Punta Cana - December 24 - 30, 2016

December 24, 2016

   After a quick three hour flight, we landed in Punta Cana, and with little effort boarded the mini-van for our destination, Colonial Majestic Resort. We were so happy to see Rich, as our welcoming committee, since we'd all be spending Christmas together.  We checked in, did a little recon, and then waited for our luggage....and waited....and waited! Finally, after Connor and I did a bit of detective work, our luggage was located.

We quickly changed and went to dinner.  The resort is absolutely lovely and the weather couldn't be better. We're looking forward to some quality family time in paradise.

December 25, 2016

  Merry Christmas! After breakfast, we ventured out to the beach.  It was an unusual "Christmas" to watch Zumba on the beach!  Personally, I loved it!

Rachelle, Rich, and I did work out at the gym in hopes of ridding ourselves of any extra calories from this all inclusive resort!  After my workout, Rob wanted to be helpful and fill the Jacuzzi with water to help soak away any sore muscles.  Only one problem, the drain plug wouldn't work.  Well, it's a good thing I didn't really have my heart set on that Jacuzzi, because two days later, the plug was finally replaced.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner together and then went to a show where Connor and Zaydie danced away.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

December 26, 2016

  Another "Chamber of Commerce" weather day, and we spent the day reading by the pool, Punta Cana style:

Rich and Connor got some more beach time, and Rachelle worked on her new business!

Rob did encounter another little glitch today when he went to make a cup of the local coffee.  Suddenly, swarms of white microscopic bugs appeared.  He called the office for help.  Now, there is a definite language barrier and communication was a constant struggle.  So, I'm busy on my phone Googling "insects" in Spanish while Rob is on the phone with the office.  He totally lost it when the manager said, "Do you want someone to come show you how to make a cup of coffee?"  Oh, my!  Anyway, shortly thereafter, someone appeared at the door with bug spray.  Not good!

December 27, 2016

  Today, was one of those days I'll remember forever with a smile.  Connor and I went golfing at Punta Blanca Golf Course!  We had such a great time together.  The highlight of the day was when Connor bought me a golf ball, which is proudly displayed to make me smile for years to come.

   Meanwhile, back in our room, the beautiful fan in the living area suddenly stopped working.  Rob called the office, and again, with a bit of a language barrier, managed to communicate the problem.  The maintenance worker arrived, declared that the fan was "caput" and that it would have to be replaced.  Which did happen, two days later.  We've all decided that we have "the lemon" room!

  We all relaxed at the pool bar before getting ready for dinner.  Afterwards, we enjoyed another show, while I sipped a delicious chocolate martini! Part of the entertainment was audience participation in a dance class.  We were all SOOOOO proud of Connor for participating.  Love, love, love that kid!

December 28, 2016

  Rich, Rachelle, and Connor went on an excursion today, while Rob and I relaxed by the pool.  We're getting plenty of books read!  AND, we're really enjoying the delicious coffee.  The jogging trail is gorgeous, so I'm logging in plenty of steps. We also took a nice stroll down the beach where the white sand is like powdered sugar.  Poor Connor suffered a finger injury while out on the excursion.  He is such a trooper, never complaining about an injury that I feel sure must hurt.  Love that kid!

   Rob and I had reservations at the resort's French restaurant, and the meal truly was delicious.  Afterwards, we met up with the rest of the family.  The absolute best part of this trip is the great family time we get to spend together.  We sit and chat for hours.  Smile!!!!

December 29, 2016

  

   Can't believe that our final full day has arrived.  We've had THE MOST perfect weather!  Today, we spent most of the day by the pool.  Another favorite memory - Connor got dragged into a dance class.  He is such a good sport.  Anyway, eventually, he was paired with another adorable teenager, a VERY cute young gal, and I took some great pictures; however, you won't see them here because I promised Connor that I wouldn't post the pictures.  Take my word for it, the pictures are fabulous!

   We also spent some time walking "into town" - one word - SAD!  The little stores were pitiful, and the owners were like sharks at feeding time as we entered.

   Our dinner was delightful!  We had reservations at the Japanese Steak House.  We sat around a hibachi table enjoying a fantastic performance by the chef, as well as a delicious dinner.  It was a great ending to our time together.

