WEEK 1
WEEK 1
10 JANUARY
2024: PE TO NEW YORK
I was
dropped at the airport at 5.00 am by my sister who was still in her pajamas and
thought I would be the only one there but to my surprise there were a lot of
early birds to join me on the first flight to Johannesburg. 2 days before my
overseas flight I was contacted by the card fraud department about suspicion
transactions that someone was trying to do on my card so had to cancel my card.
Well, what now!! The following day at the bank I was told that i could try and
apply for an emergency card that they can deliver at the bank at the airport in
OR Tambo but could not guarantee that it would be delivered before my
international flight.
I left the
country without my new card and was so thankful that I had another card that I
could use abroad. Don’t know what I would have done if I did not have a second
card. Would have had to leave with a bag full of cash!! Haa haa imagine that
and when I landed in the states, they asked me how much money I had on me and
as it is you don’t get very far with our currency.
Our flight
was delayed by an hour but had 4 hours layover in Dubai so was thankful about that.
If there is one thing, I have leant in these 11 years of traveling all over the
world leave enough time to catch connecting flights. In Dubai it felt like all
the flights landed at the same time for there were hundreds of passengers and
we all had to go through security again, so that was a bit stressful, and we
had to walk far to get to our gate. Our flight to New York was a bit bumpy but
I was very lucky to have an open seat next to the window and could curl up for
a sleep on our long flight to the states.
11 JANUARY
2024: NEW YORK CITY
A sign at
customs that said there would be a 45 min wait to go through customs ended up
in a 3 hours 15 minutes wait from entering the line to in front of an
official!!!! This was crazy I would say we were between 1500 and 2000
passengers in the line with only a few officials and as some left the next
flights passengers arrived and entered the line. The people that had connecting
flight with a layover of under 4 hours would not have made their next flights
for you still had to collect your luggage.
So made a mental
note that if I ever need to catch a connecting flight after landing in a
country and need to go to customs have enough time!!!Daar was babas wat huil
,ou mense en geen sitplek jy moet maar net staan en wag en inval geen genade of
simpatie nie.
My taxi
ride to the hotel was with a very nice man and I ended up asking for his name
and contact number for told me that he has a few customers that contact him
when they fly into JFK and need a taxi don’t think I will need him, but you
never know. Dropped me in front of my hotel that was walking distance from the
cruise terminal.
Was very
glad when I checked in that my room was ready, and I could go straight up and
settle in for the night. Went looking for something to eat and ended up at a
local take away café and to my surprise had a delicious chicken wrap. Het
gedink o koek hoop nie ek raak siek van die hoender nie want dis een van die
vrae wat jy moet antwoord voor jy op die skip klim,enige diaree?
The rooms
aircon was on warm but I needed some fresh air so opened the window to let the
cool fresh winter air in! Was good to have a great night’s sleep after a warm
bath and to be able to sleep on a soft matrass really appreciate it after
trying to sleep in a seat 13/14 hours.
12 JANUARY 2024: NEW YORK CITY
Woke up
early and decided to go on an early morning walk which was very cold and
refreshing, thank goodness I dressed warmly and took my gloves with me. There
were not many people around only a few early morning runners and dog walkers,
that I really enjoyed. Back at the hotel it was time for breakfast maar o my
genade droee worsies en eiers wat seker die vorige nag gebak is dit was nou
wragtig nie lekker nie maar het dit geeet want was honger, die jogurt en
piesang het goed afgegaan.
Teen 11 uur
was ek aan boord die skip en by my liefie na 4 lang weke weg van mekaar,my
kaptein! We left New York at 16h00 and it was freezing on the ship when we left
had plans of watching the sail away but after putting my nose out the doors
decided no this was not going to today. Early morning, we woke up to an angry upside-down
sea, with high swells and hectic winds. Felt like a winter storm to me and has
been like that all day long.
13 JANUARY
2024: @SEA
The ship was
still rocking and rolling and that went on all day long with very high swells
and strong winds blowing. We were caught in a winter storm on the Atlantic
Ocean on our way to Bermuda. Felt so sorry for the passengers that were trying
to get away from the bad weather only to get stuck in a storm at sea, was so
bad that all the outside deck were closed off because it was just too dangerous
to be outside. I started the morning in the gym as planned but was a bit of a
challenge with the rolling of the ship we had to hold on. During the afternoon
I ended up on deck 15 at the back of the ship but there the ship had a bewerasie
and I wondered if the engines were ok! Was even difficult typing on my laptop.
