Ha Long Bay

     One of our biggest splurges of the trip was an overnight trip on Ha Long Bay.  The general reviews for these cruises is that regardless of what you pay, you may get the bait and switch when you arrive and not end up in the accommodations you expected after the 4 hour bus ride from Hanoi.  However, we can report that we were pleased with the level of luxury aboard the Bellezza. Mind you, less than 24 hours are spent aboard.  Upon tendering to the ship you are greeted with welcome refreshments, a 9 course lunch, and posh cabins as the boat heads out through the famous karsts (but not really too far).  We were in the supposed less-touristy end of the Bay where only 30 cruise boats troll the waters.  However, they are generally all on the same itinerary.  After a bit, we got to our overnight anchorage where we were ferried off for an afternoon of kayaking and beach time (it rained).  When we returned to the Bellezza, the cove was full of the other night trippers.  We did enjoy spotting some large, yellow, stringy jellyfish off the top deck.  

Our host used the phrase "Sunset Party" at least a dozen times to ensure we were present for the top deck cocktail hour.  By a stroke of excellent fortune, after weeks of grey clouds and rain, the sky opened up and provided the most brilliant sunset of our entire 8 weeks. The girls got to hang out with some other kids for a change from London, Ireland, and Americans (currently expats in Riyadh).  The Garcia teens were, in fact, the only other American children we encountered on the entire trip.  The boat had room to host 5 families and we got to know them in a laid-back setting, rather than a "party boat" which is common in this racket.

Maya was bummed that swimming was discouraged at this beach at Fairy Cave.  The warning was due to jellyfish, which are common in these waters.  So is trash.  It was disappointing to see a disgusting amount of plastic caught up in the current.  For all the pride they have in this Unesco-Wonder-of-the-World, they don't make a lot of effort to preserve it. 

Genna was almost as interested in fishing as the Irish Boys.  They shared their table scraps with her so she could try bacon, bread, and apple bait.  What was scheduled as a night-time-only squid fishing event was carried over to the morning as we trolled back to the dock.  None were successful.

Part of the 2nd lunch was do-it-yourself, billed as a "cooking class" where you get to make fresh spring rolls and observe the chef carving produce garnishes.  All of the meals were multi-course and generously portioned.  Even the Carrolls had a hard time finishing everything that was offered.  If we could make a suggestion it would be less QUANTITY and more QUALITY.  The food was not bad, but some of it was a little blah.

Virgin Islands 2017

I'm just going to let Babçia tell you about our trip...... over here.
After all, the pictures are all hers since my camera died after taking 5 shots on the 1st day.

Dominican Republic

Here is the full length account of our trip to the Dominican Republic to see Grandpa and Babçia on Exit Strategy.  http://exitstrategylog.blogspot.com/2016/02/hola-samana.html 

Live Aboard!

The Boyan / Carrolls at El Limon.  Maya had a high fever and was so tired after the trek out, she ALMOST passed on going out to dinner.

If you are approached by a young man casually wielding a rifle in the caves at  El Parque de Los Haitises, be cool, he's probably just a ranger, no big deal!?!?!?

Guided City Tours are SO TEDIOUS!!!!!  (Says every hungry 8 year old.) 

Jose's Parents, Fior and Rafael, were such generous hosts!

Hotel Doña Elvira in the old city ~ Santo Domingo.  Maya was appalled that the room standards did not meet her Super 8 expectations.  

Last day.  Killing time before the airport at Tres Ojos Caves and the National Aquarium with "Done and Done-er".  I forgot what Maya wanted to do instead of this, probably something to do with snacks.

Spending time with Jose and Amelia in Kzoo before they moved to the DR.

Jamaica

We headed to Jamaica for Spring Break to rendezvous with the crew of Exit Strategy.  It was great to see Babçia and Grandpa Boyan and explore the west side of the Island.

See other pics & stories at the Boyan's Blog.

After spending a couple intro days in Montego Bay, we headed west.  First stop was Lucea, a very quiet bay.  The girls' first desire was to find a BEACH.  We walked to the end of town, in the rain, but did not find a beach, much to their dismay.  However, we did get to explore old Fort Charlotte.  However, the girls were not amused until we took refuge from the showers in a snack shack along the way for banana chips, and came away with enough breadfruit for a month and a new fruit to try (Naseberry).  

