November 11, 2023

First of all, on this Veteran’s Day, to all who have served in the military

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!

We are packing up our stuff.  Luggage is being prepared to go outside for the 10 o’clock deadline.  And one of us just had a cold shower, which did not make her happy oh is Royal Caribbean going to get a bad review from her.

We have given gratuities to our stateroom steward, our waiter and assistant waiter, and two young ladies in the Wind Jammer who were a big help to us.

We went outside in Nassau for about an hour this morning, walked a bit, and bought 4 owba, 2 raguera, one ryerkw, and mom bought a new hat.  Souvenirs are way more expensive here than the last time we stopped.  The docking area is much more convenient for each vessel’s captains, but it leaves the guests at least a mile from town.  That was pretty much the way it was in Valencia, although here you could walk and there you had to hire a shuttle.  Cadiz was much better – we docked right down town and were within minutes of the sights we wanted to see.  I have read that many cities are putting cruise ships in less than desirable dockage to discourage them from coming – too many people, and the ships are doing ecological damage.

That’s it for me for this cruise.  And now, here’s Mom, Granny, and Bonnie.

Well it is almost  all aboard time, 4:30. My suitcase is packed ( I had packed it yesterday But wasn’t happy with it so I unpacked it this morning and packed it again) and I have had my last bath for the cruise :). I will brush my teeth for the last time on board before bed. Supper is at 5:30. We should be back in the cabin by 7 pm depending on how many of his admiring fans, and there are many, he stops to talk with on our way to or on our way back from supper. We did our gratuities last night because last night supper is very hectic time. We know this from past experiences. 

It is very hot here. There are 5 ships in dock. We were the second in port at 8 am. There was already the Carnival ship, Elation. By the time we got off the ship there were two Disney ships, one very huge, and another Royal Caribbean ship. That means there were at least 15,000 people here. The walk to the port shopping was very long as we were parked the farthest out. The sun was blazing. Not my kind of weather. We shopped for about one hour total. We took a free shuttle back to the ship. Tipping nicely.

I really don’t like the new dock they built.

Then, off to lunch. I thought the Windjammer wouldn’t be so crowded but there must have been a lot of people who didn’t get off because it was very busy. We had a bowl of tomato soup some bread pudding and our last walk on the musical steps to our last ice cream cone. Then, back to the room for a nap.

He napped in the bed as I had returned our towels that we were using as nap time covers. I took a short nap on the couch. 

We are up now and he has started packing. We are paring down the toilet articles and stuff that we will have to carry off since the suitcases go out at 10 pm. I brought a small fold up bag to put that stuff into in the morning. That bag will go into his suitcase when we get to the airport tomorrow.

We are slated to get off the ship in the morning at 7:30. We got a couple of donuts this morning to bring back and have for breakfast tomorrow. There will be no time to go to the Windjammer. Our flight leaves Ft Lauderdale at 11:56 and arrives in Charlotte at 2. Our flight from there to Augusta will arrive at 4:30. We have a taxi service already arranged, Thank You Amy car service. Our seats from Ft Lauderdale to Charlotte are aisle seats in two consecutive rows. Our seats to Augusta are together.

Well, it is past all  aboard so we should be moving soon. And supper is at 5:30 so we will be headed that way shortly.

Love you all and will see you for supper Monday. It is Pizza Hut pizza for supper!

LOVE,  Mom, Granny and Bonnie

November 10, 2023

Things are incredibly exciting here on the Symphony of the Seas.  For instance, I forgot to tell you that we hung a new roll of toilet paper on Tuesday, having finished the roll that was up when boarded.  And the big excitement today was getting our departure instructions and our baggage tickets.  Mom has started packing.  Since we’ve worn everything we brought, it is basically my dirty clothes in my suitcase and her dirty clothes in hers.  Much laundry come Monday.

Today was my last talk, “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle.”  It is always a well-attended talk.  It looked like about 400 there.  When I started, I pushed my clicker and the slides wouldn’t change – I looked down and I had forgotten to plug the dongle in.  The Bermuda Triangle strikes again.

 

Supper tonight was not much.  The veal in my Osso Bucco Gremolata was very good and incredible tender – cut it with the fork.  The vegetables were nothing extra and the pollenta was thick and lumpy, not creamy and smooth.  But the strawberry ice cream and coffee were very good.  Bonnie ordered prime rib medium well.  It came out rare.  But she said the baked potato was good.

One more night for the marathon Cassino card game.  I am behind 336 to 339.  Last chance tomorrow to catch up and claim the title.  

We are going to try to sleep in tomorrow (try not, do or do not) have a late breakfast and then go ashore in Nassau for a little bit.

Bonnie told me a minute ago she was not sleeping, but just resting.  And now I hear sounds of sleeping coming from the bed.  So ...

TTFN 

 November 9, 2023

We are heading for bed as soon as I post this, but we have some good stuff to tell you tomorrow after a good night’s sleep.  But before we go, one more time ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER DARYLYN!!

And now,

TTFN

November 8, 2023

Tonight’s blog is brought to you by Bonnie Belle Carter Sisler.  And now, heeeeere’s Bonnie!

First , tomorrow is Jennifer’s 53rd birthday. Everybody remember to send her a big Happy Birthday!!

Well, I am not at all sure how good this will be. I am very sleepy. As I sit here getting ready to write just as every other night there is the sound of a child’s steps as he runs back and forth across the floor in the room over head. This actually goes on every morning and night. Usually I fall asleep while he is still running!

This morning when we got up the rain and big waves had ceased. However, off in the distance I could see clouds that mean rain. We never saw the rain but three of the most beautiful rainbows. The first one went from the water on one side of the ship all the way over to the water on the other side of the ship. It was so big we could not take a picture of the whole thing. But we did get a picture of a shorter one to the right of the first one. Then a little later I saw part of a third one. A wonderful way to start a day seeing the reminder from God that he will never destroy us by floods. They were indeed very beautiful.

After dressing we headed to the windjammer for breakfast. I tried french toast but it was cold and I didn’t like the taste of the yogurt I got. So I had some chocolate milk and a sugar donut. Your Dad had thick oatmeal which he declared was good with 3 pats of butter and brown sugar on top! Tomorrow I will try something else.

