Cruising Past Seventy: The Inner Journeys: February 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

OLA: Cruising to the Bahamas, Part 1


Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas docked at Nassau, Bahamas

cruise ship terminals at the Port of Miami
Last Christmas my children gifted us with a special cruise to the Bahamas called ‘The Husker’ Cruise 2012’, organized for the Corn Huskers, University of Nebraska’s football t’s fascination with football comes from his high school days when he was a certified jock, captain of his HS’s  football team in Pittsburg, Kansas. On his first job at Caterpillar, he was moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where all of his children were born. While he was there, the Huskers were the national champions. As a first time cruise, it was special for Bill! As for me, I am trying to find out how cruises fit into our cruising lifestyle! 
checking in at Terminal G
Day 1, Friday, February 24, Departure from Miami
Bill and I got up at 5:30 AM to move the RV to the Orlando Thousand Trails storage area. Then we drove to the Port of Miami (4 hours).  Embarkation was efficient and a huge luncheon buffet was waiting for us at the Windjammer of the Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. As soon as we set sail at 4:30 PM, a Muster Drill (we were muster 11) was held to instruct everyone on how to proceed as soon as we hear the loud horn that signals an imminent sea mishap.

Sail Away Party at poolside and VIP Crown lounge
The Sail Away Party for the Huskers group was at the VIP Crown Lounge above the pool deck where the general party was being held. We were next treated to good laughs at the Comedy Show of Steve Bruner at the Chorus Line Theater.  An excellent formal dinner was served at the Starlight Dining Room but we were too tired for Disco with the Seas Macho Men (a la Village People). Unfortunately, we were also too late for the Open Mic Karaoke. So off we went to bed, our day had been long, and we dock at 8 am.

Majesty from the tender Bill rode to go party at CocoCay
Day 2, Saturday, February 25, Arrival at CocoCay, Bahamas
the Majesty, her island, and her passengers
CocoCay is the beach island of the Royal Caribbean. Too bad  I woke up to a terrible flare-up of hives so I spent the morning in our ocean view stateroom, hoping that they will be gone the next day when we go shopping and sight-seeing at Nassau, capital of the Bahamas. Bill brought me lots of fruits from the breakfast buffet and then he took off for the autograph signing session of the Huskers’ greats. After that, he rode a tender to take pictures at the island for this post. There he was rewarded with lots of barbecue and grills for a picnic lunch.

International Belly Flop Contest
Back at the Majesty, I finally mustered the energy to go to Windjammer for the great buffet of afternoon snacks. Then we witnessed an International Belly Flop Competition at the pool, won by a Husker great after which we proceeded to the Husker Talk at Spectrum Lounge, thinking that it would be the Football 101 class I had so wanted to attend so I can better appreciate the game. It turned out to be Nostalgia talk. They all had a good time though, and so did Bill. So I spent my time at the $10 Sale at the Shops and found a silver party bracelet!
Captain's Welcome Reception
At 8 PM was the traditional Welcome Reception by the Captain at the Chorus Line. Many women and some men dressed up for the occasion. But since I had to wear loose clothes so the hives don’t get aggravated, I was unusually underdressed! The Norwegian captain informed us that the Majesty is Ship of the Year in the Royal Caribbean suite of 22. There were 2,216 passengers from 46 countries (1,800+ Americans, 60+ Canadians and the rest, South Americans topped by Ecuadorians) and 852 crew members (his Executive Housekeeper and 253 others are Filipinos). Another formal dinner at 9 and the thoroughly entertaining Randy Cabral Juggling and Comedy Show at 11 PM capped our night.

downtown Nassau as seen from Majesty's Deck
Carol and the Constable in front of the Straw Market on Bay St. 
Day 3, Feb 26, Arrival at Nassau
The third day began with a full breakfast buffet at 8. By 10 we were strolling down Bay Street, main thoroughfare of downtown Nassau. We shopped at the Straw Market, famous for affordable crafts of the Bahamians where I found a loose but stylish dress, Bill found a magnet for our collection and a visor and ball cap for us. It was also thrilling to find Little Philippines Restaurant (there are about 400 Filipinos in Nassau)where we shared a much-missed pancit bijon. Then we visited the oldest church, Church Cathedral, nearby and the oldest of three forts, Fort Charlotte. 
Christ Church Cathedral
Fort Charlotte
............to be continued next week.....

