11/28/2009 - 12/5/2009 Nana Nation 2009 - The Nana's Ride the Seas Again

[jd99]

I'll be interested in hearing about your summer cruise. I've always been a little leary of that itinerary in the WINTER because I heard that it's colder. But summer would probably be great.

Maybe you could do a small trip report?

Well.. I have to go... we have a client coming in at 9:30 to pick up a logo we designed for them.

Say hi to Mina for me!!!

I will say hi to Mina. I know she (like me) is bummed you won't be on the November 08 cruise with us!

 

[jd99]

Oops did I go and steal a top of the page on the 09 board? Sorry Dawn.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi gang,

we did the ruins too at Cozumel when we were there, our other western cruise they still couldnt go to Cozumel due to the hurricane damage.

Grand Caymen we wern't too impressed with. So we did an island tour. The rock formations at Hell were interesting but after 5 minutes you have seen it all. it was neat they had apost office there so you could mail a post card that was Post marked from Hell. Some of their post cards were really cute. The shops were all big expensive ones with jewelry and alcohol and smokes and I dont buy those things. it took forever to find what I would call an regular tourist gift shop.


The Turtle farm was ok but still under construction so the gift shop was the best part of it.
The rum cake factory was a small window on the side of a gift shop with 2 small counter, one small comvection oven, a large mixer and some empty pans and a sink. It was a tiny room and didnt look too clean to me.
But inside the gift shop they did give out free samples and although I didnt try it myself, others said it was very good and they do sell alot of them.

Key West is AWESOME!!!

You can walk to any attraction that is on land. The farthest thing from the dock is the Southern most point and it is about 1 mile. Most things are within 5 or 6 blocks of Mallory square which is 3 minutes walk from the ship.

Greg may do a snorkeling excursion this time if some other nanaheads are doing one, because I dont snorkel and its no fun to go alone. Then the rest of the day we will walk to a few museums, maybe the lighthouse and the aquarium which we missed last time. Loved the ship wreck museum, it is small but packed full of historical stuff. On top of the building is a tall staircase 65 steps I think, for a fantastic view of the area.
Plenty of gift shops and a couple of famous bars for those who are into that.
While greg snorkels I will be shopping around Mallory square.

As I look out at all th miserable rain and cold I wish I was there right now!!

Kathy

 

[jd99]

I'm so surprised that folks are so ho-hum on Grand Cayman. I love GC. We actually spent a week there when Elizabeth was younger and had a wonderful time. On our Western, we got a day room at the Westin on 7-mile beach and had a blast using the resort facilities, playing on the beach, etc. And the price was a lot cheaper than most DCL excursions (it was about $120 total). Had a great lunch by the pool - a gecko stole a piece of Emily's bread -- swam in the pool, played in the sand and in the ocean and just had a very "Castaway-Cay style day" minus the crowds.

 

[dsparks]

Here it is noon already! Hanging the clothes out on the line takes a little longer initially. Elizabeth came to play for 1 1/2 hours. Good news from the orthodontis..Christian's bite seems to have corrected itself..at least for now! Tonight, is conferences and then the boys do not have school tomorrow for our garage sale.

Rain possible for tonight/tomorrow. Cold front moving in for Friday night. Hey, but that cold front actually means "normal" weather.

Check back in later.

Jeff, Nice to see you on the 09 board. I'll even give you the 1 top of the page that you have !

 

[favoriteslave]

Melanie, the boys are getting SO big. I read the blog and kept saying AWH out loud. What wonderful gifts.

All is well in Springfield, we go tomorrow to find out about Hunter's finger. (recap: Hunter broke his pointy finger on his left hand last weekend) Lets hope that it will heal on its own and that no surgery will be required.

Other than Hunter, soccer is consuming our lives. Thank god its over soon.

Love ya all.

 

[mruhaak]

Tonya-
How many bones has Hunter broken already? Is this what I have to look forward to with boys!!

Yes they are SO big. Especially Jackson. He's a tank. When he throws a 2 year old temper tantrum, which he has been doing lately, I can't hardly hold him. So I just have to set him down. He's strong!!!

 

[mruhaak]

I know what's going to happen again, I'm just going to set somebody else up to get top-o-the-page!!

