Baha Mar (Bahamas Trip 2014)

August 28^th, 2014

The alarm clocks on our phones were jingling and we snooze them a few times before we decide to get out of bed. I have everything packed up and ready to go and so does she. This is my first trip out of the country with anyone I have been in a relationship with. She and I have never spent this kind of time together without our kids either. We have been looking forward to the trip for months now and we are more than ready. Now, it was time to get dressed and get out the door. She didn’t know it yet, but I had a ring that I bought for her and it was sitting securely in my carry-on daypack.  Kristin asks me what time we needed to leave and I sleepily reply, “5 or 5:30”. I can sometimes get anxious about time because I have always been the type of person to be early. All my things are done and I keep checking on her to see if I can help. At this point, it’s becoming obvious that I am getting anxious. She reminds me of what time I said it was a good time to leave, and I tell her that I wanted to amend that quote.         

Goofing around in flight

We got loaded and headed towards Will Rogers Airport. We find the American Airways line, next to American Airlines. As we move up in line, we have to check in at the computer terminal. She gets impatient and goes to the desk. However, at this point, I am nearly done getting our tickets. After they print, we go to the desk and are notified that our bag is 17lbs over the limit. We had previously decided to share a checked back, since it was only 4 days and the bag was $25. So, she takes out a duffle bag that she had stuffed into her carry-on backpack. She packed this for just such an event. We start shuffling everything over so that I could carry the duffle and the checked bag would meet requirements. One, heavy duffle bag-full later, we cleared the bag at exactly 50 lbs. Security was quick and painless. We hurry past that, get all of our accessories into place, and begin our quick strides towards the gate. As we get there, the flight is already boarding. Nothing like cutting it close…

The flight is quick and painless and our anticipation is growing. We land in Charlotte, NC and decide to get an Americano and a burrito for lunch. I set our bags down in a decent sitting spot. Kristin comes back with the burritos after asking me a few questions from the queue. I would sit down and resume facebooking or people watching and I would hear “Ahdom”. It happened at least three times. Anyways, the food finally arrives and it is delicious. The burrito was the size and weight of a newborn and full of beans, rice, and cheese. She’s the best.  The couple next to us seems oblivious to the fact that they are in public, as they baby talk super loud and super stupid sounding to their infant. The noise is more painstaking than someone using a tazor on a cat’s butt-hole. I decide to look at our tickets, to verify that we did indeed have two hours to spare and it suddenly dawned on me that we switched time zones. The coffee must be working.

We gathered our shit as fast as possible and got to the gate by the skin of our teeth. We are off to Miami. As we board, we make our way to our seats, which are not together. I sit down and control the air and begin getting comfortable. After everything gets settled, we are off into the air. The guy in front of me is snoring really loudly. Everyone is looking at each other and laughing. I get out my journal to write and as I do I run my fingers over the ring. I cannot wait to ask her. Ugh. Will I pull this off without looking stupid? I get nervous and anxious thinking of the scenarios. She is going to be so happy! So will I! We will be so giddy. Ok. Calm down. Time to read my “Pirate Latitudes” book.

We land in Miami and I go to the bathroom. I am running scenarios in my head when a thought occurred to me: I can do this! I can do this right now. I will.

I come back to the chair at our gate and I recommend that we do a video blog. Just so that I can propose and have it on video.

Liked it, put a ring on it...

She says Yes! I am so shaky as I hold the camera. I am not acting natural, but then again, this wasn't as well planned as I wanted it to be. So, now we’re now engaged and on a flight to Nassau. Again, our seats are not together. I get on the plane and decide to trade my “1^st class seat”, which was nothing more the first seat on a little dinky tin can plane, and sit next to my new fiancé.

We descend over palm trees and blue water and I feel the wheels come down to our final destination. After we retrieve our bags, we try and figure out where to get a shuttle to the resort.  We come up to an officer, who tells us to go to the “Majestic Tours” bus. I immediately notice the officer’s Caribbean accent. Like the Dominican Republic, the population here is mainly of African descent; however, they speak English here instead of Spanish. They are a beautiful people, and I soon discover, also very friendly. We walk to the shuttle only to find out that were are not listed. He asks if we have a voucher and we tell them that we do not. After seeking some help we try to call the resort, but do not have the number. Someone tells us that we can use the free Wi-Fi in the airport, so we do. I find the number to the hotel and return to call, but we find out that it will only dial local numbers and I had a 800 number. Damn. We go back into the airport and find the local number, then go back in to the information building. Finally, we call and the receptionist tells us to check another shuttle line. After going back and forth too many times I resign to get a cab and Kristin agrees.

Our cab pulls up to Breezes Resort and immediately our bags are taken from us and we are offered two topical drinks; Bahama Mama’s. We suck them down and get our room in order. Kristin asks for the room to be the nicest ocean view they have and they did not disappoint. We stop at the bar on the way to the room and I order a pina colada and a Bahamian beer. Double fisting it… and she gets a pina colada as well… We came to the room and put our things down.

We started to look the room over and could not find the liquor dispensers we read about. We also could not find the mini fridge. I began to think that we were mixing up some of the amenities of the other resorts that we had looked over while booking, but she swears that this was the one. We go downstairs only to find out that none of the rooms have such things in this resort. Oh well, we grabbed new drinks, came up and changed, and decided to walk the beach. On the way down, I got another drink, rum and coke. Ah yes, a Cuba Libre and the ocean. Here we are at last…

Two Bahama Mama's as soon as we roll up!

Dinner time! We are so pumped at all the food options here. I load up on food, never letting the alcohol go dry in my cup. I love seeing her so excited to be here with me, just sharing these fun moments together…  We get totally stuffed, but leave room for booze.

Later, we find out that there is a comedy show going on, so we decided to see the show in what they called “the cave”.  We follow a scrawny comedian down some stairs into a dark, cave-like, den that is freezing. We watch three different mediocre comedians come on, one after the other. In there, we find out that there is a toga theme going on that night. We decide immediately to join the fun. So, we got fitted with some sheets.

In the main room, there is a large bar (the one we have frequented since we got there) and a stage. The stage had a performer singing. I was pulled up on stage where I do a little dance and have some fun. She even announces our engagement.We decide to retire after we get some drunk food.

Togas!

August 29^th, 2014

Hammering. Lots of hammering. Where is that coming from? I decide to roll out of bed due to the noise, wherever its coming from. She and I get showered and head to breakfast. Again, we are impressed by the variety of the foods. I get some eggs, bacon, corned beef hash, and some coffee. We decided after breaky to get some mimosas and walk the beach. We walk up the outside bar and order the drinks from a man whom we thought was a bartender. We wait and wait on our drinks until another man (the actual bartender) informs us that the other gentleman is "out of it". He gets us our drinks and moment’s later, I’m looking away and Kristin see’s him knock his head really hard against a spigot and almost collapse. What’s his story I wonder? We let the guard know about the bizarre incident while we stroll on to the sand, in case he can help. What were we going to do today? The water was looking much bluer than yesterday. We decide that it may be a good idea to snorkel today, maybe even give it a practice run right here on this beach. We get our suits on and our snorkels. The clarity was decent, but not much for marine life. So, we resolve to go snorkeling at a better local. On the way back up, we get more drinks and decide that we will set up the event for tomorrow and hit the town today. So, we change and head out the door.

