Cardinal Nation

When we arrived last night we decided to go to Carmines for tea which was expensive but tasty. As we were leaving ..........Three Priests walked in to have their dinner. 

Mr Fab started chortling and said:

Mr Fab: Hey Babe - Three Priests walk in .... do you think they are looking for The Cardinals?

Me: *blink*

Mr Fab: *laughing himself silly*

(Pause here to note we saw a Nun at The Game ........ think maybe The Cardinals have some "extra special" help?)

Have to admit it was pretty funny. A whole lot funnier than when he said to the Security Lady patting me down:

Mr Fab: Hey I reckon I might need a pat down as well?

Security Lady: Sure thing Sir - Let me just find a nice big male to help you

Mr Fab: * blink*

Me & Nice Security Lady: *screaming laughing and rolling about on the terminal floor*

Enough of the shenanigans.

Ok so tonight was THE BALLGAME.

WOWSERS People. Seriously. I have NEVER experienced anything quite like it. There were so many people with most of them wearing Cardinals gear and they were all so darn POLITE??? I was stunned. From waiting to buy some of the massive amount of food & beverages available to entering the Ballpark. Everyone is courtous, polite and considerate of others. There is no line jumping, no rude behaviour ... nothing like that AT ALL.

Baseball has been a constant in America since forever and it is a HUGE part of everyday life. From families to the single diehard fan. They live and breathe their Baseball.

Then there is the atmosphere. A feeling of expectation that you can feel. The fans adore The Cardinals and to see over 42,000 happy people in one place is mind boggling. Keep in mind this was a Monday night - stormy and the game went past 11.00pm.  Packed to the limits with Fans.

We brought peanuts from vendors yelling : PEANUTS, COLD BEER, ICE COLD WATER................Just like in the movies and they even play that Baseball music. The funniest thing was the 7th Inning Stretch where everyone stands up and sings Take me out to The BallGame. ( I now know what Crackerjacks are). I have to ask Mish again what the teeny little balls of Icecream are .. Dippin Dots? I think? She asked the Vendor for a taste for me ... being Australian and all. It was the weirdest feeling to have tiny little balls of icecream in your mouth. 

Another new thing tried and tested.

It took me awhile to get how the whole thing worked but eventually I understood. The game was delayed due to storms so it did not actually start till 8pm. Rain fell and they stopped everything once but after the storm passed it was all good. 

I was starting to get a wee bit concerned as there had been NO RUNS at all and when that happens they keep going until runs are scored .......

The clock ticked over toward 11.00 pm .......

So 9 Innings and no score AT ALL. 

Finally we are at the bottom of the 9th and The Cardinals rose to the occasion and scored a home run.

The entire stadium ERUPTED. That is the only way to describe it ... literally ERUPTED. 

(I REALLY wanted to write ... Bottom of the 9th cose I KNOW what that means now)

All in all a serious Fabulous night out. Mr Fab was very happy indeed to have finally seen his Ballgame.

Tomorrow is The Budweiser Factory and then The Clysdales ......

Revamp, Restyle & Be Fabulous

Meet me in St Louis & Take me out to the Ballgame.

Morning Y'All!!!!

WHERE IS HENRY?????

*sigh*

The Cruise has ended and we are back on Dry Land. We LOVED The Cruise and are already thinking about where to go next time.

Mr Fab and I dont tend to go out or go away or really do anything except work and do things at home. We save and do without ... including birthdays and such to save for our trips. We like to go every two years ..... iff we can.

Hmmmmmm where to next time? Thinking maybe New York?

It is nice to simply dream and google and think about it .

*insert dreamy face*

So - back to this adventure. We departed using the Priority departure because of staying in a Suite and decided right here and now that we like being in a Suite with all the accoutrements that go with it. Now back to reality .........

We are staying in The Westin In Seattle till we fly out to St Louis tomorrow. We both REALLY like the Westin and apparently it is THE place to stay in Seattle and has bedded down Presidents for the night. The bed is AMAZING and we were so relaxed we had to call Mish and Mark and say HEY - we are going to simply have a night of doing nothing. We wondered ... perhaps it was all a wee bit anti climatic after the fun of the cruise? We both felt incredibly weary and just wanted to vege. Funny thing though ... I woke up at midnight bright as a button and could NOT get back to sleep.

As usual - we were in complete sync with our amazing friends so we will meet up again with them on Monday in St Louis where we will be going to our very first Baseball game. Yeeehawwwww GO CARDINALS. ( We barrack for the Cardinals )

Mr Fab has been looking forward to this for two years. He is SUPER excited. Tomorrow is a day of flying from Seattle to St Louis and we will not get in to The Drury till after 6 so I will make this one over two days.

