Back to Alaska cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to Alaska cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

Lucky me at the end of my cross Atlantic cruise, I quickly found a pair of Alaska cruises reasonable to my budget level. I asked Amy to join me and she gladly accepted. We took off one and a half days earlier than the embark day in Seattle in order to avoid airline penalty on that Sunday. She agreed to my arrangement to save some of her money. She asked our daughter Michelle to give us a night to stay at Hyatt Hotel. Before landing at Seattle, her sister Emily was so nice to book her a hotel stay at a hotel nearby the airport.

What did happen was unexpectedly even with an experience traveler like me. We took a shuttle bus sent it by the hotel to take us to the hotel, yet the front desk of the hotel couldn't find Emily's reservation and asked us to wait at the lobby for a on duty manager next at 1:00 am. We waited it again and the new manager on duty still couldn't find the reservation. It was very awkward and yet I didn't know what to do next. Finally, the manager told me that the reservation was on another hotel on the other side of the airport. There are two hotels with the same franchise at Seattle Airport. We were not be alert at all. Frugal like me refused to stay at this hotel and took the first free shuttle bus back to the airport. Amy was very quiet this time and I didn't blame anybody but myself silly.

We got to a close station to a Hyatt Seattle. There are many Hyatt hotels in Seattle by the way. It was raining and very typical in the city all the time. We passed by a luxury Hyatt and the address was wrong and I also didn't think Michelle would spend that kind of hotel points for us for a briefly one day stay. With many friendly and kind of the city locals help, we arrived early to the hotel. The hotel would take our luggage before our check in time at two.

Emily sent her daughter Wendy to meet us on a street in front of a French restaurant where we had our fancy French breakfast at raining. She only took a cup of coffee. She bought another cup on another street for us to use the toilet. It was very inconvenient while we were away from home. That is why I like the cruise travel.

Amy loves this pretty niece, slender , tall, and smart, a chemical engineer with a MIT engineer degree. Both of their parents and Amy are all very proud of her; therefore, I took her to a Japanese restaurant for lunch and bought some fruits for her to take back her Seattle home. We shall have another day at in Seattle between this back to back cruises and we invite her out again. She had something more interesting to do and not accepted.

阿拉斯加郵輪行2022／莊峻華

 阿拉斯加郵輪行2022／莊峻華

自啓動郵輪旅行2011年，阿拉斯加行成為旅程多年，今年郵輪復業，買到兩張理想船票，剛好愛美也同意，因此是用掉四張特價券，我又說服她節約，購買早一日半機票，避免啓航日飛機票漲價，一切都順利，沒有吵架，下機前小姨好心訂妥一夜機場旅館，讓愛美休息，很是貼心，但卻有趣，旅館有接駁巴士來，抵達旅館後，櫃台無法找到訂購資料，要我們在大飯店前等候換班經理來，這時候是半夜，小姨住在加州，和西雅圖同一西部太平洋時間，凌晨一時，換班經理來，發現我們跑錯旅館，原來此號大飯店在西雅圖機場有兩家，於是我們再等候到清晨四時，搭免費專車回機場，再搭西雅圖市輕軌到碼頭附近，所以我說有趣，因為原本我是說服愛美在機場等候到天亮，愛美這次不反對，況且天亮後小姨也未被旅館罰款。

翌夜住海耶特大飯店，這是我們一年來替琳兒看狗帶小孩兼照顧其住屋等報酬，很不巧未估算到西雅圖雨季，很是不便，幸好當地人熱心，幫忙找路，而且海耶特在附近也好幾家店，真是挑戰。因為早到，所以小姨派其次女來，與阿姨見面，我們在碼頭附近逛逛，已經看到極樂號，我們的安可號要翌晨入港，阿拉斯加遊是夏日大宗，這郵輪行派四艘巨輪在此服務，另兩艘是太陽號，和在溫哥華的珠寶號，原定設想珠寶號，但剛好安可號特價也推出，西雅圖又在國內線，又是新船，非常滿意。

我們外甥女是位高大美女，只是尚未結婚，麻省理工化工出身，高薪工程師，和其父一般聰明，和愛美甚善，我就帶她去日本餐廳，再買些水果贈送，過一週在西雅圖間隔日，邀她再來飯局，她就沒有興趣矣，這小孩一出生我們就相識，真是婷婷玉立，很像其母。

Returning home from Europe 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning home from Europe 2022/Carlos Pueblo

The Transatlantic cruise came to an end when we arrived to Civitavecchia, Italy after a whole night sailing from Livorno, Italy. I was ready and packed before I went to sleep. Civitavecchia which means an old woman in Italian is a port considered as an outside port of Rome. I have been to this port for three different times on cruises and never have an opportunity to visit the great city of Rome because that I don't know how to make it in one day.

