Ponta Delgada, Azores – October 31, 2014

Happy Halloween!  The ship is decorated with spiders and spiderwebs!  They really get into this holiday and it takes a lot of work to put up decorations for just one day and I admire them for doing it.

I bought light up necklaces for Betty and me to wear to dinner and, of course, mine didn’t work!  Oh, well, they were 2 for $5 so no big deal!  I’ll just fly down to dinner on my broom instead. J

The sail in this morning was very nice and just as we docked the sun came out and it was a really nice day.  We walked off the ship about 10:30am and just spent a couple of hours wandering around the town.  It’s quaint and charming and every street downtown is cobbled in different designs.  The day was warm and the town was full of cruise passengers!

We had a late lunch and enjoyed our balcony for the afternoon.  I did manage to get a load of laundry done since most of the passengers were off on tours!

Speaking of tours, Betty and Don went to the interior of the island and enjoyed it very much.  They benefitted from a cloudless day to see all the green on this island.  Found out that every animal and plant on this island was “imported”!  It’s a volcanic group of nine islands.

Trivia this afternoon was a mess with a “Halloween” trivia.  Did you know that pumpkin is a fruit?  Well, now you do!

We now have four full days at sea before we arrive in Bermuda.  The Captain announced this evening that we’ll have calm seas tonight and tomorrow.  That’s always nice to hear.

I’m thinking about all my dear “trick or treaters” in Clayton today getting ready for their evening of fun!  Good thing Halloween is on a Friday this year so those pesky bedtimes won’t shorten the evening!  The Commodore and I haven’t missed that fun in 15 years!!  I’m missing you all!

Posting early tonight but if there’s news I’ll add an update!!

XOXOXO

M

At Sea – October 30, 2014

On the day that we could sleep in…..I was up and awake at 6am!  The Commodore slept on till nearly 8 so we did get a late start. 

Not anything on our agenda so after breakfast I headed off to morning trivia, we had a miserable showing and the team that has been on this ship for a month (!) got 20/20 L

Oh, well.  The prizes are not worth cheating for!  I always learn something anyway so that is the upside!  Did you know a giraffe has seven vertebrae in it’s neck?  Ha!  Neither did we!!!  What 1961 novel was narrated by Youssarian?  That’s in the very obscure category and we had no idea.  The answer is Catch 22.  Don’t think I ever read it and am not in a hurry to do that now!

We did have “Cruise Long” trivia also later in the day and we got a respectable 8/10 so we are solidly in the top 10 of about 40 teams.  Keep your fingers crossed.

The Commodore has done something to his wrist and forearm that is causing him a bit of discomfort.  It’s an honorable injury since, he said, it occurred in the gym!  He was lifting weight in an awkward position so is now suffering the consequences.  Poor guy!

Betty’s cold is getting better and she took a vacation day today to help heal!  We met up with them for lunch and dinner and she got her first look at Morticia and the Troll who showed up at their table before we finished dinner.  I forgot to take my camera so the pictures will have to wait.  We observed the ritual with the Crown Royal which took place below the level of the table.  She poured while holding glass and bottle to her side and down where no one could see!  Too strange!  The bottle of “Mrs Dash” was present tonight and we could clearly see all the gold around the Troll’s neck!  He also has many rings on his stubby fingers. There’s one big gold one on his right index finger that could be a weapon!  Seeing them appear was so much fun!!

Took a trip to the casino where, yes, I am still playing on their money!  In fact, I won a $65 jackpot that put me way over!  Yay!

Weather today was clear and we’ve been making some good time towards the Azores.  We should be docked by 10am and then the Commodore and I will just walk around town and enjoy the atmosphere.  Betty and Don will be off on their tour about 10:30 and we’ll hear about it when they get back in the afternoon.

Met some “friends of friends” for a drink this evening and brought back some memories.  The live in Chico and it was fun to get to know them. 

Not much else to catch you up on so I’ll try and post this using prehistoric internet speeds.

XOXOXOXO

M

Lisbon – October 29, 2014

I woke up early and am glad I did because I watched us sail under the “little sibling” of the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to the dock in Lisbon.  It was a warm, quiet dawn and the sun was just rising behind the statue of Christ that is elevated near the bridge.  Beautiful!  I did get some video but I don’t thing it will truly show the peaceful sail.

OK….poetic moment over!  I just don’t want to forget the beauty of this morning!  This blog is for me, too!

The Commodore and I made our way off the ship about 9:30 and walked across the dock and right onto a HOHO bus!  We spent the next 90 minutes or so enjoyed the city of Lisbon from the upper deck in the 75 degree sunshine!  Glorious!  The city is a mixture of old and new and they mix in some unusual ways.  Urban planning here must be a nightmare!  The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 so there is old and new old!  Then there is the “new” city just outside the new old.  Are you confused yet?  I am.

Because of the good weather there were people everywhere and there are also two cruise ships in port so that make traffic even more challenging.

The guy sitting behind us on the HOHO bus said something really funny today!  We were actually trying to avoid them because she didn’t even know what city she was in….! Duh?  Anyway, he yells out “Hey, I don’t have dandruff anymore, the guy behind me does”! 

We made our way back to the ship about 1pm and then enjoyed having the yacht pretty much to ourselves.  Had a quick lunch and the Commodore headed off to the gym.  He’s been very good about getting in his exercise everyday….me? Not so good!  I do, however, take a lot of stairs!

We now have a day at sea to look forward to and then Ponta Delgada in the Azores.  We briefly had a tour scheduled to the “cloud forest” but I cancelled it when I remembered that the mountains there are usually always in the fog.  I figure that “cloud forest” is their euphemism for a bus trip to fog so we bailed.  It’s easy to walk into the town from the pier so I’m sure that’s what we will do.

