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Ahmet Erkun

Ahmet Erkun

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  • International Jaunts 2020
    "Knitting al fresco" in a sheltered corner — Allure of the Seas.

    Atlantic Crossing ... Day 4

    March 5, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    A quiet day at sea. The weather and sea conditions continue to cooperate. In his noon announcement, the captain advised us that the high temp for the day would be 68F, with the sun mitigating the chill from winds blowing at 30 knots.

    We’ve well and truly settled into our sea day routine. Breakfast in the dining room ... knitting and reading in the solarium ... lunch at the Boardwalk Dog House, the 🌭 place ... napping, movie watching, reading, journaling, and a multi-mile walk on the promenade to while away the afternoon ... dinner at the Windjammer Marketplace ... evening headliner show featuring Adam Kario, juggler and comedian.

    Yup ... an uneventful day at sea for sure. These are the best kinds of days to have.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    Atlantic Crossing ... Day 3

    March 4, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Hmmm! What shall I write about? I really have nothing to report because today was our “internet” day.

    As Diamond members of the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Mui and I each received a free 24-hour internet pass for this cruise. We activated Mui’s account this morning and have been sharing the connection all day ... one device at a time. It’s worked out quite well. The speed has been amazing all day ... unexpectedly so out here in the middle of the Atlantic ... some 1,196 nautical miles away from Ft Lauderdale. I had no problems uploading my trip footprints with photos and videos attached. The quality of the What’sApp call with Aylin was smooth as could be. Needless to say, emails and texts were accessed easily as well. And even with VPN activated to check bank accounts, there was no drop in speed. Really amazing!

    The passes are good for 24-consecutive hours, so we should have a few hours still available tomorrow morning. And then we’ll be going ‘radio silent’ again for a couple of days. I figure, we’ll activate my pass sometime over the weekend, and that will take us through to Malaga where we’ll have data available to us through T-Mobile ... and again when we reach our disembarkation point in Barcelona. Not a bad schedule for staying in touch with friends and family.

    And to think that we used to go on cruises to get away from “being connected.” Those days are long gone!    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Happy Hour @ Bow & Stern — Onboard Allure at Seas.
    Rising Tide returning from deck 8 to deck 5 — Onboard Allure at Seas.OceanAria @ AquaTheater — Onboard Allure at Seas.OceanAria @ AquaTheater — Onboard Allure at Seas.OceanAria @ AquaTheater — Onboard Allure at Seas.

    Atlantic Crossing — Day 2

    March 3, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    We were so busy getting acquainted with Allure of the Seas yesterday — the first day of our Atlantic Crossing — that we didn’t get to do much else. Today we made up for it by focusing on some R&R and settling into a sea day routine.

    Breakfast was at the American Icon Grill — we chose the buffet option in the dining room versus a la carte, but will probably do a mix as the days go by. Our tummies sated, mom and I found comfy seats on the second floor of the solarium ... out of the wind and out of the sun. We worked on our handcrafts while Mui opted to do some bike riding in the fitness center. He joined us later ... to hold our seats while we went for a walk on the promenade on deck 5.

    A nice, quiet morning was followed by lunch in the dining room ... this time we opted for the table service, but will likely mix it up with the dining room buffet as the days go by. Afterwards, those who wanted to take a nap returned to the cabin ... that was Mom and Mui.

    I, on the other hand, headed for the Diamond Lounge, a card-access space designated for members who are Diamond in Royal Caribbean’s loyalty club. It’s really nothing special IMHO. There are comfy chairs for people to relax, chat with new and old friends, play cards. There is a coffee machine and a small buffet set up with fruit and cookies ... there might be more, but I was full from lunch so I didn’t pay attention. What is nice about the lounge is that it overlooks the boardwalk with a peek at the ocean beyond. I spent some time knitting here before returning to the cabin to get ready for our evening out.

    Tonight we took advantage of another Diamond perk — free drinks. Three drinks are pre-loaded daily on Mui and my ship’s cards and we can use them anywhere around the ship, except for one fancy lounge. We found a table at the English pub on the Royal Promenade — the Bow and Stern. We sipped our drinks, nibbled on a snack mix, and people-watched until it was time to go to another reservations-required show — the Ocean Aria.

    This water-themed show is performed under the stars at the AquaTheater at the the far end of the Boardwalk. We didn’t get off to a good start.

