Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 Here are a few pics from our recent vacation. We visited Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The first picture is Buddy and Allie, our two oldest grandchildren in Chakkanaub Park, Cozumel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 And here's another from Chakkanaub Park. Iguanas roam freely in the park, this one seems to prefer bananas for a snack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 This one is also from Chakkanaub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 From Margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica looking at the shoreline. We had a drink for all of you while in Margaritaville! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 Just one of the sunsets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 7, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 One of the coastline pics. The main reason we love Cozumel, beautiful water: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arky Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Pretty. Glad you had fun & welcome back. 1 drink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Welcome back, the pics are beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sputnik Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 The shot of the grandkids is a real keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted May 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 Pretty. Glad you had fun & welcome back. 1 drink? One drink, not really, we tried to have one for each person on the forum ! [:S] I did bring back a picture everyone hear will recognize, a horn, what a suprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Look at the fully enclosed 5 hp motor powering that big horn. Like Cole Younger says, "It's a wonderment". JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted May 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted May 7, 2008 JJk, I was just glad it didn't go off while I was standing there, you can hear it from 10 miles away easily, the horn is about 3/8 thick steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Great pictures!! Lost the phone number again!! Gimme a call I have your fins and snorkels for your next trip!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2toobs Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 I love Cozumel, My wife and I were married there on the beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 wow. great pics. Glad y'all had a good trip! Welcome back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brac Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Was That a Bose Horn??? JK Great pics, make me think I should take the wife to Cozumel, this year she has never been. Did you over to any of the ruins?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Great photos, makes me wish I could take a vacation too. Tell us about the great time and who all went... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skonopa Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 From Margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica looking at the shoreline. We had a drink for all of you while in Margaritaville! Friggan nice. That, compared to this (from my Steamboat, CO trip this past Winter).... [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLSamuel Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Awesome pics. Sounds like a wonderful trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted May 8, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted May 8, 2008 Thanks for all the kind words. Groomy, I will pm you with the info....too many Samuel Adams causes loss of memory???? LOL For those of you that have never been to Cozumel...well you are missing out...and yes it is a great place to take your wives...be sure to visit Chakkanaub Park when you go....and of course Margaritaville, Carlos and Charlie's and Senor' Frogs. We didn't visit any of the ruins but I honestly do not feel like we missed anything. The beaches are beautiful and so relaxing. This is our second trip to Cozumel and it surely won't be our last. For Michael, of course the entire household (maw-maw, Joni, Jamie, Johnny, Alicia, Joey, Buddy, dtel and myself) went. And if that wasn't enough, we brought Allie along, and Sonny and Kathy. Talk about a group!!! This was Sonny and Kathy's first cruise and they absolutely loved it!!! We drove down to Galveston, TX on Saturday, April 26 (this took eleven hours (instead of five and half hours)...we caught two nails in one tire and it took hours to find somewhere to buy a new one) spent the night as planned and boarded the ship on the morning of the 27th....we were just a few miles short of sailing 2400 miles, total. Two days sailing and then our first port of call....Montego Bay, Jamaica. What an experience! The beaches were amazing, however security appeared to be a real problem...there was razor wire around the Montego Bay-Freeport cruise terminal...that should have told us something. Once on the Mo-Bay shuttle our driver was kind enough to give us some friendly advice about the local criminal activity. The first stop on the Mo-Bay shuttle was a "local craft market". This was little more than twenty or thirty shacks painted with some bright colors. The "manager" of the craft market all but "strong armed" us into getting off the bus. All twenty or so of us on the shuttle bus told him, "We are going to the beach. We may come back later.". which none of us did. Once at Doctor's Cave bathing house (the beach) we were escorted by approximately eight men from the shuttle bus into the entrance of the beach. Of course, no one in Jamaica has change...for a $5, $10, $20 or whatever domination. We quickly realized this was "no problem, just a situation" as the local Jamaicans like to say. Chairs