Day 5 - Cozumel

Friday we docked in Cozumel, right next to a Princess ship - and I do mean right next to it. We could have reached out and shook hands with the folks on the Emerald

Another beautiful day on the cruise

There were 4 ships in port that day

We didn't go on any excursions - just did a little shopping

By the way - the hat has been retired after this trip. As a matter of fact , it fell apart when I unpacked it.

Day 4 - Part 2 - Meanwhile Back On The Ship....

 I won the "name that Beatles song" trivia contest - in the end there was "playoff" the song that won it for me was Blue Jay Way (from second side of the Magical Mystery Tour album for all you vinyl owners out there.)  I'd like to thank John, Paul George, Ringo and the biggest Beatles fan of all ,my Mom, for this award.

While at dinner - our table mates Brenda and Becky danced with another one of our waiters - Vladimir.

If you were wondering - this is what our cabin looked like (coming in from the hallway)

This is the view from the porthole to the door.

It's a nice room and it has 2 bathrooms (which in my opinion makes up for not having a balcony)

Here's the towel creature that greeted us Thursday night -  I think it's a shrimp.

Day 4 - Part 1 Grand Cayman

Welcome to the Cayman Islands

Where the ships cannot dock because of the coral reef. You have to take a small boat called a "tender' that you board from your ship to the dock.

"I Saw Three Ships" (an obscure reference) ours is the one in the middle.

Welcome to Grand Cayman

Yeah, I gotta do something about that hat.

Our first stop was turtle farm, it was fun.

We didn't hold the turtles, but watching everyone else, specifically the children pick them up was entertaining.

This is as close as we got to the famous 7 Mile Beach

And then we went to Hell.  Seriously, there is a town on the island named Hell.  I had my passport stamped there.  Wish I had brought my address book, I would have loved to sent a few postcards with that postmark.

The last stop on the tour was the Tortuga Rum Factory (with samples of rum and rum cakes)

Day 3 - Part 3 - A Few More Jamaica Pictures

Our guide is standing under a Jackfruit tree.  Their fruits are huge (can grow up to 50-60 pounds) and apparently do not smell too good when they fall to the ground and open up.

Coconuts!!!!

Some beautiful orchid like flowers growing on a tree.

The view from the highest part of the plantation.  When we got there at the end of the tour we had terrific lunch that featured jerk chicken.

Speaking of jerks - here I am - it was windy (which explains my weird hat look)

We headed back down the mountain on that same bumpy road - it was the equal of any roller coaster ride I've ever rode.

This was the band playing near the gangway as we got back on the ship.

Farewell Jamaica - I really hope I can visit again someday.

A little shot of limoncello after dinner

Our stingray towel and it's time for bed!

Day 3 - Part 2 - The Croydon Plantation

The view over the banana trees to mountains on the other side of island,

The call this plant "Sexy Red"

Coffee! We were given an complete lesson on growing, picking and roasting coffee. 

Who knew coffee trees (actually more like a bush) were so sensitive. They don't let them grow too tall because the beans are still all hand picked, and it's a delicate process.

Another picture of the banana trees

Our guide talking about the several types of sugar cane they grown and their uses. The dark sugar cane grows best on this island - and is the one used to produce rum.

The Ackee trees are very pretty - they look like fruit, but the Jamaicans treat them as a vegetable. The "national dish" is  Ackee fried up with Salt Cod.

There are also around 8 varieties of pineapples grown on the plantation.  We sampled a fresh cut one that was incredibly juicy and very tasty

The pineapple below is a decorative plant, when you break into it there is no fruit. People like the plant and use it as a shrub in their yards.

More beautiful flowers and scenery 

We were told the mountains in the distance are the Blue Mountains where the well known Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown.

These trees are called the Flame of the Forest.  The grow on the side of the mountains to about 7 to 9 feet and their flowers are at the top where they get the best sun.  My pictures don't do justice to the intense color of the flowers.