Page 116 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2022 DISCOVERING MADRID

I immediately signed up when I heard about travel clinic that promised quick results for a
Holland America's 10-day cruise to some of my fee. Clutching my phone with the results, we
favorite Sea of Cortez ports. The Zuiderdam went through several health-oriented checks
was scheduled to depart San Diego right before before boarding. It looked like the crew and
Christmas and return January 2, rescuing me passengers were strictly following masking and
from the busyness of the holiday season. sanitizing rules. Still, I was immensely relieved
Granted, Covid was still a very real thing, but when our bodies and bags were safely en-
the cruise line's precautions seemed good sconced in our suite. A glass of bubbly from the
enough to instill hope for a successful, healthy chilled bottle of Vieux Clicquot waiting on the
journey. We were so stir-crazy ready to travel table helped soothe the nerves.
we were willing to take a risk. Our gamble paid Thanks to a broken femur, I was hobbling
off, I'm happy to say, and it was wonderful to be around with a cane. I quickly found the many
back on the sea. long hallways a challenge, one that helped my
A Leisurely Itinerary leg heal. The ship offered all sorts of Baja ad-
Packing was actually fun, as more than two ventures like kayaking, snorkeling and zip lin-
years had passed since our last big adventure. ing. I could barely manage the sloping gangway.
Our cruise clothes came out of hiding in time We settled in for a completely relaxing vaca-
for alterations—we both got thinner and tion instead. We walked around the Promenade
shorter during the hiatus. The hardest part of Deck and I pedaled away at the gym, but more
the preparations was getting our Covid tests adventuresome activities off ship were limited.
one day before sailing, solved by finding a Christmas Day found us in Cabo San Lucas,

116 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022