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There were so many things I missed on our Costa Cruise. 

·        I missed the towel art.  Even though I may have Useen the swan more times that I can remember, it is always something I looked forward to each evening.

·         I missed the fresh flowers in the prominent areas.

·         I missed our cabin steward knowing our names – small thing but I remember Good morning, Eileen, Good morning April in a quiet voice…it always brought a smile.

·         I missed hearing the captain make some announcements – never actually knew if he was on board or not.  Only ever saw pictures of him on the special nights (but I think it was really Pee Wee  Herman)

·         I missed Name that Tune.

·         I missed the daily puzzles that are posted in the library.

·         I missed North American style meals.

·         I missed sheets and blankets (they use a duvet with a cover).

·         I missed having watermelon.

·         I missed having an atlas in the library or any decent reading material for that matter.

On the plus side of things – and more importantly…The best part of the adventure for me was:

meeting some wonderful new friends  with whom we shared so many laughs and experiences.  As there were only the 30 or so of us that were English as a first language, we formed a close community.  My feeling is that this made the Costa Atlantic crossing so special.  I did converse with people from other countries using the small bits of French and German mixed with English and we could talk about basic things – but only because their command of English exceeded my weak attempts at communication in their language.  This was never was the same as the easy association that I could fall into with the folks that made up our unique and small community.  It made this rather large cruise ship seem much smaller and more intimate.

So, would I recommend a Costa Cruise?  Probably not – although the price was unbeatable – had we been able to get to the 3 ports that we missed, it would have been a greater adventure.  Am I glad I took this trip?  Of course.  There was still lots to learn and enjoy.  For instance I learned that 6.5 days in a row at sea is way too much.  I learned that I didn’t get seasick on really rough seas.  I learned that having a southern gentleman at your dining table say the word “Charleston” is a wonderful thing and forever I will remember the timbre of Bob’s voice and the musical laugh of his lovely wife, Kathy.   It was a grand time!

 

GRAND TURK

Last port of call today, Grand Turk.  Looks as though we are just going to go ashore and shop or find the internet somewhere where it is free and I can sit with a drink and catch up with blogs and mail and and and…

So there wasn’t much to see around the island, but it is soooo flat.  We did go into the small capital city of Cockburn Town and shopped or rather looked around at the little shacks full of souvenir stuff and some other clothing items.  Some were clearly labeled made in India or made in China.  We stopped at a roadside restaurant and had some conch fritters.  Oh my, they were delicious!  To describe the taste I think is that they are a milder clam taste.  Glad I was able to sample that new-to-me food.  After we were finished in town, we took a cab back to the harbour and now I have parked myself in Margaritaville to have some beer and taco salad and put up 2 days worth of blog entries.  Then I had the wrong time and ended up going back to the ship an hour early so I didn’t get them posted.  Now I need to buy a bit more time.  Maybe I can win it back at blackjack tomorrow.

So there really wasn’t much on Grand Turk, but man if a tsunami comes through, I think most of the island is at or below sea level.  There would be nothing left.  Its real claim to fame seems to be that the space capsule bringing John Glenn back to earth landed in the ocean very near here.  I think I hear 18 miles off the coast mentioned.  There is a replica of the capsule and all the tours stop there for a picture.  Since it was on our way to town, our driver stopped so we could take a picture also.

So as ropes slip away from the dock and we pull out of the harbour, we are underway.  The ship’s horn blasts the last 3 times as we set course for Miami and so will end this cross Atlantic adventure. The weather, at times not perfect, was not totally unexpected.  Dublin seems such a long time ago.  One more day at sea and that means two more sleeps and we will home in our own beds.

BEACH DAY

A beach day happened today.  It seems that Costa has a beach on the small island of the Dominican Republic called Catalina Island.  We were tendered ashore and there were lots of beach chairs and waiting umbrellas and sun, sand and water just as expected.

It was a lovely day and such a great place.  Diana and I went about 10:30 and I stayed until about 1:30 and then came home.  Diana stayed a bit longer before catching the tender back to the ship.  While ashore at this lovely spot, I even ventured in the water for a chance to get wet.  The water was wso clear and so refreshing, but with the strong sun, I didn’t want to risk getting burnt.  As it was, I did get some colour even in the brief time that I wasn’t in the shade all day.

There were some vendors at the beach, so I had a chance to practice my bargaining skills once again.  I remember how well I did the first time Peter and I had gone to Punta Cana in the Dominican when we procured the rather large picture that is above the stairs.  Well, it seems I can still get a price I am happy to pay.  I just didn’t have any cash so I was on my way back to the ship to get some cash from the room when I came across Bob and Cathy, our dinner companions.  Bob had money and is now my new best friend.  His money was all wet as he had been in the water, so I carefully peeled off a $20 and 5 x $1 and then went back to the stall to collect my “winnings”. 

