Grand Turk

Vacation Day 7 (or somewhere around there) - Grand Turk is an island that is part Turks and Caicos. The typical island stuff goes on here … snorkeling, diving, sailing, sunbathing and, or course, shopping. It seems I read that there are somewhere around 3600 people that live here; it's a very quiet place, at least until the Cruise ships arrive. We came in at 1pm, right after the Carnival Valor.    

A couple years back, we made our first visit to Grand Turk and discovered a Margaritaville tucked into a back corner. Beau, being a HUGE Jimmy Buffet fan, had to go and we had a great time sitting at the bar, having a couple drinks and watching the party progress. There was no question we were doing the same this trip. There is a shopping square right off the pier. Beau purchased me a pair of silver earrings and we bought T-shirts from Pirana Joes. (A particularly fun brand that is not available in the states). 

 Our new friends Ken and Sue joined us to toil away the three remaining hours at Margaritaville. Although they are incredibly overpriced - $7.50 for a beer, $10 for a drink, it is a place of great atmosphere and fun.

When you sail, most everyone turns off their cell phones and computers. You can get internet access out here but it is a bit expensive – the smallest package being $59 for 150 minutes. As a result, one of the big offerings to get folks into your business is free wi-fi. You can always spot the places. There is a large gathering pressed in elbow to elbow. It's those couple minutes you text, tweet, check e-mail and blog.

And then, the return to ship for a 6:30 sailing. Our last port of call. One more day at sea and this cruise will be over.    Big Sigh ......

Thanks for dropping by,

Lorrie

St Thomas – Vacation Day 7

The usual morning in ship board paradise – except earlier than typical. We purchased a snorkeling trip with our new friends, Ken and Sue. We met on the pier for 8am and took at 40 minute ride across rather choppy water, sprinkled showers, to a cove in the Castaway Girls catamaran. 

 Here we donned our fins and snorkel gear and spent around an hour and a half in the water. The water is warm, mostly clear and the fish were both colorful and in abundance. Definitely beat the snorkeling at Princess Cay.

Many tourists shop at St. Thomas, they have blocks and blocks lined with shops – a whole lot of jewelry and then the typical T-shirts and curios. We shopped only the dock shops and got away with just a couple bottles of Crown Royale (about ½ the price as the states).

A nice dinner with our table mates, Karaoke and a Marriage Game in one of the lounges and off to bed … before 11pm, of course.

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie 

St Maarten, Vacation Day 6

The weather turned windy and we chugged along at a good pace all through the night with a fair amount of sway and a whole lot of creaks and groans from the ship herself. We arrived here at St. Maarten around 10:00 am, and they had at least 60% of us off the ship (those who wanted) before 10:40 – great turn around time. Our initial plans was an excursion to Orient Beach, complete with lunch and rum punch. The excursion leader, however, explained the wind on that beach was 20-30 MPH and it would not be safe to get in the water; sand would be blowing in our faces. We, of course, changed our mind, got a refund and headed off to shop

The island here is governed half by the French and half by the Dutch. The French call it Sint Maarten and the Dutch, Saint Martin. There's a lovely coast line, nested at the base of tree filled hills, the people are very friendly (which is not necessarily customary among the islands ), English is the language, and as with any tourist area, the liquor flows. The major difference here is the shopping experience. Whereas most US tourist areas are filled with T-Shirt and Curio shops, here you have upscale jewelry and linens.

We took a water taxi into town and spent a good 5 hours browsing the shops, eating some lunch and several stops for drinks and rest. The doctor changed my drug mixture two weeks ago and although I'm getting around much better, I have to take things in 30 minute stints.

Every year, I purchase a pair of Swavorski Crystal earrings; this year it is hoops, along with linens. Beau found his favorite cologne, Joop, which is no longer available in the states.

As I go along through the day, I took a variety of pictures to share moments of interest (mine), but, I've not yet the camera under control and I took videos instead. When we get back home, I'll have to learn how to pull individual shots out of a video and update this post. Until then …..

thanks for dropping by,

Lorrie

Princess Cay Bahamas – Day 4

Sleep at sea is quite restful. I must be something about the 'mostly' gentle rocking of the ship and the near silent hum of the engines. Or, perhaps it is the alcohol. Either way. This is our tenth cruise and we have our routines. Beau wakes and goes out to bring back coffee. (He could get it delivered but can never be sure what time he'll wake). Then he reads on the deck until I get up. Breakfast has to be in first order; after all, it's not been almost 12 hours since we've eaten – almost unheard of in cruising life.

