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...