Road Trip - Hoover Dam

Our 33rd anniversary was March 12th and we were deciding what to do to celebrate! Mike had taken off 2 days so we could have a long weekend and really didn't know what to do. My dad and his wife are in their 80's and we hadn't seen them in a while so we decided to drive on Mike's days off and once we were in Phoenix (that's where they live) he could hook up to the computer and telecommute! So off we were on our road trip from Dallas, TX to Phoenix, AZ. The drive was peaceful and our cell phones hardly ever worked! We decided to take a couple of detours and the Hoover Dam was on my list. They are building a new road in which you will no longer drive on the dam but way over the top of it. If you haven't driven on the dam and would like to I would put this at the top of your list. Stopping to take pictures like we did won't even be possible once the new road is completed. Be aware that on Holiday weekends this is super crowded and will take hours to get through the traffic. Plan your trip during the week and not at peak hours so you can enjoy it. Also be aware that Homeland Security and Border Patrol have stops along the way and they can search your car. We had no problems at all but just be alerted to the fact that you could be stopped.

New Years Eve Cruise 2008

This year we decided to go somewhere warm to spend New Year's Eve! We sailed on the Carnival Ecstasy on December 27 and arrived back in Galveston, TX on New Year Day! We visited 2 ports Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico. We have sailed on the Ecstasy several times and always love the staff and crew of this ship! It is an older ship in Carnivals huge line of vessels but we love it! This time was no different except that I had thrown out my back just before Christmas. I was determined to go so I spent some extra time at my wonderful Chiropractor, Dr. Cindy Russell! Thank goodness she is good at what she does, I was slow going but was still able to travel! We have been to Cozumel several times and since my back was hurting that day we stayed on board and visited with friends - we had about 60 of them on board with us! We did get off at Progresso and really loved the small town atmosphere. The cruise ships are just starting to use that as a port and there is some really great shopping there. The prices were about half of what Cozumel has for the same exact things. I wanted to get some Mexican Vanilla for cooking and we found the 16 oz bottle for $5.00 and in Cozumel the 8 oz bottles were $8.00 (that is what our friends paid). There were lots of other great deals there and the town was very welcoming of tourists. The kids and adults here in this town do lots of selling wherever the tourists are. We were even seranaded at the bus before we left!

If you haven't been on a cruise before your cabin steward and several other people that are tied to you (your waiter, assistant waiter & Maitre di ) directly work for tips! Especially your cabin steward will work hard to earn it. The normal gratuity on board this particular cruise is $10 per person, per day. We had a delightful cabin person and each night he had a wonderful towel figurine to greet us as we returned to our cabin each evening. This cruise we also had great service in the dining room. Mike and I always tip our waiter and asst. waiter but this time we went over the suggested amount. They paid particular attention to our 2 tables and the kids that we had traveling with us from 4 - 19. They really made them feel special and included them as much as possible in the dining room activities. Even the Maitre di went far and above the call of duty!

The actual New Year's Eve evening was spent out on the Lido deck around the pool with music, dancing and free flowing Champaigne! I don't know of anyone in our party that didn't have just the best celebration! I would go again on a New Year's Eve cruise - Now to decide where that will be!