Class Reunion Eastern Caribbean Cruise - The Last Dance

Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The last day of a wonderful vacation is always hard for me. It was especially so this day, because I knew it would be a long while, probably, before I would see a lot of the people I had just spent some of the best days of my life with: carefree days full of sea and sunshine and fabulous food and laughter and memories.

We'd had some grandiose ideas of how to spend this last day exploring the island or going to Casa Bacardi or getting in a bunch of last-minute sightseeing. In the end, we decided that the sight we really wanted to see was each other, and the time we had left, we wanted to spend together. And so we decided to walk to Isla Verde beach, which, as I mentioned before, was maybe ten minutes from the hotel.

Every picture tells a story, so here are a few stories for you:

Girls just wanna have fun!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Three Amigos
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

These little guys were all over
our spot in the shade. Can't blame them!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

It's a nice expanse of beach, perfectly suited for a long walk.
Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Everybody is having a good time,
and Alan's cup (RIP) is in the photo!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

At lunchtime, we ate at a little restaurant across the street called Don Jose, where we ordered traditional dishes and had a great time in the air conditioning. Actually, the air conditioning was blowing us out of the room. But maybe that's because we had started to become acclimated to the heat and humidity. Not sure what to order when you're there? Here's an article you might enjoy. I had mofongo. It took quite a while for our food to come, and we were pretty happy with it when it did.

Come on in, the water's fine!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Hanging out at the Hampton Inn.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We spent the afternoon back at Hampton Inn, hanging out by the pool, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and chatting. Everyone was reluctant to leave the group for any length of time, so we took turns doing laundry and packing our bags and returning to the group. It was a lazy, relaxed, nostalgic kind of day.

Beautiful flowers in the pool area.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The hot tub was just right.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

What a bonding experience this trip was. In fact, we've decided to not wait five years until our next reunion. We're splitting the time in half and cruising to Alaska next fall. Why not? If you want to come with us, the more, the merrier. It turns out that we're still a fun bunch, and we've turned out to be pretty awesome grown-ups. Well, most of us, anyway...

Oh! And...I have to go back for another visit to the Isle of Enchantment, because I have still not been to Bacardi!

The last sunset...
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Class Reunion Eastern Caribbean Cruise - Old San Juan

Ready for an adventure!
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And the next day, there we were back in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Some of our classmates were going straight from the ship to the airport and home, but a group of us had decided to extend the vacation to enjoy more time together and also to hang out on this beautiful island, relaxing.

Cobbled streets of OSJ.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

The delayed gratification of Old San Juan awaited, but first we had to check in at the Hampton Inn in Isla Verde again. It was kind of like coming home, and some of the folks who had stayed downtown before the cruise decided to come on over to our place for this last installment of our reunion. If you're gonna hang out together...hang out together, right?

Before we knew it, we'd piled into a taxi van and were on our way to Old San Juan, where we planned to tour the San Juan National Historic Site, most notably El Morro. We had assumed we would be dropped off at the entrance to the fort, but no. The drop-off point was at least a mile away. We were told to grab the free tram that goes around in a loop around the tourist area, and that there's one that goes by every few minutes. Sweet! 

And they did come around every few minutes, but they were always full. Totally full. Absolutely full. Never an available seat. So, we decided to start walking. After all, it looked pretty close. And that's the thing about the tropics. Things look pretty close, and they are, but it's hot and it's muggy and the sun is beating down on you, even through the clouds. Long story short, not everybody was able to make it out to the fort, which disappointed me greatly. After all, El Morro is the Big Draw. As I mentioned in a previous post, it's a World Heritage Site. To miss it while being so close to it is a shame. But if your feet are hurting and you're thirsty for something icy and you're just exhausted, there are vendors and park benches and shady places to hang out while you wait for your group to come back.

From El Morro to Condado.
What a view!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

"Battle of San Juan"
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

For those of us who were able to proceed to El Morro, it did not disappoint. It is alive with history. On this particular day, it was even more alive with history than usual. There was a re-enactment going on of the Battle of San Juan in 1797. We watched the costumed players for a while and then made our way inside the fort, where we enjoyed beautiful views of the surrounding area, took photos, explored, and imagined what it would have been like to wear all that heavy clothing in this climate. Did I mention how hot and humid it was? Be prepared. Stay hydrated. Wear sun protection. And be sure to check out the deep recesses of the Castillo, where you'll experience actual coolness!

