The Fleet Report and Daily for Sunday September 18th, 2022

[puppycanducruise]

@atexsixThanks for the update.  You are in our prayers.

[puppycanducruise]

@cat shepardLove your pictures and comments.  More please.

[atexsix]

On 9/18/2022 at 10:19 AM, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

Bruno, thanks for stopping by and for the update on Dear Dad.  As others have found, take care of yourself too, and take breaks when needed.  An aide, maybe not every day, but for several hours to a couple of days a week could give you the time to take care of yourself.

 

I just realized that no one has posted pictures of Florence.  I guess all those who posted their pictures last year, are not here today.  I went through my pictures of the days we actually visited Florence instead of touring Tuscany.  After our day in Florence in 2016, we decided the crowds were just getting too big.

 

My pictures are a collection from our visits in 2001, 2002 and 2016.  I'll begin with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore, also know as the Duomo, and the Baptistry. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, which has the tombs of many famous Italians or at least monuments to them.

 

 

 

 

A replica of Michelangelo's David and another statue outside a church near the Uffizi Gallery, and the gallery.

 

 

Ponte Vecchio

 

 

Looking toward the Uffizi Gallery from the Pone Vecchio

 

In 2001, we took a ships tour to Florence as it was our first visit to the city.  The tour buses were not allowed in the main tourist area.  We had to board these little buses to go from the parking lot into the main area. 

 

Lenda

 

Thanks for your kind words.  I don't get a lot of respite are at the moment, but it can be arranged on an as needed basis, the V.A. covers a certain number of them, but due to ongoing staffing shortages their resources are stretched pretty thin, so I don't want to utilize it until it's vitally needed.

 

Always nice to see pictures from my family's country, albeit mostly southern Italy.

On 9/18/2022 at 6:57 PM, HAL Sailer said:

You put into words exactly how I've been feeling and thinking. Here's hoping we are able to go to sea when our land based duties are complete -- "whether in a couple of years or ten."

-Melisa

It can be hard I know.  But it's pretty common around these boards for people to step away for long stretches and then return to the cruising world.  One good thing to come from this break in the action is that I feel many lines/ships are still transitioning and adapting to the new post-covid normal and I'm not sure it's complete, we have squeezed in a couple of cruises including I think the 6th or 7th official HAL return about a year ago and then our most recent on Princess and it's clear there are ongoing changes and refinement to the brand from the restaurants and dining rooms to ports to onboarding.  

 

With that being said, the biggest downside for us has been the elimination of a lot of smaller ships, I'm hoping my return to cruising (probably alone) will not be on a 10,000 passenger vessel (I'm exaggerating a little, but that's the direction their headed-RCI seems to have made it their business model to build the biggest baddest ship afloat.  So it's coming.

On 9/18/2022 at 5:42 PM, maryandmarge said:

HI Bruno

Great to hear from you - I always watch for you to post.    I have a close friend since elementary school who is dealing with the same issues as you - her mom has lived with her for years and she's 98 and has been failing this past month.   We offer what help we can to support her - but know that the outcome will not be good.   Her mom is 98 and has had a great life.    

My sister and I are on the Nieuw Amsterdam on October 8th - going from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale thru the Panama Canal.   We'll do a toast to you and hope to be able to sail with you once again in the future.    Stay healthy and take care.

Maryell

Thanks Maryell!  So happy you're going on a trip, and on the NA!  Let's hope your friends don't try to pull one over on you again.  Thanks for the toast, such a kind thought!  I'll be sailing again in the future without a doubt, when/where remains to be seen.  But unlikely DD will, even if he did his PT routines religiously (he doesn't) and even if he managed to regain his ability to walk (probably not), a trip at this point would be a rather large undertaking.  Just getting him in/out of vehicles is difficult.  I'm just not up to it, I'm not in the best shape either anymore, 53 is on the younger side for a lot of HAL ships, but I'm no spring chicken either 🙂