For the past 14 days, I've been floating on a giant ship in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, soaking up 85° sun and stuffing my face with food.  Hey, somebody has to do it.  As such, the next several posts will be loosely related to this experience. 

First off, some quick facts: 
  • Countries visited:  7
  • Last time I wore socks, before yesterday:  October 31
  • Pounds gained:  -4 (somehow, magically, I lost weight -- thanks for the genes, mom!)
  • Books read:  3.5
  • Movies watched:  11
  • Days of sunburn:  1 (not bad for a pale person, eh?)
  • Number of times I said, "No thanks, I don't want a taxi ride":  35,489
The Norwegian Dawn sailed out of New York City on November 1, visited a bunch of islands in the Caribbean, then sailed back into Miami on November 15.  It's called a repositioning cruise when it ends up in a different port than the one it started in.  That means we had to fly back home, but flights from Miami to Newark are plentiful and cheap.  A couple we met were taking a train home, while another, older couple were simply spending the winter in Florida.  Must be nice to be retired.  Before my recap gets out of hand, here's a run-down of where we stopped and what we did: 

Day 1-3 - At sea - Food, books, movies, pool. 
Day 4 - Samana, Dominican Republic - Took a boat ride to a tiny private island called Cayo Levantado, then laid on the beach and snorkeled. 
Day 5 - Havensight, St. Thomas - Took a cab to Red Hook, then took the ferry to Cruz Bay, St. John, where we hiked to the top of a mountain, then hiked down and swam at a gorgeous little beach. 
Day 6 - St John's, Antigua - Walked around the poor, dirty town, then went back to the ship and laid around the pool. 
Day 7 - Roseau, Dominica - Walked around the slightly less dirty, poor town, then snorkeled at Champagne. 
Day 8 - Bridgetown, Barbados - Walked around the closed-down town (it was Sunday) while being hassled by taxi drivers, finally getting a ride to Brighton Beach where we laid around and swam. 
Day 9 - Castries, St. Lucia - Took a bus tour of the west side of the island, stopping at a few small fishing villages and mountain overlooks before reaching a mildly active volcano, at which point we took a boat tour back to the cruise ship, stopping off at a little beach to snorkel and swim. 
Day 10 - At sea - Food, books, movies, pool. 
Day 11 - Willemstad, Curacao - Walked around the clean, European-esque town, then walked to a nearby hotel's beach and snorkeled. 
Day 12 - Oranjestad, Aruba - Walked around town, then took a bus to Boca Catalina Beach and snorkeled. 
Day 13-14 - At sea - Food, books, movies, pool. 
Day 15 - Miami, FL - Took a bus to the Everglades for an airboat tour and alligator park. 

Pictures:

[gallery /img/2009/11/carib001.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib001-150x150.jpg:::Sailing out of New York City.:::/img/2009/11/carib002.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib002-150x150.jpg:::Lady Liberty at sunset.:::/img/2009/11/carib003.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib003-150x150.jpg:::A view of the pool deck, where many hours were invested.:::/img/2009/11/carib004.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib004-150x150.jpg:::We left a trail a mile long!:::/img/2009/11/carib005.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib005-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - Sunny palm trees.:::/img/2009/11/carib006.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib006-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - A Sand Diver.:::/img/2009/11/carib007.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib007-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - Brain coral.:::/img/2009/11/carib008.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib008-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - A Spotted Moray Eel hanging out with a Sand Diver.:::/img/2009/11/carib009.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib009-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - Gigantic Sea Star.:::/img/2009/11/carib010.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib010-150x150.jpg:::Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic - Smiley face parasailer.:::/img/2009/11/carib011.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib011-150x150.jpg:::St. Thomas - Some sort of palm nuts/berries.:::/img/2009/11/carib012.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib012-150x150.jpg:::St. John - The entrance to Virgin Islands National Park.:::/img/2009/11/carib013.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib013-150x150.jpg:::St. John - I scream for ice cream.  Also notice the punny sign for Lew Henley's Sewage Disposal, which I didn't realize I took a picture of.:::/img/2009/11/carib014.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib014-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Here, leezard leezard.:::/img/2009/11/carib015.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib015-150x150.jpg:::St. John - This lizard was sitting on a rock under that leaf, jumped onto the underside of the leaf and chilled there for a few seconds before climbing on top and looking at my camera.:::/img/2009/11/carib016.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib016-150x150.jpg:::St. John - A view from atop a mountain.:::/img/2009/11/carib017.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib017-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Please ignore how disgustingly sweaty we are.:::/img/2009/11/carib018.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib018-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Check out that tail!:::/img/2009/11/carib019.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib019-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Walking down the mountain.:::/img/2009/11/carib020.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib020-150x150.jpg:::St. John - The reward for hiking up a mountain in 85° heat.:::/img/2009/11/carib021.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib021-150x150.jpg:::St. John - A footprint from the elusive cat fish.:::/img/2009/11/carib022.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib022-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Cactus.:::/img/2009/11/carib023.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib023-150x150.jpg:::St. John - Spidery cactus.:::/img/2009/11/carib024.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib024-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - A dive-bombing pelican.:::/img/2009/11/carib025.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib025-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - A pelican on the hunt.:::/img/2009/11/carib026.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib026-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - Reggae-inspired signage.:::/img/2009/11/carib027.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib027-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - Is that Jesus?:::/img/2009/11/carib028.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib028-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - The lizards were considerably bigger here.:::/img/2009/11/carib029.