Cruising out of NYC

Over the past several years I have travelled hither, thither and yon to various and sundry places on the globe.  One of my favorite ways of travelling is to take an ocean cruise.  In the course of my travels I have sailed out of Seward down the Alaskan coast to Vancouver; from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan; from LA to Miami through the Panama Canal; from Barcelona to Malta, Naples, Civitavecchia, Florence and the French Riviera; from New Orleans to Cozumel, Belize City, and San Tomas in Costa Rica; and from Port Lauderdale to Jamaica, the Caymans and St. Kitts.  All of these trips have been great, and I would not have traded those experiences for anything, but I have to admit...I like sailing out of my hometown: New York City and its environs.  And it is now possible to do that year round.   


There are three places to embark on a cruise in the metropolitan area. I have experienced two of the three...hopefully next year I will actually get to depart from the third.

Norwegian Cruise Lines...my normal "go-to" cruise line, docks at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Westside in the 40's.  This facility has space for four cruise ships to dock at one time.  We were actually caught in a nightmare of a traffic jam one Sunday when four ships: an NCL, a Carnival, a Celebrity and the Queen Mary were all docked and loading on board.  We were attempting to get to my Uncle Bill's 80th birthday party and were snarled on the west side for 45 minutes longer than necessary...but it was nice seeing all those lovely ships there at one time...kind of a mixed blessing.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has made a long term commitment to New York City making year round cruising available from this port city.  There are at least two NCL ships in port on any given weekend. The Breakaway is stationed here all year long.  It is currently out on a two night "Cruise to Nowhere" returning early tomorrow morning only to clean up and restock to cruise to the Caribbean on Sunday afternoon.  In the fall she will begin sailing to Port Canaveral, an island near Eluthera and then Nassau for a weekly trip until the end of April when she starts her Bermuda runs.



 I sailed from Southampton in England to NYC on her maiden voyage and loved it. When October rolls around the cycle starts again. My travelling peeps: Paul and Diane and I will be taking one of those cruises out of NYC to Nassau in a few weeks to get away from the dreary North American winters. The NCL Gem also ports in NYC and sails to the Eastern Caribbean.  It is also one of the nicest ships in the NCL fleet.  I took a cruise on the NCL Gem to Bermuda recently and actually took the ferry to the #1 train to 51st Street and walked to the ship.  It was quick and easy.


The NCL Gem

                                                                                                














And there are not just the normal US friendly cruise lines that dock in Manhattan.  The Aida Cruise Line, a German company, docks in NYC in the summer and early autumn months with cruisers on their way back from or going to the warm Caribbean...they come to NYC to shop, so the ship docks for two whole days. Their ships also have a distinctive "look"..each one has a set of ruby red lips and "Cleopatra" eyes...kind of scary for the kids...but fun none the less. I also think that stopping in Manhattan makes the crew happy...they get to  catch up with friends and family here and in Europe by phone and also shop, albeit for essentials as opposed to designer handbags. 

Both Princess and Cunard use the new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. It is a wonderful facility in Red Hook. It is facing Buttermilk Channel and looks at the back of Governor's Island.  Big ships like the Cunard's Queens can fit here with ease.  One of the most exciting nights happened a few years a go in NYC when all three Queens: Mary, Elizabeth and Victoria, were in port at the same time! What a magnificent sight! The Queens do Trans-Atlantic and Caribbean as well as Canadian cruises in the fall. I took a fall cruise to New England and Canada from there on the Caribbean Princess and actually liked it better than Manhattan....faster in and out.


 

The third terminal is in Bayonne, NJ where the US military used to have a port to ship supplies around the globe. Our cousin Charles worked there in both a military and civilian capacity until its closing.  The city of Bayonne took it over and turned it into a cruise port called Cape Liberty Cruise Port.  Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise out of this port. I can actually see them when I walk to the SI ferry, or from my deck on Sunday afternoon as they leave.




So, one can see why this town is a great place to cruise from: no hotel or airfare to pay...several options on ports to visit....different curise lines with different levels of service and destinations. What is not to like?  Try it...you will like it.

Try it...you'll like it...

