#solo caribbean travel

[ringsbeforebabies]

3 Carnival Destinations Perfect for Solo Travelers

Traveling alone is all about freedom  and independence – freedom from group decisions, arguments about sticking to strict (or lax) itineries and the independence to venture where ever you want and meet new people. So you’ve decided you want to play mas but none of your friends want to go (or can afford it right now) – you may just want to test the waters of a solo carnival experience. I promise…

[keers10]

Life lately 💅🏾

[allurahomeofbeauty]

[epicvoyageworld]

Welcome to Barbados, a Caribbean paradise known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and warm hospitality. Whether you are a sunseeker, a water sports enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of nature, Barbados beaches offer something for everyone. In this blog post, we will take you on a tour of some of the most stunning beaches in Barbados.

[shanicenessssssssss]

Travel Tales Pt. 1

This thing started because I wanted to impress a man, yall.

Mid-December 2022, a few days after my birthday, I started flirting with a guy I knew for a few years and found fairly attractive, but never gave any energy to, and the first conversation we had was the spark that lit the match. The following is a snippet of said conversation:

Him - “I’m going to St. Lucia in a few days.” Me - “Make sure and visit Gros Islet and Rodney Bay, the marina is beautiful on a clear moonlit night. You see all the lights from the stars and the boats reflecting on the water and hear the waves slapping against the pier. It’s so calm and serene….” Him - “Hmmm… you’ve been everywhere, I can’t carry you anywhere new!” Me, intrigued - “I haven’t even scratched the surface on places I wanna go, especially in the Caribbean.” Him - “Where do you want to go next?” Me, thinking nothing of what I was saying, cuz I had no intention of actually going anywhere - “Jamaica maybe? Or Barbados, as it’s quite close to home (Tobago).”

Fast forward 4 months, I have my plane ticket to Jamaica in hand and am about to book my Airbnb in Ocho Rios. I am in no way encouraging anyone to do it this way, it is quite inadvisable to travel with someone who you have no real ties with. If you take anything away from reading this, it is that IT LITERALLY TAKES ONE DECISION.

I said yes that day in December. He intoxicated me with the idea of it being just a series of steps to get to the goal. No limits, no hesitation. Logistics would come later. It always seems impossible before you do it, before you take the first leap.

The last time I traveled was 2016 to the aforementioned St. Lucia, with my mom and daughter, who was a toddler at that time. If I’m not mistaken, the decision to go was somewhat similar, with me doing the convincing. Our saving grace was that a close relative was working on the island at the time, so accommodations and transportation was covered (and so expenses were lessened, hallelujah!). Basically, I think I’m due for a couple-hours long plane trip to a new place.

I’m making it sound rather click-bait-y, aren’t I? I haven’t said one thing yet about where the money being spent was coming from, and DUN-DUN-DUNNNN, if Mr. Mysterious is still my plus-one.

Let’s touch on the first part first - the finances.

I currently have a savings account in a local credit union with about $25K in savings, which was one of my savings goals. I am currently permanently employed, bringing in $50K a year before taxes, BUT I was living paycheck to paycheck until last year October, where I made my first official business investment that is bringing in an extra $2K a month, for at least the next year or so. While I have used some of that money to pay off the loan used to make the investment, some of that money was used to fund this trip. I also made the decision to allocate some of my salary towards the trip as well, instead of eating too much into the investment returns. More on this later.

I had identified the PERFECT travel time. I pat myself on the back every time I think about how this played out. In T&T, there’s a public holiday on the 30th of May, and another one on the 8th of June in 2023. Recall that I am employed, and obviously that means I would want to exploit all public holidays (anytime a holiday fell on a Thursday, best believe I was coughing on the phone the Friday so I could be home for 4 whole days…cough cough). I also did some preliminary research on the island and I realized that the island was bigger than home (i.e. I couldn’t drive around the entire island in a day comfortably while sightseeing), so a short 3- or 4- day trip would leave me wanting, or extremely exhausted by trying to squeeze everything into such a short time. After conferring with Mr. Mysterious, I decided that a week-long stay was the sweet spot - enough time to explore some of the tourist-y things to do, while allowing for relaxation and regular life as well. Put those two together, and we get a full 7 days in Jamaica, a prep day before and a rest day after.

Things are falling into place so seamlessly! That only gave me further confirmation that this trip was supposed to happen. Nothing can stop me now! ……..*crickets*

Mr. Mysterious, who has been talking to me almost every single day since that fateful December day, suddenly ghosted me March-month end. No explanation, just radio silence. Granted, we had had a bit of a tiff concerning something unrelated right before the ghosting, but I don’t think it was serious enough to warrant THIS?! I wouldn’t know though, cuz he’s a ghost 👻. I can’t ask. I waited a few days, and sent a follow-up “Hope you are well” text, expecting a response at least, but I've been left on read till this day. I was shook, cuz the safety net I was banking on with this trip was that I wasn’t alone, so the burden of solo travel would be at least lessened. And he also was a seasoned traveler, the exact opposite to me, so that was another thing that made me breathe a bit easier. He knew the ins and outs of international travel and could guide me along. For the first few nights after accepting the disappointment of the absolute curry duck (Trini stale joke) I had just experienced, the trip loomed in front of me, again gigantic and seemingly impossible once again. All the insecurities I had silenced with a proud middle finger at the start of the journey came back up, cackling in my face: Can you even afford to go on this trip alone? How will you get around? You will be stuck in Jamaica for 7 whole days…what were you even thinking? Are you even still considering going, after this shake-up? The nasty chatter got louder in my head. I admit, I looked up whether I could get a full refund of my ticket (no), and if I could ask somebody, anybody to take Mr. Mysterious’ place (also no, that’s unreasonable).

