WE GOT A BONUS OUT OF THIS TRIP – We saw the Northern Lights in Bar Harbor, ME!

**The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights**

It was not the best display of the Aurora Borealis but were lucky to view it again (for the second time)! Our first sighting was in Norway last February 2023 while cruising with Viking. Actually, tonight the entire northern United States was able to see this amazing phenomenon!

Julia loaned us her Subaru Forrester (thank you, friend!) instead of renting a car!

We decided to take US Route 1 to go to Bar Harbor (Acadia National Park) even though it would take us longer to reach our destination….and what a decision we made! The drive took us along canopied tree-lined two-lane roads watching golden leaves departing from their branches; slowly rolling through tiny towns and villages lined with colorful antique stores adorned with multi-hued buoys hanging on the walls. The only thing that annoyed me a little bit were the numerous road repairs going on turning the two-lane roads into one and being stuck in traffic for several minutes. I learned later that the state’s Department of Transportation is rushing to complete these road repairs before winter since they would not be able to work after that!

We finally arrived in Bar Harbor Holiday Inn but too early to check in so we took the free shuttle to take us downtown. The reason the shuttle is free is because parking is very limited. We walked around this quaint little town watching fellow tourists crisscrossing busy streets toting the souvenirs they just bought. We stopped and listened to a performer entertain customers sipping cocktails nestled with their partners in wooden benches. Others stayed close to the fire ring savoring its warmth.

I asked Siri for the closest supermarket and my sexy assistant willingly obliged. I followed the instructions while Trini chatted on the phone with a friend, she lagged so far behind I had to occasionally pause for her to catch up.

**These beautiful flowers are counting their days for their beauty will be no more in a few more weeks!**

Like all the other boutique shops, the stores in Bar Harbor have slashed their prices to dispose of their inventory before shutting down for the winter. I, of course, bought another magnet, ball cap and a shirt!

The temperature was quickly going south as the breeze was starting to pick up so we decided to catch another free ride to our hotel to finish checking in. We got into the bus with a very nice elderly gentleman who loved to chat.

Going back to the Northern Lights story, Julia texted me and said that she saw the lights in her place and told us to go out quick as it might disappear! Trini, already in her pajamas quickly put her shoes on and grabbed her jacket. I was still in my sweat suit so I just put on my jacket and off we went! I opened my compass app to determine where NORTH was. Hallooo! All we saw were trees and glaring lights from the vehicles. I ran back and grabbed the car key and drove heading north towards Acadia National Park! After driving several miles in winding dim road, we noticed several cars parked in the narrow shoulder of the highway. I pulled over, turned on the flasher and got out but I could not see anything! I took off against Trini’s advice and drove further with no success so I drove back and parked behind the others and waited for about 20 minutes. I was getting impatient so I got out and peered in the hazy part of the sky when I noticed some discoloration happening. I pointed my iPhone and snapped a few shots and that’s when I noticed that the Northern Lights has appeared albeit not very clear.

After conceding that the lights are not getting any more vivid we decided to drive back to the hotel and so did many of the hopeful onlookers!

What a night….

MAINE – the northeasternmost state (and home of the famous Maine lobster)

Maine is a state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Lower 48. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and northwest, and shares a maritime border with Nova Scotia. Maine is the largest state in New England by total area, nearly larger than the combined area of the remaining five states. Of the 50 U.S. states, it is the 12th-smallest by area, the 9th-least populous, the 13th-least densely populated, and the most rural.^[11]Maine’s capital is Augusta, and its most populous city is Portland, with a total population of 68,408, as of the 2020 census. WIKIPEDIA

Trini and I have done the New England cruise in October 2012 and were so fascinated and amazed with the change of foliage colors that we decided to return and experience this magical autumnal phenomenon again! Our friend, Julia Simpson, the wife of my former co-worker in Manila U.S. Embassy (may he Rest In Peace) invited us to stay with her in Dresden, ME, about 45 minutes from Portland, ME. We knew that she lived in a farm but we were amazed to actually see it! She and the late husband built a clapboard two-story country house in their 18-acre property surrounded by mature trees with a natural pond near their backyard. There were fruit trees nearby and vegetable gardens which of course only thrived after the cold weather.

