Dearest Rachel – The last dozen or so of the Psalms are referred to as “songs of ascents,” as they’re meant to be sung while en route to the city of Jerusalem, which is, as you’ll recall, built on the top of a mountain (Mount Zion, or going even further back, Mount Moria, where AbrahamContinue reading “A Series of Ascents”
Tag Archives: vlog
It All Goes South From Here
Dearest Rachel – One last morning in Ginosar, and an early one at that; we’re leaving at a quarter to eight (which doesn’t sound like much of a difference from the last couple of days, except that it doesn’t give us time to get back to the room after eating breakfast. Oh well) for theContinue reading “It All Goes South From Here”
On the Way Out and Up
Dearest Rachel – Wednesday morning, and we’re up and out after an hour’s breakfast. Daniel and I try to eat as early as possible to finish putting ourselves together afterwards, but we barely make it to the bus by our scheduled departure time. You would have been, maybe not so much proud, as understanding of ourContinue reading “On the Way Out and Up”
If it’s Tuesday, We Must be Northbound
Dearest Rachel – It’s always a scramble for us to get out of our first hotel in Israel, as you remember. Not only is it our best accommodations of the trip (not to condemn the other locations, but how do you top a suite overlooking the Mediterranean? This is as close as we get toContinue reading “If it’s Tuesday, We Must be Northbound”
End of the Line
Dearest Rachel – So Sunday saw us off the ship, and on our way into town. Our journey had finally come to an end… sort of. We still had given ourselves a day to knock about the city – and with the ball game I had made a particular point of arranging to see beingContinue reading “End of the Line”
A Halifax Busy Day
Dearest Rachel – I realize that I should have taken a moment yesterday to wish you a happy thirty-third anniversary before I went on about our day, but as we were anticipating a busy day ashore, so we were rather preoccupied, I’m afraid. At the same time, do anniversaries still tally up when one partnerContinue reading “A Halifax Busy Day”
In the Breton Island Fog
Dearest Rachel – So after a couple of days at sea – hey, at twenty-five knots, it takes a while to get anywhere from Greenland, let alone the North American continent – you might think we would be itching to get off the ship and onto dry land. And that may very well have beenContinue reading “In the Breton Island Fog”
Greenland Isn’t Icy Either, But…
Dearest Rachel – We were in the Crown Lounge yesterday morning, enjoying our coffee (which I’d spiked with chocolate syrup from the pancake table; for some reason, they don’t have hot cocoa mix on this trip, when it would be so much more appropriate to have on hand, given some of the places we’re visiting)Continue reading “Greenland Isn’t Icy Either, But…”
When the Camera Doesn’t Do it Justice
Dearest Rachel – So our second day in Iceland had us on an actual excursion. While I’d considered a horseback ride as a option, Daniel’s lack of enthusiasm for the possibility (to be fair, he hasn’t ridden a horse since we visited Disney World with Ellen some twenty-three years ago) caused me to decide againstContinue reading “When the Camera Doesn’t Do it Justice “
Time Afoot
Dearest Rachel – After finishing up my last letter to you about the city (granted, I didn’t dwell too much on the city, since you remember having been here – and, like I said, we didn’t spend too much time in Reykjavik proper), there wasn’t a whole lot for us to do at the timeContinue reading “Time Afoot”
The Glasgow Experience
Dearest Rachel – They say that it takes one day for every time zone to acclimatize yourself to your destination when you travel. It’s another reason to appreciate cruising; the travel is so slow and gentle that you can only go across a single time zone on any given day at its fastest. However, inContinue reading “The Glasgow Experience”
From the Portable Editing Booth
Dearest Rachel – The thing about taking notes to tell you about while traveling is that I can either write about things to you or film them, but almost never both – and certainly not at the same time. I can show you what’s around us at a given moment, or (given time) tell youContinue reading “From the Portable Editing Booth”
Our First Misadventure
Dearest Rachel – It’s said that it’s the misadventures that make the memories when you’re traveling (yes, I rather realize I’m effectively quoting myself; that doesn’t make it any less true). If that’s so, Daniel and I may have finally given ourselves a memorable trip to London, even as it’s short and limited in anyContinue reading “Our First Misadventure”
Maybe We Don’t WANT Closure
Dearest Rachel – Happy fifty-fifth birthday, honey. This is it; the day we set you adrift the way you wanted to be. This is why we’re here – right down to why we’ve waited so long – we wanted to make sure your closest friends were here to share this moment. Given how long it’sContinue reading “Maybe We Don’t WANT Closure”
What Has Changed?