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Making a Miami Getaway on Valentine's Day OLA


beachfront of our hotel, Newport Beachside Resort Hotel in Miami
For Christmas we were at Treasure Island on Tampa Bay Beaches so we decided to spend Valentine’s Day at the Newport Beachside Resort in Sunny Isles, Florida just north of South Beach and other Miami beaches. We have been to most major Florida cities, Orlando, St. Augustine, Ft. Myers, Tampa, and Key West, but we hadn’t had the chance to explore the Miami mystique. We wanted to discover what makes Miami the top travel destination it is.

the spa lounge
Newport Beachside Resort
Our brief getaway for Valentine’s 2012 proved to be a unique experience. Our hotel is right on the beach with a most charming view of the Atlantic Ocean. The palapas on the white sands below are even more inviting than the glistening blue pool and sizzling hot tub. But the best facility of the hotel is its exquisite spa with a strong seductive aroma. There are also a fitness center and salon, the 5-star Kitchen 305 and hearty breakfast buffet at the dining hall each morning.

preparations at the beach
South Beach
high-rise condos along the coast
But even if these facilities are top class we spent most of our time out in the bright winter sun. First we wanted to breathe the easy lifestyle of South Beach at the southernmost tip of the barrier islands off Miami. We drove through Collins Avenue with its famous high-rise condos and hotels on the beachfront and the specialty and tourist shops, chancing upon a huge exhibition of boats, ships, and yachts on the Marina. On Ocean Drive the sidewalk cafes were filled with happy people while meandering to the beaches were lots of scantily-clad beauties. And a beehive of preparation for the night’s festivities was on.

South Beach sidewalk cafes
Port of Miami
the freedom Tower across the Port
Next we drove through the MacArthur Causeway (southernmost of 5) that connected South Beach to downtown Miami, spotting the little islands (Hibiscus, Star, Jungle, etc.) that are home to Miami’s millionaires (others are on Millionaire’s Row of high-rise condos along Miami’s coastline). At Biscayne Boulevard that parallels Collins on the mainland, beside the Port of Miami, is the famous Bayside Marketplace but since we will be here when we go on our Cruise in two weeks, we postponed the shopping. We simply stood in awe of the Freedom Tower, symbol of the wave of Cuban immigration into the US from the tumultuous Cuban revolution.

colorful residential homes
Little Havana
So we spent Valentine’s Day in Little Havana, undoubtedly the best known neighborhood for Cuban exiles in the world, characterized by a robust street life, excellent restaurants, cultural activities, mom and pop enterprises, political passion, and great warmth amongst its residents.   About 20,000 households thrive in the many blocks around Calle Ocho (SW 8th St.) from SW 11th to 37th.  Bill loved his Cuban espresso and sweet potato pudding for afternoon snacks at Versailles. Then we sampled authentic Cuban goods (dominoes, roosters, hats, etc.) at Sentir Cubano whose mural proudly declares, Miami, the 7th province! 
mural at Sentir Cubano declaring the city Cuba's 7th ptovince...
Casa Panza
@ Casa Panza's sidewalk bar table
Thus we decided to cancel our reservation at Kitchen 305 for our Valentine dinner and looked for a tapas y tintos (Spanish appetizers and wine) bar instead. On a sidewalk between intersections of SW 25th and 26th Avenues, in front of Casa Panza was a throng of people around a man who was making Valentines stuff with palm fronds.  It was nice to know that part of his earnings go to St. Gabriel Catholic Parish in West Palm Beach, Florida. Bill happily ordered three roses for the most unique, long-lasting, and for a good cause Valentines flowers! I was a happy girl!

our Valentine platter and my unique roses
So we perched ourselves at one of Casa Panza’s sidewalk bar tables and ordered the platter of jamon Serrano, chorizo Espanol, queso Manchego, and aceitunes with a glass of house wine. We watched the unique lifestyle unfold before our eyes: bikers plying to and fro on the sidewalk between the restaurant and us. At the next table was the friendly Rafael, a friend of Gloria Estefan who makes Hibiscus Island her home, waiting for his daughter who was studying flamenco nearby.
   