Julia gave us a tour of her spacious beautiful country-style home where many of the furnitures and furnishings were brought back from the Philippines when their tour ended at the U.S. Embassy.

**Julia’s personalized license plate – BEE FARMER**

Julia is a bee farmer and sells honey on the side just to keep her busy and earn a few bucks. She proudly showed us her “honey home” and explained the interesting process of how the bees make honey. Fortunately, the bees are not active during cold weather!

**Stacks of firewood ready for winter. Julia heats her home with a stove fueled by firewood.**

As we were craving for Maine lobster which we tasted in 2012 when we did the New England Cruise (still the best lobster we’ve tasted!), we asked her to take us someplace where we can enjoy this world-renowned delicacy again. We drove for about a half hour to a small town where you can tell that it was very popular among tourist judging the queue outside a restaurant!

We decided to go to the other side of the street where there were fewer customers (as soon as we finished ordering there was a long line after that). We each ordered the popular lobster roll and one order of steamed clams. It was pricey but it was well worth it! The roll contained at least one whole steamed lobster and it was unbelievably delicious!

After the unforgettable repast, Julia drove about a half hour to another quaint touristy town called Boothbay Harbor. We walked around enjoying the pleasant weather (in the high 50’s) and admiring the colorful souvenir shops. I bought the obligatory magnet and ball cap for my collections. Julia talked to a shop owner who said that the tourist season is winding down in about ten days and they will be closing shops until next spring.

We went home to get ready to meet Julia’s friends in a pub that night. After a restful nap, we went to the Old Goat Pug around 5:45 pm and there were already a lot of customers considering it is the only pub in town! We ordered drinks and after a few minutes Mike and his wife Barbara arrived. They are Julia’s neighbors who lives about a mile and a half away since everyone seemed to have multi-acre properties. Mike and Barbara lived in Seattle before they moved to Maine. Mike is a retired engineer with Microsoft and Barbara is retired from academia.

**From left to right: Trini, Julia, Barbara, Mike and me**

It so happened that this night, a salesman from the beer company Samuel Adams held a contest – hold an oversized beer stein filled with water at arms level without spilling the contents and lowering the stein. The contestants were all women and everyone cheered for them. I tried it but could not hold more than a few minutes. Good job, ladies!

Mike and Barbara were very interesting conversationalists and enjoyed traveling like us. They invited us this coming Saturday for a gut-busting steak and seafood grill party! I can’t wait….

**A lawyer’s office all set up for Halloween**

CDMX – Ciudad de México (Mexico City)

Since we came back from our trip in Brazil and the Caribbean Islands last December 2023, this is the first time this year that we are traveling to a foreign country.

And here we are south of the border where we will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary!

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico (officially the United Mexican States)and is located at an altitude of 7,350 feet above sea level. It is the largest city in Mexico and the most populous in North America. The population of this dense city varies from 8 to 10 million people depending on who you ask and what source you use but nevertheless, it is a very crowded ciudad and traffic is terrible! Reminds of Manila. Piece of advice – take Uber when in this crowded city as it is far cheaper than a taxi.

The first order of the day was to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. It was not crowded as we thought it would be. The annual number of pilgrims visiting the place is about 20 million people of which 9 million do so around December 12 the day on which Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated.

We next visited the Frida Kahlo Museum located about 15 miles from the Basilica. We took a cab which took us almost an hour due to the heavy traffic on a Friday, as a result we paid around $65 for the fare!

Frida Kahlo and husband Diego Rivera, also a famous Mexican painter. Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her many self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. The museum used to be the residence of Kahlo and Rivera but donated the house and most of its artistic contents to the Mexican people.

The following morning, we went on a guided Walking Tour covering mostly the historic part of the city. There were three other couples with us, all from California! We learned so much about the Meso-American region comprising central and southern Mexico, all of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. These parts are where the pre-Columbian Aztecs and Mayans lived more than 3,000 years ago. We never knew how rich and interesting their culture was!

The next day, we joined a guided tour of the Museum of Anthropology. Another educational and interesting tour! While the walking tour of the historic part of the city enlightened us about the history of Meso-America and showed us a few of the ongoing excavations and the interiors of the vast cathedrals, the tour of the Museum of Anthropology exposed us to the actual relics – potteries, skeletons, statues, etc. So much information was shared with us – both visual and audio – that it was overwhelming!

