Carnival Radiance -- March 2022 (Debarkation Day)

Our quick little getaway to cap off spring break is over! We returned to an overcast, cold, rainy, and blustery Long Beach. Brrr! 

Debarkation instructions were printed out and posted at each stateroom the day before. It was the usual-- everyone out of cabins by 8:30, and all off the ship by 9:30. One change: instead of being called by deck, we were called out by muster station. 

I was up before 7:00am and we first headed down to the Pixels Gallery to pick up our Dreams Studio photos and USB stick. There was a bit of a line, and only one employee working, so it took a little while. From there, we headed up to the Lido deck for one last quick buffet breakfast with Jed and Paea. After striking out on eggs/salmon benedict the last 2 mornings, I decided to play it safe with scrambled eggs this time. A good choice, it turned out, because Allan's eggs benedict were fully cooked! 

It was not long after 7:00am that the CD started calling off Muster Stations A and B (presumably, the lower decks). Around 7:30, I think he realized he forgot to prioritize self-checkout folks, because he chimed in that between 7:30-8:00am, those who did not check their bags (were hauling everything off the ship with them) would be allowed off during that timeframe, no matter what deck they were on. Theoretically we could've gone then, but we'd just sat down to breakfast when he announced it! 

So we sat around enjoying breakfast, knowing we had till 8:30 to get out of our cabins. At 8:00, Ryan called out Muster Stations C and D (which encompassed all of us-- Allan and I were C, Jed and Paea were D), so we finished our food and headed back down to our cabins to grab luggage and head out. 

After getting lost a few times and being blocked by the MDRs, we exited the ship around 8:15am. Interestingly, there was not really a long line to get OFF the ship in Deck 3 onto the gangway. The last 2 times I cruised, that line was super long-- snaking all the way around past staterooms on Deck 3! This time, we practically walked off the ship immediately. 

Made our way  across the gangway and into the Spruce Goose dome-- back down the long ramps and then through customs, which involved a simple face scan. Far out! The lines were long but they moved relatively quickly and efficiently. 

By the time we got into the car and started to head out, it was 8:45. Picked up Ruby on the way, and were back home well before 11:00am! 

This would be a fun little tradition-- go on a cruise or some other quick getaway before the start of the quarter. One last bit of relaxation before getting back to teaching a new crop of students, for Paea and Allan! :-D 

Carnival Radiance Cruise -- March 2022 (Day 3)

Despite taking melatonin and my 8-hour sleep aid again, it took a good long while to fall asleep. I think I was fretting about getting suckered into the fancy photo shoot and worrying about how we'd fit the viewing into our schedule. Also wasn't sure whether we were going to get off the ship or not. Totally playing it by ear till the last minute. The day before (sea day), Jed and Paea had indicated interest in getting off the ship just to get away from the crowds and sensory overload. I get the feeling that they, like Allan, are all a bit more introverted than I am. 

We met up for breakfast around 9:00am, and although there were a lot of people at the Lido buffet, it was nowhere near full. We got good seats by the portside windows, and got views of people starting to trickle out through Deck 0. At that point we were still undecided about whether to stay or get off. I had prepared either way, printing out a map of Ensenada and familiarizing myself with the walking directions to get to the main tourist area. 

Once the ship started to empty, Paea and Jed decided that it wasn't so bad after all, and opted to stay on board. So after breakfast, we donned our swimsuits and hopped into the hot tub on the Serenity deck-- so peaceful and quiet! Allan wasn't interested and opted to go back to the room to get some rest-- he'd be back up once the bar opened ;-) So the 3 of us just relaxed and enjoyed the warm sun, cool air, and massaging jets. Jed even tried out the two water slides, since the lines were empty! 

Afterward, I made my way to the Pixels gallery, where I figured out that you can't purchase digital prints off the Hub app on your phone-- you have to purchase them from the iPad kiosks (so odd! Why is this not just directly available on your phone??) I watched with amusement as Tiago (the comedy club announcer) led a round of trivia for the approximately dozen people hanging out in the lobby bar. 

