Grandpa's Wisdom

I did meet with and shake the hand of Richard Nixon at the Republican National Convention in 1964. We had a short conversation. Nixon was Vice President at the time so technically I did not shake hands with the President although he went on to become President. At the time I was President of the Young Republicans chapter at San Diego State College and received two tickets to the National Convention. My wife and I attended and it was great fun. I even participated in a floor demonstration with a sign.

It was deeply moving visiting the places where Jesus lived and taught and died. Jerusalem was interesting but crowded. I would have liked to have visited Bethlehem, but was told it was not safe so took a pass. I particularly liked the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area. It was very peaceful, but looking up at the Golan Heights, I realized how precarious that peace was with only the IDF between peace and the destruction of war. I was surprised at the size of the Jordan River, but it does provide for a lot of irrigation. I had taken one of my sons and one of my grandsons with me on the trip. The grandson, whose name is Jordan, took a swim in the Jordan River. He was thrilled.

My last trip out of the Country was a Baltic Cruise with two grandsons. We visited Oslo, Norway; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; and St. Petersburg, Russia. It was their first and my third visit to these cities. St. Petersburg is always an adventure as there are so many things to see with historical significance. I had earlier taken three granddaughters on roughly the same trip and it was fascinating to see the differences between what the girls wanted to see and experience vs. what the boys were interested in. Both trips were extraordinary.

Currently, not at all. At 87 I am just not up to it anymore. When I was working internationally, I was traveling most of the time. After I retired, I would travel internationally two or three times a year.

Yes, quite a few times. I will describe the first one in 1978. I was getting used to my new job as Assistant Controller for Wallace International, and after several months, I was sent on an inspection tour of our overseas offices. This was my second trip out of the United States. (The first one was with the Marine Corps by sea to Korea in 1951 and return by plane.) I had almost no idea of what it would be like despite having a brief description by the Corporate Travel Office. The flight from Dallas to New York City was uneventful. The non-stop flight from New York City to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia was way too long, about 16 hours. On subsequent trips, I would fly to Frankfurt and change planes. Going through customs in Dhahran was an interesting experience as they went through my luggage with a fine tooth comb taking nearly everything out and then tossing it back in. Sights, sounds and smells were all unfamiliar. Except for a few non-Saudi women on the plane, they were all dressed like the...

I traveled to Israel to see the places where Jesus lived and died. To visit the places I had read about in the Bible was a truly thrilling experience. Jerusalem, the via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Capernaum, Mt. Tabor, The Jordan River, etc. I took one of my sons and one of my grandsons with me. We all had a great time. I would have liked to have gone to Bethlehem as well, but we were advised that it was not safe.

My favorite castle to visit has been Edinburgh Castle. I have been there four times, once on the Queen’s Birthday. A couple of hours of great pageantry with one of my favorites, bagpipe bands with the lone piper on the highest turret of the castle. It is a very large fortification with a lot of history. I imagined being either on the offense or defense. I would not like the offense. There is only one practical way to attack given its location on a promontory with nearly vertical sides except for the main entrance facing the Old Town. The one drawback is that it is so big that it takes more than a day to see it all. Museums, cell blocks for French prisoners of war from Napoleon’s time, tales of heroism, St. Margaret’s chapel, etc.

I had a little more than two hours, and I went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I had seen pictures of it, and it was something I had wanted to do for a long time. An unexpected bonus was that the Cardinal was saying Mass when I arrived.

The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum; Peterhof Palace; Church of the Resurrection aka Church on Spilled Blood; St. Isaac’s Cathedral; Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin; Peter and Paul Fortress; Jusupov Palace. You will not be able to do all of the above in one day or even two days. Most cruise ships are in St. Petersburg for two days. One could spend one day in the Winter Palace alone. The Peterhof Palace is not in St. Petersburg itself but is located in Petrodvorets about 23 miles from the center of St. Petersburg. Catherine’s Palace is 16 miles from the center of St. Petersburg. For one day, I would suggest the Winter Palace and the two churches. The Church of the Resurrection is spectacular both inside and out while St. Isaac’s Cathedral is spectacular on the inside. The Jusupov Palace is not as spectacular as the royal palaces, but it does contain the room where the assassination of Rasputin was attempted complete with a mannequin of Rasputin eating his poisoned dinner. Spend som...

