Day 6 - St. Marteen

I had never been to St. Marteen. It is a really neat island owned half by the Dutch and half by the French. The locals refer to the various sides by the country that owns them. We did a city tour of this island where we saw a lot of European and American influences. Tourism from Americans is HUGE on all of the islands. Without it, many people would not have jobs.

Annette was our tour guide and she was so cute. She took us around and gave us the complete history of the island, buildings and cultures. We had lunch at a small cafe on the French side where I met the cutest little boy. I gave him a pack of chicklet gum and got a kiss on the cheek! He was so cute! Its official. Children are cute all over the world.

I loved hearing the French people talk. I love trying to make out their words and figure out what they are saying. I seriously wish I had paid more attention to French in college.

On our way back to the port, we stopped by a beach. One side was a nice normal beach. The other side was a NUDE beach. We were taking pictures in the parking lot and well...got an up close and personal view of an older gentleman visiting the nude beach. Seriously, we were IN THE PARKING LOT FOR THE LOVE -- KEEP IT ON THE BEACH.

Annette dropped us off in town for shopping where we met up with Princess Chrissy and Brad. We walked around and took lots of pictures of Phillipsburg. It was a great trip to St. Marteen.

Once we boarded the ship, we all played a round of putt putt and then Golfer, Princess Chrissy and Prince Ken did the rock climbing wall while Older Sister Barbie and I played in a basketball tournament of sorts. Hoosband was doing his Duck and Dog pub routine. Its unfortunate that we developed such fun habits of meeting on the sports deck at sailaway so late in the cruise. Those nights were REALLY fun.

There were several ships docked in St. Marteen. It was an awesome sailaway.

Day 5 @ Sea

I love days at sea.

Seriously we get up - lay around and drink frozen drinks. Mine were without Alcohol this time. I think the alcohol takes away from the fruitiness. Maybe I'm fruity. Whatever!

We had an awesome spot on deck where we all laid out in the sun and talked the day away. On deck they had a belly flop contest which was amusing to say the LEAST.

Dinner was fabulous and we had a ton of pictures made.

I went to exercise and then we all got ready for dinner. We had an after-dinner show which was really good...Mosaic www.notaboyband.com

Everyone was pretty tired so we all went to sleep a little early that night. Around 1 am.

Tomorrow: St Marteen

Day 4 - Curacao

Wake up
Rub eyes
Wake up more
Rub eyes more

uggghhhh

We all decided to do a tour in Curacao together. There are some AWESOME photos from this island and we all agree that it was one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Ester was our tour guide and she toted all 12 of us around the island. We crossed over the tallest bridge in the Caribbean, traveled into the small port city - Willemstad. Which is gorgeous!!! We went to the distillery where they make the island liquor. They gave free samples. I didn't try it but Golfer Barbie did. We saw a REAL Dutch oven at the distillery. :)

We then traveled across the hillsides and over to Daaiboi beach. It was the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. We've all vowed to go back there and spend more time. The guys with us like it because women were topless. I didn't notice. The water was so clear you could see 20ft to the bottom. It was AWESOME.

We continued on our tour and journeyed around the island and finally landed back in Willemstad where we shopped around. Hoosband and I went back on board ship and relaxed before we sailed out. It was a great day and we LOVED Curacao.

Golfer Barbie and I played ping pong on the sports deck. I think I'm ping pong barbie. Woohoo!

That night dinner was hilarous. We had a great time and loved our Waiter - Arun and Assistant Waiter Natalie. We went to a pre-dinner show this night...it was ok. Not great. The dancers were incredible but the singing was -- "ok".

Afterward I went to the casino for a while. I hit the jackpot on the stampede game. Woo hoo Fun!

Day 3 - Aruba

The Natalie Hollaway story looms in Aruba. The people there don't like talking about it.

Hoosband and I left the ship around 11ish and walked around. We shopped for a little while. We had been to Aruba on our Honeymoon trip and had snorkled so we really didn't make plans for this cruise. We met up with a guy named Rocky who ended up being awesome! We were somewhat skeptical at first when he asked if he could take us around and show us the island. Two more couples joined us in our bus and for $30 US we were shown the entire island in 3 hours. It was an AWESOME tour. We climbed these rock formations which took us to a peak in Aruba where we could see all over the island. Rocky explained the history of the island, the crime rate, unemployment, buying property, business etc. We saw the California Lighthouse, the water plant, beaches, housing communities, Natural Bridge, coral beach, an old abandoned fort, several cities AND how cashews are produced. I was so excited when I got back to the ship and realized the island tour booked through the cruise line for Aruba was over $65.

That night we went to Carlos and Charlies. I must say the Mai Tai's were quite refreshing there. We all had a great time...ok not all of us. MOST of us had a great time dancing and acting crazy. I think we all agree that Ann got the funny award for the night. Anyone else agree? Golfer Barbie danced with Prince Ken. It was hilarious.

We walked back to the ship and let me just say the conversation was rated "don't let your mother hear you talk like that" but funny nonetheless. Seriously, it was a great time by all. We left Aruba around 12:30 where there was a HUGE midnight buffet and pool party on board the ship.

We met Chicago Ken that night too!!! (AkA Mike from Chicago). He took us and showed us the helicopter pad on the ship. It was an AWESOME "JACK I'm flying" moment. We were at the front of the ship and the wind was just incredible. The stars brighter than I have ever seen them in my entire life.

I went to the Casino and everyone else went to sleep....

Tomorrow: Curacao

Day 2 - Day @ Sea

Hello all!

