thefouramigosblog

For 140k points transferred from Chase and booked through Air Canada, we were able to get business class seats on Egypt Air. The out-of-pocket expense was an additional $150.

Our seats were roomy but with a bit less privacy than some of the other business class seats on different airlines. However, it is the only direct flight from JFK to Cairo.

Like other airlines, they provide a travel kit that includes everything from socks to a toothbrush.

Our dinner was served on linen tablecloths or more like a linen napkin. We had salmon and avocado for an appetizer and I had some beef dish for the main course.

After dinner, they shut off the lights, leaving only stars over our heads.

I wasn’t able to sleep but watched a movie and read my book.

Arriving in Cairo, it looked like any major metropolitan area from my window.

Our Avalon Waterways representative was waiting for us with a visa and helped us navigate through customs and security.

He then turned us over to a driver who drove us the 30-minute ride to the Fairmont Hotel.

It was only 7:30 am but they were able to get us our room by 8:30. It is lovely.

We have a view of the Nile from our window.

And the bed was very comfy. We took a five-hour nap. Our tour starts tomorrow so we are relaxing and enjoying the hotel.

Tonight we ate Asian cuisine. It was a lovely restaurant and our table looked out on the Nile.

Bruce had Pad Thai and I had sushi. Bruce was not a big fan. He compares every Pad Thai with Nana Noodles in Delray Beach.

They did an impressive presentation of my sushi. Smoking!

For dessert, we shared ice cream. And off to bed because tomorrow will be a busy day!

#egypt#cairo#travel#egyptair#businessclass#avalonwaterways#vacation#travel#nileriver#points

I’ve been waiting over 20 years for this trip and it’s finally here. Egypt has always been on my bucket list.

We started off by flying to New York to spend two nights with my bestie. We’ve been friends for 70 years.

Luckily we have loving, patient husbands who will hang around as we reminisce our entire lifetime.

So we went to an Irish Pub for lunch but most of all we had good, quality time together talking and laughing.

Harold drove us to JFK and I noticed some color in the trees. We don’t get any of that in South Florida.

After a bit of a fiasco with TSA, we are TSA pre check and gold track, we were still subjected to a rigorous inspection. Bruce even had to take his boots off and they had to go through the scan. I guess we look like gray terrorists!

So on to our next stop!

It’s been a fun but relaxing time on Celebrity Beyond. We dressed for Chic night. Lauren and Kadyn looked lovely.

We saw some pretty sunsets.

But no sunrises since we slept in. I think the girls needed sleep more than anything else.

Lauren and Kadyn played in a game show along with another lady. Their team won.

Today I’m relaxing in Eden writing my blog and enjoying the quiet. Lauren is in the gym and Kadyn went to eat breakfast.

Our last sunset.

And the last night with my girls!

Today we took a catamaran trip to snorkel and to a beach. It wasn’t until noontime so we had a slow morning. It was fun watching as we approached St. Martin.

It was a short walk to the Cats.

Fun in the sun!

The girls chilling in the front netting.

I don’t like to get much sun so I stayed under the canopy.

The snorkeling wasn’t great. A little murky but someone was feeding fish and we were in a school of striped fish. Unfortunately my underwater camera was on a wrong setting and became completely water logged.

As we sailed to the next beach we passed the famous beach where the planes fly over. We had a plane flyover us.

We had a nice time at a beautiful beach.

Heading back to our ship, the Celebrity Beyond, my girls were jamming to the Reggae.

Finally back to our home away from home.

So everyone who knows me knows my daughter is a gym rat. I guess it’s partly my fault. She was dragged to gyms from a very young age.

The Celebrity Beyond features a well-equipped gym. Ellipticals, treadmills, and bikes look out at the ocean. Lots of weights and weight equipment. Lemon water for hydration and nice clean gym towels.

Lauren joined me for a stretch and release class. It was at 10am and it’s free. The class was a little different from most stretch classes I do, but it was okay.

Kadyn and I looked for ducks. I’m not sure what the meaning of it but people hide little ducks on the ship for people to find. We didn’t find any. We spent our time in Eden.

We had lunch together and I decided to detox from sugar this cruise. It’s going good. The only things I miss are ice cream and macaroons.

The girls went for some poolside sunning and I met some friends for coffee.

Our afternoon massages were great. And we spent a few minutes afterwards in the relaxing room.

We ate at the buffet because it was formal night and we didn’t feel like dressing. Then we went to the production show. They do a great job with shows.

We’ve made it an annual tradition to take a trip somewhere – just Lauren, Kadyn, and me! This year, we are on the Celebrity Beyond, celebrating Kadyn’s 17th birthday on this earth.

Our cabin is an Infinity balcony and it’s lovely and spacious. The balcony is part of the room which makes it much larger.

We took a quick tour of the ship.

Now I’m relaxing on a chaise in the solarium while Kadyn is in the sun and Lauren is working out.

It was a relaxing first day of our 7 day voyage.

#celebrity#beyond

Yesterday we walked around the pier area in Puerto Plata. Bruce started feeling a bit under the weather—hopefully just a cold. This area includes pools for cruisers free of charge. Someone said it was a lazy river but I didn’t see that.

We didn’t do much yesterday. We ate in the cafe instead of the restaurant so he could stay away from people.

For the most part, we’ve had really calm seas.

Today Bruce was really sick—fever and all. I had coffee with friends we’ve made. Now we are at the buffet waiting for it to open so Bruce can have some soup.

The sea is very calm with a bit of fog. Ready for sunset!

I think we might just watch some TV and then go to sleep early. We are off the ship at 8 am.

See you on my next vacation!

#celebritybeyond#dominicanrepublic#puertoplata#

I woke very early and caught a brief glimpse of the sunrise. Then I went back to bed for a bit.

Every cruiser stops in St. Thomas several times if they cruise the Caribbean. I’m not sure how many times I’ve been here but we decided to venture out anyway.

We were going to walk to the town and taxi drivers kept offering us rides. Finally, we had enough. It was hot, we were sweaty and it wasn’t very scenic. So we finally took a cab. He dropped us off at a Catholic Church.

We were kind of in the backstreets of Charlotte Amalie. The neighborhood was a little sketchy but we didn’t feel unsafe.

We found our way to the bakery that the taxi driver told us to go to. It was very strange. It looked more like a warehouse. I bought a coconut ball and Bruce bought a guava turnover.

Then we headed back to the ship. We also took a taxi. I think we are getting too old to walk miles in the heat.

Back on the Beyond, we went for a swim and lounged by the pool.

Another lovely day on the Beyond.

What a relaxing time we’re having, Bruce and I. We started our morning with Tai Chi and then went to stretch and release.

We walked around the ship taking photos and enjoying space.

This is the walkthrough to get to Eden. Very unusual but quite lovely. It would be a nice place to meditate.

This status of the elephant looms over the pool.

We met up with some friends for coffee in the afternoon and Bruce had his second acupuncture session.

The evening show we saw last time, which was on the Beyond, was well worth seeing more than once.

Today we started with a morning stretch in Eden and then I did stretch and release in the fitness center.

Bruce said his shoulder is feeling better. I’m really hoping the acupuncture works.

We are now enjoying relaxing in the solarium and taking a quick dip in the pool.

Today we landed in St. Martin. It promises to be a nice day.

Now we are relaxing at Orient Beach after a swim in the crystal clear water.

What a life we have and we are so grateful. God has been good to two wretches like us!

It was a fantastic day at the beach!

Now an evening watching a production show!

Tomorrow St. Thomas!