Back from vacation

80 degrees, turquoise oceans, tons of laughter, land and sea, and food, food, and more food. Well we had 14 days of real vacation. We flew out on a Friday morning. We got off the plane in Ft. Lauderdale, grabbed a rental car and headed to our motel. Don't stay in a Best Western, at least not in Florida. Both motels were bad! But, who cares, we're on vacation! The kids joined us on Saturday. AJ, Jana, and JJ checked into the motel and took a long nap. Not MA! No, she was off with us exploring the city. We jumped on a tour boat and looked at the million dollar houses and the multi-million dollar yachts on the many miles of canals and inlets. It was so much fun sailing in the land of the rich. We also sailed near the seven cruise ships docked and waiting for thousands of visitors. On Sunday we jumped on the cruise ship, MA and AJ, Lori and Al, all headed for the belly of the ship for our 160 square foot, no window, cabins. Jana and JJ headed to the tenth floor (the ship is 12 floors tall) to settle into their luxurious room with a balcony. The truth is no one spent much time in our rooms. Too much fun going on. We had tours to get on, Broadway shows to watch, art auctions to attend, bingo, the casino, exercising, yoga, mermaid watching (really I saw one), and did I mention eating. Each evening dinner was an event. On the fourth night I suggested we just close our eyes, point to any place on the menu and say, "I'll take that!". Because no matter what you had for dinner, it was great. Of course, the service was personal (diet coke little ice; three deserts for MA after her lobster; ice in Al's milk; only fresh squeezed orange juice for Lori, etc., etc.). We went on three tours: 1) Cozumel, Mexico; 2) Grand Caymen (sp?); 3)Jamaica. In Mexico we rented two Jeep Wrangler's and headed across the island. Saw an ECO-Park with salt water crocodiles. Then off to snorkel in the 70 degree water (Lori and Jana stayed on the beach sunning themselves) and then a real Mexican lunch (Chicken tacos). Grand Caymen has 800 banks! It is a modern city. The weather was very windy that day so we almost couldn't get to the island in our "tenders" (small boats). But we made it. We toured the island, which was OK. However, we did stop at a sea turtle farm That was cool. 100's of turtles to touch and watch up close and personal. Jamaica, we split up. Jana and I toured the mountain regions and then took a river raft trip. It was like climbing into the "Discovery Channel" and floating down the rain forest. The towering trees, with vines reaching down to the river. Parrots playing in the trees above. Our guide climbing up a 60' coconut tree, dropping a coconut from the top, and opening it up for Jana and I to have fresh coconut juice (tasted like water to me). JJ and AJ took off in their bus to tour the island and ended up at a "Rum Factory". Then they saw how rum is made and aged. Read their blogs. Lori and MA were off on a bus to "Sandals"; a resort on the beach. They wanted peace and quiet, blue sky's, and warm water. They got all of that except the peace (the airport was next door and they heard the jet planes taking off). All of us met back at the boat, tanned and ready for a quite day at sea. Friday we sailed around Cuba and waived at the Communists. That was my favorite day. We docked Saturday morning, waited in line to get off the ship. The kids flew back to Oregon (getting home at 2AM on Sunday). Al and Lori jumped into a taxi and headed to the airport to pick up a rental car. I had a good conversation with the cabby and when I jumped out of the taxi I left my back pack in the back seat. I couldn't believe it. My passport and Visa Debit card were in the pack. I could not remember anything about the cab. So, I prayed. I then went back to where we were dropped off, and as any taxi drove by I dialed their phone number. By God's grace the 2nd number I called knew the taxi driver I described and within 30 minutes the pack was in my hand, everything intact. We got our rental car and headed back to the Florida Keys. For some reason, I have always wanted to drive from the mainland down the Keys. It is about 130 miles from Miami to the end of the continental US (Key West, Florida). Lori had a tour book of the Keys, read it was we drove, and told me where to stop for interesting sight seeing. That was one of the best drives we have ever taken. It is so beautiful! We then spent two days at the Westin, over looking the bright blue ocean. Then spent Sunday shopping for all our friends we left back home. We had another great dinner on the water front. Key West is the home of the most beautiful sunsets. It was spectacular. Then Monday we started our drive back. We heard of a hotel on an private island in the middle of the Keys. So we took a boat out to the island for lunch. Only 26 rooms, private areas all over, and no cell phones allowed. I bought a hat there that said "Do Nothing!". We could never afford to spend the night, but we enjoyed every minute we were there. Tuesday we were back on the plane for home. We got home at about 4PM on Tuesday, rested and ready to join real life again.

You may want to look at our links and see AJ and Jana's blogs for more pictures. We had fun!!!! Maybe you'll join us on our next adventure?? The more the merrier!