Little Black Travel Dress to Orange California Poppies…

…and the colors in between!  

Whenever Dirk and I have joined a Seabourn cruise, we have joked that the male guest travel uniform is khaki pants and a navy blazer.  As we were waiting to join the Oosterdam in Buenos Aires, I noticed several women wearing what I had on - a black dress and white tennis shoes. Who knew I was wearing the women’s travel uniform?  I think I am going to call the LBD now the LBTD (little black travel dress).

It has been the tail end of the South American cruise season as the continent heads into autumn -  the weather mid-continent has been pleasant, but the weather down south has been cold and blustery, with winds up to 95mph.  

Scenic cruising in southern Chile reminds one of Alaska; and the chance to visit the Pio XI glacier is a highlight.  We were lucky to get pretty close - blue glacial ice is always stunning.  I believe I visited the same glacier in 2006 (?!); my records are a bit scant, but here are some then and now photos. 

Here's me and the captain’s wife on the bridge wing 2006, and that’s a view from our verandah 2025, just next to the bridge.

Our scenic cruising also took us by a prehistoric Peruvian  geoglyph outside of Pisco Bay, the Paracas Candelabra.  This was a new one for me and pretty cool!  And yes, Pisco of the Pisco Sour fame.  

Due to work and volunteer commitments, I have not spent a lot of time ashore, but I was able to escort the “Chilean Spirit - Wine and Horses” tour, where we headed to the Casablanca valley, known for its white wine. White and red wines sampled and a lovely demonstration of equestrian tricks at Casas del Bosque.

I left the ship early to head to California for a quick trip before heading to Maryland.  It’s always a pretty time to be here when the hills are green instead of golden, and the poppies are in full bloom. 

Wellness Round Up

Sleep - Overall good.

Stress - has still been high. As with my last post - various projects, deadlines and moving pieces are still in play.  It’s always a good feeling when it all comes together, but then it seems the finish line gets moved.

Hydration - has been a little mixed. Still incorporating the apple cider vinegar.  

Movement - I have been doing what I can with some walking.  On the ship, the stress and cold weather have been challenging, but even a short walk helps clear the head, so while it feels like a walk robs time for getting other things done, I am more productive for having taken the walk. Mom treated me to a guest pass at her health club, so it has felt good to use the facilities while in California.  And walks with long-time friends Anne and Sandy have been great, too.

Nutrition - overall I am comfortable with nutrition. Per this week’s Noom lessons, labeling and all-or-nothing thinking are something to be mindful of, so I am struggling a bit with how to describe.  Good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, supports my goals/does not support my goals….? What’s on my mind right now is preparing for a colonoscopy this week - these five prior days focusing on low-fiber diet. This is so the opposite of what we usually aim to eat, so this will be interesting!

Having now been in/associated with travel and cruising for nearly twenty-five years (ahem!), this last year or so it has been refreshing to observe with fresh eyes - looking at certain threads of history or nature or, in the case of these past few weeks, colors.  We arrive in the Med at the end of April and I have a few thematic lenses percolating.  Stay tuned. For now, Bon Voyage & Bon Appétit!