Vancouver, Canada

May 6, 2016

So much for getting to bed early.  I got hooked watching the end of Apollo 13 (every time I'm flipping channels and run across it, I have to watch the rest of it), then the news, then the start of The Tonight Show.  Finally turned off the TV at midnight but sleep was not at hand.  I just couldn't get comfortable because my lower back and hips were aching.  I don't think I actually walked that far but I had on shoes with little cushioning or support.  Fell asleep sometime after 12:40.

Woke up at 3 am and was wide awake.  I got up and surfed the Internet.  I paid bills, checked out the excursions I wanted to take in Alaska and then (finally) booked an airport hotel for the night before I fly home.  I splurged and decided on the Fairmont which is right in the airport.  That way I don't have to get a shuttle at 3:30 in the morning from one of the other hotels that are near the airport.  Finally got back to sleep at 5 am and slept until 10:45.

My plan had been to spend today in Gastown, the oldest section of town.  We had driven through it last year on the excursion I was on and it looked like an interesting area to walk around and spend the day.  I had checked it out yesterday and found it was about 1km (.62 miles) from my hotel which was in my walking range.  After the aches of yesterday, though, I had decided to take a taxi but when I left the hotel it was such a beautiful day I decided to try walking (I had on my good, supportive Birkenstocks).  Mapquest had said it was a 12 minute walk and I made it in 20 (not bad for me!).

Gastown is an area with an interesting mixture of shops, bars, restaurants, business offices, apartments, and art galleries.  They also have numerous benches where I could rest and people watch.  (For the Pacific Pearls Trivia team - I was sitting watching the world go by and guess who comes out of the store in front of me?  None other than the last remaining artichoke!  Small world!)

After checking out the stores on Water Street, I turned around after snapping a few pictures of "Gassy Jack".  I decided to have lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory.  They had all kinds of interesting old pieces inside including an old Gastown trolley car which was where I ate my lunch.  I had a good meal of a salad, manicotti and a Coke.

Started walking back towards Canada Place stopping in the various stores and picking up some souvenirs.  A group of us who had cruised together last year had agreed to meet at Mahony and Sons at 5 for dinner.  I arrived about 4:45 (first one there) and was able to be seated.  Everyone else got there about 5.  Friday night at a bar - very noisy.  We had a hard time being heard even when talking to the person next to you.  I had fish and chips and a Guinness.

After we ate we went to the Pan Pacific Hotel and had drinks as we watched the cruise ships depart.  We stayed until almost 9 pm.  It was getting dark then so I took a taxi back to the hotel.

I don't ache anything like last night so I have decided it must have been the shoes as I walked much more today than yesterday.

The Canadian Pacific Railway Station - just over 100 years old

About the station

Part of the interior

Mosaic on the pavement

The Gastown Steam Clock

About the clock

A little history of Gastown

The statue of "Gassy Jack"

About "Gassy Jack"

Also on the base of the statue

Beautiful stained glass inside the restaurant

The old trolley car where I ate

Front of the trolley

Where the numerous seaplanes load and unload

Mahony and Sons

Our group

Smooth sailing until next time!

Vancouver, Canada

May 5, 2016

Pulled the curtains open a little before six to a beautiful sky and mountains in the distance.  When I finally got up at 9:00 the beautiful snow capped peaks of British Columbia were visible outside my window.

After getting ready and throwing a few last minute items in my carry-on, I went up to deck 10 to watch us sail in (under the Lions Gate Bridge) to Vancouver.  I had a muffin and orange juice because for the first time in 33 days I didn't know where my next meal was coming from!

We were just backing in to Canada Place when I went out to the Seaview Pool (which had been emptied) to get a few pictures.  Walking through by the Lido pool, I saw Esther and Heinz and got to speak to them and hug them good-bye one last time.

When I returned to my cabin the sheets were already being changed.  My room steward had put my few things aside so I grabbed them and went to sit in the Queen's Lounge until my group was called.

Disembarking was fast with the only hitch being that the luggage carts were hidden on the other side of the terminal from the luggage.  As I went to get one I was struck by a cart that had gotten away from an employee who was trying to push two.  No broken skin and it doesn't look like there will even be a bruise.  Immigration was nothing more than handing in the declaration form - no need to even see a passport.

