3/3/2008 At Sea On The Way Back Home. Last Day

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Subject: Monday, March 03, 2008

Monday, March 03, 2008

At Sea On The Way Back Home. Last Day

That’s it. Unless something very unusual happens, This is the end of the blog for this cruise.

Kids, my kids that is. I do have some news for you. You know that picture I sent the other day? The one of me with my girlfriend. Well, I was trying to break it too you gently. I had this feeling something was going to happen to your mom. Last night it happened. She must have fallen off the balcony or something. She cannot be found, but not to worry. She was not wearing any of her jewelry and all of her credit cards are still here. See, I just knew something like that was going to happen. I must be psychic or is it psycho? Whatever.

So you will be getting a new mom. Seeing as how she is younger then any of you, you may not want to call her mom. Her name is Lollipop but I just call her Candy. She must know all about diabetes because she calls me Sugar. She is the social hostess on the ship but she swears she has no social diseases.

She may not be able to pronounce prenuptial, nor has she a clue what it means, but she will sign one. So you are still safe.

Okay, so I’m just bored. Mom is really up there packing and I don’t like to do that kind of stuff. Come to think of it, I can’t think of anything I like to do that might be considered work. So I came down here to check on my mail and my stocks. Looking at the stocks was a very bad idea.

Everybody must be bored because there is a line waiting to use the computers. A woman next to me is playing solitaire and I can see another guy is just sitting in front of the computer doing nothing. Maybe he is asleep. As long as these inconsiderate jerks are just making others wait for no good reason, I will just see if I can waste more time then they can.

By the way. Whatever you do. Don’t mention my little joke about a new mom or you will need a new dad I’m pretty sure.

3/2/2008 Grand Turk, Bahamas

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 9:34 PM

Subject: Sunday, March 02,

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Grand Turk, Bahamas

We didn’t get in until about 1:30 this afternoon. I was very surprised. We have been to this island many times, but not this spot. We had always tendered in to a place about three miles down the coast.

Having the dock was mixed emotions. It is always much easier and quicker to get on and off when docked. However, the waters are shallow here and the ship has to be quite far from shore. It is a fairly long walk where the other spot gets you right to the beach.

This dock and area is only two years old and can only handle one cruise ship at a time. It is very pretty. There are thousands of nice lounges on a white sand beach and clear turquoise water. There is one main building full of junk to buy at the end of the dock. You must walk through to get to the island. Outside there are many more stores and stands. Prices are very high. All is very new and tastefully done. At one end is a Margaretaville overlooking a huge free form pool. It too was beautiful and hardly used. It looked like there was no charge.

Further down there was a covered area with benches. There were huge parking lots where you would pick up vehicles for tours. The taxis were from only one company or organization. They were highly overpriced and they wanted to cram in as many as possible.

We just walked around everything, took a walk to the beach, and went back after an hour or so.

At the other location, they had a few stores and some more rustic buildings. One was a big kitchen that the ship had used for a BBQ lunch that had been a lot of fun. I forget which cruise we last did that on.

3/1/2008 San Juan, Puerto Rico

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 8:39 PM

Subject: Saturday, March 01, 2008

Saturday, March 01, 2008

San Juan, Puerto Rico

At about 9:00 this morning, we cruised by the old fort at the harbor entrance, as we have so many times before. It is always a beautiful sight.

Soon after we were docked at the main terminal building. On the other side of the dock, sharing the same terminal building, was the Crown Princess.

We all had to go through US customs and then we were supposed to go on a tour, with lunch provided, by Virtuoso. Their tours used to be great. This one was the pits.

After walking about three blocks we had to fight our way out of the terminal building. The Princess terminates it’s cruise here and all 3,000 passengers were in line and standing in my way to get out.

Once out and after standing for a long time we were loaded onto a mini bus without enough seats. I cannot sit cramped for any length of time and the Woman from Virtuoso was a bitch anyhow, so we left. Their tours used to be the finest. This was mismanaged crap. I am sure the representative couple was at least partly responsible for ordering transportation for the wrong number of people. However, we are use to having luxury tours and at any rate, the mini bus was poor and had uncomfortable seats.

As I mentioned, we have been here many, many times and have seen anything we ever heard of, within distance of a day tour. So we will just see what’s happening on board.

This evening we were invited to the food and beverage managers table. The hotel manager enjoys me so much, he also joined us for the third time.

