WEEK 9

21 OCTOBER 2022- BOSTON

 

It is really cold early in the mornings so I got off after breakfast with all my warm clothes and so glad I did for I had to wait for hubby to get off the ship and took quite a long time and sitting outside not so funny when it is so cold.Once he arrived we walked to the downtown to do our weekly shopping was a beautiful day once it warmed up a bit.

It is the wind that makes it so unpleasant with the cold.

Had this old man this morning that was so rude to an elderly man sitting next to me he was sitting on the bench then got up to leave so in the meantime this old chap asked the mans wife if he could sit and she said yes so that is what he did but wow when this old bugger returned he was so rude to this poor old man that I eventually got up and said you sit I will sit on payment!!

Then he felt bad and said no I can sit but the damage had been done ,he was really nasty and I was so upset that people can be so ugly to other people.

Had coffee at FLOUR and the most delicious sarmie freshly baked sour dough bread with roast beef and lots of other stuff but was really good.Has to squash the bread to get in into your mouth!! Heard about 2 people getting sick after eating lobster so now I am a bit weary about eating more lobster on this trip maybe next time , this season is done!

Leaving Boston harbour is always special for you have the international airport right next to the port and the planes landing and taking off over the ship must admit you do feel it is a bit too close for comfort but they make it regardless.

 

22 OCTOBER 2022- @ SEA:

 

Well what was supposed to be a quiet rustige dag at sea took a turn for drama later in the day.I was in our cabin with my pyjamas on when the next minute a message comes over the PA system:

Code Bravo,Code Bravo!!! Deck 3 Zone ???

I seem to freeze with shocking news then I get my head around this message and the adrenaline kicks in and I quickly get dressed for don’t want to be caught or leave in my pyjamas if I have to run!

Next I start thinking what do I have to grab and take with me ? Bible passports purse and something warm and my back pack the rest we can replace amazing at that moment did not even think of my phone!!

Then I decide to quickly phone hubby to hear what now and how bad is the fire situation.

I was so glad when he told me to stay put until further instructions and then he knows where I am.     a Short while later he phoned to tell me everything was under control and that they got the fire under control and extinguished in the garbage room.

 I still had to stay put and that is when the tears started think the shock of what could have happened if it was not under control quick enough ,scary thoughts.

Fire on board a vessel is the worst thing that can happen at sea and we were in the middle of the ocean on our way to Canada late in the afternoon.Imagine getting into lifeboats on freezing waters at sea very scary idea.

That is when Titanic comes into your thoughts just thanked the Lord for his protection and grace.Hubby was on duty and also had a patient that had a humerus fracture so she had to be sorted with plaster. At least the day ended peacefully and we had a quiet supper on deck 12 in the dining hall.

 

23 October 2022- Charlottetown

 

You know it is time to go home when you decide to just get off the ship to go sit in the terminal to get free wifi and do no walking or sight seeing!

Last week too many places had already closed for the winter season so unless you just want to go for a walk not much else to do and I have been all over with my previous visits to this little town. Could actually take an excursion but have decided against that.

See that they do very well under the older folk like me haa haa for we don’t want to stress about anything and just want to get onto a bus and be carted around and brought back to the ship without worrying about missing the ship.

On any excursions you do on your own and something comes up of breaks or you get stuck I am afraid your problem and I don’t like that stress or worry.

We got off and did do a little bit of walking but not too far and discovered a new little mall right next to the harbour so that was interesting right under our noses and never seen it before.Tomorrow we are back in Sydney for the day.

 

24 OCTOBER 2022: SYDNEY 2022

 

Today we are in Sydney for the last time and a perfect autumn day.Had breakfast and then decided to get to the terminal for free wifi before the crew arrive  hubby working so when I arrived was just me and one or two others sitting around but as soon as shore leave was granted the place had crew all over the place and had to laugh when a local made a chirp are there any crew left on board the ship?

Makes you realise how important it is to have contact with your loves ones at home , a life line!

Decided to watch a video about the famous fiddle in the port area and the beautiful fiddle music and what it means to the locals and the cultural heritage of the Cape Breton Island.

The music was first brought here by Scottish immigrants. 

Did a quick walk at the local stalls and bought us a Cape Breton Traditional Recipe Book with different recipes reflecting the ethnic groups like Lebanese Irish , Scottish ,Italian ,Ukrainian ,Greek and Acadian. Would like to try some of the recipes at home like fish cakes and seafood chowder then it was time for a nice cup of hot soup and bread on board.

So until next time bye Sydney and fiddle.

