The Link

Sorry but we couldn't edit the pics so some of them are of random people
https://picasaweb.google.com/Seeranch/BarbadosClubTrip2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJW5n-v4pbm7cg#

Coming Home

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011-

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2011

We left our hotel at around 12:00 to get to a 3:00 flight.

On the flight Mia and I were really bored so we read the whole time and took pictures. We landed in Miami at 6:00 and got to our hotel at 8:00. The hotel only had two beds so Mia and I shared. I guess I stole all the covers because Mia woke up very cold and unhappy. Also we had to wake up at 5:00 to make an 8:00 flight. We watched Monty Python And The Holy Grail (which Mia has never seen.) When we got back to San Francisco Kate and Dan drove me back home which is where I am putting this blog together.

-Evie

The True Story Of Finding Mia's Ring

(When The Awesome Evie's beauteous face framed by brown ringlets of shining hair reached the surface of the freezing and treacherous pool there were shouts of joy from everyone around. Cheers of happiness were echoed around the castle from the throngs of people that had gathered to watch the miraculous finding of the long lost ring. Mia was by the side of the pool was crying so hard her eyes were a crimson shade of red. All the ladies fainted as the Awesome Evie presented the treasured ring to Mia The Great on a red velvet cushion. And there was much rejoicing. Everybody partied all night and put Evie on a throne. They were so happy that they gave her all the jewels in the universe(by then they had found that mars had jewels too)and everyone was at peace with their mind and the world. Namaste. THE END)

 Mia didn't want anyone to know about the story so she said"HAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING!!! this is entirely fa-"

"No it is not and you know that very well tsk tsk" Evie interrupted rather rudely.

 Wink wink!!!!!! Nudge Nudge!!!!!!

Actually THE END

Our Last Day :(

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011
(The End:(!!!!!!)

Friday(It's Mia writing again)

Today we got up pretty early, finished up our packing and ate breakfast. Evie and I started to look up and down the beach again for my ring. Still no luck. We walked over to the pool and Evie found her lucky red rock(We'll explain later) sitting on the edge of the pool. She picked it up and went back to the beach. i looked into the pool and I saw a small little circle. At first I thought it was just a shadow. Then I figured out it was a ring. But I thought it was like an engagement ring because it looked like it had a diamond on it. i ran over to Evie and she crouched down to look.She stripped down to her bathing suit (which luckily she had on) and dove in to get it. There was a guy cleaning the pool while she jumped in, he looked at us like we were crazy. OMIGOD WE FOUND MY RING!!!! I WAS SO WORRIED THOUGH!! I thought that if I lost it, the next time I go back East the guy who makes the rings wouldn't be alive anymore and I wouldn't be able to get a new ring. Oh also, Evie kinda sorta wrapped her retainer in a paper napkin and forgot about so the waitress at breakfast took it and threw it away... woops!:) (there is a great and heroic and quite fictional story on the next post!!!!!! written by none other than the famous Evie herself!!!!)

-Mia

Volley Ball and Going Away Dinner

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011

Today we went to the beach and signed up for... THE BANANA! It's this giant banana shaped tube thing that you sit on and they have a rope attaching  it to the boat. The boat pulls you around on the banana. Evie and I were really hyped up, but it actually ended up sucking. It was really boring. 

Later we went into the pool, well Evie did first while I sat out and sunbathed for an hour as she played volley ball with a bunch of the "engineers" from work. I went and played with them. 1 thing I have learned from this game: I can serve but not hit the ball over the net in water volley ball. 

It's our last night and we went to Daphne's for dinner with the rest of the company to "celebrate" the last full day of the trip. We were outside mingling, and talking to a guy named Brent and his wife Anne when I felt my finger and my initial ring was gone!!!!!!!! Evie and I were digging in the sand flipping out. 

Evie, my dad, and I ordered this Endive, Pear, Walnut salad and my mom got a weird one with blue cheese. For dinner my mom and Evie got maple ravioli with brown sugar sauce. I got Mahi Mahi that had, mango/lime salsa, potatoes with capers on them, and steamed vegetables. My dad got these cutlery lamb things. 

For dessert everyone got a little plate with some weird ice cream in a waffle-y cup, Tiramisù, and pumpkin/chocolate chip pie. 

I left before dinner started and went to the front desk to find a flash light so I could look for my ring. It ended up taking way longer than I thought it would because they couldn't find a stupid light and a guy tried to help me look for it on the beach because I thought I dropped it there. No luck. 

Evie and I went back to our (uber cool) room and packed. Bedtime!

Miss you guys, we'll see you soon! 

Mia&Evie

THE SCAVENGER HUNT!!!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011

       Today we did a whole island scavenger  hunt!!! There was a sheet we had to fill out and around ten things we had to collect and put in a plastic bag. They never returned the sheets or I would have brought it in because it was really cool and had a lot of interesting facts!
       First we stayed at the hotel for a half an hour to collect various items: a women's tongue, an almond leaf, a Coca-Cola label, and a ton of other things but I forget their names. When we finally set out Dan, Kate, Mia, and I went into a four person car but we had a designated driver so we had to fit two kids and an adult in the backseat (we were very squished).
       The Island was fantastic and very cool. The beaches are so nice because the water is warm but still refreshing. Some of the history is very interesting, I especially liked a story about a guy who did a really cool prank*.
       We went out to dinner at a restaurant called Lone Star(it got the name because the building used to be a mechanic shop.) The food in my opinion was delicious but Kate didn't like her dish.

Almost all the women there had the Blackened Dolphin(Mahi Mahi) except for Mia who had Thai king coconut prawn curry over rice. Dan had a steak, I had the Mahi Mahi, (which included fried Mahi Mahi, mashed potatoes, and mango/lime salsa) and Kate had the Mahi Mahi as well.

After the dinner the adults ordered five desserts to share with the table but Mia and I had our own. Mia had a cinnamon spiced bread pudding and I had fried bananas with caramel sauce.

When came home it was really late so we are writing this on the morning of the 10th.

Hope you all are enjoying the weather(hahaha!!!)

         -Evie

* One night the towns people woke up to the town hall's bell ringing at around midnight. Everyone came out of their houses to see what was happening. Suddenly some people saw light swaying in the night, half the people were so scared they ran back to their houses. But the people who stayed to check it out found that someone had tied candles to crabs on the beach and then for the bell they found a cow with the rope tied around its neck so whenever it bent down to eat the bell  would ring.

Zipping On Lines!!!

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011

So, it's Mia here reporting about our day in Barbados, the wonderful, caribbean. island bordering Jamaica and South America. 

Today we went down to the beach(after breakfast, I've decided not to tell you in details what I ate) to go... TUBING!! We had to fall back in the tubes and hold on-for dear life! We went really fast and Evie and I kept bumping into each others' tubes. I also shot off the wave into mid-air. 

Later, we got into a weird bus thing and headed to Aerial Trek Center for zipping on lines!! We finally got our gear on-or put on for us... We walk down to the first platform and we're hooked onto the rope. Then the staff people hooked the first person onto the wire. They hold on-but not too tight or you get a gash in your glove and hand-and they're off! They're were 7 lines and 8 platforms. The highest one was 120 ft. off the ground!!!! Evie spit off of it to see how long the wad would stay intact, it turns out not very long lol. It was... creepy.

I can't believe it-we only have 2 more full days until we leave(not counting today of course) and head back to California back to school...*groan* just kidding!

Have a fun... rest-of-the-week!!

love, Mia (&Evie...)

P.S. Sorry I couldn't take any pictures because I forgot to bring my camera!!!

Brandon's Beach Clean-Up

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2011

     Today we had our community service day at Brandon's Beach.The company was split into four groups: rubbish collectors, paint, tree planters, and hole diggers. Mia and I were rubbish collectors. The rubbish collectors collected rubbish on the beach, the paint people painted a stairwell (light green) that led to the beach, the hole diggers dug holes to plant the trees in, and the tree planters planted trees in the holes that the hole diggers had dug.

     Most trash collectors gathered their trash in the shade but some other people and I picked up trash on the beach where it was scorching hot. Mia stayed in the shade and picked up trash in the bushes. Later when I was really hot and tired I came and picked up trash in the bushes with her.

     When we got there for the first hour or so everyone stayed at their job but sooner or later everyone was just doing something different Ex. Mia and I started as rubbish collectors but soon after became tree planters and then painters.

