5 weeks from today...

[judy&steve]

In five weeks, we will be leaving for our Southern Caribbean cruise on the Serenade. I can't believe it's nearly time. I ordered those to-the-knee shorts last night from Talbots. I usually get into a shopping frenzy in January trying to find things to wear. Last year, I resolved never to put on another pair of shorts or bathing suit. I have all of the shore clothes I need -- capris and tee shirts and that's about it. It's a port-intensive cruise, so we will be off the ship a lot.

Now I have to start thinking about what to take and packing.

We are going to spend the night before the cruise in San Juan. Last year, it was a travelling fiasco, even though we attempted to get there a day early.

I hope you are all still "talking" to me after that crazy thread the other day. I did not mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.

Have a lovely day, all.

--Judy

[ChuckyMoe]

We are leaving 5 weeks from tomorrow for our Panama Canal. We have 2 days pre-cruise and one post-cruise so we will be gone for 2 complete weeks. We have 4 out of our 11 people who have never cruised so I have done up little bags for everyone that have highlighters, handwash, etc. I am getting really excited too.

 

Have a great day!

 

Anne

[MrsMoose2001]

No problem I'm still "talking to you", this is a discussion board, so let's just call it that and forget about it from my part.:)

 

I hope you enjoy your "new shorts" and wear in good health.

 

I hope you and ChuckyMoe have wonderful, safe, happy and healthy cruises.

 

It's been ages since I was in the Carribbean. Back in the 70's I went to San Juan, St. Thomas etc etc, by plane, not cruise.

 

Way back then it was a shoppers paradise in St. Thomas and from what I understand and hear, it's gotten bigger and better. Duty free stuff etc etc.

 

I remember people were carrying on cases of liquor on the plane and the real jewelry, watches, perfume, and cashmere, yes cashmere.

 

It was a day trip to St. Thomas from San Juan. Back then I don't think they had the nice hotels and resorts like they do now. It was what I called a puddle jump by plane. Those were the days that I loved to fly, flew my own little plane too, and had no ear problems.

 

I would go back to St. Thomas for the shopping if my ears didn't bother me with the flying.

 

I bet San Juan changed too. There were no "malls" back then, no LV shops, from what I gather, that has changed too. I went down there 3 times. Never really went to the beach or anything, never gambled, back then from NYC it was just the place to go I guess.

 

In any case, I hope y'all have a wonderful time. Enjoy:)

[Happy ks]

Sounds like fun to me! I've never been to the Caribbean and would love to cruse the Southern route. I'm imagining the ports would be less crowded than the cruises that leave from Florida and Texas.

 

Your post made me chuckle. More than 10 years ago, I resolved to not worry so much about what people thought of me wearing shorts. Life is so much more comfortable now when the weather is hot! Before that time, I was so hung up on what someone would think of me, I'd suffer in long pants or long sundresses. I love being my age, women in their 20s, 30s and even into their 40s worry so much more. I have a sister who still to this day will not get into a bathing suit and sits out on the fun we have at family swim/hot tub parties.

[bobby'sgirl]

Mrs. Moose what can we do to fix your ears? Have you seen an ENT...things keeps changing...My DMIL has vision problems in one eye and they are now offering her surgury that was unheard of 10 years ago. We have to sort out the pros and cons. Take my gall bladder surgury...when i was in school 30 years ago you were in the hospital for 7-10 days...I was home in 3 days even with the open procedure. You would love to travel, I think.... just my 2 cents worth.

[MrsMoose2001]

Not much Bobby's Girl, the "Earplanes" I used was a big help really. I didn't suffer. But that's because I was "cold free".

 

Earplanes are wonderful. I highly recommend them and that's about all that can be done. I've been to enough specialists and talked to enough pilots to know that for now that's about it. I also take a sudafed and spray afrin before takeoff. That's the most that can be done really.

 

It's so nice of you to care thank you. Honestly though, I may drool about the trip to Switzerland again, but I'm content. In the end, I'm happy with the travels I do for now.

 

I'll hopefully make it over to Switzerland again one day. And my other trip would be to go to Romania for Halloween. For now, I travel, and I'm content with my travels. No airline schedules to worry about, no luggage problems.

 

I did my share of travelling when I was in my late teens and 20's. Been around the world really. Seen almost all the places I want to see (thanks to my Alaska trip) and the one place left that I would like to do but I didn't get to I hopefully will get to evenutally when I'm in the mood. With the way the world is today, I'm not sorry at all that I don't fly. What I save on airfare I can "shop" with.

