1369.2 nautical miles from Miami

1487.7 nautical miles to Ponta Delgada, Portugal.

And the weather has been cool, although the sea is still moderate, we have passed Bermuda, heading toward Europe, who would have ever thought it possible??

I see on the map on the telly, London, Paris, New York, Africa. Lisbon, Casablanca ..WOW!  It's hard to read, but we may be near the Saragossa Sea.. Anyone care to do a Google search for me??

The temp is 17.5 and the barometer is falling. Our Pool Deck bar man has missed us today, we visit briefly, but not to stop and socialise.

Once again tonight we change our clocks back one hour, I have heard that we do that 3 more times.  I stand corrected, it must be a few more, as there is still 5 hours difference between us now and Berlin. 

Our slot pull was very Long winded, and it was played on a machine tucked away in the corner, so it was Impossible To see the action, so we just chatted to people around us. Our final dividend was $17 for our $15 outlay. That's almost a deposit on the next cruise!! 

We went to name that dog breed trivia, and got a very respectable score. Can't believe I got the Bichon and Maltese puppies mixed up?? 

Met a great lady from Reno, Nevada, Loz, and told her we have definite plans to return to complete the trip we started out to do a few years back.

 Once again, plenty to do, tonight we are off to see a comedy show, and most likely end the night at the Champagne Lounge listening to Mr Motown, Stan Sykes. There is also night time entertainment in another lounge, good music, but a very ordinary lead singer. We miss our mate Trish and the Zig Zag band. 

 

Early show tonight and late dinner. Just to change the pace. 

No Northern Lights to keep us up late. We miss our mates from the Oosterdam. 

Somewhere between Miami and Ponta Delgada Azores. 

Today is Wednesday, or maybe it's not.. However, we are at sea, of that I am sure!

The ship is lovely and seems to have overcome her engine problems and is travelling steadily at about 20.5 knots. The sea is moderate, and the weather is getting cooler, about 21 today, stills pleasant to sit out on deck.

We are enjoying these fabulous sea days, after the hustle and bustle of the week prior.

Our meet and greet was the largest we have attended, and there was a fair mob of us Aussies in the fray. That was held yesterday. The suggestion of another Anzac Dawn service was put out there, but apparently it was met with very little enthusiasm from NCL, and I believe a week later, the attendance won't be too high.

The crew and staff are mostly pleasant, a few larks, a few snarks.. And lots In 

Between! The meals are fine so far.

Trivia has not happened for us yet, we keep on running a bit late and missing the start.

Today is our day... 

The cabin crawl will take place this arvo, we have volunteered to host our cabin, and have on offer Vegemite on crackers and Anzac bikkys. 

We went to a Spanish language class this morning, but that was a fizzer, we couldn't hear the tutor above the girl downstairs selling diamonds! 

Internet connection is pretty good, when you consider where we are! It's a bit slow, and occasionally won't play at all, but come back in a while and it's OK, I don't think too many people remember the old dial up days, when they stand around having a winge!! 

Tomorrow we have a slot pull, and I expect we will end the day filthy rich, and able to continue sailing around the seas.

Post note : well we missed trivia again, but managed a close second place in the digital scavenger hunt! The three of us managed to get all the photos required, and had a good old laugh along the way (and met some fun people too!! ) 

The cabin crawl was great fun, we ended up in a very fancy suite..... I told them the captain was in their dunny trying to knock off their taps, well he was in a white uniform!!

How was I to know it was their butler ????? 

The hosts of the cabins were all great people, and it was interesting to see just how  "the other half live".

Last night we went to the show and all really enjoyed it, and ended up at a lounge (called the  Champagne Bar...go figure) being entertained by an amazing soul singer. His voice was incredible! We will be sure to join his fan club!  Tonight another show, oh the choices!!  There is so much to do on board, no one can ever complain of being bored... Oh wait yes they do!!  

We are trying to walk as much as we can,many stairs a day, and lots of time spent exploring and doing laps while the weather continues to be good

Our posts will continue to be hum drum ship life routine until our port days ... But hey you not hear a peep from moi!! 

