Books For The Road - The Plaza by Julie Satow

Non-fiction books are usually not top on my list for reading but I was intrigued by an interview I heard about the writing of The Plaza: The Secret Life Of America's Most Famous Hotel. I downloaded the read and, to be honest, it took me a while to get through it. Part of the reason was a busy schedule but it was also not my usual got-to-find-out-the-ending kind of read. It was interesting however and I learned a lot.

The story takes you from the very beginnings of the Plaza and introduces you to many of the unique and quirky characters that were involved over the years. While many may not realize it, the Plaza was not just a hotel but a home to many who rented apartments there. In the early years there was a group of widows who inhabited several floors.

Romances, scandals and the evolution of the work force that manned the services of the Plaza kept me reading through even though sometimes the details were a bit slow to read through. One of the time periods I enjoyed reading about most was the WWII days. During that time, many women became bellhops and the luggage cart came into being because it was thought the women couldn't handle the heavy luggage as well as men.

The Trump era was interesting to read about as were the foreign owners who bought into the hotel as well.

If you enjoy non-fiction and a historical account of a travel destination you'll enjoy this read. And who knows, maybe you can read it in one of the beds in the Plaza on your next trip to New York City.

More Standing Stones - Stornoway, Scotland

The first thing that comes up on many of the sites featuring Stornoway is another ring of standing stones. This one is called the Calanais Standing Stones. They are said to be older than the Pyramids of Gaza.

Stornoway is located in the Outer Hebrides which is another group of islands. I guess I didn't realize that Scotland had so many island groups. The Lewis and Harris Island is the most inhabited but there are more than 50 islands in the chain that are uninhabited.

One of the most popular attractions is Lews Castle which overlooks the harbor. The beginnings of the castle date back to the 1600s. When Sir James Matheson bought the property in 1844, he commissioned a famous architect, Charles Wilson, to build the castle. The castle and grounds stayed in the family until 1917 when they were forced to sell it. In 1923, Lord Leverhulme gifted the property to the community to be used civic purposes. During the war years, the castle became a naval hospital. In 1953, the Castle became a college and continued until 1988 when it reverted to the community once again.

I found some references to wildlife and bird life in the area but I couldn't nail down how we would go about seeing it, at least not on our own. Here is where we might have to rely on the cruise ship's excursions for the area.or just explore on foot the town which according to one website has charming shops and cafes. This port might take a lot more investigating online.

More Scottish Islands - Kirkwall

After visiting the Shetlands, our cruise heads south to the Orkney Islands. We will stop at Kirkwall. This looks like a port we might be exploring on our own unless there is an excursion that piques our interest from the cruise ship offerings.

A Cruise Critic list of excursion suggestions sounds interesting. Among the spots to visit are two places over 5,000 years old. One is a village, Skara Brae, that was discovered when a howling storm blew away the dunes that were covering it. Another is Maes Howe which is a 5,000 year old chambered tomb.

Another place that is mentioned sounds almost like a Stonehenge. It's called Ring of Brodgar, a ring of stones. Twenty-seven of the original stones are still standing.

There is St. Magnus Cathedral, Highland Park (a distillery) and the Italian Chapel built from Quonset huts, barbed wire, concrete and other odds and ends by Italian prisoners during WWII.

Near the St. Magnus Cathedral is the Bishop's Palace. which dates back to the 1200s. Apparently before becoming a part of Scotland, Kirkwall and the Orkney Islands were a part of Norway. Those Vikings really got around.

I'm thinking by this time we might be ready for a walking tour rather than a bus tour. It sounds like there could be quite a crowd at some of the more popular sites and I think we might be bus weary. There are some tours that can be booked online that sound good for touring the old town.

The Shetland Islands Stop - Puffins?

Okay, the more I look at the ports and places to visit on this trip around Scotland coming up next year, the more excited I get. Just take a look at the teaser the cruise site offered for the Shetland Islands:

Enjoy a taste of the Highlands here in the rugged landscape and heathered moors, the ruined castles, steep cliffs and sea air. Drive through beautiful valleys and flower-filled meadows with romping Shetland ponies to quaint villages like Scalloway with its ruinded castle or explore the fascinating Jarlshof prehistoric site, occupied for more than 4,000 years.

It sounds beautiful. The Shetland Islands are in the far north of the British Isles. It is made up of 100 islands, 15 of which are inhabited. While there are several ports of call in the islands, ours will be at Lerwick, the capital.

Lots of opportunities to see many different attractions one of which is the cliffs of Eshaness. The pictures I looked at remind me of the Cliff of Moher in Ireland. They were formed from volcanic action and make a rugged coastline that looks spectacular.

An 1870s thatched roof house/museum looks interesting as well. While the Croft house looks like a farm, the inhabitants were actually fishermen and whalers. It was inhabited up until the 1960s.

