Purpose
The UHS Class of ’63 have lived and traveled to many parts of the globe and taken many pictures to share with others. This page is compiled from those who want to share their memories with others. If you are interested in sharing your photos, contact the Site Administrator for information on how you can add your photos.
RIDING ROUGH WATER
Joan Layton recently shared her trip to Banff, Alberta, Canada during July 17-22, 2022 with two daughters and grandson. “We were just wanting to get away, out of the heat, and have a summer trip.”
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately 126 km (78 mi) west of Calgary and 58 km (36 mi) east of Lake Louise. At 1,400 to 1,630 m (4,590 to 5,350 ft) above sea level,[4] Banff is the community with the second highest elevation in Alberta, after Lake Louise. It is a resort town and one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations. Known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs, it is a destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing destinations within the area.
The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace near Banff, Scotland. Banff was first settled in the 1880s, after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. In 1885, Canada established a federal reserve of 26 km2 (10 sq mi) around the Cave and Basin hot springs, and began promoting the area as an international resort and spa as a way to support the new railway.[6] In 1887, the reserve area was increased to 673 km2 (260 sq mi) and named "Rocky Mountain Park". This was the beginning of Canada's National Park system.
Joan says “the area was so beautiful and they loved it and would definitely do it again.”
These are pictures of Joan “cooling off” and having fun on the Kananskis River.
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately 126 km (78 mi) west of Calgary and 58 km (36 mi) east of Lake Louise. At 1,400 to 1,630 m (4,590 to 5,350 ft) above sea level,[4] Banff is the community with the second highest elevation in Alberta, after Lake Louise. It is a resort town and one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations. Known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs, it is a destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing destinations within the area.
The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace near Banff, Scotland. Banff was first settled in the 1880s, after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. In 1885, Canada established a federal reserve of 26 km2 (10 sq mi) around the Cave and Basin hot springs, and began promoting the area as an international resort and spa as a way to support the new railway.[6] In 1887, the reserve area was increased to 673 km2 (260 sq mi) and named "Rocky Mountain Park". This was the beginning of Canada's National Park system.
Joan says “the area was so beautiful and they loved it and would definitely do it again.”
These are pictures of Joan “cooling off” and having fun on the Kananskis River.
VISITING THE WORLD'S LARGEST DESERT
Why do people visit Antartica? They love cold weather with ice and snow. They want to get away from it all where nothing is man-made. They want to visit the world’s largest desert. They enjoy 24-hours of daylight. Because they can.
You will have to ask Sandra Ohara why she went there in February 2022 to find out why she went back for her second visit to the region.
Why are so many people visiting Antarctica? The coolest destination on Earth, literally, Antarctica is the last great wilderness. A place free of anything man-made, this natural beauty must be discovered before it's precious polar ecosystem and wildlife are endangered and lost forever. During the 2018-2019 season, the total number of people who visited Antartica during that time frame was approximately 55.489. Of those, the majority came from the United States, although an emerging travel market in China makes that country the second largest group of Antarctica tourists. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany rounded out the top five.
Why is Antarctica a desert? A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very little precipitation (the exact amount depends on who you ask) is classified as a desert. There are many types of deserts, including subtropical, coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all certainly applies to Antarctica. The average yearly rainfall at the South Pole over the past 30 years was a tiny 10 mm (0.4 in). Although the coast sees some precipitation, the average across the continent is low enough to classify all of Antarctica as a polar
desert.
The 5 largest deserts on earth:
1. Antarctic Polar Desert: 14 million km2 (5.4 million square miles).
2. Arctic Polar Desert: 13.7 million km? (5.3 million square miles).
3. Sahara Desert: 9.2 million km? (3.5 million square miles).
4. Arabian Desert: 2.3 million km? (800,000 square miles).
The following pictures were provided by a fellow traveler of Sandra during her recent trip.
You will have to ask Sandra Ohara why she went there in February 2022 to find out why she went back for her second visit to the region.
Why are so many people visiting Antarctica? The coolest destination on Earth, literally, Antarctica is the last great wilderness. A place free of anything man-made, this natural beauty must be discovered before it's precious polar ecosystem and wildlife are endangered and lost forever. During the 2018-2019 season, the total number of people who visited Antartica during that time frame was approximately 55.489. Of those, the majority came from the United States, although an emerging travel market in China makes that country the second largest group of Antarctica tourists. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany rounded out the top five.
Why is Antarctica a desert? A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very little precipitation (the exact amount depends on who you ask) is classified as a desert. There are many types of deserts, including subtropical, coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all certainly applies to Antarctica. The average yearly rainfall at the South Pole over the past 30 years was a tiny 10 mm (0.4 in). Although the coast sees some precipitation, the average across the continent is low enough to classify all of Antarctica as a polar
desert.
The 5 largest deserts on earth:
1. Antarctic Polar Desert: 14 million km2 (5.4 million square miles).
2. Arctic Polar Desert: 13.7 million km? (5.3 million square miles).
3. Sahara Desert: 9.2 million km? (3.5 million square miles).
4. Arabian Desert: 2.3 million km? (800,000 square miles).
The following pictures were provided by a fellow traveler of Sandra during her recent trip.
Mel Choy - 2021 World Series Atlanta Braves prevail over the Houston Astros
A dream come true for a lifelong Braves fan
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A “FAN?”
Looking in the dictionary, a “fan” is generally–and very likely correctly–believed to be a shortened form of fanatic and used as a noun means an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator or an ardent admirer or enthusiast.
Perhaps there is no one in the Class of ’63 who exemplifies being a “fan” than Mel Choy whose devotion to the Atlanta Braves baseball team was displayed during the professional baseball 2021 World Series.
His affinity for the Atlanta Braves can be traced earlier in this website to the story on the Kalakoa page in the article titled, Mel Choy - The Man with One Million located at this link uhs63.weebly.com/kalakoa.html. When you name one of your children after one of your heroes on team, that is the highest form of fandom a person can exhibit.
During the recently completed World Series, Mel continued to display his love for this favorite baseball team when he travelled from Hawaii to Houston to watch the second game of the series.
In addition to attending the game on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Mel joined fellow Class of ’63 members during their weekly scheduled ZOOM call live from the World Series. He added to his ZOOM call participation fame with this call from Houston along with his participation from his hospital recovery room in 2020 after surgery.
Good things happen to good people….the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros, four games to two in the best of seven series.
What follows below was provided by Mel. Enjoy!
Looking in the dictionary, a “fan” is generally–and very likely correctly–believed to be a shortened form of fanatic and used as a noun means an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator or an ardent admirer or enthusiast.
Perhaps there is no one in the Class of ’63 who exemplifies being a “fan” than Mel Choy whose devotion to the Atlanta Braves baseball team was displayed during the professional baseball 2021 World Series.
His affinity for the Atlanta Braves can be traced earlier in this website to the story on the Kalakoa page in the article titled, Mel Choy - The Man with One Million located at this link uhs63.weebly.com/kalakoa.html. When you name one of your children after one of your heroes on team, that is the highest form of fandom a person can exhibit.
During the recently completed World Series, Mel continued to display his love for this favorite baseball team when he travelled from Hawaii to Houston to watch the second game of the series.
In addition to attending the game on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Mel joined fellow Class of ’63 members during their weekly scheduled ZOOM call live from the World Series. He added to his ZOOM call participation fame with this call from Houston along with his participation from his hospital recovery room in 2020 after surgery.
Good things happen to good people….the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros, four games to two in the best of seven series.
What follows below was provided by Mel. Enjoy!
My connection to the Braves
It was 1957 and the New York Yankees were playing the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series. Most of my friends were cheering for the heavily favored Yankees, the dominant team of that era, but my favorite player was Hank Aaron (I still have his 1954 Topps rookie baseball card and named my first-born son Aaron after him) and he was on the Braves so, naturally, I was rooting for the Braves to win. They won in seven games, cementing my commitment to the Braves ever since. The team moved to Atlanta in 1966 but I still followed them and while in school in Chicago, I attended games whenever the Braves played the Cubs. When I returned to Hawaii, watching baseball games was not as easy as today but I had cable and Turner Broadcasting showed most of the Braves games, so I was able to keep following the team. The team was pretty bad in the 80’s and I suffered through some horrible times as a fan but in 1991 they went to the World Series and almost won. This began a long run of success, but they were underachievers and did not win a World Series until 1995. I would have loved to go to the 1995 series then but with a full-time practice and two kids at Iolani and another one in college, it was also financially unfeasible. At least I got to watch it on TV, and fortunately, we were not watching it on delay like most sporting events at that time period.
