jollytammy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2003
- Messages
- 441
Magic Western Jan. 7, 2004
Cozumel
Since we were able to have an extra hour of sleep, I slept in until 7:30 and got up to run. When I got back I showered and by the time I was done, the kids were stirring. We went up to topsiders for breakfast. We really liked topsiders because it was quick and everyone could get what they wanted. The kids often grabbed extra cereal and chocolate milk to carry down to the room for a snack later on. I enjoyed the fresh fruit and nuts that were offered.
We finished a leisurely breakfast, and then headed down to gather up our belongings. By the time we were ready, the big crowd had already left the ship. We headed for Sallys Cozumel mini golf. It was about 4 blocks to the left and then 4 blocks down, right in the middle of the city. The mini-golf took up about most of the block and was built up on a hill. The kids loved playing mini-golf, and it was a nice inexpensive excursion. Afterwards, we headed back toward the ship. We shopped our way back to the ship. The shops off the waterfront were much quicker to deal with you. We found many great deals, and if they were not willing to deal, we quickly moved on. There was another marketplace about a block from the waterfront and I wished we had shopped there. We were ready for lunch, and planned on going back after dinner, but by then the marketplace was closed.
We ate a quick lunch at topsiders, put on our bathing suits and headed back out to find a beach. We quickly were approached by a man offering to drive us to a beach. I had read that Paradise beach was very new and very nice. He said he would drive us there and back for $40. I also wanted him to drive us back to a grocery store about 8 blocks from the waterfront that Sally at Mini-golf had said sold 1 liter bottles of vanilla for $2.00!!! Now mind you, all long the waterfront smaller bottles were being sold for $5-$8!! I had planned on buying vanilla as souvenirs for everyone at home, and we didnt want to walk all the way back to the ship with 9 bottles of vanilla. He agreed to drive us to the grocery store and to the beach for $45. We then went with him and he drove us out to paradise beach. He talked about the island and told us that everything was imported into Cozumel, that they made nothing themselves.
Paradise beach was great! It was very clean; the bathrooms right on the beach had virtually no sand in them. There was a person continually sweeping the sand out! There were free rafts, kayaks, a water trampoline, and igloo that you could climb, lounge chairs and umbrellas, changing areas and showers. All that was requested that we make a food purchase. Our taxi guy, George, had given us two buy one get one free drink coupons, so we ordered 4 sodas, and paid $4.00. The beach was wonderful, and the kids had a great time. George waited in the parking lot until we were done, then drove us back to the grocery store.
We get in the store, 4 Americans speaking NO Spanish, and no one in the store speaking English. After asking several persons and being sent back and forth, my husband went out to the parking lot and got George who quickly was able to locate the Vanilla, and when there was a question about taking my American money, George even offered to pay for us, and we could then pay him. Quite an adventure. Im sure theyre still talking about the Americans who bought 9 bottles of vanilla!!! What a deal!!
George then drove us back to the ship. It was getting close to dinnertime, so we quickly showered and got ready for dinner. It was Mexicalifragilisticexpialidocious night, so we could dress a little more casual. (Flower leis were provided, so do not be tempted to buy them from the ships store.) We had a great time. Everyone was relaxed, and they had everyone that was willing doing the limbo! It was quite and enjoyable evening!
Afterwards, we headed back to change and went back out to do more shopping. The show that night was The Haunted Mansion movie, and since it was playing later in the week we didnt feel as if we were missing anything going shopping. We stayed on the waterfront and found out the hard way that theses shops were not as willing to deal, and their merchandise was quite a bit more! If I had known, I would have done more shopping before heading to the beach. But live and learn. Eventually we finished, I was particularly looking for a Christmas ornament for a friend, and once that was done, we headed back to the ship. I will say that there were many t-shirt places with some really good prices. The shirts were really pretty too! We bought a couple for friends cause the prices were really good!
Once on the ship, we headed to the room and crashed for the night! The next day was a sea day. Plus we were losing the hour that we gained, so we quickly called it a night.
