Nora Alice in the Night. For she has seen the Aurora Borealis Burning Bright – Pogo….
Icehotel
Now, this obviously appeals to a large number of people. Bus loads of tourists, a significant number of weddings and plenty who stay overnight. There are two sections to the Icehotel – the temporary one which lasts only until everything melts and the permanent area which also has both rooms and suits.
I repeat – lovely to look at, but I can’t imagine sleeping here. But people do – in fact one of our group spent a night here before the start off the tour.
From the outside it doesn’t seem to be much –
the seasonal Icehotel
while inside you have carvings both on the wall and free standing –
some regular rooms –
and then there are the named rooms complete with artist plaque outside –
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- the King Kong
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- sea creatures
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- Victorian Suite
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- Victorian Suite
along with objects
and
Dog Sledding
Before I forget – yes, Kiruna is north of the Arctic Circle. Sunrise this morning was 0955 and sunset 1344 giving us a grand total of 3 hours and 49 minutes of true daylight. That would make it also obviously why as I start writing this about 1515 that it is quite dark outside.
getting organized before sunrise
And it was along the river and through the old growth forest that we went.
old growth and charging sled dogs
As you might note – the species of pine/fir here are tall, slender and have short branches which gather the maximum sun possible and decrease the chances of breakage from snow build up.
after a couple of hours and several photo stops it was lunch break. The dogs
are two teams of 12. The couple who provided the teams today have about 60 dogs in total. Lars mentioned that the dogs much prefer racing (which involves a lot of running and not pulling all that much weight) to today’s task which is pulling a sledge with 3-4 passengers. The alternate mode of transport today was a snowmobile –
which is Peter’s personal vehicle complete with trailer for gear.
and for the birders:
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- a jay
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- and an arctic tit
Kiruna
Leaving the hotel early wasn’t a problem. The snow wasn’t a problem either and it just wasn’t all that cold to a “born in Minnesota gal.” My first challenge was finding the T stop tucked back in a construction zone followed by trying to figure out the ticket machines and the gates. As it turns out, paper ticket holders have to be let in by a physical operator….
Central Station to the Arlanda Express wasn’t all that hard either nor was checking into Norwegian Air. Security ran faster and smoother than anything I have seen from TSA. And then I waited and waited. We left about 30 minutes late and arrived in Kiruna after 1300.
Did I mention this trip is a photo tour?
Didn’t think so.
Anyway, the pair of photographers/guides are from Sweden (Peter) and Australia (David) met us at the airport. One of my fellow travelers did what anyone with sense knows not to: he packed his meds in his checked luggage. Which of course never made it from LA to Stockholm. Cue a couple of hours of waiting while Peter helped him get new scripts and meds picked up from the apoteka. End result was that it was 1600 by the time we arrived in camp and could get settled.
We had dinner around 1730. BTW – hours of light are only about Five.
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- two beds in the cabin
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- my very own sauna
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- table, food prep area and lots of power points
and the cabin I have to myself….I really think I need some sleep…
Arriving Stockholm
This is one of those trips where the hours add up to days en route. It was early afternoon on arrival in Copenhagen followed by a rest (SAS has a wonderful lounge at the Copenhagen Airport) before my connecting flight to Stockholm. From there it was the Airport connector bus to the Central Station followed by a taxi to the hotel. My driver was from Turkey. He has family in Germany. We had a lovely chat on the short drive to the hotel.
Taxis are expensive, won’t be doing that again. Excuse is that I was really, really tired and I just didn’t want to deal with finding the “T” and then walking a ways to the hotel.
It is time to sleep.
Before I forget – It feels like progress on the house –
bench in the entry way upstairs
will be shelves next to the utility room down
Rutaximab
Is not exactly my favorite medication in the whole world, but if it puts off a recurrence of my NHL, I am more than willing to deal with an infusion every couple of months. Obviously that means that this was my Wednesday to land at the SFVA bright and churly.
Unlike my last couple of trips, there weren’t any issues with my port this time and I sailed through everything in more than enough time to catch the 1440 shuttle back to BART.
