Egypt was fascinating. We were unsure even the night before if we were going to call. Other ships had cancelled, but we we so happy with HAL for not doing so. I'm sure they were checking security, as there had been a breach of the American Embassy wall several days prior and embassy murders in Libya. A Cruise Critic group of 20 of us did an overnight tour with Ramses Tours, which for we singles was less than 1/3 the price of the HAL tour (same hotel), in a mini-bus. 3 hours from Alexandria to Giza the first day was a long trip, but there was a pleasant roadside stop. Our guide gave us lira to use the toilets (common in the middle east). Our destination was the pyramids at Giza. When we came around the ... read more

I woke up to an odd e-mail from Alaska Airlines, our flight was leaving 20 minutes EARLY due to high winds in the Pacific. A later message said it was indeed leaving on time at 10:20am, but would make a stop in Oakland for refueling. WHA????? Aparently a strong storm was brewing and we would have to go around it, but the plane didn't have enough fuel to make the longer trip and we would have to refuel. When we boarded the plane we were given a $100 coupon for a future trip due to the delay in arrival. I though that was a pretty great way to start a trip. Then after 9 hours in the airplane seat, and my butt was sore, I realized what the coupon was all about. Anyway, we had carried ... read more

This morning I slept through the bridge tour I'd been invited to by the Captain at the Meet & Greet. Went to the Indian buffet, it was delicious, pretty and very informative staff. India is quite high on my "next list" so I gleaned as much information as possible from the dining room staff. When I returned to the cabin, I had received a note from the Shore Excursion director apologizing for the problem in Cozumel, with a coupon for cover charge in one of the specialty restaurants. I went to Le Bistro French tonight before the show, it was a "best meal" of the ship. Show tonight was Elements, all great except the magician, not my deal. My Spa treatments today were great, a little pushy trying to sell product, but it's the same on ... read more

Costa Maya is a Mexico Tourism town, built by the government after a devasting hurricane in 2007 to help these poor folks out of poverty. On the dock is a beautiful, huge swimming pool, which I might do another time, surrounded by shops, double the price of out of this village. Our tour left at 8:05am from the pier. An hour bus ride with a great guide. I learned so much about Mayan history and beliefs. In Belize the guide wanted to talk more about slavery and British colonialism (it's formerly British Honduras). Most of the Belezians were black, with West Indian lilting voices, here they were all Mayan, short foreheads large noses. NO need to speak Spanish here, everyone spoke excellent English. Many still speak the Mayan dialect, also used in Apocolypto, with subtitles. So ... read more

Today we arrived in Roatan about 8:30am. Coxen Hole is a small town of t-shirt shops and the obligatory Diamonds International and Tanzanite shops built directly adjacent to the dock. My excursion left at 9:00am from the pier. We made 4 stops: Plaza Mall, where I bought some Lamanan (SP?) black and white pottery. It is an old custom recently revived to give single Honduran women skills . Other things to buy here are handcarved mahogany, everything from tiny boxes to carved doors ($2000 including shipping), the craftsmanship is great. Next stop was the Iguana Farm. 4 little guys welcomed us at the road, I grabbed my camera. Should have waited a bit, there were HUNDREDS, just roaming around free. We were each given a giant leaf, and put it down and they came running at ... read more