Caribbean - Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

Woke up to a huge Costa ship off my balcony. I have been so spoiled this cruise to have only ocean views that I was astounded for a couple of minutes.

Chatted with Cristian, bartender from Romania who's celebrating his 36th birthday tonight. What an awful day to have a birthday. He will be my big tip recipient this cruise as he always has a soda waiting for me by the time I cross Carinthia. This drinks card was worth the price!

Chatted with Sheila for a bit as we agreed to forget the proposed walk into Amber Cove to see a built-for-cruise-lines resort. I can look off the ship rail and see fake  buildings and lots of places to spend money.

My two Japanese ladies stopped by before and after their tour to chat. The Nakamuras are delightful. Tomiko and I can't remember her daughter's name. Daniel our sommelier from last year stopped by to tell us he is leaving after this posting as he is opening up a delivery business in Romania called Shopping Basket. I full expect him to be successful!

This should be read with "at Sea" .I'll fix it when I'm home and don't have to pay for minutes.

Caribbean Sea - heading toward New York

What a way to end the year! Quiet and yet a bit rowdy. Heard a lecture on Buddy Holly’s influence on music. I never knew his “career” was just 18 months!!!! Sang along in the audience participation show of “Rocking New Year’s Eve.” Proudly wore my festive little crown.

Had tea with Sheila and her Nutcracker guardsman on sinful treats.

Took Kelly’s husband, Scott Houk, to the movie while she got ready to perform - he enjoyed New Year’s Eve, the 2012 multi-plot humorous film. Sat with him while Kelly belted out tunes at the Big Band Ball. Did not go out on the floor to help the balloon stay up - that melee looked too cutthroat.

I ended 2017 with a hot spiced whiskey! perfect drink, soothing and tingly! Hope everyone had as good a day as I did. 

Caribbean - At Sea

Quiet day - heard a couple of speakers, including a delightful one on Elvis.. I can't really understand why this man legend never fades.

I am trying so hard to avoid getting the coughing croup which is rushing through the ship that I spent most of my day alone, reading and knitting. I finished the diamond chain scarf and to my immense astonishment SHEILA claimed it as her own! Says it perfectly compliments a coat she has. Didn't stay at knitting cause of all the coughing and sniffling around me.

As I was walking back to 8013, I was stopped by a man calling my name. It was Joel from Dallas from the May cruise. He noted he’d wondered if I was aboard as he’d seen Sheila several times but not me. I pointed out we were not attached. We made a “date” to meet at World Club cocktail party, where we chatted a bit before he left for dinner.

Attended the pianist's performance and was, again, blow away by her choices of music. I have never heard Chopin's "Pagoda" piece before, but it was intriguing. I'll have see if it's on Spotify or iTunes.

Dinner was okay, tried the table at Britannia again. Adrian and Kelly are charming but Jeannie is a pain in the butt who should stay in the Grills. Yikes, I've been aboard too long if I can giving a crap about how these people think.

Went to bed early after indulging in a hot buttered rum; fell asleep almost immediately.

This post looks like I did noting today but, truthfully, it’s time for bed and I have no idea where the hours went!!!!

Caribbean - Turns out not so

So, here’s a tidbit - Barbados is NOT in the Caribbean! It is the easternmost island in the area, but  is entirely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. This information is now part of my knowledge base because the captain mentioned that between 10 and midnight we would be again entering the Caribbean Sea. I went WHAT!? And went right to Google!

We slid into the pier at Bridgetown, Barbados 8 minutes late at 9:08 this morning. It was astounding, as always, to watch the behemoth slip like a lithe ballerina between other vessels to nudge against the wharf with not a hint of a bump. Side thrusters are indeed amazing devices!

After a great breakfast, I spent a wonderful day mostly alone in my cabin, washing hair, knitting, reading, and watching the activity in the harbor off my balcony. I was bemused by the variety and quantity of watercraft that sauntered by to gaze at the QM2: boats from small runabouts to personal multi-million dollar yachts held passengers who wanted to ogle this beautiful ship. The small harbor security boat kept buzzing like a bee keeping all crat at the minimum 50 yard distance from QM2.

After lunch, I ran into Sheila and we spent a comfortable hour in Carinthia comparing notes on yesterday and talking about a possible train trip next year or so. I spotted Joan who has been ill and n

had not left her stateroom all day until she decided she needed some soup. I still feel okay...finger crossed I don.t get the Cunard croup, though I can hear people coughing around me.

Sheila has requested a shrimp green curry Thai dinner from chef Santosh, so we're meeting at 6:15. I keep forgetting how intent this staff is on giving passengers what they want. 

The dinner was marvelous. the food melted in mouth with enough kick to leave a lasting impression and a desire for the next bite. Santosh asked is we wanted white or fried rice and Sheila gasped, "Fried!" with joy, remarking as he left that in all her years she has never had fried rice aboard ship.

She has developed a mild case of inner ear disorder and is having trouble with her equilibrium, so no dancing of any kind for the next few days. It is disconcerting to chat with someone who cannot look at you as they cannot turn their head.  

I'm looking forward to a day at sea as the knitting group will assemble and I can catch up with news.

Caribbean - St. Kitts and Caribelle Batik

Up to see sun rise over Nevis.

Beautiful “downtown” Basseterre .

Sheila, Joan and I got a taxi to take us to Romney Manor and Caribelle Batiks. We chatted with Violet who’s been making batiks for more than 20 years. The place is gorgeous. I finally really feel like I am in the Caribbean. The foliage and the history of Romney Manor are suitable back drops for the Batik Factory.

Peter gave us a great tour of both east and west sides of the island. West means poor and normal; east means upscale and hugely wealthy.

At Thomas Point, we got to see the Atlantic on the left and the Caribbean on the right.

Trees full of nesting egrets because the trees’ thorny leaves keep the mongeese away from the eggs and baby chicks.

Frigate Bay is beautiful despite the fact that the beach is manufactured because the native sand is too harsh and rocky for tourists to appreciate - another difference between east and west St. Kits.

Back aboard, we split our 3 for $20 bottles of wine and Ting (grapefruit beer), headed in separate directions until dinner (trout and a little chilled seafood salad for me..Yum))

I went to support Kelly and hubby Scott playing in Golden Lion Pub as a favor to Musical Director when the couple originally slated were escorted off the ship today..No one is talking about why. I’m presuming Sheila will eventually find out.Kelly and Scott were great! I was not the only "groupie" by the end of their second set. We enjoyed a kind of group sing of classic 70's rock songs!!!

No plans for leaving the ship tomorrow - Barbados has nothing I really want to see. Sad, isn't that after only a few days, I am kind of bored with Caribbean islands. They all are alike: a mountain or two, historic forts, garden, monuments and Diamond International "deals." 

Caribbean - Antigua in rear view

7:25 AM. What a bummer for Sheila, and others. Captain Wells just announced that the swells were such that more than a meter separated the tender boat from the pontoon landing platform, thus no tender access, thus Antigua has been cancelled as a port call. QM2 upped anchor and left the harbor’s entrance to “spend a leisurely day on the Caribbean Sea.”

I am awed by the facility with which this ship’s staff coped with the change in schedule. Three public announcements over the space of about 30 minutes listing newly created activities for a presumably very frustrated assembly of passengers were accompanied by new daily schedules printed and distributed within the same time frame.

Before Captain Wells’ announcement, Susan and Richard had called me over to join them at breakfast in The Court. We shared good tour memories for quite a few minutes until they left to get ready to disembark. I know they, too will be disappointed by the cancelled Antiguan experience as they had scheduled a “meet the locals” tour and were very excited about it.

I had a great morning, finding an open laundry and putting it to good use. I am good to go until I get home, barring any accidents, of course.

Heard Dr. Hal Tinberg’s lecture on the “The Lost Titanic Child.” I relish this kind of presentation as I learned so much I never knew. The ship had 2000 hull plates requiring 3 million rivets. The shipyard did not have enough steel rivets for the job so the steel ones were put in the center of the ship as the most stressed part of the vessel and the iron ones were used in the bow and stern. Also, the riveting machines were used with the steel rivets and the hand-riveters (many untrained) deployed the iron ones. No one anticipated the vessel being holed in the bow. The gash made by the iceberg was not very big, ending where the steel rivets began. And, the famed water-tight compartments did not extend to the ceilings of each compartment, so the gush of water from the gash went over the top of several, thus exceeding the limit of flooded compartments the ship could sustain and remain afloat. The reason there were only life boats for less than a third of the people aboard was that then current maritime law reflecting a maximum ship tonnage of 10,000 required only 20 lifeboats; the doomed ship weighed in at 47,000 tons so was designed with 64 davits which were cut to 20 as that was all law required!!! Additionally, the key to the box in the crow’s nest containing the binoculars never made it aboard the ship as the officer in whose pocket it lay was re-assigned to another ship just hours before Titanic set sail. Halifax became the resting place of the ship’s dead because maritime law did not allow any bodies of people dead at sea to be brought on land until each had been embalmed...and Halifax was the closest city with the necessary quantities of embalming fluid.

Cristian, my lovely bartender in Carinthia recognized me when I walked in and raised a hand asking if I wanted my regular diet drink. I feel llike a member of the QM2 family!!

Knitting was irksome as I could not figure out why these bumps kept appearing in the edges of the diamond scarf. I got help from Sandy and we conquered the problem. Sheila came by while we were working on it. She even asked me if she could have it!!!!!! We went to dinner in The court, then separated after having a latte, agreeing to meet at 10 in the morning at the gangway to go into St. Kitts.

I am spending this evening quietly listening to an audio book while kntting and transcribing Mom’s journals.

Durn!! The ship’s wi-fi is not cooperating; I’m procrastinating posting til later.

