Day 27: The Straits of Magellan
We sailed through the Straits of Magellan for the whole morning and part of the afternoon. The day was misty and the wind cold, which meant that sightseeing was confined to quick runs out onto the balcony to take a short video and snap a few photos every so often. I spent the morning chatting with friends in the Concierge Lounge, and the early afternoon seated in front of the Wig and Gavel with coffee and cookies, catching up on this blog and writing emails. I had been able to send text messages from my Blackberry as we rounded the Horn two days before, and have had no problem keeping in touch with friends and family back home.
It was very evident when we left the Straits and headed out into the open waters of the Pacific, since the motion of the ship went very quickly from being barely noticable to being barely able to walk upright. I took some medication and made sure that I ate a decent supper, and was able to remain upright for the evening. I sat through the first of Mark B's sets in the pub before deciding to call it quits for the night. The Divas have plans to get up early and watch the scenery of the Chilean Fjords.
Tomorrow : Chilean Fjords
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 26: Ushuaia, Argentina: Fin de Munde (end of the World)
Late in the evening on Wednesday, we found ourselves stopped at the tiny town of Puerto Williams,Chile, whose claim is the southermost town in the world. Standing on our balcony, we were so close to town that we could not only clearly see lights from the houses and cars but also hear dogs barking and gulls crying. This stop was necessary to pick up the Harbour Pilot who would guide us down the Beagle Channel and into Ushuaia.
The next morning met us with partly cloudy skies, calm seas and little wind. We were up early to be ready for our excursion back into the Beagle Channel and on to the penguin rookery. A large catamaran picked us up directly from the ship and we headed out into the Channel.
Our first stop was to visit a colony of sea lions and cormorants on a small rock island. Next was an island nesting place of the 'blue-eyed cormorant', a seabird which closely resembles penguins in coloring. On to a colony of rock cormorants, and then a 90 minute ride to the Grand Finale...the penguin rookery.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that we not only sailed close to the rookery, but actually put into shore so that the birds were directly off the bow of the catamaran. We spent probably 1/2 an hour filming and taking photos of the hundreds of penguins of 3 different species and laughing at their curiosity of the waves and our boat. A rainshower heralded the end of our adventure on the island and we headed back down the Channel to Ushuaia.
Back at the dock, we were allowed to disembark for some individual shopping in the port area of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Many of the souvenirs are marked with the phrase "Fin de Munde" or "End of the World". The sun came out and the day turned warm as we headed back to the tender boats for a short ride back to the 'Mother Ship'.
Later that evening were treated to a fiest for the eyes and the soul and we sailed past three magnificent glaciers in the Beagle Channel on our way to the Pacific. Captain Johnny had promised us an "Ice Show" and he did not disappoint. We stayed on the balcony until 10:30 enjoying the incredible landscape and then retired after a most exciting day in the city at the End of the World.
Tomorrow : Cruising the Straits of Magellan.
Late in the evening on Wednesday, we found ourselves stopped at the tiny town of Puerto Williams,Chile, whose claim is the southermost town in the world. Standing on our balcony, we were so close to town that we could not only clearly see lights from the houses and cars but also hear dogs barking and gulls crying. This stop was necessary to pick up the Harbour Pilot who would guide us down the Beagle Channel and into Ushuaia.
The next morning met us with partly cloudy skies, calm seas and little wind. We were up early to be ready for our excursion back into the Beagle Channel and on to the penguin rookery. A large catamaran picked us up directly from the ship and we headed out into the Channel.
Our first stop was to visit a colony of sea lions and cormorants on a small rock island. Next was an island nesting place of the 'blue-eyed cormorant', a seabird which closely resembles penguins in coloring. On to a colony of rock cormorants, and then a 90 minute ride to the Grand Finale...the penguin rookery.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that we not only sailed close to the rookery, but actually put into shore so that the birds were directly off the bow of the catamaran. We spent probably 1/2 an hour filming and taking photos of the hundreds of penguins of 3 different species and laughing at their curiosity of the waves and our boat. A rainshower heralded the end of our adventure on the island and we headed back down the Channel to Ushuaia.
Back at the dock, we were allowed to disembark for some individual shopping in the port area of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Many of the souvenirs are marked with the phrase "Fin de Munde" or "End of the World". The sun came out and the day turned warm as we headed back to the tender boats for a short ride back to the 'Mother Ship'.
Later that evening were treated to a fiest for the eyes and the soul and we sailed past three magnificent glaciers in the Beagle Channel on our way to the Pacific. Captain Johnny had promised us an "Ice Show" and he did not disappoint. We stayed on the balcony until 10:30 enjoying the incredible landscape and then retired after a most exciting day in the city at the End of the World.
Tomorrow : Cruising the Straits of Magellan.
Around the Horn
Day 25: Cape Horn
We had been informed by our omnipotent Captain Johnny that we would be passing near Cape Horn by 2 pm or so on Wednesday, January 28th. After a relaxing morning, lunch in the dining room and our Cruise Director's Trivia Challenge, we headed back to the Royal Family Suite in anticipation of some great scenery.
We were not disappointed. In bright sunshine and an endless sky, we sailed past magnificent mountains and lush green valleys, a bit of a surprise to those of us who did not know what to expect in this part of the world. We finally came to the lighthouse slightly north of the Cape, where we anchored for about 90 minutes. Captain Johnny and Abe Hughes the Cruise Director, along with a videographer and some able-bodied seamen, launched a Zodiac rescue boat to take them onto the shore. They then paid a visit to the home of the lighthouse keeper and his family, including 2 children, for whom the Captain had brought gifts. From all accounts they had a wonderful visit with this isolated family, while the ship made a number of 360 degree swings to allow all passengers to get full views of this beautiful landscape. We opened a bottle of champagne which we shared with our next-door neighbours and friends, and toasted this amazing adventure.
After retrieving our Skipper and setting sail once again, we continued on our way around Cape Horn. While the sky remained clear, the wind and waves picked up, sending champagen glasses flying off the balcony table and had us scurrying to pick up personal items which became airborn.
With the majestic cliffs of Cape Horn in the distance now, we headed back inland towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world.
We had been informed by our omnipotent Captain Johnny that we would be passing near Cape Horn by 2 pm or so on Wednesday, January 28th. After a relaxing morning, lunch in the dining room and our Cruise Director's Trivia Challenge, we headed back to the Royal Family Suite in anticipation of some great scenery.
We were not disappointed. In bright sunshine and an endless sky, we sailed past magnificent mountains and lush green valleys, a bit of a surprise to those of us who did not know what to expect in this part of the world. We finally came to the lighthouse slightly north of the Cape, where we anchored for about 90 minutes. Captain Johnny and Abe Hughes the Cruise Director, along with a videographer and some able-bodied seamen, launched a Zodiac rescue boat to take them onto the shore. They then paid a visit to the home of the lighthouse keeper and his family, including 2 children, for whom the Captain had brought gifts. From all accounts they had a wonderful visit with this isolated family, while the ship made a number of 360 degree swings to allow all passengers to get full views of this beautiful landscape. We opened a bottle of champagne which we shared with our next-door neighbours and friends, and toasted this amazing adventure.
After retrieving our Skipper and setting sail once again, we continued on our way around Cape Horn. While the sky remained clear, the wind and waves picked up, sending champagen glasses flying off the balcony table and had us scurrying to pick up personal items which became airborn.
With the majestic cliffs of Cape Horn in the distance now, we headed back inland towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 22, 23, 24 : At Sea
We left Buenos Aires and headed south for our historic rounding of the Horn. We had three days of ocean cruising as the temperatures gradually cooled and we got closer to our next port of call, Ushuaia, Argentina...the southernmost city in the world.
There were the typical sea day activities of team trivia games, movies, socializing with friends and attending presentations by guest lecturers. There were also a few opportunities to catch some southern sun before we reach cooler waters, and to walk on the outer decks at night to stargaze and see the Southern Cross.