    First the seats were wet. Someone said it had rained, but none of us bought that story. Luckily, someone was wiping things down even as guests arrived to find seats. Next, some idiot sat down next to mom and promptly dumped his glass of red wine all over her. To make matters worse, not a word of apology. Rather than make a scene, we found other seats ... too bad we didn’t get up and do so when the guy first showed up so we could have avoided the mishap.

    Once the show got going, though, it was OK ... even if the performance was a tad bit disappointing after having seen the fantastic job the cast did with Mamma Mia. The show is billed as a “...mystical adventure as an ancient underwater civilization is revealed.” Straight acrobatics without the gimmicky storyline would have better IMHO.

    The performers are acrobats with formal training ... some with world competition credentials ... others with a Cirque d’Soleil background. They performed aerial and water stunts, using trampolines and jumping platforms at varying levels. Some of their feats were quite crazy, making us wonder just how deep the pool really was.

    We wrapped up our evening with dinner in the dining room. I was against My Time dining when cruise lines first introduced the concept, but it has grown on me. It’s certainly nice not having mealtimes dictating our activities on the ship.

    If the captain is to be believed, we have another decent day in store for us tomorrow. Looking forward to it and to the continuation of the calm seas we’ve been enjoying since our departure from Ft Lauderdale.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    This is what the view is like from our "ordinary" veranda — Allure of the Seas.
    Pool Deck with Central Park in between and seven decks below — Allure of the Seas.Central Park "apartments" — Allure of the Seas.Central Park ... entrance to one of the restaurants — Allure of the Seas.Birds of a feather! Central Park — Allure of the Seas.Comfy seating in Central Park — Allure of the Seas.View of the Boardwalk "apartments" from deck 16 with AquaTheater on the aft — Allure of the Seas.Closer look at the AquaTheater at the far end of the Boardwalk — Allure of the Seas.Carousel for the young and the young at heart — Boardwalk ... Allure of the Seas.

    Ocean View or Neighborhood?

    March 2, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    On this cruise, our cabin selection was driven by the need to have two cabins side by side. Since we booked the cruise inside the final payment deadline, there weren’t that many cabins left that fit our requirement.

    7316 and 7314 — or cabins 316 and 314 on deck 7 — are ordinary veranda cabins. Meaning that they face out to the ocean. Huh! Are there any other kind of verandas? On the Oasis class ships, the answer is ... yes. In addition to the “ordinary” verandas, there are ones that face the ship’s interior. Or more accurately, the ship’s neighborhoods — Central Park and the Boardwalk.

    Central Park has trees and greenery and definitely has a park ambiance. The area is open to the sky, so a light breeze at times causes the trees and shrubs to sway gently, adding to the feeling of being in a park. I’m told there are birds chirping in the trees ... piped in, of course. Even though there are restaurants here, it’s a quiet neighborhood.

    Broadway is a busier place with a carousel, several dining venues, a couple of rock climbing walls, and the AquaTheater. Since this neighborhood is situated on the aft half of deck 6, the cabins do get a peek-view of the ocean. They also get free entertainment when there is a show being performed at the theater.

    I debated booking one of these “inside verandas.” But I was concerned with the apartment-building ambiance, with verandas facing each other across the way ... and any noise that might filter up from activities. Admittedly, they probably do make for a better option on cold-weather cruises. Should we ever find ourselves on another Oasis class ship — I’ve learned not to say never — we just might give them a shot.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    A one way promenade — Onboard Allure of the Seas ...Atlantic Ocean.
    Signs urging on promenaders — Onboard Allure of the Seas.Almost there! — Onboard Allure of the Seas ...Atlantic Ocean.Mile markers help keep track of distances walked — Onboard Allure of the Seas.These "rescue vessels" can each accommodate 370 people — Onboard Allure of the Seas.2I've yet to figure out how the seating works on these rescue vessels (lifeboats) — Allure OTS.These capsules contain additional rafts ... in case of emergency — Allure of the Seas.

    A Promenade with Rules!

    March 2, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Along the outside perimeter of deck 5 is a two lane wrap-around promenade — one lane for walkers and the other for runners ... 2.4 laps = 1 mile ... 12 laps = 5 miles.

    One of the nicest things about this promenade? There are traffic signs. Or more accurately, promenade walking signs indicating that it’s one way! Even nicer? People seem to be taking the signs to heart and obeying them. That’s a first in my experience! Signs encouraging people to keep walking are overhead ... verbal cheerleaders!

