About 6 months ago Megen Ralphs and I talked dreamily about the idea of going on a cruise together with our husbands. She had been, we had not. She was a world traveler, we were not. Until we actually got there, I wasn't sure it was a reality. Now we are home, with the memories fresh in my mind, I want to write down as much as I can so my mind, with it's net full of holes, doesn't lose all of it's beautiful gems.
Megen and Chris Ralphs, Alonna and Sheb Davies, along with Jason and I were the lucky couples who went. We had opened it up to all of our friends. The chemistry among the three couples was perfect. Jason and I had a hard time nailing down a babysitter for the week since we would be unreachable once we left Puerto Rico. My mom was going to stay with them but a few weeks before hand she hurt her back and was out of commission. We took a chance and asked Jason's mom. She juggled a few things around and we flew her down. She was such a blessing! The kids loved having her and already miss her.
We all flew out of Las Vegas, and had a 2 hour layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. Unfortunately, our plane in LV was delayed 2 hours, so when we landed in Charlotte we had to run from one side of the airport to the other just to make our connecting flight. We made it, and a few short hours later we were in San Juan boarding our beautiful cruise ship. The computer system was down when we were boarding the ship, so they had to do everything by hand. Fill out all the paperwork for customs, passport info, all by hand. I had the thought as I watched the guy writing our names and info down on paper, that this was a tiny bit like those who came to America via Ellis Island, and how names got changed because people misspelled them on their paperwork.
We boarded the boat and hung out for a few hours getting used to the layout of the ship while the crew sorted our bags and took them to the various staterooms. We had a small room, with a king sized bed and a window that was maybe 3ft x 3 ft, a small bathroom with a toilet and shower. It was small, but we fit everything we needed in it, and loved it. There were 12 floors to the ship and we were on the 5th floor, about mid ship. It took a few days to get our sea legs, and by the time it was nearly second nature to sway with the tides, it was time to head home and I have been swaying on solid ground ever since! We met our room steward that first night, his name was Aris and he was awesome. He took care of our room and anything we needed that week. He made our bed, restocked towels, made us towel animals each night and turn down service. He knew our names from day one and was always smiling.
We didn't see much of Puerto Rico the first day, but our first stop was St Thomas. Easily the prettiest water I have ever seen. We paid a driver far too much money to take us to the very busy and beautiful Coki Beach where we sipped on $8 Pina Coladas, I snorkeled for the first time, Though nervous, I loved it. It was breathtaking. The sand feels soft like baking flour in your toes, and it was nearly as white. While relaxing in beach chairs that afternoon, I looked over to see a pair of hands start to massage Jasons shoulders... his childhood friend Caton Hansen was standing above him grinning from ear to ear. What were the chances!! We had heard through the grapevine that they were on a different cruise ship and wondered if we would be able to touch base. Who knew they would be on the same island at the same beach at the same time? It was good to catch up and see he and his wife Michelle again.
There were nightly shows, games, and places to go on the ship. We had dinner together as couples every night at 6pm, and we had the same wait staff each night, and they came to know us and our tastes. There were different menu items each night to choose from and always one thing on the menu that was a little out there. Escargot, oysters, frog legs... Jason tried the frog legs and I about lost my dinner. We went to a Battle of the Sexes game night in what they call the Palace theater. I ended up on stage participating in a game where we did a relay race. What I didn't know was that it was a race to put a medallion medal between your cheeks, squeeze and waddle across the stage and drop that medal into a bucket. I was wearing a pencil skirt, needless to say, we did not win. I did, however laugh a lot, as did everyone else. Alonna and I hopped up on stage afterwards with a handful of others to learn the Thriller Dance. It was pretty fun, and halfway through, much to our surprise, Jason and Sheb joined us! It felt so good to laugh and feel so carefree for a while.
That night the ship sailed through the day and night, we spent day 2 at sea and then on to day 3 in Barbados. We took an excursion on a catamaran out to a beach where sea turtles are known to be. We didn't see many, but I saw two up very close! So close I needed to swim out of the way to avoid a collision! I couldn't believe it. It was unreal. I couldn't help but laugh into my snorkel mask at what I was seeing. In water that is clearer and prettier than any blue I've ever seen, here I was swimming with these giant sea turtles.