On my first visit to Munich, Germany. I had finished dinner in a restaurant in downtown Munich and I wanted to go to the Hofbrauhaus. I had a map of Munich, and I was standing under a streetlight trying to figure out how to proceed when a perfect stranger came up and asked if I needed assistance. I told him that I was trying to see how I could get to the Hofbrauhaus. He gave me directions that were somewhat confusing. I must have looked perplexed because he said, “Never mind, come with me.” I told him I did not want to take him out of his way and he replied that he was going that direction anyway. He took me to the front door of the Hofbrauhaus, turned around and went back the way we had come.

From the perspective of a passenger, my understanding was that they were disembarked at the next port of call.

Money in one form or another. Some people are able to travel on little money, but I know of no one who can travel without any at all.

There was a trip when I was in Rome for just one day. On that occasion, I choose St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the closest part of the Vatican Museum.

I have never been to San Piero Patti, Sicily. My father-in-law was born and raised in Patti on the coast, but I have only seen it from Tindari. I have been to Messina 5 times and Tindari 4 times. One trip involved water transport from Malta to the southern coast of Sicily and a road trip up the eastern coast. There was a full day spent in Syrcause and Taormina with brief stops in some other towns and cities that I do not remember. The road trip was more than 20 years ago, so my recollection is somewhat hazy. It did seem that we came pretty close to Mt. Etna which was smoking.

It has been a few years, but the last time I was there I just walked in from local transportation. They had metal detectors at St. Peter’s Basilica and there were admission charges at the Vatican Museum. Parts were off limits to the general public as would be expected.  

The Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina. Unexpectedly lovely with lots of trees, other vegetation and lots of water. A little on the chilly side even though it was summer.

There are numerous memorable places I have visited in Europe. If I have to pick one, I would say the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. I was there before the restoration, when the restoration was partially complete and after the completion of the restoration. The paintings by Michelangelo are absolutely amazing, especially comparing the before and after the restoration.

The Pyramids on the Giza plateau near Cairo, Egypt. My photograph. What was more amazing than the outside was the passageways and burial chambers inside which showed a high degree of engineering skill.

St Michael's Castle, England. It is on its own little island off the coast of Cornwall. It is still occupied by the St. Aubyn family which acquired the island and castle in 1659. As the castle is still occupied, it is very well preserved with the living quarters off limits.

It was on my bucket list at one time, but I gave it up as being impractical. I had planned to visit the Island of Iona and also visit Fingal’s Cave on the nearby Island of Staffa. The closest point I actually visited was the town of Oban on Scotland’s west coast. Most people would never have heard of Fingal’s Cave except for the fact that Felix Mendelssohn visited the cave in 1829 and wrote an overture named Fingal’s Cave aka the Hebrides Overture. The best I can do now is listen to the Mendelssohn Overture.

Was sent there in 1951. It was cold and wet in the spring and warmed considerably in the summer. Carrying 90 lbs. plus up and down mountains was no fun. Incoming enemy artillery shells were to be avoided if possible.

It was on my list and I did visit Stone Henge with my wife in 2007.

If they are best kept secrets, we obviously do not know.

Volcanoes National Park if it is open. Check out a lava tube that is not currently active and the visitor’s center. Kilauea volcano with a guide as it is active. Witnessing a lava flow into the ocean is unforgettable. Rainbow Falls where two streams form a single fall. Depending on the weather, the falls can be gentle or a roaring cataract. Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are gorgeous. Hilo is a nice town for shopping and dining. Kealakekua Bay marine sanctuary for swimming, snorkeling and dolphin watching. It is the place where Captain Cook arrived in 1779, and got himself killed. A grandson, who lives in Hawaii, recommends Mauna Kea and surrounding area. There is an observatory on the top of the mountain. Then Kona on the dry side of the Island. This may be more than a 5–6-day itinerary if you want a relaxing trip. Plus, there is much more to see and do on Hawaii depending on your interests.

Japan and then Korea in April, 1951. I was in the Marine Corps and was in a replacement draft for the 1st. Marine Division.

No, it is an all-day drive from San Francisco to L.A.

When planning a trip, I always consulted the State Department’s web site to determine the safety and/or problems associated with wherever I planned to visit. They have detailed up to date reports for anywhere you plan to go. For the U.S., I would look up the crime statistics for the city, and supplement that with other information about the city. Just do research on the web before booking. It can prevent a lot of problems.

On the cruise ship, the string quartets, the production shows and the comedians.