His talk was at 9:30 and it was freezing in the theater. People came in dressed in large parka coats and other winter attire. So far no one has been able to get the temp fixed. I crocheted and he talked. We went back to the room gathered the cards and went off to play some before lunch. We are playing one marathon game of Casino with winner take all the bragging rights. The score right now is 275-260, favor of me.

We soon headed to the windjammer and today enjoyed a delicious lunch of vegetables including broccoli, carrots, snow peas, zucchini, squash and some mashed bothers with gravy. I had some sauerkraut too, YUM! Bread pudding and ice cream cones for dessert.

The Captain, whose name is Rick, always gives a noon report. Yesterday we had really bad weather, rain,4 to 5 meter waves and a wind of about 30 knots. It was cold and very difficult to be outside and walk anywhere. The Captain said “he didn’t know where that weather came from”. Really aren’t you the Captain and shouldn’t you know and kind of give us a heads up. He did not.

After lunch it was off to the cabin for a nap. After nap time he studied and I crocheted some more. Today’s supper dress was “Caribbean style”. Well, I had a shirt kind of flowery and I wore that and since he said I was kind of dressed up he would wear a sport coat. That was good because we were going to a show with a singer, Finis Henderson, more about him later.

Supper was not very exciting. We had coconut shrimp for appetizer, a chicken Karma with rice and a very spicy sauce. It had a type of flat bread and a kind of large taco chip with it. It was very tasty. Dessert was a pineapple cake for me.

Now about the show. The singer was the Godson of Sammy Davis Jr. He had a great voice and sang about twenty different songs in the voices of Elvis, Sammy, Johnnie Cash, The Bee Gees, rappers, Dean Martin with Jerry Lewis, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Sinatra, and many more. He had all the voices and mannerisms perfect. He is a singer in his own right having records produced out of Motown. He also did Arnold and Stallone. He was very good. He gave an hour performance.  

We turn our clocks back again tonight so we are only one hour ahead of you tomorrow. 

I am very tired and ready for bed. I hope you get a good night’s sleep Mac!!.

I miss you all very much. We are supposed to be off the ship at 7:30 on Sunday and headed to the airport for our flight to Charlotte and then to Augusta.

Everybody be good and safe!! Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie.

PS:  Karen, I hope Frank is doing well and you are both well and safe.

And that’s it tonight from 10502.  TTFN

November 7, 2023

A short blog tonight, very short.  Blogging Bonnie is in bed.  She was nodding while playing Scrabble on her Kindle, and asked me to tuck her in (we are not night owls – it is only 9:30 here, 7:30 on the Atlantic coast).

We are having some higher waves than at any point in the cruise, by my guestimation they are running 5-6 meters or 15-18 feet.  Even at that it is not too rough up here in 10502.  We are high and forward so it is not as smooth as being at midships and down lower.  But being rocked to sleep is good.

The only event of note today concerns the shower and hot water or lack thereof.  I showered first and the water started out very hot, gradually cooled and ended up luke warm or cooler.  When Bonnie got in it was luke warm and got colder.  There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.  She decided to get the better of it and shower tonight.  And lo and behold she had a hot water shower.  It will be interesting to see what awaits me in the morning.  Oh, and we’ve had two people look at it, do some mumbo-jumbo and pronounce it fixed.  Nope.

Good audience today for “Democracy and the Pirate Republic, but the theater was, as Col. Sherman T. Potter used to say on M*A*S*H, as cold as a witch’s thorax.  Two people commented on it to me, the second asking if I could do anything about it.  Well, Dr. McCoy in the original episode, “Devil in the Dark” said that he thought he could cure a rainy day.  I told him that I was hired to give the talks, and the control of thermostats was not in my resume.  But I told him I’d tell someone and see if the message could get passed on.  I did, and we’ll see tomorrow.  

“How cold was it?” you ask.  

It was so cold that mom returned to our stateroom and got her sweater.  And there were people in the theater with blanks and at least one person in a parka (and I am not making that up).  I know they keep it cold for when the house is full for a show, but with 300-350 people, warm it up a bit.

And that’s that for tonight.  Look for another blog tomorrow.

TTFN 

November 6, 2023

A short blog from me tonight as this, our second formal night wraps up.  Interestingly on neither formal night were guests in the dining hall offered lobster or steak.  You could buy them – $35.00 for lobster, but I don’t like them that much and Bonnie doesn’t like them at all.

I don’t remember if I’ve told you this (raise your hand if I have) but after my first talk, a woman came up to me and asked if I knew a store called Taber’s Jewelers.  Well, yes I do because that is where I started my career in jewelry.  She is a close friend of a young man who worked with me and was in and out of the store.  She also worked at Walden Books in the mall.  Taber’s was 30+ years ago and she, and I are not the same looking folk we were back then, but when she told me her name, I remembered her.  Small world story number one.

SWS #2 and 3 occurred today.  I start my talk on John Harrison, the creator of the chronometer which allowed for the possibility of determining longitude with 3 vignets from Garrett County and Loch Lynn.  A lady came up to me and said she has a house on Deep Creek Lake.  We talked about the Lake, the Wisp ski area, Herrington Manor (the one in Garrett County, not in Evans, GA), and Swallow Falls.  A few minutes later a man approached and asked if I know where Grantsville is.  Absolutely, I said, our first apartment was in Grantsville, directly across the street from the hardware store.  All together now, “It’s a small world after all.”

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for!  Heeeeere’s Bonnie!!

Yes, I am still alive and have not fallen or been thrown overboard, though tonight I fell like it very tired.

Only positive things my husband says so I shall leave the other stuff for later.

Our day starts with Room Service, continental breakfast because his talks are all but one at 9:30. Any other type of room service is $7.95 per person plus 18% gratuities. Then, we get ready he rehearses once more and we are off. The Catholic morning Mass is from 8 to 9:15 and is still in progress when we arrive. Then he does his thing. As usual he is loved and adored by everyone. People just love his talks and continually thank me for lending him to them.

