WEEK 10

 

25/09/23 NEW YORK

I was up very early this morning and eventually got up so that I did not bother hubby for he needs his sleep. Getting older seems to go hand in hand with sleeplessness! So off I went to deck 17 and just after I started walking it started raining so I made my way to deck 16 for coffee while I watched this last week’s cruise video on the big screen. Enjoyed seeing the medical team on the big screen doing the wave and all the videos of the week’s different music evenings like 60,70, the glow party and so on.

Had a little giggle for the cruise director was all dressed up in his Elvis type of costume with a wig, John Lennon glasses the hole catoot, and just thought to myself it is a good thing this type of dress is not part of hubby,s job description!! but the guests had a great time.

I had time to video us passing under the bridge on the Hudson River and just when I wanted to go up to video the Statue of Liberty I realized that I had lost my name tag so in the end I did not get to see it and did not find my tag, thank goodness I have another one for I need to have it on as soon as I go into the crew areas.

Asked at reception if anyone had picked it up but it is missing in action, die naam plaaitjie se magneet het aanmekaar vasgesit aan my selfoon en ek dink hy het toe ek my selfoon uit my sak haal uitgeval sonder dat ek dit agter gekom het. Hubby was teasing me saying that he might be able to get me a job on the bridge, standing watch, because I am wide awake so early in the mornings, haa haa.

Got off the ship early and had a few stops I wanted to make but it was going to be a day of walking in the rain. Put on my old running shoes and that was a mistake for their soles are worn and slippery, had a few close calls and I feared falling. Got to the chocolate shop called Laderach in 5 th Avenue and was lucky to get 2 pieces to taste, can really recommend it, delicious think it is a Swiss company.

Had my plastic poncho on all day but had cold wet feet by the time I got back to the cruise terminal. The terminal was packed with people and think they were running late, maybe the rain had something to do with it. Just after boarding I went up for some delicious pork noodle soup and before I finished it was time for another Code Alpha.

This poor man was sent to hospital before he even could get going on his cruise and holiday. We left about 30min late but the sea and weather is still miserable has not stopped raining and not very hopeful about the weather, the sea is choppy, thank goodness we are not tendering anywhere. The ships motion is making me sleepy so hope I am going to make 8 o clock for supper.

26/09/23 BOSTON

The sea has not settled down after the hurricane and we had rough seas all the way from New York during the night. We arrived an hour later than scheduled so only docked at about 3 pm and by the time we could get off all the ships and local cafes in the port area were closed so that was a bit of a disappointment, so we only went for a walk and went straight back to the ship.

Some crew and passengers took the taxi to town, so their time was limited and once we were back on board were informed that we were going to leave a lot later than planned due to a problem with refueling the ship and the bunkering process. On our way back to the ship passed deep sea divers with their van and all their stuff that there use when working under water, hubby told me they must clean the hull of the ship for some or other seashells that attaches onto the ship and that then caused drag. Nooit te oud om te leer nie!

Very glad I don’t have to get into this dark cold water, different strokes for different folks, hey! Had another passenger that had to get off in Boston due to a fracture after a fall.

27/09/23 Portland Maine

We docked early and made it in time with clear skies for a change and was good to have no wind and rain. Hubby working so I got off late morning and strolled to the downtown area and popped into some nice shops. At lunch time I made my way to the Porthole for some oysters, local food and a cold beer. During the night another old passenger had fallen and fractured his femur so this has really been crazy with all the fracture’s but must add the passengers are a lot older some in the 80 or 90! So, is nie baie vas op die voete nie en nog met n see wat rof is, resep vir moeilikheid.

When I got back to the ship, I showed hubby a photo of a very interesting bread knife made locally from maple wood with a wooden handle and a saw blade, he sent me back to go and buy us one. This was the same shop where I bought us a toast tong from wood on one of precious trips to Portland.

So tonight, we leave for a day at sea before we reach our next port Sydney.

 

28/09/23 @SEA

Today was a lazy day but I did get to the gym, was great to have calm seas for a change and it was flat. Has not been sunny and there is a change in the seasons is a lot cooler so the changing of the leaves should also be starting soon. I can’t wait for our date night want ek al so lus vir n lekker stuk fillet, wyn en appel tert, n bederf vir die maand.

Baie opgewonde liefie se aflos gaan die 11 de opklim as ek afklim dan is hy vir die 5 dae saam met hom voor hy afklim om hom tou wys te maak.Dis n groot verligting want ons was baie bekommerd hulle wil sy kontrak weer verleng as hulle nie iemand in sy plek kry nie.More moet ek 6.30 aanmeld vir immigrasie en dan gaan ons weer deur die hele proses want Sydney is dan die eerste Kanadese port of entry.

I will be getting off the ship on my own. So sorry I did not think of visiting Kennebunkport yesterday on an excursion for it got worldwide exposure as the summer home of the President Bush family. It is about 45min ride from Portland. You also pass the stunning mansions of the wealthy sea captains and merchants in the 1700, s and 1800, maybe next time. Am reading a book about Billy Graeme and he mentions visits to the Bush family at Kennebunkport he seems to have been friends with most of the USA presidents in his time enjoying the book about his life.

29/09/23 SYDNEY

Wow, what a stunning day we had, with the sea like a mirror and no wind we were enjoying the sunshine so all of us were on the outside decks soaking up the sun. When we arrived in Sydney the temperature was 7 degrees this morning and our day started upside down with a phone call at about 6.15 asking me to come to the immigration and last night, I was told to be there at 6.30! So is holderste bolder uit die kamer weg.

