Finally on Thursday Morning, we were finally going ashore at Costa Maya.  We had been on board since Sunday.  Because of the ship MSC Armonia crashing into the dock at Roatan Honduras, we couldn’t go ashore their.  So finally we arrived at Costa Maya 2 hours late after delivering a sick person to Cozumel.  They have an International Airport to fly the person to the states. It was a beautiful morning.  Rich and I went out on deck to watch the approach and dock.  

In the distance as we approached, their was a beautiful rainbow.  You can barely see here.  It started at the speck of land which was Costa Maya.  As we got closer a small boat came out from shore.  

It said Pilot on the side in Spanish.  It got very close and left again.  I assume they dropped someone off.  We got closer and seen their were 2 ships in port.  And which ship do you suppose was their.

It was the MSC Armonia.  This was the ship that destroyed the dock at Roatan Honduras 2 days ago.  We had heard they had run onto rocks and needed repairs.  We also heard they might need extensive repairs to continue.  Well here it was.  Full of people, continuing its 14 day cruise.

Looking close you could see the scrape near the bottom and a large patch to the hull.  As people started to realize that this was the ship that caused us to not go the Roatan, they started yelling and making fun of the Captain….” Can’t you drive???”  Of course it was all in fun.  Finally we got ready to leave the ship for the day.  Ron had made plans for an excursion for us all.  10 of us were going, 1 couple decided to stay on board.  Several years ago, Ron and Travis had came to Costa Maya and found this all inclusive beach.  It was a pkg deal on line.  For $50 a person you arrived at this beach and stayed all day until your ship left.  You were supplied with shade umbrellas, lounges, all the drinks and food you wanted.  So this is where we were heading.  We left with our suits on and beach cover ups.  It was around 10 am and the boat was not leaving until 7:30pm.

 

So off we went.  Terry took this picture as we left the ship.  It was a very long dock to walk.  But such a beautiful day.

So here we are.  We sure look like tourists don’t we…..lol…Now as we were walking some one said….Look, Their she is…..During the days at sea, their was a celebrity sighting.  It was Amy Roloff of TV Show, Little People, Big World.  Several of the group had seen her.  Then one day when Rich was sitting down up on the top deck watching the Surfing simulator, near the water slides, Amy just so happened to sit down by him.  She told Rich they wouldn’t let her ride the 2 man raft slide because of the weight requirement.  She did ride the other slide.  Now he had a moment like that and I wasn’t their???…..So so unfair…..It was just a casual conversation, I should have been their.  One evening I was looking out our window down on the Promenade…..And their she was walking by…..Amy and her boyfriend Chris…

So finally I seen her but their I am upstairs behind glass.  So now here we are at the port and somebody in our group yells “Theirs Amy”

I looked over and seen her and decided this was my chance.  Probably my only chance to get a picture.  Look, I’m taller than her….lol...I ran over their and introduced myself and mentioned her sitting by Rich.  She acknowledge that she remembered.  I asked for a picture and apologized for bothering her.  Of course she was gracious and agreed.  So finally I accomplished my picture I was after.  I only seen her one other time.  We were in the theater and she entered the other side.  Theresa was able to say hi to her.  So finally we headed into the village to find the Taxi’s to take us to the beach.  The village wound around with only walking traffic…..Many little local shops.  It seemed like we had to walk in circles to get to the Taxis.  We did a little shopping but decided to do more on our way back.  Finally with Ron at the lead, we headed to the taxi’s at the rear of the village.  Ron managed to get a van that we all could fit in.  It was a fun ride to the beach.  This area has not really been taken over yet by commercialism. Their was some destruction still by the hurricanes last year.  We passed some poor areas and seen construction and rebuilding.  We passed jungle and finally turned down a narrow road with buildings on each side.  Some were old homes and some small businesses.  All very colorful.  We finally arrived at our Beach…..Nohoch Kay Beach Club....It was an open beachy restaurant with a thatched roof.  Really neat.  Old tables and chairs inside and out.  Their was a bicycle trail between the Club and the beach.  A group of bicyclers rode by.  As you looked toward the beach front you seen a line of awesome thatched umbrellas and lounge chairs in the sand.

The beautiful blue ocean was beyond the beach.

Over to the side was a massage table area.  Their was a charge for this.  It looked so inviting.  They had reserved umbrellas and chairs for all of us.  We all settled in.  The bar boy took our first drink orders and the owner asked about food.  He suggested putting a tray of food together with a sampling of many things on the menu.  So it began.  We all went in the water.  It was fairly shallow for a long ways.  It was so warm and clear.

