Oahu: The Heart of Hawaii

By Linda Hourston

The island of Oahu (The Gathering Place) is the third largest, yet most populous of all the Hawaiian Islands. It's a spectacular tropical paradise offering not only all the excitement and hustle and bustle of its capital Honolulu and districts such as Waikiki, but also many unique, sedate and natural delights found in the island's Koolau and Waianae Ranges, North Shore and Windward Coast.

Whether you're looking for endless shopping (there's fabulous shopping malls and markets in Honolulu), sporting, sightseeing, dining and entertainment opportunities, or looking for complete peace, serenity and seclusion, Oahu certainly has you covered.

But if you're looking at spending most of your holiday in Honolulu, the Go Oahu Card, which allows you to visit as many attractions as you want once a day, is absolutely the best way to go. But if you want to escape the crowds, hire a car and tour the island at your leisure or join one of the many excellent guided tours the island has to offer such as the Grand Circle Island, Plantation Garden, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head Crater, Hawaii Heritage and Chinatown tours – they're all excellent tours and most offer commentary, meals and refreshments. Or, if you're adventurous and prefer to explore the island a little further and for longer, join a catered wildlife, fishing, sailing, hiking or sporting trek that can last from one day to a week.

Oahu's beaches are among its best assets with Waikiki being the most famous. It's one of the world's top surfing beaches and it's certainly Oahu's busiest. You can try any water sport imaginable here as well as shop at the many surrounding market and boutique outlets, enjoy traditional and international cuisine in world-class restaurants and bars, or, just relax with a colourful cocktail under a straw umbrella and enjoy live entertainment and friendly beach service.

Other great attractions of Oahu include:

* The Polynesian Cultural Center is located about an hours drive from Waikiki. It spans 42-acres of tropical perfection and is among Oahu's most popular attractions. You're welcome to spend the day at any of the attraction's seven native villages and immerse yourself in the fascinating and super-friendly traditions and culture of Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand (Maori), Fiji, Tahiti, Marquesas and Tonga. While at the center you can also attend the world's biggest Polynesian feast, enjoy hula and fire-dancing shows, participate in Hawaii's only canoe pageant, experience an authentic Luau and even learn how to throw a Tongan spear, make jewelry from plants, climb 50-foot palms, weave baskets from leaves, create clothing from the bark of trees and cook traditional meals. There's numerous exhibitions here too such as the new Easter Island display as well as an IMAX theater featuring such presentations as The Living Sea and Dolphins. This is a quality assured, award winning attraction the whole family will love. The Polynesian Cultural Center is open daily except Sundays.

* The Contemporary Museum, the Mission Houses Museum and the Workspace are all excellent museums and absolutely worth a visit, but the most popular among locals and visitors alike is the Bishop Museum. This non-profit institution's focus is to, “Record, preserve and tell the stories of Hawaii and the Pacific and to inspire guests to embrace and experience our natural and cultural world.” The museum hosts many exciting events and festivals throughout the year and houses an impressive collection of Hawaiian artefacts and over 16,500 entomological specimens. There's also a Science Adventure Center (complete with a simulated volcano) and a planetarium here and seminars, workshops and entertaining and educational films are regularly offered. The Bishop Museum is open from 9am to 5pm daily (except Christmas Day).

* There are a few military memorials around Oahu including the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and the USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Arizona Memorial commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor and the 1,177 soldiers who lost their lives during World War 11. Visitors start their journey at the memorial's Visitor Center and Museum and are shown a short interpretive film before being ferried to the memorial site – possibly not an attraction for the kids, but fascinating all the same.

* Nestled between Oahu's majestic Koolau Mountain Range and Makapuu Beach, Sea Life Park is a fabulous family attraction. You'll find a vast array of remarkable marine creatures, educational and interactive exhibitions, fun activities for the whole family and world-class facilities in this wonderful aquatic world. The attraction's open-air Hawaiian Ocean Theater presents daily dolphin, sea lion and penguin shows that are not only popular, but also comical – dolphins, sea lions and penguins can be very, very naughty! The shows also demonstrate training techniques and encourage audience participation. Other features include the Hawaiian Reef Aquarium, the Pirate's Lagoon and the Sea Bird Sanctuary and activities include the Dolphin Swim Adventure, the Sea Life Luau Program, Sea Lion Discovery, Sea Trek Adventure, Turtle Times and the Hawaiian Ray Encounter. There's also a restaurant, café, snack bar and gift shop here and for those intending to get wet with the dolphins, dressing rooms and lockers. Sea Life Park is guaranteed to keep you all busy and entertained for hours.

