Jan 31

Jan 30: Today we crossed the Equator. There is a Crossing the Line ceremony that they do aboard ships - though people who have been across before on other ships say they have never seen anything like this before. People who have not crossed the equator before are called pollywogs and the initiation ceremony supposedly dates back to the 14th century. It is led by King Neptune. The Daily Program this morning said that in the olden times “Pollywogs would be coated with various nasty liquids found in the bilge of the ship and then suspended by the ankles and plunged into the sea.” In today’s world they put eggs and spaghetti and catsup and green/brown/pink/yellow pudding like stuff on people and throw them in the pool! Ginnie and I - though we have not crossed the equator opted out of participating BUT we lucked into perfect seats to watch the ceremony. We were perched right on the edge of the pool. It was great. The captain was even tossed into the pool though not for being a pollywog. It was amazing to see this dignified captain in his nice white uniform in the pool - his picture is included. They did all of the passengers first and then they did the new crew members. By the time they got to the crew they were really plastering them with all of the gunk. By the end the pool was absolutely disgusting! But I was back out on deck late this afternoon and it was all cleaned up and they were refilling the pool with water being pumped up from the ocean! Both Ginnie and I got a lot of sun today sitting out at the ceremony for an hour and a half - at noon on the equator!! We are turning brown as berries already and we have a long way to go! One more day until Pago Pago - this 4 days at sea is one of the longer stints without a stop. What’s not to like though!

Jan 30

Jan 29: Our at sea days are becoming fairly routine - up early, eat in the Pavilion which is the only place that opens before 8, sit on the deck in the sun, go to trivia or a lecture, go to lunch, play bridge, go to the Chart Room for beer, come back to the room to dress for dinner (we would love to skip this step), eat dinner, come back to the room for a couple CSIs, then bed. Last night we skipped a Captain’s cocktail party but were invited to another tonight so we are going to go. This will be our 3rd - free booze, “what’s not to like?” Last night was too much. Pago Pago and Fiji don’t sound too exciting so we will probably just visit the pier shops and stay on the ship. 100 bucks for a trip to a beach on an unair-conditioned bus didn’t sound like a good deal to us. Yesterday we were #1 in bridge!!! We would get 0.9 of a master point if we were members of the ACBL!! It was very exciting! Today maybe not so good but we are having fun playing even though some of the “gentlemen” are not at all nice to their wives! We know at least 3 we would bop in the nose if they were ours! Thank God for small favors! TV is still the pits. Last night they did not even have our CSIs for us and right now - before dinner - we are watching Austin City Limits on PBS because there is nothing else! As news junkies we are really suffering. All for now. No pictures today.

Addendum: We 6 managed to scarf down 4 free beers at the Captain’s reception and we promised Chris - our favorite Chart Room waiter - that we would have a blue drink tomorrow. He wanted us to have one tonight BUT after 8 beers this was probably not a good idea. So tomorrow - after bridge we may not drink until after we have dressed for dinner so that Chris, who comes on duty at 6, can sell us our blue drink! All for now - definitely bedtime.

Jan 28

Jan. 27: Hawaii was great. My 50th state!!! This morning we were on deck as we pulled into Honolulu harbor. We got to watch sun rise over Diamond Head. It was fantastic. Then we left on our tour to the Arizona Memorial. It was a great place. First we saw a 20 - 25 minute film which was really good. Then we took the launch out to the memorial which is really pretty. Amazing to think that after 64 years that the ship has not completely disappeared in the salt water. After the trip to the Arizona memorial our bus took us around Honolulu. We went to the Punchbowl which is he National Cemetery. Then by the palaces of the Hawaiian Kingdom or Empire or whatever they called it. It was a nice tour. When we got back to the pier we browsed the shops for a while. Ginnie tried to pay for something with a travelers check and when she pulled it out it was one of mine. The ones in my purse were mine too! Then we came back to the ship to rest for a while. At about 5:30 we headed out to Harbor Pub and Pizza. Last year when we were in Clearwater Beach Jenny called us from Hawaii and said the it was the best pizza in the world. Since we were enjoying an Angelo’s pizza at that time we disagreed with her. SO - we decided to do a taste test! Sorry Jen - Angelo’s wins though Harbor pizza was pretty damn good - especially after eating fancy food for the last 18 days! When we came out of the pub we were treated to our own fireworks show. I don’t know what the fireworks were for but it was enjoyable. The cab ride to the pizza place cost 19 dollars so Ginnie decided to become frugal on the way home. So there we are waiting for a bus on a busy street in Honolulu. I asked her if she would take a bus in Pittsburgh after dark - told her I wouldn’t take one in Dallas! Some nice Chinese lady sat down next to me at the bus stop and patted my leg asking if I wasn’t cold - definitely shorts and t-shirt weather as far as we were concerned but she was bundled up in long pants and a jacket! The bus finally came and our ride back to the ship only cost 4 dollars - though we did have to walk a couple of blocks to the ship. All in all it was a very good day. Ship leaves at 11:30 this evening and we are at sea for 4 days until we get to Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango - don’t know where they get the n sound!) in American Samoa. Enjoy the pictures of Hawaii.

