DAY 5 BERMUDA

We woke up as early as we could (which was 7:30am for me) knowing that the first ferry over to St George would be 9:30am. From the experience I had last time we were here and catching a ferry, I KNEW that we must be early in line if we wanted to succeed with our plans on making the first ferry.

I have absolutely NO pictures from this morning. Not from breakfast, not from our balcony, not of the family...nada! I must have really been in a hurry! LOL

At 7:30am in the morning...this is what it looked like (ok, I take it back, I did take this picture)

Ok, it does look cloudy, but I do see the sun peaking out over there by St George and I was hoping for the best.

We headed to breakfast and told the kids we would meet them after that and head off the ship. Somehow, we never met up with them. But, I knew that Kendra knew her way around Bermuda now and she definitely knows how to get to the ferry entrance so...I was hoping for the best. I had told them I wanted to be getting off the ship and in the line by 9am.

Then we look outside and it's a nasty dreary looking day with some off and on rain. Oh just great. I don't care what people say about the rain not making a difference because "we're on vacation and not at work". Sigh. I'm sure a lot of people feel this way, but honestly, I'm not one of those. I love my job and what I do. To be quite honest, if it's going to rain, I'd much rather be at work. Just saying... People save for months, sometimes years to go on a cruise of a lifetime. When it rains, it DOES affect how your vacation "feels". No ifs, ands or buts about it. Do you go on? Of course you do. There's nothing you can do about it. Everyone knows I make the best of every situation that's thrown at me, but it does bring you down a little and attitudes change and moods change.

So...with that being said. 

We waited and waited and never found the kids so we decided to head off. I think we were with Kolin and Courtney at that point. After getting off the ship, dinging out and walking out of the building and down the pier, they were at the end of the pier. Good kids!

We hurried to the ferry line and walked and walked and walked and "Does this line ever end???" It was longer than it was the last time we were here with 2 ships in port. YIKES! Would we make it this time?

As we were standing in line, it started pouring. We grabbed our towels to put over our heads and most of the kids ran under the trees to wait for the line to start moving. I stayed put because I figured I was going to get wet where we're going anyhow...so why not just start now.

WE MADE IT!! Whew. But, as always, we would not be getting the nice comfy seat inside at the tables. We would walk down the isle as those people glared at us with their "ah ha, that's what you get for not getting in line early" eyes as we walked by. We headed up the steps to upstairs. Oh just great. It won't be sun beaming down on us, it would be rain beating down on us.

I managed to find a seat beside a girl and put Sakari on my lap, where my legs would fall asleep most of the way over to St George. I was just at the edge of the part that had a covering over it. What did this mean? I would get wet or stay dry...it would mean both.

Kenny got to sit across from me in the "more covered" area. Sam was behind me in the uncovered area and Kendra, Kolin and their families were out in the open.

We headed off after the ferry was filled. Hey, at least we had a seat.

This is usually the part where you are able to take awesome pictures of your ship sitting at the dock, but it wouldn't happen today. It would only be dark and dreary pictures to be had.

On the ride over to St George, it rained, it sprinkled, we got wet and Sakari and I spent most of the time huddled under my, what use to be, dry towel which was now pretty wet...especially on my back.

Kolin had managed to strike up a conversation with a nice lady on the way over to St George. I guess they got to talking and somehow the lady ended up asking her if his mom's name was "Kim". After that, it was all over. My cover had been blown and I was recognized as Mitsugirly here on CC. LOL

Once we made it to St George, she came over to talk to me. Very nice lady with her husband and she's on the boards here. We had a nice chat and I would run in to her later in the week on the ship. I love meeting new people and making new friends...especially cruise friends. hehe I feel like we already have a lot in common to talk about and I'm always game for cruise or port talk. (grin)

We headed off the ferry and ready to hit St George. It had stopped raining for the most part.

A look back at where the ferry docks:

Since we had done this walk before, and messed it up, I knew this time to head down the small road (Water St) instead of continuing up the hill to the main street (York).

Blacksmith Hill

Continuing along the road toward the Town Hall.

