72.- APRIL 25, FIELD OF DREAMS

2.00 p.m. MONDAY APRIL 23, 2007 on board the REGENT SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER.

"FIELD OF DREAMS"
I am seating in my balcony, on deck nine, watching the sea,
a calm, clear blue, cobalt ocean, extending all the way to the horizon.
Like a spyglass

The quietness and silence interrupted only by the advancing of the ship,
producing a small wake, like a light, white foam.
Smoking a Partagas, courtesy of Patrick, I relish the moment,
wishing I could encapsul it in my memory to be kept forever.

I feel my own oneness with the sky and the ocean lulling me into an sporadic state.

Is it a dream? Is it reality?

I can’t concentrate on my reading of today’s newspaper....
The rhythmic sound of the ship breaking through the waters, brings memories.
Memories that start flowing, like in a dream!
Scenes start to appear, from the first day, full of anticipation in our first world cruise
that has exceeded all of our expectations.

RIO with it’s majestic beauty and the Sugar Loaf.
NAMIBIA, Coming to Africa and its beautiful desert dunes.
CAPETOWN, Sheltered by Table Mountain and the beautiful vistas and beaches.
KENYA, "Hakuna Matata", with the safari and diversity of animals.
THE MALDIVES, with thousand tiny islands surrounded by the bluest of waters.
SRI LANKA, with the fascinating VICEROY SPECIAL trip to KANDY.
SINGAPORE, So clean, role model to its neighbors trying to imitate it.
Trishaws, Modern Metro and old famous Raffles hotel.
BRUNEI, with the ROYAL REGALIA BUILDING.
SHANGHAI, Traffic in the HUANGPU river welcoming to a city growing in front of our eyes.
HONG KONG, Hustle and bustle all over, to Victoria Peak.
VIETNAM, with it’s IMPERIAL CITY, historical sites and green rice paddies.
BANGKOK, with its CHAO PRAYA river and Temples with unique architecture.
AGRA, with it’s dreamy TAJ MAHAL, enduring monument to love.
MUSCAT, Typical " DHOW" boats with its magnificent SULTAN QUABOOS GRAND MOSQUE
EGYPT’s pyramids, revealing their glorious past and our Suez tenders experience.
Alexandria’s. New library, impressive modern edifice
SORRENTO and it unique Amalfi drive
CAPRI, As never seen before, from our deck # 12
MONACO, everything looking perfect, like in a Hollywood set.
VALENCIA with its charming old city and making a statement of coming into the 21th century with their fascinating "CITY OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES"
MALAGA, with its intricate streets filled with gypsy feelings.
GIBRALTAR, What can surpass the experience of the concert in St. Michael’s caves?
And, their acoustic?
CANARY ISLANDS, with their majestic volcanos and lava scenes left behind.

I slowly open my eyes, the ocean looking now like a big blue jello and I ask myself,

Is it a dream? Is it reality?