Cody and I travel a lot. Whether it be a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean or a weekend getaway to Eureka Springs, AR, we love to travel. I believe one of the biggest reasons we travel is in search of kindred spirits. Other reasons include adventure and education. It's always interesting to see the different histories and the current economies of a place. Tasting the food, walking different paths, and meeting new people fill our souls.
We experience life differently as a gay couple, but loving each other makes life worth living. While traveling we do not experience the hostility and prejudice that currently taints Arkansas. Even in Jamaica, we were not discriminated against based on our sexuality. We were taken advantage of just like every other straight person on our tour bus, but we were not discriminated against based on our sexual orientation. It felt nice being treated as equals which is surprising because homosexuality has been outlawed in Jamaica since 1864 and LGBTQ Jamaicans are still fighting for equal rights today. That doesn't mean we don't face discrimination while traveling, it just doesn't happen as often as it does at home.
For me, people-watching while learning local history is the best aspect of traveling, and then tasting regional cuisine comes second. Cody loves to meet and get to know new people while experiencing all a location has to offer. We both enjoy the adventures wherever we end up.
It's always something new even if we've been before. Each experience isn't always good but they all leave a lasting impression. On our last cruise, a few not-so-good things happened but the stories that came from them are memorable and somewhat hilarious. For instance, Cody decided to get a massage while at the beach in Jamaica. He tells it better than I ever could. Just watch.
While we were in Cozumel this last time, we grabbed a taxi just outside the port and asked to head to a beach. The cab driver was a local, very friendly, and funny to talk with. He recommended two beaches by showing us a couple of laminated flyers with beautiful beaches and a list of amenities on them. Cody and I travel as frugally as possible, so we picked the less expensive option.
The picture was perfect. The beach not so much.
We got there late so there were no chairs with umbrellas available, but we could lay stuff out and get settled on a couple of lounge chairs in the hot sun before hitting the water. It was a hot day so we were ready to cool off and quickly ran into the water barefoot. In the beginning, the bottom was rocky and extremely slippery. We noticed an odd smell when taking a step. Once we were waist deep the ocean floor changed from rocky to sandy but this sand felt different. The sand felt like mud and with each step a heinous odor was released. After about ten steps, it felt like we were walking in feces and smelled that way too.
We noticed that no one else was actually in the water with us. There were several people paddling around in one-man canoes but no one actually swimming in the water. That was enough for us, so we got out quickly and tried to find a place to wash off. There was a pool that Cody jumped into but the jets weren't running and the water was stagnant with bugs floating on top. I told Cody by pointing out the nonworking vents and he hopped out quickly. We got our stuff and hailed the next cab available. We went straight back to the Vista and showered and changed. It was a gross experience that I hope we never do again.
Those two memories and places are not our favorites, but the adventure was great. We already have a cruise booked for November. This time going to some of our favorite ports including Belize and back to Cozumel for the eighth time. On the next cruise, we plan to see some Mayan ruins and maybe the zoo in Belize. No matter if we have already been, there is something new to do when we get back.
I cannot wait to travel again and I know Cody feels the same.
We travel because we love it, and love each other!
- King Ryan
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