Sorry for the very long delay. I got all my photos printed and I uploaded 180 photos for my Grandfathers 100th bday party book!!!! So NOW I can finally go on with my show!!!
Monday, September 8th!!!!
This was supposed to be our vow renewal day, from months of planning, I was told we would renew our vows on Nassau day, which was Monday on our schedule. Unfortunately due to Hanna and then Ike, there was a change to our schedule. Today was instead a Day at Sea! It was so beautiful to wake up to this!!! The sun rising outside our verandah.
I got up and got dressed to go run. My first run on a ship! I was so excited. (little background info here)
I drink a protein drink EVERY single morning, before I do anything, its my breakfast, but more importantly, its my main supplement before working out (running of the gym). I DID not take my protein drink with me (I use a magic bullet, so its creamy and yummy, crushed ice and cold milk!!!) Ive taken all this to Disney before, but figured, oh well be on a ship, so I wont need it. WRONG!!!! I should of brought my protein stuff. I have some eating issues at times and cannot eat much (or sometimes, I get sick after eating, like RIGHT after eating, so having my protein available, I know I can fall back on that if I have a problem).
Ok, enough of that
I went out to the secret deck 7 (this is where our ceremony was to be held the next day). It was so beautiful out, watching the sky brighten, but it was already very humid. I honestly thought (guess maybe I really didnt THINK) that it would be cooler on the ship in the middle of the Atlantic (or wherever we were). Duh for me on that one.
So I decide to go run. There is an area on deck four where you can run around the entire ship
From one end through the very front or back? (room where the anchors were and all, so neat to get to see that)
around the other side and then across the back. It was an amazing feeling, to be running with the ocean right outside there. One lap around the ship is 1/3 miles. I only ran a mile and then walked a while, as it was so humid. It was also very windy. I had my visor on to try to keep the sun out of my eyes. As you run from the engine room, UP a ramp towards the outside again, you are in a wind tunnel and running AGAINST the wind! It was so strong. I had to actually carry my visor it was bad. But after a little more than a mile, I was drenched and decided I need to go get some REAL food. So back to the cabin to shower and get ready for our day.
Dale had already gone up to have breakfast, but he sacrificed himself and went back up with me. We went to Beach Blanket where there was a buffet. At this point, I am just sick from not eating at all yet. Boy do I wish I had my protein then, oh well
I found a couple things Id eat and we went and sat outside (we were having brunch in a few hours anyway). Boy was that nice. Sitting up, watching the world go by, enjoying our breakfast in the beautiful sunshine.
After our hold me over till brunch, we walked around the ship a little before it was time to go get ready for our Champaign Brunch at Palos! This is the cast member pool/deck area. If you look closely you will see the anchor at the front of the ship and realize just how BIG that is!!!
Also this hidden Mickey
We arrived at Palo a few minutes before our brunch partners, so another of our self portraits lol!
We were joined shortly by our new friends and quickly seated by the window, unfortunately, we were in a booth, so we really couldnt enjoy the view of the ocean, but we sure could enjoy the view of the FOOD!!!! We had a wonderful server, Zoran! He was so sweet and helpful!
Our little party LOOK at all the food on our table. Zoran even brought chicken parmesan (see in the middle of the table) for us to try. We were sharing different things to see what lots of stuff tasted like. It really was a great chance to try things I would of never ordered due to fear of not liking them
Dale had decided that he wanted to go try some other things (there was sooo much food) so he got up and Zoran yelled at him that it was HIS job to bring him what he wanted! (jokingly of course), so he let Dale go up with him to pick out what he wanted, lol.
I want to thank our new friends for treating us to brunch as a gift for our anniversary. This was such a sweet surprise!
I promise, I will finish up this day before the weekend, no more long waiting for words and pics
I will be back.
. Once again we started out with breakfast room service. After eating and cleaning up we flew for the exit, destination definitely known. We had things to do pictures to be taken and food to eat. First stop, jet ski. Before i begin i'll let you in on a little secret. I hate the water. I call neighborhood swim clubs "public cesspools". I usually don't like the beach unless i can see my feet and the water is bath tub temperature. I only like the ocean from the ship. So i sucked it up, manned up, swallowed my fear, threw caution to the wind (you get the hint) and got on the death trap. They give you a quick 5 minute instruction on how to ride that thing.You fall off, oh well, tread water till we come back. What! No really, if you fall you are supposed to climb back on from the back. ? I'll sink like a rock. So Gilligan we headed off for our 45 minute tour. Right into the skyscraper high waves. Well they seemed that high. Kind of funny but before we took off one guy tells me he is a champion swimmer. Shortly after we took off he turned back because of the waves. I don't really blame him. I was riding for pride. I also was the only one wearing eye protection. I don't go anywere without protection. Thank goodness because salt water stings the eyes. There still were several times i took waves head on and got soaked. Dang it! I had my best swim trunks on. They are for show not to get wet. Anyhow all was good. We really enjoyed ourselves and lived to tell the story. Next up was riding a bike. What? I haven't ridden a moving bicycle since i got my drivers license. The bikes are supposed to rented for only an hour or two. However they said to bring them back whenever. Cool. So we headed down the drug runners trail (landing strip) to the lookout tower (cool view) then to the adult beach (whoo hoo). Time for an all over tan. Boy was that embarrassing. My bad. The water was soooooo relaxing. We rented a tube and floatie. At one point i mentally drifted off and found myself aways from the beach. I started paddling back then ended up walking. OUCH! There was rock and coral on the bottom. Dang that hurt. I grabbed a chair and sat in the water playing in the sand and worried about Patty floating further out to sea. I started to wonder how much life insurance i had on her. Would it cover a cruise for just me? No fear. She survived. Seriously, i was concerned about how far she had drifted. Afterwards we just spent time chilling on the beach talking with Monica and Warren. Eventually we decided to ride the bikes back to were they belonged and reembark the ship. Before we went to Animators for dinner (the last supper) we spent our last time at the Rainforest Spa. It seemed like alot of people had the same idea. At dinner we took pictures with each other and our servers then slinked back to start packing. We elected not to go to a show so we (Patty) could successfully pack. We (Patty) also had to make final picture purchases. We (Patty) got all packed and put (ME) the suitcases out by the 11PM curfew. Then it was time for our last night aboard. Another last. (getting chocked up writing this). We have early breakfast in the AM, 6:45. Ouch. Tomorrow DAY 6 "Good bye" but also "Hello".
That's the one I've got to get done so I can get it ordered in time for his party.
hehe
Home! I heop you are enjoying your DVC membership as much as I am. We might give AKL a try for a couple of nights after our cruise next year, but then I am tempted to just have two stays at OKW (our home) instead.
I know what you mean about the wind on a cruise ship. It doesn't look like it would be that windy until you are actually there. I like your pictures of things you don't normally get to see like the anchor and the big chain that holds the anchor. Very cool.
