My Alaska vacation cruise

Norwegian Star

I was excited when asked to organize a cruise to Alaska for my in laws for their 10th wedding Anniversary gift. I jumped to the idea as they had spoken of an Alaska vacation on many occasion. I knew an Alaska vacation was their dream holiday because they made several indirect comments about not wanting to cruise from Florida. 

Their vacation quickly mushroomed into a family reunion with relatives coming from the Caribbean, USA and Canada. I was ecstatic about planning such a vacation because I considered Alaska as an unknown vastness of snow. After some mini hitches in making the flights arrangements, I was able to schedule everyone arrival to Seattle, a day prior to the cruise within a two hour window.

Our reunion began with an overnight stay in Seattle, as we were departing early the next morning on a 7 night round trip cruise to Alaska. The weather in Seattle was slightly gloomy for a mid-summer day but we were fortunate as it never rained during our pre and post cruise stops.

Seattle skyline

The hotel provided transportation to the port as part of the hotel package. As expected, we were on the first bus shuttle to the port. After a hassle free check in through security, it Was finally time to board the Star of the Norwegian Cruise Line. The departure from the harbor was smooth and appeared effortless. In fact, it went unnoticed until I observed the port building getting smaller on the horizon. The first couple of hour on the ship was spent exploring my new residence of the next 7 days. I will provide a review of the Norwegian Star in a subsequent blog. As expected, I did not get much sleep the first evening at sea as I took the opportunity to explore the ship and discover all it had to offer.

From Seattle, we traveled through the inside passage towards Ketchikan. The passage extends north from Washington, along the British Columbia coast to the Alaskan Panhandle. The cruise ships use this particular route that goes through a series of passages between the islands to avoid the bad weather in the open ocean.




Ketchikan salmon hatchery


Our first stop was in Ketchikan – the self proclaimed salmon capital of the world. We visited a salmon hatchery, one of several built to process the abundance of salmon in the area. We were amazed at the effort and technology being used to produce salmon for export to the rest of the world. We were provided with an in depth explanation of the life of a salmon. I was amazed to learn that a salmon life began in the fresh water streams and lakes of Alaska. The young salmon migrates to the ocean and would return after several years to their place of birth in the streams and lakes to spawn.

Totem pole

We also visited an area where our tour guide educated us on the history of the Haida tribe – the Pacific Northwest Indians. We learnt how they lived and traded extensively throughout the region. Time was taken to explain the significance and purpose of the Totem Pole. I was amazed to learn that these monumental structures carved from large trees, mostly red cedar were the life history of an important Native American. From my estimation, I think the poles were approximately 20 feet tall containing engraved images of animals and individuals. The carvings were also painted which gave the totem poles a very attractive appearance.

Mendenhall lake and glacier

Mendenhal glacier lake

Many Alaska vacation tours excursions were available, but I jumped to the idea of visiting an ice glacier. The day was gloomy and interspersed with the occasional shower. As soon as we disembarked from the ship, we took a short bus ride to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. I had never seen an ice glacier before, so I was not allowing the rain to dampen my anticipation and excitement as this was one of the main reasons I went on the cruise. There were several trails on each side of the lake which is at foot of the glacier. I took one of the trails that appeared less muddy and had easy access to the lakes edge. The trail also provided a beautiful view of the valley and glacier which is situated between two mountains that appear to stretch for miles. At the bottom of the glacier is the Mendenhall Lake which gets it supply of water from the glacier. In short, the glacier looked like a huge mountain cliff that was sparkling white from the occasional reflection of the sun when it popped out between the grey clouds.

Mendehall glacier welcome center

I must compliment the local authority in Juneau for the development of the area to cater for the large crowds of yearly tourists. The welcome center was impressive and the information within made the trip very educational. Also it was a good opportunity to get out of the cold and enjoy the warmth inside the building. During the tour of the facility, we were entertained with a short historic film of the glacier. I left the area with a deep feeling of sadness and disappointment. It was heart breaking to learn that the location of the welcome center was part of the glacier a couple hundred years ago. The glacier had receded significantly and its progress was being measured every year. Whether the reason for the melting of the glacier was global warming or other reasons, we have to examine our life style because the beauty of our world was being wasted away.

Sawyer glacier

The next place of interest was the Sawyer Glacier. Several Individuals were glued on deck as the ship navigated the icy waters containing several huge chunks of ice. The decks were crowded with cruisers who were enjoying every minute of the journey. This was an amazing sight to see the huge chunks of ice floating near the ship.

