Four Days at Sea

Saturday- Tuesday , February 22-25, 2014    Four days at sea

Larry and I are happy to have four days at sea. It gives us a lot more time to enjoy all the activities on the ship and relax a little. We usually choose to have a leisurely breakfast in the DaVinci Dining Room on sea days. We dined with several couples from all over the states and two gentleman who just boarded the day before while we were in Barbados . These guys summer in their home in upper New York State and winter in their home in Barbados. Everyone that we speak with on this trip are "world travelers". They all have been so many places and enjoy talking about their adventures. Larry and I really enjoy getting information out of these people about the places we have yet to travel to...makes our trip planning a little easier.

                                                  Really enjoy the fresh flowers about the ship!

Our mornings are filled with walking on one of two decks, taking Zumba class, taking a Flashmob Line Dancing class, taking a card making class, an origami class and attending presentation from a lively gentleman ,  John Maxtone-Graham, author and maritime historian of Ocean Liners. We attended an hour of his talks each of the four days and still wanted to hear more. What an interesting chap!

We had lunch one day in the Wheelhouse Pub, an authentic British Fare of fish and chips, brewski, and strawberry trifle. The British music was mighty fine. The afternoons were spent catching a few rays, watching a Paul McCartney New York Concert on the big screen, working out in the spa, and trips to the sauna and hot tub. AHHHH!

                                    Look at those specs....been reading on the lounge outside!

Dinners continued to be a wide variety...seafood medley, prime rib, turkey with all the trimmings, shrimp...with interesting vegetables side dishes, salad and fruit bar....Larry's is in heaven with the dessert bar!

                                          Checking out the wake at the back of the ship!


During the evenings we had a variety of live entertainment. We enjoyed a show with music from around the world and Larry pulled me out on the dance floor for a few choice numbers. One evening we chose to watch a special on the artist Norman Rockwell in our room. We also watched Iron Man III, The Call, and Captain Phillips on the Screen Under the Stars. So much to see and do....we find it hard to get it all in.

                                                   The sunsets continue to be outstanding!

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Friday, February 21, 2014 Port of Spain, Trinidad

 

 

Blue skies with lush green mountains and a dozen sky scrapers...the view of Port of Spain in Trinidad appeared to be very cosmopolitan...not the usual tropical island scene. Ships dotted the flat Atlantic Ocean waiting their turn for dockage in the southern most Antilles Island Chain and an oil rig or two appeared off the coast. In 1970 natural gas was discovered insuring a thriving economy. Columbus named Trinidad, the largest island of the Less Antilles...seven miles from Venezuela.

Interesting to know that this little country belonged to Britain from 1592-1814 and then it changed governments 31 times between the Dutch, French, and British until it gained its independence in 1962 from Britain. The population today is a mixture of Indians, Chinese, and Africans, and Europeans.

 

 

 

Steel Pan Drum music and Stilt Dancers....Amazing welcome at the dock! 

 

After a quick breakfast in our room, Larry and I headed out to explore the city. We were greeted with wonderful steel pan music (invented here) and dancing Carnival costume natives. Larry enjoyed these ladies tremendously....see that cute little smile!

 

Out of the dock area we discovered a modern city. Before crossing eight lanes of heavy traffic, we walked past the modern Parliament skyscraper that had guards with machine guns. The city was bustling with noise and business everywhere. This was not what we had expected of a caribbean island.

 

We passed a wonderful commemorative memorial for the past winners of the Olympics.

Crown Princess

Trinidad...a big city feel!

              

We wandered down through the towering buildings through Independence Square, a park that ran down the center part of town ending at the 1832 Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception (being restored)...blue limestone work of architectural delight. On we wandered into a local shopping market.What a lively area  of colorful clothing and vivid characters selling their wares. The street curbs were enormous here probably due the torrential rains that occur June through December.