The slow down came at the queue to get taxis.  Since I was in the last group to depart the ship, there were lots of people ahead of me.  It took about 25 minutes to get a taxi and then a five minute ride to the hotel (Metropolitan).  I checked in and then spent about an hour enjoying high-speed internet.

One of the things I found out on the Internet was that I was right across the street from a shopping center - the CF Pacific Centre.  I walked around it (lots of high end stores) and then walked down the street to find some place for a late lunch.  I ended up eating at Tim Horton's for the first (and likely the last) time.  I had a sandwich that was ok and a donut that was really good (the donut came with the sandwich meal???) but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.  First of all, I was about three decades older than anyone else and second, I was the only person in the place not glued to an electronic device (they have free wi-fi).  The coffee must be good, however, because everyone but me was drinking it!

Back to the hotel and some more quality time on the Internet.  I decided to have dinner in the food court at Pacific Centre and ended up having a hot dog (can't remember the last time I had one) and fries.  Returned back to the hotel about 8:15.

Although I can stay up late tonight, I don't think I will make it.

Sailing into Vancouver

Passing Stanley Park

Arriving at Canada Place

The Vancouver Block Building

Vancouver Art Gallery

As I was heading to dinner lots of flashing lights passed me.  Must have been filming a movie or TV show

Smooth sailing until next time!

At Sea

May 4, 2016

I wake up frequently during the night but usually I roll over and fall asleep within a minute.  This morning, starting around 3 am, when I woke up I heard a whistling sound.  I have spent 50+ nights in this cabin over two cruises and never heard it before.  It was enough noise that it took about ten minutes to fall back asleep.  The next time I woke up I actually checked out in the corridor to see if maybe the door to the outside deck was ajar but I could not hear any noise out there.  The noise continued until I finally got up around 9:45.

My knitting supplies were packed but I went to Sit and Stitch just to say goodbye but nobody was there.  I then headed to the Lido.  The full buffet breakfast was closed but they still had orange juice and muffins/rolls out.  I got a blueberry muffin and a large glass of o.j. and sat and read my book and when I was finally hungry, ate the muffin.

I had two chicken legs and fruit for lunch and then went back to the Crow's Nest for my last afternoon trivia.  Six of us played and won with 27 1/2 points out of 30.  Because it was Mario's last day (he leaves tomorrow and transfers to the Eurodam) he offered us a free drink or a pin.  Sherita had not won a pin, so chose that.  Ed gave her his drink (he only drinks Pepsi).  I had a frozen mango margarita which was good even if I am not used to mix drinks at 1:45 in the afternoon!

1.How long was Robinson Crusoe stranded on the island?
2.Name the actresses who played "The Golden Girls"?
3.What does the "00" in James Bond's 007 stand for?
4.A heptagon has how many sides?
5.Name ten major body parts that have only three letters.

Susie and I sat and talked for awhile and then went to the Indonesian Tea Ceremony.  We sat at a table with a couple on Cruise Critic.  First they brought sweet treats, then open sandwiches, and finished with scones with jam and cream.  I chose the Indonesian spiced tea which was very good.

Leaving the tea we ended up in the shop and were surprised at the prices (a flared black skirt for $170, for example).  I was headed back to my cabin to pack my second suitcase when I heard Jorge calling Bingo.  I had never watched Bingo so I found the perfect way to procrastinate and sat and watched.

I finally ran out of excuses and went to my cabin and packed most of my second suitcase.

For evening trivia we had 11 correct but the winning team had 12.

1.What German word means "child prodigy"?
2.How many Ivy League schools are there?
3.What was the first James Bond movie that starred Roger Moore?
4.What two westerns won Best Picture Oscars in the 1990s?
5.Which rock star's 1971 death was kept from the public for six days?

Said good-bye to Susie and then to dinner.  Esther and Heinz shared their last bottle of wine.  I had brisket and the Baked Alaska.

Turned in my comment cards before returning to my cabin to finish the packing.

