Cozumel & Belize

Monday, we stopped in Cozumel.  We booked this excursion through the cruiseline because it was actually cheaper this way.  We got on a ferry to go to the mainland near Playa del Carmen.  It was a 45 minute ferry ride (or longer) but the beach at Playa del Carmen was beautiful! From there we got on the bus for 15 or so minutes.  We learned that the name Yucatan (as in the penisula) is a Mayan name.  When the Spaniards arrived they asked what the place was called.  The Mayans responeded "Yuca yuca (insert Mayan words) tan." So they shortened it to Yucatan.  But, they were actually saying "We don't know what you're saying.  Don't understand." Haha! We also learned that the word chocolate is a Mayan word too.  Choco and latte mean don't touch, it's hot.  They ground up the cocoa beans and would put them in the fire.  It smelled good so the kids would try to grab it and they were scolded, "Choco choco.  Latte." At least that's what the tour guide told us!

We rode to Xcaret.  I don't really know how to explain what it is.  It's kinda like a park but not really.  There were animals, an underground river, beach and a lagoon.  You could swim with dolphins too, but that was big bucks.

In Belize, we had to take a tender boat to the port because of all the reefs. It was beautiful! We checked in with the snorkel company and got back on a little boat and they took us to Goff's Caye.  It's a 2 acre island that's actually a national park.  They had lunch there for us to buy and beautiful sand to relax in.  Then it was time to snorkel! Paul and I snorkeled once in Haiti but they kinda just took us out in the ocean and let us go. This time, there was a real reef to snorkel above.  We didn't buy an underwater camera like I planned on *oops!* and I sure wish we had! We saw 2 barracuda and tons of cool fish! We actually saw a whole school of fish too.  One of the snorkel guides picked up a sea cucumber and let people touch it.  It was slimy and gross.