@ Sea 16 Feb 2015

16 Feb 2015 @SEA

Yesterday we were off together, so as soon as we got off the ship we were off on our walk along the Tampa waterway. The night before had been very chilly and windy so I thought we were in for a cold day in Tampa but we were lucky, another beautiful sunny day. People were on their Sunday morning run, cycle and walks when we got to the waterfront. There were a lot of families and kids around so assume there was a sporting event somewhere nearby, did hear loud announcements passing the sport stadium on my way. Then it was time for a big hot chocolate with cream!!! Just had toooo. Every week I can’t wait to download my magazines, huis nuus, anything from home!! Only ass…. Like Malema make the news on CNN and BBC so that we hear all about and the embarrassing load shedding story!! Must admit not looking forward to all these negative things at home but what can we do just carry on, is nie vir gaan le of net kom vat nie!! Last night with supper we shared a table with a whole lot of other crew and had a great time listening to all their stories about shopping and battling to get a taxi to get back to the ship in time, stress levels were high because if crew are not back on time it does not take much and off you go!! End of your work contract. Was just nice listening to all the things they get up to and interesting things that have happened to them on their travels around the world .This morning i was back to the gym but one of those lazy, not so good days, and then I started watching a movie while exercising and had me shed a tear or two, so when my time was up I had to go on, just to see what happened in the end, 40 min later!! It was time for the weights department. After breakfast I popped in at the excursion talk again and then walked through the shops on deck 6.Realised again what a privilege it is to get to go back to all these places week after week. There is just so much to see and do. So until tomorrow, bye.

17 Feb 2015: Roatan

Sailed into this port this morning on a beautiful day, no wind just sunshine and one hour earlier as planned, so the captain must have had a heavy hand/foot during the night while we were all sleeping!!Yesterday I watched a program on TV about the Epic and how everything works on these huge cruise liners and what an interesting hour, amazing and all the drama behind the scenes. The steering of these huge ships is a small lever and not the big huge wheels we see in the movies..If passengers are late to return to the ship on time, how long they wait and when the captain decides he is leaving without them, what it costs the company if he is late, and not on time, the fuel cost involved to push to go faster, the list goes on and on. If the sea is rough how they let fins out to stabilise the ship or let water into tanks on the ship which also helps stabilise the ship for passenger comfort and for entertainers that have show’s with balancing acts. As some of the entertainers say some things are difficult enough on land, so on a moving ship that is rolling all the time it is even more difficult. The food that they have to prepare for 4000 guests 3 x day and all the washing that is done 24/7, amazing. The machines they use are huge; the machine that irons the sheets even folds them too and spits them out on the other side! A whole new world that we don’t get exsposed to. These people think big and go big!!!Hubby says the entertainment on the bigger ships is very good and top standard. Well now I have been waiting for the drill to end so that we can get off and just get our feet on land,hubby has to be back again for a lecture at 5 and we leave the harbour at 6,just before sunset.We went on our walk again and had to laugh at hubby when we stopped to sit in the shade for a while, we heard this women from across the road singing and making these funny noises when he said, nee, hier moet ons wegkom voor sy die geete op ons sit!!! Must say it did sound eerie and did not understand a word she said. Then further down the road we saw a coconut falling out of a tree, thought, wow this is luck only to discover a guy right at the top of this palm tree with a panga chopping coconuts. The tree must have been at least 8/10 m high, no back up, just him and his panga, tried to take a photograph of him but you really have to look to see him, and before we knew he was down on the ground. So will post the photo and you see if you can spot him right at the top, if it was not for the falling coconuts we would not have noticed him. Yesterday afternoon late I discovered we have another roommate, a little black fly!! But did not have the heart to kill him and he is still in our room. On the ship you don’t see any other living creatures and hubby told me once you are actually glad to see them, know I believe him. So it is hubby, the fly and me!!! The 3 amigos! Bye until next time.

18 Feb 2015: Belize City Belize

Vanoggend was dit weer tyd om met die tender bote aan wal te gaan maar vanoggend was die see lelik omgekrap toe ons moes ry en was vir hoog trap tot op die tender boot.Dit het glad nie van bo op dek 11 gelyk soos n rowwe storie nie maar onder by die water was dit so.Het eintlik n video geneem om later te wys hoe dit was.Nie dat dit vir skipkatte afsit nie ons is al wiegende gelaai en toe is dit tyd vir full throttle en daar gaan ons,land toe.Vanoggend eers rustig deur al die winkels gestap wat vir my lekker was, sonder dat ek aangejaag word!!!Darem iets gesien wat ek volgende week eers vir Liefie wil wys voor ek koop.Probeer met elke kontrak iet vir ons huis te koop wat ons kan gebruik soek nie kaggel kakkies nie!!Raak mos wyser met die ouderdom, soek nie nog goeters nie,genoeg van dit.Voor my vanoggend was n couple in n fight betrokke of moet ek se hulle het woorde gehad al wat ek kon doen is my vergaap,en dit oor sy toegelaat het dat ander mense voor haar indruk en syt niks gese nie.Toe sy se maar dit maak nie saak nie want hulle op die volgende tenderboot ooooo dit was nie goed genoeg nie /.,./.,!Lyk my hy het darem teen die tyd toe ons aan wal gaan,afgeblaas.Toe is ek weer swembad toe en daar het ek weer geswem en gele tot dit weer tyd was vir terugkeer skip toe.Met n man gesels wat vir my vertel het dat Belize eintlik so baie het om te bied en ongelooflike mooi plekke het  en dat die hawe gedeelte dit nie gestand doen nie.Was eintlik vir my goed om dit te hoor en besef daar is baie meer.Hy t vertel van die eiland net wes van ons, Turneffe Atoll en dan nog n eiland waar die Blue Hole gelee is ,wens so ons kon daar uitkom maar soos ek vroeer gese het, alle toere maar duur,ook vreeslik baie scuba duik plekke .Ambergris Caye,Blue Hole Natural Monument op Light house reef,Half Moon Caye,Caye Borkel,Clovers Reef,Sapodilla Cayes.Lyk my a true Belizean lunch is rys, boontjies en hoender. Oulike se goed wat die ouens op die tenders bote  vir ons se is goed soos:You better BELIZE IT! Hope you had an unbelizable day in BELIZE!! En dit kry jy natuurlik ook op t-shirts gedruk. Dink mens kan maar die blue hole google want dit lyk ongelooflik mooi op al die advertensie borde. Wragtig kan julle glo vat vir my n lekker brosjure oor Belize en toe ek nou rustig wil sit en lees kom ek agter Spaans!!Hier en daar vang ek n woord maar dit help nie veel nie!! See was baie beter met terugkeer  skip toe vamiddag , wys jou ook net verander van een oomblik na die ander ek het gedink ons is dalk in vir n donderstorm laat middag maar gelukkig toe nie.Toe ek eers weer  terug is op die skip toe is ek nou vir jou dors en honger.Nou ja tot more mooi bly

