A regal view of the Caribbean - cruise aboard the Regal Princess

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 1993 by Laurel F. Lehrer

Among the enchanting residents of Ardastra Gardens are the famed Marching Flamingoes. Once threatened with extinction and now bred and trained in captivity, these exotic creatures dispel the label of "bird brain." Lovely to behold with their pink webbed feet, tall spindly legs, pink-and-white feathered bodies, long curved necks, and black-and-white beaks, they march in unison during special performances for the public.

Following their trainer's commands, they ran past the audience that encircled the parade grounds. The flock of five-foot, eight-pound birds responded to such orders as "Forward march" and "About face," proceeding en masse in drill formation like a well-organized band of soldiers. When they fluttered their large wings, the black underfeathers were strikingly visible. At rest, they often balanced on one foot, suspending the other in midair. Only when the trainer bellowed, "Dismissed!" did they obligingly leave the parade field through an open gate.

Their patient trainer explained to me that he starts working with chicks at six months of age and continues for the next two years. At birth, these birds are gray. After years of dieting on carotene powder, a pink color emerges. Full maturity occurs between three and five years, when they delight visitors with their distinctive marching show.

At a few ports, Princess Cruises offered a new "In Focus" photography tour. In San Juan, I joined a small group, led by a professional photographer/guide, in a walking tour around and through the old city, settled in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish governor, Ponce de Leon.

Because emphasis was on photography rather than history, each participant initially was asked whether he or she was using slide or print film. Then, after consulting a light meter, the guide specified individual film speeds for each picture. Regal Princess, resting peacefully alongside the maritime terminal, was an obvious subject, followed by a colorful fruit-ladened pushcart in front of a shady park. In addition, photos were snapped of modern statues gracing La Princesa Ballaja (Princess Walk). The guide also suggested that the group focus on the round turrets atop the city walls.

We could not escape history, however, as we passed through one of the seven gateways of the wall around the old city and saw a massive wooden door bearing the carved inscription of 1749. This entrance led to picturesque cobblestone streets ideal for photographing the early Spanish architecture. Freshly painted in soft pink, sunny yellow, sky blue, and lime green, these residences were designed with second-story balconies, embellished with decorative railings of wood or wrought iron as well as balustrades of masonry.

To photograph San Juan's most famous landmark, El Morro, we had to climb a hill. This 400-year-old limestone Moorish fortress loomed impressively as guardian of San Juan harbor.

A highlight of our walking tour was a visit to the refurbished Spanish house of Senora Joan de Solas, a sculpture-painter friend of our guide. Outside of her attached home and studio was a striking green-gray bronze sculpture of Columbus nearly completed by her artistic husband.