Sea Day 1 En route to St. Helena (1/24/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 24, 2007 8:52 PM
Subject: Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Sea Day 1 En route to St. Helena

I sent more pictures from Rio.






The entertainment tonight was Kenny Smiles. He is by far the very best entertainer I have ever seen on any cruise ship. He is a comedian and a very good singer.

He was on last year and they did about two weeks of shtick with him. At one point he was thrown off the ship with a toilet plunger on his head. Mid ocean they traded him to a passing freighter for a sack of fish. This year they kept him locked up so he wouldn’t disturb the passengers. They had a tape of him being forced to shine shoes, and scrub pots and dishes.

He was fantastic. Most of it was adlib with people in the audience. He picked on the captain and his Norwegian accent. (herdy, girdy, verdy,) Some of the best was when he started on two flaming alcoholic gays. He got two standing ovations.

He was selling CDs and DVDs. His wife was with him. We (Bobbi) bought some and we talked with them awhile, after the show.

For those who know him, he was a very sick boy last year. Almost went bye, bye. Had to have bypasses. He claims to be doing fine now.

He bought a ranch in Arkansas. That part is true. One day he is walking in some woods that are on the back end of his property when he comes upon a hillbilly caring a shot gun and a whisky jug. He says hello and the man says howdy back at chew. He then walks up and asks Kenny if he would like a drink from the jug. Kenny asks what it is. The man says Moonshine. Kenny says no he doesn’t want a drink. Then the hillbilly points the shot gun at Kenny and says now drink some. So Kenny does what he is told, he drinks a drop and then says that’s awful. The hillbilly says Yeah, I know. Now I’ll take the jug and you hold the gun on me. That was one I hadn’t heard before.

Rio DE Janeiro, Brazil – Day II (1/23/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 23, 2007 7:55 PM

Subject: Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Rio DE Janeiro, Brazil – Day II

We got up even earlier today. 6:00 AM. Me. Would you believe, 6:00 AM in the morning? We had to order breakfast in bed. Oh, the hardships I must endure. We had a tour that started at 8:00 AM. We were leaving this afternoon so it was hard to find an afternoon tour. This one was to be a pretty through tour of most of Rio.

First we went to Corcovado. That is the mountain that has the huge statue of Jesus on the top. In clear weather you can see it from all over town. We could not see it from anywhere. It was very overcast again. But, we had paid so we went anyhow.

As we drove along, for about 45 minutes, our guide gave us all kinds of very interesting information and showed us many points of interest. Once we got to the base of the mountain we were given tickets to board what they call a cable car. It was in no way attached to anything by cable nor did it have cable TV. It looked like an electric subway train and rode on tracks. The only difference was, instead of a third rail it had a third track running down the center. This third track had regularly spaced square holes. It was really an electric cog train.

We got in line and waited to board the train. Shortly before the train arrived a group of Japanese showed up. Typical to everywhere in the world that I have seen groups of Japanese, from Japan, they try to push and squirm to get in line ahead of you. Several were very unhappy to have tried that on some very heavy Americans. I will give them this though. They are quick learners. After I stepped on the first two that tried to wriggle past me they didn’t try to do that any more. You aught to hear the funny noise that comes out when you squish them. Bobbi followed close behind me but one them suckers kept trying to push past her. Dear sweet gentle goody two shoes bubby Bobbi finally had enough and did a big flying elbow right to the gut. When you hit those little suckers, really hard, in the gut, all the air blows out of them and they make this really funny oof, ugg, sound. But then they don’t bug you anymore. By now all the people in our group got the idea and were working them over.



The train took about 20 minutes to reach the top. Some of the seats faced forward and some back. At several spots it got so steep you would go sliding off the seats if you didn’t hold on tightly. The ride was very interesting. Once to the top end of the train tracks we got off and lined up for elevators to take us about another 10 stories. We now got new Japs to try sneaking in line. These were the ones that had not yet had the experience of getting crushed. Everyone was ready by now and they did not get far. Many were now making those funny grunting sounds but not advancing in line.

After the lift to the top of the elevators, there was now an escalator. And finally we were all the way to the top of the mountain. We had come to see Jesus but I guess he didn’t want to see us. Jesus was hiding. We were told that sometimes he could be shy. All we saw was the black granite base the huge statue stood upon. Then little by little Jesus started to come out of the clouds. We finally got to see all of him. He was really huge standing there with both arms sticking straight out to his sides.

We were told he is sometimes called the Titanic Jesus. Remember, in the movie, where the hero guy, Leonardo DiCaprio, stands out on the very point of the bow of the ship? He puts his arms out as if he is flying. That’s the way this statue looks. Finally we even got a little clearing of the clouds below us too and we were able to see little pieces of the city a short way down the mountain. After we got all the photos we wanted, we went back down the way we had come.

As we got to the train we saw that the Japanese wanted no part of us any longer. They all walked down the tracks a little ways and got into a different car, or maybe they thought they won by getting in a car that would get to the bottom first.

From there we spent the rest of what was a four hour tour, touring. Again we had a fantastic guide. We have almost never gotten a bad guide from any tour we have arranged through Regent (Radisson). Whomever they use may be a littler more expensive but we have always gotten only the best people and equipment available. When it has been a large tour there have been people from the ship accompanying us also. They do a terrific job of making these tours safe and enjoyable. We drove around and had the different points of interest explained to us. Just before the final ride back to the ship we stopped in some very nice park. There was a huge amount of green space overlooking the bay with views of mountains in the distance in many directions.

Again, Rio was a great place. We loved it. I would like to spend a lot more time here. Especially when it’s sunny. I am very glad to have planned to stop again next year.

This evening Latitudes Restaurant became a Brazilian Churrasco. That’s one of their steak houses where they come to your table and slice chunks of meat from skewers onto you plate. The costumes and decorations were very good though not as far out as last years. It is always fun to hear the wait staff trying to be from somewhere they are not. The French waitress filled out her outfit extremely well in all the right places. Bobbi is mean. She wouldn’t let me keep her. The food was not very authentic but served in somewhat the same style. The steak was excellent filet. I doubt you could get near as good at the real thing. We happened to be sitting at a table next to some people from Weston. They too were originally from Chicago. I knew one of their relatives well.

Rio DE Janeiro, Brazil (1/22/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 22, 2007 9:50 PM
Subject: Monday, January 22, 2007

Rio DE Janeiro, Brazil

We got up at 7:00 this morning, our time. That’s 3:00 or 4:00 AM your time. This is supposed to be one of the most beautiful ports to come into. We were supposed to start entering at about 8:00 AM and we didn’t want to miss anything. The scenery was to be on the port side of the ship. That’s the side our suite is on. I wouldn’t even have to get out of bed to see it. Wonderful. What could be better? It would have been much better if we could see anything. It was raining and fog covered. We could hardly see a thing and what we did see was gray. It was like looking at a black and white TV picture that was coming in with a lot of fog. We slowly went by all the land marks and mountains and saw just the lower parts if anything at all.

Rio is the world headquarters of Stern Jewelers and the place where the 84 year old founder lives. Stern has had representatives aboard since Barbados. They have been offering free transportation and tours to their stores and plants at most ports. Since we couldn’t see anything, we decided to take one of their free tours. Another one of the stupidest moves I’ve made. I don’t know what is wrong with mw sometimes. Their headquarters and plant is in Ipanema, the nicest part of the city. We are docked in commercial and industrial part of the city. They call it the downtown section.

The Golden Princess is docked in front of us. Just walking past that ship in the rain is a job. Luckily, there was a tram waiting to go as we left the ship. It took us to the port building entrance where we could walk right in. We had gotten Stern tags before leaving the ship and the Stern people in the terminal recognized us quickly. We were the first to get on a large bus and we took the front seats on the right side. Perfect place to take pictures out the windshield. So of course it continued to rain and the pictures weren’t much.

The town was very interesting and was filled with many old and well kept buildings except everything was covered in hideous paint graffiti. Everywhere you looked was covered with weird painted markings. In the US I would say gang symbols. Maybe it was the same here, except nothing pretty. Only ugly black scribbling.

When we got to Sterns we bypassed the tour of the areas where they fabricate different kinds of stones and jewelry. We just went to the floor where they sell stuff. They make a ladies watch that no one else has. It has a black round or octagon face, and is very thin. It is all made of synthetic Safire and they have leather or titanium bands. I just wanted t look at one close up as long as we had nothing better to do. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Bobbi had forgotten her every day watch at home. As soon as they started selling the $49 watches on the ship, I was going to get her one. Now she takes one look and says, “OH! I REALLY LIKE THAT. IT’S BEAUTIFUL.” So I started looking for something good to hit myself in the head with. I really like that, really means, she will be bugging me 24 /7 until she gets it. They are not $49. Stern watches start in the thousands. Stern is one of the most overpriced jewelers I have ever seen. Too bad. I now am the proud owner of a Black Safire titanium banded Stern ladies watch. I just knew I always wanted one. I wanted to look at men’s ring too but they had only stuff that looked like junk to me. No nice men’s rings. Plenty of great lady’s rings.

I was really aggravated by now and didn’t feel like waiting for a bus to take us back so they got us a van right away. About 14 others joined us for the ride back to the ship. We went a totally different way to get back. It was a longer ride and took us right by Ipanema Beach and Coppa Cabana Beach. Kind of dead due to the weather but a very nice part of town. I would like to spend some time here. It looks great.

Tonight we are doing a Virtuoso dinner party thing. They picked us up in the lobby of the ship at about 6:30 PM and shuttled us and walked us through the terminal to waiting busses. After a long ride through town we turned off on a narrow one lane road the busses did not fit on. We went pretty much straight up a mountain to some very old and ornate buildings. I guess it must have been someone’s old mansion. It was quite medieval and very well kept up. They were serving drinks and Hors D Oeuvres as we entered. Later they walked us to another large room for dinner and a show. The food was good until the Filet. They were all medium well and so salty it just wasn’t good for you. The service however, was impeccable.

The show was excellent. Shirtless men doing various dances and other men playing a lot of unusual musical instruments. Women danced in several different costumes and ended up in some pretty scanty ones. Don’t you just hate it when they do that? Especially when their very large bottoms are completely hanging out there? Somehow I suffered through it and made it back to the ship. It was a great outing and everyone had a very good time.

BEARS WIN!!!! (1/21/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 21, 2007 6:55 PM

Subject: Sunday, January 21, 2007

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Sea Day En Route to Rio.

BEARS WIN

We did nothing today except watch “DA BEARS”. We were able to listen to the last game live on WBBM780.com. This game, they were not allowed to broadcast live, as they had done all season because the NFL was selling those rights at a very high price. So we had to watch the play by play as it was sent in text.

How about those idiots that said the Bears had no chance. The Bears were by far the worst of the four teams. Yeah, right. No chance. No chance to loose, that is. What do those dummies ever know? It was no contest offense or especially defense.

We have also found out that some idiot at Regent thought those aforementioned gifts were a great idea. I would never mention that his name is Darius Mehta, director of land programs. Last year we had great gifts. One was a very nice Timberland parka jacket. Another was binoculars. Even a classy looking leather bag to put our junk in. Upon finding out that a nice jacket and hat had been recommended, but Darius said, “NO”, and that these were real, I went to the reception desk to vent displeasure. Those who know me well are aware that is one of the things I do well. I explained that they should find the genius in charge of thinking up this stupidity and explain to him what an insult it is to send a gift that is totally the wrong size. It infers that the sender did not really give a damn. I must have performed this dissertation well. When I finished I noticed everyone in the lobby and behind the desk was looking at me with an expression of horror on their faces. I guess they must have been afraid that I bite too. Naaa. Not unless I think you are food. At any rate, we get a call this afternoon that they are sending different belts to our room in size huge. They did not have vests aboard in that size but would be getting them for us. The belts did arrive and by golly, they do fit.

That’s all the excitement for today.

Salvador DE Bahia, Brazil (1/20/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 20, 2007 7:16 PM
Subject: Saturday, January 20, 2007

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Salvador DE Bahia, Brazil

This was the first Capital of Brazil and was so for 200 years. The bay it is situated on is humongous. Some originally took it for another ocean. The city is on two levels. The commercial and industrial is on the lower level as are some of the poorest neighborhoods. The better homes, stores and businesses are on the upper level. Right at the entrance to the harbor are two ancient elevators. One is about 120 years old and the other about 80 years old. The older one was powered by African slaves and the second by electric. It costs about 25 cents US to use the electric one now.

We originally had planed to rent a private car to see the area but the other party craped out on us. Too cheap I’m sure. So the other option was a group tour by bus.

Didn’t cost much and wasn’t at all what I wanted. We had a terrific guide that spoke very good English. Problem was the tour itinerary. It was not as expected. Very little driving around and instead, walking for most of the time into nothing but one church after another.

If going to church assures you are going to heaven, then we are a shoe in. We have been in hundreds all over the world. These were some of the most hideous. They were mostly of what they call the baroque style. Walls, ceilings, everything potchkeyed with overdone ornate small silly designs. This all covered in hundreds of pounds of gold while the vast majority of poor people are uncared for. Same as almost all other religions do in other parts of the world. Something I could never understand.

The people can’t get enough food to eat. Health care is primitive if there is any at all. Education unaffordable. But always plenty of money for churches and temples to be extremely ornate.

The first Cardinal of this area made a huge mistake. He had no idea the local Indians ate Sardines. Problem was, his name was Sardine and they did eat him. There are statues and plaques depicting this. Made my day.

The city was something to see. So far different from anything in the States. Narrow winding streets like in Portugal or old Europe. The sidewalks and streets were all paved with uneven stone. In some places they were cut stone in the shape of octagons, some were like paver bricks, and others just non uniform rocks. Very interesting to see the buildings and houses one on top of another and always in different colors like a Mediterranean village. There were many really nice and large public parks.

While the people in the streets were all over you trying to sell you something, they were friendly and you never felt threatened. We were warned that these cities in South America and especially Brazil, were some of the worst in the world for theft and pick pocketing. We were even told stories of recent incidents. No one I heard of had any problem.

I do enjoy seeing these new and strange places. Too many people keep telling me that there is nothing worth seeing. I think that is because it so much different then where they live. Difference does not mean worse or better. It does mean you get to learn of something new. That’s what I came to see. Other wise I might as well go to Milwaukee or Peoria. Come to think of it, I have. I don’t recommend them as a place for a vacation tour. Salvador I do.

Friday, January 19, 2007

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 19, 2007 7:11 PM

Subject: Friday, January 19, 2007

Friday, January 19, 2007

Sea Day

The weather is beautiful. Sunny and humid. No chance of snow or ice, ever. The wind is moderate as are the waves. As we cruise along we can see the Brazilian coast far off in the distance, but just barely.

