If you’d like to see what kept Sasha amused (me shopping, and shopping and shopping), head on over to her website too! Sasha White’s blog
The next island stop on our cruise was Labadee, Haiti. I didn’t know a thing about what to expect in Haiti except what everyone emailed me—it’s dangerous and dirty, don’t take the cabs because you’ll be robbed and killed. I actually was looking forward to that Haiti. I wanted to hit a voodoo shop. Wanted the third world pictures. Instead, I ended up in a place so pristine my mother would sit on the toilet seat. Labadee is privately owned by Royal Caribbean. So the experience is restful, peaceful and beautiful, but anything other than authentic.
Sasha was quite pleased. All she wanted to do was lie on the beach. I must have annoyed the crap out of her. I couldn’t just lie in the sun. We tipped a guy to set up our loungers, but I didn’t spend 10 minutes in mine. I swam, I wandered down the beach to the…ahem…shops. Like I needed to do more shopping, but I was BORED. However, the scenery was seriously gorgeous.
Here’s the dock where we arrived.
I tried to get a shot of this guy without being too obvious. I pretended to snap a pic of our monster boat, but he wouldn’t turn around. His abs weren’t a 6-pack, they had to be 12-freaking-pack!
See, Mom, I was only taking a pic of the boat.
See the little outcropping of rock the waves are washing over? Perfect place for a mermaid to sun herself.
Everywhere we went on the island the performers from the cruise ship set up to play. By Day 6, I was just a little annoyed with the Caribbean music. My, don’t I sound grumpy?
And if there was a mermaid’s perch, there also had to be a dragon trapped in stone.
This is the view from our loungers on the beach.
When we took a walk around the island, we discovered a much nicer little cove to swim in—no rocks to stub your toes on beneath the water, just lovely, soft sand—but we were already sunburned so didn’t stay long.
Another shot of our boat from the cove. Is that too many pictures of the Explorer? It’s so enormous and so well designed, I couldn’t get over my fascination for it.
This is just a shot of some very interesting rock formations we passed on our walk.
Late that afternoon, we left Labadee behind.
Have to hand it to RC, the island is largely unspoiled.
Another view of Dragon Rock.
One last picture of our beach.
Those are the last of the island shots I’ll share. Next up will be pics from life on the boat. Hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures so far! ~DD
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I am enjoying following your journey. The pics are lovely!!!
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Valerie! Thanks so much. I made a resolution last year to blog every day. I had a few slip-ups, but you’d be surprised how hard it is to come up with content. I’m milking the cruise for all it’s worth! Glad you’re enjoying.
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The ocean shots are beautiful. We have had so much snow since Thursday (18 inches), it is wonderful to see sunny weather and beautiful sights.
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I love all the pictures you’ve posted. I envy you as it is cold here.
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WOW!! How totally beautiful!!!
Ashley A
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I agree 100% about the band. The only place I enjoyed them was that spot on Labadee, they drove me batty on the ship!
And no , you didn’t drive me nuts, I figure we’re old enough that if I want to lay on the beach, I don’t need you to hold my hand. And if you want to wander around, you can find your way back. 🙂 To me it was a bit of a reversal, as usually on the ship it was you wanting to sit and work, or relax, and me unable to sit still for more than 5 minutes. LOL
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Love your pictures! Of the islands and of the boat, it’s great to see how it looks in the Carribean. I visited it when it was built here in Turku, a little bit from my hometown, and it was such an enormous thing!
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I enjoied the pictures very much and I hope you had a nice holiday, and all the best for the New Year 🙂
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The pix are FANTASTIC!
I wish I were travelling with you and Sasha instead of freezing up here in Hamburg, PA
You’re right that guy DOES look like he should have about a 12 pack!
Keep up the great updates 🙂
Mindy 🙂
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I’m soooo jealous (and cold) I’d love to be on a cruise right now instead of in 17o West Virginia. At least I have DD books to keep me warm 🙂
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Lisa! I’m glad I lightened your day! 😉
Andrea! It’s cold here, although I’m lucky there’s no snow. I can’t believe that just a few days ago I was wearing a swimsuit!
Ashley! Yeah, it was a little piece of paradise.
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Sasha! It was likely the heat. I hate sitting still and sweltering. The pics of me shopping were hilarious!
Eva! While we were aboard ship one of the TV channels played the building of one of the Explorer’s sister ships and her launch. People lined up on the shore to watch. Were you one of them?
Oneta! Thanks for the good wishes. Same back atcha!
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Mina! Sasha and I keep kicking around the idea of another cruise where we try to rope some other writers and readers into voyaging with us. You game? 😀
Nichole! Sorry you’re freezing there, but I’m glad you think my books will keep you warm. Must be burning them.
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Whoa–look at all that gorgeous scenery! 😉 Looks like it was a fabulously relaxing time and a chance to recharge and maybe get some inspiration 😀
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Fedora! Sasha and I are already spinning stories aboard a cruise ship. Any ideas where I should go with it?