79 Days to Europe & Back

Dear Friends, Day 1: Off we go…

Sorry I did not post this from day one. Still learning the technology. I am going to share our trip day by day to try to keep you informed and maybe entertained. We rented a car (so we wouldn’t need to leave our vehicle in a paid parking for 79 days) and dropped it off last night. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Interstate 95 because of its proximity to the airport to drop off the car. The hotel was nice enough, they offered food, but highly overpriced. Note to self, if we stay there again, eat first. The neighborhood was a little sketchy, so we basically stayed at the hotel, until morning. The evening was somewhat hectic, which stressed us both out. Eugene’s COVID test did not come back, so we had to reschedule for the next day and wait for results, prior to boarding. Unbeknownst to us, we could have gotten it at the port. (Information for next time). Anyway, after many calls, we were able to get it scheduled at the local Walgreens. He dropped me off at the hotel with the luggage and headed to the airport to drop off the rental. Unfortunately, I took the Easy Pass (which was needed to enter the airport), he had to turn around, in traffic and come back to get it. Dropping the car off was easy enough, but he had difficulty getting an Uber to the hotel. After he ordered it, he realized he forgot our Easy Pass in the rental. Had to cancel the UBER (pay cancellation fee) go back to rental lot (ten minute walk) and try to find the car. Unfortunately, it was already at the car wash, another 20 minute walk. By the time he got there, the car was heading back to the lot. Needless to say, he was angry and stressed. After an hour, he finally retrieved our Easy Pass, On top of that, his phone was almost dead. He couldn’t find any where to charge it at the rental area. He ordered an Uber, but before he was picked up, his phone was completely dead. He did get into his Uber, quite frustrated and still very worried that he would not get his COVID results before sailing. We had driven Uber and Lyft from 5:00 AM until 4:00 PM, then headed to Miami. When he got to the hotel, he was exhausted, angry, frustrated and hungry. Needless to say, we neither got much sleep. I had no intention on taking this trip without him. But he insisted that if his test results were not back in time, he would fly to Funchal Madria (our first stop) our first port and meet me there. Not the way I saw this trip starting out! “Best-laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry”._{Robert Burns}

Good night, your friends Jamie & Eugene

Boarding Day: 4/29 Day 2:

Good morning Everyone, today was much better. Things finally worked out. Though Eugene was exhausted, because he didn’t sleep at all worried about not getting test results in time. However, after a nap on the ship, he was much less …grumpy. Walgreens were able to get him tested earlier than scheduled. We had an awesome Uber driver, took us to Walgreens and to the Miami Port Terminal. Where we waited for the test results. After an hour wait, NEGATIVE! Europe, here we come! We checked our luggage with the porter and headed to the entrance. To our dismay, we hit another hiccup. Something we did not know. When doing a transatlantic cruise and stopping in Brussels, you must complete a specific form. It had to be scanned in on your cell phone and completed before boarding. The cell service was sketchy, which made things more difficult. There were very little spaces to sit, so many had to stand and complete it. Unfortunately, a number of people did not know how to access the program and struggled. It made of a frustrating start for everyone. If I had know that we had to complete this form prior to boarding we would have done it, while waiting on test results. “Plan, Prepare Prevail: Expect the Unexpected”. After all the paperwork was completed, we finally boarded the Jewel of the Seas, for our transatlantic cruise. Boarding was quick and painless. The staff was quite efficient and there were virtually no lines. Easy Pezzy! The staff were super friendly and welcomed us onto the ship. We went directly to our Muster Station and reported in. One task down. Since we had not eaten since the night before, and it was after 2:00, we headed up to the Windjammer for lunch and beverage. The food was good, pretty typical for cruise buffet. After eating, to our state room for a nap. I woke an hour later, to found to my surprise, that our luggage was already outside our stateroom. I met our stateroom attendant, Priscilla, she was very friendly and willing to get us anything we needed. The staff are quite efficient on the Jewel. The ship is only at 50% capacity, 1050 passengers, so it makes since that things would run more smoothly. I let Eugene sleep and unpacked and organized our clothes and other things.

At 5:00, we changed for dinner and headed to the dining room. We were assigned to a smaller dining room that only held 32 people. And the dining room was not at full capacity. Our server is May and her assistant is Angelique. They are awesome!! Dinner the first night was exceptional. I ordered butternut soup off the vegan menu. It was outstanding as usual. Do not forget to look at the vegan menu, when selecting your dinner. Eugene had the wild mushroom soup, always delicious. Just for a point of reference, Royal Caribbean usually has the same set menu nightly, on all ships. The menu itself is divided into nightly specials and an everyday menu. This does change occasionally, but it seems to have been consistent over the past 10 cruises. The everyday menu has herb crusted salmon, roasted chicken breast, New York strip steak, and spaghetti bolognese offered daily. First night is generally prime rib. One of our favorites. Therefore both ordered prime rib, as our meal. Though the menu specifies what comes with the entree’, you can always request a change. If you want a baked potato, in addition to what is offered, or in place of what is offered, just ask. The staff is extremely accommodating. They are there to please the guests. Another quick note on ordering, please be respectful of your servers time. They are very busy. It is helpful to order everything at one time. Do not string order if you can avoid it. Let them know up front if you eat hot sauce, ketchup, A 1 ….. or you have any preferences. For example, I dislike mushrooms and always use A1 sauce or ketchup with beef. (Sorry chef, I know it ruins the taste, but it’s my meal). Once your server knows, they rarely forget. They are that good! You are free to order several appetizers, entrees, or desserts. Never a problem. Remember, sometimes the portion sizes are smaller, so keep that in mind if you are a big eater. Back to dinner. The prime rib was outstanding. One of my weakness is bread. Royal has these wonderful, soft, cheese rolls. OMG soo good. They always sit a basket of a variety of breads, on the table. These rolls, in my opinion, are the best. Since I knew that I was going low-carb the rest of the cruise, I indulged on not one, but two of those devils. We did have dessert (only for one night). Eugene had the apple tart with ice cream, excellent. It is one of our favorites. I had the no-sugar pear and blueberry cobbler. It was good, but nothing notable.

After some exploring, we found that we really liked the way that the Jewell of the Seas was laid out. Because of it’s smaller size, everything is easily accessible. We really appreciated the intimate common areas. There are so many areas where couples or small groups can hang out. Also quite a few areas where you can play games or work on your computer without feeling others are right up against you. I like that the art is displayed all over the ship, not just in a gallery. It gives you an opportunity to appreciate each piece individually. The ship is tastefully decorated. I will post pictures of the ship throughout the next few posts. I believe this is my favorite ship of all that we have sailed on thus far.

Good night to everyone

After dinner, went to the 7:15 welcome show. It was comedian, Don Gavin, from Bostin, MA. He was very funny and a nice start to the cruise. We later hit the casino for a bit. Yes, we lost. Headed to bed rather early because it had been a long day. Our stateroom is a balcony. It is rather roomy and we have everything we need. The seas were a little choppy, but nothing that would disrupt our sleep.

