If you didn't read about our cruise and time in Cozumel, catch up here.
On top of the beach and visitor side of the little island,
there is the animal rehab and reserve. 3 South American male sea lions
call this home. They were rescued from Uruguay's angry fishermen, sent
to St. Kitts, and when that facility closed, brought to Honduras. These
guys are HUGE! I'm so used to seeing the North American sea lions at
Sea World and in California, that I was shocked when these guys popped
up out of the water. For $25 each, four guests can help feed the sea
lions at two different times during the day. Well, of course I was
going to sign up for that! If I wasn't going to get my scuba
experience, I was certainly going to get kissed, hugged, and cuddled by a
450 pound monster of a sea lion. Duh! The sea lion I was able to
interact with is name Willie. He's kind of a bully with the other 2 sea
lions, but he was just precious to me! When Willie kissed my check, he
let out a big old breath right in my ear. Loud, warm, and fishy all at
once. I was in heaven! These guys are FURRY! Seriously! I know
they're mammals and have fur, but I didn't realize just how much. It
was like hugging a wet golden retriever! Love! I also realized just
how thick their facial whiskers are. Wow!
The rehab also houses several birds and mammals that can no
longer live in the wild for one reason or another. The various primates
were my favorite, but they also have a mountain lion, margay, ocelot,
and jaguar. The sanctuary has recreated the natural habitat of these
guys to the best of human ability. I know it stinks for these guys to
have such permanent injuries or conditions that they can't return to the
wild, but they are living pretty well at Maya Key! It was beautiful to
be so close to these guys. One of the spider monkeys is named George
(seriously), and he's quite the flirt. I stood around talking to George
for a bit before he reached out his hand to hold mine. They he'd begin
sing and make kissing sounds. He was precious. I'm not sure his
'wife' Sasha appreciates his womanizing, but I did! David and Laura fell in love with Georgie too!
I can't wait to return to Roatan, hopefully to stay awhile and dive!
The day in Roatan was also New Year's Eve, so there was a big party waiting for us back on the ship! The captain made it a formal night, and there were several places to go to celebrate. After dinner we went to the show, which was a one night special group called The Platinum Club. They are four guys who cover songs from the 30s to now, and they are amazing! Wow! We decided to head up to the top deck with the live band, streamers, noise makers, and fun for the big party! Right at the stroke of midnight, the ship blasted its horn 3 times. I hadn't heard a ship horn in a while, and was enough to wake the dead. Gracious! And then, by about 12:15, I was in bed. Sigh. Happy New Year, 2014!
Our second stop occurred the day after Cozumel. We
woke up just in time to watch the ship dock in Roatan. Roatan is a
little island, and is part of the nation of Honduras.
Roatan is also home to one of the largest coral barrier reefs in the world. My parents have spent hours and hours over several trips scuba diving in the waters of Roatan. Isaac and I had looked forward to diving here this trip, but I was obviously unable to join him. I insisted that Isaac still go on our original excursion, and I'm so glad I did! He had 2 fabulous dives with turtles, grouper, several species of fish, and beautiful coral formations. He was full of stories for hours at dinner!
Mom, Dad, David, Laura, and I headed to a tiny island called Maya Key
that just barely is separated from Roatan to a private beach and animal
reserve. I wasn't sure what all we'd find there, but it was stunning.
The beach isn't quite the fine granular sand of eastern Mexico, but it
comes more from weather worn shell. It's still beautiful! They have a
long pier out to the coral reef for snorkeling. Mom and I had brought
our gear, and we had a fabulous time swimming with the fishes in the
deep blue sea! I was just in awe. It'd been much too long (I was 15 in
2000 in Hawaii) since I'm been in that intense of a reef formation.
Just gorgeous!Roatan is also home to one of the largest coral barrier reefs in the world. My parents have spent hours and hours over several trips scuba diving in the waters of Roatan. Isaac and I had looked forward to diving here this trip, but I was obviously unable to join him. I insisted that Isaac still go on our original excursion, and I'm so glad I did! He had 2 fabulous dives with turtles, grouper, several species of fish, and beautiful coral formations. He was full of stories for hours at dinner!
I can't wait to return to Roatan, hopefully to stay awhile and dive!
The day in Roatan was also New Year's Eve, so there was a big party waiting for us back on the ship! The captain made it a formal night, and there were several places to go to celebrate. After dinner we went to the show, which was a one night special group called The Platinum Club. They are four guys who cover songs from the 30s to now, and they are amazing! Wow! We decided to head up to the top deck with the live band, streamers, noise makers, and fun for the big party! Right at the stroke of midnight, the ship blasted its horn 3 times. I hadn't heard a ship horn in a while, and was enough to wake the dead. Gracious! And then, by about 12:15, I was in bed. Sigh. Happy New Year, 2014!
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