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Amid Antiquities, Egyptian Woman Leaves Lasting Impression

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Cruise Flashback; Galveston to Dubai 2013 Cairo, Egypt; May 10, 2013 FEB. 9, 2021, DALLAS – Only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still stands – the Great Pyramid of Giza. I feel so lucky to have visited it up close in 2013. Our timing was fortuitous.

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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A Spring Day Rambling along La Rambla in Barcelona

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Cruise Flashback; Galveston to Dubai 2013 Barcelona, Spain; May 6, 2013 FEB. 5, 2021, DALLAS — Eight years ago our Barcelona port call held significance for two reasons. It was the midway point of the 30-day cruise from Galveston to Dubai, and it was the last of the familiar ports

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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Wrong Turn Leads to Wandering in Alicante, Spain

Posted on February 1, 2021February 5, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Cruise Flashback; Galveston to Dubai 2013 Alicante, Spain; May 5, 2013 FEB. 1, 2021, DALLAS — Somehow my innate sense of direction failed me in Alicante. I could see the Santa Bárbara castle above me, but where was that darned elevator that would spare me the long climb to the

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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No Barbary Apes or Easy Internet in Gibraltar This Time

Posted on January 28, 2021February 5, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Cruise Flashback; Galveston to Dubai 2013 Gibraltar; May 4, 2013 JAN. 28, 2021, DALLAS — Many years ago at my mother’s urging, I read Paul Gallico’s novel “Scruffy.” Goodreads describes it as “the hilarious fictional account of the infamous apes of Gibraltar during World War II.” Legend has it that

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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Madeira: A Welcome Surprise for Sea Weary Cruisers

Posted on January 22, 2021February 5, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Cruise Flashback; Galveston to Dubai 2013 Madeira, Portugal; May 2, 2013 JAN. 22, 2021, DALLAS — My lasting impression of Madeira is of an overabundance of flowers. Who knew they are growing everywhere on this remote island. If that’s not enough, vendors sell cut flowers on every street corner. The

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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Flashing Back to 2013; Sailing from Galveston to Dubai

Posted on January 19, 2021February 5, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Galveston to Dubai, 2013 JAN. 19, 2021, DALLAS — Just a year ago my sister Elaine and I set off on our world cruise. As we rounded South America, visited Antarctica and headed west from Chile to Easter Island and eventually New Zealand and Australia, we tracked our journey on

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2013 Galveston to Dubai, Cruise Flashback
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Crystal Ball: When Will We Sail the High Seas Again?

Posted on January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Day 300, Pandemic Sunday, Jan. 16, 2021; Dallas Three hundred days ago today we arrived at home after abandoning our 2020 World Cruise. We had no idea at the time that we would not be back for the 2021 World Cruise. Now I’m wondering about the 2022 World Cruise. But

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Between Cruises
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Escaping Pandemic on the Wings of Travel Memes

Posted on December 6, 2020September 12, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Day 259, Staying at Home Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020; Fort Smith, Arkansas The longer I stay home, the more I think about travel. I’m not really a “deep thoughts” kind of person. So I don’t spend a lot of time wondering when or where I acquired this passion for travel.

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Between Cruises
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If This Suitcase Could Talk …

Posted on October 30, 2020April 2, 2021 by Jo Johnston

Day 222, Staying at Home Friday, Oct. 30, 2020; Fort Smith, Arkansas After weeks of anxiety and angst on my part, my suitcase and I reunited after 218 days apart. I left it aboard the ms Amsterdam on March 22 in Fremantle, Australia, to return to Dallas via Sydney, just

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2020 Grand World Voyage, Between Cruises
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Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Posted on September 24, 2020September 25, 2020 by Jo Johnston

Day 186, Staying at Home Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020; Santa Fe, New Mexico If places have theme songs, then mine for Santa Fe could be that Girl Scout favorite: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” I came here knowing one person. I’ll

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Between Cruises
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