Happy Halloween 2025

Posted on Friday, October 31, 2025 by Paul

We were ready to receive little monsters having a large mixing bowl full of treats, but as of 10 pm, we had a total of eight kids!

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The Tradition Continues

Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2025 by Paul

For a quarter of a century, we always had pumpkin carving parties, and even before the digital camera, we did the same.  This year, post-operation, I was in no condition to visit with a lot of people.

Bob and Robin came to the rescue.  They came over for two hours, and we prepared four beautiful pumpkins using plastic eyes, noses, and teeth.  We topped them off with accessories of glitter, fuzzy things, pipe cleaners, etc.

The results were amazing:

Go Girl!

They both had “big hair”

Freightening, the pumpkin also!

I have it my best shot but as you can see, I was not on top of my carving game!

I did the best I could.

The finished product was pretty good!

Masterpieces!

Thanks again to Robin and Bob for making Halloween come back to life.

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Lost Three Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 by Paul

Tuesday morning late, I was sliced open like a watermelon, leaving a 14″ slice down my tummy. The doctor removed about twelve inches of dead intestines and sewed me back up when I began a two-week stay in the hospital to recover.  It was the two worst weeks in my life as I was in pain, and I could only eat ice chips and water.

For a reason still unknown to me, I was blessed with having my beautiful wife with me every second of the next two weeks.  She slept in the room, made sure the doctors and nurses did their job.  She was my advocate.

I woke up one night and looked up; oh my!  I had nine IV’s stuck in my arm.  The iV stand was next to me fr two weeks.

One needed a roadmap to figure it all out!

The staff at St. Joseph’s was outstanding; they were always friendly and helpful

 

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Sirens Wailing, Horns Honking, Mary Was Taking Me To The ER

Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 by Paul

Dr. Mary took control and got me inside the ER post-haste, browbeating the staff into submission; I am glad she was in my corner!

A “tied up bowel” refers to a bowel obstruction, most commonly caused by a twist in the intestine called volvulus, from scar tissue called adhesions. It can also be caused by other factors, like hernias or tumors. Symptoms include severe cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and the inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

I was moved to the ICU, where they spent a day giving me pain meds and meds that would thicken up my blood (I was on blood thinners for my ticker).

My memory is beginning to fade!

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The Poo Hit The Shan!

Posted on Monday, October 6, 2025 by Paul

By mid-morning Monday, I knew something was wrong.   I felt “sick” but I lasted out the day.  My tummy was distended, and I could not eat.  Mary begged me to go to the ER, but I said, “I will get over this, it’s temporary!”

I did last all day, but I was in agony.

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Day 9 – Coming Home

Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2025 by Paul

We all signed up for “The Key,” meaning we had breakfast the morning the ship arrived, a time for remembering all the fun we had these last few days!

Mary likes this shirt!

Mary loves to celebrate and decided to see the doctor before we departed for the airport.

Mary felt a little under the weather, so we went to the ship’s doctor and got the news!!

Today was a LONG day.  We departed the ship at 9:30 am and went via taxi to the airport, where we spent the rest of the day getting home.  We flew to Miami and then caught a non-stop to LAX, arriving there at midnight.  We looked up the “Midnight Taxi” service, and they got there right on time.

Our driver was Bob Zaitz!  He got us home and unloaded in no time; I was happy to see him.  He is like the brother I never had, a wonderful friend!  It was after midnight when we finally hit the bed, and it took no time to fall asleep!

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Day 8 – Sailing The Seas!

Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2025 by Paul

Sailing sailing!  Full speed ahead!

We had to speed up a bit as we have 1050 miles to cover.  We tried to go onto the veranda, but the wind was so strong that when we reached out to point at a bird, the wind whistled through our armpits, scaring the birds away.

We had breakfast in the Chops Grille, and I ordered some Danish!   When it was served, it really bugged me!

I felt like I was being watched!

We were sailing close to some islands, and Mary loved watching the birds.

Mary spots a bird.

Ag 11:00 am there was a tribute to the Veterans.

An event for the veterans.

There was not a dry eye in the place!

Long may she wave!

We love seeing our flag.

Captain Mary, reporting for duty!

Mary joined some of her fellow veterans.

“Yes, Ma’am”

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and then got ready for the show and dinner.

The sunset was mesmerizing this evening!

The Sun set into the clouds, just barely peeking out.

The ship came!

It looked like a ship on fire.

The finale!

The Sun is down, time to play!

