Trip to Mexico

The shopping team in Cozumel!

January, 2010 Cruise to Mexico

January 10 – 17, 2010 the family took a cruise to Mexico. Actually 62 friends from church were on the trip.

The trip began Sunday afternoon driving from Dubuque to Mobile, AL. We all piled in the Colt’s bus and van and left Dubuque at 12:30 pm. We drove until 8:00 pm when we stopped in Sikeston, MO to eat at Lambert’s Café – Home of Throwed Rolls. By 10:00 pm we were on the road again. At midnight we were ½ way to Mobile, AL and at that same time the bus died. It just shut down! Something went wrong with the engine and water was pouring out!

That’s when our men stepped up to the challenge! In the next 5 hours we shuttled everyone to Finley United Pentecostal Church in Dyersburg, TN. Pastor Doug Ellingsworth opened his gymnasium for us to stay warm, run off energy and rest. Meanwhile 14 guys stayed with the bus, contacted the Colts and waited for a rented bus to arrive. At 5:00 am a new chartered bus (complete with a bus driver!) arrived to pick up everyone at the church and we were back on the road. Thankfully we have 4 extra hours budgeted in our plan.

At 12:30 pm Monday we rolled into Mobile, AL and loaded the Carnival Fantasy ship. It wasn’t as warm in AL as I thought it would be – low 60s. By 2:00 pm we were on the ship, bellies full and napping! At 4:30 pm the ship left the dock and we were sailing toward Mexico.

Monday night and all day Tuesday we were at sea. The kids kept busy with their friends and activities that the ship sponsored. Jake signed up for Circle C (ages 12-14) and enjoyed all of the activities including video games, Dance Party, scavenger hunt. He was always the last one “home” – at 1:00 am! Kassie enjoyed Camp Carnival activities including a PJ Party! Jordan enjoyed more of the “grown-up”, teen-ager activities like walking the ship and being in bed by 9:00 pm every night!

Tuesday was a beautiful day at sea. John and I were able to get a tan and nap on the deck!

Wednesday morning we docked at Calica, Mexico. The only thing in Calica is the port! We took a cab to Playa del Carmen and hit the beach! At 9:00 am we were the only people on the beach! The water was warm with some great waves for body surfing! After swimming we walked the main shopping strip in town and began to barter! What we learned from the cab driver was the only industry in that area of Mexico is tourism. 80% of tourists were European! (That was surprising since the ships at port that day were all American.) By 12:30 pm we were back on the ship enjoying lunch and planning the next nap!
By 5:00 pm Wednesday night the ship was sailing again. We only needed to travel 136 miles to Cozumel however it is more expensive to stay docked and we can’t just “sit” in the bay. If the ship stayed docked for the night then they’d have to pay a “property” tax. So, the ship sailed out to sea for the night and circled Cozumel.

Thursday morning we docked at Cozumel. There was a shopping plaza right off of the ship so we shopped with the kids in the plaza that morning. Jake didn’t get off the ship that day. He chose to stay on ship and get caught up on his cartoons and video games!

At noon we returned the kids and John to the ship and I took a cab into town with other friends. We did more shopping and I got my hair done in tight braids!

Our shopping excursions were more window shopping and bartering fun then actually buying anything. Jordan did get an Aztec chess board and Mom got a purse. Otherwise we got a few knick-knacks and a Carnival sweatshirt. We did have fun getting our pictures taken and buying those memories!

Thursday night we were back at sea and on our way home. Friday morning was OK for weather but by 2:00 I returned to the room to warm up and nap. At dinner I realized that it was raining and that didn’t stop until we ported in Mobile. The weather got worse through the night and prolonged us from porting Saturday morning at 8:00 am. The ship pilots tried to enter the Mobile Bay channel 3 times before they were able to enter safely. The waves were tremendously rough! Plates and bowls were constantly flying off of the stacks in the cafeteria.

We were 12 hours late! Customs thankfully stayed open for us. At 10:00 pm we left the ship, successfully got through customs and began our journey home. The journey home wasn’t as adventurous as the trip down (thankfully)! We arrived back in Dubuque at 6:30 pm Sunday night – just in time for church!

What does my story have to do with Quick Kitchen Answers for Busy Homes? Take a break from the kitchen and take a vacation! You deserve it!