Tag: #womenover50

Tybee Island Georgia

1 May 2018 Already!!

The start of my third month of travel. Can you believe it!! I have only visited 2 of the 30 States I plan on doing on this trip. I have had to cross other States I have already done to do that but soon I will be venturing to more States not yet touched.

Today I explored Tybee Island Georgia for the first time. What a pretty place. The sand isn’t the sparkling white of the Gulf Coast but the whole place has a good vibe with a pavillion and several wooden fishing piers and quaint wooden swing benches dotted along the beach.

There is a Marine Science Centre near the beach and there were many (Primary) elementary school kids on excursion. It was so beautiful watching them enjoy the sand and surf.

A teacher told me it was the first time at the beach for many of the children. They were given small kitchen sieves to dig the sand in the water to find shells and they are taught about looking after the environment for the animals such as birds and turtles.

I met a lovely couple, Janice and Mike who recommended some places in Maine and Michigan for me to visit. Someone thought we were friends and took this pic, pointing out she wanted to include the wording on the fence. “I love life”. Messages everywhere for me!

Something I would like to see implemented in Sydney is the Park and Pay system on the island. You pay for a parking ticket which can be used anywhere on the island, not just one place, for whatever time period you pay for.

I could have stayed at the beach all day, but I had exploring to do.

Fort Screven

Tybee Island Lighthouse

And some colourful moments around the island

Back in Savannah I have been sitting in this lovely park, Forsyth Park (one of 2 largest in Savannah) updating my blog.

The city encourages people to hang hammocks and slack lines across the park trees. Another thing Sydney needs to loosen up on.

The oldest, most expensive hotel in Savannah, Manion on Forsyth Park has a display of hats covering the period from 1860s.

The elegant Ladies Restroom.

Savannah’s Jones Street is said to be the origin of the saying “keeping up with the Jones’ “.

So many places I have been to in the USA have beautiful decorations and furniture outside their homes. How lovely to be able to do this without vandalism and theft marring the neighbourhoods.

I found a trivia group held on Tuesdays in Wild Wings Cafe in Pooler on Meet Ups with an East Londoner host. Missing my trivia friends and family in Sydney.

We came 1st!!

Goodbye Florida Hello again Savannah Georgia

30 April 2018

Today I will drive to Savannah Georgia. I’ve been there before but to get to Kentucky need to go through a state/town I have already visited. Between Nashville (too far off my current route although love the country music and the Grand Ole Opry), Charleston South Carolina (love the dancing there and stunning plantation mansions) but Savannah won as it is such a pretty place and I want to revisit some of the places with paranormal activity I experienced last time. I also enjoyed *shag” dancing (it’s a swing dance – get your mind out of the gutter).

On the way to Savannah I stopped off at the World Golf Hall of Fame in between Jacksonville and St Augustine Florida

It is rare for a place to celebrate the achievements of a sport which includes male and female sports people across 26 countries.

I found our Aussie Greg Norman’s spot on the walk.

As well as the list of Aussie champions

There are world class hotels very nearby. You can also purchase a condo at “The Residences” for you die hard golfers, where you can have a view of the Hall of Fame tower or even the #8 hole. Decisions decisions.

I find it curious that I ended up here at the high end of golfing history when I have only just played 2 games of 9 holes so far, but we have to start somewhere.

Two (2) hours up the road in Townsend, Georgia I snapped these photos of USA’s smallest church.

I exerienced dejavu as soon as I drove into midtown Savannah. I randomly booked the least expensive hotel which stated it was 3km from the historical district but it actually is 18km away. It was next door to the hotel I stayed in three (3) years ago. I went looking for the nightclub I enjoyed “shag” dancing and there it was, still there. Unfortunately I won’t be shagging this time as the dance is on Wednesday night and I will be on the road again Wednesday morning.

I took a couple of photos in the historical district at night.v

I have yet to compare them to last time’s photos to see if there are any “orbs” (evidence of paranormal activity). The photos are too small on my phone to examine properly.

Palm Coast Florida

28 April 2018

Yesterday afternoon I had booked an Airbnb in Ormond Beach only to arrive and find that my booking was cancelled by the host. When this happens Airbnb are quick to assist find an alternate property and, as was the case with me, it was difficult to find something last minute at the same price and Airbnb meet any additional cost for a property which might cost more than the original booking. I was so glad the Ormond Beach property cancelled as I would not have had the privilege of staying in the home of Lev and Galina. I have never met a Korean with a Russian accent before and I fell in love with Galina. Perhaps it is because she said my hair colour looked “flirty”.

