As I was putting together the gallery for Bingo's January 10th show, I realized that in all the hubbub of the past couple months, I haven't posted any pics or written anything about my Caribbean adventure.
I was surprised at myself but then realized one salient fact: I had a great time and nothing really out of
the ordinary happened. Nothing, anyway, that anyone would reasonably be interested in - because I know (as we all do) just how dull it is to read about other people's vacations and see anyone else's vacation pictures.
But for friends and fans, here's the skinny: my friend Frazer and I took a 12 day vacation on a Noweigian Cruise Lines ship - one that sailed round trip to the eastern Caribbean, going to San Juan (where we made and ate - ugh- mofongo), St. Thomas (where we swam with dolphins), St. Maartens (where we took a round the island trip, stopping to admire an awesome wreck, eat at an amazing cafe and watch the planes land just feet above beachgoers - I didn't take this video, but I wish I had, holy crap), St. Lucia (where we sailed on a boat to the Pitons and then swam in a beautiful little bay and then had lunch with a fabulous family from Connecticut that we met), Barbados (where we went on a pretty awesome cave exploration) and finally Antigua where we went kayaking, mountain climbing, another swim in another bay and then I explored St. Johns). I mean, all of it is interesting to me, but I'm
not sure how interesting it would be to you.
Along the way we ate a lot (by day 10 I was ready to never eat again), drank a lot (I think my blood turned into Maker's Mark), met some gay couples from around the country at a nightly "Friends of Dorothy" meeting and I got seasick a couple times (these last two were not related - in fact one of the gay couples we met was kind enough to give me ginger tablets and Bonine pills). Whenever I'd tell straight folks that I officiate gay weddings, I felt like someone from another planet. I can't even imagine how they'd look at me if I told them all the exotic things I've done (porn, fundraising, bingo and so on) and yet most times in New York I feel as though I am not doing as much/as successful as everyone else here is so Im feeling like an alien no matter what I say).
I also made out (briefly) with a male stranger from Dallas, developed a crush on another stranger (a female, yes you read that right) and ran into singer Joe Conti (Bear City 1 and 2) who got on board in Barbados to perform in a show on board about the Four Seasons. I went to the spa four times, got hypnotized three, had my feet examined (I learned I am walking incorrectly which might be one of the contributing factors to a lower back problem) and yes even played Bingo a couple of times (mine is better but I am probably biased).
I walked into St. Thomas for postcards and discovered a bong shop, walked along the beach of St. Maartens eating gelato as it melted and, despite a recent diagnosis of the onset of asthma, I climbed a
virtually vertical hill on Bird Island off of Antigua (I should add here, I have been having breathing problems for some months, although during the trip, I was largely cough-free which makes sense- the ocean and island air was pretty clean).
I was sad to find out that the largest church in St. Johns (appropriately called, St. Johns) is in hideous disrepair (but is being worked on) and I realized that, for some reason, I would have no problem dropping out of my life and move to Antigua if I thought I could effectively spearhead the fundraising drive. I have no idea why, but I got off the boat in St. John's and felt as though I was home. That makes no sense but there you go. I found a cool original art shop amidst the tourist trap and a ceramics shop where I bought three beautiful starfish (one for me, and two for two friends). I also got to hold a real starfish for the first time in my life in the waters off of Antigua while kayaking.
I drew for the first time in about 30 years and took lots and lots of pictures - roughly 1200. (whoops). I also had pictures taken with a lizard and a gecko (San Juan), a dolphin (St. Thomas/Tortola), a monkey (Barbados) and a parrot (Antigua). I began to feel like Dr. Doolittle. :) Pics of these last four will be what I post because that might actually be interesting to see (especially since I continue my trend of having trouble keeping my eyes open when the picture is taken but I think you'll forgive me at least the dolphin pic - the salt water was burning the contacts in my eyes). :) I should say that these aren't the most flattering pics that were taken on the trip, but they are, I think, entertaining. :)
So, no "big" adventures although I did realize that I've defined myself as a gay man first and foremost for most of the past 25 years and I suddenly had this awful realization that maybe it was time to broaden that definition a little. I suppose that's pretty big (but I'm still processing it).
I was also incredibly impressed how good the Norweigian Cruise Lines staff was at customer service and was understandably all sad panda when a college friend announced nearly to the end of the cruise that
he could have gotten us a 'friends and family' rate. Boo hoo not booyah (that's an NCL bingo reference by the way). I do think 12 days is slightly too long to be on a ship although I did start to develop habits (like power walking around the ship to the music of Justin Utley and Todd Alsup which have been in heavy rotation on my iPod for months).
So there you have it. Enjoy. Discuss. Amen. :)
Recent Comments