9/27/14, Returning to the Southern Caribbean

[mom x4 grandma x4]

1) Number of adults / children in your group: 2 adults (one acts like a child - true!)
2) Names of adults in your group: Shellie & Scott (for Scott's Bday)
3) Ages of children in your party (at your discretion): none on this trip!
4) General location of where you currently live: South Carolina
5) Castaway Club Level: Gold
6) Disney Vacation Club owner?: No

Hi Shellie,
Welcome!!

This is a great group and a few here also act like kids, of course not me So the two of you will fit right in.

Looking forward to chatting with you,

Kathy

 

[sdlong329]

This is a great group and a few here also act like kids, of course not me. So the two of you will fit right in ...

Kathy speaks the truth ... she does not need to ACT like a kid!

#######

Hey, for those of you sailing the Western Caribbean ... would you DARE do this?

http://www.jetpackcayman.com/

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

No way would I ever do that!!

I know I would flip myself upside down and go head first in the water

But I could see one of my sons doing it, possibly my husband too. Nothing scares that man!!

Kathy

 

[cmhand30]

Just wanted to let you all know we just moved to Florida this week! I will be a castmember in 15 days.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Just wanted to let you all know we just moved to Florida this week! I will be a castmember in 15 days.

What town do you live in? We are in Davenport by address but actually it's Loughman, about 10 miles from Disney. We will be moving to Winter Haven this fall.

Hope you like being a Cast member.

I have a son who use to work at Disney and if you put forth some effort it wont take long to get promoted there. What area will you be working in or do you know yet? We go there very often. We may run into you sometime if I know where to keep an eye open for you.

Congrats on the job!!!!

Kathy

 

[sdlong329]

The following information was recently posted on page 1, post two of this thread:


Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is a vibrant mixture of old and new& of colors, scents and flavors, all safely packaged in a 7 square block area. Separated by modern San Juan by only a short bridge crossing, Old San Juan is like a self-contained world, a true get-away, and whether stepping off of a plane or a cruise ship one is immediately immersed in a different culture, and transported to a different time.

First settled in 1508, Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan) is not a recreation of historical sites, it is the real deal. Along with the ancient forts of El Morrow and Castillo San Cristobal, authentic blue cobblestone streets and glittering Spanish churches, all dating from the 16th and 17th century, you will find a plethora of shops, museums, art galleries, jewelry designers, open air cafes, and plazas. Near the piers visit the famous Senior Frog or Don Q Rum, or mosey up to the trendy So Fo area at South Fortaleza Street, just south of Plaza de Colon. Here you will find your ideal destination for nightlife, and some of the nicer outdoor dining options.

Spanish roots are strong in Old San Juan and if traveling to this area it would be wise to learn a bit of travel necessary Spanish before arriving. In the shops expect prices to be similar to other tourist areas in the Caribbean& but expect shopping options to be exceptional! The west side of the island contains some particularly impressive art galleries, and scattered throughout the entire island are incredibly talented furniture and jewelry designers. Coach and Polo Ralph Lauren have a presence in Old San Juan, and if shopping is your thing the largest shopping mall in the entire Caribbean is located not too far away, across the bridge to modern San Juan.

Many businesses in Old San Juan close on Mondays, restaurants as well, and most shops on any day are closed by 6:00 or 7:00 PM if no cruise ships are in port. If coming from a cruise ship you can access just about anywhere on the island by hopping on one of the free open-air trolleys which run every 15 minutes or so. For a nice walk turn left when exiting the piers and enjoy the Paseo de la Princesa, a smooth seaside walkway where artisans gather on weekends to sell their handiwork. This promenade of sorts will provide you with a ground level view of the towering city walls, the Atlantic Ocean, and will take you right through the city gate into the highly prized west side. Once through the gate stunning panoramic ocean views (and photo opportunities!) are easy to locate on the north, south and west side of the island& and have no fear if you linger until after dark. Old San Juan, with a little travel sense, is a very safe place, even at night.

