Sunday, October 12th, 2008...2:16 pm
Greece Is The Word
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts……or …..Beware of Greeks bearing bugger all information.
From: Stelios _________
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 8:18 PM
To: SPLENDOR SHORE EXCURSION MANAGER
Cc: ‘Christos _________
Subject: important news!!Dear All
This is to advise that the center of Athens is going to be closed tomorrow at various points at various hours due to the bicycle tournament of Athens (for want of a better translation into English!).
Although the traffic police were very helpful, they can not know at this time exactly when each location will be closed to all vehicles, in order to let us know in advance.
We are going to slightly modify itineraries to avoid the center at the moments when it s closed.
Best regards
Stelios ________
Now, note the date and the time this e-mail was sent. October 11 at 8:18pm. That’s last night…………..that’s the night before we arrive and 11 hours after I had held my travel talk and, of course, told the guests “Oh, it’s Sunday, although some of the shops will be closed, many of the tourists stores will be open for business and the center of the city will be ready for you to explore.”
And then, last night……we get this from the agency all the cruise lines use here in Athens.
Why are they telling us now, why didn’t they tell us days ago? I mean, did they just realize that 1,000 bikealists will be pedaling their way through the city and thought “Hey Stelios, do you think that we should tell the Carnival Splendor who have 1,900 people on excursion and another 1,000 coming into Athens that some of it may be closed?”
Buggeros!
This is one of those prime examples where passengers don’t see that we are so dependant on the help of the people who actually live in these ports and people we pay ……..you know…………money…………to do so.
Anyway, we shall see what the feedback is when we the tours come back. I will let you know later in the blog. It wasn’t the only concern though as the ship arrived as scheduled at 6 am as scheduled.
Unfortunately, it’s a Sunday and that meant that the Greek Immigration officials decided not to grace
us with their presence until 7 am. This meant nobody could get off the ship, including a big group of Chinese Canadian guests who had arranged for a private tour at 6:30 am. The scenes in the deck 0 lobby were reminiscent of a game of rugby as scrums of unrelenting guests refused to listen to the staff and once again ………….we had to call security.
I guess I should explain that until immigration give their permission nobody…….not even the staff working ashore…..can leave the ship and, if anyone does ……….Inspector Constipationos will fine the ship. Eventually, at 7:15 am………..one hour and fifteen minutes behind schedule the ship received permission to allow guests ashore and the rugby players on Deck 0 buggered off.
So, it’s been a stressful morning and I am sure there will be more of a Greek tragedy later when the guests find out that they cannot get to the Everything’s A Drachma shop because of 1,000 bikealists.
If it seems from what I have written above that I am pissed off at the Greeks and their lackadaisical attitude……………….then good……………because that’s exactly what I am.
However, Athens remains a place that should be on your must see places. We make sure our tours visit the Acropolis early. It opens at 8 am and by noon it’s full and lines start to form outside. At the foot of the Acropolis is the new museum, which has been 30 years in the planning and has cost the Greek government more than £100 million, which will, at last, provide a permanent home for the greatest treasures of the classical period, safe from the city’s corrosive, polluted air.
Built in the shadow of the Acropolis, it will display the sections of the marbles owned by Greece – alongside plaster copies of the “missing” sections that reside in the British museum. We also have excursions that have guided tours that will cover this whole world class attraction. Hundreds of marble sculptures that have survived heat, pollution and looters on the Acropolis in Athens have been swung over the city, using special cranes, to the new museum complex.
Athens: cradle of democracy, birthplace of the modern Olympic Games and one of the most heavily polluted cities in Europe. The government’s solution to the traffic that choked the city centre was to prevent cars with odd and even-numbered plates from driving on alternate days.
Athenians simply bought two cars, one even-numbered and one odd………….brilliant.
Anyway, let’s see what the guests say when they return.
Let’s take a break. Tomorrow, I will post photos of the Acropolis and beyond but for now I need to show you 10 amazing photos of Istanbul. These were taken by our Senior I/S manager Kat ……….and all I can say is “Wow”……and I have a feeling that’s what you will be saying as well.
