A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

I yawned this morning as teaching from 8:30 to 12:30 was a bit of a struggle. More than having to deal with tiredness, I had a hard time seeing what I was doing. I didn't realize how dependent I've become on my progressive lenses.



On the last evening of last week's Mexican cruise I broke my glasses. That was Saturday. I was in the spa area's steam room and tried to wipe off my glasses with a towel. I don't blame the towel as the last time I replaced my lenses but not the frames, so they were getting old. Three years is old for any pair of mine, I guess.

There was no way to make any fixes onboard other than trying some cellophane tape. I learned once upon a time that I should always pack an extra set of glasses on any trip. Once in Sri Lanka I was swimming in the ocean and lost a pair in an ordinary wave. I couldn't find them and ended up needing to find an optometrist and having a new set made. Not being able to see is troublesome, especially on a vacation where every thing is new. On last week's trip I didn't heed my own advice though.

I made it back to Vancouver taped up. I found several old glasses around the house but none were bifocals. I can see far away with no trouble with what I have on my face at the moment. Yet, going between normal vision and today's class texts just about drove me bananas.

Labels: cruise, glasses, Mexican cruise

It was a rather leisurely day back from Long Beach, CA. We walked off the cruise ship before 9:00 am and were home by 5:00 pm. So, we were on boat, bus, LRT, plane, bus, and SkyTrain. It was necessary to go uptown to buy vegetables just to get pickup truck on the list too.

You can expect me to upload photos and comments from the week during the upcoming one. One surprise is my usual afternoon classes were switched to the mornings. So, I will be up to see the sun rise tomorrow.

Labels: cruise, flying, Mexican cruise

Here's another day at sea and the last complete day aboard the Carnival Pride. Since leaving yesterday afternoon, we've been heading north to the west of the Baha California peninsula. Early tomorrow morning we'll enter US waters and continue back to Long Beach, California.

This day wraps up the trip. We can eat some of the remainder from last night's Midnight Buffet. The food has been fantastic, varied, and all too available.



It appears a fair number of people consider a cruise as an excuse for overindulgence. The amount of food that is available on this boat borders on being obscene. The amount I've put in my own mouth is enormous. I'm in good company, however. I have never seen such a large number of frighteningly obese people in one small area. Lord, many have asses that would take up three plane seats. Really! I am sure I'm going to weigh an extra four kilograms when I get home. I will still be able to fit into size 36" pants though. This trip has been a real encouragement to continue loosing weight in the long term.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, weight loss

Oh how trendy! What a lot of money has made its way into Cabo San Lucas. The harbour and waterfront strip was nice. I sucked on a $4 Margareta while looking at the million dollar yachts. We also walked around the city. It is so much drier than the tropical south. The sun was brightly shining on the tip of the Baha Peninsula. It also continued to add to my sunburn. I wish I'd bought some lip balm on shore. This is going to hurt in the future!

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, Mexico

Another day, another port!

On the stateroom TV, right after waking up, we noticed we were entering the Mazatlan harbour area. We did not sign up for the various tours offered through Carnival cruises.

This was our first time visiting Mexico and this trip was a sort of fact-finding mission. We wanted to get out and see three, oft-mentioned west coast ports. There are tons of winter specials for Canadians wanting to get away during the winter. People even flee from Vancouver not so much because of cold weather but due to seemingly endless rain. We thought a cruise fit the bill as far as being about to take in different places while enjoying the comfort of the ship.



Mazatlan is a bit more industrial and a city in its own right. Most of the tours whisked people off to adventure activities such as whale-watching, scuba diving, or trips in an ATV or Jeep. The remaining ones brought people over to the so-called Golden Zone. There, there was the choice of visiting luxury resorts or trying the international shopping. To which I can comment both counts a resounding "Yuck".

We walked out and around to the church by the town square and the market. I think we probably enjoyed the day more than those who were rounded up like cattle on tour, for those people had a chance to only interact with other tourists.

We left the city right at sunset. It was a rather stunning one from the aboard the Carnival Pride.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, Mexico

Okay, this is it. Puerto Vallarta is nearly perfect on account of being both tropical and close. Our ship got into port before seven o'clock and well before we had breakfast. We still got out and to downtown Vallarta by mid-morning. The new port is in a harbor area across the street from a Walmart Store. But if one gets past the traffic down to the Malecon and the old town, one can find the original allure of the resort.

