Goose road trip - 1Q19

[Chef]

[mention=871]Biz-R-OWorld[/mention] OK Biz, some pics of boats, but no hoes. Just some pics of the other boats as we were leaving the port, and of our room. Nothing else exciting so far. We did win a bottle of wine at name that tune trivia last night.

U staying in a suit ?


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[goosifer]

1 minute ago, chefhunter86 said:

U staying in a suit ?


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they call it a mini-suite. worth it for the extra room, especially on a 10 day cruise.

[Chef]

they call it a mini-suite. worth it for the extra room, especially on a 10 day cruise.

Yea the wife and I usually stay in a sky suit when we cruise celebrity. But they give you a bunch of perks for doing so.


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[goosifer]

41 minutes ago, chefhunter86 said:

Yea the wife and I usually stay in a sky suit when we cruise celebrity. But they give you a bunch of perks for doing so.


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For Australia and New Zealand next year, we have a Concierge class cabin at the back end of the boat on the Solstice. The sky suite is on the back corner with the balcony along the diagonal/at an angle. Very nice.

Edited January 30, 2019 by goosifer

[Chef]

For Australia and New Zealand next year, we have a Concierge class cabin at the back end of the boat on the Solstice. The sky suite is on the back corner with the balcony along the diagonal/at an angle. Very nice.

Yea concierge class is great too. I love celebrity. Australia and New Zealand are Gunna be amazing. I’ve always wanted to go


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[BizCT]

For Australia and New Zealand next year, we have a Concierge class cabin at the back end of the boat on the Solstice. The sky suite is on the back corner with the balcony along the diagonal/at an angle. Very nice.

And a water buffalo hunt?


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[goosifer]

21 hours ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

And a water buffalo hunt?


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only if you're coming on the trip, too.

[Pygmy]

Glad you and your Missus are having a good trip, Goosey....

After spending two years  on a destroyer working for Uncle Sam  ( 1971-73)  I decided that if I ever got on a boat again, it would be to go fishing...I  strayed from that one time...The Mermaid and I went on a day trip to tour glaciers  while on a FISHING trip in Juneau Alaska …..

 

[goosifer]

Day 11 (1/24) Panama Canal So the ship goes through the first three locks on the Caribbean side, tenders people that are doing on shore excursions, and then goes back out the locks and docks at Colon. The Panama canal is an amazing engineering achievement, especially when you consider the tools they had to work with when they first made the canal. The problem is, it is hard to grasp the scale of the canal as its just a single ship in the canal. It's not until you realize all the boxes are cargo containers that you being to realize the scale.

Over the new canal, Panama is building a new bridge. It's almost done. Looks impressive.

We Did the Panama Train dome car tour which kind of runs parallel to the canal. Prior to getting on the train, we stopped at a building that was a tourist stop for the canal. That was where I was able to take a picture of our ship, as it was traveling back through the locks. Afterwards, we were bussed to the train and climbed aboard. A tour guide gives some of the history, and they give you a snack and coffee. A very modest operation. It ends near the Pacific-side set of locks, but you don't really get a good look at them. We were then bussed back to the ship docked in Colon. 

Seeing the Panama canal, and doing the train ride, was the whole reason we did this cruise. It was a bucket list item for my wife. It was a bit underwhelming, but still glad we did it.

Day 12 (1/25) Limon, Costa Rica This was the port stop I was most looking forward to. We were doing a long 6 hour excursion where we toured a village in the countryside and saw how they lived and grew food, et al. When we got to our minibus on the dock, we were told the tour was cancelled due to a bee swarm. We could have gone on a different tour, like visiting the sloths, but decided not to. Instead, we hit the tiny little flea market-like tourist stalls that were inside the gate on the dock. The people were very friendly and had lots of stuff that was hand-made in Costa Rica, like wooden cutting boards and coffee. Mrs. Goose and I had a fine time. Afterward, I went by myself outside the gate to visit the town. It was not what I expected. You walk one block away, and it is the bustling downtown of a small central american town. It was not at all touristy. In fact, I doubt most people even knew that a cruise ship was docked a block away. All prices were in local currency, but they would take and exchange dollars for you. I visited a grocery store and bought a tall can of beer and an ice cream bar for $3.50 USD. Two things I noticed: not a lot of chocolate bars for sale, and no diet soda. Weird. For me, walking around town was the highlight of the trip. Sorry, no pics. I wanted to blend in with the locals . . . .

[BizCT]

Go to Jaco in Costa Rica. The talent there will blow your mind

 

 

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[goosifer]

On 1/30/2019 at 8:27 PM, Biz-R-OWorld said:

Go to Jaco in Costa Rica. The talent there will blow your mind

 

 

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Biz, the thought of all the experiences you've had in your wild and crazy youth bewilders and terrifies me.

[goosifer]

(last post about the cruise)

Day 13 (1/26) and Day 15 (1/28) Sea days. More trivia, eating and drinking.

