Home Sweet Home...

Yes we are home and the days of fun in the sun are over.  We are happy to be home to see everyone, but are not liking this cold cold weather. Brrrrrr.....
Now we must unpack, do laudry and get groceries. I guess normal life has returned.
This is the last blog for this trip. I hope you have all enjoyed reading about our vacation.
Cheers!

Heading Home.....

Starting to head home now. We are in Kansas City and will most likely be home on Sunday or Monday. We are not looking forward to the snow, but look forward to seeing everyone again. Take care all and see you soon!
Cheers!

Nashville again.....

display in museum ...RoyRogers saddle

picture in hall of fame...to depict country music

Grand old Opry house stage

walking up to the entrance to Opry House

Inside counrty music museum

Another beautiful and eventful day in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was awesome. There was so much to see in there that I am surewe missed something. The displays were well displayed with lots of information about the era of country music and the artists of that time. You could really see how country music has evolved over time and the influence of technology.  The hall of fame itself is very well done, in a circle room that says, the circle will not be broken. All the hall of fame stars are on bronzed plaques with their face and name. It was really neat to see.  The self tour of the museum  took about 2 hours and could have been even longer if you watched every video they had. We picked the ones that interested us otherwise we would have been there all day.

The afternoon was spent in music valley looking around and then to the Grand Ole Opry House out in Opryland.   This was the one built in1974 and is used in the summer months for Grand Ole Opry and in the winter is used for concerts and other events.  During the flood a couple of years ago the building was under 4 feet of water. It was restored that summer in 4 months and now looks as good as new. Amazingly even during the flood the show carried on without missing a week as they used another venue to put on the show. The backstage tour was very interesting and we were able to see dressing rooms, the green room, and stand on stage in the circle which was cut from the floor of the old opry at Ryndman theater. It was so neat to see and to stand where so many great artists have stood.   There was even a photo opt with a photographer which everyone was groaning about, but the picture of Roger and I turned our really well so we bought it. It was a fun relaxed picture of us playing a guitar and mandolin superimposed on the opry stage. A cute memento of our trip.

Tired and worn out we returned to our hotel for supper and a drink and an early bedtime.

Cheers!

HEE HAW...LOVE NASHVILLE....

Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl

June Carter and Johnny Cash performing attire at the Opry



The stage - awesome!



Tonight I can hardly contain the excitement of the day as we are amazed at how much we are enjoying Nashville. There is so much to see and do here that you really need a week to take it all in and then you would just touch on things. This morning we took a trolley tour of Nashville that was very informative and entertaining.  We met a couple from Virden that are on their way to Florida at the tour stop and had a nice visit with them. Following the tour we went to lunch together and it was nice to talk with someone from close to home.  The tour took us to many places that we might not have gone to, so we were glad we took the time to do the tour. There is so much history here in so many ways and not just with country music. They also feature a great deal of art here including a museum that is a replica of the parthenon.  

This afternoon we spent time touring the Grand ole Orpy at Rynman Theater including a backstage tour with our guide Wanda. She was very entertaining and was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the country music stars and the history of country music. The backstage area we could not take pictures in, which was unfortunate, because the backstage area was amazing with all the old signed pictures of the stars and early day entertainers. Unbelievable.  The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was closed today, but we hope to go tomorrow. We walked the streets visiting some of the bars and saloons that were pointed on our tour, including the famous Wild Horse Saloon.  Country music could be heard on the street coming out of the many establishments and by suppertime the area was just getting wound up.  We thought of going out to Opry land this evening, but decided to wait until tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s day is full already, but we are willing and anxious to get started after we get a good night’s sleep.

Hope  y’all are fine.

Cheers!

We have arrived in Nashville....

Into Tennessee

Happy Valentine’s Day! A long day on the road from Savannah to Nashville, but well worth the trip. What a great drive through the country side watching the scenery change and the roads wind and turn as we reached the blues hills of Tennessee.  By most standards I guess it was not an exciting day, but we met some really nice people along the way including a sweet little waitress in Macon. When they talk about southern hospitality they really mean it. I hated to leave Georgia and will certainly return some day as there is so much to see and the people are so lovely.

We hope to spend a few days here in Nashville taking in the country music scene and taking a tour of the area. Roger is tired tonight after the long drive but give him a bit of bluegrass music tomorrow and he will be good to go. I look forward to the many exciting venues of Nashville and can hardly wait to get started tomorrow.

Cheers!

Savannah...

Savannah is just a remarkable as I thought it would be. Pictures cannot do it justice. The streets lined with old oaks and magnolia trees and all the beautiful architecture of the buildings is mind blowing. We took a tour through the city with an excellent guide who made the history so interesting and exciting. My brain was full by the time we were done which was about 90 minutes. Following the tour we had trolley passes for the day so we could sight see on our own. We found a little pub like place to eat called Issacs, since the recommend Paula Deans had a 2 hour wait list, and really enjoyed the southern meal and the chatty waitress.  She was so excited to tell us about the old building we were dining in and all the ghosts that lived there. She was quite animated and had many tales to tell. A man was hung there and buried in the cellar or so the story goes. Anyway, it made for great lunch conversation as we enjoyed our meal.

Midafternoon we made our way to the isle of hope to see the historic area of Wormsloe. It was a pretty area and once inside the park a canopy of oak trees lined a mile long lane. We reached the museum and from there trails took you to different spots, including the home site ruins made of oyster shell, mud and lime, a large savannah, an old colonial site, the graves of the family and a lookout. We opted not to go to the battery site where they were firing off guns. On the way back to the hotel we drove past some old homes admiring the porches with swings and rocking chairs.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring or where we will end up.

Cheers!

Into Georgia.....



surfer coming in  on a wave at St. Augustine Beach






canopy on jekyll island

oak trees draped in moss on island

Tonight I write from Savannah Georgia. What a great day we had on the road after leaving Daytona first thing this morning. Daytona was abuzz with the start of speed week and the upcoming Daytona 500. Today was a race day and security was everywhere and parking lots were popping up everywhere. The speedway grounds were full of semi-trailers and tents and all kinds of selling booths.  You could feel the excitement in the air. I wanted to get race tickets, but Roger said a definite “No”.  With that established we drove along the A1A coast road again, which we love although the speed is slower.  It passes by the little seaside towns and those small ocean stops along the way are always so inviting.  I am really adept now at walking up and down the wooden steps over the dunes.  A quick stop today at St. Augustine Beach gave us a good look at some surfers and the community life there. A lot of retirees playing  bocce, fishing from the pier, walking on the beach with or without their dog, and discussing life and politics outside the bait and tackle shop. Pretty laid back place, but very windy today and cool. Again we were told it was not normal for this time of year. By the time we stopped in Jackson for lunch it had warmed up significantly and off came the jackets. The salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays was to die for. It was so nice to have fresh crisp salad and to add your own fixings. Yummy!

The scenery changed quite a bit as we entered Georgia. The tall pines returned and the palms disappeared. The golden grassy wet lands spread out before us like a wheat field and it was wonderful to see land for miles. We stopped at a roadside welcome center to pick up some pamphlets when I spied one about a little island not far from where we were.  It is part of the Golden isles of Georgia and is a resort island called Jekyll Island. We drove through the Marshes of Glynn and over the bridge to a lovely little place with streets lined with tall pine trees and large oaks draped with moss making canopies to drive under. Gorgeous.  There were hotels and villas to stay at and we were tempted, but it was about an hour out of Savannah and I really wanted to see the real old Savannah, so after an awe inspiring drive through the island we pushed forward towards the city. There was also another island that looked interesting and hopefully we will have time to see it as well before we go.  

Tomorrow looks like another great day for us as we explore a place I always wanted to visit since I was a child reading about old Savannah with porch swings ,rocking chairs and large plantations.  Exciting!!

Cheers for now! 

Daytona Area

Well this morning was decision time, do we go to Disney or not. Both Roger and I are tired from being on the road  and the thought of crowds and line ups did not thrill us at this stage of our trip. We also looked at our budget with the cruise thrown in and although it was temping to go we decided Mickey Mouse will have to wait another year.  It was almost a relief not having to put out all the energy required to do the Disney experience.

We packed up and headed up the I- 95 towards Daytona Beach. Our first stop was at Smyrna Beach, a lovely resort area that is quaint and charming.  We drove through the city and over a bridge to a magical area stuck in a time warp. It was great. You could even drive on the beach there like in the old days.  Surfers were in the water, people walked along the beach; there was even the beach patrol truck with 2 surf boards on top.  We drove down onto the beach and followed the sand road for a while, stopping to take pictures and be the real tourists.   The wind was wicked today and the surf was high not to mention the cold air off the ocean. We asked around and I guess this cool weather is really unnatural for this time of year. It was only 16 c. today. A shock for us, brrrrrrr.

Next stop Daytona Beach.  The long white beach also has a portion that can be driven on as the sand is very hard.  We found the Le Ponce lighthouse and Viewpoint Park and stayed until sunset out on the wharf taking pictures and enjoying the beauty of the ocean. This time we had on warm jackets though.  Even in the cool weather people were fishing, walking and biking on the pier.  

We were lucky to find a hotel as I guess this is the start of speed week at the raceway. There are races all weekend including the qualifier for the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, we will not be able to tour the race way because of the upcoming races. We are going to go over to the track tomorrow just to take a look at it before we leave.  This is a really nice area and I would consider coming back here again in slightly warmer weather.

