LIVE LIVE LIVE from the MARINER with MERION MOM for 53 DAYS!!!

[Merion_Mom]

Hey Carol, is Marc a white, bald guy from like..Kentucky? I guess that isn't the best description, but you'd know him if it was. He was on the Mariner last summer and was awesome.

 

OH! and get well soon!

 

Mississippi. I adore him. :D

[Merion_Mom]

Merrion_mom, sorry to hear your illness.

 

I just have to ask, why does Abe think Ken Rush filling in for him is hilarious? After living in Nebraska for 10 years I can understand why he would time his vacations like he does. :)

 

For those that mentioned "Show your signature", thanks. I have never noticed it before.

 

Because Ken Rush is the one who trained HIM, and now Ken is "filling in" for him. Sort of a reverse mentor-trainee thing. :)

[Merion_Mom]

Hi Carol: Sorry about the germs - I came down with the same crap our first day in Valpariso - we got home late Wed. nite (11:30 pm) after traveling for over 40 hours (starting with our 6 am wake-up call on Feb. 3rd). back home to 4 feet of snow and -6

temps Thursday morning - talk about a reality check!! I have spent the last 3 days in bed - haven't even unpacked yet. Sure hope I can shake this bug quickly - DH made me

a huge pot of "jewish penicillin" which is helping already. Take care and say Hello to all for us.

 

Hey, Sherrie - you are missing a great final two weeks! Today we cross the Equator again!!!!

[Merion_Mom]

What is the general way people are dressing? Are there flowery shirts like on a Caribbean cruise, or is is more subdued? Are dinners more dressy or just as casual? We need to know how to pack for our upcoming around the horn cruise (already know about layering, etc.)

Thanks.

 

Anything goes.

 

Most people dress quite nicely for dinner.

 

Formal night is formal, although not everyone has the same internal definition of "formal."

 

I see almost nothing "inappropriate" for its setting.

 

Lots of Caribbean wear around the ship, and there are lots of "casual" nights in the MDR.

 

It's like any other cruise. :)

[Merion_Mom]

Are you guys all ok out there? It's been eerily quiet....

 

Let's hope it's "just" the Internet going kerflooey.

 

You are right, Jean.

 

Double whammy.

 

I'm "all better" now, but the internet wouldn't function last night, or today until just now.

 

I managed to upload to webshots, but then spent an hour logging on & being kicked off. I finally gave up after that fruitless hour.

 

I went up to Deck 11 to take a glance at the "equator-crossing t-shirts" for sale. There is a HUGE crowd, and I won't deal with that. Maybe later.

[Merion_Mom]

i was thinking the internet is down because nobody is posting anyplace.

northern peru had a 6.1 earthquake but that shouldn't affect them.

paul said he was going to compose a report in word and post it but that was several days ago....and nothing.:confused:

 

Paul has been under the weather. I hope that he feels up to posting today.

 

We took a huge group picture yesterday, and as soon as I get my hands on it, I'll post it here and try to get LauraS to post it on the front page of CC.

[Merion_Mom]

My guess is that they are in a dead area. For a couple of days going around the horn the satellite was such that there was no (or little) TV and/or internet. I always checked the TV before going on the computers and if it was spotty, I waited.

 

Hi, Barb! <waving madly>

 

Thanks for your help. Big party in the RFS tomorrow!!!!!!! ;)

[Merion_Mom]

Carol...hope you are feeling better. I wasn't on for a while because i was down in your neck of the woods visiting my DD. It was a beautiful day in Philly on Sat. Most of their 8 inches of snow has melted!!:eek:

 

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Merion_Mom]

This is all observational. There is NO official report.

 

1. A large percentage of the passengers have been sick at some point since January 4th.

 

2. Most are at worst bad colds, sore throats or sinus messes.

 

3. Many are bronchitis.

 

4. A few are pneumonia.

 

5. Most have self-medicated, since many brought their own antibiotics onboard in the first place, or have bought in South American ports. You can purchase almost anything you want without a prescription.

 

6. When you go to an elevator lobby and look at the lights to see where the elevator is now, it often says "1". The only thing on "1" for passengers is the infirmary.