To the left is the Post Office. I joked around with Kendra about maybe we should stop here and purchase the 15 pack of tickets for the next time we come to Bermuda and we'll be ready. Although...I actually started to think I wasn't joking and something I probably should have done. However, we were in a hurry to get to the beaches and enjoy as much time as we could here in beautiful St George.

We arrived at the end of the street and in front of us was the Town Hall and to the right is the visitors center. This is where you go if you want to purchase the HOHO (Hop On, Hop Off Beach Bus) stamp.

Now last time we were here, I did not even see these punishment devices and I knew I wanted to get pictures here. Once I walked up to them, Kendra even mentioned "I didn't see these last time. Where they here?" LOL

Despite me trying to convince Sakari that if she's bad she'd be locked in one of these the remainder of the day, she wanted in it.

Obviously Kenny doesn't know how to be serious. "Oh, I'm getting my picture taken?" smiles!

The hubby took things a little too far and decided to hang himself...

We headed over to the Visitors Center to ask a few questions and purchase our Beach Bus stamp. We were surprised to find that we were the only ones in here so far. I ask the gentleman behind the counter if they had more than 1 bus currently running and explained the reports a few months ago about 1 of the buses having an accident and they were only down to 1 bus. Our concern was having to wait forever to get a ride back to St George from St David. He assured me that there was more than 1 bus running.

I also ask how far it was to the nearest bus stop to catch the #6 bus to St David...just in case. He explained where to go and honestly, I was just a tad bit confused when he started pointing in different directions. I assume it was somewhere up on the main road.

We went ahead and purchased our stamp. Since we had such a large group, this did take awhile to get to all of us. At this point, a large line had formed behind all of us.

He starting asking if we had any "change" (meaning $5 or $1) and we always carry tons of small change with us. I kept counting out fives and ones for his twenties and he was most grateful. He said he was going to personally call the Beach Bus and get the driver on the phone and tell them we were a group of 10 waiting on them to head to St Davids. Once he was off the phone, he told us the ladies name and she said she was on her way. He confirmed that the waiting area for St David's was also in the same location as the St George bus and out we went.

When we arrived, I wasn't completely sure that we were at the right bus stop. I knew we were at the same place we went to the last time we caught the bus, but I didn't see any signs saying the Beach Bus Stop like I did last time we were here. (I even went back to my previous pictures of this bus stop and confirmed that there was indeed a sign).

We were the first there, so really no one to ask if they had been told this is the bus stop. I was sure it was and was hoping they hadn't moved it.

After us an older couple came and sat down on the bench and moved to give them a chair.

Then more and more people started to come. It was getting very crowded and very unorganized at this point. I didn't have a good feeling about this and started having flashbacks to our first day at the dockyard at the bus stop.

A bus came and it ended up being a bus to St George. The driver said there would be another bus coming shortly. At this point, there were people spilling out onto the street (just like the bus stop at the dockyard) and when that bus pulled up, people were jumping to get in. (They don't hold many people to begin with and it's like a small mini-van). I just knew this was not going to be good.

Next up was our Beach Bus. The lady pulled up and we just knew it was the lady he had called for us (the other driver was a guy to St George). We headed for the bus and I confirmed that she was going to St George. However, the guy in the picture above also tried jumping in the van with his family. Um...nope! Don't even try it. He started arguing with us that it was his bus. I think not. The kids got a little uptight at this point and of course...argued back. We were the first at the bus stop and just because they decided to step in front of us didn't mean it was their bus. As a matter of fact, Kendra pointed out to them that they were actually in line BEHIND us at the Visitors Center purchasing their stamp. So do you want to explain how you were here before us??? They ask him if he was even going to Clearwater in St David thinking maybe he thought this was another St George bus and we were trying to avoid the argument with him. He said he was going to Clearwater. Sigh. This guy was ridiculous, but guess what...we had 10 people and those 10 people made their way into the bus as he continued to argue and finally said "You just take it". Yea, I think we already did as we ask him if he happened to know the drivers name...no, he did not. Why did we know her name? Because the Visitors Center called her for US and gave us her name...that's why.

