government's support scrambled to make as much money as possible by dismantling the industry and selling off its property. However, in the Yugoslav era the city had been a highly significant economic center with a modern and diverse industrial and economic base including shipbuilding, food, chemical, plastics, textile, and paper industry. Today most of the factories are out of business (or are far below pre-civil war production and employment capacity) and the city has been trying to concentrate on commerce and services. It has nevertheless managed to maintain its position as an important transportation, commercial, and administrative center of Dalmatia, ensuring stable, though lethargic economic growth.
Labels: Travel information
April 7, 2008 (Personal)
Venice, Italy
We only have about an hour more of being docked in Venice and then off to see Split, Croatia. We have had great fun in Venice and can’t figure out why we have missed this city for so many years. Carter thought he might have been here in the early 70’s, but now is sure he wasn’t. I don’t see how anyone could forget it. The canals, the boats, the windy little pedestrian streets. And the sonorous Italian spoken with such emotion.
Even though there were tons of boats, I will probably remember our stay here as one of walking. We started out taking a water taxi from the pier to St. Mark’s Cathedral and then walking thru the windy streets back to the ship. We knew we were in need of a map, so stopped at a tourist bureau and bought one. We decided to use their facilities – shocked to find out it cost 1 euro ($1.50), so from then on we limited our fluid intake a little more than usual. We wandered, with some direction along the Grand Canal, stopping to read our guide book for information on all these ancient churches, leaning towers and sites we have seen in books for years. After about 3 hours we were close to the ship, but unable to figure out how to walk to the pier.
Since we needed help, we decided to go to the tourist bureau again. This time it wasn’t so helpful. The lady there spoke Italian very loudly and slowly, thinking something might sink in…..We thought we understood, but soon it became obvious we were going away from the ship, not towards it. We could SEE it! We finally ended up in a little hole-in-the-wall shop and I recognized a crew member. I asked him how to get back to the ship and he looked at me as though I were crazy. I tried to explain that we had taken the water taxi, not walked, away from the ship. Ok, Ok, he now understood and gave us good directions. We were ready to put our feet up for a few minutes and drink a glass of water.
Today was similar, except we knew how to get back. We took off after clinic and went to the Jewish Ghetto. I had read about this in so many books, so was glad to finally put a face to it. It wasn’t all that Ghetto-esque, but it was separated from the rest of the city. We found a nice restaurant there and were able to eat in that part of town for about ½ the price of the area around St. Mark’s. And the food was great. I do like Italian food. We didn’t have time to take the water bus to Murano, the glass island, but that is on my list for next time. I am sure we will be back here.
Of note, Carter dyed my hair several days ago. I need to brag that he did a great job. Nothing like having an internist color your hair. He got every strand. I had another woman who had agreed to help me, but I couldn’t find her for several days and realized that I was desperate. Carter was very nervous and even called me while he was in clinic to make sure that my hair wasn’t purple or falling out. He could have a new career, if he needs one.
Labels: Personal
A City on Water
The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which penetrate alternating layers of clay and sand. Wood for piles was cut in the most western part of today's Slovenia, resulting in the barren land in a region today called Kras, and in two regions of Croatia, Lika and Gorski Kotar. Most of these piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. The foundations rest on the piles, and buildings of brick or stone sit above these footings. The buildings are often threatened by flood tides pushing in from the Adriatic between autumn and early spring. Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment. During the 20th century, when many artesian wells were sunk into the periphery of the lagoon to draw water for local industry, Venice began to subside. It was realized that extraction of the aquifer was the cause. This sinking process has slowed since artesian wells were banned in the 1960s. However, the city is still threatened by more frequent low-level floods (so-called acqua alta, “high water”) that creep to a height of several centimeters over its quays, regularly following certain tides. In many old houses the former staircases used by people to unload goods are now flooded, rendering the former ground floor uninhabitable. Many Venetians have resorted to moving up to the upper floors and continuing with their lives.
Labels: Travel information
Welcome to Venice, Italy
Venice is the capital of the Veneto region of northern Italy, with a population of 271,251, and has been known as the “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Bridges”, and “The City of Light”. The city stretches across 110 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. The Venetian Republic was a major maritime power and a staging area for the Fourth Crusade, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain and spice trade) and art in the Renaissance and up to the end of the 17th century. In 1604, to defray the cost of flood relief Venice introduced what could be considered the first example of what became elsewhere a ‘stamp tax’. When the revenue fell short of expectations in 1608 Venice introduced paper with the superscription ‘AQ’ and imprinted instructions that were to be used for ‘letters to officials’. Initially this was to be a temporary tax but in fact remained in effect to the fall of the Republic in 1797. Shortly after the introduction of the tax, Spain produced similar paper for more general taxation purposes and the practice spread to other countries.
What’s in a Name
The word “Italy” possibly derives from a Homeric word that means “calf.” The first Greek settlers, who arrived in Southern Italy from Euboea Island in the 8th century BCE, named their new land Vitulia, meaning “land of calves.” The area indicated by this name spread later to the north, but it was only under Augustus that this denomination was applied to the whole peninsula.