 

I'm honestly happier with my trips to NYC and to Maine and my ski trips to Vermont. I have no complaints. I love Maine. I love Saratoga Springs for a weekend. I love the Basin Harbor Club in Vermont for a nice upscale resort summer vacaton too. The Sagamore is nice for a long weekend in the summer too or for the fall folliage.

 

Basin Harbor Club inforces their dress code very strict. No jacket and tie, no dining in the main dining room period. You have to go to the little "red barn".

 

Can't wait to see Jane again in April in NYC.

 

Thanks for thinking of me and caring.

[Juliadlf]

In five weeks, we will be leaving for our Southern Caribbean cruise on the Serenade. --Judy

 

Have a wonderful trip. I am quite envious of you as we live in the Northeast (brrrrrr) and would love to sail (or even fly)to some place warm in January/February.:)

 

We are leaving 5 weeks from tomorrow for our Panama Canal. We have 2 days pre-cruise and one post-cruise so we will be gone for 2 complete weeks. Anne

Wow, have a great vacation. Panama Canal sounds interesting for a cruise.

[judy&steve]

MrsMoose --

I'm sorry about your ears. I hate flying and do so begrudgingly (and a little sedated).

I just can't show my thighs anymore. I used to have pretty decent looking legs until I lost weight and reached my fifties, but not necessarily in that order;) It seems like all of the extra skin just sort of settled around my knees, sort of like an elephant. I will wear skirts (with hose) and a bathing suit is just plain out of the question. I know I miss out on a lot of things like the beach, but I am so uncomfortable with the way my legs look that I can't look at them and shouldn't expect anyone else to, either.

I guess I sound vain, but I'm really not. I worked very hard to lose 90 pounds I just want to know that I look good. I have another few to go, but I've been at my current weight for a long time, so it's probably where I'll stay.

Your comment about people taking back cases of liquor made me remember our honeymoon 25 years ago. We were coming back from our cruise on the Norway with the requisite two liters of liquor. What a pain. We schlepped it home, it went to four houses with us over the years and we finally got rid of it when we moved back to Maryland from Massachusetts. That was 12 years ago. We are not big drinkers!

Anyway, St Thomas is a wonderful mecca for shoppers. Although there are bargains to be had there as well as St Maarten, I don't think the prices in the islands are really any better than in the US. The high end jewelry and watches are all identically priced in the Caribbean. The prices are set by the manufacturers. There are some things that you just can't find anywhere else. I used to love to bring home the gorgeous embroidered tablecloths from St Thomas and Curacao. Go to Chinatown in NY, Boston or San Francisco, you will probably find the same things.

The tax savings can be significant, but we have had to pay duty on some things over the past few years.

We will be spending some time in San Juan and will explore the shopping opportunities before we sail!

I am very fortunate to be married to someone who loves to shop as much as I do!!

--Judy

[MrsMoose2001]

Thanks Judy, actually it's partially my fault with my ears. I took flying lessons and I flew with colds back then to get in my practice. I flew in jets with colds a big no no. And some people just have more sensitive ears than others.

 

I'm talking way back about 30 years ago when the shopping in St. Thomas was really cheap compared to say NYC. An 18kt gold bracelet that sold for $250 in NYC was $65 in St. Thomas, I remember I bought one, lol.

 

I'm sure the prices have increased with the amount of tourism.

 

San Juan back then had not much in shopping, but now I hear it's all changed.

 

Yes, it's great if your DH loves to shop. Mine loves camera equipemnt. He will shop for casual clothes and stuff like socks and pjs and underwear is relegated to me. He suits and shirts are custom made as he can't buy his size here so it's all made. He has thanks to me learned the pleasure of internet shopping, lol, but usually leaves it up to me to pick out stuff and then he looks at it for casual clothes.

 

Ties, he usually buys when on a trip or I pick up some for him. When I'm in a big city, I shop, he does photography, then we meet up for the cocktail hour, works for me and him, lol.

 

Have a wonderful safe, healthy trip. Enjoy.

 

Oh as for the liquor, I don't bother, we enjoy vodka and wine, but it's not worth the hassle we are only allowed one bottle each. Sometimes if I see a bottle of Vodka that we can't buy here, like Rain, or 90SKKY, I'll buy a bottle if we don't have to much to drag home. Also if it's an unusual bottle of Vodka, or a bottle of wine that I can't get here, then maybe, but don't go out of my way to look for it either. It has to me "in my face" so to speak.

 

enjoy !! BTW, did you find you New Years Eve party?