We have returned - tan, happy, and about 3 pounds fatter.

 

All is well at home. The four-legged children are healthy and happy to see us. One of my fellow teachers was kind enough to take care of the house and animals.

 

Our trip was wonderful and we have many happy experiences to remember. Our world travels map has just acquired five new black pins. Black pins indicate places we have been together. The new pins are: Ft Lauderdale, Miami, St Thomas, St Maarten, Bahamas. There is a pic of the map in my Caribbean Cruise album here on Edenhill.

 

By the way, for those of you who wonder - Edenhill is the name of our home in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. Yes! I am pretentious enough to name my boring little house!

 

I have posted new pics from the Caribbean cruise. We took about 150 pics and about 50 minutes of video.

 

I typed my blog in MS Word and posted it here day by day. The Word document covers about 10 pages . Ever since we went to Europe almost a year ago, I've really enjoyed keeping a daily travel blog. It's a great momento each time we travel. However, the Europe blog is on a different website called Travel Teaches.

 

Tomorrow I head back to school. Now we have to decide about our next trip in December - will it be a 10 day land tour of Japan, or a 10 day cruise through the Panama Canal? If you have a recomendation, leave a comment here.

We woke up at about 8am, just in time to watch the launching of the tenders. By 9am we were in line to board. The wait was well organized. Those wanting to go ashore arrived at the Princess Theatre and were instructed not to enter the queue until their entire party was ready to board – no saving spots in line. A couple people didn’t follow the rules, allow late arriving friends to skip ahead in the queue. I witnessed one young woman receive a pointed tongue lashing from a crewman for cutting. YEAH! Let’s hear it for that crewman. More people should be called on the carpet for their selfish and disrespectful behavior.

 

Princess Cays is very beautiful. There are many palm trees and little huts with red metal roofs. Palapas line the white powdery beach and the warm azure/turquoise waters. Gene and I rented a blue canvas cabana so we had full shelter from the sun and a modicum of privacy. The Princess private island resort is a series of manmade coves with a small marina in the center. Open air bars and BBQ buffets line the paved walkways. We stayed in the southern cove were all the cabanas are. It definitely was the quiet end of the beach. After a lunch of BBQ chicken, burgers, and salads, Gene and I went for a walk to the northern section of the property. It was packed with people and lounge chairs.

 

The saving grace of the north end was a very nice coral reef for snorkeling. I spent a full hour slowly swimming along the surface, enjoying the variety of fish and animal life. Though the reef was not as large and diverse as the one at Coki Beach, I none the less had a great time.

 

Currently it’s 2:20pm. We have returned to the cabin and showered all the sand out of the cracks and crevices. I’m headed to the coffee bar for another latte and to post this, my final onboard blog entry. Then, tonight we have our final dinner which includes the traditional flaming Baked Alaska and parade of chefs. Of course, we must pack too and fill out our cruise surveys.

 

After the traditional landfall dinner including the flaming Baked Alaska parade (Gene had prime rib and I had turkey) the day ended in the Wheelhouse Bar. Nine of us who met via the art auction/reception sat around and chatted. It was a relaxing way to end the cruise with new friends. We exchanged E-mail addresses.

 

Things I Will Miss

 

-         Shad’s service in the coffee bar.

-         Reading by the terrace pool, watching the azure waters of the Caribbean.

-         Listening to steel drum music while writing in my travel journal in the atrium.

-         Taking buffet breakfast back to our balcony, and enjoying our tropical flowers.

-         Strolling through Philipsburg and enjoying a beer in the central plaza.

-         Snorkeling and SCUBA in St. Martin

-         Music and comedy in the Princess Theatre

 

 

It’s time to plan another cruise!

This morning we slept in again, rising just after 9am. After a quick breakfast, we settled into our seats in the Princess Theatre and enjoyed a cooking/comedy routine featuring the Executive Chef and the Maitre d’Hotel. They were a hilarious duo, managing to insult each other while creating a full dinner of gnocchi in cream sauce, pasta with xxxx and Caesar Salad. What followed was a long snaking line of 600+ passengers slowly walking through one of the dining room galleys.

 

Now I have once again settled into the coffee bar, watching the seas roll by. The waiter is used to me now. He knows I always want a double non-fat latte. I sit in the far back corner near an electrical outlet for my laptop. The Wireless Internet signal is not very good here, but it’s good enough. Currently it’s 12 noon. I had a big breakfast so I’ll skip lunch. The ship is on it’s way to the Bahamian island of Eleuthera which Princess maintains it’s own beach resort. In less than an hour, Gene and I will attend the last art auction. I have my eye on a couple originals by a student of Matisse. Cross your fingers and wish us luck.

