Our visit to Japan in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Our visit to Japan in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

Next Friday, we're going to visit Japan for 3 weeks. It's one of my busiest activities this year. We're going to Tokyo first, then take the high speed rail Shinkansen to Osaka for a week stay. Then we shall move to Fukuoka on the northwest tip of the Kyushu Island for the second week. After that, we're going to Akita on the northwest of Honshu Island for the last week. On the last day, we're going to take the train again back to Narita Airport to catch our flight at 4:45 pm. It's amazing of the high speed rail.

It's the hanami time in Japan, the lovely cherry blossom. We're going to enjoy the season of the pink scenery all over Japan. There is a flower garden by the famous Osaka Castle with not only cherry blossom but also the red peach and the white plum blossom. We can also view the spring flowers along the farm field where the high speed trains passing by. Of course, we're going to have daily visits to Kyoto, the ancient capital, Himeji Castle, Hiroshima, and many other Kansai area cities.

Fukuoka is facing the Sea of Japan, the head quarter of the Japan Rail. Kokura and Shimonoseki are nearby and I like to see if I can make it this time to visit Izumo, the city that the famous battleship is named after.

I figure that the only way for me to visit the famous Go No Line is to stay at Akita on the northwest part of Honsiu Island. Go No Line means the costal rail line from Akita to Aomori on the northwest coast of Japan facing the Sea of Japan. There is a song called Go No Line first sing by Mitsumori Kori existed in my mind for more than 20 years. I previously made several wrong moves to reach Aomori to start the trip, actually the trains are taking off from Akita in the morning and coming back from Aomori in the afternoon and no wonder trains are all full to carry passengers who make round trip visits. Once trains arrive at Aomori, it is connected to the Tsugaru Straights, the narrow path to connect the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. There is also another famous hit by Ishikawa Sayuri in the 70's called the winter scenery of the Tsugaru Straights or Tsugaru Kaikyo furuyushiki. I have many experience to take trains high speed rail included to pass the straight before. Recently, a Russian battleship challenged Japan Self Defense Force by passing this straight.

旅行日本2023／莊峻華

 旅行日本2023／莊峻華

再過幾天，我們即將出發旅行日本，這次我們將停留三週，分別在大阪，福岡，和秋田三市，各住一週，購買三週新幹線，幾乎又可以搭車環繞日本一週，因為年邁，不宜透支體力，就是每處停留，到附近逛逛，正值櫻花季節，可以遇到花見，而且我發現五能線之走法，這次應可成行，五能線就是秋田到青森這一段海岸線，幾次我都在青森撲空，因為小火車從秋田清晨出發，到青森回程已經是下午，因此都是客滿，來回旅客是也，水森香識唱五能線，我在仙台旅行，餐廳老闆娘極力推薦，不想十餘年過去矣，五能線沿日本海，在青森接津輕海峽，石川小百合成名曲，今年十月如我買到船票，我可以搭珠寶號，經阿拉斯加到涵館，搭火車南下青森，一日往返，再上船翌晨抵仙台，向餐廳老闆娘報告，可能是其公子，還有東北帝大，荒城之月之土井晚翠，再翌日就是終站東京外港。

我們選擇大阪的原因是，有一年我們住在郊外的海耶特大飯店，當然這是琳兒之招待，這頂級之海耶特，非常舒適，就像台北之君悅酒店，但較便宜，她的點數可以應付，我們可以參觀大阪和附近城市，京都，奈良，姬路，廣島和關西各地，新幹線扮演重要角色。

我對福岡印象深刻，這是日本鐵道之總部，面臨日本海，小倉下關等都在附近，這次我想再探索出雲市，著名之日艦出雲號，就在北邊，若從福岡南下到鹿兒島，熊本，新幹線均可一日來回，到處逛街，日本城鎮非常漂亮，國家真正富強，而且國民有自信，有禮貌，全球馳名。

我的日語，不甚靈光，但漢字甚強，必要時可以使用漢字幫忙，而且日本英語教育普遍，一般人均可英語溝通，這是我的經驗，我講日文你不懂，我就寫漢字，你就大蓋知道我要甚麼？不然我就慢慢講英文和西班牙語，我是很盡力，而且很誠懇矣，一般日本人都很感謝，如果不是美國之老人健保，我是可以搬到日本居住，聽聞日本鄉鎮空屋可以贈人居住，我的臉孔又像日本老人。

Spring visit to Austin 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Spring visit to Austin 2023/Carlos Pueblo

It's the spring break and we needed to visit Austin again for the house sitting to take care of pets as well. I had been very busy since I completed a 34 days cruises and filed 2022 federal income tax. After this 8 days house sitting, we're going to Japan for 3 weeks and after that, I shall have a two weeks Alaska cruises that is the early summer of 2023.

Texas blue bonnets are on Interstate 10 outside of Houston near Katy, Texas. Once we turned into Highway 71 north, the field is blooming all over. It's the most most enjoyable scenery of Texas. This has brought me back my fond memory ever since I moved to Houston in 1977. I worked for an insurance company in the 80's which regional office was in Austin and at the beginning of this century, Michelle was studying at the University of Texas for 5 years and then decided to live in the city; therefore, I have been in and out of Austin all the time. The city is growing rapidly.

