The Final Farewell

The question of how to pass the time with AirTran not leaving until 4 p.m. I got up at 7:30 and met Andra and Linda for breakfast. They were leaving a lot earlier than I was. Lucky them. I decided to take photos of people saying, "Goodbye". There were those that met as a specific group from different areas. There were those that met on the boat and formed friendships. It was heartwarming seeing the hugs.

I finally left. Having a VIP status I was able to disembark whenever I wished as well as get a porter quite easily. Got on the shuttle bus and there were Andra and Linda. When I checked into AirTran I noticed that the name of the guy behind the counter, Rodney Dykes. Now, that's even funnier than Mr. Butch.

Well, I wasn't the only one that was leaving late and it looked like a lesbian convention at the airport. No turbulence on the plane and it took days before I walked around not feeling like the earth was somewhat swaying.

Saturday At Sea Continued

After the press conference I took a lunch break and returned to the same Galaxy of Stars for another Sweet Sparks. This one had love guru Barb Elgin, health and wellness profesionals D. Magrini and Victoria Proctor, social networking Marven Laura Fitzpartrick, speicla pet CPR clinic by Doctor Michelle Jack and special guest Andra Douglas!!! Comedian Jennie McNulty was present to listen to Andra as Jennie has been playing tackle football for years! Same league, California team.

There was a show entitled Elements being performed at the Stardust Theatre at 5:30. I wasn't sure as to what it was all about but got that it was a Norwegian Cruise Line Production. "Mesmerizing magic, to the visual feast of flying, to exciting music and dance, this dazzling show will revel in the four elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire". Somehow I thought that it would be one of those cruise crew song and dance productions. It turned out to be one that I hope no one missed. Sort of a Cirque du Soleil meets magic. Hat's off to the performers! Will the Farewell show be as spectacular?

Jennie McNulty opened the show and announcing that Andra was in the audience, which led her into some comedy regarding her playing football. Andra got a big cheer for this. Jennie was pretty funny. Then came the main act...Suzanne Westenhoefer. I have to say that anyone who made fun of the hurricane got a laugh. She said little and went into her own spiel. Most of it was humorous but the audience didn't seem to care for the humor involving her sister who died as a child. She also joked about her goofs with audience members such as when she kept asking some woman to come up on the stage to find out that she was in a wheelchair. Part of her routine also centered on what she called "bio man", I think. A guy who is born a man, likes being a male and straight. She compared it to her cat. Pretty cute.

Although there was PJ Party and Club Skirts Party to end the cruise and evening, I opted to pack and put my luggage outside my stateroom and get some shuteye for a early morning wakeup.

Photos are of the Sweet staff, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Jennie McNulty and Esther getting a taste of Sweet...hmmm...if I click onto the photo and then enlarge further I think I see Meredith Baxter near the front and center of the stage.

Saturday At Sea

With Cozumel being the final port of call, we were on our way back to New Orleans. Saturday was a day at a more calming sea. There was a press conference at 10 a.m. Franco Stevens, publisher of Curve Magazine. Founding partner Jen Rainin and chief executive officer Shannon Wentworth. RSVP Cruise founder, Kevin J. Mossie. Most of the conference focused on hearing about the results from volunteering at the ports as well as where it's going. I'm coining the title. "Making A Sweet Difference In The World, One Lesbian Cruise At A Time".

Andra Snorkels Looking For The New York Sharks

I was happy with watching the glass bottom while Andra searched for the New York Sharks. Last video was a sum up of the day and shooting from the balcony of my stateroom.

Fiasco Friday in Cozumel

It would have been great if we had an entire 12 hours in Cozumel as there is probably the most do to there. The plan was to go to a park called X-Caret where Andra, Linda and I were to first walk under the water wearing one of the helmet with the air hose. Then we would go to another area where we would have an encounter with sharks...tamed. Jim Mayfield, the owner of Sea Trek was to be arranging the entire thing as I called and emailed. Here are the directions that he gave in what I believed to be the final email. "The taxi ride is $6 to the ferry terminal. The ferry cost is 160 pesos (appx. $12 ea), each way. Purchase a "one-way" ticket (there are two ferry companies and they alternate departures at the top of the hour). You want to make the 9:00 departure (they leave promptly). You will arrive in Playa del Carmen at appx. 9:45. Taxi drivers will be at the top of the pier soliciting rides. Grab one and go to Xcaret... Cost should be around $12, each way. When you arrive at the main entrance, go to the ticket booth and let them know that you have courtesy passes from under you name (you will need to provide an I.D.) Your entrance fee will be paid, however, you have to pay the "environmental fee" of $5 per person. They will provide you with a wrist band and you will enter the park. Appx 100 feet into the park you will go to the right where the activities reservations are located. Go to any ticket window and provide your name and that you have courtesies for Sea Trek at 11:30 and Sharks! at 1:00. They will provide you with a receipt for each activity. Be sure to get a map (its a huge park and very easy to get lost). It's about a 15 minute walk to the Sea Trek area (without stopping). There is a lot to see and it will likely take you 1/2 hour to get to the Sea Trek location. Be there at least 15 minutes before your tour time. If you have any delays, or if these times do not work for you, be sure to work that out with the activity reservation personnel. Xcaret - This park is incredible and you can easily take two days to see it all. Unfortunately, this will be a rush through and you will have to plan to come back. Let me know if you have any more questions."

I did ask a few more pertinent questions on Nov. 6th just to make sure that there was time enough to make the two visits and get back to the ship at the proper time.
Taxi, ferry, taxi, ticket booth. No one knows what I'm talking about. What a disappointment! It was not only the excursion that I was most looking forward to, but having to disappoint my friends and costly, as well.

Bad lemon turned to lemonade...or rather Sea Trek Becomes Sea Drek becomes C Shark!
Decided on an excursion while on the ferry back. Glass bottom boat and whoever wants to snorkel. Linda and I did not choose to snorkel. Andra did and she made her way into the waters searching for the New York Sharks! Fins Up!

We first ate at a restaurant called Casa Denis, in the square. Although we did take a taxi to the ferry, it wasn't that long of a walk from here to the ship. Not only was this the last port to visit, but the best place to do all of your shopping!

Sunburned And Back To The Ship

Personally, I think we could have spent less time at Tabyana Beach. Back at the ship I met Andra and Linda at Champagne Charlie's for cocktails and then off to the Garden Restaurant for dinner. There was a table of women that seemed to be celebrating. I'm not sure as to whether they all knew each other prior to the cruise or met on the cruise. Two of the women, who live in Chicago, announced their engagement. You can probably tell by the photos as to who they are.

Tabyana Beach Experience

There were a lot of people from the cruise going to Tabyana Beach to bathe, take in the sun and just chill out. They provided lunch for us. BBQ stuff. There was a place to buy souvenirs, of course as well as a building with changing rooms, lockers and bathrooms equipped with someone expecting a tip...just like everywhere else! One photo is the arrival of some of the women. I didn't get one of the crowd. Esther, the Rubber Chicken came along and decided to lay out on a lounge chair as well. It seemed that the sun or Gumbalimba Park tuckered out Andra and Linda.

From Gumbalimba to Tabyana Beach

The excursion continues as we go from Gumbalimba Park to Tabyana Beach, which appears to be a private locale. Here are some photos. Andra and Linda. Linda and I. The Beach before crowd.

Gumbalimba Park, The Monkeys and Andra

Now that we get to experience the tease of the parrots on our shoulders that we are unable to pet, we're off to see the cutest monkeys. They choose to jump on whoever they wish and whenever they want. So, here is Andra Dougalas' monkey session. Then there is the one of Andra and I watching the others with a monkey on their backs...or shoulder, in this case. Photos are credited to the company that I bought the CD from...Olivia Munleanu.

Gumbalimba Park, The Hummingbirds

The first animal encounter was hummingbirds. They were feeding intensely on their honey sucker water and were most likely used to the murmuring of the people, although we couldn't quite hear the humming of the birds. It was easy enough to get up close to them. Andra Douglas is credited with these particular photos.

Gumbalimba Park

Andra, Linda and I entered a cave in Gumbalimba Park in Roatan, Honduras. Well, needless to say, I'm the one taking the photo. You'll just have to take my word that I went into the cave. The wall painting in the cave was most likely not placed there by the original natives.

Thursday in Roatan, Honduras

Andra, Linda and are now in Roatan, Honduras in Central America. The excursion takes us first on a bus tour to Gumbalima Park, where we will be interacting with cute animals. These first pictures are at the park before the animals. Okay, Esther came came along with us and needless to say, there was an entire group, as well. I was able to choose between a normal foot bridge or this wooden bridge that shook a lot. Despite my fear of heights, I walked across.

Back To The Ship

Back on the ship early so a grabbed a bit of lunch. Karaoke from 5 to 7 and a press conference from 6 to 7 at the same place. Did karaoke - "The Rose" and "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do". Different crowd, though. Met Andra and Linda at Champagne Charlie's to see Corday & The G Strings. Good trio. Corday's father was on the cruise and he got up along with others and danced.

We decided to go to Gardens Restaurant this evening followed by a Comedy Showcase starring Gloria Bigelow, Kate McKinnon, Sandra Valis, Tavia Smalley, hosted by Nicol Paone of "The Big Gay Sketch Show".

Met up with Shannon to talk about Andra doing a talk on Saturday.

Had thoughts of the Cruise Director coming over the intercom system and announcing, "Hello, Sweeties. I was going to tell you about the hurricane that we were getting into but I just assumed that you dykes could handle it all. In fact, I was quite surprised that you just didn't go out there and beat the shit out of the water and produce such fear that it would back off and go directly to the Bible Belt".

If It's Wednesday, It Must Be Belize

It's Wednesday and we're docked at Belize. Oh, oh...we're not exactly docked there. It means that we have to take a tender to the port. So, let's see. I decided on an excursion of which I would be taking an Airboat Adventure and Belize City Tour. That means that I'm going from the ship to the tender to a bus to an airboat, back to a bus to a tender to the ship. The tender took at least half an hour and was almost as rocky as the ship during the hurricane. I took my knapsack, camera, passport and forgot to take money. Well, after using my key card on the ship for any expenses, I didn't even think of it. We toured one part of Belize City prior to the airboat and did a different area after the airboat. The bus driver's name was "Mr. Butch". We got to the airboat spot and saw these baby crocodiles. We would see them later during the boat tour. There were times that we went fast and curved to either the right or left. We were instructed to raise our hands and tilt upon request, so to speak. There were a few 360 degree turns as well. We were spotting several birds and the crocs. One came to the boat and jumped up for food given by the tour guide.

Back at the dock I saw a company selling rum cakes. Rainforest Rum Cakes made in Belize. Sampled a Chocolate Chip one. Quite tasty! The guy gave me this little bottle of hot sauce to try. I put a drop in my food and already tasted it. Anyway, you can check out the rum cakes on their website of www.rainforestrumcakes.com

In the meantime, Andra and Linda were doing a zip line on another excursion!