In January I wrote a post entitled "Jackson's Big Day," about his senior recital. I also mentioned in that post that he was engaged to be married, so it was kind of silly for me to call the recital his big day (although it was pretty big) when I knew even then that a really big day was in store just a few months later! So we'll call the wedding Jackson and the Wonderful, Magical, Not Bad, Very Good Day, even though there's not enough space for all those adjectives in the post title.
As you know, in my previous post, I left off narrating on Saturday, May 28, when Eric and I had retired from sightseeing at Arlington National Cemetery to regroup with the family at our hotel suite in Annapolis. That very same night, we enjoyed a delicious dinner with Evelyn's entiiiiiire family. That girl has six siblings and two siblings-in-law, one niece-to-be, and two parents, of course, but by the end of dinner I had learned everyone's names and I still remember them all as I type this (even the unborn baby June!), I'm proud to say. A little later that evening, we all reunited for ice cream in downtown Annapolis by the water. As we quickly scanned the sights with what little time we had downtown, Eric was having pangs of regret because, even though it was a bit busy due to Naval Academy's graduation weekend, Annapolis seemed much more his speed than downtown D.C. Maybe we'll get the chance to vacation there sometime.
The next morning, the Pinder girls (Mom, Annie, and I) had planned to get our nails done before the rehearsal. Eric's feet were a bit achy from sightseeing and a bit rough from his ballooning adventures, so he decided to tag along for a pedicure, and before you know it, we'd all convinced Dad and Jackson to join us, too! So all six of us lined up in the massage chairs for mani-pedis before heading off to the venue for the mid-afternoon wedding rehearsal. Annie and I got to sit in the shade while we watched the wedding party parade by, but I took lots of pictures because everyone looked so cute and happy.
That night, Mom and Dad hosted a lovely rehearsal dinner, complete with Maryland crab cakes, for the wedding party and our families. They had picked a cool restaurant right on the water, not far upstream from the ceremony venue we'd be heading back to the next day. I enjoyed a delectable salmon and Eric devoured a fat juicy steak. We packed some leftovers for the soon-to-be newlyweds to take along on their honeymoon, but we saved a few s'mores dessert bites to bring back to the suite for ourselves. (What? They wouldn't fit in the takeout containers.)
Mom and Dad also threw a luncheon at the hotel the next day for all of the guests who had traveled so far to attend the evening's ceremony. It was mostly our paternal (south Georgian and a few Ohioan) and maternal (central and southwest Floridian) relatives, but we were grateful that a few good friends from Waycross were able to make the trip as well. Jackson and his barbershop quartet, the Vigilantes, even stopped by for a bite and to treat us to a song.
It wasn't the last treat we'd get from the Vigilantes that day. After the quaint and lovely ceremony at London Town and Gardens, the quartet serenaded Evelyn with a medley Jackson spent over two years arranging. It sure was a scorching hot day, but there was beautiful music, remarkably delicious cake, and the most fun dancing I've had at a wedding in the shortest amount of time. At the end of the evening, we saw the happy couple off to their honeymoon and showered them with rose petals as they went down the path to sail away on the South River toward their honeymoon destination in North Carolina. Eric got to be in Jackson's wedding party, and I got to spectate and take in all of the little moments that added up to make a gloriously memorable day that I'll look back on fondly for many years to come!
I noticed that my last few posts with pictures included have taken up quite a bit of page space, making my readers deal with lots of unnecessary scrolling, so I decided to condense the photos from the wedding weekend into one big cheesy heart-infested slideshow.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2011
Our Leather Anniversary Trip: Days Three, Four, and Five (well, Four and a Half)
Thus continues my recount of our D.C. vacation. Day Three was a Smithsonian day all day! Our morning was spent at the Air and Space Museum, a bit of a bore to two central Floridians comparing its (somewhat outdated) exhibits to KSC and the like. Even Eric--who, as you know, is fascinated by flight--was a little let down. We were still impressed by a few genuinely cool pieces of aviation history though, including the Wright brothers' original flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane that broke the sound barrier, and other cool crap unrelated to space flight. It honestly didn't seem like it had changed much since our Pinder family trip there in 1996.
We also hit the Natural History museum that afternoon, which we would have probably enjoyed lots more if every grade school class within a fifty mile radius hadn't chosen that particular day to travel there for an end-of-school-year field trip. Despite the crowds of squealing tweens underfoot, we still enjoyed everyone's favorites--kick-@$$ prehistoric and geological exhibits, including mummieeees, dynasarrrs!! and a special edition setting of the Hope Diamond.
On the way back to the hotel to retire for the evening, we popped in and out of the National Portrait Gallery and then paid our respects to Honest Abe at Ford's Theatre.
So Day Three was a little anti-climactic, but still oodles more fun than being back at work in Florida, where reports say fourteen babies were born at Celebration Hospital that day. They were probably awakened by my cackles of delight all the way from the rooftop pool at my hotel.
Day Four was by far the most kick@$$ of our D.C. experience. I had reserved a White House tour months in advance and anxiously awaited it since. Of course the civilian tour doesn't lead you past any of the "good stuff," like Malia and Sasha's Bieber-fevered bedrooms, the West Wing buzzing with activity, or the War Room a la Dr. Strangelove, but we still got to see some really cool and important pieces of history. I was really interested by the library (of course), each administration's china services on display, and the awesome custom Steinway complete with bald eagle piano legs and etched depictions of eras in American musical traditions. Then, when we turned the corner out of the State Dining Room, we were greeted by, in celebration of Military Appreciation Month, a concert by a jazz combo from the Army Band! (They even played a Disney song, Someday My Prince Will Come!) After lingering for a while to listen to the trio, which we regarded as an extremely special treat, we decided it was time to move on to the next item on the itinerary to make the most of the time left in the day. So we exited...right out the dad gum front doors of the White House. And underhandedly snapped a grainy cell phone photo.
Next on the list was the American History museum, which easily became our favorite of the three Smithsonian museums we visited. Overall, its exhibits were the coolest: the collection of First Ladies' inaugural gowns and a huge presidential exhibit, the flag that inspired Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, an extensive and interesting travelling Lincoln exhibit, Julia Child's kitchen, and Kermit the gosh dang Frog!
That evening we met up for a (yep, free) tour of some of the sights of the National Mall, including a look at the Jefferson Memorial from afar, and up-close looks at the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II memorials. We encountered a huge group of Vietnam veterans who had motorcycled across the country to "the wall" for Memorial Day weekend, which made visiting that memorial a very different experience. The Lincoln Memorial illuminated at night was magnificent. The sculptor in Eric was fascinated by Lincoln's statue, and the emotional wreck in me was moved by the history that had come to pass there and in awe of the sheer physical beauty of the place.
