Blossoms, bullet train and beyond: exploring Japan by Land and Sea.

[Quickstatus]

Beaver:

 

[Pushka]

Beaver:

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I see your point but on the other hand none of the other symbols used were actually the true representative creature for that country. Unless sheep are the symbol for NZ and Koala for Australia. Can't recall the others but they were all somewhat funny.

 

[moa999]

After the Sea temple we visited the APEC site for 2005

Maybe because it was in a more remote site.. but can't think of anything that remembers APEC Sydney 2007

Symbols all seem to be a bit of what you wouldn't first think of.
Normally NZ would be Kiwi Bird, and Australia tends to be Kangaroo over Emu or Koala

 

[love_the_life]

Yes. There are about 15 officials onboard.

We received a note that as suite guests we should go down to Luminae (suite lounge) and await escort. In the meantime our butler rang amd said to call for him when we were ready. So five minutes later I rang him back and asked if he was free. 'Yes madam, I am right outside your door' . He was. He escorted us downstairs to the main dining room which was now an immigration processing centre. Huge queue. He handed us over to another butler with a large sign 'Priority, Retreat guests' and took is past the long line of people waiting. Kinda awkward but rather excellent. Yes, we became 'those' people. As usual my fingerprints took some time but think he just pressed the green button anyway. As we finished I looked back to the queue and saw the two people in the Royal suite about to take our place. We both called out 'awkward' and laughed. Oh dear.

We've had similar on other cruises but can't quite remember which ones. Maybe Egypt? And on the QM2 it was for China.

Nah, that's what you pay for.

 

[RooFlyer]

Nah, that's what you pay for.

I'm sure 'DYKWIA?' was on the tip of Pushka's tongue, ready for deployment if necessary.

 

[Quickstatus]

ready for deployment if necessary.

While conspicuously playing with the full set Effy necklace

 

[Seat0B]

He wanted to get an unobstructed photo of his tour group

So he kept telling everyone to get out of the way,

his group were from China

We’ve had an identical issue now several times in Japan as well. It’s very frustrating.

 

[Seat0B]

Has happened to me on Intrepid type tours. Visiting some fabulous historic town and tour leader declares a sit-down coffee stop. Someone in the group decides to order food as well. Everyone spreads out etc etc. Ends up being 3/4 hour.

Exactly what I’m fearful of with Africa.

 

[tgh]

Many decades ago, we had an escorted equestrian tour in Germany before attending the world equestrian games in Stockholm
There were two buses, our group hit off together , we were loud, noisy and drove the guide insane..
What about lunch someone would start, the guide would say well we need to do x and see y .. we find a local restaurant and start a party.
The lot on the other bus did what they were told and had a miserable time…we had a raging ball….

 

[RooFlyer]

@Pushka - about these dorks you are coming across here and there. Remember, if you don't come across any problematic people in a group, then that person is YOU!

 

[Pushka]

So last night MrP and I decided to take a tour of the Art Gallery. Oh my. There are some simply stunning paintings there. One of a farm fields with cottage gardens was gorgeous. Now, this was the amazement for me. It truly is a floating art gallery. There IS a genuine Rembrandt, several pieces by Pablo Picasso, (auction prices started for various works from $8000 usd to $15,0000 usd. Goya, Salvador Dali. Paintings and many beautiful sculptures by Britto. There were some wonderful authentic paintings of several Disney and other movies, Bambi. Aladdin's Lamp. Mickey Mouse and friends, several Harry Potter scenes and so on. Just gorgeous. I asked the attendant how on earth they could source such beautiful works. She said they had very active agents, they purchase deceased estates (that's where the Picassos came from). I take everything I said, back. I'd love to have taken photographs but likely would have been detained on the spot. Security was everywhere and no wonder. Was blown away.

 

[love_the_life]

On our first cruise, a long long time ago, on one of the Superstar ships (from memory Virgo), we ate in one of the specialty restaurants. They had a number of originals and where it was a copy, the line had the original on a different ship in their fleet. The staff could point out which was original and which was not.
One of the most stunning was the Lucien Freud portrait of Kate Moss. Of course these were not for sale. The restaurant also used Versace charger plates (which of course were then whisked away).

Regardless of what the art work is, Park West Galleries has a bit of a cloud hanging over it. From Lawyerinc,
Park West Gallery, one of the leading players in the cruise ship art auction industry, has been at the center of several lawsuits alleging fraudulent practices. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that they were sold artwork that was either fake, had fake signatures, or was heavily overpriced and misrepresented as bargains or investments. These alleged incidents have led to a negative reputation for Park West as well as the cruise ship art auction experience in general.

I think it would be quite risky to spend big money for art on a cruise ship.

 

[Quickstatus]

Art Gallery

Which one?

 

[drron]

On our first cruise, a long long time ago, on one of the Superstar ships (from memory Virgo), we ate in one of the specialty restaurants. They had a number of originals and where it was a copy, the line had the original on a different ship in their fleet. The staff could point out which was original and which was not.
One of the most stunning was the Lucien Freud portrait of Kate Moss. Of course these were not for sale. The restaurant also used Versace charger plates (which of course were then whisked away).

Regardless of what the art work is, Park West Galleries has a bit of a cloud hanging over it. From Lawyerinc,
Park West Gallery, one of the leading players in the cruise ship art auction industry, has been at the center of several lawsuits alleging fraudulent practices. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that they were sold artwork that was either fake, had fake signatures, or was heavily overpriced and misrepresented as bargains or investments. These alleged incidents have led to a negative reputation for Park West as well as the cruise ship art auction experience in general.

I think it would be quite risky to spend big money for art on a cruise ship.

Indeed when we first started cruising with the Silversea classic fleet they had art hanging around the ship for sale and an occasional auction. Around 2015 I think that disappeared. Always thought it was dodgy.

 

[love_the_life]

Indeed when we first started cruising with the Silversea classic fleet they had art hanging around the ship for sale and an occasional auction. Around 2015 I think that disappeared. Always thought it was dodgy.

Part of the problem is that there is no time to properly research the so called provenance and authenticate the work. The gallery may have acquired it in good faith but that really doesn't mean the work is not what it purports to be. Lots of cases where a buyer has bought from a reputable seller only to discover the piece was not necessarily a fraud but perhaps is from the 'school of' and not the supposed artist.

Anyway this is off topic for Pushka's TR so best move on.

 

[Quickstatus]

Always thought it was dodgy.

I cant imagine the insurance costs of displaying Expensive one of a kind art on a cruise ship.

What if the ship

Spoiler: dont read

sank?

 

[Pushka]

Which one?

Im on a ship.

 

[Pushka]

Part of the problem is that there is no time to properly research the so called provenance and authenticate the work. The gallery may have acquired it in good faith but that really doesn't mean the work is not what it purports to be. Lots of cases where a buyer has bought from a reputable seller only to discover the piece was not necessarily a fraud but perhaps is from the 'school of' and not the supposed artist.

Anyway this is off topic for Pushka's TR so best move on.

Agree. You’d have to buy it because you loved the pairing and not who it is purported to be painted by. The ones I love are no-name to me and stupid $$$$. But I can still admire.

 

[Pushka]

Good morning Aomori. It is freezing here today. Off to Hirosaki castle in a bit.

 

[love_the_life]

Good morning Aomori. It is freezing here today. Off to Hirosaki castle in a bit.
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Looking a tad grey.