2009 is upon us!
It’s almost 2009! In just 48 more hours, I’ll have to prepare myself to scratch through everything I have to put a date on for about a month. I seem to have about a 20-30 day window in January when my brain refuses to acknowledge that the year has changed!
For now, I’m just reflecting on a beautiful Christmas holiday with my family. On Christmas morning, we had a pretty quiet and uneventful time opening presents. Then my mother arrived at 10 a.m. bearing a BIG giftbag and envelopes for each of us. She read a poem and then instructed us to all open our envelopes at the same time. Inside each was a Carnival Cruise Fun Pass! The big bag held a new set of luggage, and we had two and a half hours to pack and be ready to leave for the port. Yes, you read that right. We were all sailing on Christmas day! I was aware of this, as my mom needed an ‘inside man’ to help get arrangements made for our two dogs, and to set as much of the clothes we’d need for the trip aside as possible without drawing attention to what I’d done. Her bag was already packed and in the trunk.
So while she cooked us all a big breakfast, we packed and got everything set to head out to the Port of Tampa. We arrived and boarded the Carnival Inspiration about 1:45. A little past 4:00 we were underway. We passed under the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge at sunset, which made for some beautiful photos. I haven’t cruised for a long time, and it was the first time for the rest of my crew. It was amazing how relaxed we all felt as soon as we stepped out onto the deck!
Sailing under the Sunshine Skyway at Sunset...that's a lot of 'S's'!
The next few days were wonderful as we enjoyed all the great things the ship had to offer. We were thrilled to arrive in Cozumel, and took a great excursion where we drive Rhinos (sort of like off-road golf carts) through the ecological preserve at Punta Sur. We enjoyed the beautiful lighthouse, spent some time on a gorgeous beach, saw saltwater crocodiles, an 800 year-old Mayan temple, and ended with some snorkeling. A late lunch portside and some shopping capped off a truly memorable day.
Driving the Rhinos along the coast at Punta Sur
The lighthouse at Punta Sur
Tom, me and Annie at the Port of Cozumel
I’m amazed by how many students told me they were cruising right before or right after Christmas or New Year’s. I would have figured that to be more of a spring break activity, but some were actually doing both – a holiday cruise with the family and a spring break cruise with friends! None of the ones I spoke to were on our specific cruise, but who knows…there may have been a few!
So enjoy some more photos of the trip, and rest up for your New Year’s festivities! I’ll see you back here in 2009!
Me enjoying a seaside hammock at Punta Sur
This lovely fellow came near to visit us while we enjoyed some chips and salsa in the ecological park
Annie and my mom all decked out for snorkeling
Annie and Mom with one of the fabulous towel animals left in our staterooms each evening