At Sea

April 29

I woke up about 8:45 and decided I needed to get all the clothes I had folded and placed on the sofa put into the suitcase.  Did this as I watched the morning show (guest today was the comedian performing tonight).

At 9:30 I decided I had as much fun as I could take packing (ugh!) and went to the theater to get a seat for Charles McClelland's penultimate lecture.  His lectures have been very popular and the theater usually fills up fast.  I sat and read until 10:00 when the lecture started.  Today's and tomorrow's lectures are on "What Ifs" of history such as "What if the Mayflower had landed where it was supposed to?

After the lecture I went to the Crow's Nest to get seats for noon Team trivia. Connie, Sue, June, Penny and I had 12 correct which was enough to win.  We got notepads which Shane (CD) said was a sign that they were running out of prizes.
Q.  Where was Titanic built?
Q.  Which musical was about Charlemagne's son?
Q.  What is the only weight in the international radio alphabet?
Q.  What sport was the subject of many Degas paintings?

Because I have cruised on one of the Carnival Corp. lines (Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Princess, HAL, P&O UK, P&O Australia, Seabourn, and Aida), I qualified as a one star Mariner in HALs loyalty program.  I was invited to the Mariner's Luncheon today but wasn't going to go but June was invited so we went together.  The Cruise Director and the Captain greeted us and lunch was good.

After lunch June and I went to the Captain's Q&A session.  Someone asked about the horn blowing upon leaving Fort Lauderdale.  The Captain mentioned that there was a group that counted the toots each week and how he even received an award for the Westerdam being the "Queen of Horns".

Met up with Penny and stayed for the Philippine Crew Show.  Lots of enthusiasm in the show.

Food Trivia was at 4:00.  We didn't do very well.
Q.  What fruit is actually a berry produced by a giant herb tree?
Q.  What sauce is made of anchovies (including the bones) dissolved in vinegar?
Q.  What was the first genetically engineered food in 1994?

Ice cream in the Lido and read for awhile before getting ready for the evening.  Pub trivia was hard and we only had 8 correct.
Q.  From what country does Gorgonzola cheese come?
Q.  What company buys more sugar and vanilla than any other?
Q.  In what country did the orange originate?

Dinner tonight was international night with choices from around the world.  I had Shrimp Provençal and Kiwi Pavlova.  The room stewards, chefs, and dining room stewards marched through the MDR.

The show tonight was Buzz Sutherland, a comedian.  It was nice to see a comedian who is funny with a clean show.

Team trivia - Belfast, Pippin, kilo, horse racing
Food trivia - banana, Worcestershire sauce, tomato
Pub trivia - Italy, Coca-Cola, China

Smooth sailing until next time!

Mariners Lunch menu

Crab, shrimp and avacado appetizer (although I never did taste any avacado)

Braised short ribs

Coconut Creme Brulee tart

Philippine Crew Show

International Dinner

At Sea

April 28

Woke up a little after nine and turned on the morning show (it was a repeat) while I dressed.  The orange juice yesterday was so good I went to the Lido to try it again.  Not as good as yesterday's but I did get a cinnamon bun (ok but not a Cinnabon) and saw Penny and June.  Ate with them until time for our last planned Cruise Critic get together.

We had set up time to exchange tips and suggestions on tablets/iPads and using some software.  About ten showed up but we were quickly run out of the Pinnacle Bar because Mahjong was scheduled.  We tried the Explorer's Lounge but they were setting up for the art auction.  We finally ended up in the Atrium Bar by which time we were down to about six people.

Much cooler today with the temperature around 12C/54F.  It is cloudy with an occasional glimpse of the sun.

Lunch in the Lido where I was joined by dinner companions Patty and Marj.  At one it was time for trivia.  We were one below the winners with thirteen correct.
Q.  What is the largest city in Libya?
Q.  In area, what is the second largest country?
Q.  What country's name means "Land of the Bengalis"?

Went down to food trivia (again we had to change venues because of the art auction).  We thought we did poorly but won with seven points.
Q.  What kind of milk never curdles?
Q.  During the 30s "cucumber" was slang for what in the US?
Q.  Name a suggested flavor of jello that was ultimately rejected.

I then attended my first tea on HAL with Connie, Sue, June and Penny.  This one was the "Royal Dutch High Tea".  It was held in the Vista Dining Room.  The food is set out in two buffet lines.  After choosing your food, you choose a tea.  I picked Rooibos cinnamon.  Then you sit and they bring you hot water.  Very different than on Cunard.

