cassie_KY

Saturday, July 4th After departing the ship, we headed straight to the USS Alabama. We had read some brochures describing it. Coupled with the fact that we could see it from out cruise ship, it was a must-do. Before I go into a description of our time there, I wanted to provide some background on USS Alabama and Battleship Park (with the help of the brochure). At Mobile’s Battleship Memorial Park you don’t have to look very far to find heroes. From the mighty USS Alabama to the Submarine USS Drum and 21 combat aircraft, the spirit of military pride is alive and well. Voyage through time and revisit an era of adventure and bravery as you tour our many exhibits. The recipient of nine WWII Battle Stars, the Battleship Alabama and her crew of 2,500 saw action in the Atlantic for a year before joining the Pacific fleet in mid-1943. There she fought at such key locations as Leyte, the Gilbert Islands, and Okinawa. After the signing of the war-ending surrender documents in September 1945, Alabama, or the “Mighty A,” as she was known, led the American Fleet into Tokyo Bay. Nearby the battleship, you can climb inside the USS Drum, and see firsthand the conditions that confronted our Navy’s submariners. You can relive the glory days of the Air Force with “Calamity Jane,” a B-52 Stratofortress that served with the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Another cold war veteran, the A-12 “Blackbird” spyplane, is another fascinating blast from the past. You’ll also want to see the World War II fighter planes in our Aircraft Pavilion, including a gull-winged Corsair and the P51-D Mustandg Redtail, the plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. Then inspect other aircraft from Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Battleship Park is a very large facility! When we pulled into the parking lot (lined on both sides with American flags), we weren't sure where to go first. The battleship takes center stage, but other outside attractions are scattered around the park. Opting to stay outside, we walked over to see the Calamity Jane. Her sides were decorated with her confirmed hits. Next to her was a monument dedicated to dogs who helped the war effort. Beside it was a Korean War Memorial and a tank. A more somber display was a blank granite monument bearing the names of Alabamians who had lost their lives in war. Standing perpetual watch was a bronze statue of a veteran coming to visit his brothers. Another statue that caught my eye was a giant POW bracelet. We walked around for a time looking at the other aircraft (Some in better shape than others.) Before heading inside. Tickets are twelve dollars (Ten with AAA discount). We picked up a sheet describing different "routes" through the ship. we followed the yellow route and promptly got lost. I never knew the inside of one of those ships was so complicated! We climbed over seven decks before we reached the top. Several rooms were restored to resemble officer’s quarters, the control room, and a lounge (among others). We really liked the short film that described the history of the ship. Veterans that served on the battleship were interviewed about what their days were like on the ship. A display regarding how the USS Alabama came to be in Mobile was really interesting. She was scheduled to be scrapped. A fundraising campaign took place and the battleship was towed from Washington state. It was reported to have been one of the heaviest tows ever. Next to the battleship was a large building full of aircraft. My favorite was the Blackbird. An article was displayed next to it explaining how it was dedicated to a test pilot. He disappeared in the sixties. His family did not know he was a pilot. They thought he worked for NASA. Each day when he went to work, he went to the base they thought he worked at and then he flew to Area Fifty One. When he disappeared, the military gave no explanation to his family about what happened. They didn't learn anything until 2007 when the information was declassified. The USS Drum was next. Like I thought, they fit a lot into a small space. The kitchen was not much bigger than a broom closet. The crew even shared beds! The idea was called "hot bed." Two men were assigned a bunk. While one was on duty, the other rested. The captain said it was really nice when working up north but wasn't as fun in the tropics. After our tour we headed to the gift shop. As it was July fourth, many people were milling around. Col. Glenn Frazier was signing his book, Hell's Guest. His story began in 1941 when he was sixteen years old. Lying about his age, the sixteen year old enlisted in the US Army. Five months later, he went to war and fought at Bataan. Soon after, he was captured by the Japanese. He survived the Death March and three years at a Japanese prison camp before he was freed. I felt honored to have met him. We found the gift shop prices to be quite reasonable and purchases some magnes, patches, post cards, and a Christmas ornament. We also checked out the snack bar and the prices were cheaper than what I expected and the quality seemed to be good. One other exhibit at Battleship Park is a line of old Mobile Police cars. They date from the late forties through the sixties. I had to have my picture taken with the paddy wagon. We ended up spending five hours at the park. Honestly, I could have stayed longer and not been bored. There is so much to do and learn about our military past. This is a Mobile must-see! Thank you for reading! Pictures will be up soon. Our next trip report will be the Georgia Aquarium.

