Cruising the Caribbean on the Vision of the Seas

Caribbean (76 degrees, blue skies, slight trade winds)

Sit back and relax as you read this blog today. Maybe fix yourself a cocktail and if you listen really closely you might even hear the steel drums playing. Come along and visit four ports of call and even go scuba diving. Bon Voyage!

We spent seven wonderful days cruising the Caribbean on Vision of the Seas with  Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. John's daughter, Jen, joined us along with our friends Debbie and Dave from Indiana. Debbie and I used to work together in the fiance department for a hospital in Indianapolis. 

We had such a great time and it even exceeded our expectations. It is such a worry free vacation and the ports of call and excursions we took were outstanding. 

Vision of the Seas

Our ship was a medium size one with about 2100 passengers. Our cruise director and assistant really added to the fun and the pool side games and comedy shows in the evening were very entertaining. They even had acrobat acts in the main lounge. Our Captain was very present throughout the cruise and sang in one of the varsity shows and played competed  water volleyball. 

Our ship left out of Tampa and it made for a very picturesque beginning. Jen lives in St. Petersburg now and loves being in this area. It sure beats the cold and gray skies of Indiana. 

Tampa (leaving the port)

Vision of the Seas

Royal Caribbean

Cruise Ship Photos

Our first port of call was a pretty island called Roatan off the coast of Honduras. Unfortunately, I twisted my ankle by the pool on the first day and did not go on the island. However, the rest of our group did a fun and exhilarating zip line tour. They flew high above the tree tops with 19 stops along the way. 

Honduras

Honduras

The next port of call was Belize City. Belize is a beautiful country filled with very friendly people. Be sure to take a tour at this port. Belize City is really not a place to hang out but there is much to see once leaving the port. We decided to go on a trip to see Lamanai Mayan Ruins. It's an all day excursion but instead of being in a bus forever you are taken on a delightful river cruise to the ruins. This was our favorite tour and we saw some really cool birds and howler monkeys too. The guide who took us on a two mile walk around the extensive site was very knowledgeable. I was surprise how very little of this vast site has been excavated. It may be just too expensive to accomplish. 

Belize

Lamanai Mayan Ruins

Our third port was in a village recently developed for the cruise industry. It once was a sleepy fishing village but now has a very modern port with large swimming pools, dolphins, and restaurants once you get off the ship.

We planned a Segway tour and really had a great time. We have tried this before in Florida but were impressed with how long we got to use the Segways. Our guides were  also  very safety oriented. It is really easy to use a Segway and the streets were in good shape and easy to navigate. Eventually we drove along the prettiest stretch of beach and stopped for lunch. Our tour included a cab ride back to the ship and the use of a beach area.

Costa Maya

Segway tour

Cozumel was our last stop. This is no longer the sleepy little island I remember from visiting many years ago. It is now very bustling with lots of restaurants, duty free shops, and lots of hotels. We went on a boat ride called the Twister and it really lived up to its name. The boat travels at a high rate of speed along the coast and suddenly the driver will turn the boat through a sudden 180 degree turn which end up spraying you with water...large amounts. Wow!  We all loved it and begged the driver to repeat it again and again. This tour also stopped at a large private island for several hours. We enjoyed a nice lunch and open bar and then returned to ship by the Twister again which made one last spin right beside our ship. Cool Beans!

Cozumel

Twister Boat Ride and Private Island

There were two formal nights on our cruise. John rented a tuxedo from the cruise line and looked so handsome in it. There are photographers all over the ship and we choose a few pictures to remember the very special evenings. 

Formal Night

Recently Jen was certified for scuba diving. At two ports she went diving and loved every mintue of it. She used a go pro camera to capture these images. What a wonderful underwater world lucks below the surface.

Scuba Diving

Walking Plant

Sea Turtle

I hoped you enjoyed going along with us at least vicariously. This last picture is of beautiful beach in Costa Maya. It was a wonderful cruise made more special by sharing it with Jen and our friends Debbie and Dave. We hope to go again soon.

