#89 Miscellaneous Cruise pics

365 Blog Challenge: Post #89

Sadly, this is my last cruise-dedicated blog, but I am way behind in my blogging and must move on.  I had a dream today (I have been sick in bed with a bad cold) that Scott and I went on another cruise and he brought another woman, in addition to me.  That one wasn't so good, but the cruise is showing up in my dreams over and over again.  I think I had a harsh dose of reality when I got back to work, and I would give just about anything to be on the high seas again.  Here are some of my favorite cruise pics not featured in previous posts.

The night we went to the Royal Caribbean Singer and Dancers' show, we had the drink special of the day, Midori Lemonade. Yummo.  Too bad it didn't make the show much better.

Sheila and Caroline, our dinner mates. They were from England, just outside of London, and they were wonderful company.  Miss these ladies!

I'm secretly only including this picture because it's my favorite outfit I wore on the cruise...my nautical dress from JCPenny.  My arm is covering the cute navy belt that goes with it.

Our room was cleaned up twice a day and in the evening, the cleaning staff often left us towel animals.  This one is a cute little towel puppy.

Scott accidentally decapitated the towel puppy.  He felt terrible.

Towel Sloth! This was our favorite. We kept it up for days. Our little towel Pachito!

We may or may not have had too much to drink this night...this is Scott's first drink...after drinking 3/4 a bottle of wine because I didn't like it. Whoops.

Artsy pool shot #1- This is actually the ceiling in the indoor pool at night.  It was pretty surreal watching yourself float. 

Scott got a little more daring with his poses.

OMG I miss this seat.  And that pina colada.

Last night at dinner with our assistant waiter, Suzette and our waiter, Dennis.  They were wonderful! However, they are to blame for the 5 pound weight gain.

I have decided I could travel the world by cruise ship for the rest of my life...if it weren't for having land-loving friends and family.  We're wishing and praying for a big tax return to put money towards another cruise....or we could be smart and save for the house that we'd like to own one day...priorities....

#88 Georgetown, Grand Cayman

365 Blog Challenge: Post #88

Our last port was Georgetown, Grand Cayman.  This was basically our shopping port.  Andy, the port and shopping guide on our ship, an extremely attractive though most likely homosexual Australian, talked up Grand Cayman's shopping from the start.  The shops here carry a large amount of designer and fine jewelry, and you can haggle for a good price.  I almost was talked into buying a $2000 tanzanite/diamond ring for $650 before reason came over me, and I decided that was far too much to spend on myself.  I settled for some beautiful tanzanite earrings for much less, and that sales person was much less aggressive, which I preferred.  The water in Grand Cayman was the most beautiful blue I have ever seen! However, after spending quite a bit of money, Scott and I were too tired to go to Seven-Mile Beach, so we head back to the ship.  It ended up being a cloudy day anyways.  

George Town, Grand Cayman

There is definitely a pirate theme going around this island.  We took this picture for Tyler, our almost 3-year-old nephew who is going through a pirate phase.

On the right, a mock pirate ship on the gorgeous blue water.

I'm a happy girl after getting my tanzanite earrings.  Really liked the sales person at this store, Effy.  She wasn't too pushy and gave me a good price.

I took this picture for my sister who is obsessed with Dunkin Donuts. Who knew they had it in Grand Cayman?

Random rooster in a church parking lot. Apparently didn't like our company.

The tender boat that brought us from our ship to shore.  I just liked the name.

Scott's beautiful new Philip Stein watch.  This is one of Oprah's favorite things.  It contains a disc that emits vibrations that is supposed to interact with your biofeedback and make you feel better and sleep better.  Scott doesn't buy it but says he likes how it looks.  He better because they are not cheap!

We're getting to the end of the cruise pics to share on the blog which makes me sad.  I am sad enough being back in the world rule.  I am having cruise withdrawal.  Can't wait for our next one.  Will try not to spend so much money on that one!

#87 Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

365 Blog Challenge: Post #87

Getting back on track after a few busy (and fun!) days, here are our pics from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.  We booked a white water rafting excursion here, and the river was about an hour from port so we got to see a lot of the country side/agriculture of Costa Rica.  We saw banana plantains, cows, horses, goats, bulls, a pineapple farm.  This was Scott's favorite place.  After doing the first two rapids of the river, we even were startled by a cow drinking from el Rio de Reventazon about 10 feet away from us!  Talk about surreal.

Our Mercedes bus for our white water rafting excursion.

Banana plantation.  The blue bags are around the banana bunches to signal to the airplanes that fertilize the fields that they no longer need fertilizer are are just about ready to be picked.  The bags also increase the humidity for the plant which apparently is a good thing.

Gorgeous Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Our rafting river! El Rio de Reventazon meaning River of Disruption or Rupture.  It was just a category 2 (out of 6).  Next time we'll go for a 3 or a 4. :)

In Costa Rica, they bury the dead above ground because they get so much rain.

Costa Rican lunch! It was delicious! Chicken, rice and beans, salads, pasta, fried yuca and fried plantains and Scott's favorite coconut balls which were balls of coconut in a soft sweet batter.