So, I pulled up my big girl panties and made the big girl decision to do my first solo trip to Jamaica in June 2023. I mean, it would have happened eventually - I had put traveling on my vision board, BUT I didn’t expect God to drop me into the deep end like this?!! Damn!

On a more serious note, what I won’t do is question how things are playing out. I have learned long ago that even if things don’t work out exactly how I planned it to, things always work out in the end. Maybe I would be so caught up in building my future career that I won’t have time to travel as much as I like. Maybe this is exactly what I need to build some more confidence in myself and my abilities. Maybe this is what I need to clear out the fuzz in my head - time away from everything, in a hammock, spending much-needed alone time. It will be revealed to me why this happened when it happened, how it happened, in due time. I’m not even stressed or pressed. Also, I am on the last leg of my degree, and having put blood, sweat and tears into the last couple years, I convinced myself that I needed to reward myself for sticking with it and completing it. While an international trip was not on my list of things I thought up of for the celebration (it was more along the lines of a celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant with a few glasses of wine), I sold myself on the idea, as I was intoxicated by Mr. Mysterious’ siren song. I deserve!

Let me touch on some of the things I had the good fortune of having and utilizing in this prep time, leading up to the actual flight dates. Remember, planning had started a whole 6 months before, so I had allotted time for procrastination and plan changes. We’ll discuss Google Flights, using a calendar in a specific way, and what I plan to do.

I’m on a tight budget, and so my main issue was allocating my limited resources in the best way possible to be able to cover every essential. Before the ghosting situation, my main expenses were the plane tickets, and spending money (Mr. Mysterious gallantly offered to handle the accommodation costs). Google Flights had come in CLUTCH! The site has a calendar to see when the cheapest flights were, compared by dates, as well as the option to track flights’ price changes. AS I had already outlined the PERFECT travel dates, I just scrolled down to the dates, and lo and behold, the prices I saw were among the cheapest for the month. I had used the price tracking  option, as I started accumulating funds for the purchase of the ticket. Things were chugging along well! No reason why something would go off-kilter, right? Right??

I remember vividly waking up one morning and seeing that the price of the ticket had become a few hundred dollars more expensive.

My heart dropped. I hadn’t gotten all the money at that time, and it was honestly discouraging to have to stretch my already-stretched budget to accommodate this extra expenditure. Nevertheless, she persisted. I had accumulated my $4k in cash, ready to buy tickets by early February. Sis was READY and DETERMINED. I had listened to a podcast that celebrated doing the Thing that involved one taking a giant step with no going backsies. That Thing for me was spending $4k on a trip. It seems silly and trivial now, but my heart was set on doing the Thing. My dreams were consumed by the fantasy excursions Mr. Mysterious and I were going to experience on this beautiful island. Then another confirmation that I was supposed to go on this trip - the airline I was planning to go with had a Valentine’s day sale:

This was it, yall. I was going to Jamaica. This was the sign from God I needed. And I didn’t even see it, it was Mr. Mysterious who sent me a screenshot from his IG feed. My heart sang for that entire week. I was going to Jamaica! I did the Thing, and bought my tickets on Valentine’s Day!

Going on in the background of all this was my 12-week planning on Notion. I had counted 12 weeks into the future from the week I decided to go in mid-December, and created a calendar with a task to complete for each week. These tasks included making a list of locations to visit when we got there, making lists of things to pack, things that I need to have organized before and during the trip, etc. This gave me the time I required to do any future-based thinking, grouped neatly into manageable segments so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed when I sat and thought about things. I chose Notion simply because I had previous experience using the calendar when I was planning out semester tasks and due dates, and I had always found it to be very easy to use. Plus, you could decorate it. I had embraced my full “speak it into existence” self, and put up pictures and affirmations - a virtual vision board, if you will. Also, this 12-week spread would give me a couple ‘free’ weeks before the actual trip, instead of being exact with the timing. Maybe God knew what He was guiding me to do, cuz with this change in the plan, I would need some extra time to sort stuff out.

To be honest, I still don’t believe that Mr. Mysterious ghosted me. I keep oscillating between the reasoning that he probably has something major going on in his life and needs some time to himself, and the Bad Bitch alter-ego, looking down at him with a upturned nose, lumping him with all the other fuckboys I had the unfortunate luck of meeting and interacting with. The insecure baby girl inside of me has so many questions, mainly if I had done something wrong, but if I am to take my mental health and self-confidence journey seriously, I have to be okay with whatever happens around me, regardless of whether it is positive or negative in my perception. When I start overthinking about it, I stop and visualize myself being a boat in the middle of a vast ocean, in a thunderous storm. Waves as tall as houses are rocking me side to side, up and down, but I still stay afloat, above the waves. I stay confident that this storm will end, and I will complete the journey I planned to, in one piece. I am confident in God’s plan; when thing don’t go my way I stress a lil bit, then release my hold on the outcome I wanted, knowing better will come.

We have reached the point where we discuss the now. Yes, I lied about not being stressed or pressed. I am very much stressing and pressing. I now face some nail-biting, belly-hurting decisions. Best believe that I am not making light of the situation. I know it is so much more dangerous to be a female solo traveler. The decisions I choose to make have unknown consequences and repercussions that I have no clue is in my future. The travel blogs I’ve read seem to gloss over this fact, varnishing it with pretty titles such as “Do’s and Don’ts To Keep You Safe”, maybe because it is an ugly truth that danger is lurking no matter where you go.

Maybe I really do need the time away from the usual routine to view my life through fresh, new eyes. Maybe this really is the Thing I need to start off the rest of my life with. God knows I’ve been feeling hamster-wheel-y for the past few months. Maybe this will be the worst thing I will have ever done, a complete waste of money and time. Regardless of what the outcome is, if I am to experience it, I will. Being adaptable to change, instead of resistant to it may very well be the lesson I have to learn from this experience.

