Remember the Simon and Garfunkel song – Wednesday Morning 3am from the album of the same name?

No crimes have been committed here but at 3 am my dear husband is snoring. That is not what woke me; blame the time zone difference for that. My son, sensible kid that he is went to sleep at 1800 last night and slept through till 0700 this morning. He is fine while by later in the afternoon I am really dragging.

Today is errands, organization and shoes. Add in Thai for dinner, sushi for lunch and that just about completes the day….

I was a regular customer on SW Trains. Let me tell you that there are both extremes of people on the East Anglia Line. Some really nice guys with whom we chatted and then there were the ranging a*’s who were not happy about all the people with luggage on *their* commuter train for which they paid *thousands of pounds each year* and did not seem to think they should stand.

Now, it was none of our faults that no one was able to catch the 0658 train (see ticket agent above) nor was it anyone’s fault that three trains were out of service dumping everyone onto this one train. The isles are so narrow that I have to walk sideways to get through – leaving a suitcase there was out of the question. Since the stations alternate train sides – leaving luggage in the entry/loading area is also out of the question. We (as well as other travelers) piled things up as best we could. But nasty? Oh my. And the ones with the Undergrounds new “Baby on Board” pins were the worst, demanding seats in the handicapped area.

I don’t mind if someone is obviously pregnant. Been there, done that, don’t care to stand in a train getting tossed around from the outside while the passenger whales away from the inside. However…..

Cherie and I grabbed the Central Line at Liverpool intending to change to the Picadilly Line at Holbron. Wrong idea – connection is closed till 1000 due to construction. Can’t get there from here. We wedge ourselves back on the Tube and get off at the next station. Northern Line to Leicester Square then to the Piccadilly. Yes, we manage. No it was not fun since both Cherie’s suitcase and carry-on have wheels. Next time, she swears, she will not accept spouse suggestions on packing and will bring about 1/3 as much (i.e. only the clothes she actually wound up wearing!). Not his fault we skipped all the fancy stuff.

These stations are in the older portion of the Underground. There are no lifts. There are no escalators; just sets of stairs that only vary in length and challenge. Unlike the train, we ran into over a dozen people, both men and women, who insisted on helping with luggage on the stairs and cheerfully went on their way.

Londoners vs commuters? Who knows, but we were glad to get to Heathrow and I was even happier to find that my flight was also out of Terminal 1. Of course, since Cherie was checking into BMI and I was looking for United, we managed to lose each other. After a couple of circuits, I settled for heading through security and toward my gate. It might not be posted, but United knows which gate they are using.

Is what it says on the side of the hotel closest to the port.

With a naval history back to the Middle Ages and before, it is not surprising that the town focuses on the maritime industry as well as its current status as the major French Naval Port (complete with submarine manufacturing and basing).

The only other comment I can make is that there is also a major fixation on the Titanic (since it made port here after leaving the UK and before meeting its doom). The local museum/aquarium complex not only features all sorts of wonderful submersibles but also more books on the Titanic than I know existed (much less in French).

I quietly slipped off the ship early and walked the town prior to anything opening. Or at least before opening hours as I know them. Then I realized that it was Monday. This is small town France -since stores were open on Saturday, they are not open on Monday.

As a result, I wandered the streets and back alleys looking at wonderful old stone construction, interesting trims, the Theater and scattered bits of architecture prior to stopping for Cafe au Lait and a croisssant prior to exploring the maritime museum’s outer lobby. I elected to skip spending several hours waiting plus the Euros needed to do the 45 minute walk through of a French submarine. Don’t think it would be that different from (pick one) DE/US/UK other than the language featured.

I made it back safely to the ship in plenty of time to relax and watch Cherbourg fade in the distance behind us with no intentions of being up at 0200 when we enter the English Channel portion of our 245 nautical miles to Harwich.

At 1000 in the morning Brest is quiet except for the cry of seagulls and the ringing of church bells. Closing hours are obviously in effect which happens to include the tourist center in this port town. Since the town is not on most cruise ship routes, it hardly seems worth the effort to have things open for the 1-2 Sundays a year which might be affect. The only place where there seems to be any people or activity at all is the open air market at Place de Libertie

The locals are shopping for fresh fruits, produce and farm specialties ranging from breads and chickens through honey, mead and cheese. And shoes, we can’t forget the shoes.

