western Caribbean
As I get ready to embark on my cruise to the western Caribbean, I have completed a first pull of clothing, which has been a bit difficult as I need semi-formal wear, casual wear, beach wear, clothes for the weather expected and unexpected, sometimes all in a given day.
Having the clothes is not the problem, its putting together ensembles that look good, work well and don't have me taking half my closet being the tough part as some of my 'comfort clothes' will be staying behind as they go with nothing else and therefore, serve little comfort on an excursion such as the one I am taking.
I started with the idea and belief that I would be traveling with another and as time progressed and the more I thought, asked, got some responses and some non-responses and thought,
really thought,
I decided and realized as frightful as it might be at the onset, I am better going alone, answering to no one and not having to worry about another or visa versa.
My travel agent has been less than stellar at returning calls, always having an excuse so I have had to learn and book my needs through a different direction, directly through the cruise line, something they frown upon when you are working with a travel agent. And its not me, all that were given the packet by my brother that I was, have had the same experience with the booking agent, some deciding not to go at all due to the frustration of his flightiness at best. But all have returned with storied to tell stating they would go again in a second, a great time had by one and all.
As I am less than a week away from embarking, I have learned a plethora of information from magazines, online and others that have cruised before, knowing that no matter what anyone says or what is written, no one can tell me what my experience will be. And knowing that I will be sea bound, unable to return to land for five days and not even knowing if I like cruising only adds to the excitement, fear, and slight nervousness of going, although the feeling of getting away and doing another once in a lifetime 'adventure' outweighs any negative I might have thought or might think as the day of travel soon approaches.
Pictures will be taken, my camcorder charged and every pre-boarding requirement completed, knowing there is still an unknown which is exhilarating, awaiting me down the way, close enough I can see it and envision what I hope it to be and the rest, well it shall be an experience if nothing else.
The 'cosmetics' I have and the list punched out, now its time to sit back and wait for the fun to begin and knowing that I will be in Cozumel on el Cinco de Mayo only heightens my yearning to explore, to be adventurous and like many others have done before me, possibly wish not to return to the mainland.
I have planned no excursions as they all sound great but many include travel time to and from, set times to be at the location and then a drop off, me not able to control the time, who and what I am traveling with, so I have kept it open knowing that I will meet others that I will choose to spend time with, explore and see what I want to see my own way, on foot or by cab, wearing a watch as when the ship dis-embarks, I have been warned, it waits not for those who guess, it just goes as I will....
Tequila liquors await as does a bottle of the 'smooth stuff' with a live worm in the bottle, bartering and seeing what others have, only to experience it for five days, but five days which shall change my life for the better, as I have never left the country with the exception of crossing the border in Arizona for a brief period.
And still, I tell stories of that day as the memories remain fresh in my head, the watching of immigrants crossing the US border after nightfall, a sight I shall never forget as a drunken friend with a bellowing laughter full of tequila, 'welcomed all into America, the land of opportunity', as we awaited border patrol to unlock the car I had left the keys in, dangling from the ignition, not to discover it until the border had closed and we were to set on our way back to Tempe, instead stuck until a child small enough was able to crawl through the trunk and unlock theft resistant doors, me having another key back on my bureau at home miles and miles away...
I shall take my chair as a needed precaution and extra medication, letters from my physicians explaining my medical predicament but giving me full access to travel and all it has to offer, telling me it's all about the quality of life and the rest is out of my control.
And on the last night as I sit back and watch the intensity in the eyes of those playing bingo, hoping, wanting and wishing to win the pot of 5 to 6,000 dollars, I will watch with a smile for I have already won the jackpot,
that which we call life,
as I have lived longer and stronger than all those who have said I ever would or could.
Having the clothes is not the problem, its putting together ensembles that look good, work well and don't have me taking half my closet being the tough part as some of my 'comfort clothes' will be staying behind as they go with nothing else and therefore, serve little comfort on an excursion such as the one I am taking.
I started with the idea and belief that I would be traveling with another and as time progressed and the more I thought, asked, got some responses and some non-responses and thought,
really thought,
I decided and realized as frightful as it might be at the onset, I am better going alone, answering to no one and not having to worry about another or visa versa.
My travel agent has been less than stellar at returning calls, always having an excuse so I have had to learn and book my needs through a different direction, directly through the cruise line, something they frown upon when you are working with a travel agent. And its not me, all that were given the packet by my brother that I was, have had the same experience with the booking agent, some deciding not to go at all due to the frustration of his flightiness at best. But all have returned with storied to tell stating they would go again in a second, a great time had by one and all.
As I am less than a week away from embarking, I have learned a plethora of information from magazines, online and others that have cruised before, knowing that no matter what anyone says or what is written, no one can tell me what my experience will be. And knowing that I will be sea bound, unable to return to land for five days and not even knowing if I like cruising only adds to the excitement, fear, and slight nervousness of going, although the feeling of getting away and doing another once in a lifetime 'adventure' outweighs any negative I might have thought or might think as the day of travel soon approaches.
Pictures will be taken, my camcorder charged and every pre-boarding requirement completed, knowing there is still an unknown which is exhilarating, awaiting me down the way, close enough I can see it and envision what I hope it to be and the rest, well it shall be an experience if nothing else.
The 'cosmetics' I have and the list punched out, now its time to sit back and wait for the fun to begin and knowing that I will be in Cozumel on el Cinco de Mayo only heightens my yearning to explore, to be adventurous and like many others have done before me, possibly wish not to return to the mainland.
I have planned no excursions as they all sound great but many include travel time to and from, set times to be at the location and then a drop off, me not able to control the time, who and what I am traveling with, so I have kept it open knowing that I will meet others that I will choose to spend time with, explore and see what I want to see my own way, on foot or by cab, wearing a watch as when the ship dis-embarks, I have been warned, it waits not for those who guess, it just goes as I will....
Tequila liquors await as does a bottle of the 'smooth stuff' with a live worm in the bottle, bartering and seeing what others have, only to experience it for five days, but five days which shall change my life for the better, as I have never left the country with the exception of crossing the border in Arizona for a brief period.
And still, I tell stories of that day as the memories remain fresh in my head, the watching of immigrants crossing the US border after nightfall, a sight I shall never forget as a drunken friend with a bellowing laughter full of tequila, 'welcomed all into America, the land of opportunity', as we awaited border patrol to unlock the car I had left the keys in, dangling from the ignition, not to discover it until the border had closed and we were to set on our way back to Tempe, instead stuck until a child small enough was able to crawl through the trunk and unlock theft resistant doors, me having another key back on my bureau at home miles and miles away...
I shall take my chair as a needed precaution and extra medication, letters from my physicians explaining my medical predicament but giving me full access to travel and all it has to offer, telling me it's all about the quality of life and the rest is out of my control.
And on the last night as I sit back and watch the intensity in the eyes of those playing bingo, hoping, wanting and wishing to win the pot of 5 to 6,000 dollars, I will watch with a smile for I have already won the jackpot,
that which we call life,
as I have lived longer and stronger than all those who have said I ever would or could.
posted by the warrior at 1:24 AM
1 Comments:
woo hoo! have a wonderful time, eric!
:)
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