I met up with Paea and Jed (and evnetually Allan) for lunch. They opted for non-buffet fare, like the deli and Guy's burgers. I should have done the same. Instead, I went for the cajun-themed buffet food, which, uncharacteristically, was terrible. Meat was overcooked and sides were oversalted. But at least the desserts did not disappointed! It was all chocolate-themed, so I grabbed the larger dinner plate instead of the smaller dessert plate, to better fit 4 samplings of dessert :-D 

After lunch, Paea went back to his room to relax, while Jed, Allan and I hung out in the lobby bar to partake of trivia. Jed left after an hour, while Allan and I hung around for more. We befriended some of the guys in the couch next to us ("ZZ Top" and his friends, from Glendora-- not far from us!) and just had a grand ol' time. 

At 4:00pm we met Iryna at the Dreams Studio where she put on a slide show on the computer (hooked up to the large screen TV) showcasing all of our pictures. A few were very good, some were cheesy, and some were downright funny-- like the shot of Allan kissing my cheek, and me making a face that looks like I'm trying to get away, LOL! Some of the poses were awkward, and it showed on our faces! We ended up selecting 3 of our favorites and ordering a package that included 10x13 prints and digital versions of those 3 pics. 

Afterward, we headed over to the Red Frog Bar for some karaoke! Must be popular because the line just to sign up was long, despite arriving right on time at 4:30! It took almost an hour till it was my turn. With the crowd hopping, I decided to go with "Redneck Woman". Allan took pictures of me, and a pic of one of my "fans" waving her arms in the air to my singing :-) 

Final dinner in the MDR-- so sad! I opted for the cheese plate and chocolate martini for dessert-- and the servers wrote my name in the chocolate sauce that gets swirled in the glass before the drink is poured. Awww! 

After dinner, Allan decided to retire back to the room to rest some more. We would have liked to catch Doug's last show, but after the hullabaloo that was the oversized, loud crowd from last night, we decided to skip it. I'm sad that we didn't get to say one last goodbye to Doug, get our picture taken with him, and buy some merchandise to support him, but hopefully he'll be performing on land somewhere nearby (LA?) and we can make the drive down to see him. Methinks paying crowds will be a lot less rowdy than Carnival cruise crowds ;-) 

Instead, Jed, Paea and I opted to check out the piano bar, which was FREEZING. I was a little disappointed that it was basically just a performance rather than a lively sing-along that I'm used to from other Piano Bar shows on Carnival. Maybe it was because he decided to do a Broadway theme. He was a good singer, but not a good performer, because often times the piano was too loud and drowned out his singing. Or maybe it was just technical difficulties. In any event, Broadway songs aren't all that exciting or sing-along-ready, so that was a bit disappointing. 

Afterward, we visited Iryna again to check out our final prints (she had to touch up some of the photos) and give the "ok" as well as pay for it so I could claim the products the next day. 

From there, the 4 of us trooped over to the sushi place again for some late-night grub. Jed and Paea split the sushi boat-- it was a LOT of food. 3 pieces of nigiri each, two rolls, salad, and miso soup. I got a few pieces of nigiri and the yuzu custard. The custard was delicious (and had an interesting texture) but the portion was way bigger than expected-- especially for only $2!? 

And that was that! Back in our rooms by 11:30pm, where I began packing up to get ready for debarkation the next day... 

Carnival Radiance Cruise -- March 2022 (Day 2)

In a combination of COVID safety protocols and an attempt to save money, there are no longer physical menus at the bars or the MDR, nor do they publish paper Fun Times to showcase the day's schedule. Menus are accessed via QR codes, and Fun Times are on the Carnival Hub app. Realized too late that Guest Services will provide a Fun Times printout if you request it. I like keeping them as mementos, and also as reminders for future cruises, about what I can expect. Well, I guess that's part of why I'm blogging the boring details-- so I can have the info for future reference. Next cruise, I'll definitely remember to ask for paper schedules! 

I made sure to take my melatonin and 8-hr sleep aid, which helped. I kept getting awakened by some jostling-- exactly the same as what happened on the first night aboard the Panorama, where I thought Todd was kicking my bed. It was pretty regular throughout the night, but I managed to fall back asleep every time it happened. Not the best sleep, but not the worst-- unlike poor Allan, who hardly slept a wink!

