Since I Retired I Have Been To: (2009)

2009

 

 Catawba Queen

 

Above is the shop when we visited

Below is the current shop. They moved to the square.

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Paul Thomas Chocolates -

Dahlonega, GA

Obama Inauguration

 Chinese Terracotta Soldiers

This list does not include the trips that have their own post in the blog.

 

Washington, DC – Obama Inauguration - January 18 – 21, 2009   (Sunday - Wednesday) (GNT) Monticello, most major DC attractions, Day of inaugurations: went to RFK.  The loading onto the shuttles was a slow process. When we got into DC they dropped us off and we walked toward the mall area.  When we got to 14th Street they said go left. I asked where we were going and the guard said the next open space was at the Lincoln Memorial.  They were hundreds ahead of us so Glenn and I decided to not go that way.  We walked up toward the Capitol so at least we could hear what was going on.  When we got to Air and Space we went inside.  We ate in the upstairs part of the food court (all glass) and could see the crowd on the mall and could see the left side of the platform.  Trees blocked Mr. Obama.  There was a TV at the coffee bar next to us so we sat and listened to the ceremony and ate lunch.  We left not long after the speech to head back to RFK.  The shuttle loading in DC was not organized.  It was a little on the wild side.  We sat on the bus waiting for all to return – the magic time to be back was 4:45.  At 6:22 all were on the bus and we began our journey out of the parking lot at RFK.  There was NO organization.  NO ONE was directing traffic out.  ALL the buses were trying to leave at the same time.  (We were 3 buses from the exit of the parking lot.)  Police did come by and our driver opened his window and waved them down but they just smiled and drove on by.  We exited the parking lot at 7:29.  GNT had an Inaugural Ball for the kids.  Next day we went to Congress Gresham Barrett’s office and he took them to the Capitol and showed them around, they ended the tour by visiting the new Capitol Visitors’ Center.   

Alpharetta and Dahlonega, GA - February 7, 2009   (Saturday) Went to see Brian and Laura then on to Dahlonega. Had lunch at the Smith House then walked around the town square looking in the different shops.  Went to Laura's parents' chocolate shop.

 

Washington, DC  - February 11-14, 2009   (Wednesday-Saturday)  (GNT)  Did all major DC attractions,  National Archives.  We were able to see the original Emancipation Proclamation.  It was on display for four days – because of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.  We went the Kennedy Center was the last activity of the day. (Shear Madness), Monticello, We had a beautiful drive through Virginia – Shenandoah Valley.

 

Atlanta, GA - March 20, 2009  (Friday) (GNT) MLK Site, High Museum -- terra cotta soldiers from the First Emperor of China’s tomb.  They also had terra cotta horses, GA Aquarium had a Titanic exhibit, the King Tut exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center, Hard Rock Café - a busy day!

 

Washington, DC - April 21-24, 2009  (Tuesday-Friday) (GNT)  All the major DC attractions.

 

                               Land Tour/Cruise – Alaska  

June 1 – 12, 2009   Celebrity Cruise Lines - Millennium

 

Sunday, May 31 - I drove to Atlanta and spent the night withBrian and Laura. Brian took me to the airport Monday morning – he kept my car for me. 

Monday, June 1    Flew from Atlanta (8:45 AM) to Seattle then to Fairbanks, Alaska (3:37 PM).  We arrived in Fairbanks and Celebrity was there with a bus to take us to the Sophia Station Hotel – Fairbanks

Tuesday, June 2  First part of the trip is a land tour.  Began in Fairbanks with a ride on the Riverboat Discovery then took a tour of the El Dorado Gold Mine.  We panned for gold –I got $41 worth and had it put in a locket and gave it to Mom.  We stopped to see the Alaska Oil Pipeline too.  We also toured downtown Fairbanks.                                                                                        

Wednesday, June 3  Morning railroad trip – rode in Celebrity’s glass domed car – had breakfast downstairs during the ride  - from Fairbanks to Denali National Park - Tundra Wilderness Tour – 8 hr. ride in a park bus (like an old school bus) saw all kinds of wildlife – Denali Park - Stayed the night at the Grande Denali Lodge.

Thursday, June 4   Went by motorcoach from Denali to Talkeetna. Stayed the night at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.  We rode the lodge’s shuttle into the small town and ate at a “bar” on their outside patio – warm night. 

Friday, June 5    Went by motorcoach to Seward.. We stopped in Anchorage for breakfast/lunch.   Boarded ship – Celebrity – Millennium – Room #: 3064 Plaza Deck  Category 06.  Set sail at 9:00 PM   

Saturday, June 6  Hubbard Glacier (cruising)  (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM) 

Sunday, June 7  Juneau, Alaska  (8:00 AM – 9:00 PM)   Took a tour of the city.  Only way into the city is by sea or by air – there are no roads into the city.  

Monday, June 8    Skagway, Alaska  (7:00 AM – 8:30 PM)  Took train to Yukon and bus back to town.  Had to have passport.   

Tuesday, June 9  Icy Strait Point, Alaska  (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM)  Took tour of the island and saw a “show” about the Tlingit Indians folk life.

