Day 5: St. Thomas USVI and St. John USVI

Our ship arrived to St. Thomas but I was heading right to St. John!  

This is one stop that I was most looking forward to because I was going to get to explore the U.S. Virgin Island National Park!  It was a short ferry ride to St. John where we boarded a open air truck for a drive around the island.  You can't miss that we are in the National Park!

It is 19 miles around St John.  The National Park Service own 2/3 of St John but there is a gated community inside the park boundaries.  The views are amazing!

Trunk Bay

Cinnamon Bay

It was back to catch the ferry for our return back to St Thomas.  The beauty of the USVI really surprised me.  It's going to be hard to beat these views!  It was back on board and I made a stop at the Schooner Bar for a Kentucky Summer and Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashion.

 

I wasn't thrilled with either; so glad they are free.  A little nap and hanging out in the room before dinner. I decided to eat in the MDR since it was A Taste of the UK; the fish, chips, and mushy peas were pretty good.

Day 4: St. Croix USVI

Rise and shine as we are already at our first stop, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands.  

A little about the USVI since I will visit all three this cruise.  

• All 3 islands were purchased March 31, 1917
• $25 million in gold coins from Denmark
• the cash crop was sugar cane used to make molasses then rum

I signed up for a walking history tour.  We arrived in Frederiksted on the west coast and the tour was in Christiansted towards the east.

It was about a 40 minute ride and not bad at all.  We met our tour guide; very knowledgeable and energetic but also very political which is a turn off to me.  One of the first things she said to our group was that we were not the same because she was black and that as white people we would not understand slavery and all that went on in St. Croix.  It was very uncomfortable!  Thankfully, she got off her soapbox and moved on to the history and the reason we were on this tour.  I kept an open mind and did enjoy her presentation and information about St. Croix especially touring the Christiansted National Historic District and learning all about Alexander Hamilton and his time in St. Croix, what?  I had no idea that Hamilton had such a strong beginning in the USVI!  St. Croix is the largest of the USVI and was under Danish rule before the U.S. purchased.  Slaves were very common in St. Croix and sadly they usually only lived 5-7 years once they arrived due to the harsh working and living conditions.  

Our first stop was Fort Christiansvaern which is part of the NPS Christiansted National Historic Site.

The fort also served as a colony jail and Rachel Faucette, the mother of Alexander Hamilton, was a notable inmate when she was jailed under Danish law for refusing to live with her first husband, Johann Michael Lavien.

 

Then as we walked we learned more details of at Alexander Hamilton's time in St. Croix and beyond:

• 1755 Born in Nevis to Rachel Faucette and James Hamilton
• 1765 moved to St. Croix after father abandoned family
• 1768 his mom died from yellow fever, leaving him orphaned
• began work as a clerk for the trading firm of Beekman and Cruger gaining experience in finance, operations, and negotiation.
• friends and colleagues started a fund to send him to a preparatory school and then King's College (later Columbia University)
• And we know the rest of Hamilton’s story . . . he went on to become a prominent figure in American history, serving as a general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and the first Secretary of the Treasury. 

Hamilton and his family lived in the Free Gut area which is where free people of color lived.  His mom ran a store from the bottom floor and they lived upstairs.  Hamilton's last house before he left St. Croix.

Fun sign as we wandered around the town.

It was back to Frederiksted and decided to go visit Fort Frederik but it was a holiday and closed so did a walk around the outside.

Then walked down the beach and put my feet in the water.  That's our ship in the distance.

It was back on board and headed right to the Schooner Bar for a Lavender Daiquiri (I think it is more of a martini) and Pineapple Guava Sangria from R Bar.

 

There was a small treat waiting for me when I arrived back to my cabin.

It was a great day and can't wait for the next island!

Day 3: boarding Rhapsody of the Seas

I don't care how many cruises you go on but when you see your ship you get excited . . . well, at least I do! The main reason I picked this cruise is because of the port stops . . . it is ten days with eight stops which means you arrive at a new island almost everyday!  I can not wait.  I quickly get onboard to drop my bags in my cabin and leave the ship to pop into the drug store to pick up a few things I did not pack. I had to get back on board to enjoy some of my new perks. This is my first cruise since earning Diamond status which means I now get four free drinks that are no more than $14 every day of the cruise! Honestly that’s a lot for a non-drinker . . . they can be botted water, fancy coffee, or bar beverages. I am back on board and ready to enjoy!

So I’m starting off trying to taste a new drink each day! Schooner Bar has the most interesting menu! First up: Desert Pear Margarita.

A little cabin tour . . .

