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thedivinefish · 5 years

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TGIWednesday and Uprising

TGIWednesday News

Welcome aboard to the Florida Dowsers group that are receiving this for the first time.We are thrilled to be in the heart of Spring winging our way towards Summer. Enjoy this photo of me as E. Bunny at our annual neighborhood garden party shindig. If that doesn't say Spring, I don't know what does! In celebration of all things prosperous we are continuing to build up to the launch of our Abundance Audio MP3 that for some of you will drop very soon! Hint: we are looking at doing a 48-hr Early-Bird SPECIAL low pricing for those who have previously purchased any audios from the shop. We know who you are and you'll get a separate email invitation for that special - so that's the tip of the day. And THEN after that, the Universal Abundance audio will be available at the usual one-time introductory low price starting next Wednesday. We’re excited at the test audience response and the fact that it has really changed other’s luck, outlook and outcomes. No lie... Sandy, my chief of awesomeness, has literally texted me 4 times in the last 2 wks to tell me she has won money, and free tickets in the lottery. The picture to the right is her latest win! This is what is happening to many of the folks already - some kind of magic in this one! I'm listening to the American Indian music of Brule as I type this. You can hear them free on YouTube. It is very moving and deep! I was thinking of the Indians and all the trials and tribulations that they went through. What are you going through right now? Sometimes life seems to be a series of ups and downs. I must stay the course. The mission is larger than I am and you need to think in those terms too whether you’re a parent, in charge of pushing a green button daily or a professional, it’s one of contribution and loving kindness and we must keep pressing forward. A My Liquid Fish® Certified Practitioner contributed the piece below and I hope you appreciate it’s symbolism and it’s sweet meaning. 'The fish goddesses who have leapt from Earth (Virgo) to water {Pisces} unitedly give birth to the Fish God (Christ) who introduces the water of life into the ocean of substance and thus brings light to the world. Thus does Neptune work." ~ Alice Bailey /Esoteric Astrology

FREE Weekly LIVE Healings and Messages

Every Tuesday at 9pm EST - JIMMY MACK HEALING SHOW Join me and my guests weekly on Tuesdays at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Call in LIVE (713)-955-0594 It's your chance to get FREE intuitive messages on my weekly radio show. My guests are some of the best psychic readers & intuitive healers on the planet! Tune in every Tuesday night LIVE or just catch the replay & YOU will receive changes & healings just by listening! Check out TheJimmyMackHealingShow.com for a full listing & all replays!

To listen online, click the date links below. Listen to Yesterday's Replay - Special Guest: Tiffany White Sage Woman Listen here April 30th Special Guest: Rev. Debbie Dienstbier UPCOMING GUEST FOR MAY: May 7 Joanne Psychic Leo Numerology, astrology, angel cards and soul readings from the heart https://psychicjoanneleo.com May 14th Greg Joseph Intuitive and Spirit filled healings http://www.gregjoseph.com/ May 21st Gosia Lorenz Living your best life now, infinite possibilities and awareness changes https://gosialorenz.com/ May 28th Rev Debbie Dienstbier Trans medium, communication and messages with your loved ones in spirit https://www.facebook.com/Wings-of-Grace-Spiritual-Center-875388225837766/

Check out TheJimmyMackHealingShow.com for a full listing & all replays!

May 3rd PSYCHIC SOCIAL in SARASOTA I'll be appearing at a special event called Creme de la Creme from 3-9pm on Friday May 3rd at the Sarasota Event Center. Come to the event and meet the best professional practitioners of Sarasota. Make a reservation for the psychic reader of your choice or all of them! Have a cocktail while you wait at Heroes' Bar ! $10 mini-readings/10 mins. Shop our vendors! Socialize at the Psychic Soiree! Berets welcome! Hosted by Carolan Carey - Get all the details at this link.