Wow, I’m going to the World Series
Fast forward to 2021. By some miracle, the Braves made it to the World Series after over 20 years of failing to get out of the Division and League Championship Series. The Sunday before the series was to begin, my family was at my home for our usual Sunday night dinner. My son Andrew, who is a big Cubs fan and attended the series when the Cubs won in 2016, commented that I must be excited to see my team in the series and should consider going to the series in person since I had never been to a World Series game, especially since my team was in it. I was content and excited to watch my team in the series on TV, but he insisted I should go and even offered to pay for my wife Vivian and I to attend. Vivian suggested that Andrew attend instead as a bonding moment and then my son Austin decided to be a fair-weather Braves fan and tag along. Vivian could have also gone but if she went then the childcare provider would be missing so she sacrificed and stayed home. They jumped on their cell phones and quickly arranged for airfare, hotel and game tickets, something that probably would have taken me hours of frustration given my limited technical skills. My other son Aaron wanted to share the bonding experience, but he could not get off work at such short notice. We hadn’t attended a baseball game together in ages. My two dentist sons cancelled their appointments till Friday and relished the chance to attend a World Series game. It was really hard from my kids since they worked a full day on Monday and one of them had to hurry home from Hilo to make the flight to Houston. We decided to go to Houston instead of Atlanta since it was closer and a lot cheaper. The tickets on the secondary market were much higher in Atlanta. Our seats were $1200 each. That was the price for standing room seats in Atlanta. We caught the Monday redeye to San Francisco then on to Houston where we arrived about 4 PM. Our tickets were for Game 2 because of the uncertainty of arrival time in Houston. As it turned out, we checked into our hotel at 5 PM and decided to go a sports bar to have dinner and watch the game on a huge tv like the kind in stadiums. The first batter of the game was Jorge Soler and he hit a home run and the whole bar was silent except for three Asian Brave fans sitting in the corner. It got tense when Charlie Morton, the ace starting pitcher, broke his leg but everything turned out well in the end. The game usually lasts three to four hours and the restaurant probably didn’t want us there that long, so we returned to the hotel to watch the Braves secure their 6-2 victory in Game 1.
The Game Experience
We made our plans for Game 2. The game started at seven, but we went to the stadium around 430. We Ubered to the stadium which was about a mile from our hotel figuring I would save my energy since it was recommended that we walk back to the hotel after the game since it would be difficult to find transportation among the 40,000 plus fans. It gave us a chance to look around the stadium. Since our seats were on the third base side, we entered the stadium from the left field entrance (1) where there was a street festival (2) with food booths, games, music, etc. How technology has changed things. No souvenir paper ticket-only a QR code on your cell phone to gain entrance (3). I wanted to get Braves World Series memorabilia at the gift shop but to my surprise, they only had Astros stuff. We were told we needed to get it in Atlanta or online. We were near the Crawford boxes in left field (4) and saw that the teams were taking batting practice, and this was perhaps an opportunity to get a baseball souvenir. We went there to take some pictures (5,6) and watch the players hit bombs to all fields. While I was concentrating on taking photos, a screaming line drive came my way. My son stuck his hand out and deflected it, but it bounced a foot away and a rotund Hispanic woman in an Astros jersey smothered her body on it like a live grenade and deprived my son of his souvenir. He was mad as he told us that was the first time he went to a game without his glove, and this was the closest he ever came to getting a ball. After batting practice, we walked around and headed to our seats. I picked up my souvenir book (7) and scouted food options, of which there were many. I told them I would catch the food on this trip since they paid for everything else. We weren’t that hungry as my son’s friend had taken us out for a late Tex-Mex lunch and we stuffed ourselves. We ended up with Crawford Dogs and beer for all (8,9). The beer ended up costing $14, $3 more than the hot dog. At least it was 16 ounces. We settled in our seats and waited for the game to start. We had seats about 100 feet past the third base dugout in the last row of the field level seats (10). There were a bunch of Braves fans in our section, and we sort of banded together. I didn’t see many or any Asian people in the crowd and we definitely were the only ones wearing masks. The only other people I noticed wearing masks were the stadium personnel and the venders, probably because it was required. I did not see any other people wearing masks, so I guess Texas is very liberal with their Covid policies.
I thought the Braves had a good chance to win since they were starting their best pitcher, Max Fried (11). The game was tied till the bottom of the second inning, and everything went wrong for the Braves that inning. Of course, the Houston fans were going wild. They were constantly waving the orange towels (12) we were given when we entered the stadium. Every inning, the fans were on their feet which meant we had to stand most of the game in order to see the game. The only time we sat down was between innings. The game experience was fantastic. I have been to many other stadiums and major league baseball games, but the World Series was more intense. You could feel it in the stands. The Astros fans were standing and waving their orange towels when any Astro got on base or they made a defensive out. Almost every time Houston look like they were going to score, the stadium big screen would show a bunch of nuns, mostly Filipino, waving orange towels in the Coca Cola luxury box. I later found out that they were the Rally Nuns much like the Rally Monkeys of the Angels in 2002. The few of us Braves fans were hoping that they would make a game of it, but it never happened so needless to say, we left the game disappointed by the 7-2 loss but at least they got one victory in Houston. As we left the stadium, we decided to take some pictures near the Crawford boxes. They turned out pretty good considering we asked an obviously drunk woman to take the pictures (13, 14). On our way out of the stadium on our walk back to the hotel, I received numerous compliments about the Hank Aaron Brave’s jersey I was wearing that evening. They all said it was the coolest looking Braves jersey they saw at the stadium that night. Maybe they were consoling a disappointed Braves fan. It seemed like all 40,000 + fans were walking back to the hotel with us as they were celebrating like the Astros had won the series. There were numerous people throwing up on the sidewalks. What a waste of $14 beers. It was well after midnight when we got back to the hotel, but we were hungry and got some food since it was dinner time in Hawaii. We were probably exhausted from the long day and jet lag as we soundly slept through breakfast and woke up just in time to check out of the hotel and get a Texas barbeque lunch (15) before hitting the airport for our flight home. The restaurant opened at 11:00 and we arrived at 10:45 and there was already a long line. Fortunately, we had allowed enough time to get through the line and enjoy our lunch. By the time we left for the airport, the line at the restaurant was around the block. While we waited in line, the Astro fans talked to us and were very hospitable. They assumed we were from Atlanta and were headed back home. They were surprised when we told them we were from Hawaii. They told us to stay in Houston for Game 6, anticipating there would be a Game 6. As it turned out, the Braves did return to Houston for Game 6 and clinched the series there and became the World Champions for 2021.
The Aftermath
Thursday was travel day for us and the Braves, back home to Hawaii for us and back to Atlanta for the Braves. We got home late that evening but, unlike my sons who had work the next day, I got to rest and get ready to watch the rest of the series in the comfort of my home. Vivian and I went to Atlanta in 2018 as a retirement gift from my kids so we were able to see the then new park and the atmosphere during a game. I figured this would definitely be an advantage. The next two games were victorious nail biters, 2-0 and 3-2. I hoped they would close out the series in Atlanta, but they got blown out in Game 5, 9-5 after blowing a 4 run lead. Oh, no. I was wondering if they would choke in Houston. As it turned out, they won Games 6, 7-0, in a breeze and are the World champs for 2021. I had to wait 26 years for another championship, but I was able to watch my favorite team play in the World Series in person. Another thing off my bucket list. Andrew remarked that every time he went to see the Cubs play an important game, they lost but won the series they played in. Maybe it was a good omen that we witnessed the Game 2 loss. The Braves were initially expected to do well at the start of the 2021 season, but devastating injuries and early slumps quickly made it appear they were done for the year. With some productive trades and good management and a lot of luck, they surprised the baseball world by winning the championship. Many say Hank Aaron was their guardian angel who guided them to victory in 2021. Maybe my wearing his jersey contributed a small bit. In fact, the team maybe even better in 2022 with key players returning and current players developing. If it takes another 26 years for the Braves to win a World Series, I probably won’t be around or probably won’t know what is happening if I am still alive. One never knows how things will play out each season so for now, I will just relish my wonderful experience and continue rooting for my team.
