Back to Reality

No breakfast buffets, no drink of the day, no lobster prepared 3 ways and no awesome beautiful desserts.....

My breakfast and snacks 😐

 

November 14, 2015

Oh reality is settling in.  Luggage tags, talks on disembarking,  suitcase packing mean that Florida is just over the horizon and that means back to normal.  But for one more day we party.

 

Terrie is off to the spa early and I start organizing.  Our cruise had two formal nights and those have come and gone.  So today we pick out pictures to carry home with us and share.  A last stop at the pizza place that is so good.  And of course trying to remember the best of the best times.

We have samples many of the things Princess offers in the way of entertainment.  A 60’s/ 70’s singer twice, a comedian, a review and today a cooking demonstration.  All good and nice to fill the time.

Our vessel has a central atrium that is three stories high.  A band and or singer is always adding a nice touch as we pass by.  A “too cute moment” for us was when a young boy about 4 years old began to dancing on the round marble floor.  Dressed in his black suit, red shirt and black tie, he looked so much like Wyatt with blonde curly hair.  People were stopping on all decks just to catch a look.  Swinging and circling in time with the music he just wowed the crowd and he ate up the attention.  Really fun to watch and makes me wish I could get Wyatt to tag along.

So time to turn my attention to getting home and of course tonight’s dinner.

Last night on the cruise was a lobster and steak dinner with all the trimmings.  Nothing like going out in style but I have been warned that it is time to return to my limited menu upon arrival home.  Oh well tonight we party and tomorrow we diet.

I have hand it to Princess.  Getting off went as smoothly as getting on.  We were at the airport in plenty of time and happy to be home shortly thereafter. 

 Thanks all for listening and it is back to my desk.

 

Performers in the Piazza

The Piazza

Port Everglades upon arrival

November 13, 2015 (Friday the 13th)

Now what day of the week is it?  Out in the ocean you forget which day of  the week it is.  On one cruise line they even put carpet on the elevator’s floor with the day of the week but not on this line.

As best I can tell it is Friday but don’t test me.

All blue water all day is the motto for today.  Sunny, low 80’s with just a cotton ball or two in the sky.  Our balcony is perfect for just hanging out but for Terrie it is the walking deck and the sun deck.  For me it is catch up day on e mail and things needing attention.  Regrettably I can think of anything that takes my attention.  Vacation is working. 

As I said before you spend the days planning meals.  We have enjoyed the main dining area and the flood aboard has been excellent but there are two specialty restaurants on board.  An Italian one  called Sabatini and a steak house called The Crown Grill.  For just a small up charge you get an even better level of food than served in the dining room.  Reservations are required so if you ever fine yourself cruising be sure and try these specialty places. 

Sabatini’s was really wonderful Italian food.  Terrie and I both chose the lobster three ways along with a great starter and pasta.  All this with top notch service is a much more personal atmosphere.  We brought along a wonderful Amarone from the Masi vineyard to top off a real night out. 

We also got reservations at the Crown Grill one evening.  A lobster starter, a fresh salad and a 22 ounce Porterhouse was the order for me.  Terrie settled for the filet.  Way tender and cooked just right. 

So as I said before I think sea days are eating festivals which makes sea days just perfect.



November 12, 2015

Back to back ground days.  We sailed the night and awake to the sound of the bow thrusters gently rotating the ship which backs into the pier effortlessly.  Good Morning to the Dutch side of St. Maarten.  A quick bite and we are off for a renegade tour with Bernard Tours.  A small group of 12 plus the driver DJ quickly gather and drive away to see the sights and sounds of both the Dutch and French portions of St Maarten.

The first impressions are that this is a much larger place than St Thomas.  21 square miles of French territory and 16 square miles of Dutch influence make one interesting place.

Our first stops are to visit the wild life.  No real wildlife like sea creatures and Iguanas.  Nice to see how careful they are about preserving their surroundings.  Sea urchins, sea spiders, big hermit crabs are carefully displayed.  Iguanas are scurrying around for grapes and veggies and photo ops.

