December 25, 2009

Christmas Time

When we arrived home in Vero, Sharen and Jack were all up to welcoming us back.  Sharen had prepared a great dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, ~ all the 'fixins'.  It was great.... and now we have to join the real world again with our meals.  We've sure eaten good for the last couple of weeks!!  No regrets at all either. Hahaa

Jack and Share have the house all decorated up and ready for Christmas.  It looks all festive and jolly!  Sharen and I rummaged thru the shed and found a couple more boxes of stuff that had been disquised so they hadn't found.  We got Santa out, pluggd in, and into his rightful place.  And while we were at it did a bit of clowning too.









Christmas Eve Keith and I got ready for the service at church.

We opened gifts in shorts.



I got a great pair of custom flip flops

We then trotted our butts down to the Newport Club,
ate,
trotted our butts back and napped until
we
watched the totally one sided
Charger game

Christmas just isn't Christmas without the lights of those litte faces that used to surround me!

Merry Christmas to Everyone.

December 23, 2009

Home Again

Our last 2 days on board the Coral Princess were sea days as we sped toward Ft. Lauderdale.  At times I could see land off in the horizon.  I researched each time and found that we saw Haiti off the Eastern side and Jamaica on the West.  Then Haiti and Cuba, then Cuba again... I occupied myself doing odd bits.  I also made a really, really odd discovery.

Early on in the cruise I saw a man that I thought looked and sounded really familiar.  I spent 2 weeks spotting and listening to this person.  During this time we also met a fun couple from Pennsylvania.  Barbara and I became somewhat friendly and we spent quite a bit of those last 2 days in thier company.  So anyhow, that last day on board, this person appeared again during breakfast.  I listened to him talking and still felt as though this person was way to familiar.  Then about lunchtime he ended up sitting right next to us out on deck with a group of folks.  One of them called him 'Les'.  I immediately knew that I wasn't wrong these last 2 weeks.  It was Les Walker.  From Coos County.  I'd known him for many years but hadn't seen or heard anything of or about him for 15+ years (or more).  I told Keith - he thought it was funny that I was unwilling to put myself out there and say "hey, do you remember me".  Keith told Barbara and Marshall.  Soon all 3 were razzing me about 'introducing' myself.  So - eventually I did.  What are the odds..... It really was Les Walker from Coquille, Bandon, etc.  on the Coral Princess sailing from Long Beach to Ft. Lauderdale.  He has moved to South Dakota (I think he said) and I, of course, live in Florida. 
He did NOT remember me - was trying to look at my name on my sign and sail card - not knowing that that would do him no good.  I did have to introduce myself while he preened - knowing that he still looked enough the same to still be recognised.  And I didn't sniff, sniff, sniff..... LOL  We chatted for a few minutes before he took off with his buddies for another event of the day. 

There is my big story for the cruise.  I ran into an acquaintance on board.  Shows that you can't go anywhere without the possibility of 'running into someone'.  LOL


We arrived home early in the morning on the 22nd.  Were some of the last to be called to disembark...had no lines to wait in, our luggage was easily found, our rental car was ready, and just exactly big enough.  Tom gave the right directions and we headed up the road to home.  Home sweet home!!

December 19, 2009

Our last stop ~ Aruba

Of all the places we visited on this Cruise, Aruba was probably the biggest disappointment.  I don't know if I just woke in a poor mood, the pushiness of other passengers was getting to me, or if I'd just built the idea of ARUBA up so much in my head that it just couldn't measure up.

But, we went on an excursion, people pushed and stepped over and on others, until we were all finally loaded on busses going where we were going....
This is in front of the first stop we paid to see.  The Natrual Bridge that has fallen in and is no longer a

Natural Bridge.
Then the small Natrual Bridge that is just forming not far away.


The water was blue and green and very deep there on the North side of the island.  For most of the time spent by the water it was very scenic and of course, the oceans are always beautiful.

And this place next to the natural bridge .... boy..... I needed to use the restroom.  There is a 50 cent charge to use the restroom.  I asked for change to use the restroom.  I was told that I had to buy something to get change.  Keith bought a Snickers to get change.  Asked for coin change and was told no.  Thankfully, the customer in front of us was paying with change.  Keith got 4 quarters from her and I went to the restroom.  Question:  How do you pay to go to the bathroom if no one will give you change to pay to go to the bathroom?  It is a quandry and did nothing to enhance my day.

So, off my grumpy self went to see the granite boulders.  They are an oddity as I didn't hear any reason for the boulder 'farm' to be there.... and there were a lot of them, and they were huge!

It was just these huge granite boulders sitting in the middle of nowhere.