Today the company vice president came aboard. He says he met us at the Biltmore Hotel when the cruise was first starting. I do not remember him at all.

He was very jealous of all the others who have had the honor of dining with the wonderfulness of myself. He saw that the company CEO, Mark Conroy, had the good fortune of being able to dine with us at the Biltmore and he wanted to also have such a high honor. I let him beg for awhile and then finally agreed to have dinner with him tomorrow evening. I really am too good to these people.

I still do not know what my attraction is. I thought it had been the tux but tonight was not even formal. It must be the fact I eat so well. That must be the reason they all want me.

2/29/2008 Dominica

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 2:45 PM

Subject: Friday, February 29

Friday, February 29, 2008

Dominica

We arrived early this morning about 6:45 and just as scheduled we docked, NOT. It clearly says we were supposed to dock, in several places, including the ship’s daily news and activity paper, Passages. Of course there is no announcement and no one at the desk knows anything. They will announce, over the loud speakers, what the depth of the water is and very important stuff like that but when there is a major screw up, like today, you would think the public address system has been thrown overboard. There has not been even a squeak. Not even the daily noon report of the water depth and other stuff no one ever cares about. They are all hiding because there has either been a screw up or they decided to save 45 cents and not dock.

We have been here many times and there is nothing to see nor anywhere to walk near the docks. It is a small island but very mountainous and jungley. Really pretty. There are hikes to waterfalls but they are mud trails with many trees and other obstacles to crawl over. The best thing here is probably the tram that goes through a very dense rain forest at tree top levels. It is a new very good and well built ski lift type ride in small gondolas. It is almost always raining there but beautiful.

The local people here are not real friendly and even the tourist guides can be rather aggressive, so we didn’t have to take another uncomfortable tender ride to nowhere. Besides, Bobbi has not been feeling too well the last few days. She started taking antibiotics and they usually don’t completely agree with her. I hope she is okay tomorrow. We have a real nice freebee from Virtuoso, in San Juan.

Finally, when we were about half an hour late in leaving, the captain did come on the address system to say there had been a medical emergency and we would be leaving soon and would not be late getting into San Juan tomorrow. That was at about 12:30 PM and we left at 1:00 PM. No one has yet mentioned why we didn’t dock. The cruise director has not been heard from period.

Bobbi took some pictures from the balcony. Even the ones that look like close ups have been taken from quite a way out from the island.

2/28/2008 Barbados

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 7:36 PM

Subject: Thursday 2/28/08

Thursday 2/28/08

Barbados

We docked early this morning and got on a shuttle to the end of the dock, to a tourist building. It is full of stores with all kinds of tourist junk. Most of the stores are the same as they have been for many years. Bobbi does like the Barbados rum cakes and she bought some of those to take home. She also found a place selling her perfume and spent a fortune on that stinky stuff.

At about two this afternoon we had a ship sponsored event for all who took the whole around South America cruise. We went back to the cruise terminal and boarded buses at the opposite side. It was about a forty five minute trip to a polo club in the center of the island.

The club was very nice and we had no idea a polo field was so huge. 300 yards by 160 yards. Slightly larger then 9 football fields. 10 acres. It was something to see especially for the first time, but it will never become my favorite sport.

They didn’t whack each other with those sticks like they do in hockey and only one guy got knocked off his horse and had to have an ambulance. I did start to get interested for a minute there when they said hooking was legal, but then I found out that only meant holding someone with your stick or hammer or whatever they call it.

I think the high point was when two dogs ran onto the field and they tried to chase them off. The dogs were faster then the horses and they thought it was a good game.

The announcer showed up about twenty minutes late and well into the game. He may have been a few sheets to the wind as he insulted every player on the field. He was very funny though. He did explain that it was not illegal to drink and drive on Barbados but he was definitely against it. It seems the roads are not in good shape and he keeps spilling his drinks on himself when he hits bumps.

The place was very pretty and they fed us continually. There was also an open bar for our group. We had a very good time. I’ve always liked Barbados.

2/27/2008 Out In The Water Trying To Get To Barbados

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 8:43 PM
Subject: Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Out In The Water Trying To Get To Barbados

Last night we were invited to dinner with the new couple from Virtuoso. We joined them and another nice couple at Latitudes. The Virtuoso couple does not eat pork. I have no idea why they picked this restaurant. They could see it was Indochine and there was good stuff like ribs included. I had a good time though. I really bummed out the lady from Virtuoso. I am sure she is really sorry she ever met me, but that happens quite often. I am use to it and in fact I think I really enjoy it.