Originally Answered:  What is the best place to visit for a honeymoon? Whatever you can easily afford and both would enjoy. There is no best as what would be best for one couple would not be for another. When I married, we lived in San Diego. We could not afford much so we went to La Jolla for a week and had a perfectly wonderful time. Later in life, when we could afford nice vacations, we went on a cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Hawaii. We hit some very heavy seas after we cleared the Straight of Juan de Fuca. There was a couple on their honeymoon and the bride became so seasick that she could not leave their cabin for the six days it took to get to Hawaii.

That would depend on the individual. I have taken 17 or 18 cruises of one week to three weeks. Some of them were repositioning cruises with 6 or more sea days. I was never bored. I booked some cruises with a lot of sea days just because I wanted to relax and watch the ocean. There are always a lot of activities planned by the ship for sea days if you want to do more than relax. There are numerous shore excursions to choose from when in a port of call. The cruise lines try very hard to have something for everybody. I would say try it and see. On my first cruise, I really did not know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. That is why I went back for more.

There will be a safe in your room for which you set the combination. If that is not sufficient, you can check it with the Pursers Office.

I imagine it would depend on the cruise line. I have been on cruises where there were very small children, and on one transatlantic cruise, had dinner with a couple aged 91 and 92.

No. On most of the ships I have been on there are the traditional dining rooms, upscale dining rooms for an extra charge, buffet, hamburger, pizza, ice cream and other fast food. There may be others that I have forgotten. Food options on a cruise ship are pretty much something for everybody.

Find other accommodations. The ship will not be there and the resort has no obligation to accommodate you until the time of your reservation.

There is still a little motion, but it is not that noticeable. Things are different if you are in a storm or near enough to one to cause heavy seas. It was quite a few years ago when my wife and I were on a Celebrity Cruise leaving Amsterdam. We encountered a major storm as we were in the lock lifting us up to the level of the North Sea. Lightning, thunder, high winds and heavy seas all night long. We had a cabin facing the bow just under the bridge. It was deck 8. Waves were coming over the bow and hitting our window. It was great fun as neither my wife nor I ever became seasick.

Do both by taking a European Cruise. There is a large variety available that should suit any taste. If you would prefer inland, there are numerous river cruises.

Originally Answered:  What is the most unnerving experience you had in the Great Outdoors? My first cruise was on Princess with my wife to Alaska. It was through the Inside Passage from Vancouver, Canada. I had signed up for a hike in the wilderness before we left on the cruise. I even brought special shoes, called waffle stompers, that I had used in the High Sierras on a two-week backpack wilderness trek. One of the guides for the hike complimented me for coming prepared. Some of my fellow hikers were wearing sneakers. Not the best footwear for our hike. The cruise tour involved a helicopter ride from Skagway to the trail head which was next to the rails of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. We were to take the train back to Skagway after going up to the White Pass and the Canadian border. Our hike to the foot of a glacier was uneventful except for fresh Moose sign. We did not see any except at long distance. Just as well, our guides said if we saw a Moose to put a tree between ...

That is subjective and a matter of taste. My favorite was St. Petersburg, Russia. They have done an excellent job of restoring the various palaces in and around St. Petersburg. The food venues booked by the cruise lines as well as the entertainment were great. I have been there three times. Once with my wife, once with three granddaughters and the third time with two grandsons. Each was a delightful experience.

Originally Answered:  Where were you & what were you doing on 9/11 during the attacks on the World Trade Centers? I was on a cruise ship in the middle of the Baltic Sea. I had gone to hear a lecture on the Romanovs. The man I sat next to asked me if I had heard about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. I had not, but I remembered that a B-25 had hit the Empire State Building near the end of WWII, so I thought it was another accident. After the lecture, I returned to my stateroom and turned on the TV. It was then that I saw the second plane hit and I knew it was war.

Enjoy myself. I had measles as a child and am thus immune. I seriously doubt that a cruise ship would be  full  of measles. Cruises that I have been on were very health conscious and worked hard to prevent the spread of any illness on board. In addition, how probable is it that the entire compliment on board consisted of wing nuts who were never vaccinated? One of my daughters teaches 3rd grade and there were some cases of measles in her classroom, but it was a relatively small number that came down with the disease.

Originally Answered:  What was your favorite meal on a cruise ship? Broiled lobster. One of my favorite foods, and as I recall, they served a whole one. Another passenger at our table asked for a second. That was a bit much, but the request was filled. The next day they served Lobster Louis with what I guessed were the left overs. Lobster two days in a row was a real treat.

