Day 6 – Return To Mexico, Costa Mayo 135 NM To The North

Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2024 by Paul

Another adventure of Mary & Paul

Today, we landed in Mexico again at Costa Maya.  The overnight trip was a mere 135 nautical miles.

Did You Know? Costa Maya is a stretch of Caribbean coast on Mexico’s eastern Yucatán Peninsula.  Mahahual village is a popular cruise ship port with beaches and coral reefs.  Offshore, the reefs and mangroves of Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve are inhabited by sharks, dolphins, and turtles.  To the north, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is home to jaguars, monkeys, and hundreds of bird species.

We decided to have breakfast delivered to our room to avoid any early morning fashion disasters at the buffet.  We planned to take a leisurely walk to the pier and then stroll over to the pickup point, hoping to maintain our stylish composure throughout the journey.

The view from our room was beautiful!  I disrobed and began to climb the rail to start my dive when Mary reminded me we were fourteen floors up; the plans changed immediately.

The water was warm and clear as a bell!

We originally planned to walk, but the scorching weather convinced us to take the tram instead, which was brilliant.  Oh, and guess what?  Mary bumped into the local Aztec goddess!  Her name was Rocky.   I think the heat brought out some divine company!  BTW, Mary is on the left.

Two goddesses at one time!

Mary insisted that I wear the new SPF 80 shirt (I told her wrapping in tin foil would be cheaper!)

It was complete with a hoodie.  I looked like I was about to embark on a mission to the sun.  After her triumphant fight, she made sure I donned the space-age contraption.

After all the dining I had been doing aboard the ship, I looked like Santa Claus.  I was emulating a pirate; I had a sunken chest!

I am making a true fashion statement.

We put our sniffers on “ultra-sensitive” and found a pub where we did some serious taste testing of the local drinks. We are here to report success; they have alcohol! It’s funny how anything wet tastes good when it is 90 degrees outside.

Interesting bar seats; I needed a safety belt to avoid falling out.

Question? The answer is margarita!

The diet really works!  So far, Mary and I have lost three days!

Being quite curious, Mary went to visit the locals, where they grabbed her and tied her to the railroad tracks (the Mexican version) and, using their sword, sacrificed her to the God of Alcohol.

I heard her screaming and reacted appropriately as a good husband should; I ordered another drink, wandered over and offered to have their swords sharpened, and then returned to my seat.

Mary is the one in the center!

Our tour guide called us to form a single line. We marched about 500 feet to the dolphin pool, where they make human sacrifices in the off-hours.

We got a quick safety briefing and then were given life vests that should keep us afloat in case a dolphin having a lousy day attempts to drag us to the bottom of the sacrificial pool.

We met Sophie, a fourteen-year-old rescue Dolphin.  She was very friendly and only took one finger at a time.

We grew attached!

To capture their food, dolphins often work together to surround and circle their prey to keep it from escaping.  They keep circling until the prey is forced into a small and dense area.  Once trapped, the dolphins take turns swimming through the circle to pick off the human who can’t escape.

They kept moving around us, and we were worried.  Then it dawned on me that they could smell the alcohol, so they left us alone; they were teetotalers!

Then Mark jumped into the water, and they scattered like sardines running from a whale!

OMG, Mark is smiling.

Mark is the one on the left!

Now the girls get their turn since we proved it is mostly safe.

The formal introduction!

Sophie and Mary became friends quickly.  Dolphins are beautiful and amazing animals.  When learning about dolphins, many ask themselves whether they might be as intelligent as humans.  Their brains weigh 1600 grams, compared to human brains, which weigh about 1300 grams.  Oh dear, my brain weighs 3 grams on a good day!

Careful there, Sophie, she bites!

Sophie reminded us of Scout the Wonder Dog, who is always happy and smiling.

Let us count your toofies!

I guess the fish just like the Liles gang!

Smoochie smoochie!

After a wild hour in the water with the dolphins, we were finally ready to escape their clutches and head back to the safety of the ship.  We managed to wriggle out of the straightjacket (don’t ask) and decided we absolutely needed to buy the 45 ridiculous photos they took of us and our friend Sophie.  Who knew dolphin photos could be so… captivating?

Wrestling an alligator is easier than getting out of these straight jackets.

We are done; it’s back to the ship, but where is the ship?

It is awaiting our arrival.

We returned to the ship and met Colleen and Mark near the adult pool.  It was so hot outside that we returned to our cabin and napped until dinner.

But first, we stopped at the trough, where we wandered around seeking exciting delights.  I did Indian food and a good old American hamburger. Mary searched for an interesting salad.

We made a reservation at The Catch for a 5:00 pm dinner.

Did You Know? Debuting on Enchanted Princess as she emerges from dry dock on April 15 and coming soon to three more of the line’s newest ships, The Catch by Rudi is the first Princess restaurant primarily devoted to seafood and offers an entirely fresh take on seafood with the chef’s contemporary interpretations of classic dishes, international fusion influences, highly-creative presentations, and an engaging dining experience.

The room was quite lovely.

I ordered a salmon, shrimp, and scallop plate, but little did I know they hung the poor shrimp right out in front of everyone.   I did not know where to start, but fortunately, the little waitress from Serbia knew precisely what to do with the dangling meal!

The shrimp was giant!  I would not want to meet him in a dark alley!

We all had a fantastic feast, and we were so stuffed that we donated our desserts to Mark, who happily transformed into a dessert-eating tornado!

y.

Mark’s sounds can only be heard deep in a Central American Rainfor  st. We were so embarrassed that we put napkins over our heads and exited quietly.

