Hangin' in Costa Maya.
Yay! This day started out great! We got to sleep in! Brandi and I rolled out of bed at around 9:30 this day...Sweet...
The reason we were able to sleep in is because we had no excursions this day. Nothing on the schedule...and the ship was DOCKED so we didn’t have to deal with little taxi boats from the ship to the shore.
Costa Maya is a tourist destination created by the cruise lines. Before whatever cruise lines, I don’t know which ones, invested in this port, there was nothing there. Now it’s a little tourist place with shopping and bars and pools and a beach and artisans etc. We thought it was really nice.
When we arrived there, there was another ship at Costa Maya as well, The Grandeur of the Seas. Wait until you see the pictures...it looked really small up against our Independence...the largest ship currently in the ocean until the Oasis of the Seas sets sail in December of ’09.
The first stop was to shop at Diamonds International. Brandi wanted to look at some Kabana jewelry. If you’ve seen the little ring she wears with diamonds and mother of pearl, that’s her Kabana piece. She wanted more. Well...they didn’ have a very good selection of Kabana so we held out for the next port hoping they would have a better selection in Cozumel.
While walking around Diamonds International, we saw a watch that I wanted at a VERY good price. You’ll see what it is when I get home...because I bought it! Rockin’!
There was this guy that painted pictures using ONLY spray paint. It was friggin’ cool! The only problem was that he didn’t recommend that you roll it up (or put it in your pocket) if you purchased a piece. I didn’t want to purchase something that I was pretty sure I was going to ruin before it got home. So we watched him paint and then clapped and the moved on...
We walked around the little shopping village a little more. I took a picture of a family for that family, and then we went back to the ship. At this time it was about 1:30ish.
Mmmmm...lunch time. Well...we didn’t feel like going to the lunch buffet that day so then it hit me...we had a coupon for Johnny Rockets!
We walked on up to deck 12, entered the restaurant. Here’s where it gets cool...We got there just in time for a dance! Yay! Seriously, this place is much more fun than a Johnny Rockets on land. Also, while you’re waiting, you get free, unlimited, onion rings and fries...Oh Yeah! Needless to say...we had a really good burger, 2 servings of onion rings and fries, and a classic Coke at sea, on one of the awesomest ships to ever sail the seas.
Ok....here’s where it starts getting really cool. We purchased a Tarkay on one of the first days. A 100% original on canvas. Unique. We took a picture with Tarkay and the painting we purchased. Then he signed the Certificate of Authenticity in person and we took a picture of him doing that too....with us in the picture on that one as well.
At 5:15 is it was time for another session of TRIVIA! This time the theme was “Movie Love Themes.” I came in 3rd this time! Once again...playing by myself. I rock! Some of the themes were a little obscure....but my 3rd place was only 2 points away from 1st and 1 point from 2nd. I have yet to lose to anyone with a team of LESS people than I have.
At 7pm, we started to watch the show that night...We knew within’ 3 minutes that the guy we were watching was not worth our time. We then went to the Park West cocktail party instead. That was a lot more interesting...plus...FREE DRINKS!
At 8pm we ducked out and played another round of progressive trivia. We came in first place! Yeah baby! Brandi helped a lot and so did some new friends I made, Pete and Alyson dropped by near the end of the session. Yay! More keychains!
That night, instead of eating in the main dining room, we ate at the Chops Grille. WHAT A MEAL! We were served EVERYTHING on the menu. Park West paid for everything once again. I passed on the shrimp and mushrooms and had the salad. Brandi had the shrimp and mushrooms and the salad. Then they brought the main dish with sides...asparagus, potatoes (2 kinds!), and corn and our 10 oz. (more like 14 oz.) filet. Tender...juicy...wow. the meal was great and very filling.
Now...because we were eating at a fancy restaurant, we dressed up nice. But that’s not how we WANTED to dress that night. It was Caribbean night! Therefore, we went back to our room nnd changed into our famous blue St. Thomas shirts and made our way up to the Viking Crown Lounge again.
We took over the club again and gave the drummer a rest for longer this time. First...Morry (short for Morris) played drums...and then he said, “Where’s Jesse? Jesse! Get up here!” I obliged and played “Knock on Wood” with the band. It was a alot of fun to be playing again. But man...that drummer needs, aside from more lessons, lighter sticks, sticks with wooden tips, to change his heads, and tune the drums properly. Anyway...I played. They clapped and cheered. And it was fun.
Because we were doing other things that night, we missed the “Love and Marriage” game show. Luckily, we got to watch it on the TV in the room. VERY FUNNY AS ALWAYS!
Sleepy time now...
