Day Seven

Tracy and I have already began talking about the next vacation....Australia in 2012 ??? I am told the scuba diving is amazing.  So even after receiving detailed instructions for debarkation, it was no surprise that we were running a little late and slightly disorganized as the day started. Who's idea was it have the guests vacate their staterooms by 9 am ???

After a leisurely breakfast and an on board announcement, 'will the remaining eight passengers please vacate the ship'...we headed to customs, and finally to the transfer to the airport.

Tracy, give me a few days to catch up on laundry and feel my birds and I will be ready to book our next adventure.

One last look back...



On board the Triumph with New Orleans skyline





Where am I?





Tanned, relaxed, and full of great memories

Day Six

A relaxing day at sea was a welcome change to the hussle of the last few days. The first thing on our agenda was the Debarkation video we were required to watch so we would know how to get off the ship. Then breakfast, pool time, lunch, more pool time, and dinner.

The Rome Lounge presented a tribute to New Orleans with a song and dance revival including a Mardi Gras parade, performers suspended from the ceiling and fireworks.  We still had two separate comedy shows, casino time, photos from the upper deck and bar time before retiring to our staterooms well after midnight.

Day Five

I am not going to lie, this whole cruise was Tracy's idea...he decided he wanted to go scuba diving in Cozumel for his birthday and well, here we are in Mexico.  Happy Birthday Tracy! I hope you are enjoying your vacation, I know I am.



http;//www.mayasites.com/gervasio.html

  Today, while Tracy was diving, I decided to go on a sight seeing adventure: The town of San Miguel, located on the island of Cozmuel, occupies 7% of the island while a tropical jungle occupies the other 93%. The town has a population of 70,000 and I was interested in the 'feel' of the country far beyond the tourist spots lining the coast.  Luckily, I was able to find friendly taxi cab driver willing to show me his country.

Our first stop was Maya archaeological site of San Gervasio, a site dedicated to the Mayan goddess lxchel, deity of midwifery, medicine and weaving. Here I am pictured at the arch at the mouth of a path which lead to a ceremonial alter.

I tried to photograph one of the many iguanas of the area but the truth is they are larger than house cats and very fast...it was all I could do to stay on my toes and avoid having one of them carry me off!

 

The high moisture content in the San Miguel area prohibits underground burial of the dead. Here is a photo of the elaborate mausoleums found in the city's cemetery.  In addition, the perimeter stucco walls of the cemetery has 18 inch square 'cubby holes' for those on a more economical journey through the afterlife.

Day Four

Let the adventure begin 

Today started with a room service breakfast and a transfer to a luxury bus for a two hour ride to the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza (pronounced chicken pizza) in the town of Progreso, Mexico.  Unfortunately, I forgot to pack my wallet, Tracy and I were a little bit late meeting the group on the pier, then Tracy dropped something in the bus bathroom, loud enough to alert the tour guide.  As we were leaving the ruins Tracy decided he wanted to haggle with a vendor over a $25 hat but with several hundred dollar bills in his wallet he was in no position to negotiate.

As we were walking to the cantina to get a drink (and break the hundred) we ran into the tour guide who reminded it us that it was passed time to board the bus. Tracy ran back for the hat and I started a very slow stroll to the bus.  As I was getting on the bus the tour guide asked me where Tracy was and I said, 'he will be here soon, he stopped to use the bathroom' to which the tour guide reminded me the bus had a bathroom. SNAP!

Two hours later as we got off the bus I asked Tracy if he would tip the tour guide (no wallet, remember?) Tracy came up with 4 one dollar bills, 3 twenty dollar bills, and all those hundreds......he gave him $4 which seemed to be okay until we got back to the boat and realized Tracy left his phone on the bus.

Surprise!!! The cruise line contact the excursion company, but the phone was not found.

Day Three

When I looked out the window this morning it was evident that I was no longer on the river.  Massive oil rigs and tanker ships were scattered throughout the Gulf on all sides of the Triumph.

With clear blue skies, and a small breeze blowing in from the ocean, the lounge chair on Lido deck was the best seat in the house.

Day Two

The Carnival Triumph, docked on the Mississippi River, set sail from New Orleans, Louisiana at promptly 4 pm this afternoon. From the upper deck I was amazed at how flat the area was (it's no wonder tornadoes can travel such long distances in this area).

It is going to take a few days before I remember how to get around this ship....dinner on deck 4, room on deck 6, pool on deck 9 and if I get up there before 10 am I can get some breakfast.  Casino on deck 5 and somewhere there ought to be a bathroom!

Eight hours into the cruise and we are still 'rolling down the (Mississippi) river' maybe tomorrow we will see ocean water.

Day One

Pre-cruise: Bourbon Street in the French Quarter

New Orleans, Louisiana

Lacie and Nicolas, this shout out is for you!

My New Favorite Gadget

About the size of a library card....

a WATERPROOF digital camera!

The Kodak mimi is the most amazing camera/camcorder I have ever owned.  The battery is charged by directly plugging the camera into my laptop so there is no cords to loose or forget at home. 

We (the camera and I) are going to Cozumel this week, check back for some great uploaded photos.

Mother's Day

Partway during the morning I began to feel an overwhelming gratitude for my children...which seems a little odd when you consider I would not be spending any part of the day with either of them today.  Maybe it is the solitude that pushes my memories back to days of hands-on mothering when each moment of my children's lives was superimposed onto my own.  Each decision they made, was my decision, each breath they took was my own.

Go ahead, ask me what I got for Mother's Day. I got two amazing children standing of the cusp of adulthood and I couldn't be happier.

Quilting by Betty

My new best friend is the quilting lady Betty.  I met her In the back yard of her Taylorsville home and was given a tour of her utility shed which holds the biggest long arm sewing machine I have seen.  I just picked my first quilt up and was amazed at he the spectacular design she had created which turned my quilt into a masterpiece, and its a good thing she is quick and inexpensive since I have never had so many projects going at once, here is what I am working on:

1) Floral quilt for Quilts For Kids, needs binding.
2) Pink baby quilt, needs to be quilted, and binding.
3) Animal quilt for Quilts For Kids, needs backing, quilting, and binding.
4) Polka dot baby quilt, needs piecing, backing, quilting, and backing.
5) Polka dot quilt for Quilts For Kids out of spare material????
6) 12 block appliqued quilt, I am on block #2 so I don't think Betty will be seeing this anytime soon....

It feels good to be back in the sewing room again, I've missed the feel of fabric as it moves under the pressure foot, thank you Betty.