Day 14 (Falmouth, Jamaica)  This port stop went pretty much as planned. Got off the ship and shopped at the stores inside the gated port area. I went to each store that sold coffee, skipping all the jewelry stores, and asked for a price for 5# of Jamaican Blue coffee beans, cash. They were quoting the Jablum for like $35 a pound, but had another brand for less. After getting about 10 quotes, I went back to the three that tied at $25 a pound for a best and final. One guy said he'd give me a half pound free if I bought six, effectively $23/pound. The other two would not go lower than $25. So, I got 6.5 pounds of coffee. Not as good a deal as getting Jablum for $20/pound years ago, but what can you do.

While there we went to the biggest tourist trap rip off at the port, commonly known as Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Had a Red Stripe beer and some overpriced, mediocre food. It was a nice day weather-wise, though.

Day 16 (1/29) Back to FLL. Took a shuttle bus back to the parking garage at the other dock (We returned to a different one) and drove over to Naples, FL. All alongside the road were big water ditches/canals. At one stretch, we saw 8 alligators sunning themselves or swimming.

Next update will be about Naples, FL.

[BizCT]

Biz, the thought of all the experiences you've had in your wild and crazy youth bewilders and terrifies me.

We should do a boys trip. Me and you!


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[goosifer]

4 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

We should do a boys trip. Me and you!


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Thanks for the offer, Biz, I'm old and boring; I'd cramp your style. My 30 year old stepson might be able to keep up with you, though (not financially, but in adventurousness).

[BizCT]

Thanks for the offer, Biz, I'm old and boring; I'd cramp your style. My 30 year old stepson might be able to keep up with you, though (not financially, but in adventurousness).

Alright well next time I’m in WNY, we’ll take a tour of the town!


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[goosifer]

2 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

Alright well next time I’m in WNY, we’ll take a tour of the town!


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You got it, Biz. You know the boys in WNY will take care of you.

[Nomad]

It was a delight meeting Mr and Mrs gossifer for lunch at The Crow’s Nest,Venice Beach , today .

Thanks for lunch ,next one is on us , enjoy the rest of your stay .

[BizCT]

It was a delight meeting Mr and Mrs gossifer for lunch at The Crow’s Nest,Venice Beach , today .
Thanks for lunch ,next one is on us , enjoy the rest of your stay .

Nice. Where’s the pics?


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[Nomad]

Here ,I took the pic, which is why I’m not in it .

[BizCT]

Here ,I took the pic, which is why I’m not in it .

Danny B!


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[goosifer]

We had a nice lunch today with @Stay at home Nomad and his wife at the Crow's Nest in Venice, FL, per @Lawdwaz 's suggestion. We skipped the group shot, but I did take a few pics:

 

 

[BizCT]

We had a nice lunch today with [mention=253]Stay at home Nomad[/mention] and his wife at the Crow's Nest in Venice, FL, per [mention=271]Lawdwaz[/mention] 's suggestion. We skipped the group shot, but I did take a few pics:



 
 

Jonah Crab Claws!


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[goosifer]

Since getting off the cruise, we've visited the following cities:

Naples: A city geared towards helping people with a special problem, that problem being having too much money and not knowing what to do with it. Fortunately, the friendly neighborhood Bentley dealer, Rolex dealer, numerous fancy restaurants, and art galleries are there to help.

Fort Myers/Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel Island:  They have some sort of unwritten rule that you either need to be elderly or from Boston to be there.

Downtown St. Petersburg:  Still in progress, but we are having a great time so far. It's amazing what they've done with their downtown--housing, restaurants, art galleries, chocolate shops, museums, et al. Downtown Buffalo can only dream of what they've done here. If you are a high earning, young and good looking professional, downtown St. Pete is the place to be. Not sure how economically sustainable it  all is, but enjoy it while it's here. Oh, and it is by far the most dog friendly place we've visited so far in Florida, making St. Augustine a distant second.

Below are some nighttime pics of the harbor:

 

[BizCT]

Since getting off the cruise, we've visited the following cities:
Naples: A city geared towards helping people with a special problem, that problem being having too much money and not knowing what to do with it. Fortunately, the friendly neighborhood Bentley dealer, Rolex dealer, numerous fancy restaurants, and art galleries are there to help.
Fort Myers/Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel Island:  They have some sort of unwritten rule that you either need to be elderly or from Boston to be there.
Downtown St. Petersburg:  Still in progress, but we are having a great time so far. It's amazing what they've done with their downtown--housing, restaurants, art galleries, chocolate shops, museums, et al. Downtown Buffalo can only dream of what they've done here. If you are a high earning, young and good looking professional, downtown St. Pete is the place to be. Not sure how economically sustainable it  all is, but enjoy it while it's here. Oh, and it is by far the most dog friendly place we've visited so far in Florida, making St. Augustine a distant second.
Below are some nighttime pics of the harbor:
 

Nice, but was hoping for hot girls pics from St Pete


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[goosifer]

9 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

Nice, but was hoping for hot girls pics from St Pete


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Biz, you should check out St. Pete. I think you'd like it. Lot's of eye candy for you. Hard to take pics with the Mrs. next to me . . . .