Jan 26

Jan. 24: Since we are now writing the BLOG off line and cutting and pasting - works for the entries but not the pictures - we thought we could write a little more - that 50 cents a minutes was hampering us! Some of the things we couldn’t afford to tell you about are as follows. Our favorite bar is called the Chart Room where we go every afternoon to slurp beer. We were afraid we were going to have to change our favorite bar because some obnoxious woman sat with us one day and seemed to think we were her new best friends in the space of 10 minutes! Luckily she has found other new best friends! It is our favorite place in spite of the fact that a devotional bible study group meets in one corner during our drinking time. We’ve gotten more religious education during our beer time than we have had since Sunday school days! Also - many MANY people do this trip every year! Boggles the mind. We understand that the record is like 30 times! Yikes!! We are very happy to be doing this this year BUT once is enough! Included is a picture (though not a good one) of the Dive of the QE2 - she has 3 books about herself in the bookstore and does occasional book signings. I happened to catch her act - which was the grand finale of the passenger talent show - and she should have given up singing 20 years ago! But they allow her to warble on to her heart’s content on this ship! Ginnie missed the talent show - says she got to catch it next time. I was glad she wasn’t there because we would not have been able to not giggle out loud! Also included is a picture of the security that was all around the ship in LA where we participated in a Chinese fire drill forced by US Immigration! Everyone had to get off of the ship and do a custom’s declaration and show their passport. Then we were not allowed back on until everyone had gotten off. Thank heavens we did not get off until close to the end! We were not happy puppies but received an apology from the Captain this morning! People watching is still our favorite pastime - it certainly takes all kinds to make the world go round!

Jan 25: Internet was not working yesterday - hopefully, we will be able to get on line this morning. Last night Ginnie and I came back to the room to dress for dinner -AGAIN - and decided we had had it! So we ordered room service and had burgers and beer in our room and were VERY HAPPY!! We watched a movie on TV and then watched our two CSI episodes and went to bed! We think that may become a once a week respite from the formality of this place! Also included is a picture of Ginnie and I in Panama.

jan 22 no 2

julie didn't tell you about how i got snookered in the jewelry store. i saw a cute owl pendant but was shocked at the price of 345.00. after offers and counter offers,i said i'd pay 150.00 and no more. will, shiver me timbers, they said ok.so i am now the proud owner of an owl pendant which is probably worth 125.00 oh well.

Jan 22

We have been without internet for a couple of days - I assume that will keep happening as we sail around.  Acapulco was a lot of fun.  We left the ship around 8:30 and took a tender into shore.  Then we boarded a bus for our tour.  We went to see the cliff divers and they were great - we really enjoyed them.  Of course going into and out of the place to watch we were accosted by many many Mexicans selling everything - table cloths to necklaces to pupets to hats - you name it they were selling it.  After the cliff divers we went to a jewelry store where they offered us beer and margaritas!  Drinking Corona in a jewelry store at 10 in the morning was definitely a first!  They did have some beautiful stuff but it got to the point that I didn't want to show any interest because the sales people would pounce!  Then we toured more of Acapulco - I tell you they all drive like maniacs - you should have seen our BUS making a u-turn on the main street!  The tour ended at a beautiful hotel called the Acapulco Princess where we had more free drinks!  Then the hair raising trip back to the pier.  Acapulco Bay is beautiful and the hotel was great but neither Ginnie or I think we would want to go out and about in the city!  Here are pictures of the cliff divers and the QE2 in the harbor and the mariachi band at the Acapulco Princess.

Jan 18 #2

Since it seems to be working here are a couple of pictures of the ship - just for you Car!