and umbrellas were rented for a fee, separate from the entrance fee. Dtel was immediately approached in the restroom by a local asking, "Do you smoke? I've got some good stuff". The driver warned us not to accept an invitation for an "open handshake", as this was a popular trap to hand off drugs. Margaritaville in Jamaica was little more than disorganized madness. Six of us entered Margaritaville and settled into our table on the open air patio. We had at least four waiters/waitresses... none of whom were really interested in working....but the drinks were great, the music was terrific and the food was equally enjoyable. The man on "stilts" entertained the kids...they thought he was really cool. We could have done without the "trio" continously singing and playing music at the tables "Don't worry, Be happy", they were horrible....not only as musicians, but their voices weren't that great either.....besides we couldn't hear the dj and the music that really makes Margaritaville memorable. Once those guys gave it up we really had fun. But the drinks were great!....(we were given eleven tickets for free margaritas upon visiting Margaritaville, Cayman) and the scenery was unforgettable. Despite the obvious security issues, Jamaica is a beautiful island. We were truly awestruck by the appearance of the mountains when approaching the island and as you can tell the water and general landscape of this island is truly beautiful. I would like to visit Negril...supposedly this area is a little more secure...not so many "street vendors". We didn't feel safe walking the 1/2 block to Margaritaville from our beach location, so we took the round trip shuttle once again, to the cruise terminal and back, being deposited 1/2 block from our beach destination...That being said the kids were now addicted to Margaritaville and couldn't wait to see the Margaritaville in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Next port of call was Grand Cayman.....equally breathtaking beaches...and condos, resorts, hotels. The shuttle in Cayman quickly deposited us at the beach across from the Mariott Hotel. Really nice establishment, but kind of disappointing to realize rental of a chaise lounge was $10, as was the rental of an umbrella. A regular beach chair rented for $5.00. All in all about $200 for lounge chairs and umbrealls for 4 hours. (Our visit to Cozumel in 2006 had spoiled us....one fee to get into Chakkanaub Park and all the chairs and umbrellas you needed are included in the entrance fee.) One sales advertisement in front of a condo complex in Grand Cayman read....."enjoy your next life upgrade...for only $2.9 million dollars". Needless to say we thought that was hilarious and it became our favorite saying while on Cayman! Once we tired of snorkeling and the beaches, we headed for...you guessed it....Margaritaville, Grand Cayman! Now this place had its act together. Truly awesome...on top of their game...excellent waiters...terrific dj...margaritas and tequila shots...what more could one ask for? Well how about a two story waterslide that is superfast.....dtel, Joey and the kids took a few trips down. Dtel was amazed how fast the slide was. I figured I best not chance the slide, especially after the additional "shot of tequila" (see pic) I recieved from the dj. I think the dj enjoyed dispensing the shot as much as I enjoyed receiving it! Cayman is truly spectacular.... Last port of call, Cozumel. Our personal favorite. Cozumel presents a perfect balance between Jamaica and Grand Cayman. The recovery since Hurricane Wilma devastated this town is amazing. During our visit in 2006 Cozumel was beginning to rebuild.....obviously they have invested their money wisely. Cozumel is definitely a city on the rise. The landscaping in the gardens at Chakkanaub is first class...and while the iguanas definitely rule....visitors to the beach and gardens at Chakkanuab are not disappointed. Palms, orchids and other tropicals, as well as ethnic statuary set the pace for the gardens, which comprise a significant portion of the park. One thing guys, if you bring your significant other to Chakkanaub you may want to forewarn them....the iguanas do ocasionally chase visitors down the paths...and I am not talking small iguanas....I mean big iguanas....like the one eating the banana. About six of us were walking along the garden path, when out of no where this huge iguana appeared. Needless to say, dtel had told me stories of the "iguana chasing activities" after our 2006 visit. Well, this iguana proceeded to run after us....I don't like lizards to start with....and I surely wasn't happy about this big "lizard" chasing me. Of course, dtel tried to convince the six of us the iguana wasn't chasing us....while to us (the ones being chased) it was obvious the exact opposite was occuring. Dtel insisted we pose in front of this waterfall for a picture...which we did, while keeping a watchful eye on the extremely fast footed iguana eyeing us up. As soon as dtel snapped the picture the iguana charged us....dtel has a picture of us running from the iguana. Hey....those things are fast...and apparently they do bite. We wanted to go to Marguaritaville, as did the kids, but decided it was time to head back to the ship. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. After visiting Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica I can truly say Cozumel is the bomb! I can't wait to return to this up and coming island. Snorkeling in Cozumel is first class. Even after encountering a six foot barracuda calmly waiting for his next meal, I believe the snorkeling in Cozumel is spectacular. The variety and size of fish we saw while snorkeling in Cozumel is worth the trip! Here's the pic from Margaritaville, Grand Cayman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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