Marc and I have taken three cruises.  Our very first cruise was with Carnival last 1996 for 10 days, with Costa last 2000 for a week, and our latest one with Princess last 2009 for 2 weeks,.  To date, we have been very satisfied with the three cruises we have taken to the Caribbean.  I know some people who think that cruises are only for the old and the nearly dead, but, nothing can be farther from the truth.  Cruises are an inexpensive way to travel especially during the off season.

Top of the line cruise lines do cater to the wealthy and more often than not, their passengers belong to the 55 and above age group.  Personally, I find cruises a good way to visit many places which would otherwise be more expensive when done independently.  Moreover, having to travel from one island to another might be a bit more difficult and time consuming.   With a cruise, unpacking is done only once and all travel arrangements are done for everyone on board beforehand.  All meals are provided for and in fact, the greatest danger of going on one is the weight gain due to the abundance of good and absolutely delicious food served on board.  To be honest, I am still trying to shed off the extra pounds I gained and that was nearly 3 years ago.

Marc and I have traveled to 19 countries in the Caribbean and we would love to visit each and every one of them again.  Some were tres chic and more interesting than others.  Nevertheless, each island country we visited had its own charm and beauty.  The crystal blue water of the beaches alone there are enough to lure anyone to come back.  Among my favorites are Martinique,  the US Virgin Islands, St. Barths, Barbados, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Puerto Rico.

A cruise to the Panama Canal is high on our list and it will most probably be our next cruise travel. One thing Marc and I do look out for when we decide to take a cruise,besides the price of course, is the number of places included in the itinerary.  We really aren't much for days spent at sea.  Four days spent at sea is enough for us.

Due to the very bad economy last 2008, we were able to book a cruise which would have cost much more a year earlier.  Cruise prices were lowered that year to our amazement and benefit.  We jumped at the opportunity.

From San Francisco, we flew to Florida on American Airlines, and we decided to spend a few days in Miami and Fort Lauderdale to sightsee, shop, and explore.

It was my second time to travel to the State of Florida, particularly, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.  Marc, on the other hand, had been there for work and vacation so many times he could no longer remember how many.

Upon arrival at Miami International Airport, we picked up our rental car from Hertz and headed to our Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Fort Lauderdale's Cypress Creek North.  As soon as we checked in, we headed for an early dinner at the food court of Sawgrass Mills which was a huge shopping outlet mall.  It was the last weekend before Christmas Day and as you can imagine, the place was packed with shoppers and tourists alike.  We could spot many people who just returned from cruises and who were about to join one.

I remember having a Cuban dinner of roast pork and banana plantains.  The portion was so big I didn't think I could finish it all, but I did.  After dinner, we went window shopping and shopping.  The mall was so big, it was divided into zones.  We did pay a visit to the mall's upscale Colonnade Outlets starting my love affair with TUMI, the luxury leather goods store.

On our first full day in Fort Lauderdale, we visited the Bonnet House.  The house is the legacy of Frederic Clay Bartlett's vision and talent which translated his exposure to the arts and appreciation of European architecture into a native Floridian house.

It is said to be named after the yellow water lily that once grew in the property's marshland.

To be able to visit the house, we had to join a guided tour.  Independent visits were not allowed.  Our guide did give us time to view and appreciate the courtyard and the different rooms inside.  We took this picture while waiting for other visitors to arrive and join our group.

Another view of the house.  The plants and trees in the immediate area were plentiful and amazing.

The other hallways surrounding the courtyard filled with art from antique furniture to paintings to porcelain figurines

Here are pics of the courtyard

There were many beautiful rooms inside the Bonnet House.  Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed indoors.  Hence, most of the pictures we took were outdoors.  My most favorite room inside the house was Frederic Bartlett's Studio.  It was filled with an eclectic mix of paintings from both Europe and the US some of which he painted himself.

After visiting the Bonnet House, Marc and I headed to Fort Lauderdale's Museum of Art.  The museum then had an impressive exhibit of Norman Rockwell's art.  I bought several postcards to remind me of his works which appeared on the covers of  the Saturday Evening Post.  Just like in the Bonnet House, pictures were not allowed in the museum. Mr. Rockwell's art though sure was a nice collection of Americana.

I promised myself I was no longer going to buy postcards for any more photo albums or scrap books.  Here I am though doing exactly what I told myself I wasn't going to do.  I just couldn't help it.  In fact, it has become an addiction.  I just love taking pictures and mixing them with postcards in albums I make to remind us of our trips in the US and abroad.