Café du Monde

Over the years that I have enjoyed traveling...and they are many, I have always been open to trying something new in the places I have travelled.  You only have to try it...you don't have to embrace it as a new lifestyle change. Since the food a people eats tells you a lot about how they live their lives, just do it.  Here are some of my favorites over the years:




1. Beignets at the Café du Monde in New Orleans. Every culture has its own reciepe for fried dough..donuts, but the French have one of the best.  Flour, eggs, sugar, yeast and salt combine into a concoction like no other!  Sprinkled with powered sugar and served with chicory coffee...heaven on earth!  If you are in New Orleans and do not go for some beignets...shame on you!






Hot dog stand in Rejufvik

2. Lamb hot dogs "mit ollu" (with "the works") in Rejikvik, Iceland.  Go to the stand called "Bæjarins beztu pylsur" translated as "Bajarins best hot dog" near the harbor.  If you order one with "the works" it will include ketchup, sweet mustard, fried onion, raw onion and remoulade sauce.  Best dog I ever had! But be aware! The server has little tolerance for tourists.  The Locals, however, are willing to assist.  On the way home at the airport you can purchase some lamb hot dogs to bring home...just be sure to get the national certification so you can bring them back to the USA.

3. Scones, clotted cream and jam in England or Ireland.  The clotted cream is like superfine whipped butter.  My friend Angie, an American ex-pat, commented that I was surely an American as I neatly spread the clotted cream on my scone and geometrically spread the jam on top.  It seems the British are relentless in slathering on the butter, and the Irish like to load on the jam.  I soon learned to do both.  These butter and jammed up scones go very well with hot black tea.  That is how I eat them here at home.


Scones, clotted cream and jam

4. Alaskan smoked salmon: On my very first ocean cruise, I discovered the joys of Alaskan smoked salmon...fulsome, salty, rich and flavorful...who could resist?  Not me! My late husband noted that on our Alaskan cruise I ate at least two servings of salmon each day...yep, I did.  I still love smoked and cured salmon and have had it in Alaska, Sweden, Amsterdam, New York and Southampton.  It just tastes good.




5. Roasted Goose: traditional German Christmas dish. On my recent trip sailing down the Rhine River through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, we were treated to a plethora of traditional European holiday dishes: capon, roast pork, duck, veal schnitzels...all wonderful.  But  THE best was the roast goose I had at a local restaurant  in Solln, a section of Munich.  It was served with a crispy skin and sides of wonderfully braised red cabbage and roasted potatoes.  I normally do not like cabbage, but this was exceptionally cooked with onions, apples and cider.




Roast Goose and Red Cabbage

So my recommendation to you all is...try new stuff...you might really like it!

Notes from a Frequent Flier: ...From the Cookie Jar.

Notes from a Frequent Flier: ...From the Cookie Jar.: I have recently been the recipient of a variety of homemade treats over the past several weeks.  An addictive cinnamon  swirl bread...

...From the Cookie Jar.

I have recently been the recipient of a variety of homemade treats over the past several weeks.  An addictive cinnamon  swirl bread...great toasted and slathered with butter, a tin of spiced and salted pecans...too delicious to share, and my favorite, a bag of heavenly walnut, chocolate chip cookies baked by one of the women in my church.  I can't describe the absolute joy these little morsels have brought me, and I am sorry to admit, I hid  several away from my granddaughter so I could enjoy them on my own with a good cup of tea.

Black and White cookies

Now you can get some good commercial cookies in this town year round...the Black and White cookies from Leske's in Bay Ridge are legendary, and every fall we in the Northeast  await the both the changing color of the leaves and the arrival of the Mallomars from Canada. 




But the joys of winter include the plethora of homemade cookies from the kitchens and ovens of many folks across this city. In many congregations, schools, offices and social clubs people gather into groups for "Cookie Swaps" during which they trade dozens of their homemade cookies for a variety of others brought to the "Swap" by the other baker-participants thus expanding the scope and taste of ones personal horde of cookies.


The word "cookie" is brought to us in the New World by the Dutch who settled this part of the East Coast. It comes from the word koekie which means little cake. Wikipedia defines "cookie" as a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing flour, eggs and sugar, and either butter or cooking oil, and often including ingredients such as raisins, oats, or chocolate chips. In the British Isles and Ireland, they are called "biscuits"...something very different here in the states.  And in England, as well as here in the States, you can buy commercially made "biscuits" or "cookies" anytime you want.

