*Photo Blog* Ben the Bendy Man's Jewel/Mardi Gras Adventure, Feb 22, 2014

Thank you for your wonderful pictures. I had not realize that Captain Sverre Sovssnes (Captain Samshing) was on The Jewel.

Mandy

Hi Kyle! Looks like you had a great time in N.O. I love Cafe Beignet!

Cliff and Juliana

Happy Weekend... Flexible Figurine Friends!

 

 

 

 

 

"So who else wants to come?"... "Me!"... "Me!"... "Me!"... "Me!"... "Me!"

Looks like Ben turned this into a family vacation:D

Thank you for your wonderful pictures. I had not realize that Captain Sverre Sovssnes (Captain Samshing) was on The Jewel. Mandy

Thank you, Mandy! See you 574 days

Hi Kyle! Looks like you had a great time in N.O. I love Cafe Beignet! Cliff and Juliana

Hi Cliff, Juliana! Thanks, it was fantastic!

looks like ben turned this into a family vacation:d

LOL :D :D :D Had to bring them along or there would've been a riot!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Arriving in Cozumel

We arrived on a beautiful day in Cozumel. Disembarkation was quick and easy and we made our way down the pier and through the strategically placed mall over to the taxi stand. Taxi fares were clearly publish with fixed rates to all the area hotels and resorts. We hopped a cab over to the beautiful Nachi Cocom Beach Resort. A day at this all inclusive was $55 dollars and includes a delicious 4 course lunch, unlimited drinks, beach loungers with palm umbrellas, jacuzzi, pool with swim up bar, and more. It was a gorgeous relaxing day that was way too short!

Arriving in Cozumel

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Nachi Cocom Beach Resort All Inclusive

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Nachi Cocom Beach Resort All Inclusive (continued)

Jacuzzi and pool with swim up bar

Tortilla chips and salsa

Seafood chowder

Shrimp a la Cognac

We love Messiah and he deserves a wonderful assistant like Ben.

Thanks for todays installments of Ben's adventures.

Thank YOU so much for all the time and effort you put into your trip reviews! It's the highlight of my night when I can kick back and read about you and Ben on your awesome vacations :)

Ben that food looks delicious. Such a big meal for such a little Bendy Guy. :D

We love Messiah and he deserves a wonderful assistant like Ben. Thanks for todays installments of Ben's adventures.

Messiah is really nice and so much fun. One of my favorites. Thanks for tagging along with Ben!

Thank YOU so much for all the time and effort you put into your trip reviews! It's the highlight of my night when I can kick back and read about you and Ben on your awesome vacations :)

Thank you for the comments. They make Ben smile even brighter :) :).

Ben that food looks delicious. Such a big meal for such a little Bendy Guy. :D

Ben does occasionally let his butler have some table scraps :p

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Chin Chin Restaurant

Ben left Nachi Cocom with a happy frown, sad to leave, but happy to have had such a wonderful relaxing time at a beautiful beach with good food and drink.

We had dinner reservations at Chin Chin. The atmosphere and service were wonderful. However only half of the dishes were up to par. Ben's a little spoiled living in a city with excellent inexpensive asian food. The crab wontons, calamari, and fried rice were Ben's favorites. The ribs were okay and the friend dumplings were mediocre (a big on the soggy side instead of fried and crispy). Anything that had sauce on it (Kung Pao Chicken, Barbecue Spare Ribs, Beef Ho Fun, and especially the Lemon Shrimp were heavily sauced, overly sweet or tangy. A couple passed us by and warned us that their lobster suffered the same fate. Ben's been wishing for years that Shanghai's (with its excellent noodles, fried rice and dumplings) on Epic/Breakaway/Getaway would be available on all ships instead.

Inside Chin Chins with the Sushi Bar nearby

Ordering a few too many appetizers. Yummy fried wontons and salt pepper calamari.

Next time, hold the sauce please!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Arriving in Belize

Our bubbly bouncing bendable arrived on another gorgeous morning this time in Belize. This was a tender port and so we were ushered onto an awaiting tender boat contracted by Norwegian. This particular boat shot off like a rocket, its engine roaring so loudly people were covering their ears. We were at the dock within a short 20 minutes. Sitting in the back of the boat didn't help.

The return tender was a different boat which was quieter and relaxing.

Here a video of the boat ride.

Arriving in Belize - Norwegian Dawn and other cruise ships anchored in the distance.

Arriving in Belize - Norwegian Dawn anchored in the distance.

Tender boat to shore

Blasting off like a rocket!

Covering his ears as the tender boat shoots off full throttle.

That was fast!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins Archeology Site

Ben had booked an independent off ship tour of the Altun Ha Maya Ruins with Island Marketing Ltd ($42/pp) with includes transportation, a simple box lunch of chicken with rice and beans, and soda. We followed their directions to the "office" a short walk across the street. The tour began 30 minutes late while the operator waited for the numerous passengers from other cruise ships anchored the bay to arrive.

Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and Ben enjoyed his explanation of Belize, its culture, history, life as a local and his enthusiasm. However, shortly into our ride, the bus experienced one problem after another from an apparently poorly maintained bus. We were jostled on the ride due to the bus' worn suspension, this led to the air conditioner ventilation covers breaking and falling off the ceiling, and then the transmission began to fail. It was a lip chewing nervous ride as the bus had to crawl along at a top speed of 30 miles per hour. When we made the turn into Altun Ha, we learned how poor the suspension was. We were subjected to a bone jarring teeth rattling ride for 14 pot hole filled miles while the bus driver weaved and zig zagged trying to avoid every one. The one way trip took 1 hour 40 minutes.

Our shaken and stirred secret bendy man was glad to finally arrive. Unfortunately by then we only had time to stay for a little over an hour. Our tour guide took us around the different sites for about 30 minutes, and then we had another 30 minutes to explore on our own.

All in all the ruins were nice to visit, we learned a lot from our experienced tour guide, and unlike Tulum Maya Ruins in Cozumel we were able to climb up the ruins and we were not subjected to a tour trap ripoff pit stops. However, it did leave Ben wondering whether the 1 hour visit was worth the nearly 6 hrs of waiting, stress, and the bone jarring bus ride.

The office pavilion has seen better days

Friendly knowledgeable guides of Island Marketing Ltd

Looks can be deceiving - This bus that's seen better days too!

Brace for impact - 14 miles of bone jarring teeth chattering pot holes ahead.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins Archeology Site (continued)

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins Archeology Site (continued)

Ben's followers prostrated before their slender slinky spiritual ruler as he slowly climbed his way a top of the pyramid and stood before the sacrificial alter ...

Obey me faithful minions...

Ben looks like he could use some water;)

ben looks like he could use some water;)

Hehe. He does manage to go for a dip on the last day :D

That is funny about the bus ( bet it wasn't at the time) I expected it to look very different. Lucky Ben to be made of rubber at times like this. Glad you made it back on time or at all.

Wonderful review. Glad Ben had fun in NOLA, a city that we love! Next visit, try walking Royal Street which runs parallel to Bourbon. Stop at the Hotel Montleone for a cocktail and the revolving, Carousel Bar. Nearby is a small beignet shop with decent coffee. Another favorite drink is a Pims Cup, cool and refreshing and best at the Bourbon House.

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That is funny about the bus ( bet it wasn't at the time) I expected it to look very different. Lucky Ben to be made of rubber at times like this. Glad you made it back on time or at all.

It was still a very affordable excursion with good tour guide so worth it but yeah it was a big nerve wracking to hear the bus revving and not picking up speed :eek:

Wonderful review. Glad Ben had fun in NOLA, a city that we love! Next visit, try walking Royal Street which runs parallel to Bourbon. Stop at the Hotel Montleone for a cocktail and the revolving, Carousel Bar. Nearby is a small beignet shop with decent coffee. Another favorite drink is a Pims Cup, cool and refreshing and best at the Bourbon House.

Thanks! Glad you like it and thanks for the tips. Can't wait to return and seriously considering Mardi Gras 2015. Yeah... I didn't have a chance to explore Royal Street or the Garden District but I did take a few free walking tours, jazz brunch, and drinks and music at Maison Bourbon... and more excitement (will post more tomorrow). Love NOLA!

Kyle,

When I cruise out of New Orleans again, I want to go during the Christmas season.

Mandy

During Chrustmas, the Roosevelt Hotel on Canal is absolutely beautiful!

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During Chrustmas, the Roosevelt Hotel on Canal is absolutely beautiful!

Kyle,

When I cruise out of New Orleans again, I want to go during the Christmas season. Mandy

Thanks! I heard the Jazz Festival is awesome too!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Box lunch, Returning to the Jewel, Best Teppanyaki on Land or Sea

Along the way home from our tour, our friendly knowledgeable tour guide "Cowboy" dropped us off at the local supermarket to do some strategic shopping and buy a bottle of Belizian hot sauce that was popular with locals. At the end of the josling 90 minute return ride, Ben was returned to the tour company's pavilion where we were served a simple box lunch of chicken, rice and beans that went excellent with his bottle of Marie Sharp's Belizian Heat Habanero Pepper Sauce "Heat Level XXXX".

The return tender to the ship was much smoother and relaxed. Soon we were aboard the beautiful Jewel and getting ready for another experience of a lifetime. Ben was hesitant because he had reservations for dinner at Teppanyaki. Ben isn't a big fan of this type of restaurant on land or sea... But as luck would have it (and he suspects it had more to do with the wonderful Ignacio, Messiah, Iris, and Virginia) he had the Best Teppanyaki chef ever - Frederick. Unfortunately, Ben couldn't keep his exuberance self-contained, so Fred threatened to show Ben his culinary skills up close.

Frederick was spot on and cooked everything to perfection (perfectly grilled and seasoned), Carina (Assistant Maitre D), and the wait staff, ensured the wait service was smooth and relaxing.

Tasty chicken, rice and beans

A smoother tender ride back aboard the Belize Express

Carina, Assistant Maitre D of Teppanyaki and Chin Chin

Frederick - Favorite Teppanyaki chef ever

Frederick shows Ben his culinary skills up close!