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!

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

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.

BUNAKEN ISLAND, INDONESIA

By Patricia Patrick • October 26, 2025
Thursday, October 23rd we arrived in the Port of Bitung, Indonesia to huge fan fare despite the pouring rain. Turns out we were the first cruise ship to visit this Port in a long time!

KOROR, PALAU

By Patricia Patrick • October 22, 2025
WOW!!! PALAU is the tropical Paradise I have been dreaming about! This is trip just reached a new level of OMG!!

COLONIA, YAP STATE, MICRONESIA

By Patricia Patrick • October 16, 2025
Got to love a place that sells shirts saying " Where the heck is Yap? " Colonia ( population 3,100 ) is the Capital and Harbor town of Yap State ( population 11,600 ) one of four states in the Federated States of Micronesia. We are in the Pacific Ocean or Philippine Sea just north of the equator, Papua New Guinea and Australia.