Then we stop for a couple of hours of beach time and a rum punch or two…ok several.  Nothing like a beach on the French side to keep you from snoozing.  Everyone loves the sights and sounds and sights and sights.  Our stop, even though, two hours on the clock, races by and we are back hearing and learning about life here.  Just yesterday was St Maarten’s Day here which is the celebration of the settling of the war between France and the Dutch over who rules here.  In 1648 they decided the war wasn’t worth it and agreed to a walk off.  A Dutch representative and a Frenchman lined up back to back and headed out if separate directions.  Whatever land they walked along was their territory.

Why the difference in the sizes of territory?  The Dutch man carried Gin, the Frenchman carried Wine.  I’d bet on wine any day.

Lunch was on the French side so off the a French pastry shop.  Nice.  I quick market stop and then to the most famous spot on the island.  The beach underneath the airport runway.  Planes landing fly just above the heads of those on the beach and sometimes blow people down.  Bigger plane bigger splash as we saw even small prop planes sending caps into the sea.  Crowds of folks wait for the big jets and a bar there even post the inbound flight schedule (which is never right….remember it is island time)

Back to the ship in time to catch a beautiful sunset before a visit to one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, The Crown Grill.  Nice steak, great wine, and good friends but this time with more than a few stories to tell.

The ship fires up the engines (electric of course) and smoothly leaves the dock headed north this time.  Next stop Port Everglades over a 1,000 nautical miles away.

Sunset in St. Maarten

 

 

November 11, 2015

Final home of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Fan Coral

November 11, 2015
Land Ho!  After being at sea for a couple of days it is nice to have arrived.  Don’t get me wrong sailing away is great but walking on land is good too.  Our day has been planned because we are leaving the Princess blessed excursions and striking off on a day sail to St John’s with on our own boat.  We put our lives into the hands of Captain Ocean of Catania Yacht Charters.  (By the way his real name is Ocean, no kidding) and off we sail into the waters where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea.  Our sailing starts in St Thomas but we leave that for the lagoons of St John’s.  There is the beautiful National Park there that is the road less traveled for sure.  Nice sand beaches and a bit of civilization but that too is left behind for a quieter and more remote part of the northern part of St John’s.

We glide into the calm waters of a crystal clear lagoon and listen carefully to our snorkeling instructor Melissa and enter these quiet water most gloriously by jumping off the boat.  Terrie and our friends are seasoned at this but it is my first snorkeling tour so having Melissa is a great relief.  We are guided along stopping to inspect some of the sea life she finds for us.  Amazing clear water, abundant
sea life, and the minutes pass into hours as we explore.  My first time jitters melt too and I relax and feel like I have been doing this all along. 

Captain Ocean is busy on board firing up the grill and preparing us a really nice lunch of grill chicken, salads, and island beverages of all kinds. Our few minutes of snorkeling was a effortless 90 minute swim.  Warm water, good food and a few Captain Ocean stories make a nice break.

Captain Ocean was born on the Catania, our sail boat.  His family sailed around the world and this was his home for his early life.  His stories, his open friendly style make him seem like a modern day Privateer and I can’t help but mention that Melissa is certainly the mermaid type.

He repositions the Catania so that we now have a beach for those interested and another reef to explore taking us to the beach by his zodiac.  After a couple of hours he picks us up and returns us to the boat for a sail back to St Thomas. 

On the way we pass a host of what he refers to as “Cattlemarans”.  Bigger catamarans taking 80 people at a time to public snorkeling places.  On these there isn’t even enough room for everyone to sit down.  You are known by your number…..and dropped off to fend for yourself.  Quickly we all agree that having a Pirate Captain and a Mermaid is well worth it.  You can tell we returned back to the Princess happy and ready to come back for more of our St John’s day.

Sailors for the Day!

