IT’S SO NEW TO ME, WHAT YOU DO TO ME!

British Honduras, renamed Belize on September 21, 1981, the day they became independent and separate from Great Britain.

(approaching Belize, the port is not deep enough to dock so must use tenders, I call them liberty launches)

I remember a Petty Officer Walker, I worked with  who was always working on a city layout for Belize. He wanted to go there and develop, Thus sitting up a small area for his church, the LDS. I don’t know if Walker ever achieved his dream or not, but he worked toward it.

(below is from the tender as we went ashore)

Anyway that was the first I had heard of Belize. Belize is a poor country with a rich heritage. At one time it was famous for it’s Mahogany. Now the chief export is sugar and the main hiring industry is the banana industry.

Our main interest in Belize is the Mayan Ruins of xxxxx. This proved to be the first mistake of mine, on the tour. I prepaid a company called ‘portpromotions.com’ for an excursion to the ‘Ruins of Altun Ha’. Wewere supposed to meet under a sign ‘The Best of the Caribbean’. The sign was not there, we waited for 3 hours going on 4. In the mean time folks would call the tour company via phone for us and say they were on their way.

This guy seemed to be the muscle around, he worked for  ‘Butts UP’ tours. He also called and said they would be there.

We were the last to leave, but leave we did, with a sweet young lady and a driver who is kin to Richard Petty (LOL),

Our first stop in the van was a Gas station, read it and weep, less than 5 gallons is $49.61, $10.81 a gallon!!!

This was my girl friend in the seat ahead of me. She kept making eyes at me. Her grandpa sat beside me.

Today Sept 21 is their Independence Day, so a big parade and stores mostly closed, we were able to get out of town avoiding the parade.

Shops closed along the way.

I could not understand the tour guide (English is the official language of Belize, the only Central American country where this is true).  Sherry said there were 4 major highways in Belize and we were going to travel Two of them. WOW! Are you ready for this?? This horse is loose,

And that bus ahead is on a two way highway. Richard Petty, our driver, drove on this 10 ft wide road, managing to pass busses, carts and cars. Approaching head on, just before an apparent collision, both would drop off on the shoulder and skin by. I loved it!!!

Some sites along the road to Altun Ha.

Shacks and huts along the way. And a scary looking tree with something akin to a parasite cactus. It looked like a tree full of snakes to me.

Our first mound at the ruins was this very high altar. No human sacrifices were made at Altun Ha.

Views of the ball field (the game a combo of Soccer and basket ball.) Bad news here. The winners of the game were beheaded. The Mayans believed they should sacrifice only the best to the gods.  (I betcha I would not have played too well!! lol)

#83 is the lowest of the ruins and below is the highest of the temple ruins.

She says I always take pictures of her hinny, You take pictures of what you like, and I like hers!!, besides I am usually behind. We are climbing the highest Temple now.

A view from the top.

This stop is going into extra innings, I will continue The Altun Ha ruins tomorrow!

Thanks for coming with us.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Did I read this sign right?

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK).

??Car of the day??

This is a 1950’s Chrysler product, either a plymouth or a dodge. do you know? I have forgotten.

BOOM, WHAT YOU DO TO ME!

We spent a day cruising South southwest. towards the Yucatan Peninsula.  We walked a lot and only used an elevator twice. Once when I wanted some pictures from the ‘pretty’ elevators in the main lobby and once when we were disembarking with our suitcases. These pictures are of one of the swimming pools and the ladder going down to the 9th deck. where the pools are located. Is that Sea water beautiful or what? I just love the blue water. (There is another pool on the other side of the White radar bubble)

We did eat in the dining hall in the evening. They have two evenings they call the dress ‘Cruise Elegant’. Some folk actually wear tuxedo and long gowns, but they are no longer ‘REQUIRED’. Sport clothes and casual is accepted, but not t-shirts, shorts and swim wear. I like that, I was afraid they expected formal dress.  We don’t do that.

After dinner and sometimes before dessert, the dining room becomes festive, some waiters don the festive clothes, they all dance and move to a jumpy tune.

