Atlantis Celebrity Summit - Barbados

View of Bridgetown, Barbados from the cruise ship.

It's very industrial.

Me snorkeling in Carlisle Bay around some shipwrecks.

Sergeant Majors - Abudefduf saxatilis, which the tour guides feed, are abundant!

A very pretty Brain Coral growing on the shipwreck.

Safari through the Sugarcane Plantations. 

Andrew's Sugar Factory

You could smell the sweetness in the air.

Beautiful views of Bathsheba Beach on the Atlantic side of the island.

At Bathsheba Beach.

Driving through the hilly countryside of Barbados.

There are many luxury golf courses and residences around Barbados.

I wonder where Rihanna lives....

Atlantis Celebrity Summit - Grenada

A view of St. Georges, Grenada from the cruise ship.

St. Georges, Grenada

The water at the cruise port was very clear.  There was a lot of reef fish, crabs, and coral that can been seen  walking off the pier. I think that was a school of Creole Wrasse in the photo above.

Breadfruit - Artocarpus altilis, was abundant on the island as well as many other fruits, vegetables, and plants used for producing spices.

Grenada has lots of vegetation.

This farm we hiked through had a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, and other plants used by humans such as Mahogany trees for furniture.

The path to the Seven Sisters fall was very scenic.

It is a bit muddy and steep in some parts so wear shoes with good traction and that can get wet!

I spotted a few of these lizards - Anolis richardii.

Lots of Heliconia blooming along the way to the falls.

Seven Sisters Falls

The second waterfall below the first.

Take a dip!  You will feel so refreshed for the hike back.

Atlantis Celebrity Summit Cruise

I just got back from my vacation!

I took about 2 weeks off to travel to Florida to visit my parents, then flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico to go on the Atlantis Events cruise on the Celebrity Summit.  We sailed to Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Barth's.  It was my first time on a Atlantis Events cruise and I had such a wonderful time (though exhausted from all the parties)!

When I travel I am focused on the natural beauty of the location; so in the following post I will highlight some of the natural beauty of each island.

Flying to Puerto Rico... I think these are the Virgin Islands we were passing.

Celebrity Summit at port in Barbados

The ship has lots of sculptures, photography, and other artwork placed all around.

The dinning room on the ship.

Mario Cantone was the surprise performer.  He was great!

...and of course the parities!!  This one was Mardiglow.

Versace S/S 2012 Men's Swimwear

Versace Spring/Summer 2012 Swimwear is here!  

I just got my lycra rose print briefs.  The fit is wonderful and very comfortable as well as the overall excellent stitching and quality.  The US only got a few of each size so if you are looking for these contact your local Versace boutique soon!

Lycra rose print briefs

The Versace label is now gold instead of white.

The back of the swim briefs not seen during the runway fashion show.

Close up of the medusa on the back. 

Lycra rose print briefs

Another printed brief - available at select Versace boutiques. 

Printed square cut swimwear - available at select Versace boutiques.

Bluebonnets are Blooming

Bluebonnets - Lupinus texensis are blooming in my backyard garden.   A few years ago I bought a packet of bluebonnet seeds and planted them.  Only a few grew but each year more and more grow from the seeds of the parent plants.  This year there seems to be twice as many as last year and they are growing great with the rain we've had this spring in Houston.

Bluebonnet - Lupinus texensis , one of the five species of Bluebonnets native to Texas.

All of the native Texas species of Bluebonnet are considered the state flower.

Grey Hairstreak Butterfly - Strymon melinus, a few of these were feeding from the flowers.

Honeybee - Apis sp. was also seen feeding on the Bluebonnet nectar. 

If you live in Texas this is a must have plant for your yard!  It requires no care and provides your garden with beautiful spring time color.

My new Tomato Clownfish

I have a new fish for my Biocube!  Its a Tomato Clownfish - Amphiprion frenatus.  

I have been wanting a Tomato Clownfish for a while after seeing a very pretty mature specimen at a local fish store.  I didn't get one because I had the Potter's Angelfish that was the main display fish for that tank and I was afraid these two would be crowded.  Now that my poor Potter's has passed away I could finally get a new a Tomato Clown.  He is doing very well and has taken up to this Bubbletip Anemone overnight. 

Bye Bye Harry the Potter's Angelfish

Today is a sad day; my Potter's Angelfish has passed away.  When I came to feed him this morning he was hiding still under a rock, which is very unusual because he is always constantly moving.  I moved the rock away and he was still breathing but seemed very disoriented.  I couldn't find any injuries or ailments and the water quality of my tank is fine.  I can only assume that he has died of old age.  We have had him for 4 years and I've read that the average lifespan of wild Potter's Angels is only 6.  He was one of my favorite fish I've ever had.  I will miss you Harry...

Potter's Angelfish - Centropyge potteri

I never got a good photo of him.  He was always on the move.