Thought I should put Mount Pleasant on the map! Let’s start at the very beginning...

Whoooo hoooo \240I just paired my new Bluetooth keyboard to my iPad and this is so much easier now! Look out - I might just get a little more verbose...

Weekend packing update: Mike got the snorkeling and fishing stuff packed as well as most of his dress shirts, shoes, and our traveling pharmacy. A couple of my clothing items got voted off the island, to make room for something new that I’m surely going find and to want to bring home with me. I replaced one of my favorite sweaters that didn’t make the cut with a new one just like it, and I picked up a beautiful pink cashmere wrap.

O.M.Gosh this is happening! Hey World here we come!

So apparently folks in Atlanta dance like our son, Geoff!

On the way to L.A. I was thinking some quality entertainment would be nice and Mike found this..as if he said, ‘as you wish’ 😂

Our overnight in L.A. was almost as brief as this dance move! 😉

Waiting for shuttle!

On the Crystal Serenity!

First day at sea. Starting to recover from yesterday’s unpacking which almost undid me. 😬 So thankful that we only do that once...a real incentive to travel this way. The staff promised me that today would be better and it is. Whew. And...We’re already smarter because bridge class is soooo good! One side note...if we’re gonna rock I would prefer a chair or loud music...just sayin.

Sadly, one of our fellow passengers is in need of some significant medical attention, so we are in the process of making a big detour to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The passengers are all very understanding, of course, knowing that anyone would want the same treatment for their loved one.

We had our first formal night last night and I’ll post a pic or two from that, (you won’t see my shoes because the first pair got put into timeout after dinner... ha) I’ll also include a video of what really fun dancing looks like! This cruising couple wins the contest hands down thus far!

Tip of the day - if you don’t like waking up early, just keep heading west - morning gets pushed an hour later each day!

Now I’m off to the spa....

Still in the North Pacific due to our detour but today it feels like we’re smooth-sailing with warm ocean breezes. Absolutely perfect.

Mike’s favorite soup in the whole world. Even when we have no idea where in the world we are! 😂

Happy Birthday Sean! Tell Wrigley not to worry. 🥰 Love and miss you!

Good morning!

I think we are still barely in the North Pacific but not for much longer. It has warmed up a lot and sure feels like summer now. Mike won the first table tennis challenge but it was a good match. For me, any time I can be outside playing a racquet sport rather than in the gym it’s a win. If you know us at all you know that I hate the gym almost as much as Mike loves it.. So even if I never win a challenge (pffff) I still win. Next time it will be a win-win! 😉 There are lots of folks who like paddle tennis on the ship also, which is great! We had a little tropical rain today, though, so those courts were wet. I have to do something to burn some calories or...well it would be ugly. Mike works out at 0530 every morning while I’m still dreaming! Bridge continues to be amazing, and we are in class for two hours a day on sea days. (Every day has been a sea day so far.) We’ve met some lovely folks...some of whom are going all the way to Rome with us, some who are leaving in Papeete or other stops. The ship, the staff, the food, and the service are just as great as we remembered, so all is absolutely wonderful. Of course we are broken-hearted as we read terribly sad news (Kobe forever in our hearts,) and worrisome news (seriously go away Coronavirus!) But right now it would simply be wrong for us to miss this opportunity to enjoy our days, so we must.

This morning I want to kind of capture the events of yesterday. Not because they were anything mind-blowing or extaordinary, as compared to other days at sea on this beautiful ship, but simply to help me remember how wonderful even just one day can be. It would be cool if you all could see the other gazillion activity options that we didn’t choose...maybe I’ll snap a pic of the activities schedule and include it. Anyway, Mike woke up early as usual and was finished with his workout by 6:30 or so, after which he stopped by the cafe and picked up some coffee. I woke up around 0700 and called Pavel, our butler, to let him know that I was ready for my breakfast tea with hot milk. So the morning began, as usual. Then we went to breakfast upstairs, which we enjoy even while avoiding the decadent stuff. Mostly fruit for me and an egg-white omelette for Mike. At 10:00 we attended the advanced beginner bridge class and sat with the same lovely ladies that we serendipitously met the first day...Joyce and Gail. \240Yesterday we were studying responding to minor bids and communicating with attitude. Then we stayed for the intermediate class, where we learned about defensive leads in the middle of the hand... called BOSTON. After bridge we ran upstairs and watched the traditional fish-kissing ceremony at the crossing of the equator. (Look up pollywogs and shellbacks.) Soon we were in shorts and tees and played paddle tennis, both singles and doubles, for over two hours. Then we were hungry again and grabbed a light lunch and sauvingon blanc, followed by showers and naps! We chose the main dining room for dinner, which was absolutely perfect, and then we went to the show, where were mesmerized by an indescribably talented violinist and entertained by a hilarious comedian. We resisted the urge to play blackjack or some version of poker and headed back for much deserved sleep.

