March 13, 2015 - Port Maya Mexico

March 13, 2015 - Port Maya Mexico

So we didn't actually go ashore at Port Maya. Two reasons: it was raining on and off and there really wasn't much to do there:

And last but not least, we tied for first in a Beatles trivia contest!

March 12, 2015 - Roatan, Honduras

March 12, 2015 - Roatan, Honduras

Today we had a nice stop on the Island of Roatan, Honduras and a small island called Maya Key Island Retreat, which was a 5-minute boat ride from where we were docked at Roatan.

So here's a map of Roatan Island, which is 30 miles north of the mainland version of Honduras. We docked at the Port of Roatan:

View of the Port of Roatan from our ship:

We were tied up to four moorings that were each a good 100 yards from the ship. A small boat went around dropping guys at each mooring to tie us up and then later untie our cruise ship:

Our ship (of course):

On Roatan Island:

Then we headed off to Maya Key, which is a tiny vacation island and probably the nicest place we visited on our trip. It had nice beaches all around, an animal rescue facility, Mayan history museum, restaurant, pool, and locker room. It took about 15 minutes to walk around the perimeter of the key:

http://www.mayakeyroatan.com/en/index.html

Here's a view from the Key back toward our ship:

And here are the beaches on Maya Key:

 

Maya Key is on the final approach to the Roatan airport. Those planes got very low and very loud:

Jill relaxing a bit:

 The Mayan museum/displays (replicas, of course):

 

 A great lunch at the restaurant (fish with vinegar onions, red beans & rice, salad):

 The animals:

We stopped and watched the monkeys for a bit:

Our boat back to the cruise ship:

March 11, 2015 - Belize and Altun Ha Mayan Ruins

March 11, 2015 - Belize and Altun Ha Mayan Ruins

Had a nice drive around Belize today. The Altun Ha Mayan Ruins were amazing!

Driving around Belize City. Learned that as a member of the UK Commonwealth Belize is the only Latin American country where English is the official language:

At the Altun Ha Mayan ruins... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altun_Ha) The area was occupied from 900 B.C. to 1000 A.D. It is the site where Belize's national treasure, a jade mask of the sun god, was found (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRDjonzhdg8). Experts believe the Mayan civilization declined/disappeared due to the ecological damage they caused with their building and other activities

That's our guide Melanie in the green t-shirt. She did a great job.

Back on the bus riding back to Belize City:

 

The cruise ships come back into view!