I just went up to grab us a drink while we get ready for dinner (dehydration is a concern you know ;) ) and the bar was pulled apart..I said Geeze what have you done here, blown the bar up or what?? Next thing a dude with an almost full black balaclava pops his head up from behind the bar.. I nearly had a cat! 

Not hearing much news from home, just the news from Bali this morning, and lots of news from Baltimore. 

Keep safe and well

Cheers

Miami - Ponta Delgarda

Our ship came in...

Finally

Yay

,Sunday morning wide awake at 4 am, checking the web for the arrival time of our ship.

Bags packed and at 8.15 or so, we got the best of the best NYC cabbies.. What a great bloke, a retired NYC cop, wow he had some fabulous tales. The airport was a dream, we all sat and waited then boarded our flight with no probs to Miami.

The Holiday Inn Port of Miami is fine, apart from a certain HELLEN..who thought it was better to sit and chat to her mate than serve us..

Bad move HELLEN.

On to the next  chapter. We had got word our ship was on its way to dock  so we wandered over the road and sure enough we watched our ship arrive...

Miami is just fantastic, we both decided we need to come back for a longer visit. 

Dinner and drinks... Whoops well drinks then bed, sorry Karen .. And wide eyed and bushy tailed again in the early hours.

We are all very excited to begin this next adventure. Yes life is great! 

Wish you were here Shazza. Love you bunches xxx

Hawaii - New York - Miami

New York to Miami

Sunday 26 April 2015

We have covered a lot of miles over the past few days, New York is still full of yellow cabs, all honking their horns, and driving like crazy things. Our feet are feeling worse for wear, but we have made some more magic memories. 

Our first day in NYC saw Warren have a bad attack of "gout", so we organised an early check in to the Westin Grand Central to get him a bed and Some pain medication.

We were assisted by a lovely lady who went to great lengths to get a room ready asap, thanks Pei, we greatly appreciated your help. 

Poor Wazza, he just went off to sleep when I had to wake him for a "surprise" tour I had planned. It was a relatively new attraction called The Ride. It's a bus, where you sit side on and look out .. Hard to describe, but 90 minutes of a fabulous tour around the city, on a bus that became a train, a rocking bus, and a mobile disco all in one, and amused many tourists on the sidewalk. It was great fun! 

We had a crazy cab driver get us there JUST in time, and thank goodness for Karens ability to run, we got on the bus at the last minute.

We landed in Times Square, had a wander and ended our day with dinner at an Irish Pub, then a reasonably early night in preparation for our early departure to the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

4.30 am wake up, Siri told me New York was a chilly 3 degrees, so we "rugged" up... Yeah sure, rugged up... We FROZE! I was wearing a cosy scarf that has traveled with me to Canada, Alaska, Melbourne ;) and now the Dawn Service at NYC, and has very special significance. It was made by my mum in law. Thanks again for keeping me cosy!

The Dawn Service was very well attended, and while it was hard to see and hear the service properly (thanks to the dick of a taxi driver who got us lost, then told us to get out and walk up a block....yeah... Sure you crazy smelly fool! We walked and walked and walked and walked some more, asking everyone crazy enough to be out at this ungodly hour WTF the Memorial Park was) ... Thanks to the Garbos, we got there as the Australian National Anthem was playing. It was surreal to be there, amongst this large crowd, and really it was a very emotional time. thank heavens I didn't shed too many tears, as the snot and tears froze on my face, and that wasn't pretty!

We wore our new hoodies, with the Ode on the back and the poppy on the front, and a fella from the Australian Consulate asked to take our photo. Yes our five minutes of fame in the BIG APPLE!  After the service, we were treated to Anzac bikkys, "special" coffee, oh sorry cawwfee, rum with a splash of coffee, and tray after tray of quiches.

We spoke with the Padre, who is an expat from Camberwell, a lovely bloke. People in uniform, all looking very smart. It was a privilege to be there, and I never ever take for granted just how lucky and blessed we are! 

We walked around over to the Staten Island Ferry, but oh it was cold, so we got the subway back to the hotel to thaw out.  