Hope you are all staying warm.

Cheers!

Kennedy Space Center

shuttle on the launch pad

prepared for take-off



apollo 13 capsule



Kennedy Sapce Center

Wow, Kennedy Space Center was amazing. Although it was not on my wish lost of things to do it certainly did not disappoint.  I see why they sell tickets good for 2 days because it is impossible to see everything in just one day. We stayed right until closing and I would love to go back again and see what I missed. Roger said he had seen enough to get what he needed from it, but I know he would enjoy it if we went back for a second day.  The shuttle was already on the launch pad awaiting the take-off on February 24^t.h  and the preparations are well underway.  I could not get over all the space suits and gear they use in space along with all the different sections of the space craft.  To see all the past space gear form history was neat and you can really see how space travel has evolved over time.  Not being a space buff I was not expecting to enjoy the day that much, but the experience proved me wrong.  

The wildlife in the area is also very interesting. We saw many different varieties of birds, including a huge eagle’s nest, a massive unbelievable size, and the eagle sitting on top. There was an alligator in the ditch, along with pink spoonbills, cranes, ibis, pelicans, and various ducks and birds that I did not recognize. They say there are thousands of wild boars, but we did not see any.

It was late when we arrived home and we were both tired after our long day.  The plan is to head to Orlando for Disney World so best rest up as it could be a busy week ahead.

Cheers!

ps. internet to slow today for pictures....will post later.

the only mantatee we saw



path to the beach through the dunes
Roger chats with a local



I can say with certainty that Vero Beach is not for me as far as a winter destination.  It is a lovely place to visit and has some endearing features, but it does not have the southern Florida charm of the other areas we have seen.  The beaches are nice, but are hidden behind large dunes covered in bush and mangrove trees. I miss the openness of the south where the ocean is visible from the road. The weather is a little cooler here and we can see the temps drop quite a bit as we head to northern Florida.  On the up side it is very cheap here and long term rentals are easier to get. Today we drove around the area just to the south to get a sense of what is available here. We talked to a few people who are vacationing here and they seem to like it, but thought I was too young for the crowd here. Got to love that!  I think they may be right though as it is pretty sedate here compared to where we have been. I think a little more action would be good. 

We stopped at the manatee observation center today and visited the education center, but the manatees were nowhere around.  I was hoping to see one so maybe we will go back another day.  We did have a lovely picnic today at a park by the water and enjoyed eating outside just like at home except without the bugs.

Tomorrow we are going to Cape Canaveral to see the Kennedy Space Center.  I have not been into too much of the space stuff, but I am told it is a great place to see so I will keep an open mind.  Roger is looking forward to it as he remembers watching the launchings as a kid.

Cheers!

Good- bye Keys .......

Love the Keys!

oh, this is the life....a morning nap!

You never know what you might find at the roadside markets.

It was time to leave the Keys and start heading back up north. Today we arrived in Vero Beach after a leisurely drive up the coastline checking out the various little beach communities on the way.  This place seems nice, but not quite as quaint as some other areas we have seen. Tomorrow we will look around a bit more and see what the area has to offer. The temperatures are to drop as a cold front moves through so we will not do too much in the beach department for next couple of days.  Tomorrow we hope to plan out the last of our trip and decide what places we have left on our wish list to visit.

Neither Roger nor I slept well last night so it will be early to bed tonight.  The traveling is starting to catch up I think, irregular meals, different beds, and the past few day the intense heat.  I know it sounds weird, but a couple of cooler days will be nice.

Hope all is well at home. Take care all.

Cheers!

Last day in the Keys...

Here we are again finishing another great day. It was a lazy one in the sun with not a lot of activity today. Roger has a blister on his foot that has started bother him the last couple of days so we favoured it today and took it easy. All this walking is taking its toll on his poor feet. I have calluses from years of walking at work, but Roger feet are starting to protest. It was nice to take a break though and just relax by the ocean and the pool. We did explore a bit this morning to see a few sites, but it was way too hot for too much activity. I spent the first part of the afternoon in the pool staying cool and then fell asleep in the sun. Roger woke me just in time to prevent a crispy Carol.

Tonight we strolled down to the beach to look at the stars and to catch some fresh air. It was a warm and muggy night with a light breeze coming off the ocean.   I will miss this place when we leave tomorrow, but the budget says we move on. We hope to land just north of Fort Lauderdale to a less expensive area and enjoy more good weather and great fun.

Cheers!

