4.29.2018 NCL Pearl to Alaska live writeup- and I don’t even sail for 75 days!

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Making my way back into town, I stopped for coffee at a cute little coffee place.

 

I bought some beans to take home, and I was getting hungry so I got a vegetarian sandwich and an ice coffee with half and half.

 

 

 

The sandwich would have been good except sandwiches with romaine lettuce shouldn’t be hot. Wilty romaine is no bueno. Spinach, kale, arugula? Fine, but not lettuce.

 

Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication with the iced coffee too so I basically got a giant cup of cream with a little coffee in it. I couldn’t drink that without gagging.

 

Walked around town a little more and made my way back to the boat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The gift stores have some, um, interesting merchandise...

 

 

 

The best though? Is it Donald trump? Or is it david Bowie?

 

 

 

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Headed back to the ship.

 

 

This looks like a scary job!

 

 

 

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So, when I got back, I had a bamboo massage scheduled. They basically use bamboo rods to massage you. I didn’t like it nearly as much as any of the other massages I have had, but it was still relaxing. I decided afterwards I was going to spend some time in the spa and try to get some use out of my spa pass.

 

This was my favorite part.

 

When I returned to my room, I passed a door I hadn’t noticed before, and it really stuck with me. I guess I will never know if this was just a cute name, or someone’s post-diagnosis bucket list tick, but I doubt I will ever forget the bittersweet sadness of this door decor:

 

 

When I got back to my room, there was a knock at my door.

 

Earlier in the day, upon getting off the ship, there was a couple behind me. The woman was upset she didn’t grab an umbrella. Knowing that my umbrella was just taking up room in my pocket and that I would not use it, I offered it to them. I gave my room number and said that if they thought of it, they could return it, but that I wouldn’t be put out if they forgot. Sure enough he returned it, and added a little Alaska keychain to it as a thank you.

 

 

I spent a little time on my balcony after this.

 

 

 

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Here’s today’s MDR Menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got the watermelon salad (sans shrimp!)

 

 

The beet salad

 

 

 

I find that NCL does really well with delicate dishes that get a lot of flavor from oil, like both of these salads, and they also do a great job with Indian inspired food, like the curry.

 

 

 

 

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Sure, I’ll have some dessert.

 

 

Upon walking around I realized they had a crepe station I hadn’t seen before. So, I got some crepes.

 

 

 

Hey, it’s vacation.

 

 

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And here is our last set of dailies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Day 7: Victoria

 

 

Woke up to the most beautiful day we have had so far on the cruise.

 

Had breakfast in the buffet for the first time. Watched whales and dolphins next to the ship. It was really cool.

 

Spent a good amount of time barefoot on the pool deck drinking umbrella drinks. I joined in the hottub with some nice people for awhile. This day, even pre-port, was turning out to be my favorite just for the beautiful weather.

 

 

I went back to the room to dry off, and decided to sit on my balcony in pajama shorts.

 

This vastly improved my day, and I decided I was not going to leave my balcony until it was time to get off in Victoria. So I ordered room service and ate lunch on the balcony.

 

 

It’s a good thing throwing things off your balcony is frowned upon. Because I detest ketchup, even when it’s cute.

 

 

 

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We interrupt this post to give you the MDR menus this day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Beachiekeen]

Oh man that crepe looks delish. I wonder if I missed them on the Dawn??

[Weetahbugdotcom]

Oh man that crepe looks delish. I wonder if I missed them on the Dawn??

 

 

 

It didn’t seem like they were always there (although I rarely paid attention in the buffet.) my guess is they are there at prime dinner time, 6-7 maybe?

 

 

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So I totally forgot to mention the cruise critic wrap this day. Basically all of the officers wanted our feedback. They were very cool and open to it, but it was mostly positive. It really makes you feel special when everyone knows your name. How the crew does that is beyond me but that was my main feedback. I also feel that as a vegetarian, NCL has plenty of great options without having to make special arrangements. I did say that their Asian vegetarian offerings are weak and that’s really an easy place to make veg friendly.

 

 

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And suddenly we were nearing Victoria.

 

 

I’ll be honest, I considered staying on the ship, staying on my balcony.

 

I’m glad I didn’t, Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.

 

Oh Canada!

 

 

I picked up my bike at Victoria bike rentals, which is right at the pier. Victoria is a very bike friendly city.

I rode around the coast a little and then to beacon hill park. I have never been to buchart gardens, (which is not in Victoria, it’s about 40 minutes away.) but beacon hill park is so beautiful I don’t see how it’s neccesary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It was golden hour in the park.

 

 

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There are a lot of areas you must walk your bike in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

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My favorite part of the park was the moss lady. She’s behind the bandshell.

 

 

 

 

 

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I also enjoyed these guys,running loose near the petting zoo. You can hear them before you see them.

 

 

 

 

 

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It was still golden hour while I pedaled up through the main part of town...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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...past the beautiful and famous (infamous?) empress hotel...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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...past the beautiful Parliament House

 

...up to Chinatown...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In Chinatown is a small strip called Fan Tan Alley. It’s a quaint alley full of shops that was once a place for gambling, opium, and prostitution.

 

 

 

 

 

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I did buy myself something at a small store that sells local art; a sterling silver plated maple leaf.

 

Here’s a picture of me wearing it this weekend. I look gross because I have been climbing around in underground tunnels and fighting the rain.

 

 

 

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Next I rode to centennial square where there was some weird hippy thing going on. People were spinning light sticks and those big light up body batons, there were neon bricks and some strange instrument that made electronic music if you just touched a bar. It was such a nice thing to be a part of on what felt like an early summer night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As I was leaving this event, a young girl came up to me and offered me a rose. I began to tell her I couldn’t take it back on the ship with me (let alone carry it on my bike) but she wanted me t have it so I shut up and took it.

 

 

I rode around a little more, over a fun bridge as it got dark.

 

 

 

I headed back. Parliament was lit up in the distance.

 

 

The city was beautiful.

 

 

 

It was then I ran into trouble.

 

 

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[Beachiekeen]

Wow what beautiful city. I have read Victoria is sort of a wasted port but you have certainly proven otherwise!

 

Oh no, what happened??