Ft Lauderdale

On Wednesday, Jan 16, we arrived in fort Lauderdale with “list” in hand to cover our shopping needs before being off USA soil. The list had items like, suction cup hooks to help with storage challenges, travel alarm, water color painting supplies, bathroom storage shelf, baggies for lunches away from ship, hangers, a precious commodity on ship, batteries, replacement for Larry’s broken watchband, cocktail hour beverages, and snorkel and goggles for the South Pacific. But before our shopping trip could begin, we had a must stop at Starbucks to begin our blogging session (see picture). Our departure from Ft Lauderdale was notable with fireboats and Queen Elizabeth 2 docked in the next berth, horns blaring from ships sending their welcome to the new Queen Victoria, and then people in the apartments and along the beach waving flags from world wide countries saying their goodbyes as we left for the open sea. A wonderful send off as we began the next leg of our journey and our two days at sea toward Aruba.
During our days at sea we have now settled into a routine…continental breakfast in our cabin as a wake up call, thirty minute walk on deck, morning activity of lecture, watercolor lessons, ball room dance lessons…so far the Cha- Cha, waltz and Rumba. The dance lessons are fast and furious with many participants. Larry complained after the third lesson of the Rumba, that he forgot the first lesson of the Cha-Cha. After dancing we meet our traveling companions for lunch and then begin the afternoon activities. Larry off to bridge, and Ruthanne with the watercolor lessons. RA’s first attempt at painting is included in the pictures below. We meet up again at four for a quick afternoon walk and then it is time to get polished and shined for dinner at 6. The food has been plentiful (as expected) and excellent.
After dinner we take in the evening entertainment which has included singing, dancing, comedy show and the like.
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