Sidebar : Check out the size of these plates. Truly sinful, this plate is 14” x 10” - large enough that it could literally feed 2 – 3 people. I suppose the point is keeping us out of the buffet line, or making sure we have at least one thing we can't complain about (ya right). Beau was saying (I should have photo'd his plate), that we didn't plan on eating potatoes, but each time he got near them, they just jumped on his plate while he wasn't looking. I'm staying away from them just in case!

Today we are at Princess Cays, Bahamas. There are reefs here, so we have to dock about 1 mile off the coast and go in on ship tender boats. This is one of the Bahama Islands where Princess bought and end portion. They built little facilities and it is an area for the exclusive use of their ships. Mostly meaning, we are a contained audience and they don't have to share any of the profits with outside vendors. Upon arrival, princess haul all the necessary (which is a lot) of food and drink to the shore and get it set up. It's a pretty place, and they offer a variety of water activities, from sunbathing to jet skis'.

We opted to snorkle, which was a semi-mistake on our part. Beau appeared over his cold from earlier in the week, but wasn't able to breathe in the snorkle and just sat in the surf filling his trunks with rocky sand. I went in hunt of the fish. Apparently there were nice coral reefs here, you can see some signs, but they are mostly dead now. Under the murky water, and a good hours swim, I counted only 12 fish. Now, it was pointed out to me later at dinner that I didn't have my glasses on and I may have been surrounded by fish, but I counted just 12 and I'm standing by that.   (That's the Ruby Princess in the background)

After sunbathing, we tendered back to the ship for a shower, dinner, a comedy show in the theater, a talented young singer in the lounge and bed.

Not a bad day at all.   

Lorrie 

Ruby Princess, Fort Lauderdale

What they don't tell you about cruising on the television commercials are the lines. 

 There is a line to get in line to go through security.  

And then another line to check in. 

 followed by a line to board the ship

Then there are the lines for the elevators and the line for the buffet. But, all of that is to be expected, they have to get 3200 of us processed, onboard, fed (standing in line works up quite an appetite) and to our staterooms within a 3 hour time period.  

Then comes the exploring. The Ruby Princess is a good size ship. It's like a small town, complete with dining rooms, bars, game rooms, casinos, chapels, gym, 3 swimming pools, shopping, staterooms, and so much more. It typically takes 3-4 days to get completely oriented … right before they kick you off.

We did the usual first day stuff. Unpacked, watched part of a Saints game on the big screen at the pool,

 met our our dinner companions, Previewed some art we'd like (but won't) afford,

saw a Princess info-mercial show in the Theater complete with singer and dancers,

wandered the shops and in bed by 10pm. Gearing up for tomorrow – Bahama Cays.   

Lorrie 

December Vacation, Day 2

Day 1 of vacation (Baton Rouge to Lake City, FL) was so uneventful that it didn't warrant it's own documentation.     The car had already been packed.  Got up had coffee, drove to Florida and had lunch an an unremarkable McDonalds, drove to Lake City and had dinner at a restaurant with an unusual name - Phish Heads.  That was the only thing remarkable ... food was typical ho-hum.

December Vacation - Day 2 - Lake City, FL to Ft Lauderdale, FL

Beau caught a cold two days ago.   He's feeling better, however, we still had to stop to get some more cold meds ... which we of course, left at home.

This picture is for Glen.  Glen ... the shoes are Purple !

On the way to the freeway, I saw a sign for a Fabric Art Shop.  U-Turn.

Unfortunately, it was only 8:30 and the shop didn't open till 10am.  I suggested we go to yard sales and Thrift Shops to kill the hour and a half.  Beau suggested we come back on our way home.   Being a decent sport (and knowing he doesn't like yard sales and thrift shops), I agreed, even though we'll be back by here on a Sunday .... and they are closed on Sundays.

Further down the freeway was a flea market sign.  Beau can deal with flea markets as long as we don't stay too long.  Between the exit and the flea market, we saw a sign for a Craft Sale at an Adult Community (which Beau calls the Old Folks Home).  Following the signs we landed at a little community center where a variety of elderly ladies were selling their goods.   The usual, jewelry, needleworks, candy and dips.

I bought the green sweater for a measly $25.00.  (No, I didn't bargain them down).  There were wonderful afghan, sweaters, ponchos and more.  All so incredibly underpriced, that when I get home I'm going to send the woman a coupon to buy 10 free patterns out of my new knit/crochet shop.    Another note for Glen .... The shoes are purple !

From there, the flea market, lunch at a mexican taco stand, $32 spent on toll roads, checked into the hotel, ate dinner at Miller Hollywood Ale.    There are no pictures documenting the rest of the day ... none that turned out anyway.   I'm going to have to get out the manual and do some more studying.   (The two video's were supposed to be pictures ... but sometimes, you just get what you get !).

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie