(Tuesday)
“Why am I up before the sunrise on vacation? Vacations are supposed to be about staying up late and sleeping in!” I grumbled to myself as we arrived in port at 7:30 AM and disembarked from the ship. Our first tour of the cruise awaited us, titled “Outdoor Adventure.” It involved an outdoor bus ride through the countryside, showcasing various fruit and spice trees on the island – oranges, bananas, pineapple, and even a cinnamon tree. One adventurous person dared to try a hot pepper and ended up breathing fire afterward; lesson learned – no peppers from the south! 🥵 It did, however, give me a newfound appreciation for fruit prices back home. Knowing that it takes between 9 and 14 months to grow a pineapple, and only one grows per plant, suddenly $5 seems like a bargain!
I was fascinated by the fact that you could pluck a leaf from the cinnamon tree and taste its strong cinnamon flavor. Our tour also included a visit to a typical school, where the kids excitedly greeted us in English.
Moving along, our next stop was lunch. Oh, and did I mention it was an open bar all day long? Lunch was fantastic – fried chicken, rice, and beans. I even sampled a bit of mama juana before hitting the beach. I decided to test my boogie boarding skills, which turned out to be quite a challenge. After 45 minutes of turning, saltwater taste-testing, and getting my stomach sandblasted, I managed to catch a few good waves! There’s even a video to prove it. 😀
After a bumpy ride back through the jungle, it was time to return to the ship. A quick shower refreshed us for dinner with our newfound friends from the USA. The food onboard has been consistently delicious – every dish we’ve tried has been a delight. However, we’re still on the hunt for the main buffet; that’s our mission for tomorrow morning! 🤔
Tonight, we’re aiming for an early bedtime, hoping for a bit of a lie-in tomorrow before we set off for our next destination – St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. 💕
