StLouisCruisers

Hi all, just checking in. We had a great breakfast at First Watch and spent quite a bit of time at Morgan's talking and having her show us around. Both the apartment and the facilities at the complex. Very nice place. I snapped a photo of her before we left. She was heading to the beach to meet up with other family and none of us need any more sun. Tonight we're supposed to meet everyone at a place near the beach where we can all hang out together. Her boyfriend's graduation ceremony is tomorrow and Morgan's is Sunday at 1:30. Different departments. Debbie @dfish DS said he knew of Venue in A squared and had just gone there last week for a department chair happy hour. They hold all kinds of events there. Sounds good! I'll leave you with a photo of Morgan, proud to show us her new home. She's come a long way in less than 2 months!

In 2019 on our family cruise stop in Marseille some of us went to Aix-en-Provence and back to Marseille to tour Notre Dame de la Garde. The remainder went on a boat trip to Calanques National Park where they could swim and go snorkeling. Then they went to Vieux-Port in Marseille for a little lunch at a restaurant of their choice. Aix-en-Provence was a lot bigger than I normally like. There were some nice places there to tour though. Morgan just before her 17th birthday The Catholic Cathedral in Aix-en-Provence didn’t look as nice on the outside as the inside did. Heading back to Marseille for our tour of the cathedral. This is the way up so beware if you can't do steps! Almost there. The cathedral is at the top of the tallest hill so there are stellar views of Marseille. And excellent statues outside Views inside Notre-Dame de la Garde Our next stop would be at Vieux-Port or Old Port seen below from the cathedral. Once at the port we strolled the streets and marina in the hot, hot sun for a while, then stopped at a covered patio and had cold drinks at a cafe. There's Notre-Dame up on the hill. The family members who went on the boat tour of the Calanques National Park were able to dip into the water to cool off! Then they ended up back at the Vieux-Port for lunch. We did not run into each other there. DGS Ren at 12 years old. That's quite a pizza for one kid but you know how boys eat! Especially when they burn so many calories playing soccer constantly. I wouldn't have minded being on their tour at all. Looks like fun!

Today's port is Marseille on the French Riviera, a very popular spot on the Mediterranean cruises. In fact Marseille was on my first Med cruise a long time ago. We've been to Marseille in 2008 (Emerald Princess), 2012 (Crown Princess), and 2019 (Emerald again). The last time there was on our family cruise celebrating our 50th anniversary. What a fabulous experience that was! In looking back on our visits to Marseille I see that we've spent a lot of time outside the city of Marseille visiting the countryside of Provence and the little villages. On our last visit we did see some of Marseille itself. In 2008 we took of tour of Provence that included Lourmarin. I remember the typical pale blue shutters on the stone houses. The following photos are all from 2008. The castle in Lourmarin and the beautiful countryside surrounding it A street in Lourmarin, and a look at the flavor of the little town Next was a drive through Bonnieux Waiting for someone to get out of our way. I recall the narrow road along a cliff. Lovely views from there. On our way to our next village we passed this bridge called Pont Julien which has stood for nearly two thousand years. Two people were walking on it in this picture. Next was Gordes which also on a hillside. It was really beautiful in person. I hope these photos do it justice. This area is known for their stone walls and olive trees, too. Both are seen here. We briefly stopped in Cassis where we saw the Chateau de Cassis on top of that hill and some of the marina area. From there we headed to L'Isle-sur-Sorgue which is known for its waterways and antique shops. A cute shop, right? I have to stop and let you rest your eyes a moment. Then I'll be back with photos from the family visit to Marseille.

Good morning friends! This morning in Pinellas Park, FL it is 74F and will be 90 later with sunny skies. Yesterday the atmosphere added some dark clouds in late afternoon and we actually got rained on at the airport with thunder/lightning slowing baggage retrieval. Seems like that is a common occurrence here in Florida though. Thank you Roy @rafinmd for the maps today and Rich @richwmn for the content. These past two days, sadly, I have had to change the predicted destination for Oosterdam because when the material for the fleet was researched last year by Rich the ship was going to Haifa and Ashdod, Israel. A reminder of what has gone on in that region since last October. Today is Lumpy Rug Day, National Specially-abled Pets Day, and National Two Different Colored Shoes Day. I'll try to avoid the first and last, and hope all the specially-abled pets enjoy a fine day regardless of their limitations. An interesting quote by Rowling but I don't know that I completely agree. Yum, that dessert sounds great! I don't drink rum or red wine🍷 so more for you. It was a very good day for Margaret Mitchell. Thanks today to our F&B ladies Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard. Prayers for DB, and great nephew Alex's baby boys👶👶, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages held and our military in the region. And for all here on the Daily Care list, especially Tana and Terry @smitty34877 and Chuck @catmando and Annie @marshhawk. So relieved Maurice has a date coming up for his valve replacement and he can then go off the Care list. Prayers for you all!🙏 Congratulations to the birthday and anniversary people, and to the graduates.🎓🎉🎂 It's that time of year! And to all the cruisers - may you enjoy smooth seas and following seas.🚢 Thanks again to Vanessa @JazzyV for your hard work for us. Hope you have a great Friday! The destination today is Marseille, Provence, France. We first had that port on May 31, 2021 and last on April 10, 2023. Yep, we've been there several times but the 2021 photos have disappeared from both posts. More work for me! Here are the links for you. Well, sleep did not come easily last night in a new place. Unfortunately the light from the lit-up front yard here comes through the curtains and the room is glowing in the dark! I wore an eye mask I brought and that was uncomfortable. I sleep in a dark room at home. And my back is hurting this morning and this straight back chair is killing me! Not a good start to the day. Hopefully I do better tonight! Today we have breakfast with Morgan and hope to see the new apartment. If she goes to the beach with some of her other visiting family (Dad, sister, etc.) the three of us will not be going since we're not beach people. We will find something else to do this day. Hope everyone else has a better start to their morning and a fine Friday!