Day 4 we ported in St Lucia. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. We went on an excursion, on a catamaran that took us clear to the other side of the island and dropped us smack in the middle of the Pitons. It was out of this world. Like something you see on the movies. There, we snorkeled along a massive reef. We saw so many fish, plants, a barracuda, sea snakes, a tiger fish, and so many things I don't have a name for! Flying through the ocean on a boat manned by men with beautiful dark skin and exotic accents was certainly a new experience! Back on the ship by 4:30 each day. I can't be sure on the day, but I believe this was a memorable evening on the ship... we attended an evening show where a team of dancers put on a show to music by Divas of all time. Near the beginning of the show, one of the dancers came into the audience and picked a couple to join them on stage, Alonna and Sheb were the lucky ones picked! They went up on stage and Sheb was urged up onto the catwalk to strut his stuff. We laughed so hard when they told him they picked him because he looked like the Wolverine, and again when they asked his name and he responded that his name was Hugh. After a few minutes on stage and a near shirt removal by Sheb, to which they loudly objected, ha! They started back to their seats... Well, Sheb did. They wisked Alonna backstage for the remainder of the show. What she didn't know was that they were sending her back to wardrobe and make up to transform her into the highlight of the show, The Diva. Near the end of the show they brought her out, put her up on a huge platform, and a nervous and shocked Alonna was wide eyed for a split second until she fell into perfect character and danced her way down the catwalk. The rest of the cruise she was a celebrity, and known as the Diva.
Day 5 was St Kitts. Easily my favorite island. It was the one place I knew what excursion I wanted to experience. The Fortress. We decided to sleep in, get our own taxi and spend the time at the fortress as we pleased. We lucked out and landed the best driver in all of the Caribbean. Kevin was a local, handsome, charismatic, and generous with his time. He took us on a scenic tour through his island, telling us all of the things he loved about his home. He was open and talkative about any questions we had. He stopped along the dirt road to show us the monkeys playing in the trees, explained that the white birds all over the trees filled with thorns were egrets, and that they flew in with a storm in the 80's and never left. They perched in those trees because rats and other predators couldn't get to them because of the thorns. And though he wasn't religious, he knew were and drove us through town to see the LDS church. He took us through the dense rain forests, gave us time to drink them in and loved to tell us all about the buildings history, we bought real sugar cane to chew on, it was fibrous, watery, and tasted like sugar. He skillfully maneuvered the streets of St Kitts with ease and a little finesse, reminding all of us that driving these streets ourselves would not be doable. The fortress did not disappoint. He told us he knew we were smart when he heard we wanted to see the fortress which wasn't usually the choice of tourists. It was a beautiful experience. I felt a connection with the idea of the visit, and again felt the connection as we stood on the stone that made up the fort. It was an incredible day. So thankful for Kevin and his generosity and making St Kitts a beautiful experience. Back on the ship and later that night I wanted to try karaoke... after an hour of trying to pick a song, exasperated and quickly losing my nerve, I picked a song and Alonna and went up. It was a disaster. We laughed ourselves off stage and did not try again.
Day 6 was St Maarten. Alonna and Sheb were gifted a snorkeling excursion for two from a woman who won it and wasn't interested in going. Chris and Megen purchased another ticket for Jason to go as a birthday gift, and the boys spent the day snorkeling, while we three girls spent the day sipping Pina Coladas under umbrellas, and periodically shooing away the local women selling their wares, some aggressively and frustratingly so. Alonna spent time rolling around in the sand and sea, a quality I find endearing in my adventurous friend. We picked sea shells, and buried our toes in the sand as we enjoyed the waves rolling over our now tanned ankles. After a few hours in our rented lounge chairs and umbrellas, we wandered farther down the beach to escape the less than talented karaoke singer behind us at the storefront. Think scuttle in Little mermaid... but worse. That night we went to what ended up being my favorite show, the Newlywed game. None of us ended up on stage, thankfully, but enjoyed every minute. We laughed so hard we cried at points, my cheeks and stomach hurt from laughing so much. I loved it.
Day 7 we were back in San Juan and spent the day shopping and seeing the town. Then back to the airport for a day in the air, on our way home to our people who we missed so much.
There were so many things that I want to remember, but know will eventually slip into the back of my mind where lovely memories go until we can revisit them again with fond remembrance. We enjoyed the 80's party on the deck late into the night, nightly trips to the 24 hour pizza counter and soft serve ice cream, singers, jugglers, magicians, dancers, bingo, delicious, sometimes exotic food and desserts (yes plural!). Meeting the people of the islands was life changing for me. It broadened my view of my little world I sometimes tend to live in. These people reminded me that finding joy is a choice. And I am grateful for the lesson. Also grateful for the deepened friendships I have with Alonna and Meg, and the experiences we shared.
What a gift this week was for Jason and I to be able to spend so much time together without the stresses of our normal day to day lives. We knew the kids were being cared for, our cell phones didn't work once we set sail, and we connected like we hadn't in years. I found my friend again. It was so good for our hearts to have that time together.
I hope this is the beginning of Jason and I becoming world travelers, so here's to new adventures!