When she kept refusing the pork stuff, I asked if she eats Chinese at home. She, of course, said yes. I then, gleefully, explained that we use to rent stores to Chinese restaurants. Every one of them used the same thing when anything was fried. Oscar Meyer lard. She tried to pretend this news was no big deal but I could see her turning green. She also got quiet for awhile. Then I definitely got this feeling that she didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. Ahhh. That made my evening.

Pam wrote a couple of days ago. That’s the lady that is taking care of Spike. She says he is much better. He went out to eat with Pam and his girl friend in her new carriage the other night. She is the brunet sitting next to Spike. Her name is Zoie and she is adorable. Her mommy is Pam but I think she is adopted too. I don’t think she knows she may be adopted, so don’t say anything. Actually, she acts a lot more like Spike then Pam. Whenever I see her, like Spike, she rolls over on her back and likes her belly to be scratched. Pam never does that, as least as far as I have seen.

Tonight we had dinner with the cruise director, Brian and the assistant cruise director, David but maybe I have that name wrong. Some people that have been with us for the last few cruises were waiting for some fireworks, but it just didn’t happen. Brian was as gracious and nice as anyone could be. You might even say, sweet. As a matter of fact, I did tell him, quite forcibly, DON’T KISS ME. The whole dinner was like that. I did speak to him for some time and whatever I said, he was very nice and he even laughed at some of my lousy remarks. I guess this is a non story fellow cruisers.

Today we received another dinner invitation. This time it is with the food and beverage manager. I think I figured why I get all these invitations and only on formal nights. I have one of the few tuxedos aboard. That must be it.

I have gotten the comment that it sounds like all I do is eat. That is totally untrue. At most, I only eat half the time. The rest of the time I have been in the bathroom lately. I have taken some pills and maybe I’ll be better soon and then I will be able to spend more time eating.

Today I got an email from a friend. There have been several questions along this same line so I thought I might share it with you. The first part is the question and the second part is my answer. I hope it answers your question too.

Does your computer work again or are you in the computer lab in your underwear?
My computer needs a part and cannot be repaired until I get home. I have underwear that looks like shorts and a t shirt. Yes I am in my underwear but they don't know. They just think my mommy dresses me funny.

2/26/2008 Still At Sea Getting To Devils Island About Noon

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Subject: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Still At Sea Getting To Devils Island About Noon

Bobbi said I could try to continue writing by going down to the computer club and type there. I did give it a try but I don’t think it is going to work.

I wasn’t there ten minutes and they threw me out and said I couldn’t come back unless I abide by their rules. It seems you must remain fully dressed while there. I have found that I type much better while in my underwear. They say I can’t do that anymore so I guess this may be it.

Last year they couldn’t stop at Devil’s Island because of bad weather. I know it is always rough here. That’s how they kept prisoners here.

We were there about eight years ago when we last did the Amazon. It is still French and is even on its own time. We were in a ship about half the size then and it was still hard to find a spot were we could drop anchor. Actually, no one goes on Devil’s Island. We go on Isle Royal. That is where the prison was. Devils Island is where prisoners were sent after they did their time in the prison. Only a small row boat could land there and then only once or twice a month.

When we were there last, it was a bright sunny day. The old brick prison was mostly fallen down or caved in. Only a very small portion was saved for display. Still, what was left still standing was very interesting. I remembered it as a nice walk on a dirt path. Maybe forty five minutes is all it took to walk around the prison. There is a small museum with a story from the French that claims the book Papillion is totally untrue. It is very hot and jungle covered but we could see Devil’s Island very clearly.

It has been raining hard most of the night and this morning. Even if we can land and send tenders, I am not about to walk around in wet mud.

The weather was beautiful. The calmest I have ever seen, in this part of the Atlantic, in the many time I have passed here. We did go ashore in a tender, walked around a little, and quit.

As I said, we had been here before and it was about 95 degrees in the shade and there was not much of that. I was not about to climb stairs and go up hills after already walking about two blocks. So we went back, took very much need showers, and I am trying to figure how to send pictures on the ships computers. They have all kinds of stuff to make that almost impossible but here goes a try.

