WEEK 3

 

6/08/23 NEW YORK

Hubby had a peaceful night, and the patient was in a stable condition when he was picked up by the ambulance just after arrival in port, very thankful and grateful for that. Here I go through all the stress and worries with my hubby and am his praying partner when things are tough, and he says all we can do now is pray, so that is part of our life here on the cruise ships. The other night when I was passing the medical department, I thought to myself amazing how all seems peaceful and normal to all the passengers meanwhile a drama could be playing off behind the scenes and very stressful for all the crew involved. Just as well you don’t know about all the drama behind the scenes for what you don’t know, you don’t worry about!

We got off the ship at about 9.30 this morning and another beautiful day but was hot about 30 degrees. Our first stop was at Starbucks to get something to eat and drink and then downloading things that needed to be done. Then walked to the Nike shop in 5 th Avenue and on my way, you will not believe it, a bird pooped on my head!! Of all the hundreds of people walking around in New York I was the chosen one to have a bird poo on my head. This has never happened to me so there I was with no wet wipes only a tissue so that had to do the trick so kept on wiping and rubbing until I saw no more bird poo. Too make things worse I am grey so could be visible and after I had cleaned this mess up, I discovered that I also had a bit on my shoulder, so that I call a pot shot!!

The Nike shop has about 4/5 levels and was busy so after my visit there I decided to walk to my favorite shop Levain Bakery in 74^{th street} where I got myself 4 different cookies and a Levain cookie tin to keep as a memento of our visit to New York. The place was very busy and is a teeny-weeny bakery. On my way back I decided to take another route back to the ship and made my way to Hudson River Park. Passed a playground where small children were having a ball playing in an area where water was squirting out of the ground and coming and going, was so special to just sit and watch them having fun in the water.

I discovered a place where hubby and I can just chill and lie on the grass under the trees with our next visit, for he prefers to just relax when he gets off the ship needs time to relax and get away and walking around in a very busy New York not his thing.

Also discovered a place where you can go on free canoe rides on the Hudson River, thought that was cool for nothing is for free these days! By this time, I was feeling a tired and decided it was time to return to the ship and spend time catching my breath and doing some free Wi-Fi business. Was good to just sit and relax for a while. Think the extreme heat really gets to you and is worse when you only walk, do not take any taxi rides and the heavy backpack does not make things easier.

08/0823@SEA

Yesterday was one of those lazy days we got up for our walk and coffee date, but I just felt a bit pap after yesterday's lots of walking so decided to give the gym a skip and just chill in the observation lounge after breakfast and did a bit of reading which I have not really done so far. Hubby was on duty for the day and his week started with a bang! Had a patient that fell and broke her femur so that was the end of her cruise and then later in the day someone else with a fractured ankle so seems to be the week of the broken bones!!

This morning we slept late so no walking but did eventually get to the gym and glad I went you always feel better after some exercise. There are so many things to do on the ship but have not gone to the show Footloose yet but might try tonight. I am keen to go to the art classes {a painting class} that they have for the passengers and looks likes lots of fun and they make it look so easy. Tomorrow, we arrive in Bermuda and the plan is to take the ferry to St Georges and then catch the local bus to St Davids to explore Clear Water Beach, Turtle Bay, Long Bay Beach and Coopers Island Nature Reserve.

This week I won’t be going without my umbrella so will be prepared for rain and shine as they say in this part of the world. Hope I am not going to be disappointed, going to try and see something new each week and before we know it is going to be time to start our Quebec run. There I am going to try and do a few excursions to places that look interesting and different. Maybe I will do the Sunset Cruise on the day that hubby is working next week and just hope it is a perfect evening and buy a bus ticket for the day and do bus trips all over the island. Traveling with the bus you see a lot more of the island and get to rub shoulders with these very friendly people, the Bermudians.

Some days you just miss home and today is one of those days missing home and all the normal things you do at home, walking around in your pajamas, sleeping in your bed, tea on the stoep with a rusk and enjoying home food. Things we take for granted until we can’t do them. Know it sounds crazy, but hotel food is amazing in the beginning but after 2/3 weeks you do miss home food. Maybe one can compare it to a 3-week holiday at the end you are ready to return to your life at home. I really hope that I am going to be in time to see my Wisteria Creeper flower this year, last year I just caught the last few blooms.

Before i left home i filled my beds with seedlings so will have to be happy with the photos that my sister sends me. We have been very lucky with calm seas so far and really hope it stays that way especially after seeing what is going on all over the world with the weather. Watched a program about the Amazon must say that is one trip that I am so thankful that I could experience was breathtaking beautiful and what a special place to see, one of my top 5 trips.

9/08/23 BERMUDA

Arrived in Bermuda at 8 and got up early for another round of exercise and hubby made it to the treadmill with a moan and a grown! Always says feeling so much better after his gym session so I am very hard on the poor man, had to laugh he says when he hears the water running in the bathroom he knows no turning back and needs to get up.

