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I once again met up with my cousin Jim and Uncle John on the top deck, first thing in the morning. It was still hazy, but we got our first view of the new island. Not too many people were up, but the crew was already busy, furling the sails and effecting small repairs to the ship. Some touch-ups were done with paint, the launches were lowered from their hoists, one crewman even worked an acetyline torch. On the quarter deck, Zelda was selling souvenirs from the Seachest. Another cruise ship was visible to starboard. It was not part of the Carnival line, but was Polynesia's sister ship, the Amazing Grace. Breakfast, I believe, was pancakes. | | | |
| Bzzz!Welcome to NEVIS - Home of the Killer Bees!!Bzzz!Today we are anchored outside Charlestown the Capital. Enjoy some local shopping. Check out Knick Knack Shop --> They specialize in handmade dolls. A little pricy but well worth it! T-shirts Funky Jewelry and Wooden Boxes. The Island Hopper Great batik and silk outfits plus nifty island souvenirs. Be sure to stop by at the Philatelic Bureau - Beautiful stamps & a special edition of the Polynesia!! Telephones Right off the dock - Direct access to ATT. Today's currency --> Eastern Caribbean Dollar 1 US = 2.6 EC Mail Day! THE 'ENTIRE' :) SHIP WILL MOVE FROM TOWN TO Pinney's Beach at NOON! Pinney's Beach is home to the Four Seasons Resort - But more importantly SUNSHINE'S - He cooks up a great lobster lunch for $15 - 1st come 1st served Watch out --> He also creates Killer Bee rum punches! They carry quite a STING! Keep an eye out for the 'Bee Mon' - He makes Homemade Honey and he'll be on the bench selling - 3$ OTHER BEACHES --> 15$ Taxi Ride 1 to 4 passengers Nisbit - Great snorkeling - Qualie - watersports, windsurfing HAVE FUN!! :) |
Either feeling adventurous or frugal, we eschewed a formal tour in favor of taking a launch and wandering through town on our own. In the town square we were taken by the distinctive orange-leaved trees we were informed was called "flamboyant". We were also intrigued by the wild driving of all the vans on the street, and the constant staccato chirp of their horns. "Jesus is Lord," said one shop sign. "He owns & manages The Conveinent [sic] Enterprises. E Morton & Son. Tel 469-5168." This was news to me. We moved to the right, going out of town and up a rural road. I was heckled by some girls, calling down from the top of a grandstand. They all wore the yellow dresses of their school uniform. On our way back, they became a bit more shy when I turned my camcorder on them; and we then walked around to the side of the grandstand to watch some boys play at cricket.After a while, we headed back the way we'd come, venturing to the other side of town. The others visited the Alexander Hamilton Birthplace museum but I stayed on my own, studying a tree on the grounds which was covered in geckos, shopping for t-shirts, listening to the Bob Marley music coming from a taxi stand across the street -- and the pair of feet sticking from its window -- and eventually making my way back to the dock to return to the ship. |  |  |  |
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The rest of my party made it back on the last launch. As we moved to Pinney's Beach, we sent a few parting shots over at the Amazing Grace. Once again anchored, the diving board was lowered off the quarter deck and we were able to swim around the ship. This was my first time ever swimming in the ocean. I am so used to swimming in backyard pools that I had a hard time adjusting to the bouyancy of salt water and the constantly moving waves. My cousin John and I tested our snorkel equipment, my second cousins jumped off the dive board. Four others from my group took the scuba dive boat off to go diving. I swam to the stern to see them off, and also took a few pictures with my waterproof disposable camera.Drying off, back on deck, I was witness as the Captain put down a potential insurrection, tossing Zelda our Purser overboard into the drink! |  |  |  |
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| UPDATE TIMEGreen Day 1400 Resort & 1 Tank Divers 1430 Snorkel Safari & Rainforest Hike 1700 Snacks & Swizzles 1800 SEAHUNT - Get those teams together 1830 --> LAST LAUNCH FROM THE BEACH /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Time to Dress Up in Foo Foo Wear! Flowered shirts Parco's Thongs & Grass Skirts ! - Have Fun! 1930 BBQ Buffet - Mmm 2000 Band Onboard! Party Time with the Amazing Grace! |
I'm not sure I would've stayed so long in the water if I'd known how perfect it was on the beach. A large number of passengers had already taken the launch over to Sunshine's, but I didn't do this till two:thirty -- and I was headed to the rainforest hike then anyway.As the sun set, we took the launch back to the boat, where we prepared for dinner. Kristine's board had changed once again.UPDATE TIMEGreen Day SIGN UP FOR TOURS
IN ST. KITTS*
Tonight in the Saloon
\_ Dining Room
0930 --> Cerified divers - pls sign up
Island Tour A.S.A.P!
1000 --> Parasailing if you have
& any ?'s pls
1100 ask
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1330 Rainforest Hike Kristine
Kayaking
1400 Snorkel Safari  |
The chicken and ribs barbecue was perhaps the most popular of the week's meals. Another band performed on the top deck. Everyone was in a party mood: there was lots of dancing and drinking and the conga lines threaded the length of the ship. Chief Steward Popeye sang for us (left-click to hear a RealAudio file).Under cover of darkness, a small group from our ship besieged the poor unsuspecting passengers on Amazing Grace. Our captain had urged us to take care with the people on Amazing Grace since they were so much older and quieter. As our party crashed the Amazing Grace some elderly New Zealand lady reportedly said, "Thank God! Finally, some life aboard this ship!"; and their bartender, coming out of nowhere, jumped to attention as if eager to perform what might have been his first duties in days. The other passengers weren't as welcoming. The Polynesia party got kicked out of the video room and the library. A dazed-looking younger couple they encountered kept murmuring "We didn't know it was going to be like this... No one told us it was going to be like this..." I guess there was talk of retaining these troublemakers and not allowing a launch to bring them back. But our Captain interceded; and with a lot of shouting and cheering, the party climbed back aboard the Polynesia. "We went over to Amazing Grace," a certain unnamed cousin crowed, "and did a panty raid! I talked to Dorothy, Aunt Bea, Andy...the whole gang."Many of the invasion party reassembled at the bow; and as the party neared its end, an impromptu juggling competition broke out. |  |  |  |
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