CHRISTMAS CRUISE - Part 5

You haven't been to Puerto Vallarta unless you take a picture of their symbol.

Tour of Puerto Vallarta, a city of 350,000

 Cathedral in Puerto Vallarta

about halfway down the Pacific Coast of Mexico,

nestled in the foothills of Sierra Madre mountains,

along the edge of Banderas Bay,

one of the largest and deepest bays in the world.

City Beautiful.  90% Catholic.

Two sessions of school.  Average wage $8/day.  Gas $3/gal.

We paid Abraham $70 - $15 each plus $10 tip

because he was exceptionally considerate and helpful.

In Puerto Vallarta, Jonathan honed his bargaining skills.

At the top of a plaza overlooking the ocean and harbor

Jonathan shows us a glass turtle he bought for $20.

“Too much.”

“He wanted $30.”

“Don’t pay over $3.”

We took it back and got Jonathan’s money back;

He bought gifts for himself, his sisters, and Mom

For the $20 he saved and in Cabo

He bought a glass turtle for $3.  No bargaining.

In December?

Sand Sculpture

Oosterdam's Tender that carried us to shore in Cabo San Lucas

We took the tenders into Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo is nestled off the southern tip of Baja, California.

Pirates were the first to escape here,

seeking refuge from the seas in the 16^th century.

Fishermen came later.

Because of the terrain, visitors arrive mostly by ship,

following the same path that led pirates to their strategic peninsula.

The shopping is dismal here.

Jonathan and I spent an hour trying to find a necklace for Jan.

Everything is extremely expensive.

Then we found the T-shirt store that we have been to before.

We thought DeRay & Ed had gone back to the ship but

they showed up in the store.

We ended up spending $65 on t-shirts and junk.

Fun.

Jonathan didn’t get home with the most expensive t-shirt

he bought for his dad.  I guess he set it down somewhere.

Christmas Cruise - Part 4

All dressed up for formal night.

 

As much as I dreaded coming, I’m really having a good time.

I get my world all narrowed down and then I’m forced to expand.

It’s exhilarating.

I find myself enjoying the luxury;

the good abundant food and entertainment,

the classes, fitness – sometimes

there is so much to do

"Erase it!" Ed commands.  In stateroom.

I get confused so I ended up doing nothing.

Just right.

I like having someone pickup, cleanup, make my bed, do my laundry; spoil me.

I’m beginning to dread getting home to responsibility.

Riding Free & Compulsory Shuttle to town.

Mazatlan today!  We sauntered off the ship around 10:30.

We got whisked into a van that already had

six Mormons from Arizona in it.

We had to climb clear into the back.

It was only $10 each and the Mormons were very nice.

At least we didn’t waste our time stopping for drinks.

But we didn’t see or hear much.

Mazatlan was settled in 1531 by the Spaniards.

Before the Spanish, native Indians called the Totorames settled the area.

Our cruise ship is larger than the whole city!

They were hunters and fisherman, and adept at making clay vases and figures.

Next, the conquistador Francisco de Ibarra

discovered gold and silver in the hills above Mazatlan.

In 1603, pirates began dominating the waters around Mazatlan. After numerous wars, it became the home of one of the largest tuna and shrimp fishing fleets in the world. With the opening of new high-end hotels and restaurants, Mazatlan is quickly becoming a world-class tourist resort.

I know when Lana and I were here over 20 years ago,

Mazatlan

President Reagan met with the Mexican President Fox (as I remember it)

in a hotel just up from us.  I think it was the El Cid.

One second too soon!  DANG.

I was looking for a chain for Nan to go with the pendant Lana made for her birthday so our driver did take us to Michael’s.

I bought three chains and a necklace for Amy

that she actually likes and wears.

I wish we had bought one for Jan.

Jonathan ended up spending

a lot of time and more money

Mazatlan's Famous Cathedral

for her pendant (in Cabo).  

Driving down, we stopped at Wal*Mart and Grandpa

Bought Jonathan a watch for $15.

He needed to know what time it was so he could check

In and we could keep in touch.

After touring Mazatlan,

We make made arrangements for Jonathan

to hang out with Ed while we went to a class.

Jonathan never showed up.

When he finally came to the room,

I mentioned that he had missed his appointment.

“I lost track of time,” he explained.

I looked at his wrist for the first time.

“Did you lose your watch?”

“I took it off when I went swimming

and when I got my clothes, it was gone.”

“Didn’t Grandpa tell you not to take it off?

It’s good for 40 meters under water.”

He reported it to the purser’s office,

Never checking back to see if they found it.

A couple of days later, I happened to be passing the purser’s desk

So I asked about Jonathan’s watch.

Jonathan recovering his lost watch from the purser.

“What kind is it?”

“I don’t know.”

He found a watch

and noted one has been reported lost

But he wouldn’t give it to me because it wasn’t mine.

