Jason: Yeah. Hello everyone. Welcome to the season six premiere of the Buffalo Brews Podcast. This is podcast of the Caribbean three. I am Jason and with me is Sabrina. And I got that right the second time. Hey, would you like a little pirate speak on this one? Oh my God, I say, Ahoy everyone and ye be welcome to the season six premiere O the Buffalo Booze Podcast. This here be the podcast All the Caribbean three. I am Jason or me. Be with me. Sabrina.

Bri: You totally should have just opened with that.

Jason: Yeah. Shut up.

Bri: That is so funny to watch you even say it. It was cute.

Jason: Or as she is now known within the the cruise community, Sabrina the tarantula Wrangler. More on that in a bit.

Bri: Oh my gosh, you're so crazy. All right, well, um.

Jason: What are we opening with here?

Bri: Cheers.

Jason: We got.

Bri: To. Instead of drinking beer this time, we're having a little Jamaican rum.

Jason: This is Jamaican rum. This is the Jamaican eighteen limited edition. We got this from the last cruise.

Bri: Right, but we were back in Jamaica again, so we thought this would be perfect to have instead of a beer. So cheers.

Jason: So cheers.

Bri: Man, that's smooth and delicious.

Jason: We did bring beer down with us. We might open that in a little bit. We'll see what happens. That's very good, very good. Hey, we are, um, Norwegian Cruise Line homers. We are not power poly cruisers. So, uh, we stick to one cruise line, And this is our third cruise on NCL.

Bri: Third year in a row.

Jason: third year in a row. And this time we were on the Norwegian Star. So, um, we had a I mean, it even starts with an interesting time just getting down. It's everything's an adventure when it comes to you and I even trying to get out of Buffalo to get to Tampa. Oh my God, is this huge is this huge thing driving to the airport, which is literally two miles away from where we are.

Bri: Is it even is it even two miles? I don't even know if it's two miles. It's so incredibly close. It's ridiculous. You blink and you're at the airport because at the end of our street is actually the runway. So all's we have to do is go down the road around the corner to go to the front of the airport, right. But the parking is across from there. And would it happen? My Subaru Forester, that's not really supposed to get stuck, got stuck trying to park in a parking spot. So Jay at five o'clock in the morning and some other very nice man came over to push my car out for me to find another spot to pull into.

Jason: I've been working out.

Bri: Oh my God. And it was frustrating because they tell you where you have to park, so it's not like you can drive around and find a shoveled out like parking spot.

Jason: They're like.

Bri: Right. So we're in row A and we're almost at the end of the row before I just say, well, I'm going to try to pull in here. And I just gunned it and I just stopped. Yep. And I said, well, it's going to sit on this snow bed. And we are the people around us can get out and I am not sticking out. So here is where the car stays. And we didn't know if it was going to be buried when we came back or not, but we just said, well, not my problem for two weeks from now.

Jason: Right.

Bri: That's it. Yeah.

Jason: Yeah. Airport check in. As smooth as things can be in Buffalo. Oh, yeah. Get through, you know, easy. You know? Um, yeah. Lately in the last couple of trips that we've, uh, we've taken, um, I haven't got the normal TSA pat down. I'm kind of feeling a little like ignored.

Bri: Oh my gosh, I think you're fine. I'm happy not to have to deal with that. So anyways, yeah. So our flight boarded on time. We got down to Tampa and to our shock, freezing freaking cold. I mean, it was freezing here, but like, it was for Florida standards freezing there. Um, thirty two degrees when we landed. Um, yeah. Like that's insane.

Jason: Yeah. They, uh. Yeah. Tampa and Tampa's. It's different animal. I mean, there's two there's going to be two parts to the Tampa airport. Story one as we arrive now and then at one as we leave later. But, um, you know, hotel transportation when you pick the place that you want to go, I always like to find someplace that'll be like, give us a call. We'll come and pick you up and bring you to the hotel that you're staying at. They even said, hey, you can drop your bags. We were going to catch an Uber down to Ybor City. And, um, you know, three calls to the hotel and.

Bri: In an hour and a half later and we've just called an Uber.

Jason: Yeah. We're just. Yeah. Really gave up on that because. And no and no idea that the van that they use isn't marked out. I'm going to name it because I think it's deserves to be said. Here is the Holiday Inn Tampa, um, Westgate, which is uh, right across from the airport, right across the highway. Yeah. Um, I mean, I didn't have any complaints other than the transportation part. And the people at the counter, God bless their souls, dealt with a lot of BS.

Bri: Yeah. And when we said that, we called three times and nobody came to pick us up, she just said, sorry about that. Yep. So I feel like this is an ongoing issue, that they already are aware.

Jason: Of the guy. And he's like, this guy was so nonchalant about everything. Now, mind you, they do do pick up in transportation to anywhere within a two mile radius of, uh, of the hotel. So if you wanted to go, you check. Hey, that's in our radius. We can take you there. So and so will be back at this time. But they always do. Running back and forth to the airport for their guests. And or so we thought. Um, but anyway, we get there. Not a problem leaving the bags. They give us a ticket, the bags go into another room.

Bri: They went into a secure spot. Right?

Jason: Yeah, yeah. Uh, Uber down to, uh, to Ybor City and, uh, what a what a great what a great place. Um, surface trolley that runs from end to end in that region. Uh, a lot of businesses, some breweries in there that, uh, you know, will that we ended up visiting. Um, I like the area personally.

Bri: So that was our first time to go to this Tampa port. Yeah. So twice we've been out Port Canaveral. Um, so, you know, now now we know. Right? Right. So now we've learned a couple of things. Like we learned a couple of things. Yeah. So now I think we'll do things differently. Yeah. Um, next time I go out of Tampa, I feel as though I will have one of the hotels that are closer to the port that does free port transportation in the morning, and then I'll just Uber whenever I get off the plane. Right? Yeah.

Jason: So all of our Tampa experience is going to be actually in an additional episode we're going to do after this one here. So like our stops in Ybor City, we'll we'll talk about that as part of that. But one of the things they told us at the hotel also that didn't come to fruition was, hey, we'll call you when your room is ready.

Bri: Oh, yeah.

Jason: And that call never came. So when we were finally done running around, we.

Bri: Said, we have to be ready. It's five o'clock.

Jason: Yeah, check in was three. We got to five. Oh. You know, and sorry about that.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: Okay. I you know, I guess we're going to do this then. So, um, we end up.

Bri: And I feel like it wasn't like the most inexpensive hotel either, where you should have had, like, some of these perks that are just kind of not that off the wall perks.

Jason: I don't know.

Bri: Like just calling or texting. I feel like that should just be something somebody presses a button in the system at this point.

Jason: I mean, think about when you go to a restaurant and they go, what's the number we can use?

Bri: Oh yeah.

Jason: Yeah. And there's a link that it's in there that tells you where you're checking. I'm not expecting them to say, here's your check in order, but just to say I've got it.

Bri: Put it in there.

Jason: Automatic service. That's like, hey, your your room at the Holiday Inn Tampa West Gate is now ready. You know, so, um, yeah, I think it was one of those things where. You know, I'm not going to put a lot of pressure on the front desk people because they dealt with a lot of crap over there. It just seemed like every time we were anywhere near that front desk, just people just complaining about nothing.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: So when you go to a hotel, people, they're going to put a hold on your card for X amount of dollars. That's all part of the policy.

Bri: It's like that when you go pump gas. I don't know that anybody realizes that.

Jason: Like when you know, when is this going to drop off? Because they, you know, people, they'll go and they need the the credit card to hold the room, but they're not going to pay for it with the card. They're going to pay cash. Fine. Well when's that charge going to fall off my card after you check out.

Bri: Right. Because they have to have something to charge you if there's incidents.

Jason: People losing their mind about it. I'm like, okay, that's enough. It was enough. It was enough. Um, cool things that were going on in Tampa that night. The Boston Bruins were in town, and they were playing one of the outdoor classic games against the Tampa Bay lightning.

Bri: Mhm.

Jason: Five miles, if that, from where we were staying.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: Um, so.

Bri: Which meant we wanted to get the heck out of there before prices of Uber started skyrocketing. So we were like, do we stay a little longer? And then I looked and I said, what time is that game? So yeah.

Jason: So seven thirty.

Bri: We got out of there by five before everything I feel like really started to whatever.

Jason: Watch the game on TV. It was pretty entertaining. We, you know, like we had to be up early in the morning. So we went to sleep and lo and behold, found out that Tampa came roaring back from three to one.

Bri: To win.

Jason: This.

Bri: Thing.

Jason: That was really.

Bri: Cool.

Jason: Um, yeah. Next morning. Didn't want to bother with the transportation getting to the ship. We called for our own Uber. Oh. The buffet. Nice buffet.

Bri: Oh, yeah, they did do a nice breakfast buffet.

Jason: That was a nice layout there. Yeah, yeah. Um, yeah. Nice hot bar.

Bri: Um, yeah. No complaints about that. I mean, I complained about the coffee, but when do I not.

Jason: We the deal that we got.

Bri: Coffee snob.

Jason: We tied in the breakfast buffet with it because we weren't about to do what happened last year when we were stuck on a bus making seven stops with.

Bri: No, we didn't even know. And we had a couple of snacks left over in the backpack. And we ate all of them because we had not eaten at all hours.

Jason: Yeah, to make that drive.

Bri: But again, lesson learned. So we just keep learning these lessons as we travel. And people could be listening right now and say, guys, you should have been more prepared, but you don't know what to be prepared for when until it happens. And then now you know, to be prepared.

Jason: Yeah. Tampa. You roll up in there. Um, the it has its own designated Uber lane. Yeah. So they just say, hey, I'm smooth. I've got two.

Bri: Smooth but crazy at the same time. Did you feel that way?

Jason: It was wild. Yeah. Yeah.

Bri: Like there was somebody who came right up to us, asked if we had luggage. We're like, yes. Then they just took it and then they said, that's it. Follow them over there. Why are you the right person to be taking my luggage? I look at Jay and I'm like, did a stranger just take our luggage? He's like, no, no, it's just very different here. So they're just they're taking it right away and like putting it, you know, and then we're all going up. So we found out one of those reasons was because at that point it's very different. We had to kind of wind in up to unlike Port Canaveral, where it was like everything was right here and you just went up the stairs. And that was it for Port Canaveral. This was kind of a go into a few rooms winding through, you know, whatever. So yeah.

Jason: Ship, ship. Not quite ready. But that's okay. That happens sometimes. So you're in the big waiting room then. They said everybody was going aboard. Yeah. Getting on board. Easy peasy.

