TLCOhio

Found some more visuals from Thailand and Malaysia that might be of interest. Fascinating areas that attract many tourist visitors. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums From Phuket, here are a few more from this area with many cultural influences seen in their designs and style. .: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) In downtown Phuket, their street light fixtures had a design to look like a bird cage. First time seeing this special style.: Gas prices? Here is what I captured in Phuket for those costs. BUT, I did not translate the costs in dollars per US gallon. Too complex with lots of hard work for my brain to calculate?: Like to sample local beers in Asia? Here was a good and popular brand in Malaysia that was enjoyed.:

From MSN News and Travel+Leisure magazine two days ago, they had this headline: “Here's What It's Like To Stay In Singapore's Most Iconic Hotel” with these highlights: “Marina Bay Sands is a dizzying playground. Whether it looks like a boat, three decks of cards, or is simply an ingenious design by architect Moshe Safdie, the building has become synonymous with the Singapore skyline since it opened in 2010 — and now, it’s recently undergone a billion-dollar renovation, majorly upgrading more than 1,000 rooms in Towers 1 and 2. There is so much going on at the Marina Bay Sands that it often feels like more than a hotel. It is its own microcosm of Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub, a cocktail bar haven, and the poshest place in Asia." Many interesting details for this complex are detailed in this story. This also includes: "With close to 50 food and beverage options spread around Marina Bay Sands, 11 of which are in the actual hotel, even the pickiest eaters will find something. There’s fine dining by celebrity chefs like Daniel Boulud, Gordon Ramsey, and Wolfgang Puck. The SkyPark is undoubtedly a major draw for guests. This rooftop area spans nearly three acres and is large enough to park four-and-a-half jumbo jets." As mentioned earlier, from our visit there earlier this year, this Marina Bay Sands is fascinating to see from different angles outside and we super enjoyed the sights and view on and from its top level. Not sure I would stay here as it is so large, vast and overwhelming. The charm of an airport terminal? But, it is well worth sampling and visiting briefly. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/heres-what-its-like-to-stay-in-singapores-most-iconic-hotel/ar-AA1ppcVL?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

From MSN News and Travel+Leisure magazine two days ago, they had this headline by KATIE LOCKHART: “Here's What It's Like To Stay In Singapore's Most Iconic Hotel” with these highlights: “Marina Bay Sands is a dizzying playground. Whether it looks like a boat, three decks of cards, or is simply an ingenious design by architect Moshe Safdie, the building has become synonymous with the Singapore skyline since it opened in 2010 — and now, it’s recently undergone a billion-dollar renovation, majorly upgrading more than 1,000 rooms in Towers 1 and 2. There is so much going on at the Marina Bay Sands that it often feels like more than a hotel. It is its own microcosm of Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub, a cocktail bar haven, and the poshest place in Asia." Many interesting details for this complex are detailed in this story. This also includes: "With close to 50 food and beverage options spread around Marina Bay Sands, 11 of which are in the actual hotel, even the pickiest eaters will find something. There’s fine dining by celebrity chefs like Daniel Boulud, Gordon Ramsey, and Wolfgang Puck. The SkyPark is undoubtedly a major draw for guests. This rooftop area spans nearly three acres and is large enough to park four-and-a-half jumbo jets." As mentioned earlier, from our visit there earlier this year, this Marina Bay Sands is fascinating to see from different angles outside and we super enjoyed the sights and view on and from its top level. Not sure I would stay here as it is so large, vast and overwhelming. The charm of an airport terminal? But, it is well worth sampling and visiting briefly. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/heres-what-its-like-to-stay-in-singapores-most-iconic-hotel/ar-AA1ppcVL?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Enjoy the Caribbean? Here are two popular posts/links with thousands of views with much info for . . . . Grenada https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2179927-grenada-pixs-fun-experiences-jan2015/page/2/#comment-66823149 Or, Aruba: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2178325-aruba-pixs-fun-experiences-feb2015/page/3/#comment-66677721

