Back to Costa Rica for Javi’s Big 5-0

Riding in Shuttle to Resort

Carrie and I made a return visit to Costa Rica from June 18 to 23 to celebrate Javi’s 50th birthday. We had a great time, and it was wonderful to see Javi and his family. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort that Javi had picked out, since he had been there before, and it did not disappoint. Our stay was so enjoyable that Carrie and I decided to add an extra day. The food was good, the drinks were flowing, and we lucked out with the weather. It only rained hard once, and that was our first night.

FC with Javi

Our flight left bright and early on June 18, so Carrie and I stayed in Kansas City the night before near the airport. It was well worth it and made getting to the airport easy. We connected through Dallas, which allowed us to meet up with Javi and his friends, who were on the same flight to Costa Rica. Javi, Carrie, and I all sat in first class, which was a fun experience. It had been a long time since I had flown first class, so we enjoyed it. We were in the same row as Javi, and even though the drink service was a little slow, we still had a great time. The food on American Airlines was really good.

We stayed at The Westin Reserva Conchal on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. We arrived at the resort after about a 45-minute ride from the airport. The ride was fun since we were with Javi and his friends from Dallas, and we made a stop at a convenience store to pick up some local beer, Imperial, and snacks to enjoy along the way.

Javi Bday Celebration

That first night, we headed to happy hour in the main building before going to dinner. Of course, we checked out our rooms first and were very happy with the setup. Most of us stayed in Tower 2, with a few others in Tower 1. Everything was close, which made it easy and fun to meet up and explore different areas of the resort together.

The resort has around 8 to 10 restaurants, so we had plenty of options. The food was good at every place we went, but the desserts were disappointing at most of them. We did enjoy dessert at Cauri Lobby Bar & Bistro, but at the other spots, desserts fell short. The appetizers and main dishes were consistently good, so overall we still ate very well.

Us on the Beach

Our first full day at the resort was spent at the beach. We enjoyed the waves and sand for a few hours. Carrie and I had reserved a cabana by the main pool, so we spent the afternoon there. It was definitely worth it, and we liked it so much that we reserved the cabana again for the next day.

On Saturday, we went back to the beach early to get some snorkeling in before it got too hot and the waves picked up. We rented equipment from the resort, but it was not very good. Javi and some of his friends brought their own gear, which worked much better. Next time we travel somewhere with snorkeling, I plan to bring my own equipment. Even with the subpar gear, we still saw a lot of fish, which made it worthwhile.

Snorkeling Spot

Our days fell into a great routine of getting up early, heading to the beach, spending time at the pool, and then enjoying dinner in the evening. It was an incredible rhythm, and it made it hard to leave. On Sunday, I told Carrie I would check with the resort about extending our stay and keeping the same room. They said it was no problem. From there, it was just a matter of adjusting our flights and transportation back to the airport, which also went smoothly. Just like that, we extended our trip and planned to leave on Tuesday instead of Monday.

Dinner and Celebration

Sunday night, the whole group met at Cauri Lobby Bar & Bistro for dinner. It was a great meal, and as I mentioned earlier, the dessert was very good. The restaurant overlooks the golf course, and we were treated to a beautiful sunset. Since Javi and his friends would be leaving the next day, we said some goodbyes that evening. After dinner, a few of us stayed at the bar to have a few drinks. It was the perfect way to end the night.

Flying Home from Great Trip

On Monday morning, we met Javi and some of his friends as they prepared to leave around 10 a.m. to say our goodbyes. They were heading to other locations in Costa Rica to do some sightseeing, while Carrie and I stayed one more day at the resort.

Tuesday morning, Carrie and I ordered room service and enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before packing up to head out. It was a great way to wrap up our stay. The food was good, and we had plenty of time to get to the airport for our flight home.

Sunset Our Last Night

It was fun celebrating such a big milestone for Javi. I am really glad we made the trip and had the chance to spend that time with him.

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week!

Fifteen Years with Oliver

2011 Oliver Running

Today is a big day in our house. Oliver turns 15.