    We skipped the promenade while we were exploring the ship. But I checked it out after lunch. Unfortunately, I didn’t get far — too windy. But I intend to try again tomorrow ... and the next day ... and the next day, etc. etc. etc.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    The pool is on deck 15 — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.
    Solarium on deck 15 forward — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic OceanLooking down on the Boardwalk from midship deck 16 — Onboard Allure of the Sea ... Atlantic Ocean.Flowrider on deck 16 aft — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.2Mui on the zipline — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.Central Park with live trees and plants — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.Full size carousel at the Boardwalk — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.One of the two climbing walls on the Boardwalk — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic OceanRoyal Promenade from between the elevator stacks — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.On the deck 5 Royal Promenade — Onboard Allure of the Seas ... Atlantic Ocean.

    Exploring Allure

    March 2, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    A good night’s rest ... the ship’s motion barely noticeable. We all slept in ... and didn’t feel one bit guilty about doing so.

    Delightful weather ... mostly sunny ... comfortable temperatures ... calm seas. Windy, though. Nonetheless, I did manage to sit on the veranda for a bit in the afternoon. I’m not expecting the temperatures to remain as warm as they were today — 75F for a high. We probably have one or two more days that we can count on warm temperatures before the numbers start to drop as we continue north.

    This is our first Oasis Class sailing ... and also our first time on any ship of this size. There was a lot of “getting acquainted” to do. After breakfast, we wandered around the ship to find out what this “city at sea” has to offer. Too bad I don’t have my fitbit with me. It would have been interesting to see just how many steps went into our exploration ... a lot, I assure you.

    We started on deck 16 and moved down to deck 4 ... skipping those decks that have only passenger cabins. Turns out there aren’t many cabin-only decks as public spaces are sprinkled all around the ship.

    This is a ship that gives you two choices ... be as active as you want to be ... or chill. There are plenty of places for people to kick back and relax — the solarium on deck 15 forward being one of the most popular because it is enclosed with tall glass walls that help to keep the wind at bay.

    As for all the things one can do ... let me just mention a few of the more unusual ones one might not expect to find on a ship: the zipline — which Mui tried out; the flowrider (think surfing) — which Mui skipped; a PADI dive center; a rock-climbing wall ... actually, make that two walls; a full-size carousel.

    No cruise ship worth its salt would be missing dining venues, bars, pubs, entertainment lounges ... and a casino. I lost track of the number of venues. Some with cover charges ... many included in the base fare for the cruise. Some are in quiet “neighborhoods” — like Central Park on deck 8 ... where trees sway in the breeze. Some are in busier neighborhoods — like the Boardwalk on deck 6, which has an AquaTheater. And then there is the Royal Promenade on deck 5, which is home to shops and dining venues and more ... including a Mercedes Roadster that is a popular photo op locale. And let’s not forget Rising Tide, a bar that sits over a multi-deck fountain and travels up and down between decks, giving people a ride as they indulge in adult beverages.

    Whew! What a morning of exploration. The sea days ahead of us will allow us to get better acquainted with the ship. In the meantime, we’ve worked up an appetite with all that walking up and down and around the decks. Time to get a bite to eat. I’m sure we’ll find a venue that suits 😉    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    Mamma Mia!

    March 1, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    One of the interesting things on Allure of the Seas is that some shows require reservations even though there is no charge for them. I’m sure this applies on all the Oasis Class behemoths ... not sure if it’s also the case on the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

    Reservations make sense ... after all Oasis class ships carry nearly 5,500 passengers (more at full capacity) and there is no way all passengers can be accommodated at once. No worries though. Not only are the shows repeated multiple times, open seating commences about five minutes before showtime. There are also non-reservation shows and music venues sprinkled around the ship to keep everyone entertained.

    We skipped the dining room tonight. My Time dining starts at 6:30p and we knew we’d never make it to the Amber Theater in time if we opted for table service dinner. Instead, we headed up to the Windjammer Marketplace on deck 16 ... this is the ship’s main buffet. A quick bite or two left us with time for a stroll around the Royal Promenade before we needed to head to the theater.

    Tonight’s feature show was Mamma Mia! Yes, the same one that has played on the silver screen and has also graced (and may still be gracing) Broadway and other stages. Just think of the set as a miniature ... everything else is the same. The cast did a masterful job with the acting and the singing ... and the live band was great. I tend not to expect much of the production shows on ships. This one surprised me. Though maybe it shouldn’t have. After all Abba’s foot-tapping tunes are always a delight to sing along to and it’s hard to mess up a romantic comedy.