YES to our friend in Oregon!! The Ducks are loaded with talent and skilled coaches. The Nike money and support have made their teams excellent in recent years. Did watch the ESPN Gameday where two of their experts picked Oregon to win the National Championship. Will be watching Oregon closely leading up the game hosting Ohio State in Eugene. Prior to that Oct. 12 showdown, the Ducks must play Oregon State, UCLA and Michigan State. As another unique twist, former Oregon and UCLA Head Coach Chip Kelly is now at Ohio State as their Offensive Coordinator. Great questions as to where Oregon State and Washington State end up as all of the college conference re-organizations continue to evolve. Keep tuned in. Lots of good upcoming games and match-ups. Will share with friends in Ohio your insights and background about the Oregon athletic machine. Hopefully, those in your state will welcome the Buckeyes when they visited on Oct. 12. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singapore 2024: Live/Blog over 22,300 views with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

Royal Caribbean is up, UP big-time this morning. Much above other stocks today. Long-term trend? What driving this jump? Getting closer now to their 52-week high. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this great tip/follow-up as to this very talented Aussie kicker. Had not followed and will share with others the super skills for this punter. Good news!! BUT, in our American version of what we call football, punters are not needed and kicking that much if the offense is successful in moving the ball down the field, scoring touchdowns and kicking field goals to score points. For our Ohio State, their few games are against lesser teams. The first "BIGGIE" game will be on Oct. 12, when they travel to the third-ranked Oregon campus to play the fast-moving Ducks. Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington are now in the Big Ten (with 18 teams) and this is the first season when this mostly Midwest league will be totally Coast-to-Coast with their league games. For those college football fans, the changes are big with NIL, new conference alignments, the rich getting richer, a 12-team play-off to decide a National Champion, etc. Any other college football fans here at the Cooler? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals, Our firsts in these scenic areas! Now at 22,836 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

From this financial news website and MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “A booming stock market isn't stopping bears from sounding the alarm on a potential crash.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Bearish strategists are warning of a potential stock market plunge as the economy cools down. Indicators like the Sahm Rule and job market weakness suggest a looming recession, the bears say. One strategist predicts that a recession could cause a 70% stock market decline amid lofty valuations. While the stock market doesn't seem to care about these predictions as the S&P 500 is less than 1% away from hitting record highs, there's still plenty to be worried about, according to Wall Street's biggest bears. Billionaire investor Mark Mobius told CNBC this week that the decline in M2 money supply since it peaked in 2022 represents the largest drawdown in the total money supply in nearly a century.” Are you a "Bear" or "Bull"?? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/a-booming-stock-market-isnt-stopping-bears-from-sounding-the-alarm-on-a-potential-crash-heres-what-theyre-worried-about/ar-AA1poPKK?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 36,018 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

In the past, i have used the firm linked below to do scanning of color slides going back to the 1970's from Europe travels and a massive number of color print negatives. Sent them this huge number of items and they worked it out well as the below slide digital transition shows from being in Paris at the Louvre before the I.M. Pei Glass Pyramid was built. At that time (and probably still done today), their scanning is processed in India. Lots of labor is involved in this process, but this Scancafe firm is worth considering. https://www.scancafe.com/services/movies THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Hang in, Lois!! Don't despair! That was only the first game. It is a very long season and Florida State has a very good head coach with much talent. Things will improve, hopefully. Many good teams get surprised early in the season, get their "act" together and improve as the experience and "team chemistry" jell. What's next? For those in the US who like college football, below are the games for this upcoming weekend that seem to me most interesting and challenging. Even though FSU lost for Lois and the 'Noles fans, it was an exciting and highly-competitive game for fan to watch on TV. Thriller down to the final seconds!! Saturday, August 31, 2024 #14 Clemson vs. #1 Georgia in Atlanta, 12:00 noon (ET for all times) on ABC #8 Penn State at West Virginia, 12:00 noon on FOX #19 Miami at Florida, 3:30 PM on ABC #7 Notre Dame at #20 Texas A&M, 7:30 PM on ABC Sunday, September 1, 2024 # 23 USC at #13 LSU in Las Vegas, 7:30 PM on ABC THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Appreciate the follow-ups from Spins, our California friend who had been in Ireland last year for Notre Dame-Navy and Lois. Earlier this afternoon, Lois was happy with a long, long 59-yard field goal by your Florida State. The final ESPN headline, however, ended up being: "Georgia Tech stuns No. 10 FSU with winning FG as time expires." With the scored tied at 21-21, the final 44-yard field goal by Georgia Tech won the game in a thrilling, exciting manner in Dublin, Ireland. Good luck to Lois and FSU next week when they host Boston College on Sept. 2. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 36,018 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

