Travel

Circumnavigating Iceland    

27 May – 1 June 2015

The North Atlantic, more specifically the Norwegian Sea, has aDSC09749 reputation for storms and rough seas. Well deserved, I learn. Sea Spirit departs what was, in perspective, relative calm seas around the Faroes on its passage across the open waters of the North Atlantic. Destination: the east coast of Iceland. A gain of time means an additional hour of flopping, swaying and bouncing on very rough seas. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being my experience of the Drake Passage Christmas 2007, tonight’s passage rates a 7. It is about 250 miles of 22′ swells. Our captain has “battened down the hatches” for the night. Rough indeed.

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By Pat, ago

Sailing North Atlantic Islands: Orkneys, Shetlands and Faroes

23 – 26 May 2015

5000-year-old hauntingly beautiful, wind-swept village of Skara Brae.

The Sea Spirit sails relative calm waters around Scotland then heads north to the Orkneys. This is new territory for me and an area of the world heretofore not on my bucket list. However, this particular cruise’s itinerary is my reason for signing on. My next stop is Kirkwall on the Orkney Archipelago. Seas are calm and gray, skies are flat gray, but temperatures are pleasant. A wonderful environment for sailing.

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By Pat, ago

Boarding the Sea Spirit for the North Sea

17 – 22 May 2015

Haarlem Netherlands – prepping for our North Sea, Iceland cruise

Such a deal ! When I read David Rowell’s “Travel Insider” email about the inaugural cruise of Polar Expedition’s Sea Spirit, I was immediately interested. Fourteen days, departing IJmuiden, sailing to Edinburgh, north to ports in the Orkneys, North Shetlands, and Faroe Islands before circumnavigating Iceland. Even better, boarding the ship in Hamburg as an invited guest of Poseidon Adventures for three days of inaugural festivities. How much better could it get?  (more…)

By Pat, ago

What Me Worry? Confessions of a Traveler

UnknownWhen I travel, no matter how much I plan, I do worry. Anything can happen; I cannot prevent unforeseen events, but I know I can handle them. Yet, I do worry, doubly so when I have the responsibility for another. So I traveled to Italy with my “minor exceptional” niece with trepidation. What did I learn from this travel experience? As I posted before departure: (more…)

By Pat, ago

Milano Con Gabrielle

Piazzas collect pigeons, pigeons love bread, bread is served during dinners, dinners include delicious pastas around those piazzas. It’s a great symbiotic relationship throughout Italia. We spend a few sunny minutes at the Verona Arena and around Piazza Bra’s pigeons before boarding our Frecciabianca to Milano.  (more…)

By Pat, ago

Verona Con Gabrielle

St. Gabriel, “Prego, no more churches.”

Beautiful warm weather and bright sunny skies greet our arrival in Verona. After tossing our bags into our room at Albora B&B, we walk to Piazza Bra and the Arena for lunch. We are recharged and ready to see the sights of this lively and beautiful city.

Our two days here are filled with churches like Anastasia, the Duomo, San Fermo, San Lorenzo, and San Zeno. All are unique, some more elaborate than others. I enjoyed the crypt area at San Zeno’s, home of Verona’s patron saint. It bothers me that some of the churches charge entrance fees; it is a way to maintain these grand edifices but churches should be open anytime to the public. As for Gabrielle, she is “churched-out.”

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By Pat, ago

Vicenza Con Gabrielle

 Welcome to Italia. “Transportation strike is to begin at 10am and last until 1pm.” In true Italian style, they strike but are polite enough to tell you ahead of time and limit the inconvenience. Unfortunately, noting the bulletin at 9:55am with a 10:50 train to catch is not how I want to begin my morning. We rush to the vaparetto stop and hope for the best. And indeed, we receive good fortune. We reach our train with time to spare and are whisked away to the small city of Vicenza just 45 minutes east of Venezia. (more…)

By Pat, ago