 

 

 

On we walked through a modern mall like enclave and out to the Woodford Square (heart of the city) where we met a couple who went to Virginia Tech and had been born in Franklin County....yes, it is unbelievably a small world! We talked for a while and enjoyed the live Carnival Steel Pan music on the stage in the park with the costumed dancers and guys dancing on stilts.
 

Couldn't resist this guys wares...cute earrings!

 

 

When we departed we viewed the Red House or The house of Parliment(1844, 1904, 1906, and currently being renovated). It was painted Red for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and has continued to be the symbol of enduring democracy in Trinadad and Tobago. We also viewed the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (1823) with a mahogany beam roof modeled after Westminister Hall in London and the Old Fire Station Tower.

 

 

 On we walked about a mile up Abercromby to the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the National Academy for the Preforming Art Centre as well as the National Museum and Art Gallery...Why? The building looked similar to the world famous Sydney Opera House. Here we had a nice lunch and updated the blog and email. Larry made friends with several of the students enjoying their guitar playing. This University sits right on the edge of the Queen's Park Savannah where we had planned to see the " Magnificent Seven" Victorian mansions of the past and some more carnival entertainment...but the time was drawing near to boarding time on the ship (3:30) so we headed back toward the Crown Princess.

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered back through the city using a different route. The car drivers were so kind....stopping many times to let us cross the busy streets. We enjoyed walking through the neighborhoods of homes; passing by schools, churches, and businesses. We made it back in time to look for just a few minutes at the local crafts and listen to some more steel pan music.
We ran out of time to explore the north and eastern coast. Here we had wanted to view the waterfalls and the numerous birds of the island. Trinidad is the home of a beautiful red bird the size of a flamingo as well as 430 species of birds, 600 native butterflies, and 1000 species of orchids. We always seem to leave something to see for the next time that we may visit.

During the evening we listened to a concert under the stars of James Taylor and had a lovely dinner of sea scallops, lamb, eggplant, spinach lasagna, salad, and Larry's sampling of desserts....it was Italian Night. We watched our first live performance in the Princess Theatre , a duo of Gaucho Dancers. We found our way back to the cabin and watched the movie, "Picture Perfect", with Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Bacon. What a super duper day!!!!!  

 

 

                                       What a beautiful day and a beautiful ending sunset!

Bridgetown, Barbados

Thursday, February 20, 2014 Bridgetown, Barbados

The Crown Princess arrived in Barbados at 10:00 AM.

After a breakfast outside by the midship pool, we headed down the gangplank and walked past about a hundred taxicab drivers that wanted to take us on a mile ride into Bridgetown... we just smiled at them and enjoyed our walk in to town. A beautiful water view walk with tropical trees shading the path. It was a warm day if you stood in the sun, but in the shade with the gentle ocean breezes, it was very nice. The island of Barbados is very flat....nice for walking.

 

 

Just  a little snooze in this nice ocean breeze....Pleeeze!

Our walk took us into the center of town to find the old Parliament building that was getting ready to celebrate its 275 anniversary on February 28...Gosh, we are 8 days to early to help the Prince celebrate. What a unique stucture...castle like. England's prince is coming and they are buzzing around here to get things ship shape for the celebration.

                                                                       Parliament

                                                       Parliament looks like a castle!


We walked into the city park with a statue of Admiral Nelson... since we learned about him yesterday, we are finding that he really got around. Also spotted a World War I Commemorative Statue and the Arched Gate Entrance over the waterway of the chartered fishing vessels. A very nice area to stroll through and enjoy.

 

 

Admiral Nelson's Statue and Larry's new friend

We visited a local store that had 100% of everything ...so modern compared to what we visited in Antigua. We ate a spot of lunch on the waterfront while checking the sketchy internet and then wondered back toward the ship. Got a couple of phone calls made, emails sent, and worked on publishing the blog inside the lovely cruise terminal....with free wifi that was slooowwww but better than St. Thomas and Antigua.