 

. . . it is a different layout than what I am used to.  It is an inside cabin which also means it was the cheapest cabin since I am paying double occupancy rate . . . don't get me started!  The room was long and narrow and parallel to the hallway.  It was a great size for one person and very spacious.  The only thing that I did not like was it had a fabric shower curtain which was annoying because the shower was a narrow rectangle and not square.  I managed but did some adjustments to the shower curtain so it did not stick to me while showering; gross!

Since I am traveling solo, I mainly dine in the Windjammer which is the buffet. It is usually the same dining theme as far as food as the main dining room but less casual. I do enjoy the laid back atmosphere but also try to visit the MDR (main dining room) a few nights.  

This cruise is a bit weird in that it doesn’t leave until 8pm; I was in bed by the time we sailed away!

Day 2: El Yunque National Forest

The one thing I really wanted to do while in Puerto Rico was visit El Yunque National Forest.  El Yunque is the sole tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System and is a popular destination for hiking and exploring diverse ecosystems; at nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in size, but one of the most biologically diverse. Yes, it is part of the National Park Service, and I took a guided tour from San Juan since it was about an hour outside the city. I thought the tour was organized and our guide was very good with giving information and answering questions.  

First Stop: Baño Grande, or “big bath,” was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the New Deal era as a swimming hole. It remained a swimming pool from 1936-1968 before it was closed due to safety concerns.

Next a hike to a cave . . . I did not write down any information so have no clue name of trail.  The trail was very muddy and slick so had to be careful.  The views were amazing!

Then on to Catarata La Coca for a quick photo stop.  

Short drive to Torre Yokahú . . . quick climb to top with nice 360 degree view of the forest and the east side of Puerto Rico!

Quick stop at: Rio Mameyes for a chance to swim but due to recent heavy rains it was not possible today; no way I would get in that water.  

Back in the van for our final stop at La Frutera Flores in Luquillo PR for a late lunch.  If you have been to Puerto Rico you have seen all these fruit stands and restaurant huts along the roads.  I have never stopped at one and have I been missing out!  It looks like an unorganized mess with so many lines but it turned out to be very efficient.  There was a line to order food, then get in another line for smoothies, and a different line to pay.  Of course all three lines were within a very small area with not signs but it worked. I ordered a shrimp and red pepper empanada and was in line to pay when an American lady said, "hey you try these smoothies?" to which I said no and she proceeded to hand me a small cup of a fruit smoothie.  I said thanks and took a sip; it was delicious!  And then I thought maybe I should not be taking a drink from a total stranger that I did not see being made from a random person but then proceeded to drink the rest!  Anyway, the food was fresh and delicious! 

. . . so be sure to stop at one of the roadside huts for a smoothies or snack!

Day 1: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

It feels as if I have not traveled in forever!  I am about to start a trip that has been on my to-do list for a long time, cruising the Southern Caribbean!  I could not leave at a better time as there is a winter storm rolling in to Texas. I do feel a bit bad that I left behind a very cold Texas for an oh so warm San Juan, but my timing could not have been better. 

I have a couple days to explore the area before the cruise starts.  I have been to San Juan several times; I am just going to enjoy the popular tourist sites and wandering around outside. My hotel has free drop off so I am doing my own walking tour around Old San Juan.

Castillo San Cristóbal . . . thanks to my national park pass for free entry.  I love the sentry boxes!

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery

Castillo San Felipe del Morro . . . I was too lazy to walk inside.  

Gato Park . . . I was expecting to see a ton of cats but not many were out and about.  

Paruqe de las Palomas . . . know as pigeon park; I always want to go here but always think about the germs and diseases!  They freak me out when they start flapping their wings and flying.  

Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud . . . I have never been inside the gates as it is always closed!

Blue Brick Streets . . . I read about this online and have never noticed the blue tiled streets.  They are pretty cool and became a mission to watch for them as I walked around Old Town.

  

I really just enjoyed hanging out at a nice leisurely pace.  I often stopped at benches and enjoyed the day.  I picked up a mango paleta at Señor Paleta to enjoy while hanging out . . .

. . . and then a large tour group showed up and were being noisy so I headed out to explore more.  I ended up on Calle Fortaleza where I was yelled at for not stopping for a guy trying to get me to buy something that I am certain I did not need. He was down right rude and continued to yell not so nice things at me for waving and saying no thanks, jerk!  I continued on my way and stopped for a ate lunch at Pirilo Pizza Rustica.  I found the return hotel shuttle and enjoyed the rest of my day relaxing!

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico is the one and only stop of this Mariner of the Seas cruise.  

I had booked us an excursion called Dune Buggy Ride to Beach and Snorkeling.  Now that Colin is 21, he can be our chauffer . . . and my parents are considered too old for certain excursions by the cruise company; go figure!  It was an easy laid back drive and stop at a beach and restaurant.  We did not plan on doing much except enjoying the sunshine!