Unlike the last few times I wound up with serious nausea and am still wondering what is up with that. Meanwhile, Dani managed to get herself home from work, Alex is still in NY and George is at JP Morgan most of the week.
My best bet for me is more sleep…
Heading out
Not me this time, but Alex and Gwen to the East Coast.
Underseat dog
The rest of us – George, Dani, other dog and I spent the afternoon at Pacifica
oooo – ocean!
Open Window
Through the open window I can hear the rain, leaves rustling and the distant sound of an train traveling down the coast. The air is cool. It is January and I am more than comfortable with my duvet and sheepskin. But then I am not on the East Coast dealing with sub-zero weather, high wind chill and general beastliness.
We have fog and rain. The workers put up plastic sheeting to protect the downstairs entryway so that they can continue to work. The tile has been laid in the first room and the sunroom flooring has been started. Meanwhile, I am reading….
Minor Tremors
or maybe a bit more. But a 4.6 earthquake rolled through here at 0239 in the morning.
As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one awake as Noah told me this morning. Since he is on the top floor, he didn’t hear it coming where as I heard a rumble approaching before the rolling and rattling hit. The Epi Center has been identified as deep under the Claremont Hotel (less than 5 km from our house).
Borrowed from the News
The responsible entity is the Hayward fault with all the usual discussions about us being 10 years overdue for another big one.
A big one that I think will not drop my house into the Pacific (yes, I am immediately west of the fault and I do mean very very close) but rather there will once more be a lovely inland sea from the Rockies to the Appalachian Range. Just think – new ports for cruise ships…..
and speaking of local insanity – here is a post about a dozen garage doors of Berkeley of which I really appreciate the one with the deer since I see somewhere between 2-7 of the stupid creatures every morning just looking to be hood ornaments.
there was that
Reindeer hide that I didn’t buy the last time I was in Copenhagen. There they were in the airport at a lower price than I saw anywhere in either Greenland or Iceland complete with packing container and import certificates.
But I didn’t buy one.
In fact I forgot all about it till I was wandering through Costco several months later. No, they didn’t have reindeer hides. But they did have quad sheepskins (origin Australia/New Zealand where we know there are more sheep than people). I looked at them, felt them. The price was seriously lower than I had paid for a single one more than a decade ago at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
And I bought one for me.
(and if I can get a file to upload – I will even show you my warm and fuzzy comfort)
Tiling in the New Year
The break is over. Today we have workman on the foundation downstairs.
getting ready to pour again
Yes the foundation is complete, but they are adding the steps/skirting at the entrances. We looked at ramps, and they can still be added in the future but at this point would take up so much ground space as to eliminate all the green outside the kids front door.
with dump truck out on the main road
At the same time, the large pile of slippery clay is being removed and tile is being laid in the downstairs. I think I mentioned that we put in radiant heat? The subfloor is finished and the gentlemen who did the tiling upstairs in the 2014 renovations are doing the downstairs. Their tile work is amazing.
Back to the floor. We are being simple, attractive and extremely easy to clean. The tiles when laid give you the appearance of a wooded plank floor without the upkeep or scratching that is going to occur with two rather good size dogs living in the place. Not quite drain in the floor – hose it down, but easy to sweep, mop or vacuum.
looking like aged wooden planks
meanwhile, today has been busy – Dani to work at 0500 and bailed out at 1230 – Alex dropped off at 1300, run to the lighting store for a fixture for the front entry and cabinet hardware. Dani had asked a reasonable question this morning – how am I going to get the drawers open. Answer? We need to by handles. Only took two stops – those at the first were lovely but extremely overpriced so we went to the main hardware store used by our contractor, found something just as nice and 1/2 the price (before builder’s discount.)
otherwise, I am cranking away on my version of Illumine knit from two alternating balls of Katia Infinity
up to row 78
Old San Juan
unfortunately for me, this morning’s sunrise heralded a bit of rain. Not one to believe the evidence of my eyes, once I was clear of the frolic and detour that was immigration I headed out to walk along the sea path.
