Maryland cruise addicts?

[Bowie MeMe]

Got home Monday from our cruise in the Galapagos Islands. It was a lovely trip but the walks, snorkeling off pangas and general activity level was at the very tip top of my ability level. Very tough walking on lava, mud, sand, rocks, beaches and the little ship itself. Loved the beautiful animals that we saw. Hundreds of sea lions, lizards, iganuas, and thousands of birds. Did not see much mating behaviors but saw babies everywhere!-- including watching a blue footed baby hatching from the egg. We actually saw 2 sets of full arch rainbows -- with 2-3 rainbows in the sky with a seal in front. I will try to load the picture but I doubt it will happen easily. If you are young enough to not have knee problems or problems walking on moving sliding surfaces then this is the most wonderful trip ever. Weather was always overcast but not much rain. The temperature was a perfect 75 degrees. I loved the trip and am very proud that I was able to do as much as I did.

We leave for Nashville for neice's wedding and know that we will get there for the wedding but I do wonder if we will get back on the flight scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. I am taking extra clothes in case the airlines stop flying to NE. Drug everything into garage including planters. First damage of Irene was our BarBQ grill which fell apart when tried to pick it up. Rust just doesn't last as long as it used to I did see some sand bags at the shopping center

For those of you talking Florida -- my SIL is now Director of Operations for the Fort Lauderdale/Plantation Renissance Hotel -- they have a generator there. Katie has her first week of school in her new school. There are only 1,389 students K-5 in her school. I said no FL but then if granddaughter is there Meme might be there too! Rents are high in Plantation -- $13K/month for 3 BR apartment.

[CAC104]

Barbara....It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation. I hear you about the knees If the will is strong it is amazing though how much we can do. I had a partially torn Achilles tendon a few years back and went on a Med.Cruise on crutches and managed to still climb the stairs to walk around the walls of Dubrovnik.

I hope you have a good time at the wedding and you might as well plan on more days there because we are supposed to be meeting Irene on Sunday morning, so I am sure the airports will close.

[Pumbaamd]

Cindy and Jerry,
CONGRATS on finally selling your house! You've worked very hard at this and certainly deserve something better in Florida.
Just back from MJ today. Stayed ahead of Irene by a day all week, no problems at sea. Biggest problems were MIA (a Zoo today) and the roughness of our flight, as it was battering Irene's winds coming home.
It was a very fun cruise, and, H&D and Marsha/Brant said "HI!".
Rick and Deirdra

[CAC104]

Welcome home! I am glad that Irene didn't ruin your cruise. I was afraid that the ocean would be super rough.

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by Pumbaamd

Cindy and Jerry,
CONGRATS on finally selling your house! You've worked very hard at this and certainly deserve something better in Florida.
Just back from MJ today. Stayed ahead of Irene by a day all week, no problems at sea. Biggest problems were MIA (a Zoo today) and the roughness of our flight, as it was battering Irene's winds coming home.
It was a very fun cruise, and, H&D and Marsha/Brant said "HI!".
Rick and Deirdra

Welcome home, R&D. I'm glad Irene didn't ruin your cruise. We, too, were flying home from FL yesterday and it was a bumby ride every now and then. Fortunately, we were served our Bloody Marys before the flight attendant had to sit down.

We made an offer on a house in Port St. Lucie and we have received a counter offer. The counter offer is a little more than we wanted to spend. I am rethinking my choice of this house for this price. There is another house on the market that is just as nice (if not nicer) for the same price. However, this house is a new listing and they may not be willing to negotiate very much. Nonetheless, if we have to pay what the seller of the first house is asking, we may be able to get the second house for the same price. I'll have to talk it over with Jerry.

Take care and don't get washed away in the hurricane. BTW, you missed the earthquake.

[CAC104]

Cindy which houses did you narrow it down to? Are they in PGA?

I hope the hurricane doesn't cause anyone too many problems!!!!!

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by CAC104

Cindy which houses did you narrow it down to? Are they in PGA?

I hope the hurricane doesn't cause anyone too many problems!!!!!