At dinner tonight, our waiter made a bird out of a napkin.  (It brought back a good memory of Brian being done up like Lady Liberty.)  Anyway, he had just brought Bob his dessert, then grabbed his serviette and went to work folding, rolling and poking.  Then right before our eyes was a cute little bird.  We all applauded his talent, until Bob went to eat his dessert and then stated that the artwork, although clever, left him without his napkin for the rest of his dinner.  It was a good laugh all around! 

TORTOLA

 

We had to tender into Road Town, Tortola today and it was another beautiful day.  We didn’t have a plan while ashore, so $15.00 to ride the open taxi bus around the island for 2 hours sounded like a wonderful idea.  We were taken all around the shores and overtop of the hills that make up this rather small island.  We had a stop at Cane Garden Bay – one of the most popular beaches.  We didn’t see the long expansive beaches that we saw on Antigua, but still the fine sand, beautiful azure waters and large palms.

There are lots of chickens walking around everywhere.  It seems strange.  I imagine there is a huge offering of chicken on the menus in the Tortola restaurants.  Haven’t seen any cats around, but lots of dogs.  Don’t think there is a spay and neuter programme on the island either.  All of the male dogs that I have seen are intact and they clearly have no leash laws.  The animals don’t seem to be a problem, they just wander around minding their own business.

Christmas has definitely come to the Caribbean Island and the trees that we have seen certainly have different decorations that we are used to seeing at home.  Starfish and shells are predominant and looking quite lovely on their trees.  We were able to enjoy some shopping and a drink while we had our 45 minute stop.  I had a rum drink called a Pain Killer.  Yes it was aptly named.  Perhaps not a drink to be had before lunch…but we are definitely on Island time and it was delicious.  Then back on the bus and back to Road Town.  We were able to walk around town for a bit and see the few stores that were open on a Sunday.  I was surprised – usually when a ship is in port, the day of week doesn’t matter.  There are merchants ready to take whatever dollars are willing to be spent by the tourists.  Different here, there were very few stores open – but enough to poke around in before it was time to catch the tender back to the ship. 

All in all it was a good day.  Back on the ship, I had some luck at a machine in the casino.  I won 80 euros on the Pegasus Machine!  So glad for that win.  I hadn’t spent much overall, but the machines were not even giving a trickle back.  To have this amount go back on the account, gets me back to even for the gambling I have done!  Now if only I could win enough to take care of the WiFi.
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So tomorrow we are having a beach day at the island beach on Catalina Island off the coast of the Domican Republic.  Not sure how long I will last there, but if there is shade and a cold drink I really want to at least get wet in the warm Caribbean Sea.

ANTIGUA

Finally terra firma – Hello Antigua!  We began our day with 2 other couples and a negotiated taxi tour of the island.  It was wonderful.  The language of the island is English and our drive spoke it well.  It was interesting at times when he would roll down the window and talk to a local and the patois between the two of them was impossible to understand.  Our tour was $20 each and was money well spent.  Even adding a tip still made it cheaper than any ship excursion, and I believe that we were able to see more this way.

 

Our tour began at 10:00 and finished around 1:30.  We visited the Interpretive Centre for a short presentation on the beginnings of Antigua.  It was very well done.  We drove to some wonderful view spots and took a few pictures of the stunning scenery.  I don’t think that any pictures do justice to the beautiful azure blue of the Caribbean Sea.  To look out over the water and see the colours first hand as the waves come up and wash onto the beige sandy beaches – well it is definitely the stuff that inspires novels, paintings and romance….well novels and paintings anyway…

After our taxi tour was over, we ventured into the town.  We had lunch at a little restaurant called Hemingway’s and sampled the local beer.  The consensus was that it was a very good beer, but this it was also a very hot day.  You know you are on a cruise when you spot a Diamonds International or a Del Sol store and the various other jewelry, sunglass, perfume, watch aAnd t-shirt stores that line the main street.  It is always fun to poke in and out of each one to see just what they are selling.  If it is t-shirts and the like, there is bargaining that can be done.  If it is jewelry you are looking for, sometimes you can work a deal but it is definitely harder to negotiate with those people.  They must have worked their way up from t-shirts and beads by being somewhat ruthless.  They instantly pull out a scale and a calculator – tools to show you what the weight is and the price and believe me nothing seems like a bargain when you are talking gold, diamonds, tanzanite (yes it’s here also) and emeralds.  Yah – t-shirts and handicrafts seem to be my comfort zone. 

We are in another port tomorrow, Tortola – so we will see what that day brings.

JUST SOME WORDS

Sitting here with bright sunshine, warm temperatures and calm seas….finally a reminder of just why I thought it would be nice to be away in November.  Now that it is December though, I find I am thinking of home.  Course I can’t do much else other than think when surrounded by endless seas – I imagine this is how Noah felt except without the sunshine. One of my lunch mates saw a seagull today.  You have to wonder where the heck he came from and is going to.  We are at least two days sailing from land in any direction and we are moving at a good clip.  Costa TV says we are traveling at 20 knots.  I asked her if she was sure it wasn’t a dove with a branch in its beak.   

