November 4, 2013

It was a dark and stormy night, but dawn dawned. Today started out windy and rainy and stayed rainy

until it stopped. The rain stopped about noon and we went out for about 4 hours – rode the bus to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (Leroy Jethro was not there – head slap). The climb up 185 stairs was too much for Bonnie. She went up 5, looked up, and said, "I can’t do this," and waited for me to climb. The circular staircase, winding upward for 185 steps is a bit daunting. The sides are open with only the outside wall for support, and the obligatory handrail. Beautiful views, but since I am having such problems posting pictures, you may have to wait till we get home to see them.

After the lighthouse, on the hillside, that over looks the sea, we caught a bus to Hamilton where we ate a sandwich, and guzzled Mountain Dew and Diet Coke and caught the Ferry back. We had 30 minutes to wait before the Ferry came – they are running on winter schedule, so it only comes on the hour instead of every 30 minutes. I took advantage of the time to go back to the Bermuda Book Store and look around. Surprisingly, I bought nothing.

Back onboard there was a greeting card class making, but Bonnie had done the same class in September and had bought the kit. There was another couple who came, but she claimed – rudely – to be a professional scrap book teacher, and this greeting card class was too elementary and she left. Boy some folk are sure impressed with themselves. Since we were the only ones left, we talked to Roberto, the card instructor, for a half hour. He is from Cozumel and was impressed that I knew San Gervaso, a Mayan city on the island. We chatted about Mayan ruins and Mayan culture for a while. And he told us some stories from his 8 years with Royal Caribbean.

Later we played "Who in the world am I?" trivia, scored 10 out of 13 and lost to a perfect score. Did you know Sean Connery’s first name is Thomas?

The entertainment department once again put on a spectacular aerial show in the Centrum. There are four flyers, four dancers, and three singers.

At supper Yolanda and Rainey recounted their day to us. We actually met them, quite by accident at the Lighthouse. They had booked a ship’s tour in a taxi for three hours. I don’t think their driver’s name was Gilligan, but they did smile, and rolled their big brown eyes and got an extra hour and 15 minutes of touring.

The wind kept up most of the day, and only once did a little bit of blue sky peek out. Hopefully it will be a pretty day because I want to go back to St. George’s and get some pictures before we sail. Maybe I can get them posted, because I got some good ones today, too.

November 5, 2013

We headed off this morning into very strong winds blowing directly into our faces. I remarked that I haven’t walked in winds that strong since trying to cross the Quadrangle at Frostburg State College during a winter blizzard many years ago. The waves were crashing up onto the quay and spray was flying like it a summer rain shower. Not unpleasant, but the wind canceled many of the last day’s activities – no kayaking tours or snorkeling tours, and the Ferry to St. George’s, which we wanted to ride, is not going today because of the winds on the western side of the island.

So we wandered around the Dock Yard and went into the Glass Blowing Factory and watched three talented young people making objects from molten glass. There was very little blowing, hardly more than a strong puff to get the shape started – round balls, perhaps Christmas tree ornaments – and then a lot of twirling of the rod to which the glass was attached. There were many precision movements, and all of it was judged exactingly by callipers. Quite interesting.

Then we bought a couple of souvenirs and came back onboard. I will try to post this in a few minutes. Check back, but this may be the last blog for this cruise. I’m not going back out into the wind, and my shipboard account is almost depleted.

Lots of love!
TTFN
Well, TTFN

November 3, 2013

First order of business – Happy Birthday, Carey!

Well, the ship is docking even as I type.  It was neat watching the approach.  The Captain sailed up with the dock on the starboard side and then swung the ship in a circle so that we will be docked with the gangway on the port side.  For all you landlubbers, that’s right, then left.

Docking procedures will be completed in about 30 minutes, then the people who are doing tours will go off first.  We are just going to stay in the area of the Dock Yard today, so it will be 3:30 or 4 until we go off.  Tomorrow we will go exploring, and hopefully get some good pictures to share with y’all.

Strange occurrences in the Bermuda Triangle.  When we sailed in last week, the first night out, the Captain told us to set our clocks ahead one hour so we would be on Bermuda time, then we set them back on the way home.  This time, because of “Fall Back” we did not change our clocks, and the ship is automatically on Bermuda time.  I use my cell phone (on airplane mode) as my alarm clock, and got up this morning at 6:30.  I looked at my watch, which I had not changed, and it was 7:30.  The internal workings of the Droid automatically adjusted for Day Light Savings time, and I was an hour behind schedule.  So, I ate a peanut butter cookie for breakfast, dressed and went to my talk.  I heard a couple other people making a similar comment.  There is a setting on the phone to make it not do that, and I forgot to do it.  But all is well.


Confusion in the scheduling department again, so no protestant service, but there is a Catholic priest onboard – Father John.  I caught the end of his service (it was concluding 30 minutes before my talk was to begin): “The Lord be with you.” “And also with you.”  “Go in peace.”  We chatted for a few minutes.  He serves a church in Bowie, Maryland.  I guess Catholic priests go on vacation on cruises ships and do worship services.  Cool.

Bonnie went to scrap booking class.  They give out free packets at each class and make  interesting

suggestions.  Joyce is the teacher and she is very nice.  She is one of Bonnie’s favorites among the crew.  When we get home my fellow cruiser will produce a masterpiece of this voyage.