2/25/2007 At Sea On The Way To Devil’s Island

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Subject: Monday, February 25, 2008

Monday, February 25, 2008

At Sea On The Way To Devil’s Island

Depending upon how you look at it, I have good or bad news. My computer died. This is the end of the blog for this year. Okay, don’t be so sad or is it wild with joy?

I can’t go down to the computer room to type the blog, but I will go down from time to time to look for email. So, if you write to us, we will get it sooner or later. We will be getting home on March fourth. That’s just about eight days from now.

If it is something important, we can still call you, but please send your phone number. Our phone list is on the non working computer.

2/24/2008 Santarem, Brazil

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Subject: Sunday, February 24, 2008

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Santarem, Brazil

This is our last stop on the Amazon. We got here at about 7:00 in the morning and the ship was tied up, cleared by customs, and ready to disgorge us by about 8:30.

This was another town whose highlights were nothing,or maybe less. However, it does sit on the conflux of some huge rivers. We took a tour on one of those double decked, river queen type boats. It picked us up right across the dock from the ship. We did have to walk through another river boat to get onto this one.

Our guide was very knowledgeable but we heard very little. The speaker system was far too soft for the loud engines and the guide had a speech impediment.

One thing we are still not sure, is where his ancestors came from. It sounded like he said they were Jews from Morocco. There were Jesuits in the area that were early settlers and he did mention Jesuits several times. We had decided he must have said Jesuits from Morocco. Later when we got back to the ship, we see there is A Hebrew word written in large letters, in a booklet he was selling. Now we are really confused.

Again, the tour took us to a spot where two different rivers and different waters met. There was a big difference in colors here too. The big river boat took us down some very tiny and shallow waterways that had been dry land just a month ago. It got to be very deep jungle. Excuse me. We have been informed, by the Mariner’s on board expert, that the word jungle is no longer politically correct. Jungle congers up evil, dangerous and foreboding thoughts. The correct term is now, rain forest. Same definition, more beautiful thoughts. Okay. More bull.

The guide kept calling out the different birds we saw as we went along. He was calling the Snowy Egrets, Snowy Egrets, jut as we do back home. We saw some very large Iguanas and a few birds I don’t think we see in Florida. However, the day we left from Ft. Lauderdale, was supposed to be the coldest day in five years.

The Miami area is overloaded with Iguanas that were let loose and have over populated since they have no natural enemies. When it got really cold, these things were falling out of trees and bushes as if it were raining Iguanas. If you go for a boat ride into the Everglades, you will see hundreds or maybe thousands of birds in the same amount of time. You will also see dozens of Alligators. Twelve to fifteen foot long alligators are not uncommon. The Cayman here, only get to be about eight feet and we never saw any. They hide. Alligators don’t care if you see them.

It was still a very interesting ride through this RAIN FOREST. We got so close to the sides that we were hitting branches of trees. We saw locals fishing in small canoes and we saw many houses and live stock farms abandoned because of the high waters. At times I knew the captain was pulling the boat out of gear so we could break our way across areas of fallen trees and other heavy plants. Every once in awhile he would have to throw the engines in reverse and gun them to remove the build up of foreign objects from the propellers.

After a while the captain put the nose of the boat into a grass bank and they got out the fishing gear. Just like the last time were here, eight years ago, they were handing us hand lines bated with beef. This time there was clear monofilament line rather then the string we were given in the past. That last time we were the only boat fishing. This time I think there eight and all not far away. We were fishing for Paraná in the shallows. There were very few caught, three I think. They were all tiny except the last one. It was just small. The last time we caught a bunch and many more chewed off the line before we could get them aboard. I think the monofilament was too slippery for them to bite off or we didn’t get enough hits to give them a chance. At any rate, they released all that were caught. The guide did tell us stories of witnessing people getting eaten by these Parana. One when the dummy went swimming while they were cleaning fish at the rear of the boat and another where someone got cut as they fell into the river.

It really was a very pleasant ride through the rain forest jungle. These things I would do again. Maybe I will hire an air boat in the glades when we get back. It is a great way to spend a day.

We got back to the ship by about 12:30 and at about 1:00 PM we were moving down the river while we had lunch. Speaking of food, Richard Fenn, the hotel manager, obviously didn’t get enough of us the last time and has sent an invitation to join him for dinner again tonight. I would hate to see a grown man cry, besides he orders some really good expensive wine. So I said okay. Just this one last time.