Next Vacation

This summer, 2013, one of my best friends, Melanie, her sister, Melissa, is getting married. Let alone the vacation part, I love weddings! I love seeing everyone, and dancing! Dancing is my thing! Ever since I was a little girl I've loved weddings.  I have known Melanie and her family for quite some time, since high school. From the day we met we just clicked. She is basically a part of my family, as I am hers. We tell each other all the time. We have the kind of relationship that we don’t even invite ourselves over, we just say we’re showing up, or passing by.   

Anyways, this summer I will be going on vacation to Portugal with my best friend Melanie for her sister’s wedding! And let me just add that this will be the first vacation I take without my parents! I’m a bit nervous, but mostly excited. Not that I don’t like going on vacation with my parents, but it’s time that I start going with friends.

          The wedding is on August 10^th, so I will most likely be going to Portugal from August 3^rd to August 17^th, like this I’m not rushing before or after the wedding. Before meaning arriving in Portugal on the Friday before the wedding, and after meaning, leaving to come home on the Sunday after the wedding, like this the wedding is in the middle of my trip, and I have lots of time to prepare myself.

          I am so excited to be going on vacation with my best friend and her family. I will be flying with them on the way there, but because they are staying for a month, and I am only staying for 2 weeks, I will have to fly back by myself. I’m a little nervous to be flying back alone. BUT, I did find out a few days ago that one of our friends will be coming with us to the wedding and he is also visiting for just 2 weeks! So I will be flying back home with him, so I’m not as nervous as I was, but still nervous. All in all, this will probably be a vacation that I will never forget! I hope it’s as fun as I’m hoping it will be! 

Younger Years

When I was younger, my brother and I use to spend a month of our summer at our grandparents house, 2 weeks and one, and 2 weeks at the others. It was always very different at each one. At my mom’s parents’ house we didn’t do that much because my grandma worked in the morning to the mid-afternoon, and my grandpa had to drive her because she didn't drive. My grandma was a house cleaner for “rich” people. My mom use to drop my brother and me off at my grandparents’ house on her way to work. So even during our summer we had to wake up early. So as soon as we got to my grandparents’ house, we wouldn't even take off our jackets because in a few minutes we would have to leave and drop off my grandma at work. Every day was a different house, so some days it wasn't a very far drive, while other days were an hour or more drive (because of rush hour) considering most of the houses were downtown. Because she usually only finished work around 3 o’clock, we would usually stay downtown and run some errands with my grandpa. He doesn't speak that much English so there were only certain places we would go where he knew the people who worked there would speak Portuguese. By the time we finished all our errands, it was the afternoon and there was no point in going home because it was almost time to go pick up my grandma. Sometimes we would pass by my grandpa’s brother’s house and spend some time with them. My grandpa and his brother would play cards, while my brother and I watched TV, and occasionally fell asleep. This was a regular thing; this is what we did most of the time at my grandparents’ house.

The other 2 weeks at my other grandmas’ house (my dad’s mom) was a little but more fun, she always had plan for us, and she always use to make us laugh with the funny things she use to do. The funniest memory I have with my grandma is when she drove through the Drive Thru at McDonald’s, and I had to order myself because she didn't know how to pronounce what we wanted to order. So I ordered and my grandma drove up to the window to pay, and the way my grandma drive’s is really funny. She was so far from the window for me to pay and get my food that I actually had to open the door and get out of the car. My brother and I couldn't stop laughing, but we love her so much. She also used to take us to Woodbine Mall, and inside the mall there was a mini amusement park. My brother and I use to loving going there, my grandma also used to bring our friends when we were younger. My brother and I love spending time with the family, and we used to spend a lot of time with our grandparents when we were younger. 

Summer 2012

It all started on May 19th, 2012 when my family and I experienced being in a city on water. The Oasis of the Seas was the thrill of a lifetime. It wasn't only amazing, but miraculous and exciting. i will never forget these 7 days when I was floating in the middle of the ocean.

