Showing posts with label chicken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicken. Show all posts

Sunday, February 11, 2024

2024 Feb 4-10, Five-Day Carnival Valor Cruise to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico (5 Day Crusie)

 Sunday, Feb 4, Travel to Slidell, La.

Stopped at Jack's for breakfast gravy, sausage, and biscuit. We stopped at Murphy's in Petal, MS, to fill up with gas.

We stopped at McDonald's for a couple of pies and to use the restroom.

We checked in at Hampton Inn by Hilton Slidell, LA, room 213, and then went to eat dinner at Texas Roadhouse. I ordered grilled chicken and a baked sweet potato with rolls. Hubby ordered Caesar salad, steak, and baked potato.

Grilled chicken and baked sweet potato

We returned to the hotel, where we met a man unloading his car. He asked us if we were cruising with Carnival. I think he saw the Carnival luggage tag on my carry-on baggage. He and his wife were from Birmingham, AL. He said they had been cruising since the 90s. They had been on about 30 different cruises on different ships. We saw them leave the next morning.  

Monday, Feb 5, Travel to New Orleans 

Ate breakfast at the hotel with 2 waffle rounds with whipped cream, sausage, and cranberry juice. 

Checked out of the hotel and headed to New Orleans around 10 AM. 

Paid for parking at Erato St Cruise Terminal $125

Parked the car and walked to the elevator down to the boarding process. For lunch, we ate at Guys Burgers. 

And ordered a cheeseburger and fries.  Our room 6434 was ready by 1:30 PM. 

The ship left port around 3:30 P M. Let the party begin. 

It was too cold on the Lido Deck, so everyone met in the American Lobby. 

the Crimson Trio 

We listened to the Crimson Trio in the American Lobby. 

We ate dinner in the Lincoln Room. I ordered a shrimp cocktail, a crawfish strudel(savory baked phyllo, sweet corn remoulade), Szechuan Shrimp (scallions, garlic, angel hair noodles, peppers, and bok choy), and Cheese Cake with strawberry sauce. 

We sat next to a couple from the State of Washington. Said they lived on an island and watched cruise ships come up the Pacific Ocean. 

We also sat next to a mother and daughter from Columbus, Mississippi. 

Tuesday, Feb 6, Sea Day 

Watched the sun come up from my balcony. 

sunrise

At the Omelette Station, I ordered a loaded omelet made to order, with bacon and chocolate milk for breakfast.

9:00 AM made two necklaces at Creativity at Sea in the American Lobby. 

We went to the Fun Ashore Giveaway at 10:30 in the Ivanhoe Theatre but didn't win anything. 

Lunch was at the Mongolian Wok, where I ordered a shrimp stirfry with veggies.

Mongolian Wok Asian flavor your stir-fry bar with rice noodles,  veggies, sauce, and shrimp (double) cooked in unique culinary creations. 

Met a woman from Louisiana who loved Mongolian food. She had several bowls of food for crew members because they did not have the time to wait in line.

Took a long nap.

Dinner in the Lincoln Diner, where I ordered Herb-crusted salmon with asparagus, sweet potatoes, beurre shrimp cocktail, and Carnival's Chocolate Melt Cake with Ice cream. 

We once again sat next to the mother and daughter from Columbus, Mississippi. 

We went to the V IP Show at 7:00 PM in the Ivanhoe Theater. 

Wednesday, Feb 7, Cozumel 

Breakfast in Lincoln Dinner ordered waffle, omelet, sausage, and water. 

Went ashore in Cozumel around 9:00 AM.

We walked around to several shops and bought Ron a pair of Crocs. 

Took several pictures. Walked up the street to Margaritaville, where we ate lunch. 

We ordered 3 tacos, 1 Pepsi, Sunrise Margarita. We Walked back to our port area, stopping to take several pictures of the Coral Reef display. 

Stopped to take pictures in front of a couple of donkeys at the 3 Amigos. 

Dinner in the Washington Dining Room, where I ordered a Shrimp cocktail, Chicken, Veggies, and chocolate melt cake with ice cream. 

We listened to the Crimson Trio in the American Lobby. 

Chac Mool ("Red Claw") 

Thursday, Feb 8, Progresso 

Breakfast: Omelet bacon, pastry, and Chocolate milk. 

All-inclusive Shore Excursion at 9 AM to Mi Casa Es Su Casa Private Beach your way. 

Back on the ship by 3:30 PM 

Lunch: avocado dip, chips, Pina cola, and coke. Watched our host make an avocado dip using Mangos and tomatoes. Cilantro, salt, pepper and avocados.

Dinner: Stuffed mushrooms, Fried Mississippi Catfish(cornmeal-crusted), spinach, mac & cheese, tartar sauce, and a banana split. 