The Keys...

across the seven mile bridge

Another busy day for us traveling folk. We headed down the Keys to Marathon to visit a couple we know from the sailing club who live on their boat in boot key harbour for the winter. We met them at the harbour and they took us out to their boat by a motorized dinghy. They gave us a tour of the sail boat and after a short visit they took us to lunch at a great little local place to eat. The food was delicious and cheap, even better. About mid-afternoon we made our way to Key West to see the sunset.  We enjoyed the trip down the keys taking in the wonderful views and experienced the wonder of the seven mile bridge.

Key West was quite the place with all the art shops, boutiques, eateries, and bars. Mallory Square is the o mile marker where you can walk along the walk and watch the sunset. There are performers in the square which are amazing, including sword swallowers, one man bands, flame throwers, gymnasts, and singers. It is also a market place with lots of crafts, art, jewellery, clothing and of course various food outlets. Roger tried the fried conch today as it seems to be everywhere we go. It is deep fried and you put key line sauce on it.  It was different, but good. I think the taste would grow on you once you had it a time or two. The sunset was worth the wait as it was gorgeous with the sailboats going by as the brilliant orange sun dipped below the horizon. As the sun makes its final dip people “blow out the candle” and when it disappears everyone claps and cheers. A fun experience at mile 0.The trip back in the dark seeing the lights in the harbours along the way was very pretty.

I felt very hot and sticky when we returned so it was straight to the pool for me. Roger watched and read his email not wanting to get an evening chill. There was not a chill, the pool was heated, but none the less I could not coax him in. Swimming in the pool at night with palm trees all around and looking up and seeing all those stars, well, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Cheers!

Everglades...

alligator in the mud

swallowing a live snake

After disembarking from the boat at 8 a.m. we decided to head to the Everglades. It took us about an hour to get there as traffic was backed up on the interstate due to a fender bender.  We drove a short distance in to the back country to Everglades National Park and this was amazing. The interpretive center is much like Clear Lake, only the content is different, and of course the building is not as beautiful.  That said it was very informative and we were able to gather maps for our trip through the park.  A great surprise was the cheap cost to enter the park, a mere $10.00 a car for 7 days of visiting.

The first stop was the Royal Palm, a boardwalk through the swamp.  It was hot and humid, (again) but definitely worth the trek. We saw so many different types of birds and fish. The ultimate was the alligators.  The nesting of the different bird species and the whole eco system of the swamp was very interesting. It happened to be vintage days at the site so there were park staff around explaining, not only the history of the everglades, but all about the swamp and what lives there. I did not know that the Florida everglades were unique and that there was nowhere like it anywhere else in the world.  I am so glad we took the time to see it. We continued down the park road taking in the scenery and the beautiful river grasslands. There were view points along the way and the one I particularly liked was called nine mile pond. It reminded me so much of Lake Catherine with the nesting birds, ducks and grasses.  You could sit for hours just looking at it. People were kayaking and canoeing( no motor boats)  and taking pictures with huge cameras.  We drove to the end of the road and there was another area that had been hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, but has managed to kind of regroup and open up a small visitor center.  The park staff pointed out the crocodile for us and oh my gosh, it was so neat. It slithered under the water without a ripple in the water and disappeared. I am glad we were on the bridge and not the bank of the river. After seeing the crocodile in the water we decided not to rent the canoes.lol.

On our way back we stopped at a Fruit and Vegetable Market like you have never seen. It had fruit I did not know existed.  I asked a man what a fruit was and he looked at me strange and said, “that there is a Papaya mame”. It was massive and did not look like papaya, but when they split it open, yes it was. They had avocado the size of large grapefruit and grapefruit the size of large melon.  It was like everything had gone mutant. On the way back to the car I noticed a man with a bag of onions, and yes they were oversized.

Once out of the everglades we continued on down the keys until we settled on Islamorada. It is lovely here and we are staying a couple of days before heading further south.

Cheers!

The Cruise....

I will post some pictures of the cruise in a day or so when I have time to upload them. For now here is the blog.

January 29, 2011

All I can say is WOW, what a ship this is. It is huge and a bit overwhelming. We have explored the ship so are starting to get a sense of where things are, but there is just so much to see. At first, I was not sure that I would like the cruise because it was so big and there were so many people and everything was so different form an all-inclusive, but as the evening wore on and we got the hang of things it got better,

The food is to die for and I see how one has to pace themselves in order to keep standing by the end of the day.  There is lots of walking on the ship so we are definitely getting our exercise. I am sure we walk miles in a day.

The entertainment we saw tonight was phenomenal, the blue man group performed and it was hilarious and the drumming was amazing. Following that we went to a comedy bar and saw Howl at the Moon which was duelling pianos and singing along with a comedy act all twined in. My sides hurt when we left I laughed so hard. The later it gets the funnier it gets, but after 11 it is adults only for a reason. We were on the way back to our cabin when we passed a Jazz club so we popped in there as well. We did not stay long as it was getting very late, but we will certainly go back there another night as it was great music.

