The Berkeley Experience

Berkeley Experience

Had a great night in LA at the Embassy Suites and a bumpy flight to Oakland. Execucar was right there to pick us up for our journey to The Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley. We had been reading about the riots in Berkeley to protest the two Grand Jury verdicts in the Ferguson and New York City police deaths so just before we left I got this email from my cousin Rich Wilbanks with his typical sense of humor…..

Elaine:

We wanted you to end your trip with a Berkeley experience with which to regale

friends and family.  We may have overdone it. Right now, there are

demonstrations going on between us and the Shattuck Hotel. Things are very quiet

here, though I can hear helicopters. What tomorrow evening will bring is

unknown, of course. Right now, access to the hotel is disrupted.

We expect that access to the hotel will be easy tomorrow afternoon. The

demonstrators' contract does not call for daytime work. I will try to learn if

there is a route for secret underground egress. We will play it as it comes.

Bring your cell phone and a book, just in case.

My cell phone number is 510-915-3795.

Rich

Arrived at the hotel just fine. The Hotel Shattuck Plaza is a

fine old historical hotel in the heart of Berkeley and very near the university campus. While San Francisco was finding its way out of the chaos of the devastating earthquakes and fire of 1906, several enterprising business men were drawing up plans for a hotel in downtown Berkeley.

Francis Kitteredge Shattuck, born in New York, was one of the adventurous gold seekers who headed for the Mother Lode shortly after the cry “Gold Discovered in California” rang across the land. Along with two other men he acquired a considerable amount of real estate, some of which encompasses the University of California campus and much of the present business district. In 1868 Francis Kitteredge Shattuck built a Victorian estate on Shattuck Avenue. Subsequently, part of the Shattuck property was donated to the site of the Berkeley Public Library.

In 1907 Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way was selected as the site of the Shattuck Hotel which opened December 10^th, 1910. Constructed from reinforced concrete, the hotel is one of the few downtown buildings in the mission style which represents California’s architectural heritage. The lobby, at this time, features a lovely Christmas tree and a beautiful red glass chandelier. The bar area is lovely too. Thanks to Leigh for finding this lovely place. 

We are grateful that we got upgraded to a Superior Room- which is very tiny. Jim laughed and said the Deluxe we paid for must have no room for a bathroom. I guess in olden days when this hotel was built people were smaller and didn't travel with so much stuff. 

We had a delightful dinner last evening with our cousins and got to conclude the evening with time to chat in their new apartment home.

This has been a great trip but I think we are ready and excited to head for home tomorrow.  

December 7-8

The jogging/walking path

Downtown Papeete

This morning we sailed into Papeete, Tahiti in French Polynesia. The view was cloudy but beautiful. From our balcony I saw wonderful boats, a lovely walking path and a charming church. This was on Sunday at about 6:00AM and there was lots of traffic. Luggage was being off-loaded and other crew were setting up the exit from the ship.

Setting up the exit

Samuel delivered our regular room service breakfast right on time and we cleared the cabin by about 7:45 and went to the Constellation Theater.  The place quickly filled up with folks waiting for buses to either hotels or the airport. When our Pink 1 tag was called we headed for the gangway just outside in the Atrium. The gangway was backed up and slow because it was so steep down to the pier.

Off Loading luggage

Jim went ahead to the bus and I waited for a wheel chair- having done the same twisty thing to my hip I did a few days ago. There was a group of local folks singing and giving out flowers. Helped set the stage for stepping  onto the ground in Tahiti.

The distance from the ship through the luggage collection tents and onto the bus was quite long so I was grateful for the assistance. Jim had gotten on the bus and was pooped from the experience. But we were headed for a Radisson Resort and knew things would get better. Were we surprised!!!!

Got off the bus at the hotel and after waiting in line Jim came away with a room key and a receipt for a tour that left 15 minutes before we got there. Leigh had been trying to book us a half day tour through the hotel’s Activity Desk and the person was terribly non-responsive. As we wandered toward our room, Tevai- the Activity Desk person- came to say we had a tour just now. We had wanted a private, drive around the island tour. This was one with 8 people and was right then. We declined and continued our room search.

There was no hotel map, no directions from the front desk so we wandered off looking for room 1205. We finally found an elevator and saw a young man who was a hotel guest who said go up to our room. We did. Got off the elevator to find no rooms but two chairs.  So we sat to see what we might try next and a young woman appeared who actually worked at the hotel. She led us back to the elevator and we went down to ground level and walked and walked to the last building on the property. Took another elevator up two floors and then to the last room on the hall.  We were grateful for her help.

It is a nice room and the sound of the surf is wonderful. The view is pretty spectacular, BUT we

couldn’t get the phone to work. Jim finally went back the long distance to the front desk and the man promised to send a technician. Tevia called again to say she had booked a tour at 1:45 with the group and we said “no thanks.” Coming through town you could tell because this is Sunday not much was open and we had decided to just hang out and read.

We had a wonderful time watch several young men body surfing and skimming across the surf. Some were overwhelmed by the power of the surf and the size of the waves. We even saw a young guy almost lose his bathing suit as he was stood up after being swept under by the waves. What fun!