     While collecting rubbish one of our group members found panties and then found almost an entire outfit! hahaha

     Painting was a lot more fun than picking up trash even though it smelled really bad and got all over your clothes and skin. The paint color was really pretty and it was fun to use a roller and paint brush.

     Not wanting to repeat last night Kate and Dan went to a restaurant  and we ordered room service and watched T.V.

Hope you all learned something today!!!

     Evie

The Door Handle

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011

Today we went to the beach and snorkeled with the fish, but the sand was covered with coral so we were trying to find a clear sandy spot. Afterwards, we went into the pool for a while to cool off. We got out of the pool and got (VIRGIN) piña coladas at the bar. We finally went back to our room and Mia discovered she got the worst sun burn on her shoulders and back. Later, she was struggling with the door handle and it broke...kind of but we got it fixed. 

We had a dinner event on the deck thing by the beach. The dinner was good but it seemed like they were trying to diet us. We had the smallest portions, it was awful!!! But the dessert was yummy, apple crisp with vanilla (melting) ice cream!:)

 And now I'm writing this. 

Hope you have a good week

Mia

Our First Full Day

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2011
Today I woke up Mia at 8:45 so 4:45 in Barbados!!!! She was a grump for the rest of the day but we still had fun. 

Anyways pretty much all we really did today was explore the hotel and go down to the pool and beach. 

The beach is almost as warm as the climate so it's really nice to go in. But once you go about two feet into the water it all becomes coral!! So we have to watch where we step.

The pool is only a few degrees below the temperature so it doesn't cool you off much. But sometimes it's nicer in the pool than the ocean because you don't have to swim in coral or have sea water in your mouth!!

For dinner Fusion Storm had an opening night dinner which was like a giant buffet. There were about 55 people give or take. Everyone was chattering so loud you almost had to shout so people could hear you. Dan made us mingle so we met some pleasant people and some kind of pleasant people.

We came back to our hotel room really extraordinarily tired so I'm actually writing this on the sixth but it doesn't really matter.

Adios and have a great time back at home!!!

Evie

Flying from San Francisco, California To Miami, Florida

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2011
(The Beginning)

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!

We just got off the the plane in the Miami, Florida airport and got into the Admiral's room. Everyone is either chatting loudly or one their computer's. There is a sushi bar and little snacks near the entrance.

Guess what?! we have a 3 hour lay over!!!! Great right, well no it stinx... but... FREE FOOD! At least I think so...

When we were in the plane a Portuguese speaking man had a seizure in First-Class and we had to fly around in circles in the sky because the V.I.P. plane was landing. Here is a picture of the President Obama's V.I.P. plane.

The Presidents Plane

The President was in Miami to visit a school called Miami Central Senior High School to talk about  winning the future through education.

        The time here is 3:50 but it feels like 12:00 because of the time change. 

We are half way done with our second flight of the day from Miami to Barbados. We are watching She's the Man which is really funny but it's almost 10:00 here and we are getting pretty tired.

So See you tomorrow on........ THE BARBADOS BLOG!!!

Evie

A little Background

     Barbados is the eastern-most Caribbean island. It is located at 13.4N, 54.4W. The island, is less that one million years old, and was created by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates along with a volcanic eruption. Later coral formed, accumulating to about 300 feet. It is geologically unique, being actually two land masses that merged together over the years.
     The first indigenous people to inhabit Barbados were Amerindians from Venezuela who called themselves the Arawaks. Scientists believe they settled there about 1623 B.C.
     In 1200, the Arawaks were conquered by the Caribs. The Caribs were tall and strong. They were excellent bowmen and used poison in there bows to paralyze their target.
     Then the Portuguese took over. An explorer called Pedro a Campos named the island Los Barbados (The Beards)  because of the islands fig trees which had the appearance of beards.
     Spain then came to Barbados in 1492 but in search for larger islands, left. But while they were there, they enslaved the Caribs, and gave them small pox and tuberculosis which eventually killed them off.
     By the time English got there the island had very few inhabitants other than animals or plants which it had an abundance of. The English colonized in 1625 to 1644 and was led by Captain John Powell.
     In a few years they deforested the island and in their place made tobacco and cotton plantations.

Barbados

The Map Of Barbados