Mayan Riviera
 (Mexico, Honduras & Belize)

From our balcony at El Cieba in Cozumel.

Same view, better shot (almost).

Evening, when all the charters and dive boats come home to roost.

An ugly picture, looking down at our pool. It was actually a nice view, just made for an ugly picture.

Four large cruise ships were in port the day we arrived. Two each at the two piers. For them, this was just a port of call for the TOURISTS. For us, it was home for a couple of days.

The first of the four casted-off just after sunset. This photo was taken in the dark. I could distinctly hear partying going on aboard.  I think some people may have been dancing and singing.  I KNOW some people were drinking!

First daylight. If you look closely, you'll see there's a bird in that tree.  That bird woke us up an hour before this picture was taken. I spent a HOUR looking for a rock! All I found was my camera.

We had read that this was the best snorkel spot on the island.  Just south of the hotel and blocks from the State park. It cost a couple bucks to get in (included a locker), but was worth it.  We were told to swim North 500-feet and let the current take us back.  That day, the current changed and was running North.

The bottom was white sand and from 5 to 15-feet deep. Vis (visibility to the non-diver) was about 50-70 feet. There were these purple fans everywhere.

Everywhere!

Lots of soft corals.

And human arms. {like Aruba?}

And vibrant hard corals. Makes you just want to reach-out, grab a handful and start making a necklace. But, alas, these are protected by law.

The brain coral in this shot looks like somebody stepped on it. It is now dying.

Back ashore and some shopping. We did some REAL damage here. Bought all our 'trip presents' BEFORE even getting on the ship. Another first, folks.

While Joan was cashing-out, I was stepping-out for some fresh air, and a smoke.  Seems self-defeating, doesn't it?	The beach front road (and all the sidewalks) were officially re-opened the day before, after a year of rebuilding.  Very nicely done.

The next morning we are again greeted into the day by that damned bird in the tree outside our window.  Only THIS time, we are also greeted by the view of our 'ride' for the next week. The other four HUGE ships had gone and the tiny Windsurf took their place.

As flights were landing with the rest of our family, we got on board.

They "piped" us aboard... with strings and a horn.

We went from breakfast, to hotel check-out, to hotel check-in ...all in the matter of an hour.  Joan was now HOME!

Looking back at our hotel (the red building) across the other cruise ship pier (which will remain empty until the big ships come back).

And some of the family starts to arrive.

Running around the ship taking pictures.

Great teak decks.	And, even with clouds, sunbathers.

One of two hot tubs and behind it, the quote un-quote, pool. I was in it twice.

Judy, Jan and me getting 'The Scuba Talk'.

Then on to rigorous skills testing.

Judy going over the skills in her head.

The divemaster, Jan & Judy. I think.

Regulator and BCD-Inflator skills. 'Which button is it again?'

I got in the water and started to practice my skills, waiting while the divemaster checked-out somebody else. When it was my turn to show him, he told me I had already done fine and was sent to 'chairs'. I never did get to show him I knew how to do that stuff.

And Dad took a nap.

This picture was removed.  Somebody said she looked like crap in it and that I'd "better not be showing it to anybody". How bad could it have been?

Here's three guys at that same bar drinking fru-fru drinks and nobody told me I'd "better not be showing it to anybody".

The fru-fru drinks are now well hidden.

I met-up with some folks I had 'conversed' with on the Cruise Critics site. None of us had heard from the other couple that was supposed to be aboard. I actually think they missed the ship in Cozumel. Honeymoon, ya know.

Coming into port. (Not sure who that lady is, but she was always hangin' 'round that same rail.)

People came out from shore to greet the great big sailboat.

Some even on waverunners.

Somebody ashore HAD to be selling excursion tickets.

One of our tenders.	We actually didn't go ashore at this port.

But, it was beautiful.

The most memorable event here was trying to leave. The Temporary Captain left a tangle for the Real Captain.

The two anchors were in a knot by the time we got docked.

They ended-up tying-them-up with lines until we got to Omoa. There they cut a couple links open and rewelded them back together.

The drop-down watersports platform... ..that they never dropped-down.

Everybody (actually, some) back on board. It's dinner time.

Mom & Dad

Judy & Jan

JoAnn & Pat

Rick & ....Mom? Where's Joan? Meclizine booster?

Peggy & Bob

What? I don't understand your sign language.

Jeanne & Peter

I'm sure it's a plan. Get it in writing!

Dad changed shirts.  (Must be a different dinner too.)

Our waiter. Min.

Our Dining Room Manager and keeper of the Captain's Table. Thanks!