Bri: But they were so efficient. They're like, they didn't make us all wait in line. They were like, okay, we're going to take you. We're going to come down with our well, I mean, this is technology for you. We're going to come down with our iPad and we're going to make sure, oh, that's you check your passport, blah, blah, blah. We'll be back. They go back, they type whatever they're typing into the main system that you would normally walk up to. They come back with your card. Yeah. And then just recheck your license to make sure that they're handing the card to the appropriate person. They didn't believe that it was really you. Like you had to you had to show them your ID twice. So I mean, I feel like that was like super efficient. And then. Yeah, then they filed us all on. So.

Jason: Um, yeah, I, I feel like it was really easy getting on. Uh, we learned really quick. We were below. Now I'm fifty three years old, and, uh. And Sabrina, we won't utter her age on the air. That's that's out of, uh.

Bri: I'm like, thirty five forever.

Jason: It's fine. Out of respect. So, um, but we definitely found out we were below the mean age for that, uh, that cruise. We learned that early on. Um, we're like, you know, very few teenagers, and.

Bri: And I.

Jason: Was.

Bri: Just just fine with it. Okay, guys, let me tell you, having a cruise with everyone who is very much older than you are is fantastic. I didn't hear screaming babies. Like, I didn't hear adults screaming at their teenage children who don't know how to behave or that they want them to be meeting. I, I heard none of that. It was the calmest chillest vacation we have ever had.

Jason: It was, uh, yeah, it was it was cool meeting a lot of, uh, a lot of folks, um, uh, you know, you're going to know names better than I do. I know faces better than names. Uh, but when we get on board, one of the first places that we decided to hang out was we got the first feel for proof whiskey bar.

Bri: Yeah, well, that was the only bar I think that was open.

Jason: Right? I think so, yeah. We were able to find a seat, and we just kind of hid out for a while when things were. Because, you know, one of the things when you get on a cruise ship is you also have to wait to wait to get the call that you're. Well, yeah. First. That's the first thing you should always do. Um, Norwegian has a code on the bottom right hand corner of their card. That will tell you what your muster station is. I highly recommend it because you weren't going to. They. Nothing happens until you do that muster.

Bri: Yeah. They're not allowed to leave.

Jason: Right.

Bri: And they will call your name out because we heard them. They'll hunt.

Jason: You. Uh, so yeah, go do that first and then guess what? Free to drink. You know, uh, we took advantage of the Free at Sea Plus program, which is was a literally days old brand new program for Norwegian at the time. Uh, you know, we'll talk about that at some other time, but worth every worth every cent of it that, uh, um.

Bri: I mean, we could talk about it right now to, like, set off everything.

Jason: Uh, yeah, I guess. Yeah. Um, because when you go in, you know, part of it that we learn over time is that you prepay your gratuities in order to be able to get on and to get on board and part of the military program, they give you the Free at sea program, uh, the original Free at Sea program automatically. And then there was the opportunity where they were going to do Free at Sea Plus, which gives you more top shelf, uh, liquor selection. It also gives you an unlimited, uh, Wi-Fi. It gives you, uh, the Starbucks, um, because they proudly, proudly serve Starbucks. I have no idea why my voice is cracking.

Bri: I don't know, but you sound like you're a teenager.

Jason: Like. Yeah. You know, like I'm Peter Brady, and it's time for change. I don't know what's coming, but I have no idea. This happens every time I record. Maybe I shouldn't drink rum when I'm.

Bri: Maybe you should drink more rum.

Jason: The rum gone.

Bri: Um, well, okay. So.

Jason: But. Yes.

Bri: So I was all about it. Just for real. Coffee, having Starbucks.

Jason: Um, coffee can be a little rough on board if you're going to the buffet or.

Bri: Well, right.

Jason: Some of the sit down places have a little better selection. You can get an Americano or a cappuccino.

Bri: But you have to pay for that, right? Yeah.

Jason: Right.

Bri: So I learned that the first two cruises we did where I was like, I do not want to drink out of the vat of coffee that they have. And if you're okay with drinking mediocre coffee, then this will be fine for you. I'm not. I'm a huge coffee snob, you know, so I was pretty excited to be able to go down every single morning and get my Starbucks and then take it with me either to the restaurant or just walk around the ship and drink my coffee.

Jason: Bottled water and also energy drinks. They had Red bull selection. Yeah. Um, yeah. So it was it was nice to be able to have options available to you.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: I felt like the value was there, um, you know, doing the math for us after we had already done the prepaid gratuities and then they had given us kind of a discount to get in because it was so like it was very early on in the program, like days old. Yeah. And they were like, well, you know, like, we'll offer it to you for this. Okay. So I'm doing the math going, yeah, this is a bargain. Yeah. You agreed.

Bri: I mean, I love the fact that this was the first time that when we were cruising, we could have anything we want. Right? There's literally only a tiny box at the bottom of the super, super upper shelf, like expensive stuff that you're going to know is not included in any type of drink package, no matter what. That was not included. Otherwise, anything you could dream up, you could have anything that you see on the menu. You could have. So I was really happy about that because we weren't like the last time we said, oh, I won't have this, or like, that's a two dollar upcharge. All right, I'll pay for that. And it was fine for here and there when I wanted stuff. But this time I felt like we had the huge freedom of when we went to dinner, we just picked out a wine, you know, um, when we wanted the dinners we went to, I really wanted to have, like, um, a prosecco that they were offering, you know, and if you didn't have that, you had to pay for it per glass. But instead we had that with our dessert instead of like, a coffee. So I don't know, I for me, I loved I loved being able to have the flexibility for anything.

Jason: Right. It was. It was, yeah. Really good. Um, I know we did some wandering around the ship. We're big wanderers when it when the rooms aren't ready because it's. You got to get a feel for the layout of the ship.

Bri: And this one was very different. Yeah.

Jason: There was parts of the ship where you had to go up a floor in order to go back down to where you needed to be. Uh, if I, you know, I'm sure that's the original design of it. Like, Versailles was like you had to go down to get into the restaurant, right? But the entrance was up. Was up higher. Right. Like seven. And you're stepping down to six. Or there was somewhere you wanted to get to, to an area of six, but you had to go up seven and across to get down to six to get to where you wanted to go.

Bri: And I felt.

Jason: Like.

Bri: As soon as you as soon as you figured it out, it really wasn't bad.

Jason: Yeah. It was nothing by day two or three for us, right?

Bri: Yeah. And the ship was not big, so it was the smallest ship we've been on so far. And I feel like once you were able to, like, get the hang of what side of the ship each things were on, we figured it out.

Jason: Uh, the escape and the epic. About four thousand. Four thousand two hundred for the for the passenger logs. This one here, closer to about twenty two two thousand four hundred.

Bri: And I loved it. I would do a small ship every single time. I mean, there were the cool things about the big ship, but the best part about the small ship is we were going into bars and people were knowing you like the bartenders, the servers, they were remembering you. Yeah. And when you were going to restaurants, they were remembering you because it's usually like the same group of people who are the hostess at that restaurant, because that's what they're trained to do for that entire cruise ship or that entire cruise time, you know. And, um, I don't know, I really liked it. We were running into peop the same people. Yeah. You know.

Jason: That was really cool. You know, you you come across the same folks a lot. Right. You know, when you're when you're going around, just, you know, the casual point, like, hey, hey, you.

Bri: Right, right. Oh, you're walking past me and not saying hello. I loved that I can't remember that guy's name, but he was so funny. He's like, you're just gonna walk past and not say hello? You're like, hey, what's going on? You know, and it wasn't that anybody really wanted you to go do things necessarily with them, but it was just very cool to have like a five minute conversation. And, um, I feel like we made actual friends. So a little shout out to Julie and Brad.

Jason: Hey guys from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

Bri: They ended up actually on our flight flying from Tampa, and we we didn't even know we didn't meet them at that point. But it was so funny because when we did meet them, when she started talking, I said, I swear you guys were on our flight. And then when we said what flight we were on, sure enough, they were on our flight. And it was so funny because Julie said that. She said, I have a very loud and memorable voice.

Jason: And Brad is super tall.

Bri: Yes, exactly. So they were really cool. We kept running into them. It was funny. We just turned the corner and there they were. Or like, we were just at a bar and they were there too. Or just in our passing. We went up one morning to go for our every almost every single morning walk around the track, you know, then they were out saving chairs, you know, or whatever at the pool. So we'd stop and have a Conversation just like the sweetest people. Yeah, I mean, they're from Canada, so let's get real. I feel like everybody we've ever met from Canada is so nice, but people.

Jason: Thought we were from Canada a lot. So many people from Canada know I.

Bri: Know so many people. And then I'm like, are we really that close to Canada that we that they hear some sort of like, yeah, either the dialect or maybe we're like, nice coming from Buffalo, I have no idea. But it was hilarious. I was like, no, I'm not from Canada. Buffalo like twenty minutes away.

Jason: Right?

Bri: But yeah, nobody was guessing where we were from at all. Ever, ever. Oh, Canada was every single time.

Jason: You know, you mentioned that track that was uh, that was on the ship. And I think this is one of our favorite tracks where the escape was more of a smaller circle. Yeah. This was like end to end on the ship, on.

Bri: The top.

Jason: Deck, on the thirteenth deck. And it was just.

Bri: I loved it. So the very first morning of our crews. Um, it was going to be gorgeous, gorgeous, clear skies. And so we went up to go see the sun come up, and it was still quite chilly. And so I threw on my sweatshirt to go up there. And there was maybe what? What would you say, like six or eight other people. And that was it.

Jason: Yeah, that was it.

Bri: Because it was.

Jason: Cold.

Bri: It was cold. It was the first morning. So I think people were waiting for it to be warmer and whatever. But I don't know if it was the chilliness in the air or what, but I mean, we have seen some sunrises on these ships and this one was like it was beautiful and perfect. And on this particular ship you were able to, um, where we were heading and how the ship was, we were able to literally be at like practically the very front of the ship, just aimed directly at it.

Jason: Yeah. Driving right into the sun.

Bri: Yeah. And it was just it was beautiful. It was beautiful. So I felt like that was, um, you know, obviously the start of the vacation was going into the bar and having a drink and finding our room and, you know, whatever. But I feel like for me that was like, this is the start of vacation, you know what I mean?

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: So that was like, okay, I'm ready now, you know, just feel that that sunshine coming in and look at that big, beautiful open ocean. And yeah, it was gorgeous.

Jason: Had a lot of destinations ahead of us. Um, I know like there's a lot of things I'm going to throw to you to just gush about because there was a lot to take in on this ship and a lot to be, uh, happy for. But, uh, one of the things that we did early on, on that first day was, uh, we went down to Gatsby, uh, Champagne Bar. We, we knew there was a champagne bar on board. We didn't know it was going to be a nineteen twenties Gatsby themed.

Bri: Correct.

Jason: Um, and yeah, that that plays into, uh, I'm a huge part of the story, and I feel like we should just get into it.

Bri: Yeah. What? However you're going, I'm going with you.