There's so much more to enjoy – there's more excellent family attractions such as the Dolphin Discovery Center, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park and the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center; historical attractions such as the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park; cultural attractions such as the Iolani Palace, Queen Emma's Summer Palace, the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the amazing Valley of Temples and a plethora of natural attractions (besides the dozens of stunning beaches) such as the Diamond Head Crater and Hanauma Bay. Oahu caters more than admirably to all visitors' expectations and odds are, you won't want to leave – ever!

Further information about Hawaii and Oahu can be found at:
www.robertshawaii.com/guide/attractions/oahu.php
www.hawaiiwebdesign.com/oahu_attractions.htm

Discover the Historic Treasures of Toledo, Spain

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Toledo, Spain 77F Fair

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2:03 AM N/A 66

The City of Toledo is located in the center of Spain, just 70km south of Madrid. Built on a mountaintop above the Tagus River, it is a fortified city that has stood for thousands of years. It was the capital of Spain until 1560 when Philip II moved the capital to Madrid. It is still the capital of the province of Toledo.

In medieval times, Toledo was well known for its steel and sword making. It is still a production center for the manufacture of steel implements and knives.

The Culture of Toledo

Toledo is known as the "city of three cultures." For centuries Arabs, Christians and Jews have lived together in these walls and shared their cultural and artistic talents. Synagogues, mosques, and churches all share space in the narrow streets of the city.

The city of Toledo is one of the best-preserved historical cities in Europe. See the great diversity of styles in the well-preserved monuments, old buildings, walls, gates, and traditions. It is like a vast outdoors museum.

The most famous person from Toledo is the artist El Greco. Some of his best works are found at the House Museum. This former palace still maintains the period's atmosphere from his time.

Enter the city through one of the many artistic gates that open into the center. The Bisagra Gate is the main access to the city, built by Muslims and includes a central courtyard. The Alfonso VI Gate was built in 838 and reflects more Muslim artistry. In the 13th century, the Sol Gate was built, which contains the remains of a sarcophagus. One of the busiest places in the city since ancient times is the Plaza de Zocodover where festivals, markets, and social events are still held.

Historical Buildings and Museums

The most outstanding building to see in Toledo is the Cathedral. The construction of this monumental building took two and a half centuries. As a result of the time elapsed in building, there is an extreme mixture of the artistic styles throughout the building.

The main doorway of the Cathedral is an outstanding work of art made up of three doors called Hell, Forgiveness, and Judgment. The two cathedral towers outside reflect the Gothic and Gothic-Renaissance styles. Several renowned artists devoted works of art to the adornment of the walls and doors. The Cathedral Museum houses a collection of works by painters like Goya, El Greco, and Van Dyck.

The medieval Fortress is still watching over the city with is impressive structure. It was built in the 10th century and later was almost destroyed during a siege. Franco had it rebuilt as a military museum and one of the largest libraries in Spain. It was once a royal residence and still maintains the central courtyard and imperial staircase. From the walls you can see the Tagus River and the surrounding city.

More examples of the varied architecture are found at the San Martin Bridge, with its 13th century towers, and the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. The Hospital de Tavera is now a museum with artistic works from El Greco, Titian and Ribera, among others. The outstanding features are the courtyard, the tomb of Tavera, and the pharmacy in its original appearance.

Before the 1500s, there were many Jewish residents and eleven synagogues. During Ferdinand and Isabella's reign, the majority of the Jewish population was deported. All that remains now are two synagogues that have become museums, the Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca and Sinagoga de El Transito. These feature various works of art and objects used in worship. They are richly decorated in ornate architecture and have Hebrew inscriptions on the walls.

The Duque de Lerma Museum displays a selection of works that are not generally known to the public. These exclusive treasures come from the El Greco Museum and the Nobility Archives. It is a collection of the best paintings, noteworthy period furniture, sculptures, and choice Talavera ceramics.

Castles and Events in Toledo, Spain

The province of Toledo was an important area in medieval times, and there are many castles still standing. Guadamur is one of the most beautiful fortresses in Spain, and in Barciense you will find a Gothic castle. The Colegiata is in Torrijos with its remarkable portal. The castle of Maqueda was built in the 15th century and was the scene of many famous battles.

In the south of the province, the Cabaneros National Park sits at the foot of Mount Toledo. It is protected woodland that combines mountains and plains. Make plans for outdoor activities while you are in the area.

The biggest event held in Toledo each year is the procession of Corpus Christi, which is held nine weeks after Easter. It has been declared an international tourist event with thousands of people coming to take part in the procession around the city.

At this time, the gold and silver masterpiece, Arfe Processional Monstrance, is taken from the Cathedral and carried through the city. It is 2.5 meters tall and weighs over 160 kilos and takes a leading role in the parade. There are monthly festivals held celebrating the olive harvest, friendship, pilgrimship, and traditions.

