http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Charlie-Bear/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Charlie Bear en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:55:17 +0000 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:55:17 +0000 Hello all I finally got off the ship YAY After 7 very long sea days yesterday I had the pleasure of disembarking on the Portugese island of Madeira. The name of the port was Funchal and my friends and I left the gangway at noon and started my first European journey. The first thing we did was boarded a shuttle which cost 5 US for passage to the city and back a great deal consider http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Madeira/Madeira/blog-384446.html Put your finger on a map in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Go ahead do it I'll wait.K did you find it The farthest point from any piece of land that is around Good. That's where I am right now. The middle of Nowhere. After three days at sea I can safely say that I prefer land over water anyday. I look out the window and what do I see Water. No coast. No other ships. No buildin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Atlantic/blog-382866.html Hey allWhile I only have been to a few countries in my life I discovered my new favorite country a few days ago. Our port was in Guatemala which didn't have any particularly high expectations attached to it which might account for my appreciation for it. DJ Dan and I left the ship at around 1230pm and began walking through the many shops that are located just outside the gangway. There http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Panama/Panama/Panama-City/blog-380288.html So.....About four days ago I spent an hour which is 6 US on my internet card writing this LONG update and then the server went out and I lost everything. I called Mom and complained but I only just got over the incident today so I thought I'd try again. If it gives out again however I'm quitting Travel Blogging forever.With that being said a whole lot has happened since we last chatted http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Chiapas/Tapachula/blog-379498.html Just a quick update cuz I got lots to doTomorrow when I arrive in San Diego I may not be allowed off the ship at all. Due to our Code Red status with the GI virus I have to scrub down my entire rack and have it inspected by members of the CDC way early in the morning. Depending on when I'm cleared I may only have a few hours off the ship or it could work out that I'm not allowed off at all. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Pacific/blog-377410.html Hey all Greetings from Mazatlan Mexico. This week has had it's fair share of good news and bad news.Good news Stiletto the company that is responsible for maintaining all the equipment for the musicians on the ship has sent a representative to cruise with us for 7 days. Ray is my new best friend because after we had a lunch meeting he swapped out my sucky keyboard that has 8 broken keys http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Sinaloa/Mazatlan/blog-376508.html Well believe it or not I began writing a very long update about 3 days ago and in the middle of it my internet card ran out and I lost the entire entry So I'll try to get everyone up to speed.After my first week of cruising we arrived in San Diego to get rid of the old guests and pick up the new ones. While I was on shore I went shopping and got some new clothes that fit my strict dress http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Baja-California-Sur/Cabo-San-Lucas/blog-375138.html Hey all I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update but the thing is.....I'm on a freakin' cruise ship So I'll try to get everyone back up to speed So the first day we left San Diego and then we spent the next two days at sea. During the sea days I became friends with several members of the crew like the Cruise Director JT who is only 24 and has a HUGE responsibility.....he http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Pacific/blog-373359.html Day 1 I awake at 550am and find myself in a Sheraton hotel room 40 feet above the ground. I hustle to the bathroom to shave and shower. After I quick breakfast I hurry to the main lobby to catch a shuttle at 730am. The shuttle driver asks me if I'm an officer on the ms Oosterdam. I lie and say that I am thus not paying for the trip. About halfway to our destination he asks me for my ID http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Pacific/blog-371702.html