What a wonderful and relaxing day! We wandered all over Saint Jean Pied de Port, finding the Camino trailhead, watching a parade in support of Basque independence, walking the old walls of the city, and having the “lunch of champions” (beer and ice cream!).
My technology worked today, so below is an embedded video with today’s meanderings.
Booking our travel to Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPP), we realized that it would be wonderful to spend a day in Paris. This allowed us to not only begin to recover from jet lag but also to explore the City of Lights.
After our uneventful red eye flight from San Francisco to Paris, we took the train from the airport to our terrific hotel in the 5th Arrondissement, the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the Seine just across the river from Notre Dame.
Upon settling into our room, we began our fifteen miles clockwise walking tour of Paris. Along the way, we viewed: Sorbonne, Luxembourg Gardens (with children pushing sailboats in the pond), Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph, Mont Saint Michel, Sacre Coeur (and a spectacular panoramic view of the city), Moulin Rouge, and Louvre. In addition to these terrific sites, we ate AMAZING Lebanese organic ice cream rolled in chopped pistachios and shared a liter of wine (one half at lunch and the other at dinner 🙂 ).
Paris in one day? Sure! Why not?!
I strung together six mini-videos of our day into one 3:28 video. Click on this link for the video. (I tried to embed the video…but the internet is too slow…and I’m too tired! 😘 )
A few years ago, my friend Minke asked if I wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago with her. I, of course, said, “Yes!”
The time has come. We leave TOMORROW to walk the Camino Frances route, 500 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. After spending a night in Paris and a couple of days in Saint Jean, we start walking on Monday, April 21. The first day: up and over the Pyrenees!
To say I’m excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT. I am thrilled, eager, and joyful. I am also a bit anxious and nervous…which is to be expected.
Our plan: We booked with Camino Ways, so our accommodations, luggage transfers, breakfasts, and most dinners are all pre-arranged. Our focus will be on putting one foot in front of the other while carrying a daypack with what we need for that day. Interspersed among our 34 walking days are four rest days. In Leon, Heather will join us and in Sarria, Kayla and Traci will connect with us.
My blogging intention: The purpose of this walk is to immerse myself in the environment, allow my mind to wander and reflect as it so chooses, and enjoy the community on the Camino. However, I know me. I know I will want to take photos; I also don’t want to be tied to my camera or to a laptop. So I will snap photos that interest me with my phone and, on our rest days, perhaps upload them to my blog. My thought is to minimize technology use by relying on the Relive app to track where I’ve walked while automatically linking my photos to the route itself. Of course, we shall see! If and when I post, I will let you know! 🙂
Buen Camino!!!
With a bit of time on my hands and the desire to take Addie and Sheila on a mini-road trip, along with wanting to do some training hikes and enjoying caravanning with Nanine, I explored the Indio area for about four days last week. During the trip, Nanine and I camped in our rigs at the Indio Elks so we could play cribbage, drink Manhattans, chat with locals, and hike some local trails.
My camera and me: reunited! Today, I climbed Islay Hill and wandered around my neighborhood, capturing images that surprised or delighted me. Sometimes, I snapped the same photo with my phone for comparison purposes. For that hike, I left the doggies at home.
Afterward, I walked Sheila and Arthur (grandkids’ dog), using only my cellphone camera to snap photos.
What did I learn? Although my phone takes excellent photographs, the ones from my camera surpass the quality of those from my phone.
This is not to say that my phone takes poor images, just that my camera takes better pics.
On adventures that I don’t want to lug around my camera, laptop, etc., my phone will be more than adequate. When I want to be more of a photographer than a traveler, I will take my camera. 🙂
I didn’t realize how my 366 Day Photo Challenge from last year would affect me. Once I returned home from my cruise, I set aside my camera and didn’t feel any desire to pick it up. In addition to getting a new iPhone with a terrific camera function in preparation for my next BIG ADVENTURE, I was burned out on photography. Ugh! Picking up my camera. Uploading photos to Lightroom. Processing them. Downloading them to my computer. Writing my blog. Yech!
Until now. I took my camera on my training hike up Sydney and LOVED snapping photos again! My enjoyment of photography has RETURNED!