 

 

 

Captain Ocean and Crew Melissa

November 10, 2015

Ah ha…..it is Tuesday and this is a sea day that we prepared for.  Planning was done long before departure.  We lost an hour last night as we changed time zones so that 800 am appointment came pretty early.  Could it have been the late night?  Never.

Her plan was to get the seaweed wrap which I suspect is more along the lines of what the pig at a Hawaiian Luau is put through.  Her description not mine but laid on an aluminum foil blanket, covered in wet seaweed, and that covered by hot wet towels.  Roll you up in the all that and press with a thick comforter to hold all the heat in.  Cook until done and serve.  Sound like a recipe to me but she just referred to it as amazing.

Being one day ahead of Veterans Day Princess cruise line invited veterans to gather at one of their bars.  A great turn out reading all the way back to WWII.  Everyone got to introduce themselves and being in that group makes it nice.  It feels that only those that have walked this path truly understand the feelings.  Doesn’t matter that we span generations, it still is a place to be and a place to share.

We gathered for a lunch of sushi today as this vessel has a really good pizza spot.  Much much better than a mass produced pizza.  It is a Napoli styled fare.  We had been warned about how good it was and we had made two lunches there already so today we strayed from the beaten path to the road less taken.  Sushi and really fresh sushi.  Tuna, salmon, oysters and sword fish all done right.  All this really makes for a light mid day stop.

Now Terrie is off to the Chocolate class and I watch the waves go by planning for out first formal night.

Special dinner tonight to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Princess Cruise line.  Most everyone dressed up but not many in tux.  (thank goodness) I at least got a “you clean up well” and for that I am thankful.  Early dinner timing gives us an opportunity to see the review but even though it is called Spectacular I find it a dark room with dim lighting after a fine meal which also goes for a nap.

A quick change and off for an evening of people watching and planning for another day of adventure.  This cruise ship travel has it’s benefits.  Meals served, time for reflections with your eyes closed, and gentle rocking….but tomorrow we land.

Monday November 9th, 2015

The schedule for today was a beach day on Princess’ private island.  Drop anchor at 0830, tender to shore and lay out in the sand, snorkel  and swim.  Great idea, right?  But the morning broke to storm clouds and a Tropical storm named Kate.  Shallow water, big waves, 60 mph winds all mean we now have a sea day to enjoy.  This Captain isn’t going anywhere near those conditions.  So being the great riders we are, we decided it is a better part of valor to tag along.

Terrie was up early exercising then off to breakfast and a rush to fill in the day with events.  Would you believe a cooking class, a spa visit, and a bit of sun on our deck.  For me, well, writing you, bouncing around a bit and figuring out how to fit in three meals and a couple of snacks into my waking hours.

This vessel is amazing.  Yes, there are a lot of people but there are still quiet corners available to sit and write.  Nothing is overcrowded or at least nothing I want to do.  Sitting and chillin’ is my kind of vacation.  Terrie checks on me ever once in a while.  I get on the wrong floor often but haven’t fall off the boat yet.  Now it takes real planning to go to breakfast and plan lunch.  And at lunch you have to plan dinner……perfect cruise.

Weather is now behind us as we quickly cleared the area.  Sun has replaced the storm clouds and all is right……time to plan dinner and beyond.

We chose an early dinner with our friends.  Just our table for the four of us and a great bottle of wine.  Princess does a wonderful job of serving nice meals so evening events will have to wait for a bit.  If you have ever cruised you know that fitting everything in can become its own nightmare.  Dinner then a show and a bit of people watching makes for a perfect unwinding agenda.

The dinner show was a singer revisiting the 60s and 70s both popular and C and W music.  There was a crowd but you quickly got lost in the singing and voices could be heard all over as popular songs never leave your brain even after many years.

We had dodged a few rain showers all day and that didn’t change.  Rain hit the glass patio door and we quietly rocked to sleep with these brief splatters singing to us.

Rainbows start in the ocean!