Toledo Hotels

The hotels in Toledo are all quaint establishments hidden between the historical downtown buildings or just outside. It will be a unique and enjoyable experience to stay in this novel and old-fashioned city. The Hotel Silken Cigarrel El Bosque is a five star hotel just across the river from downtown. Set in an old country house, it has all modern facilities and a swimming pool. Each room has access to the gardens or a balcony with wonderful views of the city.

The Hotel San Juan De Los Reyes Secotel is in the center of the city among the Jewish landmarks. It is in the restored flourmill with all modern conveniences. Each room has a hydromassage tub, and some rooms have a Jacuzzi. Also, a buffet breakfast is served. The Hotel Abaceria is in one of the prettiest and greenest areas of Toledo. Most rooms have a terrace with a great view overlooking the center of the city. Rooms are very comfortable with air conditioning and Internet connections.

When you visit Toledo, you will see sites you have never seen anywhere else in the world. It is an extremely well preserved city rich in history and tradition. See the mixture of cultures and a way of life that no longer exists. Toledo is definitely full of masterpieces and museums that you don't want to miss.

Where in the World are Paul & Tischa?

Our readers can follow along with us touring the World this year, as we travel around the globe in early 2008. We began our trip in San Francisco, traveling to Ft, Lauderdale,Florida to begin our Pacific Princess World Cruise.

Our first stop is just off the shores of George Town, Grand Cayman Island, nicknamed Little Switzerland for economic reasons, with banking deposits (off-shore accounts) in the trillions of dollars. Is it any wonder there are three jewelry stores on every block in town? See our story in the first emagazine issue of January 2008, Grand Cayman Island.

Sailing from Grand Cayman we travel next to Kuna Yala (San Blas Islands), Panama (five days and 1,293 miles from our start). San Blas Islands is an archipelago of over 350 gorgeous, sun drenched islands that are located along the east coast of Panama, many inhabited with Kuna Indian settlers who are the descendents of the Carib Indians selling their handicrafts. See our story in the second issue of January 2008, Kuna Yala, San Blas Islands.

Stop three of our trip is the Panama Canal. See our story at GS Travel Advice-Panama canal.
The Panama Canal is one of Central America’s most popular tourist stops. Completed in 1914, it was one of the biggest and hardest engineering projects ever attempted, and now it accommodates over 14,000 ship crossings each year. We entered the Gatun Locks transiting our way northwesterly through the 43 miles of lakes and locks bound for Manta, Ecuador.

For most of our shipmates, Ecuador was a chance to stretch their land legs for the fifth time and visit this small port of Manta,Ecuador. The nearby town of Montecristi boasts the birthplace of the Panama hat, and when ships come to town the marketplace is rich with Latin friendliness and local artifacts to sell.

One-third of the ship’s passengers left the ship here for and overland Tour of Cuzco and Machu Picchu, Peru. We, on the other hand, along with 44 shipmates, headed south to the airport at Guayaquil for our 600 watery miles to the prehistoric landscape of the magical islands of the Galapagos. Read here about our four day adventure aboard the MV Galapagos Legend.

Next Stop for the ships company the sea port of Callao, Peru. Callao is known as the “City of Kings” for the three oriental kings, when it was founded on January 5, 1635 on the eve of the Epiphany of the Magi. There is much to see in Lima, a large metropolis of 8 million people. From Lima it is fairly easy to get to the most famous of sites: Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. This is a must see, if only once in your lifetime. We joined the ship again in Callao for some much needed rest before our next stop at Easter Island. See our story and pictures of Easter Island by tappng here.

On our 16th day we have traveled 4,869 miles from Florida and we are on our way to Pitcairn Island. As you sail toward Pitcairn, you approach one of the remotest of the world's inhabited islands, lying halfway between New Zealand and the Americas. Four thousand eight hundred kilometres of open ocean separate you from them; a few archipelagos lie to the north; and the southern seas are empty to the ice caps of Antarctia.

Check out our story and Photos of Pitcarin
and then we are on our way once again to Papeete, Tahiti, 2,200 miles to our West.

Day Twenty Three we have reached Tahiti! We have traveled 7,267 miles by sea and more than 3,000 miles by air, and we are only 22 days into our 104 day trip (less than a quarter of the trip). Needless perhaps to say, the World is a big place. This is our second trip to Tahiti, our last visit being Bora Bora. Check out our story and photos on Tahiti, and then our second port of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

Day Thirty One and we have reached Auckland, New Zealand, traveling 10,504 miles from Florida. The last eight days have been unexpected, to say the least. We did finally make it to New Zealand, albeit a day and a half late, due to going around the edge of Typhoon Gene. Our sailing from Rarotonga to Auckland was very rough, tearing the railings off the front of the ship and the front mounted life boat. (50 foot seas on one day and 30 foot the rest of the way.) These were both about 20 feet from our front deck, since we have the suite at the front under the bridge.

