7.1.08

Merry Caribbean Christmas and a Happy New Year

About a day after I wrote my last blog entry my wonderful friend Amanda called me to ask me if I was doing anything for Christmas. Obviously I asked why. She then proceeded to explain to me that she had an extra ticket on a cruise in the Caribbean that started on the 22nd and ended on the 29th of December. After asking permission from my family to go, I called Amanda back; "Where do I sign-up?!" :-) As much as I love my family, I was happy to have a little getaway (plus most of my family wouldn't have let me pass up such an opportunity).
I had the most wonderful time!! The cruise started in Miami, went to Roatan, Honduras, to Belize City, Belize, to Cozumel, Mexico, to a small beach Norwegian Cruise Lines owns in the Bahamas and then returned to Maimi.
Here are some picture of some of the adventures and sights we saw while traveling with our ship the Norwegian Sun:

Amanda and Kate nice and warm in Miami in December Amanda and me nice in warm in Miami. Yes, it is December. :-)

South BeachSouth Beach, Miami

Leaving MiamiLeaving Miami!

Enjoying Our Stateroom w/ BalconyAmanda enjoying our stateroom. I had had it decorated as a belated birthday present. It was a good surprise, with cake included! Oh and by the way we had an awesome balcony!

Pools on the shipAmanda and I spent a fair amount of time by these pools. You can't really see it, but there was another pool on the other side of the hot tubs.

PhotobucketThe front end of the Norwegian Sun. Our state room was approximately the third row of balconies about 4 back or so.

PhotobucketThe whole Norwegian Sun!

PhotobucketEnd of the island of Roatan.

PhotobucketAmanda and I ready for a great zip-line through the canopy! It was AMAZING fun!

PhotobucketI meet the cutest little monkey in Roatan. :-)

PhotobucketAnd crossed Indian Jones bridges! :-)

Amanda and I going formalThat night Amanda and I dressed up to go to dinner! All in good fun!

Robert, Amanda, Kate and LauraHere we are at dinner with our friends Robert and Laura. Great company!!

PhotobucketThe very next day (Christmas day), we arrived in Belize and took a tour to Altun Ha, Mayan Ruins. They were old! It was super cool! You betta Belize it!

PhotobucketAmanda and I at a Mayan Temple! Culture is so great!

PhotobucketOn the way to the temple... I had to stop for a photo. :-)

PhotobucketAltun Ha was completely surrounded by dense jungle. This jungle had the most beautiful butterflies and craziest looking orange iguanas!

PhotobucketI'm going to have to say one of my favorite parts of Belize was "You betta Belize it!" and "Belize it or not!" Hahaha... I think the Canadian friends I met there would have to agree. :-)

Christmas dinner was spent once again with Laura and Robert, but this time at a French restaurant on the ship. There was something like 12 places to eat on the ship!! It was crazy! There was never a lack of food, and every night I was STUFFED!

PhotobucketThe next morning we arrived in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico.

PhotobucketCan't miss taking a photo of a large Mexican flag!

PhotobucketThe water was sooo... blue!

PhotobucketSo, we went horseback riding. The horse hated me and I hated the horse. Luckily though, Amanda had a good time and lunch was DIVINE! It almost put some of the eateries in So. Cal. that I eat at to shame!

PhotobucketAmanda enjoying her ride on the beach.

PhotobucketThe funniest part of Mexico was this tree full of Pinatas! I loved it! I want one!

PhotobucketBeautiful Virgin Mary decked-out for Christmas.

PhotobucketThe night before the last night they had a huge chocolate buffet. Here is a chocolate Norwegian Sun.

PhotobucketI thought this chocolate sculpture was funny!

PhotobucketOn the last night most of the crew came out to say "good-bye". What a great staff for the crazy hours and number of days they put in!

The best part of the cruise was the people that Amanda and I met. I wish I had taken more pictures of them, but we were way to busy hanging out with them to do so. All in all the cruise was pretty dang good!