Getting Ready, June 8, 2011

Lynn and I are getting close to our departure date!  She has been organising everyting to take-- clothes, travel documents, maps, etc., etc., etc.  I have been a bit more blase about it, but I have made sure my tuxedo is clean and pressed and I have a good set of cufflinks, and, oh yes, a fine new pair of walking shoes.  Yes, I am looking forward to this experience, too, it just I approach it a less intense way.  Lynn has obtained tickets for our train trip on the Flambanen, recently ranked as one of the ten most beautiful train trips in the world.  We have decided to vist the Gustavus Vasa ship museum in Stockholm as well as the ice bar, but otherwise that town is just a on-off tour bus experience.  She has also planned out activities in every other city at which we will be stopping.  I am very greatful for her sense of organisation!  We are both looking forward to our visit in Saint Petersburg, expecially to the Yusopov Palace-- for which my tux and her formal gown will be required.

Lynn is concentrating on a planning issue for our trip- Mpic

Grimsvoten volcano in late May- from Internet

Who would think that something so small could cause such a large problem?  From Internet

At long last the volcano in Iceland has stopped spewing ash, and it also seems as though the e-coli outbreak in Northern Europe has passed its peak, so it seems as though there are no more barriers to our departure.  If anyone out thereis  reading this, and you want to comment to me during our trip, I will be reading my personal email address during the trip-- if you know it, feel free to write me.  Also, before leaving you today, I wish to express a personal thanks to the nice lady Ahn Nelson at CSUF's Faculty Development Centre who kindly walked me through the editing process which enabled me to add pictures to this blog.  The first one, as you may have noticed, is of Lynn and I at 6500 feet over the Temecula Valley just a few weeks ago, as we celebrated her birthday.  A larger version of this picture has been printed, with the words "Exploring the World Together," and will be posted on the door of our cabin aboard the ms Rotterdam.  That's it for now, more to come later.