Day 4 Tuesday, November 14th Costa Maya, Twice Charmed and 80s time warp
We had set our clocks back an hour last night so I woke up at 5:30 am
..the sun had not risen so I decided to go up on deck 10 to catch it. The official sunrise as per the Navigator was 5:58 am and it was magnificent. There were many beautiful clouds (rain?) that just enhanced the view.
There were quite a few other passengers up on deck 10 enjoying the view.
I went to the deck 9 coffee station and ran into ibouncetoo and TiggersPal Jackie and Peggy. We got our coffee and sat up on deck 10. They were on the fence about going on the David and Ivan tour of the Chacchoben Ruins that was organized by the lovely Vanvmom Wendy. I convinced them that this was a not to be missed tour that they would NEVER have to do again ..so they agreed to meet the gang in the 3rd floor atrium lobby at 8:15 for the walk down the looooong pier.
Meanwhile, I wandered back to my room to wake up sleeping beauty a.k.a Tom. He was up and showered after he had received his wake-up call from Mickey Mouse - Times A Wasting! We headed up to Linda, Ed, Deb and Sarahs suite for our hot breakfast that we had ordered the night before NOT! It turns out that the concierge guests can get a hot breakfast AFTER 8:15 a.m. Not to be thwarted in our quest for food, Ed had gone up to Topsiders and gathered quite a bit of food hot and cold - for us. THANKS Ed!!!
We ate overlooking the beautiful beachfront of Costa Maya we were the first ship that docked (there would be three) so we had unobstructed views of the coastline. We then headed down to the Atrium to hook up with the rest of our 60 DIS friends who were taking the tour. We easily disembarked and proceeded down the pier; I stopped and took a quick picture of the ship good thing as the view was blocked by another ship when we returned. I also snapped pictures of the beach that was to the right of the pier as you walked toward the coast. It looked beautiful and I was told by another DISser that that is where he and his family spent the day, swimming and snorkeling.
A good thing to remember if I ever return to this area.
Our fearless leader Wendy lead us thru the shopping area and almost directly outside into the parking lot where we paid our $3 extortion fee (to have the bus pick us up at the port not in the town 3 miles away!) and boarded David and Ivans Yellow Buses. We were on the bus with Ivan who talked non-stop during our 40 minute ride to the ruins. We learned about the history of the Mayan people and their plight as they are being pulled into the modern world. It seems the Mexican government has decided to develop the area as a tourist destination in the same way as they developed Cancun and Cozumel. My impression from Ivans presentation is that the local people did not have a say in this decision and that they were struggling with the many changes good and bad that are taking place.
Linda and Pat taking a break.
I would highly recommend this tour as a small glimpse into the past the history of the area is amazing and it is unbelievable HOW these primitive people were able to build the pyramids/temples without tools. Chacchoben is a small site so it was not too difficult to walk around the area.
And they save the BEST for last although it involves walking up about 30 BIG steps, I went sideways! it is worth the climb.
Sarah & Linda on the bottom, Pat and Tom on the TOP!!! (with arms UP!)
We wearily returned to the bus where another employee of the company took us home Ivan was staying on to meet another tour. We had an uneventful ride home although it did include a violent heavy downpour that lasted 10 minutes. To reassure the people at the back of the bus I was in the second row and the windshield wipers WERE on. You couldnt see them because the drivers seat was below the level we were sitting at and the windshireld was divided into 2 sections the upper section that we were looking thru didnt have wipers but the lower section where the driver was sitting did.
Arrived back at the pier hot and thirsty where were those drinks! We headed back to the ship without stopping to shop. As we turned the corner of the pier to get to the MAGIC Tom realized he had left his hat on the bus .bummmer. He went back but the bus was gone. Linda and gang went back to their stateroom I went up to deck 9 in search of lunch.
Topsiders was still open so I ate there and waited for Tom to return. I suddenly didnt feel well so returned to my cabin and lay down for 30 minutes. Tom found me there we rested for a while (nap!) I called Linda and met her in her suite at 4:30 to sit on the balcony for a while.
As the sun set, it was cool looking out at the ship that was across the dock from us. It almost looked like a street in NYC with tall buildings on either side.
Bad picture but you get the idea!
We pulled away from the dock as the sun was setting and then we went to the 6:15 showing of Twice Charmed. This was the first time I saw this show and it is actually my favorite of the 3 Magic shows. We then went into the RockinBar D to catch Rich Purpuras family caberet show! We satvway in the back and laughed hysterically as he interacted with the kids. So funny!!! We had dinner at AP again my least favorite but the meal was very good. I was determined to go to 80s night as one of our travel companions said you can sleep when you are dead but Tom was fading fast. He went back to the cabin for a rest Linda called me and I went to the party with her and Debbie when we arrived, we were greeted by Jackie and Peggy, Janice and Linda, Suzadrew Suzanne and her friend WoW the DISers were well represented at this one.
This is actually a show with choreographed dance numbers by the entertainment staff; Suzanne was picked to be a Robert Plant girl .LOL. I was persuaded to get up on the dance floor and when I returned Tom had arrived .he got up to dance and almost flung a staff member off the dance floor (she survived to dance another day!)
We stayed until midnight and reluctantly returned to our cabin - we had a blast.
This was just a GREAT day and tomorrow we were going to Cozumel.
