by Ryan Markiewicz | Dec 20, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
The first couple of days onboard has us navigating Drake’s Passage, the way to Antarctica.
I think it’s about 500 miles, and since it is the place where the Pacific Ocean runs into the Atlantic Ocean around Cape Horn (the southern tip of the Americas), it can be rough sailing.
We have about 30-mile-per-hour winds and 10-foot waves, so it’s a little rough, but the Seabourne Venture is a sturdy icebreaker, so while we are rolling a bit, I’ve seen a lot worse. This is doable.
Now, Yuriy made the point last night, “Why would you leave the lovely warmth of Florida to go down to freezing cold Antarctica?” and my half-facetious response is, “Because I’m a dumbass.” And there is certainly SOME truth to that.
But, as William Shatner, our host, (Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek) said at his welcoming talk–because humans have always been “curious” creatures. That even from the days we first stood up, we have wandered and traveled, looking for “What else is out there?”
I’ll take that as the better (at least more romantic) answer.
Onward!
by Ryan Markiewicz | Dec 19, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.’ I’m not sure why that old song popped into my head. Probably because so far, just getting to the ship to start that cruise has been a 36-hour journey. Somehow, I had not calculated for that. But…it’s a long way to Tipperary (Ushuaia). Left our place in Florida at 4:15 am. Left at 8 from Miami airport and flew 9 hours to Buenos Aires. Crashed at a nice hotel in BA. Got up at 4 am this morning to grab some breakfast and catch a 6 am flight to Ushuaia (the southernmost city on earth) and will then (FINALLY!) get to the ship to begin our 10-day cruise to Antarctica. All part of the deal.
I can tell already that this cruise will be different. It is a smaller boat, probably around 200 passengers. An ice-breaker to punch through the ice. The clientele is much younger/more varied than the usual cruises we have been on. And, you can already tell some very interesting people. Not just the “stars” of the show but many of the passengers themselves. An eclectic group. Normally on these cruises, we just keep to ourselves. Friendly enough to others, but not looking to make new friends. This one, I think, will be different.
I’m just wondering, what will be the “highlight” of this trip? Will it be the ship? The service? The talks? The celebrities? The passengers? The excursions? Or just the landscape, unlike any other on earth?
I’m excited to find out. Will let you know.
The red dot is Buenos Aires. A long way from Florida (9 hours). Then we fly to the southern tip of the Americas, Ushuaia. That’s another 4 hours. Then we cross Drake’s Passage to get to Antarctica.
Charles Duke is one of the five astronauts aboard. A legend!!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Duke
Landing in Ushuaia. That’s our ship awaiting us.
Wonder which one we’re taking??? 🤪
Onward!! -JB
by Ryan Markiewicz | Dec 18, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
Heading South!
Cool video from Neil deGrasse Tyson below.
-JB
by Ryan Markiewicz | Dec 16, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
All,
Getting ready to head out early Wednesday for our adventure. Will keep in touch (hopefully we have Starlink/wifi. No cell service down there 🤪)
These are some of the guests who will be onboard. I hope to meet them and learn from them.
Excited! Talk soon.
-JB
by Ryan Markiewicz | Nov 4, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
Check this out. Pretty cool.
https://fb.watch/vDPLg3YjSl/?
I know you may not be a Bills fan (or a football fan). And some of you folks overseas might not even know much about football at all (though I know the folks in England, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil do, and our BIG fans 😉).
But I am a big Buffalo Bills fan and was at the game Sunday. It was an amazing game. Came down to the last play. The Bills did not play anywhere near their best game and still won. That’s not easy to do against NFL competition. And Miami’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played GREAT!
And though many of you know I am often critical of Bills’ coach, Sean McDermott, I think this was a very ballsy call to go for the winning FG as he did.
- It was over 60 yards. Longer than Bass has ever hit and longer than any in Buffalo Bills history.
- TBass (the Bills kicker) has had a rough year plus. He seemed to lose his confidence toward the end of last year and has been shaky.
