Last night at the Hollywood Bowl was themed A Night in Paradise. They had the Brothers Casimero and Hawaiian and Polynesian dancers! They did a whole discussion about Mutiny on the Bounty and Marlon Brando's private island in Tahiti. You can hear the Brothers Casimero at the end of this page <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> The Fire Dancers were unbelieveable. The program was wonderful - and gave us a taste of things to come for next May!

How cool...the Brothers Cazimero are an institution here! Wish we could afford to still go on PIP. :(

I'm glad you mentioned PIP! Normally I would be researching and reading everything I could about a trip we're taking (even this far away)....but, I've been moping (sp??) because we aren't going anywhere until then (like MINT)!
Mrs. Masaki, come on and go!!!! It will be a short trip for you guys :D :D :D , just fly in for the cruise, no pre or post stays. Come onnnnn, how cool will it be to go to Tahiti and Bora Bora!!! We could go broke together (between PIP and 007) :banana: :banana:

Kimmi,

You said it! While I am still young and capable, I want to do as much travel as possible. Yes, there are financial ramifications, but, the trade off is so worth it. Pretty much I am working extra hard to be able to do extra travel in the next few years. I doubt that you could ever regret it. This is an investment in happiness and memories for when I am too old to hike to the top of a mountain or climb the Spanish Steps,

Kathy - Not to go back into all the postings we made on the life vs. work thread a while ago; but I certainly agree with you that we must live life while we can, while not recklessly mortgaging our possible future retirement. In the past month, I have lost one uncle to cancer in his early 60's, while another of the same age is likely in his final weeks of life. Further, two business colleagues have passed away in their mid-50's. Well, by God, if Pat and I have the misfortune to go that early, we will at least have racked up some major ship time before we check out!! As it is, when we were in Trondheim, Norway in July, I climbed up the 172 narrow stone steps of the cathedral tower there and felt like calling for the paramedics when I got to the top. A few years ago, I skipped up the several hundred steps inside the dome of St. Peter's in Rome and wondered why people complained about the climb! My Trondheim experience was a good reminder that we are all getting older and less able to do certain things. Therefore, we must indeed Seize the Day!! (Of course, I may also have to consider changing my regular breakfast on board Voyager from Eggs Benedict with a side of grilled baby lamb chops to something like non-fat yoghurt with a side of fresh melon. How very, very sad...)

In any event, we are eagerly looking forward to our first leg of the Grand Circle of South America (leaving Ft. L. on Dec. 27 and going on to Lima, Peru, with a few days on our own after that in Cusco and Macchu Picchu), PIP (B2B in May of 2005), and ROAR in April, 2006, in addition to whatever cruises or vacations we can manage in terms of finances and my vacation time from work in between. No one checks out of this life remembering fondly the time he or she spent at work; but we certainly treasure the memories of the time we spent exploring the world with delightful and simpatico comrades.

Cheers, Fred & Pat (spending this weekend celebrating our 30th anniversary - lots of Perrier Jouet and quality beach time with our three doggies).

Kimmi - you are a BAD, BAD influence ... :D (keep it up!) :lct:

Masaki

Maybe a few of us could convince Amanda to let you go on PIP!

Kimmi and Kathy, you guys ARE bad. ;) Unfortunately, PIP would be really hard esp with 2 cruises this year and 007 scheduled for next year. It sucks to be the logical one!

'cmon Masaki, drag Amanda kicking and screaming!! :D
I want to meet the Rational Amanda and the irrational ;) Masaki!!!

Ya only live once, and you can't take it with you!!!
<img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Freddie, I agree with everything you said. We are signed up for Pip, and are not at all certain if we will make it. My career is a bit uncertain right now, and thus my income prospects. My husband is the practical one; he is in fact worried about retirement, and all I want to do is "seize the day".

If we cancel Pip, we'll still do something--we might go to Mexico for a few weeks, or we might go back to Turkey, or we might just have a romantic weekend at some nice hotel around home.

But I love FP, and keep wanting to go back!

Happy Anniversary Fred & Pat! I'm so glad it worked out so well that you guys have our PIP cabin # 723!!

Marcie,

I was planning to bring my broomstick to knock on the ceiling if you and Tom got too rambunctious in your room above us. Now that I know that Fred and Pat will be up there, I guess I will still bring my broomstick! And I will include my Cairn Terrier Barking Recordings to make them feel right at home. To quote someone, I don't think we're in Kanasas Anymore, Toto!

Sheri - so true! But we also need to make sure we leave enough money to buy food for tomorrow ... :ohmy:

We'll have to see what happens. ;)

Masaki

Kathy....Cairn Terrier Barking Recordings?? Now I've heard everything! LOL

Freddie, I think the loss of so many loved ones in the past few years far too early for their years has contributed to my compulsion to travel now! I may be crazy to do that, but too bad. Staying home disabled would not be that bad for me, looking out over the bay. Certainly better than the nursing home!

I am looking forward to being in Norway next year with Ngaire and her group!

Olivia, said so well!!!

I have to continue to tease Freddie and Pat that they now have OUR CABIN on PIP...it's the best one, #723....booked on something like the FIRST day, hand picked by moi! Kathy, bring the broomstick if only to remind them what a perfect location they have...LOL!

This is the one regret I have about BAIL, we no longer will go on PIP. Oh well....such is life!

Marcie,

The Cairn Terrier Barking is actually a reference to Fred and Pat just got a Cairn Terrier, Katyusha, from my friend, Dena. My Dog, Daisy is Katyusha's cousin. Katyusha's Dad, Garth, is a litter mate to my Daisy's Mother, Dolly. So we are now related! Garth is going to Westminster for the 2nd time! I will make some recordings to make them feel at home! These little ones are big on barking.

So, has anyone decided on any pre- or post-cruise stays yet?

Wendy,
I am probably doing the Tahiti Beachcomber for 2 nights (with Suzanne) pre-cruise. It has my favorite pool in the whole world!
Sheri

Marcie, I can't go on PIP because I already scheduled our vacation time for next year, but hopefully there will be another PIP in the future - say, 2007? Then we can go!!

If we go at all, I'm thinking of a three-nighter in Moorea, since the prices for the 4-night pre-cruise package isn't much different than Tahiti (based on 2004 prices). This is the mid-range option.

The minimal option would be a one-nighter, preferably at the Radisson, or my personal favourite small local hotel, the Royal Tahitien.

The extravagant option would be a pre-cruise to Nuku Hiva or Huanine. I would love to see the Marquesas, and I'm thinking that staying there would suit me better than cruising there.

Haven't seen the 2005 prices on any of these yet.

Sheri/Suzanne:

We are doing the two night precruise at the Tahiti Beachcomber. We are already booked on the Wednesday night Air France flight. We are going to book hotel on our own; they have a non-refundable OWB rate that is a lot lower than Radisson's. However, if you don't need an air deviation (we are doing post on our own in LA, too) I think the RSSC rate would be good. Julie quoted us $590 per person for the two nights at Tahiti Beachcomber OWB including breakfasts and lunch on Saturday. Of course, their rate includes transfers.

We would love to have a Pre-PIP party (PPIPP) at the Beachcomber. Any more want to join us?