19 Feb 2015: Costa Maya

Hubby could not get off today so I was on my own. Took the public transport to the fisherman’s village as the locals call it. The transport to the beach area is a bakkie towing a trailer with a palm tree roof and a whole lot of benches on the trailer, island style!! To get back you have to take a cab, yellow taxi or walk. Well I had a lovely morning walking around to the same area hubby had taken me 2 weeks ago. Cool outside with a strong wind blowing so not a beach day, not that the weather put any passengers off walking about. Two other ships were also in port for the day so very busy in Costa Maya today ,you are looking at about 6000 people, one of the other ships might even have more people aboard than us, so could even be more. Think this port has lots of potential and could really be a very nice place to visit in the future. If you looking for a real chilled lazy holiday right on the beach this is the place. Very very relaxed, here you will rest, but if you are looking for luxury I don’t think this is the place, is rustic, feet in the sand. Decided to walk back to the terminal area where we are docked and really enjoyed it. On my way back to the ship I could see the current pushing the ship away from the berth and when we got on the gangway it was actually moving so we had to be careful stepping on, quite a weird feeling so don’t have to tell you what is waiting for us when we leave this afternoon. I am in our room at the moment but there is a big commotion going on outside with a women screaming and using language I can’t use, am sure there might be alcohol involved in the problem!! Have just heard that one of our ropes that tie us to the berth snapped this morning, so that should give you an idea of how strong the current is, they even have the engines running to keep us in place. This makes you realise how strong water and a current can be. Always say you get people that think they are so great and Mr somebody, and know everything   bring them to this big ocean and it will cut them down to size in a flash. So tomorrow we are back in Cozumel hope we have better luck with the weather. Until next time,  bye.

20 Feb 2015 Cozumel:

Wel die weer nou nie te wonderlik nie maar dit reen darem nie,wolke lyk swaar en al weer n wind wat waai.Vanoggend toe ons weer aanwal gaan is n hele paar mense weer gestop met vrugte in hulle sakke, so die 2 honde wat almal deursoek, het lekker treats gekry.Ek verkyk my aan hulle, snuffel snuffel en sodra hulle daardie reuk van vrugte kry gaan sit hulle langs jou sak en dan is dit, het jou!! Fotos vanoggend geneem om te wys.Toe is ek die strate in en vandag besluit om in di e woonbuurte te gaan rondloop wat vir my baie lekker was ,het n paar fotos geneem en het tot op n coral creeper afgekom wat in volle blom is, vreeslik mooi .Mis my tuin en kan nie wag om dit oor te maak soos ek dit wil he nie,met plante wat vir my spesiaal is,iets om na uit te sien, nog by  idees en baie  planne! Ook by  privaat huise ingeloer  met die mooiste tuine.Het natuurlik my kanse gebruik en ook in mooi winkels  rondgesnuffel.Alweer fotos geneem van ou geroesde wrought iron hekke vasgemessel  in die mooiste mure, lyk my hulle praat met my!  Teen 14h00 was ek al flou gestap want  5 ure later, toe besluit ek, lekker nie meer lekker nie, ek gaan nou in starbucks bietjie gaan sit en chill soos die kinders se.Vanoggend nie myself gesmeer met die suntan lotion soos altyd nie en kon dit voel,hy het my beet gekry.Misgis jouself altyd op n bewolke, winderige dag.Hoor vamiddag dat die ander skip ,die Epic nie by n paar van sy ports kon aangaan nie agv die wind wat seker vir hulle arme passasiers sleg was,maar nou ja veiligheid voor plesier.Onthou ons kon met ons roete na Quebec  Kanada ook nie aangaan in Sydney nie agv stormweer.Hoop dat New York oor 2 weke beter lyk wat die sneeu betref want ek vlieg van daaraf huis toe, vandag weer op TV gewys hoe alles gevries is.

