Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The Cruise


I'd hoped to have a lot of pictures to share, but unfortunately--true story--the HH fell in the river while hiking in the Dominican Republic.  Luckily, the camera was the only casualty:)
I LOVED the Dominican Republic.  As you can see it's quite beautiful.  If you have never been, think Jurassic Park.  It's actually where JP was filmed.  The people there are very self-sufficient.  Much of the healing is holistic.  They have plants for just about everything, including cancer prevention. The average age is ninety to a hundred.  They build homes from trees that fall.  Using the tree itself for the house and the fronds/leaves for the roof.  If you are after particular leaves for healing and the plant doesn't grow in your backyard you just walk into the forest and pluck it.
We did a hike--where the HH fell--to a natural water fall in the rain forest and, for me, it was the high light of the trip.  We crossed several streams and low rivers, and on the hike our guide pointed out the different plants, which ones were medicinal and which ones could blind you.  It was fascinating.
On the tour, I got to chatting with another woman and found out she lives in Lake Norman which is about fifteen miles from us. Small world.  Trite but true:)
When we returned to the bus we were treated to rum punch and snacks.
Dominican Republic
We also went to Grand Turk.  I was really excited about this port of call because Love, Lattes and Angel takes place in a small island in the Caicos. It was more desolate than I had anticipated.  A lot of folks opted for the beaches and I imagine if we'd done that instead of the tour we would have had a different perspective. As you can see the beach is quite beautiful.
Grand Turk
 The cruise itself was great.  We had a lovely suite and were wined and dined. They'd been told it was our 40th and almost every night something different was waiting when we got back to the cabin: champagne, gourmet fruit basket, chocolate covered strawberries, desserts, etc.

  And the food--OMG. There were a variety of places you could eat.  For the most part we hit the buffet. They always had delicious vegetarian fare so I was happy. There were windows all around the dining room so you could watch the sea while you ate. Ice cream, tea, coffee and pizza were available twenty-four/seven.
They had different shows you could attend in the evenings and a 'dive-in' movie that showed nightly on the upper deck, with free popcorn.
Also on one of the upper decks you could walk laps which we did most days. One day it was so windy the HH was afraid his hearing aids would get blown away, so that day we gave it up. But for the most part the weather was wondrous.

If I got up in the middle of the night, the first couple of nights at home,  I'd think  I was still in the boat and would be swaying from side to side when I walked.  Guess I still had my sea legs:)


41 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

It sounds (and looks) absolutely blissful. Deservedly so. And I know what you mean about sea legs. On the Antarctic cruise I was abominably seasick - and for the first few days on land decidedly queasy. Worth it though.

Valerie-Jael said...

What a fantastic place you visited, sorry about the little accidents! Thanks for sharing the gorgeous photos. Hugs, Valerie

Margaret D said...

Wow, looks amazing and you certainly had a great time by the sounds of it.
Congratulations on your 40th Wedding Anniversary :) (I presume).
Goodness me about the camera!

Nicola said...

So pleased you enjoyed yourself. I went on a cruise round the Med in 2013 and met a lady who lived in the same town. So funny when that happens :) Happy New Year, Sandra!! I hope it's filled with success, good health and lots of laughter! (put a new camera on your birthday present list this year :)).

Anonymous said...

What a great little holiday. Everyone has a camera disaster story, some of us more than three. That might be worth a post. Anyway, I am off now to broaden my geographic knowledge of where you actually were. I have only a hazy idea.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad you still had a good time despite your tumble. Whatever they sell for cancer prevention, I would've brought home a case of it. Cool they kept you supplied in gifts for your anniversary.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We took a Carnival cruise in 2004 to Costa Maya and Cozumel and now I want to take another one. Think of all the potential cures that lie in those forests, yet our government regulations will never allow any of it to come into the States.

Out on the prairie said...

I would love to try this, I have never been on a cruise. A group is headed back down there this next month, stopping at Haiti first and I am missing out.

Pat Hatt said...

Always something to go wrong, good it was just a camera. Goes to show you that North America isn't the best in health, like we pretend to be. I'm with Alex, would have grabbed the cancer prevention too.

