If you have ever had a chance to make your way out west, one of the places that never disappoints and is close to my heart is to the beautiful state of Utah, and the small quaint town of Park City. Some might think that Park City is only a winter destination because it offers “The Best Snow on Earth,” but in reality it also boasts a host of activities for Summer. With hiking, mountain biking, camping and zip lining, there is a multitude of activities for the entire family.
Off to cross the deep blue sea. My friend Dick, from Naples is my travel partner. This is the first ocean crossing for me and the second for Dick who once crossed over on a naval destroyer as a professor at the Naval Academy.
Crossing the Equator: Sometime last night we crossed the Equator. From the beginning of time seafarers have partaken in ancient ceremonial initiations for crossing specific navigational parallel's on the globe. Such practices are so vintage in origin that their derivation has been lost, but it is believed that invitations in such secret societies began in the Middle Ages, and it is possible that it began with the Vikings.
The Daily Currents , the ship’s daily, shares information either about the places we are visiting or on sea days gives general information about the world. Today it has to do with continents, and I found it very interesting so I am recording for my future information.
Sailing into Antalya was very pretty. A long narrow strip of Beach with very high mountains in background made it feel like sailing into a half circle. At certain times of the years once can travel 45 minutes into the mountains and snow ski and then come back to the beach and swim.
According to tradition in the second century BC King Attalos II ordered his men to find "heaven on earth". After an extensive search, they discovered the region of Antalya and the King agreed that heaven on earth had been found.
We arrived at the ship and immediately headed to The Waves Cafe for one of their wonderful hamburgers. We got unpacked and even ended up with a couple of inches if space left.
We were up early for a very nice breakfast at the hotel and off on the tour to Montserrat, about an hour out of Barcelona. Other than the munchkin room; the hotel is very nice, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
Today we are in Richard's Bay, still South Africa. Richards Bay is home to a vast population of aquatic birds and is where hunter John Dunn shot the longest crocodile ever recorded in South Africa, a whopping 22 feet. We were on a waiting list for another game drive, in Hluhwwe, pronounced Shoo shoo we. We did get on so we chose to go to St. Lucia Wetland Nature Reserve and we were happy that we did as we finished our big Five sighting when we we saw a buffalo standing on the edge of the water.
