The rest of day 2 and Day 3! (Thursday)

No we are not still waiting for our taxi!  

We had to get back to Bolongo Bay because cousin Tim and Cheryl were waiting.

This is cousin Tim and me.

 And activities director, Theresa, informed us it was Carnival Night!

Lots of fun on carnival night, like this stilt lady, and a Congo line, and a Limbo dance, and dancing, and a guy that walks on glass and food and drinks and artsy/craftsy booths....

 

  

One of those booths had beads and hair braiding.

Taylor hit up cousin Tim for money to get her hair braided....

(he's a pushover btw)

but a text to the bride changed her mind.  The bride wasn't sure it would be tasteful for the wedding.

 

The next day (Thursday) we hung out at the motel waiting on the rest of the gang to arrive.

There is plenty to do there without ever leaving the place.  They have a bar (Iggy's) that also serves food, another restaurant,

and all kinds of water sports, that are included with your stay. 

 (the motorized boat is not included but all other stuff is)

We snorkeled every day.  And they have events, such as A rum dive!  They throw a few bottles of rum into the bay area and you dive for them!

Ready....Set.....GO!

Trent was the big winner on the rum dive.

And there are plenty of ways to relax!

My Shug...relaxing...

 I was coming down the stairs from our room and this guy decided he wasn't moving!  They are nice, but they are intimidating.  A maid finally walked up and got it to move!

Here's the thing about St. Thomas, and I suppose it depends on how far from the airport you are staying, but the island is like a BIG hill or a small mountain.  So the trip from the airport to Bolongo Bay (which is right on the beach) is windy and hilly and curvy all at once.  And it's probably a 20-30 minute drive.  The roads are narrow and the taxi drivers....well I suppose they drive this route 20 times a day, so let's just say they are used to the roads.  I don't remember anyone arriving at Bolongo Bay feeling well!  It's a little motion-y getting there.  So if you decide to go, prepare yourself!

But everyone arrived safely, except Eric, the groom, who cut his leg on the cheap, broken-down airplane.  (I have to say I could not have been more disappointed in American Airlines)  Anyway, we all got together for a fun dinner on the beach.  Did I mention every single thing is right on the beach?  I love it.

Then we all gathered at Iggy's for Karaoke night.  No, we can't sing, but we can have fun!

Well.....Greg can sing....

but these two can't!

My Shug and Robert

But as I said...

We can have fun!

My sister and her family

This is My Shug, Taylor, and Tim...

Can you guess what song they are singing?

(YMCA! My Shug was being a Village Person!)

Chris, Vickie and Taylor

Chris, Theresa, Cindy, Ashley, Tim, and Vickie

with Stick Mom! (who couldn't make a personal appearance)

Blogettes, I know I am WAY behind.

I'm not giving up.

Please don't give up on me!

Cindy Bee

Vacation Part III

 When you go to Charleston, SC, you HAVE to take a carriage ride.  We take one every time we visit.  The tour guides are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions about the city.   And it's a great way to see the city.

 And just try to guess what the  name of this horse is...

 My Shug always pets the horses after they take us for a tour.

 And the other thing you must do, is visit their gorgeous graveyards.  We were told that a graveyard is next to a church and considered holy.  A cemetary is not connected to a church....

 During the day if the graveyard doors are open, you are allowed to go in and visit. 

 And most evenings you can schedule a ghost tour through the graveyards. I would also recommend a ghost tour.  They are usually filled with history as well. 

 (look at all those bricks!)

 I love the live oak trees.

 So, on Thursday I got a phone call.  It was my Mom, telling me my Aunt Esther was very ill and that her and Dad were on their way to Indianapolis.  She said that she would not be able to take care of my dog, that she needed to be there for Dad.  Understandable.  Esther was his only Sister out of seven children.  She was the youngest.  Her Mom died young, and "the boys" helped raise her.  She didn't have children and her husband passed a few years ago.  The hospital called my parents and told them that Esther had been in the hospital since Monday, in Logansport, but they were transferring her to Indianapolis by ambulance, and that she named Dad as Power of Attorney. 

