Posts published in “November-December 2021”
Take a boy of nine who couldn’t read or spell, give him a highly illustrated book called “20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA” and what happens? He lives his life as an inventor, artist and writer with a love of all things oceanic. Jules Verne inspired…
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, of the 16 million who served in the armed services in World War II, only about 325,000 American veterans were estimated to still be alive as of May, 2021. They became known as The Greatest Generation, a…
There is no other image that more identifies Venice than the gondola. Its unique design dates back to the 11th century. The gondola has been celebrated in song, art and literature for centuries. Mark Twain observed, “We reached Venice at eight in the evening, and…
People who would like to have boats but don’t currently have one usually have a lot of valid reasons why boat ownership at this time would not be a good idea. Taken together, the reasons often boil down to life getting in the way for…
Each month, an interesting aspect of the world’s oldest continuous maritime service will be highlighted. The men and women of the United States Coast Guard follow in the fine tradition of the brave mariners who have served before them. As sentinels and saviors of the…
This time of the year I’m betting there’s a good number of you who break out the Jimmy Buffett CD, Christmas Island. It’s a collection of traditional Christmas songs done with Buffett’s decided tropical flair, plus a few of his own seasonal songs. In case…
How quickly the holidays come upon us. And I am never ready for them. I have to say though that it is probably my favorite time of year for cooking, baking and eating all those cherished holiday foods leaving us heading for the gym in…
As a teenager I was a “gear-head” and a street racer on the highways and byways of North Jersey having ran a ’66 GTO built to the hilt and later-on an SS-396 Chevelle. Next it was piloting a 4200-ton Attack submarine beneath the waves, and…
Whether seen from just offshore or on nearby land, lighthouses, symbols of our navigational past, each have their own special appeal. Of all of the U. S. states, which one has the greatest number of lighthouses along its coast? That will be answered at the…