It has been a full day with packing, getting to the ship, embarking and learning the ropes of cruising, not to mention the late night activities. A whole new experience for us so we will see what tomorrow brings as we spend our first full day at sea.

Oh, and by the way I am not seasick. Roger had a harder time adjusting to the movement than I did. Go figure. No one sick though and all is well.

January 30^th, 2011 *

The 1st^nd day of cruising complete with a full day of activity right through until a late night bedtime.   We slept well and neither of us awoke to any rocking of the ship.  We can definitely feel movement at times, but seem to be managing it well. We slept in and it was heavenly.  It was lovely and quiet here and we were certainly tired from the night before. The night life is pretty good and although we are not usually night hawks when we travel I can see how this could change

After a light breakfast we wandered the ship taking in all it has to offer. We watched a Japanese cooking demo which was very fun, interesting and informative. We gathered a lot of tips for Asian cooking like what you need to add and what is okay to leave out. Can’t wait to try it. The information on the port stops ended up being more advertisement for the shops than anything so we did not stay but moved on to the martini making demo. That too was great with lots of good tips to take home about different types of martinis.  Tomorrow is beer tasting, which I think Roger is talking about going to.   We spent some time out on the sundecks although it was very gusty up there even though it was very warm. By late afternoon I needed nap if I was going to make out for the evening.  Roger went to find a place to read and I settled down for a good hour rest.

Our supper was delicious as all the food seems to be. They have some of the best East Indian food I have ever tasted.  Yes, another late night we had on the high seas.

We turn the clocks ahead tonight so will lose an hour sleep that is unless we sleep in!

January 31^st.

We slept in until 9:30 this morning and would still be sleeping if there was not a knock on the door rom the cabin steward. Lesson learned; turn the knob to do not disturb before bed.

Our 3^rd day aboard the ship and starting to feel tired and a bit hemmed in.  It does not seem to bother Roger, but I need a bit more quiet than he does. The mass of people and the noise is kind of getting on my nerves. Perhaps I just need more sleep with earlier bedtimes. I am enjoying what the cruise has to offer, but I think if I did another cruise it would be on a ship with less people. I like smaller resorts so I guess it stands to reason I would like a more intimate ship. That said we are having a great time.

After lunch we went to view an art auction which was very interesting. We were not bidders, but it was still fun to watch. It is put on by Park West auction house of England and the art was quite diverse. They included large pieces of photography by famous photographers, although I did not know them. They did a fair bit of history behind the artist and the type works they did which I found very fascinating. They had a few Picasso pieces that went for very large sums of money. They also sold Picasso copper plate drawings which are quite different than a normal Picasso. The art show display today was Peter Max. Very colourful and very sixties.  They show cased a sculptor named Nano Lopez who worked with different mediums. So cool, I loved his stuff. Tomorrow they are changing the artist in the gallery and it will be must see on my list.

Later this afternoon we went to a beer sampling and after 5 glasses of different beer I could not remember the first one. I do remember  that I did not like Guinness.

We hit the Jazz club after supper and really enjoyed the band there.  We could see the lights of Puerto Rico from the upper deck tonight and tomorrow we dock at  St Maarten.  Early to bed for us tonight.

Feb. 1^st, 2010

We did not sleep well last night and I am not sure why as it was calm at sea. We had a wakeup call so we could be up early and ready to leave the boat in good time. I could hardly wait to hit the beach of beautiful St. Maarten. We even had room service breakfast this morning so we would have time to pack up our bag. The view was stunning as we stepped off the boat and the heat hit like a blast.

Hot ! Hot! Hot! St. Maarten is unbelievable hot. We skipped the shopping and went directly to the beach.  Two lounge chairs with cushions, a beach umbrella and 5 drinks for $20.00. Not bad.

We had a great spot on the sand right off the water, just three steps to the ocean. The water was warm and beautiful for swimming. Oh how I love to swim in the ocean. Roger and I both got a burn today even though we wore sunscreen. Normally I wear and 8 and today I wore a 15, think I needed 50. Roger was under the umbrella the whole time and he is crispy. The sellers walking up and down the beach were a bit annoying although I do understand it is how they make their jewellery to buy if you have the money. Apparently it is a real bargain, but it is still expensive for my budget.

We were glad to get back to the air-conditioning on the ship and get a cool shower to rinse off the sand and salt. Nothing like a little sun to make you tired.

Tonight’s comedy show was great with the second city comedy troupe.  The improvisation  was remarkable.

Well we had besrt get rested up for St. Thomas tomorrow.