Jason: Yeah. So, you know Gatsby, I mean, we, you know, we enjoyed some Cape Cod's. We enjoyed some French seventy five there. Mhm. Uh, you know, one of the dinners that you can have is at a, um, is at a restaurant, it's a steak and seafood restaurant called Cagney's. And uh, on our last cruise there was entire tables of people that were doing these, like nineteen twenties themed dress up, like dress ups. Yeah. So we said, you know, I we're gonna do this.

Bri: You love a gimmick, right? I love what you say all the time. Yeah. And I absolutely love dressing up like I love, love, love, love, love. So, I mean, if you're like, hey, do you want to dress up for this theme I am in? So, yeah, totally dressed up for it. We planned on it. Um, obviously I didn't put my I put my outfit together, but I didn't put everything on to put it together until we were actually, like, on the ship, and I was. I was beyond excited on how everything turned out. Just like your outfit. Like we totally looked the part and nobody else dressed up on this ship for that restaurant.

Jason: No. Yeah, I didn't see no.

Bri: No.

Jason: Again, going back to the older clientele that was on this ship.

Bri: Yeah. True, true.

Jason: But the the number of compliments that came in from from people, especially your outfit. Now shout out to second chic. Is that is that where you got the dress.

Bri: I got it on Elmwood.

Jason: On Elmwood Avenue in downtown Buffalo. So second chic. You found this dress almost a year before. Yeah. Uh, and you were like, this is going to be perfect for the next time that this comes around.

Bri: Because it was the summer after our last cruise when we saw those people dress up. And I put it on and I said, this dress is perfect. And then I built everything else around that dress that I picked up for like fifteen dollars.

Jason: The pearls, the earrings, the the gloves, the hair.

Bri: Oh, yeah.

Jason: Yeah, definitely pictures that'll come out, uh, as part if you, uh, you know, follow us on Instagram at Buffalo Bruce Podcast on Facebook. But it's definitely a picture worth seeing. Uh, we met a couple from was that were they from London, Ontario, Canada? Um, she was the she used to be a photographer.

Bri: I don't remember, like where they were from. Exactly.

Jason: Like they were from London, Ontario. They were from up there, like.

Bri: But, um, they were sweet and, um, she I asked her if she could just take one picture, and then she started posing us and taking all sorts of pictures everywhere. And oh my gosh, they look so, so gorgeous. Like it was way better than I could have asked for. Come to find out, she just loves to take pictures. It's like her passion. And so we had we were dressed up and then we were in this, you know, nineteen twenties champagne bar looking awesome in.

Jason: Front.

Bri: Of perfect.

Jason: Gatsby inspired paintings that were, yeah, were there.

Bri: And I think was that, was that the first night we had our champagne cocktail?

Jason: No, because we found out because we were asking the question how come there are no champagne cocktails? That's when we brought it up to one of the gentlemen that we talked there. Talked to there? Um, and he was like, no, no, they they they do things like that here. And this is where Juan was able to curate this.

Bri: Champagne cocktail.

Jason: You know, like champagne. What was, um, what was it like? Prosecco.

Bri: And it was Courvoisier and champagne, not prosecco. Yeah, they use champagne.

Jason: Oh, they use champagne. So, yeah, some some French champagne and and. Yep. Get the to get the cognac together. Um, yeah. I don't have any Courvoisier on the liquor emporium, but I feel like it's going to be coming because, um, I don't know how long it's going to be before I'm going to want this cocktail again.

Bri: Oh. It's delicious. And I had never had Courvoisier, so I didn't even know what it tastes like. So he just brought him over and we had them and they were delicious. And then I think two or three later we asked what was in it like not even two or three that night, but like, I think a couple of nights later we asked, hey, what is actually in this that we're loving so much?

Jason: And Maria is a sucker for bubbles, you know?

Bri: Oh, I love everything with bubbles. If it has bubbles, like I'm into it. Like bubbly wine, bubbly, anything. Yeah. Champagne.

Jason: We spent so many nights at at, um.

Bri: It was it was my favorite place to be. I feel like the only time we were over at proof was because Gatsby wasn't open yet. Because proof opened every day, I think at like, eleven or noon.

Jason: Yeah. And, um. Yeah. Yeah. Because I feel like a couple of times winning the proof, we went in.

Bri: We did like a lunchtime. Well, that weird lull time is when we ended up in there where Gatsby wasn't open yet and it wasn't dinner yet. It was like that late afternoon where you kind of like, did everything you were going to do. So like, especially on ship days, like at sea days, we did everything we were going to do. And then you have that like Time where, you know, that's when people bring board games and cards and, you know, they just kind of sit at a bar and do that kind of stuff. So instead, what are we doing? We're looking up other cruises to go on. You know.

Jason: This is what we do.

Bri: While we're having a cocktail.

Jason: Right? Um, you know, meanwhile there's people walking up there, some singing. Great. Some sound like they're. Oh, yeah. Murdering cats.

Bri: They had karaoke, which was a little annoying in that bar, but, um, but then when we were at Gatsby every night, we, um, the seating was different there, so it was like chairs that were closer to each other and kind of facing each other. So most people were like two people. So there was always two available, and I don't care. I'll sit next to anybody and talk to anybody. So, you know, I would look to see, oh, that one's open. They look friendly. And then I would ask, can we sit down? Sure. And then we had these most wonderful conversations with people. So it was really nice.

Jason: Never had one conversation. I was like, no, no, no beat feet, sister. You know, like.

Bri: Right. I mean, I think the only people who we didn't talk to long said, we're actually getting ready to go to dinner.

Jason: They were leaving?

Bri: Yeah, yeah. So you're you're welcome to sit here, you know. Whatever. And we we talked to them for like two minutes and then they were off to dinner. So it just happened to be like it was a perfect timing situation because I think they were having dinner at Le Bistro. So they were just.

Jason: Kind of hanging right next to.

Bri: Yeah. So they were hanging out there literally just waiting until their time to go to dinner because that is a reservation restaurant. So. Yeah.

Jason: But Gatsby's was definitely a destination. Amazing. You know, cocktail creations. Um, we did take a a margarita class at Gatsby's. Uh, that was also curated by Juan. And, um, I don't know if I'm saying I'm saying with a Spanish dialect, but he was Filipino.

Bri: Yeah, it's more like. So I think it's probably like one. One like one. Yeah. But he was wonderful, and he taught me how to make the most amazing spicy margarita. And I went up and made a spicy margarita in front of the whole class while he was teaching me, um, so he was, he was doing for drinks, and then he would call up like he called, oh, anybody want to come up? And Jay's like, you should raise your hand. And I was like, oh, I don't know, whatever. But then when he was like, we're going to do a spicy margarita. And then my hand like shot in the air, I was like, I will totally go up to learn how to make a spicy margarita. Now you're singing my tune.

Jason: In class, like.

Bri: I know, call me.

Jason: Calling me.

Bri: I think my hand would like straight up in the air. Like. Yes. So.

Jason: Uh, you know, this trip was, uh, some repeat stops, and we had also, uh, some, some new stops. And we can confidently say at the end of this that every single stop was an adventure. It was something new, exciting. We learned we, you know, experienced so many new things. Um, our first stop was going back to the Dominican Republic, this time in a different.

Bri: A different port. Yep.

Jason: Cabo.

Bri: No, no.

Jason: Cabo Ocho Rios was last year.

Bri: Don't you have this written down? This is.

Jason: Cabo Rojo.

Bri: You have to say it like better, though. They say it like Cabo Rojo. Like we. They have a good accent.

Jason: Cabo Rojo?

Bri: Yeah, they they say it really nice. We say it not so.

Jason: Nice in the southwestern corner of the island. Uh, it is about fifteen miles from the Haitian border. We learned a lot of interesting things about the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Bri: Mhm.

Jason: Uh, Haiti, you know, governmental unrest, collapse of their of their currency.

Bri: Mhm.

Jason: But they do respect the Dominican dollar because, uh, clothes are cheap in, in Haiti. They can go there and really, um, contribute to their economy.

Bri: Right. They come over, they shop. It's kind of like it's kind of like how we're in Buffalo and there's there was so much like Canadian shopping, right? They would always come over, spend their money on goods and services and then go back.

Jason: Over the days.

Bri: Right. Oh yeah. Back in the day.

Jason: Thanks, Covid.

Bri: But they would come over and they would buy everything, you know here for cheaper and whatever. So, you know, they're going over to Haiti buying stuff super cheap. But it was good quality stuff. And then coming back over in in exchange, Haiti is happy because they're able to obtain the Dominican dollar on their side, which is worth more. So they're essentially making more money for selling their goods and services. So.

Jason: Uh, the Dominican Republic, we ended up taking excursion, driving about four thousand four hundred feet up into the mountains.

Bri: Yeah, which was beautiful.

Jason: Chile, a little light rain up there. But what what an amazing experience up there.

Bri: Gorgeous. We stopped on the way to have, like, this little fresh fruit, um, like experience. Right. Like you, I had passionfruit, like real actual passionfruit cut. Just the fruit cut open just for you to be able to eat it that fresh. And I have never experienced something like that. They had guava, papaya, um, just all these amazing things that we don't have, right? Like, we have apples and pears and we have all this stuff in the North. This is like, really like island goodness. And, um, that was so, so good. And then. Yeah. So then we drove up to the top and we did a small hike, which was really cool. And to be able to like go look out and, and you know, we had a little history lesson of stuff that was going on there. And um, I had another interesting bathroom experience with no running water. Um, you know, it's fine. Whatever. I understand you're at the top of a mountain. I'm shocked they even had anything for you to go in. So, you know, no running water. You just kind of go in this toilet situation if you want to call it that. And door that doesn't really close, hovering over kind of a hole that was at least elevated from the floor. And then on my way back, I saw a thing scurry across the trail. And so I look, because we're hikers and we look right when you see something in the corner of your eye. And it was a tarantula, like an actual wild tarantula. And I was. I was beyond.

Jason: Excited.

Bri: Yeah. Yeah. Bigger than mine. So probably the size of, like, yours. And I was so excited and I was like, Jay, come over, look at this. And then our guide came over to see what was going on, and he actually used his clipboard to pick him up and move him because they're very they're very timid and they like I'm sure he scurried. And as soon as he saw that, I noticed him. He was trying his hardest to blend in with the woods, like, please don't look at me. Please don't touch me. Please don't do anything. I'm not here.

Jason: Tarantula side eye.

Bri: Right. La la la la la. You don't see me. But anyways, it was so incredible. And I will probably never happen again in my lifetime. But I absolutely loved it. I was like, oh my gosh, this is so awesome. Like it's real. It's not in captivity. It's not like in a zoo or in something that you're there to look at. No, no, no, this was in the wild, the actual wild. And there it was like in the space where it just lives wildly. I don't know, you can tell. I was super excited about it.

Jason: She was excited for sure.

