LEAVING A JEWEL BEHIND US and THE BANANA LADY

Enjoyed a final buffet breakfast this AM in the open air dining area on Deck 11 at the stern of the ship.  Lox and bagel with another bowl of granola mixed with chopped figs and dried apricots… delicious.  I am planning on a Jets BBQ Chicken pizza this evening in Brownstown, MI. We live in amazing times indeed.

Disembarkation couldn’t have gone smoother.  Luggage was much more organized in the Terminal than what I have experienced on other cruises.  Smaller groupings I’m sure contributed to this.  Carnival Cruise Line could take a lesson here.  We were in no hurry to catch our flight out of San Juan; however, if you are in a hurry, for a few dollars, let one of the porters assist you with your luggage.  The line for porters is much smaller and moves significantly faster.

You would think that standing in line waiting to get cleared through U.S. Customs would be boring.  Oh, no.  Even there we found ourselves close to the action…

A U.S. Customs Agent was quickly walking his K-9 partner past the waiting lines of people and their luggage.  The dog, a beagle, was happily sniffing at every piece of luggage just hoping to pick up the scent of some forbidden contraband.  When suddenly there was a bit of excitement just 3 people in front of me.  I noticed the dog, his tail wagging, was up on his hind legs, fore legs on top of a stack of the luggage of a middle-aged woman.

“Ma’am, I am going to need to look in your bags.  Do you have any agriculture products? Any fruit or vegetables?”

Nervously, she replied, “Well… No… I don’t think so.  Wait.  Yes.  I have a banana.”

I have to wonder how many times does a person have to be told?  “NO FRUIT OR VEGETABLES.”  Don’t take fresh fruit from the Windjammer Buffet and think that you won't get caught.  I mean... really... do you honestly think it is fair to "pocket" food from the ship for you to eat on your way home.  C'mon, lady.

Well... what is the moral to this story?  The dog got his treat.  Banana lady ate her banana.  And America is safe from foreign bugs.  But we are not safe from stupid people.

GOOD BYE, SAN JUAN