Day 2 of aggravation completed...or would it be. We were piled in sitting on each others laps at this point, but we were on our way to St Davids. It took approximately 15 minutes to get there. We told the driver we were interested in going to Long Bay and she took us all the way to the gates at Coopers Island Reserve. She told us that we were allowed to walk around the gates and wonder around the reserve, they just weren't allowed to drive there.

So off we went...

You will find my complete review by clicking the tab below

On Cooper Island, you will find the following beaches (and reviews)

Long Bay was an absolutely stunning beach!! If you are going over to Cooper Island, this would be the beach I would pick. No there are not any facilities but man was it gorgeous and secluded.

Then we were ready to catch the bus and head over to Tobacco Bay. You can read that review from clicking the tab below (there are 2 reviews within that page...one from a previous visit and then midway down, this visit)

After our adventurous day on this side of the island, it was time to head back. It was 4:15pm now. We were going back to the ferry.

The ferry came at 4:20pm. Now that was perfect timing if I do say so myself.

We got on the ferry and get this...WE GOT A SEAT!! A seat AT A TABLE. Woo hoo. I felt like I had just turned Platinum on the Bermuda St George ferry now.

We were seated and comfortable and kicked off our shoes to relax at 4:29pm.

So this is what it looks like inside with no people.

Kendra yells, oh my gosh mom, look what I have...

She comes to the table and says "it's a baby shark tooth"

Sigh...only my child would find a piece of sand that resembles a shark tooth. She's so goofy.

We arrived back at the dockyard and was walking off the ferry at 5:18pm. It was good to be back after such a long day. Whew. Now we just had to drag ourselves back to the ship.

We arrived at the dockyard from the ferry and the sun was shining again. 

I snapped pictures along the way. I remember this glass bottom boat from last time we were here. We had rented the Boston Whaler and they were passing by us. Sakari loves the painting on there. So I had to take a picture for her.

There's our beautiful girl waiting on us.

It was starting to get cloudy again, but the sun was trying her best to make an appearance.

The clocktower in the distance:

Welcome back!

We dinged ourselves in and up to our room we went to shower and get changed. 

After my shower (around 6pm) and getting dressed, I decided to head out to the balcony and take some pictures. To my surprise the sky had turned a beautiful pinkish color. It was stunning!

More of the beautiful sky and the surroundings.

To our surprise, we found this laying on our bed when we returned today:

WOO HOO! We are leaving at 5pm after all!!!! I was super excited about this. (Although I found it strange they would have an all aboard time just 1/2 hour prior to departure. Yikes)

So obviously we would have to discuss our plans for the day. Had we known this ahead of time, we just might have decided to rent another whaler close by at H20 again. But it was a little late for that, so I guess we'd just have to stick with our original plans.

The family decided to head to O'Sheehans for some...late lunch? early dinner?...or just plain FOOD!

I always enjoy their food and menu. I don't think there's really anything bad on it and there's always something I can find to eat from there.

Sakari loves her Kolin. They are really close despite their age difference. He's the only other child I still have at home and I think that's why they're so close.

The kids looked thrilled. I think they were worn out from the day and all the walking and then waiting on their drinks to come. Trust me, they livened up after that.

Well at least Kolin was happy with his Angry Orchard.

A little too happy. (Look at the look on Courtneys face). LOL I'm pretty sure she made the comment "You're not funny Kolin" shortly after that.

Finally our drinks came and all was good.

I always love their artichoke dip.

Sakari loving her big girl drink.

We hung out for awhile after eating and just enjoying each others company and making use of our UBP. 😁 The place wasn't too crowded so we figured we weren't tying up any seats by doing this.

Then we decided to take Sakari to the kids club for awhile and also sign her up for sitting tonight since it was the GLOW party. Sakari knew something was up since the other kids were discussing bits and pieces of what they were going to wear and asking me about the glow sticks I had purchased for everyone. Sigh. Sakari was a little upset and saying she wanted to go to the party and use the glow sticks. I was trying to tell her it was for adults only and they would be having their own little party in the kids club. I think this is the first time she has ever resisted going there...and of course on a night I'm wanting to do something. Just my luck. She usually begs to go.

