watch your step

One thing I’ve learned about cruise ships is that it’s seemingly impossible to pass a threshold that is level with the floor. Being somewhat of a klutz naturally and a feet dragger at that, I end up tripping a lot. As I braced myself against a railing on one such occasion, I noticed that – on the raised part – it said “watch your step.” Now, if I were already looking DOWN, I wouldn’t have to “watch my step.” I’d know it was there. The most useful thing to do would be to post such a warning at EYE LEVEL, but then you’d end up defacing the entire ship. What to do?

setting sail

We departed from Canada Place in Vancouver, B.C. yesterday evening. Setting sail was much more exciting than I imagined, mostly because we had some great views of the city and other boats as we shoved off. Maybe it’s because you’re not really cruising yet if you’re still in port.

Here are a few pics of my traveling buddies: Joyce (Jim’s mom) and Jason (L) and Jim (R). Oh, and that’s me, too! Plus a couple others for all to enjoy!

now, with that last behind me ...

Have I mentioned how excited I am to be getting on a cruise ship today? We're traveling on the Carnival Spirit, one of their "fun ship" cruises. I think they have a mascot that roams the boat and terrorizes the children and everything! After we go through safety drills (mandatory) we shove off around 5pm for Ketchikan. Then this trip will really get into gear.

Last night we ate at a place called Original Joe's. I had an awesome local beer on "special" (only $4.50 for a "real pint," which my server informed me was 20 oz. not the standard 16 oz.) and Alaskan halibut with sweet potato fries (otherwise known as fish and chips). I got three deep-fried, golden fillets each as large as my head and about three pounds of fries. So I deconstructed one fillet and had the TEN fries I let myself have on occasion and left lots of food. Jim told me to get used to it, as there will be lots of extra food on the ship, too. I'll never understand gargantuan portion sizes, but it is nice to see that happen outside the U.S.!

for my own good

This morning, Bank of America alerted me - by email - that there has been irregular use on my debit card and that I have to call them before I continue using the card. Well, I just so happened to check my email account this morning, as I am in a bakery with free wifi. But my cellphone is charging back at the hotel. So I am doing a "live chat" with a customer service rep and will hopefully clear this up. While it is comforting in one sense that my account activity is being so closely monitored (me being here for less than 12 hours at this point), their notification method could use some work. People (not me) do travel without laptops and to remote places (much farther afield than Vancouver, B.C.) where they can't check email. Oh, and Raymond tells me that he can't resolve the issue through live chat, I do have to call. Which I'll do when I reunite with my cellphone. Big brother is watching out for me for my own good. Here endeth my first (and hopefully last) grumbling post.

San Francisco Legends

I'm in the SFO airport, catching my breath after hopping an
"air train" (which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, when you think about it - trains not being particularly aerodynamic) to get to Terminal 3 for my Alaskan Airlines flight to Vancouver. I don't do so well with transfers and such as I travel (stress-ola), but I arrived with blood pressure elevated only to learn that my flight is delayed. By ten minutes, at current estimate.

So I'm hanging out in the Legends of San Francisco Bar and Grill, sipping a fine vintage from one of MY favorite San Francisco legends: the Ravenswood winery in the Sonoma valley. A red zin, "with forward flavors" as the table tent card notes. I've paired this with a turkey and swiss panini on focaccia bread. Of course, I am eating this open-faced. With the sundried tomato pesto base, it tastes like a club sandwich pizza. Which goes well with wine. Cheers!

tap, tap, tap ...

Is this thing on?

I'm in a posh Samsung internet haven tucked in Terminal A here in DFW. I made it through the check-in process and security without a scratch. Hopefully, my connection in SFO and the flight to Vancouver will go as smoothly. I'm on my way!

In Vancouver to greet me will be Jason (pictured at left), one of my bestest buds, his partner Jim and Jim's mom, Joyce. Jason worked with me at Thousand Trails before he abandoned me a year before I flew THAT coop to join Jim in San Diego. They invited me to join them on this voyage to celebrate Joyce's retirement. We put down deposits a year ago; I've been anticipating the trip ever since. Seeing Alaska has been a dream of mine since I did a fourth grade project about the state. So ... the three Js and I plan to have an awesome time. Keep on checkin' the blog for all the latest happenings as I travel, and thanks for stopping by!