The Sail Begins...

 It's here!  We are heading from Orlando to The Bahamas this morning!

After flying our first leg yesterday and visiting with my father and step-mother last night (and enjoying a fabulous dinner prepared by my sister in law!), we are rested and ready for our adventure!

Headed to the airport:

Tired of wearing as mask for the past two hours:

Having too much fun on the eve of our sail:

And we're off!  Next post we will be in The Bahamas!

We have boarded our boat!

Traveled to Rock Sound to go through customs, then flew 20 minutes to Staniel Cay to meet our Captain.  Here we go!

No masks on the private plane and aperol spritz's with fresh orange!  Now THAT is the way to start a vacation!

First stop to go through customs:

ROCK SOUND AIRPORT, BAHAMAS

Back in the air:

Landed in Staniel Cay!

Awaiting the golf cart taxi to come pick us up and take us to the marina to meet our Captain:

Saying goodbye to the plane Brock chartered:

We get to the marina and Benny took our luggage to the boat. Sharks (Nurse)  along the bottom in Staniel Cay harbor (while we are waiting for the Benny and the dinghy to pick us up):

We are FINALLY headed to the boat - SYNERGY awaits in the background:

Our home for the next 6 days:

We're on the boat - had a lovely nosh and are about to go to the Thunderbolt Grotto then swim with the pigs!  

Benny and Hannah are amazing!

Our cabin:

Shower complete with robes:

My command station to blog:

We boarded, changed and took the dinghy to Thunderball Grotto immediately after lunch.  Thunderball Grotto lies underneath the shallow Caribbean waters in the southern half of cays which trail the Exuma islands.
The Exuma Cays is made up of over 360 islands and cays in the south of the Bahamas archipelago.No pics because it was underwater snorkeling but we saw some of the most amazing fish ever: parrot, strawberry grouper, 

Inside the grotto looking up was incredible (images from Bahamas Air):

The grotto got it's name from the James Bond movie in 1963 called “Thunderball”. It appeared again in 1983 as a scene in the James Bond film “Never Say Never.” It was also in “Splash” with Tom Hanks and also “Into the Blue” with the Paul Walker and Jessica Alba.

We saw a huge loggerhead turtle and some incredible fish:

THEN we went and saw with the pigs on Pig Beach. How cute is this little pink baby pig:

Brock loved this sweet girl:

Hannah wanted a turn:

The adult pigs meeting us at the dinghy:

SO MUCH FUN!

Cocktail du jour: PAINKILLER naturally!  Made with freshly grated nutmeg of course:

Dinner at the Staniel Yacht Club (great food - fresh catch was Mahi and Brock enjoyed BBQ Ribs), and now back on the boat having a nightcap before turning in.  Star gazing... Life is good....

Good night from night 1...