January 6…part 2

the first toe into the ocean

The sights out our window when we wake up in the today scream vacation...well, they scream something, or that was the sounds in the middle of the night screaming…no not really screaming, but not serene time for sleep. When we went to sleep last night the club was raging…that didn’t matter, because we were dead tired, then as the night progressed, the sounds turned from the thump, thump of the disco to the screeching of metal on metal as the garbage trucks picked up from the alley outside our window, next was the 5AM power washing of the alley. None of these were terrible, but I’m glad we aren’t here for more than one night.

The Beacon Hotel - ours for the night

Once we and the sun are up, we see what there is to see outside our window…the ocean…we don’t exactly see the ocean, or hear the ocean, but we assume it is there. In fact, we didn’t see the ocean last night either – it was dark. When

just in case we weren't sure

we flew in, we saw the ocean, so I’m pretty sure we haven’t inadvertently landed in Winnipeg, but after breakfast we will venture to see if we are when we think we are.


Breakfast at the hotel is basic…super basic, but fine and it is outside…I don’t remember the last time I ate outside. The food takes a back seat to the atmosphere…it is sunny, pleasant and lovely.


Finally we actually make it to the water…walk a bit, dip a toe or 2 and head back to the hotel to finish the retirement champagne, and get to the ship and sip more champagne...

Once aboard things become familiar very quickly. We have been with this cruise line plenty of times, most recently last summer with my parents, but this ship only once – 5 years ago.