Christmas was special for us this year, because Julia and Michael were able to visit us (and their friends) in Puerto Rico. It was wonderful to have them here...and somehow strange, because we are so used to being on our own now as captain and co-captain instead of Mom and Dad! Our children are the best (yes I know...you think the same of your children...smile) and we love them endlessly. It is amazing how they have grown up to be such responsible citizens. Fortunately for us they think it is cool to have parents that live on a sailboat! Well...we enjoyed having Julia and Michael here...we missed the rest of the kids...Jessica, Jeanette and Ted, Michelle and Mike, and of course the number one grand-kid Abby! Perhaps next year we'll sail to Miami for Christmas? Mmmmhh...let's wait and see!
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| Ben surprised his parents arriving earlier than planned. |
We picked up Julia, Michael, and their friend Ben from the airport in San Juan. They spent their first night on Orion, so we had a "full house". It worked out well with the guys in the aft cabin and Julia on the couch in the salon...our Morgan 41 Out Island is quite spacious...I made them breakfast in the morning which they had in the cockpit on our old/new cockpit table. I say old/new, because the table came with Orion when we bought her, but we put it in storage and never used it! Now that we are actually living on Orion it seemed like a good idea to try out the table...and it turned out to be a nice addition to the cockpit when we are not sailing.
On Christmas Day we had Christmas Dinner at Marina de Salinas...and give a big thank you to the owners and the staff of the marina for allowing us to set up a private table to accommodate our family and two of our sailor friends (Dick and Jane). We had a whole turkey, rice, noodle salad, green bean casserole, green salad...and for dessert home-made Puerto Rican tembleque (coconut pudding, thanks to Mangu's mom), and German Stollen with ice cream.
Christmas morning we were greeted by two manatees swimming across from Orion and I was lucky to get them on camera...how cool is that? Merry Christmas!
Julia and Michael's visit went fast...too fast! They spent time with their friends and time with us and all in all it was a great visit. Julia's green "Volky" was ready for her when she arrived and we put it back in storage when she left (many thanks to our friend Richard). Oh...and she even shared her Volky with her brother which made Michael quite happy :o)
On Julia's birthday...Happy Birthday Julia...we all (Julia and Mangu, Michael and Ale, Rick and I) took a walk to "the shell house" here in Salinas. This house is quite spectacular in that the outside of the building as well as the stone fence is covered in shells...we came across the place a few weeks earlier and decided to show it to the kids when they visit. As you can see from the pictures...the shells are arranged in wonderful designs and patterns...what a labor of love!
The kids left the next day...we love you and miss you guys, but will see you again soon...
Christmas morning we were greeted by two manatees swimming across from Orion and I was lucky to get them on camera...how cool is that? Merry Christmas!
Julia and Michael's visit went fast...too fast! They spent time with their friends and time with us and all in all it was a great visit. Julia's green "Volky" was ready for her when she arrived and we put it back in storage when she left (many thanks to our friend Richard). Oh...and she even shared her Volky with her brother which made Michael quite happy :o) 
