Cruise Day 5 - Our Anniversary! (part one)

Celebrating our 20th year of being married, on the 20th, while spending the day in St. Thomas was priceless. To say that I am thankful for everything I have in my life right now is a huge understatement...

With that being said, I will try to keep this brief, and share just a few of the several hundred pictures I took today.

Apparently this fellow can't read.


Having a blast snorkeling!











Ah yes, a little rum punch before noon!



BlogPress is once again being fussy...so will have to break this into two parts. I guess it just doesn't like when I try to post too many pictures at once...stay tuned for a couple more soon.

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Cruise Day Four-Puerto Rico

This will be a short post as I am completely pooped from a long, very hot day in Puerto Rico. Suffice it to say though, that it was another great day! We opted to bypass the trollies and the taxis today, and walked the entire day. ( I brought my pedometer on our trip so I could see how many miles we walk - or don't walk- each day, and today was just under 8 miles!) mind you, that may not sound like much considering I am training for the 3 day, but, it was about 88F here today with about 90% humidity. I am NOT used to that, and 8 miles felt like a marathon! No wonder we are wiped out!

Tomorrow will be a day we've both been looking forward to for a long time. On several levels it has the promise to be a very special day. First, and foremost I will spend the day with my very best friend, confidant, and sole mate. My Hubby has been the best partner in life I could ever hope and he has given me a wonderful 20 years of marriage. I look forward to many, many more anniversaries to come.

We will start off the day doing one of our very favorite things in the world, snorkeling, and we will be in one of the most beautiful places in the world, St Thomas. We plan on spending the afternoon doing a little shopping, as I hear that St. Thomas is world renowned for it's jewelry stores. Not that I need anything of course, but a girl likes to look, doesn't she?

I've said enough for now (so much for a short post!) but before I share my favorite pictures from today's adventure, I wanted to be sure to wish my wonderful parents a very happy 53rd anniversary! (The only thing that has bothered me about our cruise is not being with you to celebrate.) I appreciate so much having you both to show me daily what true love is and being the excellent examples you've been as partners for life, and parents. I am lucky beyond measure, and I love you both more than words can say!

And now for just a few pictures...
El Morro Fort





Can you tell I was roasting?





Old town, Puerto Rico


Gorgeous scenery everywhere.


A view of our ship, on the right, and another ship in port, taken from another old fort, Cristobel.


Our view of the other ship ( from our balcony) as it left the port.


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Grand Turks Continued...

So I'm finding that while modern technology is pretty incredible - I am, after all, writing this blog from my cruise ship patio in the middle of the Caribbean...nothing is perfect. I'm using BlogPress for iPad, and it does not like when I post too much at one time. It locks up, reboots, and loses all of my pictures. Oh well, who am I to complain.

After our snorkeling was done, we cruised around the very small port area, visited Margarittaville, and hung out at the gorgeous beach right next to the ship.













Before long it was time for us to get back onto the ship and, what else....eat! We have a great waiter named Dodi, who is originally from Bali. Super friendly, super fun...and it's the special touches like the ones Dodi gives us that makes trips like these so memorable. We enjoyed another delicious dinner to top off another fantastic day all around!

My appetizer of shrimp and fish cakes....


Followed by "island rum infused" pork.Yummy!


Hubby enjoyed seared ahi for an appetizer but I didn't get a picture. Yellow fin tuna was his main course. He loved it enough the Dodi brought him a second plate of it!


My dessert was chocolate mousse...


and Hubby enjoyed some Key Lime cheese cake.


In just a few hours we will be pulling into our second port- San Juan, Puerto Rico!

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Cruise day three- a Grand day in Grand Turk

Monday, Oct 18th- We started off our day watching the sunrise from the Lido deck. (That sounds so "Love Boat", doesn't it?) It was simply breathtaking!






After a quick breakfast we were off the ship and headed towards our "Ultimate Snorkel Adventure" shore excursion. We met with our other fellow snorkelers and we were quickly on our way!












The snorkel excursion consisted of two different snorkel spots. At the first spot we saw mainly coral reefs.






The water was warm and clear...Hubby and I loved it! Even at 9am, it must have been at least 80F.





Ah, yes, a lovely self portrait- ha ha!





The coral was beautiful!





Our second snorkel spot was just minutes away, near a very small island. The water couldn't have been prettier!











Our captain told us about a "friendly" barracuda that liked to visit his boat, and not to worried about it. I'm glad he gave us the warning, because sure enough, just as the anchor was dropped, here it came. Lovingly nick-named "Chuck Norris", this thing didn't look any too friendly to me!





And it was no little fella either- probably about 4ft long! Sure enough it didn't bother any of us, and just hung around the boat the whole time. It certainly didn't keep us from enjoying ourselves!











We were also visited by several large sting rays. They didn't bother us either, and simply glided around the area with grace. I was able to get some video of one, but couldn't upload it from my iPad.





BlogPress is being fussy, I don't thin it likes when I post too many pictures...it keeps kicking me off, so I'll end the here for now.

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Day Two Continued

Day two was full of dining, drinking, and desserts! (And relaxing, the spa, time in the casino, and napping outside....etc.)

It was awesome!

Norm enjoyed a little shrimp cocktail on the patio. He's so spoiled!



We had lunch in the dining room with two other couples that are also celebrating anniversaries this week. One couple is celebrating their 25th, and the other is celebrating their 55th.

As I mentioned, we ate a lot of desserts today, trying a little of everything. It was ALL good!




















Of course we ate some "non-dessert" food too. I had the "land and sea combo" for dinner and Hubby had the same, and the lamb! That's one of the many great things about cruising - all of the food is included and you can have as much as you want - order every item if you'd like! The only problem is that you'll have to wonder if you pants will fit the next day!





It was also fun getting dressed up for our first formal night.


Tomorrow we will spend the day in Turks and Caicos, and get our real first look at the Caribbean. We can't wait!

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Cruise Day Two

Today will be a full day at sea.
This is our view this morning as we steam towards Turks and Caicos.


We've already been up for about 5 hours- had breakfast delivered to the room, walked outside to see the sunrise, and enjoyed a spa sampler consisting of a scalp massage, neck and shoulder massage, mini facial, hand massage, and foot massage.

Yes indeed the day is starting out right! We are getting ready to do a little shopping in the ship's stores, lay by the pool, and RELAX.

Tonight will be the first of our two formal nights. Pictures to come later.



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Cruise Day One-Part Two

It didn't take us long to board and get settled onto the ship.



This was the channel the ship was docked in.


Getting ready to head out to sea.


Looking back at the bridge we walked across earlier in the day, and the hotel we spent Friday night in.


We thought it was cool to seethe bridge open.


We are officially underway!


A Royal Caribbean ship left right after us.


Looking back towards land. You can just see the city in the background.



Norm started making friends right away.


Enjoying the pool....


and hitting the nearest bar.


Shaken, not stirred, please.


And he just relaxed with new buddies.


It was a spectacular end to a near perfect day.


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