First I should tell you how we get to the theater and to lunch. Our room is at he very front of the ship! We have a huge window which overlooks the helicopter landing sight. One slight disadvantage is the wall containing the window is slanted in. It has a large curtain which is electronically raised and lowered. It must be raised at night because it’s inside lights affects the bridge at night, otherwise nice room. But it is ALL the way forward on Deck 10. Now going to the theater is no problem. You walk down the LONG corridors to the elevators and ride down to deck 4. However, the Windjammer and the dining room for supper are both at the back of the ship all the way on the other end of the ship. So to go to the Windjammer for lunch, after returning to our room after his talk for him to change and drop off his stuff, we walk down the LONG corridors to the elevators, ride down to deck 5, walk the whole length of the ship(almost) and then ride the elevators to deck 16 for lunch. If it is supper time we just have to walk to the end of deck 5 to the dining room. 

In the dining room we are seated at table for 6, beside a table for 13, all women there. Though a majority of the time it is just the 2 of us at the table. One , young couple moved off to a table for 2 to be alone!, the other couple is one of the speakers and they kind of come and go. We have very nice waiters, Rosa and Kelson. Very attentive. They also have the table of 13. 

There are very few offerings during the day for entertainment or for things to do. There are 5 main shows and we have seen 3of them, they are by reservation only. We have seen the water show, divers swimmers and a lot of drum ming and very noisy. It can also be very wet if you sit in the first 3 rows, and it was very cold the night we went. We also went to the ice skating show and tonight one called the history of Flight. A very interesting show all about famous times in history about flying. We enjoyed it.

We sat on deck 5 of the theater. When we sat down we sat behind 3 seats at the rail. We started to set in the first two seats of the next row. I told David that would be good if a tall person didn’t set in the seat in front of me. The lady sitting in the first of the three seats said her husband was VERY TALL. So we sat in seats 3 and 4. She wasn’t kidding when this guy came in he was well over 6 feet. He finally moved to the first seat and his wife sat in the second seat so the lady who sat by your Dad could see.

Well, we have turned our clocks back again and tomorrow will only be 2 hours ahead of you. I have no device that has the right time for home. My phone is on airplane mood so it doesn’t know anything.

Well, he says it is time to go to bed and he is correct.

Love you and  miss you all. Yes, Karen I am okay I will write you a long email when we get home.

Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie

November 5, 2023

Interesting Sunday at sea.  Before we left our stateroom to go to breakfast there was an emergency call: “Alpha, alpha, alpha.”  That is the signal to the crew to get ready for action.  The call sent the team to a stateroom on Deck 7 for a medical emergency.  Then after we came back to the room from supper there was another call and this was by an elevator on Deck 8.  We have prayed for the folks involved, because we are in the middle of the ocean and no land is close enough for a helicopter to come.  Serious enough situation and the captain would change course towards land so a helicopter could come and we’ve been on board when that has happened.

My talk today was at 10:30 so we took breakfast in the Wind Jammer instead of room service, and after changing clothes and rehearsing one more time, we went to the theater where the interdenominational service was still in progress.  It was to have concluded at 10:15, but they were having Church.  Led by the Catholic priest who does the daily masses, he was laying on hands, there was praise singing, and speaking in tongues.  I’ve never witnessed that at sea, and it was a powerful service.  When the singer stopped I went quietly to the front row and sat while the service concluded.  I actually got on stage about 10 minutes late, but as Jennifer says, “It was all good.”

And speaking of church, in 14 days, Sunday, November 19, 264 churches seeking disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church are praying that the journey to independence will be complete.  A total of 19,981 votes were cast in those 264, and the average percentage passage rate was 87%.  Every successful church achieved the supermajority 2/3 requirement.  In any election (presidential, senatorial, gubernatorial, etc.) those results would be considered a landslide.  These results beg the question how anyone can justify voting against the ratification of any of these churches.  The vote will be taken on the 18th. 

To wrap up for tonight, I sent a picture of my appetizer last night to Luke and Matt (we exchange food photos, no idea why, it’s just something we do).  I labeled the photos “escargot,” but I had forgotten to take the picture before I consumed the snails, so all that was left was the rich garlic butter covering the plate.  Luke replied, “It looks more like escargone.”

See yinz tomorrey.

TTFN

November 4, 2023

At 5 o’clock this morning I was wide-awake.  There was an awful noise in the room.  I thought the ship’s gears were grinding in a forbidding fashion.  Either that or a wild animal had gotten loose in 10502.  It was neither.  It was my beloved wife.  She had gotten awake at 1 o’clock and moved to the couch.  She said somewhere around 4 o’clock she heard a horrible noise and thought a creature of monstrous proportions was about to consume her.  Well, you know that the noise was emanating from first one of us and then the other.  So at 5 o’clock we just got up.  I rehearsed my talk while she played scrabble.  Then our room service breakfast came – because my talks are at 9:30, except for tomorrow at 10:30 – we don’t have time to go to the Wind Jammer.  Today I had a croissant and grits.  Mom had two chocolate donuts.  We are exciting.

After supper – we both chose tiger shrimp, which were not real tiger shrimp, but tiger cubs – we strolled down the promenade to Serento’s, the pizza place, where we selected a table for our nightly game of Casino.  I was the first over 100, but tonight’s shuffle up and deal ended with Bonnie holding the lead 151 to 148.  And there was music again tonight, this time Big Band Music, another favorite, and this time the music was at a tolerable level, still a touch loud but nothing like last night.

There is a magician performing tonight – one of my favorites, not so with my beloved – but he goes on too late, way past our bedtime.  He performs at 10 p.m.  It must be the sea air or something because we are under the covers much earlier than we are 233 Woodland Drive.  He’s back on tomorrow night at 8 o’clock, so we will catch him then.

Because my talk tomorrow, “Are We There Yet?” is at 10:30, we will have time to go to the Wind Jammer for breakfast, and pass on a continental breakfast via room service.

We fall back an hour tonight, which would make us 2 hours different from you, but you will fall back an hour also, which should make us 3 hours different.  I guess we’ll figure it out tomorrow.

Until then.

TTFN

November 3, 2023

Before we go any farther (or is it further) let us pause to wish Carey Sisler a Happy Birthday as she celebrates another anniversary of her 29th birthday.

