October 26, 2018
We slept in today. It was 8:30 when Mom rolled out of bed and went for her walk. I showered while she strolled. After she finished and got ready we went to the sea day brunch. I had eggs benedict on a chrome hub cab because there’s no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise.
We had planned to go to the disembarkation presentation, but since I’d already gotten our shuttle tickets and our luggage tags, we skipped it. Actually, we were in the dining room consuming our morning meal when the program started at 10 o’clock.
Then we went to the Splendor Lobby where we observed a game of Sorry! in which the pieces that moved around the board were the players. The board is about 4 feet wide and 20 feet long and the players moved around in a very long path. They ran out of time before any team had gotten all of its “pieces” off and it seemed that few of the contestants had every played Sorry! before because the host was continually explaining the rules. But it was fun to observe.
Then there was “Frightfully Fun Trivia” which was about horror TV shows and movies. You know we did well on this game. Not! Our score out of 20 was 3 ½. We knew Linus waits on Halloween for the appearance of the Great Pumpkin, that the blood in the original Psycho movie was chocolate syrup, that one of the scarey movie series that seems to go on forever was “Halloween” (it was either that or “Friday the 13th”). And the half point was from knowing Pugsley was one of the kids in the “Adams Family” – we could not remember Wednesday. The winners got 18. We were wishing Ivy had been with us because she enjoys the scarey movies.
Then we did the Bean Bag Toss and scored 7. Bonnie got one through the hole for 3 and we stuck 4 more on the board for one each. The winners put 6 of eight through the hole and stuck the other two. I think they’ve been practicing. But it was fun.
Then we had coffee with Lee and the Fun Squad – the cruise director and members of his entertainment team. It was cool listening to their stories about how they got into the Carnival business, their educational backgrounds, and plans for the future.
Then we had horse race gambling (have you noticed that this paragraph and the preceding 4 have started with “Then”). They have 6 posts with cut-outs of horses on them, numbered 1 through 6 and a pair of dice. Each time your number comes up, your horse moves forward one space. It was $2 a ticket and there were three races. We played one horse each race – always #3 – no idea why – She Who Must Be Obeyed picked it – and we came in second in the first and third race and won the second race, claiming a $9 prize for the win. Place and Show did not pay. So we came away with a $3 profit. Much better than most gamblers on this ship will do.
The PG comedy was 50-50. The first guy was what I call a lazy comic – he picks out people from the audience, picks on them and tries to be funny. He was not. We laughed not once. The second guy told stories, had a real routine and was very funny.
And now it’s back into the room and preparation for bed and tomorrow’s landing in Ensenada. But before I close, may I ask, please pray for Barry Hunt. Barry is a special needs adult who is a member of Macedonia. When he was born the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, temporarily cutting off his supply of oxygen. While limited in his educational abilities, he never, I mean never, forgets anyone he meets and once taken somewhere never forgets how to get back to that place. But he cannot live by himself, and his mom, Jane Hunt, died today. I buried his father, Faye, several years ago. I talked to Barry after his mom was diagnosed with cancer, and I know this will be tougher for him than for most people. I do not know what arrangements Jane and Faye made for Barry, but I know he needs lots of prayers. So if you would lift him up. The funeral is Saturday.
Until tomorrow then ...
TTFN
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
THE NO VOLCANO VOLCANO
October 21, 2018
Well, we stayed up to see the volcano which the naturalist on board said stopped erupting a couple of weeks ago. Mom and I stood on the starboard side enjoying the evening breezes waiting to see what could be seen. About 9:45 the cruise director came on and told everyone to look off the port side, so we moved over. The naturalist said to look up the side of the island where there were two lights down near the shoreline (2042). There was some light and some smoke and that’s all that’s left of Kilouea (or however you speel it). Maybe it will go kablooey some other time – but the folks whose houses were spared hope it does not.
The waves in the area of Kona this morning were hitting the shore about 5 feet high and were predicted to get higher as the day wore on so the Captain chose safety over shore adventure (good choice, Cap) and we have been sailing around the big island of Hawaii since about 10 a.m. this morning to be along side at Hilo at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning.
I called the Entertainment Director when the change of plans were announced and told him to use me to fill in spots on the schedule if he needed me. I did two of the extra talks I brought along, and he was grateful. Keep the powers that be happy and keep sailing. I have two talks scheduled during the 4 days coming home.