As of now, the most immediate pivot I have to make is that I have to tack on a few extra hundred US to cover Airbnb accommodations for the entire week, as well as more spending money as I have no ‘safety net’ in Mr. Mysterious anymore, per se. As I type this, I remember a quote I saw recently:

And with that, I bid you adieu. I will post an update when I get closer to The Date. Thanks for sticking with my dramatic ass till the end. I would LOVE to hear any tips for beginner solo traveling, and comment with more places that I can visit in Jamaica. I appreciate your love and support!

Kisses,

S.

[cocothemuse]

Craving a tropical place! Water! Stillness!

[leisureseeker]

(via Virgin Voyages Caribbean: Best Adults-Only, All-Inclusive 2024 Cruise Itineraries)

Are you dreaming of an all-inclusive vacation that combines luxury, relaxation, and stunning Caribbean destinations? Check out this post featuring 2024 cruise itineraries for an exclusively adults-only experience, perfect for solo travelers, couples, and friends getaways.

[travelaround83]

🍹 Caribbean Travel Guide: Unlocking Hidden Treasures and Local Secrets#s...

[guppygiggles]

Hidden Depths

What: Exposition with a dash of hurt/comfort.

Word count: ~3k

Universe: Sea & Sky AU

Who: Avery, Casper, Finnegan

Description: Finnegan finally opens up about where he's from. There is a lot of crying, cuddling, and emotional tenderness in this. Brief mention of illness. No tickling, sorry, but I will probably follow this up with some tickling in the near future.

I knocked gently on the bathroom door. 

“Finn, are you in there?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Can I come in?” 

“Why?” 

“Because I have to pee, and we only have one bathroom, dude.” 

“...Okay, fine.” 

I opened the bathroom door. Finnegan was in the bathtub, anchor-print curtain drawn closed. Beyond the curtain, an open springline window filled the tiny room with morning sunlight and fresh air that carried the promise of fall. It was still too warm for Finnegan to swim in the ocean, so a cool, daily bath was necessary to keep his scales moistened and gills healthy. I was used to hearing him splashing and enjoying himself, but today he was quiet. Only the curtain separated us as I sat down on the toilet seat. 

The faucet dripped.

My toes flexed against the bath mat. 

A seagull squawked as it passed the window. 

I sighed, craning my arm to turn the sink on and drown out the silence. Finally, relief. I finished up quickly, not wanting to invade Finn's privacy any further, but a small voice stopped me as my hand touched the doorknob. 

“Casper?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you stay with me…?” 

I paused. Turning around, I could barely make out Finn's silhouette through the thin curtain; he was sitting with his arms and tail wrapped around his legs, head lowered to his knees.

“Yeah, I can stay... Are you alright?” 

I lowered the wooden toilet lid and sat down on it. Finn took a while to answer. 

“I dunno.” His voice carried an uncharacteristic distance. 

“Do you want to talk about it…?” 

“I don't know right now.”

“Ah… Well, that's okay, you don't have to. Do you want me to just chill in here? It's my day off, so I can stay as long as you want.” 

“Yeah. I just don't wanna be alone.”

At least this was normal. Contrary to Avery and I, Finnegan didn't even like to do solo activities by himself; everything for him was improved with company… Apparently, even bathing. I had a feeling that he did want to talk about what was bothering him, but I wasn't going to push. I pulled out my phone. Quietly enjoying someone's company was normally a non-issue for me, but, well… it was a bit different in the bathroom. 

“Do you want me to put some music on?” 

“Yeah. Can you play that one song I like?”

I opened my music app. Finnegan's playlist was pinned to the top of my feed – I played the first song, then opened Pokemon Go. 

As Caribbean Blue by Enya filled the tiny bathroom, I heard water sloshing as Finn readjusted, laying back in the tub and resting his head on the sloped side. He was quiet. Swirling a pokeball in a circle with my finger, I tried in vain to catch a Shelder. 

“Are there video games where you're from, Finn?” 

“Not really. We had games but not electronic stuff.” 

“What did you do for fun?” 

He was quiet again, for a long time. I wondered if he'd heard me. I looked over at his silhouette again; still and somber, head tilted down. I could've sworn I heard a wet sniff, but I wasn't certain. 

“Finny…?”

“I didn't have a lot of fun there.” 

I winced. In my effort to make smalltalk, I'd forgotten that Finn usually avoided talking about his life before he met us. 

“Oh… I'm sorry.” 

“It's okay.” 

The next song on Finn's list played – Pacific Ave by Pearl and the Oysters. The breezy, poppy track contrasted harshly with the tone of our conversation… or lack thereof. I tried to focus on catching Pokemon. I wished Finn would just talk to me; what was he so worried about? 

An answer came sooner than I expected. 

“I lied to you.”

“What…?”

“I lied to you and Avery about what really happened. When you found me, I told you that I was traveling and I got lost during that hurricane… that’s kinda true… but it's not the whole truth.” He exhaled deeply. Water moved in the tub as he shifted again, his tail peeking through the curtain as he turned away from me. 

I waited with bated breath for him to go on. 

Finn had been living with us for six months. When he’d washed up on the rocky shore of Avery's lighthouse, he was in bad shape; cuts and bruises all over, barely conscious, and sick with an illness Avery had called “septicemia.” He'd made a cloud bed for Finn right next to ours, tending to him around the clock for over a week before he finally came to. At first, he was shy and exceedingly polite… but as he grew more comfortable and we grew closer, an inquisitive and playful side emerged. He said he didn't have anywhere to return to, so we said he could stay as long as he liked; we set up the spare bedroom for him. He spent most of his time diving for treasure and catching fish, and I had to admit… between mine and Avery's busy schedules, the extra income and fresh seafood were both more than welcome in our home. I could concede to being a little naïve at times, but dishonesty was not something I expected from someone like Finn. 