Dearest Rachel – Part of me can’t believe it’s been eighteen years since you took this footage as we scoped out the cottage you used to refer to as “Miz Fay’s place” back when your family were still staying at the Bretz cottages a short wade further north. Another part of me can’t believe I’mContinue reading “What Has Changed?”
The Long Way Around – a Visit to South Bass
Dearest Rachel – We had fully intended to make a stop in Put-in-Bay while we were on the island this time around; while your parents rarely bothered to venture over there (their priorities leaned into the fishing aspect of island life, after all) it was pretty much de rigeur for the three of us after a while,Continue reading “The Long Way Around – a Visit to South Bass”
Moving Out
Dearest Rachel – Well, this is it. After having unpacked in my stateroom upon arrival – and having accumulated so much since then, it’s time for me to gather everything back up, and move out, if I can. But first, I have a morning ritual to perform for the last time. You’re probably wondering whyContinue reading “Moving Out”
Crammed In
Dearest Rachel – I can’t say that, on this last ‘full’ day of my trip, I’m giving the upcoming event my full attention. I’m too concerned with making sure everything I have has been packed away sufficiently. And once I got it all together, I read what I should be bringing ashore – including swimwearContinue reading “Crammed In”
Bouncing Around
Dearest Rachel – I’m not gonna lie, honey; I’m not a big fan of the public address system they have on the ship. You can always hear the ‘bing-bong’ of the chimes, heralding an important announcement for all the ships passengers to hear, only for the actual voice to be completely inaudible to someone likeContinue reading “Bouncing Around”
Better Than Cook’s Tour?
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, I understand that Thomas Cook & Son was considered to be the gold standard for tourism; the “Cook’s tour” was proverbial for being given a decent understanding of a place and situation, whether a new job or an actual vacation spot. So, taking into account that the jobContinue reading “Better Than Cook’s Tour?”
As Day Wears Into Night
Dearest Rachel – It’s weird; I’ve found myself treating this morning much as I would a sea day. And for good reason; we’ve basically been at sea all morning, with literally no sign of land to speak of. To be sure, it’s been somewhat hazy outside, so even if there was land nearby, we mightContinue reading “As Day Wears Into Night”
For This I Risked Deportation?
Dearest Rachel – It was a little over a week ago – just as we were coming into Vietnam – when the phone in my stateroom rang. For all the time I spend here (sometimes acknowledging that I really shouldn’t; at least, not as much as I do), this isn’t a thing that happens. IfContinue reading “For This I Risked Deportation?”
Ringgit Out
Dearest Rachel – I rather expected to be able to wander about the city once my (relatively brief, I have to admit) shore excursion was over with today. I had way too much ringgit in my pocket, especially considering how far those things go here in Malaysia. I certainly had plenty of time to doContinue reading “Ringgit Out”
Without Fear and Without Research
Dearest Rachel – It’s not much of an excursion, though; just transport from the port to the capital city, where we’re to be dropped off at Pavilion Shopping Mall in the Bukit Bintang area (the advertising copy adds the adjective ‘famous’ to the district, but given my familiarity with the city – which is absolutelyContinue reading “Without Fear and Without Research”
Such Small Portions
Dearest Rachel – I thought I needed to be at the theater by a quarter to nine; turns out, the call was at eight o’clock sharp. So, with neither a chance to get breakfast nor weigh myself in (since we were in port now, and the ship wasn’t being rocked by the ocean), I brushed my teethContinue reading “Such Small Portions”
What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?
Dearest Rachel – Technically, we’re in the municipality of Phu My (and please, don’t ask me to pronounce that). It’s not all that unusual; many of the cities that we are visiting are separate from the port we actually dock at. Consider Keelung and Taipei, for instance, or even Yokohama and Tokyo, for that matterContinue reading “What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?”
