01. El Elefante - When returning to our stateroom after a night out on the deck, this rare species of Pachydermata was awaiting our arrival right there on the bedside. I believe they eat naughty boys and girls who attempt to remove towels from said stateroom.
Nikon D70s | f/3.8 | 1/20" | ISO 1600 | 27mm // 19°46'7.28"N, 67°13'5.77"W |
02. Crowd Around - Early in the voyage, we were treated to a Carnival style celebration in the main 'Promenade' area around the middle of the ship. I'm sorry about the noise here; my good ole D70s at 1600 is a bit rough.
Nikon D70s | f/3.5 | 1/30" | ISO 1600 | 18mm // 21°13'45.51"N, 70°14'18.38"W |
03. Big Plate - I subscribe to the 'Less Is More' ideology of license plate design and this is right up my alley. [Here in Florida, the plate is way over-designed.]
Nikon D70s | f/6.3 | 1/160" | ISO 400 | 70mm // 18°27'50.18"N, 66° 6'50.63"W |
04. Mountain Side - This great view of a mountain side in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten is fairly common when viewing the field panoramic style; here in South Florida the elevation is about two feet, so this is a treat.
Nikon D70s | f/9 | 1/320" | ISO 200 | 62mm // 18° 1'31.39"N, 63° 3'57.06"W |
05. Big Pond - Like the previous shot, this was taken from a moving car [a tour of the island we took.] I would have liked to had stopped and taken a slower and more sharp shot, but either way, this is a great spot.
Nikon D70s | f/10 | 1/400" | ISO 200 | 18mm // 18° 1'29.68"N, 63° 3'15.67"W |
06. Shopping - The shops around Philipsburg are around everywhere, that is for sure. That is my sister Michelle posing for this one as the family joined the spree.
Nikon D70s | f/8 | 1/250" | ISO 200 | 44mm // 18° 1'21.72"N, 63° 2'37.76"W |
07. 2189 - Seems much closer, or further, however you wish to look at it. We love this sign because it points to our original home town. [Evanston is a suburb of Chicago.]
Nikon D70s | f/7.1 | 1/200" | ISO 200 | 18mm // 18° 1'18.19"N, 63° 2'33.01"W |
08. Don't Even Think About It - Years ago when my sister was younger, she would always get her hair braided on these islands. This sign is okay since she is not into that sort of thing anymore.
Nikon D70s | f/5.6 | 1/125" | ISO 200 | 22mm // 18° 1'16.73"N, 63° 2'33.65"W |
09. Her Good Side - At 160,000 tons and more than 3 American Football fields long, Royal Caribbean's 'Liberty of The Seas' is currently the largest Cruise Ship in the world.
Nikon D70s | f/7.1 | 1/200" | ISO 200 | 18mm // 18°27'48.69"N, 66° 6'46.39"W |
10. San Juan Architecture - I saw tons and tons of buildings and alleyways like this. I just tried to shoot as many from different angles as possible. While this admittedly is not the best, it shows the multi-colors and styles.
Nikon D70s | f/10 | 1/320" | ISO 400 | 18mm // 18°27'55.48"N, 66° 6'49.90"W |
11. Mail Time - This is the US Federal Post Office near the port and around the 'tourist-y' area of 'Old San Juan.' I didn't get a chance to send anyone a postcard.
Nikon D70s | f/13 | 1/640" | ISO 400 | 18mm // 18°27'49.72"N, 66° 6'50.78"W |
12. Taxman - I didn't stimulate the economy in Puerto Rico since I kept myself on a strict budget this vacation; but for those who did, here you go!
Nikon D70s | f/11 | 1/500" | ISO 400 | 18mm // 18°27'48.24"N, 66° 6'47.98"W |
13. Her Other Side - Not necessarily her 'bad' side; this is the Liberty's 'Port' side and view of all those 'Ocean View' staterooms.
Nikon D70s | f/13 | 1/640" | ISO 400 | 18mm // 18°27'49.12"N, 66° 6'43.51"W |
14. Relaxation - This is one of my personal favorites since this was my vantage point from my chair on the beach of Labadee, Haiti. Sweetness guaranteed.
Nikon D70s | f/10 | 1/400" | ISO 320 | 18mm // 19°47'10.63"N, 72°14'36.65"W |
15. Vroom - This orange buggy easily fit inside the center 'Promenade' area of the ship. Just behind there was a wine shop/sitting area and a 'pseudo' Irish Pub that was very popular throughout the week. Remember, a cruise ship is one big perpetual designated driver.
Nikon D70s | f/3.5 | 1/40" | ISO 500 | 18mm // 23°25'14.12"N, 78°56'25.39"W |
 |
these are fantastic. :) great set, great vacation.
carismamegan · 2009-07-26: 23:13
|
 |
Terrific shots...looks like a wonderful vacation!
lifeisgood · 2009-07-26: 23:43
|
 |
Very cool, beautiful, interesting and funny shots! with your very enjoyable comments. I enjoyed them all very much!! Thanks for sharing, Mike. I'm glad you had such a good time with your family :-)
firehorsecri · 2009-07-27: 01:27
|
 |
Great set, surely looks like all was okay :-).
eternity65 · 2009-07-27: 02:01
|
 |
Very nice, I'm glad you enjoined your trip :-)
scimmietta · 2009-07-27: 02:26
|
 |
Spectacular, interesting set!