May 9th - QUANTUM CONVERSATIONS with Lauren Galey You’re invited to join me in a Quantum Conversation to discuss how you can Stand in your Mastery and Find your Power through living in the Heart with Divine Love, Activating Christ Consciousness and raising the vibration of the planet. This series of Quantum Conversations is designed to EMPOWER & ENLIGHTEN you in your remembrance of your true mastery and your Divine Purpose for being here on this planet. Tune in on May 9th at 6pm ET/3pm PT Register here for this Free Series

Go deep sea "fishing" with Jimmy!

Level 1 is open to ANYONE at anytime!

"I have found this to be a great modality. I have for the first time got my husband and kids fishing daily. I've learned Emotion Code, Body Code, dowsing, 3 levels of Yuen and some other bits and bobs I've played with. I like how easy this is to take on the road. I really appreciate your time and brilliance. Thank you." - D.T. / Kansas

The Certificate of Mastery Program includes 2 best-selling ebooks and 2 clearing audios plus written & video instructions, AND one-on-one time with Jimmy ALL for about the cost of a single 1-hr session! This online course is for anyone who is familiar with OR new to "fishing" and is ready to dive into the deep end & get results that are beyond the ordinary! It includes "The Tackle Box" & "Spiritual Healing Techniques" ebooks PLUS 2 MP3s "Clearing Dark Energies" & "Increasing Your Intuition" to help clear, strengthen and prepare your energy field for optimal “fishing” results. This is a work-at-your-own-pace curriculum that will TEACH & CLEAR you at the same time! In under 2wks you will be finished with the program and ready to fish on your own with greater results! Level II offers Practitioner Certification for those who qualify.

LEARN MORE HERE

Receive 24/7 Daily Prayers From Jimmy

I will dial into you daily in the wee hours and make certain that you are a CLEAR YES, UNCLEAR to NO and RUNNING FORWARD before you start your day. You will send me a list of the members of your immediate household, and yes even pets, and I will add them to my daily prayers. I will arise daily before you are even awake to start my prayers and also run my intelligent computer software 24/7 deleting the negative and increasing the strength of the positive creating a higher probability of outcomes for you and the family. Each comes with a one-time email analysis print out via the intelligent healing software that I use on your behalf. Most clients have had amazing results and outcomes and I get emails of thanks each and every week!

Choose 7 days @$33 Choose 14 days @$66 Choose 30 days @$99

Live In-Person Appearances

LIVE AT KODAWARI YOGA STUDIOS TAMPA

We've made some changes to the Kodawari schedule and I am now there in person EVERY FRIDAY scheduling 15 and 30 minute appointments. Call Kodawari's front desk directly to schedule (813) 773-4017 and pay at the concierge desk... 15 minutes 33$ or 30 minutes 65$. UPCOMING SCHEDULE 10-2pm: Friday: April 26th | May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st

3965 Henderson Blvd Suite C Tampa (813) 773-4017 http://www.kodawariyoga.com/

From the Fish Box

"I came into your office at Kodawari on March 22nd for an energy healing session and we discussed my energy block was due to uneasiness with my future because I had been taking and failing the Florida Bar exam. I wasn’t sure the legal profession was right for me. You said I had passed this time - I had just taken the exam again in February and was waiting on my results. And guess what....I passed! Your reading set me on the right path. I cried when I left your office, and I cried when I got the news on Monday. Tears of happiness for how hard I’ve had to work for this! I’ve been super sick with bronchitis this week but I am still elated! Thank you for your superb reading and guidance. I’m excited and ready for the new normal!" - S.S. / Tampa

Fish Food

The Daily Bread To Feed The Fish

Tell The Fish: 365 Daily Inspirations & Affirmations

APRIL 24th - "Today I will not allow my mind to act like a runaway train. I will keep my feelings in check and note that what I worried about yesterday can only hamper my now and my tomorrow. I will let go of the past. I will remember to ask to the question, 'Will this matter 10 or 20 years from now?' and chances are that the answer is a resounding No!"