White Pass Scenic railway

Skagway is the furthest point North via the inside passage and it was the next port stop. At the corsair desk we were informed that the White Pass scenic railway ride was a good opportunity to see the Alaskan countryside and wildlife. Unfortunately the only wildlife we saw was a glimpse of a herd of wild goats in the far distance that were taking advantage of the warm sunshine. The deep gorges and mountainside were beautiful and breathe taking and everyone soaked in the fresh crisp air of the high elevation.

Prince Rupert Bay, Canada 

On our return journey we stopped at Prince Rupert Bay in Canada. This stop was interesting because it gave us an insight into the lives of a small Canadian community. The town seemed extremely quiet and appeared undisturbed by the huge number of Alaska vacation visitors. From Prince Rupert Bay, it was time to journey back to Seattle.

The cruise was enjoyable and memorable not only for the numerous shore experiences, but it was an opportune time to reunite with relatives we had not seen and out of touch for a very long time. We laughed and shared endless old memories during the Alaska trip. I could claim the cruise a tremendous success because everyone was keen on doing a repeat cruise from Florida.

Fantastic Hotel for vacation to Europe

I found an ideal hotel to stay while visiting London during my vacation to Europe. It was clean, had a friendly staff, and most of all, it was located near to numerous sightseeing attractions. This place is perfect to launch your vacation and enjoy all your fascination of London.

I stayed at the Novotel London City South during my stopover in London as part of my family vacation to European tour. My family out voted me as I wanted a cruise to Europe instead.We spent 10 days at the hotel, but the majority of the time was spent outdoors enjoying the beauty of London. (I will inform readers of my London experience in a subsequent blog).

The hotel has an AA 4 stars rating and I think it deserved that score. The hotel’s sleeping accommodation consisted of 182 non smoking rooms, 4 suites and 10 accessible rooms. The rooms are categorized into superior and executive. I selected an executive which accommodated 4 individuals. It contained all the features of the superior room (26” LCD TV, pay movies, broad band internet access, hair dryer, iron and mini bar) plus an Espresso coffee machine, Bose iPod docking station complimentary internet access, and bathrobe and slippers. Other facilities included laundry, parking, currency exchange and sauna/steam rooms. The staff was friendly and was never hesitant in providing information about places to visit while in London.

Our stay can be considered uneventful apart from an idiot who made everyone leave their room at about midnight. I was asleep and thought I was dreaming only to realize the screeching sound was coming from within my room. Then it dawned on me that the fire alarm was going crazy. Groggy, confused and half asleep, I rushed out from my room to be joined by several other guest in the corridor. Everyone quickly made it to the outside parking area. We were fortunate that it was a wonderful London evening and it was not raining. To everyone’s dismay and relief we were informed that a guest attempted to smoke in a non smoking room causing the smoke alarm to go off.

As mentioned earlier the hotel location was a plus as it was a short walking distance to the River Thames, the London eye, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare Globe Theatre, St. Paul’s Catheredral and many other London attractions. Also the London tube was minutes away and a short ride would take us to shopping areas, nightlife and theatres on the west end. A stone throw away from the hotel was a small market containing everything you could possible want. Apart from meat and fish, there was a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. I was extremely happy to find the market and made regular visits for my fresh supply of fruits.

On discovering how close the hotel was to the banks of the River Thames, we immediately decided to explore our new surroundings. We were amazed at the level of activity that was happening all along the river banks. It was not only a beautiful sight to behold but it contained several attractive looking eating places. In addition numerous characters were on sight performing to the large crowds delight and were compensated for their efforts.

I would recommend this hotel to families or individuals who wish to vacation in Europe  and London in particular. The hotel is also suitable for persons visiting London on business.as well as persons who are visiting London for business.

Lourdes vacation to Europe

Since I was a kid, I have heard several people mention the name of Lourdes (pronounced Lourdz). I knew practically nothing about it apart from hearing that it was a very religious place. That impression changed drastically after visiting Lourdes, France during my family vacation to Europe. The visit was part of swing through Europe with stops in Paris and London. My vacation to Europe was a tremendous success as it gave me an opportunity to farmilarize myself with many of the products that I am selling.

Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is located in the Southwestern end of France or 497 miles south of Paris and is very close to the Spanish boarder. There are several ways of getting there during a vacation to Europe. You can get there by rail, car or get an airline ticket for the local airport. The nearest airport was approximately 20 minutes from the town center for persons who wish to get there by air. I choose to travel by rail during my visit as it was inexpensive and it gave me the opportunity to see the French countryside. It was very picturesque and was littered with numerous huge farms of sunflowers, corn, and vegetables among other crops. The sunflower farms were extremely beautiful with acres of yellow and green.

The population is in the region of 15,000 but that number swells drastically due to the large influx of tourists and pilgrims throughout the year. It is estimated that a total of 5 million visitors travel to Lourdes annually. The best time to go on vacation is from March to October as the rest of the year is rather cold.

