May 17, 2025

PUERTO QUETZAL, GUATEMALA - Sunday 5/4/25

Sunday Morning I went to Mass with fellow residents ( MariAnne, Amanda, Phil, Kim and Fran - left to right ) at Parroquia San Jose Esposode la Virgen Maria Church in San Jose, Guatemala. This was an extremely friendly and family oriented parish. The priest made special efforts to include all the children as often as he could through out the Mass. They went up to hug him on the altar during the sign of peace. I used my google translate much more effectively, feeling like I got 90% of the readings and the homily.

After Mass I had planned to go to the beach, but it was so warm I opted to go back to the Ship with Fran, Phil & Kim. Phil flagged down 2 tuk tuks to take us back to the port. It was a nice way to cool off and also take in the Sunday market shoppers.

HONG KONG

By Pat Patrick • September 3, 2026
So excited to get out and explore this huge city. Our Port is attached to a huge shopping mall - so it is a bit of a hike before we even get outside. When we do the heat hits us like a brick wall! There are typhoons, in the area and according to a local, when the storms come in, they first bring a wave of fog, heat and humidity to Hong Kong .

ENTERING HONG KONG HARBOR

By Pat Patrick • September 1, 2026
On Saturday August 29, 2026 we achieved another historic milestone on this circumnavigation of the World , we cruised into Hong Kong Harbor. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The land encompassed by Hong Kong is confusing. It includes part of the southern coast of mainland China, just below Shenzhen, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories . Looking at a map helps, but the rules changed so many times! I asked my buddy Chat several times, to tell me if what I was looking at was the Hong Kong that the British had owned for years. The answer was never straight forward!

HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 31, 2026
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is one of those bucket list places I have had in my sights for years. It's the iconic picture in my mind's eye, whenever I think of Vietnam . We had made plans to go with 8 others on a brand new, swanky Red Dragon Junk boat for a harbor cruise and overnight stay, but sadly the weather did not cooperate the whole 4 days we were in port. No ships were permitted to sail, per the local government. Many of us were bummed! This is typhoon session and there was a lot of rain and high winds our first couple of days - we were hoping it would blow out the last day and we could at least do a day trip but no luck!