That night, I was able to make a reservation in a fancy restaurant – La Taverna de la Chanclas – a couple of blocks from our hotel. This is where we celebrated our 45th anniversary. We saw photos on the wall showing dignitaries, celebrities, including Bill Clinton that have dined in the restaurant. We truly enjoyed the Spanish cuisine – padron peppers and blood sausage for starters; grilled octopus for me and mixed seafood platter for Trini. We chose a local wine over the Spanish Rioja wine and we did not regret it!

The highlight of our trip is our private tour of the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan (which means “the place where the gods were created“). We were amazed at the construction of the pyramids by an ancient culture! While there were a lot of walking involved it was well worth it having experienced and actually set foot at these “holy” places. We were impressed with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.

After walking and going up and down the steep stairs of the pyramids, we stopped by for lunch to replenish and invigorate ourselves! We were entertained by a Mariachi duo and by two local ladies in Aztec costumes.

While we were coming back from one of our explorations of the neighborhood, we came across a long line of people on the sidewalk. I asked the Uber driver to drop us off so we could try their street food. I stood in line while Trini viewed the menu, we decided to try the costillas de res tacos and it was delicioso y sabroso! We sat on the sidewalk planter with the locals and ate the spicy tacos with our hands – no utensils! And it only cost us 60 Mexican pesos (about $3.20).

Tomorrow is our last full day and we plan on going back to the historic part of the city to eat lunch in the popular Azul Historico Restaurant where I want to taste Mole Negro and Manchamanteles!

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (Part 2)

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

“My pillow at home beckons and I shall lay my tired head and sniff the familiar scent.” – Kaloi

Our last full day yesterday was spent driving around the entire city of San Juan. Ruben (remember the taxi driver who gives false weather forecasts?) by now became our personal chauffeur.

We started driving through the high-end part of the city called Concado. This is where we went to buy bottled waters the other day except we didn’t walk far enough to see the resort casinos and other nice places.

We continued on to Santurce and he dropped us off so Trini and Oya can buy some fruits at La Placita. Ruben explained that the place turns into pulsating musical area pointing at the different bar restaurants. He said the entire area is blocked from vehicles and I can understand why – extremely narrow streets with nowhere to park!

**Our driver, Ruben, on the left walking with Oya, Tommy and Trini**

Ruben drove us to his neighborhood and I believe he called it Via Palmeras in Loiza. He stopped by a huge mango tree and tried to pick some of its fruits but they were too high. Trini and Oya were disappointed.

We then drove through a nice neighborhood called Ocean Park and went to a beautiful beach called Playa Piñones in Isla Verde.

We drove through this area where both sides of the road was lined with tiny stalls, it was called Kioskos de Luquillo.

Ruben took us to the public beach – Carolina Beach – where he said there were no Gringos. It was really for the locals and I was not impressed as there were trash strewn all over the place but Ruben told us it’s very popular.

We started to salivate at the delicious aroma of grilled pork and chicken and we followed the smell. We were hungry at this time since it was already past noon. Unfortunately, the barbecue were not ready yet so we ordered the local empanadas (pork or beef wrapped in mashed plantain and deep fried). Ruben told us to try the breaded deep fried bacalao (a type of fish) which was good except it was too salty for my taste. The empanadas were delicious though but you have to wrap it with a napkin to soak up the oil before eating it.

After enjoying our repast Ruben drove us along Torrecilla Baja where all you can see is a long stretch of white sand.

After showing us areas where tourists are seldom found, Ruben dropped us off at our hotel. Oya and Tommy asked Ruben to take them to their favorite place in the world – the casino! They came back after a couple of hours but returned again late in the afternoon to try their luck. Their flight was earlier than ours and the bus were taking them to the airport at 5:30 AM. Our flight is not until 2:30 PM so Trini and I spent our afternoon by the poolside sipping piña coladas watching kids frolicking in the pool. We tried to use the jacuzzi but were permanently occupied by folks enjoying their drinks and chatting with each other.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who faithfully followed us in our journey, it really meant so much to me that you would find time to read my sometimes too lengthy blogs. I know there are some who just clicked the “like” button and never read my travelogue but that’s okay too – those “likes” encouraged me to continue writing even when I was too tired and sleepy to do so. My goal was to take you to our vacation vicariously. If one person enjoyed reading my blog (not vlog as some of you indicated, there is a difference), then I have accomplished my goal!

