Silversea Water Cooler: Part 3, Welcome!

[Tothesunset]

I must say we were surprised to be among the very few who went ashore in Acapulco a couple of years ago. While the patrolling of the streets by APCs and squads of heavily armed Police/Militia should have warned us, it was only when we returned home that we found out that Acapulco had the third highest murder rate in the world after Baghdad and Caracas!

 

The UK Foreign Office give advice about visitiing various ''difficult'' destinations but it's up to the punter to seek out that advice - foolishly we didn't do this for Acapulco but have done so for our upcoming visit to Morocco. The usual thing - exercise caution, stay in the well-peopled areas, careful at night etc. Strangely though, similar warnings were never given for Belfast when I was growing up there. Maybe they just thought that anyone daft enough to visit would be too daft to heed the warnings?

[MissSophia]

M....clothes rail went up yesterday....it's the first lap of making sure nothing needs to be laundered etc....

 

TTS......such a shame about Acapulco.....l was there in 1971 and it was a dream destination...remember seeing the cliff divers at La Quebrada.....all due to Elvis and Fun in Acapulco :hearteyes:

They only place back then that we were seriously warned about was Panama City.....not sure about Morocco, didn't go ashore on the last two visits but the shuttles were operating along with the usual tours.

😊

[MBP&O2/O]

I went to Jeddah many moons ago and the whole ships company was banned from going ashore. Armed guards there to make sure nobdy got off. Prior to sailing we needed to read the draft and that was done with an armed escort. It later transpired that there was a public execution involving a high ranking Saudi.

No visitors allowed.

[MissSophia]

Travel is such a challenge in many ways and in our current climate even more so.

For those of us that can remember what us 'Goldies' refer to as the 'Old Days' it all seemed so easy back then...l can remember for instance the open balconies at Manchester airport where one could shout and wave at our loved ones boarding their plane.....l first flew out of the said airport in 1966 when it was still called Ringway airfield and DanAir was THE airline gawd help us...just a curtain then between the cockpit and the cabin....then all the Spanish airports being nothing more than a shed handling both arrivals and departures.......and any holiday place outside the U.K. was exotic and exciting.....

Whilst l still get that initial excitement and tummy turning feeling as l leave for the airport l find myself bracing for battle......😏

These days the ship is my destination but l do very much admire those who go ashore to explore........☺️

[jpalbny]

Now that would be something for your vacation album... Or not!

 

RE: Mexico. Have only been once, to Tijuana, when my uncle lived in San Diego and we went over. Cabo does look gorgeous and I've been tempted to visit. But we read so much about the drug war and its effect on safety there.

 

There are stories making their way around the internet of people who have been drugged, then robbed and/or assaulted, at fancy resorts near Cancun, etc. Not sure if these are true but more to think about. Would love to visit some Mayan ruins in that part of Mexico but that might have to wait as well.

 

Luckily there are many other great places to visit!

 

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[MissSophia]

Way to go JP.....you and Chris always find such fabulous places to visit and allow us to vicariously join in....😊

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good Afternoon all ...

 

JP you and Chris will certainly see a lot of the world before you get to the main leisure time later in life .... it's great to see all those travels.

 

Overnight drive back to civilisation and we got back at 03:30 Helga forgetting herself at times and going way to quick .... and we watched an hour or so of tv and then to bed for a short sleep before the arrival of Mr Ocado.

 

Disastrous lunch today, which didn't work on any level. I wanted to spoil her. Still if you don't experiment and try ...

 

I made confit duck legs with Montbellard sausage with fresh Borlotti beans that I cooked first and then in pork fat lardons. Just didn't work. Still.

 

 

 

 

 

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[spinnaker2]

Jeff

Food LOOKS good even if it didn't work...

 

Didn't win the 700 million dollar lottery. Drat.

 

Sophia,

We are getting closer. Not many days to go.

 

Rainy day here as we watch the tropics for more weather. Wondering if we will have to shutter the house before we leave as precaution...

[TLCOhio]

RE: Mexico. Have only been once, to Tijuana, when my uncle lived in San Diego and we went over. Cabo does look gorgeous and I've been tempted to visit. But we read so much about the drug war and its effect on safety there. Luckily there are many other great places to visit!

 

Surprised that for such super experienced travelers that JP and Chris had not been to Mexico more often. BUT, our first and only time there was in March 2017. Sadly, based on the current challenges there, we might be in the "one and done" category for visiting to Mexico. Sad!!

 

BUT, yes, Cabo was super wonderful for us during our visit. Need evidence? Here are few of my visual samples to prove the description of "gorgeous" that J.P. used.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Lots of interesting and dramatic pictures can be seen from this live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 34,143 views for this visual sharing including Cape Town, along South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta area.