Oh, oh! There might be puffins. So far every place we have visited has always been at the wrong time for finding what to us, has been the elusive bird. There is a nature preserve nearby. Checking the Hermaness Nature Reserve blog shows that it's possible the puffins will be taking care of their young around the time of our visit. Fingers crossed. There is also a place called Sumburgh Head Lighthouse that is said to be another place to see the puffins. Okay, that does it. Museums and castles and old houses aside. I want to see puffins.

Wordless Wednesday

Will We See Nessie?

As we cruise around Scotland, one of our ports will be in the Scottish Highlands. The port of Invergordon is said to be a small town with a big heart for cruise ships. It is home to several castles and golf courses. It is also traveling distance to Loch Ness.

A site that advertises a half day tour to Loch Ness also includes Castle Urquhart which over looks Loch Ness. I think that would be a great way to get to see the countryside and who knows maybe even Nessie, the Loch Ness monster.

The coastal area is home to bottle nosed dolphins, always a fun experience to see them but another trip that was mentioned was to the Black Isle Peninsula where there is a 17th century village. Sounds quaint and again another opportunity to get out into the countryside.

If there is enough time when we return from a half day tour, I'd love to take the hop on hop off bus around Inverness, a city just across the river from our port of Invergordon. We've always enjoyed those bus rides.

Of course it's all predicated on when we arrive and leave and what excursions we might take. Okay, I'm getting excited.

Calling On Edinburgh, Scotland, The Castle

Every time you hear about a trip to Edinburgh, you hear about the castle. Now there are a lot more other historic places, castles included to visit but if we're only going once, I want to see THE castle. Its history invites you.

The castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It's long history includes a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress. It started with the Iron Age people building a fortress on the hill. Throughout the centuries it suffered many sieges and changed hands several times. In 1457, one of the greatest medieval cannons was given to King James II. You know the cannon has to be great when they name it, Mons Meg.

The castle was the residence to many queens and kings from its early beginnings. Queen Margaret died there in 1093. It was also home to Mary, Queen of Scots whose son took the throne when he was 13 months old.

The crown jewels, the Honours of Scotland, are the oldest crown jewels in Britain. They were first used in a coronation of a monarch in 1543. The Stone of Destiny was used for years to inaugurate monarchs and is said to be on display in the Crown Room. It is basically a 700 pound red sandstone block. A small piece of paper inserted into a tube in the stone was said to prove its authenticity. It was apparently a part of the throne upon which the monarchs sat to be crowned. There is quite a story of it being stolen and returned to Scotland.

Military prisoners were kept there often, the first being French privateers caught in 1758. While it was said that many monarchs complained about drafts in the castle, it was probably a whole lot worse for the prisoners.

There is a whole lot more to the history I'm sure but that's enough to whet the appetite. I'm really a bit more interested in the ambiance and the structure and the scenery. History was never my strong suit.

Calling On Edinburgh, Scotland, The Food

Haggis, neeps and tatties

Scotland is one of the countries we have not yet visited so I'm eager to get a taste of it on the cruise we take next year. Edinburgh is the capital and I'm told a must see place. So here I go exploring the internet to get some ideas on what to see.

Let's start with food. While we'll be eating mainly on the cruise ship (Bob always hates to not eat a meal he's already paid for), I'd like to taste some of the foods unique to Scotland. Haggis was the first to come up on a list. The picture reminded me a bit of the rice sausage that was a Bohemian favorite with my grandfather. It's not anything like that though from the description. It's made of sheep's pluck (liver, lungs and heart) and minced with spices, salt, oatmeal, suet and onion and stuffed in, of course, intestine. Nowadays though the lining might be artificial.

Next up and often served with haggis is neeps and tatties. Neeps are turnips and tatties are potatoes. If you add butter and chives to the mix, you get clapshot. I'm not making this up.

The salmon in Scotland is said to be the best. It is prime breeding ground for the fish and I assume is very fresh.

Porridge is popular but is made with salt not sugar. Sounds like it could be a very lumpy texture as well. Pass.

A full Scottish breakfast is similar to a full English breakfast. Eggs, tomato, meats, English muffin, and usually haggis and/or black pudding ( a type of blood sausage). There will also be some tattie scones said to taste better with some butter lathered on them.

Now I'm sure if we're out and about we'll get a chance to try Scottish tablet. It's a confectionery made of crystallized sugar, condensed milk and butter. Some are said to have a wee bit of whiskey added.

Shortbread is one I can say I'm familiar with. Scottish shortbread is even sold in some places in the states. And then there's battered and deep fried Mars bars. Bet you thought only the US carnival and fairs did that.

Scotch pie looks a bit like the meat pies you get in Australia. Maybe Scotland sent some of its criminals over there as well. Just joking.