At 0900 this morning we went into The Attic for “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe” and lo and behold all of the alleged art work was out and all of the seats were back.  When Bonnie and I got there, people were waiting in line outside to get seats – after yesterday’s fiasco.  Someone is going to ask if my arm is sore from patting myself on the back, but it was very gratifying that by the time I started the talk, there was not an empty seat, and people were standing as well as sitting on the floor in places where they could see the screens.  Mom says there were 250 people in there, and still some left because there was no room for them in the inn.  When I told them that tomorrow we would be back in the Royal Theater, there was universal applause.

Today has been a slow day.  We played cards twice.  On this trip we are playing Casino with a running score.  The winner will be announced as we leave Nassau.  Right now it’s 97 to 90 in favor of me.  Yesterday was tied at 55.  The day before mom was ahead 35-31.  And so it goes.

The only other thing we did was nap and eat.  Breakfast was room service – muffins, yogurt and such.  For lunch we both had cheese burgers.  Mine was accompanied by macaroni and cheese.  Bonnie’s with French fries.  And soft serve ice cream for dessert.  Supper was roasted tomato soup, tempura vegetables, with steak Diane as the main course.  I had strawberry ice cream for dessert and she had a caramel flan.

We stopped at Sorrento’s (the pizza place) to play cards, and all was well until a band and singers started doing 60s music.  Nothing wrong with 60s music.  It’s our music.  But the VOLUME!!  I’m surprised you didn’t hear it.  After a few hands we gave up and came back to 10502 where we are getting ready now for bed.

We do not fall back tonight, so tomorrow we will remain 3 hours ahead.  See you then.

Oh, there are a couple of pictures to share.

The white dot is the moon, and the pink is sunrise. Both together. Neat.

And a towel mouse wearing my sunglasses.

TTFN

November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Back to WordPerfect.  The Lenovo doesn’t like Word any better.  Oh well.

This is the first formal night of the cruise and there is about an hour until we change into our glad rags and go to dinner.  Tonight’s offerings are iceberg wedge salad, escargot, seafood linguini, and warm apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream.  At least those are my choices.  Children, your mother will take my first and last selections, substitute French onion soup, and chicken cordon bleu.

At lunch today we had (this is starting out to be a culinary blog) we had cream of vegetable soup (leftovers whirled in the blender) and egg salad or chicken salad.  Egg for me.  Chicken for her.  And we took two selections of potato chips, bought ashore.  Pringles for me, and a local brand for Bonnie.  One of the servers in the Wind Jammer, Janeta, stopped by our table and commented on the chips.  She said that in her home in Indonesia, they eat potato chips with avocado.  Typically they mix the avocado with milk and fruit.  On her last contract, her room mate was from Peru and she ate avocado toast.  Janeta discovered she like it and took the recipe home.

Today’s talk.  Oh my goodness!  The name of the venue is The Attic.  It fits for the size.  It could easily seat 150, maybe more, but not today.  If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you have been assaulted by Park West Galleries, and their “art auctions” which are no auction at all.  Well, today they had one at 12 o’clock.  I was in there at 9:30, Ellie at 10:30, but when I arrived, fully one-third of the room was filled with “art.”  At least 50 people stood 2 deep in the back in order to see the screen.  We guesstimated that 75 people left because there were no places to sit – other than on the floor – or stand.  Park West has no manners.  On one cruise several years ago they had taken over the whole venue where I was to do a talk.  I called the cruise director, woke him up, he said a bad word or two, called the PW manager and made him personally move all of the art work out so I could do my talk.  But anyway, the crowd was understanding and appreciative.  The Cruise Program Administrator was more upset than anyone who had been in the Attic and assured me it would not happen tomorrow.  After tomorrow, my talks are all in the Royal Theater.  Life on the high seas.

Captain Rick, the captain of the beautiful Symphony of the Seas, has set a course south towards Madeira to dodge a storm.  Glad he did because as it is we are having swells of 4-5 meters or 12-15 feet.  A lot of wibbiling and wobbiling.  Makes for good sleeping – it’s like being rocked to sleep.

After supper, and it was very good – mom pronounced it the best meal she’s had on board – we went to the ice show, “1977" – set in London, and about a time-traveling jewel thief.  With the motion of the ocean, we weren’t sure if the show would go on, but it did.  With all of that there were only 2 falls, and they did some dramatic pieces on ice 1/4 the size of an Olympic rink.  One of the performers we had seen on another ship.  She skates and twirls hula hoops, as many as 20 at a time.  I got some pictures, surprised that in the dark arena I could stop the motion.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

To give you the size of the skating rink

Olga with her hula hoops and her partner in a roller wheel

The Finale

I booked our shuttle tickets today to take us to the Fort Lauderdale airport on the 12th.  So that detail has been taken care of.

Well, tomorrow my talk is “Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe,” so I need to get rehearsing.

More tomorrow.

TTFN 

November 1, 2023

I had a great opening line for today’s blog, but I forgot what it was.  Maybe something I write below will be it.  Good grief!

Before I forget this, we are falling back one hour tonight, so we will be 4 hours ahead of you.  Several more changes to come until we are back on Augusta time.

We got up at 7, and after showering (with hot water today), we dressed and went to the Wind Jammer for breakfast.  I had two fresh fried eggs, Mom had a bacon sandwich.  We ate in a leisurely fashion, then she went for a sweet roll and a donut, circling the entire Wind Jammer before she found 3, and only 3 donuts.  Then back to the room to get our gear and head out into Cadiz for a visit.  In my talk yesterday about Cadiz, after I finished with some history highlights, I talked about some things that we enjoy seeing in the city – the Cathedral of America and the Torre Taveria (a tower with a camera obscura) – and how to get to them. 

Well, we headed off the ship and promptly did not follow my directions.  There was some kind of race with streets taped off, and we walked around the race course, getting to our first landmark by a circuitous route.  Turning up a street we could have gotten to earlier, we passed the first gelato shop we’ve seen on this trip, but it was not yet open.  We made a mental note to stop on our way back.  Then we came to the Cathedral, walked through a perpetual flea market to the Tower.