We have had rough seas for the last couple of days so the ship has had a passenger mix of green gills and way too smug. The knitting group got together for the last time and I took the obligatory photo but am not uploading anything till I have much cheaper connection charges.

Cherie and I got organized enough to sort out clothes, see if things would really fit in our suitcases and wonder about baggage limits. Me? I don’t think I am going to have an issue, I was far enough under to not worry plus I am on a direct United flight. Cherie is on Air Lingus and it looks like you get the standard 23kg free bag from an overseas flight.

Tomorrow is Brest, France where I can walk around the town, stretch my legs, look at closed places then come back to the ship to meet with UK immigration authorities. It seems like they come on the ship in France and look at everyone’s credentials. That way if you are not acceptable to get off in the UK you can be left behind in France. Now I have no clue as to the EU opinion on such things, but hey, I am not in charge. Now if the UK doesn’t want you and the EU says no – exactly what do they do with you?

Meanwhile, Tango Argentina is alive and well as an evening performance piece and excellently done.

Pictures, of course, to follow!

Cabin 7002, Jewel OTS

A simple story involving two Bosses wanting to combine their “ownership” of the New York [Two Ton Teddie] and New Jersey [Louie the Lizard] ports (Go back in time and suspend your beliefs – trust me) complete with the grasping wife Dottie, the blond and clueless girlfriend of 15 years (sorry about that Mary, but Sally was blond in the extreme), Eddie the conniving and triple crossing accountant. Toss in an undercover FBI agent and there you go.

The costuming was great, the actors a bit over the top. Since they weren’t mic’d there was a bit more screeching and many portions proved to be difficult to hear. Now if I could have taken the tommy gun to a couple at our table the evening would have been complete.

If you haven’t been to one of these – they seem to be of two different types. The first pulls the audience into the play. The second allows a few questions of the characters here and there, but audience participation is really limited to voting on the guilty party. I mention this because the idiots at our table spent 10 minutes first figuring out “who was shot behind the curtain” and secondly counting the ballets and wanting to know how each and every person voted.

Hello? Like it matters? Like I can hear anything over your drunken dialog? Now the reason I am irritated beyond the normal is as follows: we have ballots in front of us listing five of the six players as suspects. Is it unreasonable to assume that the dude not on the list is the dead one?

Anyway – the wife did it…..

The Azores in fact are a collection of nine volcanic islands so far of any beaten path that they were not even colonized till the Portuguese found them on their way to else where.

And no, no yarns stores – just yarn in stores x4.

The Knitters at Sea

Now, most interesting was that the Heart Rate monitor worked on this treadmill where it had not seemed to function on the other. Ok, not all bad. LIstening to my audio book I motored my way through my random hill program at a good clip just short of a jog.

As the minutes pass, more and more individuals start wandering in to the gym and going about their individual workouts. As I glance down the line of treadmills my mind starts to play tricks on me. After two empty machines, there are five people in a row. It looks like they are attempting a treadmill version of water ballet with all moving at the same time.

No, wait, different people, different speeds, different legs.

No – they are all marching along together.

Oh, shoot – my mind has completely lost it. I think I need a few minutes in the hot tub. Synchronized swimming is one thing, but when I see marching legs in obvious civilians it is time to turn off March of Cambreath and move on to some nice relaxing in music (which I will do as soon as the nausea and blurriness passes…….

(Note – the ships run under international regulations as far as tonnage and passengers expected to fit in life boats in case of emergency. Where is it a minor problem in Europe, it would be a problem of significant proportions on a New Orleans based cruise, trust me. The US Coast Guard has already revised their guidelines from 150# to 180# per person and in result has lowered the capacity of all of its ferries. For those of you who have cruised or done much traveling outside the US/UK, the international standard of 70kg is not unreasonable given a mix of ages and ethic backgrounds. One only has to think of the waitstaff and cabin attendants on most ships to understand.)