The cruise that I enjoyed most was in 2001 on Celebrity from Amsterdam out and back in the Baltic Sea with overnight at St. Petersburg, Russia. It was my first time to St. Petersburg and the shore excursions were terrific. Luncheon on both days were at 5-star hotels with great entertainment and unforgettable food. I have been to St. Petersburg two times subsequent to the 2001 cruise on Princess and Holland America. While good, the shore excursions did not come close to the Celebrity trip. A disturbing part of the cruise was that we were in the middle of the Baltic Sea on 11 Sep 2001, and had some concern about getting back to the U.S. As it turned out, by the time we returned to Amsterdam, flights by U.S. carriers had resumed to the U.S. and we were on a U.S. carrier. I do not remember the name of the ship, but it is probably no longer in service after 18 years.

I have traveled to Egypt two times in the past and had no worries. The thing to do is to check the current travel advisories put out by the State Department to see what kind of threats there are currently. Whenever I traveled abroad, I would always check the State Department’s advisories before actually booking the trip. It is best to plan ahead as much as possible.

In addition to Ingrid Halvorsen’s answer, I would add that my wife and I did a lot of travel by train, but as we got older, it was a hassle to pack and unpack every couple of days and travel to our next destination. Cruising solved that problem as the hotel goes with you. Secondly, I liked being at sea. We would take trans-Atlantic cruises just to relax and enjoy the amenities on board ship with a few excursions thrown in. After my wife passed away, I started taking teen and older grandchildren on cruises. It was a whole lot of fun watching their reaction to their first trip to Europe without a big hassle for grandpa. At sea, the cruise lines have special teen activities and the excursions are handled by the cruise line.

Originally Answered:  What are your favorite places to visit in the Bahamas? I only visited the Bahamas one time and was not particularly impressed. The same goes for other places in the Caribbean. I much preferred Europe, and that is where the bulk of my traveling for pleasure was done. Travel to the Middle East was more frequent, but that was for business reasons.

A multi-country Eurail Pass would be the best way to travel. They are good for variable travel days within the period chosen. The trains are convenient, fast and first class. An excellent was to travel. Plan on staying at a pension or hostel. Consult a good guidebook for planning before you go. For the Eurail pass details go to  https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes . Other sites may give additional information. My recollection is that the passes are not available within Europe, but must be purchased before arriving in Europe. That was the case when I was traveling in Europe. As that was some years ago, check the official site. Also from my recollection, the Eurail Pass is also good for some local and interurban transportation. That information is on their web site. Have a fun trip.

I did that in 2010. I took a son and a grandson. We visited the sacred sites in Jerusalem and in Galilee. It was a blessing to visit the place where our Savior lived and died. The only regret was bypassing Bethlehem. It was controlled by the Palestinian Authority and we were told it was not safe at the time we were there.

On a trip to Ireland I had a rental car. It was my first experience of driving on the opposite side of the road. I made it through the two weeks of the trip without hitting anyone or being hit, but there were several close calls. One incident stands out. I was exiting a parking lot and was looking left for oncoming traffic when I should have been looking right. It resulted in a honking of a horn and probably some choice Irish cuss words, but fortunately there was no accident. I did feel properly foolish as I had been doing OK up until that incident.

I traveled alone frequently on business, but when I traveled for pleasure I always had my wife and/or other family members with me. It was just more enjoyable traveling with family members.

Since 1951 when I went to Japan and Korea courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps. After that, from 1978 until last year. Altogether, I have traveled to 43 Countries and lived in 3 of them.

For U.S. Citizens, check the State Department’s Travel Advisories for places you are likely to visit as part of your planning process. They now have expanded information on every Country. It is a whole lot better to know before you go as opposed to finding out when you get there. Keep in mind that you are subject to the Country’s laws and sometimes whims

Originally Answered:  What are the things you don’t like about going on vacation? Air travel. The service level seems to be deteriorating. Next is living out of suitcase.

There is a checkpoint on the way into Mecca. Everyone has to show an I.D. and if you are not a practicing Muslim you are not allowed in. You have to use the bypass. A person cannot even get into Saudi Arabia without a visa. I traveled in and out of Saudi Arabia from 1978 through 1981 on business and was a full-time resident during 1980 - 1981. Also, at that time, if you had an Israeli visa in your passport, you could not get a Saudi visa and if you already had a Saudi visa the Israeli visa would void it.