Last Day at Sea Friday was our last day at sea. We had had a wonderful time doing our excursions the past two days that we were looking forward to enjoying the ship. A disembarkation speech was going to be given that morning and we ambled our way down to listen to it. We arrived early and watched the end of the Bingo game. We had not played a single game during the cruise, but immensely enjoyed watching others as the games were nearly cut throat! The disembarkation talk was short. It described how luggage must be placed outside the staterooms and the bags will be grouped together. Disembarkation would be staggered to help eliminate a mad rush off the ship. We had to declare anything we purchased and if the total was above $800, we would have to pay taxes. Basic, but good to know before the day itself. We ran into a couple we had met on the first night of the cruise and the invited us to have lunch with them. John had brought his mother with him who was 82 years old. He was also traveling with his fiancé who had brought her father who was also 82 years old. We chatted about the different cruises they had been on (this was the third one they had taken in a year) and some of our favorite vacations. All the while, we sat in front of a picture window overlooking the ocean. Lunch consisted of antipasta salad (with calamari) as a starter and a seafood chef salad for me while Nathan had a chilled orange soup and rainbow trout. We both had apple Hollander (a poached apple cake with honey and ice cream) for dessert. The food was wonderful, but we enjoyed the company even more. After lunch, we went to the room and packed our bags as we would be getting back to the room late. We changed into our dinner clothes and headed out for our Galley tour. With 1,500 people on board, the kitchen had to be something else. We were not disappointed. While the tour was a little short, we were able to see the prep areas and just how food was managed for two large dining rooms. I was snapping photos and several of the kitchen workers posed for me to take their picture. Have I mentioned how much I liked the staff? Another highlight of the trip (for me at least!) was the towel animal class. Here, you learned how to make different towel animals. It may have sounded silly, but a large crowd came out. With a little help from our neighbors, we all learned how to make a dog and an elephant. No way was I going to let these guys go! We proudly carried them back to the room and placed our elephants next to Suphola’s creations. My window ledge was getting quite full! We headed back upstairs for our last dinner of the evening. We were greeted by our host wearing a wig and goofy glasses. We were in for a treat that night! Dinner was a crab cake and veal for me while Nathan had the shrimp ****tail and spare ribs. We both had to have the chocolate melting cake for dessert again. Our wait staff sang for us again and wished us goodbye. In hindsight, we both would have liked to have had more dinners in the main dining room,, but our week was so packed, it was hard to do! As soon as dinner was finished, we headed back to the room to change clothes and hurried to the evening show. Tonight was a program called “Xtreme Country.’ I lost count of the songs, costume and set changes. I was too busy clapping my hands and singing along! The performances are really that good folks! For our final night, we headed outside and watched the water under a full moon. With the ship being sent overseas, we knew this would be the last night we would get to spend on The Holiday. At 10:30, we headed into Doc Holiday’s lounge (they have stools at the bar that are old roping saddles) for the “Adult Comedy.” This was the same comedian as the other night and her name is Kim Harrison. She was awesome. We kept looking at each other thinking, “Did she really say that?” Nathan was not amused that I memorized some of the songs. After the show, we headed back to the room to find my final towel animal- a very cute turtle. When I opened the door, one of the neighbors saw my collection and called their family over to see. It turns out that no one else I talked to had been allowed to keep their towel animals all week. Suphola rocks! Saturday- Departure Day We got up early and enjoyed our last breakfast on the ship. We had already made port at Mobile and it was soon time for people to begin departure. We were in group 18 of 20, so we did not leave until 9:30AM. After snapping a few goodbye pictures, we headed back to the room and grabbed out carry on bag. We wished Suphola a good journey and headed downstairs. It did not take any time to get off the boat or to find our luggage. Ten minutes later, we had cleared customs and were walking to the Prius. With a final look, we packed our car and left the parking garage. It was a vacation of a lifetime and if they would have allowed it, we would have jumped back on the ship and left again! Here are some final thoughts: Cassie and Nathan’s Top Ten Suggestions For Cruising: 1. Read about your cruise. You can find Trip Reports for all the cruises and destinations. That way, you will have a better idea of what to expect. 2.Book your excursions before you go. These can be pre-purchased and you can get them at a cheaper rate than purchasing on the ship. Also, the most sought-after excursions will sell out before the day of departure. 3. Go ahead and spring for a passport book. While the passport card will allow you to go to Mexico and Canada , it does not cover travel by air. If something should happen to you while you are abroad, you will not be able to be airlifted out. 4. Even if you don’t think Formal Night is your thing and you don’t like dressing up, go ahead and take some clothes. It was fun to dress up and get our pictures taken. 5. If you drink pop/soda, purchase a pop card as glasses of pop were nearly $2.00 each. My Fountain Card was $30.00 and I had unlimited refills for the duration of the cruise and got a really nice Souvenir cup as well. 6. Go to the entertainment in the evenings. The shows are really good and not to be missed. 7. Go watch Bingo. Even if you don’t play, it is hilarious to watch others and cheer for them when they win. 8. Be nice to the staff. They work really hard and will do their best to take care of all your wishes (I got extra towel animals. Only person on our deck!) 9. Even though you can go 24 hours a day, get some sleep. The beds are ultra comfy and you will need it if you do many excursions. 10. Take Dramamine as a precaution before getting on the ship and the first day just to make sure you don’t get seasick. Thanks for reading! Pictures will be posted soon. Next report will be the USS Alabama.

Crud! Thanks Dave. I wasn't paying attention. I contacted the mods so I am hoping it will migrate soon.