Fifteen years. It is hard to even type that without pausing for a second. It does not feel like it has been that long since we brought him home, this tiny little dog with a big personality who somehow became the household supervisor, always keeping an eye on everything happening inside and outside. If someone walks by the backyard, Oliver is on it. If another dog is around, he is on alert. In his mind, he is not just part of the neighborhood watch, he is leading it.

Oliver and Aunt Dina in 2011

At the same time, he has always been social in his own way. If you have ever been around him on a patio or out in public, you know he enjoys watching people come and go and greeting whoever he can. He is just as happy sitting and observing the world as he is being right in the middle of it.

Sleepy Oliver... Long Before Camping 2013

Over the years, Oliver has been on a lot of adventures with us. Camping trips, vacations, simple walks around the neighborhood. Some of the best memories are not the big trips, but the smaller moments. Sitting outside at a campsite, going for a walk in a new place, or even just letting him explore and sniff everything in sight.

Oliver Camping in 2025

Camping with Oliver has always been a favorite. There is something about getting him out into a new environment where he can take it all in. New smells, new sounds, new places to explore. He might come back tired, but he always seems happy, and those trips have become some of our best shared experiences.

Lately, those moments have taken on even more meaning.

Oliver Back Yard May 2026

As many of you know, the past year has brought some health challenges for Oliver. He has an enlarged heart and a heart murmur, along with a cough that comes and goes. There have been nights where sleep is interrupted and days where we are carefully watching how he is doing. He is on medication now, and there are good days and tougher days.

But through it all, Oliver still finds ways to be himself.

He still gets excited for walks, even knowing they might trigger a coughing fit. He still wants to play. He still enjoys being near us, whether that means sitting nearby, following us from room to room, or settling in close for a nap. While he used to spend a lot of time stretched out on the couch, that has changed over the past few months. He prefers to be stretched out on the floor or in places he would never have been previously... but that is OK.

And maybe more than anything, he still reminds us to slow down and appreciate the moment we are in.

Back Yard Selfie April 2026

That has been one of the biggest gifts of the past year. When things get uncertain, you pay more attention. You take the extra walk. You let him sniff a little longer. You sit with him a little more. You become more aware of just how much these everyday routines actually mean.

Oliver has also been incredibly lucky to have Carrie taking such great care of him. There is no doubt he is spoiled, in the best possible way. He gets the attention, the treats, the snuggles, and whatever spot works best for him these days. If he could write this post himself, I am pretty sure it would mostly be a thank-you note for all of that, followed by a nap.

Looking back over fifteen years, it is hard to capture everything Oliver has meant to us. He has been there through so many seasons of life. Through changes, routines, trips, and everyday moments that probably did not feel like much at the time but now stand out as meaningful because he was part of them.

Photo Op at Hotel

He has made us laugh more times than I can count. He has tested our patience a few times too, especially when he is barking at something on the TV where there are dogs or horses. But mostly, he has brought a steady kind of joy that is hard to describe until you experience it.

And that is really what today is about.

Not just the number 15, although that is incredible on its own. It is about everything that comes with it. The years, the memories, the routines, the trips, the walks, the quiet moments at home. All of it adds up to something pretty special.

So today, we celebrate Oliver.

Walking Oliver June 2024

We will take extra pictures. We will probably take a walk. There will definitely be treats. And we will spend the day doing what he has always loved most, just being together.

Happy 15th birthday, Oliver. We love you.

If you have followed along here over the years, you have seen Oliver pop up in all kinds of posts. Sometimes he is front and center, sometimes just in the background of a picture or a quick story, but he has been a constant in our lives and in this blog.

Greg’s 50th: A Surprise Weekend in Tulsa

Last week, I shared a bit about our trip to Tulsa and some music highlights (see post). This post is all about the trip itself—and what a weekend it was!

We had a great time surprising Greg for his 50th birthday. He had no idea where we were going when we left Friday morning. All he knew was that he needed to pack a suit. Leading up to the trip, Carrie and I kept the surprise alive by pretending we had a long day of work ahead, along with weekend plans and Sunday commitments.

Carrie and I got up early so we could head over to Erin and Greg’s place. We wanted to hit the road early, and Greg still had no clue what was happening—or that we were even coming. After dropping Oliver off for his staycation with Joan and Eddie, we made our way to Erin and Greg’s. We told Greg we were just dropping something off from Joan, but he saw through it pretty quickly and was excited to see we were joining the adventure.

