Bahamas

Nassau-Bahamas-March 07

Friday-March 2, 2007- Ft.Myers. Fl.

We were up early and read the News Press over coffee. We finished packing, loaded the car and then set off over Rte.#75 South, crossing Alligator Alley, east of Naples. The morning fog still hovered eerily over the damp swamp of the Everglades. The river of grass teemed with life as the new day arose. As we cleared the Everglades, you could see the elevated expanse of an expressway far off on the horizon. We were entering the teeming throng of Metropolitan Miami.

The # 824 Expressway was crowded with morning traffic. We navigated the dense metal stream of traffic onto another similarly jammed expanse, that of Rte. # 836-East. It would traverse the top of Metro Miami and feed us into Rte. #395 East for the final rush into the coastal area. Finally, the exit for Biscayne Blvd. led us onto the coastal road that traverses Miami’s mainland. Construction was everywhere. Great towering condominiums, many still under construction, made the road canyon-like. The American Airlines sports arena here is large and attractive.

At the Port of Miami Blvd., we turned left into a peninsula of land devoted exclusively to cruise ships and cargo containers. Several of the major cruise ship lines had an entire port area to themself, replete with cargo terminals, passenger boarding and customs stations and separate parking ramps. We pulled into “area C.” It was the boarding area for Carnival ships. A baggage handler took our luggage and we proceeded to the C parking ramp to deposit our car. The fee was $45 for the three days.

We walked over to the terminal at a leisurely pace. We were early for Boarding. Noon was the earliest possible time we would be allowed onto the “Fascination” for the three day cruise to Nassau and the Bahamas. Processing was perfunctory. We had our documents and identification in order, so we sailed through into a cavernous waiting area adjacent ot the floating behemoth that is the M.S. Fascination. With a gross tonnage of 70,367 lbs., the ship could manage a maximum speed of 21 knots. Her cruising speed is 18 knots. She is 855 ft. long and has a draft of 20.3 ft. From keel to the top of her stacks, she is 203 feet tall and has 12 decks. Built in Finland in 1994, she is Bahamian registered and one of the older ships in the Carnival Fleet.

Carnival staff seated us in waiting room chairs, according to our arrival. A few score of other passengers were as early as we were. I could hear German, Spanish and French around us. The passenger complement was multi cultural. Most of the ships have crews from 20 or 30 countries, so the mix of languages and cultures is a pleasant education in diversity. Soon enough, we were allowed to walk the gangway onto the Deck 7 “Empress Deck.” We had our state room keys, but couldn't enter our cabins until 1:30 P.M., We walked about the ship, familiarizing ourselves with the different decks and facilities on board. Several restaurants, a large casino area and a central core of boutiques made for an attractive setting. We found the cafeteria style “Coconut Lounge” restaurant on the Lido Deck, (#10), adjacent to the pool area.

We chose fish, rice and yams with fresh salads and ice tea for lunch. As always, when you hit a buffet line, your eyes are bigger than your stomach. We settled into the pleasant surroundings, overlooking Biscayne Bay, and ate a leisurely lunch. Streams of other passengers entered all afternoon, each similarly testing the ability of the ship to feed a starving army. A piece of raspberry chocolate pie even caught our attention. They do feed you well on these ships.

After lunch, we walked the decks, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the arriving passenger complement. Music was playing on the Lido deck and a party atmosphere pervaded. We stopped by the excursion desk, on deck 7, for our “Historical Nassau” excursion tickets and then continued exploring the ship.

By 1:30 P.M. we entered our stateroom, U-125 on Deck #6. It is small and compact. A large double bed and small bathroom took up most of the room. Closet and drawer space are ample. We awaited our luggage which soon arrived. Our bags were no problem, but our garment bag had been totally submerged in water. Dinner and evening wear were soaked. We called the room steward who foisted us of of the ship's purser. We tried not to be overly annoyed. Something like this can ruin your trip at the onset. We took the garment bag to the Purser on Deck #7 . A very sharp and presentable purser, a young Dutch Girl named Martina, took the situation in hand. She said she would get the clothes cleaned immediately and get them back to us as soon as possible. We thanked her for her efforts and set of about the day. Sometimes, you just have to let the small annoyances go in life.