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib029-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - A cross atop a church.:::/img/2009/11/carib030.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib030-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - A spire of a church.:::/img/2009/11/carib031.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib031-150x150.jpg:::Antigua - Some dude blowing on a conch shell.  Or drinking out of it.  Probably rum.  They're big on rum.:::/img/2009/11/carib032.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib032-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - A view of the island.:::/img/2009/11/carib033.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib033-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - A tropical church.:::/img/2009/11/carib034.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib034-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - An awesomely-painted building.:::/img/2009/11/carib035.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib035-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Typical dwelling.:::/img/2009/11/carib036.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib036-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Underwater bubbles from volcanic activity.:::/img/2009/11/carib037.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib037-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Some leafy underwater plant.:::/img/2009/11/carib038.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib038-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - No, Wendy is not naked.  But check out her nicely painted toe nails!:::/img/2009/11/carib039.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib039-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Lots and lots of blue fish.:::/img/2009/11/carib040.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib040-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Sea urchin.:::/img/2009/11/carib041.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib041-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - A little blue fish hides in a bowl-shaped coral.:::/img/2009/11/carib042.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib042-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Me in about 15 feet of water.:::/img/2009/11/carib043.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib043-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Sea anemone.:::/img/2009/11/carib044.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib044-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - A Peacock Flounder.:::/img/2009/11/carib045.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib045-150x150.jpg:::Dominica - Squid.:::/img/2009/11/carib046.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib046-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - That's right, folks.  I'm 27 years old.:::/img/2009/11/carib047.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib047-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - Government building.:::/img/2009/11/carib048.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib048-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - Some cool graffiti.:::/img/2009/11/carib049.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib049-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - Tis a sign.:::/img/2009/11/carib050.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib050-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - Nice old bank building.:::/img/2009/11/carib051.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib051-150x150.jpg:::Barbados - I could go for some delicious canned sea turtle with mashed baby penguins.:::/img/2009/11/carib052.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib052-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A tiny, spiky-haired hummingbird.:::/img/2009/11/carib053.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib053-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - The Pitons.:::/img/2009/11/carib054.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib054-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - They're about *yay* far apart.:::/img/2009/11/carib055.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib055-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - I can't tell you how many people said something about my Superman t-shirt.:::/img/2009/11/carib056.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib056-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Fruit of the cacao tree, a.k.a. chocolate.:::/img/2009/11/carib057.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib057-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A gray river runs through it.  It's gray because of volcanic sediment.:::/img/2009/11/carib058.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib058-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A flower called Cat's Whiskers.:::/img/2009/11/carib059.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib059-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A little birdie told me.:::/img/2009/11/carib060.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib060-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Punk rock caterpillar.:::/img/2009/11/carib061.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib061-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A gigantor (~6 inch) cricket.  I was showing Wendy some snails on some nearby leaves and failed to notice this giant bug right in front of my face.  I had to change my shorts later.:::/img/2009/11/carib062.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib062-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Volcanic activity.:::/img/2009/11/carib063.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib063-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Carvings on a bamboo tree, right next to a sign that said something like "Don't touch the damn tree.":::/img/2009/11/carib064.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib064-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - A view of the Pitons from the water.:::/img/2009/11/carib065.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib065-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Erosion on some rocks looks like ancient carvings.:::/img/2009/11/carib066.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib066-150x150.jpg:::St. Lucia - Rainbow.:::/img/2009/11/carib067.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib067-150x150.jpg:::Back on the ship, here's me losing to Wendy at Rummikub.  All I need is a black 8.:::/img/2009/11/carib068.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib068-150x150.jpg:::I'm a sucker for things like this.:::/img/2009/11/carib069.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib069-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Caribbean colors.:::/img/2009/11/carib070.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib070-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Me atop an old fort.:::/img/2009/11/carib071.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib071-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Nice glasses.:::/img/2009/11/carib072.