And then the sunshine 

November 8, 2015

Sunday morning bright and early.  Out for a quick walk and greeted by the ducks and an Ibis herd.  Can’t find the Iguanas we saw yesterday but certainly a very nice greeting from all those in attendance.  We boarded the Regal Princess about noon along with 3,563 of our closest friends.  This was certainly the newest and largest ship we had sailed on and it was going interesting. 

The boarding was well organized and quick.  Could it be we arrived early and planned well or did Princess just have their act together?  I choose the first part.  18 decks to wander around on and we are high up on the 16th as far forward as you can get.  Actually we are two deck above and right over the bridge.  So for once we will see where we are going.

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to board and feed this many but we never saw a hitch at all.  Nice pizza lunch on board and then off to our cabin to unpack and ready ourselves for life boat drills.

And to my amazement we passed.

Many of you know that I enjoy a glass of wine on occasion and Regal Princess allows you to bring your own wine on board with just a few restrictions.  So this cruise I flew a case with us from our own stock in Houston and opened a fine bottle of Behrens Family Cemetery to toast our sailing out of Port Everglades and to toast the celebration of an Eleven Year anniversary.  Not a bad life.  Wine, the Love Boat Song on the ship’s horn and good friends.

Clear sailing today but storm clouds on the horizon……

AWW I'm sorry I didn't bring food!

Ibis!!!  Lots of Ibis

All aboard!

November 7, 2015

-->

Time to drop out and head for an island to hang out and unwind.  Well maybe not but instead a simple cruise will do and thankfully our friends are celebrating their 11th Anniversary and our 20+ year friends want our company to help them celebrate.  So we packed up, divided up the puppies among friends, and started a new adventure by flying to Fort Lauderdale for a quick visit before sailing away on Sunday.

Texas has been a series of gray and rainy weekends with nice work days intermingled.  Temps are supposed to drop to winter conditions for a few hours on Sunday morning so Florida sounded good.   United direct flight drops us in Fort Lauderdale and a quick drop off to the local airport LQ and we are on the way to walk the Atlantic beach. 

Little did we know that this weekend was the International Boat show along the inter coastal canal so the traffic is bad but the walking is interesting as ever.  Beach shops, beautiful sand, pretty water all make for a perfect start.  No cold and rainy Houston for us.  Sorry pups time for Mom and Dad to play.

The four of us meet up just as the sun is going down at a waterside eatery know as Coconuts.  Stone crab claws, Scoobies, and paella make for a fitting start to a fall visit to the islands.  if you are ever in Fort Lauderdale make a stop at Coconuts.  Relaxed atmosphere, waterside, and an unusual terrific menu.  Where else can you get a Lobster Corn dog?

RAINY HOUSTON

SUNNY FORT LAUDERDALE

October 2015

The month started off sad, T.C. (Troubles Coming) decided it was time to leave and we helped him to the Rainbow Bridge to go be with his sisters and friends.   Born leap year 2000, and going on for 15+ years.   For a JRT he was the best as far as temperament, he was an easy Jack, he was not mean and nasty, he loved all the kids.  In Flyball once he understood the job (2.5 years of understanding) he was awesome running 4.2's most of his career, and he would run for anyone and his rubber water hose.  The little *&^ is missed, but never forgotten, and his mark is left on my heart, so there will never be another JRT in this household.

Ford Family reunion down in Lake Jackson, always fun!  And I have new patio furniture ordered, made by a Ford!

Then busy started with CanAm in Indiana, 2 days of travel to and from with 7 dogs and 2 other cars in our caravan.  Our teams did as expected, but the big deal was 2 of them made debuts which was a big deal!  Glad that's over with.  The trip home was minus a dog - Krack stayed behind to travel to Michigan for training.  His training is already going well, but with additional training from Angie and Lee of Springloaded is icing on the cake!  So we're down to 5 dogs at house - weird!

Only a couple of pictures of Halloween Grandkids! 

 Ella the Cat and Keegan "Mindcraft"

 1st tournament

 Prank - CanAm 2015

 Ryley is "Monkey D. Luffy" an anime