January, 2012 and it is time once again for the Badger's to take to the Sea for a little rest and relaxation.
We left Fort Lau
derdale, Fl. on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 4:30 pm. We had left home and driven down early on Sunday morning. It was a nice sunny day and the traffic was rather light. There were six ships in Port that day, getting ready to set sail. Needless to say, the traffic getting to the ships was very busy! One by one the ships pulled out of Port and headed out to Sea. The moon was full that night, what a beautiful sight. (I can only hope that the photo does it justice!) Monday was a day at sea. As John had given me a Kindle Fire for Ch
ristmas and I had downloaded several books, I headed out on our balcony and settled into my chair. What a wonderful way to unwind after the holidays.Tuesday morning we pulled into the port of George Town Grand Cayman. George Town is the Capital and main city of Grand Cayman Island. It is a bustling and modern town, having been built for commerce since the 1966 laws that gave Cayman Islands tax-haven status. There were six ships in port that day!! With so many people getting off this many ships, we decided to stay on the ship and just relax. Just was not up to fighting that many people in the shops!!! Have to say it was a very peaceful day on the ship. We set sail once again at 4pm and headed to Mexico. (Distance from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Cayman 683.2 Nautical Miles)
Wednesday morning at 9am we arrived at Cozumel, Mexico. The Myans likely settled here about 2000 years ago, with some of their ruins remaining on the island today, under the watchful eye of the iguanas. When Cores arrived around 1520 some 40,000 Mayans loved on Cozumel. Fifty years and various diseases later the Mayans had vanished and the island had become an overgrown hideout for pirates. Cozumel came back to life thanks to the oceanic explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, who championed the coral reef at Palancar as among the world's finest diving sites. Most of Cozumel's reefs are now protected as part of the Cozumel Reef's National Marine Park. The last time we had been to Cozumel, a hurricane had torn down the pier and we had to take the ship's tenders to shore. The pier's have been rebuilt along with the shopping area. We walked off the ship and looked around in the local shops, but there was not much to buy except the same trinkets as we had seen before. The ship departed at 6pm for our next port of call.
(Distance from Grand Cayman to Cozumel 332 Nautical Miles)
Thursday morning at 8:30am we docked at Roatan, Honduras. While Honduras' Bay Island had a series of native people prior to Columbus' arrival in 1502, they vanished once the Spanish and British began squabbling over the islands, replaced over the years by a motley mix of traders, buccaneers, military personnel and the occasional intrepid settler. After the British emancipation in 1834, former slaves from throughout the Caribbean migrated to the island. Spanish speaking Hondurans began their own population surge from the mainland to Roatan in the last century, matched by an influx of foreigners from abound the globe. The island today thrives primarily on tourism. It was a beautiful little port and once again we walked off the ship. The local shops were the same as all the other ports of call, although we did find a local pub along with a local beer that John found quite good, so good in fact that we imbibed with several!! We did stop in several of the shops and John found some Crown Royal to bring home. He also bought me a beautiful pair of earrings! A perfect day!!!! At 5pm we once again set sail once again heading for Mexico. (Distanced from Cozumel to Honduras 267 Nautical Miles)
Friday morning at 8am we pulled into the port of Costa Maya, Mexico. The Mayans settled along the Costa Maya centuries ago and the numerous ruins of their society continue to be excavated. The Spanish arrived in the 15th Century but the area's most forceful visitors became pirates, who tangled with trade ships on a regular basis until the late 1800's. The Mexican Navy moved in at the turn of the 20th Century, and the town became known for its premier shipyard. In the 1980s a highway and scuba diving operators opened in the area and tourism gradually took off. This must be one of Mexico's newest ports of call. Everything was new! Once again we walked off the ship to look around the port and found many of the same shops. As we were walking around the area, the skies opened up and we had a real downpour!!!! Soon the sun came out and we headed back to the ship. 5pm and we pulled out of port and back to Florida. ( Distance from Honduras to Costa Maya, Mexico 168 Nautical Miles)
Saturday was another day at sea, once again spent relaxing and packing our suitcases, always a fun job!
Once again we sat on the balcony watching the sea and reading. (Distance from Costa Maya, Mexico to Ft. Lauderdale 653.6 Nautical Miles. Cruise total 2,103.8 Nautical Miles. 1Nautical Mile=1.5 land miles)Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 7am we once again docked at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The sun was warm however the air was a little cool. We were at the parking lot and on our way back home at 8am. It takes a little over 4 hours to drive back home. A wonderful vacation!!!
Back home and it is time to finally take the Christmas tree down and get back to normal.
Until our next adventure........
Candy and Johnny
