2016 Caribbean Cruise - Days 5 and 6

Bohio Dive Resort from the water - click image to enlarge

Wednesday and Thursday were hectic days.  On Wednesday we were in Grand Turk and snorkeled and did rum tasting (the latter pretty much wiped me out) and yesterday I spent much of the day dealing with law firm work and finalizing my November column for VEER Magazine.  Both days I simply was worn out and trying to spend some time with the husband and friends also on the cruise. 

Of the islands we visited this trip, Grand Turk most won my heart, particularly since it is not over commercialized.  The international airport and main tourist hotels lies on the island of Providenciales (Provo as locals call it) on the other side of the island chain.   One of our friends arranged our excursion to be a snorkeling outing followed by rum tasting at the Bohio Dive Resort.  I cannot say enough good things about this small 16 room resort with a beautiful beach and a short boat ride from the Grand Turk "wall" where the sea bottom drops in a sheer cliff from relatively shallow to over 7000 feet in depth.  The fish and coral were amazing!

As for the rum tasting - which was after the snorkeling - our hostess did not skimp on the rum!   After trying shots of three local rums we moved on to rum drinks of various sorts.  I would definitely come back to Grand Turk and would want to stay at this resort.  With only 16 rooms, we could put together a group and have our own resort for a week. 

Busy tasting rum!

Boats that ferry scuba divers and snorkeling groups to the "Wall"

Yesterday was a day at sea.  We began the day believing were were bound back to Norfolk only to learn that a passenger had had a medical emergency and that we would be diverting to Nassau and the nearest significant hospital.  We ended up leaving Nassau around 8:00 pm and should learn when we will arrive in Norfolk tomorrow.  I suspect we will not be making our formerly scheduled 8:00 am arrival time. 

Sunset last evening as we headed South towards Nassau

Hopefully today will be less crazy work wise and we can savor our last day at sea before returning to the "real world."

Caribbean Cruise - Days 1 and 2

View of the beach facing east toward Nassau

So far we have been having a great time on our cruise.  The first full day was at sea with absolutely gorgeous weather.  Three of our gay friends are on the trip with us as is a contingent from the Hampton Yacht Club, always a partying crowd.  The second full day saw us in Nassau where I was able to reconnect with a friend I met 14 years ago when I was just beginning my coming out journey and made my first trip after beginning to accept my sexuality.  My husband and I, along with a friend on the cruise with us, met my friend and his partner and enjoyed taste of Nassau off the usual tourist track.  We lunched at a great little seafood restaurant full of locals enjoying an after church meal and then drove to the west end of the island of New Providence and enjoyed the beach near the condo where my friend and his partner live when in the Bahamas (the spend the rest of the year based out of Cannes, France).  The photos give a sense of the fun.   

Lunch - I recommend the gin and coconut milk drinks

  

Enjoying fresh coconut juice with rum right from the coconut! 

Vacation Preparation Madness

On Friday afternoon the husband and I and several friends are setting sail on the Carnival Sunshine (pictured above) on a cruise out of Norfolk to Nassau, the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk before returning to Norfolk eight days later.  As seems to be the norm when we travel, we are engaged in frenzied preparations, both at work and on the home front to be ready for what we hope will be a relaxing trip.  At work, as seems always to be the case, I am working to complete work and put out fires.  Naturally, I will have my laptop with me and be checking office e-mail regularly. 

At home, we had to find a new house sitter to stay at our home and babysit the two dogs.  Unlike in 2013, we will not be holding a political fundraiser at our home the day before we sail (we held an event for Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring in 2013).

As I have done in the past, I will be posting about our trip and my views on news events and all things gay. Posting frequency may well be reduced.

Cruise: Day Three in Nassau

Today was a most relaxing day.  The boyfriend and I walked to Junkanoo Beach (seen in the distance in the top photo below) from the ship and hung out with a mix of locals and other passengers from our ship as well as some form the two other cruise ships in port today.   Last night we had dinner at the Emerald Room - at an added cost - which was wonderful and akin to dining in a fine steakhouse.  The "Friends of Dorothy" meet up, unfortunately, was a bust.  The concept was great but having it in a martini bar full of overweight straight couples was poor planning to put it mildly.  We did meet one nice lesbian couple and will give it another try this evening.  We sail tonight at 10:00 PM for Freeport.  The photos above and below are views in port from the upper decks of the ship, plus there's one of yours truly near the monument to Queen Victoria.

Headed to Nassau on Sunday

I suspect that it will not be as upscale as the cruise of the Western Mediterranean that the boyfriend and I did last year at this time on Royal Caribbean, but on Sunday we sail out of Norfolk headed to Nassau in the Bahamas aboard the Carnival Glory (pictured above).  Booking through BJ's Travel the price made the cruise too good to pass up (the over 55 discount made the deal even sweeter).  I suspect that there may be local and other readers of this blog on board and, if that's the case, I hope folks will touch base with me.  Nothing would be more fun than to get together for drinks or an evening in the ship's dance club or one of the other bars.

Since I have to stay in contact with my law firm, I will be using satellite Internet while on board and I will be doing some blog posting over the six days that we are on board ship.   Needless to say, unless something really gets me riled up, the volume of post will likely be reduced.  I will be posting some photos through out the trip.

Fortunately, we have the Obama campaign staffer that we are housing through election day to house sit for us and keep an eye on things while we are gone. And since we sail right from Norfolk, it will be a simple drive to Norfolk and my daughter or son-in-law will simply drop us at the cruise terminal  It can't be much easier.

In any event, it should be a welcomed get away.  Again, I am serious about the offer that if there are any blog readers going on the cruise, we'd love to get together and chat in person.  Drop me an e-mail or leave a comment.