    (Sorry ... photography and videography not allowed during the show, so I have only the one screenshot from the Royal Caribbean website to share. I’m sure if you go to one of the streaming sites on the internet, however, you’ll be able to find some videos or at least listen to the music.)    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    View from the veranda of cabin 7316 — Onboard Allure of the Seas in Port Everglades, FL.
    HAL's Statendam ... brought us back to the US in Nov 2019 ... departs Port Everglades ahead of us.View looking aft from our veranda — Onboard Allure of the Seas in Port Everglades, FL.Doing donuts in Port Everglades, FL.

    Fleshing Out Our Sailaway!

    March 1, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    I quickly posted a couple of videos as the ship was making its way through the channel that connects Port Everglades to the Atlantic (previous footprint). No time to write more at the time as we were already running late and had to date to keep. Now for a bit more detail!

    The muster drill was at 4:00p. Something that was different from all the drills we’ve done during our 19 years of cruising ... NO LIFE VESTS!

    I don’t mean that we didn’t have to take our vests to the drill. Nowadays, many of the cruise lines do their drills without guests having to lug the vests to the muster drill ... though there are exceptions. What I mean is that there are NO LIFE VESTS IN THE CABIN!!! Turns out that all of the vests on this vessel are kept in lockers at the muster station.

    I guess it makes sense and is more efficient to have all the vests in one place. After all, in the event the emergency alarm is sounded, passengers are supposed to go to their muster stations from wherever they happen to be ... without detouring to their cabins. Still, it feels odd not to have those bulky orange vests taking up space either in the closet or under the bed.

    The 4:30p sailaway came and went with no movement on the part of Allure. Not unexpected on a TransAtlantic crossing. Provisioning and bunkering usually takes longer when you have no ports to call on for nine days. No gas stations in the middle of the Atlantic ... nor any grocery stores. You’d better have all that you need before the lines are let go.

    No problem with the delay from our perspective ... Mom and I used the time to unpack our bags and get settled in to our respective cabins. Mui postponed unpacking until later in the evening. As for the tugboats waiting to assist Allure out of her berth — they did donuts and entertained us to ease their boredom.

    Finally, at 6:00p, the ship slipped its lines, backing out nearly the length of the ship basin before pointing the bow towards the Atlantic. As is often the case when departing Port Everlglades, klaxons blared from the high rise buildings lining the ship’s channel. Allure responded with its own salute. People came out on their balconies — both in the buildings and aboard the ship — to wave goodbye.

    As the sun set on the stern of the ship, we began the journey north ... with an easterly heading designed to take us around the Bahamas to get us out into the open sea.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    3

    Embarked Allure @ Port Everglades

    March 1, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Up and at ‘em early this morning. Quick breakfast ... quick re-packing of our Florida bags ... we were ready to leave the bungalow by 10:00a as planned.

    After we returned the car to the port rental office, Alamo shuttled us to Port Everglades. Embarkation was easy peasy thanks to the SetSail passes I had on my phone ... the Royal Caribbean app is easy to use.

    The only stop we made on our way to the waiting area was to have our photos taken for our ship’s cards. Had I uploaded photos into the app even that would not have been necessary.

    The ship is sailing full so there was quite a crowd waiting in the terminal to embark the ship. RC had things under control ... designated seating areas by loyalty club level ... we’re considered Diamond thanks to our club standing with Celebrity. Our wait was short and by 11:30a we were onboard and heading to the Park Café for lunch.

    Cabins were available promptly at 1:00p. We’ll get settled in once our bags are delivered. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the veranda and watching the goings on as vessels of all sizes come and go through the ship’s channel that will be our gateway to the Atlantic in a couple of hours.

    Bon voyage to us ... and smooth sailing we hope 🤞🏻    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Mom deciding where she wants to go in the world ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.
    Whiskey Creek ... our view from BG Whiskey Creek Hideout ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.Waiting on our order @ BG Whiskey Creek Hideout ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.Nothing like an al fresco lunch overlooking Whiskey Creek ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.A great day ... a great meal ... a great view ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.Pelicans @ Whiskey Creek ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.1"What do you mean this is your place?" ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.1Mother-in-Law — Son-in-Law time ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.1Plenty of trees to provide shade on hot summer days ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.3R&R on the beach ... MJSP — Dania Beach, FL.

    Mizell-Johnson SP ... Dania Beach

    February 29, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    The forecast called for full sunshine. That’s not what we got. Clouds moved in and the sun played hide-and-seek ... mostly seeking. But we had comfy temps with a high ranging up to 70F. A nice winter day by our standards.