Thank you again and until our next travels….

ADIOS SAN JUAN!

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Five centuries ago, San Juan was an impenetrable fortified city. Today, it is the capital of Puerto Rico and one of the top destination in the Caribbean welcoming visitors from all over the world! The captivating natural beauty of PR, its vibrant culture and old-world elegance is what attracts tourists from all walks of life.

We ended our Caribbean cruise finally and even though we were tired and wanted badly to go back home we still had to stay in San Juan since we purchased an extra 2-day post-cruise (non-refundable). However, we felt re-energized upon seeing our hotel and where it was located! We were booked at Hilton Caribe (4 Star hotel). It is situated right along the turquoise bay with amazing amenities. A very spacious room with an awesome vista of the Atlantic. It included a buffet breakfast with great coffee (very important to me).

**The view from our room** **before the sun-worshippers woke up**

As soon as we checked in, we called a cab and went to Old Town San Juan to explore it one more time. I asked the driver if it was going to rain and he said, “No, but it will tomorrow and the next day”. I asked him where we can try their local delicacy, the mofongo. This was recommended to us by a customs inspector who was very chatty with us. He engaged us in a lengthy conversation as soon as he found out we were Filipinos (he knew a few Tagalog words). The more he became friendly when I told him I was a retired senior chief in the navy. He said he also served in the navy!

The cab driver dropped us off in the center of San Juan Viejo (Spanish for old). We saw a cathedral and the three went inside while I stayed outside and listened to the guide of a walking tour explaining the history of the cathedral. I noticed a strong resemblance of the historic buildings all over with those in Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Balconied two-story edifices with rustic looks.

Ruben, our cab driver recommended a restaurant – Barrachina – where we can taste the mofongo.Mofongo is a dish with mashed plantain as its main ingredient and can be ordered with any meats, shrimps, fish or a combination. We ordered the combination. We also ordered refreshing piña coladas. The bartender used Don Q rum which was better than the popular Bacardi. We had a great meal and I noticed Oya getting a little tipsy from the rum so she handed her unfinished cocktail to Tommy. After lunch, we went walking and were barely in the historical site when it started to rain!

We took shelter under the trees but had to move to the buildings as the eaves protected us better. We were wet and cold so I called Uber but the app showed the first driver cancelled then the second driver seemed to take forever to arrive. First, it showed 8 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 13 minutes – counting up not down! So I cancelled the ride. Luckily, Ruben (our taxi driver) gave Oya his number so I called him and he picked us up after almost half hour. In the meantime, we were all shivering like wet kittens under the building.

As soon as I got inside the cab, I told Ruben, “I thought you said it was not going to rain”. He replied, “It stopped now, right”. Grrrrr!

**Taking shelter from the rain while waiting for our taxi**

Cold and wet, we went back to the warmth of our hotel rooms but the A/C didn’t help so I turned it off. We took a nap and decided that we will go explore and look for a grocery store where we can buy bottled waters. At this time, it wasn’t raining and the sky was clear. We saw winter visitors all over the place enjoying the warmer weather (compared to those in the US). Bikini-clad shapely women basking in the sun. A much better view from the pool deck of the Viking where more than 95 percent of the cruisers were senior citizens (no offense). =)

**Our hotel – last building on the right**

Slowly we walked back to our hotel while admiring the coastal view and observing the tourists that seemed not to have a care in the world, fully enjoying their vacation. Younger folks boldly speeding with their rented Segways and others nonchalantly pedaling through the sidewalks. A bare-chested man in dreadlocks pulling his wares in a cart while latin music is blaring from his boom box. A family of four with cute toddlers holding the city map pretending to navigate to their unknown destinations. What more can one ask in life?

**The restaurant where we had the mofongo and piña coladas**

ST. THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Viking saved the best for last! We pulled in at 7:00 AM in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the island of St. Thomas. It was carbon copy of yesterday’s beautiful weather – sunny and low-80’s temperature! St. Thomas was purchased by the United States from Denmark in 1917 (I’m glad they did).