Prior to my “Odyssey” I decided to stop colouring my hair as it is always difficult to manage when travelling and I also think it is time for me to accept my hair colour is “silvering”. Since this decision I have noticed how many women look beautiful, classy, sexy, quirky or all of this with going natural. I have found it very liberating.

After Galina and Lev gave me a wonderful breakfast of crepes and potato and bacon omelette I drove to the Bulow Plantation Ruins.

There wasn’t much of the ruins left as the plantion house was destroyed by fire.

The area is very pretty for hiking and swimming, although not sure I would go in for a swim.

Driving to my next Airbnb the at the Palm Coast I dropped into the Bulow Plantation RV Park. Similar concept to the Australian caravan park.

These quaint cabins are $US50 per night but they have no cooking facilities or bathroom.

I saw some of the 55+ communities I have been hearing about in my travels. I tried to get access to this one but no-one answered the access phone number.

There is a 55+ ( also known as “age-restricted”) community in Florida called “The Villages” and I would have liked to rent an Airbnb to experience this area which has a population of over 125,000. It is the fastest growing small city in the USA. One of the problems of these communities is if a grandparent becomes the carer of grandchildren there is 90 day time restriction. If a spouse under 55 is widowed, most often they are forced to sell the property. With 9 golf clubs, cinema, supermarkets and shops, the common mode of transport is golf buggies. I wouldn’t mind trying out this community for a few months each year.

This evening my host took me to the Moonrise Brewing Company for an amateur comedy night.

This is in the lovely European Village area.

Oviedo/Cassadaga Florida

27 April 2018

Oviedo is known for the downtown wild chickens roaming the streets. I had trouble working out where they might be and found the local library and thought they would be sure to have the information I was looking for. Just as I got out of the car I heard a rooster crowing. Couldn’t see him, nor the chickens but saw feed which is left out by the locals.

I do love the trees in these southern parts, with the hanging air moss.

I then drove to Cassadaga, a spiritual village of pyschics and mediums. Yes, I had my cards read and we will have to wait for the Fall or did she mean Australian Autumn to see if there is any credibility in what was read.

I will admit the village gave me a feeling of peace and serenity.

With street names of Spiritualist Street and Mediumship Way and Seance Crescent

Barcelona

25 April 2018

In Australia this day is an important one of rememberance for all the ANZACS who served at Gallipoli in WWI and in all wars and peacekeeping services. I thank all who have fought to keep Australia a free nation.

On my last day in Barcelona I took it easy walking and taking in the city and surrounds.

Arc de Triomf (Arco de Truiunfo)

Parc d’lestació Del Nord

The flowers of this tree fly around like cotton wool. I don’t think it is very good for my allergy but pretty.

Bus terminal

Sheryl and I stumbled across the best place for lunch. Mónibèric is a cured ham bar.

4.5EUR gets you a baguette with Iberian ham (prosciutto) and a glass of beer or wine or soft drink. Orange juice is extra. I had the local Cava, Sheryl had a beer.

Tent city protesting against violation of constitutional rights. Derechosgarantizados.org

These caught my attention.

You can’t sell or buy marijuana legally but you can grow and smoke it.

Rubber duckies!!

Can anyone understand this sign?

La Boqueria Barcelona(Barcelona Market)

This is the end of my trip to Barcelona. Tomorrow I return to my USA (Odyssey) road trip. Gracias merci Barcelona and Catalonia. I had a ball. Until we meet again.

Barcelona

22 April 2018

After 1.5 hours sleep I was awoken for the last time by cruise director, Andre’s announcements.

I disembarked, easily found a taxi to my Airbnb 6 minutes walk to Las Ramblas a perfectly central part of Barcelona. If you come to this amazing city it is a must to stay within walking distance of Las Ramblas.

My sons told me I would love it here and they are so right.

First I contacted friends from the ship Stu and Sheryl and found them staying 6 minutes from me, close to Las Ramblas. We met up and went for a sangria and tapas in Las Ramblas.

We looked up and found Denny staying at The International Cool Hotel Las Ramblas. Where else would Denny stay!!

Then went for a drink here. I can’t remember what it’s called or where it is. I went here again next day and found it is called Placa Reial.

I left here to go to my place as I was exhausted. It took 2 hours to do a 10 minute walk as I got lost but found a rooftop bar at the Hotel Colon.

With this view.

Still lost.

Back at the Cathedral again and it is a lot later. I kept losing GPS signal in the Gothic quarter. I now know to stick to the main roads when going back to where I am staying as the city is a rabbit warren.

Nearly back at my Airbnb as the Palau de la Musica is nearby.