21 Feb 2015: @SEA

Today is a sea day so no stopping at any port and we are rocking and rolling quite a bit.Did my gym routine but went very very slowly!!!! Getting lazy. A young lady nearly had a bad fall on the running machine think she just lost her consentration for a second and with all the ships movement she lost her balance but luckly for her she corrected herself before going down.So it is possible to fall off the running machine! With our walks on the outside decks everything was wet  so the seaspray had made its mark.While hubby went to the gym late afternoon I went up for a cup of tea and then went to the crew talent show which I enjoyed.There are some people in different departments  who are very talented.Must say I feel so sorry for these poor people that have 9 month contracts and have small children at home,don’t know how they do it but I suppose if you don’t have any other option you just get stuck in and do it. At supper we sat down with an inviromental officer and was very intresting to hear all his stories, has been with the company for 40years!!! So he has seen a lot of coming and going and how the ships have changed since his early days.They were having trouble dumping wasted food into the ocean because of the bad weather and time was running out because they may only do it so many km from land.He said everytime they open up to dumb, the sea comes shooting back up!! Well hope he got it done later during the night,but if not he said they do have a  backup,plan.At 03h00 in the morning the pilot was going to get onto the ship to get us into port,and so many things go on while we are sleeping.So tomorrow it is Tampa and 1 to go then it is time for me to go home,hubby cant wait and counting the days,has been a long contract for him and as they say no place like home !Until next time ,bye

 

 

 

Cozumel

13 Feb 2015: Cozumel

Well what a disappointment all dressed up and nowhere to go!! Were ready for our snorkelling excursion and when we put our feet on the pier, we saw that the wind was blowing and the sea was rough but still hoped we would be able to go on the excursion. When we got to the end of the pier we were informed that because of the weather and rough sea all diving and snorkelling executions were cancelled for the day. What a bummer, anyway then Plan B had to kick in and hubby decided to go for a nice long run and I waited in Starbucks .On his return we decided to take a stroll along the beach front and first stopped at local supermarket for something to drink and eat because we left the ship without breakfast, because of our planned excursion. Funny how you think things are different in other countries but the supermarket had all the normal things we have at home! At the pastry department you had to get this huge round tray with a tong ,then you decide what you want put everything on your tray and only then do you give your tray in to we bagged and marked. So off we went with our food and carried on walking until we got to an open area next to the sea where we could just lie down and be lazy, so that is what we did. Had 2 iguanas on top of a wall that had a bird eye view of us lying down on the rocks. See a lot of them on the islands, luckily not to big so don’t feel my life is in danger!!!! Later we started heading back and passed a few horse carriages with koddige!! Mexicans taking tourists for a drive around town. Will post on facebook to show you. Once back on the ship we could not resist an afternoon slapie .At 17h00 it was time for sail away and stood on deck 6 watching the sail away from Cozumel and The Epics welcome back party on the pier for all their guests. 4 ships were in the harbour for the day.

14 Feb 2015 @SEA

Vanoggend was ek terug in die gym en het darem beter gegaan hoe verder ek gegaan het.Verlede week het ek n nuwe masjien uitprobeer en het vir n paar dae met n seer maag rondgeloop,so het toe geweet van spiere wat ek nie van geweet het nie!! Toe is ek eers na n praaitjie van die floot se 2015/16 se reis skedule .Ongelooflik het 4 nuwe skepe wat kom in 2015-2019, die Escape en  Bliss die ander 2 nog nie name nie.Sien hulle het ook n 14 dae toer na Suid Amerika wat baie intressant lyk.In die skip nuus tydskrif gesien dat daar in total 35 nuwe skepe al reeds bestel is vir die skip industrie van 2015-2020 dis nou vir al die verskillende maatskappye.Liefie is ook gevra of hy sou belang stel om n nuwe skip se mediese afdeling in te rig en uit te pak voor hy begin seil met passasiers wat baie opwindend klink,dan sal hy Duitsland toe moet gaan, so ons sal maar sien.Klink vir my baie opwindend en wat n geleentheid as dit sou gebeur.More is ons weer in Tampa en Liefie is af so ons kan darem weer saam die stad verken.Kan nie glo dat ek nog net 3 weke oor het nie dan is dit weer huis toe vir my.Ek geniet elke oomblik maar huis bly maar huis.Weer tyd vir my voorskoot en my besem!!Tot volgende keer mooi bly.

 

 

8 Feb 2015 Tampa

8 Feb 2015 Tampa

Vandag alleen afgeklim en toe weer die strate ingevaar,was koel op die dek vanoggend en gedink gaan weer koelerig wees soos verlede week en heeltemal te warm aangetrek.Pragtige sonnige  dag in Tampa met geen wind.Fotos geneem en op my tyd n hele nuwe deel plat gestap,toe ek naderhand warm kry  besluit  nee is nou tyd vir die hotel en sy lugverkoeling.Het nou aanvaar gaan geen fotos op my blog kan laai nie so julle gaan maar tevrede moet wees met net my gegorrel soos my man dit noem.Het vandag n hele paar fotos vir van julle ge email hoop julle kry dit.Daar is so baie fotos en wil so graag dit met julle deel maar nou ja that’s life ne.Dink ek moet vir manlief se, ek dink ek het n nuwe laptop nodig!! Was 14h00 weer terug op die skip en honger, so eers op die buite dek weer lekker gaan eet!!! Beplan om met sailaway 16h00 vir julle n paar fotos van Tampa te neem wat ek dan op facebook sal sit.Nou ja tot more mooi bly

