Friday, December 25th Christmas Day

We woke up Christmas morning to a beautiful, sunny and very warm day. It got into the 90's but with the warm breeze, it didn't really feel HOT....Because of the strong current and winds, Solstice was late coming into Labadee, Haitti. We brought along gifts from The Thomson's and Julie so we would have something

to open on Christmas morning! This plaque from Jim & Pat was perfect!

Jim gave Guy a neat clock with Patriot emblems on it...I'm sure he wanted
to give one with Giant's info, but after all its Christmas and you have to be nice!!

Julie gave me a beautiful Pandora necklace with birthstones of 3 Grandchildren.

Now I will have to get the stones from other 7...

We weren't really surprised to see Santa aboard...

after all, there were over 500 children sailing with us...

their activities were so well organized, we never realized

there were that many traveling with us!

Glad we brought our binoculars with us...Guy checking out

Haitti to make sure it was safe for us to disembark...

Labadee is a private Island owned and shared with

Royal Caribbean ...thankfully we were all by ourselves

on this day.

There were plenty choices of tours and activities to do,

but we choose to just wander about by ourselves, do a little shopping,

swimming and relaxing....

this is the Zip line ...I wanted to try it out, but Guy wouldn't

go with me....I was wishing Julie were here, she'd be on that

ride in a flash!

It was a beautiful white sandy beach and the water

was like bath water.....

Shopping "Mall"

Local entertainers playing traditional Christmas songs....

It was a great day! we hated to leave the Island and return to the ship....

Our waiter, Xavier

and his assistant, Sasha

I was all watered up for a Turkey Dinner.....it was delicious,

but not the same as our home-cooked feast...

but on the bright side...the clean up was nil...

We thought of our Family and Friends whom

we missed, but all in all it was a very nice Christmas...