Costa May

Algodones Has So Much to Offer + Fun Times At The Gypsy Journal Rally

Yuma, Arizona (64 degrees, high winds at times, blue skies

We spent a week prior to the Gypsy Journal Rally boondocking at the Quechan Casino in Yuma Arizona.  It is within minutes (seven miles) of the border of Mexico and a small unusual town called Algodones.  You park your car in a huge lot and actually walk across the border.  It is so easy.  Within four blocks there are  hundreds of dentists, opticians, doctors, and pharmacies.  Plus, lots of shops selling jewelry, leather goods, and some very delicious fish tacos and margaritas. 

Crossing the border

We watched people flock across the border and quickly disperse into the many pharmacies and medical clinics.  Hawkers were everywhere wanting to sell you goods or refer you to a dentist.  It was overwhelming at first and a sensory overload. 

We crossed the border with J.C. and Bev and their friends Jo and Fred Wishnies who have also been full timing since 2005.  We followed their blog and comments on the RV Dreams forum for several years and it was really great to meet them in person. 

Market area

Bargaining is expected when you shop for merchandise.  Bev and I found some very nice silver bangle braclets and earrings.  I also purchased a nice leather purse that has hand tooled inserts.  Everyone speaks English and U.S. and Canadian dollars are accepted. 

Dentist we used

I was planning on replacing a cracked crown when we return to Indiana. Jo had a great experience with Castle Dental and recommended that I talk with them.  We were all impressed with the office and Angelina answered all my questions. Bev and J.C. also had their teeth cleaned for $25 each. 

Angelina, the friendly receptionist

I ended up having two crowns replaced for $600 and was very pleased with the outcome. My dentist was professional and conscientious. It took two visits to complete and it was amazing how quickly they worked with short timeliness. 

John and Bev had their eyeglasses and sunglasses replaced.  This was also a place that Jo and Fred had used in the past.  Everything was completed in two days and at about a third of the cost in the U.S.  It is a good idea to obtain recommendations from others.  Jo was a great resource and we sure appreciated all her advice. 

You can also save on most prescriptions at the pharmacies.  A perscription is not required but it is important to know your out of pocket costs and the generic and brand name of your medications.  Over the counter medications such as ibuprophen and zantac are also very reasonable. 

Where Bev had her glasses made

We enjoyed our stay at the casino.  Boondocking in the parking lot was free and the area was very clean and well maintained.  The buffet restaurant was great and  reasonably priced.  J.C. taught us some strategies for black jack.  We sat at the table together and I  managed to hold onto my $40 stake for awhile.  It was fun but I was a little nervous.  J.C. and Bev did very well. 

We then drove to the Yuma County Fairgrounds to attend the Gypsy Journal Rally.  This is the first time we have attended but we have met Nick and Terry Russell several times in the past.  They both presented at the first rally we attended (Life On Wheels) several years before we started full timing.  They offer two rallies a year (Yuma and Celina Ohio).

Nick is a great writer and publishes the Gypsy Journal.  It's a newspaper chronically their travels across the U.S. It is well written and he recently published a e-book with Amazon that is doing very well. 

About 140 rigs attended and we have lots of fun over the five days of the event.  We attended lots of seminars and most were presented by vendors.  We especially found the solar presentations by Larry Crutcher of Starlight Solar to be very informative.  Bev and I even learned how to knit and made these pretty suncatchers.  There were seminars also on insurance, RV batteries, water filters, geocaching, and much more.  There were four sessions a day with several options to choose from.  I found the computer classes to also be very infomative and well presented. 

John serving pizza

Each evening door prizes were given away.  In fact, all attendees won something.  The grand prize was a SeaEagle kayak and a Kindle.  We all volunteered to help out on pizza night.  The entire crowd was served in five minutes and twenty seconds.  Amazing!

