...and at sea as well.
I am all packed and about to head out the door. I'll be joining a rather large group of genealogists on the annual RootsMagic Cruise. We will depart Los Angeles and visit the "Mexican Riviera." That's the cities of Cabo San Lucas, then on to Mazatlan and finally to Puerto Vallarta before returning to Los Angeles. We have been promised a vibrant culture, world-class beaches, lush green rain forests, and vividly painted architecture. Of course, sitting in deck chairs in the sunshine won't hurt a bit nor will the gourmet meals that seem to be served almost around the clock.
The days at sea with be filled with genealogy presentations by Elizabeth Shown Mills, George G. Morgan, Diana Crisman Smith, Gary M. Smith, Bruce Buzbee, and yours truly. The topics will vary from traditional genealogy "how to" presentations to techniques for restoring photographs, the use of Google for genealogists, the efficient use of Ancestry.com, using maps, proper identification and use of sources, and more. Bruce Buzbee will offer several presentations on specific RootsMagic topics.
You can read more about this great cruise at http://www.rootsmagiccruise.com. It is obviously too late to make a reservation on this year's cruise but you might start thinking about next year.
This year's cruise ship includes a rock-climbing wall, multiple bars and lounges, a casino, an open atrium featuring shopping, an indoor/outdoor pool in a solarium with a sliding roof, another outdoor pool, 6 whirlpools, youth facilities, a day spa and a fitness center. OK, I don't think I'll try the rock-climbing wall or the casino, but all the other items sound tempting. Indeed, there is something for everyone on a cruise.
If you have never been on a cruise, you might start planning for next year. Multiple genealogy cruises are available most years. The price of a cruise is comparable or sometimes cheaper than attending a national genealogy conference while the scenery and food are much better! The other major advantage is that spouses who are not interested in genealogy will always prefer a cruise over a downtown conference center.
As you might guess, I'll be rather busy all week and Internet connectivity from the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas probably will be slow and perhaps difficult. I will pack a laptop but have no idea how much opportunity I will have to write and post new articles. However, I will be posting articles and possibly some pictures when I return.
In the meantime, I'm on vacation!