Caribbean - St. Thomas

Broke my rule and had a one egg omelet - I can’t resist Alain’s grin early in the morning. Ate breakfast with Susan and Richard from New Jersey. Discovered he used to own a travel agency and she was a teacher. They are booked in 2019 on some Celebrity Edge out of Miami as it has a moving room and infinity walls in the balcony cabins. I was sort of impressed until we docked next to Celebrity Epic here in St. Thomas. Geez, it lools like a floating condominium from South Florida. No style at all. I was bemused that so many of their passengers were photographing QM2 and no one from our ship was returning the gesture.

Sheila talked me into a cup of tea while she ate breakfast in Britannia. Then we met at 10 to go into Charlotte Amalie in search of luggage for her. Un huh! I should have known, after all I’ve been her friend for nearly 8 years now. No taxi or shuttle for herself. We walked. I realize she wanted to see the hurricane damage up close, but still. I was doing okay until I looked up to read “Charlotte Amalie down town 30 mi” I panicked...30 MILES!!! Sheila calmly pointed out the ”n” had been almost rubbed off. Okaaay. Half an hour, more like it!

We strolled through an occasiional misty rain, blowing gusts of wind and sunshine glittering between scattered clouds. The evidence of the hurricane damaage was apparent: power poles were bent at the base, not the top and put on the ground. I can’t imagine the horror of the wind lancing through the alleys of this pretty little town. Downtown Charlotte Amalie must be dark at night as nearly all the street lamps had no panes of gas. (When the QM2 left port, I verified this by checking and, indeed, the swaths of darkness were obvious from the deck.) Also, the piles of destroyed tin roofs and sidings were mountain high in spots. Bringing forceful memories of the square acres of damaged trees, house parts and belogings that dot North Florida’s landscape. A New Yorker, Sheila has been protected from this and wanted visual confirmation. She got it, in spades. she commented frequently on our walk about it. I guess I am kind of inured, I saw it but ignored it; I saw blooming flowers and Mama chickens with their chicks as evidence of a covering island, looking toward the future.

Despite Sheila’s desire and the publicized offer in the port newsletter, her search for new lggage was all for naught. Even she caved in after walking about and checking several shops. we caught a taxi/shuttle back to the ship. Waiting for the taxi, I got to see a seaplane taking off; I love the freedom of a seaplane. I really need to go in one again. We joined a older couple who asked us which ship we were on, when we answered, “Queen Mary 2,” the husband quipped, “We’re on the other one.” That being the Celebrity Epic, which looks more like a floating condominium and is ugly compared to the elegance and grace of this Cunard Queen. Maxine Pitts was our delightful driver. When we stopped at portside, she turned and asked, “Aren’t you getting off?” What a character!

Hot and sticky from the unusual length of the exercise I’d just taken, I headd for 8013 and the shower. We were back in time for lunch, so I opted for room service - Caesar salad and club sandwich. Yummy.

On my way to coffee, I stopped for a Scrabble game when I saw a lady setting up a solo board. When I asked if she really intended to play against herself, she replied that she’d “lost” her family , so “yes” she was playing alone. She took me up on my offer of a human challenger. Billie from Farmdale, Ohio was a good match. We had a great game. That I won was a matter of luck rather than skill as Billie had to use her “x” so I got to use an open “e” to make “break” to close out my tiles

Sitting in Sir Samuel’s, I applauded Sujeeva Hapugalle, the classical pianist, as she hesitated by the Godiva chocolate display. She nodded and came over to chat. She stayed for about 10 minutes as we discussed Brazilian composer Nazareth (who I heard about while visiting Barbara in Porto Alegre and Chopin,s short pieces. A very lively conversation. I hope to chat with her again before we depart in MYC.

When she left, my waiter, Jorge, came over to see if I needed anything. My request for a latte in a To-Go cup threw him for a bit. Language difficulty cleared when he realized. Meant a “Take away.” Jorge and I continued our conversation as the bar was utterly empty. He,s from madred, graduated from university with a degree in Journalism, spent years as a reporter in Madrid and London before deciding to take a couple of years off to see the world, so signed on with Cunard. He’s only been on QM2 for a month! A very refreshing point of view and a delightful conversation, if a bit unguarded on his part. He will not last very long with the company if he continues to offer personal thoughts so blithely. But perhaps he doesn’t care.

I enjoyed the string quartet playing the Chart Room. It kind of amuses me that I so seldom listen to classical music at home but I step onto a Cunard ship, I am enthralled by it just as I used to be when Mom lived and we shared an affinity for it.

After spending tea with Joan, I stayed in Carinthia to work on Mom’s journals until the Royal Court Orchestra’s members transformed themselvesin a Dixieland Jazz Band. I wish I could see Louis Armstrong’s expressions as he listened to an American, a Hungarian, a Brazilian, a Brit, a Canadian, an Australian, and an Irishman juking like the best Basin Street band!

A little after 8, I realized rather abruptly that I never ate dinner. off I went to Kings Court where I met Sheila, who’d also neglected eating. We dined on shrimp curry. Excellent. Then I headed off to change clothes in order to attend Kelly’s evening performance in Queen’s Room.