9 Feb 2015 @SEA

Deur die nag het dit weer rowwerig gegaan want vanoggend  wakker geword en ons 2 eendjies in porthole vensterbank het skoon in hoek inbeweeg/geskuif.Dis nou my aanduiding hoe die see is,want as hulle op hulle plekkie bly dan weet jy see rustig en as hulle geskuif het,rof!! Hulle is vir my te koslik.Het weer begin teken na jare en die een hele muur volgeplak van al my kuns!!! My man was reg, het sy spasie kom onderste bo keer maar gelukkig wil hy my nogsteeds he!!! Sy chirp, ek kan nie kla van n vervelige lewe saam met hom nie ,ek se dis verseker, het al paar sakke sout opgeeet!!! Later gym toe en het omtrent vanoggend n sweet opgewerk wat nie sommer gebeur nie maar party dae voel mens mos net sterker as ander dae,partykeer voel dit die petrol kom net nie deur nie en ander dae kan jy die wereld versit,so sterk soos n bees.Liefie sal vamiddag gym toe want hy help in die kliniek vanoggend maar ons het darm voor ek gym toe is n paar rondtes op die dek gestap wat ook baie lekker was,wind in die hare en vars see lug.Agter die skip was  n paar lelike wolke maar lyk my ons het hulle agtergelaat want oopgetrek en dink gaan lekker dag wees,bly vir die passasiers, hulle le soos sardientjies langs die swembaddens op dek 11.Vergeet dat baie van hulle uit dele in Amerika kom waar dit nou mos winter is en vrek koud.Dit klink vir my of Liefie se volgende kontrak Alaska gaan wees maar van Vancouver en na 2 ander dorpe waar ons nog nie was nie ,so dit klink baie opwindend,ek was mal oor Alaska,laas het ons van Seattle vertrek wat in Amerika val en Vanvouver val in Kanada,so dis alweer n visa vir my!! Het met eerste besoek daar nie n blog gehou nie waaroor ek baie spyt is maar die keer sal ek reg wees, sal net moet sorg dat my fotos gelaai kan word want dis regtig iets besonders.Ongerep en asof die tyd stil gestaan het in die verlede,vir my pragtig.Met ons besoek na Seattle het ek elke week blomme op die mark gaan koop vir ons kamer en het die mooiste peonies gekoop, sal dit nooit vergeet nie,was vir my baie spesiaal,by ons is hulle mos baie skaars.Nou ja vamiddag sal ek weer die biblioteek besoek maar sien die bed wink my alweer nader en dink nie ek gaan my vreeslik tee sit nie!!! Want van more is dit weer elke dag n port en dan moet ek mos beweeg en gaan sien wat te siene is.Mooi bly tot volgende keer.

10 Feb 2015 Roatan

Vanoggend 10h00 in Roatan aangekom maar Liefie werk so ek op my eie toe het ek dinge baie stadig gevat .Later besluit gaan sommer saam met Ulrika die ander dr aan boord en 2 van haar vriende gaan stap.Ons is by die hawe gebied uit in die ander rigting as wat ek en Liefie verlede week gestap het.Wel dit was ook maar n eye opener, derde wereld set up,en ook maar vuil, vervalle en gedaan,sou beslis nie alleen rondloop nie. Die honde almal maer en meeste aan ketting  vas in hulle agterplaas ,het darem n hout hokkie vir hulle.Het n paar intressante fotos geneem van die apteek,tandarts,oogkundige,munisipalitiets se kantore,n kar,die kragdrade is iets soos uit horror movie,as dit op jou val is jy  verseker dood!! Sal dit maar moet e-mail.Daar het ook n man verby ons gekom wat probeer het om van sy zolle aan ons te verkoop maar dink daar is dalk meer as net twak in hulle!! Het tot honde op die dokke in Cozumel wat vrugte uitsnuffel ,wat nog te se zolle!!!. As hulle jou vang met die vrugte kan jy to $500 boete betaal!!! Moet erken voel elke week ,hond jy kom sit net nie by my sak nie want ek sit soms vrugte in my sak vir Liefie wat hou van n snack later in die aand ( party gewoontes verander mos nie!!) maar weet jy mag niks van die skip afneem nie.Dink hy mis sy yskas eetery in die middel  van die nag. Vamiddag net voor ons moes vertrek weer n arme ou oom gedisembark so wonder wat was  fout met hom, moet erken dink nie ek sal wil he hulle moet my hierso alleen aflaai nie,arme oom moes toe gehaal word deur lugambulans want hulle het geen hospital hierso nie,leeuwereld!!Verder lekker dag gehad en nou weer oppad na Belize,tot volgende keer,mooi bly.

