The drive south
Sunday, November 11, 2007 6:52 AM to 12:36 PM
I didn't update yesterday because I had what I call "ship head", the
feeling I'm still on a rolling ship. It's similar to that feeling you get when
you are in an elevator that is going down rather quickly? That feeling, but
repeatedly. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
It is better today, but I still feel it a little when I stop moving around or I bend over.
So, Sunday, November 5th, we gathered into two groups for the drive to Long Beach. Mom, I and Teri's cousin Lori rode with Teri's mom, Geri. We were on the road at 11:12am.
Teri drove the other car and she had Auntie Debbie, Adrianna, Jessica, and Shelby with her. It was a long, long drive, compounded by the fact that we had to go through the I-5 L. A. freeway noodle knot in the dark. That added a bunch of time and then we couldn't find Queensway Drive, only Queen Mary drive. We got into a turnabout and went around it three times trying to figure out where the heck we were going. Oh, guess what? Queensway Drive and Queen Mary drive? They're the SAME ROAD! Then we ended up in the Queen Mary parking lot and asked directions to our hotel from the guy in the parking ticket booth. I think he gets asked this same question often, because the words were just barely our of Geri's mouth when he was telling her to take the first right she came to. Hey! Our hotel was practically next door to the Queen Mary. And, it turns out that we could have stayed there instead. That would have been fun. As we pulled up to our hotel, I commented that it felt like we'd been in The Amazing Race TV show while getting there. It did, it really did!
The drive south |
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Sunset along the way |
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We had a late dinner and then a later night of visiting. Sometime
during the night, some members of the group came up with different names for
different people. Mom and Geri (the grandmas), and I were Suzi and the Gee-Gee's.
That name stuck throughout the trip because Mom, Geri and I ended up rooming
together. And going to bed earlier than everyone else.
In the morning (Monday, the 5th), no one really wanted to get up. Especially
the teenage girls.
Shelby, trying to sneak back into bed. |
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The hotel had a shuttle that took us to the dock. We loaded that shuttle to the gills with our luggage (some people had a LOT more than others) and ourselves and were off. I didn't think to take a picture of the back of the shuttle, but Teri did and when I get her pictures, I'll show you what it looked like. We stood in a long line to check onto the ship. I thought I took a photo of that, but it turned out to be a video. Oops. (Another photo to get from Teri)
They take tons of photos of you while you are on the
ship (hoping you'll spend tons of money buying them). |
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Our room was at the very back of the ship on the very bottom guest deck. There were a lot of stairs and we were really good at first and tried to take the stairs as much as possible. See? |
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The first thing Geri did was get on her swimsuit and head for the pool. We discovered her as we explored the ship. |
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There were all kinds of introductory sessions going on all over the boat. Teri talked Mom and I into going to one of the spa lectures. I ended up winning a certificate for a free head and shoulder massage or 40% off something at the spa. I choose to make an appointment for the next afternoon to get my hair trimmed and styled.
Before we left port, we had to do a required lifeboat drill. Our section of the ship met in the Rex Club. |
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We all felt so classy in our life jackets.
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Our dinner time was the late dinner, 8:00. After dinner Suzi and the Gee-Gees were ready to head off to bed while the others headed off in different directions to explore the ship and party.
Every night, the room steward would pull back our covers
and make up a towel animal and put it on the end bed. |
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When we awoke the next morning (Tuesday, the 6th), we were anchored near Catalina Island. It was a beautiful sunny day. Perfect for exploring the island. |
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After we had breakfast, Mom and I took a shuttle boat (I can't
remember the official name) to the island. We rented a four seater golf cart
and tootled all over.
After our cruise around the island, Mom and I stopped in one of the many eateries and split a basket of fish and chips. Walked around shopping and then went back to the ship.
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Mom decided to try on Travis's hat. Gee, if catsup will do this to her, imagine what a "real" drink would do! LOL |
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At four, I went off to my hair appointment and Mom found a corner to sit and read her book. Mom took a picture of my hair all curled and bouncy as we walked down the stairs to our room. |
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Tuesday was the Captain's Cocktail Party and Formal Dress Dinner
night. Mom and I choose not to go to the cocktail party since neither one of
us was interested in free drinks of any kind. But we did dress for dinner. Mmm,
lobster!
Travis and The Girls
Our Waiter and Server each and every night were Augus and John.
We all wanted to take them home with us.
Wednesday, November 7th, we arrived in Encinada. Most of us
met up with Travis on the morning and went off into town. Travis speaks more
Spanish than the rest of us and he managed to get us our own private shuttle
bus out to La Bufadora (The Blowhole). Our driver was Roberto and our guide
was Arturo. They were 18 and 19 years old and very nice.
The girls actually got Arturo to get up and dance in the bus. I have it on video.
As soon as I get a copy of Travis's photos, I can show you how much fun we all
had with that!
I think my favorite part of La Bufadora was the water itself. There was a lot of shopping going on, but I could have watched the water for ages. Sadly, we only had an hour there before we had to go back to town. |
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Thursday, November 8th, was Day At Sea. Here are a few of the things we watched and/or participated in:
Towel folding. We were taught how to fold all those neat animals that we found on our beds each night. |
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Win a Free Cruise Bingo. ~ Dang it, we were just two away from getting the "X" |
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The Hairy Chest Contest. ~ All of we women had to go and cheer
for Travis. He came in second. First place went to an older man with chest hair
long enough to braid. Adrianna and Jessica were two of the judges.
For our last night on board, I actually went out with the girls. We went to the Karaoke Bar to sing, the Rex club to dance, and the Piano Bar to be harassed by Barry, the piano man. I got to bed about 3:00 am.
Friday, November 9th. We awoke to find ourselves back in Long
Beach (I actually woke up about 5:45). The party was over. Here is one last
photo of us all waiting to disembark. We sure look good for having gone to bed
at 3am and gotten up by 7 at the latest.
Since our rooms were on the bottom deck and at the waaaaay back of the ship, we were some of the very last to be able to get off the ship. It sure was easy to find our luggage though.
Then a shuttle ride to the hotel to get the cars and a long drive home. It turned out that we left the hotel parking lot at 11:12am. Funny, the same time we left home!
Actually, the drive home turned out to be pretty quick, only 6 and 1/2 hours. We were back home by 6pm.
Mom, Jeff, and I went downtown (Jamestown) and got some dinner at Kamm's Chinese Restaurant. As we walked in someone recognized us. It was one of the ladies who had to take my place working with LG for the week. She kept repeating, over and over, how GLAD she was that I was back!
There's no place like home.
