Our last two days aboard the Celebrity Silhouette were packed full of fun and farewells. But this day started with a bang - literally. High seas could really be felt all night as we sailed through a storm in the Bay of Biscaye. The metal ice bucket slid on the metal tray and both crashed to the floor spilling melted ice across the whole of the pathway between bed and bath! Not only did the noise jolt us awake but then I had to wade through icy water to fetch towels to soak it up. Hello six a.m.!
I do not like to leave packing until the last day in fear of missing out on something and Elva followed suit. After the morning talks on Thursday we did most of our gathering and stashing before our trivia time. We did have to see the British Immigration people for a face to face interview. these had assigned times and worked well. We had a 4:00 time so it followed the trivia and the added Broadway trivia. We did very well. Being a little late for the interview worked in our favor as there were only a few people ahead of us so the whole thing took only minutes. In the morning the lines were crazy long.
We finished shopping to use up our OBC as we do not like to leave it with the ship and we had a lot that was non - refundable. For me it worked out because two doctor visits used most of it and that will be reimbursed, hopefully, by the insurance company.
We had lunch in the dining room and dinner too. Making the most of being waited on before we go back to our usual 'self service' at home. The evening entertainment was the best of the three Production Cast performances - LIFE. The songs and dances wove together a story of life going from birth to death to afterlife. Quite nice. There is one girl singer who sings so loud and highly pitched that I hold my ears to tone her down to enjoyable. And Luke, who also was in the Murder Mysteries, has a very nice normal show voice. He looks like he is twelve but really nails songs in a wide range of styles and scales.
The late show Adult entertainment was He Said She Said. A marriage Game type thing. Also fun to watch people embarrass themselves, isn't it. One couple got caught up short. They would often said something like I don't remember them all but yea, two. One time the answers differed and the man blurted out, "What happened to Number Two?" Yep, called out for cheating!
Then came Friday...the last day. We made sure our bills were correct, There were last lectures in both series and we chatted with the guest speakers. A few of the Celebrity Life Activity people hugged me good bye as I bumped into them during the day. Our Steward, Clide, reminded us of how it was his pleasure to serve us for the whole cruise - at least three times! We had rum to finish up so a drink after lunch helped us really enjoy the Salute to Broadway Cabaret show that the cast put on. Can't believe they quoted for inspiration Lin-Manuel Miranda! The big evening performance was an Elton John Tribute. This was followed by a very entertaining Karaoke show. It was called The Voice of Silhouette. Activity hosts had selected three contestants who had participated in the almost daily Karole entertainment. They were each coached by a performer and we saw that video. Then the two men and one lady sang and seriously, the lady muffing the words of Hallelujah as she stood in the shadows was far from the best but lucky for her, she had lots of family traveling and she one. Larry, was very good but Rob, much older and with a broad vocal range down to the deep bass played the audience and sang well. I voted for him.
Morning will come early so we went to bed about 11 with the alarm set for 6:45. At 7:20 Clide was knocking on our door. We didn't have to be out of the cabin until 8:00 and usually you can stall that. But we obliged and went to breakfast about 7:40. I encouraged us to eat in the dining room. We were still there visiting with one couple spending time in London and another continuing to La Havre for a two night fill in cruise and then on to the Baltic route when our tag number, 28, was called. A final potty stop and away we went and beeped off the ship by security for one last time. We collected out bags, tucked in the few overnight things we had needed and left the terminal to begin our new adventure.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Picture Page from Lisbon
Really does demonstrate the influence of Portugal in Manaus.
You might remember the same earth - sea design in fromt of the famous opera house.
It was a tough day!
Lisbon
I didn't see much of Lisbon. We sailed in around noon and docked by 2:oo p.m. Our tour left right away for Sintra and Caiscais. The guide was good and very classically gentlemanly but, again, no cat herding ability! By the time we got off the bus he was up the hill, around the corner and just as several of us made it to the stopping point he was off on his own to buy some sort of special cakes.
Elva and I wandered around, going up and down steep cobbled walkways and stone steps. We found a little shop called FELIX. It had hand knitted and crocheted items and the second time we passed it we went in. She discovered a special surprise for her great grandson, Felix!
It was sunny but cold and very, very windy. Back at the bus point I had a chance to chat with the guide whose name I never got, and he was quite charming. Just as the places we visited were described by him as charming. The problem was that instead of going up to the castle as I thought we would, it turned into a shopping tour. We went to the even windier and colder town of Caiscais and could barely even walk and it was more shopping and wandering. The tours from Celebrity were not good. They were not described properly and the guides did exactly as they had been told and nothing extra. Some people bought stuff like Port wine or weird hats. Several of us just mostly sat around after wandering around.
We got back over an hour late after a nice drive along the north coast that was curtailed by blowing sand across the highway, The road was closed. We drove along the Escorial coast and back to the city. Traffic was very slow and the streets were crowded. Beaches and parks were filled with people, mostly men and boys, enjoying the celebration for the 1974 Revolution, sort of their independence day We had been told we would see red carnations everywhere. I did not see even one. Friends who walked into town came upon parades and flower filled balconies. Guess we missed it and that opportunity will not come again.
The evening entertainment was Murder Mystery #2. Equally funny and with a different ending. This time the older brother did it because he was sick and tired of the 'whole lot of them!' Quite good once again!
I am just going to post some pictures for you and not complicate it by proper placement. If you have questions, then please put them in the Comment section or on Facebook or email, depending on how you read Intentional Traveler. Thank you.
Elva and I wandered around, going up and down steep cobbled walkways and stone steps. We found a little shop called FELIX. It had hand knitted and crocheted items and the second time we passed it we went in. She discovered a special surprise for her great grandson, Felix!
It was sunny but cold and very, very windy. Back at the bus point I had a chance to chat with the guide whose name I never got, and he was quite charming. Just as the places we visited were described by him as charming. The problem was that instead of going up to the castle as I thought we would, it turned into a shopping tour. We went to the even windier and colder town of Caiscais and could barely even walk and it was more shopping and wandering. The tours from Celebrity were not good. They were not described properly and the guides did exactly as they had been told and nothing extra. Some people bought stuff like Port wine or weird hats. Several of us just mostly sat around after wandering around.
We got back over an hour late after a nice drive along the north coast that was curtailed by blowing sand across the highway, The road was closed. We drove along the Escorial coast and back to the city. Traffic was very slow and the streets were crowded. Beaches and parks were filled with people, mostly men and boys, enjoying the celebration for the 1974 Revolution, sort of their independence day We had been told we would see red carnations everywhere. I did not see even one. Friends who walked into town came upon parades and flower filled balconies. Guess we missed it and that opportunity will not come again.
The evening entertainment was Murder Mystery #2. Equally funny and with a different ending. This time the older brother did it because he was sick and tired of the 'whole lot of them!' Quite good once again!
I am just going to post some pictures for you and not complicate it by proper placement. If you have questions, then please put them in the Comment section or on Facebook or email, depending on how you read Intentional Traveler. Thank you.
Boring!
We have another sea day but this one was just about boring. For some reason they did not have our two Beyond the Podium speakers today so that left us with the whole morning to enjoy the ship. Too cold, way too cold for swimming or hot tubs as there is no retractable roof over the main pool area. The spa pool was full of lap swimmers and really a hot tub is where I prefer to swim! We did go to the two customer service desks to make sure Elva’s bill was correct. It seems to be but we each have a bunch of onboard credit that will be lost if we do not spend it. Not sure what I will get but someone at home will get a souvenir they really don’t want! The Italian restaurant is $45 and that just seems a lot to spend for a dinner when there is all kinds of “free food” on board.
We filled the day with this and that. Shopped and Elva bought a very pretty shirt that is just her style in the Chico’s store and used up most of her credit. I am not sure what I will do. It is partly because the new Celebrity system lets you use OBC to purchase tours prior to sailing but because the tours were a few dollars more than the credit available it put the whole charge to the credit card. We could change the two we hadn’t yet taken but didn’t know we could do that before we were in Bermuda. Ah well you live and learn!
We only got 13 out of 15 at the Progressive trivia today so won’t finish first but maybe top 3. We did stay and visit with our team mates for awhile afterwards until they threw us out so they could have the nightly complimentary cocktail hour for the Elite Plus level guests. If I had stayed with only one cruise line I would be that and the very top of the line! But we like different lines for different things. I book by itinerary and price! It has worked so far!
We dressed for dinner and were seated with Polly from our team and her friend Dorothy who passed her book, Camilla, on to me. Not an especially good book so may not take it along with me when we head to Wales.
