Here is another entry to my journal.....from my trip in October, 2006.
October 20, 2006 1027PM
Well, managed to get another load of laundry done tonight!! Can’t believe this...and people are still complaining about how much the cruise cost, blah blah, this should be included! I am like, if you didn’t want to pay for the cruise, why did you??
I am very thankful to have my laundry done....no dirty clothes right now....will have my workout clothes from tomorrow morning and then maybe Sunday morning, but no biggie, trust me! I’d rather have that ~ than have a full luggage full of dirty clothes!!
So, am partially packed also...while drying the laundry, I reconciled my onboard bill, more than I had expected, but only due to a few excursions....mainly Taormina, Sicily, which I’m thrilled that I got the opportunity to be there!
Emailed my family a got my emails from a few friends/clients...it is actually fun that I can say, "Yah, I’m here in the Mediterranean and they are like, ‘have fun, Todd! You deserve it.....’ , Very Nice! Thank You, you know who you are! It just so happened that you emailed me at the right time, so I was able to communicate back with you.
Papa has setup a shuttle at LAX (how thoughtful, huh?!!!), to pick me up Monday afternoon.....and I’m not looking forward to having to deal with traffic, etc. Am definitely taking a Dramamine about 1 hour before landing in LA, to avoid car sickness on the shuttle, once through Customs....
I really didn’t buy alot...most little things, got in Venice. There were a few things, even in Cannes today, that I would have loved to have and bring home to people or for my own home even, however they were glass and Toddy doesn’t want to be transporting glass or even bringing it on his carryon.
Finished off the Carrot Cake that I bought earlier tonight from the Jardin Cafe...it’s the local coffee shop onboard where you can get a Latte, Tazo Chai Latte (Stacey!) or just add flavors. It’s very reasonable...also, they have some killer desserts. Earlier this week I had the Marble Cake (yellow cake with some chocate cake in it also, to look kind of like marble) and sprinkled with Powdered Sugar....reminded me of my Nonna (Grandmother) and she used to make that!
Also, had the Carrot Cake piece tonight, and it was delish! Had it in three sittings, throughout the evening....knew that I couldn’t leave it in my stateroom frig over night....or that it wouldn’t last, I should say. (big smile)
Well, just preparing for tomorrow.....and thinking to arise early, workout, having breakfast room service again (CANNES ROOM SVC PIC HERE TOO), and hoping that’s easier on me...and makes me feel more like a Prince, eh?
I am definitely going to look for a few things in Rome upon my return on Sunday....want to get something for the people who’ve been watching my stuff while I’ve been away.....also, want to get something for PD.....missed her birthday, and her and I had discussed actually coming sometime to Tuscany together (which tomorrow I will be in that region ~ port is Livorno ~ not much there, but close to Florence, etc.)....so hope to find something for them....
Papa attended school in Lucca which is just outside of Pisa, so since our boat arrives at 7am in Livorno, thinking to arise early, get my workout in and be off the ship by 945am or 10am at the latest.....then get transportation over to Lucca (the walled city of Lucca and I remember you can walk on the walls, they are like 5-10 feed wide ~ I remember back in 1979 seeing students jogging on them!)....and just check out Lucca and try to actually find the school where Papa went....it’s important to me, so hope it works out ok.
I will probably telephone some cousins (3rd, I think) that I have who live near there....they were out visiting a year ago....and at least say Hi....oh, have to remember to pack their phone numbers....anyway, I’m going to say Buona Notte for now....