Tonight as we entered our suite when coming back from dinner we found another gift. This time it is a safari vest. A beige cloth vest with lots of pockets and a zipper front. There were two, one for each of us. Just like the belts, it came in one size fits no one. This better be gag gifts just for decoration or there are going to be a lot of people that will be very unhappy after the great gifts of previous years.

Thee, thee, that’s all folks.

Safari Sherm Out

Fortaleza, Brazil (1/18/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 18, 2007 6:26 PM
Subject: Thursday, January 18, 2007


Thursday, January 18, 2007

Fortaleza, Brazil

The Paris of Northern Brazil I don’t think so, but that is what they bill themselves as. We rode down one street where we saw nice new high rises on one side and up a hill on the other side, slums with all sorts of refuse thrown down the hillside.

They admit to two and one half million people in the city. It is supposed to be a laid back city with tourism their main product. There is a beautiful beachfront at least a mile long, where the ship is docked. Here are many of their restaurants and their best hotels. However the beach cannot be used for swimming as it is badly polluted. Beaches for swimming are supposed to be a ten minute ride away.

Almost all of the city is very poor. The rich we saw are not very rich. Everywhere we went we saw poor buildings one on top of another. Most stores were open air. The exceptions being in the wealthy area, and there were not many of those.

We had an event today, provided by the cruise line. It was for all passengers. They took all who wanted to go to see something a little different. This event was held at their exclusive legitimate theater built in 1916. It was fairly small. Seating for about 800. This showing was for our ship only. About 270 showed up. The theater was very nice but nothing spectacular as we were led to believe.

The performance started with a short video presented on a portable home type movie screen that was in disrepair. The narration was in Portuguese and the subtitles in English. The screen could not be seen and the subtitles could not be read. From a pamphlet given us, we ascertained this was a play about the slum dwelling children and their plight. Then the curtain opened.

I’d guess there were about 25 dancers in total. They were doing modern dance. These dancers were all children and teenagers, from the slums. That was what they were portraying on stage. The entire show lasted about an hour I think. It may have been longer because the time went so quickly. This was the finest modern dance performance by a large group that I have ever seen live. The kids were fabulous. Very intricate and difficult moves all done at the same time. The costumes were terrific. The choreography, fantastic. The work and training that had to go into this had to be mind boggling. It could not have been better.

From there we walked just outside to a large courtyard. There were chairs and tables set up for us in the shade from large trees and there was bird doo on the chairs. There were Brazilian dancers doing Brazilian dances while wearing Brazilian outfits. The women’s outfits were very scantly covering their posteriors. As they danced those aforesaid posteriors would stick out quite a bit, as they had quite a bit to stick out. Don’t you just hate when that happens? Don’t you just hate the way those Brazilian women are built. Disgusting, huh? After a while they started to get people from the audience to come up and join in the dancing. While all that disgraceful stuff was going on they were serving soft and hard drinks and a few types of Brazilian food to taste. Not my taste. The food that is. We had a great time as did all we talked to.

The bus ride back took us through the downtown area and then along the beach. Near the beach we saw several of the usual U.S. food chains and what looked like luxury hotels. I don’t know if this is right but the guide said that the medium cost of a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment, in the best area, would be about $79,000. Sounded like 1,700 to 2,000 square feet. That seems very, very cheap.

We hurried back in time to make it for lunch. I hate room service. Then the ship departed at about 2:30 PM.

I don’t know if you recall, but a few nights ago I wrote that Regent, our cruise ship line, gave us gift one of six. That was a water bottle with an insulated holder and belt. Last night we got gift number two. Really stupid. Heavy ribbed cloth belts. The kind you fasten by threading the plain end between two metal rings attached at the other end. One problem. The size. It was one size fits no one. It I put the two together we could make one. Tonight was gift number three. A small flash light made like the good Mag Lights, out of aluminum tubing. It takes three AAA batteries, included, and the bulbs are several very bright blue/white LEDs. It also came with a holder pouch that attaches to the belt that fits no one. Bobbi says we probably get a safari jacket next. I say it’s going to be a pith helmet. Then there will be somewhere to pith. That was terrible. Actually, what is a pith? Do those helmets look like one or protect from them? Piths that is. Maybe that name was given by some one with a lisp? That just brings more questions.

Fortaleza, Brazil (1/17/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 17, 2007 8:29 PM

Subject: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Fortaleza, Brazil

We got in at about 6:00 this evening. A quarter of a day early after missing Belem completely. Dinner was starting at 6:30. Can’t miss that. I didn’t, but it was dark by the time we got done so the only picture we got is the one with all the lights. It was pointing toward town. That was about all we could see from the ship except for the windmill farm all around us.

Belem wasn’t supposed to be much but I was reminded there had been a four day trip offered from there. I think it flew around to different cities on the Amazon and went to Manaus and met us back at the next port. I wonder what happened to that.

The big event today was Bobbi had her hair and nails done. The ocean finally calmed down a little. What a novelty to take a shower and not keep bouncing off the walls. There was a shuttle into town but Bobbi was all tired out from her hard day of hair and nails not to mention her onboard shopping. I guess I did mention it. So we just talked to friends we made and went to watch a movie and answer some pest that keeps emailing every two seconds because she cant figure out how to do instant messaging on AOL.

At Sea - Equator Crossing (1/16/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 16, 2007 8:24 PM
Subject: Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

At Sea - Equator Crossing

The big event today was the Equator Crossing ceremony. It was a very cute event but not quite as wild as last year.

King Neptune is a real mean guy. Something I never knew before, he has a very thick Hungarian accent. If fact, he sounds exactly like the classic guitar player.

King Neptune enters the pool deck with his entourage. He is here to hold court. Anyone present that has never crossed the equator by sea will be found guilty of being a pollywog. Pollywogs must go through a transformation to become Shellbacks if they wish to go on. First an incarcerated Pollywog is brought before the King. He begs for leniency. The King sentences him to be operated on to become a Shellback. The King then makes a short speech. No one can understand him so the narrator repeats in more understandable English, after which the King replies, “that’s what I just said!” The victim is dragged away to the operating table where all kinds of goop are poured over him or her. Then he must lay down upon the operating table, covered with a sheet, and the operation commences. First the anesthetic is applied. It’s a large wooden mallet. The doctor then produces a large hand saw and starts sawing. Soon he extracts a large meaty bone or in one case a large Kingfish. The victim is then cast upon the waters which in this ceremony is the pool. All this time drinks are being carried around. Today’s ceremonial drink is red wine and rum on ice and lots of water. No make that mostly water. Almost no taste at all. Of course you can ask for whatever you want.

This play is very cute and everyone seems to enjoy it. It is a good thing it is windy out because it is very hot and humid. The sun is ridiculously strong. Oh Yeah. Duh, we are on the equator.

Sea Day 2 On the Way to Belem, Brazil (1/15/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 15, 2007 6:27 PM

Subject: Monday, January 15, 2007

Monday, January 15, 2007

Sea Day 2 On the Way to Belem, Brazil – Not

The sea has been very rough, causing the captain to bring the speed way down. They tried to go at a normal speed in rough waters a couple of times in past years and broke the ship. These newer cruise ships have flat bottoms so that these large ships can get into the shallow harbors and the suites all have sliding glass doors. This makes them far more vulnerable to damage in high seas then the old ones with little port holes. Two years ago they had $150,000 in damage and last year they broke a stabilizer and a glass door while we were south of Australia. So we will miss Belem and go right on to the next port which is Fortaleza.

When we cross the equator we were supposed to have this wild party out on the pool deck. We did last year. But we are so far behind I don’t think we will cross until around dinner time and that is the one event that cannot be interrupted come Hell or High Water and this is just High Water and a celebration of Hell. It was a wild party last year with people getting stuff dumped on them and some getting pushed into the pool but it is far too rough to fill the pool now.

This evening we started off with a party in the main theater, for the entire ship, thrown by one of the passengers. He, Malcolm Meyers, does this every year. While talking to one of the officers he told us they would have the equator party at about 11:00 AM tomorrow.

At Sea En Route To Belem, Brazil (1/14/2006)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 14, 2007 8:12 PM
Subject: Sunday, January 14, 2007

Sunday, January 14, 2007

At Sea En Route To Belem, Brazil

Nothing exciting. Bobbi played Mahjong this morning and in the afternoon. I had the hard job of listening to the Bears game. I get it over the internet live from WBBM AM 780 in Chicago. They could not pick it up on the ship TV. Oh yeah, the BEARS won. The Eagles lost.

We had the first cocktail party given by Virtuoso. That is a group my travel agent / slave Vicki of Palm Travel in Miami, 305-944-4000 ext. 164, belongs to. She likes it when I include these advertisements. It helps to keep her from trashing my house and having parties there. Virtuoso gives passengers from travel agents who are members several parties on the ship and on shore and several events ashore. It was announced that the first would be in Rio. A tour and dinner with a private Carnival Celebration.

When we went into our room after dinner there were two boxes and an explanation paper. This was to be the first of six gifts they are going to give full world cruise guests. Inside was an insulated pouch with a belt that holds a water bottle. One for each of us. I was rather disappointed. I had been hoping for a 456 Magnum Elephant hunting rifle with scope. Oh well. Maybe that will be the next one.

Bridgetown, Barbados (1/13/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 13, 2007 7:53 PM
Subject: Saturday, January 13, 2007

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Bridgetown, Barbados

First off, I got a few replies regarding Joey’s comments and the pictures. My old friend Bertram from Boston says he thinks I look prettier. I always knew he liked me. Joey from Vegas says he will always think Bobbi is prettier. I just knew he had no taste in men. And last but not least. Pam from Hollywood, Florida says I look like Mafia. I’ll let you read the note she sent and my reply.

Pam wrote:
Good picture! Did anybody ever tell you that you look like the Jewish Maffia version of Tony Soprano? LOL!

You're looking pretty tough there -- especially in those black clothes... It's a good thing your name is Sherman, or I'd be a shakin' in my boots!

I replied:
I don't know. They keep telling me I look like a priest here. Priest, Mafia. Pretty much the same thing according to friends who went to Catholic school, but I guess you found me out. Okay, I'll spill the beans. My real name is Spike. The dog is Sherman.

We started docking at about 11:30 this morning. We have been here many, many times. This island is not Volcanic like many in the Caribbean. It is a coral island. It has no mountains, just some rolling hills. It is, by far, the furthest east island in the Caribbean. On the east side is the Atlantic Ocean. There are no useable beaches on this side of the island and the waves are usually crashing in. The west side is on the Caribbean and is usually calm with beautiful beaches.

Barbados is probably the first island in the Caribbean to handle tourism. It is said that George Washington stayed here. While there are many good sites to see, the best is the Harrison Caves. They are huge. They take you through in truck like trams. There are clear ponds, waterfalls, and rivers everywhere you look. Beautiful lighting has been done by Walt Disney industrial lighting.

Because we had been here so many times we took no further tour of the island. We walked to the commercial part of the pier. There is a large warehouse that had been made into a shopping center of tourist junk many years ago. Nothing much to see so we went back to the ship. The picture is of the warehouse on the pier that we walked to. Nothing much has changed in years.

Day Two at Sea on the Way to Barbados (1/12/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 12, 2007 7:33 PM
Subject: Friday, January 12, 2007

Friday, January 12, 2007

Day Two at Sea on the Way to Barbados

Nothing new to report. It was a bit of a rough ride again last night and this morning, but it is calming down somewhat this afternoon.

My old friend Joe from Las Vegas was highly insulted at what he referred to as second rate, or was it, trash picture I sent of Bobbi and I. He goes on with the extreme insults by saying Bobbi was much better looking. I guess there is just no telling of some peoples tastes.

See here Joe. My good man. Have you no idea the time, money, and pain I have spent on this face? First off it was the teeth. Almost all are of the most expensive materials known to man. Then there were the doctors. Two Periodontists, a dental sturgeon (and that is no spelling mistake, that guy was a fish) and a dental specialist that thinks he is a God. All this went on for years. See all those pretty teeth? Those are mine and they are paid for. Then there is the face. The skin quack just whacked off a big hunk of it to get rid of the cancer. See that nice shiny head? Skin butcher whacked hunks out of there too, several times. They all told me they did great jobs and their work was beautiful. So, therefore, I am beautiful. As for Bobbi. None of those kind of extremely expensive professionals did any work on her. None of them told her she was very pretty, or I would have broken their arms and legs. So now Joe, I am giving you a second chance. Look carefully. Use your reasoning ability to consider the above facts. WHO IS PRETTIER?

Addendum to 1/11/2007

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 11, 2007 8:57 PM
Subject: Addendum to 1/11/2007

Addendum to 1/11/2007

I forgot to include this in the first part I sent this date.

This evening we went to the Compass Rose, the main restaurant. They try to have it as classy as possible. As you walk in there is a head person at a podium assigning tables. Lined up are the many head waiters greeting you by name with a good evening. At least that is how they greet us. As we walked in this evening the manager of all the restaurants was there himself, assigning tables. He was on the phone obviously talking to someone giving him a bad time about reservations somewhere. Into this classy setting walks some guy and after waiting about 20 seconds becomes annoyed and says loudly, what’s he doing? Talking to his girlfriend? At least the head waiters that were lined up there thought it was funny. Some were covering their mouths while others were turning their heads around so the manager guy wouldn’t see them laughing. Yeah. It was me. I did it.

Then a wino broad comes up to ask us about our wine choices. They call them sommeliers. I don’t say that well. I think it is another one of those French words. I don’t do well with French stuff. Wino serves me just fine. The red they are suggesting this evening was an Australian wine. The wino has a pretty strong accent. Sounds like German. Anyhow, she says it is Mom Back. That’s what it sounded like she said. I made her repeat it a couple of times and it kept sounding the same to me. So finally I looked it up on a list and she was close. It was really something like Molem Beck. I said to her, oh that’s good. You had me scared for a minute. I thought you said it was Mom Back. Do you know what Mom Back is? She looked scared while shaking her head and saying no. I said that’s the guy who stands behind the garbage truck and says – mom back, mom back. To this she replies with a very straight face, that is a joke? As I shook my head yes she then starts laughing. Meanwhile all the busybodies around, that were listening in, are laughing and spraying mouthfuls of food all over themselves. Maybe you had to be there?