It was 1957 and the New York Yankees were playing the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series. Most of my friends were cheering for the heavily favored Yankees, the dominant team of that era, but my favorite player was Hank Aaron (I still have his 1954 Topps rookie baseball card and named my first-born son Aaron after him) and he was on the Braves so, naturally, I was rooting for the Braves to win. They won in seven games, cementing my commitment to the Braves ever since. The team moved to Atlanta in 1966 but I still followed them and while in school in Chicago, I attended games whenever the Braves played the Cubs. When I returned to Hawaii, watching baseball games was not as easy as today but I had cable and Turner Broadcasting showed most of the Braves games, so I was able to keep following the team. The team was pretty bad in the 80’s and I suffered through some horrible times as a fan but in 1991 they went to the World Series and almost won. This began a long run of success, but they were underachievers and did not win a World Series until 1995. I would have loved to go to the 1995 series then but with a full-time practice and two kids at Iolani and another one in college, it was also financially unfeasible. At least I got to watch it on TV, and fortunately, we were not watching it on delay like most sporting events at that time period.
Wow, I’m going to the World Series
Fast forward to 2021. By some miracle, the Braves made it to the World Series after over 20 years of failing to get out of the Division and League Championship Series. The Sunday before the series was to begin, my family was at my home for our usual Sunday night dinner. My son Andrew, who is a big Cubs fan and attended the series when the Cubs won in 2016, commented that I must be excited to see my team in the series and should consider going to the series in person since I had never been to a World Series game, especially since my team was in it. I was content and excited to watch my team in the series on TV, but he insisted I should go and even offered to pay for my wife Vivian and I to attend. Vivian suggested that Andrew attend instead as a bonding moment and then my son Austin decided to be a fair-weather Braves fan and tag along. Vivian could have also gone but if she went then the childcare provider would be missing so she sacrificed and stayed home. They jumped on their cell phones and quickly arranged for airfare, hotel and game tickets, something that probably would have taken me hours of frustration given my limited technical skills. My other son Aaron wanted to share the bonding experience, but he could not get off work at such short notice. We hadn’t attended a baseball game together in ages. My two dentist sons cancelled their appointments till Friday and relished the chance to attend a World Series game. It was really hard from my kids since they worked a full day on Monday and one of them had to hurry home from Hilo to make the flight to Houston. We decided to go to Houston instead of Atlanta since it was closer and a lot cheaper. The tickets on the secondary market were much higher in Atlanta. Our seats were $1200 each. That was the price for standing room seats in Atlanta. We caught the Monday redeye to San Francisco then on to Houston where we arrived about 4 PM. Our tickets were for Game 2 because of the uncertainty of arrival time in Houston. As it turned out, we checked into our hotel at 5 PM and decided to go a sports bar to have dinner and watch the game on a huge tv like the kind in stadiums. The first batter of the game was Jorge Soler and he hit a home run and the whole bar was silent except for three Asian Brave fans sitting in the corner. It got tense when Charlie Morton, the ace starting pitcher, broke his leg but everything turned out well in the end. The game usually lasts three to four hours and the restaurant probably didn’t want us there that long, so we returned to the hotel to watch the Braves secure their 6-2 victory in Game 1.
The Game Experience
We made our plans for Game 2. The game started at seven, but we went to the stadium around 430. We Ubered to the stadium which was about a mile from our hotel figuring I would save my energy since it was recommended that we walk back to the hotel after the game since it would be difficult to find transportation among the 40,000 plus fans. It gave us a chance to look around the stadium. Since our seats were on the third base side, we entered the stadium from the left field entrance (1) where there was a street festival (2) with food booths, games, music, etc. How technology has changed things. No souvenir paper ticket-only a QR code on your cell phone to gain entrance (3). I wanted to get Braves World Series memorabilia at the gift shop but to my surprise, they only had Astros stuff. We were told we needed to get it in Atlanta or online. We were near the Crawford boxes in left field (4) and saw that the teams were taking batting practice, and this was perhaps an opportunity to get a baseball souvenir. We went there to take some pictures (5,6) and watch the players hit bombs to all fields. While I was concentrating on taking photos, a screaming line drive came my way. My son stuck his hand out and deflected it, but it bounced a foot away and a rotund Hispanic woman in an Astros jersey smothered her body on it like a live grenade and deprived my son of his souvenir. He was mad as he told us that was the first time he went to a game without his glove, and this was the closest he ever came to getting a ball. After batting practice, we walked around and headed to our seats. I picked up my souvenir book (7) and scouted food options, of which there were many. I told them I would catch the food on this trip since they paid for everything else. We weren’t that hungry as my son’s friend had taken us out for a late Tex-Mex lunch and we stuffed ourselves. We ended up with Crawford Dogs and beer for all (8,9). The beer ended up costing $14, $3 more than the hot dog. At least it was 16 ounces. We settled in our seats and waited for the game to start. We had seats about 100 feet past the third base dugout in the last row of the field level seats (10). There were a bunch of Braves fans in our section, and we sort of banded together. I didn’t see many or any Asian people in the crowd and we definitely were the only ones wearing masks. The only other people I noticed wearing masks were the stadium personnel and the venders, probably because it was required. I did not see any other people wearing masks, so I guess Texas is very liberal with their Covid policies.
I thought the Braves had a good chance to win since they were starting their best pitcher, Max Fried (11). The game was tied till the bottom of the second inning, and everything went wrong for the Braves that inning. Of course, the Houston fans were going wild. They were constantly waving the orange towels (12) we were given when we entered the stadium. Every inning, the fans were on their feet which meant we had to stand most of the game in order to see the game. The only time we sat down was between innings. The game experience was fantastic. I have been to many other stadiums and major league baseball games, but the World Series was more intense. You could feel it in the stands. The Astros fans were standing and waving their orange towels when any Astro got on base or they made a defensive out. Almost every time Houston look like they were going to score, the stadium big screen would show a bunch of nuns, mostly Filipino, waving orange towels in the Coca Cola luxury box. I later found out that they were the Rally Nuns much like the Rally Monkeys of the Angels in 2002. The few of us Braves fans were hoping that they would make a game of it, but it never happened so needless to say, we left the game disappointed by the 7-2 loss but at least they got one victory in Houston. As we left the stadium, we decided to take some pictures near the Crawford boxes. They turned out pretty good considering we asked an obviously drunk woman to take the pictures (13, 14). On our way out of the stadium on our walk back to the hotel, I received numerous compliments about the Hank Aaron Brave’s jersey I was wearing that evening. They all said it was the coolest looking Braves jersey they saw at the stadium that night. Maybe they were consoling a disappointed Braves fan. It seemed like all 40,000 + fans were walking back to the hotel with us as they were celebrating like the Astros had won the series. There were numerous people throwing up on the sidewalks. What a waste of $14 beers. It was well after midnight when we got back to the hotel, but we were hungry and got some food since it was dinner time in Hawaii. We were probably exhausted from the long day and jet lag as we soundly slept through breakfast and woke up just in time to check out of the hotel and get a Texas barbeque lunch (15) before hitting the airport for our flight home. The restaurant opened at 11:00 and we arrived at 10:45 and there was already a long line. Fortunately, we had allowed enough time to get through the line and enjoy our lunch. By the time we left for the airport, the line at the restaurant was around the block. While we waited in line, the Astro fans talked to us and were very hospitable. They assumed we were from Atlanta and were headed back home. They were surprised when we told them we were from Hawaii. They told us to stay in Houston for Game 6, anticipating there would be a Game 6. As it turned out, the Braves did return to Houston for Game 6 and clinched the series there and became the World Champions for 2021.