    With no set plans for today, we took it easy this morning, leaving the house around 11:00a. First up — a drive on Florida State Road A1A ... aka Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. At that hour the beach was mostly empty ... a situation that would be changing by the time we made our way back three hours later. Plenty of sun-seekers ... no one swimming as the purple flag was out indicating stingers in the water. We headed south as far as we could before cutting inland to Route 1.

    Our meandering drive eventually took us to the Dr Von D Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park [MJSP in the photo captions]. It’s situated on a barrier island with the Strahan River on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We went all the way to the tip of the island, hoping to see the ship channel through which our ship will depart tomorrow. Alas, the area is restricted use, so our hopes were dashed.

    On the way back, we detoured into one of the many lots, parked the car, and went for a walk. The trail led us to a casual eatery overlooking Whiskey Creek. Perfect ... al fresco dining with a view. And good food, too.

    After we sated our tummies, we headed off on another trail to an overlook from which we checked for manatees in the creek. None to be found ... not surprising as it was rather cool, so I imagine they were in warmer waters. Continuing on, we found a spot that was being frequented by a bunch of pelicans. Turns out there was a fish-cleaning station nearby and the pelicans were hoping for a handout. They were out of luck. No anglers ... and the birds were not interested in the lobster remains a couple of divers were throwing in the water.

    We wrapped up our visit to the state park with a short stroll along the beach. Then, back to the car. Retracing our route, we headed to Las Olas Boulevard in FLL to get ourselves some ice cream from Hoffman’s Chocolates ... highly recommended on TripAdvisor. Parking the car, we walked to the shop ... only to find it closed. The good news — the place had moved just a couple of blocks away and the sign on the door told us where to find it.

    After enjoying our sweet treats, we called it quits on our sightseeing and headed home. A load of laundry ... some chill time in front of the TV for mom and Mui ... some photo processing and writing for me ... a light dinner.

    Thus our time in Ft Lauderdale is coming to a close. One more sleep and then we’re off to embark Allure of the Seas.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    5Roseate Spoonbill ... a highlight at Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.
    2Great Blue Heron and chick ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.3Great Blue Heron chick ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.2Anhinga ... the blue eye ring = it is in breeding plumage ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach.Glossy Ibis (juvenile) ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.1Feeding time in the cormorant household ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.Glossy Ibis ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.3Tricolored Heron ... in breeding plumage ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.3Wood Storks preparing their nest ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.3Green Iguana ... Wakodahatchee Wetlands — Delray Beach, FL.

    The Wakodahatchee Wetlands

    February 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    After bidding Brenda and Barry good-bye (our reunion story is in the previous footprint), we headed over to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands to see some feathered friends.

    We came upon these wetlands purely by accident when we were in Ft Lauderdale for a pre-cruise stay in December 2007. From what I recall, we decided to take a drive up Route A1A and somehow found ourselves making a stop in Delray Beach ... maybe for a bite to eat. How we got from there to the wetlands is totally fuzzy, but I remember enjoying all the birdlife a great deal.

    So, when I was planning our current pre-cruise stay, it was a no-brainer to include the wetlands as part of our plans ... especially since Delray Beach made for a good half-way point for a meet-up with Brenda and Barry.

    Opened in 1996, the wetlands are constructed on wastewater utility property ... open to the public at no charge. There is a ¾-mile boardwalk that crosses between ponds and islands and shrubs and snags. Each day the local water reclamation facility pumps about 2 million gallons of highly treated wastewater into the wetlands, which act as a percolation pond, returning the fresh water back into the water table.

    The website says that 178 species of birds have been identified at the wetlands, which are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. I don’t know about that number, but I do know that we saw a whole bunch of different birds here this time than we did in 2007. Also here are alligators and turtles and a bunch of other animals. We saw the alligators and turtles last time ... today I saw iguanas instead, though mom and Mui managed to get a peek at a baby alligator they later told me.

    (Photos from our 2007 visit are at this link: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/Panama-Canal…)

    Our visit to the wetlands was a terrific way to end the day ... even though it was a heck of a lot more crowded today. In fact, cars were backed up at the entrance waiting to be allowed into the parking lot. WOW! So different from 13 years ago.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    1Happy Reunion with Brenda & Barry — Delray Beach, FL.

    Reunion in Delray Beach

    February 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    In December 2014, we embarked Celebrity Infinity for a cruise that took us from Ft Lauderdale, through the Panama Canal, down the west coast of South America, around Cape Horn, and back up the east coast of South America to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was on the first part of that cruise that we met Brenda and Barry.