Bri: That was the highlight.

Jason: It was, you know, getting up that high, like I said, light, light, drizzle. And then when you're on that side of the island, the weather's a little bit different.

Bri: Where.

Jason: You get some of the, um, the low clouds. So, uh, Pico Duarte or what they call it Mount Hades as, as we understood it is, uh, it's a ten thousand, about ten thousand two hundred foot peak. It's the highest in the Dominican Republic. But you couldn't see it. But you can. But you could see. You couldn't see the peak, but you could see it.

Bri: Going up.

Jason: Up into the clouds. It was, um. it was quite a sight. And we were overlooking this, uh, this valley during this hike. It was, uh, it was quite a time. Um, it was interesting to get in these jeeps and then, you know, like I said, going up into the mountains so far that you literally see three houses, police escorts, just to make sure that everything's on the up and up and safe and at the same time, you know, having a, you know, getting quite the education about.

Bri: Oh, yeah.

Jason: About the region.

Bri: Our guide was so intelligent. I mean, I could fill a whole hour of this podcast just talking about stuff from the Dominican. So and then we went, um, once we got down, we had a little bit of time at the beach. And so that was nice because it was the first time I was able to, you know, take off my shoes and stick my toes in the sand and get in the water a little bit. And, um, we only had about, what do you say, like ten, maybe fifteen minutes there because we just we spent a lot of time.

Jason: A lot of time in the mountains.

Bri: Which was.

Jason: Fine. Getting up and getting down, I mean, yeah. I mean, there's just they're just bumpy roads going up through there.

Bri: Yeah, yeah. Their roads are not like you would think of our roads. Very, very different.

Jason: Infrastructure is very, very interesting because like what we have like the, let's say the New York State Department of Transportation. Yeah. You know.

Bri: They just got five guys.

Jason: Hundreds of people working on a bridge project. They have five guys just right. Working soon. Yeah, it'll be ready soon.

Bri: Right. We're working. So when it's ready, it's ready.

Jason: They were. They were more than happy to wave. Hi. Yeah.

Bri: Yeah. Everybody was so nice. Yeah. But, um. Yeah. So the water was beautiful. Um, I found a little seashell that I took home. A little sea glass that I took home. Yeah. You're not allowed to like. These people were bringing these big, huge conchs they were finding. And I was like, there's no way they're going to be able to take these.

Jason: They took them.

Bri: And they they took them away. Yeah. They were like, we we have to leave them here on the island, you know. So I'm sure like Port Authority for the Dominican, they like, handed them over this bag? Like. Here you go. Go take this back to the beach.

Jason: Reason why they don't have giant conch shells that were that you could buy in the stores. Because guess what? You can't take that on a ship, right?

Bri: Exactly. So, um. So. Yeah, but it was beautiful and I loved it. And yeah, I would go back to the Dominican again. Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Jason: But, um, it's, uh, it's it's always an adventure going there. Um, very poor country, but, uh, they are a, they're a proud nation that's really trying to make things happen in Cabo Rojo, great port area.

Bri: Oh, I can't wait.

Jason: Imaginative. Yeah. That was designed to.

Bri: And I can't wait until like they said, they're doing a lot to really, really increase that area. And I am looking forward to even like five to ten years from now returning to that port, just to see how much it is going to blow up and how beautiful they're going to make that, you know, how inviting they're going to make that. But right now I thought it was great. The port itself was so big, you don't even have to leave that area.

Jason: No.

Bri: There's restaurants, there's shops. There's places you can be in a hammock, in your bathing suit and hang out. There's water, there's sand, there's. There's everything.

Jason: The design of the place is very artsy.

Bri: Very artsy. Yeah. Yep. So I really liked it.

Jason: Uh, yeah. Uh, so. Yeah. Um, we get done with, um, uh, the Dominican Republic. Uh, we were, like, shoveling off real quick that afternoon, um, headed to, uh. Where did we go to? We went to Aruba.

Bri: Yep.

Jason: Um, I mean, let's jump right into Aruba. I mean, it was, uh, another great experience, another jeep exploration tour that we did through, uh, the erratic, uh, National National Park, which consumes about a better part of, like, forty percent of the island. Uh, so the roads. Um, some of it paved, some of it, um, just.

Bri: Most of it not.

Jason: Most of it not. And there were there you definitely tested your neck, spine and hips during that, during that ride. But, I mean, we reached the highest point in Aruba. You could see clear to Venezuela.

Bri: Mhm.

Jason: Which was only about fifteen miles off the south shore of Aruba. And then, you know, taking in one of probably the greatest experiences I've ever had was, you know, uh, well, swimming in a natural saltwater pool.

Bri: So think of around here how you take the steps to what is that Devil's hole whirlpool. What is the steps? One.

Jason: Oh, here in Niagara Falls. Yeah. Um, yeah, I would say. Yeah. Devil's hole is probably the one.

Bri: So if you're a local, think about those steps. So we took all those steps that they built, some of them natural. Some of them they put in for you to be able to get down to this natural pool from where you have to park. So you go down to this area and the beach has just developed. I mean, it's just volcanic rock, really. Right. So like, as things moved over the years or whatever and rocks smashed together as the tectonic plates create, you know, these natural things that happen and you have these huge high walls of rock and these little crabs that are just, like, dancing, so happy. And we're in this thing that is formed, which this is not even what I thought it would be when we read what it was going to be, but it formed this almost like gigantic pool on the ocean. So the ocean is actually the waves are splashing and refilling and taking some of the water in and out of this natural pool. And there's fish in there because, you know, fish have come up probably in Storms or whatever. And they're like, I live here now, you know, and whatever, but, um. So there's fish in there and like, the rocks are covered in kind of like this, you know, green, kind of like slick, mossy stuff because it's not getting the constant push of the waves. So nothing's jagged in there to hurt you. Super soft, like, you know, whatever. Um, so the front part, you could kind of walk on the rocks while you're in the water, and then after that, you kind of have to swim. It's too deep. And, um, yeah, we just hung out there for a good while, and it was it was beautiful. It felt great. And I didn't want to leave, like, I just want I wanted to be in there for so much longer. But we did have a decent amount of time in there, which was nice. And then, um, yeah. Then we got out. I tracked it back.

Jason: I like the guide, stripped off some gear and, uh, dove in with.

Bri: All of our guides. Did? Yeah. They were like, jumping off the tall rocks, because obviously they know this terrain way better than we do, right? Like when it's your home, you know these things. I'm like, I am not jumping off something that tall, but you go ahead and climb that and you jump off of it. I'm okay with it. I'm going to watch from here. But they were having a blast. Our guides were awesome. You know, they were just out to have like a really good time with us and show us how wonderful the island was. Um, we went into some cool caves. We saw a centipede that was like, I don't even know how long that thing was.

Jason: It was a good he was a good twelve, fifteen years.

Bri: I have never seen one that big ever. And I was like, oh my gosh, this is the things that kill you in the night, you know? But, um, yeah. So we wandered in that cave and, you know, just it was cool. It was really cool to see, like, cactus and ocean, you know? And I don't know, it's just it's so interesting. And then we found out they never have hurricanes there.

Jason: Oh, that's why they're called a happy island.

Bri: Because there's there's no crime.

Jason: They're too far south to get hurricanes. Yeah. They don't you know, they get like their they get their rainstorms. They said they get some tropical rains.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: Some tropical storms from time to time. But they. Yeah. Right. Hurricanes.

Bri: Nothing that ever devastates the island. Yeah. So, um. Yeah. So that was a really cool experience. Um, I had one of my favorite beers when we were there. Oh, we forgot to name. So when we were at the Dominican, we. What did we. We had always president. Right?

Jason: President is about is about the only thing that they really have.

Bri: Yeah. So we made sure.

Jason: They have some other things because a lot of those islands are really related to, uh, you know, like Norwegian backgrounds and Dutch backgrounds. So they'll, um, you know, they'll have like, uh, they'll have things like you can find Heineken, you can find.

Bri: Yeah, you can find regular beers, but then there's local ones.

Jason: So but president has made.

Bri: We had that one in the Dominican. And then when we were in Aruba we had two. Did you write them down? I know one was chill. Chill. Chill was so good. I wish I was there longer just to have more of that beer.

Jason: Chills. Probably going to be one of our twenty twenty six beers of the year nominee.

Bri: Not was something like I just you couldn't even pinpoint what made it so perfect. It was just so well balanced and it was delicious. And it was ice cold and it was warm outside, but it was just it was so good. And that same company, brewery or whatever.

Jason: That was, they did the mango. Um, yeah, it was, I think it was just called. They just called it Mango Beer. There was no fancy name to it that I remember something. I don't know, unless you have a picture of the can, but.

Bri: I may have, but we so we had one of each because obviously we want to, you know, be able to try as many things as we can when we are places, you know, that's the big deal, right? You want to try the local beers and the local, you know what's going on? What are you guys drinking? What's good here? You know, kind of thing.

Jason: Yeah. So, you know, it's right there in the shopping district when you come out of the the main port in Aruba, once you punch through the backside of the, the shanties and the the main shopping area there, um, you'll run right into some outdoor places where you can.

Bri: It must be on your phone.

Jason: It might be, but, uh. Yeah, I mean, but I remember it was a mango beer, but not nearly as good as chill. Chill was.

Bri: No, that was so good.

Jason: I wish there was opportunities like, I guess you could take stuff back on the ship, but then it's like, oh, you gotta turn.

Bri: I don't know that you can though, because I think they keep it till the end. So then you're not going to be able to have it really to be able to magic mango.

Jason: Mango, mango. But then you got to get it back home on your flight and that's.

Bri: Well, you're not I'm not getting beer home. So. Right.

Jason: You literally have to package it in Tampa and send and mail it home.

Bri: It's the only chance. It's not happening.

Jason: So. But I'll remember. Chill for what it was.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: She'll be. She'll be my beautiful lady. And, uh, I definitely enjoyed that. But I remember we did get back from our excursion in Aruba. We were absolutely famished. And I remember us going in like immediately to we had to get, like back we, you know, had to shower up because we were like, you know, between the salt water and the fact that it was so warm there that day. Um, and then we went back and we had like a, I don't know, it was a late lunch, early dinner kind of situation, but we were definitely starved.

Bri: It was made by Bellocchi Brewing Bellocchi brewing.

Jason: Yeah, that's definitely going to be a kudos to them because chill.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: Oh that's right. Because, you know, one of the things they were telling us also is when when we were on one of the high points, you could see this building off in the distance and the blue building, he called it. And he goes, yeah, yeah, the blue building, that's, that's the that's the only brewery.

Bri: It says it's a smooth, light, refreshing island beer, a light golden lager. This refreshing beer with mellow citrus aromas is crisp and flavorful with a delightful, smooth finish. Yeah, yeah, it's a pale lager, five percent alcohol.

