My Birthday and the Carribean

(our ship, the Norwegian Sun)

As many of you know, I just returned from a cruise to the Western Carribean. It was a glorious respite to the dreary January days. I think I'm going to make it a tradition to get somewhere warm at least once in the winter season.

I'm a firm believer that we're all solar powered and you need to have sun on your skin or at least see sunlight pretty frequently to be happy. (Hence the blog title).

But First, A Birthday Bash

I left Anchorage on my birthday (January 11th) to fly to Miami. Although I almost didn't get out of Anchorage either. On my way home from running some errands, a rouge pallet truck pulled out in front of me, and experienced my first car accident.

I was in such shock, I didn't know what to do. I probably should have chased after him, but I just watched as he drove off and sat there in the middle of traffic. Luckily, Vicky, a nice Christian woman, pulled over and completely took care of me. She said she saw the whole thing and that she would be my witness. She called the police and calmed me down and let me sit in her warm car while we waited for the cops to come.

Thanks be to God for real life Good Samaritans.

Then it was a mad dash to the airport, inbetween birthday phone calls and friends stopping by. My good friend Shug gave me the game Operation, the one I played with such delight as a kid, and I have to say that was the best of the gifts. She also took me to the airport, as she always does. We have an unspoken agreement about this and it's a beautiful arrangement, since either her or I is traveling on a continual basis.

Miami

I got to Miami about noon on Saturday and the first thing I noticed flying in was all the palm trees and white beaches and blue-green waters. It really does exist. I still can't believe you can fly from winter to summer in one day. It's like a time portal.

First thing I had to do when I got off the plane was change out of my winter clothes. Miami was hot! Well, a balmy 80 degrees with humidity. I was ecstatic. I put on my newly purchased flip flops and unwrinkled one of my summer shirts and skirts and was off to the boat in summer attire.



On the Boat

I met up with Wendy and Jamie right before we got on the boat and they pulled us aside for a embarkation picture. Looking at those pics and the after cruise pics are like a study in contrast. Had they not cost an arm and a leg, I would have bought one just to illustrate the snow-white fairness of my winter skin. I feel sorry for the people on the boat that I'm sure wondered if my body had ever seen sun. Nope, I'm from the arctic remember. The sun doesn't play in Alaska in the winter.


On the pool deck, where we spent many an hour


Our little stateroom

We looked around the boat for the 13 restaurants, set up in our tiny state room, and made some last minute calls as we left the port. Mine included filing insurance claims before I left the country. Needless to say I was glad to be out of communication. We all also participated in a mandatory emergency evacuation practice. The life vests were very flattering. Emergency Drill

We departed Miami about 4pm and were on our way to the Carribean. On the deck were the sweet sounds of our Jamaican band playing beach music, people were in swimsuits and flip flops, there was a BBQ and free food everywhere, and it was as if life had transformed.

More to Come on our ports of call: Honduras, Belize, Cozumel, and the Bahamas