The Aftermath
Thursday was travel day for us and the Braves, back home to Hawaii for us and back to Atlanta for the Braves. We got home late that evening but, unlike my sons who had work the next day, I got to rest and get ready to watch the rest of the series in the comfort of my home. Vivian and I went to Atlanta in 2018 as a retirement gift from my kids so we were able to see the then new park and the atmosphere during a game. I figured this would definitely be an advantage. The next two games were victorious nail biters, 2-0 and 3-2. I hoped they would close out the series in Atlanta, but they got blown out in Game 5, 9-5 after blowing a 4 run lead. Oh, no. I was wondering if they would choke in Houston. As it turned out, they won Games 6, 7-0, in a breeze and are the World champs for 2021. I had to wait 26 years for another championship, but I was able to watch my favorite team play in the World Series in person. Another thing off my bucket list. Andrew remarked that every time he went to see the Cubs play an important game, they lost but won the series they played in. Maybe it was a good omen that we witnessed the Game 2 loss. The Braves were initially expected to do well at the start of the 2021 season, but devastating injuries and early slumps quickly made it appear they were done for the year. With some productive trades and good management and a lot of luck, they surprised the baseball world by winning the championship. Many say Hank Aaron was their guardian angel who guided them to victory in 2021. Maybe my wearing his jersey contributed a small bit. In fact, the team maybe even better in 2022 with key players returning and current players developing. If it takes another 26 years for the Braves to win a World Series, I probably won’t be around or probably won’t know what is happening if I am still alive. One never knows how things will play out each season so for now, I will just relish my wonderful experience and continue rooting for my team.
Glenn and Marilyn Bauer’s 2018 Trip to Finland and Lapland
My mother’s family immigrated to America from Finland in the late 1890’s. They first went to Wisconsin. When my great-grandfather drowned in the Lapua River near the town of Ylihärmä in 1902, they went back to Finland to settle his estate. They returned to the US in 1906 and bought land near Redmond, Washington. They had a farm and my grandfather was a logger. The family name is Yliluoma (the “y” is pronounced as “ew”). My mother was the youngest of eight children. By the time she was born, the named had changed from Yliluoma to Louma to Louman so that Americans could pronounce it. Everyone in her family spoke Finnish. When my grandmother died in 1950, the family stopped speaking Finnish among themselves. My aunt, though, continued to write one of our Finnish relatives, and learned the family genealogy through her. This relative, Annikka Ekdahl, was the daughter of my mother’s and my aunt’s first cousin.
About 20 years ago, out of the blue, the nephew of the Annikka emailed me. His name is Joonas Yliluoma. At the time he was a teenager practicing his English. From him I learned much of the Yliluoma family history. He is the oldest of three children, and because both of his parents passed away young, he inherited the family property. He works as the Ylivieska city manager and farms barley on his land.
Marilyn and I started thinking about visiting Finland and my family there around 2015. We signed up for a Rick Steves tour of Estonia, St. Petersburg, and Helsinki in 2016. We thought about going to Finland a week or so earlier to meet the family. For that trip we flew from Seattle to Iceland for a couple of days and then on Helsinki. At that time Joonas was living in Tempere which is north of Helsinki. We met him there and he drove us north to his home town of Raudasklyä near Ylivieska. We stopped to visit other cousins near Ylihärmä, the graves of my great-grandfather and mother, the 140-year old family house, and other sights. I had no idea that I had so many cousins. In Finland, if you are second cousin you are a “Little Cousin”….I have dozens of Little Cousins. We met many of them: his aunts, uncles, and Annikka. Joonas was the translator, though many of them spoke rudimentary English. We talked with them about returning in 2018 and driving to Lapland.
In anticipation of the new trip, Marilyn and I decided to learn Finnish. We spent two years with Pimsleur Finnish…every morning for a half hour we struggled. We learned that “mitä kuuluu” meant “what’s up”. We learned a Finnish saying “Oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka”, which translates sort of like, “one’s own land like a strawberry, other land like a blueberry.” And the “r’s” in words are rolled big time.
Finnish is a language from the Finno-Ugric group of languages (it is also spoken in Estonia). It is not at all like French, German, or other Nordic languages. It comes from the Ural Mountains and Siberia. It has no gender. Hän can be he or she. There is no future tense. There are no articles like “the” or “a”. The prepositions are tied to the words. For example a restaurant is a “ravintola”, in the restaurant is “ravintolassa”. Or, “to the right” is “oikealle” and “on the right” is “oikealla”….then there are the verb tenses…past, present, perfect, and mood tenses… many of them. And many words are compound.
Besides the difficulty of the language, Finnish people do not talk a lot. When someone says something at the dinner table, there is usually silence as people around the table think about what is said. The silences can last 30 seconds or more. No one is uncomfortable with that. It is probably difficult for many Americans to fathom. Finns also like their personal space, as social distancing comes naturally. However, being in a sauna at 80⁰ C with cousins is not social distancing.
2018 Trip to Ylivieska and Lapland
We planned our trip with Joonas and his aunts, uncles, and his sister, Elina to almost coincide with our 40th wedding anniversary. The chief organizers were aunts Annikka Ekdahl, Jatta Yliluoma, and his uncles, Timo and Tuomo Yliluoma.
Jatta had worked as a nurse in Ivalo in Lapland, and also as a worker at a National Park called Kiilopää during the summers. The aunts are incredibly fit. Annikka paddles her kayak in the Gulf of Bothnia and in the Iijoki River. The Iijoki River paddle is about 80 km. Jatta does cross country skiing…a couple of years ago she skied 115 km in 12 hours in the dead of winter with a group of friends. She also swims in ice holes during the winter. Knowing this, Marilyn and I tried to build up our stamina to keep up with these very active cousins.
We left Hawaii on August 20, 2018, and arrived in Seattle late that night. We left the next day for Iceland and a changed planes to Helsinki. On August 22nd we landed in Helsinki….we were dead tired and found our hotel. At 9 pm the fire alarm went off. We slept through part of it, but then the smell of smoke that had the odor of fish came through the door. We went down stairs and there were firemen; it was serious. We found out that someone had cooked fish and set off the fire alarms. We went back to bed. The following day we wandered around the incredible and beautiful city of Helsinki and bought our train ticket to Ylivieska to meet Joonas and the family the next day.
Early the next morning we took the train north to Ylivieska. Joonas met us and took us to our hotel and later to his house in Raudaskylä. The next day we took a hike around a lake near his house with seventeen members of the family. Some of the cousins coming down from Oulu. It was a typical Finnish hike…gathering blueberries, lingonberries, edible mushrooms, and having a luncheon feast at a wooden shelter.
The next day aunts, Annikka, Jatta, and uncles, Timo and Tuomo, and Joonas’ sister Elina, Marilyn and I started our journey to Lapland. The first day we headed north to Oulu in our large rented van, and then on to our first stop at Luosto-Pyha National Park. We stopped at the Iijoki River to see where Annikka paddled, and then saw our first reindeer, or “poro”…crossing the road. As we headed north to the Arctic Circle at Rovaniemi and Santa’s Village, we stopped to buy souvenirs. Farther north was our first stop was at Luosto (67⁰N). It is a beautiful hotel near a “lampi” a pond, not a “järvi,” a lake. The next day we hiked up a fell, a tree-less hill to an amethyst mine. You pay to dig and then they take some and then you get to keep the others. On the hike up we saw huge anthills, large mushrooms used by shamans, and beautiful views of Lapland. The wild blueberries grew among the rocks of the fell, which gave credence to that Finnish saying.
The next day we drove to a ski resort as part of the national park and took a ski lift to the top of the fell. Russia was not far away. The region was covered by 2 km of ice during the last ice age, and the land is still rebounding.
That day we drove farther north to Kiilopää National Park at 68⁰ N. We stayed in a rustic building that had the look of a log cabin. We arrived in time for “Smoke Sauna”. There is a stream running next to the smoke sauna that has a temperature of 3⁰C. The sauna was very smoky and filled with people of all ages. There was a woman wearing a fur hat (80⁰ C in the sauna) near the fire pouring water on the stones to make steam. The steam hit like a blast from a jet. People were saying “lisää löyly” or MORE STEAM! After about 10 to 15 minutes people would go to the stream to cool off. It took me three tries to get my head underwater. Many of the folks were swimming around a small island in the stream. My cousin Elina was photographed with a look on face, that she said made her look like she was giving “water birth”.
The next day we drove to Inari (68.5⁰N). That town is the headquarters of the Sami people. The Sami came to Finland before the Finns and were driven north. They have their own Finno-Ugric language. We visited the Sami Museum known as the Siida. On the way north to Inari we passed the most beautiful lake in world (my opinion). It is Ukonjärvi (Old Man Lake). On the drive back to Kiilopää we hiked up to Karhunpesäkivi, Bear Nest Rock.
