A Quite Different Style of Travel for Me!

This is the way I customarily travel:

After hours of planning my outfits I load my suitcase

 to the absolute max--49.5 pounds out of 50 here!

And this is the way I customarily roll

(as you all very well know.)

(Thanks to Laurie Bianco)


Well...I'm going on a trip again, but it's going 
to be different! In more ways than one.
I am going to Colombia with 18 of my fellow
Fielder Church members!
We all sponsor Colombian children through an
organization called Compassion.
And we are going to get to meet our children!
I have been sponsoring my little girl for 
almost 6 years now. She will be 13 soon.



So we had a meeting last Sunday.
My first question, to no one's surprise, was
"How big a suitcase can we carry?"
The answer: "Fifty pounds!"
(Insert fist pump and "Yesssss!")
Oh, but wait. We have a "packing party"
where we all bring our suitcases packed with our
 necessities and fill them with all the gifts, etc. we
 carry to the kids, tutors, interpreters, and families!



And as to those necessities. It's not quite like this:

Not only do we not change 3x a day, these saints 
wear the same clothes 2 or 3 days! Yes, y'all.
It's true. And it's very hot there! 
And sometimes they wash their clothes out at night!



So...I think it will be frowned upon if I show
up at the packing party with 7 outfits, 6 pairs of
shoes, with matching  jewelry in little plastic bags
for each outfit. And no room in my bag for
anyone's stuff but mine. 


And then there's my hair. Somehow I doubt
it will hold up well in the Colombian heat,
especially since Susan says I must wear a hat.
Hat hair? Moi? Horror of all horrors!


I am almost totally kidding! 
I will cheerfully and enthusiastically fill my
suitcase with gifts! Can't wait!
I will have hat hair and/or flat hair.
 I'm just not sure about pictures...


We will also be blessed to get to visit not only
the church and Compassion center which Fielder
partners with in Sincelejo, but also we'll be
the first group to visit a new church and center
in nearby Villa Katy!
We will have Vacation Bible School for the
children and a "*waterpark day."
I'll tell you all about it when I get home!
(*not quite Hurricane Harbor, I've heard)



Truly I am as excited about this trip as any I go on.
Actually--even more so.
This one has heavenly ramifications and significance.
I know I will be a changed LJLS when I return.



On June 2nd we are having "Compassion Sunday"
at Fielder. 
It is only $38 a month to do immeasurable good
for a child in an impoverished area.
If you don't have one of these hanging on your
refrigerator, you need it.
You will be blessed as much as the beautiful child.

And maybe next time you can go, too!
(If I can do it, anyone can!)

Cruisin' on the Edge (Part 3) Dinner Companions

For Part 1 Click HERE
For Part 2 Click HERE

I requested traditional early dining at a large table.

When I checked onboard, I had "anytime" dining.

I went to the maitre'd before we sailed to request 

to be changed, (always a hassle) but this time

I was easily changed to a table for 6.

So the first night I go down for dinner. 

At the table are a couple, Pat and Gene,  

and a single man, whose name I heard as Pete.

My heart kinda sank, and I thought "Oh, no. 

Not this again."

Then the other two arrived, Terri and Dick.

Dinner was pleasant enough.

By the second night Pat and Pete, who were

go-getters, had arranged for us to be

moved to a coveted table by the windows.

When I arrived Pete was waiting outside to 

direct me to our new table and

  very kindly told me his name was actually Keith.

He was much younger than my suitors on the

last cruise and, uh, I def wasn't his type!

(Nor he mine.) HaHaHa

Pat and Gene were from Fort Lauderdale by

way of Jersey, I think. I sat next to Pat every night.
They had been married 57 years, long enough she
said that "she could have killed him and already
been out of prison by now!"

Gene was a fine gentleman, so kind and helpful to me.

They were very near my age.

Dick told us he was 68. Terri was much younger.

She told us she was 5 years old when he graduated.

They had been married only 3 years.

He was a truck driver, and Terri cleaned houses.
Dick told us that he was ready to retire when he fell in
 love with this younger woman who liked "nice things."

It was so sweet--they wore their wedding attire

for formal night--she a pink long dress, and 

he a pink tie.

Pete Keith was from Baton Rouge.

He had lost his wife to cancer last October.

This was his second cruise since her death.

He had the premier drink package and was 

determined to take full advantage of it and
consume every drop every day!

He had been an air force then a Continental pilot.

From his language, I would have assumed

a sailor.

The second night Pat told Pete Keith that she had

found him a girl. He was very interested.

The third night Pat told us the girl she had found

and her friend were going to stop by.

