Why I Like Linux

Especially for my Mac friends (Sister, Brother-in-Law, Son, assorted grandchildren, etc.).

Update on our Upcoming Cruise

Earlier I noted that a portion of our upcoming cruise aboard Holland America Lines' m/s Amsterdam is to visit a number of ports in Egypt. Other cruise lines have stated that they would avoid Egyptian ports at least until the end of June but HAL has made no comments about their plans for the Amsterdam. Yesterday aboard the Amsterdam, officials of the line and the Amsterdam's captain stated current plans for the Amsterdam are for the ship to sail through the Suez Canal. In addition, they noted that right now it is a 50/50 chance that they would go through with planned excursions in Egypt. The final decision will be made toward the end of March and will be based on activities in Egypt. Therefore, it looks like we will be able to see the pyramids and the Sphinx after all. We'll see.

Our Upcoming Cruise

Next month my lovely wife and I will begin this year's Spring travels.  We will fly to London,  spend a few days there and then fly to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. There we will spend three day and start a thirty-three cruise aboard Holland American Lines' m/s Amsterdam that will eventually end in Ft. Lauderdale. We are especially anxious for this cruise as there are ports in three countries that we have never visited before. These are Oman, Jordan and Egypt - three countries that have had different levels of demonstration in the recent days.

Different thoughts and questions come to mind. Will the cruise actually come to pass? Will we be able to actually visit any of these countries? Based on the level of upheaval in Egypt, who is actually going to be in charge of the Suez Canal that is key to the cruise maintaining its itinerary? As our portion of the cruise (actually it is a world cruise but we are taking only the last leg if it) starts in the Persian Gulf, through the Straits of Hormuz, through the Gulf of Oman, to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, into the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean Sea.  The key here is the Suez Canal. If a ship cannot use the Suez Canal it has to go around the Cape of Good Hope, another six thousand miles.

Let's see what happens!