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib072-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - A carved head at an art museum.:::/img/2009/11/carib073.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib073-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Wendy imitates the chubby monkey statue.:::/img/2009/11/carib074.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib074-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - I'm hanging out with my new friends.:::/img/2009/11/carib075.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib075-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - How true.:::/img/2009/11/carib076.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib076-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - cactus flowers.:::/img/2009/11/carib077.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib077-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Stay off my wall.:::/img/2009/11/carib078.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib078-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - The wide open city center of Willemstad.:::/img/2009/11/carib079.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib079-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - The pedestrian bridge connecting the two sides of Willemstad.:::/img/2009/11/carib080.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib080-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Some more Caribbean colors.:::/img/2009/11/carib081.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib081-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - An outdoor fruit market.:::/img/2009/11/carib082.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib082-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Gotta respect the bling.:::/img/2009/11/carib083.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib083-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Everybody loves Obama.:::/img/2009/11/carib084.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib084-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - A yellow government building.:::/img/2009/11/carib085.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib085-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Birds don't have to flap their wings when the wind is constantly blowing.:::/img/2009/11/carib086.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib086-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - It turns out they have red throats.:::/img/2009/11/carib087.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib087-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - A colorful storefront.:::/img/2009/11/carib088.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib088-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Some more Caribbean colors.:::/img/2009/11/carib089.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib089-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - French Grunts.:::/img/2009/11/carib090.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib090-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - An underwater creepy crawlie, i.e. a fireworm.:::/img/2009/11/carib091.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib091-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - A tiny blue fish hides among some coral.:::/img/2009/11/carib092.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib092-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Ignore what's front and center.  Check out that colorful fish to the left.  It's some sort of Butterflyfish.:::/img/2009/11/carib093.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib093-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Wendy fording a river back to the boat.  Instead of paying $20 for a taxi, we walked half a mile to the nearest beach.  We didn't realize there was a small river along the way.:::/img/2009/11/carib094.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib094-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Even more Caribbean colors.:::/img/2009/11/carib095.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib095-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - Wendy points to the beach we walked to.  It's the first thing that's sticking out into the water.  It really wasn't that far, I swear.:::/img/2009/11/carib096.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib096-150x150.jpg:::Curacao - A "neverending" pool at a nearby hotel.:::/img/2009/11/carib097.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib097-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - Church.:::/img/2009/11/carib098.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib098-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - A statue of a woman with a fish ... I'm not good at finding meaning in works of art.:::/img/2009/11/carib099.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib099-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - A colorful row of buildings.:::/img/2009/11/carib100.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib100-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - Wendy walking around the colorful bus terminal.:::/img/2009/11/carib101.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib101-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - One of the many Sergeant Major fish that followed us around everywhere.:::/img/2009/11/carib102.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib102-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - A French Angelfish.:::/img/2009/11/carib103.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib103-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - Sea anemone.:::/img/2009/11/carib104.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib104-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - A brightly-colored bird was serenading Wendy.:::/img/2009/11/carib105.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib105-150x150.jpg:::Aruba - A blue whiptail lizard demolishes an apple core.:::/img/2009/11/carib106.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib106-150x150.jpg:::This lighthouse was on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere, somewhere near Cuba.:::/img/2009/11/carib107.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib107-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - A bee landing on a water lily.:::/img/2009/11/carib108.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib108-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - An alligator watching the tasty humans float by in a boat.:::/img/2009/11/carib109.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib109-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - Purple flowers among needle grass.:::/img/2009/11/carib110.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib110-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - An alligator watches from the grass.:::/img/2009/11/carib111.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib111-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - A "crazy person" a.k.a. "alligator handler" touches one of these many-toothed beasts.:::/img/2009/11/carib112.jpg:::/img/2009/11/carib112-150x150.jpg:::Everglades - Wendy holding a cold, baby alligator named Snappy.:::]
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