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Showing posts with label catamaran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label catamaran. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Day 522 - Jamaica

This morning Jaco rang me to let me know I had a tour in one hour. Yay! I was going on a little cruise to Paradise Cove! I haven’t previously done the tour, so I was excited to do something new in Jamaica.

It was a RIOT! I was a little concerned, as the catamaran I boarded was quite full. I’m used to small groups on smaller catamarans. But they made it work!

We sailed down the coast for an hour & on the way we passed a home formerly owned by Mick Jagger with a beautiful waterfall cascading into the ocean. We also passed the infamous Dunn’s River Falls & witnessed the first group of tourists starting their climb up the falls. Shortly after the falls, we arrived at our swimming spot.

It was beautiful! I had taken my snorkeling gear – mostly because I’m a poor swimmer & with my fins & mask I feel much more comfortable! They made us tie on a lifejacket around our waists, which suited me just fine! By the time I let all the other passengers get into the water, some were climbing out already! What gives? The water was BEAUTIFUL! It was so refreshing! I didn’t want to get out! I asked the guides how long we would be in the water – thinking it would be an hour – 25 minutes was the reply! 25 minutes! That’s nothing! I told them I would be the last one out of the water! And I was!

By the time I climbed back on board, the passengers had devoured all the fresh fruit. Oh well. I think I’ve got a nut bar in my bag! I took a few more photos as we sailed down the scenic & stunning coastline. When they announced they were going to sail out into the ocean, I guessed that the waves would be splashing over the front of the catamaran. I guessed right!

I went to put my camera away & join a young girl sitting on the mesh at the front & by the time I returned, the area had cleared! There had been a few big splashes & everyone left! Perfect! I had a blast! It was just like a catamaran tour I did in Barbados with the Photo Department. The highlight was sitting in the front getting splashed! Today was the sequel!

One other fellow sat up front with me, mostly because it was too rough for him to stand up & move elsewhere! He kept getting salt water in his rum punch. I was squealing like a little kid on Christmas morning! When I left the catamaran, the dried salt felt like shards of glass on my skin. All that was missing was the tequila & lime!

I showered & headed back out to visit Island Village one last time. I found a shirt for Jaco at Margaritaville – yes, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. It looks great on him! (Jaco, not Jimmy Buffet!) I found a few of my friends from the shops & visited with them until I felt the sun piercing my skin. Wow. It is SO hot here!

I left for the ship, got hassled on the way back – as you do in Jamaica – and then went to the Medical Centre to take a few x-rays. Yes, that’s right! I didn’t do the x-rays myself, but one of the Nurses needed a digital file of his wife’s x-rays, so he asked me to take the photos on my higher resolution camera. It was a fun challenge & I edited them straight away.

Once I was finished with that, I helped my Shorex pals for 20 minutes or so & then it was back to the cabin. To begin, ugh, packing. It’s that time. I’ve packed a lot this evening. I still have a LONG ways to go, but I’ve put a pretty big dent in things. At least the cabin steward won’t have to do too much tomorrow! There’s no room to clean anything!

It’s one hour forward tonight, so I’m losing sleep as I type! That’s me for a great day in Jamaica!

Lekker slaap!
xxxxMaria


 The home away from home.
Dolphin Discovery
Mick Jagger used to own this property!
The Infamous Dunn's River Falls







 Not much to see under the water. A shell & one urchin.
 Interesting way to take the rope back!



Yah Mon! Everyting Irie.


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Day 488 - Grenada

This morning the four of us went on a Catamaran snorkeling tour. We weren’t sure if we were actually going to dock, as there was a strong swell & we couldn’t dock at the usual pier. We ended up tendering into the harbor downtown, which is a little more sheltered. Mom2 was slightly nervous on the tender boat. I did my best to be understanding & remember that it was her first time, but it was hard not to giggle as her eyes turned to saucers each time the tender bumped into the side of the pontoon.

Thankfully we were in the Caribbean, as it pretty much poured rain the entire time! We were supposed to snorkel at an underwater sculpture park – the first of its kind in the Caribbean – but with the heavy rain, we wouldn’t be able to see anything!

We carried on a little further down the shoreline & stopped in another cove. There was a heavy swell where we stopped, but we got in the water regardless. The visibility was quite poor, due to the rain. When you mix fresh water with salt water, you get these strange swirls as the two waters mix. It makes it very difficult to see clearly. We did manage to see a few fish, but not much. M&D2 were happy to be in the warm water either way!

After our snorkel was over, we headed back down the coast & went to Grand Anse Beach. The catamaran anchored just off shore & we hopped into the water & swam around – both to the beach & around the ship. M&D2 found a stray dog on the beach & fell in love. They also found a beach peddler & bought a few necklaces for friends back home. Mom2 & I rolled around in the surf & I came out with sand in places I didn’t know I could have sand! In fact, after I washed my swimsuit in the evening, it STILL had sand in it!

We headed back to the pier, signaling the end of the tour. The boys went back to the ship, while Mom2 & I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Mom2 bought cans of tuna & lovingly fed the stray dogs in the back alley. We also bought spices from the stalls outside the pier area. Grenada is known as the Spice Island, so the prices were reasonable & the quality high.

Back onboard, M&D2 spent the night together – enjoying a nice dinner at the Steakhouse, and Jaco & I spent our evening together. Tomorrow is a Sea Day & their first formal night, so we’ll go for dinner & have some portraits taken. As you do!

Having fun in the sun! Or rain!
xxxxMaria



Heading out to sea!
The scary tenders!
Mr & Mrs Happy At Sea
My favourite fish!
Sergeant Majors
More of the same
Downpour! Doesn't matter! We're already wet!
Wheee!
Enjoy the swim!
Ridin' the waves
Trying not to drown next to my fish.
That's better! (I can touch the ground here!)
Chillaxin' on da beach
Puppy snooze
Hagglin'
Heading home
Cheese
Feeding the locals
Dinner at the Steakhouse
Cheers!
Sexxy shoes!
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