This journey comprised not one, not two, but really THREE adventures.
This photo of Dubai Creek summarizes quite a bit of what I saw in Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. The Arabian Peninsula, birthplace of Islam, boasts the world’s largest oil reserves along with the water to transport those reserves throughout the globe. Qatar and the UAE have so much oil money, they have built up their countries with mega-buildings, expansive museums, and exquisite mosques. Interestingly, even with so much oil, most of the emirates envision a future without oil money, so they attempt to diversify their economies into tourism, medical tourism, and construction. One of my favorite tours during this whole adventure took me to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi where I saw a synagogue, mosque, and church.
Four African islands in the Indian Ocean – all so very different from each other. The Seychelles archipelago, the “Hawaii of the Indian Ocean,” has beautiful beaches, compelling snorkeling, and giant tortoises. Independent from Britain since 1976, it is a playground of the rich and famous. Madagascar, independent from France since 1960 and the fourth largest island in the world, couples amazing fauna and flora with some of the globe’s worst poverty. Reunion, a department of France, presents a cosmopolitan ambiance with natural beauty. Colonial buildings, amazing waterfalls, and mountain vistas highlight some of Reunion’s many intriguing sites. Mauritius, with nearly 50% of its citizens being Hindu, features a new culture for me. Economically developed and socially stable, this island became independent from the UK in 1968.
These four islands share similar climates and, to a degree, histories, yet they are incredibly dissimilar. How one country can overcome colonization, slavery, and dissent and another succumbs to corruption, poverty, and turmoil… I don’t know the answer…
In my 20s, I went on a weekend cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada with my aunt Bea, my mother’s best friend’s mother who wanted to go on the trip but didn’t want to go alone so she invited me to join her. In 2022, I did a barge and bike trip out of Amsterdam. This was, however, my first “big” cruise trip, with a traditional ship and a big itinerary.
I thought it might be fun…and a bit boring and stodgy.
I was right. It was fun!
I was also wrong. It was not boring or stodgy!
The Norwegian Dawn, a mid-sized vessel with about 2,300 guests and 1,000 crew members, felt small and approachable. I enjoyed my at-sea days and ship time, while making friends with several other passengers, relaxing in the thermal spa, and indulging in food and beverages. Surprising to me were those people who complained about the Norwegian Dawn – a little older ship, a bit worn around the edges, not enough deck chairs in quiet areas, monotonous food… Although I could understand, to a degree, how they felt, I disagree with their perceptions. To me, the ship was warm, comforting, and welcoming. It was easy to find spaces for peace and rest. The food was yummy – as were the drinks. And the crew! Amazing people!
Will I go on another cruise? YES! Will I go with Norwegian Cruise Lines? YES – if the voyage has an itinerary that fascinates me.
One final thought: Traveling to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean takes a LONG time! To get home, we flew six hours from Mauritius to Dubai and then another 16 hours from Dubai to San Francisco. Afterward, I drove home from the Bay Area. That’s a lot of travel! Would I do it again, especially only five weeks after returning from Southern Africa? Yep. I sure would! 🤣
Initially, what inspired me most about this cruise was the itinerary. As a “sampler tour,” I knew I’d be seeing some new and intriguing places, locations it would be difficult to visit if not cruising.
I was less excited, however, about the sea days. I thought they might be boring.
WRONG!
I loved my time at sea! We had six full sea days and nine port days – and all were amazing.
A “typical” day, whether at sea or in port, would begin at about 5:30 am or so. I’d walk the few steps to O’Sheehan’s, located on the same deck as our stateroom. Bharat, the early morning server, would see me and bring me a cup of coffee, a small pitcher of milk, a glass of orange juice, and a pastry or two. (Seeing Nanine, he’d substitute the coffee for tea.)