I had an early breakfast and made it to the 9-o clock ferry to St Georges then I bought tokens to catch the bus to St Davids, a round trip cost me 5$. Must say was disappointed with St Davids and the Cooper Island Nature Reserve not much to see and looked a bit run down to me. The beaches were beautiful but that was about is. Very few people were around so after a quick swim with only a single chicken scratching around for food under the trees as company I went back to the bus stop to catch the next bus back to St Georges. Did not wait too long and must say was very relieved when I saw it coming in my direction, I can now understand why the lady at the tourist information said you don’t want to get caught on the island with no transport back to St Georges also felt a bit isolated think I would rather go back to Tobacco Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

Did not feel like walking around in the heat so took the early ferry back to Dockyard and even had a little sleep on my way back. Tomorrow hubby is working so still have to decide what I am going to do, it will be a visit to Hamilton or a beach day at Horse Shoe Bay for there I have found my spot at that beach, away from the crowds and a safe little place to swim, the sea is a bit rough in certain areas with warnings about the rip currents all over and what to do if you are caught in a rip current. Think I have said this before that you may not drink alcohol in public, so people put their alcohol, wine or beer in a brown paper packet and that is ok, weird!! Drinking in the hot sun with high humidity sounds like trouble to me, so will skip that one. Sitting in the observation lounge with a stunning view over Dockyard and in a matter of minutes a mist came rolling in over land with very poor visibility, then some rain and the next minute it was all over, amazing how quick the weather can change here.

10 /08/23 BERMUDA

Had another beautiful sunrise this morning and after breakfast I decided to catch the ferry to Hamilton, hubby was on duty, so he is shipbound for the day and going nowhere. Once in Hamilton I decided to visit some clothing shops and was lucky to find myself a costume after trying on so many different ones and when I asked about a costume, they did not know what I was talking about so then I said bathing suits and that did the trick!

Today the heat was bad and just can’t get used to it, no wonder all the places have aircon and run 24/7 it does cool down after sunset but still hot. I stopped at another lovely shop where I got us lanterns that work with solar so very excited about them for want to hang them in our pergola at home and will be nice to have for warm summer nights. Got some cool ideas of things that I want to try and make at home about dogs. My list is getting longer and longer but maybe when we return home permanently, I will have more time to make all these things that I have seen on my travels with hubby. Had time after my shopping to walk around but by this time I did not feel like anymore rondloping!

I had my token for my trip back and got onto a local pink Bermuda bus to Dockyard en o my genade as jy geneig is tot kar siek word of kar siek voel moet jy dit dalk n skip gee want die busse is automaties en vir my ry hulle vreeslik vinning en die paaie is nou,en kronkelrig so nie goed vir die maag nie!Hier en daar tref die bus die plante wat teen die pad groei,trek weg met n helse spoed en jy moet maar klou en vashou al sit jy.Dit was vir my lekker om weer al die helder geverfde huise te sien en ek bedoel helder pastel kleure en hulle wit gekalkde dakke vir die reen water tenks onder die huise en die dele sien jy nie as jy die ferry vat nie.

My laaste stop was by die apteek vir n paar goed en toe is ek reguit skip toe.Gelukkig was manlief nog op sy middag siesta breek so was lekker om net weer op te vang voor hy moes aanmeld vir die middag kliniek.Baie trots op hom want verlede week se pasient wat so siek was se vrou het n vreeslike mooi e-pos oor hom en sy personeel vir die maatskappy gestuur ,so dan besef jy weer daar is mense wat hul harde werk raaksien en waardeur dink hy het nog n paar gryshare bygekry oor daai oompie! Maar hy het lewendig in New York aangekom. Dit kan ek se, hy gee mos altyd 110% en sy werk is sy passie. Ondervinding is ook weer iets wat jy besef van onskatbare waarde is en  geen geld kan koop nie. More is alweer Vrydag  en dan is week 3 ook weer verby.

Hier waar ek nou sit en tik speel hulle sulke rustige musiek en voel asof ek reg is vir die bed!!

11/08/23 BERMUDA

Just after dinner last night hubby was called out to see a patient with severe heart failure so after stabilizing her the ambulance came to pick her up. He only got back to our cabin after 12 so was a late night and we decided to sleep late tomorrow morning. We had arranged to get off the ship after his morning clinic hours then there was another drama with a possible psychiatric case, so I had to go on my own.

I decided to visit the National Museum of Bermuda that is situated in Dockyard the Commissioners House has stunning views over the ocean and what an interesting morning I had. The area is called The Keep and the building guide includes the following.

Queens Exhibition Hall an 1850 Ordnance Building/High Cave/Commissioners House/Rampart and Cannon/Boat Loft/1837 Shifting House/Keep Pond/Dolphin Quest/Museum Playhouse and Playground /NW Rampart and Casemates.