Our Hornblower group held its own organized activities, including a slot pull (no luck) and a pub crawl/poker run (no luck for me but a great return in fun for a $5 investment). The evening activities as usual began with a visit to one of the lounges for social drink, a chance to reconnect with friends and an opportunity to get to know each other better. Many lifelong friendships have been established on this long voyage, and I am certain that many of us will continue to sail together whenever the opportunity presents itself.
On a personal note, a team consisting of me, Carol and 3 other friends won the Name That Elvis Tune Trivia challenge last night. More Royal Caribbean luggage tags to add to the collection. We add that to our Beatles Trivia victory from earlier in the trip.
Tomorrow we reach the next milestone in this historic trip....we will sail around Cape Horn.
We left Buenos Aires and headed south for our historic rounding of the Horn. We had three days of ocean cruising as the temperatures gradually cooled and we got closer to our next port of call, Ushuaia, Argentina...the southernmost city in the world.
There were the typical sea day activities of team trivia games, movies, socializing with friends and attending presentations by guest lecturers. There were also a few opportunities to catch some southern sun before we reach cooler waters, and to walk on the outer decks at night to stargaze and see the Southern Cross.
Our Hornblower group held its own organized activities, including a slot pull (no luck) and a pub crawl/poker run (no luck for me but a great return in fun for a $5 investment). The evening activities as usual began with a visit to one of the lounges for social drink, a chance to reconnect with friends and an opportunity to get to know each other better. Many lifelong friendships have been established on this long voyage, and I am certain that many of us will continue to sail together whenever the opportunity presents itself.
On a personal note, a team consisting of me, Carol and 3 other friends won the Name That Elvis Tune Trivia challenge last night. More Royal Caribbean luggage tags to add to the collection. We add that to our Beatles Trivia victory from earlier in the trip.
Tomorrow we reach the next milestone in this historic trip....we will sail around Cape Horn.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 21: Buenos Aires, Argentina
We met Jane, Doug and the rest of our Hornblowers group (we numbered around 20) in Bolero's Bar at 8:30 on Saturday morning for our trip to the Estancia Umbo, where we would experience the authentic Gaucho life. We were again met outside the ship by Susannah and set off in a spacious motor coach for the old town of San Antonio de Arca, then on to the Estancia.
Since we had requested a chance to shop for Argentinian leather goods, Susannah led us to a rest stop at a gas station/ shopping plaza. One of my lasting memories of Argentina will be the heady aroma of leather inside the shops. The products are of the finest quality and reasonably priced. I had my eye on a patterned cowhide purse that I had seen at a portside shop, and decided to wait until the end of the day to make my major purchase. I did buy a couple of smaller items here.
Our next stop was the old historic town of San Antonio, with its heritage buildings and beautiful Town Square. As was customary in the original cities of South America, the main Cathedral, banks, museums, and government buildings are all situated around the Square. Many of our group headed for the local market to purchase wine.
After a long bus ride we finally arrived at the Estancia. We were greeted by our gracious hosts and treated to a meat-filled turnover and a drink, then directed to a restroom to change into long pants for horseback riding. The gauchos picked out horses for each one of us and helped us up into the saddles (which were not western but tradional old Spanish, with no saddle horn and sitting on a sheepskin throw.)
The horses appeared to be very well-kept, healthy and gentle. We rode in a long line out into the fields and followed a trail around the Estancia and back to the main building. My horse did not like to be passed and would hurry to catch up to the leader, so we spent a good deal of our time trotting. I am glad now that I rode in Cabo San Lucas in November, so I felt fairly comfortable on my impatient friend. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the ride (even Carol who was mounted on a very fiesty horse which we immediately dubbed 'El Diablo' and who had to be accompanied by a gaucho at all times.....not that she minded!) Those who chose not to ride were treated to a bumpy carriage ride with much laughter.
Back at the paddock I was helped off my horse by a very handsome gaucho (who I perhaps clung to just a little longer than was necessary).We were then entertained by the gauchos who demonstrated their skills with the horses and showed us a couple of tradional gaucho 'games' played from horseback. After a quick wash to rid ourselves of a layer of dust, we settled at a long table under a tree to enjoy a lunch of salads, grilled sausage, beef and a frozen dessert, washed down by copious Malbec wine and ice water. We were entertained by an excellent duo of guitarist and vocalist, then said a reluctant farewell to the Estancia and set off on the long bus ride back to the ship.
We arrived just in time to rush into the portside shop for my leather purchases and got back on the ship 10 minutes after the all-aboard call, a little close for comfort. Fortunately we have 5 days at sea now, to recharge our batteries for Ushuaia.
Tomorrow: At Sea
We met Jane, Doug and the rest of our Hornblowers group (we numbered around 20) in Bolero's Bar at 8:30 on Saturday morning for our trip to the Estancia Umbo, where we would experience the authentic Gaucho life. We were again met outside the ship by Susannah and set off in a spacious motor coach for the old town of San Antonio de Arca, then on to the Estancia.
Since we had requested a chance to shop for Argentinian leather goods, Susannah led us to a rest stop at a gas station/ shopping plaza. One of my lasting memories of Argentina will be the heady aroma of leather inside the shops. The products are of the finest quality and reasonably priced. I had my eye on a patterned cowhide purse that I had seen at a portside shop, and decided to wait until the end of the day to make my major purchase. I did buy a couple of smaller items here.
Our next stop was the old historic town of San Antonio, with its heritage buildings and beautiful Town Square. As was customary in the original cities of South America, the main Cathedral, banks, museums, and government buildings are all situated around the Square. Many of our group headed for the local market to purchase wine.
After a long bus ride we finally arrived at the Estancia. We were greeted by our gracious hosts and treated to a meat-filled turnover and a drink, then directed to a restroom to change into long pants for horseback riding. The gauchos picked out horses for each one of us and helped us up into the saddles (which were not western but tradional old Spanish, with no saddle horn and sitting on a sheepskin throw.)
The horses appeared to be very well-kept, healthy and gentle. We rode in a long line out into the fields and followed a trail around the Estancia and back to the main building. My horse did not like to be passed and would hurry to catch up to the leader, so we spent a good deal of our time trotting. I am glad now that I rode in Cabo San Lucas in November, so I felt fairly comfortable on my impatient friend. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the ride (even Carol who was mounted on a very fiesty horse which we immediately dubbed 'El Diablo' and who had to be accompanied by a gaucho at all times.....not that she minded!) Those who chose not to ride were treated to a bumpy carriage ride with much laughter.
Back at the paddock I was helped off my horse by a very handsome gaucho (who I perhaps clung to just a little longer than was necessary).We were then entertained by the gauchos who demonstrated their skills with the horses and showed us a couple of tradional gaucho 'games' played from horseback. After a quick wash to rid ourselves of a layer of dust, we settled at a long table under a tree to enjoy a lunch of salads, grilled sausage, beef and a frozen dessert, washed down by copious Malbec wine and ice water. We were entertained by an excellent duo of guitarist and vocalist, then said a reluctant farewell to the Estancia and set off on the long bus ride back to the ship.
We arrived just in time to rush into the portside shop for my leather purchases and got back on the ship 10 minutes after the all-aboard call, a little close for comfort. Fortunately we have 5 days at sea now, to recharge our batteries for Ushuaia.
Tomorrow: At Sea
Around the Horn
Day 20 : Buenos Aires, Argentina
Another beautiful South American summer day as we sailed into the capital city of Buenos Aires. The skies have been bright and blue since we left the storm front behind off Brazil. W were an hour or so late arriving at the dock due to the presence of a freighter in the channel, which necessitated a delay in Captain Johnny navigating into port. The water in the Rio de Plata is very shallow and filled with silt, which gives it a distinctive brown color compared to the other South American ports.
My plan for the day was to take a ships' sightseeing tour around the city. Although the air-conditioned motor coach was comfortable, the tiny Argentinian lady accompanying us was lacking in second-language skills, and her English was barely passable. Our first stop was the beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral, the final resting place of San Martin. We were able to walk around and take photographs but received little in the way of information from our diminutive guide.