I have asked Stephanie to have these as large as possible so you can see every detail.
Here we go.
Blue Mosque Court
Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern
City View Evening
City View
Grand Bazaar Detail
Grand Bazaar
Hagia Sohpia
Vendors
Splendor and Grand Princess
Splendor in Port
Now a quick update and a few photos from Chris “Bubba “Roberts.
Hey John,
Here some pics of the tour that I couldn’t go include during the last Hawaii cruise, but was able to this cruise. These are from Haleakala Volcano - known as the “house of the sun” - and the single largest land mass on the planet. The peak is over 10,000 feet above sea level, but if you count the mass of the volcano that goes under the water, it’s even taller than Mount Everest. Tomorrow is our last day in the Islands, and then we begin the five-day crossing to California.
Later
Chris
Thanks Bubba and enjoy the five-day crossing to California. I am sure your guests will have a wonderful time.
I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for all the comments you keep posting. They are the lifeline to this blog and I remind you that should you wish me to reply to any please ask me to do so when you slap on the comment. I reply to about 50 or so a week and Stephanie will always post the replies, plus send you a personal e-mail, as well from me. I remain at your service.
Oh yes…….sorry about yesterday’s blog. I hope you didn’t mind me opening up a bit. It’s quite surprising how therapeutic writing can be though and I apologize if I went a bit of track yesterday. The stress of so desperately wanting a family has been difficult at times and as I just wrote to my mate PA 007………the blog gives me the chance to actually write what I am feeling…………thanks for listening.
Let’s get right back on track now though.
Guest: Mr. ________ Ref: 002881386A
Cabin: ____ Booking#: ________ Added-Changed: 10/11/08 - 10/11/08LANGUAGE COMPLAINT
Following comment card was received:
“I am surprised that being an American company that you hire non-American staff. There are too many foreign staff who do not speak American. As an ex Vietnam Veteran I would also like to know if there are any Vietnamese crew on-board?”Purser meet with Cynthia from MSA in the back office and inquired if we have Vietnamese crew on board. Cynthia informed we have not. Purser sent thank you for comments letter and sent email to cruise director and hotel director
As I think I said yesterday. This has been a difficult cruise and although complaints are minimal, the ones we have been receiving are a little ….ummmmm……different.
I spoke to the guest this morning and, straight away, I knew I needed to be careful. I had gone to the meeting with a battle plan………American isn’t a language…….it’s English …….. all of the Carnival staff speak English. Some, better than others, but is a requirement that they do…….not just a company requirement but a SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) requirement, as well.
I was ready to do battle……….but as soon as I met the guest I could see in his eyes that he had probably been threw enough battles in his life already……….and my posture of defense turned into one of surrender and I spent 20 minutes listening, agreeing and feeling somewhat sorry for the guest. …..I am certainly no expert but after our meeting I think that like so many veterans of past and present conflicts…..he is still fighting his demons today.
I don’t think we have ever had a crewmember from Vietnam but there are and have been many from China. I am thinking about him today as I have developed a mouth ulcer …………. more about that in a moment.
He worked in the laundry back in the early 1990s. Then, the laundries on most cruise lines were run by an agency from China who brought on gangs of crew to work in what was…..back then…… pretty awful conditions. The thing was, these young men would come onboard and for the entire six months they were contracted to work…………you would never see them.
They would work, go to sleep and then wake up and go to work again. They ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in their own galley where …………they cooked the best food on the ship. Many times I was invited to eat with them and I shared many a happy night sitting among the tablecloths, bed linen and guests’ underwear eating sweet and sour everything and spicy something.
They were happy, they would laugh all throughout the meal and even though I had no clue what they were laughing about………..I laughed with them. They were probably laughing at my face after eating stuff that was OH MY GOD hot and they could have been laughing because even though they worked hard ………… harder than most……….they would be returning to China, Vietnam and Indonesia with lots of dollars which would pay for them and their families to lead a better and happier life.