Interestingly Lourdes has 2 sections which vastly differ from each other. The international section by the river consists of the spiritual area containing the grotto and churches. The second area is the French portion centered around the marketplace and the Hotel de Ville.

On arrival at the train station several taxis were available for the transfer to my hotel. I was fortunate to have booked a hotel within walking distance from the grotto and was able to walk there without any difficulty. It is important to get a hotel near the grotto if you are physically challenged as there is a small hill from the train station to the grotto. Please note that the town is friendly to walkers and it is easy to get around the town center. I observed that numerous hotels were available to visitors. It is estimated that Lourdes has about 270 hotels and is second only to Paris in hotel density per square mile.

It is famous for the apparitions of our lady of Lourdes that occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Salubrious. Since, it has developed into a major place for Roman Catholic pilgrimages and miraculous healing. Bernadette saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in the hollow of a rock. No one saw the vision although other people were present with her during some of the lady’s appearance. One day she was told to drink water from a mysterious spring in the grotto area. At the time there was no sign or existence of a spring but to everyone amazement water gushed out after she dug a hole in the ground.

Lourdes is the largest Catholic pilgrimage destination in France and one of the most popular catholic shrines in the world. The sacred grotto and site of the spring that Bernadette discovered, is now one of the major pilgrimage sites in Lourdes, as millions come to drink its waters, which are believed to have healing powers. A statue of the Virgin Mary was erected in the grotto in 1864, where it can still be seen today.

I attended the evening procession which takes place every day from 5:00 pm. The procession began in the grotto with the sick and disabled at the front followed by several different groups and ends in the underground Basilica. The Basilica of St. Pius was constructed almost entirely underground. It is a sight to behold because it is a unique type of architecture and was built to accommodate the large crowds that visit the shrine. The sanctuary is situated on a raised platform and the ceiling is low and is supported by pre-stressed concrete pillars which meet 29 concrete beams which cross the ceiling, giving it the impression of an upside down ship. This design creates a very large open space for maximum visibility from any part of the nave. When full it can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers.

It is understood that international masses are held in 6 languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Dutch. The masses are held simultaneously on Sunday mornings and the choir is open to anyone who arrives early. You can rehearse with the choir and sing with people of all 6 languages. You also have an excellent view of the mass from the choir.

There are nightly candle light processions in front of the Basilica and around the main square. People sing and pray the rosary in many languages. The procession of the sick to the underground basilica each afternoon is particular moving.

I was not only captivated by the beautiful and unique structures but experienced the presence of holiness. During my stay I felt at peace with myself and my God and bathed in the spirit. I would recommend a visit to Lourdes during a vacation to Europe because it is a spiritual experience more than words can ever describe.

Dominica is the Nature Island

The approach to Dominica is breath taking as you descend between the mountains in a sea of greenery. Although I have visited the island during several Caribbean cruises from Florida, I was still amazed at the beautiful vegetation of the island. The lush mountains were covered with numerous canopies of vines that create an umbrella over the tall shrubs. As the aircraft came to a stop at Melville Hall, Dominica, I could not avoid the amazing sight of tall coconut palm trees swaying in the breeze as if they were bowing their branches, welcoming me to the island.

In a previous post, I mentioned the purpose of this visit to the island. I was born in the Caribbean and have visited several of the other islands during my stay there. I am fortuntate to have benefited from several Caribbean cruise deals to the region. Dominica is also known as the Commonwealth of Dominica to differentiate it from the better known Dominica Republic which shares the island with Haiti and Hispaniola. Several persons do claim the island is an undiscovered paradise, so I intended to confirm if she deserved the name of “Nature Island “of the Caribbean.

My first expedition took me to Dominica’s Morne Trois Piton National Park which was established in July 1975 by an act of parliament and was the first of Dominica’s park to be legally established. In 1998 it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It was the first enlisted natural site in the Eastern Caribbean, and its inauguration was also marked with a Regional conference on the World Heritage Convention. The national park protects some of the islands clear streams, mountains and some of the tropical virgin forest for their educational, scientific and scenic values. Today the park includes numerous attractions like the Boiling Lake, Valley of Desolation, Boeri Lake/Fresh Water Lake and the Emerald pool among other attractions.

One of the many attractions in the Morne Trois Piton National Park is the Emerald pool. It is a very popular area for bathing and is a short walking distance from the main motor able road to Castle Bruce. The Emerald Pool has a strong appeal to locals and tourist alike because it is surrounded by many of the island beautiful ferns and faunas. Also, the water is crystal clear but it can be cold as it is shaded by several trees.