somogyvari · 2009-07-27: 04:15
|
 |
great set...so interesting pictures!
tomie · 2009-07-27: 05:13
|
 |
Great set! #1 is a wonderful work of art!! I want to do that with my towels! lol
nunuinpictures · 2009-07-27: 06:07
|
 |
I've always wanted to try one of these cruises. Maybe one day.... You did a great job with these pictures. Glad you had a great time.
dontblink · 2009-07-27: 09:45
|
 |
Thinking about your pecular form of elephantiasis, I can only be grateful that it was a towel pachyderm, not one made out of toilet rolls, because God knows what kind of crime that would punish... And what's wrong with hair-braiding?
revenant · 2009-07-27: 09:52
|
|
|
I've just been struck by a terrible thought: there is at least one person whose job it is to make elephants out of hand towels... I LOVE my job, no really. I LOVE it!!!!
revenant · 2009-07-27: 09:54
|
 |
Cool set - I love the idea of travelling round and getting to see lots of places but I don't think I could cope with being surrounded by that many people :-)
davids · 2009-07-27: 10:39
|
 |
Great set:)
JaCkYe · 2009-07-27: 12:35
|
 |
Very nice set, here in Europe cruising was for decades something for old people, I mean really old. It seems that is changing but still, the feeling not to be able to leave and go whereever I want prevents me from trying it
GKorts · 2009-07-27: 13:04
|
 |
I like every shots!! You're every shot have special story and i like it, too Good Job my friend
Aghdam · 2009-07-27: 14:08
|
 |
Great cruise! When I went on a cruise with family, we used to go into the water to get away from the vendors and they would follow us right in! I like your photo#6!
Widcat · 2009-07-27: 14:45
|
 |
Great post, lucky you.
joycephotography · 2009-07-27: 17:02
|
 |
Wonderful set Mike. What a fabulous time you must have had. I managed to send a postcard from San Juan. It was of the nearby town of Ponce. I didn't visit there, but I thought it would be perfect for a friend at work ;-)
Jarvo · 2009-07-27: 18:11
|
 |
What a ship! What a trip! What a great collection of stunning pictures!
Unchained · 2009-07-27: 18:20
|
 |
What fun! Thanks for sharing your experience with us poor buggers stuck at home. :)
thebronzebow · 2009-07-27: 22:18
|
 |
awesome vacation!
kif123 · 2009-07-27: 22:44
|
 |
Fantastic shots Mike! Love em all, and like always, a great song choice!!
jennye · 2009-07-28: 01:11
|
 |
5# - I'm in heaven :---) !
????? · 2009-07-28: 03:05
|
 |
lovely set! great photos! The 1600ISO shot in 2 has turned out really cool! Not that grainy!
Rogermay · 2009-07-28: 07:24
|
 |
Great collection of vacation shots, Mike! You really caught some great scenes - I especially like #s 6, 13, and 14!
lookagain · 2009-07-28: 14:11
|
 |
Just a wonderful collection of photographs. You have a great eye for an interesting sot - 3, 7 8 really appeal to me.
Julias365 · 2009-07-28: 14:48
|
|
|
..or even for an interesting sHot!! LOL
Julias365 · 2009-07-28: 14:49
|
 |
Always great to be able to go off on a little jaunt:) Love image 7 with the signs pointing the way back home
Amoeba · 2009-07-28: 15:54
|
 |
8 :)
kdodee · 2009-07-28: 16:10
|
 |
WOW!!! Fantastic shots...love #2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12 and 15 well I should of just said all of them. I'm glad you had a nice time...EXCELLENT!!!
lynnsgallery2 · 2009-07-28: 18:06
|
 |
Great series! I love the Caribbean, have been there twice.
bergfjord · 2009-07-29: 01:04
|
 |
nice series! i like the #15:)
Quatros · 2009-07-29: 01:42
|
 |
interesting trip indeed!!! like your photos and also explanation :)
2colors · 2009-07-29: 07:17
|
 |
Terrific :)
onlyricky · 2009-07-29: 07:25
|
 |
Looks like you had a fantastic trip! Thanks for sharing!
learningtodream · 2009-07-29: 11:28
|
 |
Truly great set and commentary. Not sure about calling the esteemed Morgan sportscar a "buggy" though!!
flamee · 2009-07-29: 16:28
|
 |
wow... what great photos!looks like you had a great time :))
sandyk · 2009-07-29: 23:27
|
 |
interesting... funny and cool
miltonjacob · 2009-07-30: 09:59
|
 |
Beautiful post! :)
Ivconcept · 2009-07-30: 13:35
|
 |
very good reportage of your trip with fantastic tone and colors...
sakaras · 2009-07-30: 16:37
|
|
|
wow
ally · 2009-08-01: 01:18
|
 |
Nice set, I like the towel-elephante ... ;o)
Ryana · 2009-08-02: 09:52
|
 |
Great set! Maybe next year i will have a chance to check it out too!!!
vizipok · 2009-08-02: 12:56
|
 |
Wow! Paradise climates
pandka · 2009-08-07: 13:46
|
 |
A Northwestern grad must have made the sign in #7. Of all cities in that general direction, they picked Evanston? Nothing against Evanston, of course, as it is a fun town... But how about, um, Chicago? LOL
duds98 · 2009-08-17: 07:12
|
|
|
|
