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We crossed the equator on April 11th. The crew then held a Neptune Ceremony for the new crew members. The judge read the charges against them and the Captain and his officers decided whether the guilty were to be smeared with the glob of the day and throne into the pool. Most were thrown in. Some had to let the glob cake-in. Then everyone was thrown in! The passengers were not allowed to participated because of legal concerns.     …

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We sailed to Ascension Island one day early  because we were going to divert from the West Africa Coasts of The Gambia and Senegal due to the Ebola epidemic that was spreading in those two countries. The island was discovered in the 1501, not inhabited until the British used it as an outpost while Napoleon was exiled on St Helena. The US built a runway on the island during WW II  as a staging area for the African campaign. Then in …

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After Nambia we sailed to Jamestown, St Helena – Napoleon’s  final resting place — until he was moved to Paris – that is! The sea state was a little rough when we arrived and we had a few delays in disembarking. But around 9:00 AM we were taking the tender to the island. It was about 300 yards from the land spot to the main entrance to Jamestown.  I took  a walk into the town, walked through the Castle Gardens, constructed by …

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We arrived at Walvis Bay, Namiba on the morning of April 4th. I really did not do much here. I took the shuttle bus to downtown, bought a Guide Book of Nambia and walked through the town around the Bay to The Raft- a restaurant on stilts just south of the ship. I tried to take close-up pictures of birds and flamingos with a telephoto lens, but I did not realize that I had a polarizing filter on the lens which caused …

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Recounting Days 87 & 88 – Cape Town,South Africa.

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Desmond Tutu boarded in Durban and sailed with us to Cape Town.  Also Stein Kruse (CEO of Holland America Lines) and his wife Linda, also boarded in Durban. We were provided lectures and meetings with them on the way to Cape Town.  We arrived in Capetown on April 1st for two days. Tuesday the 1st, I took the courtesy shuttle to Victoria and Albert Waterfront.  looked around the area, had a pastry and coffee at and outdoor cafe and booked …

 

Recounting Day 83 Durban, South Africa

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Now that I’ve had some time got get caught up at home,  below is a recounting of my trip starting with Durban. We docked in Durban, South Africa on March 28th. That morning we had to have a face-to-face immigration clearance before disembarking.  After the clearing customs/immigration, I took the shuttle bus to the drop off point – uShaka Marine World. I bought a day pass on the city bus and took the bus to North Beach on the Golden …

 

Day 117 Home – The trip from Reunion towards home to follow in a few days

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Home at last! I need a few days to get organized and finish this blog series. Got off the ship at 8:15 AM and went through customs and immigration.  Then went looking for the FedEx truck and the tour bus for a tour along the inter coastal waterway. Got my bags loaded on the truck, got on the bus and waited for about 45 minutes till the next person arrived. We had one passenger who was in a wheel chair …

 

Day 107 Sailing to Barbados –Recount of stops to Mauritius and Reunion (Days 78-82)

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Mauritius We arrived in Port Luis, Mauritius on March 23rd. Took a bus tour of the city where we passed the Champs de Mars race track and stopped at the Citadelle (Fort Adelaide). Then we drove North to Grand Baie beach area the town’s Bazar. On the way back we stopped at the Botanical Gardens and back to the ship. I then took the shuttle bus to the waterfront where I had a bit to eat and tasted the local …

 

Day 99 Sailing to Cape Verde Island. – Here’s a Recount of Trips to Sri Lanka, and the Seychelles. ( Days 70-77)

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The ship docked in Colombo, Sri Lanka on March 15th. Shortly after leaving dock area,  I hired a driver to take me around Columbo. We visited several Hindu and Buddhist Temples and the Red Mosque, as well as a Dutch church and St Lucia’s Cathedral. We ate lunch in a local restaurant where one easts with the fingers instead of utensils. At the end of the day I wanted to stop a the recommended “Galled Face Green Hotel for afternoon …

 

Day 86 – Sailing to Cape Town: Recount of Beijing, China, Singapore and Thailand

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Arrived at Beijing at 9:30 PM. March 6th. The next morning at 8 AM we started out for the Great Wall at Juyongguan . The Great Wall was fantastic. I did climb to the top of the wall – I think there were only 4 out of 31  who went all the way to the top.  I would have climbed further around the wall and made a circle to where we started, but we were pressed for time. Another Lazy …