Epic Birthday Holiday - but where I am I going, and what's on my kindle?!

I'm so excited! In a few hours time I will be leaving for the airport, for what will be I believe the longest flight I've ever taken (almost 15 hours)... and once that is out of the way assuming I'll still be in one piece (although most likely knackered) - I'll be in Santiago, Chile. 

And that is just for one night, where I'll be staying in a gorgeous luxury hotel, before transferring to San Antonio for a 16 Night Cruise on board the Norwegian Sun. 

Ain't she a beauty! If you been following me for a while you will perhaps have worked out that I absolutely love holidays and cruising, probably even more than I love reading, although I can normally combine the two quite easily. 

Over the 16 Nights onboard the ship I will be stopping in

Coquimbo, Chile

Arica, Chile

Pisco, Peru

Callao (Lima), Peru

Trujillo (Salverry), Peru

Manta, Ecaudor

Panama City, Panama 

Cartagena, Colombia

and finally will end in Miami, with a night in a hotel before flying home.  

And between Panama and Colombia, there is a full transit of the Panama Canal, which I'm lead to believe is spectacular cruising and will be fascinating, and I am so looking forward to it. 

But didn't you just go away over Christmas, I hear you ask?! - Well yes, but 10 years ago for my 30th, I decided that every 5 years to mark my next "big / bigger" birthday, that I would take myself off on a holiday that is far more exotic, expensive and memorable than any of my regular holidays.  And so on the 28th February, when I'm in Peru, I will be turning the big 4-0! 

Kind of dreading the fact that I'm now in the last week or so of my 30s, given mentally I reckon I'm still in my 20s.. it's always slightly scary moving into a new decade! But I'll ignore that for the moment, and concentrate of the fact that I'm about to spend time in South America, a continent I have never even given much thought about travelling to - until this cruise itinerary came into my life.

I hope you will agree that this really should be a once in a life time trip, and even though my birthday itself is being spent in a port which I have no plans for which is a shame, as on my 30th I swam with Dolphins and my 35th I fed and bathed Elephants, both on the day itself, I suspect this as a whole will be just as special and memorable. 

So in between running around the ship like a headless chicken as I often do on cruises, and soaking up so much much needed winter sun, exploring the ports and going off on various excursions, I will of course have my kindle in my hands frequently. 

Here are all the review books currently on my kindle waiting for me to read them.

What do you think of these books? Which should I make sure I definitely read (I will get to them all eventually)?  And what on earth books am I go going to start the holiday with on the flight - I will be hoping to sleep too, but it will probably be a mix of dozing, opening kindle until eyes feel heavy again and then more dozing - I could only afford economy! 

And on what is in total an almost 3 week holiday, just how many books do you think I'll read? Funnily if I was to predict it, I'd say less than on a 2 week holiday but you never know! 

Anyways the blog will be quiet until I'm back, but hope you will all join me on 13th March for my review of Sylvia's Second Act by Hilary Yablon. 

Bring on the holiday!