    The friendship that developed on the ship continued on Facebook. In 2017, we had an unexpected chance to meet up with Barry again as he happened to be in Belfast, Northern Ireland when we stopped there on our world cruise. Alas, Brenda wasn’t there ... but we made sure we toasted her with a cup of coffee as we chatted with Barry at the Titanic Museum.

    Fast forward to 2020. When I started planning our few days in Ft Lauderdale, I knew it would present us with an opportunity for a reunion with Brenda and Barry. A few texts via Messenger and we had a plan to meet in Delray Beach for lunch.

    Delray Beach is about ½-hour from FLL ... provided you drive up via I-95N ... and provided, of course, that the traffic cooperates. We opted for an alternate route via A1A ... twice as long of a drive, but definitely more interesting. We had a great day for our drive up — blue skies, sunshine, and temps in the low 60F range ... perfect.

    Over lunch at Ruven’s, we had a wonderful opportunity to renew our friendship with Brenda and Barry in person ... and get caught up with happenings in everyone’s lives. Not a moment of lull in the conversation ... plenty of laughter and camaraderie. A great reunion that we hope to repeat again ... though hopefully we won’t have to wait as long to get together again next time.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Backyard of the bungalow — Ft Lauderdale, FL.
    Found the washer and dryer at the bungalow — Ft Lauderdale, FL.1A look at the bungalow in daylight — Ft Lauderdale, FL.

    Mystery Solved!

    February 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Found the washer & dryer! Turns out there is a shed in the backyard that has both appliances ... shared with the two other units. Works for us. We’ll do a quick load before we check out to go to the ship.

    Beautiful day here in Ft Lauderdale! Lots of sunshine ... a light breeze. The temp is quite comfortable ... 55F currently ... high of 66F expected. No humidity to speak of at the moment. In other words, a great day to go check out some birds after we have lunch with friends in Delray Beach.

    More later.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Welcome to Alani Bay Condos — Ft Lauderdale, FL.
    Clean and bright ... will meet our needs for our short stay — Ft Lauderdale, FL.

    Settled into Alani Bay Condos

    February 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    It's not like we traveled a great distance today — just a 3+ hour flight from Colorado to Florida. But our day did start early ... we're all feeling drained. Time to relax a bit before calling it a night ... even if it is only 8:30p back at home.

    We picked up our Alamo rental from the on-airport site and headed north to the condo we rented for our stay. The drive was a short one ... would have been shorter had we not mistakenly taken a "locals only" road. Oh well, a little backtracking got us where we needed to go. We did much better getting back to the condo a little later after a quick bit of shopping at the nearby Publix.

    The condo is a small, two-bedroom bungalow. Quite typical of the older Florida residences ... in a quiet residential neighborhood. Clean with all the amenities we need, though I have yet to find the washer and dryer mentioned in the description on the Booking website. Even without the W/D amenity, the place will serve us well for our short stay in Ft Lauderdale.

    We have a relaxing morning and some errands planned tomorrow. Then we will be off to meet friends and have some fun. If the wildlife at Wakodahatchee cooperate, I should have some photos to share tomorrow night.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    1All our bags made it ... FLL — Ft Lauderdale, FL.

    Arrived in Ft Lauderdale, Florida

    February 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    Smooth flight ... early landing at FLL ... by 20 minutes despite the 10-minute delay departing DEN. Just picked up our bags at the luggage carousel.

    Next up ... pick up the rental car from Alamo and drive to the condo we rented for our 3-night stay prior to embarking the ship on 1 March.Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    Aboard Southwest 5444

    February 27, 2020, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    The 737-800 that is taking us to FLL pushed back at 1:00p ... 10 minutes late. But once we started rolling, there was no stopping us. Within minutes we were wheels up and winging our way east.

    Southwest flyers know that there are no seat assignments on this budget airline. Our early bird check-in had netted us boarding spots 46-48 in the A group ... first to be called after passengers that qualify for pre-boarding. So we expected that we’d get aisle seats. We did better.

    Because we had requested a wheelchair to get mom through the hub-bub of the airport to the gate, we were moved into the pre-boarding group. Hey, we’ll take it.

    Several people went down the jetway ahead of us. So, imagine my surprise when we found the starboard bulkhead seats still open. These are premium seats with excellent legroom. Yeah, the seats are on the narrow side ... but then so are all the other seats on the aircraft. Hey, we’ll take them.