Today is Lumpy Rug Day, National Special-abled Pets Day, and National Two Different Colored Shoes Day Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love.--J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Meal Suggestion for today - Super Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Drink of the Day - Rum Runner Wine of the Day - Vietti 2019 Lazzarito Nebbiolo (Barolo) Destination of the Day - Marseille (Provence), France Today in History: 1937 Margaret Mitchell wins Pulitzer Prize for "Gone With The Wind" Ship Locations Eurodam Vancouver, BC Canada 07:00 - 16:00 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Vancouver, BC Canada eta 05-04 Nieuw Amsterdam Ketchikan, Revillagigedo Island Alaska 11:00 - 19:00 Nieuw Statendam At Sea Destination Rotterdam, Netherlands South Holland eta 05-05 Noordam Prince Rupert BC, Kaien Island Canada 08:00 - 17:00 Oosterdam Siracusa, Sicily 07:00 - 17:00 Rotterdam At Sea Destination Rotterdam, Netherlands South Holland eta 05-04 Volendam Quebec City, Canada depart 18:00 Zaandam Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm/Juneau, Alaska 0900-0930 and 12:30 - 22:00 Zuiderdam Mindelo, Cape Verde 07:00 - 15:00 Eastern Hemisphere Westerdam At Sea Destination Kodiak Island, Alaska eta 05-06

I will have to mention that to DS. He may know of it. I'm going to bed now, 10 pm and hope I can sleep past 3:30 am. I may even post an hour later tomorrow if I can get some rest tonight. 😉

Gerry @ger_77 that is such great news! I'm so happy for you both! Debbie @dfish I'm glad things went well for you too, and that you could walk a good long distance today. By the way, which restaurant in Ann Arbor did you try? You said it was worth it.

Umm, I sleep about 5 hours a night. Sometimes I give in and take a nap.😴

Hi all! We made it safely to the Airbnb at 3 pm, check in time. Then went to Winn-Dixie for beverages and snacks for our stay here 4 nights. DD's plane is heading this way and I've been checking Google maps for how bad the traffic is back across the 275 bridge to the TPA airport. We will probably leave an hour ahead of her scheduled arrival and wait in the cell phone lot. Just wanted to check in with everyone. Thanks for the safe travel wishes!

Annie, that's a lot for anybody to cope with. I send you both lots of prayers for answers and help with all the cancer issues. Hope you get to that specialist soon that the dermatologist referred him to. January is ridiculous! Hugs! Thank you Graham!

Montevideo, Uruguay has been a frequent stop for us, since we've been there on every South America cruise we've taken. My lists show we have seen Montevideo, Uruguay four times. The first two were on Star Princess and Ruby Princess in 2012 and 2015, on circumnavigation cruises of South America. The last two times were on Antarctica cruises going from west coast to east coast so near the end of the cruises which ended in Buenos Aires. 2017 was the end of the Seabourn Quest Antarctica/S. Georgia Island cruise and 2020 was on Coral Princess on our drive by of Antarctica. In 2020 we didn't even get off the ship that day and prepared for our departure in Buenos Aires by packing our bags. Our 2012 visit to Montevideo was a real disappointment to us. The city was run down and I hate to say it, but the sidewalks were littered with dog feces. Not just a little, but a lot! We had to keep our eyes down as we walked around trying to see the sights. Friends were with us on that cruise and they can verify that memory. A few photos of note from 2012. I thought this was a beautiful ornate lamp post which looked like drinking fountain spouts at the base. An interesting display of produce more vertical than horizontal On an afternoon bus ride we saw several bronze sculptures around town. This is a stagecoach monument, La Diligencia. And La Carreta (the cart) which commemorates ox carts which were important in the area in the 19th century. So on our second stop there in 2015 we were a little leery but went out anyway. We were so relieved to see the city had been doing a clean up the prior 3 years. We had an enjoyable time seeing the sights, and repeated that experience again in January 2017. In 2017 we got a shuttle ride to the Plaza Independencia, one of the city’s most important squares. Several of the city’s most famous landmarks are here including the Palacio Salvo and the Teatro Solis. Our intention was to walk back to the ship. Here goes! This arch is the gateway to the old fortified city Pedestrian walking street Constitution Square, a place to sit and people watch, shop from the local vendors, and gaze at/listen to the fountain. Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral across from Constitution Square One of many beautiful views inside the church On our walk back to the dock we saw this statue in Plaza Zabala. But why is there no pigeon sitting on the man’s head? We made it back to the ship in fine shape and ready to enjoy the evening. Dinner was at 7 pm and before that we had some special local entertainment. We had dancing by two couples, an excellent singer, followed by a comedian and dancing for all accompanied by the musicians. That's all for Montevideo for today. I hope you enjoyed this brief visit.

