Wednesday 30 March, 2016

Well, our last day before disembarking in Los Angeles in the morning.  But our arrival has been delayed by about an hour as a crew member had to be air-vac'd from the ship just now.  We were advised of this a few hours ago and the helicopter from San Diego has just winched the person off - great drama, everyone had to leave certain open decks and we lowered our speed  to match the wind factor and the operation took just about 10 minutes.  Must have been very serious as we are so close to LA.  Perhaps someone ate a black banana, D!!!!! Yesterday a lady was taken off the ship having suffered a stroke! 

This cruise has not been without incident!  I also heard that we are on 'yello alert' - can't find out if that is about nori virus or respiratory problems but the salt & pepper shakers and all cutlery was removed from tables 2 days ago.  We are now using packet S & P & cutlery being handed to us.  

Other than that, all good.  We both played for a $1800 jackpot at bingo this afternoon without luck.  This will probably be my last posting unless something exciting happens in LA.  

Will dine with Joy and Ken tonight - has been lovely having friends to socialise with and we will definitely keep in touch.  

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Had a very nice visit to Cabo San Lucas today, arrived at around 7am & left again at 2.30pm although the last tender was at 1.30 pm.  The temperature was lovely, in the mid 20's with a breeze - much easier to move around.  We were off the ship early, walked just a few hundred yards and took a ride in a glass bottomed boat with 4 others - just a 45 minute trip out to see the wonderful rock formations, some seals and many birds, particularly pelicans.  

Continued along the foreshore checking out the various shops, mostly all very touristy and containing stuff you wouldn't want to take home.  Cabo felt super safe after some of the places we have visited and the locals were very friendly.  Stopped for tacos and margeritas and by then it was time to wander back to the ship.  Another ship, the Norwegian Jewel, had arrived at noon  so the town was buzzing.  

Saturday 26, Sunday 27 & Monday 28 March, 2016

Have had three days at sea, for the last two hugging the coast of Mexico.  The weather has changed considerably and is now only around 26/27 C and much more enjoyable.  Not so good for the bronzed whales out on deck though!  There is a very interesting array of figures on this ship and the good things is - they don't give a rats!!!!  Oh to be so flamboyant!  

Have tried to win the jackpot of around $1500 at bingo, did win a prize today but had to share with 2 others - won a total of $34.  

The shows have been good, the crew show is tonight so that thould be very entertaining.  

Am now on my last book, just as well as the library is pretty ordinary with not much to offer.  Each day there has been an art auction, generally I go to these as find them fascinating!  And there is a chance to win a painting which , of course, didn't happen to me.  But they do give away a small token at the end of each auction.  Was in such an auction the other day when George came looking for me - to tell me the Pies had had a good flogging.  With the smile on his face I think it was the highlight of his day.  

Last night we ate in the specialty restaurant, Crown Grill.  Was lovely but far too much food.  The desserts all look fantastic, that's why I keep posting photos, but truly, they are very average and I rarely eat them. There is a fascination with chocolate and mousse but the taste is not there.  

Winding down now, the next stop is Cabo St Lucas in Mexico then a day at sea before arriving in Los Angeles.  Sadly we won't be seeing our friends, the Goldsteins, as they are still in Port Jervis, NY, helping to settle Howard's affairs.  

Tonight was the crew show - that's not me in the tutu!!!!!

E 

Friday 25 March 2016

Nicaragua. 

George went on the tour alone today - yesterday was enough for me and feeling ordinary with a cold and sore throat meant I could turn over and go back to sleep as the tour was leaving very early.  After a late breakfast I decided to take the tender boat to the port - walked along the street beside the beach and checked out the various souvenier shops.  I then found a nice hotel with a beachside bar and had a cold drink while using their free wifi. Was nice not having to hurry on the internet like on the ship. The town was alive - Good Friday in Melbourne is NOTHING like Good Friday in San Juan, Nicaragua!!!  Everybody was out & about, some dressed in costume, others more or less dancing to the macarena and other loud Latin American beat and of course there were thousands on the beach and in the water.  Was very tempting not to paddle but not sure how clean that water was!!! 

Back on the ship I sat in the laundromat reading for an hour.  George was back at around 4.30 having really enjoyed his day & then we met up with Joy & Ken for a drink before dinner.  

The easter egg display on the ship is amazing as you will see by the pics.  

Thursday 24 March 2016

 I woke with a sore throat, lots of people coughing and spluttering!  But since we had a tour booked had to be up early.  We docked at Punterenas, Costa Rica at 8 am and were cleared to disembark shortly afterwards.  But we were on a Princess tour so had to wait longer as 4 buses going on the same route.  

