American soil (SJ - PR)

Thus begins my last trip around the Caribbean! How time flies! Today I got up at 6:30am to make sure I made the early window to get off the ship. I've been here at Starbucks ever since - using the internet and talking on the phone. They have a really big back room with big comfy chairs, tables for your computer, and plugs. I could stay here all day, living off of hot chocolate and blueberry muffins. I probably will, at that, unless Wanda (the lady I met here in San Juan) calls me back soon.

The day before yesterday in Aruba I tried to go parasailing with Joey and Thomas, only to be foiled by high winds and choppy seas. We took the public bus to the beach only to find out they had closed due to dangerous conditions. We were more than a bit bummed out, but we'll try again next time. Instead, Joey went to the beach, Thomas went back to the ship, and I went to the Butterfly Farm (about a three minute walk from the bus stop). The entrance was adorned by a sign that said, "Let it snow" - something I'm quite sure never happens in Aruba. I was told that the cost was $13 and included a tour. As is my habit, I asked if there was a crew discount. I'm glad I did, because she said in that case, I could go in for free, and hop on any tour I wanted. Yay! I was so thrilled I bought a $13 butterfly pin. :-) It was nice being there by myself, because I didn't feel rushed or have to worry about if my companions were bored and ready to go. It isn't a very big enclosure, but I spent over two hours there going crazy with my camera and just sitting on the benches and relaxing while watching the butterflies. It was really beautiful. Here's the link to those pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051591&l=30218&id=56903845
If you like butterflies, enjoy! And tell me which one is your favorite in a comment. If you are afraid of butterflies (Mel), don't look at these pictures. :-)

One other neat thing that happened this week: in St. Maarten I revisited a little souvenir shop owned by a little Indian woman who moved to St. Maarten decades ago (She is probably 65?). My mom and I had made some purchases there, and she had mentioned I should come back by and say hello. So last St. Maarten I finally did. She didn't remember me, but when I told her that she had told me to come back and say hello, her face really lit up. She began talking to me, and giving me all kinds of advice and telling me what some of the lessons were that she had learned in her life. She asked if I needed to be anywhere, and I said no. She talked for over an hour, grasping my hand and looking intently into my eyes when saying something she believed particularly important. She talked about life, adjusting to new situations, standing firm in your values, being patient, appreciating God's creation, learning from others, and so much more. I was so blessed by her - those were treasured moments. I almost wish that I had had a tape recorder in my pocket so I could listen to everything she had to say again. But sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment and not worry about documenting it for later - that would ruin the magic of it somehow.

Grenada

Yesterday I had an amazing day in Dominica! My friend Anabelle (harpist) invited me to go hiking with her and Philip (one of the On Point acapella guys), and of course I said yes. When I showed up at the gangway, though, it turned out Anabelle couldn't make it, but the rest of On Point wanted to come. So it ended up being me and the four of them going on a 2 hour hike in the rainforest. I had a great time with those four guys, even if the cab driver gave me a hard time because I was the only white girl. He told Phil he'd give us a discount because they were his black brothers. Shawn said, "What about your white sister?" The cabby responded: "You guys make up for her." Hooray for reverse discrimination! :-)Anyway, the hike was absolutely incredible. Everything is so green and wet and alive! I took so many pictures. We hiked to a lesser known waterfall called Middleham Falls, and there were a lot of steep ups and downs and slippery slopes. At the trailhead just before we began hiking, a local woman who was selling souvenirs took one look at us and said scornfully, "Do you really think you're going to make it to the falls?" And scoffed at us. We couldn't believe it! We entered the rainforest a little less sure of ourselves. One hour later, we proved her wrong - arriving at a gorgeous slender waterfall that fell from an impressive height. Another hour and a half later we arrived back at the trailhead ready to give her a piece of our collective mind - lucky for her she was gone. :-)

The rainforest was filled with the sounds of falling rain and the birdcalls produced by both exotic birds and four acapella singers. Oh, and random singing, of course. Shortly after we started hiking it began to rain. The neat thing about being under the canopy of a rainforest is that you can hear the rain begin to pound the tops of the trees about 5 or 10 seconds before it actually makes its way down to you on the forest floor. Once we arrived at the waterfall, though, we were out by some cliffs, without that protective cover, and the rain poured gloriously down on it. It felt great. Thomas and I went swimming in the beautiful blue-green pool at the base of the falls, and climbed up a short rock wall into a little cave on the other side. I tried swimming underneath the falls - that was a rush!! I will never forget the feeling of lying in that pool, feeling the intense spray on my face, looking up, up, up to the top of the falls. I felt really alive. I love days like that.

Today I wasn't as sore as I anticipated being after that hike, so I accepted Phil's invitation to try spinning. If you've never tried it, let me tell you it can be brutal. It involves bikes (not thread or yarn) and the way Phil was pushing us it wore out my entire body. I had no idea how intense it can be. We did a 45 minute workout, which totally knocked me out. He wants to do it as often as possible cause he's working on how to teach it, so I'll probably be at it again in a couple days. I always like trying something new though, even though I know walking might be difficult tomorrow. :-)

Well, it is time for me to head back to the ship for rehearsal - "Night of Stars" is tonight. Luckily they are early shows, so I'll get to sleep sooner than usual. Heaven knows I need it! Until next time!