WILD AND TAMED

CHAR GROUPS

Charmaine became involved in various therapy groups which she liked & seemed to help.

MEXICO

NEW ORLEANS

We flew into the land of Sachmo...Louis Armstrong...his presence all around.

We took a tour seeing the fascinating sights of this beautiful yet ugly city. There was the famous or infamous Bourbon St where we stopped for lunch. It is a small city that one could walk much everywhere...not in the dark hrs...still has a reputation for high crime.

They were busy readying for the Mardi Graz. The hi lite for us though was a river cruise on a paddle steamer...The Natchez...on which we were fed an enormous meal. The Mississippi offcourse, ran through the city & that was the fascination for me. We also saw where much of NCIS New Orleans is filmed.

There were loads of buskers & entertainers all around but a really dark side with all its voodoo & the dead in cemetries.

Food & music seemed to be the driving force of the city.

SUNSET LTD

We boarded our Amtrak...this time with madam we were really cramped but I was fine.

Got to see much of Louisiana & then into Texas as dusk came.

We passed through NM,AZ & then into California.

So after 2 nights,great scenery & food we arrived at LA.

I was pleasantly surprised at the order & cleanliness...obviously the silent, hard working. We waited in the Pacific Coastliner lounge with complimentary refreshments

Then onto our train...more refreshments & we were away. Great sights of the Pacific all along S Cal. 4 hrs later we were in a sparkling San Diego.

SAN DIEGO

...Also a pleasant surprise...clean,tidy,ordered, although did get accosted by an illegal, begging...replied in Dutch...that really rattled him & he went & sought other victims😠

People were not that friendly really...not typically American.

Our motel backed on to the marina so I was patrolling with my tongue hanging out.🤪

EURODAM

Our ship was from the Holland America line...smaller than others & really cosy...Have to say my favorite.

We boarded early & I was able to watch San Diego go by as the port was on the shore front. Nearby was the airport & air traffic was busy.

CABO SAN LUCAS

After over a day's sailing we arrived at our 1st Mex port.

The tender took us in to this very touristic town...but yet it was pretty. Madam wanted to do some cosmetics...I had a beer...then she lost herself. 

It was v nearly panic stations as the last tender was about to leave when I finally found her...wondering aimlessly.

MAZATLAN

Now here was a regular Mex port...no fancy pants. There was a small market on the docks where a Mariachi band was playing. I bought some stuff including rucksack for madam in the Mex colours & a great hat for me.

I found a cantina...locals call it Bierra...with cheap food & drink. Specialty of the day was...Bierra, a stew in dumplings. It was definitely beef & very delicious, washed down by good Mex beer.

For the entertainment, a huge rat scuttled across the spit & sawdust floor.

The girls screamed & jumped on tables & chairs...I was too busy laughing at which time Roland had made his escape.

The pretty girls who worked there were always so friendly & saw the humour when all settled down (that is until Roland makes an encore) but I was on my way back to the ship.🤩

PEURTO VALLARTA

Here was a much bigger city...not really appealing. Also put on the map by some Hollywood types keeping vacation homes here incl. Richard Burton & Liz(which husband are you?)Taylor...known for their blazing rows in the town.

I caught up with some IT work in a coffee shop 

Madam, in the mean time ended up trying to board the wrong cruise liner...she had gone on a tour...I had asked the guide to keep an eye on her...she didn't😠

FT WORTH

After 2 glorius days of cruising, we docked in San Diego.

We flew back east to Dallas as Char wanted to see an old SA'n friend.

This friend had  another friend visiting also & they were really crass...Dallas/Ft Worth was just a concrete jungle apart from the old Ft Worth town which had been kept as an historic Old West town...The Stockyards which incorporated Billy Bobs Honkey Tonk & Coopers BBQ where we had some.

I had a beer in an authentic spit & sawdust saloon & watched a Texas cattle drive with real cowpokes.

I was glad to leave & head on back to New Orleans for our connection home.

GLASGOW CHURCH

I went down to the metropolis of Glasgow to fellowship with LCG.

Not quite cold...but cool, sadly.

INNSBRUK/KIEV

I flew into this wonderful picturesque small city in the Tirol.

My home had a wonderful view from the mountainside down to the city & airport.

I toured extensively & enjoyed the hospitality with a strict & ordered flavour.

Then on the train via Saltzburg & on to Vienna where I spent time waiting in a plush 1st class lounge with refreshments before my train to Kiev in Ukraine.

A little bit tatty, And typically old Soviet style with 2 huge guards on the coach. No refreshments...I had brought my own...toilet was a disgrace but hey I enjoyed roughing it.

We stopped in Budapest & then into Ukraine on the Polish border.

After a few stops & immigration holdups plus wheel guage change which incl lifting the whole carriage off the rails...we were entering Kiev 24 hrs later.

Kiev...still quite an old style Soviet City, with some beautiful parts. Never the less...not v friendly & some wierdos trying to sell me monkeys & then birds...shame on them.

I had a great apartment with great outlooks.

The airport was huge, full of security & uncomfortable.

Outstanding looking women, though🤪

STILBAY

We flew into S Africa...spent a few days with The Viljoens after which the madam & her mum stayed in the JNB area with friends while I headed for Stilbay & the FOT.

Picked up a car @ George airport & moved into a wonderful apartment with stunning views. 

I was above the garage so everything shook when the doors operated...owners were lovely & I had a wonderful & peaceful time.

So many friendly folks in the area.