My next visit was to the lesser known Northern National Park which consists of 23, 000 acres of land in the Northern part of the island. The major attraction of this national park is the mile long walk Syndicate rainforest trail. In this national park I came across the Balata tree. People claim that this tree is one of the hardest trees in existence. The wood from the tree was widely used for engineering bushes in sugar cane mills when the brass ran out.

During my walk through the rain forest, I was over whelmed and surprised by its quietness. It was very isolated and I did not come across anyone during a two hour hike. It was like walking into another world of peace and tranquility with the silence being interrupted occasionally by the distant sound of a melodious song of a bird chirping from the foliage. The air was fresh and crisp and was filled with a rich aroma floating from the beautiful flowers and vegetation.

It should be noted that the syndicate area is the home of two parrots found only in Dominica. The Amazon Imperial which is known locally as the Sisserou Parrot and is the island’s national bird. The other parrot is the red neck and is referred to locally as the Jaco (Amazon Arausiaca). It is smaller than the Sisserou parrot and can be found at much lower elevations than the Sisserou. I was fortunate during my visit to the Syndicate Forest to catch a glimpse of the Sisserou parrot. Passing through some wild tall growing bushes and tangled vine I came to an abrupt halt and looked in the direction of some trees where I heard an unusual sound. I slowly looked towards the light between the tall trees and saw the shadow of a Sisserou - the largest Amazon Parrot. She was a real beauty as the upper parts and back was mostly green and purple with a bluish head. There was also a red streak on the wing tips and a green-tipped red tail.

Another big attraction in Dominica is the boiling lake, which is considered the biggest in the world. It is a very long and tedious walk to get there, so I began my journey very early that morning. The trip is approximately 6.5 miles or three and a half hours walking distance each way. Unfortunately the day was rainy and the trail was muddy and very difficult. The trail was clear and well kept but it did not help my fear as some areas were winding across rocks and ridges. The trail took me across the Breakfast River, where I stopped for refreshments and got re-energized. An interesting part of the trip was the Valley of Desolation which contained several holes in the ground from which flowed warm springs. After some walking I saw the distant vapor of the boiling lake rising from the forest floor accompanied by a strong smell of sulphur. Although the walk was tiring, the sight of the boiling lake took all my fatigue away. The lake is located in a basin and looked like a huge melting pot of sulphur.

On the return journey, I stopped for a refreshing bath in an area called “Titou Gorge”, near a small village called Laudat. The water was enticing and refreshing to my aching feet and muscles. I wish to mention that Dominica has 365 rivers (one for each day in the year), and several waterfalls. One of the more popular falls is called the Trafalgar Twin Waterfalls which is approximately 20 minutes driving distance from the capital, Roseau. The rivers are crystal clear and are all suitable for bathing.

I was told that a visit to Dominica without going whale watching would be an incomplete vacation. After some quick investigations, I joined a tour party for a very reasonable price. I was the first person to arrive at the pick-up point but was joined later by several other persons who came from cruises from Florida. The first hour of the trip was uneventful as the boat navigated from one location to the other. The only visible movement on the horizon was the occasional bird that would hover above then plunged into the water seeking a meal. Our host was still confident that we would spot whales although I did not share his optimism. Everyone was very disappointed as we made our journey back to the harbor. A sudden exclamation of joy from the left side of the boat had everyone turning in that direction. I could hardly believe my eyes as a number of grey shapes were surfacing then disappearing beneath the water. At one point it appeared that they were trying to keep pace with the boat – as the boat went forward so did the school of happy melon –headed whales.

Dominican has a much slower pace of life than most developed countries and it appeared that people were very happy to socialize and talk about their island with visitors. I think one of the of Dominica’s biggest asset is its people. The island is a small nation with a population of approximately Seventy thousand, but everyone has a big heart. The people are free spirited and enjoy life to the max. 

There are several ways to visit the island and enjoy the beauty nature has to offer. You can also participate in the fun and frolic during carnival and the islands independence celebrations from Great Britain. Apart from flights from the locally owned Caribbean airline, there are direct connections to the US main land via Puerto Rico. In addition, all the major cruise lines do regular stop over during the Caribbean cruise season. The best time to visit the island would be during the cruise off season so you can benefit from the large number of Caribbean cruise deals that are available.

The greenery of the island is unbelievable. This was truly an isle of Nature or seemingly an unspoiled natural beauty. It is untouched and has a lot to offer the visitor. It is said that Christopher Columbus would recognize the island if he returned to the island today. What Dominica lacks in beaches and fancy resorts it makes up with hiking trail through rugged terrain. There are few places on earth that remains so untouched and yet as accessible as Dominica – indeed it is the Nature Island of the Caribbean. A visitor will forever carry the memories of the boiling lake, national parks, soul-stirring songs of the multi colored birds, and awe-inspiring sight of diving whales that touched my life with its majestic presence.