The next thing we did was go to Roswell, New Mexico.
After visiting Carlsbad Caverns, we drove on and went to Roswell, New Mexico. We are both science fiction fans and wanted to see Roswell and all the information about that reported UFO landing. The town was so much bigger than I expected! I thought we would be able to walk to see whatever we wanted. Nope, it is so large, there were two Tractor Supply stores, a Penny’s, Hobby Lobby, Target, etc. I never expected it to be a city.
Lots of businesses capitalize on the UFO landing that they are famous for, especially downtown. A doughnut place had a huge green alien holding the sign up, (most of the alien depictions looked the same, green alien that is common to UFOs) as did a gas station, lots of businesses had alien theme signs on the windows and store fronts. It was kind of fun. Like seasonal decorations but there all year. Of course, there were several UFO shops. We also went in the International UFO Museum. Very well done, informative and worth the visit. Very factual with international UFO information as well as a neat map which showed every reported sighting site. If you touched the site, it would tell you where it was, when it was and what was reported. The also had displays on some of the better UFO movies.
Most of the roads we were on (and we didn’t do interstates, all back roads so we could see the country) were in excellent shape, nice and wide divided 4 lane roads – even the back roads we were on. SC could use some tips from them! We kept seeing signs that said, “Rough Road”. We seldom knew where the rough road was. If they wanted to see rough roads, they should come to SC. And very little traffic on any of those roads. It was very pleasant to drive them.
The first touristy thing we did was to visit Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Mike had applied ahead of time for an entry time (based on where we stayed the night before and how long to get to the caverns). Reservations are required at this time. It didn’t take us very long to get our instructions and information to start our tour.
Carlsbad has self-guided tours as well as Ranger lead tours. The Ranger lead tours went deeper into the cavern but we opted not to do that. We decided to do the self-guided tours. There is also the option to walk down into the cavern or ride the elevation. We decided to walk down (but NOT back up). It is a 1.25 walk into the cavern.
It is 750 feet down (equivalent to walking up or down a 75-story building) and pretty steep. We walked down, some steps, some slopes. Most of the time there were handrails but occasionally you could venture off the path and get up close and personal with the sides of the cavern as well as the deep look into the lower areas. We didn’t do any of that. They actually ask you not to so as not to harm any of the structures as well as for safety.
We went all around the “Big Room” – 8.2 acres. The walk around this area is 1.25 mies. The Caverns are beautiful and well worth the visit! It was so much more than we expected! It wasn’t just a little walk around, it was massive in size and had a huge number of different formations. Most of the structures and rooms are named and you can usually tell why they had that name such as the Totem Pole, Temple of the Sun, Hall of Giants, The Whale’s Mouth, Iceberg Rock, etc.
Carlsbad Cavern is one of over 300 limestone caves in a fossil reef laid down by an inland sea 250 to 280 million years ago. The Cavern stays about 56 degrees F. It has been called one of the seven wonders of the world.
The “Big Room” measures 2,000 feet long and 1,100 feet wide at its greatest extent with amazing formations everywhere and you can walk around all of it! The ceiling arches 255 feet above the floor. It is the largest chamber in North America. The calcium deposits have built stalactites and stalagmites, some eventually joining as columns. Nature has decorated the caves with mineral features of draperies, thin straws, popcorn-shaped nodules and oddly curved helictites.
We didn’t, but you can watch 400,000 Brazilian free-tail bat bats leave the cavern on summer evenings. Reservations are required. The bat area can be seen as you walk down into the cavern. We heard from some people who had seen it that it was amazing!
The elevator ride back up is 62 seconds (at 9 mph). Much quicker than walking back up. We did see some dedicated people walking up as we were walking down.
I came across this video from Viking cruises about recording a new theme for the Viking Cruise Lines. It happened at Abby Road studios, and so has a link back to the times when so many noteworthy albums were recorded in that space. It is a very interesting look inside the recording and mixing process. The video shows the immense amount of work and talent needed to transform the notes on paper to a finished, polished recording. Remember the musicians have not seen a note of this until the first run-through. Simply amazing. Take a look, I think you will find it fascinating.
