Briam's Family Blog

Ok Ok ... Enough with the mean emails telling me to get off my lazy butt...

  Due to technical dificulties... I have not been able to post as much...

...why?  I have been really over worked... and over booked on the weekends...  So sorry for the delay in postings... I will try to catch up now that some of the madness has died down.

So... I am taking a break from telling the holiday story vacation... and that means time for another vacation!!  We got some really good deals on a Bahamas cruise... and how could we say no.  Besides, we know that our parents were just dying to watch our kids for a few days.

(Well before the cruise pic above...) It was a nice relaxing drive to Port Canaveral.  We got there sooner than we thought, and got a chance to check out the port cove.  A nice little Sunday brunch place (on Thursday morning).

We were one of the first couples on the boat... and got a chance to chill, find our place in the world, and check out this boat.  Very nice... very relaxing... very quiet with out the kids... :-)

 Next day we hit Freeport Bahamas!

...and of course a lot of shopping...

The beaches were UNBELIEVEABLE!!  Clear green/blue water... soft white sand.

The first day there was just shopping around... eating overlooking the ocean.  A little beach and sun... some great food.

Day two we hit some more neat places.  It seemed like we were getting rest, but the days where packed fill of activities.

A short little boat ride to the platform...

...and Paola was off Parasailing... I stayed behind to guard her purse...  :-P

She had a blast...a bit pricy but well worth it.

Then we went off to find some typical food... take a left at the giant sand castle (this thing was bigger than our minivan)

The sun was in full effect, but I think that I am doing pretty good at protecting my fair skin...

Typical Local foods on the menu... Crack Conch was a local special, and it was delicious.

Several times the guys that worked at this place kept saying that Conch Salad was the bomb... and that "it will help give you more kids!!"

So we did not try the Conch Salad.... at all.  Well we are leafing Freeport and heading to Nassau...Paola is at the gymn and I have decided to spend some time on my laziness...  I have been neglecting it lately.  More to follow!

Near the town of Banos, on the way past the volcano in Tungurahua, we ran along some winding roads.  To one side there was usually some nerve recking drop... and along one of these valleys ran a river that feeds into the Amazon river.

The scenery was gorgeous.  So, the road eventually stopped near some little road side stands, and there was a Sky bucket that would take you across the river, high high up over the valley.  The sky bucket was a little scary... and you could see that with the winds it swayed a bit... I am sure it would be safe for 5 to 8 people...

At the other side, the bucket would take you to some jungle area.  There was some places to walk around at, and also you could see the famous monkey Martin... He seemed harmless enough.  There was also a creek/stream that feed into the valley, turning into a nice water fall to the river at the bottom of the valley ravine.

We went with Paola's uncle and a bunch of the cousins and their kids...  Click on any of the pictures or HERE to see more pictures (and the monkey).  You will also be glad to know that we made it back safe and sound.... at one point the guy controlling the bucket stopped it right over the middle of the ravine... so we could take some pictures...  This abrupt stop was a bit startling to some of the adults, but the kids did not seem to mind it at all.... I wonder if they had insurance...