October 16th

You can't leave Samana without a feeling of ambivalence. On the one hand, it is a beautiful Caribbean island with many kodak opportunities, lots of nice shops to check out, beautiful beaches and some good cheap food and beer.

At the same time, just past the fancy tourist spots is a poverty-stricken town, where you will be approached by small kids no more than 8 years old trying to sell you sea shells. Still, the local people seemed happy enough, and the very fact of being on my first Caribbean island made the experience enchanting. I walked around the town, and then settled in a restaurant where I ordered a 4$ beer which turned out to be a full litre, as I took advantage of the free wifi. After Samana, me and the rest of the showband got to eat at the Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant, in which the chefs cook your food in front of you while doing tricks with their knives and telling jokes. It was an entertaining and satiating experience. I had the seafood diablo, which is Lobster, Scallops and Calamari. The food was spectacular but a little bit overwhelming as just one of six courses.

Thursday was a sea day, and on that day we accompanied our guest pianist, Juan Pablo, once again, playing a mixture of classical and latin tunes. That evening we played a big band set which went over very well.

Yesterday (Friday), we were the city of Willemstad in Coracao, which is a colony of the Netherlands. It is an amazing place in that it is an island with Dutch architecture right in the middle of the Caribbean, which seems bizarre yet somehow looks perfectly natural when you get there. The local languages were English, Dutch, and Spanish, but most of the signs of restaurants and stores were in English to accommodate the majority American tourists who visit. It is a very picturesque place, and unfortunately we will not be returning there in our Caribbean itinerary.

Today, we were in Oranjestad, Aruba, which is another colony of the Netherlands. I signed up for a crew excursion to a remote resort island, De Palm island. The resort featured unlimited food and drinks, a water park, snorkerling, a banana shaped-boat that you can ride on as you are toed by a motor boat driver who will try and knock you off, volleyball equipment, and more. Snorkeling was very cool as it was my first swim in Caribbean water which is very pleasantly warm, and it was amazing to see all of the different coloured fish from so close. I went on a banana boat ride, ate food, played volleyball and basked in the sun, and with all that somehow managed to not get burned. After the resort, we went back to the downtown area in which our ship was docked, and I had a Marguerita on a nice patio. I then went to a dunkin' donuts for a coffee and some free internet to skype and upload photos.

When I got back to the ship we had a South Beach Rave production show, and after that there was a crew and passenger party up on the deck by the swimming pool, with the cover band playing, free alcohol for the crew, and a barbecue. It was a cool party, and the timing was superb since it started just before we left Aruba so we got to watch the city lights as we sailed away.

I then went down to our local fast-food restaurant, Blue Lagoon, and proceeded to gorge myself on two orders of fish and chips, while chatting with Anton the showband pianist as well as several passengers. I just finished talking to one fellow who is from Vancouver and works for Air Canada, and am getting ready to go to bed.

We are at see for the next two days and then we arrive in Honduras and then Mexico for two quick stops before our last voyage to Miami where this cruise ends. I am continuing to enjoy life on board, and I can't believe that it's only been three weeks that I've been gone. In two more weeks my parents will come on board which I very much look forward to.