Month: December 2013

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Bluebeard’s Beach Club in St Thomas

Alaska cousin and I, Zeb the Duck rode on another airplane.

Zeb the Duck with Alaska cousin.

Zeb the Duck with Alaska cousin.

We left St. Maarten and soon landed in St. Thomas.  We are now in the US Virgin Islands, so after landing we went through US immigration and customs.  Then a taxi to Bluebeard’s Beach Club Resort.

Our new condo at Bluebeard’s Beach Club in St. Thomas is great.  We are on the top floor and we have a bedroom upstairs in a loft.  Great view of beach from here.  We have a private beach.  No other condos or hotels near us.  So much room just for us.   We really like this place.  But there are lots of stairs to go everywhere.

We have a couple types of cranes here.  Gray cranes

One of our cranes

One of our cranes

and white cranes.

Our white crane

Our white crane

We also have lots of iguanas.  But I will have an entire day dedicated to our iguanas.  By this bridge, we have a protected crab village.

Our resort protects crabs

Our resort protects crabs

We like humans that care about animals.

Our pool has a snack bar and a swim up bar.

Our pool

Our pool

We come here for breakfast every morning.  Monday evenings an Italian buffet is brought in for us.  We like spaghetti.   Friday was BBQ day.  Gina cooked hamburgers, fish and chicken until about 7:00 p.m.  Mom really liked the chicken!

Near the pool, we have palm trees and cactus.

Palm tree with cacti

Palm tree with cacti

So tropical!  Here is another palm tree, but it has red berries.

Palm tree with red seeds

Palm tree with red seeds

They look like berries, but mom checked online and now she says they are not really berries, but seeds.  They look pretty, but we are not to eat them!

We can play chess here.  Alaska cousin and I, Zeb the Duck, need help moving the pieces.

Huge chess game

Huge chess game

They are bigger than we are.  This is so much fun.  Walking around the grounds, we found this tree.

Great tree trunk for ducks

Great tree trunk for ducks

The tree trunk is twisted just for us.

Our resort is so pretty, that some couples come here to get married.  Here is one of the happy couples.

Preparing for wedding on our beach

Preparing for wedding on our beach

Looking at our beach, this is a great location for weddings.

Beach used for weddings

Beach used for weddings

We could cook here, but Mom and Alaska uncle don’t cook on vacation.

Don't cook us Mom

Don’t cook us Mom

We try different restaurants.  This hammock is really comfortable.

We are liking hammocks

We are liking hammocks

If we feel energetic, we can go kayaking.

Ducks in a kayak

Ducks in a kayak

Or, maybe just sit on the lounge chair and enjoy the beach.

This is a vacation

This is a vacation

That is our personal favorite.

The grounds are very scenic.   We think this bridge looks really nice.

Pretty bridge--with stairs

Pretty bridge–with stairs

From the back windows of our condo, we enjoy looking at these trees and cacti.

Backyard of our condo

Backyard of our condo

So different from our Colorado scenery.

As the day ends, we appreciate the sight of setting sun behind the palm trees.

Beautiful end to wonderful day

Beautiful end to wonderful day

You would like this resort.  For information, visit www.Bluebeards-beachclub.com

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Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten

Alaska cousin and Zeb the Duck head for the PeliDeli with our humans.

We love the Peli Deli

We love the Peli Deli

We climb on the bus toward Phillipsburg, St. Maarten.  This bus is provided by Ama Jewelers.  Ama has several stores in St. Maarten.  The have really cute pendant necklaces with jeweled flip-flop sandals.  That is so like the beach!  Ama jewelers also specialize in colored diamonds.  I think all human females love colored diamonds.

We stop for breakfast at an outside café.

Breakfast being cooked

Breakfast being cooked

With full stomachs, the humans wander through many shops.  The streets are lined with stores, and this clock caught the duck eyes.

Shopping street

Shopping street.  Need to reset clock

Phillipsburg, St. Maarten is one of the busiest shopping areas in the Caribbean.  In additional to traditional stores, we enjoyed this market.

We love these markets

We love these markets

Many cruise ships stop here, for shopping, for beautiful beaches and of course, the many great spots for lunch.