Appreciate these varied experiences, comments and follow-ups about "our" Silver Moon that we enjoyed in February, Mumbai to Singapore. You nicely mentioned and highlighted Martin Kaye. YES!!! We enjoyed him so much during two different shows on our Silver Moon cruise. Below are a couple of my visuals to illustrate his high-energy and entertaining, unique style. Fun!! For La Dame, we had an absolutely perfect and spectacular dinner there while sailing in February on the Silver Moon. We were luck as this location was not heavily booked that evening. That made the atmosphere, quality and service even so much better. As Paula noted, the room, place setting, etc., are spectacular!! Agree with Paula that the entertainment cast shows could use some upgrading and improvement. Looks like this is an area where the Silversea "bean-counters" are trying to pinch pennies, cut quality and trim costs. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singapore 2024: Live/Blog over 22,300 views with many visuals from the Silver Moon, including the exploration of the “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

From CNBC cable and MSN News this past week, they had this headline by ZENITH WONG: “Planning a luxury trip to Singapore? Here's where to stay, shop and eat” with these highlights: “For many, Singapore — the city that inspired 'Crazy Rich Asians' — is synonymous with luxury, with top-tier accommodations, high-end shopping and restaurants. But where to stay, shop and eat in a city that has so many options? CNBC's 'First Class' series takes viewers into the city's top hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, with an insider's look into The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, home to an underwater tunnel that connects the main building to a floating Louis Vuitton store.” Featured is a 15-minute video that includes interviews with the General Manager of the famed Raffles Hotel and the Head Chef at the highly-rated Odette dining location. This report focuses on the high-end, luxury, more costly options. Here are a few visuals from this report, including about sights to see and shopping options: For our interests in late February and early March, shopping was not our priority. But, this video news segment brought back nice memories and added background from our time at the Marina Bay Sands and the Raffles Hotel. Many great options in Singapore. BUT, bring your wallet and credit cards. Luxury is there, but is priced accordingly. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/planning-a-luxury-trip-to-singapore-heres-what-to-do-and-where-to-stay/ar-AA1p0WkN?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Abu Dhabi vs. Dubai? Many different UAE tips, options, ideas, visuals, etc., with more than 22,700 views at: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2521493-abu-dhabi-vs-dubai-procon-factors/page/5/#comment-66634467

Here in the "Colonies", we have a cute and mostly true saying that goes like this: "Happy Wife. Happy Life". Right? While it is not important to most in other parts of the world, right now in the USA for many here, something super, super important is now starting. It's the start of the college football season. (Yes, we know that is different from the type of "football" played in the rest of globe as to what we called "soccer". Today at noon in Dublin, Ireland, Florida State University is playing Georgia Tech (from Atlanta). Yes, long way to travel to Ireland, but that's sports and TV these days. There are only a handful of games this weekend. A week from now, they will have a full and very big schedule of games. Then in early September, the National Football League (NFL) will commence. The NFL teams are the "professional". Maybe? Good or bad, college sports has now become more and more like the pro's. That is a much longer and confusing discussion. Student athletes getting paid?? Below is a visual from this game now being played in Ireland: THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Ship building? Doing well with future new cruise line orders? From the Associated Press/AP newswire and MSN News earlier this week, they had this headline: “Germany pledges government will help rescue a troubled cruise ship maker” with these highlights: “Germany's government will help rescue a major German shipyard that has solid orders for new cruise ships but has run into financial difficulty, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday. Meyer Werft employs more than 3,000 people in Papenburg on the Ems river in northwestern Germany. The company has build 58 cruise ships so far, according to its website. It has run into financial trouble because it has had to pay much of the cost of building cruise ships up front. Scholz cited the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as one factor in its troubles. German media reported that the planned solution would involve the federal and state governments temporarily taking a stake in the company and financing a capital increase for the shipyard.” We forget at times the cruise business has complicated finances, including for funding and building new ships. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/germanys-scholz-pledges-that-his-government-will-help-rescue-a-troubled-cruise-ship-maker/ar-AA1pflKM?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 54,848 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

