Random thoughts from the sea
Days 95-96, 2025 European Odyssey Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1-2, 2025; Istanbul, Turkey. I had no idea what to expect of Istanbul. I knew its name used to be Constantinople (thanks to They Might Be Giants). But not a lot more. My brief foray over the past two days was
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Days 91-93, 2025 European Odyssey Saturday to Monday, Sept. 27-29, 2025; Limassol, Cypress; Rhodes, Greece; and Bodrum, Turkey. Limassol, Cypress, taught me that even when I haven’t planned ahead, wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a sketchpad can add up to an enjoyable day in port. By the time I turned
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Days 86-90, 2025 European Odyssey Monday to Friday, Sept. 22-26, 2025; Valletta, Malta, and Alexandria, Egypt. I’m not sure I can say I went to Egypt on this cruise. Yes, we had an overnight call in Alexandria, where more than 1,700 passengers lined up before sunrise for Holland America excursions.
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Days 82-84, 2025 European Odyssey Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 18-20, 2025; Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain. I may be spending about 10 months a year cruising, but in between I go back to the United States, to visit family, catch up on doctors’ appointments, enjoy real Tex-Mex food and repack.
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Days 78-80, 2025 European Odyssey Sunday to Tuesday, Sept. 14-16, 2025; Lisbon, Portugal, and Màlaga, Spain While the quick pace of ports continues, with the odd sea day here and there, my pace seems to have slowed a bit. Perhaps because the days are hot and sunny, or because I
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Days 73-75, 2025 European Odyssey Tuesday to Thursday, Sept. 9-11, 2025; Portland, England, and Bilbao, Spain. My lack of port planning is starting to catch up with me. I spent time in the spring planning the Northern Europe part of this odyssey, but figured I would plan the second half
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Days 70-71, 2025 European Odyssey Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7, 2025; Dover, England, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Jo: “This is the best meal I’ve ever had!” Waitress: “In Amsterdam?” Jo: “I think this whole year!” Waitress: “Wow!” Little did she know that this year I have eaten in foodie cities from Lima
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Days 65-67, 2025 European Odyssey Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 2-4, 2025; Glasgow, Scotland; Douglas, Isle of Man; and Cobh, Ireland. Looking back, I wish I had spent a semester or year studying abroad. The University of Glasgow would be on the short list of places I would have enjoyed. I briefly wondered
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Day 64, 2025 European Odyssey Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025; Belfast, Northern Ireland. There’s nothing I like better than doing just enough research to scratch the surface and write approximately 700 words about a port. I’ll connect my visit with an earlier one – perhaps to the same port, perhaps to
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Days 60-62, 2025 European Odyssey Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 27-29, 2025; Lerwick, Kirkwall and Stornoway, Scotland. Sometimes you just need to get out of town, and that’s what I decided to do at the last minute in Kirkwall, the main town in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. I love wandering Kirkwall’s streets and poking
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