Page 16 of SharonAN Travel Blog Posts


Central America Caribbean » Panama » Colón February 22nd 2016

A Mom, a Menu, a Change, Mama Mia! Well maybe this second phrase isn’t exactly an example of a palindrome where the letters in a word or phrase are the same forwards as they are backwards; but, it is how Sharon and I begin to feel every time we take my mother to the Lido. We’re beginning to think we should stick to the Vista Dining Room where the HAL staff can give her the level of attention that she seems to be adjusting to on this cruise quite nicely. We set our alarm for 4:30 AM so that we could go up to the Crow’s Nest and hopefully get a good spot for viewing the Atlantic-side entrance to the Panama Canal. Our “today ON LOCATION” had us scheduled to reach the breakwater of the canal ... read more
Mules getting ready to assist our ship thru the canal
Ship in the lock beside us.
Ship's Photographers getting photos of our ship in the lock

South America » Colombia » Cartagena February 21st 2016

Today was another early-to-rise Day in the Lido. My mother announced, “I just want a waffle…” and I thought, “Wow, she’s learned to use the singular to get just one!” She continued, “…but…” You knew there had to be a but. “No fruit today! And some oatmeal… with bananas…” Hmm, I won’t say anything. When I returned with the oatmeal and banana and I had remembered to also get the brown sugar and Sharon was working on the waffle, I hear, “I need milk… and coffee! I need milk for my oatmeal and coffee for my breakfast!” Sigh! Sharon arrives with the waffle (with syrup) and she gets greeted with, “I want a donut!” Say what… where did that come from? I find time to squeeze in some cold cuts, cheese and a couple almond rolls. ... read more
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Oceans and Seas » Caribbean February 20th 2016

It’s near the middle of our cruise and we get to relax a bit before we get some intense tour days ahead. We chose the Lido and took our time. Mother is getting used to being waited on hand and foot. Mother has gotten into a bit of a rut as to what she orders for breakfast: Everything! And why not, she has people to fetch it for her. She thought that she’d like to try the chocolate croissant, and it was ‘okay’ which basically means that she won’t be asking for another one. And then she made some comment about perhaps wanting a donut; but, Sharon stifled that by noting that they didn’t have any out today. I had an omelet with jalapeño, sausage, cheese, onions and piled on lots of salsa. Sharon went with ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Curaçao February 19th 2016

We arrived in Willemstad in the morning. As we rode up to the Lido in the central side elevator we spotted the many colorful turn-of-the-last-century waterfront houses in a quaint remembrance of a time now past. I spotted one smallish building proclaiming to be the “CASINO”. I turned to Sharon and said, we may have a change of itinerary for today. I mean the way my mom and Sharon are glued to their Fishing Bob and Tango Inspired slot machines… I’m just saying. Sharon decided on waffles today and offered to get my mother’s crepes, with apples on the side and I returned with the oatmeal and milk. As I returned and was going to get my breakfast, she was looking at her crepes that Sharon had already brought and said, that she needed syrup. I ... read more
The fruit used to make the Curacao Liquor
Various bottles of the liquor
Cutting open the aloe Vera


It seems like quite some time since we’ve set foot on land, so we’re all looking forward to Bonaire and a chance to feel terra firma beneath our feet. We started the day in the Lido; or, as they now refer to it “Lido Market”. I guess it’s more up-scale and trendy and Sharon says that’s the first step to adding the NY Pizza spot to the aft deck. Mother asked for waffles, apples, oatmeal, brown sugar and coffee, and so we got her seated and off I went. I was in the waffle line and they’d just finished making four waffles, leaving two for my mom. I had them spoon on some of the cinnamon cooked apples, and went to the bistro line and got a bowl of oatmeal and had brown sugar added to ... read more
Iguana on top of hill
Iguana in drain pipe of building
Large iguana on photo stop

Oceans and Seas » Caribbean February 17th 2016

We lost an hour as we began our journey east towards Bonaire, one of the A-B-C islands… can you guess which one? All are part of the Dutch Antilles. Being a sea-day we opted for breakfast in the Vista Dining Room, a switch from our more hurried Lido routine. Mother decided to try the stone-cut Irish oatmeal, Sharon had her American breakfast and I opted for the muesli with bananas and a frittata with sausage and potato cake. Mother gave the thumbs up for her hot cereal. We were joined by a very nice couple who told us how they had surprised her sister by booking passage on this cruise, which she had previously booked. She did know they were coming until they showed up at the dinner table. And she also surprised her husband by ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Bahamas » Half Moon Cay February 16th 2016

I gave Sharon a hard time about how she pronounced “Half Moon Cay” (she’s been calling it Half Moon Key) after Simon referred to today’s destination just the way it’s spelled (“Half Moon Kay”); but, she insisted that she was right, and Simon, the all-knowing Cruise Director and master of our Team Trivia later this afternoon (you know the one… who’s always right), well she was adamant that he was mis-pronouncing our beach spot! Sharon doesn’t like to be wrong, especially since she knows everything (and I have my Google T-Shirt to prove it). The seas were pitching pretty well during the night and we could feel the swell in our forward berth. As I opened the drapes to let in the sunlight, massive sea-sprays were visible at our Main Deck level. Sharon doubted that we ... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Fort Lauderdale February 15th 2016

Technically, the shoes are gray (or so I’m told). And my mother calls them “Water Sneakers”. But Sharon likes the way “Blue Water Shoes Cruise” (or maybe non-blue water shoes cruise) sounds. So I guess we must forgive her poetic license. Today’s the day we board the ship with my mother. We slept some after a long day getting to Florida. And we chose to have breakfast in the Rickenbacker which was set up for breakfast. You could order ala carte off of the menu or chose either the American or Continental buffet (which was basically everything that was on the menu). We chose the buffet, which was nowhere near as good as the Lido, and with the hefty price of $20 per person. There was a chef making waffles so you weren’t left toasting an ... read more

North America » United States » Florida » Miami February 14th 2016

Brandon promptly picked us up just prior to our planned 8 AM departure to LAX. He cheerfully greeted us and asked my mother to be his Valentine. He was surprisingly cheerful for someone who had just gotten off work from his bartending gig four hours earlier. His SUV easily accommodated our luggage and three cruisers. His phone guided his route to the airport. He noted that he’d never been there; in fact, he’d never been out of California (unless you count Las Vegas). The journey was quick and uneventful, or seemed that way with the non-stop banter that kept us thoroughly engaged. The Sunday morning traffic was quite light, and was nothing like what it would have been on a weekday driving towards LA on the San Diego Freeway. We were plenty early, found a Delta ... read more

North America » United States » California February 13th 2016

We’ve just moved into our new home in Las Vegas; still trying to sell the old home in Ohio, and thankful that we’re not there anymore. I lived there just five winters… does that give you an inkling of what it’s like to live in Ohio? The locals recollect time by the winters. I know that there are much more severe winter climates that people seem to be willing to endure; but, then I spent most of my life in Southern California where I would chuckle on New Year’s Day as people would tune in to watch the Rose Bowl parade and games and envy our 70-degree temperatures. It seems that each year I would spend in Ohio she would say to me each winter as spring would loom ahead, “Babe, It’s never been this bad ... read more




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