Stephanie Faris said...

I hope you watched the HH anytime he got near the railings on that ship if he's prone to falling! This sounds SO fun. I've been wanting to try a cruise. My parents go on a ton of them, but we always watch their dog. If we go with them, there's nobody to watch either of our dogs!

Sandra Cox said...

FYI: They don't sell it. It's a natural product that comes from a specific tree. Isn't that amazing.

Sandra Cox said...

Bummer! I wonder if the water is rougher in that area....

CJ Kennedy said...

How wonderful! Love the towel critters. We did a cruise to Disney/Bahamas on our honeymoon. Would love to do another cruise some day. Welcome home! And thanks for sharing your warm post and pictures.

donna baker said...

What a way to celebrate.

Sandra Cox said...

My pleasure:)

Adam said...

Daisy and I are planning on taking a cruise this year

Jeanie said...

This looks wonderful -- and so warm. I remember being very engrossed in the PBS drama "Turks and Caicos." Now I know the full meaning of the title!

Never done a cruise but they seem to be calling me lately. This only adds to it!

da tabbies o trout towne said...

S....happy belated 40th !! thanx for sharing...the cruise looks and sounds like it was awesome ~~ ♥♥♥ L

Lowcarb team member said...

What a great way to celebrate!
It all looks wonderful, glad you had a great time.

All the best Jan

Sandra Cox said...

It was great, though I blush to admit, I'm a little squeamish about being on the water, but same goes for in the air and now in cars:(

Sandra Cox said...

Just makes you shake your head when you meet someone that's practically a neighbor doesn't it?
Thank you for the awesome New Year Wishes and back at ya.

Sandra Cox said...

Ha on the camera stories. I'll be waiting to hear yours:)

Sandra Cox said...

It's maddening.

Sandra Cox said...

I think taking a cruise with a group would be all sorts of fun.

Sandra Cox said...

I think you'd have a lot of fun, Steph.
We boarded 2 of our 5 critters. A bud watched the other 3. It was salty. It cost nearly a fourth of what the cruise did. Because it was over the holidays we had to board them longer on both ends.
Since being too close to the water makes me nervous, I had to watch him with my eyes closed. Ha.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks for the welcome home, CJ:) !
A cruise would be the perfect honeymoon.

Sandra Cox said...

It was fun:)

Sandra Cox said...

Excellent, Adam! Any detes yet?

Sandra Cox said...

I didn't see Turks and Caicos on PBS but I would like to.
Let us know when you take your cruise:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, it was:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Jan:)

Sandra Cox said...

If there had been a way we sure would have:)

Birgit said...

It sounds like you had a wondrous time with great memories. The accidental dip in the river sounds like it was quite funny even though the camera was lost. I was in Punta Cana and had a great time...the beaches were beautiful. I still have yet to take a cruise though....one day.

nashvillecats2 said...

Sorry I am late commenting my lateast poem will explain:

This is a wonderful post, my son went to The Dominican Republic for his honeymoon.
I am pleased you wnjoyed/enjoying it.
Yvonne.

Sandra Cox said...

Don't you love beaches. So beautiful and relaxing.

Sandra Cox said...

The accidental dip was funny afterwards:)
At the time I wasn't close enough to help him.

Sandra Cox said...

Hope everything is okay. On my way to your place now.

DMS said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful cruise and trip. Sorry to hear the camera got soaked- but the trip was awesome and I am glad your husband didn't get hurt in the fall. :)

Thanks for sharing!
~Jess

J.Q. Rose said...

Love your gorgeous photos--sorry you lost the camera. I hope HH was okay after the fall. Congrats on 40 years. You certainly chose a fabulous way to celebrate!! Are you going on a cruise again?

Magic Love Crow said...

Sounds wonderful Sandra! Wow! I love everything about the healing and how natural the Dominican of Republic is! The cruise sounded amazing! Sorry HH fell in the river!! I'm glad he wasn't hurt! You had be me laughing about the hearing aids! LOL! Big Hugs!

Magic Love Crow said...

Yes, amazing!!!