Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Well this past week I got to go somewhere new in the Caribbean and that rarely ever happens to me nowadays.   Our ship called at Amber Cove in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for the second time. I wasn't onboard for the first call so it was new for me. I've been to DR several times before but not on the north coast. So my friends and I decided that we were going to take the local bus to the market. Some people discouraged us from doing it and others encouraged us. We walked out of Amber Cove (the port area that our company built and developed) and walked out of the premises. We got bombarded by taxi drives and guides offering to take us to the market for $30 there and $30 back.  Since the bus was $1 we insisted that we would take the bus. Regardless of two of us speaking Spanish to them, they still followed us around and pestered us to take them up on their services. Then just as we were going to cross the street and catch the bus, a young gentleman stopped us and told us he would give us a round trip ride for $20 (all three of us) and he would give us a tour. He showed us his guide card and we negotiated more in Spanish and it was a deal.

Now I wouldn't recommend getting into a strangers car and if you don't speak Spanish and you're in the DR I wouldn't tell you to try it but for us it was the best decision ever!  We spent 4 hours with the 2 guides and they took us to the market, souvenir shopping, drove us around through some nice neighbourhoods.  They also took us to some pretty photo op spots, the malecon (ocean side walk) and to the ruins. We also went latin music shopping and went to a local restaurant to get us some local  food. It was a great day!

Here are a few photos from our adventures.

Happy Easter y'all!

Sunrise runs and breezy island strolls

So I am finally finding some time for myself.  I've been able to start working out a bit and relaxing here and there. One of my favorite things is to run on the jogging track either at sunrise or sunset, the view are breathtaking.  The ocean is amazing to watch any time of the day but its so much more special when the sun is rising. Don't you think?

Sunrise run on the jogging track

The view from  my cabin

This week I had a lovely dinner with some friends in Curacao and I also went for a nice lunch and breezy stroll in Aruba.

That's my home

Yellow Beach, Pinel Island, St. Maarten

Another week has past. Time flies really fast when you are a ship especially since we all work so much.   I took a day off in one of my favorite islands; St. Maarten.  The Hotel Director put together a management day at at Pinel Island. We took a taxi from the Dutch side of St. Maarten to the French side and then a water taxi to the island to enjoy some beach time and over priced drinks and food. Although it rained a bit and was mostly cloudy, it was still enjoyable and fun

Water taxi ride over to the island

Some photos of the beautiful island. Would have been nice if we have a wee bit more of sunshine.

Of course we enjoyed some over priced cocktails and delicious food (lobsters at 6.50 Euro a 100 grams) and ran up a food and drink that of over $500 but it was so all worth it. You live only once!

Straight outta da ocean

Check these photos out? Should be a beer commercial

And on our way back to the ship

It was a fun day and it was hard to go to work after a day out out on the beach all day.

Now i am ready for another week of work. We are starting the next phase of a new safety plans so it will be trainings, trainings, trainings and drills, drills, drills!
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I know, I know....

I know, I know that I promised that I would write more often and not fall into the "ignore the blog" trap when I onboard. BUT if you have ever worked a day on a ship, then you would understand.

I have been onboard nearly a month now and this has been the busiest first month I have ever had.  Not that there's a lot of BIG things happening but more like 1000 small thins happening ALL THE TIME.  And if you are in HR then you know that means a pile of paperwork sky high. It is super nice to see my dear friends again who have helped me to mend myself together after an emotional vacation. But it has also been difficult to see them. By the time 8pm rolls around and I am almost done work, I have little desire to do anything but sleep.

I have not been reading, I have not been meditating, I have not been working out. I don't like this. I am finding it harder and harder to balance my time with my workload.  I had a few opportunities to go out and hang with friends but this usually leaves me very behind in my work.  I still do not understand how I can possibly receive 50 emails an hour?! Don't people sleep?

But I need to find a way to get to the gym and read because i NEED to nourish my soul. Lucky for me this will be a short contract and I will have the whole summer off :)

Here's some photos of my contract so far.

On  my way, Toronto to Miami

Flying into Miami, overlooking South Beach

When in Miami I can never pass up the chance to catch up with good friends

Sweet Valentine message from an orphanage in Bali, Indonesia

A view I will never get sick of

One of my faves; Key West

Key West

Key West

At Fat Tuesday's in Cozumel, Mexico with my two good ol' friends DJ Billy and Christie

Christmas ornament from my favorite Texan Christie

Welcome aboard flowers from another ship

Curacao

Dinner out in Curacao with my ladies

Sorting crew mail, can you find me?

One of my favorite people; Chanel from South Africa

And I finally took a day off in Cozumel, Mexico. It rained cats and dogs but I still enjoyed it.