Calica Photos

Thursday was the earliest we had to wake for the entire cruise.; Before six in the morning! When we booked out cruise, so many options were available, but we knew we wanted to see Chichen Itza. Here is the description of our excursion: Don’t miss this fascinating trip into Chichen Itza, heart of the Mayan culture. Mexico is the center of the Mayans and Chichen Itza is considered to be the most significant Mayan archeological site. Take part in this excursion and: 0. Take a 3-hour, air-conditioned ride through the Yucatan Peninsula. 0. Learn all about the history and culture of the area on this narrated bus trip. 0. Enjoy a traditional Mexican buffet lunch. 0. Be escorted through this enchanting majestic city, extending over 6 square miles. 0. Be guided past hundreds of buildings such as the observatory, ball court, warrior temple and castle pyramid. 0. Have an amazing experience in history and culture. We had been told that Calica’s port was not the most interesting. Tory (Our Cruise Director) likened it to a sand bar. I will take that a step farther and state that I felt like I was in the middle of a quarry. There aren’t many buildings around the port, just the main road down to the dock. We arrived in time to watch the crew on land drag the ropes over with guide lines and secure the boat. As this was going on, lines of tour buses, jeeps, and taxi’s filed in to pick up their tourist cargo. Our tour left at 7:30, so we gulped down some breakfast and hurried down to Deck 3. We filed off, had out pictures taken by Carnival, and walked straight to our bus. We traveled with Arturo tours. We boarded a very comfortable tour bus and settled in for our three hour drive. Our tour guide introduced himself and he was such a pleasure to listen to. He explained that he had been conducting tours at Chichen Itza for more than twenty years. He had attended college to study archeology, but did not have enough money to finish his studies. He was very intelligent and explained facts about the area we were driving through. The area we traveled through was quite desolate. We passed through clumps of houses and met an occasional car, but nothing too crowded. When we crossed the state line, we had to pass through a military check point. A row of Jeeps stood next to the road and soldiers milled around with machine guns and rifles. We had no trouble getting through, but it made a person wonder what would happen should someone try to cause trouble. The area’s main cash crop is agave. It is a plant that resembles aloe in appearance. This is the plant used to make tequila. I found out that it takes six to seven years for the agave to reach full maturity. Many of the homes we drove past had a small patch of it growing in their backyard. About halfway there, we stopped to stretch our legs. There was a small market there and we have about twenty minutes to amble around. We purchased a hand made leather banner that depicted the Mayan calendar. They had some wooden sculptures, silver, blankets, and other items. I did not get to sample it, but several people were raving about a sweet tequila that they produced in the area. If anyone knows what I am talking about, please let me know because I want to find some! I napped for the last leg of the trip. Nathan woke me when we entered the last hamlet. Temple-shaped signs pointed the way to the land of “Chicken Pizza” (how some people pronounce Chichen Itza). We clamored off the bus and headed towards the front gates. Our guide gave us each a water. It was so hot, we were going to need several! As he paid for our admissions, he invited a gentleman over who made silver necklace pendants with our name in Mayan. For $30, I thought that would be a fun treat to myself. We placed our order and headed into the Complex. The first place we stopped was a tree. Puzzled, our guide explained this was a gum tree and that the Mayans had used the sap from it to help clean their teeth. Then, a Mexican gentleman created a little product called “Chiclets” from it. As we walked, out guide provided information on what this place was. Chichen Itza means ”Mouth of the well of the Itzas.” Itza was the ethnic group that had economical and political power at the time. They are the best-known monuments of the Yucatan. The Mayan City was founded around 400 AD. We walked straight back past many vendor stands selling blankets, wooden carvings, beads, and small models of El Castillo (Described later in this report.). The first structure we observed was called the Ossario. It was s smaller step-pyramid with stairs down all four sides. Our guide stated there is a temple on top and an opening that goes into a natural cave. From there, we turned around to a large building called El Caracol. It is considered to be an observatory. The alignment of the buildings is on the compass points. Windows in the building line up with the passage of the sun and some of the stars. Our guide stressed “Mayans did not make things just for making.” Then, we were treated to a ten minute talk about the Mayan numbering system. Nathan recorded it and I will post the YouTube link. He talked about how their numbers were based on twenty and they had pictographs that represented the different numbers. He made a joke that he would need a few hours to explain how the Mayans discovered zero. We spent the next ten minutes listening as our guide pointed out the different structures located around the immediate area. Then, we had ten minutes to walk around and look at them. The first was called the Temple of the Carved Columns. It was a small building that had several columns around it. A neat picture was of columns on either side of a small archway. Next was a structure called “The Nunnery.” It was named that because it has more than 50 small rooms in it. It really was a government building. It sits next to a small building know as “The Church” that is decorated with masks of the rain god Chaac. We are many smaller buildings and platforms at Chichen Itza. Our guide was not able to cover all of them due to the time that we had, but we stuck with the better known structures. I know that I have missed some that he described, but that just means I will have to go back and tour the complex again! We made our way around and FINALLY got to see El Castillo. This is the huge temple that dominates the center of Chichen Itza. It is a step pyramid with stairs going up all four sides. I was disappointed that we were not able to climb to the top and see the throne of the jade jaguar, but it is in the best interest of preserving the structure. We were told that on the Spring and Autumn equinox, at the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the structure casts a shadow in the shape of a plumed serpent along the west side of the north staircase. Nathan really was interested in this as the Autumn Equinox is September 22 which happens to be his birthday. Another thing I found really interesting was that our guide has us listen closely as he clapped his hands…. and produced no echo. All we heard was a dull thudding sound. I did not hear the explanation, but we all got to try clapping and whistling and experienced it ourselves. The Ball Court was next. While other ball courts have been discovered, this is the largest one measuring 545 by 232 feet. The walls on each side are 30 feet high with a ring (the goal) in the middle of each long wall. Here is where the neat architecture takes center stage again. The number seven was considered very special. Each team had seven players. They played for days doing their best to win. Their prize? They were ceremonially killed. We know this because at the base of one of the walls, a relief drawing represents a decapitated player with six streamers of blood coming from the neck with the seventh producing a plant. Here is the architecture part, when you clap your hands, shout, or whistle, it produces seven echoes! Again, the Mayans didn’t build just for making! One may ask yourself why a person would want to win the game if you were killed. The Mayans believed that when you died, you went to be with the gods and it was considered a great honor to be sacrificed. We then walked past the Tzompantli which was a platform who’s walls were carved with hundreds of human skulls. Not farm from Tzompantli was the Platform of the Eagles and Jaguars. This platform has a staircase on each side and caved into the sides are panels depicting eagles and jaguars consuming human hearts. Our guide pointed out, but we did not get to visit, the Temple of the warriors. It is a stepped pyramid near El Castillo. Rows of columns surround it and they are carved to represent warriors. That concluded the end of our guided tour. With forty-five minutes left, we wandered the complex, snapping some more photos of El Castillo and discussing what it must have looked like to have rediscovered this place in the nineteenth century. Nathan purchased a stone carving of El Castillo and we found another leather banner (This one depicting the Aztec calendar.). We stopped off and picked up my necklace and then made our way back to the bus. Our watches said it was late afternoon and everyone was starving! We made our way to a hotel near Chitzen Itza and were treated to a Mexican buffet. We weren’t really sure what the dishes were, but the pulled pork and fish were yummy and I could have eaten several servings of their bread pudding (which I found to be similar to flan with honey on top). Nathan really like his Pepsi out of a glass bottle while I had a Corona. With full stomachs, we re-boarded our bus and headed back to the ship. We were treated to the amusing experience of watching Bewitched in Spanish (with English subtitles.). I slept most of the way back while Nathan amused himself taking pictures of me sleeping to use for blackmail later. We arrived back to the boat with ten minutes to spare. After the ritual celebration of my new towel animal (a monkey hanging from the ceiling this time), we showered and wandered the ship for awhile. The evening’s entertainment was the Showcase of Stars. This was a talent show featuring fellow cruise guests. We were nearly blown away by the quality of the performances. We had some really good singers on board and they really shown. All people who sang received a coveted “Ship on a Stick” (a trophy) and a bottle of champagne. After, we purchased our souveniers and headed to bed. Tomorrow was our last day at sea and we wanted to enjoy every minute of it! Thanks for reading and pictures will follow.