At 4:00 P.M. we had a ship wide boat drill. We all wore our bulky cork lined life preservers, as we sat on the Lido deck. Many of the passengers were younger and apparently not been at sea before. They stood around the upper decks, as if watching an amusement. The crew eventually rounded them up and sent them for their life jackets. On other ships we had been on, the regimen was more military. They didn’t screw around like the Carnival crew. It took about 45 minutes before they got everyone situated and began the brief instruction on emergency exiting a sinking ship. We had been at sea in the far Pacific and knew that the efficiency and discipline of a ship’s crew, in these situations, can mean life or death. I think someone should explain this to the Carnival Lines. Their crew was lackluster at best in this area.

After the life boat drill, we walked to the top deck to watch the Fascination leave port. Her starboard thrusters spun the great ship, as if on a pivot, in a 180 degree arc, so her bow faced the harbor exit. Slowly, she got underway. All around us we could see row after row of huge high rise buildings along Miami’s harbor. Virginia Key and Biscayne Key, in the distance, were private preserves of the moneyed. The sky was clear. It was hot, 86 degrees and humid in the tropical air. The pool deck was rocking. For a several hundred college kids, on Spring Break, it was like a college kegger. Boisterous young males were wandering around with plastic ice tubs laden with several bottles of Budweiser.

Dusk was approaching. The poolside bars were jammed with young customers, so we stopped at a quiet bar, on deck nine, for a celebratory drink on leaving port. Then, we went topside again and watched the sun set against the Miami skyline, as we motored out into the Atlantic Ocean. The haze of a humid day made the city skyline appear as if an emerald city sliding into the foggy mist on the far skyline. We were glad that we were here.

We retreated to our cabin to shower and dress for dinner. Tonight’s de rigeur was resort casual, so we managed without our sodden dinner wear. We had selected the later, 8:00 P.M. dinner seating, in the “Imagination” dining room. The later seating allows us a more leisurely pace on shore excursions and time to enjoy sunsets. We had been assigned to table #294. Our fellow diners were to be a surprise and a great pleasure to us during the next three nights. Steve and Lois Luthy, from St.Louis,Mo. Alex & Tom Rodriguez from Miami, Marilia Diazvivo, from Miami, and two women, Nancy and Diana, who were from Ecuador. It made for a lively and fun dynamic over dinner. But, more as the story evolves. A wonderful Pumpkin soup, followed by caesar salad, lobster tails and prawns were exquisite. Then, a heart melting warm chocolate cake, with vanilla ice cream, left all of us in a gustatory dream state. Alex and Tom were trenchermen of the first order. They unabashedly devoured several lobster tails. I think the staff was amazed and amused at their ability to eat like this. The conversation over dinner was lively and fun.

After dinner, Mary and I proceeded to the Palace Lounge, on Deck ten, for the nightly show. We sipped a glass off cabernet while an extremely lame comedian attempted to gather a few laughs. He failed miserably. We exited as soon as we could and walked about the boat's gangways. Some of the same party animals, who had been pounding all afternoon, were in the casinos and the discos. Their staying power amazed me. A few rebel yells and whoops attested to their state of intoxication.This was a party ship in the extreme.

Tiring from the day, we returned to our cabin.As a surpirse, our evening wear had been cleaned and pressed. They were hanging neatly in our cabin.Bless that young Dutch Girl for her diligence. We settled into read for a bit before sleep.I was reading the “Lions of Lucerne” -Brad Thor. It had beeen a long and interesting day.The sandman soon claimed us.

Saturday, March 3, 2007- Nassau- Bahamas

We were up at 7 A.M. It was already sunny and warm out. The seas were calm and the boat sailed on an even keel. At 7:30 A.M. the great ship was just sliding into her berth in Nassau harbor on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. Her berth, and that off the other spaces for five more cruise ships, lies in a secure area of the harbor, accessible through a small entry terminal several hundred yards from the ship.

Breakfast arrived via cabin steward at 8:00 A.M. Bagels, Lox and coffee were decent. We cleaned up and prepped for the day, anxious to explore Nassau. We disembarked early at 9:00 A.M and walked into the city. Hawkers for tours , horse driven buggies and taxis were already lined up outside the small terminal area. It was hot and humid already. In the harbour nearby sat three large ocean going tugs, “Deep See,” “Amber Jack” and “Turbot.” Two smaller harbor tugs” Tiki” and “Dolphin” sat ready at anchor. Completing the naval complement lay a Bahamian Coast Guard Frigate “P-61.”

