November 9, 2024

Santiago Island, Cape Verde - Tarrafal Beach

Our group of 8 - shown here left to right is NAME (prior career) - MEMO (lawyer), CYNDI (healthcare), Me, DEBORAH(yellow page sales), DAVID(anesthesiologist), KAREN(seamstress, retail sales), HOLLY (Realtor) and WENDY(interior designer) was the perfect mix to spend such a wonderful day with. Love when that works outs! I really enjoy all their personalities and insights! Memo at 50 is the youngest with Holly, Deborah and Cyndi in their mid-seventies. The rest of us are all in our 60's. Sadly just David, Holly & I are on for full ride. Others are varying lengths of segment travelers.


The beach area was really nice, and we had a little over 2 hours to enjoy a swim and have lunch at the restaurant right on the waterfront. The tour kept private restrooms locked up for us to change into our swimsuits. I had an idyllic swim with the others until it was time to head a shore for our lunch order at 2 pm. The shoreline had large rocks lining its edge and when I floated in, I stubbed my toe rather hard. I was trying to find firm footing, when I got knocked over by a wave and when a second wave hit right after, I tumbled forward landing in the sand. A third wave had me sprawled on the beach and laughing hard! I knew it wasn't pretty! When I finally stood up, I knew my bathing suit bottoms were hanging low and was making fast work to yank them into place. David was trying to get to me to help and started yelling "check yourself"! After he yelled that twice I hear him yell, "BOOB"! I look down and see one Boob fully out and this sends me into more giggles! Sand is everywhere! I brushed out my hair, wiped away what I can and wrap the towel around my waist. Then I walk into the restaurant, like nothing has occurred!!  Thankfully only Karen & David saw the show live, the other 5 just hear the replay! Oh my! What's a girl to do! I'm sure it won't be the last time I embarrass myself.  The restaurant had a female troop of singers and bootie shaking dancers performing while we dined. A fun afternoon was had by all.

After Lunch we headed back along the east coast road of the Island. Had a stop for fresh coconut water and some scenic overlooks. The Cape Verde flag has 2 sections of blue for the sky and ocean, 10 stars for 10 islands, white for peace and red to remember blood shed over slavery.


One thing of interest we saw all over the island, is that most homes and businesses only finish the front façades of the building - leaving exposed cement masonry units cmu on other 3 sides and a lot don't even finish full front façade. This is also true of interiors.

Pattaya, Thailand - My healthcare

By Pat Patrick • October 23, 2026
This Blog is more than a journal of my travels around the world, it's a major memory tool for me in documenting all the events along the way. You often ask me how we take care of medical things, as we travel non stop and today is a perfect example. A fellow resident had posted on one of our WhatsApp groups ( this is the main way we all- residents, crew and stateside support all communicate ) that she had an excellent contact for anyone looking to get medical appointments in the Pattaya / Bangkok area.

Off the Coast of PATTAYA, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
Off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand a talented and dedicated group of residents, the Odyssey Troubadours , performed A Night of Broadway for the enjoyment of all the other residents and senior staff on board. The group of 20 performed, 15 Broadway songs that had some special Odyssey edits, personalizing them to our journey. We loved it ! Such a clever, talented and fun loving group. I was upfront and focused on getting candid pictures of the talented cast.

NONG NOOCH TROPICAL GARDENS, Pattaya, Thailand

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
We were up for breakfast at 7 and then hired a private small tram to take us around the gardens, for an overview, because it came with a guide. Problem was, guide barely spoke English, so we had a hard time figuring out the history of this crazy place. Even with translate app his answers were questionable. Did it start as gardens? What's with all the statues? Is there a master plan? It seems to be growing with no real connections, that we could make out. Web & Chat GPT seem vague on details too! We had fun with it, finding more and more absurd things, until the heat won out!