Miami and the Alligator Safari Park

Cozumel, Mexico

The pilots are truly amazing, how they park these huge ships like they are Volkswagens.

Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It's economy is based on tourism.


I went on a snorkeling  trip, the best one I've ever done. There were many fish, all colors and even a bust of Jacques Cousteau embedded in the ocean floor for respect of his work.

They had biological reef balls set on the floor which attracted the fish and food and coral could build up.

The town was fun with horsedrawn carriages.

The was a large nativity sett in the plaza and very talented  break dancers entertaining people. 

Grand Cayman

This place has always fascinated me because books and movies always have people hiding their money here to avoid taxation. We watched us pull alongside a pier to dock and ahead of us was a huge container ship.


Wikipedia says: 
Grand Cayman Island includes five of the six districts of the Cayman Islands: Bodden Town, East End, George Town, North Side, and West Bay.^[4]

• Bodden Town - Founded in the 1700s, Bodden Town district comprises the central part of Grand Cayman Island, between the George Town and North Side districts. The village of Bodden Town was the original capital of the Cayman Islands. Its population is currently^[when?] listed at 5,764.
• East End - The East End district is located at the east side of Grand Cayman Island and consists mostly of the Village of East End, numerous natural attractions, restaurants, and accommodations. Its population is currently listed at 1,371.
• George Town - The capital of the Cayman Islands and world-famous centre for off-shore banking and investments, its population is currently listed at 20,676.
• North Side - Includes Kaibo, Rum Point, and Breakers. Its population is currently listed at 1,079. Sand Point Cove in Rum Point is home to a Bioluminescent Bay or Bio Bay.
• West Bay - Has numerous tourist attractions including the Cayman Turtle Farm and the Cayman Motor Museum. Towns in the West Bay district include Seven Mile Beach, Hell, and West Bay Village. Its population is currently listed at 8,243.

We took a tour with a hilarious bus driver educating us along the way. First stop was the 7 Fathoms Rum Distillery. They use
desalinated water to make the rum and then store their barrels in 7 fathoms underwater for  2 years using the sea movement to age. Very delicious.

Next was the Tortuga ( turtle) Rum Cake Factory. Again - delicious.

They had different anchors and artifacts from shipwrecks so prominent long ago.

As we were driving to the  Cayman Beer Factory we heard a very loud bang. It soon became apparent that we had a very flat tie.
 The driver hopped out, had a look and said, No problem, we've got 2 tires back there so I'll get it fixed while you are tasting beer.
 The beer is only used locally, made with desalinated water and tasted fine.

Very interesting seeing all the beaches and beautiful blue seas.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

We were docked when we woke up. This is Jamaica's flag. This island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494 -  settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited it were Arawak native to South America.

Wikipedia says:
The Spanish settled in Jamaica in 1509. In 1655 Jamaica was conquered by the English and became a base of operations for privateers, including Captain Henry Morgan, operating from the main English settlement Port Royal. Until slavery was abolished by Parliament in 1833, the island sugar plantations were highly dependent on slave labor, based on Africans who initially were captured, kidnapped, and sold into slavery from peoples of West and Central Africa. By the eighteenth century, sugarcane became the most important export of the island.
Many slaves arrived in Jamaica via the Atlantic slave trade during the early seventeenth century, the same period when the first enslaved Africans arrived in North America. By the early nineteenth century, people of African descent greatly outnumbered ethnic Europeans.
After the British Crown abolished slavery in 1834, the Jamaicans began working toward independence which they achieved  in 1962.

This is the beach to the right of the dock.

Jimmy Buffet's Margarita bars are common. The Christmas tree are colorful with bright yellow native flowers and blue painted margarita glasses.

 Jamaican rum is a big seller here.

You could have spent a week here, with Bob Marley's Museum.

Dunn's River Falls, which you can climb up.

Snorkeling, horse riding on the beach, ATVing and everything else.

Western Caribbean Cruise

We are on the Epic, a huge ship with 4200 guests and 1750 crew. Sailing out of Miami at sunset.

The city seems to float on water with miles of man made areas with docks, in front of your home, behind us.
I love sailing away and watching the sunsets every night.

The first night I met Sonja from Prague, Czech Republic, watching the sunset together, a retired travel agent and enjoyed time with her through our 7 days.

  I watched Gravity on this 5 story screen one night.

We started with 2 sea days as we started circumnavigating Cuba but there was always some contest or entertainment to keep you busy.

The place is still jumping at night with bands, bars and shows  in about 10 locations

Off to Miami

We sure enjoyed Jan's visit, then it was tidy up time. I got a T Mobile Hotspot for Internet access wherever I am. I like this because it's pay as you go and I stop paying in April at home and just start again in Oct.

Our dear friend Linda picked us off at 5:30 am and we flew to Miami Fri. Dec. 5 for a 7 day Caribbean cruise. In the airport at 6 am, we followed 50 5year old going to Disneyland.

We went a day early in case of weather delays but all went well. We planned for a city tour. One spot was Little Havana.
 Hispanic culture permeates everything in Little Havana - colorful murals, monuments to heroes past and present, elderly men playing dominoes as they discuss politics and cigar rollers deep at work amidst Little Havana's ever-present aroma of Cuban coffee. These scenes of daily life in Little Havana play out amidst a backdrop of pulsating traditional Cuban and Afro-Cuban music, storefronts, unique art galleries and quaint typical restaurants.

The Coconut Grove is the oldest continuously-inhabited neighborhood of Miami, Florida since 1825, when the Cape Florida lighthouse went into operation where the area backs onto Biscayne Bay. This was the  first black settlement, in the 1880s, originally called Overtown, established by railway construction men and Bahamian laborers who worked nearby.

Next is South Beach known as the Art Deco area. Very colorful.

There is an amazing Holocaust Memorial here built by Holocaust survivors who developed a permanent memorial in Miami to the six million Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis during the WWII era.

This very large sculpture depicts people trying to escape. There are 27000 Jewish people living in Miami. Four of the docents working here are Survivors. There are peaceful areas, ponds, education and much more.

Happy Thanksgiving

We all played Scotch Doubles Pool Wed morning, a lot of fun. Jan and I did some shopping, then pool time and steak for dinner.

It was 82 today. We had a great Thanksgiving Dinner with 24 friends and are they all good cooks.

After this amazing dinner, how do you handle 7 deserts? No one is moving very fast tonight.

Jan Arrives

Our friend from home arrived today and the crib board comes out. As I was organizing appies, Ron is muttering, don't ever invite her again. Guess who's not winning at the moment.

                                           But Jan was only ahead by 1point.

                                  Pool time, shopping and fun.

Pinnacle Peak Patio

Ron was watching a football game so I went up to north Scottsdale where this restaurant has been popular since 1957.

  The history is
When first opened in 1957, the Pinnacle Peak was a general store and rest stop for travelers heading to nearby lakes. To boost sales of his small business, the owner decided to serve dinner on the weekends. It was a great success - and the rest is restaurant history. What started as a weekend cookout has grown into the world's largest western steakhouse with seating for 1800 people inside and outside for 2000.
Pinnacle Peak Patio is renowned for its delicious mesquite broiled steaks, casual western atmosphere, and its "NO NECKTIE POLICY." This "no necktie" tradition was started one night when a Phoenix executive came in for dinner. The original owner, wanting to keep the atmosphere in his restaurant casual, told the executive, "Either you take that tie off, or I'll cut it off." The executive did not take heed and was appalled when the owner pulled out a butcher knife and promptly cut off the offending cravat.
Wanting to be recognized as a victim of this absurd policy, the executive demanded that his tie be prominently displayed for all to see. The necktie was stapled to the rafters along with a business card identifying its victim. Pinnacle Peak is very serious about its "no necktie" policy and has cut over a million ties from unsuspecting customers.

There are also collections of police badges and patches and many other things.

That's an old cannonball bottom left, found in the area, this really was the wild west in the 1800's.
There is always an extra detail so in the ladies washroom, the stall doors have the back ends of cows on them. 

A fun place to visit and the massive patio would be great on a warm evening.

Organ Stop Pizza

Andy and Sharon are here for a week although very busy with their old friends from Maui whom they haven't seen for 8 years.
We had an afternoon listening to music in the Courtyard and Andy had a hot tub.

Then we took them to this amazing pizza parlour where there are 600 pipes in the organ system. Google it and you'll be amazed.

Hundred Foot Journey and This is Where I Leave You

Tuesday's movie was down in Tempe today at the Pollack theater. I would definitely recommend this, very nice story.

The lobby was very busy with memorabilia.

Linda is trying to kiss Elvis.

Then Ron and I saw This is Where I Leave You, with Jane Fonda, Tina Fey and Justine Hoffman.
OK but wouldn't rush to see it.

Bass Pro Store or Experiece

Had an extra hour so we went through this sporting store - absolutely amazing. Welcome fishermen, hunters and all other liars.

Outside the fish is weighing the liar he caught while inside there must have been 5000 fishing poles.

                                             There were about 30 double racks like this. Stewart, eat your heart out.
                               The decor all the outdoors including waterfall and aquarium.

Tons of animals and horns, including on the Christmas tree.

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Mesa Market

5 of us went down to the Mesa Flea Market today. That's always such fun for newcomers. It goes on for 3 covered buildings and 

trust me, you can buy anything here. The guys got golf chippers and Jamie got a pool cue.

The guys got 'shopped out'.