I got hungry after all that walking so had dinner at 10:00pm.

What a day!!!

Cadiz Spain

17 April 2018

11am I disembarked to explore this island. The food is so cheap and the delicious smells drew me to the best paella I have ever had and the cost was 3EURO. I would love if I could find such fresh good food to takeaway in the USA. Of course it is available in little Havana in Miami.

I walked aound with Maf and Meredith trying to capture some of the beauty in photos.

Bollards everywhere.

Maf and I showed some children who were in the school playground how a couple of gringos move.

gringos dancing

Of course ended the night dancing.

Norwegian Epic

15 April 2018 Day 5 sea day Atlantic Ocean.
Since leaving Bermuda I have been enjoying days of lying in the sun at the Spice H2O pool area, meeting lots of people and discovering new cocktails (my keto diet prior to this trip long forgotten), dancing until 3am and meeting even more people.

This cruise has many time changes and this morning I went to bed at 4am. I got up three (3) hours later to watch my NRL team Wests Tigers play Manly Sea Eagles. I was so excited that it was televised live into my cabin. Although at half time I ran up to the Irish bar O’Sheehans, as it was televised there as well, because I was worried that my yelling and cheering would wake my cabin neighbours.

But as there was no sound at O’Sheehans I ran back to my cabin and cheered into my pillow for the second half. What a way to watch my team win at Brookvale while I am on a cruise crossing the Atlantic.
After recharging with a sleep, lunch and another nap by the pool I prepared myself for dinner and tonights show.

This ship has wonderful shows and there was no way I was going to miss Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The show was as spectacular as the musical in Sydney and the movie. The Aussie accents and the pictures of the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville and reminders of Les Girls in Kings Cross made me homesick. I was a rebellious 16 year old who frequented Les Girls in Kings Cross in the 1970s and then after my first divorce in the 1980s I again became a frequenter, especially as I was working in the Rural Bank in Kings Cross at the time.

After the show on the Epic I had a drink with a couple of the brilliantly cast Bernadette and Felicia.

I will approach the cruise director and inquire how I may get a front row seat for the show on 17 April. As one of the few Aussies on board I think it a reasonable request.

Norwegian Epic Bermuda UK

10 April 2018
Enjoyed a taxi tour of this colonial island with solo travellers Sarah, Sandy, Danny, Stu, Michael and Kim from USA.

Weather was windy and overcast but the company fun. Stopped at St George.

Had a walk around Hamilton.

Would have liked to swim here in Tobacco Bay but too cold.

Seven (7) golf courses on this island.

The rooves of the houses are quite an interesting design and made of cement which seems to give them extra protection from the numerous hurricanes this island experiences.

We could not go past this place the Boner Bar but unfortunately didn’t get to experience their menu item a “frozen boner”.

Back on the ship enjoyed watching Sarah being part of the show The Hypnotist and ended the night like every night in the nightclub Bliss. One disappointment is that the go go cages I danced in on my previous Epic cruise have been replaced with mirrors 😉

Beautiful message left on the nightclub table.

Thank you Sarah xx

The people I am connecting with every day confirms that everyone we meet pass through our lives for a reason and not a coincidence. The 6 degrees of separation notion needs to be reviewed. I love that on a ship of over 4000 people in the middle of the Atlantic you meet people from the same town or people with only one degree of separation.

Norwegian Epic

7 April 2018
I am off to Barcelona on a Transatlantic cruise! This was not planned but I got such a great deal I could not go. I love the Norwegian Epic and this is the last cruise I could do on her from the USA as she repositions to Europe for their summer.

I have discovered I am a silver member of Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes club. I got priority embarking no waiting in lines. A free bottle of champagne and some extra internet minutes.

This is only my 4th cruise with NCL and I get perks!!. I have been on 10 P&O cruises and get nothing. I am in the studio cabins and this cruise has only 80 children out of 4800 passengers. The majority are over 50 but the first night in the nightclub was amazing. I had 2 wonderful dance partners!! I don’t need anything else. The DJs on NCL could teach P&O cruise DJs how to keep the passengers happy. Every NCL cruise I have been on the DJs know or play what the passengers love.

The people I have met so far are wonderful interesting and all retired from USA, Canada,France, Britain, Spain and Aussies from Melbourne and Brisbane. Including investors, gold mining office manager, French professor, teacher, travel agents, accident investigator, army, emergency nurse and mission chaplain. Such diverse occupations.

I have learnt to play a gambling game left/right/centre. Lots of fun and a very social game with an investment of $3 and prize of $100. Day 3 tomorrow and with our first stop in Bermuda.