She was tickled and came over to visit. Sat with me bringing her husband Scott. Scott and I chatted while Kelly crooned. While conplimented, I was kind of irked as I really wanted to hear her sing. Then she spent her breaks sittign with us. I learned Scott retires in a few months as a Ford car assemblyman. They met on Match.com. No kidding!! He writes poetry and after getting his BA in 2009, actually advised students at his junior college on how to write papers. I admire anyone who follows their passion, which I admitted to them. I also admitted that I have never experienced passion about anything and often wonder if I have a serious lack of something!

Bidding adieu to St. Thomas, I feel a calmness and a serentity. The joys of ocean travel.

Caribbean Arrived - Almost to St. Thomas

Malaga gan pasko - a phonetic representation of Phillipino “Happy Christmas.”

During dinner tonight, we will pass over the deepest part of the Atlantic, The Puerto Rico Trench.

Odering my omelette this morning, I tickled the two chefs when I wished them Marry Christmas in their language. Bless Joselino, he is making me look good. The men taught me to say Happy New Year, but that’s for later this week.

Saw Sheila for a brief minute or two in Carinthia while she was on her way to breakfast. She mentioned watching the Iris Apfel film but changed her mind to later in cruise when we are in port and not going off ship. I met Deb who line dances with Sheila and who is going zip lining with her in Antigua. Deb is also a fan of cruising not port going, so I hope to see her again.

We separated and I went off to the Tour Office to check out taxi srvices in St. Kits as now Joan from knitting wants to go along with me and Sheila to The Batik Factory and Gardens. Turns out taxis are plentiful and should be no problem.

Went to the shops to ask Aaron to help me connect the Bluetooth ear buds I bought yesterday. Pedro had problems but Aaron came from the back and between the two of them, all got figured out. The included directions are horriblly scant; I am pleased these men were able to help me. Now I have wonderful listening capabilities and I’m not tied to wires!!

In Sir Samuel’s I decided to use Sheila’s gift coffee card for a latte, then realized Captain Wells had come in while I was digging in my bag. Chatted with him for several minutes until Sheila stopped by and he commented on her stuffed Beefeater Bear. He noted the White Star pin and Sheila told him the bear had been a gift from her Captain Andrew. Wells shared a story about the Christmas lobster episode when he was navigator on QE II and Andrew was captain. They bonded. (Every so often, I am forcibly reminded of the tightness of this Cunard family.)

Sheila asked if I’d come with her to give Arch from Roberto Coin his Christmas gift - which it turns out was her buying the ring she’s been considereing since her voyage in November. We chatted with a woman considering a pendant and a woman who barely blinked an eye at a $24,000 necklace that had been featured in Fashion Week!! These folks really do live a life unlike mine!! What am I dong here????

Knitted for a bit. I am fascinated by the proclivity of folks to pause to chat to a knitter. Like they’ve never seen one before. Even this 6-7 year old boy hesitated to see what I was doing. Then commented that scarves should be even-edged not pointy. When I showed how easily this one would tie and not slip he asked his mom if he could have one. We all chuckled.

Enjoyed a delightful piano recital, played a terrible game of Christmas trivia, walked the deck, read in the sunshine, watched part of a couple of Christmas movies, met Santa, saw a gorgeous chocolate sculpture of bees on shrubbery at Chocolate Festival.

Skipped dinner in favor of attending another round of caroling. It’s very cool walking around singing with joy while everyone near you is also joyful. I haven’t met one Scrooge yet!!

Chatted about education with two sisters from Brooklyn and Jamaica. Both retired teachers and we found a lot of common ground.

Saw Phillip Brown’s show. Less than spectacular, though he certainly seemed to think he ws. I would never have thought anyone could ruin Moon River or desecrate Paul Robeson and Nat King Cole by trying ti imitate them. Just sing in your own voice, man, do not attempt to recreate those men’s styles and vocals. An excellent Christmas Day!!

Met Sheila and Mary for midnight tea in Court. Off to bed. Woke in St. Thomas harbor this morning (it is December 26).

Caribbean Bound - Closer to St. Thomas

It’s Christmas Eve!! I’m sitting in the Queen’s Room upper level watching a calm seas of the Gulf Stream roll under the ship in a nearly windless morning listening to samba tunes. Getting into the spirit of an island holiday.

Breakfast was good, healthy with fresh fruit and yogurt. Roslyn chatted with me. She finishes a 7 month tour of duty in January but has extended for additional 4 months so she can complete another world cruise. She surprised me with a box each of my favorite Twinings teas (ones I am unable to purchase in the USA, even through Amazon) Golden Darjeeling and Cranberry/Raspberry. I left Kings Court in a very good frame of mind, which lasted until I pulgged in my ear buds to the iPhone to listen to an audio book while I worked on transcribing Mom’s journal (I am trying to maintain my schedule) and was greetd with a nasty message - This device is not compatible with this Apple product. WHAT?!?!?! I’ve been using this cord for a while and NOW it chooses to be picky. I fiddled with the connector - still no go. Same result when I tried to use the iPad. GRRRR. Now I am unable to isolate myself from the surrounding conversations and practices. I’ll have to go back to the stateroom. Not an awful sentence but an irksome one.

