Author Archives: Sparky
TP1 Day 31: Disembarkation in Brisbane, Australia
This day marks the end of the 30-day cruise on the Carnival Luminosa, but not the end of the TP1 – we still have 2 nights in Brisbane and the trip back to Florida (which I am NOT looking forward to). Disembarkation was relatively smooth, especially in light of the fact that Carnival has never … Continue reading
TP1 Day 30: At sea
This was the last full day aboard the Carnival Luminosa. After breakfast I attended a couple of trivia contests where I did poorly. I made one final attempt to break my losing streak in the casino and failed – lost $30 (down $590 with one small bonus in $430 in losses). I should have just … Continue reading
TP1 Day 29: At sea
Our penultimate sea day. I only mention that because I love the word “penultimate.” We started the day in the casino where things went just fine for Marlene but went from bad to worse for me. I kept thinking that I was due for a bonus that I never got. I lost $110 (down $560 … Continue reading
TP1 Day 28: At sea
As Day 28 started, we passed by Thursday Island at the very northern tip of Australia and turned south, hugging the shore through the Great Barrier Reef. It was odd – and a little disconcerting – to be sailing so close to land, often between the mainland and coral islands. It was also disconcerting that … Continue reading
TP1 Day 27: At sea
We sailed through very shallow (less than 100 feet in some places) water between Australia and New Guinea. I had no idea that the ocean was this shallow in this area. Nor that the countries were so close – maybe 80 miles apart. I guess I am learning geography while we cruise. After breakfast we … Continue reading
TP1 Day 26: At sea
Another day on smooth seas. After breakfast we had to line up to retrieve our passports. I had lost my “receipt” (just a piece of paper with my name on it) so I had to sign the ship’s copy TWICE – once to acknowledge receipt of the passport and once to declare that I had … Continue reading
TP1 Day 25: At sea
Another beautiful day at sea. This time in the Banda Sea. Yeah. I had never heard of it either, but it is the name of a large body of water near Indonesia. We started the day in the casino. Marlene won a bunch – she is nearly even now – but I lost $50, down … Continue reading
“Stories from Quarantine” from the New York Times Magazine
Copyright 2020 by The New York Times Company. Published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc., New York. This is a compendium of 29 short stories involving, in some way, the COVID pandemic. It was originally published as The Decameron Project, a reference the Boccaccio’s classic Decameron which is a compendium of stories … Continue reading
TP1 Day 24: Bitung, Indonesia
No casino before breakfast as the casino is closed when the ship is docked. So we had breakfast then went ashore. Indonesia is a very large country – over 250 million people. But it is a third world county. Bitung is definitely a third world city. The sidewalks are crumbling (some manhole covers are missing … Continue reading
TP1 Day 23: Bitung, Indonesia
The original itinerary had us arriving in Bitung on Day 24. But because we skipped the Philippines, we arrived in Indonesia around 4 pm on Day 23. More on that early arrival later. Marlene and I again started the day in the casino. The slots were unforgiving this time. I lost $50 (down $200 for … Continue reading