Wordless Wednesday

Cruise Stop--Newcastle UK

If I can't be on a ship cruising port to port, I can at least be on the internet surfing port to port. One of the ports I looked into was Newcastle in the norther part of England. It is our first stop on a cruise we booked for next year. Of course I always manage to find bunny trails to travel down and a description of Newcastle on one site included the information that it has a distinct regional dialect called Geordie. Of course I was off and checking it out.

Geordie (pronounced Jordy) refers to the people who live in the Newcastle and Tyneside area in Northeast England. It is said to be the most difficult dialect to understand. Hmmm. I thought Cockney was difficult. The Geordie dialect is not just a distinct accent. It actually has its own vocabulary and not just the usual differences we see between our American words vs. English words (think sweater = jumper). There are several interesting words I found.

• bait - food or a snack taken to work
• bobby dazzler - someone who is conceited and a show off
• breeks - trousers
• gan - to go (C'mon we'll gan doon the pub.)
• monkey's blood - raspberry sauce for ice cream
• wazzock - imbecile or jerk
• whisht - hush

Hoyahamma owaheah is not a Japanese company but "throw a hammer over here."

A stottie is a dense doughy bread.

Looks like we could have quite a time should we get lost and need direction. It reminds me of our trip to Ireland where we ended up in an area that is trying to preserve the old Irish Gaelic and many of the residents only speak that language/dialect. We had an old gentleman tip his hat to us as we sipped tea at a small cafe. He stopped, rattled off his Gaelic, smiled at us and went on his way. We smiled back and nodded our heads. I have no idea what was said or if our response was even appropriate. Ah, the fun of traveling.

Smart Water Bottles?

Hydrating is important in so many ways. Dehydration leads to some nasty effects like dizziness, rapid heartbeat and breathing, fainting, etc. None of which is desired when traveling. Airplanes tend to have much less humidity than even your home in winter. So when you get off the plane after a long flight you might experience some effects like being tired, having a stuffy head, or more, if you haven't taken time to drink plenty of water.

It is suggested that you drink 8 ounces of water every hour on a long flight. That's not always easy to do if you are planning to sleep. One way to combat that is to drink water with electrolytes added. If you don't want to buy smartwater or Propel or another brand that adds electrolytes you might want to take an empty water travel bottle with you and a ziplock bag of sliced lemons. Once through security, you can fill your bottle and add a few lemon slices which are a natural electrolyte.

And then there's the smart water bottle. A smart water bottle will glow when it's time to drink more. Some of them even connect to your smart devices. You can take it through security empty, fill it before boarding and refill while in flight by asking your flight attendant for water. I only hope the smart water bottle isn't as smart as our TV which seems too smart for its own good sometimes.

Be smart. Drink more water, not alcohol. Avoid the salty foods and land with a better feeling of well-being.

Wordless Wednesday

Cruising Through The Movies

Yes, the TV series, Love Boat, made cruising a definite bucket list item for me way before Bucket List, the movie, made that phrase popular. I loved the characters and the setting of the ship. Fast forward to our first cruise. We boarded the Celebrity Horizon (since sold) and were directed to the buffet area. We gathered our food and went to the back of the deck to eat at a table there. I looked around in wonder. I was really there. On a ship. About to cruise. Wow. Twenty-five years later, we are still cruising.

There has not been another series set on a cruise ship to my knowledge but there have been through the years many movies. As I read through a list provided in an article, 20 Cruise Movies That Will Make You Want To Sail, I was surprised by some of the years the movies were made, 1931, 1937, 1948. I'd love to sit and watch some of the old ones to see what their perspective of cruising was.

I don't know that I'd feel compelled to sail after watching Speed 2: Cruise Control although it is a good movie. Does Sandra Bullock make a bad one? And what about Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhatten? There is no way I would watch that, cruise or no cruise.

The article is quite interesting and gives a short synopsis of each movie they list. Guess I see some movie watching in my future. Of course that will just make me want to cruise more.

Choosing Cruise Itineraries

It's time to get back to posting here. I've spent some time concentrating on finishing up a book that will be published next month. So perusing some of my saved newsletters from Cruise Critic, I came upon an article that listed the writer's 7 Worst Cruise Ports for a Repeat Visit. There were actually a couple we've never been to yet, Halifax (on the bucket list), Bahrain, and Flam. My list would be much different.

We have sailed the usual Caribbean itineraries so much over our more than 25 years of traveling that there are some ports where we don't even get off the ship. Cozumel is one. We sometimes just get off to walk a bit and then remember why we don't like it, cheap stores, questionable restaurants and well, just nothing that interests us. Now if you're a beach person, you might escape to one of those.

Another port that we have found an alternative to is St. Thomas. We take a water taxi to Water Island where you can catch a shuttle to Honeymoon Beach or even walk to it. There are two places there that offer light food fare and drinks and its a beautiful beach. Unfortunately many others have discovered it too but it's still not too crowded. It beats the traffic in Charlotte Amalie. It's a little tougher to do though if your ship is docked at Havensight. In that case, we stay on board and enjoy a quieter ship and its amenities.

Grand Turk is another that we have visited much too often. There is little to do outside the port which is built specifically for the ships. Again, a little walk around for some exercise and we are back on board. Occasionally we will park by the pool for a bit but the pool area fills up quickly and the ship usually provides the quiet and the view we're looking for.

The article mentioned Monte Carlo as a dull repeat visit. With that I disagree. It all depends upon what you are looking for. If you are a bit adventurous, you can take a bus trip to a little place called the Village of Eze. It is quaint, picturesque and has some neat little shops and restaurants. Besides that, in Monte Carlo there is a wonderful park you can walk through or if you are a people watcher, you can sit and enjoy the luxury cars and exotic people who come and go to the casino.

I could go on but it all comes down to what do you want to see and do when you choose an itinerary. Some of the cruise lines are varying their itineraries so that while you may have been to some of the ports  there are new ones added. Then there are times where the ports are not as important as just relaxing and enjoying the pampering of a cruise.

The Best Blind Band In The Land

This weekend we headed a couple hours south to watch our grandson perform with his high school marching band both at a football game and at the band show that is hosted by his high school, Jonathan Alder. This year one of the bands participating in the band show on Saturday night billed themselves as "The Best Blind Band In The Land." I was naturally curious. Then I was completely amazed.

It's a small band from the Ohio School For The Blind in Columbus, Ohio. Not only does this amazing group of students overcome their visual impairment to learn the music and play the instruments, they do it all while learning some amazing formations as well. Several of the band members must have some visual sense but the majority were guided by aides walking behind them. Everyone marched in time to the music and no one missed a beat that was obvious.

The highlight came when it was announced that they would do Script Ohio (an Ohio State Marching Band signature) but in Braille. I found myself clapping and smiling and admiring the pluck of these kids and their aides. The aides helped several kids to form the Braille dots on the field and when the two who were the "i" marched into place, the music reached the familiar crescendo for the two to do the bow to "dot the i". The crowd went wild. The kids might not have been able to see everyone but they couldn't help but hear the roar and the foot stomping in the stands in a show of appreciation.

The Ohio School for the Blind has been in existence since 1837. A look at their website shows a lot of innovative methods of education that not only help the kids to learn but also give them an opportunity to experience much of what they would in a general population high school. Click on the link and be amazed. And pass the word to anyone who might need to find this great opportunity for their child.

Happy Trails!

The nice thing about living near a national park is the availability of nice walking trails. We are fortunate to live near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which, by the way, has no fee for entry. We have a beautiful tow path to walk along the canal and river that runs through it. And now we have a trail even closer to home.

Our community along with several other organizations have put in a trail from near our recreational area down to the tow path a little less than two miles away. The path is paved so it can be used by bike riders as well. And it is beautiful! It begins at the corner of Selig and Brecksville Roads in Independence and goes east.

This past Saturday was the official opening and dedication. We joined a lot of neighbors in celebrating in the morning but instead of waiting for the official ceremony, we took off down the path ahead of the crowds. I'm glad we did. It was a perfect morning and the walk was picturesque. The only problem was that there is a 8-9% grade for a good portion and the walk back was a little more than we bargained for. Today I have noticed muscles that I didn't know I had that are sore.

Along the way the path follows and crosses over Hemlock Creek and there are several historic sites. The old haydite mine being one. Haydite was mined in the valley until 2018. Haydite is used to make cement lighter for use in bridges.

Along the way are several benches (resting places for those of us puffing uphill) and one or two picnic tables. I'm looking forward sometime to a walk and a lunch. It's the perfect place. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.

Friday Funny--God's Laughter

This week has been a bottom-in-the-chair-fingers-on-the-keyboard kind of week. While it has been said that you should write the first draft of your novel straight through to the end without looking back and editing, I find that the editor in me keeps wanting to fix what I've just written. I go back and find the -ing words and make them stronger action verbs, eliminate the unnecessary -ly words, and see if there isn't a better way to say something without a "was" or "were" in the sentence. It all takes time and slows the process but it's a tough habit to break.

While I was praying one day this week during devotion time, I found myself editing my words. I wanted to make them just right. Habits tend to invade other areas of life. When I realized what I was doing, I stopped. For just an instant, I thought I heard a chuckle. God must have enjoyed my discovery. After all He is Father, and as children of His, I'm sure we contribute much to his laughter.

Attention Kindle Readers! Chance to Save!

The opportunity to do another countdown sale has arrived.

I can't decide which book to choose however.

If you had the opportunity to purchase a Kindle edition of one these books, which one would it be?

I'll do the countdown next week.

Fort Lonesome

In A Pickle

Pickle Dilly

Ruby, A Novel




Remember there is always the option of purchasing a Kindle edition as a gift for another. It's easily done through email. There's a link on the side of the book's page on Amazon that shows you how.

