Coffee Break?

And as our Cool 101.9 group tee-shirts read..."I Survived It!"   Yeah...sure...and it was a hardship...NOT!!   Not ever having had a proper, every-little-thing-done-for-us vacation before I suppose it might be a bit unfair to say it's THE best vacation we have ever had but...I'm doing it anyway.  There were drawbacks...one more serious than the other...with personal family crisis if you will so the timing was tough yet, at the same time there was nothing we could do about this trip arranged almost a year ago other than go ahead as planned  and make the best of it.  The other was leaving our 'family'...our brood...but we knew they were in the best possible hands so if that detracted from the very idea of going in the first place it was down to misplaced guilt.  A week ago Sunday we were  off.

We'd never taken a cruise before so curiosity and an element of excitement were palpable as we sat waiting for the coaches to get us from Milford, DE to the port in Baltimore.  The day was overcast, wet, just ugly in general but spirits were high in the over 100 of us making the trip together (and the difference returning home yesterday didn't go unnoticed!).  The ship itself was amazing...the decor a little 'darker' than would be my taste but it was beautiful.  Weather first day or two out was grey, very blustery and yet even while KW hates the cold, we spent a good deal of time out on the open decks just listening to the waves, engines, revelling in the sea breezes.  Had hoped to see stars but the first two nights we were out of luck.  When we got up and out early Wednesday, prior to our first port of call...Port Canaveral...we found temps. a little more balmy and the sun was shining.  Before leaving and having gone over the various excursions available to us, we had opted...and already made reservations for an Airboat ride with alligator spotting through part of the central Everglades.  A coach took us to Lone Cabbage Fish Camp where we boarded the airboat.  First time for this also and my first time in Florida, to boot.  We sped over the St. John River at up to 40mph...noise-reducing headsets giving us a skewed Mickey Mouse look.  The week or two before (we were told) the cold had somewhat hampered alligator spotting but with a few recent warm days they were slithering into activity again so the odds were good we'd see something.  Sure enough...we were fortunate to spot several good size fellows sliding off their banks into the river and balefully eyeing the boatload of would-be papparazzi. We were well armed with digital cameras, binocs, cam-corders...I figured if nothing else, and had we had to, we could fling all of them at any marauder but...none were that interested.  I was impressed to finally see such a pre-historic creature in the flesh...speaking of which, when our boat ride ended (all too soon) back to the camp where they had already prepared platters of fried alligator tail for us.  I told ya it would taste just like chicken!  Still, there was a slight difference to the palate and the texture was NOT chicken-y...as it was described to us, more chewy a la calamari.  But, since I love calamari and chicken, I enjoyed more than just one or two...or three...bites.  We also had the opportunity to meet and listen to a young woman who has a foundation to rescue exotic animals...you know the story, people buy them when babies then find they should never have even considered such an in-home pet.  She brought three along to show us...a young anaconda, a runt alligator and a year old possum which had been found in a wall.  All were interesting and we had our photo op with what we two deemed to be the star of the show...Polly the Possum.  And yes...she WAS cuddly and very cute as she snuggled in, sliming us on the way.  We'd already been told the sliming was her way of showing affection so we really felt privileged (okay, so it doesn't take much..lolol).  Back on board the Pride we all shared our day's  'adventures'...some having taken the NASA tour(s) while others opted for Cocoa Beach to melt away the Delaware winter chills.  A few even chose to visit WalMart...lolol.  Hey...whatever floats your boat.   It was interesting...and funny.  When I'd studied the itinerary it was noticeable that it would take us two and a half days to reach Port Canaveral while, after enjoying our two other ports of call, it would take us a day and a half to get back to Baltimore.  I figured we'd be going like the clappers on the return trip and KW already suggested the first few days out they'd get most of our spending money before reaching the 'tourist traps'.  True...with beer from pennies short of $7 a bottle (Coors Light, for instance) and cocktails all the way to $15, if one's pleasure was imbibing you'd best spread it out!  In fact, we did hear of one little group who visited the aforementioned WalMart...bought a case of bottled water and a bottle of vodka;  dumped the water and refilled the bottles with....you guessed it!  Party hearty, maties!!

Our call at Nassau was fun but, honestly, the highlight of our day ashore there was a horse and buggy ride.  Yes, we paid too much for the short ride but our driver was worth the money with his comedic running commentary and observations.  We'd been told to make sure of a visit to the Straw Market so once the buggy ride was over that's what we did.  It was interesting to see although neither of us were interested in the usual souvenir stuff...tee-shirts, knock-off Gucci and Fendi bags, jewellry etc.  But I do have to say (having our own experiences in the tourism industry) their kitsch was no worse than one will find in Rehoboth Beach, Ocean City or the like and was, in fact, cheaper.  Try buying three tee-shirts for ten bucks here.  We walked the market but were glad when our tour was over...though we didn't need or want any of the wares for sale we both felt badly repeating "Thank you...but not right now.  We are just looking at the moment but may be back...enjoy your day..."  The 'being back' was a fib and left a bad taste.  However, at the edge of the Straw Market were wood carvers and we admired their beautiful work enough to bring a few home.  We found ourselves strolling through a few very quaint, picturesque lanes and alleys...photo ops more than anything else.  Pause for thought...which was one reason we had little interest in most of the souvenir items.  One little store was taking delivery of new stock and we'd to stop and wait to let them get a stack of boxes into the premises...each of them marked "Made in Korea".  Of course I know why but it's still a little sad that, rarely, when we take our vacations and want to buy mementoes, they are made "in country".  Guess that's why most of our mementoes are pics we take ourselves and made a stop at the fishing piers to pick up a couple of  conch shell...sans the scripted "Bahamas" emblazoned on the lip (or anywhere).  It was, all in all, a gorgeous day and having grown up with the Bahamas part of UK history (I well remember all the headlines in our newspapers when the islands were granted independence) found some of their everyday things more  fascinating;  the ultra-smart and most courteous policemen (with no guns!), the British spellings still in general usage, driving on the "other side" of the road (despite the fact that many if not most of the vehicles were left-hand drive..lol).    To paraphrase one of my favourite pop songs of the moment..."Today was in fact a good, good day..."