9:16 pm Wed Dec 28, 2022

Going to try and get to sleep a little earlier that usual. I need to rest up for the Tran/bus/ship adventure in just two days.  Seems we caught some of the overflow from the ‘Big Blizzard of the Century’ out near Buffalo, NY. So our train from St Paul to Chicago has been canceled. Instead we will be transported by a bus, I am hoping a very spacious and comfortable one but I fear Old School Greyhound. We leave ‘Chicago by 6:30 PM ‘so will have New Years Eve dinner on the train and then a ‘roomette’. We will have another transfer in DC to Ft Lauderdale where we arrive Jan 2, 2023. We have reservations at The Element  Ft. Lauderdale. It is essentially downtown about 8-10 min to the dock. We have a 2:00 boarding time for Jan 3. It’s a whole process boarding that ship. Some of the guests have already been on the Volendam for a week on a pre-cruise Holiday Cruise ‘add-on’. They have been on since before ‘Christmas. I imagine our room, a Veranda Suite will be very nice we are up on level 6, a little high and starboard side (upper right). We have a private balcony and a pillow bar. In room safe, Jacuzi bath and small refrigerator. Daily room cleaning, fresh towels, news, TV laundry service and all the food you could ever want to eat including New York Kosher hot dogs.

I did downsize my packing and removed several clothing items that were just too bulky. I removed a sweater, shorts. I still have a lot of nice stuff. David and I are going to have the best of times. I went to /David’s for dinner tonight and to try uploading his iTunes to his new iPad and phone. Turns out his computer is too old to match the new technology. 


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