January 3, 2024- The Cruise has Begun!

Embarkation can be frustrating but today has been very easy.  I took an Uber from the LA Quinta to the port. Handed off my luggage then got into a short line to check in. 

Because of all the problems with Brazilian visas we had to complete a form to provide information on what stage we were in in the application process. My documents have been under review by Brazil for two weeks. 

Once checked in I was given a boarding card. I was in Priority Group 3, thanks to my 4 star status. I waited with everyone else as they began boarding. It went quickly and smoothly.  I dropped my bags at 11 a.m. and was sitting on my balcony at noon. 

Luggage arrived a couple of hours later. My friend Jolanda, who I met on the 2020 world cruise, stopped by and we headed to sail away at 4:30.  Now I've had a lovely dinner, am all unpacked it is 7:30 p.m. and

we're still at the dock. We're scheduled to be at sea for the next three days so it really doesn't matter. 

I'll add more tomorrow but I'm pooped and want to just chill. Here are some photos from my day.  In case you want to check out my cabin I'm in 4133 which seems to be a fabulous location.  

We were scheduled to leave at 430.

My cabin at night. A bit messy. 

Cheesecake for dessert.

My main was haddock, clamp, mussels and risotto 

I started with a shrimp cocktail which is in the menu every night

at 630 the dining room was half empty. They had a special steak dinner in the Lido and I suspect a lot of people went there

I was given a rose at dinner

Typical hall

One of the many pieces of art around the ship

Silverware and a view in the Lido. It was too windy for Jolanda and too cold for me outside

It was really windy and about 65.  I was wearing fleece and a coat. Those not from Florida were in t-shirts 

The view from my balcony today. I'm on the starboard (right) side of the ship

Amazing that most luggage is in the assigned cabins within 2 hours

It Is Christmas Eve! Let the Packing Commence

 Like Santa, I've been checking my list.  Not for who's naughty or nice.  But for what I need to take for a two month trip.  Packing should be easy but I obsess over it.  I need to dress for weather that will range from equatorial to frigid (Japan is cold in February).  I'll be swimming, dancing and dining in fancy places so need clothes for all that.  And, I need the small things that make a cruise easier or just more fun.

Here are some examples of the incidentals I take on a cruise:

Thanks to my brilliant friend Heidi, I take a doorstop.  Why?  Ever done that awkward dance at the door with a room steward carrying a giant tray of food and a pitcher of boiling water?  This six dollar item allows me to just pull open the door and prop it open.  Fast and easy.  It makes the stewards smile every time they don't have to juggle that heavy tray.

I have a bedtime routine that involves LED candles.  I take just one small one for my cabin which adds to the ambiance.  

Normally, I miss having a variety of music on a cruise.  Not this time!  I'll be taking my small speaker and will have Star Link WIFI so I can enjoy Amazon Music.  And podcasts.

There's more but I've procrastinated long enough.  Off to pack!

Brazil or No Brazil - I'm Going on a Cruise!

 The last 24 hours have brought great news.  First, I heard that my guaranteed cabin had been assigned.  You'll be able to find me on the balcony of cabin 4133 for the next two months.

This morning brought even better news from HAL: 

"Holland America Line continues to make progress with government and port officials regarding visa requirements for Brazil.  We know this has been frustrating for many guests and we are sorry for the added stress so close to your embarkation date for this spectacular voyage.

While we are hopeful for a resolution either through the government suspending the requirement or through more efficient visa processing, we know you need certainty as the start of the voyage nears.  If this issue is not resolved, we will revise our itinerary to remove Brazil so no guests are denied boarding over this matter.  While it is our hope this won't be needed, it is important to us that you know you will be able to embark as planned in Fort Lauderdale."

Yesterday I spent about 4 hours helping a friend submit the requested documents to get her Brazil visa.  Today they were rejected with no explanation.  Just "resubmit".  Now, I can stop fretting about it.  I applied for my visa on December 5.  There is still no estimate of if or when I might receive it.

If we don't cruise up the Amazon, I will be disappointed.  But, I'll be cruising.  My boarding time was also assigned.  I'll be boarding at 11:00 a.m. in Ft. Lauderdale.

Most important, Buddy is all set.  He'll have two humans and two new doggie companions staying in the house with him.  

This is a VB category cabin.  I'll be in one similar, #4133.

On The Road Again - Another World Cruise

 I'm very excited to report that I'm departing January 3, 2024 on Holland America's Zuiderdam for a two month cruise.  I'll be sailing from Fort Lauderdale, up the Amazon River, through the Panama Canal and ending up in Tokyo on February 28.