We are having an AWESOME time. Today we veg'ed out on the sun deck all day. We got up at 10. My husband is really enjoying the full sausage, eggs and waffles for b'fast deal - he better not get used to it. Tim and Brad and Malena did the bucket of beer thing while the rest of us had some crazy drink - raspberrade -- a lemondae of sorts :)

After sunning, Chris, Golfer and myself decided to go take ice skating lessons but to no avail, it was booked COMPLETELY. OK, no olympic trials for me...I'll have to wait another four years.

The ship is going so fast! We "looked down" from one of the lower decks and WOW we are moving....unlike our normal commute on Monday Mornings! (Love to our peeps back home!)

Golfer and I played ping pong for a long time and then I went to the exercise center and worked out. I met a really nice couple from New York.

Tonight is formal night and we are getting all dressed up with SOMEWHERE TO GO!

I was hoping to post pictures from my camera phone but...we are at sea...so no photo today!

Love to all!

Day 1 - To San Juan, Puerto Rico

Rise and shine its 6 AM. I have been unable to sleep out of excitement. YAY we're going on vacation!!!!

We get to the airport and go through security. There we meet up with Golfer, Redstripe Barbie, and the Barbie Sisters. We were sooooo ready to go.

Younger Sister Barbie asked Rock Star for his autograph. He wasn't having it. Why is it when you say the words "Oh I'll never see him again" you live to regret them? For the love we saw rock star all freaking week long.

For those who are not familiar with the rock star story, let me just say there was a guy at the airport who looked like a super aged Billy Idol. Younger sister barbie asked him for his autograph being 50% silly. He refused. We laughed it off thinking we'd never see him again. He was on our plane. Got on our transfer to the ship. Was on OUR ship. and well...we DEFINATELY saw him again. FOR THE LOVE.

Landing in San Juan was like being on a ride at Kings' Island. Seriously it was more bumpy than the roads in St. Thomas. (I have video of those for people who need proof) I HATE flying in there -- its always that way for me!

Note to the people visiting San Juan airport. There is NO FREAKING HAND SOAP ANYWHERE. Do not touch anything.

We all get our luggage and begin the massive insane task of finding our transfer bus. We pre-paid our transfers to and from the airport. I think next time, I'm doing the taxi thing. Too many people in San Juan airport doing the same thing. 3000+ to be exact. There were two ships leaving out of the port that afternoon.

The short ride to the port wasn't bad. Unlike the London transfer where I wanted to THROW UP and had to get my hiney cakes on a ship bound for the North Sea...omg kill me now. That is another story in itself.

Boarding was really not bad. The human torture known as boarding a ship has been lessened. I had forgotten to pre-check in so we had to check in at the desk. We were finished just as quickly as those who pre-checked in. WOO HOO. We go and have our photo made and poof are on the ship! YAY.

The gang goes to find Princess Chrissy and Brad in their suite. It was a nice one with a balcony unlike us who opted for the cheap seats. (I've done the window thing, balcony thing, inside thing...I liked PC's balcony on this trip for some reason. I never used it when I had it. But we ported a lot on this trip and I think I might have used it more than on past cruises)

I unpack and then we go up on deck to explore around and listen to the Calypso band. I was somewhat disappointed in that the sail away special was NOT a strawberry colada. So we explored the ship a little and then went to get ready for the muster drill.

Women and Children to the front! LOL My husband got pushed to the back of the line and I was moved to the front. It was an eerie Titanic moment and he was not happy! The muster drill on RCCL is 1000000 times better than on Carnival. I will tell you that over and over again. I'm experienced on this matter -- I know what I'm talking about.

Dinner was nice - it was casual so the guys all wore jeans. I don't remember what I had to eat. We laughed a lot and then hit the casino after dinner. Woot.

I'm sure it was around 3 am when I finally went to sleep.....

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Testing 1 2 3 Testing

OK so I'm emailing my blog to see if it really works.

 

Hi Me!

 

I'm so excited I can't sleep!

 

Remember:  sleep!

Formal Night #1

:) Malena this is the dress I bought this weekend.

SNS Disease

Do you know what SNS disease is? Sunday Night Stress

Its when you spend all night Sunday dreading Monday.

Does anyone else out there do this? I spend all day Sunday freaking out about Monday. Its a disease! I worry about what I'm going to wear, what I left unfinished, what the week will be like, what due dates do I have this week, and little things like that. All the stress of 5 days gets bundled into 1 evening...Sunday.

I can't wait for NEXT Sunday.


Remember: That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

Just when you think you've seen it all.....

My sister, her two children and myself were all at a local eatery having lunch on Saturday. No big deal right? Well there was a lady sitting behind us who was also having lunch with her two children. She turned around and asked my sister if she wouldn't mind watching her two children while she ran to the restroom. I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS. She did not know my sister. She did not know me. Her two little kids were left in the hands of STRANGERS. I was completely floored. Completely.

Please don't do this. Please. In a moment those two children could have been gone. Poof! And that woman's life changed forever.

OK done ranting.

Remember: Be Prepared!

To all the barbies in my life :)

I am always making up Barbie names for all of my friends. Even Ken names for the guys...ok so girls here's the official quiz....and of course MY result.
Have fun! Take the quiz:
Which Barbie Are You?

Hollywood Barbie
People are so mean when they call you vain and shallow. It's your agent who is pressuring you to get a second nose job! You can't help it the Malibu surgeon got the shape wrong (the lawsuit is still pending). It's not your fault the only 3 motion pictures you've ever done were box office bombs. They were bad scripts and your roles weren't big enough to save the film. Things will surely be lookig up for you soon, barbie. Atleast your live in boyfriend is a great masseur.

Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!