Sea day on the way to Barbados (1/11/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 11, 2007 8:00 PM
Subject: Thursday, January 11, 2007

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Sea day on the way to Barbados

The seas have been pretty rough last night and today. Captain said we were having 10 to 15 foot waves and later they got larger. There was a little rocking and being flat bottomed, as are all modern cruise ships, there was occasional banging. Nothing severe yet. It has in no way bothered my appetite. Bobbi seems to be having a like degree of ill-DE-mer. I know I’m spelling it wrong, but that is an oft used term for sea sickness. It literally means sick of the sea in French. The French are well experienced with sickening subjects.

At 2:00 PM we moved the clocks forward one hour. At 2:00 it became 3:00. It has been getting a little warmer out all day long.

We never thought about a picture for today until we came back to our room. I was late and we could think of nothing to photograph so you get a picture of us, you lucky people. No, there is nothing wrong with your monitor or computer. We tried at least half a dozen times to get a good picture but the ship was bouncing too much. The sea has picked up again. So what you see is what you get. WYSIWUG

Princess Cays, Bahamas (1/10/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 10, 2007 11:29 PM

Subject: Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Princess Cays, Bahamas

We got here at about 10:30 this morning. The Mariner left well before us last night, as you could see in yesterday’s picture. It was here waiting when we arrived. They did the same shtick as previous years. They played this beautiful music while the two ships circled one another and people hollered up and back.

At about noon we tendered over to the island. I guess that means we were tenderized. Ha, ha. That was a good one. Huh! It was pretty choppy today and we were getting pretty well rocked. Rocked and tenderized. Enough of that. This place was by far the largest. There had to be nice chaises for at least 5,000. The shade was provided by real growing palm trees. The sand was the real soft white stuff. There was a wide path made of large patio blocks that had to extend for six or eight blocks. There were various buildings by the dozen. From stores to washrooms to party rooms and you name it. I think there were four buffet lines serving lunch. Both ships were using the island at once.

This was now the world cruise for our ship and the around South America cruise for the other ship. The quality of food went up another notch or two. Along with the hamburgers, hotdogs, and ribs, etc., there was lobster tail and plenty of it and they were good. But it was only about 74 degrees out and too cool for most to go in the beautiful clear water.

At about 3:30 the two ships were supposed to leave and travel together for some time while playing the great music across from our ship to the other. The sound is amazing as it echoes back off the other ship. However some broad has not shown up on the other ship and they are on the loud speakers telling her to get her rear end to their desk or our boat ramp. They must have found her because they did start to cruise alongside the other ship and did so for many hours.

Suddenly a helicopter showed up and started circling the ships. We were informed it was a film shoot for commercials.

Pam wrote again:

Any particular reason your dog likes to sleep with his butt in my face? Should I take this as a compliment? A sign of affection? Or, is he giving me a subconscious message? Haha!

He's been having a blast these past two days. Yesterday Chica, Benson and Kadu came over.

And today, Teddy and Lucky joined the crowd.

He was romping all over the yard and in the bedroom with them playing -- wrestling on the bed. Too cute!

Hope you are enjoying your vacation!

Pamela

Dear Pam,

I don’t know how to break this to you any more gently. Spike is trying to let you know he thinks you should change your mouth wash. Ha, ha. Just kidding. That was just a joke. Actually, he does that to Bobbi quite often. She just thought all dogs do that. Thanks for straightening that out for us. Just a weird dog I guess.

Still Your Friend (I hope)

Sherman

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (1/9/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 9, 2007 10:08 PM
Subject: Tuesday, January 09, 2007



Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Our good friends, Sandy and Mickey Cohen, came to visit us on the ship today. It was great to see them. We had not seen them since we had been in Northbrook for Thanksgiving. Our wonderful friend Vicki came and brought a few things she picked up at our house that we had forgotten. Isn’t that terrific of her? She does us all these great favors and then pays us to take these cruises from her. Is she worlds greatest travel agent or what?

There was supposed to be a special lunch in the main dinning room just for guests taking the full around the world cruise. Everyone else was supposed to have to go up to the buffet or the pool deck grill. Regent president Mark Conroy was supposed to have welcomed us or spoke or something.

We had asked the restaurant manager if we could bring our guests to this lunch. He said no. Only around the world guests could come. Later I asked one of the head waiters I knew, the same question. He said no one knows who anyone is. Just come in and sit down. So naturally there is no notice of this lunch, no Conroy, no nothing. We just walked in, sat down and had a nice lunch. Except Mickey. He is allergic to the crab appetizer they served. We then showed them all over the ship and then went to our room and talked. Finally Mickey could no longer bare to go on with his terrible hunger. So Bobbi took him and Sandy up to the pool grill and he got a BBQ hamburger. Poor starving thing. Just a growing boy.

It was taking too long to load all the luggage so the captain had to call for a delay in the departure time. We finally did leave around 7:00 PM.

We were a little late getting to dinner and they had given away our favorite table. So we asked for any table with our favorite waiter, Joey. The only thing left was a table for six. We took it and two other couples joined us. Some very nice people that we were glad to have met. One couple was from Largo, FL. near Tampa and the other couple was from Golden Beach, FL. We had a very nice dinner and, I believe, made some new friends.

Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (1/8/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Jan 8, 2007 7:16 PM
Subject: Monday, January 08, 2007


Monday, January 08, 2007

Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Another Really nice beach island with great facilities. This place was not as upscale as Roaton Island. There was no dock. The tenders had large ramps on the front and lowered them to let us walk right up on the beach without getting wet. This was, however, real sand and not trucked in or dredged up. It was very soft. There were other little islands or cays nearby that were also being used as cruise ship stops. There was a Royal Caribbean Ship at the next island. That island looked like it was almost touching this one. There were facilities for maybe 2000 people to accommodate the larger ships. Our ship had only a total of six hundred and some passengers and only a fraction came ashore. The place looked almost deserted. As usual the food was good and service terrific.

I couldn’t go swimming yet with my badly chapped nose and I’m supposed to stay out of the sun until I get another cancer chopped off my face next May. So we just went for the tender ride, walked around, had lunch and looked at the over priced straw (junk) market. We didn’t stay long and as we were leaving they were bringing the caviar ashore. We had been told they were going to do that thing they do in the ads. They were going to have waiters in formal attire walk into the ocean and serve caviar and Champaign. Been there, done that. Bet it would have made a great picture though. But Bobbi had to get her nails done and her hair fixed. This reminds me.

For those who remember how I looked when I left. I don’t look like that anymore. I had an accident the other night that I didn’t tell you about. We were running a little late for dinner. I noticed my side burns were getting a little too bushy. I have an electric trimmer. Actually it’s a beard trimmer from the olden days when I needed one. Well, there is a numbered setting on it for hair length. Side burns should be set at 3 for the closest you would want. Either someone played with it, which is a possibility because it is very hard to change the settings, or somehow it got bumped hard enough to change the setting. Whatever, it didn’t do me a whole lot of good. I didn’t have glasses with me when I went merrily chopping away. I really should have had those glasses on because I don’t see too well, close up, without them. After chopping on the second one I realized I couldn’t see the first one at all. Which I knew was not good because the second one now looked just like the first. Non existent. My first thought was that I was just not seeing well do to my recent eye illness. I went and got my glasses and looked in the mirror again. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I first thought it might have been. It was worse. I found the trimmer was set on one and I had no sideburns at all.

