The difficulty of travelling by air made us think of alternative ways to visit enchanting places around the world and what a delightful equivalent we found! Cruising around the world did not disappoint us. How can it when seeing people dance the samba down the Rio street made us want to do the same?
So the two us decided to go on a world cruise for 103 days and thought of chronicling our journey. Of course, there will be a book in this. But what happens when these two different people would end up confronting the challenges of earthquakes, tsunamis and piracy?
There is no other way but to have the book end up in tragedy but no. Set among rolling hills, castles and olive groves and cathedrals both in mind and actual ones, it could not help for the book to wind up to be a positive and a compelling read despite the test of endurance both writers underwent.
Our world voyage took us to the harmonious diversity of Cape Town where we found the mountains magnificent. As we said goodbye to Cape Town though, we couldn’t help but think of the connection between the best of life offered now in this city and its country’s troubled past. Some economic troubles and segregation still remain, and though apartheid has long been gone, poverty, crime and unemployment still exist.
We saw the Andromeda Gardens’ and the energizing Bathsheba Pools in Barbados where the tour guide gave us the recipe for rum. Then it was Salvador "the Capital of Joy," where the beautiful tropical natural setting with its lush vegetation highlighting the allure of an old-style fishing village was captivating.
Montevideo’s rich social fabric, Durban’s safari, the Moka Mountain of Mauritius, friendly Fremantle, the city of churches Adelaide, the opera house in Sydney, Wellington’s dedication to conservation, the latte stones in Guam, Rio’s majestic mountains and sparkling waters, Auckland’s America’s Cup, Beijing’s Great Wall of China, Osaka’s Japanese temples and Shanghai, the Paris of the East and Queen of the Orient all thrilled us.
Then there's Hong Kong, the buying and selling capital of the world, the exquisite embroidery in Vietnam, Thailand’s Sanctuary of Truth, Singapore with its tough but clear laws, India, home of Mahatma Ghandi, the seven emirates of Dubai, Safaga and the Valley of the Kings, the camel ride in Egypt, the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, the engineering marvel Suez Canal. Rome the Eternal City, the fabulous Riviera, including Monte-Carlo known for its casinos and sightings of famous people, and the whimsical and vibrant Barcelona all fascinated us.
Then there’s Southampton where Stonehenge and Salisbury cathedral that houses an original copy of the Magna Carta are not that far away, and then back to New York making up our three and a half month world cruise. Can you blame us for wanting to see more? The world cruise just gave us a taste, only an appetizer really, and we wanted a four-course meal!
Back to New York made up our three and a half month world cruise. We can tell you this; like us, you will surely feel you will want to do it again. You can do it but be not overwhelmed and for that this book will be of help. Not only will you find what to expect at each segment but also learn to organize each day.
It’s been quite a journey. And as we came to the end of this trip we agreed with Ray’s Quote of the Day, “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
We found we can live in harmony with all kinds of people and the world around us. And far from being traumatized by all the challenges we encountered and survived, we went ahead and planned for our next world cruise, because the good life that God provided for us, just got a whole lot better.
The world cruise was full of unforgettable moments, each day a terrific one that is still etched in our mind. Can you blame us for wanting to do it again? It was pure joy from start to finish. It was like sampling a box of chocolates: the more you eat—well, we will let you finish that. But was it the trip of a lifetime? Oh yes. And there’s so much more to see in this world!
Now that we have cruised all around the world, we find this will tickle us for the rest of our life. It certainly changed us forever. Seeing the brilliant morning sunshine in Auckland, the glorious sunset in Guam and all the spectacular scenery our eyes feasted on, made our hearts stand still, waking up part of us, sending us to the new world beyond. Now we are self-proclaimed cruise junkies.
It is extremely easy to relax on Queen Mary 2, not the zoned-out kind of taking it easy but the good type that warms the body and fires up the mind. It’s the kind that made us forget our PIN numbers and passwords. Oh, oh, how can we enter our condo now that we have forgotten our code? Yikes!
This world cruise chronicle should be a required reading for anybody who loves to go on a cruise vacation but especially on a world cruise. It not only defines the preparation but also it shows the step-by step process from choosing the right cruise, getting passports and how to get as much as possible out of the cruise of choice.
It is the definitive guide to the ins and outs of taking a cruise and how best to enjoy each day. This book is useful not only for those who are planning to go on a world cruise but also for any one who is looking for tips to insure a grand cruise vacation.
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