Anyway as I mentioned, this cruise is not as overstuffed as the 2010 NCL, but it is certainly significantly different than my Transatlantic passage just a couple of weeks ago. The population on that one, you might have heard me say, was 1/3 Spanish speakers, 1/3 German speakers and the remaining 1/3 English language speakers. There were a few of the extremely over sized but not really all that many.

This ship? Whole ‘Nother matter. I can completely understand the thickening of the middle with attendant loss of waistline as one ages. This is a population with more than the average US income (they are on a ship, many of them being frequent cruisers), they have a choice. Most being retired, they have a choice as to what they do with their days and how they take care of themselves. It is one thing to attempt to get back in shape with a house full of offspring and a 60 hour work week but now?

It seems to completely match the US 1/3 serious obesity. Those on scooters seem to be divided evenly between women with MS (none of whom have weight issues) and the mixed gender crew overflowing both sides of the seat. Since I use the stairs, I can avoid the worst possibilities of being trapped in elevators that might exceed the load limit. In fact the only ones on the stairs are those who probably don’t need the exercise. (overheard – “Taking the stairs up and down all day lets me have the occasional desert…..”)

Hip and knee replacements are obviously all too common in this crew by the way that they sit, hobble and carry themselves lending further to the lack of ability to get their bodies back to a reasonable. size. The only form of exercise remaining for most is swimming. I am not sure how most would get in and out of the pool safely. There is a lift chair at the hot tub at ship center but not in the Solarium. That one requires that you are able to go up four steps with a railing.

The issue then becomes for the four of us relaxing in the tub when more individuals head in our direction. Adding an additional 500kg in the form of 5-6 would be a challenge. Exactly how these three additional people believe they are going to fit in the tub is beyond me. Two of us look at each other and quietly head into the pool for a quick swim before retreating to the loungers.

And no, I am not trying to insult any of you. Everyone that I know who has significant amount of extra weight is actively monitoring it, assessing the effect on their bodies and making active efforts to be stable/decrease in order to avoid health complications and/or further medical problems. None of you are on the high side of 200 kg and need a bib because you can’t get within 50 cm of a table. This is the same group that I see having 2,3, 4 plates of entrees before having the waitstaff bring them deserts. The same group that whines that the seats are too small (since Cherie and I have shared a chair in a couple of locations – those seats are not all that small.

Gee – all this talk? I think it is time for another meal!

Sitting at the table with them is Ed from Texas. Yes, Texas, the state where everything is bigger, better and more expansive. Add to those thoughts the fact that he is multi-generational Texan and has both inherited wealth and added to it. Shall we include hunting weapons and Republican party? At least he has the grace to be embarrassed about Gov Perry. As a group, we are all rather opinionated and quite vocal with the ability to limit the stays of those attempting to sit near us in the buffet.

Needless to say, our discussions have been tumultuous and far ranging. Suze and I ably hold up the liberal front while Ed goes down one ridiculous (to me) rat hole after another. What is interesting is that not one of us has any problem with the concept of picture IDs, especially for voting. But then, we all have driver’s licenses and passports.

It has been interesting but exhausting and I have drunk entirely too much coffee since getting away early has proved to be challenging. This is the third morning I have joined them. Now to see if I can manage to not see them tomorrow, sit by myself and relax.

Cabin 7002, Jewel OTS

Just like when I am deployed, I will attempt to locate Friday evening services if I am at sea on Shabbas. Doesn’t mean that I will always attend, but I have been known to show up. Sometimes out of curiosity but mostly for the same reasons as when deployed: my being there may make a difference to someone else. Of course, for many people who need a minyan I am not going to count but I view that as their problem, not mine.

On most cruises, if I am at sea on Friday evening at minimum I will show up. Did I mention that Costa was a Friday cruise start? And that their emergency boat drill ran at exactly the same time as they had listed? And they wonder why no one showed up either week? On the Grandeur this time the first Friday was one of the conference rooms which worked out. The second Friday since the conference rooms were now over run with the cable guys (nothing like doing as much prep as you can which includes wiring) they had moved us to the library which was neither cool or fair to those attempting to have quiet time and read.

