What do you see that is unusual about the above photo?  Those are  square waves : This scene is off the Isle of Rhé, west coast France, where this natural spectacle occurs regularly. They form when two strong weather systems send opposing swells crashing into each other at different angles. They form quickly and vanish. But watch out! There is hidden danger. When square waves occur, they come with powerful currents and high waves, up to 10 feet. For swimmers and boaters, you are faced with unexpected forces of nature. Swimmers caught in these waves often feel as if they are swimming against two competing currents. Boats navigating these waters may be overwhelmed or swamped by the waves themselves. So what do you do? Simple, leave the water immediately, if you can. If caught, signal for help, and stay calm, floating on you back if needed, and try to swim parallel to the shore to escape the currents. Square waves have been linked to shipwrecks and drownings worldwide, not only i...

  Let me begin our final day in Barcelona with lunch again in the same Eurostars Hotel, for our steak experience the day before was fabulous.  We ordered their sea bass special for two. The whole fish ended up being two filets. Plusa cooked vegges plate. Lunch with beer and Dewars White Label. There was then a long wait before we could leave for our ship.  But finally, at 4:45PM we left.  Final photo of Eurostars Hotel. Almost an hour later we reached the Barcelona Port where we could see the Regent Seven Seas Voyager, which is 21 years old with a capacity of 706 passengers and a crew of 447.  In the past, Forbes reported this was the most expensive cruise in the Asian region. Then the usual wait to check in. But we got through within half an hour. Regent Seven Seas has six ships, the newest the Seven Seas Grandeur in 2023.  It is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also runs Oceania Cruises. Our suitcases were in our room.  We went to the O...

      From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):            DAY    USA    WORLD      Brazil      India      South Africa June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82 July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572 Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130 Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82 Oct     21      1225      6849         571   ...

  From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):          DAY    USA    WORLD     Brazil      India      South Africa June     9    1093     4732        1185        246        82 July    22     1205     7128        1293      1120       572 Aug    12     1504     6556        1242       835       130 Sept     9     1208      6222       1136      1168        82 Oct     21     1225      6849         571    ...