We put in an offer on a house on Tompson Point Road in PGA. The seller's agent sent us the Seller's Disclosures to sign off on, but we don't have a fully-executed Contract yet. I'm holding my breath. The other house we put an offer on was the Bally Bunion Road house. The buyer was not very reasonable in his counter-offer in this market, IMHO. The Tompson Point house is a nicer house, but the it is a new listing so I didn't think they would be willing to negotiate very much. If the contract goes through, we will get it for less than the counter-offer on Bally Bunion. Say a prayer for us.

[CAC104]

Good luck on the contracts! I can walk to Thompson Point from my Perfect Drive golf villa. The houses are all lovely on that road.

We had rain, but very little wind during Irene's visit. We never lost our power. I hope everyone else was as lucky.

[momesu]

I fared pretty well here in upper MoCo. Only casualty of Irene was my sleep last night. I hope others surived without too much chaos. There are parts of the state that look pretty messed up.
It seems several SeaTerps are heading south. If everything goes according to my plan I will be in FL no later than mid October. I hope to be signing a one year lease on a house this week. I'll be in The Villages which is pretty much central FL.
Suzanne

[CAC104]

Suzanne....I didn't realize you were relocating so quickly. I know you will love the Villages. For a single person, it is probably the best place in Florida to start a new life.

[Bowie MeMe]

The idea of changing our Sunday flights for Monday flight was EXCELLENT. Having spent so much time on these boards I knew how to rebook and how to get seats BEFORE the crowds got to the desk. Had a wonderful time at the wedding with family and friends. The bride, my niece was beautiful and the wedding attendants were young children dressed as characters from the books written by my niece and her new husband (they both are published authors) so we had pirates and starfish and leafcutters instead of groomsmen and bridesmaids.

Was glad that when we got home all the damage was lots of leaves and several branches down. We had 6 inches of rain in the rainguage but that is all it holds so may have been more. 2 trees down on our street so it does look different.

That MIA airport is really the worst that I have been in lately. Going through customs and passport and getting a rental car took over 3 1/2 hours! Chaos, lack of flow, lack of signs in any language, poor layout of the lines -- nothing to help the traveler make decisions as where to go or where to lineup. Bathrooms dirty, We finally got on the rental car shuttle by stepping off the curb and flagging it down! Sure wish that I wasn't using MIA for the SA trip in Jan.

Did those of you that have done the trip from RIO to Santiago Chile (or a version thereof) have any advice on shore excursions to take? We generally take the ship excursions -- too many disappointing times with private trips so for us the ship activities work. Will start the prep for Jan. trip now.

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by CAC104

Good luck on the contracts! I can walk to Thompson Point from my Perfect Drive golf villa. The houses are all lovely on that road.

We had rain, but very little wind during Irene's visit. We never lost our power. I hope everyone else was as lucky.

We got the house in Tompson Point! The address is 8618 Tompson Point Road. I'll send you the listing if you like or you can Google it. It's a lovely home. Closing on our MD house is 9/27 and closing on the FL house is 9/28. We should be moved in by early Oct. When do you come down to FL?

Suzanne, congratulations on your decision to move south. I wish you much luck and happiness.

[Pumbaamd]

Cindy and Jerry,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

R&D

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by Pumbaamd

Cindy and Jerry,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

R&D

Thanks, R&D. Of course you MUST come and visit. I'm sure you can find time in your busy cruise schedule to spend a weekend in FL. Diredra, the clubhouse in our community has a pool table.

[CAC104]

Originally Posted by huladancerdog

We got the house in Tompson Point! The address is 8618 Tompson Point Road. I'll send you the listing if you like or you can Google it. It's a lovely home. Closing on our MD house is 9/27 and closing on the FL house is 9/28. We should be moved in by early Oct. When do you come down to FL?

Suzanne, congratulations on your decision to move south. I wish you much luck and happiness.

Congratulation on the New House! I know you are going to love it. My address is 9839 Perfect Drive. I am on the 12th hole of the Wannamaker course, second story right across from the pool and catty corner to the mailboxes.

Let me invite you to my favoite place for lunch when I get down. It is down in Stuart and a very quaint ladies place.

We usually go down the end of Oct. beginnig of Nov. depending how things are going.