That would be a matter of opinion. There are plenty of contenders. For me, Pompeii was the most interesting by a small margin for what I learned on two visits to the site. The Romans were more advanced than I had thought. There was a villa with an atrium that had a sprinkler system that still worked. Water piped to the second floor. A wine bar and how it functioned. Artwork on most interior walls explained a lot as it gave some insight into Roman tastes. I was fascinated on both trips and did not see nearly as much as I would have liked.

The question is moot. I would not go to Iran because as a U.S. Citizen, I would most likely be locked up on some trumped-up charge. I could not go to Saudi Arabia on holiday as I am not Muslim. I have been to Saudi Arabia but that was work related.

  The Maori in New Zealand. It was not paint, but tattoos which serve the same purpose.

I have visited 43 countries. There are many that I would not wish to visit because of politics and/or economics, and a few because of geography. Most of them that have political problems also have economic problems. My last international travel was about 10 years ago, and the political situation has deteriorated over that period of time.

I would pick Europe. A lot more of significance to see. I have been to the Caribbean twice and was not terribly impressed.

Yes. My wife and I were at Oktoberfest in Munich on 26 Sep 1980. We passed through the main entrance a little before 10 P.M. About half an hour later a bomb was exploded in that same entrance killing 13 and injuring 211. We learned about it the next day on a tour bus. The casualty numbers came from Wikipedia. We did not know the numbers at the time. Just that a number of people had been killed and injured.

My wife and I were in Salzburg, Austria on a Saturday. We were looking for a church where we could attend Mass on Sunday. During our rambling about the downtown area of the city, we came to the Franciscan Church. On the door was a notice that at 10:00 A.M. the next day there would be a solemn high Mass with the orchestra and chorus from the Mozarteum performing. We arrived at the church an hour early and had a fantastic experience with the music from a combination of a Haydn and Mozart Mass in one of the oldest churches in Salzburg.

From Dallas, Texas to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The was a stop in New York to change planes, but the entire trip was less than 24 hours so it was technically done in one day although I left in early evening and arrived in the morning the following day. So, one day time wise, but two by the calendar.

I was driving an automobile from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to the new International Airport then under construction. The route was a nice modern freeway. I was travelling a little above the posted speed limit of 60 kph. There was a large truck to my right going slightly slower. I was about even with the truck to my right when a large dump truck crossed the freeway at a right angle to the freeway and parked across my lane. It was too close for me to stop in time. I floored the gas pedal and cut off the truck to my right, he honked, but I was able to shoot the gap. Hitting the dump truck would have been fatal.

I do not know if it was unusual so much as stupid. I was returning from a business trip that included Saudi Arabia, Germany and England. I had a brief case with contracts, invoices and other business papers. After she looked through the papers, she asked why I was bringing them into the U.S.

Not specific to Royal Caribbean, but I signed up with several cruise lines for a last-minute departure. If a cruise was not filled, I would get an e-mail with cruise information and price within a two weeks of sailing time. If I was interested, I would book the cruise at substantial savings. It does not work unless you are completely flexible with your schedule. I was retired so I could deal with a two-week advance notice. It is simple economics. If you can make a sale that covers your variable cost and some of your fixed cost, it is better to make the sale than not.

Originally Answered:  Where were you when you received the tragic news of September 11, 2001? I and my wife were on a cruise ship in the middle of the Baltic Sea. I had gone down to the theater for a lecture on the Romanovs by a British couple. I sat next to a man who asked me in a British accent if I had heard that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I had not, but I remembered that a B-25 had crashed into the Empire State Building at the end of WW2. I waited until the lecture to end and returned to my cabin and turned on the BBC. I then saw the second plane go in and knew that it was no accident.

I have traveled on Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. The only problem I had was on Norwegian. Service was terrible. One cruise and that was the end. The others were good to terrific. My first cruise was on Princess to Alaska. It was delightful. I have been three times to St. Petersburg. The first one was on Celebrity and it was outstanding with great shore excursions. The other times were on Holland America and Princess. The cruises were fine, but the shore excursions were inferior to Celebrity. On other cruises Princess and Holland America had excellent shore excursions. Service was good on all of them with Holland America and Celebrity being a bit better in the food department. My choices between the four cruise lines depended on the itinerary and price.

It would be best to check with the cruise line well before departure as the rules change. I have been to St. Petersburg three times on three different cruise lines over a period of six years. The process was different each time. The first time, Russian officials boarded the cruise ship and stamped our passports making sure we were the one in the passport photo. The second time, if we were on a cruise line shore excursion, we turned our passports into the travel office and they arranged for the visas. I honestly do not remember the third time, so it was most likely not a big deal. My recollection is that for non-cruise line excursions, a visa was required before embarkation. In any case, my last time was in 2012 so whatever information I have is most likely out of date.