December 30, 2016

  Farewell Majestic Colonial, Punta Canta!  The Kleimon Family enjoyed our stay.  We rode to the airport together to begin our journey home. While our tans will fade, our wonderful memories will last a lifetime.

New Orleans - December 1 - 5, 2016

December 1, 2016
   We left around 0900 hours for our next adventure to New Orleans to attend the wedding of Patrick and Colleen Stewart.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day so our drive was quick lovely. As we arrived at the Q&C Hotel in New Orleans, we noticed a peaceful demonstration across the street.  Welcome to New Orleans!

After we settled into our room, we ventured out for dinner and coffee at the Starbucks located conveniently around the corner from our hotel. 

December 2, 2016

Another gorgeous, sunny day!  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our new favorite Starbucks, then set off for the WW II Museum.

We saw only a fraction of this incredible museum and vowed to return some day to finish the job.  We did eat lunch at the museum, and my mouth still waters when I recall the delicious food.  I had the MOST amazing truffle fries EVER, and the po-boy had so much shrimp that Rob and I together could not finish them!  We've quickly discovered that the food in New Orleans is AMAZING as we enjoyed Italian food with the Hussies and Alan before attending the Meet and Greet for Patrick and Colleen. 

We had such a great time meeting all of the friends and family of this adorable couple.  I was the "photographer" and it was heartwarming to watch all the people celebrating Patrick and Colleen.

December 3, 2017

We started our day with coffee and beignets at Café du Monde!  Actually, my cell phone and I wore much of powdered sugar from my delicious breakfast.  We then toured the city and enjoyed a truly fabulous day.

We used "Uber" for our ride to dinner, where once again we ate WAY TOO MUCH!  Back at the Hotel, several of us gathered in the bar and chatted way into the wee hours.

December 4, 2016
It's the wedding day, but we have plenty of time to explore this wonderful city, so off we go!

Breakfast at Jimmy J's Café was well worth the thirty minutes we stood in line before getting a table.  Our cute waitress quickly named Rob, "The Fox in the Hen House" with his three Hussies!  After strolling the streets, it was time to return to get ready for the wedding.  Unfortunately, the rain began.  Oy, did it ever rain! Again, I was the videographer, so I loved capturing the happiness and pure joy of the wedding party, friends, and family.  Even in the torrential rain, it was one of the most meaningful weddings I've ever attended!

December 5, 2016

Time to say farewell to this delightful city and begin our journey home.  Due to the horrible rain, the seven hour trip took nine hours!  Fortunately, we arrived home safely, smiling as we recalled the terrific memories of a treasured trip.

Galapagos, 4 - 15 November 2016

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

It's our travel day, back to the good ol US of A; however, we were in for a bit of last minute drama at the Quito airport.  So, there we were, all settled in at the VIP lounge, when I heard a page for me to please report to gate A-9, our Delta departure gate.  I suspected, and it was confirmed, that my luggage had been randomly selected for a thorough search.  Great!  So, we followed a rather stern looking employee through the bowels of the airport to my luggage.  Turns out it was really Rob's luggage, but we didn't want to confuse the matter, especially since it was all of our dirty laundry.  All I kept thinking was, "Good luck repacking all of that, pal," as the guy took out piece after piece.  I was a bit concerned when he set the chess game over to the side which I had purchased for David.  Luckily, I had no contraband, and we were cleared.  Unfortunately, by that time, it was minutes before boarding.  So much for that VIP lounge perk!!!
The trip home was uneventful, and we actually landed thirty minutes early.  Customs and Immigration wasn't bad, Dan was there to take us home, and we were ahead of the Atlanta rush hour traffic.  Great way to end a truly once in a life time trip!

