Here we are at LAX. We got here in plenty of time to sit and have a leisurely breakfast at Gladstone’s LAX overlooking the airplane loading zone. We had TSA Precheck today so everything was smoooooth. What a great way to begin our trip.

OK, we are about as ready as we are going to be. Our bags are packed. We’ve checked in at the airlines. We have friends watching the house. Valuables have been put in storage. We’ve got our shots, our passports, our visas, our clothes, our medications, our computers… everything. Our neighbor will give us a ride to the Flyaway tomorrow morning. Can’t wait!

This ship will be our home for the next four months. It seems incredible to spend so much time away from home. This ship holds 1,300 passengers which is not like the larger ship (the NCL Jewel) we were on for our tips to Mexico and to Alaska that held 2,350 passengers. I like the idea of the smaller, more intimate ship. I’m hoping to make some new friends as well as see the world.

I view this trip as a class rather than a vacation. I know a lot about chemistry and teaching chemistry, but I really know very little about the World. I will blog about the lessons I learn in each port and between stops as well. We always talk about being lifelong learners… here’s an amazing opportunity to be one.

We just found out that there will be an excursion to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Ron really wanted to visit this temple complex, but was told earlier that it wouldn’t fit into this cruise’s itinerary. Ron is signed up and ready to go!

Ron is interested because of the immense temple complex and impressive structures. Paul is excited because Angkor Wat showed up in Indiana Jones and Laura Croft Tomb Raider.

We just found out that there has been a small change in our cruise destinations. We will now be visiting Athens, Greece! Wow. We are very excited to have a chance to see the ancient and amazing sites and sights.

Ron and I made a visit to Disneyland on a Wednesday… because we could. We were celebrating a little because we just had new passport photos taken at AAA and sent off the applications for our tourist visas for China and India. Whew. Disneyland was decorated for Halloween. As the day wore on, we saw more and more people in costume, some of them were very clever. The special Halloween night began at 6:00 p.m. We were on our way home by then.

People ask about the ports we will visit on our Around-the-World Cruise in 2017. Here is a nice image that shows it all. The adventure begins January 4, 2017.

Besides fettuccine, we made a hand cut pasta called pappardelle. This was tossed with a roasted butternut squash and pesto mixture with hazelnuts instead of pine nuts and parsely & sage instead of basil. Yum!

The sauces we made to go with the pasta were simple and tasty. Ron is stirring a lemon cream sauce with salmon. This was mixed with the fettuccine we made.

Ron and I took another cooking class together at Sur Le Table. I’ve always wanted to try making pasta from scratch. It was a pretty easy process. We are going to practice at home and invite some friends to try the result.