Venetian Culture
In the 14th century, many young Venetian men began wearing tight-fitting multicolored hose, the designs on which indicated the Compagnie della Calza (“Trouser Club”) to which they belonged. The Senate passed sumptuary laws, but these merely resulted in changes in fashion in order to circumvent the law. Dull garments were worn over colorful ones, which then were cut to show the hidden colors – resulting in the wide spread of men's "slashed" fashions in the 15th century.
Labels: Travel information
April 4, 2008 (Personal)
Santorini, Greece
What a beautiful place! We had to be tendered into shore, and during the entire ride, we were discussing how we would get from the shore, up to the top of this cliff. There were 3 options. We could take the funicular, ride a donkey, or walk. I don’t particularly like heights, so I thought long and hard about the funicular – it won my vote. The donkey was out because I didn’t want to smell like a donkey at the end of the ride, and the walk seemed more inviting on the way down than up. It was totally evident that Carter voted for the walk up – it was free! We finally agreed to walk, with the understanding that I would be slow and he couldn’t complain.
It took about 45 minutes, but we made it. As we reached the top, there was a pleasant breeze, the views were spectacular and I had the reassuring thought that I didn’t have to go to the gym in the later afternoon. I had done my lunges for weeks! Too bad I didn’t wear my workout clothes. These were drenched.
Once on top, we walked around, viewing the sites. Most of the buildings are white with white or blue roofs so they stand out against the island cliffs. We even found an archeological dig that has been going on since 1967. It found a site from 1500BC that was covered with pumice, looking as though an entire civilization had evacuated prior to a volcanic eruption. There were no bones or jewels left, but much furniture and daily items. One geologist said that this may have been Atlantis.
We then stopped at a local restaurant and ate heartily. Carter had a Greek sampler and I had a gyros, so we were sated. We didn’t have nearly enough time here, and had to rush to the funicular to go down (I closed my eyes) and take the tender back to the ship. This is a place we would love to come back to for a week or so. Too much to explore. The only drawback is that the dollar is so weak and the euro is gaining like mad. For $100 we only get 60Euros. Pretty sad.
Labels: Personal
April 1, 2008 (Personal)
Sochi, Russia
The ship offers the crew an opportunity to act as escorts on many of the shore excursions. It is free to us, but we are assigned to whatever tour they choose. Some people end up going on the same tour year after year and others luck out. Well, I had not wanted to go on any of the tours in the “hot” ports, plus Carter and I have enjoyed exploring on our own after clinic. It seemed to get into a pattern of his doing the clinics in the morning and then not getting off until after 2pm. Well, I have the option to choose morning only tours, so that is what I am doing now.
When we first heard about Sochi, Russia we were told that no one could go off the ship unless they were on a tour or had a visa for Russia, so I thought now was a good time to escort a tour. I signed up and lo’ and behold, they put me on a tea plantation tour. I guess there were 2 different locations for this Russian tea party and I drew the lesser of the two. But no complaints. I got off the ship!
The tours were all late getting started because of the immigration. It went on forever. They must have spent 5 minutes on my passport alone. Just think of getting 1200 passengers off the ship, onto tenders and then on their buses. Once everyone was on the bus, we were told that we were going to have to cut the tours short because our ship was too slow…….Several of the tours were to see specific houses as their last stop. The tour guides all read from a script and if they didn’t have time for the house, they just returned to the ship.
It was a rainy, foggy day and cold besides. I had brought along my down vest and had a wind-breaker/rain coat, so I was fine. Others were not so lucky. It ended up that our Tea Party was totally outside, although it was covered for the time we were drinking tea. The wind was relentless and most of the people had dressed so poorly that they began to get chilled. We had a woman who was almost blind, three or four with canes and several with walkers. Three or so were not able to do the minimal walking that was required from the bus to the site. The pavement was uneven, muddy and there were huge holes intermittently in the sidewalks. Not ideal for these with disabilities. Then the bus fogged up all the tour and the guide had painful English. She really had troubles with the numbers, like 1856. You could see that she was counting from one to 18, then just plain said 5 and 6, rather than 56.
The adventure occurred when we were driving out of the mountains back to the ship. We were stopped by the police right in front of the residence where Bush and Putin will be meeting in a few days. They didn’t inspect our documents, but took the driver into their patrol cars and examined multiple documents he had – keeping a blue notebook full of papers. I think they were just practicing for the international visit.
The ubiquitous feeling after this tour and most of the other ones was that Sochi has a long way to go for the Olympics. They roads are 2 lane and circuitous. They have no signs in any language other than Russian, no souvenir shops, postcards, anything. They have a few hotels and spas, but no where enough places to house the millions of guests who come for the Olympics. And they need good translators and some way to speed up their immigration situation. It was laborious.
April 2, 2008
Sevastopol, Ukraine
Late last night I received a phone call asking me to escort a tour along the Crimean Peninsula to Bakalava, exploring the Crimean War sites and the hidden submarine work yards of the Soviets. This was an all day tour, so I wasn’t sure I should do it. Carter would be left on his own. Never fear! Within hours Carter had been given a ticket to go on a tour of Yalta to Nicholas II’s summer palace. I tried to convince Carter that he would prefer the submarines (in reality, I thought the palace was better than the submarines), but he wouldn’t be deterred.
