Sold!! :)

I have a cousin he is 32, single and has never been on a cruise. What cruise line will be perfect for him? HEllooo!! Everyone knows that one. HA! No seriously he turned to us( the  cruise freaks) for advice on what ship to sail for the first time. He had 3 ships sailing from SJ on his list. 2 ships of the seas and one Celebrity. ahhhh!! ???? I tried to be diplomatic and fair so I told him that any of those would be fine. That he couldn’t go wrong and I tried to focus on the itinerary and what he wanted to do. I also told him to choose the cheapest of the 3 ( that ruled out the AOS). After my humble opinion at the very end I wrote a note telling him to check the Carnival Victory. That I thought it would be better for him in every sense. Last night I received a message from him through facebook  thanking me for the recomendation that he had choosen the Victory  YES!! I won ( I knew my sister has been doing campaign for her ships) That he had read about the ship and loved everything about it. Now he was asking about recomendations for tours on each island. It was late but I was at work. I ask him about diferent things and went to work with the Carnival page. I didnt go to sleep until I finished. I’m happy because I know he is going to have a blast each and every day and that he choose the perfect ship to make him a cruise addict like us. Now I have to wait until February to hear the stories but I know it’s going to be an unforgetable cruise for him. YAY!

Just different

Back from Mayaguez after spending Thanksgiving with my parents, grandmother and my older sister and her family. My mother is the best doing a puertorrican Thanksgiving feast. It’s the usual with a puertorrican touch. The turkey is stuffed with mofongo and we also have arroz with gandules (rice with green pidgeons) For dessert my mother does a pumpkin pie but it’s not the dark one with a lot of spices, it’s pumpkin in a pie crust but it’s more like a flan (custard) It’s delicious! We had a great time and we also went to the movies together but separate. The boys went to see the James Bond movie and the girl’s…. went to see Twilight again. It was funny to hear the comments of the girl beside and behind me. We remembered how different this thanksgiving was from last year’s. My father in intensive care after his open heart surgery. In between the 2 visits we went to have turkey at what’s used to be my nephew girlfriend house. That also change, did I tell you that he left her for a 42 year old married co worker with 2 small children?? I’m still mad with the dumb boy ( he is going to be 25) but that is another story. This year has been different in a way, God knows what our needs are, but nothing mayor. We have many things to be thankful and we give thanks every day. Wish you could see my father better than ever. UGH! I can’t hide the fact that I’m dreading going back to school. I know it’s just 3 weeks… it’s just that I didn’t have much time to really rest and this 3 weeks are going to be intensive. Comes weekend and I’m back to doing house chores. The same routine. Anyway for Monday I have mixed feelings. Going back to work but an exciting evening with friends. I’ll just focus on the evening don’t you think? Here are some pictures of the country side going  to Mayaguez. Just click on them to see them larger and in detail. The mountains are beautiful.

But the best and most important types of ships are frienships

The four of us got to Old San Juan at 4:30 under heavily clouded skies. Thank God it didn’t rain until much later. We began to see the ship approaching the pier at 5:45. We were all excited to see the Splendor for the first time in PR. We all thought about John and the special time we had the last time we saw each other.We couldn’t help thinking that you were on that ship until not so long ago. My missed you friend!! We were standing at the front of the pier when we saw Bee first. I got to give a big hugo to my friends Bee and her beloved husband Charlie and to Linda and her famous handyman Mike. It was so good to see them all!! It’s like we have always known each other. We have been talking  and reading about each other for more than a year now.  It was very windy and it has just stopped raining. Bee and Charlie were not going to stay with us for long so walked a little up to a bench nearby to talk and we talked a little more about everything. I wanted to know about their cruise. They are having a wonderful time. They love the ship. The food is excellent. Bee and Charlie went to the super club and that is one thing i’m going to do the next time I have the chance. We also talked about Jaime and how sweet she is and also about Goose. They are at the same table for dinner and absolutely having a great time. Bee is everything she shows in her blog, a very special lady that i’m glad I finally had the pleasure of meeting. I know we are going to see each other again soon. After Bee and Charlie left we walked with Linda and Mike all the way to la Plaza Darsenas in front of Pier #1 were there a bunch of vendors and a kiosk with benches were Linda and Mike got all of us some sodas. We stayed there for a while talking and talking. We had a very nice time until it started to rain. Every time that i meet one of the bloggers it makes me think about the blessing we have and how we all got to know each other. It always amaze me. What a  group of incredible people, all very special. John you can be proud!! Linda gave Vivi and me some special gifts that I loved. All of them. Gift that said that they were choosen specially for us and with love. One of my gift is a bracelet with my name. The name John gave me, Nanni. The bracelet also has a  hanging crown that says princess. I will wear it every day and everyday time i look at it I will think about the special friend that gave it to me and all the others that make me feel like a princess; Princess Nanni of the muchos huggos. Thank you Linda for everything you are very special to me.

