Welcome … pour yourself a cup of coffee; perhaps, hot chocolate or a cup of my new favorite, chai tea. There are a few pastries for you to enjoy too.
Do sit in a comfy chair and let’s chat.
A little music might be nice … hope you like my selection.
My last blog post was on December 22, 2019.
Yes, it does seem like a long time. I’ve missed writing and reading all of your posts. It was due to health issues which I’ll unveil in this post. It may require a few days of posting.
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Everyone is in the midst of this horrific virus COVID 19. I don’t want to talk about preventions or the illness as I’m not an expert. I’ll be discussing my personal experience with this virus.
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The holidays were in full swing, as was I, when I posted ‘A Christmas Wish for You’. Christmas is the time of year to catch up with family and friends we haven’t seen. Hubby and I were getting ready for a New Year’s Eve cruise too. It would be our 20th cruise. Quite fitting, that we’d be celebrating the ‘New Year’ of 2020 on our 20th cruise.
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We’ve travel on various cruise lines. Our travel agent is aware that we enjoy cruising as our main form of travel. From time to time, she texts or e mails cruises she believes we might enjoy. They’re a bit difficult to resist when I see them in my in-box.
A special deal arrived in one of those e mails for an 8 day cruise beginning the 28th of December on the Costa Luminosa. It would be our 1st time on this cruise line. The agent hadn’t traveled on this line either. She couldn’t give me too many details or logistics but we felt confident that it would be a good choice and it could be a bit of an adventure to try this new ship line. Since hubby’s favorite food is Italian food, I felt he’d savor the food. We booked.
We boarded at 3:00 p.m. on the 28 of December at Port Everglades from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship would be leaving port at 11:00 p.m. It was a bit later then other cruise lines we’d traveled with but each one sets their own departure time.
It’s always exciting when you first board a ship. The bright lights, the different decor from one cruise ship line to another, the colors, the crew and the prospect of what your room will be like. We’d booked a suite for the first time. After all, it was our 20th cruise and our Christmas gifts to each other; so, we thought we’d go big.
Because the rooms weren’t ready yet the crew directed everyone to enjoy browsing the ship for locations of the pool, spa, theater, dining room, night spots, etc. and encourage everyone to have a bite to eat at the buffet.
Eventually, we made our way to our room when we heard a couple say, “The rooms were ready.”
We were very disappointed with the room. It was the same size as a balcony. There was supposed to be a small table for in the room for dining in the room. Nope, there wasn’t one. We thought we’d check with the front desk the following day. We knew we wouldn’t be able to change our room due to a fully booked ship but we were curious as to whether or not it was a suite.
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Since we were docking at the Dominican Republic the next day, an island we enjoy visiting since the people are very friendly plus we’d missed a few places on prior visits, and since we’d been on-the-go from 6:00 a.m., we decided to go back to the room and skip our normal after dinner theater show the first night.
The following day, we took a historic tour of the DR. We had a nice covered buggy bike ride with our happy bicyclist named Mario. The turquoise blue Caribbean water with the sun glowing on it was magical.
I’ve added a only few photos in this slide show
One of the gallery shop we toured had wonderful handmade items from local artists. I couldn’t resist the colorful tote below.
After a long day, we were back on-board with enough time for a shower, cocktails before dinner, our dinner and a show. It was a full day of activity.
Our days continued like this everyday except for two islands we decided to skip because we’d visited them before. We were beginning to feel a bit tired too. We assumed we’d been doing too much. Our bodies were in need of rest, so the pool, leisure lunches, spa treatments, rest on our balcony with a good book and naps replaced those touring days.
The saga with COVID 19 and Me will continue … come on back for the next chapter …
Isadora 😎
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April 1, 2020 at 7:11 pm
If it’s useful, check out my blog http://www.homeschoolguru.org where I have 101 Homeschooling Ideas for the Week.
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March 27, 2020 at 11:15 pm
Hi Isadora, nice to see you back! I always wished to go on a cruise, but after so many stories we are hearing right now, I’m not sure if I still would like to go. Can’t wait to read the rest of your story!
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March 28, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Hi Elizabeth,
It’s lovely to see you here. It’s time to get back in the saddle, as they say. ~~~ : – )
This experience with this cruise line was due to the lack of research on my part.
There are many, many great cruise lines. I wouldn’t have taken as many cruises if
it wasn’t a wonderful experience. Of course, cruising isn’t for everyone.
