So far the trip is uneventful, about to fly to Dallas… United’s magazine features someplace I’ve already been…
blog
Look ma, no laptop!
USA Today story regarding laptops and tablets no longer being allowed in carry-on baggage on flights from Qatar, Turkey, UAE, etc. Official information from Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/03/21/fact-sheet-aviation-security-enhancements-select-last-point-departure-airports
Chinese visa received
I’m going on my first escorted tour in May. I’m going to China, which requires a visa (except for the 72/144 hour visa waiver if you continue to a third country). I applied for the visa last Friday at the Chinese consulate in Houston (yes, I was actually in Houston) and picked up my passport with…
Just another day in the office…
On my way to Houston from Abu Dhabi. First flight to Amsterdam on KLM was slightly delayed. It was on a nice new Boeing 787. I can tell the difference as my eyes aren’t as dry as on any of the other airplanes. Now I’m sitting in the upper deck of a Boeing 747. It’s…
Red Bull Air Race
I was lucky enough to get a day off so I could enjoy being outside and watching the Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my good camera – I figured I wouldn’t have any free time. So some poor mobile phone pictures will have to do…. …
Abu Dhabi -Yas Island
Here are some pictures from Yas Mall / Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. I went to get some Greek food (at the mall, not at Ferrari World). I’ve been to Ferrari World twice already, but I just wandered over to see what was on display (and the Greek place is next to the entrance). They…
On the road again
I’m on my way back to Abu Dhabi, this time with Delta and KLM. Here’s a picture of my home from Detroit to Amsterdam in DeltaOne… And my dinner choices… I’ll have the beef 🙂
Evening in Doha, Qatar
On my way back to the states from Abu Dhabi. I stayed in Doha, Qatar at the Oryx Rotana hotel. My other option was to stay in Abu Dhabi and get a very early fight to Doha for my connection which meant no real sleep when you go to the airport at 3 AM. …
Enroute to Abu Dhabi
Here’s my dinner menu on Qatar Airways…
Final day of South America Cruise trip
Today was proof as to why it wasn’t worth spending a couple of more days in Buenos Aires. I woke up, took the subway 7.5 pesos each way (50¢) to plaza Italia and visited the botanical gardens (free) when it opens at 0930. After that I walked a short distance to the Japanese Garden, which…
South America Cruise – Post #21 – Day 13 – 11th Day of Cruise – Buenos Aires, Argentina
11th day – well actually the cruise is over and it is the day to disembark. After breakfast we walked off the ship, found our luggage and walked a block away from the taxi stand to order an Uber. Taxi drivers don’t like Uber, so when we walked through the taxi drivers I told them…
South America Cruise – Post #20 – Day 12 – 10th Day of Cruise – Buenos Aires, Argentina
The ship arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina today. Although our passports were already stamped December 22nd and returned to us before arriving in Uruguay. I’ve never seen that before. I have seen passports returned before the end of a cruise, but after returning to a Schengen country, and once in a Schengen country no further stamps…
South America Cruise – Post #19 – Day 11 – 9th Day of Cruise – Montevideo, Uruguay
Today’s stop was in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was a pleasant city with free museums within walking distance (and they hand out a walking tour map at the port). I went to a free walking tour at 11 AM, the guide was very good. The tour guide was very humorous. Information on the free walking…
South America Cruise – Post #18 – Day 10 – 8th Day of Cruise – Punta del Este, Uruguay
I know what you are probably thinking…. Uruguay??? It’s not exactly on most American’s radar. However this was quite a nice country to visit. I ganged up with four others that I met during the Cruise Critic meet and greet on the first day of the cruise. Once we got off the ship they gave…
South America Cruise – Post #17 – Day 9 – 7th Day of Cruise – Sea Day!
Yet another relaxing day at sea. Tonight I had dinner with the hotel director. He was a very interesting fellow and had been with the company for many years. I believe he had a degree in hospitality. He said when he first applied, he applied as a waiter. They asked him how many years he…
South America Cruise – Post #16 – Day 8 – 6th Day of Cruise – Sea Day!
Finally vacation starts… Today is one of only two sea days on the trip, so it was a chance to recover. I received a letter today confirming dinner with the hotel director the next night. If you cruise on NCL pay attention to the information the first day of the cruise, typically they mention dinner…
South America Cruise – Post #15 – Day 7 – 5th Day of Cruise – Santos, Brazil
Last day visiting Brazil. The port is Santos, Brazil – famous for Pele. I took an excursion through the ship to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The drive through the forest to Sao Paulo was very scenic and included many tunnels and bridges between the mountains. We drove by the Municipal Theater, Catedral sa Se, stopped…
South America Cruise – Post #14 – Day 6 – 4th Day of Cruise – Ilha Grande, Brazil
In the morning the weather looked like it would rain all day today, but as soon as I got to shore the weather cleared up and it was a wonderful day. The tour was a bit of a bust, but I continued hiking to a waterfall. I managed to get a few good pictures without…
South America Cruise – Post #13 – Day 5 – 3rd Day of Cruise – Buzios, Brazil
Arrived in Buzios on time, this is a tendered port, but with the ship not being overly large and not being very full the tendering process was very smooth. I took a tour that drove to a couple of viewpoints and one beach. The one beach was nice, with red/pink sand, some rocks with algae…
South America Cruise – Post #12 – Day 4 – 2nd Day of Cruise – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The museums in Rio don’t open until noon, and I’ve seen a lot of Rio already. I walked to the bonde station (???? trolley) near the Petrobras HQ to visit Santa Teresa neighborhood in the morning. I took the trolley back, visited Paço Imperial (Imperial Palace) and the Naval museum. No sailaway video today…….