Day 6 - TEQUILA FOR BREAKFAST

Unfortunately, we only got 4½ hours in Cabo San Lucas (8am -12:30 pm). Lark signed us up for the cocktail making lessons at one of the resorts. He’s still trying to make that perfect scratch Margarita. Discovered Liz & Mark from Sacramento on the tour with us.



We left the ship to tender in at about 8:30. Arrived at the resort, was shown around and told we’d pretty much have the run of the place after the Cocktail demo. At 9:30, the demo began. Roberto and Josef made Margaritas, Tequila Sunrises, Blue Lagoons, and Mojitos all of which we were “required” to drink and it wasn’t just a sip. Then they brought us chips, salsa and guacamole. After the break, they did 2 more that I can’t even remember. Then had several of the group come up and make different cocktails. Lark made something that had lime juice, vodka, & soda water in it. Wasn’t bad.



Mark, on his 55th birthday, made a Long Island Ice Tea. Liz made a Bull - vodka, lime juice & negro Modelo. She said it sounded disgusting and apparently it tasted the same. I made Strawberry Daiquiris that were shared with the group. I didn’t know there was orange juice in Strawberry Daiquiris.



We also had Pina Coladas. All of this before 10:30 in the morning! Love Mexican vacations. When they turned us loose to enjoy the facilities, Lark & I ended up hanging out in the same place with Liz & Mark until we left at 12:30.



They were fun and joined us for dinner at the 2nd formal night, where we were sworn to secrecy about it being Mark's birthday. No singing waiters for him.

Back to the ship to set sail at 1:00. I was already down for the count by that time. Lark headed for the sauna and had his nap after.

DAY 5 - MAZATLAN

After boarding the ship, Princess added a new excursion. A “Thriller” boat ride. We’ve done this in Aruba and Grand Cayman, but this one was a little different. The boat was made for rivers, not the open ocean. Captain Bill took eight of us (a couple from Oregon who’d gone repelling from trees the day before, Richard our colorful character and his wife from Seattle, a rattlesnake aficionado from Los Alamos, New Mexico and his son who lives in Seattle, and us) up a local salt-water river. We rode the waves, did spins (lost my visor on one) and nose-dives - sudden stops which cause the boat to be damn near consumed with water. As the ad said - “you will get wet”



The river excursion was more of a nature ride. We went threw the mangrove trees, saw egrets, blue herons, osprey, frigates, pelicans and lots of rusted out old boats. On the way back, Bill cruised over by Pelican Island where our local guide Cristobal threw out fish for the will pelicans and frigates. Frigates are the black sea gulls I mentioned in yesterday’s blog entry. The pelican would almost come take them out of his hand.





Then Bill picked up a photographer friend, brought us all mini Pacificos and took us on an extra ride around Mazatlan’s lighthouse, some of the grottos in the rocks and out into the Pacific where we saw sea lions both on rocks and in the water, and found out why the boat wasn‘t made for open sea - bumpy. This was all so his friend could take pictures, but we benefited as well. Then it was back to the ship for a nap before dinner and a sauna for Lark.

Other than that, Mazatlan is a port city with all that goes with that. Hyundai anyone?




Dinner in the Santa Fe Dining Room - very loud, rude lady with a voice that would peel paint was “visiting” 2 tables over. We couldn’t even hear our waiter. He was cool. When I said all I could hear was her, he just talked louder. You’d think she’d get the message, but no….clueless. Other the other side of us was a couple from Vancouver, BC who looked like Larry Poaster (my former Director) and Barbara Bush. Very nice and have sailed 13 times.

DAY 4 - ALREADY??????????????

Doesn't seem like it. Today was Puerto Vallarta. I was standing behind a lady waiting for our tour to Las Culetus who was talking about Puerto Rico and asking her hubby if that meant Port Richey. Made me smile.

Las Culetus was fantastic. I’m not sure what I liked best the kicking back on the beach or the trip there and back. Quite an entertaining crew, lead by Emilio. The tour started with me getting kissed by Rosarita the parrot who was sitting on my arm. Then the open-bar on the shuttle boat. Then the entertainment by the crew. On the way we spotted a HUGE sea turtle, several humpback whales, black sea gulls and pelicans.

Las Culetas consisted of a lunch buffet with really good ribs, another open bar then your choice of activities…swimming with the sea lions, snorkeling, kayaking or nature walking. Lark and I chose to park our butts under an umbrella away from everyone and enjoy the peace and beauty. And the pelicans diving for dinner.



The trip back consisted of a “Grease” imitation by Emilio and another of the crew and dancing to YMCA.





When we got back, Lark headed to the sauna, which he just got back from. He shared it with a Dentist from Modesto. I opted to shower and update the blog.

