This is the almost impossible task of trying to capture a 10 day vacation in pictures - without posting all 478 of them! Here are just some of the many, many highlights...in probably 150 pictures!!
We drove to the cities the night before (getting in around 1:30 am), slept for a few hours and boarded an early plane headed to Puerto Rico! There was an amazing sunrise along the way, and it made me feel like the vacation was starting right from the take off.
I loved the clouds too...
We arrived in Puerto Rico in the afternoon and met Ken & Kim at the airport. We got in a cab and headed to Bayamon for the night. Here is the view from our room.
Kim's mom made these beards for all of the guys we were traveling with. They were an instant hit...and became a major fun factor in the entire cruise! Look how they transformed Greg and Ken!!
That night the 4 of us went out to a restaurant and had the most delicious meal. I don't know how the flank steak was prepared, but it was the most tasty steak! We were in kind of a rough neighborhood, but the guys thought it was fine to walk home...we made it safely thanks to Ken's wise advice to "bulk up" as we walked!
When we finally got back, this is how Greg & Ken greeted Christina & Cam! Let the good times roll!
We had an awesome cab driver, Efrain, the night before and so we had him come back and get us in the morning. He drove the 6 of us to the port to drop our luggage - where dares of asking strangers what their tattoos said and shenanigans began! After we were settled there, we went into Old San Juan and met up with Dave & Robyn. We visited the historic for there...and it was beautiful!
Even though Puerto Rico is US territory, you are definitely not in the US. Not a sign in sight to tell us not to go near this 40 ft. drop to our death...the fort is still enter at your own risk here!
There were the most amazing views from the lookout towers...
And the structures were amazing.
It was a far cry from the icy waters of Minnesota that I've been looking at for the past 4 months!
Down in the dungeon were these drawings on the walls. I was pretty impressed with this captain's/pirate's artwork!
We started to explore the grounds and there were iguanas everywhere...big iguanas!
There were also random underground tunnels that were just begging to be explored...
The scary beasts we found inside!
Here we are exploring more of the fort.
Like I said, no signs telling you what you could and couldn't do...
More beautiful views....including the other fort that we walked to after this one.
The gang...peeking around the arches.
AHHHH!
In the "kitchen" of the other fort - where the rock that smelled like Dove soap resides.
The wild life...
Along the way to the other fort we walked through the town and explored the streets (even finding a property that begged a group purchase) and we happened upon a local street market. There was food, Cam's delicious 9 pound loaf of bread, and these versions of Chinese dragons that were being walked around and practiced with...maybe for a festival in the future?
We walked a good ways and finally made it to the other end of the fort. This beautiful cemetery was along the way. I was really taken by it...what an amazing setting!
After exploring that end of the fort, we called Efrain and all piled into the van. He took us to pick up the Bunkall's luggage, did his best to search for the elusive Dulce Coco and eventually dropped us at the ship.
Onto the Jewel of the Sea! We went to our room and unpacked and then met up with both sets of Porters! All of this and we were just hitting our 24 hour mark of vacation!!
We didn't waste any time breaking in the new beards. Here's Greg showing off his manliness!
Mandy, our muster drill leader...
The statue by the sports area...
And Chris, the games director!
The next day we arrived in St. Thomas. It was our first time to the Virgin Islands and is was a really pretty port.
There were yachts and sailboats everywhere...money was abundant at the dock!
We got off the ship and went to church in St. Thomas. It was a small branch in a building up in the hills. It was testimony meeting and there was an amazing woman who bore her testimony. The Spirit was so strong that I could hardly take it...I wept like a baby.
Here are some of our boys...well dressed in St. Thomas!
Christina, Cam, Greg and I boarded the Screaming Eagle later on and went for a thrill ride!
Crazy turns, slamming on the breaks, walls of water, lots of screams and laughter...my kind of fun! 
That evening, Emy and I found this elderly gentleman on the ship...he just seemed like someone who needed to wear the beard!
I really loved the Jewel of the Sea. It's a beautiful ship with so much glass! It really had some magnificent features and stunning views.
Speaking of stunning views...the sunsets on the ship can be breathtaking...
Onto dinner...our first formal night...beards are formal, right?
