VALENTINE'S DAY OUTING

The past few days we have had some beautiful, warm, spring like weather in the Sacramento area even though it is only mid-February. Lou suggested we take a drive to the University of California Davis campus & go for a walk along their arboretum. So we did!

But first we took a quick side trip to the nearby Stevenson Bridge. Lou always finds us the most interesting sights to see. This one is only 30 miles from home.

The Stevenson Bridge is a local landmark famous for being covered in graffiti. It was built in 1923 & is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The "overhead tie arch" design is one of only three in California.

The bridge spans Putah Creek. Due to its age & condition the state has deemed it "structurally deficient & functionally obsolete" but it is still in use.

After exploring the bridge we drove a few miles to UC Davis where we enjoyed a two mile stroll along the arboretum. I was surprised to see so many plants starting to bloom already which made for some great photo ops. We are planning to visit again in a couple months when the flowers will be in full bloom.

A Southern Magnolia tree was already sprouting with lovely flowers.

This unique flower was the only one like it that we saw & I have no idea what it is.

For whatever reason, this small log was a popular spot for turtles to bask in the sun.

These Red Hot Pokers framed the lake beautifully.

Another gorgeous flower that we weren't able to identify.

This Snowy Egret just stood there in the tree & posed for us. 

The arboretum is divided into areas as you walk along paths by the creek & lakes. These cactus were surrounded by small purple flowers in the desert area.

These Prickly Pear Cactus were growing up the side of the hill.

A bridge crossing the creek is lined with these decorated locks. They are called "love locks" which couples lock to a bridge, fence or gate to symbolize their love. Apparently, they are popular all over the world.

CRUISIN'

After spending all day yesterday taking my dad to appointments, running seemingly endless errands to get caught up, doing mounds of laundry & grocery shopping, last night I asked Lou, "Was I really on vacation the day before yesterday???"

Our nine day jaunt to South Beach & the Caribbean almost seems like a distant memory when it was only a couple days ago that we stepped off the ship. This morning it was all put in perspective for me when, as I walked up to their house, I heard Charley scream, "GAGA'S HEEERRRRE!!!" as she ran to the front door. Life's little pleasures!

We spent two nights in Miami Beach area to do a little South Florida sightseeing before boarding what is currently the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's "Oasis of the Seas".

We spent the first morning at Haulover Beach in North Miami getting into vacation mode.

Cape Florida Lighthouse in Bill Baggs State Park on the island of Key Biscayne.

South Beach at night. After dinner at the News Cafe, where we had breakfast 12-1/2 years ago, we strolled along Ocean Drive taking in all the colorful atmosphere.

I loved this window display in South Beach although I probably couldn't walk ten feet in any of them.

Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse near Pompano Beach, Florida.

The "Oasis of the Seas" can accommodate up to almost 6300 passengers. It has been called a "Floating City". Lou seemed to really enjoy the gigantic ship but I still prefer the smaller, more intimate sailing experience, although I will say that it wasn't as crowded as I expected.

The Oasis of the Seas has interior balcony staterooms that overlook The Boardwalk & Central Park neighborhoods.

One of four outdoor pools located on the upper deck of the Oasis of the Seas.

The adults only Solarium which houses two spas, a small pool & a healthy cafe.

The Royal Promenade in the center of the ship resembled a mall with restaurants & shops much more than a cruise ship.

As we set sail from Fort Lauderdale we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the South Florida skyline.

Our latest formal cruise portrait. Such a handsome guy in his tuxedo! In case you were wondering they had me stand on a higher step since Lou is almost a foot taller than me.

Our first stop was Labadee, Haiti, the only new country for us on this trip. It is a peninsula that Royal Caribbean has developed as a beach & water sports destination. Most of the country is deemed unsafe for tourism but this little piece of paradise doesn't give any indication of the turmoil just on the other side of the hills.

Labadee, Haiti, with its gorgeous aqua water & beautiful sand beaches hosts Royal Caribbean ships here almost every day of the week.

Labadee is home to the longest (almost half a mile), highest (500 feet), fastest (speeds of 40-50 mph) zip line in the Caribbean - the Dragon's Breath Flight Line. I caught these four adventurous cruisers with our ship in the background.

The next port was Falmouth, Jamaica. We spent a week in Jamaica 12-1/2 years ago not too far from Falmouth. The Jamaican people have a great sense of humor & seem genuinely happy that we are visiting their country. The tour guides were delightful!

The Good Hope Great House originally built in 1774 as a sugar cane plantation was a beautiful site in central Jamaica.

The dining room of the Good Hope Great House set up for high tea.

Our last destination was the island of Cozumel, Mexico. We visited Cozumel several years ago, too. This time we took a shore excursion to the San Gervasio Mayan Ruins that included a tour around the whole island.

The San Gervasio Mayan Ruins is the best preserved ancient site on Cozumel.  .

This arch is one of the most famous sights at San Gervasio. It took some doing to get this photo without any sightseers. There were still two people who wouldn't move so I simply Photoshopped them out.

Our Cozumel tour included a drive around the perfectly flat island. This was a photo op beach stop with a vendor selling his colorful wares.

Turning 180 degrees from the above photo I was able to catch some waves crashing over the rocky shore.

Interestingly enough, our ship the "Oasis of the Seas" is on the left & the ship we will be taking on our Baltic cruise in July, the "Serenade of the Seas", is on the right. The Serenade holds just over 1/3 as many passengers as the Oasis.

I always end up taking tons of photos of flowers or animals or other interesting sights. Since I can't draw or paint worth a lick this seems to satisfy my creative impulses. This time it seems that birds & iguanas, lots of them, were the creatures of choice for my fun pictures.

This swan posed for me at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale. Time didn't permit a tour but we did stroll around the grounds. 

Just a few feet from the above swan this Anhinga bird was drying his wings. 

I got lucky snapping this photo of a Swallow Tail Hummingbird which is the official bird of Jamaica. Its beak really is that bright red & its body is an iridescent blue.

The Good Hope Plantation grounds housed an aviary with several brightly colored parrots.

This guy was enjoying his melon & held pretty still. Birds are some of the toughest creatures to catch in a good photo. I have hundreds of pictures when the bird moved or flew off.

I'm guessing this is some sort of chicken that was strutting around the plantation aviary.

Iguanas are much easier to photograph. This guy was probably two feet long & stayed put while I snapped his picture.

This looked like a motley pigeon to me. He just washed his feathers & can't do a thing with them.

This Orange Iguana was on a roof in Cozumel & was probably several feet long. I had to zoom in a lot to get his photo.

We stopped at a Chocolate Museum in Cozumel & this guy was just walking along the porch.