I took one last shot before exiting; I caught her in the act of elder abuse! She should have known Dads and Moms had eyes in the back of their heads!

I told Colleen not to do it!

I sat next to my bride and she kept m mostly under control.  I did, however, enjoy my gimlets.

Here are some facts about the gimlet cocktail:

Origins – The gimlet has multiple origin stories, but the most widely accepted is that it was created in the 1880s by British Royal Navy surgeon Sir Thomas Gimlette. Gimlette is said to have suggested mixing gin with lime juice to mask the lime’s bitter taste and prevent scurvy among sailors.  The drink may also have been made possible by Lauchlan Rose’s lime juice cordial, invented in the 19th century, which used sugar as a preservative instead of alcohol.  The cordial sweetened the drink and helped preserve the citrus.

Name -The gimlet may have been named after the tool that bore holes into barrels of spirits on Navy ships or Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette.

Recipe – The original gimlet was made with gin and lime juice, but bartenders later tweaked the recipe to make it more palatable.  A standard gimlet is now typically two parts gin to one part cordial, with Rose’s cordial still being the traditional choice.  However, you can also substitute gin with vodka.

Garnishes – The gimlet doesn’t necessarily need a garnish, but you can try adding lime peel, dehydrated lime wheels, elderflower sprigs, mint leaves, or celery bitters.

Best view in the house!

We arrived at the room early after stopping for impromptu photo shoots at random places. Who doesn’t need a picture with a giant rubber duck? We just wanted to make it for the RNC final night speeches.

Tomorrow, we will make the halfway point of this adventure!  Eastern Caribbean, here we come!

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Day 5 – Zipping Through Honduras!

Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 by Paul

We is on vacation and having a ball!

We were abruptly awoken by a polite yet overly enthusiastic knock on the door, only to find a cheery chap standing there with an offering of coffee and orange juice. Morning wake-up calls have never looked this bright!

We swung open the sliding glass door and were greeted by a faceful of the astonishing 85-degree 8:00 am morning, accompanied by a whopping 90% humidity. It felt like nature’s way of saying, “Good morning, here’s a tropical vacation!” We, of course, promptly decided we preferred our climate-controlled indoor paradise and promptly retreated, hoping for a more polite weather greeting next time.

We looked out the now-closed door to see the harbor.

We have arrived.

We casually sipped on some coffee and took our sweet time getting dressed because we didn’t need to show up at the rendezvous until a very civilized 11:00 am.

The bay was sheltered from the sea.

Mark’s face lit up like a kid in a candy store when the Honduran Navy showed up in their latest submarine to say hi! I think he might have found his new ride to work!

The Honduran Submarine Service greeted us.

We slurped through the coffee, finished the daily diary, and headed to our dining room for a light breakfast.

The steakhouse dining area is top-secret, reserved only for suite passengers. It’s so quiet in there; you could hear a potato drop! Perfect for discussing the day’s adventures or debating the proper way to exit the ship.

Breakfast at the Grill.

We checked out through the ship’s security and walked the gangplank toward Mahogany Bay.  Mahogany Bay is the cruise ship port owned by Carnival Corporation, located on the island of Roatan. Roatan is a popular cruise ship stop in the Western Caribbean, typically on the same itinerary as Belize and Cozumel.

Mahogany Bay, Honduras, here we come.

The port can hold two ships at once, and the piers are first-class and compete with air-conditioned tourist traps!

Lined up!

We walked around the shops, and Mary bought me an SPF 80 long-sleeved shirt, complete with a hoodie.  I asked her about the hoodie, and she said, “On your bad hair days, you can wear the shirt backward!”  She is always thinking.

Mary took a quick potty break before we got suited up, and she announced the potties were air-conditioned!  Wow.

Getting ready for the thrill of a lifetime. A 2 in 1 jungle adventure of off-roading on a muddy & dusty trail, then zipping through the Sky trails with zip lines of up to 1600 ft long of unforgettable views, untouched jungle, mangroves, and lagoons. Xplore Roatan is locally owned and operated, and it offers high-quality products. They pride themselves on customer service, hard work, and dedication.

Waiting to get harnessed up.

We are harnessed up and await our executive limo to the top of the hill.  Well, the “limo” was a mini-pickup truck, and we would have to ride in the back.  The operator took one look at the two of us and put us in the cab with the driver.  It’s good to look old and, in my case, decrepit.

Your limo awaits!

We are strapped in and ready to go.

We are ready to hang precariously from a single thread.

After a comically strenuous drive up a trail that felt more like a mule’s path, we finally conquered the mountain peak at a staggering altitude of 15,454 feet. Thank goodness we packed oxygen – it saved us from passing out! From the top, we could practically wave to Ft. Lauderdale.

Wait, I’m coming.

OK, it was NOT that tall, but it was 1500 feet above the port, and the bay is spread out below.  There was a little breeze, or we would have died because of the humidity.

It was a great view from the top.

The first station was the easiest.  I kept the camera in a button-up pocket because we were moving fast!  Station #4 had a top speed of 45 miles per hour, and we had to use our asbestos gloves to slow down before hitting the station!  Oh my!

Here we go!

Have you ever noticed that every station has trees all dressed up with splat protectors? It’s like the trees are going to a fancy tree party or something!

Getting the harness adjusted.

Hold on, we are supposed to be doing DOWN, not UP! I kept looking for the elevator or escalator, but we had to walk, crawl, or otherwise navigate to the next station. Dr. Mary was like a mountain goat, and I was like a beached whale.

Oh my, the adventure was part hiking in the jungle.