That day we drove farther north to Kiilopää National Park at 68⁰ N. We stayed in a rustic building that had the look of a log cabin. We arrived in time for “Smoke Sauna”. There is a stream running next to the smoke sauna that has a temperature of 3⁰C. The sauna was very smoky and filled with people of all ages. There was a woman wearing a fur hat (80⁰ C in the sauna) near the fire pouring water on the stones to make steam. The steam hit like a blast from a jet. People were saying “lisää löyly” or MORE STEAM! After about 10 to 15 minutes people would go to the stream to cool off. It took me three tries to get my head underwater. Many of the folks were swimming around a small island in the stream. My cousin Elina was photographed with a look on face, that she said made her look like she was giving “water birth”.
The next day we drove to Inari (68.5⁰N). That town is the headquarters of the Sami people. The Sami came to Finland before the Finns and were driven north. They have their own Finno-Ugric language. We visited the Sami Museum known as the Siida. On the way north to Inari we passed the most beautiful lake in world (my opinion). It is Ukonjärvi (Old Man Lake). On the drive back to Kiilopää we hiked up to Karhunpesäkivi, Bear Nest Rock.
Back at Kiilopää for the night we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with peach brandy and a sauna afterwards. The next day, was a long drive back to Ylivieska, with a few more days of family time. Marilyn and I said goodbye and took the train back to Helsinki for a few days. It was wonderful trip of connecting with half of my roots and having an appreciation for the Finns and their culture. We returned home on September 10, 2018.
I want to go back to Finland in the dead of winter to feel what -40⁰ C feels like. I know my mother’s family felt it and I would like to as well.
CROATIA
Are you a fan of Sheldon Cooper and his Fun with Flags broadcasts? If you are, then you recognize that this is a flag of Croatia.
Carolyn (Fukunaga) Goss shared her pictures (on the link below) and comments about her visit to Croatia.
When did you visit Croatia? This past October my husband Tim and I visited Croatia. This turned out to be our second favorite Grand European Travel (GET) tour because the tour guide was incredible, the itinerary full of amazing sights and experiences (Korcula being our favorite place), the other tour members wonderful and the weather stunning. The Croatians were also so welcoming and friendly.
What other places have you visited? Our favorite GET tour was taken in the spring when we went to Germany/The Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary/Austria. What made that trip a cut above our Croatian tour were the extraordinary tour guide we had and the visceral connection we felt to Budapest, especially seeing it all lit up while on a night cruise on the Danube. We've also been on tours to other countries including France, Italy, Switzerland.
Any advice you have for people visiting Croatia? Most know English but if you learn a few terms in Croatian like hello, goodbye, good morning, etc., they will certainly appreciate your effort and will shower you with smiles.
Here's a link to a short video clip of some memories that will be savored for a long time.
Carolyn (Fukunaga) Goss shared her pictures (on the link below) and comments about her visit to Croatia.
When did you visit Croatia? This past October my husband Tim and I visited Croatia. This turned out to be our second favorite Grand European Travel (GET) tour because the tour guide was incredible, the itinerary full of amazing sights and experiences (Korcula being our favorite place), the other tour members wonderful and the weather stunning. The Croatians were also so welcoming and friendly.
What other places have you visited? Our favorite GET tour was taken in the spring when we went to Germany/The Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary/Austria. What made that trip a cut above our Croatian tour were the extraordinary tour guide we had and the visceral connection we felt to Budapest, especially seeing it all lit up while on a night cruise on the Danube. We've also been on tours to other countries including France, Italy, Switzerland.
Any advice you have for people visiting Croatia? Most know English but if you learn a few terms in Croatian like hello, goodbye, good morning, etc., they will certainly appreciate your effort and will shower you with smiles.
Here's a link to a short video clip of some memories that will be savored for a long time.
BROTHER RAT CELEBRATES 50TH REUNION
Ken “Bongo” Chun, Virginia Military Institute (VMI), 1967 graduate, went back to his alma mater in Lexington, Virginia in April 2017 to celebrate his 50th reunion. He joined his Brother Rats (a term of affection for fellow classmates) to renew old friendships, pay tribute to those no longer in their ranks, meet current cadets, and play golf.
Here are Bongo’s responses to questions and a few of his pictures from the reunion.
What dates were you at the reunion? We arrived there Tuesday April 25 around 8pm. The next day we drove up to Monticello
and spent the day in Charlottesville. We were in Lexington till Sunday 4/30 then proceeded to The Homestead. We played The Old Course on Monday 5/1 and The Cascades Course on Tuesday 5/2. We flew home the next day which was a huge mistake. We wish we had stayed there for a week. The Homestead was founded in 1677.....no typo....1677. Thomas Jefferson and Geo. Washington spent much time there.
Size of cadet corps today - larger or smaller than when you attended? The size of the Corps when I was there was about 1100. Today it is about 1500. Third Barracks was completed 2 years ago which added about 350 to the ranks. There were no women at VMI in ’67.
Any impressions/thoughts about today’s VMI cadet versus when you attended? The academics are definitely tougher now. I probably would not measure up. The VMI women have met all the same challenges because they knew what they were up against before they applied for entrance. They are athletes and scholars and in today's environment it's a breath of fresh air to be associated with these fine, young Americans. Monica was so impressed with the cadets she talked to that she suggested we make a major endowment to VMI on behalf of the Class of '67.
Would you do it again? In a heart beat!
What score(s) did you shoot? We actually played a best-ball, shot-gun start tournament in Lexington so I don't have an individual score to report but I did play well enough to not be a hinderance. I shot a 94 on The Old Course at Homestead and a 91 on The Cascades.
Why is it that you look a lot younger than your classmates? I look way younger than most of them 'cuz they saw way more action in 'Nam then I did.
Here are Bongo’s responses to questions and a few of his pictures from the reunion.
What dates were you at the reunion? We arrived there Tuesday April 25 around 8pm. The next day we drove up to Monticello
and spent the day in Charlottesville. We were in Lexington till Sunday 4/30 then proceeded to The Homestead. We played The Old Course on Monday 5/1 and The Cascades Course on Tuesday 5/2. We flew home the next day which was a huge mistake. We wish we had stayed there for a week. The Homestead was founded in 1677.....no typo....1677. Thomas Jefferson and Geo. Washington spent much time there.
Size of cadet corps today - larger or smaller than when you attended? The size of the Corps when I was there was about 1100. Today it is about 1500. Third Barracks was completed 2 years ago which added about 350 to the ranks. There were no women at VMI in ’67.
Any impressions/thoughts about today’s VMI cadet versus when you attended? The academics are definitely tougher now. I probably would not measure up. The VMI women have met all the same challenges because they knew what they were up against before they applied for entrance. They are athletes and scholars and in today's environment it's a breath of fresh air to be associated with these fine, young Americans. Monica was so impressed with the cadets she talked to that she suggested we make a major endowment to VMI on behalf of the Class of '67.
Would you do it again? In a heart beat!
What score(s) did you shoot? We actually played a best-ball, shot-gun start tournament in Lexington so I don't have an individual score to report but I did play well enough to not be a hinderance. I shot a 94 on The Old Course at Homestead and a 91 on The Cascades.
Why is it that you look a lot younger than your classmates? I look way younger than most of them 'cuz they saw way more action in 'Nam then I did.
On the Road Again - Clay & Gayle Ching
In April 2017 Clay and Gayle Ching were enjoying Cherry Blossoms in Japan and in June 2017 they are on the other side of the world. They went on a Viking River Cruise that started in Bergen, Norway and for the next two weeks visited Berlin, Germany, Gdansk, Poland; Tallanin, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Stockholm, Sweden. Enjoy Clay's pictures from their visit.
Some pictures from the Oslo area --- famous ski jump that hosts international competition each year, roller-skiing to stay in shape when there’s no snow, beautiful park, and kayaking on pristine waters. We had another absolutely gorgeous day --- clear blue skies and uncommonly warm temps.
These pictures were from our scenic 7-hour train ride across the mountains of Norway today. We crossed from the country’s eastern shore (Oslo) to their western shore (Bergen) on one of the most scenic train routes in Europe. There’s still glaciers on the top of their mountains and we found out that there’s still a bit of snow, despite the 80 degree weather the last couple of days. At the highest elevations, there aren’t any trees growing.
