Coming into Shanghai, it was a bit of a rough landing, but otherwise a reasonable flight. Had fingerprints taken at the entry point. Eventually my suitcase appeared and the lad who pushed the wheelchair got me out to the taxi stand. Then the fun really began lol. He had no English and of course no Chinese in me. He had an app that translated, so we had a fine time with that. He said that the meter would charge me too much, so he turned it off. He didn’t take credit card so just as well I had some US dollars left over from my last trip. It was a 45 km drive from the airport to the Hotel and so many highrise apartments. He said there were 40 million people in Shanghai!
Rather fancy hotel room though, and fresh fruit was delivered as well!
Not sure what I’m doing a bit later, will take a walk if it’s stopped raining!
Just a quick note as I’m on my phone not my laptop which is much easier lol. Had a wait in Perth, but that went ok. Found myself sitting next to a man from Hyden whilst waiting, very chatty, lol. The flight from Perth was in a rather cold plane! Managed a couple of hours sleep. Am now sitting in Hong Kong, about to board!
Well I have finished off with a bit of a difference. I caught the hop on hop off bus and toured the city sights. I did get off when we got to the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden. They do package deals so I bought a ticket to both the attractions. The Space Needle has an entrance time as they have to count numbers on the 2 elevators that go up to the top.
Anyway, I wandered around the Chihuly exhibits first. Amazing what someone can do with melted sand!!! The glass sculptures are different shapes and colours. Also amazing was that the sun was out when in the garden, so an extra added bonus as it was supposed to be raining again.
I got to the Space Needle half an hour early, but it didn’t matter as the queue was so long it took over half an hour to get to the elevator. Quick trip up to the Observation deck and then a walk all around the outside. Down one floor to the rotating glass floor. It used to be a restaurant but was renovated not too long ago to be another observation deck (with a bar in it of course!) If you look closely at the photo taken through the floor you can see the yellow/green, purple and blue glass sculptures that I’ve included in the ground level photos above.
Just one more night in Seattle, then the long trip home. 3 planes and 4 airports! I will get home eventually, lol.
Well, talk about a madhouse! All those people looking for cases and rides away from the port! I got away from it all about 9.15. Caught a taxi to the hotel and arranged for the driver to take me to the airport on Sunday. As I was early and they had a room available I had early check in so that was good. However, not much of a view. Except the big grey building is the Seattle Public Library.
I did attempt to go out for a walk, but it was raining and the cold wind so strong it turned my umbrella inside out, so I went back to my room. Dry & warm.
I’ve booked a trip on a hop on hop off bus tomorrow. Hopefully the weather won’t be quite so awful even though the forecast is more rain!!!
Location maps: 20.00 last night, 2.40 & 10.40 am, 15.00
Well last full day on the ship, and as I have to be off at around 8.20 am, not much time on it tomorrow.
We obviously had a slow cruising morning as we didn’t dock until 2, with the gangway opening up at 3. I had a whale watching tour planned, so did the long pier walk to get to the meeting spot. One bright spark thought we would be catching a bus to the water. Not sure what he thought Voyager had been sailing on, lol. Our boat was around the corner! As the weather wasn’t very nice, all grey and windy, I didn’t think we would see much and we didn’t. There was one humpback whale bobbing up and down occasionally and managed a tail shot!
By the time we got back it was decidedly raining!!!
Had a late dinner and then packed as the main suitcase has to be out by 10 pm. Hopefully it will be in the right spot to collect in the morning and then on to the Seattle hotel I have for a couple of nights.
I worked out why the afternoon excursions as I’ve another one in Victoria. It’s because the ship doesn’t get into port until the afternoon! Just took a little while for the penny to drop, lol.
Quite a miserable day, the fog horn was going for most of the morning. Then rain this afternoon/evening.
My air conditioner has been running on cold! The mechanic came in this afternoon and it was 18 degrees even though the thermostat was on high heat. He fiddled with something and now it’s much warmer in here.
Earlier in the week I got another thank you from the cruise line. It’s a very heavy glass ornament.
It was also monkey day today!
And… there was a sunset last night, I managed to catch this bit of.
Just as well I did the panorama when I did as the Serenade of the Seas docked next to us and this was my view from then on!
I actually had an afternoon excursion. Not something I usually do as I prefer morning ones. However, as it was a wildlife cruise maybe they are better later in the day. It was a surprise to everyone that the day was sunny. They haven’t had a sunny day for almost a month, so it was good timing for us. Sitka Sound has lots of islands in it, so lots of locations for possible sightings.
