Vict0riann

Thank you, Everyone, for the birthday wishes! I had thought that I would avoid the day this year, but evidently not.... 😉 Had my birthday hug from my sweetheart this morning, my birthday present will be a cruise in two weeks. The big events today will be a visit to Costco and then a haircut. I have been needing the haircut as the last one (from a new girl) was not a success and has not grown out well. So I'd better get on with my day. Prayers on the way for those needing them, and I'll definitely be toasting the celebrators tonight!

You are a terror! I was planning on no birthday this year.

Sometimes busses have internet, and you could do it after you cross the border.

My suggestion would be to purchase Club Orange for your cruise. It is US$15 per person per day on Nieuw Statendam, I think. For that you can upgrade to any stateroom in your category- oceanview, I think it is?. You get, as well, priority boarding and tendering, a dedicated CO line at the Front Desk and the shore excursion desk, a smaller dining room, mimosas for breakfast, a $50 coupon to the spa, and a couple of other little perks. The first night in the CO dining room, a glass of bubbly, in your room a CO bag, and first dibs on getting a piece of jewelry cleaned in the Effy store on board.

One of our DD's colleagues was in St. John's the day we were there on NS on July 30, and took this great shot of us going through the Narrows - evidently it made it into the paper later...

Good reading today, I'll say my prayers for those on the Care List, and have a celebratory glass of ginger ale to salute those celebrating. @grapau27, Happy anniversary to you and Pauline tomorrow. And thank you for Father David's sermon. Don't tell him, but our pastor has taken 6 weeks off (usually he gets a month) to return home to Newfoundland for the summer. We have fill-ins at Mass, or services led by someone in the congregation while he is away. @StLouisCruisers, I hope the nerves are regenerating in your scalp, the itch might be a good sign. @kazu, sorry about the wrist, I find my once broken wrist tends to ache at the best of times, a sprain on top of that and then lifting dogs would be no fun! @ger_77, condolences on the loss of your friend. And @lindaler, what a nuisance about the roof!

Good morning, Dailyites, Happy Sunday. Pat has gone to church and then breakfast with my cousins, but I stayed home, as I seem to be having another bout of IC and am back on clear liquids. At least they gave me some pills (anti-spasmodics) in the hospital, but I suppose I should call the doctor tomorrow. Now I am a bit worried about our cruise in 3 weeks. Actually, I thought we should "self-insure" but Pat said "get the insurance!" so I did, now I'm glad I did what he told me (I don't always...) I've been researching diet, and I suppose one problem is that I should not be eating DD's usually quite spicy food. We were in Boston just a few weeks ago, after our Viking Passage cruise and took the ship's transfer to the airport with tour. Our guide on the bus was an old Bostonian (?) and so of course we had a visit to Fenway Park. We were there for quite a while, and we also drove past the site of the bombing of the Boston Marathon, which now has memorial posts along the sidewalk. Just a few pictures. Ted Williams, our guide's hero. The new building Moderna is putting up - I guess they can afford it! Site of the bombing and the spiral poles put up as a memorial We drove over the Finish Line!

Hi, Jacqui, we made a last minute booking for the 14 day Great Alaskan Explorer, September 11 to 25, 2022 on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Thanks for including us on the Future Cruise Liisting.

Yes, DD and I both felt we had been hit by a truck after the second. Pat had no problem with it. So you have a one in three chance statistically to be fine!

What wonderful news today about Shadow! Jacqui, @kazu, that is one smart dog to almost make her way home to you after only a few weeks! And of course, Liz is to be commended on figuring it all out. Please tell her she is today's CC heroine! I have a feeling it will be difficult for you to let Little Shadow go again. I had my phone doctor's appointment this morning, didn't speak to my doctor, I think maybe it was his student. But he was very informative and went over the tests with me and what to do in the future. I guess it was a little more serious than I realized, but I'm just eating very bland food, and hopefully all will resolve. We just booked a September 2-week Alaska cruise that I couldn't resist, so I told him I will not be ready for the colonoscopy until after we get back. First things first! Pat is Irish, so of course potatoes are his favourite food, I was born in China, so rice is no. 1, but I don't mind a potato now and then - I think it's DD's special potato salad for us tonight, too. And chicken.

What was your wife using to take those great photos of the aurora? We may have an opportunity on a Alaska cruise next month, and I suggested to my DH that he upgrade his camera, but he's thinking my iphone 11 may be enough.

