10 Items to Cross Off My Bucket List

The following items may or may not have actually been on any bucket list I may or may not have actually made.  But even if they weren't, they should have been.

1. Ring in the New Year in an airport.

Thankfully, no one got a butt shot of me

For Christmas this year, Chris's parents gave their children a Caribbean cruise.  We celebrated New Year's Day by watching Miami slowly disappear into the sunset.

Of course, before that, we had to celebrate New Year's Eve in the Salt Lake airport, waiting for our 1am flight to Atlanta.  By the time we arrived in Atlanta for our 4-hour layover, and despite (or, quite possibly, because of) the sleeping meds we took to help us on the red-eye, we were exhausted.  After a surprising breakfast at Chili's (I know, right?), we staked out our spots and crashed for an hour or two before it was on to Miami, where we boarded the majestic, if badly decorated, Norwegian Pearl and set off on a beautiful adventure on the Caribbean Sea.

2. Visit the Bahamas

Paradise, anyone?

Our first stop was Great Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines.  They schedule the island so that only one ship is there at a time, so we only had to share this little piece of paradise with the 2000+ other passengers on the ship.  We snorkeled a bit, but mostly just enjoyed the temperature difference between Utah and the Bahamas.

3. Bowl at sea

Yes, it is possible to bowl on a cruise ship.  It is not necessarily possible to bowl well, but at least on a cruise ship when you bowl badly you can blame it on the sea.

4. Zip line through the jungle

Those things are FAST!

When we went to Alaska, one of the excursions offered was a zip line adventure.  I really wanted to do it, but I was outvoted and we went on a float plane ride instead.  I've never regretted that, because it was pretty amazing, but I've still always wanted to experience the zip lines.  They did not disappoint.  And I think flying through the Jamaican jungle canopy was probably cooler than flying through Alaskan treetops, anyway.

5. Eat authentic Jamaica jerk chicken

It was really hard to get a clear picture, due to all the smoke, but those
are chickens splayed out on tree branches above a giant smoke pit
and covered by corrugated tin.

Oh. My. Word.  Our driver in Jamaica took us to this little place called Scotchies, where I ate the BEST chicken I have ever had.  I highly recommend it if you ever visit Ocho Rios.

And, as a side note, everyone in Jamaica really does say, "Mon."

6. Find out of Grand Cayman really lives up to all those John Grisham books

Cemetery Beach.  Gorgeous.  Peaceful.  Happiness.

Okay, I couldn't honestly tell if it does, since I wasn't there to embezzle company funds.  But it's beautiful and the snorkeling is awesome.

7. Get a fingerprint sunburn

Oops.

8. See a spotted eel off the coast of Cozumel

Me, Mel, & Erica rockin' the snorkel gear

Snorkeling in the Caribbean is like swimming in an aquarium.  The water is amazingly clear and the fish are pretty friendly.  The spotted eels, not so much.

9. Do pretty much nothing but eat, sleep, and read for an entire week

Oh, yeah.

10. Spend an amazing week with some of my favorite people

Thank you, Ron and Perri, for a fun, relaxing, rejuvenating, much-needed and thoroughly enjoyed vacation!