Soon these two girls walked up to our table.

That night it was just Pat and Gene and Pete Keith

and me.

So we met them, Cynthia and Dottie, they chatted

a minute, then asked, "So where is Mr. Available?"
Ohhhh, noooo.

They thought Pete Keith and I were a couple!

(Um...quite the opposite of Dick and Terri!)

Anyhoo, the girls sat down for a while with us.

The next night they dined with us.

And the three of them were inseparable after that.

Dottie was actually married. Cynthia was not.

Both were travel agents.

Dottie treated Pete Keith like a little brother.

She would call him down about his language--

especially around me!

They told him he needed to trim his eyebrows,

and HE DID!
I liked Cynthia and Dottie a lot.

The last night Keith got us a table for 8, but

Dick and Terri didn't come.

Here is a picture Pat sent to me, taken by a waiter.

 Left to right: Dottie, me, Gene, Pete Keith,
Pat, Cynthia

and just Pat and me:

Pat, Dottie, and I all bought rings!

*********

So many this trip.
I just hope each and every one of them
saw Jesus in me.

Cruisin' on the Edge! (Part 2)

If you missed Part 1, click HERE


When folks heard I was going on a cruise, their first

question was usually, "Where are you going?"

When I made the reservation I paid no attention

to the ports. Just let me on the Edge!
However, I learned I needed to stop saying,
"I have no idea," and at least start replying,
"the Caribbean!"

Our first stop was San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I got a great picture of El Morro as we cruised in.

 I fondly remember the first time I ever saw this

old fort was with my travel buddy many years ago

at night.  We tried to take a picture and only

got streaky lines of light.

I toured it fairly recently, so I just stayed on the ship.

Lucky that I did, cause I got spectacular wildlife

shots from my infinite verandah.

My photos aren't usually this good, but just look

at those porpoises!

I could have zoomed in, but it wasn't even necessary!

(I just tickle myself to death, you know.)


After dinner I did get off the ship to take a
nighttime picture of the Edge and go across the
street to the Walgreen's I remembered to get
some Dr. Peppers.
The picture isn't all that good, and that crazy
Walgreen's had NO DR. PEPPER!
I thought it was downright un-American.

Next stop: Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

I understand this island is very pretty, but I never
got around to reserving an excursion.
So...I shopped instead and bought way more 
than usual for moi!
Pictures later.


Next up: St. Martin or St. Maartin, depending on
whether you are on the Dutch or the French side.
I'm getting ready to be the first person to board 
that little water taxi to go shop.

I only bought one thing. Can you guess what it is?
It's for the little girl I mentor.

(And burgundy is her favorite color!)


On the return water taxi trip, I got my postcard
shot of the ship!

This may be even better than my wildlife shot!


This is at Little Switzerland on St. Martin.
They took a picture of the necklace and earrings 
I had bought at Little Switzerland on Tortola.
I know--you can't see them very well here.
Trust me, I'll make you look later.

So that was our last stop. Just one more day at sea.
Here I am back on the ship with a sea faring vessel
made entirely of pearls.

And now...one of my many favorite things
about cruising.
Getting my hair done with a view!

And...a different kind of bird watching
from my verandah...

Near the end we had "High Tea at Sea."
It was lovely as my British friends would say.

This ship does pastries spectacularly!


But the best dessert, bar none, to me was:

the old fashioned bread pudding with vanilla sauce.
The best I have ever gained 5 pounds on!

I knew to look for this special spot from reading
Cruise Critic before I left home.
It is an area where you can see the hull, the bare bones 
of the ship, intentionally left exposed. 

You look through these louver like partitions!
No telling how many people I pointed this out to,
since I was so knowledgeable (and humble.)

Jack would have loved to see this!



This beautiful coral was in my stateroom. 
I had the bright idea that I should try to find a piece
of coral to bring home as a perfect souvenir.
After attempting to purchase pieces that were store
displays (!) someone finally told me it is
illegal now to sell coral!

I haven't mentioned the entertainment on the cruise.
It was certainly not my favorite.
There was a very funny, clean comedian, Fred Klett, 
I know I've seen before but enjoyed thoroughly.
There was a singer/dancer named Marcus Terrell 
who was well received by the audience but not
my kind of music.
There was a singer named Jordan Bennett who
would have been my kind of music, but...
I was busy getting off the ship to take a
mediocre picture and NOT get Dr. Peppers!
There was a very popular show featuring 4 young
guys doing Frankie Valli and Jersey Boys music.
Mark Oristano was onboard as a lecturer for
football fans of which I am not one!