11 Feb 2015 Belize:

Vandag is Liefie af so ons weer oppad na ons gewone plekkie vir n dag langs die swembad,dink vir hom ook lekker want daarso is hy ook net nog n toeris.Ons kan eers later af van die skip want hy staan in vir sy kollega wat vanoggend n kurses doen so ons moet wag tot sy terug is voor ons op die tender boot kan klim.Hoop ons kry weer een van die groot bote wat lekker groot enjins het dan laat waai hulle! Oooo mal daaroor en veral daardie reuk van die enjin/petrol.Kan onthou as n kind was ek ook mal oor die reuk van die teerpale op die plaas en malassas wat my Pa op die kuilvoer gegooi het,het in sulke groot dromme gekom ,ai so maak reuke, dit vat jou terug na tye lank gelede.Spesiale tye.As ek weer pers mum ruik dan is ek weer terug in Europa toe ek daarso rondgetoer het in 1988 many moons ago! Wel nou genoeg van reuke,of so van reuke gepraat gedink daar le vir ons n k…. dag voor want toilet wou eers vanoggend nie werk nie maar dankie tog later weer sy vacuum terug gekry en als weg!!! Dis nou een ding van die skip toilette hulle praat met n stem!! of suig dat dit bars jy is eintlik bang van jou binnegoed bly dalk in die slag of word ook uitgesuig. So gelag vir Liefie want hy se, het al vroeer gebeur dat dit nie wil werk  toe hy alleen was, dan weet die ou hy die skuldige maar gelukkig met my hier, gaan hy hopelik dink ek is die skuldige!!! Binnekamer stories!!! Wel nou wag ons maar tot ons die groen lig kry, vir land toe.Net na 11h00 toe is dit tyd vir afklim en land toe moes ongelukkig onder in die tender boot sit want was al vol met al die passasiers.3 Skepe vandag in Belize City so hawe gebied was vol en besig.By die een eetplek wat se: daycare for husbands het dit jolig gegaan en daar is gesing en gedans so weet nie hoe hulle teen vamiddag gaan voel na n dag in die son nie.Ons het ons toe weer rustig langs die swembad tuisgemaak met n glas vol ys en n sprite zero!! Ooooo al lus vir n lekker glasie wyn of Savanna.Was darem n paar keer weer in die swembad en voor ons weet was dit weer tyd vir tenderbote toe.Ons is terug skip toe op n lieflike groot oop boot en kon heel bo sit,kon darem vir Liefie oorreed om n paar fotos te neem,hoe se die kinders watch this space!!Nou ja tot more mooi bly.

12 Feb 2015 Costa Maya

Vanoggend maar stadig aan die gang gekom en reeds gisteraand besluit gaan vandag maar dinge rustig vat,sal eerder volgende week as Liefie weer af is  na die hoof strand gedeelte toe te gaan.So dit beteken voet slaan,maar sal die keer luister en my tekkies aantrek!! Hy sal my dan onder n palmboom los en dan wil hy bietjie gaan hardloop,ek het natuurlik geen beswaar teen die voorstel nie.Lielike dag gewees en eers rondgeloop tussen die stalletjies moet erken al wat vreeslik irriterend is, elke 2de ou vra jou om na sy winkeltjie te kom kyk seker ook maar desperaat vir besigheid.Net om julle n idee te gee soms is die gemiddelde ouderdom van die gaste op die skip 65, dink hulle afhanklik van die skip passasiers en die jonger mense spandeer meer as die ouer garde.Het weer langs die dolfyne poel gaan sit/le en daar vertoef vir n lang ruk onder my eie palm tak huisie!!Ons probeer om nie geld op kos te spandeer nie maar ek al so lus om soos die ander passasiers n lekker yskouse magarieta en n lekker groot bord kos te bestel terwyl ek daarso le,lyk net lekker maar soos ek se, eendag! Dink so aan ons een vriend wat gese het as jy jonk is het jy nie die geld om dinge te doen nie maar as jy weer ouer is, het jy die geld maar kan nerens heen gaan nie, so lyk my is maar altyd n gelol.More is ons in Cozumel en ons hoop om op n snorkel excurtion te gaan na 3 verskillende duikplekke so hou duim vas plek vir ons en lekker weer.Tot more mooi bly.

 

 

1 Feb Tampa

1 Feb 2015: TAMPA

Well here we go again, at the end of my 2^nd week on the ship and starting my 3^rd.Hubby off and a beautiful day, so we walked along the Tampa River Walkway all along the waterfront. Was great to just go for a walk and spend time in a lovely hotel and drink a cappuccino. There we could do all our business but something is wrong with my computer because I still could not get one picture posted on my blog even tried to copy and paste with no success. So will be sending some via e-mails and others on Facebook. Along this waterfront it was amazing to see some of the boats that are moored along these slipways, definitely the rich and famous, huge and beautiful. Saw all these coloured beads on some of the boats and wondered what it meant, only to found out later that it has to do with the super bowl football that took place last night. Even got cookies when we got back on the ship that looked like a ball, and flags all over. Something  like a rugby final at home! I assume. Even tried to watch a while but did not have a clue of how things work, totally unknown to me .Anyway on our walkabout came across a bike station along the water way which I thought was great, you have tools that hang on cables to fix your bike and a bike pump for flat tyres. Wonder why I would think that something like that would definitely not work at home!!! This is a very clean and tidy city or in the areas where I have been, which is great, told you earlier that from the sky  the place also looks lovely. At 14h00 it was time to get back to the ship, so off we went. Can’t imagine that it is snowing and freezing cold in Boston, Chicago, New England and New York, (flight from JFK to Tampa was only 3 hours) to give you an idea of how far away it is, anyway I am not complaining for we have had a beautiful day. Watched the sail away from deck 6 and you have a beautiful view of Tampa as we leave the harbour. The seagulls seem to play in the ships wake or catch fish for every week they follow, while we leave.

2 Feb 2015: @SEA

Today we are @ sea, so I decided I should go to the gym and work off all the nice food I have been indulging. Had a good time and then it was time for the buffet on deck 11, was raining outside so sat in one of the inside seating areas. After breakfast I decided I would go to another talk on the different shore side excursions because the first talk just gives you so much information so second time round you have a better idea of what is going on and what would be a good choice, as my kids would say TMI(too much information)Was nice to watch the video clips of all the different options you have because I recognised a lot of the places. In Cozumel we actually walked past the Dolphin encounter area and place where you swim and touch the stingrays, the dune buggies passed  us and they were covered in mud so you could see, they had a good time and were still smiling!! The video clip on them looks cool, muddy, dirty, bumpy, scary, exciting, a wild ride in the jungle!! Actually I think I could compare this ride to one I had on a land drover on a ladies night on the farm Dalheim in the Karoo a few moons ago, on a full moon night!!! Lekkkkeeer gewees. Tomorrow we are back in Roatan Honduras and I am going on a walk with hubby again, or should I say boot camp, have not learnt my lesson!! Hope i survive to tell the tail!!! Until tomorrow, bye.