Haiti's fight for freedom
Little Haiti
Back at the hotel, we continued our celebration sipping champagne while watching Blue Valentine and being what the world expects from two lovebirds.. The next day, before we went back to our home at the campground, we made a quick visit to Little Haiti. It was a more depressed neighborhood around a smaller group of street blocks at the northeastern corner of Miami. But the murals were bolder and more colorful. One that depicted the history of Haiti, especially their fight to freedom in 1804 caught our eyes.

Star Island with millionaires' homes and boats
We certainly discovered that the Miami mystique is the sum total of hot Atlantic beaches in winter, the rich and famous from the high-rise condos and island mansions, the easy-going lifestyle, and the vicarious sharing of Cuban and Haitian spirits! But our romantic getaway had to end and we have returned to the humdrum of our cruising lifestyle, getting ready for the cruise to the Bahamas, a gift from my children Trisha, Claudine, and April! Watch for that next post!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Chillaxin' at Peace River in Wauchula, Florida OLA


Carol, 63 & 115 lbs with Howard, 72, 108 lbs at his studio near his castle
Done with resolutions and the serious side of living! On with chillaxin’…chillin’ out and ...relaxin’…campin’ …at Peace River in Wauchula, Florida…

the Peace River in Wauchula...
The Peace River is a river in southwest Florida, 106 miles (171 km) long. U.S. Highway 17 runs near and somewhat parallel to the river for much of its course. It is a popular destination for fossil hunters who dig and sift the river gravel for shark teeth and other prehistoric mammal bones. A vital resource to the people in its watershed, today, it supplies six million gallons per day of drinking water to the people in the region.

the campground...
Our Thousand Trails campground on the Peace River was great for chillaxin’…until I found out that three alligators, the biggest being Stumpy at 9 feet, regularly kept us company. So I stayed mostly in the RV, watched a lot of TV, poured over tons of magazines borrowed from the library, cooked and baked, washed dishes and clothes, and did some writing, basically just keeping to myself and for once being hugely anti-social.

the gleaming Solomon's Castle
But once during this 2-week pause, we went on a sightseeing day trip arranged by the camp. In a caravan of about ten cars, first we all trooped to Solomon’s Castle in the city of Ona, Florida about 20 miles away. It is the home and galleries of internationally known artist and sculptor, 72 year old Howard Solomon, whose sense of humor and imagination soared through the grounds and echoed in our guide. The castle is big and shiny with a tower, stained glass windows and a moat. Built entirely by the hands of the artist, the gleaming exterior is made of the printing plates discarded by the local weekly newspaper.

the fish...that got away...
Within the castle are the family's living quarters, a stained glass studio, a main entrance hall, and the extensive galleries, exhibiting Solomon's "found object" sculptures from all kinds of recycled materials such as ‘The Fish who Got Away’, ‘Venus Updated’ who won the Nobel-ly Prize, and other hilarious thoughts and afterthoughts. There are more than 80 interpretations of stained glass windows. We were lucky to find Howard, all 108 pounds of him, at his workshop!
Boat in the Moat (that doesn't float)...

And just beside the castle is the 'Boat in the Moat' (which doesn’t float), a restaurant on the replica of a 60 foot 16th century Spanish galleon. There we had yummy pot roast and sweet apple crisp for lunch with new friends from Prince Edwards Island in Canada. They had seen the other side of the Castle and enjoyed the magnificent nature trails in the picturesque setting of Horse Creek on the castle grounds, beautifully designed by Peggy Solomon. This is truly one of Florida's most unique experiences. 

mounted 'airs above ground'
Then we all trooped to witness the beauty and grace of Herrmanns' Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City, Florida, also about 20 miles away. Founded in the 16th century for the exclusive use of the Hapsburg Royal family of Austria, the Royal Lipizzans are unquestionably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horses in the world. The pride of the Hapsburg Empire, the breed was first established by Archduke Charles at Lipizza (now part of Yugoslavia). Born black, they turn into beautiful white stallions by their 7th year.