After tea I went to the Lido to read and work on the blog.  Back to my cabin around five where I started folding clothes to pack.

Connie, Sue, June, Penny and I played Pub Trivia at 7:00.  We won with 15 points and our prize was the adult beverage of our choice.
Q.  How many bits in a byte?
Q.  What percentage of chimpanzee DNA is idenial to human?
Q.  In what present day country is the city of Timbuktu?

We have had a little bit of motion tonight and I heard one and saw another person getting sick.  Two of my tablemates left dinner early because they were feeling seasick (the bags are out by the elevators).  I had prime rib and peach crisp.

After dinner I did something that I never thought I would write about in a blog.  I went to karaoke.    My trivia friend June was singing so I wanted to see her.  She was one of three participants who could really sing.  There were a few people who embarked yesterday who were rather inebriated and were singing and dancing and much rowdier than what is considered typical on HAL.

Another sea day tomorrow.

Team trivia - Tripoli, Canada, Bangladesh
Food trivia - camel, dollar, chocolate, Apple, celery, coffee, or cola
Pub trivia - 8, 98%, Mali

Smooth sailing until next time!

Some pictures of the tea

San Diego, California

April 27

The announcements for non-US citizens to be processed by Immigration started at 6:33 and woke me up.  I opened my door to hear (and my neighbors across the hall did the same - all of us in our nightclothes).  Got back in bed but a new announcement happened about every 15 minutes.  I gave up trying to go back to sleep around 8:20 and got dressed.  I headed up to the Lido hoping to get a muffin or Danish and some juice.  Couldn't find anything I wanted to eat (although I tried a bacon and egg biscuit but it wasn't very good) but had some very good orange juice.

My tour met outside the terminal at 9:45.  The lines to leave the ship went on for over half the ship and I was worried about making the tour on time.  I was almost to the point of getting off the ship when I realized I had not brought my "in transit" card so I had to go back to my cabin to get it.

When I returned the line was much smaller.  Once I got into the terminal I only had to show my passport and key card as the line made its way through the terminal.  Turned out I was the first person who showed up for the tour.

I had chosen the "San Diego SEAL" tour.  We were in a vehicle like a DUKW that goes from land to sea.  We went out into the harbor and saw a number of California sea lions (I will leave it up to you to look up the differences between a seal and a sea lion - I can't tell the difference).

Back to the ship about noon and up to the Lido for lunch.  Read for awhile and then up to the Crow's Nest and purchased my internet package for the last few days.  I did not buy the most expensive package (it was supposed to be up to three times faster so I will see if there is much difference).

Just before 3:00 I returned to my cabin in preparation for the muster drill which took about a half an hour (one young couple showed up in pajamas and bathrobes - newlyweds, perhaps?).  Then I headed for the Seaview Pool (deck 9 aft) for sail-away.  Lots of people out on deck and partying.  Lots of new people and many younger ones - even a couple of babies.

Met up with June and Penny and discussed our day's activities.  They had done the San Diego Zoo excursion which was late returning to the ship because one man never returned to the bus.  They returned to the ship without him but they thought he must have taken a taxi back because nobody was missing at "all aboard" time.

After getting ready for dinner, I met them for trivia and Connie joined us.  We had 14 correct and the winners had 15.
Q.  How many hours can an ant survive underwater?
Q.  Which country has 297 miles of straight railway?
Q.  What is the longest river in Europe?

Off to dinner where once again there was just the five of us.  I had chicken and a delicious Strawberries Pavlova for dessert.

Stopped in the photo gallery and looked at some of Patty and Marj's pictures (they bought an unlimited photo package).  I purchased a photo of our Master Chef's Dinner.

Only show tonight was the BB King Blues Band (I'd seen them before) so I went back to my cabin to make it an early night.

Two sea days coming up.

Trivia - 48 (who knew?), Australia, Volga

Smooth sailing until next time!

the Berkely, an 1898 San Francissco ferry which was used during the 1906 earthquake to ferry survivors to Oakland

B-39, a Cold War era Soviet submarine

USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier

Can you spot the sea lion?

the amphibious vehicle we toured in

sea lions and various sea birds

the Star of India, the world's oldest ship (1863) still sailing

At Sea

April 26

Woke up a little after nine and watched the morning show until a little before ten when I left for the Crow's Nest and an early 10:30 team trivia.
Q.  Where were the first Panama hats made?
Q.  What is the southernmost capital city?
Q.  How many wives did Henry VIII have beheaded?