The flight from Seattle on Alaska Airlines was 3 hours and 18 minutes and I am pleased overall with this airline but damn it I had the Knee Person behind me. You know the one who wiggles and sighs and moves for the entire 3 hours and 18 minutes? I tend to not say anything as I try to be a good person and understand that a person may be uncomfortable or not feel well but DAMN people ... after 2 hours of being kneed in the back and my seat moving I was starting to get a bit short tempered ...

I had my seat completely upright in an attempt to make it easier for her but still .......

*sigh*

Prior to Boarding we of course had to do the plethora of Security here in The States .... and understandably so. We tend to have a bland face and do what they say. I have to admit I had been chortling away and teasing Mr F as he was always going through the main security and my little face was getting me nicely through the normal easy peasy one ....... that is until Seattle.

Yep - You guessed it Fabsters .......... Full body search to pay me back for all my snickering. The lady was very nice and very clear about what she was going to do but it is very very ...... personal? 

*blink blink*

You will be happy to read Fabsters ..... I am not a threat to security.

We arrived and grabbed a cab to the hotel and were very grateful to finally settle down and relax. Today is going to be a day of just wandering around then taking in the Ballgame. It is quite interesting to be in this hotel as it is within one block of the stadium so it is FILLED with Cardinals Supporters alll wearing their shirts and caps ect so we will not stand out when we don our team gear and make our way down to watch the game. 

Every second store sells Cardinals gear and they live and breathe the team here.

We met up with Mish & Mark after a hearty free breaky here at The Drury and went down to Union Station to have a look.

Oh my goodness. We have had our very first vaguely scary encounter with the indiginous youth of the area.

The boys went to purchase tickets for the train and a group of ...... lads ...... came over and started to tell them how to buy a ticket. Mark has dealt with this kind of thing before so he was as cool as ice. Mish took my arm and led me away. I have learned to simply do what she tells me to do without question and automatically adopt a bland face and look at scenery type of persona? Do you get me? I tend to admire the buildings or trees or whatever is around. We always defer to Mark & Mish when they suggest something while we are wandering about. They will be exactly the same when they come to visit us in Australia. Our combined theory is ... Your Country - You know how it works.

Back to our encounter as you are probably all sitting on the edge of your seats!!!!! ..... I hope ......

 *cough* Where was I? Oh yes ... THE DRAMA!

Mr Fab handed me Marks parcels and simply said " Hold this".

He walked back and was standing very close to Mark ... *ahem* I should say Cool as Ice Mark .....

The Indiginous ... lad ... wearing his (Mish informed me) $150 jeans down past his bum with his dreadlocks and vaguely threatening manner kept asking for tips and money. The boys simply ignored him or said No.

I was very proud of them both. You could see Mr Fab on HIGH ALERT .........really really HIGH alert.

We walked down to catch the train all the time being very casual and laid back. An indian couple had been up at the ticket booth with us and you could clearly see they were a little afraid. I held out my hand to the woman and motioned to her to come over with us.

Well Fabsters I have NEVER seen people move so fast or look so incredibly grateful. Mish held out her hand as well and the woman actually took it and moved in very close to us.

The husband stood with the Boys and when the ...Indiginous ...lad ( The leader? ) came back to start saying things like:

"I may see you again you know"

or

" You could run in to me again"

All of us simply kept chatting only giving him a cursory look or acknowledgement. Apparently in a group you are not such an easy mark. Mish told me quietly not to make eye contact in any way.

It is quite clever really. A group of chaps in a not so good area who crowd you in and stand very close then ask for money after "showing" you how to buy a ticket in a machine that anyone could figure out in less than 3 minutes.

*shiver* 

Scary but very interesting to observe. I drive Mr Fab insane when I watch things like this intently.

After finishing our vaguely scary encounter which I was NOT allowed to discuss till we left the train we walked to The Arch.

WOW!

They have an amazing museum set up all about the west and how it was formed and the explorers who blazed the trail.

We then boarded these weird Pods which were elevators that went sideways and up to the top. They were very small and you kinda felt like you were expelled from them rather than leaving them? You then walk up some steps to the very top.

Mr Fab and I are absolutely certain the bloody thing was moving as we looked out of the tiny windows set into  the walls.

192 Metres in the air *gag*

Yep done that can we go now please?

Walked back down to Imo Pizza as we were all hungry and had what is apparently the best pizza in St Louis.

It was pretty bloody good let me tell you.

Ok guys ... gotta go don our Cardinals Gear and head on out to THE BALLGAME!

