Panama Canal Cruise

This was the first cruise I had taken. I LOVED IT!!

April 17 – May 1, 2005

Celebrity Cruise Lines – Ship: Infinity

We flew from GSP to San Diego, CA. We took a motorcoach to Ensenada.

Sunday - Ensenada, Mexico - left port at 5:00 pm
Monday - at sea
Tuesday - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Wednesday - at sea
Thursday - Acapulco, Mexico
Friday - Huatulco, Mexico
Saturday - at sea
Sunday - Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Monday - at sea
Tuesday - Panama Canal(cruising canal) and Cristobal Pier, Panama
Wednesday - at sea
Thursday - George Town, Grand Cayman
Friday - Montego Bay, Jamaica
Saturday - at sea
Sunday - Fort Lauderdale, Florida  We flew back to GSP.

 

Rose Hill Plantation - Union, SC and Mountain Shoals Plantation, Enoree, SC

Rose  Hill

 

Rose Hill Plantation - Union, SC

In the days following the election of President Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina Gov. William H. Gist was characteristically blunt: “The only alternative left, in my judgment, is the secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union.”

Today, Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site interprets the life and legacy of the man history has come to know as the “Secession Governor.”

The son of a Charleston merchant, Gist rose from modest beginnings to be elected governor of South Carolina in 1858. He also was a reputed duelist.

You can walk the elegant grounds, tour the plantation home, admire its beautiful rose gardens and explore other original plantation buildings.

There is also a short hiking trail down to the Tyger River.

Mountain Shoals Plantation

Mountain Shoals Plantation, also known as the James Nesbitt House, is a historic plantation home located at Enoree, SC.

 It was built by 1837, and is a two-story, vernacular Federal style frame residence.

It sits on a raised brick basement stuccoed  to resemble granite and features a full-width, one-story, front porch.

Hawaii - A Tauck Tour - May 30, 1996 - June 11, 1996

This trip was before I retired but I included it in my travel blog because I could.

I wanted to send Mom and Dad on this trip for their 50th wedding anniversary.  Dad and I went to the travel agent (AAA) to make the plans. Dad said he would like it if I went with them to help them through the process.  How could I refuse?  

We visited Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii (Big Island) and Maui. We flew from island to island. Tauck is a first class tour company. I recommend them highly.

On each island they took us to see the major attractions. Our tour guide was with us the whole time.

This was a great trip We all had a fun time. The tour company treated us like royalty.  We stayed in some of the best hotels on the islands.

On the way home we stopped off in LA and spent a week with my Mom's brother (Uncle Buddy).  This helped break the flight up.  We say a lot of LA while we were there.

Oahu - Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Pink Palace) - Mom and Dad

We stayed here first 3 nights Hotel is on Wakiki

Oahu - Pearl Harbor