Just as we were about to reach our final destination, I put my superhuman X-ray vision to good use and spotted our ship. The Grill Bar had our name cards ready at table #3 before we even got there. It’s like they knew we were coming, or maybe they just sensed our alcohol cravings from a mile away!

The ship; the ship!

Each station had at least one and sometimes two guides to ensure our safety. They did an excellent job.

Our guide was delightful.

We were almost done, so we took a break to catch our breath. The next zip line was a whopping 1600 feet long and landed us on top of the beach bar! Talk about living life with a splash!

We made it; the next trip is 1600′ to the local bar at the beach!

We had a beer at the bar before starting our walk back to the beginning.  It was so hot we stopped at the security checkpoint and asked for a cab.  The guard knew the zipline people, called them, and asked for a ride back to the start.  The little red truck showed up a few minutes later.

We strolled for a bit and then hopped on the good ship, where we knew we’d find cool vibes and abundant liquid happiness!

Only a few more feet before alcohol and air conditioning, our two favorites, “A’s”

I was so hot that I soaked a hand towel and applied it in an appropriate place.

Paul plopped!

We crawled to the 14th floor and crashed for an hour before getting ready for dinner.  We departed the cabin at 4:35 and headed to O’Malleys for a pre-dinner drink!  The Irish entertainers were playing, so we stayed and tapped our feet for thirty minutes.

Time for dinner!

Sharing the day!

We did not realize this was Colleen’s first zipline adventure.  She was brave!

Colleen’s first zipline adventure.

After dinner, we hit the spa for some relaxing couples massages. The poor operators who drew the short straw and got Mark as their patient were even given asbestos gloves!

Next, the couple’s massages!

After the massages, we all headed to our rooms to rest for tomorrow’s adventures.

BTW, we walked over 7500 steps or almost four miles today!

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Day 4 – Belieze And The Coral Reefs

Posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 by Paul

We read our schedule and had to be up at 7:00 am for a 9:00 pm departure for the great Belize Living Reef, the second largest in the world.  But first, we had a small breakfast delivered to our room.  Mary got ready for our adventure while I worked on the daily diary.

We went to our meeting area and then to the transport, which departed for the island at 10:15 am.  After an hour’s ride on the little boat, we arrived at Rendezvous Cay, Belize.

It is small but perfectly positioned.

The cruise ship anchors off the coast when in Belize, meaning we have to take a tender to shore. However, with the Rendezvous Caye excursion, the boat that transfers us to the island picks us up directly from the ship, saving quite a bit of time.

It is about a 40-minute ride to the island, past other larger islands and mangroves. As we approached Rendezvous Caye, we immediately realized how small this tropical paradise is. It is completely covered in sand and surrounded by incredibly clear water. As soon as we docked, we headed for a thatched-roof cabana so we could drop our stuff off. The organizers then signaled that it was time for snorkeling.

We had a perfect location adjacent to the pier and the “bar”.

On the Cay

A cay also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, including in the Caribbean and on the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef.

Mary located the beer bar and then headed for our location under a nice roof adjacent to the water.

Beer run!

Mary found a live conch shell with its live animal inside.

Mary finds dinner for tonight.

Did You Know?
Conchs live in shallow seagrass beds and sand flats in warm waters 3–60 ft deep. They are native to the coasts of the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.Conchs have many predators, including loggerhead turtles, nurse sharks, blue crabs, eagle rays, spiny lobsters, and other crustaceans.

Conchs have a hardened tip at the end of their foot called the operculum, which they use to propel themselves forward in a hopping motion called a strombid leap. This movement may help them break up their scent trail to avoid predators.

Conch shells are made of about 95% calcium carbonate and 5% organic matter, and they get their pink color from calcium and carbonate ions in seawater. As conchs grow, they add calcium carbonate to the front edge of their shell, making it longer and wider.

Conch shells are strong and can be used as musical instruments or decorations. Conch meat is edible, and 80% of internationally traded conch is consumed in the United States.

Queen conchs can live for 25–30 years, but their lifespan can vary depending on environmental conditions.  For example, queen conchs in the Caribbean can live for 40 years or more, while those in Florida only live for 7–15 years.

Queen conchs reach sexual maturity around 3.5–4 years old and mate during the warm summer months of April–September. They have a long spawning season of 4–9 months, with peak spawning during warmer months.

Mary asked me to come over in my swimsuit to frighten the poor little conches away. (It could have been worse; I could have been in my birthday suit!)   Sure enough, the water was boiling, and the conches were heading out to sea, waving white flags.

Speaking fluent Conch, I heard them say, “Look out, there is an ugly whale in our area. Head for the open sea!”

That she blows!

As we got into the water, our taxi stayed moored at the pier; that was a good sign that we would not become a repeat of Gilligan’s Island.

This could be us in a few years.

Oh my, the name on the boat was SS Minow!  Should we worry?

Our boat takes a rest.

We paddled and watched the wildlife for 45 minutes. Everything was going swimmingly until I decided to glance to the left and got the shock of my life!

Oh my!!

While paddling around the island and seeing the fishies and coral, the kids were at the Aztec ruins deep in the jungle of Belize.

Meanwhile, the kids are seeing the ruins.

After an hour of swimming, we returned to our little grass shack and had BBQ chicken with rice. Of course, to wash it all down, we tried the local beer, Belieze—it was so good that it made us forget we were sunburnt lobsters.

BBQ is served

On the way back, the tour boat suddenly made an unscheduled stop, much to everyone’s confusion. The captain dramatically declared, ‘We have engine problems!’