Who sleeps the night before going on vacation. No one. I maybe got 3 hours of sleep, max, the night before going on the cruise. Our flight to Florida took off in the early morning. I had to be up at 4 am. We all know we have to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight. I am not a morning person, but not when going on vacation, I woke up with a huge smile on my face.We drove to the airport at the crack of dawn, and checked into the park and ride. Because we were so excited to get to Florida, none of us slept on the plane. 4 hours later we had landed in Fort Lauderdale. It was the early afternoon. We were all so excited. First time on a cruise, who wouldn't be excited? We were quick to get our luggage and head to the taxi's to take us to the Ship. The taxi ride was not even 10 minutes, and you could see the ship a mile away. It was huge! Considering The Oasis of the Seas houses over 6,000 passengers for a whole week, they were very organized. We were checked into our rooms at no time.

When you first get on the boat they take your picture and you're handed a card. This card is with you at all times during this trip. With this card you can purchase drinks, food, souvenirs,  and its also your ID when getting off the ship when docked at different ports. This card allows you to get anything on the boat, but of course you have to pay for it, just not at the time, you get a nice big, VIsa/Mastercard bill once you get home.

The first place we docked was in Nassau, Bahamas. Here we got off the ship and headed to a smaller boat which took us to a reef where we could go snorkeling. I had never been snorkeling before, it was amazing! It should be on everyones bucket list! It amazing seeing the different types of fish, and so many different colours! The instructors were with us in the water, and one of them handed me some bread, and he said "just hold your hand under the water watch what happens." More than 10 fish came swimming to me! They weren't scared at all. It was amazing to see. After an hour of being in the water, we headed back to land, then had a few hours to do some shopping. We walked around town looking at the different flea markets they have. Everyone wanted our business, and everyone wants to give you the better deal. Very different then shopping here, that's for sure. Few hours later, we boarded the boat and it was off to our next destination.

The second place we docked was Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas we docked early morning, about 9am. I remember being in the dining room eating breakfast and looking out the window and seeing the mountains of St. Thomas. It was beautiful. Imagine waking up and seeing the bluest water you've ever seen, the greenest grass. Feeling the warm summer air. Nothing I've ever experienced before. In St. Thomas we booked a tour of the island. Our drivers name was Justin. He was so nice; I spoke to him the whole tour. He told me about his work, and how he loves his job because he gets to meet nice people like me every day. He also told me about his wife and his son. He told me how his son was born during a hurricane that hit a few years ago. He and his wife were in the doctor’s office at the hospital while his wife was giving birth, and the doctors told her to hurry up before the water came to the hospital. I was shocked when i heard this story. I could never imagine myself going through something like that. So we continued with our tour, Justin was a crazy driving, then again everyone there was. And I thought it was funny, their car's steering wheels are on the same side as ours, but they drive on the opposite side of the road, they drive on the left side rather than the right side like we do. After a few hours of driving through St. Thomas' winding roads it was time to board the ship once again and off to our next destination.

Our third and final stop was Philipsburg, St. Maarten, we hadn’t booked any excursions for St. Maarten. St. Maarten is known for having the best shopping, so that’s exactly what we did. We spent most of our money in St, Maarten. This is where we bought most of our souvenirs for friends and family, and including ourselves. Everyone in the shops were so nice, a lot of them sold jewelry. I went to one shop where a lady was looking at earrings that were over $3,000! Who spends that much on earrings! I thought it was ridiculous. After doing a little bit of shopping we went to the beach and just relaxed and enjoyed the view and the weather. Then it was finally time to board the ship again and head back to Florida and go home.

All in all, it was probably the best trip I've been on. I would recommend it to anyone! I had a blast, and it’s a great vacation to take with family. Enjoy each other’s company, and enjoy different parts of the Caribbean. I would definitely go again. Great trip!