We did see a couple of sea otters, circling bald eagles and an active nest. Our guide said there were 2 hatchlings last year, so hoping for more this year. Some Stellar sea lions on a buoy platform and later one swimming around. There was also a humpback whale feeding along a shoreline. We saw her blowing when she came up for air and her tail a couple of times.
I like this photo. I took it because it sort of looked like a volcano with a ball of vapour above it. Then the guide said it was a historical volcano meaning it isn’t quite dormant, but unlikely to erupt for a few thousand years.
Then back to the dock. The ship was at the end of the long pier and the gangway near the end of the ship too. Someone said it was a 400 yard dock, Whatever, it was long!! Yet another time change tonight, forward again to match Seattle time! Only 3 more ship nights, 2 hotel nights, a plane night and then home!!!
Location map 4.30 am. Oops, forgot the docked one again!
Woke up at 4.30 am to be greeted by this!
So nice to be able to stay in bed and watch the world go past!
I had an early morning tour up to White Pass, which is on the Canadian side of the border. Apparently the dock we were at is the windiest place in Skagway as the winds are funnelled up to it. It was bloomin’ cold! We had a nice 25 seater bus which is a great tour size. Allows quicker ons and offs! The driver/guide gave us a running commentary on most of the buildings we could see going up the main street of Skagway. She had a huge amount of information to impart as we travelled along the highway, through the Coast Mountains up to the Pass. Lots of snow still around and lots of water coming down the mountainsides. Cascades (temporary) and waterfalls (permanent) were visible all along the road sides. Also lots of snow poles. As this is the main highway down to the US it’s kept open all year, so lots of clearing in winter & spring. They set off controlled avalanches in spring and clear it immediately to help ensure the highway is always open.
When we got to the top, the driver said her hands were numb with the cold, which does not usually happen, so it was probably in the high 20s. Basically around minus 2 degrees. Yes, it was cold!!!!!!
We had to go back through US Customs on the way down the mountain. It was supposed to have been here at the top, but they decided it was way too cold, so it is further down the highway. If the peaks are rounded they were under glaciers during the Ice Age, if jagged & pointed then they were above the glaciers.
Back through Skagway, with all those mountains in the background! One of the original steam trains and also one of the trains used to clear the snow from the rail tracks.
Here’s a panorama from the balcony. I was looking at the views when the ship arrived in Skagway. She had to turn and reverse into dock, so I saw lots!
Had a late brunch and then tried napping as rather tired, but it didn’t happen. So will see how tonight goes. As the sunset is around 9.30 pm, it’s going to be light for a little while yet.
Well, I’ve made it to Alaska!! It’s cold, lol, Snow forecast for this evening.
I headed up to the pool as usual, but it was well and truly closed. Apparently it’s not open when the temperature is below 10 degrees. It was 8 degrees! So spent pool time doing some family tree.
Brunched, more family tree and nothing much else until the scenery really started. I add a towel to the balcony chair to sit on, put on my coat and wrapped my legs in a blanket and sat and watched the mountains roll by. Using the binoculars saw lots of seabirds, including large flocks of small ones flying just above the water near the shore. I did take the panorama while in motion so it’s a bit swirly in places.
Because of yesterday’s delay we arrived in Juneau at 17.00 rather than 13.00 so all the excursions where refunded and they arranged others to fit into the new time frame. So instead of doing a glacier garden and a salmon bake I just did the salmon bake. Very nice it was too.
It was raining as we got off the ship and it continued for a little while. Just as well I have a brolly in my excursion bag!
It was definitely getting colder as the evening came on. So will be interesting to see if it does snow.
Well the lifeguard said that the pool was 38 degrees and the water coming in might have been, but it definitely didn’t stay that warm for any time at all. It was very bouncy again with water hitting the top of the steps occasionally. It did look like it was steaming though with the warm condensation hitting the cold air! Not many braved the pool, I did see one bikini clad lady dip a toe in and then disappear off to the hot tub! A young Japanese girl who did get in for a short time said it was a natural wave pool. It sure had some waves today!
I was a bit late for brunch as it had taken longer than usual to do my 45 minute set of exercises as I had to keep stopping to stay balanced. It was over an hour before I got out. The shower in this room isn’t as nice as the others, it keeps varying between hot and cold!
Something a bit different happened mid afternoon. The ship turned around as there was a medical emergency and someone had to be taken off the ship. We had to return to an emergency designated area and wait for the Canadian Coast Guard’s helicopter to pick up. It must have been nearly 5 hours. So we are going to be late for our 1 pm docking at Juneau. I have an excursion booked for then as well, so we find out in the morning what is happening.
It was a grey and rainy day, with the fog horn going at times too.
Spoilt again with some goodies, and Miss Piggy as a towel animal!
