Stirrin' it up in Great Stirrup Cay

We knew the end of our wacky family vacation was coming to a close when we reached Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private Bahaman island. This, no doubt, would be a very predictable stop: crowded beaches, fly-infested barbeque, natives braiding hair, pasty white bodies roasting like smores in the sun as their owners attempt to get that last minute tan to make everyone jealous back home, and nicely rounded stomachs, carefully crafted in the buffet line over the past 6 days.

I had my sights set on one thing, the water. After reaching the beach & battling the crowds to carve out a plot of land, I dropped my stuff and immediately headed to the water with my mom & Gon. I splashed around for as long as I can remember, and by the end, my super absorbent diaper had soaked up half of the ocean. It's funny how we arrive at solutions to our biggest problems sometimes. If the polar ice caps do melt, no worries about the ocean flooding our cities, lets ditch the sand bag method and use my diapers instead.

Although I was nowhere near ready to go, my mom was feeling the sun after awhile, and decided to call it a day. What a day it was, and a great ending to our latest vacation.

Bomba Shackin' in Tortola

The clouds rolled in as we sailed into Tortola. Originally called Santa Ana (so named by Christopher Columbus), and later renamed Ter Tholen by the Dutch, this gem of the BVI is known for its offshore companies & banking, but it's better known for the notorious Bomba Shack (more on that later).

Because of the rain, we decided the best option was to hire a driver and explore the island. We chose the right driver, who never stopped talking. Everyone seemed to enjoy the facts he shared. I wasn't too amused though, and fell asleep. Highlights of the tour were a beach stop where I got my feet wet, a rum distillery--which looked like it had a long history of still explosions. Then, there was the aforementioned Bomba Shack. What a place! One unique thing about Tortola is that mushrooms are legal and grow naturally in the mountains of the island. These psychedelic fungi are the stars of the show at full moon parties, which is the Bomba Shack's specialty. Hung throughout the bar are the under garments of past trippers. Although I support living a clean lifestyle, I wanted to toss my diaper up there, but both of my moms didn't support this idea. Oh well, at least it gives me an excuse to come back, I have unfinished business...