1.02.2012

Wanna have a race?

So this year (I guess by this year, I mean the year 2011) was a bit untraditional for my family and I. Normally, school lets out for Christmas break and floods of students rush home to their houses wherever they are to spend 2 glorious weeks of break with their families and friends. Christmas candies, beautifully decorated trees with presents underneath, and surprising visits from St. Nick himself. 'Tis a wonderful season full of lights, carols, and weight gain.
However, that was not the case for the Ure family.
Us 5 individuals for the first time celebrated... (drum roll please)
Christmas in the Carribean
The Ure's 'make-shift-at-sea' Christmas Tree
Yup. We sure did. And now I am going to rub it in your face so your jealousy makes you explode. 

<--So this was our cruise
ship. Yea, i didn't mention that earlier. We went on a Chirstmas Caribbean Cruise (<-- check out that alliteration). Anyway, the ship was bomb. Almost all the workers were from the Philippines of Indonesia. For example this guy who dressed up like a tin solider. 

Alright, so our ship made 4 island stops ( 3 of which were the ABC islands - previously known as the Dutch Isles - leaving room to assume that they were owned by the Dutch). Which, believe me, were well wanted and needed breaks from life on the sea. We unfortunately got caught in the tail end of a storm on the water. So inevitably, our ship was rockin' like the hips of Shakira. And if you know Shakira, then you know that that is no mediocre rocking. I swear, for the first couple of days we lived off of motion sickness pills. They were life-savers. Needless to say, the days we got off the ship, I felt the urge to kiss the ground. 



Island Stop 1 - Half Moon Cay
This is the private island of the cruise line, so we were the only people on the island (plus the other 2,000 cruisers...) but it was still peaceful and secluded none-the-less. 



The sign says -
"I WISH I COULD STAY HERE FOREVER"
Which really was true. 

Island Stop 2 - Aruba

It was cloudy. Which was a bummer. However, we had reservations to go snorkeling - in my case scuba diving. And I wasn't about to let that opportunity disappear just due to a no appearance of the sun. **stupid sun** Anyway, I got to scuba dive this awesome ship wreck. It's called the Antilla in case you are interested. 






Island Stop 3 - Bonaire



We took a Water Taxi to an island off the coast of Bonaire that is known for its Snorkeling. It was great. They had this little fish that was black and little with little iridescent blue dots. A polka dot fish. God made it for me. I'm convinced. 


 
My brothers and I are pretty bro. 
Island Stop 4 - CuraƧao
Once again, it was rainy this day, so we did very little beach and ocean stuff. 
Bummer. 

However, we did find things to do and entertain ourselves. Like we went to the islands Aquarium they had and got to see sea-life native to the Caribbean. 


This poor turtle had no front fins. Hence the towel on his back. Bless his heart swimming through the pond. And then this is a Giant Spiny-Backed Lobster. Imagine eating that guy...







This seal performed for us. I can't remember her name for the life of me. BUT she did a great job. And the flamingos were so cool too. I almost got to touch one.
So then our ship made a secret stop and we had the wonderful opportunity to attend Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. 
Ok psych, it was the Magical World of Harry Potter in Universal Studies in Orlando, FL. There is really only one word I can think of to describe this adventure. 
MAGICAL



























Gosh. I was the happiest person alive that day. It couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was over-cast so it really felt like I was supposed to be in Hogsmeade. They had everything - from HoneyDukes to Ollivanders, and Zonko's Joke Shop to the Three Broomsticks, and Mandrakes to Butter Beer. Not to mention The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter ride. I will not exploit his adventures here on this unstable website, so if you care to know more about Harry Potter and his journeys that are very much forbidden - ask me - in other contexts though. I will however inform you that you do get the chance to walk through the castle and see the moving photographs and staircases,  and Dumbledore's office with all his trinkets and even the Pensive is present. I was drooling. I wanted to stay. Permantently move in. I even told the Ravenclaw student I met that I was so unbelieveabley jealous of his job. And do you know what his reply was? 
"Job? I'm just here going to school."
Like really? Would anything be more perfect than being in Hogwarts 24/7? Yea, nope. Nothing would be more perfect. GO. EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. My words do not do this extraordinary life-like theme park. 

And then to sum up my wonderful excursion to Paradise, I will leave you with this beautiful parting story.

**Disclaimer: I myself was a witness to this.

We were in the airport about to catch our flight back to Salt Lake City. I was standing off to the side by myself while my brothers and mom bought Starbucks. (P.S. If you haven't tried White Hot Chocolate from Starbucks.... you are missing out on a glorious experience for your mouth)
There I was, standing at the top of the hallway ( I should mention that where I was standing did have a slight incline ) when here comes an airport attendant pulling two elderly people in their wheelchairs.
Try to imagine this with me. The attendant is the the middle grabbing both inner arm rests, pulling them up the ramp behind him.
With further investigation of this odd scene, I realize that they are a couple. Husband and Wife. Their story, I do not know. Where they were traveling to, I also do not know. But a couple in the airport being pulled by an attendant they were.
And then, I had the pleasure of hearing this:

Old man to his wife: "Hey, do you wanna have race?"

Take what you want from that - but all I know if they're doing something right.

Hope your Christmas break was 1/8th of what mine was. :D
More to come about New Years. :D

3 comments :

  1. Whitney wanted to comment on your blog, but she exploded from jealousy. Way to go, Em.

    -Whitney's computer

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved your rambling exploits and lucky me I was there!!!

    ReplyDelete