Category Archives: Travel

Unicorns!

And why, you might ask, is the unicorn Scotland’s national animal? Beyond the mythical lore, unicorns symbolize purity, innocence, and power in Celtic mythology, embodying the fierce independence and resilience seen throughout Scottish history. They are often depicted in chains in Scottish heraldry, symbolizing that only the king could tame such a powerful creature.

Where to Spot Unicorns in Scotland:

Even though unicorns are the stuff of legends, Scotland embraces them wholeheartedly. You can spot these noble creatures across the country, from the heraldic shields at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the mercat crosses of old Scottish towns, and even on the prow of HMS Unicorn in Dundee.

So, whether you believe in the literal existence of unicorns or just love the magic they represent, National Unicorn Day is the perfect time to celebrate these symbols of wonder and majesty. Grab your glitter and let’s make some magic happen!

Let’s all sing along:

Day Two: Nassau, Bahamas on RCL Wonder of the Seas, January 2023

January 8, 2023

We had never planned on getting off at Nassau. We used to own property there and are no longer fans.

I didn’t sleep well at all due to knee pain – only 2 hours, 15 minutes.

A first look at Atlantis on Paradise Island. Back in the day Paradise Island was known as Hog Island but that didn’t do much for tourism.

And the Paradise Island lighthouse

! did take lots of pictures of docking.  2 Carnival ships, NCL Escape, Independence of the Seas and us. I never figured out who we docked in front of, below left.

Some building developer took the time (and money) bo construct a building that looks like a cruise ship.

This was a very low-key day partly because of my knee pain. After breakfast in the Windjammer, I took a nap in solarium.

Back for lunch in the Windjammer  I told Tom we should pay less in port fees because we weren’t disembarking in most of the ports.  He said we were eating more on board so it should average out.  Hmmm.

I started Pender work.  Even though we’re supposed to have this super-fast Starlink service, the video download was very slow as was audio upload. 

As always, Tom had a meeting in the MDR at 3:00.

It was fun to see people trying to get back onboard on time

This tour boat brought people back really late – I assume it was an RCL excursion or we wouldn’t have waited.

It was a Formal Night – I have no idea why they do those on port days instead of sea days.

We went to a show called “Tap Factory” which I assumed (remember that? https://youtu.be/LfvTwv5o1Qs) would be like Fred and Ginger? Or the Nicholas Brothers?

The Tap Factory was less tap dancing and more drumming and acrobatics but still a great show.

Dinner in the Main Dining Room was “French Night” we didn’t go, partly because we didn’t want to dress up for Formal Night and also because we had reservations to the inTENse Aqua show.

A friend had told me that she loved this show so much that she has a cabin on a future cruise that she chose just so she could watch all the shows and rehearsals from her balcony. Tom told me it was the best show hs has ever seen. Luckily, we have reservations for a second night, too!

From RCL: The judges’ scores are in… and it’s inTENse, the awe-inspiring athleticism and mesmerizing technology are cranked all the way up in this AquaTheater production —only on Wonder of the Seas℠. This high-energy show brings next-level intensity to everything from pool plunging to tightrope teetering and beyond. Shift all your expectations of what entertainment can be into high gear and prepare for the maximum performance level of inTENse. The only question is, are you ready to push the pedal to the metal?

Our show was slightly different but this is the basic performance.

Blue, blue water.

Tonight we head back north to CocoCay