Jason: I remember a dinner. We also learned how they refuel ships.

Bri: They call it beach vibes in a bottle. Nice. I love that. That's perfect. That's cute guys.

Jason: Yeah. I also remember how they, uh. They. Yeah, they definitely, um, we learn how they refuel ships in in areas like that, too. So there's actually companies that jump from island to island refueling ships.

Bri: Yeah. So you guys know, like an aircraft refueller when, you know, for like the military where they have that refueling plane that flies around. Same thing happens on the ship. There's a giant ship full of fuel, pulls up, pumps fuel into your cruise ship and then goes.

Jason: That's it.

Bri: And most of the time, you never see it because they do it well. I mean, we never see it because we're off on excursions. So I guess the idea is, is usually they do it while the ship is docked and people are out doing their thing and so nobody ever really.

Jason: Noticed it yet. So.

Bri: But yeah, there was still. Oh yeah. Because there was still time on the island. Yeah. Yeah. But that was really interesting. We were like, what is that giant boat that's parked next to us? Yeah. He's like, oh, they're they're refueling us so we can keep going. Oh, they can stay.

Jason: I tell you what, folks, Brie is finishing up the last that she's got of her, uh, Royal eighteen limited edition Jamaican rum here when we come back, uh, see if I got that in the right spot there so it doesn't fall. We're going to crack open a little something new, and we'll get on with the rest of the podcast of the Caribbean three on Stranger Things. Back out of the break.

Bri: Stop.

Jason: All right, listen, uh, so we are drinking for our for the ward Glass from our for the word glasses. Why? Because we completed the for the word. I mean, it's it's the for the word. You drink for beers. What is it you drink for beers, get for stamps.

Bri: And then they.

Jason: Gave you.

Bri: four dollars.

Jason: They four dollars to the old store.

Bri: So you drink one at resurgence, Briar Brothers frequent and OFW. And this year, when you complete it, they give you a glass. So.

Jason: So we are drinking from Resurgence brewing. This is not part of the for the award. But as my voice continues to cry Tom Berry crush sour ale. And why are we drinking a sour ale from resurgence?

Bri: Because we're going to be brewing a sour with resurgence, correct? Yes.

Jason: So as part of the collaboration event coming up in, um, April, we're going to be brewing with resurgence, a Pac-Man themed sour ale. Uh, so, you know, we've got some. We got a brew day that's still coming up for that, but we've got everything laid out. We have a name, we have a as the Navy guys would say, a shooting solution. Yeah.

Bri: So all right, circle back to the islands. Cheers. All right, next stop, Curacao.

Jason: Why don't we have a little a little spooky?

Bri: What is going on with you?

Jason: Hopefully this thing is gonna, like, mellow my voice out.

Bri: You are hilarious.

Jason: Well, this is good.

Bri: He can only drink beer, guys. Otherwise, he sounds like a teenager.

Jason: Start drinking camomile tea with honey and lemon.

Bri: Oh, my gosh, I don't know how you're gonna get away with a Buffalo Brews podcast is gonna be Buffalo Teas podcast.

Jason: Well, the best teas around.

Bri: Oh my god. We'll talk about loose leaf compared to.

Jason: Oh this goes back to NPR radio and Pete Schweddy.

Bri: All right. So Curacao. So this is another island we had never gone to. We saw pictures of it, and honestly, I feel like the pictures that they take of Curacao is not what you see. Like, I got the whole row of their fun colored buildings and whatever, but like, I feel like when they take these pictures it is way more wow than it really was. Now let me let me just say it wasn't that we didn't have a great time, but I just was like, oh, I saw these pictures. And when I actually saw it, I was like, huh? It's just like a row of buildings painted on some water.

Jason: Yeah. I mean, the comparison I made is like Charleston, like the famous row houses of Charleston. Yeah, they're colorful houses, but they have their own their own history. I mean, if you look around Curacao, everything is colorful.

Bri: Yeah. So I did love that. It seemed very artsy there.

Jason: And they rehab everything old, even there.

Bri: Yeah. So we, um, when we were on our way to our excursion, Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and I love, love, love when they give us like a mini history lesson.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: So we had a little mini history lesson and we were like learning about how like when the buildings are a certain age that they can't tear them down, that they have to rehabilitate them and keep them. So if you're going to spend the money to purchase it, you have to also spend the money to fix it. So that was quite interesting. Um, and our travels, we learned that people who live on farms out there have no electricity, no have no water. You have to have make your own water on an island that doesn't get a ton of rain.

Jason: Yeah, they use the reverse. Reverse osmosis.

Bri: It's crazy. So it's so interesting like that. People would choose to live like we think about it as living off the grid around here. But you could always drive into the grid, right? Like, I guess the same thing there. They could always just drive into the grid. But these people are really just living this super remote life, and they are just happy. They're all just happy. And, um, I really I liked it. It was fun. We did, um, we kind of, like, drove around, had our little history lesson. But my favorite part of that whole excursion was snorkeling. Yeah, I wished we had longer to snorkel and I could go further because I would have just been in there forever. But we only had like about what, half hour?

Jason: Half hour? Forty five minutes. Yeah.

Bri: And that like, well I think we had forty five minutes total. But that was the time that it took you to like get down to the beach, get into the water and then make sure you have enough time to get out of the water dressed and then back up.

Jason: Thank God, my water, my watch is waterproof.

Bri: Oh my gosh. Right. Because, well, I also had my phone in one of the waterproof cases that we had bought for our first cruise, actually, that I remember to grab to take with us so that I could try to do a little bit of like underwater filming pictures, things like that. So otherwise, you know, we were like, oh my gosh, what time is it going to be? All you could do is like, look up and see if the people you could recognize that were on the excursion with you were still in the water or out of the water.

Jason: Where'd they go? Where did they all go?

Bri: But I noticed I couldn't tell the people who were with us. Like, I don't know where they went to. We were in the water as long as we possibly could be. And. But I would have loved to have been able to, like, skirt around and swim all the way over to, like, the break and stuff like that. But I feel like if you did that, that would be your only time in the water is going out there and back where I was like, really into like, let's look at the fish here and let's just move over here and watch the fish over here. And so it was cool. I think one of the big things that I would love to do for, um, another excursion, um, is in one of these islands just to do a snorkeling only where it's not part of it. But it it is it, you know.

Jason: Right. Do that for the entire time.

Bri: Yes. Yeah. So that because that was the highlight for me. I mean, we did drive out to the other side of the island and we got to drive through another like park to be able to see, you know, different things. It was cool. He was identifying the, you know, different cactuses because they have like five species of cactus out there and birds. And we saw like, um, on the other side of the island, it, the, the seas are really rough, so you can't have beaches out there. And then we found out this guy. Why is that where that guy owns, like, this huge amount? Was that Curacao?

Jason: Yeah, he owned the he owned the land across the way.

Bri: That was just, like, so perfect and beautiful. And he was like, yes, because that's privately owned.

Jason: He he bought that because he didn't want them. Um, The what is it? The limestone, the or whatever the stone is that they were they were harvesting it out of the side of the hill. Yeah. And he didn't want them doing that anymore. So he bought the entire. Yeah. Mountain.

Bri: Yeah. Because why not? Because why not?

Jason: So they would.

Bri: Stop. Yeah. Yeah. But, um. Yeah. So, I mean, it was really interesting. It was super fun, but that was the highlight for me. I don't know if that was the highlight for you.

Jason: I mean, it was like the snorkeling was amazing. Just being able to like, look down and then boom, you've got all these like blue and orange tropical fish. Gar fish.

Bri: Yeah. There were so many and skinny.

Jason: Long ones.

Bri: You know, it was really cool. Guys is in that particular spot. There is a drop off. So you're snorkeling. You're snorkeling in like, what would you say, maybe twenty feet of water because you can't stand. So it's way above us. Yeah. So I would say it's like twenty feet and then it drops off to over one hundred and fifty. He said is the first drop off that you see. It looks like pitch black.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: Yeah, like pitch black. It was like one of those things that is almost like a horror movie, like stay on this side. When you swim on that side, all the sharks will eat you.

Jason: I almost wish I could scuba dive down there just to give me a tank.

Bri: Right, right. You're so curious. You're like.

Jason: How far down can I go?

Bri: What is over there? And all this time that I've been in the water, everybody's like shark, shark, sharks. I have still never seen a shark. I feel like when there are so many people in the water, they do not want to come near you. But, um. But anyways, I feel like if you would have swam out that way, suddenly, you would have seen sharks and issues and whatever, you know, because that's deeper water and whatever. But it was so peculiar to be like, oh, everything's super like, you know, clear and blue, that beautiful turquoise, like gorgeous water. And then boom, drop off pitch black as night.

Jason: That was very steep too. That was. Yeah. Steep drop.

Bri: It was cool, but, um, okay, so then we had tons of time on that island, so we decided to go back on the ship, get dressed out of our wet clothes, put on clothes, and go wander around to see what souvenirs we could pick up.

Jason: I got the snorkel on my James Bond swimsuit, too.

Bri: Yeah, you were so excited.

Jason: Anybody's got to imagine that. But yeah.

Bri: That happened. Yeah. Um, so we, like, shopped around all the little shops. And then when we were out and about, Jay said, I swear we passed a brewery. And I said, well, let's go check it out. So then we, we after we were doing our little shopping excursion, we walked over, found a brewery and that was.

Jason: Uh, swinging old swinging old lady brewery.

Bri: You didn't write it down?

Jason: It's right here. Swinging. I don't know if it's swinging lady or swinging old lady. You better stop accusing me of not writing stuff down. I took thorough notes during this trip, and I resent everything that you say.

Speaker 4 Oh, my God, he's so funny.

Bri: Oh, yeah. We also did the whole swinging bridge. So the bridge, like, moves. Yeah. From, like this one side to the other side. So that was pretty cool.

Jason: Yeah, I know we had the IPA and the Montana black beer at that one.

Bri: It is swinging.

Jason: Old.

Bri: Old lady. Okay. Brewer.

Jason: Yeah, I have swinging lady here, but I can't remember if it was old lady.

Bri: Oh, there it is.

Jason: They literally just celebrated their second anniversary too. They haven't been open that long, but, uh, a lot of the people that work there spoke, um, some English, mostly Dutch. Um, so. And the owner spoke pretty good English. So. Yeah, we talked with him for a minute. Uh, really nice place. Um.

Bri: Oh, yeah. It was cute outside. Um, we sat and had not only a beer, but a snack. And so the coolest thing that I ate there, which we normally don't eat, because obviously, you're getting all this food on the ship that you've.

Jason: You're going to talk about these.

Bri: Already paid for.

Jason: You're going to bring up these fritters.

Bri: But like when we were like, oh, we're hungry. Like, let's get a, you know, a snack of some sort or whatever. So we had these. Where where is it?

Jason: It was the cheese fritters.

