Sunday Jan 24 Mooewa, French Polynesia

I got up good and early this morning.  I wanted to be ready.  I ran down to the 5th floor and got a bagel and a cup of coffee.

We had to tender in to the dock.  When I got to the dock, we were ushered to another boat, where we were asked to enter.  It was a boat with bench seats, almost like an open fisherman.  Someone to drive and someone to talk.

This was the Dolphin watching tour.  What a wonderful time I had.  The man who conducted this tour was a Dr. Michael Poole who has conducted research on whales and dolphins since 1980.  He studies of behavioral ecology of Tahitian Spinner Dolphins.

What a treat this was.  I learned much about the Spinner Dolphins and we saw many, many of them.  It was a joy and I could have gone on much longer without anyone being bored from his lectures as we were observing.

Came back to the ship and just relaxed on the balcony and read.  Dinner, show and to bed, since tomorrow at 8 is Bora Bora off road "ADVENTURE".  Boy am I tired.

Likening this,

Bubbi, Bobbi, Roberta, Me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Continued from 1/23

I don’t know why I couldn’t finish the last e-mail.  It just kept deleting everything.   Anyway, after the hats were given, I went back to the ship to await the tour of National treasures of Tahiti.  It was getting cloudy, so I grabbed my raincoat.  I got on the bus and we proceeded to the first national treasure, which was a waterfall, It was quite beautiful.  To get there, we had to navigate a path of rocks and steps and a small bridge; it was not too bad even though it was raining the entire time.  When I got to the waterfall, it did not matter, because standing in front of it, I got soaked anyway with the spray of it.  After, we headed to the botanical garden, not quite like we are used to, but very nice though small, then on to other treasures around the island, like where people fought, and the history of the island; Cook, being one of the people who discovered it and about Gauguin and his paintings and wife, etc. etc.  Boring stuff, then back to the ship.  We got back about 5:30, just in time to shower and get dressed for the dinner on the pool deck, which was great. I could hardly stay awake.  Did watch the show, Polynesian show and then to bed.  Have to leave at 8 again, just like a job.  Tomorrow the dolphin encounter.

As always,

Bobbi, Bubbi, Roberta, Me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Jan 22nd, Sat.Jan23rd -Papeete, Fr. Polynesia

Hi to you all,

Yesterday, I did it again.  I actually had another bridge lesson.  I hope I can hold out.  We are starting to think more and more.  I only like to plan my vacations ahead.  Cards and what someone might do with them is beyond my thinking.  Anyway, i plan to continue.  No one better laugh or holler at me!!!!  I then went to sit on my balcony, but to my surprise, the sun had left and it was on the starboard side.  So I sat on my lounge and read from my kindle.  What a pleasure that device is.  I really love it!!!

After reading, I went to play mahjong.  It is always fun.  We played with 3 for awhile, then with 4.  One of the tables, wanted to play with 5.  They must not like us.  Maybe we play to slow.  I guess there are clicky(sp) people wherever you go.  They just seem to find each other.

After finally winning the last hand, it was time to get ready for the evening.  This was Friday, and I wanted again to go to Sabbath services.  There was a good crowd.  We said prayers in English and in Hebrew.  I mostly hum anything I don't know; having never gone to Hebrew school.  Some prayers, I know by heart.  The Challah and fish was good.

After services, 6 unattached women had dinner together.  Very unusual stories were heard from all.  The only one married is Rosanne, the Bridge teacher, whose husband will join her in Sydney.  We met on a world cruise a few years ago.

Interesting enough, I received a call from the tour office, letting me know about my coastal dolphin watching in Moorea, tomorrow.  They said their people in Moorea, let them know that the dolphins were not appearing in the afternoon (my tour was for 1:30) and that they were only there in the morning. Would I change to 8 am instead?  Of course, I would.  But, I wonder what kind of appearances they have to be at in the afternoon, that we had to cancel.

Well, we docked in Papeetee at around 9 this morning, instead of about 1pm.  They said a few people had to see some doctors on the Island for a checkup.