No. All cruises were taken with wife, children or grandchildren. The only time I traveled alone was when it was a business trip which was by air.  

I have traveled over all of the oceans except for the Indian Ocean. The travel over the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic Ocean were for very short distances while North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic and South Atlantic were long cruises either north to south or trans-ocean. Lots of Seas as well. I have visited 43 countries and lived in 3 of them. The most rewarding would be a toss-up between Italy including the Island of Sicily and St. Petersburg, Russia with Cairo, Egypt as a close runner up. Rome, Assisi, Pisa, Florence, Lanciano, Loretto, Monte Sant’Angelo, San Giovanni Rotondo, Tindari, Sicily which is next to Patti where my father-in-law was born and raised. 7 or 8 times. St. Petersburg, Russia 3 times. Marvelous restoration of the palaces and churches of the Czarist period with the Hermitage Museum, the Ballet, and the food.  

Originally Answered:  Do you think visiting North Korea is a good idea? No. I cannot think of any reason why anyone would want to go there. An absolute dictatorship with a paranoid dictator, a population without enough to eat and the possibility of a war. I have no idea what kind of facilities they have for visitors. It could be like the old Soviet Union which had special facilities for visitors, but you still have the secret police to deal with. Cross them and you could be in a world of hurt.

Originally Answered:  How do you manage to travel the world while having a family to take care of? My first international travel was courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps before I had a family. When I next traveled internationally, my oldest son had graduated from University and was married. He and his wife looked after his younger brothers and sisters. Two were at University, two were in high school and one was in 8th grade. When job requirements dictated an expat contract, we took the youngest with us. International travel for pleasure took place after all had finished University.

I live in the U.S. There is nothing I can think of that would make me want to leave here. Age is one reason as I am almost 89. When younger I traveled extensively, and while many countries are attractive, all of them have problems of one kind or another, and none have the protection of our Constitution. This is despite the current attacks on the Constitution by the progressive left who seem to believe that they are wiser than everyone else, and would saddle us with a totalitarian government if they could. The world has “been there and done that” with universally bad results. As George Santayana wrote, “Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. “ (1) (1) Reason and Common Sense Pg. 284 by George Santayana

Depending on the countries involved, you would become of interest to the foreign country’s officials for overstaying your visa or entry permit. If a U.S. citizen, you would become of interest to the IRS and others.

Originally Answered:  Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? I presume from the question that money is no object. Assuming a middle class or better financial position, I would choose Switzerland. I have been there several times and it is delightful although pricy. The Cato Institute gives it No. 1 in personal freedom. Not being hassled by government is a big plus. Another contender would be Ireland which is almost as good and they speak English.

Originally Answered:  What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you while traveling abroad? It was not scary at the time as it was unknown, but we found out about the incident the next day. On 26 Sep 1980 my wife and I were at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. We left through the main gate a little before 10 P.M. and proceeded to our hotel. Something like 30 minutes later, a bomb was exploded in that same entrance killing 13 and injuring 211.

The Eucharistic Miracle in Santarem. I had never heard of it before visiting the church. The details about the visionaries at Fatima. I had read about the apparitions, but did not know many of the details that were explained at the site. The amount of wanton destruction of churches, monasteries and convents done by the French under Napoleon. I had read about the French invasion of the Iberian Peninsula and their eventual defeat by Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington. I did not know about the wanton destruction of beautiful historic buildings and tombs. It made no sense and certainly stirred up the population.

Fish and Chips followed by Dover Sole.

Huge historical. I went to a lecture on a cruise ship in the middle of the Baltic Sea on 11 Sep 2001. I sat next to a man from the UK. He asked if I had heard that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. I had not. I remembered that a B-25 had hit the Empire State Building near the end of WWII, so I assumed that it was an accident. When the lecture was concluded, I returned to my cabin and turned on the BBC News. It was then that the video of the second plane hitting the remaining tower was shown and I knew it was no accident. Could have been life changing. On 26 Sep 1980 my wife and I were at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. We left the park about 10 P.M., and learned the following day that a bomb had been set off at the park entrance about 20 to 30 minutes after we had gone through that same entrance. Sometime later, we learned that 13 people had been killed and 213 injured.