Dinner - Vivaldi. I wasn’t feeling great, so I don’t remember who we sat by.

Day 3 - Also At Sea

Facial and massage day at 2:00. Ate breakfast in the Horizon Buffet. More waiting in line. I’ve never waited in line for food so much on a cruise. More laying on deck. I was going to do the Scrapbooking at Sea, but for some reason they only had Ceramics, even though scrapping was listed in the Princess Patter. Instead I took a Photoshop Elements class on layers, colors and extractions. Lark did Golf Seminar #2 on the Finesse Game.

Then…….heaven. Jean-Marie from South Africa has magic hands. I got the Oxy facial. Not what I signed up for, but I did it anyway and loved every minute. She didn‘t even try to strong arm me into buying their products. Gave me the pitch then said it was my choice. I’ve never gotten that before. I tipped her well just for that. Lark had a massage with Reggie who was born in Southeast Asia, raised in the Netherlands and intends to live in the Czech Republic where his wife is from. We went back to the room and crashed until our 6:00 dinner reservation.

Dinner at the Savoy. Sat next to a giraffe & camel trainer/handler from 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo - formerly Marine World/Africa USA. On the other side was Mark & Liz from Sacramento. Lark & Mark were soon lost in conversation about golf & the Kings. The asst waiter for our tables, from Serbia, heard us talking about the Kings and told us that Vladi Divac and Peja Stoyachavich were his fellow Countrymen. I just love Peja. Have a Kings jersey with his #16 and his name on it. I was so bummed when they traded him for Ron Artess, who I will admit did real good for a couple of years. Peja now plays for New Orleans.

The Maitre ‘D, and all the waiters brought Lark a yummy rich chocolate cake for his retirement, which I ate most of, and sang to him. At first they couldn’t figure out what to sing, but one of the waiters kicked into “When I’m 64”…when I get older losing my hair…………

Then they sang to the tune of Happy Birthday and the When I’m 64 waiter finished it off solo. He had a great voice.

Day 2 - At Sea - SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

We departed LA at about 4:00ish yesterday and are at sea today and tomorrow. Lark spotted a whale playing off our side of the ship. That started our day in a nice way. Headed down for breakfast in the dining room. More waiting in line. You’d think Princess had this under control by now. We did make reservations for the next 3 days for dinner (all they would let us do). Tonight is formal night, we have 8:15 reservations.

Today is also SuperBowl Sunday. They are have a “thing” in the Calypso Lounge, but at 9:00 am it was already packed.

I really like days at sea. Relaxing. Spent a lot of it on the deck reading & kicking back. Bought an internet package. 250 minutes for $100. It’s a rip off, but keeps me from getting the shakes. I tried using the internet café hoping it was quicker…nope.

Lark bought a weeklong “Thermal Sanctuary” package. Means he has the run of the sauna and steam room for the week. He also went to a Golf Seminar on the Full Swing with Rob the Ship‘s Pro. What a gig.

Dinner - formal night #1 at the Pacific Moon with Robert and the same table.



Our Self Portrait
.
.

ANYTIME DINING, MY ASS (Mexico Cruise day 1)

Just a heads up, if you choose “Anytime Dining” on a Princess cruise, it really doesn’t mean anytime. You have to make reservations, but they don’t bother to tell you that to begin with. So our first night aboard ship was spent waiting in line with everyone else who thought they could eat at anytime. We got served just before the kitchen closed. The only good spot - we had a great waiter named Robert who was from the Philippines. A little slow, but very personable, which made up for part of the wait.

Beyond that our first day was good after driving 350 miles, 250+ of which was at a speed of about 40 due to dense fog. You may have heard of patchy morning fog. This was patchy morning clear. It broke just before Bakersfield. After that the trip went well, even getting into LA.



Check-in was very smooth. We have an average room on the Lido deck, which is the highest deck that there are rooms on. Above us is the Spa, no late night disco dancing. We are on the same floor as two of the pools and the buffet. Our Cabin Stewart is Jirawat from Thailand. His last name consists of about 20 letters. He removed the card with his whole name on it, so I can‘t even spell it out. He’s a sweetheart and always seems to be present. Could be the $20 Lark slipped him the first day, but I really think that’s his norm. At 5:00 there was a drawing in the spa for a free treatment. I didn’t win, but already have a facial scheduled. Lark has a massage. Also at 5:00 was a Cyber Golf demo. Want to guess where I found Lark after the Spa drawing? I even took a couple of swings and reminded myself why I don’t play golf.

Dinner - Pacific Moon Restaurant with Robert, our waiter.

.
.

PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS

Tried several different effects, but liked this one best - flourescent chalk.
.
.