A night at the beach

It was a great idea after all. The night birthday party at the beach. We arrive there a little late ,almost 9:00, because we had to wait for Vivi and her friend to get out of work and change and we also have to pick up Viviana’s best friend (not boyfriend)LOL.We went to el Condado beach behind La placita del indio (park). On the beach behind the park there were 2 partys with torches, tables, music and everything. Everyone was sitting down in beach chairs or towels.
Nice!!!!!! Gentle breeze , the sound of the sea ( it was rough).As always with us there was plenty of food( that I didnt touch YAY!), music and musical instruments and dancing. We stayed until midnight. Love it!! here are some pics of Vivi with her cousin Gabriel, the teens and the oldies on the beach chairs

The travel agent hat and other news

Yesterday I went to have my haircut to the same place I have been going for years. The owner, also the one that cuts my, hair is married and has 3 children. The children are also at my school.For a long time and due to the fact that they are not fans of airplanes , they always took their vacations at Disney World.Even if they dont love airplanes they love to travel.In these years they have graduated from Disney to cruises, New York and Washington DC. Since the first time I went to Europe in the summer of 2005 I have been talking to him of all the wonders of Europe.Talking about my experiences and sharing my pictures with him. He was always very interested but afraid because of the long journey and the kids ages.Well this year he decided to go.Im happy for them but he is going to be spending a lot of money!! The travel agent in me would have done things very different. First since the euro is so high the best way to go to Europe right now is on cruises because you are paying with dollars and getting the complete package. They are going on a cruise but only for 7 days. A 7 day cruise in Europe is like a 3 day cruise in the Caribbean.I would have choosen a cruise that would cover as many countries as I could, at least for my first time.That cruise is only going to Italy and Nice . Which is fine but there are so many other places, they are not even going to Venice.
Another thing is that they are going on the Voyager of the Seas. In Europe you dont need all the thingys that this ship has and for what they are spending in this ship they could have go on the Carnival Freedom for 12 days. But their TA is one of those that have stupid issues with Carnival.So they are married to RCCL and I think is not their first time on the Voyager.
The other thing is that they are staying 10 or more days in Spain (Between Barcelona and Madrid) Great! I love Spain but right now with the euro as it is this is going to cost a fortune.In fact this morning he asked me if I knew of some place to stay in Barcelona because his TA told him that they would have to pay $2,400 YIKES! for 2 night stay pre cruise. Thats because they are 5 and have to take 2 rooms.I have only been in Barcelona for a day so I dont know about accomodations. I think they should rent an apartment.
Ok so yesterday talking about the trip I recomended my hotel in Madrid and made recomendations about what do to and see on both places. When I got home I even made a
search on the internet and got info on other places to visit in Spain taking the train from Madrid hours, prices and everything. Also made recomendations about day trips from Barcelona. Another thing that we talk about yesterday was about ship tours in Italy. I already have talked with him about my excellent experience with private tours in Italy, I wasnt going to sugest this to him this time because I thought it would be the same price or higher because of the euro. Yesterday he told me that the excursion for Rome was going to cost him $200 something p/p. I told him that when I got home I was going to do the adding and the exchanging from euro to dollar to see how much would cost him to do the same thing but with private tours.Well, I did and even with the euro is cheaper for him to take private tours.I send him all the info with the pros and cons to him and he loved the idea.He is going to look at their website and tours during the weekend and on Monday he is going to let me know what he wants for me to do all the arrangements. He wants me to do it because he is not very good with english and I already know so well this company. So Im going to put on my travel agent hat and its going to be a pleasure for me to talk with my italian friend again. Ok …. What about the news? I guess you already know about our governor.Never like him. Worst governor we have ever had in my point of view. I dont know if he is guilty or not.Now they are trying to sell him as almost a martyr… crap.He hasnt resign. I think he should.Tonight we are going to go to the beach at night, My niece turned 20 yesterday and she wants to celebrate this night at the beach. ??????? strange…. Lets see how it goes.
AGH! Its Friday and on Monday I start working again.Next week its going to be caotic.I left plenty of work to be done at school and I have to get ready for the week Im not going to school and I have to get everything ready for the trip and I havent lost and ounce of weight. LOL What can i do ? At least I tried ( not to hard) I have to buy new pants LOL
Today on random pics Im going to show some pics with my italian private drivers,  Luca and Giovanni. One of 2005 the other from 2007 same 2 excellent companies.

