Sunday in Florida

Birds of the Bahamas

As the vacation winds down, meaning that spring Break is ending. the reality of heading back to work and resuming my normal life rhythm is setting in.

This morning, because there were no animals demanding to be let out or fed, I slept in until 8 AM! That never happens at home. I am almost always up before 6AM and usually around 5AM even on weekends. It is the rhythm of life that unto which everyone has become accustomed.

We successfully navigated the lines of people disembarking and clearing Customs yesterday to spend a wonderful day on Jupiter Beach before returning to the hotel late last night. It was weird returning to a hotel in which we had already spent two nights. It should have been more like coming home, but the hotel is not worth a repeat stay. I will be reviewing it on TravelAdvisor in the near future. And the internet is spotty at best. I was having a terrible time trying to get they image downloaded. 

Today we get to do the dreaded Timeshare visit--a requisite part of the trip and probably the reason we got a rental car at no extra charge. We were luckier than most because we get to do the four-hours of our life that we can't get back after our cruise! 

Chris took the image of the birds that is featured today. 

It has been a great trip that is sadly coming to an end. But, there will be other trips and more fun and travel to exotic places. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ft Lauderdale, FL

Good-bye Bahamas

Lighthouse at Lucaya Bay

I guess things that are too short make me appreciate them more. Take for instance my three days in the Bahamas. It was a taste of island life.

And, like a fine wine, the taste lingers providing a pleasant reminder of the short time spent there.

Bougainvillea on a Wall

I will note, the the out processing process and return to the MV Grand Celebration for the trip back to the U.S. was an abomination. All told, Chris and I were in lines somewhere or another for almost four hours! Ugh!

But that experience should not taint an otherwise great visit to the Bahamas. We did determine that we need to come back when we can spend more time exploring the islands.

We were impressed with the number of exceptionally friendly people that we met--and not just Bahamians, the people from our tour were also very nice and fun to be with.

The good news is that the fun is not over. It is beginning another chapter. As I am writing this, the ship is sailing down the channel into port in West Palm Beach! And I get another couple of days on the beaches of South Florida!

Party on!

-- Bob Doan, writing from the Port of West Palm Beach

Bahama Beaches

Beach in the Bahamas

For our first trip to the Bahamas, this has been a very relaxing one. In retrospect, it should have been longer--maybe by as many as three or four months!

Beach Bonfire
(No the Palm Tree is not on Fire) 

But is has been beautiful. I am not going to review the Resort right now, I will do that later in concert with TripAdvisor. There are good and not so good things to repot.

The hardest thing to adapt to has been Island Time. Island Time means nothing happens as quickly or at the time we expected. There have been some incredible exceptions--like the bus to the bonfire last evening. Came exactly on time!

Lunchtime Diversion

Lunch yesterday did take over two hours, more Island Time. We had time to get acquainted with the wildlife. The dove enjoyed eating a french fry right out of Chris' hand!

Another wonderful day. Sadly, it ends today and we begin the trek back to home. But the memories will be with us for a long time.

-- Bob Doan, writing from the Bahamas

Out the Hotel Window - Bahamas

Awesome ocean view!

What more can I say? Probably the best view outside my hotel window that I have had.

It is awesome. Palm trees and the ocean.

It is an amazing view form the third floor of the hotel. 

Sometimes great views out of the hotel window are worth waiting for, and this is one of those occasions. 

I am waking up on my first morning in the Bahamas to clouds and warmth! It is awesome. I wonder what the day will bring?

-- Bob Doan, writing from the Bahamas

Arriving--Bahamas (three long blasts on the ship's horn)

The View from our Ship's Cabin

Via the magic of an overnight cruise out of the port of West Palm Beach, well it should have only been a three-hour tour cruise but they wanted more money, Chris and I arrived in the Bahamas. I could not believe that there were five cruise ships in port this morning! Two of them were Carnival cruise ships.

Yay! I love Spring Break!!!!

It is our (and my) first trip to the Bahamas! It likely will not be our last. Although the day was cool, it has been awesome!

Wandering Around the Shopping District

The overnight cruise was fun, but very basic. I am glad that I have been on other cruises and know what a real cruise is all about. Arriving in the Bahamas this morning during a thunderstorm at the Grand Lucayan Breakers Cay really put a damper on our day until noon, but, the view from our room is fantastic.

Bird of Paradise

We spent the day on the beach, although I had a light jacket on the entire time due to the coolness of the breeze. We walked the beach and did what we like to do--decompress from the frantic pace of life.

I have to admit, the Bahamas are a lot of fun. The scenery is pretty--it is ocean. Vacation--which is what this is all about, it fantastic. I did find my all-time favorite flower--yes, the Bird of Paradise!

I wrote last week about retirement being  a constant Spring Break, and this is the Spring Break of my dreams. I could live here, really. The people I have met are very impressive. 