Papeete,  is the largest of the 115 islands.  It is really two islands in one.  Papeete means water well and refers to the traditional method of gathering water from a spring near the capital.  French of course is spoken here and lots of pearls.

I went for a walk, outside the port, everyone is shopping for pearls.  I think I will wait and see in Bora Bora.  Here the streets are crowded.  Its markets bustling with activity, the flower market is beautiful.  I will see more when I tour this afternoon.

A group of men, by the dock, were playing traditional music.  There was a little boy playing the drums.  I gave them a hat and took a picture.


(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Jan 20th evening and Nuku hive the 21st

Interesting day, yesterday,

I took another bridge lesson.  We are going very slow, but with me, I don't know.  I will try; I know no one will holler if I get something wrong.  I almost feel like I am in school.   At 2 p.m. I played Mahjong.  It is always fun.  We only played three, but it is a good time.

At 6 p.m. a world cruise person, who has traveled extensively, runs a cocktail party every year to welcome everyone on the ship.  It is a very nice gesture by a very nice man, Malcolm Myers. I sat and talked to some interesting people.  Dana sat for awhile and then T.J. an assistant cruise director, who is about 59.  We actually had dinner together.  They make sure the solo, aren’t solo all the time.  Very nice man, who actuallyl comes originally from Wisconsin, near Milwaukee. It was strange not eating with a group of people.  I guess I will eventually become comfortable with that.  After dinner I lost 10 dollars on the slot machine.  I said I was not going to do that again.  O well, I did.  I did get to do one nickel at a time.  Not a good way to win!  Saw a Chopin piano concert. The gentleman was wonderful, but it was funny to watch people drop off (fall asleep) one by one.  Everywhere I looked heads were sideways, hunched over, or fallen backwards.  Off course once it was over, all these people were standing up to give him an ovation.  How funny!!!

This morning, we pulled into the harbor at Nuku Hiva, as I looked out the balcony, it looked beautiful.  Getting on the tender to go to shore, I realized. I have been here.  I remember the Arts and crafts and a church.  There was not to much else that I remember to see.

This is the most northern island group in French Polynesia, a thousand miles from Tahiti.  There is no reef, so the surf crashes the shoreline.  There are a small number of wild horses, cattle, and goats. There are about 2600 residents.

We took a tender into the harbor and then were put on buses and private trucks for the ride to the venue for all the guests.  There was carving demos, weaving; they showed how they cooked a pig and lots of dancing.  They did serve the food they cooked.  Pig, tuna in coconut milk, fried bananas, cooked sweet potatoes.  It seems like lots of starchy food. We saw no vegetables.  Desert, was coconut, pineapple, mango, some other preparations of the latter.  Interesting.

I did give away 3 hats, and i was given a necklace.  I took pictures, put I have to figure how to e-mail them.

Can’t help it that I sometimes feel so dumb, because I can't figure out the simple things.

Oh well, till the next time...

Bubbi, Bobbi, Me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

on the way to Nuku Hiva Jan 19th

Hi you all,

 

I am finding being a solo (as they call it on the ship) interesting.  Most of the solos are old, old.  Everyone is very nice.  Each evening, I have eaten with different people.  It is kind of strange when I asked a couple to join them.  I have never done anyting like that before.  I don't have a problem with starting conversations with strangers, but I sometimes feel like I might be intruding.  So far, it has been good.  My next door neighbors are from Weston.  I met them through the block party that is held.  All the people exit their rooms and wine and cheese is passed around and the captain and crew run down the halls greeting all the passengers.

 

 

Two nights ago, had dinner with a solo, who is a retired doctor, the bridge instructor, who I met cruises ago and another bridge instructor..  Last  night a couple from Canada,  After the show I went to the lounge where I did disco dance.  I hope my dancing burned a few calories.

 

Keep running into people, met on cruises in the past.  Tonight we will cross the equator.  I still have to try to put pictures on the computer.  The internet in the middle of the seas, does not always work well; so I am afraid something will go boom and I will be sorry. My mouse stops every once in awhile.  I don't know why.  Last night it stopped, and no matter what I did, it would not reconnect.  This morning it reconnected quickly.