Our last meet and greet was in the Crow's Nest at 11.  HAL had mimosas and snacks for us and Captain van Eerten, the hotel manager, and the head chef came by.  About 30 people attended.

Changed into my bathing suit because I was determined to sit out in the sun.  After a quick lunch in the Lido I went out on deck 9 by the Seaview Pool.  Ever since we left Cabo the temperature has been dropping and it was in the mid 60s and very windy outside.  I lasted for about an hour and a half.

The pool volleyball game was set for 2 pm but Shane, the CD, had a hard time getting anyone willing to go in the pool.  The game finally started about 2:20 with only three passengers against three crew members.  I didn't stay for the whole game but instead had ice cream and finished reading my second book.

After changing I went back to the Lido and sat with Penny and June and talked until I went to make sure I had the right paperwork for San Diego and talk with the future cruise lady.  It was then back to the Lido for a salad and a slice of pizza for dinner.  We then headed to Pub Trivia.
Q.  What is the world's smallest fish?
Q.  Where did Howdy Doody live?
Q.  When was Sputnik launched?

I had decided yesterday I was not eating dinner in the MDR so I could attend the British Invasion Name that Tune and Dancing with the Stars at Sea.  So, when you hear "British Invasion" what do you think?  Beatles, Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, Peter and Gordon?  Wrong!  To 27 year old show host Santana,  it is more Queen and Amy Winehouse.  The faces on those playing (including ours) were all rather dumbfounded.  We managed six points but only because we got the three point bonus correct.

Headed to the theater to snag a seat for DWTS at Sea an hour early because the place fills up quickly (we were not the first there).  It was a lot of fun and a really good dancer won (her husband came in second).

We gain an hour tonight and will arrive in San Diego early in the morning.  I have a 9:45 tour but have to get through immigration first.

Team Trivia - Ecuador, Wellington NZ, two
Pub Trivia - goby, Doodyville, 1957

Smooth sailing until next time!

the hotel manager, head chef, and the captain

brave souls in the cold pool

the DWTS winner, her partner, and CD Shane Michaels

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

April 25

Woke up at 9:22 and watched the morning show.  Shane was talking with the art auction guy (who is Australian) about the Anzac ceremony that was held at dawn this morning.  Anzac Day is a day for commemorating the veterans and casualties of Australia and New Zealand.  It is held on April 25 which was the beginning of the Battle of Gallipoli, 100 years ago today.

I picked up my number for the tender just before ten and my number was called shortly after.  We were the last group to get numbers (those after us could go directly to A deck and board the tender).  A short ride later we were in Cabo.  Not really a whole lot to see at the dock - stores, restaurants, condos, and hotels.  I was back in my cabin by 11:45.

Made my way to the Lido where I bumped into June and Penny with whom I ate lunch (had to try an Anzac biscuit).  They left a little before one to watch the movie.  I took a stroll on the aft portion of deck 9 before getting an ice cream for dessert and heading to the Crow's Nest for 2:30 trivia.

Connie, Richard, Grace and I played geography trivia.  We tied for first.
Q.  What is the largest island in the West Indies?
Q.  What country has 1000 permanent residents and does not produce any exports?
Q.  How many days did it take for the Mayflower to cross the ocean?

Shortly after finishing geography trivia it was time for general trivia with Shane.  Penny and June joined us.
Q. Crayola replaced what color with "peach" in the 1960s?
Q. What country lies between France and Spain?
Q. What is the largest inhabited castle in the world?

It was then a quick walk from The Crow's Nest to Explorer's Lounge for Mexican food trivia.
There were only two teams and we tied with 8 points.
Q.  What spice was found in King Tut's tomb?
Q.  What do we eat today that the Mayans used as currency?
Q.  What are the ingredients of a tequila sunrise?

Our last formal night is tonight so back to the cabin around 5:30 to get ready.

In pub trivia we had 11 with the winning team having 14.
Q. What was Dr. Frankenstein's first name?
Q.  What was the first brand of Japanese car imported into the US?
Q.  What 1994 Disney soundtrack is the best selling children's album of all time?

Five for dinner and being the last formal night, escargot and surf and turf were on the menu.  I had the turf (don't like lobster) and creme brûlée.

The evening show was "Ever After" with the singers and dancers performing pop songs to scenes from three fairy tales.  It was pretty good.