- McDermott going for the FG in that situation took guts. The safer bet was a Hail Mary or even a punt to go into OT. The danger with the FG attempt is that 1. It could be blocked and returned for a TD or 2. If Bass misses (and who thought he would make it, honestly?), the Dolphins get the ball on the Bills 49 with only a few seconds left but with 2 timeouts. One 15-20 yard completion the Dolphins they could have kicked a much more makeable game-winning field goal. Gutsy call.
Now, I know how much McDermott and the rest of the team have had TBass’ back. And no one would have blamed him for missing a 61-yarder at the buzzer. But had he missed, and had the Dolphins scored a last-second FG, McDermott would have been pilloried for going with a guy who has been inconsistent all year (including missing an XP earlier in the game).
So, my hat’s off to McDermott for sticking with his guy, for having faith in him, and for putting his own rep on the line by bringing him out in that situation.
And clearly, you can see from the video how happy all of Bass’ teammates were for him.
And I would not be surprised if this kick (hopefully 🤞) restores Bass’ confidence, turns his season around, and maybe even saves his career.
Good for him. Good for McDermott. Good for the team. A good lesson for all of us. We have to keep faith in each other, lift up those who are down, don’t give up on them during tough times. What makes a team stronger.
Go Bills! -JB
PS–here’s a look at the play:
https://x.com/danfetes/status/1853183208164151737?s=61&t=wOTQcoLRVs8n-Qq-W8brCQ
by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 30, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
All,
Since you probably know I am a big Buffalo Bills fan (and since the Bills theme song is Shout) you likely think this is about the Buffalo Bills. But it’s not.
I am also a big BUFFALO fan in general. I went to school there. Spent my 20’s there. Started my family there. And only left at 30 because I needed a job.
So this is just a shout-out to Buffalo.
Today, a bunch of us went up there to visit our good friend and customer, Bill Hanes. I first met Bill at the Bills stadium when our good friends at M&T Bank invited us to a dinner with Buffalo Bills General Manager, Brandon Beane. Thank you, M&T guys 🙂
Bill and I struck up a friendship from there. We email a lot. I’ve gone to games with him. He is a long time fan and friends with many of the older Bills players and coaches. Great guy.
Anyway, we went to see him today and even though we don’t do a ton of business with his company, to me it’s just as good to get to know good people, even if you don’t do a lot of business together. One of the best parts of the job is the people you get to meet and hopefully get to work with. But even if no business, still glad you know them.
So, for lunch Bill takes us to his favorite local gin mill. Google Gin Mill if you’re not from here 🙂 There are dozens of these in Buffalo. Nothing fancy. Just great food and friendly people. Buffalo is known as ‘The City of Good Neighbors’ and deserves that title.
Well, Bill is (naturally) a regular there and we moved a few tables together to make one big enough for the 8 of us at lunch. Just then, an older gentleman–clearly another “regular”– wearing a veteran’s ball cap walks in and I hear him kind of jokingly tell the waitress, “Hey, They Took My Table!”
Bill (who obviously knew him) said, “Sorry John. Those other guys took the table for 8 so we had to make do.” No biggie. All good.
Well, I see the Veteran is wearing an old Buffalo Braves t-shirt.
Now, I know 95% of you won’t know this, but Buffalo had a (really good) NBA team back in the ’70s, and I was a big fan. That’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.”
I walk over and introduce myself. We shake hands and talk about the Braves a bit. Lunch comes (Beef on Weck for me, of course) (Google too, I guess 🤪).
A few minutes later, I notice John walk out of the bar. He comes back in a few minutes later with a plastic bag and hands it to me. It’s a gift—a vintage Buffalo Braves t-shirt.
Just like that 😊
And, believe this or not (but it’s true either way)–From all my years living in and around Buffalo– that’s a pretty typical Buffalo story.
Onward!
JB
PS–and, of course, we DID stop to see the new Bills stadium going up on the way home.
PPS–and for any of your poor souls who don’t know the Bill’s shout song, here it is:
https://youtu.be/1JpeDWbgUO8?si=68jID1lNtthEG_Mu
Page 4 of 10« First«...23456...10...»Last »
