Caribbean Cruise 2006

[Oh_Claire]

Emma and I just got back from the Caribbean, our annual "personal" vacation and I have such a great tan!

We stopped in 5 different places, leaving from San Juan.

I also ate like a king.

Does anyone mind that my 26" waist has gone to a 28?

God I love travelling!

Oh yea, and HELLO to all you guys! Long time no chat!!!

Who has travelled out of North America? Where is your FAVORITE PLACE to travel? Where is your dream destination?

myself:

1) Italy
2) Western Europe Castle tour

 

[BigBlue]

You lucky, lucky, devil, you!

Next time I go anywhere, I'll be playing pretty close to home (Vegas or Disneyland)...

BUT I sure wouldn't mind an Italian/south of France tour....went on a whirlwind train tour of England/France/Bavaria/Holland/Belgium, but always regretted wistfully that I didn't take a more southerly route!

also, I've never been to Hawaii, so I'd like to go there, too....

and, come to think of it, one of those expedia one week all inclusives to Mexico is sounding pretty yummy, too.....

(but as usual, it's all about too little time and too little money)

Hey! Will you take me along? I'd make a swell cabana boy!

 

[Dionysus]

Favorite places outside N.A.

Well, Claire, since you asked, here are some of my favorites, but first, what were your favorite ports on the cruise? My favorite places ex N.A. are:

St. Maarten, half Dutch and half French, Caribbean
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Ecuador in general, but especially Banos and Puerto Mishualli (Amazon) on the mainland
Buenos Aires
Cuzco all the way down the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu, Peru
Rio
Florence and Siena
Agadir and Marrakech, Morocco
Paris
Edinburgh, Oban, and the Isle of Mull, Scotland
I must add an Alberta gem, here - Waterton in Southern Alberta, puts Banff, Canmore, and Jasper to shame!

 

[Oh_Claire]

Barbados was wonderful though it wasn't a port.

I loved Aruba, it was great!

St. Thomas has good shopping

aside from that I haven't seen enough of the Caribbean to comment on my favorite ports yet.

But if anyone wants to wisk me away then let me know I don't mind!

 

[Dionysus]

Ports of Call

I've never been to Barbados or Aruba - hope to soon! St. Johns wasn't for me, but I'm not a shopper. St. Thomas, a 20 minute ferry ride away from St. Johns, is almost all National Park. Very beautiful, very quiet.

 

[schrind]

Visit Europe

Claire, If you get the Chance visit Europe!

Italy:
Start with Rome, incredible old and historic buildings, St. Peter's Basilika is a must! Dont go to Rome in summer, its just to hot and sticky.
You must see the Piedmont. A really nice landscape with little castles and vineyards, the wine there is exeptional.
Visit Cinque Terra, its located on the nordwestcoast of Italy, a great hiking area and again very good wine!

Switzerland:
Its not that expensive like everybody tells you.... I am from switzerland...
Go to Lucerne, a nice Town surroundet with Mountains and Lakes.
Visit Zermatt, a mountain Village underneath the moust famous Mountain in the World, the Matterhorn.
Go to Zurich, this City is very recommendet for its Lifestyle.
And try to visit one of this famous chocolate factorys, you get the best chocolate almost for free!

On the way home, take a flight to Tenneriffe. This volcano Island is locatet in the atlantic Ocean, 4 hours flight from Paris, east of Afrika. This Canary Islands have the same climate all year, crystalclear water, 30 degres air temp., 26 degrees water temp.......
The hightest point is Mount Teide, 3800 Meters, you will find snow in Summer up there. (Its hightly recommendet to visit with the Gondola)

Claire, I wish you happy planning and hope to see you soon

 

[lurkerdude2]

Where is your FAVORITE PLACE to travel?

For just getting away from it all, I haven't found a spot better than the Maldives.

 

[bjluver]

i worked on a cruise ship (off and on) for 7 years and loved europe and asia...st.petersburg,russia and copenhagen stand out in europe and singapore in asia

 

[Oh_Claire]

5 terre

My favorite place in all the world is Cinque Terre, those little villages in northern Italy.

I could live there forever and be happy (if I wasn't so Patriotic!)

 

[Hedonist7]

Next time, try Guadeloupe or Martinique (or better yet - both!)... you get both France and Caribbean experiences at the same time - (also same snobby attitude from waiters - but that's part of the deal...)

French cars, french food - they use the Euro and don't speak english much - best part of it: no Americans go there... you know what I mean.

Awesome trip - you can also do day trips by boat to St. Lucia - very cool.