Tonight’s Towel Animal: Mr. Swan
-J&B
Yay! This day started out great! We got to sleep in! Brandi and I rolled out of bed at around 9:30 this day...Sweet...
The reason we were able to sleep in is because we had no excursions this day. Nothing on the schedule...and the ship was DOCKED so we didn’t have to deal with little taxi boats from the ship to the shore.
Costa Maya is a tourist destination created by the cruise lines. Before whatever cruise lines, I don’t know which ones, invested in this port, there was nothing there. Now it’s a little tourist place with shopping and bars and pools and a beach and artisans etc. We thought it was really nice.
When we arrived there, there was another ship at Costa Maya as well, The Grandeur of the Seas. Wait until you see the pictures...it looked really small up against our Independence...the largest ship currently in the ocean until the Oasis of the Seas sets sail in December of ’09.
The first stop was to shop at Diamonds International. Brandi wanted to look at some Kabana jewelry. If you’ve seen the little ring she wears with diamonds and mother of pearl, that’s her Kabana piece. She wanted more. Well...they didn’ have a very good selection of Kabana so we held out for the next port hoping they would have a better selection in Cozumel.
While walking around Diamonds International, we saw a watch that I wanted at a VERY good price. You’ll see what it is when I get home...because I bought it! Rockin’!
There was this guy that painted pictures using ONLY spray paint. It was friggin’ cool! The only problem was that he didn’t recommend that you roll it up (or put it in your pocket) if you purchased a piece. I didn’t want to purchase something that I was pretty sure I was going to ruin before it got home. So we watched him paint and then clapped and the moved on...
We walked around the little shopping village a little more. I took a picture of a family for that family, and then we went back to the ship. At this time it was about 1:30ish.
Mmmmm...lunch time. Well...we didn’t feel like going to the lunch buffet that day so then it hit me...we had a coupon for Johnny Rockets!
We walked on up to deck 12, entered the restaurant. Here’s where it gets cool...We got there just in time for a dance! Yay! Seriously, this place is much more fun than a Johnny Rockets on land. Also, while you’re waiting, you get free, unlimited, onion rings and fries...Oh Yeah! Needless to say...we had a really good burger, 2 servings of onion rings and fries, and a classic Coke at sea, on one of the awesomest ships to ever sail the seas.
Ok....here’s where it starts getting really cool. We purchased a Tarkay on one of the first days. A 100% original on canvas. Unique. We took a picture with Tarkay and the painting we purchased. Then he signed the Certificate of Authenticity in person and we took a picture of him doing that too....with us in the picture on that one as well.
At 5:15 is it was time for another session of TRIVIA! This time the theme was “Movie Love Themes.” I came in 3rd this time! Once again...playing by myself. I rock! Some of the themes were a little obscure....but my 3rd place was only 2 points away from 1st and 1 point from 2nd. I have yet to lose to anyone with a team of LESS people than I have.
At 7pm, we started to watch the show that night...We knew within’ 3 minutes that the guy we were watching was not worth our time. We then went to the Park West cocktail party instead. That was a lot more interesting...plus...FREE DRINKS!
At 8pm we ducked out and played another round of progressive trivia. We came in first place! Yeah baby! Brandi helped a lot and so did some new friends I made, Pete and Alyson dropped by near the end of the session. Yay! More keychains!
That night, instead of eating in the main dining room, we ate at the Chops Grille. WHAT A MEAL! We were served EVERYTHING on the menu. Park West paid for everything once again. I passed on the shrimp and mushrooms and had the salad. Brandi had the shrimp and mushrooms and the salad. Then they brought the main dish with sides...asparagus, potatoes (2 kinds!), and corn and our 10 oz. (more like 14 oz.) filet. Tender...juicy...wow. the meal was great and very filling.
Now...because we were eating at a fancy restaurant, we dressed up nice. But that’s not how we WANTED to dress that night. It was Caribbean night! Therefore, we went back to our room nnd changed into our famous blue St. Thomas shirts and made our way up to the Viking Crown Lounge again.
We took over the club again and gave the drummer a rest for longer this time. First...Morry (short for Morris) played drums...and then he said, “Where’s Jesse? Jesse! Get up here!” I obliged and played “Knock on Wood” with the band. It was a alot of fun to be playing again. But man...that drummer needs, aside from more lessons, lighter sticks, sticks with wooden tips, to change his heads, and tune the drums properly. Anyway...I played. They clapped and cheered. And it was fun.
Because we were doing other things that night, we missed the “Love and Marriage” game show. Luckily, we got to watch it on the TV in the room. VERY FUNNY AS ALWAYS!
Sleepy time now...
Tonight’s Towel Animal: Mr. Swan
-J&B