How Exotic Can A Western (Cruise) Get?

[bubba's mom]

funny thing, after handling the squid that they luv to eat; we were cautioned NOT to wipe our hands on our skin...evidently, they will attach themselves to you ala a leech until they are satisfied you aren't a giant squid def. could cause a freak-out if you didn't know

barb - if u do the one @ Castaway Cay my rec is to book it early. We had the 2nd one of the day & the sand was already stirred up to the point where you could barely see the bottom...this in 3-1/2 feet of water. This was back when they 1st started the tour; not sure if they've tweaked it since then.

thanks...i think i read that somewhere else or maybe you even mentioned it before...but, our intention is to get the first one of the day.... Hopefully the sand won't be too churned up and the little buggers will be hungry

it was sorta cold with the wind blowing so we crouched down in the water to keep warm...they swam right over our shoulders...up against our faces

When you were on THIS trip...or the DCL one?? (we're going in the summer....hopefully be plenty nice and hot!)

while they were very calm & gentle; they were strong. DH had a loose fitting pair of board shorts on; rrom the constant nuzzling - they kept pulling his trunks down low ala plumber pants (i posted the lesser of results above lol ).

When you DON'T post, it takes me, what a week or more to remember you mentioned (briefly, with no link) that you started your Trippie.

So, going back to one of your first cruise pics... Did the sign that statue was holding say Big Black... *ahem*... Did it say what I think it said?

And then the pic of you below that with the coral looked like Little White... *ahem*... nevermind...

First...i agree...with email notifications down, we need reminders

And...yeah....what DID that sign say? Forgot all about that Thanks T!!

 

[keishashadow]

So, what are you saying... that those of us that post links are showoff-y?

Huh?

Is that what you're saying?

When you DON'T post, it takes me, what a week or more to remember you mentioned (briefly, with no link) that you started your Trippie.

So, going back to one of your first cruise pics... Did the sign that statue was holding say Big Black... *ahem*... Did it say what I think it said?

And then the pic of you below that with the coral looked like Little White... *ahem*... nevermind...

why, whatever do u mean?

2 points to tricia

my son was sooo embarassed by me

 

[keishashadow]

i'm always afraid to post & then no one will come & visit, this way i can rationalize it jik and not have my shy, fragile psyche crushed beyond repair

barb - i tend to repeat myself (in my declining years lol); probably did expound on being the 1st to hit the beach.

we were cold @ Grand Cayman. Even in Dec. @ Castaway Cay i thought it was plenty warm. The CMs doing the excursions were shivering, said they couldn't remember it ever being so chilly. I regaled them with tales from the frozen tundra

I've got belize, cozumel & a sea day to go , shall give a head's up

 

[RVGal]

why, whatever do u mean?

2 points to tricia

my son was sooo embarassed by me

I got 2 points!

Wait, that's all I get?

Better than nothing, I guess.

 

[bubba's mom]

usually getting points is a bad thing.... lucky you.....

still waiting on the next day

 

[RVGal]

usually getting points is a bad thing.... lucky you.....

Oh, yeah. I didn't get *those* points, did I?

 

[JawsCPA]

Janet - us homies are reading and enjoying. Don't you know we all live via other's trips. Of course, we will read them.

I would give Tricia more than 2 points. As I could read the sign in pic #1, but to think about the coral in pic #2 is priceless. Should be 2 points for pic #1 (good eyes) and 5 points for pic #2 (mind in gutter).

Please post next installment as I have nothing else to do but wait . . . .

 

[keishashadow]

jennifer - i just noticed your ticker very appropo!

must admit we didn't stage the coral pic, didn't even notice it until tricia pointed it out. i do see it now though - ha

shall get back to posting in the next day or so, still having issues with new computer despite a factory restore...started next day & lost it when darn thing seized up again

 

[bubba's mom]

..started next day & lost it when darn thing seized up again

ALWAYS back up while in progress....copy/paste to notepad and SAVE!!

 

[RVGal]

must admit we didn't stage the coral pic, didn't even notice it until tricia pointed it out. i do see it now though - ha

Hey, what are friends for?

shall get back to posting in the next day or so, still having issues with new computer despite a factory restore...started next day & lost it when darn thing seized up again

Ruh roh. I smell a hissy fit on the horizon...

 

[keishashadow]

thought yinz guys "had my back"

i'm too beat down to fight with Dell...it's on my list of things to do this week

 

[keishashadow]

now that both my bugs seem to have departed (computer & cold thang); i'm raring to go...

Never thought i'd ever visit Central America, let alone Honduras; it was subed for Costa Maya, who took the the brunt of the storm action this season & lost their pier (feel so bad for the folk, know that tourism keeps them fed ).

Woke up early & went out to balcony to watch the sun finish rising ; watching land off in the distance (central america)...looked different - taller than the land we observed before??

Passed several oil tankers & what appeared to be platforms; finally hung a left and saw Honduras proper (the difference i notice on horizon was due to a major mountain range-ah-ha!).