You can also request a book through your local library. If they don't have it, they will usually purchase it and then you can download it from them on loan.

All sorts of ways to read your favorites.

Wordless Wednesday

Doing The Laundry Without The Laundromat

When we are on an extended trip, we always plan to do laundry somewhere along the way. There have been some really neat encounters we've had in laundromats around the world. We've met students in Heidelberg and had instruction in French accompanied with lots of hand signals in Paris. Iceland was another interesting occasion where we had to receive instructions over the phone from the owner of the washer and dryer at a small campground. There was nothing on the washer and dryer that looked even vaguely familiar for us to even guess about what to do.

All of that said, I found some suggestions online that sound feasible if you can't find a laundromat or don't feel comfortable. One of the suggestions is to use a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Your put a small amount of detergent or even shampoo if you have no detergent into the bag with water and your article of clothing. Zip it closed and agitate. Do the same to rinse several times and hang up the item to dry. When I hand wash items, I usually roll them in a towel after I've wrung them out. That gets out just a little more water and speeds the drying time.

There are several products you can buy that are a bit larger and accomplish the same thing but are a bit pricey in my opinion.

Another option to washing your clothes without going to the laundromat is to wear them into the shower. Now I will admit to doing this with a bathing suit to rinse the chlorine from it but I never considered wearing clothes in and washing them that way. Hmmm. Given the option, I'll go to the laundromat. In a foreign country it's challenging and fun and you meet the nicest people.

Scams, Scams and More Scams: Travelers Beware

Just about the time you think you've heard it all there appears to be all sorts of new travel scams. Imagine if all these creative scammers put their heads together for something good. We could solve all sorts of world problems. Well, until they come over to the good side, there are some more things we as travelers need to be wary of.

I don't click on advertising links that come into my mailbox. Too often scammers manage to make a website that looks just like my favorite online stores and if you click and try to order, they will have your credit card information. Now I see the same applies to travel agent sites. Some are bogus. Stick to the ones you know are reliable and make sure you go directly to their site and check the URL to be sure it doesn't look flaky--like having an extra letter or number or symbol in it.

Another one I hadn't heard of is connected to some hotels. Now I know enough not to give out personal information like credit card numbers when someone calls me at home. I never considered what might happen if someone called from the front desk of the hotel where I was staying and asked for verification of my credit card. Apparently there are scammers who will call your room appearing to be the front desk and ask you to verify your credit card number. If you get the call, tell them you will be down to the front desk to straighten it out. If the call is legit, the front desk will thank you and wait for you to appear.

There are several other new scams you may want to take a look at to protect yourself as you travel. They are listed in an article on Smarter Travel. It's mostly a matter of staying on your toes as you travel. If it sounds too good to be true, it may be. Stay alert out there!

How Do You Clean A Lion's Teeth?

In answer to the question, you clean a lion's teeth very carefully and with the lion completely sedated. I think they used more than "happy gas" on him as you can see.

Since we have a zoo pass for the Metroparks Zoo, we often go just to get out of the house and get some exercise walking around. One of our stops for a peek in is always the Sarah Allison Stefee Center for Zoological Medicine. The last time we were fortunate enough to catch the veterinarians at work, we watched a root canal on a Mandrill monkey. This day, our attention was directed to the procedure they were doing on the male lion of the zoo.


The Center is a hands on learning place for children who can don a lab coat and pretend to be a vet while learning about the animals and their diets and health. There are several viewing areas where you can watch them work on some of the zoo animals when it's appropriate.


The lion was definitely out of it but I had to laugh when one of the guys got his arm tangled in the IV tubing and almost pulled out the IV. That could have been a rude awakening not only for the lion but the team of eight or so working in there on him as I'm sure that's what was keeping him sleeping peacefully.



We weren't sure what all they were doing. One zoo volunteer said they were just giving him a checkup. They were definitely cleaning his teeth though and we were able to watch the close up action on a video screen. I don't want to know what they were doing at the other end with his leg up in the air. Do male lions get a prostate exam?

Are You A Souvenir Shopper?

True confession: I hate shopping. I know. I feel like I'm a traitor to my gender but I've never much cared for shopping of any kind. I joke that I'd rather stay home and clean toilets than go grocery shopping. And shopping for clothes? I hate the trying on and the thumbing through racks of stuff that rarely looks good to me. So when it comes to souvenir shopping, well, I did it as a chore for a while.

I do on occasion buy a souvenir though when we travel. For a while I decided that I should collect something special. After all, everyone else had all sorts of collections--dolls, Lladro figurines, bells, spoons, etc. I was feeling the peer pressure. That was when I decided to combine my love of wood with starting a collection of wooden souvenirs from the places we visited.

