Watch for some pix of the Dutch Settlors of Albany Tulip Festival in a week

        Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed my adventure and had a chace to look at the Links listed behind  the "Followers" faces on the Home Page. It's been an interesting experience to be so connected with you all.  Looking forward to a summer of down time because being "on" all the time is a lot of work . Farewell.

So busy - I hardly know I was sailing the seas some days....

           If you want to see more of my tranditional Marken Dutch outfit, turn up at the Albany Tulip Festival next Friday!

Spending time with ManBijtHond Fans - what a kick!

I don't usually believe in omens, but..

If you viewed one of my TV show episodes, you know that this photo was outside my room in Hilversum also!! Kind of hits you over the head that your ancestors are from Brooklyn and so it is a nice wrapup of all of these remembrances from things past.

Meeting Captain Mercer - Presenting him with WestFries Museum Map

                        I thought if I gave him the gift of a map we wouldn't get lost........

More personal photos , including First Fan Martin!

              Food & wine prep AND TASTING, flower arranging, hard work ,even if I'm only acting the part of Dutch crew....

Scrapbook of photos from the Bridge and the Engine Room

                                        I was a busy girl those days!

Time to jump ship. Yeah! Off to The Netherlands to meet and greet.

Catchin' a cab for Queen's Day. Do you believe it's been a year since the live telecast?
                                      Happy trails, 'til we meet again..........

Give me until the 25th for the scrapbook

      Please stay tuned for those of you on the blog in English until the 25th because I need to return to the States to enter my few personal photos that are on Dutch TV's website already...Think they are worth the wait!
      I will also be loading a couple of pictures of the wonderful art work that crew members have fashioned for me in the Balanese tradition of gift giving.  Enjoy!

Dreaming about Dutch Mariners in my future for sure!

I don't want to leave the ship! Let's meet her in Alaska next year!

  If you would like to join my next adventure, please send a comment to  www.ManBijtHond.nl.user/Charlotte   And I mean aboard or as an armchair traveller.

Last Dance by Donna Summer in the back of my head...

      The unique experiece of the master Chef's dinner was memorable for the wines as well as the foods. Our server Santi from Bali was so gratious throughout the cruise....Hard to describle how it feels when someone serves you the first evening at the Asian restaurant and remembers your name throughout the cruise.
      I've had a wonderful experience and thanks for letting me share it with you. CvhS
      Sunset as we leave Valencia for Barcelona. Quite incredible to experience a beautiful sunset while beginning to feel the presence of a full moon rising behind you at the same time.

It's the big Reveal. What a hall to perform in.

Where is my sister when I need her for Kareoke Talent night?! I'm her backup singer.

What's wrong with this picture?!!

...I'm NOT in the POOL at the Hotel Splendido in Portofino. The ship leaves me ashore in Barcelona and continues on through the Med without me. Boo Hoo......

Honorary Societies of Dutch Ancestors

I love to paint scenery while at sea; however my studio is a little messy.

Cue the music - We made it to the Med

       Scheduled 8 bells arrival...Looking forward to taking the tram up The Rock and spending the day meandering down. Got to check the view from the gun emplacements across the Straits. "Oh look, I can see Russia from the window"...no,  already wrote that speech...Meant to say I'll be looking for Carthage where we stood last year and heard the story of how Hannibal ferried 32 Kenyan elephants across  to this very spot.

        And that's the story of the the first Republicans, little girl...

Now you're talkin'...Chef's table for 18

Hoisting the Flag of Hoorn

Shout out to the mayor of Hoorn and the shopkeepers of Marken who provided me with the flag of the city and the Dutch costume to be decked out to celebrate that THE DUTCH ARE BACK as we prepare to land on Gibraltar and enter the Med!
     I'm pictured with Ramona Minten ,guest Relations Manager, who did a terrific job in scheduling my visits with the crew aboard.And I might mention that after we saw her dance moves at the Black and White Ball with the officers that she may well get a job as well with the wonderful song and dance shows aboard! Heh Heh

so many restaurants, so little time. Last full day at sea

Met a goal of my journey!!

   First Officer Arno Jetten taught me how to use the sextant. A thoroughly exciting experience.It was a tangile connection to the Dutch mariners who sailed the ship that brought my family across. Yes, the bridge hasa plethora of modern schematics and information at the fingertips of the sailing officers, but I had that hope in my mind and taking that sighting of the sun was the equivalent of seeing Halley's Comet in Tucson with my parents . I wish each and every one of you unforgettable moments of your own.

Feed me Seymour! (From Little Shop of Horrors)

Forgotten Facts

Bits and pieces I hope you will find of interest:
       most of this is from tours offered for a fee to any guest and I'm glad we added this to our crossing experiences. It sure is a long,long way from my ancestors' experiences and for that I am grateful. Have had a real anxiety getting ready for the voyage because it is a big,big ocean. Only spotted two ships in 7 days and no sea birds. thankful it's been smooth so far.
     any way - I neglected to mention that the laundry and cleaning services group of 140 crew often receive men from the Dutch hotel and catering school in Indonesia. Met an officer who knows of 3rd generation families who sign up and serve aboard. Crew is on 10 months,off 2 and officers, 5 and 2months.
    Last fact of interest to me is that the wash water used is actually condensation water from the HVAC vents--captured and used---cool idea
    While on the subject of recycling--did I mention that the vaporization of potable water from sea water takes place in a vacumn?It is a great design to use hydralics to draw the sea water into the chamber for treatment under vacumn pressure. The result, you see, is that the hot water cooling of the engines then vaporizes at only 100 degrees, not the usual 212 F----efficiency efficiency -so DUTCH!!very practical all round

It's not the only island out there...but I'm glad we found this one

                        Click the pix, zoom in and try to find the ship in Funchal