Upon exiting the Cathedral into the bright sunshine, I was met by my fellow Hornblowers who were on a separate private tour which was to last most of the day. One lady's husband had been ill that morning and was forced to cancel, so I was invited to take his place on the private tour, which I did after saying good-bye to the tour guide and assuring her that I was no longer her responsibility. I joined the smaller private van and settled back to enjoy an excellent narrated tour. Many thanks to Pat for allowing me to take Roy's place.
This guide, Susannah, was a 180 degree switch from the earlier lady. Susannah was funny and informative and arranged the tour to suit the wishes of the clients. She gave us an extensive profile of the city, its history and its culture, and then delivered us to Tortoni's, a historic Tango hall refitted to be a quaint pub-like lunch spot, for a light meal of cold meats, cheese, bread and a drink.
After more touring and a shopping stop, we were delivered back to the ship in late afternoon to get ourselves refreshed and ready for the highlight of our city visit, the Tango show and dinner .
This was another private tour arranged by Hornblower Jane and her husband Doug. We departed by bus after 8:30 and were delivered to one of the premiere Tango shows in Buenos Aires.
The hall was magnificent and the meal likewise. An appetizer of meat turnovers in puff pastry was followed by a choice of entrees. I chose the baby beef, which arrived as a huge steak, cooked to perfection and fork-tender. (The beef in Argentina is incomparable, and I took the opportunity to sample it wherever I could). An excellent dessert and endless Cabernet Sauvignon, topped off by strong, dark Argentian coffee rounded out the meal and set the stage for the amazing Tango show.
The singing, dancing and costumes were all fabulous, and we left exhausted and thrilled with our first day in beautiful Buenos Aires.
Tomorrow : Buenos Aires Day 2
Another beautiful South American summer day as we sailed into the capital city of Buenos Aires. The skies have been bright and blue since we left the storm front behind off Brazil. W were an hour or so late arriving at the dock due to the presence of a freighter in the channel, which necessitated a delay in Captain Johnny navigating into port. The water in the Rio de Plata is very shallow and filled with silt, which gives it a distinctive brown color compared to the other South American ports.
My plan for the day was to take a ships' sightseeing tour around the city. Although the air-conditioned motor coach was comfortable, the tiny Argentinian lady accompanying us was lacking in second-language skills, and her English was barely passable. Our first stop was the beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral, the final resting place of San Martin. We were able to walk around and take photographs but received little in the way of information from our diminutive guide.
Upon exiting the Cathedral into the bright sunshine, I was met by my fellow Hornblowers who were on a separate private tour which was to last most of the day. One lady's husband had been ill that morning and was forced to cancel, so I was invited to take his place on the private tour, which I did after saying good-bye to the tour guide and assuring her that I was no longer her responsibility. I joined the smaller private van and settled back to enjoy an excellent narrated tour. Many thanks to Pat for allowing me to take Roy's place.
This guide, Susannah, was a 180 degree switch from the earlier lady. Susannah was funny and informative and arranged the tour to suit the wishes of the clients. She gave us an extensive profile of the city, its history and its culture, and then delivered us to Tortoni's, a historic Tango hall refitted to be a quaint pub-like lunch spot, for a light meal of cold meats, cheese, bread and a drink.
After more touring and a shopping stop, we were delivered back to the ship in late afternoon to get ourselves refreshed and ready for the highlight of our city visit, the Tango show and dinner .
This was another private tour arranged by Hornblower Jane and her husband Doug. We departed by bus after 8:30 and were delivered to one of the premiere Tango shows in Buenos Aires.
The hall was magnificent and the meal likewise. An appetizer of meat turnovers in puff pastry was followed by a choice of entrees. I chose the baby beef, which arrived as a huge steak, cooked to perfection and fork-tender. (The beef in Argentina is incomparable, and I took the opportunity to sample it wherever I could). An excellent dessert and endless Cabernet Sauvignon, topped off by strong, dark Argentian coffee rounded out the meal and set the stage for the amazing Tango show.
The singing, dancing and costumes were all fabulous, and we left exhausted and thrilled with our first day in beautiful Buenos Aires.
Tomorrow : Buenos Aires Day 2
Friday, January 23, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 19 : Montevideo, Uraguay
We arrived in Montevideo, Uraguay at 9:00 a.m. Carol and I were booked on a full day tour that encompassed the entire city and then a wine tasting/lunch at a local vineyard.
Montevideo is absolutely beautiful. While Rio was exciting and vibrant, Montevideo is green and picturesque with many trees and green spaces, dozens of monuments and photo opportunities. We were given a tour of the city with opportunities to take many photographs, then taken to the Juanico vineyard for a tour of the winery operation, wine tasting and lunch.
I came away with a new appreciation for Uraguayan wine and fond memories of this lovely city.
Oh, and Carol and I provided the entertanment on the bus ride back to the port, singing every song the Uraguayan guide knew and a few requests. A good time was had by all.
Tomorrow : Buenos Aires, Argentina
We arrived in Montevideo, Uraguay at 9:00 a.m. Carol and I were booked on a full day tour that encompassed the entire city and then a wine tasting/lunch at a local vineyard.
Montevideo is absolutely beautiful. While Rio was exciting and vibrant, Montevideo is green and picturesque with many trees and green spaces, dozens of monuments and photo opportunities. We were given a tour of the city with opportunities to take many photographs, then taken to the Juanico vineyard for a tour of the winery operation, wine tasting and lunch.
I came away with a new appreciation for Uraguayan wine and fond memories of this lovely city.
Oh, and Carol and I provided the entertanment on the bus ride back to the port, singing every song the Uraguayan guide knew and a few requests. A good time was had by all.
Tomorrow : Buenos Aires, Argentina
Around the Horn
Day 18: At Sea
A much better day than Day 17....after a solid night's sleep I was ready to face the world again. The Hornblowers's slotpull was held this morning..great fun but no jackpots. The Divas and Wannabes again set out to defend our Team Trivia Championship amongst formidable opponents.
The weather which had been so bad the day before took a turn for the better and provided some time for sunbathing on the spacious deck. We are finally sailing in a direction which allows for full sun on our aft balcony.
The evening Team Trivia in the Schooner Bar happened to be a Name That Tune with the topic being.....the Fab Four. Carol and I along with some friends kicked ass and ended up with perfect scores to take first place and win RCCL luggage tags. Too easy.
Tomorrow : Montevideo, Uruguay
A much better day than Day 17....after a solid night's sleep I was ready to face the world again. The Hornblowers's slotpull was held this morning..great fun but no jackpots. The Divas and Wannabes again set out to defend our Team Trivia Championship amongst formidable opponents.
The weather which had been so bad the day before took a turn for the better and provided some time for sunbathing on the spacious deck. We are finally sailing in a direction which allows for full sun on our aft balcony.
The evening Team Trivia in the Schooner Bar happened to be a Name That Tune with the topic being.....the Fab Four. Carol and I along with some friends kicked ass and ended up with perfect scores to take first place and win RCCL luggage tags. Too easy.
Tomorrow : Montevideo, Uruguay
Around the Horn
Day 17 : At Sea
This was the second day of the second leg of our 46-day "Around the Horn " cruise. Having said good-bye to some good friends from the first leg, we started out to establish new relationshps with the people who signed on in Rio. I have to confess that having over-indulged in Rio (drowning my sorrows for having to leave this magnificent city) I had a very bad day at sea. A combination of very rough seas (a cold front that had not been forecast provided us with a cold rainy day, high winds and choppy seas) made for a very bad day for me. I attended the Meet and Mingle (wearing my hand-painted Royal Divas t-shirt and pink foam tee-a-rah-rah) and Team trivia, and struggled to make it to diiner. I was in bed by 9 and slept for 12 hours.
Tomorrow : At Sea
This was the second day of the second leg of our 46-day "Around the Horn " cruise. Having said good-bye to some good friends from the first leg, we started out to establish new relationshps with the people who signed on in Rio. I have to confess that having over-indulged in Rio (drowning my sorrows for having to leave this magnificent city) I had a very bad day at sea. A combination of very rough seas (a cold front that had not been forecast provided us with a cold rainy day, high winds and choppy seas) made for a very bad day for me. I attended the Meet and Mingle (wearing my hand-painted Royal Divas t-shirt and pink foam tee-a-rah-rah) and Team trivia, and struggled to make it to diiner. I was in bed by 9 and slept for 12 hours.