It turns out that a tiny hose was doing its best impression of Niagara Falls, but the guys worked their magic and fixed the issue. We were back on track 15 minutes later, much to the relief of everyone who hadn’t packed enough snacks for an extended cruise adventure.

On the way home.

We hopped onto the mothership – also known as the fancy mobile resort – and set course for the Retreat Pool. After claiming seats for four, Mark declared it nap time. Mary and I sneaked into the serene waters (no kids allowed, jackpot!), and Colleen eventually joined us. We sipped on our drinks and then reluctantly abandoned our pool paradise to prep for dinner indoors.  It was dinner time.

Time for a swim in the Adults Only Pool!

No fancy shmancy meal for us tonight. We needed some serious comfort food therapy, so we hit up the Salty Dog Cafe for some good ol’ fashioned hamburgers. They’ve got these fancy Handmade Gourmet Burgers, like the Princess Burger or the Triple Smoked Burger. Who needs a tiara when you’ve got a Princess Burger? Am I right?

The Salty Dog Grill also offers new Street Tacos featuring a choice of grilled chipotle-lime chicken or roasted sweet potato-green chile. Classic Hot Dogs, plus loaded fries in tempting varieties including chili cheese and bacon & cheese.

Tomorrow, we have to go back to gourmet food, oh darn!

We checked our chronometers, and it was time for fun. We went to the Vista Lounge for a 45-minute laughing spell with the resident comedian. He was hilarious! I nearly laughed my chronometer off!

Pre-dinner comedy show.

After the comedy, it was time for a snack and a few drinks at O’Malley’s Pub. We hooted and hollered for the next 45 minutes!

We tapped our toes and joined in the singing.

We shared some onion rings, muscles (not the kind you flex, the kind you eat), and a couple of drinks. My taste buds threw a party, and everyone was invited!

Ladies!

We had an unexpected visit from a pirate. Mark is a huge fan of pirates, so I guess we should start preparing for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” in advance! Arrrrr!

Mark like the pirate.

I don’t want to forget this hilarious moment: At the end of the Irish entertainment, the country Western music unexpectedly kicked in, and suddenly, Colleen and Mary found themselves line dancing in the piazza! Colleen managed to capture a video of Mary doing her thing, but let’s say it might be best kept for our eyes only!

We heard some danceable music, headed to the dance floor, and whirled and twirled for a while.

Dancing the night away.

We danced until that band stopped, and it was a lot of fun.

After showcasing our moves on the dance floor, we returned to the Vista Lounge for another round of comic relief. This comedian had us in splits! By the end of his second show, it was almost 10:00 pm, so we begrudgingly called it a night. The kids hit the sack first, and then we aimlessly wandered around deck seven before retiring to our room.

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Day 3 – Cozumel Mexico!

Posted on Monday, July 15, 2024 by Paul

Today is the big day for our first adventure in a far-off land, and we are psyched! We sprang out of bed at the crack of dawn, suited up in our exploration gear, and dashed out the door to grab a quick pre-departure breakfast. I even sported my fanciest cooking shirt to blend in with the locals. Let’s hope I don’t get mistaken for the chef!

The kids are off to play with the dolphins.

Mary had spearmint tea and scrambled eggs; I went for the lox and bagle.  After all, we are going to eat again soon.

Hot tea starts the day!

We got off the ship after struggling to find the right elevator to the 4th floor.  We were off and walking to our meeting site, identified as “#3 at the end of the pier.”  Arriving, we were challenged because there were two restaurants close by.  We selected Three Amigos and had a table within 25 feet of the meeting point, which we could not miss.

I did the street tacos and a margarita while Dr. Mary had a diet Coke.

Diet Coke, you are going to ruin your reputation!

The day was magnificent, albeit a tad on the warm side.  It was in the low 90s, and so was the humidity.

The cameraman looked at my waistline and decided I could be two amigos today!

We “dined” for about thirty minutes before the guide came and took us to a series of taxis for our journey to the cooking school!

BTW, the food was excellent!

After a harrowing three-mile ride in the Tijiuna Taxi (sans music), we arrived at the cooking school.  The school was above the dolphin swimming area, and little did we know Mark and Colleen could see us with our little chef’s hats on!

It looked like a lot of fun for the people and the dolphins.

We donned our chef’s hats and were ready to cook up a storm.

Cook, drink, and have fun with the guidance of a professional Mexican chef. Learn how to craft a delicious 3-course authentic meal – don’t forget the margarita, of course – guided and led by Chef Luis, a natural entertainer and innovative chef. You’ll prepare the meal at a double workstation, equipped with everything you need to complete your Mexican gastronomy dish and cocktail. Tabasco Chef is located on the second floor of the prestigious Blu by Dolphinaris facility with a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Ocean.

That is us; Paul is on the left.

The ingredients were on the stovetop, and everything was explained.  The chef had perfect English and was easy to follow.  Today, we had 46 people in the class.

The chef explained all the ingredients and what to substitute if needed.

Mary did most of the cooking, but I popped in and did the pork, ensuring every side got some serious heat.

Usually, I slice and dice, but that part of the lesson was already done for us.

We saw the dolphin pool when we made a 180-degree turn from our cooking station.

Collen and Mark were down there somewhere!

We were upstairs from the pool.

Colleen said she saw “Crazy people with funny hats on!”

Oh dear, I wonder if Mark knows?

Kiss me, sponge gums; my tonsils itch!

Chef Mary was diligently cooking, and as I approached to take a picture of her intense focus, she was completely absorbed in the cooking process and didn’t even glance up!