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Tonight was our second and final formal dress evening. Gene had lobster tail for dinner, and I had the Beef Wellington again (plus a little lobster – yum!). After dinner we headed immediately for the Princess Theatre. This was the only night to see a performance of Caribbean Caliente. The singers and dancers never disappoint. I am always amazed by the quality of the vocal and dance performers on Princess.

 

Soon after the show, we stopped by the Champagne Waterfall and reception. The crowd in the atrium was smaller on this cruise when compared to the Sapphire Princess event. And, they were less lively. We stayed around long enough to drink a glass of champagne. Then we moved up to Skywalker’s disco. Gene and I danced for the first time in about ten years. It was fun! I’m learning to grab some more gusto from life. While there, we met and chatted with a couple from Toronto whom we got to know through the FOD meet-ups. They introduced us to a couple from Seattle named John and Sarah – two very nice old hippy types.

 

Our final stop of the night was in Club Fusion for a packed second performance by James “The Kid” Michael – the magician and comedian we saw two nights ago. This was his adults only show, with no one under 18 allowed. And, it was for good reason. The language and humor were all about sex. Fine with me, there is a place for that. I’m glad Princess had bouncers by the door. There were plenty of teens and pre-teens trying to get in. The same thing was going on at Skywalkers a few nights previous. There were plenty of 15 – 16 year old kids trying to talk the guards into allowing entrance, which I understand. But what are 13 year old’s doing up at midnight without their parents? There were some kids that age and even younger!

 

Tomorrow I will go online to confirm some good news for our flight home  – we received a full upgrade to first class for our entire trip home. YEAH Let’s hear it for AAdvantage Platinum! It’s good to be the king! Tomorrow we head for Princess Cays (pronounced keys).

 

On this fine sunny day, we landed in Sint Maarten/St. Martin – the smallest island in the world that is divided between two nations: Holland and France. Though, for practical purposes, there are no border checkpoints between the two sides. Still some differences exist such as signage and police forces.

 

The Caribbean Princess, like all large cruise ships, moored in Philipsburg on the Dutch side. Philipsburg is an interesting city, set on a narrow isthmus between the bay and a large salt lagoon. At first impression, this island seems to be far better off economically. The town is modern, clean, and incorporates more than a little Caribbean architecture.

 

I rested well last night, sleeping for almost 10 hours. So I awoke refreshed and ready to go. Gene and I spent just over two and a half hours in town - window shopping mostly. We looked at jewelry for a little while, but the prices were not that good. So, we each settled for a T-shirt and hat. We arrived back on the ship by 1pm and spent the rest of our time lying in the shade by a small pool.

 

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We just returned to the cabin after a terrific evening. It started with a comedy/magic act featuring James “The Kid” Michael. He was non-stop crazy. We enjoyed him very much. Then we went to a free wine and Hors d’oevres reception in the art gallery. We asked that a couple pieces be tagged for tomorrow’s final art auction. Then we had dinner in the main dining room. Gene had the King Crab Legs while I enjoyed the Rack of Lamb. Once dinner was complete, we headed back to the Princess Theatre for the International Crew Show. Basically, the entertainment is a talent show featuring members of the crew. The performers came from South Africa, the Philippines, England and the US. Afterward, we did make it up to Skywalker’s Disco, but it was a quiet evening there. So after a nightcap, we retired to our stateroom. It’s been another excellent day.

By the time we awoke this morning, the Caribbean Princess was already tied up along the West Indies Company pier in Charlotte Amalie. At 8:30 sharp Gene and I were on our way to Coki Beach with our guide Laura. Traffic on St. Thomas is amazingly thick. The roads are narrow, twisty, and filled with cabs of all shapes and sizes. More than 8000 cruise passengers were descending on St. Thomas today – and this was a light day according to one of our cab drivers!

 

Once we arrived at the beach, I had to wait two hours before I could begin my dive. You see, I had booked the dive outside of Princess shore tours – which saved me about 33%. But it also meant I had to wait until all the other passengers had gone on their dive. But that was fine, because the Coki Beach Dive Club gave me snorkeling gear to use during my two hour wait. So for one third less, I got both a dive and a snorkel experience. Meanwhile, Gene spent part of his time wading in the 78 degree water and touring the nearby aquarium, Coral World. Soon after my dive was complete, we took a cab into the heart of the Charlotte Amalie shopping district. We spent about an hour wandering. I bought a silver wrist cuff, and then we headed back to the ship.

