A real Dora & BOOTS Adventure!!

This lady (my mother) makes me laugh!! For those of you readers lucky enough to have her in your life- you know what I mean. She is why “the friendly sisters” are SO friendly. This woman talks to everyone and touches them, grabbing their hand or arm, or rubbing their arm while she is befriending them. She likes to be taken care of and requires TLC. She is not a fan of sitting still or resting- the energizer bunny who LOVES a casino. She is particular BEYOND, and might have invented the term…. She is why I like things a certain way. She is sensitive and may not love this post, although I’m blessed to get a “pass” as she birthed me. 

Ok, so Boots met up with us in Ft Lauderdale at our kick off hotel to start this adventure. We all 4 had a lovely dinner and continued reminiscing about our lives in the 70’s-80’s together. I had the privilege to go back in time to my childhood with the Becks(my second parents as a kid) for 3 days first in West Palm Beach for 3 nights. They showed me how the rich & famous live in Palm Beach. We toured the infamous Breakers Hotel. I was lucky enough to work from there for one full day living like a Princess. The benefits of remote working. We walked down Worth Ave (a Rodeo Dr type st), had lunch at a fancy diner. We drove by Mar A Laga, the church where Trump married Melania, fancy large yachts, and shopped at the malls/outlets in the area. We enjoyed many breakfasts & dinners around the table like old times. Much never changes, as Mike Beck loved to ask questions when I was little and still does today, it led to many meaningful conversations. Such a treat to enjoy while he will be turning 80, and Jill just celebrated 73- I enjoyed my Florida entry surrounded by them. 

Boots & I boarded our ship on Wednesday for an Eastern Caribbean weeklong cruise.  We started on Grand Turks, not to be confused with the infamous providencials tourist area of Turks. This was a small island, which we toured and spent 2 hours at a beach. We saw so many pink flamingos and learned the pinker the bird means the more shrimp they are eating. Gasoline is $8 a gallon on the island, population on Grand Turks is only 5k… small and remote- we circled the entire part of this island on our tour in an open air tram. Back on board….. these stops are for half a day, quick little tastes of a destination. 

I’m so entertained at night by Boots, and of course the ships entertainers. We have seen a comedian, a dance company, live steel drum band, and my favorite the dueling piano singers nightly. Boots was in need of bottled water, which doesn’t exist on our ship. They have water in cans…. This was so comical with Boots trying to explain what bottled water is, that they delivered to her glass milk jars of tap water. Between the stewards accents and low voice volume, it was a had to be their moment that I captured on video footage, while laughing hysterically.

Next port was San Juan, Puerto Rico- we opted for a 3 hour food walking tour. Too much walking up/down hills for boots… and the food was not her cup of tea. She is a real trooper! We enjoyed the tour guide, other tourists, and the sights seen. It was a great day! St Thomas was next- this was our favorite stop we agreed!! Lol

We did the ultimate experience 5 hour tour, which included 2 hours at one of the worlds top 10 beaches, Megan’s Bay. We loved this island…. The lush landscape, turquoise water, soft white sand, and friendly islanders made it a dreamy day in paradise. Lunch on the beach with our new friends we made, a lovely family from NJ/NY that rent a villa every Xmas here with private chefs. The younger gal, a total fire cracker lives in Harlem and her Auntie is her BFF. We loved talking with them and Boots ended up sitting on Aprils beach chair holding her hand while they chatted away after she had a few cocktails. April loved Audrey and that they both had “A” names. It was a very relaxing true vacation day. Back on the open air tram to the ship. We sat separate on this tram, as we arrived late and she could not sit in the last row….Too bumpy. I sat there while a nice couple made room for her up front. As we exited the tram the lady told me I had a “frisky” mama. I chuckled and said, “that’s a good way to describe her”….when I told boots she had to look up the meaning… it means playful. She approved and had a BIG smile. Boy do I love my mommy! 

Christmas was another At Sea day…. Lots of activities to keep us busy. Boots has learned a new form of solo mah jongg, I play trivia, read my book, lay by pool and meet more cruisers. We are truly Dora & Boots- 2 peas in a pod, although I keep our pod way too messy for Boots!!! Not sure which one of us is the real monkey, lol

Today we are at the private island in the Bahamas of the Holland America cruise line, Half Moon Cay. Boots is petrified of the small boat/ferry we take to the dock today. She was laying her head on my shoulder like a baby, when another passenger offered dramamine thinking she was sea sick. Nope, just terrified. She survived and enjoyed the relaxing beach day with a little rain and some sunshine. Cruise ends tomorrow and Boots will stay 2 more nights at my new home in Miami Beach for the final chapter of this digital nomad tour. 

Stay tuned for life in South Beach. 

Merry Everything to everyone! 🎉💋🍁💫❤️🎅🎄
love Dora & Boots

XO XO