I bought an arranged shuttle bus to the train station because that I was lazy. Last time I took a march and at the first time I even took advantage to a whole day shuttle to find and did my laundry at the downtown. Civitavecchia is a typical lovely European city indeed. I had had no problem to purchase a train ticket to hob on a train to Rome and purchased another ticket to get to an express train to Rome International Airport. It was all under the public transportation. 

The counter of the Turkey Air asked me if I liked to take an early flight to Istanbul, Turkey. I willingly accepted the offer. I have had a good impression of Istanbul and love the city very much. What I did was purchasing an one way air plane ticket through my Chase Bank credit card mileage point and made up the difference amount from the card. The Card has a contract with the airline to waive the one way penalty; therefore, I pay half of a round trip tickets with no additional one way ticket charge. I just found it on this trip. You see that I came in with the cruise cross Atlantic and needed a one way plane ticket back home. I insist not to pay the 30 Euros to enter Turkey because I only change the plane.

After having my one foot vegetable sandwich at the airport Subway shop, I found a nice Japanese restaurant. I took a look of the price and guessed that was not unreasonable price. I took a seat and ordered a plate of Shushi and Sashimi combination plus a local draft beer. It was so delicious and I ordered another bottle of beer. I had had a very good nap on this crowded long haul of trip back to Houston, Texas. I deserved such treat since I saved so much on the transportation costs.

歐洲回程2022／莊峻華

 歐洲回程2022／莊峻華

這次珠寶號橫跨大西洋旅行遊記，拖延過久，無法結束，主要是我的老年生活，越來越緊湊，活動越來越多，例如此行後，接著又上安可號阿拉斯加行，隨後又上起跑號之新英格蘭加拿大三省行，馬上要上黎明號12月，明年初又訂下珠寶號東加勒比海和巴拿馬運河行，三月要旅行日本，不亦樂乎？今日雨寒，網球暫停，我來結束珠寶號的歐洲回程2022。

珠寶號從義大利里默諾港夜行南下，晚上我已經行李打包，準備清晨下船，這西塔里克其亞港是羅馬之外港，港名為老女人之意，我也來過三次，但都無緣造訪大古都羅馬，我先提行李買票上巴士到火車站，其實步行亦可，我曾走過，而且飛機在晚上。

到了車站買火車票北上羅馬市，一路上欣賞義大利中部平原，美麗農莊，按乘客指點於一站下車，另購車票搭機場專線，直達羅馬國際機場，就如此簡單明了，找到土耳其航空，櫃台美麗小姐問我願否提前上飛機到伊斯坦堡？我當然願意，這單程航班是大通銀行，幫忙訂購，美國人會做生意，我的信用卡點數不足，補上現金餘額，銀行幫我省下單程罰款，而且土耳其航空飛機服務和餐飲等均是歐洲第一。

我在伊斯坦堡機場轉機，就是讓土耳其航空，集合座滿到休市旅客，我先飽食一地下鐵一呎長素三明治和白水，後來想到一日來節省如此多美金，於是慘慘走進候機大廳之日本餐廳，狠狠叫上一份刺身素燒，加上一瓶當地生啤酒，料理第一流有東京水準，我有叫一瓶啤酒，因我賣弄幾句日語，引來大廚，於是我就誇獎其料理優秀，自全素抗糖尿病後，連海量酒力都不繼，上飛機後睡了一大覺。

Return visit to Livorno, Italy 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Return visit to Livorno, Italy 2022/Carlos Pueblo

The ship left Cannes, France at night and sailing along the Mediterranean north coast down to Italy. I know that the party will be end very soon. It is my third time to visit this lovely Italian town in five years. The cruise liner states the port as a part of the famous Florence, Italy and as a matter of the fact, it is also closed to Pisa, Italy to the north. I used to find a coin operated washeteria downtown to do my laundry. It was at the early of my cruise travel career. Now I can have a free bag laundry on the ship due to my latitude class with the company.