The most interesting part of the day was the 'living fence' that many, many of the homes had.  They not only keep the livestock and (jokingly) wives in, they keep the predators out.

Then our tour took us to an empty (except of course the store part) aloe vera factory where they had some really, really expensive (4 oz sunscreen w/ aloe for $18) aloe vera products.

and
our last stop - they were going to drop us at the beach

But it I just wasn't intersted.
So the driver took all but about 10 back to the shopping district just a block from the ship - and dropped us off.  My day did not get any better there either....
We went into Tanzanite International to look at a small pair of stud earrings for Tetee - that is her birthstone.  So I waited as Keith wandered outside.  A saleslady finally came to me and while I was trying to tell her what I wanted - she walked off.  Just walked away ....  So Keith came in and she waited on him - and when I started trying to explain, again, she walked away .... again.... and after all that to remember - Tanzanite is not from Aruba - it is from Tanzania - and only 1 mountain in Tanzania at that!

I didn't need earrings that bad - so we went on back to the ship and dropped our bags and went to the Horizon Court Buffet, where the service is great and NO ONE walks off when you are talking to them.

This was our last stop and a rather crappy way to end our cruise.
I literally feel ripped off by this particular tour.

But
The Cowboy/Saints game did a great job of cheering me up!
It was a great game and I rooted for the Saints
They got wooped - but they played really hard.


a

December 18, 2009

Friday in Cartagena, Columbia, South America

Happy Anniversary Rod and S'te!!  I'm thinking of you!!

We (or again, I) wussed out in this port.  For several days I have been hearing the jokes about the 'thugs' in Columbia.  Then, as always, our little info sheet was on our turned down bed (I know - SPOILED!!).  I read all of the warnings - as well as the notice about people getting sick from drinks, others being arrested and the ship leaving without them - AND warning beforehand that Princess would not help or be in any way offer any assistance with the local authorities for any reason.  We had discussed just going in on our own since we hadn't booked a tour.  This morning that is what many were doing.  But in larger groups.  I didn't hear of any couple headed into the City on thier own.  When I went up on deck to see what was happenin' - I saw that the City was actually a ways away - so.... everything considered ~ I went to the buffet and got us some breakfast to take down to Keith in our stateroom.


We actually docked where ships dock (imagine that!)

View from Lido Deck 14

So Keith got ready to do the basketball shootout,
and the water volleyball game, while I went to the Trivia and
the sales.  Oh, the sales!! LOL

I am way to short.  Keith is standing in the shallow end.

and just generally relax before
dinner and the evenings show.
We watched Lisa Donovan do a great performance In the Princess Lounge and called it a night.  I wonder why doing next to nothing, besides nothing, is so tiring!

December 17, 2009

THE PANAMA CANAL!

When I woke up we weren't moving.  The sun was up.  I immediately jumped up and opened the curtain on our 'picture window'.  Here is what I saw.



Then I felt us moving - but not forward.
and this is what I watched....

and then eventually (like about 2 minutes)...

this.

Now, remember, our stateroom is only on Deck 5.  We are not high up in the ship.  That was the block wall of the 2nd (I missed the 1st one) lock of the Miraflores Locks.  But there were still many, many more things to see!  What an exciting day for me!  I went up on deck, I went down to the stateroom, I had breakfast watching the whole mystery unfold, and then back down to the stateroom! 

The Bridge of the Americas
the bridge joining North/Central America with
South America
(since the natural bridge between the 2 has been disposed of)

This is how narrow the Canal actually is - this is the side of the lock - andthe side of the ship - Promenade Deck 7.  This is why they are
working on digging another Canal that is wider and deeper than this one.  For the big ships!! Hahaa

This is the view from the 'Bridge Cam'.  The entire transit was televised for those who didn't want to go out into the heat and humidity to watch from the outside decks.  This is one of the final upward locks that we went thru before going thru Gatun Lake.

Then down the other locks and into the Caribean we went.  All within about 10 hours.  10 whole hours to go from Ocean to Ocean!  Amazing!  at least to me.

And Keith could finally relax!! At least until 2120 when we had to go up on Lido Deck 14 and watch another darned football game.  I made it about 1/2 way thru the Colt/Jaguar game before I had to give and head for bed.
It was a very, very full day.

December 16, 2009

If it's Wednesday again, We landed in Puerto Amador

Tuesday was another Sea Day with a formal dinner.  So, as has become our habit (unfortunately) we laid around by the pool for most of the day.  Keith went up and did the Basketball Shootout and I went to Trivia up in one of the lounges - and he did much better than I! We watched Tina Turner in "One Last Time" on the Lido big screen during the afternoon.  It was much better than I thought it would be - not being one for musicals and such. 