Good morning friends! It's 55F here and will be a hot 86 with sunshine later today. Thanks Roy @rafinmd for preparing the fleet location maps for us and Rich @richwmn for the information to post. The days today are all good ones as is the quote, a familiar one. No thanks to the meal, drink or wine of the day. A very nice date in history for Arthur Miller. Thanks F&B Department ladies!🥂 Prayers will be said for our Care list people, especially Tana and Terry @smitty34877, Richard and Maureen @RMLincoln, Chuck @catmando and Annie @marshhawk, and Gerry's DH Maurice @ger_77. I haven't had time to read last night's entries to the Daily but hope there is no further bad news and only good reports. Prayers also for DB, the twin boys, people of Israel and Ukraine, hostages still held and our military in the region. 🙏 Three cheers to those with birthdays and anniversaries (and graduations).🎂🎉🎓 And a big thanks to Vanessa @JazzyV for the list updating. Hope all is going better each and every day for you.❤️ The port this morning is Montevideo, Uruguay. It was listed here before as the port of the day on June 15, 2021 and June 22, 2023. Here are the links for you. I've been there several times and wouldn't you know it, my photos from back in 2021 have disappeared so I have to start over. Not good timing! Hoping you all have a great day, stay safe and keep well.

Today is Life Insurance Day, Roberts Rule of Order Day, and Scurvy Awareness Day It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.--Maurice Switzer, Mrs. Goose, Her Book Meal Suggestion for today - Sorrel Pesto Drink of the Day - Smashing Pumpkin Wine of the Day - Bodegas Godeval 2022 Godello Godello (Valdeorras) Destination of the Day - Montevideo, Uruguay Today in History: 1949 Arthur Miller wins Pulitzer Prize for "Death of a Salesman" Ship Locations Eurodam At Sea Destination Vancouver, BC Canada eta 05-03 Koningsdam Ketchikan, Revillagigedo Island Alaska 11:00 - 19:00 Nieuw Amsterdam Sitka, Alaska Nieuw Statendam La Coruna, Spain Galicia 08:00 - 17:00 Noordam Ketchikan, Revillagigedo Island Alaska 08:00 - 17:00 Oosterdam Valletta, Malta 08:00 - 17:00 Rotterdam Leith-Edinburgh, Newhaven-Rosyth-Queensferry, Scotland 10:00 - 20:00 Volendam Quebec City, Canada 08:00 - 03 May +1 08:00 Zaandam At Sea Destination Juneau, Alaska eta 05-03 Zuiderdam At Sea Destination Mindelo, Cape Verde eta 5/3 Eastern Hemisphere Westerdam At Sea Destination Kodiak Island, Alaska eta 05-06

Hi, just finished talking to DD so we can make plans for picking her up tomorrow night at Tampa International airport. We're leaving home in the morning for our drive down to Tampa. Check in at the Airbnb is 3 pm. She arrives at 6:30 so we get to drive through rush hour traffic back across the 275 bridge. Then dinner after we pick her up. We'll see Morgan Friday morning for breakfast and a tour of the new apartment. As for your question, yes once the stocking is finished the procedure is to cut excess fabric away leaving a 1/2 inch allowance on the sides, with a 1.5 inch allowance at the top. That top area will be folded down and hand stitched down. But first I cut out a piece of lining material and sew that to the back side. Then I cut out the backing material which comes with the kit, a heavy felt in a matching color (navy). You use a sewing machine to stitch the backing to the back side of the stocking, then have to carefully turn it right side out. Then you make a loop out of matching yarn where you braid the pieces of yarn, make a knot so the loop is the size you want, and hand sew it to the upper outside of the stocking. It should look like this, even down to the name!

I read today is also International Doodle Dog Day, for all the variations of doodles. The golf course owner and his wife moved up the street from us, and I see them walking their doodle a lot. It's huge and the wife is quite petite so sometimes it looks like she's giving it all she's got to hold onto that leash. Their dog looks very well groomed and handsome. Anyone here have a doodle of some kind?