2023 Nov 27-Dec 2, The Club Diamond Bus, Myrtle Beach ShowTrip Myrtle Beach South Carolina (6 Days)

Day 1:

We traveled with a group of about 37 in a tour bus from Florence, Al to Myrtle Beach, SC.

We left on Monday, Nov 27, at 8:30 AM.  

At about 10:18AM, we stopped in at Walmart in Gardendale to pick up 4 more passengers and picked up a few items there.

Fried Shrimp, with Pinto Beans, Tarter Sauce, and hush puppies 

Our next stop was Cracker Barrel in Leeds, AL for lunch around 11:22AM.

We went through Atlanta GA traffic around 4 PM. 

Our next stop was Pilot in Braselton, SC. around 5:53PM

Arrived at Holiday Inn Express room 126 in Greenville, SC where we spent the night.

Day 2:

We all ate breakfast at the hotel and began our final journey to Myrtle Beach.'

We stopped at Love's Lugoff, SC around 11:08AM for a restroom break and to fill up with fuel.  

We stopped at McDonald's for lunch in Bishopville, SC at 12:31PM.  

Checked into the hotel with a few minutes to spare before getting ready for dinner. Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort, room 323.

Crab Leggs, Corn on the Cob, Baked potato, Shrimp and tartar sauce 

Dinner tonight is at the Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant arrived a little after 4:37 PM.

Christmas Show at Alabama Theatre

Finished the night with a Christmas show at the Alabama Theatre. 7-9PM

Day 3:

Breakfast at the hotel.

We loaded onto the bus around 9AM heading to Conway, SC to LW Paul Living History Museum. 

After about an hour and a half, we headed to Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.

We walked along the boardwalk that was next to the Atlantic Ocean.

We ate lunch at The Bowery where Alabama the band got their start. 

News Paper article about The Band Alabama 

Alabama Band/Wild Country 
Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, & John Vartanian 

The band area was closed but hubby asked the waitress if I could go inside to take pictures. The waitress took us inside and I took a few pictures. They were busy so I did not stay very long. 

We shared a Cheesecake ice cream waffle cone. After several hours of shopping, we headed back to the bus. 

We rode to Walmart to pick up a few items then back to the hotel for a couple of hours. 

We ate dinner at Simple Southern Smokehouse. 

Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.

We finished the night with a Christmas Show at the Legends Theatre where we saw the Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.

Back to the hotel to rest.

Day 4:

Breakfast at the hotel. 

At 9AM we rode to the Asher Theatre to see A Man of a Thousand Voices James Stephens III.

After his performance, we shopped at Barefoot Beach Boardwalk. We ate lunch at Lulu's and bought some hot sauce and spices. 

We also bought nail polish and 4 rings at De Sol. 

The bus took us back to the hotel to rest.

At 4:40 we rode to Bennetts Calabash Seafood for dinner. 

Caroling Opry

After dinner, we went to see Carolina Opry and were back at the hotel at about 9:30PM.

Packed our bags we are leaving tomorrow after our shopping. 

Day 5: 

Watched the sun come up then walked down to breakfast.

9 AM we rode to Broadway at the Beach to watch, The Jersey Boy sing songs of the 1960s by the Four Seasons and Christmas songs. 

We went shopping at Broadway at the Beach. 

At lunch at Wahlburgers. 

Around 2PM we were headed to our next stop Holiday Inn Express Grovetown, Ga. 

Arrived around 8:30 PM

Day 6: 

Breakfast at the hotel. 

On the road around 8:30 AM 

Stopped at Western Sizzlin Oxford, Al for lunch.

Stopped at Gardendale, Al to drop off passengers and restroom break.

Arrived home around 5PM.

We had a great week with a lot of Christmas Shows, shopping, and eating at Myrtle Beach, SC.

Shows
At the Broadway Theatre, We heard Hot Jersey Nights Myrtle Beach Christmas Show (Frankie Valli and Four Seasons)

At the Alabama Theatre, we saw The South's Greatest Christmas Show.