Tomorrow is the last chance for Kona coffee. It grows on the mountains here, but there should be some in Hilo. There was some on Maui. We will go ashore after breakfast and check things out, do some wandering, maybe some shopping and see if there are any public beaches close (we could see several from our anchorage today). If there be, we will return to the ship, put on some swimming duds and venture into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Then it’s 4 days at sea back to Encando Mexico (or however you speel it) for a quick 4 hour visit, then the port of Long Beach and LAX and ATL and AGS. It’s home for November before we fly to Rome in December for a transatlantic back to Fort Lauderdale just in time for Christmas.
Okeydokey, closing down here for the night.
TTFN
Well, we stayed up to see the volcano which the naturalist on board said stopped erupting a couple of weeks ago. Mom and I stood on the starboard side enjoying the evening breezes waiting to see what could be seen. About 9:45 the cruise director came on and told everyone to look off the port side, so we moved over. The naturalist said to look up the side of the island where there were two lights down near the shoreline (2042). There was some light and some smoke and that’s all that’s left of Kilouea (or however you speel it). Maybe it will go kablooey some other time – but the folks whose houses were spared hope it does not.
The waves in the area of Kona this morning were hitting the shore about 5 feet high and were predicted to get higher as the day wore on so the Captain chose safety over shore adventure (good choice, Cap) and we have been sailing around the big island of Hawaii since about 10 a.m. this morning to be along side at Hilo at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning.
I called the Entertainment Director when the change of plans were announced and told him to use me to fill in spots on the schedule if he needed me. I did two of the extra talks I brought along, and he was grateful. Keep the powers that be happy and keep sailing. I have two talks scheduled during the 4 days coming home.
Tomorrow is the last chance for Kona coffee. It grows on the mountains here, but there should be some in Hilo. There was some on Maui. We will go ashore after breakfast and check things out, do some wandering, maybe some shopping and see if there are any public beaches close (we could see several from our anchorage today). If there be, we will return to the ship, put on some swimming duds and venture into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Then it’s 4 days at sea back to Encando Mexico (or however you speel it) for a quick 4 hour visit, then the port of Long Beach and LAX and ATL and AGS. It’s home for November before we fly to Rome in December for a transatlantic back to Fort Lauderdale just in time for Christmas.
Okeydokey, closing down here for the night.
TTFN
Thursday, October 18, 2018
12 HOURS FROM MAUI
October 18, 2018
It’s 9:15 p.m. ship’s time as I begin this and we are supposed to pull alongside at 9:15 a.m. We dock at Kahului and will pick up our car around 11. From there the plans are to drive to Iao Valley where there is a beautiful park. Then it’s on to the city of Lahaina where we will do some exploring. There are, of course, many shops and restaurants, and I’m sure we’ll sample some. There is also a train, the Sugar Cane express, that goes off in another direction. All aboard is not until 10:30 tomorrow night, so I’m sure we’ll find a few other things to do before dropping off the car at 8 or before. Someone told us we should get a convertible, but I checked the price of the speciality cars and the rate goes up from our $70 to $250, so I don’t think we’ll be putting the top down.
This was the second of three formal nights. My traveling companion stated that she has worn the same clothes for formal since we started cruising and before we do the transatlantic from Rome in December she’s going to get some new glad rags. I told her I am wearing the same tuxedo I’ve had for thirty years and she just gave me a stare. An unappreciative stare. But I’m not complaining. After all this time, it still fits.
I had filet mignon for supper with Grand Marnier Souffle for dessert which I enjoyed. Mom had a shrimp dish which she described as, “Okay,” which translated means, “Not much.” She said the Melting Chocolate Cake wasn’t much tonight either.
Well, short and sweet tonight. Hopefully we’ll have some good tales for you tomorrow. We are going off by ourselves, but we will not be adventurous.
Until tomorrow.
TTFN
It’s 9:15 p.m. ship’s time as I begin this and we are supposed to pull alongside at 9:15 a.m. We dock at Kahului and will pick up our car around 11. From there the plans are to drive to Iao Valley where there is a beautiful park. Then it’s on to the city of Lahaina where we will do some exploring. There are, of course, many shops and restaurants, and I’m sure we’ll sample some. There is also a train, the Sugar Cane express, that goes off in another direction. All aboard is not until 10:30 tomorrow night, so I’m sure we’ll find a few other things to do before dropping off the car at 8 or before. Someone told us we should get a convertible, but I checked the price of the speciality cars and the rate goes up from our $70 to $250, so I don’t think we’ll be putting the top down.
