Travelin' Man

We're back. It was quite a bori relaxing vacation. I'm not complaining. My bride works very hard, long hours (she's the executive director of the largest Orthodox synagogue in the US), and the slow pace was good for her. Since my job for the last 6 months has not been particularly demanding, I was already in relaxation mode. I did a lot of reading and turned on the in-cabin TV a few times. I don't watch much at home, but I think I'm going to send Royal Caribbean a note concerning their choice of programming. I mean really- the Hand Washing channel? the Ozzie and Harriet channel? Please! Can you imagine a TV channel that shows nothing but O&H reruns? I hadn't thought about the Nelsons (accompanied by that incessant, annoying 1950's laugh track) in decades. Of course between episodes we did get to spend quality time with hosts Gunnar and Matthew. What was it with Rick? Was he actually drugged out as a teenager or was it early Parkinson's disease? He sported masklike facies (hypomimia) with eyes half shut (dreamboat style, I guess) in those music videos we're treated to at the end of each show.

Besides watching TV, we did get to rub elbows with some 3000 shipmates and 1600 crew members. Too many people in close proximity for my taste. I don't think I need to describe what happens at the buffet table when they all decide to eat lunch, do I? I didn't think so. It's not a pretty sight.

Then came the excursions. We generally don't go on them unless there's something really special that we can't do by ourselves. Basically the islands are all the same. The only difference in the junk in the stores is which island's name has been stenciled on during its manufacture in China or Korea.

On Labadee we spoke to a fellow who took the "zip line" ride down a mountain. Way too expensive and revealing when he shared with us his discomfort on the way to the jumping off point where he saw teams of shotgun toting security men patrolling the borders around the stretch of beach where they allowed us to stay during the day. It's sort of like living in Chevron (Hebron) in the disputed territories in Israel. If it weren't for the army, there would be no settlers. Likewise, if not for the shotguns, I suspect there would be no tours of this little corner of paradise.

So now it's back to life. I'll tell you about my fingerprinting adventure the next time.

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