We've Only Just Begun

 We've only just begun our next adventure.  We are at LAX after perhaps the easiest trip ever to LAX.  The LYFT to the terminal ride was under 40 minutes.  Then the check in and getting through security took about 10 minutes.  And now we're in the lounge enjoying a pre-flight lunch.

So, where are we off to, you ask?  We fly to Frankfurt, Germany where we connect to a flight to Istanbul, Turkiye (using the now proper spelling).  In Istanbul, we'll be boarding the Oceania Riviera for one month of cruising.  With events in the Middle East, the itinerary has been greatly modified.  After departing Istanbul, we will have 8 ports in the Mediterranean, mostly in Greece, but with a stop in Cyprus - a first time for us.  Then it will be 9 days at sea (with hopes that they might add a port or 2 back in), cruising through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea before arriving in Dubai, UAE where we will have almost 4 days to explore.  Then  the ship will take us to Doha, Qatar, Sir Bani Yas, UAE, and finally to Abu Dhabi, UAE where we'll have 2 days before flying home.  Despite the changes, we're excited to visit 7 ports we haven't been to before, to transit the Suez Canal, and to sail the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Gulf of Oman.  Who knows, we might have the opportunity to see some real pirates!  Watch for us in the news.

Peace and blessings,

Linda and Larry