My Princess cruises

Reading John’s detailed narration of his cruise on The Emerald not only makes me feel like Im there but also made me remember my own Princess cruises.Got my photo albums out and made me realise how lucky we have been.Lucky to have been able to cruise so many times and share it with our kids.Share the love for the sea and cruising.Being able to teach them how this is a blessing that not all people have and that we have to cherish every moment of it.Enjoy every little thing.Not complaining, not seeing the bad things but the good things in all of them. Being respectful of the ship,other passengers and crew.Soooooooo I got out my 3 photo albums the oldest from 1995, our first Princess cruise, The Regal Princess.For a long time my husband has wanted to try the Love Boat line but always a cheaper cruise got in the middle until he decided to pay a little more for the ocassion our
10th wedding anniversary.The first thing that really made an impression on us was the cabin. Way much bigger than anything we have seen before.I remember waking up at night and looking around me and saying WOW , I cant believe I am on a cruise ship.Not only that it was the first ship we been on that has bathrobes and a fridge on the room Uhh ahhh! LOL
Also in the room flowers from Eugenio ( that was a first….. and a last) This was before personal choice dinning so we were in a table with an older couple from Argentina. Little stuck up right.. and they talk and talk sh#$$%^% LOL she was a travel agent. She did fall off the chair one night. I remember the food as being the best I had so far and we had a very good italian waiter.We did celebrate with them or anniversary with cake and people from the other tables coming to ours.We also remember our day at the beach in Mayreau, our first and only visit to ST Barth, the ice cream place and the champagne waterfall the formal night.

Our second cruise in Princess was on the Ocean Princess. Easter Sunday April 2001 with the kids.This cruise has a history of his own.We had decided not to travel this time but a very good deal got in the way and made Eugenio book another cruise with Princess this one on the Dawn Princess for Saturday April 20th it was only a month to go so we decided not to tell the children and surprise them that same day.But if you booked on the Dawn how did you ended up on the Ocean? you may ask.Well we were lucky this time and we got the deal of a lifetime. Two weeks before our cruise on the Dawn, on the cheapest cabin, we got a call from the Travel Agent telling us that she has a group that needed one more cabin on the Dawn. She ask us if we were willing to give up our cabin on the Dawn for two outside cabin on the Ocean the next day and a HUGE discount.We said no…… LoL we are not stupid. We actually sailed on the Ocean the next day in 2 large cabins in one of the upper decks (same deck as the casino and pizzeria)The window in both cabins were larger than usual almost floor to ceiling and you know what the total cost was for the 2 cabins with taxes and all for the 4 of us?? 1,000 TOTAL!! Thats right we went free we only paid the port charges.
Of that cruise we specially remember our waiter that was so nice to the kids that we actually felt guilty when we dine at the Lido because we knew he was waiting with special things for them and we also remember Francesco our italian head waiter, who always made a big fuss when he saw the kids at the Lido or in the dining room, very sweet and caring.Also I remember the times when we all went to see the ship sail (standard procedure for us) with a plate of papitas (fries). We always loved to hear Princess captains. They talk a lot on the p.a. When they ship is going to sail they always they say the same thing (italian accent)
“The procedure is now completed the Ocean Princess is about to sail” and then the ship horn. My husband loves this.Also on the last port of call they put on the p.a. Andrea Bocelli’s Time to say goodbye.Very emotional, more if your last port of call is the enchanted City of Venice which me brings me to my last and most significant Princess ship, The Grand.
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June, 2005 Our first time in Europe!! Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey Beautiful ship with the big disco on top and a big screen, a group of 14 people. Small cabin this time for 3 people enough money as it was already,it really doesnt matter we are in Europe.This time we only took Vivi. Cristian, at 12, had his mind in other thing and he wasnt really going to appreciate was he was living so he went with his grandparents to the USA to the amusement parks that he was interested at that time.The trip of a lifetime.Viviana celebrated her 16 th birthday onboard the day we were in Naples.At first she was so overwhelmed with was she was living that she cried.I was very proud of her seeing that world with her eyes and ears wide open and enjoying it to the fullest not a word pf complain.The other teenagers ahhh! sometimes they didnt even know were they have been. With their ipods on their ears not listening.AYY! I thought nothing could top that trip. I was wrong the Carnival Freedom did.