Bobbi was very good about it. She tried really hard to hold back her laughter, NOT! Now I know she must have changed the setting on my trimmer on purpose. No matter. I usually blame these things on her anyhow. I’m sure the sideburns will grow back in two or three weeks. She will just have to continue to pretend she is not with me until then.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 7, 2007 11:41 PM
Subject: Sunday, January 07, 2007


Sunday, January 07, 2007

Sea day on the way to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

Again we had to get up early this morning. We had to be to breakfast by 9:00. There was a special breakfast for gold and platinum members in Signatures restaurant. The captain and many of the officers were there. There was more caviar then even I could eat. The pastries were unbelievable. Full size and miniatures were everywhere. Lox with all the condiments and very large shrimp with the best sauce I have ever tasted. Mini Eggs Benedict with tiny Quail eggs. Thin Swedish crepe like pancakes with loganberries. Four stations making eggs to order. And of course all the usual breakfast meats and some unusual like some kind of great Italian salami. And while we ate they kept coming around and pouring Champaign and real fresh squeezed orange juice.

I wanted to get a shot of the bridge to send but they had an open day on the bridge today. It was impossible to get a shot without people blocking most of it but I sent it anyhow.

Did I mention that they announced there was an itinerary change? A few days ago they announced that we would be going to Manila. They did not tell us why or what we would be missing. I just finally remembered and looked it up. On the 2nd we were supposed to visit Taiwan. My guess is that China said we could not visit China if we went to Taiwan. They had put in a technical call to Japan to get around the old rule of not coming or going directly to Taiwan from China. Obviously China changed the rules without warning as they are well known to do. So now we get a real stop in Japan as we have more time and a stop in Manila. We stopped there last year. The majority of the crew is from the Philippines. The crew knew about this itinerary change long before we did. On our first day aboard one of the waiters mentioned what he was doing in Manila this year. I had said we were not going there this year. He said oh yes, we were going there on March 1st. Later I looked and saw we were at sea on March 1st on the way to Japan. He must have been told to shut up as he now said it was just a rumor.

Manila had the most polluted air of any place we visited last year and there was not much to see. I remember being fifty miles out to sea before the odor and smog dissipated. We did have a great lunch and entertainment provided by Virtuoso at the Hotel Manila and it was a beautiful hotel. The people we ran into there were all very nice and friendly.

It’s about 8:30 at night. We stopped back at the room after dinner and turned on the TV. There is a channel that shows the ship speed etc. by GPS, as do most cruise ships. This ship is not the fastest. Top speed is about 19.5 knots. I saw we had an apparent head wind of about 60 miles an hour. Apparent means our speed plus the real wind speed. The GPS said we were going about 22 knots even with that strong head wind. Very unusual. That means we must already be in the Gulf Stream and it has to be going 4 or 5 knots.

Costa Maya, Mexico (1/6/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Jan 6, 2007 11:23 PM

Subject: Saturday, January 6, 2007

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Costa Maya, Mexico

This is one of the weirdest places in the Caribbean. We first came her four or five years ago. The only thing here at that time was a Mayan Pyramid about an hours drive away. The ship pier was brand new and still had some of the forms attached. Some ground work had been started for some stores and apartments for the help to stay in. There were roads being constructed but it was mostly dirt roads we had to travel on.

This Pyramid was one of the better preserved. It was first discovered in about 1972. It was deeply covered by jungle and had stayed hidden and well protected from the weather and thieves for that reason. It took a number of years to carefully uncover it without destroying anything. It had been on private property and it took the Mexican government a while to decide to make the farmers that owned it disappear when they refused to sell. The last part was a guess. It did take a while for the property to become owned by the government. It is very interesting to see. There are also the foundations from the homes of big shots. It is in a very green rain forest looking setting.

Now there is a good sized area of stores and huge bars in a very nicely planned area and dramatic looking area. There is also a large amphitheater where they say there performances daily. Today must not be a day in Mexico because there was no sign of any performance.

There is no way to get here other then by ship. It was developed strictly for cruise ship passengers and is not open to the general public. I think every other store is Diamonds International. Worlds highest priced jewelry. There must be an awful lot of suckers on cruise ships. There are also two pools. One huge one with fountains in it and another right on the beach. There are plenty of beach chairs and chases. Large permanent thatch umbrellas are all over the beaches. While the beach stretches for miles in both directions, there is just one small area, obviously dug out, that has sand. The rest is high rocks.

Funny thing. We are in a Mexican port again. The Internet, the ship to shore phones, and the Fox News station on TV does not work again. I wonder if they jam or it is a Mexican rule that they have to shut off communication with phones and Internet in their ports. They just tell us it is because the direction the ship is facing again. Yeah. And elephants can fly using their ears for wings. We are leaving abut 4:00 PM central time, so it is not a big problem today.

When we arrived at the dock this morning, the ocean was quite rough. This is obviously quite unusual. There are no break waters to protect the piers and you can see that much of this pounding by the waves will soon destroy the docks. Water was splashing onto the pier and the ship was moving a little. Many of the activities had to be stopped. Anything to do with the water was discontinued. Fishing, scuba, boat rides. Wave runners, etc. Someone had to loose a lot of money.

We took a shuttle into the little village and walked around for a while. Everything for sale was the usual junk. We have plenty usual junk. And after a while we walked back. The walk down the pier was a lot longer then it looked. I should have waited for the shuttle. I mean everybody has just so many steps they can take in a life time. I want to be careful not to use all mine up.

Tonight we received another email from Pam, I mean Spike. Here it is:

Hello Mom and Dad,

I am having a very good time here! I found a toy that I like. It's a bright yellow duckie. I walk from room to room with it and shake my head and wrestle with it.

Today we went to the dog park again after Rusty left this afternoon. Then we went over to Pam's Aunt's house so her Aunt could meet me. Zoie is very nice and let's me share her Snoozer Car Seat as we rode to the dog park and then to her Aunt Rhonda's house.

As for the dog park... it's fun! We took a nice ride over to Plantation, and go to the Happy Tails Dog Park. It's very clean and a nice class of people with their dogs go there. There are many areas to play in, but we stay in the smaller doggie area. It's a great place and I love seeing all the dogs that are my size and smaller. Pam, Zoie and I walked around the path two times. I like to walk around and check everything out!

Later on, after we left, I met Pam's aunt and she is a nice lady. We took another walk around her townhouse area in Coral Springs. On the way home, we went to Petco and Pam bought me a special bed, all my own for the car! It's a nice, big blue bed and she leaves it in the back seat for me. As soon as I got in it, I knew it was mine! I rolled around it and started scratching at it to get my scent all over it! Then, we were all hungry, so today we got a special treat and we stopped off for burgers! I ate mine in my new bed, and Zoie ate hers in her Snoozer Car Seat.

We had a very fun day and I'm tired. Off to bed now.

Love, Spike!

I’m glad to see Pam is crazy too. I knew I’d like her.

Cozumel, Mexico (1/5/07)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 6, 2007 12:17 AM
Subject: Friday, January 05, 2007



Friday, January 05, 2007

Cozumel, Mexico

I hope you are getting a picture with each of these daily notes I send. They are not bought or copied. They are all taken by Bobbi and I with her little pocket Nikon P1 camera. The satellite Internet on the ship is very slow and these take a long time to send and are often corrupted or destroyed causing me to resend.

We are docked as close as possible to land. There are two other cruise ships docked on the same pier, behind us. There are other piers and some ships anchored. This is a very busy port. Too busy. Far too many people get unloaded here at once. When we first started coming here, many years ago, there was mostly nothing. Now there is just about anything. There would be more but they can’t build any more because there isn’t enough fresh water as it is.