Revamp, Restyle & Be Fabulous.

All the way to Skagway!

Day 5:

Another glorious day in Alaska as we sail into Skagway. Todays adventures are the White Pass Railway & .......Suspension Bridge *shudder*

Gotta tell ya Fabsters .... feeling a tad nervous about the good ol Suspension Bridge. I am DETERMINED to do it. Overcoming fears blah blah blah testing one's self blah blah blah going the extra mile blah blah blah what doesnt kill you makes you stronger ..AGAIN blah blah.

UGH ... fingers crossed it doesnt kill me?

Right?

Ugh!

Ok so we take the bus to the railway yard to catch the old train up the White Pass to the Yukon over the Canadian Border. We had to take our passports and our train was boarded by Customs people for inspection before we were allowed into Canada.

It was a wild ride with some dark tunnels and some quite hairy views DOWN. I cant even begin to imagine what it must have been like 100 plus years ago when the men coming to the gold fields had to carry a Ton of supplies to see them through the winter.

Across the border into Canada and arrival at The Yukon Suspension Bridge. Mr Fab thought it was hilarious as I took one look and literally gulped.

HOWEVER ......... I was determined so onwards and across!!!!!

Of couuuuurse there is always some kid who's parents think he is so cute ...generally called Tarquin or something along those lines who thinks it is HILARIOUS to jump.

*sigh*

I did it. I have done it. No need to do it again. Nothing to see here .... moving on.

They had a very cool cabin set up as it would have been set up for a trapper back in the day which was interesting.

Back on the bus and a windy drive back down to Skagway. The four of us decided to walk part way back to the Ship and have a little look at the town of Skagway. It has a summer population of about 1500 and literally shuts down for winter with a population of about 800.

We talked about what it would have looked like 100 years ago and what this street would have been like with the mud and the snow ect. The boardwalks are literally Boards covering the walkways. Very touristy but fun!

Princess Nap time before heading out to The Chocolate Buffet where they apparently make EVERYTHING in chocolate????

My view this afternoon before we sailed was pretty darn hard to take .......

A relaxing evening with a scrumptious dinner in one of the normal dining rooms .... yeah yeah ya gotta show support ... then a pleasant walk back to the Suite.

Day 6: 

At sea. Arrggghhhhhhhh Me Hearties ...... Avast ye rambooking rumshots I be wearing me Piraty sailing suit. No landlubbing for this here bilgepumping sea dawg. There be no heave hoing over ye ballastrade. *All said in a Piraty voice*

*insert piraty wink*

We are rolling like a Jaffa down the movie aisle people but so far my tummy is staying perfectly fabulous. Cannot BEGIN to tell you how happy I am about that.

We decided this morning to opt for the Room Service Breakfast and while very nice? We prefer to go to Modernos .... our exclusive breakfast destination ... and partake of their buffet ...... As a do when in a Suite ....

Just sayin.

Oh I thought you might like to see the apparently BEST Choc or Candy Bar that thery have in Canada and is ONLY available in Canada and nowhere else in the world........

Now you have seen it. Tastes like Caramel and Chocolate and biscuite kinda sorta.

Also decided this morning as we are at Sea to go and check out the onboard Shop where you can purchase everything from a key chain to a $10,000 diamond ring. It is all quite bizarre. Grabbed a couple of Norwegian Cruise Line T shirts for Mr Fab and myself but sadly had to leave the diamonds behind. The crowds were feral as there were a squillion people all on board and the ship tossing about all over the place.

Dinner tonight is in the Garden Cafe Buffet which we like when there are not the aformentioned squillion people all deciding a Buffet is a GREAT idea.

Then on to one of the Shows in the Stardust Theatre. The Show was called La Cirque Bijou and was terrific! 

We will be spending the last day in Victoria Canada and do not get in till 2.30. We have opted to go with no Tours and just walk around and have a look! 

Have to show you the silly Towel Creations that greet us when we come into The Suite in the evening. David - our Room Attendant is hilarious. A huge Jamacian that sounds and looks like a huge Jamaican. 

We laughed out loud at the monkey because we walked in and were dissapointed that we couldnt find anything on the bed ....... then we looked up to find him hanging from the privacy curtains....

As ya do.

Revamp, Restore and Be Fabulous!

Still Cruisin in Ketchikan Alaska ....... As ya do.

Day 3:

We set our wake up alarm for 5.45 am this morning to make sure we were wide awake for breaky prior to leaving the Ship for our day in Ketchikan Alaksa. We were out on our balcony as we sailed into the bay and it was breathtakingly beautiful. A grey kind of mist hung over the landscape but it was still amazing. 