Late afternoon I coerced Keith into dressing up for the first time since the sailing evening dinner.  We actually put on some of the good clothes we brought, went and had portraits taken, and got into line for the Anytime Seating at the dining room.  We were seated with 4 other people (one of the advantages of the 'anytime' is that you sit with someone different each time so you meet many more people) and proceeded to have a great time, great food, with great people.  And, as a bonus, it gave me 4 more people on board that I could say hi too! :-) 

After dinner we went up to the Princess Theater and watched "Dance".  Another great production by the Coral Princess Dancers.  Then off to the "Movies under the Stars" where we watched 'UP' - which was animated and very, very funny. 

It was another great, relaxing day aboard the Coral Princess.

Wednesday morning we found ourselves anchored outside of Puerto Amador.  This island is a novelty and a whole story in itself.  Ten days into our cruise, we are still on the Pacific side of the trip.  It seems as though we should have been clear to the south pole in this many days - fun days, relaxing days, but jeez, it seems as tho' we are moving rather slow!!!


The faraway Panama City skyline behind Keith.  He is on Deck 14 just outside the Solarium that housed the covered 'adult' swimming pool.


The same skyline from a deck closer to the middle of the ship.

We (more like I) booked a tour for Panama City.  I didn't figure I'd ever go this particular route again and the whole Panama Canal history is very interesting to me.  I was convinced that this city would be like the picures I've seen over the years in history books.  I don't know why I don't think that any city except for US city's would be modern, with modern skylines, and with all the modern conveniences...  but it never ceases to amaze me that we can call city's with skylines like this '3rd world' or un-industrialized.   So I have gotten quite the wake up call on this holiday. (Did you know that 'holiday' is what we call what we used to call vacations but now that we live on vacation, we have to call it a holiday?  News to me but made perfect sense!!)

So above you see the skyline, below you see pictures of the history, the ruins, the narrow streets that reminded me of downtown New Orleans, the individuality and charm that Panama City hold for the visitor.


The ruines of a Church

The Panama Tree that is growing in the middle of what used to be a nunnery.

A narrow street that had bare-ly clad 'ladies' lounging on the 2nd story balconies.  This was a 'drive by' not a slow down and look. 

The traffic was horrendous.  There is only 1 main road between the 3 parts of Panama.  The New City, the Old City, and Puerto Amador.  We tendered in to Puerto Amador, caught out bus and were almost totally over the causeway when a call came to our guide that we had to return to the docks and pick up several that had booked morning and afternoon tours - and missed the bus.  This so totally annoyed one very verbal man to the point that he got off of the bus and demanded a refund.  Turns out that he didn't pay for the tour anyhow - his companions had - so his demands were not met to his IMMEDIATE satisfaction!  If I get that intolerant of the rest of the human race - please - someone - just shoot me!!

So, new passengers in tow, we headed off again.  Our guide for this tour was Ryhan.  He was a charming young man who started off with a humorous story regarding the Panamanian way of life.  He was born Ryan and at some point had to register for something or another with the government of Panama.  When whatever ID card that he had registered for came back as Ryhan - he contacted the government.  After going in many, many circles trying to fix this issue, he was finally told.... the government does not make mistakes.  His name was now spelled correctly.  It was them that had been spelling it wrong all this time.  And it well described the seeming way of life there.  We passed dozens of high rises that were in progress at one time - but no longer.  Just sitting there - rotting.  Cinderblocks stacked waiting for someone to come lay them - with vegetation growing because they had been there for so long.  Just a complete shame.  Made me remember that the economy crisis didn't just affect the US - and that the US has so MUCH influence over so many other country's economies that when ours suffers, thiers collapses. 

Anyhow, off of my soapbox, and on to the tour.  We visited a museum, saw many, many Christmas decorations, did a drive by to Manuel Noriega's home and the place where he holed up until he was ready to surrender himself, went and visited many, many ruins, the historic old town, one of the oldest still-running Churches in Panama, and soooo many other places, with so much detail that I don't even remember it all.

We got very little history on the Canal itself other than the actual procedure for requesting use.  To use the Panama Canal - there must be a request - accompanied by a direct wire transfer to transverse it.  If the 'ship' waits until arrival at the entrance - they have to have cash money and then wait their turn.  Some ships wait for days for thier turn.  The harbor was full of large ships and small boats, and some very impressive yachts waiting to go from the Pacific to the Carribean. 

Ryhan kept talking about the jets going thru the Canal and the cost differences for them.  I was so very confused.... then the light bulb came on.... he was saying yachts.  I don't know why it took so many hours to figure out what he was saying - but figure it out I did.  And when I did - most of what he had been saying finally made some sense to me.