We caught most of the show but Elva decided not to go back for the later show. We laughed and cheered mildly at the Minute to Win It game show. They always have a quick game show like the one I won the other night. It is in the space outside the main theater between shows. I am filling the evening reviewing pictures to post for you and writing to tell you I miss Wonton Noodle. And ending with telling you that although it was a lazy day it must be time to rest a little. Tonight I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out where my jeans were. Elva and I each looked through the closet and drawers but did not see them on the hanger in a dark corner. The second pair was tucked in the bottom of my suitcase for next week. Crazy!
But how boring can it be when you are sailing across a sunny sea to an exotic destination? Tomorrow my first visit to Lisbon!
Good night!
We filled the day with this and that. Shopped and Elva bought a very pretty shirt that is just her style in the Chico’s store and used up most of her credit. I am not sure what I will do. It is partly because the new Celebrity system lets you use OBC to purchase tours prior to sailing but because the tours were a few dollars more than the credit available it put the whole charge to the credit card. We could change the two we hadn’t yet taken but didn’t know we could do that before we were in Bermuda. Ah well you live and learn!
We only got 13 out of 15 at the Progressive trivia today so won’t finish first but maybe top 3. We did stay and visit with our team mates for awhile afterwards until they threw us out so they could have the nightly complimentary cocktail hour for the Elite Plus level guests. If I had stayed with only one cruise line I would be that and the very top of the line! But we like different lines for different things. I book by itinerary and price! It has worked so far!
We dressed for dinner and were seated with Polly from our team and her friend Dorothy who passed her book, Camilla, on to me. Not an especially good book so may not take it along with me when we head to Wales.
We caught most of the show but Elva decided not to go back for the later show. We laughed and cheered mildly at the Minute to Win It game show. They always have a quick game show like the one I won the other night. It is in the space outside the main theater between shows. I am filling the evening reviewing pictures to post for you and writing to tell you I miss Wonton Noodle. And ending with telling you that although it was a lazy day it must be time to rest a little. Tonight I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out where my jeans were. Elva and I each looked through the closet and drawers but did not see them on the hanger in a dark corner. The second pair was tucked in the bottom of my suitcase for next week. Crazy!
But how boring can it be when you are sailing across a sunny sea to an exotic destination? Tomorrow my first visit to Lisbon!
Good night!
Ponta Delgada
Dear Followers....
Tonight my post will only place pictures at the bottom instead of within paragraphs. I will practice at home in case I can learn to use this site better. If you know of a better place with more flexibility and less skittishness, please let me know! Thanks. JLHT
Because so many ships were in port we had to dock on the far side so that only a shuttle could be used to go into Ponta Delgada itself. Whenever you are in a ‘working port’ as opposed to a cruise port this is the case. We did have that tour and our land stays are not really full days so not a huge issue, but if we could have walked around near the port, maybe found a Coke and some free WIFI at a McDonalds or somewhere, then, we would have asked to be dropped there on the return or gone back out if there was more time.
As it was, we just took our tour and it turned out that we made a good choice. We went out to Furnas, by way of the South Shore, which is where the hot springs are and returned along the North Shore. With the springs more inland we saw much of the whole island. The steam vents for the springs at our first stop were quite active. It is a little startling to know you are standing on top of a volcano which, if it suddenly collapsed, would have you boiled from the feet up before your head knew what happened! Also, unlike the underground heat of Iceland, there are not geysers. Only just around the thermal springs is exposed lava rock but the rest of the land is brilliant green sectioned by dark green hedgerows of hydrangea or charcoal grey-black walls of basalt. The overall effect is as though the landscape is a stunning quilt, scalloped in places where it falls over the rolling hills.
The sea is beautiful. Just beautiful. Sparkling blue, gentle waves, no real whitecaps today. The houses and shops are whitewashed with orange tile roofs, mostly with ruffled edges of white. The narrow winding dull grey road took us through a couple of villages where there was an occasional splash of pale yellow, or pink, or teal. Most wrought iron was standard black but here and there a cobalt blue rail and shutters against the white stucco stood out, or a red or purple door. So very pretty of a place, not at all like what we usually see.
After a short time to walk through the field of steam vents we went on to a hotel garden. It is the Terra Nostra Botanical Garden. Stunning! I do not have internet when I write this so am not adding links for you, which in reality is for me when I have time to relive my journey! At the hotel, that now seems to own the garden, there is a very large sulfur hot springs pool. When we booked the tour we knew there would be no time for ‘bathing’ but then a the night before were told you could skip the garden and have 30 to 45 minutes to swim. Since there are no changing rooms you would be in your suit, first dry then wet, all day. I decided that didn’t seem like fun so we stuck with the garden part of the tour.
Here I will share that we did not have a good guide. He was pleasant enough and seemed to have a good knowledge of the what we were seeing. He knew what kinds of cows where perched on the hillside. That Azaleas lined the roadside and why. General things because he was born on this island. He family were farmers but he didn’t like that so guides instead. He said he liked to be outdoors more than farmers can be.
What he didn’t have is the skill to heard cats! Elva and I were in the next to the last seats on the bus. By the time we were off, at the back door, he was gone. Basic tour guiding 101 should help you organize so that you have your group together before you move. You need to say where you are going and what you are doing. Very important to be clear about where to meet the bas at the end of the time. These things he did not do. So we did not learn a lot. There were more than 50 with our one very soft spoken guide. No ‘whisperers’ so mostly I could not hear them and a lot of us couldn’t. So people wandered off to look at things on their own. In this garden there was not much signage about the plants nor about where paths went.
At one point someone noticed a topiary garden and wanted to see it. He said, and notice I have no clue what his name might have been, go take a picture and come back. So we went, walked around the little circle and came back. He much of the rest of the tour was gone. I really did not see anyone and there were three paths. The most people were down the hill to the left and I thought I saw him. There was a man in a similar shade of blue sweater but when I caught up I didn’t recognize anyone. I asked a few people if they were Group 2 and even if they were they were from a different ship. Then I saw two ladies I recognized but turns out this whole gang of people were going to the parking lot and we were to meet back at the swimming pool. A gentleman pointed out that general direction and the three of us went that way. We were staying on the lower path when one of the ladies spotted her husband on the upper path. We climbed up the steep stone way and joined them. Good thing the men missed their wives because Elva had not even noticed I was missing. She figured I must be somewhere around although she would have said something – I hope – if I hadn’t been in the seat next to her on the bus.
So instead of going to the parking lot like all those others had been heading, we walked back through the front entrance and through the town to where we had been dropped off. Now we in the back realize that there are two people missing. The couple across the aisle from me. There is no where for them to be since in the beginning there had been only one space left. Someone told the guide who only then, and only for the first time as far was we could tell, counted heads. He left the bus, was gone only long enough to walk back to the garden entrance to look for them. When he came back to the bus he didn’t say anything but away we went. I felt bad for the folks left behind because that was going to be an expensive taxi back to the port and time was limited as well.
Luckily the Eclipse had done the tour in reverse, the garden then the hot springs. Our bus stopped in Furnas again, and the people rejoined our bus where all their things were waiting for them on their seat. The lady told me that when they couldn’t find the guide or any of us they asked other groups until they found any on from Celebrity. The lady guide from the Eclipse allowed them to join her tour which was finishing up and go back to Furnas. She then contacted her tour company to figure out which guide had which tour number for which of the Celebrity ships. They called and told him to meet up with her in at the hot springs so all is well that ends well. This whole mishmosh took up about 30 minutes of our time, however.
We made a brief photo stop at an under – construction overlook. I got some nice pictures and an especially good one of Elva. The ten minute stop here worked much better than the garden restroom stop where he allowed 15 minutes for all of our ladies, about 30 of us, to share a ladies room with several groups of tours. It might have worked if there had been more than three stalls! But even on the men’s side, most of them gave up waiting so as not to miss the tour.
Our final stop was the village of Reibiera Grande. Another rest room break which was much more successful, a few minutes to look around the square, a walk up hill to view a church exterior and then way up a steep cobbled walkway to where the bus waited. This had been supposed to be time for a walk about on your own after a tour of the church and the theater. So as I think I said in the beginning, not a great or even especially good tour. Lots of beautiful people so although I am complaining about the way the visit was handled I know we are lucky people! The island is remarkable but no real chance to meet people or explore on our own.
It was a short ride back to the ship. Typical, long out and quick return. Because we were late getting back and sailing at five, I worked on trying to post the many things I stayed up late last night to give you. Super frustrating because of poor connections but a couple new things were added to Intentional Traveler and I did check some emails and voicemail. Luckily with T-Mobile messages can be heard by data rather than calling in. You can see who they are from and decide which ones to listen to and which to delete. One needed to be dealt with right away and my daughter, Karen, took care of it for me from home once I messaged her. It takes a village to keep me on the Road again – errr the high seas!