Cozumel
Since we were able to have an extra hour of sleep, I slept in until 7:30 and got up to run. When I got back I showered and by the time I was done, the kids were stirring. We went up to topsiders for breakfast. We really liked topsiders because it was quick and everyone could get what they wanted. The kids often grabbed extra cereal and chocolate milk to carry down to the room for a snack later on. I enjoyed the fresh fruit and nuts that were offered.
We finished a leisurely breakfast, and then headed down to gather up our belongings. By the time we were ready, the big crowd had already left the ship. We headed for Sallys Cozumel mini golf. It was about 4 blocks to the left and then 4 blocks down, right in the middle of the city. The mini-golf took up about most of the block and was built up on a hill. The kids loved playing mini-golf, and it was a nice inexpensive excursion. Afterwards, we headed back toward the ship. We shopped our way back to the ship. The shops off the waterfront were much quicker to deal with you. We found many great deals, and if they were not willing to deal, we quickly moved on. There was another marketplace about a block from the waterfront and I wished we had shopped there. We were ready for lunch, and planned on going back after dinner, but by then the marketplace was closed.
We ate a quick lunch at topsiders, put on our bathing suits and headed back out to find a beach. We quickly were approached by a man offering to drive us to a beach. I had read that Paradise beach was very new and very nice. He said he would drive us there and back for $40. I also wanted him to drive us back to a grocery store about 8 blocks from the waterfront that Sally at Mini-golf had said sold 1 liter bottles of vanilla for $2.00!!! Now mind you, all long the waterfront smaller bottles were being sold for $5-$8!! I had planned on buying vanilla as souvenirs for everyone at home, and we didnt want to walk all the way back to the ship with 9 bottles of vanilla. He agreed to drive us to the grocery store and to the beach for $45. We then went with him and he drove us out to paradise beach. He talked about the island and told us that everything was imported into Cozumel, that they made nothing themselves.
Paradise beach was great! It was very clean; the bathrooms right on the beach had virtually no sand in them. There was a person continually sweeping the sand out! There were free rafts, kayaks, a water trampoline, and igloo that you could climb, lounge chairs and umbrellas, changing areas and showers. All that was requested that we make a food purchase. Our taxi guy, George, had given us two buy one get one free drink coupons, so we ordered 4 sodas, and paid $4.00. The beach was wonderful, and the kids had a great time. George waited in the parking lot until we were done, then drove us back to the grocery store.
We get in the store, 4 Americans speaking NO Spanish, and no one in the store speaking English. After asking several persons and being sent back and forth, my husband went out to the parking lot and got George who quickly was able to locate the Vanilla, and when there was a question about taking my American money, George even offered to pay for us, and we could then pay him. Quite an adventure. Im sure theyre still talking about the Americans who bought 9 bottles of vanilla!!! What a deal!!
George then drove us back to the ship. It was getting close to dinnertime, so we quickly showered and got ready for dinner. It was Mexicalifragilisticexpialidocious night, so we could dress a little more casual. (Flower leis were provided, so do not be tempted to buy them from the ships store.) We had a great time. Everyone was relaxed, and they had everyone that was willing doing the limbo! It was quite and enjoyable evening!
Afterwards, we headed back to change and went back out to do more shopping. The show that night was The Haunted Mansion movie, and since it was playing later in the week we didnt feel as if we were missing anything going shopping. We stayed on the waterfront and found out the hard way that theses shops were not as willing to deal, and their merchandise was quite a bit more! If I had known, I would have done more shopping before heading to the beach. But live and learn. Eventually we finished, I was particularly looking for a Christmas ornament for a friend, and once that was done, we headed back to the ship. I will say that there were many t-shirt places with some really good prices. The shirts were really pretty too! We bought a couple for friends cause the prices were really good!
Once on the ship, we headed to the room and crashed for the night! The next day was a sea day. Plus we were losing the hour that we gained, so we quickly called it a night.
!
