September 28, 2024

Are we Cursed?

Good thing I have a blog to remember all this pre sail drama! Yesterday I was all packed and ready to walk out door to airport, when we had a late day ship update, called tea time ( like in spill the tea)! Anyhow, even though we FINALLY have all our approvals, paperwork, certifications and insurance we can't launch because we have now where to access SHIP for us residents ! The ship yard of H & W, where we have been this whole time, is currently in bankruptcy or as they call it administration - so there is no staff there and therefore we have no security to allow us access to boat, gangway or pathway. They have to move us to a Cruise Terminal and now that is the off season, there is only one operating and they have commitments through Sunday. The current plan is to move us early Monday morning, board us residents and finally SAIL AWAY! So I again moved my airline ticket to Sunday night to meet them Monday in Belfast!

  • Are we?

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    Are we?

SHIP SHENANIGANS - CLUE PARTY

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.

TERRACOTTA ARMY - XI'AN, CHINA

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.

XI'AN, CHINA - WALLED CITY

By Pat Patrick • September 15, 2026
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .