We're back!

And we had a great time. With the end of the honeymoon we're officially done with wedding stuff. I'm told the marriage stuff continues.

Day One
Miami. Nice and warm. Our taxi ride was exciting. We noticed some damage from Katrina. Mostly missing letters from signs, nothing major. Hit a snag with our hotel room. Found out that the hotel was filled with Penn St fans for the Orange Bowl. (Last two items related.) Walked around downtown Miami. Found out the T'Wolves were in town. Swam in the hotel pool for almost three minutes (brrrrr). Played cards and went to bed.

Day Two
Walked to a bridge and got our first view of the cruise ships. Was overwhelmed by size. Checked out of hotel. Ate at BK. Checked in at the ship. Again, very very very big. Found our room. Met our room steward (very nice guy). Toured the ship. Had safety drill. Declared 'five-meal-a-day-plan'. Started plan. Watched ship pull out of port (very cool). Continued eating plan. Met the pasta bar chef (very nice). Noticed karaoke planned for that night. Sang two songs, 'Jump Jive and Wail' and 'Your Song'. Mentioned to the crowd we were on honeymoon and surprised wife. Went to pizza bar for midnight snack (which was a theme).

Day Three
Woke up at Nassau. Went on historical/Pirate tour. Saw Queen's Staircase (very cool). Saw Fort Fincastle. Learned about Pirates and their history with the Bahamas. Was reminded of this book. Went back to the ship and laid out and read and had a wonderful time. Went back out into Nassau to do some shopping. Back to the ship to eat. Played 'Majority rules trivia' (think Family Feud crossed with the Newlywed Game). Lost but had fun. (Favorite answer-Name something sticky. A stick!) Sang more karaoke (Fields of Gold). More pizza and then to bed.

Day Four
Woke up at Cococay (Royal Caribbean's private island, er, cay). Worst ship movement of the cruise (very minor). Took launch to cay. Snorkled. FP Gal returned to beach. I returned to beach. Both amazed that I snorkled longer than she did. She was disappointed in the fish and sealife, but I wasn't. Laid out and read. Ate lunch (she loved loved loved all of the fresh fruit). Spent time in a hammock. Bought a shirt. Returned to ship. Took hard nap. Laid out some more. More food. Skipped karaoke. Watched second half of Rose Bowl (most amazing college football game I've ever seen). Pizza and then to bed.

Day Five
Woke up en route to Key West. Breakfast. Watched ship pull in. Walked around. Went to Hemingway Home. A very nice house. Not a mansion, but a nice house. Envied veranda. Petted some of the 43 cats that live there (none starving for attention). Tried to decide if admission was worth it (probably not). Walked and shopped a bit. Ate at Wendy's. Shopped. Met fellow White Sox fan at an art gallery. Back to the ship. Watched ship leave port (missed sunset!). More food. Packed. Sang 'rock-a-roke' (karaoke with ship's band). Sang 'Message in a Bottle' and 'With or Without You'. Almost sang 'Hit Me with Your Best Shot' but tragedy averted. Chatted with band (they were from Toronto). Skipped pizza and went to bed.

Day Six
Woke up in Miami (much too early). Climbed 400 flights of steps to get to breakfast. Left ship. Got taxi to airport (where flight was leaving in a scant 8 hours). Got on standby list. Played cards. Ate lunch. Checked in at flight. Smoooothly dropped that it was our honeymoon. Got last two seats on the flight (exit row seats no less). Flew back to frozen hell (Minnesota).

Had a wonderful time.