 

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While writing the above entry, I suddenly became very sleepy. I stopped and headed back to the cabin for a nap. Then we attended another FOD meet-up for departure out of St. Thomas. Even though I had a nap, I could not shake my sleepiness. I haven’t slept very well for the last couple nights, so we have chosen to skip dinner in the dinning room. Instead we will eat at Café Caribe and go to sleep early so we are refreshed for St. Maarten tomorrow.

I hear there is a difference between an ocean liner and a cruise ship. Primarily, it’s a difference in hull design and the location of the center of gravity. Supposedly, an ocean liner is more slender, with a different bow shape and a lower center of gravity, allowing it to travel through rough seas at a high speed and with more safety. A cruise ship is broader and often has a higher center of gravity. It’s designed to cruise more slowly and in calmer coastal waters. I guess this ship is a cruise ship. I’m sure it has a higher center of gravity because it has an extra deck filled with cabins. The standard capacity of the Caribbean Princess is about 3100. But with the addition of bunks and trundle beds for kids, it can carry a few hundred more. We haven’t heard exact facts, but I think the ship is at or slightly above standard capacity.

 

Today we spent another day doing very little. I read for more than two hours in a shady spot by the terrace pool. Gene attended an art auction, though he didn’t buy anything. Together, we played a trivia game covering statistics and geography (we placed third). Then, we had dinner (Caribbean Specialties) and afterward, we went to the Princess Theatre and experienced the whacky humor and music of a British husband and wife team called Kamika. I have no idea what the name means, but they were very funny performers – kind of a fat old Sonny and Cher. On Tuesday, we land in our first port: St. Thomas USVI. I will be scuba diving at Coki beach while Gene goes to Coral World. Then we’ll probably do a little shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie.

Sometimes relaxation includes learning, touring, and lots of activities. And sometimes, like today, it includes a lot of nothing. Since both Gene and I have been on a cruise before, on a nearly identical ship, there is little here that’s new. So I am bound and determined to do nothing. We woke up late (9am) and I immediately went for a brisk walk. After a 2.5 miles jaunt, we went to the buffet taking our plates back to the cabin where we enjoyed breakfast on our balcony. Currently it’s 11:30 and I am in the coffee bar in the atrium, enjoying an espresso and checking E-mail – not to mention writing in my blog.

 

We got some good news this morning. The two of us managed to secure seats during the traditional second dinner seating. Otherwise, we would have been relegated to Personal Choice dining, which might work for some, but not for us. We prefer to get to know some people night after night. PC dining may be more flexible regarding one’s dining time, but it’s less social and the service less personal. Now we won’t have to change dining partners and wait staff every night. We can actually get to know our tablemates better with each evening.

 

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Most of our day was spent on deck lying in the shade with 2000 other people. Lounge chairs near pools were definitely at a premium today.

 

At 5:15 joined 8 other folks for a hosted reception specifically to welcome gay and lesbian passengers. The Assistant Cruise Director provided a couple bottles of Champagne.

 

Prior to dinner, while Gene took a nap, I watched a British juggler in the Explorer’s lounge. We dressed in our beautiful Italian suits and stopped briefly at the Captain’s cocktail reception. Then we met our tablemates in the Island Dining room on deck 5. They were all very nice people. One couple hails from San Diego, another from Austin, Texas and the third from Austin, Minnesota (which is near Rochester). For dinner, Gene enjoyed a crayfish ragout while I partook of veal and bowtie pasta. Both of us were trying to eat lighter food, and I think we succeeded.

 

Immediately after dinner, we sat in the front row of the Princess Theatre to again watch Piano Man – a show we saw previously on the Sapphire Princess. It’s a fantastic show, and Gene and I agreed, this particular cast was just a little bit better than the last.

 

Finally, on the way back to our cabin we stopped and watched a lounge entertainer named Bert Stratton. He has a crazy reputation among regular Princess cruisers. I think it’s much deserved. While he is a fun performer, a little of him goes a long way. Soon after I had my fill of Bert, we stopped by Skywalker’s Disco. I’m hoping to talk Gene into going dancing for a little while on one of the more informal nights.

 

Hmmm – here are a few final observations and personal comments:

 

Overheard during embarkation: Dad: “But I don’t want to go to the cabin first. Just bring your bags with you and let’s go hit the buffet! Mom: “Are you crazy? Don’t be a fool. I never heard anything so ridiculous.” Daughter: “Oh God, how embarrassing!” Grandma: “Wait for me!”

 

Overhead in Café Caribe this morning: “Why doesn’t my cell phone work here? I can’t get a hold of anybody!”  Could it be because we are 30 miles off the Bahamas?