We attended the Farewell Show first and then went to dinner.

The Farewell Show begins.

We were ready to eat after this performance!

Greaat entertainment.

The Chops Grille is the best on board; it’s first call all the way, albeit a tad on the slow side.

We went to the steakhouse again, for the fourth time!!

We had a few drinks and then had to head to the room to finish packing!  All of our bags had to be in the hallway by 10:00 pm.

Mary felt a little under the weather, so we went to the ship’s doctor and got the news!!

We crashed, and the kids went out and about.  We have to be up and at ‘oh dark thirty’ in the morning.

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Day 7 – Bridgetown, Barbados

Posted on Friday, October 3, 2025 by Paul

Bridgetown, Barbados, was named for bridges that crossed the Careenage.  It was Barbados’ capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring the world’s third-oldest parliament, founded in 1639.  Known for its historic architecture, vibrant markets, and role in the sugar industry and transatlantic slave trade, Bridgetown also boasts the Nidhe Israel Synagogue.  The island is a significant location for rum production.

Our stateroom provided a magnificent view of the city.

There was a lot of construction underway, as Barbatos is now a major tourist attraction. The population is approximately 242,000 people, and the major economic sectors are tourism and offshore finance.

There were boats everywhere.

We arranged for a taxi (van) to drive us around the island for the entire day.  We first stopped at a wild animal reserve.  Jon and Sarah has been here many times so they knew their way around.

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is a sanctuary and research center located on the island of Barbados, renowned for its free-roaming green monkeys, tortoises, and deer within a mahogany forest.  Visitors can enjoy a self-guided walk through the trails, observe animals such as agoutis and peacocks, and witness the monkeys’ afternoon feeding times.  The reserve was established in 1985, and its infrastructure was built using local coral stone from old sugar factories.

There were a lot of “Red-Toed Turtles” who were NOT afraid of us humans.  They took the same pathways as us and just looked up with amazement.

We heard two turtles talking: The first turtle said he was crossing the road when two snails mugged him.  When the police show up, they ask him what happened.  The shaken turtle replies, “I don’t know.  It all happened so fast.”

There were a total of seventeen, just this group!

Time for a drink!!  They seemed to like the local water!

I was going to join them until I found out it was water!

This building was used for sugar cane processing 100 years ago.  Now it is used for telling the story behind this remarkable wildlife preserve.

Jon photobombed the image!

Do you see the Iguana?

Iguanas are surprisingly resilient, able to survive falls from great heights by using their tails to propel themselves away from danger.  They also possess a unique “third eye” on their heads, which helps them detect light and predators.  These herbivores also communicate with each other through head bobs and can detach their tails to escape threats, which then regrow

He was in search of lunch; we were too big for him to bite us!

This Iguana is acting weird!  I think I have a reptile dysfunction.

The aviary featured a dozen different types of birds on display for visitors.  This little parakeet interestingly entered his nest!

Knock Knock, anybody home!!

Why is it called a parakeet if there’s only one of them?

The cage was empty!

After a few minutes, we found them.  They had flown the coop!

Get a room!!

Before leaving, we stopped for a drink at thePiña.  I enjoyed a Coke and a Piña Colada.

BTW, the Piña Colada, meaning “strained pineapple” in Spanish, is Puerto Rico’s national drink, officially declared in 1978, and is believed to have been created in 1954 by bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero at the Caribe Hilton.  The iconic tropical cocktail features rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, and iPiñalebrated on International Piña Colada Day on July 10.

Jon takes a small rest!

Back in the Taxi, we headed for a run distinnary/plantation.

St. Nicholas Abbey in Barbados is renowned for being one of only three remaining Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere, dating back to 1658, and for its active role as a rum distillery that produces premium Barbados rum.  The estate features a steam railway, a working rum distillery, and offers tours of the historic great house, which showcases its Jacobean architecture and a collection of antiques.

The steam locomotive that used to haul the sugar cane is still in operation and runs around the property regularly.

Toot toot!

After walking through the great house, we went to the tasting area.   We met the owner’s son, Simon, who was visiting with the visitors.   He had been in a serious car crash right after 9/11 and was still recovering his speech capabilities.  He was funny and very delightful.  Mary and I gave “the boys” each a bottle of their 27-year-old rum.

Slurp, burp, and a story behind each tasting.

Mark and Colleen gave us a bottle of their new product.  We now have some gin!

The room smelled like rum; we could have gotten a buzz on just sitting there.