I also texted Katie and spoke with Christine. I hope she will send me the picture of Maddie and Christian that was online which I saw during the day. They went to the Shuler Awards and Maddie got to wear her brand new black sequined dress! All I can say, and I know grandmothers are prejudiced, is WOW!
Since Elva had a late lunch at the Mast Grill while I annoyed myself, I went up and got a plate of roast beef and fruit salad and bread and took it to Deck 5 at the theater. At the back of that is a bar positioned to watch the show but I actually ate quickly and joined Elva on Deck 4 center. So glad I didn’t skip it all as Andrew Derbyshire gave a remarkable and quite entertaining performance which included a variety of musical styles. He had starred in the West End as Joseph in one of my favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals and in many others. From that he sang the dramatic first act closer which is when Joseph is behind bars. He also sang Whitney Houston song, Queen -with who he had toured- and so many things. He closed with The Impossible Dream and brought the audience to their feet!
Since neither of has had dessert we ended the evening with that, mine was delicious cheesecake and tea while Elva had chocolate cake and decaf coffee. Since we had gone to the early show at 7:00 I had time for a long hot shower and we both read for awhile. Neither of us had slept well the night before so were quite happy for an early night.
NOTE: So right here let me add that 11 minutes after CNN made the big announcement I had checked the internet while on the bus and announced to my fellow passengers that Princess Kate had had her baby boy. T-Mobile is great for my traveling because while on shore I usually have free service, that is too say, included. So what fun was that!
The sea is beautiful. Just beautiful. Sparkling blue, gentle waves, no real whitecaps today. The houses and shops are whitewashed with orange tile roofs, mostly with ruffled edges of white. The narrow winding dull grey road took us through a couple of villages where there was an occasional splash of pale yellow, or pink, or teal. Most wrought iron was standard black but here and there a cobalt blue rail and shutters against the white stucco stood out, or a red or purple door. So very pretty of a place, not at all like what we usually see.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Sea Days - Condensed
There may be a lot of condensation at sea what with sudden showers and salt spray but here is another condensation…four sea days in a row! You know already, if you ever read anything of mine before, that sea days fall into a comfortable routine. We know the first ‘must do’ of our day on this trip is the 9:15 lecture followed by the 10:15 talk. This is followed by a wander around then lunch. Back in the cabin we enjoy our private, quiet, outdoor space and soak up the sun. The lady next door puts her kids for a nap and does some topless sunbathing as was apparently discovered by security as we found many at her room when we returned to ours one afternoon. I think she did not realize that each deck is set back from the one below. So you can see near the railing of each cabin especially from the public decks on 12 and 14!
Anyway, I digress. No surprise there, is there? We read, I am reading Southern Storm about the deadliest plane crash in Georgia history. Elva is reading an old Barbara Taylor Bradford novel. I wish, like Elva, I could catnap in the warm sun but then I know me, I would not sleep at night.
Why am I not on deck, in the pool, or the hot tub? Still avoiding contaminating my stitches. And compared to the comfort of our space, the ship seems noisy. We were spoiled on Viking and this cabin is like a buffer between that cruise and the ordinary.
Quarter to three we go up for Progressive Trivia. Our team is in the top three at the moment. Sometimes we stay for the music trivia that follows but without Karen and Katie I am not good at that. Today I may be because it is Broadway. But then again, the speaker is doing the trivia for that and for his talks in the morning become hard to get a seat. There will be tough competition.
Each day seems to have at least something extra of interest. We had a Captain’s Club Wine Tasting. My level of loyalty was invited but I had Elva come with me. She enjoys wine way more than I do. We followed that with a beautifully served lunch in the main dining room. We also had a Captain’s Club Reception to which we were both invited. Fancy hors h'ors deouvres. Can anyone ever remember how to spell that? I have learned at ship receptions, in general, to pick up two glasses at the first pass. I did resist the opportunity for a third Cosmo when it was indeed offered, because most evenings Elva pours us each a glass of Pinot Grigio before dinner. Nothing like a little WalMart wine to set the tone for the Lido Buffet!
The specialty performers on board performed a beautiful and artistic acrobatic dance once again demonstrating how strength can be beautiful I have seen them before on another cruise with Celebrity and they are, of course, part of the house performers for the song and dance shows.
15 out of 15 on Progressive Trivia set us apart one day. The entertainer for the evening was Stacey Kay. The girl singer had a powerful voice but the music in the main theater is just too loud for me. I have to remember to pack ear plugs for the next trip to tone it down a little.
Friday’s entertainer was so very good. His name was Ralph Harris. Totally clean comic and great stories. Plus handled gently some audience repartee from the front row. It wasn’t exactly heckling, the gentleman just felt that Ralph’s style was conversational. His stories were really good and teased the ladies and the gents. Listen for him on Serius or watch for him on TV. He ended his act with a ten minute monologue in which he talked about his grandfather. Gradually he became the old man and it wasn’t so funny when the grandmother died. What it was was a beautiful tribute to long lasting love and faith in family.
I set my alarm on Friday night for 7:15 Saturday morning. So excited. The medical center on board opens at 8:00a.m. I couldn’t wait to get my stitches out! I woke up a couple times during the night and by 6:45 I turned off the alarm, I brushed my teeth, put my sweater over my loungewear looking p.j.’s and got a cup of tea at the Hideaway. It is just past the elevators on our deck and from six in the morning until nine at night they have coffee, tea, and go-cups! I went down to Deck 2 and found the back way into the waiting room. The Nurse, Christine, was surprised to see me when she came to open the door guests are supposed to use. I came in the crew door.
At 8:00 she ushered me in, opened my file, took me in the back room and introduced me to Colleen. Christine was taking care of crew first and Colleen took out those stitches. I was so happy when she asked if I been treated by a plastic surgeon. That, I thought bodes well for what ever scar I may develop. By 8:15 I was in a hot, very hot shower. Bliss!!! When I came out of the bathroom Elva said she couldn’t believe I was back already and showered as she had not heard me make a sound when I left. I try to be a good travel partner!
We made it to both lectures, delicious hamburgers at the Mast grill on Deck 14, our team trivia. We then tackled the movie The Shape of Water at 5:300. Six o’clock I left but Elva stuck it out. Seemed like Alien met ET met Lilli met 50 Shades met Men in Black to me! I especially enjoyed dinner on the outer deck, and then we went to the main show. The perfect day was a little spoiled because the duo Raegar was singing both rock and country way too loud. I went and sat in the lobby and could hear them much more clearly. Is there a name for when it is too loud you cringe but hear better at a distance?
I was waiting next to the theater for the late night entertainment which was to be a Murder Mystery. I was sitting on a comfy chair and a man who was also not enjoying the music, several left early, brought up another chair while he waited for his wife. This put us at the front of the line for the mystery and the line grew quickly when the main theater ender their show. I watched for Elva but then went in and got us seats. She made the cut and the Murder Mystery was great fun! Sue, the C.D. is as old people would say, a hoot! She was over the top as the cook Mrs. Bang. Of course, the Butler, Jeeves, did it. Remind me never to hire anyone named Jeeves!
Today, Sunday, is our fourth sea day since Bermuda. A couple of changes added life to the party. For the first time we have not had to set our clock ahead in four days! I like the Captain who changed the time ‘around noon’. After all as long as his instruments matched the world what would we care. Instead of getting one less hour sleep we had one less hour to wait before lunch and dinner!
Also the talks were an hour later so no clock watching for us this morning. This afternoon after Progressive Trivia we had Broadway Trivia with Steve. He had only 30 minutes as is everything. 25 songs he played snippets of. I got all the ones where you needed the name of the musical and most all of the singers and composers and still didn’t win but did very well. The rest of my team did not know any! Wish it had been for Progressive points. I will say that almost every person who attends his lectures was there playing and the winning team had six people playing so 38 out of 43 possible points was not bad! And it was confusing as sometimes I did not even really catch what he wanted to know!
I did win one game Show game the other evening when we had time between dinner and the show. It was called Yes / No. You had to carry on a conversation that made sense with one of the hosts and never say yes or no. Three minutes is a long time. I won and one guy won. About 20 people tried! My lanyard broke before I got back to the cabin but I have many more at home. Too bad it was Friday while I was still bandaged and hadn’t washed my hair for a week!
It is late now so and can wind up this whirlwind of four sea days by saying that Elva and I each had the salmon in the dining room tonight. It was very good just as it was the other night when we ate there. Mine had bones, several, two of which I swallowed before I realized it and some were long. Gordon Ramsey would be turning our ship kitchen into Hell if he were aboard! It would be a double episode!