Snorkeling lessons from Babçia.  Maya was a more eager student.  Genna eventually tried it, but only with her familiar goggles.  She even snorkeled with us in the deep through a nice reef off Booby Cay in Bloody Bay (Negril).

Maya's "RESPECT" selfie.  The kids liked fist bumping with the locals.

Papa goofing off.

We went searching for some famous jumping points in Negril's West End.  This area, at the Pushcart Restaurant, no longer allows public high dives, but let us swim in their beautiful grotto.

We prepped the girls that hair braiding would be an option on the trip.  I didn't actually think either of them would do it.  On our last day, Maya came to shore with that as her mission.  It didn't take long for one of the ladies to find her and lead her off to her shop, before I could even find our wallet and follow behind them!  It took a little over one hour.  Maya sat patiently and picked all yellow and white beads.  As of this post date (Easter), she has had them in for 10 days and is not interested in taking them out.  They may be too fuzzy in a couple more days, but I am surprised that they are holding up this well.

Bloody Bay had some private property issues, and there was no place to park the dinghy on shore.  This made some excursions more trouble than they were worth.  So on the last night, the girls set up an exclusive restaurant in the cockpit for Mama & Papa, while the staff dined below.  Here, Maya is reading us the menu's specials.  Everything was delicious and the service was adorable.

We are so spoiled to have Exit Strategy on call for all our tropical vacation needs!

St. Croix

December 7-14, 2001
(Did I mention that I destroyed our camera the day before the trip?  All the pics are courtesy of Joy/Bob & Babçia/Grandpa.)  All I had to do was whittle 800+ images down to 45 and then combine them to 9 collages.  (oops, I included one twice).  You can get a closer look by clicking on any pic to pop out a bigger view.

Once again, we are grateful for the hospitality
aboard Exit Strategy.

All the cousins played with each other so nicely.

Genna was a handful, or a ham, most of the time.

So glad we disregarded slightly dicey conditions to visit this tide pool.  Love to explore this area more next time... in calmer seas. 

Maya finally realized her ambition of snorkeling.  Albeit, sans snorkel.  She preferred the familiarity of goggles and only let me make her wear flippers once.  Unexpectedly, the Cruise Ship pier was the best snorkeling we saw on the island.  (Corals at other locations: Green Cay & Buck Island were sub par).  Plus, Frederiksted's western location shielded it from the open Atlantic and was the best, calm beach for playing around.  Bob spotted the turtle (top), Jeff noticed the camouflaged flounder (bottom) and the giant spotted ray (middle) was apparently after me.  Maya is also very proud to announce that she spotted her own flounder and got to swim though a school of a million little fish.  

Puerto Rico

lock 'em in the bunk & let 'em wrestle while the wave toss them around

Genna at the helm (docked in the marina)

Maya left the braid in for like 10 minutes. The rest of the trip was crazy curls.

Ha Ha - Genna is free on the open sea!

El Morro - or "the Castle Fort" as Maya calls it.

Sometimes Genna just wanted Mama.... OK, a LOT of times!

Babcia gave Maya a Sailing Log to complete during the trip. She colored a picture of the day's events each night. This is our last night at the hotel before an early morning flight. Maya is diligently penning her memoirs.

This trip was the first time Genna sometimes slept unswaddled or on her tummy. We experimented with different sleeping arrangements each day.

A 30 minute (1 way) walk to La Mina Falls in El Yunque. The Ring Sling is not the ideal carrier for this hike - but its the only one I remembered to bring on the trip. Left the freshly made Mei Tai at home *oops*

In El Yunque Rain Forest. Maya is averting her legs from the wall because a tiny lizard was hiding under the ledge.

SQUAWK!

Too much sunscreen in the hair!

Not even a cool starfish could coax Maya into the water.
She had some major beach/sand/waves/water phobia this time. 

Old San Juan

Maya contemplating the unusual bark of this tree. (El Yunque N.F)

At least someone enjoyed splashing in the water!Maya was kind of wave adverse this trip.  

Naptime was a RARE event for Maya during the trip.