Day 1 - All Aboard!
We woke up somewhere around 9am. We were not allowed to board the boat until 3pm in the afternoon. So, we had some free time. My parents went shopping, and Cindy and Mary hung out at the hotel. Kavita and I decided to walk around a little.
We didn’t know very much about the area that we were in, so we just decided to walk around a little to see if we could find anything interesting. We first came to a small beach. We hung out there for a little while. We took some pictures, looked at some shells, and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
After we left the beach, we started walking across a bridge. We saw some kids jumping off of the bridge and into the water. It was about a fifteen-foot drop from the bridge to the water. These kids were diving like pros. They were doing flips and twists and many other kinds of acrobatic jumps.
As we were watching them, I noticed something in the background. It appeared to be a very old wall. It appeared to be about a mile away, and we didn’t have a lot of time before we had to be back to the hotel to check out. We only had about an hour to get there, check it out, and get back.
As we approached it, we could see that it wasn’t a wall, but it was an old Spanish war fort. The gate in front was locked, but there was a one-foot wall beside the gate that we hopped over. It almost felt like we weren’t supposed to be there, but that made it all the more fun.
We then went back to the hotel, and checked out. Then we were off to the ship – The Adventure of the Seas. It was a fourteen-deck Royal Caribbean cruise ship. We checked into our rooms, and then looked around. It was so much more than what I expected. I am not really used to luxury, and this ship was set up to indulge every material comfort imaginable.
That night there was a welcome aboard party. There was a live reggae band, dancing, swimming, and amazing views at the night sky.
We didn’t know very much about the area that we were in, so we just decided to walk around a little to see if we could find anything interesting. We first came to a small beach. We hung out there for a little while. We took some pictures, looked at some shells, and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
After we left the beach, we started walking across a bridge. We saw some kids jumping off of the bridge and into the water. It was about a fifteen-foot drop from the bridge to the water. These kids were diving like pros. They were doing flips and twists and many other kinds of acrobatic jumps.
As we were watching them, I noticed something in the background. It appeared to be a very old wall. It appeared to be about a mile away, and we didn’t have a lot of time before we had to be back to the hotel to check out. We only had about an hour to get there, check it out, and get back.
As we approached it, we could see that it wasn’t a wall, but it was an old Spanish war fort. The gate in front was locked, but there was a one-foot wall beside the gate that we hopped over. It almost felt like we weren’t supposed to be there, but that made it all the more fun.
It was amazing. It had what appeared to be living quarters on the bottom, but the top was all business. There were about eight cannon emplacements aimed in different directions. It had a wonderful view of the ocean. The views were amazing!
It was somewhat sobering thinking about what must have gone on there. I wonder if the soldiers who were posted there so long ago ever paused to notice the beauty around them, or was their only focus the destruction of the enemy.
We then went back to the hotel, and checked out. Then we were off to the ship – The Adventure of the Seas. It was a fourteen-deck Royal Caribbean cruise ship. We checked into our rooms, and then looked around. It was so much more than what I expected. I am not really used to luxury, and this ship was set up to indulge every material comfort imaginable.
That night there was a welcome aboard party. There was a live reggae band, dancing, swimming, and amazing views at the night sky.
Later that night we went swimming and sat in the hot tub for a while. It was a great way to end the day. I went back to my room and slept like a baby.
"At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much."
"At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much."
- Robin Lee Graham
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