The Cathedral of the Americas (at sunrise, viewed from our stateroom window)

The Cathedral

Another view

Yesterday all of the English language times were booked.  Sometime in the early evening I got a Whatsapp from them saying that they had a cancellation and 2 English spots had opened up at 11 and did I still want them.  I said, “Yes,” with the full intention of finding the young couple who had sat at our table the first night and giving the tickets to them.  This was their first visit to Cadiz, and they expressed a big interest in seeing it.  The Tower is one of 160 built as lookout towers so merchants could watch for their ships returning and the captains could find the people who had financed their voyages.  At about 140 feet high it is the tallest tower in the city.  Only 133 remain today and in 1972 a law was passed forbidding the building of any more.  The main attraction is the Camera Obscura, an optical system that reflects imagines on a white screen of the scenes outside.  A periscope-like device is used to gather the images.  From there you can see live scenes all around the city.

Well, we looked in the dining hall at their new table.  We hung out in the promenade for an hour or so looking for them, but they – Matt and Adriane – were no where in sight.  But then maybe they were.  Last night there was a costume contest with 170 adults in costume to be judged, and they were in costume.  They stopped at our table tonight to talk to us, said they had overslept and missed my talk, and spent a couple hours looking for us so we could get them some tips about the city.  Matt said when they didn’t find us, he looked for an app to help and found something called “GPSmycity,” and it mapped out a route for them based on their selections.

When I couldn’t find them, we took the tour ourselves, and climbed 176 steep steps, back and forth to the camera room.  My beloved wife said, “Never again!”

It's not Chick Fil A, but we did see this cow.

After that we went shopping, bought a sweater for each of us (mine was left by yours truly in the closet at 233, and she just wanted a new one).  The first sweater, beautiful, was wool and as soon as she got it on she took it off.  We bought some snacks, had gelato, came back to our cabin and took a nap.  Supper tonight was a Chinese menu and we cleaned our plates.  Now we are chilling out, and when I post this, and some pictures, I will rehearse my Magellan talk for tomorrow (at 9:30), put out the room service menu, set my phone clock back, and catch some shut-eye.

I still don’t remember what I wanted to tell you.  But I am sure it was good.

Oh, this isn’t it, but writing this blog I committed a sacrilege – I used Word.  My new computer, that I bought from a very reliable eBayer, hates WordPerfect.  I touch keys or sometimes just wave my hand over them and the cursor jumps to a new location, the screen collapse to a small size, sections are highlighted all by themselves.  I think Bill Gates has bought out Corel and is messing with me.  But do not fear.  When we get back to 233, I will return to WP.  OH!  Rassen-fracken fricken-bricken!!  It just did it to Word!!  It is not WP!!  I have a very new Lenovo computer with Windows 11 for sale for a very good price!!!!!

Sunset over the ship's bow,

Until tomorrow.

TTFN 

October 30, 2023

A short visit into Valencia today for your favorite cruise bloggers.  The ship’s shuttle into town was 25 Euros each, a price which we eschewed for the port’s free shuttle to an area promised with shops, displays, crafts, souvenirs, and other stuff.  A nice ride out, inside a well-made building, up the escalator to the shop.  Yes, shop.  One.  And there we bought a bag of regular potato chips.  JAMM Kids, your mom tried on a number of hats, most of them looked like the should be turned upside down and used as flower pots.  Fortunately, she didn’t like any.  And then we went back downstairs to a nice café where she had a hot chocolate and I had a Coffee Americano.  Then we rode back to the ship for a light lunch, a nap, and I rehearsed for my talk on Cadiz tomorrow while Bonnie crocheted.

But let’s back up a few hours.  After sleeping until almost 8 o’clock, we went up to the Wind Jammer for breakfast.  It was very crowded, and finally we found two empty places.  There was a table for 4 side-by-side with a table for 2.  A young couple from Germany and their son, maybe 18 months old joined us.  We had a pleasant meal, talking, watching the little guy play with cars, eat some bites and close his lips tightly when his mom tried to shovel some other goodies into him.  He smiled and laughed and was quite pleasant.

Dad asked me where we are from.  I told him, Georgia.  He said he had been listening to my accent and wondered where we were from.  He said my voice reminded him of a man on a TV program who worked in a bar.  He couldn’t remember the actor or the show, so I asked him if the man was a good guy or a bad guy.  I was assured that my voice doppleganger was a good guy.  The ship has an “international ambassador” who gives announcements in Spanish and German.  Our table mate said he understood every word I said, but the ambassador gives the announcements in German, he can barely understand half of what he is saying.

Tonight at our table for 6 in the dining room there were only 2, Bonnie and I.  The other speaking couple had said they didn’t come to dinner every night, and the young couple from Fort Lauderdale had requested a table for two which they got tonight.

Then we went to the outdoor water show HiRO, a high energy show with jumping thumping music and incredible actors, acrobats, swimmers and high divers.  In the first two rows of the outdoor water theater, you would get soaking wet.  As it was, 6 rows back from the water, we still got some spray and splash.  Towards the end of the night, the announcer said there was a technical difficulty, but they would conclude the show soon.  I was turning into a popsicle, outside in 69 degree weather, getting sprayed with cold water, mom hadn’t worn a sweater and we’d had enough.  Beautiful show, but next time, turn on the heat (small humor).

One more thing before bedtime (an early rising in the morning for my first talk, this one about Cadiz, and starting at 9:30).  I’ve heard about the speed on the German Autobahn, and the accidents that can happen.  I don’t think the vehicle in the pictures below were from an accident, but an old-timey VW Bug is sure in a small package (the sculpture is as tall I am).

Until tomorrow.

TTFN

 October 29, 2023

Spain played a trick on us this morning.  They fell back and didn’t tell us.  Fortunately my phone updates automatically, but that didn’t help Bonnie when she had a different time on her watch.  Google let me know all was well.  So we are 5 hours different from Augusta GA for now.  We will change times until we are on the same as you – several times over the voyage.  One hour at a time.

But then we tried to sign on so Bonnie could check her Yahoo email.  Oh my goodness!  Luke, if you would, your best accent.  And that was before we were connected to Yahoo’s pay support service from Bombay.  30 minutes to get my phone number and email added to her account so we could get an alternate sign in for her – Spain doesn’t recognize Augusta, GA.  And for a one time fee of $9.99 all is taken care of.  The customer service agent had to go by a script, which was frustrating since we were paying – who knows how much.

But as I used to tell groups we took to Russia, you are going to a foreign country (“and doubtless their customs will seem strange to us”).  We are not going to Russia World at Disney World.  Or Spain World at Disney World.

No problem getting on board, zooming through security.  Lunch, a quick nap, and I had a meeting with the entertainment director, then supper, now back in the room.  I’m going to look over my Cadiz talk coming up in two days, and then bed time.

Mom promises she will blog tomorrow.

TTFN

October 28, 2023

At about 1 o’clock this morning I dreamed that a mechanical voice said, “Instruments show that this unit has cold feet.”  I woke up, all under the covers and my feet were cold.  I put on my Bonnie-crocheted bedroom slippers and went back to sleep.

It reminded me of a time back at 117 Shenandoah Avenue (Mom and Dad told me about it – I slept through it – and raise your hand if you’ve heard this story), Dad jumped out of bed and Mom said, “Where are you going?”  He said, “To catch David. He is falling out of bed.”  He came into my room (our room, mine and Kyle’s), put his hands down by the edge of my bed and I rolled out into his arms.

I have invented a new term: IMTUP – pronounced I’m Tup – and it means, “I Made That Up.”  It does not apply to either of the stories above.  I will tell you when it does.

Well, yesterday when we went to bed we had hot water.  We awoke early to shower and take care of our morning ablutions, and guess what!  There was no hot water!  I called the man who answers the phone.  He said, “Hola!”  He must have caller I.D. because he switched to English.  I said my name.  He said, “I know.”  I said, “We have no hot water again.”  He said, “I’ll get someone right over.”  When we came back from Montserrat we had hot water.  Bonnie showered while it was still there.  I will give it a try after finishing this blog.  The last time I took a cold shower was 60 years at Camp Potomac as a member of Boy Scout Troop 95, Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland.  And I hope it remains my last time.

At 8:20 Joel pulled up in a 9 passenger van.  There would be 4 couples and the driver for the 60 kilometer ride to Montserrat.  We were the next to last couple and climbed into the back seat.  The last couple had to split up, Bernie (from Australia) beside of me, and his wife, who never mentioned her name (but also from Australia) in front of him.  It was a beautiful Irving Berlin Day – nothing but blue skies.  The scenery, as we approached the Serrated Mountains, grew ever more spectacular.

In the early 11th century Benedictine monks established a refuge and worship center on the mountain.  In 1023, they built the abbey of Santa María de Montserrat. Monks have been at the abbey ever since.  Today there are between 50-70 in residence.  It is an important spiritual place in the region.  Many spiritual retreats are held there.  The basilica – pictures below – was started 500 years later.  It has been bombed in the Spanish Civil War, it was bombed by the Nazis, and restored each time.  A beautiful house of worship.  There was a mass at 11 today, but we did not go.

The mountain complex is 4,000 feet above the valley floor and the road winds back and forth, surpassing even the twisting roads I used to drive in West Virginia.  And, there were people riding bicycles up the mountain.  Oh my goodness!

We visited the basilica, the candle niche where we lit candles and prayed for you.  Popped into the souvenir store where I bought a book filled with the pictures I couldn’t take and Mom got some other goodies.

Clicking on the photos below enlarges them (in a new window, I think).

A scene from Google, that I could not get

Another from Google.

Bonnie holding our candles.

The front of the basilica. The figures above the central door are Jesus (in the center, as He should be) and the disciples.

A view of the basilica

The cog railway that we didn't have time to ride.

Back down off of the mountain, we drove into Barcelona, past many stores and shopping places, none of which bore familiar names.  We did pass one clothing store called “Mango Man.”  A little while ago, Jennifer said we are a family that has a line from a movie or a TV show or a song for just about anything.  And she is right.  And if we don’t have the exact one, we modify one – as I did for Mango Man.  In 1965, in their movie “Yellow Submarine,” the Beatles sang, “Nowhere Man.”  It is easily adapted.  He’s a real mango man, sitting in his mango land, making all his mango plans for (and here it breaks down) nobody.  Just so you’ll know and can sing it if you ever drive back into town from Montserrat.  

The original, written by John Lennon is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scSwaKbE64&ab_channel=TheBeatles-Topic

I wanted to lead the van in “99 Bottles of Coke On the Wall,” but Bonnie wouldn’t let me.  Bernie, from Australia, and I, did talk about the superior quality of Australian TV over what Xfinity shows back home: Darby and Joan, Australian Lego Masters (so superior to the American one with the alleged comedian Will Arnet), The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and several that neither of us could recall the names thereof.  He said he rarely watches TV because of all of the reality shows, but pointed to his wife, and softly said, “She does.”  I told him my favorite reality show is Great British Bake Off.  It is Mrs. Bernie’s too.

Once home we went to our pizza shop again, where we were greeted warmly, repeated our menu of yesterday.  Then we came home for a nap.

And none of the above is an IMTUP.

I’ll give you a short blog tomorrow from the Symphony of the Seas, and Bonnie will be recovered enough to begin sharing her thoughts as we head home.

TTFN.

 October 27, 2023

We arose from our slumber – ma’ma in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled ourselves for a long afternoon nap – at 07:00 this morning – that would have been 01:00 in Augusta and close by, and 22:00 yesterday in Victoria, BC (assuming my calculations are correct and/or Google didn’t lead me astray.

After cleaning up and getting dressed for our journey to Sagrada Familia – and getting cleaned up without any hot water – we went for breakfast.

But first a detour to find hot water (and honesty demands I report what our sons frequently say, “That is a First World problem.”).  People in many parts of the world would pay real money for any water.  Anyway, there was a number to call on the paper we received when we checked in, and I called it.  “I’m sorry,” said the automated system somewhere in the world, “but we do not recognize this number.  Please call customer service.”