Starting at the beginning and
Hiking all the way to the end on the far side of the fort. Did I mention that once you are past the old gate there are no turn-offs? How about a complete lack of shelter unless you are the size of one of the multitudes of feral cats whom seem to have fared just fine inspite of hurricanes ? I thought not.
It rained. Skies opened up. I got more than a bit wet.
Umbrella? Didn’t bring one on the trip Rain Jacket? Back in the cabin.
Anyway,
Slippery paving stoned streets aside
I managed to wind my way through the old town and back toward the ship.
Given the demonstrated lack of ability to facilitate an orderly and timely boarding of passengers it didn’t surprise me in the least to be in line for 40 minutes to get back on the ship. One gangway for both disembarking and returning passengers. Not a small ship. Wet, metal inclined surface.
It wasn’t pretty.
At least I was completely dried out.
Tenerife
Another one of those places where I have been several times. It is a frequent stop on Trans-Atlantic Cruises of which I have been on several (well, more than several to tell you the truth). Depending on the cruise line and the ship – this route to south Florida is usually known as the Southern Route (as apposed to heading across from the Baltics and going via Iceland). Stops are normally in either the Canaries (as this ship) or the Azores – usually Ponte Del Gado.
Anyway. The last couple of times I have been here I just did the wander around or take the tram over to the other side of the island and away from most of the tourists. Unlike some of the other ports, right now we are the only ship docked. That makes the numbers of tourists not such a big impact on the town (unlike an Aida & Fred Olson ships also in port). I don’t think it is going to make any difference on the ships ability to get people back on board which has been drastically lacking in the last couple of ports.
(BTW – Stu reports that 17 in Roman Numerals can be anagrammed into something, which in Latin, comes out to be the equivalent of “my life is done/over/I am dead” etc. I think it means that someone, somewhere had way too much time on their hands and was into superstition rather than working for a living. So if you are Italian, you don’t want room 17, Deck 17 or probably train 17 or Flight 17. Me? I need to go and see if there is some number in Kabbalah which holds the same place in insanity)
My major stop today was El Corte Inglais where I bought a tape measure for Carmen and a seam ripper for me. It is not that I don’t have several at home. But they are at home, I am on ship and have a few stitches to un-pick in the current cross stitch. This is 22 count canvas and I really don’t want to either damage it with scissors.
Funchal, Maderia
I remember being here in 2010 with Shana as we took the Vision across to the US. I remember comparing the colors of blue that our cameras recorded (she shoots with Nikon) of the water in the harbor and walking through the various backstreets past the funicular to see the painted doors. I have been here with others as well. It is obviously part of Portugal: the streets of patterned cobble stones are unique.
This morning I was up early, watching the lights on hills like strings of glittering golden beads in the predawn light. Don’t think it was all that early as sunrise wasn’t till close to 0800…
I waited a reasonable time before bailing off the ship: Today was a day for being an imitation mountain goat.
After leaving the port where we and one of the Aida ships were docked (sorry, but I find the painted lips and grin painted on the ships bordering on evil) and past the wall of emblems out onto the boardwalk toward the city.
It wasn’t all that far before I noticed the stairs leading up on the other side of the road. Stairs, yes, I have back my ability to do stairs no matter how much I whine and complain about everything else… Reaching the top, there is a blissfully quiet and sparsely attended park. I am sitting on a quiet bench in front of a pond which I am assuming is artificial as it is a couple hundred meters above the shore line with no obvious inflow or egress. There are swans, white along with several species of duck floating serenely inside the green painted wrought iron fence. It is quiet. Except for the one drake who seems to feel it is his obligation to comment on everyone and everything in his surroundings. Additionally, there are a couple of white birds with sandpiper type legs and bills.
The ducks came for a visit. They were not pleased to find that I had brought them nothing. It did not at all suit their opinion of what they deserved. After a bit of squawking and a peck at my shoes they left me in disgust.
