This year we stopped at Key West and a couple of places in the Bahamas. The Gulf wasn't as calm this year as previously. Let's just say there was a lot of puking going on around the ship. And some of it from a stranger splattered on my foot. Don't worry, there will NOT be more on that later.
Have you seen Doctor Who? Do you know what the Daleks are? Click here for a reference. Let's just say, the Freedom ship looks like it could have been built by the Daleks. Finger down throat—so INCREDIBLY UGLY. My poor designer sensitivities—they needed a detox when we got home.
After exploring the ship, we found our tiny room...
...and promptly went for a drink...
...and explored other parts of the deck—like the track. Which we didn't visit again.
And later of course we spent time playing cards. Our go-to past time with these friends.
First stop! Key West! Don't you love this photo? They were all pretty much already standing like this looking out at the island. So, after nudging Adam over bit, and calling everyone's attention...click!
Key West is sunny, humid, and green.
Next stop:
Finally, a chance to find a beach! We crammed into a Taxi Van with another group of people and off we went! Can people BE any happier than when they are headed to a beach? I think not.
This was a great beach. Calm water with all kinds of creatures to find and see...like live conches!
I don't think Nick got out of the water until it was time to leave. Most of the time we saw his fins in the air as he dove down into the water.
Below: Snot on Adam's face. Just kidding. We learned last year that snorkeling masks won't seal over facial hair. We brought Vaseline this time and he enjoyed it much better.
(I learned how to snorkel in a high school P.E. class. How cool is that? It's totally made a difference for me. I'm glad I finally get to do it. I love it!)
Stacy wanted to take a starfish home that her hubby found. Alas, she discovered it was still alive and so she tossed it back into the ocean at port. I wonder if starfish make good pets?
Last stop:
Such a pretty beast. Uh...I mean beach...Cabbage Beach to be exact.
I found the right batteries to take the camera into the water...but alas...this part of the ocean was a beastie. It was rather wild. No snorkeling here.
It was almost impossible to stay together for a good photo!
If you're not a good swimmer *Ahem Adam* this is not the beach for you. I even got a little sea sick...so I didn't stay in the water long.
Is this the beach where Marla described Stacy and my almost drowning as "Epic"? Why yes. Yes it is.
Getting out of the water and back onto the beach was like going through a wash cycle in a front loader. I asked Adam to illustrate in the photos below while I tell the story.
When it was time to get out—I was afraid. I knew getting past the waves were going to be a problem. A bit of positive self talking and then Stacy and I made our way inland.
But not before waves came crashing down on top of us and the rip tide pulled us right back in again. Stacy and I tumbled over each other, she went over me, and my own legs went over my head, and the water went up my nose and into my brain. We were both holding pool noodles while this was happening—it must have looked ridiculous!
The scary thing is, once it was over we had to figure out which direction was up, which direction was landward, stand back up, catch our breath and start hauling booty out of the water—except that the tide was pulling backward at us so we were moving too slow and next wave was coming too fast.
I shouted at Stacy, "We have to get out NOW!" She was still sputtering next to me. I think she thought we'd cleared the waves. I looked up the beach for Adam, hoping maybe he could rescue me....And then the next one slammed into the back of us. Again with the tumbling, and the ocean going up my nose and my face slamming into the sand.... "Am I going to make it out of this one???"
We made it out. Barely. We crawled up the beach and as soon as we knew we were clear we stopped and plopped down and stared out at the ocean. I think we were both a little stunned and trying to process what had happened. We were still clinging to our pool noodles, coughing and spitting, and laughing trying not to cry. It was scary funny.
Have you seen Finding Dori? Did you see the little short with the baby bird and the ocean? There's a scene that perfectly illustrates our experience. If you see it, you'll understand why I cracked up extra loud in the theater.
Hours later I was still blowing water out of my nose—every time I turned my head to the side more drained out involuntarily. The sand was...well...everywhere. It looked like I had shampoed my hair with it (it was very sparkly) and later when I took my swimsuit off, I still had another suit of sand caked to me. Adam thought it was hilarious. It kinda was.
On the taxi ride back, as I was replaying the whole experience in my head, I was laughing so hard I was crying.
Yes Marla...I think it was epic too.
And then just like that we had more:
Sitting around.
Cards and more cards.
Late night movies on deck.
Fancy dinners.
Eating too many dinners. (Seriously, Carnival is good with the food. Come dinner time, no one was hungry because of all the lovely snacks we'd had during the day. We ate out of principle. Not out of starvation.)
Resting on deck.
Smooching during the comedy show.
Poolside muscle flexing.
Group photos in the horrible lighting of the ship.
Napping on hammocks under towels.
Game shows.
Worth it. Yes. A chance to leave the house and make memories? Always yes.
