Monthly Archives: January 2018

High Over Dubai

Posted on January 27, 2018 by kcbernick

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 We have such a short time here in Dubai. There’s absolutely no way we’ll be able to see everything. To make it easier, we signed up for a Hop On Hop Off Bus with City Sightseeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Leave a comment

A Full Day in Mauritius

Posted on January 24, 2018 by kcbernick

Monday, January 22, 2018 Our cruise ended early this morning. Since we have an 11pm flight to Dubai, we decided to take a private tour – we figured that would be better than spending most of the day in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ganga Talao, Mauritius, Rum, Volcano | Leave a comment

It’s Just Too Much!

Posted on January 23, 2018 by kcbernick

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 We arrived in Dubai at about 5:30 this morning. Even though we got a few hours of sleep on the airplane, we were exhausted. We knew that we probably wouldn’t be able to check into our … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai | Leave a comment

Pamplemousses, Mauritius

Posted on January 21, 2018 by kcbernick

Sunday, January 21, 2018 Like Réunion, the island of Mauritius has gone through many name changes: Ilha do Cirne (Island of the Swan, Dodo bird was mistaken for a swan,) Isle de France, and Mauritius, as control passed from one … Continue reading →

Posted in Crystal Cruises, Gardens, Mauritius, Rum | 1 Comment

The Peak of the Furnace

Posted on January 20, 2018 by kcbernick

Saturday, January 20, 2018 Welcome to France! The island of Réunion is an overseas department of France. It’s a small island, only about 970 square miles, with a population of over 800,000 people. The island is one of three Mascarene Islands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Volcano | Leave a comment

Cruising the Indian Ocean

Posted on January 20, 2018 by kcbernick

Tuesday, – Friday January 16 – 19, 2018 We have four sea days with no scheduled stops. The original itinerary included Madagascar, but that stop was removed because of plague. That’s right – plague! The outbreak began this past August, … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Crystal Cruises, Indian Ocean, Wild Camels | Leave a comment

Maputo, Republic of Mozambique

Posted on January 20, 2018 by kcbernick

Monday, January 15, 2018 Formerly called Lourenço Marques, for a Portuguese trader believed to be the first European to explore the area in 1544, Maputo acquired its current name in 1976 following Mozambique’s independence from Portugal in 1975. Responding to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Crystal Cruises, Mozambique | Leave a comment

Shakaland Village

Posted on January 19, 2018 by kcbernick

Sunday, January 14, 2018 We docked this morning in Richards Bay, South Africa, and had signed up for an excursion to Shakaland Cultural Village. It’s part of a set for the mini-series, “Shaka Zulu,” which was filmed in the mid-1980’s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Crystal Cruises, Durban, South Africa, Zulu | Leave a comment

Where’s My Mai Tai!?

Posted on January 18, 2018 by kcbernick

Saturday, January 13, 2018 We decided we were thirsty for mai tais, but when we asked for them, we were told they couldn’t be served while we were in port in Durban. We asked several people why this was, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Botanic Garden, Crystal Cruises, Durban, South Africa, Zulu | Leave a comment

South African Birds of Prey

Posted on January 17, 2018 by kcbernick

According to my smart phone, today is Thursday, January 11, 2018 We’re sailing to Durban today, will dock tomorrow morning. The day is warm and sunny, also windy. We tried to walk on the Promenade Deck, but were blown so … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Crystal Cruises, Durban, Isicathamiya, Raptors, South Africa | Leave a comment