Feb.2, 2011

We left the boat this morning for a day in St Thomas. Man was it hot. 38° C. degrees today and lord knows hot it actually was in the direct sun. All I know was that it was too hot. We strolled the shops and did a small bit of sightseeing and then headed back to the ship for some air-conditioning. We were not alone as there was a steady stream of people back to the boat because of the heat.  Even the locals thought it was hot.  After quick bite to eat I had to take a nap while Roger went to find a place in the cool to read.

Tonight’s entertainment was Legends in Concert from Las Vegas. It was excellent and the Aretha Franklin Impersonator was unbelievably good. What a set of pipes that girl had, wow. After the show we watched a piano show for a short while and then up to our stateroom. Tomorrow is a sea day and we plan to sleep in. The clocks set back tonight so that will give us back the hour we lost a couple of days ago. I could use that extra hour of sleep. This cruising life keeps you busy. 

It should be an interesting sleep tonight because the ocean is rough and the ship is rocky.

Feb, 3rd, 2011

Today we spent enjoying what the cruise has to offer. It was a slow morning and we just had coffee and muffins in the atrium watching the fruit carving. Very neat actually. Then it was time for the murder mystery with second city cast. This included a lunch and it was interactive with the cast. It was a lot of fun and the time seemed to pass quickly. They are a very talented group of people that improvised on the spot.

Next up was another art auction, for me, which I enjoyed immensely. Roger was not interested which is strange since he is the artistic one. I enjoyed the commentary on all the artists and what collecting is all about.  Believe it or not it is very interesting to hear about the different art mediums the artist use and how to display different styles of art. It was very educational and you can see the passion of the art historians and in particular a young graduate of art history from Leeds University.  Roger spent the afternoon walking around and then watching a conversation with the Blueman Group which her said was great as well.

Then came the Martini Clinic. OMG, 5 cocktails in an hour is too much for me, but we sure did enjoy them. Whew, we needed food after that as our heads where spinning. The espresso Martini was to die for. Oh, yum!

The eveing was a quiet one with stopping at few entertainment venues, finishing with the duelling pianos and then off to bed as Nassau tomorrow. 

 Feb.4^th, 2010

Another hot day, this time in Nassau, Bahamas.  It was a very busy city with lots of people crowded together. We took a ferry ride over to Paradise Island and looked around a bit. It too was crowded together, but very luxurious. The Atlantis hotel and casino was something out of this world with marble everywhere, huge sculptures and beautiful chandeliers. The yachts in the harbour there were also quite luxurious and it was definitely the place for the rich and famous.  The straw market was jam packed with people selling their wares and it is unbelievable how much stuff there is in there. You could hardly move down the rows to see what was there and everyone was at you to make a deal. Too closterphobic for my liking, but neat to see. It got its name, the straw market, from a time when people only sold handmade woven straw baskets. They still sell them, but have added lots of other stuff as well.

The main pier area had a very Caribbean feel with the boats coming and going, buskers, food trucks and small restaurants callings you in. We returned to the boat early as both Roger and I were hot and tired. We thought of going to the beach but both of us were done with the crowds. From what we saw the beaches were beautiful though.

Late this afternoon we packed up our suit cases as tomorrow morning it is off the boat and back to reality.  It has been a wonderful cruise with lots of new experiences and has given us new ideas for future vacations. We are excited however to resume our Florida tour and will start by staying in Miami for a couple of days, before exploring the Everglades and then heading to the Keys.

I will be happy to be back in the U.S. so we can be in touch with everyone again.

Feb. 5th.

Arrived in Miami port this morning and off the ship by just after 8 a.m. and heading off to the Everglades.

Sailing day..

Bon Voyage everyone........!

T 'was the night before cruising....

Here we are on the eve of our cruise and we are getting excited to start this new adventure. It sort of feels like a dream and I wonder when I will wake up. Am I really going on a cruise, out on the ocean to places that only seemed real on TV or in books? Yes that is me, nervous, but ready to walk out of my comfort zone, try something new and confront my fear of seasickness.  I have purchased lots of ant nausea meds so I am prepared. The fear is reality based as I have had my share of motion sickness and it is not fun.  Anyone who gets motion sickness can relate to the overwhelming helplessness you feel when the motion does not stop. I get dizzy thinking about it so it is best I get off that topic. All will be fine I am sure.

Today started off cool but by one o`clock the sun was shining bright and the temperature warm and perfect for an afternoon around the pool. It was a little breezy by the ocean but there were families on the beach, but not too many in the water.  We were happy to step out our door and in to the pool as we visited with other guests here and had a few drinks.  A lazy afternoon in the sun is as good as anything.

This evening we went out for supper with our Michigan friends to a restaurant on the ocean and while seated by the window overlooking the water we watched the light fade and the sky turn from blue to pink to dark. The stars sparkled in the sky and the water glistened as it caught the light, a perfect setting for the lit up cruise ships that sailed by in the distance. It was a picture to behold.  The food and the margaritas were excellent as well.

