In Grand Cayman

Hard to do this from a cell phone, but we are tendering in Grand Cayman and I just can’t see myself going back to the ship, back on shore with my laptop, and then dragging the darn thing to the Internet cafe.  This will have to do for the moment.

The ship (Holland America Veendam) is old but well maintained; most newer ships can’t call on Cuba because they’re too big and Cuban ports don’t have the infrastructure to handle them.  Exceptions that come to mind are the Pearl Seas and Viking Ocean Cruises,  but that would be a longer blog.  The only Cuba stop on this voyage will be Havana, and that’s what I wanted. I’d say that a good 80% of the passengers onboard are here for the 2-days in Havana at the end of the sailing. Grand Cayman and Cozumel are incidental.

On the flip side the tour to Chichen Itza that I was excited about was cancelled so I’m a bit disappointed.  This is the third time I’ve tried to get to Chichen Itza from Cozumel without luck.  Maybe the Mayan gods don’t like Irishmen.

Am off to exchange $ for Euros,  yep there are plenty of banks in Grand Cayman.  Then I will avoid the additional 10% they charge to exchange $ into CUCs in Cuba.  Euros don’t get that 10% charge.

This would be a better blog with photos.  Will lug the laptop ashore in Cozumel.  Doing my 45 min a day in the gym, can’t eat all the bacon & sausage I want because you can’t serve yourself and I’m too ashamed to look like a pig by asking for more that I’m only have a normal serving.  Just as well, God does not want me to star on “My 600 Lb. Life”.  Even my Diet Coke habit is being curtailed.

So much more to say, great towel animals in cabin, nickel & diming on ship, met great new friends, Kate is a terrific roomie, food is excellent, but a cell phone is not the best device for blogging.  More to come from Cozumel.