Israel, Jordan and Egypt were my home in June and July of 2010.

Israel, Jordan and Egypt were my home in June and July of 2010. It was an experience that brings me chills as I begin to share the trip with you.

The tour name was “Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jordan and Sinai.

Our guide was Fr. David Wathen, O.F.M., Director of the Franciscan Monastery Pilgrimage Office in Washington, DC.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stG47jwHXWg

I think he was about 50 years old; he was definitely full of enthusiasm and the love of the Lord. His energy was contagious. Sometimes we were on the bus ready to go at 6:30 in the morning and returned as late as 8:30 in the evening. No one complained, as every day just got better and better, building the camaraderie of the group and the knowledge of religious life then and now.

All the religious traditions and ceremonies we were privileged to observe were full of love and dedication to their God.

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, gave me the advantage of observing people of many different religions. I was always curious about how and why certain things were done and not done.

My childhood training provided me with information about what needs to be done and what was not to be done, but the "why" was harder to come by and took decades to understand.

EWTN prepared me for the trip, along with reading the gospels and other parts of the bible. Most of all it was the love of Jesus and the Blessed Mother that gave me the will to visit the places they walked. I flew from Phoenix, Arizona, to JFK airport in NYC. There I checked into a hotel to get a good night’s sleep prior to the international flight from New York to Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv, Israel.

During the flight, I tried to walk around as much as possible, much to the dismay of the flight attendants. But they would probably recommend this activity to their owns mothers, also, to prevent of blood clots. I also wore the support stockings my daughter sent me to ward off blood clots.

The flight was long even with the distractions of three movies, meals, snacks and napping.

When I arrived I was not tired, just filled with expectations. We cleared customs and immigration easily.

Fr. David Wathen met us at the airport and the tour started as soon as he introduced himself.

Tel Aviv Airport in Israel is busy and much like JFK in New York. The people in both airports look the same. I'm convinced you could substitute one airport for the other and no one would notice.

We traveled along the shores of the Mediterranean to Netanya for an overnight stay at a beachfront hotel. A day at the pool and enjoying the sea would have been wonderful, but not at the expense of missing what we were about to see on our Pilgrimage. Another time, perhaps, I can return and visit the museums and pleasures of Tel Aviv and Netanya

The next morning, we left Netanya for Tiberias, driving along the Mediterranean shores.

We stopped in MuKhraka, home of the Carmelite Monastery. The Carmelites, a Roman Catholic monastic order was established in the 13^th century. Elijah is their role model. Displayed there is a statue of Elijah brandishing a knife. From the roof, you can see the Jezreel Valley and the hills of Nazareth, Moreh and Gilboa – maybe even Jordan’s Gilead Mountains beyond the Jordan River and Mt Hermon. 

Monks live a very spartan life, but this is a Gift from the Monks:
The passion Flower's namesake

The flower received its name from the 15th and 16th century Spanish monks for the passion of Jesus Christ as the took spiritual meaning from the unique characteristics of the flower. The physicality of the flower represented Jesus' last days.

Pointed leaf tips = the Holy Lance
Tendrils = flagellation whips
10 petals/sepals = 10 apostles
Radial filaments = crown of thorns
Ovary (chalice shaped) = Holy Grail
3 stigmata = 3 nails
5 anthers = 5 wounds

We visited the church of the monastery, Stella Maris, rebuilt in the 19^th century and the primary saint is Elijah: 1 Kings 18:42 “...And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel.” We saw the stone where 

Elijah slept.

We attended mass at Stella Maris, the home of not only Elijah but also the prophet Elisha, his 

protégé.

The Druze also live here, in areas from Mt. Carmel to upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. They are Arabic-speaking people who practice a secret religion. They serve in the Israeli Army.

We stopped in Caesarea, the capital of the ancient Roman Procurators of Judea, and saw the ruins, port and blue waters This is where St. Peter preached, and St. Paul was imprisoned. It's a special place to close your eyes, take a deep breath, smell the air, listen for the words of St. Peter – and reach out to possibly touch a stone of imprisonment.

We then proceeded to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, I had the pleasure of being a guest as many of couples in our tour group renewed their wedding vows. A nun was quietly waiting for the couples to leave; she handed each a renewal of vows certificate and blessed them.

It was so moving and profound; I hid behind my camera taking pictures, keeping busy so that I would not cry. The couples were pleased to receive the pictures when they arrived home.

