WELCOME TO COZUMEL, MEXICO

Monday, February 02, 2009
Sunny, 85 F, then quite cloudy in the afternoon, rain as we departed

We got off the Liberty by about 8:30 a.m. at Puerta Maya Pier by Cozumel, Mexico. The ship does not depart until 10 p.m., so we should have made beach plans! Puerta Maya reminds me a lot of Havensight at St. Thomas—a lovely plaza with many of the same shops as downtown Cozumel.

After picking up cute complimentary sombrero and clock charms from Diamonds International, we took a taxi ($7) to the Los Cinco Soles (a large shop) area so we could walk our way back to the ship. It is somewhat treacherous to enter small shops because the vendors are aggressively pitching their wares. I bought pure vanilla at Los Cinco Soles-a little more expensive, but I know it is very good because I use it at home. I bought colorful conch shell bracelets handmade by the Mayan people in a Mexican artisan shop for my DDILs and H. Further on down the main street I dared to enter a shop and negotiated for three silver (.925) bracelets, one set with lapis, one with malachite, and one with a light blue turquoise, again for me and my DDILs. They all will be cute for summer wear. I thought the price was very fair-Tim says I’m getting better at saying no, thank you. There really was hardly anyone shopping and I don’t know how long these stores can go on without buyers. One can see the sea directly across the street from all these shops and the view is beautiful. The sea is turquoise clear here and Tim patiently enjoyed the view while I shopped. One of the vendors called him my bodyguard and I have to say that is true!

We continued walking and saw the Carlos and Charlie’s Bar and Restaurant we know our NCL Spirit Cruise Critic friends love. We took pictures of the patrons wearing hats made out of the balloons that clowns use to make animals. Every hat was different and colorful. Perhaps next time we will stop there. The menu was in pesos and I left my math skills back on the ship!

Cozumel is preparing for Mardi Gras and perhaps we should have timed our cruising for that event! There were two huge colorful and glittery platforms apparently for dancing and singing along the street.

We hired a taxi back to Puerta Maya and had lunch at Pancho’s Backyard. We usually eat at the downtown Pancho’s, but decided to try this one instead. I had cheese quesadilla and Tim had chicken enchilada—both very good. We could see the ship through the palm trees while we listened to two musicians playing Mexican music on the xylophone-like instrument.

We had open seating dinner tonight-filet mignon for both of us. A couple with a 10 month old baby girl sat near us and I really was thinking of our girls-I told Tim that B2 will be all grown up by the time we get home.

I have to say that now that we are used to our inside cabin, everything is fine on the Liberty. The food is more like what we eat at home—not quite so fancy, yet exquisitely served. Tonight’s menu had veal parmesan, roast turkey, and filet mignon for entrée choices. I never look at the fish entree—I only like deep fried fish. There is a fish n chips restaurant on board and we may try that tomorrow.

This evening we decided to visit three different lounges for the music: The Cabinet Club with Mambo Swing—we liked the Latin music, but it turned out to be a smoking bar; the Casino area with “Just Us Two,” playing oldies; and Island Music in the atrium with XCentrique.

Culinary Delight of the Day: cheese quesadilla, tomato and mozzarella salad, filet mignon, apple pie.

TK’S Takes: He bought a can of Café Punta del Cielo ground coffee—Mexico’s #1 (El Gran Café de Mexico). He has asked me to create a table to compare cruises—a good idea because we forget a lot of things. He has a better ear than I for good music. I think he has heard better. Near a photo set up tonight Tim thought of the night our CC friend Jeff was posing on the piano with a rose in his teeth on the Spirit. It is just so neat to think of our CC friends, old and new!

A Note our Dear Granddaughters, B and B: Tonight’s towel animal was a stingray—wearing my glasses! The water is so clear and B1 would enjoy snorkeling here. We will practice that this summer!