Sunday, April 24, 2016

Being a sailor isn't always all that it's cracked up to be...

I know that to many the life of a cruise ship crew member seems glamorous and it many ways it is. Especially for me since I'm a senior officer. I see beautiful and exotic places, I  meet amazing people. I'm in a well respected position. I have a housekeeper, someone does my laundry, someone cooks for me, someone serves me food. I enjoy my friends while we enjoy the ship entertainment and dine in fine restaurants and drink expensive  cognacs and wines on our executive cards. And on top of that I get paid for it. Sounds good Doesn't it?

It does. But you know what doesn't sound good? When you get a phone call or email from home and something has gone wrong. And something IS wrong at home.

My Dad had been admitted to the emergency room and waiting for heart surgery.  He had always taken good care of himself, always active and keeping a good diet. Routine tests showed he had a serious problem.

I know he is in good hands. He's at one of the best cardiac hospitals in the province. I know the surgery is a standard one there are minimal chances of death. But being so far away makes me nervous and emotional.  Dark thoughts come into mind and I try my best to push them away. But it's hard. So hard. I try to look at what is good; he is healthy, this is preventative, he is in good hands, he is in Canada. 

There were a few days that I was a mess.     I locked myself in the cabin and cried. I tried my best to stay mindful and renown present but it wasn't easy.

Should I go or should I stay? 

I started to get really bad headaches and insomnia. 

After a few days I calmed down. I started to busy myself with work and friends. I went out a few times, the sunshine always makes me feel better. Kept my schedule full so not to think about Dad.

His surgery is tomorrow, please keep him in your prayers and your positive thoughts.


Saturday, April 02, 2016

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Well this past week I got to go somewhere new in the Caribbean and that rarely ever happens to me nowadays.   Our ship called at Amber Cove in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for the second time. I wasn't onboard for the first call so it was new for me. I've been to DR several times before but not on the north coast. So my friends and I decided that we were going to take the local bus to the market. Some people discouraged us from doing it and others encouraged us. We walked out of Amber Cove (the port area that our company built and developed) and walked out of the premises. We got bombarded by taxi drives and guides offering to take us to the market for $30 there and $30 back.  Since the bus was $1 we insisted that we would take the bus. Regardless of two of us speaking Spanish to them, they still followed us around and pestered us to take them up on their services. Then just as we were going to cross the street and catch the bus, a young gentleman stopped us and told us he would give us a round trip ride for $20 (all three of us) and he would give us a tour. He showed us his guide card and we negotiated more in Spanish and it was a deal.

Now I wouldn't recommend getting into a strangers car and if you don't speak Spanish and you're in the DR I wouldn't tell you to try it but for us it was the best decision ever!  We spent 4 hours with the 2 guides and they took us to the market, souvenir shopping, drove us around through some nice neighbourhoods.  They also took us to some pretty photo op spots, the malecon (ocean side walk) and to the ruins. We also went latin music shopping and went to a local restaurant to get us some local  food. It was a great day!

Here are a few photos from our adventures.