Old San Juan is filled with shady plazas. These parks are a favorite gathering place and none more visited than Plaza de Armas, which on weekends becomes a huge party for all ages when the live musicians arrive. All plazas light up at night, their trees shimmering with moving and stationary lights, all helping to make Old San Juan seem so alive, so vibrant, just like the people who reside there. Every day is worthy of celebration in their minds, and they do so without reservation. Despite the many tourists who invade their streets they live their lives peacefully and with respect. The young men feel no need to be obscene, and the cleverly concealed and frequent trash bins are used more often than not. People from Old San Juan know how to enjoy life and their sense of ease, community, and consideration for others is refreshing to experience& and frankly, contagious.

For some hidden gems in Old San Juan stop by St. Germain, located on Calle del Sol, for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch. They offer excellent food at very reasonable prices and stay open late. For free souvenirs visit Old San Juans Hidden beach, just across from the Capitol Building. This often missed and normally deserted beach is not ideal for swimming but is covered with sea glass! All shapes, sizes and colors are free for the taking! For the perfect ending to your adventure stop in at Anam Spa, just across from Pigeon Park on Calle del Cristo. Their 15 minute foot soak and massage, while sipping a free sangria, is sheer bliss for tired feet. Along with a Fudge Brownie Ala Mode and a prized cup Puerto Rican coffee at St. Germains, there is no better way to end a day of sightseeing in captivating Old San Juan.

Steven

 

[sdlong329]

But I could see one of my sons doing it, possibly my husband too. Nothing scares that man!!

Dare I say, a famous person once said, "once a man gets married ... virtually NOTHING will scare him ever again!"

Please don't shoot the messenger ... I merely pass these things along as a public service message!

Signed,
Anonymous

 

[sdlong329]

Just wanted to let you all know we just moved to Florida this week! I will be a castmember in 15 days.

Looks like we found yet ANOTHER place for a MEET-n-GREET near WDW, prior to the cruise!

 

[minigamo]

hello everyone,

i just realized that we have been booked for 9/27 cruise, not 10/4!

we will be group of 4, possibly 6 (if grand parents can make join us). we live in seattle area.

ayako & jasen with two girls ( will be 6 & 2 years old).

we will be gold member by this cruise since we are taking at least another one before that.

we do not have DVC membership.

looking forward to seeing you all!

ayako

 

[sdlong329]

hello everyone,

i just realized that we have been booked for 9/27 cruise, not 10/4!

we will be group of 4, possibly 6 (if grand parents can make join us). we live in seattle area.

ayako

Welcome! I am sure you will find the 9/27 cruisers are much more fun! We have a LOT of things planned ... many of which are on temporary hold, until the fall of 2013. When it gets a little closer, we will start organizing. Please read page 1 of this thread ... especially the first two posts ... which contain a lot of information. The first two posts will be updated from time to time, ro feel free to check every now and then (check for updated date o the bottom of each post).

Your request to join the Facebook page has been granted!

Steven

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Dare I say, a famous person once said, "once a man gets married ... virtually NOTHING will scare him ever again!"

Please don't shoot the messenger ... I merely pass these things along as a public service message!

Signed,
Anonymous

Spoken like a married man.

Has Mrs. Anonymous seen your post ?
Perhaps I should print off a copy and give it to her on the cruise

 

[sdlong329]

Has Mrs. Anonymous seen your post ?
Perhaps I should print off a copy and give it to her on the cruise

Nearly 30 years of married life ... NOTHING will scare me (or my DW)! I can hear the ship captain paging "Mrs. Anonymous ... Mrs. Anonymous ... please report to the bridge!?"

Actually, Mr. Anonymous is catering to the needs of Mrs. Anonymous ... will send you a FB PM with details.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Nearly 30 years of married life ... NOTHING will scare me (or my DW)! I can hear the ship captain paging "Mrs. Anonymous ... Mrs. Anonymous ... please report to the bridge!?"

Actually, Mr. Anonymous is catering to the needs of Mrs. Anonymous ... will send you a FB PM with details.

LOL!!!
Only 30 years huh. I got you beat by 9 years, 8 months and 7 days

Nothing surprises my husband either.
He is numb to my actions by now.
Of course I am such an there is not much to be worried or upset about.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Where is everyone???

