We don't wanna go home!!! Nov 1-8, 2008 Magic Western

[Forever42]

Oh, good- I am glad to hear you're going over to St John. It feels the way an island in the Caribbean should...laid back and untouched. We like to hike around there when we go, too- it's spectacular, one glorious, gorgeous vista after another. Hope you'll do a TR!!!

And thanks for wishing me HB!

You're making me even more excited, if that's possible!

And yes, I absolutely plan on doing a TR - I have a sorta pre-TR floating around here that I'll update when we get back. I'm trying to make a list of ALL the things that I know I wondered about, to take notes/pictures, so I can have just as detailed a TR as you.

And woohoo, two updates in one day!

 

[LauraLap]

Hey, we actually had Christian and Ranzil too just last week on the Nov 15th cruise. Weren't they great??

 

[podsnel]

You're making me even more excited, if that's possible!

And yes, I absolutely plan on doing a TR - I have a sorta pre-TR floating around here that I'll update when we get back. I'm trying to make a list of ALL the things that I know I wondered about, to take notes/pictures, so I can have just as detailed a TR as you.

And woohoo, two updates in one day!

I might actually have a third....I like to do my TR's before I forget everything, or before I go on another vacation and get confused! So that actually gives me until the middle of January to finish- because that's when I'm going to St John. Glad I can help add to your excitement!!!

Hey, we actually had Christian and Ranzil too just last week on the Nov 15th cruise. Weren't they great??

Oh, I LOVE seeeing those guys!!!!! And yes, they WERE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TigerKat]

I have to admit that I've never been the least bit interested in a cruise before but my dear El you're getting me to thinking about it!

 

[podsnel]

I awoke to our day at sea full of vitality and vigor, going to bed early the night before really did wonders! I ran outside to see the view of Cuba-

The view of Cuba never grows old, even though this is pretty much it for a whole day, it's just that IT'S CUBA!!!!!! Kind of cool to see it so close.

I took a quick walk upstairs to deck 9 to get a cup of coffee, and the ship felt deserted-

DS11 was up soon after I was, and I asked him if he'd like to go for a walk on the jogging track with his Mom, and maybe play some shuffleboard. I got an enthusiastic YES!!!! as DS11 had been bugging us about playing shuffleboard the whole time we had been onboard.

It was nice to be on that jogging track when I wasn't desperate to be somewhere else!!

Something you don't see everyday, unless you spend a lot of time on the jogging track (which lately, I was guilty of, even if not always by choice).

We went around the deck for several laps, and there were a lot of joggers and walkers out there (as compared to my experience in solitude the night before). Everyone seemed so happy! Everyone seemed so sweaty!

DS11 and I finally stopped to fufill his dream of shuffleboard on the high seas.

We were having so much fun, until this guy came running right through the middle of our game with an absolute disregard and disrespect for the sport of shuffling.

Not once, not twice, but several times, completely annhilating our concentration and focus and even knocking one of us to the ground!! Who knew shuffleboard was a contact sport?!

I wasn't trying to, but I won, proving ONCE AGAIN once and for all who the fairer/smarter/more skillful sex is in our house. Ahem.

We had worked up an appetite(what with the tackling and all) and went to Topsiders- where DS11 was finished with me and his brekkie in favor of OQ in less than 3 minutes.

Next- it's a sea day, time to be pampered!!!!

 

[wuv tigger]

wonderful pix

Thanks for taking us back to the MAGIC!

 

[cindy18]

I just want to say that this is an absolutely terrific trip report. We're on the western in March, and we're about to make the final payment and start thinking about booking things. Your Key West stuff made me definitely want to rent an electric car and explore the town. Keep the report coming. It's just making me more and more excited for our trip! And thanks!!

 

[OhMari]

Hi,
I made my way over here. I've never been on The Cruise ship forum board. Shame on me.
Looking forward to reading this.

You should copy/paste it to my board.

