TravBuddy.com: shirlan's North to Alaska ~ My 50th Birthday trip 2005 travel blog Copyright 2005 TravBuddy LLC http://www.travbuddy.com/blogs/29247 Well I finally got my husband to go overseas. He was hooked the first day. Vancouver, Alaskan cruise, ending in Los Angeles. Hubby also got to drive a Mustang convertable while in Canada and a brand new Harley in Los Angeles. en-us Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST Just a few bridge shots http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/few-bridge-shots-29 Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST Just a few bridge shots United States, Oct 04, 2005

There were some great bridges!

]]> Sydney http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Sydney-30 Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:00:01 PST Sydney Sydney, Australia, Oct 04, 2005

Well we are now almost home! We will soon be back in Adelaide

]]> Home! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Home-Adelaide-31 Tue, 04 Oct 2005 08:36:10 PST Home! Adelaide, Australia, Oct 04, 2005

A few hours in Sydney, some duty free shopping and now we are home. Til next time. :-)

]]> Going home http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Going-home-28 Mon, 03 Oct 2005 00:00:01 PST Going home Los Angeles, California, Oct 03, 2005

Leaving LA. About midnight, heading for sydney.

]]> Last day in LA http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Last-day-LA-27 Mon, 03 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST Last day in LA Hollywood, California, Oct 03, 2005

We checked out of our hotel, left the luggage their and headed for Hollywood Blvd.  We had a late flight out so we had plenty of time to look ar…

]]> Lazy day at the Art Gallery & Museum http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Lazy-day-Art-Gallery-Museum-26 Sun, 02 Oct 2005 01:43:01 PST Lazy day at the Art Gallery & Museum Los Angeles, California, Oct 02, 2005

Andrew only had the Harley for 24 hours so we returned it in the morning. We went back to the hotel and had planned to have a day around the pool. In…

]]> Delmonicos http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Lazy-day-Art-Gallery-Museum-26 Sun, 02 Oct 2005 08:04:03 PST Delmonicos Los Angeles, California, Oct 02, 2005

We didn't know where to have dinner tonight but the couple that we met in the hotel said that they always ate at Delmonicos when in LA. We decided t…

]]> Santa Monica http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Santa-Monica-24 Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST Santa Monica Santa Monica, California, Oct 01, 2005

This morning it was time to pick up the Harley. A brand new Electroglide. Andrew was excited but I was not. I don't like motorbikes so was not lookin…

]]> Harley http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Harley-25 Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:01 PST Harley Beverly Hills, California, Oct 01, 2005

]]> Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Harley-25 Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:24:07 PST Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, California, Oct 01, 2005

This hotel is good for people that do not want to be in the 'frenzy' of L.A. There was buses that passed by and of course, taxi's available at the do…

]]> Los Angeles http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Los-Angeles-23 Fri, 30 Sep 2005 02:55:12 PST Los Angeles Los Angeles, California, Sep 30, 2005

Our ship has docked and we wait out turn to disembark. Not too painful. The wait for the taxi was painful though, 1 hour. We got a great driver thoug…

]]> Factors Famous Deli http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Los-Angeles-23 Fri, 30 Sep 2005 07:41:38 PST Factors Famous Deli Los Angeles, California, Sep 30, 2005

We decided to try out this cafe/deli for dinner, with the recommendation of our Chauffeur as it was our first night and had not had time to see what …

]]> Catalina Island http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Catalina-Island-22 Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:28:04 PST Catalina Island Avalon, California, Sep 29, 2005

We got off the ship as early as we could. It looked pretty. We went to the visitors centre and booked a boat trip, so that we could look at the fish …

]]> At sea http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/sea-21 Wed, 28 Sep 2005 08:00:33 PST At sea California, United States, Sep 28, 2005

This is our last full day at sea. There was a gala presentation in the theatre put on by a large number of the ship's staff.  It is quite incred…

]]> Andrew's 44th Birthday http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Andrews-44th-Birthday-20 Tue, 27 Sep 2005 07:51:44 PST Andrew's 44th Birthday San Francisco, California, Sep 27, 2005

When we got off the ship we decided to hire a taxi with another couple. We told the driver he had 2 hours to show us San Francisco. At first he wasn'…

]]> Another day at sea! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Another-day-sea-19 Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:34:23 PST Another day at sea! Washington, United States, Sep 26, 2005

Again we made the most of our day on board, swimming etc   Spent some time in the the nightclub "Bar at the end of the earth" . They also…

]]> A 3 hour tour! The driver got lost! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/3-hour-tour-driver-lost-18 Sun, 25 Sep 2005 07:32:02 PST A 3 hour tour! The driver got lost! Seattle, Washington, Sep 25, 2005

Again we chose a highlights tour. 10am til 1pm.  The driver got lost. He had to ask at a service station for directions. He was turning down str…

]]> Victoria http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Victoria-17 Sat, 24 Sep 2005 07:19:56 PST Victoria Vancouver Island, Canada, Sep 24, 2005

What can I say. The city is beautiful. We did the 'highlights' tour here. The bus driver was great, he thought it would be funny to stop at a 'g…

