October 21, 2024

Group shot of 13 residents I toured the Blue City, MOROCCO with, on Friday 10/18/24

Dear readers - Not sure if you noticed, but I often go back into posted blogs and clean up some grammar or spelling and sometimes add a picture I may have overlooked at initial posting. I haven't found a way to alert you to these changes, and I am disappointed that my platform does not support a comment section where I can hear from you instantly. I DO LOVE WHEN YOU SEND ME PRIVATE NOTES AND QUESTIONS - so please keep them coming - so I just don't hear crickets!! My email is ocbeach@comcast.net or whatsapp or text me. All 3 work great. I had thought about coping some post to Facebook - but honestly it is so much work to get these blogs up promptly, that idea may have to wait until we get a stretch of sea days - which isn't often and those get filled with pickleball and spa time and movies and all kinds of other ship activities! Socializing and game playing - you no what a wall flower I am!! Oh, and remember I am still working!!! Logging 10 to 13 hours weekly to date.

Above is a group, shot not on my camera, that I just got of the fun people I went to the Blue City with on Friday 10/18/24. From the front to the back, and from the Left to the right - we are: Cris and Shirene; Andy and Paul ( who attempted to herd the group together), Amy, Karen, Myself & Joy ( who was celebrating her 47 birthday) , tucked behind myself and Joy is Cindy; then back row is Maura, Basia & Alicia ( married to Gary) and Jim is last one, all the way in the back. All of us, except Andy and Alicia are solo travelers. I know 5 or 6 are mom's and divorced, but not sure about rest. Still getting to know everybody's stories! Mix of owners and segment buyers, but most on for a full circumnavigation. Ages range from 47 to mid seventies ? Believe Cris oldest here.

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 .