We don't wanna go home!!! Nov 1-8, 2008 Magic Western

[vanessa3198]

DH had seared tuna-

OOOOOOH!! One of my favorites!!
My cruise needs to get here... QUICKLY!

 

[podsnel]

Woke up this morning to the pre-coffee delivery phone ring- love to have that coffee delivered first thing in the morning- do you think I could arrange for that once we get home? We could see Mexico in the distance, and it looked like it would be a spectacularly GORGEOUS day- which it was!

Our plans were to go with Boyspapa's family and do the Royal Dolphin Swim at Chankanaab. DH & I had done a dolphin swim once before, when we were in the Bahamas, at the Blue Lagoon. So we were very excited for our kids to have this incredible experience and learn about these intelligent, amazing mammals. We would be docking at about 9:45 in Cozumel, so that left a little time in the morning for me to go up to the fitness center and work-out. I was riding the bike as we pulled closer to the port, and I really could not get over the beauty of Cozumel's water! It is such a deep azure, totally different from what i'm used to seeing in the Caribbean. Really vibrant! Anyway, I just would like to point out again that if I had access to that gym on the Magic at home, I would be in much, much better shape than I am at home working out at the Y! Watching a huge choice of Disney entertainment while the beautiful sea is all around you is a one of a kind experience not to be missed.

We hooked up with Carl & Donna and the boys and headed out into port at about 10:30 or 11, I think.

My kids were very curious about what Mexico would be like- I told them Mexico has a very...ummm...aggressive marketing policy. They're like, what do you mean? In 2 minutes of being in that port, DS11 said, "OH...I GET IT!!" Everyone selling everything and running after you with it was a big surprise, even DH who had never been to Mexico was stunned. It was pretty funny.

So we walk through the mall ignoring everyone, and make our way to the taxis.

Because Boyspapa and I had booked this together, we got got a great deal- included in our swim was roundtrip transportation and admission to Chankanaab, as well as we got a 5% discount off of all our swims. (FYI- DCL did not offer this excursion, they had a dolphin encounter here, or a swim at Dolphinaris, but it didn't include the foot push and was more $$ than the Royal Swim booked on our own). I am so glad we chose chankanaab, the park was really pretty and it offered a lot more than just a swim with the dolphins. We were approached by a guide who offered us a tour of their ruins and gardens, and we decided to do this because we thought it might be a good idea to learn a little bit about this country's culture while we were here. The tour was free, we just tipped him afterwards.

We were taken into a hut and a Mexican woman made tortillas and gave one to each of us with or without salsa- the adults loved them, I think the kids were not as excited!

An iguana poses for a pic-

We kept on thinking, these kids are going to start saying they're bored any second now, but ya know what? They never did! They really listened to everything this guide said! The ruins at Chankanaab are not actual ruins, they are replicas of different ruins from around the Yucatan peninsula. The guide was very insightful, and we all learned something by taking this little tour. I was very proud of all the boys for taking an interest and learning about this ancient culture.

Next...time for our Royal Swim!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Oh my gosh! This is a perfect picture of paradise!!! Wow...that is breathtaking.

 

[mismal]

thanks for the spa pics...maybe i will change my spa appointment to this vs a couple massge? Looks awesome...your photos make me feel like we are there! One month, 14 days but who is counting?
thanks again for the post!

 

[anewmac]

WOW... Those pics are breath taking.

Really think im going to have to get to the gym next time. Sounds like such a cool way to work out.

 

[Kay1]

I just can't wait for more pictures. You're doing such a beautiful job with this report. Thank you so much for sharing all this.

 

[Camster0307]

Oh my gosh! This is a perfect picture of paradise!!! Wow...that is breathtaking.

What he said!

Simply gorgeous, dahling!

 

[TigerKat]

What he said!

Simply gorgeous, dahling!

What she said!

Incredible, my dear!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow~ Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing! Your tour looks really interesting! That is something we missed out on in PV for sure

 

[podsnel]

thanks for the spa pics...maybe i will change my spa appointment to this vs a couple massge? Looks awesome...your photos make me feel like we are there! One month, 14 days but who is counting?
thanks again for the post!

The rasul is kind of a do-it-yourself massage, if you know what I mean... We did massages on Thursday, too.

WOW... Those pics are breath taking.

Really think im going to have to get to the gym next time. Sounds like such a cool way to work out.

It is an AMAZING way to work out!!

I just can't wait for more pictures. You're doing such a beautiful job with this report. Thank you so much for sharing all this.

Thanks! What a nice compliment!

Oh my gosh! This is a perfect picture of paradise!!! Wow...that is breathtaking.

What he said!

Simply gorgeous, dahling!

What she said!

Incredible, my dear!

Wow~ Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing! Your tour looks really interesting! That is something we missed out on in PV for sure

I think everyone I saw at Chankanaab was impressed with the beauty of it. It truly was a tropical paradise.

I'll be back soon with our dolphin swim- I've been sick, so too tired to be any good at writing about it-

E

 

[Camster0307]

I'll be back soon with our dolphin swim- I've been sick, so too tired to be any good at writing about it-

E

Ellen - Well that stinks being sick this time of year! I hope you feel better soon!

 

[TigerKat]

Hope you're feeling better soon my friend.

 

[wuv tigger]

Have a healthy holiday!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Feel Better!

 

[podsnel]

Hi! Thanks for all the get well wishes- I'm feeling much better today! Nothing like sleeping for nearly 24 hours to improve your health, I guess-

Anyway, I believe it was time to talk about the dolphin swim....

So, Boyspapa et al was signed up with us to do the Royal Dolphin Swim- we were brought to a room to watch a short video, then divided into groups (we were together with another couple). They took us over to the platform, we put on vests, and got in the water which was nice and warm- thank God!! I was dreading being in cold water for this like we were in the Bahamas years ago. The Royal Swim is the best experience they offer at Chankanaab, it includes a dance, kisses, a double fin ride and the foot push, along with just hanging in the water with the dolphins. We were standing on a platform, and when we would have to go out a little for a kiss or whatever, DH was helping our boys get out far enough by grabbing their vests and holding them out to the dolphins.

Hi there! (One of Boyspapa's DGS's is smiling with a dolphin in the backround)

DS9

I have no problem with DH kissing another girl, as long as she has fins!

Another of Carl's DGS's-

DS9 is going for a ride-

Donna & I make some new friends-

Hitching a ride-

DH gets a foot push (in the Bahamas, he had a hard time getting up out of the water- this time was much better for him-)

DS11 gets some kisses and a dance-

And then it's time for DH11 to fly-

Followed by me and then DS9-

We were all out of the water more than what these photos show, with DS9 looking like he was running on top of the water! It was hard for him to get started, and they were nice enough to send a trainer out there to help him get on the dolphins- they did not, however, do this for Boyspapa's younger Grandson, so he didn't really get to experience this. The trainer seemed to be more patient with my family than Carl's , which I really don't get. They should have sent a helper in the water for their youngest one, too.Anyway, we all did various amounts of things with the dolphins even though we all tried everything, but I think everyone would agree it was an amazing experience. I know DS9 STILL hasn't stopped talking about it, and I believe it gave both of my boys a lifelong love and respect for these mammals, which means alot to me. Prior to having kids, I was obsessed with dolphins- I used to volunteer at the NY Aquarium as a Docent and talk to people about the Beluga whales there, and I used to volunteer with the Marine Mammal Stranding center here in NJ. They are called to rescue any stranded sea mammals on any NJ coastline, including dolphins, whales and seal lions, and they also help out sea turtles. Anyway, it has always been important to me that my kids have an appreciation for the magnificence of these animals, and this experience, making a HUGE impression on them, succeeded in doing that. When we were done with our swim, they herded us all in a room to watch ourselves on the video that was made- which of course, we all bought along with all the photos they took. No way could I leave them there!!!

Next- hangin in Mexico!

 

[nikkistevej]

Love the dolphin pics!!! We are doing a Dolphin Excursion in June- and cannot wait!!!!

 

[TigerKat]

El - All I can say is WOW! AMAZING!

 

[podsnel]

A few more dolphin photos- in this one, you can the platform under the water-

Pucker-up, Boyspapa!

All that swimming made us very hungry, so next on our list of things to do was to eat lunch. The DSs had authentic Mexican chicken nuggets!

DH had a quesadilla-

And I had tacos, which I thought were yummy-

In case you were wondering, there is no alcohol served in the park. Not that we asked.

We wanted to go to the pool, so that's what we headed to next-

After the pool, we wanted to go see what this little cove was all about. We knew we were coming to the end of our time here, so didn't rent the snorkeling equipment. But as soon as we got into the water, I remembered what I had forgotten- watershoes!! I had read on here that the bottom was rocky, and the Dis does not lie!!

Well, DH was not interested in looking for fish anyway. He was interested in seeing the backs of his eyelids. So he plopped in one of these chairs, and according to him, this was the best part of the day!

White chair-GOOD!

The boys were getting restless- they were asking when we were going back to the boat so they could go to their clubs, so we made our way out of the park and back to the port. Bye bye, Chankanaab-

Hello cheesy tourist stuff!

Cont'd in the next post-

 

[Sophie_2003]

I love your TR. What an awesome day in Mexico. Did you find Chankanaab crowded (doesn't seem like it in the pics)? Pool looks nice!

 

[karajeboo]

I was thinking your DH is so photogenic that he looks like a game show host!

Of all the posts I just caught up on (and believe me, I've been sitting here a LOOOOONG time, neglecting work!) this one had me laughing so hard!!!! Kept thinking you were gonna tell us about your lovely parting gifts or something!

And NO, we didn't make it to WDW this month - wow, I sound like a spoiled brat, don't I? But we totally missed out on all the lights this year. Oh, well, there's always next year.

Your report is wonderful!!! I keep bringing it up to DH and he just rolls his eyes at me. He tells me we need to try this el cheapo Carnival cruise that leaves from here in town, just to make sure we enjoy the whole cruise thing. I'm a little concerned about it though..... Think we're gonna do something on Carnival in the spring to "test the waters" so to speak. I'm afraid that I will feel obligated to hop off in each port and rush rush rush. When we go to Jamaica, we do NOTHING but float in the pool, float in the ocean, oh, and hang by the pool bar. We have yet to see Dunns River Falls, we just do nothing but relax. We never leave the resort. So on a cruise will I feel like I HAVE to disembark in each port? That is the question.

OK, enough about me! On to your report! It's awesome!