Around the Garden with Jay: I CALL IT WINTER BREAK

All the college kids call it Spring Break, but since we left for a Caribbean cruise with snow on the ground, I call it Winter Break!

Our Winter Break on the Brilliance of the Seas

Their Spring Break

Karen and I, along with her daughter and son in law, enjoyed a week in the Western Caribbean onboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas.

Day Two at sea's entertainment was provided by the rescue of a boat full of Cuban "refugees" afloat on the sea with no power or water. Our ship came to a complete stop, turned around, and sat with the fishing boat for 2 hours while the Coast Guard directed our captain to retrieve the "survivors" and take them on to Grand Cayman. After discussions and negotiations, a retrieval was made and the new passengers were taken safely on board. We have to assume that Cayman authorities sent them back to Cuba. So much for their freedom.

Cuban Refugees Drifting at Sea

Still trying to Rescue

Rescue Attempt

A Visit to Turtle Breeding Farm, Grand Cayman Island

We visited a turtle breeding center on Cayman and were allowed to hold the young ones and watch over a hundred large breeders swim in the ponds.

The Blogger and his Turtle

Karen Holds a Stingray on Cayman Island

Rare Sighting of an Orange Iguana on Cozumel

Spouse of the Orange Iguana

Cozumel, Mexico Beach

On the Stingray outing on Cayman we sailed to gorgeous shallow blue waters where dozens of stingrays swam with us and allowed us to hold and feed them.

On the island of Cozumel, Mexico we toured Mayan ruins and met a pair of breeding Iguanas (one orange, one green) amidst the piles of rocks.

A Real Baltimore Oriole

At the conclusion of our cruise we spent a night in Sarasota and attended a Baltimore Oriole spring training game (we lost-of course) and visited the Ringling Circus winter grounds and museum.

What a fantastic week we had. I can't say enough good about the Brilliance of the Seas, the great travel partner I have with Karen, and good times with Diane and Stephen.

We arrived back in Baltimore to NO SNOW and warm temperatures. Not quite Caribbean warm but I'll take it for now. Time to get out in the garden and start my chores.