Is this another "angle" to consider before investing your money in Norwegian stock? From another financial news website and Yahoo News two days ago, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is largely controlled by institutional shareholders who own 67% of the company” with these highlights: “Significantly high institutional ownership implies Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' stock price is sensitive to their trading actions. A total of 18 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership.” Is this good or bad? Here is more from their report: "Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time." Full story at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-holdings-ltd-181207820.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 56,855 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

Much bubbling and happening involving Norwegian and their future finances, etc.. From MSN News and this financial news website earlier this week, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line Sails Into Troubled Waters As Financial Struggles, Bearish Trends Persist” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has faced rough seas this year, with its stock down 13.02% year-to-date, a 6.32% decline over the past year, and a sharp 19.23% drop in just the past month. The company's financial outlook is under pressure, and with significant industry headwinds on the horizon, investors are left questioning whether the worst is still to come.” Here is more details and background from their reporting: "Norwegian Cruise Line’s financial position raises red flags. The company expects its net leverage to decrease by only 1.5 turns from 2023 to 2024. This modest improvement highlights potential difficulties in de-leveraging effectively. Additionally, Norwegian may struggle to keep pace with its peers in terms of capacity growth. Competitors are projecting year-over-year decreases in capital expenditures, casting doubt on Norwegian's ability to meet market expectations." Much technical data is shared in this analysis and they finish with this question: "Rough Seas Ahead?" Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/norwegian-cruise-line-sails-into-troubled-waters-as-financial-struggles-bearish-trends-persist/ar-AA1p8nGD?ocid=BingNewsVerp THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 57,249 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Sorry, above, I goofed and did not post the link to live/blog noted. See below. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 252,626 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From CNN, the cable news network, in the past week, they had this headline: “‘World’s most famous’ helipad on Burj al Arab turns 25” with interesting background for the growth and rise of Dubai in the UAE. Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Dubai in 1993 was a world away from the global capital of today. The city had yet to establish itself as a destination for the rich and powerful. The tallest building remained the first skyscraper ever built in Dubai: the World Trade Center at a mere 149 meters tall. That year, British architecture firm Atkins Global was approached by the Dubai ruler’s office with a brief to design a building that would 'create an identifiable link for people around the world with the UAE. Simon Crispe, Atkins’ managing director in the Middle East, recalls being asked 'to provide the UAE with the powerful visual symbol of the same significance Sydney’s Opera House is to Australia or Paris’ Tour Eiffel is to France.' An international team of architects spent the next seven years under a veil of secrecy creating the man-made island and 321-meter tall building. The Burj al Arab (which means 'Arabian Tower' in Arabic) opened its doors in 1999.” For this hotel, here is more for one of its key features: "Suspended 212 meters above sea level, the hotel’s helipad juts out precariously from the distinctive sail shape of the building. 'The main challenge was ensuring that the helipad was structurally sound and supported the overall architecture of the hotel,' the Burj al Arab’s former managing director, Anthony Costa, told CNN in 2019. The 27-meter-wide helipad can accommodate a maximum weight of 7.5 tons." Fascinating!! We did make it inside or stay at this famous icon, but it was fun to see and photograph this landmark. Now I know more of its history. Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/19/travel/jumeirah-burj-al-arab-helipad-spc/index.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 252,626 views.

