Magical Double Dip Trip Report (11/11/06)

[Vanvmom]

Tuesday...Costa Maya Day! I woke up early to watch the ship pull into port. Yes the water truly is that blue! I've seen it in photos, but always wanted to see it in real life Watching the ocean is such a peaceful experience for me, one of those "life is amazing" moments. Here is a photo of the port as we were approaching. We docked at the far end of the section to the right.

There were about 60 DISers that had reserved the ruins tour through David and Ivan, so I had contacted them about meeting us at the port with transportation so that all of us did not have to taxi to the Cat's Meow. Several of us met in the Atrium at 8:15 and then headed down the LONG pier to the port. The pier itself is pretty easy to navigate "we're walking, we're walking" but then we hit the port and it quickly becomes a case of the blind leading the blind. How do we get out?! We know there will be 2 large tour buses waiting for us on the other side if we can only find the door out! After a few wrong turns, we finally found it They checked each family in, we paid the port for our transportation, and into the nice air-conditioned buses.

Ivan was the tour guide for our bus ride to the ruins. He talked the whole way there about the culture, the ruins, and the effect of progress on his village. Speaking of his village, my family brought along a bag of supplies for the school in Ivan's village. Being a teacher, we brought pencils, erasers, and a big package of glue sticks. Ivan was so excited about the glue sticks. He said the kids LOVE them, and do not have regular access to them. They normally use "used" gum for glue. Resourceful yes, but glue sticks are much more fun.

It was very humid that day, and when we arrived at the ruins we each grabbed a bottle of water that Ivan had provided and stopped for a quick restroom break before we started our tour. Ivan provided some citronella bug spray that worked great. The ruins are wonderful, and our two buses were the first 2 to arrive that day. We divided up into smaller groups for the personal tour, and our family went with Elliju (pronounced almost like hey you) as our guide. We saw some small jungle animals I've only seen in zoos before. One the guide said tasted similar to greasy goat. Now that's appetizing! Maybe I'll pass on that one.

Here's a photo of our family in front of the ruins:

When the tour was over my family ended up on the other bus to travel back to the port. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the woman who was our guide on the ride back. She had the bus driver stop along the roadside during the drive to purchase some fresh pineapple from some ladies selling it along the road. For $1 she bought enough pineapple with chili powder for everyone on the bus to enjoy. She told us stories about family life in the villages - oldest son helps dad work, oldest daughter helps babysit the kids at home. I reminded my oldest DS how lucky he is to be able to go to school instead of having to help provide the income for our family.

It started to rain on the drive back to the port and the driver just kept on driving without using the windshield wipers. I'll tell myself it was because he didn't need them and not that they were broken. Yes, let me live in my dream world - I like it here!

When we got back to the port we thought about shopping, but the vendors were too aggressive for my taste so we went back to the ship to eat lunch and rest before dinner. Here is a final photo of my family on the pier as we headed back to the ship.

 

[jerry112]

Hi Wendy,

I see that your older son and my son became fast friends on the cruise. I recognized your son in the picture of your family at Costa Maya. I have a great group picture of my son, your son, Zoe, and a couple of other boys in their group. Since I have no idea how to send pictures, I will have to enlist my husbands help to send you a copy of it if you would like.

I wish I had more time to meet everyone on this cruise, but time seemed to fly by. My son had a blast, but unfortunately, can't seem to remember the names of the kids in his little group. Except for Zoe, of course!

You're lucky you got to ride home from the excursion on another bus. We also rode in with Ivan and loved his introduction, but on the way back, we had a young lady who wasn't very talkative. She collected the money and that was it. No pineapple stop. I was very disappointed. We also were supposed to have lunch with the mayan family, but that was cancelled at the last minute. Bummer! We did, however, love Ivan's tour and passion for his homeland.

Let me know about the picture,
Karen

 

[ibouncetoo]

You're lucky you got to ride home from the excursion on another bus. We also rode in with Ivan and loved his introduction, but on the way back, we had a young lady who wasn't very talkative. She collected the money and that was it. No pineapple stop. I was very disappointed. We also were supposed to have lunch with the mayan family, but that was cancelled at the last minute. Bummer! We did, however, love Ivan's tour and passion for his homeland.

Karen

We also had the 'adventure' of riding through the rain with no windshield wipers!

 

[jerry112]

We also had the 'adventure' of riding through the rain with no windshield wipers!

Yes, I almost forgot about that. That was really bothering my poor DH!!

 

[Vanvmom]

My DH slept right through the windshield wiper ordeal He did wake up when the rain came through the edges of the window and got his arm all wet. That man can sleep anywhere!