Along the way I accumulated enough wooden pieces to get a good bonfire going. I did set limits though. The piece had to be from wood native to the country and made by an artisan of the place. I found a boomerang made by an Aborigine in Australia, a canoe carved by a fellow in Papua New Guinea, two wooden shepherd carvings (one for each trip) from Oberammergau, Germany, a knot of wood that looks like a heron from Mexico, a vase of mahogany from an island in the Caribbean (can't remember which one now) and the list goes on with much less impressive pieces.

I knew I was getting into trouble when in a rush to buy a wooden souvenir from one of the Caribbean islands I found later, when I turned it over, it bore the mark "Made in Costa Rica." A few years later we actually visited Costa Rica. I decided I didn't need a souvenir. Already had one.

Today, I have started discarding some of the less meaningful wooden souvenirs. They were purchased because, well, I had to have a souvenir. Didn't everyone? I no longer buy souvenirs just to have something from each place we visit. I'm not home enough to look at them. I don't need the extra work dusting them off. And since they don't really mean much to my kids, I could envision them starting their own bonfire with them.

Pass the marshmallows, please.

Wordless Wednesday

Can You Pass Muster?

Recent reports from a team of researchers that went down to the wreck of the Titanic show that it is deteriorating more rapidly than first thought. Bacteria in the water is actually eating away the metal and the projection is that in around 25 years it will be reduced to sandy "dust". While our fascination with the whole story of the Titanic is at times romantic or shockingly disastrous, it is often overlooked that many of the rules we have for voyages at sea come from the experience of that ship's sinking.

One of the things we don't necessarily think about when we are required to report to muster stations for a drill at the beginning of any cruise is that this is a result of the Titanic disaster. After all who wants to think about a ship sinking when we're about to spend a week or more on one. We all know the story about not enough life boats. The requirement for sufficient lifeboats for passengers and crew is now set.

Also set is the requirement of the muster or lifeboat drill within 24 hours of the beginning of a cruise.The usual procedure is to warn passengers after all have embarked that there will be a drill. We all tend to groan about it especially if we have cruised numerous times. And who wants to don a bulky lifejacket and stand on the deck outside for fifteen minutes or more while roll call is taken? You do. Why? Because if you don't, you won't be allowed to sail and more importantly because you need to know if there are any procedures that you may not have realized are changed since the last time you cruised.

Every ship is different and every crew conducts the drill just a little bit differently. Most of them have it down to a quick and orderly procedure. What slows it down? Those guests who decide they don't need to report or report late or create havoc because they know it all and have done it all before. To those I say, "Great! Then you are prepared to help the ones who haven't done it countless times before and in an emergency (while rare, they do happen) you can help others." In a perfect world that would happen.

My question to you if you are set to cruise: Will you pass muster? Will you measure up to the standard required of you when it's time to drill and practice donning those lifejackets? I'm sure the passengers on the Titanic would have liked the opportunity that is afforded us today because of their experience.

Wordless Wednesday

Long Flight? What To Do To Keep Sanity

We're all different and we all need different things to keep our sanity when it comes to long flights. Facing a thirteen hour flight from Toronto to Tokyo soon, I was exploring what others might do to keep from going crazy sitting in one place that long.

First of all, it is always suggested that several times during your flight you get up and walk the aisle a bit. This usually works for me when nature calls. Good excuse to get up and walk and avoid the dangers of deep vein thrombosis. While we're on the subject, it is also helpful to keep hydrated. Hmm. Now that I think about it the hydration makes you get up for a trip to the rest room. I also had a doctor tell me that just before getting on the plane you might want to take an aspirin (if it's not in your regimen already). It thins the blood a bit and helps prevent DVT as well.

Moving on to the more mental exercise, I always load my Kindle with lots of books. On a trip this long, I can run through two if I don't get sleepy or there's a movie I want to see on the inflight entertainment system. Usually on long flights you will find individual TV screens in the back of the seat in front of you. It will have lots of free movies, TV reruns, and music choices as well as games you can play. The most exciting choice we had on one huge airbus was a view from a camera placed on the undercarriage of the plane that allowed us to watch the landing.

Bob likes to sleep, especially when the hours coincide with our sleep cycle. He will take two Tylenol PM and be out like a light. I can't seem to fall asleep, pills or no pills. My best hope is getting sleepy from reading and dozing off and on. If you plan to sleep and are considering medication, be sure to try it out before you fly. Some medications that are meant to put you to sleep actually react differently with some people and may keep you awake instead. It's also helpful to not have any caffeine in your drinks (remember some sodas contain it as well as coffee and chocolate). Alcohol is not helpful either they say.

Plan ahead. Don't carry more than you need on the plane and plan to put your carry-on in the overhead bin. Your legs will thank you for the extra room under the seat in front of you. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes (guaranteed your feet will swell a bit), something that you can wear off the plane when you land. You can't plan to change into pjs and back to clothes in the tiny little bathroom on the plane.

Of course if you should be so lucky to snag an upgrade to first class, it will be a whole lot easier to whittle away those hours in the air. Good luck.