We loaded up the car with luggage and snacks and hit the road, heading north on Gage and then onto Highway 75. Greg was still in the dark and commented that it was an interesting direction. When we turned off onto a side road, he thought we were stopping at Love’s for snacks—but we drove right past it and continued on toward our friends Laura and Jason’s house.

Laura had been in Dallas that week, and while Greg knew Jason was home alone, he had no idea we were picking him up for a road trip to Tulsa. Once Jason joined us, we finally told Greg we were heading to Tulsa for a birthday weekend celebration. He still didn’t know where we were staying or what we’d be doing for meals, which added to the fun and suspense.

Our first stop was Ron's Award Winning Hamburgers and Chili. We’d eaten at a Ron’s a few years ago with the Shirron family on our way home from Texas and loved it—so it felt like the perfect place to kick off the weekend. The chili was just as good as we remembered!

Since we couldn’t check into our VRBO until 4 p.m., we needed a place to hang out. We landed at Crawpappy’s Bar and Grill—an interesting spot! None of us realized smoking is still allowed in some Oklahoma bars, so that was a surprise. Once we got used to the smoky air, we settled in with a beer. After that, we headed to Big Whiskey’s, which was a great place to relax until check-in time.

Greg still didn’t know the full plan until we pulled up to the house where we’d be staying for the next two nights. The house was fantastic—great layout, a pool, and plenty of space to enjoy the evening. We chose to stay in that first night so we could relax by the pool. Laura arrived later from her road trip from Dallas. Greg had a hunch she might be coming, but it wasn’t confirmed until she walked through the door.

Saturday was all about the pool. We spent the day relaxing, listening to music, and splashing around. We had dinner reservations that night at Mahogany Prime Steakhouse. While we originally planned for a 7 p.m. reservation, Greg suggested moving it earlier so we could get back to the house and enjoy more pool time and games. We were able to adjust the reservation and had a fantastic dinner in a private room. Carrie and I had never been to Mahogany Prime before, but the others had visited different locations. It lived up to the hype—dinner was amazing!

After dinner, we returned to the house for more pool time and then played games into the night. It was a packed and fun-filled weekend.

Sunday morning, we had to be out of the house by 11, so we hit the road and headed home. Once back in Topeka, Carrie and I were in bed well before 10 p.m.—we definitely needed to catch up on rest after such a great weekend.

Books, Bikes, and Baseball: A Sunday State of Mind

Oliver Sleeping

This Sunday morning, I’m struggling a bit with what to write about. I feel like a blank slate that I can’t quite start filling in—so I’m jumping in and writing anyway, hoping it sparks some ideas. I’ve got golf on the TV and baseball coming up later today. There are a few chores I need to tackle around the house, and I should probably think through some work-related things, but overall, it’s a pretty relaxed Sunday.

With no set plan for this post, I’ll be jumping around a bit as different thoughts come to mind. Bear with me as I shift from topic to topic.

Reading Goals and Audio Book Struggles

My reading has been steady, but I’m not quite meeting the goals I set for the year. I’ve only finished one book in the past two months. I recently started a new book and also began an audio book that sounded interesting.

When it comes to audio books, I’ve realized that unless I’m in the car and fully focused, I don’t retain much. If the TV is on or I’m following sports, my attention drifts. It’s clear that multitasking doesn’t work for me when listening to audio books—I need to be fully engaged. Right now, I’m about three books behind where I should be.

Bike Riding: Out of the Habit

I’ve definitely slacked on my bike riding. Between camping, travel, and just falling out of the routine, I haven’t been on the bike since June 6, 2025. Wow. I keep telling myself I’ll get back to it, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve got a conference coming up in early August, and I’m planning to restart my riding routine once I’m back. It’s amazing how easy it is to fall out of a habit—and how hard it is to get back into it.

Camping Adventures Continue

I’ve shared quite a few posts about our camping adventures this year—and for good reason. We’ve done a lot of it, and we already have another trip scheduled for the end of October. It’s been great to get out so often. Carrie summed it up perfectly: last year was our year of concerts, and this year is the year of camping. All of our trips have been in Kansas, and our final one will be as well. I’m really looking forward to it.