 

Overheard on the Promenade Deck: “Look up there. I think that’s a little boat hanging from the ceiling. I can see the propeller. What do you think those are for?” Saving you ass!

 

From the cruise director: “Tonight in the casino it’s senior night. The staff changed all the cherries on the slot machines to prunes. If you get three in a row you can collect yours winnings at the craps table!”

 

Final note: Gene gave me some beautiful flowers today, in thanks for his birthday cruise. The celebration of his 50 years continued with balloons on our cabin door, and a little birthday cake at dinner.

Our morning started when we woke up at about 8. An hour later, soon after finishing my first cup of coffee, room service arrived with Eggs Benedict and freshly squeezed orange juice. We ate on our balcony looking over downtown and the Riverwalk.

 

By ten o’clock we were back in our car and heading south to Miami. Traffic was heavy due to two car accidents on I-95. Once we were in downtown Miami, I found it less than attractive. The central area of Seattle and Portland are far more pleasant and attractive. However, much of central Miami is under construction. Tower cranes are everywhere – similar to what we saw in Berlin last summer.

 

After driving through downtown we headed over to Miami Beach and the art deco historic district. That area is very beautiful. We parked and enjoyed a short walk along the beach and through a park. Coffee at Starbucks was a must.

 

Around 12:30 we headed back to Ft. Lauderdale. Once the car was returned, a shuttle bus brought us to Port Everglades. Embarkation was accomplished in 10 minutes. Definitely, arrival after 1pm is the way to go. There were virtually no lines. Even the security line only took 3 - 4 minutes. The first order of business was trying to reserve traditional dining. The Caribbean Princess is nearly identical to the Sapphire Princess on which we previously sailed. However, we both noticed a distinct odor of cigarette smoke, both in our cabin and within the ship passageways. As I type, we are waiting to for sail away. We’ve already seen and RCI and Carnival ship depart. We should leave at any moment.

 

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We’ve just returned from dinner and a show. It’s 12am and we are both tired.

 

Tonight’s dinner was at Sterling Steakhouse. Unlike the Sapphire Princess, this ship has Sterling in its own space rather than in a corner of the Lido buffet.

 

Overall, everything at Sterling was wonderful. The atmosphere, though not as club like as Morton’s, was still intimate and relaxed. The waiter staff was attentive, but less overwhelming than on the Sapphire. The dinner was delicious. We both had rib eye steaks. Gene had a Caesar salad and I had corn casserole along with a spinach dip. Terrific!

 

After dinner we attended the “Welcome Aboard” show in the Princess Theatre. The dancers and singers were very good, but the Cruise Director talked too much. The day has been excellent. It’s a great beginning.

Our trip started at an unnaturally early hour. We were awake at 3:30, though I admit I didn’t get out of bed for another 20 minutes. Only raccoons and bakers should be coherent that early in the morning. The previous night was spent packing and worrying about my sore throat. The last thing I want is to spend my entire trip suffering with cold symptoms. I started taking zinc and Vitamin C yesterday. In the past, that combination has helped forestall a cold, or at least shorten its lifespan.

 

Once the taxi dropped us at SeaTac, everything started moving smoothly. Our American Airlines Platinum status enables us to use first class check-in, as well as the express lane through the TSA security checkpoint. The process took all of 15 minutes. And, happily, for the first time in two years my check-in was not delayed because of my name matching that of another John Carroll on the federal watch list. I guess the fact that Uncle Sam now has every piece of identifying information about me short of a blood sample has finally reaped some benefits.

 

So here we are crammed into coach class seats on our way to St. Louis. The flight attendants are surly and the seat in front of me seems closer than I recall from previous flights on an MD-80. But none of that has spoiled this leg of the trip. Thankfully, from St. Louis to Ft. Lauderdale we are traveling first class. Platinum status has delivered another reward – an upgrade. We are hoping for lunch service on the next leg of our flight, not to mention a little ass kissing from the cabin attendants. It’s good to be the king!