Bri: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Cheese fritters. Yeah. These things. So apparently it's like a thing on the island. These cheese fritters. So they're like little puff balls of, like, cheesy dough. And they are so freaking good. I wanted so many more of them. Yeah, I could just eat those things, like, every single day. They were delicious.

Jason: Sriracha. The sriracha barbecue and chili sauce that they would serve with those. So good. They also they served there. It was funny. They served buffalo wings.

Bri: Yeah. We had a platter and buffalo wings were on there. So they're not really buffalo wings. I would just say they're chicken wings with their house sauce.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: So it's almost like I feel like you should just call them chicken wings.

Jason: We want to ship them a case of Frank's hot sauce and say, take this. It's butter. I know and watch the people go crazy, right?

Bri: We should. We should figure out if that's, like, doable. Like somehow doable.

Jason: Ship them a case of Frank's.

Bri: Yeah, or at least some a few bottles, at least for, like, the staff to, like, have a party and, like, taste what real like, buffalo wings taste like. Because, you know, it's so funny is you never think about how, like, we do all this traveling to them, right? Like, it's easy to go on a cruise ship to go to these islands, to travel. But how often are they traveling to, like, parts of, like the US? Yeah. So we so to just quick go back to Aruba. Um. Bogo had just traveled.

Jason: That's his name.

Bri: Yeah. His name is Bogo. Had just traveled to Michigan because he wanted to ski.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: So he was like we said, where did you go in Michigan? And he's like, I just went with a travel company. We flew into Ann Arbor. Like, he didn't know all the stops that he was at, but he was like, this is what I did. So it was so crazy to like, think, like we just get on a boat, we stop at all these islands. It's so incredible. You know, whatever. And then, like, you have to think like, United States is so freaking humongous, right? Like, for them to travel, they're never going to come to Buffalo to have buffalo wings. You know what I mean? But, um, the beers were fantastic. We we had three different beers there. We each had a beer, and then we shared a beer, um, to try another one that they were doing that they had actually just released.

Jason: Yeah. The beers we had, we had the hazy hula hoops, which was, uh, wasn't, wasn't the tropical bomb that we thought it was. It was really light.

Bri: Um.

Jason: Because that was the one where it was like it was like four point four ABV, but their normal when they do, the batches are around six, six and a half, so I don't know, for whatever reason, that was a lighter batch, he said. And then the West Coast Swing, and then we had the taste of the the black rye IPA. The boogie.

Bri: Yeah, the boogie woogie. Yeah. Yeah. So we shared that one, but all of them were fantastic. I mean, I hope this place, like, really just kicks it into full gear and can just keep on rocking and rolling.

Jason: I think it's a great place.

Bri: The food was good.

Jason: The.

Bri: People were good, the ambiance like the way that the everything is set up. They have the indoor space, they have the outdoor space, which obviously we were outside because it was gorgeous outside that day and that was the first sunburn I actually got because I was.

Jason: The only one you needed.

Bri: Oh my gosh. I was so into like putting on sunblock. And then we were snorkeling. I was in a full like long sleeved, you know, like out like swim outfit. And um, so when we went back to change, I'm just in a tank top and shorts to come back onto the island I had, I did not even think about, like, oh, I should put on sunblock before I go do this, you know, because I'm not thinking.

Jason: Look at me. I'm molting.

Bri: I'm not thinking excursion. I'm thinking.

Jason: Look at.

Bri: This. Right? I'm just thinking, like, I'm just going to go back and like, you know, find some places to walk around or whatever. So we're sitting there enjoying beer. We're actually under kind of a umbrella thing, but I still my chest got sunburned. But, um.

Jason: Anyways, that close to the equator.

Bri: I know.

Jason: You're doomed.

Bri: But kudos, guys, you're doing a great job. We loved that experience, and I would totally. If I am back in Curacao someday, that will definitely be one of my.

Jason: Recommend it to anybody.

Bri: Yeah, it was really, really good. And for, you know, people that I know that are traveling on a cruise ship to go to Curacao, it is a totally walkable to be able to go stop and do that place.

Jason: Absolutely.

Bri: So that was really, really fun. So our next stop after Curacao, um, where were we? We had sea day.

Jason: I would like to I would like to sidebar for a moment here for a moment because, uh, I think one of the other, um, eating excursions on this ship that we have to talk about in, in, uh, in detail here is Aqua.

Bri: Oh, oh, so you want to just have a little see day and how much we enjoyed, like the ship eating. Oh my gosh. So we we dined at the Versailles once.

Jason: Once. Yeah.

Bri: And then we went back to the Aqua. We had a wonderful, wonderful waitress. Her name was Marcelle. We found out that we could actually ask when we accidentally had her twice in.

Jason: The same exact table.

Bri: And sat at the same exact table. We found out that we could request her in that section. Um, so then after that, we were like, well, that we're we're only going to have her as our our waitress. And she was amazing. And she knew our wine choice for every night. And she was funny and she made our dining experience so wonderful. And then, um, and then our, our little. What would you call him? What are the what are those guys or. Well, the staff that's called that comes over and fills your water and brings you anything extra that you need. You know, your bread, your butter. Is there anything else I can get you? He actually brought us more wine. The one day when Marcel was super busy. So kind of like that extra helper to the wait staff. And his name was Deveau, right? Deveau. And what the cute. Oh, my gosh, the cutest, cutest kid. And what a sweetheart he was. And he was adorable with all of his, like, little funny things. Um, Jay one night had like, fried chicken dinner that they did, and he came over and he was like, how was your KFC?

Jason: And because they wrote it CFC on their sheet.

Bri: Yeah, but it was it's so cute. And he was just you could tell that he is not working a job. He is just literally overjoyed with being there. You know that his work is like an experience in itself. Like he's having fun on this cruise ship even though he's technically at work, you know? And he was so cute. He even came over on days that I think that he was not assisting Marcel, just because he saw us over in her section and wanted to come by and say hi and ask how our day was, especially on the days we went on an excursion. He was kind of excited to like, hear about like, what did you guys do today? You know, and things like that. And um, yeah, so shout out to Devo. He was so cool. And Marcel, for being the most amazing waitress and constantly filling up my Pinot Grigio.

Jason: Oh, yeah.

Bri: But I mean, Norwegian, one of the reasons why I feel like I don't want to move to another ship is just the service, the food, the beverages are just top notch.

Jason: Yeah. Uh, and and and Tino Pinot Grigio out of the Veneto, Italy region is the Pinot Grigio that we drank at every.

Bri: Single night at.

Jason: Dinner.

Bri: Yeah, yeah, I feel like we didn't really deviate from that because most of the things we were choosing to eat, it would call for a lighter wine. Um, I feel like the only time we deviated was the two times we went to the steakhouse, because that calls for a red. And then when we were over at the, um, French restaurant, because what we had also called for a red. So I feel like that was when we kind of deviated from having, like, a white wine. But I mean, for me, I'm a fish eater. Like when they say, oh, we have this or that, I mean, I was having some of the most amazing things. Shrimp scampi, paella. I was so excited. Was on the menu one night. They had so many different fish preparations and risotto and all these delicious things. And then I feel like you were just big on, like, all the things that were chicken related. You know, that they were doing or protein guy. Yeah. Like chicken and pork and, you know, things like that. So I feel like everything we were having called for, like a lighter white wine. So it was like perfect. So every night we're like, we're not going to deviate from this. It's a it's an amazing wine. I don't know if I'm going to find it around here. Right. So I'm going to drink while I can. And it fits with our dinners. So.

Jason: But what do you think? So what was the best what was the best dinner that you remember from? From Aqua.

Bri: The best dinner. Paella.

Jason: The paella for sure.

Bri: Oh my gosh. Oh yeah. It was amazing.

Jason: They had such a great so so good.

Bri: And I'll tell you for the appetizer for me it was that risotto. That risotto appetizer was probably by far my favorite appetizer. Um but that that was oh my gosh that paella. I mean I've had paella in many different places, Disney being the big.

Jason: Paella on the last, on the last cruise on the epic.

Bri: And it was nothing like that. Yeah. This was just so perfectly, Perfectly done. But you know what? I have to say? That sitting at this restaurant. Whoever the chef was on this ship, the shrimp was perfect. It came out hot. It wasn't overcooked. It wasn't undercooked. And shrimp is very hard to do.

Jason: Oh, yeah, you can go from.

Bri: Very quick to be rubbery and gross and cold or whatever, but everything was perfect. And the shrimp were sweet. They were. It was like they picked the perfect things. The fish was flaky. The fish was flavorful. Like every preparation, nothing was soggy. Nothing was served cold like I was just I was thoroughly impressed because seafood is one of the hardest things to serve.

Jason: Well, right?

Bri: Because of the fact that it gets cold quickly, it can overcook or undercook quickly. You know, either you take it off too fast because you don't want to overcook it now it's undercooked or overcook it, you know what I mean? So, I don't know, I was pretty I was pretty impressed because anybody can make a pasta. Anybody can cook a steak. Anybody can make chicken, you know. But when you're talking about seafood, that's a delicate balance of perfection. So I was I was thoroughly impressed. And, um, comparatively speaking, I don't know if it's a different chef that was at Versailles, but I wasn't as impressed at Versailles as I was in Aqua, and I think that's why we kept going to Aqua. The food was better.

Jason: Uh, each ship has a the competing what they call the what would you call the compliment?

Bri: Complimentary dining.

Jason: Dual dining rooms. And they serve the same menu every night. But it's a different cooking staff that works on both ends of it. So you find which ones are better for you. We did the same thing with the epic. We did the same thing with the encore. Uh, and then we found out that we far, like far above and beyond loved Aqua over Versailles.

Bri: Yes.

Jason: On the ship. Here you go. There you get. If there's a wait, they give you a pager. Go wherever. Have a drink. You literally get a buzzer, just like you would at a restaurant. And then you show up, walk in the dining room, boom, you're seated and you're off and running.

Bri: And I feel like that only happened to us twice. Other than that, we we sat down for dinner, so I don't I mean, that was another thing that I really loved about having a smaller ship, right? You know, and the two times I think we had to have them was because it was, um, an excursion or a port day. So everybody was back on the ship at the same time, right? On any of the at sea days, we never waited. No, because.

Jason: It spread out.

Bri: Yeah. Because people are like, oh, I'll go to dinner when they start at four thirty. Oh, I'll go to dinner at five. I'll go at five. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like people were not all kind of going in there at the same time. Whereas when we were at port, everybody came kind of back at the same time, showered, changed, went to dinner. So now you have this mad rush of everybody eating dinner at like six thirty, you know. But yeah, I love, I love.

Jason: I love your crews insight about this stuff. I'm gonna throw two things at you. Two separate subject. And I want you to just. I want you to go hog wild on it. Go. Go, hog. Go, go. I don't know, whatever.