    Our flight has been pleasant. I passed the time with a bit of journaling and a bit of reading. Southwest provides free wi-fi, so I was able to check in with family in Turkey to let them know that we’re on our way to Florida. And now I am going to wrap up this quickie “footprint” and prepare to stow my electronics in preparation for landing.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    1Our chariot being serviced — Denver International Airport, Denver, CO.

    Tummies Sated @ DEN

    February 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    Arrived at the DEN East Terminal at 10:00a ... as expected, a 1.5-hour drive up from Colorado Springs. Curbside check-in of bags. Then through security ... easy peasy (for the most part).

    After finding our departure gate — C35 — we headed off to get a bite to eat. After all, it was already 1:00p in Florida. We opted for Smashburger for lunch ... always good.

    Now we’re settled in at our gate. Our aircraft just arrived. If all goes well, 30 minutes from now we will be on the plane.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    Leavin' Home for DEN

    February 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    With apologies to John Denver ... I'm plagiarizing some of the lyrics from "Leaving on a Jet Plane” ...

    All our bags are packed
    We're ready to go
    We're standin' here outside the door ...

    It's early morn
    The Uber's waitin'
    She's blowin' her horn ...

    'Cause we're leavin' on a jet plane
    We'll be back again in June ...

    8:30a ... we’re on schedule. Uber just picked us up for the ride to Denver International (DEN) ... about 1.5 hours away ... worth it for the inexpensive Southwest Airlines tickets we snagged to get us to Ft Lauderdale. Sunny day ... a bit nippy with a light breeze adding a chill factor. We’re driving up Route 83N ... scenic and none of the I-25N mess to deal with. A perfect start to our travel day.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Looks like we'll have a nice place to chill in FLL between sightseeing outings.

    Bungalow Stay in FLL ✔︎

    February 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °F

    Instead of booking a couple of hotel rooms for our pre-cruise stay in Ft Lauderdale, Florida we booked a two-bedroom bungalow through Booking.com.

    Today I received an email from the property owner re-confirming the booking. Included in the information provided ... the exact address, the code to unlock the door, the wi-fi password. All very efficient.

    So, not only are we set with boarding passes for our flight, but we are also set with our accommodations. Let the trip begin ... tomorrow.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    DEN-FLL Boarding Passes ✔︎

    February 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F

    Bags are mostly packed ... last-minute items are all that remain ... they will be placed in our luggage before we zip them up.

    Pre-trip to-dos are mostly checked off our lists ... the few remaining items have to wait until we are ready to lock the door.

    Travel notes and other important documents have been pdf'd and transferred to iDevices for easy reference ... so much better than carrying a lot of paper.

    The last thing I needed to do this afternoon was to get boarding passes for our Southwest Airlines flight ... with early-bird check-in, it was easy to download them to the airline's app.

    Now I can relax until we get on the road bright and early tomorrow morning.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Planning takes time, but it's worth it in the end.

    European Quest Port Plans ✔︎

    February 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    Cold ... snow ... and some frozen fog as well. That's what most of February has been like. Most people probably would not care for weather like this. I don't mind much as such conditions allow me to focus on things I need to take care of indoors. In this case — making plans for shore activities for our cruise in May.

    Our 10-day cruise is port-intensive ... only one day at sea. All but two of the ports are new to us. Quite a bit of research needed. The good news ... I now have a fluid plan for sightseeing. What that means is that I have a list of places and things that interest us. We'll pick and choose from that list based on weather and other considerations when we arrive in port. The only locked-in plan is for the Guggenheim in Bilbao. I purchased skip-the-line tickets for that venue today ... at a surprisingly reasonable €10pp.

    Mostly we’ll be exploring the ports of call on foot ... with the help of public transportation as necessary. One exception is Brest ... we’ve rented a car to head out and explore the coast. We’ll be paying for the car on arrival, so we’re not locked into that plan and can change our minds later.

    I enjoy researching and organizing trips. That said, it always feels like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders when I am able to put a check-mark next to this travel tasker.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    NTTP: Admit Two

    February 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °F

    A beautiful sunny day at home … but a frigidly cold day. Have plenty to do so no complaints. Tomorrow is supposed to be much warmer. And then we have another snow event in the forecast.

    As I was planning our pre-cruise stay in England, I came across a National Trust Touring Pass that is available to non-residents. It is sold at considerable savings over what I anticipate we’ll be spending to visit some of the places on our list. What makes this pass such a good deal is that it admits two people for £58. It’s a seven-day pass, but luckily it should pay for itself in the two days we will have for sightseeing before we embark Nautica.