Or I could ignore transcribing and walk on the deck for a bit. That sounds much more appealing. Perhaps the Apple Device Gods are trying to tell me something???

Tidbit learned today: bone conduction of sound was “invented” by Beethoven when he coped with his deafness by connecting an iron rod to his piano and biting down on it while he played enabling him to hear his music perfetly! Amazing!!!!

Reflection on a line from Origin - One purpose of art is to encourage conversation. Huh. Conversation or argument? Are volume and intensity the criteria separating conversation from argument? Isn’t “conceptual art” a kind of redundaancy? Isn’t ANY art conceptual? Isn’t art the physical embodiment of someone’s concept.

Here’s part of the ship’s gingerbread village. The whole thing is 10 feet long!

And here’s the epitome of Godiva chocolate splurging - the company’s homage to Kenneth Branagh’s new version of Agatha Christie’s classic murder is 7 feet long and 22 inches high. I’m wondering what they’re going to do with it?

Sang carols with the crew at concert. Uplifting and others were as atonal as I am! The conductor (Tommi dressed as 6 foot elf!) assured the assembled company it was all about the verve not the quality. Very cool to see a couple of hundred folks gathered sround the Christmas tree in the Grand Lobby open stairwell and balcony all belting out tunes from Silent Night and Rock around the Christmas Tree to several brand new to me, like When Three Ships Come In. (My guess - the ships were the magi’s camels, but no one around me coculd verify that theory.)

Dinner in the dining room. Met Adrian’s aunt (Judy) and mother (Elizabeth). Kenny is an engineer for an aerospace firm and helps in his mom’s restaurant; Adrian is an account for the Defense Department. Gossipy and interetsing. They raved about the wine luncheon they’d attended. INtriguingly they collect Swarski Christmas pins. Shdes of the Glasgow boys!

Christmas Eve dancing. Kelly crooning carols and songs; she must get tired of these by the end of the season.

Tired and happy, I returned to stateroom to find a gift from captain and crew - a Wedgewood dish with this year’s ship’s wreath emblazoned on it. Not my type of thing. I wish Mom had had the chance to receive one; she would have loved it.

So “malaga yang pasko” which is Merry Christmas in phoentically spelled Phillipino.

I was too tired to post last night on Christmas Eve. I hope all’s well and Santa visited.

Caribbean Bound - Heading toward St. Thomas

Woke up at just before 7 AM, slept like a log as the seas got rougher duirng the night. No sun in sight, just 15 foot rolling swells and gale force winds. The chairs on my balcony are shuddering with the force of the air around them. It’s too chilly to go outside for more than a brief spell.

Breakfast in King’s Court. Alain is here and apologized for not remembering my omelette preferences! I tried extra spinach, tomato with a dash of chili pepper. a bit tangy but it definitely awakened my taste buds. Roslyn was working the area, so chatted with her for a bit. Teased her about having a fan club. There’s something kind of deilcious about knowing folks well enough to tease them despite only seeing them once a year or so.

Reviewed yesterday’s posting and had brief chat with Thelma and Frederico (Freddy) from Maderia about my linked keyboard for the Ipad. Worked on Mom’s journals transcription. Talked whith Sheila who has scored a DVD player so we can watch the Iris Apfel film I brought.

Currently I’m awaiting the beginning of Dr. Hal Tinberg’s lecture on the forensics of the Romanovs. I met Hal earlier and chatted for about 20 minutes. I am intrigued and will try to make his future lectures on the Titantic and on Jack the Ripper. There is much more to forensics than CSI. His lecture was stimulating. Interesting that the Russian Orthodox Church still refuses to admit the recovered bones are those of the Romanov family, despite decades of forensic proof. 2018 is the anniversary of the executions and Putin is a staunch tsarist, so Dr. Tinberg believes he will expedite the church’s hesitatancy.

At the elevator after the lecture, I was chatting with a fellow witer when the couple next to me, exclaimed, “Party Marty. It IS you.” Apparently John and Nora, the dancing partying couple from Canada, were on the Crossings in 2016!! I have absolutely no recollection of them. Sigh!!! Though Sheila recognized them right off at the Ball later on.THEN, I recalled them.

I’m so frustrated. I’ve misplaed my schedule!! Tomorrow I’m putting it into my calendar!!! Or snapping a pic in case this happens again.

I caught the tag end of a talk about shopping in Caribbean ports. The woman was discussing “dancing diamonds” and Cariloha clothing. How cool did I feel that I OWN a dancing diamond (Thank you, Cate) and two cariloha shirts (Bless Barbara and the Alaskan trip.)

Went to knitting after lunching with Dee, a recent widow from southern UK who is a self proclaimed groupie of a dance host and has followed him from ship to ship for the past few months. I can’t wait to see who this is when she dances with him tonight. Of course since it’s the Black and White Ball tonight, I seriously doubt I’ll get much chance to see her as the floor will be crowded.

