~*~*~*~The Rawlings Family~*~*~*~: September 2011

Crystal Clear Caymans

This place was beautiful with crystal clear water. I am so glad we decided to do snorkeling here. We went to a stingray sandbar and held (or tried to) tons of stingrays! I was nervous at first more so than I was with the dolphin. My fear was only escalated when one ate my finger. Well sucked it really hard because they don't have teeth. It was amazingly painful. Matt was a total natural at holding them. The trainer claimed the more calm and soft you were the easier it is to hold them. I am thinking this went to matts head since the remaining of the time he kept expressing how "sensitive" he is and how "gentle" his touch is. He was just so "comfortable" around them.
Snorkeling was incredible. The pictures just don't do justice. The coral was full of fish and sharp rocks which matt would testify to. The water was really shallow over some of the coral at some spots. Unfortunatly matt had a fight with one and lost the battle. There is a picture to see the allergic reaction he had when he brushed up against some. We all survived and had a blast!

See the excitement

this was right before...

it ate my finger

Love this Picture

It was pretty steamy

the deadly corral

Fricking A this hurts

There were GIANT iguanas everywhere, this one was super green

I Meagan, Swam with the Dolphins, In the Ocean

Honduras September 22, 2011
Initially we were going to go kayak in the ocean but at the last minute matt surprised me with a trip to swim with the dolphins. I was so excited! Before we left I told him how I found this place that you could actually swim with sharks (in a cage of course silly) which I thought would be awesome, everyone else not so much. I told him the next best thing would be to swim with dolphins. I was worried when that morning came I was so tired and sick that I wasn't going to be able to go. Might I recommend not staying out and dancing so late. Ya, it was not a smart choice but matt and I had a blast. We were able to swim with dixon the dolphin and his trainer in a facility which is right off of the beach. Side note: swimming in the ocean water not ideal. I was able to get pictures with dixon, feel his teeth, tongue and fins. Really neat experience!
I cannot take credit for the amazing shots of the dolphins in the air, that was all Matt

Our awesome friends Clay and Tricia

You'd better Belize It

Belieze was the second port stop: September 21, 2011

This was a CRAZY place! The poverty here is crazy. It really humbled me to go to this particular place. Cave tubing is the excursion we decided to do for this day. We privately booked this tour, we went with cave-tubing.com. The men were hilarious and really loved there job. Uncle Tido was our tour guide and while he didn't smell the best he was good to keep us entertained. We hiked through the jungle and then went through the underground caves on the inner tubes. I was so worried about snakes being in the water and jungle fortunately no snakes were seen! Killer ants however, were everywhere and were carrying leaves off of the trees. Overall good tour and humbling experience. Some of these pictures may be offensive to some...BEWARE!

what a gentleman he carried mine too

The fertility cave...hmm I wonder why

a native delicacy

Guava fruits

Some one partied to much the night before

Bottoms Up...the water was shallow here...I did not here the bottoms up cue

No Speak Espanol

Cozumel Mexico :September 20,2011

This was the first stop we made while on the cruise. We got off the ship, got onto another ship for about 20 minutes, go on a bus for 1 1/2 hrs to get to the myian ruins! It was awesome! Matt and I are huge history people and so this was like christmas morning, ok maybe not that good but it was pretty cool. Our bus guide Rauel was amazing! He really had a passion for the information he was sharing. Great experience except for the bus ac went out on the drive home, not so awesome. I am however, blessed to have gone to such a wonderful place, hiked a wonderful past time, and most of all make it home safe. Here are some of the pictures