There were quite a few other passengers up on deck 10 enjoying the view.
I went to the deck 9 coffee station and ran into ibouncetoo and TiggersPal Jackie and Peggy. We got our coffee and sat up on deck 10. They were on the fence about going on the David and Ivan tour of the Chacchoben Ruins that was organized by the lovely Vanvmom Wendy. I convinced them that this was a not to be missed tour that they would NEVER have to do again ..so they agreed to meet the gang in the 3rd floor atrium lobby at 8:15 for the walk down the looooong pier.
Meanwhile, I wandered back to my room to wake up sleeping beauty a.k.a Tom. He was up and showered after he had received his wake-up call from Mickey Mouse - Times A Wasting! We headed up to Linda, Ed, Deb and Sarahs suite for our hot breakfast that we had ordered the night before NOT! It turns out that the concierge guests can get a hot breakfast AFTER 8:15 a.m. Not to be thwarted in our quest for food, Ed had gone up to Topsiders and gathered quite a bit of food hot and cold - for us. THANKS Ed!!!
We ate overlooking the beautiful beachfront of Costa Maya we were the first ship that docked (there would be three) so we had unobstructed views of the coastline. We then headed down to the Atrium to hook up with the rest of our 60 DIS friends who were taking the tour. We easily disembarked and proceeded down the pier; I stopped and took a quick picture of the ship good thing as the view was blocked by another ship when we returned. I also snapped pictures of the beach that was to the right of the pier as you walked toward the coast. It looked beautiful and I was told by another DISser that that is where he and his family spent the day, swimming and snorkeling.
A good thing to remember if I ever return to this area.
Our fearless leader Wendy lead us thru the shopping area and almost directly outside into the parking lot where we paid our $3 extortion fee (to have the bus pick us up at the port not in the town 3 miles away!) and boarded David and Ivans Yellow Buses. We were on the bus with Ivan who talked non-stop during our 40 minute ride to the ruins. We learned about the history of the Mayan people and their plight as they are being pulled into the modern world. It seems the Mexican government has decided to develop the area as a tourist destination in the same way as they developed Cancun and Cozumel. My impression from Ivans presentation is that the local people did not have a say in this decision and that they were struggling with the many changes good and bad that are taking place.
Linda and Pat taking a break.
I would highly recommend this tour as a small glimpse into the past the history of the area is amazing and it is unbelievable HOW these primitive people were able to build the pyramids/temples without tools. Chacchoben is a small site so it was not too difficult to walk around the area.
And they save the BEST for last although it involves walking up about 30 BIG steps, I went sideways! it is worth the climb.
Sarah & Linda on the bottom, Pat and Tom on the TOP!!! (with arms UP!)
We wearily returned to the bus where another employee of the company took us home Ivan was staying on to meet another tour. We had an uneventful ride home although it did include a violent heavy downpour that lasted 10 minutes. To reassure the people at the back of the bus I was in the second row and the windshield wipers WERE on. You couldnt see them because the drivers seat was below the level we were sitting at and the windshireld was divided into 2 sections the upper section that we were looking thru didnt have wipers but the lower section where the driver was sitting did.
Arrived back at the pier hot and thirsty where were those drinks! We headed back to the ship without stopping to shop. As we turned the corner of the pier to get to the MAGIC Tom realized he had left his hat on the bus .bummmer. He went back but the bus was gone. Linda and gang went back to their stateroom I went up to deck 9 in search of lunch.
Topsiders was still open so I ate there and waited for Tom to return. I suddenly didnt feel well so returned to my cabin and lay down for 30 minutes. Tom found me there we rested for a while (nap!) I called Linda and met her in her suite at 4:30 to sit on the balcony for a while.
As the sun set, it was cool looking out at the ship that was across the dock from us. It almost looked like a street in NYC with tall buildings on either side.
Bad picture but you get the idea!
We pulled away from the dock as the sun was setting and then we went to the 6:15 showing of Twice Charmed. This was the first time I saw this show and it is actually my favorite of the 3 Magic shows. We then went into the RockinBar D to catch Rich Purpuras family caberet show! We satvway in the back and laughed hysterically as he interacted with the kids. So funny!!! We had dinner at AP again my least favorite but the meal was very good. I was determined to go to 80s night as one of our travel companions said you can sleep when you are dead but Tom was fading fast. He went back to the cabin for a rest Linda called me and I went to the party with her and Debbie when we arrived, we were greeted by Jackie and Peggy, Janice and Linda, Suzadrew Suzanne and her friend WoW the DISers were well represented at this one.
This is actually a show with choreographed dance numbers by the entertainment staff; Suzanne was picked to be a Robert Plant girl .LOL. I was persuaded to get up on the dance floor and when I returned Tom had arrived .he got up to dance and almost flung a staff member off the dance floor (she survived to dance another day!)
We stayed until midnight and reluctantly returned to our cabin - we had a blast.
This was just a GREAT day and tomorrow we were going to Cozumel.
I kept thinking... maybe he drives in this stuff all the time... it is a straight rode after all... you know, anything to comfort myself and live happily in my state of denial! 
We were on the original Ivan bus both ways (driver was Dolphino, I believe). The driver was by the door when I got on and I was given water...but I don't think he was standing there the whole time, so that's probably why some folks didn't get any. 
hosted along with her sister Debbie 
tomorrow
LOVE that Double Dip!
