NextOne

Jumping on late & just getting caught up. @smitty34877 So sorry to hear about Lou, but I'm glad he's ok with the decision.

We've have several rainy evenings, and now it's raining again. The storm last night was a doozy, and DS said he experienced hail on his trip home from friends early this morning. Our next door neighbor had a young deer stuck in his back yard during the thunderstorm -- the poor thing was terrified & calling for its mama. Never heard that before. We tried opening the gate, but she was so scared that she broke through the wooden fence to get out. I hope she found her way to mama after all that.

DS & I are working on cleaning out the garage, taking one carload of "stuff" to the dump each weekend. Progress - we can now access the side door that's been blocked for years. Yay!

Prayers for everyone in our Daily family that needs them, and cheers for all that are celebrating!

Rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit!

Good morning friends - Happy September! Today's temperatures are supposed to be cool - yay! I got spoiled with the temps in the North Atlantic!

In lieu of a rabbit picture, I offer puffins!

Prayers raised for all in need, and cheers for all who are celebrating!

Edi

Just a quick hello to say that I'm back! Doing laundry, checking bank statements, vacuuming up cat hair..... - the usual post-cruise chores! It was a wonderful trip and I was amazed at the number of passengers I met that had done the Voyage of the Vikings multiple times -- now I understand!

Oh - and I booked Norway for next June. I was told that Flam is no longer a port. Sigh!

Edi

Greetings from Boston. Despite the nasty thunderstorm we had overnight  the plane was more-or-less on time. I woke up at 3:30 am because of the storm & never got back to sleep. At 6am I was up to finish packing. I should sleep tonight!

I had the (not so) bright idea that tomorrow I would walk from the hotel to the cruise terminal with my two suitcases. I did a dry run this afternoon & realized that wasn't a good idea. Back to the taxi plan!

My friend Denny showed small signs of improvement yesterday. We're praying that it continues. Thanks for all your prayers & good wishes!

14 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 I suspect they sent Bonnie home to get some rest, and I hope she can.  She needs to stay healthy to help Denny with his recovery.  

 

Lenda

That's what I keep telling her!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers for my friends. Bonnie texted me that Denny knows who she is, ate pudding (!!)  & a graham cracker, & had some sips of water. All good news. The not-so-great news is that he has semi-paralysis in his left arm & leg, and the left side of his face is drooping. A brain scan is scheduled for midnight to check on the brain bleed. 

She was unhappy because the hospital sent her home at 8pm and she can't come back until 10am tomorrow. I'm hoping she'll finally get some sleep!

Okay, Dailyites - I need prayers for my dear friends in Florida. Denny had back surgery two weeks ago. Despite being in a lot of pain, he was sent home on the 8th. Early this morning he had a massive stroke with a brain bleed. He's now in ICU. His wife Bonnie is frantic, naturally. Please pray for both of them!

Thank you!

Good morning! I'm grateful for all the new friends I've made on the Daily, and looking forward to making more friends on the upcoming cruise. Raspberry cake sounds VERY good.

Had an early appointment today for a haircut, mani & pedi to get cruise-ready. Now if I could only push myself to get packed!

Stay well & happy, friends!

Edi

2 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

Annie, with your DH's problems with steps, I would not recommend a tour to the top in Santorini.  None of the tours take you back down to the tender pier.  There are steep steps to and from the gondola cars, and they are wide with a lot of people; so it might be hard to get over to the wall and have the hand rail to use.  There are tours to some of the out lying islands for a beach day, either through the ship or on the island near the tender dock.  You would have to decided if your DH could handle getting in and out of the boat on the island.

 

The Acropolis is visible from areas below the steep hill, so it can be seen even if you can't make it up close.  Unless the area has changed since we went all the way up to the Acropolis in 2003, the ground at the top was uneven and rocky.  That is another issue to be consider.

 

Most big tourist cities have Ho-Hos or tourist trains.  To get the best view, you have to climb some steep, narrow stairs to get to the upper deck on the busses.  There are stops all along the routes of the Hop-on, Hop-off busses, but when the town is crowded, if you get off, it might not be possible to get back on the bus.  There are people selling tickets to the busses, plus some ships have a Ho-Ho tour.  If the ship docks away from town, the Ho-Ho might have a bus at the ship, but it could just be used as a shuttle to get to the first stop.  

 

My advice, would be to Google the Hop-on, Hop-off buses for each city you are interested in using them.  They will have the price, and a route map.  You can even get the tickets on line.  Sometimes there are two competing lines with slightly different routes and prices.  If you do one, remember to keep you ticket because often if you show a ticket, they will give you a discount.  We often take them the first time we're in a port to get an overview of the town, and many times don't get off and on.

 

Ephesus is a must do, but it can be steep and uneven in places.  We were last there in 2019, and they had added a "boardwalk" over some of the steep, uneven areas.  DH used walking sticks which helped in the uneven areas.  Most tours start at the top and work their way down, which is easier walking.  And the busses wait at the bottom for the tours.  We've always done ship tours, so I don't know if private tours start at the top or the bottom.  I think on your own, you enter at the bottom.

 

I hope I didn't give you information overload.

 

Lenda

 

Annie @marshhawk -- in Ephesus don't forget to visit the tents (both at the entrance & exit)  that advertise the "Genuine Fake Watches"! We bought our DS a "Rolex" that was battery powered and the thing still works!

4 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Annie @marshhawk the clock begins its magic at 12 noon.  Here is an article about it.  Maybe try to look at a map of Messina or Google it so you can see where it's located and can get there on time.  What time are you in Messina?

 

https://www.messinarte.it/the-bell-tower-of-the-cathedral-of-messina/

 

When you get to Santorini you will need to get up to the top of the hill to enjoy the town.  There is a cable car you can buy tickets to.  I don't recommend the donkey ride up there!

I second the idea about taking the fast boat to Oia! They bus you up to the city (which is gorgeous!), and then bus you back to Santorini. DH & I walked down the donkey path on our first visit because the gondola line was so long. I don't recommend it!!

To quote Indiana Jones -- "Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes??"

52 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Thank you.  I’m looking forward to seeing @dfish and Sue again!  
I’m also looking forward to some of these

Now that looks yummy! What is it?

Thanks for all the good wishes - can't wait!!

Getting here late in the day, but I had to rest up from yesterday's activities. DS took me to Baltimore for an Orioles' game last evening. Because of the rain, the game was delayed for an hour & 20 minutes. They won! After the game, there was a very nice fireworks display, so it was after 11pm before we headed home(about an hour's ride). DS reminded me that the last time I went to an O's game, Cal Ripkin was still playing! That was a LONG time ago - lol!

I was tired and a bit dehydrated this morning, so I just lazed around for most of the morning. Then AAA called to remind me that the currency I ordered for the cruise had arrived, so I zipped over to pick it up.

DS's birthday is next weekend, after I leave for my cruise, so we're going out for a nice dinner tonight.There will be wine...!!!

 Prayers for those on the care list, and cheers for all celebrating!

31 minutes ago, Cruzin Terri said:

Hello everyone.

Happy to be able to post.

Thank you to Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie and Ann.  Also thank you to Graham for educating us on Bastille Day and Pandemonium Day.

I am glad to hear of improvements in Baby Murphy and @smitty34877 DH Lou.

Happy Birthday to @Seasick Sailor’s DH Allen and @rafinmd’s cousin.

@kazu Glad Ivan is improving.

Condolences to @mamaofami, @JazzyV, and @luvteaching on your losses.

 

I like the Rose Kennedy quote.

Never been to the destination

i like Mac and Cheese and have my favorite recipe from Barbados, which is called Macaroni Pie.  i would post it except the recipe is at home and I am in the middle of the North Sea.

Wine sounds good, but I will pass on the drink.

 

And now for the solution to the mystery.

I have found out why I have been having trouble staying on the internet for more than a minute at a time.  Someone hacked into my shipboard internet account.  Go figure.  They somehow had to find out my name, Cabin number, date of birth and email address.  But they did it.

Out of frustration today I went back to the IT Guru on the ship and said you have to help me.  He went and looked at my account and said you have to log off of your Samsung Device.  I said, I don’t have a Samsung Device.  So then he said, Tell your husband to log off of his Samsung Device.  Only one device can be used at a time.  I said, My husband does not own a Samsung device,  We only have an IPad and 2 IPhones and my husband has not even turned his on. Then he wanted to know if I told anyone my info.  Of course I didn’t.

 

So at that point he removed the Samsung Device from my account.  It appears that someone was logging into my account to have access for two devices.  And to make me crazy.

 

I don’t know who this person is, but if I find him or her, I will probably choke them.  Better I don’t know.

 

Today we were in Kiel, Germany and we took a private tour with another couple from the roll call to Hamburg, Germany.  It was sort of boring.  Not much to see.  The city center was closed off because of a Triathlon Race so we had no access.  The tour was on the expensive side and I was sorry I agreed to it.  

 

Tomorrow is Karlskrona, Sweden.  We are there from 7am to 2 pm.  And it is a tender port.  The weather calls for rain.  Not sure we are going to bother going ashore.  Tours go first.  By the time we are able to tender in, it will be time to come back.

 

So we will probably make it a nice relaxing Sea Day.

 

Hope everyone had a nice day and Happy Bastille Day to anyone celebrating.