This tour was a scenic train ride and river cruise of approximately 5 1/2 hours but we didn't get back until well after 3pm - dirty, tired and for me, wishing we'd saved our money!  Drove to the train, about 40 minutes from the port.  The train is antique and used to bring coffee down to the port years ago.  Enjoyed the countryside, passed many fields with cantaloupes and honey dews (melons are in huge production here), trees dripping with mangoes, cows, small shanty towns, monkeys in trees, iguanas etc.  And because it is Easter Thursday and the start of holidays many children along the way fwaving to us.  Back on the bus we hit a huge traffic jam - everyone heading to the beach apparently. So instead of taking an hour  to the river boat it took us about 2 hours - initially along the highway and then on the worst, most corrugated road I've ever been on!  Was soooo dusty it went through the air-con & didn't help my sore throat!  So, we finally arrived at this godforsaken place, hot as hell, but they did  have cold drinks and huge bowls of freshly cut pineapple for us.  That was delicious. 

Our turn to get on the little boat to view crocodiles, snakes, birdlife, monkeys.  Saw some macaws, a hawk, 3 or 4 kingfishers, some white and blue herons.  Monkeys, crocodiles and snakes all out of town today!!!!! 

What goes up must come down and that applied to our route back - yes, back on that dusty road again, 45 minutes before we hit the highway!  I'm sure Costa Rica is a fabulous place but this port of Puntarenas did nothing for me - maybe on the Carribbean side it is better.  

People are watching a movie and munching popcorn under the stars but it is unbearably hot outside, not sure how they can bear it.  

Below, a white heron, the river boat, monkey in a tree and melons growing all along the way

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Another sea day, nice and relaxing really.  Walked the 2 miles with Joy at 7am as any later would be far too hot.  There is a group of bird watchers on board - every morning we see them on our walk, tripods with cameras at the ready and all their equipment handy.  Heard lots of oohs and aahhs as one solitary bird flew overhead!!

I went to my third art auction after lunch - have enjoyed them but kept my hand below the table!!!   

The Captain's Circle Cocktail party tonight - black tie of course.  Four of us got a table in one of the lounges and really enjoyed people watching - some pretty strange people and fashions as well as some elegance. Then the cocktails were served, all very pretty but not much alchoholic content!  Went to dinner then the show which was good.  

Monday 21 March and Tuesday 22 March 2016

MONDAY - Combining two days at sea - another one tomorrow.  Took it easy yesterday, a nice long sleep in & not much happening.  I did go to the port lecture for Costa Rica on Thursday, it should be a nice place to visit but I fear it will be very hot. Am hoping I won't run out of books to read - the library on this ship is not as good as the one at the Hallmark!!!  The ship itself is looking a bit tired - I guess we have been spoilt by Regent  and Silver Seas.  

One of the dining rooms became a shop for a few hours  - looked like the bargain basement at Dimmeys!!!  Princess trying to get rid of all the poor quality stuff they've tried to sell  for years!!!  But all a bit of fun and we found a couple of treasures!!!  

Each night at around 5.30 we go to a particular lounge where canapes and cocktails are served to Elite passengers, (past cruisers), drinks at a slightly reduced cost.  It's not about the food and drink so much as meeting up with new friends and then gliding into the dining room for dinner!!!! We enjoyed dinner last night with Joy and Ken from Richmond, Virginia.  Joy & I have had a couple of early morning walks around the deck and will do so again tomorrow.  

TUESDAY - wow, was it hot walking today!  Everyone was anxious to see the Machu Picchu passengers meet the ship - we arrived at the Ecquadorian port of Manta at 1 pm but no one was permitted to leave the ship. The first 6 or 7 passengers arrived at about 2pm and I think they were those who had travelled independently.  We were obviously going to be here until at least 6.30 so after lunch I went to see the film 'The Danish Girl'. What else to do on a free day in Ecquador??  One bus arrived mid afternoon and two more at around 5pm.  There was great excitement - officers, crew, waiters, all lined up with cold towels, drinks, etc and a great cheer from all of us standing on our balconies or decks.  They were like heroes returning from the war!!!  It will be very interesting hearing their stories.  Apparently quite a few have burns from the aircraft slide but are otherwise in good shape.  

Tonight we ate in the Horizon Court Buffet - was advertised as a Bierfest night.  Actually the food was quite delicious particularly the roast pork with crackling.  We went to the show at 8.15 - a full house to see 'Master Gaucho', Rythm of Argentina.  A husband and wife act who've been playing in Las Vegas for years & now on the Princess circuit.  They did a bit of everything, whip cracking, tango, rope twirling etc. 

Joy and I then went on to Skywalkers to hear Abba music.  The husbands disappeared to bed!!!  Nothing like Silver Whisper, Anne Lamont - no paid gentlemen waiting to snap up a couple of seniors to dance haha!!!

We finally left Ecquador at around 8 pm.  And we crossed the equator at 10.15 pm.  Celebrations for that tomorrow!