Almost home...

Sitting in the Spinnaker Lounge on the thirteenth floor of the Norwegian Gem. Its 25 past five and the sun has just dipped behind the hills to the west. We're docked at the Los Angeles World Cruise Terminal which is actually in El Segundo and by a quirk of topography we do in fact have land to our west and not the vast blue expanse of the Pacific. The ship's engines have just started up and we are slowly pulling out after spending a coolish southern California day on land. As we make our way out of the harbor we are passing the U.S. battleship Iowa which has been restored and turned into a wonderful floating museum. The Iowa was the sister ship to the battleship Missouri on who's massive decks Japan officially surrendered ending the war in the Pacific in 1945. We had a chance to take the tour of the Iowa today and it is really something to see. As they say, Freedom isn't free, and these ships pay tribute to some of the blood, sweat, and tears that seem to be such a large part of humankind's legacy.

Our cruise is almost over with a stop in Santa Barbara tomorrow before wrapping up the following day in San Francisco. I find the end of vacations in general and this cruise specifically to be bittersweet. It will be nice to go home but there's a lot of things I'll miss as well. The warmth of southern climes is one. While sometimes oppressive with 100 degrees and humidity almost as high it did get downright hot but it's still preferable in my book to the snow and cold of a January day in Denver. Strangely enough I'll also miss some of the street vendors trying to press their wares upon us. Most, though energetic in their efforts, were good natured enough to accept a "No, gracias" without becoming too belligerent. The Mayan ladies and gents selling their colorful shirts and blankets I would have loved to have spent more time truly getting to know and interact with. The Mayan cultural and historical legacy is far too magnificent to be simplified into vendors selling trinkets in the narrow streets of Antigua, Guatemala. So too will I miss the smiles of Nicaraguans when making eye contact or making the effort to wish them a simple "buenas dias". They are among the poorest in Central America and their country is slowly opening to visitors after a very violent recent past. During our visit there was still a hefty military presence everywhere we went but the people were nothing but friendly and welcoming, at least in the areas we visited.

I'll also miss seeing a humpback whale's fin rise out of the blue waters off of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas and watching their fin slaps before their giant tail flukes gave notice of their dive back into the deep. And how can I forget the magical site of dolphins playfully chasing the ship's stern wake?

So too will I long remember the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets that are so amazing at sea and strolling the top deck of the ship in the cool of the evening holding my wife's hand while gazing at stars twinkling from one horizon to the other.

I've mentioned in prior blogs that the sea conditions made for a rolling trip that might not be everyone's cup of tea. For me, the roll and sway of the ship made the journey a communion with the sea and what better way to be lulled to sleep at night than with the rocking of a ship underneath? Even seeing the seas sometimes angry, with spume blowing off 10 foot swells in 60 knot winds creating 'sea smoke', is a sight I'll always treasure.

Suffice it to say that there are many great memories of a trip such as this and I hope to share some in video form once home in landlocked Colorado. But before that I still have yet to experience the magic of sailing into San Francisco bay under the arches of the Golden Gate bridge before bidding a final adieu to the Pacific. I can hardly wait!