Northern Caribbean 2015
Late in 2015 Ron and
Carol took an 11 day RCI cruise of the northern Caribbean. It included 4
islands: Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, all new to Ron and
Carol.
Baltimore, Maryland.
Skyline – Baltimore has a wonderful cruise ship terminal called Cruise
Maryland. Quick and easy, arriving or departing. For
details about the time on the boat read Carol's blog at http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/33408.html .
Baltimore, Maryland.
On the Patapsco River – The Coast Guard gave us an armed escort all the way
down the Chesapeake Bay (and back.)
Paradise Cove, near Labadee, Haiti – RCI’s private
port on the north coast of Haiti. Wheel chair for the beach.
We did not need it, YET! For details about the day in Haiti read Carol's blog
at http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/33538.html .
Malfini Beach, Haiti – While Carol snorkeled, Ron took
a Haiti Cultural Tour in an abandoned village west of Labadee.
No dock, everyone had to wade in.
Malfini Beach, Haiti – Haiti Cultural Tour. Haitian
men demonstrating a pit saw. This time without a pit.
Malfini Beach, Haiti – Haiti Cultural Tour. Basket maker.
Malfini Beach, Haiti – Haiti Cultural Tour. Roasting
and making peanut butter and coffee.
Malfini Beach, Haiti – Haiti Cultural Tour. This young
lady sold candy to the tourist. A lot of candy!
Malfini Beach, Haiti – Haiti Cultural Tour. Cassava bread being flipped on a huge grill. Really good!
(Tapioca is also made from cassava.)
Malfini Beach, Haiti – The tour included an hour on
the private beach. Ron did not swim, but loved the beach anyway. ( 19.759863 -72.258372 ) Carol's boat would have been off in
the distance.
Out from Malfini Beach, Haiti – While Ron was taking in the cultural
tour, Carol had taken another boat down the same coast
to snorkel. This is an example of what she saw.
Paradise Cove –
Dragon’s Lookout Point. There is an air vent near the little hut that sounds
like a dragon breathing as the surf comes and goes.
Eerie! (A photo merge.)
Paradise Cove –
Dragon’s Lookout Point. On the way to the point, Carol found this fan coral on
the beach. She was able to keep it!
San Juan, Puerto Rico
– Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Also referred to as
El Morro or 'the promontory’, was built in the 16th century and added to since.
Castillo San Cristobal in the background and both are World Heritage sites.
(This was the highlight of the trip for Ron.) For details about the time in PR
read Carol's blog at http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/34223.html .
San Juan, Puerto
Rico. Fort - El Morro. Has
six levels that rise from sea level to 145 feet (44 m) high.
San Juan, Puerto
Rico. A view in to the harbor from below the city walls.
( 18.463358, -66.118843 )
San Juan, Puerto
Rico. The 42-foot (12.8 m) wall that surrounds Old San Juan.
( 18.464860, -66.119860 )
Old San Juan, Puerto
Rico. Sunset from near the old port.
Old San Juan, Puerto
Rico. Entrance in to the Christmas Market. The Three
Kings are especially celebrated in Puerto Rico. January 6 is called the
Epiphany and is traditionally the day in which the Magi arrived bearing gifts
for the Christ Child. Children in PR leave grass for the camels and water for
the Kings.
St. Thomas, Paradise
Point – In the morning Ron and Carol took a cable car up to the point and got
this wonderful view of the harbor. Their ship is the small one to the left. For
details read Carol's blog at http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/34436.html .
St. Thomas, Smith Bay
Beach – In the afternoon Ron and Carol went snorkeling from this great beach.
(18.338770, -64.856992 ) A photo
merge.
St. Thomas, Smith Bay
Beach – Ron and Carol being very wet.
St. Thomas, Smith Bay
Beach – Not a wonderful place to snorkel, but Ron and Carol did see a sea
turtle.
St. Thomas, Smith Bay
Beach – A storm passed south of beach and gave us this rainbow. Even with that
Carol hurt her knee in the heavy surf and had to take it slow the rest of the
trip.
St. Maarten – Part of
the bus tour of St. Maarten. (St. Martin on the French side.)
Driver James Brown showing off a conch with its “foot”
hanging out. (Poor animal does not know it is food.) For details read
Carol's blog at http://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/34693.html .
St. Maarten – A black
spiny sea urchin crawl up Carol’s hand.
St. Maarten – Iguanas
all over the place. (They saw a few in St. Thomas.)
Marigot, St. Martin – Largest city in the French half
of the island. They were given an hour to shop. Carol was having difficulty
walking so they got on an “accessibly” tour. This turned out to be 4 hour tour
completely around the island on a scooter friendly bus.
Maho Beach, St. Maarten – Famous beach since there
is only about 100 ft. (30m) of beach and road between the water and the end of
the runway. Here a small plane flies over them. (Taken by Ron
and Carol from different sides of the tour bus.)
Philipsburg, St
Maarten – In honor of their salt industry heritage, the government of St.
Maarten has erected a group of sculptures, called the Salt Pickers. (18.025852,
-63.044371 )
Somewhere in the
Bermuda Triangle – Neat aerialists performing on the ship on the 3 days back to
Baltimore.
Somewhere in the
Bermuda Triangle – Origami lessons on the ship.