Played trivia this afternoon and we were tied, again, for second even though we got 19/21!!  Here you go:  what cereal holds up the best in all climatic conditions?

No, it’s not Cheerios or Grape Nuts…..it’s Barley.  Duh..

This evening after dinner the Commodore and I took in a show that we enjoyed starring a young, very talented man, named Joe West.  He could sing, dance and play several instruments.  Very enjoyable.

Betty and Don had a great trip to Fatima and said they didn’t hate the bus ride.  Poor Betty has developed a cold so isn’t feeling 100%.  You know she’s not well when she skips the Casino!  She’ll be able to take it easy tomorrow…no tours!

The Commodore and I did hit the Casino and I am still playing on their money!  Love that!  I should probably just quit now…..nah, no way!

I have to mention that we have the best Cruise Director we’ve ever had on this ship!  His name is Kelvin Joy and he is the funniest person I’ve ever seen on a ship!  He puts all the other comedians to shame by his “off the cuff” humor.  He had me in tears tonight during the “60’s Music Trivia”.  In fact, everyone was roaring with laughter!  He’s so very quick and clever. 

No news on Morticia and the Troll.  We seem to finish our dinner before they appear.  Guess we’ll just have to have two desserts tomorrow!  Heehee!  The “bag of Crown Royal” and “bowl O ice” appeared but no “Mrs Dash”.  Hmmm….mysterious. LOL!

All for tonight…..

XOXOXO

M

Vigo, Spain – October 28, 2014

Today we were in Vigo, Spain and there is no “there” there!  It’s an easy place for the ships to dock and I think the port fees are cheap!

There were some tours offered by the ship to get into the countryside and a nearby town where there is a Cathedral but we opted out since we’ve seen a few Cathedral’s in the past 3 weeks!  Instead we waited till most of the buses departed and then headed out to find some free wifi so the Commodore could download a book to listen to while he’s on the treadmill.  He’s managed to get a few chapters and today was able to grab a few more but we’ll have to wait till we find some faster internet to get the rest.  Oh, well, it’s a project!

Betty and Don headed off into town shortly before we did and “walkabout”.  They’ve been to this port before and, once here, they remembered how little there is to do!

We came back for a late lunch and then enjoyed the sunshine on the deck and on our balcony for the rest of the afternoon.

Met my trivia pals at 4:15 and we were foiled once again!  Too many braniacs on board!  Plus, we’re overthinking and talking ourselves out of right answers…..time for a rebound!

Dinner was back in the dining room with our new server, Karina, from Peru.  She’s very efficient and we get very speedy service and we’re out of the dining room in short order!  We are going to be “permanent” in her section from now till the end of the cruise. 

Morticia and the “Troll” didn’t show up by the time we were finished but their table was being prepared for them.  The burlap back of Crown Royal appeared as well as the bowl of ice.  A new addition was a plastic container with a bright red top that we just HAD to ask about.  Turns out it’s a container of a “Mrs Dash” type of salt substitute!  That had me in gales of laughter!  We will hang around a little later tomorrow to see the show.  I know you all want to hear about the antics!

Tomorrow we are in Lisbon, Portugal.  We have been here before and really like the city so we will spend the day either just walking around or we might decide to jump on the HOHO bus.  It will depend on the weather which is supposed to be nice, I hope.  Today was gorgeous and in the upper 60’s and low 70’s.  Betty and Don are off on a bus tour to Fatima so they will be gone for most of the day.  We were scheduled for that trip but when I got so disgusted with the lousy guide in Le Havre, I gave them back their tour tickets and said we weren’t going to spend any more money on lousy Princess tours!  I figure the best way to get their attention is to kick them in the money.  Plus, the Commodore has reached his limit on bus tours and, truthfully, so have I.  We have lost our patience with the disrespectful dawdlers and lousy guides.

We get an extra hour tonight so we’re back on London time!  Gradually, as we cross the Atlantic, we’ll get about six hours.  That will be welcome!

That’s all folks, as Woody Woodpecker would say!

XOXOXO

M

At Sea – Monday, October 27, 2014

Good day at sea!  Got to sleep in and it was easy to do since we were having some rougher seas so the “rocking” was very soothing!  I sleep so well when there’s some motion on the ship.  Many others weren’t as happy as me, though, since the barf bags were all over the ship and, from the looks of things, folks didn’t make it to the bags on time!  Lots of seasick people today.  Thank goodness, not me!!  I still take my Bonine every single night and just don’t worry about it!!

Lazy day except for three trivia games, which we did not win, and only once came close. L  Boo Hoo.  We do have a lot of fun and it’s so nice to be with my trivia friends as there are a lot of laughs.

It was a formal night this evening so we stayed away from the dining room and ate at the buffet on the 15^th floor.  Nice meal and nicer that we were finished with dinner at 7pm!  Then it was time for our first trip to the casino on this ship and, believe it or not, I played for an hour and made a few bucks!!  I love it when that happens!  It’s so rare..LOL!!

No quirky passengers or weirdly interesting things to report today so I’ll apologize and vow to work harder tomorrow at finding amusements for you!  We did run into a couple that we’ve cruised with a few times and that was a nice surprise.

As a point of interest, we hit 365 days at sea with Princess next week!  A year at sea, amazing. 

Will someone let me know how Trevor’s Aztec’s did at Treasure Island this past weekend?  I know they made it in to the final…..then what?

We are cheering for the Giants…..from afar!

All for tonight.  Tomorrow we are in Vigo, Spain and have to plans except to follow our feet!

XOXOXOXO

M