Bri: I feel like I'm under pressure now.

Jason: Here it comes. Say two things I'm gonna say. 80s party.

Bri: Uh.

Jason: I'm gonna say glow party.

Bri: Okay, so one of my favorite things on the cruise ships in Norwegian is they do a glow party every single time. Which we also found out is twofold. As a white party. White party. So now what we were doing is having, like, these fun, kind of like glow, um, whatever ideas of things to wear. Now I need to be wearing white because we found it glows in the same lights that they do glow party. So we show up.

Jason: Like a black light.

Bri: Situation. Yeah. So we show up like a half hour early. They're doing face painting, which glows under the lights. So I made J also get a little face paint because I said.

Jason: I look like a football player.

Speaker 5 It was fine. It was fine.

Bri: I just wanted him to, like, get into it. But I mean, I literally dance until, like, they they're done until they just stop playing music.

Jason: Hell of a cardio workout.

Bri: It is so fun and I love it so much. And then that one was actually out on the pool deck, which I prefer because I like the open air. You're sweating. You have more area, you know. Whatever. Um, 80s night I dressed up looking like Madonna because, again, I love a dress up. So I dressed up in my little Madonna outfit with the off the shoulder black dress, cross pearls, black lace gloves, the little like black lace.

Jason: Hair.

Bri: Ribbon that she would put in her hair. Like, I, I was on it. And then that one was held in the bliss nightclub they have that's actually inside the ship. That one. Ooh, sweating my tookus off in that one because enclosed space, you know. I mean, it's dark, but still you're like, oh, I need some air. But oh yeah, what a blast. I freaking love the dance parties. I am all about the dance parties. Bring it. I will dance my bum off. We?

Jason: Yeah. We also had the opportunity because the, uh, the Super Bowl was going on at the same time. We did not attend any Super Bowl parties because it was New England versus Seattle, and we could give two flying.

Bri: We just didn't want New England to win because you're Buffalo. If you're in Buffalo, the only thing you say is New England better not win, right?

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: But we had no I don't know. We had no desire to watch this.

Jason: So I went in long enough to take a picture in the theater that they had the giant, this giant like fifty foot projection television that they were like, I'm watching the game on the ship. And they're like, let's go get a drink.

Bri: Yeah. So, so many people were in there and good for them if they want to watch it, that's cool. Oh, she hands is like an Irish pub place and they had all their TV visited. We walked past like one time and that was that was it. I think we were so turned off the last time by it. I don't know that I'll go back. But the other side of that is, is I think we were really, really, really enjoying the whiskey bar and, and Gatsby's that we just, we there was no desire for me to go, which was fine, because then other people can be over there and I could be, otherwise I would.

Jason: I would say that Austin's because they're open twenty four hours a day.

Bri: Yeah. That's the only good thing, right?

Jason: Is you could go there and it's a great fourth meal location.

Bri: Right. So if if you were, say, doing the dance party and having some cocktails and you're like, man, I really need a bite to eat. Buffet is closed. Everything's closed. The only place you have to go is Oceana. So I'm glad that they have something that's twenty four over seven that you could go eat at. And listen, if I was with a younger group of people or, you know, whatever, maybe I would go have a late night snack and hang out. But I'm not twenty thirty. You know anymore where I can stay up all night. I get to a certain point at eleven, eleven thirty where I'm like, it's time for me to go to bed because I'm going to wake up because I know my body and I'm gonna wake up.

Jason: Farewell.

Bri: I'm gonna wake up at like six thirty, right? I'm ready to start my day, you know, like, it's just so I want to be able to get a decent sleep because we just go, go, go. I mean, I get it like people are like, oh, just chill out, relax, do nothing. And I'm like, no, I want to take advantage of everything. I want to go to every party. I want to like, get off these ships and do all the excursions we can possibly do. I want to have the most fun I can pack in to, you know, however many days I am on that ship. Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Jason: Uh, Jamaica.

Bri: Jamaica. Oh my God. Okay, so I was so turned off with Jamaica. And I know you were too.

Jason: Ocho Rios was a rough experience last year.

Bri: And I was like, not looking forward to Jamaica. But at the same time I said, well, I'm going to give this a chance because you never know. Whatever. So we get off at a new port, Falmouth.

Jason: Yeah. Falmouth. Which of note, Falmouth took a pretty catastrophic strike from Hurricane Melissa that came through last October. August? I forget which month.

Bri: But it was last year.

Jason: It was.

Bri: Last year. Yeah.

Jason: Um, but it shows.

Bri: That.

Jason: That area is decimated.

Bri: But the area of the port where they had all the shopping, they had all of these local people with, you know, selling their like locally done woodworking and art and all this stuff, you know, necklaces, jewelry, shells, like all sorts of stuff. They were all in this area and it was very walkable. People were so nice. It was very, very different from our first experience. So right off the bat.

Jason: We had something to walk.

Bri: Yeah. So right off the bat I really, really enjoyed that. And then we did an excursion where we did a rafting like a bamboo rafting.

Jason: On the Martha Brae River. Yeah.

Bri: Yeah. And what a relaxing, beautiful, serene experience. So we just took a bus. Everybody got loaded on. But you had your own, like, person who was manning your raft because it was only a two person raft. And, um, it was just. It was beautiful. It was a gorgeous day. Our excursion was in the morning, so it wasn't too hot or humid yet. And he was just teaching us so much as again as we were going and not talking the whole time. So we had time to really just reflect, take in nature, you know, really just enjoy our surroundings. While we were floating down the river. And it was it was really cool. I really, really enjoyed it.

Jason: I like that at one point we were like floating three wide with with two other.

Bri: That was funny.

Jason: Uh, and each of the and each of the, I guess you would say, we'll say pilots, each of them were, were unique. Like, one guy was like, talking about how the riverbed limestone is, uh, is good for exfoliating. So he's literally like the woman that was on his raft. He's like, exfoliating her legs with, like, limestone rock. Yeah.

Bri: She's getting, like, this full pedicure.

Jason: Uh, the one guy, full on comedian, like this guy.

Bri: He's making jokes, singing. Yeah.

Jason: Our guy was an artist. He. Yeah, he was a he was a craftsman. Yeah. Um, the same fruit that, uh, that they use when they dried out to make maracas is, uh, is also some of the stuff, the same stuff that they use to make, um, I guess dishes, dishes, cookware.

Bri: Cups, bowls, plates.

Jason: Could be carved. And he did some amazing work. I'll make sure that we post a picture of that as well, for some of the artistic work that he did. Uh, you know, about three miles. So we went down the river.

Bri: And he was telling us about the different trees and what happened. And then we he was telling us that, like, they did so much work to put it back together because there was so much damage from the hurricane that came in that they couldn't even work for a month. No, because and everybody was just volunteering their time. They weren't even getting paid for this. But in order to get paid again, it needed to be cleaned up.

Jason: We learned that employment employment there was unique because there's ninety six drivers pilots. Uh, and then what happens is let's say they have only one ship comes in and they have a couple of light excursions. Um, so you get your number for the day, right?

Bri: So say there's fifty people who show up. There's only fifty people they need to work that day.

Jason: Right. But if you show up, you may not get an excursion. You don't get paid to work, right? So you're at work all day, and you don't get paid, right? Because you didn't have a job.

Bri: Right.

Jason: That day. But the good news is, the next day you're higher on the list.

Bri: Right.

Jason: To.

Bri: But you have to wait for the next boat to come in. So it was very interesting. And I will say though, the community around there, compared to when we were on the other side.

Jason: Versus Ocho Rios.

Bri: Yeah, was very different. People were helpful to each other. People were in it for the community. People were nice. People were. It was a very, very, very different Jamaica than I experienced before.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: Yeah. So I was I was really impressed and I was like, okay, so this is why people say they like to go vacation in Jamaica. You know, where the last time I feel like we, you know, we were told it's like high crime and your family will steal from you. And I'm like, oh my gosh, what? Why do people live here?

Jason: Right? Yeah.

Bri: Oh, we passed the school where, um.

Jason: Usain Bolt, Usain Bolt, who's the, uh, the Olympic. And I don't know if he's still world, the world champion, the world's fastest man.

Bri: But yeah, we passed his school where he went to school and where he trained. And yeah, it was just it was really, really cool. So I really enjoyed that. That side of the island very, very different, very different. So if I were to have Jamaica on my list again, I would like I would go back.

Jason: I'd go back to Falmouth. Yeah.

Bri: Yeah for sure.

Jason: I would go back there for sure. Uh, yeah. Completely different experience.

Bri: And, and we had a red stripe for our beer experience in Jamaica. We had a red stripe. And then so the same people who make Red Stripe in Jamaica actually like, put flavorings into the beer fruited versions. Yeah. So kind of like a fruited sour, but it's a fruited right red stripe.

Jason: More resembles a um, like German or Belgian fruited beers. It's yeah, very similar.

Bri: Taking like that beer and then adding like the fruit component into it, I would say, right. So I had one of those and it's delicious. It was fantastic.

Jason: If I could ever find even the American version of that, I.

Bri: Yeah. And I don't think we ever will.

Jason: I don't know.

Bri: So but um, so that was our beer experience there. So we did that after we came back from our excursion. We're like, all right, time for a cold beer. So that was fun.

Jason: That was good.

Bri: Yeah. And then our, um. So that leaves us what? To our last stop.

Jason: In Grand Cayman.

Bri: Back to Grand Cayman. Man, the thing that made me just fall in love with these islands. Perfect water, perfect sand. Yeah, yeah. So we, um. So the idea was we were going to try to go to, um. What's the brewery there?

Jason: Uh, originally we wanted to go to Cayman, uh, brew. Uh, so it was Cayman Islands Brewing Incorporated.

Bri: But we found out it was too far to walk. Yeah. And like, obtaining a taxi are weird. Yeah, they were very, very pricey.

Jason: Public bus. Two bucks.

Bri: Right. But like, a taxi.

Jason: Over.

Bri: Was like, oh, it'll be twenty or thirty dollars one way. And we're like, one, one way.

Jason: I don't know how true that is. I'm like, I would really have to, like, have the conversation. The cool thing was, the same crossing cop that we saw last year was was still working the same intersection.

Bri: I know I wanted to be like, oh, hey, that was fun.

Jason: Um, you know, and Grant came in. The great thing about that is when you walk so you have the tender and so you get on a smaller boat. Mhm. They, they bring you to the shore. Um, when you tender ashore, uh you're, you're, they spills you right out on the main street. But Grand Cayman has zero crime. It like they say the, the biggest thing they deal with is drunken tourists. Right. Um, because you have guns, they're locked in their trunk. They never use them. Yeah. You never have to bring them out for any reason. Um, they said if you steal a car, your friend, your best friend will rat you out.

Bri: Because. Where are you going? You're on an island.

