A Caribbean Safari????

 We love animals!  Our safaris in Africa have been some of our best experiences while traveling.  Who would have thought that the highlights of a Caribbean Cruise would also be seeing wildlife!

Alligators right by our walking path in the Everglades!

Manatees circling our ship as we were pulling away from the dock

A fish feeding frenzy in the Bahamas!

Sloths in Roatan, Honduras.

The guide assured us that they were every bit as lazy as we had been led to believe.

But could anything be any cuter? 

The workers lift them up by their arms and sort of hang them on you.

Also McCaws

And spider monkeys

They are the opposite of the sloths - perpetual motion machines who look in pockets and will take glasses and anything not attached firmly.

The guide put food on our heads which the monkeys loved!

These animals were all rescued from illegal sales and have found sanctuary in this wonderfully run place.

Schools of fish off the coast of Roatan

Colorful starfish in 'Star Fish Alley'.

Dolphins welcoming our snorkel group to Belize

A cooperative Moray Eel

Pelicans

A family favorite thanks to Grandpa Lewis's Pelican poem!

The fishermen were cleaning fish and the pelicans were looking for any scraps that might be thrown their way.

Standing in shallow water with stingrays and nurse sharks!

The sharks have rough sandpaper like skin

The rays feel like squishy mushrooms.

Seeing a Seahorse in the ocean

They hide among the roots near the shore because according to our guide, everything likes to eat them.

Feeding Tarpons

They are aggressive, stealth hunters.

And yes holding that little fish out there was a bit scary!

Of course iguanas in Mexico.

And finally in Key West, Hemingway's cats - well actually the descendants of his polydactyl cats or cats with extra toes.

They live at the house where he lived during his time in Key West.

And have free rein of the house and gardens.

The cruise was one memory making day after another.

 

Snorkeling

Ever since we bought snorkeling vests, I have loved exploring what's under the water!  The vest keeps me afloat so that all I have to do is just relax and enjoy the secret beauty of the underwater world.

The walk from the parking lot to our first snorkeling spot took us through an area with old Hawaiian fish ponds. Don't know how to describe this area except to say that it looks like a perfect postcard of old Hawaii!

The soft sand was very inviting.  Lovely place for relaxing and lunch.

The sand made it easy to just walk into the water as opposed to the other rocky beach where we snorkeled another day.  Getting into the water at that beach by climbing over the slippery rocks took some skill and nerve! 

Once we got in the water, we were mesmerized by what we saw underwater! 

All underwater photography credits to 

George.  

He is getting to be quite the underwater photographer!

Yellow Trumpet Fish

Black Triggerfish

Schools of fish.  I especially enjoy just swimming above them watching their interactions. 

In some places the color and shape of the coral is captivating.

There are many of these Yellow Tang.

This guy is called an Orange Band Surgeon Fish.

This interesting looking guy is a Raccoon Butterflyfish

1 Moorish idol and 2 Convict Tang

I am so happy that we have discovered this new hobby.  I can hardly wait to go again. 

Snorkeling

We did do some snorkeling this year.  I've always liked the idea of snorkeling but because I am not a super strong swimmer, I was always nervous.  Last year I ordered snorkeling vests and wow, what a difference they make.  Now I love it and find it completely relaxing!

I admit that I was a bit nervous when we read this sign as we were about to go into the water. 

I am happy to report that we didn't see a single shark.  The reef shark I saw in the Galapagos Islands was the last shark I ever hope to see while swimming. 

I fear that snorkeling in Galapagos spoiled us but we did see some pretty fish here too....just not as many.  

The coral formed canyons.  It was tricky to swim through the deep areas avoiding the shallow water over the coral.  The snorkel vests are especially helpful managing this. 

  A fun part of our vacation!