Caribbean Cruise
Watch out, here we come…
I win!
I was the first arrival landing in Miami at 6:30 AM and the rest of the family got in around 3 or 4. So maybe I didn’t win as I was awake for over 36 hours and really just wanted a good nap. I was unable to check into the hotel so I ended up renting a super sweet Grand Wagoneer and decided to go out and explore with my free time. My first stop was the Miami Botanical Gardens. I had forgotten how well orchids do in this climate - these gardens had countless beautiful orchids hanging throughout the trees.
As I continued to look for free things to do I decided to go to South Point Park. Nestled up against the coast providing beautiful views contrasting the bright blue water against the vibrant green foliage. Was a nice area to sit down take a moment and enjoy the scenery. Living in Colorado I never get to see lizards anymore and I was excited to see a couple while I was out and about (the iguana especially wanted nothing to do with me). For lunch, I wanted some local fresh seafood. Santorini Greek Restaurant had outdoor seating which I enjoyed while drinking a cocktail and eating shrimp.
All Aboard
Thanks to my Oma and Opa we were all given a beautiful suit to enjoy our 7-day cruise. Can’t complain about the king-size bed, living area, and private balcony in the Yacht Club. When cruising you typically have to do some safety training - we could not for the life of us figure out where this training was on the TV. We finally found it half drunk eating pizza at 12 in the morning. I had to share the photo because it was in German and in the picture I swear the person looks like it is in a Lego, not a life raft. Our first day at sea consisted of enjoying our bottomless drink package, food, and shows.
If you notice some not so happy photos of my father in the above slides we forced him to watch a variety show for 2.5 hours and he was not digging it.
Dominican Republic
Our first excursion was to Damajagua Waterfalls. Typically during their wet season, they have 21 waterfalls. Currently, there were only 7 that were flowing during our visit. The hike up to the falls was hot a humid and about 15 flights of stairs over the course of 30 minutes. Out of the entire trip, this was my favorite part/excursion. It consisted of two high jumps (one being 25 ft) and the rest are smaller falls that you slide down on your butt. At the end of the post, you can find videos from the trip attached.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
We landed in San Juan with no excursions or plans for the day. Our only intent was to explore and have fun. I personally had a goal of going to the San Juan National Historic Site. I love going to National Parks and I have no idea if or when I will be back in Puerto Rico. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Spanish system of fortifications in San Juan, Puerto Rico is the oldest European construction in the United States dating back to 1525. These fortifications guarded the entrance to San Juan Bay, helped the Spanish maintain sovereignty over Puerto Rico, and protected Spanish commerce in the Caribbean. The architecture had strategic openings offering stunning views of the city and the bay. I didn’t spend nearly enough time here but I am happy I got to see a little piece of history.
As we wandered around historic Old San Juan we decided to stop for lunch. I was determined to get something local that I can’t easily find in the States. We found an itty bitty restaurant and I ordered Chicken Thigh Mofongo and it was absolutely amazing. Mofongo is a Puerto Rican dish made with crispy green plantains mashed with garlic, olive oil, and pork rinds. Next, we decided to find dessert and ended up at Chocobar Cortés due to the usual menu item of chocolate grilled cheese. Needless to say, none of us ordered it but instead had chocolate-based cocktails. Our small attempt at a bar crawl ended at the Salty Señorita. Throughout there were art murals painted and these really neat lights hanging from the ceiling. We all had another round of drinks and made our way back to the ship.
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas
The last port we got to enjoy was in Saint Thomas to go to Magens Bay. Located on the Atlantic side of St. Thomas is a protected white-sand beach that stretches for nearly three-quarters of a mile. Frequently cited as one of the best beaches in the world thanks to its pristine sand and calm waters. We spent a couple of hours soaking up the sun and drinking. My favorite picture is my dad out in the water drinking what looks like a little juice box. Once we got back to the ship everyone went to enjoy the hot tub on the ship while I enjoyed a nice nap.
Sea Days
During the last two days at sea, we did as much as we could around the ship. Our last days consisted of Bingo, shows, pool/hot tub, restaurants, and a tea party. Our last meal was in the Miami airport and they didn’t have any tables big enough for a party of six so we had to sit in two different booths. All in all, we had a great time cruising and spending time with family.