]]> A day at sea http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/day-sea-16 Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:14:04 PST A day at sea Alaska, United States, Sep 23, 2005

A day for lazing around, swimming, filling out the travel diary and chatting to many different people.  Although it is good to be in a port and …

]]> Nice little town http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Nice-little-town-15 Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:10:06 PST Nice little town Sitka, Alaska, Sep 22, 2005

We had to go to shore on the lifeboat.  Another place where there were some tours offered but it is nice just to wander around. This is the fi…

]]> Helicopter to the icefield http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Helicopter-icefield-14 Wed, 21 Sep 2005 07:08:31 PST Helicopter to the icefield Juneau, Alaska, Sep 21, 2005

Today Andrew and I are heading off on different tours. We had booked the same one but it was a landing on the icefields for 1 hour. I thought "why wo…

]]> The Glacier is WOWOW! factor http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Glacier-WOWOW-factor-13 Tue, 20 Sep 2005 06:59:38 PST The Glacier is WOWOW! factor Hubbard Glacier, United States, Sep 20, 2005

Today we are just cruising. Into the Hubbard Glacier. On the way a couple of local Indians are picked up and come on board to tell the story of the a…

]]> Train trip http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Train-trip-12 Mon, 19 Sep 2005 06:56:37 PST Train trip Skagway, Alaska, Sep 19, 2005

Today the ship docked in Skagway. The train line came right up on to the wharf. It looked strange standing on the deck looking down at the train.&nbs…

]]> Wandered around http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Wandered-around-11 Sun, 18 Sep 2005 06:53:23 PST Wandered around Ketchikan, Alaska, Sep 18, 2005

Although there were different tours on offer, we just wandered around and had a look. We went to the tourist information centre. We checked out the o…

]]> My 50th http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/50th-10 Sat, 17 Sep 2005 06:49:51 PST My 50th Alaska, United States, Sep 17, 2005

A day at sea. Cruising the inside passage. It gave us time to see what was available and get our sea legs. We have already seen some whales. We had b…

]]> Boarding http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Boarding-9 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 06:41:39 PST Boarding Vancouver, Canada, Sep 16, 2005

Well this morning is bitter sweet. Sad to be leaving Vancouver but happy about the next part of our adventure. The morning is sort of wasted, and we …

]]> Celebrity Cruises "Summit" http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Boarding-9 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 17:29:17 PST Celebrity Cruises "Summit" Vancouver, Canada, Sep 16, 2005

Well I wasn't too sure where to put this review as it is accommodation but mixes sights and attractions. We boarded the "Summit" in Vancouver and le…

]]> Our last full day in Vancouver http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Our-last-full-day-Vancouver-8 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 06:32:02 PST Our last full day in Vancouver Vancouver, Canada, Sep 15, 2005

We went for a drive back to Stanley Park before returning the car. :-(   Then it was off to another firestation for a while. We wandered al…

]]> Grouse Mt. etc http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Grouse-Mt-etc-7 Wed, 14 Sep 2005 06:23:29 PST Grouse Mt. etc Vancouver, Canada, Sep 14, 2005

This morning we went to Grouse Mt.  We took the gondola up, didn't have the energy to walk. The bears, artic wolves, carving and scenery were gr…

]]> Drive to Whistler http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Drive-Whistler-5 Tue, 13 Sep 2005 05:56:20 PST Drive to Whistler Whistler, Canada, Sep 13, 2005

We picked up the Mustang convertable this morning and took a quick drive to Stanley Park before heading to Whistler. It was a beautiful drive. A good…

]]> Stanley Park http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Our-first-day-Vancouver-4 Mon, 12 Sep 2005 07:50:41 PST Stanley Park Vancouver, Canada, Sep 12, 2005

I would recommend that you visit Stanley Park if you are in Vancouver. You can drive through. You can see a small part of the park by going on the h…

]]> Our first day in Vancouver http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Our-first-day-Vancouver-4 Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:44:34 PST Our first day in Vancouver Vancouver, Canada, Sep 12, 2005

This morning we had a wander around the area of our hotel just to get some idea of where we were. After lunch we headed for the Harbour and went to t…

]]> The next flight http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/next-flight-2 Sun, 11 Sep 2005 06:01:21 PST The next flight Los Angeles, California, Sep 11, 2005

We were in LA for about 5 hours waiting for our flight to Vancouver. Finally, Alaskan Airlines.  LA to Vancouver

]]> Holiday time http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Holiday-time-3 Sun, 11 Sep 2005 08:05:37 PST Holiday time Vancouver, Canada, Sep 11, 2005

Adelaide to Vancouver  Well we had a long trip from Adelaide, with the Sydney stopover and then Los Angeles.   Finally, we arrive…

]]> Today our trip begins http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/29247/Today-our-trip-begins-1 Sun, 11 Sep 2005 05:58:27 PST Today our trip begins Adelaide, Australia, Sep 11, 2005

This trip has been a long time in the planning.  First of all I thought that maybe I would like to go back to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where I…

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