There is always a risk. One has to use common sense, but there is still a risk. A grandson was traveling in Europe and was mugged in a train station in 2010. I traveled alone in the Middle East and Europe on business and pleasure from 1978 through 1984 an never had a problem.

I currently live in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. The farthest place from here that I have visited would be Hobart, Tasmania at 8,932 miles.

  I do not know a lot about the current Norwegian Cruise Line. My wife and I took a New England and Canadian cruise with them maybe 15 to 18 years ago and it was not pleasant. The crew was undertrained and not helpful with what seemed a “who cares” attitude. Services that were supposed to be available were not. In all, a disappointing cruise. We never booked Norwegian again so my opinion is outdated.

Calligraphy. I have several nice examples from my time in Saudi Arabia.

The United Nations Law of the Sea as well as custom and treaties between nations all provide for assistance to people or ships in distress at sea. The United Nations Law reads in part, “Article 98 (1) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) requires masters of vessels sailing under the flag of signatory States to render assistance to those in distress at sea. It is primarily a State duty fulfilled by the master of the vessel. The master is freed from this requirement only in circumstances where the assisting vessel, the crew or the passengers on board would be seriously endangered as a result of rendering assistance to those in distress.” (1) Custom and treaties between nations are usually similar. (1)  Blog: UNCLOS and the Duty to Render Assistance

I have done both. I like the cruise because the hotel travels with you. You can unpack your suitcase, hang your closes the closet and forget about repacking for a couple of weeks. Plus meals and entertainment are included in the price of the cruise. Another plus is that you get to travel to more cities that might have been skipped if you were just staying in a hotel and traveling by train or bus. The downside is that your time is limited to the time the ship is in port. If the city is the beginning or end of the cruise, you can book additional time at a hotel by arriving early or staying after the end of the cruise. I did that both in Barcelona and Venice. Early to the first one and stay over at the other one. When I was younger, I would travel by train and bus. I would stay at a pension or bed and breakfast. As I got older, the bus and then the train became less attractive, although I did enjoy train travel in Europe. When I got into my late 60s and 70s, almost all of my travel was by...

A great deal of fun if you like sea days. I have done it two times and as I recall the sailing time from San Diego to Hawaii was six or seven days equal to half of a 14-day cruise. If you do not like sea days, then it would be boring.

My wife and I were in Zurich walking around. I heard what I thought was Dixieland Music. We went toward the sound and there was a New Orleans Jazz Band walking, dancing and playing down one of the main streets. The man in front seemed to be conducting with an umbrella. We enjoyed the music and the performance. On later inquiry we were told that Zurich and New Orleans were sister cities and the jazz band was part of an exchange. This was in 1981. I had certainly not imagined that I would encounter a New Orleans jazz band in downtown Zurich.

The Statue of Liberty is located on a small island named Bedloe Island in New York Harbor. It is associated with New York City. I have sailed by it on several occasions when New York City was a port of call for a cruise.

None. I have visited 43 countries and there are none of them I would rather live in as a resident than where I am in the U.S.

I was driving on a freeway near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I was in the left-hand lane with a large truck next to me in the center lane. I was traveling at about 60 miles per hour. Suddenly, a large dump truck crossed the freeway at a right angle to the freeway and stopped blocking my lane. I was too close to brake in time, so I floored the accelerator, cut off the truck to my right and just missed the back of the dump truck. That is as close as I ever want to come to a fatal accident.

Originally Answered:  Have you ever been around the world? I have visited 43 countries and lived in 3 of them. In the U.S. I have visited 35 states and lived in 6 of them. On a frequency basis the number one destination was Europe. Secondary was the Middle East and Egypt because of work. In addition, I have been to the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands which are technically part of Portugal and Spain so are not included in the 43 countries although they are some distance from their home countries. The same goes for some islands in the Caribbean. Travels have included all of the Oceans except for the Indian Ocean, and all of the Continents except for Antarctica, although visits to Africa were only to Egypt so is not representative of the continent. I have not been on an around the word trip.

At least half a day for a once over lightly. My preference would be for a full day. I have been there 7 or 8 times over a long period of time. I never tire of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s. It was a special delight when I brought grandchildren.

Originally Answered:  What was your worst airplane experience? A nonstop flight from Honolulu to Dallas. I developed a fever and was feeling really terrible. My wife and I had just finished a two-week cruise that ended in Honolulu and we had stayed over at a hotel. I came down with whatever it was in the airport after we had checked in for the return to Dallas. That was a really long 8 to 9 hours back in the 1990s.  