We laid down our luggage, change cloths and ice box of foods. Dogs were barking anxiously for our walks. There three more new cats from a refugee; therefore, cats numbers are 7. Amy was busy cleaning from the start. They left several hours before to Europe.

My routine is to walk two dogs twice a day. I cut our walk in half of the previous distance due to my hurt left knee. I quit tennis for this reason. If dogs pull me fast, I feel the pain and must put against their will. I don't have good feeling of my aging and I feel lucky to avoid the knee surgery. I can go to swim after April when the pool is open this year.

I managed to trade some shares of the stock. I went in several days early before the bank crush. I now exercises my experience to avoid watching the market fluctuation because they are pension funds which I can't take it out freely without income tax concerns.

Amy reports the pets conditions to Michelle in Europe every day. Three new cats have some health issues, luckily Amy is good at handling such issues. We have an old age cat at home with severe condition as well. Michelle is appreciated and waived our car insurance premium, also extend her Discover card use to our Japan trip which means we can buy some gifts from Japan. 

春初北上奧斯汀2023／莊峻華

 春初北上奧斯汀2023／莊峻華

週前奉愛美令，北上奧斯汀幫琳兒看家照顧愛犬愛貓群，這是例行業務，我們極為喜愛兩位子女，一直不覺他們已經長大成人，隨時照顧，就像年輕時代，琳兒選擇居住州府奧斯汀，於是我們隨時北上，這次她們旅行歐洲八日，墨尼黑，布拉格，和維也納三城市。

我熟練的將車開上十號公路，開進凱蒂鎮，已經看到德州藍紫丁帽花，真正遍野是在71號公路，這是人生一大享受，近半世紀之賞花嗜好。我將車停在車道上，鄰居愛犬已來前院招呼，屋內兩愛犬已開始騷動吠叫，帶領散步者來也，路上愛美始知增加三隻貓，加上原來之兩犬四貓，屋就像一動物園，琳兒怕我們聞聲變掛，因此保密到最後一刻，就是我們已在途中始告知，此三貓係收留親戚所有，說來話長。

放下行李，愛美連忙打理食物午餐，我們是自行攜帶飲食，現在琳兒懂事，留下一張信用卡，我已累極，告訴愛犬散步需要待我午睡後，愛美年輕力壯，已經開始整理屋內秩序，我是老大不願意，但又不敢違背命令，再一週我們就要啟程日本三週，我剛從郵輪下船，報完聯邦所得稅，需要現金重返股市。

股市有異動，原來是一大銀行倒閉，風聲鶴唳，我早一倆日進場，字面上損失一些，但這筆錢大部分是退休金，聯邦也有股份，想來疼痛稍輕，這錢我也動不得，我可以領出別帳號來支出日常。

每日我的工作就是早晚攜愛犬散步兩次，遛狗拾狗糞，大宰相李斯無拾狗糞之苦，故不其樂也，兩愛犬與我相識多年，現在琳兒也開始抽空遛狗。新貓有狀況，經常嘔吐，愛美需要隨時清洗，加上真空除塵多次，於是感動琳兒，免去我們車險保費，再加上延長信用卡使用日期到日本，果然成熟甚多，注意到做人細節。

好不容易熬過八日，我們下午二時離開，她們午後七時著陸奧斯汀，寵物可以在室內五小時，一路上開始春雨，德州需要春雨，我的前後院喇叭花怒放，各種瓜果苗冒出，我需要前後院施肥矣。

Running into Fire & Ice Duo/Carlos Pueblo

 Running into Fire & Ice Duo/Carlos Pueblo

The Most happiest thing on this back to back cruises is running into the Fire & Ice Duo, Rosie Hunte & Mac Nurse Keyboard & Vocals. I have been following them ever since my first cruise on this route with Jewel in 2011. Then, the next three cruises with the same ship in Alaska, twice from New Orleans and Houston. The last time was on Jade across Atlantic Ocean from Houston in 2016. I was told they went to Australia and New Zealand afterward. I also heard that Rosie was sick one time. Amazingly, both of them do remember me as their loyal fan. That night, she sang Gladys Knight's hit, Midnight Train to Georgia on my request.

Midnight Train to Georgia is a Gladys' hit in the 70's introduced to me on that my first night on the cruise. Rosie sang it several times along with Tina Turner's hits songs and Michael Jackson's. She was very popular on that week. I did google the song after coming back home. I knew the words or the poem and understood the story. I repeated listening to that piece on the You Tube videos and paid attention to the news about the song. In 2016 while I was on a Transatlantic Cruise from Houston across the Atlantic on Jade, a performing pianist Smith answered my request to play this piece and he mentioned that was originally a midnight train to my hometown Houston instead of Georgia. I did learn that story. Later before 2016, President Obama invited Gladys to the White House for a musical performance and awarded her a medal of honor.