Good night to all, and a good night to all

Day 3: At Sea

Dear Friends,

Good morning, We got up at 8:00 am and went directly to the gym. Im so proud of us. It was surprisingly crowded, given a large portion of the population of the guests are over 65. Not that over 65, can not be in shape. Im just not, either over 65 or in shape. Normally, I like to walk the track outside, but it was very windy. We choose to walk on the treadmill. It has been two months , since we have been to the gym. WOW were we out of shape. I was walking 5-7 miles in December. After 2 miles, I was ready to collapse. I guess at 64, I need to work my way back into exercising. It is a process. With almost 50 days on cruise ships, unlimited food and drink, we had better stick to the plan of working out and eating low carb or we will be bigger than we are now. After the gym, we showered and went to breakfast. Eugene ordered the breakfast burrito with avocado and sour cream and I order bagels and locks, without the bagel. I love, love, love smoked salmon. We spent the rest of the afternoon, relaxing, playing cards, and listening to music. We still need to plan the rest of the trip and of course I need to work on my blog. Keeping busy. There is always something to do on the ship. They have pingpong, shuffle board, several pools, hot tubs, basketball court, they have music trivia, game shows, newer release movies, and musical performers, throughout the day. Many people just relax, read, and play games with one another. During the day, it is very low key. The main shows are in the evening.

At 5:00, we changed for dinner. Tonight is “formal” or “dress your best ” night. People dress a variety of ways. Some men are in suits, some shirt and tie, some casual button up shirts, some with shirts and vests. I did not see anyone in a tux on this cruise. Eugene usually wear black pants and button up short sleeve shirt. Women ranged anywhere from gowns, dresses, slacks and glitzy tops. I personally elected to wear black full legged slacks and a gold top. We had to pack for 75 days in several different climates, so less is better. I brought several pairs of slacks and more tops that could be dressed up and down, as needed. I am definitely not a fashion statement. And making Eugene wear long pants is an effort in itself. He said since moving to Florida, the only place he would wear long pants was to weddings and funerals. Therefore, other evenings, Eugene wears golf shirts and shorts. I only get “dress your best” nights. We are on vacation, so pick my battles. On many cruises, on “formal night”, lobster is served. That was not the case, for this cruise. Eugene had beef tenderloin and I had herb-crusted salmon. Both very good. The evening, we listened to music in the Schooner Bar. He was very talented singer/musician. It was nice to just chill.

Good night to all

Day 4:

Good morning,

We got up early and went to the gym, not once, but twice! Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The cruise offers a morning stretch and pilates, but we choose to hit the tread mill. Partially, because I feared we could not keep up with those 10 years our senior. Some of these older people (older than me for sure) were in better physical shape that we were. Today had a lot going on. There was a Champagne Art Auction, as well as an adult table tennis competition (super intense), as well as an arts and crafts lesson on making ribbon flowers (not for me. I am too uncoordinated). There were multiple seminars today on acupuncture, getting a flatter stomach, and Le Vian Chocolate Diamond Collection . in addition, there was open play pickle ball. Definitely, something we want to try on this cruise. We have played with Justin, in Arizona, not very well, but played. They also offered a dance fitness class on the pool deck. We opted to go to the gym a second time, well because…. we are fat. There was live music throughout the ship all day long. Several movies played in the cinema throughout the day, including, “The Lost City”, “Cyrano” and “Fatherhood”. As we walked around the ship, you could see guests all doing their own thing. Some were participating in cruise activities. Some were just relaxing, reading, on their devices, or sun bathing. Some were playing games with their friends and partners. One thing that was a general consensus, no one seemed stress out or in a hurry. Just enjoying they vacation. “Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone & tomorrow may never come”.

After the second gym session, we showered and took a short nap, in preparation for the evening. At 5:30, we headed to our assigned dining area. Once again, Mayrinel (May) and Angelica were waiting for our arrival. They had our diet cokes, already on the table and knew we did not want bread. For an appetizer, I have grilled peach and panzanella salad. It was good, but Im not sure it would be my first choice in salads. Eugene had the escargot and Caesar salad. He said they were both very flavorful. We both opted for the braised beef ribs for our entree’. They were seasoned perfectly and quite tender. You could cut them with a fork. One of my favorites. After dinner, we headed to the Coral Theater to see The Barricade Boys, one of the headliners. The Barricade Boys consists of four male singers who had a variety of experiences They were all stars of the “Les Miserables” musical, who have been performing around the world since 2015. They are currently on a Bring Him Home Tour. They featured songs from Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Journey and other songs from various genres . The variety of songs showcased their individual vocal talents, as well as their ability to work as a group. Their performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody was phenomenal. This talented group not only offered superb harmonic vocals, but entertained the crowd with their precise choreographic moves and on-stage banter. Certainly a show to remember. “Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in a shade?” _{Benjamine Franklin} We are positively looking forward to another grand performance on day eight. Don’t miss this show!! After this great performance, we stopped in the casino, to donate a little money. Though we have not won, the casino staff are wonderful. The floor manager, Mooi was super friendly and took time to take genuine interest in her guests. Once again, exhausted from a pleasant day at sea. We headed to our stateroom for a good nights sleep. Thank you Royal Caribbean for another great day. Cant wait to see what tomorrow brings. Good night.

Jamie & Eugene

Day 5:

Dear Friends,

Today, we were woken by an announcement that we were near Bermuda. As I looked off the balcony, I could see Bermuda in the distance. Apparently, there was a medical emergency and an individual needed to be transported from the ship. I hope that person was ok. They sent a boat to the ship, to pick the person and the doctor and take them to emergency personnel on the island. The captain was apologetic and said it would not effect our arrival at port in Portugal. Eugene and I opted to get breakfast in the dining room, then watch a movie in the cinema. Breakfast was very good as usual. Since I do not eat eggs, my options are limited with a low carb diet. However, they do have a very nice menu varying from pancakes to eggs Benedict to fresh made omelets or breakfast burritos. After breakfast, we watched “A Journal forJordon”. A movie based on a true story. It was terrific. I cried too much, as did every other person in the theater. After the movie, we had several options. There was jewelry making workshop, a weight loss seminar (we probably should have gone to that session), and a complimentary footprint analysis. There was also the option to play archery rock climbing (not happening), basketball, corn hole or Elvis music trivia. We opted to relax, listen to music and play cards. Eugene and I have a long running competition playing canister. It is determined on who wins the most games on a single cruise. Last year we tied cruises. This year we are tied. It was looking sad for me, being down 4/1 games, but I picked up 2 wins today. He is not a good loser. He pouts a lot. We had a light lunch in the Windjammer. The Monterey cauliflower was unbelievable! So good that I could have made it my main dish. We listened to jazz with Pavel and Stan, while I kicked Eugene’s butt in cards. Before we knew it, we had to get ready for dinner. I knew EXACTLY, what I was going to order. Royal Caribbean makes the best lasagna. I don’t usually order pasta, but in my experience, it is worth the carbs. Eugene had a strip steak and baked potato. It was delicious, as usual. Again our servers, May and Angelica were outstanding. This is the first time we have had female servers and room attendant. They are so kind and totally dedicated to meeting the needs of each person. They are always friendly and so very accommodating. They make dining such a pleasurable experience. Thanks so much ladies. They will most certainly earn a handsome tip, at the end of the cruise.