 

7. My bill was $249, which included the doctor's visit, nurse's check-in, 3x dosage nebulizer treatment, a bottle of cough syrup and a packet of general motrin-like stuff. (I had my own Levaquin, an antibiotic). I happen to think that that's not bad. The people who have big bills are those who need intravenous antibiotics and/or repeated nebulizer treatments.

 

8. Yes, drowning the litter buggers probably helped, too.

[Merion_Mom]

I told you about the "Royal Caribbean International Film Festival 2009".

 

They have been showing musical movies on sea days, with introductions, and some related entertainment (like the RC dancers doing an "All That Jazz" number from Chicago), and Q & A with people like Rusty.

 

Today's movie is "Young Frankenstein".

 

We now have onboard..................................

 

CLORIS LEACHMAN.

 

She has been walking around, and chatting with passengers (I haven't seen her yet myself), and she had dinner at the Captain's table last night. Abe was fake-complaining on his morning show that he wasn't invited.

 

After the movie, she'll do a Q & A session in the Savoy Theatre. I'm going. It's one of my all-time favorite movies anyway. (according to the Cruise Compass, it's #13 on the AFI's list of funniest movies)

 

Later to come...............CAROL CHANNING.

[NorbertsNiece]

Carol :D

Glad to see you back online and in good form. We have missed you. Thank you so much for taking the time and expense to keep us in touch.

[Merion_Mom]

Most of the Hornblowers went off on their own in this port. Many groups formed with different destinations or interests.

 

I was part of a group of six that nabbed a van and driver at the port. The sticking point, that seemed to confuse some, is that the TAXIS (regular size cars) had English-speaking drivers, but the vans only had NON-English speaking drivers.

 

Since I know some Spanish, we gladly grabbed a van and took off.

 

The ship actually docked in Callou, the port town for Lima.

 

It was about a 35 minute ride into the middle of Lima.

 

He drove us around the city, seeing some nice places. Then we parked in the central area and walked around. We saw the changing of the guard at the presidential palace (a little too much goose-stepping for my personal taste) and went inside a church, the church of San Franciso.

 

A mass was being conducted, but there was no control or limit on the tourists. I thought that it was horribly rude and intrusive, so I left, and the others came out, too.

 

We walked around and took some pictures, then went into a little market. I helped everyone negotiate prices and other communication issues, and we moved on. We got some good buys and some cute trinkets.

 

Daryl wanted a cold Coke Zero, which the parking lot attendant was selling. She would NOT take an American dollar, even though it was a good bit more than the price in Peruvian soles. I asked our driver, Grita, for dos soles, which he cheerfully gave me, without hesitation or question. Daryl gave him the dollar, gave the woman the soles, and she got her Coke. Everyone was happy. :D

 

Then we drove out of the city, to the Barranco section on the coast. It was beautifl. He took us to a very very very very nice restaurant on the seaside. We could have had the incredibly huge and appealing buffet for $30 each, but opted for less food and table service.

 

It was WONDERFUL.

 

Our table was right by the windows overlooking the beach. We were a few feet away from the people on the beach, and looked out over a sea (pardon the pun) of beach umbrellas. No butt floss here - it's not Brazil. ;)

 

Don and Pat each ordered the crab claw platter. I have a picture, but can't show you until I am using my own computer, not this ship's computer. Daryl had a humongous steak, which everyone sampled, and it was YUMMY. Patrick had some platter, but I forget exactly what was on it. I had a local seafood specialty, which was two huge pieces of seabass, many scallops (complete as they come out of the shell, NOT the way they serve them in the U.S.) and shrimp, in a wonderful tomato and wine sauce, with a huge mound of risotto. I have a pic of that, too, and will try to post later today.

 

Much food was left on plates. It was just too much food!

 

Don had two local beers - Cusquena Cerveza, from Cuzco. I had a glass of local COLD crisp white wine. Perfect with my seafood.

 

On we went, to Miraflores. There are MANY Inca markets there, and we went to one. Many things were purchased, but none by me - I just couldn't make up my mind!! :( The group wanted to get going, so off we went again to..................

 

A farmacia. Drugs were purchased. :D

 

A supermercado. Gin was purchased. :D

 

Then back to the ship, after a full and satisfying day in Peru.

