The list below is full of our issues. Since this was my first cruise, some of these may be simply reflect my unrealistic expectations. We have friends who cruise for every vacation. We’ll inevitably do it again when the girls are older and after I’ve overhauled my expectations. However, I can definitely say the cruising isn’t for everyone.
Here’s a list of my Top 10 Lessons Learned: [Read more…]
A big thanks to Ba Ngoai and Ong Ngoai for taking the family on this Alaskan Cruise. Over the last few years, we’ve had the pleasure of traveling with our extended family included Ba Ngoai, Ong Ngoai, Co Noi, Co Hong, Aunt Mary, Aunt Tam, Jenny, the girls and yours truly.
We arrived in Seattle in time to enjoy a day/night in the city before boarding the Norwegian Jewel on July 14th for a seven night cruise. It was an amazing cruise and the only way to really see such beautiful sites through Alaska. We stopped in ports at Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria, BC, Canada. Along the way, we traversed fjords, saw plenty of iceburgs, eagles, seaplanes and glaciers. [Read more…]
Our family cruise stopped in Victoria, BC and I’ve been dreaming of returning ever sense. While most of the disembarking cruisers headed to the restaurants, bars and shops, our family hired a driver to take us to Butchart Gardens. With one million visitors touring every year, you know there is something here to see. Plan on spending as much of the day here as possible and prepare to walk hills, steps and rough terrain. It is totally worth it to see the various sections including the Sunken Garden, Concert Lawn Walk, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and Mediterranean Garden. [Read more…]
The Alaskan wilderness isn’t too accessible, but our cruise took us to several beautiful, hard-to-get-to places. We stopped in ports at Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria, BC, Canada and then Toured Butchart Gardens. Below you’ll find several pictures from our time at sea (or fjords) and land.
You might also enjoy our Family Pictures from Our Alaskan Cruise. Here are some pictures of the Alaskan wilderness: [Read more…]
Here’s a quick summary of our adventures through the mainland and islands. Jenny, Tom, Annie and I enjoyed fresh seafood, watched amazing sunsets, explored ancient ruins, jumped into the Aegean Sea, tore up the roads on ATVs, imbibed Greek wine and relaxed in the Mediterranean.
Here are our guides to Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Paros and Aegina. Within you’ll find pictures, a few recommended hotels, definite places to visit and more. [Read more…]
Jenny and I both agree there is never a good time for vacation… These days our demanding work load, personal and professional commitments and challenging economy make it tough to “get away!’ We had a fantastic Greek adventure with great sights, tastes and memories. As always, we would wish for more time together in such a beautiful country.
Most importantly, Jenny and I feel fortunate! Greece is struggling! It’s easy to focus on Greece’s natural beauty and forget its third world status. [Read more…]
To say we ate well is an understatement. Throughout our trip, we ate fresh fish, tried new exotic foods, and sampled different interpretations of classic dishes.
All food is expensive in Greece. The Euro has distorted prices in Greece and created export demand for many of Greece’s staple products like fish, meat, even produce. Fresh fish is typically sold at 30-60E/kilo in Athens and the islands. Convert that to US Dollars and we pay dramatically less for much higher quality fish. [Read more…]
We might not be parents yet, but Jenny and I were dreaming of the future and what our kids might be like. We took a few minutes to record a short message for them. While it might be really windy, I suspect our kids will understand. We love you future kiddos!
We came to Paros to relax after a long trip… We relaxed for 20 minutes yesterday and decided to hit the roads, path, or anything our 120cc motors would traverse.
In general, Paros isn’t a huge tourist destination. Apart from a few nightclubs, the beaches are spectacular and there are any notable ruins. However, the natural beauty and simplicity of life here make up for it. This is the type of place where life actually does slow down! The people are friendly and have perfected the work-life balance. While you won’t see many ultra-sheek possessions (excluding a few nice yachts in the harbor), people work and play here.
Here are a few pictures from our adventures: [Read more…]
Only 40 minutes from Athen’s Piraeus port, Aegina was the big rival of Athens around the 5th century. Now, tourist come for the beaches, the Agios Nektarios (Church), the Aphaia Temple, the fishing villages and more.
Jenny and I hoped the ferry and spent a few hours having lunch, swimming in the crystal clear water and lounging on the beach. We had planned to hit the other sites, but found the island’s beach and beer to be way to relaxing.
Here are a few snapshots from our day trip to Aegina: [Read more…]