You go girl.

Then it happened; after my fourth margarita, I accidentally breathed toward the stove, and woooooof, flames shot into the air.  The fire alarm went off, and all heck broke loose.  We ducked under the stove and waited for the panic to die down.

Alright, so the real story is that we were trying to make dessert, and when we poured in the liquor, it turned into a “flambeau.”  Tequila burns!

Oh my! What did she do??

After all the cooking, we wandered next door to the alfresco dining area, where margaritas flowed while we ate our creations. The meal was pretty good!

Great fun but where is our taxi?

The Tijuana Taxi didn’t hold back as it bippity-bopped through the town, hitting every rain puddle along the way and giving the pedestrians an unexpected shower!  One could smell burnt rubber for miles when he slammed on the brakes.

We made it to the pier just in the nick of time, thanks to the taxi’s wild ride!

Sure enough, they did not leave without us.

The bicycle cab was a lifesaver! We got to the gangplank within two minutes!

We got onboard and headed to the 14th floor for some relaxation before dinner with the kids.  Today, we are dining at Sabatini’s Italian restaurant on the 7th floor.

On our way to the show, we stopped for some pictures.

Looking good!

There was dancing underway, but we were too tired and decided to hit the bunks early as we had to go snorkeling tomorrow morning.

Waltz anyone?

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Day 2 – Sailing To Cozumel Island, Mexico

Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2024 by Paul

Today is Mark’s “Lime Green” day!

Oh my!  What was that?  At 7:00 am sharp, there came a knock on our door.  I checked the calendar, and it was not Santa Claus, which left only one more possibility: coffee!

Feeling guilty for her late-night order, Mary jumped up and met the nice man at the door. There was a loud shriek and unintelligible Asian language, and then footsteps ran down the hallway. Shame on me; I forgot to tell Mary to wear her robe. The poor waiter is probably still hiding under his bed and will need psychiatric care for years to come.

We let the kids roam around this morning or perhaps sleep in. We had our coffee (after calling the onboard doctor to ensure the poor waiter was OK). We put on our gym uniforms and went up to the 7th floor. There, we found a pair of treadmills next to each other. He did 2.6 MPH for over half an hour.

Looking at all the people on treadmills, I wrote a suggestion to the captain: He should tie those treadmills to the propellers and save a lot of fuel! No answer has come yet.  Oh, I put Mark’s name on the suggestion!

We then went to the dining room and had breakfast.

More decisions!

We returned to our cabin and got cleaned up for the next activity, lunch!  We dined at the trough again because it had so many selections.  I found several Indian dishes to munch on plus several meat dishes.

Mark said he ran almost eleven miles this morning during his 45-minute workout. That would mean 20 trips around the deck. So it became clear that his GPS kept track of him, but the GPS also added in the speed of the ship, so Mark did not do 18 miles and an hour! For a few minutes, we thought Mark may have been “The Flash,” but alas, Mark’s workout was just average.

This morning, there was a vegetable carving demonstration in the piazza, and the results were displayed in the trough. Merry got several pictures of the results of their efforts; they were pretty amazing.

I need to learn how to carve a watermelon properly!

At 1:30 pm, we headed to the spa, and even Mark was there.  The girls had their hair done for this evening since it was a formal evening.  Mark had his toes done, and I went for the whole she-bang: haircut, beard trim, facial, etc.

I felt like running down the hallway singing “I Am Pretty,” but Mary changed my plan!

I presented quite a challenge to the stylist!

Colleen just got a hair-doo.  It was cute, and it had handles in the front whose purpose was a topic of conversation the rest of the day!

Oh my!

We hogtied Mark after we gave him seven martinis and, with the help of three deckhands, got him tied into a chair, still yelling and screaming.  The operators drew straws to see who would do the honors.  I was surprised when they brought out a glass jar to collect his clippings; the label on the jar had a skull and cross bones!

This picture shall be put in an 8″x10″ waterproof frame and auctioned off to someone in the family.

With Mary, it took two people.  This is NOT finished; it is called the drowned-rat look at this process stage.

What have they done to my bride?

The old man was minding his business when Mary appeared on the scene, laughing and giggling and saying something about a facial.   What the hell is a “facial?”

Did You Know? A facial is a noninvasive or minimally invasive skin treatment that can include cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and other elements. It is often performed by licensed skin care professionals, such as aestheticians, in beauty salons, day spas, or dermatologists’ offices. The treatment is customized to your skin type and needs and can help address skin concerns, promote overall skin health, and help you relax.

Never again will I say “OK” to a guy I can’t understand!!

After relaxing at the spa, we headed to O’Malley’s for a “drinkie-poo.” Mary proudly flaunted the snazzy travel purse that Robin had gifted her, and we all pretended to be impressed while secretly wondering if it was big enough to fit all of our stuff for the next trip.

Remember, I like frogs!

As we were about to head for our room, Mark got a little frisky!  I thought he was trying to scare the bees away by yelling “Boo Bees,” but alas, he was saying “boobies.”  Halloween is coming soon, so perhaps he was practicing.

We ate at the Capri restaurant on the sixth floor. We had a table for four, and the meal was pretty good. Colleen and I had the lobster, Mary had a steak, and Mary had veggie eggplant meatballs.

The girls looked amazing and were ready for the formal evening.  Mark and I were suited up and escorted the ladies to dinner.

Wow! Or amazing, astonishing, impressive, or incredible!

We stopped for a formal photo, but then it happened.  As we were standing in line, the line got fuzzy.  All of a sudden, the girls jumped.  Colleen had her arms around the guy in the tux.  Mary was holding Mark’s arm, and I stood back, took a picture, and laughed.   It is a very friendly boat.