Things have changed as they always do. The Chinese laundrymen are gone. They are now regulated and run by Carnival and the crew who work there are regulated to the same hours as all the other crew onboard. They are not allowed to cook their anymore either. It’s a whole new and very clean world down on deck B.
Now, back on the Carnival Imagination in 1994 I remember a chap from China………….I wish I could remember his name ………….I mean his real name but honestly …………I can’t…………..so I will have to use his nickname……..the name all the crew new him as…………Dr. Ko
I think I had eaten too much spicy food because I had woken up with a huge ulcer on the side of my mouth, which, when you are a cruise director, is as nasty as a cyclist discovering he has hemorrhoids minutes before he starts the Tour De France.
I saw our doctor……….I won’t mention his name but he was dreadful. No matter what you went to him for he would give you the same thing……..Ibuprofen and Theraflu ……………. Doctor, I have a headache………Ibuprofen and Theraflu……….Doctor, I have Eboli ………… Ibuprofen and Theraflu……..Doctor, my thingy has just fallen off and one of the cleaners has just vacuumed it up and it has been put in the incinerator ………….. Ibuprofen and Theraflu .
Needless to say that the aforementioned medication did bugger all and my mouth ulcer continued to pound and sting and reduce me to big girly tears.
And so, as many of the crew did back then……we went to see Dr. Ko, who, for $10 or a 6 pack of Heineken or some Camel cigarettes, would take a look at you. I have no idea if he was trained in alternative medicine or if in fact he was actually a doctor ………… but …………Dr. Ko was a hit with the crew because he could cure all sorts of aches and pains.
Back then there were no restrictions on what you could bring onboard and what you could keep in your cabin. His looked like a cross between a Brazilian rain forest and a pet store. He had herbs and leaves and fish heads and potions. I always wondered if I had opened his cupboard would he have had a tiger’s penis hanging next to his overalls.
Anyway, Dr. Ko told me that the best way to get rid of mouth ulcers is to eat a guava fruit every day for a week. I did…………and in five days………..it was gone.
I remember looking at Mr. Ko’s house in a forgettable Chinese province. It was a small free standing house with maybe four rooms. To him though, it was a mansion comparable to anything standing the waterfront of Miami Beach had to offer.
I will never forget Dr. Ko. And, if I ever realize my dream of turning this blog into a sitcom………..he will be one of the stars of the show for sure. There are many people like him in the industry. People who work very hard to provide for their families.
For us, not having a new car is the benchmark of poverty……..For them, it’s not having a pig. But soon and with the way the world is going….it could soon be the other way round.
Do you remember what Mayor Giuliani said after 9/11 to get people back to New York…………it was something like go see a show and buy a pizza?
Well, here is Mayor John’s speech………..go buy a Carnival cruise and we will give you free pizza and let’s keep the economy moving.
Goodnight
Your Friends
John, Heidi and the Thingy (now with a capital T)
38 Comments
October 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
John,
Be sure to snap a picture of Heidi with her “Thingy” and post it on the blog. I bet she looks really cute with her little bump.
October 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
John:
The Carnival Spirit is heading from Hawaii to CALIFORNIA? I think that if this had been an option when we booked, we would have booked that cruise, rather than the Vancouver/Hawaii cruise on the Spirit with Chris that we disembarked from last Monday. But, as I recall, it didn’t go from Hawaii to California, but to Ensenada….which not only isn’t in California, isn’t even in the United States.
We booked the first portion of the repositioning cruise specifically because we had read some pretty horrible reviews of getting from Ensenada to San Diego on last year’s cruise. Hopefully, it will be smooth and little hassle for the passengers sailing from Hawaii.
The photos you have been sharing have been great, and bring back so many wonderful memories for us, of our May 2007 eastern Med cruise with you on the Freedom. Although we never dreamed of traveling to Istanbul, we are so happy that we cruised there!