Mac was in a 24 hours restaurant for a buffalo wing snack and ran into us. He gave me their name card to keep that was 2016. I didn't run into them for the almost 25 times cruises with this firm. I knew that they were at New Zealand route for all those times.

At the beginning, I couldn't get their day off in order to make a reservation for a steak dinner. They are employees of the ship and I am aware of the chain of commend. I wrote a request for the approval of my invitat

ion like my previous experience to invite daughters to the dinner. I got the approval quickly and everything was set smoothly thereafter. Rosie is still very popular and attractive among passengers of all ages. Actually she is a very quiet girl and she says her strength is from the God.

巧遇火冰樂團／莊峻華

 巧遇火冰樂團／莊峻華

這次新英格蘭加拿大郵輪雙週行，巧遇巴貝多之火冰樂團，若西航特和馬克諾斯，自2011年首次郵輪旅行，也剛好是此航線，我就注意到此雙人樂團，若西，玫瑰花之暱稱主唱，馬克是伴奏，她仿逖娜特諾出名，但我亦看過她仿麥可傑克遜，舉船轟動，大廳萬人空巷，後來我一直追隨她倆在珠寶號到2016年，穿越大西洋，一夜我在歌廳發現她，點唱午夜至喬治亞列車，她迅速答應在間休後首唱，這次我提起這段，她尚有記憶，我仍保留當年馬克留下之名片，是她教我此首格萊德斯奈特成名曲，她能唱出其精髓，奈特六，七年前為歐巴瑪總統贈勳，並邀請到白宮演唱，若西答應每次為我演場，我邀請她倆兩次晚餐，就是運用我藍寶石級福利，到13層牛排餐廳用餐，總經理迅速批准，特派美麗秘書，送來批准書，這是我最得意之事。

她的拿手歌唱是模仿逖娜特諾，其實是底特律之摩燙，汽車城音樂，美國靈魂歌曲之延伸，靈魂曲從紐奧良來，到了底特律，許多菲裔美人歌手，發揚光大，麥可傑克遜一例，午夜至喬治亞列車，是指一位女孩哀怨其男友，無法在洛杉磯發展，準備搭夜車返鄉，作曲家原指故鄉是我們休士頓，最後改成喬治亞，約指亞特蘭大市，我在谷歌讀到此段，一位鋼琴家聞我點唱後，也提到此段，非常動人，我曾在部落格介紹此故事，這位鋼琴家名史密斯，在科羅拉多州雪地駐唱，後來不見於郵輪上。若西後來隨珠寶號遊澳洲紐西蘭多年，聞彼身體微恙，中斷演唱，直到最近。

有一年隨郵輪遊若西巴貝多故鄉，特別下船尋找她，街上遇見幾位耶和華見證會傳教士，提到這位歌手，也想找到舊日高校不果，一解多年懷念，如此經過12年。她的豐彩不變，只是歌聲略具沙啞，體力依然，蹦蹦跳跳，若是名曲徐徐然，必勾起幾對老年乘客起舞，輕快歌曲，則有一群年輕女孩，依節奏起跳，非常美觀，一夜我未逢其表演，其夥伴馬克描述，若西又勾起當年盛況，我說是2011年當夜，我想是的，乘客雖然老化，仍舊有年輕一代出現，我希望身體健康，能繼續郵輪旅行，能再巧遇兩位。

Back to New England & Canada cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to New England & Canada cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

After my annual summer cruises to Alaska, I did make several cruises before the end of 2022 and the early months of 2023, i.e., back to New England & Canada cruises, the southern Caribbean Sea in December, 2022 and the Eastern Caribbean Sea & the Panama Canal round trips . I have been lazy and busy after coming home; therefore, I have been behind of my reports to all my readers and I am making it up.

It was the end of the season for the ship Breakaway route to the Northeast American coast in 2022. We embark at the Manhattan Pier in New York City. The huge ship was sailing out of the port on Hudson River south bound to pass the Staten Island. I was comfortably seated by the window at a restaurant after a hard day of transportation and waiting to get on board the ship. I was one of a few passengers to get an early dinner. It is a wonderful feeling to sit down and overlook through a window to pass a big city without any traffic concern. It was late in the afternoon and able to see the Statue of Liberty and waiting for the evening. I check the city map to follow the sailing route. The ship came down to the Staten Island and turned east following the narrow straight of the Manhattan and the Island where I have been familiarized with my previous staying at my host family when I visited NYC. We passed by the Statue and the sun wend down lighten up the city. Breakaway went through the East River north to enter the Atlantic Ocean at night. It is the first time of my many trips with the same itinerary yet with a lucky feeling from an old western movie on My name is nobody at the end of a Mississippi River cruise.

We're going to visit Newport, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine on the New England side while Halifax and St. John on the Canadian Provinces and repeated again in order to make sense for my long flight from Houston to New York City. I shall explain how I run into my old neighbor at my hometown in Taiwan as well as an encounter of the mighty Aircraft Carrier Gerald R Ford and her NATO Drills at the Halifax Bay.