Another thing I tried - a new food item - pinapple/mango milkshake.  About 16 or so ounces - $1.20 American.  And the best $1.20 I ever spent too.  It was the perfect thing to cool and sooth after the hot and humid walk!

Kieth didn't feel up to doing most of the walks - so he hung out in the AC'd bus and waited for us to do our wanderings.  I pal'd up with Adam and Christina (the ship's shopping guide and his wife) and we had quite the blast.  They are very, very friendly people.  He from Australia and she from Romania.  A really cute couple - and I was glad of thier company.

So, hot, sticky, and sweaty, we returned to the tender dock and got into the amazingly swift moving like to go back to our 'home on water'. 

We had our dinner in the ever-ready Horizon Court Buffet and headed over to the Universe Lounge to watch Adrian Zmed...in Concert.  He used to be on T.J. Hooker with William Shatner as well as many other popular shows and movies.  He is a year older than I am - and during his show he came through our aisle - and we got to shake hands with him!

By the time his show was over - it was beyond bedtime and we (or at least I) wanted to be up for the Panama Canal.  Rumor has it that the Canal pilot will board about 5 am - and then as soon as we get permission - we will go thru one of the worlds greatest engineering feats - and it's over 100 years old!!!


December 14, 2009

Pura Vida


I looked out the window to the coastline at Puntarena, Costa Rica.  It was a bit of a hazy day - but I was so excited about our Eco Tour that I didn't even care!  We hurried thru breakfast and were all ready with hats, water, and great spirits.  I have read so much about how beautiful Costa Rica is!  As it was a somewhat organized chaos as everyone wanted to be the very 1st to get where they wanted to go.

The first thing our excellent guide told us was "Pura Vida".  He said it was the Costa Rican equivalent of  "don't worry, be happy".  It literally means pure life but don't worry, be happy works for me!

He was a great guide too.  Nice, charming, sweet, and smile - oh boy did he smile!-  I'll bet he smiles when he is sleeping.  We were very pleasantly entertained with many, many, many details of Costa Rican life, economy, education, the rivers, forests, industries, and all about all sorts of things.  He (and I can't remember his name!! so I'll call him Eco) was very well trained in bio-diversity.  I don't know that there is any detail of anything eco related that he wouldn't know the answer too.


The beaches were awesome!  I can't even begin to spout all the information he came up with like - Very often Costa Rica gets confused with Puerto Rico by the tourists.  Computer chips is the main export. The national currency is the colon but any vender, restaurant, hotel, etc will gladly accept the American dollar instead - it holds it's value better (haha)! Crocodiles like brackish water the best.  There are rainforests almost from the seashore of the Atlantic clear to the seashore of the Carribean Sea. 



Can you see the crocodiles in these photos?


We spent the entire morning on the Tarcoles River.  Eco and the boat driver showed us birds, fish, cattle, crocodiles, and everything else that could possibly be shown.  And narrated every detail a person could ever want.  At one point they pulled up close to shore while an adult crocodile came right up to us!  A baby wasn't to terribly far behind - and soon there were several birds hanging around!  Eco explained that while this behavior was not instinctive - it was caused by human intervention.  Many times people would feed the animals so they look for the signs of the boats.  Of course, when the big croc is indulging - smaller pieces float and baby crock gets food too - and the birds pick off anything that floats beyond that.  So I happily recorded the entire event (along with Eco's real name) on the camcorder and just had a great time!  We got back on shore to be served a snack of local fruits - banana, guava, mango, pineapple, and lots of water.  We were definately being well treated by Costa Rica!

After leaving the river, we headed to Carara Biological Reserve for our lunch of gallo pinto chicken, beans, rice, and fruit.  Costa Rican style!  I think maybe they Americanized it a wee bit - but it was an excellent lunch.  After finishing up and resting a bit we headed for the gondolas

We had a different, not quite so entertaining, guide for this portion of our expedetion.  We rode up thru the 'middle' layer of the rainforest as the trees, birds, plants, waterlife, and impacts were outlined.  It was a great experience but, in all honesty, I think our Northwester forests have this rain forest beat hands down in beauty!

After reaching the top of the mountain we rode around the turnstyle and headed back down.  But we didn't really go down very quickly.  The return trip concentrated on the canopy of the rainforest.  We saw a huge bright red Macaw heading somewhere very quickly and many more beautiful sights - complete with live explanations! It was a quite exhilarating day - it was hot, it was humid, but I wouldn't have forgone this experience.  If you get to Costa Rica - it is definately a must do - especially the river portion!  This fellow appeared to say goodbye to the huge group of intruders!



