Last fall Chuck made plans for us to go on a cruise to the southern Caribbean islands, also known as the West Indies. He made the reservations: cruise, flights, day trips etc. I was happy to let him take care of it. We were scheduled to get on the ship Sunday, Feb. 19. Chuck came home Friday evening and after a busy week we decided to go to bed early and take our time on Saturday to get ready as we were to leave. So, around 8:30 I was propped up in bed writing about the day in my little journal. Chuck was watching TV. I casually asked "So, what exactly IS our itinerary ? I know we're going to a bunch of St. islands."
"Well, let's just take a look shall we?" and he pulled out the laptop and fired it up. After a few minutes he had pulled up the files and said " We're supposed to be leaving tonight!"
Very Funny Chuck.
But when he shot out of bed like an electroshocked steer and began frantically flinging clothing into his suitcase it dawned on me "Hey. He's not kidding." ( A12:50 AM Saturday flight comes on the tail end of Friday night, not the tail end of Saturday...
Chuck ran around in his straw hat and I stumbled around in my underwear trying to decide whether to wear a long or short sleeve shirt and whether there was enough time to finish packing, drive to Salt Lake City, check in and make the flight. Less than half an hour later we were in the car headed down the road frazzled and anxious.
Half an hour later Chuck asked if I had gotten the "paperwork" off of the bed...
Well...no.
I actually thought Chuck might start to bang his head against the steering wheel.
But when he shot out of bed like an electroshocked steer and began frantically flinging clothing into his suitcase it dawned on me "Hey. He's not kidding." ( A12:50 AM Saturday flight comes on the tail end of Friday night, not the tail end of Saturday...
Chuck ran around in his straw hat and I stumbled around in my underwear trying to decide whether to wear a long or short sleeve shirt and whether there was enough time to finish packing, drive to Salt Lake City, check in and make the flight. Less than half an hour later we were in the car headed down the road frazzled and anxious.
Half an hour later Chuck asked if I had gotten the "paperwork" off of the bed...Well...no.
I actually thought Chuck might start to bang his head against the steering wheel.
Fast forward a couple hours...Tyson met us at the airport with freshly printed "papers", we checked in and made it onto the plane with all of 15 minutes to spare.
Ahhh.....
We arrived in San Juan went to our hotel and were informed that our reservations had been changed by Expedia,
and no, they didn't know to where.
I thought "Is this going to be one of "those" kinds of vacations?"
Two hours and some intense phones calls later we had a room in another hotel and actually began our "jumpstart" vacation.
Ahhh.....
We arrived in San Juan went to our hotel and were informed that our reservations had been changed by Expedia,and no, they didn't know to where.
I thought "Is this going to be one of "those" kinds of vacations?"
Two hours and some intense phones calls later we had a room in another hotel and actually began our "jumpstart" vacation.
We explored old San Juan the rest of Saturday and the next day.
The town is full of brightly painted Spanish style buildings with a lot of interesting details.
(Celiac thought you might like the variety of door knockers.)
There are plenty of stores with tourist fare but the vendors are not nearly as pushy as we've encountered in previous excursions. 
After taking inventory of the contents of our hastily packed suitcases
we were looking for socks and shorts for Chuck and a few toiletries.
We ate a meal at a local eatery and tried out a dish that our taxi driver had recommended.
"mofongo"
Made with fried plantains and your meat of choice with sticky rice on the side.
The town is full of brightly painted Spanish style buildings with a lot of interesting details.
(Celiac thought you might like the variety of door knockers.)
There are plenty of stores with tourist fare but the vendors are not nearly as pushy as we've encountered in previous excursions. 
After taking inventory of the contents of our hastily packed suitcaseswe were looking for socks and shorts for Chuck and a few toiletries.
We ate a meal at a local eatery and tried out a dish that our taxi driver had recommended.
"mofongo"Made with fried plantains and your meat of choice with sticky rice on the side.
There were lots of different types of local color
and
there were plenty of new sights.
Went to the Pigeon park. 
There were nests built right into the wall. 
And some really cool tree/vine things framing them.
The pigeons were pretty comfortable with all the gawking people.
Sunset looking out at the bay from the pigeon park.
We went to the Butterfly Place". This is a no photos allowed shot.
The displays were AMAZING! Unfortunately this is NOT a great view.
A great finish to a rather long first day of vacation.
Bet you can't wait to hear about the rest of our wild adventures eh?
andthere were plenty of new sights.
Went to the Pigeon park. 
There were nests built right into the wall. 
And some really cool tree/vine things framing them.
The pigeons were pretty comfortable with all the gawking people.
Sunset looking out at the bay from the pigeon park.
We went to the Butterfly Place". This is a no photos allowed shot.The displays were AMAZING! Unfortunately this is NOT a great view.
A great finish to a rather long first day of vacation.Bet you can't wait to hear about the rest of our wild adventures eh?
6 comments:
Wow, you know how to start out your vacations with an adrenaline rush don't you? YIKES!
You know I love those door knobs, and yes, I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Also know you are Crazy busy... (no pun on the Crazy lady thing intended)
so will patiently wait for whatever may come next.
If the adrenaline level stays this high, I don't know how you made it back.
I am curious for sure, nice cliff hanger!! I have not been very good at checking blogs lately, but be sure I am tooned in, anxiously waiting!! I am glad that you had 15 minutes to spare, not 15 to late, CRAZY,NUTS!!
Wow. I'm so glad you made it. Can't wait to hear the next bit, but I hope it gets more relaxing from here.
That is halarious! I am soo glad things got better (I hope) not worse.
You and Chuck are really enjoying this time in your lives. I am happy for you! I hope things just keep getting better.
It could only happen to you & Chuck! Nice first photos. Can't wait to see the rest. I loved the door knockers as well.
WOW--no way I could pack for a cruise in half an hour!! Was there a prize? Should have been!!
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