WHERE WAS I?

In the middle of the ocean, that’s where!  Let’s not quibble, it wasn’t actually in the middle….I’ll just say on the ocean.  Headed for Ensenada if you must know.  Actually you’re pretty much in California most of the way so it’s a lot of fuss to have your passport and such for the journey.

I was not alone, having 26 traveling companions.  Curious?  Kathy and David Wong, their progeny and assorted relatives along with Clara and myself.  Clara was  my roomie…more on that later. It was to be a short journey so I was able to say yes when invited…..so glad!

Thank you Sandie Girl for this delightful bag which served me in good stead as my additional piece of ‘luggage’!

I took a cab to Kathy’s not wanting to fight the traffic and almost stayed behind with Mochi, their adorable Akita.  He’s the same age as Kita but far better behaved and is a true love muffin. I am totally crazy for this dog!

Sorry Mochi…..we have to go now….

And we were off to San Pedro to board the Crown Princess…..

Me and my roomie Clara…...

I trusted that we would not have to avail ourselves of these lifeboats.

Shades of the Titanic……did I mention that I was a cruise virgin?  Clara kept telling me I didn’t have to say that so loudly!

I don’t think I look like a cruise virgin.  Remember, Clara kept reminding me not to say that so loudly.

 

Kathy and Clara as we begin checking things out….Kathy and her family are old hands at this having been all over the world several times over and on so many cruises they’re all Platinum or Elite card holders.  Lots of perks for them!  I found out later that I’m now a ‘Gold Member’ with some benefits………interesting.  Are you a cruise virgin as I was or have you done this so that you’re familiar with the routine?  Let me know…..

 

Our departure was delayed so there was a lot of drinking and dancing going on…..

This is Radovan from Serbia.  He guided us through the Lotus Spa area….

The gym…..

A selfie in the gym….can you find me?

Lots of art everywhere….

Signing up for ‘treatments’…...

Did I mention the gambling????

Another Titanic shot….

We’d usually find ourselves in the Cafe….Need I say why?

Couldn’t resist the Gelato….

Yummy….

Attention….attention!!!!  Time for the drill.  Everyone was told to go to their Muster Station...

Clara was not impressed and she & I were the only two on board who didn’t dash to our room to get our life vests.

David & Kathy had theirs….

Clara borrowed Kathy’s for this shot….

Now here’s where this blog gets really long.  Why you ask?  Because going on a cruise is really all about the food.  Isn’t it?  I’m not going to name the various dishes placed in front of me….I’ll just show you the photo’s of the mass consumption for each day. Keep in mind that no matter what you ordered you could always also get additional dishes of any sort…..I may of had four appetizers here…..

 

At this point, trying to be good and ordering plain salmon was rather funny…..

Maybe I was saving for this crumble with double ice-cream…..

Yes, that was one meal and here’s what some of my table mates had. I could have also ordered these as well….

Of course I had to taste this….We would always ask for Papaya to aid digestion.  No kidding???

Sweet Kaley came over to see what we were up to….

She is sooooo cute!

Kathy and her sweet, sweet parents!

The next morning I decided to order in as I have no self control and the array of choices at the buffet would do me in!

I was glad the lifeboats were at hand but hopeful we would not experience them.  (Remember…..cruise virgin.)

Clara had no idea Kathy had come up behind her so this shot was so much fun….

O.K. roomie…what should we do today?

To many choices, let’s just relax…..

Note to self…need bigger sunglasses…...

I know….let’s go shopping!

I want them both….

Everyone is telling me I need one of these Selfie Sticks….

This is Aki from Japan.  We had a wonderful time talking about Kyoto.

Here’s Tyrone from Australia helping Clara and me get our credit cards on file for SHOPPING!!!! What’s so wonderful is that all the young people on staff are from all over the world and what’s so amazing is that with everyone we stopped to talk to….Clara had been to their country.  To say she’s a world traveler doesn’t begin to tell the tale. Even the Captain, Justin Lawes lives in Neath, South Wales.  Not sure if Clara has been there……probably has!

Did someone say lunch?  We went to the dining room for this which I thought was a good idea lessening the chance of gluttony on my part….

Until I ordered the Ruben….

So I then ordered a salad to balance it off...

And of course Papaya which I really needed at this point….

Clara and I opted for a movie. ' The 100 Foot Journey' so we could see more pictures of food!

What a wonderful family!  David & Kathy with Kaley, Matt and Erin!

 

Despite my handicap of not being Chinese, I think I’ve been adopted…...

Let the feasting begin! I’ll just show you what I had….

 

Time to clear one’s palate….

Being good again…..

Maybe not so good…..

Also, I sampled the following….

Needing a rest….Clara & I went to the Explorers Lounge, plopped down and watched Cabaret Comic Uber Rossi.  He was so funny we decided he should skip all the life threatening acrobatics he does and stick with the comedy routine.

This is Freddie, a Stateroom Steward from the Philippines.  I got a lot of mileage from the one word Nikka taught me…’sambalat’….which means thank you.

Clara patiently waiting for me...

Next morning, another chance to use my one word….

Starting the day the gluttony way….

Clara kept paced with me….

We were exhausted after that so it was off to another movie….’The Giver’.  Didn’t matter that we had seen it before….

Checking out the library…..

Another Titanic shot….

Did I mention the main purpose of a cruise?  Eating?  Wrong…..It’s DRINKING!  After I ordered a Margarita both Clara and Kathy convinced me that a Pina Colada was the only way to go.  I’m hooked….no longer a virgin at that either….

We were in the ‘Elite Lounge’.  Remember I mentioned that after a gazillion trips you get to be here and have all sorts of treats …….Since we had not had enough food I sent Clara off to forage…...

Whoops, time for dinner….Here’s Nancy our all to capable server willing and able to bring us mass quantities of food.  My one word ( salamat) was put to good use.

This looked harmless enough….

Most everyone had the escargot…..

This cucumber and yogurt soup was refreshingly good….

Still trying to behave…..

Last night aboard brought the presentation of the Baked Alaska by the chefs…..

So of course I had to have some……(used to love making this…..it’s actually quite easy)But then why did I have to try this….……and this…..

Time for some more laughs so we all went to see comic/magician Christopher James.

He was really funny working the audience…..

Some Mariachi madness…..

I had grabbed this little book before I left (it had been sitting around for a couple of years) and found it so inciteful.  Whether you’re a writer or visual artist, I highly recommend it as it will give you insight into your process.

Next morning we awoke to find we had arrived back….wonder if this tugboat was used...

Last call for food….

I resisted the urge to buy one of these in the Gift Shop….

A hug for Kaley who, if truth be told, was actually ducking from my ever ready photo mania.  She reminds me of Nikka in that department!

Kicking us off and loading up massive quantities of food for the next group coming in at noon.

Waiting to go thru Customs.  How cute is this!  No, Santa was not in our group…….Bye bye ship…...

The USS Iowa is here in the San Pedro harbor and you can take a tour of the battleship.

Waiting for David to bring the van….

I got to sit it out…..

Back home at the Wong’s….Mochi was sooooooo happy…...

Oh how I love this dog…...

How cute is this…...

Erin put the  Uber app on my phone and got me a brand new Lexus……

Awwwwww…………….

The driver had just registered this car….he lives in Burbank and couldn’t believe his very first passenger would take him home!

 

Thank you Kathy…...

….and David for adopting me into your awesome family.  I love you one and all!

My bed looked sooooooo good…..

So did Kita’s little architectural bone arrangement…..

Gourmet 88 to the rescue because I definitely wasn’t cooking!

This delightful Geranium greeted me this morning thru my bedroom window……..I wish you joy!