15:09 hours. Calm seas and following winds. And the first blog from Explorer of the Seas heading for Barcelona.
The journey has been smooth.
The folks at security in the Augusta Airport acted like human beings who
were enjoying their jobs, not like Cretans only looking for a good grope. And even easier getting on board. The only bump was waiting for the shuttle in
Miami to take us to our hotel.
The free ride from Courtyard by Marriott runs from 05:00 to
01:00 (for readers who did not work at the Naval Academy or otherwise in
government service that’s from 5 a.m. today to 1 a.m. tomorrow) and comes by
every 15 minutes. One pulled away just
as we stumbled from the curb lugging our luggage. The next one couldn’t get in because of the
way two other properties vans were parked.
But eventually one pulled up and loaded our bags and us. I gave him a good tip (Kyle – you know some of
the Bros tips) and he carried my computer case onto the van after loading our
suitcases, took Bonnie’s back pack from her and helped her into the van. At the hotel he took our things off, and told
me he would take them inside, shooing Bonnie away from the cases when she went
to get one. Inside, he walked up to the
desk, motioned to a man who was getting ready to help another guest, and told
him our names and that we were ready to check in. I don’t know whether the other folks look at
us was with admiration as though were of the which of which there is no whicher
or whether it was with “well who do they think they are?” Moral of this story. Tip someone, call them by name in a friendly
voice . And treat them fairly.
I got our dinner arrangements changed. We were supposed to eat at 5:30 and instead
they had us down for My Time Dining at 6:45. Too late. I waited in line about 30 minutes – lots of folks
were making changes. Met a man from
Orlando, named Dan, and a man from New Zealand, named David. I told David we could have been related, and
told him the story of Dad and Lorraine.
If you haven’t heard the story, raise your hand. Dan and his wife Katherine, call me Kat, were
at our table as were Neil and Barbara, whom I hadn’t met, but also from
Orlando. David and his wife Ellen were
the first ones in the theater today for my first talk, “English: The World’s Language.” It was a good crowd and the talk was well
received. I am in the Star Lounge every
sea day at 10:00 a.m. Tomorrow, “The
Incredible Hermitage.”
We are
springing forward tonight, so we will be an hour ahead of you. Only 4 or 5 more of those to go.
And now, here’s Mom/Granny/Bonnie.
Well, greetings to all of you in
Augusta and Karen and Frank who are at sea somewhere and Brian and Elizabeth in
Victoria BC.
Yes the trip
though very long and tiring from Augusta was pretty uneventful. At the Atlanta
airport we didn’t have to run or travel very far to get to the next gate. We
stopped at a Boars head deli and I got a tuna fish sandwich on whole wheat and
he got a ham and cheese wrap. He got a bottle of water and I got a coke zero
and a small bag of barbecue chips all for the low price of $35! The plane from Atlanta was large and full. It
was almost an hour late leaving Atlanta. So we were late getting to Miami. Some
of the people on the flight only had 20 minutes to get to their next flight
when we landed, ouch! We just had to walk to the carousals and find our bags
and then outside to try and find the shuttle outside door 23. After about 30
minutes we managed to flag one down. It was actually one that was going to 3
different Marriotts. After we checked in and then after stowing our bags had
supper at the Champions restaurant in the hotel. They had a menu on a tablet,
yuck! But I managed to use it and got a chicken quesadia. Way too much chicken.
I took off most of the chicken and enjoyed the rest of it. That cost $38. We went
to bed about 9:30 and slept to 6:30. Good nights sleep. Only up a couple of
times. Had breakfast at the same place. We each had a scrambled egg wrap. He
had potatoes and I had tropical fruit. It was edible but only ate a little. The
fruit was all sour, so I didn’t eat it. He really enjoyed his potatoes. That
was $24.
Then, off to collect our luggage and
come downstairs at 11:15 to wait for our “taxi” which turned out to be a very
expensive private car. Beautiful car and a comfy ride of 15 minutes to the port
for $45, a taxi ride cost about $15 to $20. The desk guy called the car not us,
we had asked for a taxi! Oh well, it was quit and easy ride. Checked our
luggage and headed into the building. While we were waiting for our ride to the port we met a couple who we talked
with and then they came to the talk today.
Quit and easy checking on to the
ship. We first went to our Muster Station D23 as instructed by our phones who
had been nagging us for 3 days to do the health check, watch the safety video
and check in at the Muster station. It was impossible to do the Muster station
till we got onboard. Then, up to the Windjammer for lunch. Hot dogs for us both.
By the time we finished lunch the rooms were ready, so we headed there and got
our key pass. Of course the beds were apart as twin beds. We found our steward
and asked for them to be changed. Since our meal time was incorrect, he headed
out to get it changed. While he was gone I watched the TV. There were actually
shows to watch. I was surprised. He stood in line for over 30 minutes but was
successful. Then, we rested for a bit. He had a meeting at 5 and so we headed
there. It was right beside the Star Lounge where his talks are. Meeting went
okay.
Now off to supper. We were the
first to get to our table 503 which was immediately inside the doors of the dining
room on deck 4. It is a table for six, three on each side. We took the first two
chairs on the right side. Our waiter brought the menus and we waited for the
other four to arrive. One couple he had met while standing in line to change
our dining. The other couple we had not met. Both couples are from Florida.
My supper was a shrimp cocktail,
yum, a piece of dried out over cooked prime rib. I ate a little of it. There
was one small broccoli spear and 3 small slices of carrot, and 2 tablespoons of
mashed potatoes. I consumed the vegetables and potatoes, they were good. A
sugar free chocolate pudding for dessert. He of course had snails, crab cake
and the white fish and 2 scoops of strawberry ice cream for dessert.
After supper we came to the room. He
worked on his talk and I crocheted and did some puzzles. Our beds had been
fixed. We were in bed by about 11. I slept till about 3 and then slept some
more. We had the alarm set for 7:30. Up and took our bath in our very small
shower. I do mean small. We dressed and
headed to breakfast. I had bacon, small amount of egg, cantaloupe, and
watermelon. I took my air pods and phone planning to listen to my book that was
on my phone as I walked. Opps! You have to have internet to listen. I do not.
My phone is on airplane mode and only good to be a watch and play games on, so
I did my 2 rounds on deck 4 and came back to the cabin. Then, off to the star
lounge to wait for his talk. Talk was good. Then, he went back to the cabin to
get ready for tomorrow and I sat on deck 5 and people watched while I
crocheted. I returned to the cabin as instructed and we went for lunch about
12:15. A small salad, cantaloupe, watermelon and a small amount of tuna salad.
All very good.
Sugar free
chocolate pudding for dessert. No nap the freight train was in our room, haha!
Now it is time to dress for formal night.
On the crocheting
front. I have finished one of the 5 projects I brought with me. Yeah! Only 4 to
go.
Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie
