I love to mix genres of music, literature, movies, and as I awoke yesterday and stepped onto the balcony of our room, and saw the beautiful Miami skyline in the early morning gloam, both Iggy Pop and John Denver came into my head.
Anyway, to quote another recently deceased singer, It was a lovely cruise.
Wifey and I met Joelle and Kenny at the Centurion Lounge, and avoided pre flight drinks as it was 730 am. We boarded, and AA flew us without incident to Bridgetown, Barbados, and we had a friendly driver take us to the Bougainvillea Hotel, which Joelle had found. It was gorgeous -- reminded me a LOT of the Pier House in Key West -- clearly Key West copies the whole Caribbean thing.
We began the hard work of chilling out -- at bars and restaurants -- and the vibe was terrific. Joelle is NOT into Yiddishkeit at all, though is Jewish (with a Cuban Dad) and still found a tour she knew Wifey and I would love -- the historic, rebuilt synagogue. She was dead on. The guide, an ex-pat Alabama Jew, was a gifted lecturer, and the group in the rebuilt building included a frum couple from Jersey, as well as several Black Christians from different islands (I think one was Jamaican) who wanted to learn about their "elder brothers."
The history was fascinating -- including a LOT done by Oliver Cromwell. It made perfect sense -- the Jews and England were both not fans of Spain and Portugal, and Cromwell paved the way for Jews to make it to the New World. At one point, per our guide, Jews were 10% of the population of Barbados. Now there are 50 full time Jewish Bajans. We really dug the visit.
On the way to the port, on Friday, we stopped at a liquor store and bought some fine rums -- turns out the first rum was distilled in Barbados. Who knew? I got a bottle for my man Norman, to thank him for his Panther tickets, which we plan to use today to take Little Man to his first hockey game, as well as bottles for Joey and Jonathan. We then boarded the ship, the Explora I, and were instantly impressed.
MSC Cruises decided to start a luxury brand, and Explora is it. They plan 3 more ships, and ours first sailed in July. Without gushing detail -- it's a floating Ritz Carlton -- maybe even Four Seasons. The service was amazing, as was the food. There are no buffets -- instead gourmet level restaurants -- one of which you pay extra for, and that includes cooking instructions, which Joelle and Kenny don't need and Wifey and I don't desire.
Everything was amazing. The final day, as we waited to disembark in Miami, Wifey and I met two ladies from LA -- one who said this was her first cruise. We both warned her away from ever going on a huge ship -- she'd be wildly disappointed.
Of course, this cruise cost a lot more than Royal or Holland would -- but especially for a guy like me who isn't much into cruises, was more than worth it. I even heard two lectures by Sir Allan Collins, a retired British diplomat, who spoke about world crises, and his expertise about Winston Churchill -- one of my favorites.
The first stop was Martinique, and Joelle had arranged a private tour. The young French transplant was terrific -- took us to a waterfall, and then to a roadside chicken shack where we ate some chicken that rivalled Michelin restaurants in Lyon. We visited the site of the old jail, where the sole survivor of the devastating 1902 volcanic eruption survived -- because he was in jail!
From there, we went to a picturesque rum distillery, which was an interesting stop, and bought a bottle to sample at home.
The next stop was St. Kitts, and Wifey and I used our license to chill -- we never got off the ship. Kenny and Joelle did, and rented a car, which they used to circle the island for a cool lunch spot.
After a day at sea, we went to Samana, DR, Another tour -- this one an eco one -- to the national park of caves and cave paintings. The place was beautiful -- I politically incorrectly wondered why the hell any Dominicans would leave such beauty to move to The Bronx or Spanish Harlem. But I guess if you're in Santo Domingo, the vibe is different -- plus being very poor might have an effect.
After another day at sea, we arrived at the MSC private island, called Ocean Cay. We spent a nice Thursday there swimming in the man made atoll, which was a newer version of Matheson Hammock. Wifey pointed out that innate issue -- living, as we do, essentially in the Tropics, lovely beaches are not big deal to us.
The Brits sitting behind us, all red from the sun and seeing a small shark, were the opposite -- they were thrilled to be there.
We had our last dinner aboard, and toasted our journey. A week in the Caribbean seemed like it might be too long, but the Explora made that not the case. Actually, we toasted A LOT.
I drank so much that I've decided to have a dry week or so in March. Last night on our Zoom, Dana assumed I had my martini, and I had tea instead. We have a nice dinner planned next Saturday at Bourbon Steak in Aventura -- that will likely be when I fall off the wagon.
More travel is in store . D1 planned 3 nights for us in Marathon, at a resort there, to take up some of Spring Break for Little Man and Baby Man. I enjoy the Keys, and the drive is scenic -- but most importantly, it'll be sacred family time.
We invited D2 and Jonathan, but Jonathan can't miss the Monday and Tuesday -- so it'll be "some of the squad" instead of "Full Squad," as Joey's text group for us is named.
And then, April 6, Wifey is at sea again -- with 3 dear friends. They're going to the Bahamas and Cozumel, on one of the aforementioned large ships. I asked Wifey if it'll be hard going back to a Ramada after staying at a 5 star -- but she insisted the company will be so grand, it won't matter.
I plan to be a fine dog watcher -- and probably spend some quality time with the Ds and their men while she is away.
After that, there MAY be a trip to Tampa in September, to watch the Canes and visit Bern's Steakhouse, and then a dear friends' daughters' wedding in LA in early November.
So for a guy who isn't excited about travel, it's been a busy year, and promises to be until 2025, too.
I SO love being at home, though. Especially in the very quiet part of, as Iggy sang, our beautiful whore of a city.
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