Best of the Best type lists have always interested me. I compare my opinion to what’s on the list or see if there are new places I want to try. Condé Nast Traveler recently put out their list of “2020 Readers Choice Awards”. Condé Nast Traveler is recognized as a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine with a motto of “Truth in Travel”. They have articles on a wide range of the travel topics, world wide, including destinations, hotels, food and beverage, airlines, trains, etc.
One list on the Readers Choice Awards was the top ten islands in the United States. Of course, Hawaii had three listed – Maui was #2, Oahu was #6 and Lanai was #10. Florida had three – Marco Island #3 (near Naples on the Paradise Coast), Longboat Key #8 (on the west coast) and Amelia Island #9 (on the northeast coast). St Simons and Little St Simons in Georgia was #4. South Carolina also had three – Isle of Palms #7, Kiawah Island #5 and the NUMBER 1 island in the US was Hilton Head Island!
I know most of you would have some questions about their top beaches list. Although Coligny Beach at Hilton Head is on the list as well as the beach at Kiawah, there was no mention of Edisto or Folly, a serious omission. But I guess no list is perfect.
Other topics on their list include best hotels, best cities, best resorts, best spa resorts, best countries, best islands, best trains, top hotels in many cities all over the world, and travel choices for Europe, US, Asia, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean and Atlantic, Central and South America, Australia and the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. They also list readers choices for cruise lines and islands, airlines, airports and trains. They publish a magazine and have an internet presence for interesting and pertinent information about lots of travel options.
In the future I will focus on some of the other lists and make comments about the places we have been.
When cruising starts back you will see some changes. No one is being specific but they are giving some idea of the things to expect. The cruise lines are working with health experts and elected officials to return using the best and safest path for passengers and crew. There will be a “new normal”.
Ships will likely not return with full capacity. There will be limited capacity so physical distancing will be possible. There will probably be floor markers for distancing as well as plexiglass barriers and spaced out seating. There will also be areas of the ship that will restrict the number of guests allowed in at a given time such as bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Embarkation and debarkation will be staggered to limit the number of guests in an area. Masks (with your mouth and nose covered) will likely be required in public spaces and in situations where physical distancing isn’t possible.
Health screenings will be more comprehensive and required before boarding. Temperature checks will be commonplace – upon boarding, upon returning from a shore excursion and probably occasionally at least the first few days onboard. Some lines may require negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding as many tourist destinations are currently doing. Crew members will be tested routinely.
Some cruise lines will do away with the beloved buffet. Some will have the buffet but it will be served to guests by PPE equipped staff. Frequent hand washing is one of the easiest ways to help prevent spread of disease so there will be more hand washing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the ship.
Shore excursions will be set up differently and likely limited in what a guest can do in a port. One cruise line that is already cruising in Europe for example, requires guests to participate in only their shore excursions and are not allowing them to go off on their own. They mean it too – one family group went off on their own after leaving with the ship excursion and when they returned to the ship, they were not allowed to re-board and their luggage was packed and brought out to them.
Muster drills will probably be via an electronic device (I’m in favor of that!) with guests visiting their assigned assembly stations to confirm their participation. This will be set up in a way to avoid the mass gathering in the ship. But they will have ways of checking your participation so don’t think you can get out of it!
Cruising will be different when we get back to it, but it will still be a great way to travel and still have fun!!
The Hotel del Coronado or The Del or Hotel Del is a historic beachfront hotel in the city of Coronado just across the San Diego Bay from San Diego, California. It is one of the few surviving examples of a wooden Victorian beach resort. It is the second largest wooden structure in the US and is a California Historic Landmark as well as a National Historic Landmark. We have been to this hotel. It is worth a visit even if you don’t stay there.
In 1885 it was dreamed of and 4,000 acres were purchased. The 399 room hotel opened for business in February, 1888 as the single largest resort in the world. The original grounds had many amenities, including an Olympic-sized salt water pool, tennis courts, and a yacht club with architecture resembling the hotel’s grand tower. A Japanese tea garden, an ostrich farm, billiards, bowling alleys, hunting expeditions, and deep sea fishing were some of the many features offered to its guests. Today there are 679 guest rooms as well as 78 ocean-view cottages and villas, a wellness spa, beauty salon, fitness center, multiple pools, shops, beautiful grounds and lots of recreational activities and water sports such as deep sea fishing available.