I promise not to give you these kinds of details very often, but felt that it might help answer the question that we often get from folks...’how do you not get bored?’ One would simply have to try to be bored, I think.

Tomorrow we arrive into our very first port called, Nuku Hiva, in French Polynesia, and tomorrow night we need to adjust our clocks by 30 minutes. Whaaaat? You can’t make this stuff up.

I am all too aware of how slow these posts are to update. I wish I could fix it, but everyone on the ship is sharing the satellite WiFi, and turtle speed would be welcome right now. I think we’re at glacier speed. Hopefully eventually you’ll get this.

Ahoy matey Land Ho!!

The worst day in Bora Bora is still better than the best day in....yep...anywhere 😉 The story here is day two of cancelled tours. Our jet skiing didn’t happen yesterday and this morning catamaran and snorkeling didn’t happen. We’re barely hopeful for a noon attempt, because the forecast is trying to rain on our parade. But don’t feel too sorry for us. I’m on our veranda and this is my terrible view. Meanwhile, our fall back plan for this afternoon is Super Bowl LIV on the big screens. Not a bad back up.

😆 okay never mind...how about the best day in Bora Bora?

Obviously the weather improved!

Yes. We swam with stingrays and sharks. 😬 The sharks were not real big but there were lots of them and they were sharks! Completely bonkers. But the rays were so sweet and friendly and soft. And the sharks didn’t bite anyone. Yay. Meanwhile...the clear, blue-green water. Just like in the travel magazines. Incredible.

We made it back to the ship in time to see the last (and arguably the best) nine minutes of the Super Bowl.) Congratulations to the KC Chiefs!

Well the good news is that we’ve been having so much fun that I’m behind on my journal. Well, also these posts aren’t visible to anyone yet, which has been discouraging. But I must believe that one day they will sync. So I press on...

The past three days in French Polynesia have included tender boats, catamarans, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays and sharks, laughing with new friends, going to shows, riding through rivers and downpours, seeking out waterfalls, taking lots of pics and videos, \240continually receiving, ‘good morning,’ ‘good afternoon,’’ ‘good evening,’ ‘may I get you anything,’ etc., etc., with heartfelt smiles from staff, taking the stairs every chance we get, eating, sipping (sounds so much more sophisticated than drinking-ha,) working out, (okay that’s just Mike, but I considered not falling out of the 4wheel drive vehicle today a work out 😉), and one amazing nap on a cabana sofa near the pool. \240#runonsentencesareawesome

Just driving around in Tahiti 😂

Well I suppose if you’re going to miss an entire day of your life, it may as well be a Monday, right? Today is Sunday, February 9, and because we cross the international date line tonight, tomorrow is Tuesday, February 11! How crazy is that?

Meanwhile... these six people had just eaten more sushi than should be legal when David said something so funny that the instant, synchronized, outrageously loud, raucous laughter erupted like Mount Vesuvius and flowed for a solid hour, followed by another hour of small outbursts, chuckles, and suppressed giggling. I feel sure that the six of us are bound together for life by this hilarious accident and if you know me at all, you know that in my opinion this is serious business, because.... FUN MATTERS!!! (Thankfully it’s was late and the only other humans who had to suffer the obnoxious six of us were the staff.) I would try to tell you the joke but it just hardly ever works, so just remember a time when you and your friends were snorting and falling out of your chairs and you get it.

Today is Saturday, February 8. I had to look it up, no kidding. I woke up this morning as we were approaching Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands. After much debate we had agreed to go on a hike in the rainforest, but just after Mike snapped a little photo of the island from our balcony, the captain’s voice came over the speakers explaining that we would not be anchoring, because the swells were too rough for the tender boats. So off we went for three more days at sea! Thankfully for us, we have lots of days and lots of stops and we truly enjoy our days at sea. The bridge instructors whipped up some great stuff, and by 10:00 AM we were sitting with our friends, the Jacobsons, discussing what do do with the cards in front of us.

It appears that I haven’t posted any pictures for a few days, so here goes!