The bar boy started bringing the drinks.  The guys would order 8 Bahama Mamas at a time.  They would be delivered and the bar boy would get another order of 8…..That is the way the day went.  The food finally arrived…..OMG….

So much on the platter.  From American Hamburgers and Onion Rings to Mexican Tacos Fajitas etc.  We ate on it all afternoon, but never finished it.

It was such a relaxing afternoon laying in the lounge chairs.  They also offered kayaks to take out even though we didn’t use them.  And for the guys, the drinking continued….

They were having a great time….The view from the water to the beach was so pretty.

The line up of the thatched umbrellas and the Palm trees waving overhead was like being in Paradise.  In the distance you could see the dock with the ships in port.

It looked close but yet very far. ……AND THE DRINKING CONTINUED…..

Finally around 4 pm we decided it was time to leave.  It was hard getting them out of the water.  

The Club called for our van and it finally arrived.  One last look at the beautiful site, and up to the van we went.  It became apparent rather quickly the Rich and Ron were just a little drunk.  They both started slurring their words and talking STUPID.  At first it was funny to watch, but it got old fast.  We managed to get them all in the van…….“THATS THE LAST RICH REMEMBERS OF THAT DAY”.…..I’m not sure were we lost Ron.  The Taxi left us out behind the village.  Rich wanted the drivers grapefruit.  We had to finally take it away from him.  He was barely walking and we had a LOOOooong way to go…..His hand was on my shoulder.  We stumbled along.  Ron was at least walking.  But Theresa had to keep him under control.  At one point he seen a statue of an animal, maybe lion with its mouth wide open.  He ran across the street and put his face and hands in its mouth and went ….. “Rooooaaaaar”…..At that point I knew we were in trouble.  The shopping was canceled as it was a long way back to the ship.  We wandered along through the village sidewalks to the port entrance.  I was on one side of Rich and JT was on the other.  Finally the Port entrance was near.  We had to scan our Sea Pass cards to get through.  Thank goodness Rich’s was around his neck.  Now the Looong walk down the dock to the ship entrance.  We started and it was one step forward…..2 stumbled steps sideways.  Another step forward and so one.  All his weight was now on my shoulder as I not only supported him but pulled him.  Theresa was busy taking care of Ron and she was also worried about her sister….lol….Either side of the dock said….DO NOT CROSS THE RED LINE..…You would be in danger of falling off cause their was no railings…..We stopped a number of times to rest.  Finally we made the final turn to the dock the ship was anchored to.  We had to get our Sea Pass cards ready and I thought ID’s also.  So Travis took over my side for a time while I got out Richs Wallet.  In doing that all his cards fell out…….grrrrrrrrr….but got them all picked up and back.  We got through the first scan area and was then approaching the ship door.  Travis said he would go get a wheel chair.  Oh that would be great.  I was exhausted with all his stumbling.  He just kept muttering stupid non verbal words…..lol….Finally we crossed the ramp into the ship.  I scanned our Sea Pass cards for both of us and their was the wheel chair.  They put him in and had a porter assigned to help us to our room.  Immediately, an officer looked at me straight faced with no humor….“Do You Need Medical?”..….”Oh No” I said.  “He just needs a bed”…..lol….He was not laughing.  He wanted to see his Sea Pass Card and took his number.  They put a 24 hour block on his account for alcohol.  I said ‘Sure, that fine’.  So they wheeled us to the elevators.  We got in one side and Ron and Theresa and the others were in the other side.  Ron remembers seeing us and saying something to Rich as the doors closed.  I don’t remember what he said but it would be something only one drunk talking to another drunk would understand.  I so wanted to take a picture of him but the halls were so narrow and we were on the move.  We got to our room and Barrington was their.  

He opened our door for us and got Rich out of the wheelchair.  Barrington wished us rest and recuperation.  He was down for the count very shortly after that.  After that I decided to go to the Windjammer for dinner.  Then I went out on deck to watch our departure.  Some of our group also came out.  They like to watch the “Dock Runners” the last ones that are running to make the boat.  

We were suppose to leave by 7:30 but they were still missing people.  Finally just after 8 the last ones boarded. A dad running with a stroller and 2 kids, and his wife lagging behind. I can’t imagine why they would be so late with 2 kids. How irresponsible. I was told many times the ship will leave people of their late.  

So here is our view of the dock at sunset.  This is the dock we drug the drunks down too reach the ship.  Shame they have no Memory.….We were the last ship to leave…..Finally it was dark, the last people were aboard and we cast off.  As we left, you could not see that many lites.  It definitely is still a small port.  Its to bad we didn’t have time to shop more and explore…...So Tomorrow…..What will it bring…..Cozumel….How will they feel???