At kniting, Joan came up and re-introduced herself. I recall her but not from which cruise. she usually sails Regent, so she can’t remember either. She wants to accompany me and Sheila to the Batik Factory on St. Kitts. I’ll have to spend some minutes on the blogsite to find her. I hope I wrote about her and husband Harry.

Good times, the sun is out and it’s very windy but warm.

Britannia Cocktail party tonight. Okay. Not stellar. Skipped dinner yo hear the violinist. Excellent, especially the homage to Queen and Freddy Mercury. Sheila raved over Astorius.

Attended Black and White ball. Sat eith Jo, head nurse, her dad Thomas and sister Marian. Stayed for a while, then got shrimp at Kings Court. Finished the night listening to Kelly Broadway. Gave her husband Scott my card as she has no cd’s here.

I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

Caribbean Bound - Boarding Queen Mary 2

COLD! It’s 36 in Long Island City, Queens, right now and I am so glad I don’t have to go outside for very long.
My hotel room view from the 3th floor looking north west a few blocks acrcoss the river toward Manhattan.

Despite the view, I was not sorry to leave The Paper Factory. I want to begin this adventure. I know I live in a warm part of the USA, but, somehow, it seems different to have a tropical Christmas with not a hint of cold in sight.

The breakfast Marijana comped me was excellent. I would never have spent $30 for a :buffet consisting of pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, coctail wennies, various fruits and cheeses, muffins, bagels, and cereal. Her thoughtfulness was apprecciated.

I received an email from Rob and Craig (Reno guys) who were disembarking having spent 10 days in London shopping! Yeah, I wish I had that kind of life! They were stuck in the lounge waiting to be cleared by Customs. We emailed back and forth for a bit before I went down to breakfast.

I was amazed when I checked out to have the clerk ask if I wanted her to go get Marijana from her office so I could say goodbye. I declined as I still had nearly an hour before Hoyt’s came to pick me up, so my reply was that I’d do so before I left. Then I got reading and forgot the time until Harry appeared at my elbow asking if I was ready to have my bags brought down the steps to the street. I sent her an email of thanks and appreciation.

It’s strange that I have now been in this area of Queens so often that I’m recognizing streets and shops! I antiicpated the turn onto 31st to pick up Sheila before the driver put on his signal!

Traffic on the BQE was not as horrendous as in the past, thus we were at the Red Hook Terminal before 12:30 and I was in my stateroom by 1:30. That unusual delay was due to US Customs delays in checking the disembarking passengers, a becoming more the norm experience with ship travelers. I told Sheila that Rob and Craig had not been released from Customs until just after 10:30! She was unsurprised as this same delay occurred when she cruised last month on the Crossings.

My room is lovely. 8013’s balcony is almost past the lifeboats. Three quarters of it is open to the sea and I have a fabulous view of Lady Liberty. It’s also the most forward I’ve ever stayed, being only a few doors from the Library. The BEST thing about it is the floral arrangement from Rob and Craig wishing me a happy holiday and a good voyage. (Sheila is almost as giddy as I am.)

We followed our usual boarding day plan and met in Sir Samuels for a brief nosh before commencing unpacking. She told me she’d discovered another glitch in our cruise timetable - only 50 of the usual 100 baggage handlers of the longshoremen reported for duty, so luggage was much delayed. For most at least, the tip we each gave our guy must have worked because our bags were in our staterooms when we arrived.

We stopped by the Beverly Belles’ a capella performance of carols. This trio is charming and were on board only for the sailing, then were catching a flight back to Denver for another performance.

Dinner was excellent. Our table (71) is just at the base of the stairs in Britannia. Our tables mates are Kenny and Adrian from western Massachusetts traveling with Adrian’s mother and aunt for the fourth Christmas cruise. The women weren’t there so we’ll meet them tomorrow.

Eric, our waiter from last year came over to say hi. I found Roslyn in the greeting line. I left dinner to check out the film Nativity 2: Return to the Manger, which sounded much better on paper than in reality. When Sheila showed up about 15 minutes into the showing, I was more than ready to leave. She enticed me with Monique and then with Marcus our cainthia waiter from previously. So off I went to hear Kelly Broadway, the new orchestra singer. Amazing. She has that husky torch singer voice I love. And I told her so after the entertainment ended. Monique still looks great, tres chic! Marcus says he’ll keep an eye out for us!.

I fell into bed at 12:30 and postponed publishing this entry until today.

Caribbean Bound - Travel Day: Jax to Queens

Bless Letreze for being my pesonal airport deliverer! She always makes my journeys begin with good spirits and happy wishes!

I began this morningwith a bang when I relaized that I had yet to maile ny IRS payment AND the printer refused to cooperate in the matter of my boarding pass, despite new ink cartridges! I
took care of the IRS and saved the boarding pass to my phone, hoping it will be ok and there won’t be a repeat of the 2012 LGA almost fiasco when my phone locked up for no explicable reason!

Success! Breezed through security to the departure gate. Boarded plane no problem. Amazingly there are NO BABIES aboard!!!! Smallish plane, but an Embraer so comfortable seats and manageable legroom. I read the entire flight, which a tailwind helped along and we arrived a few minutes early.