The morning started out with breakfast at the Lido buffet (where Allan had a perfect salmon benedict while I had a fully-cooked egg atop the tiniest sliver of salmon!) followed by the military appreciation gathering in the Liquid Lounge at 10:00am. Jed and Paea did their own thing until we met up for the 1:00pm show. The most impressive part about the gathering? The CD, Ryan, hosted, and ALSO sang the national anthem, a cappella, right there on the spot at the start of the program. He was really good! After the military appreciation gathering, Allan went back to the room to get some more rest, while I wandered around to explore more on my own. 

I rested outside the Alchemy Bar a bit, enjoying the view of the open ocean, wishing I'd brought a book to read. But I didn't have to wait long-- at 11:30 a salsa class began in the adjoining Red Frog Rum Bar. Two of the main performers in the evening shows taught the class. It basically ended up being like a one-wall, looong, fast line dance with stylized arm and body movements. It was a lot of fun, and made for a great workout! 

After salsa class I had lunch by myself at the Lido buffet, and met up with Jed and Paea at the Liquid Lounge for the Love & Marriage show. It was a hoot and a half, and one of the funniest Love & Marriage shows I'd ever attended. Not only because Ryan the CD is an excellent and funny, energetic host, but also because of the couples! One couple, named (interestingly!) Joe and Tabitha, were a riot because Joe could not follow directions to save his life! Not sure if he was stoned out of his gourd or just a bad listener, but it was very very entertaining. Allan opted for a leisurely lunch and hangout on the Serenity deck. He missed a good show. 

I caught up with Allan on the deck while Jed and Paea grabbed a late lunch, and then we all headed to the aft restaurant for tea time. Fancy baked good, smoked salmon, and cucumber sandwiches, all served with a smile. 

Afterward, I took some time to dress up for our formal night, and we met up around 5:30 to find some nice backgrounds to take pictures. When our Pixels photographer was done, he dragged Allan and me to the Dreams Studio photographer who had set up shop in the same area (right outside the Red Frog Bar) and the next thing we knew, Allan and I had spent 10 minutes doing the "fancy" photo shoot and set up a time to meet with our photographer, Iryna, to view our pics the next day. 

After dinner, we headed back to our rooms to change. Jed opted to watch the show at the Liquid Lounge at 9:30 ("Soulbound") while Allan and I opted for Doug's 10pm show, the much-vaunted "Relationship Seminar" routine. Word must have gotten around, because when we arrive a few minutes before 9:30 (doors opened a half hour prior to showtime and we wanted to get a good seat), there was already a line snaking out the door and UP the stairwell into the floor above! We were lucky to be able to get decent seats at all. After that it was standing room only! 

As always, Doug brought the house down but the loud, drunk crowds around us were a little too much. We made our way to the Lido deck afterward for some late-night grub, but evidently everyone else on the ship had the same idea, and the only two open eateries, pizza and deli, had lines a mile long. We ended up opting for sushi, instead. A nice, delicious way to end the day! 

Carnival Radiance Cruise -- March 2022 (Day 1)

It has been waaayyyy too long since I posted. I doubt anyone is reading this anymore, anyway, but I don't really care-- I just wanted to jot down my memories of our most recent cruise so I wouldn't forget the details for the NEXT cruise... 'cause you know I'm hooked! :-) 

A few notes on pre-departure activities:

Once we had booked our sailings, I got our friends' booking number and connected it to ours. Voila! I could now see their booking alongside mind every time I logged in. Made sure they also selected the same dining time, which meant that as soon as our bookings were linked, we would automatically be added to the same table. Gone are the days of having to call in to combine bookings and ensure we get the same table. 

Caveat: I don't know if this works with Costco bookings, as I believe those result in a different booking # that the system may not be able to join automatically. Best to still call in those cases. 

Selected the 12:30-1:00pm boarding time = a perfect blend of not having to get up too early to leave, and not having to wait around too long before staterooms were open. 

