WE'RE HOME AT 15 CRAIGSIDE IN HONOLULU, HAWAII

Back to my cocoon, also known as apartment 1212 at 15 Craigside.  Looking forward to doing essentially nothing until our next potentially monumental journey:

• We fly to Iceland to see some geo-cold sites, then board the Azamara Journey for 18-nights from Rekjavik to Greenland, ending up in Montreal. 
• Of course, there is one primary reason we will be on this cruise.  The next total solar eclipse.  Sun will stay dark for 2 minutes and 18 seconds on August 12.
• Will you see this event from where you live?  Google AI says:

Upcoming Total Solar Eclipses:

• August 12, 2026: Greenland, Iceland, Spain.
• August 2, 2027: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia.

• 
  July 22, 2028: Australia, New Zealand. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For those in the United States, the next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. will be on August 22, 2044. [1]  How old will you be in 18 years?

• 
  Some reviews of the Azamara Journey.
• Google AI says:

The Azamara Journey is highly regarded for its intimate, "boutique hotel" atmosphere, offering a "country club casual" luxury experience with exceptional service and immersive, destination-focused itineraries. It is widely considered better than large mainstream lines, though it is smaller and lacks big-ship amenities. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Well, anyway, how was our 49-day trip to the USA and Canada?

• We're back, alive and well.
• I did not really realize this, but I must have a pollen allergy.
• I showed mild symptoms from Memphis, down the Mississippi River and into New Orleans.
• Then nothing New York City.

• 
  However, you would think Canada should not be a problem, but I sneezed a lot on the Viking cruise from Manhattan to Toronto.  From Google AI:

Pollen allergies in Canada are severe and have worsened significantly, with total pollen levels doubling over the past 20 years due to climate change. The allergy season is now longer and more intense, starting earlier and lasting later in the year. [1, 2]

• Saw a lot of oak, birch and mulberry on land, and Toronto is now particularly so infested.
• I just left Vancouver, and Google AI said today:

As of May 11, 2026, pollen levels in Vancouver, BC, are active, with high levels of grass pollen and low levels of tree pollen. The allergy season is currently dominated by grass and tree pollen (birch, cypress, and willow). Allergy sufferers should expect these allergens to persist, with some pollen counts remaining in the moderate to high range throughout the week. [1, 2, 3]

• But as I indicated, I would still have knowingly gone on this trip because the suffering was minimal.
• I'm now in Honolulu and fine.
• The two cruises were great.  Ironically, we will sail through the St. Lawrence Seaway again on our next trip, but will end up in Montreal.  The Viking Octantis completely bypassed this city.  But, oh, oh:

Yes, August and September are considered the peak, most challenging months for allergy sufferers in Montreal. While spring and early summer are dominated by tree and grass pollen, late summer and fall are notorious for weed pollen, specifically ragweed, which dominates the scene from mid-August until the first hard frost, typically in late October. [1, 2]

• 
  Ironically, Honolulu also has this problem.  But I've never thought this was a problem for me.

Key Pollen and Allergy Information for Honolulu

• Common Pollen Sources: Acacia, kiawe (mesquite), and Jacaranda trees are major contributors.
• Peak Times: Pollen levels are generally highest during the early morning hours, between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m..
• Seasonality: Because Hawaii is tropical, trees and plants can pollinate year-round, although specific species have blooming seasons.
• Weather Impact: Higher pollen counts are often found during hot, windy, and dry weather conditions.
• Vog and Air Quality: While pollen is a factor, residents should also monitor "vog" (volcanic smog), which can affect air quality and cause respiratory issues. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Okay, so back to our 50-day trip:

• Began March 22 on a flight from Honolulu to Las Vegas.
• Stayed at the Golden Nugget hotel and casino.
• I mention this fact because our entire Canadian portion was cold for 26 days, although Kamloops, when we were there, was also suffering through a tiny heat wave, where temperatures went up to 84F.  But Las Vegas reached 95F during our stay, breaking a daily record by 5F degrees, then rose up to 98F three days after we left.  And, according to this graphic, maybe even up to 99F  We saw snow every day we spent in Canada.  Of course, when getting close to Vancouver, those high peaks had snow, which persists through the entire summer.
• We both did not gamble that much, and ended up ahead at the finish.  Something that rarely happens.
• Denver was just a one night stop.  But for some reason, I hardly slept, a problem I had before leaving Hawaii.  This happened one more time on the first cruise.  Otherwise I found out that I could sleep well on ships and even clattering trains.