We fumbled around in the dark to find the Einstein memorial on our way back to the hotel. It's not well marked, but thankfully we stumbled upon it somehow because it is really cool-looking!
The next morning, we checked out of our hotel (thanks for all the free apples, Four Points by Sheraton!) and met up with my family who had driven up through the night for the wedding. While everyone else power-napped, Eric and I explored Arlington National Cemetery. It's a beautiful and hallowed place, but we were honestly pretty tuckered out by four previous days of walking all over the District, so we made sure to hit the highlights and then called it a half-day (thus, the title of this post). After visiting the graves of JFK and RFK, having much-felt memorial moments at a few grave sites picked at random, paying our respects at the Challenger memorial, and witnessing the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns, we headed off to the next hotel to relax and prepare for the weekend of wedding festivities!
This plane was hanging in the same spot 15 years ago
We also hit the Natural History museum that afternoon, which we would have probably enjoyed lots more if every grade school class within a fifty mile radius hadn't chosen that particular day to travel there for an end-of-school-year field trip. Despite the crowds of squealing tweens underfoot, we still enjoyed everyone's favorites--kick-@$$ prehistoric and geological exhibits, including mummieeees, dynasarrrs!! and a special edition setting of the Hope Diamond.
*drool*
On the way back to the hotel to retire for the evening, we popped in and out of the National Portrait Gallery and then paid our respects to Honest Abe at Ford's Theatre.
I'm trying to look solemn! A crazy actor shot someone here (with her camera...monopod at work)
and this is also where John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln.
So Day Three was a little anti-climactic, but still oodles more fun than being back at work in Florida, where reports say fourteen babies were born at Celebration Hospital that day. They were probably awakened by my cackles of delight all the way from the rooftop pool at my hotel.
Day Four was by far the most kick@$$ of our D.C. experience. I had reserved a White House tour months in advance and anxiously awaited it since. Of course the civilian tour doesn't lead you past any of the "good stuff," like Malia and Sasha's Bieber-fevered bedrooms, the West Wing buzzing with activity, or the War Room a la Dr. Strangelove, but we still got to see some really cool and important pieces of history. I was really interested by the library (of course), each administration's china services on display, and the awesome custom Steinway complete with bald eagle piano legs and etched depictions of eras in American musical traditions. Then, when we turned the corner out of the State Dining Room, we were greeted by, in celebration of Military Appreciation Month, a concert by a jazz combo from the Army Band! (They even played a Disney song, Someday My Prince Will Come!) After lingering for a while to listen to the trio, which we regarded as an extremely special treat, we decided it was time to move on to the next item on the itinerary to make the most of the time left in the day. So we exited...right out the dad gum front doors of the White House. And underhandedly snapped a grainy cell phone photo.
(Don't tell the Secret Service we took this photo)
Next on the list was the American History museum, which easily became our favorite of the three Smithsonian museums we visited. Overall, its exhibits were the coolest: the collection of First Ladies' inaugural gowns and a huge presidential exhibit, the flag that inspired Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, an extensive and interesting travelling Lincoln exhibit, Julia Child's kitchen, and Kermit the gosh dang Frog!
Kermie with arms outstretched for a hug for yours truly
That evening we met up for a (yep, free) tour of some of the sights of the National Mall, including a look at the Jefferson Memorial from afar, and up-close looks at the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II memorials. We encountered a huge group of Vietnam veterans who had motorcycled across the country to "the wall" for Memorial Day weekend, which made visiting that memorial a very different experience. The Lincoln Memorial illuminated at night was magnificent. The sculptor in Eric was fascinated by Lincoln's statue, and the emotional wreck in me was moved by the history that had come to pass there and in awe of the sheer physical beauty of the place.
Great moments with Mr. Lincoln
We fumbled around in the dark to find the Einstein memorial on our way back to the hotel. It's not well marked, but thankfully we stumbled upon it somehow because it is really cool-looking!
Come sit on Uncle Al's lap!
The next morning, we checked out of our hotel (thanks for all the free apples, Four Points by Sheraton!) and met up with my family who had driven up through the night for the wedding. While everyone else power-napped, Eric and I explored Arlington National Cemetery. It's a beautiful and hallowed place, but we were honestly pretty tuckered out by four previous days of walking all over the District, so we made sure to hit the highlights and then called it a half-day (thus, the title of this post). After visiting the graves of JFK and RFK, having much-felt memorial moments at a few grave sites picked at random, paying our respects at the Challenger memorial, and witnessing the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns, we headed off to the next hotel to relax and prepare for the weekend of wedding festivities!
Among the fallen
Changing of the guards
Our Leather Anniversary Trip: Days One and Two
For the past three years, Eric and I have done something special to celebrate our anniversary. The first year, our anniversary coincided with the opening of the Treehouse Villas near Saratoga Springs Resort where Eric worked at the time. To test the operational capacities of the villas, all of the managers were offered a free night, so Eric cunningly planned his test date to be on the night of our anniversary. Last year, we escaped to beautiful Miami for a few days.
For a while we had been thinking about taking a vacation to Washington, D.C., so when Jackson and his fiancee Evelyn announced they were getting married on Memorial Day weekend like we did, and that the wedding would be near her hometown in Maryland, we decided to kill two birds with one stone and take a fantastically fun and educational vacation to the D.C. area to celebrate the anniversary of our wedding during the week before their wedding!
We flew in to Dulles on our anniversary, Tuesday the 24th, and took the MetroBus into the District. Upon arrival, we immediately partook in a DC/MD/VA tradition, eating Five Guys burgers. (Adventurous.) I count these as our leather anniversary gifts since they come from the same source.
After that, we knocked out several items from the itinerary right off the bat. We walked from our hotel to the National Gallery of Art's East Building, stopped to see the Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution) at the National Archives (no photos allowed there, to my dismay), and then hoofed it a couple of blocks to check out the Capitol Building. Then we said "eff that" and got weekly bus passes apiece.
There were no tickets available for the Washington Monument elevator ride all week, so we (read: I) researched a worthy alternative for an aerial D.C. view and came up with the Old Post Office. The view was lovely but an unexpected draw for me was the tower bells. Totally fascinating for a geek.
We were up bright and early on day two, only to find out that none of the attractions on our list opened before 10am. So we killed a little time outside the gates of the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden.
After a stroll through the sculpture garden and a look through the National Gallery West building, we stopped for a highly recommended lunch at the Museum of the American Indian, and then we spent way more time than we thought we would at the U.S. Botanical Gardens. What a cool place!