TGIWednesday Download

~ THE UPRISING ~ Today I will continue on my own personal quest of an uprising. I believe, think, know and feel that things, can and will improve. I am ready, willing and able to put in the time and the effort to make it so. Spirit will show me the simple way and I’ll know when, where, how and why to keep pressing onward! And so it is in all languages and throughout all time lines

**Can't See The Full Email? Click Here to View Online**

MyBeliefWorks Audio Series

This month our audio MP3 for MyBeliefWorks™ for Facilitating Pet & Animal Healing is on sale for $39 (30% off). This audio MP3 will address whatever your challenge may be with your pet. Everything from digestive disorders, behavioral problems, misbehaving, separation anxiety, fear of car rides or the vet, ADD/ADHD, fear of missing out, aggression, biting, lashing out, to disease processes, or an upcoming operation or procedure. Or you can choose to get Audio w/30min pet session for $111.

LAST CHANCE at $39

For those who aren't familiar, here's the list of ALL clearing MP3s available. Find a topic that addresses your issue(s) & click on the link to read more. We had a lot of help downloading and channeling these over the years & they keep getting better.

Abuse Addiction Body Scan: Head to Toe Daily GPS Reset Dark Energies/Fears Decision Making Diet & Exercise Education & Learning Family & Relatives The Gold Coin Healing Physical Body Healing Mental Stress Holiday Stress

Increasing Intuition IRS & Tax Time Love & Romance Money Mindset Moving Forward Pain Relief Pet Healing Sales & Success Sex Sleep Traveling w/Ease Work & Career Weight Loss

TGIFunny

Forward

Jimmy Mack 727.678.0557 EST | Appointments Skype: Jimmy.Mack55 Clearwater Florida USA Book a 15 minute session Book a 30 minute session Book a 60 minute session Transformational Healing of Body, Mind & Spirit, People, Places, Pets & Situations! Download the My Liquid Fish® Starter Kit Audio MP3 Downloads and books to improve your life! Get Certified in My Liquid Fish® Change Made Simple® Watch Free Videos on YouTube Weekly Radio Show Archives Shop for Supplements http://www.jimmymackhealingshop.com www.jimmymackhealing.com Copyright ©1998-2019 All Rights Reserved

-------------------------------------------------- TGIW newsletter managed by: Sandy Bidinger | Digital Marketing Specialist | SMBeConnected Solutions Digital Marketing Solutions & Support for Conscious Entrepreneurs www.smbeconnected.com

Stay connected!

Our mailing address is: Clearwater Florida 33756 USA

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divinefishingtips · 5 years

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TGIWednesday and Uprising

TGIWednesday News

FREE Weekly LIVE Healings and Messages

Check out TheJimmyMackHealingShow.com for a full listing & all replays!

Go deep sea "fishing" with Jimmy!

Level 1 is open to ANYONE at anytime!

LEARN MORE HERE

Receive 24/7 Daily Prayers From Jimmy

Choose 7 days @$33 Choose 14 days @$66 Choose 30 days @$99

Live In-Person Appearances

LIVE AT KODAWARI YOGA STUDIOS TAMPA

3965 Henderson Blvd Suite C Tampa (813) 773-4017 http://www.kodawariyoga.com/

From the Fish Box

Fish Food

The Daily Bread To Feed The Fish

Tell The Fish: 365 Daily Inspirations & Affirmations

TGIWednesday Download

**Can't See The Full Email? Click Here to View Online**

MyBeliefWorks Audio Series

LAST CHANCE at $39

Increasing Intuition IRS & Tax Time Love & Romance Money Mindset Moving Forward Pain Relief Pet Healing Sales & Success Sex Sleep Traveling w/Ease Work & Career Weight Loss

TGIFunny

Forward

Stay connected!

Our mailing address is: Clearwater Florida 33756 USA

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365dailyaffirmations · 5 years

Text

TGIWednesday and Uprising

TGIWednesday News

FREE Weekly LIVE Healings and Messages

Check out TheJimmyMackHealingShow.com for a full listing & all replays!

Go deep sea "fishing" with Jimmy!

Level 1 is open to ANYONE at anytime!

