Anniversary Cruise! Bonaire

Bonaire – Once a Visitor, Always a Friend!

You want to be here. You know you do. Bonaire.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

As we approached Bonaire this morning, I spied some large mounds of bright white in the distance, seemingly rising from the turquoise waters. Salt! When water is desalinated, are salt piles left behind? What is done with the salt? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself for no particular reason, just because I'm curious. If you're curious, too, you can read more about the process here.

The desert look of Bonaire was in stark contrast to the profusion of thick vegetation of Dominica and Grenada, but the economic chasm between the islands was just as startling. Bonaire is prosperous and filled with young diving “gods” and “goddesses” – tall, slim, muscular, healthy, young people with beautiful teeth and trendy clothes. The architecture is Dutch Colonial, though not necessarily old. The colors are bright, the streets are clean, and it feels very safe.

Tidepool inhabitant, Bonaire
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We left the ship but almost didn't manage to leave the dock. There were schools of tropical fish swimming around the pilings, with amazingly blue fish chasing them. It was fascinating. The water was so very clear and full of life. It was spectacular. No wonder this is “the” diving destination.

Vacation Rentals in Bonaire.
Yes, please!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We pried ourselves away, and off we went to explore on foot. We went to the left, along the waterfront, where there is a very nice concrete sidewalk right next to the water. Gentle waves lapped over coral next to the sidewalk, creating tidepools teeming with living things. Dive shops and scooter rental places abound, along with vacation rentals. I want one. Bonaire was much nicer than I expected, and I expected a lot.

It's a rough life, but someone has to live it. Bonaire.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We made a loop through the “downtown” area, then arrived back at the ship just in time for lunch. How convenient!

Looking for a sandy bit of Bonaire.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

After lunch, we disembarked and headed over to the right along the waterfront, in search of a little bit of sandy beach in order to enjoy a tiny swim in the Caribbean. Just on the other side of the Divi Flamingo resort, which wasn't very large, we found a place (Plaza Resort) with just enough sand so we wouldn't have to walk across the coral to get to the water. Ahhhh...fabulous! There's nothing like that light, salty taste on your lips. There were people snorkeling excitedly all around us, and they were apparently seeing lots of fishies.

Happily relaxed and refreshed looks like this.
Photo by Harry. All rights reserved.

Happily relaxed and refreshed, we made our way back to the ship and spent some time at the Sanctuary pool and hot tubs...again. It's become a habit, and it'll feel like deprivation when the cruise is over. Well, deprivation and wonderful memories!

We had a great day today. Bonaire feels like Aruba felt to us when we were there, only on a smaller scale. We think we would thoroughly enjoy a longer stay on Bonaire. The weather was hot and humid, but not nearly as oppressively so as Dominica. When I opened our balcony door this morning, the mirrors inside fogged up! When the wind came up, though, the temperature was comfortable.

Doing his work with a smile. Always.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

And here's what I had for dinner tonight: Chevre appetizer, mushroom soup, palate cleanser (sorbet), scallops in orange/butter sauce, Stilton, Menage a Trois (raspberry mousse, chocolate cake, panna cotta). Delicious!

Tonight's show: Comedian Tom Briscoe

And tomorrow, we will be in Aruba once again. I never thought I would ever be able to say that, and I'm delighted!

Salt Mounds in the Distance
Bonaire
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Anniversary Cruise! Grenada, the Spice Island

Grenada – The Spice Island

Docked at St. George's.
Photo by Harry.
All rights reserved.

Another beautiful island! We docked at St. George's, which is a larger town than Roseau (Dominica). The whole island seemed to still be trying to recover from Hurricane Ivan [five years before our visit]. Apparently, the aid money was misappropriated, if you can imagine such a thing. A block or two away from the main “tourist” area, the atmosphere suddenly felt somewhat weird – not threatening, exactly, but not inviting by any means. That could just be me, but I thought it felt a lot like Roatan [Honduras]. Third worldy in a not-so-good way. But, again, it could just be me. Anyway, lots of roofs were still missing, and half-hearted attempts at rebuilding were taking place. [I understand this situation is now being remedied, and other visitors to the island report an enchanting place.] Still, the island is lush and green and gorgeous, and you can't argue with that.