Anywho – RCI this time had a signup sheet at the front desk. One of the desk people mentioned they were doing this so that they could book the appropriate size space. I didn’t think anything of it when I noticed that the Windjammer Annex was designated. Finding my way in to the room with three others, there were 35 already present when we arrived. Given Jewish time, it should not surprise you to learn that there were over 50 by the end of services.

Now 50+ Jews, most of whom are over the age of 60 could potentially be a recipe for chaos given all the differences in backgrounds, experiences and expectations. Instead, things were organized: not only were chairs set up, wine and challah on the side table but there appeared to be someone in charge and wiling to lead services. Neil introduced himself, and as a retired Cantor, not one person in the place had any problems with him leading services. It also eliminated any confusion about which melodies would be used. He/she who leads gets to chose.

With a Conservative prayerbook, let me just say that we had a few anxious people with 1800 dinner times since obviously services ran a bit long. Not as much over as it could have been but still ……

Cabin 7002, Jewel OTS

ITINERARY DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART Thu May 3 Miami, FL 5:00pm Fri May 4 At Sea Sat May 5 At Sea Sun May 6 At Sea Mon May 7 At Sea Tue May 8 At Sea Wed May 9 At Sea Thu May 10 Ponta Delgada, Portugal 7:00am 3:00pm Fri May 11 At Sea Sat May 12 At Sea Sun May 13 Brest, France 7:00am 4:00pm Mon May 14 Cherbourg, France 7:00am 4:00pm Tue May 15 London (Harwich), England 5:00am

The good things for me is that I am getting a chance to check out a ship of a different class (bit larger and maybe fancier) and I have the privilege once again of traveling with a friend. Brad and Chere have been friends since the early 90s. We were stationed in Heidelberg together when it was first 130th Station Hospital, transitioned to 95th CSH and finally turned into HMEDDAC by end of 1994. Yes, all those years ago there really was a drawdown of the military in Europe post Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Brad, Chere and their daughters had been in Stuttgart and were transferred up when the hospital closed.

Our careers have taken us in different directions but we have managed to stay in touch over the years.

So now it is “Ladies sai out” on Royal Caribbean International Jewel of the Seas. She is headed through Dublin home at the end and I am headed to California.

-Holly

Cabin 7002

My actually adventure started yesterday in Frankfurt when, just after the gate closed for the direct Miami flight, it was announced there was a delay for the Dusseldorf flight. Due to rain, they were going to be at least 30 minutes late in arriving. For some reason (probably to save several hundred Euros),I had a connection through that lovely city. At this point there other options, should this fail were limited: Newark with a switch to United or United to Dulles with an early in the morning Flight to Miami.

The gate agent in Frankfurt talked to the gate agent in Dusseldorf who reassured her(!) that the flight was on time to the US. She had not been aware that they had connectors. Only three of us as it turned out. The flight is leaving from D at 1215. It is now 1045 in Frankfurt and we are boarding. Ten minutes later we still haven’t pulled back because some idiot UK Mum doesn’t want to understand that having a toddler on her lap doesn’t allow her to grab an additional seat or three for her stuff – on an overbooked flight no less…..

We finally get off and get to enjoy an extremely turbulent flight before bumbing to ground in Dusseldorf. It is 1145 when the door opens on the plane. Thank goodness that the young man who also has to make a connection is tall, strong and starts to bully his way off the plane with appologies. His girlfriend and I fall in behind. Did I mention that we are over half way back on the plane and there are the usual idiots in Business who just have to stand in the isle to button their coats?

Hitting the gangway at a dead run, we blast out, around the corner and pelt down to Gate A77. It is not all that far, afterall Dusseldorf is a small airport. The young man at Passcontrol looks at my passport and starts flipping through. I show him the last exit visit, my entry into the US and mention that Tenerif didn’t do passports or customs. He shakes his head with a smile, stamps me and I am now dashing toward the gate where they are well into the boarding procedure with the two young people hot on my heels.

Finding my seat way in the back, I am grateful to find that there is no one else in my three seat center section. I am able to stretch out for most of the flight to enjoy my well earned migraine.

Arriving in Miami? Easy compared to that insanity and my brand new suitcase – light weight, gorgeous paprika color? It made the flight!