I am going to try to add some photos now to all of these posts since the first one as tomorrow is a port day and I may be giving you lots to read. I appreciate your patience and wish you would sign in to follow the blog. Lots more trips coming up this next year from the Mediterranean to Antarctica. But first, we continue on to Lisbon and London and Wales before returning home. More later.
Anyway, I digress. No surprise there, is there? We read, I am reading Southern Storm about the deadliest plane crash in Georgia history. Elva is reading an old Barbara Taylor Bradford novel. I wish, like Elva, I could catnap in the warm sun but then I know me, I would not sleep at night.
Why am I not on deck, in the pool, or the hot tub? Still avoiding contaminating my stitches. And compared to the comfort of our space, the ship seems noisy. We were spoiled on Viking and this cabin is like a buffer between that cruise and the ordinary.
Quarter to three we go up for Progressive Trivia. Our team is in the top three at the moment. Sometimes we stay for the music trivia that follows but without Karen and Katie I am not good at that. Today I may be because it is Broadway. But then again, the speaker is doing the trivia for that and for his talks in the morning become hard to get a seat. There will be tough competition.
Each day seems to have at least something extra of interest. We had a Captain’s Club Wine Tasting. My level of loyalty was invited but I had Elva come with me. She enjoys wine way more than I do. We followed that with a beautifully served lunch in the main dining room. We also had a Captain’s Club Reception to which we were both invited. Fancy hors h'ors deouvres. Can anyone ever remember how to spell that? I have learned at ship receptions, in general, to pick up two glasses at the first pass. I did resist the opportunity for a third Cosmo when it was indeed offered, because most evenings Elva pours us each a glass of Pinot Grigio before dinner. Nothing like a little WalMart wine to set the tone for the Lido Buffet!
We drink ours with a view!
The specialty performers on board performed a beautiful and artistic acrobatic dance once again demonstrating how strength can be beautiful I have seen them before on another cruise with Celebrity and they are, of course, part of the house performers for the song and dance shows.
15 out of 15 on Progressive Trivia set us apart one day. The entertainer for the evening was Stacey Kay. The girl singer had a powerful voice but the music in the main theater is just too loud for me. I have to remember to pack ear plugs for the next trip to tone it down a little.
Friday’s entertainer was so very good. His name was Ralph Harris. Totally clean comic and great stories. Plus handled gently some audience repartee from the front row. It wasn’t exactly heckling, the gentleman just felt that Ralph’s style was conversational. His stories were really good and teased the ladies and the gents. Listen for him on Serius or watch for him on TV. He ended his act with a ten minute monologue in which he talked about his grandfather. Gradually he became the old man and it wasn’t so funny when the grandmother died. What it was was a beautiful tribute to long lasting love and faith in family.
I set my alarm on Friday night for 7:15 Saturday morning. So excited. The medical center on board opens at 8:00a.m. I couldn’t wait to get my stitches out! I woke up a couple times during the night and by 6:45 I turned off the alarm, I brushed my teeth, put my sweater over my loungewear looking p.j.’s and got a cup of tea at the Hideaway. It is just past the elevators on our deck and from six in the morning until nine at night they have coffee, tea, and go-cups! I went down to Deck 2 and found the back way into the waiting room. The Nurse, Christine, was surprised to see me when she came to open the door guests are supposed to use. I came in the crew door.
At 8:00 she ushered me in, opened my file, took me in the back room and introduced me to Colleen. Christine was taking care of crew first and Colleen took out those stitches. I was so happy when she asked if I been treated by a plastic surgeon. That, I thought bodes well for what ever scar I may develop. By 8:15 I was in a hot, very hot shower. Bliss!!! When I came out of the bathroom Elva said she couldn’t believe I was back already and showered as she had not heard me make a sound when I left. I try to be a good travel partner!
We made it to both lectures, delicious hamburgers at the Mast grill on Deck 14, our team trivia. We then tackled the movie The Shape of Water at 5:300. Six o’clock I left but Elva stuck it out. Seemed like Alien met ET met Lilli met 50 Shades met Men in Black to me! I especially enjoyed dinner on the outer deck, and then we went to the main show. The perfect day was a little spoiled because the duo Raegar was singing both rock and country way too loud. I went and sat in the lobby and could hear them much more clearly. Is there a name for when it is too loud you cringe but hear better at a distance?
I was waiting next to the theater for the late night entertainment which was to be a Murder Mystery. I was sitting on a comfy chair and a man who was also not enjoying the music, several left early, brought up another chair while he waited for his wife. This put us at the front of the line for the mystery and the line grew quickly when the main theater ender their show. I watched for Elva but then went in and got us seats. She made the cut and the Murder Mystery was great fun! Sue, the C.D. is as old people would say, a hoot! She was over the top as the cook Mrs. Bang. Of course, the Butler, Jeeves, did it. Remind me never to hire anyone named Jeeves!
Today, Sunday, is our fourth sea day since Bermuda. A couple of changes added life to the party. For the first time we have not had to set our clock ahead in four days! I like the Captain who changed the time ‘around noon’. After all as long as his instruments matched the world what would we care. Instead of getting one less hour sleep we had one less hour to wait before lunch and dinner!
Also the talks were an hour later so no clock watching for us this morning. This afternoon after Progressive Trivia we had Broadway Trivia with Steve. He had only 30 minutes as is everything. 25 songs he played snippets of. I got all the ones where you needed the name of the musical and most all of the singers and composers and still didn’t win but did very well. The rest of my team did not know any! Wish it had been for Progressive points. I will say that almost every person who attends his lectures was there playing and the winning team had six people playing so 38 out of 43 possible points was not bad! And it was confusing as sometimes I did not even really catch what he wanted to know!
I did win one game Show game the other evening when we had time between dinner and the show. It was called Yes / No. You had to carry on a conversation that made sense with one of the hosts and never say yes or no. Three minutes is a long time. I won and one guy won. About 20 people tried! My lanyard broke before I got back to the cabin but I have many more at home. Too bad it was Friday while I was still bandaged and hadn’t washed my hair for a week!
It is late now so and can wind up this whirlwind of four sea days by saying that Elva and I each had the salmon in the dining room tonight. It was very good just as it was the other night when we ate there. Mine had bones, several, two of which I swallowed before I realized it and some were long. Gordon Ramsey would be turning our ship kitchen into Hell if he were aboard! It would be a double episode!
I am going to try to add some photos now to all of these posts since the first one as tomorrow is a port day and I may be giving you lots to read. I appreciate your patience and wish you would sign in to follow the blog. Lots more trips coming up this next year from the Mediterranean to Antarctica. But first, we continue on to Lisbon and London and Wales before returning home. More later.
Bermuda - A Short Stay - Second Day
The day dawned with bright sunshine and a hushed aura of excitement on board. If I had been traveling with younger people, we might have gone into Hamilton last night and we did see a few returning early today. Our aft balcony, where we ate our room service breakfast, had a perfect view of the approaching taxis dropping off either very early risers, or all-nighters.
Our own tour which I did not realize I had confirmed before I left home, needed us to meet at 9:45 in the theater to go ashore. We got there on time and barely sat down before we made our way to the gangway on Deck 2. As I was reaching for my key card to sign off the ship I realized I did not have it. I had reminded us both that we needed our driver’s license for photo ID as most ports require that but then I left my key card, absolutely a necessary thing, on the desk or somewhere. I told Elva go ahead and I would go back as fast as I could.
Even though I didn’t think about the fact that I could not have gotten into the room to get it without it, I ran up the stairs to the Guest Relations Desk. There was a long conversation going on between two passengers and the only on duty so I excused myself to interrupt and they were kind enough to let me do it. I explained my imminent plight and the young lady made me a new card…or tried to. The machine wasn’t working properly. She tried again and said she would walk me down if it didn’t work so while doing that and then resetting the machine for the third try, she was frantically trying to call for assistance for the now long line at the desk. Luckily, three times was the charm.
I zipped back down one flight, picking up my go-cup of tea right where I had set it, excused and pardoned me through the line and met my tour group just as it was about to set out for the walk to our little boat!
We had forgotten we had booked this tour but were so happy we did. It was called Bermuda Highlights and Famous Homes Cruise. So delightful! We didn’t get seats on the open top deck as I did cause us to be further back in the line. The people just ahead of us were the last seats up top. That might have been a good thing. The broad, open windows downstairs were perfect and even then, Elva had to move from the window seat because the breeze was pretty strong. It is not the warm Caribbean where Bermuda rests but off the shores of the mid East Coast.
The most surprising thing which has been remarked on by so many people is the color of the water. Caribbean Blue is spectacular but is a color you find more common in clothing, wall paint, and the mind’s eye. Atlantic green-blue and sparkling is a thing to behold! Clear, clean, unique, maybe teal - maybe not, it was beautiful, it is cold.
seen through the boat window, this is the little home in which Mark Twain stayed about which he wrote Mark Twain in Paradise.
