Carnival's Paradise ! Halfmoon Cay

  Halfmoon Cay, Bahamas
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

 This is another one of my favorite port stops.  The HAL chefs literally transferred the kitchen and galley to the island.  It took them three boat loads of supplies to make sure that we will not get hungry or thirsty on this beautiful island.

But the best part was the beach!   It  was very clean and impressive with powdery white sand. The water was crystal clear and warm.  For beach lovers, this is synonymous to paradise!  You can walk for miles on the beach.  The abundance of sun and wildlife offers the perfect condition for relaxation.

Another crowd pleaser  was the  three bars humming with activities including a live band. They are within walking distance from the beach.   But to capture the essence of the island, take a walk the outlying trails and listen to birds.  The island is lovely, and the view of the water takes your breath away.

Pictures

Bahamas here I come!	white sand beach and crystal clear water	white sand	Me and my Captain
small church	HAL cats dancers and singers	The Pirates Bar with Live music	HAL desk crew
another bar	there's something for kids too	our fave HAL chefs	nice reminder

Back In The USA !

  Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Today was a bit sad as we said our final goodbyes to some of our new found friends. We had become a close group for 113 days during the World Cruise and some for even longer, because we started in San Francisco on December 18, 2013. 

As we look back, we sailed through the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean and covered around 
35,041 nautical miles. We visited 38 ports in 29  countries, on five continents (North America, South America, Australia, Asia and Africa) and visited 25 gorgeous islands.  

back in Florida

We've seen whales, dolphins, sloths, koalas, kangaroos, flying fish and so many kinds of birds. We enjoyed
the sharks and the rays in the South Pacific and we embraced the many cultures of these island nations, topless or not. We've landed and enjoyed a full day on Easter Island, one of the hardest and most
difficult islands to visit. We met some of the descendants of Christian Fletcher from Pitcairn Island and climbed Jacob`s Ladder at St. Helena Island. We slipped and slid, and were giddy with excitement at Namibia`s famous Dune 7. We had great experiences
both on land, and the sea, to jaw dropping scenery.





We ate kangaroo meat, crocodile meat and emu while in Australia. 

sailing out again

We ate warthog, zebra, ostrich, kudu, and more crocodile meat while in Africa. We ate everything and
anything in abundance without fear that we might tilt the ship.


We tried to do as much as we could during sea days. We listened and prayed with Archbishop Desmond
Tutu. At night, we enjoyed many of the entertainers. We watched several magicians and ventriloquists. We listened to so many singers and performers including the Soweto Choir Group and the Soweto Quartet of South Africa. 




We have seen an abundance of sunsets and sunrises, and everyday was a delightful surprise one after the
other.  

one of the many canals

Our impressions weren't limited to wildlife and scenery. We bargained for souvenirs, shopped and hauled items to the ship. We met locals who touched our hearts and affected our thinking and made us realized that the unexpected part of travel is oftentimes the best. We connected, bonded and applauded the crew and had lots of fun moments worth remembering with fellow globetrotters. Who knows where and when we will go next? 




It's been a fascinating, beautiful, once in- a lifetime experience!

Cheers!

Dutch Treat or French Flavor, St. Maarten

  Saint Martin, Saint Martin

St. Maarten and St. Martin have a great deal of history. It passed back and forth between France, the Netherlands, and Spain 16 times. To date, it is one of the smallest Caribbean islands occupied by two sovereign nations. Though snuggled together in a scant 37 square miles of mountainous terrain, these two countries could not be more different.

Our ship docked in Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, St

happy to be out

. Maarten. It has large resorts/casinos, bustling beaches and tons of get-it-cheap duty-free shopping. The French side, St. Martin, has quaint bed & breakfasts and luxurious resorts, laid-back beaches
and the charm of local artisans at the waterfront market.


A group of our friends took an island tour which gave them the opportunity to experience the charm and romance of both the French and Dutch sides of the island. A taxi cost them US25.00 per person
for a three hour island- tour including a stop at the butterfly park.



From the picturesque countryside, clothing-optional Orient Beach; to the
duty-free shops of Phillipsburg, and the historic Salt Ponds, the
three-hour tour gave them the highlights of this unique two-flag
island and still gave them plenty of time to explore Marigot on their own

colorful souvenir shop

.


