Dolphins, and Race Cars and SCUBA. OH MY!!!

I don't have much time because my internet is about to expire. I'll post more tomorrow.

Dinner and a Girly Show

Last night was a hoot. It started out at the Ocean Club for dinner with our friends. Finally we see each other. Their lives are so busy. So it was George, Sarah, Skeedy (Sarah's mom), Anna, Ingrid, Brian, Bob and me. The food was unbelievable! I could go on and on but all I can say is yum. We all caught up and had a fine time.

After dinner George and Anna had to go back to work. The rest of us went to Nobu for drinks. After about an hour Bob, Sarah and Skeedy pealed off. Ingrid, Brian and I went up to Aura just to see what all the hype was about. It was a bunch of 20 somethings dancing and generally being loud. Not really my scene but it was worth watching.

Then I saw Anna. She saw me and said, "Follow me." So I did. The next thing I know is we're walking into what I thought was a little elevator. Then the back opened and it was the dressing room for the Girly Show. They are the British equivalent to the Pussy Cat Dolls. I was a bit taken aback but in a moment we were all pals. I got my picture taken with them and then one of them asked me to video for them. SURE! So she gives me quick instructions and off I go.

I come out and tell Ingrid and Brian what happened and we are all laughing our heads off. So I wait and wait for them to perform. I see them walk by to the front but nothing. The next thing I know there are a bunch of legs on the platform next to me. I video as much as I can but still don't see them. A couple minutes go by and I say, "When are they coming on?" Ingrid says, "That was them next to you a minute ago." I feel like a total boob but it was strange. They never introduced them or anything.

So then I say to Ingrid and Brian, "Follow me." They do. We go to the same secret door and I tell the security guy that I have their video camera and we need to get in. He quickly checks out my story and lets us in. Ingrid and Brian have the same look on their faces as I did. He he he. So they get their picture with them too. And because Brian's birthday is Monday he gets a kissy picture with them too. So so funny.

We had a blast and are still laughing about it today.

On the agenda today. The girls are Training Dolphins today, the little boys are going to make and race RC cars or monster trucks, Ingrid and I will read and play by the pool and Brian is going SCUBA diving. A great day by any one's standards. Later Ingrid and I will go and shoot pictures of the girls and dolphins. Tonight it's partying with the stars. I don't know who all yet but I know our friends the Girly Show will be there and Carmen Electra. George says we can get pictures with everyone. It will be a crazy night for sure. I'll fill you in later.

All in the Family

Running Full Tilt....

We’re in full swing now. We’ve been swimming and floating all over this place. The kids are having a blast and so the rest of us. It’s rained on us almost every day but it doesn’t last long and it’s a warm rain.

We have been enjoying our time albeit a bit expensive. The other day in the cabana the water and sodas were $7 a piece. Imagine our shock when the bill for a case came! We saved the water bottles and will reload daily. Then last night Bob and I went to dinner at a really nice restaurant. We didn’t go crazy and the bill was $300. One caveat there. I didn’t know the tip was included on the total and I added a generous $60 so it would have been $240. Bummer but lesson learned. Bob played golf, there’s another $275. He says it was worth it. The course is beautiful and he really enjoyed it. And tomorrow the girls are all doing the Dolphin Trainer for a Day…..I won’t tell you how much that is. We’ve been eating in our room as much as possible. I still think that was money well spent at the grocery store.

Yesterday we finally walked the whole property. We hadn’t really seen everything and we wanted to know where things were. Makes sense. It took about 2 hours but we saw it all, or most of it. This place is huge! We found the movie theater where the kids

They closed the pool for a couple hours today. We had spent about 3 hours at the pool already so it was fine by me. There was a nasty looking cloud building over head and then the thunder and lightning started. Rather then wait it out like we had every other day we decided to pack it in and call it a day. This turned out to be the right call because it rained really hard and, as I said, the pool didn’t open back up for a couple hours. This was great on a couple fronts. First Kees needed a nap. He was crazy. Second, there are a few of us that have red backs and needed a break from the sun. I swear we are all wearing SPF 50 and reapplying often but still.

