pirates really do exist

Here we are in Punta Cana and I can’t tell if I am going through jet lag or detox from lack of strong adult beverages, aussies can drink… after I slept for the first 48hours barely leaving the hotel room just to fall asleep on the lounge chairs by the pool I was back to myself and ridiculously tan! It was a typical Greenwood vaca with a lot of laughs pool time and food! The week went by all too fast, but my dad and me got to go on a snorkelling trip where we also go to pet some stingrays and swim with nurf sharks! I could not believe the devastation of the reef that we snorkels on, I’m not sure if it was just me coming from the Great Barrier reef and being spoiled, but there was nothing alive out there except for the occasional fish, not worth the money ☹ We had a pretty wild ride back to land when the alcohol started flowing and people started dancing, my dad and I were both not in the mood and were tired me especially, my body was so angry with me and had revolted and wanted me only to sleep for the next week. A drink started to be passed around by the very wild staff from what I could see it was a bunch of brownish leaves shoved into and old iced tea jug with some form of alcohol poured over it…I was now feeling it and neither was my dad, but island locals, they can be very persuasive so we accepted our cups and with one sip id be surprised if my taste buds would ever forgive me it was horrible, tasted as good as it looked and my dad agreed, he tossed his over board, the crew was astonished, lets just say we were asked to participate in any of the festivities for the rest of the trip back to the dock. The water was so beautiful and as we floated back to shore I wished my life could stay one long vacation, I could get used to living out of a suitcase and dealing with crazy adventures and amazing memories! It was a much needed vacation before heading home and back up to Maine to begin senior year of college…what adventures to come…

Punta Cana photos

A week home, now off to the Dominican Republic!

Not even a week after being home from Australia we were jet setting as a family to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for a week for Amanda's Graduation trip! Man I had never been in so many airports or planes in my entire life, and on top of that going from one suitcase to another extremely jet lagged. I didn't know what day it was let a lone the time, but I was so excited to get some family time finally! We landed in the Dominican and it was all a blur, took a taxi to our hotel and could not believe the size of the place, we were staying at the new Palace Resort, affiliated with the Hard Rock Cafe, it was MASSIVE! All I wanted to do was sleep and for the next 24 hours all i did was lay out, eat, but mostly sleep.

back on the East Coast

Home sweet home...

After our wild time in Fiji we were al very ready to make the long trip back home, To tell you the truth I do not remember the flight from Fiji to LAX, I think I slept the entire 14 hours, no lie! It was so surreal that we were headed home after 6 long months away and all the experiences we had and crazy memories we made! I knew before I even left that one day I had to come back! Australia was unlike any place in the world and fulfilling a lifelong dream was truly a dream come true I was so lucky to get the experience I would give everything to live it all over again! As we landed in LAX, everyone had warned us of reverse culture shock well taking our taxi to the next gate where me and Steph's connecting flight was I think I was slapped in the face with it! People were rude and didn't have australian accents it was beautiful and tropical surroundings I wanted to get back o the plane and head back. Me and Steph had a dinner in the airport still in shock that we were back in the United States and called our parents to let them know in just a short time we would see them! Me and Steph said goodbye and before I knew it I was on my flight from LAX to JFK to see my family!!! It was the longest 5 hours of my LIFE! Finally touched down and I could not get to them fast enough! What a crazy feeling it was seeing them after such a long time! It was good to be home now where was my dunkin doughnuts and Panera!? :)

Beachchombers photos

Beachchombers Island Fiji

What can I possibly begin to say about beachchomber island, well it certainly lived up to its name as the party island! It is only about the size of two football fields with a drinking/eating hut, a bathroom/shower hut, a rec hut and a giant cabin where they stuff 200 drunk collage kids into. As this was our last island before heading back to the states we were exhausted and just ready to relax. Was not going to happen here on party central when it was always FIJI TIME! So lets get into our accommodations... there is this wide open hut with probably close to 100 bunk beds inside, thank god we were up on the second level where there were only about 10 bunk beds, it was loud and oh so hot and sticky. As soon as we got there it was happy hour where we came to find that you were able to buy beer towers at only 25$, these things were huge! We came to sit next to what seemed seasoned vets of these towers, one guy fell off the bench, it was probably 11AM. After soaking in the party scene we headed to the beach to tan the entire day long, then it was dinner time. Always wary of the food from our first island we found that it was a buffet and pretty damn good! After dinner everyone went back to shower and to get ready to party! The bathroom was like a freshman year dorm...disgusting! All I wanted to do was brush my teeth and two people were getting it on in the girls section in the shower, and they weren't wearing shoes EW. I am surprised I didn't die from some water born disease because who knows where it comes from! We headed out to the bar and had some drinks met some really fun guys, shared a beer tower and played come cards before heading to bed, couldn't believe that it was our second to last night in Fiji! The next morning we woke up had breakfast, people were already on their second beer tower, pretty sure they never went to bed, one girl passed out at the table while smoking a cigarette, classy British girl. We then explored the island a little more, went on the most hilarious banana boat ride ever just the three of us girls, our boat driver tried so hard to fling us off, didn't work we were just too strong! We snorkeled around a little and got lunch and tanned, pretty much living the dream as always. The night came around again and it was so sad our last night out island hopping, but we were so ready to get back and to take a real shower and eat Panera bagels and drink Dunkin Doughnuts coffee, I was craving it so bad! It was another wild night on the island and people were extra wild, we met up with our friends from the night before shared stories and our plans for the future! me and Steph decided to head in a little early because we were so tired and Steph had a little bit of a stomach ache, little did we know it was just the beginning of our night...The other Steph stayed out talking with a boy, heard and felt her come back later that night...as she climbed into the bunk above me spilling the entire beaches worth of sand all over my face and pillow... ver try and sleep covered in sand when you weren't laying on the beach? yea it doesn't happen! The other Steph s stomach was hurting bad and she kept getting up to go to the bathroom ended up cutting her toe as she was jumping over someone else's puke on the way back to the cabin, we freaked out for a little thinking she might die from gang green, but decided to just try and fall asleep anyway. As imagined we were up bright an early, but no one else was...hmm wonder why, we headed straight for the beach and realized the craziest thing as we waded in the crystal clear turquoise water that at that exact same time on the exact same day half way across the world we would be home.... such a wild feeling and with that we headed to the cabin packed up and said see ya never to the wild crazy island on our way back to Nadi!