Wednesday, February 10, 2010
As I write this at 5:52 EST on Wednesday, we are facing a storm force (Force 11) wind of 68 knots. This means we are rocking and rolling, but on a ship this size we are not in danger. Our cabin is on the port side and that is the side that is receiving the force. As I look out onto the balcony, I can see waves of about 10 ft. The captain announced that everyone should be careful walking around because it is a little difficult. The sea does not seem as bad as the night on I was on the Niagara on the Atlantic Ocean in 1996 and a severe storm hit. The Niagara is a little smaller than this cruise ship. TK likes studying the sea, and he is remarking that there are no clouds in the sky and no rain, just wind. He surmises it is coming off land.
As we go further south it is getting warmer and warmer, just as the east coast and Pennsylvania is getting a lot of snow! This morning we arrived in Huatulco, the “Cancun of the Pacific,” at 8 a.m. (pronounced wah tul co). Distance from Los Angeles is 1800 miles. In 1984 the Mexican government purchased 52,000 acres of land with the intention of building another tourist destination like Cancun. There are 9 bays and 36 different beaches here. It is also a critical bird habitat and no trees can be cut down unless they are farmed trees. Huatulco’s ecological practices have won awards. The lectured also said that 20 varieties of bananas are grown here and there are 6-8 waterfalls in the area. As soon as we got off the ship we could see beautiful white and black sand beaches. The port area is relatively simple with little restaurants, a few shops, taxis for tours, and “panga” boats to take people to other beaches. The population is approximately 7,000. TK and I realized that we have not followed our past practices by taking a tour the first time we are in a new port. We need to get back on track because an overview is important. We strolled along the nearest beach and I explored some of the shops. The silver jewelry, handcrafted in Taxco, is very beautiful. I think I have made a few good purchases in the last few ports.
We were back on the ship by 10:30 and I did some laundry ($1/ wash; $1/dry—very reasonable when we paid $3 per load in the hotel). After that I went to the pool to read and moved to the shade because of the heat. Someone asked me if it was too hot in the sun. I replied, “Yes, and I hate to say that since I am from Pennsylvania.”
At 3 p.m. I went to the Panama Canal Transit lecture that really inspired me yet again about our voyage through the canal. I will write more about this later (much to Son B’s delight, I am sure-she wrote smiling).
More later….the captain just announced that he is making a special maneuver to the starboard side to counteract what is happening.
The exciting weather lasted about 4 hours, but by the time we went to dinner at 7:30, the wind had subsided. Just as I trusted Captain Walter Rybka on the Niagara, so I trust Captain Mariana Manfuso on the Coral Princess!
Antonio, the head waiter who has been checking in on us each evening, brought us a supreme fried shrimp and fried calamari appetizer from the “Chef’s Table.” We had signed up for the experience of dining at the Chef’s Table on the first day. The experience consists of ultimate dining and touring the galley. We were put on a waiting list, but Antonio is going to check to see if we can be selected.
We also had tomato/mozzarella salad, pineapple/raspberry salad, chilled tomato/cucumber gazpacho, Chateaubriand, peanut butter pie, and a chocolate sundae. (I combine my choices and TK’s so it doesn’t seem like I am eating so much). The meals are exquisite and the service has been impeccable. We finish dining about 9 p.m each evening and depending on the night’s entertainment we just walk around and enjoy the music.
TK’s takes: the poolside music is driving TK crazy. He expects to listen to island music/Jimmy Buffet style. I do not have the same musical sophistication that he has and I am just happy with live music. He also really wants to know what kind of storm we had---it just blew in and blew out.
Aside to Donna and Lawrence: I forgot to mention that when we were in Hollywood, TK took a picture of Pierce Brosnan’s star, in remembrance of our 2008 MUTS experience on the Grand Princess when Lawrence said that “007” and the James Bond movies were ruined for him forever after seeing Pierce in Mama Mia.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
ENCORE IN ACAPULCO, MEXICO
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
This morning we found out that if you don’t put your room service request on your door the night before, you do not get room service the next morning! Mea culpa! TK kindly went to the buffet and brought me back some coffee, thank goodness!
When I got ready, we had breakfast at the buffet. TK likes the eggs benedict, the hash browns, and bacon. I stuck to diced watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, and pineapple. I was pleased that there was no wait for the buffet. On a cruise ship the silverware is already on the tables and a waiter removes the dishes when one has eaten. The waiter also brings coffee and juice. Available for breakfast at the buffet: a fruit bar, breakfast breads/rolls/Danish/bagel/toast etc., cereal, omelets made to order, eggs done other ways (eggs benedict, scrambled, etc.), waffles/pancakes, fish selections, hash browns, ham, bacon, sausage selections, etc. etc.
After breakfast we headed for Acapulco and decided to take a city tour offered at the terminal, $25 pp. I can’t believe we have been in Acapulco twice in two weeks. We visited areas similar to the tour in January, but during the daytime. We saw the cliff divers, so totally daring. We stopped at various high points of the city for panoramic views of the Pacific, the bay, and the city. We saw the Beverly Hills of Acapulco—huge villas perched on the hills with swimming pools incorporated into the hillside. Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone have homes here. We also visited The Flamingo, the hotel to stars like Humphrey Bogart, Red Skelton, John Wayne, Johnny Weismuller, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Another stop was the Casablanca Hotel, built in 1937. It is still being used, but has seen better days.
We stopped for a Coca Cola Light and nachos at Senor Frog’s near the ship after I bought a few more silver .925 pieces. Back on the ship by 3:30 p.m., we went to the pool for some sun and the live band. This is when we really missed the NCL Dawn, the Calypso band, and the poolside fun with CC friends Angel, Bill, KC, Barb, Paul, Kathy, Jeff, Dawn, Kenny, Elaine, and Chuck! The Crown crowd does not compare. (note to our NCL Dawn friends-those of you going on the Mardi Gras cruise next week—have a great time!!!! We will be partying at the same time in Colombia, thinking of you!)
Acapulco: 4-5 hours from Mexico City, population 721,000, originally part of the Aztec empire.
Dinner: shitake mushroom tartlet, celery root and apple soup, diced prickly pear and pineapple, ribeye steak with Paris butter, 5 layer black forest cake with sour (not really sour) cherries and kirschwasser.
The “Fiesta Tropical Deck Party” on the pool deck started at 9:30 p.m. --- warm (90s) with a starry night. I liked the live music, but the action did not compare to the NCL Dawn, the Grand Princess, or the Carnival Spirit at all.
TK’s Takes: It was very hot today, but not too humid, probably 90s. We got a better idea of Acapulco today.
This morning we found out that if you don’t put your room service request on your door the night before, you do not get room service the next morning! Mea culpa! TK kindly went to the buffet and brought me back some coffee, thank goodness!
When I got ready, we had breakfast at the buffet. TK likes the eggs benedict, the hash browns, and bacon. I stuck to diced watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, and pineapple. I was pleased that there was no wait for the buffet. On a cruise ship the silverware is already on the tables and a waiter removes the dishes when one has eaten. The waiter also brings coffee and juice. Available for breakfast at the buffet: a fruit bar, breakfast breads/rolls/Danish/bagel/toast etc., cereal, omelets made to order, eggs done other ways (eggs benedict, scrambled, etc.), waffles/pancakes, fish selections, hash browns, ham, bacon, sausage selections, etc. etc.
After breakfast we headed for Acapulco and decided to take a city tour offered at the terminal, $25 pp. I can’t believe we have been in Acapulco twice in two weeks. We visited areas similar to the tour in January, but during the daytime. We saw the cliff divers, so totally daring. We stopped at various high points of the city for panoramic views of the Pacific, the bay, and the city. We saw the Beverly Hills of Acapulco—huge villas perched on the hills with swimming pools incorporated into the hillside. Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone have homes here. We also visited The Flamingo, the hotel to stars like Humphrey Bogart, Red Skelton, John Wayne, Johnny Weismuller, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Another stop was the Casablanca Hotel, built in 1937. It is still being used, but has seen better days.
