Picture of a Mayan temple at Altun Ha
(Mark says) Nov. 19th, 2004
We are currently on our way to Cancun, Mexico. Yesterday we spent the day in Belize. It was our first port where we had to take a smaller boat to shore, called a tender. We had to get up at 6:30 AM since we had an excursion early that morning. We got to shore, boarded a bus, and went to see the ruins of Altun Ha. I guess that translates into Rock Stone Water. The bus ride was a bit long and bumpy at times, but the tour guide made it interesting. We saw this big tree with cactuses growing all over it, pretty weird looking. We got to the site of the ruins and it started to rain. Luckily we were under a shelter. It rained very hard for about 5-10 minutes and was done. A few minutes later the sun came out and boy was it hot. I guess it's to be expected when you're in the rain forest. The ruins were interesting and the tour guide talked about the Mayans that lived there. Some of the things they found were dated to 500 A.D. We also got to climb to the top of one of the structures which was neat. Gave a real bird's eye view of the whole site. We got back to Belize City and did a little shopping before we left. Lots of stores had these beautiful wood carvings for sale. A real great variety of woods and colors. So we tendered back to the ship and had a nice Italian dinner and called it a night.
We just made a turn so we must be close to Cancun, another tender port. Ok, about the fish I saw at Honduras a couple days ago. The first ones we saw were light colored silvery fish about the shape and size of a big sunfish with long, wispy fins on the top and bottom. Very pretty fish. When I got out to the reef area there were smaller sunfish-like fish with black and white stripes and a bit of yellow by their head. Lots of those. Another common one was a bit larger fish that was more shaped like a flat football and silvery blue in color. Maybe 12" long or so. There were also some different kinds of parrot fish. I think that's what they are called. Some were mostly blue and some were teal green with pink. Those were very pretty. Some red and white fish, may have been snapper? There was also a small school (3) of larger fish (20" or so) that looked something like the smaller silvery blue ones that were common. Not sure if they were the same or not. Then there were many little fish darting around the rocks and coral. One I remember was all black. Lots of the were striped. On the way back to the beach I saw a nice blue fan coral and a brown and white fish next to it (grouper?). Oh yeah, there were also some pure blue fish that have been blue tangs. One thing that I found amazing is how well some of the fish blended in with the sand on the bottom. They practically disappeared. Very interesting. I'm glad I had the chance to do it. Bye for now.
(Jen says) Nov. 19th 2004
Cancun Mexico. About Thursday night I got my appetite back from being seasick. Now I eat so much I don't even want to eat. Make sense? Cancun was great. This was another tender port. We got a ticket for the first tender. 300 people and took 20-25 minutes to get to shore. Cancun is VERY commercial. Tons of malls, restaurants, hotels, and yes, even a Walmart. We took a shuttle to the Flamingo Plaza, walked across the street to the Flamingo Hotel, pretended we belonged there, and went to the beach. The sight was amazing. The perfect turquoise waters that you imagine, with waves crashing on the very white, soft sand. There was an undertow, so no swimming, but Mark and I played in the waves and the beach, held hands. wrote in the sand, and made memories. Then we went to the mall and shopped. We got some stuff for the kids, Mark's key chain, and took the shuttle home. It is fun to bargain and boy can you bargain. These people need money, and love to say "come here, newlyweds, I have a product for you!" or "come here senora, my shop has been waiting all day just for you to enter." There are a finite amount of stores that take credit, and we are low on cash, so not much to buy. Back at the tender pier there is a flee market where we bought a hand made Mexican dress for Alisa which will be so cute on her. Tonight was also the chocolate budget. It was very beautiful, but bland. the best part was the ice cream with M&M's on it They seem to spend a lot of money on the looks, not so much on the taste!
We're on our way back to New Orleans at the moment. The trip back across the gulf has been much better than the previous one. Cancun was a nice port. Kind of commercial like Cozumel, but nice. We went to the Flamingo Plaza for the beach and shopping. The beach was awesome. Beautiful sand and the wavers coming in were wonderful. Fun to play in it too. The shopping was fine. Kind of like a mall back home with a Mexican flair. Well, time to let Jen write.
(Jen says)
Woke up to calm waters- a much better sea day. I have, of course, missed the kids like crazy. If I see other children my arms ache to hold Alisa, hug Zach, cuddle Gabby, and tickle Ethan. But the shore time made it easy to fill the void. However, on this sea day, I have so much time to think about them. UGH, I miss them, and I only get to talk to them tomorrow. I still won't see them until Wednesday morning. I am so excited! More excited then I was to come here. I think about seeing them again and I get tears. i don't think I will spend this much time away from them ever again! Well, I think that's it. The luggage is packed, we are about to enter the Mississippi again. Time to tour NOLA. Time to drive home, see my babies. Thanks Heavenly Father for the safety. Thanks Mark for the trip. I will write about debarking and NOLA and the drive home when we get there, for now, the journal will be packed!