This was the second of three formal nights. My traveling companion stated that she has worn the same clothes for formal since we started cruising and before we do the transatlantic from Rome in December she’s going to get some new glad rags. I told her I am wearing the same tuxedo I’ve had for thirty years and she just gave me a stare. An unappreciative stare. But I’m not complaining. After all this time, it still fits.
I had filet mignon for supper with Grand Marnier Souffle for dessert which I enjoyed. Mom had a shrimp dish which she described as, “Okay,” which translated means, “Not much.” She said the Melting Chocolate Cake wasn’t much tonight either.
Well, short and sweet tonight. Hopefully we’ll have some good tales for you tomorrow. We are going off by ourselves, but we will not be adventurous.
Until tomorrow.
TTFN
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
YES IT IS. NOT IT’S NOT.
October 18, 2018
Oh what a day it was. Let me start at the end.
After supper we skipped the performance in the theater because it was the hypnotist we skipped while we were on the Carnival Fancy two weeks ago. We are in universal agreement – we don’t like hypnotists. We disagree on magicians – I like them. But hypnotists are not worth our time.
So we went to El Morocco, the lounge where I do my talks, for High Seas Karaoke. No, we didn’t sing. It’s a great place to play cards, and the performers were folks like us – some who could sing real good, and some who enjoyed singing. And my beloved won again! Making it 0-2 for your humble scribe.
Then we went to the Lido and found a seat for more cards. The reason we changed venue was a movie out on deck, not that we wanted to sit bundled up watching a movie with the sound so unreliable that they have captions, but that they make popcorn for the movies. And I got two boxes fresh out of the popper. Well, back at our table I am winning! And then we hear the people at the next table say, “The Carnival App says we are to go to Guest Services between 12:30 and 4 to get tender tickets for Maui.”
Well, that’s when the apple cart was upended and the whole thing began rolling down hill. You see, I had done thorough research before renting a car from Enterprise (the one we are using does not pick you up – they don’t have insurance to do it) to use for the day on Maui (we are there almost 12 hours, and ship’s excursions are expensive – the rental is $70 and not an excursion is that cheap). The ship is docking on the north side of the island in a working, industrial port – nothing new about that – we’ve done it often. On the south side of the island (it could have been west and the other east – I’m not that sure of my Hawaii geography) other cruise ships anchor and tender in. Well, they don’t tender any more, they use water taxis. Same vessel to get you from ship to shore, they just changed the name. It was confusing to some guests, they said. Who are “they” anyway?
“Poo-doodley-doo!” says I. The tender port is the wrong side of the island! And so I sent an email to Amy asking her to call Enterprise and cancel. Then we went to Guest Services to be sure – should have done that to start with. But at guest services they said, “Yes, we tender.” Then, “No, we don’t.” Several checks later and I emailed Amy back and said DISREGARD CANCELLATION. Actually I sent it twice. So tomorrow is Maui, our car rental is intact. And I’ll let you know how it goes.
At the beginning of this epistle I told you the day started out great. And it did. We went to breakfast in the Gold Pearl Restaurant, rather than the buffet. I prefer the restaurant, Bonnie does not, and so we go to the buffet. It is easier for her to find something she like to eat, rather than ordering off of a menu, and I eat most anything – but not too much to stay within my prescribed Weight Watcher Points. But she is a good sport and once in a while we do breakfast seated and served. And surprise! Breakfast was great! It started off with her hot chocolate being hot and chocolatey – not so at the Lido. And the food came out just right and hot and tasty. So I will get to go to the restaurant again for breakfast.
Next, she went to crochet and I came back to the cabin to rehearse for my 1:30 talk. Different schedule yesterday and today. The early days, and the days which follow today, I do two talks a day – same talk twice. Yesterday, though, one on food. Today one on food. I called Monroe, the Entertainment Director and told him I have a couple of different food talks, and since this is not a morning talk and an afternoon repeat, I’d be glad to do a different one tomorrow/that would be today. He was very pleased at the suggestion. Yes, I do all I can to keep the yummies up on carpet corridor happy. We really like sailing on Carnival and would like to have more gigs here.
