The Trip Over Was Uneventful Except For....
Beautiful way to start the trip
The Commodore Lounge line made things easy
This group found the cocktails... About two hours before boarding¡
Official trip wine tasters
From across The Pond
... originally
Did You Know? - The word "pond" is sometimes also used to refer to the Atlantic Ocean in the expression "across the pond", and the expression "big pond" similarly is sometimes used for the Pacific. These uses are deliberate idiomatic understatements.
Beware... Be very aware... Herbie is here
What is the delightful colored liquid Sue is holding????
We are a two table party...
Time To Board The Ship
Did You Know? - A catamaran (from Malayalam "kattamaram". കട്ടമരം; also from Tamil "kattumaram". Tamil:கட்டுமரம்) is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas. Catamarans can be sail- or engine-powered.
Catamarans are a relatively recent introduction to the design of boats for both leisure and sport sailing, although they have been used since time immemorial among the paravas, a fishing community in the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and independently in Oceania, where Polynesian catamarans and outrigger canoes allowed seafaring Polynesians to settle the world's most far-flung islands.
Civilized... We have snacks
Did You Know? - A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home.
Traditionally, snacks were prepared from ingredients commonly available in the home. Often leftovers, sandwiches made from cold cuts, nuts, fruit, and the like were used as snacks. The Dagwood sandwich was originally the humorous result of a cartoon character's desire for large snacks.
Herb demonstrates is fold up hat... We wanna see the fold up head!!
Irish whiskey in a plastic cup??? Yuch!
Herbie attempted to describe what he was seeing out the window
Did You Know? - The Amazon river dolphin, alternately Bufeo, Bufeo Colorado, Boto, Boto Cor de Rosa, Boutu, Nay, Tonina, or Pink Dolphin[2] (Inia geoffrensis), is a freshwater river dolphin endemic to the Orinoco, Amazon and Araguaia/Tocantins River systems of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
The largest of the river dolphins, this species is not to be confused with the Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), whose range overlaps that of the Amazon river dolphin but is not a true river dolphin. Because they are unfused, the neck vertebrae of the Amazon river dolphin are able to turn 180 degrees.
The pink dolphin lives in the freshwater of the Amazon River. This species looks like the grey dolphin, but individuals are bigger, and, instead of a dorsal fin, they have a hump on their back. Their tails are also bigger. The pink dolphin has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of the Nature due to pollution, overfishing, excessive boat trafficking and habitat loss. The brain of the river dolphin is 40% larger than a human brain.
Bob gets a short lesson on celestial navigation...
Difficult to do on this trip because we have no one named Celeste!
Sue shows Irene how to count to two...
The alcohol begins to flow
Bob wants to go visit the Captain
We is underway.... 31.0 knots almost due South
The old SS Catalina did about 15 knots on a good day....
Fred and Bob exchange stories
Holly enjoying the crossing
Herb is keeping an eye on the cameraman.... I wonder why??
The genuine Herbie
Bob gives Paul and idea,,, Oh oh!
Land Ho
Nautical Term - a sailor's cry in announcing sight of land.
We have arrived
at the dock
Little do they know....
Did You Know? - Avalon was first settled in pre-modern times by members of the Gabrielino/Tongva tribe. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, several different developers tried to develop Avalon into a resort destination community, but most went bankrupt. In 1919, William Wrigley, Jr. gained control of Avalon. Wrigley oversaw much of the development of Avalon, including the construction of the landmark Catalina Casino.
The camera person had the shakes
A beautiful day greeted us...
We unload for the walk to the hotel
That's a long way up
Did You Know? - A gangplank is a board or ramp used as a removable footway between a ship and a pier. Also called gangway.
Hotel Check in... Chinese Fire Drill Underway
"I'll take two"
Mary has the video camera out
"Look, nothing up my sleeve!"
The Villa Portofino Hotel is excellent
Brian does the famous "English Cast Out The Bed Bugs Dance"
Fred sends the bedbugs upstairs
NO PROBLEMS HERE... The Villa Portofino is an outstanding hotel with SUPER SERVICE and great staff.... Everything was super clean and just a delight!!!!
Holly awaiting the bag-boy to deliver her suitcases....
Bill will be right here
We were delighted at the thoughtfulness of the Hotel Staff!
I'll bet that is the wine beginning to flow again
Von's Market, Here We Come
Time for a walk... To Von's Market (It's called a vino run)
We almost bought a copy of the magazine.... Bye bye dummy!
Up On The Roof...
Ah... Home Sweet Roof
We here on the roof of the hotel in the afternoon
Mama Irene provided cheese and crackers for an army.... The wine flowed...
Bill demonstrated the proper pouring of wine (we would HATE to see the improper)
Notice how Bob always has an empty glass???
"No no no... Just four more is fine!"
Brian checks out his sombrero
"Ah.... He had it on backwards the whole day.... No wonder he had problems seeing
"
Bill and Holly relaxing before the serious cavorting begins
Fred, Sue, Herbie, and Paul
"Boy, oh boy... My head is already spinning"
Sam lines up the glasses for his tasting activities.
What happens on the roof, stays on the roof
Herbie... Sneaky little devil
The wine shirt contest begins... We voted for both
Duh!! Sure it does!
Sam want evidence
Sue sends in Sarge to eliminate the evidence
Bob, Donna, Mary, Fred, and Sue
"Life is good"
"Snap" without the Crackle and pop!
Little did we know that tomorrow night we will get rain
Mary shows us her Statue of Liberty pose
Glad the sign is here so we remember where we are in case we have to call 711, no... ah 612... n ope. Ah, 911
Hunger pains are beginning to set in... Or is the alcohol fumes wafting in the breeze?
Did You Know? - Waft is a term meaning to carry along gently as through the air. The term is commonly used to describe scents that have diffused in to other parts of a room, or to describe smoke as being seen moving through the air. Wafting may be used for everyday substances, to make sure they are fresh, or consumable.
Bob reminds himself to take wine opening lessons beginning Monday
Mission possible (Donna showed him how!!)