We actually parked in the lower parking lot (we were in a car.). We were able to walk on a level walkway to see the waterfall. We could see people wandering around on other pathways, but didn't want to stray too far from safety. This was our view:

No one ever mentioned it at the ship in Copenhagen. We just boarded and no questions were asked. Your situation might be a bit different if you are entering the US to stay in a hotel for a few days. They may ask you at the airport, but as long as you have the hotel address with you, it should be alright. The ship shouldn't care anyway, should they?

Good morning, Dailyites. First off, such sad news from Jacqui , @kazu. Sorry about your re-injured wrist. I hope Liz and the others find Shadow safely and get her happily settled with a foster family. What an ordeal! Prayers go out for them, and also those ailing on the Daily and neighbours and friends. Our neighbours on both sides are away at the moment, I've been doing their watering. My aunts had two black cats, a Persian named Jezebel and a sleek short-hair named Lucy (for Lucifer, and so she was!). As children, we loved them both. The stuffed shells sound good, but I think I will make something blander, without tomatoes. I got up late today and felt very weak and wobbly, so I had a piece of toast, my first solid food since Friday, I've been on a clear liquid diet for four days, I know I just can't do another, four will have to do. Now it's 10:30 and I must go and shower, Pat will be back soon from golf. I have a stamp meeting this afternoon, but I think I will just pop in with my donation and say hello and leave. No energy for being sociable! Thanks for all the pictures of Punta Arenas - they bring back memories. We did all that!

On our third visit to Koper in 2021, the same guide took us to his mother-in-law's house (with wonderful views over Piran), where he could park his van, and then we walked down narrow streets into the town for coffee and souvenir shopping. After a stroll around the town, he brought the van to where we could board and we drove through other towns, Isola and Portorose, to a farm for a lunch of local goodies. We had time after that, so we made a quick visit to Trieste. A memorable day, a bit more easy-going than our previous visits! Koper from the ship View of Piran from Marko's DMIL's house On the way down At the market Lunch In Trieste

Our next visit to Koper, in 2019, we had the same guide, and he took us to Bled Castle, Lake Bled and Ljubljana. Such a beautiful city! It was a lot of driving, but I think we had a long day in port, and it was well worth the effort. Beautiful countryside Bled Castle Lake Bled and snacks Ljubljana

On our first visit to Koper, Tony organized a tour for us to Piran, the caves at Postojna and Predjama Castle, built into a mountain. We were on the Prinsendam in 2016 and our DD was with us. Just a few pictures, I'll do more later. Piran The caves Martha and me Predjama Castle

Good morning, Dailyiters, I must be quick, as Pat wants to get out and about! I've been to Koper twice at least. Tony, @sailingdutchy, organized wonderful tours there, and I have lots of pictures which I will try to post later. Not so much of Koper but of other places in Slovenia. I remember a cousin once visited there years ago and was so impressed he wanted to retire there. It is a beautiful country. Roy, there really is no need to put me on the Cares list! I am doing fine, just annoyed they are inflicting me with another roto rooter job. I can let you know the day before I have it, so you can all think of me and laugh.

I think it is because there are people who work in the locks who come on board and they want to know they are safe!

Looks like quite a nice day.

Made it just in time!

Thanks, Graham, it's nothing really serious, I've had this little problem before and had my last colonoscopy 11 years ago, when the gastroenterologist told me I would never need to have another. Maybe he thought I wouldn't last this long! No fun, and I don't mind if it takes 3 months to fit me in.... PS And I have a phone appointment with my doctor on Friday to discuss.

Good morning, Dailyites, and thank you to Rich, Roy, and to all who post with interesting stuff! Carbonara is Pat's most favourite dinner, but if we're not in Italy, I usually buy a frozen one for him. I know, it's cheating.... Our Acadians are your Cajuns - French exiles who came to the New World, ours mainly settled in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (L'Acadie), yours settled in Louisiana. So maybe it's Cajun Day, too. Eat something spicy! I'm praying for all the sickies here today, Tana especially, and those with Covid. Hope recovery is rapid. Congratulations on the new granddaughter, @Heartgrove, she is lovely. I'm envious of those cruising or about to cruise. We're just back a couple of weeks and I'm already itching to go again. Just got an email of a Private Sale, and I'm so tempted by it! But we spent 7 hours at Emergency on Saturday, and I have been told I must have a colonoscopy, which may take a few months to get, so I'm not sure if it's a good idea to start booking cruises! That reminds me, I'd better call my doctor for an appointment, which may also take some time to get. Happy Monday!

We had a large one on NS in July. Ninety signed up, about 60 attended. I invited some of the officers, the Captain joined us, also the CD, Beverage Manager and Cellar Master. I don't think that happens very often, even before Covid, but maybe things are opening up again.