He continued, “I'm from Merrobridge.” 

My eyebrows raised in recognition. I didn't know a lot about merfolk – they were not a populous race, and what was known about them tended to be shrouded in mystery given that the majority of their civilization existed deep underwater – but Merrobridge was a vast coastal hub, partially on land and partially beneath the sea, where nearly all merfolk trade took place. I hadn't considered it before, but it made sense that rainbow trout like Finn would make their home there, considering they were an amphidromous* species. 

“I didn't tell you ‘cause I was afraid you would make me go back.” 

My brows furrowed. 

“I mean… why would we make you go back? You're an adult, you can decide if you want to live there or not.” 

Another deep sigh from the other side of the curtain, followed by more silence. I paused the music. 

“Finnegan… listen. I'm not mad that you lied to me, okay? Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Like… I'm not forcing you to tell me, but if you're going to tell me… I need you to tell me everything.” 

A tiny whimper from the other side of the curtain wrenched my heart; he was definitely starting to cry. I was tempted to pull it back, but my respect for his privacy stayed my hand… and in this state, I wasn't sure how he'd react. I'd never seen him like this before.

He spoke so quietly, then, I strained to hear him. “The two empresses who live in Merrobridge and rule over the entire merfolk kingdom… They're my moms.” 

My heart skipped a beat. Stunlocked on the toilet lid, my fingers rose to my lips as realization crept through my veins like frost. 

“Finn…”

“I couldn't live that life, Casper!” He cried, his small voice reedy and choked, “I knew the hurricane was coming… I planned for weeks. I left a note saying for them not to look for me, that I'd come back one day, you know? I didn't want them to think I died or anything… I just wanted the hurricane to make it hard for them to follow me… but I timed it wrong, and got caught in it. I thought I was going to die!” 

Then, he really cried; Finnegan cried like someone who'd been waiting months to cry, like someone who'd forgotten how. 

I couldn't stand it any longer. The curtain rod screeched as I pushed the fabric back. As he cried into his hands, I put my arms around Finnegan's trembling, wet shoulders. 

“Oh, god… Finny…” God dammit, I was starting to cry, too. I did my best to keep my voice steady so he wouldn't hear. “Finn, honey, it'll be okay. We'll figure this out, okay?” 

“I miss my moms - choke - and my s-sister! Wh- what if they think I'm d-dead?!” 

I couldn't refute this concern; it was a real possibility, given how long he'd been gone. I didn't know his family or the dynamics of normal relationships among merfolk, though, so I couldn't say. Any human mother would be worried to bits… well. Not mine, but I wasn't going down that road right then. 

“Can we call them? Or send them a letter or something, just so they know you're okay?” I offered, rubbing his back. 

“I can't be e-emperor! I can't sit there and study and work and read and talk to people all day like they want me to, I'm just… I can't!” He wailed, deep sobs echoing off the white and blue tiled walls. 

“Shhh, shhh…” He was too hysterical to listen to me; I would have to wait until he calmed down. I had no idea how we would even get in touch with his family – I was aware of the existence of land-sea communication stations, but I had no idea how they worked, or even where to find one. 

There was a soft knock on the door. 

“Casper? Finnegan? Is everything okay in there…?” Avery’s gentle, concerned voice asked from the other side.

I wanted to shout back “no!”, but I figured that would only freak Finn out more. 

“Can Avery come in?” I whispered, tucking a few strands of wet hair behind his finned ear. 

“I-I guess…”

“Come in!” 

Even with the window open, I hadn't realized how stuffy the bathroom had become until Avery opened the door – the cool draft on my face, much like his presence, was a massive relief. 

“Oh, goodness… what's going on in here?” Avery asked, standing over me as I knelt at the side of the tub, arms still around Finn... who turned away from Avery, hiding his face. The lighthouse bathroom was definitely not built to be occupied by three people at once; I couldn't blame Finn for feeling crowded and self conscious. 

“Um, well… Actually, Avery, why don't you and I talk in the living room? Finny, do you want to meet us there when you're ready?”

He nodded, sniffling. I kissed the top of his head, then closed the curtain.

+++

“He's… a prince?” 

Avery sat on the edge of his reading chair, leaning forward with his elbows braced on his knees, fingers laced together. His brow creased as he chewed his lip with his delicate teeth, something he typically did when working on complex research. 

I flopped onto the oversized sectional, propping my bare feet on the armrest. My back hurt from leaning over the tub. “Yeah, basically. He said his moms are the two empresses of the merfolk kingdom. He has a sister, too.”

“Why did he leave…?” 

“He didn't really say. He pretty much just said he couldn't live that life, and like… I mean, you've met him. Can you imagine Finn as an emperor? I can't really blame him, either, that sounds exhausting.”  

Avery sighed and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. In that moment, his posture and contemplative expression were reminiscent of the way I imagined Atticus Finch. It was a long while until he spoke again. 

“What does he want to do?” 

I sighed, lifting my hands in a shrug. “I don't know. He says he misses them, but he doesn't want to go back. I think he's mostly just worried they think he's dead.” 

The sound of Finn's heavy tail thumping down the stairs brought our conversation to a halt. He appeared on the landing wearing black gym shorts and my favorite navy t-shirt, which featured a great white shark biting a surfboard made of binary data in half, underlined by jagged font proudly summarizing the scene: “Mega Byte.” His eyes were puffy from crying, and his cheeks and fins were flushed a deep green. I normally would have teased him for stealing my clothes, but I decided to save it. 