The tour continued along the Horns of Hittin, the site where Saladin defeated the Crusaders in 1187 and brought an end to the 80-year-old Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Saladin was a fierce warrior, but he had moments of mercy when he returned a stolen baby to its mother and sent food to King Richard and his army. King Richard went on to grow strong and defeat Saladin’s army.

Fr. David and Deacon Joseph Baniukiewicz served Mass in Nazareth. I just kept pinching myself to be sure that I was really there. I remembered how I was as a youngster; always getting the stern eyes of the nun for dropping things and fidgeting in the pew. Now, I mentally thanked her for preparing me to pay attention to the mass.

After mass in Nazareth, we visited Joseph’s Workshop, the home of the Holy Family, the Cave of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. There they were before my eyes: the scenes from the Bible. We saw the Grotto of the Annunciation and had mass at the Basilica.

In the afternoon, we viewed Nain and the Church that celebrates the miracle of raising of the dead son of a widow.

Then we ascended Mt. Tabor to visit the traditional site of the Transfiguration of Jesus and the beautiful scenery of the Valley of Jezreel.

In the morning, we enjoyed a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during His ministry. In our honor, the boat's crew flew the American Flag next to the Israeli Flag.

After visiting the synagogue where Jesus  taught, we proceeded to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Nearby is the Church of Peter’s Primacy where Peter was told:

 “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.”

We visited the Church of the Multiplication on the northwest shore of the Galilee where Jesus fed those 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes. I placed my hand on the rock where Jesus placed the bread.

We then drove up to the Mt. of the Beatitudes for Mass at the site of the Sermon on the Mount.

The text of St. Matthew reads:

·      Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)

·      Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)

·      Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)

·      Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)

·      Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)

·      Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)

·      Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)

·      Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

I call them Beautiful Attitudes and I wish they were a part of everyone’s lives.

In the afternoon, we drove through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, visiting the ruins of the ancient city. The city was conquered when Joshua stormed the city in the mid-13^th century B.C.. From the top of the ancient “tel” we had an excellent view of Elisha’s Fountain and the Mt. of Temptation.

We crossed the Israeli border and then the border of Jordan. Everything including our suitcases had to come off the bus. No one could touch our luggage, so we had to wheel or carry every piece through Israeli borders inspections. 

It was 112 degrees and the ground went from cement to broken concrete to cobblestones, making it difficult to walk and to wheel luggage.

The borders have high chain-link fences, with barbed wire, gun towers and soldiers with guns. 

The control building on the Israeli side was hot and fly-infested. We presented our passports and put our luggage on the belt to be x-rayed. 

Then we had to transport our luggage about another mile to the bus. Once there, we had to identify our luggage before it could be loaded on the bus.

We did this border crossing routine five times during the Pilgrimage. Every time we crossed between Israel, Jordan and Egypt, it was the same routine.

We proceeded through the barren wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula to our hotel located at the foot of Mt. Sinai.

We visited Jarash, as the ancient Roman inhabitants did: through the monumental South Gate and into the Oval Plaza. We made our way down the Cardo, or street of columns, stepping over the tracks of chariot wheels still visible in the paving stones. Imagine yourself as a well-off 1^st century person, window-shopping beneath the covered sidewalk.

Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist dwelled, preached and baptized Jesus in the early 1^st century A.D., was our next incredible stop. Fr. David blessed us all there, too, and a mysterious feeling of peace surrounded my body and entered my soul. 


We stopped at the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Church that stands at the banks of the Jordan. The Greek priest was very kind and courteous. Even though he was deep in prayer, he stopped to answer our questions.

Then we continued south to Mt. Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mount Nebo, located 10 km west of the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba, is one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan,  for this is where Moses was buried. The site's association with the last days of Moses is described in moving words in Deuteronomy (34:1-7). The episode of Balak and Balam (2:13-26) also took place here.

After Mass at the Franciscan Chapel, we drove on to Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This “Rose Red City” is literally carved into the sides of a deep gorge. Riding on horseback (the horseback ride is optional and no riding experience is required) between the 100-foot cliffs we saw a remarkable sight: temples, tombs and dwellings chiseled right into the limestone walls.

I took the horse and carriage. The over-a-mile walk was well worth the $2 charge for the ride. 


The temperature was about 110 degrees.

Petra was built during the time of Jesus, so it is possible that Jesus saw these sites too.

