Catching up on the way to San Lucia

Dear Readers,

It is now Tuesday evening, January 12^th, and we are en route to San Lucia, having left Miami yesterday. So very much has happened since we left Zürich on the 7^th, that I doubt I will be able to recall a fraction of what you might like to know.

First off, let me say that Marlyse and I were both thrilled to spend time with Phil and Gayle, and so pleased to see that Phil is happy and relaxed. In true interfering mother style, I chided him until he went for a haircut and beard trim, which immediately improved his appearance, and took away his Santa Claus look, as well as making him look years younger (which at the same time, meant that I could claim to be younger!)

We went shopping on the first day, having been told that it was possible to take a shuttle train that would connect to the Metro-rail and would be very easy for me (that meant little walking would be necessary), and in the stores they offer self propelled go-carts for those with walking problems. All was well until it was time to return to the hotel, and the shuttle was no longer working! We ended up taking a bus, and having to walk some six blocks!

People began to check in, and although I couldn’t remember names, there were many people that I recognized from either 2008 or 2009, so it was like “old home week”. On Friday night, we were eating in the dining room, and all of a sudden, a couple came to our table because they had overheard us mention Russell Sage College, and also something about motorcycles; it was the President of Sage and her husband, who had invited Marlyse and me for lunch on Saturday, and thus met us the night before.

A couple from last year’s cruise came by just to see who they knew, although they are not on this year’s cruise. He’s an M.D., and encouraged me to get myself a cane; in fact, he even insisted on driving me to a pharmacy, to get one, so I am now tapping my way whenever I walk.

Yesterday, there was a long delay before we could board the ship, because some people never got their passports back with the various visas that were necessary. The end of the story was that a special courier had to hand carry the missing items from Washington, and finally, the ship was cleared by security, and we could be transported from the hotel.

We had a really good dinner last night, but I was too tired to finish all my unpacking.

This morning, Marlyse started at 07:30 with Nordic Walking out on deck, and both of us went to Yoga at 08:00. For the rest of the day, we have been running from one activity to another. We cannot do everything we would like to do, because of the time conflicts, but this year I have promised myself I would take time for relaxing, and so I was quite pleased to have a nap in the sunshine up at the poolside, while Marlyse went to some other activity. She has already done something in art class that will be on display, and I went to Spanish class, as well as to a bridge lesson. We like our table mates at dinner.

Tonight is “formal” night, and so it is time to get ready; more some other time. I will upload picture some other time.