Tomorrow : At Sea
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 16 : Rio De Janeiro
What can I say about Rio.....A vibrant, pulsating city, alive with music, laughter and beautiful people. Its beaches are lined with the most attractive citizens I have ever seen...I fell in love with Rio and its inhabitants.
While many of our shipmates prepared to disembark, we set out on a full-day tour of Rio and its attractions. We were given a tour of the city and its many beautiful beaches and parks, and then taken to the cable cars which would take us to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to see the breathtaking view. A slight haze enveloped the city but did not detract from the magnificent panoramas on the mountaintop.We were given ample time to take photos and appreciate the view, and then it was on to the Corcodova train which would take us ultimately to the base of the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was for me the most important part of our visit to Rio.
After disembarking from the train, we were instructed to take the first of 2 escalators which would help us on our ascent to the Redeemer. After stopping for panoramic photos along the way, we arrived at the base of the Statue.
This for me was the highlight of the entire cruise. To stand at the foot of this magnificent statue was both moving and awe-inspiring. A sudden rainshower limited our time at the summit, and provided some dramatic background with massive rounds of thunder. The rain let up in time for Susan and I to descend the marble steps of the monument and join our friends on the train back to the base of the mountain.
After a day in the fabulous city if Rio, we headed back to the ship. I can honestly say that of all of the ports I have visited on cruise ships. this is the first port that I have not wanted to leave. I felt a true sense of loss as I sailed away from this city. I will go back someday.
Tomorrow : At Sea
What can I say about Rio.....A vibrant, pulsating city, alive with music, laughter and beautiful people. Its beaches are lined with the most attractive citizens I have ever seen...I fell in love with Rio and its inhabitants.
While many of our shipmates prepared to disembark, we set out on a full-day tour of Rio and its attractions. We were given a tour of the city and its many beautiful beaches and parks, and then taken to the cable cars which would take us to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to see the breathtaking view. A slight haze enveloped the city but did not detract from the magnificent panoramas on the mountaintop.We were given ample time to take photos and appreciate the view, and then it was on to the Corcodova train which would take us ultimately to the base of the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was for me the most important part of our visit to Rio.
After disembarking from the train, we were instructed to take the first of 2 escalators which would help us on our ascent to the Redeemer. After stopping for panoramic photos along the way, we arrived at the base of the Statue.
This for me was the highlight of the entire cruise. To stand at the foot of this magnificent statue was both moving and awe-inspiring. A sudden rainshower limited our time at the summit, and provided some dramatic background with massive rounds of thunder. The rain let up in time for Susan and I to descend the marble steps of the monument and join our friends on the train back to the base of the mountain.
After a day in the fabulous city if Rio, we headed back to the ship. I can honestly say that of all of the ports I have visited on cruise ships. this is the first port that I have not wanted to leave. I felt a true sense of loss as I sailed away from this city. I will go back someday.
Tomorrow : At Sea
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 15: Rio De Janeiro
Captain Johnny spoke to us on Sunday morning about our sailing into Rio De Janeiro. He told us that everyone should make sure they were on deck by 1 to watch as the Mariner sailed into the beautiful harbour, and that he would be taking the ship close by Copacobana Beach. He promised to give a 360 degree view of the area by turning the ship around so we could all enjoy the view.
We were not disappointed. The pool deck was crowded with passengers and crew as thousands of photos were snapped of the beautiful city and beaches. Then under a blazing Brazillion sun we disembarked to look for a private car and tour guide. The H. Stern Jewelry store graciously provided both, and we set off with Amanda for a tour of Rio.
Amanda's tour took us around the various business and residential districts of Rio, to the beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain, and to the breathtaking San Sebastion Cathedral, a marvel of modern architecture with its magnificent stained glass windows . Our tour ended at the Stern museum and shop, where Carol and I were supplied with Capairenhas (Brazilian national drink) and beautiful jewelry to look at. We came away poorer but happy, to say the least.
This was an evening to say good-bye to the friends we had made who were leaving us, and to prepare for a second day in the beautiful city of Rio.
Captain Johnny spoke to us on Sunday morning about our sailing into Rio De Janeiro. He told us that everyone should make sure they were on deck by 1 to watch as the Mariner sailed into the beautiful harbour, and that he would be taking the ship close by Copacobana Beach. He promised to give a 360 degree view of the area by turning the ship around so we could all enjoy the view.
We were not disappointed. The pool deck was crowded with passengers and crew as thousands of photos were snapped of the beautiful city and beaches. Then under a blazing Brazillion sun we disembarked to look for a private car and tour guide. The H. Stern Jewelry store graciously provided both, and we set off with Amanda for a tour of Rio.
Amanda's tour took us around the various business and residential districts of Rio, to the beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain, and to the breathtaking San Sebastion Cathedral, a marvel of modern architecture with its magnificent stained glass windows . Our tour ended at the Stern museum and shop, where Carol and I were supplied with Capairenhas (Brazilian national drink) and beautiful jewelry to look at. We came away poorer but happy, to say the least.
This was an evening to say good-bye to the friends we had made who were leaving us, and to prepare for a second day in the beautiful city of Rio.
Around the Horn
Day 14: At Sea
This was the final sea day of the first leg of this historic trip. A good day to spend tying up loose ends and preparing for our stop in Rio.
This was also the final day of the Cruise Director's Trivia Bowl, the ongoing tean trivia challenge in which we had participated during each sea day. I am happy to report that the "Divas and Wannabes" took the Grand Finale by one point to claim the Trivia Championship. We each received a Royal Caribbean messenger bag which contained a keychain, luggage tag and passport holder.We also received a 'gold' medal and, best of all, bragging rights. We will defend our championship on the next leg of the cruise.
Today was also the premiere of the Hornblowers DVD, part 1. We assembled in the Conference Center to see the preview of the labour of love that Patrick had put together, a DVD of all our Hornblowers at their various activities. We can hardly wait to see the DVD for the next leg, as people are getting more enthusiatic about photographing their friends around the ship.
This was also the last formal night for this cruise, and Carol, Susan and I had some casual Lifestyle portraits taken by and with Christopher, the handsome photographer.
Tomorrow : Rio De Janeiro
This was the final sea day of the first leg of this historic trip. A good day to spend tying up loose ends and preparing for our stop in Rio.
This was also the final day of the Cruise Director's Trivia Bowl, the ongoing tean trivia challenge in which we had participated during each sea day. I am happy to report that the "Divas and Wannabes" took the Grand Finale by one point to claim the Trivia Championship. We each received a Royal Caribbean messenger bag which contained a keychain, luggage tag and passport holder.We also received a 'gold' medal and, best of all, bragging rights. We will defend our championship on the next leg of the cruise.
Today was also the premiere of the Hornblowers DVD, part 1. We assembled in the Conference Center to see the preview of the labour of love that Patrick had put together, a DVD of all our Hornblowers at their various activities. We can hardly wait to see the DVD for the next leg, as people are getting more enthusiatic about photographing their friends around the ship.
This was also the last formal night for this cruise, and Carol, Susan and I had some casual Lifestyle portraits taken by and with Christopher, the handsome photographer.
Tomorrow : Rio De Janeiro
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 14: Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
After our long stretch, which oddly enough seemed to fly by, we arrived at our first South American port of call, Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. A city divided into 'upper' and 'lower' districts and connected by steep streets and the famous Elevator, Salvador is a contrast in rich luxurious hotels and old historic buildings. Our handsome tour guide Luis narrated a sightseeing tour around the city with stops for photos at panoramic sites.
We then disembarked our air-conditioned motor coach to take to the cobblestone streets in bright sunshine for a walking tour of the historic district. Luis continued his narrative of the cultural history of Salvador, whose population maintains close ties to its African roots. We visited the Basilica, where we were allowed to photograph without flash, and sat in the sanctuary while Luis described the architectural and historical features of this beautiful building. Then it was on to the
St. Francis of Assisi ,where photography was not allowed while we again sat to listen to a narrative of the history and to marvel at the magnificent golden interior of the church.