Very early the next morning, those of us who were able climbed Mt. Sinai. Those climbing checked into the hotel at 8 p.m., had dinner, rested briefly, checked out of the hotel around midnight, climbed up and down the mountain; and met the rest of the group at St. Catherine’s at 7:30 in the morning. I was not one of those people. 


But, if you go, you need to bring hiking boots, a flashlight and warm clothing. It is a very dark climb. A tribe of the nomadic Bedouins is available on the mountain to lend you blankets and offer other basic creature comforts. 


Without going into detail, I can tell you that one of our group is truly a servant of the Lord. He sacrificed a great deal for another member willingly and without complaint or the prospect of any recognition. He is “a good and faithful servant of the Lord.”

Very early that morning, those who climbed Mt. Sinai witnessed the sunrise.

We all met at Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Then, later in the morning, we toured the 1,400‐year‐old Monastery of St. Catherine, named after a 4^th century martyr whose bones were supposed to be carried here by the angels after her death. We saw the Burning Bush, the Well where Moses met his wife, the Bell Tower and evidence of Islam, Arab, Turkish and French protection as a biblical site.

We drove to the Allenby Bridge, where we crossed back into the Holy Land. We drove through the Judean Wilderness to Jerusalem, our home for the next five nights.

We visited Bethany, where Our Lord came to recuperate in the home of His loving friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus before he set out once more on His arduous task.

After breakfast on this morning, we drove to the top of the Mount of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem. We then visited the Church of Pater Noster (where Jesus ‘ taught the Lord’s Prayer to His disciples) and the Chapel of Ascension.

We took a walk along the Palm Sunday Road to Dominus Flevit where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. We then continued to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, which commemorates Jesus’ Agony in the Garden.




After Mass, we entered the Old City to visit the Church of Saint Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation and Arch of the “Ecce Homo.”

Then we followed the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord.

After breakfast, we drove to Bethlehem for Mass at the Nativity Church, which was built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4^th century above the traditional grotto of Jesus’ birth.

If you are going to buy souveniors, it would be good if you bought them from the Christian businesses. The Christians only source of income derives from tourists. Many Christians are leaving, because of  the meager amount of trade available to them.

We visited the Manger, the Grotto of St. Jerome, the Church of St. Catherine and the Shepherds’ Fields.

Next, we drove through the Judean Wilderness for a swim in the salty and mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea. I could actually lie back in the water and read a book.

We continued to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. How miraculous it was to find the scrolls, hiding in millions of caves that all looked alike.

We drove to Mt. Zion to visit the Cenacle (Upper Room), the scene of the Last Supper. Then proceeded to Dormition Abbey, St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Jesus three times, and King David’s Tomb.

Then, we went on to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat.”.

After Mass that morning, we visited the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Area, which features the Dome of the Rock, El Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall. Then we entered the restored Jewish Quarter and walked along the excavated Cardo, once a main street of ancient Jerusalem.


The range of ages for the people in our group went from 24 to 92 years old.

A pilgrimage is a wonderful experience. Expect to see the goodness and godliness of people. Expect your soul to be brought to the innocence of a child. Expect to be treasured and loved by your fellow man.  Expect to know how much God loves you.

Because you asked

Hi Everyone,

Gosh, I didn't know so many people would be interested in Antarctica. I want to answer all your questions with this post.

What boat did you go on?
My trip was booked on the Marco Polo ship via Orient lines. It was the last Antarctica cruise for the Marco Polo and so many of the people were on the ship just to be on its last voyage. And this was the second and third expedition to Antarctica for many passengers.

The Marco Polo is like a second home to many passengers. It is a simple, small ship, sailing 850 passengers to far away exotic places. Many wonderful memories, experiences and stories have filled the air of this ship. Alas, the ship has been sold; even after much protest from the faithful, loyal passengers. It no longer sails the seas of Antarctica.

Were you afraid?
A cruise ship of the Antarctica contains as many passengers; as they have lifeboats to accommodate. We had 500 passengers; as we only had 10 lifeboats.

Make sure the ship has a balancing mechanism to keep it from rolling when the seas get rough. I saw Russian ships along the way that did not and at port I heard their passengers got very sick.

Also, make sure the captain is ICE Certified. We had two captains that were certified. And, our ship was equipped with ice cutting machinery.

How did you prepare for the trip?
Kim bought me a book, "Antarctica" published by Lonely Planet and it was a great help before and throughout the trip. The pages are worn and tattered now.