LaGuardia is still a traffic nightmare. I swear it gets worse everytime I come through here. I am sure it will be a fabulous airport once this remodel is complete but it’s alredy been five years with another three to go! I am so thankful I don’t have to deal with this mess on a daily basis. even my cab driver was flummoxed and not anticipating the weekend!

Speaking of my cabbie, we had a first for each of us when despite two GPS enabled phones, he couldn’t find my hotel. After the second attempt, he offered to bring me to his home for dinner! Meanwhile Sheila is standing outside the hotel waiting for us! We finally arrived and The Paper Factory is all I hoped it would be.

In June when I found the place on-line and told Sheila of a boutique hotel in her neighborhood, she scoffed. After visiting the site and meeting the manager, Marijana Boros, Sheila actualy GUSHED about this place. I tiotally agree!

It’s a former paper factory (I know, What a Shock!!) transformed into a kitchy hotel. The bed is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept on. The food is wonderful. The atmopshere is fun-loving and quirky. The lobby has a full size Doctor Who telephone box at the entrance and a half melted into the floor one near the elevator. It’s antique meets 21st century. The television rises from a cabinet built from an old paper filing cabinet. The electric fireplace sits atop a White Star Lines steamer trunk. The microwave resides on a turquoise Nostalgia Electrics refrigertaor. My pictures cannot do it justice. Check out the gallery on the website! The Paper Factory 

Sheila and I met Marijana, toured the hotel a bit, every floor is different, no standardized corporate sameness anywhere! We set out to find a liquor store for a bottle of Proseco and she found her favorite (Mionetto). Then we stopped for Chinese take-out and dined in my hotel room while we tallked and sipped Proseco. Several hours later, she left for home (a not too distant walk from here) after telling me the car company would pick me up at 11:30 in the morning.

I almost forgot to mention the view! Two sides of this corner room have HUGE windows. One ste gives me views of the lit-up Triboro Bridge; the other gives me The Empre State and Chrysler buildings in the distance. Ignore the rain spattered window.

Wine and early hours got to me and I crashed before publishing this post. Hence it’s Friday mornign and I’m heading down to breakfast. Hope all’s well with you.

Fantasy Football - Trying To Keep Up With Injuries

It's Week 8. This experiment is half over and it's been interesting, not stimulating, but interesting.

I am intrigued by the unexpected delicacy of professional football players. The frequency with which they are injured argues against the efficacy of this sport. My feeling is that brittleness of bones and the elasticity of muscles and tendons are almost more vital areas of interest to NFL coaches than the ability to pass, punt or tackle. I wonder if how the pro football ranks in injuries when compared to other "violent" contact sports? Does putting on the armor of pads make the players feel more invincible? Does that act incite opponents to more physicality than if they were playing rugby with no pads? Does the NFL audience/fan base wait as eagerly for the thunk of body slamming body as the NASCAR fans watch for the crash of cars?

Enough philosophizing. Perhaps if I cared more, I'd actually investigate. Unlikely.

The Rowdies and I are holding our own. We are 4th in the standings as of right now, so far I'm satisfied with my "coaching" performance. I used quotes as I don't consider myself a coach, more a recipient of some luck. I've found that coaching is mostly watching for player injuries and hoping there's a better substitute out there no one else has yet grabbed.

I fully comprehend why this pastime can become a time consumer. Serious participants would have alerts set up to warn whoever there is a change to a player's status or when a free agent is available. I check once or twice a day, when I remember.

I am excited about re-engaging with Sandi, Tom and Janet on Sunday for the television viewing of games! Sunday after this coming one, I'll be enjoying the convivial aspects of the experiment. Until then, Happy Halloween!

Iceland - Epilogue

Leaving Silica was like leaving family. The manager, Adda, came out to bid us farewell and hope we enjoyed our stay. Our Greek waitress brought gave us hugs and well wishes. Even the desk clerk, Isene, hoped we would return. NEVER has a hotel staff been so effusive as I left the facility! My favorite concierge, Wendy, was off today. I wish I'd known, but I left her a scarf as a thank you.

Our cabbie to the airport, a tall robot leggy blonde named Briet Sunna Valdemarsdottir, was so charming that the trip felt like ten minutes. We learned, to both our surprises, that the base in Keflavik had been abandoned by the US military in 2006. The barrack and facilities now house a rehab center for high school drop outs with families seeking to turn their lives around. How Iceland! Never waste a resource! And, her father is "the Icelandic Elvis," an impersonator who placed 4th in a world-wide competition is Nashville a few years ago, despite being unable to speak English - he learned the song lyrics "much like a parrot learns to talk" according to Briet!

Our trip home was wonderful. Icelandair flight service is great. The Boeing 757-200 may well be my favorite airplane for comfortable travel. My seat mates were from Merritt Island; she and I chatted about gardening, quilting and traveling - he slept.

Aside: please appreciate this notice which was part of the plane's exterior next to the entry door… I love the concept of naming each plane for something or place specific to the country. I wish I'd paid attention to our inbound flight! I'm guessing this is only possible because Iceland has only one airline.

