Everglades National Park

We got back to Miami on November 1st. We decided to do an excursion in Miami since our flight didn't leave til 5:50 pm. With the excursion they also took us to the airport so it all worked out. We went to the Everglades National Park. It isn't considered a swamp it's considered a grass river. It was so pretty and you could see the sky's reflection in the water, it was breathtaking. We went on a airboat ride and we even saw an alligator while we were out so look close in the pictures and you'll see it.






We saw an alligator show.

I got to hold a baby alligator. They are soft not hard like you would think.

Here they had Crocodiles and Alligators. The way you can tell them apart is the Crocodile had a pointy snout and when it closes it's mouth you can see both the top and bottom teeth. The Alligator had a more round snout and you can only see one set of teeth when it closes it's mouth.


Mike was really excited that we got to go on an airboat ride and see teh alligators and crocodiles while we were in Miami. This tour was a lot of fun.

Cozumel, Mexico

We stopped in Cozumel on October 30. We went Parasailing here. I have wanted to do this for so long. I told Mike this is the one thing I want to do. We were on a boat with 6 other people. We went first. We got all harnessed up and sat on the back of the boat. The boat started to go and we started to go up. It was so smooth and so relaxing. You go for about 7-8 min. I could have stayed up there all day. On our way back down to the boat the driver dipped our feet in the water and then we landed right back on the back of the boat. I loved it!





After we went parasailing we went back on the ship got changed and ate lunch and headed out to see the city and shop. I bought me some jewelry.

Belize City, Belize

We stopped in Belize on October 29. Here we went snorkling to one of the biggest barrier reefs and to a private beach island. We took a high speed catamaran on this tour. The ship couln't port so our tour boat picked us up on the ship and took us back to the ship. Snorkling was okay we didn't see a lot of fish and if we did they weren't very colorful. We did see a lot of coral though, that was cool. The water was really choppy so we kept getting water in our snorkle tube. We liked snorkling in Cancun a lot better.


After snorkling we went to a private beach island called Bannister Island. It was pretty. We hung out in the water a little and wandered the island.

Roatan, Honduras

We went to Roatan on October 28. This by far was our favorite! We just hung out at the beach all day. We went to Tabyana Beach. It was a picture perfect beach, white sand, clear blue water. You could see your toes even when you were waist deep in the water. This is a place I could totally live when i'm retired. They had condo's on the beach for 225,000. I'm sure the view is incredible. They had caribbean music playing, it was a blast. I wished we would have snorkled here but oh well we loved just hanging out in the water and walking along the beach.




After the beach we just wandered around through the shops before we got on the ship. We bought a piece of pottery here. People would come up to you and just follow you and show you the different shops. They were your tour guide of the shops. They wanted you to pay them for showing you the shops. We kept telling them we were just looking and finally they got sick of us and just left.

Grand Cayman

We stopped in Grand Cayman on October 27. For our excursion we went to Hell, a Turtle Farm, and Stingray Sandbar. They couldn't dock the ship so we had to take tenders to get to the land.



There is this town in Grand Cayman called Hell. This is what they think Hell looks like. There is a gift shop and a post office and the landmark. The owner dresses up like the devil and works behind the cash register. You can even send a post card from here and it's post marked from Hell.


Our next stop was the Turtle Farm. It was very educational. We learned about how they take care of them and everything else they do. To determine the sex of the baby turtle they put it under a certain light and that determines the sex. We even got to hold a baby sea turtle.


Last stop of the tour was Stingray Sandbar. This was a little scary at first but so cool. You go out in the middle of the ocean and there is this sandbar which is where your standing on sand and the water is about waste deep. Here we swam with the stingrays and we got to hold them and the guides made us kiss them. It was kinda freaky when they would bump into you or brush against you.




After we got done with our tour we just wandered the shops and walked around the city. They totally drive on the wrong side of the road!

Cruisin the Western Caribbean

To celebrate our first anniversary we went on a 7 day exotic western carbbean cruise. We left out of Miami so we decieded to go a day early and see Miami. We got in late fri night. We stayed at Midtown Inn. It was a decent hotel but the area was a bit questionable. We had all day sat to explore so we got on the bus to go to South Beach. As soon as we got off the bus it started to pour and I mean pour. Luckily we got off at a bus stop that was covered. The roads were flodded.

We got in a cab and went to the Ventura mall, it's supposed to be the biggest mall in Miami. We ate lunch there and hung out til it cleared up. As soon as it cleared we got back on the bus and finally went to the beach.


We hung out at the beach most of the day and then wandered down Franklin Ave ( i think that is what it was called). It was a street that you just walked down and there were stores and restaurants. We ate dinner and wandered the street then luckily found our way back to our hotel by bus.
The next day october 25 we got on the cruise ship. You check in your luggage before you get on then later in the day it is dropped off at the door to your room. We had a window room, it was so fun to look out and see the different ports or just look out and see only the ocean. One morning we saw an amazing lightning storm as we were pulling into port.


We had the early dinner which was at 6pm. We had the same table every night and ate with the same people. Our table was right by the window so we got to see the sunsets, and as we pulled away from the ports. For the most part dinner was really good. Our waiters were great. They sang or danced every night. We ate dinner there every night but one cause we didn't get back in time so we just did the buffet.

Every night our room steward would turn down our bed and put a towel animal and our next day itinerary on our bed. It was so fun to see which towel animal we would get. I had to hurray and take a picture of it before mike ruined it. He would always sit on it not realizing he did til I would say good thing I got a picture already.

We had 2 full days at sea, there were so many activities that were going on. We had shows every night. We had Comedians, a Juggler, a Magician. We were even there on Halloween, a lot of people brought costumes but we didn't. They had a costume contest and the girl that won dressed up like a towel animal. It was a great costume. They also had a big screen tv out on the deck. They would play movies on it every night. We would just go out and lay on a lounge chair and watch the movie. We did a lot of wandering around the ship and eating. They had food constantly. They even had an ice cream machine. I think we had a cone everytime we would pass it. The sunsets were so georgeous out over the ocean.



We had 4 stops. Grand Cayman, Roatan Hondorus, Belize and Cozumel Mexico. We did excursions at each stop and also wandered each city. We also did an excursion in Miami before we got on the plane to come home. I'm gonna post each stop separate. So enjoy our fun vacation we had!

OnE yEaR aNniVeRsArY

On October 25 we celebrated our first anniversary. It's crazy how time has flown by. It has been an amazing year but definatly an adjustment. I can't wait for many many more. We celebrated by going on a cruise. We had a blast and did a lot of fun excursions.


More pictures and details of our cruise coming soon!