    Anyway, I ordered the pass this afternoon and received an immediate confirmation of the purchase. We will present the confirmation at one of the two places on the itinerary for our first day of touring — May 23. The staff will exchange it for the actual pass and then we'll be good to go.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020

    European Quest Saving Money

    January 23, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F

    Oceania Cruises has two pricing points. Well, three really. OLife, which includes airfare and one other amenity, such as a certain number of excursions, drinks, or onboard credit (OBC). OLife, without the included air, for which passengers get credit for not taking the airfare but can still get one amenity. CruiseOnly is the third option ... self-explanatory.

    When we booked our European Quest cruise, we opted for OLife with OBC and took the credit for the included air. We’re usually coming from or going to a cruise from somewhere other than the US, so arranging our own air makes sense to us.

    For the European Quest cruise, we have OBC — OBN really since it is non-refundable use-it-or-lose-it money — from two sources. One is the OLife perk mentioned above. The other is for having reached platinum level in the Oceania Club. Together they add up to a nice chunk of money. We don’t drink much, we seldom shop in the onboard boutiques, we don’t typically do ship-sponsored excursions, and our gratuities are prepaid by O as a platinum perk. So the funny money is usually spent on massage treatments. That is great when you have plenty of relaxing days at sea. On our upcoming 10-day cruise we have nine ports of call. Or putting it another way, we only have one day at sea. Not much time for a bunch of massages. What to do?

    We can’t do anything about the platinum perk OBC ... it’s just there ... no way to remove it. But we can do something about the OLife OBC by converting our booking to cruise-only since we have yet to make the final payment. So that’s what we did today. Our cruisefare dropped by an amount commensurate with the O Life OBC we canceled. Sure felt good to save some money. Especially since we still have the platinum OBC, which combined with the spa voucher we get for being platinum, will still buy us a couple of massages. All’s good.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    A suite with a garden view awaits us at Ivy Cottage in Tenterden (photo courtesy of Booking.com).

    UK Logistics ✔︎

    January 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °F

    Back in early December, I booked a flight on Sun Express to get us from Turkey to the UK for our European Quest cruise roundtrip out of Southampton. The reason I picked Sun Express was that we can fly non-stop out of Izmir ... any flight that avoids connecting in Istanbul is a good thing IMHO.

    The downside — well, not really since it gives us extra sightseeing time — is that Sun Express operates this flight on specific days. In this case, on 22 May. Our cruise departs on 25 May. Thus, our plan to fly in only a day before embarkation was replaced with a multi-day stay prior to the cruise.

    The question then became — where to focus our limited time. My first instinct was to use Southampton as a base as that would work out well to visit Highclere Castle ... of Downton Abbey fame. Turns out that the castle is open to the public only on specific days, and the one that worked for us had an event scheduled. No can do ... don't want to deal with extra crowds. So, I shifted gears.

    After consulting my Lonely Planet guidebook, I proposed to Mui that we visit the southeast corner of England, including Rye, which is described as "one of England's prettiest towns." It certainly seems like there is plenty of things to keep us occupied for more than two days, but we'll at least get a taste of what the region has to offer.

    Today, Mui rented us a car ... at what I think is a reasonable rate considering we'll be picking up at Luton Airport and dropping off at Southampton port.

    I wasn't idle either. I booked us into a B&B in Tenterden, which a TripAdvisor forum member suggested as a central location and described as "... a nice little town in the heart of some lovely countryside." Works for us. Ivy Cottage is highly rated by those who have stayed there and the property owners have already been in touch with us ... very welcoming.

    Now to come up with some "fluid" sightseeing plans that we can adjust based on weather and other considerations once we arrive in England.    Read more

  • International Jaunts 2020
    Final docs and luggage tags ... always good to get them.

    T/A Docs Ready

    January 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Forty-six days to go before we embark Allure of the Seas in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

    Final documents issued ... ✔️

    Luggage tags printed ... ✔️

    Boarding passes issued (and available on the Royal Caribbean app) ... ✔️

    Port plans ... ✔️ We have only one port of call on this 12-day TransAtlantic crossing. It’s a port we’ve been to before so I’ve not had to do a whole lot of research ... just a matter of picking one or two of the many sightseeing options in the city. Even lunch is a no-brainer ... assuming, that is, the weather cooperates for us to dine al fresco. If not ... well, I’m sure we’ll find an alternative restaurant that serves a tapas lunch.    Read more

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