I follow the city canal to have my morning march. There are plenty of sail boats and fishing boats at the pier and a canal is connected to the lovely downtown. I can imagine the old city kingdom based on the sea port rich in trading and fishing in the Mediterranean started in the ancient time of the Roman Empire era. It was on Saturday and the city was full of people from the local and the cruise ship. I came into the city church grounds and every significant areas to take pictures for my own memory. I ran into several lovely pets and their friendly young owners proudly presenting their darlings for me to take photos. That is the most wonderful activity of my world travel. I have had many pets friends.

A good size of orchestra with uniforms were presenting music at the front of a local bank. I joined a large crowd to listen until they finished. I was very impressed with the musical performance as well as the Italian's musical habit. I have no problem this time to return to my ship along to the canal because I just follow to the crowd. On the first time of my visit, an old local gentleman helped me to get back in English.

重返義大利里默諾港／莊峻華

 重返義大利里默諾港／莊峻華

里默諾港在義大利中西岸，首都羅馬市北部，郵輪是沿著地中海北岸，從法國坎城沿海岸南下，郵輪特注佛羅倫斯市在附近，其實著名之比薩市，比薩斜塔正在北方不遠，我在里港下船過三次，都沿著市內運河散步，然後就回船午餐，其實里默諾是一典型歐洲古老美麗城市。

剛好是週六假日，城中熱鬧，許多人逛街，而且有大趕集，市府將鬧區一街開放為市場，引來許多逛街者，非常熱鬧，我是逛街拍照留念，特別留意俊犬，甜言蜜語，年輕主人也樂意讓我拍攝相片留念，俊犬也非常禮貌可愛，知道我的注意。運河旁有一座銀行，銀行前有一小廣場，許多觀眾圍觀管弦樂團表演，我聽完一節，然後樂團跟著解散離開。

有一次回郵輪，在運河旁問路，一位當地長者熱心幫忙，這次就毫無困難，沿著運河和郵輪乘客回船，一氣喝成，朱博士和其母，參加上下巴士逛街，和到附近遊覽，我心繫明日羅馬終站，如何下船搭火車到羅馬，再到羅馬國際機場。

A press conference of two defense heads/Carlos Pueblo

 A press conference of two defense heads/Carlos Pueblo

There was a Russian missile flying over to Poland and killed two Polish civilian. The U.S. Defense  heads must hold a press conference due to that Poland is a member of the NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. An attack of a NATO member means the attack of the entire Organization. The world media are all excited to see what the U.S. will respond.

Secretary Austin says that the U.S. is still investigating the fact of the incident. H tends to believe what the Polish counterpart's understanding that the missile is from Ukraine's anti-missile defense. Chairman Milly's statement is identical that his officers are working on it. I admire both of them of their political wisdom and not blaming Russian immediately. It is unfortunate and the world powers must be keeping cool. Russians are not reasonable and they are paying heavy price in Ukraine now. Let the weapons keep flowing into Ukraine and grind the meat until Russian's surrender in Ukraine.

I pay more attention to the answers of reporters questions about Chinese invasion to Taiwan on the second half of the press conference. I like Milly's answers and analysis about Chinese intention toward Taiwan. On the next day at Taiwanese talk shows that pundits have already noticed Milly's answers. They figure out Milly are not giving any face saving to Chinese Xi and his propaganda. He doesn't believe the U.S. will allow China to challenge the U.S. to be the number one nation in the world among many fields. Chinese Liberation Army are not ready to invade Taiwan, not prepared and have no experience yet to fulfill the task. It is not wise for Xi to make such decision. I like the conclusion which will save  lot of efforts and eventually save life. He didn't advise Chinese on the other fields such as the economic environment piority, etc. He reminds Chinese that Chinese Army are peasants in major and have not combat experience since 1979. He meant the fell invasion of Vietnam.

Austin was a retired general and Milly is a general still on duty. They both help Biden to pull out of Afghanistan to have free hands to deal with a new conflict of the world. Russian Putin doesn't know what he has kicked a still wall this time in Ukraine.