Havana, Havana, Havana!

Did I mention we were going to Havana?!

I couldn't believe that we were actually walking on Cuban soil.  Last I knew of my family traveling to Cuba was in the 1940's.   There was a photo on the wall of my Mom's house for over 40 years of her, my Dad, another couple and a complete stranger - we think he was the tour guide - in Sloppy Joe's bar.  It was a great photo of mom back in the day when she was quite a beauty (and I can say that because others have told me so, not just because she was my mom).  We drove past Sloppy Joe's, which is open again after about 40 years, but did not have the opportunity to stop in.  That, in fact, is the point of my next paragraph.

The limited time we had in Cuba was almost entirely taken up with tours that were Far. Too. Long.   Kate and I signed up for the Hemingway Tour, which was intended to run between six and eight hours.  It could easily have been done in three. Maybe 2 ½. We had been advised that in order to get our Cuban visas we were required to book a tour through the ship.  This turns out to be misleading as we spoke to people on the ship who went ashore on their own, rather than take a Holland America sponsored tour.  They still had to pay for the visa, but didn't have to book the tour through the cruise line.  Hemingway's house is interesting and I'm more than happy I saw it.  However Hemingway was also well known for the bars he hung out in - from Rome to Cuba to Key West and I'm sure there were more in Spain, Africa, etc. - but I didn't feel it was necessary to visit - and have a drink in - nearly each one he patronized in Cuba.  Even the drinkers in our group were ready to mutiny by the last bar.  And the two hour plus lunch in a closed-to-the-public museum felt way too extended by the time we all got out of there (one member of the group fell asleep at the table).  We weren't allowed to see the museum, just the restaurant, and over two hours is entirely too much for a simple lunch.  Everyone was itching to move along.

A few photos of Hemingway's house (you are not allowed to go in, but can take photos through the open (screen-less) windows. 

 The house is situated at the top of a hill with panoramic views over the neighborhood, all the way to the ocean.  The property includes a large garage with guest house, pool, tennis court, cock-fighting ring (it was popular in the day), and Hemingway's old boat, a Wheeler named the Pilar.   The house is built to catch the trade winds and offers cross breezes in every room.  There are hundreds of books on bookshelves throughout the home as well as magazines featuring Hemingway on the cover. 

Guest house and Garage (under restoration)

The Pilar, registered in Key West

Cojimar, the Pilar was docked right next to this small fortress. 

Following the tour of the Hemingway property we went on to Cojimar where he kept the Pilar, and wrote a great deal of The Old Man and the Sea.  Cojimar is a very picturesque seaside village with a statue of Hemingway in the main square, and (naturally) a bar that he used to frequent.  Yes, we stopped there too.  

Please don't take my comments the wrong way, I LOVED seeing Hemingway's home, visiting Cojimar, driving through Havana, etc.  I just personally would have liked to have done it more quickly, allowing for more time to do other things; like ride around in a 1950's Chevy, visit some of the open museums,  squares, architecturally significant buildings, walk along the Malecón,  visit the fort, that sort of thing.  I wanted to have my picture taken in Sloppy Joe's.  And did I mention time to go shopping?  There wasn't going to be any until us tourists staged a minor revolt. 

Anyway, the bottom line is simply that there could be more, shorter tours, leaving time for other activities - in this tourist's humble opinion.  All that aside, if you have a chance to go to Cuba - don't let it pass you by!  Worth the wait, worth the anticipation, worth the experience.  I'm still shaking my head in disbelief that I can actually say I've been there now.  I could start sentences with "When I was in Cuba ..." or "I really liked that day in Cuba when ..." or even "The 1950's cars I saw when I went to Cuba ...".  Not bad!!

By 6:30 we were back on the ship, in time to shower, dress and head off for THE TROPICANA!  What a night, what a show ... but you'll have to wait for tomorrow's blog!  

No souvenir of the day ... time to shop was limited. 

Cozumel Today, Next Stop Havana!

Another day, another 1 1/2 hours in the gym!  I'm outdoing my goals this trip!

Cozumel is recommended for the diving, snorkeling and copious drinking.  Of course there are the requisite silver jewelry stores (seems like hundreds of them!), and t-shirt shops, but don't come here for the culture, museums, historical monuments, etc.  A little lacking in that regard.

So today I replaced the Cozumel T-shirt I accidentally got bleach on about two years ago, am thinking about buying a bottle of vanilla, and successfully resisted any more silver jewelry because I seldom (pretty much never) wear it.  Spent some time wandering around with Kate taking photos and then back to the ship.  I've been to Cozumel a couple of times and what seems to change the most is that the vendors are getting more aggressive.  God bless them, they're just trying to make a living like you and me.

Although I can't currently speak for the other ships, I feel as if Holland America is milking this ship for all they can.  Buy your robe in the cabin and they will monogram it for $24, take home a beach towel for about the same - if you don't return it to your cabin you will be charged.  They have sectioned off areas that used to be the buffet for "optional" dining venues at additional cost, you can attend a lecture on foot health and posture where they will try to sell you orthotics,  exercise classes are at an extra fee... there is a bit of complaining about them having their hands in the passenger's pockets at every opportunity.  Even the "On Deck for a Cause" - a 5K walkathon around the promenade deck that you get a t-shirt for completing costs $20 to join.  I wonder how much is going to the American Cancer Society

Maybe it's better to upgrade to a luxury cruise line such as Regent Seven Seas or Cunard where the initial cruise fare is higher, but there is far more included in the onboard experience without quite the degree of nickel and diming.   I understand the cruise lines are in it for the profit, as a stockholder I appreciate that, but in the long run I'm afraid they may be alienating long term clients. . Even the fountain drink card (for this Diet Coke addict) is no longer good for unlimited refills.  Harrumph!

But our steward provides the usual level of outstanding service,  the towel animals are great - so far we've had a crab, an elephant and this, which I think is a dinosaur and Kate says is a turtle.  And I've forgotten to mention the food which is uniformly excellent!



And for the weird souvenir of the day:  would you bring this home???

In Grand Cayman

Hard to do this from a cell phone, but we are tendering in Grand Cayman and I just can’t see myself going back to the ship, back on shore with my laptop, and then dragging the darn thing to the Internet cafe.  This will have to do for the moment.

The ship (Holland America Veendam) is old but well maintained; most newer ships can’t call on Cuba because they’re too big and Cuban ports don’t have the infrastructure to handle them.  Exceptions that come to mind are the Pearl Seas and Viking Ocean Cruises,  but that would be a longer blog.  The only Cuba stop on this voyage will be Havana, and that’s what I wanted. I’d say that a good 80% of the passengers onboard are here for the 2-days in Havana at the end of the sailing. Grand Cayman and Cozumel are incidental.

On the flip side the tour to Chichen Itza that I was excited about was cancelled so I’m a bit disappointed.  This is the third time I’ve tried to get to Chichen Itza from Cozumel without luck.  Maybe the Mayan gods don’t like Irishmen.

Am off to exchange $ for Euros,  yep there are plenty of banks in Grand Cayman.  Then I will avoid the additional 10% they charge to exchange $ into CUCs in Cuba.  Euros don’t get that 10% charge.

This would be a better blog with photos.  Will lug the laptop ashore in Cozumel.  Doing my 45 min a day in the gym, can’t eat all the bacon & sausage I want because you can’t serve yourself and I’m too ashamed to look like a pig by asking for more that I’m only have a normal serving.  Just as well, God does not want me to star on “My 600 Lb. Life”.  Even my Diet Coke habit is being curtailed.

So much more to say, great towel animals in cabin, nickel & diming on ship, met great new friends, Kate is a terrific roomie, food is excellent, but a cell phone is not the best device for blogging.  More to come from Cozumel.

Back On the High Seas

It has been forever (well almost) since Dorothy posted a blog. Unfortunately she can no longer write from Sailor's point of view as our beloved Sailor crossed the rainbow bridge just before Christmas. But this and all blogs are written in his memory.  He was the world's greatest dog and would lie patiently watching me as I worked every day.   

 

The exciting news is that I'm going to Cuba! After living in Miami on and off for over 40 years it may seem redundant to be going to Cuba - little Havana is only a few blocks from me - but I'm excited nonetheless. In fact I've already dusted off my suitcase, booked my shore excursions (Tropicana nightclub, Hemingway's house, sites from The Old Man & the Sea) and started my packing list.  For those who have known me since the beginning you will know to look for the "weird souvenir of the day"  for the rest of you ... now you know! 

Will also be going to Cozumel and Grand Cayman, news from those ports and info about the ship (Holland America's Veendam), fellow passengers, food, activities, to come.   It's still a few weeks off but I'm just so darn excited.  Been a dog's age since this travel agent has traveled - almost time to get a new passport, and the last one still has pages left!   There may also be updates on my Facebook page but for now I have to get back to the real work of selling cruises.  If you're thinking of buying a cruise, stop thinking and call me!  I'll soon have one more port of call (and one more of the 7 modern wonders of the world, which one is it?) to add to my personal experience!