LEARN MORE HERE

Receive 24/7 Daily Prayers From Jimmy

Choose 7 days @$33 Choose 14 days @$66 Choose 30 days @$99

Live In-Person Appearances

LIVE AT KODAWARI YOGA STUDIOS TAMPA

3965 Henderson Blvd Suite C Tampa (813) 773-4017 http://www.kodawariyoga.com/

From the Fish Box

Fish Food

The Daily Bread To Feed The Fish

Tell The Fish: 365 Daily Inspirations & Affirmations

TGIWednesday Download

**Can't See The Full Email? Click Here to View Online**

MyBeliefWorks Audio Series

LAST CHANCE at $39

Increasing Intuition IRS & Tax Time Love & Romance Money Mindset Moving Forward Pain Relief Pet Healing Sales & Success Sex Sleep Traveling w/Ease Work & Career Weight Loss

TGIFunny

Forward

Stay connected!

Our mailing address is: Clearwater Florida 33756 USA

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advancedthetapractitioner · 5 years

Text

TGIWednesday and Uprising

TGIWednesday News

FREE Weekly LIVE Healings and Messages

Check out TheJimmyMackHealingShow.com for a full listing & all replays!

Go deep sea "fishing" with Jimmy!

Level 1 is open to ANYONE at anytime!

LEARN MORE HERE

Receive 24/7 Daily Prayers From Jimmy

Choose 7 days @$33 Choose 14 days @$66 Choose 30 days @$99

Live In-Person Appearances

LIVE AT KODAWARI YOGA STUDIOS TAMPA

3965 Henderson Blvd Suite C Tampa (813) 773-4017 http://www.kodawariyoga.com/

From the Fish Box

Fish Food

The Daily Bread To Feed The Fish

Tell The Fish: 365 Daily Inspirations & Affirmations

TGIWednesday Download

**Can't See The Full Email? Click Here to View Online**

MyBeliefWorks Audio Series

LAST CHANCE at $39

Increasing Intuition IRS & Tax Time Love & Romance Money Mindset Moving Forward Pain Relief Pet Healing Sales & Success Sex Sleep Traveling w/Ease Work & Career Weight Loss

TGIFunny

Forward

Stay connected!

Our mailing address is: Clearwater Florida 33756 USA

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allezelizabeth · 6 years

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Carnival Cruise Lines : My First (and Last) Time Cruising

"I don't wanna be the one, but I'm gonna be the one" -- Aja the Kween

Boarding/Deboarding: What to Expect

Your trip will start outside in the Miami heat, which comes with a nice kick of humidity. You can either give your bags to a porter who will toss it with the rest of the bags or you can bring them on yourself. I suggest you take them with you. Next, prepare for the checkpoint lines and for the love of all that's holy and sacred HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTS (e.g., boarding passes and passport) READY! Don't worry about your liquids (unless it's water and alcohol), it's simply to check for weapons and such. Something I wish I knew before hand:

Each adult (21+) can bring one unopened bottle of wine.

Each person can bring 12 cans of soda or any non-alcoholic drinks that do not exceed 12 oz as long as they are not opened.

You can find their liquor and beverage policy here.

Once you get through, you'll need to get into another line to check in where you will drop off the health questionnaire and receive your Sail and Sign Card. This card is linked to your credit card on file and is also your key. DON'T LOSE IT! Then, just like boarding a plane, you'll need to wait for your group number to get called. There will be an area where you can take your picture before boarding. Have fun, take silly ones, or keep it moving. It's completely up to you. We took pictures, but didn't buy them. Don't worry there will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Also, when you are docked at a port be prepared to show your Sail and Sign Card when getting off the ship, to get back on the ship and to get back into the port should you leave for an excursion. Pay attention to ship time, otherwise you are risking living at the port forever. I always bring a watch with me and this time (haha, no pun intended) it helped us since you can't trust your cell phone with this one. The location time and ship time are not the same! At Amber Cove we had to wait about 20 minutes for people who lost track of time. Don't be that guy or gal.

Your Stateroom: The Balcony is the BEST

Once you have located your room, check to ensure that all things are working. If something isn't right, call Guest Services right away or let your stateroom steward know. On the counter there should be a 'Welcome Aboard' packet. Take the time to read through it, since it will answer most of your questions. Here's what your packet will probably look like.