I am doing 2 lists here. The first encompasses rides I want to ride and will in the near future. The second are coasters that I want to ride but don't have a chance to due to distance/doesn't exist/just hard to get. They are in no particular order. 1. Raptor- I have the "dangly foot" conquered and am ready for this one. 2. Coney Island Cyclone, New York. Just because. 3. Balder 4. Kingda Ka- I love TTD, let's go a little taller! 5. Griffon- Have never ridden a dive coaster and I want to try it out. (Follow this closely by the one in Tampa). My Hard to Get/Impossible List 1. Orphan RockerA Description- It fascinates me! 2. Screamin' Demon- I was too scared to ride it when I was little at Camden Park. It rusted away on me and was in my back yard! 3. Cliff Hanger- Just because it is fairly close and I don't know when it will be open after being shut down after one day this year. 4. The Bat 5. SOB- before loop removal. I'd just like to see what it would have been like.

I LOVED your trip report. I went to Universal in 1995 and I recognized very little. I can't wait to get back. Your sign was a great idea. Are you going to keep it as a memento?

Thank you Interpreter! I knew you would jump in here on that one. I was not qualified ot answer as I have only been to two. As you said, the park of choice depends on what you like as a park enthusiast. All have good points and no two are alike (from what I have seen/read).

Monroe- Thank you so much for your compliments. I really don't have words to describe what it meant. I think Mr. Nathan is pretty special. It is sweet others see it as well. And, I will give Miss Stormy a hug for you! Avatar- Thank you so much! I was showing pictures to my mom yesterday and she didn't recognize me at first either!

Slide over to the topic called Megatrip Report Part 1 here in the Trip Reports page. That is the vacation this trip report was a part of.

As I watched it again yesterday for the first time in years, I feel I must quote "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" You see friend, I have the gift of gab! They are quite fun to write and I am happy others have enjoyed them as well.

