KO and the Turk

happy hot tub Turk

As soon as Turk and I boarded the Oceania Insignia, we headed for the hot tub at the spa, knowing we'd have it to ourselves while everyone else headed for lunch. Nice way to start the trip!

The ship was still decorated for Christmas and we found out that includes Christmas cookies and treats which we kept finding in new locations.

Miami skyline and water - so much BLUE

decor included huge gingerbread town

working on my skills

Turk now loves 'shovel board'

Cozumel was first stop - but the winds were so strong that all boat excursions were cancelled, and hanging out at the beach would be a chore. So we wandered around, and didnt get to snorkel.

touristy turk

apparently, raccoons are special in Cozumel

We sailed further south to a cruise line-developed town near the border of Belize called Costa Maya - an entry point to see Mayan Ruins. First we were greeted by locals performing a Mayan sunrise ceremony to start the day!

very ACTIVE dance

Big Belly guy with carved face on belt

We took a 2 hour bus trip to Mayan site Dzibanche. It was inhabited 300-800 BC and was a warrior community that extended into Guatemala.

Temple of the Lintels

This site was recently opened after archeologists completed significant excavations and restored a section of a temple's walls so we can see the colors and images that were on the buildings.

restored wall, colors, images

Temple of the Cormorants

Then we traveled to Kohunlich site for more temples.

Palace of the stelae from 600AD

amazing stucco image -with bits of red paint

My favorite temple was this one - Temple of the Mascarones with preserved masks, each level representing the lineage of the ruling family.

More images!

Next stop was Belize where we took a boat to see the ruins of Lamanai.

black orchid - Belize national flower

our boat awaits

happy Turk

now I know what Lamanai means!

Mask Temple

High Temple, yes I climbed it

at the top of High Temple!

Jaguar Temple

Then, on to Rhoatan where we were the only ship in port! And most of our 600 passengers did not disembark. So, The Turk and I had the island to ourselves, and the locals. We took a short trot on horses to the beach, then shopped for chocolate, then hung out at the beach at a cute bar/restaurant. The kitchen was a block away and I watched the kids while their mom prepared our food...after serving us drinks.

Rhoatan greeters at the port, not very active

ready to go on our steads. Mine didnt go...

my horse needed 'prompting'

official Rhoatan photo

made it to the beach!

my huge mojito mocktail!

I did go swimming

seafood soup in coconut milk and ceviche - HUGE

Rhoatan was lovely, and friendly. We met locals and expats - all encouraging us to move there. The pace of life was relaxing, except when multiple cruise ships arrived. Then, we were told, the tourists would outnumber the townspeople.

We were happy to have had a quiet, few tourist, visit. But by day's end, we made it back to the mothership for the journey to Jamaica...

what is left of the port buildings after 185mph Melissa

creative port-a-potty name at port!

Jamaica looked like Florida after being hit with a major hurricane. The trees were leafless. It looked like someone took a weed wacker to their branches. Power lines were still laying beside the roads, despite most of the power being finally restored a couple weeks before we arrived (2 months after the hurricane). The people were joyous and optimistic.

We traveled down the coast to an activity center that opened just for us. From there, we visited a farm to learn about local medicines, took a big jeep to climb up the hills to look around. Then a lesson on making jerk from a chef, and Appleton Rum tasting! Turk took his own bottle home.

German cruise ship and full rainbow!

beach dogs loving the activity center

local medicines

our all terrain chariot

chef teaching jerk!

Jamaica repair materials via front and back of car

tropical sunset

Cayman was our last stop in this trip. What a change from the other stops. This town is quite international and has a lot of wealth. Buildings and roads are in good repair around the main town. After a morning bike, headed to beautiful 7 mile beach. WOW - that water was so clear, pure aqua, and didnt even feel salty.

Then we found a local restaurant and tried curry goat with a drink made from steeping the bark of the Mauby tree. It tasted like a combination root beer and licorice - uncarbonated.

overlooking Hell - coral rock formations at what is now Hell

getting our bikes ready

guarding the coast

7 mile beach

possibly bootleg McDonalds!

Our cruise back to Miami followed the Cuban coastline. We couldnt help but think of their hardships while we were living the life of luxury. No longer receiving Venezuelan oil due to Trumps interference, the locals are the ones who suffer.