[Merion_Mom]

We are now tied for first place for the third leg.

 

I have no information on the three-leg standings, because I don't know if the team with which we are now tied is the second leg winner or not.

[truffles2]

Hi, Barb! <waving madly>

 

Thanks for your help. Big party in the RFS tomorrow!!!!!!! ;)

 

Welcome back Carol (waving madly back and wishing we were still there).

How could you have gotten a germ with all that fruit (mangos and pears!:D)?

Guess who has scratchy throats! (cough, cough):rolleyes:

[Eddiesmom]

Carol, I hope you post all your photos when you return. I can't wait to see them and I'm so looking forward to meeting you on the Mariner April 19th.:)

[wrp96]

Carol!!! Thanks for the updates!!! As you can tell, you've been missed.

[rubrrick]

Good afternoon all. I'm borrowing Zu's computer.......thanks Susan!!

 

The internet onboard continues to give everyone problems...it's quite intermittent. We are now about 3 hours south of the Equator, and I'm sure that Captain Johnny has something up his sleeve..........being in cohoots with King Neptune!! I hope that Carol is holding on...we don't have permission yet from the infamous Sea King to cross back into the northern Hemisphere!!

 

Carol has had a terrible respatory infection...but is much better today. A bug is going around the ship, with many that have wound up with pneumonia, or lessor infections. Bobbie and I are well............and intend to stay that way.

 

The crew are working round the clock to make sure that the Mariner is ready for the Big Brass of Royal Caribbean to come aboard in Acapulco. By the way...the seas remain calm, and have really been calm for the past 38 days. I'm sorry that I didn't sneak aboard in Rio, but this portion of the trip is also great.

 

When we get into Costa Rica, I'll find an internet, where I can start to catch up with the LIVE, LIVE thread. I saw Carol awhile ago, in the internet area, writing to all of her fans, and answering emails. By the way, Patrick has done an increadible job of putting together two DVD's of each leg of this historic voyage. I know that the next (and last) one will be his best yet.

 

Yesterday was the slot pull....and I think that the Casino saw us coming.....as we lost about 50% of what we put in. Oh, well.

 

More later,

 

Rick

[nlcentralchmps03]

Mississippi. I adore him. :D

Omg.

 

He was so great. He got off after my second cruise in June to go to the Sovereign. I'm glad he is back. He really was outstanding. Hope he stays on until June :cool:

[wrp96]

Hey Rick!!! Thanks for making that delivery for me! We've been missing you too!!

[wolfcathorse]

Carol, try and get a picture of Capt Johnny with you-know-what. Like you did with Capt Sullivan!

[Lynn the Cruiser]

I guess with a cruise that long at this time of the year, you would expect some sickness, just as we have lots of sickness in my school now. In fact some schools closed for a few days because of it. Some have the flu and others have the respiratory thing. Glad you are feeling better, Carol, and that your bill wasn't too bad!!!!

[INeedAShot]

Happy birthday, dave!

[HRHPrinceJim]

It's good to have Carol back with us and Rick reporting in as well! :D

[IBookHePays]

I agree! I don't even know these people and I was getting worried :eek::D

[Merion_Mom]

Something very weird is going on EITHER with the ship's internet or the CC website.

 

I can use my own computer and log-in and upload photos to webshots.

 

When I try to visit CC, I get kicked offline.

 

REPEATEDLY.

 

I have been trying for half an hour to get on here and post photos. I have given up, and am up on Deck 8 in the internet café just writing to you.

 

Quite the mystery.

 

Anyway, Cloris Leachman was great. I have cool pictures to share...........some day. Tomorrow, she will perform a one-woman show at 2 P.M.

 

 

So, Young Frankenstein was as funny as ever.

 

Some people asked really um, stupid questions afterwards.

 

For example, one person asked Cloris which was her most memorable role. About five minutes later, someone asked her which was her most memorable role. HUH?????

 

Here's my favorite:

 

Someone actually asked her, after about twenty minutes of her irreverent and rollicking quips and remarks, "Did you enjoy making Young Frankenstein?" She thought for about a nanosecond and said, "Nah. I shoulda stayed in bed."