Sea Day On Carnival Imagination

Posted on February 14, 2013February 14, 2013 by Dusty Roads

As I write this post there’s another Carnival Ship being towed to Alabama from their failed Gulf Cruise. The Carnival Cruise ship Triumph was disabled on Monday by an engine fire. The ship is carrying more than 4000 people between guests and crew with some reports as high as 4500. The ship was 55 miles off the Mexican coast when the fire happened. Conditions since then have really gone downhill. I would not like to be on that ship! To think only a little more than a week ago we were on the Imagination in the same area! We could have been on there!

Luckily our ship didn’t have any problems. In fact we had an uneventful day at sea the last day. The cruise director had loads of activities planned. We watched the “Hairy Man” competition and the ice carving exhibition.

The lunch buffet was a bit fancier than usual with ice cream swans.

Sorry they melt fast and when we had them make us a fresh one we forgot to take the picture before eating it! 🙂

We finally got some sunny weather too.

There were trivia contests and time to look at all of the photos the ship-azzazzi photographers had been taking. There was even time to grab a nap in the afternoon. The evening was spent at dinner and the farewell show. It was all a nice relaxed pace but plenty to do.

One thing we never got to was the Casino. We walked by it plenty of times, talked about trying it for a bit but just never got there. I’m definitely not a gambler and I don’t think Joe is either so it wasn’t missed at all. Still I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there was a casino for those so inclined.

Arriving back at our cabin for our last night we had our last towel art. I can’t call this one an animal. But very appropriate for a Post on Valentine’s day, don’t you think?

Time to leave Mexico Behind

Posted on February 13, 2013February 13, 2013 by Dusty Roads

It was time to start back to the ship. I left the ruins through the hole in the wall and caught the tram back to the marketplace and parking area.

Now I had the most uncomfortable experience of the whole trip. I know that in many countries market places are filled with pretty aggressive stall merchants. It’s one thing to read about it but quite another to be subject to it. I don’t know if it was because I was alone when I stepped off the tram or because I was a woman or if this is just their way. It’s possible it’s all an act for the gringos but I didn’t like it.

In any case I wanted to look in the market place. I didn’t have much money on me but I was curious. Big mistake. The proprietors ran at me waving mayan calendars, or another big one was cigars. At first I tried to make light and laugh it off saying no-no I don’t smoke and things like that. But as I got away from one another was there in front of me pitching their wares and they had an answer for everything. I broke away from them with “Buy, Buy for your husband, buy for your friend, take back to America”…ringing in my ears.

I’m sure they need the money. The area is clearly poor by American standards but the aggressive approach certainly drove me away rather than encouraging me to buy anything. I was relieved to get back to the bus where they were handing out cold cloths and water.

The ride back to the docks was uneventful. It was dark by this time and I think everyone was tired. It was time to try out our guide’s advice for avoiding seasickness.

We took seats on the lower deck and waited. News finally came that another tour bus was stuck in traffic because of an accident and we had to wait for them. Once they finally arrived the crew wasted no time in casting off. I was still wearing my patch but I tried Paula’s tips and it seemed to work. The return to Cozumel was much easier than the morning trip.

We arrived back at the cruise ship about 9:30 pm ship’s time. Although we had covered many time zones the ship never changed the time. We were still on EST time. Unfortunately the delay leaving Mexico made us miss dinner. We wandered down to the Lido deck where the late night offerings were being picked through. We settled on Pizza. Not my first choice of food before bed but better than nothing.

Tomorrow would be a day at sea with no ports of call.

We headed back to our cabin to be greeted by another Towel Animal. This time a frog. 🙂 Love those little surprises.

Can you see the Face in Stone?

Posted on February 12, 2013February 12, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Mayan carvings are always features in NatGeo specials. Also in those Ancient Alien shows to support the idea that we were visited by aliens/ space travelers in ancient times. Whatever the reason a trip to Mayan Ruins would feel incomplete if there wasn’t at least one carving.

At Tulum the guidebooks talk about frescos and paintings but they were not open to the public when we were there but we still got to see a face carved in stone.

Can you see it?

How about now? See the eyes, the mouth?

Or from this angle? You can even make out the nose in this one.

Pretty amazing!

The Beach at Tulum

Posted on February 11, 2013February 11, 2013 by Dusty Roads

The beach at Tulum is one of the most visited parts of the site and it’s easy to see why.

Even on an overcast, dreary day the sea was a beautiful aquamarine.

Maybe not crowded, but there were still quite a few people enjoying the water.

Imagine what it would be like on a sunny day!

Like a post card!

On the point a ruin stands alone.

Some research speculates that this was a Mayan “lighthouse” .

It’s certainly in the right place.

Tulum Ruins

Posted on February 10, 2013February 10, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Location, location, location…the mantra of the real estate industry was true even in Mayan times. Tulum’s greatest attraction is its location. The walled city perched on a bluff facing the rising sun offers nothing less than spectacular views. Tulum is also different because it is a “walled city” and the Mayan’s were not known for building fortified cities. Research suggests that Tulum was originally called Zama, meaning “to dawn” , which makes sense given its location.

It is speculated that Tulum was not so much conquered by the Spaniards as destroyed by the Old World diseases they brought which wiped out the native people who had no resistance. So like so many cities, Tulum was abandoned to the elements.