Itinerary and ship pix tomorrow……

I have said it a few times and had it directed to me more than once when I just sort of took over because no one else was willing to accept control or responsibility. Having said all of that – this morning I decided that it is not me. Or rather, I am not putting myself in charge, everyone else is.

Let me explain. Lufthansa is the main carrier out of Frankfurt Airport. As a result, there are a lot of people flying on Lufthansa planes on any one day. Add to that all of those other airlines which belong to Star Alliance. Since this is a weekday, the terminal is inundated with business travelers of whom more than a few fly rather often. This in turn means that there are a significant number of frequent travelers in the crowd. The end result of which is that the Lufthansa lounge is packed.

I walk in, assess the situation and grab a coffee. Looking around there are essentially no free chairs or tables in the lounge section. The usual suspects have managed to spread their newspapers enough to deny space to others. On of the high tables with four chairs has an empty place back in a corner which I promptly snag before it vanishes. A second run nets me bread and spread along with a glass of juice. There are two others at the table.

I nod but don’t ask if I can sit down – why give them an opportunity to be asses? After that, as people leave each and every person asks me if this, that or the third place is free. Remember, I am in the back corner near the window with my back to the coatrack. Not an especially favorable location to tell the truth but it lets me stay out of the traffic pattern and watch the planes out the window.

My flight doesn’t board till 0945 so it is not like I am going to be hanging anywhere else for a while. And every 15-30 minutes I am asked about free places at the table. I am about to toss out the various papers to see if that stops the questions but I doubt it. Are they being polite to one of the 20% of the population in the lounge that is female?

Or I do I just look at forbidding?

It is the first of May which is no surprise to me or anyone else. In Europe this means a holiday with everything in the city closed.

Bright idea [not] to go to the airport early, drop off my bags and hang out in the lounge.

Problem one – Lufthansa has only a couple of flights a day from here. They close their counter between flights so I can’t check in early.

Problem two -if I can’t drop off my luggage it means that I can’t get through security. Doubt there is a lounge.

Not a problem three – I will not be going shoppng…….

Ah well, at least Telekom was on the list of providers so that I have been able to get online.

Perhaps I would do much better by scheduling such a trip across several ships and different itineraries so that my trip would be broken here and there by a few breaks in port. (actually, as far as I can tell – I can do a west coast down through the Panama canal followed by a trip up the east coast. I can easily travel to Europe, across the Med, through the Suez and head for the far east. If I land in OZ, then it is not that difficult to travel around Australia and New Zealand before heading across the Pacific to Hawaii then on to Seattle or Vancouver. Easy-Peasy. And more money than I currently am interested in spending…..).

Back to the present. I always prefer cruises that have a day at sea before reaching the final destination. It gives me a day to say good bye (and collect up emails for everyone with whom I want to stay in touch, a chance to pack without pressure and plenty of time in which to use up the remaining internet minutes.

So here I am, last evening of the cruise with my two bags ready to go – one is full of clothes that I won’t need on my next journey, books, presents and various lotions and the like that are not worth putting in hand luggage. The contents of the second include yarn, needles and those clothes which need to make a trip through the washer on Tues eve so that they are ready to depart again with me on Wed.

The Sea Days Knitters

I finished the Uhuru Shawl, managed to give away three balls of yarn to other knitters, had a chance to go to the tango and cha-cha review, and traded emails with a number of people. I also made it past the mid-point on my Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina so I am hopeful about finishing it on the next cruise.

Stopping at the library, I managed to find a book or two for the airport. Dozens have been contributed by various generous people. Also from the practical who don’t want the weight in their suitcases for the returning trip. Except for a few Spanish language books, the rest are split evenly between German and English.

The ship’s crew did a display of all their countries flag in the atrium rather around the pool because of the wind.

not quite enough room for 60+ flags

And the Captain always gets the last word …

CAPT Rune

As a result, I spent about four hours just walking around and stretching the legs. Not that my legs really needed stretching after five miles on the treadmill this morning but since this was the first landfall after 6 days at sea, I obviously felt obligated to get off the ship.