Family Time in Lawrence

Group Photo of Cousins

Carrie and I met up with my family on Thursday for a cousins’ dinner in Lawrence. We gathered at the Lawrence Country Club for drinks and dinner. It was a fun night. Some cousins couldn’t make it, but Mom, Dina, and Aunt Barb joined us, which was a treat. We usually meet in Kansas City, so it was nice to have a get-together closer to home.

Birthday Dinner at Fire Keepers

Birthday Celebration Wine Toast

Friday night, we celebrated my birthday at Fire Keepers Golf Course with dinner at Three Fires Steakhouse. It was our second time dining there, and it lived up to our memories—excellent food and great service. Big thanks to Joan and Eddie for the birthday dinner! Erin, Carrie, Greg, and I keep talking about making a trip to Fire Keepers to stay overnight and do some gaming. We haven’t made it happen yet, but we brought it up again while walking through the casino.

Sports Season Shifts

As July winds down, baseball is still front and center—especially with the Royals managing to stay somewhat in the hunt. But football is on the horizon. Fantasy football leagues are forming, and draft dates are being set. It should be a fun season all around:

• KU football kicks off in a newly renovated stadium.
• Washburn has a new coach and fresh energy on campus.
• And of course, the Chiefs are gearing up for another exciting run.

Let’s go!

Wrapping Up

That’s enough rambling for this Sunday. We’ve moved into the afternoon, and baseball is about to begin. The Royals are just about an hour away from first pitch.

Have a great rest of your Sunday—and a fantastic week ahead!

Happy Birthday to our dog Oliver — he’s 14 today!

Wow! It’s hard to believe we brought this little guy home 14 years ago. He brings so much joy to our family. We love taking him on vacations (when we can), enjoy camping with him, and cherish every moment spent together around the house.

Last night, I took him on a birthday-eve walk, and he had a great time. I’m trying to take him on more walks lately—he gets so excited just to be outside. It’s a simple joy that never gets old.

We’ve been on so many fun journeys over the years. Here’s to many more adventures with our little guy.
Happy birthday, Oliver!

 

Nashville Birthday Bash: Honky Tonks, Brunch, and Bourbon Steak!

On Our Way to Nashville

Here we are in the middle of July and it is hard to believe that a month ago we were in Nashville, TN for the 50 birthday celebration for Corrie. We had a great time. I meant to write this following the trip, but we were busy following the trip and did not get it done. We had a wonderful time in Nashville and plan to go back in the future. We went to so many great spots to listen to great music, drink, and of course we ate at some great spots too. This will be a few of the places we went but not an inclusive list.

Drinks at Assembly Food Hall

We were in Nashville from June 13 - 17. We packed in a lot during our time there. We would sometimes sleep late to about 9:30 or 10, but we were out the door and doing things in Nashville everyday we were there. We would not head back to take naps or breaks, but it was nonstop and a great time. Picture to the left was a spot we ended up a few different times called Assembly Food Hall. A variety of places to eat or get drink. Fun spot!

Group at Brunch

There were ten of us total on the trip although all ten were together I believe only two days together. Picture to the right was brunch at Adele's where we went Saturday morning on June 15. We all came away stuffed and happy. I want to go back there in the future for dinner. We spent that day going between drinking spots while the ladies went shopping. 

I am jumping around a bit, but on Thursday we spent the day on Broadway going around to the various bars. It was so fun with great bands at each and every stop. Some places would have multiple bands playing at the same time, but the way the bars were set up, you could only hear one when in the vicinity of that band. Most bands would take donations with a bucket or with a QR code to send money. We did both methods while we were going around Broadway listening where we would drop cash into a bands bucket or send Venmo through their QR code.

Dinner at Bourbon Steak

The highlight of the trip was the birthday dinner for Corrie at Bourbon Steak. We had reservations for ten and we had talked about doing a private dining room but ended up leaving it in the main dining room. When we arrived, we were surprised they took us to the private dining. It was incredible with the views, the food, and the company. The picture to the left, or the others in Flickr album, do not give it justice. We had our own wait staff that took good care of us. Javier was in charge of the wine and we had three bottles of wine through the night. It was a fantastic evening! 