Tonight we finished sorting clothes and packing for the cruise. I think we are ready as we are going to be. We may not have access to internet as freely as we have had here as it is very expensive on the ship. If we get a chance we will email or post a blog, but we may be out of contact for the week. I will be sure to let everyone know how the cruise went when we return.

Take care all. Will post when I can.

Cheers for now!

South Beach....

Today we drove to south beach with the couple we met from Michigan. It was a fabulous sunny day on the beach with the beautiful aqua ocean stretching out before us. There was a morning stop for breakfast at a diner that is frequented by the celebrities. It is well known for its food and there are pictures on the wall of fame of all the old stars from days gone by including a very young Tom Selleck and Dustin Hoffman. A very neat place. Later this afternoon we stopped at Fridays for a cocktail and wow, the best Margarita in a very long time. They sure knew how to make them.  We took time to stroll down the strip before heading home and enjoyed seeing all the neat eateries and shops. When I win the lottery I will be able to afford to shop there. Definitely for the rich and famous.

We are tired tonight and all we have managed to do is laundry. All tolled it was another good day.

Cheers!

To cruise or not to cruise.....?

all kind of shells and coral wash up on the beach after last nights rain.

Well today was decision day about a cruise. After much debate we decided…. yes…it was a go. We had to go to a travel agency to book as they would not let us register as Canadians online because we were already in the US.  Anyway, we found a travel agency and although we were not able to book our first choice we found a cruise to our liking. We leave on Saturday for 7 days to the Eastern Caribbean on the Norwegian Epic, a new ship in 2010.  The agent was able to get a really good last minute deal for us so we took it.  I am nervous about cruising, but decided I could not let fear stop me from going. Roger is already into his to do list. I think I will just wait and panic at the end.

Today was quiet and after a long walk on the beach this morning we flitted away the time having coffee, breakfast and a chat with the couple in the next villa. They booked in the same day we did so we have had a chance to get to know them, a very nice couple from Michigan, who farmed until they retired last year.  They are good down to earth people who have a happy outlook on life. Good people to meet on vacation.

Tonight I swam in the pool for a while and finally convinced Roger to come in for a dip. The water was very warm and as the night air cooled it felt even warmer. The Florida folk think we are nuts to be swimming on a “winter” evening as they feel the temperature is way too cold.  It was 23° C out…too funny.

Time for a late evening walk before bed.  We had better go a different direction from last night so we don’t pass the chocolate and ice-cream shop. They make their own chocolate and fudge right there and as well as their own ice-cream. It is to die for…omg…so we have to walk the other way. The slabs of fudge remind me of Scotland and how they sold it by the pound. All those yummy chocolates behind the glass are so tempting…..so  yes …best walk the other way.

Cheers!

If I were a rich man....

  

The ceo of budweiser owns this yacht-keep drinking that beer!



just a wee local home



This morning’s walk did not disappoint as we crossed the street to walk along the shoreline. I have always enjoyed the roar of the ocean as the waves come crashing in towards land followed by the  loud swoosh as the waves hit the shore and  then reluctantly  recede back to the  ocean. Just standing on the warm sand in my bare feet I could feel the pull of the ocean as I drew closer to stand at its edge, letting the water creep over my feet.  Even on a windy day the ocean has its allure.

The sun was hesitate to appear this morning as it ducked in and out of the clouds but the temperature was 23° C and although the wind was strong it seemed like a  nice day to us. The clouds persisted and soon the sun disappeared leaving the skies grey but the air a sticky warm.    We weighed our options and chose the water taxi on the intercostal waterway as our day’s entertainment. This was a good choice.

Our trip through the waterways proved to be very fun and a good way to see the main sights of Fort Lauderdale.  The ticket is good for the whole day and you can get off and on at the different stops as many times as you like. It was amazing to see the mansions, yachts and the lifestyles of the wealthy and who’s who in Fort Lauderdale.   In addition, it was an eye opening adventure that left me in awe of the opulence that really exists.

The afternoon passed quickly and on the last turn into the harbour stop I realized it was suppertime. The wind had picked up and the air was getting cool, but still pretty good to us hearty Canadians. A quiet supper in our villa, a glass of red wine and now the blog writing to finish the day. Well perhaps we can also get one more walk in down to the pier before bed to take in a bit of the festive nightlife.

Cheers!

Here for the week...

Another lovely day here spent lazing around.  The temperatures rose to about 22 C but with the sun it felt much hotter. The morning through until about 3pm was lovely with the heat of the warm sun shining down. The clouds rolled in along with a cool ocean breeze towards late afternoon leaving the sun to peak in and out at its own fancy.  That signalled time for a siesta before our late afternoon walk.  

