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.

HO CHI MING CITY, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • September 21, 2026
HO CHI MING CITY or SAIGON was our last port in Vietnam . The downtown area was an hour away from the Port , so most of us got Hotel rooms in town, as prices were so reasonable. Sadly, it was a rainy four days, but that kept temperatures moderate and we could still get out and do most things. We stayed in district #1 as most of the City highlights are in this area along with the nightlife. Traffic is very busy in the City, especially motorbikes. Crossing the streets needs to be done with intent and quickly as there are very few traffic lights or stop signs.

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.