We stopped for a Coca Cola Light and nachos at Senor Frog’s near the ship after I bought a few more silver .925 pieces. Back on the ship by 3:30 p.m., we went to the pool for some sun and the live band. This is when we really missed the NCL Dawn, the Calypso band, and the poolside fun with CC friends Angel, Bill, KC, Barb, Paul, Kathy, Jeff, Dawn, Kenny, Elaine, and Chuck! The Crown crowd does not compare. (note to our NCL Dawn friends-those of you going on the Mardi Gras cruise next week—have a great time!!!! We will be partying at the same time in Colombia, thinking of you!)
Acapulco: 4-5 hours from Mexico City, population 721,000, originally part of the Aztec empire.
Dinner: shitake mushroom tartlet, celery root and apple soup, diced prickly pear and pineapple, ribeye steak with Paris butter, 5 layer black forest cake with sour (not really sour) cherries and kirschwasser.
The “Fiesta Tropical Deck Party” on the pool deck started at 9:30 p.m. --- warm (90s) with a starry night. I liked the live music, but the action did not compare to the NCL Dawn, the Grand Princess, or the Carnival Spirit at all.
TK’s Takes: It was very hot today, but not too humid, probably 90s. We got a better idea of Acapulco today.
Monday, February 8, 2010
CORAL PRINCESS ITINERARY/YOU CAN SEE OUR SHIP
Coral Princess Itinerary:
February 5, 2010: leave Los Angeles
February 6, 2010: At Sea
February 7, 2010: Cabo San Lucas
February 8, 2010: At Sea
February 9, 2010: Acapulco
February 10, 2010: Huatulco
February 11, 2010: At Sea
February 12, 2010: Puntarenas, Costa Rico
February 13, 2010: At Sea
February 14, 2010: Puerto Amador, Panama (Valentine’s Day)
February 15, 2010: Panama Canal Transit (Presidents Day)
February 16, 2010: Cartagena, Colombia (Mardi Gras)
February 17, 2010: Aruba
February 18, 2010: At Sea
February 19, 2010: At Sea
February 20, 2010: Fort Lauderdale
To us, the wonderful thing about cruising is that our “hotel” takes us to so many interesting ports, this time from the Pacific to the Atlantic!
TK says that there is a video cam on the front of our ship, and if anyone wants to see where we are, they can go to www.princess.com and look for the Coral Princess. I hope this is easy as I have not accessed the site. This will be sort of fun on port days and the day we go through the Panama Canal. TK watched the Coral Princess in the Panama Canal in September when CC friends, Vickie and Bernie went through it. They told Karen that one day at sea there is a craft project during which people make signs to hold on the starboard side of the ship to display for friends watching the ship on the Internet. I need to find out what website this is and designate the time (EST) that we will hold our sign up. I do not assume that our dear readers have the time to watch the ship go through the canal, but we can give it a go! TK is going to check this out on the Internet in Acapulco and I will update this particular post.
February 5, 2010: leave Los Angeles
February 6, 2010: At Sea
February 7, 2010: Cabo San Lucas
February 8, 2010: At Sea
February 9, 2010: Acapulco
February 10, 2010: Huatulco
February 11, 2010: At Sea
February 12, 2010: Puntarenas, Costa Rico
February 13, 2010: At Sea
February 14, 2010: Puerto Amador, Panama (Valentine’s Day)
February 15, 2010: Panama Canal Transit (Presidents Day)
February 16, 2010: Cartagena, Colombia (Mardi Gras)
February 17, 2010: Aruba
February 18, 2010: At Sea
February 19, 2010: At Sea
February 20, 2010: Fort Lauderdale
To us, the wonderful thing about cruising is that our “hotel” takes us to so many interesting ports, this time from the Pacific to the Atlantic!
TK says that there is a video cam on the front of our ship, and if anyone wants to see where we are, they can go to www.princess.com and look for the Coral Princess. I hope this is easy as I have not accessed the site. This will be sort of fun on port days and the day we go through the Panama Canal. TK watched the Coral Princess in the Panama Canal in September when CC friends, Vickie and Bernie went through it. They told Karen that one day at sea there is a craft project during which people make signs to hold on the starboard side of the ship to display for friends watching the ship on the Internet. I need to find out what website this is and designate the time (EST) that we will hold our sign up. I do not assume that our dear readers have the time to watch the ship go through the canal, but we can give it a go! TK is going to check this out on the Internet in Acapulco and I will update this particular post.
BY THE POOL ALL DAY!
Monday, February 08, 2010 / 80s and sunny!
After room service/continental breakfast on the balcony (orange juice, warm fresh Danish, and coffee) at 8 a.m., we headed straight to the Lido Deck/Pool-14. (side note: on the Carnival Spirit, if we ordered room service for 7 a.m., it arrived at 7 a.m. every day; on the Crown I circled 7 to 7:30 on the request form that is placed on the doorknob at night and on the first morning on the ship, room service arrived at 6:45-so now I circle a little later and we get up about 7:30 a.m. I am definitely not complaining about room service, just an observation!)
I was on a lounge chair next to a very white man. I noticed that I am very tan for me. I think I am now about the color of a croissant and TK is the color of very dark toast. I read my book, The Shooters, most all day by the pool. Reading all day is not my usual activity at home, so I am relaxing and soaking up sun to last me through March. TK loves the pool.
About 3 p.m. the afternoon movie, The General, was shown on the Lido Deck/pool side on the Movie Under the Stars screen. The General is a 1927 silent film written and directed by Buster Keaton. He was also the star. TK and I both watched this movie (95 minutes actually). I don’t remember ever watching a silent film in total before and decided that it was a good opportunity to observe a historical perspective.
The movie is set during the Civil War with a young Buster Keaton as an engineer of a train called "General." His girlfriend thinks he should enlist in the Army of the South, but he is rejected because his job as an engineer is too useful. She does not understand and through a series of comical events he discovers a Northern Army plot, rescues the girl, and uses “The General” to thwart the activities of the North. Honestly, Buster Keaton’s heroic adventures made Tom Cruise seem like a sandbagger! We observed only four other people at the pool watching this movie.
I have said before that TK thinks the average age of the ship’s passengers is about 80, so I guess we are going with the flow!
At the pool there was an ice carving demonstration-a horse chiseled quickly out of a block of ice the size of card table cubed.
The cruise director conducted three different pool games that would be fun at B and D’s pool—with a hula-hoop, ping pong balls, and a beach towel.
After our American style turkey dinner, including sweet potatoes with maple syrup and polenta, we went to the Lido/Pool Deck to watch Harry Potter/The Half Blood Prince under the stars. I have to say we really enjoy doing this—sitting in comfy lounge chairs (blankets are provided) with the night sky’s stars twinkling overhead, the sea rolling by, a warm Pacific breeze, as we eat our popcorn. The movie was long (until midnight) and not as good as previous ones, but we stayed awake until the “dramatic” end.
More about The General: TK and I discussed this movie over dinner and what stood out. Buster Keaton must have done all his own stunts. The movie was made about 70 years after the Civil War—the train scenes were incredible. The engines were wood-fired steam engines. A bridge must have been built for the collapsing bridge scene-would they have had the technology to make miniatures?? Why was the South emphasized and the Northern army made to look silly? Was Buster Keaton a Southerner? There was no diversity in the movie.
TK’s Takes: the music by the pool is mostly Sinatra era. No Jimmy Buffet, no rock and roll here.
After room service/continental breakfast on the balcony (orange juice, warm fresh Danish, and coffee) at 8 a.m., we headed straight to the Lido Deck/Pool-14. (side note: on the Carnival Spirit, if we ordered room service for 7 a.m., it arrived at 7 a.m. every day; on the Crown I circled 7 to 7:30 on the request form that is placed on the doorknob at night and on the first morning on the ship, room service arrived at 6:45-so now I circle a little later and we get up about 7:30 a.m. I am definitely not complaining about room service, just an observation!)
