2024 Jan 13-21 Seven-Day Cruise on NCL Breakaway to Caribbean Islands

 On Jan 13, we traveled to Slidell, LA, and stayed at the Hampton Inn by Hilton, room 214, for one night. 

The next day, we traveled to New Orleans and boarded the Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Ship from Jan 14-21. So we missed all the bad weather.

We stopped at Shady Acres Village Seminary, MS, for lunch, where we ordered ribs, black-eyed peas, and creamed potatoes.

Ribs, black-eyed peas, creamed potatoes

Shady Acres Village Seminary, MS

The first day was a sea day, during which we enjoyed checking out the ship, watching shows, and eating.
In Cozumel, we visited the Chankanaab National Park. 

Cozumel 

In Rotan Bay Islands, Honduras, we went on an excursion to Gumbalimba Preserve Animal Sanctuary, where we interacted with white-face monkeys and Macaw birds. 

Red McCaws 

White Face Monkeys Rotan 

 The Monkey River Eco Boat Tour was in Harvest Caye, Belize. We rode a boat through the jungle. 

We walked through the jungle, where we saw spiders, termite mounds, boa snakes in the trees, and several white face monkeys in the tree. We also saw a couple of iguanas. Harvest Caye had some beautiful beaches. 

Wooden Iquana 
behind the Iquana is the Wildlife Experience, where we saw a butterfly house, a boa, and the McCaws. 

Wildlife Experience 

Our last stop was Costa Maya, my favorite stop. We took the Mayan Reality Tour, where we visited some Maya ruins. We continued our journey on the bus to a Maya family home, where they cooked chicken (in a pot) in the ground. We were served chicken tacos with sauce and had a tequila tasting. After the tour, we rode the bus back to Costa Maya, where we watched the dolphins swim. 

Flamingos 

Dolphins playing basketball 

I did the Amorino Gelato Al Naturel bird tour. I climbed up several steps to birdcages spaced out along several swing bridges. You can watch the dolphins swim and see the beaches and swimming pools there. A perfect view of the island. Our last day was a sea day. We watched people play Pictionary, deal or no deal, and several trivia games. The closer we got to New Orleans, the stronger the wind and the cooler it was. We docked and exited the ship on Sunday and began our trip home. 

Roads in Russellville, Al

The further north we went, the colder it got. We began to see snow and ice along the roadways, beginning in and around Russellville. The roads were clear enough for us to get home. We were sure glad we missed all the bad weather, but we were glad to be home.

2024 Jan 7, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge

 What a beautiful day for traveling. We rode to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, where we saw many Sandhill Cranes and various ducks at the Visitor's overlook buildings.

The newly remodeled Museum was opened. We saw Sandhills and whooping Cranes, Belted kingfishers, Snakes, Alligators, Geese, ducks, hawks, butterflies, otters, northern flickers, and many other animals.

Several empty displays are waiting to be added. We saw several friendly people. They were happy to be outside after this last cold spell. 

Sandhill & Whooping Cranes at the Museum 

Belted Kingfisher at the Museum

We stopped at Logan's Roadhouse for lunch. Hubby ordered a salad, steak, and baked potato. I ordered a chicken salad with Roadhouse dressing.

Steak and baked potato at Logans Roadhouse 

On our way home, we saw a Bald Eagle on a Paul Bunyan Power Line near the demolished Paper Mill in Town Creek. 

The eagle made a squawking sound when it saw me. It was letting me know to leave. 

We saw several terns perched on the light poles as we crossed Wheeler Dam. 

Our last stop was Wheeler Dam, where we saw a few White Pelicans, terns, and many cormorants.

2023 Dec 20, Christmas Tree Trails, and Christmas Card Lane Madison & Decatur, AL

Today was another busy day. We rode to RSA to take 7 hot Dimino pizzas to Hubby's old co-worker for Christmas lunch.

After lunch, we rode to Madison. I walked among and took pictures of the Polar Express Christmas Trees there.

Polar Express Christmas Tree in Madison
A Christmas Story  

Next, we rode up one side and down the other to take pictures of Madison's Christmas Card Trail. 

Merry Christmas Welcome to Alabama 

We stopped at Ollies in Madison to pick up a few items.

Then we rode to Decature, stopping at Their Enchanted Forest Trail. (It looked as if a hurricane had blown through.) 

The Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree 

We stopped at ALDI USA in Decatur to pick up a few more items for our Christmas Meal.

We saw 3 redtail hawks on power lines on the way home. 

Our last stop was at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several White Pelicans, many cormorants, and a few gulls.

2023 Dec 23, Early Works Museum Huntsville and Rogersville Christmas Trees in Heritage Park

 Today, we rode to Huntsville to take Ava to Early Works. 

Grinch guarding the big Red Door.