Barbados is a highly developed community with lots of modern stores and industrialized waterfront area. Larry especially enjoyed the large seafood market wishing he could go fishing with these Barbadians who really caught some big ones.

 

 

Although we never made it to the rum factory, you should know that Barbados is "where de rum come from". Yes, rum was invented here and became the Caribbean traditional drink. We found out that the British Navy allocated 4 ounces daily to all its sailors for hundreds of years.

                                                                          WOW !!

St. John's, Antigua

Wednesday, February 19, 2014    St. John's, Antigua
The day began with a gorgeous sunrise coming up over the town of St. John's, Antigua. Rain could be seen on the south mountain ranges. Roosters were crowing and the boat just slipped into the harbor of this sleepy town.

We had a quick breakfast in our room...oatmeal, boiled eggs, raisin rolls, pears, and hot tea. After a shower we hustled down to the dock around 8:30 to find steel drums greeting us playing some fantastic music...so tropical!

We walked through the tourist part of the town, on to where the natives lived and worked. We decided to head to the bus station. We found it after getting a few instructions from a couple of locals.

                             Streets are lined with red flag streamers for the Carnival celebration.
                                  We passed several uniformed students were walking to school.
We boarded it, paying 3 dollars for a one way 30 minute ride. We waited about ten minutes...the bus slowly filled up before it headed out of the city. Larry and I enjoyed the sights along the roadway.

Fantastic views along the roadway!

Riding the local bus was jolly good fun!

They do drive on the opposite side of the road here too. We passed lots of businesses, homes, a couple churches while seeing lots of laid back living. Larry befriended a local....Radigam....quite a friendly Caribe.

                                                           My man and Radigam

Tree hugger....I just love these little palms.

We reached our destination...Nelson's Dockyard.... what a lovely place....now a restored National Park with a harbor full of fascinating sailboats. We met a gentleman from Maine who had sailed across the Atlantic along the coast of Europe on to Africa and back across to the Caribbean. This was his sixth crossing in his little 28 foot sailboat. AMAZING! What a bloak! He shared some interesting
stories.

 

Shortly, we spoke with three couples who flew from France to Guadalope taking a sailboat from there to Antigua. Another amazing adventure and fun group! Within the dockyard we enjoyed seeing the old Admiral's House, the shipyard, the blacksmith's, a Guard House, and various other buildings. The Caribbean was the scene of struggle for naval supremacy in which Britian, Spain, Protugal, and France were competitors.

Nelson's Dockyard Harbor

 

In a power contest of the 18th century, Britain's strength lay in her navy and the waters around the valued sugar and spice islands of the Caribbean. Nelson's Dockyard became the main naval base in the Eastern Caribbean for the British Navy. Named after Admiral Nelson, commander of the Leeward Island Station from 1784-1787. The harbor is a hurricane haven for ships dating back as far as 1671.



 

 



Admiral Nelson

My Admiral

We caught a cab from Nelson's Dockyard to Shirley's Height, a rough bumpy ride to the top of the mountain that backed up to the the entrance of the harbor. What a view! Spectacular!

 

 

The pictures do not capture the beauty of the scenery. We enjoyed the time on the mountain top before heading back to catch the Bus 17 back to St. John's.

Arriving back into town around 2 pm, we did some window shopping, caught up on the internet, and explored the town a bit....having just enough time to get back to the ship at the sailing time of 3:30. We had a very full day, but headed directly to the top of the ship...the 19th floor...to enjoy the ship's pulling anchor and the wonderful views of leaving the harbour of St. Johns. WHAT A DAY! We had five short rain downpours and a beautiful rainbow.

No worries, these showers provided us the opportunity to talk up close with the local folks. What fun! Generally, Antiguans are extremely happy folks who enjoyed talking with us. Even with the showers, the sun shone most of the day and the temps were perfect with the ocean breezes. Today was most enjoyable right up to the last waking minute!

                                        Each sunset continues to be unbelievably beautiful!