I was on a lounge chair next to a very white man. I noticed that I am very tan for me. I think I am now about the color of a croissant and TK is the color of very dark toast. I read my book, The Shooters, most all day by the pool. Reading all day is not my usual activity at home, so I am relaxing and soaking up sun to last me through March. TK loves the pool.
About 3 p.m. the afternoon movie, The General, was shown on the Lido Deck/pool side on the Movie Under the Stars screen. The General is a 1927 silent film written and directed by Buster Keaton. He was also the star. TK and I both watched this movie (95 minutes actually). I don’t remember ever watching a silent film in total before and decided that it was a good opportunity to observe a historical perspective.
The movie is set during the Civil War with a young Buster Keaton as an engineer of a train called "General." His girlfriend thinks he should enlist in the Army of the South, but he is rejected because his job as an engineer is too useful. She does not understand and through a series of comical events he discovers a Northern Army plot, rescues the girl, and uses “The General” to thwart the activities of the North. Honestly, Buster Keaton’s heroic adventures made Tom Cruise seem like a sandbagger! We observed only four other people at the pool watching this movie.
I have said before that TK thinks the average age of the ship’s passengers is about 80, so I guess we are going with the flow!
At the pool there was an ice carving demonstration-a horse chiseled quickly out of a block of ice the size of card table cubed.
The cruise director conducted three different pool games that would be fun at B and D’s pool—with a hula-hoop, ping pong balls, and a beach towel.
After our American style turkey dinner, including sweet potatoes with maple syrup and polenta, we went to the Lido/Pool Deck to watch Harry Potter/The Half Blood Prince under the stars. I have to say we really enjoy doing this—sitting in comfy lounge chairs (blankets are provided) with the night sky’s stars twinkling overhead, the sea rolling by, a warm Pacific breeze, as we eat our popcorn. The movie was long (until midnight) and not as good as previous ones, but we stayed awake until the “dramatic” end.
More about The General: TK and I discussed this movie over dinner and what stood out. Buster Keaton must have done all his own stunts. The movie was made about 70 years after the Civil War—the train scenes were incredible. The engines were wood-fired steam engines. A bridge must have been built for the collapsing bridge scene-would they have had the technology to make miniatures?? Why was the South emphasized and the Northern army made to look silly? Was Buster Keaton a Southerner? There was no diversity in the movie.
TK’s Takes: the music by the pool is mostly Sinatra era. No Jimmy Buffet, no rock and roll here.
CABO SAN LUCAS AND A SAINTS SUPERBOWL
CABO SAN LUCAS AND A PRINCESS SUPERBOWL
Sunday, February 07, 2010 / warmer and sunny
We got up early because we wanted to watch for whales. We did see some whale spouts and a few leaps in the distance—I am so glad that we saw as many as we did last cruise. We attended the lecture about Acapulco and have a strategy for that port on Wednesday.
We thought tendering to Cabo would be a long process, but actually we got on one of the first boats out. What beautiful beaches and rock formations along the coast!
Cabo San Lucas, on the Baja peninsula, has a population of 41,000. Spanish explorer Hernan Cortez first landed nearby in the 16th century. In 1834, President James Polk sided with the Texans who were tired of paying taxes to Mexican generals. U.S. troops marched on La Paz and San Jose and at the bargaining table the Americans conceded that they didn’t need any more desert than they already had so Baja was left to the Mexicans, according to Princess material.
I did enjoy shopping here and count the day as successful—more vanilla, Taxco silver gifts for C and D, beach towels, and more. We had quesadillas at Cabo Wabo restaurant and bar, the best ever!! TK loved the guacamole. Sammy Hagar (formerly of a band that we promptly forgot the name of) has played here. There are some HUGE yachts in the harbor, as well as the biggest sailboat (modern, 2 masted-100 ft. long) that I have ever seen.
There is much to do in Cabo besides shop, e.g. water taxis, paragliding, fishing, beaches, etc. and we would like to return. The ship was only at port a half day and we did not get involved in anything else.
When we returned to the ship we watched the Super Bowl on the big TV/movie screen by the pool. Most everyone aboard was rooting for the New Orleans Saints, including us. Granddaughter B1 told me on Friday that she wanted the Colts to win and Son B was sort of on the edge about it, so I feel a little guilty, but we LOVE the city of New Orleans and that inspired our support! They won!
(note to Kathy and Jeff in New Orleans--I bet you are really really happy about the Saints!!! Enjoy!)
Dinner tonight: a very good beef bouillon/vegetable soup (J), black bean soup (TK), shrimp cocktail, rack of veal with artichokes (both of us), warm apple strudel (J), and toffee/chocolate chip cake (TK). Needless to say our family and friends won’t recognize us when we get home. Everything went smoothly with our reservation we got a lot of attention from the Maitre D’ and the Assistant Maitre D’.
For entertainment we enjoyed the comedian Al Katz again-he joked about hunting deer in Bradford, Pennsylvania and praised teachers. After the show we talked to him briefly-he said he had been to an Erie comedy club, but not recently.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 / warmer and sunny
We got up early because we wanted to watch for whales. We did see some whale spouts and a few leaps in the distance—I am so glad that we saw as many as we did last cruise. We attended the lecture about Acapulco and have a strategy for that port on Wednesday.
We thought tendering to Cabo would be a long process, but actually we got on one of the first boats out. What beautiful beaches and rock formations along the coast!
Cabo San Lucas, on the Baja peninsula, has a population of 41,000. Spanish explorer Hernan Cortez first landed nearby in the 16th century. In 1834, President James Polk sided with the Texans who were tired of paying taxes to Mexican generals. U.S. troops marched on La Paz and San Jose and at the bargaining table the Americans conceded that they didn’t need any more desert than they already had so Baja was left to the Mexicans, according to Princess material.
I did enjoy shopping here and count the day as successful—more vanilla, Taxco silver gifts for C and D, beach towels, and more. We had quesadillas at Cabo Wabo restaurant and bar, the best ever!! TK loved the guacamole. Sammy Hagar (formerly of a band that we promptly forgot the name of) has played here. There are some HUGE yachts in the harbor, as well as the biggest sailboat (modern, 2 masted-100 ft. long) that I have ever seen.
There is much to do in Cabo besides shop, e.g. water taxis, paragliding, fishing, beaches, etc. and we would like to return. The ship was only at port a half day and we did not get involved in anything else.
When we returned to the ship we watched the Super Bowl on the big TV/movie screen by the pool. Most everyone aboard was rooting for the New Orleans Saints, including us. Granddaughter B1 told me on Friday that she wanted the Colts to win and Son B was sort of on the edge about it, so I feel a little guilty, but we LOVE the city of New Orleans and that inspired our support! They won!
(note to Kathy and Jeff in New Orleans--I bet you are really really happy about the Saints!!! Enjoy!)
Dinner tonight: a very good beef bouillon/vegetable soup (J), black bean soup (TK), shrimp cocktail, rack of veal with artichokes (both of us), warm apple strudel (J), and toffee/chocolate chip cake (TK). Needless to say our family and friends won’t recognize us when we get home. Everything went smoothly with our reservation we got a lot of attention from the Maitre D’ and the Assistant Maitre D’.
For entertainment we enjoyed the comedian Al Katz again-he joked about hunting deer in Bradford, Pennsylvania and praised teachers. After the show we talked to him briefly-he said he had been to an Erie comedy club, but not recently.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
CORAL PRINCESS-WELCOME ABOARD!