“When you die you can go to heaven but I will stay in Bermuda.”
Our tour was a couple of hours of fun facts and entertainment. Lately tour guides all sing. Robert had a beautiful voice and is actually a keyboardist in his real life and sings at some of the beach bars and restaurants in the evening. One story he told was just the kind of ‘in the know’ thing you like to hear. The actor Michael Douglas grew up in Bermuda. His mother, Diana, Kirk’s first wife, was Bermudan. So The Douglas’ have a relatively modest home on a hill overlooking a bay, of which there are many. When they were out and about one evening they heard our guide, Robert, playing. Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael’s wife, was looking for someone to help her prepare for a benefit back in Hollywood for the Actor’s Home. (That is the charity, not private home.) She tracked him down through the manager of the club where he had been playing and asked him to come to the house to accompany her practices so for two hours an afternoon, three days a week, for two months, Robert would play at the house on the hillside.
The second day he was there she asked if he would like something to drink and he asked for the most valuable drink on the island – water. Bermuda has no real natural resources and no fresh water source other than rain , which is gathered from the roof systems and stored in tanks. Catherine said, no. I mean would you like A DRINK? He asked for a Dark and Stormy which she brought to him. This is local rum and ginger beer with lime. He admitted that when he drank he would like to also have a cigarette. She led him to comfortable chairs and the beautiful view to the next island and joined him every afternoon for a Dark and Stormy and a cigarette. Who knew? Maybe that is what gives her that husky voice.
The houses have white roofs which drain the water into gutters, then tanks. If the roof isn’t white, don’t drink the water.
Back at the ship we had lunch on deck overlooking the small boats, kayakers, and also the tourists coming and going by tram and taxi. We went back out and took the little white tram but it did not go far. It dropped us at the little craft mall where we met lots of people we knew and stopped to chat a little. Lines were long at everything like the ice cream parlor. Lots of people were in chain restaurants enjoying the same thing they could have at home and probably for way less money! We did go into the pharmacy which is more like a general store. I succumbed to a couple bottles of Ginger Beer and a bottle of Gosling Rum. Now I have to scam some limes on board!
We had dinner at the buffet but found seats on the open deck. Then took our dessert to our aft cabin and watched the King’s Wharf Bermuda fall into the distant horizon. As the sun was setting we passed some land on our starboard side. I thought it might be St. George, the distant point, and the airport city of the main island of the Bermuda Archipelago. Elva thought since we had been sailing an hour that it couldn’t be. Since I thought I might still have cell service I checked and it was indeed St. George. The quarter moon shape of Bermuda made it to seem we had left her behind Temptation was to go overboard to the very peaceful looking and magically pastel spit of land. No. Never a good idea to leave a ship except by gangway!
The entertainer after dinner was Rick Novell. I have seen him perform before and may have told some of you that he is the best juggler ever. The uniqueness of his act is the audience involment in the juggling but especially his skill on the unicycle. I can’t imagine that a unicycle would be easy to ride especially those tall ones. Now add in a wooden stage on a moving ship and try it. When I saw him before I could see the cycle literally sliding sideways across the floor. He never lost his balance from that seat some six feet in the air!
And just for fun!
Our own tour which I did not realize I had confirmed before I left home, needed us to meet at 9:45 in the theater to go ashore. We got there on time and barely sat down before we made our way to the gangway on Deck 2. As I was reaching for my key card to sign off the ship I realized I did not have it. I had reminded us both that we needed our driver’s license for photo ID as most ports require that but then I left my key card, absolutely a necessary thing, on the desk or somewhere. I told Elva go ahead and I would go back as fast as I could.
Even though I didn’t think about the fact that I could not have gotten into the room to get it without it, I ran up the stairs to the Guest Relations Desk. There was a long conversation going on between two passengers and the only on duty so I excused myself to interrupt and they were kind enough to let me do it. I explained my imminent plight and the young lady made me a new card…or tried to. The machine wasn’t working properly. She tried again and said she would walk me down if it didn’t work so while doing that and then resetting the machine for the third try, she was frantically trying to call for assistance for the now long line at the desk. Luckily, three times was the charm.
I zipped back down one flight, picking up my go-cup of tea right where I had set it, excused and pardoned me through the line and met my tour group just as it was about to set out for the walk to our little boat!
We had forgotten we had booked this tour but were so happy we did. It was called Bermuda Highlights and Famous Homes Cruise. So delightful! We didn’t get seats on the open top deck as I did cause us to be further back in the line. The people just ahead of us were the last seats up top. That might have been a good thing. The broad, open windows downstairs were perfect and even then, Elva had to move from the window seat because the breeze was pretty strong. It is not the warm Caribbean where Bermuda rests but off the shores of the mid East Coast.
The most surprising thing which has been remarked on by so many people is the color of the water. Caribbean Blue is spectacular but is a color you find more common in clothing, wall paint, and the mind’s eye. Atlantic green-blue and sparkling is a thing to behold! Clear, clean, unique, maybe teal - maybe not, it was beautiful, it is cold.
seen through the boat window, this is the little home in which Mark Twain stayed about which he wrote Mark Twain in Paradise.
“When you die you can go to heaven but I will stay in Bermuda.”
Our tour was a couple of hours of fun facts and entertainment. Lately tour guides all sing. Robert had a beautiful voice and is actually a keyboardist in his real life and sings at some of the beach bars and restaurants in the evening. One story he told was just the kind of ‘in the know’ thing you like to hear. The actor Michael Douglas grew up in Bermuda. His mother, Diana, Kirk’s first wife, was Bermudan. So The Douglas’ have a relatively modest home on a hill overlooking a bay, of which there are many. When they were out and about one evening they heard our guide, Robert, playing. Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael’s wife, was looking for someone to help her prepare for a benefit back in Hollywood for the Actor’s Home. (That is the charity, not private home.) She tracked him down through the manager of the club where he had been playing and asked him to come to the house to accompany her practices so for two hours an afternoon, three days a week, for two months, Robert would play at the house on the hillside.
The second day he was there she asked if he would like something to drink and he asked for the most valuable drink on the island – water. Bermuda has no real natural resources and no fresh water source other than rain , which is gathered from the roof systems and stored in tanks. Catherine said, no. I mean would you like A DRINK? He asked for a Dark and Stormy which she brought to him. This is local rum and ginger beer with lime. He admitted that when he drank he would like to also have a cigarette. She led him to comfortable chairs and the beautiful view to the next island and joined him every afternoon for a Dark and Stormy and a cigarette. Who knew? Maybe that is what gives her that husky voice.
The houses have white roofs which drain the water into gutters, then tanks. If the roof isn’t white, don’t drink the water.
 |
| This is the home of the founder of the Piggly Wiggly chain. The house on the samne property is that of his first wife. Apparently the second wife doesn' mind the proximity. Funny, the hog is the symbol of Bermuda so maybe that is how the supermarkets got heir names. |
Back at the ship we had lunch on deck overlooking the small boats, kayakers, and also the tourists coming and going by tram and taxi. We went back out and took the little white tram but it did not go far. It dropped us at the little craft mall where we met lots of people we knew and stopped to chat a little. Lines were long at everything like the ice cream parlor. Lots of people were in chain restaurants enjoying the same thing they could have at home and probably for way less money! We did go into the pharmacy which is more like a general store. I succumbed to a couple bottles of Ginger Beer and a bottle of Gosling Rum. Now I have to scam some limes on board!
We had dinner at the buffet but found seats on the open deck. Then took our dessert to our aft cabin and watched the King’s Wharf Bermuda fall into the distant horizon. As the sun was setting we passed some land on our starboard side. I thought it might be St. George, the distant point, and the airport city of the main island of the Bermuda Archipelago. Elva thought since we had been sailing an hour that it couldn’t be. Since I thought I might still have cell service I checked and it was indeed St. George. The quarter moon shape of Bermuda made it to seem we had left her behind Temptation was to go overboard to the very peaceful looking and magically pastel spit of land. No. Never a good idea to leave a ship except by gangway!
The entertainer after dinner was Rick Novell. I have seen him perform before and may have told some of you that he is the best juggler ever. The uniqueness of his act is the audience involment in the juggling but especially his skill on the unicycle. I can’t imagine that a unicycle would be easy to ride especially those tall ones. Now add in a wooden stage on a moving ship and try it. When I saw him before I could see the cycle literally sliding sideways across the floor. He never lost his balance from that seat some six feet in the air!
And just for fun!
A New Day Dawns
Neither of us slept well, I don’t think, but morning did come and we soldiered on. Our first sea day was a good thing to have. No pressure, except in my head of course. Made to order omelet was good and lots of fresh fruit was perfect. A pot of tea and I am a happy camper , err, cruiser.