This hotel has always been popular with almost all the US presidents as well as many celebrities staying there. Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Mae West, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe, Kevin Costner, Jimmy Steward, Whoopi Goldberg, Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey are among the stars who have stayed at the hotel.
The hotel has been featured in at least 12 films including “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, in “Wicked, Wicked”. “The Stunt Man” with Peter O’Toole, “My Blue Heaven” with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, and “The Neuron Suite”
Frank Baum did much of his writing of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” while staying here. Other authors have used the setting in their works. Some of the storylines of “Baywatch” season 4 evolve in and around the hotel. And there is even a US Postage Stamp honoring director Billy Wilder with images of Marilyn Monroe and the hotel from “Some Like It Hot”. The Hotel Del is famous for having the worlds’s first outdoor electrically lit Christmas tree in 1904.
There are reportedly several ghosts in residence at the hotel. Kate Morgan was staying there in 1892. She told the staff she was waiting for her brother. She was found dead on the steps leading to the beach three days later. She had shot herself. There is also the ghost of an actress who drowned in 1904.
To get to the hotel, you can drive across the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, which is a dramatic two-mile long bridge with a 90-degree turn at its midpoint. Another option is to take the ferry which departs from the foot of Broadway in San Diego.
This is as eclectic as you can get, and is a highlight of any visit to San Diego. (A great town in its own right.)
What are Port Fees and Taxes on a cruise? Port Fees and Taxes are something you pay every time you cruise. It isn’t normally included in the quoted price of the cruise. Like gratuities, it is an additional cost of the cruise. This fee may include any and all fees, charges, tolls and taxes imposed on the cruise line, by governmental authorities, as well as third party fees and charges arising from a vessel’s presence in a harbor or port.
Each time a ship visits a port, the local authorities charge the cruise line a fee in exchange for the right to dock there and the various services associated with the ship’s visit. These fees include inspection fees, environmental fees, security services as well as docking fees and a fee for each person on the ship whether or not they visit the port. Those costs also vary from one port of call to another. A per passenger fee is generally called a head tax. The cost covers the passengers using the local port and typically goes toward maintaining facilities that tourist use – dock improvements, police, etc. Then there is the pilot fee. Every time a ship docks at a port, even if it is just to change berths, they are required to have a local pilot on the bridge to guide the ship. The boat that approaches the ship as it is coming in has the pilot onboard. Port Fees and Taxes include U.S. Customs fees which covers the cost of paying the people who are at the custom desks and all the people guiding you around in the port. Every time the Center for Disease Control does an inspection, they assess a fee based on the ship’s weight for the cost of the inspection. And the United States Public Health does unannounced inspections twice a year. The cruise line is charged for this inspection also. In short, there are a myriad of things the cruise line has to pay for that gets passed along to the passengers. Each port has a different fee. You are assessed the fee based on the inspections done on a regular basis, security and custom people as well as what each port charges for docking. Remember the cruise line pricing for a cruise does not include the Port Fees and Taxes. Just figure that cost into the price of your cruise when you are working out your budget.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in the historic city of Saint Albans claims to be Britain’s oldest pub. During the COVID 19 pandemic this pub has become a Community Supply Point, providing groceries and offering free delivery to the elderly. They even deliver Sunday Roast dinners to residents. The pub manager said he looked to the past for inspiration of handling things with the current issues. The summer of 1348, which was centuries after the pub served it’s first beer, the Black Death appeared on the southern shores of England.
This pestilence returned repeatedly. There were at least three waves of the Black Death falling upon England over the century following 1350. One of the many repercussions was especially pertinent to establishments like Ye Olde Fighting Cocks: the rise of pub culture in England.
When the plague arrived in 1348, drinking beer was already a fundamental component of Englishness. Drinking was even enshrined into the Magna Carta of 1215, which “called for uniform measures of ale.”
Drinking pre-Black Death, though, was comparably amateurish. Society revolved around popular celebrations known as ‘ales’: bride-ales, church-ales, – gatherings where plenty of alcohol was drunk. Anyone could brew up a batch of ale in their home, and standards and strengths varied wildly. Home brewed ale was advertised with an ale stake, which consisted of a pole covered with some kind of foliage above the door.
The Plague caused a critical labor shortage; about 50 percent of the population died during this time. This proved to be a good thing for the peasantry of England. They could command higher wages for work and achieve a higher standard of living. As a result, the alehouses were replaced by more commercialized, permanent establishments set up by the best brewers and offering better food
In spirit, though, the pub was there. More ale was drunk, and beer (with hops) was introduced from the Low Countries. Brewing became more commercialized, with taverns and alehouses being gathering places for drinking and playing games and the English pub was born.
Over time these became “public houses”, regulated by authorities. In place of the simple ale stake, Richard II made it mandatory to erect a sign. Gradually, commercial brewers started to build bigger houses that became busy meeting places, hence the term ‘public house’. If you look at pubs today, you can see the community aspect that is the legacy of the alehouse, the architecture and sense of national heritage of the inn, and the tavern tradition of spending the evening with your peers.
For Brits, a pub has always been more than just a place that sells beer. It goes beyond heritage, it goes right into the core of their society. The pub itself defines England, remaining a focal point for their social lives even among nondrinkers. They have become community gathering places and involved in many aspects of community support.
There are things we might not think about or know about until too late. You can make plans ahead and hopefully avoid unpleasant surprises.
For example, you never know when you might have to gate check your carry on bag due to overhead bins being full, etc. Don’t leave your most indispensable possessions in that bag. Pack jewelry, IPad, camera, house and car keys, medications, etc. in a pouch or small bag inside your carry on. If you have to gate check the bag, you can easily remove the items and carry them with you.
When you book a hotel or cruise for a special occasion, let your travel advisor or the hotel know the reason you are booking. Often you can get a free upgrade or they might provide something extra to make the celebration memorable.
Always check the U.S. State Department Travel Alert (https://travel.state.gov/) before you go overseas but don’t rely solely on those alerts. Also check with the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The alerts aren’t written for tourists but also diplomatic officers and others who end up in places and situations everyday tourists do not.
If you have your heart set on visiting a particular port on your cruise, plan your cruise to start or stop there. If it is scheduled for mid-cruise, the unforeseeable may occur and the ship may not stop there.
If you see something you like, buy it as soon as you see it. You may not remember exactly where the shop is and it probably isn’t going to be less expensive at another store. You may regret it if you don’t get it.
Check your phone plan before you travel abroad. Make sure you understand the terminology and exactly how much the charges are. DON’T use “Cellular at Sea”. It is very expensive.
If you need to use different currency, the better option is to ask your bank ahead of time to get the currency for you. Otherwise, changing money at the airport is about the same as getting it in town. Sure, you will save a little changing it in town, but is it worth the hassle to not have the correct currency on the trip into town?
Buy the travel insurance! You aren’t just buying it in case you don’t get to go on the trip. The primary reason is that you can’t afford to pay for medical care outside of the US and you sure can’t afford to pay for a flight home if needed. US insurance rarely, very rarely, pay for medical care outside of the US and certainly not the flight home.
Print out your reservation details and put it with your documents. You may have it on your phone, but you might not have instant access to phone service to check that information right away.
Notify your bank and major credit cards of the dates you will be gone and which countries you are visiting. You don’t want them to not honor a purchase you make due to “unusual activity”.
Your memories are one of the most valuable things you get from your trips so back up your pictures on a regular basis. You can back them up on a USB stick, internet site, etc.
Double-check your documents and reservations for everything from hotels, flights, trains, buses, etc. Always corroborate the time and location, and make sure they are scheduled correctly. Also, check that your name is correctly spelled especially on your flight reservation.
Have a hard copy of your documents (passport, IDs, travel insurance policy, credit cards) with you. In case you lose your original documents, copies facilitate your identity verification and quicken the renewal process.
Don’t try to do too much in one trip. Give yourself time to enjoy where you are and not just check things off your bucket list.
Consider the different time zones between home and places you are visiting. Consider the possible effects of jet-lag during your first days.
Use a guidebook but don’t rely totally on it. Just use one or two suggestions per day. Do your research!
If you see a lot of locals at a street food vendor, chances are it is safe to eat there. Don’t be afraid to try local food.
Don’t stay solely in the “touristy areas”. Wander some but keep an eye on your surroundings. You may find a fabulous local restaurant, shop, or meet interesting locals.
