We are now headed out into the Pacific after spending three days in the United States - one in San Diego and two in San Francisco.
The arrival in San Diego was, to use the technical term, a crap show. We had to stand in line for nearly four hours to clear US customs. Which is one thing for me -- but quite another for the many 85-year-olds on this floating old age home.
Anyhoo ... when we were finally approved, Josie, one of the Windsor gals, went off to get a mani-pedi while her sister Virginia and I got a hop-on-hop-off bus that took us around the city.
I had no idea what to expect and I was taken aback by how clean and green San Diego is. The navy is a huge part of life - especially the naval aircraft which we're constantly buzzing overhead.
We got off the bus on Coronado Island and walked around for a bit before having lunch of nachos and margaritas.
Then we headed back to the ship, hoping to make it in time for a free harbour tour ... but were too late.
The entertainment that night was a gal named Nina Skyy who sang Whitney Houston songs. I was dubious that someone could pull that off ... but she was fabulous. And I wish I could upload the video of her ... but ... internet at sea is not the best.
One thing that really struck me was how excited the onboard staff were off the ship in the US - far more so than other ports. Most were thrilled to be there even for a few hours and talked to us about it for days beforehand. Having the overnight in San Franciso meant many of them could enjoy a bit of the nightlife.
The first day in San Franciso I headed out by myself. I caught a trolley car to Union Square and back and then had crab cakes at at restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf ... which were expensive but so good.
Then, in the afternoon, I took the four-hour city tour offered free through the ship. It was cold but really wide-ranging, from the cliffs at lands end to the Golden Gate Bridge. My two British undertaker friends, Brian and Ivan, were on the bus and we had lots of laughs.
We got some great views of the city.
On the second day, Josie and Virginia and I caught the trolly to Chinatown. We went to what we had been told was a great dim sum place - which did not have dim sum. But the decore was authentic and the soup and dumplings were Delish.
Then we trolleyed back to the wharf where we people-watched over a couple beers.
Our fitbits were pleased.
Tonight is a gala on the ship where we have to dress fancy. Fortunately some of those press gallery dinner gowns still fit me.
Now it is off to Hawaii
Comments