It was our anniversary and we decided on a Caribbean Cruise. We would fly from Charlottesville to Miami, then hop aboard the Norwegian Joy and head for the western coast of Mexico, but our flight left at O-Dark Thirty on a Saturday morning. My wife, Nancy, insists on being early to the airport whenever we fly. When I say early, I mean really, really early. We got to the airport on Tuesday to give … [Read more...]
The Norwegian Joy
In our past cruise attempts, we have gone with Norwegian, and we have been very pleased. On our cruises to Hawaii, we sailed aboard the Pride of America, a 920-foot ship that services about 2,200 passengers. The Norwegian Joy dwarfs that liner. This baby would occupy most of the Barracks Road Shopping Center. It’s 1,100 feet long and holds over 4,000 passengers with a crew of 1,821, of which 8 … [Read more...]
Hello Honduras
As we eased into port of Roatan, on the Bay Islands off Honduras, a lush hillside of palm and banana trees invited us in. A few estate-like homes dotted the shoreline while modest homes were tucked into the hills wherever there a flat space was available. Cars ambled along the coastal highway, a few here and there, but nothing like the bumper-to-bumper congestion you would find in most towns on a … [Read more...]
The Beauty of Belize
Belize? Now we’re talking. Low country, pearl white beaches, pure tropical beauty. The Hilton Head Island of the Caribbean. Hundreds of islands guard the nation of Belize on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean Sea shorelines to the east and dense jungles to the west. The jungles of Belize were homes to the Mayans – early terrorists. It seems that everywhere the Mayans went, … [Read more...]
Gringos Arrive at Costa Maya
We finally arrived in Mexico. The reason I know this is that they had policemen on the docks when our 1,100-foot craft squeezed into port early Wednesday morning. I know very little about Costa Maya except it’s in the Yucatan and the Mayans trashed this place, too. Ruined almost everything except the beautiful beaches and waters of deep turquoise. Being in Mexico, I try to keep one … [Read more...]
Cozumel
Our last port of call was Cozumel, a largely undeveloped Mexican Island in the Caribbean. Millions of tourists flock here to breathe in the tropical air, bask on pristine beaches, and to explore the underwater beauty of hundreds of miles of coral reefs. Snorkeling is not my thing. I tried it once and the goggles betrayed me and allowed sea water to burn my eyes while the snorkeling tube kept … [Read more...]
Catching Worms
Boomers had numerous ways to entertain themselves and none involved cell phones or video games. We made the most of whatever was available. If there was a barn around, with hay, that was good for at least a week’s entertainment – hide and seek, springing from one loft to the next, using the stacked bales as a make-believe fortress and numerous other amusements. We rode bikes - everywhere. We … [Read more...]
Seed Time
We can’t plant yet, but we backyard gardeners can always dream. That means seed catalogues and hopes for an early spring. Every year I buy way too many seeds. I have a fifty-acre garden appetite on a 12 x 40-foot budget. This year will be different. I will buy fewer seeds to accommodate my mini-garden and I’m off to a good start. Instead of buying 10 pounds of onion sets, I bought one bag, … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
Exciting Residential Lighting for 2024
By Nancy B Wow! So many exciting new fixtures seen at Market this year. Lots of mixed metals, with gold and black being the most popular. New materials like faux rock crystal, Capiz shells, fluted glass and acrylics are being seen in lighting fixtures and fans. We see the most changes with ceiling fans. What we used to call Fandeliers (fans with small chandeliers), are now called … [Read more...]
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