As we sat talking, another huge Carnival vessel “Celebration” nudged into her berth. The Celebrity “Millennium,” the “Coasta Mediterraneana” and two huge liners from the Norwegian and Royal Caribbean lines would fill in the port today. Some 15,000 passengers would be unleashed on the tiny port, a shopper army of tourists waving dollars, euros and pesos.

We slowly walked back toward the ship, watching the interplay of all of the above on the busy port area. There is always something interesting happening in port. We were to meet our tour guide for the two hour “Historical Tour of Nassau” ($45 each)on the pier beside the ship. We sat for a time and watched the ebb and flow of passengers leaving the ship. Many were headed for snorkeling excursions on the various beaches. We chatted for a time with our dinner companions of the evening before. They were headed to the beach as well.

“Stan” our guide and a native Bahamian, assembled a small knot of us on the pier and then marched us out through the terminal and onto a small street near the “Straw Market.” We split up into groups of ten to fit into the small passenger vans for the tour. Luckily, each van was air conditioned. The driving was on the left side of the road, befitting a former English colony. That means you had to look right, for the kamikaze scooter drivers, instead of left when you crossed the street. They came out of thin air, at horrifying speeds, and roared down the crowded streets. May carburetor trouble plague them all for life.

The Bahamas, as an island group, had been “discovered” by Columbus in 1492. They had emerged, as a sugar growing area and center of commerce for the Caribbean, over the next several hundred years. Pirates of note, like Blackbeard, Anne Bonney and others had made it their port of call. The British had cultivated the area as a possession and colony right up until Bahamian Independence on 7/10/1973.

Initially, we could see a rather sharp dichotomy between the old and the new. Centuries old fortifications and building were made of a limestone coral construction and appeared dark and dirty. The “newer” government buildings were of brightly pastel, colored stucco edifices with green copper roofs. Many of the “natives homes” were wooden and ramshackle in appearance. Still, you would usually see a car or a scooter out in front and they appeared to be getting by. The rift between the haves and the have nots here is a gulf unbridgeable.

We drove by the Princess Margaret Hospital for our first stop at “Fort Fincastle.” It is a limestone and coral fortification that sits at the head of the “Queen’s steps,” a series of 66 stone steps carved from the native rock, in a small glade with a water fall nearby. Stan dropped us off nearby and we walked through a gauntlet of vendors to the small stone fort. Inside, a guide gave us a brief history of the area and fortification. It had never fired a shot in anger. The water tower, next ot the fort, supplies all the water pressure for the island. The view was beautiful from atop the ramparts. Blue skies, deep blue ocean and the many buildings and port facilities nearby. We lingered a bit and then walked down the steps to the waiting van. The driver joked that they had socialized medicine in the Bahamas and a night in the hospital only costs ten dollars. So, if you found yourself broke here, you check into the hospital for few nights instead of a hotel. Socialist humor.

Next, we drove by the brightly pink stuccoed Governor’s place, with the statue of Christopher Columbus in front. A newly constructed and attractive fine arts gallery sits nearby. The five star “Greycliffe” restaurant nestles a few streets over. This area, the HIghland Park section, is where the moneyed reside. The neatly ordered villas are attractive and expensive. These attractive buildings all sit in stark contrast to the shabby native dwellings and older stone churches, that bespoke of “another Nassau” not usually seen by tourists.

The “native beach,” “Cable Beach” is broad and attractive. Bahamians walked and congregated along the sandy expanse, though for most tour ships in Port meant a work day. Just off shore here sits “Crystal Key” a semi-submerged Marine museum and a nature preserve, for all to view the attractions of the sea and island. The Bougainvillea and Hibiscus, that flower everywhere on the island, are both eye pleasing and fragrant.

Next, we came upon a collection of 27 restaurant's in an area known as “Fish Fry.” “Conch King,” “Red Snapper”, and an array of restaurants small and large, offered every imaginable fruti di mari for natives and tourists alike. I think they deep fry everything here that stands still. It is a honkey tonk area for residents to dine, drink a few Bahamian beers and enjoy the island nights.

Our last stop was Fort Charlotte on the Charlotte heights. Built in 1787, of limestone and coral construction, it had never fired a shot in anger either. From its ramparts, we had a magnificent view of the port area and far out into the ocean. The sky was azure blue, the ocean indigo and the white waves crested on the tan shore of the beach. A gentle zephyr was blowing on a sunny day. It was a good day to be alive. We were happy to be here. We walked through the tee shirt and batik dress gauntlet back to the van and headed into the center of Nassau.