Thanks Karen, I'd love a copy of any of the photos of the teens. Jake took a camera a couple of times, but sometimes the flash did not work right and the photos are too dark. Jake has talked to Zoie many times since the cruise (she lives about 2 hours away from us). He's also talked with Tim (Alisbarc's son) and Jenny (non-DIS but lives in NY and hung out with their gang). One of the other teens in their group is Josh who lives about 12 houses away from us. We talked them into cruising with us, and have known them for over 10 years. Jake and Josh are in most of the same classes in middle school and both had work to submit on-line while we were on the cruise so that they could get credit for time they missed from school.

 

[mom2of2]

Hi Wendy

Jonathan has heard from Jenny and Zoe a few times and I *think* they have some group photos. I will ask Jonathan to have them email them to him.

here's a pic of our group

 

[GrayFal]

Hi Wendy

Jonathan has heard from Jenny and Zoe a few times and I *think* they have some group photos. I will ask Jonathan to have them email them to him.

here's a pic of our group

It is difficult to recognize your group without the pork
BTW, my 4 oz container of cottage cheese was confiscated at airport security on the way home...good thing your mom packed it!​

 

[jerry112]

Wendy, I e-mailed you the picture. What a nightmare having to submit work on-line while cruising. At least he is finished (hopefully). My son spent all Thanksgiving weekend doing reports and is still catching up. I'm afraid when he is in high school next year we won't be able to take him out for vacations. He said it's really hard to catch up and as much fun as he had on the cruise he doesn't want to miss.

mom2of2-my son also recognized your Jonathan. He can't stop talking about the great time he had.

I never even realized he was with so many disers. He met more of you all than I did!

Karen

 

[Vanvmom]

The three girls I saw with the group of DIS guys the most were Zoie, Jenny and Joanna. None of the girls are DIS families. Zoie lives in Reno, Jenny in NY, and Joanna's dad works for DVC. That's all the info I gathered.

 

[michelle9343]

Wendy
Greta report!!!I can't wait to read the rest!!!!

 

[Vanvmom]

I can't believe I had to go back to work today Yes, I know most of you have already returned to work, but we planned this vacation so that we would have Thanksgiving week as a post vacation breather! We got most of our Christmas shopping done (as well as shopping for our oldest DS's birthday in a couple of weeks), and we also put our tree up. So we did get a lot done during that week while we were trying to re-adjust to west coast time.

But, back to work today for me, and back to China today for DH. It was nice seeing him over vacation, and he'll be back before Christmas In the meantime, this is our relationship (except substitute a couple of laptops for the desktop version, and put a "coke light" in his hand instead of a cup of coffee!

I'm sorting through everything we brought home - I know they tell you on CC to leave everything there that you may find, but someone has GOT to tell me how we were supposed to leave all of that sand there! It came home on sandals, it came home on snorkels and fins, it even came home on suncreen containers I tried! I really tried to leave everything there!

I'm hoping to write more of my trip report later today.

 

[Hannosmom]

Great trip report, Wendy! You've had me cracking up at the computer.

I know exactly what you mean about the sand. Two years ago in St. Maarten, DH's rolling cooler was swamped by a big wave and has been leaking sand from the wheels ever since. I think of it as a nice (but messy) souvenier.

 

[Vanvmom]

I got side tracked, I was working on updating my cruise website (for the benefit of my non DIS friends). Now my son needs the computer... something about homework ????

 

[Vanvmom]

Oh My Gosh...I must be NUTS! Not sure how I did it, but I forgot to include our first sea day. Yes, after our first wonderful day at CC we spent a day at sea before going to Costa Maya. Guess I was just too relaxed to remember to include it.

SO>>>> here goes, OUR FIRST SEA DAY!

We had Palo Brunch scheduled for this day, so we slept it. How wonderful it is to spend a glorious day basking away at CC, then to sleep in and have nothing planned until a Palo Brunch! My older 2 sons went to Topsiders on their own and then were off to hang with their friends in the club, ocean quest, and the stack. I took the youngest DS to topsiders where he enjoyed yet another Mickey waffle with strawberries. I think he ate this most days for breakfast (sort of like how he ate chicken strips most evenings for dinner). After breakfast he went to Oceaneers Club to make Flubber and create monsters in Monstropolis.

Our group of 8 adults had a date at Palo for brunch. When we booked on-line, we could not get a table for 8, but we could get 2 tables for 4 and were told on-board that we could get them next to each other. Ciao Romano was our server. He was great, and the food was wonderful. If you only have a chance to do one meal at Palo, I would suggest it be brunch. I've done dinner at Palo twice, and neither time was as good as brunch. We have a Palo dinner scheduled later in the week, and asked Ciao Romano if he would be our server again. He even volunteered to put our two tables together into one table for 8 when we return for dinner on Thursday.