You won’t be getting today’s episode until very late. We are not receiving Fox News on the TV. When it can’t get through that means there is no Internet or ship to shore phone either. They all come off the same satellite. I see no buildings tall enough to block it so I am wondering if the Mexicans block it so that we would have to use their phones etc. At any rate, I wont be able to send until around midnight which is when we leave.

We are at the pier at the far end of town. Years ago there was nothing here and it was a $5 rip off for a ride into town. Now it is built and full of stores, bars and restaurants, continuous, from one end of what they call town to the other. At the land side of the pier is the main road around the island. For quite a few years now, there has been a modern shopping center. They provide a walk over the main road with escalators at both sides. There is nothing on the pier side. All there is, is a breakwater, a narrow sidewalk and no room for any buildings. This center use to have the few up scale shops on the island. Those are gone and the couple of stores that looked like they had a little higher quality merchandise also had no one in them. From here, as you walk toward the center of town, it is all the same. Hundreds, maybe thousands of mostly small stores, bars and restaurants. Most of the US fast food chains are well represented. The sidewalks so crowded you can hardly walk.

As I mentioned, we have been here many, many times and have done just about everything you can on this island. It is only 29 miles long and 9 miles wide and 11 miles off the mainland. So this afternoon we just took a long walk down the street for a mile or so and walked around the one shopping center. Bobbi forgot to bring insect repellent. She likes the kind with at least 50% Deet. There were several drug stores but all they carry is the very weak stuff with just a few %. I will have to ask our slave to see if she can pick us up some at the grocery in FL and bring it on the 9th with the rest of the stuff we forgot. Almost every store has someone standing outside asking, begging, or ordering you to come in. Some of the little better stores have young women in black evening gowns asking you to come in and are offering brochures. Like many other places, it is one store after another with just about the same junk to sell.

My eyes were not much better this morning and even itchier then yesterday. So I went back to Dr I Don’t Know. He said he had treated about half a dozen people with this problem and I was the only one that didn’t clear up quickly with the steroid drops. I suggested that I might have conjunctivitis. Dr I Don’t Know said I don’t know. But he gave me some different eye drops with steroids and antibiotic. I think he is really Rodney Dangefield’s old doctor. Remember Rodney? I don’t get no respect Rodney. His doctor was Dr Vinny Boombatz. This guy has got to be Boombatz hiding out in the Caribbean on a cruise ship under a new name. I asked Dr I Don’t Know how long these drops should take if they are working. He says until I feel better. I says, about how long should that be. Dr I Don’t Know said I don’t know. I then asked him, what if I am still not getting better? Is there anything else I could take? Dr I Don’t Know said I don’t know. I’ll give him this. He is consistent. He didn’t charge me anything this time. Good price. Probably what his doctoring is worth. Maybe more.

Belize City, Belize (1//4/2007)

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)

Date: Jan 4, 2007 9:35 PM

Subject: Thursday, January 04, 2007

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Belize City, Belize

This used to be British Honduras. After gaining their independence the British military was here for a number of years to see that other countries did not try to take it over. At that time it was known as a cheap place to go for fishing and scuba diving. The few hotels were not much, at best. The people worse. Very nasty to tourists, especially US citizens. They didn’t need them. They were making good money off the British soldiers. Then the day came when the soldiers left and so did the economy, right with them. Suddenly they became very friendly. Especially toward the US. The US provides most of the tourists and it is a good place for US citizens to go fishing and diving. There are plenty of good facilities, equipment, the second largest reef on the planet and everyone speaks English as a first language. It is always hot and humid here.

The major problem with Belize as a cruise ship stop is the pier. There is none and there most likely never will be. The ocean is very shallow here. Ships stop about 20 miles out to sea and even there you see the bottom being stirred up by the ship propellers. When we used to come here, years ago, any small boat that could float was a tender. As soon as a cruise ship was sighted everyone grabbed their boat and raced out to pick up the cruise passengers. At one time everything afloat was powered by outboards. A small boat might have one and huge ones up to four. I had been told the reason being, there was a Yamaha outboard assembly plant near by. Now these tenders are much more uniform. They run mostly 40 to 50 feet and are manufactured to be passenger haulers. They could have outboards or gas or diesel inboards. The outboards are the fastest. They are all very fast for boats of their size and the long trip to shore seems much quicker. All are operated by commercial operators.

There isn’t very much to see or do ashore. No beaches are close by and require a long cab ride. The city is only about 40 years old and has no real points of interest. About an hours ride away is a nice pyramid but the roads leading to it were only one lane for two directions for about 5 miles and very rough to say the least. Again, there has got to be a real shortage of cruise ports. There were people waiting in line to talk to the hawkers that would normally chase them to sell tours.

Up until a couple of years ago there was nothing ashore at the dock area period. There were a couple of trailers with expensive art objects but none of the usual tourist stuff. Not even tee shirts. Now there is an area of about five or six blocks long, at the water front, with all of the usual tourist stuff. I think I saw six International House of Diamonds stores. We did find one big bargain. There was a drug store selling prescription drugs over the counter. They had most anything you could think of and the prices were maybe one tenth what we pay at home. No prescription required and no tax. There was also a perfume store with better prices then I have seen in many years.

We tendered over very early at about 10:30 or 11:00 this morning. We walked around the water front looking at all the new stores. No one was hawking anything in a nasty manner as is prevalent in most places. We bought a few items. For those who don’t know Bobbi, just a few means less then 100. Then we climbed back aboard a tender just in time for it to start pouring. I was going to get a good photo for today’s blog but hightailed it to a tender when the sky started to turn black. So, sorry but you will have to do with a fair one from the return tender.

Santo Tomas, Guatemala

From: Sherman Rootberg

Date: Jan 3, 2007 9:10 PM

Subject: Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Santo Tomas, Guatemala

This place is just a large modern cargo port. There is nothing here for tourists. They provide a free 200 yard drive in a shuttle to area where they put in a few stands with tourist junk. Those that went there tell us that you are absolutely mobbed as soon as you start to depart the shuttle. Then there is really nothing you would want to buy. We have been to many places like that around the world. I would have gone anyhow,

Today was my turn. Bobbi’s was yesterday. My eyes were glued and very itchy when I got up this morning. So off to the doctor we went. Different nurse today. No sense of humor. When I asked for the group rates her answer was, huh? The doctor said I had allergies just like Bobbi and gave me the same very strong steroid eye drops. You take a drop every hour for 5 hours then another at bed time. What ever we have I got it much worse. It itches so badly I can’t stop robbing and scratching around my eyes. I’ve had 5 drops now and there is not much if any improvement.

The few tours offered were not much or very expensive. Like $450 each to Tikal. As there are no tourist facilities here what so ever, everything and everyone must transport in and stay the night before and after. That’s why everything is so expensive there are no attractions and you have to go pretty far to see stuff that is not worth the time. So as long as I couldn’t see and was very uncomfortable we did nothing.

There must be a severe shortage of ports for them to go to a nothing place like this. There was also an NCL ship docked behind us. And it is a shame because Guatemala is beautiful and has many beautiful things to see. Just not here.

Roatan Island, Honduras

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 2, 2007 10:22 PM
Subject: Tuesday, January 02, 2007


Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Roatan Island, Honduras


The island is about 40 miles off the coast. We have been here before. There was nothing much to see. It is mostly a lower priced place for tourists from the main land. There are nice houses being built for people from all over the Americas including the US. So are restaurants and bars.

