- Countries:
Hong Kong
Hungary
- States: (I've been to all 50)
Hawaii (late 1980's on a mission trip with a group of youth and adults from our church)
- U.S. Cities over 100,000 population where I've been:
Houston, TX (we live 50 miles north of downtown Houston)
Hialeah, FL
Hollywood, FL
Hartford, CT
- International Cities
Haifa, Israel
"H" is for Haifa, Israel, today. We went there in July, 1980, coming by a small sized cruise ship, then Greek, the Oceanos. We had left from Athens about a week before and visited Ephesus (Turkey), a couple of Mediterranean Islands (I liked Patmos the best), and had spent the previous day in Egypt (Alexandria and Cairo).
When we approached the port a large company of Israeli Navy divers came alongside and checked out the undersides of our ship. For bombs and the like I am sure. Then we docked and disembarked at Haifa, leaving our ship for someone else to take on Mediterranean cruises. We didn't stay in Haifa, but went by bus to Jerusalem for our week-long stay at a hotel there.
The Oceanos, launched in July 1952, had a busy life, generally a much more exciting one than with our group. Our tour leaders were Professors at the Southwestern Baptist Seminary at Arlington, Texas. Mrs. Jim and I and one other couple were the only ones we ever saw from our group using the Disco Lounge. But to make up for that there were also a large group of Shrine Lodge members having fun who made good use of the lounge.
(Picture courtesy of Wikipedia) . . . . .
Our ship had an accident later, on August 3, 1992. It sank in bad weather off the coast of southeast Africa. The crew abandoned ship but all passengers were rescued by South African Navy helicopters. The Oceanos has never been salvaged. Read about the sinking and rescue here. The YouTube video shows how it all happened, and I found two different videos (Video 1--my favorit,e, showing below) (Video 2--showing after everyone had been taken off) about the sinking.
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- Jenny is starting in now on her tenth series of Alphabe thursday. With 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in the alphabet she is now in her fifth year. I am linked to her blog, GO HERE for more participants and their offerings.
Wow! You have really been a world traveler. So glad you weren't on the ship when it sank.
ReplyDeleteUs too !! That was an old ship back in 1980 !! Like driving a car 28 years old car, a 1986, now (my Mustang is a 1998).
ReplyDelete..
I enjoy your posts! They are always so interesting.
ReplyDeleteUntil next time...nel
I tell you if I won or made any money - I would travel around the world - I am envious - in a good way.
ReplyDeleteHope you win the house you are taking a chance on ~ Great post for H for the well traveled man ~
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year,
artmusedog and carol
You are so well traveled. Yes you are.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Hawaii, Hollywood and Hughson, CA. I'm sure there are more places but that's the only three I can think of right now.
Have a fabulous day Jim. My best to Mrs. Jim. ☺
Wow, Jim. You really get around!
ReplyDeleteThat was an amazing video -- those were a couple of brave entertainers to help all the passengers to safety. I wonder whatever happened to the cowardly captain and crew.
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting. The crew and especially the captain weren't very responsible. Good for those entertainers. They were heroes. My only cruise was out of Galveston in 2002...the hurricane Isidore cruise. It was a rough ride. We never got to Mexico. We spent the entire cruise running away from the hurricane. Finally they took the ship into New Orleans, but by then they said the hurricane was heading there. 700 passengers got off the ship in N.O. Carnival had a policy where if you weren't happy before they arrived at the first port they would refund most of the money and fly you home. So, they got as many as possible on flights to Houston and got rental cars for the rest. We stayed on the ship and on the way back to Galveston there were more crew members than passengers. Most of the people were seasick because it was so rough, but we didn't get sick. I don't blame the people that were sick for getting off. It was strange. We actually enjoyed ourselves. They had a comedian get on board in N.O. and they had another cocktail party for the remaining passengers. We just never got around to going again.
ReplyDeleteyour ship (the one that sunk!) doesn't look too large. Very scary - glad all the passengers were saved. Since you were on the water, a cruise down the Suez Canal would have been nice. I've always wanted to go through a canal... Jerusalem must have been wonderful! {:-D
ReplyDeleteOut of all the countries that you have listed this week I have only been to Hong Kong. IT must have been scary when the ship sank..luckily all the passengers were saved.
ReplyDeleteyikes! that would probably cure me of the cruising bug forever! I'm looking at maybe taking a cruise to Hawaii next year, so I won't watch the video...
ReplyDeleteSheesh. I think you just talked me out of another cruise!
ReplyDelete;)
PS. Glad you and your wife were okay, and it sounds like you managed to turn it into a great adventure.
Am enjoying reading about your adventures....wishing you a happy 2015 still♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/hoarfrost/
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting!.....lots of adventure there! The only place on your list that I've visited is Haifa. I'd certainly like to visit Hawaii and Houston!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you and Mrs Jim were not on board the ship when it sank, Dr Jim :)
ReplyDelete