Pretty quiet around here lately.

I hope someone will drop by here and say Hello!!!

Kathy

 

[healeylvr]

I was wondering the same thing assumed everyone was posting at the facebook page. Unfortuneably my PC won't let me access that! I am hoping to see more activity here as we get closer to our sailing date or I find a way to get on the page!

 

[sdlong329]

Where is everyone???

Pretty quiet around here lately.

I hope someone will drop by here and say Hello!

HELLO!

DW has a heel spur from a previous car accident ... must have stepped on it wrong ... fell down the steps at home. X-Rays and Ultrasound are negative ... trying to get MRI ... but darn insurance company has their head up their colon. As of now, 2" x 4" hematoma (blood blister), deep muscle would, and cellulitis (skin infection). After having removed the dead skin on the hematoma, the area is (essentially) a second degree burn. MRI will tell if there is a fracture ... currently, swelling is so bad (10 days post-fall), x-ray cannot determine if there is a broken bone. If there is no fracture, a deep muscle wound is expected to heal in 8-12 weeks (would have been better to break a bone). I am currently driving DW to and from work whenever possible.

As for me ... I am working on organizing repairs around the house (still trying to recover from Hurricane Sandy). Windows are being installed Monday & Tuesday ... will be meeting with siding contractor next week. They have to rip off the entire front of the house to replace siding, gutters, downspouts, fascia ... as well as replace some plywood around the garage, plus insulation and sheetrock inside the garage.


We were finally able to get a few knee-walls installed (hardscaping), as well as some very nice low voltage lighting. Money is flying out of the wallet so fast, it seems like we've on a non-stop cruise! Was hoping to get on the DVC-CASH offer for the Fantasy (September) ... but will have to wait for a similar offer in 2014 (no more vacation time left in 2013).

Anyone else waiting for DVC-CASH for 2014? We currently only have one cruise booked for 2014 ... need to add a 2nd week ... would love to save some money. We are considering Holland America (to cleanse our palate) ... have sailed HAL previously ... some decent itineraries for $699 verandah our of Florida (short notice).

Okay, Kathy ... what's going on with the house?

Steven

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

I was wondering the same thing assumed everyone was posting at the facebook page. Unfortuneably my PC won't let me access that! I am hoping to see more activity here as we get closer to our sailing date or I find a way to get on the page!

FB is quiet too. Not as dead as here but more quiet than usual.
I will try to drop by everyday or close to it to say hello if you will.

Have you thought about excursions yet? There are so many new things to see since we haven't been to these islands I am not sure how we will choose what we will do?

Plus we are really excited to see all the upgrades they will be doing on the Magic.


No plans here today. just too hot and humid to go out and do anything.
SeaWorld has a new Penguin encounter I want to go see really bad. Been waiting over a year to see it. Just opened last month. So we may sneak over early one week day just to see that and can be home before it gets too hot. We have annual passes so it will only cost us a little gas.


Hope to see some more posting here soon.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Good morning Steven,


We must have been posting at the same time this morning.
I hope they finish up your repairs soon. That would really be a headache!!

Hope DW gets the MRI to check for fracture. That's sounds just aweful!!
I have had a bruised bone before and its extremely painful. Keep us posted n her progress!!

The house is moving forward but is at least a month behind schedule
It was to be done 9/16 but they had to go back and repair things, change wrong things, add things they forgot and a few other things so we are looking at the middle to end of October now.
But what is now done is very good and will be great when its done.
I promise they will clean the gunk off the garage floor so you will be comfortable sleeping out there.

I will post a couple photos soon if you want to see it. Yesterday they were to start the insulation and they will work today too, have it inspected Monday or Tuesday then they can hang sheet rock and go from there.

We may drop by tomorrow to see if they actually got the insulation started. I need to go to Wal Mart which is only 4 miles from the house so may as well swing by.

Anybody have plans this weekend?

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Here you go Steven, this is the garage. Home Sweet Home!!!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

My walk in closet in the Master bedroom!!






there is another walk in closet in the Master too. Just normal size.