Friday, February 5, 2010 / rainy and cool
We were ready for the shuttle to the Coral Princess by 9 a.m. with the help of the bellman. Embarking was easy and we were quickly on the ship. The Coral Princess is elegant. We had lunch in the buffet, participated in the mandatory safety drill with our life jackets, and unpacked. The ship left port at 5 p.m. and this time the Pacific Ocean was more welcoming. TK won a floral arrangement at the Sail Away party. I think that is a great gift for Valentine’s Day! For dinner we had spring rolls, chilled pineapple soup, and the best prime rib. The evening show, comedian Al Katz, was very good.
TK’s Takes: He thinks the average cruiser age on this ship is 80. The weather was bad, but we did not get sick. We miss our cruise friends!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
This morning I attended the shopping show. Although the show was long, I think Cabo San Lucas will be a fun shopping port! Our Cruise Critic “Meet and Greet” was held in the Explorers Lounge. The Captain, Chief Mate, Food and Beverage Director, and Guest Services people attended, along with about 20 people escaping cold weather, from Washington, Michigan, Colorado, and other northern states.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 / sunny and cool
This morning I attended the port shopping show. Although the show was long, I think Cabo San Lucas will be a fun shopping port!
Our Cruise Critic “Meet and Greet” was held in the Explorers Lounge. The Captain, Chief Mate, Food and Beverage Director, and Guest Services people attended, along with about 20 people escaping cold weather, from Washington, Michigan, Colorado, and other northern states.
Since it was cool on deck we spent a low key day reading and exploring the ship. We did see some whale spouts about a mile from the ship. We think this captain is staying further away from the whales than the one on the Spirit. We went to the lecture on Cabo San Lucas, too.
We had a little glitch tonight with our “anytime” dining. We waited about 30 minutes (it was 8:15 p.m. by then) for a table for two with a pager. It finally buzzed, we approached the desk, and the hostess said she was going to seat us with four others. We had really planned on a dinner for two tonight and mentioned that. She promptly told me we would have to wait some more. I said that we would do something else. At that time I did not know what else we were actually going to do, when TK spotted the Food and Beverage Director. He immediately hailed the Maitre D’ who took us to the main dining room for dinner. Thank goodness we did not have to go to the buffet because the dinner was superb: chilled tamarind soup, ample filet mignon (TK), roast pork and braised red cabbage (MJ), chocolate hazelnut souffle, and a caramelized pear tart. The Maitre D’ also set us up with dinner every night at 7:30 p.m. at a window. That would seem to defeat the purpose of anytime dining, but that has been a good time for us. Donna and Lawrence, where are you????
We browsed the shops and then retired so that we could arise early tomorrow.
An Al Katz joke: He asked a couple in the audience how long they had been married.
She said, “Fifty-eight years!”
Al Katz responded, “If you had killed him when you wanted to, you would be out of jail by now.”
We were ready for the shuttle to the Coral Princess by 9 a.m. with the help of the bellman. Embarking was easy and we were quickly on the ship. The Coral Princess is elegant. We had lunch in the buffet, participated in the mandatory safety drill with our life jackets, and unpacked. The ship left port at 5 p.m. and this time the Pacific Ocean was more welcoming. TK won a floral arrangement at the Sail Away party. I think that is a great gift for Valentine’s Day! For dinner we had spring rolls, chilled pineapple soup, and the best prime rib. The evening show, comedian Al Katz, was very good.
TK’s Takes: He thinks the average cruiser age on this ship is 80. The weather was bad, but we did not get sick. We miss our cruise friends!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
This morning I attended the shopping show. Although the show was long, I think Cabo San Lucas will be a fun shopping port! Our Cruise Critic “Meet and Greet” was held in the Explorers Lounge. The Captain, Chief Mate, Food and Beverage Director, and Guest Services people attended, along with about 20 people escaping cold weather, from Washington, Michigan, Colorado, and other northern states.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 / sunny and cool
This morning I attended the port shopping show. Although the show was long, I think Cabo San Lucas will be a fun shopping port!
Our Cruise Critic “Meet and Greet” was held in the Explorers Lounge. The Captain, Chief Mate, Food and Beverage Director, and Guest Services people attended, along with about 20 people escaping cold weather, from Washington, Michigan, Colorado, and other northern states.
Since it was cool on deck we spent a low key day reading and exploring the ship. We did see some whale spouts about a mile from the ship. We think this captain is staying further away from the whales than the one on the Spirit. We went to the lecture on Cabo San Lucas, too.
We had a little glitch tonight with our “anytime” dining. We waited about 30 minutes (it was 8:15 p.m. by then) for a table for two with a pager. It finally buzzed, we approached the desk, and the hostess said she was going to seat us with four others. We had really planned on a dinner for two tonight and mentioned that. She promptly told me we would have to wait some more. I said that we would do something else. At that time I did not know what else we were actually going to do, when TK spotted the Food and Beverage Director. He immediately hailed the Maitre D’ who took us to the main dining room for dinner. Thank goodness we did not have to go to the buffet because the dinner was superb: chilled tamarind soup, ample filet mignon (TK), roast pork and braised red cabbage (MJ), chocolate hazelnut souffle, and a caramelized pear tart. The Maitre D’ also set us up with dinner every night at 7:30 p.m. at a window. That would seem to defeat the purpose of anytime dining, but that has been a good time for us. Donna and Lawrence, where are you????
We browsed the shops and then retired so that we could arise early tomorrow.
An Al Katz joke: He asked a couple in the audience how long they had been married.
She said, “Fifty-eight years!”
Al Katz responded, “If you had killed him when you wanted to, you would be out of jail by now.”
Thursday, February 4, 2010
HOLLYWOOD, HERE WE COME!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I had a simple bagel and fruit for breakfast at the hotel and TK had breakfast at Grinders, a short walk from here. I mailed our Valentine's Day cards and then decided to walk to downtown San Pedro. There is a Warner Theater, but it is not as nicely kept as ours in Erie. There are antique shops, art galleries, cafes, flower shops, and more and as I walked further it looked a lot like downtown Erie.
Back at the hotel we signed up for the "Movie Stars' Homes, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Beach Cities" tour for this afternoon. We are supposed to see the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive, etc. I'm afraid a movie producer or director might spot us and want us to be in a blockbuster movie.
In case that does not happen, we may meet fellow cruisers later in the hotel lounge.
Our first stop on the tour was Venice Beach, full of street vendors, sidewalk performers, dozens and dozens of little shops, and kids who should probably be in school. The beach and shops seemed to go on and on. This would definitely be a destination for daytime. We drove by the 100 year old Santa Monica pier that actually has an amusement park on it.
Our experienced tour guide, Arther, (over 80 yrs. old) and has been a guide for 40 years. He was friends with Jimmy Stewart and served as a body guard for Hugh Hefner. He told us to check out the restaurants and if they were marked A, B, or C. “A” restaurants have passed a rigid health inspection, the others have not. Every restaurant must clearly display its designation according to the state of California. TK and I think this is a good idea.
Arther told us that Los Angeles has a population of 3.5 million and when one counts the county’s 47 cities, the population is 7 million. He also said that LA is trying to get two football teams to move there, including the Jacksonville Panthers and the Buffalo Bills.
We drove by Rancho Park, #1 in the fabric industry, and Century City. We stopped in Beverly Hills to shop on Rodeo Drive at Van Cleef & Arpel, Tiffany’s, Gucci, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lalique, Hermes, Michael Kors, Gucci, Armani, and Etro. I especially liked the diamond butterfly necklace and the diamond bird of paradise necklace, but TK would not buy them for me. Arther showed us the spots where Pretty Woman was filmed with Julia Roberts.
We saw the homes of the stars in Beverly Hills, including Jimmy Stewart, Jimmy Durante, Carol Burnett (still), and Walt Disney. The homes were like those along South Shore Drive and Glenwood in Erie-tudors, prairie style, boulevards, lots of property, fenced in with shrubs, slick automobiles (BMW, Mercedes). Arther showed us that the mud slides were just 5 blocks away and cars could not go near. I did not realize that the stars’ homes were so close in the city and that the danger of mudslides was right there—I thought the homes were way off in the distance. The terrain was not unlike the hills in our neighborhood in Erie.