Careful, girls, it could have been worse! Check the expression on the man’s face!

We returned to O’Malley’s after dinner.  The singers did a super job with the small audience tapping their toes and singing along.

We suggested they sing “What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor.”

At 7:30 pm, we headed for the Broadway production for the evening.  We had reserved seats in front since we were in suites.  It was a highly active show, with singing and dancing constantly.

We are off again!

We went to the lounge at 10:00 pm and saw the comic.  He was hilarious and, more importantly, CLEAN!  He had us all in stitches.  The kids were already in their room, so we tried to let them know to join us.

Funny, funny, funny!

We returned to our room, and the kids were up to NO GOOD!  This means war!

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Day 1 – Departing Florida!

Posted on Saturday, July 13, 2024 by Paul

We are on the way!

When the alarm went off, we were ready to get up and excited to start the adventure. We decided to take the 102 suitcases from our room to the lobby by ourselves, a feat that should NOT be attempted by amateurs. I stacked Mary’s suitcases up and tilted them over to start the rolling process and heard a gut-wrenching sound from the top of the stack.

My instincts kicked in, and I dropped the handle and ran to safety in the bathroom.  The crashing sound was deafening, and then it subsided; I peeked into the room, hoping Mary had escaped the crash.  She was OK and suggested we not stack the suitcases as if we were playing Tetris with our luggage!

We finally got the baggage to the front desk, and the limo came by to pick us up; the driver took one look and passed out!

Oh my, how do we get Mary’s bags onto the ship?

Our ship was about 400 feet from the lobby, but due to the ongoing construction of a new hotel, we had to drive ten minutes to get to the ship.  We got everything off the limo and into the hands of a very lovely porter, and then we got into the line.  The line moved right along, and within five minutes, we were inside, where the air conditioning kept us from melting.   It was already 85 degrees outside.

The line moved pretty fast.

We passed through security without a hitch, except that Mark insisted on having the female security officers do a pat-down on him three times.  They didn’t find anything, but they giggled a lot.  They refused his fourth request, but Mark would NOT take no for an answer.  The ladies huddled; one got her cell phone, and then a four-hundred-pound sumo wrestler in a security uniform came out and asked Mark to step forward.   It was fun to watch.

We went onto the ship and found an alcohol dispensing room—I think they called it a bar.  Mark found a table for four after he pushed two little old ladies out of the way!

We ordered our first round, and Mark decided to do a taste test!  He took a vote by himself, and it was tied 3-3; he re-voted, and finally, the whiskey won!

Two-fisted drinkers.

We sat and watched humanity pass us by, with many circling like vultures around the free food!

A light lunch?

We decided to split up until dinner and headed to our cabin to unpack and recuperate – or, as I like to call it, take a “mandatory relaxation break.” The view from our room revealed a giant harbor fit for six or seven cruise ships at a time, or, as my inner kid would say, “the ultimate parking lot for giant boats!”

The harbor is large enough to handle multiple boats.

 I headed to our room and was about to take a power nap when Mary yelled, “The land is moving!” My first thought was an earthquake, but then I realized it was just the ship getting its groove on while the land was playing it cool in one spot

We were sliding out of the channel at breakneck speed.

Mary and I polished off the leftover wine from lunch and thought, “Why not go on ‘tipsy’ adventures for a while?”

Mary waves goodbye to the land.

Our first stop was the gym (otherwise known as the torture chamber!).  We know the equipment well and plan to use the gym every morning.

Tow that barge, lift that bale!

We walked and walked and then returned to freshen up before dinner at the Crown Grille.

The kids were there first, and the manager gave us great seats next to the window.  Mark ordered a Big Mac, and the waiter nearly passed out.

Decisions decisions.

We all had steaks, and they were pretty good!  The waiter made sure we knew that A-1 sauce was not allowed in the dining room.

It was the size of half a cow!

After dinner, we again decided to split up as we watched Colleen’s eyes begin to droop since it was almost 8:00 p.m.  They headed out the door, and Mary suggested we walk for a while.

We went to one of the movies, which was NOT for the faint of heart.  It was rather x-rated, so we did not stay.   If I want to see something ugly, all I have to do is stand in front of a mirror.

Mary spotted a mother and young son heading to the movie, and we waved them off.

We found O’Malley’s Bar, where there was live Irish entertainment.  We slithered to the bar, plopped ourselves down, and began ordering.  I fastened Mary in with the safety belt; I needed a five-point harness.

Being in Ireland, I had a Guinness!  It was pretty good.

A bit of old Ireland at O’Malleys Bar

After two drinks, I began to remember some old Irish songs, and in fact, I requested that they play ” The Irish Rover.” They played, and the whole audience clapped along.

“The Irish Rover” is an Irish folk song about a magnificent though improbable sailing ship that reaches an unfortunate end.  Numerous artists have recorded it, some of whom have changed the lyrics over time.  Listen below!

“Sing along with me!!!”

Mary was amazed at my knowledge of Irish music, so I showed her my iPhone playlist!

It’s almost time for bed!

After two rounds of drinks, we headed upstairs to our room.  We watched some TV before crashing at midnight!

See you tomorrow on the bounding main.

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Acclimating To Tropical Weather In Florida And Meeting With The “Kids”

Posted on Friday, July 12, 2024 by Paul

We stumbled into the hotel at an ungodly hour, dragged ourselves to our room, and promptly realized the only thing that could revive us from our zombie-like state was breakfast. Brains… I mean, pancakes, please!.  We went to the hotel restaurant and were shocked by the $25.00/person breakfast, but we were tired and hungry and paid the price.  Breakfast was good, but the $50 for eggs and bacon seemed a little high.