We walk to the bus terminal and soon the bus arrives. Our plan was to go to the market in town. We load up and we are off to see the sights. We pass something called fish fry and an old fort on the way.

Kristin spoke with a woman on her daily commute about the fort and she said it was called “Fort Charlotte”. She also recommended that we visit the fish fry as well. The fish fry was a collection of places where the locals ate at.

We arrive in town and see that the market is located where the cruise ships make port. As we walk up to the market, we see items hanging and people everywhere. Constantly they are trying to pull you in to get you to purchase. They call you “baby” and “honey” and ask you “how much you like to pay for this”, “Special sale today”, and “come on in”. They even put things in your hands or put necklaces on you and then ask for a “contribution”. I am familiar with this kind of ritual. As we are shopping, I see an old man and a young boy messing with a legless crab. It was right next to that, I buy a pair of fake Ray Bans. Throughout the course of our browsing, we buy some shirts, bags, and some other souvenirs. Then, we move on throughout the other shops nearby. We discover that all of them have slightly better prices than the market and many more options. While Kristin goes into a shop, I see some musicians playing the steel drums. We walk next to a bar to get some Bahamian beers, then to a shop for some coozies. I decide to stop into a cigar and coffee shop to secure a Cuban cigar for later. Our bellies start to get hungry and Kristin suggests that we go to the Fish Fry area that we had passed from before. So, we pass through the street outside the Cigar shop and made our way there.

We walk up and someone calls over to us to buy some coconuts. I am excited about coconuts because I have fond memories in Puerto Rico, Chinatown, Mexico, and even Hawaii of drinking ice cold coconut water out of the coconut. So I get to share the experience with her! We take some pictures with them because he is persistent about it. I drink from my coconut. It is warm and not very good. She can’t stand it. Oh well, we got some pics out of it… We walk to the local vendor selling fish, but they are a bit overpriced. Kristin suggests walking around to see what our options are. So we do.

Coconut fun

                We walk along and see several places that peak our interest, but we begin to fall into that familiar frustrating place where I am ready to settle but Kristin cannot decide anything. She doesn't know what she wants, but she’s good at stating what she doesn't want. So, we feel our way around until a man walks up to sway us into his establishment. Apparently it’s so good that celebrities like Cameron Diaz eat there. We follow the man in after he promises some conch fritters and cold beer. He walks up to the bar and yells at them. We look at the menu, then at each other, noting the prices are beyond what we wanted to spend. We get up and walk out the door, back out into the hustle and bustle. I hear him calling out to us, but we keep walking. Persistently, he follows us and asks what we did not like. Awkwardly, we confess the prices were high. He then demands the bartender outside to make us a drink sample. He tells us to stay put and he will get our fritters. We down the drink and escape while we can. Kristin notices a to-go meal from one of the locals and inquires about where to get it. We learned where they got it and walked there. We enter and order some Kalik beer and put our order in. It’s very tiny inside and a lot of people. Kristin leaves across the street to use the restroom while I sit and drink beer. After she get’s back, we wait until our fritters arrive. We are starving. It is our first time to try conch fritters. To describe them, they are the meat from the conch shell, and mixed with batter and fried to create something like a hush puppy. Then dipped in whatever sauce this is. I ate as slow as I could since I was sharing. In any normal situation I would eat more than she does just by how quickly I devour. This time I tried to match speed so that I was frittered out while I watch her continuing to eat. We wait now for the main course for a very, very long time. So long in fact, that we opted to leave. We leave money on the table and grab a bus home. Kristin is very tired from walking around all day, but I drag her to get drinks and get dressed. We go down and listen to the show for a bit, but nothing was going on. The rest of the night Kristin saws logs while I watch some tv. Not without getting a midnight snack though.

August 30^th, 2014

Breakfast as usual this morning. Stuffing ourselves and preparing for the day. After which, we book our snorkel trip, get packed, and leave at noon. We take a packed bus that hops from hotel to hotel picking up all interested parties. Then we arrive at the snorkel place. We did not eat lunch yet. We did try to prepare earlier today. We ordered two hot dogs from the grill that were ginormous, only to find out that we were not allowed to leave with them in hand and had to throw them away. So we go out on empty stomachs. 

Leaving port...for adventure!

After waiting, we boarded our vessel called “Lucas”. There were 3 different dive spots planned for the day. We arrive first at the reef. I definitely have to get acquainted again with snorkeling. The sea life is gorgeous down here despite the choppiness and the salt water already ingested. 

First dive

Kristin snorkeling 

We swim back and forth, taking several shots with the underwater camera we brought. Then, we got back on the boat. Suddenly, I feel sick. My world starts spinning from the motion of the boat, the salt water I swallowed, and my empty stomach. I lay down for a bit an try to shut the world out while we wait for "super dad" (from another group) to come back from swimming out entirely too far. We move on after he returns and get to the next spot. 

I am dreading it, but I get out anyway and do my best to keep up with Kristin, who seems pretty contented and mostly unbothered by the trip. Luckily, she did not fall to the same symptoms, at least not as harshly as I did. After we do more of the same, we get to the spot that I had been anticipating the most: Sharks!  This does me some good actually. On the journey to the sharks I had continued to shut everything out and the consistency of the motion of the speeding boat helped me to recover a bit. However, when we arrive to the shark spot, the seas were very choppy. That also means that we are not able to get in the water. When it’s choppy, the little fish come up and so do the sharks. So, we got to see them feed on top. This was a thrilling thing to see, however short lived.

Que Jaws Theme

                I was happy to make port again and so was my stomach. Once back in the room, I jump in the shower, relieved. After a shower, we decide to try some of the restaurants on site. We eat first at the Japanese restaurant, only to discover that they were very moderate portions. So, we have some soup, a small bit of sushi, and some wine. Afterwards, we head to the French restaurant to try it as well. We eat until we are stuffed and call it a night. The rest of the evening, we watched the OSU game on TV.

August 31^st, 2014

Fort Charlotte

We got up super early today and set out to see Fort Charlotte, a fort from the golden age of piracy. We took the bus and got off by the fort. We hear some drums from somewhere as we make our way closer to the top of the steps. We make our way to the front and pay our entry. We then got chauffeured around the fort in an almost amateur way, learning bits and pieces. I loved it though. It really made you step into the past. We examined each corridor and tight quarter in the fort, each one giving a description of the time period in which it was used. I find all of it very interesting. After we walk through it all, including the really small gift shop, we decide to walk to the beach area. There, we see a small hut advertising their “famous” Pina Colada in a coconut. So, anxious to make a memory, we sit at the bar and order one. 

In luv wit da coco

*Smooch*

We have some small talk with the owner and he mixes it all up. The taste was so delicious and refreshing. The water at this beach was simply indescribable. It was so clear and beautiful that we decide to get in. We finish our little dip and our coco-coladas and decide to change so that we can get to the pirate museum. 

