Berichten van 11 februari 2008 tot 17 februari 2008

The wonders of the internet have been amazing to me. Not only can it bring people together who have lost contact; but to me it represents the inherent goodness of so many people nation-wide - and, even, worldwide.

I have been greatly touched by the responses to my writings - from so many strangers who have become friends. I really never thought that I had any writing talent; but their reactions have caused me to have confidence in my writing and to try to keep me going. I hope I have something to contribute.

How wonderful that you are going on that cruise. Feb. 7th should be a
good time to go.. Did you say you were going northward to Newfoundland?

I went on a week's cruise to Alaska one August and it was delightful.

Although I will admit that the ship we were on was not one of the
world's top ones, it still was luxurious and lots of fum. We went with a
big group from the printing company. The top 10 salesmen nationwide for
the previous year (I was the only woman winner) were awarded the trips,
for them and their spouses. That, plus, the big brass and their spouses,
who were on board made up quite a group.

There were so many activities - and, of course, the food was out of this
world. The beverage on this French ship was Champagne, and the waiter
would fill up your glass every time you took a couple sips so, you ha
no idea how much Champagne you consumed! It made for very lively table
conversation

The ship had nine decks and I was determined not to gain weight, so I
always took the stairs and did not use the elevators. We did encounter
quite a storm on the Bay of Alaska. I was going into our shower, when
the swaying of he ship caused the shower door to close on my ankle. I
limped around - but would not let it spoil my trip - so I was on the
disco floor with the rest of therm, trotting away. (This was about 20
years ago - when I was still good at trotting. After all, I was only in
my mid 60's at that time!)..

It was a French ship, and I thought I would be the star of the outfit
with my knowledge of French. However, it turned out that none of the
crew- including the Captain, were French.!!!!

We flew from Detroit to Chicago - and from Chicago to Anchorage. Having
always bee a white knuckle flier, I had made two trips to the Univ. of
Michigan to see a psychiatrist who hypnotized me to supposedly cure my
fear of flying.

Well, I didn't disgrace myself on the plane; but it didn't cure the
fear.. I was petrified. I never left my seat to go to the bathroom on
that long trip. My husband kept urging me to look out the window and see
the beautiful mountains below. I took one anxious little peak; but was
not amused. The whole trip took us about 11 hours; and by the time we
got to Anchorage it was 11:00 at night - but still daylight..

I was exhausted; probably the oldest person on the trip, because the
other 9 top salesmen were young and full of it.

We left Anchorage for a trip by a local train to Seward, Alaska. This
was fun, although a primitive train. We went through many tunnels- and,
a we would go through the darkness, some of the young bucks on the trip
would proclaim loudly, "not now, wait until we get on the ship!".
Amongst much laughter.

Seward was a US World War II Navy embarking point on an inlet that led
to he Bay of Alaska this area had recently suffered a huge earthquake,
and we could see evidence of the damage to the area..

To my horror, I discovered that I had to climb up a big high ladder to
reach the ship's deck from he ground. Being afraid of heights - and
tired to death, did not help me at all. There were people ahead of me
and people behind me, so I kept on climbing. Then, I made a big mistake,
I looked down between the rungs of the ladder - WAY DOWN - to the water
below. I simply froze and could not take another step.

Luckily, I was near the top of the ladder. The ship's personnel saw my
plight, and stepped down a few steps, reached for my hand, and guided me
up to the deck! (Otherwise, I presume I would still be there, frozen to
the ladder,with a big line of people behind me).

When we got on the ship, a steward took us to the room that our free
ticket had bought - . way down in he bowels of the ship, down big long
narrow claustrophobic aisleways, to a little cabin room that was no
bigger than our bathroom at home
Did I say free tickets? Ha - curses, foiled again - I found out later
that I had to pay 50% of the ticket's worth in Income Taxes!)

Room for a bid, barely any room left to get out of that bed and a poor
excuse for a privvy. AND, no window! I took one look at that place and
said: "Oh, no - no way. I am not going to be cooped up in this room for
a week!"

So, we trotted up stairs to the Captain's quarters. When we got there I
found most of the company's big brass - and some of the older big
shooters, already there. Asking for a change in accommodations. We got
them.

It cost us some additional money, but it certainly was worth it. W got
great big cabins, with big picture windows to balconies. Fruit &
champagne awaiting us. A sitting room, dressing room, nice bathroom
(with a metal shower door that closed on people's ankles. Anyway, that
saved the day - and the week - and the rest of the trip - as far as I
was concerned.

I kept a diary on my Alaskan Inter-Coastal Trip and would be happy to
send you my account of the rest of the trip. If you are interested, let
me know - and I will write it up and send it to you.

Lorraine- The Intrepid Traveller