Time for another blog

Yes it is time. I wanted to write something but not only I been busy but I don’t have anything to write about. Boring! But this week i’m free!!! How much I needed that! OMG! The only exciting thing about this week was the long anticipated release of the Twilight movie. Here it was scheduled to open this Thursday so Vivi and a friend went on Wednesday night to buy tickets for the first showing after I got out of school. As you all know I have read all the 4 books on the series and loved them. I even read the draft of the book Midnight Sun on the internet. Midnight sun is going to be the next book in the series. It’s the first book of the series( Twilight) but from Edward’s point of view. The partial draft of the book (12 chapters) is on the authors web page because it got stolen and published so she decided not to finish it and  put it on line. Everyone has loved it so far and there has been so many petitions for her to continue that she is going to do it. if you have read the other 4 books and you haven’t read Midnight sun please do. It’s worth it. So after school on Thursday I went with a co worker and a bunch of Vivi’s friends to see the movie. I have gotten a few of my co workers into this madness. I confess. It is strange how you get hooked on this books. There are 2 of them that were not able to go and I have promised them to go again with then. Anyway here we were and hour early on the line for the movie with a bunch of teenagers all with their twilight t shirts. I knew that every movie that comes after a wonderful book is not as perfect. I did go with that very clear in my mind and I liked the movie. I was happy with what they gave me. The girls were a little dissapointed because they wanted to see sooooooooooooo much more. One thing that we all agree on was that  Robert Pattison an English actor, model and musician is perfect for the role. He is Edward. He is incredibly handsome but sometimes scary. In some scenes he just takes your breath away. In one part at the end I thought that i was going to need oxygen for Vivi. She was dying. LOL I think one day I’m going to “lose” her to an English man.She is determined to spend sometime in England when she spends the semester in France.They are their favorites now. Robert is the next Jude Law. It was fun and if you haven’t read the book or seen the movie I highly recomend it. The thing is that I don’t know if you should see the movie or read the books first. Tomorrow i’m going to be at the pier when the Splendor comes into San Juan for the first time. I’m going to meet my friends. Stay tuned.

Long and busy week

UFFF!! Thank God it’s Friday!! It was a week filled with activities both during the day and night for me. I’m exhausted and again, no voice. I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving vacation even though it would have been better to go away from it all. This year is not possible but I wish I could because even with no school I still have house work. I have to go away of it all to really have a vacation. Anyway…This week I had to even go to school at night .Baptism’s promises renovation for my group on Tuesday and on Wednesday Parents school. FUN! On Thursday we had our field trip to Arecibo light house and historical park. I will admit I was not looking forward to this.The mother’s were making a big deal of this as always and making me a bit mad. I was thinking also of the one hour ride to Arecibo in a bus filled with kids. Thank God everything went great and the place was beautiful. The result of this week is me with no voice. Imagine my day today at school. Many hand gestures and feet stomps. Glad my assistant was there at least for the morning.

