CRUISING THE OPEN SEA!

We stayed in New Orleans a couple of nights before and after the cruise. It was a nice place to 'visit'. Bourbon Street was a whole different story! In our book - it is a tiny peek at Hell itself! What a mess!! We have NO desire to go back there at any point! On the evening we were walking down that street - there was a group of Christian young people - witnessing and handing out literature. One young man was carrying a tall (probably 8') white cross. I told Stan - "I want to go over to him and ask if I can just take shelter next to him and the 'Cross'." That place was so oppressed with 'EVIL'. It was nearly heart breaking. We went back to our hotel rooms - showered - scrubbed our feet and shoes - said prayers - and tried to get some sleep. I say 'tried' - because there was street construction going on right outside our motel room window!! HA! No exaggeration - they had a huge backhoe that was jack hammering the old asphalt - breaking it up - and then scooping up the pieces and dropping them into a big dump truck - nearly all night long!!! If we hadn't been on vacation - it would have been quite disturbing!!! But by the next morning - that portion of the street was already black topped!! INCREDIBLE!!! No interruption to the heavier day time traffic - they did all the work at night!!! HA!

The REST of New Orleans was great. We did a swamp tour; saw gaters - turtles and many other birds. The food was good - we even tried gater bites, gumbo and beignets! We walked the streets for hours - took the trolley and got to visit so many incredible sites! The history there is breath taking! We had no idea that due to the ground being below sea level - people are not 'buried' there! They are put in above ground 'crypts'. And the houses and buildings have the most amazing iron fencing - and railings! INCREDIBLE! We could have spent a couple more days there! As it was - we never did make it to the area that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. That is something we would have liked to have seen. Maybe next time.

Cruising on the ship was so much fun. We have NO regrets about taking the time (and money) to make this trip happen! We were amazed at how smooth the ride was. None of us even got sea sick at all! SWEET! However, there was a night or two - while deep out to sea - that the ship did get to rocking. But we were ahead of the game and went to bed prepared! 

It was a blast! However, after much reflection - we both came to the same conclusion. It wasn't so much the actual cruise that was so much fun - as it was the people we were with that made it such a great time! We are so blessed - spoiled rotten - to have gotten acquainted with such marvelous - wonderful - loving - kind - thoughtful - (WELL... you get the idea!) people!! We just can't say enough! We became so attached to our friends that were on the cruise with us. We really miss them!

Keith & Jonette -

As I was putting away our 2-way radios this past week, getting them back in their box - tucked back into the storage closet. I just had to turn one of them on - but no matter what channel I tuned into - my little heart was greeted with silence. There was no one taking a 'roll call' of the group or announcing what each person was doing or where they were on the ship! I think I could have shed a tear!

 We have to say it is taking some time, but we are becoming accustomed to eating an entire meal without being asked, 'What are you eating? Are you going to eat that? May I try some?' But occasionally, just for the sake of nostalgia, one of us will ask the other one - "Can I try some of that - on your plate?"

John & Kristal -

Having another couple with us that had never set foot on a cruise ship was such a comfort. (And they are younger than us too!) We no longer felt like the only green horns, newbies or the babies in the bunch!

Just after returning home, we attended a program being held at our local high school. I have to admit - as we entered the auditorium, we glanced around the room - across the sea of red theater chairs - and just for a moment, we were looking to see if John / Kristal might be there holding seats for us!! But alas! - NOT! No one stood and waved their arms at us! **sniff**sniff**

Fred & Crystal - We could watch this couple dance all night! They are AMAZING!

We actually became acquainted with Fred & Crystal a year ago when they graciously shared their vacation in Mazatlan with us! Being with them again on board the cruise was extra special! They were our shining leaders - blazing the way! What perfect examples they set - With over 500 college students on board the ship - Crystal was the 'Queen Bee' - sitting at a table with 10 - 12 college guys - asking them questions, ("Would you be drinking/acting like this if your mother were here?") and advising them on 'life' in general!

We will never again be able to look at our "Qwest" phone bill - w/out thinking of the new game we learned on board ship! And the YMCA song has now become dear to our hearts. It's incredible how debonair a man in a tux can look - But the hard-hat was quite the accessory!

Ron & Gretchen -

Could there be better friends in the world? You can learn so much about people when you travel and room with them. They keep their breath so fresh! (But 2 large bottles of mouth wash - for a 2 week vacation? HA! Come on!!)

We still get to visit with them at LEAST once a week, so that has been helping us get through our 'home sickness' for the rest of our cruising buddies. "We'll see you Wednesday - 6:00? For Mexican dinner at LaRamada - right!?