Sight Seas

The Land of Fields When and Where:            08/2008 – Gdynia, Gdansk 36 th Country Visited; 24 rd European Country Visited Interesting Facts: ·         The Polish language is said to be one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. ·         Polish people were able to save the lives of more than 450,000 Jews during World War II.   About 50,000 Poles were executed for protecting Jews.   On our 2008 family cruise to Scandinavia, we made a port call in Gdynia, a port city which is a short drive from Gdansk Poland.   We were fortunate to have one of the warmest and driest days of our vacation while in Gdansk.   Gdansk was formerly known as Danzig while part of Germany.   As we drove to Gdansk, the tour guide talked about Gdansk during World War II and Gdansk’s Lech Walesa, who was instrumental in bringing democracy to the po...

 The Friendly Island When and Where:           01/2023 – Nuku’alofa                                           62 nd Country Visited; 1 st Oceania Country Visited Interesting Facts: ·         The capital, Nuku’alofa is translated into English as “abode of love” or “Love Shack” ·         Tonga is monarchy governed by King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. ·         Tonga is the only Pacific island nation not to be colonized. ·         There are currently 21 Tongans that play in the NFL.   Today was an adventure!   A few ladies on the cruise rented a car and self-toured Tonga.   Unlike French Polynesia, the Kingdom of Tonga is flat and the infrastructure is poor.   Nuku’al...

Beautiful St. Petersburg  When and Where:           08/2008 – St. Petersburg 35 th Country Visited; 23 rd European Country Visited Interesting Facts: ·         Russia, the largest country in the world, is more than double the size of the continental US. ·         At it’s closest point, Russia is just over 2 miles away from the US in the Bering Strait ·         Russian kids are taught how not to smile.   In Russia, smiling is a sign of weakness. ·         Saint Petersburg has three times more bridges than Venice.   I had a brief two-day stay with my family in Russia back in 2008.  Unlike most countries, tourists are restricted and must partake in organized tours which only visit certain areas.  My visit to Russia was limited to St. Petersburg.  My first impress...

 Cerveza y Sol When and Where:            11/1986 – Cancun, Chichen Itza, Tulum                                              01/1988 – Puerto Vallarta (with flight stops in Cancun, Mexico City and Guadalajara)                                              09/1995 – Cozumel                                       ...

  Alpine Beauty When and Where:            09/2022 – Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Predjama Castle 58 th Country Visited; 29 th European Country Visited Interesting Facts: ·         Slovenia is slightly smaller than New Jersey. ·         Slovenia is the most prosperous of the former Yugoslav republics. ·         Roughly one in twenty citizens are beekeepers. ·         Wine is popular in Slovenia.   There is roughly one vineyard for every 70 people. ·         Ljubljana, the capital, is pronounced “LUBE-LEE-ANA”   The journey to Slovenia was long and daunting.   Having just got off a MSC cruise ship in Venice, I had plans to catch a late morning bus to Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital.   I was able to find my way to the bus depot with a...

 Beach Paradise When and Where:            01/2023 – Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands), and Tahiti,                                                                    Moorea, and Raiatea (Society Islands) Territory of France (not a country) Interesting Facts: ·         French Polynesia, a dependency of France, is a grouping of 121 Pacific islands and atolls; 75 of which are inhabited.   Collectively, French Polynesia’s land is slightly larger than Rhode Island.   With territorial waters, French Polynesia covers over 2 million square miles; an area larger than Alaska. ·         The Tahitian alphabet has only 13 letters. ·         The word “tattoo” is ...