We don’t want you to think that shopping is all there is.  We saw this church, St, Maarten of Tours Roman Catholic Church

St. Maarten of Tours Roman Catholic Church

St. Maarten of Tours Roman Catholic Church

and other historical and government buildings.  The street near the beach has so many human opportunities.  Segways are for rent, as are many beach accessories.

Beach is on a shopping street

Beach is on a shopping street

We saw shoppers, swimmers, boaters and people lounging on the beach and many humans in the cafes.

This Pirate Sports Bar was interesting and had great figures to cause humans to notice the establishment.

Great for Pirate Sports Bar

Great for Pirate Sports Bar

At this café, we could see the gentleman grilling this chicken.

Watching our food cooking

Watching our food cooking

It smelled wonderful.  We did have another snack here.  Very tasty!

St. Maarten has guavaberries.  This store specializes in guavaberry products.  This sign promotes guavaberry liqeur.

Famous in St. Maarten

Famous in St. Maarten

This is best enjoyed on St. Maarten as it is difficult to transport liquids on the airplane.   Tomorrow we leave St. Maarten and fly to St. Thomas so we did not purchase additional liquids today.

Phillipsburg is a busy port with great shopping.  We ducks loved it, but were ready to get back to our beach and pool.  The humans got a taxi and we headed back to our resort.

Feet on the sand

Feet on the sand

We loved the shopping and activities of Phillipsburg and we think you would enjoy some time here also.  Maybe some blue or canary diamonds??

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Saba by Boat for a Day

I, Zeb the Duck and my Alaska cousin are getting on a boat again!

Edge II Our boat to Saba

Edge II Our boat to Saba

We love boats.  Today we are leaving St. Maarten to spend the day on the island of Saba.  Saba is a Dutch island also, but we needed to show our passports.

Riding to Saba

Riding to Saba

Loving the boat ride for 90 minutes and now we see Saba.   It looks different.  A giant rock rising from the ocean.

Saba from the boat

Saba from the boat

No sandy beaches in sight.  Maybe that is why we did not bring swimming suits and towels.  This sign makes ducks and humans feel welcome.

We are docking at Saba

We are docking at Saba

First stop is immigration and passport control.  Now, ready for a new adventure.

The road is a miracle.  It was built by hand; no heavy machinery available.  Local men started building the road in 1938 an it was finished in 1958.  Previously crossing the island involved a 7.5-mile staircase.  Everywhere is steep up or steep down.

Saba is a rocky island!

Saba is a rocky island!

WOW!

Our first stop after leaving Fort Bay is The Bottom.  The Bottom is the capital and largest city.  This Sacred Heart Church, 1935, is beautiful inside and outside.

Inside Sacred Heart Church in Saba

Inside Sacred Heart Church in Saba

Sacred Heart Church, The Bottom in Saba

Sacred Heart Church, The Bottom in Saba

We shopped here also.

Craft store in The Bottom in Saba

Craft store in The Bottom in Saba

Nice craft items available.

In Windwardside we shopped a little, visited Holy Trinity Church (Anglican Episcopal 1878) and cemetery.

Church with cemetery

Church with cemetery

We liked this sign.

Liked the sign

Liked the sign

While shopping we found a relative.

Shopping in Windwardside in Saba

Shopping in Windwardside in Saba

Little Saba Surfer Duck is now part of our family.  Here we are posing by bananas.

Alaska cousin, Zeb and Saba Surfer Ducks

Alaska cousin, Zeb and Saba Surfer Ducks

These streets are narrow and very steep.  Our humans had a real workout just walking through town.  Lunch at the Tropics Café was great.

Lunch time at Tropic Cafe

Lunch time at Tropics Cafe

This swimming pool was available for our use,

Chairs in the pool!!

Chairs in the pool!!

but we were busy looking at everything else.  This is a great location.

By Tropics Cafe with Caribbean behind

By Tropics Cafe with Caribbean behind

Looking from the road, the roofs are far below us.

Houses in town

Houses in town

From certain views, we saw other Caribbean Islands.  Now the time has come to return to Fort Bay and ride the Edge II back to Sint Maarten.

Leaving Saba

Leaving Saba

We ducks and our humans had a great time on Saba.  We think you would enjoy Saba also.  If you go, tell us what you liked best.

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Rocky Mountain National Park at Christmas

Christmas will arrive in a couple days so Mom took us to Estes Park

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

and Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday.  Snowy and beautiful.

Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck left a sunny Denver to experience early winter in the mountains.  This place attracts chipmunks, wild turkeys, birds, and tourists in the summer.

Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado

None seen on this visit.  Entering Estes Park we noticed changes.  Now the Fall River is frozen so the water wheel is not turning.

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Humans are wearing hats, gloves and coats, no shorts today.  After visiting our favorite stores and purchasing cookies, brownies, salt water taffy (has no salt water in it??), fudge, and toffee we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

Passing through the Fall River Entrance we discovered Sheep Lakes are frozen.

Frozen lake in the park

Frozen lake in the park

As we drive, snow begins to fall.  It swirls on the road.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, think it looks magical.  Driving higher, more snow is falling.  These elk take advantage of the grass and graze before it is covered with snow or ice.

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

They knew we were watching them and they kept an eye on us.

Further up the mountain, this bull elk was also grazing.

Bull elk in the snow

Bull elk in the snow

Must take a lot of grass to fill his tummy.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, were only 15 feet away from him.  He is big!!

Mom decided it was time to leave; she will be wrapping candy for Christmas presents tonight, but we wanted one more minute in the snow before driving down the road.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is beautiful in the summer, colorful in the fall, magical in the winter and refreshing in the spring.    We hope you visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado soon.  You won’t be sorry.

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Christmas at Cherry Creek Mall

I, Zeb the Duck, can tell something is going to happen soon.  This is my first Christmas.  Mom and I went to Cherry Creek Mall in Denver.  I saw Christmas decorations and I heard Christmas carols.

Cherry Creek Mall has Rocky Mountain Play Park,

Play Park for human and ducks

Play Park for human and ducks

sponsored by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

So much fun for kids and me

So much fun for kids and me

I went inside and played on the toys.

I like this

I like this

It is a lot of fun.  So glad we came here.

At the Ice Palace I saw Santa Claus.  I did not get to talk to him, but he was walking around the Ice Palace.

Is Santa looking for Zeb?

Is Santa looking for Zeb?

He is big with a white beard and wears a red suit.  I wanted to see him, but maybe not too close.  Christmas trees surround the Ice Palace.

So pretty

So pretty

This huge glass globe had polar bears inside.

This looks like polar bear weather

This looks like polar bear weather

Everything looks so pretty.

Walking through the mall, we heard singing.  A musical quartet stopped occasionally to sing Christmas carols.

Christmas carols in Cherry Creek Mall

Christmas carols in Cherry Creek Mall

They looked so cute and sounded so good.

I like Christmas decorations.  I will show you more decorations next time.  Christmas is fun.   Mom will tell me more about it.  But, I like it!

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Christmas Decorations in my Neighborhood

It is getting close to Christmas.  I, Zeb the Duck, am excited about Christmas.  But, I don’t really know much about it yet.  I am seeing different things appearing in people’s yards.  These are Christmas decorations.

These are some of the things I noticed.  This is Santa Claus in a sleigh.

This is Santa Claus

This is Santa Claus

Mom says Santa Claus rides in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and brings presents to people.  Santa seems nice, but looks a little different.

Here is another Santa Claus with sleigh and reindeer.

I like Santa

I riding on flying reindeer.

Also some big presents.

Huge presents

Huge presents

Maybe a chair for me??

A snowman and another Santa.

Welcoming Snowman

Welcoming Snowman

These all look like fun things.

A manger or Nativity Scene seems a little more serious.  This is the reason for Christmas.  A baby named Jesus was born.  This baby grew up to be a special man and he changed the world.

Baby Jesus was born

Baby Jesus was born

Maybe more about this later.

I am curious and excited about Christmas.  I hope you see decorations and like them.  What is your favorite Christmas story or memory?  This is all new to me but I like it.

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Denver’s Annual Christmas Light Display

The City and County building in Denver, Colorado has spectacular Christmas lights.

City and County Building of Denver, Colorado

City and County Building of Denver, Colorado

Zeb the Duck here, reporting that mom drove us to view this Christmas display.   WOW!!!  The lights are beautiful.

While we there, we heard Christmas carols.  The lights changed colors as the music played.

The colors change

The colors change

The evening we visited was mild and clear.  It was just like a Christmas movie.