Enjoying the view

We walk up to the same public restroom/changing room and are told by the maintenance lady that we have to shower the sand off of us, Finding the small shower, we obliged her. Dripping wet, I walk towards the changing room only to be stopped. She informs me now that I can’t go in there dripping wet and I have no towel. So, she tells me I have to change in the break room. She tells everyone to get out of the break room and I step in and change. Humiliated, I gather all my things, including a giant conch shell I found on the beach, and we walk to the museum.

The Pirate Museum is one of the things I talked about before we even left on this trip. I am really exited to get to see this. Outside there is a young man and a stockade. We took some pictures there and asked where to purchase entry tickets. 

She's been a bad girl

He directs us to the adjoining gift shop where we moseyed around and eventually buy the tickets. We walk into the museum and the first thing you see is the side of a galleon that had made port. This displayed depicted the era during the golden age of piracy, complete with sounds and mannequins dressed in garb. I immediately felt the tugging urge for rum. Kristin was looking particularly beautiful as we went in to the entry of the faux galleon. We read, as we meander through, all the plaques on the walls until we reach the finale; a pirate battle with Blackbeard. We step out and use the restroom and the tour leads us to an exit… into a bar. We get some beers for walking the streets and then visit the gift shop once more for some souvenirs. We decide then to take the bus to the bridge that will lead us to Paradise Island.

Avast!

Beers at the bar

We get off the crowded bus and begin to walk on the bridge. The bridge is very windy. Ahead of us, there is another group of people that apparently had the same idea that we had. We decide to stop and fix my iPod up with a speaker to play some Bob Marley. Kristin decides also to make a video blog on the walk.

The bridge. Paradise Island is behind us.

We catch up to the other group and offer to take their picture and discover that they had all met on this trip and come from all walks of life. Very interesting concept… We continued walking, directionless through shops, (looking for a cheap towel) and observing this side of the island, until we finally reach Cabbage Beach. Our feet are stinging and we are ready to get into the water. We notice that this beach, even though it’s public, was also part of a string of different hotels, including the famous “Atlantis”. We walk to the public restrooms to don our swimming attire. Kristin goes in with ease, while the men’s restroom’s door was locked due to it being out of order. We speak to some of the guards on duty to discover that there are no other public restrooms nearby. We then resolved to go through what they call “the cave”, which had the appearance of a manufactured cave with giant aquariums built in it. It creates a really cool feeling as you walk through, watching various fish, manta rays, sting rays, sharks, and sea turtles swimming around you. That is, if you are not daunted by the lack of a changing room. We came on a janky little turn, likely used for staff, within the cave. It led to a locked door. I quickly got naked while Kristin blocked the view with a hotel towel she had found on the beach, in case of oncoming vacationers. After I change, we find a vacated lounge chair that we really weren't allowed to use (because we were not staying at the hotel that they belonged to), and laid out our towel that we were not really allowed to use, and got in the crystal clear, yet choppy, water. There were people feeding bread to a bunch of angel fish and they offered some to Kristin and she fed them. They flittered and splashed around every time she threw a piece of bread. It was a beautiful thing to behold; the water, Kristin, and the fish.

However, I am ready to eat.

I face the challenge once more of getting dressed for a long walk back to our resort, but this time we go back through “the cave” until we reach the Atlantis Resort entrance. We feel nervous about being somewhere we aren't supposed to be, but we try to be casual. We are directed to a shower/locker room. I am excited because I am able to shower the sand off and change comfortably for the first time since we left our room. We walk through the really impressive hotel after getting dressed and begin our journey back. I wasn't in the best of spirits because I was really hungry and dreading the walk back over the bridge. As we arrive back to the familiar shops that we had passed on the way in, we make a deal with a local cabby to take us back across the bridge. He is really friendly and get’s us back over the bridge in walkable distance to a recommended place to eat called “Imperial”. We got a well earned meal that truly fit the bill (she got a delicious spicy chicken sandwich and I got a fish sandwich). We took the bus back afterwards. This is our last full day in the Bahamas and we feel it looming over us. We finish it out by hanging at the pool with some Miami Vice’s. We decide to finally change for the evening and are feeling pretty tipsy. We decide to saunter down to listen to music. After a while, we go down to “Club Hurricane”, a dance club in the resort, to see what’s going on. It’s lame. So we decide to get some rest for tomorrow.

September 1^st , 2014

Homeward Bound…

There isn’t much to be said about this journey home. We miss our kids. We ate some Ghengis Grill and got some very unimpressive Cinnabon. We miss the blue waters of the Bahamas already and look forward to our future trips, perhaps even as husband and wife…

Here is a video for the trip:

A note to the reader (Texas, Oklahoma, & Colorado 2012-2014)

I would like very much to take the time and thank you for reading my travel blog. I did not manage to scribe my adventures in a few different places that took place after my Hawaii trip. I went directly to California after the trip to attend and photograph a semenar that took place in Los Angeles. After returning home from the trip, I continued to speak with Kristin with increased frequency and we started dating again. Later that year I took a trip to Denver, Colorado with my good friend Frank in September 2012. I distinctly remember talking with Kristin throughout the entire trip. We visited the museum in town, cycled, ate, and enjoyed the local customs. 

Me at the Museum

 After the trip, my relationship with Kristin continued to flower and we ended up taking some trips the following year. One of which, we took a trip to North Padre with the girls in May 2013. It was around that time that I left my dad's company and moved out of my house and into her townhome. On the trip, the girls began to call me Dad. The trip was loaded with neat things to do and see. There was a distinct moment where, after setting up our chairs and our music, I looked over at my girls and my woman and thought "Life is good". and it was... We went to the Texas Aquarium and even found a German bakery that became a favorite on the trip. We spent most of our days on the beach, soaking in the sun, and watching our toe-heads on their "surf boards". 

Making sandcastles at North Padre 2013

 Fast forward a year, we have been living happily together as a family, still not engaged, however, it was certainly on the horizon. We take yet another trip to Texas in June 2014, only this time we stayed in Port Aransas and Liam was with us. We did much more this go 'round. It was also a birthday trip for me. Some of the highlights on this trip included seeing the aquarium again (this time the kids did the water park inside), going on a dolphin watch, saw a really old tree, and ate at some great restaurants. We also stopped at several different attractions along the way. We saw an old Church from the Mexican Revolution, a really cool cave called The Longhorn Cave, went to Jacob's Well (a deep underwater cave), and even had donuts at a really well known place. I even jumped into Jacob's Well. We have been on several cool camping trips within the state as well throughout the years. We are an active family that seeks adventure and to see the world. 

Mission Espiritu Sanctu

The old tree on Goose Island

At Longhorn cave in 2014

We love creating new experiences. However, I did not write these events down in my journal, but they were important nonetheless. I wanted to fill the gaps in my journey a simply as possible so that you may read on to what may be the most significant trip I have had yet, the trip to the Bahamas...

