One last cruise post.

Happy Friday everyone!  It is SO good to be home.  Gosh, I miss Dennis when I'm gone.  He was so busy while I was away though, that I don't think he even noticed!  Just kidding.  Mandy says he was really lonely.  He has had meetings Monday-Thursday evening last week and this week after work, so I probably could have gone on a two week cruise and he wouldn't have noticed the difference.

So without further ado...here are the last few pictures I have to show you.  All of my pictures were taken with my Iphone so the quality and telephoto opportunities were limited but they still are good enough to remind me of the great time I had which, to me, is the reason for pictures anyway, right?

This was the chairlift from the pier area to the beach at Mahagony Beach in Roatan, Honduras.  We did pay extra to be able to ride the chairlift but the view was worth it.  It was also so hot and humid that avoiding that long, long walk back uphill to the ship was lovely.

This is at the pier in Roatan as the ship was leaving port.  A lot of the workers from the shops and the beach came to see us off as we were the last ship to leave this port for the season.  It's too hot and humid and the ships are now heading to Alaska and the Mediterranean.  They cheered and waved us off.  It was really quite moving when you realize that the people on these cruise ships provide their entire livelihood.  They are truly grateful to the people for coming to Roatan.

A sign.  Pretty self explanatory!  :-)

On Friday night the cruise staff had a talent show for us.  We were given balloons to blow up and toss around like beach balls while we waited for the show to start.  This wasn't a professional show by any means.  We had a prep cook that sang, as well as one of the engine room mechanics that also sang.  The ships doctor played the piano and sang "I AM" a wonderful song about God.  It was so much fun.  There were slip ups and wrong moves and it was a happy, happy evening.

Don't get me wrong.  The nightly song and dance performances by the ships dancers were Broadway quality in my opinion.  I have no idea where they store all of the sets that were used.  A cruise is worth it just for the myriad of entertainment opportunities that are onboard.  When you consider your room, all the food you could possibly imagine consuming and the unbelievable entertainment, a cruise is fantastic value for your money.  I sound like an advertisement.  I'm so sorry.  I just can't believe how much fun I had.

Has anyone seen the move "The Three Amigos" with Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short?  It's one of Dennis' favorite movies.  When I saw this sign from the ship I had to take it for him.

Smack dab in the middle of the restaurant is this bathtub.  I've wanted a claw foot tub ever since we had to leave ours in the first house we owned.  It's the only tub long enough for my legs.  So here it is.  Do you think I can take it home with me?

A very nice lady took this picture of Nita and I.  Unfortunately the "P" was cut off of Puerta Maya. It's still pretty though.  This was also at Cozumel.  We were supposed to swim with the stingrays in Cozumel, but ended up canceling that excursion because of the heat.  It was unbelievably hot this day.  We only stayed in town for a couple of hours and then went back to the ship to swim.  Nita lay by the pool to read while I went back to the room and showered.  Then I found a quiet spot on the very tip top of the ship in the Skywalkers lounge.  No one was there and I knitted and watched the people in the port.  One of my favorite activities is people watching.

It was SO hot Nita decided we needed to ride back to the ship.  It also helps support the local young men who pedal the rickshaws.

Isn't this a gorgeous picture of our ship, the Emerald Princess?  Can you believe it's an Iphone photo?

This year is the 50th anniversary of Princess Cruise Lines.  The ship on the TV series "The Love Boat" was a Princess ship.  Did you know that?  I sure didn't until this week.  There was a big balloon drop in the Piazza the last night of the cruise.  Fun.  There were papers inside some of the balloons for really nice gifts.

Since Nita is an Elite cruiser because of all of her cruising, I was able to attend the Captains Gala with her as her guest.  This is Captain Marco Fortezze.  I actually was able to meet him several times throughout the week.

This is Nita's husband Larry's favorite dessert on the cruise and he made me promise to order it at least once.  He has one every night.  This is a soup size bowl filled with whipped cream, banana's and ice cream and it's called "The Volcano".  It is actually on the children's menu and the other people at our table were laughing when I ordered it.  I could only eat less than 1/2 of it but it was delicious.  I didn't gain any weight while cruising either.  That was a shock considering how much I ate.  I walked a LOT though and I think that helped a lot.

Almost back to Houston.  I saw lots of these oil rigs or platforms.  I'm not sure what they're called.  Happy to be headed home to Dennis, but sad to see the cruise end.

These three young ladies are Tia, (on the left end by me), and her two daughters.  Also Dave from the cruise directors staff and Nita.  This family adopted us and found us everywhere we went.  The young girls seemed to enjoy hanging around with us.  Brittney, the youngest actually cried Saturday night when we said goodbye.  She was hugging me and didn't want to let go.  How sweet is that?  It's been a long, long time since I've been around such genuinely respectful and graceful young women.  Her sister Lisa, won the ships Princess Pop-Star contest, (like the American Idol).  She has a wonderful voice.  The competition was tough so it was nice to see her win.  Their Dad took this picture. 

And so here we are.  Back to my normal life.  Tonight we're headed to the lake for the weekend.  It's supposed to be cool and rainy. Perfect for snuggling in at the trailer and reading, etc.  Dennis needs this day to unwind.  He is giving the sermon on Sunday morning too so he'll have some quiet time to study.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend doing exactly what makes you happy and content.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

Blessings my friends,

Betsy