Lastly, for today, some pictures from Bergen on a lively Saturday night! We didn’t get into town until 7 pm and it must have been at least 8 pm before we got out of the hotel to walk around. But, due to the late sunsets (after 10 pm) and balmy weather (locals were thanking us for bringing such good weather), the historic waterfront area where we are staying was still bustling with people --- a little like the San Francisco waterfront. Lots of sidewalk pubs and the tented “fish market” vendors were still selling fresh seafood until after 9 pm.
The fancy old building on the right side of the 4th picture is now host to Starbucks!
We forced ourselves to head back to the room around 10:30 because we still had to clean up and get ready for another busy day tomorrow. We will board the ship but remain another night in Bergen.
Today we were taken to our boat and got settled into our cabins. The weather isn’t quite as “perfect” as the past 2 days, but still very pleasant. We were given a 3-hour bus/walking tour of Bergen before embarking the ship. Everything we’ve seen on board, so far, has been top notch, but we haven’t explored it all yet.
Some pictures from the Oslo area --- famous ski jump that hosts international competition each year, roller-skiing to stay in shape when there’s no snow, beautiful park, and kayaking on pristine waters. We had another absolutely gorgeous day --- clear blue skies and uncommonly warm temps.
These pictures were from our scenic 7-hour train ride across the mountains of Norway today. We crossed from the country’s eastern shore (Oslo) to their western shore (Bergen) on one of the most scenic train routes in Europe. There’s still glaciers on the top of their mountains and we found out that there’s still a bit of snow, despite the 80 degree weather the last couple of days. At the highest elevations, there aren’t any trees growing.
Lastly, for today, some pictures from Bergen on a lively Saturday night! We didn’t get into town until 7 pm and it must have been at least 8 pm before we got out of the hotel to walk around. But, due to the late sunsets (after 10 pm) and balmy weather (locals were thanking us for bringing such good weather), the historic waterfront area where we are staying was still bustling with people --- a little like the San Francisco waterfront. Lots of sidewalk pubs and the tented “fish market” vendors were still selling fresh seafood until after 9 pm.
The fancy old building on the right side of the 4th picture is now host to Starbucks!
We forced ourselves to head back to the room around 10:30 because we still had to clean up and get ready for another busy day tomorrow. We will board the ship but remain another night in Bergen.
Today we were taken to our boat and got settled into our cabins. The weather isn’t quite as “perfect” as the past 2 days, but still very pleasant. We were given a 3-hour bus/walking tour of Bergen before embarking the ship. Everything we’ve seen on board, so far, has been top notch, but we haven’t explored it all yet.
Our Ship:
A few pictures of the boat are provided:
1 The Viking Sea at berth
2 One of many terrace dining tables on the 7th deck (of 8)
3 Swimming pool – retractable roof overhead
4 Semi-private lounging areas (with great views) beside the pool
5 Part of the huge library at the front of the ship on the 7th deck – 180 degree view through full height glass walls behind where I was standing.
A few pictures of the boat are provided:
1 The Viking Sea at berth
2 One of many terrace dining tables on the 7th deck (of 8)
3 Swimming pool – retractable roof overhead
4 Semi-private lounging areas (with great views) beside the pool
5 Part of the huge library at the front of the ship on the 7th deck – 180 degree view through full height glass walls behind where I was standing.
Denmark
Today was a long day of touring, but we had beautiful weather with temps in the 60’s! The local folks were basking in the sunshine wearing their skimpiest clothes while most of us still needed to wear jackets.
We went to see the famed little mermaid. She’s small alright!! Huge crowds were there --- reminded me of seeing the little Mona Lisa painting. There’s quite a few canals throughout the city --- which I didn’t expect. Not as many as Amsterdam and certainly not like Venice, but it provides a nice ambiance to the city. Lots of classical old buildings but the new ones are uniquely modern and distinctive. Polls have supposedly determined that this is the “happiest” city in the world. I wouldn’t doubt it.
Another long day ahead tomorrow --- we dock in Germany and have a 2-1/2 hour train ride from the port to Berlin. So, our tour departs at 6:15 a.m. and we don’t return until after 6:00 p.m.
Had some choppy water in the open ocean segment of our cruise to Denmark, but that only lasted a few hours. Once again, we’re in glassy waters. I don’t know if all of Denmark is like this, but so far it looks as flat as a pancake! They would be toast in a tidal wave.
The weather has improved dramatically --- sunny and warm (60’s). It is very comfortable when you’re standing in the sunshine. Chilly only when the winds pick up.
We have two consecutive loooonng days of shore excursions ahead in Copenhagen and Berlin. So, I don’t know when I’ll get around to sending my next update. Stay tuned!
Today was a long day of touring, but we had beautiful weather with temps in the 60’s! The local folks were basking in the sunshine wearing their skimpiest clothes while most of us still needed to wear jackets.
We went to see the famed little mermaid. She’s small alright!! Huge crowds were there --- reminded me of seeing the little Mona Lisa painting. There’s quite a few canals throughout the city --- which I didn’t expect. Not as many as Amsterdam and certainly not like Venice, but it provides a nice ambiance to the city. Lots of classical old buildings but the new ones are uniquely modern and distinctive. Polls have supposedly determined that this is the “happiest” city in the world. I wouldn’t doubt it.
Another long day ahead tomorrow --- we dock in Germany and have a 2-1/2 hour train ride from the port to Berlin. So, our tour departs at 6:15 a.m. and we don’t return until after 6:00 p.m.
Had some choppy water in the open ocean segment of our cruise to Denmark, but that only lasted a few hours. Once again, we’re in glassy waters. I don’t know if all of Denmark is like this, but so far it looks as flat as a pancake! They would be toast in a tidal wave.
The weather has improved dramatically --- sunny and warm (60’s). It is very comfortable when you’re standing in the sunshine. Chilly only when the winds pick up.
We have two consecutive loooonng days of shore excursions ahead in Copenhagen and Berlin. So, I don’t know when I’ll get around to sending my next update. Stay tuned!
Germany
Today, we had an “express” tour of Berlin. Viking chartered an entire train to take us all from the port, Warnemunde, into Berlin --- 2-1/2 hour ride, non-stop, in each direction. There were over 800 of us. Then we got broken into smaller groups of about 30 to go on varying optional tours. Temps were in the 80’s and lots of us opted to wear shorts. I was again surprised to see so many waterways in the city. There were many tours being conducted on canal boats! Many war ravaged buildings were being preserved but there is a lot of new modern buildings being built, especially in East Berlin. We saw all the usual highlights --- Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall memorial, etc. But, we’d need much more time to see all the attractions in this city.
There was an exchange of comments from Miles and John Chong about Clay's picture of Checkpoint Charlie that went like this:
"Didn’t realize the U.S. Army still maintains a checkpoint. Or, is that something for the tourists? U.S. Army doesn’t wear those green uniforms anymore." John Chong said: "I was looking at that photo too and think they are mannequins for tourists to take photos with." Clay provided the answer by saying: "Miles, this is strictly a tourist mock-up. The “soldiers” charge for people to take a picture with them! They change hats as requested by the tourists. Lots of clowning around at the site. Mixed feelings from the locals about removing it or restoring it."
Today, we had an “express” tour of Berlin. Viking chartered an entire train to take us all from the port, Warnemunde, into Berlin --- 2-1/2 hour ride, non-stop, in each direction. There were over 800 of us. Then we got broken into smaller groups of about 30 to go on varying optional tours. Temps were in the 80’s and lots of us opted to wear shorts. I was again surprised to see so many waterways in the city. There were many tours being conducted on canal boats! Many war ravaged buildings were being preserved but there is a lot of new modern buildings being built, especially in East Berlin. We saw all the usual highlights --- Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall memorial, etc. But, we’d need much more time to see all the attractions in this city.
There was an exchange of comments from Miles and John Chong about Clay's picture of Checkpoint Charlie that went like this:
"Didn’t realize the U.S. Army still maintains a checkpoint. Or, is that something for the tourists? U.S. Army doesn’t wear those green uniforms anymore." John Chong said: "I was looking at that photo too and think they are mannequins for tourists to take photos with." Clay provided the answer by saying: "Miles, this is strictly a tourist mock-up. The “soldiers” charge for people to take a picture with them! They change hats as requested by the tourists. Lots of clowning around at the site. Mixed feelings from the locals about removing it or restoring it."