St. Thomas is the gateway isle of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. It’s known for its beaches and snorkeling spots. Territorial capital Charlotte Amalie, founded by the Danish in the 1600s, is a busy cruise-ship port. Historic buildings include a 1679 watchtower called Blackbeard’s Castle, in reference to the area’s pirate history. On the harbor, 17th-century Fort Christian is now a local-history museum. ― Google

This island is really a paradise and this was so far the best island we visited among all the ten. The roads are well-paved and properly painted median lines. Pastel-hued buildings well kept including the government housing row! I have not seen a single graffiti and virtually no trash along the streets.

What I don’t understand is why do they still drive on the left side if it is a US territory? =)

Our female driver/tour guide Nisla, took us through a scenic drive along one of the most breathtaking routes on St. Thomas. Much of the island’s beauty lies in its endless undulating hills spilling down to stunning bays shining in a hundred shades of blue affording us fantastic views of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean!

**It takes lots of strength to get into the tour truck!**

**A souvenir vendor playing reggae music**

The last stop we did was the world-famous Mountain Top, 2,100 feet above sea level where we admired the spectacular views of Magens Bay and the British Virgin Islands. If we were this close to Tortola why did it take us overnight to reach St. Thomas? =)

**Notice the azure waters of the Caribbean compared to the turquoise water of the bay**

We reached the Mountain Top along with a dozen other tourist safari trucks and small roundabout in front of the Shopping Center/View Point was a little chaotic. However, the drivers enforced their own traffic rules and made the trucks move this way and that way in order for other trucks to maneuver about! No shouting, just signals and beep-beep communications!

**Tortola (British Virgin Island) is in the upper right hand corner of above photo**

After feasting our eyes with the panoramic vista, I lined up for the much-touted banana daiquiri they claim to be the world’s best! After a couple of sips I wanted to tell the bartender what I thought about their cocktail but decided to keep my mouth shut!

**A Filipino couple from New York –** **Pro** **and Nanette**

We’ve finally reached the end of our cruise although we purchased a two-day post cruise to stay in San Juan, PR. We tried to cancel but were told we will not be reimbursed for the paid 2 days.

While we were greatly disappointed with the itinerary changes – the main reason most cruisers booked was the Amazon River portion – we’re glad we continued on with this cruise. Not the best cruise we’ve experienced but in some ways it was an enriching one. I just had to open my mind and my heart.

TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (BVI)

The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with more than 50 other smaller islands and cays. About 16 of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is on Tortola, the largest island, which is about 20 km (12 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide. (Wikipedia)

Spread across miles of gleaming azure waters, the British Virgin Islands cap the summits and peaks of a chain of dormant underwater volcanoes. The famed pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd took up residence here.

As our ship was being guided by the tugboats my eyes caught the glimmering colorful houses perched on the verdant hillside overlooking the horseshoe-shaped harbor where white yachts mingled with simple fishing boats. It was a stunning view to behold and I knew then that our tour would be better than yesterday’s.

Last night, after dinner Oya, Trini and I went to the pool deck to listen to the Viking Band comprised of Filipino musicians. The female vocalist, Jenny is also a pretty young Filipina. Some of the staff of the cruise director were there urging folks to get up and “shake their booty” which we did! This morning, I woke up sore!

After a hearty breakfast, our group proceeded to the pier and was directed by the ship’s tours coordinators to our vehicles – an open-sided safari “trucks”!

Our driver, Mr. Green (that’s what he wants us to call him) drove us along Tortola’s steep (and I really mean STEEP) roads that lead to secluded beaches, hidden coves and breathtaking vistas!

Mr. Green obviously is a skilled driver – maneuvering the huge monstrous safari truck along the narrow serpentine roads avoiding oncoming vehicles at a every turn. Finally, our guide/driver pointed at a strip of white beach – our destination.

As we got off the truck, our guide handed us a voucher to claim our obligatory drinks inside the restaurant. We were instructed to find any empty tables (free) or rent a chair along the beach. We found an empty table right away!

The water was not as warm as I wanted it to be but I waded waist-deep anyway and urged Trini, Oya and Tommy who only went ankle-deep.

Right on the beach premises are where the souvenir stalls are always located so we browsed and bought the mandatory magnets.