Following coffee/tea, Nanine and I would walk the Deck 7 Promenade for about two miles, greeting our fellow morning walkers. Nanine and I walked clockwise for the sunrise view, allowing us to get to know those promenaders walking counterclockwise. (There were, of course, only a handful of early morning walkers.) For example, we enjoyed chatting with the “Greyhounds,” a tall lean couple from Seattle who were cruising with their two teenagers and Mama Greyhound’s mom. An Aussie woman, nicknamed Mrs. Yorkie, walked fast and focused. I would wave, smile, and say “hi” – and get no reaction. Challenge accepted! 😀 We soon noticed that she was walking quickly, keeping pace with Mr. Yorkie a few yards ahead of her. By the third morning, she looked up and smiled. The next day, she started chatting with us. I told Nanine, “I bet by tomorrow, we’ll be having drinks with her!” And we did! That night, the Yorkies joined us during happy hour in Gatsby’s, our favorite bar on board.
After our promenade, we’d head to breakfast at one of three restaurants open in the morning on the ship.
During port days, we would then debark for our excursion.
On sea days, though, we’d climb the stairs to the gym. (I very seldom rode the elevator during the entire cruise.) I did another hour of cardio, split between the treadmill and elliptical, and weight machines for my arms, legs, and core.
Next, we went to the Thermal Spa, where I splurged on the pass for the full voyage. Spa time included the steam room, sauna, hot tub, and, my favorite, thermal chair. Ah, so nice relaxing in the thermal chair with a view out the stern of the ship!
Following the spa and a shower, it was time to grab a drink and lunch. Often during a sea day afternoon, I would take my laptop to O’Sheehan’s, plug into power, review photos, and update my blog – my way of relaxing.
By 4:00 pm or so, we would meander to Gatsby’s with a deck of cards, be greeted by Rzki with our happy hour beverages, and play a few games before dinner. Most often, we would go to the 7:00 pm show at the Stardust Theater, watching singers, dancers, a magician, and a hypnotist.
Although there were some variations, perhaps an afternoon workshop or paint-by-numbers session, I found this general flow of sea day activities relaxing, fun, and active.
Our fourth Indian Ocean island and final port, Mauritius captured my heart.
Maybe it was the natural beauty. Maybe having a Hindu tour guide who shared his beliefs, passion, and knowledge. Maybe the economic development and lack of poverty.
A quick comparison:
Poverty rate (World Bank):
GDP per capita (US dollars) (World Bank):
Access to electricity (World Bank):
Corruption Perception Index – Denmark least corrupt and ranked 1/180 countries (Transparency International):
Reunion, a department of France, is so very different than Madagascar!
As one of two eurozone countries in the southern hemisphere, Reunion feels much more European and cosmopolitan than its neighbor. “The French Constitution provides that, in general, French laws and regulations (France’s civil code, penal code, administrative law, social laws, tax laws, etc.) apply to French overseas regions the same as in metropolitan France, but can be adapted as needed to suit the region’s particular needs.” (Wikipedia)
Reunion combines some of the natural beauty of other Indian Ocean islands with the European ambiance of France.
Side story: Every country has its own laws surrounding immigration and visas. Before entering the UAE, we surrendered our passports to the Norwegian Dawn crew since the UAE, Seychelles, and Madagascar did not do face-to-face immigration. After Madagascar, we retrieved our passports, so we could use them when entering Reunion. In Reunion, immigration officers boarded our bus and reviewed our passports. Citizens from some countries, such as the US, do not need to have visas to enter Reunion. On our bus, though, were two Chinese nationals who did not have their required visas. Our guide spoke to her boss, who negotiated with the immigration officers. As long as our guide could guarantee that the Chinese citizens would be returned to the ship after the excursion, they could proceed. If our guide returned without them, she would be imprisoned. Before leaving the bus for our final stop in the town of Saint-Denis, our guide told us to return to the bus “at four or four o’five.” The Chinese woman held her phone’s translation button down and interpreted the instructions as being at “five o’clock.” Everyone was on the bus on time, except this couple. The tour company had been told to get us all to the ship by 5:00 so we could leave the port on schedule. Our guide had to search and search for the couple, fearing prison time if she did not bring them back to the ship. Finally, about a half hour late, she found the couple – angry rather than contrite or apologetic – and we arrived just on time to our ship.
