LAST DAYS OF THIS CRUISE

FINAL PORTS:   We docked in Belize at a private island owned by the cruise company.  Although the beach and pool area were very nice, the temperature was very hot, so I beat a hasty retreat back to the ship.

At our stop in Roatan, Honduras I took a tour of the island which included a sail over the coral reef in a semi-submersible boat.  Quite beautiful.

Our final port was to have been Costa Maya, Mexico.  However, the swells were larger than the Captain wanted in order to dock, so we skipped that stop.

DINNER COMPANIONS:   For our final meal at Polo Grill we were joined by two brothers (aged 24 and 33).  They were on their first cruise.  A client of the older brother, a real estate broker in Beverly Hills, had given them a penthouse suite in appreciation of what must have been a very large sale.

Near the end of the cruise we were invited to a dinner party hosted by Dominic, the ship's general manager.  The table included 3 of Dominic's senior officers and 5 passengers, including Betty and me.  As Dominic is from Brittany, France I expected that we would be served French wines.  However, he commented that French wines were too thin to serve to guests.  

The meal and table conversation were great.  However, one of the guests choked on a piece of veal.  Dominic's attempt at the Heinrich maneuver failed to dislodge the bit of meat.  Fortunately, the large and strong head of food and beverage services (also at our table) was quickly successful.  I expect the guy's ribs were a bit sore the next day.

The final picture shows Betty perusing the menu at Toscana, the ship's Italian restaurant.

WORKING OUR WAY HOME:    We disembarked this morning and found our way to a Miami Beach hotel, where we will spend the night.  Upon arrival I tripped and whapped my head on a marble table.  Lots and lots of blood, and despite my protests an ambulance was called.  However, Betty had managed to stop the bleeding by the time the emergency people arrived and I was left to my own medications.

Tomorrow we will fly back to Bangor.  I mentioned in an earlier blog that the exhaust system failed on my ancient car while driving down I-95.  Through the help of an old colleague from the StFX Board of Governors I have an appointment at at repair shop the next morning.  Hopefully, they can bandage up the car to the point we can drive back to Antigonish.