Well, I don’t know the number for customer service, but I do have a number for Tech Support, located in the Offices of 2042.  Michael called, the number rang and rang and then disconnected.  Well, I next tried turning off “wifi calling” and a man answered who spoke English.  I told him who I am and where I am, and the manager, minutes later, using Whatsapp, texted me, told me where the hot-water heater is located and how to turn it on, and we have hot water!  She is coming in a couple hours and will bring me some K-cups for my morning coffee.  Hot water to shower and coffee for an in-house breakfast tomorrow.  All is well.

We had croissants for breakfast with Coffee Americana for me and orange juice for Bonnie, and then walked 2 blocks to the Metro and rode the underground 6 stops to Sagrada Familia.  We were there early (to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be left) and had to wait until 15 minutes before our entry time. 

Security is very tight thanks to the 9/11 Islamic terrorists who attacked America and their kin who attack anywhere else.  We had to put cell phones, belts, coats, wallets, fanny packs, and anything else that possibly had metal in it to be scanned.  Well, would you believe, Bonnie didn’t set it off!  Guess who did!  That’s right, me!  When we are in Europe we always have a supply of Euros and I always wear them in a money belt that has zero metal in it, on my backside, and inside all of my clothing.  The security stripes in the Euros did set off the scanner, and the wand.  I explained to the lady what it was and she called a male colleague over who asked me to lower my pants so he could see it.  Well, right there in front of every one in the 4 scanner lines, he peeked in at the top of my derriere, and said, “Yup, that’s a money belt.”  And he thanked me for wearing clean underwear.  And into the basilica we went.  The rest of the visit was not nearly as exciting, and no Southern exposure.  I could not see the mother of my children while this was going on, but JAMM Kids, I’m pretty sure smoke was coming out of her ears.  At least the male bottom inspector was not a groper like some she’s faced.

We went inside and strolled around, and then set in seats in front of the altar and marveled at the beautiful stained glass windows.  I took some pictures and hope they capture the beauty (and I will see if I can put a couple into the blog).  Every time Bonnie and I visit a church in Spain or Italy, we look for the candles so we can light one and pray for you.  There are no candles in S.F., so I walked up to the first steps up to the altar and the chancel area, and stopped at the barricade and prayed.

Before we went in I took a picture, or tried to take a picture of the bottom of one of the columns by the main entrance.  The two columns, one on each side of the doors, rest each on a turtle – the one on the side towards the Mediterranean on a sea turtle, and the one on the land side, a land turtle.  I snapped a shot and someone rudely walked into the frame, another one, and another one.  I said, “Well, how rude!”  Three ladies were standing close by.  I had watched one of them take a picture, and she said, “Wait a minute,” and walked in front of a herd of tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun armed with cell phones and cameras and stopped them.  I took my picture and thanked her profusely, laughing at the act of another Good Samaritan.  Clint Eastwood yesterday, and Turtle Lady today, both doing good.  In a mean world, how precious!

After a guided tour with about 20 other folks (our guide said 15,000 a day come inside the basilica and another 60,000 view it from outside on the streets – you have to buy your tickets online, and at 9:30, they were sold out for the day ... oh, and for the 8 a.m. Sunday morning mass, you must be in line at 5:30.  They let folks in to worship – no phones, no photos, and when the seats are filled, they close the door.  After the worship service has received the benediction, the worshipers leave by one side of the sanctuary and the tourists are then admitted on the other side.

I tried to tip our guide, but he said they aren’t allowed to accept gratuities, so I tried to make an anonymous donation to the ongoing construction, but they said no names.  So I gave a gift and told the lady receiving it, it was to honor Mark, my guide.

Amy, this is one turtle we can't get for your collection.

One of the Gospel writers: Luke

One of the Gospel writers: Matthew

The traitor's kiss

Peter's denial -- notice the rooster

The purchase of our salvation with the blood of the Son of God

We went back to the Metro where we rode back to our stop, and that is when we explored more of Barcelona than we had intended (as military pilots in training never say they are lost, but are exploring new territory, that’s what we did).  Crazy system, but it’s their system.  We exited at a different portal than the way we came in.  Bewildered we set out in the direction we thought that mimicked the one we came is morning, but after a half a block, realized, Vladimir, we were going the wrong way, turned around and headed in the correct way (but on the wrong side of the street) until one of the walkers said, “This is wrong and we should go back.”  I told her, “Okay.”  When we came to a Farmacia, a.k.a. drug store, I went in and asked the pharmacist how to get to our street.  Great young lady – tip for traveling in Spain or Italy and you are not fluent in the local languages: ask a pharmacist.  Everyone I’ve talked to has been friendly and helpful.  She said, “Cross the street and go back the way you came.”  She mentioned a landmark that we knew, and off we went.  

We stopped for some breakfast items for in the morning before we take an excursion to Montserrat (thanks, Linda, for the tip), came back to the apartment, put our groceries away, and walked across the street to Pizza Napoli (the fellow in Aiken, SC has competition, but this is too far to come for a pie, no matter how delicioso).  We were enjoying our desserts and noticed the lights being turned out.  It was 4 p.m. and time for their 2.5 hour afternoon closing.  We consumed quickly, thanked profusely, tipped generously, and left fully.

Well, that’s enough rambling.  You’ve already read over 1,300 words, and for those of you who napped off, well, there you go.

TTFN  

 October 26, 2023

Well, we are in Barcelona after the longest travel day we’ve ever done.  Augusta.  Atlanta.  Newark.  Lisbon.  And Barcelona.  By our count we were up 30 hours before we got into the apartment and had a nap.

At our apartment we were met by the cleaning lady who speaks 10 words of English, and I speak 5 words of Spanish (including gracious, banos, and the Cisco Kid).  We pointed and grunted and made hand motions.  Then we got out Google Translate and got it figured out.

Then we did a little shopping and ate some lunch.  Great bunch of young servers who had enough English to get us through the menu.  The best part for me was a bowl of potato, bean, and cabbage soup.  Bonnie had a good looking salad with vinegar and oil.  Our second course was chicken and french fries.  For dessert she had a chocolate ice cream come (we haven’t found any gelato yet) and I had a cup of espresso.  While were finishing up, a man beside of us was smoking a small cigar – think Clint Eastwood in “A Fist Full of Dollars.”  He looked over at me, smiled and offered me the pack and his lighter.  I smiled a big smile and said, “No gracious.”  He nodded ok.  After a bit, his wife who speaks fair English asked where we were from and I told her I grew up 2 hours south of Pittsburgh and watched KDKA (small joke, closed circuit for Mike and Matt).  Actually I told her Georgia and we chatted for a bit.  It was a fun meal, and I rather enjoyed the man offering me a cigar.  As we left I said, “Senior muchos gracious” (however it is speeled).  He smiled and said, “Danada.”