I was standing out on Deck 5 watching Bermuda sail by: St. David’s Lighthouse, Fort St. Catherine’s, and other places, when a man walked up to me, expressed appreciation for the talks, and asked, “Have you done talks on other ships?”  We chatted for a while and found out we were on another cruise together when I did my 3-part pirates series.  Another one for the small world department.

Well, Sleeping Beauty has snoozed enough, so it is time to roust her and head out to explore Bermuda.

More later.

TTFN

November 2, 2013

A good crowd for "King’s Wharf: The Gibraltar of the West" this morning. About 75 hearty folk were up early and in the "South Pacific Lounge." The talk went well, and there were a number of questions afterward.

Once again on this cruise there will be no Sunday morning worship led by yours truly. The Catholic chaplain onboard has the 8 a.m. slot, and by the time they asked me about the 7 a.m. time, which would have been fine, the Cruise Compass had gone to press and there was no way to announce the service. So next time.

I told you yesterday that we are once again at Table 206. It is a table for 10, and last night there were ^nd night. That would be tonight, and the first formal night of the cruise.

Yoland and Rainey with Head Waiter Diane

only Bonnie and I and two ladies from Memphis – Yolanda and Rainey (short for Lorraine). We laughed and talked like we had known each other for years instead of for only an hour. They will make for companionable suppers. Typically on the first night of a cruise, the second seating is sparsely attended. With the busy day and the pressures of getting onboard and settled, a lot of people eat in the Windjammer, and show up on the 2

One unpleasantness from supper last night. The ship’s company takes photographs in the dining room twice on the cruise, to induce you to buy memories of the occasion. As he photographed Yolanda and Rainey a drunk came over and asked to pose with them. They graciously allowed it and he performed a David Copperfield. Jerk! For the translation, ask Michael or Matthew to explain it.

Bonnie went to scrap booking class today while I read my newest Bill Bryson: America, Summer of 1927. Good book, featuring Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Calvin Coolidge and a cast of thousands. We took lunch in the Windjammer where I consumed a hamburger and washed it down with fruit punch. For dessert we went to the Solarium and the Park Café and I asked the server for "a bowl of peanut butter cookies" (I was being silly). He gave me a bowl of peanut butter cookies. When I protested, he said, "You are on vacation! It is okay!" At least they are sugar free cookies. Oh my goodness!

The seas are a little rough today, but Bonnie has on her seasick antidote patch and is doing fine. No problems at all. Actually, she is napping now, and I am writing the blog. It is not possible to nap when Bonnie is napping – unless you get to sleep first – because she SNORES! In fact, when she inhales the ship leans to starboard and when she exhales it leans to port. I repeat – oh my goodness!

We just came back from Movie Love Songs Trivia. It was the same tunes as last week, and we didn’t do any better than last week. We needed a children’s movie expert to help us with Lion King and Shrek .

More tomorrow.

TTFN

One of Bermuda's forts, seen from Snorkel Bay Beach

One of the residents of the aquarium

November 1, 2013

The final sea day on this leg of our cruise was packed with entertainment.  There was an aerial show in the Centrum, with three peformers doing Cirque d’Sole (I know it’s misspeeled) type work.  The ship’s orchestra did 45 minutes of Big Band Music – quite an accomplished group of musicians.  The activities director led about 40 of our fellow cruisers in the “Thriller” dance – doing the old Michael Jackson number, complete with being dressed up and made up as zombies (our friend, Julie Bracket was one of the zombies).  Then there was a farewell performance in the Palladium Theater.  Lots of good stuff.

My talks yesterday and today went well.  Yesterday: The Historic Ships of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Today: Maryland, My Maryland: Historic firsts and unusual people and practices.

Who is Daisy?

Because of a mixup somewhere, there was no opportunity to conduct a worship service Sunday, but I just had a message from my support person (who I could easily sue for non-support) saying they had scheduled a worship service for the second cruise.

Well, here we are back in Baltimore for a few hours before sailing again to Bermuda.  This really is a great itinerary – it gives cruisers an opportunity to explore a beautiful island and not have to rush back onboard to sail to the next destination.  Of course, island hopping is fun, too.  You really have to work hard to have a bad time on a cruise (we did hear one man complaining about everything – his stateroom, the food, the entertainment – he liked nothing; we speculated at supper that he was wrangling for a refund and therefore, a free cruise).

We are back onboard, having gone off through customs, turned around and came back, and ready to sail again.  We have the same state room, so we didn’t have to pack and move, and when I went to get a table – we have 2nd seating again – the assigned us to the same table.  We had good folks to eat with last week.  Hope we have good companions for supper again.

I did not tell you that your favorite cruisers have trouble keeping up with their stuff.  Bonnie lost her walkie talkie and we reclaimed it from Lost and Found.  I lost my Xoom – I signed a receipt and walked off without it.  A few minutes later I realized my hand was empty and went back and the clerk held it up with a smile.  Oh well.  At least the ship is big and we haven’t lost it.

Stay tuned for more entries – the next one to be posted Sunday evening from Bermuda, with pictures.

TTFN!