It’s time for a Celebrity blog

Celebrity Cruise line that is. I been only one time on Celebrity and that was onboard the Galaxy 10 years ago. We went with Vivi and Cristian, just the four of us, to try what we have heard was a 5 star experience and the best food at sea. Vivi was  9 and Cristian was almost 5 years old. Would this experience on a more upscale ship work for us? Yes it did for everyone. Beautiful, elegant ship excellent service and yes at that time the food was excellent. Where did we see the more upscale thing? Definitely the people followed the dress code. Every night with the exception of a few (including Eugenio) men will wear jackets. At the Lido cafeteria you will take your tray and you could take your food but at the end of the line there were crew members with white gloves waiting to take your tray and find you a table.Not a very good thing when you haven’t finish or if you end up in a different table than your family. LOL How about the kids in this elegant ship?? I have always been proud of my kids in that sense. They have always behave with respect toward other people, crew and ship. We have no problem on that sense. On a cruise they feel secure and at home. They really enjoy every little detail like their parents. Appreciate. This cruise was no exception.They love the kids place. I think this was the cruise were they spent most of the time in there. I remember there was only one girl taking care of them and she was from Canada. She didn’t knew any Spanish and all the kids on that cruise with her were spanish speaking. Mine were the only ones that were able to understand her. So Vivi became the official translator. It was funny to see them and Vivi giving orders. She loved every minute of it.They made a lot of friends. They spent most of the week there and at the end they got a backpack with a bunch of things. They also had a great time at the restaurant with a very nice waiter called Alan that did  a bunch of tricks for them. Not a lot of people as you can see that on the pics. That is good.  This ships are more calm and maybe you have more time to rest not very much going on. The experience was excellent. I think things have change and i’ll will love to go back and compare. Eugenio is going with her mom on the Summit next month. Let’s see what he has to say. BTW Does any of you remember thet before being Celebrity there was Chandris Fantasy Cruises?? That was Eugenio’s first cruise on the Amerikanis and our smallest cruise ship on The Azur. The X (C in greek)and the Greek officers was the only thing left of that evolution.

Why not Costa??

I have to add my 2 cents on the discussion going on with the cancelation of all of Carnival’s European cruises. First of all I am sad because I honestly think that Carnival gave us the best value and not only that and all around perfect experience. It was my hope to go back. Oh well… I really hope they go back to doing it in the near future. Meanwhile they were talking about alternatives to this cruises. John mentioned only Princess and Holland. I was wondering why he never mentions Costa. uhhhh ?? Why not ?? Costa is also theirs and has many ships in Europe. We were so curious that I asked John and even added the  Please reply to my comment, which i don’t like to do. And John, as always, replied to my comment and for the first time I can say I don’t agree with you John, at all. I think that Costa is more similar to Carnival than any other cruise line. Before I tell you my reasons let me tell that I been in 6 Carnival Cruises, 6 Costa Cruises and 3 Princess cruises. Never been on HAL because I have read about it and have heard about it and even though I know it’s excellent I wouldn’t dare take a kid or a teen. I know that it is a very different product than Carnival and right now it is not what i’m looking for. Maybe in the future if….the price is right. Anyway back to the discussion. Why are Carnival and Costa so alike?? let me tell you my reasons and why they make them my favorite cruise lines. First many of  Costa and Carnival newer ships are the same. Sister ships. I know many people that like some kind of ships, one class of ships. In Costa you are going to find a ship that maybe it’s exactly the same class of one of your favorite Carnival ship. Same layout. diferent decor.:) Decor in Costa? Joe Farcus but with an italian theme. BELLA!! BEAUTIFUL SHIPS ! I  specially like the Costa Atlantica that even has a replica of the famous Cafe Florian at St Marks Square or the Magica with vistas of the Amalfi Coast on her atrium. ahhh!! Second VALUE , Costa is also a great value. Great prices, it has benn the only cruise line we have been able to take balcony. Both times it was cheaper for us to fly to Fll and go on Costa than to take a ship here in San Juan. It’s true! Why people choose Carnival?? Fun!!! In Costa there is also fun lot’s. There is an italian night with diferent Italian activities throught out the ship. Like bocce ball, venetian mask making, tarantella dancing, pizza making and face painting. Picture taking and an enthusiastic and friendly crew very available.Roman bachanal night were everyone gets a sheet to make their own togas.That same night and italian theme incredibly funny passenger talent show where the audience gets to choose if they send the guest to the lions. Roses for ladies at dinner one night. Music and dancing on dining rooms. Very available all around cruise director and italian officers. The heart and the personal touch that I love also in Costa. Good shows and entertainment. I think that Carnival lovers will like Costa. Why not? Ahhh. I know there are other reason, I know there are. Languages…true they give the announcements in several languages… and? I hear them in my language and ignore the rest. No big deal im on a cruise. Italians? I know…. FUN!! They tell the same things about them that they do about puertorricans. I have read about it. Many are not true or are not that bad. Different? Maybe…get to know us… we like to have fun. Smoke ? Avoid smoking places. Never bothered me.Is Princess more or less the same ?? Ummm not quite. Good, very good. More peaceful, subdued, elegant. Just different. Ok maybe is just me. Maybe is the fact that I’m puertorrican maybe just maybe. But why not give it a try?? Maybe you’ll be surprise and you like it. Taking it to another level I would dare to say that Costa is Carnival with an italian style if I didn’t know that Costa came first. But it is! Similar very similar. Another thing Costa does pretty interesting itineraries in Europe. Why not try it. The price is right. Ok Ya ! Now I’m selling Costa cruises Crazyyyyyyy