And then it was back to the ship for a 1830 all aboard!  Food, (after all we haven't eaten for an hour!), a short nap, and Monday night football!  And then we find out that it doesn't even start until 2030!  That time change stuff can really mess a person's tv schedule up! Hahaa!!




December 13, 2009

If it's Sunday, it must be football!

This first Sunday of the cruise was a 'Sea Day'. I woke very early and watched the sunrise from the buffet area up on Deck 14. There are tables up at the very front of the ship and it is a very nice place to sit and have coffee and watch the water. There was a very well attended Interdenominational Church Service held at mid-morning. One of the Philipino crew members officiated the very nice service. We were given handouts with the songs and communal prayers that were part of it. It was genuinely nice. I was really suprised at the number of people that were there. Most every seat in the Wheelhouse Lounge was filled.

It doesn't matter where a person is... it seems that Sunday is football day.

Our games started with the Packers/Bears game at noon ~ out by the pool/jacuzzi and on the 'big screen'.  There were many that just napped and soaked up the sun while others of us actually hid in the shade and rooted for the best plays.  Then we grabbed up the Charger/Cowboy game and there was some very, very spirited rooting going on there!!  Keith came up on deck during the Charger game and watched much of it in his favorite place ~ the jacuzzi~ The Grill, the Pizza stand, and of course the Ice Cream Spot were open for munchies all during the games.  During the Charger game there was also a very, very lively game of water volleyball played that was a lot of fun to watch!  I very much was enjoying my afternoon!




Then we went on to the Eagle/Giant game that lasted way into our night!  I made a trip into the Horizon Court Buffet and came out with plates filled with the Mexican Food Specialities of the day.  What a day!

We watched football until late into the night and then went to bed in preparation for my much looked-forward to day in Costa Rico!

December 12, 2009

Saturday it's Huatulco


Early on Saturday morning we woke to the sound of the gangways being rigged in Huatulco.  We didn't get off of the ship here as we woke late.  This is the one of the security boats that continously patroled around our ship.  I was standing out on deck when I actually saw them running another boat out of the perimeter area they had marked.  Thankful for the security!

The waters were deep deep blue and the little part of the city that was visable appeared to be a small, sleepy type of town.  This area is known for its many small baylets.  Some of the beaches were only accessible by boat and others were not accessable at all.  We were provided with paper history of the area the night before we docked so I laid on the deck and read the particulars of the area very comfortably.We were only in port for a few hours as all aboard time was set for 12:30
so Keith spent the leisure timeworking.... and thenwatching the big screen tv and having pizza
I couldn't resist taking this photo- our happy cruisiers!  And altho' I saw them many times - the expressions never changed.......

and then we weighed anchor and headed towards our next stop, Puntarenas

December 11, 2009

Friday it's Acapulco

 This is the Promonade at the Atrium.  It is a great ship! We spent Thursday at Sea also.  It was a relaxing time - although Keith got his internet connections hooked up and spent most of the day working.  I wandered, went and checked out the Lotus Spa, the Workout areas, and the pools again.  When he finished his working, Keith came up and we did more exploring... mostly of the buffet and the dessert carts (boy do they have the desserts!!) but also found the Grill and the Pizza spots.  We also found one of our favorite spots in the entire place... the Ice Cream Bar!! Whoopee!!  Now I know where to find him any time he is AWOL!!   We were eating breakfast by the pool as we sailed past Puerto Vallarta

On Friday morning we landed in Acapulco.  What a beautiful view!  We had the City Tour booked so we headed out to the busses and were totally ready for our scenic drive.  We had a really good tour guide and I really enjoyed watching the scenery while learning lots and lots of facts and history aobut the area.  Our tour took us beyond the single bay on south to the smaller bay and to see the homes of the 'rich and famous' that reside there.  We saw the stark contrasts between the have and the have not's - as in any country it is sad that some have SO much and others have almost nothing. 

The Federales were very much in evidence all thru the tour.  We were told of the war that the government is seriously fighting with the gangs and the cartels.  It is sad that so many innocent people are being affected by the greed and terrorism of these people .  After making our circle on little narrow roads (thanks to a great bus driver!) we headed back through the center of the old city of Acapulco towards the Cliff Divers. 

This shot was right after 3 at a time dove from a dizzying height.  We were watching from quite far above the dive sight so this was as close as I could get for pictures.  It was a great show and these talented dare devils deserve all the applause they get!
Then it was back thru the busy city and back to the ship to.....and this is the view of the city from the front buffet dining area.

and again, we were to full to go to the dining room - so we opted out of that and went on to the Comedy Act and then off to bed...

Another very full day!