Impressing BOTH of them with napkin games.

Somebody's watching me eat?

A nightly ritual. TWO off-the-menu appitizers. Of course, one to share.

The Octopus Tree on the "Macaws, Monkeys and Cave Excursion"

Monkey Lake (or something like that).	The "road" to the Monkey Island.

The only way to get there, 5 at a time maximum. Recently repaired, but still a work in progress.

Joan just LOVES this. Not!

Bob leads his group.	Jeanne brings up the rear.

Our first macaw.

Her newest, bestest buddies.

Joan passed them both off to Rick.

And he dumped them on Peter.

Peter found Peggy, who seems to be thrilled they liked her new hat.

Two new friends dropped by to check things out.

They were really hungry. All they wanted to do was eat my entry tag. When admonished for this, one bit my arm. They were BOTH then back on the ground.

Now that's a BIG OLE BIRD!.

The ole "put 'em to sleep by flippin' 'em over" trick.

Our first monkey.	And one with orange teeth.

Hey, you over there. Yeh you! Say "Cheese".

This little fella came right up to me and asked for handouts.

But, he soon found Peter to be the better mark.

MUCH better!

Cute, huh?	Hungry, huh?

Ooooo. Nice monkey.	Let go of the hair, ya little monkey.

Bugger's still hungry.	Take the picture already, Rick!

This little guy's gonna get comfortable.

Anywhere he can.	Anywhere.

ANYWHERE!

Okay, "Switch".

Okay, Rick found some food. It was just hangin' on that tree behind him.	Red berries. Millions of them!

Monkey Breath!

The reason he's so happy (the monkey) is because unlike ME (the human)...

...he already knows there's a monkey peeing down my back.

We've made friends now, but my first encounter with this guy, left me fleeing. Seems he didn't like his tail pulled (who knew?), so he chased me down a ravine.

But we're pals now.	And, he doesn't know he's got his tail in monkey pee, yet.

Bob, on the other hand.....

...just made a friend for life.

This guy would have stayed cuddled forever, even off the island.

"Wonder if he'll get along with the tricks-performing cat back home?"

Leaving the macaws and monkeys, headed for the cave.

We were in the cave, but I didn't have a camera flash to take pictures.  Oh well.  Not much in there anyway. I think we were told this is called a Mother-In-Law's Tongue Tree because of all the warts on it's bark.  I think.  I could be making this up.  But, I don't think I am.  I could be wrong.

Bob took the BEST ship picture while it was anchored off the coast of Roatan. This site also had some of the BEST reef snorkeling.

The beach BBQ was fantastic, especially the cookies. I, of course, was too late to get any of those.

Joan stood watch as others went in the water.

Belize enjoys the same reef as Roatan. The following pictures were all taken on that reef, the second largest in the world. Belize is also home to the famous BLUE HOLE.  No, I didn't dive it.

The following three photos were taken by Bob on a previous snorkel adventure. On THAT excusion:    1) I lost my snorkel jumping into the water (Borrowed one. Found mine later.)    2) Our nicest 35-mm camera got waterlogged and ruined (in the dry-well)!    3) Bob ripped a gash in his arm sliding into the water. Nasty! First aid to follow!    4) Bob shot these amazing photos! Bleeding arm and all. A good time was had by all, anyway.

It was a very long walk to the tourist center from the dock.   Luckily there was a tram.

It was a very rough docking, and these pictures show why. The barrier reef is very far from the shore and there is nothing else to keep the surf from smashing against the rock beach here. Two weeks after we were here, another cruise ship punched a 3-foot gash in it's hull while docking.

Looking back from the tourist center at the ship.

All of the provisions of the center were available for our use, including the beach. Only problem, nobody was "manning" the center. Seems this was Holy Week. Mexico, being a strong Catholic country, most everybody takes off for vacation.

Mom & Dad made it ashore... for all the activities.	But, as this vendor's sign indicates, activities are sometimes hard to come by.

There was SOME shopping available.  The store that sold Only Tequila was open. Another store that sold ceramic nick-nacks and served tequila to all its patrons was also open.  I'm sure this helped to grease the sales skids.  I think some of us (one or two) got smashed.  His sales were good that Easter Week day, I'm sure.

Some in this group, you can tell, got smashed at the nick-nack shop.

Whereas Costa Maya is being built as a tourist center, the original fishing village of Mahuhaul is just a taxi ride away. This is Main Street.  Lots of restaurants and (now) souvenir shops.

Vacation over, it's back to the airport.

A bit of the hurry-up and wait.

And, a farewell nap...	...Goodnight