Aloha! (Hawaii 2012)

July 3rd 2012 

4:30 Am was here and unwelcome and its only saving grace is that its purpose for me having to consciously perceive it was due to a new trip. I have been working for dad for a short time now and we have a business/pleasure adventure awaiting us in Hawaii. This trip will also take us to California on the way back. There is lots of work ahead of us, but it will be well lubricated with sightseeing and travel. This time Dora is going with us. Dora is a practitioner in my dad’s practice and a royal pain in the ass. We get our thing together pretty efficiently and now wait in a long line at United Airlines. After getting through checking our luggage, we discover the security check is equally long. Thankfully we know the routine we have to go through because of our resume of travel experience. We get through security, get some coffee, and before you know it we were boarding. The plane ride will be a very lengthy one, so I will have to stay occupied and comfortable. I eventually decide to sleep a bit. After a lengthy 5-hour flight, over mostly Pacifica Ocean, we arrive in Honolulu. The day has basically consisted of us waiting on Dora. She has an instinctive way to make things uncomfortable and irritable as possible. Nonetheless, we made it to beautiful Honolulu! Dad got in touch with Jeff, the facilitator of the drug rehab place we were going to be staying at, so that he knew we had landed. The reason for our visit to the rehab facility was to help people overcome addiction. Jeff arrives in a white van and we load our bags. Mt dear friend Deirdre is in the passenger seat and I immediately feel a sense of comfort that always accompanies her aura. It’s the feeling you get when you meet a beloved friend, that all is well. As we drove through Hawaiian traffic and over bridges, I find myself dipping in and out of conversations and jests with everyone in the van. Mostly, my attention was outside the windows looking at the mist covered, green peaks.

Beauty

Hawaii was beautiful. We arrive at the facility and we grab out bags. As we go in I immediately feel slightly uncomfortable. I suppose I hadn’t expected what I saw. There was nothing particularly threatening or unwelcome, but I felt very separated and intimidated by the people inside. However, we were invited to eat as we walked in. I met a few people once inside and found that they were very friendly. I got a plate of teriyaki beef, which was delicious. It felt like a prison cafeteria to me, but I also don’t know what a prison cafeteria was like. I could feel myself warming up to the place, yet my uneasiness hasn’t diminished completely yet. After dinner, we put our bags and equipment in our room. The room was a small, stand alone building. Inside, there were four bunk beds, a TV, and several fans to keep it cool. The windows behind the let the noise from roaming chickens and cocks fill the room. Dad and I shared this humble room with a few of the higher up attendees at the rehab, as well as Dave, another practitioner. Dad informs me that we have a practitioner meeting. This would be the first of many we were to have on the trip. In the meeting we discussed the facility and how it was ran, as well as what it was. I met all the other practitioners that would be taking clients. They were a lively bunch to be sure. The meeting adjourned and we to what the facility called “The Games”. As we were approaching a building I had not noticed before, I could hear many raised voices. We ascend steps and enter in what looks like a dojo. Inside there is, what looks like, the entire campus sitting cross-legged from each other. We are invited in. We all enter reluctantly, but with as much coolness as we can muster. The point of the games was to create an outlet for the attendees to express their feelings. This came in the form of yelling at each other, often times loaded with profanities. It was frightening and entertaining at the same time. I have never seen anything quite like this. The Hawaiian accent is unique as well. Once the games came to a close, it was late. We sauntered off to bed. 

July 4th, 2012 

Happy Independence Day! I wake up with chickens clucking and cocks crowing. I had been listening to it in my sleep for a few hours. Dave, one of our practitioners, is awake and he offers ear plugs to us. I head out to breakfast and see the familiar faces of some of the practitioners. I have some fruit for breakfast, consisting of pineapples, melon, grapes, and bananas. At breakfast we discuss plans to make a trip to the beach. So, Dad, Dave, Diana, and Dora all came along as we were chauffeured on an hour ride to the beach. Diana continually suggested we stop and began to get on my nerves a bit, but eventually everyone concurred in stopping at a local store on the way. After we got what we needed, for me that was turkey jerky, we proceed to the next stop. As we’re going down the road we stop at scenic spot and took pictures. This spot happened to be where they filmed the dinosaur herd scene in Jurassic Park. It looks like it hasn’t changed a bit.

Where we stopped. 

Where the stampede was filmed

We load up after taking some pics. We see a shrimp truck as we are going down the road and decide to pull over to get something to eat. I order the coconut shrimp. While it is cooking I wonder to the vendor next to it and get an ice cold coconut with a straw in it. I find its taste and shape is different from the one’s I’ve had in Chinatown, New York, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, yet tasty. My shrimp got finished and it is delicious! I think it may be the best shrimp I have ever had.

Dave  and Diana

It starts to rain and it feels and looks so beautiful. Rain is wonderful in Hawaii, but it is short lived this time. After we all finished our meals we got back in the car and head towards our destination. We arrive at the beach and find a spot. We decide to stop into a shop nearby. I got a red bull and some Hawaiian beads for a souvenir. There were stereotypical surfers, scantily clad women, playing children, and music filling the air. The beach looks awesome and inviting. All the while, I feel a kinship with Diana is forming. She’s nice, but slightly pesky. She probably is enjoying my presence more than I am hers. Yet, it feels nice to have a friend who continually confirms my opinions as valid. I wonder about what life would be like as a surfer. They look so cool to me. At one point, I film dad jumping off the cliff, which was cool. Throughout the day, I snorkel a bit. There isn’t much to see, but it was still fun. I have my music playing some oldies whilst I lounge in the sun. Life is bueno…

Snorkel shot!

Dad at the beach

On the way back we decide to stop at the Dole Pineapple farms. There were row and rows of pineapples. We really just stopped so that I could pee. We walked through the gift shop and I bought a postcard for my kiddo. After we leave, we start getting close to home. We took another route than we came. We pass by Pearl Harbor. I am filled with excitement suddenly. I have always wanted to go there! I see the ships in the harbor and imagine. I have to go there! We get back and I settle in. Time to crash… This time I will do so with my earplugs in to block the noise of the cocks. A Cock block….

July 5th, 2012

Today I worked in sessions all day. I worked with an ex-vet who I feel I helped quite a bit. We spent all day doing these on rotation. In the evening we decide to go into town for dinner. This resulted in us finding an overpriced bar and talking Diana into having a Pina Colada. Dave was a DD that night. We were quite the trio of buddies. Dave is a really nice guy, despite how huggie he is. He LOVES hugging. Good for him. We stop at Starbucks afterwards and listen to some awesome music. Then, we go to whole foods. I buy some beers for the beach later as well as some Kava. The bar from earlier we were planning to eat at originally, but it was pricey, so we end up eating at Maui Tacos, which are really good and affordable. We walk to the beach and all three of us are sitting on a bench, looking out at the waves. The air is perfect, the moon is high, and I am playing some Journey. We drank some of the Hawaiian beer and just enjoyed the company. This is relaxing and fun. I feel like Dave and Diana might have a thing?

