VACATION CRUISE TO ARUBA, PANAMA COSTA RICA

On November 9th, Kay tried to sleep on the couch but failed. I went to bed and slept a few hours. We were both awake by 1 AM. We drove to Shafer's, got on a bus, traveled to Newark, made it through security, onto plane and into Fort Lauderdale buy 1 PM. Since the ship had several cases of Norwalk Flue , it was sanitized. This took an extra five hours and meant we could not board the ship as planned. They put us up in the convention center, provided buses to a nearby Mall, and fed us well, but it was tiring. We finally got on board about 11 and settled in by 12. We departed at midnight. Seas were ok, We spent the next day wandering and exploring the ship, eating and sitting on deck to read. Giants beat Philly quite badly Sunday night, but we never got to see the game.

The second day was also spent in leisure. We did have a wake up call at 3 in the morning saying the ship was on fire, but that turned out to be a minor event. We arrived in Aruba, toured the island, non impressed. On to Curacao. Since the hurricane had caused us to not visit the Cay where we had planned to horseback ride and ride sea boats, we had some extra money so Kay signed up to swim with Dolphins. I toured this island and was also unimpressed. She had a wonderful time and really enjoyed it.

We then traveled to Panama, woke up early to watch our ship go through the locks, then went on an excursion on Gatun Lake. We went by launch and traveled the length of the lake, visiting sights that allowed us to feed wild monkeys, see Crocodiles, sloths and lots of birds. Part of the tour involved going to a floating restaurant and eating a Panamanian lunch. Very good. We also got to feed some Tamarind, see snakes, Iguanas, Toucans, monkeys and a traditional Panamanian rain storm that looked like the dam had burst. We had a delightful time and really enjoyed this part of Panama.

The boat was moved to Colon, so we had to catch up to it. This meant a land trip of several hours through rural Panama and then into the city of Colon. It struck me as we drew near the ship, that I was in one of the most depressed areas I have ever seen, and less than a mile away were three cruise ships that were throwing away enough food to easily feed the entire area. Back aboard ship, we went to lunch and were seated with a couple who did nothing but bitch about the quality of the food and how bad the service was etc. They were on their 23rd cruise and really could not understand why people got off the boat in these horrible locations.

Anyway, we moved on to Costa Rica where we went zip lining. Two years ago, I would have obsessed and worried about this for so long, I would have been paralyzed for days. This time, I never gave it a thought until that morning. We rode a bus for about an hour while a guide explained about the ecology of Costa Rica and why we should buy only organic bananas. I watched Kay and I am sure my banana bill will be rising dramatically. Anyway, we arrived at the location, were given instructions on how to use our free hand to "brake", what hand instructions we would be given and "be sure you sign the release form before you get on the wagon" the wagon twisted and turned its way up the mountain and when it stopped we went single file up even further. Now I am still not in a state of terror, just a little apprehensive. The line stopped in front of a twelve step stairway that led to a metal platform. Just above the platform was a double zip line. The first person was taken up, attached and zipped out. Now they were zipping away from the platform about twenty feet above my head and I thought, "That's not bad, I can do this." Kay went, then it was my turn. I shot up the stairs, hit the platform and realized I was on the edge of a cliff that dropped 197 feet. Snap, snap and I am hooked into the wire. "Lift feet please" I am dangling 197 feet above trees zipping across a jungle canopy that is somehow below me. Actually, it was a great view and terror was quickly replaced by awe. I crashed into the second platform, was asked if I wanted to continue, was hooked up again and off on a spectacular view of the river a long way below me. this continued through 8 more platforms and lines, ending somehow very near the spot we had boarded the wagon an hour before. It was exhausting, heart pounding and I would do it again in an instant.

Once reunited with the ship, we headed north in very heavy seas. In fact the evening show was canceled because the scenery kept falling over and breaking lights and innocent people standing nearby. We got back to Ft. Lauderdale and were back in Binghamton by 9PM November 19th. It was a great trip, great sights, met some wonderful people, most of them working for the cruise ship, thrilled we did it, but it could rain for forty days and forty nights and as the Ark went by I would just wave, because I am never getting on another ship as long as I live.

The Jump Off

We spent the last few days getting ready for “THE CRUISE”. Somehow this means acquiring large amounts of underwear and socks, planning for each contingency and making sure everything is covered. Then, just when the horseback riding, jet skiing day has been fully covered, the phone rings and guess what? Since the ship is experiencing a break out of Norwalk virus, it will be delayed 7 hours in departing which means we will be sitting on shore an extra five hours and will not be making the first stop to see the horseys. Bummer. Followed quickly by the weather channel expressing concern over the hurricane just forming off the coast of Cuba. Is that anywhere near the Caribbean???

Now here is the amazing part. Three years ago I would be freaking, ready to jump ship. Now, oh well, a new adventure. Wonder how it will turn out?? Can’t wait to see. And the funny part is that no matter how it turns out I will have a good time. With the possible exception of dropping 20000 feet in 4.5 seconds or the cellar springing a leak.

We will still be zip lining through the jungle canopy on one of the days. If the hurricane goes that way, it may provide quite a tail wind. I really am looking forward to that part. Lots of exercise every day and then the forced dinners at night. One chocolate extravaganza at night. Tough, tough work. Oh well!! We should be back by November 20^th. May try and provide pictures. Or video. Or music. Most likely words.

THE NEXT STEP

It appears that sometime Tuesday night, America will elect Barak Obama President. While the campaign has been difficult and demanding, that will be the fun part. Now he has to govern. Rhetoric will have consequences. The single most difficult thing for a President to learn is that EVERYTHING he says will be analyzed for a national security leak or a hidden message to foreign enemies. “Can I have oatmeal for breakfast?”, is a hidden message to the Russians that we are going to increase our oat shipments to Georgia and their only appropriate response is to invade Latvia.

And then there are the critics like Rush Limburger or Rusty Crash Cart that are going to tear everything you do down, no matter what. Pardon the Thanksgiving Turkey, you are soft on crime. Eat the damn thing and you are an evil terrorist, just like we told everyone.

Worse yet will be your friends, the Democratic Majority in Congress. In their minds the vault is open and Christmas is just around the corner. Outside of a very brief period in Franklin Roosevelt’s first term, whenever the President and Congress have been from the same party, it has not worked well.

So, ignore the idiots, put together a cabinet that has Chuck Hagel and Dick Lugar in it, perhaps find a place for McCain, keep Gates in place and explain nicely, “We ain’t got it, so we ain’t spending it!!!” Balance the budget first, save the world second. Lastly, don’t cave into special interests – except the ones I like.