Cruise = Batrageously Bumpilicious (Part 2)

Continuing on from the first post... (if you haven't read it, check it out)

Our first port on our Cruise through the Caribbean was in Cozumel, Mexico. We decided to do something wild and adventurous so we booked a tour to drive some two person dune buggies through the jungle there.

When we first arrived the tour guides brought out all these animals and told us that we were not allowed to take pictures with them, but that we could buy some from them. Uh, huh. I'm not down with that. I thought the tour might be lame because of that initial impression, but luckily I was very wrong. Turns out that a few lame animal pictures can't spoil a bumpy ride through the jungle or a trip to a bat cave.

The dune buggies were very bumpy, but a lot of fun to ride. Jessica had a headache before we even started out, so it wasn't as great for her, but I was squealing like a fat little kid at Halloween. We got to drive a lot longer than I anticipated, but if there was one time when I would have liked some rain it was during our Cozumel trip. All the reviews talked about getting super muddy, but without rain all we got was super dusty. We had to wear hankies over our faces so we didn't just make mud in our mouths. At one point they even let us gun it and take the buggies over a little jump to try and get some good air. Way cool.

Interestingly, the best part of the trip was the secondary attraction. About midway through the xrail driving we stopped at a bat cave. You know that old Batman joke? "What did batman say when he was sitting on the toilet?" "doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, Batman!!" (to the theme song) Well, it turns out that is very accurate. Well, I guess it would be more accurate to sing "guano guano guano, Batman!" So there was this big cave creating a natural water pool. Bats hang from the top of the cave. Then they poop into the water. The guides asked if we wanted to swim. Of course we said, "Heck yes." We all jumped in and felt the exuberant rush of inhaling the wonderfully delicate sent of sulfur and bat guano. Jessica gagged. Ben flopped. Cari made funny faces. Shari almost threw up. I laughed. A lot. The people who were with us but not part of our group chose not to swim and I'm positive they are regretting that decision even now. We all paddled through the murky waters to a low overhang that led into a separate cave where only a tiny sliver of light came through. We ducked under the stalactite and entered the pitch dark cave where we could see nothing, but hear the sound of hundreds of bats overhead. It was cool and creepy all at once. Nobody felt the need to spend too much time in there. We scurried out of the pool and laughed about what the slime on us might be composed of.



After our refreshing swim we hit the xrails again and drove back to where we began. I think we all drove a little bit faster in hopes we'd be able to get back on the ship and shower a few times. I make it sound a little gross, but actually it was quite fun. That is not something that we get to do every day (thankfully), but it is fun to do once in a life time. If you go to Cozumel, I highly recommend you take the tour, and take the dip too. Just try to forget that the water smells like a neglected construction site porta-potty.