Monday, July 28, 2014

CocoCay, Bahamas

A beautiful private island...


We were warned before departing that the ship waits for no one.  If you aren't back on board in time, it will leave without you.  I'm thinking...really?  You mean it?   Yes, please ;).  I'll just stay right here...


Unlike Nassau, this island is accessible only by tender.  The cruise ship anchors a distance offshore and smaller boats run back and forth all day ferrying people to/from the island.  We were on one of the very first boats of the morning going over to the island...





I had been to this island before and knew that most people tend to gravitate towards the nearest beach area.  I also knew that if you are willing to walk a little ways, you will only be sharing the beach with a small handful of people.  Of course we went for the walk :)...


Down at the far end of the island, we claimed our spots for the day...




It was a day spent lounging in every possible way...hammocks, beach chairs, floating mats...if it was there, we lounged on it :). 






The kids did take lounging breaks to swim and explore.  Swimming in the Bahamas is kinda like swimming in the most amazing tropical aquarium that you can imagine.  The kids were amazed at the variety of creatures that were just "right there", swimming right alongside them.  They brought the ones that they could up to show me (and then put them safely back)...




gorgeous Queen Conch


See my anklet?  Mother's Day gift from Trev :)

The day passed by way too quickly.  Before we knew it, it was nearing evening and time to return to the ship.  As tempted as I was to "accidentally" get left behind on the island ;), we gathered our things and headed back towards the tender boats.


**I don't know what I was thinking (or not thinking...), but we did not use the first drop of sunblock that day (total Mom fail).  We were on the beach and in the water for a little over 7 hours that day from 9am until just after 4pm (i know, i know...).  Fortunately, we didn't burn as badly as I know we could have...just a little red with sore shoulders and backs.  A few months earlier, I had stumbled upon the craziest sunburn solution that really works like magic.  I had been using raw Tupelo honey as a face wash (it does amazing things for the skin!) every day.  One day I had gotten a little too much sun on my face and it was red, etc.  I did my normal routine of washing with soap, rinsing, then apply the honey and let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse with water only and pat dry.  The next day, no trace of sunburn whatsoever and I never peeled.  Magic :)!  So...after our day in the Bahamian sun, I had the kids each get their showers, then while standing in the tub, I had them rub the burned places with the honey, etc.  They went from it hurting to wear a shirt to perfectly normal the next morning (we did this at bedtime).  Obviously, sunblock would have been the better choice to begin with.  But for those times that you forget or it doesn't work well enough, grab some good quality, raw honey (not the grocery store junk).  ~I just had to share this with ya'll, the results were so amazing (and yes, it's a little weird...but so what).

2 comments:

  1. Wow! During our travels we didn't make it to a single island. Your pictures are always so amazing!

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