We flew in separately, except for Val and me. We all met at the San Juan airport and got our rental car and headed east to the Westin Rio Mar Beach Villas and Golf Resort at Dorado Beach. The 17-mile trip took us an hour through the San Juan traffic.
So we grabbed a quick dinner and proceeded to enjoy the rest of our short time in Puerto Rico. What a great resort it was. Valerie said that it's THE place to go if you only had a month or so to live.
We walked along the beach as the sun was setting and the moon was rising. Valerie was thrilled to find a coconut. Then we swam in the pool. It's simple stuff, but it sure was fun.
Sunday, 05-26-02
We all woke up early (well, normal 5:00 AM for me - I walked the beach at sunrise), and ate breakfast at the club room. The Westin had upgraded my free stay to club level and we had wound up with a suite and all this free food.
Too bad we had to leave that wonderful place, but there was a rainforest to see, and a ship to get on.
The El Yunque Rainforest was very hilly and scenic. Debbie and I had been there, but this time we did it up bigger, with all of us going on a long hike up a 3500 foot mountain. Veronica really enjoyed the trek, but Valerie's spirit wasn't in it. I kidded her that she must have thought that we were going to the Rainforest Cafe (TM). We could see a good part of the island after we got to the top of Mt. Britton. Pretty neat.
Didn't get to shop in San Juan. We returned the car to the Hertz office at the Caribe Hilton and then taxi'd the two miles to the ship.
As expected, it was a confusing hassle to get on. But after an hour or so we were able to get into our respective cabins and have a bite.
Also as expected, the Carnival Destiny is huge and fancy and confusing. We also spent some time deciding on shore excursions. After dinner and the boat drill, we watched as the ship left San Juan harbor. The night-time departure was pretty cool.
Monday, 05-27-02
Had a rough time getting my morning run in. It was pouring rain at 5:30, but I got going as it let up. As expected, it was interesting running as we were getting close to St. Thomas, but also as expected, going around the 10 laps per mile track was less than optimal. When the spa opened at 6, I managed to break two treadmills.
The approach to Charlotte Amalie was spectacular. If there's a more beautiful port in the world, I haven't seen it.
Took an open air taxi to Magens Bay beach. It's one of the many beaches around that are called "one of the most beautiful in the world". And it really is great.
In the afternoon we took a tram to a high point above the harbor to take pictures. Then we went to town to shop. Debbie and I walked there while the girls taxi’d it.
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Tuesday, 05-28-02
We all took the Martinique island tour. Long bus ride. We saw the town of St Pierre, which was the Paris of the West Indies before the volcano of Mt Pelee destroyed it almost exactly 100 years ago in May, 1902. We drove near the actual volcano through a rain forest. Spectacular scenery - too bad we couldn't get out of the bus more to walk. Then we returned to our starting point - the main city of Fort De France, the current Paris of the West Indies. I was sorta wondering if Paris is known as the Fort De France of Europe.
As expected, we're eating way too much. We work ourselves from meal to meal. Today was the captain's dinner and reception. Can you spell l-o-b-s-t-e-r? Everyone dressed up real nice and we took pictures.
Wednesday, 05-29-02
Barbados isn't so great-looking as you pull in. But then Veronica and I got onto a boat (it was going to be the two girls, but Valerie has a cold). We went north along the coast. There were beautiful beaches the whole way. We then got some exercise by getting onto kayaks and going further along the shore. Then we snorkeled with sea turtles - the boat people fed them. All in all, it was a great trip.
Debbie and Valerie shopped and swam in the ship's pool, then we all took a taxi to Church Point Beach. Nice place - we spent a couple hours there.
Thursday, 05-30-02
Today was a "fun day at sea". We did the galley tour, had afternoon tea, listened to big band music, saw a couple movies, went to the evening show... those sorts of things. Only prime rib and baked alaska for dinner.
Friday, 05-31-02
If it's Friday, this must be Aruba.
Took a taxi to Palm Beach. It's another very nice one. Veronica, Valerie and I all rode on a "banana boat" - a long yellow double tube pulled by a power boat. We got splashed up and bounced up and down a lot.
Aruba sure is hot. Veronica bought some very pretty Tanzanite earrings, but during all that afternoon shopping, Valerie got sick. She was so nauseous and weak that she wasn't able to move for a long time, even though we all knew that the best thing would be to get back to the ship where water and air conditioning was available. We finally helped her back and she recovered. Still don't know if it was food poisoning or the heat or both.
Saturday, 06-01-02
Yet another "fun day at sea". The girls and I went to an afternoon show. "Heather", the singer pulled me up on stage, sat me down, and proceeded to dance around me and sing, "You Give Me Fever". When she was done she planted one on my cheek. Too bad my children were in the audience. Debbie noticed the lipstick evidence right away.
We packed and prepared for tomorrow's big travel day.
We can certainly complain about a few of the things that Carnival does on these cruises. But on the whole, they do a fantastic job of treating us like royalty. Mona-Lisa (her real name) and Marcin, our wait-persons, and Edgar Grange, our cabin steward, all gave great service.
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