The day started on Friday, Mar 25. After dropping Ruby off at Ron and Debbie's, we made our way to the Carnival Cruise Terminal in Long Beach. I feel like each time we've cruised, the drive was a little different, but I think Long Beach and Google Maps have finally reconciled their directions to match. Stick to the Google Maps directions, follow the signs to Queen Mary until you actually get near the Queen Mary. From there, the lanes diverge into those on the left to go to the actual Queen Mary, and those on the right to enter the Cruise Terminal parking lot. Grab a ticket, then follow the signs into the parking garage. 

Outside the parking garage, we made our way towards the "Bucky Ball" shaped dome that used to house the Spruce Goose. 

The first of many checkstops was right outside the dome, to get in. Had to show our boarding passes and ID to prove that we were arriving at the right time frame. We were a couple minutes early from our appointment time, but they let us in, anyway. Got sent to one of many tall cocktail-like tables manned with employees and computers. Our friends had done the Verifly app, we did not. But we were both processed at about the same speed. At these tables, we showed our boarding passes, passports, vaccinations cards, and printouts of negative COVID results. 

From there, we went through security-- the typical x-ray bag scanning. 

After security, we made our way to another checkin line that looked a lot like airport checkin counters. Across from these counters were a bunch benches with (fake?) palm trees all around-- this is the area where arriving passengers can sit and wait if you have an early appointment time and arrive and get checked in BEFORE they open up the ship to start letting people in (I believe they don't start letting folks in until 11:00am, so I never saw the point in arriving any earlier than that). 

Anyway, I didn't remember this last checkin line the last time we cruised, so I assumed they were going to give us our cabin keys, but no-- we just got instructions on where to get on, and that our room keys would be in sealed envelopes outside our door at 1:30pm (I do remember this from the Panorama cruise during Christmas 2019). 

Up the long windy ramps, and then finally, almost to the gangway. But before that, one last station where we had to lower our masks and get our picture taken-- presumably for the facial recognition later? 

Everything went smoothly, and we were on board before 1:00pm, where we first reported to individual muster drill. That was a nice change-- rather than crowding all together in one location at the designated muster drill time, waiting eons for stragglers to show up, we just did our drill individually (with one other couple who arrived the same time as us). Cruise crew checked us in by room number on our tablet, to check off that we'd done our drill, then walked us through safety and life vest instructions. I feel a bit sorry for the poor crew having to repeat the same thing over and over again, ad nauseum, but I sure did appreciate how easy this process was for the travelers!

Afterward, made our way up to the crowded Lido deck, managed to find a table for 4 at the buffet, and had lunch. Rooms opened up at exactly 1:30, so we were able to head down shortly after finishing lunch. Easy peasy!

The boys went exploring while I unpacked mine and Allan's stuff and sorted out room foibles-- our toilet was dirty and the bed was configured as king (despite requesting twin setup), and we didn't have our two free bottles of water. Allan and I are now officially 0 for 4 in terms of getting the configuration we requested from the get-go. What is even the point of having that as an option, if they're not going to honor it?? 

Eventually I caught up with the boys and we hung out at the adults-only Serenity deck overlooking Long Beach and the ocean. 

Allan and I did a little exploring, and ended up relaxing a bit outside the Alchemy Bar, on seats overlooking a big picture window with a magnificent view of the ocean. That's when we noticed our favorite comedian, Doug Williams, sitting near us. We greeted him. He did not remember us, of course (it was the Dec 2016 Imagination sailing when we last saw him), but he did remember one of the most memorable groups ever-- a church group clad in matching red/black plaid shirts, including the deacon and his wife, whom Doug had praying to Jesus for BJ's by the end of the show! We told him that his appearance schedule was half the reason we booked that particular sailing-- so we could see him perform! :-D 

After dinner, we hit up both evening Punchliner Comedy shows (our beloved Doug Williams, and another guy named Jack Jr), and hit up the Lido deck for some late night snacking. Evidently the ship uses the Limelight Lounge as a nightclub at 11:00pm each night, which is why the comedy shows are earlier (latest one goes from 10-10:30pm). 

Oh, and the cruise director was Ryan Rose, same CD that was on the girls' trip aboard the Inspiration in Aug 2019! 

Oh, wie schön ist Panama

One of my favorite stories growing up is a book called "Oh, wie schön ist Panama", an adorable children's book by Janosch.