At Legends Theatre, we saw Legends in Concert (Dolly Pardon, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Retha Franklin & Blues Brothers)

At the Asher Theatre, we saw the man of 1,000 voices. James Stephens III

At the Carolina Opry Theatre, we heard
vocalist Delvin Choice of NBC’s The Voice, national recording artist Brad Long, hip-hop cloggers All That! of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, powerhouse vocalists Christie Templeton, Tangena Church and Chas Croft Sorrells, fiddling champion Trent Wideman and bluegrass virtuoso Gary Brown.

Restaurants
We ate at the Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant in Myrtle Beach
Simply Southern Smokehouse Myrtle Beach 

Bennett's Calabash Seafood Myrtle Beach 
Corn on the cob, cream potatoes, shrimp, and fried green tomatoes

Bennett's Calabash Seafood Myrtle Beach
Lulu's Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach 

Wahlburgers Myrtle Beach 

Wahlburgers Myrtle Beach
Western Sizzlin Leeds, Al

Shopping
We shopped at The Boardwalk, Barefoot Landing, and Myrtle Beach BoardWalk 

1/2 Hamburger and fries at Lulu's Barefoot Landing 

Lulu's
De Sole
The General Store
It's Sweet
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream

We stayed in a Resort facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Great to be home.

2023 April 25-28, AMTRAK Trip to New Orleans, LA. from Tuscaloosa, Al (4 days)

Day 1:Travel  Tuesday, April 25, 

We dropped off our bags at the Amtrak station, parked the car in the public parking, and walked several blocks back to the Amtrak Station. 

At 2:00 p.m., we loaded onto the train and began our trip.

 We took the Amtrak in Tuscaloosa and traveled through several cities stopping in Laurel, Hattiesburg, and Meridian, Mississippi picking up or letting off passengers.

I did not buy any food on the trip to New Orleans. I had brought a Sprite Zero and a couple of Granola bars. 

We arrived around 10:00PM and took the local taxi to The Marque Hotel 144 ELK PL., New Orleans. Room 1910. Reservation #380VR.

Our room had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 2 balconies, and a window in my bedroom to see the City of New Orleans, located on the fourteen floors. 

It was late I took a shower and went to bed. 

Day 2: Wednesday, April 26, 

We walked down Canal Street stopping at IHOP for breakfast. Our waiter was new and I ordered a Belgian waffle it was cold and plain. 

We decided to buy a day pass to ride the Trollies. 

We saw the Mortuary Haunted Mansion and walked around in several Cemeteries. (St Patrick Cemetery)

We saw people loading onto the Ferry Boat and the Riverboat.

We shopped at Riverwalk Mall and ate lunch at Pei Wei Asian Restaurant. I ordered two egg rolls, shrimp, chicken, and noodles. 

Could not eat it all I took the rest with me.

We walked through the park at Riverfront where we saw the Holocaust Memorial. 

We saw Woldenberg Riverfront Park a dedicated memorial to Malcolm Wolodenberg who prospered in New Orleans and left a Legacy of caring and of confidence to the City of New Orleans. 

Alongside was his statue with a young boy.

On Canal Street, we saw many murals depicting the City. 

We saw the Shops and Canal Place with Mardi Gras statues in front.

Dr. John's statue in front of "The Shops and Canal Place" 

We took the Trolley up St. Charles Street where we saw historic homes, stores, The Auduban, the Zoo, and the Loyola College.

We saw a lot of homeless people, and trash everywhere, at the overpasses and sidewalks. 

We stopped at a chicken restaurant to use the restroom and sitting outside was a homeless young man asking me to buy him some chicken, I said we'll see. I went inside to use the restroom. I remember that I had a plate full of leftover food with me so when we went outside I gave the homeless man the food. It also had a fork inside. 