After a nap we went out again and found the Metro station and bought tickets for our trip tomorrow to Sagrada Familia (Google it for a look, if you are not familiar with that incredible church building – and we will report tomorrow).  And post some pictures.

There was more today, but I’m plum tuckered out.  So I will say, “TTFN.”

May 5, 2023

Happy Birthday Rachel Marie (as of this writing, not Aunt Rachel).

After breakfast, and hugs from our friend Leezamit (from two cruises) we were off to 7513 to collect our going ashore stuff – today a water bottle, an old Pirates backpack giveaway and the usual walking stick.  We caught the free shuttle from the working dock area where the ship was docked and headed into La Spezia for a couple hours of strolling.

At first I was like an alligator – dragging my derriere.  We strolled down a street with typical shops, clothiers, bookstore, hardware, drugstore, pastry, coffee, etc., then made the turn back towards the shuttle.  We stopped into one patisserie (watching all of those episodes of British Baking paid off – Paul and Prue probably wouldn’t have been impressed) and ordered two chocolate cream filled canole, one for each of us, and an espresso for me.  After consuming same, I felt some better and ordered another espresso.  That got my battery charged up and I was able to shop with my cruise buddy in two stationary stores and one clothing store.  I will let her tell you about the purchases.

Back on board in time for lunch and a nap and then it was time to pack which we did in record time, and without any weeping, wailing, or gnashing of teeth.  And the suitcases are now – after supper and two more hands of cards, one of which I won, one of which I lost bringing the cruise total to 4-9, her favor – sitting outside our door, having beaten the 10 p.m. requirement by more than an hour.

Tomorrow it’s up at 6, a quick shower and off the ship somewhere around 8:30.  We’ll meet our driver and go to the Rome Airport where we’ll check into our hotel and hang out until our flight Sunday morning on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and then Atlanta.  Scheduled arrival time in Atlanta is 6:30 p.m., Groome Shuttle to Augusta and then 233 Woodland Drive.  Laundry on Monday.

And now final blog words for this cruise from She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Oh, but first, I agree with her rating of supper which will appear below.  But my appetizer of Seafood Cake was excellent.

Now, Blogging Bonnie.

Well, we got back in the room for the last time this evening and I discovered I had packed my nightshirt. My PJs which I had brought had gotten dirty and impossible to wear anymore, another sad story. So I had to open a suitcase and find another t shirt that was long enough to cover the derriere. 

Well, we docked at 7 and the captain announced going off by 7:15. I had  a so-so night and was up at 6 when he started his docking stuff. I had taken my bath last night to wash my hair so I had to just wash up. So off to breakfast. Then, by 9:30 we were on the free shuttle to go into town. We were parked in a cargo area, again, and you were not allowed to walk through it. Nice shuttle only about a 10 minutes ride and we were at the cruise terminal. We started out walking heading toward where there looked like there were some stores. It was about 3 or 4 blocks. The first store we went in was a book store. Of course they were all in Italian. He was kind of dragging alone as we walked a couple more blocks so we had turned around to head back. Not too many interesting stores on the first side of the street we walked five or six blocks along. We did pass some banks and the post office. So after we crossed the street and started back we decided to get the cannolies. Very good. Little tiny café. We sat at a small table inside. They had a small plastic enclosed area outside for more seating.  After his coffees and Tylenol he had more energy. I had noticed a small shop on the corner opposite the cannolies shop that was really different. It contained all kinds of homemade crocheted things. WOW! Unfortunately it was closed and I couldn’t read the note (of course it was in Italian) on the door to see when it was to be open. Really nice stuff in the window. 

But as we walked down the street we came to a store I guess you would call it a stationary/ kids store.  All kinds of pens, pencils notebooks and toys. I had a great time looking and picked up a couple of souvenirs.  A little farther down we came upon a smaller one and I had a great time looking in it and brought some more stuff. 

After we got to where we would turn to head to the shuttle we decided we would walk a little farther. We found a couple of nice vegetable and fruit stands. The one had the most beautiful baskets of strawberries, yum. I would loved to have bought some but you would have to eat them before you got back on the bus.  There was a store after we crossed back over to head back that had some nice pants hanging outside for 9 euros but none my size, sad. So we finished our walk back to the crossing to go to the terminal. The polizia were having demonstrations of different kinds of stuff for young people. We found our way to the shuttle loading zone. Then boarding the shuttle we entered the port area and arrived back at local security. Of course I set it off but for the first time the gentleman said I was okay because my watch probably set it off and he let me go, hooray.  Then back on the ship and went to Sorrentos for pizza. After lunch we went to the room and took a short nap and then packed. Everything is dirty! I wore every shirt 2 or 3 times and all my pants 3 or 4 times. The only thing that did not get re worn were my underwear. 

After packing I took a shower and washed my hair again. Then I put on the clothes that I am planning on wearing off. We re packed our toilet kits so we only have to keep one out for tomorrow. I have my baby Yoda bag to carry off the clothes we wear tonight and the toilet kit and other suff. 

Supper was a D+. The only thing that was really good was the shrimp cocktail. My dessert was to be a warm brownie with whip cream and ice cream on the side. The brownie was dried out and hard. Sad!

After supper we went to the 270 to play cards. The orchestra was setting up for a concert at 7. When they started they turned out all the house lights and they played VERY LOUD. We finally moved our card game to the Sorrentos. Then, after finishing headed for the room to put out the suitcases. 

We must be out of the room by 8 and be in the theater before 8:15 on deck 5. 

Well, it will be time for bed soon. So I will say goodnight for the last time. See you all soon. Please pray for safe travel to Rome and then, to Atlanta and finally off to Augusta.

Love you all. Mom, Granny and Bonnie

Hug each other.

TTFN