the kick!
Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time. The Lipizzans in Florida came from those saved by General George Patton from the Russian advance during World War II. The celebrated escape was the subject of the Walt Disney movie, "Miracle of the White Stallions". Colonel Herrmann and his father, Colonel Ottomar Herrmann, Sr., assisted General Patton and smuggled the horses out from far behind enemy lines, riding at night and hiding by day.

the bow.....
Colonel Hermann and subsequent generations have created an American renaissance of the rare horses and continues the tradition of the art in the family’s 200 acre ranch. All ‘Airs above the Ground’, originally outlined by Xenophon the Greek, derive from defensive horsemanship created for war and predated the birth of Christ by some 400 years. These spectacular leaps and plunges were originally meant for use by mounted riders to inspire terror in the hearts of foot soldiers.

the castle grounds...
Solomon’s Castle and the Hermann’s Lipizzans are both a sight to behold! I was fortunate to have been mercifully extricated that day from my voluntary cave to rejoin human kind. What other adventures are waiting for me in this last leg of our trek through North America? I have to stay awake now to not miss a thing and bravely rise from my splendid stupor!

Monday, February 6, 2012

WOW: Transforming this Blog into a Book


My fifth and final resolution for 2012 is to write a book. 

When I retired about 8 years ago from the Philippine business landscape, I  wanted to teach some, cook some, paint some, and write some. Well, my report card shows that I passed! I taught in three Seattle learning institutions in 2006-2008, married Bill in 2008 and have cooked  our meals since (I am so glad Bill eats anything!), and have sustained this blog for almost 2 years, satisfying my artistic bent with photography and my literary desires by thumping thousands of keystrokes on my laptop. Looking back, this cruising lifestyle has been just a shade less hectic than my driven years. And, I have 3 options for the future: continue this, truly retire, or try something even bigger!

A bigger idea is to transform this blog into a book! Now that we have some 2 months left in Florida, I might find the time to come to a decision point. After all, I already have about 160 pages written into this blog. I just have to find a good thread that will weave the posts and tie everything together. As I reviewed the books on RVing that are out in bookstores and Amazon, they all fall into 3 types: a compilation of adventures and commentary, a personal story, or a ‘how-to’ book. You cannot depend on me about how-to’s (Bill says my mechanical IQ hovers around 28) so which of the first two will it be?

Just Compile the Posts or Tell the Underlying Story?

There are many things unique about our situation that can be a springboard for good weaving. I am a late-age immigrant from 10,000 miles away here in America in a late-age marriage. We both retired from previously very driven lifestyles into the American RV community that is 95% white with many constraints: cozy living (115 to 350 square foot cozy), few sustained friendships, constant changes, no consistent health care or ministry and the distance of family.

Will a straight compilation of the two different kinds of posts in this blog (1) our lifestyle adventures, OLA, with the vivid descriptions of places, people, and activities and the 2) wonderings on wanderings, WOW, which are candid commentary on the cruising lifestyle be a workable thread? Will our unique perspective prove interesting for the melting pot of an American audience? Judging from the mild reception to this blog, it may not be good enough!

Or would adding the personal story that is going on behind the scenes be a better hook?  Does the excitement of RVing (seeing many interesting sites, learning about history, discovering great institutions, and good products, meeting interesting people, showing our children more of the country) compensate for the constraints of this lifestyle (health issues, immigration problems, emotional and social conflicts, financial constraints)?  Will it make or break our quest for a happily married life?

But even if the personal ups and downs will make the book very exciting, shall our personal problems be too uncomfortable for me to share?  More precisely, will Bill, a very private person, like my accounts of them? Do we have what it takes to write a book about the reality of our ongoing struggles behind the hoopla? The first option is definitely much easier to achieve! Maybe it should be somewhere in between!

Self-Publish or Seek a Publisher?

But the other dilemma is this: should I self-publish or seek out a publisher that will be willing to invest in the idea? Self-publishing will print a book faster but marketing will be more difficult. But then again, I really am not dreaming of producing a best-seller! Seeking a publisher requires patience and determination and may take months or years. But, then again, you get a lot of professional and expert advice and marketing from an established platform will be a lot easier. This is the decision point where I will be more stuck, I believe. It is a hard call to make.

Truly, this is one time that your comments shall be most appreciated! They may just get me unstuck!