Back in New Orleans. I’m still trying to get used to these short cruises! I find myself completely lost on what day of the week it is or how much time is actually passing when our cruise routine is 4 and 5 day cruises. I didn’t have anything exciting planned for today. The timing of when I signed on the ship is so off with the pay cycle, I’m desperately awaiting pay day and until then am rather limited for what I can go out to do. But some of the camp girls were going around the French Quarter so I [View Full Entry]

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Now into a fourth contract and fifth ship, I’ve really covered the Caribbean and Central America. In fact, I’ve seen all but two of the ports Carnival does in this area: Montego Bay and Progreso (though I’ve done other ports in both Jamaica and Mexico). But for this month on the Fantasy, we are stopping once every week in Progreso. So far, I hadn’t been able to get out to see the port because I’ve had work or training. But not this week. To be honest, I had not heard positive things about Progreso. People say there’s nothing to do, it’s [View Full Entry]

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Generally, my travel list of places to visit consists of far off countries. But then there’s a list of cities in North America that I’ve always thought one day I’d get to. Places that are great for long weekends, last minute getaways, the end point of a road trip. When I was told that in order to go to the Triumph, I would have to first spend a month on the Fantasy, the thing that made me excited about this month was the home port being New Orleans. New Orleans is just one of those cities that I really want to [View Full Entry]

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What a whirlwind turn-around! I arrive home from South Africa only 2 days before Christmas. There was some mad rushing around replacing things lost during my mugging (license, health card, etc.) before everything closed up. Then lovely holiday time. I’m so happy to have been home for a holiday, uninterrupted. Time with my family, including the extended family, is so valued right now. Lots of time with my best friend and the little guy I love (her baby). Jet lag really kicked my butt for the first week or so, but otherwise, it was just wonderful. However, less than 3 weeks [View Full Entry]

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My trip to South Africa is reaching it’s end . . . Two days ago, I packed up from the backpackers in the Drakensberg, spent some time looking out across the ampitheatre, then hopped back on the Baz Bus for the last time. Early that evening, I returned to Johannesburg. To be honest, I didn’t care to come back to Johannesburg. I saw what I wanted to see here at the start of my trip, then spent too much time waiting for the rest of it to continue. But I was determined to finish it off well. One spot near Joburg [View Full Entry]

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In the centre of South Africa, is the world’s third-smallest but highest country - Lesotho. Lesotho has 2.1 million people living in it. The population is largely farmers, living in small rural communities, their main crop maize. The Northern Drakensberg, where I am staying, is nearby the Lesotho border and my backpackers runs day trips across the border. So that was my adventure today. Two mini buses of us packed in and headed off. The drive was almost 2 hours to the border. We all lined up with the locals at the immigration booth to have our passports scanned and stamped. [View Full Entry]

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Lots of Pictures today - I couldn't narrow them down! The backpackers where I am staying is in the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, right at the base of a spot called the Ampitheatre, an 8 kilometre stretch of cliff and canyon. Today I signed up for a tour that would take me to the top of the Ampitheatre. I was hesitant to sign up out of concern for what the hike would be like (because of my fear of heights and my current lack of energy as I’ve been feeling unwell). Reception assured me that it was an easy walk, we drove [View Full Entry]

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I’m in the Drakensberg mountains. And they are beautiful. This afternoon I went horseback riding. I wanted to go at some point during this trip and through the mountains seemed like a good choice. I was driven about 25 kilometres from the hostel to the edge of the Royal Natal Nature Reserve - where the stables are. I then saddled up for a two hour ride through the foothills of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, a world heritage site. I rode often when I was young, then again this past May in Jamaica. But I am horribly out of practice. I struggled [View Full Entry]

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Today, for my last day in Durban, we went to uShaka Marine World to the water park and sea world. Racquel came with us, along with her son and two nephews. We had a few errands to fun first (I needed to once again get cash at a bank - though by an absolute miracle, I was in and out in less than 15 minutes!!), then we were off to uShaka. The day was overcast and rather cool, but it’s never really cold in Durban and it meant that the park wasn’t hectic busy. We had some lunch, then watched the [View Full Entry]

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Friday was my day to explore some of Durban’s cultural scene. Jody came by my hostel in the afternoon to pick me up. First we drove a bit south along the Bluff to the next beach south of Anstey’s (where I’m staying) - Brighton Beach. There’s a rock area called Cave Rock and some public swimming areas. It’s a bit quieter than Anstey’s too. After that, we headed into Central Durban to the BAT Centre, a theatre by the harbour. Earlier in the week, I’d tried unsuccessfully to find it myself, so I was happy that Jody took me. The whole [View Full Entry]

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