Fishies

We were only able to snorkel in Cozumel, Mexico. The weather was not cooperating with us the other days, so I did not get many underwater photos. The water in Cozumel was a bit murky, but took photos anyway:

Hopefully I will get better shots in Hawaii.

Allan's Town

Georgetown, Grand Cayman – Thursday morning. The weather has not exactly cooperated with us, but not looking too bad. We tender in, find the bus to Seven Mile Beach and get on. And we wait. And we wait. The gentleman is clearly trying to fill the bus - and with the price of gas these days who can blame him?

More people get on and we are full. And we wait. Oh … jump seats down the middle. A lady yells to him can we “go already”. Typical rude American … always in a hurry. He gives her a nasty stare, and shuts the door so he does not have to hear her. And we wait some more. Pretty soon, though, we are off!

We are enjoying the beautiful scenery ... right up until the scenery we were supposed to get off by (a Marriott hotel) goes whizzing by. Bonne shouts out, but is ignored. Seven Mile Beach, I am assuming is, well - seven miles long. The miles whiz by. Bonne is admiring the hotels, I am calculating the walk back to where we want to be.

We stop at a park and the gentleman tells everyone without tour tickets to get out of the van. We get out and wait to ask him why he did not stop where the vans normally stop, used to stop. He is apologetic and says that he will take us there … back into the van.

We turn around and head back the way we came. Beautiful hotels – I enjoy them this time. We are really in no hurry and I do not have to hoof it. We arrive at the tour groups destination (just short of the Marriott) … or are we? A discussion ensues and the gentleman tells everyone ‘back in the van’. He apologizes and says that he misunderstood, it is somewhere else.

We turn around and are rolling again. Stop at the park where we left the ‘unticketed’ and everyone gets out. Bonne and I wait until he is ready to take us back. He apologizes again and says he will take us now to the Marriott. He has been nothing but kind to us. We tell him it is OK, we are not in any big hurry.

We turn around yet again and start out for our final destination. I have picked out my favorite hotel, point it out to Bonne – discuss the merits of the others, and soon we are there! He gets out, takes each of us by the hand, escorts us across the street and then engulfs each of us in a bear hug.

As we talk about this gentleman and discuss his actions, we realize that he is a very simple man, probably has an I.Q. in the low 70’s and in Bonne speak: “Is precious”. We smiled about the mix ups and then enjoy being the only two people on the beach.

We decide it is time to go, pack our things and head to the bus stop. We wonder how long it will take to get a van – being off season and not the best weather. One comes speeding along and Bonne waves. It drives on by. No, wait – it has stopped up ahead … and curiously enough is backing up in very congested traffic. We head toward it, jump in – taking the last two jump seats thrilled we are headed back to port so soon.

I look up and smiling at me from the rear view mirror is our friend. “I took you there this morning, yes?” he says. We told him that yes, we were the two drop-offs. He is telling the group that he had taken us to our destination that morning – the group being ‘a group’ on a tour all together. I feel like hiding under my jump seat ... Bonne is laughing.

He asks if we have 15 extra minutes and we answer in the affirmative (little did we know he was asking the tour group, not us). The next place we end up is a parking lot filled with vans and a group of men clustered around a booth. Our driver gets out, points at us repeatedly and we surmise that he is asking permission to take us to port – he feels he needs permission. We offer to walk – we had driven miles, but were only about three blocks from port.

He jumps back in grinning again – and off we go. Get dropped off at the port with everyone else. We thank him and in exchange we get huge bear hugs. We ask him his name: Allan.

Georgetown, Grand Cayman … what will forever in my mind be Allan’s Town.

Who Came Knocking at Your Door?

(Note - this might be one of those things that you really had to be there ....)

Halloween

When I realized the cruise was going to be over Halloween, I didn't think anything of it. Not a holiday we really get into. Not a lot of kids even come to our door. Gary complained when I told him, but that's just because he didn't want to bother getting up if the doorbell rang.... I could miss it, no problem.

Thinking Things Might Get Strange:

First Clue: Boarded the ship and discovered we were on the "Gayribbean Cruise" a large group of gay men were aboard and had their own information desk, private functions, etc.

Second Clue: On TV watching the ships channel the second night out, we saw 5 men, all with different colored feather boa's being interviewed. They were funny ... and said just wait for Halloween.

Third Clue: On Halloween, I went up mid-day for one of my many diet coke's and discovered that the atrium and other areas had been transformed into a Halloween Wonderland: cobwebs, carved pumpkins, spooky horse drawn carriage, witches, ghosts, skeletons, heads floating in bowls ... the usual.

Started thinking... maybe Halloween was not going to be ignored on this ship.

