Faith, Folklore, and Friends

You could stand on any cruise ship dock and know which people are just starting their cruise and the ones who have just finished.   The ones boarding are smiling, being patient, and high-fiving each other, celebrating when their time comes to board.  The ones disembarking are tired, grumpy, and wearily struggling with their too-full luggage. It is the stuff of life, that all good things have to come to an end.  This cruise was very enjoyable for Hub and me.  We are thankful that we were able to go, both physically and financially.  It couldn't have happened just a few years ago. We met some fantastic people and some who were slightly less than fantastic.  The food was excellent, as always, except for the green beans that are served almost raw.  After eight days of eating wonderfully rich foods that we are not accustomed to, we stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home for some comforting cornbread and fresh veggies. I can't wait...

    Aruba is the last island we visited on this cruise.  It is part of the Southern Caribbean chain of the Lesser Antilles.  Like Curacao, it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.       Sometimes, it felt more like Arizona than a Caribbean island. Because of the arid climate, there is no farming done and all their food has to be imported. The only grass I saw was at resorts; most people there can't afford to waste water on grass. The California Lighthouse, named after a shipwreck near the site.     Open bazaars selling items from China. The downtown area is modern with high-end shopping and casinos.   I wonder how many years it will be before I can hear "Aruba" without instantly thinking of Natalie Holloway.

  Curacao is prosperous and beautiful, but different from the other islands I have visited.  It is more arid than tropical, and the Dutch influence is everywhere.  In 1634, the Dutch West India Company claimed Curacao and began to settle it, although the island had been inhabited by many different people long before then.  The island is larger than some we visited with 171 square miles. We docked in Willemstad.    The citizens come from diverse backgrounds and religions.  By fourth grade, children can speak Dutch, Spanish,  English, and the local dialect, Papiamentu.    I'm always trying to get bird pictures for my friends, but I have never been very successful at it.  Steph, these are for you--it was the best I could do.    There is an open air market along the wharf where merchants sell vegetables and fruits from Venezuela, which is 177 miles south of the island. T...

  La Ramona, Dominican Republic, welcomes you with coral beaches and dancers on the pier. The Dominican Republic is a large island/country, and we had lots of choices for excursions. We chose to go to  Altos de Chavón , a re-creation of a medieval European village. Its construction began in 1976 when the construction of a nearby road and bridge crossing the Chavón River had to be blasted through a mountain of stone. The developers  had the idea of using the stones to build a sixteenth-century Mediterranean village. Construction was completed in the early 1980s.     It was a beautiful place, and the shuttle ride there was very inexpensive. As always, the locals loved Santa!