Tonight we are going to the Ocean Club for dinner with our friends and Brian and Ingrid. I am really looking forward to it. We’ve been here for 4 days and still no friend sightings. Poor George is crazy busy almost all the time. Anyway, we will have a great time and spend some quality time.

So tomorrow the girls do the Dolphin Training and the boys are going to race remote control cars. Ingrid and I might just lie around and read. Who knows? More tomorrow.

The View From Where I Sit.... And to my Left

I am a lucky girl...

More Pictures....

A few more from the day.....

Fun in the Sun, Fun in the Ocean, Fun in the Cabana....Just FUN, FUN, FUN

Well the Cabana was faboo.... We got there about l0 am after sleeping in and having a bit o' room service. We loaded onto the shuttle and went to the Cove. Wow, what a beautiful space. The lobby is wide open, there are gorgeous plants everywhere and water gardens everywhere you look. It's stunning.

We walk through and find our way down the paths to cabana check in. It's fabulous to arrive some where and have someone say, "We have been expecting you." We get to "our" cabana and it's in the perfect space between the beach and the pool. It has a fancy TV, a nice fan, porch on 3 sides of the cabana, a wrap around couch, an outdoor shower and a bathroom. That last bit is really great when you are with small people. The pool is an adults only pool and that is fine by us. There is gambling on one side and a bar on the other. The music is loud but not annoying, it fits the place and adds to the ambiance.

Once settled in we all head for the ocean and snorkeling. I didn't expect much for the snorkeling because we were so close to a busy area and there weren't that many rocks. In reality it was great! I saw a fish that was yellow and red, a clown looking fish, a big silver fish, anemone, sea urchins, a few schools of fish, a ray...an honest to God ray. It was 6 feet across and 5 feet from me! Bob saw a 4' tuna. It was really cool. I want to do that again. I was unsure about bringing all that gear but I am really glad I did. Sophia was terrified that she would be stung by a ray or bitten by a barracuda. I am not too worried. At one point I literally had to drag her kicking and screaming into the water. My ass if she is coming this far and not doing this. She went in, she liked it.

A couple hours in Ingrid and I left. We had arranged for a car to take us grocery shopping. When we arrived on the front drive there was another stretch limo waiting for us. We got in and giggled. The driver took us to the closest place and we spent almost $400 on basic stuff. A half gallon of regular milk (there wasn't any organic) was $4.50, coffee creamer stuff $8.00, yogurt $1.50, american cheese $5.75, Pringles $2.75....it adds up. When we came out with 4 boxes of stuff the limo driver laughed at us. Then we were off to the liquor store. Actually it wasn't too bad. The wine was expensive, the liquor cheep. It all balanced out. When we got back to the hotel the bellman laughed at us. Hey, you gotta save a buck when you can! This place could bankrupt you quickly. We went up and unloaded the stuff, refrigerated the appropriate stuff and went back to the cabana. Ahhhh, the cabana....

Through out the day we split off, came together, went swimming, read, had some lunch and generally relaxed it was great. It didn't rain today so that was nice but really, it's so warm when it rains that it isn't bad at all. Yesterday the only annoyance with the rain was it got water on my glasses, no big whoop.

The cabana closed at 6 so we all came "home" and had some dinner in the room. It was simple fare but the price was right. The kids are watching a movie and then going to bed. The babysitters just got back from a walk around. They were gone for 45 minutes and came back to announce that they were too tired to walk any further. I am glad they are tired because they are only 18. Think of how tired this 44 year old is! But I am tough, I will survive!

So another amazing day in paradise. We are all having fun and have crammed 5 days into 2 already. We're looking forward to seeing our friends soon. Man, what a busy life they lead! I can't imagine. This weekend there are all kinds of crazy parties going on that we will have access to so I'll have something interesting to write then too. More in the next day or two.