Snorkeling in Grenada

 

We were in St. George, Granada which is breathtakingly beautiful.  I should preface this by saying that as a child, I happily snorkeled down the Ichetuknee, which is a completely clear fresh water river.  Unfortunately, when it comes to salt water, my track record is 0 for 3.  Reason #1: You can’t see very far and therefore will not have enough time to escape should any shark try to eat you.  Reason #2: Things grow bigger than you do.  For instance, sharks.  Reason #3:  Sharks.  On all occasions I have been in and out of the water in less than three minutes! 

First, we got onto a speedboat and zoomed out onto the open water.  Note to self: You are no longer allowed to watch horrifying programs about speed-boat accidents due to the gripping terror you feel in such a vehicle.  

The speedboat itself was really neat!  We straddled the seats as if we were riding horses. When we bounced relentlessly across the waves it even felt the same as riding a horse.  My leg muscles grew sore as I struggled to save my poor rump from the seats that were sadly not quite as comfortable as a saddle.  Fortunately, we arrived in one piece at our snorkeling destination!  Hooray! 

Due to our guide’s insistence that nothing in this protected cove was going to eat me, I donned my flippers and my scuba mask and slid from the side of the boat into one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had in the water.  The fish were not bigger than I was, there were no sharks, and I could see very clearly because the water was gorgeous and crystalline.  Unfortunately, I had no underwater camera, and neither did anyone else on the tour, so the best memories will have to live solely in my head, but here is a picture of us above the water.

There were many bright fish and coral see.  We couldn’t get near enough to the fish to touch them, but it was fun to try.  There were also statues planted under the water to coax coral growth.  We took a guided tour through the waves, and I only drank a few mouthfuls of seawater.  Yuck!  I also think I had my mask on too tight as the impression remained in my forehead until the next morning.  Hopefully no one at our show that night noticed!  Ha!  

We finally swam back to the boat and returned our gear.  Then we sped off along the island slowing only when we pulled into various coves to see the buildings or forts.  The prison on the island has the best view out of any other place, and there were about six forts.  Anytime anyone took the island over, they built another fort where they had managed to sneak in and attack.  It was very interesting, but very hot!  

 

 When the tour was finished, it was apparently time to do donuts.  I white-knuckled my way through them, and fortunately, survived.  

Snorkeling for Caiman

 

Just kidding!  I would never snorkel in Caiman infested waters!  I did go Caiman hunting and snorkeling, but definitely not at the same time.  The crew had a planned excursion while we were still in the Amazon River; Caiman hunting!  

 We left on a party cruiser at 11PM and switched over to a small canoe-like craft about an hour later.  

 

 Our two guides spoke Portuguese, but thankfully Christiane our cruise consultant, who is from Brazil, was on our canoe and translated for us.  They drove us quietly down the river shining handheld flashlights towards the shore.  I thought that it would be a waste of time as I couldn’t see anything with their fading light, but then a gleam appeared reflecting the flashlight’s light back at us.  The Caiman’s eyes are reflective like a cat’s and light up like tiny little suns as soon as the light touches them!  We passed by one Caiman and the boat behind us pulled up to it.  Just a few minutes later, we spotted another.  We nosed up to the shore and our guide jumped out into the river and pulled us onto the beach. Crazy!  I was hyperventilating at the thought of dangling an arm over the water.  I think I’ve seen too many piranha/giant alligator movies.   He walked a ways down the pale sandy shore leaving us squirming in our seats trying desperately to follow his progress as his silhouette faded into black and his bouncing light grew dimmer and dimmer.  Suddenly, the light plummeted to the earth and you could see faint movement, but then nothing.  We all exchanged a wide eyed glance sure that our guide had met an untimely end.  Then, thankfully, the light returned to its former altitude and started bouncing its way back to us.  As he reached our craft, I saw with immense relief and a little chagrin that the Caiman he was holding wasn’t the gigantic 12ft beast I had feared, but a tiny cousin measuring maybe 2 feet in length. 

 I was completely at ease until he brought it into the boat for all of us to hold. 

 I went last and only due to peer pressure. 

 On a side note, my hair was perfectly straight when we had started this excursion. Hello humidity!  

 After we had our fill of gawking at and caressing this surprisingly soft creature, we turned our craft around and headed back toward our party boat.  Our in between was a floating gift shop where we got these; a wooden caiman whose tail you can move back and forth (very cool), and a recorder with piranha teeth!  I couldn’t resist. 

 

 After counting our fingers and toes and deciding we all had the same amount that we came with, we headed back to the ship.  This was definitely one of my favorite and most memorable excursions!

 

Boca De Valeria and Broadway

We took tenders this morning into Boca De Valeria where we were met by at least fifteen children lined up on the dock.  Two young boys promptly took my hands and we were escorted inland toward their village. The oppressive heat was bearable because of the sheer beauty of the land surrounding us. 

