RichC | May 20, 2015
I'm remembering the tight entries and snake like departures from Bermuda a few years ago … it was just a matter of time. In this photo provided by the Royal Gazette, the Norwegian cruise ship Norwegian Dawn, lies aground near Bermuda's North Channel Tuesday, May 19, 2015. The Norwegian cruise ship Norwegian Dawn, lies aground […]
RichC | August 23, 2010
I’m wrapping up a final post from a fantastic family summer vacation. The trip to Bermuda and back has me wondering where the week went? The time was both relaxing and exciting … and especially nice considering the four of us enjoyed it together – I probably should “thank” Brenda for pushing the trip even […]
RichC | August 19, 2010
Day 2 of our family vacation was spent on a southeast leisurely passage at about 8 knots cruising toward Bermuda from New York City aboard the NCL Dawn. We enjoyed a sunny day at sea relaxing on one of the aft decks … a surprisingly private spot. Although the sun was tropical, the breeze over […]
RichC | August 18, 2010
On Sunday we arrived at NYC and boarded the NCL Dawn for Bermuda. Sprint 3G bandwidth is nearly non-existent with MyTether on the Palm Pre at the docks. 🙁 On the other hand, not much to say about our Delta flight from Cincinnati to NYC and traffic heavy but quick transfer through the city. […]
RichC | July 31, 2009
Whew! I’m finally up to date with our European vacation archive … and a bunch of photos didn’t make it into my14 days of blog posts. Oh well, there are plenty to enjoy … except just this one loner photo and it will get its own post. It’s my daughter’s 23 year old “Big Bear” […]
RichC | July 26, 2009
The final flight crosses the Ohio River and lands at CVG We arrived home safely after a long day of traveling. Up at 4:45 AM in Southampton UK (5 hrs ahead of home EST) and grabbed a quick breakfast on the NCL Jade before ‘debarking’ and recovering our luggage. The trip to London Heathrow was […]
RichC | July 25, 2009
Passing close enough to a container ship in the Atlantic to read containers The blog is missing a few days in posting due to a shortage of Internet minutes while on the cruise ship ($$$) and although there have been a few connections (very few public ‘free’) along the voyage, I’ve spent more time enjoying […]
RichC | July 24, 2009
It seems like a long time ago, but as I write this post it has only been about a week since we were in Spain. Our last port of call was the city of Vigo, Spain. The west coast city and metro area is home to a half a million people with historic Kingdom of […]
RichC | July 23, 2009
Lisboa or Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the wealthiest of the country. It has remained the capital city since its conquest from the Moors in 1147. The architectural style is a combination of old and new, European and Middle Eastern … especially in historic areas and in the Sintra region – both a […]
RichC | July 22, 2009
We spent day eleven visiting the Rock of Gibraltar and I particularly liked learning about the history of this fortress. The huge fortified hunk of rock guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean has seen it share of conquest and struggle. Over the years, a series of 32 kilometers of tunnels […]
RichC | July 21, 2009
Today, we mark our return sail back toward the west steaming east in the Mediterranean on this near perfect day. The sky is blue, the water bluer and there is just enough breeze for a lone sailboat to make way well out in the clear horizon (digitally enlarged 300mm telephoto above). It’s now day 10 […]
RichC | July 20, 2009
We debarked in Chivitavecchia, Italy on Monday and headed by bus to the ancient city of Rome (Roma) and a visit to the Vatican. The thoughts that I had prior to visiting Rome were of just another old and somewhat dirty city, but the impression I left with was one of awe … and a […]
RichC | July 19, 2009
What a wonderful day in Italy! We enjoyed a near perfect day in the Tuscany region of Italy heading from the port city of Livorno to Pisa in order to visit the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa, cathedral and baptistery. The crowds were relatively heavy, but flowed easily in and out of the key stops […]
RichC | July 18, 2009
It is hard to believe that I can actually lose track of time while less than a week into a vacation, but knowing I’m posting a day or two behind has me looking at the calendar for perspective. We are having a great time and enjoying our vacation … both the rest and relaxation of […]
RichC | July 18, 2009
After our day in Barcelona, we sailed for Cannes in France. The evening started to get interesting when deck chairs began flying off the deck and doors were quickly battened down. Most passengers realized that we were rolling a bit more than usual, but the seas were not all that much larger than we have […]
RichC | July 17, 2009
As usual, I’m behind in jotting down a few notes in which to archive our trip and thoughts after a couple of days in Spain. We toured the old part of the city of Barcelona (only wide enough streets to walk) and thankfully had our English speaking guide in which to mention several relevant spots […]
RichC | July 16, 2009
After a long day in Malaga, Spain we set sail at 6PM on Wednesday evening. We were all tired out from our day and turned in with a movie on our cabin (Benjamin Button) after a celebration Japanese dinner. Celebration since the scores for my daughter’s Step One medical boards were passing (taken after year […]
RichC | July 14, 2009