I think a dual one would be okay.

My boys watched the advertising for a Cruise on our POR tv,
and they told me, they want to go on a Cruise, but not a Disney Cruise.

It was good to meet, you even though we didn't have much time to talk. I don't know who organized the meet, but Camster invited me a week before we left, so I was a last minute person.

OhMari

I am back after reading this, "I am so going to win the war and get us on a Disney Cruise".

 

[UGAFan0829]

Thought they might like one of those electric cars for a couple of hours, so I arranged for one through Tropical Rentals. I called TR when we got off the ship, and they picked us up and took us to their agency. They were actually right around the corner from the southernmost, so we waited to start our 2 hour rental until after we had walked over to take the obligatory Key West pic-

After the DSs scouted the water for Cubans, and I don't mean cigars, we picked up our electric car and headed out for our Key West adventure in "WHERE'S the PARKING?"

I'm glad that you talked about this...We've been thinking of getting an electric car when we're there as well. But after looking at lots of pics of Key West, I was wondering about the parking. How did it work out for y'all? Do you think we'd be better off to walk? I don't know a lot about where everything's at in KW, but I know that there are several places that we're thinking of trying to visit, such as the Southernmost point, the Hemingway House, Hard Rock, Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's, The Hog's Breath and maybe The Key Lime place. Do you think we'd be able to walk to all these places, or would we need a car?

Reading your report is not only very exciting since we're doing the same ports at the same time of year we'll be going, but it's really helpful reading about what you guys did. Can't wait for more!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Awesome updates, Ellen!! How did DS11 like shuffleboard? Our DS11 would like to try that as well.....but just like you, I think I would have to "school" him!!! And what's up with the insensitive passer by? Geeessh!!

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I'm really enjoying your report! We are going on a 7 night Western this summer ... I'm really getting psyched!!!

 

[scriv2]

Love your TR so far!! We are also booked on the Oct 30, 2010 cruise and can't wait! We did a 4 nite this past August and am looking forward to the 7 nite western.

 

[podsnel]

wonderful pix

Thanks for taking us back to the MAGIC!

You're welcome!

I just want to say that this is an absolutely terrific trip report. We're on the western in March, and we're about to make the final payment and start thinking about booking things. Your Key West stuff made me definitely want to rent an electric car and explore the town. Keep the report coming. It's just making me more and more excited for our trip! And thanks!!

That's great! Key West is a lot of fun- you'll have a blast!

Hi,
I made my way over here. I've never been on The Cruise ship forum board. Shame on me.
Looking forward to reading this.

You should copy/paste it to my board.

I think a dual one would be okay.

My boys watched the advertising for a Cruise on our POR tv,
and they told me, they want to go on a Cruise, but not a Disney Cruise.

It was good to meet, you even though we didn't have much time to talk. I don't know who organized the meet, but Camster invited me a week before we left, so I was a last minute person.

OhMari

I am back after reading this, "I am so going to win the war and get us on a Disney Cruise".

Hi! I'm glad you found me!! That meet of ours was too fast- it was over in a flash. I think it all kind of came together on either one of Cammie's TRs or on one of mine this past summer, we all kind of realized we would be in WDW at the same time. It may be that Cammie and Kathy were talking about it first, I would have to go back and re-read it first to be sure. Anyway, I am very glad you were able to join us no matter HOW it was we all got there!! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your TR, too!!

I would be happy to put my trip on your board- I didn't even know that was allowed or could be done. How would I do it?

I'm glad that you talked about this...We've been thinking of getting an electric car when we're there as well. But after looking at lots of pics of Key West, I was wondering about the parking. How did it work out for y'all? Do you think we'd be better off to walk? I don't know a lot about where everything's at in KW, but I know that there are several places that we're thinking of trying to visit, such as the Southernmost point, the Hemingway House, Hard Rock, Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's, The Hog's Breath and maybe The Key Lime place. Do you think we'd be able to walk to all these places, or would we need a car?