After I returned home a friend bought me a beautiful book, "Antarctica - The Global Warning",
photography and text by Sebastian Copeland. Many of the photos in the book are of the same views and objects taken by me.

It was a good thing I did not see the book prior to me taking my pictures; as it would have intimidated me and I would have left my camera in the cabin.

The cruise line provides a list of items to take with you. The one problem I had was packing for the different temperatures. I already told you about my tip of taking old clothes that you can throw away along the trip.

The cruise line will also give you a list of food, beverage and health concerns and considerations.

Before a trip, I call the Board of Health and make an appointment. I tell them where I am going, bring my health records and they advise me on what inoculations I need to get before I leave. Give yourself as much time as possible, because there may be time intervals between inoculations and lead time to order the vaccine.

A few secrets...
I realized another tip that would be valuable, especially with the current restriction on luggage weight and number and that is to share your clothes.

If you are traveling with someone who is about your size, you can alternate your heavy clothes and boots between one another. The gender of the clothes does not matter and really the size doesn't either.

The cruise ship will not let you off the ship to board the rubber, Zodiac boat if you are not properly dressed in your survival gear.

In the past, people have been left at a landing for days, because the weather turned suddenly prohibiting access to the ship. They would not have survived if the clothing rules had been broken.

Each cabin is assigned to a color group. The boarding and landings of the Zodiacs is planned a day ahead by color group. The color groups are boarded on a rotating basis; starting early in the morning and continuing throughout the day. A color group that boards early on one day may board late on another day.

I suggest making a request to your ships expedition leader to allow one person in your cabin to go with one color group and the other person in the cabin go with another color group.

This plan will allow you to share your clothes and reduce at least one suitcase.

For example: if you're traveling companion leaves on the first departure; you would leave on the last departure.

And, there is another advantage to this plan. Sometimes weather does not permit every departure and some people in cabins are not permitted to go ashore. Using this plan the odds of both of you missing a boarding and landing is reduced.

Please get approval from the cruise ship line prior to putting the above plan in action.

And, the most helpful item on my trip was the walking stick. I didn't bring one with me, but a kind man gave me his. It may have saved a broken leg or worse. You can buy a pair on Kim's web site store and each use one to keep balanced and steady walking through the ice, slush, mud and guano.

My trip was a month long; as I like to get to a country two days before meeting up with the tour.

We started in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Our hotel was the Sheraton and it was right on the beach.
The famous Copacabana Palace Hotel is across from the beach, because years ago a huge avenue was put between the hotel and the beach. I liked the Sheraton better and it was a lot cheaper.

The cruise schedule: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Cross the Tropic of Capricorn, Itajai, Brazil, sail south on the Atlantic Ocean, Punta Del Este, Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay ( good thing we had 2 planned stops; as the channel was closed on the previous scheduled stop ), south on the Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, south on the Atlantic Ocean, Stanley, Falkland Islands, West Point, Falkland Islands, cruise The Strait of Magellan and Drake Passage ( I remember hearing these words in sixth grade ), cruise Deception and Cuverville Island, Lemaire Channel and Port Lockroy, Paradise Harbor, Half Moon Island, Cape Horn and Drake Passage ( the seas were really rough, only a handful of people at dinner and show ), Ushuaia, Argentina, Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina to home.

South America is wonderful, our U.S. dollar is valuable there currently and it is a fun, exciting place to visit.

The expedition to Antarctica was a glimpse of simple, unspoiled nature. The animals were unmarked by humans and went about their life as if we did not exist.

We humans think we are so important in the habitation of the earth, but are we as beautiful as a bird flying across the sea, as gentle as a penguin with its egg, as wondrous as the towering ice burgs, as enduring as the majestic mountains, as loving to nature and the earth as we need to be?

Till next time,

Love,
Waldo

My daughter

On My Way to Antarctica, a Stop in Rio

Viva Rio!

Rio De Janeiro is the former capital and 2nd largest city of Brazil,chief Brazilian port and is famous as a tourist attraction.

After 24 hours of fly and wait time, I arrived in Rio. It was about 80 degrees and I was exhausted, hot and my legs were itching me. I met up with the couple that I would be going to the hotel with and the driver.

I asked them to wait while I ran to the ladies room to remove my surgical stockings. They were so gracious and understanding my guilt about delaying their arrival to the comforts of a hotel quickly dissappeared.

We got in the van and the tour guide began telling us about all the individual tours available to us during our two days in Rio.

