Ft. Lauderdale

March 11, 2008

Well, we made it....all around South America and Antarctica! I can’t believe that this cruise is already over! What an amazing time that went so quickly....so many places, so many things to see, so many adventures. What a wonderful trip.

Sailing back into Ft. Lauderdale made me feel very good. The buildings look so clean...the streets look clean...the water looks clean....how nice to be “home”.

Getting off the ship was another thing! No one seemed to know exactly what we were to do. In one minute I was told that I could leave the ship....then, no, you can’t get off yet....then...now you can go....no you can’t. What an ordeal!

Finally I was able to make it off the ship, although my card didn’t “scan” to let the crew know that I was indeed “off” the ship, so the security officer simply took my name and cabin number and off I went. I learned later that I held up the “clearing” of the ship for an hour as they continued to page me looking for me so the customs people would release the ship. How embarrassing...but it wasn’t my fault!

Once I finally got through Customs, I decided that I would ship a bag of my winter things and other stuff that I would not need for the Africa adventure back home. I hailed a taxi and ask the driver to take me to a local UPS store and then to a Wal-Mart, Target, or some such place....what a mistake! We quickly found a shipping store and I was able to send a bag home for a third of what the ship wanted to ship it....job well done. The nice driver waited for me, and we started out for my Wal-Mart adventure. All I needed were a few personal things that could have been found at any major drug store....so as I watched drug store after drug store pass by, I said something to the driver that we could stop. On no, he said, Wal-Mart is just around the corner. Well...$120.00 later I was literally taken for a ride around Ft. Lauderdale and halfway to Miami. What a mistake. When I realized what was happening, it was too late and I finally decided to just relax and consider this as a “contribution” to the local economy! Never again! To add insult to injury, when I returned to the ship and was storing my new purchases I realized that I had bought mouse instead of hairspray....so I now have three months supply of something I cannot use! Ugh!

I boarded the ship to check back into “my” room and at 5 PM we set sail....well not quite...it was actually 7 PM.

I moved my dinner table to be at a table for two with my friend Louise, from Texas. Louise and MaryBeth are two great women who, until we got to Ft. Lauderdale, were known as the “007” girls because they occupied the penthouse suite of that number. They are...were....on the ship until the end of November. I met them last year on the World Cruise when they sailed as far as Sydney. What great people they are and what great friends they have become. They have been kind AND patient enough to teach me Mahjong....a game that I have always wanted to learn, but looked too complicated....well, I am learning...and it is great fun. Now I just have to teach others when I get home so I don’t forget how to play this great game!

Well, the night before we landed in Ft. Lauderdale, MaryBeth announced that because of personal reasons that she would be leaving the ship. I am sorry that things worked out like that as I know that she was looking forward to the long cruise and we, of course, were looking forward to a lot more Mahjong games. But, alas, she had to leave. So, Louise moved from the penthouse to an inside cabin....what a change! It seems that her new cabin is the only one that will allow her to stay in the same cabin for the rest of her trip (she’s on until the end of November!!!) without having to move each leg....something she prefers....so there she is, from the top to the bottom. We laugh about it....as she says....all the way to the bank. Just think of the money she is saving! Anyway, since she and MaryBeth had a table for two in a lovely spot in the dining room, Louise asked me to join her for dinner. It is lovely. We both eat only a few courses so we are able to finish early and get on about our nights activities. Likewise, Louise and I have compared notes and we are booked on some of the same excursions so that will be fun. We will miss MaryBeth but we will continue on....now if we can just find other Mahjongg players!

It seems strange to be on the ship with so many new faces including many new crew members. After almost three months you get to be somewhat of a family and now that they are gone it seems strange....but I will get used to it and will look forward to developing new friendships and experiencing new places in the world with interesting people.....stay tuned!