WEEK 9

 

24 MARCH 2024:  NEW YORK

All went smoothly once we were in New York, I got off early but had to wait for hubby who first had to wait for the ambulance to pick up a patient before he could get off, so I had to wait for him just outside the terminal building.

Nearly froze while waiting for was very cold with an icy wind blowing, I put on everything I could, earmuffs, k-way jacket hoody, used his beany over my gloves and still cold. Your feet start feeling numb from the standing and cold.

Once he came, we walked to a café not to far from the port area but must admit was not the best food so that was a quick in and out. We did not have lots of time so rather went back to the warm terminal building. So, all my plans of doing my last rounds were not going to happen this time round and did not feel like walking around in the freezing cold.

We left later that planned due to our late arrival and were informed again last night about bad weather on our way back to Bermuda which meant that we were going to be a day late again and would only be arriving in Bermuda on the Wednesday. The weather has really been hectic and upside down not a good time to travel to Bermuda I would say.

We noticed on our navigation map that we were taking a different route to Bermuda and sailing all along the East Coast of the states trying to sidestep the storm on the Atlantic Ocean. Told us that they were expecting 8m waves in Bermuda tomorrow and very high winds so maybe a good thing we are only arriving on Wednesday.

27 MARCH 2024: BERMUDA

We sailed into Bermuda after terrible weather at sea and I was relieved to see calmer waters. Hubby could not join me today for he had to work so decided to make the most of it and celebrate my 60th birthday on my own. The one important lesson I did learn was how important your family and friends are in your life, and we take them for granted until you celebrate a birthday on an island all on your own, then it hits you like a ton of bricks, and nothing comes close to them and what it feels like to celebrate important days and events in your life with them.

I took the ferry to St Georges late morning, it was a rocky ride, decided to sit inside on the top deck.  In St Georges, I decided to go for a walk to an area I have not been too before but that did not last long before the rain cut my walk short. In a local newspaper I saw a café that makes food for the locals called Mama Angies Coffee Shop so decided to pop in and try the food, had a fish cake burger and some coffee enjoyed it in her café while chatting to the locals, that was special.

The locals kept popping in to collect their orders so realized this was the place to try local food, also well known for a Fish Bun or Fish sandwich. While I was sitting enjoying my food the telephone in the shop rang and my goodness looks like a phone out of the sixties, but the cordless phone did the job and brought back such good memories from my childhood. The milkshake maker also looked like a sixties model and boy nothing beats a good old milkshake.

Left with my very hot coffee to sit under a tree with a view over the ocean, then it was time to start walking closer to the port area where I had to catch the ferry back to Dockyard. Decided it was time to spoil myself with some Prosecco Champayne and cheesecake the best I had in a long time, just what i needed to make my birthday special, so sat there sipping my champagne eating my cake with views over the harbor area.

Just as well I did walk back to the harbor area for not long after I was finished with my spoil for the day the ferry arrived, and I was ready for the hour-long ride back to dockyard. Had some time before I had to meet my tour for a sunset swizzle tour late afternoon so got back on the ship for a short while. The wind had picked up and I was not sure that we would be going on a tour but in the end we did.

We left with us lying on matrasses in front of the catamaran with music playing and us sailing into the sunset. Was very relaxing and not the perfect weather but I enjoyed our ride and was an experience to sail back into the harbor area at night with nice music and the ships lights all lit up, an angle you never see from the water looking back at the ship. Had a good day and very thankful had the opportunity to do all the things I did. Saying goodbye to the fifties and welcoming the sixties, officially now a pensioner and all sort of specials and discounts waiting for me at home.

We are leaving a day early due to another storm that is rolling in across the Atlantic Ocean and coming our way. So, have been warned to buckle up, close our porthole, and get ready for rough seas not a nice thought at all but it is what it is. a Lot of passengers have decided to rather fly back home from Bermuda to miss the rough ride home must say think that was a wise decision and wish it was an option for us too. So, we will see what tomorrow holds for us.

29 March 2024: @SEA

Was good to open the porthole after 2 solid days closed in and let the sunlight in. Our trip back has been very bumpy and we have spend our 2 days crab walking again, for those that get seasick it must be really scary  I have been feeling a bit queasy at times, and even had a bad headache was told that it has to do with the middle ear and rocking of the ship for had a lot of complaints from the crew also having headaches so must be truth to that.

Today was a better day with some sunshine and flatter seas so after breakfast I went for a walk and sat outside on deck 7 for a while, enjoying the sunshine like a lot of other passengers before they return to the cold New York. Was good to be outside again. My bags are packed, and I am ready for disembarkation tomorrow morning early, then I take the bus to JFK and the long wait begins before my flight tomorrow night at 23h00.

It is easter weekend so am expecting a busy airport, can only give in my suitcases 3 hours before our flight so will be dragging them around all day long unless I decide to hand them in for a while, but will decide tomorrow. Then it is the long flight to Dubai that is nearly 13 hours, after that is an 8-hour layover at the airport before we then board for the next 8 hours 10 min flight to Johannesburg.

Layover in Johannesburg is 5 hours and land in Port Elizabeth at 17.40 on Tuesday evening So get off the ship on Sunday morning in New York and only get home on Tuesday evening so think am going to be very tired but happy to be HOME!

So, bye, for now until next time

God Bless

 

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