 

 

Down the dirt path towards the village, we stopped to take pictures with a monkey, a sloth and even what we think was a chinchilla.  There were little girls in native dress and a lizard on every little boys arm.  Even though the little boys escorting me didn’t speak English, they had certainly worked out how to tug on your heart strings.  Eventually, my hands got hot and I dutifully gave them a dollar after which they promptly headed back to the pier to find the next sap with a pocket full of money. 

 

In the village the huts were small, but there was a school and a restaurant, though they were tiny and unexplored by the guests from the ship.  Most of the guests brought pencils or candy which the children grabbed and wrestled over.  Thoroughly drenched with sweat and in the beginning stages of dehydration, Jason and I decided to head back to the ship and the promise of blissfully cool air conditioning.  

 

  On the way back to the dock, I bought a wooden fish carving.  One of the beautiful little village girls adopted me and I gave her a pony tail holder and a dollar.  She was very nice, but she too abandoned me after I gave her money.  We did catch a glimpse of a satellite dish behind one of the huts, but no other place was equipped with electricity.  We met the rest of the cast on their way in at the dock.  We thought maybe the locals would enjoy a little impromptu singing.  Clearly no one cared.  Not at all bothered by the locals indifference, we headed back to the ship where we ate lunch and showered.  Absolute heaven!  When our cast-mates came back aboard we rehearsed for our Broadway show that went up tonight.  It was a success!  Everyone loved it!  I sang Send in The Clowns from A Little Night Music in a modified key because my voice is still giving me grief!  Grr!  The girls also sand You Could Drive A Person Crazy.  Poor Jason had to play both of the Sondheim pieces and I accompanied the rest of the show.  We finished the night up with a rousing round of karaoke in the bar with the guests and it was a hoot!  All in all this day was a smash hit.  I hope tomorrow is just as good.  I miss you all!

 

Week one of the next great adventure!

The beautiful Silver Cloud

 Right now I am sitting in my window nook, coasting down the Amazon River and waving to the locals and their naked children as they paddle their boats alongside our ship.  It is absolutely beautiful here which is helping to allay some of my fears that a giant Anaconda is going to leap from the water and swallow those tiny native boats whole.

A very blurry Amazon

 

My journey started on the 13^th of November.  Unfortunately, so did my fever.  I usually like to be prepared a few days ahead of time for any trip, but I had not been feeling particularly well, so our things were stuffed into our bags last minute and we were off to the airport in Las Vegas.  Our flight left from Vegas at 7:30PM and we landed in Los Angeles about an hour later. We then waited two hours for our flight to Miami where we then spent four and a half hours sleeping on the floor of the airport before we were transported away to Barbados. 

Grenada

Devil's Island

I wish I could describe Barbados to you, but I was in a serious fog and feeling even worse than when I had started, so I don’t really remember it at all.  The next few days are also a blur, but we managed to get Motown on its feet as well as a standards show that we put together ourselves.  I sang Close to You and It’s Too Late with what I hope turned out to be a breathy jazzy sound because my voice was kaput!  I should mention that day after I arrived on board, I went immediately to the doctor who began to nebulize me because the gunk in my lungs was causing me to wheeze and have difficulty breathing. 

Make me well!

The night after the standards show, Jason and I did our duet show, “Yes, We’re Married” on the stage, and even though my voice was still very breathy, it went over well.  Our duet show includes the story of our lives and how we met and it’s always a pleasure to compare notes with guests afterwards.  Everyone still lights up when they tell us how they first met. 

 By the way, the guests have been especially nice on this journey, as has the staff.  The thing I have been most grateful for, however, is our room!  Jason and I get to share a bed in a proper room as opposed to the bunk beds we had for our last contract.  We even have our own window this time!  This is the life!

Best part so far!  My own window! (I take naps here like a cat).

Yesterday I was finally beginning to feel better and breathing became a bit easier which is fortunate because last night was our opera show.  My voice is definitely not one hundred percent, but I made it through and celebrated with a well-deserved Brandi in the company of some sympathetic and supportive Australian guests who say Jason looks just like Guy Sebastian, the first Australian Idol winner.

My gorgeous opera dress paired with H Stern jewels.

My first trip off the ship in Belem, Brazil.

Today I can almost take a full breath without coughing and it should be my last day on the nebulizer.  Hooray!  Thankfully, after the pub lunch this afternoon, we have two nights off where my only requirement will be going to dinner!  Again, I wish I could describe more of South America, but I feel like today is the first day I have really seen it.  So far, it’s fantastic!  I miss everybody and as I promised my mother before I left, my blogs will be more frequent and with better pictures (hopefully)!  Love to you all! 

A picture from Devil's Island.  Jason took this when he went ashore. So far, he's the better photographer!