It's about time to set sail again....

The time is fast approaching to head out again.  I fly to Los Angeles a week from today to join my home away from home the ms Amsterdam.  I have spent a couple of years aboard that ship and it is truly home to me.  I look forward to hitting the high seas once again.  I will see my good friend Aart in L.A. and I am very excited about that....  We have much to talk about.  This world voyage will be very interesting.  I have many close friends on board and I will see some old friends along the way.  In Buenos Aires I will see my old friend Leny Ferrero, an exchange student from my high school days.  In Sydney I will see Robert & Bronwyn Newton who I have sailed around the world a few times with in past years.  In Barcelona I hope to see my friend Jesus Garcia whom I met on the 2007 World Voyage and who publishes  a travel site in Spain at http://cruceroadicto.com/  Jesus has honored me by translating and publishing my blog on his site for the cruise aficionados in Spain.  I may even, if time permits, see a few other friends in Sydney who will be on board the Princess World Voyage.  Having friends around the world make these voyages even more special.  Another highlight will be a trip to Bangkok & Chaing Mai in Thailand with my friend Brad for almost a week.....  Should be a great photo adventure.  Of course, one of the major highlights will be returning to Antarctica, so beautiful that words couldn't possibly do it justice.  I will try with my photos.  So am I getting excited, you bet I am.....

Ft. Lauderdale Day 14

Well that's pretty much a wrap on my Ft. Lauderdale sunshine fix.....  It was a great 2 weeks.  The storms we had weren't that bad since I created four books during that time.  I came for sun and to get my tan back.... mission accomplished!

Ft. Lauderdale Day 13

Today was a repeat of yesterday....  Another perfect day.  How will I be able to go home Monday...  Oh well, sometimes you have to sacrifice...  Tomorrow should be a nice finish for this trip.  Sun, sun, sun....

Ft. Lauderdale Day 12

I love my retirement....  It is days like today that I love.  The weather was just how I like it, hot and sunny and it was soooooo relaxing.  A little music, a good book, an ice cold diet coke and some great sun.... it just doesn't get any better than this.  My goal of coming to Florida and get my color back after my Southwest road trip is coming along nicely.....  Only 2 more days of Florida sun before I head home.  That's not all bad, I'll be packing for my 5 month voyage....  Life is grand!

Ft. Lauderdale Day 11

I had the best day yet here in Florida....  The weather was just perfect all day.  This is what this trip was all about.  I just needed 2 weeks of hot, sunny weather to bridge some of the time before I set sail again.  In addition, I was contacted by a childhood friend who I have not had contact with for over 50 years....  wait a minute, I can't be that old so let's just say it's been a while.  Very nice surprise to top off a perfect day.  What a day.....

Ft. Lauderdale Day 10

What a magnificent day!!!!  This is why I came to Florida.  It was a perfect day to sit by the pool.  The tan is looking great....  I am so relaxed sitting there all day reading fabulous books.  Tomorrow promises to be another great day for bronzing.  I'm going to hate going home Monday but.... the packing for my voyage starts.... yeah!

Ft. Lauderdale Day 9

Finally.... a real break in the weather!  I had a wonderful day poolside.  Sitting there soaking up the sun and reading a great book is so relaxing.  Hopefully, the trend will continue.  Also, thankfully, the pool guy came and replaced the pumps (destroyed by the flood) and cleaned the pool.  By tomorrow, we should be ready to hit to pool again.....  Great day!!!

Ft. Lauderdale Day 8

This morning was quite a shock to see we had a flood overnight.  Another 1/2 inch and the water would have been in the front door.  As you can see from the back side of the poolside waterfall, the water was a foot high according to the water line which put the flood about 20-25 inches above the pool water level.  Needless to say the pool is trashed.  Beside that, the day was much improved.  We actually had sun until 2ish.....  It felt good to get out in the sun.  Aside from that I completed my 3rd Blog book this week, each numbering over 400 pages.  That completes the publishing of my Amazing Voyages blog with over 2500 pages and somewhere over 15000 photos.  Tomorrow promises to bring better weather... hope so, no more books to do.