Zipping at 17 Knots Across the Pacific...

Faster then a speeding bullet! That's us as we speed across the Pacific Ocean hitting Hawaii and French Polynesia (Moorea, Tahiti, and Bora Bora). Hard to believe 16 nights have passed. If you LOVE nature and love sea days, this is the cruise for you! The weather has been a tad cool up until a few days ago. Now it is TOO HOT! It reminds me of Chicago where you go right from Winter to Summer ... no Spring. Speaking of Chicago, 2 feet of snow??? Biggest storm in centuries? Massive, they say...  Frigid weather ?   So so sorry.... no,  really,  I feel for ya! .. .. :)   It looks like it covers the whole US!   Bummer.   Stay warm.  Stay Safe.

So talking about how hard life is on the cruise after all these island and sea days without getting off the ship will garner no sympathy?   As David heals away, we find ourselves on board cancelling all tours. This is the hard part. Good thing we have been here before. We are just picturing ourselves doing the tours and hoping for some better days ahead. Above I snapped a picture of the Equator. We had to brace ourselves as we went over the bump. No one was hurt but we did party and had a few drinks to celebrate this occasion. One day the Captain made home made pasta for everyone on the ship and served us all a great lunch at the pool.

Here is a shot from my balcony of Moorea. This is one of the prettiest islands because of its lush sharp peaks jutting out of the ocean. We arrived at sunrise with dark clouds and mist and just enjoyed the view throughout the day as the sun came out and the sky cleared. Sun and shadows played with the mountains and the peaks just kept changing colors during the day. I loved watching the boats sail past. The sunset was amazing.

I did get off the ship and walked around Papeete. Not much to see in town. Right before we left this tiny island, local dancers came aboard and danced for us. I watched their hips in amazement. How DO they do that?

In Bora Bora, we loved these little huts above the sea. I hear that they have glass floors where you can see the fish below from your room. The waters here are amazingly clear and every shade of blue you can imagine. Bloody Mary's is here. We went last year .... So this year we just had fond thoughts of it. We have 3 sea days ahead as we head to TONGA. Now, TONGA, does that sound cool or what?

Hawaii

When I think 'Hawaii' my imagination goes into high gear. I am excited to go there, be there, visit. The people are nice, the waters and weather welcoming. It is just a delight to all senses to become a part of these wonderful islands for just a little while.

Well, this time, things have changed. We cancelled all of our tours and saw Hawaii from our balcony.  Bummer.

David did something to his back and ended up in a wheel chair again. We think it is a sprain of sorts. At first we thought it would just go away. When it didn't we visited the Dr. on board. Yes, your leg muscle is hard as a rock ... so he was given pain pills and two different injections and a bill for $490.  Heating pad ...$5 a day.... Never visit the Dr. on board! We thought this would do the trick but when there was no relief after three days, we went back to the Dr. She was surprised it wasn't better.  This visit was only $90.  The ship Doc recommended we head to the ER in Honolulu for a second opinion and to see if something more was going on. 

We spent a very long day in the Er having Xrays, a cat scan, and a second opinion. David braved yet another injection, more powerful then before, and added new prescriptions to help ease the pain.  We  were thinking we may have to get off  in Honolulu and end the cruise. Everything depended on what was said and found in this visit.  Our second opinion offered nothing new.  It could get better, it may not.  Good news, no surgery!  But the findings still have us hanging.... So now with 5 sea days ahead, we can rest it and see how it goes.  We have 2 weeks until New Zealand and at that point will reasses.  I have a feeling this will ease up.  A BBC on return to the ship put us both in better spirits.





I got off in Lahaina, Maui for a walk on land and to see the city.  Here is a photo I took in a t-shirt store.  Nice view!  This is what Hawaii is all about.

 I decided to have lunch with a view and this is what I saw from my table.  :)  It was a perfect day for an adventure.











As we left Beautiful- wish-I-could-stay-Hawaii, my first rainbow appeared over the mountains.  It was a bit shy and did not want to show it's brilliant colors.  So, it took a lot of my patience and wish full thinking to coax Maui out of this one. Someday I want to have my whole family here for a vacation.....:)

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And So We Begin!

Our World Cruise began on a sad day for Tucson as people were mourning the loss of members of our community by a senseless act of violence. The newspaper headlines around the world boldly covered the story as we walked through both the Tucson and San Francisco airports. Our flight was delayed about 3 hours due to fog so I played games on my computer as we waited for the GO signal. 

At the airport Regent met us and placed us in a limo with a driver from Russia who lectured us with his political views all the way to the ship.  I could not be happier when I finally got out of his car and shut the door behind me.   After the delays, the fog and the communist view lecture, I set off the security alarm and got frisked before I was able to get on the ship... :)  I was ready for that glass of champaign....well actually, I poured one half of their glass into another half glass and had myself a FULL glass of champaign..... and so starts my cruise!

