December 28
I forgot to write that we toured the Everglades. Our ship docked early so we had time to go with Lola and Casey on a tour of the Everglades.
We saw several alligators.
Our wind
blown look.
This is what our boat looked like. It was fun skimming across the water.
Susan held a baby alligator.
The animals on display had been rescued.
This is my last post for this trip. As you read my blog it starts with the last post and goes backwards. I was extremely frustrated on this trip trying to write my blog. First of all, I did not have my correct password. How could I not have the correct password? I have no idea except I have three pages of passwords that I have to keep track of. Then you have to pay $55.00 for 100 minutes of Wi-Fi aboard ship. I was unable to get my correct password so I started writing my blog by hand hoping that I would be able to post. My little computer was so slow that I spent most of my Wi-Fi time watching the cursor spin. I went to the ships computers but unless I had my correct password it didn’t do any good.
So, when I got home I found my correct password and decided to write my blog after the fact. Then I had problems loading my pictures onto my computer at home because I loaded them on my little computer. I finally worked that out. Then getting the pictures from my cell phone to my computer was another challenge. It isn’t easy for me to do all this computer stuff but I love doing it.
December 27
This is our last day at sea as we sail back towards Fort Lauderdale. I have decided to go see a movie, “War Games” in the little theater. Susan, of course, wants to go to the casino. I lecture her on being careful with her money. About an hour into the movie I see Susan in the shadows looking for me. I wave to her and she comes over and sits in my chair with me. Then she wispers in my ear, “I just won $801.00 on the penny slot machine.” Earlier she had won $300.00 on a penny slot machine but she had been putting her winnings back into the slots. I told her how very proud I was of her that she had stopped playing and she was to go to the room and I would be there when the movie finished. It was kind of hard to celebrate in a quiet,dark theater full of people all watching a movie.
I would also like to mention that Susan had complained about us having to leave our room to go to the bathroom as the toilet wouldn’t flush. This had happened three times. We got a letter in our mailbox that we had been compensated for our inconvenience. On Susan’s bill they had taken off $300.00. So Susan nailed it in the casino and on her bill.
Susan shows her casino winnings.
Fort Lauderdale skyline as we arrived.
We left at 6:00 a.m. and this was the sun rising through the clouds as we fly home.
December 25
The ship is totally decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees and Christmas scenes all over the ship. Every staff member you pass wishes you a Merry Christmas. Christmas dinner was very nice and there is a man aboard who looks very much like Santa Claus. When we dock at Cozumel, Mexico under privileged children are invited aboard and they are given Christmas gifts from the ship’s
Entering the dining room
The lights of Cozumel, Mexico
Dining room staff greeted everyone as they entered.
December 24
Today we docked at Falmouth, Jamaica. We all walked into the tourist area and Susan and I decided to take a trolley ride of the town. Falmouth, Jamaica is a very poor country and I found it dirty, litter everywhere, dilapidated and crumbling buildings and everywhere you looked people were begging or trying to sell you something. I found it depressing. At a gas station I noticed that gas was $6.00 a gallon.
Another house
A colorful little house.
Outside cemetery
More of the inside of the church.
the inside of a church we visited.
Broken glass on the top of a
rock fence around an old Jewish cemetery.
December 21
We arrived back in Fort Lauderdale and had to exit the ship and then check back in. Now we begin the second part of our cruise.
December 22
Do you think it is windy? Love my hair!
In case you were lost here are some directions.
Patt, Lola and Shirley on the ferry to Half Moon Cay.
The beautiful blue water of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
December 21st
We got up this morning and our toilet didn’t flush right so I went to the bathroom on the 3rd floor. I was supposed to go to the Vista Lounge afterwards to meet everyone for breakfast. I went to the entrance on the 3rd floor and the doors were closed and no one was there. It wasn’t open. I waited and waited and waited and no one came so I decided they must have gone to the Lido buffet on the 9th floor. I went to the buffet and walked around and around and around and saw no one in our group. I asked two employees if this was the only restaurant open for breakfast and they said “Yes”. I was hungry so I decided to eat. I got an omelette and ate breakfast by myself. I then went back to the Vista Lounge and entered on the 2nd floor. It was open after all. I was confused. I walked around and found my friends sitting at a table waiting for their breakfast. Needless to say, I got a dirty look from one of the group and everyone made fun of me for being lost. Oh well.
Each night as we returned from dinner or a performance we would find little towel critters awaiting our return. Here are a few examples of the art of folding towels.
