August 28, 2025

EXPO 2025 - WORLD'S FAIR OSAKA, JAPAN

Resident Fran  from Australia, a 77 year old former novice nun, school teacher, mom, librarian, assistant director of VVR Players group and All-Around Major Ship Personality, kindly offered me her extra priority ticket as a companion to her Handicap, easy accessibility access, to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan on August 19, 2025.  This meant we could go to the front of the lines, for the none reserved Pavilions, in front of the long cues! This was key to us accessing about 6 of the Pavilions shown below.

Singapore Pavillion was first one we went into.

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Next we went atop the massive wood structure that rings the entire EXPO 2025.I thought this was one of most impressive things in the park, as far as interesting architecture.After sweating massively on the upper ring line we made a beeline for Bulgaria purely to find some AC and seats for a bit.

Next we hit a Commons Hall - which housed several smaller countries that didn't have the opportunity or resources for their own stand alone Pavillion & in there we visit Bhutan, Palestine and Cuba. Next we sought out some lunch and a shady spot to sit in the center of the exhibit area in an area called tranquility forest. Here they created a dense tree area for shade and several countries had food trucks and little eateries with common area tables and benches. We had some shrimp, rice and veggie dishes and large waters!

After Lunch we went to Spain's Pavillion which was my favorite interior spaces.

Next was a Japanese cultural exhibit, again just to get out of the heat . And we had to go to Australia, Fran's home, where she was delighted to find properly made Lamington's,at food stall on way out of pavilion, (it's a sponge cake w strawberry jams filling, rolled in chocolate & coconut). It was very tasty.

We then made one final push to see the USA Pavilion. Full of Trump photos and highlighted our space program. By then it was 5:00 pm and we were exhausted, so we called it a day and walked out to find a subway and then an uber out of there and back to our Ship!

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 .