After dinner, Eugene wanted to watch the new Ghostbuster’s movie in the cinema. I opted to work on my blog and listen to music. After his movie, we went to the Coral Theater to watch the Production Show: City of Dreams. A multitude of talented singers and dancers, performed a journey to ancient Atlantis, Venice, and India. The costumes were tastefully done and featured each theme, song being performed. The singers were excellent and the dancers were truly gifted. They featured songs such as the Styx song, “Come Sail Away”, Celine Dion’s, “The Power of Love”, and Bryan Adams’, “Heaven”, amongst several others. The theatrical scenery, integrated with clever lighting and use of technology, really set the stage for the performances and greatly enhanced the presentation. Great show! I would be remiss if I did not mention the excellent job the Royal Caribbean Orchestra has done, not only with this performance, but also with the performances from the previous evenings. They are all quite talented. With a full day behind us, we decided to turn in. The clocks moved forward an hour, again. This shortened our sleep by an hour and we need to get up early and hit the gym. It’s been a great day. Another day, another memory. “It take a moment to make memories and a lifetime to forget them.”_{Andy Mineo}

Good night and thank you for sharing our adventure, Jamie & Eugene

Day 6:

Hello Friends,

We started the day at the gym. Really trying to at the least, not put on weight during the cruise. We so need to get into shape. The gym on the ship is quite large with over 20 treadmills, in addition to ellipticals, stationery bikes, weights, and other equipment. It is similar to walking into a Planet Fitness. They have personal trainers, exercise classes, morning stretch and sunset stretch, yoga, fun fitness dance class, and pilates daily. While on the treadmill, the woman several machines down was in a full run. She was running for over 30 minutes. I was totally amazed, given she was probably in her early 60’s. I was ashamed of myself, only walking 3.5 MPH and sweating like a steelworker. I assume she has been a runner all her life. I really wanted to ask her, but felt rude bothering her. She had my admiration. After the gym, we showered and changed and went to the Windjammer for breakfast. I wanted to go there because the menu in the dining room for breakfast was the same everyday. I wanted something different. They made a fresh omelet to order for Eugene, with all his favorite ingredients. I opted for freshly carved turkey breast (yes, for breakfast), smoked salmon, avocado and fruit. We are really trying to eat low carb. The freshly baked cinnamon rolls smelled so good. We resisted, thank goodness. After breakfast, we played a few games of cards while enjoying the breeze from the ocean and watching the waves flow by. It was quite relaxing, except Eugene consistently beat me in cards. I’m really off my game on this cruise. As walked out on the pool deck, I saw some serious games of ping pong and corn hole going on. Others were just chilling in the hot tub and the pool or laying out and reading a book. Again, it is somewhat of an older crowd, so everyone is pretty low key. By late morning, we made our way to the casino to donate a few dollars. This has not been a profitable cruise, as far as the casino goes. Usually, we break even, but no luck so far. The casino is rather small and not very busy during the day. There were several enrichment lectures going on throughout the day, As well as movies playing throughout the day, in the Cinema. We relaxed in the common area outside the casino (drinks are free all day for Prime members), so Eugene preferred to be in a closer proximity. We watched a bed making competition (why would I want to enter such a competition? I don’t even like to make my own bed!) It was very entertaining. They played music that coordinated with the activity, which made it seem even funnier. Afterwards, we played Disney Name That Tune. You really don’t know what you don’t know until you need to recall it. I am not that good at trivia. My mind blanks in a rush. Must be old age…yes that’s it …old age. LOL I did not want a Royal Caribbean highlighter anyways. We opted to skip lunch because it was late afternoon and we had dinner at 5:30. They had Sing 2 playing on the big screen, by the pool deck. It is common to see people relaxing in the hot tubs or pool and watching a movie. They also had a ballroom dance class and a miniature golf tournament going on in the afternoon. Several times during the day, there is live music performing. It varies from classical, to jazz, to big band, to salsa. There is something for everyone.

They had a Thomas Kinkade seminar this afternoon. I have several pieces of Kinkade’s paintings, but I never knew he did Disney paintings. If I was certain one of my grandchildren would appreciate the value of a painting, I would consider buying a piece. But I personally, do not have any wall space available for any more art. Over the years, we have collected Matt Beyrer, James Coleman (who used to work for Disney), David Najar, Emile Bellet and Thomas Kinkade. Last year, I attended a Park West invitation only art retreat at a wonderful resort in Phoenix with Cory. Park West Studio is the auction house the handles the art on the cruise ships. A this auction, I acquired a commissioned piece of art from Cris X. I bought it as a house warming gift for my daughter, when she gets her new house. In the meantime, it hangs in my dining room.. Why buy art? for one, it is an investment. The art purchased today by a notable artist, will only increase in value over the years. It will be something of value to pass on to my grandchildren.. Also, it gives the viewer a sense of appreciation for the talent of the artist and the beauty of the piece. Every artist has a distinct style. We can recognize a Matt Beyer from across the room. His technique and style is quite distinctive. Likewise, it is easy to spot a Peter Max, James Coleman, … Once you understand the format and style of the artist, you become familiar of their work and can truly appreciate the art. All three of my sons have a collection of various artists. I know people who have stayed in my home have asked me if we bought art from the cruise ships. Yes we have, as well purchased from galleries and auctions. It is surprising how many people collect art. Cory was originally the one who turned us on to appreciating art. Now, when we travel, we always try to go to museums and art galleries. So much beauty to experience. Every cruise ship has an art gallery. When you cruise, check it out. Who knows, you may find something you love.