Not long after I decided I needed a new parka...(I left my last one in Fairbanks, cos we decided we would NEVER feel the need to get cold again!!)  so off to Macy's ..well ...ain't that a big old store, we walked.... And walked....you get the drift, and by the time I got to the women's wear, it was almost summer anyway! And I was looking for a bargain, I Was afraid I would die of old age looking for this elusive bargain.

So..... Time for a welcome to NYC bevvy or 2, first stop, Ruby Tuesday, second one Hard Rock, then walked home to get ready for our afternoon at the 9/11 memorial and Museum. 

We once again got in the subway, by now it was sooooo freaking busy, and we were sooooo freaking squashed in, I could count the nose hairs in the blokes snoz that stood all too familiarly close to "my personal space".

The subway is not my fave mode of transport... Marilyn Elisha, no singing dancing troupes in my train... Oh and the stairs. Enough said.

And I am sure Patrick Swaze was jumping from train to train..

We met up with Karen and spent a few hours at the Museum, and headed for home via an Irish Pub.

We all had significant "I am seriously stuffed" looks on our faces!

Time for a recharge, then off to have dinner at a nice diner, back home to prepare for our next adventure.....

MIAMI!! 

Warren just read a notable quote

" You speak of my drinking, yet you know nothing of my thirst"

Day 2 Hawaii

After a great flight we arrived safely and "refreshed" and got met at the exit by our transfer guy. Customs... What customs, we all sailed through!
Our accomodation is way above our expectations, it's an apartment with a full kitchen and separate bedroom.It is a bit of a walk to the heart of Waikiki, but that's a good thing...  Walking is very easy here, it's all so flat and a if you walk along the beachfront (past Dukes) you get a lovely breeze. No silly, we didn't walk "past" Dukes.... As if !!
It's always so nice to visit there, we have some fabulous memories of previous visits when we shared a drink or 6 with great friends, both old and new. Our new friends are now our old friends and we are grateful we met up. Wazza was on the lookout for the Asian chap with his rubber ring and snorkel and mask, alas, he was absent this time around!
Karen and I got a beautiful lei ...
The rest of the day was just a social visit to some great bars around town, and meeting some fun people.
Waikiki has certainly offered us grand ALOHA.
I had a "moment" this morning when I had no flipping idea what day it was... Warren said its Thursday on my Pill container, so it must be Wednesday... Yeah right!! So I asked our room attendant, who thought I was slightly cracked..pardon???? What day is it.. Not a difficult question ????? Surely, with a roll of her eyes and a swift departure, she said Thursday, I am sure I heard her mutter "dickhead" as she left the room.
Gotta love ABC stores, got some take away bevvies, and the alcohol prices are crazy cheap here. Same store get your grog, get your sleeping pills.. Yeah no worries mate!
Today we went to Famous Footwear and got some super comfy shoes to get us through Europe.
Then later on lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Karen and I need to order a meal to share in future..
Way too large, and we just had a sandwich!!
Back home to have a rest. Karen is off to a Luau at the Pacific Cove, as we have done this twice already, we will go and check out what's going on in town, and maybe later a visit to Tony Romas, also the venue of many shared meals and laughs.
We heard today that our ship, the Norwegian Star has reached Freeport in the Bahamas ready to be repaired and on target for our departure next week. Fingers crossed all will be well by the time we arrive in Miami?
OK that's it for today. Sending much ALOHA to you all.
This will be a long trip, if you care to share the journey, welcome aboard.
Cheers

Brisvegas ... And finally the day has come!

today is the beginning of a wonderful wonderful journey

As we sit at Brisbane airport awaiting our flight to Honolulu I can't begin to explain how excited I am.

This is truly an awesome adventure, and I am thankful to my beautiful mum. She has made this possible, and I know she will be following us..every step of the way.

Got the best check in people.. So that's gotta be a good sign..


Hoo too Brisvegas



HELLO HAWAII

Cheers and love to you all

5 ... 4 .....3 ......

Well... Here we are 5 sleeps to go!

11 sleeps ...