I spent a few hours walking around town before settling in for a coffee and attempt at Wifi. Then it will be a slow hike back to the ship.
Cruise Critic
“Twas brillig and the slythe tov….
Oh wait – this is not Alice through the Looking Glass or an alternate reality but the MSC Seaside. Today, after several false starts (first meeting scheduled on Day 2 of the Cruise was cancelled. Why bother before Barcelona when you can combine the Trieste boarding people with those getting on in later ports and hold only one meeting). So that you then go for the 9th and have the front desk tell everyone that the meeting will be at 1100. But then you send out invites that spe “Twas brillig and the slythe tov….
Oh wait – this is not Alice through the Looking Glass or an alternate reality but the MSC Seaside. Today, after several false starts (first meeting scheduled on Day 2 of the Cruise was cancelled. Why bother before Barcelona when you can combine the Trieste boarding people with those getting on in later ports and hold only one meeting). So that you then go for the 9th and have the front desk tell everyone that the meeting will be at 1100. But then you send out invites that specify 1000. At least it was always scheduled in the same location.
MSC ran the meeting well which left no room for comments, completes or even a chance at the rare compliment. They plied the group with alcoholic drinks, hi end hor’dervs and a piece of fancy cake after the group photo.
I lasted all of 30 minutes, avoided the photo and decided that I would much rather be up in the Jungle Lounge with the sun shining on me.
I finished the fourth of 36 pages on my cross stitch and trying to stay mellow when asked all the usual questions about “how long, how much more and will I finish before the end of the cruise.” The answers, of course, fall somewhere along the line of “when I am done, however long it takes and no.” cify 1000. At least it was always scheduled in the same location.
MSC ran the meeting well which left no room for comments, completes or even a chance at the rare compliment. They plied the group with alcoholic drinks, hi end hor’dervs and a piece of fancy cake after the group photo.
I lasted all of 30 minutes, avoided the photo and decided that I would much rather be up in the Jungle Lounge with the sun shining on me.
I finished the fourth of 36 pages on my cross stitch and trying to stay mellow when asked all the usual questions about “how long, how much more and will I finish before the end of the cruise.” The answers, of course, fall somewhere along the line of “when I am done, however long it takes and no.”
Cadiz
Is a lovely port and a good jumping off point to some extremely interesting portions of Spain.
Carmen headed to Seville with a private tour arranged through Cruise Critic. I was first there in 1972 and have been back twice since. This time I thought seriously about getting out and about but abandoned it in favor of enjoying sun on the balcony and a definite lack of crowds at both the Venchi Cafe and the MarketPlace.
I have been getting my exercise in the gym where the treadmills have to be reset every 25 minutes, walking around on shore (where there isn’t a 25 minute limit) and going up and downstairs.
The stairs are the least crowded venues…
Beachs as Decks
Ok, that might not make as much sense on the screen as it did in my head.
The theme behind the two new MSC ships seems to be an “at the seashore” experience. This ships is the Seaside, the sister ship coming out next year to cruise the Med will be the Seaview. The decks all have names along with numbers – those names pulled allegedly from world renown beaches.
Me? I don’t think of decks in terms of names which made navigating a couple of years ago on the Star Princess a bit challenging and actually the same with the Phoenix ship this past summer. I am a fan of numbers. Preferably numbers that are in consecutive order. It is not unusual for certain organizations/ entities to skip the number 13 as potentially being unlucky. It is a superstition that most of us have heard at some point in our lives.
This ship has a deck 13. Ok, no problem. What it doesn’t have is a Deck 17 Seriously, the deck numbering goes from 16 to 18 with a certain number conspicuous by its absence. It seems that 17 might be unlucky in certain portions of Southern Italy but I was unable to find any facts or reference.
If anyone can clear that up?
Anyway – I will attempt to do a listing, description and review of the various decks as beaches over the next few sea days. Decks 5-8 have public areas, 9-15 are all guest cabins, 16&18 have both the fancy Yacht Club and some more public ares.