• 
  Then on to Memphis, which was an eye-opening experience for me.
• Why?  Because I kept reading that Memphis was the most dangerous city in the USA.  This from a 2025-2026 report from U.S. News and World Report.  And if you are not aware of that study, Oakland is #2 and St. Louis is #3.  New Orleans is #8, our stop after Memphis.
• Turns out that government officials there took steps to end violent crime, and saw a 40% drop in cases beginning last year into 2026.  Auto theft dropped 64% and larceny 39%.

• 
  In fact, President Donald Trump brought Pam Bondi, his then Attorney General, to Memphis the week we were there to tout the great work his White House had done to combat crime in Memphis.
• Turns out that Memphis Mayor Paul Young did not bother to participate at the press conference, supposedly because of a schedule conflict, but mostly because it was the city and state that should be credited for this astonishing drop.
• Trump visited Graceland.  We stayed at the Guest House at Graceland and went on a VIP tour, arranged by American Cruise Line.
• I had forgotten the important history of Memphis, including the assassination of Martin Luther King.

• 
  Memphis is also where major companies were founded:  FedEx, Holiday Inn, AutoZone and Piggly Wiggly.
• St Jude also began here and ranks in the top 10 of children's hospitals for cancer.  Treatment here is covered by donations.

• The 9-day cruise on the American Melody was excellent.
• Read a review of this trip, plus Gators in Cajun Swamp.

• 
  New Orleans was a nice stop, where we had lunch at Acme Oyster House with Harry and Margaret Toups.  Harry and I were graduate school colleagues at LSU.  More than half a century ago, I had my first raw oysters at this restaurant.

• Next stop, New York City, again at the Marriott Marquis at Times Square.
• One of the benefits of this hotel is that they provide three hours free on the Hop-On/Hop-Off Big Bus.  On our previous stay, we could use this service all day.

• Got half-price tickets, so went to see The Outsiders, playing at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre, located adjacent to our hotel.  Didn't enjoy it.
• I did say that New York City is Awesome.  And it is.  Read my posting by clicking on that link.

• 
  The Viking Octantis cruise from Manhattan to Toronto was probably the best part of the whole trip.
• The cuisine was terrific, with a daily ramen bar serving an assortment of noodles.  Even a Japanese restaurant.
• One highlight was a 10 pound Tomahawk Steak.

• 
  I did not enjoy a Zodiac tour.  To quote from that posting.

There was no briefing for the Zodiac.  If I had learned these details ahead of time, I would have chosen not to go.  In addition to the fact that I might not have been sufficiently dressed to withstand the outside conditions, my knees are weak, and I had difficulty getting into the Zodiac, Finally, I gingerly sat down and saw that if I leaned back, I would fall of the the boat.   Note the ropes in the boat.  You always have at least one hand on the rope, even while the Zodiac is not moving.  You absolutely need to use both when at any speed.

• You read my daily postings about this cruise. but, in short, it was always cold.  You would think Montreal would be a major stop, but we instead sailed by at night.

• But no problem for us, for we return in a couple months on the Azamara Journey, for the final stop will be Montreal.
• The Octantis is on a mostly river cruise, but is called a ship because it is designed for at-sea travel, like for the Antarctic.  As much as I hate cold, I would be totally surprised if I end up going there some time next year.
• We toured Quebec, a city I had not before visited.  The highlight, however, was Montmorency Falls.

• Finally, on day 13, Toronto, a truly fine city.  Stayed in the Gold Level at the Fairmont hotel.  Union Station, where we will catch the VIA Rail Canada train, is across the street.

• Another highlight was the CN Tower. 

• A video of us zooming up to the next level.

I'm off on on a shopping venture, so will terminate my blog at this point.  Tomorrow, a tour of the Niagara Falls, finishing with our train adventure from Toronto to Vancouver.

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