Our next stop was my personally most anticipated itinerary item: the Library of Congress. The idea I had in my head--a cavernous palace stacked with ancient and colorful books from floor to ceiling--was much more romantic than the real thing, where books actually are largely brought in from other storage areas upon request. However, since I had taken the advice of some sage friends, I had at least had the foresight to register for a reader's card, so I still got to go inside the main reading room, an architectural wonder, which most visitors don't get to visit. There were also some really interesting exhibits, including Jefferson's personal book collection, which restarted the Library after the British burned it during the War of 1812, and a Gershwin brothers gallery. We also took the free tour (yes, everything we did on the whole entire trip was free), led by a very dedicated if ditsy volunteer. She graciously agreed to lead Eric and me off the beaten path after the tour to see the beautiful chamber venue and a nifty collection of musical instruments. All in all, even though it wasn't at all what I expected, the Library of Congress was still really, really cool and one of my highlights of the vacation.
On the way back to our hotel, we made a brief stop in Chinatown for dinner...at Ruby Tuesday. And that completed Day Two.
Near our Miami hotel
For a while we had been thinking about taking a vacation to Washington, D.C., so when Jackson and his fiancee Evelyn announced they were getting married on Memorial Day weekend like we did, and that the wedding would be near her hometown in Maryland, we decided to kill two birds with one stone and take a fantastically fun and educational vacation to the D.C. area to celebrate the anniversary of our wedding during the week before their wedding!
We flew in to Dulles on our anniversary, Tuesday the 24th, and took the MetroBus into the District. Upon arrival, we immediately partook in a DC/MD/VA tradition, eating Five Guys burgers. (Adventurous.) I count these as our leather anniversary gifts since they come from the same source.
Adorable upholstery on our express bus
After that, we knocked out several items from the itinerary right off the bat. We walked from our hotel to the National Gallery of Art's East Building, stopped to see the Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution) at the National Archives (no photos allowed there, to my dismay), and then hoofed it a couple of blocks to check out the Capitol Building. Then we said "eff that" and got weekly bus passes apiece.
A favorite Renoir (Little Girl with a Watering Can) at the National Gallery
*salute*
There were no tickets available for the Washington Monument elevator ride all week, so we (read: I) researched a worthy alternative for an aerial D.C. view and came up with the Old Post Office. The view was lovely but an unexpected draw for me was the tower bells. Totally fascinating for a geek.
We were up bright and early on day two, only to find out that none of the attractions on our list opened before 10am. So we killed a little time outside the gates of the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden.
Eric found a head rest in my monopod
After a stroll through the sculpture garden and a look through the National Gallery West building, we stopped for a highly recommended lunch at the Museum of the American Indian, and then we spent way more time than we thought we would at the U.S. Botanical Gardens. What a cool place!
Stunning da Vinci at the National Gallery, the only one of his in the western hemisphere (and it's gosh dang double sided!)
Some type of tropical curiosity at the Botanical Gardens
Our next stop was my personally most anticipated itinerary item: the Library of Congress. The idea I had in my head--a cavernous palace stacked with ancient and colorful books from floor to ceiling--was much more romantic than the real thing, where books actually are largely brought in from other storage areas upon request. However, since I had taken the advice of some sage friends, I had at least had the foresight to register for a reader's card, so I still got to go inside the main reading room, an architectural wonder, which most visitors don't get to visit. There were also some really interesting exhibits, including Jefferson's personal book collection, which restarted the Library after the British burned it during the War of 1812, and a Gershwin brothers gallery. We also took the free tour (yes, everything we did on the whole entire trip was free), led by a very dedicated if ditsy volunteer. She graciously agreed to lead Eric and me off the beaten path after the tour to see the beautiful chamber venue and a nifty collection of musical instruments. All in all, even though it wasn't at all what I expected, the Library of Congress was still really, really cool and one of my highlights of the vacation.
Geek out!
On the way back to our hotel, we made a brief stop in Chinatown for dinner...at Ruby Tuesday. And that completed Day Two.
Ni hao
This vacay recap has become rather lengthy, what with the myriad photos and rambling stories and whatnot, so I'll continue with the next two and a half days in the next post!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Jackson's Big Day
Thursday we traveled with my family to Birmingham for Jackson's senior recital. He played five awesome pieces, one of which he composed and arranged for steel drums, trap set, string bass, and marimba. I wanted to post some of my favorite photos from the day. Throughout the entire day, I was simultaneously bursting with pride and with an overwhelming feeling of age. I remember when this guy was a teeny tiny baby and now he's a real live grown-up person (about two times as tall as I am) and teeming with talent. And guess what? He's GETTING MARRIED this spring! Now I feel REALLY ancient! But I couldn't be happier for Jackson and his delightful fiancée, Evelyn.
The stage is set
Jackson on marimba
A duet
"As One"
The composer playing his piece
Samford Percussion Ensemble
Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Groove
The happy couple
Jackson takes a ride
Family fun
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
In the Air Again
Thank goodness for free Wi-Fi at Hancock International! Now writing this blog post on my iPod will keep me occupied until our flight back to Florida leaves in an hour and a half. We always arrive early to airports just in case (there is actually an Eric Brown on the Do Not Fly list), and today it was a good thing we did. We didn't have to do the new body scan, but they did unpack and inspect literally every piece of luggage we brought: we each had a carry-on and a personal item, and every last square inch of space is full. (I'll be darned if I'm spending $100 round trip on bag check fees!) It took us a good 15 minutes and excellent teamwork to repack everything at the security checkpoint. L.L. Bean and American Tourister get a big thumbs-up for durability. These things are bursting at the seams. I wish I could take a picture because I feel you just have to see Eric's backpack to appreciate the true Mary Poppins carpet baggedness of this piece of luggage.
Our visit with Eric's side of the family was very restful and festive. We were very sad to say goodbye to the whole family, of course, but it was especially heartbreaking to leave our nephew Andrew and his sweet mommy Laura. Here's hoping he'll be ready to go airborne soon and he can come for a visit soon to his cool uncle Eric and aunt Katie in Florida!
Next on the agenda, making a trip to Apopka tommorow to pick up...my brand new car! Yes, my trusty Honda Civic, which I personally drove for 10 years, finally bit the dust last Monday. Eric is planning to fix it up nicely enough for us to sell or donate it and I'll be driving my 2004 Saab 9-3 just like my Civic--until it dies!