If you are going to book a room, get one with a balcony. We had two twin beds, a small loveseat and coffee table in our room, but add two people and some luggage, and it starts to feel tiny. When I felt stressed out, I would just go outside do some yoga or chill and eat. I spent plenty of time out there thinking, relaxing, and just existing. I brought a bluetooth speaker with me (here's the model) to kick out some jams. You might meet someone, too. Our next door neighbor introduced herself by sticking her head out into our balcony and greeting us with a smile.

Planning to sit in your room and watch TV, just skip it. There's CNN, some ship channels that show you the location of the ship, a live feed of the deck, shopping, and some cartoons. Blah.

Onboard 'Activities'

Just writing about the activities (or lack thereof) makes me angry. I waited for something to wow me, something that screamed, "OMG, if you don't do this, you will regret it." Sadly, it never happened. I was starting to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day. My friend received a coupon for the spa with a laughable discount. We did attend a comedy show the last night at sea which was pretty good. Did I tell you this was a 5-day cruise?

Each day, the housekeeping staff you will leave a pamphlet with what you need to know for the following day. I should have known what to expect when the 'top' entertainment is a selfie challenge, NFL football and half off at the arcade. You can download the full brochures here:

Sunday, January 21st - Welcome Aboard

Monday, January 22nd - A Fun Day at Sea

Tuesday, January 23nd - A Fun Day At Sea

Wednesday, January 24th - Grand Turk

Thursday, January 25th - Amber Cove

We went to the club a few nights and the DJ couldn't mix Nesquik into milk if he wanted. The music selection was all over the place. No wonder the dance floor was empty most nights. We tried the comedy club only to leave the first time around because the comedian was telling awful Dad jokes. To add insult to injury, our piña coladas were overpriced pineapple juice. Both my friend and I were looking forward to the Mega Deck Party. After spending an hour getting dolled up, we walked right into line dancing with one of the crew members yelling out dance moves into the crowd. I posted the video to my IG account.

What to Eat?

Let me start off by saying that if you hate buffets, you're going to hate the cafeteria. As with many buffets there are many unknowns. An item can look delicious, and end up being the grossest thing you have ever tasted. Looks are quite deceiving and trying to guess which one won't make your stomach do somersaults can get frustrating after a while. If I had to grade the buffet food, I would say D, the lowest passing grade. I couldn't give it an F, because I did have some good food items. Notice I didn't say MEALS? I think the final straw for me was when I was looking forward to an event they called 'Chocolate Extravaganza'.

Narrator: It was not a chocolate extravaganza.

The menu does change daily. One day you might have an American food buffet and the next it might be French. Still, pretty much ass cheeks though.

There are other 'restaurants' that you can choose from, but we only tried Guy's Burger Joint. Some cost extra, for example the sushi and coffee bars. I skipped the Chinese spot because I really have to be in the mood for Chinese food. The Mexican place was American-style Mexican food. A bit insulting to call it Mexican food. If I had seen one more fucking taco salad bowl, I was going to seriously lose my shit.

In the dining room (look at your Sail and Sign Card to see your assigned dining room), I remember having entrees and appetizers that were decent. Once in a while something would be really good and we'd spent the rest of the evening talking about it. Get an appetizer, hell get several! The beauty of sharing a meal with someone is that you can create your own buffet. Look closely at the right side of the menu, you might find that the menu options correspond to the ports of call. After Amber Cove, mangu was available as an appetizer. Also, try at least one exotic food. There will always be one item on the menu if you're a bit more adventureous. We had braised rabbit, escargot, and frog legs. The latter being my least favorite because someone in the kitchen went a little crazy with the salt.

Room service is going to save you for continental breakfast (housekeeping will leave you a form) and food after 10pm. Think deli food. I had mostly sandwiches, salads, and chocolate cake (yes, the same one from the cafeteria. It's that good). The menu is split in two as some items are only available before/after 10pm. There are things like chicken wings and even a donut sandwich for those late night munchies. Prices go up after 10pm, but still are moderately priced. Generally in the $5 to $10 range. To avoid the added surcharge, I would order cold food at about 9pm and keep it in the mini fridge. That way I had something to eat when I returned to the room. However, skip the pizza. It's the same pizza you can get for free from the 24 hour pizzeria located on the top deck. I'll save you the trouble though. The pizza tastes like wet cardboard slathered with ketchup. You're welcome.