We drove onto Sunset Boulevard / Sunset Strip and saw the homes of Paris Hilton and Halle Berry, the Viper Room owned by Johnny Depp. Arther said this area was the HOT spot to go-burgers are $25.
We spent an hour in Hollywood to get a photo of the sign, which is 81 years old and the letters are 45 feet tall. Besides Grauman Theater (sp?), the star studded sidewalk, the Kodak theater, and the El Capitaine, there was a glorious mall! We saw the stars of John Travolta, Keanu Reeves, and Sandra Bullock. I was looking for Tom Cruise’s star. I did see his handprints and footprints in front of the Grauman Theater.
We stopped briefly at Universal Studios and then returned to the hotel. We saw Karen and Allan from near Detroit, Michigan, Cruise Critic friends from last year’s Grand Princess. Their flight had gone well and we chatted for a while. TK and I went to a late dinner at the nearby Green Onion, another Mexican restaurant.
I had a simple bagel and fruit for breakfast at the hotel and TK had breakfast at Grinders, a short walk from here. I mailed our Valentine's Day cards and then decided to walk to downtown San Pedro. There is a Warner Theater, but it is not as nicely kept as ours in Erie. There are antique shops, art galleries, cafes, flower shops, and more and as I walked further it looked a lot like downtown Erie.
Back at the hotel we signed up for the "Movie Stars' Homes, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Beach Cities" tour for this afternoon. We are supposed to see the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, Sunset Strip, and Rodeo Drive, etc. I'm afraid a movie producer or director might spot us and want us to be in a blockbuster movie.
In case that does not happen, we may meet fellow cruisers later in the hotel lounge.
Our first stop on the tour was Venice Beach, full of street vendors, sidewalk performers, dozens and dozens of little shops, and kids who should probably be in school. The beach and shops seemed to go on and on. This would definitely be a destination for daytime. We drove by the 100 year old Santa Monica pier that actually has an amusement park on it.
Our experienced tour guide, Arther, (over 80 yrs. old) and has been a guide for 40 years. He was friends with Jimmy Stewart and served as a body guard for Hugh Hefner. He told us to check out the restaurants and if they were marked A, B, or C. “A” restaurants have passed a rigid health inspection, the others have not. Every restaurant must clearly display its designation according to the state of California. TK and I think this is a good idea.
Arther told us that Los Angeles has a population of 3.5 million and when one counts the county’s 47 cities, the population is 7 million. He also said that LA is trying to get two football teams to move there, including the Jacksonville Panthers and the Buffalo Bills.
We drove by Rancho Park, #1 in the fabric industry, and Century City. We stopped in Beverly Hills to shop on Rodeo Drive at Van Cleef & Arpel, Tiffany’s, Gucci, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lalique, Hermes, Michael Kors, Gucci, Armani, and Etro. I especially liked the diamond butterfly necklace and the diamond bird of paradise necklace, but TK would not buy them for me. Arther showed us the spots where Pretty Woman was filmed with Julia Roberts.
We saw the homes of the stars in Beverly Hills, including Jimmy Stewart, Jimmy Durante, Carol Burnett (still), and Walt Disney. The homes were like those along South Shore Drive and Glenwood in Erie-tudors, prairie style, boulevards, lots of property, fenced in with shrubs, slick automobiles (BMW, Mercedes). Arther showed us that the mud slides were just 5 blocks away and cars could not go near. I did not realize that the stars’ homes were so close in the city and that the danger of mudslides was right there—I thought the homes were way off in the distance. The terrain was not unlike the hills in our neighborhood in Erie.
We drove onto Sunset Boulevard / Sunset Strip and saw the homes of Paris Hilton and Halle Berry, the Viper Room owned by Johnny Depp. Arther said this area was the HOT spot to go-burgers are $25.
We spent an hour in Hollywood to get a photo of the sign, which is 81 years old and the letters are 45 feet tall. Besides Grauman Theater (sp?), the star studded sidewalk, the Kodak theater, and the El Capitaine, there was a glorious mall! We saw the stars of John Travolta, Keanu Reeves, and Sandra Bullock. I was looking for Tom Cruise’s star. I did see his handprints and footprints in front of the Grauman Theater.
We stopped briefly at Universal Studios and then returned to the hotel. We saw Karen and Allan from near Detroit, Michigan, Cruise Critic friends from last year’s Grand Princess. Their flight had gone well and we chatted for a while. TK and I went to a late dinner at the nearby Green Onion, another Mexican restaurant.
DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 / Sunny, 70s
This morning Marco, the Bellman, loaded up our suitcases for me while TK was renting a car at a nearby Enterprise. Marco, originally from Chicago, told me that he pays $200/month for water. He also said he does his grocery shopping in Tijuana because it is much cheaper there. He only goes there during the day. Soon TK drove up the hotel with a black Dodge Caliber. All of our luggage fit in it and off we went to dash around California traffic.
We drove on Interstate 5 (with 10 to 12 lanes of traffic) for about an hour. Near San Juan Capistrano we switched to the Pacific Coast Highway. We passed Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, and stopped briefly in Huntington Beach and Long Beach. We saw surfers, oil rigs, and lots of sandy beaches. I did not expect the amount of oil rigs in the ocean very near the coast. We also passed plenty of oil rigs drilling on land, too. The landscape was hilly and sandy with palm trees, cacti, and bright flowers along the way. The homes ranged from condos with adobe tile roofs to prairie style. We stopped for a photo of the Queen Mary docked near Long Beach. TK said it is now a hotel.
We arrived in San Pedro, Los Angeles’ port about 2 p.m. and went to our hotel, Crowne Plaza-Los Angeles Harbor Hotel/San Pedro. TK did a wonderful job of driving and I acted as the GPS. TK said that I was obsolete and he prefers the GPS. Personally I think that I did a great job of getting us to San Pedro even if once I did calmly say, “That light is red,” when he appeared to be going through it. A GPS would not have said that.
After checking in, organizing our bags, and returning the car at the hotel, we walked about 8 blocks to the harbor area. There are at least 5 fish markets selling fresh lobster, Dungeness crab, snow crab, King crab legs, shrimp, clams, scallops, and all sorts of fish. People can buy the seafood to take home or they can have it cooked right there any way they like it. There must be at least ten places fixing the fish to order. I truly think there was seating for 1000 people in different pavilions right at the harbor.
We elected to eat at a lovely Mexican restaurant, Acapulco, in the same area. Our booth overlooked the harbor and fishing boats.
TK’s Takes: He wants me to report that he is doing the laundry for the second time this trip.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
SAN DIEGO, WE LOVE YOU
BT=symbol for boiler technician
Dramatic sculpture on "Greatest Generation Way" by the U.S.S. Midway (Midway is in the background)Monday, February 1, 2010 / sunny, high 60s
Brian and Nancy picked us up this morning about 10 a.m. After picking up Donna and Lawrence and all of their luggage (not quite as much as ours), we went directly to “Wienerschnitzel,” a chili dog “restaurant.” B and N thought we needed to have this experience for lunch before we dropped L and D off at the airport. Our ongoing teenage experience continued as we munched our chili dogs, chili burgers, and chili fries outdoors. The dogs are similar to our Greek dogs and burgers back home—I’m glad we did this. After lunch we took D and L to the airport for their return to Wisconsin. We made an agreement to get together in Branson, Missouri, or even another cruise, perhaps later this year.
We traveled back to the Seaport Village for shopping and then went to Coronado, a town on the peninsula that forms the San Diego harbor. We stopped at Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888. We were able to tour the grounds of this grand hotel that reminded me somewhat of the classic Hershey Hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Hotel del Coronado has a beach on the Pacific! We enjoyed walking this beautiful sandy beach and even went inside the hotel to see the Victorian charm. From there we went to Imperial Beach and Pier. I bought something here that I think Son R will like, if they are the right size. By this time it was near sunset as we walked on the pier, gulls were flying about, a young fisherman displayed the croaker (fish) that he caught, and surfers in wet suits looked for the best waves.
