I’m having a job sorting out time. Maybe that’s what happens when you stay in a place like this. OK by me.

Friday morning we were still at Tobago Cays and I wondered if it would be as fabulous when I came up from below or if it had something to do with the wine. I’m still struggling with words to describe it. It is like nothing else I’ve ever seen and the weather was ideal to enjoy the reef. We even had a quick snorkel before breakfast. Kealoha’s tender is more like a high speed power boat so getting around is great fun and can be exceedingly fast but for our second snorkelling session of the day we circled one of the biggest (albeit tiny) islands very sedately as befits respect for this protected marine park, before tying up on a leeward shore. The snorkelling was amazing. I haven’t got a clue about fish but we saw masses and the array of colours, shapes and sizes defies description. Getting off a leeward shore tested David’s dinghy skills but, as they say round here, no problem.

Read more →

It’s the nearest place to paradise I’ve ever been. Imagine this huge expanse of horseshoe-shaped coral reef with every shade of turquoise stretching in bands across the seas, broken by bands of white where the Atlantic waves hit the coral. Then imagine these tiny islands in every direction with white, white sand and palm trees straight out of Robinson Crusoe plus a surprising array of greenery. Then add a background of warm sunshine and big white fluffy clouds. This, my dears, is Tobago Cays.

Don’t get carried away thinking it’s just the six of us communing with nature. I counted over 30 boats, mostly large and expensive looking. But it doesn’t matter, it’s such a This the first blogging day and what a day and a place to choose. We have arrived in the huge space, you can just ignore everybody else if you want.

This just has to be the ultimate playground. Decide: do you want to swim, snorkel, turtle-watch or just “be”. Any option will be divine. Even by Caribbean standards, the snorkelling is rated at the top of the tree and that’s what we wanted to do most. I’m the novice and still finding my feet. Mostly I follow Diana who knows I’m still gathering confidence. So, to have the option to stand on the bottom every so often but still be able to see the most amazing array of fish and coral is just ideal. As the icing on the cake, Diana and David saw two turtles on their swim back to the boat.

Sundown comes and I’m beginning to develop an unhealthy interest in the large very alcoholic drinks that come with it, but it does mean that another day of this is the only disappointment of the day.

Good news: David thinks we should stay at least another day.

Dinner now and I know that will be another delicious meal produced by Nia. We’ve tried watching a DVD on two nights but never made it to the end. Don’t suppose today will be any different!

My first ship’s blog! Amazing really that you can have so many ideas about what to say and then nothing appears!

Heading off to the Tobago cays today. David has just fallen in the sea in order to wake himself up and John is eyeing up a cruise ship through the binoculars- or is it the ship he’s really looking at…

So far this last 9 days we’ve watched England lose cricket to New Zealand, narrowly win to Canada (didn’t know they even played cricket), sailed all the way from St Lucia to Bequia, onwards to Mustique and then Mayreau. After the Cays we head North.

David caught his first fish about 4 micro seconds after putting his lure in the sea, unfortunately a Barracuda which as well as being very ugly with menacing teeth can suffer from a poison that can give human beings a nasty disease- shame really, he was so excited! Anyway little fishie went back to whence he came.

Early on in the trip i managed to throw a glass of red wine in Gill’s lap, first impressions count!

To those at home in the snow…….. there are always airports!

Ian