Tischa hurt her back in Tahiti on a 4X4, but is all better now and walking on her own again. The bouncing in the bed for five days in the storm didn't help any, but the Ships Doctor did a great job and the Vicodin we had with us for my back, helped a lot. We landed in Auckland on Saturday. We were supposed to be in at 7:00 AM and we arrived at 7:00 PM. After the amazing ride we had across the South Pacific, everyone, even the crew, went ashore and kissed the ground.

The good news from the Captain was that we were finally in New Zealand, the Bad news was we sailed at midnight for Australia, across the Tasman Sea, the worst body of water in the Pacific. See our photos and story on Auckland.

Day Thirty Five and we reached Sydney, Australia today, sailing into port on-time and with a wonderful stress-free crossing from New Zealand. Weather is a little spotty today, with some rain showers. With multiple visits to Australia over the last few years, we are always surprised that we seem to encounter rain on every visit as we sail around the coastal cities, especially since Australia with the exception of Antarctica, is the driest continent on earth. Australia is a big place and its deserts alone cover more than one-third of the world’s land mass, so our next stop is a long way off. See our story and photos in our Sydney article.
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Sailing from Sydney on February 13th, we head 1,122 nautical miles to the north to the Cairns (Pronounced Cans) and the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is a cosmopolitan tropical town in North Queensland. Not only does Cairns provide the opportunity to visit the largest living organism in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, but it also serves as a gateway to one of the world’s ancient rainforests, found in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation National Parks. See our story and photos in our Cairns article.

We have traveled 13,887 nautical miles in 40 days and have enjoyed 26 sea days along the way. We depart Cairns on our way to Rabual, Papua New Guinea, 850 miles further north. We travel through the Corral Sea traveling to the east of the Gulf of Papua.We will be leaving behind the islands of Louisiade Archipelago, to enter the waters of the Solomon Sea. The Solomon Sea is a portion of the Western Pacific Ocean, bounded on the west by New Guinea, on the north by New Britain, and on the east by the Solomon Islands. With an area of 280,000 square miles, the sea contains the Louisiade Archipelago, New Georgia, and Guadalcanal Island. It opens to the Coral Sea (south), the Bismarck Sea (northwest), and the open ocean (northwest). Many major battles were fought in these waters during WWII.

Day Forty Two we reach Rabaul, East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. With a mountain range of volcanoes that run down the center of the island, it is the largest of the Papua New Guinea islands. The capital is now in Kokopo, about 15 miles to the southeast. While most of Rabaul is in ruin, from war and from the most recent eruptions in February and November 1996, it remains an interesting place to visit. Our plan was to visit the Matupit Village North of Rabaul; however, tribal conflicts occurring at the time we arrived made this unwise. See our story and Photos of the area in our Rabual article.

Day Forty Five we arrive in Chuuk, Micronesia. Four member states are a group of Islands known as the Federated States of Micronesia which includes the largest of the four, the state of Chuuk. Chuuk comprises 56 square miles of land, spread over a 1,320 square mile area of Ocean Lagoon. Our story on Chuuk
can be found by taping here.

Having rounded the Chuuk Islands’ Lagoon yesterday evening, we set on various North-Westerly courses between the Hall Islands and Namonuito Atoll. Today as well as during the night we will continue on course 305 degrees across the ocean heading to Guam, the Southernmost of the Mariana Islands.

So far we have been in the Atlantic, Pacific, Tasman, Bismarck, and the Coral seas and on three continents, and we are now looking forward to our itinerary picking up speed as we encounter a port every couple of days throughout Asia, India, and Africa.

Day Forty-Seven we arrived in Guam, our last stop before we head to Japan. Guam is an interesting place. The citizens have U.S. passports and even a U.S. Representative in Congress, however, they can not vote in U.S. elections. The island seems very much a part of the region, and is in fact the economic hub of the Federated States of Micronesia; although, citizens of Guam are American’s. We hope you find or story and pictures of Guam interesting. Please tap Here for more on Guam. Following our departure from Guam we set on a North-North-Westerly course of 345 degrees across the Mariana Ridge in the Philippine Sea toward our next stop the island of Iwo Jima.