Estonia
Now that we’ve been there, we can confirm that Tallinn is one of the hidden gems of Northern Europe! The “old town” is well preserved and takes you back in time to medieval days. It is filled with restaurants, cafes, handicraft stores and souvenir shops. The streets are constructed with all sizes of cobblestones and the walkways are not much different. The winding paths can get you disoriented but the old town is small enough that you can walk around it in about an hour. Although there is no source of amber in this area, there are lots and lots of jewelry shops selling it --- they know what the tourists are seeking!
Our luck continues to hold out. We arrived in Tallinn during the only sunny day that was forecast for the whole week! And it was absolutely clear --- a rare occurrence according to our local guide. Temp was still cool --- low 60’s --- but very tolerable due to the sunny skies.
Now that we’ve been there, we can confirm that Tallinn is one of the hidden gems of Northern Europe! The “old town” is well preserved and takes you back in time to medieval days. It is filled with restaurants, cafes, handicraft stores and souvenir shops. The streets are constructed with all sizes of cobblestones and the walkways are not much different. The winding paths can get you disoriented but the old town is small enough that you can walk around it in about an hour. Although there is no source of amber in this area, there are lots and lots of jewelry shops selling it --- they know what the tourists are seeking!
Our luck continues to hold out. We arrived in Tallinn during the only sunny day that was forecast for the whole week! And it was absolutely clear --- a rare occurrence according to our local guide. Temp was still cool --- low 60’s --- but very tolerable due to the sunny skies.
St. Petersburg, Russia
We’re off to 2 full days of touring in St. Petersburg with our own personal guide and driver that we booked through a tour company in Russia. Their price was comparable to the rate that Viking was charging their passengers to go on a large group tour. But, with our own private guide/driver, we’ll be able to go wherever we want and spend as much/little time as we want at each attraction. We could get spoiled with that kind of touring!
Another unbelievable day, weather-wise. Spring weather has been late coming to St. Petersburg and, lucky for us, it was here today and flowers were finally in full bloom! Because it was so nice, our private guide decided to take us to see the sights in the “suburbs” today and leave the attractions in town for tomorrow since they are mostly the museums. The main attractions on the outskirts of town were a couple of opulent palaces --- Peterhof (aka, the “summer palace”) and Catherine’s (wife of Peter the Great) Palace. Both are located on large parcels of land that have been transformed into beautiful parks and gardens with fountains. Both palaces are works of art --- decorative Baroque architecture with gold-gilded towers and ornamentation. The furnishings and décor inside were also unbelievably ornate and the products of a lifetime of work by skilled craftsmen.
Our private guide has been a jewel. We didn’t have to wait to get into any of the attractions despite long lines of tour groups being ahead of us. She somehow knew the magic words that allowed us to cut in front of everyone and even got us the front row of seats on the hydrofoil boat that took us out to the suburbs. Another bonus is that she knows where the best and least utilized bathrooms are located so we didn’t have to fight the crowds of people trying to use the public bathrooms! Her driver is taking us around in a Mercedes SUV that has a microphone system installed so she can narrate to us from her seat in the front. This is really the best way to make the most of our time in town. Tomorrow, we will tackle the remaining attractions that are in town.
Still another “perfect” day in St. Petersburg. And the crowds were ridiculous. We had at least 6 large cruise ships in port today --- well over 10,000 visitors! Can you imagine how many large tour buses were required to pick them all up and then spread out into town? It was gridlock! Plus tomorrow is a big national holiday so even the locals were out and about. We got stuck in traffic a few times but at least we could turn down some back streets in our SUV to circumvent some of the problems. Once again, our guide was indispensable --- we blindly followed her to the front of every line and slipped through the turnstiles while she whispered some words to the ticket collector. Also, whenever we were done with our sightseeing, she would call ahead to our driver and he’d be waiting curbside when we got out of the building --- regardless if he ended up blocking traffic!! No lost time whatsoever. The only thing we were missing was a police escort!
We got to see the more familiar attractions in town today --- Yusupov Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of Our Savior of the Spilled Blood (onion domes) and the Hermitage Museum. It turns out that the Hermitage is much like the French Louvre or our Smithsonian in D.C. --- consists of many buildings containing all sorts of exhibits. It would literally take years to see everything. So, we just barely got a glimpse of it today. We also had time to take a canal boat tour, ride their subway and browse through one of their farmer’s markets.
We’re off to 2 full days of touring in St. Petersburg with our own personal guide and driver that we booked through a tour company in Russia. Their price was comparable to the rate that Viking was charging their passengers to go on a large group tour. But, with our own private guide/driver, we’ll be able to go wherever we want and spend as much/little time as we want at each attraction. We could get spoiled with that kind of touring!
Another unbelievable day, weather-wise. Spring weather has been late coming to St. Petersburg and, lucky for us, it was here today and flowers were finally in full bloom! Because it was so nice, our private guide decided to take us to see the sights in the “suburbs” today and leave the attractions in town for tomorrow since they are mostly the museums. The main attractions on the outskirts of town were a couple of opulent palaces --- Peterhof (aka, the “summer palace”) and Catherine’s (wife of Peter the Great) Palace. Both are located on large parcels of land that have been transformed into beautiful parks and gardens with fountains. Both palaces are works of art --- decorative Baroque architecture with gold-gilded towers and ornamentation. The furnishings and décor inside were also unbelievably ornate and the products of a lifetime of work by skilled craftsmen.
Our private guide has been a jewel. We didn’t have to wait to get into any of the attractions despite long lines of tour groups being ahead of us. She somehow knew the magic words that allowed us to cut in front of everyone and even got us the front row of seats on the hydrofoil boat that took us out to the suburbs. Another bonus is that she knows where the best and least utilized bathrooms are located so we didn’t have to fight the crowds of people trying to use the public bathrooms! Her driver is taking us around in a Mercedes SUV that has a microphone system installed so she can narrate to us from her seat in the front. This is really the best way to make the most of our time in town. Tomorrow, we will tackle the remaining attractions that are in town.
Still another “perfect” day in St. Petersburg. And the crowds were ridiculous. We had at least 6 large cruise ships in port today --- well over 10,000 visitors! Can you imagine how many large tour buses were required to pick them all up and then spread out into town? It was gridlock! Plus tomorrow is a big national holiday so even the locals were out and about. We got stuck in traffic a few times but at least we could turn down some back streets in our SUV to circumvent some of the problems. Once again, our guide was indispensable --- we blindly followed her to the front of every line and slipped through the turnstiles while she whispered some words to the ticket collector. Also, whenever we were done with our sightseeing, she would call ahead to our driver and he’d be waiting curbside when we got out of the building --- regardless if he ended up blocking traffic!! No lost time whatsoever. The only thing we were missing was a police escort!
We got to see the more familiar attractions in town today --- Yusupov Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of Our Savior of the Spilled Blood (onion domes) and the Hermitage Museum. It turns out that the Hermitage is much like the French Louvre or our Smithsonian in D.C. --- consists of many buildings containing all sorts of exhibits. It would literally take years to see everything. So, we just barely got a glimpse of it today. We also had time to take a canal boat tour, ride their subway and browse through one of their farmer’s markets.
Finland
We are enroute to Helsinki, Finland tonight and travel to our final destination, Stockholm, Sweden the next night. Our journey is coming to a fast conclusion but it has been a total delight. Even our limited time on board the ship has flown by because of all the dining opportunities and variety of entertainment that it offers each day.
Yet another glorious day! The folks in Helsinki said that yesterday just poured all day. And today, it came up bright and sunny! We are really blessed.
Finland is not heavily populated. So, Helsinki isn’t a really big city like other capitals. Less than a million people. Lots of water around it and buildings tend to be old and spread out. Streets are cobbled and in need of constant repair due to wear from the long winter seasons. Trees and flowers are only now emerging from the long winter. We found some nice fruits at the open market, but they are all imported from elsewhere.
We are enroute to Helsinki, Finland tonight and travel to our final destination, Stockholm, Sweden the next night. Our journey is coming to a fast conclusion but it has been a total delight. Even our limited time on board the ship has flown by because of all the dining opportunities and variety of entertainment that it offers each day.