The Bunkalls...how could Robyn resist the beard?
The next day we were in St. Croix. Dave & Robyn, Christina & Cam and Greg and I chartered a private sail boat and went to find Capt. Dee. Cam made a joke about being Mr. C, but Capt. didn't seem to appreciate his humor...I have learned that Captains can be very serious!
It was a beautiful day for sailing. There was a nice wind and we were off to the open ocean!
This was a really cool ship that we saw that is used for field trips...it had a group of 6th graders on it this day.
This house was amazing...maybe we'll rent it some day!
While we were with Capt. Dee (who we totally won over after a bit), we stopped to snorkel and have a meal prepared by Capt. Dee. We saw a conch graveyard with thousands of conch shells, my favorite part of that snorkeling excursion! Here's Dave back in the water for one more swim...
There were water planes taking off nearby too...it was really awesome.
Here we are with Capt. Dee! She tried so hard to help me see sea turtles...and she did it! A huge (she said 300 lb) turtle came up and just looked me straight in the eyes! One of my favorite events ever!!!
Headed back to the port...taking on amazing adventures just like we do it every day!
Playing a little peek-a-boo on the ship that night!
Our next day was spent in Antigua and it was amazing. My favorite day of the cruise! We went with the Carliles and took a tour with Fitzroy "Elmo" Drew. We had so much fun, did some crazy things, saw beautiful places, shared some of our beliefs and made a new friend. Perfection!
Here we are at a local bakery...a stop that Fitzroy was excited we asked for!
We begged and begged to go to his recording studio (I had read he was a calypso artist) and Fitzroy brought us to his friend's house and to the studio. They played for us, we all sang, and it was magical!
Here's the studio from the outside...
La, la, la, la....
So much fun!
Okay, this is seriously the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. The sand had no grit in it, it was like corn starch. The water was completely clear and the whole place looked like a postcard!
It was super bright, so it's not the best picture for our facial expressions, but I had to prove we were really there!
You can see how fine the sand is because it is flowing around in the water...I can hardly stand how awesome it was.
Then we headed over to a blowhole and Devil's gate...
I loved seeing the salt...wish I could have picked some up and brought it home!
Fitzroy took us onto the bridge at Devil's gate...not something that tourists usually get to do! Watch out Ken!
We are ready to dive in!
What would a tourist day be without a little rallying for the local political party?
And it certainly wouldn't be complete without asking him to wear a beard!
Onto the old British navy yard...it was beautiful there.
Look at this soldier...she is fierce!
Our view at lunch...
Our lunch!!
We are looking superimposed in this picture, but it's all real!
I was completely taken by the natural green stone on this church.
Here's another home with the stone. The copper content in the ground is high, causing the patina looking stone.
More beautiful beaches!
And if it wasn't enough, we found a church on the way back to the ship and got to introduce Fitzroy to the missionaries...
Beard wearing missionaries!
With a few tears in my eyes, we said goodbye to Fitzroy and headed back to the Jewel...
We had left Antigua, but the beauty was still everywhere!
Greg and Emy...
The gang goes up for a little golfing...go Cam go!
Late that night we were off to the piano bar...where the piano player wore the beard...of course!
Off to Martinique! We didn't have any excursions booked for Martinique and so we all got off together and walked to what we thought was an old historic fort...come to find out it is an active Navy base...they weren't super excited to have the 12 of us stroll up trying to get in for a tour! We had to settle for a picture on the anchor outside of the base.
We walked back through a little park and the Bunkalls posed for this great picture!
Wendy was saving Ben too...hold on Ben, hold on!
Then we headed over to the beach...and had a view of the ship from there.
Below is a little picture story of the Porters and a sand crab that Greg dug out...
Uh oh!
Dave & Robyn, Wendy and Greg & I got a cab to take us around for about an hour so we could get a better idea of what Martinique was like. Here is the library downtown...
When we drove past these crazy, stacked up houses, the cab driver said, "these people are not respecting the seismic regulations here"...you can say that again!
Because Martinique is French, they had a Sacre Coeur replica cathedral. We drove up there and got to see just how diverse Martinique really is. The mountain area was so different from where we ported. We were really glad to get to see it.