One night there was an excellent entertainer that sang the best cowboy songs.  We really thought he was terrific. 

Right next to the fairgrounds is the Yuma Marine Corp Air Station .  We all experienced a free air show each day watching these amazing planes take off and land.  It could be very loud at times but Nick told us it was the sound of freedom. 

Osprey

Harrier

We had a great time.  The only tough part was saying goodbye to J.C. and Bev.  They are heading to California to visit with family.  John and I will start to meander towards Indianapolis to spend time with our family and friends.  We will then travel to Watkins Glen New York where we will be workamping this summer at a KOA. 

Bev took these great pictures of a sunrise one morning.  We wish you safe travels J.C. and Bev.  We so enjoyed traveling with you and hope our paths cross again soon. 

Return to Organ Pipe NM & A Fun Day Trip to Rocky Point Mexico

Puerto Penasco, Mexico (68 degrees, bright blue skies

The last few days of Debbie's visit was spent hiking and exploring in Organ Pipe National Monument.  We also took her for the day to Rocky Point Mexico. In addition, we met up with our friends J.C. and Bev again.  We all had a great time together.  The desert is starting to bloom and it was really pretty. 

JC, Bev, Me, & John
Alamo Canyon, Organ Pipe NM

John and I had hiked this canyon about a month ago.  We were amazed how much it had changed.    The plants were taller and more abundant along the trail  This is our first time seeing the desert in bloom.

Saguaro Cactus

 

Prickly Pear

It is great to see J.C. and Bev again. They had already spent about a week in this area and had so much to show us.  We also saw our friends Mal and Marsha who stay in Why in the fall and winter. (see earlier posts). Unfortunately, Marsha had a terrible cold and we could not spend much time together. 

Brittle Bush (yellow flowers)

Debbie with a blooming Ocotillo

J.C. and Bev
Chola Cactus in bloom

We spent one day in search of crested cactus.  I have written about these unusual cactus a couple of times.  They really intrigued us.  I'll show some more of them in a future post.  It's really exciting when you find one. Bev had picked up a Junior Ranger Guide that helped us find many of them in Organ Pipe.   

Crested Cactus

Debbie really loves the beach and it was fun to plan a trip to the sea.  J.C. and Bev helped us plan a day trip to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) Mexico. The border is very close to Why and it's an easy drive (50 miles)  to this very pretty coastal town along the Sea of Cortez.. 

Bev and J.C. have been here many times and like the area very much.  Currenlty due to all the unrest it is s advised to only drive in this area during the day and to limit your exploring to the main tourist areas. 

Rocky Point Beach

After arriving we enjoyed a great lunch together next to the  Playa Bonita campground.  The sea breezes were delightful along with the margaritas and fresh seafood.

J.C. having a siesta

We had fun shopping and picked up a few bargains.  Prices were very reasonable and the shops seemed happy to have some business.  There are not many tourists in the shopping area.

J.C. and Bev have camped in the past at Playa Bonita R.V. Park.  We walked around the park and really liked it.  It was about 3/4 full and seemed to be very well maintained. 

Playa Bonita RV Park

Many folks who stay at the park have their RV's repaired, painted, or washed and waxed because the prices are very reasonable.  We saw several rigs having some work completed. 

Lots of the RVers stay for awhile.  They set up some nice patios to take advantage of the great weather and beach. Rates are $22/night ($27 ocean front) or $132 weekly ($189 ocean front). They are full hook sites that even include Wi-Fi. 

Fresh shrimp is available everywhere.  We purchased two pounds of huge blue shrimp for only $6/pound.  They even gave us a huge bundle of fresh asparagus.   The next day Bev cooked us a wonderful shrimp scampi dinner. It was such a treat. 

Huge Blue Shrimp

We had a great time and would definitely return again for a longer stay.  It was fun to see Debbie walking along the beach.  She so loves the ocean.  Thanks J.C. & Bev for planning such a great day trip.