After the tour Carol and I were dropped off at the Mercado (market) for some shopping, and for me to sample a cold can of Skol beer before the walk back to the Mariner.
After our long stretch, which oddly enough seemed to fly by, we arrived at our first South American port of call, Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. A city divided into 'upper' and 'lower' districts and connected by steep streets and the famous Elevator, Salvador is a contrast in rich luxurious hotels and old historic buildings. Our handsome tour guide Luis narrated a sightseeing tour around the city with stops for photos at panoramic sites.
We then disembarked our air-conditioned motor coach to take to the cobblestone streets in bright sunshine for a walking tour of the historic district. Luis continued his narrative of the cultural history of Salvador, whose population maintains close ties to its African roots. We visited the Basilica, where we were allowed to photograph without flash, and sat in the sanctuary while Luis described the architectural and historical features of this beautiful building. Then it was on to the
St. Francis of Assisi ,where photography was not allowed while we again sat to listen to a narrative of the history and to marvel at the magnificent golden interior of the church.
After the tour Carol and I were dropped off at the Mercado (market) for some shopping, and for me to sample a cold can of Skol beer before the walk back to the Mariner.
Around the Horn
Day 13: At Sea
For the fifth day in a row we are sailing the relatively peaceful waters of the Atlantic. Captain Johnny keeps us informed and entertained with his noon updates and Chinese proverbs. He is by far the most personable Captain I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with. He seems to be everywhere in the evenings, appearing very often on the Promenade with his lovely wife. He is very approachable and always willing to pose for photos and answer questions.
A word about Abe Hughes as well : he is a sweetheart of a cruise director, still young, keen and enthusiastic. He is harassed daily during the Team Trivia Bowl and takes it all in stride . Having seen some Cruise Directors who seemd to have become bigger than the position and have lost touch with their passengers , Abe is a refreshing commodity on this long voyage.
I am writing this in the Promenade Cafe, one of my favourite features of this Voyager class ship. It is a great place to people-watch, and to connect with fellow Hornblowers on a regular basis. At some time or other, everyone takes a stroll through the Promenade, and we are such a friendly group that there will be many stops to chat.
My plans for this sea day included a Hornblower slot pull (arranged by the Casino manager for our large group) , the daily Team Trivia Challenge at 1, and catching up on emails. Since the Divas tend to keep late nights and therefore late mornings as well, the daylight hours go by far too quickly. A few rainshowers this afternoon meant no sunbathing today and added to the humidity outside.
The evening went as most evenings do, starting with an enjoyable dinner in the Rhapsody in Blue dining room with our new friends. The evening meal is , for me at least, more about the company than the food. We usually meet several friends for drinks at the Lotus Lounge pre-dinner , and then for 'one for the road' after the meal. We have seen a few shows in the Savoy Theatre, and head for the Wig and Gavel to finish out the evening with Mark and company.
Tomorrow: Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
For the fifth day in a row we are sailing the relatively peaceful waters of the Atlantic. Captain Johnny keeps us informed and entertained with his noon updates and Chinese proverbs. He is by far the most personable Captain I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with. He seems to be everywhere in the evenings, appearing very often on the Promenade with his lovely wife. He is very approachable and always willing to pose for photos and answer questions.
A word about Abe Hughes as well : he is a sweetheart of a cruise director, still young, keen and enthusiastic. He is harassed daily during the Team Trivia Bowl and takes it all in stride . Having seen some Cruise Directors who seemd to have become bigger than the position and have lost touch with their passengers , Abe is a refreshing commodity on this long voyage.
I am writing this in the Promenade Cafe, one of my favourite features of this Voyager class ship. It is a great place to people-watch, and to connect with fellow Hornblowers on a regular basis. At some time or other, everyone takes a stroll through the Promenade, and we are such a friendly group that there will be many stops to chat.
My plans for this sea day included a Hornblower slot pull (arranged by the Casino manager for our large group) , the daily Team Trivia Challenge at 1, and catching up on emails. Since the Divas tend to keep late nights and therefore late mornings as well, the daylight hours go by far too quickly. A few rainshowers this afternoon meant no sunbathing today and added to the humidity outside.
The evening went as most evenings do, starting with an enjoyable dinner in the Rhapsody in Blue dining room with our new friends. The evening meal is , for me at least, more about the company than the food. We usually meet several friends for drinks at the Lotus Lounge pre-dinner , and then for 'one for the road' after the meal. We have seen a few shows in the Savoy Theatre, and head for the Wig and Gavel to finish out the evening with Mark and company.
Tomorrow: Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 11: At Sea
The fourth day at sea in a row. There is some grumbling by those few disgruntled passengers who cannot amuse themself on a Voyager class cruiseship with 1800 fellow cruisers. The Divas, of course, do not belong in this category :) We love having the luxury of choice.....sunbathe, join in group activities, watch a movie at the Film Festival, read a book in the peaceful Solarium, or just strolling the Promenade and chatting with fellow Hornblowers, who seem to be everywhere.
I myself am flying under the radar today, having had far too much wine at the Chops dinner last. I believe I need a today to detoxify and try to rid myself of a cold which has settled into my lungs. A quiet day and early night will help.
The 'Divas and Wannabes' , our team entry in the Cruise Director's Trivia Bowl is hanging tight in the top 5 teams.We meet each sea day at 1 in the Lotus Lounge for the next round of general trivia qustions, many of which are hotly debated by the more vocal members of our team. All in good fun, and who knew that Team Trivia is a competitive sport?
Tonight was Moving Night in the Diva Suite. We have agreed to rotate sleeping arrangements every 10 days so that everyone has their turn on the sofa bed, master bedroom and inner bedroom. I did the first 'shift' on the sofa bed and will move into the master bedroom. If nothing else, this arrangement forces us to tidy up the premises, especially since many of the Hornblowers are clamoring for an 'Open House' . I believe that may take place soon to accomodate those who are leaving us in Rio.
After rearranging our respective clutter, we joined friends for a late-evening singalong in the Wig and Gavel with Mark B and called it an early night.....relatively speaking. Tomorrow : the fifth day at sea.
The fourth day at sea in a row. There is some grumbling by those few disgruntled passengers who cannot amuse themself on a Voyager class cruiseship with 1800 fellow cruisers. The Divas, of course, do not belong in this category :) We love having the luxury of choice.....sunbathe, join in group activities, watch a movie at the Film Festival, read a book in the peaceful Solarium, or just strolling the Promenade and chatting with fellow Hornblowers, who seem to be everywhere.
I myself am flying under the radar today, having had far too much wine at the Chops dinner last. I believe I need a today to detoxify and try to rid myself of a cold which has settled into my lungs. A quiet day and early night will help.
The 'Divas and Wannabes' , our team entry in the Cruise Director's Trivia Bowl is hanging tight in the top 5 teams.We meet each sea day at 1 in the Lotus Lounge for the next round of general trivia qustions, many of which are hotly debated by the more vocal members of our team. All in good fun, and who knew that Team Trivia is a competitive sport?
Tonight was Moving Night in the Diva Suite. We have agreed to rotate sleeping arrangements every 10 days so that everyone has their turn on the sofa bed, master bedroom and inner bedroom. I did the first 'shift' on the sofa bed and will move into the master bedroom. If nothing else, this arrangement forces us to tidy up the premises, especially since many of the Hornblowers are clamoring for an 'Open House' . I believe that may take place soon to accomodate those who are leaving us in Rio.
After rearranging our respective clutter, we joined friends for a late-evening singalong in the Wig and Gavel with Mark B and called it an early night.....relatively speaking. Tomorrow : the fifth day at sea.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 10: At Sea
As promised by our illustrious Captain, the weather changed for the better, with temperatures of 87F and clear blue skies. A constant breeze made it a perfect day for sunbathing by the pool, which I did for a couple of hours in the morning. After lunch at the Windjammer and our daily Team Trivia challenge, the Hornblowers held the highly-anticipated "Slot Pull". A buy-in of $20 gave each player 4 spins on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Although we did not hit the 'big one', each of 76 players got their initial $20 back and that small investment provided over an hour of cheers, laughter and excitement.