See the tiny, insane person jumping
off the falls, at the top, in the middle?
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We like to go on a scheduled excursion now and then, rather than being off exploring on our own all the time, and so we signed up for the day trip to Allandale Falls and Grand Etang Lake. Such beautiful vegetation! Flowers, mango trees, spices. This is not called “Spice Island” for nothing. Did you know that mace is the outside covering of nutmeg? Neither did I, but I discovered this factoid during a very interesting lecture on the spices of the island (during which the student in me was screaming out for a notebook). And, naturally, I purchased some spice necklaces for the folks back home. Then smelled amazing. The stuff we get in jars at the grocery store just can't compare to the fragrance of spices that are fresh.

The divers will be happy to pose for a
photo with you. For a small fee. A guy
has to earn a living, eh?
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The divers at the Falls were real daredevils, and there was wonderful music (and rum punch) awaiting us at the Lake. And not only that, but it felt wonderfully cool up in the mountains. After a steamy day like yesterday, what more could a girl want? So, there you go.

So enjoyed your music, guys!
A small tip is much appreciated.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Grand Anse is a lovely strip of white sand beach, three miles long. There are both white and black sand beaches on Grenada. I talked with a shipmate who had gone diving in Grenada, and she said the water was incredible and very clear, with lots of sea life and beautiful colors. Sometimes I think it would be fabulous to go diving, but then I have enough trouble just floating on top. Being under would be scary. Rather, the idea of being under would be scary. I'm not sure I could overcome it.

Grand Etang Lake, Grenada
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

While on the tour, we met a very nice couple from Colorado. We always seem to meet delightful folks! Mick and Teri were on the cruise with their friends Jodie and Chuck, and we all celebrated Teri's birthday at midnight at the “island party” on deck. The band played on, and the crowd was energetic and enthusiastic. That's what happens when people have a chance to really rest and relax. Happy people. But I'm getting ahead of myself again.

Uh, oh. There it goes...
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Grenada was the first port where we didn't have to dock a couple of miles from town. Three cheers! It does make a difference at the end of the day. Unfortunately, the wind blew my husband's hat off, sending it sailing down the dock and into the water. He was going to dive in after it. Can you imagine such a crazy idea? What if the ship shifts and crushes you? What if the current drags you under? What if you get stuck under the dock? What if you get sliced and diced by a propeller? What if you can't reach a ladder to get back up? Shudder! Happily, a ship's officer happened by and put a stop to that kind of thinking. Thank you, sir.

St. George's, Grenada
Photo by Chris.
All rights resrved.

Fishies in the water by the dock.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Yes, there was hot-tubbing and swimming at the Sanctuary after we came back on board. And, yes, it was wonderfully relaxing.

The captain's party for repeat Princess cruisers was held this evening at 7 p.m., and they served little hors d'heuvres and rum punch. Yes, more rum punch. It's popular. What can I say? Can you believe there was a couple present who had sailed over 500 days with Princess? Wow! No, I'm not jealous. Well, not exactly jealous. Okay, okay. Don't I wish!

Necklace with nutmeg, cinnamon,
cloves, allspice, and ginger. Mmmmm...
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

What I had for dinner:  Seafood appetizer, minestrone, salad, veal scallopini, and fruit/berry zabaglione. And it was Limoncello night. Our crazy waiter Robert kept filling up our glasses...personally, I think he might also have been sampling a bit, too, but please don't tell on him. It was fun seeing him having fun, and it was another great dinner.

Next up: Bonaire!

Anniversary Cruise! Dominica

Dominica

It was a beautiful, sunny day. We got up at our leisure, as we weren't quite docked yet. We had a light breakfast at the buffet, and off the ship we went to explore.