And, of course, cruising is just the BEST way to see so many countries, in our opinion. No packing and unpacking, no flying into and out of airport after airport…just unpack, and your floating home (and what a home it is!) takes you to exotic and wonderful places! We will cruise as long as our personal economy allows us to!
Terri & Larry
October 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Dear John the photos are most stunning and show the artistic side of Greece.I am reading in you today a longing for the past when people were appreciative of things done and provided for there pleasure.The buildings in these pictures have with stood the test of time and are still there in shining glory for us to see.As for yesterdays Blog thingy it is food for the soul to vent your emotions once in a while.Life can be quite exasperating some times.Best wishes to all Gary and Bug
October 12th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
John,
The diversity on the cruise ship among the crew and passengers is something I love about cruising. I have met people from parts of the world that I would never have unless I cruised, and I have so many wonderful memories of their smiling faces.
Hope to see some of them again someday.
My mother always cruises with me and on every cruise at least one crew member is telling us how much they are helping their entire family back home - parents, spouses, children, grandparents, you name it. They are proud to do so, and we’re glad that Carnival can help so many people.
We’re definitely helping the economy too by having two European cruises booked in 2009 and we’re anxious to see what Carnival is doing in Europe in 2010!!
See you on board sometime again, John,
Melissa Jurgensen
October 12th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Dear John:
Met you on the maiden voyage of this beautiful ship and have been enjoying your blog since a bit before our voyage in July. The customers comment on having an “American” crew prompted me to write. Some friends recently went on a cruise in Hawaii. Not Carnival!!!! It was a ship that was registered in the U.S. and had an American crew. These friends are frequent cruisers. Their comment was that they would absolutely NEVER go on another ship like that. The service was appalling, food terrible, rooms not clean, etc. It was most definitely NOT a Carnival experience. These are not necessarily picky people and the crux of their complaints revolved around the staff - all American.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
hey john & crew
great blog,,,dam how do you do it,
love hearing about your life onboard
were ready for NOLA
your florida buds
tom & jane
October 12th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
The Thingy deserves a Captial T!
Go eat your Guava fruit and cure the mouth ulcer…I just use salt on mine …burns like h*ll but it heals quickly.
I have 5 cruises booked so I am helping the economy!
Kats pics were FANTASTIC!!!!! Bravo!
October 12th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The pictures are incredible!! Why are you sorry about yesterday blog?? That I think it’s one of the purposes of a blog.To share our lives and let our feelings out. Like you said, for me, is very therapeutic. It helps a lot. I think the people that gets to read it gets to know you even better.
Falta poco, hang in there!
Nanni
October 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thank you again, John. I needed that. There are days when I can tolerate the world and there are days I can not. Your blog gets me through the ‘can not’s…
The pictures of Istanbul are wonderful, as you predicted but the picture of the Basilica Cistern is BREATH TAKING. Congratulation to Kat on her use of the settings on her camera to capture the warmth and depth of that scene. Stunning…
Thank you to Bubba for taking pictures of the surface of the moon for us. I’ve seen many pictures of the highlands of Hawaii and that’s what comes to mind every time… the moon…
Is it just me or have you noticed as well that many European countries have yet to grasp the concept of customer service??? The lackadaisical attitude of the Greeks reminds me of many parts, well… MOST parts, of Mexico…
Thanks for a mid day escape from the brain cramps that I’ve been enduring all day… Please tell Heidi that I said hello and tell Stephanie that she’s perfectly brilliant!! Oh, and tell Thingy I said hello…
Ciao…
Host Mach
October 12th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Not just “thingy with a capital T”. But “new and improved thingy”
October 12th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
John and Heidi, I am so happy to hear of your wonderful news! The best that I can wish for you is that you may know the joy I experienced in January on Carnival Liberty with my daughter and her three children and then on Freedom in March with my two sons, their wives and three more of my grandchildren. From my first cruise in 2003 (on Sensation with another daughter) I had been wanting to share the fun with all of my kids and grandkids. I know that all of the kids will always remember their grandma and their first cruise. To me that’s what cruising is all about: making memories with loved ones.