The best show on the ship, IMHO, was The Liar's Club.
Three of the ship's most personable crew members
(one was the funny comedian this time)
are given words which lend themselves to
hilarious definitions--one honest and two
side-splitting lies. Then the audience votes. 
For instance, one of the words was "fullfart."
I laughed until my sides hurt at the comedian's
definition, but this one I knew!
Remember the boat I took into the fjord on my
last cruise? It was called the Fjordfart.
And the fart part meant "speed" in Norwegian! 
So "fullfart" means "full speed ahead."
But the lies were hysterical, as you might imagine.
Never miss a Liar's Club show if you have 
the opportunity!


So here you go.
X marks the spot where I had the time of my life.

Tomorrow I'll tell you a bit about my table mates!
Always an experience for this single cruiser!

Cruisin' on the Edge! (Part 1)

My booking of this cruise was definitely impulsive.

I had only twelve days to get ready, and

it departed on Easter morning.

Why did I do it?

One night I was overtaken by wanderlust and

started searching for a bargain, last minute cruise.

 I stumbled on this one and could

not resist the newness and the uniqueness

of the ship--the Celebrity Edge.

I'll describe some of the unusual features!

(It was last minute, but unfortunately

 NOT a bargain.)

It was a seven night cruise in the Caribbean, so

I figured I wouldn't need too many clothes!

So...my bag weighed ONLY 49.5 pounds!

I could have taken one more garment! HaHaHa.

I am such a light packer.

Jay and Terri took pictures from the port cam as

we sailed away from Ft. Lauderdale.

This is so exciting to me. 
I AM ON THAT SHIP!!!

I received the pics as I was departing!

Boarding the ship was very slick and quick.

Celebrity allows guests to drop their carry-on bags off

 at their cabins before they are ready for occupancy.

I love this!

My room was already perfect, so I took pictures,

starting with this sign on my door.

I'm going to try to describe my room, an

Infinite Balcony, which is probably the Edge's
most innovative new feature.

The room is open all the way through to the balcony.

The top half of the balcony window lowers at the

touch of a button to have the open air experience.

Right behind the two deck chairs are folding doors

which can be closed to keep the room 

air conditioned while the balcony window is open.

Since I am not an outdoors type (surprise!)

I kept my folding doors open, my window closed,

and my room temperature freezing all the time.

But oh the view! I LOVED it.

There is also a shade which lowers at the touch

of another button and shuts out the sun entirely

for morning sleep!

My bathroom was nice size and so new and clean!

The shower was large and lovely.

I did some ship touring...

Lots of elevators .

The main atrium.

Then I went to the Ocean View Café for lunch

I thought this buffet was outstanding.

 I started out eating healthy. This changes.

I have never on any cruise seen cakes like they had!

Only a very small sample.

(Looked much better than they tasted!)

By the By...in my touring around I saw some

prospects for me in the Solarium.

And this area might scare little children.

And then there was Eden.
It might scare BIG children!

Eden is a large, two level venue right on the 

back of the ship--beautiful view--where, 

among other things, receptions are held.

This is the first sign you see as you approach:

Then the entranceway (totally weird!)

Sorry, it's that dark, and I guess those are trees?
I was just as puzzled walking through there in person.

And here I am at the Captain's 

Welcome Aboard reception.

There are beautiful live plants in Eden!

I had read in my short preparation time for this cruise

that the nightly entertainment in Eden was very 

weird and uncomfortable. 

The performers interact with the audience, 

getting right in their faces, nose to nose.
One man told me he wanted to "punch a
performer in the face!"

I wanted to observe this, but I never found the time.

Just be forewarned.

 My first of 6 room service breakfasts!

Just coffee and Danishes. Just heavenly.

 I ate lunch the first three days here at a counter

at the very back of the ship.
It is right across from the pizza station.

That is a wonderful hand made pizza to order

and my book on my Kindle.

 

This is another special feature of the Edge.

It is the Magic Carpet, a lounge area which travels

up and down the starboard side of the ship.

Another unique feature of the Edge is the rooftop garden.

This is the place movies are shown, BUT it is windy,
which means you never saw my hair there.

The color scheme on the ship is "griege."

A combination of grey and beige.

(9)163 is my room. The elevator lobby is just a few steps

to the right in this picture. Very convenient, except...

I am on the forward end of the ship, 

and food is aft. Probably about half a mile aft!

I averaged about 6,500 steps a day!

A "Edgy" splash of color among the griege?
Goals for your home!

Please tune in again tomorrow as I arrive at
ports and continue the fun!`