Since I have shown you doors and windows as well as Laguna (on the other side of the ocean already) the gallery includes a few statues, some really interesting old trees and some truly wonderful tiled advertising spotted on the sides of buildings.

Passengers who select this kind of voyage are not the same as those who pick a cruise in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. To put in bluntly, this is not a party cruise. There are no wild orgies on board, there are few young people and this is neither Carnival or Aida.

There are a few first time cruisers on this ship but not many. Most are relaxing and having a good time.

Then there is the couple that I met at lunch. They are really unhappy campers. Of course, she had no interest in cruising in the first place. In the second place, late 30s/early 40s is about 20 years or more younger than most passengers. Thirdly, they did no research prior to booking.

As a result, they were horrified to find they were on a ship much smaller than they expected, angry that they had paid full price for their cabin and unhappy that there is “not anything to do.” Special diet wasn’t available, they don’t like the movies since some of them are kid oriented…. wah wah wah.

You get the idea. I listened for about five minutes. After asking them facetiously – what were you expecting? The Love Boat (they said yes) I got irritated and went into standard military problem solving mode: no, they haven’t talked to guest services, or the head waiter (re: diet) or the Crown and Anchor person. I guess whining is as far as they will go.

Meanwhile, I am still having a great time. We have managed to convince management that the Viking Crown lounge is better without music in the morning so the crafting group is having a great time. There are hundreds of interesting people and classical music in the afternoon. I am hitting the gym daily and I have gone to all the beginning salsa, swing, and ballroom dance classes. Poor George, he is going to be out of excuses not to learn fairly soon.

Rosario Duo

From 1-4 every afternoon there is music in the atrium.

The Rosario Duo were my main source on afternoon entertainment last fall on those rainy afternoons when I would sit, knit and enjoy the music. On that voyage there were a few people the first afternoon, double that the second and by the third day it was standing room only. Those people who were rude enough to make noise/talk/or otherwise act as if the music was not important were rapidly shushed by those around them.

I have enjoyed watching the same thing happen this cruise. The first day we were at sea I hurried down to the Atrium. Over the next hour all the chairs filled up on our side of lobby. By the time they were into their second set there are people listening from the floor above as well as hanging out at the railings on the upper floors.

The two young men (well they are quite a bit younger than me) are from the Philippines. One places the guitar and the other the violin. The guitar is an acoustic style with an amp, the violin is an electric Yamaha. The music ranges from classics through show tunes to popular medleys.

Violin

and on the guitar

On other afternoons the music is provided by an Argentinian classical guitarist. Not only does he play classics, but a number of compositions of his own. Several of these are on the border between traditional classical and jazz. With flawless technique, the music is both absorbing and interesting.

Daniel

Daniel’s website is www.danielseminario.com.ar

As you might/might not remember, I started a Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina on the way to Miami. I might have included an update picture here and there, but I am now finished with the left front, the left sleeve and am in the process of motoring through the stripes across the back.

Anne (Anne with an E) from Key Largo is working on a Penny Straker pattern for a small person. It is the cardigan with owls at the top of the fronts and backs. She is hoping to have enough yarn for a matching hat. Primarily a quilter, the knitting comes out only on cruises.

Barbara from Bremen used to own a yarn shop. Retired now for several years, she and her husband relocated to Florida about seven years ago. Trans-atlantic cruises are a good way to move back and forth across the ocean to visit family/friends in a restful manner. She is knitting a sweater out of sock yarn -making up the striped pattern as she goes.

Caroline is from England. Primarily a quilter and stitcher, for some reason security decided to abscond with her needles leaving her with idle hands and a bit of an attitude (for which I don’t blamer her at all). Also not having brought along a hoop, some of her free style embroidery was not exactly making her happy. Since I always travel with more than enough needles and yarn, she is now working on a scarf.

Ann (without an E) is from Swansea (Wales) and also came empty handed just to chat. She handles phones at night for an NHS hospital leaving her with time, when quiet, to knit. A heavily cabled cardigan what she has in progress at home but didn’t think to pack anything portable. I am going to recheck the luggage, I am sure that there is one more ball of yarn lurking somewhere.