After heavy seas we arrived today February 27th, 2008 off the coast of Iwo Jima, Japan. Today, Iwo Jima is a monument to the thousands that died among the U.S. and Japanese troops engaged in the battle here in 1945. This tiny piece of soil, which can only be seen from the deck of a ship, is a lasting memory to the impossible task given the U.S. Marines to both over-power the well fortified Japanese and send a signal to the Nation of Japan, that the worst for them was yet to come, if they did not surrender. We were lucky enough to be aboard a ship with many WWII veterans and some survivors of the battle on the beaches of Iwo Jima, and to be a part of a memorial of the battle, including jets launched from the island to participate in the memorial fly over our ship. See our story and pictures by tapping Here .

Late in the afternoon of February 27th, we leave the waters of Iwo Jima and we travel on the same North-Westerly course of 304 degrees towards Kagoshima, Japan. After three days of 40 foot seas, we are ready to see some dry land on the Japanese mainland on Friday.

Day Fifty One and it must be Kagoshima, Japan. We reached the Japanese shores in the early morning hours of February 29th, approaching the North-Eastern coast of Tanega Shima Island. Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture encompasses two peninsulas (Satsuma and Osuni): over 30 outer islands, 49 municipalities, 17 cities, 28 towns and 4 villages. We hope you like this week’s peek at Kagoshima. For our story and pictures tap Here .

See Second Part of Story which follows below:

Where in the World are Paul & Tischa? (Continued Part II)

Weather for: Current Temp: Forecast:

Cochin, India N/AF N/A

Current Time: High Temp: Low Temp:

5:03 AM 88 73

Leaving Kagoshima and continuing the same westerly course of 271 degrees across the East China Sea towards Shanghai during the evening and following day, we arrived in Shanghai on day Fifty Three of our World Cruise. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai is the largest city of the People's Republic of China and arguably the most economically, industrially and culturally developed. Having visited here twice before, we decided to take a look at the Shanghai countryside. To see our story on Shanghai and some of our photos tap Here .

We hope you have enjoyed our reporting on the 2008 “World Cruise” so far. As we leave Shanghai this evening, we are half-way through our trip, with many, many exciting places yet to see. If you would like to see our trip from another perspective, check out www.ourworldcruise.net.

Day Fifty-Six we arrived in Hong Kong. So far we have traveled 21,387 nautical miles or about 25,000 statute miles by ship and 4,000 miles by air since leaving home.

Perfect waters in the South China Sea, and a break in the on and off rain, made for two breathtaking days on our suite deck for reading, sunning, and napping preceding our arrival in Hong Kong harbor. Over nine million tourists who spend over seven billion dollars annually visit this extremely prosperous and cosmopolitan city – it's no wonder Hong Kong is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. See our story on Hong Kong and don’t miss the sail away lightshow photos by tapping Here .

Day Fifty-Nine we arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon of my Vietnam service days. This is our starting place for a three day adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia. Our third trip to Vietnam begins at the former primary air support center of the Vietnam War, as we fly to Siem Reap and Phonum Penh, Cambodia for our trip into the jungles of Cambodia and the temples of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. If you’re looking for a holiday destination outside the “norm” of popular “mainstream” tourism, then Angkor, with its wonderful ecological diversity and magnificent ancient monuments and temples, is definitely for you. For more on the temples and the ruins of the area, see our story and photos by tapping above (Siem Reap) or for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, by tapping here.

Day Sixty-One, having rounded the Southern Coast of Kaoh Rung Samlem Island we set on various North-Westerly courses across the Gulf of Thailand towards our destination, Laem Chabang, Thailand, and the beach city of Pattaya.

Having left behind the port of Laem Chabang and setting sail through the night on a Southerly course of 189 degrees keeping minimum distance of about 15 nautical miles off the Eastern coast of Thailand, we arrive at the island of Ko Samui, Thailand, on the morning of Day Sixty-Four.

Sailing on the evening of day Sixty-Six, on a course of 143 degrees across the Gulf of Thailand, we head for the end of our second leg of our World Cruise, the city of Singapore. Glass and steel high-rises, Chinese Shop houses with red tile roofs, Victorian-style government buildings, Buddhist temples and Arabian bazaars-they’re all part of the diversity and charm of Singapore, the commercial center of Southeast Asia and one of the busiest ports in the world.

It is amazing to us that two-thirds of our trip is already gone, having traveled 8,722 nautical miles during the second leg and a total of 23,387 statue miles to date, excluding air miles. Picking up some additional passengers in Singapore, we leave for our next port, Phuket , Thailand, our third and last stop in Thailand. Sailing from Singapore towards the straits of Malacca (see some information on the Straits below) we set a course of 330 degrees across the Strait of Malacca.