Great turn out. Full lounge. And “Yes We May Have No Bananas” was well received. It’s a fun talk. I will show it to you on family night when we return.
Then the day started downhill. Supper in the Gold Pearl was supper in an icebox. I was freezing. And no sooner did the plates hit the table than they were luke warm (may have started out that way) but regardless, wearing a sweater, I was shivering. Even Mom was cold – so you know it was cold.
And now I am up early typing this blog and she is out on Deck 12 walking, getting in her 10,000 steps.
Next blog, Maui!
TTFN
Oh what a day it was. Let me start at the end.
After supper we skipped the performance in the theater because it was the hypnotist we skipped while we were on the Carnival Fancy two weeks ago. We are in universal agreement – we don’t like hypnotists. We disagree on magicians – I like them. But hypnotists are not worth our time.
So we went to El Morocco, the lounge where I do my talks, for High Seas Karaoke. No, we didn’t sing. It’s a great place to play cards, and the performers were folks like us – some who could sing real good, and some who enjoyed singing. And my beloved won again! Making it 0-2 for your humble scribe.
Then we went to the Lido and found a seat for more cards. The reason we changed venue was a movie out on deck, not that we wanted to sit bundled up watching a movie with the sound so unreliable that they have captions, but that they make popcorn for the movies. And I got two boxes fresh out of the popper. Well, back at our table I am winning! And then we hear the people at the next table say, “The Carnival App says we are to go to Guest Services between 12:30 and 4 to get tender tickets for Maui.”
Well, that’s when the apple cart was upended and the whole thing began rolling down hill. You see, I had done thorough research before renting a car from Enterprise (the one we are using does not pick you up – they don’t have insurance to do it) to use for the day on Maui (we are there almost 12 hours, and ship’s excursions are expensive – the rental is $70 and not an excursion is that cheap). The ship is docking on the north side of the island in a working, industrial port – nothing new about that – we’ve done it often. On the south side of the island (it could have been west and the other east – I’m not that sure of my Hawaii geography) other cruise ships anchor and tender in. Well, they don’t tender any more, they use water taxis. Same vessel to get you from ship to shore, they just changed the name. It was confusing to some guests, they said. Who are “they” anyway?
“Poo-doodley-doo!” says I. The tender port is the wrong side of the island! And so I sent an email to Amy asking her to call Enterprise and cancel. Then we went to Guest Services to be sure – should have done that to start with. But at guest services they said, “Yes, we tender.” Then, “No, we don’t.” Several checks later and I emailed Amy back and said DISREGARD CANCELLATION. Actually I sent it twice. So tomorrow is Maui, our car rental is intact. And I’ll let you know how it goes.
At the beginning of this epistle I told you the day started out great. And it did. We went to breakfast in the Gold Pearl Restaurant, rather than the buffet. I prefer the restaurant, Bonnie does not, and so we go to the buffet. It is easier for her to find something she like to eat, rather than ordering off of a menu, and I eat most anything – but not too much to stay within my prescribed Weight Watcher Points. But she is a good sport and once in a while we do breakfast seated and served. And surprise! Breakfast was great! It started off with her hot chocolate being hot and chocolatey – not so at the Lido. And the food came out just right and hot and tasty. So I will get to go to the restaurant again for breakfast.
Next, she went to crochet and I came back to the cabin to rehearse for my 1:30 talk. Different schedule yesterday and today. The early days, and the days which follow today, I do two talks a day – same talk twice. Yesterday, though, one on food. Today one on food. I called Monroe, the Entertainment Director and told him I have a couple of different food talks, and since this is not a morning talk and an afternoon repeat, I’d be glad to do a different one tomorrow/that would be today. He was very pleased at the suggestion. Yes, I do all I can to keep the yummies up on carpet corridor happy. We really like sailing on Carnival and would like to have more gigs here.
Great turn out. Full lounge. And “Yes We May Have No Bananas” was well received. It’s a fun talk. I will show it to you on family night when we return.
Then the day started downhill. Supper in the Gold Pearl was supper in an icebox. I was freezing. And no sooner did the plates hit the table than they were luke warm (may have started out that way) but regardless, wearing a sweater, I was shivering. Even Mom was cold – so you know it was cold.
And now I am up early typing this blog and she is out on Deck 12 walking, getting in her 10,000 steps.
Next blog, Maui!
