Cruise days 3 and 4

So to continue on...

On Monday we finally had reached our first port; Samana, Dominican Republic. We started the day off by heading down to "Bar City" to get our tender tickets. In line in front of us there was a really nice couple that we started chatting with. Once we got our tickets we headed up stairs to get some breakfast and wait for our tender number to be called. Once on the tender the same couple that was in front of us in the line was on our tender sitting across from us. We began chatting with them some more and quickly hit it off. By the time we got to the island (about 20 min.) we had decided to do something together since neither couple had booked a shore excursion. When we got on the island we decided to hire a "taxi" (really it was a dirt bike pulling a little 4 seater wagon thing) to take us around the island. First we went to a beautiful waterfall, then on to some shopping, and finally to the beach. On the way to the beach we had to go up a farily steep hill. The dirt bike couldn't pull us up so the driver asked us to get out and walk. After just a few steps the driver told us to get back in and he wove his way back and forth across the road and up the hill. The driving over there was crazy! My favorite part of Samana was while at the beach Beth began giving the local kids some candy. She had a mix of candy and when the kids ate the hot tamales their faces were priceless!

We headed back to the ship about a hour prior to "All Aboard" time. We wanted to make sure we got there! We went and cleaned up then headed off to a show and dinner with Ted and Beth! Here are the pictures from day 3:

This is the view of the island from our room (that boat is one of the tenders.)


Brian and I out on the deck waiting for out tender to be called.


It rained a bit that morning and I caught this picture of a half rainbow.


This is the tender that took us to the island. We had just gotten off.


I thought the houses there were crazy. Some had straw roofs like this one others were just rundown sheds.


Brian and me at the waterfall:


This waterfall was beautiful!


This just showes you the street. If I hadn't been scared for my life I would have taken more pictures to show the crazyness.


Brian at the beach we went to. You also can see our cruise ship. Our's is the one on the left.


This is Beth with all the kids she gave the treats to. The little boy in the middle had the funniest faces when he ate the hot tamales.


On day 4 we had arrived at the next port; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. We didn't have to get tender tickets this time because the ship was able to dock. So we woke up had breakfast, tried calling Ted and Beth, then headed out. When we got ashore we quickly called home to talk to our kiddos. This was the only time we were able to call home since the rate for cruise ships is $8/min. After calling we started walking toward the shops and ran into Ted and Beth. We spent the rest of the day shopping and wandering. We bought some chocolates and had them delivered to our ship, I bought a skirt and a doll for Abby. We decided to split up for lunch then meet back up and go over to a beach for some snorkeling.

As Brian and I were headed back to the ship we decided to stop at a grocery store and bought some drinks (on board the ship a coke was $2.50 and you didn't even get the whole can!) Then we also stopped at a Philipino store to get some treats for Brian. We went and ate back on board the ship then met up with Ted and Beth again, hired a taxi (a real one this time) and went over to Coci Beach. Snorkeling was fun, and the locals at the beach gave us some dog bones to feed to the fish. At first I thought they were crazy, but the fish loved them. as soon as you put the bone in the water the fish would come right up to you almost swarming. It was a little creepy, but cool at the same time!

Once back on the ship we cleaned, ordered room service and went to the show (Second City comedy show) with Beth and Ted. After we wandered around on deck and drank our hot chocolate. That night when we got back to our rooms our chocolates were sitting on our bed. Here are some pictures from day number four:

These are all the taxies lined up outside our boat in a 'U' shaped 3 line drive. It was crazy!


The back half of our boat. I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture.


Brian talking to Abby.


Brian and me with our ship in the background.


We passed by this iguana and I thought it was fake. It wasn't. It was real and HUGE!


Brian by the front of our boat.


Brian snorkeling:


Night life on the ship:


Our chocolates: YUMMY!!