We headed right down to the main theater for the first speaker of the day, Dr. Beth Foggin. The first of her series was title, Different Kinds of Bermuda Triangles. This focused on the overlapping of trade routes including the ‘molasses, to rum, to slaves.’ Of course, at the time there was no American involvement because we weren’t even ‘discovered’ yet much less fomenting revolution! Her upcoming lectures would help us to make sense of why the ports we are visiting this trip are connected and important to some aspect of world history!
She was followed by something that in the daily update – TODAY – was labeled Special Interest with Steven Friedman. Pleasant music was playing between programs and am I glad we stayed. Elva wasn’t real excited about a series on the Broadway Musical Theater. You know that I was if you know me at all! Before he was very far into his lecture, Elva was excited as well. I have to tell tales on her here. She often dozes or at least rests her eyes during things but not with Steven Friedman. His love of the theater showed through his carefully prepared Power Point and dynamic presentation. The fact that he also frequently sang an example of the show he was referencing didn’t hurt at all. His voice is very good even though singers struggle first thing in the morning. As he said, ’10 a.m. is a singer’s nemesis!’ He gave an overview and began with the Broadway Theater before Jolson sang in the ‘talkies!’ This may prove to be a must do every sea day.
As you know, from ‘traveling with me before’ sea days rapidly become routine – may not be so for you on your first or second or fifth cruise, but on the long cruises I am lucky enough to do and the several Atlantic and Pacific Crossings I have done, they do. I always find plenty to do and I love to read and often do not get much of that done. This trip, however, I suspect I will often join Elva to bask in the glorious weather and the warm sun that strikes our Aft Balcony. I frequently seek out a view of the ship’s wake when sailing and this trip I can enjoy as often as I wish.
As the day progressed we did spend a lot of time relaxing in our cabin. I wonder why! I did inquire at the desk about seeing the doctor to have the dressing changed and make sure everything was okay. We had missed morning hours, glad I did or we might have missed the speakers. Afternoon hours begin at four so in order not to be tied up too long we went down about 3:30 and were indeed first in the waiting room.
I was glad we did because by four there were several people, probably mostly feeling a little nauseous as the sea is a bit rough when sailing north. You are crossing the waves, not going with or against them. Joy checked me in and we briefly saw the Doctor who quite literally said, “I will send you to the nurse if it just to change the dressing. It won’t cost as much.”
Christine, from the UK, was very nice. Peeled away the gauze, cleaned and redressed the stitches. She said it looked like a good job. I commented that I had not thought to ask for a plastic surgeon since it was my face but she said they looked very well done. She put on a couple of tiny ‘plasters’ and covered them with a larger one to help hold them in place. (Don’t you love the English language!) The only care needed was to leave them on until they fall off and then either cover them or leave them. Be careful not to have them be wet. This comment led me to not shower or enjoy the pools or hot tubs until they will be taken off and the stitches removed on Saturday. Happy vacation! Sure glad I took that long hot bath on Saturday night!
Elva is acting as my personal paparazzi so that I can document my loveliness for your benefit and mine!
We decided to go to dinner about 5:30. We can make a reservation every day or the night before as we have Select Dining and not an assigned time. Or you can just go and eat as space becomes available. This usually works well for us. Especially on a shore day as you don’t always know when you will return to the ship. We joined a round table for eight. I think my girls will agree – not our favorite. You can really only talk to the people directly beside you. The noise of the dining room prevents much beyond that. Elva was on my left and chatted with the couple next to her. The couple next to me were two men who were on an anniversary cruise. I try to speak or comment to everyone but the real conversation was between me and the gentleman who had designed hotels all around the world including some in which I had stayed. We also talked a lot of theater, especially musicals. Dinner took over two and a half hours! We missed the Chic Captain’s Soiree and barely made it to the 9:00 show! Can’t do a big table again on this ship! No thanks.
We went to the 9:00 show in the main theater. It was called Pearl. Sue Denning, our very funny, older, very British Cruise Director had said at the end of last night’s performance to come into the theater early tonight, that the show has a reputation and will fill up early. She also said if you miss the first ten minutes you won’t know what is going on. It was an interesting opening with a narration about a pearl diver trying to find happiness. The stage was encircled by a white curtain. On this was projected water and fish. Behind it the young diver and others performed on ropes flying in the Peter Pan style. Extra people were on twisty ropes and doing gymnastics. I am glad we were early for the narration. I still didn’t really get the story.
This was a Pippin style set once the white ‘sea’ rolled up and cartoonishly clad townspeople who were being directed by a Satan character to try to steal the lad’s pearl. Since he only bossed the girls around and often held out his hand waving his fingers, I at first thought he was a pimp and wanted the girls to get money for him. The stage has a series of oval and rectangular hydraulic risers that were used to elevate some of the action and quite dramatically, near the end, Satan followed after a young girl and tumbled into a pit! No scream – he never made a sound. No one did. It was a pantomime.
But love conquers all and one of the girls went off with the boy and his pearl. I said no one spoke. They didn’t, except for this bearded, long coated, top hatted man in black. There was though a lot of singing and dancing. This is their ‘biggest, best production show.’ I am worried.
While Elva got ready for bed I went up and got my typical bedtime cup of tea. I peaked out our curtain and stepped out on the deck to enjoy some fresh air. Elva joined me as it was a warm and balmy night. While we tried to spot stars among the clouds a double ‘handled’ yellow light appeared in the sky. It hovered off the starboard rail at about mid- horizon. Then it jumped more to the right then up and about for several minutes. We are convinced it was a UFO.
The clouds thickened and the ship we had seen in the distanced disappeared into the fog and mist. Lightening slashed across the sky in the far distance. I believe I once heard that on a flat see you can see the horizon at 20 miles. The sharp outline, as it flickered and froze and vanished, was like any grade-schooler would draw it. You have seen that zig-zag in every super hero comic. The thunder heads grew and the rain started.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow – Bermuda!
Monday, April 23, 2018
Can it possibly only Day 2? So much has happened.
We went down early for breakfast so I would have time to take care of some business. After cereal and a yogurt – yes I had yogurt – I asked at the desk to speak to the manager who was not yet in. I did get two copies of the incident report. After reading it I said I was going to make some corrections and asked the desk clerk to sign that it was done there. The manager was usually in at 10. It was just after nine so when I said we were scheduled on the 10:30 shuttle she called and he said he would be there in 20 minutes. At ten after ten he arrived, the same man I had seen yesterday.
D.K. asked what happened. I told him and I showed him exactly where it had happened and pointed out the raised tile. He kept rephrasing it and I kept correcting him. He got a copy of the written report from me and in his office he went over it with me. No apology or expressed concern. Then he had me write it out again which I could do and go over that. I did add in there that guests had said this morning two more people stumbled and tripped in the same place but because there were many people coming and going, they did not fall.
The girl from the shuttle service, while we had been waiting, tried to collect the shuttle fee but no way I was paying that. She said he shouldn’t have comped it because her brother would be mad but I just sort of smiled and shrugged. I figured let them fight that out between themselves.
While I was in the office she knocked, stuck her head in and said we had to go. D.K. told her to wait. She didn’t want to and he repeated, just tell your brother he has to wait. He continued reviewing the notes. Then finally said they would be in touch with me and I reminded him I am out of the country for more than a month so I suggested I call him when I return. He replied, oh they will be in touch with you! In my head I was thinking, I bet they will and with a whole song and dance! But now my vacation could actually begin! Yea!!!
We went out and boarded our mini bus to the cruise port. When the man had loaded the luggage he didn’t ask which ship. Elva said, oh we are all going to the same cruise, but not the case. Ours was the last stop but no worry as we were plenty early. Going through security was no problem once we backtracked from the dead end the first person sent us to and from there on it was, so to speak, smooth sailing! We had given the porter all the bags and we accepted a glass of ‘champagne’ and made our way to a quiet, or at least quieter, place. I tucked into a corner and called Insure My Trip who connected me to the insurance company I purchased my policy from. I didn’t know if I had to make them aware, I didn’t really, or not. Thought it was better to keep all those bases covered.
We had lunch in the OceanView Cafe (Lido Buffet)and it was like coming home. All very familiar. I haven’t been on a Celebrity cruise in awhile but the island style layout that the mother company, Royal Caribbean, first developed was being used. Food was good, staff friendly, and seating limited because everyone comes aboard at relatively the same time and you can go to a bar or the buffet. U guess I am a little spoiled because thanks to the encouragement from Katie I am Platinum on Carnival and our rooms are always ready for us. Put things away and wash up and get organized before lunch. Then we typically take a picture of our lunch plate and text it home so folks know we have arrived safely.