“Awww, Finny… come here.” I patted my chest. 

Finn sauntered over and collapsed onto me, nuzzling under my chin as his wet hair seeped into the collar of my shirt. Though he was shorter than me by a couple of inches, Finn was heavier, mostly due to his thick tail which spilled over the edge of the couch. The pressure of his warm body against mine was pleasant. I rubbed his back as he turned his head to face the couch. It seemed that he still didn't want to look at Avery – perhaps he was still embarrassed. 

“Finny… why don't you want to go back home? Are you not allowed to say you don't want to be emperor one day?” 

He shifted uncomfortably and sniffled. I was worried he would start crying again, but thankfully he kept it together. 

“My moms raised me to be prepared for this… I'm the oldest, so I'm supposed to inherit the throne, but that life isn't for me. Luney would be much better at it… she's serious and smart and she even likes studying and meeting with all those stuffy ambassadors and going to events and stuff. I just want to swim and fish and look for treasure! And I want cuddles, too,” his arms tightened around me, hands clutching my shirt, “merfolk don't cuddle… touching is frowned on, especially in public.” 

I stroked my fingers through his wet hair, listening. Avery listened, too, watching quietly behind his folded hands. I guessed he could relate to this, in a sense; cloud people did cuddle, but it wasn't like human touch, which he obviously enjoyed. 

Finnegan didn't say it, but we all knew there was another reason; we were close. As he rested against my body and we discussed the prospect of him going back home, my stomach was tying in knots – that was the last thing I wanted, but ultimately, I couldn't allow myself to be motivated by self-interest. If I could truly say I loved him, I had to do what was best for him. My throat tightened as I wondered if this might be the last time I cuddled on the couch with him – I quickly compartmentalized that thought. 

“Did you tell your parents you felt this way, Finn?” Avery asked. 

“I tried… but when I did, they just dismissed it or acted like I was being ridiculous. I know they love me, but I don't think they knew how serious I was about not being emperor… it's supposed to be my duty, but… I should be able to choose how I live, it's my life! I didn't ask to be born royalty…” 

A thought occurred to me, then, that made my stomach drop. My chest felt tight; I was almost afraid to ask the question.  

“I know you said you left a note, but… do you think your parents would try to bring you back? A prince disappearing is something I would expect to see in the news, or whatever… I mean, are Avery and I in danger…?” 

I glanced at Avery, and the look on his face told me he was already considering this. Finn finally turned to meet Avery's gaze.

“Merfolk are secretive, especially the higher classes… the last thing they would want to do is alarm anyone, or show incompetence by telling the world their prince is missing, even if it makes it harder to find me. The citizens probably just think I'm away on business, meeting with dignitaries and establishing relationships with other countries or something… I did have to do that, sometimes… but Jelly and Mina probably sent a private search party for me.” 

Incompetence. Dignitaries. Establishing. These were not words that Finn used in normal conversation, and I blushed a little at my surprise that he knew them. I’d never believed him to be stupid, but he'd clearly had a more advanced education than he let on. It also struck me to hear the illustrious empresses Nigella and Wilhelmina referred to as “Jelly and Mina,” but I supposed if you had two moms, it would be important to differentiate them somehow. 

What a revealing few hours it had been; I was starting to feel overwhelmed, and as he opened his mouth in a sharp, toothy yawn, I could tell that Finn was, too. He must have been exhausted from all that crying. 

Avery was not the reactive type; his method of working through problems, no matter how pressing or emotional for those around him, was to absorb information and ask questions when appropriate. He was great at comforting, too, but Finn seemed more receptive to that from me at the moment. I surmised he was afraid of disappointing Avery; not that Avery had ever shown disappointment in him. I wondered if this spoke to Finn's upbringing, too. 

As the elemental spoke again, I knew that the information-gathering phase of his process had reached its conclusion. 

“I think we should send a letter to your parents, Finn… Just so they know you're alright. It may help if I write one, too, so they can be reassured that you're in the care of a doctor. I have some research to finish today, but I can help you with it tomorrow. Besides, I want you to rest after that confession.” He stood up, walking over to where the two of us laid together on the couch and kneeling beside us. His cool, soft hand cupped Finn's warm cheek, his thumb rubbing gently along his scales. “That was very brave of you, Finnegan, thank you for telling us. I know it's hard, but we'll get through this together, okay? I'm so proud of you.” 

Finn's lips warbled, his hand raising to hide his fresh tears. Avery smiled gently, leaning down to place a tender kiss on my lips. 

“I have to get back to my research, now… will you two be alright?” 

“We'll be just peachy. I'll make sure he takes a nap… I think we both need one, honestly.” 

The tall elemental straightened, then, taking a blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over us. As he started up the stairs, I called after him – quietly, as I could already feel Finn's breath falling into a sleepy rhythm, “Don't work yourself to death, cloudman… there are people who love you, y’know.” 

His bashful chuckle echoed down the stairwell, and I drifted off slowly to the memory of his laugh. 

+++

*An amphidromous fish is a type of diadromous fish which migrates between fresh and saltwater.  Unlike anadromous and catadromous fish, which migrate explicitly for the purposes of breeding, amphidromous fish migrate for other purposes. Source

[ringsbeforebabies]

Where I Ate, Played and Stayed for Carnival in Bermuda 2023

Pink sand, pristine blue water and warm people, Bermuda is in my top 3 islands to visit – both for vacation and carnival. The fun I had this trip reminded me of the transcendent experience I had in 2017 when I first fell in love with the island. Carnival in Bermuda occurred over the Juneteenth holiday weekend; I cannot think of a better way to spend Freedom Day. I arrived on the 21 sq mile island…

[allwaswell16]

One Direction fics that take place on a cruise ship as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

—Harry/Louis—

⊹ I Was Made for Loving You by LHStylinson

(M, 127k, kid fic) Harry is on a cruise with his son, and meets a blue eyed man who happens to be a famous voice actor and singer for children’s animated movies.