Galapagos, 4 - 15 November 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

Our last day in South America, and I was determined to make it count! After a leisurely breakfast, Carlos, the Celebrity representative made a phone call to the local synagogue, Comunidad Judia Del Ecuador, to see if I could possibly visit.  At first, it didn't look hopeful, which I found strange.  I mean how many Jews would want to visit this synagogue in a predominantly Catholic country? So, I decided to head back to the local market.  Right as I was about to leave the hotel, Carlos tracked me down to tell me that he could possibly arrange an afternoon appointment, but needed a copy of my passport for the "background" screening" prior to my tour.  I almost skipped out of the Marriott to shop.  For $20 the sweet taxi driver (smartly dressed in his white shirt, vest and tie) drove me to the market, waited while I shopped, then drove me back to the Marriott.  As I was approaching the elevator, Carlos tracked me down once again to tell me that he had arranged a 2:00 PM tour.  Now, I was really excited.  I dashed upstairs, unloaded my loot (groans from Rob) and did a quick freshen up for my appointment.  Back in the elevator, I greeted a very athletic-looking young man in a sweatsuit bearing "Venezuela" across the front.  Another sweet British lady in the elevator attempted to make conversation by asking the young man if he was a hockey player (really?) to which he politely answered, "No madam, I am a member of the Venezuelan National Soccer Team."  That explains all of the security around the hotel.  Here, I thought some sort of political leader must also be a guest, but it turns out the Venezuelan team is staying at the Marriott for Wednesday's qualifying World Cup game against Ecuador.
Once again, I hired a taxi driver (also smartly dressed) for the thirty minute drive to the synagogue.  He was a sweet man, who spoke very little English, but exuded kindness as he pointed out places of interest. Upon arriving at Comunidad Judia Del Ecuador, I noticed that the security was quite tight - three armed guards stood outside the cement walled structure and proceeded to question my driver.  Finally, a distinguished gentleman came out and rather sternly said, "I thought you were supposed to be here at 11:30 AM."  I informed him that Carlos was told that an English speaking guide would not be available until 2:00 PM.  The gentleman looked annoyed, but motioned me to follow him.  I was not feeling the love, as Joan would say.  Slowly, he started to warm up.  He explained that the reason folks can't just drop by for a tour is that an extensive background check is run on every visitor.  The good news, he explained, is that if I ever want to tour another synagogue in South America, I am now in their system.  Makes me wonder what other systems I might now be in!

The history of the temple was quite fascinating.  It was founded in 1938 when a large number of European Jews arrived due to discrimination prior to World War II.  In its peak, it had approximately 5,000, but today it has only 600 members.  They also operate a top notch school where 90% of the kids are non-Jews based on their excellent reputation.  The new temple was built in 2004 when the older neighborhood became too dangerous.  Today, there are about 6 - 10 Bar/Bat Mitzvahs per year as well as about 1-2 weddings.  There is a small Chabad House in Quito, but the majority of the Jews attend Comunidad Judia. 

The above picture is a large room containing the original contents from the old synagogue!

There is a gorgeous, large social hall for special events!

By the end of the tour, my guide was joking around and sincerely invited me to return to services.  This was the highlight of my last day in beautiful Quito.

Upon returning to the hotel, I noticed several soldiers, as well as police with riot gear at the entrance.  I speculated that the Venezuelan soccer team must be getting ready to travel.  Sure enough, the police motor escort came to guide their bus to the stadium.

Rob and I enjoyed a lovely "last" lunch at the hotel's sports bar, then napped, showered, and packed for Delta flight 680 departing at 0039!

Galapagos, 4 - 15 November 2016

Sunday, November 13, 2016

It was a somber breakfast as everyone pondered how our time passed so quickly on this cruise!  We took our, sigh, last zodiac ride to board our bus for the airport.  To pass the time away before our flight we(I) shopped, had a few snacks in the VIP lounge, downloaded all of our emails since we finally had WiFi and eventually boarded Avianca Flight 1687 back to Quito.
Ahhhhhh, back at our home sweet home, the JW Marriott, Room 1036!  Rob rested in the room while I went on our last Celebrity excursion to the local market which was totally overwhelming.  I purchased one scarf, a lovely silver Star of David, and vowed to return tomorrow. 

Terry found this "interesting" hat - notice her signature flower pinned on the side!

Next, we went to an "upscale" artisan shop where I purchased a stunning pair of silver earrings.  After a quick shower, we joined Ed, Kathy, Billy, Bonnie, Les, Terry and a sweet British couple for a delicious farewell dinner.  Truly, the folks we met on this trip made the journey extra-special!

Galapagos, 4 - 15 November 2016

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Last day in the Galapagos, and what a way to end our cruise!  We began the day by taking a zodiac to Puerto Ayoyra.

In 1959, the Ecuadorian government declared all the islands, except areas already colonized, as a national park.  In the same year, the Charles Darwin Foundation was founded to promote scientific research and ensure the conservation of the Galapagos.  In 1992, the waters surrounding the Galapagos were declared a marine reserve. Upon our arrival at Puerto Ayoyra, we boarded a bus which took us to within a mile of the Darwin Center to see the large tortoises.