Aftter that will be a slew of holiday gigs stretching into the year, beginning with opening for the Walk Through Bethlehem this Friday night in Winter Park where my newest winter piece, Winter Carol, will be premiering! Then the next day I will be taking part in the filming for the Disney Parks Christmas Parade once again this year, this time with a mystery celebrity diva! I've heard dumped about who it may be but I'm sure I'm not at liberty to share the hunch with the world wide web until it's for sure. So on Saturday afternoon check back for another post :)
Our visit with Eric's side of the family was very restful and festive. We were very sad to say goodbye to the whole family, of course, but it was especially heartbreaking to leave our nephew Andrew and his sweet mommy Laura. Here's hoping he'll be ready to go airborne soon and he can come for a visit soon to his cool uncle Eric and aunt Katie in Florida!
Next on the agenda, making a trip to Apopka tommorow to pick up...my brand new car! Yes, my trusty Honda Civic, which I personally drove for 10 years, finally bit the dust last Monday. Eric is planning to fix it up nicely enough for us to sell or donate it and I'll be driving my 2004 Saab 9-3 just like my Civic--until it dies!
Aftter that will be a slew of holiday gigs stretching into the year, beginning with opening for the Walk Through Bethlehem this Friday night in Winter Park where my newest winter piece, Winter Carol, will be premiering! Then the next day I will be taking part in the filming for the Disney Parks Christmas Parade once again this year, this time with a mystery celebrity diva! I've heard dumped about who it may be but I'm sure I'm not at liberty to share the hunch with the world wide web until it's for sure. So on Saturday afternoon check back for another post :)
Monday, November 22, 2010
On a Mission...to Chicago
I promised there would be a post about our trip to Chicago to visit my AXO sister Rachel and her boyfriend Ollie, so now, since we're about to have our own visit from the Londoners, is a good a time as any!
As you know, we moved into the new house in less than three non-vacation days because we'd already planned our Chicago vacation with the assumption that we would have closed on the house by the time we flew out. We thought we would be a bit stressed out to leave behind such a mess, but the trip was actually a welcome distraction from the madness awaiting us at home. We spent the first day flying, doing a little shopping, socializing, and regressing on the Scott family trampoline. Eric split his pants during the making of this photo.
The next day we ventured from the suburbs into the city for authentic deep dish Chicago-style pizza on our way to the Cubs game! They lost (no surprise there) but we have now had the official bleacher bum experience.
Our third day in Chicago was spent sightseeing in the city. We rode the El, stopped by Chicago Lyric Opera, and found ourselves at the Bean. (See our reflection behind us?)
Then we happened to run into the crew of Transformers 3 filming on location. There were more childhood regressions when we sneaked a peak at Bumblebee! Further down the street was faux destruction and controlled mayhem for the shoot.
Then we had a tasty lunch on the river and explored the Tribune building where we found a little piece of central Florida all the way up in Illi-noise.
Our final stop in the city that day was the Museum of Science and Industry. We experienced a bit more regression mingling with the field trip kids, stopping by the ice cream parlor, and playing around on the exhibits.
The rest of our time was spent relaxing and spending time with our friends. All in all, it was a sweet little taste of a city new to us and a great time with Ollie and Rachel. They're flying in from England for a visit on New Year's Eve, so we're bound to have more adventures to write about in a few short weeks!
As you know, we moved into the new house in less than three non-vacation days because we'd already planned our Chicago vacation with the assumption that we would have closed on the house by the time we flew out. We thought we would be a bit stressed out to leave behind such a mess, but the trip was actually a welcome distraction from the madness awaiting us at home. We spent the first day flying, doing a little shopping, socializing, and regressing on the Scott family trampoline. Eric split his pants during the making of this photo.
The next day we ventured from the suburbs into the city for authentic deep dish Chicago-style pizza on our way to the Cubs game! They lost (no surprise there) but we have now had the official bleacher bum experience.
Our third day in Chicago was spent sightseeing in the city. We rode the El, stopped by Chicago Lyric Opera, and found ourselves at the Bean. (See our reflection behind us?)
Then we happened to run into the crew of Transformers 3 filming on location. There were more childhood regressions when we sneaked a peak at Bumblebee! Further down the street was faux destruction and controlled mayhem for the shoot.
Then we had a tasty lunch on the river and explored the Tribune building where we found a little piece of central Florida all the way up in Illi-noise.
Our final stop in the city that day was the Museum of Science and Industry. We experienced a bit more regression mingling with the field trip kids, stopping by the ice cream parlor, and playing around on the exhibits.
The rest of our time was spent relaxing and spending time with our friends. All in all, it was a sweet little taste of a city new to us and a great time with Ollie and Rachel. They're flying in from England for a visit on New Year's Eve, so we're bound to have more adventures to write about in a few short weeks!
Monday, October 19, 2009
2009 Ship's Log
Our Disney cruise to the Virgin Islands was excellent! We got back on Saturday and we're still adjusting to being back on dry land. But don't worry--we took lots of pictures as promised, and I kept a ship's log like last year so I wouldn't forget any of the exciting activities and adventures we had! This year's log was in time-saving bullet-point form, so I'll elaborate here upon our daily events.
EDIT: I've added links to a few photos into this post. If you want to see all of the photos, not just the highlights, you can find them here at my Flickr site.
The Magic itself was amazing, the appropriate definition of "ship shape." Improvements were being made every day of the voyage to keep her at her best. Our stateroom was incredible, every bit as spacious and comfortable as I had imagined an onboard cabin could be. The service was second-to-none, especially our serving staff and stateroom attendant and the ever-cheerful cruise staff. The food was delicious; we were fed three times a day and then some, one of those daily meals being a four-course dinner! There were lots of opportunities just for grown-ups, a night-life area, designated pool and hot tubs, and lots of adult activities. We kept ourselves busy enjoying the sights, tastes, sounds, and even smells of the Magic and its exotic ports of call.
Saturday, October 10 - Day 1 - Port Canaveral
Aunt Robin, Uncle Jerry, and Cousin Melissa gave us a lift to the port (thanks, y'all!) where we checked in, saw Mickey and Pluto, and explored the terminal until it was time to board. Our first view on the ship was the beautiful lobby atrium, complete with a colorful pop art chandelier, glass elevators, and grand staircases. After we were announced ("Please welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Brown!") we ran straight up to the Vista Spa and Salon book a massage first thing. On a tour of the spa, Eric won an additional free treatment! Then we went to take a dip in the adults only pool, Quiet Cove. What a nice amenity! Afterward, I went to the salon for a hair consultation; the stylist recommended I trim a few inches off the bottom and incorporate a few long layers (which I did...after we got home...for $6.99 at Great Clips!).
Next was our couple's massage, which (differently from the usual, and fortunately for us) took place in one of the luxurious private spa villas since it was empty; I guess everyone else was still exploring the ship! Later we relaxed on deck, had a delicious dinner at Lumiére's restaurant, and got to bed early to prepare for the next day at sea.
