Monday, March 27, 2006

The First Supper














When I arrived at the restaurant in my squeaky clean threads and was seated at the table that was to be mine for the duration of the trip, I was completely alone. The waiters asked me if I was indeed by myself and thought they were dilerious, making faces at me like I had 5 heads when I said yes. It was a little awkward but at the same time, I was sort of okay with it all.

No one else showed up at my table that night, nor the next. I began dining alone as there was no reason to wait. Ordered myself a hearty glass of red wine and went through the courses (6 by the way, thats the way it goes on a cruise ;)

Upon receiving the second course--beef consumme, an older woman, appearing in her mid 50's and extremely healthy looking, came over to my table. She asked if I was dining alone, and if so, if I'd like to join her table next to mine. I smiled and said yes, I would love to. And proceeded to take my wine and soup over to the nearby table. It was very nice of them, and something I now see that they would have done for anyone in my situation.

They were 3 woman from Colorado, a mother and her two daughters. One daughter had just graduated high school, and her step-sister was a junior at William & Mary. Two tan, stocky gentlemen were also at the table, and were partners from Miami. We all had a terrific meal together (I had the veal). A few awkward silences exchanged by people just getting to know each other but still, much less silence than what I would have experienced dining solo my first night on-board.

Throughout our conversation, I learned that Colorado, specifically Boulder, was an extremely health-conscious town and was actually not entirely freezing all 365 days of the year. The men from Miami had both lived in NY before and told me a few of their horror stories and fairytales working and living in Brooklyn.

After dinner I went straight back to my cabin. I was exhausted after such an emotional and eventful solo day.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Back in NYC with a Tan!

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Not So Smooth Sailing














I flew in very early for the big bon voyage. I was tired, working on zero hours of sleep the night before and dozed off plenty of times on the plane over. After the long embarkation lines and confirmations, I made my way to my cabin. Everything about the trip so far reminded me of 4-LC and our journey we took 3 years ago to the Caribbean. It was exactly like this. The ship was so similar; the entertainment, the views, even the cabin was comparable, although not as nice. This one didn't have a window.

When I got to my cabin, and my cell phone stopped working, I panicked. I felt entirely cut off from everyone, and more alone than ever before. It wasn't helping that the scenery was making me miss 4-LC emmensly. I cried good and hard. It may very well have been the first time I've had a good cry over it all since it happened over a year ago. I guess the reality of my surroundings brought it all to surface.

After that I fell asleep, listening to classic jazz music which often comforts me. That 'old New York' feeling always seems to remind me of familiarity. I must have slept for over 3 hours because I was awoken to a maid who had entered the room and was unlocking the mini bar in my cabin. I thanked her and explained myself for my slumber. Which, looking back I think is silly... Why did I feel the need to explain my exhaustion? I guess because all of the other guests were running around like children in a candy store clutching frozen tropical concoctions, way too excited to be napping.

Anyway, when I finally awoke we were just beginning to set sail. I quickly washed my face, grabbed my camera and ventured out onto the main deck of the ship. After snapping a few pictures of the scenary I noticed an exotic-looking, skinny blonde in front of me lighting a cigarette. She looked around my age, or even younger. She came and sat down next to me and it appeared to me that she was looking to have a conversation. I turned to face her and preceded to ask her if she had ever been on a cruise before. She smiled as she turned to me at the same time and said she was about to ask me that exact question. I told her I had been before with my Ex and that this time I was traveling alone. She smiled and said she was here with her husband, it was their first cruise and that she expected a younger crowd. I agreed and then she left.

I walked around a bit, registered my credit card and sat down in another main area outside. I received a text message from 4-LC. My phone worked for about a minute more before losing signal again. It saved my life at that moment. "Great to hear from u before ur cruise. Have such a great time & I'll be thinking about u out there on ur own. Talk 2 u very soon. Bon voyage Lan!" I hesitated whether or not to respond. I knew I didn't have to, since I had spoken to him earlier. But I wanted him to know how I felt. I responded " Thx, that is comforting to know.." I also got a text from Nelly- happy and carefree as usual. A picture of him sticking out his tongue in response to a picture of the ship leaving port which I had just quickly sent to a few friends. At the bottom of his picture read "Blueberries"... What a nut. I won't mention it should have said "Raspberries". At least it helped to cheer my up as I was feeling so alone...

Monday, March 13, 2006

Bioluminescent Kayak Trip

We set out on the Bioluminescent Night Kayaking trip in San Juan after docking at the pier in Puerto Rico that evening. Driving by all the housing projects and condos, I came to the realization of how well I have it in New York, living my life in such ease and luxury compared to other people. My latest worries circle around ever owning my own beautiful home, while in the interim living in splendor, and here others are barely scraping by, having trouble paying the rent in their project of an apartment. And this is all they know. There were bars up to the roof on the balconies and windows of every home that we passed. I was amazed and shocked at once. The bus trip on the way to the kayaks was an awakening, but there were some spectacular views and sights that will forever be ingrained in my mind with feelings of total serenity and escapism.