So may all of life’s blessings be bestowed on the Heald Family. You deserve it for all the joy you have provided for so many others. Shirley
October 12th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
John,
Excellent blog as usual - the Istanbul pictures are stunning.
I got a great laugh from your sign off. I’m a fan of the great Irish band Horslips, and one of their best known songs is Trouble with a Capital T.
The chorus goes -
“Trouble, trouble, I tried to chase trouble but it’s chasing me.
Trouble, trouble, trouble with a capital T”.
Donal.
October 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Okay John, I did my part yesterday by booking a Mexican Riviera cruise on the Splendor with my son and his girlfriend………of course I have only 13 days until I sail on the Freedom for 28 days then it is around South America on the Splendor…….!!
With your track record of selecting the Godmother for the Splendor I’m hoping you have better luck with “Thingy’s” Godmother.
You are never to old to have babies………my best friends are 43 and 55 and expecting #2 thingy at Thanksgiving.
Heidi - I am so glad I got to meet you on the Inagural Baltic cruise. Thank you for all your hard work and also for all the help you give to John. You will make a terrific Mother. Best wishes and enjoy these last few months of piece and quiet on solid ground.
Kersplott
October 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Dear John, (I love writing that lol )
Ok dad, first of all congradulations to both you and Heidi. Cindy and I cant wait till you have to change your very first “MUSTARD” diaper ….lol you will learn the TRUE meaning of “bugger”
We both would like to take exception however with the term “Thingy”
I am saving all the blogs to sent to your son or daughter when they are old enough to read so they too can “feel the LOVE” ..lol
Come on “DAD” Heidi is not carry a “Thingy” she is carrying your son or daughter, so please find another term to refer to YOUR CHILD..lol
Cindy and I were wondering,,, Have you and Heidi given any thought to you being in the delivery room and actually delivering your child???
Cant wait to read that account.
In any case John, again congrats to you and Heidi, and remember “THE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINING”
Take Care
Cindy n Bill
October 12th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I have to give you and all the other CD’s out there a lot of credit for everything you have to put up with and deal with on to day to day basis with 3000 or so pax some of which can be a bit difficult to be kind.
By the way, when you have time can you explain how a ship clears immigration?
Thanks,
Bob
respond
October 12th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
John, please respond.
Can you give the reason why Carnival pulled the fruit punch drink from the Lido buffet for breakfast? There are reports on Cruise Critic that this has happened on several ships within the past two weeks.
My daughters love the fruit punch for breakfast.
Dave
October 12th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Dont you dare change your blog we love sharing feelings here with U and U with us that is Y this blog is special,there R lots of Blogs but urs is the bestest
XOXO
-Sandra
October 12th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Dear John:
Please convey my thanks to both Kat and Bubba for those great pictures. They were even better if possible than the ones posted yesterday. WOW!
Your blogs are great and so down to earth. Please DO NOT apologize for yesterday. Someday I will vent to you and I know you will be there for me.
Keep up the good work. I don’t know how you have the time and energy to read all these replies, but, I know that you do.
Love to you Heidi and capital T!
Marie
October 12th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Wow the colour in those pictures is beautiful! Can’t wait to hear the results of the Tour de Athens…and oh the crowd on deck 0, too bad the ship gets fined instead of those that depart.
The diversity of the crew is always the most interesting thing on a cruise I believe. I’m always anxious to see where my cabin stewart and waiters are from as well as anyone else I come in contract with. You have had a strange group of pax this time…sorry you couldn’t have faired better on your last cruise together for awhile.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Hey John & Heidi,
I am so happy for you! Been gone on a cruise & just now catching up on the blog thingy for the last two weeks. Just wonderful news, please tell us how you told the grandparents to be & the reaction! My son married a wonderful woman last year & we inherited a 6 year old grandson, & I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful a grandchild can be. You will be blessing your parents with such a great gift. Keep us informed on how Heidi is feeling.