The story revolves around two best friends: Baer and Tiger (I don't think I have to translate what kind of animals those are :-P) who live together and work together for their daily food. One day, Baer discovers a crate from Panama, and the two friends embark on a journey to what they believe is the land of their dreams. Along they way, they encounter other animals and all sorts of adventures, until one day they come across their own house! The surroundings have changed while they were gone-- plants overgrown, house in disrepair, so they don't realize it's their original house, and happily settle in.

I loved the story because it was a cute plot and because the illustrations are amazing. They so vividly captured the spirit of the characters, made them especially loveable. See for yourself:

Baer and Tiger set off on their way, leaving a sign post pointing in the direction of Panama

The pair interrupts a fox's dinner to ask for directions

Even when it rains, they manage to look on the bright side of things, grateful for the shelter they're able to construct

Happy dance! They've found Panama!

It's fairly obvious now that the "moral" of the story is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, that it's all down to your frame of mind, your perception and acceptance of your current situation. As evidenced by the rainy scene above, even when their situation was glum, Baer and Tiger always remained positive and upbeat, choosing to focus on what they can be grateful for, rather than grumbling about what's going wrong. And clearly they were thrilled to be in "paradise" when they returned to their own home, because even though they weren't in Panama, they believed they were, and appreciated their surroundings with that frame of mind.

But as a kid, that lesson just flew over my head, yet I was still enchanted by the story and by the characters. Loveable Baer and Tiger and Tiger's wooden striped duck, aka Tigerente.

So you can imagine my squeal of delight when I discovered this little gem in the Nuremberg Toy Museum:

 

A plush Baer and Tiger!!

Maybe not an exact replica of how they're drawn in the books, but wow, did that bring back a flood of memories! And now I want a stuffed Baer and Tiger! :-D

How about you? What are some of your favorite childhood books? 

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

German Castles

One of the most unique sights of Germany (as well much of Europe, with its long ancient history) is castles and palaces. You don't find such creations in the US. They are rich with history and the setting of many an enchanting fairy tale. Here's a small sampling of some of the ones I've visited and would like to visit.

The Heidelberg Castle was only a 20-minute drive away from Mannheim, so it was very easy to get to. It overlooks the Neckar River, and so boasts not only fascinating sights such as the castle ruins:

... a giant beer vat...

Yes, that's me with short, curly hair :-P

... but also a great view of the Neckar Valley:

Worth a visit!

Probably the most renowned of all the German castles is the Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria, made famous because it's what the Disney castle is based on.

And of course, the Zwinger in Dresden (more of a palace than a castle, but that's similar enough, no?)

Charlottenburg in Berlin:

Hohenzollern near Stuttgart:

And the Nordkirchen in my birthplace of Muenster, which has a pretty awesome aerial view:

If you ever visit Germany, be sure to include a castle or two in your itinerary!

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Dresden Pictures

Some of my favorite pictures taken during our August 2014 trip to Germany. Specifically, our day in Dresden, which is best known for its massive destruction at the hands of Allied bombers in 1945.

Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

Zwinger (a palace)

Zwinger (a palace)

Todd takes a photo of the photographer while we rest at a fountain in the center of the Zwinger's courtyard

Moving on to the upper levels of the Zwinger

View of the front entrance and courtyard

Interesting wooden model of a Chinese house greeted us at the top of the stairs. A bit of China in Germany??

Kunstakademie

Kunstakademie

Horse and carriage: neat way to tour the city!

Typical town square

Parts of the city are being rebuilt...

... while parts stand tribute to WWII history. At the Karl Pinkert stone monument in front of the re-built Frauenkirche

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Medieval Crime Museum

The picturesque town of Rothenburg is well-known for being home to the Kriminalmuseum, or Crime Museum, better known as the "Torture Museum" amongst Americans who lived there, for its prolific display of instruments of torture and punishment.

Here are a few shots we took while we toured the museum:

Todd and I arrive at the museum:

Don't you love the old buildings and cobblestone streets?

And are immediately shackled:

These criminals sure look cheerful!

Instruments of torture immediately greeted us as we entered the museum:

Wouldn't want to sit in this thing for too long!