July 6th, 2012 

I wake up feeling like shit. It must be the kava I had? And mixing it the alcohol? Not sure, but I didn’t have that much to drink last night AT ALL. I don’t even bother changing from the night before. We have another meeting and then I was off to my first session, which Dora sat and observed. She’s just my favorite… (sarcasm) However, I have to opt out for a while to do some work e-mails for the company and kick this sickness. I decide to sleep it off and I wake up in time for lunch. I end up lying around a lot, but I do attend all meetings and meal times. July 7th, 2012 I wake up feeling slightly better, but not 100%.Again, I attend all the meetings, but I have no clients. After I eat lunch, I start feeling better. Jeff brought me some Pho noodles, which was a welcome gesture. I really wanted my nose to leak… I spent some time talking to a girl back home. We dated off-and-on. It’s complicated. I have come to realize through it all, that I love her. Every time I talk to her if feel something that just…intrigues me… This time I told her that I love her. I felt like it needed to be known even if nothing came from it. Kristin was a mother of twin girls who were two years old. They are adorable and I knew before I loved her, that I loved them. Hard not to. After all of our sessions for the day, Diana, who has been frequently and obnoxiously has been waiting outside my door, made plans to go into town again. Dave was leaving tonight, so he wanted to go body-surfing. The van was full, so Diana and I ended up going to Waikiki instead.

Me at Waikiki

In the van we pass countless shops and beautiful women. Finally, we get out and hit some souvenir shops, wherein, I buy some hula girl cigars and a few things for Liam. In another shop I find some small bottles of Hawaiian rum to try and buy those too. As we walk by a McDonalds, I see that their pie is a coconut one. I have to try it! It tastes pretty good for a McDonalds pie. I had to say I tried it. I also got a pineapple mango smoothie to wash it down. We went on to walk the beach while I smoke my cigar. We started to get hungry and decide to go to “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. We order a bacon cheeseburger to split and sip down another pina colada. There is a table of marines who took a big burger challenge. It is a massive burger. It’s pretty hilarious to watch. (He lost by puking) I order a Blue Hawaiian and another beer, and then we pay our tab.

I pull my music out as we find a spot to chill. We talk for a bit while Kings of Leon plays and I try one of the small rum bottles. After a while, we decide that it’s time to go back. After I put my things away I see dad in the cafeteria area and join him. I had earlier stuffed my empty bottle of Hawaiian rum to perhaps collect sand in later as a souvenir. I put it in the bottom of my bag. I guess when dad was looking for some of his things; he had shuffled around the contents, leaving the empty bottle exposed. That did not bode well in a rehabilitation center and I was confronted on it. I was embarrassed. I see why it was an issue out of respect, yet I was defensive about it simply because it was ONLY a bottle. An empty one... Dad was furious and embarrassed and so was I for different reasons. We have a late night session that we will all observe while dad demonstrates the techniques. Afterwards, we are all tired and go to bed.

July 8th, 2012 

Another day of sessions lie ahead, so I get showered and go for some breakfast. Tessa is leaving today, so we see her off. I take care of my clients and do a fantastic job. I decide to get some laundry done so that I have fresh cloths for California.

July 9th, 2012

Time to get to the airport and see California; it’s been real Hawaii, now it’s time to go.

A Whole New World (Domincan Republic 2012)

January 19, 2012 

 It was another day destined to be full of flights. I wake up in my traveler state of mind, which was easy enough to do because I went to be in that state as well. I slept with the clothes I would be wearing the next day, and with all of my items in their proper places. It was laid out for me to wake up and go. My father stayed up all night the night before. I remember waking up at 4 am to him talking to a woman on Skype with the volume unreasonably loud. It is a cold morning, and naturally my dad has most of his packing to do. Dismissing the fact that his lack of sleep was not due to him preparing for the day, I resign to assist his packing. We finally leave the house later than planned, and we were coming to a stop presently because dad left a crucial item to the vacation; his diver card. Moments later we are in the driveway of the house again, and the red Chevy pickup has warmed enough that my breath is no longer visible. Dad runs in, and back out. We were passing a homemade green smoothie between us from a mason jar for breakfast. After twenty minutes or so we arrive at Will Rogers Airport and we park the truck. Dad decides that we should leave our coats to save space and hassle on the trip. The downfall of the procedure was that we would be in below freezing weather in t-shirts for a little bit. Making the plunge, we ran with our luggage to the nearest shuttle and defrosted. Check-ins were flawless and easy because we both have more than plenty of travel experience. We sit to board our plane and dad wants to share a cinnamon roll, so we did. All the flights are easy going, aside from weariness and boredom. The only complaint is when we land in Florida with a begging stomach. Desperately, we stop at a Mexican restaurant, and decide that it may be the worst representation of Tex-Mex we have ever forcefully ingested. Since I am hungry, I practically breathe it in. After we eat, we find our gate, then after a time, we board. I decide to put on my headphones and watch some Family Guy on my iPod, only to discover it has been misplaced. Fury crept on me like a cat about to pounce on an unsuspecting bird, but I tried in vain to extinguish the rage with logic. It seems that I always lose something on a trip. The wheels come down on the plane, and we touch down on the runway at Las Americas Airport in Dominican Republic. The unfasten seatbelts signs go off and buckles are heard clinking throughout the hull of the plane. Dad begins to talk to an older lady who is telling us about the Dominican Republic, and its culture and dangers. She mentions how the beaches and streets are unsafe at night. Noted. Finally we get off the plane and receive our luggage. Anxiety and a slight fear of an undiscovered culture seeps into consciousness. I have received this reaction a few times during travel, like in New York City, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. I suppose this part of me comes from my mother, but it is also the same part of me that if listened to by people who accompany me on travels, would keep us from ridiculous money making schemes like in Mexico, where we had to sit through a hotel presentation. It kept us from going through with dad’s suggestion of walking through Central Park at night, but there is a fine balance of what you let run wild. I have learned that people in other parts of the world drive crazy, and it no longer troubles me, but some people may shit their fruit of the looms to sit through some of the car rides I have been exposed to. So, we walk out to see groups of people being greeted by their families in excited Spanish. We have two or more hours to kill to wait on Georgia, a Brazilian woman that dad had paid to join us so that he can meet her in person. She is the one that woke me from slumber at 4am on Skype. Dad really likes her; she is all he can talk about. We decide to try some local food and some beer from a small place in the airport. It was pretty good; we had a little bit of everything. The fried cheese is the best part, besides the ice cold Presedente beer. I decide next to order a fried empanada, which came to be a splendid choice because it is absolutely delicious. The airport crowd has thinned so we hop to a bar that has Wi-Fi and I get a Cuba Libre with Brugal rum, and dad orders a Piña Colada. I have been spraying WD40 on my Spanish to get it going again. I ask dad when her flight was due to arrive, and he tells me that she will be here in another hour and a half, which would be around 11. Moments later, a woman comes up and asks me if I am Ahdom. It was Georgia, and much earlier that we had anticipated. We look for a cab, and a gentleman helps us to it. He is insistent on grabbing our bags and taking us to the vehicle. He puts them in the back and helps us in the car, as well as tells the driver to where our hotel is. Guess what? Money scam. Not from the driver, but apparently that guy just grabs bags and expects five dollars from you for doing things that you can do yourself, all the while you think he is part of the cab service. We deny him money and travel for 30 minutes to our hotel. I am in the front seat while the lovebirds talk in the back seat. Already I am the spare wheel on a WWII era motorbike, collecting mud from the trenches. I am included in conversation from time to time, only in order to add validation to whatever is being said so that they may propel a little faster into full blown infatuation. We arrive at a hotel, which is surprisingly nice if you abandon American standards, which real travelers are required to do. Dad goes to talk to Georgia, and I lay on the spare bed watching Alice in Wonderland on my iPad until I drift into slumber, breathing in the moist Caribbean air.