It’s time to change

He won!! And in what way with a lot of votes.Way more than I thought. A new hope of better things. We really need them. Did I tell you that the new governor and the new resident commissioner both graduated from the school that I work. We should be proud. I’m happy!

I got my tiara!!

                                        

Now I am officially one of  the  Princess of the Evil krewe. Now I got my very own tiara!!

Let me start from the beginning. I already have planned with Sally to wait for her to call me when she got out of the ship. I had to take Vivi to work at 11:00 so I was hoping to be there to pick them at 10:00-10:30 so Sally could meet Vivi and then take her to work and from there go to the town of Cidra to go to our favorite restaurant and stay until we had to pick Vivi again at 3:00.  At 10:45 Sally called that they were still onboard. So we went to drop Vivi at work and then we went to Old San Juan to wait. At 12 :30 I saw Sally go inside the Sheraton. I could tell she wasn’t in a good mood. She moved quickly around the many people in the lobby of the hotel without looking at anyone. I wasn’t completely sure it was her and I wanted to her to pick her rental car in a peace so I didn’t approach them until later. I saw her leaving the hotel the  same way she came in so we followed them up to parking lot right beside the hotel were the car was. We were looking from across the street and when they got to the car I approach them from the fence around the parking lot. I just stand there and said You are not in a good mood right? She looked at me like I was crazy but she answered the question. I could tell she didn’t recognize me ( I forgot I had my sunglasses on) and as I wasn’t leaving she asked if we were from the ship. Then I told her if she didn’t know who I was. Even after that I didn’t got a reaction inmediately. Then she got it….Nanni!!! She came and gave me a hugo. Her mood changed inmediately. She came across the street and after a brief ceremony explaining how she was the one delivering it from the Princess she crowned me with a beautiful shocking pink tiara. Princess Nanni of the muchos hugos. The tiara is already in a place of honor (beside my bed) and I will be wearing it ( I hope) in December 2009 when I join the other princess coming to PR onboard the Dream. Come on John and Carnival …. Make it official!!! Soooooo as they got out of the ship so late ( John’s fault) J  we decided to stay at Old San Juan to eat lunch and not go to Cidra. So we took them to the same place we had taken Miguel and Lynn when we had the pleasure of having them here, Mojito’s. We had a wonderful time and we ate, ate and ate. At least Michael did… No… we all did. J Really we had sweet mofonguitos and bacalao for appetizers. Sally had 2 drinks that she really enjoyed. Right Sally?? We all had rice and beans with beefsteaks with onions or empanada ( breaded beefsteaks) and Michael had chuletas (pork chops). We got so stuffed that we couldn’t eat dessert. .  Ahhhhhh!!!  It was wonderful !! Great conversation with good friends and I got to practice my English. We still got some time so we went walking on the streets of Old San Juan. Even if it was raining a little there were a bunch of people on the streets because there was a culinary fest going on and all the restaurants got out tables and food to the streets. We walked a some more until we got back to the parking and said our goodbyes hoping to see each other again soon. Sally is wonderful, fun and has a great personality. Michael is very nice and really enjoys food. Right Michael?? They make a very good looking couple as you can see in the pictures. Thanks Sally and Michael for spending precious time with us and inviting us to a wonderful meal. I can tell you that even if he didn’t talk Cristian enjoy it a lot. Next time you’ll meet Vivi. Next bloggers coming are Empress Bee and Sarge Charlie  and Linda Hernacki and her handyman. Can’t wait!!