Suze joined us the second day at sea knitting an infinite garter scarf out of hand painted cotton on large needles. A spinner for 35 years, I think she might just have a wheel or drop spindle in her cabin.

We are all keeping out eyes out for more fiber people – up to a point, the more the merrier.

Speaking with him one morning toward the end of the cruise, he said he was a widower and that his family had encouraged him to resume traveling. He and his wife had traveled extensively and he had been thinking about resuming exploring the world, albeit on his own.

The first sea day (which was last Thursday) who do I see in the gym when I get there early in the morning but Bob marching along on his treadmill looking if anything more fit and healthy than last fall. In his T-shirt and shorts he is barrel chested and strong looking, sturdy without that fat look that comes from indulgent living.

We chatted for a bit while I was cranking up my treadmill and before he headed to the weight machines. We then sat next to each other at the high stools in the Windjammer over looking the sea with blue skies, calm seas and another cruise ship off in the distance. It seems that most of the staff knows him; the young woman who runs the stretching and fitness classes at 0730 and 0900 stopped by to see how he was doing and to invite him to join her class. Said he was a great example for all the young and non-healthy.

Retired now for 26 years, he used to work for the aerospace industry with the Concord. Due to his job he spent time in Australia and the US as well as the UK developing a taste for seeing areas of the world a bit more distant that the local back 40. His family much prefers him to be on cruise ships: a few years ago he spent several months traveling on his own through Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and San Francisco. Finally talked in to trying a cruise ship, he is now hooked. Not having to worry about bed and breakfast is good, but having your family know that if something happens to you someone will know about it is even better.

Life can be short, or maybe not, but there is a lot to be said for living it to the fullest that you can imagine. New experiences, people and places are not just for the young. I want to be just like Bob in 25 years – fit, traveling and enjoying life. If possible, I would rather not have to do it as a widow.

What was impressive was the packed room for the membership reception. Given that there were canapés as well as free champaign, wine, juice and beer I don’t think there were many eligible who did not show up. Ruth, the C&A loyalty manager for the cruise said that this is the first time on this ship they have had to schedule separate events for the two different dinner seatings. Seems that there is no where other than the theater where they could accommodate over 800 people. Actually, I think it might just be an under-estimate even given that it is over 1/2 the passengers on the ship. I have met few first time cruisers (2) and just about everyone else with whom I have spoken has been on this cruise line before.

Anyway – there were a lot of people. Arriving hurried and out of breath I sat with three Dutch who I had met at lunch one day. The couple relocated to Florida a number of years ago when they retired. Their daughter who is about my age joined them at some point in the last few years.

Remember that I mentioned Cruise Critic several posts ago? Turns out that about 1/3 the members on this cruise are also traveling solo or without family. Two of the guys – Joseph and Jorge are from somewhere in Texas. Jorge can dance (I think). I keep running into both of them. This ship, like so many others, offers all sorts of basic dance classes.

I am married to a pretty wonderful guy, but he doesn’t dance. Probably because it takes effort and concentration as well as rhythm and knowing the location of not only your own feet but those of your partner. But I digress.

There is this is huge contingent of Latins in the disco at night according to the guys. Disco is fine, but Joseph at least has not been willing to try any of the Latin dances due to fear of embarrassment. Apparently the Latin standard is the same as the European: men are expected to be able to dance. End result is that we are doing to attempt the classes that fit into each of our schedules and have a good time. No harm, no foul and no concerns about how we look to anyone else.

After all – as we are in the basic Salsa class and I am looking around – with all the prancers, plodding ponies and flailing arms there is no way that either of us is the worst on the floor. I am not sure how they managed but I saw more than a few both men and women who seemed to have both their own feet and everyone else’s in their space. Two left feet I can understand, but three?

And some random photos…

We were the fourth ship to pull into port this morning. The NCL Star, P&O Aurora and HAL Noordam were already in port. Late arrivals were RCI Serenade pulling into our quay behind us and Costa Luminosa on the far side of HAL. End result – 6 ships (at least three setting out for transatlantic journeys) from five lines. I have sailed the NCL Star (Alaska last year) and have been on 4/5 of the lines represented.

