Bon Voyage

It finally came. It was cruise time.

A 2:30 wakeup call on Thursday morning came early. But with the anticipation of our 6 day Carnival Cruise Lines cruise to Baja, Mexico fresh in our minds, we were geared up for the 40 minute trip to the airport. The air was frigid, but our spirits were red hot.

The flight from Salt Lake City to Phoenix was on one of those Canadair commuter jets. Eyes shut, Emma Shapplin on the Zune, it was a heavenly flight. As the jet sliced through the air over Utah and into Arizona, I soared to the sound of Emma's operatic voice and the gentle hum of the aircraft engines. I was alone, above the clouds, at peace with the world.

In the landing pattern at San Diego, we passed over the ships at harbor in Coronado. A couple of aircraft carriers and a white hospital ship were a few of the beautiful ships we saw as we began our descent into San Diego airport.

Approaching closer to the airport, the Carnival Elation, our home for the net six days appeared out the cabn window below us. So many times I'd seen her, on the web cam, in port at the San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal and now it was a reality.

It was a beautiful sunny day. The Midway Aircraft Carrier and Museum sat valiantly beside our pier. Aircraft descended into San Diego Airport and Naval vessels returned home to the nearby naval base as we got familiar with our ship and surroundings.

With everyone on board, we were called to our muster station, where We learned how to put on our life preserver. Life vests securely in place, we were lead to our life boat and then deemed worthy to sail away on our adventure.

As we passed the Point Loma lighthouse and entered Pacific Ocean, we bid adeau to San Diego and the United States of America. We were on our way.

(Wireless connections on the ship provide limited access to the blog web site, so posting may be delayed; as this one was)