Although overcast the weather has not dampened our spirits! We are having fun and there is a Bahamian band playing outside my room right now!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Freeport, Bahamas

Out the Hotel Window - Fort Lauderdale

Out My Hotel Window

Tiki Bar in the Daylight

Looking out the hotel window is not one of the prettiest scenes I have ever viewed. The tennis courts seem unused in a long time. There are no palm trees in the view but there is a great deal of green.

I guess having a room on the backside of the hotel means that I don't have the best view. 

But, in defense of the hotel, there is a very pretty and comfortable pool area that has a tiki bar and a hot tub. The area is very popular and last evening when Chris and I went to enjoy the evening there, it was very crowded and loud. There were many kids in the nearby pool which made the Tiki bar a less than enjoyable experience.

I did enjoy the sign near the entrance of the pool area advertising directions to many places. Why was Syracuse included? Who knows, but, hey, they are in the Final Four! Note--the hammock is big and always busy!

Today promises to be another great day!

-- Bob Doan, Writing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Monday Musings - March 28, 2013

1. Go 'Cuse! The team many thought should not be in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (a/k/a March Madness) is in the Final Four! 

2. Easter Egg Hunts are the best fun--especially when the kids hide the eggs and make the adults find them!

3. The theme of our Easter message was: "Easter Changes Everything." Thankfully, we have hope because of Easter.

4. It is no fun flying when the pilot never turns off the seat belt advisory. People need to go to the restroom and they feel bad not following the rules.

5. What is the difference between a high of 58 degrees and a high temperature of 81 degrees? Two and a half hours and palm trees.

6. I'm reading a book by a person that I know and have worked with! It is great and I highly recommend it. Matt Bentley has written a great book called Overwatch. 

7. So who keeps saying we are not engaged in a religious war? When a group attacks Christians celebrating Easter in a park, I think the nature of the conflict has materially changed. 

8. What is the first thing people do in the morning? I wonder. Check the temperature outside? Turn on the news? Grab coffee? I have to put the dog out, she wakes me every morning.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Golf with the Geese

Happy Easter! Today is the celebration of the most important event in all of Christendom. 

Mike just after Striking the Ball

Yesterday, however, the guys and I were able to play some gold at Eisenhower Golf Course. It was out first outing in Maryland for the season. Yes, at 37 degrees when we arrived at the course it was cold!

Goose Guard

The Spring day was beautiful. The budding leaves are growing in mass and size creating a haze of green in the branches. It was fun to be on the golf course again knowing that a whole spring, summer, and autumn of golf ahead. I got a really nice image of Mike just after he hit the ball, the ball is still in the picture, although it seems a bit deformed from the power of his swing!

We did have an issue on one hole, however. Geese! One enterprising pair was building a nest along the lake aside one of the teeing ground. It was kind of rough to have to hit towards the goose but relying upon the lift of the club to ensure that the ball was not a danger to him (I presume it was a him since he was standing guard of the nest builder). 

Jeremy with Geese in His Sight

Jeremy had the toughest time because when it was his turn to tee off, both geese had waddled up to the side of the teeing ground. It was pretty funny. I can confirm that no geese were harmed in the playing of the hole because all three of us controlled our shots.

It was a beautiful day and a fairly brisk round of golf. We played the course in about 3 hours and 20 minutes. It would have been quicker but there was a foursome in front of us.

A beautiful Spring day, golf, and now ready for the celebration of today.

In a word--awesome!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Springtime Revival

Weeping Cherry Beginning to Blossom

It is happening everywhere around. 

The land is reviving after the dark season and the evidence is even in my own yard.

The forsythia are blooming and the white blooming trees along the roadways here in Maryland are in full flower. As an aside, so is the pollen.

Daffodils in a Friend's Yard

But it is a sight, a very welcome sight after the too cold and too long winter.


My weeping cherry is even beginning to blossom. The daffodils have been in bloom for what already seems like weeks and they as that much needed splash of color to the landscape. 

My lawn will need mowing within a week or so!

I am happy to see the green return! The trees are beginning to be more than just bare branches!

It is an awesome time of year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spring Break

It is that time if year--Spring Break for those of us still in the work force and therefore calendar constrained.

I wish businesses celebrated Spring Break with time off, but at least remaining connected with the school system through Chris,  I get the opportunity to enjoy the break from studies just like I used to in the good old days.

Some systems are effectively ending their Spring Break this weekend; however, Howard County, Maryland, begins Spring Break today. Is it any coincidence that it begins on Good Friday? I'm not sure. Often it ends on Easter Monday. 

Regardless, it is the time of year for planning a vacation or usually in our case a work week around the homestead to clean up the winter debris. 

I do enjoy the week when the weather is supposed to be good--as it is next week. At least 60's every day and lots of sun!

I am glad that I have not lost touch with Spring Break and since I wrote of retirement yesterday, I guess I envision that aspect of my like as a permanent Spring Break. I know my friends who have already achieved that milestone do not seem as calendar constrained as I am now.

Is there a beach calling my name from somewhere?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD