Sea Dog

Here is an example of my new iPhone 14 Max Pro with 48mp camera. Now these pics are converted since CC will not accept Apple Pro Raw format Wide shot and here is the zoomed in crop version. I think the detail and colors look fantastic. I need @twangster opinion because he is the real pro.

Dia De Los Muertos Celebration So for our excursion today we decided to do something different. The Dia De Los Muertos Celebration celebrates Day of the Dead on November 1st and November 2nd. We always do beach days but we wanted to learn some culture. Now keep in mind we booked this long before our cruise. First the obligatory tourist setting shot. Now remember me telling you about our adopted friend we met before entering the terminal on Day 1? Elaine had lost her husband 6 months ago. This was supposed to be their first ever cruise together. After he died she wanted to cancel but her daughter urged her to go as a solo. She had been depressed after losing her husband she dearly loved. But her daughter convinced her to go. Now had I not broken my collarbone I would have stood in line but a Royal CSR told me to go sit down on a bunch in front. I did and happened to sit next Elaine. It was fate. She told me the story and was nervous about her first ever cruise. I answered a lot of questions and told her she could count us to help her have a great time. As I said to her, “Your husband would want you to be happy and the best way to honor him is to celebrate his life.” It was fate that Linda and I were meant to look after her. Fate again, Elaine and Linda and I happen to be booked on the same excursion a celebration of the dead. Angel (great name) explained the holiday to us. It was a way to honor loved ones who have passed. First by building an alter and then having a feast. Our excursion was at the Mayan Cacao Company, where we ate local dishes, including fresh tortillas with chocolate sauce. Then we engaged in Dia De Los Muertos rituals including an altar-decorating contest. Elaine honored her husband. Linda honored her Mother Joyce who actually died on our anniversary which is today. I honored one of my best friends and longtime coworkers Maria and Tim who lost their son at a very early age. Maria was one of our long time anchor/reporters and is Cuban. Her husband was a photographer like me. The anniversary of his death is tomorrow so I will send this to them as a tribute. For the last 25 years, each year of Tyler’s death I tell them I am thinking of them and that I love them. This will be a special tomorrow. Our special alter. A spread of delicious snacks were served and sampled flavored Mexican chocolate, sweet bread, masa-wrapped tamales, fried codzitos and more regional bites. I even had a Chocolate Daiquiri. Tasted like a good chocolate milkshake. Again everything happens for a reason. Elaine and Linda and I were meant to be together. We laughed, we cried and we hugged each other. Sometimes a personal connection is better than a beach day. It’s the warm embrace of a stranger that can leave a more lasting memory. Cheers to the ones we loved and lost. This day was for you!

No on demand movies in the stateroom but they do show movies down on Deck 3 in On Air. Like they are showing. Thor, Ghostbusters, Elvis and some others.

Must have been the blue corn. It was a taste I’d never tasted before. Not a fan. Alternating Tylenol and Advil. ER doc asked if I wanted pain meds and I said no. I did not want to feel drugged. As long as I don’t move my arm around too much I’m ok. Just have to live with it for now. I have been very pleasantly surprised how good the food is. I have not had a bad meal in the MDR yet. Yeah with 3 of us doing lives it’s hard to keep up. I’m trying to at least check in on the other threads but it’s hard with all of our activities and posting on mine. I’ll re read everything when I get back.

I don’t think my phone has that. That is a cool feature . I’d love for you to do the flow rider. I wish I could learn but I don’t need to break the other collarbone. Have a great day. Cheers!!!!

I bow down to you in respect. Well done my friend.

Good morning from Cozumel and breakfast in the WJ. 7am and already getting crowded.

Yeah if you see it don’t buy it. Bad after taste. Are you home now? I need to catch up.

Wow that is cool . Is that you? If so I’m really impressed. I couldn’t do that.

Never had Texas Bourbon before so the R Bar had Balcone’s Pot Still Bourbon. I had a glass and it tasted like S#%*. Leave bourbon to Kentucky folks. My Elephant towel animal does like Templeton Rye however. Good taste for what the famous gangster Al Capone called “The Good Stuff.”

I love it never too early.

Great question. We talked to someone the first night that said the concert in Studio B was very lightly attended. It could be because a lot were in the Schooner Bar watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Poor piano player thought every time someone clapped or cheered it was for him…Not. Tonight for formal night I’ve never seen so many cowboy hats, bolos, and boots on a ship in my life. I will say that that everyone has been polite and very courteous. Still not my scene but it seems like they are having a good time. I usually hang out in the Schooner Bar but it has been packed every night so I’ve had to find other bars to visit. Rum Punch in Oliver & Twist aka Viking Crown lounge.

That last post uploaded lightning fast. Your evening Star Link internet speed test.

Pacing myself for the stretch.

And dessert Carrot Cake and a side of ice cream. I’m stuffed.

For entrees I ordered the beef tenderloin medium rare which was fantastic. And the Seafood Alfredo Linguine. It tasted bland from the Alfredo sauce (needed more Parmesan and ground black pepper) but had lots a seafood pieces so it was acceptable. Better sauce than the shrimp Alfredo from Willie G’s.

Gotta love snails in a garlic butter sauce. I also got the crispy calamari but dug in and forgot to take a pic. Bad Sea Dog… bad dog.

Manhattan with Buffalo Trace because they did not have Templeton Rye even in bough the R-Bar had it.

Can’t get any better than sitting down to our table in the MDR and seeing this.

Pre dinner Espresso Martini. Just the pep I needed.

Yes I did. You can order as many entrees as you want. I did the Lobster Thermidor and the veal together. The lobster is not that big. Phone is great but I haven’t shot hardly anything in the 48mp Raw format. Too much of a pain to down convert and upload to CC. I do think the camera performs really well in low light. So far I’m very impressed. I need to start shooting in 48mp and see what it can do. Looks like you are having a blast. Me too I just don’t have the stamina after the injury. I’m drinking way less.

Don’t have the exact recipe for the New Fashioned but here are the the ingredients. You could probably do approximates. I had one last night in the Schooner Bar. All the Schooner Bartenders should know how to make it.

@A&L_Ont Andrew this video is FOR YOU!

Thank you all for your kind words and support. One thing us fellow CC'ers like to do is spread the joy of cruising to others.

Lunch in the MDR. Starter a nice Caprese Salad.Nice and light. Juxtaposition with a heavy Grilled Sirloin with a Bearnaise Sauce and French Fries. Steak had a great grilled taste to it. Dark Chocolate Custard for dessert. Can’t go wrong. Overall a very nice lunch. Going to get some sun on the top deck, listen to some great Reggae and take a nap See you later.