Excursion to a Private beach with around 40 people took the bus with 2 children. A nine-year-old named Sabrina. Our host cooked us lunch: Mexican Avocado dip, chicken tacos, etc. We had a bartender who mixed drinks. I ordered a Pina cola and my hubby a margarita, both virgins. 

I walked along the beach, and the water was cold. Monday, a storm had come through with 50 MPH winds, so the water was a little choppy and dirty. Not many people went into the water. Most everyone sat in beach chairs, and some under umbrellas. Lunch was served around 10:30 AM. 

Around 10:30-11 We heard a mother call out  Sabrina, where are you?

She was nowhere to be found. Everyone joined in the search for Sabrina up and down the beach, inside the house. Going from one neighbor's house to another.  A neighbor called the police. Five showed up at the beach. A detective went along the beach, circling Sabrina's footprints. Neighbors called their friends, and several said they saw a small girl walking up the beach crying. 

She had walked about 1 1/2 to 2 miles up the beach to the nearby hotel. When they found her, she said, "I thought my family had left me, so I was walking back to the ship. You could see the ship from the beach. 

They took her to the hospital to be checked out for dehydration. 

The family was brought back to the beach house, where everyone enjoyed the rest of the day, eating and drinking. 

Everyone was so proud to see the little girl, Sabrina.

I overheard the mother ask Sabrina about her adventure, but she just said I don't want to discuss it. 

The mother's feet were covered in scratches from running through the thickets, looking for Sabrina. 

Everyone loaded back onto the bus and began our journey back to the ship. Thank God we were able to return with everyone. 

We were back on the ship by 3:30 PM. The ship's time to leave was 3:30-4 PM, but we didn't leave until almost 5 PM because a bus full of people was running late getting back from an excursion. 

The bus drove straight up to the ship, letting people off right at the boarding area. This was a very eventful day. 



Welcome to Yucatan

Friday, Feb 9, Sea Day 

Breakfast with Doctor Seuss Cat & the Hat, thing one, thing two in the Lincoln Dining room.

Hubby ordered Green eggs with ham and funny Belgian Waffles. I just ordered Funny Belgian Waffles with Moose Juice.

In the Ivanhoe Theater, we made a bulldog and an elephant out of towels and bought the Towel Art Book. 

Lunch was #6 Cuban Mixto: roasted pork, ham, yellow mustard, Swiss cheese sandwich, 3 cookies, and vanilla ice cream. 

Bought Build-A-Bear for St Jude on the Lido Deck. 

Hubby took a long nap while I watched TV.

Ate a salad for dinner. 

We watched 90s music and We Are the World in the Ivanhoe Theater. 

We did the Debark process in the Carnival App.

funny Belgian Waffles


Saturday, Feb 10, Travel Home

Breakfast Lido Deck 9 Omelets, chocolate milk, pastry. 

Waited for our app to tell us when to embark. 

Went through the immigration process, loaded our car, and started for home. 

We stopped in Petal, MS, to fill up with fuel. 

Stopped at Welcome Center  for a break

Ate lunch at Cracker Barrel in Meridian, MS

I ordered Fried Shrimp, Pinto Beans, cornbread, chow, and tartar sauce. 

Bought some chocolate candy and hubby a shirt. 

It began to rain in Russellville and rained all the way home. 




 

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

2018 Jan 31-Feb 5,🚙 Trip to Mobile, Saraland, Alabama and Carnival Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise Cozumel, Mexico ( 6 days)

Day 1 January 31,
We traveled along Highway 43 passing through Russellville, Spruce Pine, Phil Campbell, Bear Creek, Brilliant, Winfield, Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Fosters, Ralph, Knoxville, Eutaw, Forkland, Demopolis, Providence, Linden, Dixons Mills, Thomasville, Fulton, Grover Hill, Jackson, Macintosh, Movico, Axis onto I-65 s to I-10 W to hwy 90, hwy 59, 188, 193 to Dauphin Island.

We stopped in Forkland to take pictures of Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man.  
Tin Man 
At Dolphin Island, we walked along the boardwalk taking pictures:
Living Marsh & Boardwalk 
Marine Debris, a Silent Killer 
Marine Debris Timeline
Butterflies of Dauphin Island
Mr. Sand Part I, II, III  
A Real Partnership 
Energy from the Sands of Time 
Where am I? 
Alabama Coastal Connection 
Dune plants survive in a harsh environment
Wetland birds 
The tidal Marshes of Alabama
Barrier Islands shaped by wind & Waters
Invertebrate Trail
Research on Marsh Restoration at Dauphin Island’s Sea Lab
Whether the Weather
The Living Marsh
Dauphin Island 
Rays at Dauphin Island 
We went to the Fort at Dauphin Island, but it was closed, and so was Sea Lab.
We drove to the Audubon Sanctuary Nature Interpretive trail, looking for the bird. We could hear them but did not see any. 
We did see several turtles. 
It was getting late, and we wanted to reach Saraland before dark. 
We arrived at Comfort Inn 1200 SHELTON BEACH RD SARALAND, AL, checked into our room and walked next door to eat dinner at Winzell’s. I ordered a fried shrimp basket with Coleslaw and water with lemon to drink.
My friend ordered the Shrimp Poboy served with lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, and pickles, served out their signature bread served with French fries. 
It had been a long day, so we retired to our room for the night.
The Inn where we stayed was being remodeled. 
Shrimp Poboy
Fried shrimp basket with Coleslaw