There is no dock on this island so we have to tender in. It was windy and pretty rough so they were thinking of passing this place. Finally they decided to go ahead and start tendering. They cannot anchor because it is too deep and then suddenly becomes too shallow. They have to maneuver with the engines all day to keep the ship's tender landing dock on the leeward side of the ship.

We started the day off right. We visited a place on the ship we had not been to on this trip. The doctors office. First of course, came breakfast. Then if we still had time we planned to visit the doctor. He is only open until 10:00 AM and then again at 4:00 PM unless it is an off hour cabin call which costs $20 extra. Can't afford that. We can stand the pain and discomfort unless of course it was me that was sick. But it wasn't. It was just Bobbi. We did make it out of the restaurant by ten to ten so we did go to the doctor. Bobbi has had very red eyes since yesterday and a little goo coming from them. The doctor examined her and said her eyes were red. I told him that was an excellent diagnosis and he must be a really good doctor to figure that out so quickly but if he would read the form the nurse had us fill out, he would see that was why we were here. With the reflexes of a highly trained professional, he didn't hesitate a second with his instant reply to me. It was, get out of here. No sense of humor. But he told Bobbi that it looked like allergy. Did she try new make up? Yes, she did. She was in a hurry and bought drug store make up instead of her usual movie star stuff. She would only be able to use that really expensive stuff. How did I know this one was coming? Oh lucky me.

This must be a great place for freighter ships, not. Everywhere you look is a rusting ship wreck. At about noon we decided to go ashore. They were having a beach BBQ. This line does not do your normal back yard lunch BBQ. There are waiters everywhere. Food is served on good china with real stainless dinner ware. The burgers are big thick ones and there is always steak and their great fries. If I have not mentioned it, they make the best shoe string French fries in the world. McD only wishes he could make them this good. But they also have baked potatoes and the list goes on. Today was no exception.

The tender ride was a little rough and the driver could never pilot my boat. He smashed into the ship on one end and the dock on the other. It's a good thing they have these tenders/lifeboats covered in heavy rubber. They are twin screw and not all that difficult to handle.

We landed in a beautiful place. It was all man made, but if you knew that or not, still gorgeous. There are no real beaches on this side of the island. This is the leeward side and must not get enough wave action to crush the rocks into sand. The stuff here is really dredged up smashed shells. The beach looks very pretty but is very hard. There are still large piles of this sand waiting to be spread when some gets washed away. There were more then enough nice beach chairs and chaises. Lunch was in a permanent building. It was open air with a high fiberglass roof being held up by posts and there were plastic tables and chairs underneath.

They were serving all kinds of hard and soft drinks. The food was as good if not better then I expected. You just have to get a table then send your wife to get you food. She has them pile a plate full and then a waiter from the ship carries it too the table while wifey dear walks with the waiter telling him how mistreated she is for having to work so hard to supply lunch for me. Who cares? It's worth not having to get up myself. Besides, she enjoys complaining. Better to the waiter then me. He doesn't care either.

Lunch was excellent. There was a terrific singer with great musical equipment. He did Calypso and soft rock all during lunch. He sounded like Jamaican and not local. After, we took a walk down to the far end of the beach. A portion was roped off for a non private area where there was a large bar for the public. Both sides had plenty of facilities and showers. Both sides had some very pretty girls in bikinis. Wakes up an old guy right away.

I thought dinner alone would be nice tonight but Bobbi thought I should have it with her so we got a table by ourselves with our usual waiter, Joey. Art and Muriel. If you guys remembered how to get these on your computer, Joey asked where you were as did the head waiter. I don't know how to spell matra dee but it was really that guy. The food was fantastic last year but this new chef is even better. The pastry chef is far better. The deserts and breads are much better.

The main entertainment is a classical pianist. I'm sure you are aware of how much I love that stuff. So I am typing this for a while and then we will take in some singer or something in one of the other lounges.

Just after dinner we took a walk by the stores. It helps Bobbi to feel she got her shopping fix. I happened into the jewelry store and after looking at some of the things I remarked how pretty a pair of diamond earrings were. Some times I can be just plain stupid. I know the wine at dinner was no help but I had no business anywhere near a jewelry store. It always gets me in trouble. And then to remark about a pair of earrings being pretty? Where was my head at? But Bobbi did me a big favor and let me ask the guy how much they were. Wasn't that nice of her. He opened the case and took them out and looked at the price code on the back. Bobbi's reply was, oh they are less then ones you got me last year. I then made another big mistake. I hope you guys are writing this stuff down so you don't make these mistakes. I said yes but still far too much. Now this is a really classy jewelry outfit. You don't walk into Tiffany's and hondel over prices. This must have been a cheap bunch on this cruise and they hadn't sold much. He says to me, how much do you want to pay. I said $35. He thinks I'm really funny. He didn't know I was serious. He then makes an offer I could easily refuse. Problem was, Bobbi couldn't. I said, you told me you didn't want anything and I should not ask you. You would just say no. Now she is going to do me a big favor and say okay. You can buy them. I replied that I hardly ever wear earrings. She goes on to explain what a big favor she is doing me by letting me buy them. I guess I'm real dumb because I still don't understand how this is a favor to me and that I should be grateful. I tried my best. I signed the sales ticket Sam Gordon. He just laughs at that too and changes it to my name. He says everyone knows who you are or I would have asked for your room card. What did I do? Why does everyone know who I am? I suddenly get this strange feeling. I am really being conned. I must be the only one this ship that is really paying for the cruise.

We get back to the room and find a gift in a box. A nice thermos type stainless steel drinking mug with a closeable top. Nothing says who it is from or why it was given to me. Bobbi must have told the jewelry store guy we were coming there and she was going to do me a favor and let me buy something. He must have sent the gift in advance.

Confused Sherm Out.

Monday, January 01, 2007

From: Sherman Rootberg (BiggiRoot)
Date: Jan 1, 2007 11:18 PM
Subject: Monday, January 01, 2007

Monday, January 01, 2007

This is a sea day. Nothing much to report. The butler brought the usual canapés tonight except it was good caviar. The gillion dollars a pound stuff. Two little bowls of it with all the condiments. That had to cost them over 35 cents.

At the last minute I decided I wanted to go to Latitudes for dinner. That's the Indochina restaurant that requires reservations, usually quite a while in advance because it is small. At breakfast I walked up to the restaurant manager and said I wanted to eat there tonight. She said okay. I don't know why but all through the dinner the manager kept coming and asking if everything was okay, if the service help was okay. I did not see them doing this to anyone else. Then just before dessert she brings over the chef to introduce him. Bobbi asks for the recipe for the spicy lemon pumpkin soup and he says he will send it to our cabin and tells us all the ingredients. Perhaps we have been mistaken for someone else but they treat us like royalty. I know there are others aboard taking the world cruise also. I don't see anyone getting all the attention. Maybe they caught us stealing the silverware and are just keeping an eye on us?

The entertainment in the main lounge was something very different. Something seen far more often in Europe. A puppeteer. This guy was fantastic. Of his several characters, one was obviously Bette Midler. My favorite was a shaggy little dog. He made this dog look real. The ears would move around and the tongue would come out. It would sit and scratch itself. It made movements just like a frisky little dog would.

That's about it.

Royal Sherm Out