Posted by Nancy D. Brown

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish; Dr. Seuss must have done his research for his I Can Read  children's book while diving in Cozumel, Mexico. With our Atlantis guide pointing out morey eel, crab, turtles and more fish than my eyes could track, he was the Pied Piper of the under water world.  Armed with a water bottled filled with tortilla crumbs, the guide scattered the food into the sea, as the fish darted in and out to grab a late morning snack.  The school of fish shadowed our guide, like cleaner shrimp that follow reef fish and remove the parasites from their skin.

The Author SnorkelingThis was my first trip to the beautiful island of Cozumel, the largest and most significant island in Mexico. I have snorkeled in Maui, Hawaii and I found the climate and water color similar, however, the reef fish are quite different in each region. Located on the western part of Mexico's Caribbean coast, Paradise Reef is one of the few reef areas accessible to beach divers.  While I spotted parrot fish, angel fish and plenty of tangs, the elusive Splendid Toad fish, which lives only in Cozumel waters, was not sighted today.

After returning to the Park Royal for a quick shower, I headed over to the town of San Miguel de Cozumel, on the west coast. I'm still recovering from my wonderful Churro sugar high. More later.

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Carnival Splendor Waterslide photo Nancy D. Brown

Out on the deck, the San Francisco bay spit water from the ocean floor and the skies above. A gray day in March, we were leaving all things familiar; Alcatraz, the Pyramid building, Coit Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge, heading for a two day cruise to nowhere. The 113,300 ton Carnival Splendor was pulling away from berth 35. I could hear the sea lions barking in the distance as they lounged like drunken sailors on the docks of Pier 39.

 This was my first experience on a SuperLiner and the 3,006 passenger Carnival Splendor dazzled me with its magnitude and luxury amenities.  In the interest of transparency, it should be noted that I was a guest of the Carnival Cruise Lines, along with several journalists and a ship full of travel agents. The company was introducing travel insiders to its largest ‘Fun Ship’ waiting to launch its maiden voyage from Long Beach, California to the Mexican Riviera. Beginning April 5, the Carnival Splendor will offer-year-round seven-day voyages to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

As a newbie cruiser, I couldn’t help feeling a little over-whelmed with the sheer size of the ship. With 13 passenger decks and 22 themed public rooms and areas, I got lost several times making my way from my cabin on the 10th floor to the main lobby. Fortunately for me, the spa was located one floor above me and the food courts were one floor below, by the Lido deck. If my kids were with me, I’d know to find them in The Cool. Designed for 15-17 year olds, The Cool has music, big screens for Guitar Hero and a karaoke bar. Parents will appreciate the children’s playroom, outdoor mini-golf, a game room specifically for tweens (thank you) and the three story outdoor water slide. There’s also an internet cafe for those experiencing social media withdrawl.

At 21,000 square feet, the health and wellness center is as big as my house. I was fortunate to land in a Cloud 9 Spa Stateroom, which entitled me to the use of the Thalassotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite, two complimentary fitness classes and allowed me to book priority spa appointments. Unfortunately, the Spa was too expensive for this writer’s budget. I did enjoy sitting in the heated tile spa seats and looking out onto the Pacific Ocean. Had I been in another cabin, the charge to the spa, including pool and steam rooms, would have been an additional $35 per day.

Sailing Under The Golden Gate photo by Nancy D. Brown

One of the many appealing features of this Italian-made ship was the international crew on board. With a staff of 1,160, I loved hearing all the different accents. We sailed back under the Golden Gate Bridge, as our cruise to nowhere came to an end. Now that I have aquired my sea legs and I’m no longer a virgin cruiser, it would be nice to let my family in on the cruise ship experience. I think they’d be excited to take a cruise ship to Alaska. Then again, my teenagers would probably be happy with a cruise to nowhere.

900-year-old Preah Vihear temple on Cambodian border

On July 8 in Quebec City, Canada, UNESCO, (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) announced 27 new additions to the organization’s list of cultural and natural heritage sites. Formed in 1945, UNESCO “seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.”

New UNESCO Cultural Sites:

• Preah Vihear Temple (Cambodia)
• Fujian Tulou (China)
• Stari Grad Plain (Croatia)
• Historic Centre of Camagüey (Cuba)
• Fortifications of Vauban (France)
• Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (Germany)
• Armenian Monastic Ensembles in Iran (Iran)
• Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee (Israel)
• Mantua and Sabbioneta (Italy)
• The Mijikenda Kaya Forests (Kenya)
• Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia)
• Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús de Nazareno de Atotonilco (Mexico)
• Le Morne Cultural Landscape (Mauritius)
• Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Papua New Guinea)
• San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano (San Marino)
• Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih) (Saudi Arabia)
• The Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area (Slovakia)
• Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Cultural Landscape (Switzerland and Italy)
• Chief Roi Mata’s Domain (Vanuatu)

Four countries- Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Saudi Arabia and Vanuatu- are new to the list.  Have you been to any UNESCO sites?