OOPS! I forgot to post the link to our pictures. As always, I will have captions later! Cozumel- Day Three of Cruise

More Photos! (I will be working on captions for days!) Alabama Welcome Center Traveling to Mobile Alabama Our First Two Days at Sea Thank you so much for looking!

Wednesday was our port of call in Cozumel. We got up early and headed straight to the forward deck. We had arrived in Cozumel and were preparing to dock. The sun had just risen and we were treated to an uncomparable view of yachts, catamarans, and sailboats moored all around. We had been under the impression we would pull into the slot directly in front of us, but the captain turned the boat a hundred and eighty degrees and backed us into a slot. I was impressed to see someone parallel park an 800 foot ship! We snapped photographs of downtown Cozumel and enjoyed the view. After the ship cleared customs, we headed down to deck three to disembark. To keep track of you, the ship scanned you Sail and Sea Card as you got off the ship. When you got back on, they scanned it again. When we got off, we noticed another Carnival cruise ship in the distance. Even from afar, it appeared much larger than ours. We later learned it was the Carnival Legend. There were going to be three cruise ships in port with us. For our excursion that day, we had chosen the Mini Jeep Outlander and Snorkel. Here is the description from the Carnival website: · Board a Mercedes Benz Uni-Mog with your fellow guests. · Be driven from the pier to the Punta Sur State Refuge. See saltwater crocodiles in their natural environment, an antique Mayan ruin, and the Punta Celarain Lighthouse. · Receive your safety gear (helmet, goggles and mouth cover) at the beach. · Hop in your Yamaha 4x4 Rhino, a powerful outlander vehicle, and follow your guide through tropical jungle roads. · Ride through secret sand paths to arrive at El Cielo Bay, a white sandy beach that offers some of the best snorkeling on the island. · Enjoy a refreshing swim and discover the colorful tropical fishes that inhabit one of the shallowest reefs in this area. · Reboard your Rhino and head back to the lighthouse where your Uni-Mog is waiting to return to your ship. We had an hour before we were to meet our tour group. We had been warned before we got off that the Mexican shopping experience was not what we were used to. That was an understatement! With cries of "Senor" and "Amiga" we ducked our heads and kept walking. the shops were full of blankets, T-shirts, silver jewelry, and natural vanilla. I also discovered another love-Mexican Diet Coke! They use real cane sugar (even in the diet) and it tasted wonderful! (I am now plotting ways to import some back to the US.) At that time, we headed back to meet our group our guides Clente and Chi-Chi met us. We all signed waivers and prepared to leave. We met a really nice family. They cruise people had told them that their credit card would work while in port, but many of the shops would not accept it. After asking Nathan, I loaned them some cash to buy water. I knew it was taking a risk, but I try my best to do the right thing. We followed our guides to an open air bus and headed to a nearby hotel where we picked up ten people from the Carnival Legend. Then, we went on to where the Mini Jeeps waited. We were given a safety lecture on how to use the Mini Jeeps. They were automatics and it was stressed hor important it was to only drive in high gear. We were instructed that wearing helmets, seatbelts, and the web doors had to be fastened at all times. It took a few minutes to regulate the gas pedal and maintain proper spacing with everyone. We drove a few miles on a paved road and then turned off onto a dirt road through scrub brush. The road twisted and turned as we bounced over potholes. Then, we made a final turn and the ocean spread out before us. Absolutely breathtaking! We pulled off the road and made our way over to a wildlife lookout. What happened next was a highlight of the cruise for me. Chi-Chi looked out over the water, whistled, and hollered "Hey Max!" He waited a little and did it again. Moments later, a twelve foot crocodile swam to the pier we were standing on. This was Max. Chi-Chi explained Max was the dominant male and that they had been feeding him snacks for years so he would come over for tourists to see. Naturalists at the park estimated that 500 crocodiles live there. We had an option to climb an observation tower nearby. The view was beautiful and we snapped pictures of the ocean, inland waters, and the lighthouse off in the distance. We climbed down and waved goodbye to Max as we went in search of a shady spot to lounge. Beside where we had parked, there was a Myan temple. Unlike temples I had seen on television or books, it was less than six feet tall and about ten feet on each side with a small door. Chi-Chi told us that this temple was very special. First, the door was small not because the people were short, but because when people brought offerings, they would enter the temple on their knees. This temple had been known as the Temple of the Conch and functioned as a weather warning system. Conch shells were placed on the roof and when storm winds blew in, they caused the conch shells to sound. A runner would be dispatched to nearby villages to let everyone know a storm was coming and to prepare. I was so surprised. It was a simple idea that may have saved lives. We kept driving with ocean to our left and scrub brush on our right. We zipped past a lighthouse and made our way to the beach where we were originally going to snorkel. The red flag let us know we wouldn't be swimming there today. Rest assured! We were going to snorkel, just not at that beach. After a brief break, we climbed back into the Mini Jeeps ("Heeps" as Clente called them.) And headed back to the lighthouse. Here, we had approximately forty-five minutes of free time. We opted for the lighthouse first. The climb was 133 steep steps, but the view from the top was worth it! In all directions, we could see water. The shallow water where Max lived on one side and the pounding sea on the other. I could have stayed there for hours and drank in that view. After carefully walking back downstairs (Yes, they were that steep!), we were treated to homemade chips and salsa on the beach. Hammocks were set up as well and some in our group tried them out. We hopped back in our “Heeps” and drove them back to the station and boarded our bus again. It was time for snorkeling. I am not the best swimmer and have never snorkeled before, but I was not going to let that stop me. Nathan hadn't either and we were both really excited as everyone had said the water was beautiful. We were outfitted with snorkels, a life vest, and flippers. Chi-Chi walked us down to the water and explained how to use all the equipment. A couple from the other boat overheard it was my first time and were a huge help offering hints to help me out and encouraging me not to be nervous. It was so nice as we were all pitching in together to help everyone out. We headed out into the water and saw our first fish immediately. Tiny fish swarmed around our ankles! We walked backwards into the surf until we could swim. Nathan and I initially swam holding hands until Clente said it would make us swim slower. We swam side by side. It was slow going, but I was getting there. At this particular site, it was a half mile swim before we got out to the site. I learned how to look down and keep swimming so I could see all the fish below. The water was about fourteen feet deep, yet we could see to the bottom. Amazing! As I was swimming so slowly, Clente offered me a little float to help me swim. I swam over an anchor and looked down to see the water teaming with angelfish! I couldn't believe I was really in the ocean and seeing the fish I had only seen in pet shops before. We continued down the coastline and the fish kept coming. Chi-Chi and Clente poured little food treats out to the fish and we were mobbed! I looked sideways out of my goggles and the fish were jumping out of the water right in front of my eyes. Too soon, we made out way to land and boarded our bus. We stopped at the resort long enough for us to change clothes and then it was back to the pier. Such an absolutely good time! We still had a few hours before it was time to board the boat. We poked around in the shops and took in the scenery. We purchased some postcards for our families and magnets. Nathan wanted some of the blankets and the natural vanilla for his family and we scoped out the best places to purchase them. We received incessant calls to come look at jewelry and other items, but we kept trying to ignore them. I call it a success as we made it out of the shops without buying any of that! With shopping bags full of treasure, we headed back to the ship for a well-needed shower and discovered my new bunny towel animal. Our friends we had met on the excursion dropped by to give us the money we had lent them (they had borrowed some more to get some excursion photos). We went back upstairs and watched as our ship departed Cozumel. I can’t wait to go back and try the waterslide at Senor Frogs ! We ate supper at the Lido deck and went to see our Formal Night photos. They were gorgeous and I bought too many, but I was not going to be purchasing alcohol or any other disposable items so this would be my trip splurge. It was time for the show to start so we headed over to the Americana Lounge for a variety act. The first was a man billed as the fastest juggler in the world while the second was a comedian. We cheered and laughed through their acts and wished there was more! Juggling while doing splits and cartwheels was impressive. Stating that he would juggle as fast as we clapped (and being able to do so was even better! We wished the no photo policy was not the case. We admit that we missed the Midnight Buffet. Our excursion the next day had us up before 6AM and we needed a little sleep to enjoy it. Thank you all so much for reading. I will post the link to the photos shortly.

