Earlier this month, I posted pictures from our two-day vacation in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first day was spent touring the French Quarter, and on the second day we visited the Audubon Zoo.
On the third day, we met up with Mr. Handsome’s coworkers and embarked on a four-day Carnival cruise. (We went at the tail-end of hurricane season, so tickets were much cheaper than usual, and most of the trip was paid for by Mr. Handsome’s boss as a Christmas present/end-of-year bonus.)
Neither of us had ever been on a cruise before, so we didn’t know what to expect. It ended up being a wonderful experience, although looking out and seeing nothing but the vast ocean and knowing it was 10,000 feet deep was a bit disconcerting. Thankfully, the seas were calm the entire time.
We thoroughly enjoyed the towel animals that the room steward left on our bed, although I’m not quite sure what they are. Maybe an anteater and a gorilla?
Our cruise stopped in Cozumel and Progreso, both on the Yucatan Peninsula. In Cozumel, we took an excursion to the ancient Mayan seaside city of Tulum. Our tour guide from Sun & Fun Tours was a lovely Mexican woman whose English was absolutely perfect. She was the reason why the trip was so wonderful.
Outside the ancient city was a marketplace for tourists. There was a tall pole in the middle, and several men were hanging upside down and spinning around. It was quite a sight to see!
Later, we visited a local park and swam in a cenote (natural pool). With permission, Mr. Handsome and I did a 15-foot cliff jump. (It took quite a bit of encouragement from my husband and our group, but I finally made the leap and was glad I did.)
Before heading back to the ship, we enjoyed a traditional Mayan lunch of chicken, pork, rice, beans, vegetables, homemade tortillas, fruit, and hibiscus iced tea. It was hands-down one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had. (The week after we returned home, I was inspired to make Mayan rice and beans for dinner. I will share that recipe with y’all soon.)
While we ate, I snapped a picture of this odd looking animal. It was the size of a goose but looked like a duck. Completely different than anything I had ever seen.
If y’all would like, I’ll share photos from our second shore excursion later this week.
Anonymous
Great pictures.
Yes please share all your pictures with us Ellie!
That mayan meal made me hungry.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thank you. 🙂 I know what you mean. It makes me hungry every time I look at it. Lol.
Happy New Year!
Ellie
Anonymous
The towel animals are cute!
I can imagine the employees practicing to make the perfect animal. It can also be more tempting (for some people ) to steal the towels. Lol.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Aren't they? The ship must have to hold classes to teach new employees how to make them. There's definitely some skill involved. I don't think I could just pick up a towel and turn it into a animal. Lol.
Happy New Year. 🙂
Ellie
Linda
When we went on a Carnival cruise, they had a towel folding class, which was great fun. We also bought their book, planning to make some for guests when they came to our house! On another of their cruises, our children were at home, so we put their towel-animals in different poses each day and took pictures to create a story for the kids, and the stewards also played along, adding sunglasses or other odds and ends that we left in our room.
Ellie
Hi Linda,
That sounds like a lot of fun! Where did you go on your cruises?
Ellie
Anonymous
The bird definitely looks like a goose to this unofficial bird expert! Haha! 🙂
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Haha! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Ellie
Anita
I think it's a Chinese goose. I used to have one just like it, need to find some eggs to hatch some more.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks, Anita. Do you have lots of land, or did you keep the goose in your house?
Ellie
Anonymous
Yes please! More pictures!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Your wish is my command! 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
I would like to see some more pictures of the ship, if you have any, please.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I'll have to see what I have. I didn't take many pictures on board, but I really should have.
Ellie
Anonymous
Yes!! Lots more pictures! That looked like alot of fun, although I don't think I would have jumped. 🙂
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I wasn't planning on jumping (I'm usually a big chicken), but when I got up on the platform, it didn't feel as high up as I had expected. I think that was because the water was so clear.
Ellie
Anonymous
Love the pictures.
Yes sharing the pictures with us I love looking at your pictures Ellie.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Well thank you! I'll post more today. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Do you wear the same kind of "modest" swimwear that the Duggars do? Your jumping picture looks blurred out or covered up or something.
Anonymous
Yeah, I was wondering about that picture too?!
Anonymous
I believe she blurred it out, so we couldn't tell that she was wearing a regular bathing suit. Ellie's not like the Duggars, she does believe in wearing jeans.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Nope, I wear store-bought swimwear, usually from Kohl's or JC Penney. It takes some time, but I'm always able to find something that fits my standard and is still cute. In that picture, I'm wearing a top and a skirt with shorts underneath.
Ellie
Anonymous
That meal looks amazing! Especially the iced tea! Josée
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Doesn't it? I wish I could take cooking lessons from the ladies who prepared it!
Ellie
Anonymous
Did you get a chance to swim in that lovely warm ocean at all? So turquoise and dreamy!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Unfortunately, we didn't. It did look quite wonderful thought.
Ellie
Sandra Toews
Beautiful pictures, Ellie. It looks like you and Mr. Handsome had a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thank you, Sandra! It's my pleasure. Happy New Year. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
No kidding! I was just on a cruise ship during thanksgiving!
it was not Carnival, but it was Norwegian. but we did stop at Cozumel (along with Costa Maya, Roatan, and one other)and we saw the Mayan ruins. the Mayan culture was quite facinating!
Anonymous
I think you saw an African goose. Chinese geese a similar but are white with orange beak and knob. I've raised several African geese as farm pets and they are great "watch dogs" and often friendly.