We've been home for a few days now from our Panama cruise. It's taken that long just to get our gears meshed back in line. We're both still tired and dreamy but slowly we're returning to the normalcy of everyday life as a trucker. The trip was phenomenal and over the course of the next few days, I'll be recapping our trip as there is probably not a whole lot of new stuff going on between here and Seattle.
As I said before, we're both tired but...
We arrived in Miami about 11:30 on the 21st. We couldn't check in yet so we returned the car and walked back. It was only nine blocks back. We hung out in the lobby for a little while. I didn't want to move because I was lugging a 48 lbs. book bag around filled with our computer, money, and everything we didn't want stolen. I was eventually talked into finding a place to get a drink and since we were right across the street from the famous 'Bayside', that wasn't hard to do. Bayside is kind of like smaller, more expensive version of Myrtle Beach. Lots of boutiques, restaurants, and clubs. Beth and I settled at Bubba Gump's and started relaxing. We were to meet a couple, Steve and Cathy from Arizona, for dinner so we headed back to get ready. We met them through the cruisecritic website. Now by this point, I was feeling no pain. I don't know if it was from excitement or anxiety but I was passed my line. We met the couple at Bubba Gump's and had a wonderful dinner. Afterwards, Beth and I walked around the market and took in the Miami nightlife. I smoked one of my cigars as we walked and by the time we got back to the room, we were both ready for bed.
The next morning I realized it was anxiety that was knocking on my door. While Beth was napping, I had to call my support structure. I was feeling undeserving and even a little afraid of what was about to happen. I'd never left the country, let alone on a boat. I'd never done anything that required the involvement of so many documents and governmental regulations. I'd never been on a ship that size with that many people. There was so many things going through my head I wasn't even sure that I wanted to go. I only knew that I was going and the sooner we got going, the sooner we got back. I was excited but I was more anxious.
We showered and repacked and got a taxi to the port. We tipped our porter and went through the boarding process without a hitch. It only took us 45 minutes to get from the taxi to the lobby of the ship. Now keep in mind, I was still bogged down with a 50 lbs. pack, but we had to do a lot of stuff before I could unburden myself and relax. We had to check on reservations for the upscale dining room, Portofino's; we had to check with guest relations for the 'cybercabin' (internet) cables; we had lunch; checked on the 'wine & dine' packages. We were up and down stairs and elevators most of the rest of the morning which did nothing for my anxiety, but by 1 o'clock we could get into our stateroom. I was so relieved to put that bookbag down! We relaxed for a while then went exploring. The ship, at first, was huge! It was like a city on water. Movie theater, spa, gym, pools, casino, basketball court, restaurants, and bars, so many bars! We got back to the room and dressed for dinner. One of the few nights we could wear shorts to the dining room so we took advantage. Besides, our luggage hadn't arrived to the room yet. We were fortunate to have such wonderful tablemates. There was Bernie and Sandie from Colorado, Cynthia, Gussie, and Joanie from Florida and NY, Mike and Anne from Arizona, and Keith and Sue all the way from Kent, England. We later found out that Keith and Sue own Teapot Island in Kent and are in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most tea pots. Their website can be found at www.teapotisland.com. After dinner Beth and I were completely exhausted. We headed back to the stateroom and then to bed. Fortunately, the next day was a sea day so we could sleep in.
As I said before, we're both tired but...
We arrived in Miami about 11:30 on the 21st. We couldn't check in yet so we returned the car and walked back. It was only nine blocks back. We hung out in the lobby for a little while. I didn't want to move because I was lugging a 48 lbs. book bag around filled with our computer, money, and everything we didn't want stolen. I was eventually talked into finding a place to get a drink and since we were right across the street from the famous 'Bayside', that wasn't hard to do. Bayside is kind of like smaller, more expensive version of Myrtle Beach. Lots of boutiques, restaurants, and clubs. Beth and I settled at Bubba Gump's and started relaxing. We were to meet a couple, Steve and Cathy from Arizona, for dinner so we headed back to get ready. We met them through the cruisecritic website. Now by this point, I was feeling no pain. I don't know if it was from excitement or anxiety but I was passed my line. We met the couple at Bubba Gump's and had a wonderful dinner. Afterwards, Beth and I walked around the market and took in the Miami nightlife. I smoked one of my cigars as we walked and by the time we got back to the room, we were both ready for bed.
The next morning I realized it was anxiety that was knocking on my door. While Beth was napping, I had to call my support structure. I was feeling undeserving and even a little afraid of what was about to happen. I'd never left the country, let alone on a boat. I'd never done anything that required the involvement of so many documents and governmental regulations. I'd never been on a ship that size with that many people. There was so many things going through my head I wasn't even sure that I wanted to go. I only knew that I was going and the sooner we got going, the sooner we got back. I was excited but I was more anxious.
We showered and repacked and got a taxi to the port. We tipped our porter and went through the boarding process without a hitch. It only took us 45 minutes to get from the taxi to the lobby of the ship. Now keep in mind, I was still bogged down with a 50 lbs. pack, but we had to do a lot of stuff before I could unburden myself and relax. We had to check on reservations for the upscale dining room, Portofino's; we had to check with guest relations for the 'cybercabin' (internet) cables; we had lunch; checked on the 'wine & dine' packages. We were up and down stairs and elevators most of the rest of the morning which did nothing for my anxiety, but by 1 o'clock we could get into our stateroom. I was so relieved to put that bookbag down! We relaxed for a while then went exploring. The ship, at first, was huge! It was like a city on water. Movie theater, spa, gym, pools, casino, basketball court, restaurants, and bars, so many bars! We got back to the room and dressed for dinner. One of the few nights we could wear shorts to the dining room so we took advantage. Besides, our luggage hadn't arrived to the room yet. We were fortunate to have such wonderful tablemates. There was Bernie and Sandie from Colorado, Cynthia, Gussie, and Joanie from Florida and NY, Mike and Anne from Arizona, and Keith and Sue all the way from Kent, England. We later found out that Keith and Sue own Teapot Island in Kent and are in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most tea pots. Their website can be found at www.teapotisland.com. After dinner Beth and I were completely exhausted. We headed back to the stateroom and then to bed. Fortunately, the next day was a sea day so we could sleep in.
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