We're still in New England

  We are still in Beverly which is next door to the witch city of Salem.  Salem also advertises itself as the Halloween Capital of the World and America's Most Bewitching Seaport.  Now there is lots of things to do in Salem.   It has a Witch Museum, Dracula's Castle, the Witch's Dungeon, a Spellbound Museum and it's very own city  witch, Laura Cabot.   A few weeks ago she was angry with the Salem Police and put a hex on them.  I think some of her potions has gone to her little pointed head.  http://www.lauriecabot.com/   While in Salem we attended the Salem Maritime Festival along Derby Street and the historic waterfront.  One of the first things we noticed was the new replica of the 1797  sailing vessel "Friendship".  It's a three-masted, square-rigged beauty.  The original Friendship helped Salem to become a leader in trade with the Far East in the years after the American Revolution.   Now if myths and monsters, vampires, witches,and magic potions are not your cup of tea, there's lots more to see and taste in Salem.  Stromberg's Restaurant is know for its fresh local seafood, "In A Pigs Eye" was voted best pub and everyone knows that Hobbs popcorn at  Salem Willows is the best.  I testify to all the above.   No visit to Salem would be complete without a visit to the House of Seven Gables, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Salem has what is considered one of the most significant collections of Hawthorne's original writings in the museum here.  I found out that he often got in trouble at college by gambling, his hair was often an unkempt mess and at times was so confused that he couldn't decide to spell his own name.  Today we would ask "What's he smoking?"    LOL

Now I won't bore  you with all the details of Boston.  I'm sure you will hear  all the interesting facts about it this coming week.  What you won't hear about is the high taxes and graft in Ma.   The Big Dig , a central artery project in Boston,  ( 1983)  has been called  the road to hell.  The price is now gone from 2.2 billion to 14.6 billion. and is still not finished .          I was watching some of the news about the  convention.  The security looks  like we are preparing for a war with all the gear they are wearing.  It's a sad time for us all.   While driving around here for the past few weeks I had forgotten the Massachusetts driver.  A breed  in itself.   Let me help you understand the rules of the road.    First we don't use directionals, keep them guessing is our motto.  A yellow light means that four more cars can go through and a red light, only two can proceed through.  We don't honk our horns as often as  New Yorkers, but we do give the offending drivers a one finger salute, which we wave  vigorously, while giving lip service to match.   Before I close today I must say that we haven't made it a practice of eating our way across the country, but we have made a good attempted and have come to the conclusion that New England has the best food.    That's it for now.    

Almost Over

Thursday  8th of July...   9AM, We are all off on  a five hour tour of the island.  It covered the entire length of the island and included a view of Bermuda's famous pink sand beaches.  The sand isn't really pink, but has some pink flakes in it, giving off a pinkish hue.  We stopped at the Gibbs lighthouse, Botanical Gardens and the Dockyard.  The dockyard was a military outpost in 1812, and was closed in 1951 when the US established a military presence 9on the island through its creation of two bases.  Since then, the 7 acre site has been renovated to accommodate museums, movie theatre, restaurants and shops.  We also saw the worlds smallest drawbridge.  It open just about 2 feet, just enough room for the mast of sail boats to get through.   We ended our day at the 50's Roick & Roll Sox Hop, just up our alley.   Friday....We are all so sad that this  our last day in Bermuda.  We must be back on the ship by 11:30AM.  Everyone scatters a different way, to the beach, shopping, or a horse-drawn carriage ride through the quaint streets.   It's our final hour to gather facts about  Bermuda and store away these memories forever.  We learn that there are only 5 or 6 wooden houses on the island, that there are strict rules haveing cement white roofs for water collection, that each family can only have one car, doctors can have two, there are only two gas stations here, Esso and Shell, both getting $5 a gallon.   The one thing that brightens our departure day is that tonight at the midnight hour there will be a "Chocoholic Buffet".   Saturday   10th...   The Chocolate buffet was attended by everyone on board.   It was held in one of the restaurants, so it moved along quickly.   Over 800 pounds of chocolate were eaten or in some cases inhaled!  They had made all kinds of  things of chocolate, whipped cream, sugar, cakes, fruit, candy.  It was a sugar high.    Saturday, reality began to sink in that we would be home when we woke up.  Boo hoo.   It was an awesome week with good friends and the staff on the Norwegian Cruise Line could not have been any better.  We received wonderful service in every area and could not think of one thing that they could improve on.     Our friends Steven and Sue and their children have rebooked their trip for Sept. and Carol and Mike who went with us, and are Steven's parents,  are going back with them.  Good for them.