3 Feb 2015 Roatan Honduras

Voor ek vergeet sien dit is weer Afrikaanse dag se beurt!!!! Dink ek gaan vir my n lekker vet Mexikaanse sigaar koop en as ek tuis is n Mexikaanse aand hou, dan drink ons Tequila,eet tortillas,en salsa, vat maar n ou trek van die sigaar dan kan ek se, ek het al!! en speel kaart, dit klink vir my lekker,sluit Mexico af op n hoe noot!!! Hoe se hulle probeer alles en behou die goeie.Gelukkig kom Liefie n week na my by die huis dan kan ek dit eers uit toets,die kos bedoel ek, want ek het mos maar n geskiedenis met die kos maakery!!!  Ek het voor Liefie afgeklim vandag en op die pier vir hom gesit en wag. Die crew het n vuur drill gehad wat bitter lank gevat het en ek het gelukkig langs 2 oulike ou mense van Canada beland wat gelukkig met al ons gesels en stories toe darem die tyd omgekry het.Toe is ons twee die state van Roatan in, al langs die waterkant wat omtrent n eye-opener was. Van die skip en see lyk die plek mooi en jy sien die pragtige oerwoud,digte bosse en tropiese gevoel.Hoe verder ons gegaan het hoe erger raak dit ,plek is vuil en vervalle,vullis le orals en die see het n digte seegras uitgespoel orals langs die kant,wat na n dag in die son nie so lekker ruik nie.Tot n vark aan n ketting gekry reg langs n huis so op die waterkant.Moet bieg hulle waarsku mense op die skip om nie juwele te dra as jy buite hawe gebied inbeweeg nie en ook nie om alleen rond te loop nie, so dit se ook alles! Na n hele ent se gestap,toe se ek nee wat, het nou genoeg gehad van die depressing uitsig laat ons eerder weer terug hawe toe.Mense is arm en kry swaar eintlik hartseer want as hulle seker die geld gehad het kon die plek bitter mooi gewees het.Hier en daar is n groot huis of hotel in wording maar so tussen die vervalle dele.Daarom gaan die meeste passasiers met begeleide toere as hulle die dele besoek .So terug by die hawe gebied rustig teen die waterkant gesit en toe is dit weer skip toe.Die sonsondergang was weer pragtig met ons vertrek uit die hawe en die volmaan het ook so oor die see opgekom wat bitter mooi was,het n paar fotos van dit geneem .Dink nie sal weer so n stap tog op ons eie aandurf nie, so dis of shore excurtion of niks!!

4 Feb 2015: Belize City

Left the ship on the tender boat for Belize City just after breakfast. I always enjoy the tender boat ride, sat right at the back of the boat and love the feeling when they open all the engines and it makes this huge wake behind the boat. Then I went straight to the hotel where I was going to spend the day at the poolside and enjoy the free Wi-Fi.  Was very humid and was in and out of the pool all day long. The harbour areas where they drop you of is fine and have lots of shops but as soon as you leave the harbour area it is a bit dodgy. These 2 ports are not so great because they are not like Costa Maya, Cozumel and Tampa where you have lots to do on your own and go walking around all day long .Hubby had a busy day and had 3 passengers that had to stay behind because of their medical conditions and were not fit to travel any further. Well as he said to one guy, I have to do what is best for you and your health now, you can always come back to cruise but if I don’t get you off the ship alive you won’t be coming back!!! so that was the end of the conversation. Because of all this drama with the sick passengers we left a little later than usual but they say the captain has a heavy foot or hand and we made up time to our next port of call during the night.

5 Feb 2015 Costa Maya

Woke up and thought we were going to have bad weather but thank goodness when I went up for breakfast saw it was going to clear up and things looked good. Ver y excited because was my first day here with hubby and he was going to show me around. Good news he actually took a photograph of me with the feathery guys and with a Mexican hat on my head!!! Het mooi praat gekos!!! Then off we went on our walk to the beach area which is about 3km from the ship terminal area. Jy kan n trollie rit vat vir $3 maar van der Merwe wil stap ,so daar gaan ons al stapende wat eintlik baie lekker was want jy sien meer so stapende en kan stop vir fotos ens.Besef die plek is regtig nog aan die ontwikkel  so kan glo nog net 10 jr oud.Basiese goed reeds gedoen soos van die paaie geteer en huise nog aan die bou.Die strand gedeelte baie mooi en vreeslik baie stalletjies met allerhande goed te koop,orals hangmatte tussen die palmbome en het n rustic gevoel aan die plek aards,chilled.Duikers paradise beach bum lewe!!! No worries, wat ons nie vandag doen nie, doen ons more.Ook baie tafels onder die palmbome met masseurs, so orals le mense en word masseer,vettes,maeres,mooies,lelikes, noem maar op,moet bieg lyk lekker .Ons het toe tot aan die einde van die strand gedeelte gestap ook verby dele waar hulle nog die pad bou.Langs die pad het ons n Ma hond gekry met 1 kleintjie waarmee sy gespeel het en sommer weer besef n Ma bly n Ma was te oulik om hulle dop te hou, te pragtig .Ons het toe later ons tuis gemaak onder die palmbome reg langs n hangmat en natuurlik na n lekker swem het ek my tuis gemaak in die hangmat wat toe lekkerder is as om op die strand te le!!! Gelukkig kon ek Liefie ompraat om dit darem ook op kamera vas te le maar toe ek natuurlik vir hom wil afneem in die hangmat was dit n verlore saak,geen manier dat hy dit gaan doen nie.Na n lekker dag op die strand was dit weer tyd vir terugkeer skip toe en ons is weer te voet terug skip toe.Het natuurlik die fout gemaak en nie na hom geluister nie en met sloffies gestap so teen die tyd was my voete seer en aan die brand,kan dalk more wakker word met n blaas of twee!! Was bitter dankbaar het die fotos van die mexikaanse hoed en tradionele ouens geneem met aankom op die hawe want om na n dag in die son iemand te probeer oorreed sou seker op n baklei uitgeloop het!! Wel ons het n heerlike dag gehad en ek het dit vreeslik geniet,is maar net baie lekkerder as mens dit saam kan doen. More is ons weer in Cozumel en hy werk so ek gaan of saam met die ander op n Zeep toer om die eiland of saam met Ulrike swem met die stingrays hoor eers more watter een, altwee klink  lekker.So tot more mooi bly