We had already left Charleston anyway, because of Tropical Storm Andrea.  She was due to hit Charleston that afternoon.  But we wanted to go to Gatlinburg, and also visit some friends in Kentucky. So I started making phone calls to see if I could get a hold of my neighbor to see if he could let Dixie out.  I usually keep my dog at home, and have someone let him out a time or two during the day.  Our neighbor Kenny said he would do it.  Bless my neighbors out here in the country.  (although my city neighbors were also nice, and also helped out with my pets.  I'm so lucky)

My Aunt did not get better, and by Sunday she passed away.  She was fine the Sunday before...even went to a graduation party.  We were told that her lungs and heart were not strong enough for surgery.  She was only 70 years old, but she was a heavy smoker....for years.
(I know I told you about my Aunt the other day, but it was kind of a quick summary and I just wanted to give you a bit of chronological order to the week.  I am playing catch-up again.  Not to worry, last week will be summed up in one post!  And Peeps, I'm going to tell you, I'm tired)

Cindy Bee

PS - The name of the horse....Kevin!  I know...weird name for a horse, huh?  Did you guess right?

Vacation Part I

I THINK things have calmed down here for a few minutes.  After three trips to AT&T I did get some of my pictures back, and my phone is working again...so far.  When I say I'm computer illiterate, I mean it.  I do try though. Anyway, I have a STORY to tell y'all...and I'm going to start at the beginning.... and post in bits and pieces....and by the time I get to the end some of you might not like what I have to say, but I gotta say it.  And I might pre-empt the story tomorrow for Father's Day pics because we celebrated last night and we had a blast! 

So here we go. A couple of months ago, my Sister invited us to go with her and her husband and child to Disney.  At first we were going to go, but then decided we really need a place a bit more relaxing.  We've been stressed lately and my Shug hasn't had a real vacation in three years.  We thought of Gulf Shores, AL, Destin, FL, and Myrtle Beach, SC.  We wanted a beach and sand.  But as luck would have it, it was going to rain on the coast all week, and rooms were in the $250-$300 a night price range.

So, I called The Palmer Home, on Thursday. 



We were leaving Saturday.  I thought if they could give us a good deal, at the last minute (they often do if they have openings) that we could go to Charleston, SC.  This is the third time we've stayed at the Palmer Home, and we've been to Charleston several times.

 I figured if it rained, we could shop downtown,

or go to the market and shop and chat with the locals.

 

 Or we could sit on the balcony and enjoy the view and drink wine.  Every day from 4:00 to 6:00 there is wine and cheese at the Palmer Home.

My Shug said he didn't care if we went back.  So I called.  And all they would give us was the Carriage House, if we stayed four nights.  I kind of wanted the Suite, because that is what we had in the past, and the suite has a door that opens right onto the third floor balcony.  Do you see a pattern here?  Same, Same, Same.  But I took the carriage house.  I made a change!  I will say there is something comforting and relaxing about getting to know a vacation place so well that you don't get lost when you go there.  And you don't have the anxiety of the unknown. 

 This is the carriage house.  We had the whole place except for that little room to the left.  Two bedrooms upstairs and a kitchen, dining room, and living room downstairs.  See that bush to the right.  The tall one.  Well one night it stormed all night and that bush banged against our window and our bed was right up to that window.  It was something right out of a scary movie.  Every time it lightened the mansion would appear.  It sits in front, to the right, of the carriage house.

 So off to Charleston we went.

 We figured if it was nice out, we would head to Folly Beach.  It's about 20 minutes from Charleston.

 If you go in by the pier, you pay $8.00 to park and you can change into your swimsuit in the restroom.

And you can lean against the pier if you want shade and your Shug wants sun.

Plus by the pier they have a little gift shop and food stand.  And it's fun walking out on the pier.

So, we changed our plans at the last minute and went to Charleston, SC.
We got an extra bedroom in the Carriage house that I didn't really want, but we took anyway.
And we had to stay four  nights to get our deal.

I'll stop here for now.....