TheDCs

Sunday 8th – Sunday 22ndDecember 2013 Including Jennie’s 50th Norwegian Star – Panama Canal transit and Mexican Riviera Two weeks of mostly fine and sunny with some rain – averaging 29c The Norwegian Star is our last NCL ship for this holiday adventure. It is not a large ship as it needs to be able to transit the Panama Canal. Its gross tonnage is 91,740 and guest capacity is 2,350 looked after by 1,100 crew. The Topaz Suite on the Norwegian Star was our two bedroomed apartment at sea for this sailing. What a great stroke of luck in getting this amazing suite. NCL had overbooked and so asked that we combine cabins with Di and Max and hence we got this amazing upgrade! A lovely birthday present and a great surprise. The master suite came ... read more

November 30th – December 5th2013 Live Aqua Resort, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico Fine and sunny – 28c -30c Our flight to Cancun from Miami was quick, thankfully! The AA 757 was very run down and very full. There were a few grizzly kids and we were glad to land in Cancun after an hour 45 minutes. We chose Yellow Taxis for the ride into the Hotel Zone. They offer a deal at the airport giving 50% discount on the return trip if you book at the same time. It was US $16 per person. After a short wait we piled into a minivan with a few others and left for Live Aqua. The hotel is gorgeous. On arrival we were shown past the pair of gleaming white Rolls Royce limousines (hotel courtesy cars) into the impressive ... read more

Friday 1stNovember Boston - embarkation on the Norwegian Dawn Raining and windy 19’C We got most of the packing done last night so we could have a relaxing morning. Our first job was to go for a walk to the Goodwill store to donate some of our winter clothes. Next job was to send our winter clothes we wanted to keep back home via the USPS – US Postal Service; so with the box all loaded and taped up we caught the bus north on Washington St so we didn’t have to walk so far to the West Dedham St postal branch. The staff were very helpful and the 10kg box with insurance was on its way back to NZ for $138. This was a weight off our minds AND a weight out of OUR BAGS! ... read more

Friday 25thOctober Fine, sunny and cool – 11c Newport, RI – Eastham, Cape Cod, MA 177 miles traveled Wow, another blue sky and bright sunshine - we are getting such great weather - so lucky! We left the RV Park about 9.30am and drove the short distance into Newport township. We retraced our steps of a couple of weeks ago when we were here on the Crystal Symphony. The day was just as glorious and perfect to show off the “summer cottages” along Bellevue Avenue. This time after a quick drive along the famous avenue, we decide to park up and wander the Cliff Walk. Unfortunately just half a mile into it we are met by a closure as there are construction workers making some repairs. We did manage to see the Breakers mansion from the ... read more

Tuesday 22ndOctober 2013 Washington DC – Pennsylvania Fine and overcast – 15c We disconnected our home and departed Cherry Hill about 9am, bound for Gettysburg National Military Park Museum in Maryland. En route we happened to notice a sign leading to the Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial in a small town called Emmitsburg. The National Emergency Management training facility is here. After passing security and leaving our IDs at the main gate they allowed us in, visitors passes attached. There are two memorials – one commemorating all the US firefighters who died on duty between the years 1981 and the present. It was opened by Ronald Reagan. A brass plaque for each year is placed around a taller monument with an eternal flame. All names and States are listed on the plaque which is placed on a stone ... read more