TTFN
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Tomorrow's Blog
October 16, 2018
I’m not sure when you will get this because so far I can’t get gmail or blogspot to respond. But I will write tonight, because as Ben Haden used to say, “Tomorrow’s blogs never get written. If they do, they never get posted.” Or something like that.
I promised you a bow tie story. For the last several cruises I have been saying I want to buy a bow tie and learn how to tie it (no sense having one if you don’t learn, right?). Well, a couple weeks before sailing I bought a tie, downloaded instructions from YouTube, and practiced. It’s much more difficult than the Windsor Knot, but I’m passable. Anyway, last night was formal night and I tied one on. A tie.
At the end of the instruction video the teacher said, “The best part about tying your own bow tie is people look at it and wonder if you tied it, or if it is a clip on. At the end of the evening, reach up, grab the two ends, and pull it loose. Undo your top button and let the tie dangle. It will be impressive.” I did. It was.
And I am easily amused.
My second talk was today on Social Media. No matter how good my crowds are for my other talks, SM is always the least attended. I don’t think it’s me – I’m thinking that our cruising crowd (average age 60+) isn’t that into it. Oh well. Tomorrow is bananas.
Tonight we went to the comedy club to hear a PG comedian. He should have been labeled a ZG comedian, or just ZZZZZZs. In thirty minutes Mom and I laughed once. And around us people were peeing themselves with laughter. The only joke that gave us a twitch was his story about shoe shopping with his wife and she asked him if a pair was cute. He said, “No,” and she went to look for another pair. Then he watched a man approached by his wife who was carrying an ugly pair of shoes and she said, “Honey, are these cute?” He said, “Yes,” and she gave him a big kiss and went to pay for the shoes. The comedian said, “Why did you tell her those were cute. They were UGLY.” The man replied, “Because I don’t want to stay in this department store until I die. Cute gets me home.” I told you it wasn’t all that funny. Not chuckle worthy. Not slightly chuckle worthy. It was barely chuckle worthy.
We left unamused and went up to Deck 12 to play miniature golf. From experience on the last cruise we knew to bring our own golf balls. It’s not that they don’t provide them, but Bonnie describes them as wiffle golf balls. The wind blows them all over the putting surface. We walked out onto the course and immediately I said, “It’s cold!” (Two of my readers will remember me saying that in a restaurant, but that’s another story). So we went back to Deck 9 to the Lido Deck, found an empty table, got ice cream, and popcorn (there was a movie on Deck 10 and people were bundled up like Eskimos, but there was free popcorn). And we played the first game of Rummy of the cruise in the first warm spot I’ve found on board. And she won. I didn’t care. I was warm.
Walking back to our room – from the aft end of the ship to the bow – I told my beloved about a cabin which was decorated with a red ribbon and a yellow ribbon hanging from their mailbox. I suggested we move the ribbon to the next cabin in either direction to confuse the people when they got home. Then she said, “We could find ribbon and tie it on all of the mail boxes.” Then I suggested changing the colors from red and yellow to say, blue and purple. Then she said WHAT????? We didn’t need a lame comedian to amuse us – we can do it ourselves.
Well, clocks go back another hour here, so we will be 5 hours behind you by the time you read this.
Until the next blog then.
TTFN
I’m not sure when you will get this because so far I can’t get gmail or blogspot to respond. But I will write tonight, because as Ben Haden used to say, “Tomorrow’s blogs never get written. If they do, they never get posted.” Or something like that.
I promised you a bow tie story. For the last several cruises I have been saying I want to buy a bow tie and learn how to tie it (no sense having one if you don’t learn, right?). Well, a couple weeks before sailing I bought a tie, downloaded instructions from YouTube, and practiced. It’s much more difficult than the Windsor Knot, but I’m passable. Anyway, last night was formal night and I tied one on. A tie.
At the end of the instruction video the teacher said, “The best part about tying your own bow tie is people look at it and wonder if you tied it, or if it is a clip on. At the end of the evening, reach up, grab the two ends, and pull it loose. Undo your top button and let the tie dangle. It will be impressive.” I did. It was.
And I am easily amused.
My second talk was today on Social Media. No matter how good my crowds are for my other talks, SM is always the least attended. I don’t think it’s me – I’m thinking that our cruising crowd (average age 60+) isn’t that into it. Oh well. Tomorrow is bananas.