Decorations at the Indonesian tea

Banana fritter

Beef and cucumber open-faced sandwiches

Scones with jam and cream

Afternoon trivia
1.24
2.Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty.
3.license to kill
4.7
5.leg, arm, toe, hip, eye, ear, lip, rib, gum, jaw

Evening trivia
1.wunderkind
2.8
3.Live and Let Die
4.Unforgiven and Dances With Wolves
5.Jim Morrison

Last but not least, I want to wish my sweet granddaughter, Kat, a wonderful 11th birthday.

Smooth sailing until next time!

At Sea

May 3, 2016

Up around nine and went to Sit and Stitch at 9:45.  Not sure if anyone would be there since many of them left yesterday.  I was about ready to leave when Susie and Ann arrived and shortly thereafter, two more.  We broke up about eleven.

I went to hear Kainoa's port talk on Vancouver.  From there it was the Lido and the taco bar and some fruit for lunch.

Sat and read for awhile in the Crow's Nest before afternoon trivia. We tied with 12 but lost the tie-breaker.

1.Which ocean is saltier - Atlantic or Pacific?
2.What is the dot over an i called?
3.In what year was the Eiffel Tower finished?
4.What is the only country where the flag is flown differently in war and in peace?
5.The Danube flows into which body of water?

After trivia I packed one suitcase.  Then to the Lido for my afternoon ice cream and I finished reading my book.

Six of us played evening trivia and we won with 14 out of 16.

1.Out of the 88 keys on a piano, how many are black?
2.What brand of beer has a red star on a green bottle top?
3.What food processor company used the slogan "Savor the Good Life"?
4.What suit has the only one-eyed King in a deck of cards?
5.Who was the second man to set foot on the moon?

All five present for dinner.  Heinz and Esther treated us all to champagne.  I had a tasty fettuccine in Alfredo sauce (third time was the charm as my last two pasta meals were not good) and pineapple crisp.

As I went through the casino I collected my winnings before going to the show.  Tonight's entertainment was a ventriloquist, Patrick Murray, and his dummy, Matilda.  It was OK.

Afternoon trivia
1.Atlantic
2.tittle
3.1889
4.Philippines
5.Black Sea

Evening trivia
1.36
2.Heinekin
3.Cuisinart
4.Diamonds
5.Buzz Aldrin

Smooth sailing until next time!

San Diego, California

May 2, 2016

The first announcement that woke me up came at 6:40 - it was for the first group of non-Americans to go through immigration.  From then on I would sleep for a few minutes, another announcement would come on about 10-15 minutes later, sleep, announcement, and on and on until I gave up around ten.

I had planned on not getting off in San Diego so I had the ship very much to myself for about two hours.  I took pictures of some interesting ships (new and old), walked around deck 10, looked over the stern on deck 9, and walked around the promenade deck (3).  It was a beautiful, sunny day and the temperature was perfect.  At 11:10 the last group was given the go-ahead to disembark.  Ten minutes later three people were called by name and asked to kindly disembark.  Those of us continuing on did not have to get off the ship and then get back on as happens on some cruises.

About 11:45 I met Ester and Heinz (table mates) in the Lido.  We had all decided to eat before the new passengers descended on the Lido.  They asked me to join them and we had a nice meal and then spent some time picking out the new passengers while we had a cookie dessert.

By the time we finished it was time for me to return to my cabin and start folding clothes I won't need in Alaska.  I am hoping to have one suitcase that I will not need to open for Vancouver and Alaska.

At 2 pm the start of the muster drill began.  For about 15 minutes the crew were given their orders and then the passengers were told to report to their muster stations.  Using a machine to scan the key cards has really cut down the amount of time the drill takes.  We were finished in about 15 minutes.

After waiting for the crowds to clear the promenade deck, I headed aft and up to the Seaview Pool for the sail-away.  The captain had told us the other day that we would be leaving earlier than originally planned to try to outrun a low front that was forming along the coast.  So right about 3 pm we headed out.  Nine of us sat by the pool and had drinks as we left San Diego.  It was very windy and some people were cold.  Instead of having towels by the pool, they had out blankets that many people wrapped up in. I was perfectly comfortable.