Sunday, October 11 - Day 2 - At Sea
First thing after breakfast, Eric dragged me to a fitness seminar on Secrets to a Flatter Stomach. I was so bored that I left 15 minutes later to attend Disney's Art of Entertaining seminar on Dazzling Desserts. Hey, I was on vacation. Later we visited the Port and Shopping show to get some tips on what shops to visit in St. Thomas and St. Croix. At Quiet Cove that day, the cruise staff held a pool golf game and Eric won a Drink of the Day by sinking a hole in one!
That evening was our formal night, so we got dolled up and went to meet Mickey in his finery and our captain, Tom Forberg, in his spiffy uniform. We were also treated to the Golden Mickeys show, an amazing Broadway-caliber musical presented in the Walt Disney Theater and honoring the musical and storytelling heritage of Disney films. Later we had our formal night dinner at Animator's Palate, a restaurant known for its ability to change colors throughout the meal, but on this evening it remained black and white to match the tuxedos worn by the wait staff and many of the excited guests.
Monday, October 12 - Day 3 - At Sea
On Monday we enjoyed Mickey's Island Jam for breakfast, a character dining experience at Parrot Cay restaurant with Caribbean-style cuisine and the opportunity to meet and greet with all our favorite Disney friends. Later that evening we got to go back to Parrot Cay for dinner, but for most of the day we spent lots of time relaxing and enjoying events onboard. We won our first trivia contest of this year's vacation, Cruisin' for Trivia 2! Then we also watched Who Wants to Be a Mouseketeer, Disney Innovations in Animation, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story at the Walt Disney Theatre. We also found Daisy Duck in her island attire, played a round of jackpot bingo, observed the onboard art auction, and lounged in the jacuzzi at Quiet Cove. We fit a nap in there too.
Tuesday, October 13 - Day 4 - Frederiksted, St. Croix
Early Tuesday morning while I was still asleep, Eric enjoyed his spa treatment prize, a seaweed wrap! Then we got ready to spend the day ashore in St. Croix, a small peaceful island rarely visited by cruise ship passengers. We shopped the local vendors' souvenirs and handmade items and strolled on the beach collecting sea glass and enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. That afternoon, we took an exciting ATV tour of the island, enjoying beautiful tropical and historical sights like the remains of Butler's Plantation and an old Dutch sugar mill, Mt. Stewart, and St. Croix's very own rainforest(-ish)!
We elected to walk a mile back from our drop-off point to downtown Frederiksted so we could enjoy the beach a bit more. Back onboard, we won Cruisin' for Trivia 3 and then got ready for the Pirates IN the Caribbean Party! This included a delicious dinner at Lumiére's (complete with limbo!), Disney characters (along with us) dressed in pirate garb, and the famous Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. The deck party features a fireworks display, the only one on the seven seas! Later that night we brought the house down at Krazy Karaoke singing Summer Nights--even though it was really fall, it felt like summer!
Wednesday, October 14 - Day 5 - Havensight, St. Thomas / Cruz Bay, St. John
Because of their close proximity to one another, we got to enjoy St. Thomas and St. John in one stop. I heard that the best snorkeling in the area was at Trunk Bay at Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, so we quickly took a taxi and ferry and another taxi to VI National Park. It really was beautifully preserved--clear waters, brightly colored plants and sealife, majestic rock formations, and soft sand. One of the highlights of my trip was snorkeling over the coral reef and watching a parrotfish having lunch. It was so peaceful at this locale that I could actually hear him crunching down on the coral with each bite as I observed him underwater. Wild!
We got back to St. Thomas in time to check out its famous shopping opportunities before going back on board. That evening we went on the Trick or Treat trail around the ship and competed in the adult costume contest. We also got to watch Alfred and Seymour, a hip-hop comedy duo, and won Disney Tune Trivia. We also got to dine at Animator's Palate once more, and this time we got to watch the restaurant transform from black and white to color right before our eyes!
Thursday, October 15 - Day 6 - At Sea
Another relaxing day at sea (my birthday!) began with an informative Q&A with members of the entertainment cast and technical team at Walt Disney Theatre. We also won Crusin' for Trivia 5 and had a delicious lunch at Lumiére's. Then we watched Disney Innovations in Theme Parks and saw an ice carving demonstration on deck. Later we took an Art of the Theme ship tour and a walking tour of two of the ship's galleys. (They were sparkly clean!) That night we saw the signature show, Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic. Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Palo, the adult exclusive restaurant, for my birthday! I had a tasty beef tenderloin with rich gorgonzola sauce. It was fabulous. We had a view of the sunset and terrific service.
Later Eric went back to see Alfred and Seymour perform their adult cabaret while I went to the piano bar, Sessions, to enjoy a set of songs from Broadway, television, and movies. Then that night was the moment we had all been waiting for: the Captain's Dessert Gala at Lumiére's, otherwise known as the chocolate buffet! Otherwise known as my birthday party with 2500 of my closest friends.
Friday, October 16 - Day 7 - Castaway Cay
On Friday, we enjoyed a day ashore at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. Eric is hot and he knows how to make me laugh. while on the island he found a huge hermit crab and carried about 100 yeards to show me. then he put it next to two old ladies to see if they would notice; however the crab flipped when the wave hit it and it was stuck upside down. Have you noticed that Eric has written the last three sentences in my voice? It's Katie, again, and I was getting to that part. Before Eric found his new friend, we did a bit of snorkeling at the family beach. The visibility was not so great, but we were still able to locate the statues of Mickey and Minnie hidden underwater! After popping a few postcards in the mailbox at Castaway Cay's own post office, we took a little tram to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach at the other side of the island! (I tell you, we pretty much forgot that there were any kids on this voyage.) This is where we explored far out into the open ocean without our feet leaving the bottom, enjoyed a barbecue lunch, and Eric stumbled upon his house-toting buddy. Biggest. Hermit crab. I've ever. Seen. We also watched a hungry pelican divebombing face first into the ocean. He didn't seem to be having much luck, though.
Pretty soon we decided to make our way back to the ship to prepare for our last night onboard. We packed quickly then got back out there to meet Mickey and Minnie in their cruising attire, win a round of The Wheel, enjoy one final dinner at Lumie's, and...experience Pub Night, a special treat for the adult passengers presented by the fabulous cruise staff. To future passengers I highly recommend it (if you aren't easily offended). Then we stuck around dancing into the night before our eyes wouldn't stay open and our feet wouldn't hold us up anymore.
Saturday, October 17 - Day 8 - Port Canaveral
We collected our trivia prizes--four Winner caps, three I'm a Winner medals, and two Champion buttons--and displayed our regalia at one final breakfast with our tablemates, also Disney cast members, from Dallas, LA, and Orlando. Our servers and head server came by and said we all have to come back, bringing bambinos with us next time! After saying our final goodbyes, we left the Disney Magic, hopefully to return someday soon.