6 Feb 2015 Cozumel

Die wolke begin inbeweeg en  die see is opgekrap ,lyk my we in for a rough ride all the way back to Tampa. Got of the ship to have a coffee at Starbucks while we wait for our shore excursion at 12h00 but was very disappointed when it was cancelled due to bad weather. The other guys had already left on their Zeep ride, so I missed out on that. Any way maybe next time. The Epic that was due to be in port at 9h00 and only arrived at 11h30 and battled to dock in the high and rough sea. Waves are breaking over the walls so you get a quick shower if you are not careful. Think I might try and post my blog when I get off again as soon as the Epic has docked because they close the gangway until it has docked. So off I went, first just browsed in some of the shops and saw lovely things if only I had lots of space to take all these things back with me.hangmatte ,hangstoele, hoedens,mooi pottery en borde,leer artikels,juwele,oulike strand klere,hierso dra hulle sulke visnet toppies oor hulle costuum of serpe om die heupe of om die nek.Het net by starbucks gaan sit toe Ulrike my nooi om saam met hulle in Hooters te kom sit waar hulle vir hulle middagete bestel het.Daar het ons toe vasgeval  en lank vertoef aangesien die weer nie vandag saam speel nie,gelukkig nie gereen nie maar sterk wind.Terug op die skip eers vir my n lekker warm koppie tee gaan maak en geswig voor die koekies!!!! More is dit weer gym toe om die gewete te sus.Nou ja tot more mooi bly,n rowwe nag op die see is ons voorland,baie dankbaar raak nie seesiek nie.Tot nou toe goeie weer gehad so kan nie kla nie.

7 Feb 2015 @ SEA

Well last night we were rocking and rolling and huge waves came past our porthole but once I was asleep nothing worried me!!Could not even try and think what it must be like in a very small yacht just the idea too much for me, think you will have to strap yourself to your bed or you won’t be sleeping. This morning all was forgotten and time for gym and a nice breakfast. While I was having breakfast I heard a conversation going on between passengers about traveling and was interesting to hear what people do to make traveling easier .The one guy said less clothes, small digital camera or take photographs with your smart phone, wiber, skype or facebook to communicate with home, small suitcase because in Europe the cars are small and you download maps of places/GPS and off you go!! Trip adviser had also helped them a lot with nice places to stay in. The other couple said that THINGS, sometimes keep us from living our dreams, and going places which I thought was very true or you save for one day but that day never comes, how many people have saved for their old day but before we get there, your partner dies or you get sick, so why do we not learn from other peoples mistakes. Anyway we have been friends with a couple that we met as students and I always use them as an example, they live today, not poer poer but 110%,go places small kids in tow, seen the world, nothing puts them off of following their dreams and doing things, amazing,  always up to something, both have just done the half ironman in East London, wonder what will be next!!! Tomorrow we are back in Tampa but I will be doing my walk on my own for hubby on duty. This coming week we are planning our snorkelling trip when we get to Cozumel on Friday and hold thumbs we have a perfect day for diving. So until next time cheers.

 

Belize

28 January 2015 Belize City Belize:

8h00 die oggend aangekom in Belize waar ons weer met die tender bote aan wal geem is.Gelukkig was Liefie af so ons kon saam afklim .Baie lekker om so heel bo op die tender boot te sit, reg agter Liefie sodat hy die ergste wind weghou,slipstreaming!! Eers net rondgeloop en toe is ons hotel toe waar ons lekker by die swembad die dag deurgebring het.HY het n lekker sappige bloukaas burger ingewerk want nie by ontbyt uitgekom nie.Moet eers vertel  toe ek kleedkamer toe is om uit te trek en my pikkewyn pakkie aan te trek is ek geskok om te sien daar is 3 toilette so op n ry sonder enige afskortings en ek dink vir myself hoe is dit moontlik ! Kan jy die prentjie sien ,hier sal ek beslis nie kan sit nie.Net om toe agter te kom hulle besig om die plek oor te doen en dit nog in die proses,want n rukkie later daag n man toe op met deure wat lyk soos die afskortings vir die toilette,n groot  verligting.Weer probeer fotos laai op my blog en weer die teleurstelling so nou is my hoop op Tampa Sondag,sal maar sien.Aanmekaar n break in connection as ek die fotos probeer laai en het al n hele klomp wat ek wil deel.Nou ja tot more,dan  is dit weer Costa Maya.