With six hundred plus crewmates, we have enjoyed an amazing trip thus far. The ship’s injuries to date include two broken arms and one broken hand, and at least two serious back injuries, all occurring on day tours (4X4’s on rural roads, Camels, and Elephants can be dangerous). Also two passengers have left the ship due to illness, one for eye surgery and another from a Heart Attack, and both have rejoined the ship in transit. Twice we have had an outbreak of intestinal distress, however, the ship has handled each outbreak well. Overall, it seems extreme for a group of this size; however, the median age is over 65 years. Travel weary, but ready for our last leg, we head out for India, Egypt, and Europe.

Continuing at sea on day Seventy-One we reach the South-Eastern coast of Sri Lanka, passing Dondra Head, the southernmost part of the island of Sri Lanka, and alter to starboard rounding its South-Western coast and continuing North-Westerly across the Gulf of Mannar for Cochin, India. Cochin is one of the three largest ports on the west coast of India and the biggest in the Kerala region, and the gateway by plane to the city of Agri. Known as the home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, the city of Agra is located on the shores of the Yamuna River, which is in Uttar Pradesh, India. Click Here for our story on Cochin and to see our photos. Click Here for our story on Agra and the Taj Mahal and to see our photos.

Leaving Cochin we resumed our transit along the Western coast of India, and after passing latitude 18 degrees West, on our Seventy-Third day, we set a North-Easterly course for Mumbai. As one of the most populous cities on earth, Mumbai’s frenetic, non-stop pace, and cultural complexity can be overwhelming. It’s an extremely busy city considered not only to be the commercial and entertainment capital of India, but also a city of great contradictions. Click Here for our story on Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and to see our photos. As we leave Mumbai and India we continue on a course of 298 degrees across the Arabian Sea for our three day sea journey to Dubai, UAE.

Day Seventy-Eight we arrive in the “golden” city of Dubai, located within the Arabian Desert and is the largest of the seven emirates encompassed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This shopping mecca shares borders with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the Sultanate of Oman. Click Here for our story on Dubai and to see our photos.

Leaving Dubai, we reverse course heading back towards the Strait of Hormuz; navigating in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, we pass the world famous man-made islands of Dubai. Continuing first along the Iranian coast line and then the Pakistan coast, we head toward the Indian Ocean turning to the west. Continuing our travels west across the Arabian Sea, we begin a six day voyage to the Red Sea and our first stop in Egypt.

We continue on various southwesterly courses navigating first along the Yemeni coast and then entering the waters of the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in Africa. We next enter the Red Sea through the Bab el Mandeb strait.

Our six days at sea bring us to the Egyptian port of Safaga. Safaga, a small port and town situated on the eastern coast of Egypt (the Red Sea Riviera), isn’t your average bustling, crowded, cosmopolitan tourist destination. This exotic and very much boutique region is refreshingly “unspoiled” and possibly one of Egypt’s best-kept secrets. We left the ship here for a four day land tour of some of Egypt’s most spectacular sights and began by motor coach to the inland city of Luxor some three hours away.

Situated along the east bank of the Nile River, Luxor boasts a land area of 416 square kilometers and is considered by many to be the world’s largest open-air museum. Luxor offers the grandest, most impressive Egyptian archaeological sites and as such is well known as Egypt’s premiere tourist destination. Millions of national and international visitors descend on this truly magnificent region annually—and none leave disappointed.

Arriving in Luxor and crossing the Nile River, we headed through the desert to the Valley of the Kings, to explore some of the valley tombs, and then continued to the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon, and the Queen Hatshepsut Temple.

Leaving Luxor after breakfast on day two, we flew to Aswan, Egypt, built by The Great Rames II, Egypt’s longest ruling pharaoh. We visited The High and Old Dams; the majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka; and, the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in their pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge, unfinished 120 foot obelisk.

On day three, we flew first to Abu Simbel to see the one of the most spectacular and recognizable images in the country, but not seen by most tourists: the two temples of the Temple of Abu Simbel. That evening we flew on to Cairo.

Our morning began on our forth day with a short drive to see the 4,500 year old Great Pyramids of Cheops and The Sphinx on the Giza Plateau overlooking the great city of Cario. We then boarded a modern river boat for a sail down the Nile while enjoying a delicious Egyptian lunch. A visit to Cairo would not be complete without visiting the Cairo Museum with its over 120,000 objects in 107 halls. After our three and a half bus ride that evening, we rejoined our ship at Port Said. Port Said has certainly had its fair share of disaster. Bombed in 1956 during the Suez War, the Egyptian city admirably and painstakingly spent years rebuilding only to be bombed twice more (1967 and 1973) during conflicts with Israel. Today, the city has been extensively rebuilt (although much of the architecture is still reminiscent of the British colonial era—very unlike other Egyptian cities) and due to its position at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, is absolutely thriving.