However, along the way, we greeted several land iguanas who seemed to own the road.  The cars and pedestrians had to navigate around them!

It was truly exciting to reach the Darwin Center to see the famous tortoises!

Now, the above tortoise isn't just an ordinary tortoise, it is George, AKA Super Diego.  The Galapagos tortoise population had dwindled down to just a handful, mainly females, with fears that these creatures would become extinct.  The Ecuadorian researchers located George, in the San Diego Zoo, who was then promptly transported to the Galapagos Islands!  Within a year, the tortoise population grew, and grew, and grew!  George obviously takes his job very seriously.  Job well done, George.  Another interesting fact about these creatures, is that the female buries her eggs to a specific depth which determines the gender of the babies.  The eggs buried deep in the sand, cooler nests, are all males, while the warmer nests produce females.  The mother intuitively knows which gender is most needed within the community!

While waiting for our bus, we were treated to another unplanned excursion, the local fish market!  The fishing boats dock at this local spot, bringing in their fish of every color and size, while the workers clean the fish, hand them to the folks who weigh and then immediately sell the final product.  BUT, you must notice all the other activity - pelicans swarming and swooping to snatch the "extras", a local sea lion begging for his share, and of course the "topless" worker!

My oh my, what a field day our US Health Inspectors would have at this place!  My favorite scene was a sea lion who appeared from nowhere, quickly snatched a fish that someone had dropped, flipped it back into the water, and then swiftly dived in for lunch!

After the Darwin Center we rode the bus to our next activity in support of the Galapagos Conservation and Community, as Celebrity Cruise Lines' guests are encouraged to make a difference.  How?  By planting a Scalesia sapling to restore the forests which had become sparse due to invasive or non-native species being introduced into the area. (Now the spraying of our airplane bins makes more sense!)  The largest remaining forest of Scalesia pedunculata is located on Santa Cruz.  So, we planted our trees, which came with identification numbers that we can track on Google Earth!  Rob's comment, "It's the first green thing I've ever done." Suppose you could say that we reduced our carbon footprint while in the Galapagos!

Back on the bus, we traveled to a local highlands ranch for a delicious buffet lunch, as well as entertainment provided by local kids!

Naturally, the teacher in me absolutely loved this!

Rob decided to go back to the ship with his appointed babysitters - Kathy, Ed, Bonnie, Billy, Sandy, and Robert - lovely folks we've befriended on this cruise!  I opted to take a hike through the tortoise preserve. OMG - these guys are even bigger when up close and personal!

Back downtown, I strolled along the streets, stopped for a quick email update at a local Internet Café, and eventually zodiac'd (is that a word?) back to our Celebrity Xpedition.

Our Captain's Farewell Cocktail was extra special as we were treated to a slideshow featuring the Naturalists' best pictures of the cruise.  Even better, every guest was given a CD of these amazing pictures.  Now, I must admit that I was fairly proud of my pictures, UNTIL I saw the results of their trained eyes and high powered camera lenses.  AMAZING!  While I'm very sad to see this cruise end, I know that I'll enjoy their pictures and my memories for a life time!

Galapagos, 4 - 15 November 2016

Friday, November 11, 2016

Happy Veterans Day!!!!  Today's Option 2 excursion takes us on a zodiac, then bus ride to the small town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island where we visited the Interpretation Center and then went into town for a little shopping. While in town, Rob found a bench to guard, while I shopped.  While walking back to the dock, a group of Ecuadorian soldiers walked by.  How very appropriate for Veteran's Day.

Back at the pier, we found some sweet sea lions taking a snooze on the benches!!

One might ask how do these massive creatures get from the water to the bench?  Easy - they simply go up the stairs!

Back on board, we sailed to our next destination, Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island, which is an impressive volcanic terrain at the northeastern end of this large island.  This is the only site in the Galapagos where you can sometimes find all three (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nasca) species of boobies nesting together! It was the only zodiac ride that caused me a bit of anxiety.  The waves were VERY rough, causing us to get fairly drenched, but the trip was worth it, because we did see all three species of boobies!

That evening, Rob, was our special entertainment as he sang (karaoke) "Rocking Robin" in the Discovery Lounge!