Oct. 19, 2011 - Fort Fauderdale, Florida

Our ship docked at Fort Lauderdale while we were asleep early in the morning. It was raining and not looking like a great day and we had a shore excursion to see the city and have a tour on boat of the canals. When it rains in Fort Lauderdale it just comes down in buckets. At least once we were on the bus, we were out of the heavy rain. We saw some interesting places in the city before we boarded our cruise boat. We were fortunate that the rain became much lighter when we were on the cruise boat. We were taken to the canals that the very rich and famous have built their large mansions on. I took many pictures of them and will share them with you on this blog when I can get to a faster uploading system.

Outside of these mamoth mansions were very large cabin cruisers and sailboats. Also we were fortunate that were were in Fort Lauderdale while a convention was being held of large cruisers and sailboats. We saw some of these boats that have already arrived for the convention as well as the largest cruise boat that has been built. These boats were very impressive and in time I plan to share the pictures of them with you. We also passed our cruise ship, the Veendam as well as another cruise that has 3 times as many passengers.

What an exciting day we had. Tomorrow we are heading to Santa Marta in Columbia. It will take 2 days sailing before we reach it.

Bryan House – Used to house wives of servicemen during WW11

One of the many large mansions along the canals

Dorothy and Con on canal cruise boat with their cruise ship, the Veendam in the background

Very large sailing yacht at Large Yacht Convention in Fort Lauderdale

Large cruiser at convention

More very large mansions along the canals

Large capacity cruise ship leaving the part.

Fort Lauderdale beaches seen on leaving harbor.

Oct. 18, 2011 - 2nd day of cruising the Atlantic

We had a very relaxing day today. It rained and it was windy in the morning so we had to stay off the outside areas. In the afternoon the wind died down and it only showered occasionally. In the morning we listened to an interesting talk on the modern cruise ships. In the afternoon we walked on the outside decks. Then we just relaxed, read a little and had a nice nap before dinner. The show after dinner was very good as well as the lightning show and heavy rain that we got as we just got to bed.

Tomorrow we will be in Fort Lauderdale and will be going on a bus tour of the city and tour by boat of the canals to see very expensive homes built on the canals.

Sunset to finish the day

Oct. 17, 2011 Cruising on the Atlantic Ocean

We had a rather windy day cruising on the Atlantic on our way to Fort Laudadale. It was so windy that all the outside decks were closed off to the passengers. So we had a quiet indoor day. We attended a very interesting lecture on the Bermuda Triangle and the scientific proof of why all those planes and ship disappeared without a trace. We planned to read our books but met such interesting people that we spent most of the day just chatting. Last night we saw a great night show. The musical group, the Horizons performed and even I with my limited music knowledge enjoyed them. They came from Motown that is located in Detroit. So they were sort of like family to us from Windsor. Dorothy with all her musical knowledge thorouthly enjoyed them.

We have quickly adopted to ship life and are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. I tried to upload pictures yesterday and with the slowness of the internet connection, I am not going to be able to put pictures on the web until I get to a place with faster internet connection.

We just love this sea life and are enjoying ourselves.

The pool on the Lido Deck (11th floor)

Wake from the ship

Sunset on the 2nd day

October 16, 2011 - Start of our Cruise to South America.

With our tight schedule today we had no problem in getting on our ship in New York. We left our place at 7 am got to the Detroit Airport ahead of time and our plane left on time. We arrived in New York 20 minutes ahead of schedule and were met by the Holland American representative. We were on board the ship in our cabin by 1 PM. Not bad with the tight schedule we had and all the connections we had to make.

We left New York on time at 4.45 PM and had a beautiful trip down the Hudson out to sea. We got some great pictures of downtown New York but because of the problems I am having with this computer, I am not going to try again to upload them at this time. We have a very nice cabin and last night we had a great sleep as the ship rocked us to sleep.

Our cruise ship, the Veendam at dock in New York

Dorothy and Con on the 14th floor deck in New York waiting for undocking.

Undocking on the west side of New York and east side of Hudson River

Former US aircraft carrier is now a museum

The tall and famous Empire State Building

Building under construction to replace the former Twin Towers

The southern part of Manhattan near Wall Street

Statue of Liberty

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge between Staten Island and New York

Beautiful sunset on the first day

October 16 at New York, New York

Our taxi came to pick us up at 7 AM to take us to the Detroit Airport. We has some delay as the Detroit Tunnel to Detroit was closed as they were holding a marathon run from Detroit, over the bridge and then onto the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. When we reached the bridge to cross 2 lanes were blocked for the runners and one lane was open. There was a long line up to get over the bridge. However the traffic started to move and we got over to the Customs. Luckily the Customs officer cleared us quickly. We saw the runners coming over the bridge, lead by a number of bicycles.

Our flight to New York was on time leaving and arrived in New York 20 minutes ahead of schedule. At the baggage area we met our Holland American representive. Our bus ride through New York was real slow even though it was Sunday. Checking in our cruise ship, the Veendam was fast. Yes our trip that morning was no issue even though we has a problem in Windsor because of the marathon run

Landing at New York,

New York just before landing

A view of New York just before landing

Tomorrow morning we will be leaving for South America

After months of preparation and anticipation, finally we will be leaving tomorrow for our trip to South America. Our taxi to the Detroit Airport will be picking us up at 7 AM for a flight to New York at 10 AM. In New York we will be met by a limo that is to take us to the Holland America Line, ship, the Veendam. We are scheduled to leave New York at 4.45 PM. If all these tight connection go smoothly we should be off on our 37 day cruise to South America. I hope that I will have no problems in operating this blog from the ship so that I can share this trip with you. I plan to take photos to make this blog more interesting for you to follow.

The next update will be from the ship on the way to our first port of call that is Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Last Immunization Shots and Prescriptions for Our Trip

Yesterday we had our last appointment with the Travel and Immunization Clinic in Windsor. We had our second Hepatitis A&B shot. The Third and last Hepatitus A&B shot is to be received on March 4, 2012. Also I asked if they had the new flu shot for this year and they said that they just received it and I could have the shot if I wanted it. The nurse told me that I was the second one that she had given the new flu shot to since they had received their supply of the new flu shots. Dorothy could not get her flu shot as she had to take 2 shots that morning and a third could not be administered to her.

In addition to the shots we got the prescriptions for Dukoral that was to prevent catching ecoli and  antobiotics for severe Diarrhea treatment that we pray and hope that we never have to use. After getting these prescriptions, we took one of the Dukoral treatments and have to take the 2nd treatment in a weeks time.

The nurse at the Travel Clinic also gave us an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever. Surprising this is a yellow card and is required for entrance into certain South American countries. We also got a booklet on our Travel Immunization Record that we have had our shots for Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Hepatitas A&B, Tetnus and the most recent Flu Shot. We have now received all the shots recommended for our travels to South America that will be commencing in less than 2 weeks. Yes, we are excited about going on our 37 day cruise to South America. This is to start on October 16 with a  10 AM morning flight to New York where we will be catching our Holland American Line ship, the Veendam. The ship is scheduled to leave New York at 4.45 PM on the same day.