Next, we shizzed down to the bay where Sarah and Jon got married eight years ago.   However, the driver insisted that we go to the Cherry Three Hill Reserve, where they are replanting a mahogany forest.

Cherry Tree Hill Reserve in Barbados is renowned for its stunning panoramic views of the Scotland District and the Atlantic coast, having historically served as a British military signal station.  The area, located around 850 feet above sea level, was once covered in cherry trees but now features mahogany trees.

The second-highest point on Barbatos.

The view was quite impressive, and the sea breeze was powerful enough to cool us down even though it was 87 degrees outside!

Barbados is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles.  It is 21 miles (34 kilometers) long and up to 23 kilometers (14 miles) wide, covering an area of 439 square kilometers (169 square miles).

The English got here first, so they drive on the wrong side of the streets to this day!

Now we get serious about going to where Jon and Sarah were married.  It was 3:00 pm, and the kids were getting out of school, so traffic was heavy.

What a magnificent group!!

We made it, and as the rain was threatening, we did NOT walk all the way down.  Jon and Sarah were married by the palm tree in the background.

The kids went shopping when we returned to the ship.  Mary and I went to the VIP Lounge and enjoyed an adult beverage.  We had the concierge make dinner reservations for us at 6:45 pm in the main dining room.

As we prepared to leave, we witnessed a fantastic sunset.

It almost looked like the ship was on fire!

Tonight was another “dres your best” night, but I did not wear my tux; I opted for dress pants and a bright purple shirt.

The menu was special this evening, so we started with escargot (snails).  I sent my plate (after I devoured the snails) to Sarah, who loves garlic.  We were not bothered by witches or demons the rest of the evening.   I did notice that the freshest flowers around the ship wilted as Sarah walked by!

This is what happens when a snail mugs a turtle.

We had another wonderful evening with the kids.

They were allowed out of their room IF they promised to behave!

Who else had a wonderful time?  Duh!  Mary and I kept the table in stitches with our “humor”.

I love that girl!

Then came the Baked Alaska.

Baked Alaska trivia includes its likely creation to celebrate the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, the name being coined by Charles Ranhofer of Delmonico’s, and its origins in the French “Omelette Norvégienne”.  The dessert’s paradoxical hot-and-cold nature comes from ice cream insulated by meringue, which is then browned, with the name a metaphor for the chilly Alaskan climate.

The waitstaff marched, and we applauded!

Everyone was tired, so we decided to go to the western-themed show.

We were photo bombed!  Great fun!

We were told the show would be full of dancing and singing!

The lights were lowered; it was showtime!

Dang, they had the audience in the palm of their hands.  We were tired just watching all that energy!

We departed the theater exhausted!

After dinner, we just had enough energy remaining to go to the Schooner Bar and say hello to Al, a new cruising friend.  We went VFR to our cabin and fell asleep before our heads hit the pillows.

Tomorrow is a day at sea heading back to San Juan!

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Day 6 – St. John’s, Antigua

Posted on Thursday, October 2, 2025 by Paul

We arrived at 6:30 am and spent the day touring the island with our own private tour bus courtesy of the kids.

Antigua is an island roughly 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, covering an area of approximately 108 square miles (281 square kilometers).

St. John’s is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, a vibrant port renowned for its historical significance, including a rich pirate past, a large public market, and nearby historic forts such as Fort Barrington.  The city has experienced multiple damaging events, including earthquakes, a fire, and a hurricane.  Still, the city has been rebuilt to become a popular tourist destination filled with colorful buildings and lively festivals, such as the island’s annual Carnival.

We finally arose at 7:00 am, struggling to open the door and heat the room.  The thermostat was stuck at -30 degrees F!  Another beautiful day in paradise.

The dock was almost a mile inland!

We found a bus and the kids hired it for the day.  Our driver, born and raised on the island, knew everyone.

St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Liberta, Antigua, is a historic landmark known for its striking exterior made of local green-hued stone.  Originally built as a chapel school between the 1820s and 1840s, it became the parish church after an earthquake in 1843 destroyed the nearby church in Falmouth.  The church features colonial-era gravestones in its overgrown churchyard and was extended in 1989 to accommodate its growing congregation while maintaining its original architecture.

Key Trivia Points

Unique Green Stone: The church’s most distinctive feature is its construction from local “Antigua green stone,” quarried nearby, which gives it a unique color and appearance.