My first stop was to High Cave called Prisoners of Paradise and as it says not all visitors to Bermuda were here on their own accord! Bermuda was once a penal colony for thousands of British convicts and the Great Sound islands were camps POWs of the Boer War and both World Wars. Prisoners of Paradise explores Bermuda role for colonial prisoners, and the story of those held captive and the handiworks they crafted while in Bermuda. The Anglo Boer War was from 1899-1902 Hier het ek n vertrek ingegaan met die mooiste houtwerk artikels wat deur die Boere gemaak is and the history of the prisoners. Each one of the displays had its story, history and a few had me feeling tearful.

The carvings were done with Bermuda Cedar.

Pen Holders Religious imagery was used in everyday objects. The clasped hands holding the Bible in the penholder represents a pledge of faith to God. The narrow end of the pen holder would have been a metal nib to dip into ink.

An Egg Box in Christian imagery represents life or rebirth. Perhaps this egg box was carved to represent new hope and life for the Boers.

Many of the carvings are material affirmation of the Boers faith. They believed that God dictates the activities of their everyday lives, and that work should reflect commitment to God. One of the greatest hardships the men faced was the isolation from the outside world and the separation from their loved ones and home.

Displayed is a selection of objects that contain religious imagery that reveal the Boers faith and dedication to God. Many are also possible tribute to loves ones and peace.

Heart pendants and a cross were made to be worn by the carver to physically express his faith.

Beef Bone the prisoners would meticulously carve the names or initials of their wives, daughters and other close family on the bone.

The tiny calved wooden boots have a removeable sliding top which when opened releases a snake pin as its fang ready to prick the surprised holder perhaps symbolic of the covert guerrilla tactics favored by the Boers. Small trick boxes were common in the Victorian era.

The last item that really touched my heart was a little wooden box with the words carved on top saying FROM HERBERT TO MOTHER, is that not so special.

I then realized I need to start picking up my pace for still had lots to see and my time was running out. These words also caught my attention:

“You can never imagine how cruel it is to be deprived of your liberty. A year’s severe fighting cannot teach you as much as one month’s imprisonment.”

This saying “I wished for the last friend, Death, to relieve me” was heartbreaking to read the testament of captive Olaudah Equiano 1814, I could not even look at the rest of the photos or carry on reading all this for I will never understand how people could be so cruel to other human beings, war and slavery.

The building I just loved and hope to share all the beautiful photo on FB. Another very special piece was the miniature replica of Bermuda Furniture called the Arnell Miniature Collection, exquisite.

My last stop was at the Dolphin Quest and hope to bring hubby next week to swim with the dolphins for I have done it before and is really very special to meet these amazing animals up close and personal, also one of my top 5 excursion’s I will always treasure.

Just before leaving my eye caught an old clock so quickly popped in to see a collection of outdoor motorboat engines and the oldest is an Evinrude engine from 1925.The clock outside the building works with 3 brass bells that are different sizes, and the mechanics are on the inside of the building and look very old but still in working condition and clicking along.

Teen die tyd was ek verskriklik dors en warm toe is dit eers tyd vir n roomys, eiland gemmer bier terwyl ek die dolfyne dophou en in die koelte van n sambrieel.

Got back to the ship and was great to have a shower after the Bermuda heat. Two Hours after leaving Bermuda the announcement came of a Code Alpha in the Mojito Bar, no its sounds terrible but I was hoping that is would rather be a drunk passengers than a real Code Alpha for we are at sea tomorrow and only arrive in New York on Sunday morning so anything very serious a life and death situation and in need of a hospital will mean an evacuation by helicopter and that not for the faint hearted!

12 /08/23 @SEA

Well good news last night's Code Alpha was only a crew member that fainted so very thankful nothing serious. Was one hour backward last night so we won a hours sleep and were ready when the alarm went off this morning.

The sunrise did not disappoint and was beautiful watching the sun come up while we were walking on deck 17 with only water as far as the eye can see. The nearest land now was the States. This afternoon I watched another movie Blueback about a little fishing village and the fight a women put up to protect it from development and had it declared a Nature Reserve, just loved it. It made me think of that amazing movie made in our Cape Town Ocean called My Octopus Friend if you have not seen it, you must, you won’t be disappointed it is awesome.

Tomorrow I will be doing things on my own for hubby is on duty so will be getting off early and planning on going to a few places of interest. There is so much to do in this amazing city but one can only walk so far, and I don’t really like going too far from the ship just in case something happens and I can't get a ride back and miss the ship for as I have said before the ship waits for no one and last week they had protests in some streets in Manhattan but that was before we got there on Friday.

Got hubby to think about a visit to the Dolphin Quest encounter, so will see if he takes the bait,haa haaa.