We are there!!!!

Monday, July 5th....Today was spent on  a very calm sunny sea.  The sun decks were filled with chase lounges and sun worshipers, all sizes and shapes. 
About noon time Bob spotted the Coast Guard sailing ship "The Eagle".   With binoculars it was a spectacular sight with full sails.  We were on the look out for  it as we knew it had left Bermuda Saturday, July 3rd, heading for Boston. 

There are activities  from  the early morning walk to the after midnight shows.  This is the life.  Today we booked our shore excursions.  Between the seven of us, I think we covered almost everything offered.  We all did our own thing, meeting for breakfast when we could and dinner at 7pm.  

Today there was casino table and slot gaming lessons, smoothie tasting, Merengue dance class, and a contest for Mr. Sexy Legs.  I encouraged Bob to enter, but he didn't want to discourage the younger guys! Tonight's show was a sing and dancing revue, and a late night game show, "The Newlywed Not-so-Newlywed Game," really funny, with the audience being the contestants.    And if this wasn't enough for you, they had a 70's Night Funkalicious Groove Party   Tuesday 6th... One more  excuse for a "Welcome to St. George Party" while we wait for clearance by local officials before proceeding ashore. 

 We have reservation on the coral reef classic glass boat.  This was a relaxing cruise through the many small islands near St. George.  This was a fairly new boat with the owner/ Captain,  pointed out interesting sights and provided an entertaining commentary along the way.   The water is so clear that we were able to see giant brain coral, purple sea fans and a variety of colorful fish.  Pretty cool!  On the way back from the trip the Cpt. took us to visit a natural habitat of the sea turtle at St. Cathrine's Bay where the Hawk's Bill and Green turtles swim and live on the inner reef.  We saw several as they came to the surface for air. We  finished our first day here by attending an island night deck party.   

Wednesday 7th.. This morning we took a walk to St. George shopping area and through Kings Square.  In the evenings they often have bands  playing or show relating to the old stocks, whipping posts and ducking stool, which was used as punishment in the 1600s.  The  stocks were used for minor offences, but the ducking stool was reserved primarily for women convicted of "gossiping" and "nagging".  Good Grief.   What husband doesn't suggest that perhaps his wife nags, poor guys.  Anyway, in the afternoon we spent at St. Cathrine's beach.  Boy did I get a burn on my back.  The water was awesome in tempature and color. While we basted in the sun, Carol and Mike went on the  Peppercorn Helmet Dive and had a great adventure, leisurely strolling on a sandy bottom, amid the coral reefs and meeting up with colorful fish eye to eye.   This is a must  if we return to Bermuda again.  Lori and Larry went to Charles Island for some snorkeling.   This area is populated by schools of parrotfish and Bermuda chuds.  They took lots of underwater pictures and we are all looking forward to seeing them.. After a late night comedy show, we all were content to call it a day.  Busy day tomorrow.

Bermuda cruise

As we pulled out of Boston harbor, the band started playing OLE OLE, OLE OLE.  Now I would sing that for you but they tell me I can't sing.  Although I  sounded really good after a Pina Colada.  OLE !!!  

Bermuda was founded and claimed for England by a ship wrecked, Sir George Somers in 1609.   It is 21 miles by 1 mile and its highest point is 259 feet and a population of 65-70 thousand. 

     Our destination was St. George.  This is a laid back town with narrow, winding streets with names like Old Maid's Lane and Featherbed Alley.   It's by no means a flat island, the golf course being a killer.   But before I get ahead of myself, lets see what I can remember we did before we arrived on Tuesday noon.  

Sunday,  after a mandatory emergency lifeboat drill, the fun began with a Happy 4th of July Sailaway Party, with a calypso band a a special drink called  "Bon Voyage".   I would run out of space here if I tried to list all the activities for the day and evening.   I must tell you at dinner Sunday night, I had the best chilled Georgia Peach with pecans soup.  If anyone has the recipe, I would love to have it. Well, I have to run now, I will fill in the blanks next time.  Stay well.

Norwegian Majesty

We are almost packed and ready to go.  Bob has taken the last of the Z-Pac for his bronchitis and hopefully will start feeling better.  We had hoped to lose a few pounds before leaving but being home and around all our favorite restaurants that didn't happened. 

Here is the ship's web cam:  Norwegian Majesty Bridge Cam

Take care of each other while we are gone.

Bermuda

This Sunday we are taking a cruise out of Boston to Bermuda.  This will be our first cruise and we are looking forward to it.  We are going with old friends which makes it extra special.   Catch you all when we get back back next week.           Dawn