Hmm...Explain This One...

I just spent a very long time getting the pictures and post for the second part of our cruise ready...and it posted below the post about the first day!!

I have no idea how to move it around (and if you do, please tell me) but, if you are interested in the cruise pics from Cozumel and Key West just start scrollin'!

Sorry about the confusion...hope you enjoy the photos.. ;)

Can You Hear Me Now?

Oh...it's good to be back! It seems that we are all healthy and in one piece and I have been so looking forward to sharing our cruise photos with you ;) Since there are so many I've split them into two posts...

Just a couple of reminders...this was my friend's birthday cruise and we had to leave out of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale to get where we wanted to go. There's also Port Canaveral just an hour from here, but no ships were heading our way. We went to the Western Caribbean with stops in Belize, Cozumel and Key West (yes, that's Jimmy Buffet music you hear)and that included one full day at sea, just cruising and enjoying the ride...

We drove down to a friend's house in Lauderdale and he dropped us off at the port...all we had to do was leave our luggage here and start walking...

The weather was beautiful...

We had to be on board by 4:30PM since the ship sailed at 5PM, but we got there early, about 1PM. There lots of security, but no pictures allowed once you get into the check-in terminal.

This was waiting at one of the buffet tables when we arrived...

We got a great view from the pool deck as all of the ships were leaving the port..

And this little guy, along with his posse, was our guide through the channel.

Wave goodbye....

We took some time to check out the ship. Our dinner seating was at 6PM, so we didn't have much time to wander. This lovely lady is in the My Fair Lady dining room. If you've seen that movie you must remember Audrey Hepburn dressed up for the big race at Ascot..

Let me take just a minute to put my feet in this little pool! This was the adult solarium, meaning no one under the age of 18...

We had a great dinner followed by some casino time and the "Songs of Broadway" show...and, as you may have guessed, no photos in the casino when it's open and none during the show. But, when we got back to our room, this little guy was waiting for us with our schedule for the following day...

There were more fruit carvings at breakfast and we figured out that they change them every day. The toothpicks in the eyeballs of this one was kind of creepy and I don't know why they added those raisin teeth. But, ya gotta love those ears!

Since we were just at sea all day, this was the only chance I had to get some ship pictures. They don't allow any cameras in the casino when it's open, so these were before 10AM. I won $27 on the nickel slots, but over the week, lost all of that. But, Jill won about $300..Happy Birthday!!

Let's get some sun out by the pool...uh...no. Did I tell you that there were 2650 people on this ship? And 650 of them were under 16?

Much better...me & The Hub, chairs on the other side of the ship, in the shade...

A day at sea means exactly that...a day at sea with nothing to see but the sea...

Vertigo? Don't look down...this is from deck 9 looking into the main atrium. See the violin and guitar players? They played every night as you walked into the dining room.

Another great dinner and show...and this was waiting for us when we got home.. ;)

No breakfast today...early start. We are in Belize and The Hub wants to see Mayan Ruins. Believe me when I tell you that I did not choose this excursion. Not anywhere within my scope of interest. Rocks. And it took about 45 minutes to get out there in the jungle to see these rocks. But, the flowers are so pretty...

How old is this tree?

These ruins were surrounding an open field that was a marketplace (or something like that) and the part of the ruins that we can see are actually just the top. There is lots more under the ground. How do they know this was a marketplace?? Who knows this??

Hmmm...look over there. People are up on the top of that. How high is that? Oh...75 feet. Seriously?? And how did they get up there, exactly?

Oh...I see. They just climbed up those stone steps...the ones that have about 2 feet between each step. What?? You think I should try it? Come on Hub, you're killin' me. What?? You can't do it because your back won't take it? Okay, okay, I'll do it. What's 75 little feet..no problem...

Hello?? Can you see me?? Hurry...take the picture before I pass out and fall off this pile of rocks!

And, here's how it looked from where I was sitting...I mean, standing!

Well, this wasn't so bad. Kind of nice up here..oh, but wait...I gotta get back on the ground , don't I?? Crap.

After learning all about the rocks...I mean ruins...and stretching every muscle in my legs way more than they should be stretched, we headed into downtown Belize for lunch at the Smoky Mermaid.

We sat by this fountain which was the only mermaid I saw...