Snickerdoodles

And there are all sorts of cookies.


There are rolled cookies, made from a stiff dough, rolled flat and cut with special cookie cutters into a variety of shapes.  Some of these can be made into 'sandwich" cookies like Linzer tarts or that commercial favorite the Oreo. Bar cookies are made of a poured or pressed batter that when cooled is cut into geometric shapes.  A good example is the Scottish shortbread...made famous by Robert Burns.  Chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies are what are called "drop cookies" for they are done exactly that way from a spoon onto a cookie sheet.  Snickerdoodles are an example of a "mold cookie", a stiff dough rolled by hand into a ball and placed on the cookie sheet, sometimes they are then pressed down by a fork or by a thumb.  The delicious Swedish butter cookies my Mother-in-law made were a kind of molded cookie...the stiff butter-filled dough was hand pressed into tart molds and after baking and cooling could be eaten plan or filled with jam or whipped cream.  Pressed cookies are made from a soft dough that is extruded from a cookie press into various decorative shapes before baking. Spritz cookies,using a press or pastry bag,are an example of a pressed cookie.  

So, if you have been the recipient of some homemade cookies, or have made some for yourself and your friends, how lucky are you!  You are continuing a wonderful tradition often handed down from generation to generation in your families.  Which cookie is your personal "fav"?

Questionable Seasonal Music

As we bid farewell to the Christmas/Holiday Season of 2013-2014, it is time to reflect and discard those seasonal tunes that just grate the nerves.  Now, I know some of you really love some of these tunes, so I will preface this posting with the following caveat: These are melodies that cause my teeth to be on edge.  You actually may cherish them as personal favorites.  Here goes:

1. "Blue Christmas"...now I know many of you do love this one recorded by the King of Rock and Roll himself, and others in loving tribute, but I just can't get over how it has just become a parody of what Elvis could do as an artist.  I do not want to remember him muttering "Blue, blue, blue...", But, hey, that's me.  I prefer the nuance of "I Can't Help Falling in Love with you"  The melody is based on "Plaisir d'Amour".  It was featured in the film, "Blue Hawaii". Take at look at these.  You can compare and contrast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KK6sMo8NBY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqv5b0UjR4g



   2. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was written for the cartoon "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and the lyrics were indeed written by Theodor Geisel, Dr. Seuss himself.  I will not miss hearing this for another year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wgosPXVWUM 

3. "Silver and Gold" was written for the Christmas cartoon "Rudolph,, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" that featured Burl Ives as the narrator and singer. I have seen this rendition several times, since Erin and Ian like to watch the video...although Erin is not crazy about the "Snow Monster" It was later recorded by Vanessa Williams on her holiday album.  It has become a minor hit due to its airtime during the holidays...I am happy to let this one go for another year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-XDQN6ipE


4."Merry Christmas, Darling"... And speaking of Vanessa, who has such a lovely voice, I am not quite sure about this one.  It has great potential, but just seems to miss the mark.  She sings it impeccably.  Maybe this one can grow on me  I will listen to it again, maybe, next Christmas season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5g4lnZkfjk
 
And finally:

5."GrandmaGot Run Over by a Reindeer"...which when I first heard it, was hilarious.  It recounts what happens to the matriarch of a family when she over does the eggnog and has an unpleasant encounter with a guy in a red suit driving a flying sled with a herd of reindeer. But now...Enough Already!!! Pack it away for next year...RIGHT NOW!         

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw  

My Christmas Greeting

Munich Christmas Market 2013

               Christmastide 2013-2014 January 4, 2014

What a wonderful year was had by the Swanson clan!  Rob and Stephanie are busily planning their upcoming April Wedding.  Kirstin and Brian have the privilege of watching and guiding Erin and Ian as they grow into their own personhood.  Tara continues to develop her professional and personal skills amazing us all with her creativity in creating original crocheted dolls and animals for the children and grandchildren of her many friends and relatives.  Although just a hobby at this point, I am hoping she thinks about marketing these talents into an online business.  All three Swanson offspring currently work in one capacity or the other for the City of New York. Kirstin is the Director of Development for Kingsborough Community College; Tara is in the communications office of the Independent Budget Office, and Rob is working for the Department of Sanitation.  I still work part time for the Department of Education in the Certification Office.  It keeps me in travel money.