14 January
2024: BERMUDA
We arrived
late morning due to the bad weather and were 2 hours late but at least we made
it to Bermuda. While sailing in I realized again how close we are to the
dangerous reefs that are all over on your way in. Hubby was called out to a
fight and a poor lady ended up with a blue eye, broken nose and a hubby that
was locked up in the ship jail. Dis nou een ding wat ek nie kan verstaan nie
hoekom vang jy sulke goed aan en dis die einde van jou betaalde vakansie en jy
word van die skip afgesit en moet dan nog jou eie vlug weer huis toe betaal,so
regtig al wat ek kan dink is dat drank die oorsaak van die malligheid is. Die weer het nou nie
saamgespeel nie en het heel dag aan en af gereen so die passasiers moes maar in
die reen rondloop en hulle plekke besoek want more 16h00 is ons weer oppad
terug New York toe. I got off late afternoon and just walked around in the Dockside
area. Am going to try and visit the Blue Hole with our next visit to the
island, have not been to see it and will also like to go for a swim at
Horseshoe Bay in that crystal clear water.
15 JANUARY
2024: BERMUDA
Woke up not
feeling great and tired, tried to have my gym workout but after being on the
treadmill for 30 minutes called it a day and rather went for breakfast. Sat
outside and could watch all the activities going on in Dockyard but can see
things are really a lot busier in the peak season here they are they are slowing
down. Hubby was ready to get off the ship at 11 so off we went for some fresh
air and our normal walkabout and the best ice-cream in Dockyard Mall. I got us
a calendar with the most colorful beautiful photographs of different places in
Bermuda did think of waiting for the next visit but with the weather at this
time of the year you just never know if you are going to make it to the island so
rather safe than sorry.
Have all
these things I have collected during our travels don’t know where they are all
going to go!! Will have to get more wall space for them at least we have the
mementos and memories of this season in our lives, which has been such a huge
blessing. Tomorrow is a sea day and then we are back in New York on Wednesday.
Holding thumbs that I will be able to experience falling snow for the first
time in my life at nearly 60!! and that in New York City, so we will see, was
told that it could happen in February so who knows. Have seen the most stunning
pics of NYC covered in this white blanket of snow really looks magical. Our
next cruise is a 10-day cruise to the Caribbean.
16
JANUARY2024: @SEA
The weather
had not been great, so I am starting to wonder if these cruises are not cheaper
than usual because of this time of the year? Has been raining on and off all
day long and the outside decks are wet and slippery. I was surprised to see
that the jacuzzies were all full, so some decided to make the most of it
anyway.
We made it
to the gym at 6 this morning and then we had some coffee on the outside deck. I
returned to the gym after hubby had left for work and had a good time after
yesterday’s useless exercise. Decided was going to ask the Spar manager if I
could use the Spar facilities on port days when most of the guests are out in
the port have done it before and just felt like doing it again. They have
beautiful views from the front of the ship, a sauna, steam room and swimming
pool that I have used before.
Might try
my luck and ask hubby if I can have a spoil day for my 60th birthday
in March things like manicure, pedicure and have my hair washed and blow-dried
so that I am ready for our date night that evening. Told him he will have to
ask his colleague to work if he is on duty on the 27th.When I turned
50 on the ship we were in New York, and they spoiled me with a plate of
strawberries and chocolates. Can’t believe it is 10 years later and here we are
still sailing the high seas! What an amazing journey this has been and
something we will always be thankful for, have been all over the world seen so
many countries and have met so many wonderful people. This is my 20th
trip to join hubby on his contracts.
Looks like
it has snowed in New York but after the rain it might all be gone by tomorrow
so we will see. I must be off the ship before 9 and plans are to walk to
Central Park would love to see it covered in snow. Don’t think I have all the
right gear for the cold but do have gloves, my thick K- way jacket and
something to keep my ears warm. See on TV that flights have been
delayed/cancelled so that will cause problems for those passengers that are
coming and going. Will be doing a video if all is white tomorrow, a first for
me.
Nog n
vreemde gevoel is die pik donkerte en dis 20 oor 5 in die middag,kan nie aan
dit gewoont raak nie en hou ook nie van die vreeslik lang nagte nie! So, dink
nie ek sal dit maak in plekke waar dit vir baie maande koud nat en vroeg donker
is nie ek hou maar van die son. Kan glo die mense raak depressief. Die volgende
cruise het ons glo minder mense aanboord
en ook ouer gaste so sal hopelik rustiger wees,die een was omtrent
woelig en besig.
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