 

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Ahhhh,, . now this is the life! We’re relaxing in first class, our lunch is being served, and we just finished our first Bloody Mary of the trip. Unfortunately, the 12V power supply I bought recently for my laptop is no longer working. That’s a small disappointment. Currently it’s 3pm Eastern. We’re munching on warm cashews and sipping cold club soda. Our turkey sandwiches will be served soon and then we will land in a couple hours. It’s our first time in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. Soon after, Gene and I will pick up our convertible car and check into the Riverside Hotel – the oldest and finest resort in town. Nothing’s too good for my half-century old husband

 

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Here we are, in Ft. Lauderdale. We flew over the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. Soon after retrieving        our luggage, we picked up our convertible rental car. A brief tour through town ended at our hotel. We were lucky enough to receive a small room upgrade. Now we have a beautiful city and river view with a wrap around terrace. After a quick change of clothes, we began searching through the bistros and restaurants of Las Olas Boulevard, the historic heart of Ft. Lauderdale. We ate dinner at La Bonne Crepe. Gene and I both ordered a small Caesar salad and a seafood crepes. Though the crepes were not as delicious as those served to us last summer in Brussels, the Florida version was none the less quite good.

 

We are back in our hotel room now, tired and carrying full tummies. Tomorrow we plan on suffering through a room service breakfast on the terrace and then we will drive down to Miami. Isn’t life difficult?

 

Our excitment and wanderlust  are building again.Gene and I  are heading out on another cruise in 4 days. This time we are heading to Ft Lauderdale and ultimately a seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise.

 

We will spend the first night in Ft Lauderdale, and I have plans for a romantic dinner with Gene. Our hotel is Ft Lauderdale's oldest and finest. Once the ship (Caribbean Princess) leaves Pt Everglades on Saturday, we'll spend three days at sea and the rest of our time in the ports of St Thomas, St Martin, and a day at Princess Cays, the cruiseline's private island. Thank

 

I'm looking forward to a relaxing and fun experience. Thankfully our home and our four-legged children will be cared for by a close friend.

 

Bon Voyage!

 

 

 

"One evening in 1977 I sat down with my family to watch TV. On one channel was adultery, on another cursing, on another a man beating another over the head with a hammer. I asked the children to turn off the TV. I sat there, got angry, and said, 'They're going to bring this into my home, and I'm going to do all I can to change it.

 

 

By the way, I'm off to church now and I will be a lector today - reading from the bible at the pulpit as an official part of the service. Yes, people who think for themselves go to church.

Yeah! Today is Gene's 50th birthday! And what a wonderful 50 years it has been.

 

I have the BEST partner (husband, lover, you pick) anyone could have. He is absolutely fantastic and I appreciate every second I have with him.

 

Tonight we had dinner at the newest Italian restaurant in Seattle. It's located right here in our very own neighborhood - Magnolia. The place is called Cafe Mondello. WOW! What a wonderful restaurant.

 

Everthing is totally authentic. The cafe is owned and run by a family that obviously knows exactly what they are doing. The food was terrific, and the service relaxed but attentive. Furthermore, the atmosphere is beautiful. We could not have been happier with our choice of establishment for Gene's birthday dinner.

 

We had a selection of bruchetta, followed by an octopus anti-pasta. A Caesar salad followed (no, that's not Italian) and then our pasta/entree - stuffed fish for Gene, pasta carbonara for me. All of it was wonderful. Dinner was completed with tiramisu and grapa. Fabulous!

 

Along with the wonderful meal, I offered Gene's present for his birthday. Over the last week I had lied and told him I was already giving him a cruise, so he shouldn't expect anything more. But true to form for Gene, all he was wanting was a little advanced memento book about the cruise (he previously had given one to me for the Mexico cruise). These "proposals" have become a tradition for us. It usually involves graphics as well as romantic paragraphs about how wonderful a trip will be. Print them on special paper and add some key phrases. Ta da! A birthday present!

 

Though I tried to make Gene think there was no memento book coming, that was clearly a falsehood. Tonight I gave him my 18 page book complete with thoughts and pictures - all encompassing my plans for our Caribbean cruise in two weeks - along with a healthy dose of schmaltz. He was very pleased, and just a little bit relieved. Originally, I had hoped to spring a great surprise on him - but that hope came to no avail.

 

Gene, unfortunately, already knew I was giving him a cruise for his birthday. The revelation of that information came in advance due to an error on my part. But at least I could withhold information about more recent events in an effort to offer some spontaneity to our upcoming vacation.

 

There are still a few surprises up my sleeve. Gene doesn't know everything that will happen on our vacation. He doesn't know where we are staying in Ft. Lauderdale. He has no idea how we are getting around in Florida, nor what restaurants to which I am planning to take him. There are a few extras about the cruise I have managed to keep secret as well.

 

Like tonight, it is my hope that a few things will be pleasantly surprising, and show him how special he is to me. After more than 12 years, I hope he knows I want to spend my life with him and no other. Happy birthday Gene! I love you beyond any worthless and inadequate word that could possibly be utilized for expressing a sentiment. You are my soulmate, my best friend, my partner, my lover, and my hero!