Stan parked near the “Pirate Museum” for those headed there. We opted to pass, tipped him for his tour and then walked down into the tourist warren of the “Straw Market.” A Large thatched roof covers a warren of aisles each laden with knock off,designer purses, tee shirts , sun glasses, trinkets and all things that tourists might conceivably be interested in. Each vendor occupies a space about six feet long and sat there patiently awaiting sales. It was jammed with tourists, buying the various bric a brac. Claustrophobia soon set in and we bailed out through the other end. If you are a patient shopper, with lots of time, I am sure you can load up with bargains to foist off on relatives and friends upon your return.

We walked along the busy harbor. “Senor Frog’s,” a busy waterfront bar, was rocking already with college kids and partiers. It would be a long day for them. We found and entered the welcomed, air-conditioned bubble of a star bucks and sat contentedly sipping their delicious brew, while our body temperatures cooled down. You need frequent cooling and water stops in this heat to survive.

It was mid morning and the day was heating up. We decided to take a water taxi over to Atlantis Island. Right outside starbucks, a small fleet of wooden craft were lined up for the 15 minute, back and forth run. We paid our $6 each for the rt ticket and were escorted onto a rickety wooden cabin cruiser, with a top deck for additional seating. The “captain” was better than a pusher on a Tokyo subway. “No one in de back” he said 20 or thirty times until we and several couples nearby started laughing at the pusher and the crowded conditions. I was mindful of the tour boat that had over turned in Lake Placid,N.Y. a few years back. I wonder if these guys knew about such things. We shared a laugh, with a Colombian couple scrunched up against us, at the repeated harrangue of “no one in de back of the boat, mon!” Finally, the “Kowloon Ferry, sro, shoved off. We motored around and past the six nautical behemoths sitting at anchor in the harbor. You don’t appreciate fully the size of a passenger liner until you are looking up at them from a skiff.

“Pusher” continued a narrative of Atlantis's history, morphing from plebeian Hog island into the fabled fantasy land that it is today. We watched as the twin, red sandstone colored towers of the main hotel hove into view. The hotel complex surrounds a huge private beach area. A plush gambling casino, restaurants and boutique shops also enhance a visitors stay. The big attraction however if the 25 deep foot aquarium that surounds the hotel in a 180 degree arc. From the ground floor of the hotel, it is a huge aquarium where hundreds of species of fish flow before your eyes.

As we docked on the island, we reluctantly tipped the pusher and then walked along a small sidewalk towards the Atlantis, hundreds of others streaming along with us. There are time shares, a smaller hotel, shops and an upscale boutique area also on Atlantis. Further out on the island, Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey have palatial spreads. Donald Trump and Merv Griffin had both once owned the Atlantis Resort. A new hotel tower was rising under construction, on the resort as we neared it.

First , we walked through the upscale “Atlantis Shops and Boutiques.” Jewelers, and clothiers compete for the trade. Along side of the shops is a Marina with the latest in mega yachts anchored for our viewing pleasure. “White Star,” “Magic,” “Relentless,” “ Paradigm,” & “Jamie” were written on the sterns of these James Bond style cruisers. Uniformed crews tended to the prosaic chores of maintenance as we walked by, mouths agape.

It was 86 degrees and humid out and we were flagging in the heat. We espied the welcomed air conditioned bubble of “Murray’s Deli” in the row of shops. It was packed to the rafters with lunchers. We were seated soon enough and settled in to some enormous salads with salmon and chicken. They were very good($50). We luxuriated in the cool air for a time before setting out for the castle, for such it appeared, like something from the final scenes of “The Wizard of Oz” or Disneyland.

The Atlantis resort is Las Vegas style in size. We walked into the plush casino, and enjoyed the opulence within. Three Dale Chihuli glass sculptures decorate its ceilings, setting the tune for a scale of luxury you find usually only in Las vegas. Most of the tables and machines seemed to be in full operation. We walked on thorough and around the periphery of the hotel, enjoying the plush grounds. We could see the beach area and pool across the way. It must be nice to stay here, at $400 a night.

