Charlottesville House Warming 2007

Kevin and I invited a bunch of friends over after the UVA game to eat at our new townhouse rental. Check out our new place!

Kevin and Cory grilling in the back yard

Brady prepping corn

Audra making a dip in the kitchen

Roger helping with onions in the kitchen

Brandon and Becky

Sarah, Elizabeth, and Jackie at our dining table

Julie, Donald, Josh, and Audra in the living room

Me and Sarah Ann

My 28th Birthday 2007

I spent my 28th birthday on a cruise, so I thought I'd just post some of the highlights of my trip here.

On the beach at Costa Maya, Mexico, 3/6

Right before getting back on the ship with Paul, Sarah, and Brian

San Felipe Fortress, the major Spanish (non-Mayan) landmark in Guatemala, 3/7

I went with Sarah, here she is on top of the fortress, Rio Dulce behind her

Jaguar Temple, Lamanai, Belize, 3/8

Sarah, Katy, Brian, and me at the High Temple, Lamanai, Belize

Midnight birthday shots to kick off my birthday

Cozumel, 3/9

My birthday dinner with everyone!

Back: Mihai, Sarah, Paul

Front: Me, Brian, and Katy

On the ship's pool deck, 3/10

Last party night!

Lamanai, Belize 2007

Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language- it used to be "British Honduras." They also speak Kriol and Spanish there though. Our English-speaking guide took us on a boat to Lamanai a Mayan archaeological site, which used to be a huge city.


Sarah, Katy, Brian, and I at the High Temple in Lamanai, Belize


The High Temple

  See me?
Jaguar Temple


Mask Temple

Costa Maya, Mexico 2007

Our first stop was Costa Maya, on the eastern side of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, between Cancún and Belize. The area is generally undeveloped but has been growing quickly and rapidly after the construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships. The Costa Maya includes two small villages -- Majahual and Xcalak. After we made our way through the mandatory shopping area at the port, we walked to the Mahahual village.


The after-the-adventure photo at the port


Tourists chatting with a local The fishing village of Mahahual has soft sand beaches, grass thatched palapas, and a coral reef a short distance off-shore, as well as several bars, restaurants, and shops. Mahahual is only about 2 miles from the port; cruise ships can easily be seen from the village. And that's where our problems began.

Walking past the village

Me on the beach at Mahahual

Sarah took a picture of us- Looks like Paul and I are reading
Paul notes that we can see our ship from here! We went to a cafe for drinks and snacks   This is fun! Time to go back. This is what we should have done...
... This is what we decided to do instead. We figured that since the ship was only two miles away, and we could see it, we could walk back. One little thing we failed to calculate was the location of the ocean relative to the land. So after walking for an hour down a secluded path, we reached a beach facing the ocean and an unscalable wall. Our choices: try the wall anyway, head into the ocean, or walk back one hour and risk missing our ship back to the US. 

This is what denial looks like.

We chose ocean. Now our second problem: as we reached dry land on the other side we were confronted by Mexican port authority trying to figure out why we're trying to swim around border control. Conversation clearly starts off on the wrong foot as he accuses us of trying to break the law, but he then ironically suggests bribery. Finally, through a combination of my persuasive abilities and Spanish sweet-talking, he finally lets us go without going to jail or paying money or anything. And that's why you should learn Spanish, kids!

Cruise Ship Fun 2007

We boarded the ship on Sunday. And we wouldn't reach our first port until Tuesday so it was almost two days on board the ship wandering around and finding different entertainment. Super fun.

Before boarding

Redecorating Paul and Mihai's room

Goodbye New Orleans!

Lunch time on board

Safety drill!

Time to get this party started.

A little shopping.

A little gambling!

Dinner followed by drinks and a show

Drinks

Showtime!

Sarah and Brian at the show

This drink is epic.

Full ship day on Monday! With a dress up evening.

Spent most of the morning by the pool

Listening to a Jamaican band

Dressed up for dinner- 2Ls!

Dressed up for dinner- 1Ls

Paul, Sarah, Brian, and me at another show

New Year's Eve Party!

Woo!