The fourth largest island in the world, after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world (ranked as the fifth poorest country per FocusEconomics). Over 80% of the population lives on $2.15 per day (WorldBank). Independent from France since 1960, Madagascar is mired in corruption and political instability, confronts subpar infrastructure, withstands cyclones and other natural disasters, and combats high fertility rates and low education levels (WorldBank).
Along with several hundred fellow passengers, we signed up for the Amber Mountain excursion out of Antsiranana. Thinking we’d load into several buses or vans, I was surprised to see over a hundred small SUVs lined up ready to take us on our tour. With room for one driver, four passengers, and a guide (tucked in the back jump-seat), we headed through town up to the national park, seeing urban poverty while bouncing on rutted roads. With narrow unpaved roads and so many SUVs, often cars could barely pass each other with the possibility – and at times actuality – of a car ending up in the ditch alongside the road.
Madagascar, however, harbors amazing fauna and flora. The Malagasy people love their animals! Our driver stopped for snakes crossing the road so as not to harm them. And the chameleons! Our driver and guide could spot a little chameleon nestled on a far off tree. We’d stop, often with several other vehicles, hop out of the car, and share our guide’s delight in the colorful creatures. Although we, the tourists, happily saw two families of Sanford’s brown lemurs, high up in the trees (I wish I had my big zoom lens…), our guide was even more excited by the chameleons!
For our second stop in the Seychelles, we disembarked directly to the port terminal without needing to tender. So much easier!
In Port Victoria, we picked the Coral and Spice tour. Once at the pier, we climbed onto an even bigger catamaran than the previous day and boated to a location where we could snorkel or take a rubber boat to swim or sunbathe. I, of course, chose snorkeling!
Before this cruise when thinking about the Seychelles, I thought beautiful tropical island, playground of the rich and famous, and clear turquoise water for viewing sea animals.
With two ports in the Seychelles, I picked a snorkeling excursion for our first stop. (This is the only time Nanine and I picked different shore excursions.)
For this port, we had to tender. This meant our crew lowered several lifeboats, each seating 81 passengers, and shuttled us from the ship to the pier – and back again when we were ready to return “home.” The winds had picked up a bit and the water was moving rapidly, so our ship had to reposition before the tender boats could do their job. Finally, my excursion started. We moved from the tender boat onto a large catamaran and headed out to Coco Island, one of the 115 islands in this archipelago. The water was so rough, we moved to a sister island for snorkeling.
After being outfitted with snorkels, masks, fins, and, for those of us wanting them, life jackets, we scooted down the ladder into the temperate water. I saw so many fish! Black and white striped, yellow and black striped, little blue, rainbow, big blue, … lots and lots of fish. (I so respect people who know the names of various fish – and birds, and plants, and flowers. I’m not one of those!). Plus, two manta rays!
Sadly, I also saw dead coral. Bleached white. Looked like little twigs just lying on the ocean floor. Global warming.
After lunch today, I went into my Norwegian Dawn stateroom and thought, “What is today’s photo prompt?” Then I SMILED as I realized I no longer have photo prompts to guide my days. What a relief!
Oh, yes! I have learned so much and am so very very happy I attempted and completed this challenge.
I am equally happy that it’s now over.
What have I learned?
So much!
What’s next?
After I return home, I think I’ll pick a monthly theme. Each month, I’ll post based on that theme. It may be one photo. It may be many. Who knows?
Flexibility and balance. That’s what I’m excited for in 2025!
Note: For an introduction to and explanation of this challenge, please see this post.
About twenty years ago, leaders in the UAE realized they could not rely solely on the finite reserve of oil for the source of their economic development. They decided to venture into tourism, medical tourism, and construction, thinking that wealthy retirees and business-people might want to live full- or, perhaps, part-time in the UAE. Leaders envisioned Abu Dhabi as the locale for families and Dubai as the place for wealthy entrepreneurs and celebrities.
Very quickly, buildings – including the tallest building in the world – sprang up in downtown Dubai, Palm Island, and the Marina District. Our tour took us to New Dubai, with Faheem as our guide. Faheem left Pakistan ten years ago when his family wanted him to marry his first cousin, a woman he felt was similar to a sister. He left Pakistan, wrote his parents that he refused to marry his cousin (who later married his younger brother), and created a life for himself in Dubai.