Roatan looked nearly uninhabited, most pristine place i've ever seen DH said it was less techie/developed than haiti was; but much prettier.

The locals seemed very friendly, yet had an air of desperation/worry about them; as in they really needed the business.

Had to walk down a rough dirt/stone topped pier (soon to be updated); past many local policia. Nice thing we were on a ship tour, got to walk down the "secure" side. The tour operators were clustered around the other side ready to "spring". Many vans lined up for 1/2 miles or so on 2 lane road ready to spirt the tourists away.

We met our guide and hopped on the new fancy bus. Turns out he was a local celeb - rapper/hip hop artist who hoped to make it big in NY city. In between his tour info, he burst into song often - a hoot. Had all the gear on too, right proper homie (not exactly what i expected).

The island is a basically moutains surrounded by jungle & tiny strip of flat land where very rustic homes were located; then the 2 lane road right next to the ocean. The homes had no electricity, windows or running water. Only the public buildings, rich retirees had utility service - too expensive for most. The natives considered themselves blessed to be living in paradise. The island has been shut off from the mainland for years, unable to support the tide of refugees; enforced by patrol boats. Only those with a verified job are permitted to visit. No work, so no new residents other than retirees taking advantage of low cost of living.

view from our balcony, note the sole 2 electrical lines (one along the road, one up over the mountain-more about those later)

band @ the pier

we were told this was one of the better dining establishments (because it had electricity)

starting our ascent up over the mountain (via windy goat path ) into the rainforest; following the electrical line to the gated retiree enclave.

on top of mt, ready to cross over to other side of island

here's the enclave (see the power line lol)
we began our descent, talk about a white knuckel roller coaster ride - evidently they don't do speed limits

 

[keishashadow]

We arrive @ Gumbalimba Park
http://www.gumbalimbapark.com/
a good choice for us, had a bit of everything; best of all...

secure, only open to cruise ship passengers on port days; keeping facilities easy to navigate/almost an air of having a private facility - no hassles from outside vendors, beach was supposed to be great & free of the dreaded sand fleas...do u see where this is going lol?

1st up, nature lesson re the gumbalimba tree (never heard of it before, many purposes-some rather mystical )

interesting root (name i forget duh) that is dug up out of the ground (probably 20 X 10 ft or so & 3 feet thick. They just let it sit for a month & it grows beautiful cactus that they export

climbing up the 1st hill (pant-pant, already hot!); we enter Coxen's Cave, a replicated historial info site; covering history of island & it's namesake - Capt John Coxen-arrrgh matey!

here's what the island looks like

suffice to say, credited with wiping out the indigenous population, etc. the Spanish Conquistadors don't fare well here; although very PC

Capt Jack wasn't the "worst pirate-although you've heard of him..."; John Coxen gets that honor

evidently, chased out of the more popular pirate ports, into this backwater port. Did battle & stole another pirates treasure, losing his hand in the process & gaining a hook. Kept losing said treasure, since he was a drunk. Had to go & waylay passing ships to regain.

notice the eye patch, didn't get it in battle ; one night while exceedingly wasted; he scratched his eye - with his hook....arrrgh, indeed.

 

[keishashadow]

Started hearing, then seeing the zip-liners fly what seemed a foot or so over our heads to the platform. After seeing how hard some them hit the "helper"; DH & DS passed on that adventure. One peep wound up screaming upside down - all the way it appeared lol.

Across the rope bridge have i mentioned my fear of heights?

Pushed my way to the front of the pack so i could sprint across before it started swaying...all i needed to hear was it only would hold 10 peeps @ a time & they better weight less than 200#. Spoiled the planned fun from DH & DS, was 1/2 way across before they started bouncing - naw-haw!

Explored the bird area, missed the instructions not to take flash pics of them . polly wanted to get me, check out those talons

on to the tame, nice birdies
surpising heavy, sweet things

note DH holding his as far away from his neck that he could, was attached by one @ busch gardens williamsburg (evidently, though the mole on his neck was a treat; wound up bleeding like a stuck pig...CMs said not to worry, happens all the time )

they kept picking the buttons off baseball hats-would return it to handler for a treat-smart birds.

 

[loribell]

Woo Hoo! Another great installment! You are so making me want to get on a crusie soon!

Now I gotta go back and check out those signs!

 

[loribell]

I totally forgot about the sign and never noticed the coral.

 

[RVGal]

It is about TIME you got back to your report missy!

Do I detect a sand flea story on the horizon?

 

[keishashadow]

oh yeah...although i'm sure i've already mentioned it on the other thread lol

 

[keishashadow]

I totally forgot about the sign and never noticed the coral.

i'm bad to the bone

 

[bubba's mom]

HEY!!! I KNOW you are NOT giving ME the bird

Seriously...looks like a good day...lotsa exercise for Janet Those countries are beautiful to visit, but DO rely heavily on tourism for $$. Glad you are feeling better to do another day......

....when's the next?