He was thankful for the food. I was glad that I had helped one of the homeless. I had heard a man on the trolley say the government had sent money to help the homeless but the money was not used for that.

We rode two different trollies most of the trolley workers were jolly and friendly.    

We headed back to the hotel. 

We had spent the day hopping off and hopping on the trolley, and we walked several miles.

Day 3: Thursday, April 27, 

We walked down to Canal Street and bought a day pass to ride the trolley. We rode to the French Quarters.

We walked to Cafe Biegnite, where we both ordered Beignets. (A square of fried dough eaten hot and sprinkled with powdered Sugar). They come with 3 Beignets and mine was drizzled with Chocolate.

Beignets with Chocolate 

It came up a thunderstorm while we were eating and people flooded inside. They had a large roll-up door opened and when the rain started to blow inside they closed it. It was blowing hard and several of the employees got wet.

After the rain subsided but was still sprinkling we left and walked toward the Riverfront Mall. 

We heard several Laughing Gulls and we rode the ferry across the Mississippi.

We walked to the Riverwalk Mall and shopped. I bought a shirt and a pair of shorts at Gap. 

I returned a top I had bought the day before. It was too small and swapped for a larger size. 

The cashier/manager said all their clothes were coming in smaller. 

We walked back to Canal Street and took the trolley up St Charles Street.

Meet a family from Vermont a journalist from Denmark and a couple of women looking for the Military Museum. We also met a couple looking for the French Quarters and I told them they would have to take the red trolley # 49 to get to the French Quarters.

There were a lot of people taking the trolleys today. 

We got off the trolley and walked along St. Charles Street looking at old homes.

Historic Home on St Charles St

We ate lunch at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood LLC.

New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Restaurant 

I ordered Shrimp Tacos with Onion Rings. My friend ordered a shrimp Poor-Boy with fries.

We also ate a complimentary Vanilla Ice Cream in a cone.

 We rode the trolley back to Canal Street and stopped at CVS for a couple of Sprite Zeros and a bag of candy.

There were no Diet Cokes or Sprite Zeros in the cooler so I asked the manager if they had any.

We walked to the back of the store and the manager loaded several Sprite Zero and Diet Cokes into the cooler. 

I paid for my merchandise and walked back to the hotel.

We packed our bags for tomorrow we will be leaving.

Day 4: Friday, April 28,  Travel Home

Finished packing and ate my last Beignet called the Taxi and said he would be there around 8AM.

We walked downstairs and my friend got a cup of hot coffee and we waited for our taxi.

Selfie Station at The Marque Hotel 

We arrived at the train terminal and waited to load the train at 9:00 AM.

It was going to be a full train so we were told if we were traveling with someone to sit with them.

Went they announced the dining car was open we walked down. 

I ordered a bagel and drank my Sprite Zero. My friend ate her leftover Poor-boy.

We arrive at the train depot around 5PM.

Walked inside the depot to use the restroom and put everything inside our luggage.

We began our walk to the parking deck.

It was a lot harder walking uphill pulling our luggage. We finally arrived at the parking deck.

Loaded our luggage inside and began our trip home. 

We stopped at Jacks for supper and after we finished I bumped my right hand and it tore the skin. 

It would not stop bleeding so one of the workers placed a couple of bandages on my hand.

We stopped again at CVS to use the restrooms and get more bandages.

We arrived at my friend's home and my husband picked me up.

2021 Mar 9, Day trip Oak Mountain State Park Pelham, Alabama

Today we rode to Pelham via hwy 43 through Russellville, ending on I-22 going into Birmingham. We filled up with gas at Loves Gas in Jasper and restroom break. We traveled through Birmingham I-65 to Pelham. We stopped at the Interpretive Center and Treetop Nature Trail, where we saw a Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and Shelby the Bald Eagle. Most of the Interpretative Center was closed for renovations. We also saw several hawks and owls in another area.

Bald Eagle 

owl 

As we were coming back inside the center we met a Park Ranger with a Red Tail Hawk that was blind in one eye. We talked to her for several minutes and watched while she fed the hawk. She said that its food comes to them frozen so they just thaw it out for them. She was returning the hawk back to its cage. We thanked her for taking the time to show us and tell us about the habits of the red-tail hawk.

Red-tail Hawk 

We began our journey back home we had not eaten any dinner and both agreed that we would like to stop at O'Bryan's in Hartselle. I ordered a petite Sirloin steak with a sweet potato. Hubby ordered a Delmonico Steak, baked potato, and salad bar. After we ate we took pictures of the Blues Brothers statue and other memorabilia at the steak house.

O'Brien's Hartselle

We stopped at Krogers in Hartselle and headed for home. We traveled from Hartselle to Decatur taking Hwy 20 alt 72 to Wheeler Dam. The sun was going down as we were near home.

Sunset

We had a great day both wore out from all the traveling.

2021 Feb 2, Day trip to Guntersville, Alabama & Ground Hog Day

Hubby and I rode to Guntersville via Hartselle. We were in Muscle Shoals so we took 72 to 157 through Moulton turning onto 36 into Hartselle. We saw Oh! Bryans is my hubby's favorite place to eat. We had planned to eat at Libby's in Priceville but since we had taken a different route and would not go past Libby's we decided to stop in Hartselle. The food was great at a reasonable price. We like to take the back roads when traveling because you never know what treasures you may find. I loved the way that they had decorated Oh! Bryans. At the front where you check out was the front of an old car(57' Chevy) and not far away was the backend of two other cars used for waiting benches. If you ever are in Hartselle you need to check out OH! Bryans.

 O'Bryan's Hartselle 

Eating steak, sweet potato, and toast

Salad Bar food

I ordered the sirloin steak with sweet potato and a glass of water with lemon. Hubby ordered a Delmonico steak and baked potato with salad. After lunch, we rode to Guntersville State Park where we saw several deer. Stopped at the pier in Guntersville where we saw hundreds of Double-crested Comomorants and Sea Gulls. We stopped at Ollie's in Madison and bought a couple scissors. We stopped at Russell Stovers in Athens where hubby and I both ordered a small waffle cone with ice cream. (Rockie Road). Then on to Aldi for a few groceries then home. The sun came out but the temperature hung around 42 degrees all day. After a long cold outing, I was ready to warm up so I climbed into my warm bed and fell asleep.

flock of birds

Deer

2019 Dec 8-Dec 13, Trip to Sevierville, Tennessee (6days) and Journal of my three Root Canals (Dec 4, Dec 13-17)

Dec 4, 

All night my lower left bottom tooth hurt so on our way to see my eye doctor in Huntsville we stopped at the dentist and he said I had two obsesses.

The dentist did a root canal on the tooth that was hurting which hurt several days after the root canal. I was given pain pills and antibiotics for an infection.

I went back the next day but the dentist could not get to the canals so he closed back up the canal and made me an appointment to see the endodontist.

I went on my trip with abscessed teeth.

Day 1: Dec 8, 

Traveled from Huntsville to Sevierville, TN with my cousin Sherry and Aunt Bobbie. 

We were too early to check into Wyndham condos so we went to eat a late lunch at Applewood Farmhouse Grill.

We ordered a hot bowl of vegetable soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, apple fritters, apple sauce, and their delicious apple, orange, & pineapple juice. We had enough food left over for dinner.

Juice and Apple Fritters

Checked into Wyndham Condos after 4 PM 

We were staying in room 1427 and had brought several items and we needed a cart to load everything onto.

Sherry spied a couple of luggage carriers in the entranceway and was going to get one but a couple had taken both of them

Sherry was upset and said that they should give us one but they would not

We finally found one and loaded it with everything that we had brought 

Another couple was waiting for our baggage cart and asked if they could have it when we were finished with it

Sherry and Bobbie were pushing and pulling the cart around the twisting walkway things kept falling off the cart finally the man said let me help you, ladies

He gave his luggage to Aunt Bobbie and proceeded to push the cart to our room

His wife asked me if I was with them

I laughed and said yes

I said it was like The movie Christmas Vacation 

We both laughed 

Her husband helped unload the cart 

We thanked him and he took the cart and they left 

Another couple waiting for the cart when they had finished. 

What a way to start our vacation 

Later that night Sherry and I rode to Walmart to pick up a few items. (Apple juice & chips) And where I saw Dolly Parton’s Imaginary Library book.

Dolly Parton’s Imaginary Library book

Day 2: Dec 9, 

We met Wanda & Buck at Huck Finn for lunch.

We all ordered catfish, fries, white beans, onion, pickle, coleslaw, and hushpuppies from the lunch menu.

We said goodbye to Wanda and Buck and rode to Dolly Parton’s Stampede, decorated for Christmas.

We all took several pictures.

Dolly Parton's Stampede

Huck Finn's 

We shopped at Burlington Coat Factory and Old Time Pottery.

We rode back to the condo for the remainder of the day and watched TV.

Dec 10, 2019 

Sherry and Bobbie went to a meeting at Wyndham. We all ate breakfast at the Time-share and I was taken back to the condo by one of the bus drivers. 

While they were at the Time-share I called my dentists to get a refill of my antibiotics at Walgreens and to cancel my colonoscopy until the first of the year. 

We ate lunch at Firehouse Subs. I ordered a Philly Steak 4inch sandwich, salsa chips, and Sprite

Philly Steak 

It was a cold wet, night but we ventured out because we had free tickets to see Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show.

We had to go through security after we got our tickets. We were early so we walked around in the gift shop and then found a bench to sit on.

Our tickets said Row 6A which was on the left side of the building and could not see all the characters in the show.

We saw a Seal lion show, a Scrooge pirates show, Birth of Jesus with Mary riding out on a donkey with Joseph, an angel descending from the ceiling, Wise men coming from afar, and shepherds. 

Mary and Joseph 

Our server was Jenna and she first served us drinks, I ordered tea.

Next, she brought everyone a cup and she filled each cup with a Cream of Vegetable soup. Next, she brought us biscuits to go with our soup.

Next, she brought everyone a piece of fried chicken, along with Mac & Cheese, & sweet potatoes. When everyone finished eating she gathered up all the dishes and returned with a plate and a peach pie.

She also brought doggie bags for our leftovers. 

I was not super hungry but I ate all my pie.

While at the show I got a text saying my great-grandson Hayne Cohen Hughes was born weighing 7lbs 10 oz 

The show was over around 8 or 9 we rode back to the condo watched some TV and went to bed. By this time it was snowing.

It snowed all night and the next morning the ground was covered. 

By noon the next day, the roads were clear. 

It Snowed all night and this is the next morning 

Day 3: Dec 11,

Picked up my medicine at Walgreens.

We rode to Dandridge TN to eat Lunch at Bush Family Cafe. 

We all ordered the lunch special chicken and dumplings with okra, roll, and creamed potatoes 🥔 

But I ordered green beans instead of potatoes.

After we finished lunch we walked to the museum and the curator asked if we had toured the Bush Family Home we said no we did not know that it was open to the public.

She said you had better hurry for they were closing at 2 PM and it was about fifteen till 2.

The Bush Bean home was opened for the Christmas Holidays

We were told that they usually open Thursday-Saturday but had added Tuesday and Wednesday this year 

The house is used for business purposes and the family no longer resides there.

The home had four bedrooms and four bathrooms upstairs. 

Bushes Home that we toured

After touring the Bush home we rode back to the Bush Museum where we got our pictures taken together and separately. We talked to the man taking the pictures for several minutes. 

On our way back we saw a car in the ditch, I guess he was driving too fast to make the curve.