Weather-wise today was the best ever – sunny and pleasant temperature! I hope our last port prior to disembarkation will be as nice or better – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands!

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

The Viking Sea pulled in at Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts. This island is lush with unspoiled vistas and old sugarcane fields. Together, St. Kitts and its neighboring island of Nevis comprise the smallest independent country in the Americas. Home to vervet monkeys, banana trees and coconut palms, St. Kitts coastal road leads to white-sand beaches and calm bays. Basseterre is one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean, dotted with Victorian and Georgian architecture.

It was drizzling when we started our tour at 9:30 AM and everyone felt cold after getting wet from the shower, the freezing temperature inside the old van did not help!

The drive around town was boring, or so it seemed to me anyway, since the houses and buildings are similar throughout the Caribbean. It was a Sunday so the streets were almost deserted including the Catholic and Anglican churches we passed. Tyler, our driver/tour guide was difficult to understand due to his thick island accent but there really was nothing interesting for him to tell us anyway. He pointed to the KFC and other points of minor interests just so he can keep on talking. Tyler explained that sugarcane was a major crop in the past; however, it became unprofitable so subsequently the government sold the lands to foreign investors who developed them into hotels, resort, shopping centers, etc. We saw new buildings along the coast as we headed to our destination.

Compared to the other Caribbean islands, St. Kitts and Nevis has the most fertile lands enabling them to grow many agricultural crops that other islands, that are volcanic, import. By the way, gasoline here is a whopping $13 per gallon.

**WE PASSED BY THIS TREE WITH A FLOCK OF EGRETS**

The only existing French plantation house on St. Kitts, the Fairview Great House was built circa 1701 and originally housed French military officers. Today, guests can tour the beautifully restored property, taking in the period furnishings, kitchen, apiary, chapel, and bathhouse before exploring the two-and-a-half acres of botanical gardens, filled with tropical flowers, fruit trees, and monkeys.

Slave trade was common during these era and St. Kitts and Nevis were not an exception. The estate’s cellar had huge posters that chronologically narrated the history of slavery in the islands.

After an hour of touring the huge estate we finally went back to the ship. Of course, the only way to get back there is through a myriad of souvenir shops. We couldn’t resist the low prices in this one shop and Trini was allowed to haggle. There were three cruise ships in town including us – Viking, Norwegian Cruise and another one that I’ve never seen before. So the harbor was really crowded. Business was brisk – lots of knock off watches and designer bags on display. Of course, we bought the mandatory magnet; a ball cap and faux straw hat for me (made in China); tote bags for pasalubong. Oya bought a Christmas tree globe decoration which she buys a different one from every island.

After shopping, we made our way back to the ship passing crowds of cruiser in bars and benches enjoying Carib, the regional beer. Each one carrying a shopping bag to take back wherever they’re from!

Another day in paradise….

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA

St. Lucia boasts some of the Caribbean’s most idyllic beaches, many near its capital of Castries. The British and French fought over it for 150 years. The British finally triumphed in 1814. Today St. Lucia is a sovereign nation but is still part of the British Commonwealth.

We took a stroll outside the ship’s terminal since our tour did not start until 11:30 AM. Immediately, a stench caught my nostrils – the smell of a “wet market“. It reminded me of Manila! The street was jammed with vehicles and pedestrians crossing at their own risks! Since it just rained the potholes were filled with water and navigating the almost non-existent sidewalk was tricky. We walked a couple of blocks and went back after browsing the ubiquitous souvenir shops along the crowded avenue. There were groups of cruisers from the ship docked across from us (looked like an Italian cruise ship).

On our way back to the terminal, it started to shower, and that’s how it was the entire time we were outside – a peek-a-boo game with the sun! It would shower briefly and gets dark, then after about 10 minutes it would stop and become sunny again! We were given a cheap flimsy poncho as we departed the ship. An umbrella is also available in our stateroom for our use but too cumbersome to tote along while doing the excursion. So we packed our own light waterproof jackets.

We were herded to our small van to take us to the rainforest up in the mountain. Again, being a former British colony they drive on the left side of the road. Our driver, David was really a cautious and safe driver compared to the other hair-raising daredevils that seemed to forget that there other vehicles on the road! We drove narrow serpentine roads ascending to our destination. As I mentioned, the place reminded me of Manila but I should add that it was also similar to the small towns in the provinces in the Philippines where houses are built very close to the highway making the roads narrower.