St Maartens itself has not changed. You can take a taxi from the port which seems kind of silly or you can hike along the waterfront road. The compromise is to head to the end of the dock and take a water taxi to the main square pier ($6/day infinite round trips). Me? I walk, it is good for me and supplements all the stairs and my 4-6 treadmill miles every morning.

Caribbean Camera was just where I remembered. They didn’t have the Lowenpro bag I failed to buy in Singapore but they did have batteries for my EOS 7D Canon. Other than the camera shop, I mostly enjoyed wandering around the town and watching all the people. This seems to be the end of the winter tourist season and most stores were trying to clear out inventory. I still don’t get sparky stones or fancy watches and the whole family has more than enough t-shirts so I skipped all the bargains in favor of a nice stroll, people watching, lunch on the ship and an afternoon spent in the solarium relaxing. It also means that I skipped the Carnival Parade for children but I really thought that there were enough other people already lining the street.

As I remember, we came back early (Space-A on a Medevac flight that pulled us out of the wait list due to our being medical personnel) because her father became suddenly ill.

So here it is, a lovely 1430 in San Juan and history is repeating itself in a fashion. The ICU patient has to be off loaded to the ambulance prior to normal disembarking; the hearse will wait until after the passengers have gone ashore and all the paperwork has been completed.

The sky is a bit overcast and rain is threatening. None the less, I take advantage of what turns out to be National Parks week or some such and get free admission to Castillo San Cristobal (sorry for the lack of accents – they make a real mess in the editing).

As you can also tell, I have been making progress on my sweater. The last photo – of the balloon flower is courtesy of our evening waiter.

In fact, Cruise Critic (dot COM) is much more like Ravelry than Facebook. News and reviews, message boards, roll calls for the various ships and sailings. Of course, it is supported by adds…. (you were expecting?)

The membership is heavily US/CA/UK with a sprinkling of other languages. There are members (free registration) on their first cruise along with a few who have been with the site since its origins back in the beginnings of bulletin boards and seem to live on ships. At least I think that might be the case when your cruise days number over 10k.

I have had the site recommended to me numerous times over the last several years and noted a meet-up on the Grandeur cruise last fall. I registered in March in order to read reviews on that less than sterling Costa Classica ship.

Like other social bulletin boards, threads seem to be the responsibility  of  whomever starts them – or in the case of a roll-call – whomever wants to organize something. RCI and Celebrity seem to be quite supportive; even having a registration form on their site for participation in Meet and Mingles. Minimum members to get a location set aside (and on the schedule) seems to be ~25. In the case of this cruise – the initial sign up list for the Sail Away Party was 56 and the M&M at 32.

all those we could convince to join the picture

It was a good time – sunshine, fun people and feeling like you know a few others on the ship.

I spent a number of hours on the island just hiking around with various people before heading back to the ship for lunch. Pictures are more important that words in any case!

No, I don’t see my name on the list.

The young man at the desk asks for my name and I spell it.

Standing next to the desk is a young woman checking out on her way to the airport. Oh, she says, that is my middle name, it came from my mom.

We talk for a minute and she tells me she thinks it is of Russian/Romanian origin. That is interesting is my reply because usually most people think it is an Irish name.

Not in our family she says. I have it because my mom is one of four girls.

I look at her – Is your mother Carla?

Total stunned silence. I explain that I have met her aunt Margo (she has two sons) in Australia in 2010 and Karen (no children) back before we left DC in 1993. Met her grandparents as well but that was back in 1972.  Diane is in Chicago (no children) which means that she must be from the Austin branch of the family!

Rebecca is coming off break and on her way back to Vet School. I happily gave her emails and contact information for a few more cousins then waved as she boarded the shuttle for the airport.

So see – if I hadn’t scheduled this cruise I never would have found more one distant member of the family. At least that is my story.

The Itinerary, of course has now vanished from the websites since the ship departs today. Lets just say that I am departing from Miami and arriving in Malaga on the 1st.

Please believe me when I say that I am really not trying to whine all of the time, honest. It is just that the bad stuff is more interesting/funny than saying “once again it was a wonderful day with great companions, food and my life is perfect”…… and BTW I have a very nice high bridge in North Dakota that just really wants to belong to you!