Geography trivia - Cuba, Vatican City, 66
General- flesh, Andorra, Windsor
Mexican food - cilantro, cacao beans, tequila, orange juice and grenadine
Pub trivia - Victor, Datsun, The Lion King

Sea day tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Greeters

Some scenes along the waterfront

the Westerdam from the port

The pirate boat took snorkelers out

note the seal on the back of the fishing boat

I heard about him at dinner  but did not realize I had gotten a picture until I uploaded my pictures

The seal is known for catching a free meal on the back of the fishing boats.

my Anzac biscuit

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

April 24

I had a really hard time getting to sleep last night (it took about an hour and a half) and not sure why.  Once I fell asleep I slept very well and awoke at 9:15.  Got to watch the morning show for the first time in days (it only plays until ten) as I got ready.

Walked off the ship at 10:30 and it was still very overcast so the temperature wasn't too bad.  There were a number of vendors just off the ship and I will confess that was as far as I went.  I made a number of trips to Europe 20-25 years ago on my own and was much more adventurous but as my mobility has declined so has my risk-taking.  I suppose I should have taken more interest in these Mexican ports but I was not interested in a boat ride or 7hour excursions out to the country.  It has been very quiet on board today and very nice.

Bought a few things and was back onboard before noon.  Sat in the Lido and talked with a couple of Cruise Critic friends.  Had lunch and read for awhile and surfed the Internet (love this unlimited plan).

Liz had a craft planned for three called "Signature Art".  You wrote your name on a folded sheet of paper, cut it out and then glued it to a different color paper.

Following this was chocolate trivia.  Best part was Liz brought large plates of chocolate candies for us to munch on.  June, Penney, Violet, Mavis and I played and only had a score of 4 1/2 (winners had 7 1/2).
Q.  In 1950 tan replaced what color of M&M?
Q.  Which has less cholesterol- 1.65 oz. of chocolate or 1 oz. of cheddar cheese?
Q.  Japanese women give men chocolate on Valentine's Day.  When do men give women chocolate?

We then went to the Crow's Nest for Mexican Trivia.  Ugh!  We only had eight but got two extra points for our name - The Montezuma's Revenge.  Winner had 15, I think.
Q. When did Mexico gain independence from Spain?
Q.  What movie starring Ava Gardner and Richard Burton made Puerto Vallarta famous?

By the time we finished talking it was 6 pm and time to get ready for dinner.  Although Ryan (on the entertainment staff) had 7 pm trivia on his schedule there wasn't one.  Back to the cabin to work on my blog.  As I was working we lost the satellite signal and my BBC news disappeared.

Dinner at eight.  Still just the five of us.  I had prime rib and Heath bar crunch frozen yogurt.

I misread the daily program.  The show tonight was the ABBA group but singing the songs of Elton John and Billy Joel.  They were great (and very nice people - we met them playing trivia the other day).  The youngest member, Nick, wrote an update to "We Didn't Start the Fire" covering 1989 to the present.  They received a standing ovation.

We gain an hour of sleep tonight.

Cabo San Lucas tomorrow
Chocolate- violet, chocolate, White Day
Mexico - 1821, Night of the Iguana

Smooth sailing until next time!

You may need to enlarge this to see something

my signature art

At Sea

April 23

Slept much better than the night before.  Woke up around 9:15 but laid in bed and watched the sky (I do miss not being able to see the ocean as in a balcony).  Made sure everything was tidy for the cabin crawl this afternoon and then went to turn in my Canadian customs form.  There is quite a discussion going on with our Canadian CC members about having to fill in the forms with three port days left (don't know what they will buy).  Evidently Canadian customs is much stricter than US and they don't like estimations.  (In about 20 trips out of the US, I have always estimated and never been questioned [now knocking on the wood table]).

I have found that since the Lido gets so crowded for the two hours it is open for lunch, if I go early I can get a good seat by the window.  I check out the Internet (love this unlimited package), read my book or just stare out at the sea.  When the Lido opens I leave my book and glasses on the table to reserve my seat.  I was a tad unhappy about the Lido not having trays but the staff is very good about offering to carry plates and even refill water/tea/coffee.

Still don't have much of an appetite so I ended up with a bowl of fruit, mashed potatoes and a couple of cookies before heading off for Geography Trivia.  We tied for third place with 15 out of 18 - winners had 17.
Q.  What is over 5000 miles long?
Q.  How many US states border Mexico?  Bonus point for naming them.
Q.  Which is the southernmost US state?
Q.  How many time zones does Canada have?

