March 16, 2010

San Diego and Mexican Riviera Cruise

3/4 - My window! (on the plane) It doesn't exist...I think I got ripped off, got a wall instead...but we made it to San Diego...sightless of course. But none the less, we're here! Ahhh...sunny San Diego!

Checked in at the Park Manor Suites...awesome hotel. Originally was an apartment building built in the early 1900's. The apartments were left intact and we ended up with a double king bedroom suite! Whoohoo! Kitchen, dining room, living room...endless cabinets, drawers, closets and cubbyholes. I could live here, oh! people actually did! (Also included...dinner, breakfast and a bottle of wine...which magically turned into sparkling apple cider when we told them we really didn't drink wine. YAY!) Great place to stay with the nicest and most helpful people ever!

Went to the San Diego Zoo...we were
warned that the zoo was kind of hilly! No problem said the tourists from the flatlands. HA! Those aren't hills, those are mountains! Real live Panda Bear named Sue Lynn...she's beautiful!

3/5 - Hiked Balboa park...stunning and beautiful...awesome weather. Went to Botanical Gardens. San Diego just edged out Tampa for most desirable place to live! (Note to self: Must figure out how to relocate!)

Arrived at Radiance of the Seas! Aaahhhhhh!!! Cruising...it's the best. No line at the Diamond Member check-in. (Rank does have its privileges.) Oops! Staying in the crew quarters....that's what you get for paying next to nothing for your room! Whoohoo! I'm on a cruise ship now, baby!

3/6 - Little sleep for the bottom feeders in the basement. O dark 100, here we come hot tub... at 5:30 am (California time that is...) Brrr! Pool is the same temp as hot tub. I think a mid-morning nap is in store for the adventure seekers. Yoga! Hmmmm....we paid to have a 20 something year old contort us into unnatural positions where we no longer go. (or ever went!) Must rethink this. Went to fat burning seminar where pretty much, I knew all the answers to the questions the 21 year old leader asked. I should be teaching this class! (Somehow there is a disconnect between knowing and doing!)

3/7 - Swam in pool and relaxed in hot tub...AAAHHHH! Sitting on the deck of the ship watching Cabo San Lucas go by....bye, bye! Starting at the southern end and working our way back up. A large pod of dolphins is swimming along with the ship - cool! Went to art auction, found it to be too long and annoying...plus they wanted credit applications filled out to be entered into prize drawing! Ha! (Dave Ramsey says no! no!) Went and got ice cream cones instead! Much better now. Played trivia on the ship...we don't know anything.

Found the gameroom! Thought they didn't have one on this ship. Played Spanish Scrabble! Well, played English Scrabble with the Spanish letters at least. Found self-leveling pool tables...Vince won both games. Dumb tables, kept self-leveling...totally messed up my perfectly good shots.

Went to Matthew Fallon, Illusionist show in the evening...very good! Thought of Kevin and Kristen...wondered if they knew him.

3/8 - O dark hundred, snorkeling here we come! Went to awesome Marietta Islands from Puerto Vallarta. Saw tons of humpback whales on the way. Migration time to Alaska for them. Also saw blue footed booby, so they tell me anyway. (hopefully the pics will verify the color of feet!) Snorkeled and saw moray eel, puffer fish and king angel fish.

Shopped at the port and found some fresh ground, really awesome smelling coffee...too bad we don't drink it!

No pictures of whales breaching....the camera battery took this opportunity to die.

3/9 - Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico (could live here...note to self...learn spanish!) Bird Estuary Tour.....took boat through mangroves and saw whimbrels, storks, pelicans, white ibis, cranes, buzzards, caymans and turtles! Hand fed crazy pelicans and frigates from front of tour boat..dangerous...figured I had plenty of extra fingers. Took Mexican Hummer thru the jungle and the coconut grove! Ahh, coconuts! On to the beach and a REAL Mexican lunch....mmmmMMM, good!

Back to the port...shopping!

Back to the ship...time to workout and make up for what I'm going to be eating later. Elliptical, here I come! And I'm taking the stairs to get there! (double points for that) Played miniature golf in the wind and sat in the hot tub...froze getting out....tripped and stubbed toe, laughed so hard, I couldn't talk. Another picture perfect awesome day!

3/10 - Bummer! Surfing safari in Cabo San Lucas was cancelled due to wimpy Californians not signing up for tour! Chose 4x4 Rhino Experience instead. Went by bus to Baha Ranch. Got in brand-new (Vince happy) Honda Rhinos and went on trails....lots of scrub and cactus and trails. Look like a trail of banditos! Yes, that's us in the pic! 5 4x4's in a row! Came out at the Pacific Ocean...beautiful! Then...went over and thru the mountains...SCARY! I was with a crazed driver...but made for great photographs.

Back to town and to the shopping district. Had Molkokito (volcano) with chicken, shrimp and beef at the Taco Shack. Split a pina colada! Mmmmm....now I know why people have iced drinks wiht REAL mexican food....cools the mouth down!

A Wildlife Preserve Booth that was raising funds for a sanctuary was set up in the shopping area. Here we are for mere $25...holding Daniel the lion cub....how cute and sweet! Wanted to bring him home. (Phone home...Splotches said no!)

3/11 - Oh, no! Last day! :-( (sad face) Morning a.m. stretch and then ellipticals. Watched Black Forest Cake Decorating...wild chef and friends and contest to see who could make the best cake with the most booze....crazy and messy! Sat on deck for hours....all to myself, to cold for the wimpy Californians! Whoohoo!

3/12 - Left cruise ship at 8:30 and to the hotel by 9:00 am. Once again rank does have its privileges!

Took public transportation to the Midway Museum and lived to tell! There by 10:00 am. Lunch on the water at the Fish Market. Best clam chowder ever!

On to the Maritime Museum with 5 ships to tour and a Russian and American submarine.

Walked along Harbor Drive on the ocean...sun is setting....cool guy balancing rocks....kite flying. I belong here!