Author Archives: Sparky
TP1 Day 12: Hakodate, Japan
Our second port in Japan was Hakodate. This city, like Otaru, is on the island of Hokkaido. It is also like Otaru in that it is a port of call that was added after our planned stops in Alaska were canceled. It is about twice as large as Otaru and was, overall, more interesting. We … Continue reading
TP1 Day 11: Otaru, Japan
On Day 11 we set foot on land for the first time since we left Seattle. The port was Otaru. We got off the ship, after a lengthy process of officially entering Japan (including fingerprinting). We then walked into what I believed was the center of the city. Only it was more of a main … Continue reading
TP1 Day 10: At sea, but land ahoy!
Yes, after 9 days at sea – most of them cloudy and cool and two of them very unpleasant – we finally had a beautiful day in calm seas. And we sighted land! We sailed through the Tsugaro Strait (and passed close to Fukashima, site of the 2011 nuclear plant disaster). The casino was unkind. … Continue reading
“Home” by Harlan Coben
Copyright 2016 by Harlan Coben. Published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. This is the 9th Coben book that I have reviewed. Haven’t found a bad one yet. This is #11 in the series of Coben books that features Myron Bolitar, failed-basketball-star-turned-detective. As always, Bolitar is assisted in his endeavors … Continue reading
TP1 Days 7, 8 and 9: At sea
Three more days at sea, en route to Japan. We haven’t settled into a daily routine, but some common activities are casino, cards and eating. Can’t cruise without eating. Day 7 was notable for a number of minor emergencies. First the captain informed us that “everything was under control” which, of course, begged the question … Continue reading
TP1 Days 4, 5 and 6: At sea
Yes, 3 more days cruising the Pacific Ocean. And there will be 3 more before we set foot on land, in Japan. Or maybe 4 – the International Date Line comes first and that confuses the heck out of everyone. Day 4 was a no good, very bad, terrible day. Sunday and we went to … Continue reading
TP1 Days 2 and 3: At sea
There will be a lot of these “at sea” days to start the TP1, thanks to the storm in the Gulf of Alaska that prompted Carnival to cancel our Alaska ports.. As Alaska is the only state that I have never set foot in, the loss of those ports was deeply disappointing. But I am … Continue reading
TP1 Day 1: Embarkation in Seattle WA
We have boarded the Carnival Luminosa. It leaves in about 4 hours, destination Brisbane, Australia by way of Japan, Okinawa, Philippines and Indonesia. It was also supposed to have 2 ports in Alaska but we were informed at check-in that they were being cancelled due to impending bad weather. Disappointing as Alaska is the only … Continue reading
3 nights, 2 days in Tillamook OR
The TP1 is about to begin. But it starts in Seattle which is on the left coast, far from Fort Myers. So to position us for embarkation, I decided Marlene and I should spend a few days in Tillamook OR with my sister and her family. The trip started with a flight to Dallas, then … Continue reading
“The Innocent” by Harlan Coben
Copyright 2005 by Harlan Coben, published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, New York. This is the 8th book by Harlan Coben that I have reviewed here. I think I may have read this book before, many years ago, as it seems familiar. But I didn’t review it then so I will do … Continue reading