Back on board I started watching the movie about Elvis Presleys life on the big screen in the ship atrium and we were all mesmerised ,was amazing to just listen to this famous mans voice life and music, a legend.Went to the local show on board the other night and had Michael Jackson ,Madonna and Elvis music and boy the singers were all excellent.There moves , looks , hairstyles brilliant just like the real people.The guy that is the Elvis singer I saw at breakfast and wragtig tot die hare en side burns nes Elvis het my eintlik verkyk aan die man. Nou wil ek net weer Elvis songs luister!!

 

25 OCTOBER 2022 – HALIFAX

 

Our day started very early this morning when hubby was called to see a man with chest-pain, was about 2.30 am.I woke up with a sore throat and not very impressed for will be my second cold on this trip but the seasons are changing and a lot of people are coughing so, no wonder!Then I was wide awake so ended up watching a bit of TV until I got sleepy.

Halifax was covered in very thick fog today and can see nothing outside so not very pleasant when you are at sea and can see nothing around you.

Thank goodness for technology.

Funny how small things are important when you are far away from home we went to the supermarket to get ourselves very creamy and delicious white Lindt chocolate , our spoil for the day.

So both of us were not bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning and went straight back to the terminal to try our luck with the wifi but that was a hopeless case ,no luck at all very irritating and hubby had to go back to the ship.I spend my last Canadian money and then decided to rather try and catch up on some sleep so end of Halifax for now and no more Canadian immigration visits.

 

26 OCTOBER 2022 – PORTLAND MAINE

 

Sailed in here this morning in very thick fog has been following us for 2 days now , in Halifax it was the same could see anything I mean nothing!!! not a very pleasant feeling.Was pouring with rain so I had to get off to get to immigration in the terminal building and then could not get back on until all the passengers had been cleared by immigration so that is when I decided to walk to the boat terminal where I knew there was free wifi.

Not the thing you do when you are sick but thank goodness I had my umbrella with me walking in pouring rain not my favourite thing.

I was very glad to get some wifi to post my last pics but arrived back at the ship with wet tekkies and socks so it was straight to my bed under our warm blanket.Felt sorry for the passengers for this was not a great day to walk around in pouring rain and thick fog.I am not very positive that tomorrow is going to be any better day but only time l tell.Would like to do our last rounds at Melts and the ice-cream shop.Thank goodness did all my shopping last week.Can think that this gloomy dark feeling can get to you if it lasts for days in the winter season.

 

27 OCOBER 2022 - @SEA

Today we were suppose to be tendering in to Bar Harbour and due to high swells they cancelled our visit so a day at sea was going to be the substitute. My poor husband will only be getting of the ship in 5 days time when we dock in Bermuda because he is on duty in Boston tomorrow.The guests on this cruise did not have great weather for Halifax had very thick fog and you could see nothing , in Portland it rained all day and Bar Harbour was cancelled.So hopefully they will be back again with the hope that they have better luck next time.

Think one must keep that in mind when planning a trip don’t wait for the last week of a cruise to a place like Canada or Alaska.Was very excited to read about the cruising season that has started in our country and the wonderful reception they had in Port Elizabeth really think our town has so much to offer and they are sitting on a goldmine with all the possibilities.Just getting the passengers from the ship to Addo or Baviaans or all the private game parks would be a wonderful experience or even an overnight stay in PE so that they can overnight in a park to see our night life, sunsets and sunrises in the bush!! 

My second last visit to Boston then time for me to fly home really looking forward to that.Only land in JHB at 11 o clock at night so have to sleep over not really happy with that but do not have a choice.

 

WEEK 10:

 

28 October 2022 – BOSTON

 

Boston was 6 degrees when we arrived this morning so winter is here, but it is end of October and time.Have been very lazy and only did a short walk in the port area before I ended up at my latest coffee shop FLOUR and had a latte to warm me.

Its freezing cold outside and then you go into the buildings and it is very warm with all there heating so needless to say if you have hot flushes this does not work well together and as soon as I entered I started undressing , do think the people must think I am quiet mad until they see the grey hair and put two and two together!

 Got back onto the ship a bit earlier and can see that younger folk are walking around and also seem to be a lot more woelig.We are leaving for Bermuda at 4 and have been warned about rough seas ahead so that not a great thought but will have to take it in our stride.

I only discovered today that we will be stopping at Bar Harbour on our way back to Boston so very glad about that.Weird to think that here it is 6 degrees and have not checked to see what the temp in Bermuda is going to be but not 6 degrees that is for sure!!!

 

29 OCTOBER 2022 - @SEA

We have been rocking and rolling since we left Boston but I was expecting a lot worse so am relieved, not that bad after all.The captain said the temperature was going to be 25 in Bermuda so not too hot which will be great.Hubby on duty tomorrow so I will we doing things on my own and then hopefully on Monday we can take the ferry to St Georges and visit Tobacco Bay for a swim and some beach time and just chilling.I might take the bus to Hamilton next week or we could visit our old favourite spot in walking distance from where we are docked for a swim and lying under the trees with a stunning view of the ocean.