We walked the marble corridors, of the shopping arcade, browsing the windows of the pricey shops. Throngs of fellow tourists, from the six liners, were everywhere around us. We had been advised that there as a $30 charge for entering the hotel, but we didn't see anyone collecting any fees so we continued on. The interior lobby is spacious and luxurious. We walked down a set of stone steps to the big attraction. On the ground floor, in a 180 degrees arc, is a continuous series of 14 ft. tall glass Windows, that reveal the outside aquarium which surrounds much of the hotel. The glass has a magnifying effect, so the fish seemed even larger than life. We watched in awe as several hundred species of fish swam lazily by our eyes, inches away. A Lemon shark cruised lazily along the bottom. Two huge Manta Rays, with wing spans of 20 feet, glided majestically thorough the crowded mix. The longer you watched, the more some of the fish took on distinct personalities. Some were camera shy. Others appeared to be playing to the audience. We were delighted with the attractive biosphere and stayed for a time admiring the nautical collection it held.

After a time, we reluctantly retraced our steps through the casino, and back across the steps, to the Boutique shops and Marina. A star bucks claimed out attention, and we sat for a time watching the endless parade of tourists flowing back and forth to and from the resort. This was a show much like the aquarium we had just left. It was hot and muggy out in the tropical heat. We walked along along the path to the waiting ferry dock. Luckily, we didn’t get the “pusher,” but the return ferry was packed just as tightly. We enjoyed the afternoon breeze and gazed lazily around the harbor, as the small ferry returned us to the dock near the straw market. The liners were all still in port and the place was rocking. Several tour excursions were returning from the beaches as we docked.

We walked to “Senor Frog’s,” thinking to get a beer. It was wall to wall college kids, drinking to beat the band, god love them for their endurance and cast iron stomachs. We exited quickly, aware of the anomaly of our age in the mosh pit atmosphere of the waterfront bar. The harbor front was filled with shoppers and sight seers, as we strolled back towards the entry terminal to the liners. You could tell by the hurried pace and anxious looks, of some of the returning passengers, that their boat had a late afternoon departure time. Like ET with the mother ship, if you didn’t make the departure, you got left behind. The officials, scanning the boarding documents, were hopelessly behind. The line stretched out into forever. In that we weren’t in any hurry, we walked back out into town and browsed several of the many tee shirt and souvenir shops, buying small items. The traffic was bunching up with rush hour. The kamikaze scooters were maniacal in their attempts to run everyone off the road. We walked along enjoying the noisy ambiance of tourist frenzy..

Two streets over, in a small shopping alley, we espied the second floor “Iguana Cafe.” We walked up into the delicious, air cool of the small, French style bar and ordered two Coronas. We sat on the outside patio, admiring the fading architecture from earlier in the century. It was slowly decaying in the tropical sun. The cacophony of horns, from the building traffic ,was a fading symphony below us. We enjoyed the cold brews and relaxed in the late day sun.

By 5:30 P.M., the returning crowds had abated somewhat,as we walked the pier back to the Fascination. The Celebrity “Millennium” was just slipping her ways, as we approched. The huge behemoth slid into the outer harbor and sailed off to other Caribbean ports. We climbed the gangway, onto the Empress deck, and headed for our cabin on deck six. We peeled off our soggy clothes from the day, showered and prepped for dinner. Tonight was to be a “formal night,” where jacket and tie were required. I wrote up my notes and relaxed in the air conditioned bubble. We had walked many miles and for many hours today. We were tired with the heat.

At 8:00 P.M., we joined our dinner companions, in the Imagination dining room, on deck #8. The conversation was a lively recap of everyone’s day on the island. We were becoming more comfortable with each other and each of the diners joined in the lively repartee with amusing anecdotes. Alex Rodriguez bore a striking resemblance to “Bobby Bacclava” from the TV series the Sopranos. We kidded him about that. He was good natured about the kidding. Steve Luthy was in Florida on a conference. His wife Lois is a Teacher, playing hookey and joining him.

Marilia was Alex’s significant other. She is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and a Human Resources Manager. Alex’s brother Tom, was in Banking. Each emerged as a personality over conversation. Three of us had birthdays during the cruise and cakes and birthday songs accompanied our dinner. It was lively and fun at the dinner table. We had broccoli soup, caesar salads, Tilapia fillets for me and more of that exquisite, warm chocolate cake, with Vanilla ice cream for dessert. Mary and I had a glass of cabernet with dinner. It was a nice experience.