EDIT: I've added links to a few photos into this post. If you want to see all of the photos, not just the highlights, you can find them here at my Flickr site.
The Magic itself was amazing, the appropriate definition of "ship shape." Improvements were being made every day of the voyage to keep her at her best. Our stateroom was incredible, every bit as spacious and comfortable as I had imagined an onboard cabin could be. The service was second-to-none, especially our serving staff and stateroom attendant and the ever-cheerful cruise staff. The food was delicious; we were fed three times a day and then some, one of those daily meals being a four-course dinner! There were lots of opportunities just for grown-ups, a night-life area, designated pool and hot tubs, and lots of adult activities. We kept ourselves busy enjoying the sights, tastes, sounds, and even smells of the Magic and its exotic ports of call.
Saturday, October 10 - Day 1 - Port Canaveral
Aunt Robin, Uncle Jerry, and Cousin Melissa gave us a lift to the port (thanks, y'all!) where we checked in, saw Mickey and Pluto, and explored the terminal until it was time to board. Our first view on the ship was the beautiful lobby atrium, complete with a colorful pop art chandelier, glass elevators, and grand staircases. After we were announced ("Please welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Brown!") we ran straight up to the Vista Spa and Salon book a massage first thing. On a tour of the spa, Eric won an additional free treatment! Then we went to take a dip in the adults only pool, Quiet Cove. What a nice amenity! Afterward, I went to the salon for a hair consultation; the stylist recommended I trim a few inches off the bottom and incorporate a few long layers (which I did...after we got home...for $6.99 at Great Clips!).
Next was our couple's massage, which (differently from the usual, and fortunately for us) took place in one of the luxurious private spa villas since it was empty; I guess everyone else was still exploring the ship! Later we relaxed on deck, had a delicious dinner at Lumiére's restaurant, and got to bed early to prepare for the next day at sea.
Sunday, October 11 - Day 2 - At Sea
First thing after breakfast, Eric dragged me to a fitness seminar on Secrets to a Flatter Stomach. I was so bored that I left 15 minutes later to attend Disney's Art of Entertaining seminar on Dazzling Desserts. Hey, I was on vacation. Later we visited the Port and Shopping show to get some tips on what shops to visit in St. Thomas and St. Croix. At Quiet Cove that day, the cruise staff held a pool golf game and Eric won a Drink of the Day by sinking a hole in one!
That evening was our formal night, so we got dolled up and went to meet Mickey in his finery and our captain, Tom Forberg, in his spiffy uniform. We were also treated to the Golden Mickeys show, an amazing Broadway-caliber musical presented in the Walt Disney Theater and honoring the musical and storytelling heritage of Disney films. Later we had our formal night dinner at Animator's Palate, a restaurant known for its ability to change colors throughout the meal, but on this evening it remained black and white to match the tuxedos worn by the wait staff and many of the excited guests.
Monday, October 12 - Day 3 - At Sea
On Monday we enjoyed Mickey's Island Jam for breakfast, a character dining experience at Parrot Cay restaurant with Caribbean-style cuisine and the opportunity to meet and greet with all our favorite Disney friends. Later that evening we got to go back to Parrot Cay for dinner, but for most of the day we spent lots of time relaxing and enjoying events onboard. We won our first trivia contest of this year's vacation, Cruisin' for Trivia 2! Then we also watched Who Wants to Be a Mouseketeer, Disney Innovations in Animation, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story at the Walt Disney Theatre. We also found Daisy Duck in her island attire, played a round of jackpot bingo, observed the onboard art auction, and lounged in the jacuzzi at Quiet Cove. We fit a nap in there too.
Tuesday, October 13 - Day 4 - Frederiksted, St. Croix
Early Tuesday morning while I was still asleep, Eric enjoyed his spa treatment prize, a seaweed wrap! Then we got ready to spend the day ashore in St. Croix, a small peaceful island rarely visited by cruise ship passengers. We shopped the local vendors' souvenirs and handmade items and strolled on the beach collecting sea glass and enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. That afternoon, we took an exciting ATV tour of the island, enjoying beautiful tropical and historical sights like the remains of Butler's Plantation and an old Dutch sugar mill, Mt. Stewart, and St. Croix's very own rainforest(-ish)!
We elected to walk a mile back from our drop-off point to downtown Frederiksted so we could enjoy the beach a bit more. Back onboard, we won Cruisin' for Trivia 3 and then got ready for the Pirates IN the Caribbean Party! This included a delicious dinner at Lumiére's (complete with limbo!), Disney characters (along with us) dressed in pirate garb, and the famous Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. The deck party features a fireworks display, the only one on the seven seas! Later that night we brought the house down at Krazy Karaoke singing Summer Nights--even though it was really fall, it felt like summer!
Wednesday, October 14 - Day 5 - Havensight, St. Thomas / Cruz Bay, St. John
Because of their close proximity to one another, we got to enjoy St. Thomas and St. John in one stop. I heard that the best snorkeling in the area was at Trunk Bay at Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, so we quickly took a taxi and ferry and another taxi to VI National Park. It really was beautifully preserved--clear waters, brightly colored plants and sealife, majestic rock formations, and soft sand. One of the highlights of my trip was snorkeling over the coral reef and watching a parrotfish having lunch. It was so peaceful at this locale that I could actually hear him crunching down on the coral with each bite as I observed him underwater. Wild!
We got back to St. Thomas in time to check out its famous shopping opportunities before going back on board. That evening we went on the Trick or Treat trail around the ship and competed in the adult costume contest. We also got to watch Alfred and Seymour, a hip-hop comedy duo, and won Disney Tune Trivia. We also got to dine at Animator's Palate once more, and this time we got to watch the restaurant transform from black and white to color right before our eyes!
Thursday, October 15 - Day 6 - At Sea
Another relaxing day at sea (my birthday!) began with an informative Q&A with members of the entertainment cast and technical team at Walt Disney Theatre. We also won Crusin' for Trivia 5 and had a delicious lunch at Lumiére's. Then we watched Disney Innovations in Theme Parks and saw an ice carving demonstration on deck. Later we took an Art of the Theme ship tour and a walking tour of two of the ship's galleys. (They were sparkly clean!) That night we saw the signature show, Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic. Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Palo, the adult exclusive restaurant, for my birthday! I had a tasty beef tenderloin with rich gorgonzola sauce. It was fabulous. We had a view of the sunset and terrific service.