 

Here is that famed “hole” at El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. This icon sight is shown both from the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean sides. Great “drama” on such a bright, sunny day!:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger!)

 

 

We were so fortunate to have some great views of seals and sea lions. Such fun as these pictures illustrate. Don’t you just love these anmals and their great facial expressions?:

 

Here is another wildlife picture from our private water taxi boat tour down to the bottom of El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. Good-looking bird?:

 

Here is one typical visual from the shopping area of Cabo as we walked after our water taxi tour down to the rocks, “hole” and back. Yes, lots of nice-looking buildings, places to spend money, etc., in Cabo. Even a big shopping mall here with many of the “usual suspects” located there, etc.:

 

My wife is enjoying her drink!! We had a brunch here and the food was super outstanding. WOW!! Great drinks, food and sights on the beach at The Office dining location! Plus, perfect weather and a wide variety of “people action”! What can be better?.:

[UKCruiseJeff]

I know Spins, horrible when it is just urghhhhhhhh.

 

Just booked our BA flight sim for 18th September. Bit the bullet and booked a lovely long 3 hours ...... cannot wait!

 

It's great doing the standard take offs nd landings at LHR but I also wanted some for both of us at Vienna and Changi and a few other experiences. Would like to land in rain and storms etc.

 

I know I am a little boy but this is a real experience. :)

[TLCOhio]

Jeff Food LOOKS good even if it didn't work...

Didn't win the 700 million dollar lottery. Drat.

Rainy day here as we watch the tropics for more weather. Wondering if we will have to shutter the house before we leave as precaution...

 

For Spins, agree that Jeff's food picture looked very, very good. BUT, sorry to hear on your bad weather in Florida. As I mentioned yesterday, our sunny, dry, cool, etc., conditions here in Central Ohio are perfect. Come up north and enjoy our great weather!!!

 

Yes, that $700+++ million lottery prize would have been very nice. Lots of travel could have happened, etc. But, the winner comes from west of Boston, not a lucky person in Florida or Ohio.

 

Look forward to lots of pictures and details from the BA flight simulator set for 18th September. How much does that cost?

 

Finally for Spins and a few others here in the USA, college football starts with a few games this weekend with next week being the bigger, official start. On Saturday, Sept. 2, it will be 11th-ranked Michigan versus 17th-ranked Florida at 3:30 pm ET on ABC-TV nationally from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Will you be watching? Ohio State starts next Thursday night when playing at Indiana. Then on Sept. 9 on national TV will be 7th-ranked Oklahoma visiting 2nd-ranked Ohio State in Ohio Stadium with 108,000+ fans watching. I will in the stadium for that big, big game.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 218,944 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[UKCruiseJeff]

Look forward to lots of pictures and details from the BA flight simulator set for 18th September. How much does that cost?

 

Hi Terry, it is exceptional value ...... a mere £1199 for three hours although you can book one or two hours if you want.

 

 

Unlike leisure experience sims these are fully moving (considerably! :) ) sims that BA use for training their own pilots both familiarisation and 6 montlhly "exercises". The leisure sims are normall fixed to the ground and obviously you can get these from around £50 per hour. You can only book the BA sims a maximum of three weeks out when they are certain they aren't required by their own pilots. Pilots qualify on them and go straight to left hand seat of a live flight. We have been a few times ...... in fact we were asked when they were first considering offering them, the opportunity to prototype the experience with them and we had a dry run. It is alloffered quite low-key, you have to know and most people do not know you can book them.

 

You arrive an hour or two earlier and have a pre-flight familiarisation of all the controls in a mock up so that live flight time is optimised and not wasted. You are with a BA Training pilot ie the same person who trains their own pilots, although on one flight we had a female on maternity leave.

 

It is really and genuinely an experience of a life-time if you enjoy that sort of thing, and wifey on our last flights was a much better pilot than me.

[jpalbny]

That looks like such fun, Jeff! Maybe we'll try it some time...

 

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[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

Spins and Miss S. Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

 

Glad your trip home went well J! Your simulator booking sounds exciting! I think we all have a bit of Peter Pan's "I won't grow up!" (some more than others :) ). That is the stuff of life! For me it is dancing like no one is watching even if they are. When the beat starts I move! I hope I never have to give that up!

 

Only ventured into Mexico once and it was not my thing! We took the kids on a 3 day cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada and back when they were 13 and 15 years old. Have not been even remotely tempted to try other places there.

 

Have a great day all!