To see all photos from our trip, you can browse them using the images below.

Fun memories to celebrate the birthday for Corrie. It was fun hanging out with everyone to celebrate big birthday weekend for Corrie. Carrie and I hope to go back to Nashville sometime soon.

Walks, Wuffes, and Woofs: Celebrating Oliver's 13th with a Tail-Wagging Adventure

Oliver Walking on his Birthday

Oliver turned 13 on June 5. It was his birthday, and we showered him with greetings throughout the day. But the true highlight was going on a walk. I have been taking him on a walk following my jogging. He is anxious while I am gone and watching for me to return. This time though when I got back, he whined three times wanting to get going on his walk. Poor guy, his birthday and he had to wait for me to get back from a jog so he could show off to the neighborhood that it was his birthday. He had a grand time walking through the neighborhood. We walked one mile and I think he could have kept going.

Action Shot While we Walk

I wanted to get a picture of us walking, so I put my phone down by a tree and captured us on our walk. Oliver was a little confused on what we were doing as I placed the phone, backtracked, and then walked forward again. We did this a few times and I think he thought I had lost my mind. Nope! Just trying to get a picture of us walking together, Oliver. 

We spotted a few other dogs on our walk. Oliver, even at 13, can still be a bit excitable around other dogs. So, I usually try to avoid other dogs as much as possible on our walks. If we start down a street and I see someone with a dog, we might change routes so we avoid the dog. Some people we meet with dogs do not understand and want to approach for our dogs to meet. He has gotten better, but still a bit of a nut when meeting other dogs. Rather embarrassing when he acts like a nut. 

Selfie with Oliver on our Walk

We had a good time on our walk. A lot of sniffing, finding spots, and looking over the lay of the land. Oliver gets so excited at the mention of "walk" so of course we spell it out and he is starting to recognize when we spell it out what we are talking about. I recently started running again and in turn started walking Oliver regularly. He loves it so much that I need to make sure to walk him through the week even if I am not running. He has a happy look on his face and of course he sleeps so well on the days we do our walks.

Oliver October 2011

It is hard to believe our little guy is thirteen years old. I still remember him as a little puppy with a lot of energy, playing with toys, wanting belly tickles, and have a grand time. Ok, well, he still does all of that at thirteen which is fantastic. 

A quick shout out to supplements that Carrie got for Oliver a few months ago and completely changed his energy and ability to run around or jump on the couch. She saw an ad on FaceBook for Wuffes. Prior to us giving Oliver Wuffes, he had joint pain, sometimes he could not jump on the couch, and he really had no energy to play. We have been giving him Wuffes for a few months and can see a difference in how he acts and the energy he has throughout the day. Carrie usually gives him his supplement at night after his super. All she says is "want your supplement" and he knows what is happening. Gets excited and waits for his supplement to be broken out to him.

Happy Birthday, Oliver. I hope you had a great day of celebration.

Celebration for 90th Birthday for Our Mom... Happy 90th Birthday Nancy Haverty!

Mom Celebrating 90 Birthday

Our family got together to celebrate my Mom's 90th birthday. She turned 90 on December 6. A few months ago, we started discussing and figuring out what we would do to celebrate her birthday. Mom did not want a huge party, so we knew we had to keep it small to our immediate family. However, Betsy had the idea of doing a card party for Mom. So, the announcement was sent out and people started sending in cards to Mom. I know Carrie and I sent nine cards and others also sent multiple cards. She loves it and getting cards daily for the past two weeks has been great. We read through some of them when we celebrated which was fun to do.

Group Family Photo

Betsy organized us into a group picture. We were missing a few family members that were not able to make the trip. This was the first time in a few years that this many of us were able to get together. We missed Spencer, Jack and Katie, Katy, and Donna.

I ended up taking the pictures with my phone as we had some technical issues with Betsy's Android phone to get it to do a timer countdown. I think we got some good pictures of the whole family.

See all the pictures from the celebration on Flickr.

Beautiful Sunset

Beautiful weather for the birthday celebration. Carrie snapped the picture to the right of the sunset. Amazing weather for December 9. Carrie and I took our fire pit and had it going most of the afternoon into the evening. It was nice to have a little heat to stand around while we were talking and enjoying one another's company. The forecast for earlier in the week was rain and snow, but that never happened and it was a great celebration.