The day went by too quickly. We changed and headed to dinner. May and Angelica were there waiting for us. Sometimes it seems a bit uncomfortable having someone waiting on you and trying so hard to predict your every need. It is like we are royalty (Im definitely not royalty material). But I know, it is their job. I have observed people treating them like they are not as good as them. We do everything to not make them run for us and compliment them and show our appreciation. “You can’t appreciate the sunshine if you’ve never stood in the rain.” _{Ava NIcole} I have been a server, I know how hard it is to please others. I hope we never come off as those entitled people that think we are better than anyone else. I never want to forget, where I came from and appreciate all I have been given. We are truly blessed. Not that we haven’t worked for what we have, but we have defiantly been blessed. Back to dinner. I ordered the coconut shrimp and the salmon gravlax for an appetizer. Eugene ordered the broccoli soup, from the vegan menu. He loves his soups. He said the soup was “not as good as yours”. I guess I make pretty good broccoli soup. He still ate it, so I guess it was good. If I had to give the coconut shrimp a score, Id say a B. Not nearly as good as Red Lobster coconut shrimp. I usually think, it it worth the carbs and calories. In the coconut shrimps case, I’d have to say no. I probably won’t order it again. It was good, but not worth the calories. The salmon gravlax was good, but a very small portion. Thus the term appetizer. Since I have this newly acquired taste for smoked salmon, it was great for me. In case you did not know, (like me) salmon gravlax is cured salmon with thin slices of cucumber, onions, tomatoes, lemon, capers and homey-mustard. May, our server offered to get me more, but I knew the main dish was coming and it would be more than an ample portion. Tonight was one of our favorites on Royal, prime rib. As usual, it did not disappoint. We had a large portions of perfectly cooked prime rib, with grilled tomato, potato croquettes and steamed fresh broccoli. The prime rib was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I was surprised by the delicious flavor of the grilled tomato. I don’t usually like tomatoes prepared any way but fresh or in ketchup, but it was grilled lightly and seasoned in such a manner that both Eugene and I commented on how tasty it was. We did break our routine and decided to split a dessert. We ordered a banana split from the kids menu to share. We thought it would be small, since it was from the children’s menu. Oh ne ne! It was 3 scoops of ice cream with a whole banana and several toppings and whipped cream. I see an extra 15 minutes in the gym tomorrow.

After dinner, we went to Coral Theater to see headliner, Albert Lucas. He is noted for breaking over 20 Guinness World Records and was named “Variety Act of the Year”. He was a juggler and somewhat of a comedian. To be honest, juggling is not my thing. Though the audience seemed truly impressed and Eugene was enjoying the show, I was bored. I guess to each his own. In his defense, he was very talented and entertaining, I’m just not into juggling. After the show, Eugene wanted to watch a movie, “The Lost City”, on the pool deck. It stared Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, as well as Brad Pitt. Honestly, I really did not want to watch a movie on the pool deck, because it was windy and chilly. But it is something he wanted to do and how bad could it be, Brad Pitt and Channing Tatum, life-size on a big screen. I could watch. When we got up on deck, indeed it was chilly. I got Eugene a drink and we settled in on loungers. I decided to go get a pool towel to cover up with and went over to the Solarium. As I peaked around the corner, I saw the Bistro and a display of various snacks. Not that we need to eat, AGAIN. But there was a wonderful looking slice of coconut cake that I just had to try. I took it back to share with Eugene. One bite and he had to get his own, It was the BEST dessert I have ever had on the cruise ships. The cake was moist and had for layers of very light whipped icing layered with coconut. I did not go get another piece because I am suppose to be watching my diet, but it was definitely worth the calories. About a quarter of the way through the film, I thought to myself, why am I sitting her freezing. There was another option. I went to the room, put on my swim suit and climbed into the hot tub. It was a perfect place to watch the movie. Me, a hot tub, Tatum and Brad.. Life is so good. Oh, and Eugene too. Can not forget about him. They were just his foreplay. We enjoyed the movie, though it is not a 5 star movie, it was entertaining and was a nice way to wind down the day. Back to our room, I finished writing this blog, then to bed.

Good night to all, Jamie and Eugene

Too cute not to share: Thanks Pricilla!

Day 7:

Good morning sunshine! Good morning ocean waves! Good morning friends!

Up early for the gym. Don’t want to miss a thing throughout the day. My Dad (ex Air Force), used to say that the reason making your bed in the morning was so important is because you start your day with just one accomplishment, then it sets the tone for the rest of the day. That is how I feel about going to the gym in the morning. We may be on a very long vacation, but a least we did one thing that helps us be healthier. When at home, we work 12/14 hours per day, 7 days per week. We rarely do anything but work. Work hard, play hard. In reality, we travel about 8/9 months out of the year. So working these hours is easier to handle. And driving Uber and Lyft is fun, meeting new people , learning about new places and cultures. So I digress, again. Sorry. After the gym, shower and plan our day. Again, there are so many choices. However, today I need to finalize some plans for the rest of the trip. I just downloaded a travel App. It is an $18.00 per year subscription. It is designed for self guided walking tours from around the world. We love this kind of stuff. It is called GPSmyCity.  You select your type of your, destination and download it. It gives you turn by turn walking instructions for your own personal tour. We are going to try it out in Vigo. I want something where I do not need Wi-Fi to operate, avoiding charges. It has a ton of tours and cities. If it works for just a couple tours, then it will be worth the money. I’ll keep you posted on its effectiveness. At the gym this morning, the same lady was next to us on the tread mill. I complemented her on running ability and ask her if she was always been a runner, she said yes. She had some sort of a Swedish accent. I complemented her on her excellent physical condition. She seemed to appreciate the praise. “Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world know nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement- and we will make the goal”. _{Robert Collier}

We went to the Windjammer once again for breakfast. I’m really not a breakfast person, but enjoy the variety. I had fresh fruit, smoked salmon, ham and sliced tomatoes. Thinking I was going to stay low carb. But no, Eugene brings this iced warm cinnamon roll. I took one bite and had to get my own. It was so very good. So much for dieting! We discussed options for the day. There were several things going on around the ship. Movies in the cinema, trivia in the Schooner Bar, corn hole tournaments, ping pong, lectures… so many choices. We choose to hang out and play cards and talk. He beat me for 10 out of 13 games. I think it is time for me to concede this cruise. Or to switch games. Im a LOSER. LOL, I really don’t care. Too bad we bet every game, I owe him for 8 games. I will take a lifetime to pay him back. Eugene was very grumpy this morning and said he needed a nap. He really is not a morning person and certainly requires more sleep than I do. Going to the gym is wearing him out. I guess he does have 100 + pounds on me. But, I am 10 years older. I am heading to the spa and try out the steam room and the sauna.

While Eugene napped, I went to the sauna. Maybe I could sweat off the gooey cinnamon roll I ate for breakfast. Probably not, but willing to give it a try. I was the only person in the sauna, so it took some stress off. In reality, I didn’t even know that there was a sauna on the ship, until my conversation with the lady who was running on the treadmill, this morning. This is really new to me. Have not gone into a sauna, since I got heavy. Too self conscious. I used to be thin and shapely. When I married Eugene, I only weighed 126. Thirty five years later, I found 100 pounds, from somewhere. I have lost 30 since December, but that is nothing to be proud about because if you can do the math, that is over 250. OMG, how did I get there? I’ll keep at it. My goal is to get down to 150. It’s a lofty goal, but one pound at a time.
Once I got to the sauna, I found they also had a steam room. Again I was the only person there, so I had my privacy. I like the steam room , better than the sauna. At least, I sweated more. I will definitely be back for both. Anything to help lose weight. I am determined!  “If you have discipline drive, and determination…nothing is impossible.” _{Dana Linn Bailey}

After a few minutes a woman came into the steam room. She was older and we talked for 10 minutes. She was from  the Ukrain, originally. Her husband was from Russia. You could tell by the trepidation in her voice that it was a sensitive subject. Neither her or her husband had family in either country, but they both had childhood friends, still living there. Her voice broke a bit, when she talked about her friends and the danger they may be in. We talked about war being meaningless because no one really wins in the end. Too many innocent people die on both sides. She looked so sad. My heart broke for her. I can’t imagine if we had war in the US. It would be a constant worry about friends and family.  I hope we never have to face the situation. “War does not determine who is right- only who is left.” _{Bertrand Russell}

Well, I sweated quite a bit in the sauna and steam room. I am going to the room to see how Eugene’s nap is going. I don’t want him to think I was in the casino. Not me! Plan to do it again tomorrow.