We just stood in awe and said ... WOW can you believe we are actually in Alaksa????????? We are still slightly gobsmacked to be honest.

Indeed!

Todays adventures began with a Fabulous Breaky in the swish resturant ONLY available to Suite holders *fluttering eyelashes* and let me note here that we are already looking at other suites so we can get an idea on what to go for next time!!!!

So after our breakfast we wandered down the gangplank to the town of Ketchican. A cute little touristy town that all but goes to sleep in the winter months as far as tourism is concerned. There were 5 huge massive Cruise liners docked full of people buying things from Christmas Decorations at the Santa Christmas Shop to 3 for $20 T shirts ... or even Totem Poles ..... as ya do.

We had to kill time till 1.00pm where we had booked our Alaksan Lumberjack show. We really enjoyed the show and it was $35.00 well spent.

A few laughs and a bit of fun while learning about the logging trade here.

Took a walk along the Pier and met a chap walking his Husky. Her name was Ohso which stood for Oh So Beautiful ...... and she was. I asked for permission to take her picture and he said Of course but she wont pose for you .... hates the camera. She did. Makes a kind of Ohhhhhhhhnooooooooo kind of noise and turns her head. Made me laugh out loud.

Please pose for me Ohso? Please? She sighed and I finally managed to get this.

Back to the ship to set sail again for Juneau. All 4 of us decided it was time for a Princess Nap and a vege as we sail away. We love travelling with The Stochls as it is all so very easy peasy ..... hence the reason we are looking at where to do the next Cruise in a couple of years. They have an offer that when you book your next Cruise here and pay a small deposit to be used within a 4 Year period they will give you a bonus to spend on THIS Cruise.

Oh Yeah!

We watched the sun go down at around 10.00 pm last night .......... Managed to get a few fab pictures as well.

Really kinda nothing more to say than .... we watched the sun go down at 10.00pm at night ......

Day 4: Juneau

Awoke this morning at 5 am to prepare for the part both Mr Fab and myself have been really looking forward to....

The Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching Tour.

I walked outside to see what sort of day we have happening and near passed out at the beauty of this place. I actually sucked in a breathe and held it I was so in awe. I honestly do not think I am eloquent enough to describe how incredible this place is. Mere words fail this Blogger so I have taken heaps of pictures in an effort to convey to you what my eyes are seeing.

I honestly dont think my pictures can really convey how incredible this place is. Inititally when we thought ... Alaska? Really? Seriously? Then we actually thought about it and spent quite a bit of time looking at pictures on the internet and watching TV shows.

Nope ... NOTHING comes close to actually seeing it for yourself.

A bus takes us to the dock used for the boat that takes you out for the Whale watching. We managed to see a small pod of whales together doing what is called Bubble Netting. The lead female will send out a signal to other whales in the area to ask do they want to do some Bubble Netting with her? Whales must be taught how to hunt in a group before they are 1 year old or they do not know how to do it. So The lead female gets a group of other whales who do know how to feed in a group and they force all the fish into a group and then they have a smorgasbord. The lead female is always first to come up and grab the most and the others follow. This is apparently a rare thing to see so we were very lucky.

Back to the Bus and the trip ..... Our Bus driver and tour guide was Kyle and he was fab! Very funny and a font of information on Juneau and her history.

We arrived at The Mendenhall Glacier and were completely blown away. It is AWESOME. The blue in the ice is incredible and apparently appears blue because it absorbs all colors of the visible light spectrum except blue which it transmits.

Very cool .... no pun intended.

We went for a walk along the trails as Mr Fab really wanted to see some Bears but alas ..... not today.

The experience was one will will remember for a very long time.

At the moment - right now - we are sailing up to the Sawyer Glacier and it is simply breathtaking. A bit of a Titanic moment with all the ice around but seriously worth standing in freezing cold to see. We just

stood on our Balcony and watched from the relative warmth coming from our Suite.

WOW is all we can say on everything we have seen. We are really enjoying ourselves so much and honestly it makes the two years of going without and saving well worth it.

We would not be able to relax as much as we have if it was not for our gorgeous sister & sister in law Kathy, our wonderful friend Sheryl and our old and dear friend Vicki. Those amazing women have come to our home and loved Dexter as much as we do.

Thankyou girls so very much. We love and appreciate you.

Till next time when we will have been to Skagway and taken a rail journey to the Suspension Bridge.

Just to let you know ..... The suspension bridge literally terrifies me and I am only doing it because it literally terrifies me .......

Revamp, Restore & Be Fabulous ......