Today we had to get up early and eat breakfast at the Lido as we had to (reluctantly) depart our lovely Prinsendam in Fort Lauderdale.
We thought the lines for breakfast would be a lot worse than they were however I only had dry cereal, yogurt,
juice and ice water and that didn't take any time at all to get. So with my food gathered i headed out to the "greenhouse" to eat. Bob was only a few minutes behind me with his bacon, eggs and toast. Before leaving we had Eric & Priscilla join us and we
said our goodby's as we won't see them again unti after Christmas; as they are on an earlier flight than us.
We went back to our room and got readyto leave the ship when they call our number. It was nice that we could stay in our room until they are
ready for you to depart. We were about 10 - 15 minutes later than expected due to the Customs & Immigration having to clear the ship. Sometimes it takes longer than expected. However, once we heard our number and color over the PA system we departed
and it was only about 15 minutes picking up our luggage, clearing customs and out onto the street.
Next we had to find our correct bus as we were taking a ship's tour and Transfer. It was the Everglades Airboat Ride and Transfer to FLL Airport.
Some one from the ship was there and pointed us in the right direction and saw to our luggage getting placed in the right bin. WE only had to wait for about 10 minutes and we ere all aboard and ready to roll.
We had a tour guide as well as the coach
driver and she was very good and told us interesting facts along the way, (if only I could remember them, LOL). It was only about a 30 minute ride to the Sawgrass Recreation Park. Here we boarded our airboat, and we were not crowded at all as they
put us on 3 different boats. Our Captain was a bit grumpy at first but he did tell and show us interesting facts about the Everglades. We did enjoy the ride although it would have been nicer if it had been longer. The Airboat ride itself was only about
30 minutes long, if that.
Next, after we all arrived back on land, our tour guide led us down to the park area which housed different animals. First we saw an interpritive movie then walked to another section where we were to watch a park person
talk to us about the Alligators. Talk he did, and talked some more; finaly some of us climbed over the back seat's and left and walked around on our own. After about 15 minutes i went back and about a third of our group had left and he" was still talking.
Bob said he was interesting but he could have said it all in less than half the time he took. He kept repeating himself over and over.
There was the most beautful Peacock there just wandering around the grounds, apparently there were more but I only
saw the one but got a nice photo of it. Throuhout the Park there were cages with lot's of animals to see. We saw baby alligators and then all sizes up tp an 18 foot one. We also saw 3 kinds of turtles, snakes, Iguana's, an European Buzzard, a Black
Lepord, Lunx and Mountain Lion, just to name a few. I'll post photo's of them here at the end.
After visiting the animal enclosures; which I think were too small in most cases, we had a convient half hour to visit the store and buy souvenirs. I did
give in and got a small frige magnet; oh yes, it was a hot day so an icecream bar helped to cool us off.
After about another 25 minute coach ride we arrived at the airport about 1:30pm. A long line for check in and then an even longer line for Security.
There were 7 ships in port that day. Both lines moved fairly quickly and so we now had about 6 1/2hours before boarding our aircraft and flying only as far as Newark tonight.
We thought Eric & Priscilla would be well on their way by now but they
had problems and didn't get away until much later. They were flying home on a different airline than us so they were at another terminal and they did have company for some of the time as the Larsen's and Laik's were at the same terminal waiting for their flight's
to Seattle.
It was a rather long afternoon but lot's of interesting people watching, ate Pizza for our lunch / supper. I walked around; bought a book and of course snacks and a tea for Bob and an icecoffee for me. Finally we were winging our way to
Newark and a late arrival , about 11:30pm and then waited around for our luggage. When it didn't show up we were told that it was sent right through to Halifax, that was weird as they told us in Florida to be sure and pick it up at Newark. I phoned for
the shuttle for our hotel; the Holiday Inn Newark Airport, which was only about 5 minutes away. We checked in and fell into bed. It was a very nice Hotel but we wern't there long enough to enjoy it.
Up again very early the next morning and were shuttled
back to the airport. Even though we had told the driver what terminal we wanted he let us and our carry on bags off at the wrong place. No problem the airline staff were very nice and checked us in, took us through Security and took us to the shuttle to go
to the correct terminal. There we had breakfast and then had another wait, not long, for our flight.
Even though we were a bit late leaving we arrived in Halifax almost on time. Went to baggage check to wait for our bag's. Where are they
? They certainly were'nt on our flight. We explained what they looked like, had our baggage numbers so the staff started a check, guess what, they were still in Florida. No problem, we would have them early the next day. So now to custom's which was painless
and quick since nearly everyone else had already gone through.
Ah, the first people we saw after going through the doors was our Daughter and Son in Law, after a couple of hugs we were on our way home driving in a winter wonderland. What a shock to
the system after the heat of the Amazon. Apparently he had started snowing less than a week after we left and they had some really bad winter storms. We arrived home to almost mountains of snow. Bob, our son in law and Scott our son had taken turns plowin
us and the farm yard out, they probably had fun.
Now 4 weeks after we left home we are at home and it's December the 23rd and we have at least 6 coming for Christmas Dinner tomorrow night. I always have the family Christmas Eve and then we relax Christmas
day and the family can work Christmas Day or go to In Law's. I hurried around and put up a few decorations and battery candles. We didn't bother with a tree this year. I just put out a small one the children and I made out of clothes hangers, tinsel and lights
when they were small for their play room.
Oh, oh, there were the Christmas cards i had addressed before I left for our cruise and forgot to mail them. Sue ha seen them but then she forgot to take them too. Oh well next year is coming.
We had
a wonderful cruise and the Holland American Line Staff are the best, they were all so friendly and would do anything for you. I love the HAL Ships, they are not too big. We have cruised on another line and it was just too many people. It seemed we were always
waiting in line for something on it.
Our Amazon adventure was probably a lifetime one for us. We enjoyed it but then there are so many cruises and countries to see that I want to see and do as much as I can. The only regret was that I did not catch
a piranha; I guess I should have dragged my fingers in the water rather than try with hook, line and bait. LOL. Also I'm sorry that I wasn't able to post eveyday ,but the internet aboard the ship was so slow and i kept being disconnected so the last
few day's i just sort of gave up.
We hope everone has a prosperous and Happy New Year and that a cruise is in your future. You meet such great people and get to see some of this big wonderful world of our's. I konw I'm going to continue. My Daughter,
Susan, her adult daughter Nicole and I are going on a collectors cruise in March aboard the Niew Amsterdam; perhaps we will meet some of you there.