Tonight we went to the comedy club to hear a PG comedian. He should have been labeled a ZG comedian, or just ZZZZZZs. In thirty minutes Mom and I laughed once. And around us people were peeing themselves with laughter. The only joke that gave us a twitch was his story about shoe shopping with his wife and she asked him if a pair was cute. He said, “No,” and she went to look for another pair. Then he watched a man approached by his wife who was carrying an ugly pair of shoes and she said, “Honey, are these cute?” He said, “Yes,” and she gave him a big kiss and went to pay for the shoes. The comedian said, “Why did you tell her those were cute. They were UGLY.” The man replied, “Because I don’t want to stay in this department store until I die. Cute gets me home.” I told you it wasn’t all that funny. Not chuckle worthy. Not slightly chuckle worthy. It was barely chuckle worthy.
We left unamused and went up to Deck 12 to play miniature golf. From experience on the last cruise we knew to bring our own golf balls. It’s not that they don’t provide them, but Bonnie describes them as wiffle golf balls. The wind blows them all over the putting surface. We walked out onto the course and immediately I said, “It’s cold!” (Two of my readers will remember me saying that in a restaurant, but that’s another story). So we went back to Deck 9 to the Lido Deck, found an empty table, got ice cream, and popcorn (there was a movie on Deck 10 and people were bundled up like Eskimos, but there was free popcorn). And we played the first game of Rummy of the cruise in the first warm spot I’ve found on board. And she won. I didn’t care. I was warm.
Walking back to our room – from the aft end of the ship to the bow – I told my beloved about a cabin which was decorated with a red ribbon and a yellow ribbon hanging from their mailbox. I suggested we move the ribbon to the next cabin in either direction to confuse the people when they got home. Then she said, “We could find ribbon and tie it on all of the mail boxes.” Then I suggested changing the colors from red and yellow to say, blue and purple. Then she said WHAT????? We didn’t need a lame comedian to amuse us – we can do it ourselves.
Well, clocks go back another hour here, so we will be 5 hours behind you by the time you read this.
Until the next blog then.
TTFN
Sunday, October 14, 2018
SAFELY ON BOARD AND SAILING WEST
October 15, 2018
Since we didn’t do much our first night on board, may I share with you some observations from getting to the ship. I may? Well, thank you. I was going to do so regardless. It’s my blog. I can.
Flying out from Atlanta we were above the most beautiful, fluffy white, marsh mellow clouds. Descending into Los Angeles, we left the marsh mellow fluff behind and dropped beneath the bottom of clouds that appeared to have been rolled in Oreo crumbs. Quite a contrast.
The flight from AGS to ATL was very comfortable. More leg room than I remember in a long time. From ATL to LAX it was cramped. Feet back, knees together, like a 1960s debutante. But the price was right.
At the airport I telephoned my contact at Carnival to secure our shuttle which would take us to Long Beach where the Splendor was docked. We located the Super Shuttle podium, gave our reservation number and a lady with prematurely blonde hair told us the shuttle would come “right here.” Bonnie pointed to the street immediately behind her and said, “Here?” and pointed to the street next out and said, “Not there?” We’ve had trouble with people not telling us where to be before (we’ve been told where to go, but never in LA) and those directions were wrong. The woman responded with a belligerent stare. Well, that made my wheaties soggy and I pointed to the street behind her and said, “You mean here?” and she lost the staring contest, admitting, “Yes, that’s it.” Probably thought, “Idiot Georgians.” But hey, when you’ve lugged your luggage to the wrong spot and then had to struggle to the catch the shuttle late at night in Miami, you want to get it right.
Number 513 showed up as advertised, and we loaded up, and headed out. The driver pulled out onto I-105 and then I-405, a journey that took more than an hour. Rush time in LA, I reckon. I never did see any speed limit signs on either of the two Interstates. And they really weren’t needed because we rarely got above 40 mph. In fact, we were passing the cars in the HOV lane.
I am convinced that the people who built the 757 we flew out on also built Shuttle 513 because they both had equal, almost non-existent leg room. And besides the driver, we were the only people on board. Oh well.
Bonnie was slowly nodding off. The ride was monotonous. And all at once, her subconscious noticed a huge warehouse building and the sign on the side of it: “Sketchers Outlet Largest in the World!” For a moment I thought she would ask our driver to detour.
