7/18/2024 (Thursday) Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico ( Daily Diary )
Today, we landed in Mexico again at Costa Maya. The overnight trip was a mere 135 nautical miles.
Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, the only state bounded by the Caribbean Sea to its east. This municipality is close to Chetumal (capital of the state) on the border with Belize. The area was generally undeveloped but has been growing rapidly since construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships. Costa Maya is also the name of a subdivision near the village of Mahahual. The beach extends from Xcalak in the south to the southern border of Sian Ka'an in the north, a distance of approximately 100 kilometers (62 mi).
Xcalak is approximately 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of the Costa Maya cruise port, and the fishing village of Mahahual is only about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) away. Cruise ships can easily be seen from the village. Mahahual has soft sand beaches, grass thatched palapas, and a coral reef a short distance off-shore called Banco Chinchorro, as well as several bars, restaurants, and shops. A new development called New Mahahual is being created directly inland from the port. When ships are in port, the village is busy with cruise passengers.
Costa Maya's port has a new and modern tourist shopping mall. The center has a central plaza with saltwater pools and 'swim-up' style bars. There are several jewelery stores and many small shops selling ubiquitous souvenir items. It is generally open only to cruise ship passengers.
We made it!
Coffee first; must get the heart started!
The Old Folks: You'll be greeted by your smiling dolphin guide at the end of the dock who will brief you on the day's events. It is only a five-minute walk to the Dolphin Park located within the dock facility. A member of the training team will provide an educational briefing that details what to expect during your dolphin encounter and key points of interest.
The Dolphin Encounter is the classic dolphin program which provides an exhilarating dolphin experience for couples, families and guests of all ages. This excursion allows guests to pet and interact with the dolphin on a submerged platform and learn about this amazing creature and their habitat.
You'll be surprised by the great intelligence and friendliness of these wonderful marine mammals. Enjoy 30 minutes in the water with the dolphin. This a great dolphin program for non-swimmers!
My rationale? Alcohol floats on water! Duh!
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.
We pulled into port bright and early!
It was siesta time until the whistle on the boat blows then everyone is up and ready to go!
The water looked inviting and it was... A nice 87 degrees.
No small boats today! We walked right off onto the pier!
The pier paintings were excellent
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.
Mary and new buddy had quite a conversation!
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!
The pole climbers were about to perform but I faint at the sight of blood so we moved!
The pole was 150 feet tall!
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.
I put safety belts around the chairs
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.
They were looking people to sacrifice; I volunteered Mary!
It was OK, she is a doctor
"Hey guys, that does not look like any scalpel I ever saw!"
Oh my, they are serious!
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 made friends easily.
Her natural colors, black and white.
We decided to have a dance.
She was a better dancer than me!!
Now for a kiss!!
Smoooooch!!!!
How are dolphins different from fish?
Dolphins vary from fish in a number of ways. Both dolphins and fish have adapted to live their whole lives in the water, both have streamlined bodies and fins. But, dolphins are mammals and so they need regularly visit the surface to breathe air to survive, otherwise they would drown. Fish on the other hand extract oxygen from the water and do not need to surface.
Dolphins evolved from land mammals whose legs were underneath their bodies. As a result, dolphins tails move up and down as they swim, whereas a fish's tail moves from side to side.
Dolphins are warm-blooded and have blubber to keep them warm. Fish are cold-blooded and are able to adjust to the different temperatures of the water without the need of body fat to keep them warm.
Most species of fish are also known to lay eggs and can lay hundreds of eggs in a single year. Dolphins give birth to a single baby once every 1 – 6 years and then feed their babies milk through their nipples.
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!;
Black and White
Careful with the fingers here!
Time to dance!
And a little smoooch!
No telling secrets!
Sophie, you misunderstood. I am an eye doctor not a dentist!
Laugh and giggle time!
Sorry, we gotta go!
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 straitjacket (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?
The ship is still waiting for us!
We probably scared the dolphins
We took a peddle-cab to the ship as it was a long walk!
Caught!
Plymouth Rock recreation?
The food is quite remarkable!
The water was pristine!
From a distance, the ship looks small but up close is a different story!
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.
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!
I ordered it but have no idea what is was!
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!
The desserts were amazing!
Mark will gain weight tonight!!
Mark's sounds can only be heard deep in a Central American Rainforest. 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!
Colleen watches the dessert disappear!
Caught!
Also caught on camera!
I sat next to my bride and she kept me mostly under control. I did, however, enjoy my gimlets.
Did You Know?
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.
All smiles, the day was excellent!!
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.