We are ready for breakfast!

Back in the room, we crashed for about three hours, which was much needed considering our epic battle with the snooze button. We had a view fit for royalty, and the silence was almost eerie, except for that one noisy seagull practicing its stand-up routine outside.  That seagull must have missed its calling as a comedian!

A room with a view.

We dragged ourselves out of bed and begrudgingly prepared for a much-needed drink, then stumbled upon the kids. We stumbled upon a great spot on the mezzanine, conveniently close to where we had breakfast.

We must stop meeting like this.

We sat and talked for almost an hour, just catching up and making plans for the day.

Just us.

We were hanging out near this crazy bridge that seemed to have a mind of its own, going up and down like a roller coaster. As we watched the big boats pass by, we spotted a water taxi stopping point under the bridge. We thought, “Hey, why not hop on a water taxi and let the waves rock us into dinner mode?” Can’t wait for the water taxi ride to work up our appetite for a feast!

We heard something squeaking.

We took a vote and decided it was time to go.

We were having fun on the 85-degree day!

For the water taxi, you needed to get tickets via the iPhone. Oh my, everything is on the iPhone today. The kids took out their phones, and seconds later, we had tickets. It’s good to travel with the young.

The kids saved us.

Our ride arrives; it reminds me of the yellow cab of yesteryear.

They called a taxi

We departed from landing #4 and had to go to landing #10, where our restaurant was located.   On the way, we saw Jay’s Floating Sandbar Food Boat, but we did not stop.

We were not hungry yet!

Oh my, what if we had a disaster on the boat? We felt better knowing the Fire Rescue Boat was nearby.

Just in case.

We passed the world’s largest high dive, which was located at the Olympic Swimming facility.  At 27 meters, the structure is the tallest dive tower in the Western Hemisphere, and it is the first in the world to incorporate diving and high diving for competition in one precast concrete structure.

Time to jump.

We spotted our target just ahead. It was called “Shooters.” Mark and I were disappointed because we thought we were going to “Hooters”.

We are here!

We were chilling outside, enjoying the warm but not scorching weather. Just as I started to think maybe it was Hooters after all, our waiter showed up, and to our surprise, it was a dude! I guess that shattered our lingering delusions!

Their menu was quite varied, from steaks to seafood and everything in between.

Decisions decisions.

Way back twenty-five years!

December 31, 1999 at sea with family!

The restaurant had an excellent cleanup crew to save money. While they did a good job, they were a little noisy. We thought the idea was for the birds.

The cleanup crew.

Mark and I did the shrimp appetizers, Mark went for the popcorn shrimp which is served hot while I opted for the shrimp cocktail.   I only got two pieces because Colleen has developed really long arms and my shrimp disappeared if I looked away for more than two seconds.  Her skills have now been honed since she watched her four grandkids on a regular basis.

The shrimp were huge!

The cameras were clicking all afternoon.

Kibitzing is underway!

Our waiter dude did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the meal. Notice the plates are all empty! When we were done, we made the birds starve.

We had a perfect table.

I told Colleen she should always try something new!  Well, this time her facial expression gave her feeling away.  (This  was the best of the worst pictures… the others were scary).

Colleen didn’t like my drink!

Mr. Photogenic was looking good today once Colleen got the remaining food off his beard.

Mark is a serious moment.

Back on the boat, we headed down the Intercostal Waterway.

Did You Know? The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas. Some sections of the waterway consist of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, and sounds, while others are artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea.

Mark, always the gentleman, saves Collen from seeing the world’s most mean animal, the Croc-a-Gator. It has a crocodile’s head on one end and an alligator’s head on the other end, and he has no place to go to the bathroom, which really makes him mean!

“I am protecting her eyes from the horrible scene unfolding”

It was getting dark as we sailed back through the landing, looking for lost souls.

It was getting dark.

We all had our matches, and we assisted the captain when we spotted our hotel in the distance.

We were happy to be “home”

We verified the transportation at the front desk for tomorrow morning’s trip to the ship!  No bar tonight, it was home and crash!

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Day Zero (Traveling), We Is Off For The Caribbean!

Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2024 by Paul

During our morning stroll through the garden, we greeted every plant and critter like they were old friends.  It’s like our little version of “The Garden of Goodbyes and Hellos.”

We visited our flowers since they get little attention during the veggie growing season.  We have lilies in many different colors.

Yes, we also have flowers.

We still have hundreds of tomatoes!  Mary is like a one-woman Goodie Bag Express.  Every time we go anywhere, she’s on a mission to keep the neighborhood in a veggie-induced coma!

Mary filled a box of veggies for the Elks, including eggplant and peppers!

By 7:30 am, we were checking the checklist to see if each item had been checked.  The suitcases were ready to close, so we will shower and get prepared to go to the Elks for Girls’ Night Out.  Vicky and Jim will be there to say goodbye.

I was thinking about my Mom and was sad she did not get to meet Dr. Mary.  They would have been great friends.

Thanks to AI, I was able to “recover” this old photo of my mother with her granddaughter, taken in 1973.  Mom passed in 1990 and I miss her all the time!

We’re all set and excited to head to the Elks!  Off we go!

Linda is sorting through the goodies.

We had quite a crowd today.  There were twelve of  us.  I didn’t realize the party had gotten so out of hand!

George and Bob teased away.