A small group of us remained and kept Mom up late into the evening (midnight) talking and telling stories. Mom was sharing stories from when she was little which was interesting.  Tim started the question asking and then Carrie and I chimed in and started asking questions too. Questions such as how Dad proposed or favorite meals from her childhood. It was really interesting and some stories I had not heard before.

Oliver Went to Quiet Room

Oliver went off by himself at one point in the evening as he had enough of family time. He did well overall, but did not like having a one and half year old try to pet him. So, we had to keep Oliver separated from Hayes. It was so good to meet the little Haverty's that attended the gathering. 

So happy with how the celebration turned out. Mom had a great time and we kept it only to immediate family. I hope we are all able to get together again soon just to be together.

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week...

Thanksgiving Cooking, Family, and Fun Plus Basketball and a Snow Storm to Finish Out the Weekend

Oliver and His Friends

Thanksgiving morning and Oliver was at the fence with the neighbor dogs. He hung out with his friends while I was cooking turkeys on the Big Green Egg. Beautiful morning to be outside and Oliver was taking advantage of the weather being with his friends. 

Would you believe that I did not take any pictures of the prep or completed turkey that I made on Thanksgiving? Well, it happened again but the turkey turned out great. Had good color and tasted good. Did two turkey breasts that took about three hours and thirty minutes to cook. Carrie and I realized at the end of the day that we had not taken any pictures throughout the day. We hosted this year having a total of eight adults and two children in our home. It was a great day!

Mom and Family

Friday late afternoon, we went to Lawrence to spend the evening with Mom and family. We had a great time hanging out, talking, enjoying wine, and seeing one another. We stayed rather late Friday night and I recall Mom saying that it was the latest she had stayed up in a long time. We had a fun time! 

Oliver has the best time at my Mom's house. He thinks he owns the place, so when another little dog was there, there were a few times when Oliver was growling and they got into a little battle at one point. All was good and no blood was lost.

Carrie and I After Game in Snow

Carrie and I got home about 12:30 or 1 Friday night, so we slept in a little on Saturday morning. We did make it to our first home Washburn game of the year Saturday afternoon. The snow had started falling and was barely covering the ground when we went to the game at about 2 pm and when we came out, the ground was covered. It would go on to snow into the late hours of the night.

Birthday Dinner

We went out to North Star Steak House Saturday night to celebrate Eddie's birthday. With the snow storm, we were the only ones in the place for most of the evening. The food was really good and we have leftovers for us to enjoy this week while working. I got a Kansas City Strip and then there was a really good dessert we all split. It was a fun night!

Sunday we have lounged around and preparing for the Chiefs game. I think we are going to bring up some holiday decorations to get ready for Christmas.

A lot packed into the past few days. It has been a fun few days off of work, being with family, and then of course eating really well throughout the last few days. 

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a fantastic week!

Happy Birthday to Oliver! He turned 12 today.

 

Happy birthday to Oliver! He turned 12 today. It is hard to believe he is twelve years old. To read backstory of how Oliver became a part of our family twelve years ago, read the post from 2021 where he turned ten years old. Oliver has given us so many stories over the years and makes us laugh daily. He has a good personality and he knows he is the boss in our house. He knows that when Carrie and I are eating dinner that is his time to get chicken and if we forget, he throws a fit in the kitchen until we get him his chicken.

Oliver loves to sit in our back yard and watch for people or dogs so he can run to the back corner and bark at them. He is the lookout for the other neighbor dogs to alert them when something is happening. 

A short update for this morning to with our little Japanese Chin a Happy Birthday, Oliver, we love you so much! 

Happy Birthday Cruise to Carrie on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady April 9 - 14, 2023... Highly Recommend Virgin Voyages!

Sunrise From Flight

Carrie and I left for a cruise on Saturday, April 8. We booked our cruise a few months ago to celebrate Carrie turning 50. We decided on a Virgin Voyages cruise as we had a few friends who had been on the cruise and said it was great.