 January 20th, 2012 

 I open my eyes several times, convinced it was time to wake up. Finally, I was tired of playing that game and thought it to be a reasonable hour to rise. I hear a rustling in the room, which tells me that dad has woken up. We get dressed and he decides to go get Georgia, and I opt to wait in the hotel since I don’t have a key. I resume watching Alice, until I get absolutely restless. I get up and go out the door and discover our hotel in the daylight. Dark skinned people pass me by, and I nod to them uncomfortably. I look to the swimming pool and see a large woman basking on the side of it while she listens to the waterfall fountain cascade into the pool. I hear some Latin sounding music at the bar next to the pool, and an attractive dark skinned beauty bids me “buenos dias”, I smile and return it. I can’t see my dad or Georgia anywhere, so I return to the room. After a while dad comes up and tells me that we are switching rooms. We drag our luggage to a new room at the very top of a building. It is a suite that’s fully equipped with a kitchen. Two bathrooms, a two bed bedroom, and another single bedroom for my dear little friend, Georgia. I walked out on to one of two balconies facing the ocean. In your mind, dear journal, you probably see the ocean right from the lookout, but let me describe it. I walk out of the glass sliding doors and take a left; I pass under a clothes line and a deflated air mattress. If you look out you over look the local buildings nearby. Then I come upon some stairs that wind to the roof, there you can face the ocean and see it just beyond the buildings. I hear construction sounds constantly. I look down and see motorbikes and workers. Then I hear something else; my stomach. Dad, Georgia, and I make our way to local breakfast place nearby. There we sit and order espresso in the forms of an Americano and two lattes. I discover that in all my travels and all the coffee I have tasted, that this coffee was the very best my taste buds have ever encountered. I get very little opportunity to speak Spanish, because my DLF (Dear Little Friend) orders for us. She is a charming, yet talkative woman. I understand too that this is a language opportunity for her, both in English and Spanish since her tongue is flavored in Brazilian Portuguese. I am learning a lot of her customs and the poor thing has to endure the perverted humor that dad and I possess. I order an omelet and we three order a plate of mixed fruit to share, as well as fresh pineapple juice to drink. The food comes out and it is delicious. We talk and banter, and all of the sudden a mumbling man shows up who looks a fright, rubbing his stomach. I let Georgia push him away, since she was keen on speaking Spanish, because I do better pretending he’s not there. She calls him back over while he is offering to shine other people shoes and she put some egg on toast and gave it to him. After wrapping up breakfast I stop into a shop to buy rum, then go back to the room.

Enjoying some Pineapple juice

I receive a bag of Brazilian coffee from Georgia. We put on our swimsuits and make our way to the beach. There we took it easy, just listening to the waves roll in. There were plenty of young, dark skinned women in skimpy bathing suits. We got in the water, and it started out very cold, then, it became perfection. After a while we decide to try out our snorkel gear. The visibility was decent, but not great, and very little wildlife to observe. I come to shore and head to our spot, and unveil the rum and take a pull from it. Once again I’m in that very familiar state of mind that’s brought on by the combination of rum and waves. A state of mind that started with San Juan, Culebra, Isla Mujeres, Playa Tortuga, and now here at Boca Chica. They finally decide to come and join me. We three sit talking, until a weathered man appears carrying a box full of hand crafted goods. We look at the necklaces, wood pipes, and wood figurines, and I decide to buy some bracelets for an employee who gave me some money to buy her daughters something unique, and a necklace for Liam. I get a turtle necklace for him, to go with the turtle bobble head that I got him in Mexico. Soon after another man shows up to sell shells. I am not interested, but dad and Georgia entertain his persistence, and he buys a shell. As a “thank you”, the man cuts up conch meat, octopus, and salsa and bids us to try it, insisting that we don’t miss out on trying something uniquely Dominican. It was delicious, and not unlike what we had in Mexico. He then asks for money, which I saw coming. We refuse him. I am getting really weary of the dynamic and decide I will go back, there is even another man coming along now with paintings. This is ruining the atmosphere of my beach visit. We all agree to gather our things and go, and go we did. We got to out flat and changed, and decided to walk to get food. We stop at several places on the way and check their menus and prices, until we reach the end of the street. We tried a place called Concón. There I order shrimp, and enjoys stimulating conversation while I eat this delicious bread covered in tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, and olive oil. My shrimp Kabob arrives and it is exquisite. I try dad’s fish stuffed with crab, and decide that his tastes better. After Dinner, we walk back.

On the way, we buy eggs, bread, butter, and the largest avocado I have ever seen. We take it to our room and stow it for tomorrow’s breakfast. In planning, I notice the gas to stove is not hooked up, so I make a note to inform the staff.  Georgia suggests that we go for a night swim, and we all agree to the suggestion. After we get dressed, I go down stairs to the lobby. I inform them of the stove. Dad and Georgia then join me, and we ask where we could hit the beach and we are told that it was closed, and the beaches that aren’t closed, are dangerous at night. Georgia is unconcerned with it, and insists that we proceed on. So we do. I have on my shoulder beer, rum, and a two-liter of Pepsi, which I intend to devour so long as I remain as this third wheel of the group. So we trudge on, with me either in front or behind the couple. We stop again and ask about the beach, and the answer came the same. I reflect on the lady in the plane who warned us, and I consider this a third warning. Presently, I verbally opt out of continuing, and offer an alternative; going back to the hotel pool. When we arrive, a man asks dad to go to the room with him to fix the stove. Georgia and I sit by the pool at a plastic table, and I decide to make a drink.  I pour some Dominican rum into my plastic cup until it was about three quarters full, and then top it off with cola until I hear a satisfying fizzy sound. Soon my nose is filled with that familiar smell of rum with a hint of caramel smelling cola. Georgia and I converse for a while until a hotel occupant in the form of a well traveled man walks up and we all swap travel stories. Dad soon joined us and we spend the rest of the evening talking about past relationships and such. We eventually reach dad’s occupation as our subject, and in my drunken state I bring up a story of a lady that was getting tapped on in one of his seminars. She had lost her son from carbon monoxide. I told him how the story had impacted me when I heard it. I explain how it was Liam, my son, that I see dying when She tells the story. As I explain further, the rum, and my unsettled emotions soon bring me to some embarrassing tears. I start tapping frantically until I reach a peaceful and calming state. We all need a good cry. We decide soon after to go up to the room. When we get there we make French toast. I stumble to bed and pass out while the smell of rum and maple syrup linger on my breath and the skin from the roof of my mouth peals from eating the hot French toast.

