Today is the 30th of April and we leave on the 4th – where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that we started to make plans for our cruise when it reality it was close to 2 ½ years. I know – I start early! You would think that starting that early would give me loads of time to get ready but I seem to be running out of time to get everything done before we leave.
We are so lucky to have a great pet sitter. I will miss the dogs but I know that Mel will take excellent care of them while I am away. Lou will pop by as well so I feel very secure in leaving them. 25 days is a long time.
Lists have been made and the last minute scramble is on to get everything we need before heading out. I am sure that the one thing we need I won’t think of until we are on the boat! Sunscreen is a must – we have two different SPFs and bug spray for the rainforest. There are lots of new books on my Kindle. Swimsuits are ready to go, and heck, I can always buy more undies! I am so looking forward to this adventure – Sonja and I are going to have an Absolutely Fabulous time!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sun, Sand, and Shoes
Hi all – it is so hard to believe that it is nearly time to depart for Florida. 19 more sleeps to be precise. The past few weeks have been busy with school, both for Sonja and I. I have been busy marking and preparing final exams and Sonja has been busy working on her final project and studying for her finals. Sadly, Sonja’s father passed away earlier this week and that has added an addition stress load to her life. I know we will both need some down time, and the Caribbean certainly seems to me to be a good place to do that. Ahh, yes, I can feel that lovely ocean breeze and taste the tang of a frozen margarita now! That bright azure blue ocean and the taste of a frozen margarita. Warm sunlight after a long winter; and did I mention the tang of a frozen margarita? Hopefully, the Peter the Pool Man/boy will continue to supply them as I sit soaking up the sun. I feel pretty secure in saying that Miss Sonja will match me drink for drink although her choice will probably be different than my tangy frozen margaritas. (Yes, that proves I can spell Margarita).
Packing hasn’t started yet, but I have been busy making lists of what I think we will need. I am still trying to decide on binocs. Do we really need them or is that just taking up additional space in a suitcase that could be devoted to, well, hmmm, shoes? Or better still, the big scrabble game. My kindle is just waiting to be loaded, ( I have 25 books on an Amazon list) and I am sure Sonja will have a novel or two she wants to bring. There has to be room for a computer and I guess I am expected to wear clothes of some sort after the cruise. While I understand San Fran is pretty liberal in its tastes, I have a feeling that pubic , no, wait, public nudity is still highly frowned upon. I can’t figure out why Air Canada feels we have to be limited to only two checked bags each. For Sonja, that is travelling light, really, really light! After all, she brings two knapsacks, her computer, her school books, a duffle bag, a small suitcase and more shoes then I own when going to her girlfriend’s for the weekend. (Ok – the shoes may be a tad bit exaggerated, but the rest of it is true, I swear!)
Packing hasn’t started yet, but I have been busy making lists of what I think we will need. I am still trying to decide on binocs. Do we really need them or is that just taking up additional space in a suitcase that could be devoted to, well, hmmm, shoes? Or better still, the big scrabble game. My kindle is just waiting to be loaded, ( I have 25 books on an Amazon list) and I am sure Sonja will have a novel or two she wants to bring. There has to be room for a computer and I guess I am expected to wear clothes of some sort after the cruise. While I understand San Fran is pretty liberal in its tastes, I have a feeling that pubic , no, wait, public nudity is still highly frowned upon. I can’t figure out why Air Canada feels we have to be limited to only two checked bags each. For Sonja, that is travelling light, really, really light! After all, she brings two knapsacks, her computer, her school books, a duffle bag, a small suitcase and more shoes then I own when going to her girlfriend’s for the weekend. (Ok – the shoes may be a tad bit exaggerated, but the rest of it is true, I swear!)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
San Francisco - Here We Come!
San Francisco is planned - at least to the extent that we want it to be. Hopefully, we can arrange an early check-in at the hotel as the boat docks at 7:00 a.m. in San Fran. Who knows what the day will bring but we do have tickets for the 6:30 p.m. Beach Blanket Babylon show. It has come highly recommended from friends so we hope that it is as funny as Alane and Bob say it is. Alcatraz tickets have been purchased so that will take care of part of Sunday. As for the rest of it, who knows?
We also managed to get tickets for one of the best Broadway shows on Thursday night -- Wicked!! We have both seen it before - but, wow!! So worth seeing a second, third, fourth, etc. time. At this point, only 65 days til we leave for Florida, and 68 days to the cruise!
We also managed to get tickets for one of the best Broadway shows on Thursday night -- Wicked!! We have both seen it before - but, wow!! So worth seeing a second, third, fourth, etc. time. At this point, only 65 days til we leave for Florida, and 68 days to the cruise!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Excursions are Booked!
Hi All! One of the advantages of a 15-day cruise is that there are lots of "At Sea"days. This simply means that there are no ports to visit - you simply sit back and enjoy the bright blue ocean, the warm tropical breezes, the competitive Scrabble or Backgammon games, and the Frozen Margaritas.
On those days where you visit a port, there are lots of fun excursions in which to partake. They range from shopping trips to ziplining to white-water rafting. Sonja and I had lots of fun discussing what we were going to do where. This is what we decided on:
Aruba - just wandering around. This is a short stop so I think we will just walk around the port a little.
Cartegna - Swimming in a Mud Volcano. Can you imagine? I couldn't so I found this link on YouTube. Mud Volcano. Now, how do you get all that mud off? A mystery to solve later. I'll update in a future post.