Our suitcases greeted us when we entered our suite.  Unpacking was easy as we knew where to put everything ... as it worked last year.  It's like being Home.  Once again, I cursed myself for bringing too many clothes ....  We decided to go to Ruth's Chris for dinner.  It was Oh-My-God-Delicious. When we got back to the ship, Joel Grey was the headliner.  Nice to see him do his New York number but I much prefered the Beach Boys and Jay Leno last year. 

We spent a day in San Francisco, had lunch at our favirite Deli, and headed back to the ship for our sail away.  It was windy and FREEZING on deck 12 as we sailed past Alcatraz and then under the Golden Gate Bridge.  I had the sail away drink, of course.  Since it was too cold for me to hold, I made David hold it for me as I stood in back of him so he would block the wind for me.... :)  What fun that was...a real treat to sail under the Great Bridge.  A sail boat got a bit too close and was shooed away by a menacing looking guy on a gun boat.... Cool.  It was beautiful as the sun set.  As soon as we were under, a thick fog hit and the horizon disappeared as did the bridge and we retreated back to our suite to get warm again. 

It has taken 4 at-sea days to finally start to Blog..... I kinda have to get in the groove again.  The seas have been calm....(sort of) with that wonderful lull of gentle rocking at night.  We have had some great lectures.  I continue to love my Broth at 11.  It is too cold still for the pool or being out on deck unless you have a blanket.  Many people just read on deck with their blankets wrapped around them.  Great sea air.   I am taking art classes and photography classes....Hence, my artwork above.  I know it looks like some famous artist did it, but for real, it is just me.....:)  We have stayed up late for some shows, eaten in the speciality restaurants, and met up with friends from last year.  It seems like it will be a great cruise... You know, how you just FEEL it?  It has that feel about it already.  We are in Hilo, Hawaii... LAND HO as our cruise director said earlier.  I guess you just get in that spirit sometimes.

Poked, Stuck and WARNED !

When you decide to go on your 'trip of a life time' you will necessarily pay a visit to your nearest Travel Clinic. This is the place dreams are dashed and you will reconsider traveling overseas and wonder why anyone would EVER want to leave home...... Ever. Until we sat at the long plastic table on our plastic chairs facing the serious looking travel nurse, we were looking forward to this cruise. As we listed all of the countries we would be visiting, she would pull a country fact sheet out and place it in front of us and the dire warnings began........ What to be careful of in each country.  We also looked at colored pictures of the world as different diseases were 'colored in' for an easy to spot guide in color.     I started to slink down in my chair. I silently counted more shots then arms.....as I tried to look calm, collected, and matter of fact "Of course I know all of this...no problem. " I listened, started to feel sick already and wondered if travel insurance covered not showing up.

Good news. We did not need the Yellow Fever shot ... but we did need Polio, flu, Hepititus A, shingles, and typhoid ... T Y P H O I D ! ? M A L A R I A ??? We were warned about the water, the mosquitos, the food and washing our hands. Watch out for street vendors! Brush with bottled water! Watch to see if a water bottle top has been 'reglued'. No fruit or salad!  We were given enough drugs to open our own Walgreen Pharmacy. We have ... eye drops, aspirin, Off, Imodium, mucinex, band aids, gas x, Tylenol, wal dryl, Rolaids, tums, ciprofloxacin, sore throat lozenges, malarone, transderm scop, tamiflu, orajel, benadryl and more..... If you need it, we more then likely will have it.

Packed and sent......

How do you prepare for a World Cruise? As this is our second time around, I found it a lot easier this time. I know what worked last year. I vowed to 'take less' this time... That didn't work. Maybe I packed smarter? Most of what I packed is easy wear and easy care. Comfortable. Even though we are sending the same number of suitcases ahead, there is less. The suitcases aren't 'full' so we wil have room when we buy stuff. Inside my four suitcases I have casual clothes for around the ship, things to wear on tours, casual elegant and a few more 'formal' outfits. Bathing suits, work out clothes, shampoos, shoes, crafts .... It's all in there. Seeing as we will be gone for 4 1/2 months, I think I did pretty well.

Here We Go Again!

I find it hard to believe I am once again packing for a World Cruise. I have two suitcases packed and another to go. Last year we had 300 pounds of luggage to ship. This year, I am cutting back! Not taking as many clothes! I say! Cutting back! Take only what is needed! Think of all the stuff you never wore! Merge this with a philosophy "If you have to think about it, take it'. I hate when I make a plan to take less and then when the time comes, I am shocked I packed as much as I did the last time. Even though I have not had to sit on the suitcases (pack lightly) (leave room for all souvenirs I am not going to buy this time!) I felt so proud of my feelings I had LESS ... until I filled 2 huge suitcases and have room to fill yet another... This was not the plan.... tomorrow we repack .... I really really want to get that weight down....... (But what will I feel like wearing?) :) Sigh........ I have the tours at all the ports planned and booked. Some minor tweaking needed here. I have my new Kindle loaded with books and games. I packed my crafts. My Ipod needs a few new songs ..... By golly..... The suitcases head for the ship on Wednesday! Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed ..... I just sit and procrastinate... Hence we begin to BLOG!