R and R CruisinTogether

  We have left Antarctica and are barreling through Drake's Passage on our return to South America.  The sea is fairly calm which is unusual for an area of the ocean that is referred to as "Drake's Shake".  A crew member told us he has been crossing this channel for twenty-six years and has often been on the fifth level in the dining room when the windows look like a washing machine.  We're grateful it isn't laundry day while we're here. During days on the high seas, I am drawn to gazing at the waves and reflection.  It is a time of life for me when I have collected many memories.  My soul dog, Shannon, had a birthday this week.  She would have been 44 years of age.  The song, "Shannon" by Henry Gross, is about his dog by the same name.  Unlike Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, I've been recalling "To All the 'Dogs' I've Loved Before".  If you've ever loved a pet, I bet you can empathize.  Ruth Ann's soul dog was...

 Our last day in the splendor and grandeur of Antarctica. Antarctica may be the most beautiful place on Earth.  There are many other locations that are just as picturesque, just as compelling.  However, the vastness and seemingly never ending variety of stunning sights encompassing an entire continent- WOW!!! Sunrise this morning. We hope you have enjoyed the photos.  I wrote in a previous blog, it is impossible to truly capture the majesty with images but I tried.  Ruth Ann said, "I don't want to leave but I'm ready to move on"  “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau  

 Deciduous forest with birds, squirrels and deer is what we routinely see on our morning hikes in Ohio.  In the Antarctic Straights, during our morning walk on the top deck, we are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, icebergs, penguins, seals and whales.   It is surreal.  Like our son-in-law, Mike, once said about our snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park, it is like being in a postcard all day.  Our presence here is like being in another world.  The scenery is spectacular, magnificent and surrounds the soul with humility for our singular existence and gratitude for our Earth.  Antarctica gives hope for the future with its mostly unchanged landscape for thousands of years.  The ocean is as smooth as ice in Paradise Bay and produces an infinity pool like optical illusion where it stretches beyond the horizon.  As we slowly coast through this untamed earthly terrain, icebergs parade by us with one interesting formation after anothe...

 Our first iceberg sighting!  The majesty of the Antarctic is spectacular.  Ruth Ann said, "Taking photos of Antarctica is like taking photos of the Grand Canyon.  It is impossible to truly capture the majesty."   Awe inspiring!  Breathtaking!  I cannot find enough adjectives to describe the beauty.  It is like nowhere else in the world. Glaciers! Climate change has arrived in Antartica.  Glaciers are receding.  Lichen and algae are growing where they have never been seen before.   A picture is worth a thousand words.  We have two more days rowing through this pristine scenery. We've spent nearly every moment together and it is blissful. As Freddy Jackson sang: There's something that I want to say But words sometimes get in the way I just want to show my feelings for you There's nothing that I'd rather do Than spend every moment with you I guess you should know I love you so You are my lady You're everything I need an...

 Opera House in Buenos Aires is now a picturesque and very busy book store.  During our first few days at sea, I completed When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble.  Being forced into the supine position by the motion of the ocean most of the day, I am now reading Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen.  Last night, waves reached as high as thirty feet as we were tossed about in our cabin.  Though we have not become ill, we certainly feel uncomfortable.   The weather was somewhat better this afternoon but according to our weather app, the high winds cause 37 degrees to feel like 11 degrees.  It seems I was more resilient in my youth and less affected by my environment. As George Strait wrote; Well, the truth about a mirror Is that a damned old mirror Don't really tell the whole truth It don't show what's deep inside Or read between the lines And it's really no reflection of my youth I was a young troubadour When I rode in on a song And I'll ...

 Hiking in the Falkland Islands was waiting for us at the end of this rainbow.  Due to extreme weather conditions, our ship couldn't secure anchor in the harbor so all shore excursions were cancelled.  Our ship hovered near the island hoping for improved weather but the weather forecast worsened.  We are now pitching and rolling toward Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.  It is much colder and the waves are lashing our boat.  Shortly after lunch, it became difficult to maintain our equilibrium and balance.  Lying down makes being tossed about more tolerable so we decided to nap through the afternoon amid the rough seas hoping conditions would be much improved upon awakening.   However, we were awakened in the late afternoon by the Captain making an announcement that passengers should prepare for even worse weather conditions for the next few hours and that we should expect stormy seas throughout the night.  So much for that stra...

 Stormy seas have greeted us in the South Atlantic Ocean as we are sailing toward the Falkland Islands.  We've attended lectures on seabirds and whales who occupy the Southern Atlantic.  We've played Scrabble and Canasta, watched a bit of television and for the first time on board this ship, we are bored.  We anchor tomorrow and have a rigorous hike planned on the island.  We were beginning to feel a slice of boredom at dinner last night when Ruth Ann asked me if I like Port Wine;   “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” – Anthony Bourdain Seven years ago in Grand Cayman with Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain (not pictured, our friends Mary Beth and Rich)

As I've written previously about gazing at the ocean when I was younger, I wondered, now I reflect when my eyes are mesmerized by the endless rolling and constant motion of the waves.  We are at sea today and for some tine, we were enveloped in fog.  The ship's foghorn blew on schedule to warn anybody in our path and to remind me of the uncertainty that remains in the years remaining in my life.  As a result, I am again humbled by the love that has defined my life.  Our family (and I hope yours) is our greatest blessing.  It all started with Ruth Ann and me which brings forth one of my all time favorite love songs,  I have many all time favorites including, So Low by Kyle David Watts.  One More Day by Diamond Rio is the song that affects me most strongly today in the waves and the fog; Last night I had a crazy dream A wish was granted just for me It could be for anything I didn't ask for money Or a mansion in Malibu I simply wished for one more day wit...

 Punta del Este, Uruguay is a very high end tourist destination.  According to our guide you must have lotsa, lotsa money to live here.  It is a resort town on a peninsula with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Rio de la Plata on the other side.  We visited the very interesting Ralli Museum, one of five Ralli Museums in the world, which feature Latin American artists.   We also toured the Casapueblo (shown above) which was the home of Carlos Paez Vilaro who  was a   Uruguayan   abstract artist, painter, potter, sculptor, muralist, writer, composer and constructor.  Most of all, he was an "Influencer" who's influence had real life changing results.  His early artwork depicted the hazardous working conditions in factories and evolved into helping Africans seek freedom in their own countries.  Pictured above is the "Hand Sculpture", La Mano, which depicts man emerging into life.  I took this photo near the beach.  W...

  This is perhaps the coolest public sculpture we've ever seen.  It is a flower powered by solar energy.  It opens with the sunrise and closes with the sunset.  Buenos Aires is the most cultured city we have visited in South America.  With a population of 14 million people, it is another progressive Latin American city covered with trees and public parks while also calling itself a city of immigrants.  The architecture is beautiful with a variety of styles and influences.  Argentina is famous for its beef, malbec wine and dulce de leche ice cream.  There are many steakhouses, tango clubs and public murals painted by local artists.  We ordered coffee at San Telmo Market.  In Argentina, it is served black and strong.  Ruth is shown below at the market. Soccer and horse racing are the two most important sports in Argentina.  We visited the Hipodromo Atgentino de Palermo racetrack which has over 1400 stalls and a seating capacity o...