At the Most Traveled party on the Grand Princess November 2025

Paige and Nora

Fwd: Wedding October 5, 2025

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Wedding October 5, 2025
From: Michele Buelow <michele.buelow@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026, 2:39 PM
To: michelestraveltales.ranger14@blogspot.com
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Fwd: Catching up!

I was shocked to see that my last blog was almost two years ago so this is a brief note to catch up.  

Lovely Nora was born in June of 2024 and we were happy to welcome her to the family. She is almost 2 now and her sister,Piper, will arrive soon in April. That September we visited the Gansens in Ontario and enjoyed the Thousand Island area. I spent a lot of time and energy working on the planned cruise to Norway and Iceland in 2025. 

During the winter, however, I started having issues with my left leg being painful and impeding my walking. I started seeing an Orthopedic doctor. In March we cruised for a week in the Western Caribbean out of Galveston. During the cruise the leg became worse. 

When we arrived home in April I saw the doctor for treatment then followed up later in Kalamazoo. Nothing was helping. The weakness led me to fall down the stairs in May. I was in pain and couldn't walk so unfortunately had to cancel the upcoming cruise that I had spent two years planning. So disappointing!!? 

I worked to get walking again and was able to participate in Allie and Jake's wedding in October mostly without an aid. It was lovely! We cruised on the Grand Princess from Pureto Rico in the southern Caribbean and then on the Sun in the Western Caribbean by taking my folding electric scooter. 

My leg was not improving so I began to see a surgeon and am moving toward surgery in two weeks on my spine to fuse some of the damaged vertebrae. Hopefully this will give me back my mobility. After that we'll see what traveling I can manage!! Right now we are looking forward to a family vacation at a huge rental home in Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks in June.

Coming to an end.....

We have enjoyed the last days of this long cruise as best we can. Naps have helped shake the cruise crud enough that George played pickleball early this morning.

A first for us..we skipped the beach on Aruba. G had a rough night yesterday and was just too tired to do it. We've been here several times so know how lovely it is but very hot the beach is. A quick walk around the town then back to the ship was enough.

They served wine and cheese on the aft deck at sail away which was nice. I had a nice chat with a gentleman who lives on St. Croix now. Interesting to hear how life goes there with goats wandering around everywhere!

Today is a sea day, as is tomorrow, then we land in Ft Lauderdale and back home. we have until Thursday when we leave for Michigan and family. I'll be happy to see everyone again and look forward to Great Grandbaby Nora's arrival in June.

Panama

Today we are crossing in the Panama canal. Old locks. Currently we are in the Milleflores lake then into Gatun lake before entering the second set of locks to the Gulf. Last time we did this we were in the new locks so it is interesting to see the difference. We have just been passed by a container ship on the new lock side.

Yesterday we docked at the new dock in Panama. Last trip we tendered in to the marina area. They had shuttles taking us to a hotel meeting space. Unfortunately for us it was a 20 minute walk BACK to the catamaran we had booked. It was called the Red Cat for obvious reasons. A nice thing here in Panama is that they treat the seniors very nicely with discounts on many things. They escorted us onto the cat first so we had seats in the shade. That was a nice perk!

We sailed and motored around the many ships waiting to enter the canal. Some wait weeks for their turn. It costs about $500,000. for our ship to go and cruise ships have preference.

Near the island of Taboga we anchored for a while for a bit of swimming. Many dove off the boat into the cool water. We didn't. Then we sailed around to the other side and the little town for everyone to get off for a beach day. We made a rookie decision to not wear our shoes so we couldn't walk very far on the very hot streets. What a stupid decision!! But we rented an umbrella and sat on the sand and went into the Pacific. Walking was impossible so we didn't go much further. Lunch was served with more drinks as we sailed away. Some young women on a girls trip were very interested in their hair extensions and makeup and spent about the entire time taking photos of themselves posing. Entertaining at least. It amused us as well as the French couple sitting with us. Many eye rolls!!

Everyone danced and had fun on the boat. What a nice day despite toasted feet!!

We'll spend the day doing this crossing then to Aruba tomorrow. Tonight we dine in the Pinnacle grill again...yum!!!!

Panama canal

We are just entering the first lock of the old set. There will be inches on either side. "Mules" or Small trains pull us through.  

We ate Panama buns in honor of the transit. It will take all day to enter the gulf.