I asked her about combining them into a 1 day private tour. She said she could do that for a minimum of 4 people. I negotiated the price and asked the couple if they were in and they said Yes and were happy to be included.

My friend was meeting us at the hotel and I knew she would go with us. So the next day bright and early we were off to do Rio.

I was thrilled to visit the huge 125 foot statue of Christ the Redeemer that sits on the top of Corcovado mountain. I felt it was special and important that I go there this year as I relayed his message of redemption during the year 3 times.

We took a cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain. It is located on the mouth of the Guanabere Bay. Rising 1,299 feet it appears to be in the shape of a mound of refined sugar. This famous mountain is reached by a cable car traveling 1,200 feet high, an experience I will never forget; looking down at Rio from the Sugar Loaf is one of the most spectacular sights in this world. The shape of the mountain was copied in the early days as a manner of loading sugar on the vehicles and taking the sugar to market. We also saw monkeys on the ride up.

When a Portuguese captain sailed into Guanabara Bay in January 1502, he thought he was at the mouth of a great river. Hence the name: “River of January.

We went to the Candelaria Church where in July 23, 1993 eight adolescents were massacred by the police. The church is known around Rio de Janeiro for being a makeshift home to perhaps hundreds of homeless children, many of whom are involved with the drugs and prostitution.

The church's personnel provides food, shelter, education and religious advice to as many of these children as possible. The Brazilian police keep a constant vigil on the church's surroundings. To us it was a beautiful church with a few woman and children begging outside.

We saw many old and modern churches. The most modern is the Cathedral Metropolitan. It is in the shape of a tent and is all glass, standing 246 feet high and has a standing-room capacity of 20,000 people.

The Opera House was built in 1817 and is now under reconstruction. With so many other things to do in Rio the operas better be fantastic; if they want an audience.

Flamengo Park is alive with people in all types of sport gear. It is the largest leisure park in Rio. The people are dedicated to keeping their bodies fit. There is also a WWII memorial.

The Copacabana Hotel is very elegant. But, it is across a many laned street from the beach. It was once on the beach, but a promenade or thoroughfare was put in between the hotel and the beach. Our hotel was nice and on the beach; I liked that better.

The rich people moved down for the tops of the mountains to the beaches of Rio many years ago. They left their beautiful homes with views to the poor people.

Copacabana, Ipanema and Lebion beaches are occupied by people who want to be seen and people who want to see them. There is not much water activity. They have wonderful sand ball games and beautiful people. The cocanut drinks are heavenly.

The Carnival was not in season, but we went to where the Carnval Dancers are staged and judged. There is a contest each year and the competition is fearce. Before the end of one carnival the people are working on the next one. The air of exuberance is pervasive.

Cariocas are fun-loving people, embracing the entire world with their vibrant rhythms. The costumes are a work of art and I tried one on.

We had lunch downtown in a Brazilian local restaurant (called a Churrascaria. All the food is brought to your table on large skewers. The meat is carved for you and it was hot, cooked just right and very tasty. The vegtables were also on skewers and served in the same manner. You had only to look in the direction of the waiter and the skewers appeared tempting you further.

The city’s mosaic streets meander along a spectacular beachfront and its buildings are molded around the foothills.

During the day the four of us shared many of lifes experiences. The couple with us were from the south and were married over 47 years. They were so gentle and respectful of themselves, each other and everyone else. I wistfully hoped that is how my husband and I would have been if we were still together physically.

After 17 years of marriage they have one child that they adopted when he was 3 years old. However, they knew him longer, because he was a foster child in her mother's home. The boy is now a man, husband, father and son. They are now proud parents and doting grandparents.

They love and enjoy every moment of life. How loving, gracious and open they were to take the risk of adoption.

Brazil is suppossed to be dangerous, but we did not find it to be so. If you walk around in expensive jewelery and furs; you may have a problem. I would leave all that home.

The people want you to enjoy Brazil as much as they do. They love to exercise, dance, shop, dress and enjoy the sunny day, warm water, lovely sand, food, wine and each other.

I'm back & better for the experience

Wow, what a trip! The Antarctica landings (going from the ship to shore via Zodiacs) were difficult tasks, but very rewarding. I felt I was being prepared by a personal trainer with each landing being more challenging.

The first stop was Port Stanley. We used tender boats (life boats to take us ashore) - nice. And, there was a wonderful town and dock. We saw Upland Geese, Dolphin Gulls, King, Magellanic and Gentoo Penguins.