Today we finished eating and as soon as our cabin was ready we went to it. While Elva unpacked I went out on our balcony and called the girls. I knew I would be wanting to send pictures or post on Facebook or in this BLOG and didn’t want them to see and have a ton of questions after we set sail. We would be incommunicado for at least two days.
Andrew Kennedy was our entertainer. Well, he was supposed to be our entertainer but we were not amused. He told stories about his life. His slow delivery and long stories followed by saying things like, you must all be very tired from getting to the ship fell flat. We seemed tired because he was dull. Pretty sure I could keep your attention more easily!
I went up to get my bedtime tea and couldn’t shower because of the stitches so we went right to bed.
We were both tired just plain tired!
We went down early for breakfast so I would have time to take care of some business. After cereal and a yogurt – yes I had yogurt – I asked at the desk to speak to the manager who was not yet in. I did get two copies of the incident report. After reading it I said I was going to make some corrections and asked the desk clerk to sign that it was done there. The manager was usually in at 10. It was just after nine so when I said we were scheduled on the 10:30 shuttle she called and he said he would be there in 20 minutes. At ten after ten he arrived, the same man I had seen yesterday.
D.K. asked what happened. I told him and I showed him exactly where it had happened and pointed out the raised tile. He kept rephrasing it and I kept correcting him. He got a copy of the written report from me and in his office he went over it with me. No apology or expressed concern. Then he had me write it out again which I could do and go over that. I did add in there that guests had said this morning two more people stumbled and tripped in the same place but because there were many people coming and going, they did not fall.
The girl from the shuttle service, while we had been waiting, tried to collect the shuttle fee but no way I was paying that. She said he shouldn’t have comped it because her brother would be mad but I just sort of smiled and shrugged. I figured let them fight that out between themselves.
While I was in the office she knocked, stuck her head in and said we had to go. D.K. told her to wait. She didn’t want to and he repeated, just tell your brother he has to wait. He continued reviewing the notes. Then finally said they would be in touch with me and I reminded him I am out of the country for more than a month so I suggested I call him when I return. He replied, oh they will be in touch with you! In my head I was thinking, I bet they will and with a whole song and dance! But now my vacation could actually begin! Yea!!!
We went out and boarded our mini bus to the cruise port. When the man had loaded the luggage he didn’t ask which ship. Elva said, oh we are all going to the same cruise, but not the case. Ours was the last stop but no worry as we were plenty early. Going through security was no problem once we backtracked from the dead end the first person sent us to and from there on it was, so to speak, smooth sailing! We had given the porter all the bags and we accepted a glass of ‘champagne’ and made our way to a quiet, or at least quieter, place. I tucked into a corner and called Insure My Trip who connected me to the insurance company I purchased my policy from. I didn’t know if I had to make them aware, I didn’t really, or not. Thought it was better to keep all those bases covered.
We had lunch in the OceanView Cafe (Lido Buffet)and it was like coming home. All very familiar. I haven’t been on a Celebrity cruise in awhile but the island style layout that the mother company, Royal Caribbean, first developed was being used. Food was good, staff friendly, and seating limited because everyone comes aboard at relatively the same time and you can go to a bar or the buffet. U guess I am a little spoiled because thanks to the encouragement from Katie I am Platinum on Carnival and our rooms are always ready for us. Put things away and wash up and get organized before lunch. Then we typically take a picture of our lunch plate and text it home so folks know we have arrived safely.
Today we finished eating and as soon as our cabin was ready we went to it. While Elva unpacked I went out on our balcony and called the girls. I knew I would be wanting to send pictures or post on Facebook or in this BLOG and didn’t want them to see and have a ton of questions after we set sail. We would be incommunicado for at least two days.
Andrew Kennedy was our entertainer. Well, he was supposed to be our entertainer but we were not amused. He told stories about his life. His slow delivery and long stories followed by saying things like, you must all be very tired from getting to the ship fell flat. We seemed tired because he was dull. Pretty sure I could keep your attention more easily!
I went up to get my bedtime tea and couldn’t shower because of the stitches so we went right to bed.
We were both tired just plain tired!
...Continuing...
I have only had one other journey that was in an ambulance and do not remember the beginning or end of it. In that case, once help arrived, I just gave into letting others take care of me.
I did that this time, sort of. Mark warned me that we were not putting on lights and siren, in my book a good thing, but just the lights. Had they used the siren they must travel at a faster speed (life is threatened) and, he said, I warn you the roads in Broward are terrible and the ride will be very rough, speeding would make it worse!
He also said, when we get back to the hotel (that was promising) check for bedbugs and described how to do that! Lift the fitted sheet, or bottom sheet, and look for black spots! He shared that they pick up people all the time from that location that are badly bitten and need emergency services! He had one just the week before that missed her cruise because of the severity of her condition due to the bites! (We had already decided not to go there again. I had been there once before and forgot that it wasn’t convenient, just cheap and did not plan to go back but there I was!)
Mark had asked why we were at the hotel, were we going on a cruise? When I confirmed we were sailing the next day, he said, “We’ll get you there!” The first thing he said at the entrance to the ER was that I was going on a cruise. Again I was asked when is it and again reassured that they would get me there! Every person we encountered, Elva stayed with me all the way, asked when the cruise was and commented that they would get us there! I was not so sure. By now my right hand looked like a catcher’s mitt and my head was swathed in gauze!
Broward Medical Health Center, part of the Broward County Hospital system is amazing! I think they have 28 beds in the ER and there were also beds in the halls which may or may not have been ER patients but might have been hospital patients going for tests, but I doubt it. I fell just after 8:00 p.m. and think hospital patients are probably all done with services by then unless they have taken a turn for the worse.
As Mark and John wheeled me to a cubicle, made up that bed, and transferred me, Melanie, who had met us at the door, got all the pertinent information. When then waited maybe a half hour or more, maybe 45 minutes but I was shaking more and more violently and really needed to go to the bathroom, conveniently located right next to our space. But of course, not gonna happen right then.
I saw a doctor very quickly after Elva went to the nurse’s station to say I could not stop shaking. And I still shivered and shook violently. My hand was on ice and when the doctor came in she had the nurse, whose name was Teddy, help take me off the board. I didn’t have a cervical collar, just wedges so that seem reasonable.
Shortly they took me for an extensive series of X-Rays and then a CAT Scan. When I say shortly, that is definitely a relative term. Elva was tracking progress with a series of photos, I had asked her to do that even back at the hotel. Really, I was thinking it would be a good story, but later it occurred to me that having a record might come in handy later down the road.
After all the tests were done, and my blood pressure returned down to a reasonable number, Lauren, a P.A. stitched up my hear. We think there are eight sutures above my right eye. Turns out after the fact that she was a student P.A.! I hope she did a good job because it never crossed my mind to ask for a plastic surgeon to do it, but then I might have, indeed, missed my cruise.
The interesting and embarrassing thing about Lauren is that I commented to her that her mother or no her grandmother, must have like Lauren Bacall. She asked, “Who is that?” Turns out she was born in 1990! I guess she isn’t into TCM and old movies!
I remember Nigel; He brought his computer around and got all the rest of the detailed information needed and chatted for about 45 minutes while the tests were being read. Beds all around me were being cleared for either people to go home or be admitted. Elva and I like Nigel – a lot. I, by then, had been given pain medication which indicated to me that there were not going to be more tests, and was quite interested in the stories about his father. Nigel’s dad was a professor at home but could only find a job, back in the day, at an all white business. (My memory may not be perfect – remember – I hit my hear- HARD!)
One night, at wherever it was, he was sweeping up because there were some things spilled and he just took care of it. Some of the workers came in and saw him do that and were making fun of him and spilled stuff on purpose. He cleaned it up quietly. I wonder how they felt the next day when the boss said to them, have you met Jackson? He is the new supervisor. They said no, they didn’t think so. The boss replied, oh you would know if you did. He is a big black guy! Don’t you wonder how that first meeting went from there?
Nigel needed lots of info which I could remember. Of course, who has their insurance info memorized, not me, for sure. Since Elva and I travel together, but are not related, she didn’t have it, although I had made sure she had all the girls phone numbers! In the brief time we had been at the hotel I had reorganized my carry on stuff and so didn’t have my drivers license or insurance card in my wallet. I did have my passport copy with me as ID. Not sure why I had taken the others out. So while sharing stories with Nigel I all of a sudden remembered that I had not made a paper copy of my credit, license and insurance cards for this trip as is necessary for foreign travel piece of mind, but I did take a photo with my phone! That literally saved the day! I recommend that, but really a paper copy as well in case you lose your phone or it is stolen.
