Monday Musings: The Joys of Travel and No Big Surprise
Happy Monday! It feels like I’ve been away for a month. Our two-week polar cruise has been remarkable. I adore travel of all types, but cruising may be my favorite. You pack once and get to explore multiple cities and/or countries without the hassle of flying, repacking, and schlepping all your stuff around.
I picked up this book from the ship’s library and found it fascinating. I don’t eat mammals, so it was slightly outside my comfort zone to read what they ate…but what she did is remarkable! It’s about a woman named Christiane Ritter, who leaves her comfortable life in Austria to spend a year with her husband on the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen in 1934.
We flew home on Saturday…diligently wearing our facemasks. Mask-wearing is not a political statement for me. It’s a personal choice to do all I can to protect my health. It turns out that all we did was protect others from catching the COVID that knocked us flat on Sunday. #bestintentions
We both caught COVID the last time we cruised, so I hope it doesn’t go with the cruising territory from now on. I’m very grateful it waited until we got home and didn’t ruin the trip, but I imagine lots of folks must have gotten it. Close quarters and breathing the same air for 2 weeks in this day and age means something will be spread, no matter how careful you are.
The guests were a very international crowd from as far away as Australia, South Africa, England, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Japan, France, New Zealand, China, and the US. I found it interesting that the women all dressed pretty similarly. There were no outfits that stood out, and there wasn’t an accessory in the crowd. There were no “dressy” nights, so people dressed for comfort in the same casual clothes I’d expect to see at home.
I wore this same coat and waterproof pants anytime we got off the ship to hike or go on a zodiac cruise. Under it, I alternated the same 3 pairs of pants and a few sweaters ad nauseam. I will have an update later on what I packed, but it wasn’t all that interesting. This is what I looked like most days…
Helsinki
I adore Helsinki. When we passed through on our way to the cruise, it was cold enough to require a parka, warm hat, gloves, and scarf. Two weeks later, spring had arrived, and most folks were wearing sundresses or shorts. The tulips were out, all the trees were in bloom, and the sidewalk cafes were full of people enjoying the sun. We only had a few days to explore the city, but it was enough to discover amazing restaurants, world-class shopping, and friendly people.
Memorial Day Updates
Here are a few extra sales and what I’m shopping on this long weekend.
- Jenni Kane is having a rare sale with 20% off sitewide! I wore this cashmere Fisherman sweater more days than I didn’t during the last two weeks, and it finally started to show some pills on this second to last day. I’ve wanted the Navy forever and just ordered it.
- Everlane has 25% off sitewide and free shipping over $100. This organic cotton rib henley looks like a great summer piece in bone and navy stripe.
- Frank and Eileen has added new items to their sale section, which is up to 70% off! Be aware their sale merchandise is a final sale. I adore my Triple Fleece Belfast Peacoat and have worn it a ton! I bought this Triple Fleece Henley dress in grey the last time it was on sale, and I love it! I hate to say it, but now is a great time to buy fall/winter things that you know you love. I wear a small in both.
- Eileen Fisher has 30% off sale items through May 28. My favorite washable crepe pants are on sale in 21 colors! These travel like a dream and dress up beautifully. I have this classic silk georgette shirt in Bone, and I love it so much that I ordered the Twilight. I simply toss mine in the washer. My new lantern skirt is also on sale! I’m a big fan of these organic linen pants, which are on sale in the Grove color. I adore this little linen-cropped cardigan. The weight is perfect for a little arm coverage on hot days. I have the Atlantis to coordinate with my dress and the black, which I wear all summer long. My latest EF try-on session is here.
Have a terrific day, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
Sounds like a wonderful holiday! Hope you are up and about soon.
I am with you, I wear a mask because I want to and to protect myself and my compromised immune system.
HAve a wonderful week.
It was wonderful. Thanks so much Elizabeth
Hope you recover soon! It’s too bad that small ships like yours was no longer require Covid tests prior to boarding. Apparently, the current vaccines don’t really protect against the current strain of Covid, so another booster probably would not have helped.
