Bountiful Travel Pics

What Does Bountiful 
Mean to You

Finding Examples 
as You Travel

Today is Friday which is our favorite day of the week.   You might think it's our favorite because it's the last work day - but we are available to our clients every day, so that's not it.

Friday is #FriFotos

#FriFotos is a weekly photo forum by @EpsteinTravels @TravelDesigned @CharlesYap. Theme is revealed every Tues 12pm ET.  If you can't guess, this week's theme is #BOUNTIFUL.

We love this photo forum because it gives us the opportunity to revisit places we've visited and look at the images we've collected in a new light.   It also gives us vision for future photos.

Bountiful Defined

boun·ti·ful   (per Merriam-Webster dictionary)

adjective \ˈbau̇n-ti-fəl\

: giving or providing many desired things

: given or existing in large amounts

1:  liberal in bestowing gifts or favors

2:  given or provided abundantly <a bountiful harvest>

 

 Pictured above is a field of tulips in Keukenhof Gardens, Holland.  The image on the left was taken at the fish market in Bergen, Norway.   Both of these images fit the theme for this week's photo forum.

 

More Examples

These two images were also captured during our visit to Keukenhof Gardens in Holland.  The first image is a display built out of Coca-Cola cans.   Certainly this is a bountiful supply of Coke cans.

Zooming in on one of the many floral displays at Keukenhof Gardens, the second image filled the frame with flowers in bloom.

Cruising along the Amalfi Coast in Italy, we captured this image of bountiful vineyards.  Come harvest time these will result in some of the best wine around.

This theme is a little harder than some of the past #FriFotos subjects, which makes it all the more interesting.   Do you have any images that fit the theme?

We've found that photography and travel go hand and hand and it helps to keep the memories alive longer.   Even when the mind forgets, we can help recall our travels by going through our photo archives.

Hopefully this post gives you some inspiration for getting more out of your travel experiences.   When visiting familiar places multiple times, it is often useful to give yourself a photo assignment, such as one of the #FriFotos themes.  That doesn't mean you have to devote your entire vacation to taking pictures, but why not keep an eye out for images that would enhance your trip when you revisit the archives in months ahead?

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc for more ideas.

 

We'd love to see your examples and hear your feedback.   Do you enjoy stories like this?  Are their themes that you'd like to explore?

 

MSC Cruises Welcomes Big Band Lovers

Swing and sway to a Big Band

aboard MSC Poesia

Turn the clocks back to the 1930's and 1940's. Times were tough, much like they are today. The Great Depression was in full swing and the world was about to go to war once again. It was during these dismal times that the Swing Era began and became an important part of musical history.

Enter the Big Band, a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music. Big bands evolved with the times and continue today. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, singers, and a rhythm section.

Teenagers and young adults were the principal fans of the Big Bands in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. They danced to recordings and the radio, and attended live concerts whenever they could. You'll probably remember greats like Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington.

Big Bands played a major role in lifting morale during World War II. Many band members served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front, with Glenn Miller losing his life while traveling between troop shows.

MSC Cruises rekindles the music of the 30's with two Big Band themed cruises aboard MSC Poesia. Whether you want to hear Big Band music for the first time, or if you are a lover of this era gone by, you will enjoy this special themed cruise.

Featured Musicians:

The 15-piece Les DeMerle Orchestra, featuring vocalist Bonnie Eisele, is sure to have toes tapping, bodies swaying and guests singing along to the sounds of Ellington, Basie, James and Miller, plus the biggest Broadway hits, rock ‘n’ roll classics, hot Latin grooves and show-stoppers from the 40s through today. In addition to their regular appearances, the band will perform a Big Band Jazz Concert and conduct a lecture on the Big Band Era.

Chose one of the following cruises:

REMARKABLE RAINFORESTS & THE PANAMA CANAL
DECEMBER 10, 2009 11 days 10 nights
Fort Lauderdale • Grand Cayman • Cartagena • Cristóbal • Puerto Limón • Playa del Carmen • Fort Lauderdale

ISLAND TREASURES & ANCIENT TEMPLES
FEBRUARY 27, 2010 8 days 7 nights
Fort Lauderdale • Key West • Playa del Carmen • Grand Cayman • Montego Bay • Nassau • Fort Lauderdale

For more information about MSC Poesia and these cruises, see my website or give me a call. Don't forget that Kids 17 and under Sail Free (in same cabin).

It's Polka Time on MSC

It's Polka Time Aboard MSC Poesia

Sunny Caribbean ports and two well-known polka bands will keep guests dancing and swaying to chase those winter blues as the MSC Poesia sets sail in January 2010 for a polka theme cruise.

Featured Performers:

Joe Stanky and the Cadets have been performing classic polka sounds for more than 25 years. The group also features a range of styles, including honky, country, Slovenian with both English and Polish vocals.

John Stevens DoubleShot, a popular Pennsylvania-based group that plays its contemporary polka rhythms at numerous festivals throughout the country.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN:

Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale

January 9, 2010 Departure

San Juan, Puerto Rico Philipsburg, St. Maarten Tortola, British Virgin Islands Nassau, Bahamas Fort Lauderdale, Florida

For more information about MSC Poesia and this cruise, see my website or give me a call.

Carnival Triumph - Great Cities Theme

Carnival Triumph - Ship Decor

While on our recent Canada & New England cruise aboard Carnival Triumph, I learned that the theme for the ship is "Great Cities". In looking at the decor throughout the ship, I might have thought it was "Around the Globe" or "The World" since the globe theme appears throughout the public areas.

When you look at the names of the various public spaces, the theme does start to take shape. The two dining rooms are called London and Paris. The main show lounge is the Rome Lounge. Another entertainment venue is Club Rio Lounge. You can enjoy a drink and cigar in the Oxford Bar or perhaps curl up with your favorite book in Washington Library. Those are just a sample of the "Great Cities" represented on Carnival Triumph.

Decor of a ship contributes to the overall atmosphere during your cruise experience. Modern cruise ships are brightly decorated often, with abstract art throughout the vessel. In ages gone by, the ships were decorated with exquisite wood and often times the decor was very dark. Cruise lines spend a large portion of the new ship budget bringing their vision to life.

The next time you are onboard a ship, take a look at the decor and see if you can determine the ship's theme. Take some time, perhaps on one of the sea days, to walk around the ship and enjoy the various art that is displayed throughout the ship. This may open up an entirely new aspect to your cruise experience.