On vacation doing some things that I have to do

Today is the day I choose to do all that medical exams.I already did one in the morning at the cardiologist office. That was an easy one but in the afternoon I have to do 3 more, xrays , sonograms, etc. The ones in the afternoon are the ones that make me nervous not because of anything in particular.Thank God this is routine but WOW they make me nervous. But today im going to end with all of them and with God’s help and all goes well Im not planning on going to the doctor again until next year.This week I also have to do a bunch of laboratory exams.Take them to the doctor and Im free until next year.YAY! Its good that Im doing this now because then I dont have to do all this in the summer.I dont want to spend my only month of vacation going to doctors. Blah! This summer is going to be different because i have to work the month of June. I only get paid one of the 2 months of summer. If I want to be paid I have to work the month of June. Until now I had the blessing of my husband covering the expenses of that month but this year is impossible so I have to work. Its only until 12:30 but maybe I will have to give summer school to some children and tha means planning doing tests etc. One month is not enough for teachers. I need the 2 months!!Today my friend who took her son to Italy this week is coming back. I cant wait to hear her stories. I hope that after all that she had to go through to go she had an unforggetable stay in Italy.I receive a call from the Education department Federal affairs office that I have to go and sign some papers about our trip to Utah. It seems Im going. I have to wash all the turtle necks and all those things i never use. At least I get to travel in an airplane this year….oh well!! LOL
I like the idea of the random pics. So Im also going to put some.
Here is a picture of my house, and my niece with the handsome italian son of the owner of the restaurant La Tagliata in Positano, Pepe, and a large plate of 4 pastas.

Back from Mayaguez

Im back after 2 days at my parents.I havent been there since Christmas.Its getting very difficult for me to go to Mayaguez because the only time I have to go is on weekends but now with Viviana working its almost imposible.It always good to go to your parents. The house now is almost empty with all of us gone and only my sister and I remaining in PR.So when we go there we have 3 empty rooms to sleep and there is also plenty of food that my mother does for the ocassion and that involves many goodies that she buys also.I ate so much in 2 days that i dont want to remember.Im getting very worried about my pants not fitting in 2 weeks for the trip. oopps!! What can I do? Say no, Thank you? Im not stupid LOL My sister lives nearby so she is always there when we go with my niece and nephew.My only remaining grandmother also lives down the street.I also saw my uncle who is now in charge of one of our largest chains of supermarkets.He used to work for them 20 years ago but they change management and he didnt like it and move on. Now after closing then up they have been bought by a puertorrican and starting all over. He is very happy now , at 60 starting all over with what he likes. He looks young and full of life. At my parents I tried to keep up with my emails and John’s blog. Difficult task.My parents have and Imac one of the oldest and it is veryyyyyyyyyy slow. I answer John’s comment to me with an keyboard with no F. So it was a little weird.Anyway the first one 2 days ago is still waiting for moderation.So I read every email but I didnt write. My mother in law was also in the area so we went for a visit to her sister in law house in Cabo Rojo.Everyone was in that area because of the large waves in the North area and also because Cabo Rojo has the best beaches of the island.
Hey!! I got some boots for the trip they were on sale at Sears for $20.I wasnt planning on spending much because I dont use them.Ahhh!! Also today there is an article at the newspaper about my aunt Lillian maybe some of you have seen her in television.She was the maid in Dharma and Greg ands right now she is also one of the moms of the participants on the series Lost she was also in one chapter of Betty among many other things.She used to be a famous soap opera actress and presenter here until she decide to go to Hollywood.Now she is writting a book the Megahurst (us the Hurst ) and later she is going to do a monologue about it and she is going to bring it to the theater here. She is my fathers sister and she has many things to tell about this family who is famous for being absent minded.
Its bad people really…. LOL Not me I didnt inherited that.My father is worried about what she is going to tell.Nothing bad Ill tell you, they are good people but peculiar….very peculiar. My father very much included in this.They are 3 brothers(the 3 having had heart surgery lately) and 2 sisters.My grandfather was the sane one but he died almost 30 years ago,my grandma died 2 years ago and she was the guilty one.So here it is my famous aunt maybe you can recognize her from somewhere and here is the link to the newspaper is in spanish.http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/cine/flash!/respetada_por_hollywood
Or go to www.endi.com or if you want to read more about her go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Hurst

