rafinmd

Is Koningsdam behind that clump of trees? Roy

Eurodam within meters of the dock. Roy

Koningsdam now getting close. Roy

Sure is. I just missed her. Roy

Past Thane on a decent day. Roy

Today's sunrise is another from my 2018 Crystal Symphony Panama Canal cruise. August 28 was a sea day from Charleston to New York: .Roy

Today's sunrise is another from my 2018 Crystal Symphony Panama Canal cruise. August 28 was a sea day from Charleston to New York: .Roy

My photos of Praia will largely center around a not at all healthy lunch, but first our shuttle dropped us off at the Praia Mercado: The town square: Crystal has a casual food venue called "The Bistro". One of the treats regularly found there is "Portugese Tarts". I'm not as passionite about them but they definitely are tasty. I just happened to spot a bakery in my wandering around town: I walked across the street to a little garden area for a chair to eat and there was a group of scouts gathered under a tree. It looks like Portugal’s scouts are coed at all levels but this group appeared to be all girls. They were selling cookies. I asked the leader if I could take her picture and she countered “would you like me to take one of you with the scouts?” Sure. The cookie was freshly baked and delicious. On the way back to the ship I got a view of the Nieuw Statendam. Roy

Such sad news. Prayers for the best possible outcome for Murphy, whatever it may be. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Dixie, Debbie, and Ann. I think Hudson and King were both pioneers in their own way. Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day will be very meaningful here. I'll pass on the red wine but probably spend too much time racing my mouse around icons. Interesting quote by Miller. I'll pass on the Lobster. The name Praia always confuses me. I think of both Praia and Praia da Vitoria as being related to Portugal although Cape Verde (Praia) gained independence in 1975. I visited Praia in 2014 as a substitute port on MS Amsterdam when several African ports were cancelled due to Ebola. I visited Praia da Vitoria on MS Nieuw Statendam in 2019. It was not on our itinerary but there was a late change due to Praia da Vitoria and I appreciated it because I think we were originally headed for Horta which I believe is a tender port. Roy

And a big thank you for all you are doing to help. Roy

I don't have a travel sunrise for August 27. This was taken this morning on my street about 500 feet down from my house. Roy

I don't have a travel sunrise for August 27. This was taken this morning on my street about 500 feet down from my house. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie, Ann, and Graham. I don't have a real porch. The Pony Express was short lived but was vital in it's day, and Kind Words should be every day. Sad that Kellog-Briand was short lived. Interesting quote from Baltimore's own Edgar Allen. I visited Pago Pago just once, Crystal Serenity in 2018. I'll pass on the shrimp. Today will be an in-person day in church and the next 2 Sundays I am on AV team duty. Roy

I suspect some might also become impromptu "sea days", Roy

One little positive note from Maryland. Maryland Task Force 1, the Urban Search and Rescue team, has completed it's mission in Maui (I doubt if that means the work there is complete, but another team will take over for a while), and should be back home on Monday. Roy

Happy Anniversary @CrabbyPatti. Roy

My first ever visit to Madera was in 2009 on a Wind Surf transatlatic. Their tradition is that their transatlantics are pure nonstop crossings. While we were preparing to leave Lisbon the Captain had a bit of an orientation and mentioned that we would be making an unplanned stop there because some supplies had not gotten to us and would catch us there. One was parts for the watermaker, the other was toilet paper. Roy

Sea-distances.org suggests about 29 days nonstop at 18Kt Fort Lauderdale to San Diego vs about a 14-day cruise through the canal. I don't think food and fuel storage would permit that so it would probably be about 40 days. If the worst happens I would expect some ships to swap routes and I will guess Oosterdam might embark in San Diego rather than Fort Lauderdale. This will disrupt a LOT of cruises. Roy

Today's sunrise is another from the 2018 Crystal Symphony Panama Canal cruise. August 26 was a sea day from Bimini to Charleston. Roy

Today's sunrise is another from the 2018 Crystal Symphony Panama Canal cruise. August 26 was a sea day from Bimini to Charleston. Roy

We've been overdue for some really good news and I especially love the part that Sam's doing better than before the fall. Roy

I think this is a once in a lifetime special circumstance. This time period was supposed to have been a Panama Canal Round trip to Costa Rica but was cancelled due to low water levels at the canal. A good opportunity for some people but with sadness for others. Enjoy that cruise. Roy

I would hope that it will take a LOT to cancel a major repo transit like a World Cruise, but Zaandam has a pair of full transits January 4 to February 3, and it will be interesting to see what happens with them. I do know that Crystal Serenity just had a pair of December transits cancelled so it bears watching. Roy

Thank you Rich for the Saturday report and thank you Vanessa, Tina/Debbie, Dixie, and Ann. Lots of dogs will have their day here, women's equality is a goal that still needs some work, and where would we be without toilet paper. I like the Gabor quote but will skip the shrimp. Looks like I've been to Copenhagen just once, and it was on the Elegant Explorer. While Haley discovered his comet I wonder how long it took to determine it's schedule. My church's men's breakfast is this morning and I will try to get my walk in before that starts and it gets too hot to walk. Roy