Look who was hiding on our balcony this morning! Far away from land, we don’t know how she came to be there. \240For me it was love at first sight. \240I named her Brownie and we were quick friends. But alas she had to be rescued by the staff and I have since vowed to avoid duck consumme 😱😬😉

Valentines Day in Fiji was fabulous! The weather was everything from hot and sunny to pouring rain and we loved every minute of it as we sailed and snorkeled. The hosts managed to cook a delicious lunch and served us wine while we sang along with the guitarist playing Beatles songs.

Bulla! And Welcome to Fiji!

Our wonderful captain, Birger Vorland

We’re in New Zealand!!! 😀Today we explored a cave with glow worms, visited the most photographed toilets in the world and ate lunch with friends outdoors in 75 degree temperatures. This. Is. Amazing. And we have more events with friends planned for this evening because some of them are leaving us tomorrow in Auckland 😢 How wonderful to make such fun and meaningful friendships, though. Just think... we didn’t even know each other a few weeks ago and now there will likely be tearful goodbyes 😊

Hello Auckland!!

After years of exciting anticipation, it was difficult to maintain an aloof aura as we found our seats on the coach. I believe that it would be nearly impossible to exaggerate the number of times my immediate family has read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, watched the movies, listened to the soundtracks, read the fan-based discussions, watched the extended editions, and otherwise gobbled up any additional information obtainable pertaining to the books by JRR Tolkien, and the movies bringing them to life by Peter Jackson. Yet, here we were in Tauranga, New Zealand and on our way to the movie set of Hobbiton, the land of the hobbits... the shire....a fictitious place, to be sure, but very real in our hearts. It was the home of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippen, and Rosie Cotton, and where we met our favorite wizard, Gandalf, who led us through an extraordinary adventure full of wonderful and terrible choices and extreme emotions. This was the place where it all began – where life was simple and good, and the place we all identified simply as ‘home.’ Even though Hobbiton was not meant for humans, for each home was actually just a hole in the ground, after all.

Napier, New Zealand! Art Deco Feetival!

Napier- day two- Hawks Bay Area wine tasting. We liked the wines from Craggy Range.

Wellington! We went to the Weda workshop and learned a lot about the creativity behind the scenes of some of our favorite movies, including LOTR, Avatar, Chronicles of Narnia, and tons more. \240Very interesting! They are currently working on Avatar 2!

We have a note! (Cue Phantom of the Opera music)

I promise to go back and highlight some of the days between Wellington and now...including a disappointing day of fishing, while barely making back to the ship on time, a long ride to and from Middle Earth, wine tastings in Marlborough, weathering over 100 knot winds and huge swells at sea, more great bridge lessons, delicious meals on the ship, dressing up, sleeping in (only me, of course,) hair appointments, dreamy spa treatments... and the updates...and more updates...and changes to the itinerary, including missing Doubtful and Dusky sounds and Hobart, and then getting to see breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound...and more updates, including learning that we would not be going anywhere in Asia. The Coronavirus, although not physically on our ship, was going to have her way. Then the new itinerary, which would add more of Australia and lots more days at sea before making only one stop in India...in Mumbai. It was nobody’s fault, but the folks at Crystal offered to let us bail in Sydney. So... what to do? That was the million dollar question.

There and back again...

Hello Sydney!!

Three years ago we were on a fantastic voyage on our favorite ship, the Crystal Serenity, (yep the same one!) We traveled from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires via Antarctica, and on sea days, we decided to try to learn bridge. By God’s good grace we were seated with David and Auriol, a delightful couple from Jersey. They were so patient with us, and the next thing we knew we were not just bridge friends, we were friends. Here’s a happy memory from February 2017

The Serenity stayed docked at Circular Quay until yesterday evening. Mike and I both got sad as we waved good-bye to our friend, Mary Ann, who waved back from her balcony on deck eleven. We wish her and her husband, Carlton, happy and healthy travels as they carry on.

We said good-bye to our friends and to our ship and in a few hours we will bid Sydney and Australia a fond farewell. This part of our journey is coming to an early end, so the name of the journey had to change too. It no longer made sense to keep the title, ‘L.A. to Rome in 89 days.’ I think if we tried to entitle the chapters of our lives ahead of time, we would be constantly erasing and starting over. For example, when I was an 18 year-old music major at Marietta, College, I had no idea that five years later I would be graduating from nursing school and already married to a guy I had never heard of at that point!

Sydney has been a delightful surprise, even with the uncommon late summer rains. We will definitely want to come back here.