Ultimate Whirled Cruise

  Rainbow Eucalyptus Grenada, the first port new to us, is tropical and hilly, a marked contrast to the ABC islands and Barbados.  It is known as The Spice Island.  In fact, nutmeg is featured on the national flag.  See it on the left side of the flag on the green triangle. Mace is also produced from the nutmeg tree and the island has a thriving chocolate industry.  Also cloves and cinnamon are produced here. Cinnamon trees look a bit like birch trees to me. Our tour was with a local guide, A. J. Meddy, who had in-depth knowledge and great driving skills on the narrow, winding roads. Alan Meddy One of the wider roads! Most of the ports have photo ready signs like this Leaving Grenada and its rainbow, not rainbow eucalyptus

 In 1630, the Dutch established the city later known as Recife, Brazil, as their capital in the New World.  Since The Netherlands allowed Jews to be open about their religion, this was the site of the first openly Jewish community in the New World.  But in 1654, Portuguese Catholics took control of the city and they allowed Jews only if they converted to Catholicism.  So most of the Jews in Recife left, including about 300 that ended in Barbados where they established what is claimed to be the oldest synagogue in the Americas, Nidhe Israel (the scattered of Israel).  Jane and I walked there from the port, paid our entrance fee and wandered the fascinating museum, the cemetery and synagogue for a few hours--the museum is nicely air-conditioned, which, after our hot walk, greatly influenced us in staying there. Arriving at the Synagogue Historic District From there the trek continued downhill to the Barbados Yacht Club.  Though our Venice Yacht Club does not ...

 Bonaire is the least-populated of the "ABC" islands and well-known for scuba diving sites, snorkeling, pink flamingos and salt, as well as some gorgeous beaches.  We walked from the cruise port for about two and a half miles toward the airport to land at Te Amo Beach. Jane at Te Amo Beach, Bonaire A unique part of this beach is the presence of a food bus ! The Stoked Food Bus Before our walk to the beach, I watched the rain come in over the island toward the city of Kralendijk followed by another Caribbean rainbow! Next: an appreciated sea day and another encounter with the Irish demon trivia host.

Our second Sunday aboard, we arrived in Curaçao, another beautiful and somewhat arid island affiliated with Aruba under the Dutch government.  We walked through Fort Rif and over the wooden, swinging Queen Emma bridge to the retail section of town. It is seen in the background with the white hoops with a light hung from each hoop.  Farther in the background is the beautiful Queen Juliana highway bridge. Most of the shops were closed for Sunday, so the only thing we picked up was a foot blister.

In 1968, the first cruise ship built in Finland was produced at the Turku shipyards.  It was designed to hold 540 passengers, small by today's standard.  We spent our day in Aruba docked adjacent to this ship, now named the Fair winds and owned by the Church of Scientology. The founder of Scientology and a long-time science fiction author, L. Ron Hubbard, left the UK in 1969 due to negative governmental attention and decided Scientology would be based at sea.  In 1986 the Fair winds was purchased from Commodore Cruise Line.  I read that the ship is the only place a Scientologist can achieve Operating Thetan Level Eight (OT VIII).  I have no ability to explain what that means.

I'm cheating a bit in saying one week as a week ago today was our arrival in Miami, not cruise start.  Saturday night, December 9, we had back-to-back parties.  First, cocktails poolside and waterfront with our ship in view.  This was for the 41 Pinnacles (people with about two years or more on Royal Caribbean ships) who would start the nine months of cruising the next day.  The second party was hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the hotel's meeting area followed by dinner, music, speeches and dancing.  It was akin to a most excellent wedding reception where all attendees were at a high level of anticipation. Our first port was Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. It is essentially a water park with slides, rides, drinks and food--fun for all. Yesterday was our second port, Cozumel, Mexico.  We toured to Chichén Itzá, a well-preserved Mayan ruin consisting of many acres. It took a 45 minute ferry ride, 15 minute walk, and a 2.5 h...

 One of our fellow 274-night cruisers, Mark Dunlop, put our entire itinerary in Google Earth format and has given permission for the link to be shared.  It is listed as the third item under Useful Links on the home page of this blog.  The slideshow of 331 slides is a fun way to visualize the itinerary.  Thanks, Mark.