After dinner, we walked up to the “Palace Theater” and settled in. The performance tonight was a high energy, “ Fiesta Latina.” Brightly colored costumes, samba and salsa music competed with a few very good singers, in the high kicking and entertaining performance. We thought it decent entertainment, for cruise ship fare, and enjoyed the show. From the theater, we walked topside at 11:30.A.M. A light mist was falling. It was muggy and 70 degrees out. We watched several of the more energetic trenchermen line up, for the late night buffets, on the Lido Pool Deck. Bless them for their appetites. These two pilgrims were tired. We repaired to our stateroom, read for a time and soon surrendered to the sandman. It had been a long and interesting day in Nassau.

Sunday, March 4, 2007- Nassau- Bahamas

We were up at 7 A.M. It is my 58th Birthday today. Another Royal Caribbean behemoth had slid into the berth along side of us. She was outfitted with rows of balcony suites, reflecting the latest trend in cruise ship amenities. We dressed in sweats and headed out for the gym on deck #12. As we climbed topside, the Carnival “Glory” slid into her berth. Nassau would rock again today.

The deck # 12 gym was fully equipped with weights, treadmills and exercycles. We spent an hour sweating and enjoying the caloric burn. The ship was getting under way as we worked out. We watched Paradise Island slide by, on our starboard side, as the Fascination motored into the outer harbor of Nassau. We had the strange sensation of sitting on an exercycle, as the ship sailed out of the harbor. It felt like we were riding a paddle boat and propelling the ship forward, as we watched from the clear glass windows high above the ship. After the gym, we walked a mile around the deck #11 jogging track. The rubberized track circles a miniature golf range. Several novice duffers were already playing.

From our walk, we descended, in sweats, to the Deck #10 Coconut Lounge. We enjoyed some fruit, eggs and pastry, as we watched the ships company arise and start the day. We walked another two miles, on the jog track after breakfast, cognizant of the caloric overload we had engaged in the last few days. It wasn’t even putting a dent in the damage done.

A disembarkation meeting was scheduled for 11:00 A.M. in the Palace Lounge. We made our way over and sat for a time as the cruise director droned on and on and on, introducing everyone but the busboy in the galley. We left after a time, figuring we would get the information in the daily news sheet, that was placed in everyone’s cabin.

We figured that we would oil up and sit in the sun for a few hours on the top deck. Most of the ships passenger complement had the same idea. Lounge chairs were scarce. We managed to find two on deck #11 overlooking the pool area. The deck #10 Lido (Pool) deck was rocking with activity. Music, goofy contests like the hairiest chest and biggest howl engaged the semi inebriated audience. We watched as if on a different planet. Throughout , streams of eaters devoured everything in the Coconut Lounge and all other available eateries. This crowd could eat!! We read our books, for a few hours, and enjoyed the bright sunshine. It was 80 degrees out, with a light breeze.

In early afternoon, we returned to the Coconut Lounge. The deli offered fresh lox on lightly toasted paninis. It was pretty good fare. We sat for a time overlooking the ocean, and enjoying the view, on a bright sunny day. It really is a pleasant place to spend a few days. The sun and the exercise had made our eyes heavy, so we returned to the cabin and read for a time before enjoying a much needed conversation with Ozzie Nelson (nap). Late afternoon found us on deck #12, for another 2-mile walk. We were hoping to negate some of the calories taken in. The activity on the pool deck was dying down. The minature golf players were out in force. It had turned windy, topside. Miniature golfers lined up, to laugh and putt and enjoy the time at sea with friends and family.

The sun was setting, in the late afternoon, as we returned to our cabin to shower and dress for dinner. It was our last night aboard ship. We were scheduled to view the variety show, in the Palace Lounge, at 7 P.M. before dinner. It was a high energy rendition of “songs of the 80”s,” featuring Madonna and Michael Jackson impressions. Corny and overdone, it was still decent entertainment at sea. 8:00 P.M. found us in the Imagination dining room, with our assembled dinner companions. Tom, Alex & Marilia had provided a bottle of champagne for us. We toasted my Birthday and each other’s health. It was a nice gesture on his part. The waiters gathered and sang happy birthday for me. We enjoyed cream of mushroom soup, caesar salads, a salmon and scallops platter, with apple pie and ice cream. Good coffee and a glass of cabernet rounded out the meal. Our companions were lively and animated. We enjoyed our last meal together. All of the dining room waiters lined up in a row and sang a rendition of “leaving on a jet plane.” It was both funny and touching. We collectively made our goodbyes to each other at dinner’s end. It had proved a lively and interesting group to share dinner with for the last three evenings. Sometimes, you get lucky on a ship with dinner companions. This time we had.