Day Eighty-Nine, we sail from the Port of Said out into the Mediterranean toward our next stop, Athens, Greece, as we begin our trip around Europe, traveling from Athens to London in the next sixteen days.

See Third Part of Story which follows below:

Micronesia, What's in a Name?

Since we have reported several articles from Micronesia, we thought it best to help our readers understand what this description actually means today, and some of the history of what would become “Micronesia”.

Micronesia, from the Greek, micros (meaning small) and nesos (meaning island), is a sub region of Oceania, comprising hundreds of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines lie to the northwest, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia to the west and southwest, and Polynesia to the east.

This region consists of many hundreds of small islands spread over a large region of the western Pacific. The only empire known to have originated in Micronesia was based in Yap. The term “Micronesia” was first proposed to distinguish the region in 1831 by Jules Dumont d'Urville; before this the term “Polynesia” was in use to generally describe the islands of the Pacific.

Politically, Micronesia is divided into eight nation-states and territories: Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (sometimes referred to simply as Micronesia”, or abbreviated as “FSM”), Nauru, Northern Marina Islands, Palau, and Wake Island.

Much of the area was to come under European domination quite early. Guam the Northern Marinas, and the Caroline Islands (what would later become the FSM and Palau) were colonized early by the Spanish. These islands territories were part of the Spanish East Indies and governed from Spanish Philippines since the early 17th century until 1898. Full European expansion did not come, however, until the early 20th century, when the area would be divided between: the United States, which took control of Guam following the Spanish-American war of 1898, and colonized Wake island: Germany, which took Nauru and bought the Marshall, Caroline, and Northern Mariana Islands from Spain: and the British Empire, which took the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati).

During the First World War, Germany's Pacific island territories were taken from it and were made League of Nations Mandates. Nauru became an Australian mandate, while Germany's other territories were given as mandates to Japan. This remained the situation until Japan's defeat in the Second World War, when its mandates became a United Nations Trusteeship ruled by the United States, The Trust of the Pacific islands. Today, all of Micronesia (with the exception of Guam and Wake Island, which are U.S. territories, and the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a U.S. Commonwealth) are independent states.

Where in the World are Paul & Tischa? (Continued Part III)

Setting a course of 309 degrees across the Eastern Mediterranean, we encountered heavy seas as we sailed towards our first European destination, Athens, Greece. As the birthplace of Classical Greece, Democracy, Western Civilization, the modern Olympic Games (1896), famous philosophers and great thinkers such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, Athens has managed to retain much of its ancient culture and tradition throughout the centuries. Having visited Athens many times before, Tischa and I set out to spend the day in the “Plaka.” The Plaka is a historically authentic shopping district that lies in the shadows of the Acropolis.

Sailing Day Ninety-One, we continue on a northwesterly course throughout the afternoon and evening towards the straits of Messina. Just before arriving at our destination of Sorrento, Italy, we passed one of the deepest parts of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian Abyssal Plain, which sinks to the depth of around 13,117 feet.

On Day Ninety-Two we awake in the morning to a view of the Bay of Naples and Mt Vesuvius as we arrive in the bay of Sorrento, Italy, on our way to today's destination: the Isle of Capri in the gulf of de la Napoule (Naples). Popular with celebrities and the well-to-do, this exotic island can get quite crowded (especially around July and August) and getting around its mountainous terrain and negotiating its narrow roads can be a little overwhelming; but its cosmopolitan ambience and rich Italian culture more than make up for such conditions.

Leaving the bay of Sorrento, we set sail on a Westerly course keeping the small islands of d'Ichia di Ventolone and Ponza on our starboard side, and then on Day Ninety-Three set a Northerly course to the port that is locally known as the Heart of Rome, Civitavecchia. If you have seen the sites of Rome as we have, and you are still looking for something different, then you need to head north of Rome about 90 miles to see the L'Orizzonte Delgli Etruschi, or the Etruscan's Horizon. Please see our story on this Tuscan region and our photos by tapping Here.

On Day Ninety-Four, Tischa’s Birthday, we arrived in the beautiful southern French city of Cannes on the Mediterranean. We had to tender in as they do not have a port, only a harbor in which to moor the very large yachts. Cannes was originally a small, simple fishing village until the early 1900’s when the region’s spectacular natural beauty began to attract foreign and French aristocrats who built magnificent homes and established businesses. Today, Cannes is an exclusive resort town popular for its wonderful beaches, museums, churches, chic culture, active outdoor lifestyle, and of course, the annual Cannes Film Festival. For our article on Cannes tap Here.