Jeff- I guess I've just been to Grand Cayman twice. I've done the stingray excursion twice. They do have really nice beaches. But the one we went to everything was very expensive. I'm sure we could do a beach day there. But then I think it might be a nice chance for Chris to do a "big boy" excursion should he care to.

I don't care for the shopping there. I agree with Kathy that things are expensive. And both times I was there I found the shop clerks to be unwelcoming and rude. Which is in contrast to Mexico, I think, where they can't wait to get you in the door.

 

[jd99]

I know what's going to happen again, I'm just going to set somebody else up to get top-o-the-page!!

Jeff- I guess I've just been to Grand Cayman twice. I've done the stingray excursion twice. They do have really nice beaches. But the one we went to everything was very expensive. I'm sure we could do a beach day there. But then I think it might be a nice chance for Chris to do a "big boy" excursion should he care to.

I don't care for the shopping there. I agree with Kathy that things are expensive. And both times I was there I found the shop clerks to be unwelcoming and rude. Which is in contrast to Mexico, I think, where they can't wait to get you in the door.

Interesting because we had the opposite experience. I bought Mina a beautiful 3-piece turquoise bracelet there. Probably my favorite vacation jewelry I've ever gotten her.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good evening everyone,
it is great to see a lot of posting here the last couple of days.
We may get a couple dry days, hope the weatherman is right.

later,
Ka thy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good night everyone,

cool and cloudy tonight at least its not pouring rain tonight.

catch ya tomorrow,

Kathy

 

[mruhaak]

Interesting because we had the opposite experience. I bought Mina a beautiful 3-piece turquoise bracelet there. Probably my favorite vacation jewelry I've ever gotten her.

You know... really when you stop there on a cruise you are there for such a limited amount of time. I probably am being a bit too judgemental of the place. Last time we were there it was right after the hurricane (Ivan I believe) so it wasn't very pretty there. In fact we saw some of the damage.

We just really enjoyed Cozumel.

 

[mruhaak]

Kathy, we've joined you with the icky weather. It's cold and rainy and about 25 degrees colder than the high yesterday!! Supposed to be like this all weekend.

 

[mruhaak]

Has anyone gone to Ernest Hemmingway's house in Key West?

 

[jd99]

You know... really when you stop there on a cruise you are there for such a limited amount of time. I probably am being a bit too judgemental of the place. Last time we were there it was right after the hurricane (Ivan I believe) so it wasn't very pretty there. In fact we saw some of the damage.

We just really enjoyed Cozumel.

I think that's true. We were there for a whole week so we got into the vibe of the island, had some great meals, etc.

I have been to Hemingway's House. It's cool - lots of 4-toed cats!

 

[favoriteslave]

Mel, this is the official broken bone, Hunter has fractured his right wrist TWICE. (Thats 2 too many times). The set the finger this morning and then buddy taped it to the middle finger. He's in a brace for 2 weeks and then we go back to the dr and see where to go from there. All is well in my world now.

 

[mruhaak]

Mel, this is the official broken bone, Hunter has fractured his right wrist TWICE. (Thats 2 too many times). The set the finger this morning and then buddy taped it to the middle finger. He's in a brace for 2 weeks and then we go back to the dr and see where to go from there. All is well in my world now.

Well never a dull moment with boys I guess!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hello everyone,

I havnt been to Hemmingways house, would love to but Greg is highly allergic to cats
We have sunshine and clouds but no rain at least for a few minutes.
There has been another delay in closing of our house today, this is the 5th one. Guess the underwriter needed 2 more papers from previous employers, so hopefully sometime next week.

Not much else going on today. At least Dawn didnt beat me to the top of the page this time.

Kathy

 

[dsparks]

Mediocre results for a hard days work! Phew, I'm beat! Opening day for baseball tomorrow 8 am and an 8 am soccer game. A 1 pm baseball game. Sunday first batch of morrell mushrooms and fish for dinner. Yum! I'll make some corn bread and homemade butter too! 78 degrees today but alot of wind.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Dawn,
I am so sorry to hear your sale wasnt so great. Sometimes the end of the month people are tight with their money and if the weather was bad that could hurt too.
since it is all priced, save it and try again in 2 weeks, maybe you can get rid of a lot of it.

we have a 55 degree day. YEAH!!!!

kathy