We Really Did Go to Nassau!

And On to Nassau! 

Geri & Big Daddy

Dorothy at The Queen's Staircase

What a wonderful surprise, we really DID wake up in Nassau!  I hadn't been there in at least three or four years and it was a first for Geri so we booked a tour after we got off the ship.  Once we'd looked around at the offerings both inside and outside the secure area of the port we found Big Daddy's Taxi & Tours.  Big Daddy takes about 10 - 14 people on a 2 1/2 hour tour of Nassau (which was just about all the time we had) and everyone is family on Big Daddy's tour.  Big Daddy is not shy, and his tour was pretty funny.  He jokingly claims to be the father of Ana Nicole Smith's baby (but he was on vacation so they never took his DNA) and he showed us the Governor's Mansion, Parliament, Princess Margaret Hospital,  Fort Fincastle, the Queen's Staircase, a rum bar, rum cake factory, Atlantis Resort & Casino, the Straw Market and more .  I'd go with Big Daddy again, he was a hoot, and he's a hard worker (and he kept track of all the stragglers).  If you're going to Nassau and want a short tour you can reach him here.

Atlantis Hotel & Casino

Then it was back to the ship (and our feet were already sore, but I did the 45 minute in the gym thing - earning two desserts at dinner), and then went to the Travel Agent talk with Vicki Freed and Michael Bayley.  What was really great this afternoon though was the parade on the Promenade Deck that started at 4:45 PM.   Everyone loves a parade, and when you get one with fairy tale princesses, Puss 'n Boots, Shrek, and other Dream Works characters, not to mention knights in white horses (yes, in not on), junkanoo dancers and lively music ... well it's a great little parade! 

 

 Cruise to Nowhere - But Was it Really?!

My Dorothy went on her first cruise in almost 600 days.  I can't count that high using my paws but she has this little thing she calls by letters and numbers, HP12C, and she says it told her she hadn't been away in a l-o-o-o-n-g time.  Anyway she left me here, even though I laid down on her winter coat and would not get up the night before - I thought she would stay here if she couldn't put  her coat on. I was kind of frantic once I realized she was gone but I didn't really notice that she'd left until I finished licking the peanut butter bone she gave me - that was kind of sneaky of her. She knows how distracted I am by food! Thankfully she was home in less than 48 hours, but she did lots of cool stuff in that short time.  Here's what she had to say:

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas -Re-Inaugural 2015

On January 12th I received an invitation from Cruise Planners Home Office to participate in a Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas "Revitalization Event".  Included was the following information:

Geris' First Cruise

The Freedom departs from Port Canaveral and this will be a 2 night preview event (cruise to nowhere). 
I asked Geri if she wanted to go with me on a "Cruise to Nowhere" and after explaining what that was she said "Sure, why not?" It was Geri's first cruise (despite 6 years in the Navy), and I'd been trying to get her on a ship since last May.  So I was very surprised when the captain announced during the lifeboat drill that we would be heading for Nassau.  In fact, I leaned over to Geri and said "Somebody better tell the Captain that this is a cruise to nowhere". 

We drove to Port Canaveral from Jacksonville, only about 2 1/2 hours, and even though the weather wasn't PERFECT it was about 140 miles closer to South Florida and you could feel the difference.  Geri tried not to seem to excited - but she did go get a mani-pedi before we left, so that was a little bit of  a giveaway.  She hates having her picture taken, but I would not let that deter me from recording her FIRST CRUISE!!!

The Freedom of the Seas looks terrific!  Upgrades accomplished during dry dock included new bed frames, mattresses, sheets, pillows, duvets and flat-screen TV's in every stateroom. The Vintages Wine Bar has been renovated, there are first run movies in the 3D theater and poolside, the Britto Water Park looks sparkling new and the DreamWorks experience was wonderful.  Our first exposure to DreamWorks aboard this ship was at the Sail Away party held just after the lifeboat drill.  Nothing like watching King Julien  and Gloria the Hippo dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

After dinner both Geri and I made contributions to the Casino, yes - we got sucked in.  But nothing major and then the new bedding seemed to shout our names more loudly than the dance party at 11 PM.  I MUST be growing old, I never would have missed a dance party in my 20's!  Where will we be tomorrow?  At Sea?  In Nassau?  Who knows ... it doesn't matter as long as I'm on a cruise!!

Wrap Up

She's Home, she's HOME!!!  My Dorothy is HOME!  I'm happier than a dog with two tails!!!