Later Eric went back to see Alfred and Seymour perform their adult cabaret while I went to the piano bar, Sessions, to enjoy a set of songs from Broadway, television, and movies. Then that night was the moment we had all been waiting for: the Captain's Dessert Gala at Lumiére's, otherwise known as the chocolate buffet! Otherwise known as my birthday party with 2500 of my closest friends.
Friday, October 16 - Day 7 - Castaway Cay
On Friday, we enjoyed a day ashore at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. Eric is hot and he knows how to make me laugh. while on the island he found a huge hermit crab and carried about 100 yeards to show me. then he put it next to two old ladies to see if they would notice; however the crab flipped when the wave hit it and it was stuck upside down. Have you noticed that Eric has written the last three sentences in my voice? It's Katie, again, and I was getting to that part. Before Eric found his new friend, we did a bit of snorkeling at the family beach. The visibility was not so great, but we were still able to locate the statues of Mickey and Minnie hidden underwater! After popping a few postcards in the mailbox at Castaway Cay's own post office, we took a little tram to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach at the other side of the island! (I tell you, we pretty much forgot that there were any kids on this voyage.) This is where we explored far out into the open ocean without our feet leaving the bottom, enjoyed a barbecue lunch, and Eric stumbled upon his house-toting buddy. Biggest. Hermit crab. I've ever. Seen. We also watched a hungry pelican divebombing face first into the ocean. He didn't seem to be having much luck, though.
Pretty soon we decided to make our way back to the ship to prepare for our last night onboard. We packed quickly then got back out there to meet Mickey and Minnie in their cruising attire, win a round of The Wheel, enjoy one final dinner at Lumie's, and...experience Pub Night, a special treat for the adult passengers presented by the fabulous cruise staff. To future passengers I highly recommend it (if you aren't easily offended). Then we stuck around dancing into the night before our eyes wouldn't stay open and our feet wouldn't hold us up anymore.
Saturday, October 17 - Day 8 - Port Canaveral
We collected our trivia prizes--four Winner caps, three I'm a Winner medals, and two Champion buttons--and displayed our regalia at one final breakfast with our tablemates, also Disney cast members, from Dallas, LA, and Orlando. Our servers and head server came by and said we all have to come back, bringing bambinos with us next time! After saying our final goodbyes, we left the Disney Magic, hopefully to return someday soon.
Monday, September 7, 2009
We're Going Cruising!
We've decided to continue this year with the tradition we began last year by taking a cruise during my birthday. This time around, we're taking advantage of our connections to the world's most powerful rodent and vacationing with Disney Cruise Line aboard the Disney Magic!
We leave from Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 10, for our 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise to St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, and Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. So on the day of my birth, Thursday the 15th, we'll be spending a peaceful (or hectic, who knows?) day at sea preparing for the next day's adventure on Castaway Cay. We couldn't be more excited: Eric about the endless dining options and I about the exotic locales and remote, relaxing atmosphere. Here's hoping the many activities live up to our expectations--and that those vicious and strangely-named hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, and the like remain far, far away!
Friday, May 8, 2009
An Out of This World Day
Eric and I decided to take a little stay-cation to Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday. Neither of us had ever been, and he was particularly excited to see both shuttles simultaneously out on the launch pads for the very last time. It was a beautiful day, and there was lots to do, so we got busy early on. Exhibits we checked out were a display on early space travel, the Rocket Garden blossoming with historical vessels from missions past, and the Astronaut Encounter! No, the latter is not a ride; it's a really awesome and unique opportunity to meet a real live astronaut, hear him (or her, but we met a "he") speak on his missions and other accomplishments, ask him questions, and have a photo op! We met Astronaut John Blaha!
You can also reserve a special lunch with an astronaut, but since it was such an un-crowded day, I got to ask Astronaut Blaha a question myself during his Astronaut Encounter presentation. He was very down-to-earth (haha).We also got to have a (kinda) close look at the shuttles on their respective launch pads ready for Monday's Atlantis launch (Endeavour is being prepared just in case).
Atlantis
We also got to see a Saturn V rocket up close, touch a real moon rock, get jiggled on the Shuttle Launch Experience, and see a spectacular Imax film, Magnificent Desolation, about the moon missions. It's a really fascinating and well done movie produced and narrated by lunatic Tom Hanks. Lots of celebrities voiced poignant quotes from the Apollo astronauts; I recognized Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaghuey, Gary Sinise, and John Corbett, but the rest slipped through the cracks.
Overall, we had a very educational and cool day at KSC. We've been wanting to go for quite awhile, and it was definitely worth the wait. Loads more photos are waiting for you here!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Brr!
Hey, blogophiles! If you are a serious follower of our blog, you will notice that it has been a few extra days since the last update. I apologize for the delay in the enjoyment you get from our regularly scheduled posts. However, we are currently freezing our Floridian fannies off in central New York visiting Eric's side of the family for the week, and we are far far away from any wireless internet signals I can steal (I mean, "borrow").
Our flight was mostly delightful, until our descent into Albany International Airport was plagued by high winds. I felt as if I were trapped in a snowglobe being shaken by an espresso-fueled tchotchke collector. So far, while here, we have had pizza or pasta for almost every meal and Eric is in hog heaven. My pizza-loving self is not doing so bad either. Last night, all of the Romeos (Eric's mom's side) and Browns from the area gathered for dinner and the Passing of the Wedding Album since many could not travel down for the wedding. (We also had the chance to share all of our remaining wedding favors!) This morning I experienced Catholic mass, and I was mesmerized by the priest's melodic voice and historically stimulating message. Tomorrow we're probably going antiquing and having dinner at the Turning Stone Casino, both of which are popular activities in this area, I'm told. Just trying to fit in!
Our flight was mostly delightful, until our descent into Albany International Airport was plagued by high winds. I felt as if I were trapped in a snowglobe being shaken by an espresso-fueled tchotchke collector. So far, while here, we have had pizza or pasta for almost every meal and Eric is in hog heaven. My pizza-loving self is not doing so bad either. Last night, all of the Romeos (Eric's mom's side) and Browns from the area gathered for dinner and the Passing of the Wedding Album since many could not travel down for the wedding. (We also had the chance to share all of our remaining wedding favors!) This morning I experienced Catholic mass, and I was mesmerized by the priest's melodic voice and historically stimulating message. Tomorrow we're probably going antiquing and having dinner at the Turning Stone Casino, both of which are popular activities in this area, I'm told. Just trying to fit in!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Mini-Vacay at Universal
Universal Orlando sent Eric a free ticket in hopes that he would buy another one. It worked. Check out the evidence here!
Homer burped in my ear.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Fun Cruise Stuff - Volume 3
The final installment of the Fun Cruise Stuff trilogy is here! I finished the home video montage from our trip. Enjoy!