The big event of Day 10 was the crossing of the Equator. A poolside ceremony involving King Neptune and his court, pint-sized pirates and 3 of our own Hownblowers packed the upper decks with cheering onlookers. After a moment of concern when King Neptune refused to let the Mariner pass into the Southern Hemisphere ( to the point of the ship actually engaging in a hard turn to port side) the denizons of the deep were satisfied with the offerings and we were allowed to go on. Kudos to the Mariner staff for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
The evening was spent dining at the specialty restaurant, Chops, with the Captain and many of his staff. We received photos with Captain Johnny and a copy of the menu. The food was wonderful and the wine glasses never empty. We sat with the head of the Explorations! program, Roberto and his fiance Kim, who is a diving instructor.
Another late night capped off with a Kaiparena ( specialty drink of Brazil) served with a smile by Wayne from Jamaica at Bolero's.
As promised by our illustrious Captain, the weather changed for the better, with temperatures of 87F and clear blue skies. A constant breeze made it a perfect day for sunbathing by the pool, which I did for a couple of hours in the morning. After lunch at the Windjammer and our daily Team Trivia challenge, the Hornblowers held the highly-anticipated "Slot Pull". A buy-in of $20 gave each player 4 spins on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Although we did not hit the 'big one', each of 76 players got their initial $20 back and that small investment provided over an hour of cheers, laughter and excitement.
The big event of Day 10 was the crossing of the Equator. A poolside ceremony involving King Neptune and his court, pint-sized pirates and 3 of our own Hownblowers packed the upper decks with cheering onlookers. After a moment of concern when King Neptune refused to let the Mariner pass into the Southern Hemisphere ( to the point of the ship actually engaging in a hard turn to port side) the denizons of the deep were satisfied with the offerings and we were allowed to go on. Kudos to the Mariner staff for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
The evening was spent dining at the specialty restaurant, Chops, with the Captain and many of his staff. We received photos with Captain Johnny and a copy of the menu. The food was wonderful and the wine glasses never empty. We sat with the head of the Explorations! program, Roberto and his fiance Kim, who is a diving instructor.
Another late night capped off with a Kaiparena ( specialty drink of Brazil) served with a smile by Wayne from Jamaica at Bolero's.
Around the Horn
Day 9: At Sea
A note for all those following this blog...I am actually writing these entries a full day behind.There is simply no time in the evening hours to sit down and compose. I apologize to any friends who may have expected emails from me and I hope by following this blog that you are able to share my adventure.
Day 9 dawned rainy and windy as we continued on our way to Brazil. The Hornblowers' mini-golf tournament was cancelled after Len, the organizer, placed a ball on one of the greens and it promptly blew away. Pool water was sloshing over the sides of the main pool, although not as badly as it was a couple of days ago when one man was seen body-surfing among the whitecaps!
Even though the weather is not cooperating, the cruisers have found their entertainment inside the ship. Trivia games, movies, lectures with special guests, and meetings among the various interest groups keep everyone busy. Evenings are filled as always with good libations, good food and good friends. While opinions of the ship's food are subjective, I must say that Royal Caribbean chefs have done a great job in introducing new dishes to the menu. We have been assured that there will be indeed 46 separate menus for this monumental trip around Cape Horn.
Captain Johnny has promised us better weather tomorrow for the outdoor ceremony to be held when the Mariner crosses the equator into the Southern Hemisphere.
A note for all those following this blog...I am actually writing these entries a full day behind.There is simply no time in the evening hours to sit down and compose. I apologize to any friends who may have expected emails from me and I hope by following this blog that you are able to share my adventure.
Day 9 dawned rainy and windy as we continued on our way to Brazil. The Hornblowers' mini-golf tournament was cancelled after Len, the organizer, placed a ball on one of the greens and it promptly blew away. Pool water was sloshing over the sides of the main pool, although not as badly as it was a couple of days ago when one man was seen body-surfing among the whitecaps!
Even though the weather is not cooperating, the cruisers have found their entertainment inside the ship. Trivia games, movies, lectures with special guests, and meetings among the various interest groups keep everyone busy. Evenings are filled as always with good libations, good food and good friends. While opinions of the ship's food are subjective, I must say that Royal Caribbean chefs have done a great job in introducing new dishes to the menu. We have been assured that there will be indeed 46 separate menus for this monumental trip around Cape Horn.
Captain Johnny has promised us better weather tomorrow for the outdoor ceremony to be held when the Mariner crosses the equator into the Southern Hemisphere.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 8 : At Sea
A warm sunny day as we leave the Caribbean and start the journey to our next port of call in Brazil. Sea days can be as busy as you want to make them.....you can do everything or nothing at all. Team trivia is a favorite pasttime of many of the Hornblowers, and there are a couple of opportunities each day to play: a pick-up team trivia session in the Schooner Bar late morning, and a "Trivia Bowl" Challenge headed up by cruise director Abe Hughes in the Lotus Lounge at 1 p.m. This is a cumulative challenge with the highest team scores at the end of each leg winning the prize. Team Trivia is a great way to not only learn interesting facts to file away for future reference, but also a way to exercise your brain a little each day.
I have mentioned the the ship is only half full for this cruise.....and if you have cruised this class of ship at all, it is very evident that the passenger load is light. Push a button for an elevator and one magically appears seconds later, very often empty. Slot tournaments have only 10 or 12 entrants instead of 10 or 12 rounds. The Royal Promenade is seldom crowded, and only 2 of the 3 dining rooms are in use for main seating at 6 p.m. There are seldom lines for anything, and bartenders await at your beck and call. However, since the age demographic for this cruise definitely leans toward the senior side, the entertainment venues are often deserted by 10 pm.
This the first of 5 days at sea before we reach the port of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.
A warm sunny day as we leave the Caribbean and start the journey to our next port of call in Brazil. Sea days can be as busy as you want to make them.....you can do everything or nothing at all. Team trivia is a favorite pasttime of many of the Hornblowers, and there are a couple of opportunities each day to play: a pick-up team trivia session in the Schooner Bar late morning, and a "Trivia Bowl" Challenge headed up by cruise director Abe Hughes in the Lotus Lounge at 1 p.m. This is a cumulative challenge with the highest team scores at the end of each leg winning the prize. Team Trivia is a great way to not only learn interesting facts to file away for future reference, but also a way to exercise your brain a little each day.
I have mentioned the the ship is only half full for this cruise.....and if you have cruised this class of ship at all, it is very evident that the passenger load is light. Push a button for an elevator and one magically appears seconds later, very often empty. Slot tournaments have only 10 or 12 entrants instead of 10 or 12 rounds. The Royal Promenade is seldom crowded, and only 2 of the 3 dining rooms are in use for main seating at 6 p.m. There are seldom lines for anything, and bartenders await at your beck and call. However, since the age demographic for this cruise definitely leans toward the senior side, the entertainment venues are often deserted by 10 pm.
This the first of 5 days at sea before we reach the port of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.
Around the Horn
Day 7 : Barbados
A delay in disembarkation at Bridgetown, Barbados saw Carol and me hustling down the pier to look for our guide from Glory Tours, whom we had booked through Shoretrips.com. Andrea from Glory was waiting to lead us to a private taxi and was our island tour guide for the day. After a quiet start to the drive and a few questions to gently prod her, Andrea proceeded to tell us about her beautiful island home.
Our first stop was at the breathtaking Bathsheba, where we got out to admire the beach landscape and take probably the best seaside photos of the trip so far. Then we went on to the magnificent Harrison Caves. After a brief informative video describing the formation of Barbados and the history of the Caves, we were led to our multi-passenger vehicle and a fascinating trip through the underground wonder. The Caves are simply spectacular and I cannot do justice by describing them here. Hopefully some of the many photos I took will be worth posting when I get back.
After a great lunch of fried flying fish at a local restaurant , we went on to the Nature Reserve and our quest for the elusive Green monkeys (well, they were elusive to us.....the only ones we saw ran helter-skelter in front of the taxi on the way into the park!) We walked for an hour or so, talking to deer, large rodent-like creatures, dozens of tortoises, a couple of crocodiles and some huge iguanas. Finally we abandoned the monkey search and ended our day in Barbados by dipping our feet in the warm waters of a local beach and heading back to the pier. We split up there, Carol to find an Internet cafe and me to find a Banks beer (brewed locally) and to make a few phone calls before we set sail to Brazil. Our third Diva, Jeannine, spent a great day on the island on a 'bikes and beach' tour, cycling down to the beaches from the highest elevations.
We said good-bye to the Caribbean and set sail for South America.
A delay in disembarkation at Bridgetown, Barbados saw Carol and me hustling down the pier to look for our guide from Glory Tours, whom we had booked through Shoretrips.com. Andrea from Glory was waiting to lead us to a private taxi and was our island tour guide for the day. After a quiet start to the drive and a few questions to gently prod her, Andrea proceeded to tell us about her beautiful island home.
Our first stop was at the breathtaking Bathsheba, where we got out to admire the beach landscape and take probably the best seaside photos of the trip so far. Then we went on to the magnificent Harrison Caves. After a brief informative video describing the formation of Barbados and the history of the Caves, we were led to our multi-passenger vehicle and a fascinating trip through the underground wonder. The Caves are simply spectacular and I cannot do justice by describing them here. Hopefully some of the many photos I took will be worth posting when I get back.
After a great lunch of fried flying fish at a local restaurant , we went on to the Nature Reserve and our quest for the elusive Green monkeys (well, they were elusive to us.....the only ones we saw ran helter-skelter in front of the taxi on the way into the park!) We walked for an hour or so, talking to deer, large rodent-like creatures, dozens of tortoises, a couple of crocodiles and some huge iguanas. Finally we abandoned the monkey search and ended our day in Barbados by dipping our feet in the warm waters of a local beach and heading back to the pier. We split up there, Carol to find an Internet cafe and me to find a Banks beer (brewed locally) and to make a few phone calls before we set sail to Brazil. Our third Diva, Jeannine, spent a great day on the island on a 'bikes and beach' tour, cycling down to the beaches from the highest elevations.
We said good-bye to the Caribbean and set sail for South America.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Around the Horn
_*Day 6: St. Kitt's
*_As I write this we are sailing away from the beautiful Caribbean
Island of St. Kitt's. Fomerly known mainly for sugar cane, the largest
industry is now tourism. Our tour today (arranged by Carol) was with
Thenford Grey, who came highly recommended on the Cruise Critic boards.
While the main section of our group set off for a custom tour of St.
Kitt's, 6 hearty souls (myself included), led by our tour guide Roger,
left in our small private van for Brimstone Hill and the magnificent
fortress. We were allowed to walk around at our leisure with no other
guests in the fortress/park . Intermittent showers cooled us down and
left us refreshed for the next stop, the Caribbelle Batik Company at the
beautiful Romney Manor. After strolling the grounds and taking many
photos , we had a demonstration of the Batik process and a chance to
purchase lovely handmade items.
We were the handed over into the capable hands of David, our guide for
the rainforest hike, and his faithful companion Brown Girl, a friendly
little dog who accompanied us for the whole trip. David supplied us with
sturdy walking sticks, bottled water, and a few words of encouragement
before we set off to follow him into the rainforest.
For the next 2 hours, David led us on an informative hike through the
magnificent rainforest of St. Kitt's. The trail was not strenuous but
long and winding, with dozens of stops for studying the vegetation,
taking photos, and listening to David's dissertation on the geography,
history and culture of his beautiful island. I can highly recommend this
hike to any who enjoy getting out into the natural areas of the
Caribbean tourist destinations.
Around the Horn
_*Day 5 : St. Maarten - St. Martin*_
The lovely island of St. Maarten - St. Martin is well known for its dual
personality....one side of the island is owned by the Dutch and the
other by the French. Two governments, two police forces, two economies.
Only the landscape is shared. Tourists move freely between the two
areas, perhaps crossing the border several times in one day of sightseeing.
We were booked on a tour with Bernard's Tours....after gathering in
Bolero's for Carol's roll call, we departed the ship and were met by one
huge motor coach driven by Junior with Bernard as our friendly tour
guide. We were a group of about 50 and were taken on an informative
sightseeing tour of the first the Dutch side from Phillipsburg, with
stops for photos at scenic lookouts. Our first rest stop was made at
Rima, a large souvenir store with good prices. Then on with the tour and
a stop for lunch at Marigot. Our little party of 5 decided to eat at Le
Bistro de La Mer which rewarded us with a magnificent meal of 'chowder'
with a whole lobster, Caribbean crab, mussels and Mahi-Mahi. As the meal
progressed and the pile of shells and 'carcasses' on our table grew, we
attracted attention from many patrons passing by our table. Washed down
with a good bottle of wine, this was indeed a great meal and a good
memory of our day in lovely St. Maarten.
Our tour continued with a stop at Orient Beach on the French side. This
area is very well known for not only it's beautiful shoreline but its
carefree patrons......half of Orient Beach is clothing optional.
Although none of our party chose to partake of the opportunity to rid
oneself of tan lines, some of us walked the beach to get our feet wet in
the warm Caribbean waters and to perhaps steal a glance at one of Orient
Beach's resident characters. He is known by the locals as simply "OMG".
You can figure the rest out yourself ;)
Back to the ship with one last stop for my favourite local beverage,
the Guavaberry Colada , from Baker's on the pier.
After a shower and a stop in the Dragon's Lair for a quick beverage, we
were off to the dining room for good food and good company. The evening
show was by Bobby Arvon, who wrote the theme song for the TV show "Happy
Days". A consummate entertainer, he put on a great show of stories,
songs and impressions and left to a standing ovation.
Off to bed after a frustrating session in the Online cafe attempting to
work with the ship's painfully slow Internet connection. Tomorrow: St.
Kitt's
Around the Horn
_Day 4 : At Sea
_See above....another sea day that started with cappucchino in the
Concierge Lounge with new friends and continued with morning and
afternoon team trivia, a visit to the Dragon's Lair for a pre-dinner
"social" and an enjoyable meal with my great tablemates. The weather has
been wonderful, sunny with blue skies and calm seas. The Royal Family
Suite is situated on the very back (aft) of Deck 9 and therefore is
subject to a little more motion than midship cabins. Nothing to keep me
awake at night, just a gentle rocking motion.
The days go by very quickly as I try to spend time with my many
Hornblower buddies in various venues around the ship. We are a friendly
and outgoing group and indeed have had people come up to us and ask
about our t-shirts and 'how can we join?"
Although I resolve each day to spend some time on the spacious balcony,
I find myself ending each day by wondering where the time has gone.
Tomorrow we spend a day on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Maarten.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Around the Horn
Day 3 : At sea
We have set sail from Port Canaveral and headed for St. Maarten. I haven't mentioned it before, but the Mariner almost like a ghost ship. The Casino closes early and the Royal Promenade is deserted after 9 p.m. Jeannine and I had a great day around the ship...playing the "cruise Director's Trivia tournament"......attending a wine tasting....seeing lots of officers around the ship..... in short : who the hell is driving this thing?
The decision to upgrade to a Grand Suite seems to be well worth it after moving the luggage of 3 women in and unpacking everything..We Divas of the Deep have fallen into a pattern of going to bed late, getting up late, eating breakfast and the heading out to do whatever is needed ;)
Jeannine tends to get out first and I am usually close behind. I've been having smoked salmon in the concierge lounge in the morning for breakfast along with cappucchino and usually meet some fellow Hornblowers there. Haven't been on the balcony much yet ..been too busy.
I have been playing team trivia every day and answering any Canadian questions that come up. We are participating in a "Cruise Director's trivia bowl" where daily trivia points are accumulated.and winners are crowned on the third leg.
Went to a pre-dinner party in an Owner's Suite today...quite posh but I am glad we have the Royal Family Suite.......much more room.
Just left the pub...stayed until the end of second set ....Mark B has asked me to download some video that I took of him so he can use it on website
Thanks
Cindy
We have set sail from Port Canaveral and headed for St. Maarten. I haven't mentioned it before, but the Mariner almost like a ghost ship. The Casino closes early and the Royal Promenade is deserted after 9 p.m. Jeannine and I had a great day around the ship...playing the "cruise Director's Trivia tournament"......attending a wine tasting....seeing lots of officers around the ship..... in short : who the hell is driving this thing?