Sat and read my book as I had my afternoon ice cream.

I hadn't played trivia in over 30 hours so I was ready early to go to the Crow's Nest.  Five of us played and we tied three other teams with 14 out of 17 correct.  We lost in the tie-breaker.  The good news - all but one of the artichokes have left the ship!

1.What are the four states that meet in the "Four Corners".
2.What nation has the largest desert in the Western Hemisphere?
3.Is proteomics the study of proteins, protons, or Protozoa?
4.What country boasts the world's oldest Parliament, the Althing?
5.What is the scapula also known as?

Five of us for dinner as Judy and Len disembarked today.  I had a great steak for dinner and a really tasty variation on Baked Alaska.

I went down to the Front Office to pick up envelopes and cards to commend the stewards.  I bumped into a lady that I had been seeing for the last month.  I knew I knew her from somewhere but could never place where.  She asked if I had been on the Panama Canal cruise last year.  Turns out we had been assigned to the same dinner table but she had met some people who did anytime dining and she ate with them every night except one or two.

Decided to try the slots after dinner. I put $10 of my $18 bank into the machine and won $22.26 (my biggest win ever).  So now my account is at $32.08 - that is a net gain of $2.08 from the $30 I have put in.  I am definitely not a casino's dream customer!

Skipped the show which was billed as "An Evening of Music and Laughter" with Bayne Bacon.

Three ships in the harbor

USS San Diego

The USS Coronado  (a trimaran)

Farewell (again) to San Diego

Trivia
1.New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah
2.Argentina
3.proteins
4.Iceland
5.shoulder blade

Smooth sailing until next time!

At Sea

May 1, 2016

Awoke just before 9 after a good night's sleep.  Went to the Vista Lounge about 9:25 (wanted to be sure I got a seat) for Westerdam Confidential.  Mario talked about the life "behind the scenes" on the ship.  At the end, representatives from the different departments came out for a farewell.

Restaurant and bar crew

Room stewards

Some of the entertainment staff

More of the entertainment staff and chefs

At 11 there was morning trivia (because of the 1 pm cook off).  Five of us played but the dreaded artichokes won.

1.In shipping lingo what does "RMS" stand for?
2.50 kilograms is equivalent to how many pounds?
3.What does "lido" mean
4.What mammals name comes from the Native American for "he who squirts"?
5.What was the first totally computer generated movie?

I had a disappointing lunch.  It was supposed to be a ham and cheese sandwich but turned out to be chicken with enough mayonnaise for four sandwiches.

At 12:20 I went to get a seat in the Culinary Arts Center (aka Queen's Lounge) for the cook off between Mario and the captain.  It was hilarious.  The Captain came in full uniform and stripped down to his T-shirt and put on a chef's jacket and toque.  Mario came in a Mario wig, hat, and apron.  They bantered continually but the Captain came out the winner.

Mario in wig, hat and apron

Mario and the Captain

The judges - Leeann and Geoffrey from the entertainment staff and Tony the Windows 10 guy

Pictionary was at 2:30.  I did not even attempt to draw because my lack of artistic skills is immeasurable.  We came in third out of three teams.  Susie and I went to the Ho‘ike Graduation Show where the guests who had been learning the ukulele, Hula, Tamure dance, and the To'ere drum performed for the audience.  A few of our Cruise Critic roll call members took part.

The ukulele players

Sheri dancing to the Hawaiian Wedding Song

The Hula and Tamure dancers

Tonight I ate at the Pinnacle grill with six of our roll call.  One couple invited us for drinks in their suite first.  We had a slow but hilarious meal and were there almost two and a half hours.

The amuse bouche which included escargot

Crab cakes

Filet mignon

Creme brûlée tart

I stopped in the see "The Wedding Game" (same idea as the old "Newlywed Game" on TV).  Lots of laughs.  Skipped the show which was three of the previous entertainers.

We will be arriving in San Diego about six in the morning.


Morning trivia
1.Royal Mail Ship
2.110
3.beach
4.skunk
5.Toy Story

Smooth sailing until next time!