I couldn't even begin to remember what these things did, but they don't look pleasant!

The sign says it all!

There were even plenty of old books describing how to mete out justice. The old script made it difficult to read, but you know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? In this case, it definitely transcends all language barriers, as well:

There was the classic iron maiden, with its outer wooden casing worn from age, though you can see a drawing of what it used to look like, right behind it:

Physical torture wasn't the only form of punishment. Some of my favorite displays entailed punishment by public shaming. Like these masks, meant to be worn for infractions such as gossiping too much, lying, cheating, falling asleep in church, etc..

If you're a baker, you'd better not be caught swindling your customers (by selling them bread that is too light), else you'll face a public dunking in one of these as punishment:

 And if you're a quarrelsome married couple? Here's what's in store for you:

Is it me, or is this one of the more horrific forms of torture available?

The museum also had several miniature scenes depicting medieval life, from the town square to a private home to a school house. There, you could observe tiny replicas of punishments actually being enacted. See how many punishments/shamings you can spot in this picture:

Click to Enlarge

Our visit to the museum was quite enlightening. It's somewhat horrifying to see what instruments of pain and torture the human mind was capable of devising in those days. I like to think we've evolved since those darker days, but sadly, there are many still out there inflicting pain on others. The instruments may have changed, but human nature has not.

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

German Houses

While we spent most of our recent trip to Germany doing touristy activities, we took a few days to meet up with old family friends, visiting them in their lovely homes. It was the first time Allan had been to an actual private residence while touring Europe, and we enjoyed seeing the different types of houses, which really aren't all that different from what you'd find in the US.

First up, a 3-story townhome (with basement):

Then we visited friends who live in something akin to an apartment building, except you only have one apartment on each floor. So when you traipse up the stairs to get to your home on the top floor, you actually pass by all your downstairs neighbors' front doors to get to your place.

Then, there was your typical 2000+ square foot stand-alone home with driveway, garage, and big backyard. As you can imagine, that's not typically the norm, especially in more populated areas.
(sorry no photo)

I also hearken back to my last month in Germany. I had done an in-country separation, that is, I elected to remain in the country after I separated from active duty. That meant I could no longer live on post, so I ended up renting a tiny studio apartment in downtown Mannheim. This apartment happened to be "unter dem Dach", or literally: "under the roof". As the name implies, you literally live right underneath the sloping roof, which means that your vertical living space is cut into quite a bit. This photo isn't of my apartment, but it's the closest I could find (and mine was actually smaller than this. I barely had enough room for a futon, a small coffee table, a desk, a couple of chairs, and a tiny kitchenette) that represented how much the ceiling cut into the living space:

One thing I did notice that all the various types of German houses had in common was the kitchen as a separate room. Most of the kitchens we visited were completely enclosed in its own room, with a door to shut it out from the rest of the house. You don't really see that in the US much. Even our own home, which has the kitchen pretty separate from the dining room and living room, is only separated by some low walls, with archways cut into it. There's no door to close. I think I kind of like the idea of having the kitchen as its own separate room. Keep the smells and sounds of cooking away from the rest of the house!

We loved Germany so much we contemplated moving there. Would love to do so while Todd is still young and can go to school and pick up the language very easily, but that might be difficult, job-wise. Maybe we can retire there. Housing is certainly affordable enough-- definitely no worse than what you'd find in So Cal, especially Santa Barbara! We'll see what the future holds...

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!

Berlin Pictures

Some of my favorite pictures taken during our August 2014 trip to Germany. Specifically, the 1.5 days we spent in Berlin.

Checkpoint Charlie

Interesting wheeled contraption. Eat, drink, socialize... and pedal your way through the streets of Berlin!

Trabbi full of stuffed friends!

Brandenburg Gate

Reichstag (Parliament building)

Berliner Dom

Todd tries his hand at making huge bubbles in the park right outside the Dom

Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall)

Fernsehturm (TV Tower)

Neptune Fountain in the same square as St. Mary's Church and the Fernsehturm

Siegessauele (Victory Column)

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

I'm posting every day in October as part of the 31-Day Writing Challenge. Click here to read more about it and to see the rest of my posts this month!