Tag Archives: Star Flyer

25 Oct 2013 Star Flyer At sea heading for Las Palmas

Posted on October 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Our fourth day at sea without any hint of land. We are heading due south for Las Palmas with the four square and 9 of the 16 sakes up. The sea has quieted substantially so we have just a gentle roll. We arrive at Las Palmas around 7 pm tonight and most are planning to test their ability to navigate on land again. We leave for our excursion “Las Palmas & Bandera Crater” tomorrow at 8:30 am. About 21 passengers will disembark and about 15 new passengers will come aboard.

Today’s talks:

0930 Peter on ship’s position, weather, and events on this day in history

1015 Dr. Tyler Nordgren on the Milky Was, light pollution, and dark sky legislation and designation

1500 Dr Viktor Kuzenavos “Botanic gardens & Lake Baikal”

Las Palmas

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Posted in 2013 Atlantic Crossing

Tagged Canary Islands, Mid-Atlantic, Star Flyer

23 Oct 2013 Star Flyer At sea, Cadiz to Funchal.

Posted on October 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Talks today:

0930 Peter Kissner, cruise director. Ship’s position, weather conditions, etc.

1015 Dr. Tyler Nordgren “A power of 10 walk through the night sky”

1500 Dr. Bill Cogar, “The Portuguese and the route east”

I spoke with an interesting person this day. There is on board a Catholic priest with a British accent who is based in Texas. This seemed incongruous so I was bold (or perhaps rude) enough to ask how this combination transpired. It turned out that a number of the more conservative Anglican priests had become Catholic priests recently due to the sex questions in the Anglican church. Those Anglican priests who were married were given celebicy waivers by the pope. This priest and his twin brother, also a priest, worked in the area of marriage encounters, weekends spent helping couples strengthen their marriages through counseling on communication and related techniques.

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Posted in 2013 Atlantic Crossing

Tagged Mid-Atlantic, Star Flyer

22 Oct 2013 Star Flyer at sea – Cadiz to Funchal.

Posted on October 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

On board the Star Flyer. We had a very rocky night, on our first night after leaving the European continent. What an introduction to sea travel! A storm was brewing to the north-west of us and we were running along its edge, with deep swells and strong winds. We were rolling around the bed and holding on as best we could as the ship was pitching and rolling through the night. Things not properly secured within the cabin were crashing onto the floor and rolling around, including toilet items on the bathroom sink and a bottle of champagne & bucket which had been provided to us when we first boarded. We survived the night with nothing broken and were even ready for a hardy breakfast the next morning. It should be mentioned that the food for all meals has been delicious and plentiful. Many people, however, were not nearly as enthusiastic about food that morning as we were.

0930 Peter Kissner, cruise director. Ship’s position, weather conditions, etc.

1015 Dr. Bill Cogar. The age of exploration and discovery.

1200 Lunch buffet

1500 Dr. Bob Rowland, “Introduction to marine geology & Alfred Wegener and continental drift”

1845 Peter Kissner, Maritime history, “The first sailing voyages of mankind”

1930 Dinner

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Posted in 2013 Atlantic Crossing

Tagged Mid-Atlantic, Spain, Star Flyer

20 Oct 2013 Star Flyer Excursion to Tetuan

Posted on October 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

Jessie, The Star Flyer, in Tangier Morocco

John, after our excursion to Tetouan Morocco

An excursion from the ship in Tangier to Tetuan, a small northern Morocco town. An hour’s drive through the Rif Chains Mountains brought us to this town. We then followed our guide through the narrow streets first to see the Royal Palace, then plunged into the casbah markets lining the narrow alleys winding behind the old fortress walls where merchants were selling used clothing, uncured sheep skins, pots and pans, some food, and who knows what else. The guide set a good pace and we made sure to keep close to him because we knew if he disappeared, we would never find our way out of this labyrinth of dark alleyways. Finally, we were ushered into a tile-lined tea room with elaborately sculptured arches and tall ceilings for mint tea and cookies and an amazing musical and dance display, including a belly dancer & a guy balancing a tray of lighted oil lamps on his head while making acrobatic moves. After we walked out of the casbah walls and a short distance further to an art school with a central courtyard in which students are trained in the traditional Muslim arts and crafts. We saw some beautiful examples of the elaborate geometric & decorative art, but because it was a holiday, the school was closed for the day.

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Posted in 2013 Atlantic Crossing

Tagged Mediterranean, Morocco, Star Flyer

19 Oct Malaga Spain, excursion to Granada, board the Star Flyer

Posted on October 19, 2013 | Leave a comment

On Saturday 19-Oct we went on an excursion to the Alhambra in Granada. When we returned we boarded the Star Flyer where we will be living for the next three weeks.

The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, is a beautiful example of Islamic art & architecture. The interior decorations are elaborate & intricate, with almost lace-like stone carved archways & fountains. It also had extensive, beautifully groomed gardens. It was awesome!