Friday Feb 8 - Mon Feb 11 - cruise beginnings

Friday Feb 8^th – Monday Feb 11th- Cruise Begins

On Board - Saturday noon.

On board - Saturday noon

Spent most of Friday packing and we met someone at the site who has an identical unit to ours, so we compared notes. He offered to take us to the ship tomorrow morning. On Saturday we closed up the unit and headed to the ship. Boarding was flawless and we were on-board, eating lunch about noon.  Our state-room is at the very back (aft), totally private, with nothing but ocean. The rooms are small but adequate and we do have a lovely balcony. Spent the next couple of days at sea, lounging round the pool, (there are 4 pools on-board) reading, eating and dancing the nights away. There is a great band on-board called ‘Solplay’. The other bands are okay but nothing great. The usual piano bar and a couple of other bar/dance floors and a late night disco. The shows in the evening are either broad-way style shows or acts that are competing for the ‘Princess Cruises Entertainer of the Year”.  Mostly comedians. VERY funny.  We are lucky to have picked this cruise to get the best of the best acts.  There is also a huge outdoor movie theatre and show either films (evening) or music videos (daytime). Once you find your way round the ship it really is quite beautiful.

Champagne glass tower ready for pouring from the top down

Togged-up ready for formal night at sea -Sunday

Head chef - doing the honours

Hanging out on the promenade deck

Me too

The wake caused rainbows -- but I couldn't get them on my photos

This is the life!!

Poser!!!

Feeling very lucky to be here... reading by the aft (adult) pool

The smile says it all

Pre dinner glass of wine on our balcony

Thursday Feb 7th.. Beach walk and packing

Thursday Feb 7th 2013 

Sunrise out of the trailer window 7am

Peeking out my bedroom window at 6:45am

After a very stormy, windy night we woke up to an amazing sunrise at 7am and were walking the beach at 7:30, combing for shells and just enjoying a beautiful sunny morning. We walked for a long way and then decided to have breakfast at MacDonalds... because we can!!!! Sat outside under the palm trees and and tried hard to ignore all the birds that hovered around staring at us, pleading for crumbs.  We went back to the 'condo' and sat outside in the sun and read for a while and watched the world go by. It clouded over a little and we started sorting out what we need to clean and pack for the cruise on Saturday. Will I EVER be capable of travelling light??? I think not. I just NEED everything  with me... just in case!!!! (my case!!!!!) Derek BBQ'd and amazing pork tenderloin for dinner. MMMMMM! good!! After dinner we hung out with a few people at the RV resort who are down here for Mardi-Gras, then sat up by the pool area where a gas fire-pit was lit. Had a couple of beers with someone else from the resort. Great day.

Cup of tea as we walk the beach

Stuff on the beach

In my Mardi Gras T-shirt

Awwww.... Happy shadows on the sand

Another strange thing on the beach

Man-o-war (According to a Facebook friend) Glad we didn't touch it!!!!

Breakfast at MacDonalds on the beach
Love my Camera!!

Crumbs..... PLEASE!!!!

PRETTY PLEASE!!!!!

Shell collection from our walk

Mid morning out of the back of the 'condo'

The side view

Wednesday Feb 6th 2013 - Galveston in the rain

Wed Feb 6th 2013

Our route - A to F - DONE... next stages F to J Mar - Aug (with 6wks in UK Apr/May)

What a fabulous day. Woke up to rain and wind … lots of both. After brekky we headed out (troopers that we are) and drove to the far end of the island. We were amazed at the variety of buildings, and the way they are built in case of flood or hurricane. Now, the question is this… in a hurricane one would think to hunker down in the basement, but in a flood one would think to climb to the top floor and wait it out. What do we do in a hurricane with flooding????? Just asking!!!!!

Anyway… below are number of very interesting homes we saw along the way today. We had lunch at Nates Seafood in Jamaica Beach and had Gumbo… (Shrimp, sausage and chicken in a deep brown broth … fabulous!!) Stopped at ‘Wallymart’ on the way back to the ‘condo’ and bought some supplies for the cruise on Saturday. We won’t have internet on the cruise (just because it costs too much and takes up valuable cruise time) … so we will not be updating the blog from Friday 8^th until we return on the 16^th. We are on the Crown Princess out of Galveston and stopping in Roatan Honduras, Belize and Cozumel. Really looking forward to the break (that was a joke by the way)!!! 

Glad to get back to the 'condo' and have baked chicken dinner with Kale and Sweet Potato.... healthy and yummy!! Evening updating blog and catching up on email etc. 

THE FOLLOWING ARE HOMES WE SAW ALONG THE WAY TODAY... 95% are built on stilts with solid support from their garage if they have one. Some very funky looking homes.

OUR FAVOURITE HOUSE - LOOKS LIKE IT"S STICKING ITS TONGUE OUT!!

By the way... people here really do say "hi y'all" as you pass them on the street with a smile. Just saying... it sounds kinda normal!!!

Tuesday Feb 5th 2013 - Galveston by bike

Tuesday Feb 5th 2013

Woke to dense sea-fog. The sun tried all morning to burn through it. We spent most of the day on our bikes and I forgot my camera, so no photos today. We went to The Academy store (sports and recreation) bought some sunglasses, swimsuit and T’s. Short break at the ‘condo’ for lunch and back on our bikes for a tootle in town. Stopped at a Mexican restaurant (Gorditas) for a bite to eat for dinner and.  Not a great spot, actually very disappointing… we miss Las Pinas already!!!! Rode back to the ‘condo’ using our new bike lights!!! We only rode about 25km on the bikes today, but it was fun exploring the town. It is full of lovely old buildings. We explored the port area as well as the sea front on the other side. 

It is a sea-side paradise here, and we can imagine that in season it is fairly buzzing. This week though it is empty, which is great for getting around, but lacking in some of the atmosphere. It is Mardi Gras week and apparently there is not a space to be had this weekend. Unfortunately we will miss the big parties on Saturday as we will be onboard ship sailing toward Roatan... hmmmm!!!??!!

Mon Feb 4th 2013

Monday Feb 4th 2013
Up at 7:30, breakfast and pack up. Ready to leave by 10am. We will miss this place, and the lovely people we met. All our future neighbours have a tough act to follow!! The drive down to Galveston was long, 5 hours, but fairly easy. Janice actually did the lions share this time for a change. 

Just arrived at Sandpiper RV Resort, Galveston, Texas

The sign of the day was actually a road sign for the next exit "KICKAPOO RD -  EXIT 1MILE"  Now how would you like to live on Kickapoo road?????? Spelling it out every time on the phone or over a counter!!! I wish I had been fast enough with the camera on that one!! We arrived late afternoon and set up, then went for a short jaunt around town on our bikes before heading back and we barbequed the bratwurst and smoked sausage we bought at the Friesenhaus restaurant/deli in New Braunfels. It was even better than we imagined and we drooled and smacked our lips in total taste ecstasy. Watched a bit of ‘telly’ and relaxed for the evening.

The whirlpool and pool at the resort

Who is that good-looking guy hanging out at the pool??

PS: Happy 91st Mum... miss you!!