This morning we decided to go for a drive down the ocean front and check out the different hotel districts. We spotted the hotel our friends Rachel and Bob Dacquay were staying in before they left on their cruise today. Roger drove up closer to the entrance to have a look and who was walking by but Bob and Rachel.  How unbelievable was that? We were able to have a great little visit with them and catch a few hints about things to do and see in Fort Lauderdale. They too promote the cruising vacation so I guess we will have to give it a try in the near future.

 For this week, we are settled and happy in our little villa, ready to explore the sights and sounds of Lauderdale.  It is very quiet and relaxing here and we have decided to stay put until next Sunday. Tonight on our walk we passed by the Chamber of Commerce building and picked up some info on the area and things of interest. We have a few things on our to do wish list like the water taxi through the waterways, air boat through the everglades, and perhaps hit the big flea market.  

Life is good.

Lauderdale by the Sea

Today we drove to a little piece of heaven. I was worried about coming to the big city until I read about Lauderdale by the Sea, a small area just north of the city. It is a small seaside community nestled in beside the ocean with quaint shops, restaurants and redone fifty style motels.  You would think it was a set for a movie about an old seaside town except the cars are modern.  We drove down the main road looking at the various motels and stopped to check a couple out.  Nothing was quite right.  Roger started calling out the names and as soon as he said Blue Seas Courtyard I just knew this was the place for us.  As fate would have it there was a vacancy sign. The lovely woman who greeted me was so friendly and offered to show me the room and all the amenities.  The sign said “ charming rooms” and they meant it, so warm and bright with a small efficiency kitchen and it was all extremely clean , it won my vote for that alone. Needless to say, after we settled on the price we moved right in.  The grocery store was just a couple of blocks away so off we went to stock up on a few essential. We could even purchase our wine there so it was one stop shop. It will be really nice to do a bit of our own cooking as we were getting a bit tired of restaurant food.

It was about mid to late afternoon by the time this was all accomplished. The food in the fridge made a nice light snack so after a quick bite while sitting out on the patio we settled into some needed quiet time. Before long though the warm day beckoned us to take a walk across the street to check out the ocean, revealing a long beach that stretched out in both directions and will surely be the path for a few early morning walks.  This evening it was out and about to explore the night life. Everything is within walking distance and is much like Clear Lake used to be on a busy weekend with people milling around downtown and along the dock. There are some lively eateries and outdoor bars along the strip as well as the traditional novelty, ice-cream and chocolate shops. It has great atmosphere and we look forward to exploring more of the area tomorrow.

We plan to stay here a few days before moving down the coast toward the keys. Although we have looked at some cruises we are not yet ready to commit. The lure of driving down the coast is augmented by the find of this lovely little motel. Where there is one there is surely another!

Tonights sunset at Bonita Springs Beach  



The Florida sun was shorted lived today as it hid behind the clouds that came rolling in over the Gulf just after noon. The rain began by 1 o’clock with a damp coastal wind that chilled to the bone.   This wet misty rain was over in an hour, but the cool wind persisted. After our pleasant morning wandering the harbour taking in the shops and sites, we decided perhaps the rain was a sign to hit the outlet mall a few miles down on the interstate.

All I can say is “wowsers”, the Miramar Outlet Mall was unbelievable.  I had never been to an outlet mall before and was amazed at the variety of places in which to buy a bargain. Believe it or not, it was Roger who did all the shopping, that’s right, Mr. I don’t like to shop found quite a few things to his liking. I enjoyed the browsing, but was not much into the buying today. Not to worry though as I am sure I will find some perfect treasure along the way that will call out to me, awakening my senses to that perfect pearl.

One of the finds down on the harbour today was a small wine shop that sold wines from a local winery.  They had a wine tasting bar which was much to my delight. I bought a bottle of “Tangelo” wine made from a cross fruit of tangerine and grapefruit.   The tangelo I was told produces fruit for only six weeks out the year and right now it is season.   The fruit itself appears like a large orange with a bump on the end that looked like an outie belly button. The taste was a very nice citrus flavour and it made a great wine that tasted light and refreshing. This was not the usual kind of wine I like so I was surprised to have picked it as a favourite.  As Barb would say, my tastes have grown!

We had a picnic supper in our room tonight as the thought of restaurant food did not seem appealing. The local grocery store is just down the road so we picked up a few supplies and presto a picnic for king and queens.  What a nice change from the restaurant fare and in addition, cheap and easy.

Tomorrow we are supposed to head to Fort Lauderdale although we seem to be enjoying ourselves here and hate to leave so soon. We will see what the morning brings and how the sun shines and winds shift and then make our decision. 

Thinking of you all back home. Cheers!