Yes, I have been to Vatican City at least five times. As it is a sovereign state, I did count it as one of the countries I have visited.

The first time I visited the Sistine Chapel was before the restoration. It was amazing. I had seen photographs of the Sistine Chapel but they did not compare with the actual frescoes. Seeing them in person for the first time was thrilling. My first thought was what an amazing collection of artwork. The second time I visited the Sistine Chapel, the restoration had begun. Many of the side panels were completed but none of the ceiling or the Last Judgement. I was surprised at the vividness of the colors and made a mental note to return when the restoration was completed. I did return after the restoration was completed and I was struck by the vividness of the colors, especially in the Last Judgement. There was no comparison with the first time I had seen it. I have visited the Sistine Chapel a total of five times. The last two times I had grandchildren with me and I fully enjoyed their reaction to seeing this magnificent chapel for the first time. They were in their late teens when we vis...

If you have assigned seating in one of the main dining rooms on board, you will be seated at the same table with the same guests. It is relatively easy to make new friends at dinner. Try and get a large table. Another way is to participate in team activities or other group events that interest you. If you have something in common, it should not be difficult to make friends.

One person could not possibly sail away in a cruise ship. They would need a trained crew.

LAX. My wife and I were flying from DFW to Auckland, NZ Upon landing we had 2 hours between flights. We had to leave security at the arrival terminal and take a bus to the departure terminal to go through security again. There was only one security gate. The line snaked around inside the terminal out the door and down the street. At the rate the line was moving, there was no way for us to make our flight. We were flying Qantas. I went to the Qantas desk and explained our problem to the clerk. He took us down to the security gate and put us through. There was no other way to make our flight. Why an airport like LAX cannot put transportation in so once you go through security you can stay in a secured area eludes me. Most major airports I have been to have such an arrangement. I have family in the LA area and I try to go through Burbank when visiting. I avoid LAX like the plague.

A cruise I took with three granddaughters in the Baltic Sea ages 19 to 21. It was delightful watching the young ladies react to their first trip to Europe, particularly the two days in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Government has done a very good job in restoring the Czar’s palaces which had been destroyed in WWII. On board ship our first encounter with a photographer resulted in our being dubbed “Charlie and his Angels”, which quickly spread to other parts of the ship. A memorable photograph has them holding finger guns. It is still one of my favorites. The trip was topped off with dinner in Copenhagen with the parents of our guide, a friend of a grandson. A very memorable trip principally because of the people I was with as I had been to the same places on a previous trip.

Yes you could. The USSR had an official state travel agency named Intourist which translates to foreign tourist. There were special hotels, stores and restaurants for foreign travelers with hard currency. Of course, the KGB would keep close tabs on foreign visitors and it was quite possible that your guide would be an employee of the KGB. Bernie Sanders and his wife had their honeymoon in the USSR in 1988. They visited the City of Yaroslavl which had a connection with Burlington, VT. Sanders was the Mayor of Burlington at the time. I did not go to the USSR, but I have been to post USSR Russia several times. It is still more complicated than most tourist destinations and the state employees are not the most friendly people. Unless you arrive on a cruise ship or some other organized tourist operation, you have to plan way in advance as the visa requirements are complicated and change from time to time.

By train in Europe. The trains in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are great with comfortable seating, on time arrival and departure, and great scenery out the windows. The TEE trains were the best. The trains in the UK are not quite as good, but still better than the airlines. In the U.S. the airlines are better despite their increasing problems of overcrowding and poor service. My few experiences with Amtrack were unusually bad.

The Poles would win. Even discounting the pistols, the Hussars were very well armed with large agile horses. In addition to the 20 ft. lance they also carried a straight stabbing sword with a blade of about 55 inches, a sabre, and a shorter sword. Some of the hussars also carried a saddle bow and each hussar had 2 to 4 retainers who would also be able to fight. They would have additional lances in wagons to the rear. They repeatedly defeated larger forces of infantry armed with 15 ft. pikes, swords and muskets. At the Battle of Kirchholm in 1605, 3,600 Poles defeated a Swedish army of almost 11,000. The Swedes were in squares with interlocking fields of fire and had 11 cannons. Both sides had about the same number of cavalry. The Swedish cavalry was routed at the beginning of the battle and the infantry squares were then crushed by the Polish cavalry with the infantry cleaning up. The Swedes at the time were considered to have the best army in Europe. Reports indicate that the impact o...