God Bless,

Terri

Did you go to the Miniature Train World?  We thought it was the highlight of the day and DH, who was a model train enthusiast, thought the layouts were the best he ever saw! The rest of the city was unexciting, though, I agree!

I appreciate cows, have an Etch-A-Sketch around here somewhere, and remember when we used to use paper bags to make book covers for our school books. By the end of the semester they were covered with doodles!

Happy to report that I received the pathology report late yesterday and all the polyps were non-cancerous. But they still want me to go through the procedure again next year to make they removed all of the big one.

This afternoon was expensive! Got new walking shoes and a waterproof jacket for the cruise. Also ordered currency. Little by little, I'm getting ready!

2 hours ago, aliaschief said:

All I get to drink on this diet is coffee and blah water. I really am sober as a judge!☹️

And you're getting great results!!

Hi @kazu Jacqui - I've officially switched to the same June 8 - July 6, 2025 Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice cruise on the Westerdam. Also sorry for the hijack! Thank you!

Hi friends! Thanks for all the good wishes about my procedure yesterday. However, the outcome wasn't what I had hoped for. The dr. found several polyps - one on the large side - so now I will have another colonoscopy in a year. So much for my hopes to be done, but I guess I'm glad they're being thorough. Pathology report won't be available for a week or two.

Talked to my new PCC yesterday, the one that replaced J---- who I loved dearly. Well, I must say I was really impressed with the time he took to help me figure out how to switch my Alaska booking from 2024 to 2025. I think I've got a keeper!

I realized a few days ago that my volunteer commitment for 2024 meant that I couldn't do the 28-day Summer Solstice cruise, but thanks to CC I learned that the 2025 itinerary is now available, so I switched. Prices are a little higher, but I expected that.

Prayers for Baby Murphy and all the others on the Care list. Yay for all those celebrating! Have a good day!

6 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Same itinerary, different order.  I booked it with my PCC on July 3.  I don't know why it is not on the HAL site yet.  It is on some of the big TA sites.

I plan to book with the FCC on the Zuiderdam in two weeks.  Hope it's not sold out by then!!LOL!

2 hours ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Hi Jacqui-

Earlier this week we booked:

June 8, 2025(thru July 6, 2025)

Westerdam

28 day Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice

It is a long time to wait, but I am very happy to have this booked.  We hesitated on the 2024 sailing and it sold out quickly.

Thank you!

@FlorenceItaly I'm looking at switching to this from the 2024 sailing. Is it the same itinerary? Thanks!

Thanks to @kazu for keeping track of all our sailings!

And here's one for the Garden Club!

Good morning, friends! I'm here earlier than usual today because I'm prepping for this afternoon's entertainment -- a colonoscopy! My home office is quite close to the other necessary facility - lol!

Praying for Baby Murphy and her family. Also praying for all the others on the list, including @mamaofami's friend Judi. It's hard to lose those who have been so close to us for so long.

I'm a fan of chocolate, thinking that global forgiveness isn't impossible but unlikely, and miss those walks with my Dad. He was a lovely and kind man.

I've been to Civitavecchia twice, but only to board ships after visiting Rome. My pictures would all be repeats of those already posted.

In two weeks I fly to Boston, so I can board the Zuiderdam the next day for the Voyage of the Vikings! This will be my first really long solo trip, but I'm very excited about it, particularly since I was able to snag a reasonable upgrade from inside to verandah. We have a very active Roll Call, so there will be lots of new friends to make!

6 hours ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Good morning and Happy Sunday from Tucson where it is 95F with 11% humidity and expected to be 107F. Our AQI has been so low compared to what others are having — today it’s 40. 

I haven’t been to today’s port. I missed posting on Friday when the port was Charlottetown and I hope no one minds if I post some pictures from our last visit there this past October on the Nieuw Statendam. We went on a lighthouse and winery excursion and fellow Dailyites Debbie @dfish and Carolyn and Henry @Cruising-along were on the tour also (and I think Edi @NextOne might have been also). Lots of fun but I remember not really liking the wine so I didn’t buy any but I did buy a glass. 

Point Prim Lighthouse:

 

Wood Islands Lighthouse:

Rossingol Winery:

 

 

 

That evening the Dailyites met for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. Lots of fun!

 

 

 

That was a fun day, Sharon, from beginning to end! I agree about the winery - I didn't buy anything ,but had a nice chat with the owner about aging techniques.

The Dailyite dinner was the highlight of the day, though!

Very late in the game, but -- Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit!

DS & I had a nice day of memories -- going for a ride to visit some of the places my late DH used to love. A good chance for us to talk and share. It's been 2 years & 1 month, but I know DH was with us!