Our fight left at 5:18 in the morning. We got a hotel near the airport for the night before, but we still had to be at the airport by 4 am. It was great to be able to see the new MCI airport although nothing was open when we were there, or when we returned, but it is nice to have one spot to depart and arrive for the airport.

We flew into Miami and had a hotel for Saturday night, so we did a tour of Little Havana where we had a guided tour to eat, drink, and see the area. It was so fun! We had a great tour guide that was from the area. Delicious coffee, drinks, and food, plus hearing about the area was so interesting. We had a great time before we headed to our hotel.

From Balcony in Miami, FL

We had a wonderful evening in Miami where we head a balcony looking out over the inlet to the ocean with so much activity of boats, I could have spent all day watching boats entering and leaving to the ocean. It was so cool! We had reservations at The River Oyster Bar which was walking distance from our hotel which was perfect. We of course had to order oysters and they were delicious. We had six different kinds, I believe, and they were all delicious. The drinks, appetizers, and meals were good too. We really liked The River Oyster Bar and our time spent in and around Miami. 

Leaving on a Cruise

Finally, Sunday, we were ready to leave for the cruise. We were so excited to be leaving on a cruise that Carrie shouted out to the crowd gathered how excited she was to be leaving. The boarding process for Virgin Voyages was so easy as we were on the ship and had our first drink minutes after boarding. There was a guy in line with us that might have been more excited than Carrie, but it was close. He was singing and giving high fives to the staff as we were heading up the stairs. We think he had done three or four Virgin Voyages before this one as he knew everyone.

Bar We Visited Each Day

We visited the Sip Bar each of the days on the cruise. Drinks were great and the bartenders worked their butts off while helping to keep everyone happy and drink in hand. We did go to the Sip Bar each day we were on the cruise. We were sad one night when they closed at 11:30 instead of midnight, but the two bartenders were going to staff party.

There were only two ports being visited on the five day cruise. Carrie and I decided we were going to remain on the ship for the first visit. We had a wonderful time going through the ship, spending time at the pool, and enjoying the ship without it being crowded. We almost did this again the second port day, but decided we should at least say we had been to the Bahamas and put our toes in the sand. It was tempting to not remain on the boat and enjoy the spaces without the people.

Hola on Side of Ship

We did take a catamaran the first port day which was in the evening which was a lot of fun. The margaritas were not great on the catamaran, but the beer was cold and all part of the voyage. As we returned, I was able to capture a picture of ship with 'HOLA' on the side lit up in lights. While we were on the catamaran, I was able to see some fish "floating on the air" which I had only ever seen on the internet. They were all over the place on the first hour out to the open water along the shore. The way back, I only saw one fly along the top of the water. It was fun and the crew did a good job keeping us entertained and drinks in hand.

Dinner at "The Wake". So good!

We had dinner at just about all the places to eat aboard ship. One of our favorites was dinner at "The Wake". Our seats were in front of the window showing the wake of the boat which was incredible. The meal was good and our waiter was great allowing us use our own bottle of wine and not charge a corking fee. Thank you! 

"The Wake", "The Test Kitchen", and "Gunbae" were my favorites. Least favorite was "Extra Virgin" which was Italian, but it was just OK for me. Main complaint was they were out of all of their wines except for one.

The bars on board were good and we frequented a few of them. It would be nice if only beer is being ordered that would not have to wait for those getting blender drinks, but overall, we had a great time and enjoyed our time onboard. We met so many wonderful people even having dinner with some of them one night. 

Sunset from Catamaran

We liked our cruise so much that we put a payment on a future cruise that we get ship credit for and then have to book it within the next two years. I look forward to another trip and to sailing again on Virgin Voyages. It will be fun to see another ship and make new memories to new destinations. 

When we returned to Miami on Sunday morning, we had a cabana reserved for us at a local hotel. We spent the day Poolside at Surfcomber as our flight back to Kansas City did not leave until 9 pm Sunday night. Worked out great as we were able to nap, eat, drink, and be in the pool. It was really a fun spot and once again our waiter took great care of us while we were there.

I am happy that we were able to celebrate the 50th birthday for Carrie doing a cruise. We both had a wonderful time and look forward to cruising again. It had been eleven years since we had last been on a cruise and this did not disappoint. Happy Birthday, Carrie!

See full photo album on Flickr.