TLCOhio

Just to help our travel friend from Virginia (and save us from twisting our necks too much), below are those two visuals rotated. Both looking good and bringing back great memories from scenic Norway on a Silversea ship. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From Conde Nast Traveler magazine, they had this headline: “17 Best Hotels in Venice" with this sub-headline: "In the city where it pays to know what you want when you book.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “In this labyrinthine warren of a city, it pays to be clear about what you want when booking a room: tourist-addled Venice’s classic hotels cluster around St. Mark’s square, along the Grand Canal to the west, and on the riva degli Schiavoni to the east. Elsewhere in the city you’ll find everything from backpacker hostels and intimate B&Bs, to design-forward four-stars and owner-rentals galore. A ‘canal view’ will cost extra, but could mean anything from a spectacular Grand Canal vista to an awkward squint down into mosquito-infested backwater. An inwards-facing room can be far quieter than one that looks out onto a busy thoroughfare—as long as ‘inwards’ means over a courtyard or garden, and not onto a dead wall, that is.” A nice range of inviting pictures are featured for many of the higher-end, etc., hotels in Venice. Many options are featured. If I would win the Mega Powerball Super Lottery, here would be a quick pick for me: "Gritti Palace. In a city with such a concentration of luxe hotels, none do it quite like this Grand Canal classic. Though the 15th-century palazzo—now a member of the Luxury Collection—has been open to guests since 1895, a 15-month, $200 million revamp in 2013 ensured that it’s no creaky museum piece." Full story at: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-hotels-in-venice?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_Daily_AM_071023&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5db3f99524c17c23c34ecf3e&cndid=6657468&hasha=e1ca3019f9f535a4b98389997c63b892&hashb=7daf2541a0de702392cfe60ed513a5c2d1d23598&hashc=f541a9e649534cc2931bd57d58d8c2cac2bb8c5d298f722bad5b05cc8ad5ece2&esrc=IDCONDENAST_REGGATE&utm_term=CNT_Daily THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 51,808 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

Is this the new "Dress Code" with Silversea? Any word from J.P. as to what time they returned home and how they are doing at work this morning? Below are a couple of tee-shirts that I saw advertised on the Internet for men to wear. Any buyers here? They apparently come in a variety of colors!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Cute and true observation by Mr. Luxury. To complicate the challenges for Chris and J.P. in flying back from Lima and dealing with tomorrow, here is a current NYC headline: “Sunday storms dump 7 inches of rain to parts of NY, bringing major flooding risk" with this sub-headline: "Heavy rain will be in and out Sunday and into Monday morning as a slow-moving front slides through the region.” Full story at: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/weather/sunday-storms-expected-to-slam-ny-and-nj-bringing-major-flooding-risk/4489512/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Safe travels back for Chris and J.P. Yes, you will need "Lots of Luck" tomorrow in return to work. You have done much at high elevations, with long flights, etc. Love the visuals, summaries, details, etc. Great, as always, sharing!! Fun to travel along. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the MSN News and a financial news website this morning, they had this headline: “These are the cruise ships with the best — and worst — sanitation scores so far this year” with these highlights: “There's nothing like a stomach virus to ruin your vacation, as hundreds of cruise ship passengers have unfortunately learned this year. The CDC has reported 13 Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships so far in 2023. The last time the industry's yearly gastrointestinal illness outbreak total was that high was back in 2016 — and it's only July.” Great news for Silversea? The Silver Moon was listed as one of 15 cruise ships with perfect scores of 100. Excellent!! My guess is that the rest of the Silversea ship tested scored between 96 and 99. AND, for the 15 cruise ships with scores below a 95, not one was for a Silversea sailing craft. More good news. Of those 14 ships scoring only between 94 and 86, it included, in order from best scoring down to those lower: Freedom of the Seas/Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Gem, Explorer of the Seas/Royal Caribbean, Azamara Onward, Island Princess, Queen Victoria/Cunard, Noordam/Holland America, Star Pride/Wind Star, Le Boreal/Ponant, Norwegian Epic, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Pride. The MSC Seaside was the lowest of group, only scoring a 67. Not good!! They noted in summary: "The majority of vessels have received scores in the high nineties." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/these-are-the-cruise-ships-with-the-best-and-worst-sanitation-scores-so-far-this-year/ar-AA1dCK3E 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 the Travel+Leisure magazine last week, they had this headline: “Best Times to Visit Dubai for Beautiful Weather, Lower Prices, and Fewer Crowds” with these highlights: “Dubai is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Middle East, known for its iconic mix of cutting-edge glitz and traditional culture found in its souks and cafes. The best —and most popular— time to visit Dubai is from November to March when temperatures are pleasant and outdoor activities abound. Summer months get a bad rap because of the extreme heat, but Chef Kelvin Cheung, chef and partner at Jun’s, finds joy in both seasons. The shoulder season is a much-overlooked time to visit Dubai offering milder temperatures (in the 80s and 90s) and less-crowded streets.” This profile also noted: "Many visitors fall in love with Dubai because of the people — the city is home to diverse residents and attracts tourists from all over the world. Fewer crowds coincide with more favorable accommodation rates. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, your best bet is to visit anywhere from April to October. This falls within shoulder and low seasons when residents have left the country and tourists are few and far between." Full story at: https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-time-to-visit-dubai-7555350 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 19,463 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Appreciate this follow-up. Yes, Stockholm has lots to offer and it is almost impossible to sample it reasonably in just one port-day stop. From Travel+Leisure magazine earlier this month, they had this headline: “Oslo Is One of Europe’s Coolest Cities" with this sub-headline: "Where to stay, what to eat, and where to shop in Norway's capital.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Within hours of landing in Oslo, the Norwegian capital presented me with a prismatic fantasy version of itself. Did I come here to order warm cheese buns and a pilsner on the patio of the cultural center and café Litteraturhuset? Over the course of a week in early September, Oslo insisted on presenting an idealized montage of blazing sunsets, arresting art, bracing fjord swims, and a populace that’s exactly as cool as I’d imagined. Is there a city right now that feels as culturally inclined, well funded, and environmentally minded as Oslo (crowned “Green Capital” by the European Commission in 2019)? Since the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the late 1960s, Norway has gone from being one of the most underdeveloped countries in the region to one of the richest on the planet.” Many different options for Oslo are outlined and detailed in the profile. Full story at: https://www.travelandleisure.com/oslo-where-to-stay-what-to-eat-7509454 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 19,463 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

From the London/UK Independent in late June, they had this headline: “Estonia travel guide: Everything to know before you go" with this sub-headline: "This Baltic nation is an oft-overlooked European gem. Its capital, Tallinn, gets the bulk of attention, but there are compelling things to find all over, from beaches to art, sauna culture to festivals.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Nestled high in the Baltics, Estonia’s burgeoning popularity has long moved beyond simply the stag party crowd. Step outside the culture-filled cities, all steeped in medieval history, and you’ll find half of this compact country is pure nature, covered in dense coniferous forest and preserved peat bogs, while just off the west coast are 2,000 virtually uninhabited islands dotted with wooden windmills, blinking lighthouses and the occasional isolated community. With its famously clean air and rich cultural heritage of handicrafts and folk music, Estonia is peaceful, natural, and entirely unexpected.” For Tallinn, they shared: "History overlaps and comes to life in Estonia’s medieval capital. Kadriorg Art Museum is housed in a Baroque palace, Toompea Castle plays host to parliament, and street parades regularly dance between the perfectly preserved Viru Gates. The best way to explore? Get lost on foot in Tallinn’s walled Old Town, following needle-sharp Gothic church spires and steep alleyways that open into large courtyards lined with pastel painted Hanseatic merchant houses." Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/estonia/estonia-travel-guide-best-things-to-do-eat-stay-b2360349.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

YES!! Agree with Spins and the above comment for raising important questions, including as to which Silversea ships might be affected. Inquiring minds want to know more!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the Washington Post this weekend, they had this headline: “The mystery of the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest (broken) Ferris wheel” with these highlights by writer Brian Rohan: “It has been more than a year since the world’s tallest Ferris wheel stopped turning, and officials here won’t say why. With more steel than the Eiffel Tower contains and nearly twice the height of the London Eye, the Ain Dubai was supposed to be closed for just a month. Then another month. And another. Finally, in April, operators quietly announced it would be closed indefinitely. The massive legs of this engineering marvel are gathering dust, while scaffolding shrouded in burlap surrounds the main axle.” Here is more background from this reporting: "As the centerpiece of an artificial island boasting some of Dubai’s most expensive real estate, the sense of abandonment is uncanny. Luxury apartments, fine dining, retail shops, a mall, a Caesar’s Palace where it is assumed gambling will one day be permitted in this Islamic jurisdiction — all were built around the titanic disk. Dubai’s residential real estate market is red-hot these days, riding high on an influx of capital from wealthy foreigners, including Russians who have flocked to the Persian Gulf in large numbers since the start of the war in Ukraine, seeking refuge from international sanctions. The story of the wheel evokes memories of past property busts. Critics describe a development scene built on hype and headlines, highly speculative, opaque, often overleveraged, and overseen by officials who refuse to acknowledge mistakes and gloss over failures with shiny new projects" Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/09/ain-dubai-wheel-real-estate/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 21,918 