Bidding On Travel Upgrades

Anticipating the long flight we will be taking to and from Japan soon, I wondered if we might be able to upgrade to business or first class. Once before we found that we could upgrade on a flight to New Zealand. It was a bidding process. You submit a bid and if it's accepted, you get the upgrade. There are lots of rules and auctions are not available to all airlines so I looked up the possibilities.

The auction site I found is called Plusgrade. It has seventy participating travel partners. I say partners because to my astonishment there are also several cruise lines listed as well. Who knew?

Once you have booked your flight (or your stateroom) you can register with your airline if they are partnered with Plusgrade. After you've learned that your flight is eligible, you can submit a bid. Don't expect to submit a one dollar bid however. The site will suggest a bid and most bids that are accepted are between 20-40% of the regular cost to upgrade. So say your economy ticket is  $400 dollars and the upgrade is $2000. The difference is $1600. Your bid should be somewhere between $320 and $640.

If your bid is accepted, you will be notified 24-72 hours before your flight. The worse that can happen is that you are left with your original seats if you lose the auction. The reason they wait so long to notify you is that they are still trying to sell those business/first class seats at the full price.

The only other problem is that if you are traveling with someone else, you may not be able to upgrade both seats. There may only be one available or you may not be sitting together. Not sitting together in business class is okay but I figure we either draw straws for the upgraded seat or we switch seats halfway through the flight.

Friday Funny --Lost in Translation?

Let's face it. Traveling to Asian countries without knowing any of the language is a challenge. Thankfully most tourist areas and guides speak enough English (often very well) that you can get along. When we are traveling with our grandchildren who are proficient in Japanese thanks to their mother (our son speaks it but the kids correct him), we rely on them to help us out since many times when we are with them we are not necessarily in tourist areas.

When we visited a couple of years ago and we all decided on climbing Mount Fuji, our tour guide spoke relatively good English but he was only getting us to the mountain where he handed over the guide responsibilities to a man who spoke little English. Since we were with mostly Japanese, the mountain guide spoke all of the instructions to our group before setting out in Japanese. He rattled on in a fascinating melodic cacophony of Japanese for about ten minutes or more.

Our granddaughter stood next to us the whole time but if I remember correctly, she may have been fingering her phone. When our guide was all done and nodded his head and waved his arm for us to follow, Bob turned to our granddaughter and asked, "So what did he say?"

She shrugged her shoulder and wrapped up fifteen minutes of instruction in two English words. "Be Careful."

Ishigaki For Foodies

Knowing our son who has become quite a foodie since moving to Tokyo and traveling the world I've tried to get a little heads-up before our trip to Ishigaki, said to be a haven for foodies. On our very first trip to Japan years ago when he got married in Sapporo, our daughter-in-law's father who has quite a sense of humor, took the eleven of us Americans to a soba restaurant and sat across the room from all of  so he could watch how we ate the soba. Now soba comes in a broth usually and it is most politely eaten by slurping. He wanted to see if we could do it. I still remember his smile.

Soba noodles, unlike udon noodles, are made from buckwheat and are thinner. Usually they are served either cold with a dipping sauce or in hot broth. They are wonderful either way. When we get to Ishigaki however, they make their noodles a bit differently. The Yaeyama soba, made from flour, is a little like Ramen and is served in a sweeter broth than the buckwheat soba usually is. The broth and noodles are topped with thin sliced pork, fish cakes and green onions. Locals are said to spice it up a bit with some of their own spices and peppers.

We have had several versions of seaweed, a staple in Japan, but have never had what is called sea grapes. Now this sound interesting. The seaweed grows only in warm waters and the leaves are like little bubbles resembling clusters of small grapes.

I'm a lover of pork. Unfortunately the more delicious fat the better. I love pork belly and when my mother would make a "fresh ham" as she called it, my brother and I would fight over the crispy fat skin. Another on my list of must tries is rafute, Okinawan pork ribs. They sound delicious. Rafute is made from skin on pork sweetened and spiced before stewing and is tender enough to pull apart with chopsticks.

Of course the number one thing my son commented on was the Ishigaki beef. I'm sure we will be tasting that.

If you are intrigued and curious, here is a site I found with many of the local dishes described. Okay, I'm hungry.

Wordless Wednesday

Surfing Ishigaki On The Internet

When I began to explore what might be interesting to see for our trip to Ishigaki, I decided I must be out of the travel loop. How did I not know about this place? There is a ton of information about it to read and absorb.

I'm not so much interested in beaches. We don't usually spend much time on them unless there's a good reason to other than lounging and getting sunburned. It appears that there are quite a few beaches on the island and they are mostly white sand consisting of broken coral. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, thus the snorkeling and diving activities I mentioned in my previous post.