From the Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, below are the charts for the three major cruise lines during the past five trading days. WOW!! What I big, BIG positive UPSWING today. What was driving this major shift?? Interest rates to be cut? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 69,101 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008 For the past five trading days, below are the charts for the past week. Some differences this week as to how RCL moved versus the other two major companies?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) By contrast, Viking had a very different past week of trading.: For comparison, here is the broader, overall S&P 500 Index during this past week.:

The great funnies and food/cooking treats keep rolling at The Cooler!! Appreciate the excellent sharing and fun. To offer future travel options and/or bring back memories for those who have visited and enjoyed Athens and Greece, here is more news/insights to consider. From the Wall Street Journal for their weekend edition, they had this headline: “Athens Just Might Be the Most Underrated Capital City in Europe" with this sub-headline: "The Greek capital was the cradle of Western civilization, but it has far more to offer today than its famed ancient ruins.” Here are some of the reporting highlights by author Tony Perrottet: “When I first visited over two decades ago, I found it a sprawling, gridlocked and gritty eyesore with graffiti-covered streets. Back then, most travelers allocated a day to visit the Acropolis, then fled to the glittering beaches and seafood tavernas. Energetic Greek expats returned during the pandemic had opened restaurants, galleries, cafes and boutiques, and were joined by European bohemians flooding south in search of cheap rents and sunshine. All of this has turned the Greek capital into one of the most livable and entertaining cities in Europe.” Many specifics and details are offered, including for "underground dining" including at Diporto’s naturally cool cellar lined with wine barrels, doing post-Acropolis therapy such at the sandwich store Guarantee using local ingredients, rocking the Odeon of Herodes Atticus amphitheater with summer theater and concerts, art in the red-light district for contemporary-art centers at the Breeder, options at rooftops bar-restaurants such as at the gilt-and-marble Hotel Grand Bretagne and the new Metro stop Dimotiko Theatro in the port district of Piraeus, where the Athenian fleet was constructed in the era of Pericles. Lots of history and aspects to explore in Athens. Here is an interesting, different option cited: Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, considered one of the finest in Europe. People forget that ancient Athens was the trade gateway to Egypt and the Middle East and what one historian called “the first truly global city” as for more than 350 years, Athens was a key outpost of the Ottoman Empire. This WSJ article is behind a tight paywall, but might be obtained from a local library source. Good to check it out if Athens is on your future to-do list. Bring back nice Athens memories? Any good Athens tips from those visiting there recently? Below are two of our favorite visuals from being there during visits in 2006 and 2018. Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/athens-greece-visitors-guide-e0050af2?mod=lifestyle_feat1_travel_pos3 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 69,101 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