And travel was an important part of this past year.  In March I attended meetings outside Baltimore and got to visit friends there.  Late April and May found me in England doing some genealogy research on the Conkling family which took me to Nottingham where I visited the church in which my 8^th great-grandparents were wed in 1531. I visited with friends while there not only in Nottingham, but in Coventry, London and Cookham.  I also visited Bath and Winchester while I was staying in Southampton.  Getting a Brit Rail pass was the best thing I did.  Travel pals Paul and Diane Schneider met me in Southampton; we sailed back to NYC on the maiden voyage of the NCL Breakaway. It was a great trip. June took me to Williamsburg, VA for another conference and some nice touring time with friends.   In late August I went to Nantucket with my sister, Jean and cousin, Barbara.  It was a relaxing time with lots of good seafood.  In September, my newly retired sister, Joan Filippone and I were off to Rome.  The Eternal City was a great treat!  We climbed the Palatine Hill, visited the Vatican, the Coliseum, the Forum and the Sistine Chapel.  Our highlight had to be a private cooking class near the Spanish Steps.  We learned how to make gnocchi, linguini and a wonderful butter and mint sauce for ravioli. Joan got a lot of attention since all of the local guides…mostly male, were under the impression that “Signora Filippone” was Italian and coming home.  I was along for the ride.

But the best trip of the year had to be the Christmas Market cruise down the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel.  This trip was three years in the making and did not disappoint.  The cathedral in Cologne, the trip through the Black Forests, the serendipitous lunches in Mainz and Strasbourg, the Markets in every town we stopped in…all were wonderful and all were memorable. My travelling companions: Charles and Karen Carlson, Diane and Paul Schneider and Peter Weymar, were all easy to travel with and, we all enjoyed this trip so much that we are planning another one in about a year.

Although I did more than my share of travelling this year, I also continued to work on hurricane relief here on Staten Island.  Up until this month, I chaired the Volunteer Housing Committee of the Staten Island Long Term Recovery Committee.  In that capacity my committee identified and secured volunteer housing sites for long term volunteers doing reconstruction work on Staten Island.  This work continues, as does my volunteer work at the Stapleton Soup Kitchen.  We served 183 for Christmas and 72 today when the temperature hovered at 20 degrees.

Needing to close, I wish you a happy 2014, and pray the joy of Christmas follows you all year long!

Geri Swanson            

Christmas Carols

We are still within the confines of the Christmas season, and that means in most Christian Churches across the world, carols are still in vogue. Now, everyone I know has their favorite carols; some, I dare say, are just all time classics.  Who does not feel warm and fuzzy listening to a children's choir sing "Silent Night" in English or German?  And a rousing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is a sure-fire winner in getting the gathered congregation to rise from their languishing sitting positions to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, and anyone else in the nearby vicinity.

But there are others that may not be as well known, but have become personal favorites. Here are a few:

1. "Angles from the Realms of Glory" was written by the Scottish poet James Montgomery.  It was recorded by Annie Lennox on the album, A Christmas Cornucopia" You can listen to it here as sung by a church choir form the Mid-West.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-paqePRfRc8 

2."Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" is a German carol from the 16th century which is a favorite of
Lutherans and Episcopalians alike.  It has a nice lilting melody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYecrfQjEJU

3. "The Carol of the Bells" is a favorite of my son's...he likes the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rendition, which is ironic since the tune itself is from a Ukrainian folk song welcoming in the New Year. This is a relatively contemporary carol. It was introduced to this country in 1921. Here is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's version.  I liked it better than the Mormon Tabernacle choir, but you can decide.  I am linking them both here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCabI3MdV9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-W2Bkz_Rno

4. "The Snow lay on the Ground" is set to a traditional Irish tune.  I just think it is a lovely carol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvJ0IJGxWdY


5. "O Holy Night" is a very popular carol, but often difficult to sing.  Its tune was written by Adolph Adams in around 1846 in France.  A Unitarian minister, John Sullivan Dwight, wrote the English words based on the Franch.  The best recording I have ever heard of it was done by Josh Groban.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIFH0TUWcBA