⊹ You Make Lovin' Fun by @homosociallyyours

(E, 109k, girl direction) Harry is a 28 year old travel writer at a gay magazine who gets the assignment to go a lesbian cruise. 

⊹ It's a Better Place (Since You Came Along) by @phdmama

(E, 51k, magical au) When Harry Styles, a mid-level talent, Finder, and small business owner, sets off on the vacation of a lifetime with his best friend, Niall Horan, he has no idea the changes his life will undergo over the next nine days. 

⊹ Sail away with me by Star_Henderson / @tommosgun

(E, 47k, fake/pretend relationship) Louis and Harry are part of the entertainment team on board a luxury cruise liner. They hate sharing their four berth cabin with two other guys and would do anything to get a cabin of their own.

⊹ Drifting, Weightless by @dinosaursmate

(E, 41k, canon) Harry and Louis are exes with benefits until they're not, and the Mediterranean Sea might just be the perfect place to work through some unresolved issues.

⊹ Found My Hallelujah by crimsontheory / @ireallysawanangel

(E, 34k, hurt/comfort) Newly single, with the cruise tickets in hand, and his bags already packed, Harry brings along his sister instead. And maybe the cute bartender on the ship might just be the person Harry needs to help him put back together all of his broken pieces.

⊹ Whatever Floats Your Boat by larryftnoctrl / @the-larry-way

(NR, 24k, fake/pretend relationship) When Harry's mother convinces him to attend his ex's wedding, he must enlist support in the form of his handsome and charming best friend, flatmate and convincing fake boyfriend, Louis. 

⊹ It's You or No One by @softfonds

(E, 20k, movie adaptation) When Zayn suspects that his husband is being unfaithful, he sends Harry, a club singer, in his place on a cruise ship. 

⊹ Angel of Small Death and the Murder Scene by @lousmoonshine

(E, 20k, historical) So, naturally, it can only be the worst thing that could have happened to Louis when he gets stuck with Detective Styles trying to solve a murder during his supposed to be relaxing vacation over the seas.

⊹ Sail Your Sea, Meet Your Storm by kiwikero / @icanhazzalou

(E, 15k, strangers to lovers) The strangers to enemies to friends to pining to lovers fic where Louis is cynical, Harry is charming, and they have seven days to get their shit together.

⊹ play it back, spinning faster by  orphan_account

(E, 15k, vacation) All Louis expects from his Caribbean cruise is many frozen alcoholic drinks and an even tan. 

⊹ What Happens Next by @lululawrence

(NR, 5k, friends to lovers) a fic where Harry has to pick up the pieces and ends up on the couples cruise that should have been his honeymoon...with his best friend Louis.

—Rare Pairs—

⊹ Gay Cruise by Alice_Novelland

(E, 12k, Louis/Harry/Zayn/Liam) Harry and Louis go on a gay cruise where they have lots of; wonderful romantic moments, passionate sex and cute titanic references. They also run into Liam and Zayn.

⊹ Solo Holiday by orphan_account 

(T, 10k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw) Louis goes on a singles' cruise. He meets Nick.

[shanicenessssssssss]

Travel Tales Pt. 2

Please read Travel Tales Pt. 1, if you haven't already been introduced to my shenanigans:

Now, let's continue.

I’ve always believed that I wasn’t confident enough and didn’t have the ability to do this Thing. I somehow felt as though I was lacking the special something that was absolutely necessary to plan and execute a trip that Travelers(TM) had, and I didn’t.

That’s bullshit.

The only difference between them and me, is that they did it, and I’m being a lil bitch about it.

What I’m also growing to understand is that confidence, for me, is NOT strolling into the airport, designer shades on, Louis Vuitton Carryall perched atop my suitcase, strutting into the departure lounge 5 minutes before the plane door shuts, and demanding noisily to be let on the flight and feeling 1000% sure that I will arrive in Jamaica a short while later. It might be for somebody else, though. Do you, sis.

Confidence to me, looks like having a structure, strategy and a plan. I thrive when I have a timeline, and allotted time for ‘what if’ situations. I want to cover all my bases. (Guess what my Myers-Briggs is, lol)

I have the option to fly to Piarco International Airport in Trinidad literally immediately before the JA flight - landing in Piarco at 7:30 AM, disembarking, and probably running like a bat out of hell to the international departure gate (which I have no idea where that is yet, btw), cuz the JA flight boarding time begins at 7:00 AM.

Just know that I have woken up with cold sweats, thinking about that horrid scenario.

I’ve learned quite unpleasantly over the years that when you are in rush, things that can go wrong will most definitely go wrong (Murphy's Law?). Your clothes are all wrinkly cuz you can't find an iron. Your driver arrives 20 minutes later than expected. All the traffic lights you meet are on red. You get stuck behind the slowest driver on planet earth. Everybody in front of you walks SO SLOWLY.

I’ve learned that I do not thrive in chaos. I very much prefer to structure my schedule so that I am sitting comfortably in the departure lounge long before my flight is announced, calmly reading a book and sipping on some coffee, or eavesdropping on my fellow travelers’ conversations, or typing up the next installation of Travel Tales, or all of the above. The aforementioned ‘bat out of hell’ scenario may very well happen, but that is confined to Plan Z, to be utilized well after Plans A to Y have been exhausted.

Or, I can say Fuck It, and push myself out of my comfort zone of plans and structure, implement Plan Z and trust that God would allow for everything to run smoothly.

