We got off the ship in Lisbon, Portugal. They took us right to our hotel where we had 4 hours to wait before our rooms were ready. Got some photo editing done. Went to lunch and had a $50+ burger/fries/Coke lunch. My flights home were very comfortable. I was able to get a lot of photo editing done on the first flight. But connecting through Boston with customs was only made tolerable with having wheelchair assistance. I loved seeing my driver with my name on his iPad waiting for me in Las Vegas.

I got home two days ago and this afternoon I have to pack to leave tomorrow to go back to work on a ship on the Snake & Columbia Rivers. My cat will not be happy!!

This was a trip of a life-time – one I will never forget or be able to do again. I loved the Safari in South Africa and Botswana; the wildlife was incredible.

I wish I had more time in Cape Town but if all goes as planned, I will be returning there for three days in the fall of 2026 as part of a land tour of Namibia that I have signed up for.

The cruise was awesome. The expedition staff was top-notch, and the crew were so nice. Most knew my name by the third day and always greeted me as Ms. Wilson. My cabin was very comfortable, and my mini fridge was always filled with ice, sodas and beer of my choice. My butler also brought me a big bottle of Amarula – an African drink similar to Bailey’s. So good over ice at bedtime.

I cannot believe our luck with the weather and calm seas. Out of 40 days we only had one day with a little rolling and that was nothing to get upset over.

I met some interesting people and made some new friends. I joined a Trivia team and we had so much fun nearly every day of the trip.

My only regret was that since I love photographing wildlife, especially birds, I signed up for every shore excursion that was supposed to see birds. If you read all my blogs, you saw that mostly I was disappointed with each of them. On a private zodiac cruise, I was able to get the winning photo in the ship’s photo contest in the animal category.

I wish that instead I had signed up for more of the cultural tours. Reading others posts on Facebook, I realized all that I had missed.

I learned so much history that I didn’t know before. But that is why I travel – and encourage others to do the same. There is so much to keep learning that will enhance our understanding of the world and the people in it. As Mark Twain said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." That has never been more true.

I understand that there were a few sightings of whales and dolphins along the way, but I didn’t spend enough time out on deck looking – just too much else to do. But I did luck out one evening when I returned to my cabin after dinner and had dolphins right outside my cabin.

I also saw a few birds, I believe these are some kind of shearwaters.

Thanks for following along on my adventure. Until the next time…..