For dinner, we once again dined in the main dining room. I ordered the smoked chicken and orange salad, as well as the salmon and shrimp fritters. I was not really impressed with the fritters, not good, not bad. The chicken & orange salad, was unusual, tasty but nothing impressive. I decided on a strip steak. It was delicious as usual. It was served with a baked potato and broccoli. The baked potato was good, but not on my low carb diet, so only ate 1/4 of it. The broccoli was steamed, quite good. Eugene ordered the butternut squash risotto and the roasted pork loin. Both were exceptional. The next time the pork is offered, I am certainly going order it.

After dinner we listened to the Jazz Cabaret. It was quite relaxing. We decided to head to be early because the time moved forward again.

Hope you have a good evening, Jamie and Eugene

Day 8:

Today was pretty low key. I did not sleep well, we decided to go straight to breakfast and to the gym later. That is the luxury of being on vacation. After breakfast, Eugene chose to go to the cinema and watch a movie. I choose to take a nap. I was so very tired and needed a nap without Eugene snoring like a chain saw. I think it is the change in climate. Whatever it is, he needs to fix it. I will try to leave the doors on the balcony tonight to see if letting fresh air in, will be helpful.

After may nap and the movie was over, we went to the gym for an hour. Then I went to the sauna and steam room. Every little bit may help in losing weight. Afterwards, we got ready for dinner. We sat in the centrum and listened to music, until it was time for dinner. Dinner was quite good. I had the zucchini fritters from the vegan menu. They were good, but there were on 2 of them. I could have used a few more. I guess that is why they call it an appetizer. For my meal, I ordered the tender beef duo: roast ribeye and red-wine braised beef shoulder. It came with yellow stone grits, but I substituted broccoli. The beef was outstanding. It was a very large portion, such that I shared it was Eugene. He order the truffled shrimp & crab risotto. He said it was very good, but not a large portion and only a couple shrimp. He was thankful I had too much food and could share with him. Of course, he could have ordered more, but with mine, there was more than enough.

After dinner, we went to the Coral Theater. The entertainer was Sean O’Shea. He was a singer, comedian, and impersonator. He was very funny and did a great job with the vocal impersonations, especially Elvis. It was a relaxing evening full of laughs. After the show, we decided to just chill in our stateroom. Time was to move forward again.

Have a great night. Jamie

Day 9:

Hello friends.

Good morning! First of all I want to give a shout out to our room attendant, Pricilla. Because of her, I actually got a good night sleep. I told her about Eugene’s snoring keeping me awake, and guess what? She found me ear plugs. I slept all night. We decided that today was a lazy day/planning day. We went to the gym and then to the Windjammer for breakfast. We listened to music and planned the rest of our Europe. We choose to add a couple countries. We are taking the train from Paris to Switzerland. While we are in Switzerland, we will travel to Liechtenstein. I ask Eugene why he wanted to go there, his response? “Because we can and I like saying the word “Liechtenstein” . He is so weird sometimes. We are also adding Montenegro, on our Greek cruises. I didn’t even know it was a country. So ashamed. Good thing my degree is not in Geography. We also decided to take the train, rather than fly to Venice. We wanted to visit Milan, and since the train stops there, it was a practical decision. As we were planning, we started discussing the need for COVID testing. Thankfully you do not need COVID tests to board planes or trains, within Europe. However, you need a COVID test to get onto the ships. Since our next cruise is only two days after we disembark the Jewell, Eugene ask Guest Service what we could do. Their response, “Let us take care of the for you.” They gave us test that we could complete virtually, for no charge! What customer service! Thank you Royal Caribbean!

At 3:00, we choose to go to Bingo. Not really impressed. $30 for one game of coverall. It did pay $500 to one lucky person. They also gave away some tee shirts and bingo. We were not even close to winning. So really not that fun. After Bingo, we changed an headed for dinner. Our servers, May and Angelica were waiting for us, immediately, bringing diet cokes and menus. A girl could get used to this. I ordered tuna carpaccio for an appetizer. It was good, but only about 3 bites. Eugene had the wild mushroom tempura. He really liked it, but could have had a couple more to make it a ‘man-size” appetizer. For dinner, Eugene had the coq au vin and I had the braised pork shank. Eugene did not care for the coq au vin’s wine sauce. However, we both love the braised pork shank. He did decide to have a slice of the pecan pie and ice cream. It was very tasty.

Because we were tired, from all of the time changes, we headed to our room and watched a movie. A good way to end the day, cuddled up in bed with a good movie, with the waves splashing in the background and the ship gently shifting to and fro like babies in a swing.

Good night to all, Jamie and Eugene

Day 10:

Good morning. We slept in today and skipped the gym.

To be honest, we are both sore from exercising several days in a row. Our muscles needed a break. Because we got up late, we skipped breakfast and just took a walk around the ship. It was peaceful looking out over the ocean. It really make you feel quite small in the scheme of things. We are about 300 miles from Portugal. It is cool and the wind is blowing pretty good. Eugene says the temperature is perfect. I am always cold, soI always have a jacket with me. We went to lunch in the dining room. I had a salad and lasagna. Eugene had mozzarella cheese sticks and a spicy chicken sandwich. Both were good. I have to say, next to Stanley’s (one of my adopted children… not legally ) Puerto Rican lasagna, Royal Caribbean’s is the best. We enjoyed our lunch, then headed to the Centrum for movie trivia. Later we played some cards and listened to live music. It was a very relaxing afternoon. We met a couple from Cocoa, who lives not too far from our home. Anyway, they ask about the internet. They explained that they were going to purchase the internet just so they could watch their son graduate from college. I told them it was silly to buy it just for that event. I offered my computer, because I already have the package, why should they pay for it. So after some discussion, we agreed to meet up and I would have the computer ready for them, so they could enjoy there sons graduation. Always try to do one kind thing a day. I wasn’t worried about them stealing my computer, where could they go? LOL They were grateful and we agreed to meet up later. We watched the crossing the Atlantic celebration. They dropped black and white balloons from 5 stories above, onto the crowd. There was a live band, dancing and celebrating. I was a grand affair. Since it was formal night, people were dressed in their best. It was certainly an event to witness. Everyone was enjoying the celebration. Afterwards, we headed to the dining room. It sure seems like we eat a lot. Yes, that is what you do on cruises. I ordered the butternut soup (my favorite) and Eugene ordered the Asian pork tacos, as an appetizer. Both were great. Eugene ordered the garlic prawn shrimp for his main course and I had chicken cordon blue. Both were excellent. Though I really could not eat all of mine, still full from the lasagna from lunch.

After dinner, we went to watch the Barricade Boys in their final performance on the Jewell. They were outstanding as usual. However, I felt the previous show was better. It will be hard to top their performance of Queens’ Bohemian Rhapsody. They performed rock and roll number through history from Chubby Checker to the Beatles. It was very enjoyable. We headed back to our stateroom after the show. We must get up early tomorrow. We arrive in Portugal at 7:00 am. Good night to all.

Jamie & Eugene

Day 11:

Good morning,

Today is our port of call into Funchal, Madiera. It is located on northwest coast of Africa, consisting of 4 islands. We booked a private tour through Expedia. It was through “Bedriven”. Hugo was our driver. What an excellent experience! It was definitely worth the $23 per person we paid. We toured for over 4 hours. Of course, we tipped our driver/guide very well. It was just the two of us and the driver, so we had personal attention to answer our questions and show us around. Hugo took us all over the island. Again, he did an exceptional job and made the tour a success. He told us about the plants, animals, history, and the people of Madiera. We took some beautiful pictures. I sat on the glass floor of the Sky Walk, above the of the highest cliff in Europe. We took the Funchal Cable Car down the hillside. We saw the Monte Palace gardens and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. It was amazing how the people of Funchal utilize every vacant space to farm. Houses were surrounded by banana trees, chestnut trees, sugar cane, grapes, papaya trees, and other fruits and vegetables. Terraces are made into the hillsides in order to enable space for additional farming space. We visited Pico do Barcelos and Eira do Serrado. We ate traditional chestnut cake, chestnut cheese bread and Eugene drank Poncha, the Madiera drink made out of rum, honey and lemon. It was very strong. I only took a sip and got a buzz. Lightweight! We were introduced to a new fruit, mushyeri delusional, it taste like cross between an apple and pineapple. But it looked like a weird ear of corn on the cob hanging on a tree. Hugo told us that the island exports bananas, avocados, rum, and papaya. The island was covered with eucalyptus trees and chestnut trees, as well as the many fruit bearing trees, I mentioned above. Madiera is known for it wine cellars. Hugo told us there were no wild animals or snakes on the island, except for rabbits. This surprised me. After all these years, no one had brought monkeys or other animals to the island.

We were fortunate to be there for the flower festival. Beautiful flowers were everywhere. Floats were made out of island flowers. The dancers and children worn costumes made from flowers. They were very creative and it was evident that they took pride in their displays. They young and old alike participated in the festival and parade. It seemed like the entire island turned out for the event. Hugo said that they hadn’t had the festival for a couple years, because of COVID. Therefore, this year was exceptionally important.

We stopped at a small grocery store to pick up a few things for our room attendant, Pricilla and our servers May and Angelica. We try to do this on each cruise because we know that they do not get the opportunity to get off the ship very often, especially since COVID. They work very hard to make sure everything is perfect for us, it is the least we could do. I needed an iPhone charger. It was only 5 euros ! They had 2, so I bought them both. It’s hard to find one in the States for less than $10. The prices, despite the fact that we were in a tourist area, were quite reasonable.

After our tour, Hugo drove us right up to the terminal where our ship was docked. The day went smoothly and was quite enjoyable, however we were ready for a nap. At 5:30, we made our way to the dining room where May and Angelica were waiting with a smile and a cold Diet Coke. I must say, the service on the Jewell is probably the best we have had on any ship. We both had the crispy shrimp for an appetizer, which was quite good. We ordered the steak oscar. It was excellent, it was topped with crab meat and prepared perfectly. As usual, the chefs on the Jewell came through, a wonderful dinner.

I choose to head back to the room to rest. Eugene went to see the headliner show, starring Mary Jess, in the Coral Theater. She was the winner of the Chinese ‘X factor’ and is noted to be the “Voice of Downton Abbey”. Eugene said she was a wonderful singer, but not really his style. She sang her own version of “Over the Rainbow”, which again was well sung, but not the style of music he enjoyed. He said she was interesting in her commentary. Overall, the audience (somewhat older crowd) seemed to appreciate her talent and music. If you are interested in learning more about Mary-Jess, she left a link www.mary-jess.com. Take a look for yourself.

Good night to all, Jamie

Day 12:

Good morning, or nots so good. I woke up this morning not feeling well. I don’t know if I have allergies, sinus infection or worse. I took a home COVID test, negative. Spent most of the day in bed. Eugene enjoyed the activities on the ship alone. Too bad, a wasted day, but it happens. Good thing it was a day at sea. Need to get better before we land in Vigo tomorrow. “Being sick is just your body’s way of saying you’re way to awesome and you need to slow down, so everyone else can catch up.” _{Despicable Me Minions}

Good night, Im out.

Day 13

Good morning,

Today we are in Vigo, Spain. We opted to explore the city on our own. Which was good, because I needed to sleep in some. We had breakfast and heading ashore around 11:00. The weather was perfect. We wandered throughout the city. Today we are in Vigo, Spain. We opted to explore the city on our own. Exploring side street and alleys. There were countless little shops and stands. There was high end shops and tourist shops, as local fish and meat stores. It was cool to go inside these shops and see racks of cured meat hanging, around the store. Eugene sampled some of the sausages that were sold in a cone. He said they were delicious. I really did not care for them. But, Eugene said they were great. The fish market was unreal. There were so many different types of fish! Some I wasn’t even sure what they were. I was surprised that despite all the meats and fish that were just sitting out in the open (on ice), that were no flies. The locals in the street seemed more annoyed and disinterested in the tourist, than pleased that we were there for the business. We visited Casco Vello, which is Vigo’s old town. The architecture was amazing. Walking through these old buildings that retained their much originally design, was a sight to see. The Santa Maria Collegiate Church which stands in the Plaza de Pedra was originally built in Middle Ages, and reconstructed in 1836. Stepping inside the cathedral felt like stepping inside another world. We passed the Vigo Museum of Contemporary Art, but decided not to visit. We were enjoying just wandering the streets and admiring the sites. Once I get on land, I will upload pictures from our visit in Vigo. After a few hours, walking uphill both ways ( just seemed that way), we made our way back to the ship.

I think I was still feeling not well, so I was ready to rest. Rather than getting dressed for dinner in the main dining room, we opted to just grab a bite at the Windjammer. Everything was very good. They had a nice variety of food. Unfortunately, I had a headache and headed back to the room to rest. Eugene went on to enjoy the show and listen to music in the Centrum . He especially enjoyed the band that played nightly, Euphonic Jive. They played so many familiar tunes that it was easy to find yourself singing along or keeping beat. Each time that they performed, Eugene wanted to hang out and listen to them. They deserve a shout out on this cruise.

Later in the evening, (while I slept, (under the influence of cold medicine), Eugene sat out on our balcony, watching the sun set. He was amazed at the dolphins playing just ten feet from the ship. At one point, three of them jumped out of the water in unison toward one another. He said they looked like a fountain. Unfortunately, he did not get the jump on camera, but did capture their decent. He said that fish were consistently jumping and the dolphins stuck around until it was too dark to see them. What an enjoyable experience. Sad for me, I missed it all because I was out.