As I am currently not out and about on the ship, I don’t have the list of deck names in my hand. And, as it turns out – I can’t easily find it on the net either.
Update when I find the list to follow….
Under Placa Catalunya
0600I suppose it is a better location than around the Port on the sdewalk when it is cold but still I don’t think that any of these African men would be chosing to sleep here huddled up against a wall had they another choice. Out of the weather, temperature moderately controlled and each with an identical natural colored tarp on which to sleep or roll up meager posessions.
It makes all of those parading up La Rambla wearing or waving flags for Catalon Independence seem pretty trivial in their outlook. The men with their flags on poles and not being careful of on coming pedestrians; the women wearing flags tied around their necks as capes. I must be too American, I just don’t see a country flag as an article of clothing. But that is just me.
I spent a pleasant couple of hours in a nice coffee shop next to Hotel D’Arc before moving on through the streets. It is obviously December; there are decorations everywhere and not a sale insight. I even went through the offerings at Desigual and didn’t spend a dime (or a Euro).
On the way back to the ship I almost went into the Maritime Museum. I have been there before several times – and the added bonus would have been the Game of Thrones Traveling Exhibit. But the place was packed and it is not like I haven’t seen a few costumes, weapons before. And since I have already had a chance to sit in the Iron 0806Throne I didn’t see the point of looking at it from the other side of a roped off area.
from 2010
(back at LonCon when I had long and brown hair)
and we will totally and completely ignore the chaos that was BCN Terminal as 1000+ tried to board at the same time that 4K+ were returning to the ship. Not organized is putting it mildly
Palma
No, I didn’t bother to take the tour today. I figured it out. Instead I went for a short walk.
Well, not so short.
a lovely day for a walk
Instead of heading directly into town I went left to the old Navy port and where the Tui (Mein Schiff whatever) was docked. Turns out the old weapons are inside the current naval base, so no tour of those…). Then back to Port Pi (shopping center) and down Joan Miro all the way into town.
Would you believe that I found a yarn store? (duh you are probably thinking)
Katia yarn
You have to understand, I have drifted through Palma half a dozen times over the last six years and haven’t struck gold. This place was packed with yarn floor to ceiling. Also Anchor crochet cotton and a full range of embroidery floss. The lovely owner didn’t speak any English, my Spanish is close to non-existant. But I received help from a lovely English woman who has lived there for close to 50 years. She is originally from Camberley but moved to Palma when her mother remarried. She has extended family now in the area (sisters, stepsisters, daughter, granddaughter…) which is good since she has just started her second bout with chemo therapy, the last being a couple of years ago. She mentioned not having a lot of energy, obviously no hair and misses her eyelashes the most. Ruling out experimental therapy (and trips to Barcelona) she has decided that knitting would be better than crochet for now and is embarking on a sweater for the granddaughter.
We talked for a while, then each went our separate way. Me thinking that I have had it easy compared to her: chemo made me crabby and tired but not all that sick. I, hopefully have bought a few years before I have to make any more decisions. She is facing those decisions now: but more than two years with pancreatic cancer is quite amazing. Life is precious, but not at any cost.
From there I went on a hunt for hand lotion. No the ship doesn’t provide it. And a bit through the old city.
On the way back I walked through the start of a holiday market before braving what seems like the endless pier to get back to the ship…
MSC Seaside
all told I probably put in about 30k worth of steps (according to a fellow passenger who recorded over 15k walking just one way….
Venchi
since the 1870s
MSC and Venchi Chocolates have embarked on something wonderful as far as I am concerned. The new venture includes the coffee shop on Deck Six, handmade chocolates, gelato and the most amazing hot chocolate drinks imaginable.
Let me just show you:
my favorite place on the ship
The chocolates are made on ship – starting with the liquid
chocolate curing
featuring multiple choices
the handmade chocolates
There are fun items on display
and
one of the wonderful drinks
which could totally make me gain kilos if I am not careful. For those of you who know how cheap I am – all coffees, teas and hot chocolates are included in my beverage package….