December 27- A ROUGH Day at Sea

The night was worse than the evening before. All night we rocked and rolled, pitched and shuddered as we headed away from Cuba and on toward Freeport, Bahamas. All night long the curtain slid back and forth, the drawers opened and banged closed and stuff fell to the floor. We decided to call and have breakfast delivered rather than risk going down to deck one or down to the floor with a fall.

Lunch we did the same thing. Was a day to read and visit. There were lots of activities aboard but neither Jim nor I wanted to risk getting out. Talked with our crowd and all of us had made basically the same decision.

Will came down to visit about 5:00. He told us the elevator had been taken out of service since the seas were so rough. So I decided to just get dinner delivered. I have never remained in the cabin for a whole day before but this was just too much for me.

Jim did venture down. Kathryn, Will, Christopher, Christopher's friend Caroline and her uncle joined Jim and they dined together amid the rolling and tossing. The walk back up was something I just didn't want to attempt. Jim selected from the dinner menu for me and Gerald saw that food and a bottle of wine got delivered to me. The poor delivery folks were having to walk the 5 decks carrying trays.....and then return to pick stuff up. Will came back and visited until about 10:00 and then I think all our little grouped headed off to bed.

The cruise folks have been willing to do whatever you ask but they have not been too hot with giving out information about what might be ahead. They have made the safety announcement about every hour on the hour.

Really strange day at sea- way too much SEA for me!

December 26- Havana

Will, Christopher, Kathryn and Ella in their car

We had about the roughest night on a cruise ship we have ever had. At dinner the Captain announced that we were sailing into very rough seas with 12-14 foot waves and swells. There was the standard warning about using the handrails and  moving carefully. We had noticed that all the furniture in the reception area- what little there was- had been removed and the Christmas trees were all down. The Pearl Mist is small with just 225 passengers and basically a River Boat with a fairly flat bottom so I think it doesn't much like these big swells and rolls.

We ate a very festive dinner. Some of us went to the Christmas Show with Kenny and Kat and others gathered in our cabin to reflect on the day. We were all excited about Havana where we were to arrive at 10:00AM.

About 2:00 AM the seas hit with pitching, rolling, and shuttering sounds. The curtain in our cabin kept sliding back and forth. Getting up to go the bathroom was an act of bravery only attempted by absolute necessity. In the night I heard several things fall in the cabin. One we discovered in the morning was a wine glass that shattered all over the floor at the foot of the bed. Thank goodness it fell after Jim had been up or he would have stepped on glass without a doubt.

As soon as we were both up and dressed, we put the Make Up Our Room sign on the door and Mel came almost immediately. She carefully vacuumed the floor, shook out the bed clothes and changed everything. The seas continued to roll and toss everyday possible. We called Reception and got some coffee and English Muffins. Neither of us felt safe to go downstairs for breakfast.

The Captain announced we would not get into Havana until 2:00 and all schedules would be adjusted.  Once we sailed into the harbor the seas calmed down. Sailing in was interesting because of the big buildings that obviously had at one time been spectacular but were now as our. British friends say, "A Bit Gone Over." It is also a blend of very old and utilitarian style Soviet architecture.

 Cuba really suffered when the Soviet Union came apart and Communism fell. They had been receiving lots of money and resources from the USSR and all that suddenly ended. The people struggled....but people we saw seemed proud and happy for the most part.

The government now tightly controls the tourist industry. Guides appear to answer questions very candidly but you can tell there is great care taken in the words used. The Chinese influence is now really seen. For instance all the tour buses were very modern except with a first step up that was way too high for people with short legs....and they were all Chinese made. The people who appear to have done well financially are those connected to the tourist industry. We learned that doctors, teachers and other professions make a limited salary, have housing provided but are not nearly as well off as the guides, hotel operators, and restaurant people. Being able to accept tips gives them a great advantage.