29 Jan 2015 Costa Maya:

My second visit to this part of the world, docked at 8 but had to wait for a smaller ship the Regent before we could get off, was docked next to us and suppose first come first serve!! Weather looked good so off I went, first I tried to connect to the wi-fi  but that was a hit and a miss, so then I walked around taking photographs while hubby not with me because he does not like photographs as I told you in my previous blogs. Then I ended up on the beach under a palm tree rondavel!!! On a sun chair and there I got stuck for the rest of the day, to my right I had a fantastic view of the dolphin encounters so that kept me busy trying to get  a nice pic of them jumping out of the water, did eventually!!Next week when hubby is off we are going to do a 3km walk to the beaches, he normally goes for his run but not while wife is with him!! so he will have to walk with me. He says beautiful so will have to wait for next week. When I got back to ship had to have a quick bite and some tea but will have to get use to their new tea brand because they have changed their supplier and I prefer the old one. Then I had to have a talk with hubby to ask him to please take photographs next week of me and the native people in their feathery outfits and of course how can you come to Mexico and not have a pic of you and there huge hats, so we will see if it happens. Late afternoon we are off to Cozumel Mexico and arrive there tomorrow at 8h00.

30 Jan 2015 COZUMEL

Gisteraand het ons n heerlike aand gehad met die res van die mediese span,pizzas bestel en uno gespeel,  sommer op die tapyt gesit ,in kollega se kamer besig met vergadering!!!later vir hulle gese hulle nog springkuikens in vergelyking met ons 2 ou grys katte en more sal ons nie na die kruisbeen se gesit op vloer nie uit bed kan klim nie!!  Vandag het Liefie my gaan wys waar hy al voorheen was en 15km!!!! later was ek stokflou maar na n roomys en koeldrank  sommer so op die straat hoek, toe is ek weer reg,firing on all cilinders!!!Eers het ons in die lughawe se rigting gestap en by die standbeeld van Gonzalo Guerrero gekom wat die founding father van die plek was.Sy skip het hier gestrand en toe trou hy met een van die eiland bewoners en het hier gebly tot met sy dood 19jr later. Verder lieflike dag so ons het omtrent alles bekyk,duik plekke,dolfyn encounters,swem  en voer van pylvisse,snorkel plekke noem maar op.Het my verkyk aan die ou Mexikaanse ooms met hulle groot hoedens en perde karre, te koddig.Pragtige foto van die een ou geneem en sal dit opsit wanneer ek eendag regkom met dit!!!Hoef glad nie te wonder waar ons in die wereld is nie ,foto se alles.Vanaand by ete het die kaptein besluit om by ons aan tafel te kom sit en soos dit gaan, dood normale mens nes ek en jy  weet nie hoekom mens dink hulle anders nie,maar nou ja baie nice en lekker gesels met ons het wraggies vir 7 jaar in Suid Africa gebly en nou nog n huis in die Kaap en is met n Suid Afrikaners getroud wat uit die Vrystaat kom, so gaan elke jaar terug om by die familie te kuier.Hy vertel is eintlik n gespottery onder hulle vriende wie sou nou ooit kon dink dat n meisie van die Vrystaat, n seeman sou ontmoet en trou.Toe is dit tyd vir die wave, laas vertel dit is as al die crew op die verhoog gaan en voorgestel word aan die passasiers)  en ek het vanaand vir die eerste keer n show gaan kyk wat soos gewoonlik uitsetekend was, daardie dansers kan maar dans en wragtig hulle is goed en het die mooiste lyfies,jonk en mooi.Gisteraand hoeka hier in die vroee oggend ure  wakker geword van n commotion hier buite ons kamer net om later te hoor was hoeka van die dansers met n vriend wat sy voet oopgesny het,kan seker eie afleiding maak  wat veroorsaak dat mense daardie tyd van die nag vrolik,loud en rasserig is!!! Liefie moet vannaand die 2 de wave doen so ek gaan maar solank inkruip na my bootcamp vandag!! Tot more mooi bly

31 January 2015 @ SEA:

Had to laugh this morning because we overslept, so when hubby woke up and saw it is 7.45 he shot out of bed like a bullet!! Luckily his office is only 5 steps from our room. The previous day exercise and sea air had us passed out for the night! This morning I decided it was time to hit the gym again, so off I went and things got better as I went along. When I saw these flabby arms of mine I thought I should be here every day to try and get this under control but needless to say as I walked out the door all is forgotten, ag wat ons lewe net eenkeer,ek is nie meer 20 nie  en die eetsaal wag!!!!!! Never thought I would like a sea day but here I am thankful it is a sea day so that I can just chill and take the day, rustig. Have 2 sea days on this cruise, when we are in a port this grysmuis wants to go walking about, scared I miss something, so much to see and do. We had a fantastic day yesterday and we only spent $6 on our cool drink and ice-creams, so you can have a good time without spending money but money does help, let’s be honest!!! Must admit dreaming of the day we can walk into one of the lovely restaurants and order something nice or traditional, maybe one day. Can’t believe our luck, I am sitting here minding my own business and here hubby comes walking into our room with a stranger in tow , the man in charge of bringing us a brand new matrass and bigger than our old one, yipeee, so now we are going to be sleeping in luck Cheri !!!! Can’t believe tomorrow the start of Feb and the first month has come and gone.Lyk my soos die jare aanstap vang hulle spoed op die afdraende en daar is nie brieke vir dit nie!!! Voor jy weet sit jy seker op die ouetehuis se stoep,hopelik nie op afbob se stoep nie.Until tomorrow bye.

Kry fotos nie gelaai nie so sal plan B in werking moet stel, weet nog net nie wat dit is nie!!! mooi bly

 

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