Brian took us to the nearby Veterans Home in Chula Vista to meet his 87 year old mother. She was one of the first 49 women who were at the U.S. Marines Corps Recruit Depot during World War II. She was part of the “Free a Man to Fight” program. She took the troop train to California after basic training and was a truck driver in the motor pool. I was very honored to meet her.
For dinner Brian took us to “La Bella Pizza” in downtown Chula Vista. His 77 year old aunt has worked there for 35 years and she waited on us. I loved the cheese and pepperoni pizza! Chula Vista was the hometown of my dear friend, Chuck. His wife Judy, from Nebraska, was the friend who went to France with Cindy from Connecticut and me in 2008.
We have truly enjoyed our special Cruise Critic friends in San Diego so much. We are going to miss them a lot. Brian and Nancy are heading back to northern California on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Today TK and I walked to the port to visit the U.S.S. Midway, an aircraft carrier that was in service from the end of World War II to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. After spending so many hours on the U.S.S. Yorktown, I cannot believe we spent another three hours on this ship! We had lunch in the “Fantail Café.” TK had navy bean soup, just as he would have had in the Navy aboard his ship, the U.S.S. Columbus! We spent considerable time viewing the engine room, boiler room (TK was a boiler technician in the Navy), chaplain’s quarters, the bomb elevator, the laundry, several different galleys, the mess deck, machine shops, the captain’s quarters, and the flight deck. I was able to go into a Huey helicopter.
I especially liked asking TK to share his experience aboard his Navy cruiser compared to the aircraft carrier. I learned that it was very hot (120 F) in the boiler room where he worked, but an air vent provided air. He showed me the symbol for boiler technician. He told me that his name was stenciled on all his clothes and that he could send his dress uniforms to the drycleaner. It is hard to get information from him, but I will work further on this. He tolerates only so many questions at a time (smile).
It was interesting to experience two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, one on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean, all in one trip!
Near the Midway are the tall ships, Star of India and the HMS Surprise (used in the Master and Commander series).
We walked to the Kansas City BBQ for a soda. This is the restaurant used for a scene in the movie, Top Gun. We then walked to Horton Plaza, a large indoor/outdoor mall in downtown San Diego with Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. We purchased two more pieces of luggage at San Diego Luggage Co.: California Pak Andover Collection -a spinner wheeled 28 inch and a spinner wheeled carry on. We really needed more luggage. After the purchase, TK wanted to throw out one of the older pieces with the broken zipper that we had given to Son B and then taken back for this trip. I convinced him that No. 1. it was really B’s luggage now and No. 2. we still needed that piece of luggage because all the other suitcases are now FULL. I don’t think the new carry on will “carry” all the souvenirs I still want to buy, including the emeralds in Colombia.
We had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory, about 2 blocks from our hotel. The cheese and spinach ravioli was very good and TK had baked chicken. When we returned to the hotel we went to the Marriott’s 22nd floor to see the bar and fire pit atop the building, a very neat spot for San Diego’s nightlife. Other nights when we were returning to our hotel, we saw many people enjoying the downtown city bars and restaurants. Since we have recently been in New York City, New Orleans, and Savannah, we think San Diego compares very, very well! I would definitely recommend this city as a port of call or a destination. We did note a huge convention center, too.
San Diego is an incredible city—we enjoyed our visit very much. I will always envision the gardens and gardens of flowers-purples, oranges, reds, yellows, the bird of paradise blooms ALL over, the palm trees, sun, warmth, the smell of the ocean, a center city port, friendly people, the commercial planes swooping over the city to and from the very near airport, the Navy ships coming and going, helicopters and military planes always in the air, the beaches, the variety of restaurants, the best zoo I have ever seen, the Midway, the shopping, and especially our dear friends who made San Diego so memorable.
We would also recommend the San Diego Marriott-Gaslamp District. The bellmen, the concierge, and the desk staff have all been very helpful. Our room was large and we could see inside Petco Ball Park from our window (San Diego Padres).
Tonight we are packing (now 5 big suitcases, 3 carry ons, my computer bag, and my purse. TK indicated that he is tired and will be driving to Los Angeles tomorrow so I better get a move on packing.
We miss our friends. I also miss our family and friends back home. It is hard to believe that we will be gone another month.
TK’s Takes: The weather is great. He said he could almost live here, if it just wasn’t so far, if he could drive here like he drives to Florida.
SPRINGTIME IN SAN DIEGO
Sunset at Imperial Beach!
Surfing at Imperial Beach
TK and Janie at the beach by Hotel del Coronado
Bird of Paradise blossoms all over!
Chili dog par excellence!
$3.99--of course we tried all three!
Weinerschniztel
Janie, Nancy, and Donna
Poodle skirts at the Corvette Diner
The jail in Old Town
Lawrence and Donna at Old Town
Our first In-n-Out Burger!
Brian and Nancy at their camperSunday, January 31, 2010 / sunny, mid 60s
This morning TK and I saw a farmers’ market near our hotel. I found unusual gifts for B1, B2, and Friend H-gifts created only in San Diego and Key West by the same family! From there we walked to Seaport Village via a boardwalk along the San Diego port. It has at least 50 shops and 8 interesting restaurants. Soon after our arrival at this area, Brian called. He picked us up about 1 p.m. and we drove to Lawrence and Donna’s hotel (near Sea World), then to the KOA campground to pick up Nancy. That gave us the opportunity to see Brian’s brand new 27 ft. Keystone Sprinter camper—it looked very comfortable, sleeps up to six, complete kitchen/dinette, full bath, two flat screen TVs, and two comfy chairs. A nice way to travel!
We all piled into Nancy’s roomy truck, legally or illegally, and Brian drove us to an “In n Out” Burger restaurant. We mid-westerners and easterners had never been to one and Brian thought we should have that experience. Honestly we were like teenagers meeting in a crowded fast food restaurant for burgers and fries. The burgers are very tasty with a special sauce that is different from Burger King.
Brian, who is willing to drive until he finds what he’s looking for, took us to a tram/train stop (#24) so we could take the MTA train to “Old Town.” According to the brochure “Old Town” is the birthplace of California, the site of the first European settlement on the West Coast. There are some original buildings and preserved adobes, others are recreated to showcase this era of the golden west in the late 1700s/ early 1800s. San Diego became a city in 1850. There are museums, e.g. the first public school house (1865), Immaculate Conception Catholic Church—first church built outside the mission system (1865), a sheriff’s museum with an authentic old outside jail, the first 2 story brick building Whaley House (built in 1857), and many more. Among the historic buildings there are shops, markets, cafes, and restaurants.
We spent several hours before we decided to eat. We caught the train back to Stop #24, then Brian and Nancy drove us to “Corvette Diner” on Historic Decatur Road near Liberty Station. This incredible restaurant continued our feeling of being teenagers. The Corvettes as one walked in, a disc jockey playing music from the 50s and 60s, waitresses in poodle skirts, booths, lighting, and photos and drawings of Ricky Nelson, Annette Funicello, etc. all added to the ambiance. We had tasty burgers yet again.
After dinner Brian drove us to the Mexican border (Tijuana is about 10 miles from San Diego). Only Lawrence and Donna had their passports with them, so we could not cross the border. It was an interesting experience, though, because some of us learned that one cannot take photos of Federal buildings.
After dropping Donna and Lawrence off, Brian and Nancy returned us to the Marriott about 11 p.m.
Monday, February 1, 2010 / sunny, high 60s
Brian and Nancy picked us up this morning about 10 a.m. After picking up Donna and Lawrence and all of their luggage (not quite as much as ours), we went directly to “Wienerschnitzel,” a chili dog “restaurant.” B and N thought we needed to have this experience for lunch before we dropped L and D off at the airport. Our ongoing teenage experience continued as we munched our chili dogs, chili burgers, and chili fries outdoors. The dogs are similar to our Greek dogs and burgers back home—I’m glad we did this. After lunch we took D and L to the airport for their return to Wisconsin. We made an agreement to get together in Branson, Missouri, or even another cruise, perhaps later this year.