I’m sure it would have helped my odds of not catching this
So sorry that you got Covid. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Your trip sounds amazing – definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Thank you. It was fabulous
You are bundled up for all the excursions (which look very well planned)….but i don’t think you ever mentioned the temperature. It looks like you are bundled up for 20degrees Celcius below Zero plus wind chill. What was the usual temperature?
It was often below zero and quite frigid. If the wind blew, I wanted to protect my skin with my scarf. It was very cold on the zodiacs
What cruise line did you use? What was your itinerary?
We were on Quark out of Svalbard. The itinerary is very fluid because they need to change it based on current ice conditions.
So sorry you’ve returned with Covid, Jennifer. Such a great sounding adventure otherwise. I’ll be waiting for you to feel better to learn more about Helsinki and your great cruise. Feel better soon…..
Thanks Paulette
We love to cruise! And living in Florida makes it easy to get to a port.
Regarding those Eileen Fisher pants you love….I bought one pair, and they are terrific….except (as the sales lady said) you have to wear a long top because they aren’t very attractive in the crotch area. So, that rules out the shorter boxy EF tops. ☹️. How do you deal with this?
Getting geared up for a 3 week trip to Europe next early April (iffy weather?) 1 wk in N Denmark to see my sister, then 2 wk River cruise (Amsterdam-Budapest). Really want to pack in a carryon + large tote/personal item. Any hints on what to bring (the EF pants?) what to leave home would be super! Thanks, Laurie
I wear mine with long shirts and a cardigan covering my backside. Our riverboat cruise (Viking) was resort casual. I brought black, white, gray and scarves. I rewore many pieces too. I went carryon so it can be done. Spread your looks with accessories and don’t worry about repeating outfits. No one cares. You might find this post helpful.
I’ve had Covid twice. Both times after flying home from Hawaii. Both times the terminals were very crowded. Should have put my mask on there instead of waiting til we started boarding the plane. I’ve heard the air filtration systems on modern planes do a pretty good job once the planes get going. My hubby has never had it. Guess he’s one of the lucky Covid virgins still left, and it’s not because he’s the least bit careful. I hope you and your hubs are experiencing mild cases.
Hubs has a lighter case than I do which I find unfair because I think he got it first and gave it to me. 🤣
This truly sounds like the trip of a lifetime! So glad you both stayed well until you got home!
We do too!
I understand what you mean when you say, ‘ all we did was protect others from catching the COVID that knocked us flat’, but that’s doing a lot! Protecting others is a wonderful reason to wear a mask, and I wish more people would be grateful to those who do wear one, rather than criticizing them. I’m sorry that you got covid, but it’s great that you didn’t pass it on to others since you were wearing a mask. Your trip sounds wonderful, and I hope you’ll enjoy the wonderful memories you’ve made. And yes, Helsinki is a beautiful city!
I wish more folks wore masks. It doesn’t hurt anyone and you never know who has a compromised immune system that would struggle with our germs.
Your trip sounds amazing! It’s so hard to come home from vacation and then to be sick is even worse. Take care!
Thank you
Hello Jennifer,
I bought the Jenni Kayne sweater in navy thanks for pointing it out it sounds fabulous from the reviews. Rest well and get better soon.☺️
It’s so amazing! I hope you love it half as much as I do.
Thanks for sharing your polar experience in the arctic. Sounds so wonderful and different.
We have been on two cruises prior to covid, and I got sick with upper respiratory cold , etc. I loved cruising, saw so many places, easy travel.
I have gotten covid twice at home the last two years, around Christmas holidays, and have taken the anti viral, which help knock the worse symptoms out. I don’t think I will go on any more cruises , especially if they don’t carry the antiviral. Do they quarantine on boats anymore?
We went to England a few weeks ago on a 10 hr flight , no masks were worn, and I never got sick. I think planes have a pretty good air filter system.
I hear there is a new variant, and our immune systems aren’t familiar with it.
I think it is too bad covid is not seasonal like the flu. we never get a break.
I read the same thing about this new variant. Hopefully I’ll kick it quickly.