Pineapple Fields! These pineapple may be used in Dani's Gerber baby food.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Our final stop? An EXPENSIVE shopping trip in Georgetown, Grand Cayman...coming up!

#85 Colon Panama

365 Blog Challenge: Post #85

Have I mentioned how much I hate working three night shifts in a row??  The last two nights have been horrible.  I've had two female patients that are keeping my hands full and driving me nuts.  Naturally, they're in the same room.  I could ask for a different patient group tonight, but sometimes that makes me feel like a wuss.  Not sure what is more important: my sanity or my pride.  Anyways, I think reliving some of our wonderful vacation before work might help me simmer down a bit.

Our third port was Colon, Panama.  Scott and I booked an "excursion" from the ship which means it was overpriced but safe, so we didn't have to worry about finding a cab to show us around the city.  We got to the bus early however, and decided to walk around the port to explore before getting on.  Man are those Panama tour guides pushy! We crossed a bridge from port and took an escalator down to a pack of taxi drivers/tourists who would not let you get away!  I can't tell you the number of times we had to explain we already booked something for the day.  I am not good at being pushed and haggled, however, I understand these people probably don't make much money so I felt a since of guilt and annoyance at the same time.  Talk about being brought up Catholic.  We were warned by a taxi driver not to leave the port area on our walk because it's very dangerous on the streets.  And we thought Colombia would be dangerous.  We learned differently.

Our excursion was great.  We got to see the Gatun Locks at the Panama Canal which was much cooler than I thought it would be.  Then we took about an hour long hike in the rain forest which was shared by an old US military base.  Talk about some interesting, "Lost"-esque pictures!  Though Panama wasn't our favorite, it was definitely worth the stop to see some of these things.

Colon, Panama from our ship

Scott on boat, overlooking the port.

McDonalds in Panama!  This was about the time the taxi driver warned us not to go further away from port.

These locks will soon be renovated because they are suffering some wear and tear.  They are pretty genius though!

Workers walking across the Panama Canal on a teeny tiny platform.  That takes nerve.

The canal!  The water on the left has been raised so that a shift from the left can be pulled through to the other side.

Here is a ship from Greece waiting to come through.

Another ship carrying gas coming through.  This ship paid $50,000 to cross the canal.

This is one of the little mobiles that pulls the ship through the canal.  There is one attached on either side of the canal by cords which you can see in this picture.

This ship from China paid $384,000 to cross the canal due to all its Cargo.  Pricey!

Dilapidated barracks near the rain forest.

An old bowling alley across from barracks.

Here is a banana tree in the rain forest.  Bet you didn't know they had flowers?!

Termites nest.  Nassssty.

Rain....in the rain forest.

GIANT ANTS! (in the rain forest).

A sloth in the wild!

Colon, Panama. Maybe not the wealthiest place.

Scott enjoying one of Panama's best beers after a busy day.  He said it was very "hoppy" though I thought it was relatively smooth for my naive taste.

Ready for some Central American agriculture?  Costa Rica is next!

#84 Cartegena, Colombia

365 Blog Challenge: Post #84

My favorite stop on the trip was our second port, Cartagena, Colombia.  Many people associate Colombia with danger and drugs, but Cartagena is a beautiful and relatively safe place according to our taxi driver, Oswaldo.  Cartagena is like a little Metropolis.  There is an Old City and a New City.  We paid Oswaldo $50 for a round trip to a shopping center about 20 minutes from the port.  He drove us through Old City and we got a broken English tour.  Good thing I still know a little Spanish. Also, Oswaldo stayed with us while we were shopping so he could tell us the cheaper and more expensive stores.  At the shopping center was a man who charged $2 for a picture with his pet sloth, Pachito.  Pachito was super cute.  When his owner picked him up off of someone, he stayed in hanging position, ready to latch on for the next picture.  And minus his claws being a bit pokey, he was really cuddly!  We did some shopping in Colombia, and I was lucky enough to buy a pair of emerald earrings from a museum/shop in town.  We bargained for a good price and also got a tour of the museum and workshop to see how the stones are found and treated.  We also got some Colombian coffee (duh) and Mopa Mopa artwork for our family back home.

Cartagena, Colombia

Love the Spanish road signs! (Except in Panama and Costa Rica, these signs said "Alto".  Interesting.)

Prettiness in Old City

The Clock Tower in Old City

This is a guy preparing emeralds for jewelry at the emerald museum we went to.

At the museum, you got to see what emerald looks like when discovered underground.

Scott, Me and Pachito! (How many times and places can I post this picture?  It never gets old!)

Military types in Cartagena.

Cartagena, Colombia

Scott, Me, Oswaldo.  We didn't realize the $50 cash didn't include tip and it's the only cash we had on us so we ran back to the ship to get Oswaldo a tip but had to leave it with his friend.  We hope he gets it!  We brought you $15 Oswaldo! Make sure Mario gives it to you!!

Scott and some parrots near the port.

Emerald earrings (in sterling silver)!  We got them for a bargain! Sorry the pic is a bit blurry.  We were having a hard time zooming.

Next up: Panama!