It had snowed the night before so he could have encountered some black ice.

We stopped at Ollie’s to do some shopping before returning to the condo. I bought a Drop N’ Charge wireless charging mouse pad. 

Group picture at Bush's Bean Museum

Day 4: Dec 12,

Around 12:30 AM I heard a banging on the door

I was asleep and thought Aunt Bobbie was checking to see if I was asleep. 

I kept hearing the banging and got up and opened the bedroom door and did not see anyone

I heard the banging again and looked out my bedroom window 

I was sleeping in the front bedroom next to the front door

A man standing at the door said he was with security and asked if we heard the water running so I let him inside 

We checked all the sinks and toilets in front of the condo first

Then we went into the back bathroom and we heard the water running 

The sink stopper was shut and the faucet was running 

Water had overflowed into the floor and flooded the condo below us

The people in the condo below us had to be moved to another condo in the middle of the night

After all the water was dried up

Everyone went back to bed 

I could not go back to sleep so I watched TV and uploaded pictures from our day’s adventures.

Later that morning a man from engineering came to our condo to check out the sink.

It was stopped and had to be replaced. 

We rode to Vanity Fair to do some shopping. I bought two cute sweatshirts, one a coke cola, the other pink and gray. I also bought Hubby a gray button-up shirt.

We were all getting hungry and Texas Roadhouse was close by so we stopped there for lunch. 

We all ordered from the lunch menu. I ordered a Sirloin Steak Medium well, sweet potato and Ceaser Salad.

We had enough leftovers for dinner later that night.

Sirloin Steak Medium well, sweet potato and Ceaser Salad

At 8:00 PM we took a shuttle bus from the Elkmont Activity Center, along with a family of 8, to see Christmas lights, from the condo where we were staying. 

Elkmont Activity Center

Several got off the bus to take pictures at the Smoky Mountain Opry. We rode past the Titanic, and the Hatfield & McCoy’s.

Several got out at the Dixie Stampede, & The Island where we took several pictures.

Smoky Mountain Opry.

The Ferries Wheel at the Island

We rode past the Inn at Christmas, & Veterans Park. We rode along the boulevard where we saw the 12 days of Christmas and Teaster Lane where we saw Christmas lights of the old mill, Hey Diddle, Diddle, Humpty Dumpty, Mother Goose, and Pigeon Forge Trolley all decorated in Christmas Light.

Day 5:Dec 13, 

Checked out and traveled home

We stopped at McDonald's in Huntsville to use the restrooms. Sherry and Bobby ordered a hamburger.

I did not order anything because I was meeting my hubby at Cracker Barrel in Huntsville.

After they dropped me off hubby and I stopped at Wendy’s in Athens for a bowl of hot chili, and chocolate Frosty.

Dec 14,

I had not seen my grand grandson so I went for a visit and to hold him.

His grandparents came by while I was there. I had to do some more Christmas shopping so I said goodbye. 

Dec 15

I had a great time tonight with my son, hubby, Ava Grace, and River. The great Grandkids enjoyed seeing The Grinch, Frosty, The Gingerbread Man, Frosty, and Santa Claus. They decorated and ate some gingerbread cookies. It was a perfect night to view the Christmas lights not too hot or not too cold.

Dec 16, 2019 

I went to an endodontist this morning for a root canal with an abscessed tooth and I ended up getting two root canals. Both teeth were behind my bridge and abscessed.  Now I will have to have a new bridge. Two weeks ago I had a root canal done on my lower left tooth because it was abscessed. I am taking pain meds and going to bed. Tomorrow I will have to go to the dentist for a temporary bridge. 

Dec 17, 

Today I went to the dentist for my temporary bridge and post 

When I got home I took a pain pill & an antibiotic pill and laid down.

Hubby had to get a temporary crown he had a tooth break off 

He is also resting

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 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 I drove us 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 wand 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.

Went 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 wand 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 helps 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