Bonne and I went up to an area with a lot of seating and a main walkway after dinner and discovered about 1/3 of the people were in costumes. It was a great place to people watch and take photos since it was a main throughway. Some great costumes - some not so great costumes, but the gay men? Oh. My. Gosh. Fabulous costumes. We had Slave Boys (my personal favorite - I'm talking PRETTY Slave Boys), Lucille Ball, Roman Solders, Fairies, S&M companions, stewardesses, a couple of 'R' rated Hooters waitresses and of course - the Boa Brigade.

I think you had to have been there to fully comprehend the hysterically funny atmosphere. Bonne was laughing full on to tears and I was close to it. I was the cameraman, she was the wrangler. I guess she was actually the gay man wrangler - but that just sounds wrong.... She would stop couples and ask if we could take their photo. I was actually called 'the paparazzi' by the Boa Brigade - "No more paparazzi" they were pleading (they had just finished dancing) - got them to pose anyway. Won't go into detail on all the costumes - totally professional things, but the Boa Brigade: think fishnet stockings, heels, a black thong type lacy bodysuit, tux jacket with tails, feather boa and a very large chorus line feather headdress. All the 'girls' were charming, gracious, polite, and funny as hell.

We had a quest - I told her I needed the 'trifecta' of photos: of course the Slave Boys ... plus the Roman Soldiers (or what ever they were - cute guys in short skirts) and the Boa Brigade. We amended that to include Lucy - she was adorable - even with a five o-clock shadow...

We got the Slave Boys, the Boa Brigade and then ran into the Roman Soldiers. Got them to pose and high fived - laughing hysterically - we had hit the trifecta! Ok, the boat was rocking and we were swerving and we admitted we were drunk although no alcohol had been consumed - it is a mystery even to us.... That's when we decided the evening and my photos would not be complete without Lucy - so off we went. First place we go - Karaoke. Who was singing? Yeah ... Lucy - she had a very good voice. I loved watching her walk - never could quite get her sea legs with those heels on.... She posed for me after her song.

Went back down to the room, loaded the photos on my laptop and scrolled through them - and started laughing again - hysterically. Neighbors were probably taking bets on how many drinks we had with dinner....

Halloween will NEVER be the same.



(I hope I have not offended anyone ... it was not my intention)

I Love Boats

8:00am. I am sitting on a deck chair, level 3. The sun has cleared the horizon and then some. It kisses my face and body and warms my aching muscles. My camera is by my side and a diet coke is within easy reach. The cool breeze offsets any discomfort from the sun. I am alone; hundreds of deck chairs, stacked up and no one around. The boat gently rocks and makes a hypnotic splashing sound as it cuts through the waves. Blue is everywhere: the light blue morning sky, the sapphire blue of the water and everything in between. Everything calms, there is nothing to agitate. I am at complete and total peace.

What's not to love?

Withdrawls

Well, I'm back....

Was very unhappy to find this note on the door to the Internet Cafe on the ship on the first day. Didn't quite contemplate getting back off, but knew it was not going to be smooth sailing for me. I like to stay connected ... and apparently I am addicted to blogging. I missed it, so typed up a few blogs while on the ship to post once the computer got fixed (it didn't) or I came home.


Had a thoroughly enjoyable time, ate way too much, sat way too much while Bonne worked out, had wonderful conversations with Bonne and since most of you read this out of order and have read the Halloween post and already know - had a hysterically funny time on board!

Ha Det Bra!!

( 'ha deh bra' - Goodbye in Norwegian)

Carnival Conquest - my home for the next 8 days

Bye, y'all. I'm headed to the Carribean. Will blog if I can. I sent daily e-mails home of my adventures on my last cruise with Bonne (I was blogging before I was blogging and didn't even know it) and discovered that the internet reception can be tricky. If I get reception, I will post something, if not, well y'all probably don't care!

I'm outta here....

It Fits!!!

Thanks to a very large collapsible suitcase - that I cannot lift - I will be able to clothe myself on the cruise - no worries!!


Bonne will be ever so happy....

Going on a Cruise:

Snorkeling equipment: fins, mask, snorkel, booties .... check
Sunscreen, backpack for day excursions ... check
Laptop with wifi and external drive and other accessories ... check
10.1 megapixel digital SLR camera and charger ... check
7.1 megapixel small camera and charger ... check
7.1 megapixel waterproof camera and charger ... check
Photo card reader and other misc electronics ... check
Camera and laptopt backpack ... check
Ipod and charger ... check
Palm with charger ... check

Clothes, toiletries .... um, I'm outta space

Crap ... It's not gonna all fit .... Guess I will be wearing the same outfit every day