These two houses side-by-side seemed to say it all about the overall-all look of Havana. One house was brightly painted yellow with blue trim around the windows and door and the other looked almost like a bombed out ruin....or a neglected structure for sure. Jim said it reminded him of Berlin in the mid 1960's when much of WWII ruins could still be seen.

The day ended with dinner with all of us. Then Kathryn, Will and Christopher went off to the Tropicana Nightclub Show and Ella came for a visit along with Natalie and Ardis. At dinner the Captain made the same announcement that the night would be rough so be careful. AND HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH!

Christmas Day

Christmas Dad dawned partly cloudy but with calm seas. We are at sea for the day on our way to Havana. Six of our crowd gathered at our regular table for breakfast. The staff was so cheerful- singing all the time they worked. Made for a fun breakfast. We do all like having a regular table and a super server like Gerald.


Kathryn had come the night before and stuffed stockings. Jim and I did that after dinner so all was ready. Natalie and Ardis arrived with their stockings and the fun began. Christopher distributed them. It is always so fun to see who gives what to whom. We have two swivel chairs, a desk chair and two deck chairs and , if we count the refrigerator we have a total of 6 places for people to sit. That does mean that 2 people have to sit on the bed.

Jim got a lovely flashing neck scarf which he proudly wore all day. I got a Jingle bells and flashing necklace which was the perfect accessory for my Christmas garb. Ellen Millar shared gifts of note cards for Ardis, Natalie and Jim & I. Natalie gave each of us a beautiful cut glass brandy snifter. Kathryn and Will outdid themselves with stuff for our stockings. We laughed as we unwrapped.

Some of the crowd departed to go play Holiday Trivia and we tried to bring order out of the chaos of the room. After lunch Kathryn, Will, Christopher, Natalie, Ardis and I went to the Atlantic Lounge and watch The Christmas Story. There were about 50 people in the lounge and most were laughing out ,our almost the entire time. Such a funny movie.

Following the movie we all went to the Pacific Lounge and made ornaments for our trees. No anything too creative....but then the creation began. Kathryn brought 12 kits of Mug Topper Gingerbread House so we busied ourselves creating a little town. We had such a good time. Christopher's friend Caroline came and join us as did the two cruise directors. Everyone made at least one house.

Natalie became the city planner and then the mayor as she arranged our little community. Many folks going into Happy House came over and looked with curiosity

Kathryn, Christopher, Caroline-the friend from Virginia-, Kristen-
the Cruise Director from Illinois, Elaine , Natalie

Our Town

We went to dinner for our Special Christmas feast which was delicious. After the meal some folks went to the Rocking Christmas Show and some went to bed. The Captain had announced at dinner the the evening and night would be rough because we were sailing into a storm. We noticed furniture had been removed from sitting areas in anticipation. Turned out it was a really rough night!

Santa had put this Living Christmas Tree in Jim's stocking so we carefully followed the directions, spread out the branches and added the "magic water."  Quickly the tree went from paper looking dark green to light green crystals. All in all it was a great day together with family and friends who have quickly become family!

Christmas Eve- Cienfuegos

Jose Marti

We sailed into Cienfuegos a little late and were docked by 1:00 instead of the announced 11:00. We all met for lunch at 11:30 in order to be able to go ashore for our tour. At the encouragement of Natalie, Will and Christopher, I took a wheel chair from the ship and could use it for the long walk the terminal and then on the tour. The first step getting on the bus was so high that I decided to just stay on the bus, but I couldn't do that since the tour was about 3 ½ hours in the downtown and the bus would move and couldn't be left running. Will and Christopher did a fantastic job of navigating the curbs and cracks and traffic. After about an hour I decided to just stay in the center of the square and people watch. The group went off to what was basically a TIME OF SHOPPING- never my favorite thing to do anyway. There were lots and lots of cute children playing in the square without a sign of adults around. Seemed strange to me but I guess it is a safe place.