Day 2: Thursday, February 1
We ate a continental breakfast at the Inn, packed our bags, and drove to the Port of Mobile.
We were a bit early to board Carnival Fantasy Cruise Line, so we had to wait in line with several other cars. 
We finally arrived at the parking deck, each had a bag checked and parked on deck two.
We unloaded our carry-on bags, walked to the elevators, and had to pay for parking.
We went through security, and because of my total knee replacement, the alarm went off, and I had to be worn down.
We took our bags to our room on level four.
We went up the elevator to the patio pool area behind it are the Buffet Area, Pizza Area, and Guy's Burgers.
We both ordered Guy's burger and Fries.
When we finished eating, we walked around checking out the ship. That night, we attended a Hasbro Game Show and were in bed by 9 PM.

Carnival Fantasy 
Guys, Burger, and Fries
Day 3: Friday 2, Fun Day at Sea
We were up early to see the Sunrise. 
We both ordered a made-to-order omelet and got a couple of pastries and French toast.
For lunch, we both ordered a taco salad with Key Lime pie.
That afternoon, we went to a show about what we may see on the Island Adventures.
They gave away several prizes, but we did not win.
We are going to a formal dinner so we dressed up. 
I ordered baked fish with rice, & broccoli. 
We both bought tickets for tomorrow's adventures. 
That night, we watched a show about Soul Train with impersonators of Temptations and Supremes.

Fresh Rolls for dinner
Grilled fish with rice and broccoli 
Chocolate cake with ice cream 

Day 4: Saturday, Feb 3, 
Watched the sunrise and ate breakfast from the buffet.
Spent the day at Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel.
Landed Cozumel and went ashore around 9 AM. 
I stopped at the World Coral Exhibit to take a few pictures.
Cozumel’s Coral Reef
Reef Systems
Coral & Sponges of Cozumel
Ecosystems Importance
Carnival Corp & Commitment to our Environment
Commercial Threat to Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs
Life of Coral Reefs
We met up with our tour guide (Adolf) and were divided into three groups. 
Loaded into three different vans and was shuttled to Chankanaab National Park.
Several people in the group were going snorkeling.
We watched people swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery
We walked through the Maya replica ruins.
We walked through the Botanical Gardens at Chankanaab Park, where we saw flowers, birds, lizards, and a coral reef. 
We joined the group for lunch and to watch the Sea Lion Show.
 Tequila tasting at 12:50 PM
We were shuttled back to the beach at 1:30 PM and loaded back onto the ship.
Once again, we had to go through security, and once again, my knee set the alarm off, and I had to be worn down again.
That night, we saw our host dress up like Richard Simmons and do an 89’s trivia show.
For dinner, we both ordered a hot chocolate cake with French sauce. 
My friend ordered a taco, and I ordered grilled salmon with carrots and broccoli served with potatoes.
Sea Lion Show.
Coral Reef
Swimming with Dolphins
Day 5: Sunday, Feb 4, 
Fun day at Sea 
We watched the sunrise &  on the Deck, we met a woman from Florida.
We ate brunch in the dining room.
We both ordered the huevos Rancho, delicious chicken quesadillas topped with fried eggs,
& Manchebo cheese and orange juice.
huevos Rancho
Sunrise on the Gulf of Mexico 
I wrote in my journal while my friend finished reading her book. 
For dinner, we both ordered green beans, potatoes, and steak. For dessert, we ordered Cheesecake with strawberries, and I wanted to try the caramel popcorn cream custard. 

Day 6: Monday, Feb 5, 
We both enjoyed breakfast before embarking on the ship at 9 AM.
We traveled through Mobile, stopping at Dollar General for Diet Coke and peanut butter crackers.
I had heartburn, and this helped settle my tummy.
We filled up with gas and stopped at Guthries in Haleyville for dinner.
We both ordered chicken fingers with Coleslaw.


Chicken Fingers and Coleslaw 

We arrived at my friend's house around 4 PM.
Hubby came to pick me up.

We stopped at Lawler’s to pick up a barbecue plate for dinner.

Carnival Fantasy Stateroom R18 DECK R MUSTER STATION A
Hotel Comfort Inn and Suite 1200 SHELTON BEACH RD SARALAND, AL  

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