Kingdom of Bahrain

When I pulled back the curtain this morning, the view was less than inspiring. The ship was docking at an industrial looking pier. The view was of shipping containers and low block-like storage buildings. No green anywhere. The ride into central Bahrain took about thirty minutes. I kept expecting to see the gorgeous skyline and architecture of Doha, Dubai and … Read More

Doha, Qatar

This was my first time in Qatar. I suspect that even if I had, I wouldn’t have recognized it. Everything is new and newer. The souk (market), which looks old, was built in 2006 after a fire destroyed the original 200 year old structure. The guide told us that 40, 30, even 25 year old buildings are torn down to … Read More

Aboard the MSC Euribia in Dubai

My friend Sue and I boarded the ship for a seven day cruise around the Emirates. When we return from the cruise we will spend a couple of days in Dubai before heading to Oman. The ship is quite a shock after my last two cruises. It is VERY large–6,000+ passengers. Not my preferred way to travel, but I liked … Read More

Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE

After a twelve-hour flight I arrived in Abu Dhabi late this morning. Because we departed midday, it never felt like it was time to sleep. But with the eight-hour time difference the flight arrived mid-morning. I’m now functioning on sheer force of will. I’ll be heading to bed soon. I was in this part of the world eight years ago. … Read More

Bora Bora, French Polynesia – Day 2

Note: I’m finally posting journal entries that I couldn’t post because of limited wifi while I was in French Polynesia. I’m home at the moment. This is the only port where we stayed overnight. It’s totally fine with me. Even though it is the most visited island in French Polynesia, apart from Tahiti, it doesn’t feel crowded. It’s large enough, … Read More