We even saw a very rare white Leucistic Gentoo Penguin. The white penguins do everything the other penguins do, but they only live 18 years, instead of 30.

We rode all around in a Land Rover seeing and feeling the rocky terrain and sheep.

The next landing was West Point Island in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas to see the Rockhopper and Black-browed Albatross rookery. We used tender boats and there was a lovely new dock that the owners of the island were very proud of. They get 28 cruise ships full of people visiting their island in the summer.

The walk to the rookery was a 1/4 mile at a 45 degree angle. It was covered with mud, guano and ice. I got to the top and found there was an equal amount of distance to go under the same conditions and then about a mile and a half of level walking.

I was cold, nervous and sweating at the same time. I really did not want a broken body part for the rest of the trip.

When suddenly, a gentleman and I do mean gentleman in the truest sense of the word, gave me his walking stick to use. He said it would help and that he would not be using it that day. The walking stick was a bone and rookery seeing saver. God does put people there for me when I need them.

I was in such a state that I did not remember what the gentleman looked like. When I got back to the cabin, I cleaned the stick, put a note of appreciation on it and left it in the pre landing meeting area.

A woman knocked on our cabin door with the stick and said her husband wanted me to have it. They would not let me pay for it, but I took their name and address; so I could send them something showing my appreciation.

Now, armed with my walking stick, sub zero clothes and Peter Hillary's lectures on survival ringing in my ears, I was finally ready for Antarctica.

Peter Hillary was a lecturer on our ship and a part of our Antarctic Expedition Team. He is a real adventurer and exciting speaker. If you ever have an opportunity to hear his lectures or read his book - do it.

His father is: Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt.

I will post more about this amazing trip soon. I'm off to play with my grandson now!

P.S. Here at home, I am using the walking stick on my walks around the neighborhood. My son-in-law borrowed mine last week for a walk in the snow. It's great to help keep your balance. My daughter Kim got one for herself to use on her hikes up Camelback Mountain. And now, she is selling them on her site named after me -- Waldo's Walking Stick! Click here to check them out.

I'm in Rio

If you are looking for Waldo, I am in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

I made my way yesterday morning from Phoenix to Washington DC.

The gals at the United Airlines ticket counter in Phoenix were amazed.

I checked two bags. Each bag weighed in at a whooping 49.5 pounds. Just a mere 8 ounces more and I would have had to pay extra or remove some things. I probably should have weighed them at the house. But after carrying four kids around, I guess that I got pretty good as estimating weight. If only I weighed 120 pounds again...

After landing and waiting in the Dulles airport for 6 long hours, I boarded the flight to Rio and got settled in for a 9 hour and 47 minute flight. I guess because I travel so much but I go right to sleep on planes. Nothing bothers me!

I joined my friend Judith in Rio this morning. We met at a grief support group many years ago. I was dealing with the death of my husband. Judith’s husband had died recently too. We talked, cried, and became fast close friends.

My kids refer to us as, “Thelma and Louise.”

Since a boat sank in Antarctica over the past week, I have to admit, both of us are a little nervous. Those pictures were scary. I don’t move as fast as I used to.

So, we have decided that if this trip goes well, we’re off to Jerusalem next. Or maybe Baghdad.

I am not sure how much I will be able to blog from the ship. I will try. My daughter Kim gave me two digital cameras, a slew of memory cards and a media storage gizmo. Look forward to tons of pictures and my stories.

I appreciate all your kind words and prayers. My youngest grandson Ian asked me when I was leaving Phoenix, “Grandma, why do you need to go to Antarctica? It’s not safe. Boats sink there.”

I told him like him, Antarctica is one of God’s wonders. And when you experience one of God’s wonders and think how beautiful it is, you are praising God because he made it. I am going to praise God.

Ian seemed to get this. He’s always been an old soul.

God bless you all,
Waldo

It's 17 degrees today in Antartica, 76 degrees in Phoenix

Packing for Antarctica is exciting. I need two completely different types of clothing. One for 70 degree weather and the other for 30 degrees below zero.

In packing, I am being introduced to all types of clothing I never thought that I would wear. Let’s see, already I have in my suitcase long johns, a ski jacket, hat, scarf, googles, oops, I mean ski goggles, gloves and 14-inch high rubber fishing boots.