 

Today, fun and games on the pool deck.  Bridge lessons.  (This is lesson number 4) I never thought I would get this far.....Maj Jongg at 2:00.  Read awhile, get ready for dinner.  Go have a cocktail and then bamboozle someone into dinner.

 

By the way, It is One Jewish year, since Sherman passed away.  He is always with me in everything I do.  I surely do miss him!

 

Bobbi, Bubbi, Me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Sat. Jan 16th morning

Hi All,

Yesterday, day 1 at sea.  It was in the 60's outside and of course windy.  The seas were fairly calm.  Around lunchtime, there were pods of dolphins jumping around the ship for about 20 minutes. 

 

Last night was the "Captain's welcome coctail party"  Never got to it.  We had Friday night services.  It was surprising to see so many people show up.  The Rabbi and his wife are from St.. Louis and are very nice.  His name is Bernard Lipkin.  I googled him before I saw him and found he is quite an interesting man.  The service was about 45 min. He mentioned Sherman, since the 19th is his Yahrzeit.  It was the fourth of Shevat, 5769.  

 

I ate dinner with the Rabbi and his wife and another couple from Antiquia(sp) who are from London and live on a private Island 10 minutes off the main island by boat.  Paul McCartney, was just there and his daughter played with their great grandchild who was visiting.  very nice people.  They keep kosher and have lived there when not traveling for 20 years. 

 

Saw a show, the cast had put on previous, but it was enjoyable.  I keep bumping into people from the past.  The solo travelers are mostly old and some very strange.  The gentlemen hosts are interesting.  One lady, the night before, told us she didn't understand how people could like Shreck, because they were all so UGLY.  Let me tell you, you should have seen her...........

 

I am going to try a bridge lesson.  If it is taxing on my mind, I will nix it.  Oh, by the way, I also met the Priest, Father Kelly.

 

Maybe, I will e-mail later.  I still haven't touched the pictures.  I have to work myself up to that.

 

All, have a good rest this weekend.

 

As always, the lone traveler

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

JAN,13/14

Well, you all,

The first day of my world cruise is finally upon the horizon,

Yesterday, a ton of people got off the ship to go home.  I ate breakfast in the cabin with Vickki and we then moseyed down to the lobby with hundreds of others waiting for their color tag to be called.  It is always a nightmare.  While this was going on, they were trying to bring in all the musical and technical equipment for the Jay Leno and the Beach Boys.   Finally, light blue was called and I went with Vickki to find her luggage and walk with her to the cab stand.  Vickki was soon on her way to the airport to pick up a car.

I then got on the trolly shuttle to go to the mall downtown.  It is a mall owned by Westwood and has a Macys and a Nordstroms and hundreds of other stores on multiple floors and layers, everly which way.  It was quite confusing, but I did manage to find my way around.  I bought a new small camera to carry in my purse, since I gave mine to the Bryans, thinking on the ship, I would by one, but they took away the camera shop.  So I was surprised to find a Wolf camera store, on my journey.  I walked around the department stores and soon enough was enough.  I forgot to mention, this mall is outside, and it was drizzling.  I headed back to the ship after stopping (also in this mall) at a cvs, for more hard candy. 

At four I had my hair done, by the remaining hair dresser.  The other one hurt her back and left the ship.  No hairdressser replacement till Austrailia.  All the woman are going to be pissed.  They used to have 3 at a time,  oh big surprise.

Many people got on in California.  Most of these people, I did not recognize.. a few that were in line said hello.  they were from past cruises.

Last night, a cocktail party in the Atrium for world cruise people.  A few more people I recognize.  In to dinner, where I sat with 2 women and 2 couples.  Vickki called them the Blonde girls. or something  of the sort.  We never finished dinner.  We did not have a main course, because we wanted to be seated for the show.  I sat next to some people, I had met on a previous cruise.  He originally is from Chicago, and went to Von.