Setting sail in the evening after a wonderful day ashore, we set sail for Barcelona. Throughout the night, we keep a South Westerly course passing the Basses du Verhinge & Isle de port Cros. With a population topping 1,605,600 (making it the second largest Spanish city) the ancient city of Barcelona was once considered a Roman City (the Crown of Aragon), but today it’s a vibrant, colorful jewel in Spain’s already glorious crown. Arriving on Sunday, Day Ninety-Five of our World Cruise, we found the city alive on the streets with vendors, people walking and food everywhere. While walking on Sunday does seem to be a Barcelona past-time, we made use of the wonderful Underground System to try and see as much as possible. See our story and photos on Barcelona Here.

After one of the most magical days of our cruise, we set sail at midnight for the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) and our exit from the Mediterranean Sea, a day’s sail from Spain. Gibraltar’s geography has made its territory strategically important to various invading forces throughout the centuries. But in 1713, Spain ceded the territory to Great Britain via the Treaty of Utrecht and today, even though there’s still a strong British military peacetime presence, the territory’s infrastructure is impressive and its service-based economy is mostly driven by duty free financial services and tourism. Gibraltar’s tourism numbers increase each year making the territory’s future economic stability viable and assured.

While Gibraltar has rich shopping, great food and wonderful views of the coast of Africa, it is a visit to the “Rock” and a visit with the wild Barbary Apes (Barbary Macaques, actually) that is the “must do” in Gibraltar. See our pictures and story Here.

Leaving Gibraltar at mid day, we set sail for Portugal, setting Westerly courses through the straits of Gibraltar and into the North Atlantic Ocean. During the night we set North Westerly courses around the Cape of Vicente, then a Northerly leg up to the port of Lisbon.

On Day Ninety-Eight, we arrive in the Port of Lisbon. Traveling under the April 25th Bridge (25 de Abril Bridge), which reminds everyone of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, we tied-up in the city center for a beautiful sunny day. As the capital of Portugal, Lisbon is home to many of the nation’s major commercial, educational, administrative, manufacturing, service, and tourism industries, making it not only the largest Portuguese city, but also the wealthiest.

Leaving Lisbon in the evening, we set Northerly courses with the coast of Portugal on our starboard side, as we sail for the next two days across the Bay of Biscay into the Atlantic Ocean and then the Buoyed Channel for Ireland.

Arriving on Day One Hundred-One in Cobh/Cork, Ireland, we head for the Blarney Castle. Ireland (or as it’s affectionately known, The Emerald Isle) is one of Europe’s most enchanting islands. Its vivid landscapes are breathtaking and its culture and history is fascinating. From its stone-age (mostly Gothic) archaeological delights and rich ecology to its bustling, cosmopolitan cities, Ireland is a tourism Mecca – and nowhere is this more evident than in its third most populous city, Cork.

Sailing at 6:00 P.M. we eventually enter the English Channel headed for the coast of France; our destination, La Havre, in the charming region of Normandy. Normandy is a region of northern France situated along the French coast, south of the English Channel. It is located between Brittany on the west and Picardy on the east. The most popular cities in Normandy include Cherbourg, Caen, Rouen, and Le Havre; and only about a three hour bus ride to Paris (although the train is faster). We have chosen to visit the charming city of Rouen. See our article Here and the photos as well.

Sailing from the port of Le Havre in the evening, we cross the English Channel to South Hampton, England, for our disembarkation. We will motor coach to London, about 2 ½ hours from the South Hampton port. The spectacular city of London is the capital of the United Kingdom and has been an important settlement and port for over two millennia. Today, London is a culturally rich and diverse melting pot that’s home to over fifty non-indigenous communities (who speak over 300 languages), making London not only one of the friendliest cities in the world, but also one of the most cosmopolitan. See our article on London Here, and the photos from this and many previous trips. We leave Heathrow Airport the next morning for HOME!

Day One Hundred-Five, it must be San Francisco! After traveling for nearly four months, we have sailed over 40 thousand statute miles around the world (30,336 nautical miles-Note: the Equator length is 21,600 Nautical miles), and flew some 10,000 miles by air. While we have spent a great deal of time on our ship and on commercial planes, we have also traveled by the Ship’s Tender, Zodiac dive boats, Air planes, Trains, Taxis, Horse-drawn Carriages, Nile River boats, Feluccas, Cable Cars, Funiculars, and of course Buses, Buses and more Buses. During this trip of a lifetime we were able to see many cities within 33 countries.

We hope you have enjoyed the articles and photos we have shared. This was a wonderful and exhausting trip, and for us the next event is a long rest before we hit the road again in August bound for Italy. See you then!