Waited for another 30 minutes for the immigration officials to come onboard but we were only about 20 that were waiting to see them. Asked about the line through my visa but was not an issue when I explained the story all over again! The multiple entry and the expiring date were right, so all was ok. I got off after breakfast and decided to go on a long walk today to an area I have not been to before.

Some or other park with lots of duck’s seagulls and pigeons, also had a small little girl and her father feeding them, that was so cute to watch. Bought some locally made cookies to take back for hubby for he has had a crazy busy day from early this morning and two disembarkations from the ship for the day!

Chatted to two people today that asked me about South Africa and just loved our country and as they say, all countries have problems. We on our way to Charlottetown tomorrow and have decided to try and get some whole lobster for this is what these parts are known for so we will see. Just heard that New York has had so much rain and there has been flooding all over the city, just hope all cleared by the time we get there and no bad weather when I must fly out to Atlanta.

30/09/23 CHARLOTTETOWN CANADA

Was good to have another sunny day in this part of the world and the cutest tiny boat was used to get our mooring ropes and pull them to the cement pillars to get us tied up. It looks like a toy boat!

We spoiled ourselves with lunch at the Lobster on the Wharf in the port area with a huge lobster and lobster roll, was good. In this part of the world, they don’t seem to have good coffee or sell espresso, only drip coffee like they call it! I still had plans to walk around and visit the weekend street market but, in the end, did not get to it.

Our sail away was in very thick mist and was magical with the sun going down and its reflection on the sea, got to take a picture that I posted. Saw the damage in New York from all the rain and must say is scary, had 7 inches of rain in a short period. Decided to try some Asian food in the garden café and was delicious and tasty.

01 OCTOBER 2023: @SEA

We are on our way to Saguenay slowly sailing along and reach it tomorrow at about 11. Is so much nicer to enjoy the beautiful scenery that is on both sides of the ship during the day, last week we entered early morning so by the time we got up we had passed most of the cliffs and landscape alongside the ship.

Has not been too busy but should not say that for then things normally pick up!I Hoping to go on a nice long walk tomorrow and enjoy the little town and pretty port area. Only leaving at 19h00 so that might prevent last times congestion trying to get back on to the ship. Have been very lazy but we did get up this morning for a walk and gym session. Voel nou soos n perd wat huis geruik het en net dit in my kop,het goed om my besig te hou maar nie lus vir dit nie en my kombers wat ek gehekel het is klaar, moet se ek geniet nogal die hekel werk veral in die laat middag. Het vir myself n roetine uitgewerk en dit werk vir my as ek hierso is.

2 OCTOBER 2023:  SAGUANAY CANADA

We sailed up the St Lawrence River on a perfect day with no swell, the photos I took were beautiful and I could capture the moment. It is hard to think that in 2 months’ time the place will be covered in snow and will be bitterly cold.

We got off and made our way to the local terminal where hubby had the most delicious smoked meat baguette and some nice coffee. Later we went on a walk along the sea and had time to just sit and take in the beauty of this place and enjoy being outside in the sun. There were tourists all over the place and think the locals were also making the most of the sunny day and beach.

I decided to go and stroll around town and popped in at a few shops, also passed a local pet shop with the dearest puppies in the window playing and having a ball, not a worry in the world, they were just so cute. I got up early and was beautiful to see the sunrise and the changing of the leaves starting to show their true colors.

We left at 19h00 so I stayed on deck 8 so that I could video the sunset and us sailing away and to show what it looks like at night.

3 October 2023: QUEBEC CITY

I had an early breakfast because I had to be on the pier at 9 to meet my tour bus for my excursion to the Montmorency Falls and City. Today I realized I need to choose tours that are activities in nature like walking and hiking and not just sightseeing from the bus not my thing but the tours I wanted to do in Quebec were all sold out every time I tried to get a spot on a tour.

Think the tour that went to the Countryside of Quebec would have been beautiful especially with the trees that have started with their colorful show in the countryside and around the city.

After our tour I got hubby a little something to cheer him up from La Fudgerie in the old part of the town and had the most delicious tiny little cup of hot chocolate, was out of this world, vrek lekker never had such tasty hot chocolate, must be with the real stuff!!! Was thinking of going back to see if I could buy a tin of this magic stuff.

Then I went up to the hotel Frontenac for I knew this would be my last chance and ended up sitting on a bench listening to a guy playing music that I really enjoyed. There was this guy walking around with fishnet stockings a g- string, his tools/private parts tucked into a small silver bag/underpants, knee high boots, a headlamp on his head, earrings and my, o my, could not believe my eyes, weird/ strange don’t know why one would want to walk around like that, but he did catch everyone’s attention that is for sure!

On my way down to the old part of the city I came across another guy playing music and took some time to listen and record that too, it just gives you another feeling while you are walking around and enjoying this beautiful city. Teen die tyd was ek stok flou en het besluit ek het nou genoeg gehad vir die dag so is terug skip toe.

As soon as I got back on the ship, I phoned hubby to hear how his day had been the poor man was waiting for the ambulance to arrive for he had 2 patients the one had a heart attack and the other person a femur fracture, so he was not a happy chappy. We overnight in Quebec and tomorrow the passengers get off and the next cruise starts, my last cruise.