*cue Jeopardy timer music*

Decisions, decisions.

Kisses,

S.

[the-outer-topic]

1927 Savoia-Marchetti SM 55 'Santa Maria' - Shigeo Koike

The head of the Italian government Benito Mussolini suggested that the colonel of the Regia Aeronautica Francesco de Pinedo, famous aviator for his solo raid Rome-Australia-Tokyo-Rome in 1925, made a flight to the Western hemisphere to inspire pride in the population of Italian descent who had emigrated to the Americas. This idea became the "Four Continents" flight of 1927, intended to demonstrate the ability of a flying boat to fly from Italy to Africa and cross the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil followed by several stops in South America and the Caribbean, a tour of the United States and Canada, and a transatlantic flight back to Europe that finally ended in Rome. Pinedo's pilots, Captain Carlo Del Prete, and flight engineer Vitale Zacchetti took off on February 13, 1927 from Cagliari, Sardinia, in an S.55 and headed west across the South Atlantic. Four months later, on June 16, 1927, the seaplane landed in the port of Ostia having traveled 46960 km (29180 miles) in 193 hours of flight and made more than 50 stops.

On 20 June 1928 Savoia-Marchetti S.55 I-SAAT Santa Maria, piloted by Ten. Col. Umberto Maddalena of the Italian air force, located survivors of Arctic explorer Umberto Nobile's crashed airship Italia on an ice floe about 120 km (75 mi) northeast of Nordaustlandet, Svalbard.

[buckets-and-trees]

Hehe. 💙

*evocative sigh*

Oh, mer!Bucky!

You know I've been completely taken with him for two weeks now...

But this gif makes me think of the other potential mer!Bucky personas that were swimming around in my head...

One was very much of the animated princess mermaid sort, singing wistfully chance to be where you are, his flowing long locks dramatically billowing around him as he would have thought it so unfair that his royal father just doesn't understand that you love this human and pouts amongst his thingamabobs (he's got twenty).

But who cares?

No big deal...

There was one more...

There was a merBucky who lurked at a semi-secluded cove with a waterfall on a tourist island in the Caribbean. The island really IS the pinnacle of tourist island, so there are ships constantly passing through with loads of humans, but this cove is far off the beaten path - it's one of those places people find out about from the locals, so there are visitors often enough, but it's sporadic throughout the day and never crowded. This merBucky watches for the solo travelers. Many of the parties who make the hike through the beachy jungle rest for a few minutes, they may swim, they may not. But just reaching the cove isn't enough for these lone wanderers, they're always determined to dive in and have their swim.

(dark thoughts for those who continue to read)

They strip down to their swim clothes, their underwear, some to their skin, and merBucky is always determined to extract the pleasure he wants from them. He plays with his human toys first, swimming just beneath them where they can't see, brushing their legs with his tail as he swims past, then coming closer, brushing their thighs with his fins, and finally with his fingers, and then he makes his undeniable presence known. He loves the sounds they make, the thrill of the fear he evokes in them that sometimes gives way to wanton desire and sometimes escalates to horror. He likes their tears. He likes their gasps. He likes the women and the men. The thrumming of their pulse beneath their tender skin always fascinates him. Sometimes they bruise or bleed, and that fascinates him, too. And their bodies are so warm...

Sometimes he lets them go. Sometimes he gets too carried away, forgets that the humans are more fragile than he is or that they need air in their lungs.

But for those who don't make it out alive, no one ever comes looking for solo tourists who go off on adventures on their own and never come back from this place. For those that do, some are foolish enough to come back, and the others are smart enough to keep their mouths shut, knowing no one would ever believe their tales.

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hi there, can I please request romantic matchups with a Pirates of of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Star Wars and Tolkien character??

I'm British Korean, 1,63m tall, with tangled wavy black hair, monolid black eyes, freckles, full lips and a Grecian kind of nose...I'm curvy, I suppose, but also on the thin side, and I do not shave, since I find it unnecessary. I'm a straight female who feels feminine, if that makes sense? Um...I wear "weird" and second-hand clothing as others would describe it, with lots of earthy tones, black, natural fabrics, velvet and gold and wooden/Amber jewellery. I think I could say my style is goblincore/ravencore? Quite féminine, at the same time.

People say that I'm an extrovert in disguise, who comes across as intimidating and passive at the same time. It's true I'm a passive person. I don't talk much, but once you get to know me I can be crazy and reckless. I have mood swings and battle anxiety :(((((((. I make art, write, read, dance and travel. I love swimming in wild places, since rushing water and clear lakes etc calm me. I play several wind instruments. My favourite colours are black, purple and brown, and I speak fluent English, German and Korean.

I think that's all? I think so. Thank you so much! Lots of love, xxxxxx

Thank you for requesting a matchup! I hope you enjoy the headcanons! I'm sorry for the wait! <3333

---

Pirates Of The Caribbean;

Henry Turner:

🏴‍☠️ You met Henry when you were running away from the men in red coats with your best friend Carina, long story short, that was how you and Carina ended up on a pirate ship with Henry Turner

🏴‍☠️ And it wasn't long until you and Henry got closer... And closer... You never knew you'd fall in love with someone in the middle of the ocean

🏴‍☠️ Neither of you really realized you both had feelings for one another until after finding the trident; from the onslaught of worry, almost dying, that was enough for Henry to confess his feelings to you as the ship hung on the edge of the cavern of ocean water

🏴‍☠️ Once you, and most of the others, left the ship with your lives, Henry brought you to meet his mother, which you were a bit nervous about but she loved you

🏴‍☠️ Henry loves you deeply, he finds you incredibly smart, your love for reading and writing is something Henry treasures; overall, you and Henry are the perfect match, with the love for traveling, swimming in sweet open waters, and dancing in your spare time, you are the most perfect match