One major draw for this island, is the shopping. There are bargains to be found, and St. Martin is duty-free for the most part. Marigot also attracts those who seek couture and upscale imports from France.
Boutiques there fit the bill, reminding many of a more down-to-earth version of St. Barth's.



St. Martin also has lots of cafes, bistros, and brasseries; most serving up tasty creations with Gallic flavours and panache. St. Martin has some of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean, with assets to please everyone

Malo beach

.




For the more adventurous, one attraction is to go to Queen Juliana International airport, hang onto the fence by the beach, and wait for the jet plane blast when they take off.

Whether it's a family, or for those with nothing but the radio on with a pair of sunglasses, and SPF 50 sun cream; St. Maarten and St. Martin have a lot to offer!






P.S.
We're still having technical problems with our laptop computer and
the satellite link, (sometimes I would like to throw it in the ocean). 

We apologize for the delay on our port updates. Please
don't be alarmed if we publish only photographs for now. As soon as
we are able to upload our write ups, we'll send you the update. We
appreciate your patience! Thank you.

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Malo beach	lilttle princess	Julie and Tim Vick	beach scene
courthouse	nice flowers	Malo beach at St. Maarten	at Malo beach
local kids	local clown	princess	Courthouse
pirates on the beach	pirate ship	palm trees	beach promenade
yatchs	nice looking sunglasses	local kids getting ready for parade	On the Dutch side
pirates on the beach	beach scenery	pirate ship	parade clown
beautiful palm treesbeautiful palm trees

Jurassic Park, Minus Raptors! Dominica

  Roseau, Dominica

Dominica is a sun drenched jewel between Martinique and Guadeloupe. Through the years, it has risen to the top of tourism’s A-list of island paradise. This nature island boasts 290 square miles of untamed rain forest that wraps around slumbering volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, and plentiful sea life. It is like Jurassic Park without the raptors! 

If you are looking for a connection to nature, you will find it here

yahoo Dominica

.
The island has no mega resorts, swanky chain hotels and mass tourism. It is unspoiled and lovely. That is why the producers selected Dominica as a backdrop for two sequels of Pirates of the Caribbean movie series.


The country has survived with a predominantly agricultural-based economy that includes bananas. Since it cannot compete with other Caribbean
countries when it comes to beaches, it concentrated on its tropical  interior. Lately, Dominica has become most notable for Eco-tourism, which remains strong. It attracts a stream of naturalists who flock to the island to see 172 types of birds, 12 major waterfalls and peaks that rise to 5,000 feet

local greeter

.

Whale-watchers also come in hordes to explore the waters that plunge to nearly 6,000 feet right off the coastline, providing an ideal base for seven types of whales that can be seen nearly year-round, including a resident population of sperm whales.


Our ship docked at Roseau Cruise Ship terminal, a pleasantly ramshackle capital where streets are lined with rickety wooden houses with balconies. Right across from the pier, is the closest place for snacks, local arts and crafts, and Wi-Fi. A couple of blocks away, the Old Market ranks as one of the best in the Caribbean and the old market square was once the the site of slave auctions and punishment. Across the street the fruit and vegetable stalls provide a nice photo opp. Behind the market is the Victorian-era Roseau cathedral,  which was constructed from volcanic rock and took more than 100 years to build


At the outset, our taxi drove the coastline on roads hacked out of the mountainside, with jagged edges plunging to the ocean

steel drummer

. 

Meanwhile,  bread fruit, mango trees, bamboo and ginger root cascade down to the sea. The jungle was vast and we could see rivers,streams and waterfalls. At one stop, where we could take pictures of Trafalgar
falls, we were mobbed by vendors and engulfed with every kind of saleable objects; including cold beer. After I handed chocolates to a few kids, I created a wonderful party like atmosphere with everybody lining up for more sweets, and posing for photographs.

From there we went to the steaming pot holes. A flight of steps lead down
to a ledge in a corner to give access to viewing the steam vents

place for hanging slaves

. It
looked small and indistinct for its supposed status as a tourist attraction. Nearby was a restaurant cum spa where one could also view the steaming pot holes.

We spent the next several hours driving around the island enjoying the natural sights of the dense lush vegetation.



With the rich bio-diversity of its surroundings, Dominica offers nature and tranquility at its best!

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local tour bus

the town as viewed from the ship

sunset in Dominica