Denver’s City and County building has been decorated for Christmas since 1935.  So many people experience this lighting masterpiece every year.

Colors change again

Colors change again

Usually this building is lit every night during the Christmas season.  The lights remain on the building through January and the building is illuminated again during the Denver’s National Western Stock Show and Rodeo.  Our stock show visitors also enjoy this display.

I am so happy to live near Denver so I could watch in amazement as the lights changed and the music played.

I love this!

I love this!

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Bass Pro Shop

More sporting supplies, more mounted animals and more fudge.  Life is really good for us.  Last time we went to Cabelas sport store.  Cabelas is new in Denver.  Now we are talking about Bass Pro.  Bass Pro has been in Denver a few years and we love this store.

Bass Pro has all the normal sporting supplies required to be a top sporting goods outfitter.

Love this entrance and welcome greeting

Love this entrance and welcome greeting

They have so much fishing gear and so much hunting equipment.  Here I am with many duck decoys.

I am with all these duck decoys

I am with all these duck decoys

Bass Pro also has guns, ammunition, a special gunroom and a gunsmith.  But one of the best things, besides the restaurant is more wonderful fudge.  Fabulous!

Let’s see what we found.  Furniture, such as these lamps, made for the sportsman.

Clever lamps

Clever lamps

Also for the ice fisherman, place these shelters on the ice for your comfort and protection.

Comfort on the ice

Comfort on the ice

This stuffed bear looks so alive and ready to pounce.

Slightly frightened

Slightly frightened

This is new.  Bass Pro has a great aquarium by the elevators, and now a pond with these live ducks.  The sign said they are Ruddy Ducks and as they are new to Bass Pro they are a little frightened.

Ruddy ducks behind me

Ruddy ducks behind me

More duck relatives in Denver!

My Alaska cousin and I spotted great toys.  The ATV would be so much fun in the mountains.

An ATV would be so much fun

An ATV would be so much fun

But the humans said no.  Then we found the boats.  We learned to love boats in the Caribbean.

So many boats at Bass Pro

So many boats at Bass Pro

But again, the humans said no.  Now we do feel like human kids.  But, since the humans do take us places we are very happy ducks.

Enter this store

Enter this store

Before enjoying the great outdoors, visit Bass Pro or any of our exceptional sporting stores.  For more information about Bass Pro look at http://www.BassPro.com

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Cabelas in Denver

Zeb the Duck here.  We went shopping.  Cabelas, a famous outdoor and sporting supply store says they are the world’s foremost outfitter.

Cabelas in Denver area

Cabelas in Denver area

Cabelas opened two stores in the Denver area in August.  When my Alaska uncle and my Alaska cousin came to visit, we went to Cabelas.

The first things we noticed were all the mounted animals on display.  They look so real.

Great wildlife display

Great wildlife display

In the store aisles we saw lots of camping gear and of items to reduce or eliminate mosquitos.  These mosquito swatters looked really interesting to us.

Goodbye mosquitos

Goodbye mosquitos

They have lots of clothes, so many fishing lures and fishing poles.  I had no idea so many kinds even existed.

We saw the area with bows and arrows.

Try before purchasing

Try before purchasing

This archery section even has an archery range so you can try your bow before you buy it.  What a great idea.

We checked the gun area and ammunition.  They had a lot of ammunition, but not the kind we use.  We still have some, but we will look again next time.  Cabelas has a gun library.

Place for rare guns

Place for rare guns

This is where the rare and more expensive guns are kept.  A very interesting room.

This guy looks so real.

Scares us

Scares us

We stayed close to mom and Alaska uncle.  We are Colorado Traveling Ducks, not Duck appetizers.

The Front Range Café inside Cabelas is a great place.  Smells good, too.

Love the fresh fudge

Love the fresh fudge

We bought fresh fudge.  The lady said the fudge is made in the store each day.  We ate some as soon as we got home.  It is delicious!

My Alaska cousin and I liked Cabelas.  It has so many different things.  We didn’t tell you about everything; there is so much.  Our humans like Cabelas also.  If you are interested in outdoor equipment or just want to see lots of interesting stuff, we think you will like Cabelas.

We love polar bears

We love polar bears

For more information visit www.cabelas.com

Tomorrow you will see another of Denver’s premier sporting stores.  We will visit Bass Pro Shop.