Dave, wondeful photos! The sunscreen station was different, Reminded me of a gas pump.

Yeah, "Corvette Only" spots were a nice touch and funny! I considered parking the Prius there for kicks, but could see a bolt of lightning strike her dead for placing such disgrace on the facility! Monroe, we are editing the photos of the USS Alabama right now to upload. We have so many pictures of the older aircraft they have there. I actually thought of you (your avatar stuck out in my mind) as we were going through them!

dragsterfan420- We are alot alike on the photos. I am behind posting the rest of our trip reports because we are going through and organizing the nearly 3,000 pictures we took on our vacation! westcoaster- I didn't know what to expect for Monster Mansion, but I was very impressed with the theming, story line, and the fact that the whole family could enjoy it. I don't know what was there before, but I sure like what is there now!

I travel alot for work too and don't think I would know what it is like to not live out of a suitcase.

^Thank you for the nice compliments! I probably take WAY too many pictures, but they are so nice to look at when you get back home. I have new photo editing software and it could be dangerous...

I think I worded that wrong. My hope is that first work on what they have and then add something new. But, yes pictures please! I think the park is pretty and that tweaks here and there as well as a new addition on the dry side would go a long way into raising the park's popularity (and when I went, it was pretty full then!)

Patches and magnets for us!

Millie-Diamondback- Maggie. I don't know if I am not finding the right seat or what, but I really don't care for Maggie that much. And, I WANT to like her!

They opened 1998? Kind of sad as that sounds relatively young for a coaster. I was not able to get to SFKK until this year and have never ridden them. When we went, I found the park to be really nice and hope some improvements can be made to open them once again.

Photos of Corvette Museum

Welcome to our Mega Vacation Trip Report! This will be a multi-part trip report as Nathan and I did so many things. In the end, we traveled for ten days and a few thousand miles. As a brief overview, this is what we did: Day One- Left Worthington and stopped at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green then drove to Montgomery Alabama. Day Two- Boarded the Carnival Holiday for our 5 Day Cruise to Mexico. Day Three- A Fun Day at Sea and Formal Night of the Cruise Day Four- Port at Cozumel where we rode ATV Rhino’s, visited an Ecological Park , climbed a lighthouse, snorkeled (both our first times!) and shopped in downtown Cozumel . Day Five- Port at Calica. We visited Chitzen Itza. One of the new seven wonders of the world. Day Six- Fun Day at Sea Day Seven- Disembarkation from the ship. We toured the USS Alabama and the Military Park that surrounds it. Stopped off at Priestley’s Pecans and drove to Atlanta Georgia . Day Eight- Georgia Aquarium and their Titanic Exhibit. World of Coca-Cola. Dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Day Nine- Six Flags over Georgia Day Ten- Headed home. Stopped at Smokey Bones in Chatanooga. Stopped at the Lost Sea in Sweetwater Tennessee . A link to our Photo Gallery will be Post #2. The story of our trip began with a present. This year was my 30th birthday. Nathan combined my birthday and Valentine’s Day into one and purchased a cruise trip for us. We began planning all the details even though we had months before the cruise. We had to order birth certificates. Passports were another necessity as we were leaving three weeks after the rules for traveling to Mexico changed. Most importantly, we spent hours pouring over web forums to determine how to get the most bang for our buck and minimize “First Timer” mistakes. Day 1- Getting to Alabama Nathan and I left my house on the morning of July 28th, Our cruise didn’t leave until 4PM July 29th, but we wanted plenty of time to get there and explore a little on our way South. I took the first shift driving as this was a familiar route for me having driven it many times. Nathan is from West Virginia and hadn’t been in Kentucky until we met, so I played tour guide along the way. We stopped briefly in Versailles so he could see the Castle. I had told him about it in the past, but I don’t think he really expected to see an honest to goodness castle plunked down in the middle of Kentucky . We snapped a few pictures and then drove on to Bowling Green . Most people don’t know I am a big car buff. I love working on cars and have been restoring an old Monte Carlo as time and money allows. It only made sense to take a brief detour at the Corvette Museum . According to the website, “the National Corvette Museum is the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit museum ever dedicated to a single automotive nameplate—Corvette— America ’s premier sports car and an international symbol of U.S. automotive innovation.” I had driven past Bowling Green many times on road trips and had noticed the odd architecture for the Corvette Museum . We pulled into the parking lot and I was taken aback at the sheer size of the place. The building covers 68,000 square feet. That must be floor space as the soaring ceilings made the place appear much larger. The walkway up to the front doors were lined with bricks bearing the names of people and car clubs from all over the world. I learned people can purchase these personalized bricks. (I found my dad his Christmas present!) Once inside, we were greeted with a row of cars in the lobby. Get this- if you wish, you can order your Corvette and arrange to have it delivered to you at the Corvette Museum . You have your picture taken to commemorate the passing of keys as that brand new car becomes all yours. Admission is $12 ($10 with a AAA discount.). A short film documents the history of the Corvette. Then, you begin the tour. The evolution of the car is documented as you progress through the museum. Sections are dedicated to research and development, another to racing, and still another to concept cars. The final stop is the “weird architecture” part that is easily visible from I-65 (the yellow and red section). Here a display of more than 30 cars shows changes in the Corvette from one year to the next as well as modifications some people have done. One row was nothing but Indy 500 Pace Cars. I fell in love with the blue 76…. but that is another story! We wandered through their gift shop and found prices to be high. However, all money goes back into the building instead of lining someone’s pocket. We snapped a few more photos and headed out. The Corvette Museum is a nice way to spend an afternoon. Even if you are not a car buff, learning about the people who loved and drove this car is interesting. We continued on to Montgomery Alabama and arrived there around 10 PM (we took our time and made plenty of stops for stretch breaks). We stayed at a Day’s Inn just off the Interstate. We were only an hour and a half drive from our destination! Day 2- First Day on the Boat We got up super early. Our paperwork had stated we could not board until 12:30, but we wanted to be sure we were there with time to spare as we really weren’t sure where we were going, we had to get the luggage unpacked and park the car. We arrived at the cruise terminal at noon. It was so exciting to see the huge red smokestack and know we had finally made it. We pulled into the lower level of the parking garage and unloaded our bags. We had placed ribbons (the curly kind you find on presents) on our luggage so we would be able to identify it easily. We entered the parking lot and were one of the last people able to have a covered parking space. After securing the Prius (and kissing her goodbye for a week), we grabbed our carry on bags, passports, and cameras and headed for the next leg of our vacation. It took an hour to get processed through line. Then, we crossed the gangplank (or whatever you wish to call it) and we were on board. The Holiday is the smallest ship in Carnival’s arsenal, but we didn’t care. It was big enough for us and all ours to explore for the next five and a half days. Of course, we hurried off to see our room. We had booked an inside cabin and instead of something the size of a closet, it was really nice with a big bed, a faux window, chair, nightstand, and a goodly sized bathroom. While there, we met Suphola, our steward. He is from the Philippines and would be taking care of us that week. We chatted at him for a few minutes and then headed out to explore. We went to the main lounge and listened to the travel talk. We met our cruise director, Tory, who was an extremely hyper British woman. She described all the places we would be going and what to expect. We also listened to the various other excursions. I was a little upset as some that were mentioned had not been included on us to choose from, but I am still glad we pre-ordered ours. After, we headed back to our room and grabbed our life preservers for the muster drill. Before the cruise, I had no idea what this was. In a nutshell, if people have to abandon ship, you have a predesignated meeting place. Here is where you are grouped up to board life rafts. During muster drill, you take your life preserver and head to your station. There, you are shown how to put it on the right way and informed about safety precautions Carnival has taken to keep us safe. I could see this being fairly boring. We took turns snapping pictures of each other and looking at all the gadgets on the vests. It was like the Swiss Army Knife of vests with a whistle, flashlight, and other things attached to it. At that point, it was time to set sail. With a sounding of the horn, we were off! We headed up top and watched as Mobile slowly got smaller and smaller. We chatted with people around us and took more pictures. I don't know how long we lingered; Watching the wake from our ship had us lose all track of time. By 5, we tore ourselves away from the view as we were starving. We really didn't want to get ready for a formal dinner, so we headed to the Wharf Grill which is casual dining. I don't know if it was because we were truly on our cruise, the atmosphere was that awesome or what, but that was the tastiest burger I had eaten in my life! We chatted and watched the scenery change. We carried our life vests back to the room and put them away. Here began the love affair I had with the towel animals. A cute little frog was sitting on the bed waiting for me! Yes, I am thirty years old, but I jumped up and down when I discovered him. Many photos ensued. As our luggage had arrived, we unpacked everything because who wants to iron on vacation? Then, we rested for an hour as we read the Caper (a guide for all the activities on the ship). We wandered around the ship and checked out all the different nooks and crannies. We listened to music in one of the clubs (a cover band playing Southern Rock). A storm had blown in and we were treated to an awesome lightning show. Nathan wanted a snack, so we headed back to the Lido Deck and grabbed a slice of pizza. As it had been a long day, we turned in early. I couldn't wait for what the next day would bring! Day 3-A Fun Day at Sea Today was called a "Fun Day at Sea." We were cruising at 20 knots on our way to Cozumel. We got up and headed out for breakfast. Like yesterday, we didn't feel like going to our dining room and having table service. On the Lido deck, they offered pancakes, breakfast meats, grits, hashbrowns, toasts, bagels, fresh fruit, and made to order omelets. After, we found a chair on one of the decks and watched the ocean. We couldn't believe the shade of blue that it was. Never had I seen a color like that outside of a Crayola Box. We wandered around the shops and took a spin through the Art Auction to see what works of art were on display. We considered staying and watching until Nathan reminded me of the Ice Carving Demonstration and Hairy Chest contest back on the Lido deck. Art Auction or watching grown men act crazy? There was no debate there. We headed to the Lido deck. We arrived in time to watch the Ice Carving. In minutes, using only some chisels, two angels holding a heart emerged from a block of ice. It was quickly whisked away and would be displayed at the Midnight Buffet that night. The Hairy men were next. I really had no idea what to expect. Middle-aged men dancing up the stairs, ripping their shirts off, sliding down the waterslide, and dancing with a trio of bikini clad women wasn't it. One after the other, they danced, stroked their chest hair, and shimmied to the music. It was hilarious. After, each man had to display his best Tarzan call and wrestled a towel snake (like the real Tarzan did in the movie). After displaying their talent, a winner was chosen. We knew we had to head back to our room in a couple hours to get ready for Formal Night. Wanting to relax, we found a deck chair and took a nap in the sunshine for an hour and a half. Refreshed, we got dressed in our best and had pictures taken before the Captain's Welcome Aboard Reception. Promptly at 5:15, we were ushered into the American Lounge to meet our Captain, Roberto Leotta. We enjoyed complimentary ****tails and a live band. I had a good time people watching and admiring all the pretty outfits people had. Some couples danced on the stage. Once couple was even swing dancing. After a half hour, our Captain came out and greeted us. Then, he introduced the Senior Officers. We had an international crew with people from Italy, the Philippines, Britain, France, Germany, Ecuador, and others. Then, we headed to our first formal dinner. It was excellent! A salad to start, lobster and shrimp for the main course, and the heavenly chocolate melting cake for dessert. Our wait staff was wonderful and they all sang for us before we headed out for the evening. We didn't want to remain in our formal clothes for the evening show, so we hurried back to our room and were greeted with a cute little puppy sitting in our (faux) windowsill. More jumping up and down and clapping of hands occurred. Suphola was wonderful! We went back to the Lounge and found a good seat overlooking the stage. The show was wonderfully done. Multiple stage and costume changes highlighted music and how it changed through time. Accompanied by a live band, we clapped our hands and stomped our feet for an hour. After such a fine dinner and show, we straggled back to our room and knew no more. Tomorrow, we would be porting in Cozumel! Thanks for reading!