The Panama Canal - One of the nice things about this particular cruise is that we spend a whole day in the canal just exploring the mechanics of how it all works. I found another YouTube video to show you all some of what we are going to see. Panama Canal Tour
Not sure if I will have my eyes open - but, life is an adventure so we will see. I can handle the up-part no problem; down may be a slightly different story!
Costa Rica - Sonja and I are taking different excursions here. Zip lining isn't quite my thing; however, it is something that Sonja quite enjoys. I can't imagine hanging on a wire over a rain forest but apparently it is what the "cool people" do. While I am only slightly envious, I am also looking forward to my "old fogie" tour. I am taking a steam train ride through the same rain forest. Hopefully, lots of forest creatures will be in the trees, and neither one of us will come home with an awful case of bot fly.
Mexico - we have two stops scheduled in Mexico. While I am half hoping that the ship get diverted to Equador or Guatmala, we have two excursions planned. In Huatulco, we are going snorkelling in two different bays. Huatulca actually has seven bays but I guess there isn't time to visit all seven! I must remember to get an underwater camera just for this trip.
What is a trip to Mexico without a stop in Acapulco? Again, another short trip here, but enough time to explore several marketplaces - do you suppose we can find antique Mayan artifacts here?
Then, on to San Francisco! We have things planned for there but I'll fill you in on those later.
On those days where you visit a port, there are lots of fun excursions in which to partake. They range from shopping trips to ziplining to white-water rafting. Sonja and I had lots of fun discussing what we were going to do where. This is what we decided on:
Aruba - just wandering around. This is a short stop so I think we will just walk around the port a little.
Cartegna - Swimming in a Mud Volcano. Can you imagine? I couldn't so I found this link on YouTube. Mud Volcano. Now, how do you get all that mud off? A mystery to solve later. I'll update in a future post.
The Panama Canal - One of the nice things about this particular cruise is that we spend a whole day in the canal just exploring the mechanics of how it all works. I found another YouTube video to show you all some of what we are going to see. Panama Canal Tour
Panama - We found a great excursion here. Sonja and I have a Rain Forest Tram Ride planned. We have both always wanted to see a rain forest so that will be fun. Princess says that we will be driving to Gamboa Rain Forest Resort in Soberania National Park. Here is a picture from Princess of the tram car.
Not sure if I will have my eyes open - but, life is an adventure so we will see. I can handle the up-part no problem; down may be a slightly different story!
Costa Rica - Sonja and I are taking different excursions here. Zip lining isn't quite my thing; however, it is something that Sonja quite enjoys. I can't imagine hanging on a wire over a rain forest but apparently it is what the "cool people" do. While I am only slightly envious, I am also looking forward to my "old fogie" tour. I am taking a steam train ride through the same rain forest. Hopefully, lots of forest creatures will be in the trees, and neither one of us will come home with an awful case of bot fly.
Mexico - we have two stops scheduled in Mexico. While I am half hoping that the ship get diverted to Equador or Guatmala, we have two excursions planned. In Huatulco, we are going snorkelling in two different bays. Huatulca actually has seven bays but I guess there isn't time to visit all seven! I must remember to get an underwater camera just for this trip.
What is a trip to Mexico without a stop in Acapulco? Again, another short trip here, but enough time to explore several marketplaces - do you suppose we can find antique Mayan artifacts here?
Then, on to San Francisco! We have things planned for there but I'll fill you in on those later.
The Title - An Explanation
Hi All!
I have been asked several time to explain the title of the blog - simple really. First of all, let's discuss what it is not. It has been suggested that we post before and after pictures of our abs. Uhmm - no, so not going to happen! It is not a trip for Sonja to define her existing and recognizable abs and me to discover where mine are. (However, for a few bucks, I may be able to sneak you a few pictures of Sonja's abs.) The only exercise I am planning on doing involves upper arm exercises. Yes, the one where you lift a drink to your mouth. That is it. There may be a few walks around the ship involved, or walking around on excursions but to me, that doesn't exactly constitute exercise.
Anybody familiar with Absolutely Fabulous? It is a very funny TV show about two female characters to find themselves in interesting situations. So the blog title is a salute to them.
I have been asked several time to explain the title of the blog - simple really. First of all, let's discuss what it is not. It has been suggested that we post before and after pictures of our abs. Uhmm - no, so not going to happen! It is not a trip for Sonja to define her existing and recognizable abs and me to discover where mine are. (However, for a few bucks, I may be able to sneak you a few pictures of Sonja's abs.) The only exercise I am planning on doing involves upper arm exercises. Yes, the one where you lift a drink to your mouth. That is it. There may be a few walks around the ship involved, or walking around on excursions but to me, that doesn't exactly constitute exercise.
Anybody familiar with Absolutely Fabulous? It is a very funny TV show about two female characters to find themselves in interesting situations. So the blog title is a salute to them.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Our First Official Post
Hi All - It's hard to believe! In 96 days, Sonja and I are off to mystical, magical places - to explore new worlds and new civilizations .. oh, wait -- I think most people call it Florida. Getting a little carried away here. In 94 days, we leave on what I hope will be a trip of a life time - the Panama Canal. We start in Fort Lauderdale and end up in San Francisco with small side trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Drop by as we prepare for 24 fun-filled days!
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