Speaking of 24 hour food options, the soft serve machine. Not the best I've had, but it did it's job and cooled me off. After a few drinks, nothing beats a chocolate soft serve on a cake cone.

The Whirling World of Gratuities

I suggest you download the Carnival HUB App before you board and check your balance at the end of the evening.

The person who booked the trip paid gratuities upfront and I thought that included beverages. This doesn't seem to be the case, although Carnival doesn't really explain it either way. According to the Carnival web site:

"For beverage purchases, an automatic 15% gratuity will be added to the bill and the charges will be applied directly to the guest's Sail & Sign account. An automatic 15% gratuity will be added to the cover charge of the Chef’s Table and the charges will be applied directly to the guest’s Sail & Sign account. Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered."

In other words, you can leave a tip, on top of whatever gratuities are already tacked on (shown in red). I mean would you leave a $5 tip on $10 drink? I guess I did and it adds up. Also, the gratituities don't extend to the food ordered through room service. So how is someone supposed to know this until they are disputing a charge?

While doing laundry, a woman was visibly upset when Carnival allowed her 14 year old daughter to charge around $200 on her own Sail and Sign Card. She had placed a hold in hopes to avoid the headache which was obviously ignored. Aside from the gratuities, my only gripe was when a charge for $8.63 (that's $7.50 for two 1.5 liter water bottles and a $1.13 tip) appeared on my account. The water bottles were on the counter unopened. I took a picture and went to sort the thing out at Guest Services. It isn't the thing you want to do on the last day at sea. The line wasn't too long, but there wasn't a day that went by where I didn't see people visit Guest Services to air their grievances about something. There was a kiosk that was supposed to alleviate the clusterfuck of people, but the user interface was so bad that many left more frustrated. Not a good look.

Why I would NEVER book a cruise again: A not-so-quick rant

First of all, the boarding process was a mess. I don't care to go through a TSA style checkpoint after leaving the airport. I don't know about you, but I'd like to get my vacation going ASAP. Additonally, I don't want to have to deal with rude staff members, followed by a scripted apology AND a sales pitch.

The goodies: a 12-pack of bottled water.

As mentioned in Cruising 101: What You Should Know Before You Book Your First Cruise, there were too many misses for me to call this a budget-friendly trip. I didn't expect to have to go to Target (which you know I love to pieces) to grab items before boarding. I also didn't expect gratuities being added to drinks after my friend who booked the trip paid for gratuities up front. The rooms are small (unless you get a suite of course); therefore, ship activities are all you have when you are out at sea. If those are not up to par, you end up walking around the ship frustrated as hell. I don't want to do things that I can do back home at the mall (e.g., Build-A-Bear Workshop) or feel like I'm in Branson, Missouri. I feel Carnival dropped the ball here. If I could offer a suggestion it would be to have wide range of activities suitable for different age brackets. While some like to gamble, others want to dance or eat great food. It's nice to have a gym and spa, but those are not activities worthy of the $700 price tag. Back home that's a trip to the local 24 Hour Fitness. A second suggestion would be that if a ship has been docked for a while, it needs to pass the CarMax Quality Certified checklist. My friend and I often wonder about the folks who got our stateroom after us.

To boot, only having a pair of hours to explore a place isn't really what I'm trying to do. When we docked at Grand Turk Island (Cockburn Town), all I could see was a block of overpriced shops. BORING. I rarely use that word, but goodness gracious! It was so hot we spent our time beneath a canopy. By the time we went to check out the taxis, we didn't have enough time to tour the rest of the town. I can't pin that on one Carnival. According to several people who had taken the plunge, the taxi ride averaged $5. While many were happy to have done it, they also saw the devastation from Hurricane Irma. My friend wanted to check out the spa services and we ended up back on the boat early. Disappointing.