Jan 18

This BLOG thing is not working too well - actually the BLOG would work fine it is AOL that is not working too well.  There is a sign that says AOL often does not work well on the ship so we may see what else we can do - maybe we will have to change the BLOG address, but if we do we will post it here.  So if you are checking and there are not new entries it is not because we are not trying!

The Panama Canal was great - we had a beautiful day BUT it is HOT in this part of the world.  We went through the canal with a large container ship going through the locks next to us so we could really see the the water level rising on the Atlantic side and lowering on the Pacific side.  An absolute engineering marvel!  We passed the Continental Divide but there was no sign like in the mountains - I was disappointed!  I think we were at about 88 feet!

Yesterday our tour of Panama City was nice.  Our tour guide - Javier - was a great guy.  We saw a lot of nice areas and also what they call a red zone which basically means stay away from here.  He said even the Panamanians don't go into the red zones because it is too dangerous.  Some of the old military bases are being reconditioned to become luxury apartments.  It was very nice.  Our luncheon was good and the folklorio dancers were great.  I am going to TRY to put some pictures of the canal on - wish me luck!

Jan 15

Yesterday was Curacao.  When we were coming into port we were up on the bow watching.  We stopped short of the channel into the port and the tugs and pilot boats seemed to be pushing and pulling.  We thought that the captain had run us aground.  However, when we went to the shore side of the ship, we realized we were docked!  Our story was much better.  Then in town we took a trolley train around to see the sights.  The buildings are all painted different colors.  The story goes that they were all white but the governor said that all of the sunshine reflecting off the white buildings was giving him headaches so he ordered them painted different colors.  Seems he owned the paint factory!  But they are pretty.  We are playing bridge this afternoon as we are both still a little crisp from our sunbathing day before yesterday.  I'm having trouble getting the pictures on but will try to include one from Curacao.  Too slow - I'll try again next time.

jan 12

Yesterday we were in Fort Lauderdale so not much went on on the ship.  We did get off the ship to go to a drug store - mainly to buy hangers.  22 dollars in cab rides later we were back on the ship with our purchases which of course lacked hangers!  We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the sun and then went to the sailing party at the Funnel Bar on the top deck of the ship as we left Ft. Lauderdale.  It was great - they had a band and people were dancing and the weather was great.  As we went down the canal the people along the shore in the houses and condos were all ringing cow bells and blowing airhorns and waving!  People watching is our favorite passtime though we did start our bridge lessons this morning and will play this afternoon.  All fro now.  I'm trying to add a picture BUT seem to be having a bit of a problem.

Day 1

Here is the Statue of Liberty as we left New York.  We were late leaving - 6pm instead of 4:45 so the captain has been driving like a bat out of hell to make up the time lost time.  No land in sight.  Tomorrow - Ft. Lauderdale.

The weather is warm.  Sat outside on the deck for a while.  Played a game of trivia - will go to the movies this afternoon.  Food is GREAT!

More later. 

Itinerary

Thought perhaps the itinerary was they way to start this BLOG - thanks to Ginnie's kids for the idea.  We'll see. This is basically just a test.

January

9 New York, NY     11 Fort Lauderdale, FL     14 Willemstad, Curacao     16 Panama Canal    

17 Fuerte Amador, Panama     20 Acapulco, Mexico     23 Los Angeles, CA     27 Honolulu, HI

February

1 Pago Pago, American Samoa     4 Lautoka, Fiji     6 Noumea, New Caledonia

8 -9 Aukland, New Zealand     10 Tauranga, New Zealand     12 Wellington, New Zealand

15-17 Sydney, Australia     18 Phillip Island, Australia     19 Melbourne, Australia

21 Adelaide, Australia     24 Perth, Australia     26 Exmouth, Australia

March

4 Taipai, Taiwan     6 Kobe, Japan     8 Kagoshima, Japan     10-11 Shanghai, China

13-15 Hong Kong, China     18-19 Bangkok, Thailand     21 Singapore     22 Penang, Malaysia

23 Phuket, Thailand     26 Colombo, Sri Lanka     27 Cochin, India     29-30 Mumbai, India (Bombay)

April

2-3 Dubai, United Arab Emirates     5 Salalah, Oman     9 Safaga, Egypt     10 Aqaba, Jordan

12 Suez Canal     13 Alexandria, Egypt     15 Piraeus, Greece (Athens)   

17 Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome)     19 Valencia, Spain     20 Lisbon, Portugal

23 Southampton, England     29 New York, NY