Black Sand Beach, Dominica
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Roseau looked so close that we decided to walk. Those rascals at Carnival Cruises got the primo docking place right downtown, just like in Charlotte Amalie, and we were off on the far side of the black sand beach. This turned out to be a happy thing, as we decided to walk on the beach a bit on our way to town. The black sand is so pretty, glistening as though it has little diamonds in it here and there. And there were some small pieces of sea glass – an added bonus!

Tattooz. Fun with a local.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

There was nobody on the beach but us, but we walked by lots of locals on the streets. All were especially friendly and relaxed. My husband particularly enjoyed meeting the owner of a tattoo parlor we walked past that was closed. My husband wanted me to take his picture as though he was about to get a tattoo, as a lark, and here came the owner of the place on a motorcycle. He gave my husband a gentle ribbing, offering to give him an “extra special” tat. All in good fun.

Quaint cottage.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The homes and buildings were colorful, and there was lots of what we would call poverty. But there seemed to be a strong faith-community presence, all different denominations. The Catholic cemetery was relatively well-traveled, serving as a kind of thoroughfare and shortcut. Folks we met along the way were very friendly and gracious and happy to have tourist dollars on the island.

We were joined by a couple of shipmates for part of our walk in the downtown area. There's a sort of natural camaraderie between virtual strangers on the ship that is, I think, an interesting phenomenon. It makes meeting people and being friendly very easy and comfortable. These particular people are Dutch and are doing a “back-to-back” (one right after another) cruise. Wouldn't that be nice?

We were treated so well here!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The weather was extremely hot and muggy. I had water with me and was drinking it, but nothing was working to cool me off. I thought I was going to faint and was starting to see stars. I told my husband I was overheating, and so we made our way directly to the very elegant Fort Young Hotel. We had hoped for air conditioning but settled very well for the lovely shade of the terrace patio. And...our shipmates were already there and invited us to join them. My physical distress must have been readily apparent, as the bartender/waitress brought over some cold facecloths for us. I thought this was especially kind and hospitable, especially since we weren't guests at the hotel. I don't imagine unconscious heatstroke victims are very good for business, though.

Cooling off.
Photo by one of the two shipmates,
but all rights are reserved anyway.

We decided against an adult beverage, opting instead for the most delicious and refreshing juice. I'm not even sure what kind it was, but it was like some kind of elixir. Yum. The conversation was political, yet friendly. It really is possible to discuss fiery topics in a civilized manner.

After an hour or so, everyone had cooled off sufficiently to feel able to saunter on. I have gained a new appreciation for sauntering, especially in tropical climates. Now I understand.

Downtown
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We walked around a bit in “downtown” Roseau and intended to return to the ship on foot. But when a cabbie stopped and offered to drive us there for $2 each, we took him up on it. We didn't see any big hotels other than the floating ones at the docks. The cabbie said the island is still unspoiled. If “unspoiled” means undeveloped, that's a fact. But it won't be for long. The scenery is gorgeous. There's a beautiful bay with sailboats and misty mountains. Very pretty and inviting, and, again, the people were super.

We could totally remodel this place!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Back at the ship, we had a snack at the buffet. A snack is pretty much available at the buffet at any time of day that decent people might want one. Then, my husband took a nap while I went hot tubbing at the Sanctuary again. Ahhh...

Note to Bob: Folks in the hot tub who dive and snorkel were unanimous in choosing Bonaire as the place to go diving/snorkeling.

The young couple from Puerto Rico didn't come to the dining room tonight, but our other table mates were there with bells on. We also saw them later at the comedy show (comedian Carl Strong), and they appeared to be having a great time. We decided to catch part of the Fernandez hypnotist show again, since it was so enjoyable before. And it was a blast again.

