Home.

Gutted. End of.

Last day

We are both rather depressed today. And as if to sympathise with us we look outside and the Caribbean is weeping for us.

Which isn’t a good thing as less people will be sun bathing and the other public areas will be busy while we wait for out coach. We get kicked out of the room at 9am and should be picked up at 1pm, we estimate getting back at 5am UK time. And then we, sorry I have to drive up from Gatwick to Manchester. I can’t wait!

Next time we book early enough to get a Manchester flight!!!

Barbados

A cool trip but well, it’s all a bit depressing really.

The trip was excellent, a boat ride along the cost before getting in and swimming literally with the turtles. They were weaving in and a around us, they have tough heads as plenty of people kicked them, accidentally of course, we hope. Also saw a stingray and the tour guys managed to lure it near the surface so at least we got a decent look at one, not as good as Grand Turk would have been but better than nothing. All very crowded again which is no good where Shell is concerned! She kicked one in the head as well. And those people who feel its ok to dive under when in a group of 30 people, it really isn’t. Its fecking annoying when you kick us and then surface in our face. Knobs.

Packing now. Depressed. Hmpf.

St Lucia

Off early, onto another boar for some Dolphin and Whale watching. And boy did we do some watching. Many a picture and video taken, hopefully they will do it justice. Spent most of the time on the front of the boat, it was hard work not to fall over! Once we had our fill we headed to a nice bay of holiday homes and yachts, very nice indeed. Then back to the boat, after a few rum punches of course. So back on land at 12 already half cut, did some shopping and then to the bars dotted around the port.

Incidentally I think I’m beginning to detest people who smoke. On the boat we were looking at the dolphins and two people were smoking, they just threw their fag ends in the sea and then let their empty packet blow in as well. They disgust me.

Two local beers (Piton) for $3 and at 5% it was good stuff. Honestly, I lost count how many I had, it was quite a few, then after abusing the free port side wifi we staggered back on board for food. Then back to room where Michelle fell asleep and I watched as we set sail.

Barbados tomorrow and a snorkel with the turtles and of course more fish.

Ocho Rios pics from AM

Dominica

More swimming with the fishes today. But not until 2 in the afternoon so lazed around for a while, mooched onshore and did some more tat shopping in the market, but jove these islands have lots of tat!! Then back on board for a bit chilling reading on balcony.

So strange that on the port side of the ship that was actually facing the port it was so noisy, people bustling, cars beeping music playing. And on our side nothing, silence. Mainly because next door were not it!

We set off for the tour and got straight in the water once the boat stopped, a lot faster than the one before. This one was kind of guided, we got split into groups and followed a guide each, he tried to shout and point to the interesting fish. This time the Playsport worked! I made sure by stopping each video after 5 or so minutes and checking they saved, so we have about 9 videos. I look forward to boring people with them. Some of the time it was jerky as there were simply too many people doing it, we all get crashing into each other. Perhaps some careful editing will make it look more professional. We snorkelled near one of the vents from a volcano 1 mile inland (with Dominca being a volcanic island natch) so the sea was cool then hot alternately. And the gases escaping from the vent gave the reef its name, Champagne, because you guessed it, bubbles! Lots of them in one area, I think I captured it quite well on video. Of course we were told it doesn’t taste like champagne so don’t drink it. For me this was better snorkelling than the one before as it was much clearer and calmer. And no jellyfish!

Then it was back on board just before the heavens opened again. It does like to surprise you around here! Photos from top deck:

Antigua

Swimming with the fishes today! Including those creepy fecking jelly fish, but not the dangerous sort.

Early tour so on our way at 8:45, at Paradise Reef at 9 and straight in the water. Which was damn cool. We had 45 minutes in the water which in reality was about 25 after everyone had finally got in, a slow process. Apart from the bloke who brought his own kit and was straight in there with his underwater camera. But, we have one of those! A Kodak Playsport and it failed. Failed BADLY. God damn it.

I shot about 16 minutes of continuous footage thinking it would look great. 1080p resolution, it was going to be brilliant! I pressed the stop button and made out the timer had stopped, all good. Then held down the power button and thought it had switched off. Once back on the boat I pulled it out of my pocket to see it was still on. Held power button again, nothing. Oh dear. Battery out and in and back up and running but video file corrupt. Bugger. Copied it to laptop so will see if it is retrievable back home.

We then sailed to one of Antiguas 365 beaches. During this part the Chavs on Tour group came into their own with the rum punch. Fag dimps over the side that the fish tried to eat, complete scummers in my opinion.

The beach was beautiful, sandy, quiet, clear seas, Blackpool it was not. Back on the boat and more rum punch to sail back to port. CoT came into their own again dancing on side of boat, captain had to tell them 3 or 4 times to stop, should have let them fall over board and feck em!

Back on shore we did some shopping in the market, more tat yay, then headed back to boat just in time. 5 minutes after we got back on board the heavens opened. A lot. For quite a while. All in all a cracking day, ignoring the CoT!

Sat typing this on balcony, so so quiet. Some photos from boat below.

You probably can't see it but this was very very heavy rain

Caribbean Princess leaving just before us

And she is off

And so are we :(