Momentary Millionaire
Dearest Rachel – Since I thought I might need to get my hands on some of the local currency in case I have any significant expenditures to deal with while ashore (if nothing else, having cash to tip our tour guides with can’t be a bad thing), I figured I would look up the localContinue reading “Momentary Millionaire”
Last Day in Japan
Dearest Rachel – It probably shouldn’t come as any surprise that I’m wearing my “America-jin” shirt yet again – it’s my last chance to do so and have it mean anything to anybody. I have to admit to being somewhat dismayed by the effect of a couple of laundries on it already; I think they use aContinue reading “Last Day in Japan”
Return To The Mountain
Dearest Rachel – It is so weird to be back in the same obscure little exurban(? I mean, it’s exurban to Tokyo, whose existence is so overwhelming that even Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan, practically ceases to exist in most people’s minds – including my own – as a separate entity) port thatContinue reading “Return To The Mountain”
But You Can’t Stay Here
Dearest Rachel – In fairness, I was not planning on staying aboard the ship for as long as I did this morning. For all the time I’d spent in Tokyo yesterday on two separate occasions, it seemed only fair to give Yokohama a little attention; after all, that’s where we are. However, between a soreContinue reading “But You Can’t Stay Here “
To Kabuki-cho At Night
Dearest Rachel – They tell me that to take a cab out from Yokohama to downtown Tokyo would run me some ten thousand yen; I say stuff that noise. I consider the public transportation system to be its own adventure (especially in a place like this, where it’s safe in a way that I can’tContinue reading “To Kabuki-cho At Night”
Tokyo By Daylight
Dearest Rachel – For all my preparations, I’m apprehensive about how this plan of mine will work. You’ve already heard my concerns about the national attitude toward otaku culture (despite being more than willing to make bank on it), but as I sit in the theater, ruminating on just the transportation plans, I’m getting moreContinue reading “Tokyo By Daylight”
No Sweat
Dearest Rachel – Unlike the night before, when we were heading in to Nagasaki, and I was literally sweating out my fever, last night was a relatively easy night, even if I was still having difficulty breathing from time to time. Often I either get too warm or too cold, but last night went prettyContinue reading “No Sweat”
Return To Where I’ve Never Been
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure that, to my tablemates, my Japanophilia may seem a little strange. It dates, as you remember, from our college days, before I was aware of terms like ‘anime’ (back then, what little there was that came to the States was referred to as ‘Japanimation,’ and even then, those who coinedContinue reading “Return To Where I’ve Never Been”
天津一日游 – A Day in Tianjin
Dearest Rachel – Unlike Beijing, where I was basically skirting around the city I’d visited quite literally once upon a time, Tianjin is a city I’m not particularly familiar with. When I was in China the last time, we arrived by plane, not by ship, and as such, while this is “the port of theContinue reading “天津一日游 – A Day in Tianjin”
Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)
Dearest Rachel – So, this is the day; the twelve-plus hour excursion. They don’t get any longer than this; from here on out, everything else is going to be relatively easy. Hours on a coach, passing two enormous cities, to visit a place that I’ve been to before (but admittedly, barely remember, apart from someContinue reading “Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)”
Filming One’s Seoul
Dearest Rachel – Morning in Incheon starts slowly; while I’m up an hour before the alarm I set for myself, I’m slow in getting myself put together. It’s reasonable, as I don’t need to be in the theater until a quarter after nine – and the extra hour, in particular, means I have more thanContinue reading “Filming One’s Seoul”
As Early As I Can
Dearest Rachel – After several stops in a row where I’ve been running late (or at least running out of time), I’m getting an early start on the day. I set my alarm for this morning, which you’d think you’d never have to do when you’re on vacation, but there you go. Sometimes you haveContinue reading “As Early As I Can”
Hong Kong Again… For the First Time
Dearest Rachel – For all that I may have written so long ago about being here, I would remember none of it had I not done so. I have certain impressions based on a re-reading of those entries, but given that it was thirty-five years (and a whole new national character, thanks to being ChineseContinue reading “Hong Kong Again… For the First Time”