Well, that was a few days ago but then I had nothing else to say.  Now we are at our last day at sea and we are due to arrive in Antigua at 8:00 tomorrow morning.  I’m sure there will be shouts of “land ahoy!” reverberating around the deck.  I know I am not alone is saying I am sure looking forward to seeing something other than water.  Our deck even has a crusting of salt that I hope will be removed once we are in port.  The first few bad weather days, the spray was incredible and then the residual sea salt has stayed ever since. 

We crossed the tropic of Cancer the other day and certificates were given to us to commemorate the event.  I never knew that crossing over was an auspicious occasion….but I have the certificate to prove it.  They actually had free tequila drinks to celebrate up on the pool deck.  In the dining room for the evening meal they had a special menu.  Alas, it wasn’t the crab or lobster dinner some were hoping for.  The meals are adequate, but they are not special and most are definitely Italian based.  Their idea of beef is nowhere close to what we are accustomed to in North America.  They serve lots of different varieties of fish and yesterday I had a piece of salmon that was quite delicious.  Often there is veal or chicken and those are pretty safe bets.  Their idea of al dente pasta is just a minute amount of time in the boiling water so that it can’t be confused with being called crunchy.  Then give you a fork and spoon, but it barely bends so twirling it gracefully around the fork is not happening.  Better to give everyone a steak knife to cut it.

The ship has begun to decorate for Christmas with tacky decorations.  The artificial trees they are putting around the ship remind me of the ones that were popular in the 60’s that had about 15 branches of green bristle brush pushed into holes that were drilled in a 6 foot piece of 1.5” green painted dowel.  The garlands festooned around the main staircase are of the same era and the bows definitely could use replacing.  Christmas carols have begun to resonate in the lounges and some of the staff are sporting Santa hats.  I think they should have let us finish our cruise before opening up the dusty old Christmas decoration boxes.

FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC

There is not much happening during the day - or the evening for that matter, on the at sea days on Costa….and we have 6 in a row.  We have made it through 2 and still have 4 more to go.  I usually go to the quiz in the morning – my efforts at answering the questions are abysmal (don’t think I have ever used that word before in a written piece).  When I look in the thesaurus, it says terrible, awful, dreadful, appalling, bad – very bad – and even extremely bad.  I would say that it is a more than adequate word to describe how poorly I do on the quiz.  I usually get the 2 or 3 easy ones (what was the name of the cartoon written by Charles Schultz or who was the King of Rock and Roll who got his start in 1950).  They throw those in so that every player can get 1 right.  Each day, however, back I go again to see just how poor my general trivia knowledge is.  I have given up writing my answers down on any sheet I just nod knowingly, trying to look intelligent as each question is asked and then pretend to be so engrossed in my e-reader to participate….oops tomorrow I better turn my e-reader on.

I have gone to the arts and crafts only to get up and leave before doing the craft that is offered.  I don’t think these people have heard of pinterest.  Surely they could come up with something that is interesting for adults to do.  The Christmas card offering the other day consisted of a piece of folded coloured paper, with glitter glue and some ancient stickers.  Give me a break!  Then came the bookmark – same paper, cut into strips with felts and cut outs.  Arghhhhh.  I did make a beaded bracelet that would do for hopscotch (for all you 50+ you know what I’m talking about) and tomorrow, the craft is called – Make your Carnival Costume – yah you won’t see me making that one either.  I will however, go take a peek and report back on just what it was.

I have become quite a fan of the art in the stairwells.  I am attempting to go up and down the stairs a couple of times each day.  They are very fanciful and a joy to look at.  There is no accredited artist for any of the pieces, but I sure enjoy them.  I went around today and took some pictures – there is nothing outside but water for days and days so may as well use my camera for something. 

The sea has calmed down a lot – we were under “heavy seas” for 2½ days.  It was really tossing us around.  The temperatures haven’t been the best either….for a trip that looked promising, it has held a few surprises for us that are due to the time of our travel.  I see that the temperature in Antigua is 26 C so we will certainly warm up in the next 4 days – it has to!  We haven’t had days to sit outside since Marseille.  Tonight I see that the temperature is 18 degrees, and that is as high as we have seen it yet.  The days we had the heavy seas, the promenade deck was closed.  You could still go outside on the deck with the walking track, but the winds were fierce.  They registered 60 – 80 km on the ship’s channel. 

So, tomorrow is another day.  This will be the third night in a row that we have gone back 1 hour.  As we cross the Atlantic and move closer to Eastern Standard Time.  It seems so funny to have an extra hour of sleep every night.  There are lots of times I think any of us would enjoy that other than at daylight savings, but this is a treat for sure…but wait a minute, doesn’t that make our 6 days crossing actually longer?  Crap – you bet it does!