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Hello Betty,
On Japan and Cherry Blossoms
We mentioned last month that we would reflect on our recent trip to Japan. We experienced people who are extremely gracious and considerate and who have profound pride in their country. Perhaps that is why Japan is exceptionally clean. Here are two illustrations.
During our lunch one day in Tokyo, I looked out of our second-floor window down at the street below, where a large SUV pulled into a parking spot. A driver emerged wearing a black suit, white shirt, black tie, black cap, and white gloves. He opened the sliding door so his passengers could get out, and he directed them to their destination. He then opened the rear hatch, took out a white plastic bag, and proceeded to pick up a few pieces of trash that were in the street, never taking off his white gloves!
While we were in Osaka, we decided that some Italian food sounded good to us and our friends. Betty took a photo of the directions from our concierge, and off we went. We were told the walk would be about 15 minutes. After 20 minutes, we realized we were lost. Only one small shop was still open, so we stopped in. We explained to the gentleman that we were lost. He asked us to wait so he could call his wife, who spoke more English than he. Apparently, they lived above the store. When she came down, she looked at the map, and she noticed our friends who were both sitting down in their walkers. She looked at her husband and shook her head negatively. She said, “Too far.” The next thing we knew, a garage door opened, and this man pulled his small van into the driveway. Yes, he loaded us up and drove us to the restaurant! He then refused any compensation, indicating we were guests. To say we were all impressed would be an understatement!
Speaking of food, everything we ate, we enjoyed immensely. The seafood was fresh, the sushi was delectable, and the beef—oh, that Kobe beef! We ate at several restaurants where the beef was prepared right in front of us, and it was grilled to perfection. The beef was very tender and extremely flavorful.
Oh, those cherry blossoms; they were ubiquitous. We saw them almost everywhere we went in Japan, along the rivers, in the parks, in groves in the mountains surrounded by deep green trees, and at all the historical sites—the Peace Park at Nagasaki including Ground Zero, the beautiful Sengan-en Gardens in Kagoshima, the incredible Shukkeien Gardens in Hiroshima, and even in the nearby Atomic Dome and Peace Bell. Perhaps the most stunning were the vast number of cherry trees near Osaka Castle. Just their sheer number presented a postcard image.
Then, there was the bullet train. Our guide explained that traveling south from Tokyo, as we were, meant we would be on the “slow” bullet train, traveling only 173 mph. The fast bullet trains head north from Tokyo and rocket along at 195 mph. The experience was quite comfortable, with acceleration only noticeable leaving the stations. The ride itself was quite smooth.
As you may discern by now, our adventure to Japan was everything we hoped it would be and more, and we encourage you to consider exploring this country if you have not already. Just a word of caution: Japan cruises and tours sell out quickly, so if you are considering travelling there in 2026, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible.
See the section immediately below for a few of the many photos of our trip to Japan. We hope they give you a glimpse of the wonders there.
Yes, it is already time to plan your Alaskan cruise for this year. Princess Cruises, for example, is all set to kick off its 2025 Alaska cruise season. The line will have seven ships, five wilderness lodges, and an expanded cruisetour program this year. They will visit five national parks, featuring the most visits to Glacier Bay National Park. Princess Alaska cruises depart from five home ports, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., and Anchorage (Whittier).
We promised to keep you updated on the frequently delayed ETIAS program. To the surprise of no one, it has been delayed once again. There is no official start date yet for ETIAS; the European Union has stated that an exact date in the fourth quarter of 2026 will be provided “several months prior to its launch.” Until then, American travelers to Europe can continue to visit without needing any special authorization. We will advise you whenever this program is actually launched.
Antigua has initiated a new digital arrival and departure system. All foreign travelers heading to Antigua and Barbuda can now enjoy a smoother start thanks to the rollout of www.ArriveAntigua.com—a new digital arrival and departure system. It is designed to streamline passenger processing at V.C. Bird International Airport. The program has no impact on cruise passengers at this time.
A word of caution: Travelers planning a trip to Colombia should be aware of the new changes to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory for the country. On April 24, 2025, the advisory for the country was updated with information about potential civil unrest and kidnapping threats in the country. Colombia is rated at Level 3 by the U.S. Department of State, meaning travelers should reconsider travel to the country.
We received notification from Virgin Voyages that the cruise we were promoting for next January, 2026, has been cancelled as the ship has been chartered. We have secured space for the same cruise January 11-21, 2027. We hope you'll give us a call and Join Us!, We really love Virgin Voyages and hope to see you on this cruise!
So, where in the world do you want to go?
Betty & Frank Villani
909-980-6040
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