Yet another glorious day! The folks in Helsinki said that yesterday just poured all day. And today, it came up bright and sunny! We are really blessed.
Finland is not heavily populated. So, Helsinki isn’t a really big city like other capitals. Less than a million people. Lots of water around it and buildings tend to be old and spread out. Streets are cobbled and in need of constant repair due to wear from the long winter seasons. Trees and flowers are only now emerging from the long winter. We found some nice fruits at the open market, but they are all imported from elsewhere.
Journey's End - Sweden
Moving on the Stockholm and our final port call.
Well, we’ve reached the end of our journey --- Sweden. The weather is still beautiful with temps in the mid-60’s. Very comfortable. Stockholm is very scenic --- lots of little islands like stepping stones in the ocean, many uninhabited and quite a few with just one house on it. I think one of the tour guides said there are over 1,400 of them! So, there’s lots of waterways and bridges all over town. We spent part of the day sightseeing and walking around the “old town” area which is largely tourist-oriented with gift shops and souvenirs. Then we headed back to the ship for the dreaded task of packing for our departure first thing in the morning. Bags need to be put out late tonight so the crew can have them on the pier in the morning for our varied departures to the airport.
Hard to believe we’ll be in Seattle by tomorrow night!
Moving on the Stockholm and our final port call.
Well, we’ve reached the end of our journey --- Sweden. The weather is still beautiful with temps in the mid-60’s. Very comfortable. Stockholm is very scenic --- lots of little islands like stepping stones in the ocean, many uninhabited and quite a few with just one house on it. I think one of the tour guides said there are over 1,400 of them! So, there’s lots of waterways and bridges all over town. We spent part of the day sightseeing and walking around the “old town” area which is largely tourist-oriented with gift shops and souvenirs. Then we headed back to the ship for the dreaded task of packing for our departure first thing in the morning. Bags need to be put out late tonight so the crew can have them on the pier in the morning for our varied departures to the airport.
Hard to believe we’ll be in Seattle by tomorrow night!
Jade Young's San Francisco Trip
Jade Young was in San Francisco in June 2017 working, visiting friends and reliving memories. These are pictures from her trip. "Attending conference in Monterey last week. Rented house in nearby Pacific Grove….wild flowers in full glory along the roadsides. Sunsets and cypress trees in Pacific Grove."
"Celebrating my birthday with friends in Montrio Bistro. One of the best in Monterey, CA. Worth eating.
Another birthday lunch with gal pals I knew in San Fran when I used to live/work there. Greens Restaurant is one of the earliest gourmet vegetarian restaurants in SF Great food! Awesome friends from 40 years ago."
Another birthday lunch with gal pals I knew in San Fran when I used to live/work there. Greens Restaurant is one of the earliest gourmet vegetarian restaurants in SF Great food! Awesome friends from 40 years ago."
While in SF took a few vacation days to visit deYoung Museum and saw a special exhibit - Summer of Love about all the hippie craze of te 60’s and 70’s.
"This is me - one of those long-haire hippies living in Laos and Thailand in the 1970’s.
Graduation from the University of Hawaii 1970, BA English Lit. Then headed to Singapore for a graduate program. Ended up living in a Balinese village for six months! In those days 50 cents a night. Huge breakfast of banana pancakes, coffee, and eggs was a whole dollar."
WHERE WERE YOU DURING THE 60-70’S CULTURAL REVOLUTION?
Graduation from the University of Hawaii 1970, BA English Lit. Then headed to Singapore for a graduate program. Ended up living in a Balinese village for six months! In those days 50 cents a night. Huge breakfast of banana pancakes, coffee, and eggs was a whole dollar."
WHERE WERE YOU DURING THE 60-70’S CULTURAL REVOLUTION?
Howard Yoshiura's Japan
"Howie & Linda Yoshiura visited Japan during November 2015 and wanted to share some pictures with fellow classmates.
"Just returned from a 12-day tour of the mountain areas of Japan. Started in Osaka, to Kyoto, Nagoya, Gujo Hachiman, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kurobe, Matsumoto, Yamanashi, and ending in Tokyo."
"Just returned from a 12-day tour of the mountain areas of Japan. Started in Osaka, to Kyoto, Nagoya, Gujo Hachiman, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kurobe, Matsumoto, Yamanashi, and ending in Tokyo."
Howie & Linda and Fujisawa's (traveling friends) at Keio Plaza, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
"Visited two castles (Matsumoto Castle being one, over 400 yrs old), a samurai house, the Japan Alps & Kurobe dam, several beautiful national treasure gardens, Mt Fuji, and even a winery & grape vineyard and a wasabi farm. Got to sample lots of “oishi” Japanese cuisine, drink some sake & Japanese wines, and even enjoyed two Onsens (hot springs), and lots of Japanese culture."
Matsumoto Castle is Japan’s oldest existing castle built in 1504. It is also known the “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior.
Kurobe Dam is the tallest dam in Japan at 610 feet in height. The dam was built between 1956 and 1963 and is located on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture.
"The collage of pictures of Mt Fuji was the exact view that we had looking out of our hotel room on Lake Kawaguchi at the Kukuna Hotel. As a matter of fact, we could look out from the window of the onsen and look right at the mountain. The day we were there was a perfectly clear day, beautiful morning with no clouds, and little wind. So looking across the lake at sunrise, we could see the reflection of Fuji on the lake like a mirror. What made this day even more spectacular was on the day before when we arrived in Yamanashi prefecture, Mt. Fuji was covered in clouds and it was raining. It looked quite bleak, and we had little hope of getting a clear view of the mountain.
On this morning, the view was one great highlight of our tour, and definitely a “once in a lifetime” opportunity & a “steal your breath away” view. There were some folks that were on tour with us that had visited Japan 8 – 10 times and never saw Mt Fuji like we did on this day. They were absolutely thrilled out of their minds at the thought & view we were blessed with. Truly God’s country…it was meant to be.
The hotel we stayed at is in Yamanashi prefecture across the street from Lake Kawaguchi. We were there on the day before we ventured to Tokyo, so it was next to the last day of our tour. It was a beautiful way to culminate our tour. We were also blessed with such great weather(60’s during the day; perhaps couple days it touched the 70’s; nights were in high 50’s; and rain only one day). Unfortunately, the one day it did rain was the day we visited Kurobe Dam and the Japan alps. But all was good…
All these photos are of Lake Kawaguchi & Mt. Fuji (day/night, and at sunrise), and a collage of what we saw & experienced on that day. The view of Mt. Fuji is not a daily occurrence since the mountain is often covered in clouds, and or fogged in by poor weather and rain. This was truly a special day, and we were very lucky and blessed."
On this morning, the view was one great highlight of our tour, and definitely a “once in a lifetime” opportunity & a “steal your breath away” view. There were some folks that were on tour with us that had visited Japan 8 – 10 times and never saw Mt Fuji like we did on this day. They were absolutely thrilled out of their minds at the thought & view we were blessed with. Truly God’s country…it was meant to be.
The hotel we stayed at is in Yamanashi prefecture across the street from Lake Kawaguchi. We were there on the day before we ventured to Tokyo, so it was next to the last day of our tour. It was a beautiful way to culminate our tour. We were also blessed with such great weather(60’s during the day; perhaps couple days it touched the 70’s; nights were in high 50’s; and rain only one day). Unfortunately, the one day it did rain was the day we visited Kurobe Dam and the Japan alps. But all was good…
All these photos are of Lake Kawaguchi & Mt. Fuji (day/night, and at sunrise), and a collage of what we saw & experienced on that day. The view of Mt. Fuji is not a daily occurrence since the mountain is often covered in clouds, and or fogged in by poor weather and rain. This was truly a special day, and we were very lucky and blessed."
Photos of Mt. Fujii from a fellow tour member
John Chong's Travels
- Bull Riding at Billy Bob's in Forth Worth, TX in December 2008
- Illinois truck stop enroute from St. Louis to Chicago via Springfield in December 2007
- Sapporo, Japan Snow Festival in February 2005
- Mount Rushmore in September 2007
- Niagara Falls in October 2010
- Old Mission Lighthouse in Traverse City, Michigan in May 2008
- Ms. Maasdam cruise ship in October 2010