Our first stop was Cozumel, Mexico. We didn’t plan to leave the ship much but wanted to climb off just to look around.

Costumed folk greeted you for picture times. These are ships photographers and folks hired for pictures purposes. You find real quick on a cruise, it is pictures selling time ‘all the time’. Professional photo’s can be purchased at $10-$12 dollars each.

There are many tours at each port. you are in at the most 8hrs. In this case we were tied up at a pier, making access to shore simple. Below is a diving/snorkeling tour group on their out going boat.

We chose to just walk a little ways, the tropical flowers and greenery are just beautiful. Not quiet as pretty as my flower though.

I likes this place, especially the tropical tree growing like a candelabra.

While we were at Cozumel, Another Carnival ship arrived, the Triumph.

The tropical areas are very colorful, notice the bananas & flowers in this shop keepers hair.

Our Pilot boat (Required by the port) is returning to Cozumel, the Carnival Triumph is still tied up at the pier.

Back aboard the ship as we cruise, is an active water slide very popular with kids and adults alike, but not us. We are lookers (Like one of Paula’s cows)

One of the few ships we passed in open water. I really wish I had taken binoculars.

We departed Cozumel and headed for The small country of Belize. I enjoyed the evenings at sea. I have a deep love for the sea, I would not mind living on it.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Did I read this sign right?

In an office:
TOILET OUT OF ORDER...... PLEASE
USE FLOOR BELOW.

Today’s vehicle, the 1950 Pepsi truck……

Hot Zigiddy Dog Zigiddy Boom What…..

WE are back from 7 wonderful days, I  did not put the ‘away message’ on the e-mails so I had 250 to take care of.

Now, If I can remember what I am doing I will get this entry under way. I missed you guys and the interaction (well when I wasn’t other wise occupied with my dream girl). Wow, this girl  I married 55+ years ago is a tiger.

She kept finding men to pose with:

She didn’t leave me out!

Leaving Jack Jr. in charge of the Motor home we drove down to Tampa to board the Carnival Legend.

After getting aboard we had to wait until the staterooms were prepared. If you can imagine, from about 9AM that morning until 3PM every stateroom must be cleaned and prepared. This ship arrived at 7 on Sunday morning discharged it’s passengers and started accepting new passengers by noon. It sails again  at about 5PM. Amazing to me.

Sailing out of Tampa Port Authority we passed some beautiful huge murals painted on fuel tanks.

Sherry’s last phone conversation before the cells are turned off: She is standing on Deck 10.

Boats circling saying good bye. (Part of Tampa skyline),

lead out also by a Coast Guard Cutter.

We really wanted to see the Skyway bridge as we went under, but we were at dinner as we went under.

Entry to our stateroom:

These guys do wonders with towels this was a seal complete with attached eyes.

From our Balcony. This is listed as an ‘obstructed view’ balcony. Of course it is cheaper (would I go any other way?) lol. What you are seeing is life boats that hang just below the 5th deck, which we were on.

Below is the bathroom (I was supposed to have taken the picture before I messed it up!!!!)

Our coffee table kept fresh fruit on it.

And WE DID READ a lot. here is proof!!!

WE passed Islands and Ships, Tampa Bay is HUGE!

(Above was taken from our balcony)

Below is the main lobby of the ship. Called the Colossus. You are looking UP here, can you believe that standing figure in the painting is approximately 60 feet high. The white, umbrella looking object at the upper right is the bottom of an elevator on the way down. This is basically the center of the ship and how I kept my bearings inside the skin of the ship.

The rose colored glass at the very top is in the BIG STEAK house, below is the glass from the outside on the 11th or 12th deck.

This is an introduction to the cruise, we enjoyed it tremendously.  We were treated great. There were some ‘exciting times’ at the beginning when the phone rung. I will talk about that next time.

I will say that we traveled further South than we have ever been. Until this trip, Jamaica was the farthest  South we had been.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Did I read this sign right?

In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT.

I love ships, but nothing replaces the automobile:

(How else would a boy get over some mud holes?)