A Real Spa Day
Dearest Rachel – Considering the vast open spaces I could see from my balcony, I have to admit that I’d rather expected that we would be tendering in to Subic Bay. However, given that it was a military installation once upon a time – and a Naval one, at that – I really should haveContinue reading “A Real Spa Day”
Running Behind Time
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned at breakfast about how I still had two hours before I needed to report to the theater for Sunday’s shore excursion. Even as I was heading there, as per the scheduled time listed on the ticket, we seemed to still be moving. Not only hadn’t we been cleared to get off theContinue reading “Running Behind Time”
A Day at the Beach
Dearest Rachel – The phrase is a literal metaphor for an easy thing, not unlike “a piece of cake” or “a walk in the park.” And given that I’m still clawing my way back to health, it’s probably just what the doctor ordered, to utilize another common phrase – I’d have to check with LarsContinue reading “A Day at the Beach”
An Important Place to Someone
Dearest Rachel – We don’t get a lot of time today in Lombok – well, in fairness, we rarely get much time in any destination that we visit; just the one day we get there and leave. It is one of the drawbacks of cruising – if you find something that particularly draws your interestContinue reading “An Important Place to Someone”
Too Early And Too Late
Dearest Rachel – Morning in Airlie Beach, and I’m not sure what to do with myself. My excursion doesn’t start until almost half past ten, although they were starting to call off those with tender tickets shortly after seven. On the other hand, I’m still trying to juggle breakfast and a phone call from Lars,Continue reading “Too Early And Too Late”
How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend
Dearest Rachel – I’m no more going to be able to write to you about my experience driving a quad than I could film it; at least, I could tell you about it immediately after the fact: After our adventure with the quad bikes, we had a snack and a go through of the MurrookContinue reading “How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend”
The Sea You Always Wanted
Dearest Rachel – Maybe this was due to us having to charge out, hell bent for leather, from the Bay of Islands in order to make up for lost time in our attempts to stick to the original schedule. Maybe it was a cell of bad weather than the captain simply couldn’t navigate around (atContinue reading “The Sea You Always Wanted”
Facts and Stories
Dearest Rachel – The sun eventually rises, and we find ourselves looking at a much calmer day than yesterday. Even the tender over to Waitanga is fairly smooth; although we do hit a brief stretch of wake that I can’t help but comment upon in that instant (because I know you would be exulting inContinue reading “Facts and Stories”
A Place to Focus
Dearest Rachel – After so many days at sea from L.A. to Hawaii, from Hawaii to Polynesia, and now from Polynesia to New Zealand, I’m starting to become aware of just how much of that time I’m spending in my stateroom, rather than getting out and wandering amongst the crowds, such as they are (thisContinue reading “A Place to Focus”
Pulled From My Stateroom
Dearest Rachel – As comfortable as I am in my stateroom – and as much as I know I’m going to be familiar with every inch of this ship soon enough – I have this sense that I can’t simply stay in my room all the time. If nothing else, my attendant, I Komang, isContinue reading “Pulled From My Stateroom”
Not So Easily Said
Dearest Rachel – As much as I’m not particularly fond of their attitudes, I have to give the TikTokers their due. Being able to talk straight through everything, without hesitation, without self-consciousness – I’d say it was easier said than done, but the whole point is that it’s not so easily said at all. For me toContinue reading “Not So Easily Said”
Just Another Clout-Chaser
Dearest Rachel – I wasn’t the one to bring it up to my dad when I visited him yesterday, but I’d already read the news item about the fellow when Dad broached the subject. Not that it should surprise me (although it did, since I assumed that most of the folks there would likely be myContinue reading “Just Another Clout-Chaser”
Proof of Concept
Dearest Rachel – I’ve concluded that there’s no way that I’m going to be able to tell you everything about my upcoming trip in so many words; pictures are going to be necessary, and perhaps moving pictures even more so. So between one thing and another, I’ve decided to put together short video letters to tellContinue reading “Proof of Concept”
Letters to Rachel 