In the end, momma won the battle and she reluctantly went.

We all headed back to the room to get ready. 

I busted open the glow sticks and the family was having some fun deciding what colors they wanted and most of all...where to put them. Someone turned off the lights in both rooms after awhile and it became a game of guessing who was who.

What are you doing Kendra? Eating them? You were just fed!

Once everyone was done "playing", we headed off to the glow party.

The Glow party is held at Spice H20 on the back of the ship. The place was hopping and the party was getting started.

Silas the CD was getting the crowd going and everyone was ?dancing?

The crowd was huge and not much room to stand or dance at times.

The girls stopped and got their faces painted as they were coming in. I didn't realize until I took this picture that the paint actually "glowed".

See Kendra's cup she has? They had the specialty cups for the glow party and they would flash all kinds of colors. She had to get one for her kids. If you have the drink package, the drink is free of course and you just pay for the flashing cup that they put the drink in. I believe she said they were $2.50 for the cup.

Courtney decided she wanted one too. When the waiter came by and she handed them her card, they looked at her weird and ask who's card did she have. You could tell she was shocked and said it was hers. He ask her where her mother was, which is a touchy subject for her when someone says this (although the waiter didn't know) because her mother was killed in an auto accident when she was 10 years old. So, this kind of set her in a bad mood and she ask what her mother had to do with anything. He proceeded to tell her that it was not her card and she was too young to drink. He walked away with her card. He later returned and brought everyone their drinks but Courtney's. He ask her again who the card belonged to. At this point she was upset and told him it's her card, she's been using the card all week because she has the UBP and she was 22 years old. He kept questioning her and she finally got mad and snatched the card from him and walked straight up to the bar and handed it to the person there, who took her order and handed her the drink. Sigh. When the waiter came back around, she flashed it in front of him and said thanks for nothing.

Now I understand her frustration completely. I grew up looking extremely young. I was still getting carded when I was 40 in certain situations. When I was in my 20's people thought I had just turned a teen. So I completely understand both her side...and also the servers side. He obviously didn't want to contribute to a minor and he was uncertain. But it was kinda weird this was the first time it had happened on the cruise and it was now Thursday. There wasn't anyone else on the ship that questioned it. Oh well, it gave the rest of us a good laugh for the night. (Most people can't believe Kendra is 27. IMO she's the one that looks like she's about 16). LOL

Courtney had her cup and all was good.

We headed out to the dance floor to ?dance?

Right before that, Kenny decided he didn't want to stay. So he left like a party pooper. 

We had a lot of fun...but ?dancing?

Me and my girls love to dance...whether it be "freestyle" or the line dances. We love the sailaway dancing, which we didn't have. We love the White Hot party, which is the Glow on the new ships. BUT...they did not play any of the "dance songs" that we always dance to on the other ships. No line dancing, no wobble, no electric slide, no nothing. We were so looking forward to that. It never happened.

Honestly, this Glow Party was more like a RAVE party. People jumping up and down, fist pumping, it was not dancing. My how things are changing. This is one of the things I didn't like about the new ships (both the GA and BA), it's just not the same as the smaller ships.

We left at 11:30pm and decided we have had enough of fist pumping jumping around type of dancing and we headed to pick up Sakari. I wasn't going to continue to pay for sitting for something that just wasn't going to happen (regular dancing) and it just wasn't what we were expecting. Darn.

Sakari said she got to dance, so it sounded like she had a good time. 

We came back to the room and our towel animal for the night was a crab.

Sakari did some drawing while we watched some t.v.

It was a "fishy" night because she said she wanted to see more fish in the ocean snorkeling and this would give us some luck for tomorrow. "We ARE going to the beach tomorrow right mommy?"

Although I don't think we'll be seeing any Orca's Sakari.

The hubby decided to pay for the 48 hour internet package with Bermuda and he went out on the deck for awhile to check his emails.

Now I know in the past that others said you can sometimes pick up a signal from the dockyard if you are down on deck 7. But we were on deck 12 and he was able to get a signal.

That concludes our Day 5.