We sailed on the Carnival Breeze September, 2019. The ship leaves out of Port Canaveral. It holds 3,690 passengers and was built in 2012 with her recent refurbishment in 2017.
The first thing we did on the ship was eat at Guy’s Burger Joint. What an awesome burger with amazing toppings and fantastic french fries! A great way to start our cruise.
We found several great places on the ship to just sit, people watch, read and be on the ocean. On both sides of Deck 5, outside of Ocean Plaza, are chairs and tables with umbrellas which are very comfortable. The pool deck aft of the Lido Marketplace Buffet Restaurant is also nice and has some covered chairs and lounge chairs to sit in. The Serenity Deck on this ship is the aft part of the ship, deck 15. Adults only with lots of lounge chairs but not shade.
We were scheduled to go to Bermuda where we had reserved a tandem electric car to explore the island. But, Hurricane Humberto went there a day or so before we left port and Hurricane Jerry was on the way there. So, they diverted us to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Guess that is what you get when you schedule a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season. But, although we didn’t go where we expected, it was still a fun cruise and the ports were great!
What are the odds!?!? We were still on the way to San Juan when Hurricane Karen popped up and was headed directly for Puerto Rico, to arrive about the same time we did. And, the early morning we were to get there, there was a 6.1 earthquake 5 miles offshore of San Juan. Were we being told something? Fortunately, the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical depression and slowed so it didn’t get there until after we left. The people who were awake felt the earthquake but it didn’t cause any damage and no tsunami.
We had fun there walking around San Juan. We heard about a coffee shop in Old San Juan, very close to the dock, called Cuatro Sombras. Wonderful coffee and pastries! We highly recommend it!
Next stop – Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. No beach access but the pool was nice with a swim up bar and a water park. Lots of shops, but we thought they were overpriced.
Grand Turk is pretty with the colorful buildings you expect in the Caribbean. There is a Margaritaville there, nice pools and beach access with lots of lounge chairs. The sand is very soft and white. There are also many water activities, paddle board, lots of boat rides, etc.
One day we went to our normal spot on Deck 5. There was a young couple there with their one year old son who was just learning to take his first steps. The kid was cute as a button. There were several of us grandparent types sitting in the chairs. We were encouraging him and clapping for him. He would grin, clap back to us, then try even harder to perfect his walking. Have to say it was the best show on the ship.
Another interesting thing we got to do on the ship – the head chef took us on a tour of the largest galley on the ship. It was a real learning experience. Seemed like miles of stainless steel cabinets, neat as a pin, and busy. There were separate areas for prepping all the food – salads, entrees, desserts, sides, etc. And even separate dishwashing areas for china, glasses, utensils, etc. You should have seen the size of the chocolate bar they use for the Carnival Warm Chocolate Melting Cake! They make 22,000 meals every week, not counting the pub meals, barbecue and pizza. There are 190 chefs onboard. That’s a LOT of cooking!!
We had both entrees the night we had shrimp and filet; also the night we had lobster and prime rib. Plus we had the Melting Chocolate Cake and Creme Brûlée each time it was offered. They are both awesome!
The Italian Restaurant on the ship, Cecina del Capitano, is fantastic! And if you can get in, on the days they have a pasta bar, it is also wonderful. You get a choice of pasta, sauces and added items such as mushrooms, peppers, onions, grilled chicken, shrimp, etc. Then you pick your bread. It was ready in 5 minutes and was very good. Then you could go to the buffet for dessert.
Speaking of the buffet for dessert, the last day they had the Chocolate Extravaganza – lots of different chocolate cakes, desserts and there was a chocolate fountain that fruit, marshmallows, etc. could be dipped in. If you like chocolate, this was not to be missed!
In addition to the Guy Fieri’s burgers, the BlueIguana Cantina had a great taco bar, burritos and a few several breakfast choices. Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse had great barbecue, chicken, mac and cheese, slaw, collards and baked beans. The pizza on the ship was good too. You could take what they had or you could ask for specific toppings and they would fix it for you. The Carnival Deli also fixed wonderful sandwiches.
We really had a good time and enjoyed the cruise immensely. We will certainly have no issues putting our clients aboard the Carnival Breeze.
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