Reading your report is not only very exciting since we're doing the same ports at the same time of year we'll be going, but it's really helpful reading about what you guys did. Can't wait for more!

Hi! Well...how much of a walker are you? Hog's Breath is on the way to Duval St. from the port, and Duval is where Sloppy's is and Margaritaville (not sure about Hard Rock) are, each within 2 blocks and then another 2 blocks. The Key Lime on a stick is over by the docks, which are to the left of the beginning of Duval where Hog's Breath is. But the KL on a S is really everywhere. All those places are REALLY easy to walk to. The SP and Hemingway are right near each other, but they are more of an ambitious hike- not that it's undoable, it's just alot longer, especially when you don't know where you are. Tropical Rentals picked us up at the CVS at the end of Duval St and we got a ride from them to their agency, but we walked from there to the SP- we could have also walked from there to the Butterflies (they were right behind them) or Hemingway's House, if we had wanted to see those things. The parking was ok by the beach, and ok by the docks on side streets- they had meters but it was clear no one was using them over there. There was also parking for $10/day, but what's the point of that when you're renting a car for 2 hours? Parking on Duval St is next to impossible, so I wouldn't count on that. But Duval is very walkable, so I wouldn't waste my car rental time going there. We walked back into town after we dropped the car back, and that was good, because there was a LOT to see on Duval St (sometimes a little TOO much , but when we were walking my kids weren't reading tshirts, so it was ok. It was just when my DH stopped for a bathroom break that they got an eyeful in a window. Even then, it wasn't horrible. I think the walk OUT there and then a walk BACK would have been overkill on the walking, and my kids would not have been as happy as they were. Glad we had the car for a bit, and then finished up with a walk, it worked for my family. Have fun!

Awesome updates, Ellen!! How did DS11 like shuffleboard? Our DS11 would like to try that as well.....but just like you, I think I would have to "school" him!!! And what's up with the insensitive passer by? Geeessh!!

Hi Alan! He really liked shuffleboard- we had a great time doing that. He had played in HHIR this past summer, so he knew what he was getting into ahead of time.

I'm really enjoying your report! We are going on a 7 night Western this summer ... I'm really getting psyched!!!

Thanks for reading!!! HAve a BLAST!!

Love your TR so far!! We are also booked on the Oct 30, 2010 cruise and can't wait! We did a 4 nite this past August and am looking forward to the 7 nite western.

Hi there, Cruise buddy! Looking forward to meeting you in 2 years-

 

[plutospup]

It was a great day in Key West! Beautiful weather, and lots of interesting sights. The photos of the "Cat Man" show had me laughing. "Clap, Clap, Clap for Oscar"! It's like a train wreck. You can't help but watch it! The guy is mentally deranged, but the cats are trained to do tricks. I've never seen anything like it.

I'm looking forward to your next installment!!

 

[bfosbenner]

I am at work today.
Yea, fun!

3 weeks ago we were eating at Cookies! MMMMMMMMMM

Yall shop for those deals!

 

[podsnel]

It was a great day in Key West! Beautiful weather, and lots of interesting sights. The photos of the "Cat Man" show had me laughing. "Clap, Clap, Clap for Oscar"! It's like a train wreck. You can't help but watch it! The guy is mentally deranged, but the cats are trained to do tricks. I've never seen anything like it.

I'm looking forward to your next installment!!

Yes- that's exactly how it is...like a train wreck!!

I am at work today.
Yea, fun!

3 weeks ago we were eating at Cookies! MMMMMMMMMM

Yall shop for those deals!

Yea, that day was definitely more fun than this one! I'm still cleaning up from yesterday's feast- it's a lot of dishes!!

