lauderdalebob

We took the 2 day complete St. Petersburg Tour with Alla about 2 wees ago off the NCL Sun and had the wonderful guide Valentina in a group of 14 put together by Alla. My travelling companion and I each gave Valentina $40 at the end fo the second day as a tip and $20 each to the driver of the van (U.S. cash for both). Was worth every penny and she sure deserved it for all the knowledge she imparted to the group about every place we visited. Her tour was the highlight of our cruise vacation.

My roommate and I (used to be partners many years ago) are taking Carnival Freedom 16 night sailing out of Rome through the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and then home to Ft. Lauderdale, with 4 nights pre-cruise in Rome. Can't wait. Wasn't as concerned so much about homophobia as just a "wild and crazy" crowd. I wouldn't take Carnival out of Ft. Lauderdale to the Caribbean, but since they've started doing longer European trips I'm hoping for an older more subdued crowd, a mix of Americans and Europeans. Let's hope I'm right. After partying in the 70s in Manhattan and living there for 20 years, then SF for 10 and now here for almost 9, my wild drinking partying days are a fond(?) memory. Well, some are anyway . . . and my days of speedo wearing are long, long gone, but do love a well put together guy wearing one. Now really, who wouldn't?! Hmmmm. Happy Sailing! P.S. Also booked 12 night out of Dover to Baltics for May 2009 already on Carnival Liberty!

Taking the Oosterdam (pronounced as in "OH" ster dam) on 5/20 to Alaska and have taken the Zuiderdm (yes, you're correct, rhymes with cider) twice in the Caribbean (and now you can get into is it CARIB E AN or CARA BE AN?) PO TAY TOE, PA TAY TOE, "let's call the whole thing off!"