From the Wall Street Journal for their weekend edition, they had this headline: “Athens Just Might Be the Most Underrated Capital City in Europe" with this sub-headline: "The Greek capital was the cradle of Western civilization, but it has far more to offer today than its famed ancient ruins.” Here are some of the reporting highlights by author Tony Perrottet: “When I first visited over two decades ago, I found it a sprawling, gridlocked and gritty eyesore with graffiti-covered streets. Back then, most travelers allocated a day to visit the Acropolis, then fled to the glittering beaches and seafood tavernas. Energetic Greek expats returned during the pandemic had opened restaurants, galleries, cafes and boutiques, and were joined by European bohemians flooding south in search of cheap rents and sunshine. All of this has turned the Greek capital into one of the most livable and entertaining cities in Europe.” Many specifics and details are offered, including for "underground dining" including at Diporto’s naturally cool cellar lined with wine barrels, doing post-Acropolis therapy such at the sandwich store Guarantee using local ingredients, rocking the Odeon of Herodes Atticus amphitheater with summer theater and concerts, art in the red-light district for contemporary-art centers at the Breeder, options at rooftops bar-restaurants such as at the gilt-and-marble Hotel Grand Bretagne and the new Metro stop Dimotiko Theatro in the port district of Piraeus, where the Athenian fleet was constructed in the era of Pericles. Lots of history and aspects to explore in Athens. Here is an interesting, different option cited: Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, considered one of the finest in Europe. People forget that ancient Athens was the trade gateway to Egypt and the Middle East and what one historian called “the first truly global city” as for more than 350 years, Athens was a key outpost of the Ottoman Empire. This WSJ article is behind a tight paywall, but might be obtained from a local library source. Good to check it out if Athens is on your future to-do list. Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/athens-greece-visitors-guide-e0050af2?mod=lifestyle_feat1_travel_pos3 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Appreciate this great follow-up about connections in Istanbul. Glad to hear things are working out. Happy to be of any help for those exploring any parts of the world where we have experienced. Fun sharing! From a financial news website and Yahoo News late last week, they had this headline: “Disney is betting big on cruises. This is why it needs to.” with these highlights: “Disney Cruise Line has big plans to expand its five-ship fleet. The company plans to debut eight ships over the next seven years, including its first two in Asia. Disney also launched its second private port, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.” Disney is not a direct competitor to Silversea, but they has a deep-pocketed owner with billions of dollars to spend. New-builds and more cruise capacity does impact all of the cruise lines, especially when we do not know when the next economic slow-down . . . or recession . . . will hit. Maybe of interest, this story shared this expanding approach/focus for Asia; "Two of the eight ships would have their home ports in Asia, a first for the cruise company: Disney Adventure, scheduled to debut in Singapore in 2025, and another unnamed ship, set to be operated in Japan by Oriental Land Company, which runs Disney's theme parks in the country." Full story at: https://news.yahoo.com/news/disney-betting-big-cruises-142227384.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 76,449 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Appreciate the great food visuals, funny humor, etc. Sorry, have not had as much recent time to drop by and post more. Did folks in the USA notice today that long-time TV show moderator Phil Donahue had passed away at age 88? For my photo files, here from the late 1980’s when we were in New York City is my wife pictured with the talk show host after attending one of his tapings at 30 Rockefeller Center. Plus, included is the ticket stub and his signed autograph! Phil Donahue started as a news reporter in Dayton, Ohio, and initially had his interview show syndicated just to a small number of midwest stations. Then, things got bigger and bigger with his show, famous guests, lively discussions/debates. He later was married to TV star Marlo Thomas, daughter of early TV comedy pioneer Danny Thomas. Rest in peace to Phil Donahue. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate your quick follow-up and glad that you mentioned having some options with Tours by Local being planned. As mentioned earlier, we used Danny T. with Tours by Longs and he was super wonderful. Great, super knowledgeable guide who knew and shared so much of the Singapore history/context. Great that you made mention of "HEAT and HUMIDITY". It can be warm there in Singapore, plus the humidity. We sensed and experienced it in late February and early March. See the chart below. Through the year, the high temperatures are averaging in the upper 80'sF. That warm for us. Prepare and plan accordingly. Especially during most days to be walking long distances, unless your body is used to these warm conditions. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon vs. Porto? Many different Portugal tips, options, ideas, visuals, etc. with more than 32,600 views at: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2558841-lisbon-vs-porto-which-best/page/7/#comment-66782296 From Wikipedia, here is their month-by-month weather chart showing the average high's, rainfall, humidity, etc. Interesting data, including having it in both C and F.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

From our experience earlier this year in Singapore, keep in mind that is is a big, BIG sprawling city, but with many good transportation options and potentials. As this below Google map shows, your hotel is at some distance from Marina Bay and certain key attractions. The large red dot on the left middle of this graphic shows your hotel location. You will be near the Singapore River, but a number of blocks from many key attractions, including many fun sites/options along this river nearer to the amazing Marina Bay. Unless you are young and super skilled, it will be challenging to walk from there to the Merion, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade Concert Hall, etc. Given this location, be sure to research and plan ahead as to what are your highest priorities to see, do and experience. What's most important for you personally in Singapore? Shopping? Museums? Amusement parks? Night light/music programs? Dining variety? Architecture? Historic, nationality sections such as Chinatown or the Arab Quarter? Music? Nature? Floral displays? Street food? The good news? Lots of great options in Singapore!! But, my guess is that your time is limited. Right? How flexible is your budget? Public transportation there is very good, but takes more time and logistics compared to having a private guide and driver. For our first day there, having a skilled private guide and driver allowed us to see, do and enjoy much, much more. PLUS, understand what we were seeing, knowing why it was important, get ALL of our questions answered, etc. I am sure agape01 can offer additional insights and excellent tips. BUT, in my view, do not just arrive at your hotel and assume you can only "walk around" from that location in order to sample most of the 'Best of the Best" in Singapore. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singapore 2024: Live/Blog over 21,000 views with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/