Wednesday, June 10  Ketchikan, Alaska  (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM)  Walked around the town and went to the Lumberjack Show. 

Thursday, June 11 Inside Passage Cruising  

Friday, June 12   Arrived at Vancouver, British Columbia (7:00 AM)  We got off and got on a bus to the airport – our luggage was taken to the airport and we claimed it there.  Went through US customs there too. Departed Vancouver 12:50 PM - Arrived Salt Lake City 4 PM/Departed 4:55 PM - Arrived Atlanta 11:05 PM (supposed to be there at 10:36 PM but storms in Atlanta delayed us.)  Brian and Laura  picked me up.

Saturday, June 13 Got back to Spartanburg

 

 

Lake Norman, NC - The Catawba Queen – a paddle wheeler - July 20, 2009    (Monday) (Joy Club) Cruise on lake and lunch on board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Rica

Summer 2009

A group of friends went to the Manuel Antonio National Park area. This is on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. They rented a villa and it was beautiful. It was located within Manuel Antonio, right off the main road between the nearby town of Quepos and the national park. The lush jungle setting and breathtaking ocean views were out of this world. They asked me to go - it was free - so I said YES.

We enjoyed the area even though it was the rainy season. It rained usually in the afternoon. I went to rest and relax - and I did!

The pool was wonderful. We did take a zip line ride through the forest. Glad that wire could hold this body!!

Trip to Alaska Summer 2009

 

Alaska Land/Cruise Tour Celebrity - Ship: Millennium
June 1-12, 2009

Day 1: Flew from Atlanta, GA to Seattle, WA then on to Fairbanks, AK. When we arrived in Fairbanks we were greeted by our Celebrity Tour Director - Roberta. We stayed at the Sophia Station Hotel. We were there when it was daylight for almost 24 hours each day. It was weird.

 

Day 2: We had many exciting activities, including a Fairbanks City Tour, a cruise on the Riverboat Sternwheeler Discovery, and a tour of the El Dorado Gold Mine, where I tried my luck at panning for gold. I found about 4 ounces of gold in the dirt I panned. We stayed a second night in Fairbanks.

 

Day 3: This morning we enjoyed a cup of cappuccino and some amazing views as we traveled on the Wilderness Express, in a glass-domed train car, to Denali. There we took the exciting 8 hour Tundra Wilderness Tour deep into Denali National Park, where we saw caribou, moose, black bear, wolf, fox and other wildlife. Overnight in Denali at the Grande Denali Lodge.

 

Day 4: Our morning was free to relax at the lodge before we departed by motor coach for Talkeetna. In the evening, we spent time in the little town enjoying the sites. Had lunch in an outdoor café.  It is a cute SMALL town. Spent a relaxing night at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

 

Day 5: We departed via deluxe motor coach for Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. There we had time to explore and have breakfast. From downtown Anchorage, we continued on to historic Seward, where we boarded the Millennium to begin our cruise adventure.

 

Day 6: Hubbard Glacier, (scenic cruising) is the largest calving glacier on the North American continent. The glacier routinely calves off icebergs as high as 10 story buildings, sending massive blocks of ice into the sea every few minutes.  The water around the ship was filled with chunks of ice.

Day 7: Juneau, AK - Alaska's capital city gracefully balances frontier ruggedness and cosmopolitan flair. I saw the Mendenhall Glacier, a river of ice measuring 1.5 miles in width and over 6 miles on length. It hugs Juneau's north side and is part of the Juneau Ice Field. The only way into Juneau is by boat or by plane. There are no roads leading to this city.

 

Day 8: Skagway, AK - When Gold was discovered in the Klondike in 1896, this town was gripped by a serious epidemic of Gold Fever, one that attracted all manner of fortune hunters, saloon owners, and adventures. I took a train ride from Skagway to the Yukon. It went through some rough but beautiful areas.

 

Day: 9 Icy Strait Point, AK- For thousands of years, the Tlingit Indians have called this place home. This is where we saw the humpback whales, killer whales and eagles. 

 

Day 10: Ketchikan- Known as the "Salmon Capitol of the World", Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world's largest collection of totem poles. I went to the Lumberjack Show and it was very entertaining.

 

Day 11: Inside Passage Cruising- Glaciers can exert powerful forces, but they can also wield a delicately artistic brush, leaving behind a scene of breathtaking beauty. Alaska's famed inside passages a labyrinth of fjords and hidden bays where whales and sea lions find refuge during the summer months. We saw plenty of them.

 

Day 12: This morning we arrived in Vancouver. After breakfast we transfered to the airport for our flight to Salt Lake City then on to Atlanta. it took for ever to get to Atlanta. We had to keep circling to stall for time. There was a major storm in the Atlanta area. 

I was glad to have Brian and Laura take me to the airport and pick me up so I did not have to leave my car at the airport.

This is a map of the trip.  The only difference is we

started in Fairbanks and went to Vancouver.

 

 

our hotel in Fairbanks

 

 

 

 

our hotel in Denali