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Published: August 8th 2007
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I’m on Port Manning this week which means I’m supposed to stay on the ship. For safety reasons, we need to ensure that a certain number of crew/staff are onboard. So we’re on a 9 week rotation where you have to stay on the ship. But if you’re lucky, you can find someone who’s staying on the ship, switch IDs and get off anyway. Which I did yesterday and today. Yippee!! Especially because it’s Brooks’ final cruise, I really wanted to be able to spend time with him in the ports.
Yesterday, Brooks, Brian and I went into downtown San Miguel, the city at the port on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. We did a TON of shopping. I spent a lot of money. But I got some fantastic gifts for lovely people back home and got some gorgeous jewelry for myself and a great dress. It was so nice to walk so much! I miss having cities to walk around! Going back home to touring for Keating is going to be murder on my feet. But I’ll love it.
When I went on a cruise as a passenger years ago, we stopped in Cozumel. Wandering around, I always
feel like it’s familiar, but I’ve yet to see somewhere I concretely remember being. After a couple hours of shopping, we suddenly turned a corner though and I was like “Wait! I’ve been here! I remember this shop! And that one! And that one!” It was exciting to see something familiar from way back when.
After our extensive shopping session, we went to La Ceiba, another hotel right by the pier (right next door to Park Royale, the resort I’ve been to the last 2 weeks). It’s not as big and they don’t have a pay-one-price for the day option, but it was still really nice. A lot of the entertainment staff were there: most of the cast, a lot of musicians, the techies. It was a nice, simple afternoon. Some swimming, some chatting, some throwing people in the pool. Lots of lying in the sun. It was really nice.
There isn’t as much to see in this new run. Most of the tours are beach, snorkelling type things. It’s also much more difficult now to get crew tour passes. So I’m not doing as much travelling things these days. I miss that. But I’m also just really
worn out. So it’s kind of nice to just get off the ship and lie in the sun and do vacation-y sort of things.
Today we’re in Belize. I adore Belize, but it’s been weeks since I’ve been off the ship there! Again, tours haven’t been available and my teens haven’t signed up to go cavetubing for awhile, so the last few weeks, Belize has been my catch up on sleep day. But today I got off the ship with Brooks, Brian and Catherine. The country of Belize is phenomenal (as you can see in my other posts on Belize). But the port area in Belize City isn’t very exciting. We just walked around the pier, terminal and a small market area just outside the port. I got more gifts for people I’m loving and missing back home. I think I’m going to have an entire suitcase of gifts and souvenirs when I go home! Plus I’m going to have to mail a giant box home I think. I’m just spoiled with having so many phenomenal people back home!
One month from today, I will be on my way home. Maybe already home. 31 days. Somehow I can’t
quite imagine actually going back home. I miss home so much. I’m looking forward to being back. But I feel so removed, so distant. This ship world begins to feel like all I know. Going home feels exciting, but kind of scary. What will I be going back to? I’m sure home will not be the same. I’m not the same. Will that be strange?
So little time is left here on the ship. I’ve been thinking of what I want to do with the little time I have remaining. I want to be really good to my body - even with bad mess food, I’ve eaten really healthy here and go the gym really often. My body has really changed in my time here. I want to continue to enjoy the party atmosphere of the ship, embrace the last of my time to be carefree and largely irresponsible. I want to see things in the ports. I haven’t been much of a traveller lately and I miss that. And I want to find more ways to challenge myself. While there’s still time.
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swills82
Sarah Willett
Oh puppies and sweets. Say it really creepily and you're reminded of Dan. When I saw La Ceiba I almost freaked out but then realized you weren't talking about Honduras. lol. Miss ya babe.