We’ve sailed into Long Beach before, so we knew we were getting close as we saw the large construction cranes and loading cranes which dominate the skyline. They looked like pterodactyls from some Jurassic movie, hovering, ready to swoop and carry away the unwary.
Getting to the Maya Hotel ($350 a night for a room that did not have a water view) seemed a long and complicated process. And as I said earlier, it was over an hour ride. I was reminded of something Uncle Stan Callis said about the bathrooms in Laskey’s A-Frame Cottages on Deep Creek Lake: “To use them you have to back in or be born there.” Local knowledge or a GPS would certainly have been required.
Tonight we set the clocks back an hour, so we are now 4 hours different from EST. We’ll be 6 hours behind you in Hawaii.
Okeydokey. That gets you with us on board the Splendor and sailing west. Tonight was formal night – I’ll tell you a bow tie story tomorrow night if I can remember it that long. Mom had prime rib and I had lobster. We both had delicious, warm, gooey melting chocolate cake. We skipped lunch because there was only an hour between my talks today, so with the points saved we plunged in to the DWGMCC.
Until tomorrow.
TTFN
Since we didn’t do much our first night on board, may I share with you some observations from getting to the ship. I may? Well, thank you. I was going to do so regardless. It’s my blog. I can.
Flying out from Atlanta we were above the most beautiful, fluffy white, marsh mellow clouds. Descending into Los Angeles, we left the marsh mellow fluff behind and dropped beneath the bottom of clouds that appeared to have been rolled in Oreo crumbs. Quite a contrast.
The flight from AGS to ATL was very comfortable. More leg room than I remember in a long time. From ATL to LAX it was cramped. Feet back, knees together, like a 1960s debutante. But the price was right.
At the airport I telephoned my contact at Carnival to secure our shuttle which would take us to Long Beach where the Splendor was docked. We located the Super Shuttle podium, gave our reservation number and a lady with prematurely blonde hair told us the shuttle would come “right here.” Bonnie pointed to the street immediately behind her and said, “Here?” and pointed to the street next out and said, “Not there?” We’ve had trouble with people not telling us where to be before (we’ve been told where to go, but never in LA) and those directions were wrong. The woman responded with a belligerent stare. Well, that made my wheaties soggy and I pointed to the street behind her and said, “You mean here?” and she lost the staring contest, admitting, “Yes, that’s it.” Probably thought, “Idiot Georgians.” But hey, when you’ve lugged your luggage to the wrong spot and then had to struggle to the catch the shuttle late at night in Miami, you want to get it right.
Number 513 showed up as advertised, and we loaded up, and headed out. The driver pulled out onto I-105 and then I-405, a journey that took more than an hour. Rush time in LA, I reckon. I never did see any speed limit signs on either of the two Interstates. And they really weren’t needed because we rarely got above 40 mph. In fact, we were passing the cars in the HOV lane.
I am convinced that the people who built the 757 we flew out on also built Shuttle 513 because they both had equal, almost non-existent leg room. And besides the driver, we were the only people on board. Oh well.
Bonnie was slowly nodding off. The ride was monotonous. And all at once, her subconscious noticed a huge warehouse building and the sign on the side of it: “Sketchers Outlet Largest in the World!” For a moment I thought she would ask our driver to detour.
We’ve sailed into Long Beach before, so we knew we were getting close as we saw the large construction cranes and loading cranes which dominate the skyline. They looked like pterodactyls from some Jurassic movie, hovering, ready to swoop and carry away the unwary.
Getting to the Maya Hotel ($350 a night for a room that did not have a water view) seemed a long and complicated process. And as I said earlier, it was over an hour ride. I was reminded of something Uncle Stan Callis said about the bathrooms in Laskey’s A-Frame Cottages on Deep Creek Lake: “To use them you have to back in or be born there.” Local knowledge or a GPS would certainly have been required.
Tonight we set the clocks back an hour, so we are now 4 hours different from EST. We’ll be 6 hours behind you in Hawaii.
Okeydokey. That gets you with us on board the Splendor and sailing west. Tonight was formal night – I’ll tell you a bow tie story tomorrow night if I can remember it that long. Mom had prime rib and I had lobster. We both had delicious, warm, gooey melting chocolate cake. We skipped lunch because there was only an hour between my talks today, so with the points saved we plunged in to the DWGMCC.
Until tomorrow.
TTFN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)