In the next port, Amber Cove we did go into Puerto Plata proper, but it was EXPENSIVE ($60 round trip for two people. I guess my Spanish got us a $20 discount.) and we were at the mercy of the taxi driver who was part of a network of merchants. He was personable, so it was hard to knock his hustle. The conversation was lively and we got a glimpse of his personal life. I mean how often do you get the family album while riding through the D.R.?

Our first stop was a plaza in Puerto Plata where we were taken into a church and given a tour. We found it filled with other tourists who were stuck, too. After a 15-minute 'tour,' the guide puts his hand out and asked for a tip. No more Mr. Courteous. He wants to get paid. This type of transaction was repeated a few more times.

At the Fortaleza San Felipe, we were conveniently parked in front of souvenir vendors. These ones were pushy, too. I just walked away.

While going up a mountain to see a view of the city, a woman suddenly appears asking us to go to her store to buy souvenirs. The driver informs her we are not there to shop and she leaves.

Then we were dropped off at a restaurant near the beach. The place doesn't look like much and there were other taxi drivers hanging out. The food was decent and we did enjoy the beach, but at $32 (had I used my credit card they would have charged me $41) for mofongo, two Cokes, and some chicken wings it was pretty basic. Those are Los Angeles prices!

Imagine if we had taken his offer to go to the rum and chocolate factories? $$$ To put this into perspective, I spent less money on a day trip to Giverny from Paris, which included lunch, a ticket to Monet's Gardens, AND the shuttle.

Are you a staunch solo traveler who loves to create their own adventures? This could be a hit or miss. With that said, it was hard for me to rewire my brain. From allowing someone to book the trip to sharing a space, having a set meal time and having limited options, it was a bit overwhelming for someone who is like the wind. My tolerance for inefficiency, bad food, and overpriced anything is nonexistent. Being stuck on a ship with not enough to do killed the travel vibe almost completely. I'm too much of an adventurer to ever want to travel like this again. Seriously, if any of my friends and family members are reading this:

Understand that my travel style is different than yours. I travel to LEARN about the world. My souvenirs are the experiences and memories I create along the way. Imposing any limits on me will not work in your favor.

Which brings me to my final point: Sustainability and eco-tourism.

I'm always looking for ways to reduce my carbon footprint, at home and while traveling. I don't want my vacation to do more harm than good. Cruise ships pollute our beautiful blue orb. Do your research. Here, I'll give you a head start.

Cruise Ship Report Card by Friends of the Earth

Glimmers of Hope: When Good Times Happen

I must admit I did enjoy one thing: the people. Don't get me wrong, we came across a group of folks who wanted to drive their political beliefs through our heads, even so, they were only one interaction out of many. For the most part, you will meet people from all walks of life. As an aspiring polyglot, speaking to the crew members was probably what salvaged the trip. I met people from Croatia, Ukraine, Philippines, St. Lucia, Thailand, Indonesia, Greece, India, and the list goes on. When time permitted, I would ask them to teach me simple phrases like 'Hello' and 'Thank you'. Their eyes would light up and soon enough we were on a first name basis. I started to learn things about culture and to an extent their backstory. It doesn't end with the crew, however. Sometimes sitting next to a group of people sparks up a conversation.

"Wow, that looks delicious. What are you having?"

On the last day at sea, we met some colorful characters at the laundry room. I still remember that delicious ill-gotten pineapple rum. At the Alchemy Bar, Nikola prepared a mean old-fashioned which he lit up Flaming Moe Style. He wasn't as chatty because he was busy, but his facial expressions were gold. One night after dinner we walked into a Motown 'name that tune' contest. We sung our little asses off! Our next door neighbor was a sassy woman of Cuban and Dominican descent. Her laugh was contagious.

Whew! That was exhausting! Looks like I'll be planning another getaway soon. It isn't a good sign, when you need a vacation from your vacation. I do miss that 24 hour soft serve machine though.

PIN ME!

#Carnival Victory #Carnival Cruise Lines

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