It had been a long day in the sun and we were tiring. We took a last stroll, along the deck #9 promenade, watching the gamblers in the casino and the partiers hard at work in the discos. It was time for these aging pilgrims to retire. We returned to the cabin and packed our bags. We had to leave them in the hall, for pickup, by 12:00 P.M. We packed a last time, made sure we had everything we needed for departure, and then read for a time before surrendering to the arms of Morpheus.

Monday, March 5, 2007- Miami, Florida

We were up early , at 6:30 A.M. The Fascination had just berthed in Miami’s harbor. Passengers, with early flights, were already disembarking. We showered and prepped for the day. We had no immediate plans and were not in a hurry to leave the ship.

Predictably, the ship was a hubbub of activity, as passengers scurried to and fro. Crew members bustled about their arrival activities. It was a chilly 48 degrees out, as we walked topside to look out upon the Miami skyline. People were drinking coffee on the Lido deck and wandering about. We descended, to the deck #8 “Sensation” dining room, where full breakfasts were being served. Credit Carnival, they fed you right up until you left the ship.

We sat with an elderly, African American couple. They had spent their lives living on Staten Island and now lived in Ft. Lauderdale. Their eldest daughter was a municipal judge. It is chance encounters like this that make ship board life so interesting. Omelets, with coffee, were tasty. It was a nice finish to a three day holiday.

Topside again, we took a last look at the imposing skyline. The thin causeway, to the beaches, was ablaze with morning traffic. We made our way back to our stateroom, packed our remaining gear and waited for the signal to depart.

Disembarking was painless and well organized. We left the ship, at the Empress deck, and walked through the arrivals terminal, to a huge warehouses area. Our luggage was arranged, in color coded rows, according to the deck we had stayed on. We easily retrieved our luggage and walked to the custom's line. We had filled out our declarations form and received a perfunctory check, of our passports, before being waved through into the chill sunlight of the morning air. We walked over to the “C” terminal and retrieved our car.

Traffic was busy but manageable, as we exited onto Biscayne Blvd. We thought that we would drive up through Miami and South Beaches, along U.S. #1. The causeway, to the beaches, is flanked by a bright aquamarine water that looks like a television commercial. You could almost hear the theme song, from an old Miami Vice episode, playing in the background. It really is attractive looking.

The streets, along the beaches, were sparsely filled on this chilly morring. Still, the breakfast places were loaded with vacationers. People were out and about. We admired the art deco style of many of the older hotels along the beach. They are still attractive and interesting. “Newer,” 1950’s-style, kitsch is an architectural oddity. It really is an interesting, if crowded area. In North Miami Beach, the faded remains of the 1950’s is even more evident.

We crossed back over a causeway and made our way to a very crowded Rte. #95 North. This city has some heavy traffic. We sailed up through Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach and finally exited North of Jupiter, to drive along U.S. #1. We had never driven this stretch of coast before and were interested in reconnoitering the area. Strip malls, box, chain stores and vacation condos lay along the strip through Stuart and Ft. Pierce. It wasn't any different, or less crowded, here than in S.W. Florida.

At Ft. Pierce, we followed Rte.# 70 West. Like Rte.#10, Rte.#4 and Alligator Alley, it is one of the few East-West roads in Florida. The change in scenery was immediate. Orange groves, cattle ranches and agricultural pursuits gave one a glimpse of “old Florida.” We picked up Rte. # 29 South, at Okeechobee, and then flowed into the four lane expanse of Rte.. 27. It is a four-lane expressway, that runs from Tallahassee in the North, to Miami in the South through Florida’s interior. This area will be the new center for development, in the coming decades.

We were skirting the expanse of massive Lake Okeechobee. At rural LaBellle, we picked up Rte. #80, Palm Beach Blvd., and sailed the last 30 miles on into Ft. Myers. Rte. #75 South led us to Daniel's Pkwy and our neck of the woods. We stopped, for take out and Taco Bell, and then drove finally into Cross Creek. We caught up on our mail, e-mail and then read the several days accumulation of News Press and N.Y. Times. It had been an interesting and fun getaway to Nassau. We were glad we had gone.

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Joseph Xavier Martin