Greetings From the Bermuda Triangle

It has been a wonderful voyage so far, with calm seas (except for two days of 12 to 14 foot waves, not really felt on a ship this size) and little rain. Otherwise, it has been mild and both swimming pools have been in constant use. We have hung out at the Solarium, the glass-covered area with birds singing and beautiful foliage. It is like my own Garden of Eden. The other passengers are very nice for the most part. There are some weirdos around but we don't socialize with them. Like the lady who doesn't need a walker, yet walks around with a walker with a horn on it, constantly tooting her clown horn and yelling that she is claustrophobic and can't go into the elevators with anyone else. There are quite a few Brits goint to their "winter homes" in Florida and bragging constantly about it. They probably life in trailer parks! No wonder it's so hard to drive here in season. It is all starting to make sense now. Most of them are gloating about the fall of the dollar and can't wait to buy up everything. Thanks Bush, you moron. You and your cronies are ruining it for us all.

Yesterday I had a very special treat. I was invited for a private tour of the bridge, a very unusual thing these days, what with all the tight security. It was amazing. I met the captain, the FEMALE second in command, and all the officers on the bridge. They explained all the equipment to me and let me sit in the driver's seat. What a wonderful experience. I also met the captain's parents, who are sailing with us on this voyage. The father is a Norwegian fishing boat captain. No surprise there.

This afternoon we were invited to a "frushoppen" by the executive chef. It's like a special food tasting for a select group of passengers where we have a meal of the executive chef's signature dishes. Fantastic! We had to follow certain protocols because we visited the galley first. We had to line up in a certain way and wash our hands as if we were about to perform surgery. The executive chef is Austrian and is very protective of his kitchen. It's that old Teutonic personality rearing it's ugly head.

Right now I am sitting in the beautiful glass atrium listening to live classical music, thinking about how lucky I am to have this experience. I am already lining up the next couple of cruises in my head.

This has been a fun vacation, exhausting at times, like when we walked through to the next town without even realizing it and had to take a bus back. It has been frustrating at times, as upon our arrival in Cordoba only to discover it was some kind of religious holiday and everything was closed, including the old synagogue which was built in the 1300's. Can't figure that out since Spain is a Catholic country. It saddened us both to see how homogonized Europe has become, how the dollar is worthless, and how one has to really travel into the hinterlands to see what a country is really like. I doubt we will be back until the dollar gets much stronger.

I think the most memorable part of the entire trip was our visit to Omaha Beach in Normandy. It was so emotional even though neither of us knew anyone who fought there. It was just so moving that everyone on that beach was crying. I got the chills and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. My dad was in the Navy during WWII but he was nowhere near there. It didn't matter. Maybe those bragging Brits on this cruise should do a little reminiscing on how we saved their asses. Most of the French in Normandy have not forgotten. The American Cemetery overlooking the beaches of Normandy testifies to that. It is a sacred place, with row upon row of crosses and stars.

We will be in Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow. Only one more night of stuffing our faces and sleeping through shows. We had five time changes on this cruise, gaining one hour each day so we had 25-hour days, which really messed up our internal clocks. I think we are ready to get off the ship but will miss the crew and some of the special perks we had. Jerry learned how to make an animal out of towels. Guess he was bored that day. We have both been inducted into the Royal Jewel Society, devotees of this wonderful ship. I will miss this grand lady of the seas, for it is truly a beautiful ship.

I wish the captain and crew of the Jewel of the Seas calm seas, a gentle following wind and smooth sailing wherever their journey takes them next.

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