July 7, 2025

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA 

The day started with 6 hours of waiting in Seattle Passport Office with about 20 other ship residents, to get a secondary passport book with 50 pages, to supplement my existing book of 20 pages, as it is quickly filling up with country stamps.  Then my good friend Peggy, who recently relocated to Seattle, picked me up and we started the FUN part of the visit. I asked fellow passenger Basia if she wanted to join us and the three of us went to the Dale Chihuly's museum at the base of the Space Needle.

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Below made me feel like I was inside a Kaleidoscope! SO BEAUTIFUL!  I have been a fan of his work for years.

Below is some of his signature pieces called Macchia where he can use all 300 colors available to him. Love the "lip" of different color!

What a view of the Space Needle! I have been to Seattle before and the Needle was just in an open field before - now the block is teaming with Museums - Mo Pop and Science Museums right next door too.

Outside the Museum is a small garden, with more creative pieces and even a small bunny was enjoying! Right around the corner, is the MoPOP Museum, designed by Frank Gehry. Hard to photograph all the unique lines but I liked the finish colors.

We capped of this busy day with an amazing Wood Fired Pizza Dinner at Delancey. Meet up with fellow shipmates/ bookclub enthusiast to eat here since it was subject of book we all read by Molly Wizenberg called Delancey: A Man, A Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage. Some of the best food I have ever had from start to finish! So YUMMY!!

L to R: Phil, Peggy, Me, Fran, Rose, Gary, Christy & Kim.

PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!