The gang!
Martinique's mountains...
We even took a little drive into their rain forest!
That night we headed to the 12th floor where there was a glass floor...where you could see all the way down to the atrium floor. I have to say, it was a little unnerving to walk across, but we did!
Then it was off to enter the 80's dance contest. Kim, Emy and I rocked it out!
In the end, I was the proud owner of this gold medal! Um, hello?!? Could there be anything I would rather gold medal in??
And our last port, St. Lucia!
The 6 of us went to take a Segway tour and made a few stops along the way. We stopped at some really nice beaches, a shop or two and some lookout points...
With our tour guide...
Segway!!!
We took the Segways through some trails and then onto this beach.
Christina made a wild move on her Segway and decided to bail off instead of mowing me over. Thanks Christina!!
Some Segway group love...
That night the chefs came out at dinner and got a huge applause...a huge applause that they totally deserved!
Then to the atrium for the 70's party!
Where I was almost abducted by the Village People!
Our last day on the ship was a day at sea. It included a fabulous brunch buffet which included Greg licking the sculpture (almost)...
Amazing music...
A beards vs. staff dodge ball tournament...
Where the beards beat the staff - something that hadn't happened in 1 1/2 years!
Onto some rock climbing competitions...
And winners! The girls also won the scavenger hunt this day, I believe some trivia was won, Greg won the ship Ping Pong tournament (Wendy won another day)...let's just say, there was some winning that day!
And another amazing sunset as the cherry on top!
That night Christina went to brave the glass floor...
And did!!
We had to round the night out with some singing at the piano bar...
The boys were killing it! It was the perfect ending to our cruising adventures!
If all of that wasn't enough...we got off the ship and spent another 2 days in Puerto Rico! Our cab driver picked up the Gregs - with Dulce Coco in hand - and started that new leg of the trip by sharing the love!! So off to the El Yunque Rain Forest!
Where we got hit with a huge afternoon rain storm!
We were soaked to the bone!!
Off to explore the tower!
And then to a roadside stand to get shish kabobs, rice and beans!
Then more exploring!!
When we were all finished, it was time to head to our condo...
Where the views were spectacular!
That night we went out and got mofungo...
It was fun to try completely authentic Puerto Rican food!
Then Ben & Wendy and Greg & I went to the Bioluminescent Bay. My camera couldn't get pictures of the bay, but it was probably the most magical thing I have ever seen. The water glowed a bright, aqua color when it was moved and the lights danced light sparklers in the water in your hands. We were there for 1 1/2 hours and it was torturous to leave!
On our final day of adventures, we woke up to this sunrise. Perfect.
Greg & Emy and Greg & I were off to Monkey Island!
We met here and then kayaked out to the island. Our tour guide Bob was so excited because the conditions were perfect. He said there are only about 10 days a year with conditions like that...we were thrilled!
So, if you're wondering why they call it Monkey Island, this is why!!
You can't get on the island, but you get pretty darn close...
After we watched the monkeys for about an hour, we went snorkeling at a shipwreck. It was so crazy clear! I kept saying that it was like we were at a Disney "experience" of snorkeling...I couldn't believe how perfect it was. We saw barracuda, lobsters, an octopus, a huge puffer fish, parrot fish, and literally thousands of other fish in schools and solo. It was breathtaking.
It was so fun to share the experience with Greg & Emy...something we will never forget.
There were also tons of starfish...
Here's Bob, packing things up after our adventure!
Right as we were getting ready to leave there was a guy training his horse in the water. I walked down to watch for a minute and to snap a picture!
We were starving after all that kayaking and snorkeling and so, off to pork highway! Yep, pork highway. It's a place that Emy saw on a show and lucky for us, was determined to take us to. It was delicious! We were the only non-locals there...always a great sign!
Here's where we were...on the outside...
And inside.
Just a little peek of why the food was so, so great!
What an amazing 10 days. Spent with people I love...I mean, love! It is really a blessing to have friends like this and I am completely aware of it. I treasured every moment of the trip and can hardly wait for the next one...2 years and counting!
Goodbye Puerto Rico...till next time!
