Nice to be home after our 5-week trip.  Here was our sunset view in Honolulu last night from where I am composing this posting. This morning. And towards Punchbowl Crater. Meanwhile, the price of oil jumped today . Adding to investors’ worries, a meeting set for today between Iran and Gulf countries regarding Hormuz was postponed “in the interests of consensus,” Oman’s foreign minister wrote on X. The international oil benchmark, Brent crude, rose as high as $108, while U.S. crude oil touched $103 per barrel. The bad news about Tropical Storm Norbert still at 40 MPH is that he is not turning more southward, once on a path taking him south of the Big Island.  Now, Norbert is heading straight for the middle of the Hawaiian Islands.  However, environmental conditions are such that the system is expected to degenerate into a post-tropical remnant low tomorrow, then dissipate by Wednesday.  It should be rainy and not so windy on Thursday. We in Hawaii are now paranoid ...

 The Silversea Silver Whisper just arrived in Honolulu Harbor.  Back to the conclusion of our cruise.  We've had anxious moments, but for me, this could well have been the best ever.  The most important thing is that, after flying all the way to Iceland, than boarding the Azamara Journey to see the Total Solar Eclipse, then confronting three hurricanes on the Silver Whisper, we are well with more fabulous memories. Our usual starting lunch with salad and pasta. The ship had a 7PM departure, so we ordered room service caviar to have on our veranda to watch the parting. We then went for dinner at La Terazza, beginning with antipasto, and two white and two red wines. Then came spaghetti bolognese and an asparagus/egg dish. Ended with a coffee panna cotta. One of the highlights of this cruise was  then the Chocolate Extravaganza at the pool deck.  I don't know how these entertainers and passengers were dancing, for the ship itself was rocking. The following cav...