Our cabin crawl/poker run was delayed because it was the day of the Mariners Lunch where those who have traveled numerous days on HAL get special recognition.  Those of us hosting our cabins met at the Pinnacle Bar at two to go over the directions.  It took about 45 minutes for the five groups to come to visit my cabin.  Afterwards we all met in the Pinnacle Bar to see who won the poker run.  Alas, I did not.  Afterwards the cabin hosts did the cabin crawl seeing insides to a Signature Suite.

ABBA Fab, the tribute group, had a trivia at 5:00.  I know less about ABBA than Woodstock.  The team managed to get 8 out of 23 but most were guesses.  I will give you the only two I knew.
Q.  What is the capital of Sweden?
Q.  One year ABBA beat out this car company for making the most money in Sweden.

It was almost six by the time trivia was over so I hustled to get ready before heading to Pub Trivia.  Toughest pub trivia yet.  We only had eight correct.
Q.  What is the most populous African nation?
Q.  Which country has the largest continuous sand desert in the world?
Q.  Which city has the most recognizable subway map in the world?

Tonight was my first attempt at a full meal which I ate so I guess I am back to normal.  I had something I had never heard of before - galumpki (sp?).  It is a Polish dish with meat and rice wrapped in cabbage.  It was rather tasty.  Blueberry frozen yogurt was my dessert choice.

From what I've heard, I missed good shows the past two nights.  Tomorrow they are both on so I will see.  Tonight's show was John Nations, a juggler.  Normally I would have passed on the show but I heard him talking to some people in the Lido last night and he sounded interesting.
It was a good show considering it was juggling.  He was very personable and entertaining.

Puerto Vallarta tomorrow.

Geography trivia - Great Wall of China, 4 (California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona), Hawaii, six
ABBA - Stockholm, Volvo
Pub Trivia - Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, London

Smooth sailing until next time!

My dinner

Hautulco, Mexico

April 22

I was in bed by 10:00 and slept fitfully and felt awful.  I slept for awhile sitting up in bed and some more sitting up on the sofa.  I woke up about every hour.  Woke up finally about 9:15 but stayed in bed and looked out the window for about a half an hour.  Felt better as the morning progressed but still do not have much of an appetite.

Went down to service desk and put my $100 of Traveller's Checques ( I have had them since the 1990s) toward my onboard account.  Then to the Lido to read some before I felt like lunch.  Had my usual "not feeling my best" lunch of rice.

Played geography trivia with Connie and Sue.  We did not win.
Q.  In what city was the world's first skyscraper?
Q.  In what country did the first tank battle take place?
Q.  What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by salt water oceans?

All-aboard time was 2:30 and two people did not return on time.  They are going to meet us in Puerto Vallarta, I understand.

The Indonesian Crew show was at three but when I got to the theater it was standing room only.  I stood and watched the first two acts but couldn't stand for the rest of it.  Instead I went to the Lido and had some lemon sherbet.

Culinary trivia was next.  We did not win.
Q.  What beer do you mix with champagne to make a "Black Velvet"?
Q.  What happens to the color of red wine as it ages?
Q.  How many ml does the average wine bottle hold?

After trivia I sat in the Explorer's Lounge and looked out at the sea.  There were a number of flying fish and dolphin sightings today.

Went to visit the "Techspert" Phillip to ask him about loading pictures onto my computer using Windows8.  Hopefully, his suggestion works.

I was looking for something to tempt my tastebuds in the Lido when I met June and Penny eating dinner.  A few minutes later Connie and Sue joined us and we had a good time until it was time for Pub Trivia.  We lost by one point.
Q.  Which Great Lake does not border Canada?
Q.  What is the most common name in nursery rhymes?
Q.  Which country has the most Roman Catholics?

Back to my cabin to watch the news and catch up on the blog.  Since I still don't have much of an appetite, I did not go to dinner in the MDR.

Name that Tune was on Woodstock.  None of my teammates showed up and I had a dismal 5 out of 18 on my own.

Took a walk on the deck before heading to the Lido to try the "Late Snack".  After dinner in the MDR I have never been hungry so haven't had the chance to try it until tonight.  I had some fresh fruit and cheese and crackers.

Geography trivia - Chicago, France, 71%
Culinary trivia - Guinness, lightens, 750ml
Pub Trivia -  Michigan, Jack, Brazil

Sea day tomorrow and we are having our cabin crawl.

Smooth sailing until next time!
           
                                             the first two acts of te Indonesian Crew Show

Views of Huatulco fromm the ship