 January 21st, 2012 

 I wake up and smell French toast cooking once again. I walk in, and see a plate has already been set out in front of me. I eat again while the dehydration from the night before begins to clear from my head. I finish breakfast and begin gathering my things for our trip to Bayahibe. After we pack, we get everything downstairs. In the lobby we see Ayatollah, our previous driver, and he loads us up for our two and a half hour journey. We travel and see some excellent sides of the Caribbean island. I begin to get sleepy, and consider resting in the back seat of the van. Presently, Ayatollah gets a call and starts asking questions to Georgia. We soon discover that our dear little friend had mistakenly left her passport and wallet at the hotel, considering we were an hour and a half out already; I consent to nap the rest of the way. We eventually get back and get the wallet, then make our journey once again. I get a broken nap in the back seat while the repetitive Spanish verses of the driver’s Meringue CD plays. I wake up and we eventually reach Bayahibe. We check several hotels until we decide on one. I immediately discover that this little community was much more to my liking. It seems more tourist friendly and entertained my fancy for island life. The rooms in this hotel are really nice as well. I place my things in a decent order, and we all decide to eat. When we get to the front desk, a lady who owns a restaurant walks us to it across the street. We try a popular fish called Maro, in three different dishes. I rather fancy mine when it comes out. It was covered in wine and rosemary. We finish the meal, and decide to stroll around nearby. We visit several shops and I buy some souvenirs. I set the souvenirs with the rest of my things and I prepare to hit the beach for some snorkeling. This beach is much more to my liking. There are definitely plenty of people to look at. I spot, on several occasions, some attractive bronze colored beauties.

The sun is going down now and to be quite honest, the fact that my dad is swooning and drooling over this obnoxious woman has been riding my last nerve. Dad is using his digital SLR right now to take pictures of her. There is no mistaking his approval of her body. We decide to head back and my flip-flops are kicking the sand fleas onto the back of my legs. We make it home after a long walk consisting of more flirting between the two lovebirds. Dad continuously makes witty jokes that escape her comprehension due to the language barrier. It doesn’t deter him from trying though.  We decide next to venture to the casino for a dance club. Our dear little friend is quite insistent that she shake her booty to some meringue music. We decide instead to eat somewhere else. I keep a good pace ahead of them until we find the restaurant. We walk in to a posh environment with live jazz musicians playing. I know instantly that I will be getting the lobster this evening. Sitting at the table, I place the napkin in my lap as I have seen many people do in the movies. The waiter comes up and asks for drinks. I notice he places more of the delicious bread that had grown accustomed to on the table. It was a wonderful medley of tomatoes, onions, and cilantro piled on top of slice French bread and a small amount of olive oil. As I grab a piece I order a Pinot Noir. On the waiter’s return we order and it turns out that we all want to have the lobster. We stuffed our faces, paid, and ordered a cab to get us to the hotel.

Yes. That sounds good. I will have that.

  From the hotel, we decide to walk to the casino only having vague directions to it from the people at our hostel counter. We walked and walked until I became fed up at the lack of direction we have. We walked back and ordered a shuttle.  We arrived at the casino and were pointed to the back. So we made our way to the entrance. I look around to see what we are dealing with and it was pretty dead. The music is loud, so loud that we opt for a seat at the back. A beautiful dark colored woman, about 19 or 20 approaches us and asks for drinks. We get Dominican beer. Georgia is bouncing in her seat to the music. She can hardly sit still and her enthusiasm is striking a nerve in me. Dad eventually decides to dance with her. She’s teaching him to do salsa, which is as foreign to he and I as some of the food in this country. I feel pretty alienated on this trip. I realize that I’m probably thon producing this exclusion, yet for the duration I feel forced into silence due to this woman’s “7-11 mouth” and by that I mean it’s like 7-11 in that it never fucking closes. After the dancing and the loud, bumping music had worn out its welcome, we finally were outside and waiting on the shuttle. I decide to look around whilst I wait on the shuttle and in doing so, I see a little plaza off to the left of the casino. I wonder around a bit, looking at the architecture, when a scantily clad woman comes up to me and mumbles something in Spanish that I couldn’t hope to translate. I begin to think she is asking for money. She must have blown it all in the casino. Either way, I am not giving her money. I am worn out from the day and I am not in the mood to decipher what she is telling me. She says “Pene”, as in pasta, only in Spanish that means penis. I can confirm this, because she is pointing to mine as she talks. Shit. She’s a prostitute. Motherfucker I am not in the mood to shoo off a prostitute, nor contend with jokes that will undoubtedly be made when I get back to the front. I finally tell her a firm “no gracias” and go back to sit by dad and the mouth and wait. Dad makes a snide remark about it as expected. As time ticks by, another prostitute comes and sits by me and offers fellatio AGAIN. Now I’m pissed. I can just see dad snigger like a bully. Finally, the bus shows up and we get back to our room. Dad went to visit our friend, who was adamant about keeping her dignity. However, dad never came back all night and I can assume that her morals took a back seat to her lust.

She just can't sit still...

 January 22nd, 2012 

 The morning crept in and I awoke several times. I finally woke up when I hear dad’s door open in the adjacent room. I decide that I want to hit the pool today. So did dad and Georgia. She orders a pina colada with one shot of rum in it and ends up drunk as a skunk. Give me a fucking break. I have to remind myself that this trip was free for me. FREE. Deep breaths. As I lay by the pool in the beautiful Caribbean sun I reflect on the dynamic of three. There is always trouble in the balance when there are three people on a trip. It has always been true for me. I start my scuba tomorrow and I am enjoying this sun thinking about it. I have a rum and coke in hand, reading “The Rum Diary”. Life isn’t so bad. I have, however, noticed that there are a lot of Italians out here in this part of the Dominican Republic. Not like New York Italians, but legit Italians from the Motherland. I find that very interesting.  After I finish my rum, I decide to go in for a short nap. After a good snooze, dad wakes me to get a bite to eat. We journey to a little place across the street where we get a three course Italian meal. It includes a vegetable soup, pasta with shrimp, and lobster tail. After eating, we decide to go through local shops and look around. I find a shirt to buy. I think tonight I will get some good rest since we a have a large day of scuba tomorrow. However, there is one thing that has been on my mind about the trip; we haven’t seen any historical stuff. It’s because of that I bring up the idea of staying in the Zona Colonial, where all the old stuff is. I get dad on board and we start making plans. I sure miss my Liam a lot. I hate being away from my little guy. Yet, this Caribbean breeze can help pacify my longing a bit.

 January 23rd, 2012

He's going in!

I roll out of bed early today. I made a butter sandwich before heading out. Then I had some fruit and eggs. After breakfast, we shuttle to the scuba place and we get suited up for our dive. We load up in a small boat and get to the dive site. Dad is going on a different dive than I am because I am finishing my certification. As I listen to my instructions from the instructor, who has a thick German accent, I hear dad tip backwards off the boat to proceed on his dive. I look back and see him give the signal that all is well. After I get the instructions, I tip backwards off the boat, float back up and give the “OK” signal. I emerge into a beautiful aquatic scene. I go down the rope, and see dad.





He snaps a picture of me. CHEESE.

I look down and I see old cannons from a ship dating from the 1700’s. Wow. There are even cannon balls and a plaque. This is so much better than learning in a pool.