[CAC104]

I was just laughing that it took you to move to Florida so we can actually meet. Your house is a 5 minute walk from mine when I cut though the golf course..

Do you play bridge, mah jongg, or golf? Do you like to go to the ocean? I am always looking for a buddy to do things with. My best friend still works and isn't free during the week. I belong to the Monday afternoon duplicate bridge group at the Island Club and also the Island Club ladies league. I used to play with the 18 holes, but when my knee and shoulder acted up, I switched the 9 hole league and they are a lot of fun and very, very laid back.

My winter friends are always looking for another mah jongg player for casual play and we can teach you.

I also like to swim a lot, but stay in the shade. I have beach umbrellas for the ocean. So, if any of these are interesting to you, just let me know.

Also, now you may want to join the Florida thread on CC. They are very active posters.

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by CAC104

I was just laughing that it took you to move to Florida so we can actually meet. Your house is a 5 minute walk from mine when I cut though the golf course..

Do you play bridge, mah jongg, or golf? Do you like to go to the ocean? I am always looking for a buddy to do things with. My best friend still works and isn't free during the week. I belong to the Monday afternoon duplicate bridge group at the Island Club and also the Island Club ladies league. I used to play with the 18 holes, but when my knee and shoulder acted up, I switched the 9 hole league and they are a lot of fun and very, very laid back.

My winter friends are always looking for another mah jongg player for casual play and we can teach you.

I also like to swim a lot, but stay in the shade. I have beach umbrellas for the ocean. So, if any of these are interesting to you, just let me know.

Also, now you may want to join the Florida thread on CC. They are very active posters.

Carol, thank you for thinking of me. I would love to go to lunch with you in Stuart. Not only would I enjoy the opportunity to meet you, it would give me a chance to see exactly where Stuart is and how to get there. We will need to buy furniture and I understand there are some good stores there.

I don't know how to play bridge and I don't play golf, but I would like to learn how to play mah jongg. Hopefully I won't be a slow study.

Going to the beach sounds divine or you can come to our house and lounge by the pool.

BTW, the house is located on the 13th hold the Wannamaker course. We're neighbors!

[momesu]

Originally Posted by CAC104

Suzanne....I didn't realize you were relocating so quickly. I know you will love the Villages. For a single person, it is probably the best place in Florida to start a new life.

I certainly hope so. I'm ready for a new life and the best part I will be in a relatively easy drive to multiple different cruise ports. Port Canaveral will be closest, next Tampa and then Fort Lauderdale. Even driving to Miami would be doable since its not all that far from Fort Lauderdale. It will be nice not having to fly to cruise. Then as a plus I'm relatively close to Disney World about 80 minutes. But if I want to just stay in TV I've heard is as a land cruise life and WDW for Adults........
Good luck with your move Cindy.
Suzanne

[huladancerdog]

Originally Posted by momesu

I certainly hope so. I'm ready for a new life and the best part I will be in a relatively easy drive to multiple different cruise ports. Port Canaveral will be closest, next Tampa and then Fort Lauderdale. Even driving to Miami would be doable since its not all that far from Fort Lauderdale. It will be nice not having to fly to cruise. Then as a plus I'm relatively close to Disney World about 80 minutes. But if I want to just stay in TV I've heard is as a land cruise life and WDW for Adults........
Good luck with your move Cindy.
Suzanne

Thank you, Suzanne, and good luck to you as well. I hear you about the proximity to cruise ports. We have cruises scheduled for Nov. and Apr. (both on the Allure) leaving from Ft. Lauderdale. It is probably only 1.5 hours from our house. Parking at Port Everglades is $6.99 per day and that sure beats the price of air fare not to mention the hassle of airports and airplanes.

[Bowie MeMe]

Sure wish you could get to more places from the ports in Florida. Not much of a Carib. visitor -- been there done that give me the exotics catalog Now that SIL is managing a 300 room Renissance in Fort Lauderdale just might have to spend a month or so in Florida. Will visit before and after Rio cruise for sure. I have lived in Florida and don't want to move back there but you never know. Already learned to pick our place and not follow the kids --who move without notice!