January 25, 2009

It is such a shock to come from 80* and sunshine to snow and cold. I just couldn't make myself put on the warm clothes, however, my toes were freezing! We had to go to Smithfield to pick up J so I pulled on some socks. I was forbidden from getting out of the car to get gas. When we went to eat later I had to take the socks off--regardless that it was raining and COLD!

January 24, 2009

Debarkation day---or---

GET OFF THE BOAT!

After seven days of sleeping in, eating too much, lots of sun and fun we had to leave the ship. We had a great Stateroom attendant. Ophelia from Jamaica. She was a delightful young lady. She realized the first day that D was a big tease. He said her name incorrectly the first day---he called her Olephina--it stuck for the entire week! She would laugh and laugh each time she saw us.

She made little towel creatures, and even purposely startled me-thinking it was D. She made a great week have even more of a sparkle.

We needed it after that--we got on the airplane to Chicago--we were in the cheap seats. Then at Chicago we boarded a plane--outside in the cold-it was only 5*. How rude! That flight was horrible. I got off the plane hobbling like a 95 year old little lady.

January 23, 2009

Day at Sea

Friday was a day at sea! Yeah! These are actually some of my most favorite days. This cruise didn't have enough down time. D went out bright and early and found some pool chairs. After I read in bed and ate breakfast I found him. I rarely moved from that spot until 5:00 pm!

There was a water volleyball competition between the crew an guests. So the Peterson Posse was put together. They put up a good fight but did not win in the end.

January 22, 2009

Barbados

We went on a snorkeling with sea turtles excursion. We got to see these sea turtles up close. They are beautiful creatures.

As we were leaving port D saw this lovely rainbow.

January 21, 2009

St. Lucia

54 from our group signed up to do a zip line excursion. It was incredible. It was different than the one that we had previously done so it was every bit as thrilling! I was spinning around hoping that they guides would stop me. I barely even screamed!

The humidity in this rain forest was about 98 percent. We were dripping wet when we were finished. We would have turned around and done the entire thing again.

January 20, 2009

Antigua

We went on an 84 foot catamaran around the entire island. This island is surrounded by both the Caribbean island and also the Atlantic. We saw Oprah Winfrey's home along with Eric Clapton's and hundreds of others. This island has 366 beaches! They are all the way around the island.

We were taken into a harbor that had the Maltese Falcon yacht--wow!

We snorkeled, sunned and watched others drink too much rum punch. A wonderful day.

January 19, 2009

St. Maarten

We hired a taxi to take us to Orient Beach. We were greeted by numerous people wanting us to sit on their beach chairs. We enjoyed to sunshine, the warm water and the soft sand. We were also greeted by a few surprises! We were next to a nude beach! Being close we had a few people that would wander past us-this was always a shock. Sometimes much more than others.

January 18, 2009

Together with the Prete's we got a taxi to take us to Sapphire beach. It was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! The water was so sapphire blue that it was as if it was glowing!

We enjoyed a lazy afternoon, we then ordered a lunch that was supposed to take 15 minutes. 1 1/2 hours later it came, cold and disgusting! It was the worst meal ever!

January 17, 2009

We had most of the day to wander around the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico. We happened to arrive during their Three Kings celebration. It was wall to wall people. We went into a few to many junk/souvenir stores and then finally found our way to the old El Morro fort. It is a fascinating fortress. It has more history than I can remember! It made me want to relearn all my early history! Ponce DeLeon, Christopher Columbus--all names that we are familiar with. They were both known to the island.

January 16, 2009

After a miserable "red eye" flight from SLC-Atlanta-San Juan, Puerto Rico we were greeted with warm tropical air(warm even while raining). We went to the beautiful Carribe Hilton and wandered around the beautiful property. We had dinner at a very authentic Mexican style restaurant and then found the hot tub. We were greeted for the night by the most wonderful Hilton bed. They have the best best ever!

January 15, 2009

Getting ready to leave on our trip to the Carribbean. What a crazy day! Kids at school, preschool, calls to make, driving to Smithfield(45 miles one way) to drop of J and back---then getting packed. We had a "red eye" flight to Atlanta and then on to San Juan.