The buildings around the square were lovely. We went into an art school and saw amazing mosaics. The building itself was sort of run down but still very interesting. There was a statue of Jose Marti, the liberator of Cuba. Kathryn, Ella and Will went to the top of the beautiful blue house.

Taxi on the Square

Cienfuegos is a town of 150,000 people and , as our guide kept saying, very clean and near the sea. The name means "100 fires" and is dubbed La Perla del Our (the Pearl of the South).

It was a long day of touring.

The tour ended with a beautiful concert at a music school where there were several concerts happening in various buildings. This is called a People to People Cultural Exchange and so it was!!!

We got back to the ship and reassembled in our cabin. We all headed to dinner at about 7:00 and then met back for a great game of Pictionary. Great day was had by all.

December 23- Casilda & Trinidad

The Casilda Terminal

We docked this morning at the VERY small port of Casilda. This is supposed to be a very strict port and as we arrived outside the terminal several agents could be seen overseeing the whole operation. Casilda is a popular area for fishing and snorkeling.  Once again temperature was taken of all who went a share. The town itself  is very modest, although the lecturer said there were some places to rent and a few restaurants. From our balcony it all looked very remote.

The town was founded in 1808 by Andres Valdes Pino. It is a consejo popular (people's council) of the municipality of Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus Province.

Trinidad is located about 5 miles to the north almost in the middle of the island coast line. It has a history that dates back for 500 years. It was connected with the European Sugar Trade and also Slave Trade. Both prospered until about 1860 when slavery was abolished in all of Cuba.

Yesterday the lecturer talked about how inefficient the mail service was in Cuba saying that it often takes 30 days for a postcard to get the the states from Cuba.

Trinidad is well preserved with most original architecture, tight, ending streets that are paved with cobblestones that were used as tallest on sailing ships coming to pick up Sugar cane. The restoration in the Old Town has been carefully supervised by the Cuban Government. It became a World Heritage Site in 1988.

The streets of the Old Town are tight and winding and seem a bit chaotic- according to those who were brave enough to walk down them.
Had a lovely morning reading and then met Natalie in the Library and she taught me a great mew card game- Manipulation . Not a lot of rules but lots of strategy involved.

Jim spent his morning catching up in email and enjoying the wonders of his iPad. Before we knew it it was time for lunch. The three of us ate with an interesting couple from Carmel, California. Ardis was already in the dining room so as her lunch ended she came to check in and show us the treasures she bought.

The afternoon was quietly spent reading and playing Manipulation. Even Jim played and we all had fun.

Kathryn at the Terminal

Ardis loved her half day tour and returned with gifts for her siblings. The all day crowd returned with tales to tell. Kathryn said they did take their temperature at the terminal to be sure they were not bringing some dread disease into the town.

They had a great time seeing a lovely museum and enjoying a huge buffet for lunch. Christopher says the town was interesting although smaller and with many more tourists with far least infrastructure  to support the town.

They- Will, Kathryn and Christopher-  then went Zip-Lining.

After they all returned we had a great catch-up visit, another round of Manipulation and then dinner. Great day. We sail away in the morning at 5:30 AM on Christmas Eve.

December 22- A Day At Sea

Had a lovely dinner together last night. It is so fun to be with this group and to experience the great inaction.

We sailed by some big mountains along the way but the fog and mist mostly obscured them. There was no commentary about what we were passing but we were close enough in to see trees and cliffs and some beach. The sea is a little rough today and as the day went on it got even more so. We found a map on the TV of where the ship was and could see we had mo red away from the shelter of the land and into open water. White caps were al around and it was really windy on the balcony.

We had decided to go to the dining room for breakfast and ate with a nice couple from St. Petersburg. They really were not enjoying this cruise so I did find it hard to listen to their complaining.

We went back to the cabin and read for a while. Christopher dropped. by for a visit and helped get the CD and DVD from their steel drum concert working- sort of. Wonderful music and great sound. The people really responded with lively dancing. It feels good to me that all the crowd feels at home in our tiny cabin. I expect at the end of the day when we go to dinner, our cabin steward Mel, could scream at the mess....but when we return it is like no one has been in the cabin.

We all went to lunch together to our regular table and then went to hear Sylvia talk about the next port.- Casilda and Trinidad. Her description about 4 blocks of walking over very uneven cobblestones in Trinidad made me know that I wasn't going to try that. She said you share the road with cars and donkeys - plus you couldn't look up to see the lovely pastel buildings. but had to look down to be certain you didn't trip or step in something. So we decided to pass on the whole experience.

World trivia was next on the schedule. Ella, Jim, Will and I were a team. Natalie, Ardis and Christopher chose to play as individuals. The questions were in three categories- General, Sports and Geography. Our team got 5, 7 and 5 correct. Our collective brains got more answers correct than the individuals did. Made a great statement for the more minds the better the chances. Nevertheless it was great fun!

Back  to the cabin for a nap and then the group began to assemble for conversation and Happy Hour.

After dinner we had a lively and wild game of Taboo with the teams finally being Kathryn, Ella and Ardis (from the background) named the AEC team and Natalie, Jim and Elaine the  JEM team. AEC soundly defeated the JEM team but we al still enjoyed lots of laughter over the responses.

Will was kind enough escort Natalie and Ardis to their cabin and we were all off to bed for a long winter's nap. 

Santiago de Cuba

The second largest city in Cuba after Havana, Santiago de Cuba is a  cultural capital lying on the Santiago de Cuba Bay with the towering Sierra Maestra Mountains providing the perfect backdrop. As we sailed in this morning the skies were gray and the rain was pouring down. 

Our tour left early this morning- early for us- so we got breakfast at 7:15. Because of the rain we couldn't use our outdoor balcony dining. Finding enough empty space for the plates and cups was a challenge. 

Sailing in the Rain

Basilica de Cobre

At the time we were to depart for the buses the rain was pouring so we decided to be lazy and stay aboard. The rest of the crowd had a terrific time seeing the El Morro Castle, the Santa Infigenia Cemetery where Fidel Castro is buried, San Juan Hill, and the El Cobre Basilica. They also heard a Steel Drum performance. 

El Morro Castle

El Morro Castle was designed in 1637 by the Italian military engineer who also built El Morro Castle and La Punta Castle in Havana, its main purpose was to protect the city against pirates. Construction of the fort began in 1638 and continued intermittently for 42 years. During this time, the fort withstood attacks by the English and French as well as several earthquakes. Over the years it has served as a fortress as well as a military prison and today a UNESCO world heritage site where many come to learn of the Castle’s rich history.

We ate lunch with two other couples- one from New York and the other from Deland, Florida. At the end of the meal we slid into politics and were amazed that we all thought exactly alike about the state of the government and the country under the current administration. Was refreshing. The couple from NY had lived in Miami years ago and they remembered Alex Sink fondly since she helped him set up an art school. You never know the connections you will make as you travel.

The city’s close proximity to Jamaica and other Caribbean isles has created an extremely diverse metropolis unlike any other Cuban city. Experience the blend of Cuban and Caribbean culture reflected in the city’s art, architecture, music, and cuisine. This evening the group joined a tour that went to Trova House and heard some wonderful Cuban music. The tour included two drinks so everyone was having fun listening and even some dancing.

Our cabin steward, Mel, is doing a wonderful job since overtime she comes our cabin is a big mess since we have become the wonderful gathering spot for our little group. So fun to sit and chat and share impressions of this time together. 

Another Day at Sea

Had a great evening talking and playing games after dinner. Our server Gerald now remembers what each of us drink and who wants ice cream with whatever dessert selected. It is so nice to not have to stop at a desk and get staterooms checked off and wait to be seated. We are at the old table set for eight and food is good, comes fast and Gerald is attentive.

We woke this morning- December 20th- to a bit of more swell in the ocean than the day before. The sky is a bight blue and the air is warm and breezy. We ate our breakfast on the balcony and watched the world go by.

We got a copy of the passenger list and were surprised to learn there are people from 26 states and 3 foreign countries among the passengers. I guess the mystery of Cuba fascinates people these days.

We spent the morning reading and visiting with Kathryn and Christopher and then Natalie and Ardis. Such fun to be so relaxed.

We all went down for lunch at about noon. Naps were calling several of us after lunch but Kathryn went to the Spanish 101 class. Mid afternoon we gathered for Pictionary - playing in the Coral Lounge. Then we played Taboo- Jim, Elaine, Kathryn and Ella. Ardis and Natalie came up about 4:00 and Natalie joined in a rousing game of Taboo. Natalie and Kathryn were one team and Ella and Elaine the other. Kathryn and Natalie bet Elaine and Ella by one point. Lots of fun- lots of laughter.

During the time in the Coral Lounge a couple came with their coffee to sit and read quietly. They noticed Will's Anna Maria Island t-shirt and  mentioned they live on the island, Before we could actually get more information they decided to leave. We felt bad but not enough to stop our fun!

We went down t dinner at 7:00. Tomorrow will be an early day in Santiago de Cuba so Ardis and Natalie decided to go to their cabin and go to sleep. We all gathered in OUR Coral Lounge and gave Will his birthday present. His birthday is tomorrow- the 21st- but we probably won't see them until we meet at the evening entertainment in town.

This is not the fanciest ship we have been aboard but the staff is really friendly and helpful and we are having a great time. 

A Day At Sea

Jim with his breakfast

Slept fairly good last night.  Awoke at 8:00 with an announcement concerning lost luggage. Asked anyone who might have luggage in their cabin that doesn't belong to them to please call the front desk. Guess someone is without a bag.

Room Service breakfast arrived right on time at 8:30 ad we had him set it up on the balcony. Was wonderful. There were lots and lots of flying fish jumping in and out of the water. Really fun to watch. Breakfast was just what we ordered and it was wonderful to eat while the world passed by.

Had a relaxing morning with the Cheek/Barnett crowd dropping by to visit. Christopher came and helped take the wreaths to the cabin doors and hang them. They look very festive and we seem to be the only people on the ship with any Christmas spirit....or at least with their cabin doors decorated.

We ended up just before lunch with all the stockings hung. And off we went to lunch. This ship- in the interest of not preparing so much food to be wasted has you decide in the morning what you would choose from the menu for lunch and dinner. Seems really smart to me.

We sat at a great table for 8 right by the front of the dining room. Gerald , our server, said we could pretty much have that table.

Ella, and Kathryn playing Pictionary

Kathryn and Christopher

We discovered the Coral Lounge just up from our cabin and we played Pictionary there. Throughout the day we played Pictionary, Scrabble and then Taboo with a combination of people. Kathryn, Ella, Christopher and Elaine played Pictionary. Kathryn, Ella, Elaine, Christopher and Jim played Scrabble. Then we met a new friend, Karen, who had been working a puzzle but laughing at all our antics, and she join Kathryn, Ella, and Elaine to play Taboo. Will was having fun reading in the news place we found to play games- the Game Room/Library on the 4th deck.

Ardis and Christopher

What great fun!

After lunch we all gathered in the Atlantic Lounge and heard the first lecture by a university professor, Richard, entitled "The Cuban Revolution: Triumphs and Tragedies." He was very informative but not too entertaining. The room was packed!!! As the time went on it got very warm.

The crowd gathered at 4:00 in our cabin to decorate the Christmas Tree. We had great fun adding the felt ornaments to the felt tree. AND the stockings were hung by the tree with care! I guess we are all assuming we have been "good little girls and boys."

Dinner was another delightful time together with much conversation and laughter! The evening ended with a lovely sunset and a terrific time in the Game Room.