Warning Trucks entering the Play Area 

It was decorated for Christmas with Christmas trees in every corner. Inside the country store was the Grinch. Before we went inside, we saw an inflatable Grinch guarding the big red door. At the Country Store was a sign: The Grinch Cafe has been serving nauseating food since 1966."A cafe can be harmful in every way, but the food is worse." 

A meal
 fit for a king

But Ava and her new friends made a meal fit for a king. One of Ava's friends said the meal was half Thanksgiving and Half Christmas.

Adventures in a Snow Globe at the North Pole 

We ate lunch at 88 Buffet. I had shrimp, fried Sweet potatoes, chicken, and Rangoon with cream cheese. I did not care much for the fish.

My plate Shrimpimp, chicken, fried sweet potatoes,  Sweet rolls, and
Rangoon

Ava ate a plate of fruit, jello, and Ice cream. She had been sick and was not eating much.

We stopped in Rogersville to see Their Christmas Trees. This was our last stop.

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Ava and the Toy Soldier in Red Lights

2023 Dec 14, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing, Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail Huntsville & North Pole Stroll Athens

 Today, we stopped at Jack in Athens for two cheesecake pies and a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream for Ava. 

We strolled down North Pole Lane to see the Christmas Trees in Athens. 

North Pole Stroll 

We stopped at Murphy's to fill up with fuel.

We stopped at RSA so Ava could see the rockets. 

RSA Rockets 

We rode to Ditto Landing to stroll along the Tennessee River and see the Christmas Cards dotted along its banks. 

Ava loves animals. This was her favorite.

Hubby stopped halfway down while Ava and I strolled to the end, stopping to take pictures. 

A few people were walking, and a few were riding bicycles along the pathway.

We stopped at Chick-fil-A South Huntsville for lunch. Ava and I ordered a kid's meal with ice cream, and Hubby had a chicken sandwich. 

Our last stop was at Big Spring Parks' Tinsel Trail. There are lots of Christmas trees on both sides of Big Spring. 

This is Ava's favorite at Big Spring Park. 

Hubby sat in the car while Ava and I strolled up and down and around the park. 

We stopped to feed the ducks and fish. 

Feeding the Ducks and fish 

2023 Dec 13, McWane Science Center Museum Birmingham, Toyota Field Dancing Lights

 Today, we ate breakfast at Jack's in Cullman. I ordered gravy with sausage and biscuits, Ave ordered sausage and biscuits, and Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. 

McWane Science Center Birmingham, Al 

We traveled to Birmingham, stopping at the McWane Science Museum Center. Hubby went to level 3 to see the train display. 

Ava and I went to the second floor to see the dinosaurs, where we saw a Super Cell Tank and birds in a tree, Ava was a weather girl, and she rode the Sky High Cycle. 

Sky High Cycle

We walked up to the third floor, and Ave rodeTraintrain and the Zipline several times.

Ava rodeTrainTrain

The World of Water Aquarium was in the basement, where Ave petted a shark and ray. 

We saw coral, a variety of fish, and eel.

Ave made large bubbles on the first floor and experimented with several science objects. Ava lay on a bed of nails. We went inside the distortion room. You were small in the top corner and prominent in the bottom corner. 

Ava on a bed of nails 

distortion room,
"Honey, I shrunk the kid."

 We stopped for dinner at Oh! Bryans in Hartselle. Hubby ordered steak, baked potato, and salad bar. I ordered a chicken wrap. Ave ordered chicken nuggets and fries from McDonalds.

Ava touched a Python before we left McWane Science Center.

Ava with the Blues Brothers 

After dinner, we rode to Toyota Field in Huntsville to see the dancing lights. 

Winter Wonder Land was not open, but we did get to see the light show. 

Traffic was horrible in Huntsville. 

It was way after dark when we arrived home. 

Ava spent the night. 

2023 Dec 9, Dickens of Christmas Yall Come!

Making Smores

 We walked downtown Tuscumbia, stopping to make smores while eating. William and his girlfriend came by. 

The carriage being pulled by Clyde's

We took pictures of the carriages being pulled by Clyde's Horses. We saw several characters from Dickens, Christmas Carol, and Santa Claus. We stopped to pet the Lama, sheep, Zebra, goats, and Camel. 

Dickens Characters

Petting Zoo

We also went to the Tennessee Valley Art Museum Christmas Mart, which had many beautiful handmade items for sale. Hubby sat in the car while I toured Ivy Green. 

Ivy Green Birth Home of Helen Keller

Christmas at Ivy Green

Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan

I was told the history of Helen Keller and her home, Ivy Green. We also bought candy(five packages in recycled cups) and an upside-down umbrella because it was raining, and we didn't want to get wet.

We finished the day with lunch at Whataburgers. A hamburger with fries and soda. 

Whataburger with french fries.