the Caribbean and back

For the second January in a row we've been able to escape south for a week.

We went on another cruise to a different part of the Caribbean. Last year was Key West, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. This year was Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk.

We're not big "cruise people", but it is one heck of a cheap way to travel around and see new places. 

We would like to try a different cruise line in the future to see the difference, and we are dying to go with our family on a Disney Cruise some day.

We left Miami on a Sunday afternoon in time to watch the 2 NFL playoff games on their big screen.

Ben was in heaven.

I had a good book.

Every night they'd "turn down your bed" and leave a towel animal.

First stop: Nassau, Bahamas

We woke up pretty early every day (well I did) and got off the boat almost as soon as we docked. 

Our first morning we arrived in Nassau at 6:30 and were one of the first off the boat.

Above: Atlantis Resort

 I think this was called the Queen's Staircase. Slaves, a few hundred years ago, quarried it out and used it on the fort and local government buildings.

 Inside their Catholic cathedral.

 Went to the pirate museum.

I know... super cheesy...

 Hung out at the beach.

Above: four cruise ships docked. Ours is the second from the right. The Disney Line is to the left of us. Before it honks its huge horn it plays "When You Wish Upon A Star". I just about died. Then tried to figure out a way to sneak on that ship.

 Our big tourist-y thing we do: find Hard Rock Cafe's, eat their "local special", and Ben gets a t-shirt.

Watching the sunset after leaving the Bahamas.

A side note on Nassau: some of the most polite and friendliest people. Ever. Everyone said good morning and hello. And not even to get you to buy anything. 

 More towel creations. We could not for the life of us figure out the below figure. We asked and they said a dog.....?

 They are ALWAYS taking your picture while on the boat. While you're eating, playing games, walking off the boat, etc. We always make faces. That's just what we do. We're not going to buy them for heaven sake. The photographers got so ticked too. We secretly took this picture of one of our photos taken while we were at dinner. Out of the thousands of pictures they have in a gallery for you to purchase. We were the only ones making faces. 

 Dominican Republic

 This was our 100% beach day. 

Ben above in the back floating.

 No one spoke English. It was Spanish or they just ignored you.

Luckily Ben knows enough to get by and not get swindled. 

I can't even count how many arguments he got into with cab drivers and bus drivers on the price of a ride. I thought we would either get shot or kidnapped for ransom.

Not the friendliest country either. Or cleanest. Or safest.

But they had the most incredible beach which was all we cared about that day.

 It was hot as sin that day.

 And we had hours and hours to swim and lay out.

Heaven.

 Then we piled in a 14-passenger bus that crammed 21 people in it for the 20 minute drive back to the port. I had Ben on my right and an angry bus driver (whom had fought with Ben) sitting on my left leg.

That was interesting.

 Oh yeah, it was a "clothing is optional" beach.

The only nakies were old women from Europe.

Niiice.

 The island is covered in sugar cane plantations. Here's a train load moving in front of our ship in the background.

 San Juan, Puerto Rico

 Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful

and clean

and no one begging you to buy anything

 We covered every square inch of the historic district where the port is.

We hopped off the ship as soon as it docked early in the morning and walked for miles all day.

 We visited 2 forts, cathedral, monastery, government offices, palace, market square to shop, a hotel from the 1500's (used to be a monastery) for the best wraps and plantains, then literally had to jog to get back to the boat in time.

 

We'll definitely come back to this island in the future for a longer visit.

Our last stop was supposed to be Grand Turk, but as we were pulling up to the port the high winds were too bad to dock safely so we had to SKIP it. I was so ticked. This was our last beach and snorkeling day. Boo. 

Fortunately it was the shortest day planned. They were only letting us stay for 6 hours, but still.... We just stared at the pristine beaches as we slowly and roughly sailed away... 

 Overall, we had a great time. It was so good to hang out with my best friend for so long. We rarely see one another these days. We played card games for hours, talked, and read a few books. He drank Dr. Pepper non-stop (we never buy pop so he was thrilled), and I drank lemonade after lemonade (what else would you drink in 85 degree weather while laying out?).

We got back to Miami early and had a late flight so we spent the day there.

We weren't able to get a flight back on American Airlines (who we have our frequent flier miles with) on coach so HAD to fly back in first class. Man, that is the way to travel. 

 My mom stayed with the wee one again this year. She gave up a lot of business (she's a real estate appraiser) to come and the 3 of us were so grateful she did. Charlotte never broke down and cried for us or had a hard time going to sleep. If she ever wanted me it was after she got in trouble by my mom =) stinker. They baked cookies, went shopping, saw Disney on Ice, went to preschool, played in the snow, made crafts, read countless books and countless sticker books, and took naps together.

Charlotte was so confused when Grandma flew home. They're buds.

 It never snowed until the week we were on vacation. Even then it wasn't very much. Last winter was super mild too and we had a dry and hot hot hot spring/summer.

 Last week it finally snowed enough and stuck.

This day Charlotte and I played the afternoon away.

Mainly running after each other throwing snowballs and making snow angels.

Every time I'd accidentally snowball her face she'd giggle.

 The next day it snowed even more and Ben was post-call so they built a snowman.

While I took a nap =)

 So cheesy together.

 Already it's warmed up and rained. Taking the snow with it.

Gross picture, but nothing is better (when you're a kid) than a sucker.

Her primary teacher at church gave her a chocolate See's candy sucker for Valentine's Day.

Lucky kid.

Since we've been home we've had a lot of play dates, preschool, workouts at the gym, and as much daddy time as possible before we head out of town again.

Tomorrow we have a big Valentine's Day party with her playgroup, a family date to the car show downtown (I know... super romantic), and finishing packing for our trip.

Saturday Charlotte and I are heading to Washington for a few weeks to visit my family. My sister Carrie is having her FIFTH child in the next few weeks and we hope to be around for that.

I'm sure it will be another month before I post again.

C'est la vie.