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Appreciate this nice follow-up with these two videos. Brings back nice memories for both excellent locations. Great sharing. Keep it coming. From the Washington Post yesterday, they had this headline: “Once hailed for decriminalizing drugs, Portugal is now having doubts” with these highlights: “Addiction haunts the recesses of this ancient port city, as people with gaunt, clumsy hands lift crack pipes to lips, syringes to veins. Authorities are sealing off warren-like alleyways with iron bars and fencing in parks to halt the spread of encampments. A siege mentality is taking root in nearby enclaves of pricey condos and multimillion-euro homes.” Although this reporting is not exactly, directly about "travel", it is interesting background as to current "conditions" and background for Portugal today. Here is more: "Portugal decriminalized all drug use, including marijuana, cocaine and heroin, in an experiment that inspired similar efforts elsewhere, but now police are blaming a spike in the number of people who use drugs for a rise in crime. In one neighborhood, state-issued paraphernalia — powder-blue syringe caps, packets of citric acid for diluting heroin — litters sidewalks outside an elementary school. 'These days in Portugal, it is forbidden to smoke tobacco outside a school or a hospital. It is forbidden to advertise ice cream and sugar candies. And yet, it is allowed for [people] to be there, injecting drugs,' said Rui Moreira, Porto’s mayor. 'We’ve normalized it.' " Full story by Anthony Faiola and Catarina Fernandes Martins at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/07/portugal-drugs-decriminalization-heroin-crack/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 21,918 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Appreciate this great suggestion and follow-up from Kristal Blade. Wonderful tip and insight. Have copied and saved in my file on the MacBook Pro laptop for our time in colorful Jaipur. Excellent background, especially in still wearing that bracelet. Wonderful way to keep those very good memories alive and well. Keep it coming with any and all such creative, nice ideas!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 32,113 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Hi, Bill!! Did send earlier and then resent yesterday an email follow-up. Maybe it went into your spam folder?? Might re-check if it went there by mistake. Since the first part of my email is TLCOhio, that could have happened. Look forward to seeing the details for your itinerary and connecting to learn more. Last night we had dinner with some long-time friends who are super active world travelers. Back in the days before she went to law school, became a Judge, etc., she had been a stewardess with TWA and explored many unique parts of the world. From their "wild" experiences in India a number of years back, they offered . . . Yes, it can be "chaos", but just relax, observe and enjoy that variety and unpredictable nature of what is there with the people, places, history, etc. Lots of colorful variety that is different than our normal, daily expectations in the USA. But, that is the beauty of India! 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 33,569 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From the MSN News and FOX Business News this morning, they had this headline: “Cruise industry seeing summer boom with pandemic restrictions lifted” with these highlights: “The cruise industry is seeing a spike in demand as more people are looking to spend their vacations on the water this year. This is the first full summer without travel restrictions since the pandemic and cruiser goers are excited to get back to their wanderlust.” Here are more specifics from this reporting: " 'Guests have booked earlier than we’ve ever seen before,' said Holland America’s Senior Vice President of Revenue Management Beth Bodensteiner. 'Ships are full throughout the summer at this point. And guests are booking into 2024.' The Cruise Line International Association expects 31.5 million people to cruise this year. That would surpass the nearly 30 million people who cruised in 2019, the last normal year before the pandemic." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruise-industry-seeing-summer-boom-with-pandemic-restrictions-lifted/ar-AA1dAKGN 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 19,463 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

From the New York Times this afternoon, they had this headline: “Against the Odds, the U.S. Economy Chugs Along, as Fears Linger" with this sub-headline: "Hiring slowed last month, a sign that the Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting campaign is taking hold. But with rising wages and low unemployment, the labor market remains resilient.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “The U.S. labor market showed signs of continued cooling last month but extended a two-and-a-half-year streak of job growth, the Labor Department said Friday. U.S. employers added 209,000 jobs, seasonally adjusted, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent from 3.7 percent in May as joblessness remained near lows not seen in more than half a century. June was the 30th consecutive month of job growth, but the gain was down from a revised 306,000 in May and was the lowest since the streak began. Wages, as measured by average hourly earnings for workers, rose 0.4 percent from the previous month and 4.4 percent from June 2022.” Good news for the cruise industry and the economy in general here in the U.S.? Here is more from their analysis: "For a year or more, worries about an impending recession have dominated discussions about the economy. Most economists expected a recession to hit the United States by now — in part because of the rapid escalation of interest rates. Inflation data to be released next week is expected to show that inflation has fallen to 3.2 percent on an annual basis, from a peak of 9.1 percent last year." Below are the stock charts from the Wall Street Journal for the three major cruise ship lines during the past five trading days. Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/business/economy/jobs-report-june.html 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 the Wall Street Journal, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines during the most recent five trading days. Rather bumpy drop on Thursday, but recovered some this morning? But, dropping later in Friday afternoon. Puzzling to follow and predict?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups above from Wayfairers, Aussie lost in space and Kristal Blade. Very helpful and interesting. Keep it coming!! Excellent sharing. Loved this summary of "It is certainly an Island paradise, sometimes to see the true beauty, however, you need to get off the beaten track. If you have a few days there it is certainly worth considering a private driver/guide and staying somewhere such as Kandy as your midpoint overnight." Yes, doing some type of private tour could be great, but we on the cruise ship with included meals, tours, etc. Trade-offs!! Am considering and evaluating the various options and potentials. From the New Zealand Herald earlier this month, they had this headline: “First timer’s guide to Sri Lanka: What to see and do” with these highlights: “For an island nation that’s half the size of our own North Island, Sri Lanka sure does pack an oversized punch. Twenty-two million people call this island nation home and it’s often compared favourably against its bigger neighbour, India. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to discover how relaxed it really is, as well as how much there is to see and do, especially considering its relatively confined dimensions. Ancient cities, wildlife parks, palm-fringed beaches, picturesque hill country… it really does have it all.” Here is more from their reporting: "After Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa became the centre of the Sinhalese empire and its thousand-year-old ruins are in remarkable condition. Sigiriya was the fortified pleasure palace for a wayward king, built on top of a rocky summit that can be reached after climbing 1200 steps." Too many steps for us to do Sigiriya, but nice summary for Polonnaruwa. This profile also shared: "For more to see and do, visit srilanka.travel." Full story at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/first-timers-guide-to-sri-lanka-what-to-see-and-do/HWEG2SL7WBGGZBZY7K4EVBCA2Q/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 71,988 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Seven reasons why your next holiday should be to Egypt - a fascinating 'time machine' ” with these highlights: “Visiting Egypt is like having your very own time machine – one that can catapult you forward and backwards thousands of years in an instant. There’s a reason why Luxor is often the second stop after Cairo in a tour of Egypt’s highlights, and that’s because learning about the riches of Ancient Egypt in a museum makes you yearn to see them in real life. The Valley of the Kings in Luxor is where the rulers of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties are buried, in a dry river valley across the Nile from the ancient city of Thebes (now Luxor), and more than 60 tombs lie underneath the rock, with others possibly yet to be discovered.” Here is more: "After spending time underground in the tombs of long-dead Pharaohs, it made a refreshing change to explore above ground – even if it was in 44-degree heat. The Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak are vast, open sites where you can walk along the very steps explored by the ancient Egyptians, under imposing columns and under the watchful eye of statues of kings, queens and the Sphinx." Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12266153/Im-travel-writer-seven-reasons-holiday-Egypt.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 247,814 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Great update and details! Glad that you planned accordingly for both your pre- and post-cruise exploring of these two amazing cities with such excellent character, history, architecture, culture, etc. Wonderful. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Great news, Fletcher, with your booking for the Silver Wind from Manaus to Lisbon. Have pulled up that map and showing it below as this is a very interesting itinerary. Lots of unique and different stops. Cute line about using Jack Daniels, but those anti-malarial pills are important, too!! Look forward next year for following along with this great adventure. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 71,988 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Great thoughts from Mr Luxury. Yes to Belmond! Stayed in three of their excellent safari locations in Botswana in 2016. Nice and fun. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

One of our key objectives before boarding our cruise in Mumbai to Sri Lanka and ultimately ending in Singapore is to be able to explore the famed India Golden Triangle. From Conde Nast Travel+Leisure magazine last year, they had this headline: “India's Iconic 'Pink City' Is Continuously Voted One of the Best in the World" with this sub-headline: "Jaipur, the capital of India's Rajasthan state, is a destination filled with beautiful palaces, a rich history, and luxury hotels.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Jaipur forms a key point on the Golden Triangle, the tourist circuit that connects New Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan. Jaipur's nickname is a nod to the pink buildings within its historic core, among them the iconic Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also continuously named one of the best cities in the world by Travel + Leisure readers. A city of sprawling palaces, it's also home to ornate architectural masterpieces and sweeping views of lush green hills and idyllic lakes. It is the first planned city in India and has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. And its streets feel a little more manageable than the congested labyrinths of New Delhi and Mumbai.This is a city that inspired Paul McCartney to write 'Riding into Jaipur' and became the backdrop of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies. It is a place to to feast on sumptuous meals in the banquet halls of royalty, and to reminisce about a bygone era of Maharajas. Ride elephants and explore Mughal architecture by day and enjoy some of the world's finest hotels by night.” Great background and details with this in-depth profile. Any tips to share from those who have been to Jaipur? Full story at: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/jaipur-india THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 54,426 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

Super appreciate these great Sri Lanka insights, comments and follow-ups. Very helpful. Wise background as to the challenges with the road conditions/limitations there. Sounds like it is not all easy, smooth, flowing Interstate Highways in Sri Lanka. Right? Will discuss more with my wife. Right now for Hambantota, we are leaning to do a ship's tour that includes the religious sites of Kataragama, plus Velgam Vehera. Then lunch at Jetwing Yula Hotel and then time at Yula National Park. Bundala might be less crowded, but Yula has a wider variety of creatures, birds, etc., there. Trade-offs?? Will keep researching and planning. At Trincomalee, we are looking at doing a ship's tour for the Ruins of Polonnaruwa. From the Eyewitness book on Sri Lanka, this sight/location seems to offer a nice variety of different settings and aspects of culture/history. With our two days plus in Myanmar/Burma being scrubbed, this means an added two full days at locations in Sri Lanka. Looking forward to any and all added tips and suggestions from those who have been there. On one of our days from Colombo, we are looking to go down to Galle, see its Fort, plus doing some sampling of the Madu River and its nature options. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 104,695 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Appreciate this above very good suggestion and follow-up. Will check at our library for that author and this book. Am right now fishing reading the 480-page, highly-detailed "Freedom at Midnight" book. It covers the period leading up to, around and after Aug. 15, 1947, when the UK handed India back to the native populations. But, it became two countries, Pakistan and India. And, as the say, the rest is history!! This book was strongly suggested by a good friend whose father was William B. Saxbe, the U.S. Ambassador to India in the 1970's. His tip was a great one!! Fascinating reading as this 1975, non-fiction book centers around all of the events leading up to the Indian independence movement and partition. Much is covered for the last year of the British Raj when Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India. It goes up through the death and funeral of Mahatma Gandhi. The author's style really "takes you there" to understand so very well the long and tangled history of this highly-populated sub-continent with its battles between Hindus and Muslims, plus the Sikh religions and interests, etc., etc. The parts about the colorful and extravagant lifestyles of the various Indian princes brings out another key part of their history and traditions that might be forgotten or missed. Much is about the reasons and fatal results from the partition of British India into India and Pakistan based on the centuries of religious differences and mistrusts. Then, there was the terrible bloodshed that followed. Also pictured on the cover above are Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, two of the key leaders during those challenged times. Much background is also included going to back 1599 when the first Queen Elizabeth authorized the initial exploring by the British to India as a way to get around high Dutch prices for spices. This book was an inspirations for the 2017 film Viceroy's House, starring Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson. Many details are also outlined for how the British played off the various sides to keep control of this highly-diverse area with its many factions and deep religious divisions. And the wealth and riches?? Yes, the history for India is complex and fascinating. This helps better understand the vastness of the British colonial empire at its peak and the "twists and turns" involved over those centuries. Highly recommended reading for this book and other sources to better appreciate so much as to the "why" and "how" for India today and in the past. 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 54,940 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

Look forward to any and all of your reports for this exciting "Norway Adventure". Glad that the Silver Dawn is looking new and excellent. Hopefully before boarding, you had a chance to explore charming and historic Bergen. Wonderful city!! One of the real "stars" for Norway. Looking at your upcoming stops for Geiranger, Hellesylt, Trondheim, Ålesund, Flåm and Copenhagen, we visited all of these in 2010 on the Silver Cloud. Much to see and do at all of these stops. Will you have added time in Copenhagen at the end of your cruise? Been there previously? Any chance to share any visuals from these stops, on the ship, of the food? Always love seeing "eye candy" from these localities to bring back memories from past visits. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 247,814 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/