How 'bout them coconuts?

John & Jill, our partners in crime and fun, spent the day on the beaches of Belize. They had no interest in rocks...I mean ruins.

But a sunset like this made looking at rocks totally worth it!

And, nothing like a monkey waiting in your room to get you ready for tomorrow. Cozumel, here we come...

Can You Hear Me Now? ~~Part Deux~~

We had a chance to get some breakfast before we docked in Cozumel...who doesn't love a big ol' fish carved out of melon?

This was what we saw as we walked off of the pier..somehow, it's not what I thought Cozumel would be like. Where's the beach, the white sand, the clear water in shades of green and blue??

Not to worry. The four of us decided to do a full day excursion together: Eco-Jeep & Snorkel. Snorkel is pretty easy to figure out, but what exactly is Eco-Jeep?? There was a big bunch of us and we walked about 4 blocks and we got into our own jeep and followed our guide Laurenzo through downtown Cozumel. So that explains the Jeep part but I never figured out the Eco part...oh, and that's Jorge holding the sign. Do you think anyone knew we were tourists??

Anyway, about 20 miles later we started to see the shoreline. No kidding, the water does look like it is different shades of blue and green. Just amazing...

First stop, more rocks...I mean Mayan ruins..on the beach. Who knew?? Someone asked if the Mayan people were very short...just look at that door! But, as before, we were told that what we are seeing is just the top of a much bigger rock...er, ruin.

Laurenzo and Jorge told us they were of Mayan descent (how convenient) and they shared stories about early Mayan settlements and how they existed so close to the water. See the little holes around the top? You can't tell from these pictures, but there is a hole on each side. When strong winds blow, it makes a whistling sound and that was a warning system for tropical storms and hurricanes. That sounds good and is probably true...but, I once again have to ask..how do they know this?? Who told them that??

Back in the jeep for a quick ride and we get to our next stop: The Crocodile Zone.

Yes...big , mean-looking salt water crocs. They are actually in a lagoon on the opposite side of the public beach and they usually don't cross over. That word usually bothers me...

After a quick visit with the crocs we head on over to the beach. Now, I never really had any intention of snorkeling, but the visit to the Zone and the above mentioned word, usually, was enough to keep me out of the water. But, John and Jill decided to go for it...risk takers!!

They had to go about a mile out, to the second darker line in the picture below. The water is clear and shallow up to that first dark line and that's where the seaweed gathers. That pretty turquoise strip is a sandbar and then the last dark line is the coral reef.

Can you believe how clear the water is??

After seeing lots of living coral, turtles, tropical fish and rays it was time for a real Mexican lunch. Not Taco Bell, people...real tacos. We all tried the habanero sauce...way too hot for us gringo's!

Me & The Hub and a beautiful beach...and then it's time to head back to the ship.

Once we got the jeeps back and parked we took a quick detour to Senor Frog's, a dockside bar & grill. We have all been to the one in Nassau so we just had to stop here!

Popcorn in a dog bowl...how interesting.

Back to the ship for another great dinner and a show. Tonight was a tribute band to one of the best Motown groups ever, The Temptations! These guys were so great and the show was a blast. They stepped out of the theater afterwards and took the time to shake hands and meet everyone..really nice guys.

Next stop: Key West...and this little guy has all the info!

This will be our last breakfast fruit carving..since we will be back in Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow morning they won't be serving breakfast. They have to get everyone off of the ship, do all of the cleaning and get ready for new passengers. They do a turn-around the same day!

Welcome to The Conch Republic, better known as Key West! Home of Jimmy Buffet, Ernest Hemingway's hangout Sloppy Joe's, Kino Sandals and just about the oddest bunch of people you'll ever see!

The view as the ship was docking. That's the new Westin Resort...the water really is that color.

This looks like some kind of hotel/resort. You can only get there by boat so it must be pretty exclusive.

The ship from the Key West pier...

A pelican right by the pier...

Gotta stop here...

This is the Kino Sandal Factory and it's been here since 1966. You can watch them make your sandals..and they are only $10!!

Ernest Hemingway's Home...

and his favorite hang out.

We decided not to waste any more money on souvenirs...this lasts forever! ;)







Can't go any further South than this...

This manta ray will guide us home with oodles of wonderful memories...