Original Purpose: It was initially built as a chapel school.
Post-Earthquake Conversion: Following the 1843 earthquake that devastated the nearby mother church in Falmouth, St. Barnabas was converted into the parish church.

Historical Significance: The churchyard contains colonial-era gravestones, including one for Charles Pitt, the brother of Prime Minister William Pitt.

Modern Expansion: In 1989, an extension was added to the church, carefully designed to match the existing Italianate architectural style.

Sister Church: It serves as a sister church to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Falmouth.

The original stonework was impressive.

The church was expanded thirty years ago, and they used more green rocks for the foundation.

We went on a walking tour at Nelson’s Dockyard.  After the English colonized Antigua in 1632, the Royal Navy began using English Harbour as a safe haven.  The harbour’s position on the south side of Antigua island facilitated the monitoring of neighbouring islands, and the harbour was naturally well-suited to protect ships and cargo from hurricanes.  Fortification of the harbor began in the 18th century.

The building was unique and designed to repair the masts of ships that required assistance.

Nelson’s Dockyard trivia includes facts about Admiral Horatio Nelson’s time there (1784-1787), his unpopularity due to enforcing trade laws, a famous quote calling English Harbour an “infernal hellhole,” and the daily saltwater ablutions Nelson allegedly underwent.  The dockyard was built in the 1740s and was a vital British naval base, making it the world’s only continuously operating Georgian-era dockyard, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The museum was quite interesting, and we found ourselves wondering what life was like 400 years ago!

Much of the facility was undergoing restoration, but we found a bar (Duh!)

Since Mary is no longer allowed to carry a black marker (remember the happy face), we did NOT sign the ceiling, but it was interesting to read previous entries.

We were the only people outside, but in the shaded area of the bar.

We walked back to the via via the path that took us next to the moorings.

There was only one boat on our side of the bay!

The people who owned the boat were smart; they had solar cells to charge the batteries.

There were a lot of fish next to the dock.

We were hungry, so our driver took us to a beachside restaurant where we had a great meal.  I had a lobster sub sandwich and some local rum drinks!

The beach was immaculate!

We invite our driver to join us, but he was not allowed by law to imbibe, so, being the great guy I am, I drank for him, hic!!

We all had a wonderful time swapping stories about those things that never really happened.

The ship was adjacent to the shopping center as expected.

Earlier in the day, we stopped, and I got some sunglasses as mine were misplaced.

The air conditioning felt good, so we went to the Schooner Bar and ran into a friend we had met a few days ago.  The three of us sat there for an hour, soaking in the cool air.

We took a brief nap and then heard the ship’s horn blast out its departing sound.

Off we go, heading to Barbatos.

Tonight was “White Night”.   I thought it was “White Knight”.  I was brave and wore all white save for the suspenders.

It’s White Night, so Mary found a dress on shore for this evening.

Tonight is Italian at Giovioni’s.  The meals were outstanding, and the champagne and wine flowed freely.

We arrived at the Italian restaurant early and got to choose where we wanted to sit.

The ladies were ready to eat, but decisions had to be made first!

Looking good!

Traveling with Mark and Jon is a hoot; I never had to carry a bag, and they were always by my side as I traversed the stairs or got in and out of the vehicles.

I got a big kick out of telling new friends that Mary and I were traveling with our grandson.   We pointed out our grandson, and they laughed; they were thinking an eight-year-old!

Yes, that’s me on the end… the little guy!

Decision time.  What shall we try??

This was quite an ordeal!

I went all out and ordered three flavors of Italian ice cream!  My bathroom scale may never talk to me again!

Dessert was served.

We headed to the Schooner Bar so we could dance.

Did we dance?  Duh!!

After a couple of hours of sampling different drinks, we headed to the VIP lounge, and there was Barbara.

We met up with Barbara, our next-door neighbor, and had drinks with her, her husband, Jon, and Sarah.

Finally, around 11:00 pm, we opted to hit the sack.  We were tired, and I found out why!

Tomorrow, Brbatos, where the kids got married!

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Day 5 – Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 by Paul

We just arrived at St. Marteen.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, is known for being the capital of the Dutch side of the dual-nation island, a major cruise port, and a duty-free shopping hub on Front Street.  The capital’s layout features a more tourist-focused Front Street and a local Back Street, divided by the Broadwalk along Great Bay.  The town was founded in 1763 by John Philips to centralize trade and still features the 1793 courthouse, a prominent landmark that also appears on the country’s flag.

