Semester at Sea voyage ends but adventure continues

hi all,

We have much to share about our world for the past few weeks including more stories and photos from lovely Vietnam (part two) and Mauritius and a wild series of itinerary changes that ended our voyage in South Africa. That said, more pressing issues of a global pandemic face all of us now. Today we disembarked the MV World Odyssey, our home for the past 3 months. It was a bittersweet departure. All of us in our family cherish the special and unique experience we have shared with our fellow voyagers since the beginning of January. While the experience was not at all what we expected, all of us will carry fond memories of our time at sea and of the amazing people we met over the past few months. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that in Semester at Sea's 50 year history, we may have sailed on the most epic voyage ever!

Today, we find ourselves in Cape Town, South Africa.  The backdrop of the city is enough to make a person fall in love at first sight. Table mountain, the city's backdrop, is stunning and captivating, even for a family that is used to living in the shadows of some of the loveliest mountains on earth. We have booked an Air B n' B for tonight and the next 2 nights, giving us an opportunity to regroup and figure out our next move.  Compared to the reports we are getting from the United States regarding the corona virus, by all accounts, things in Cape Town appear to be calmer than at home.  We grocery shopped this afternoon and everything was abundant, including toilet paper :) .

Fortunately, we have honed our ability to be nimble over the last few months. We'll keep rolling and make the most of this unique turn of events.

We are holding all of the globe's citizens in our hearts as we weather this challenge, particularly those who might be the most vulnerable to the virus.

Cheers, The Johnson-Lecks

P.S. We have reliable wifi now so the best way to contact us is via What's app!  If we are in the apartment, we can phone/video chat.  My number is 9706892175.  Feel free to give us a ring and we'll answer if we can. I know the kids, especially, might like to hear from their friends and family in the United States.