We did more of what I had done in class. We go over signals, tank reading, and navigation with a compass. I was swimming in a whole new world. Like another reality. There are eels, lion fish, and starfish! As we are doing the compass test, I hear a TINK TINK TINK from the instructor banging on his tank. We all look back at him and he points. As I look up, I see a solemn barracuda swim by. Wow. I look at the other two blokes I was training with and they shoot a look at me that says they are amazed. Nice guys. They were from Switzerland. Training was over so we made port and I washed my equipment off. I was done first, so I walked across the street and ordered a Cuba Libre con Brugal Crystal. I decide to eat a banana I had packed as well. Half of my training is done. Tomorrow I have to complete 3 dives and I will be certified as a diver. Finally, I see dads boat docking. I am ready to eat. It’s amazing how much diving takes it out of you. After dad washes his equipment, we head down the street and find a place off the shore called “Captain Kidd’s”, named after my favorite pirate.

I order the lobster ravioli. After a good meal, we decide to head back. I think I will go to the pool again once I get there. I get back and change for the pool and get the inevitable out of the way; Rum and coke please. I love this! Being out here by myself enjoying the sun in solitude... Eventually dad and my dear little friend come down from a nap. The company wore itself out quick as I was tired of hearing her, so I decided to head back up and watch some TV. I think I will make myself go out. Seinfeld just isn’t working right now. It was 9:45 and dad decides that he is hungry, so we go across the street and I order a pizza. The pizza was really delicious. With a full belly, I climb the steps to the room and watch “Date Night” on TV and went to sleep.

 January 24th, 2012 

 Another reluctant early morning came quickly. I eat some leftover pizza for breakfast while I get ready. Then we head out again for another day of scuba. My mask was uncooperative today. I just couldn’t get it right. However, the second dive we go on is a dream. Dad got to be my dive partner for a bit while we explore a shipwreck. This is what divers dive for. Dad got to go in the ship while I followed outside. I was not allowed in during training, but I get to look through the holes on the side. I noticed the air bubbles try to escape from inside while little fish scatter everywhere. It was like heaven. After we finished, I got my certification. Well earned.

Georgia and I after the dive

We decide to nip to a local restaurant and I order chicken and potatoes. It was so good, and the view of the ocean was really nice as well.

The view from the restaurant

Now, back to Hotel Eden…  I pony up to the bar for some water and internet. Finally, dad comes down after waking from a nap. We decide to go out for dinner. For dinner, we had pasta with crab. I love it. It’s savory and delicious. We decide to hit the shops again, where I decide to get some gifts and a hat. We are going to the Colonial Zone tomorrow. I am ready to see Liam.







 January 25th, 2012

 We woke up and phoned our driver, Ayatollah. He arrives pretty quickly and we load our stuff up. This was another road trip! We drove for 45 minutes and stopped close to where we stayed on our arrival. There, we decide to stop at a gas station. We use the restroom and I decide to get an empanada and a red bull. Dad gets some chicken, which I end up eating most of. When we get back in the car, dad suggests making some rum and coke with my rum I had purchased. His is stout. Finally, we arrive at Zona Colonial. It reminds me of New York. It is hustling and bustling with common folk, just going about their lives. It’s very loud like a city should be. We were staying at the Hotel Europa. Ayatollah parked us across the street and set us up with the front counter. We secured our room and went up. As I enter the room, I start to inspect everything. I have a giant bed and an old style balcony overlooking the noisy streets. This room was mine and mine alone. After we unload, we head out to a local church. It was a ruin from the 1500’s called the “de San Francisco”, which was the first church constructed in the New World.

Me at the ruins

We walked through it and decided next to visit the other sites. We walk up to a plaza with old colonial structures and find that there is a museum in the house of Christopher Columbus’ son. There was a neat audio set that you get to listen to each number that’s posted in the rooms. It was much like the one that had a rainy Stonehenge in England.

Outside the Colonial Museum

Real Spanish armor

After the tour it was lunch time. We walk across the street and I order some spring rolls at a café. After which, we ask the waiter to call a cab.

Waiting on the cab

We took the cab to the Columbus lighthouse. There, Columbus’ ashes were supposedly resting. When we arrived, we were guided on a tour by a man called Danielito. He is a charismatic one for sure. He walked through and learned a lot of unique history and saw parts of the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria, such as their anchors and stuff. I was thrilled to see real pieces of history. After the exciting visit, we left and bought beer from a vendor. It was hot. There is nothing quite like getting a bottle of swill before even opening it. We took a taxi back to the Hotel Europa.

My homeboy Columbus' ashes

As I walk in, I see a pretty American girl pass by. I wonder what her story is. I Go up to my room, pick up my ipad, and go downstairs. I find a lovely white couch and surf the net for a while. Dad and Georgia showed up and started talking for a bit. They decide to go up to the room, but I’m not done surfing until I see the attractive American girl go to the elevator as well. I decide I need to pretend to go to my room too. We are all in the elevator and I go up to my room. She got off on the next floor. I basically walk in to the room, grab my wallet, and then head down for drinks. I order a Cuba Libra and wait for my companions to join me.  They show up and we head out for drinks. It was a beautiful night under the Caribbean stars. The night had a particular ambiance in the plaza. The air was perfection and we sat at a nice little restaurant and had some drinks with a little candle lit in the middle of the table. We were all feeling lighter and a bit sauced. We ate some toasted bread with oil and tomatoes on top to even us out and decided to head back. We arrive in the lobby and get some more drinks in us and I, having enough to drink, am filled with the confidence to invite the American girl over to the table.

A lovely Caribbean night

We all sat and talked (mostly in Spanish) just casually. We talk for a while about why she was here and I make a jibe at Georgia’s accent because she’s from Brazil. I feel like my state of inebriation has become abundantly obvious now that I’m being passive aggressive with Georgia. Dad and Georgia eventually leave, feeling defeated with alcohol. Dad leaves me with his stout drink that he cannot finish, which made things worse for me. I sat with my new friend for a bit. We talked and flirted for some time until it was off to bed. We took the elevator and I find out that she is indeed on my floor. She bids me goodnight, sans an anticipated kiss. As I leave, my mind is still on her, and the move I should have made.  In my room I paced and I suddenly thought of Puerto Rico, where in my single state of being, I frequently tell the tale of the chance that would have been. Wherein, I came to her room whilst she was in the shower, she came after me in a towel and I was too drunk to make any moves. A lost opportunity I felt in reflection, at the time. I resolved that it wasn’t going to happen again. In my drunken stupor, I knock on her door and ask if I could talk her into another drink. She was totally sober. She declined because of her early plans on the morrow. At least I tried.

 January 26th, 2012 

 I have cotton-mouth as I wake up. A night full of stout drinks in the Caribbean night. A night full of fool hearty attempts that amount to nothing in the scheme of life and where we ultimately end up. Now the hustle and bustle of the street is heard outside as I had left my balcony open all night. The light was pouring in and cars were whizzing by outside. I get showered and pack up all my things from this adventure. As I do, I hear noises outside. There is a parade going on. I decide to walk to a nearby castle and the noise from the parade was getting louder. It was in fact, blocking the way to the castle. I turned around after observing the parade a bit. As I walk back in I notice the American girl on my way up to breakfast. I enjoyed two eggs, toast, and some fruit.  We arrived at the airport and bit my dear little friend adieu. Then we journeyed on.