Seems like it has been months since I last sat down and started writing about our travel adventures. So, when I actually got a chance to sit down, I realize it HAS been months. Of course, no one seemed to have missed my travel journal, either.
My Sweetie and I took a much-needed vacation the last day of January through the 10th of February.Starting off in this small airport, we made the short flight to Dallas where we picked up our First Class seats onboard American Airlines for our 4+ hour flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We arrived sometime around 1900, picked up our luggage, and took a harrowing cab ride to our hotel in Old San Juan, Hotel El Covento. A definite pick for location, history, and comfort, Hotel El Convento previously housed nuns (since the 1500's, I believe) and is located across the street from the Cathedral de San Juan. That's where we attended Mass on two consecutive Sundays!
While in San Juan, we played the typical tourist and visited the fortresses, walked along the Paseo del la Princesa, lunched at famous Puerto Rican restaurants (the mofongo was excellent as were all of the mojitos!), and at night watched bats flying in the courtyard of our hotel. Seemed like a great place to spend a week of our time.
But wait! We only came to San Juan to spend a couple of days before we embarked on the Carnival Valor for our 8 day cruise to the eastern Caribbean. We didn't leave too early because of the STUPID SUPER BOWL! Who cares? Well, obviously, the management of Carnival Cruises thought that the game would prevent drunk fans from attending the mandatory lifeboat and vests training. So, they delayed this mandatory event until the game was over. Remember that Puerto Rico is one hour AHEAD of Eastern time. That is pretty late for this old guy to stay up. Finally, around 2330, we were manditorily trained in case of emergency and got to go to sleep.
I won't bore you with the totally great time we had on this ship and on our excursions.
Plus, two wonderfully suppers at the Steakhouse and a once in a lifetime opportunity to dine exclusively with the Chef de le cuisine of the Carnival Valor where he and his top sous chefs prepared a nine-course meal for our pleasure.
Back in San Juan, we were properly relaxed and spent one more night in San Juan before flying back (first class again :) home.
Totally good time. Our cell phones were turned off the entire time. We didn't watch a single minute on the TV (well, we did turn on the TV to watch the course of our ship but we don't consider that as 'watching' TV).
We got home but our bags didn't. Seems that the tag "Special Expedited Handling" doesn't mean crap when you are in Dallas, even when you connecting flight was delayed getting in and delayed in leaving once it got it. The only good news is that we weren't flying any further north as the rest of the country was being hit by snow and ice!
While in San Juan, we played the typical tourist and visited the fortresses, walked along the Paseo del la Princesa, lunched at famous Puerto Rican restaurants (the mofongo was excellent as were all of the mojitos!), and at night watched bats flying in the courtyard of our hotel. Seemed like a great place to spend a week of our time.
But wait! We only came to San Juan to spend a couple of days before we embarked on the Carnival Valor for our 8 day cruise to the eastern Caribbean. We didn't leave too early because of the STUPID SUPER BOWL! Who cares? Well, obviously, the management of Carnival Cruises thought that the game would prevent drunk fans from attending the mandatory lifeboat and vests training. So, they delayed this mandatory event until the game was over. Remember that Puerto Rico is one hour AHEAD of Eastern time. That is pretty late for this old guy to stay up. Finally, around 2330, we were manditorily trained in case of emergency and got to go to sleep.
I won't bore you with the totally great time we had on this ship and on our excursions.
- We visited St. Thomas and took a catamaran to St. John where we snorkeled at a US National Park.
- We visited the Harrison Caves in Barbados!
- We visited St. Lucia and took a deep sea fishing boat out during a rain storm.
- We visited St. Kitts to hop on board a sugar cane train for a trip around the island and a catamaran trip back to our port.
- We visited Sint Maarten/St. Martin to see both the Dutch and French cultures including a leisurely boat ride.
Plus, two wonderfully suppers at the Steakhouse and a once in a lifetime opportunity to dine exclusively with the Chef de le cuisine of the Carnival Valor where he and his top sous chefs prepared a nine-course meal for our pleasure.
Back in San Juan, we were properly relaxed and spent one more night in San Juan before flying back (first class again :) home.
Totally good time. Our cell phones were turned off the entire time. We didn't watch a single minute on the TV (well, we did turn on the TV to watch the course of our ship but we don't consider that as 'watching' TV).
We got home but our bags didn't. Seems that the tag "Special Expedited Handling" doesn't mean crap when you are in Dallas, even when you connecting flight was delayed getting in and delayed in leaving once it got it. The only good news is that we weren't flying any further north as the rest of the country was being hit by snow and ice!
No comments:
Post a Comment