This is not the actual homecoming, but below I will demonstrate the proper way to welcome home your person (for all dogs reading this post).  BTW, this is the only piece of furniture I'm allowed up on, so ignore the ugly cover.

Here's what she had to say about her return home:

The race to the bottom in airline service continues.  We had a flight attendant who would have done well as a prison warden.

Seat-backs incline a generous 1 1/2" - so what's the use?  It will take two days for your back and neck to recover from the enforced captivity.  I was in agony the first night on the ship - and yes, I've tried the neck cushions, the travel pillow, rolling up my jacket in addition to the neck cushion and pillow.  The fact of the matter is that I'm a lousy sleeper even when I'm horizontal and I'm a non-sleeper sitting up.   I thought about upgrading to the Delta "Economy Comfort" class, only a few dollars more depending on length of flight, which has 3" - 4" more leg room, but their seat backs don't incline any further.  I'm short, I don't need the leg room, I need to recline.  Am thinking of buying a gravity inversion system to un-kink my back.  I did not sleep for nearly 24 hours - from getting up at 6 AM London time to getting home at midnight, Eastern Daylight Savings time.  It was a l-o-n-g day.  Sounds like I need some cheese to go with this whine, huh?

This would be enough to deter some people from traveling.  It will not deter me.

The transatlantic flights have lots of in-flight entertainment on personal screens mounted on the back of the seat in front of you to help pass the time & keep passengers sedated (video games, movies, TV shows, trivia, crosswords, etc.).  They're available in multiple languages.  For those, like me, who can't find the switch for the overhead lights, it's on the video screen, no longer on the arm-rest. I guess the entertainment is a favorable point for the airlines.  I imagine it was part of a settlement agreement with the Flight Attendants' union. (My, how cynical of me.)

They are very good about offering water and other beverages frequently and I was lucky enough to have good seatmates both ways. The beverages are a point in their favor, the seatmates were luck, not a point in the airlines' favor.

They did not lose my luggage - another point in their favor.

People watching in airports can be very interesting.  There was an older woman who was yelling and being VERY nasty to her husband and so he quietly took his roll-aboard suitcase and walked away.  Later she was sitting in the waiting area sobbing heart-brokenly and so another woman (who hadn't been there for the yelling earlier) came over to try to help her.  I heard her crying that her husband had left her, after she raised his three children, and she was all alone and couldn't walk, and so on.  Then she asked this Good Samaritan to watch her bags while she went somewhere (you just don't do that in an airport).  The GS was not comfortable with this (understandably) and so the older woman went off in a huff pulling her carry-ons and walking with a cane.  The husband came back when embarkation was called and I did feel sorry for him.  There seems to be some mental illness there, but it has to be hard to cope with.  On the other end of the flight she was all smiles and light to the porter who met her with a wheelchair.  And I heard her promising to tip him heavily (as he piled up her four enormous Hartmann suitcases, pushed her wheelchair and gave her the undivided attention she seemed to crave).  I hope this doesn't sound hard hearted of me and I hope she gets the help she needs.  It was an interesting drama to watch though.

Thank goodness I don't have to dress up for dinner tonight.  I can eat in my bathing suit, which I just might do after I give Sailor a bath.  Here's one of the dress-up photos.  I think I look fat, but I did my 45-minutes in the gym every day.  Some day someone will develop a camera with a tall/thin lens, and women everywhere will be happier.  Denial is okay.

I promised to look for before and after photos of the damage to the Catherine or Peterhof palaces after WWII and the reconstruction.  Not easy to find, but I think these two photos give an idea of it.  They've been working on the restorations for over 50 years now, and open one or two more rooms each year.  I think the interior restorations are even more impressive, but I couldn't find before & after photos of them.

Catherine Palace Post WWII

Catherine Palace, as it Looks Today .

There was really nothing left at all but a shell of the outside, everything inside was destroyed.  Fortunately many of the treasures were evacuated prior to the war, although not all.  For this reason many of the rooms that you visit have little or no furniture in them.  The German Army was ordered to demolish everything, and treasures were removed before furniture.


Thank goodness I checked e-mail fairly regularly while I was gone, it makes the return to my desk a bit easier.  There's still mail piled up and things I promised to do after I got back, but if I had taken a real vacation, and not checked e-mail, it would be brutal.

Some day I hope to take a sabbatical...no e-mail, no phones, no texting.  Unfortunately I'm afraid that would result in no bookings, no revenue, no money in the bank.  C'est la vie.

Stay calm & sail on.  By the way, it's time to book your holiday sailings NOW, give me a call!