Bill got some multicolored unmentionables as a “gift” from me, but he wanted to make sure.  He asked what he should do with them, and I said two things: 1) wear them in the BACKYARD when you garden, or 2) use them as a slingshot to hit passing birds.

I could not hear what they said, but I bet it was priceless.

We all had a super time shooting harpoons back and forth at each other, telling jokes, and ribbing one another.  It was a typical Girls’ Night Out event.

Vicky and Jim joined us to say bye-bye.

The next dance after the Hawaiian event is entitled “Around The World,” and the centerpieces are being readied.  Each centerpiece will have a passport where Starlighters will write down where they have been and share it.

We got a preview of the centerpieces.

Ask Vicky about my new name!

My name is Tonto Hernandez, but my friends call me Bubba.

Vicky and Jim stayed for a while, and we coordinated some upcoming events

We talked for quite a while.

The alarm went off.  Someone is in my garden!  Do you see the varmint?  The wascally wabbit is stalking anything he can eat!

Do YOU see the rabbit?

Robin came by at 3:30 p.m. and took us to the airport. I drove, and we were there at 4:30 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. flight.  We like to be early just in case!

We are at the airport with load #1 of Mary’s baggage.

Loading my bag is easy, one gunny sack, and I am done!

I am packed and have room to spare!

We stopped at the California Pizza Kitchen, where I introduced Dr. Mary to split pea and barley soup. I was a good boy and had a chicken Caesar salad. We both had a glass of wine before we headed to the boarding gate.

I enjoyed a Caesar salad with chicken.

We were at CPK for what felt like forever, and Mary had to have some French fries. I made a detour to McDonald’s to make her French fry dreams come true. These are the things we do for our loved ones!

We are ready to fly!

Salt Lake is 565 miles away, about 90 minutes as the crow flies.

We are off to SLC

The inside of the cabin was warm and cozy. A nice man brought me several wines as we progressed to our destination.

It was peaceful in First Class.

The second flight was relaxing as we slept for a few hours. At 6:00, we were in Florida!

7: 15 am and time to rest!

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Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 by Paul

Oh my… It was froggy outside this morning but t it is still supposed to be 89 degrees.

We stumbled our way to the gym at 8:15 am for an 8:30 pm appointment to have our bodies busted and broken. After 45 minutes of pretending to work out and losing a load of calories, we made a beeline to the bagel store to promptly replace those calories. It’s all about that balanced lifestyle, right?

After devouring the bagels, we flew home and began packing. This trip will be interesting, as every port will be warm, so shorts are the order of the day! Of course, we did take our formal wear for the formal evenings.

Today is the 10th of July, which was Sue’s birthday. She would have been 73 today. We got a note from Diane and will call her tonight.

When our cleaning service dropped in, we had them do the office first, and then for the next two hours, we hid in the office.  Mary ironed my shirts, and I worked on the adventure website!

 

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T – Minus Five!

Posted on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 by Paul

This morning was supposed to be all about packing for our upcoming trip, but we got so engrossed in tending to the garden that we lost track of time! The garden had its own plans for us. We’re juggling preparing for the trip and organizing a big party at our house on the third of August, just a few days after returning from the Caribbean. It’s like we’re trying to fit a whole adventure into a short period of time!

We began in the front yard, and we are trying something new; we have planted two pumpkin vines, hoping that with some proper pruning, we will keep them under control and be able to show them to the neighborhood kids before Halloween.

If the vines get real long, I might fasten then to the fence using orange rope; that would be a real decoration!

This might be a big mistake, but the kids will love it!

Our avocado tree is living the best spa life. Just to keep things extra fancy, we treated it to a luxurious Moon Juice bath. You know, because even trees deserve a little pampering.

The tree is relatively small, but we have already formed avocados.

We planted two Coleus plants. Coleus is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. Like other members of the mint family, it has square stems and opposite leaves. This plant is native to the tropics of Asia but grows well in just about any environment. Unlike most annuals, coleus cultivars are grown for their foliage, not flowers.

We planted Coleus in the back patio flower bed.

At 12:30 pm, we reluctantly dragged ourselves to the doctor, hoping for a magical cure for Mary’s back and Paul’s sciatica. After some treatments, we still can’t do backflips, but at least the doctor is helping us space out our dramatics!

Mary gets the next appointment.

When we finally escaped the clutches of the doctor’s office, it was 3:30 p.m. We looked at each other and simultaneously decided that it was the perfect time to head to the Elks and devour a well-deserved late lunch.

It was Taco Tuesday, and I succumbed to the situation. A chili verde, taco, and cheese enchilada later, I was done. Mary had the soup and salad demonstrating again her self control!

We had a late lunch at the Elks.

Finally, we are home, and at 7:00 p.m., we visited our neighbor Jeff, who looks forward to our afternoon visits on his porch.

Jeff and our daughter Colleen are Facebook friends and often share funny items.  With The help of AI, I retrieved this photo of Colleen circa 1976 and put it through the enhancer software.

Miss Colleen was always a happy child and still is today!

I could not pass up the opportunity to take a blurry picture of my fantastic son Joe and pass it through the AI software.  The first time I tried, I got an error notice, and the computer shook violently.  The message said, “WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?”  I tried twice more, and finally, after much moaning and groaning, the machine spits out the result (along with a refund check and a note never to try that again!)

Circa 1977, he was determined then!

This was about 1976, and he was determined then!

We watched two more episodes of “The Good Doctor,” and according to the TV, we will be done before we leave on the trip!

We crashed at 10:00 pm, and tomorrow will be packing day!

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