Time Off

I cant believe how much Im enjoying being free.No compromises, no schedules. Waking up in the morning with no alarm.ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I feel free!! Like never before Im enjoying even the cleaning that Im doing but with no rush. A room a day but well done , with details no hurries.If I feel like stoping at the computer I stop. If I feel like napping I nap.That is more difficult because I dont know why the telephone always rings. LOL I miss my time as a homemaker with small kids at that time I didnt appreciate it. Now I would give anything to be able to do that again.Thats life! Im also doing the things that I dont have time for like annual check ups.So Im going to all my doctors and doing the usual tests and things. I feel good getting this things out of the way. This night we are going to do our walk around the paseo in Old San Juan if it doesnt rain. Tomorrow night Im going to my parents until Friday. I havent seen them in some time.How much I needed this time and Im glad I got it!!

ahh! My picture!

I no longer buy  many formal pictures on cruise ships. I have many that are inside a photo album and nobody sees.I buy the ones that are different or special or from time to time one of the entire family.Another reason for not buying them is that now with age it is quite difficult to find one that we both like (my husband and I). We always find something in them, we look fat, old, tired, wrinkled or just not enough hair. LOL Its true! Ok but last time on the Freedom we found the perfect picture.We both looked great.Didnt look old, fat, tired and our hair was perfect.That night I was wearing my favorite dress.The dress that I have bought for
Viviana’s graduation mass. That dress always gets many compliments and that night at the ship 3 ladies stoped me to tell me something about the dress. Can you believe it? I always get that reaction with that dress. If they have known that I bought it at JC Penney for $30 !! Anyway yesterday I was cleaning and the frame that this pictures was in broke. When I tried to get the picture out it has stick to the glass.Apparently the cleaning lady that I used to have used to much Windex or something to clean the frame. The picture got severe damage. I tried to scan it at least to have it in some way. I did some cropping and everything but I didnt help much.So people this is me when I am on a cruise ship or travelling, happy, well rested( at least the mind) with my hair the color and the haircut that I really like and how could I forget 10 pounds thinner YAY! LOL I want my cruise!!

Car ride and some memories

Last night we went for a ride my husband was feelings a little low and he wasnt in the mood for nothing else. Its been a long time since we went to Islas Verde the first place we went was the airport. I know is a little crazy but that is one thing that I know is taking a toll not being able to travel during Easter vacation.We had plans but we werent able to carry on witth them so we miss travelling and all the excitement that comes with it.Just approaching the airport reminds us of the way we feel all the times we have come near this place.For me this time was different in less than a month Im going to be taking my first trip alone.Not alone, alone Im going with 3 other co workers but with no one of my family.Nanette on his own not with her husband at her side to solve any situation. I can do it, Im not worry about that,its just that I wonder how I going to feel when that plane starts to run in that runway and goes up and does the curve that I always hate.Thats the part I dont like after the plane is up on the air and some minutes have gone by, I am completely at ease and I start to enjoy the whole experience.Just hearing the sounds of the airplanes and seeing them running made me wonder and I know I have to gather all my strength I dont want to fear I want to enjoy. Im very much looking forward to that trip, its going to be interesting being on my own.Iam already taking out the few things I have for cold weather. I cant wait. My pants dont fit me , that part I dont know if im going to be able to do.If not oh weel time to go shop.What can I do? Anyway so we continue with our trip down the main avenue of Isla Verde were all the hotels are.We began to see many groups of young people and tourist.
We go pass El San Juan Hotel and I began to remember the last time we were there. It was for Viviana’s Prom last June it was June 1 and we were leaving for Rome to take the Carnival Freedom on June 3.That night was unforgetable in many ways. Since early that days the preparations have begun I have taken Viviana to the beauty to get her hair and makeup done and to the boutique for them to help Viviana get dressed.She was beautiful!! Im not saying this because she is my daughter she was truly one of the most beautiful girls that night and she was happy, very happy.She was going to the prom with her best friend ( not her boyfriend) a wonderful boy that loves her and takes very good care of her. That afternoon I dropped them both at a friends house for them to take all together a limousine to the hotel. I went home to get ready, Just to let you know that here in PR prom is a family affair. So Eugenio and I went to pick up my nephew that was going to the prom with Vivi’s best friend.I remember that moment when we pick him up and his mother came out to talk with us . She was so proud of his son and how handsome he looked. that night we had a wonderful night we were all so happy not only because I was looking at my daughter being so happy having so much fun. dancing the night away with a wonderful partner and her cousin but because we knew that in a few hours we were going to start the trip of a lifetime. Eugenio and I left the party at 1:30 am leaving the kids having the time of their lifes.I was going to pick them up early in the morning when they called.Vivana called at 6:00 am and I remember exactly how I felt that morning with the streets empty , I was smilling thinking of what layed ahead, me going back to the country that I adore, going back to see friend who I missed, new experiences and meeting new friends, the ship and the wonderful CD I have not seen in 15 years. I can almost feel it.How many things have happened after that and how much we have change.