As the Carnival Pride wasn't due to set sail until 10:00 pm, we rode back to the ship for lunch and showers and returned to walk around some more. I have some nice sunset photos to prove it. We used the regular bus service. It costs the equivalent of fifty cents to use public transit. I prefer to travel with the locals. I hate tourists who never really step out into the actual environment of the places they visit.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, Mexico, Walmart

We got up fairly early considering there was the formal dinner last night. We asked and were scheduled on the second seating which begins at 8:15. So by the time we finished it and the show in the Taj Mahal theatre it was nearly midnight.

Today, we finished finding everything on the ship. There's a gym with sauna and nice hot tub in the front of the ship. We lucked out with an eighth deck room. Walking up to the Lido deck is a snap. Similarly, going down to deck 2 or 3 is easy in the elevators. Most things can be found on these three levels.

Of course there was some nice weather outside. Things are warming up a bit as we travel at about 19 knots an hour southward. We saw the end of Baha California today but we stay pretty far away from the shoreline.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise

This boat's not too big as it holds only about 2100 passengers and the 900 crew to take care of us. It does have quite an amazing atrium with as strange mixture of Italian and Greek artwork throughout.

Oh my! The Lido deck has not only these pools but more food than I've ever seen in one place.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise

We are leaving for the airport in a taxi at 4:30 am. We'll be at LAX by 9:30 in the morning. Well make it to Long Beach well before the afternoon boarding of the Carnival Pride. Next week, it'll be three full days at Mexican ports!

My laptop is staying home. I will not use the on-board Internet at all. I'll see what it's like to be completely Net-free for a week. So, expect a deluge of notes and photos after February 17th. I'll keep a paper journal and enter my thoughts here after returning.

See you in a week!

Labels: blogging, cruise

Things really pile up during the final week of a course. Generally, these things include a little bit of extra stress. This is the week that the students' oral presentations are given. There are also many things such as course evaluations which must be completed. Simply getting the photocopies of the final examination adds to the burden of tasks which must be wrapped up.



So, a few minutes on the Carnival Cruises website seemed to be just want the doctor ordered. I had to change the FunPass information to include the earlier flight on which we'll be returning. I wonder how many passengers are really Internet savvy to make use of web capabilities. It will be a rush but we can easily be at LAX for the 12:20 pm return flight as the ships gets back into the port at Long Beach at 9:00 am. While at the website I discovered that our stateroom had been assigned. We knew for the cheap price, we'd not have a balcony or even a window. Just about the only hours we plan to spend in the room is when we're sleeping, so it really doesn't matter. Still, it was nice to discover we'll be way up on the eighth deck.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, Mexico, travel planning

We tried entering all the FunPass data necessary for next weekend's departure on a Carnival Cruise to Mexico. It's just an easy way for passengers on an upcoming trip to speedup check in by filling in the required information online. I hope they have good security considering they now have all sorts of data about us including our passport information!

It was when were entering all the data last night that we noticed a rather obvious error made by our travel agent. The cruise leaves from Long Beach on Sunday, February 10th and returns the following week. Yet, Aerin at the Lougheed Mall branch of the Flight Centre had mistakenly noted the end as February 18th and, consequently, booked us return tickets from LA on Monday. We'll be working on Monday. Our agent won't be in the office until tomorrow, so I hope she won't have any trouble changing our Alaska Air flights to the correct day. I emailed last night and will leave a voice mail message soon.



Speaking of Alaska and cruises, I didn't put this image from our very first cruise ship experience. We left downtown Vancouver for a week's itinerary to Alaskan ports in May of 2001.

Labels: Alaska, cruise, Mexican cruise, Mexico, travel planning

It wasn't part of any of the plans for 2008. When I noticed my current class ends in just four weeks, I thought we could spend my week off somewhere.

We just got back from booking a 7-day Mexican cruise for February 10th to 17th.

We'll leave and return to Long Beach, California. The Carnival Pride stops at the ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.

Labels: cruise, Mexican cruise, travel planning

It was good to take the day to get a little re-acquainted with downtown Vancouver. Although, we live about a half-hour SkyTrain ride to the city core, I was not able to pinpoint the exact last time I ventured there. Living beside the Columbia Station can be noisy but the convenience of being able to pop out in the middle of Vancouver far outweighs any negatives.

What a fantastic day to walk around the temperature being in the high 20's Centigrade!

The construction on the expansion of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre was impressive as the last time the action involved just driving pilings.

We hadn't been to the Waterfront on a weekend to see any of the ships plying the 2007 Alaska cruise season. There was a Holland America on the south side of Canada Place and an Norwegian Cruise Line on the other. Also, out in the port terminal, there was a Celebrity ship.