---

Harry Potter;

Fred Weasley:

😜 You met Fred when you were on the Hogwarts Express, he was one year older than you, but he and his twin George were quick to help you learn about what First Year is like, in the end of the conversation, you were hoping you would spend more time with the twins; especially Fred

😜 You were glad to see that Fred and George did actually check up on your throughout the years, and throughout those years, you got extremely close with the mischievous twins; and soon enough, you began to grow a crush on the eldest twin himself

😜 In the beginning, it took a bit for Fred and George to get you to join them on their little pranks, but really how could you say no to Fred; even when you and the twins would get caught, you were surprised when Fred would take the blame; you never spent a second in detention because of him

😜 Only after the Triwizard Tournament did Fred confess to you about his feelings, revealing that he in fact loved you since his third year, it overwhelmed you, this confession, but you were beyond overjoyed

😜 When Umbridge arrived at Hogwarts and Fred offered to take you away to stay with him and work with him at his and his twin's shop, you didn't hesitate to take his hand; for the next couple of years, you spent your time with Fred, helping run the shop, having picnics on the weekends, and thinking about the future

---

Star Wars;

Han Solo:

🔫 You met Han with Luke and Obi-Wan, and lets just say that you were part of the reason Han said yes to letting you, Luke, and Obi-Wan use his ship; (Han wouldn't admit that it was love at first sight, he didn't want to sound soft, but...); who gave you permission to be so stunning?

🔫 You sort of liked Han when you met him, thinking that he was really cute, but the more you spent time with him, the more you felt your feelings for him grow into something more, and Han didn't really help with that growing feeling, he loved to tease and taunt you whenever he could

🔫 It didn't take long for the two of you to end up as a couple either, during your stay at Hoth, you and Han may or may not have shared a kiss in a pretty secluded hallway; Chewie, Luke, and Leia all had a bet on who would confess first, and obviously Leia won

🔫 Being in a relationship with Han wasn't always sunshine though, just like any relationship there were cloudy days, but whenever there was a fight, you and Han would always make up; whether that be with a conversation upon the matter or a spontaneous heartfelt kiss

🔫 In the end, you and Han were a match made from the stars, always having each other's back and always making sure the other was okay after a long battle or fight, Han was a kind and caring furball and you couldn't help but fall deeper and deeper in love with him each passing day

---

Tolkien Characters;

Fili Durin:

👑 You joined the Company after Gandalf convinced Thorin to let you come with, and that's when you met Fili Durin, the eldest Prince; and let me tell you, you could not get over that hair, blonde and glowing like the bright rising sun at dawn

👑 You didn't know it at the time, but Fili felt this urge to protect you, even though you proved to be an excellent fighter; but Fili wouldn't just protect your from orcs or goblins, he would always be there to hold you if you were feeling anxious or nervous, his warm hugs always calmed you down

👑 You began to wonder if Fili felt the same about you after escaping Mirkwood, he was always there to make sure you were still in your barrel alive, and when you and the Company were on the small boat of Bard's, Fili was there to hold you close to make sure you were warm enough and wouldn't die from the freezing air and damp clothing

👑 But, during the battle, when you saw Fili fall to the ground after being stabbed, you quickly made your way to him, thankfully, you came just in time to save him, repaying him for all the times he saved you; there and then is when you both confessed your feelings for one another

👑 Resting in a comfy bed in the recovery wing, you stayed with Fili as he got better, hardly ever leaving his side; there is when you let him braid your wavy black hair, Fili clasping a black and purple bead into your hair to secure it; neither of you could believe how lucky you both were

[burlveneer-music]

The Vampires - Nightjar - dub-flavored soul-jazz, though a few tracks sound like The Necks (which is to be expected as that group's keyboardist Chris Abrahams is on here)

Twenty years ago, composers on Nightjar, Jeremy Rose and Nick Garbett were surfers, housemates, bandmates. A surfer vibe infuses their music: being at ease and alert, sitting in the swell of a magnificent immense natural force, until the wave comes. Ride it as gracefully and as far as possible. The Vampires have been hot-housed in Sydney. Expanses get in our bloodstream, they are visceral. It’s in the music. Think of the 35 year long reverberations of The Necks. The Vampires grew into their own music listening intently to The Necks. Individual members of The Vampires play with individual Necks: Tony Buck on Nick Garbett’s 2019 The Glider; and Lloyd Swanton with Jeremy Rose and Hamed Sadeghi in the improvising trio Vazesh. Chris Abrahams was a compelling collaborator to make music with – which is now Nightjar. The Vampires, here in lush vamping form, meet the singular acute bright and tender touch of Chris Abrahams. Jeremy Rose tenor sax, bass clarinet Nick Garbett trumpet Noel Mason bass Alex Masso drums Chris Abrahams piano, organ, prophet, super 6, quantum, rhodes artwork: Mia Taninaka layout: Pat Harris Recorded 22-23 November 2021 at Free Energy Device by Richard Belkner. Mixed by Richard Belkner. Mastered by Michael Lynch Together since 2005, The Vampires have forged their sound from their travels and musical lives in jazz, improvisation free-diving and the vibrant cultural bleed of bands driven by Caribbean, Persian, Indian, South Korean, West African and Latin beats. The compositions have always been postcards to other Vampires from wherever they were, but have gradually shifted from the early jazz soloing into longer stretches building texture and tone, buoyed on irresistible riffs. Nightjar is The Vampires 7th album, following 2019 Pacifica and 2017 The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke. It gives a clear nod to a cherished inheritance. The horn refrain opening Track 2 Khan Shatyr quotes The Necks’ The World at War on their 2nd album Next 1990.