Blogs from Puerto Rico, Central America Caribbean - page 3

You feel certain that you have had a great experience when you are sitting at the airport on the way home and you’re still smiling. In this case, smiling and talking with Super Chikan, a bluesman from Clarksdale, Mississippi and at this point, a man who enjoys conversation. He is busy telling you about his 2 year-old grandson with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. This was the third Blues Cruise in 18 months and it is perhaps time to take a break from them for a while. Cruises are not the greatest travel experiences, but the ability to see such world-class musicians in one location over a short period of time was too irresistible to pass up. These cruises are intense, amazing and wonderful but we have more of the ... read more

My crazy bachelorette party almost 10 years ago resulted in two broken teeth and a quick fix just in time to say “I do.” The front tooth’s covering material (porcelain I think) is starting to wear down and discolor, and really it should have been addressed years ago. I just couldn’t swing the cost. I’ve been looking into the financial and surgical realities of crown work*, and the numbers are staggering. While researching, I stumbled onto a trend in getting dental work done while on vacation. Thought I’d pass it along in case anyone else is freaking out of dental costs but is already ramping up for a get-a-way. With the difference in dental costs between the U.S. and other countries, it’s no wonder many people are opting to make appointments during their international vacations. There ... read more

TRANSITION On My Own Again Guanica, Puerto Rico I checked into the hostel, Posada San Francisco, and then went to Marshalls, near our old hotel. I wanted to stay busy so I wouldn’t miss Michael too much. At Marshalls I bought a new piece of luggage on wheels. As much as I hated to, I was abandoning my wonderful, Samsonite dive bag. It had sentimental value, as well as being a great bag for scuba gear. But it had only two wheels and I had to wrench it in the right direction with a kick between the wheels for good measure, in order to get it rolling. And, it fell over when you released it. It was clear I could not manage the recalcitrant dive bag and my other luggage without help so I had to ... read more

Cruising in the Caribbean can seem somewhat anti-climactic after having visited so many exotic ports around the world. But we were pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable we found all these tropical islands this time. I think that one of the biggest reasons was because the Whisper was the only ship in each port. The cruising season is over in the Caribbean by mid-April as most of the ships head to Europe or Alaska. Many of the merchants and locals seemed genuinely pleased to see the Silver Whisper arrive…potential customers! Our first port was in Bridgetown, Barbados which is considered the most British of the Caribbean Islands. It reminds me a lot of Bermuda with neat streets, a stable government and happy residents. We headed out on a sailing catamaran to follow the “turtle trail” along the ... read more

I’m not sure where exactly my affinity for islands came from. Perhaps it started while growing up inHawaii, or perhaps my being a Pisces has something to do with it. Who knows? What I do know, is that islands have been a significant part of my life for a very long time and that the longer I am on an island the longer I’d like to stay. Aside fromHawaii, where I spent two formative years, I’ve spent time on Roatán andÚtila,Honduraswhen I lived and taught there. I would go to the islands often to dive and get away from the tiny town I lived in. One of my favorite places when I live inChileis the little knownislandofChiloéoff the coast of southernChile. I had the unique experience of staying with my good friend, Belén in her family’s ... read more