My family and I had an amazing time on our cruise. While
the ship boasted many pleasures, such as dance clubs, a casino, a variety of shows
and restaurants, a large portion of our time was spent outdoors with the
natives. We went on several guided tours of the Cayman Islands, Roatan Honduras,
Belize and Cozumel Mexico.
the ship boasted many pleasures, such as dance clubs, a casino, a variety of shows
and restaurants, a large portion of our time was spent outdoors with the
natives. We went on several guided tours of the Cayman Islands, Roatan Honduras,
Belize and Cozumel Mexico.
I finally got a chance to go snorkeling, with stingrays (yikes). Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures to show you because I was
so enraptured by the moment that it didn’t occur to me to take a couple of
snapshots. It was such a cool experience. Although, I was very squeamish at first. The stingrays
were bigger than I expected and looked positively prehistoric. Before stepping into the water, I had visions of suffering the same
fate as the late Steve Irwing (the crocodile hunter). But my fears were soon quieted by my snorkeling instructor who clarified that stingrays are very docile creatures. He also explained that their sharp barbs
so enraptured by the moment that it didn’t occur to me to take a couple of
snapshots. It was such a cool experience. Although, I was very squeamish at first. The stingrays
were bigger than I expected and looked positively prehistoric. Before stepping into the water, I had visions of suffering the same
fate as the late Steve Irwing (the crocodile hunter). But my fears were soon quieted by my snorkeling instructor who clarified that stingrays are very docile creatures. He also explained that their sharp barbs
were clipped
short in order to eliminate the threat of injuries to the people of the island. Even after we found out that
little piece of information, my mother and my little brother Alex refused to even glance at the water — such babies, lol.
Fact: The Cayman Islands have the misfortune of being the number one destination for hurricanes
Belize was by far the hottest area I have ever
encountered, bar none. The humidity was
so thick, you could practically taste it. But the people there were so
generous. They saw our discomfort to the extreme heat and offered us a couple
of chairs with some shade and bottled water. We really appreciated their courtesy because
later that day my mother felt so ill that I had to take her to the ship’s
emergency room. A brief examination
proved she was dehydrated. A couple hours later, after some rest and a few glasses of H2O, she was good as new.
encountered, bar none. The humidity was
so thick, you could practically taste it. But the people there were so
generous. They saw our discomfort to the extreme heat and offered us a couple
of chairs with some shade and bottled water. We really appreciated their courtesy because
later that day my mother felt so ill that I had to take her to the ship’s
emergency room. A brief examination
proved she was dehydrated. A couple hours later, after some rest and a few glasses of H2O, she was good as new.
Fact: English is the official language in Belize but
Spanish is also widely spoken
Spanish is also widely spoken
We were quite adventurous eaters on the ship, we
tried escargot (snails), frog Legs, alligator and shark. I’m such a picky eater so I’m still shocked
that I tried all those exotic dishes. They were unexpectedly delicious, perhaps
because they were prepared by esteemed chefs.
tried escargot (snails), frog Legs, alligator and shark. I’m such a picky eater so I’m still shocked
that I tried all those exotic dishes. They were unexpectedly delicious, perhaps
because they were prepared by esteemed chefs.
I was surprised by the number of people who were inebriated on the ship. I think we were the only sober ones. With some drinks at a whopping
$8.50-$9.00 a glass, they must have had a strong commitment to liquor. We also visited a tequila factory in Mexico
and they were giving children as young as six years old samples. The parents
were all for it, I guess when in Mexico… It was such a crazy sight.
Fact: Tequila is the national drink of Mexico
My mother made a very good point during our trip. Each time we arrived
at a destination our ship would dock near commercial centers which were
exclusively maintained by the Carnival cruise line. Therefore, anything we
purchased on those islands would be lining their pockets, leaving
the locals who are in need of our business without a single dime. So, we made a conscious choice to interact and
purchase most of our knick knacks from local street vendors and business
owners who were not employed by the cruise line. It would be unfair not to do so.
at a destination our ship would dock near commercial centers which were
exclusively maintained by the Carnival cruise line. Therefore, anything we
purchased on those islands would be lining their pockets, leaving
the locals who are in need of our business without a single dime. So, we made a conscious choice to interact and
purchase most of our knick knacks from local street vendors and business
owners who were not employed by the cruise line. It would be unfair not to do so.
The locals in each of the islands we visited were incredibly patient, nurturing and
humble people. We were in Honduras when my mother heard about the earthquake
that struck New York. Frazzled with fear,
she searched for a phone for about two hours to no avail. Until finally, a nice
woman who sold five dollar conch shells with her seven young children in tow, allowed
her to use her personal cell phone to contact my grandmother — free of charge. Back on the ship, that call would have cost us
fifty American dollars. We bought five conch shells from her that day.
humble people. We were in Honduras when my mother heard about the earthquake
that struck New York. Frazzled with fear,
she searched for a phone for about two hours to no avail. Until finally, a nice
woman who sold five dollar conch shells with her seven young children in tow, allowed
her to use her personal cell phone to contact my grandmother — free of charge. Back on the ship, that call would have cost us
fifty American dollars. We bought five conch shells from her that day.
Fact: One American
dollar is the equivalent of seventeen Honduras dollars. However, Honduras money
is worthless elsewhere
dollar is the equivalent of seventeen Honduras dollars. However, Honduras money
is worthless elsewhere
It was a definite
first and a pleasure for me to be around so many individuals with a limited amount
of funds but such an abundantly rich outlook on life. Their joie de vivre was
palpable. They cherished the little things, (like picking a ripe mango from a
mango tree) which one of our tour guides did by the way. She stopped our van and practically ran into
incoming traffic to a nearby mango tree and brought back a bucket full of mangoes for
everyone, they were so juicy. I’ve
always been a little envious of people who would cherish the little things. It’s such
a simple life lesson yet I’ve never really committed to it. After this
trip, I’ll definitely make a valid effort of incorporating the little things into my daily
life.
first and a pleasure for me to be around so many individuals with a limited amount
of funds but such an abundantly rich outlook on life. Their joie de vivre was
palpable. They cherished the little things, (like picking a ripe mango from a
mango tree) which one of our tour guides did by the way. She stopped our van and practically ran into
incoming traffic to a nearby mango tree and brought back a bucket full of mangoes for
everyone, they were so juicy. I’ve
always been a little envious of people who would cherish the little things. It’s such
a simple life lesson yet I’ve never really committed to it. After this
trip, I’ll definitely make a valid effort of incorporating the little things into my daily
life.
Check out a few pictures of my Caribbean vacation
below.
below.
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