Memorial Day - Let Us Never Forget

Today is Memorial Day. It is a day we set aside to remember the service men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. It is a somber thought. We must give a big thank you to those who have sacrificed for us.

It is easy to forget. I was born at the end of the baby-boom generation. World War II was still fresh in the memories of everyone. Today, it is a distant memory. I lived through Vietnam. I'm not sure what is being taught today about that conflict. I live in the mid-south. The road I can see out the window at the Starbucks was used by both Union and Confederate forces in the Civil War. Not a stones throw from here is the most bullet-riddle structure that still survives from that war. I've lived in the Nashville/Franklin area twice, once as a teenager/young adult and now. It's been a total of almost 20 years, but I never visited the Carter House until last year.

That makes me think about other historical sites on this Memorial Day. I don't want to forget those who literally put their lives on the line for our country. I want to make a bucket list of places to visit so we can remember. What would your bucket list include? Some of mine include:

England - So many of our servicemen/women used England as a staging area before battles. I can't think of a better place to start than the originators of our country.

Normandy - France is definitely on the to-go list. I don't think a visit to France would be complete without remembering those who stormed the beaches on D-Day.

Berlin - I still remember President Reagan standing at the Wall and saying "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Shortly after, the wall came down.

Pacific Islands - Wake Island, Iwo Jima, The Philippines - So many of our servicemen went through hardships there. Today, we think of some of these areas as paradise, to them it was a living hell.

Vietnam - See the above comment. This one is hard for me. I don't think it is one I want to visit, but I believe it is a place I need to visit.

Pearl Harbor - Where WWII began for the United States. It in many ways defined the country we are now. It is definitely a place I want to see.

USS Alabama in Mobile Bay

My list requires planning and money. But what about the places that are close to you? Like the Carter House was for me, there are places to remember all around us. Maybe you live near the coast and there is a old warship now on display. Mobile, New York, Norfolk, San Diego and many, many more all have vessels you can visit. In the northeast and east there are battlefields from the Revolutionary War, in Texas the Alamo, and of course all of the Civil War sites in the north and south.

A trip to Washington DC can show remind us in many ways of those who served, from Arlington Cemetery to the Pentagon, to the Smithsonian and the other Memorials.

So, what is your Bucket List? I'm sure I've forgotten many places. I know there are other locations I would love to visit. I know this much, I do have a plan to check off one of the items. Pearl Harbor. In Sept 2012 Lisa and I are planning to visit Hawaii and I will not miss it. If you want to join us, there is some information in this post about our cruise on the Norwegian Pride of America.

Whatever your plans, wherever you want to go to remember, we can help. Be it a domestic trip, or one across the ocean, we can help you plan it. Don't forget, next year are the Olympics in London. That might be another way to wrap a couple of trips together. We can help there too.

An Epic Review - Final

I hope you had a chance to read Part 1 and Part 2. I hadn't planned on this being a trilogy, but sometimes things happen. This part is going to focus on the ports of call and then wrap up with some final thoughts.

This cruise was an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. The ports of call were St Maarten, St Thomas, and Nassau. We have been to Nassau a couple of times, but St Maarten and St Thomas were new to us.

Orient Beach, St Maarten

For both St Maarten and St Thomas we chose to do an excursion sponsored by the cruise line. There were a number of ships in St Maarten and I was a little concerned about traffic, wanting to make sure we were back to the ship on time. We did the Orient Beach Break, as Orient Beach is probably the most famous of the beaches on St Maarten. We enjoyed the drive over and learned quite a bit about the island. The beach was great. They had chairs set up for us and lunch was included. Lunch definitely was not the best, but oh well.

The Yoda Guy's Museum

The beach itself was interesting. It is on the French side of the island, so topless is fine, and farther down the beach is a clothing optional area. There was nothing we saw that was out of the bounds of decency. It is a beautiful beach and I'd love to go back again. Lisa thought it was a little crowded, but having that many cruise folks made it that way. The parts that were reserved for the excursions was like a sardine can, but there were other parts that was a lot less crowded.

On the way back, we stopped in town and did some shopping. One of the special effects makeup artists from Star Wars has a store/museum there. He is known as the Yoda Guy. If you are a Star Wars fan, this is a must see! We also found a great chocolate shop on one of the side streets. They had so many flavors, it was awesome.

Lisa with Capt Jack Sparrow

In St Thomas, we did the Best of St Thomas tour. It was our first time there and we wanted an overview of the island. We learned quite a bit and ended up at Blackbeards Castle. The views from the castle grounds are amazing. The castle is about half way up the hills and overlooks the entire town of Charlotte Amalie. There is a 100 steps staircase built in the 1700s that we had to descend from the castle to downtown. If you are looking for jewelry, they have it in St Thomas. Every other shop seemed to be a jewelry shop. It was a very cool trip. We also visited Magens Bay Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. The water was completely calm, it was a great place to just relax.

In Nassau, we decided to just stay on the boat. It is a lot quieter when everyone else is gone. We had been to Nassau twice before and just decided we would sleep in and spend the time in the spa and on the ship.

The 100 Steps in St Thomas

Of the ports, I think my favorite was St Maarten. The melding of French/Dutch culture just makes it a very cool place to visit. I'd love to go back there and spend some time.

That ends my review. How do I rate the trip? Interesting for sure. I have never been on a ship that size. It definitely had some advantages to the smaller ships. Lisa says she's not sure she would want to go back on the Epic. I know I would, especially if we got a suite. Some of the advantages that suite guests have, including the Posh lounge and their own restaurant, would be nice. Overall, I give the cruise a B+/A-. I enjoyed the variety of food and shows. The cabin could have been a little bigger. I think that is one of the reasons Lisa would rather have a different ship.

I love Norwegian and their approach to Freestyle Cruising. If you've never been on a Norwegian Cruise, what are you waiting for?