Somewhere there is a vision of me standing on the ship all dressed in my bought and borrowed gear not being able to move.

This actually happened to me with my then 6-year-old daughter Kathy.

We lived in New Jersey and we were having a big north easterner snow storm. Kathy wanted to go out and play in the snow. After she was dressed; she stood on the porch and cried out, "Help! I can't move." The poor child.

The bags will be heavy going to Brazil, but light coming back. I will let you in on a little secret of mine for packing.

During the year, I put aside my clothes that have a Clorox stain, a tear here or there, a little fading, failed elastic, pajamas that don't quite fit or time dated writings (Happy New Year 2000) for my vacation wardrobe. My kids laugh at the picture of me in front of the Taj Majal. I was wearing a tee-shirt with the words “Las Vegas” across the front.

Anyway, I pack these things to be worn one last time, and then thrown away during the trip. There are many advantages for this strategy. For starters, peddlers, hawkers and thieves don't bother me.

My luggage is freed up for all the new information I gather about the people and places visited. I don't need to carry dirty, smelly clothes around with me. And, when I unpack at home it much easier and more rewarding. I do wonder what the Transportation Security Administration - TSA people think when they go through my luggage on the way out. They probably call to one another saying things like, "Bag Lady Traveling" or "This old gal can hardly afford any clothes.”

If anyone adopts this strategy, even if you put the items in the waste paper basket in the cabin or hotel room, do one more thing. Leave a note on the stack of clothes saying, "I am discarding these items" and date and sign the note.

Not doing so will cause the cabin or hotel cleaning person to neatly fold the items and try to return them to you. On checkout, I have had parcels of clothes returned to me.

It has been wonderful reading all your comments. My four children are all in helping people careers. And, I am their most frequent client. I am happy when Kim answers one of your questions and it is the same question that I had but did not think to ask.

My life so far

What am I doing here? How many times I have asked myself that question during my life? And the answer is, whatever I am feeling at the moment.

Like the time a Chinese news reporter in Bejing suddenly pushed a microphone in my face and harshly asked, “Why you here?” At first, I was startled at the variation of the very same question I had asked myself so many times. But I quickly recovered and said, “I am here to visit your culture and to understand that our true desires are basically the same.” She liked that answer. I made the nightly news!

Born in Brooklyn, New York, the first child of a young couple who rejoiced at my birth in the late 1930s. They were trying to start a family for over two years. They finally decided to take a weekend in Lake George, New York and it was there that I was conceived.

I wonder why they didn’t call me Georgiana or Georgia. Instead, they named me Virginia. I guess they got their geography mixed up.

I often look at my feet and think of all the places they have been. If I knew what was in store for them, I would have taken much better care of them. Each crease depicts yet another journey they have carried me on.

I married a handsome fellow who got a job with the airlines and it was cheaper to travel than stay home. And, boy oh boy, travel we did. We went first class on the airline and stayed in Motel Six when Motel Six really meant $6.00 a day.

My children love to travel as well in their careers and countries. My first child, my son Richard, is a Financial Advisor. This is really his sixth career. I also have three daughters. Christine is a Psychologist – Educational Assessment. She started as a teacher and now is in business for herself. Kathy is a Chief Nursing Officer who she started as a nurse in the emergency room when she was 18. My daughter Kim hosts a national radio show about living into today’s digital life.

Kim's the one that got me into this blog-thing. I guess I am the one that got her into computers. She started in computers by going to work with me when she was sick.

I went to work at Bell Laboratories in 1975 and they had no sick time. They let me bring Kim in when she was not able to go to school. I would give her some medicine, she would put her head on the desk and go to sleep. And when she woke up, she would play with Unix on the Bell Labs' computers. The rest is history, as they say.

I have traveled to many places in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. I also love to venture all over the globe.

My passports have stamps from Russia, China, India, Greece, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Germany, France, England, New Zealand, and Australia. Then there are the visits to Canada, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Wales, Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, and Singapore. I've also traveled extensively throughout Thailand, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Tibet, Ireland, Scotland, Tahiti, the Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, a Cruise through the Panama Canal, and more.

Soon, I'll be spending time in Brazil and then onto Antartica. And this is why my family calls me, "Waldo." They often wonder where in the world I am or will be heading to next.

People ask me why I travel so much. The truth is that I am not searching for anything. I just enjoy experiencing what different people do with what they are born into.

Who could imagine a kid from Brooklyn would have a life like mine? Only God.