I never get to go shopping on Black Friday, DH always has to work for one thing and frankly I'm usually exhausted from the days before. I LOVE to cook, but after a big one like Thanksgiving, I usually need some down time.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was happy! I'll be back with my next installment soon-

Ellen

 

[podsnel]

Hi- Just wanted to warn you, there is a pop-up on Photobucket that I have gotten twice and thankfully knew not to trust and download. It looks like a very urgent message from Windows, telling you that a malicious virus has been detected and you need to download some update to your system right now to prevent the worm from harming your hard drive. If you look carefully, the things you would be downloading are the viruses themselves- Trojan Horse. It REALLY looks like it's authentic, it looks like windows, but it's not. My friend, Cammie, downloaded this and now her computer is a disaster!! Just be careful not to click on anything, it looks very urgent, but it's sooo bad!!

 

[wuv tigger]

He got 40% off of a book for my mom in large print. Even with the discount it was still almost $20.00 ... My Mom would freak out if she new how much books cost now.

wuv tigger

 

[podsnel]

AT 11:00 DH & I had our first spa appointment, an Exotic Rasul. The rep brings you back to the rooms, explains the order to put the products on, and leaves and locks the door. Everyone knows this room is about a LOT more than just detoxifying and slimming down with Algae products. What I find MOST fascinating about the Exotic Rasul treatment is that Disney says it is for UP TO 3 GUESTS!!!! Hmmm...that's pretty sexy for the mouse, don't cha think? Well, boring us, we went in alone with just us 2, that was exciting enough!! Anyway, here are some pics of the rooms before we got them all muddied up- Here are the goopie things to smear on-

Here are their premium products you can use to your heart's content once you have finished with the others-

Though this door is the steam room-

In the steam room we used the hose with the cool water to make the seats bearable- but the steam felt good!

That's a great treatment, I would sign up for it again in a heartbeat!!

We thought we'd stop in for a bit at the rainforest room after we partook of the icy cold cucumber water. The rainforest room is GORGEOUS, and incredibly relaxing-

Really, it is completely relaxing in there, and I was amazed at how beautiful it was- it is incredible it is on a ship. We laid on the heated tile lounges for a little bit, then headed out. I actually went up and got into my workout clothes and spent some time in that awesome and motivating fitness center (I didn't get to do all the weights I had wanted to the day before, so I wanted to finish it all up. Plus do some work on my belly- tonight was formal night, and I needed to get into that gown!!) DH went up on Deck 9 and laid around reading his book while watching DS9 play in the pool-

After I worked out, I showered in one of the incredible showers up there in the locker room- wow. It's great in there, too.

Anyway, I made DS9 hop out of the pool because look who was coming by the Goofy pool to say hi-

Then he was back to his pals in the pool-

It was now DS11's turn to play Dodge ball and basketball on the sports deck-

As usual, he was having the time of his life with everyone in the club. DH and I grabbed paninis and salads for lunch, and we did a little more of this-

Dh had no plan to do anything but exactly this for the rest of the afternoon, especially when DS9 hopped out of one pool and into another to watch "Finding Nemo" on the Dumbotron. Well, we were supposed to be going to High Tea at Palo- soooo, I went on a hunt to find a more willing participant- luckily, I ran into Sherry from the plane! She did a little manuevering, and at 3:00 we met at Palo for tea. First we chose our teas, ( I had the Chai, it was lovely) and they were poured and our sandwiches brought.

The sandwiches were very tasty, I especially liked the foccacia veggie one. Then we had the desserts-

And they served us the best of it all, the lemon tiramisu, which i am sad to say I forgot to take a picture of. I scarfed it down in too much of a hurry, it was THAT GOOD. Sherry was great company, and it kills me that I don't have a photo of our tea together!! That would be due to the fact that after I had inhaled the tiramisu, it was after 4:00- I was supposed to meet DH at 4 in Sessions for the Martini tasting!!! Sherry insisted on paying the bill, she said she was so glad she got to experience Palo. How nice!!

Martinis and more in the next post!

 

[wuv tigger]

We gotta do the Palo next cruise.