The trip is mostly paid for with the Future Cruise Credit that Holland America generously gave me when the 2020 World Cruise was shortened because of Covid.

Sadly, Buddy won't be able to join me.  On the bright side, he'll be staying home with my cousin and her husband and their two pups.

Now, I just need to get my house in order, bags packed and visas complete.  

Be sure to stop back for lots of photos of sunrises, sunsets, clouds and food.  I will try to get a few photos of the ports I visit and people along the way.

Retired and a Pandemic? No, I Don't Know What Day It Is.

 

I'm excited to report that I took a trip!  A short trip.  36 miles, to be exact.  But for two nights I slept in a bed not my own in Daytona Beach Shores, with a magnificent view of the beach.

Buddy also slept away from me for the first time since I adopted him. He spent the couple of days I was at the beach at Fancy Pets in Lake Mary, where he goes for daycare once every week or two.  Other than giving me a cold shoulder for about half an hour, was fine when I picked him up.  Even more important, two weeks later, when I took him for daycare, he didn't hesitate at all.  He was excited to see his human and canine friends again.

Since it was a good experience for both of us, we're going again in a couple weeks.  And, going again in January, depending on the Covid situation.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying being at home.  Cooking, taking Buddy for walks and enjoying a peaceful, quiet life.

I'm planning to start doing more posts.  Many with short memories of my life/travels.  Like this one:

I had a layover in Atlanta on my way home one weekend in the early 2000's.  My flight was delayed, I was exhausted and was just vegging in a deserted concourse in the wee hours of the morning.  A cleaning woman was humming "Amazing Grace" as she emptied the trash bin near me.  I started humming harmony.  Her humming got a bit louder and so did mine.  Then we both started singing.  Quietly, at first, then full out. By the time we finished we were both grinning like little kids.  We hugged and she went back to work and I went back to my Kindle.

 One of the benefits of having Buddy is that he makes me walk.  He only weighs 14 pounds but he is very powerful.  He has the ability and willingness to whine for HOURS.  And since his favorite thing is walks, he whined a lot.  Until he got me trained.  Once we were up to four walks a day, the whining stopped, unless I was a bit late heading for the leash.  I don't know where Buddy keeps his watch but he is very committed to staying on a schedule.

This morning we had an early morning pee walk.  That technically should not be necessary, since he has access to a lovely fenced yard, but he prefers a different view.  Later we were having a destination walk - we drive someplace and walk.

This morning, Buddy was very excited to be in the car.  On our way to the dog park he was so excited, he whined and barked continuously.  Ignored pets, favorite treats...just whined.  No drooling, no anxiety, just excitement.

I couldn't stand it anymore so instead of going to the dog park we went to the much closer Lake Mary Event Center.  It was closed so we had the place to ourselves.  I was surprised to find furniture set up on the terrace and everything open.  What a lovely surprise.  We'll happily go there for future walks.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of the sand hill cranes.

What is a Travel Blog With No Travel?

 I started this blog to keep in touch with the people I love "at home" when I joined the Peace Corps.  Then "at home" became Samoa, Malawi and Myanmar.  Then it morphed into just a journal for me.  A way to remember my travels, mostly.

Since March 22, 2020, I've been home. At first, staying safe at home, being very cautious.  Then, needed a new roof after a storm.  That led to interior/exterior paint, new windows, new carpet, new appliances and some other minor remodeling.  Most of the stuff I'd planned to do after the world cruise.  The windows were very much needed and a bonus that I paid for with some of the refund I got from the WC.

As others started going back to life as usual, I kept my old, fat self home, safe.  Then I went to the dentist to get a chipped tooth taken care of.  I chipped it in Brazil so it was past due.  But that dental visit led to a series of visits to the dentist, periodontist and endodontist.  All but one tooth issue will be resolved this week when I get three permanent crowns installed.  

As infections rates started to rise again and with no pandemic plan/cure in sight, I decided to get a dog.  Buddy, formerly known as Pesos, was found abandoned in Orlando.  The people who found him named him Pesos.  They contacted Pet Rescue by Judy in Sanford FL who took him in.  They got him medical care (including neuter and microchip) and put him with a foster family.  

On September 9, 2020, I met Buddy for ten minutes, paid for him and took him home.  The vet thinks he's a two year old Chug (Chihuahua/Pug mix).  Our first couple of weeks together were complicated a bit since I had cellulitis and a surface blood clot so walking was difficult.  

In the month since then, Buddy and I have been getting to be friends.  I'm going to be posting more again, but given the pandemic, the topic will most likely be my adventures with Buddy in Central Florida.