The decision to upgrade to a Grand Suite seems to be well worth it after moving the luggage of 3 women in and unpacking everything..We Divas of the Deep have fallen into a pattern of going to bed late, getting up late, eating breakfast and the heading out to do whatever is needed ;)
Jeannine tends to get out first and I am usually close behind. I've been having smoked salmon in the concierge lounge in the morning for breakfast along with cappucchino and usually meet some fellow Hornblowers there. Haven't been on the balcony much yet ..been too busy.
I have been playing team trivia every day and answering any Canadian questions that come up. We are participating in a "Cruise Director's trivia bowl" where daily trivia points are accumulated.and winners are crowned on the third leg.
Went to a pre-dinner party in an Owner's Suite today...quite posh but I am glad we have the Royal Family Suite.......much more room.
Just left the pub...stayed until the end of second set ....Mark B has asked me to download some video that I took of him so he can use it on website
Thanks
Cindy
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Around the Horn
Around the Horn :Day 2
Day 2 sees us making a stop at Royal Caribbean's private island, CocoCay. This is also known as Little Stirrup Quay, and is a beautiful place to relax and soak up some Caribbean sun.The weather was perfect, the seas calm and the sky a brilliant blue. After a tasty breakfast in the Concierge lounge I went with my roommate Carol (a.k.a. the Queen of trivia) to the first of two Team trivia challenges, which we won. (We were not nearly as sharp in the second round in the afternoon).
Carol and I headed for the island at noon with friends Letty and Len and went for a tasty barbeque lunch. After a walkabout we headed back to the ship for afternoon trivia which we shall not discuss ! This was the first formal night of our extended cruise, and we arrived for dinner in our respective finery. The food on RCCL is as always adequate to good
We attended both of the evening shows featuring Nelson, twin sons Matthew and Gunner whose Dad was the famous teen idol Ricky Nelson. A chance meeting in the Promenade Cafe later on in the evening left us with the opportunity to chat with and get to know the Nelson boys, who are as personable and friendly as they are handsome.
We closed out the evening with a visit to the Wig and Gavel to listen to Mark B and once again provide backup !
Tomorrow : the first of many days at sea.
Day 2 sees us making a stop at Royal Caribbean's private island, CocoCay. This is also known as Little Stirrup Quay, and is a beautiful place to relax and soak up some Caribbean sun.The weather was perfect, the seas calm and the sky a brilliant blue. After a tasty breakfast in the Concierge lounge I went with my roommate Carol (a.k.a. the Queen of trivia) to the first of two Team trivia challenges, which we won. (We were not nearly as sharp in the second round in the afternoon).
Carol and I headed for the island at noon with friends Letty and Len and went for a tasty barbeque lunch. After a walkabout we headed back to the ship for afternoon trivia which we shall not discuss ! This was the first formal night of our extended cruise, and we arrived for dinner in our respective finery. The food on RCCL is as always adequate to good
We attended both of the evening shows featuring Nelson, twin sons Matthew and Gunner whose Dad was the famous teen idol Ricky Nelson. A chance meeting in the Promenade Cafe later on in the evening left us with the opportunity to chat with and get to know the Nelson boys, who are as personable and friendly as they are handsome.
We closed out the evening with a visit to the Wig and Gavel to listen to Mark B and once again provide backup !
Tomorrow : the first of many days at sea.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Adventure Begins!
Around the Horn - Day 1: Embarkation
Prologue: After an eventful journey over 48 hours and through 3 airports, I arrived at the Radisson Hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida....my favourite place to stay when cruising from Port Canaveral. Several cold beverages later I met my first travelling companion from the Hornblowers Cruise Critic group, Susan (Zu) from Washington state. A lovely lady with whom I made plans to share a cab to the port in the morning ( along with a what seemed like a thousand pounds of luggage on a wonky-wheeled cart). We got to the ship early and after a brief scare with my Brazilian Visa (the effective date was written in the Canadian system of day/month/year instead of the American system and was at first deemed unacceptable) I was given my SeaPass card and went 'home' to the beautiful Mariner of the Seas. P.S. At last count , over 70 passengers were left behind in Port Canaveral because so they did NOT have Brazilian Visas.....so to all who think they know better, it IS a big deal ! These people will have to catch up to the ship in Barbados at their own expense.
Day 1
After enjoying a Pina Colada at the Wig and Gavel pub with more new Hornblower friends, I went to check out my accomodations ......the Royal Family Suite . WOW!!!!!! Two bedrooms with queen-sized beds and a queen sofa bed in the living room, two bathrooms, and a huge balcony with 4 loungers as well as a dining area with table and 4 chairs. I was still admiring the balcony when my roommate Jeannine Petry arrived. Hugs, greetings and gifts were exchanged and we set off to roam the ship and grab a bite to eat. (Jeannine has provided us all with fabulous hand painted "Divas of the Deep" t-shirts as well as foam tiaras (pronounced tee-a-rah-rahs ) with "Royal Divas" in sparkle paint. We wear them proudly!).
We met our third Diva, Carol McMichael as well as members of her entourage (Carol knows EVERYBODY) a little later on in the afternoon. Together and sporting our tee-a-rah-rahs, we made a grand entrance to pre-arranged Hornblower meet-n-greet in the Viking Crown Lounge and spent a great hour getting to know our fellow sailors and posing for photos. We continued on to dinner in our foam finery to the usual great Royal Caribbean fare.
The evening was spent unpacking luggage and then heading off to the pub to listen to (and sing with ) Mark Bolden, my very favourite pub entertainer. We wound things down at 1:30 a.m. and settled down to our first night in our new home.
Tomorrow : CocoCay, Bahamas.
Prologue: After an eventful journey over 48 hours and through 3 airports, I arrived at the Radisson Hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida....my favourite place to stay when cruising from Port Canaveral. Several cold beverages later I met my first travelling companion from the Hornblowers Cruise Critic group, Susan (Zu) from Washington state. A lovely lady with whom I made plans to share a cab to the port in the morning ( along with a what seemed like a thousand pounds of luggage on a wonky-wheeled cart). We got to the ship early and after a brief scare with my Brazilian Visa (the effective date was written in the Canadian system of day/month/year instead of the American system and was at first deemed unacceptable) I was given my SeaPass card and went 'home' to the beautiful Mariner of the Seas. P.S. At last count , over 70 passengers were left behind in Port Canaveral because so they did NOT have Brazilian Visas.....so to all who think they know better, it IS a big deal ! These people will have to catch up to the ship in Barbados at their own expense.
Day 1
After enjoying a Pina Colada at the Wig and Gavel pub with more new Hornblower friends, I went to check out my accomodations ......the Royal Family Suite . WOW!!!!!! Two bedrooms with queen-sized beds and a queen sofa bed in the living room, two bathrooms, and a huge balcony with 4 loungers as well as a dining area with table and 4 chairs. I was still admiring the balcony when my roommate Jeannine Petry arrived. Hugs, greetings and gifts were exchanged and we set off to roam the ship and grab a bite to eat. (Jeannine has provided us all with fabulous hand painted "Divas of the Deep" t-shirts as well as foam tiaras (pronounced tee-a-rah-rahs ) with "Royal Divas" in sparkle paint. We wear them proudly!).
We met our third Diva, Carol McMichael as well as members of her entourage (Carol knows EVERYBODY) a little later on in the afternoon. Together and sporting our tee-a-rah-rahs, we made a grand entrance to pre-arranged Hornblower meet-n-greet in the Viking Crown Lounge and spent a great hour getting to know our fellow sailors and posing for photos. We continued on to dinner in our foam finery to the usual great Royal Caribbean fare.
The evening was spent unpacking luggage and then heading off to the pub to listen to (and sing with ) Mark Bolden, my very favourite pub entertainer. We wound things down at 1:30 a.m. and settled down to our first night in our new home.
Tomorrow : CocoCay, Bahamas.
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