Carnival Breeze Fun

I wish I had known...

Next time!

There was a page on Facebook 

just

 for followers and fellow cruisers

 to

 keep up with Carnival Breeze fun and news!

They planned excursions off the ship.

Had organized rubber ducky scavenger hunts

This is the one we found on our way off the ship on the last day!

Found him all lonely on the stairs as we were leaving...

So Breezy came home with us!

Thanks, Bob&Kathy Williams of Dalton, Georgia!

He now lived in Saskatchewan!

They also coordinated a Roaring 20's Night.

Those two cute kids in the middle on the stairs were our nightly shared table dinner guests.

There were even door decorating contests

They are Cecil and Patricia Hays from Kentucky.

We really enjoyed our supper conversations with them. 

We hope to meet up some day!

Facebook... 

bringing people together.

What a fun way to plan a trip all year!

Christa

Senor Froggies Anyone?

Our second port of call was San Juan, Puerto Rico

Crazy to see a centuries old fort mingled with new age buildings!

We have been here a few times now 

but 

you won't hear us complaining!

We hired a driver who had a van to take us around.

We told him we would wait if he wanted a few more paying tourists.

He refused.....I whispered to Arnold...

White van...two people.....

never seen again!!

But we lived to tell another tale!

He showed us parts of San Juan we had never known about!!

And yup.....more tile...

 possible quilt inspiration!

This building was and still is the first Spanish night club.

This used to be a pool but too many drunks fell to their death diving into it! 

Now it is a courtyard where many weddings and parties are held.

He dropped us off in old San Juan and we strolled the shops.

We stumbled into this Turkish Shop called Tulip Art.

These lights were hand made by the owner.

I hmmmed and hawed for along time on a purchase 

but left with nothing. 

They just did not fit my home but they were fabulous and very afforable. 

I really wanted to see Fortaleza Street usually called Street of Umbrellas

It is one of the entrances to the Governor's Mansion

but

the flag was in it's place instead for the San Sebastian Festival that was the next day.

There was a man who made a living by feeding pigeons in the park.

You got to stand in the middle and have all the birds land on you if you purchased some feed.

Arnold passed.

There were also little bronze shoes placed around in the park.

They were installed by the second female mayor of San Juan to honor both,

 the first female mayor, Felisa Rincon de Gautier 

and

former governor of Puerto Rico, Rafael Hernandez Colon

for

 the work they did to aid the poor. 

They provided shoes for those who could not afford them. 

Such a nice simple tribute!

An NO stop at San Juan is complete without a yard of Margarita at Senor Frog's!

I went with regular size as I learned my lesson last time.

It's a long stumble to the ship after a drink like that! 

I know Arnold can't carry me

 so

 they would be calling out my name 

as

 one of the missing when that ship pulled out!!

Proof is in the picture!!

Someone slept all afternoon!!

Me and the lamb read a book! 

Christa 

Fleeing the Cold...St Croix!

Don't get me wrong....

I don't  mind a Saskatchewan winter 

when

 I am in my warm sunny sewing room..

But if I get the chance to flee blowing snow

like this....

For colors like these new bolts 

of Robert Kaufman Hand Painted Batiks...

I am in!!

These are all the colors I look for in a vacation!!

So we hopped on a plane...

(Tracey's favorite cookies)

by the end of the day we were at our favorite restaurant, Carrabba's

With my favorite drink...

Margarita!!

I love to watch the water behind the ship!

and waves lap the beach...

We boarded the Carnival Breeze in Orlando 

and

were off for 14 days of sun and fun!

This cruise was called a Journey.

If you know me...

I love an adventure!

The stops included alot of islands we had never been to.

We explored Grenada, Tortolla, St. Kitts, St. Martens, St. Croix, Martinique,

San Juan, and Barbados.

On sea days, there is a 'Tea at Three'

I knew a friend from a past cruise was aboard so we met up 

and

chatted quilting till the closed the tea room!!

In the elevator, 

we were talking about picking out Tula Pink and Kaffee  Fabrics out 

from

 our 'stash'for future projects

when 

a man asked 'Are we talking WEED?'

He was concerned as if it was,

as

 we sure didn't look like your typical Pot Heads!!

WE both burst out laughing!!

Good times!!

Thanks for the fun, Beverly! 

Take care till our waves cross again!

The seas were a little rough the first couple of dys 

so 

our itinerary was switched up for calmer waters!

My towel buddy and I enjoyed some quiet time in our room with a view

(and a balcony)

 

with a little Netflix and some Englich Paper piecing!

We also love to sit on our balcony and take in the warm winds!!

Our first island was St. Croix.

Such beautiful waters in the Caribbean!

We met a couple named Jackie and Bob from our ship

We hopped into a free golf cart 

to go tour a newly reno-ed resort called Fred's

It was gorgeous and right on the water! 

Maybe one day....

Got to just love seeing the ship...waiting for us!!

I loved the old tiles on all the steps.

Looks like a scrappy Farmer's wife quilt!

Then we all got into a van and toured the island. 

My friend, Beverly googled fabric shops for St Croix

so

I asked our driver, Moses if he knew of a place called Divi Divi Fabrics

He said he did!

 The other people on the tour said they would pay him 20$ not to stop there!!

But Moses escorted Jackie and I to the store!!

It had a little of everything

Their biggest market was for the school uniforms that are worn on the islands

Beautiful plaids

My only regret is I did not pick up a yard of that fabulous blue plaid! 

This was a first.... Not a stitch of fabric was purchased!!

As we were being taken to Divi Divi,

we spotted another shop that had some bolts in the window.

Of course, we headed there also!

Ebbe's was a family run fabric shop for 40 years. 

The parents opened it over 40 years ago....

The mom, and two sisters were a joy to chat with!

They also focused on supplying fabrics mainly for uniforms to seamstresses

Some of these other fabrics reminded me of Kaffee or Tula Pink.

Bright and bold!

It was a nice day spent with some new found friends with the same interests!

Thanks to Moses for leading the way!

Christa