Free

Im free!!!!!!!!!!!! At least for 2 weeks. I needed this time so much. I gave my friend who is going to Italy this Sunday and her son a big hug and told her that in the first church she gets in please pray for me and that I might be able to go back to Italy soon. AHH! I was very happy for her.

They know how to live and the 3 evil third grade teachers

Just 2 more days and I am free!!!!!!!!!! I need that so much.This have been a very difficult year for 3 third grade teachers, myself included.It has been very hard and I dont know why. Im the only one not new on the third grade the other 2 came from Kindergarten and the library and it hasnt been easy for any of us.We have been under constant supervision the whole year specially Evil teacher C and it has reflected on the other 2. Lately this has been taken to extremes and we are all very tense and you can see many teachers showing their emotions. We are drenched and we are tired and it is showing. Today I felt lucky. I was the strong one being the support for the other 2. Of the 3 Im in the best position with less problems. I have been able to protect myself against some problems specially with parents given that I have more experience. Every Wednesday at 8:00 the 3 of us are free.We are supposed to have meetings at this time to discuss were we at in every third grade classroom. Seeing the faces of my friends in the morning I told them that we were going to use the time for group therapy.I told them that we are going to use the time to talk about ourselves.First it was evil teacher C. She is the one going to Italy with her son on Sunday. Guess what?? Last night she took out her passport to do some copies and she discovers that it has expired 2 weeks ago!!.Imagine she was desperate, tomorrow she is taking a plane to Miami to get her passport the same day.They didnt even have the money for the trip to Italy and now she has to spend the money on a trip to Miami etc, etc. But she can let her son down he is so excited he cant sleep.She was also worried about what she is going to say about that at school.She has the supervisor behind her at all times. We told her not to tell and to call sick that way they wont take the much needed money from her salary.Now its the turn for Evil teacher B. She is having a lot of problems with the parents of a set of twins in her classroom, they are making her life miserable.She doesnt sleep or anything. The 2 of them are ready to walk out and they are good teachers. Ayy!! we all ended up crying. So I dont have great problems. So Im the lucky one I think. It doesnt pay, really. Do you know that one of the teachers is planning on sueing other teacher, both from the elementary school supposedly friends.How could she? Ugly!Really it is very tense in my school. Thank God there are only 2 days left. Opps! almost forgot why are we evil?Everything is our fault and we are bad LOL So all this left me thinking ahhhhhhhhhh… escape…If I could go with my friend to Italy…………. I would be sooo happy………I was watching the I love Raymond episode were they are in Italy. At one time Raymond tells his wife that Italians know how to live. Its true it is so different. They really enjoy it. Not this madness that we live in. This race. We have to stop somehow.Italy seems so far and now with that euro and me with no money.blah! LOL That is one thing in my bucket list I want to live in Italy at least for some months. Now Im going to go hear Cinema Paradiso song

and see my Italy photos and dream about it.
This pics were taken at Remo’s B&B were we stayed last time in Rome for 4 nights. Remo and Danielle(his son) is the owner of www.driverinrome.com and they also have a B&B in their house. So we stayed there with the family and it was a great experience that we will treasure forever.

I did trow the coin at the Trevi Fountain the first time it worked. I hope it works again so I can stay with the Melaragno’s again.