Then we tried to get on the Internet and couldn’t make it work. Jim went back to the front desk and learned that the free WiFi is only in the lobby and restaurant but isn’t working today anyway. They did send a phone guy finally and it seems none of the buttons work of the phone because there is no system for the phone buttons. The technician told me the numbers to call for room service and reception so we no longer feel like prisoners in a great room with a view and that is about all.  Jim had to go to the front desk three times- #1 to say phone didn’t work; #2 to register a credit card because they forgot to ask at check-in and the front desk said no need for that; #3 after we ordered room service wine, it was delivered and then the guy came back to say we needed to go register a credit card. He did discover the restaurant and we went for a late lunch/early supper at about 5:30. Bedtime was early because we had to be up at 3:30 for the bus to take us to the airport. 

Turns out the bus was a mini-van and there were 8 of us. Mini-van was from a tour company and it had no running boards, no handles to grab and no step stool. I finally asked to borrow a rolling luggage cart  and three of us used that as a step stool to get into the van. If we had had any luggage this wouldn’t have worked at all. As Jim said it was like Mr Toad’s Wild Ride to the airport.

Pretty rough ending for our Pacific Wonders cruise…but then again I guess the word “wonder” could have a positive or negative meaning.

BUT flying Air Tahiti Nui was wonderful. Several firsts- the flight attendants looked sharp in their suit kind of uniforms- navy and teal but then while serving meals and flying they changed to print cotton dresses and casual shirts. The food was wonderful and plentiful. Everything- uniforms, china, napkins, linens, wall covering were coordinated with the lovely flower from Tahiti. There was art (prints) hanging in the Business Cabin- one even of some topless Tahitian dancers.  Still a long flight but very pleasant!

Now we are safely and snuggly in an Embassy Suites near LAX. Tomorrow we fly to Berkeley to visit cousins.  Looking forward to that!

December 6- Bora Bora

We have sailed into the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The water is this incredible blue, the green vegetation is bright and the mountain peaks around tie it all together in amazing ways. Dolphins were jumping joyously beside the ship, a couple sail boats went by as well as a power boat with an outrigger. The Paul Gauguin cruise ship is also docked here. Sailboats, glass bottom boats, kayaks zip by our ship. A group of about 6 kayakers hang out and try to catch the wake behind our tenders. Must be a great ride!

We are in Bora Bora, an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 143 miles northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 2,385 feet.

Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts. The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. Produce of the island is mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and the plentiful coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. According to a 2008 census, Bora Bora has a permanent population of 8,880 with 5000 of the population living in the town of Vaitape.

The island was inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the 4th century AD. The first European sighting was made by Jakob Roggeveen in 1722. James Cook sighted the island in 1770 and landed that same year. The London Missionary Society arrived in 1820 and founded a Protestant church in 1890. Bora Bora was an independent kingdom until 1888 when its last queen Teriimaevarua III was forced to abdicate by the French who annexed the island as a colony.

In World War II the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific military supply base, and an oil depot, airstrip, seaplane base, and defensive fortifications were constructed. Known as "Operation Bobcat", it maintained a supply force of nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment and nearly 7,000 men. Seven artillery guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential military attack.

However, the island saw no combat as the American presence on Bora Bora went uncontested over the course of the war. The base was officially closed on June 2, 1946. Only one former US serviceman, Fred Giles, returned to the island.The World War II airstrip, which was never able to accommodate large aircraft, was French Polynesia's only international airport until Faa'a International Airport was opened in Papeete, Tahiti, in 1960.

Bloody Mary’s Bar is a popular tourist destination. This island was Bali Hi and the setting of much of the musical “South Pacific.” You can look around and imagine the mansion on the hill where the Frenchman lived and see the hut where Lieutenant Cable and his native love were together. Since we have had so much happening in the US about prejudice and racism I keep wanting to sing “You’ve Got to be Taught to Hate” from the musical. How true that is! It seems fear of differences has been “drummed in their dear little ears.”

Late this afternoon there was a Folkloric show filled with lots of music and dancing. We

always enjoy those so much and this one was no disappointment. Great way to end this cruise.

Our bags are packed and ready to be closed and placed outside the door by 11:00. We are shipping two bags via Luggage Free. Hope they get home at the promised December 17^th date. They asked us to remove Jim’s camera and our MacBook Air because of the Lithium batteries. Might be a good thing for other reasons too.

Once again Regent has taken great care of us and provided 18 days of terrific food, good entertainment, lively dinner companions, and amazing sights. Can’t wait to see what we book next!

We’ve traveled 5844 nautical miles from Los Angeles and we have 152 to go to Papeete, Tahiti tomorrow. Tahiti for one day, then fly to Los Angeles, fly to Oakland to visit Rich and Arta Wilbanks- our cousins- and then home.  What a life!

The chocolate on the pillow at night is in an envelop with a different quote about travel. One says something about how wonderful travel is but it is always good to get home to your own pillow…and that is so true!