TimesToCome

This past week we took our first five day cruise from Galveston, TX to Cozumel and Chichen Mexico on Carnival’s Ecstasy.

All in all I was happy with the trip and would gladly do it again. Since we live close to Galveston we can pick up last minute fares pretty cheap.

We spent a day at sea, a day at Cozumel, a day at Chichen and a day at sea.

The food in the main dining is very good but you have to put on real clothing to use the main dining room. The come-as-you are food was about what you’d find in any fast food chain and not so good.

The gym was well equipped, but running on a treadmill while the ship is rocking is a challenge even in calm waters. So I only managed one run.

There is a spa on the ship, shops, clubs and plenty to do. I was curled up with a book most of the time. The back decks are quiet and sheltered from the wind and a good place to have coffee and read.

We had a balcony with our cabin, but when you aren’t in port the wind on the balcony makes it unusable.

I wish I’d brought more clothing, especially warmer clothing and jeans. Galveston’s chilly this time of year and indoors everywhere the a/c was on high. It turns out you can wear blue jeans in the main dining hall now.

I’d've brought more Dramamine too, I went through two containers. Turns out that sea-sick pills are available at the information desk and that’s a very good thing or I’d not have survived our last night out at sea.

Today we wandered down to Via Colori sidewalk art festival. Here’s some photos of the sidewalk art I liked best.

Today was the first time we made it into the city for the twice yearly Bayou City Art Festival. It is one of those rare days when you can walk in Houston and actually see humans out and about.

Here’s a few photos of some of the pieces I enjoyed the most.

It is a shame so few of these artists have websites, but you can see more of Lewis Tardy’s sculpture’s on his site

Mercer Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite places to escape to to take photos, or to go take classes of which they offer several.