The photos above show a couple of locals butchering an animal that I could not identify. The guy on the left was either joking with the driver or was trying to sell the mystery meat.

Most of the plants and trees we passed along the way are pretty common in the islands – bananas, coconuts, mangos, papayas, avocados, etc. And all these plants too are found in the Philippines.

A **GROUP OF TOURISTS HEADING TO THE ZIPLINE PLATFORMS**

Finally, after those numerous near-misses along hair pin turns, we arrived in our destination to do the Aerial Tram ride.

The tram (or gondola as the guide call it) crept up through the rainforest – again, shower, stop, shower, stop which made it a little chilly. We were able to get close to many varieties of tropical plants many I’ve never seen before. Vines and orchid-like flora clinging to the trunk of towering trees. Giant fronds of tropical ferns reaching out to us. Gurgling brooks cascading from a small waterfall – the sound violating the serenity in the damp surroundings. We passed several zip line platforms watching the apprehensive daredevils being harnessed to the cables getting ready for take off! Off they go some shouting “cowabunga” – never heard this for a long time!

While the tram was in the opening of the forest, the guide pointed out where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, it was cloudy (again) so it was difficult to see anything. Then suddenly the showers started again and the wind’s direction was coming right at us! Oya, Tommy already had their jackets on and I donned mine but Trini did not bring hers so she used the cheap poncho.

The aerial tram ride lasted more than an hour as it was a slow movement and would stop occasionally for us to admire the dense forest. We spotted a couple of colorful hummingbirds hovering near us but we were disappointed not to see any parrots.

When we looped back to where we started we went to a short nature hike where we learned interesting facts about some of the plants. It was a treacherous walk since the ground was wet and slippery and the overgrown roots cutting through our paths. But we made it back unscathed.

ROSEAU, DOMINICA

No, not the Dominican Republic as some folks think! Dominica is located in the Caribbean just like Dominican Republic. It was first claimed by France in the 17th century although no physical colonization occurred. Then the British established a small colony in the island in 1805 and used it as part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Kalinago or Carib inhabited the island before it was discovered by Columbus.

**A view from Morne Bruce Garrison** **overlooking the bay and our ship**

The island is 90 percent volcanic and 10 percent lime stone which makes it difficult for agriculture to thrive. However, Dominica is called the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean” and is celebrated for its mountainous rainforests and rare flora and fauna. We visited their Botanical Garden and saw several of these interesting plants. Cami explained the plants’ unique characteristics and really educated us on many of the local flora.

Our tour van took us through the tiny capital city of Roseau where we saw vegetable and fruit vendors selling in the streets and from the back of their vehicles. I saw the usual pastel-colored houses and a few run-down buildings that seemed neglected. Cami, our tour guide who is also a Kalinago (the indigenous inhabitants of the island) told us that the island was 95 percent devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The powerful destructive hurricane lingered on land for more than 4 hours causing havoc to the island. Until now, a large part of the infrastructure that was damaged had been left unrepaired!

**A giant African Baobab tree that was downed during the hurricane crushing a vehicle**

Cami, the tour guide related a very interesting fact about the island. She said that there are many centenarians (100 years old and older) who lived in Dominica – one even lived to be 128 years old (Google it if you doubt it)! In fact Cami’s own grandmother lived to be 106 years old! So many old people who lived in the island that it was considered a “blue zone“. Blue Zones are places around the world (and they’re not that many) that are dedicated to creating healthy communities. The first in the US just recently recognized is in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Our tour took us to a place where some of the handicrafts were made by blind people! They used rattan for the baskets. Trini bought a colorful kaftan which she proudly showed me, when I looked at the tag it says “Made in India“!

The last stop took us to a higher elevation that allowed us to admire the bluish colored water where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea converge, and the multi-hued buildings below. The view point is called Morne Bruce Garrison a former British fortification that was built to protect the island from the French.

While at the Morne Garrison I spotted a man selling cold drinks and he was sporting a colorful knitted head gear (I surmised to hold his long dreadlocks). I bought a bottle of Caribe beer and asked him if I can take his picture, he gave me his permission so I snapped a couple of head shots (see below).

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