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Vacation's Over :(
I'm back! It took me all morning to catch up on the week's posts because i still feel like i'm rocking back and forth and reading small print on the computer is making me a little dizzy, lol!
Overall we had a fantastic time!!!! Cruising has got to be the all time easiest way to travel. ever. the service was amazing, food and beverage plentiful, and never a shortage of things to do (every morning we recieved a schedule of events....no joke, there were multiple options for every hour of the day!). Unfortunately the weather was not our friend. For 5 of the 7 days it was drizzly and overcast which hindered our ability to really explore the ports we visited. I can't complain for a second though because our days were still filled with cooking classes, casino, hot tubbing, spa, movies, clubbing/dancing, bingo, and fantastic comedians in the evenings (and thats just a brief mention of alllllll the activities). oh, and eating. lots and lots of eating 
I'll put up some pictures to share later (there arent many....cant take the camera out in the rain!) but here's a quick recap of the ports:
1) Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos) - they were recently devestated by a hurricane so there was much rebuilding going on (as in, you hear contruction when laying on the beach. relaxing huh? but, of course it was rainign so no one was laying on the beach 
). Not very impressive. But, the snorkeling was amazing! we both felt it rivaled the great barrier reef.
2) San Juan, Puerto Rico - not a fan. I'm sure our experience was tainted by the weather, but I dont think i'd go back.
3) St Thomas - lovely island! very friendly people! beautiful, albiet small and crowded, beaches! and we got a solid 45 minutes of sunshine at this port 
4) Half Moon Cay, Bahamas - AMAZING. most beautiful beach we've ever seen (and we've been very lucky to see some beautiful beaches all over the world). This is actually a private island owned by holland america so the island was desserted except for the 1802 lesbians on the cruise. Well, us and the plentiful service staff standing ready to fulfill even the slightest need. oh my goodness, it was a lesbian utopia. the silkiest white sand beaches, turquiose crystal clear water, and many many topless women - be still my heart! lol. when filling out my suggestion card I requested that they offer a cruise in the future that just went to this island...i would book it in a heartbeat!
On the Olivia experience:
We loved being surrounded by all women on the cruise. It was an empowering experience and the message of freedom and community was incorporated into everything we did. It was really mind blowing to look around and see so many lesbians in one place (that sounds wierd as typed, but hopefully you know what i mean...). We spanned all ethnicities, ages, geographical locations, gender expressions, ect ect. Queer women from all different walks of life coming together and sharing stories and expereinces for a week is a powerful thing to be a part of. Fortunately Andrea and I are completely out in our every day life and its nothing for us to touch in the grocery store, kiss in public, ect, but thats just not the case for many women (one couple we met had never held hands in public before.ever.) - and thats exactly why Olivia travel is so popular.
Well, that and the gorgeous women. there was this one DJ....i have a weakness for DJs. holy hottness. lets just say I didnt miss a dance party 
The only minor downside was that at the beginning of the week we sort of felt like the odd kids out at summer camp. So many people travel together or have done multiple olivia cruises that it seemed like everyone knew each other already! dont get me wrong, people were beyond friendly and we chatted with many, many, women but it was just something i didnt expect.
Andrea and I both agreed that we would love to do another Olivia trip - our next will probably be to one of thier resorts - but it would be extra fun to get a group of friends together to go (hint, hint. lol!).
whew. well there's my extensive recap thats been sure to bore you all but if you've been considering olivia and have any questions i didnt hit on, feel free to ask!
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Re: Vacation's Over :(
welcome back, it has been quiet here while you were gone. I am glad you had a great time even if the weather wasn't great. I have always been curious about the olivia cruises. It will be a while before we get to go on one. Plus they don't go on school vacation weeks so we would have to take one in the summer. Glad to have you back.
Sam
Sounds really cool and I'm glad you had such a fabulous experience! Sandy and I don't overtly PDA, but apparently what little we do and the body language we have says "COUPLE" because people ask us all the time if we're "together-together"! ha ha! I don't worry about it so much but Sandy has had a couple of bad run-ins with "haters" so she is a lil more reticent about our PDAs. Too bad we even have to think about it, huh?
Anyway, welcome home!!!
So glad your back Elise and had such a nice trip. Even if the weather wasnt on your side it sounds like you had a well deserved fabulous time!
Can't wait to see pics!
Welcome back! We missed you!!
We've never been on a cruise, but if a group of us were planning to go on one, we'd definitely consider it! Can't have y'all feeling like the odd kids out, now, can we?
Thanks for the heads up about the topless women-- I'll make sure to bring a blindfold for S.
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
finally blogging again at This Will Be: An Adventure
sahm ~ toddler breastfeeder ~ cloth diaperer ~ baby wearer