The folks on the bridge were busy as they planned to back into the docks ahead; it made for a quick escape later in the day.

We arrived right on time.

The weather was perfect, not a wave on the water!  We love our portable hotel!  We did not see any sea turtles this morning, but we did watch a Celebrity Ship pull in next to us.

Another beautiful island!

We had a long walk from our ship to the bus, and the wind kept things cool.  Since I was using a cane, the tour leader put us up front so we wouldn’t be left behind.

We walked to the awaiting bus.

The welcome site was just outside the terminal area, adjacent to all the shopping areas.  We landed on the Dutch side, so there were numerous diamond stores.

St. Maarten’s diamond store culture thrives due to its duty-free status, which makes luxury jewelry and watches significantly cheaper than in the US.  Many businesses are family-owned and have a long-standing presence, such as Joe’s Jewelry (established 1980) and Caribbean Gems (established 1983), fostering a reputation for trust and high-quality service alongside competitive pricing and unique, custom

WELCOME!

The bus ride took 12 minutes to cross the Dutch-French border.  As you can see, we did NOT walk!

We crossed the border into France with ease.  The islanders have made the separation pain-free.

Passing the Dutch/French border.

Now we went off-roading and got bounced around pretty well!  Orient Beach has a nude beach area.  Orient Bay is St. Martin’s famous “St. Tropez of the Caribbean” beach, known for its upscale restaurants, vibrant atmosphere, and a clothing-optional section.

We took a dirt road to the beach.

The beach was beautiful!  There were some rain squalls in the distance, but they did NOT come our direction.  We spend about three hours at the beach before heading to the nearby restaurant.

We have arrived!

Everyone went to the water, and they swam out to the float.

Everyone went into the water except me; I watched our belongings

While everybody was in the water, I strolled down a bit to the clothes-optional area and attempted to join in the fun.  I was incensed, despite their seeming friendliness.  They kept pointing at me and saying, “Hi, Shorty!”

I gathered my thong and headed back to our chairs, and watched everyone in the water.

The restaurant was right on the beach.  We got out of the water a little early and went for a drink before lunch!

Time for lunch!

They had some interesting drinks, and we tried some of them.  Mark was partial to the lemonade drink!  I vaguely remember drinking a “Pain Killer”.  Mary behaved and had a Chardonnay.

Slurp, burp, giggle!

We laughed and giggled for another two hours, telling stories about those things that never happened.

The Thinker.

We gave Colleen a bad time about last night, but as usual, she took the teasing well.  I am so proud of her.  Even her brother, Jon, was proud!  (Inside joke but funny!!)

She survived.

The restaurant had a photo shoot spot, and we took advantage of it!

Well, hello there litte lady!

I took a look at the ropes, remembered my pre-cruise weight, and decided not to tempt fate.

“No matter what they say, I am innocent!”

Lunch arrived right on time.  Mary went for the Mahi-Mahi, and I did the chicken and ribs!  The food was quite good!

Island special, chicken and ribs!

We took the bus back to the dock.  Mary and I went ahead while the kids shopped, looking for that once-in-a-lifetime buy!

Back to the ship from whence we came!

The wind was still blowing, so it was a pleasant walk.  We found ourselves zooming to the 9th floor and into the adult-only pool area, where we imbibed in a “pre-name adult beverage”.

Only a few more steps!

We took a nap after a long, hot day!  Jon made a reservation for 6:00 pm at Izumi, a Japanese specialty restaurant.  We had a fantastic meal complete with a lot of sake!

Izumi is Royal Caribbean’s premier Japanese specialty restaurant, known for its sushi, izakaya-style dishes, and teppanyaki.  It debuted in 2009 on Freedom of the Seas and has since expanded across the fleet, becoming a very popular dining choice. The restaurant offers a variety of options, including à la carte sushi, a fixed-price menu with multiple courses, and teppanyaki tableside cooking.


We were on the 11th floor aft!

We wore out matching Hawaiian-themed outfits this evening.   BTW, we still have people stopping us and remarking about our formal attire two nights ago!  We are getting a serious rep!

Yes, we had fun!!!

Sarah acquired a new dress on our adventure, and it was beautiful!

We had a lot of excellent Japanese dishes!

After dinner, we went to the Schooner for a quick drink before meeting with the kids on the pool deck.  We all smoked a small cigar and watched “How To Train Your Dragon”.  All of us were dragging, so by 10:00 pm, we had all retired to our rooms.  Good night, all!

 

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