Fun Cruise Stuff - Volume 2
Here's the sequel to the first Fun Cruise Stuff post--the fun tidbit as promised. Our cruise director had a sense of humor, and on the last night of the cruise he presented the following list of questions asked on the cruise. Since then, I've found out that many cruise directors list the same questions, so you may have heard this list. Still, we thought it was pretty funny.
Top Ten Silliest Questions Asked on a Cruise
Top Ten Silliest Questions Asked on a Cruise
- How far above sea level are we?
- If I’m married, can I still go to the singles’ mix and mingle?
- Does the crew sleep onboard?
- Do I have to leave the ship to go on a shore excursion?
- Do you think my face is too big for the mini facial?
- Has this ship ever sunk?
- Is the water in the toilets fresh water or salt water?
- What happens to the ice sculptures after they’ve melted?
- Is the island of Coco Cay completely surrounded by water?
- If the photos in the gallery aren’t labeled, how do I know which ones are mine?
Stay tuned for one last Fun Cruise Stuff post with the video montage of our vacation!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Fun Cruise Stuff - Volume 1
The cruise photos have been uploaded to our online account! Follow this link to view them.
Following this post will be a few more containing the cruise video montage and another fun tidbit from our adventure at sea.
Following this post will be a few more containing the cruise video montage and another fun tidbit from our adventure at sea.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Cruise Recap
We're back from the birthday cruise and we had so much fun in such a short amount of time that I can't remember it all in sequence! Luckily for you, I kept a ship's log! I was pretty seasick on Day 1, but here are the entries from Days 2 through 4. Stay tuned for photos and video.
So now we're back in the real world doing what we do. Eric is already excited about our next cruise, and I really enjoyed the vacation, but I, the porcelain bus driver, am glad for now to be back on land.
Day 2
Hello from the high seas! It's Day 2 of our cruise and we are really enjoying ourselves. Yesterday was a nice introduction to the cruise lifestyle, and we did some cruise-y activities like roulette lessons, a scavenger hunt, and a tasty and unpronounceably fancy dinner. When we set sail, we hit some rough waters, so sadly we missed out on swing lessons because I was driving the porcelain bus! We spend the rest of the evening getting some much needed rest.
Because of some stormy weather, we bypassed Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island to spend a day at sea. We should be returning to Coco Cay on Thursday [Day 4]. Instead, we climbed the rock wall, came in second in Name That Tune and the Nerd Word Trivia Contest, and watched the crowd favorite win the men's sexy legs contest. His primary talent consisted of scooting back and forth on his electric wheelchair. Really!
Now we're getting ready for the formal dinner this evening. I think I'll have the duck! Later tonight is karaoke (always a favorite) and a stage show, maybe some dancing at the ship's nightclub. Tomorrow is our day in Nassau. We have a shore excursion scheduled (snorkeling and sailing) and we plan to visit some local historic attractions like the Nassau Library, the Queen's Staircase, and a historic Bahamian fort. Should be big fun for my birthday!
We are feeling much better today on smoother seas. We also got some extra seasickness precautions. In addition to the nausea medication, I now have the very stylish drug-free arm bands that use the principles of acupuncture to reduce nausea symptoms. Very natural. All in all, today has been much more comfortable than last evening!
Day 3
Today has been lots of fun so far! Our snorkeling excursion was amazing -- we can't wait to make a video of our findings. After lunch onboard, we went back to Nassau to take in some historical sightseeing. It was a little overrated but still interesting and
educational. Then we did some haggling at the Straw Market. They have things other than straw there, but we sure did come out with a straw hat for me and a [straw surprise for someone's birthday]. And Eric got a conch shell horn thing which he hasn't stopped blowing since we reboarded! Dinner tonight was delicious, and after an already decadent dessert, a birthday cake came to our table! That sneaky Eric :)
AND we won Family Quick Draw, which is basically iSketch in real life, so I've had a lot of training. We're resting up after a round of Deuces Wild to get ready for salsa lessons, the Love and Marriage game show (which I'm pretty sure is a rip-off of the Newlywed Game), an ice sculpture demonstration, dancing under the stars on the pool deck, and, of course, the midnight buffet, since we haven't had enough food today. I could get used to this lifestyle! [I ended up not doing any of that stuff from the salsa lessons on because, you guessed it, I fell asleep.]
Day 4
Today has been a beautiful day in paradise! Ashore at Royal Caribbean's private island, Coco Cay, we started exploring along the beach and ended up at the other end of the mile-long island! After some hammock time, we were ready for crafting, more Name That Tune, and a little exercise back on the ship. In store for tonight are line dancing, more karaoke, a PJ party, and one big scavenger hunt! Our last night should be a fun-filled one and tomorrow we're back home. Hope all is well back on land!
So now we're back in the real world doing what we do. Eric is already excited about our next cruise, and I really enjoyed the vacation, but I, the porcelain bus driver, am glad for now to be back on land.
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Cruise Fund has been DEPLETED
At first glance, my adorable denim sequined bag looks very unassuming. However, upon further exploration, after peeking inside you'll realize it is quite assuming indeed. It's full of cash and coins!
I carefully counted and rolled all of our savings and here's what we put in today:
- $256 in cash (thank you, Kimonos patrons!)
- $160 in quarters (640 quarters, 16 rolls)
- $60 in dimes (600 dimes, 12 rolls)
- $20 in nickels (400 nickels, 10 rolls)
- $17 in pennies (578 pennies, 34 rolls)
I wish I had had my camera at the bank because they had these fun little metallic color-coded trays to put the color-coded rolls in (you know, quarters=orange, dimes=green, nickels=blue, pennies=red, pictured separately here), and it looked so festive and colorful!
The final tally included, coincidentally, nearly equal amounts of cash and coin. Along with the $256 in dollar bills, we collected $257 in coins! Weird! And in the end we put in...
...$513!! If you'll remember, our cruise total was $525.30. So if Eric hadn't stolen $13 in cash this morning to take to work, we would have had exactly the amount to cover the cruise with 70¢ to spare to toss into various fountains as we wander through Nassau. Crazy! And exciting!
We had a one penny remainder, and I got a $10 tip the other night from a generous sushi-eater, so we have $10.01 in our brand new Fund. Who knows? Maybe this next one will be a Car Fund!
In other news:
- I baked some organic Jack Skellington cookies for Eric's "secret goblin" at work (don't tell!)
- I returned my Bahamas for Dummies and Cruise Vacations for Dummies and found out that my library doesn't charge late fees (!!)
- the piano is being delivered tomorrow (!! again)
- last night we saw En Vogue in concert at Epcot for the International Food and Wine Festival. At the end of the month, we're going to Boys II Men's free concert! Anyone wanna join us?!
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