Budapest (Hungary) Vienna, Wachau Valley & Melk (Austria) Passau, Regensburg & Nuremburg (Germany) then overland to Prague (Czech Republic) Sharon & Russ, Laveta & Chuck 23 September to 4 October 2014
Downtown Vienna: Near the Hofburg Pallace, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Opera House and the new (nighttime) Vienna on the east side of the Danube taken from our stateroom veranda.
Moving upriver through Austria’s Wachau ValleyDocking in Melk Austria To tour the 900 year old Melk AbbeyMelk Abbey ‘s small but beautiful museum. The town of Melk from the Abbey’s wallInside the the Abbey – more like a cathedral!On the Rhine at Passau, Germany- the city on three rivers, Veste Oberhaus fortress and our guideDowntown Passau and Ilz river. Just beautiful!On the Rhine. Absolutely beautiful. Docking south of Regensburg in the fog.Disambarking for Regensburg, GermanyRegensburg is one of Germany’s best perserved medeval cities.We stopped by AlteeWorskuch, Germany’s oldest Sausage house for Bratwaurst and BrochenGothic St. Peters and what looks like lesbian statues!Sharon and Laveta relaxing onboard- in the Danube-Main Canal Nuremburg: Site of the Nazi rallies (and the railing where Hitler stood). The site is now used for truck-trailer storage. The Pallace of Justice where the Nuremburg Trials were held Note the flags read "In Memorium".Heading to Nuremburg Castle(Compare to Laveta in 1968)From inside the castle. Laveta and Me on the castle walls (Compare to Laveta in 1968).In Nuremburg’s famous Hauptmarkt. Note the fountain that resembles a church spire. PragueCzech Republic St. Vitus CathedralIn old town PragueAt the John Lennon WallMore old town PragueWalking to- and then on the Charles BridgeMore town views- and the Prague’s famous Astronomical ClockPrague’s main drag: Wenclesas Square– more like a boulevard.Laveta at the farmers market. Hooters in Prague, The Corinthia, our hotel in Prague.On the flight home.
CRUISING SOUTHEAST ALASKA
Cruising the Inside Passage Roundtrip from Seattle aboard the Golden Princess 23-30 May, 2009
Our party of 13 leaving Tacoma for embarkation in SeattleDeparting Seattle
On the 25th, Sharon and Russ were married at sea- west of Vancouver Island in international waters by John Foster, captain of the Golden Princess.
Signing their lives away (Jim and Carol signed as witnesses)For better or worse in the Wheelhouse BarThe atrium on the Princess. Alaskan costal waters.Keith Janie and Eric & Jim.Juno, Alaska’s capital.Carol and the Mendenhall GlacierJim & Carol, Laveta & Me, Russ & SharonSkagway “/>Our sister ship, the Star Princess in Tracy Arm Fjord“/> KetchikanandSoutheast Alaska Discovery CenterKetchikan Totem Heritage CenterKetchikan, our favorite town in Southeast AlaskaDinner aboardThe voyage homeDisembarking in Seattle
CIVILIZATION’S LONG OASIS
EXPLORING EGYPT & THE NILE Our group: Chuck, Laveta, Sharon, Russ, Karl, "Z" & Henry 27 October – 7 November 2008
At Seattle Tacoma International (Seatac), Heathrow (London) and Cairo International.At the Cairo Fairmont Heliopolis hotel We ate in the hotel. The Obelisk wine was good.At Cairo International again- Sharon, Karl, Zelda, Laveta and Russ waiting for our flight to Luxor.
Karnak temple. The first and largest of the temples we visited. (We returned later that night)
Hatshepsut’s Temple at Deir al-Bahri.Local (thin walled) alabaster pottery. Temple of Medinet HabuThe Colossi of MemnonThe M/S Norma passing through the Locks at EsnaOn the M/S Norma: Cruising riverboats on the Nile & Russ and Sharon’s stateroom"Towel Crocodile", Feluccas… and a very overloaded rowboat!Life along the NileLife aboard the NormaZelda, Sharon, Laveta
Egyptian night (including fun & games) aboard the M/S Norma
Aswan High DamPropane delivery in Aswan The Unfinished Obelisk in the Aswan pink granite quarry. It cracked and was abandoned over 3000 years ago. Laveta is holding a Diorite ball like those used for cutting out (pounding out) the granite!Our journey by motorboat boat to Philae and the Temple of Isis Abu Simbel (including Nefertari’s monument) from the air on our flight from AswanAbu SimbelNefertari’s monumentGroup photo. Trafalgar Bus-A (the Pharaohs)Our Hotel, the Ramses HiltonDowntown Cairo (al-Qāhirah). View from our deck
Some Mosques and a Christian (Coptic) Church in Cairo
The Mosque of Mohammad AliThe Mosque Madrasa of Sultan HassanSaint Mary’s Coptic Church "The Hanging Church" (Hanging refers to its structural support)Street scenes in downtown Cairo- taken through the coach window.Unusual transportation!Russ ordering at McDonaldsCairo Museum. Sadly- no photography was allowed inside.Lightshow at the Sphinx – including an ancient Egyptian bagpipe band!At the Pyramid of Khufu. Sharon, Russ, Carl and Zelda went inside but photography was not allowed.At the Pyramid of Khafre. Laveta and I went inside. No photography was allowed inside.At Khafre, the"Second Pyramid"Group photo. Trafalgar Bus-A
Camel riding on the Giza Plateau. One of those things to do before you die. Great fun!
At the "Camel parking lot" on the Giza PlateauLaveta "boarding" her camel.Laveta and me.Sharon and RussKarl, Zelda and HenryCaravanCamel rider wanabe.
At the entrance to the SphinxThe Sphinx with Sharon, Russ, Laveta and ILunch break in MemphisHeather & Andrew (from Toronto)Laveta and Zoser’s Step Pyramidat Saqqara, circa 3000 BCGoat trafficRamses II at the Mit. Rahina Museum
Nighttime Cairo from the NileEntertainment: Laveta and belly dancer, Whirling DervishMore Cairo street scenes from my coach window.Breakfast in the Ramses HiltonToll booth on the motorway to AlexandriaAlexandra Street scenesLaveta and Henry at Pompey’s Pillar At Qaitbay Citadel– where the famous ancient lighthouse stood.StudentsAt the Roman TheaterThe (modern) Library of AlexandriaThe Alexandria MuseumHighway scenes on the return to CairoNighttime Cairo traffic. Note: running lights only – no headlights!Homeward bound.
Panama
New York to Seattle via: Half Moon Cay- Bahamas, Ft. Lauderdale- Florida, Cartagena-Columbia Panama Canal Puntarenas & Poas National Park- Costa Rica Puerto Quetzal-Guatemala Huatulco, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas- Mexico Los Angeles- California Vancouver BC 18 April to 13 May 2007
Around New York City: Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero, Times Square, Rockefeller Center UN General Assembly, Museum of Natural History, Cross (in St. John the Divine) Statue of LibertyLaveta, saying goodbye to ManhattanThe M/S Noordam (at Half Moon Cay) On Board the Noordam: Elevator. Library, ClubroomPoolside Bar, Lounge, Promenade Deck So much wine… so little time. (Wine tasting on the Noordam) Half Moon Cay Determining our position the old fashioned way.Life aboardCarol with a mean looking alligator, Everglades– FloridaDeparting Port Everglades– FloridaCarol: American IdolModern Cartagena Cartagena: Old Town, Bolivar Square and Church of Pedro Claver Limon Bay, GatunLocks and Laveta and I at MirafloresLocks– Panama Canal Poas Volcano National Park– Costa Rica Shopping in Puerto Quetzal– GuatemalaFellow TravelersThey pray first… then jump. Cliff Divers- AcapulcoFinger Licking’ good! Acapulco.Lands End, Cabo San LucasDinner AboardThe Queen Mary- Long Beach HarborRodeo Drive in Beverly Hills- CALaveta and Carol, The Getty Museum, Los AngelesReflections of Carol (and Me) Getty MuseumEarly Morning Arrival in Seattle
RV West 2006
The 5th Wheel belongs to Jim and Carol, the Motor Home is ours. (Photo taken just north of Monument Valley)
Departing Tacoma, Washington State, 14 September 2006Carol and Laveta – Coeur D’ Alene, IdahoAt the Continental Divide, WyomingBear genitalia (at our RV park in West Yellowstone) Old Faithful– 15 minutes lateBison fording the Yellowstone RiverMt. Rushmore National MonumentLaveta- near the entrance of Wind Cave National Park, SDThe Crazy Horse monument, under construction, Black Hills, SDMe- Rapid City, South DakotaA Picnic with Obi-Wan (Jim) in the Black HillsThe Devil’s Tower Wyoming We hiked all the way around.Garden of the Gods, Colorado SpringsHats: Me, Laveta, Carol, Jim – Colorado SpringsPikes Peak via cog train, Colorado SpringsSt. Francis Cathedral and downtown art, Santa Fe, New MexicoBandelier National Monument, New MexicoLaveta & Fat Man, Bradbury Science Museum, Los AlamosAT-400A Pit storage-transportation container cutaway, Los AlamosRest stop near Lemitar, New MexicoMission San Miguel, SocorroAt the Owl Bar & Grill, San Antonio, New MexicoRV life, San AntonioCarol, Lincoln County New Mexico (home of Billy the Kid)` Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. We walked down and around- about 2 1/2 hours, then took the elevator (750 ft.) back to the surface.Texas is not the issue here (GWB is)Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TexasWow- no feet! White Sands National Monument, NMMe and Laveta again- White SandsThe Trinity Site (in White Sands Missile Range New Mexico) where the first nuclear explosion took place, on 16 July,1945. It’s only open to the public two days a year. The House is The McDonald ranch house where the Plutonium pit was assembled with its initiator (neutron generator) There was lots of security at the site- guess they didn’t want anyone to get lost.Thunderstorm, near four-corners, Colorado (one handed shot while driving) Mesa Verde National Park, ColoradoArches National Park, UtahThe just magnificent, Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, ArizonaBrice Canyon National Park, Utah The geological features are called "Hoodoos" Zion National Park Utah.Jim – early morning, Ely NevadaOn US-50, Nevada.Burns RV Park and adjacent (across the street) countryside, Burns Oregon.The Three Sisters (& Jim’s trailer) on Hwy-20, OregonBridge over the Columbia at our RV park, The Dales, Oregon
—-We arrived back home in Tacoma (University Place) on 22 October 2006—
Carnival Vacation
CRUISING MEXICO Los Angeles, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas September 30 to October 7, 2001
Carnival cruse ship: M.S. Elation, anchored off Cabo San LucasAbandon ship? Carol & Laveta. First day’s life jacket drill.The Elation at nightThe AtriumLaveta and meJim and CarolLaveta and Carol: Public rest rooms (banos publicos), Valle de BanderasLand’s end: Laveta, Carol, Jim touching the Pacific Ocean near SayulitaCarol boarding a "Unimog" (Mercedes Benz military truck)Laveta, Me and Carol in the Sierra Madre jungle. <Click for website>Tailless scorpion, found by our jungle guide (and bartender)The four of us in Mazatlan, with the "Elation" in the background.
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