a-b-c islands (aruba, bonaire, curacao)

aruba

so, aruba was, well, aruba… let’s just say thank god i’m not young and blonde… i don’t know… i have already made it clear i am not a real island-y type of gal, but i loved bora bora, i loved pago pago: there is something in the south pacific that is so lush and gorgeous and larger than life, like a gaugin painting, but places i have been so far in the caribbean seem pale, dusty, trashy, worn out, sleazy… i guess some folks like that, but if i never get a caribbean vacation i will really be ok with that – if someone said, you don’t have to work, you can just spend two weeks in the dutch antilles or you can spend two weeks at home, i would spend two weeks at home… so for those of you hating on me for the job i have, don’t… i would trade 6 weeks in the caribbean for my washington gloom any day if it weren’t for the fact, and i am grateful to have it, that i need the work!  thank god for the work!  it saves me out here – it is my job and my social life and my enjoyment every day… it gives me a point of focus and stuff to work on and a chance to continually challenge myself and improve… 

i am still getting to know my camera – my aruba pics turned out crappy cause i think i had it set wrong for the light… they all look washed out, tho it may indeed be a more accurate metaphysical representation of the environment… i have to get a tour next time that will take me somewhere to do something cool…

on a happy note, i had dinner at a great little indian restaurant run by people actually from india with my trainer, angie… i let her order our food so she wouldn’t yell at me for what i ate – hee hee… she is a vegan, but that girl can eat!  man!  but she exercises all day, so i guess she has to… anyway, the food was great and we had fun.  it’s nice to get to know another gal my age out here who understands life on a ship… anyway, we had a great dinner and a good time.

back on board after dinner, i got ready and went to work, and my featured set tonight was “come rain or come shine.”  i had some great folks in, tho, since it was a late port (we sailed at 11 pm), it was a quieter night in general around the ship.  without a nap today, that was ok with me!  more from bonaire tomorrow…

bonaire

so, bonaire was, well, bonaire… it’s kind of aruba-like tho the water seemed a bit more blue… no tour today, so i wandered around the port area, looked at the typical knick knacks, sunglasses, t-shirts… i know i will dig these little places more when i can get out of the port area and see some actual history or scenery and stuff… i did have a nice lunch of roast chicken and salad near the beach… it was so hot i was almost lightheaded.  getting back to the ship and climate control for an afternoon nap felt great…

my set tonight was the band-stumper american pie game, and i was stumped by guest vicki, with the genre of renaissance music… i could have b.s. nonnny-nonnied my way thru something, but it didn’t occur to me in that moment… nice crowd, tho.  i have a few pics which are better than the aruba ones, i think…

curacao

i finally got a tour!  it was just a little trolley tour (at 8am! yikes!) of curacao, and was at least a way to see something further away than walking distance from the ship!  we took a taxi to a place in town where we picked up our trolley – the ship was still nearby, but the only way to get to where we started from was to drive the long way round or walk the footbridge, which they had not planned on for this trip.  we did get to stay in town and walk back if we opted to not get a cab back after, which is what i did.  i have a day off from the gym, and am supposed to be restful, but i don’t think a short walk will hurt me… anyway, we saw some old churches, all the brightly painted houses, many in ruins, and the floating market where fishermen sell fresh fish right off their boats… then there is a produce market, and many little shops and cafes.  i saw a piano bar that was advertising a sunday jam where you could win a 6-month contract, and i thought i would rather shoot myself in the face than live here for 6 months… it would be fun to go to the jam and kick some local butt and then turn it down!  hee hee!  i spent a lovely morning and then returned to the ship for lunch, gig prep and rest… tonight’s theme was “island time” so we got our belafonte on and then did requests… i cannot write about everything on this blog, but someday i will have some good stuff for the book… there certainly are some characters out here!  ciao for now…