Jay Leno came on first running down the aisle to the stage.  He hardly, said a word. but did his routine non-stop (sometimes a little fast) said one more sentence and ran back down the aisle.  He had a few good jokes and did manage to make me laugh and chuckle a few time.

The Beach Boys rocked.  The main singer is OLD, but the rest of the band are much younger.  But the show was great.  The whole autotorium was jumping and singing and dancing.  It was great.  I am sure it had something to do with the great sound system they brought in.  Anyway, it was great!  Anyway, at this time, after 2 drinks, I was ready for bed. 

Went to breakfast in compas rose this morning, then out to the shuttle for last minute things I forgot yesterday.  We were supposed to leave at 2p.m. but we are leaving at 4:30, because of STUFF?

Doing O.K.


(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Hi there,

I think it is Friday January 8th.  Yesterday, as we pulled into port, it all came back to me.  Sherm and I had been here.  This was the town that was put together by the government, to be eco friendly.  It still was very clean, but many more condos.  They said mostly from Canada.  It was just about the same route we took a few years ago in a taxi.

Vicki and I shopped, mostly just looked.  She bought a ring.  I bought some extra meds at a pharmacy.

Back to the ship, showered, dressed coctails and dinner  outside off the rear of the ship; beautiful!  I then played with a slot machine and lost 20 dollars.

Today we just docked in Acapulco.  Been here, also done that.  Off for a tour, I have been to before... with the divers.Then lunch.

I know it is going to get much more exciting after San Diego.  Then I will be by myself.  I will try to start sending some pictures.

Oh well,

till next time

It is just me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

Today Sunday, ?

I have no idea what the date is. Dinner last night at Veranda. Joey, one of the waiters we used to have is the head up there. Sat with a couple of people.

Today, saw Ian, he was our first butler. His wife is a server. She recognized me the other day. He was quite surprised how I looked, as was Joey.

The cruise director and his wife have the books in their office and are showing it around to their people. I have been stopped a few times, to tell me how wonderful it is. Since it is again a sea day, you eat, read, eat, read, play bingo, talk read, complain about things. etc.

I love to sit on the balcony, which I did for awhile, and read, or try to read, but the lure of the waves brings your eyes up from the book to stare at the horizen. The birds that fly along with the ship and watch for the little fish that are disturbed by our wake, and then dive into the water. It is like a ballet and it is hard to stop watching. So, I read and stare and read and stare.

After a week, we will actually get off the ship tomorrow. Visiting Rachel, is not an option. It is only about 80 miles, but 2 1/2 hours away.

Well thats all folks.

Me

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)

so far

Well, so far it has been an interesting trip. Two days of helicopter rescues, so the people could be taken to Jackson hospital in Miami. One of the passengers, I understand a 57 year old man, was in the gym when he had a heart attack. You never know. Because of the latter, we were not able to tour or dock in Cartagena, Columbia. We anchored at about 6 this morning in Cartagena for a couple of hours because of the requirement of a United States law called the Jones Act. It is a maritime law that regulates commerce and places certain restrictions on the transporting of goods or passengers between U.S. ports. Making call at the country of Columbia and clearing immigration satifies the requirement. It is a "technical stop" I believe we do this again on the round the world.

We could have taken on the extra fuel that was burned due to the emergency, but the city was closed for the holiday. This evening, the first we will anchor inside the breakwater of the Panama Canal and wait for daylight to transit the canal. After the transit we will anchor for a few hours to replenish the fuel.

Because, at this point we are one day behind, we will not be touring Flamenco Island, Panama and go directly to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. We will arive on Monday.

New years eve was a fun time. James Bond theme in the Theatre, with martinis. Then a show, then the celebration in the atrium. I was not going to dance. But the music was great, Everyone was dancing, or shaking. It did not matter if you knew someone or not. Women with women, men with men; dancing 3 or 4 together. The singers and dancers dance with everyone. It was a good time. Father time left as an old man and came back as a baby.

I did not think, I would be able to laugh and have a good time;but I did. It was good and Sherman would approve!

(posted on behalf of Roberta Rootberg)