Good night to all. And all a good night.

Day 14

Good Morning,

Slept in again, still not back to me. “Im sick and tired of being sick and tired”. _{Fannie Lou Hamer} This cold, infection, whatever it happened to be, it is ticking me off. I want to feel better and get back to my hyperactive self. No gym for me today. I decided to spend some time in my stateroom today to get rested up for the trip into Belgium tomorrow. We had a light breakfast in the Windjammer. Then went back to our stateroom to plan activities for the rest of our trip. It takes time to research and decide what, when and where we want to go and what we want to do and see. Its important to coordinate everything appropriately with arrival and departures of flights, train, cruise port of calls and cruise arrivals and departures. It takes a great deal of research. Many people opt to use a travel agent. Which is great. However, in order to save money and tailor to our own specific needs, we do the leg work ourselves. So for the afternoon, I was on my computer and Eugene on the phone and we planned many of our upcoming activities. We played a couple games of cards and just relaxed for the afternoon.

We had dinner in the dining room again. I ordered the chilled strawberry bisque. It was ok. It was sort of like eating a smoothy with a spoon. Good, but maybe not as an appetizer. Eugene had the spicy harissa soup. He said it was very good, but not as good as the hot pepper soup. We both had the beef short rib and potato gnocchi. It was very different that we expected. It was shredded rib meat in a gravy with gnocchi that had been seared. It was not as good as the gnocchi and braised beef we had on the Symphony of the Seas. But, it was quite good. For the evening, we sat upstairs, and enjoyed music for evening and headed to bed early.

Good night to all.

Day 15. PORT OF CALL: Bruges, Belgium.

Normally we do not do the shore excursions sponsored by Royal Caribbean, not because they have anything wrong with them. However, they are usually large groups, that are transported together on a coach bus. First of all, I hate riding on a bus. I avoided it as a child. Then, as an educator, avoided it as much as I could. Now as an adult, (overweight couple) it is even a worse experience. Why we choose to do this excursion in a large group, rather than book it independently, is beyond me. Maybe, I was getting lazy. The tour itself was good. Not great, but good. There was a full bus, so Eugene and I were blessed to be crammed onto one seat that really did not fit our size. Worse yet, we got on early to get a good seat, close to the front, only to have the last couple get on who were handicapped. They needed a volunteer to move toward the back of the bus. Ofcourse, we did. And guess what? No two seats together. So much for being nice. We were stuck in seats that had an obstructed view. Not a great ride. Because there were so many people, handicapped and otherwise, it took an extra long time getting people on and off the bus . I get it, but I paid two times the money for this tour. If I would have booked it independently, it would have been much more cost effective. The tour guide was ok. She was quite opinionated and spoke a great deal about her religious beliefs and was funny at times, and sometimes not. Overall, we visited 2 castles and a monastery. Our guide talked about several times, how good the chocolate was in Belgium, but we did not stop, nor did they offer us even a sample. It was sort of a tease. Very disappointing. Fortunately for us, our wonderful server, May, went into town and brought us back some chocolate. We were provided some information about our stops, and some funny stories, but not nearly the information we got when we booked our tour with Hugo in Funchal. Lesson learn, book my own tours. The port itself is the port of Zeebrugge. It is a container port. It is rather ugly. There is nothing to do in or around the port. You must access a taxi or shuttle bus, or have a planned bus trip (like we did) you can not go anywhere. Because of safety issues, you cant just walk around.

Day 16: Arrival in Amsterdam

Good morning friends,

We rose early to depart from the ship. We always carry our own luggage off. This gives us the freedom to leave when we choose. Also it avoids us playing seek and find for our luggage at the terminal. We had to get off the ship early, to ensure that we were at our hotel and at the meeting point for our tour to the Keukenhof Gardens, at 11:30. We took at taxi to the hotel. It was $40 euros! Only a ten minutes away. Way over priced. I believe we would have taken public transportation, if we had known. Our driver, Cris was super accommodating and offered to pick us up later. But honestly, once we figured out the public transportation, we were golden. Let me start by saying Holland is pretty much a cashless society. I guess that is much of Europe. We have not exchanged American money for Euros. Everything is by credit card. Make sure you do not have international charges on your card, before leaving the country. This avoids any surprises when you get home. I do check my credit card at least 3 times per week to make sure no extra charges have been made. Once we got to the hotel, we were amazed. It was wonderful. We stayed at the N how Amsterdam, right next to the train, metro and convention center. Everything you need was within walking distance. The hotel itself was fantastic. The young woman who greeted us in the morning, gladly took our luggage and stored it for us, until it was time to check in. She was very helpful about how to get to the meeting point for our tour. A little later, I will tell you about the hotel. But, first we must get to the tour meeting point, which was in Central Station.

In the beginning, we were clueless of the transportation system in Holland. In fact, this was the first time we ever rode on a subway or metro, as they call it. Let me start by saying, OMG how easy, clean, cost effective and safe using the Metro, tram and train were. If in doubt, ask or as I did initially, goggle. Yes, I googled, how to purchase a ticket on the subway. We did not know. Once we figured it out, we were good to go. I doubt any of you are as ignorant or uneducated in the city ways, as us (we always had a car). We found basically in Europe(I don’t know, maybe everywhere) there is a kiosk. You buy, with your credit card a OV Chipkaart. You buy it for one hour, or 24 hours, or more. It is rechargeable. The first time, I just bought an hour pass. STUPID. It was 10 eros for one trip for both of us. I think when you get the card initially, there must be an uncharge, because I next bought two 24 hour passes and it was only 8.60 euros. We used it 3 times on the metro and 2 times on the tram. It was good for the buses also. Speaking of transportation, we took the train from behind our hotel to the airport for only 8.00 euros for the two of us. It was so easy, 20 minutes and no exchanges. The people of Amsterdam were so friendly and helpful, I asked several times for assistance and everyone was happy to help. Eugene said he had it all under control but, I wanted to make sure we (he) was correct. Usually he is(according to him), but there could be a situation, when he is wrong. There is always someone around to give you a helping hand. Our hotel was only a block from the metro station and the train station. We took the metro into downtown first day into the city. Then the second day, we took the metro to the tram and then the tram to our destination. One thing to keep in mind, when your stop is coming up, GET NEAR THE DOORS! They give you very little time to get off. Of course, it was my fault we missed our stop, the door closed in front of me and I didn’t know if you put your arm out, it would stop. Usually, if I put my arm in a door, it gets slammed shut! Lesson learned again. Another thing I learned about Amsterdam, you will walk A LOT. The first day, we clocked 7.8 miles on our phones. EVERYONE wears tennis shoes, with dresses, suits, slacks… I have seen the coolest tennis shoes ever. Secondly, there are bicycles everywhere. They have the right of way. They will run you over. When I say bicycles, I mean thousands, EVERYWHERE. Ladies in $200 suits are riding with tennis shoes and brief case in basket in front. Seniors, who look like they should have a walker attached to the back, riding like race cars in the Daytona 500. Parents with a baby seat in front and a toddler seat in back, biking. The bikes have their own road, all through the city. There are double decker bike racks, block long bike racks… bikes everywhere!It’s pretty cool. Another way people get around is the canals. At one time whole town is built on water, on wooden poles. I believe that is changed over the years, but there are canals everywhere. There were so many cars ending up in the canal (usually after a night of fun and beverage), that the insurance companies got together and put metal racks to help stop cars from driving in the canals. The canals are about 3 meters (9.8feet) deep. One meter of mud, one meter of bicycles and car parts, and one of water. It is really amazing that the water is so clean. They actually have a system that the water is flush out and and cleaned on a regular basis. So getting around Amsterdam is pretty easy. You can take the train, the metro, the tram, the bus, bike or walk. You also can rent a car, but parking is EXPENSIVE and hard to find or take a taxi, also expensive. Or, you can Uber. We did not try Uber because I couldn’t get my app to work. Still thought I was in Florida. LOL. My final comment on transportation. The Amsterdam Airport. It is awesome! But, it is huge. Leave yourself lots of time to get from one area to another. We checked our luggage in one building and had to walk a 20 minutes to another. Then we had to wait in the TSA line. Good news, you do not have to take off your shoes. Bad news, they are thorough! My computer was swiped for drugs!? No clue why. We are way too fat to be on drugs. LOL Get there early. Plan to walk and it is WARM in the building. And get one of the little carts to push your carry on bags in. They are free and gave Eugene something to lean on, when he was ready to pass out from heat exhaustion. Ok, maybe not that bad, but he was burnt out carrying the duffle bags and walking so far. We didn’t know about the little carts, until on the way out. Go figure! The good thing about the airports, both Amsterdam and Copenhagen, it was like being in a shopping mall. The food was like… normal price. They have grocery stores in the airport. I bought a large Heiniken, for 2.35 euros ($2.65) In an airport!!. They had these huge salads, all kinds for like $5.00. They also had fresh salmon, ground meat, raw chicken… all at normal prices. What are you going to do? Take your groceries on the plane to cook on the way home? Not sure what TSA check would day, “Oh, you going to eat that raw steak on the plane? Ok, cool!” I got flagged and reported for having a banana peel in my bag getting off the plane in Mexico. The dog acted like I had a kilo of cocaine in my bag. They pulled me aside, ask for my passport, wrote a report, took my picture and wrote me a warning citation. My goodness, it was a banana peel, not even a whole banana! In the mean time, ten other people were smuggling in all sorts of illegal stuff. But I bet they didn’t have a banana peel. Anyway, back to the airport. There is food everyplace. One place looked like a full department store. There are Lego stores and toy stores. (Not the same type of toy stores as in downtown Amsterdam… I don’t think… maybe..) Anyway, the airport was an experience in itself. Nothing, outrageously priced. Not like in the States when you pay $5 for a bottle of pop and $20 for a burger. Enough of transportation. Let’s get on to Amsterdam.

We stayed at n How Hotel. OMG. Beautiful! It is easy to find, because it’s unique contemporary style is like no other. Ill post pictures. When we came back to check in, Sergio was AWESOME. He upgraded us without even asking. He asked if we were afraid of heights. Of course, no, so we ended up of the 21st floor on the corner judding out in the top triangle level, suspending in mid air. The room was so cool. We were given the African room, Eugene’s choice. The decor was super cool. See pictures below. I loved that every was inspiration. The door hanger said, “I’m out changing my life today please clean my room” or “if opportunity doesn’t know build a door, but now please dod not disturb”. The entrance had containers of candies for guests. There was an upscale restaurant, with an unbelievable view. It had a bar, store and concierge service. The hotel is the newest, most modern hotel in the four neighboring countries. It was right next to the convention center and the train/metro station. Grocery stores, shopping and restaurants, just a few blocks away. Truly, a class act. Thank you nhow for the experience and Serigo, for the great service and assistance with finding our way around the town.

We had some spare time, after we checked into the hotel, so we decided to check out the Red Light district in morning time. It was cool to see. We are going to spend an evening there, when we return from the Voyager of the Seas cruise.

Our trip to the Keukenhof Park was enjoyable. It was a bus tour that we booked through Viator. Again, I don’t think Id do this type of tour again. The bus was crowded. The driver was stern and strictly business. If he smiled, I think his face would crack. At times, he was almost rude.

The trip was narrated over a head set. The driver had very little to say to us. Just a couple quick interesting facts, that I thought were worth sharing. The tulip was actually just a wild flower growing in Central Asia. Later the Sultan of Turkey demanded that it be cultivated for his private garden. The tulip was a symbol of wealth. Sultan Suleyman gave tulips to his important guests, which was a practice throughout history. In Austria de Busbecq gave his friend, Carolus Clusius, who managed the greens of the Emperor of Austria. He later became a professor and moved to Netherlands where he raised them as a hobby. He loved his tulips and didn’t want to share them because they were not only beautiful but very valuable. However, some of his collection was stolen. By the 17th century tulip mania burst. A single rare tulip bulb would sell for more than the cost of a canal house in Amsterdam. They bought and sold tulip bulbs like we buy and sell stocks. Eventually, the tulip crazed stopped and those who invested their life savings in tulips, were left desolate. Sound familiar? It is defined as the first big stock market crash. I love flowers, but I don’t think I’d invest my life savings….. though I did lose $$ on investing in growing weed from a company in Canada. Ok, maybe not so smart either.

The park itself was beautiful, even though it was the last day of the tulip show and the tulip were almost done, but still beautiful. They planted over 7000 bulbs for this festival. The pictures really say so much more than words. It is a place that you do not want to miss in Amsterdam.

Day 17: Enjoying Amsterdam

Good morning friends,

We did the canal tour through Viator, which ended up being on the Flagship, Amsterdam. Our driver, Marcel and Alesia were great. There were about 8 tourist, like us, going on the tour to learn more about the city. Then there were about 8 women, who were in town for a bachelorette party. They pretty much ruined the tour for rest of us. We really felt sorry for Alesia, they were making so much noise that she couldn’t even talk over them. They were very inconsiderate to the rest of the group. Most of the time they were taking selfies, singing, talking loudly, and shouting to those passing by on land. Marcel, the driver was nearest to us, so he attempted to repeat what Alesia was sharing. Despite, the rowdiness of the other group, we did learn a great deal and I would highly recommend this tour. You can go straight to the dock and book it. But, I think in busy times, you may want to book early. It is on the water, so if you are prone to get chilled, bring a jacket.

We talked to a young lady from South Africa, Simone. She was a delight to converse with. It is so cool to learn about people from other parts of the world. She was so very polite and articulate. I cannot say that of others from Europe. We have met many that acted privileged, rude and down right pushy. I guess you find that anywhere.

Hit next for days 18-