It does give me an idea to start new posts now and then on the ups and downs of the cruise lines we’ve traveled on.
Hope to visit your blog real soon … thanks again.
Isadora 😎
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March 27, 2020 at 5:18 pm
Querida Isadora,
I’ve missed your blog voice. I don’t think I like where this is going. I will continue reading and rejoice that you are still around to write.
Shalom, cariño, y salud,
Rochelle
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March 28, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Querida Rochelle,
I have missed the world of my blog friends, mi amiga.
It’s been a chaotic time. Slow mending and unusual twists to my life
and everyone else’s at this time. Life has changed for all of us.
Who could have predicted this?
Be Well … Be Safe … Stay Healthy … 😍❤️🦋😎
Si estoy muy contenta de estar aqui …. gracias
Isadora 😎
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March 27, 2020 at 4:00 pm
I’m assuming you have your health back. I’m so happy that your survived. Can’t wait to hear the rest of your story.
Stay safe and happy 😀
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March 28, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Yes, one could say my health is back. I’m alive and that is phenomenal.
Glad you enjoyed my story so far. Glad to see you here, Cee. Thanks
Izzy 😎
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March 28, 2020 at 4:08 pm
You are one brave and strong person.
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March 31, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Thank you so much, Cee. We’re all brave and strong in our own way. Be well … Be safe … Stay healthy … Blessings 🙏🏻
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March 27, 2020 at 7:36 am
Oh dear… glad to know that you’re safe and well now. 🙂 🙂
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March 28, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Yes, indeed, Jo. I’m blessed because someone felt it wasn’t my time yet.
I’m happy about that. Life is changing daily for all of us. Our challenge
is to meet it straight on with courage and faith. Thank you …
Isadora 😎
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March 28, 2020 at 4:38 pm
🤗💕
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March 27, 2020 at 12:39 am
Not the best start to a should be wonderful time away. I await with trepidation Isadora
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March 28, 2020 at 4:07 pm
Fear not, the ending turns out well. But, the struggle was great.
It’s a new time for all of us. We’ll get through this and be super
surprised at the outcome. Be Safe … Be Happy … Be Healthy
Isadora 😎
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March 26, 2020 at 11:46 pm
I’m reading story with anticipation, but I’ve a bad feeling the trip isn’t going to pan out as planned…. Great to hear from you Isadora, and hopefully you are coping ok during these times of turmoil… and yes I’m enjoying the music as commenting here…💙🌏
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March 28, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Glad you enjoyed the music, Ivor. I know you love to listen to good tunes.
Thanks for enjoying my story. It’s a saga I never thought I’d write about in more ways
than you can imagine. I’m pleased I decided to take pen to paper – or finger to a keyboard lol –
and start writing posts about it. Glad to see you visiting here. I always appreciate the comments too.
Be Safe … Be Healthy … Be Happy
Isadora 😎
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March 28, 2020 at 7:23 pm
I’ve not read Part 2 yet from yesterday…. For some reason, I’m feeling so tired… subconsciously I think anxiety is heavy, both physically and mentally… but I’ll read it today… To keep chatting here on WP is good for our souls, while we are in isolation 🤔💙🌏
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April 2, 2020 at 6:38 pm
Oh, yes, Ivor. I believe the blog world is very helpful during these stressful times. I believe we’re all fearing the unknown of our future. Stress can be debilitating. I’ve limited watching the news to a short 1 hour for updates. Listening to it over and over again isn’t helpful either. Be well … Stay safe
Isadora 😎
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April 2, 2020 at 7:02 pm
Thank you Isadora 🤗🌏
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April 2, 2020 at 7:12 pm
You’re very welome 😍 Isadora 😎
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March 26, 2020 at 11:26 pm
Beautiful photos. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip.
Wonderful to hear from you again Isadora.
Please take good care of yourself during tis dark period in our world.
Be safe.
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March 28, 2020 at 4:17 pm
It’s wonderful to be back writing and expressing some of the things on my mind.
It’s been a tough 2020. I think the world is changing right before our eyes and we
need to make the adjustments for it. Life has a different plan for all of us.
Bless 🙏 you during this difficult time.
I hope to check out your blog and catch up with what I’ve missed. Be Well … Be Healthy … Be Happy
Isadora 😎
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March 28, 2020 at 4:39 pm
You said it perfectly. Sadly, the world is changing right in front of our eyes.
wonderful to hear from you again.
Be safe.
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