The most interesting thing that Nigel told us was that They are very used to speeding along cruise ship passengers. Broward Center ER is a Class One Trauma Center. They see 15 to 20 cruise ship passengers a DAY! This is the hospital that you are evacuated to if you have a need from any Eastern Caribbean sailing cruise ship! Yes, 15 to 20 a day, pre, post, and during cruise accidents!
It seemed a long wait after Nigel left…
… but then as my release papers were being signed by the second doctor I saw, the first was called away on an in hospital emergency, Beth came to say we could leave. When Elva asked how do we get out of the hospital since we were not familiar with it, she actually walked us out. First she made sure we had a paper copy of the pain medicine prescription and looked up the 24 hour pharmacy between us and the motel. The in house one, even she was surprised to discover, was closed.
When we got the lobby she did not leave us on our own but called a cab and escorted us out. Beth let me cling to her, no wheelchair, I guess you only get those if you had a baby. She stayed with us. Very calming but she also said the hospital was in a weird place. A few blocks one way was the worst part of town and four blocks the other way was the very nice area! This was in response to the question why there wasn’t a bench at the entrance to rest on. When the taxi arrived she wrote out the pharmacy address and asked him to wait while we got it. We had decided that was the easiest and probably the cheapest in the long run. She wrote out the Days Inn name and address.
I commented to Beth, as I had to Mark, and Nigel, and Lauren, and Elva that I was pretty sure they would be glad when we left because I had talked continually from the time I first face-planted. Actually, the medical people said that was a good thing because it helped to verify there was not a concussion since I was making sense and could answer all the questions. Elva was just exhausted and wished I would shut up! But Elva was happy that the cruise was going to happen because she did not have trip insurance and wasn’t sure she wanted to go on her own. I knew my niece Amanda lived down the road in West Palm Beach and one of the girls could quickly come join me if they needed to. Gladly all the tests showed no broken bones. They examined my head and found nothing! Go ahead and laugh, but that is a good thing when you have a four week trip ahead.
The driver was indeed very nice. We felt quite safe and relieved that this adventure was nearly over. I went into the CVS where the pharmacist was completing filling a prescription and printing off the label. He said he would be with me in a minute which opened up the opportunity to say I had a cab waiting so I would appreciate that. BCBS computers were down, so he asked, would I pay for it or get it tomorrow. Thank you, I will take it with me. Standard 15 to 20 minute reply. As I sank into a nearby chair I asked if he could expedite that as I had a cab waiting and my ordeal had exhausted me. He said okay. I think it was about 10 minutes. Elva came in and reminded me that I should also get Neosporin to change the dressing. Lauren had left us with all the extra gauze and tape from the bandaging she had done after the stitching. I knew I had some with me but wanted to be sure to have enough.
And only 5 hours 35 minutes after the fall we were back at the hotel. The night clerk had the security doors closed but let us in. She didn’t seem to know at first what to think when two old women, one obviously beaten up, approached the sacred entrance for which she was responsible. It is a tricky ethical question in reality. Do you keep yourself safe or help save someone else. I learned a lot from Mr. Larry Guichard at NMTC in my Business Ethics class!
I told her I needed to make sure n incident report was filed. There was one started, she added the general idea of the treatment, and the time we returned. I told her my glasses were broken and to add that to the report. They had had a wild trip of their own across that lobby floor!
Back in the room, while Elva got ready for bed I pulled back the fitted sheets and we determined it was safe enough to go to bed and not sleep dressed on top of the covers. I knew I would only sleep if I took a hot bath and so I did, and read for about an hour, turning off the light at last at 1:55 a.m.!
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
And So It Begins!
The day was going to be warm on Saturday, April 14th. I woke early because exhaustion from a weird and stress filled week had me asleep by 10 on Friday night. So six a.m. found me repotting the seeds that had sprouted but not bee moved on from their starter tray. Crazy, huh!
Wonton Noodle knew the day of separation had come. He followed me in lockstep around the house and garage. Watched every move. I held him for a while and got a temporary fix of his softness and love but then it was time to go. So we loaded up the car and were at Christine’s at 9:30 for the drive to the airport. Two lanes closed on 285 is not unusual but the amount of traffic for a Saturday morning seemed to be enough to bog down the drive.
After a quick hug and goodbye I entered the Delta Terminal and Elva quickly spotted me from her seat and called and waved. She too had just gotten there. Usually she takes the Atlanta Rapid Transit to but had also gotten a ride with her daughter and has also run into the same traffic with two lanes closed on the east side of town.
We checked out bag and quickly got through security with our TSAPreChek, boarded the PlaneTrain and made our way to the gate. I was glad we were on the noon flight because the earlier flight to Ft. Lauderdale was still delayed but our boarding and flight were effortlessly accomplished and we even arrived early. Then ooops!
We waited over an hour for the hotel shuttle which was then overcrowded so that one little girl gave me her seat and rode on her daddy’s lap. Surely not safe and wise but at least we were finally moving. And we were way ahead of people we met at the shuttle line whose friends were calling to say they were going to miss the trip because snow and storms had them stuck in Minneapolis, or Boston Hopefully they did indeed get a later or morning flight and escape the harsh late winter climate.
At the hotel, Day’s Inn North Airport Cruiseport everything was fine and in good shape. Elva and I hiked across the highway because I felt is was too hot to sit out by the pool and we could do that later. We stopped at McDonald’s and I got my Diet Coke and Elva got an Orange Float. We then went across the parking lot to Walmart where we got wine to take aboard and I bought a Diet Coke to have with the popcorn I planned for the evening in the room.
While walking back to the hotel we noticed a lot of apparently homeless people. Strangely they all seemed nice and friendly and did not ask us for anything although they were obviously asking passing motorists for aid. One man, appearing to be old, but maybe that was the beard and general unkemptness of his clothing, chatted a moment to tell us how to safely cross the exit ramp and blessed us. Never showed us his sign or held out his hand. So sad that his breath informed us that alcohol was his demon.
We put our stuff in our room and met a nice couple from New Orleans by the pool. She was exercising in the water and he had a pizza delivered. We were all talking for about a half hour when the caretaker came to close the pool for the evening. Going up to the room the hotel manager was in the elevator with us and I commented that they must not have lights so can’t keep it open after dark. He said they did but didn’t have the permit to do so. We knew he was the boss because after check in I spoke to him and asked him to waive the morning fee for the transfer to the port. Airport transfers are included but not the cruise port. He said no it was not their van it was a separate company. I then asked if he could float that fee for us because of the long delay and that we had stayed with them many times before when the service had been good. He said he would. So when we saw him again in the elevator he began to know who we were, I think.
While I was washing up I noticed that there was only coffee in our room. Unfortunately, very unfortunately this is a pet peeve of mine. Seriously, for coffee packets and not one tea bag! I usually carry some with me even at home in my purse but did not because, after all, we were to be on a cruise ship to the Mother Country of England. No tea deprivation there, for sure! So on my way down to the second floor for ice I thought…I will go to the lobby and see if someone can go to the breakfast area and get me a couple of tea bags.
OOOPPPSS! As I was entering the lobby’s weather shield lobby ( you know the small part before the main doors, in a nicer place might be a vestibule or foyer ) I was safely inside except for my left foot. The toe of my shoe caught on the uneven tile at the door and I tripped. Sudden, fast, and hard! The ice bucket flew as I extended my right arm to break my fall. But not before the side of my face slammed into the tile floor and my glasses flew across the space. Instinctively I had turned my head and therefore did not land nose first. My one loud yelp was quickly replaced by moaning and groaning.. My hand took the brunt of the fall and I thought for sure it was broken.
People came from the lobby to stand in the doorway asking the first obvious question, was I all right. I said no. I needed ice for my hand and my head. The desk clerk came and wanted to help me stand but I told her no repeatedly. Because I had turned my head I had also twisted my back. I stayed motionless and asked for ice and an ambulance. Someone went for ice, and when the clerk asked again about helping me up I heard a lady with a Scandinavian accent say NO. That is the worse thing you could do. By then her husband was holding ice to my head and wiping the dripping blood from my face. I asked where they were from and he said Sweden. I thanked them.
A voice said is she with anyone and then the clerk asked my room and I told her. I said but you don’t need to worry her I think she is going to bed but luckily I was over ruled and the Clerk got Elva, who was indeed in the bathroom and changing. Elva quickly dressed and arrived just after the very nice Mark and John from the ambulance service arrived. Mark was at my head and as they got the vitals and verified I had not lost consciousness he said they would help me up. As they went to turn me on my back I yelped and said I was fine it was just awkward but out came the backboard and neck wedges. Into the ambulance I went with Elva following. I was so glad she was there. She took my wallet, my phone, and my glasses and was a Godsend during what followed…..
To Be Continued…
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