We traveled back to the Seaport Village for shopping and then went to Coronado, a town on the peninsula that forms the San Diego harbor. We stopped at Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888. We were able to tour the grounds of this grand hotel that reminded me somewhat of the classic Hershey Hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Hotel del Coronado has a beach on the Pacific! We enjoyed walking this beautiful sandy beach and even went inside the hotel to see the Victorian charm. From there we went to Imperial Beach and Pier. I bought something here that I think Son R will like, if they are the right size. By this time it was near sunset as we walked on the pier, gulls were flying about, a young fisherman displayed the croaker (fish) that he caught, and surfers in wet suits looked for the best waves.
Brian took us to the nearby Veterans Home in Chula Vista to meet his 87 year old mother. She was one of the first 49 women who were at the U.S. Marines Corps Recruit Depot during World War II. She was part of the “Free a Man to Fight” program. She took the troop train to California after basic training and was a truck driver in the motor pool. I was very honored to meet her.
For dinner Brian took us to “La Bella Pizza” in downtown Chula Vista. His 77 year old aunt has worked there for 35 years and she waited on us. I loved the cheese and pepperoni pizza! Chula Vista was the hometown of my dear friend, Chuck. His wife Judy, from Nebraska, was the friend who went to France with Cindy from Connecticut and me in 2008.
We have truly enjoyed our special Cruise Critic friends in San Diego so much. We are going to miss them a lot. Brian and Nancy are heading back to northern California on Tuesday morning.
PANDAS AND ELEPHANTS AND HIPPOS, OH NO!
Saturday, January 30, 2010 / sunny, mid 60s
The disembarkation from the Spirit was the easiest ever-there was no customs line and the Carnival staff took our declaration of goods purchased and that was it. We found a porter who suggested we take a pedicab (a bicycle with room for luggage and 4 people) to our hotel nearby. We were assured that everything would fit! What an experience! Picture us at ¼+ ton of luggage and people [you can do the math] and one man pedaling us about 10 city blocks or more to the Marriott-San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter on 6th and K Streets. Our room on the 16th floor was ready when we checked in at 10:30 a.m.
We walked several blocks to Metro bus #7 and arrived at the San Diego Zoo by noon ($66/2). I don’t have statistics readily available, but the zoo is HUGE! The bus tour for an overview of 70% of the zoo takes 40 minutes. Our first sight was the exhibit of about 40 flamingos, a shockingly pink flock. After the bus overview we walked to the giant panda exhibit. Only one was in view, but she was eating her bamboo with a passion, like corn on the cob. We were told to be quiet, as scientists are studying the sounds she makes. Visitors can get very close to the panda—at the DC zoo, one sees the pandas at a distance. Everyone would like to spend a lot of time watching this fluffy, adorable, huggable animal, but viewing time is limited because of the large crowds.
We moved on to the “Elephant Odyssey” area. At least four elephants are exhibited in a very large habitat. Other elephants are in an “Elephant Care Area” where veterinarians and zookeepers take care of other elephants that need attention. Life-size sculptures of extinct animals from 12,000 years ago are displayed and accessible for children and photos (mammoth, sloth, sabre-toothed tiger, etc.). Nearby was a depiction of LaBrea tar pits. We saw gorillas, hippos swimming above and underwater, orangutans, camels, jaguars, canvasback ducks, colorful exotic birds, monkeys, and snakes. Fortunately, there are moving sidewalks to help us climb the many inclines. We also took a skyride on the “SkyFari Aerial Tram.” The lush vegetation is so well maintained. Of course I found cute little things for B1 and B2 in several of the ten gift stores. I never thought I would see this zoo, which has to be one of the biggest in the country. One cannot see everything in one day!
After five hours we met up with Donna and Lawrence, who were also at the zoo, and we called Brian and Nancy. They picked us up in their big Ford F150 truck and took us all to Phil’s BBQ for dinner. We waited over an hour for a table at this very popular place, but the baby back ribs were the best we have ever ever had. Brian and Lawrence easily entertained us during the wait. We counted nine Phil’s BBQ catering vans to give you an idea of the popularity of this restaurant. (note: when we were buying luggage at the Horton Plaza downtown, the salesman agreed that Phil’s was the best barbecue in San Diego)
NOTE: We have verified that TK's yellow fin tuna did weigh over 100 lbs. The confusion happened because the first mate was saying the weight in kilos. Also, it took 1 hour and 40 minutes for TK to land the fish--this was verified by the times on all three cameras.
Friday, January 29, 2010
MOON OVER THE PACIFIC
One small area of the galley
Fashion Boulevard (shops)
The library and Internet Cafe (I had access to the Internet in our cabin, too)
The Sports Bar
Friday, January 29, 2010
Today was much cooler, but the seas were calmer than when we passed through last Friday. The last day of a cruise is usually very low key and people are sad about the ending of a vacation. We are very fortunate that our trip continues.
I started a new book, The Shooters, a Presidential Agent Novel by W.E.B. Griffin. There was a book exchange on the ship and I took Dry Ice to trade. I noticed one lady had 1776 by David McCullough and I asked her if she was really trading it in. I am keeping my Path Between the Seas by the same author. She laughed and said her husband told her that no one would want that book, others would only want romance books. We traded books because we instantly knew we had the same taste in books.
TK and I had lunch together at the buffet-bean/cheese burrito (me), chicken parmesan and roast pork (him). Desserts were all chocolate, fondu, cakes, mousse. Of course we shared.
Our Cruise Critic group met for the last time and then went on a galley tour. The Maitre D’told us many facts about the amount of food used, but I can’t remember many details. Three tons (6,000 pounds) of flour are used, for one thing. He said that the food is USDA inspected and that the galleys are subjected to random inspections in port. They take cleanliness seriously!
This has been our best Carnival cruise. We especially liked the layout of the ship. The staff was very friendly, our balcony cabin on Deck 4 (#4217) was the largest and brightest we have ever had, there was more closet space than ever. There were ample elevators, our cabin was very near the dining room and we could easily go straight up to the 9th deck Aft Pool. There was always room to lounge at the pools. (the deck chairs were uncomfortable and not sturdy though) I liked the water slide, the show lounge was comfortable, and no one was trying to persuade us to buy this or that.
The ports were special, too. We need to give Acapulco another chance, but we loved Zihuatenejo and Manzanillo. It was great to experience the Pacific Ocean and all the marine life in its natural habitat.
Tonight's dinner: mango soup, crab cakes, prime rib, baked potato, fried shrimp. The food was very good on the Spirit.
I hope the moon is as beautiful tonight for you, dear readers, as it is over the Pacific. We heard that it is the brightest tonight, as bright as when man walked on the moon. I may not have all the facts here, but the moon is fabulously beautiful tonight!!!
TK's Takes: All packed, ready to go. He packed this afternoon. Weather is even cooler and he checked and said the seas may be rough tonight.
WATCHING WHALES AT SEA
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A FUN DAY AT SEA
Today was sunny but a little cooler. We enjoyed omelettes at the buffet for breakfast and then headed to the Lido Aft Pool to read and watch for whales. The captain had told us last Saturday that when the ship returned north we might see whales near Cabo San Lucas. About noon we did indeed begin seeing spouts! For the next three hours we saw whales breeching, jumping, spouting, sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone. The captain was kind enough to reroute the ship to maximize the experience. Sometimes the whales were on the starboard side, at other times on the port side, or aft. We stayed on the ship’s aft the whole time and could see whales from all angles! We were told that this is the season that whales go to this particular area to give birth. It would be difficult to guess the whales’ sizes, but they seemed quite large to me. If a whale is 2 ½ miles away and one can still see it, it must be big!! That’s my take.