[TLCOhio]

Hi Terry, it is exceptional value ...... a mere £1199 for three hours although you can book one or two hours if you want.

 

WOW!!! Appreciate these great details and Jeff's follow-up, picture, etc. Sound fascinating, but, however, I might need to win the lottery to afford that price tag. Not cheap!! BUT, seems like a really unique experience. Wanted to hear lots more after you do this "trip" to nowhere.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 185,426 views for this posting.

[Lois R]

Hi coolers:)

 

JP.......the winner called into her work and said she was out of there:D.........I would be too!

 

Terry, you didn't mention the big game;).........My Noles vs the TIDE..........should be a great game:D

[spinnaker2]

And Lois as I am sure you know, it's all about The U.

[ernieb]

I have always pulled first for Auburn, then for the Vols, and then for whoever is playing against the Gators or the Tide.

However, since my granddaughter just entered the UT college of architecture, I guess I may have to rethink my priorities.

[spinnaker2]

You go Ernie.

We do sometimes have to adjust our alliance.

Doesn't hurt that much.

:-)

[Lois R]

And Lois as I am sure you know, it's all about The U.

 

LOL..........you know when both teams joined the ACC? The Powers that be ALL wanted the ACC Championship game

to be the Noles and Canes...........well, that has NEVER happened..............

 

All about the U? I don't think so but may Mark Richt can make a positive difference...........you can only hope;)

[MissSophia]

Hi Everyone......such a lot of chatter to catch up on....

 

Spins....just over three weeks now until we meet again....what fun to look forward to....the fizz will be awaiting your arrival....you'll find us in our usual spot on the pool deck making much noise...😉

 

Jeff......l would love to experience the flight simulator you are doing...it will be the real McCoy as you know.....

From your idea l have booked a similar but very much less of an experience for my son in law for his birthday next month at a newly opened centre near Manchester....apparently whilst he's flying the aircraft we can sit in the 'cabin' gripping the seats!

For Terry's information this experience is £125....☺️

 

I see that a bad storm is heading toward Texas....l have friends in Houston so hopefully they'll be safe.

 

Some interesting threads on the main boards....anyone willing to start a smoking thread....🤣

 

Day out with DD to look forward to tomorrow....then more cruise rail decisions to make.....

 

Happy Days 😊

[spinnaker2]

Yes Sophia!!!

Soooooonnnnn we will be aboard!

I am exhilarated.

 

One of our sons (and grandsons) live in Houston and just bought a house. He's concerned and wondering what to do. The storm keeps intensifying. Last night there was family discussion about evacuating due to the flood risk.

 

Lois, I certainly can remember when the Canes dominated the college football scene. I hope they will reclaim their greatness. I enjoy watching the Noles play but I have no loyalty to them. As you will learn, Terry is a rabid Ohio Buckeye fan.

I also am a Wolverine fan. Makes for interesting discussion. But many coolers are not into college football, so we temper our fanaticism, well we tone it down a notch. ;-)

 

Jeff, if I could afford it I would give DH that flight simulator experience. He would love it.

 

Enjoy the day all.

[TLCOhio]

Terry, you didn't mention the big game;).........My Noles vs the TIDE..........should be a great game:D

 

Agree with Lois that the 8 pm, Sat., Sept. 2, match-up of 3rd-ranked Florida State versus number one-ranked Alabama will be a great nationally-telecast game on ABC-TV. This big battle will be play in the brand-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta that has cost $1.6 BILLION to construct.

 

To Spins, on Sat., Sept. 2, at 12:30 pm when Bethune-Cookman visits 18th-ranked Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, this can hardly be called even a fair match-up. Yes, the "U" will win massively, but against a real college team? Miami will play Arkansas State the following week and then on Sept. 16 have a "real game" when visiting powerful Florida State.

 

Interesting background from ernieb in saying "I have always pulled first for Auburn, then for the Vols, and then for whoever is playing against the Gators or the Tide."

 

Great to see this interest in college football here at the Cooler. Don't be shy!! Let's hear shout-outs from or for any other favorites or spots interests. Or, for those outside of the U.S., let us know any questions about why people here enjoy our brand of football so much.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 227,055 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[TLCOhio]

For Terry's information this experience is £125.

 

Is the price only £125?? Or, is it a different experience or operation with the £1250 price that Jeff mentioned earlier?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean adventure that started in Barbados, here is the link for that live/blog. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.):

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 52,607 views for these postings.

[spinnaker2]

Terry and Lois,

I detest Nick Saban. He is a vulture. Therefore I could never root for Bama.

As for Bethune Cookman, they are a real team and play well. I would never underestimate them.

Go Blue.

Go Canes.