DAY 10---SAN JUAN

 BLAST FROM THE PAST

        Back in 2008 after being an America Airline pilot for 30 years, I flew my "retirement flight" (last flight) from Dallas to San Juan, spent the night, and flew back to Dallas the next day.  At that time I was qualified on the 757 & 767 aircraft.  On this flight I was flying as Captain on the 757.  On your retirement flight you could take your wife so Rebecca came along in a first class seat.  She had retired as a "stewardess" two years earlier after 37 years.  

        It is customary on your retirement flight that you taxi out between two airport fire trucks and they shoot water over the aircraft in an arc.  Same thing back at DFW airport as I taxied back in.

        During my airline career I flew the 727, S80, DC10, 777, 757, & 767 aircraft.  I was a check airmen (instructor) on the 727 and 777.  People ask if I miss flying.  I tell them I prefer first class now!

 

          We docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 7am.  It is mostly sunny with some clouds and 80 degrees here.

LAST EVENING

        At 6:30 we headed up to Sette Mari (Italian) for dinner as veal chop parmesan was on the menu.  I asked to speak to the chef and show her a photo of how I liked my veal parm.  Chef Stacey came to our table right away.  Mark, maitre'd, seated us at a window table with Skinny as our waiter.

        They brought this before we ordered.  Bread basket, fried zucchini, parm cheese, and brusehetta.

The wine sommelier service was very slow as the restaurant fills up right away.  They needed more wine stewards.  I finally got up and told Mark we needed to be served.  That worked.

                   We both started with some minestrone soup.  It is always very good and HOT.

                                           Rebecca had this veal piccata.  Huge portion.

        Chef Stacey did a great job making my veal chop parmesan just the way I like it,  I was way to big as usual in Sette Mari.  I had a side of spaghetti also.  Yummy dinner!

                  They bring biscotti before dessert.  We just ate the biscotti and no dessert.

        I actually opened the theater door and entered before they opened the doors.  Got our front row seats.  The show "Tuxedo" was very good.  This cast is one of the best we have watched.

TODAY

        We got up a half hour earlier than usual at 6:30.  I wanted to watch our sail in.  We will be docking on the left pier ahead.

                                               The old Cristobal Castle on top of the hill

                                                               Bacardi rum tour.

        For lunch I went out to the pool grill and ordered a couple orders of buffalo chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing.  At least once every cruise I have to have the wings.

        During the Coast Guard inspection of the crew's emergency procedures and knowledge, they had the 4 starboard (right) side lifeboats moved out to the lower position.  Only one (next to our balcony on the deck below) did they actually lower it into the water.

        We sailed again at 4pm.  Our next port is back in the good ole USA.  It is 1120nm to Charleston, SC, so we'll be at sea for two days before arriving there on Thursday.

        At the entrance to the harbor is Castillo San Felipe del Morro.  A Spanish fort protecting the entrance to the harbor was started in 1539 and completed in 1787.  It occupies 70 acres.

                                     I have toured this fortress several times over the years.

        This is tonight's menu in Compass Rose.  I talked to Exec Chef Deon at lunch.  He said tonight's menu is featuring "southern comfort" foods.  The bottom menu is an added 6 course southern cooking menu which I will be having.   Today Sid Evans, the Editor-in-Chief of Southern Living Magazine boarded the ship and will be with us until New York.  He is hosting a cocktail party up in the Observation Lounge at 6pm this evening.  Then tomorrow he will make a presentation at 11am in the theater.

        Tonight's headliner entertainer is featuring Yaniv Zarif, a singer with some comedy.  His bio says he speaks 32 languages and has performed in 90 countries.  He lives in Ft Lauderdale.  We have not seen his show so will be attending tonight.  Maybe not on the front row however.