Lisbon, Portugal 4/28/25

Today, we met our son-in-law’s parents in Portugal while on a cruise. After navigating a city-wide power outage during lunch, we enjoyed city exploration and gifts exchanged. Despite delays due to the outage, we returned to the ship before departure. Tomorrow, we arrive in Tangiers with time constraints.

 Alexandria, Egypt 4/16/25

Today, we docked in Alexandria, Egypt, while 900 passengers visited Cairo’s pyramids. We explored Alexandria, visiting Fort Qait Bay, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the Library of Alexandria. We also toured the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, honoring a friend’s family history. The day included a memorable horse carriage ride and a heartfelt prayer.

Valletta, Malta 4/13/25

Malta’s rich history began with Sicilian farmers around 5900 BCE. It saw significant civilizations, including the Phoenicians and Romans, and was influenced by Arabs and Norman rulers. The Knights of St. John transformed the island into a fortress. Malta gained independence in 1964 and joined the EU in 2004, showcasing dynamic cultural heritage.

Santa Cruz, Canary Islands 4/7/25

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands (Spain), has a rich and fascinating history shaped by its strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean.  Before the Spanish arrived, the island was inhabited by the Guanches, an indigenous people of Berber origin. They lived in small communities and had a tribal society.…

French Polynesia 1/28, 29, 30 /2025

Before I get Popeete, I want to tell you about a fun outing we had several days ago.  On January 25th there was an unusual planet alignment of 6 planets.  The ship had anyone interested go up to the “Retreat” area of the ship, 11th floor forward.  They turned off most of the lights on…