No cheating!  No Internet snooping figuring out the clues...  Just guess, or if you know it, just say it!  Where did I take these pictures?

Robert:  Thank you for your comment! 

I will not give away the answer until later this week.  I'm hoping to get as many guesses as possible.

Gary:  Thank you for your comment!  I will post the answer in the next few days and I'll link that post to this one. 

Here is another clue:  It's definitely an island worth visiting!  Don't worry about bringing shoes; no one wears any!

Richard:  Thank you for your input!  Can you be more specific, please?  South of Mexico leaves us wide open here!

Pat:  You can trade in the snow for a little Tropical Nirvana.  I love taking Christmas Holidays to Tropical places!  If you shop around carefully, you will be surprised by the economical way you can sojourn in Paradise, while others are trekking the snow...  Just thinking about it makes me thirsty for a Margarita!

Come back here in a few days for the answer!  I will post a link to the blog explaining it all.

Steve:  Thank you for your contribution!  I will post the answer in a few days with a link within this blog. 

My son is a Geography nut too.  When he was a little boy, he didn't talk much, but he loved to look at books, so I used to buy him tons of them.  Books about animals, geography and history.   They were colorful books full of interesting pictures.  I thought that he was just looking at pictures.  I will never forget it:  we were in the Denver Natural History Museum.  He was about 8.  We were stopped in front of this bird on display and he started telling me all about that bird.  I looked around trying to find the plaque he was reading all that information from.  I couldn't find it.  He was just reciting all that info off the top of his head.  He had learnt it from one of the many books in his library.  He just about floored me.  That was only the first time.  It became evident that he was doing more than just looking at pictures. 

BTW, just in case you are wondering:  his major in college was History.  He wanted to go for a Geography minor, but opted for two other minors instead: Spanish and Leadership.  He is now a Marine officer, but he will be returning to school for post graduate work in the near future. 

Sorry, I think I got carried away here.  Anyway: Geography...  dear to my heart too for more reasons than one!

Steve:  BTW, that is my son in the golf cart in one of the pictures above.  This was a vacation we took together three years ago.  There were four of us traveling, diving and snorkeling together: my son and I, his girlfriend, who is now his wife and my boyfriend.

Josh:  Interesting!  Thank you for your contribution!  Come back in a couple of days for the answer!

John:  Again, another fine guess!  Maybe....  we're getting warm here...

Vickie:  There seems to be a consensus here. 

Rich:  I wish!!!  That's one place I haven't been to yet.  It is very tightly regulated and they ration the number of tourists allowed.  I typically don't plan ahead, which is not going to work for the Galapagos.  Hey, you just gave me a fine idea!  Thank you!  I think I'll break my spontaneous habit and start planning, for I really want to see the Galapagos, the seed of inspiration for the Evolution theory.

Bob and Carolin:  Thank you!  I'm glad you liked it!

Robert:  I'm not saying whether it is or it isn't Belize...  YET!

When are you going there?  Why not go in December?

Robert:  I always think that I may not have tomorrow, so I try to get to my long list today.  It doesn't have to be extravagant.  Tropical Nirvanas can be had at under $1,000!  It's not going to be the Ritz Carlton, but at least you'll have running water...  maybe...

Steve:  That is such a good puzzle!  What a great idea for a gift!  Thanks!

Richard:  Don't be jealous!   I took these pictures three years ago when I was there for New Year's.  I'm braving the cold with the rest of us right now, although our cold here in Myrtle Beach is entirely different from your cold.  We complain when it gets below 55 degrees.  That, to you guys is warm weather...

Caren:  Check back soon!  I should have the answer within days.

Robert and Sandy:  Maybe I should do some research on prices and packages to this place for the "Answer" Blog...    If you can take a few days off, you too could sink your feet in that fine, white sand soon. 

Shark Alley is not to be missed and I have some good tips for which service to hire for that adventure.  We had a blast there!  Note: Yes, you do dive and snorkel there (in shark alley), and YES, they DO feed the sharks!

OK: I wrote the answer blog tonight and will probably post it tomorrow if I get a chance.  All I have to say is:  it's darn good and informative, well worth waiting for.  Stay tuned!