You know that song "I've had the Time of My Life" and how it makes me think of Patrick Swayze dancing with Jennifer Grey.  Except for not anymore.  Not after this experience.  From now on whenever I hear the phrase "time of my life" I'll just think of the Caribbean--its turqouis blue waters and lush rain forests far surpassing any dancing movies!  If you're looking for a fantastic get away or a place to continually be amazed at the Earth's beauties, this is the vacation for you.  I cannnot recommend it any higher and think you should stop what you're doing right now and figure out a way to get on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship bound for the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica and Barbados.

Does that sound like it was lifted straight from some cheesy travel ad?  So be it!

We just got back from a  7 night cruise with Mr. Handsome's brother, his cousin and their most darling of wives.  Since I want to ingrain every detail on my memory, I'm going to try, I'll repeat that--try--to devote a post to each day of the trip.  We'll see how far I get!  And if I go overboard on the pictures, just know that I was completely overwhelmed with all the photographic opportunities.  So many beautiful things!  To hook you're interest I will bait you with this:  powdered sugar sand beaches, porguese man o war stings on yours truly, hiking in rain forests straight out of some Indiana Jones film and celebrity couple sightings not 10 feet away from me on a secluded beach in Barbados.  All this and every night was date night with Mr. Handsome!  Patrick and Jennifer, please cue the music.

Day One:
Our first day was spent exploring the blue cobblestone streets of Old San Juan Puerto Rico.  The old colonial architecture is beautiful and there is some new interesting thing around each little corner.  I was snap happy with the camera, like a kid in a candy store!  El Morrow, an ancient fortress built overlooking the ocean was not to be missed.  It was a bright and windy day and there were dozens of local families with their young children flying kites in the fields surrounding this imposing structure (it took 250 years to build it!  Amazing).