 

30 OCTOBER 2022 – BERMUDA

We arrived a bit late this morning and then had to wait for the ambulance to pic up a patient before we could get off.This poor man had a ? Burst appendix and was in a lot of pain so very glad we are at a port and a place with a hospital and here in Bermuda they have the best so he should be in good hands.The weather not great cloudy and windy so I hope tomorrow will be better for we want to go snorkelling.

I walked all over the dock area and ended up in the little room in a shop where you can just sit and read so that was great had the place to myself peace and quiet.Paged through a few of the stunning interesting books they have about the island and one that caught my attention was this guy that grew up on the island in this beautiful home right on the water and how he described how it was growing up in this house and what he woke up to in the mornings, sounds like paradise and the most beautiful home.

He started diving and that is what he does diving old ship wrecks and all the treasures and things he has discovered over the years a gold cross with 5 green emeralds and 3 tiny little keys is his most treasured must say it is really special and beautiful. Woke this morning with a headache and not feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed then I decided to go back to the ship for a afternoon sleep. Hubby joined me for a while then he had to get up for the afternoon clinic so tomorrow we have all these plans and hope we can do it so we shall see.

 

31 OCTOBER 2022 – BERMUDA

We had to close our porthole to block out the lights from the terminal last night and the wind seems to keep blowing feels like home.Late morning we took the ferry to St Georges it was a rough ride and we sat on the top deck enjoying the breeze and views of Bermuda as we sailed all along the coast it took us about 50 min to get there.

We docked in Pennos wharf and then walked over the hill to Tobacco Bay I was so disappointed for the sea was really upside down and rough with a strong wind blowing so Tobacco Bay was not flat and calm and the high tide made it worse.

Hubby went for a swim first and at last he got to see the parrot fish while snorkeling,even did a few laps but the water not that warm so our swim did not last long but ended up sitting on the deck with views over the bay enjoying a beer and chips.We might try to visit again next week to see if we have better weather but we will see.Tomorrow we leave at 2 so wont be going to far from the harbour area just in case.

 

1 NOVEMBER 2022 – BERMUDA

 

Today we have the morning in Bermuda so after breakfast I decided to go for a walk in Dockyard and after trying to connect to the free wifi without any success I gave up and ended up back in the little bookshop on the couch paging through different books about Bermuda must say really enjoy all the different books about the island so my favourite place to hang out.

Also took a walk to the nearest beach but was not going to pay $15 just to go onto the beach so that did not last very long and took photos of the beautiful old building in Dockyard am fascinated by these ancient stone buildings can just imagine what they must have looked like in there hey day!

Such a pity are in this sad state of affairs wish they could be restored to there old glory. Then I discovered this little gem a new Media Lounge/ Movie House right next to the Onion Café and beautiful don’t think have more than a 100 seats but so special.

Told me have movies every night at 7 and midday over weekends so maybe we can come back next week.

Left the island at 3 and were warned about rough seas so this seems to be our latest weather at the moment.Tomorrow is a day at sea and on our way to Bar Harbour as I said before I did not realise we were going to visit this special place again so glad about that.Hope the weather improves otherwise we wont be able to go ashore like last week with the high swells and just too dangerous. 

 

3 November 2022 – BAR HARBOUR

 

It was a perfect morning when we arrived in Bar Harbour was the perfect setting to have breakfast on the outside deck at the back of the ship just needed a jacket for was 11 degrees outside and sitting in the sun also helped to warm up with a stunning view over this incredible place.

So after breakfast it was time for immigration and then I got myself a lounger at the pool area to lie on and read until it was time to take a tender boat to shore.

Don’t normally do this but kept on moving around to get into the sun to keep warm , felt like playing musical lounger!!

You could see that this place has started closing down for the winter for many shops and restaurants were closed with a notice saying CLOSED FOR THE SEASON SEE YOU IN 2023!

I walked around and started picking up different colour leaves to press and take home so that kept me busy for a while and then I did a quick walk around town.

Must say don’t like the feeling when you get to a town and there is not a buzz and it is dead quiet with no tourists don’t even think am going to get off next week.

I am sitting having coffee on deck 12 in the garden café when a announcement has just come over the PA system Code Alpha and that means work for hubby, hope not something serious and if it is that they will have time to get the patient to hospital before we leave for that will definitely delay our departure from Bar Harbour if it is serious and getting a sick person off the ship into a tender boat to shore cant be easy.Tomorrow my last day in Boston before I get off so next week this time I will be packing for home so end of traveling for 2022 cant believe the year is at its end.