Like most sea days, this one was very relaxing. After brunch DH returned to the cabin for a nap (perfect cruise plan for him)! I picked up youngest DS - Riley from the club and we walked the ship. We played shuffleboard with the teen group for a while (thanks to oldest DS and the pals he was hanging out with). Riley enjoyed some ice-cream, bought a stuffed Pluto in a Capt. suit (Pluto is his favorite character, and he LOVES his stuffed friends).

Here's a photo of my oldest DS doing his homework to submit on-line while we are on vacation. BTW, there are more options for wireless internet usage, but overall, they cost more per minute than the internet cafe usage. Also, you can not share minutes between internet cafe and wireless.

Dinner that night was formal night, and we were to eat in Animators Palate so our friends would be able to see the AP show. We all met in the room at 5pm to start getting ready for dinner. I'd sent all the boys shirts to be pressed, and everything was ready to go. We only went with "semi" for our formal wear as even SEMI is very FORMAL for our group.

As the boys were getting ready I discovered that the nylons I'd made a special trip to Kohls for the day we left town were no where to be found! I know I packed them, and can even remember where and in which bag they should have been in. Now I know the rooms are spacious, but there are just very few places in a CAT 9 room that a pair of new in the package nylons can go! I'm going looking all over both cabins. I've now pulled every bag out of the closets and out from under the bed. I've opened them all and searched in places the nylons should not be, just in case I lost my mind and put them somewhere in error. DH is beginning to think I am nuts! "It is just a pair of nylons. You look great even without them," he says. Thanks dear! You're the greatest - now where are those nylons!!! I know he was being supportive, but I just don't feel like the look is complete without the nylons. Did I mention that in a normal world I HATE to wear nylons? We are supposed to be at dinner in 5 minutes and I decide to just go to dinner. I refuse to be a Kevin Yee and feel like everyone is looking at me to make a dining wear faux paux (inside joke for those who followed the threads on Kevin Yee's review of DCL).

Needless to say, not one person mentions my lack of nylons (or my GHASTLY pale legs). I'm from CA, I should have SOME color in my legs... it is only November, and the sun shines in CA all year! But you know what? No one CARES! I enjoy dinner, we walk the ship afterwards, we have photos taken by the Christmas tree in the atrium, and I enjoy myself. Here is a photo of our group at dinner.

 

[Dreamer04]

I am really enjoying your trip report! Can't wait for more!

 

[TiggersPal]

Hey girl, I'm waiting...for more trip report! I'm so glad your writing one, no matter what each of our experiences were hearing someone else's is always a delight! I too, could not believe the colors of that water! Word and photos do NOT describe it. Nor the feel of the ocean breeze on my face each night and morning... I miss it ~!

I just think your boys are so adorable... so glad we had a chance to meet, and share... big hugs to you and the family!

 

[Vanvmom]

So, now that the past is current, I can jump forward to the end of our Costa Maya day! This is 80's Night in Rockin Bar D. Now due to my age (which we WON'T go into) I love 80s music! Not that I listened to it in HS, but maybe I did - at least I was in HS when MTV hit the scene, and I remember parking myself in front of the TV to watch the Thriller music video premiere. But I digress! We loved this show last cruise and wanted to see it again. As we were walking in to Rockin Bar D before the show starts, I hear my name and see people waving. Now I'm not wearing my glasses on the cruise, so I just assume it is people I know and start walking toward them! Yes, I'm right, it is a group of DISers (at least it is the DISer women... are the men afraid to go to this show)? I brought my husband along!

So, we get a seat in the 2nd row. You know, close enough to enjoy the show without being close enough to be a PART of the show. In walk a couple from our traveling group and before you know it Jenny is up on stage dancing away to Addicted to Love (with her DH quickly snapping photos). Lucky for us, no one in our group gets given a glow necklace - that's cruise speak for "chosen to be in the show." The show was the same as last cruise, but I still very much enjoyed it. The cruise staff does a great Michael Jackson tribute - I wasn't much of a fan of his at the time, but he sure does have some identifying dance moves!

As the cruise staff portion of the show ended and Ntwine took the stage I had to leave. It looks like they practice in front of a mirror, and are very precise with their dance moves - that part is entertaining. I just could not get past the fact that in almost every song someone sings a few notes off key. Now it is likely I would sing off key too if I were on stage, but luckily for everyone in the room, Disney is not paying me to get up there and sing. I felt a bit like Simon Cowell - "sorry, that just doesn't work for me. You're not going to Hollywood." I think I may have been spoiled a bit by the Charles Marshall Band - those guys were great! Yes, I did mention my view of the band to Keyon when he asked why we were leaving the party.

Next up... Cozumel!

 

[chichihoney]

nice trip report wendy.

 

[woody73]

You party animal!

Woody

 

[Vanvmom]

SO... any guesses as to what this is?

My guess was that it was possibly result of towel animal inbreeding!