July 28, 2025

JUNEAU, ALASKA, USA

This was sadly my last Port with the Miller's !! We had their rental car today so we were able to cover a lot of the area. Our taxi driver out to rental car agency at the Airport suggested a whole itinerary! It was great to have the opinion of a native who so loves his home! First destination, the Shrine of Saint Therese, the patron saint of Alaska.

This was a full circle moment for me! When I was a kid I had an aunt who had been a former nun and she taught me the prayer, Little Flower, in this hour, show me your power.  I use it all the time, but never really questioned / knew its roots, till today. St. Therese was young girl in Lisieux, France who died at 24 from tuberculosis. In 1888, at the age of 15, she became a Carmelite nun ( I believe my Aunt Mary was a former Carmelite nun) and Saint Therese was known as "the Little Flower"  and is one of the most venerated saints we have, due to her simplicity and practicality of her approach to spiritual life. It turns out that Alaska's first Bishop, Joseph Raphael John Crimont, held a deep personal devotion to St. Therese even before she was canonized. He reportedly knew members of her family in France. He is even buried in her shrine's crypt. It is a stunningly place I will always remember!

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Merciful Love Labyrinth at entry to shrine island.

Next we went to the Brotherhood Bridge another spot known for bear sighting but alas just another lovely view.

2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SAILING THE WORLD

By Pat Patrick • October 1, 2026
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.