Josh & Amber + 3: September 2014

I have this super fun job! My Mom works for a travel agency doing a pilot program of sorts, where they work specifically with Multi-level Marketing companies. MLM spend the most money on travel out of an other business and sometimes we get a perk and get to accompany them on an event. This Caribbean Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines was one such event. And the best part of the whole thing... FREE!!! I had to pay my own airfare but the rest was covered. How sweet is that?!?

Our Itinerary was:

Feb 7 : Fly into Tampa

Mom flew into Tampa the day before we did. Charlie, Dan, Kyle, Andrea, Josh, and I flew together. We left pretty early in the morning since we flew into Chicago O'hare Airport first as a layover and then onto Tampa. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, the Marriott Tampa Waterside. It was classy and huge and had a beautiful view from the pool on the roof. We spent some time in a super expensive steakhouse (which we all left with $80.00 bills and still hungry) then went exercising and swam in the pool.

Naturally we had to have a goofy picture.

Saturday, Feb. 8 : Board the Ship

We woke up to a beautiful, misty Tampa Bay and took a bus to the pier. Josh and I ended up staying behind to help with some cruise docs that people forgot; but we got to travel with some of the Corporate people so we got to know them pretty well throughout the trip. Our ship was The Carnival Paradise, probably one of the older and smaller ships but we still had fun.

Our room was pretty similar to what you get in an Oceanview Cabin; but the colors were awful. They did each level in a different color and our floor was Orange.

Yup, Orange. It was hard to look at!

The ship had a deck on the top three floors. We spent a lot of time out there looking for Ocean Life (we saw none) and staring at the Stars. It was so beautiful. The Sunsets were spectacular, don't ask about the Sun Rises, Charlie was the only one awake for those.

The top deck had lounge chairs all around. Behind the stage was the pool. It was a sad pool, for such a huge ship it only fit about 20 people in it. There was a lame waterslide but everyday someone pooped in the pool and then they closed it.

In front of that stage (under where we're standing) was the buffet section. The hours weren't as amazing as some of the other ships we've been on but they did make great pizza and Ice Cream.

We sailed under this bridge when leaving Tampa. It looked like we were going to hit it the whole time.

Sunday, Feb. 9 : Day at Sea

Today my Mom and I had a short Meeting with the people from the company we were on the cruise with. Dan, Charlie, Kyle, Andrea, and Josh did some stuff (Josh can't remember so it must not have been that great) and then we met for lunch and hung out on the deck, saw some comedy shows, a few dance numbers, and napped. We had our Formal Dinner night tonight. Josh and the boys ate weird stuff like Sushi, Alligator, Snails, Frog Legs, and other food I wont touch. The desserts were not amazing so I ate a lot of ice cream.

Monday, Feb. 10 : Grand Cayman

Today was so fun. We went Snorkeling and to the City of Hell. We grabbed a guy in a van who was selling tours and he took us to the City of Hell, Dolphin Encounter (we just watched) and to the beach. In he City of Hell we went into this shop and an old lady was there. Josh and I talked to her for a while and she was telling us about her growing up years. How her father would leave the island for work and would be gone for years just so her family could eat. She gave us a little pen with a scripture on it about loving people and I won't forget her ever.

They call this city "Hell" because of all the black Lava formations in this one area. It as crazy, just out in the middle of no where.

I wish I would have bought an underwater camera because it was so beautiful. We took a boat out about 5 miles from shore to a reef that was only about 20 ft. deep. The life vests were more for helping you stay floating on your stomach then for saving you life and I was a little nervous. My Mom was a lot nervous and spent half her time in the boat and then used a tube that didn't allow her to get in the water. Josh and I saw a Stingray, a little Lunar Shark (Ahhh, so scary, the whole time I was thinking "where's mama shark?" but we didn't see one).

Tuesday, Feb 11 : Cozumel, Mexico

Today in Cozumel we went to Mayan Ruins in the city of Tulum. It was magical and beautiful and I could have stayed there all day. We first went to the island of Cozumel and caught a boat that took us to the mainland through the city of Playa del Carmen.The boat ride was awful; everyone got sick, and I almost puked. The best part is we got off the boat to a topless beach (No pictures). We got on a bus to drive down the street and there was a naked man on the balcony! Facing me! Naked! Gross! I'm not taking my kids there. EVER!!!

This was the killer boat!

Cozumel, Mexico

This was the street we had to walk down to get to the buses. The hotels are smashed together. The weather is actually pretty gorgeous, warm and slightly humid but really not that bad.

Once we got on the bus we headed for the Mayan Ruins of Tulum. Our tour guide said they used the main temple for knowing when to plant and harvest, he also said they didn't kill people for ritualistic purposes there, but that those living inside the wall surrounding the temple were considered nobles.

This was our guide. He was awesome and knew so much about the history of this place and the culture. He said that most people who live there now speak Spanish but they also know an ancient Maya Language that they use in their homes.

This carving was found on the corner of the above building. They assume it's some sort of court house of sorts. There are two faces found on either side, one representing "The Son" (Jesus Christ) and the other representing "The Father".

This is the front of the temple/castle. There are windows on either side of the three middle windows that when the sun shines through they know when it's summer and winter Solstice.

We weren't allowed to walk on the Ruins but they let you get really close. The whole place was surrounded by a long wall but on the East side was a cliff overlooking the Ocean. The water was gorgeous.

We walked down this rickety staircase and played in the water and on the beach.

It was one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen in my life and I can't wait to see it again.

When we got back to Cozumel we went shopping for a little bit and worked our way back to the pier for dinner.

This is Andrea and I right before boarding the ship.

Wednesday, Feb 12 : Day at Sea

Today we spent time on the deck watching a storm roll in and trying to outrun it :) It was amazing to see how fast the clouds came and the the wind and rain started.