The best and most scenic beach area is said to be Kabira Bay. There is an iconic picture that pops up in all of the travel sites that shows a white beach and blue green water. Unfortunately you are not allowed to swim in the bay. They say the currents there make it unsafe and it is also one of only two places in Japan where black pearls are cultivated. You can however take a glass bottom boat trip to see the marine life. Not my favorite choice but better than nothing. There are also kayak adventures to some deserted islands nearby where you can snorkel.

Ah, but read on farther in the descriptions and you get to the really good stuff--the food. Lots of restaurants nearby and some feature Ishigaki beef which is said to rival Kobe beef in flavor. We'll see about that for sure. Another offering is soba noodles, a little different in that they are green and made with a plant that comes from the area and served in a conch shell.

Anywhere you go in Japan there are temples. Near Kabira Bay's observation point is the Kannon Temple. The story is that a young boy was on a ship that anchored in the bay sometime in the seventeenth century and he went ashore to explore. When he returned he found the ship had sailed. He went back to the hillside and began to pray. A great North wind blew in and forced the ship to return to the bay. The boy was able to get back to the ship and years later, returned to the island and the bay as a monk and built the temple.

Okay, pearls, scenery, a walk on the beach and great food. Sounds like a must see place to me.

We're Going To Ishigaki--What?

When your grandkids live in Japan, it's a little more work to get to see them. Long flights and jet lag and immersion into a very different culture and tradition. We've made the trip several times now including a trip before they were even born when their mother and father got married in Sapporo.

Their home base while in Japan has been both Tokyo and Sapporo. The kids attend international school and there are several breaks throughout the year to accommodate both US and Japanese holidays. Last year they were with us for our golden wedding anniversary celebration so it's been a year since we've seen them in person--Facetime fills in. It was time for us to plan a visit.

Since we knew they usually take their fall break away from home, we asked if we could join them. This fall they had decided to book accommodations in the south of Japan, Ishigaki Island. When you think of Japan, you don't normally think of sunny beaches and surf and snorkeling but in the south of Japan there is a group of islands that provide just that.

On our first visit to Okinawa when our cruise ship stopped there for a day, I was surprised to see that it was very much like a beach town. This island, Ishigaki, is even further south and promises to be an exciting experience. Our son has booked a house for our stay and our daughter-in-law is already looking into activities and the all important food places to visit.

My initial look into where we're going revealed some scuba diving. The giant manta rays are in the area and we're taking our dive cards (certification that we are divers) just in case we have the opportunity. Over the next few days, I'm going to see what else is going on there--just to level up the anticipation. Of course seeing my son and his family are exciting enough. All the rest is icing.

Friday Funny--Speechless Again

Two more funnies from my speaking experiences. Just before it was time for me to speak at a women's function at a church, I went into the restroom to freshen up a bit. Deciding to use the toilet, I picked a stall, entered, closed the door and sat down. When I looked up I was staring at myself. The planning committee had decided that the best place to advertise the event was on the back of the stall doors in the ladies' room. While I was startled, I had to smile. Yup. Best place to advertise.

My other story involves my husband. I was invited to speak at a campground for a women's retreat and since it was quite a drive from our home, he volunteered to drive for me. Usually, I went on my own. This would be his first experience helping me with my book sales at the engagement.

The campground was beautiful nestled among scenic mountains. The drive had been very nice. As we pulled into the campground we saw lots of cabins where most of the women were staying and in the middle of the park like setting was a huge building which I took to be a large gym. When I spoke with the chairperson she had said we would be in the chapel. I didn't see anything that looked like a chapel so we parked and got out of the car to look around and find someone to ask where to set up.

A lady came out of a door to the "gym" and stopped to greet us. When we asked, she pointed over her shoulder. "The chapel is held in the tabernacle," she said. "Just go right through that door."

Following her direction, we opened a door to a huge auditorium, a tabernacle in every description of the word. It was like the kind you see huge revivals being held in. I'm guessing it would seat 2,000 people comfortably. I hadn't asked the chairperson how many women she expected. I gulped. Well, if God wanted me to speak to a group this large, I thought, He'd better stop my knees from knocking.

I walked to the middle of the room in front of the stage and looked back to see if Bob was behind me. He was still standing there, mouth gaping, as he stared at all the seats. I can't imagine what he was thinking. When I turned around again, the chairperson was approaching me. I tried to act nonchalant as I asked her how many she expected to attend.

"At last count," she said, "we had about 150 registered."

I tried not to look too relieved. It was still a good sized group but certainly not as intimidating as 2,000 would have been. I laughed when Bob carried in the first box of books. "Do you think we have enough books?" he asked as his eyes roamed over the cavernous room again.

"Plenty," I assured him. "There's only 150 registered." He almost looked as relieved as I did.

By the way, Bob charmed all the ladies who visited the book table and when I was invited back a couple years later, the chairperson wanted to know if he was coming back too. He did, Only this time he didn't stand speechless as we entered the tabernacle.

Through My Lens -- Asian Lantern Festival