We came to an area where the road became extremely narrow and winding. Immediately to one side was the Caribbean sea, with palms swaying and waves crashing on white sandy beaches that seemed to overflow onto the tiny two lane road. Directly on the opposite side were lush green vines and tropical forests with the ocassional snack shack serving up fried plantains and fritters. It gave me that off-the-beaten-path, miles from ordinary sort of feeling, you know, the deserted virgin island. It screamed 'Corona'...

We arrived at the bay about 2 hours later. It was around 9 in the evening and dark, but there was a surprisingly warm breeze blowing through the air. We grouped up into partners for double kayaks and I teamed up with a lady named Jann from Tampa, who was on the cruise with her son and his wife along with the in-laws. She was a bold, cheerful woman with short white hair, who seemed very naturey and adventurous; we got along great. Although it had been some time since in a kayak for both of us, we sinked up our paddling rhythm immediately. I was in th back seat which meant I was to steer, and as Jann kept up her paddling, I would drag my stick in the water to determine directions or double paddle on one side to move us away from obstacles.

Among our excursion group was an italian couple, a french couple and a german couple, along with Jann's son and wife. Everyone felt bad for the Germans, who missed the entire mini-lesson before the ride due to language barriers, and were sent out to the open sea to fend for themselves (or by chance, decifer our flailing arm movements and loud voices when they started moving in the wrong direction.)

I felt like an explorer set out on a tropical safari, as we paddled through the narrow waterways with a blanket of stars above us and a half moon in the sky to guide the way. There were sounds of our paddles splashing the water with every stroke to compliment the light hum of saccadas and an ocassional snapping of a tree branch which seemed to echo through the narrow creeks. The thick roots from the trees on our sides protruded out into the water, and their heavy vines created a delightful canopy of dangling leaves all around us. The only thing that freaked me out about this, was the mention of sleeping iguanas on the tree branches above, and I prayed that none felt too relaxed to loosen their grip on their beds of bark.

Just as we were beginning to aclamate ourselves to these small wonders making up our environment, a new breathtaking component was quickly added to our sensories. As I watched my paddle dip into the shallow waters a sudden glow erupted from underneath, following as it made its way to the surface! It was like someone had poured the content of a glow stick in the water and the substance was being splashed around to disipate. It immediately reminded me of one of my most favorite movies "The Beach" with Leonardo DeCaprio who plays a young traveler stumbling upon an exotic and deserted tropical beach. There is a scene where he and the girl, Francoise, go night swimming in a lagoon. With every kick of their feet and stroke of their arms, the plankton and the phosphorus, when agitated, brings about the most stunning light deep from within the waters. This is exactly what I was experiencing in the present.

We eventually emerged from the narrow water ways to see a stretch of an open lagoon before us. Complete with mangroves casing the waters edge, the view was spectacular. You could see where other kayakers had been by the trail of glowing water behind them. I dipped my hand in the water and brought up a cupful to let trickle down my forearm and elbow. As it ran, I could see streaks of glowing plankton, which came and went like tiny bursts of lightening. I was in amazement.

The ride back in the opposite direction was much easier, as there was a current that moved us along at a fast speed. Before we knew it, we were back to where we started and ready to do the whole adventure again, although I'm sure my sore arm muscles would have objected. After changing out of wet clothes and grabbing some snacks we were headed back to the shelter of our luxurious cruise ship to be lulled asleep by the slight, gentle rock of the waves beneath.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

An M-Day














Well since I couldn't go to Maui due to lack of time (my original plan for when quiting my job), and the cruise is not for a few more days, we have decided to make this Saturday an M-Day.

Really it is because my Mother has been away in Costa Rica for the past week and a half and she desperately wants to catch up with her favorite daughter before she takes off for the tropical unknown (read that: before she is never seen or heard from again, according to my Mom's rants and raves over the past 2 days with me traveling solo).

Anyway, here I sit, eagerly anticipating her arrival in on the 10.13am LIRR. Crazy enough, M-Days are starting to become a sacred ritual around these parts and I am actually beginning to (gag) cherish them. Okay, okay, maybe it has something to do with the endless shopping trip we can always manage to take, or the tasty delights we can always manage to inhale at a classy NYC restaurant, but I like to think it has something to do with spending some quality (crazy) time with the nutty lady.

Above is a pic of an M-Day gone horribley adrift... Mainly due to my Brother crashing the fun and heading us in the direction of an old pub house in the East Village... After a few pints it all begins to get hazy. But a good time was still (surprisingly) had by all... And I don't even think my Mom declared anyone an alcoholic that day, so another added bonus (and there were quite a few pints around our table)!


M-Day: Mom, Mexican, Movie, Macy's, Mariachi, Men?, Miracle!