Cruisin' with the Chaplain

At the risk of making a few enemies from our snow-bound family and friends up north, here are a couple of sunny photos from our three ports in the Caribbean.
Our great odyssey is almost complete. Ah, well – all good things must come to an end. I don’t know who
said that, but it’s not true! This sabbatical is ending, but we are going home to the best things in life, our loving
family and fiends – and at Christmastime, no less!
Thanks for coming with us around the world.
Have a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year! We’ll be home for Christmas!

Five lovely days at sea – priceless (actually this is a repositioning cruise, so the “price” was really good!). Here are 6 ship shots of the Galaxy.
1. The 11th, 12th, and 13th floors – pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs. We’re bottling this sunshine to take out in February!
2. An awesome performance by pianist Naki Ataman from Turkey – 80 minutes, no sheet music, no stopping!
3. The crew dresses up the ship for Christmas – how nice to see the church in the little gingerbread town.
4. Not only do we eat food, we also take pictures of it – but you already knew that.
5. Editing in my office.
6. Christmas is in the air – this is our cabin door. Down the hall someone put up a pair of antlers and a Christmas stocking – kind of like a dorm, or a retirement home! (Tee Hee).

1. The southern end of La Palma – look closely, those tiny people are walking where we also walked on the rim of a volcano!
2. Hästa and the volcano.
3. The old windmill is now just a garden ornament, but the potter who works there is authentic!
4. A walking street in town – no crowds – it is siesta time and most shops are closed.
5. The southern tip of La Palma from the sea – our last sight of land as we begin our transatlantic passage.

1. An island with 100 volcanoes, this Canary Island is just 70 miles off the coast of Africa. It almost never rains, so the countryside remains volcanic and barren (however, the Trade Winds make the climate ideal for beachgoers.)
2. We visited a cave complex, Jameos Del Agua, which was formed by volcanic activity but has been transformed into a major attraction with a natural concert hall, a subterranean saltwater lagoon and a restaurant!
3. The closest island to Lanzarote with its small harbor town.
4. The old capitol, Teguise. The church has burned down 6 times – a few of those times by Pirates!

Yes, we really are in Africa! What a mixture of sights, sounds and smells.
1. A familiar shopper in the Souk (marketplace).
2. High-jumping Moroccan dancers.
3. Charging Arab horsemen and their really loud rifles.
4. A snake charmer and his charming snake.
Busy afternoon!