Dinner with Donna and Lawrence: Bing Cherry Soup, Escargots (TK), Shrimp Cocktail, Chateaubriand, Baked Alaska.
After dinner we went to see “The Big Easy, A Trip to New Orleans,” tonight’s main show in Pharoah’s Palace featuring the Carnival Spirit Dancers and the Spirit Show Band. This was a very vibrant show with laser beams, strobe lights, smoky “dry ice,” and flame effects, bright colored costumes, sequins, great vocals, many costume changes, a variety of music (jazz, country, rock, spirituals), and many different sets representing New Orleans’ scenes (e.g. Café du Monde). My favorite number was “The House of the Rising Sun.” The dancers’ wispy costumes represented gargoyles. At the end beads and confetti were thrown in the midst of the audience.
TK’s Takes: Whales, whales, and more whales. We saw more whales on this trip than we did when we went to Alaska in 1999. The temperature is getting cooler.
Aside to B1 and B2: Tonight’s towel animal was a turtle.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
MASTERFUL FISHING IN MANZANILLO, MEXICO
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today was full of wonderment! TK, Brian, his son Dan, Lawrence, Donna, and I disembarked by 7 a.m., on this warm and sunny day in Manzanillo (Mexico’s largest shipping port and home to the Mexican navy) and easily found the guide, Javier Rodriguez, to our sport fishing charter. He drove us to the fishing pier to board the Albatros IV, a 42 ft. fishing boat. Carlos, the first mate, set 2 outriggers and 5 flat lines straight off the back about 10 miles from the pier in water about 100 ft. deep (we were in the Pacific). The whole setup was just as I had imagined, with a chair for bracing and reeling the fish in. Mylar squid and live bait (small silver fish about 8 inches long) were on the end of the lines.
The shore was rugged with a few sandy coves and the land seemed volcanic in nature with jagged mountains. Heavy smoke arose from stacks in the distance.
Within half an hour we saw a sailfin jump near the boat. Then we saw a few dolphins playing around, as well as at least 4 whale spouts. While most of us had rushed to the front of the boat to see the dolphins, TK stayed in back, watching the lines. Sure enough, there was a bite and the fight was on. For an hour and a half TK engaged in a battle with an unknown fish, reeling in line like the old fisherman he is. Pulling up slow, reeling fast, over and over again for 90+ minutes. The rest of us, the observers, could feel the strength of the fish against the strength of this sturdy man. TK’s whole body reacted to the mighty force of an unknown fish. At intervals the fish neared the ship, then swam away further. Finally the fish was landed onto the boat. It was only then that we knew it was a yellowfin tuna, about 80-100 pounds. TK met the challenge. The lines were reset, but there were no more bites. Shrimp boats were nearby. A very large brown sea turtle, the size of a garbage can lid, floated by the boat nonchalantly just like he was on a sailing vacation. We returned to shore about 1:30 p.m. The captain, the first mate and the guide all were going to share the tuna with all the other charter fishermen.
TK headed back to the ship and Donna, Lawrence, and I went shopping. Soon Lawrence discovered that there was sea glass on the nearby rocky shore and showed us the pocketful of glass and two sea worn marbles he had already found. After a little shopping, Donna and I had to look for sea glass, too. We climbed down the unstable rocky hill to the shore. When I overturned a rock, I saw a wormy wiggly thing, then realized it was a starfish when it started “walking” with so many legs. Sadly I was so engaged in looking for sea glass, I did not choose to get my camera out.
Before I knew it, I had about a pound of sea glass and one sea worn marble, too. By this time, both Donna and Lawrence had plenty more, including a black marble with green dots. The predominant color was an emerald green. Now I can have DDIL C’s sister make me a Manzanillo sea glass necklace. I hope she can find a tuna and/or starfish charm!
We walked a long long way back to the ship, but we weren’t as tired as the mighty fisherman!
Dinner with Donna and Lawrence in the Empire Restaurant: shrimp cocktail, tomato/mozzarella salad, veal parmesan, filet mignon, with cream cake layered with chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla.
Tonight all the ship’s bands joined together for a sort of “Live Aid” concert to benefit the American Red Cross for Haitian Relief and Development. Carnival has pledged $5 million.
TK’s Takes: Fishing wore him out today and he is sore. He said that reeling in the fish, he felt like he had a snag on the bottom that would not budge---like there was a huge weight at the end of the line that could not be moved. We saw lots of marine life on this sunny day.
Note to B1 and B2: Tonight a towel monkey was hanging from the rafter!
Brian’s joke on the boat today to relieve tension after the great fish was caught:
“A preacher, a priest, and a rabbi walked into a bar. The bartender said, ‘What is this, a joke?’”
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A WHALE SPOUTED NEAR ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Another sunny day in the Pacific!
While I was enjoying my Continental breakfast about 7:30 a.m. on the balcony, about 10 miles away from Zihuatenjo (zee-wah-tah-nay-ho), I heard the strangest noise, a cross between a pig snort and a horse snort, at the same time that I saw water spouting. A whale emerged from the sea! I sort of cried out an exclamation just as TK was coming out to the balcony. We both saw about 15 foot of the whale about 30 ft. away from the ship. We had been observing lots of small fish jumping out of the water, but we had no idea that we would see such a marvelous sight. After that, we were able to keep track of the whale swimming about, mostly just under the sea. We also started to see dolphins playing about nearby. This is the way to spend an early morning!!!!
We tendered to the small fishing village of Zihuatenejo. We strolled by restaurants along the town streets, small shops, a market, and fishing boats unloading their catch. After our spending spree yesterday we did not splurge today. The vendors were so different than those in Acapulco, not aggressive at all. I found mesh tote bags featuring Frida Kahlo, a well-known Mexican artist who was married to Diego Rivera. I asked the merchant if the Mexican people like Kahlo more than Rivera and he said they did-I expected this response. We enjoyed a plate of tortilla chips with a cheese and refried beans topping and fresh salsa, with “Coca Cola Light” at Porto di Mer Restaurant/Bar. (aside: I have had Coca Cola Light in France, Italy, Toronto, and now Mexico and it tastes sooooo much better than Diet Coke. Why don’t we have this product in the U.S.????). Even though we were served ice with the pop, we had no problems!
Back on the ship we sunned by the pool. I can tell the sun is very strong here, but sunscreen has prevented sunburn. I am reading Dry Ice by Stephen White, a psychological thriller, a delicious beach book!
I think the Carnival Spirit will be one of our favorite ships. It has the feel of a Princess or NCL ship, our cabin is more than ample, the staff is extremely friendly, the public areas are easily accessible to our cabin, absolutely no rudeness because I have a Coke card, the food is good, and it isn’t very crowded. The elevators are usually empty when we buzz them and there are no lines anywhere, even with tendering. Room service arrives at exactly the time I request (7:30 a.m.)
Tonight’s dinner with Lawrence and Donna included peach cream soup, fried mozzarella, flat-iron steak, baked potato, and chocolate melting cake. We shared Acapulco and Zihuatenejo experiences. In Acapulco they bought some very nice silver jewelry in the same marketplace we went to and in Z-town they enjoyed a beautiful beach. We took a look at photos after dinner- one of me looks like I was holding onto an electrical fence and here I thought my hair was blowing beautifully in the wind at the time. It was good for a laugh anyway.
We need to get to sleep early tonight as Wednesday we are going deep sea fishing in Manzanillo at 7 a.m.!
TK’s Takes: He bought a Mexican wrestling mask (like “Bolivar’s” we were told). It is black and gold and he really likes it. When I first saw them, I thought they were evil. He liked the sailfish displayed by a fisherman as we first walked onto the pier.
Aside to B1 and B2: Playing monster will never be the same!
Every night there is a different towel animal on our bed when we return from dinner and the show: a dinosaur, a little Chinese boy, a crab, a frog
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