2011 Excellent Adventure - Day 1: The Struggle To Stay Awake

Ok, so I managed to once again lose money in the rent-a-cart machine at PHL. Seriously, I think it's a money maker for the airport, since there's never a sign on it that it's malfunctioning and the airport people around it don't care. Of course not! They are red caps, and they want me to pay THEM to haul my luggage 10 feet. Yeah, um, no.

I did manage to toddle the three items (2 thunkers and a garment bag) inside the terminal while I waited for Andy to park the car.

Other than a strangely long wait on a relatively short line for security screening, it was an easy flight. The guy who had the window seat never showed up, so Andy was able to grab it and thereby once again save the world by guarding the wing. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, go to You Tube and search for "Nightmare at 20,000 feet" - an ancient Twilight Zone with William Shatner.

The connection with Holland America worked very smoothly, and we were in our state room before noon. Off we went to have our first meal on board (which was awesome, as expected), then a nap and a shower.

Really not exciting stuff. We contemplated going into Venice. Nah, not enough energy for that.

After a great dinner with great people, we walked around the Promenade Deck. We were able to watch the ginormous screen on deck of the Star Princess in the other dock. What an amazingly clear picture!

Then we explored the ship's library, thinking we could hold out till 9:30 to listen to the piano bar guy for a while. Not happening.

Most likely, we'll both be out cold within the hour.

Tomorrow - walking tour of Venice called "The Treasures of Venice". Which amazingly enough will manage to cover places we did not see in 1999.

ANNNNND we're off and running!