What I had for dinner: A shrimp and scallop cocktail appetizer, the mango/pear soup, Caesar salad, cioppino, a fruit and cheese plate, and pineapple crème brulee. There's only one thing to do after a meal like that. We took a walk on the Promenade Deck, where my husband pointed out that air conditioning was blowing down on us. No wonder it was so pleasant and cool!

Along the waterfront in Roseau.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Raul, our cabin attendant, is very attentive and eager to please. I think he might be relatively new on the job, and he's doing very well indeed. Our waiter, Robert, automatically brings our beverages of choice when he sees us coming. He and his assistant, Angel, are helping to make our meals memorable.

Tomorrow, we have booked an excursion in Grenada. Since we must be off the ship at 8:50 in the morning, we've ordered room service and will be breakfasting on the balcony. Are we having a wonderful time? Yes, we are.

Anniversary Cruise! St. Thomas

Arriving in St. Thomas
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We sailed to St. Thomas, arriving early in the morning. We had breakfast at the buffet, and then we went ashore to explore.

Let me just say, I was looking forward to Charlotte Amalie! I remember it fondly from our younger days as a charming place with great shops and boutiques, and there were palm-frond-roofed, little open-air huts on the waterfront where you could enjoy a frozen daiquiri (strawberry, banana, and lots of other flavors) while watching sailboats and cruise ships in the harbor. The last time I saw the SS Homeric (on which I sailed with my family as a child), it was anchored at Charlotte Amalie. I remember, also, flying to St. Thomas in a little three-seater tin can, managing a landing – and, even scarier, a subsequent take-off – at the airport. But that's another story.

Charlotte Amalie
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

The shops are still there, lots of them, but it's different, somehow. Well, of course it is. It's been years and years. For one thing, the little huts are gone, and the town is built up. There went my plan to sit by the water, enjoying one of those frozen daiquiris. The weather being very hot and sticky; it would have been so nice!

In Charlotte Amalie
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

On the bright side, I won that shopping club book, remember? So I shopped! I went to all the stores with a freebie and collected those, along with a Del Sol tote bag (They are fun, because they “colorize” in the sun). Shall I use it as a grocery bag? Maybe. Or not. [I'm actually using it as a yarn bag for my numerous projects. Works great!]

So, we got off the ship and took an open-air “taxi” (open-sided seating for 12 with a canopy on a chassis that must be a pick-up truck, as it had a club-cab front). It was $4 each to downtown, where we did the aforementioned shopping.

It was hot.
Photo by innocent bystander.
All rights reserved.

Then, we decided to walk to the famous sky ride to enjoy a beautiful, panoramic view. Zowie – it was hot, hot, hot and muggy, muggy, muggy in the tram on the way up to Paradise Point. I thought I was going to pass out. Just as we got to the top of the sky-ride and were about to disembark, the sky clouded over. The view was still spectacular! At the top, overlooking the beautiful harbor and picturesque city, I enjoyed that frozen strawberry daiquiri, and Harry had a Pina Colada. And so, you see, all was not lost.

When vacationing,
be sure to take every
opportunity to be a goofball.
It adds to the enjoyment!
Photo by Harry
All rights reserved.

We opted to get a ride back to the ship from the sky ride, as I did not want to walk the two miles back to town, much less four miles back to the ship. These distances are approximate, based upon my perception, which may have been clouded a bit by the heat and humidity. On the other hand, they may be entirely accurate. $5 each, and worth every penny.

Handsome fella!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Back at the dock, we took some shots of iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks. They were everywhere, smiling – well, they looked like they were smiling, anyway. Such happy creatures to observe.

Back on board, Harry opted for a short nap, while I went to the hot tub at the Sanctuary pool area (adults only at this particular pool area). Ahhh...how nice it was! Hardly anybody was there, and it was peaceful and quiet. Just what I needed. Note to self: Do this again!

Tea is served every afternoon in one of the dining rooms, and so we went to tea, where we met a very nice couple from St. Kitts. They're English, but they moved there a year ago from Indiana, where the gentleman was a professor of veterinary medicine at Purdue. Our political views were quite opposite, and I was very proud of the fact that my husband was able to be rather pleasant, anyway! We got on very well, actually, and only noticed we were the last ones in the dining room because the staff started locking up. You meet the nicest people on cruise ships.

Note to Bob: They said the diving and snorkeling are fabulous at St. Kitts!

Another handsome fella!
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Tonight was “formal night.” You don't have to get all dressed up, but it's fun, so why not go along with it and have a good time? Most everyone participated, and what a good-looking bunch they all were. [If you're hoping for a hair appointment or a mani/pedi for formal night, you'd better schedule it ahead of time, before boarding the ship. Just sayin'.]

We were a little concerned when our table mates didn't come and didn't come; but, then, there they were, and very friendly and chatty, too, which was awfully nice and a great improvement over last night. So, it must have been that they were tired from the travel.

Here's what we ate. I know you can't wait to find out: I started with a shrimp cocktail, followed by asparagus soup, Caesar salad, beef tenderloins, and “anniversary” cake. If you're celebrating a special day while on the cruise – or you're on the cruise because of a special day – you can pre-order this wonderful dessert. It's complimentary, which is nice. Said cake was so decadent, a person really should only eat a bit or two, especially after such a wonderful meal. But I ate the whole thing anyway, planning to compensate with a few extra trips up and down the "stairmaster." Harry had crab quiche for an appetizer, then the asparagus soup, followed by the beef tenderloins.

A third couple joined us at the table this evening, a very attractive couple from Carolina, Puerto Rico. They are in their 30's and have two children, a boy and a girl. He speaks a little English, but she doesn't speak English at all. I am wondering why the cruise line would partner them with two not-quite-as-young couples, neither of which speaks Spanish, when there are quite a large percentage of Spanish-speaking folks on board? They seemed quite ill-at-ease, though we did our very best to engage them in conversation. The table is quite large and would easily fit eight instead of the six spaces allotted, so it's difficult to converse across it. I hope the young couple will come back tomorrow night, as they are really quite charming. It's just too bad our conversation had to be so basic.

The show tonight in the main theater was a song-and-dance extravaganza called, “Do You Wanna Dance?” I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't Harry's cup of tea. After that, we went to the lounge for “Fernandez,” a hypnotist act. He was amazing! And the volunteers were a stitch, especially one young man whose “job” it was to keep the noise level down...in “Chinese.” Very politically incorrect, and I'm pretty sure any Asians in the crowd might have found it offensive. But he was so intense and sincere and hilarious. It would have been difficult to not forgive him.

Tomorrow: Dominica!

Leaving St. Thomas.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Anniversary Cruise! Arriving in Puerto Rico

My husband and I were celebrating a Big Anniversary a couple of years ago, so we thought it would be nice to cruise the Caribbean, then revisit our “old haunts” in PuertoRico, which is where he was stationed (NAS Roosevelt Roads) just a month after we were married. Back then, I had to stay behind to save up enough funds to ship our household goods, our car, and myself to the island to join him. That took six months. It was a very long six months!

This time, though, we were going together. At the same time. Here's my diary from the trip:

April 24 – San Francisco to Charlotte

 

Here we are on US Air Flight 404, on the first leg of our red-eye flight. We'll transfer in Charlotte, NC. I haven't been in North Carolina since many years ago, when I was a preteen and my family drove through the state on our way to Florida. We were moving from the Montreal area to the United States. But I digress, as I am so prone to do!

Tired but excited!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

They've loaded the plane early. Everyone must be on board, because they are getting ready to shut the door – almost ½ hour early. Come on! Who ever heard of that?! Night-night. The cabin lights are about to go off.

April 25 – Charlotte to San Juan

I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes, even red-eye flights. I couldn't stay awake, and I couldn't stay asleep. Note to self: Next time, get some Ambien or Benadryl or something!

So, the sleep deprivation (and a little stress, but we won't go there) explains what happened at the airport in San Juan. Without thinking, we allowed our carry-on luggage to be loaded into the van and transported to the ship along with our checked luggage. So, it wasn't with us. What a knuckle-headed thing to do [Just how knuckle-headed, we wouldn't find out until later]! When we got to the ship, which was just a 10 or 15 minute ride on the shuttle, the bags had been “delayed” [ya...no kidding...they were probably going through all the unlocked bags...], so there we were in our traveling clothes instead of the bathing suits I had specifically packed in the carry-ons so we could hang out by the pool or in the hot tub. Ah, well.

The main lobby. Fancy!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The ship, the Caribbean Princess, is lovely. It's almost exactly – if not exactly exactly – like the Sapphire Princess [another cruise...], which makes it easy, convenient, and nice for orienting oneself and finding where things are located.

We went up to the buffet for a light lunch around 2 p.m. The weather was cloudy and warm on this day, but no rain. Then sunshine. Then cloudy again. We must be in Puerto Rico. Yay!

Have the bags arrived?
In our cabin. Very nice!
Photo by Harry. All rights reserved.

It seemed like a good idea to drop by the cabin to see if our bags had arrived yet. And, hurray, the carry-on with the shoes and snorkel gear had arrived (very useful on the ship...). Just a tiny problem, though: The bag was in total disarray, and Harry's brand-new, never-been-used-before, purchased-just-for-the-trip camera was not in the zippered pocket of the bag. Sometime between when we entrusted our luggage to the cruise guys [As far as we knew at the time, it was “the cruise guys.” Turns out, it was a “independent” transport crew that the cruise line is not responsible for. Beware!] and the time it arrived in our room, someone had rifled through the bag and stolen the camera. I called the concierge desk to report the missing camera and filed a report. Since we didn't have the cruise line's own travel insurance, having opted for one through the travel agent, we would have to file a claim with our insurance company if the camera didn't turn up. I was very upset. It wasn't about the camera being stolen...it was about not being able to take pictures with it.

Making the best of it.
Actually got compliments!
Photo by Harry. All rights reserved.

As I had walked away from the bags at the airport, a small voice inside my head said, “Take your carry-ons with you!” But I was too tired and sleepy from the trip to go back to the luggage area. Very disappointing way to start a dream vacation.

A second carry-on, the one with my swimsuit cover-up/dress, arrived, so I changed into that. Harry was able to at least take off his boots and put on some sandals.

To make a long story short, the bag with our clothing finally arrived, but not before we had already gone to dinner. Note to self: See? You packed too many clothes, anyway. Response to self: Oh, yah? We'll see about that.

Waiting for the movie.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

After dinner, we went up on deck to watch the “movie under the stars.” It was a Tina Turner concert, and it was a lot of fun. [I know you want to know what we had for dinner. I'm getting to that, don't worry.] After the movie, we went to the Explorer Lounge to see a flamenco guitarist, Juan Carlos, complete with really terrific dancers. Juan Carlos was outstanding. What with the ship being docked right next to Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, it seemed entirely appropriate to enjoy a Pina Colada. San Juan is, after all, the place where Pina Coladas were “invented” or “created” or “concocted” or whatever. How about “first served”? Yes, that's it.

Fabulous! Juan Carlos & Dancers
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Dinner in the dining room was simply excellent. I started with a very tasty spring roll with peanut sauce, followed by a fresh and crisp Caesar salad. Next, I chose a cool and refreshing Pina Colada yogurt soup. For my main dish, I decided on pan-seared barramundi with rice pilaf and asparagus spears. Finally, for dessert, Bananas Foster. Yum! Harry had seafood terrine, mushroom soup, Cajun-style crawdad pot pie, and also the Bananas Foster. Having trouble breathing because you're so stuffed after imagining all that? Yes, you can order an appetizer and the soup and a salad and a main dish and dessert. Still hungry? Yes, you can order two appetizers and two main dishes and two desserts. No, you don't have to decide between two equally enticing dishes. You can have them both! The answer is “Yes!” Don't feel like eating in the dining room? The same delicious food is being offered in the buffet area (in case you want to eat twice...).

There were only two table mates who joined us at our table-for-six this evening. They seemed very nice but were rather shy and non-conversational. It was hard work. But perhaps they were really tired from their flight, too.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro
("El Morro" for short)
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Following dinner, my husband and I went to the lounge for a comedy act, but it turned out to be rather vulgar. We stayed for maybe 5 minutes of it (thankfully), then went up on deck for the sail-away past El Morro. It was unfortunately a very dark night, so pictures with my camera were a waste (Harry's MIA camera would have caught the scenes perfectly...grrr...). Well, “It is what it is,” as they say; I am over the initial anger and have determined not to allow this one unfortunate incident to ruin a fabulous vacation.

Our room, A219 – Aloha Deck, is just like the cabin on our cruise to Mexico [more on that soon in another blog entry], only the floor plan is reversed. The lovely soap and shampoo and lotion are the same (must be a specially-made formula for Princess lines). Smells delicious (but don't eat it)!

This afternoon, I “won” a port and shopping book at the drawing, so now I shall have to go shopping so I can save lots of money.

My husband did really well today, all things considered, except he made me a tiny bit crazy asking, “So, what's next?” while I was trying to empty the bags and stow our stuff. It was almost as though he was doing it on purpose to frustrate me. Almost. But of course he would not do that, right?

As we sail away from Puerto Rico, I find I'm looking forward to our longer stay on the island right after the cruise. My husband's brother and our sister-in-law will be joining us. I hope they want to visit Old San Juan! But we shall have a wonderful time, no matter what.

View from balcony, stage left.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

My legs are kind of sore from all the trips up and down the stairs today. I prefer to use the stairs rather than the elevators. This is so I can burn off all (or at least some) of the extra calories I know I'm consuming because of the tasty, ever-present, enticingly delicious, and pretty-much-always-available food and snacks. Yes, I know I could be eating light. But you're kidding, right?

All in all, it's an excellent start. Tomorrow, we'll be in St. Thomas.

Aruba! One Happy Island

Saturday – One Happy Island

Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Here we are at the airport. We've gone through customs, which only took an hour, so now we wait for our flight. So sad to be leaving this island! But isn't it great that they have you go through customs right away, instead of half-way through your trip home? Very accommodating.

The cab driver this afternoon was a woman, very friendly (like most everyone else here) and chatty. So I asked her a lot of questions, because I'm curious. She made the short trip to the airport fly by in a flash, and I'm glad we got in her cab.

Like most natives of Aruba, she speaks four languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamento (the Aruban language). Her daughter is studying in Holland to be a dietician, and she's already all over her mom about her diet. Kids are the same the world over, eh? She (the cabbie) said that everybody in Aruba owns a home, however modest or lavish it may be. The average wage is about $6 (“working” folks at the hotels and so on...not the doctors and lawyers!). Both spouses have jobs, and everyone lives well and comfortably. If not (she says), it's because the person is lazy and won't work. There is no unemployment here, she says. She has no sympathy for the lazy!

When Arubans vacation, they visit the other islands, Venezuela, Colombia, the United States, and Holland (She calls it Holland rather than The Netherlands). She's been to Holland twice and says it's beautiful, but she wouldn't want to live there. She says it's too big (She likes the size of her island), and it's way to liberal for her. Arubans are Dutch citizens and can just up and move to Holland, but not vice-versa. Folks from Holland have to have a special visa to live in Aruba. Otherwise, she says, they would all be in Aruba! She's glad Aruba is still a safe place, but it has grown a lot in population, and she doesn't know how much longer it will be that way. “You never know who you're letting into the country,” she says. [Again, this was just a couple of weeks before Natalee Holloway disappeared.]

Factoid: Did I mention that the tap water in Aruba is fantastic? I mean, it is truly just delicious and better than most bottled water I've had. It's desalinated, and it's very soft. There's no need for conditioner in your hair.

Factoid: People from other places come here and sometimes sunbathe topless and appear all over the island in various states of undress. While the people at the resorts turn a blind eye, I'm told that Arubans find it highly disrespectful and immodest. So, please try to respect the local culture when you visit the island. We didn't see a lot of toplessness, but we did see one beautiful blond who was completely naked on the beach. However, she was about two years old, so I guess it's okay.

Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We boarded our plane, and my heart grew heavy. As we lifted off, tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I did not want to leave. Not yet. Aruba really is “One Happy Island,” except when you're going home. That part is devastatingly sad.

Aruba! Rental Cars, Souvenirs, and Lost Credit Cards

Friday

California Lighthouse
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Today, the rental car agency came by to get the car. They claimed there was damage to the bumper. I did notice the scratch after our towels were stolen, but I can't say whether or not it was there when we got the car. I do know this: We did not hit anything. Anyway, bummer. We were dinged $100 and found out later this is a common scam here when you don't rent with the big guys. So, it would have been cheaper to spend the extra $30 for an air-conditioned, new vehicle instead of the rattletrap we got. Though, to be fair, it started and stopped on command. C'est la vie. Note to self: Rent from the big guys next time!

I went over to the Alhambra shopping area to see about souvenirs. Sure enough, they had everything right there, and cheaper than downtown! Note to self: Bargain hunting isn't necessarily a bargain! Oh, and the Delft is real [blush]. There was a great teapot, but they don't ship and so I couldn't take it home. We were concerned about the weight of the bags. When we got to the airport, they didn't even weigh them. Good thing, too... I picked up some Aruba Aloe after-sun lotion and bath gel. As I mentioned before, it is great stuff.

Druif Beach, Aruba
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Then we went to relax at the beach. Ahhhh.....bliss.

Resident pelican.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Happy hour at the Tamarijn was extra special, with an extended time and live music by a “no stress” band. It was very fun interacting with the folks who had just arrived, as well as with some who, like us, were leaving. Reluctantly. The sunset was splendiforous, complete with sailboats passing and all that. The resident pelican was diving for his dinner from the pilings, rather successfully. [Interestingly, we ordered a calendar a couple of years ago that accidentally had pictures of bathing suit models in the center. Guess what I saw in the background? Yep. The picture you see here, complete with the resident pelican. Those lucky ladies were in Aruba for a shoot.]

I went for a last swim in the sea. It was a surprisingly emotional experience. As I watched the sun go down, I thought about all the sights and sounds and smells of our vacation, and I'll admit to being a bit teary-eyed at the thought that it was almost over.

We went to have pizza at Pizza Bob's, then walked to the Alhambra to catch the shuttle (Did I mention there's a shuttle that makes a circuit around the resort areas? You just hop on. It's free) and realized when I tried to buy a couple of CDs (I'd found some local music! Have a listen to Nico Connor's "Fragile" from "Caribbean Moods") that I didn't have my credit card. We went back to Bob's to see if they had it, but they couldn't find it, either, and were pretty frantic. I wasn't accusing anyone of anything, but they were taking no chances and looked everywhere. They were taking my plight to heart. In fact, everyone in the place was. Everybody was checking under all the chairs and all over the bar area. So, it was a tiny bit embarrassing when my husband showed and had my card with him [blush]. Everyone was so relieved – especially me – and the owner bought us a drink for our trouble, or to celebrate, whichever. How nice is that? They wanted to make sure we left Aruba with good feelings.

So, we stayed at Pizza Bob's for a while, it being our last evening on the island, and we chatted with some of the customers, one of whom has been coming to Aruba for 21 years in a row. That seems to happen a lot! Again, very nice people, mostly from Boston. I wasn't in a big hurry to get back to “our place,” but I needed to pack our bags. Sigh. No-o-o-o-o-o-o..........