Cruise Pt 4
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
Back on deck, I take photos of the lifeboats and other parts of the ship. We are sailing past Cuba, and I want to get a shot. Most areas of the ship have 6-foot high glass walls that are a little hard to shoot through, so I need to get higher. I’m up on the 13th deck, and see a sign that says Sun Deck next to a flight of stairs, so up I go with camera in hand.
Cruise Pt 5
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
{S I D E B A R on N A T I O N A L S E C U R I T Y}
I use a messenger bag at work. Mine is just like this one. I carry notebooks, pens, pencils, business cards, etc. We brought it on the cruise as our carry-on for plane travel. We take it to the pool and keep Suzanne’s novel in it, sun block, etc. I’m rummaging around in the bottom when suddenly I find
Cruise Pt 6
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
{M E X I C O}
We have an enjoyable dinner at the Italian restaurant and some wine. Up early tomorrow for a trip to Mexico to see the Mayan Ruins at Tulum.
Morning comes, coffee and tea, and then pick up a box lunch and we’re off. After being around me for a while, Suzanne has developed an extensive inventory of ‘What the hell’s the matter with you now?’ looks. This particular morning, she selects the What the hell’s the matter with you now? look #73 and asks me “You’re not wearing that into Mexico are you?”
Cruise Pt 7
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
We get back on the bus and head for Tulum. Tulum is the third most visited archaeological site in Mexico. We get off the bus in front of… more souvenir shops! I deduce that the literal translation of Mexico is ‘Land of Souvenirs’.
We follow our guide down a long road through the jungle. It is very hot, and we hear all kinds of noises in the jungle, just like in the movies. The sides of the road are littered with trash and junk; lots of Corona bottles, bent and twisted rebar with chunks of concrete still attached, an old rusted truck almost overtaken by the jungle.
Cruise Pt 8
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
King Jeffaxhlotlololol, Mighty High Priest of the Mayas, bows to the four winds and loosens the ceremonial obsidian knife in its sheath. He is wearing a grass skirt and an ornate feathered headdress. Bands of gold encircle his huge biceps, and he wears a necklace of jade and beaten gold.
He is here to perform a human sacrifice.
Cruise Pt 9
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
We head back through the jungle to get to the bus so we can eat our lunch. We have to pass many souvenir shops, all of which have some variation of the name ‘La Trapaza de la Turista’, all of which sell exactly the same merchandise, and are occupied by Mexicans who attach themselves to you like leeches. They gesture pleadingly with you to come inside. In the middle of the jungle, surrounded by these souvenir stands, is a Subway sandwich shop, just like you’d see in Canandaigua. Our bus is just up ahead, and we’re making a beeline for it when we hear shouts of ‘¡Che Guevara! Che Guevara! You! Che Guevara! I see a Mexican running towards me, waving and hollering. He stops and touches me on the chest. ‘¡I have Che Guevara shirt! Hand-painted!’ He drags me towards his shop. He takes it down from the wall and holds it out as he inclines his head with modest pride. I look at it. It is actually pretty cool, but it’s a large. I need an XL. I say ‘I’m sorry. Too small.’ ‘¡Aya! Wait!’, he hollers and runs into his shop where he rummages in a box. He runs out triumphantly and holds the shirt out. ‘Thirty Five dollars American’, he says.
Cruise Pt 10
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
{I N T E R L U D E}
Jeff and Suzanne relax by the pool and have a couple of toddies.
Cruise Pt 11
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
{G R A N D C A Y M A N I S L A N D}
This will be our last shore excursion. We’re going to Grand Cayman Island, in the British West Indies, to see the sea turtle breeding facility and swim with the stingrays. We have to take another ferry, but this one is a placid, calm ride to the pier. Grand Cayman Island is completely unlike Mexico. It’s beautiful, calm and serene. Suzanne and I would both love to live there.
Cruise Pt 12
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
Frank drops us off at another ferry, which will take us out to the sandbar. The guide hands out Mae West life preservers, which we all have to wear. Someone has written ‘Free Willy’ on mine with a black magic marker. I get to drive the boat.
Cruise Pt 13
Table of contents for Jeff and Suzanne go on a Cruise
{O U R L A S T D A Y}
Our last day dawns. I want to get more photos, talk to some more people, have a couple toddies, make goo-goo eyes at Suzanne, and relax.
In the post 9-11 era, you’re not allowed to actually go on the bridge anymore, but you can see everything from the Bridge Viewing Room. Signs ask visitors not to knock and disturb the officers as they work.