We spent day two and now three of our vacation at sea and are enjoying the day’s relaxing … as well as eating (too much food). The weather was cooler on Monday, but much warmer today. The winds the first day out were near gale force as we traveled south from the English Channel through […]
RichC | July 12, 2009
View of the Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 in the berth once home to the Titanic The first day of vacation proved to be an excellent 8 hour through the night flight direct from CVG (Cincinnati) to London. Thankfully we processed through customs relatively painlessly after gathering our luggage and taking a motor coach (bus) to […]
RichC | September 1, 2006
Hopefully this weekend I’ll get part 2 of my vacation to Hawaii photos and comments posted. (click here to see Part 1) Nevertheless, here is a animated GIF series of photos of a sunrise on Maui atop the crater rim at Haleakala. The photo was taken early morning (duh!) at Haleakala Crater National Park as […]
RichC | August 29, 2006
I’ve been planning to write down some thoughts and include some personal photos from our recent family vacation to Hawaii. We enjoyed near perfect weather on our entire trip, both on a cruise ship, NCL(A)’s “Pride of Hawaii,” and the time spent with my nephew David and his wife Gillian who live on Kauai — […]
RichC | August 21, 2006
Our final day in Hawaii has been a wonderful one. We enjoyed one last leisurely meal while on vacation at Stinger Ray’s listening to island music. (which is beginning to grow on me) The boarding time for our flight is still an hour away so figured one last photo of the flag over the USS […]
RichC | August 21, 2006
As we rest in the shade before riding the tender out to the Arizona memorial, we sit somewhat somber as the displays portray the terror unleashed by the Japanese bomber during a sleepy December Sunday 65 years ago. The harbor view is a quiet place this Monday morning … thankfully, but I can help but […]
RichC | August 21, 2006
Heading to the airport on the bus. We are hoping for enough extra time before flying back to the mainland so as to be able to drive to Pearl Harbor. Crossing our fingers we can fight this heavy, heavy traffic. Later.
RichC | August 20, 2006
Head out and circling Kauai back to Honalulu.
RichC | August 20, 2006
Looking out in the harbor this morning I’m realizing a vacation is coming to an end. We will be circling by helicopter today … Then off for Honolulu.
RichC | August 20, 2006
Hanalei, Kauai with David and Gillian. The guys wait while the girls visit Gillian’s dress shop. I can’t wait to post a photo of jumping off the cliff and rope swing. Very exhilarating!
RichC | August 20, 2006
Our ship “The Pride of Hawaii” leaving Kona and the big island of Hawai’i behind as we sail for Kauai tonight. This will not get sent until the next Sprint service — we’ll see how that is on Jurassic Kauai. 🙂 I have some negative comments to come on the NCL management of the American […]
RichC | August 19, 2006
We must be nuts … its early and cold! 🙂 Who in their right mind gets up at 2am to catch a van to the 10,023 foot extinct volcano just so they can see the sunrise above the clouds … and yet can still come away saying that it was well worth it. Yes … […]
RichC | August 18, 2006
Kids are out on jetskis and we’re just enjoying a morning at a cafe in Kona, Hawai’i. Breezy and beautiful … wish you were here. 🙂
RichC | August 18, 2006
Since I have my Treo ‘tethered’ to my notebook computer in Maui I’ll put a couple more photos up rather than using the cellphone camera. (Sprint EVDO service here) We sailed over to the smaller island of Lanai (from Maui) which was something I love to do. The trip over in the morning was under […]
RichC | August 17, 2006
Two days, two different volcanic summits. The first was on the ‘big island’ of Hawai’i and rises from the seafloor some 33000 feet of which 13,796 feet as see from the geological marker. Its the first time I’ve climbed to that altitude and was amazed at how thin the air is hiking at that level. […]
RichC | August 16, 2006
By the time you read this, you will realize we did not have Sprint EVDO service on Hilo, Hawai’i so yesterday’s quick messages were sent this morning at Maui. It is a beautiful morning sitting on the deck of the NCL ship ‘Pride of Hawaii’ eating breakfast. Last nights sail an view of the lava […]
RichC | August 16, 2006
Outside Hilo, Hawai’i we stopped for photos at the Rainbow Falls on our way up the 14796 foot Mt. Mauna Kea. We enjoyed hiking except the final distance from the observatories on top of the volcanic mountain. Beautiful and cold at the summit. (photos of observatories to come.)
RichC | August 16, 2006
As we continued our day trip up the 12 astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea on ‘the big island,’ we came across an alter used by some traditional Hawaiians in worship to their gods in this volcanic land. The views along this unbelievable climb from sea level to the Summit at 14796 feet were unusual. From
RichC | August 14, 2006
Beautiful day to arrive in Hawaii. Great flight for one that last 9.5 hours and changes 6 time zones! In the bus and checking out EVDO cellphone service. Hopefully the direct to blog is working?
RichC | August 14, 2006
By the time you read this post, my family and I should be on our way to Hawaii. My daughter completed her undergrad schooling this past month (graduating summa cum laude — proud dad here), so as a graduation gift to all … we’re celebrating together. I’ll not be posting the regular daily ‘desultory posts,’ […]