Arriving in Orlando early, Barbara and I were excited about getting on the road in time to be home by midnight. Uh, no such luck. Customs was a breeze. Immigration was a breeze. The airport's baggage handlers, though, stymied our plan to get away quickly. "Inclement weather" and "construction issues" delayed our baggage TWICE: first wait happened from plane to customs (that was the weather delay). Once we passed customs, we had to reload the bags onto another conveyor to carry them to the baggage terminal as the people shuttle couldn't hold passengers and luggage (this was the construction delay). Upshot - a plane load of tired, annoyed humans and 1 dog got their bags at 11:50 PM!!!

Barbara and I loaded up on Diet Coke and headed for The Burg, arriving at 2:38 AM, we crashed until about 10 this morning! I do have to admit that I-4 is a MUCH quicker drive at that time of night!

All in all, this was a very positive trip. I don't really have a desire to return to Iceland for an extended visit, though as a stopover to Europe it might have all. Icelandair offers passengers to Europe a no-extra-charge policy of up to 6 days stay in Iceland if you've booked a round trip ticket. That might be a possibility. Even though we missed out on the Northern Lights, I had an A+ experience. I now know why people flock to hot springs!

My favorite advertisement from this experience: Icelandic sheep - free ranging since 836!

Iceland - Silica property

What a gorgeous morning! The sky is clear, but it’s 32 degrees!! Saw this map of the Silica property. 
After breakfast, Barbara and I decided to walk to the mountain. As soon as we stepped out the hotel door, we were greeted by the sight of the sun through the steam rising. Gives a new dimension to Land of Fire? 
We found snow lightly on the ground, so walked slowly over some slippery lava. 
The path wound over hills of lava and by empty pools of silica, which made us aware of why keeping our feet in the lagoon was sometimes tricky.
 
I have been constantly amazed by plant life that grows so expansively on the lava. 
As we came to the end of the path (1.5 miles), we discovered a sign stating this area is the Svartsengi Resource Park. The park recycles the geothermically heated silica water of the Svartsengi and Reykjanes lava fields through their power plants to feed the fish farms and algae farms of the Blue Lagoon. The path ended at the base of the mountain called Sylingarfell, which we didn’t climb as its 197 meters was a bit much for me.
 
A bit further on we passed a very unusual lava site. I want to find out what caused the whorls in the lava.
We joked about walking a stile over the steam pipe from the power plant. Another new experience!
We arrived back at hotel, put our names in again for the Northern Lights tour (very hopeful as the sky’s clear and cold). Then we spent the next 90 minutes in the lagoon, wondering what the rest of the world was doing as we floated and swam. We went all the way to the end of the lagoon and discovered a mini-spillway and a river of silica heading off into the lava field. We wished some one made a silics-proof camera case!
The clouds swept in denying us the Lights tour. Our wonderful concierge, Wendy, brought us a treat to ease our pain. 
We are spending a quiet evening sorting clothes and packing for flight home. It’s been a great trip.

Iceland - Reykjavík

We woke to a marvelous view of the Silica lagoon. Misty clouds rising into windless air. Postcard pretty.

The bus to Reykjavík was an easy ride of less than hour. We left the central bus terminal and walked up to the top of the city to the Hallgrimskirkja, which, if we interpreted the signs correctly, is a Lutheran church. It was clean, crisp and serene inside. I felt photography was inappropriate in this space, which is unusa as I’ve taken pictures inside any number of churches before.  One really cool tidbit is that someone created a wrought iron frame mounted on a pole through which one can photograph the church. I should have scrunched down just a bit more, but the effect obvious.   

We stopped at the Einer Jonsson Sculpture Garden and were awed by the bronzes. The one I liked best was Memorial to a Lost Airliner. Though I tried several times to get a quality picture, nothing captured the feeling, so I let it go. I’ll try to find a photo on the web later.

Following Marco’s suggestion from yesterday, we wandered down toward the harbor via the closed-off street , the site of the Soup Festival. We missed the festival but did encounter this intriguing lady:
We were intrigued with this housing row as it echoed the famous Rainbow Row in Charleston, SC.
We stopped to salute the Leif Eiricsson memorial, thanking him for finding Vinland!
We shopped in an amusing store: 
We admired the swans and ducks guarding the waterways of the city:
Lunch was at Primo, a marvelous Italian bistro that’s been on this site since 1876. The food was fabulous. The atmosphere intoxicating; it’s been decades since I dined at a restaurant sporting real
tallow candles.

 
Our postprandial stroll offered an inquisitive feline watching a bird, an interesting wharf-side mural,  a potted plant we couldn’t identify and an abandoned hexagonal building we could find no information on:    
A quiet bus ride back to Blue Lagoon and a walk through the lava field to Silica gave the gift of an evening sky reflected on the geothermal pools we passed:

The tour companies declined to schedule Northern Lights tours tonight, so we have only one more chance. Fingers crossed!,,
An aside: Our hotel has an efficient, environmentally sound toilet flushing system - large and small buttons reflect toilet use!