San Juan Cathedral
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Continuing our walking tour of the area, we stopped at the Cathedral of San Juan, which has been around for 500 years (1511). Yes, there are buildings in the New World that are old! Naturally, it isn't like the great European cathedrals, but it is still impressive and serves the community well. Puerto Rico is a very Catholic place. There was a small wedding going on by the altar, so we did our best to be respectful, disappearing into the background. Best wishes to the happy couple!

Enjoying a pina colada (yes, they make "virgin" ones, too)!
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We proceeded through Old San Juan's picturesque streets to the commercial areas of the town in search of souvenirs and a opted for a mandatory pina colada at Barrachina, where the drink was first served. Don't you agree? But we were starting to get hungry, and we'd promised to gather together with our whole group for dinner at the Courtyard. Sadly, it was time to go. Until next time Viejo San Juan. And there will be a next time!

Until next time, OSJ!
Don't even think about finding a parking space here.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Links to other  San Juan posts:
Arriving in San Juan
All Aboard the Celebrity Summit
Anniversary Cruise:  Puerto Rico, Day 1
Anniversary Cruise:  Puerto Rico, Day 2
Anniversary Cruise:  Puerto Rico, Day 3

Class Reunion Eastern Caribbean Cruise - St. Thomas

Approaching St. Thomas. Smooth sailing!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Day was dawning as we neared St. Thomas, and the ship entered the harbor at Charlotte Amalie on such silky-smooth waters, it was hardly believable. It was a spectacular day, the last full one of this cruise. [To read about our previous trip to Charlotte Amalie, click here.]

We had scheduled one last snorkel adventure, to Turtle Cove at Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. There, we saw a surprising number of sea turtles (must be why they call it Turtle Cove!) and other marine life in waters that were incredibly clear, calm, and just the right temperature. The hubster did very well, in spite of his toe, still swollen from the Antigua snorkel.

Thank you so much, Bob!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Bob and Karen are so much fun to snorkel with. They know the name of everything that lurks under the sea, it seems, and can find unusual, exotic creatures that escape the notice of those with less experience such as myself. And so, I appreciate them and their encouragement to explore coral reefs and rock formations in search of species both rare and plentiful.

Beach break! Honeymoon Beach, Water Island, St. Thomas
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

After the snorkel, we motored over to Druif Bay and Honeymoon Beach at Water Island for a beach break, burgers, and drinks. The beach was lovely and secluded (if you don't count the sailboats at anchor in the bay). There are sailboats at anchor all over every available bay in this area, it seems. It's understandably a favorite destination for boat dwellers. Who can blame them?

She said yes! The captain proposes
via cell phone. Why not?
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Back at the ship, it was time to start packing our bags between visits to the pool area and the buffet. We prepared to go to the dining room for our farewell meal. You know, sometimes, it just is what it is: I have no idea what caused it, but just before dinner, I started getting the worst acid stomach ever. I ordered some food, then I excused myself to go to the little on-board store to see if they maybe had some Tums or other quick antacid, but they were completely sold out. I was desperate. All they had was an over-the-counter pill that can take hours to start working, but what could I do? I bought some, took one, and returned to the table to try to eat. But I just couldn't.

The poor waiter! He fretted and fussed over me (I'm sure he must have thought I was seasick, which was not the case) and offered to bring me all kinds of other dishes that he said would be no trouble at all. “Doesn't Madam like the dinner?” “Would Madam prefer something prepared differently?” “Would Madam like some food brought to her room?” Every time I got up to walk around in hopes of feeling better, I would come back to the table to find he had covered my food so it wouldn't dry out or get cold. What a sweetheart he was. But honestly, I couldn't eat a single bite of anything. Every sip of water caused a rush of acid. One spoonful of soup was all I could manage, and that was a huge mistake, throwing me into fresh agonies.

There was just nothing to be done but to hope the next day would bring relief. What a lousy way to end such a fantastic cruise! Which just goes to show, even someone with a cast-iron stomach such as myself would do well to be a little more careful. But what are vacations for, but to throw caution to the wind? Note to self: Don't forget the Pepto-Bismol! 

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

By the way, I've recently come across a website called Tom's Port Guides. It includes a wealth of information about various cruise ports and the nearby excursions and sights that are available. It'll make my next cruise vacation so much easier to plan. Check it out! My friends did, and they are still thanking me for telling them about Tom.