We walked about a large part of the city. Yaletown is surely growing. In fact things have changed so much since we immigrated here.

I bet that many people who lazed around the beaches today are going home red today.

Labels: cruise, SkyTrain, transit, Vancouver

I took me longer to get them online than it did to take 'em.

Back in May, I did complete some blog entries during the trip. We headed down to Seatac airport to catch an Alaskan Airways flight to San Diego. During our three night stay, we accidentally visited Mexico for a few hours. We did the zoo, too. Then we got on our the Holland America ms Veendam for a five night coastal trip to Vancouver. We spent a half day in Seattle and a whole day in Victoria, BC. The eight-night journey went without a hitch.

To individually select from the more than 90 photos, use this option. Or, if you'd rather run through a slideshow of all the photos, just click here.

Labels: British Columbia, cruise, places, Seattle

The ship was in no hurry as it had paid to dock from 7:00am. We ate the last 'blow out breakfast' up in the Lido Restaurant. We were able to walk around the ship a bit before waiting until we were to disembark. We got out by 9:15 and walked right over to the terminus of the SkyTrain station with our bags. It was a typical 35 minute ride to this apartment building in New Westminster.

There were clothes for washing, food to be bought, and a dead hamster to bury. This is the second one which has expired during a vacation.

Labels: cruise, pets, places

Holland America starts its Alaska Cruise season tomorrow. In order to waste time on this repositioning cruise, we docked all day at Victoria. It is a delightful town for tourists as it still seems a bit British. However, it was not new to us as we live just across the water and visit from the Southern Mainland fairly frequently.

Today, we strolled leisurely into town. We bought tickets for Mystic India at the National Geographic IMAX that's part of the British Columbia Museum. The show was worth going to. Everything looks spectacular in IMAX format.

We returned to the ship for late lunch at the final show of the journey. It was nice having a hotel room waiting at the dock.

Labels: British Columbia, cruise, places, Vancouver Island

I've been out of touch for a few days only because I'm too frugal to spend the cash required for wireless at sea. I can't do much in one minute if it costs 75 cents; I'd be too nervous.

Right now I'm up in the Lido Restaurant on the top of the ship. We docked at Seattle a few hours ago and we hiked up to the market and looked around.

We slowly head to Victoria tonight and have the entire day there tomorrow.

I'll get back to regular blogging on Sunday and even 'back fill' missing information and pictures.

It's been a great trip so far ...

Labels: cruise, places, Seattle

It was formal night. Getting dressed for dinner is always special and the Tribute to Broadway by the Veendam cast and ensemble was interesting. Some lines such as the Norwegian Cruise Line have gone completely casual, but I rather enjoy the traditional aspects of Holland America Lines. Even though cruising has gone mass market, it's still a little fun to remember how sailing must have once been. As long as there are no killer icebergs!

Labels: cruise, places

We explored the ship last night. Many of the fellow passengers had started in Tampa, FL and sailed through the Panama Canal. This ship is a nice size, holding only 1200 passengers and the 500 or so staff. The meals are, of course, immense.

The water was very rough last night. Sailing isn't always as smooth as the Inside Passage that we once cruised in 2001 on the way to Alaska. Modern stabilizers do a fine job when the waves are from the side but not much can be done when running headlong into seven foot waves.

Labels: cruise, places

We did spend the whole day at the San Diego Zoo yesterday. It was actually quite relaxing.



In a few hours we'll be boarding the Veendam.

Labels: cruise, places

This morning we're off to the San Diego Zoo. We bought the vouchers online through Expedia while still in Vancouver.

Yesterday was surely busy. We crisscrossed the city as well as traveling down to Tijuana, Mexico. I feel like we surely got our money's worth from thw 5-buck day pass. The day started out a bit cloudy but then the sky got very blue. I'm even a bit red faced.

Labels: cruise, Mexico, places

I'm typing from the Holiday Inn Bayside, San Diego. I'm in the room and have to get moving. It's time for a shower. We got in last evening and I was surprised it was so dark at 8:00 pm. We walked about a half mile and ended up having dinner at a Denny's.

More later ...

Labels: cruise, places

This morning we're off. In order to get the cruise deal, we have to fly out of Seattle. Getting down to Seatac is a slight hassle but as the flight is late in the day, we will be arrive in plenty of time by getting on the 9:00 am bus that leaves from downtown Vancouver. As we've a lot to do, I shall enter some information that I typed yesterday while my students were taking the course final examination.



Can I be doing this again, already? It doesn’t seem very long ago that I had my laptop in class during a previous final examination. I suppose it really wasn’t long ago for these intensive courses fly past like greased pigs. Have pigs learned to fly? I’d suggest that perhaps only the slippery ones have.

I find myself sitting in front of a classroom. I’ve already corrected the listening part of the final exam. I administer that separately, so I can keep busy while they are completing the writing section.

As I want to get these grades turned in a soon as possible, I have also opened a copy of the course marks in an Excel spreadsheet. All the columns have been filled in. The only free spaces are those where the final exam scores will go. Then, there’ll be an instant numerical grade in the last column. The weightings of the activities and assignments create a rather lengthy formula:

=(Q10*0.45)+((R10*2)*0.15)+((S10*16.667)*0.1)+((T10*16.667)*0.1/2)+(U10*0.25).

Basically, it all adds up to a single decision. The result helps me decide if a particular student is ready to go on to the next COMM course. I suppose there are numbers that contribute to more far-reaching choices. Numbers used by structural engineers might help design a part which is capable of handling the lives of thousands of people. A number may allow the pinpoint accuracy needed for a spacecraft to hit the surface of another planet. Still, I think the ramifications of my formula are significant. The number in my last column has the ability to determine the future actions of twenty-two people.

Labels: cruise, places, Seattle

In the past, I blogged about when Jay and I took an Alaskan Cruise.

Reference #1

Reference #2

Reference #3

Some of my readers may not realize how important the Vancouver-Alaska route is to the cruise industry.



I have mentioned cruises a number of times this week. This is simply in anticipation of a coastal cruise that we'll do in May. We'll head north from San Diego until we arrive at the home port.

Labels: Alaska, cruise, places

On Monday, I briefly blogged about a coastal cruise we'll be taking next month. Although this week my doctor chided me about my weight, actually I'm mostly looking forward to the buffets! I remember the fantastic food of Princess Cruises when we did an Alaskan cruise. I am wondering how the food will be on Holland-America.

The initial three nights in San Diego will be interesting too. I haven't been to southern California since I was a kid on a family road trip.



By complete coincidence, I was looking through some folders with my digital photos. These particular ones were taken on National Day in 2002 when friends took the oath of citizenship at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. We needed to walk by a ship, so I snapped a photo. It appears as if the name on the side is the Veendam. That means it is exactly the same ship we'll be on from May 9th to the 14th.

Labels: cruise, places

By a stroke of luck, I'm able to continue discussing yesterday's topic. I mentioned how hard it is to stay excited about where one lives after being there a long time. Then, out of the blue, a way to do so fell right into my lap.

Playing tour guide and giving advice is perhaps the best way to rekindle pride in one's home. Being able to suggest activities to out-of-towners can get one reacquainted with the joys of an area. Actually, Vancouver, BC is a beautiful place and merits a lot of bragging. It's blessed with geography, an environment, and a multicultural society, that really make it special.

I received an email from a retired teacher who taught me in Grade 5 in Sunapee, NH. He was a fairly new teacher in 1969/70! Ken Greenbaum and his wife will be coming out to catch one of the avalanche of Alaskan cruise ships that depart from here. Jay and I recall a stunning time aboard one. As the Greenbaums will be arriving two days early for their August departure, they asked for suggestions on what to do. There's a lot.

The picture to the right shows Jay before the quite formal, famous 'Captain's Party' on board an Alaskan Cruise in 2001.

Labels: Alaska, cruise, places, Vancouver

Yesterday's entry caused me to consider some of our especially interesting vacations. Additionally, I was in email contact with a friend whom I worked with in the Gulf. He is taking some time off and asked for suggestions about travelling in India. That was surely an interesting summer but a full decade ago! My last statement in the response to Daragh stated, "If you do manage to go to India, you will return as a different person."

Jay and I took very different type of vacation in May 2001. We really enjoyed a Princess cruise to Alaska. Going up the BC coast and into Alaskan waters is breathtakingly beautiful. The cruise was great. The ships are so much more than simply floating hotel rooms; they're a complete experience! There's wonderful dining, onboard entertainment, lots of activities, and of course, fun day-trips ashore.

Labels: Alaska, cruise, places

I searched for a photo to include as today's entry. This pictures was
taken in Juneau, AK. Vancouver is a huge port for summertime cruise
ships to Alaska. We took a 7-day trip in 2001 and loved it. The
Inside Passage makes for an impressive voyage.

Labels: Alaska, cruise, places