In the end, we were both pleased with our trips and had tons of history to share, as well as tales of our fellow visitors. The funniest comparisons were the toilet stories. I was on a tour that cost $109 for each person and the tour operators insisted on charging us 50 cents to go to the toilet. My groups was aghast to have the 2 footprints and a hole toilet. The paper was on the wall before entering the stall. At least it had toilet paper. I just rolled my pants up and took care of business in the first place. I didn’t want to be riding the bus for 2 hours in discomfort. Our next potty stop was Western and you should have seen the apprehensive looks prior to use. They sent me in first to check it out. They were relieved to find that this was more to their liking.
Carter’s situation was funny because it was in the middle of a VERY nice restaurant. Something went wrong with the women’s toilet, so they decided to use the men’s for both. There were 3 urinals and 3 stalls, so they told the women not to look and ushered them into the stalls, while the men were on the other side of the bathroom doing their thing. Everyone was embarrassed.
Check out the photos of the tours. Carter got to see the room and table where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met in Yalta, as well as the opulence of the Palace. He had a long ride to Yalta (about 2 hours), but at the end was rewarded with a fantastic lunch and entertainment by local artisans. I got to go in some secret underground tunnels for Soviet submarines as well as see the site of the Valley of Death. I had some rather unruly passengers and felt somewhat like a teacher of smaller children. Two of the men started to yell at each other during one of the presentations. It was an argument over battle tactics – which I know nothing about. But I do understand basic courtesy, so I had to get between them. I think they got the point and it got quieter.
Labels: Personal
Welcome to Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 124 miles (200 kilometers) southeast from Greece’s mainland. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 28 square miles (73 square kilometers) and a population of 13,670 in 2001. It is comprised of the Municipality of Thíra and the Community of Oía, which have a total land area of 35 square miles (90 square kilometers) and includes the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiani (all part of the Municipality of Thira). Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, has made the island one of Europe’s tourist hot spots. It is the most active volcanic center in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, though what remains today is chiefly a water-filled caldera. The name Santorini was given it by the Latin empire in the 13th century, and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then it was named Kallistē (“the most beautiful one”), Strongylē (“the circular one”), and Thera.
Ancient History of Greece
The shores of Greece’s Aegean Sea saw the emergence of the first advanced civilizations in Europe whose impact is inseparable from today’s western institutions, cultural and political development. Home first to the Minoan and Mycenean worlds and the Classical civilization and its Hellenistic inheritor, Greece was then subject to Roman governance and in the process transformed Rome itself. Although the establishment of Roman rule did not break the continuity of Hellenistic society and culture, which remained essentially unchanged until the advent of Christianity, it did mark the end of Greek political independence. The Greek peninsula became a province of Rome, while Greek culture continued to dominate the eastern Mediterranean. When the Roman Empire finally split in two, the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, centered around Constantinople and remained Greek in nature, encompassing Greece itself.
Labels: Travel information
The Bosporus
The Bosporus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, forms the boundary between the European part of Turkey and its Asian part. The world's narrowest strait used for international navigation, it connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea (which is connected by the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea, and thereby to the Mediterranean Sea). The strategic importance of the Bosporus remains high, and control over it has been an objective of a number of hostilities in modern history, notably the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878, as well as of the attack of the Allied Powers on the Dardanelles in 1915 in the course of the First World War. In the conferences during World War II, Soviet leader Josef Stalin openly requested the concession of Soviet military bases on the Turkish Straits, even though Turkey was not involved in the war.
Labels: Travel information
SPECIAL EDITION e-Nieuws
Monday, March 31, 2008
ms Amsterdam Hosts Grand World Voyage Signature Event
Stein Kruse, president and CEO, along with his wife Linda, joined the ms Amsterdam in Istanbul to host a very special Grand World Voyage Signature Event.
The evening began at the historic Binbirdirek Cistern which was built in 330 AD and is the oldest cistern in the city. The vaulted space was dramatically lit and the event featured a wide variety of Turkish delicacies, three stages for entertainment and much, much more.
Among the special guests who helped us thank our loyal guests were the Honorable Ross Wilson, US Ambassador to Turkey and Sharon Wiener, US Counsel General in Istanbul and Paul Korff de Gidts, Counsel General from the Netherlands.
Following the event at the Cistern, guests returned to the Amsterdam to find a Turkish Bazaar Dessert Extravaganza surrounding the Lido Pool. The ship’s staff decorated the area with ottoman tents transforming the entire venue. Suspended over the pool was Aladdin on his magic carpet, and even the bear sculptures by the pool were converted into camels. Congratulations to the officers and crew of the Amsterdam for creating such an incredible event for our World Cruise guests. Stein Kruse commented, “The displays and the foods were simply outstanding. What the ship did onboard will be talked about among the world cruise guests for a long time. The entire evening, both at the Cistern and on the ship was a once in a lifetime experience for our guests.”
For the grand finale, as the ship was about to sail, a fireworks display over the Bosphorus lit up the sky and ended the evening with a bang!
Labels: Travel information