Jan
October 12th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Dear John & Heidi and Thingy
Great Blog
Yes you would think that the Greeks would have given a little MORE warning with a planned “Bicycle tournament”. DUH!!!!!!
Brilliant Pictures From IStanbul & Bubba
Take Care
The Tuckers
Elizabeth & Arnold
October 13th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Tell Chris “Bubba” to make the ship go faster … It is hard waiting these last two weeks ….
As usual loving your blog .. and yesterdays brought tears of joy to my eyes .. so lovely ..
October 13th, 2008 at 2:33 am
This is a just an FYI. The closures and strikes are posted at least a week in advance in English in eKathimerini.com, and tourist police know also (they speak 4 languages). You are not necessarily dependent on people you pay.
Immigration is a problem as a tourist, but it’s nothing compared to what people who live here go through. We wait months, sometimes years before our documents are processed and we pay the highest fees in the world, though our salaries are some of the lowest. At least you get to go home after vacation.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:48 am
wow! greece is a very beautiful place!
October 13th, 2008 at 4:08 am
HOwdy
Booked the Legend for May 10, 2009, now can I have my pizza?
October 13th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Hi John,
Please, never feel like you have to apologize for expressing your feelings & frustrations about your efforts to make the “Thingy”. Throughout the years I’ve known several couples who experienced the same thing as you & Heidi. Thankfully, the bad times are behind you, at least until the “Thingy” becomes a teen ager. At that time you may wonder why you ever wanted a child so badly………………just kidding. God bless the Heald’s.
October 13th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Good Morning John…
I write this as I wake and revieve my morning chuckle to set the tone for a FUN DAY with the stock market!!! You have succeeded!! I indeed will have a wonderful day… no matter what is thrown at me… I will survive with a smile on my face, remembering your blog… Bicycles, immigration, Dr. Ko, guests and their concerns… your life!!!
And the photos of Greece are OUTSTANDING!! The saturation of color, the crispness, the emotion in the scenes… I can feel the country!!! TY!!
God Bless you!!!
Lambie
October 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
John,
First, God bless our troops, as always. I am very thankful for them and all they do for us. But some of the things Americans say just make me, as an American, cringe. But that’s what a liberal public education gets you these days. Pretty pathetic.
Go troops!
Jeff
October 13th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Good morning John, Heidi & Stephanie,
I’m back from the wonderful Miracle, and before I go thru the last 2 weeks’ worth of blog thingys, I wanted to thank you for everything. Yes, Lenny did call me to find out if I wanted anything, even a ship-on-a-stick - I already had one. He and Josh (Big Sexy) were teriffic - they make a great duo. But thank you for all - the strawberries, the fruit & cheese basket, the spumante, plus the normal Platinum goodies - I had so much food in my cabin, who needed to go to dinner? Actually, I only went to the dining room once on the first night. The service did seem a little slower than usual and unfortunately my waiters did not introduce themselves, but my reason for not going back had nothing to do with Carnival - it was my tablemates - 2 “gentlemen” I found totally obnoxious. The one sitting next to me kept spraying everytime he opened his mouth (could be the reason I now have a cold), and the other one was just an idiot. He said he was so bored he went to the doctor to get a physical! This was only a few hours after we sailed. I couldn’t wait to get away from them. But the Miracle is absolutely one of the most beautiful ships I have been on. It took a little while to get used to the slightly different layout, and the stairs going to the Theater, and some slight hills along the promenade deck, but I’ll go back on her in a flash.
OK, I have over 380 e-mails to go thru. It will probably take me a couple of days to get thru what I missed, so take care,
Hugs,
Carol
October 13th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I hope now that it is a new day, things have calmed down and the pax that complain all the time have finally decided they did have a great cruise and are sorry they complained so much, yea like that is going to happen.
Well, the market is up her in the US, but it has only been open for 27 minutes.