Jason: He's like, so yeah, I feel like we we've told that story probably ad nauseam, but that's a that's okay. But I mean, that's that's Grand Cayman.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: Um, we, you know, about six miles of hiking right along the beach. Yeah. Found an access point off the main road.

Bri: We did Seven Mile Beach, and we just walked it because it was so the last time we were there. I don't know if you guys remember, but we had like, five minutes to run on and run off this beach because the excursion we were on, the people didn't get back onto our bus quick enough, so it took away our time to be at the beach. So my thing was, is I said, let's not book an excursion because I really want to go back to this beach. And we could have jumped on a public bus for two dollars, but we got there early. Like we poured it in early. It was gorgeous. Nothing's really open yet. So I said, let's walk.

Jason: Yep.

Bri: Let's let's just hike. This is what we do, right? We're hikers. We're in our sneakers. Let's do this. So we did. And we. We got to the beach. And then I just took off my sneakers, and I just enjoyed miles and miles and miles of sand between my toes. And the water coming up at my legs. And the sun was shining and the air was perfect. And I know why everyone's happy there, because it is freaking beautiful there.

Jason: There's a there's a lot of places to eat along, uh, along that main drag. So as we walked back, we went to a place called, uh, the sandbar. Um, sandbar. Um, they kind of chat my rear end because, um, I, I fully intended to have, like, food and everything there and go to find out that they had no beer.

Bri: They'd like fifteen beers, I feel like on tap. And they said, oh, we have these two.

Jason: So one, the one beer we hadn't had is one that's called nineteen eighty one. So it's like it. References nineteen degrees North by eighty one degrees west or east. I forget what it is. Um, and that's when the probably the second most popular brewery in.

Bri: And we wanted to try it because we didn't the last time you have any beer.

Jason: So we had one beer, which was Island Hopper from Cambridge, which is honestly, it was a beer of the year nominee from last season.

Bri: Yeah. So I was super excited.

Jason: We were, you know, super happy with it. Um, so we went kind of across the bay and we went over to uh, recommend and recommend had nineteen eighty one. So we had that. I also tried conch fritters for the first time.

Bri: Yeah. You did.

Jason: So that was pretty good. Uh, jerk chicken sandwiches. Jerk mayo on that.

Bri: Super spicy.

Jason: That was really good.

Bri: But super good.

Jason: Yeah, that was that was good. So we hung out there for a little while, had a little bite to eat. Um, walked up to Sharky's, which is where we went the last time we were there on the, uh, epic.

Bri: Just to see if they had, um, we were chasing this other kind of k brew.

Jason: Yeah, this I and I didn't write this down because it's irrelevant at this point, but it's like this, Like.

Bri: So we were chasing a new one.

Jason: Papa Geddon type.

Bri: But we we wanted to have it. And, um, come to find out, when we talked to a guy that was at the a bar, kind of that you just walk past like an open air bar, um, next to the ice cream store. And he said, you know what? They're probably out of it on the island. So it's like to the.

Jason: Point, limited.

Bri: Right? So it's probably the point that you would have to go to the brewery in order to get this, that nobody else probably has it. So we're like, okay, well, we're not going to, you know, try to find this or whatever.

Jason: But how cool that you can go into a Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop and not only get alcoholic cocktails, but you can get cold beer. Yeah.

Bri: Yeah. Because there's no there's no rules. Like, you can just walk around with an open container and drink whenever, wherever you would like.

Jason: Uh, yeah. And then, um, I mean, that was that was the last of our excursion days that we spent a lot of walking around Grand Cayman and and still a million reasons why we love that island.

Bri: Uh, if I was rich, I would live there. I mean, it's tax free. There's no property taxes, no income taxes. There's no taxes at all. And it is absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous. Gorgeous. So clean. The water is so crystal clear. It is just I don't know it. You I don't I don't know how anybody could be sad there. The only thing that you could possibly be sad about is the fact that you're on an island. So eventually you might get island fever. Yeah, I don't know.

Jason: Um, but. Yeah.

Bri: But amazing.

Jason: We're already in discussions for yet another cruise. We don't have anything set in stone yet, because. Gotta see, gotta see what?

Bri: Oh, my gosh.

Jason: It's. You know, it's.

Bri: So funny because I feel like now that the cruise, like, bug bit me, we've done three in a row. And then I said, well, maybe we should just not go next year. And then now I'm circling back going, oh, but maybe we should.

Jason: Honduras looks nice.

Bri: I know, I'm like, maybe we should.

Jason: What about Belize? You'll love Belize.

Bri: I just I feel like I want to I want to be able to travel and see and experience as much as I possibly can. And, you know, like, I love to be able to come on here and talk about our experiences. And, you know, maybe people are having the same experiences, or maybe people hear what we're talking about and they're like, oh, I heard this island is awesome. Or I really hear, like, you know, this from that or whatever. And then so when you get the chance to be able to travel, you know, maybe you hear some fun things or whatever, and then you choose to go to those places or, you know, people who even can't travel. It's just it's always fun to hear about different things and different places. And I don't know, for me, it's exciting to like, see how people live, how they spend their time, what they do, you know, things like that. It's so different from us, right?

Jason: You know, the the travel aspect. Uh, Bree and I are actually talking about spending this off into, uh. little mini YouTube series because there's so many details that we could talk about. Like, I mean, if we went on about this, this could be a four hour podcast for sure. And I don't get Joe Rogan money, so it's not happening. So it's fine.

Bri: We are not making money doing this.

Jason: So but a couple of things to note because shows on ships are, are are a really cool.

Bri: Aspect.

Jason: Of things. And I know we saw like the Deck of Cards show, we saw the Elton John which tribute show that they did.

Bri: And you know, I really like comedians.

Jason: Yeah, the women of Rock show.

Bri: I liked that, this being a smaller ship, there was a different show every single night. And that is not what we got on a big ship.

Jason: Right.

Bri: You got the same big act that they did a couple of nights so that everyone had the chance to go see it. So this one was really cool that each night we had something fun to look forward to, like, oh, I want to go see that show. Mm. I don't want to see that show, you know what I mean? But it was for whatever you wanted to go to. do.

Jason: Correct.

Bri: But. Yeah.

Jason: And your girls gains are showing off in the gym because she was able to compete in the Miss Biceps competition. And you came in. You came in third out of thirteen.

Bri: And it was so funny because I. So I came in third. And there were so many people who were coming up to me saying, like, you should have won. You totally should have won. And I was like, thank you. And they said, I think that the girl, that one was just a popularity contest because she was, you know, just out talking to everyone and being up and out every single night for like extended periods of time. And so everybody on the ship knew her. And so that's how she won.

Jason: I mean, the woman who came in second, I mean, she was legitimately a gym, like. I mean, she wasn't buff by any means, but you could tell she was very athletic. Yes. Very fit.

Bri: Yes.

Jason: Yeah.

Bri: So it was like.

Jason: She knew.

Bri: first place won because popularity. Second place won because of gym. And then I feel like I should have went up and did like, you know, a hundred more push ups or something. You know, hindsight being twenty twenty, maybe that would have, you know, pushed me over the edge.

Jason: But yeah, a few of the things that were that we want to push out here as far as the ship is concerned, I don't know if this will ever get back to them, but but, Juan, uh, Raymond Bradley, Marcel Cloyd, uh, diva. Ruth.

Bri: All of.

Jason: You. There was there was so many folks that we had great conversations with that were from every walk of life, Indonesia, the Philippines. Uh, I mean, I mean, you name these these folks were from all over the place. And, um, you know, I remember one dinner that we had, uh, one of the gentleman Sally was from, he was the wine sommelier guy from Turkey, and he, you know, we were talking he grew up seven kilometers outside of Afyon, which is a city in southern central Turkey that, uh, outside of Ankara, that I actually went TDY when I was in the military for, like, two months, uh, just this sleepy little city that had, like, this five star resort on the end and a military base. And I camped on this military base for a couple, a couple of months, and he was talking about how so much has changed, like in Turkey. Now they they dig underground and they grow crops underground so that they can build sustainable crop systems. He was telling us, uh, you know, a lot about the wines that they had on the ship. I mean, we were drinking Pinot Grigio like it was our job, which he said was a good choice.

Bri: Yeah. Yeah, it was very good.

Jason: But it was wonderful to be able to, you know, to talk about, uh, wine with, you know, somebody who, you know, really knew his stuff on the ship. We took a mojito. Uh, course.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: One day. So learn how to make a good, you know, just nice old fashioned mojito. Yeah.

Bri: Um, a couple of other fun ones. Yeah.

Jason: Yeah. Um, and when then, you know, I think, uh.

Bri: We did the wine and chocolate pairing.

Jason: Uh, yeah, we did that as well. Uh, Krishna, who is our girl in, uh, at the Starbucks counter that who knew our order every single morning.

Bri: Oh, my gosh, she was so cute. So by, like, day three, she would I would come up and she would say, good morning. Cappuccino, almond. Perfect. Right.

Jason: Um, and then anytime we would go to, uh, um, Gatsby and we would get, uh, they would give us the little jar of, like, the mix. And you always ate the little orange peanut sticks out of.

Bri: Yeah, I love that.

Jason: You want everything else, right? Yeah. But. Yeah. But, um, this is. And we created this into a double long episode. We didn't think we would, but.

Bri: I told him he's like, we're going to wrap this up in an hour. And I laughed. I said, ha ha, I could talk for an hour. Well.

Jason: So here's how we're going to wrap this up with two things. One, you can follow us on social media. You can follow us on Instagram. You can follow us on Facebook. We do have the YouTube channel finally up and running with the first twenty episodes of the Buffalo Brews Podcast, including four episodes that are bonus that are in that, uh, in that seventy region, which was the first series of, uh, barely getting started, that's, uh, that was affectionately called Blissfully Belgian. So you can listen to those episodes separately or we put them together in one episode. Uh, previous to this, which was our season five finale, uh, and, uh, you can also watch, uh, I don't say once in a while we'll put some stuff out on TikTok, and we're just we're having fun with different things. And then, like I said, we're playing around with, um, going into YouTube and, uh, putting together some, uh, different series that relates to our travel, you know, not so much the drinking part of it and enjoying different beers from different countries as we do.

Bri: More of like the things that we have learned to provide some extra knowledge. Yeah. Because I feel like the biggest thing for me is, is I'm learning all of these things and I really want them to share. I really want to share with everybody what is happening, because it was hard for me to find these answers somewhere. Yeah. Yeah. So that's it.

Jason: Close this out with an actual quote that you said. You might not remember this, but I wrote it down in quotes as verbatim is something you said. All I know is I want to go to one to eight hundred billion more places, and cruising is the way to do it.

Bri: Yeah.

Jason: I'm Jason. She is Sabrina. And you have been listening to the Buffalo Brews Podcast podcast of the Caribbean on Stranger Things. So long.