Great pictures, I really hope to go to Istanbul one day. But then there are so many places I really want to go.
Keep smiling John, my best to Heidi. When do the two of you get off the ship, today? BTW, please tell us how the pax that had to be taken off the ship is, doing OK?
October 13th, 2008 at 10:11 am
John,
Do you have any idea when Carnival will announce their 2010 cruise itineraries? Anxious to start making plans!
Thanks,
Melissa
October 13th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Again thanks for continuously posting exquisite photos in the blog thingy (not to be confused with Thingy brought to you today by Harry Potter’s magic staff……errr ….nevermind) . These stunning shots depict parts of the world I may not ever have the pleasure of visiting.
When it comes to the stampede of guests on Deck 0…..I can imagine the problematic nature of the ruckus caused by this faction of guests….. I would close off Deck 0 completely until officials have cleared the vessel….. have the herd gather in the lounge or the lobby until that time……
The Flying Dutchman
October 13th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Dear John:
I have posted 3-4 times and none have gone through - I hope this one does.
In the past I was plagued with mouth sores - I mean an uncountable number at the same time - and what I found worked beyond measure was . . . LICORICE. That’s right, the hard kind like nips. Licorice has a natural anesthetic to it but be forewarned . . . don’t go sticking your tongue out at anyone . . .
Joko Joan (alias Auntie Joan)
October 13th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hi John,
Not reading the blog for some days:
Embarking a very sick person, some people not giving way, I do call them A—oles, touching one of the dancers this person should not be aboard anymore.
Do not call them Ladies or Gentlemen their behaviour does show they are not.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hi, John,
Funny you should be ranting (just kidding) about the Greeks today (well, yesterday actually). In church yesterday, our pastor taught us an “ancient Greek” word…skooballon…which he says literally means “out of, dog, throw,” or dog-poo. Also, used to mean rubbish. See Philippians 3:2 for why he gave us this “useful” bit of information. Anyway, just thought you might find it a fun word to add to your wonderfully descriptive vocabulary. Remember, “skooballon” = dog-poo!
I had posted a comment on your last blog before this one but apparently hit something besides “submit comment” as the comment disappeared. Being too lazy to recreate it at the time, just wanted to say now, it was in regard to a vote by “The One” as an Illinois state senator, having to do with botched abortions and leaving living, breathing (unwanted) babies to die alone in soiled laundry rooms. I know you said no politics, but you sort of injected a bit of it with your Palin and Obama comments, and I just wanted to point out I doubt JFK would have voted this way. (If you choose to edit this out I won’t be mad.)
I would like to know whether moving to the USA is really something you are seriously considering.
Give Heidi and Thingy a hug for me.
Your Pal, Myra
October 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
John
My wife and I are frequent Carnival cruisers and a long time ago—maybe on the Jubilee we had a vietnamese room steward. He was just excellent and what was truly amazing that we never saw him but everything was always just perfect!
Roger T
October 13th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Hi John/Heidi:
One of my favorite countries on the planet is Greece, so I always enjoy hearing your comments. It is a shame though that there were so many problems getting passengers off the ship today.
Great pictures from Istanbul and the detail is simply amazing. Nice job.
So Thingy finally gets some respect and you capitalize it. Alrighty.
I look forward to hearing some of the names you’ll be kicking around. Do you think you guys will find out ahead of time or be surprised when it happens?
Congrats again.
Thanks for another great blog.
Take care!
David
October 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Dear John:
We are sailing on the Splendor on Oct 28th and
do hope you will be on board. We are going to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary next
April and decided that this was to be our anniversary
cruise. We have held all of the people who work
for Carnival in high regard for the many cruises
that we have sailed on. We have found if they are having difficulty with what we are saying they will find someone to help us out. We have sailed on over 14 cruises with family,friends,and children
and enjoyed all of them. We can’t wait to cruise
transatlantic and to relax and enjoy all the comforts of Carnival’s hospitality.
Love and God Bless Eileen
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