Jonathan happened to be in the room,

So he went back and claimed his watch.

“I’m not going to take if off

for the rest of my life,”

he said happily as he strapped it on his wrist.

“Well, at least for the life of the watch,”

we counseled.

CHRISTMAS CRUISE - Part 3

Jonathan & Ed Watching Wake

In spite of all the top-notch entertainment,

Ed’s favorite activity is the safety drill required

when we first get on the ship.

All we do is line up at our designated stations on the deck

And watch them demonstrate how to put on a life jacket.

You get rather spoiled having first-class entertainment every night.

Master Illusionists, Oosterdam Singers & Dancers, Pianist taking us

On a musical journey from Boogie to Beethoven to Billy Joel, Ragtime

To Rock n’ Roll, movie music & more!  Comedians. . .

Catch the Sunset

The last night the comedian Kevin Jordan got a large family good.

This family of 17, unfortunately down the hallway from us – consisted of

a father, mother, five brothers ranging in age from 25 down to 1; three sisters.

Two of the brothers are married so two wives and five grandbabies complete the menagerie.

The six babies cry and scream all through dinner in the formal dining room

and you should see the mess when they leave.

The wives are uncouth and loud besides being half undressed all the time.

They even take the babies to the night entertainment.

On the last night, the comedian, Kevin Jordan,

Some French Canadians wanted to take our picture so we let them.

put across the point we had all been wanting to all week.

He asked what ages the kids were.

He remarked he hated to change diapers of nearly-2-year-olds.

“Tiny babies are OK.”

“What do you do?”

“Farmers.”

Then he points to about five or six couples in the audience

asking them in turn if they have children?

“Yes.”

“Did you bring them?”

“No,” each couple answers.

We saw two sunsets this evening.

He sums it up by pointing back to them and asking, “Do you get the point?”

My feelings exactly.

They were so messy and loud

and everywhere right up front with their dresses falling off.

The waiters were all really good and patient with them;

purring over the babies.

I wonder if it is because they miss their own babies

in far away Thailand or the Philippines

that they make such a fuss over the babies.

They kept Made and Jo so busy in our hall

One over the mountains at Cabo

that they hardly had time to make up the beds for the rest of us.

The babies cried a lot and I’m sure they plugged the toilets

and raised all sorts of havoc.

There was always emergency crews there and the stench was horrific.

Meanwhile, the father/grandfather was up in the spa

enjoying all the luxury treatments for $100-$500 each.

DeRay saw him once and they all knew him so you know he went everyday.

And one over the ocean

DeRay figured their liquor bill would have been astronomical

as they always had drinks both at dinner and in between.

Farmers?  I wonder.

Maybe they sold the farm.

Ed passed two babies blocking the hallway and politely says, “Hi Cuties.”

“I’m sorry,” the mother says (for blocking the hallway).

“You should be,” Ed growls,

then comes to the next baby in a stroller and coos “Hi Cutie.”

CHRISTMAS CRUISE - Part 2

Tai Chi with Lifestylist Nick

Every morning DeRay and I did Tai Chi with Nick

On the Lido Deck out by the pool.

It was challenging the morning the wind was fierce.

We liked it.

We had Jonathan take pictures

So we could remember the moves.

Afterwards scolding him

For making us look fat and wrinkled.

In the digital workshop

We learned how to take wrinkles out of pictures

But can you fathom the time it would take

To edit all those wrinkles out?

Every evening to feed our souls before dinner,

Adagio Strings from the Ukraine

whether smart casual or formal,

We listened to the Adagio Strings for 45 minutes.

This may be the best part of the whole day.

Music inspires and uplifts.

Where are you Brent?

Last time the Adagio Strings

Were from Hungary.

This time they are from the Ukraine.

We pass right by the musicians without saying a word,

even though we thoroughly enjoy their music.

Fearless Ed says to them, “I love your music.

I heard one of my favorites of all time.  I have it.”

Then he tells me that it was the Blue Danube.

The Adagios just announced a number by Chopin.

“My favorite composer,” Ed exclaims.

DeRay, Ed, Jonathan listening to Adagio Strings

Because of the flu outbreak, for the first 48-hours

In the Lido was a serviced buffet.

That is, they handed us all the food and water with gloved hands.

After that, I guess we were germ-free or didn’t care.

Jonathan had a habit of getting dressed up,

Then going up to Lido to get a snack a couple of hours before dinner.

The food was delicious—lamb, salmon, turkey, surf & turf, shrimp, steaks, prime rib,

And for Ed one glorious meal of lasagna.  Chicken was Jonathan’s favorite.

Jeanette, Daru & Ed

Daru (Dah-rue) from Thailand with a wife and daughter at home

Was our joyful waiter.

He remembered to bring Ed a straw each night;

DeRay a glass of milk;

And Jonathan a fruit plate for dessert.

In Thailand, they have no last names; only long first names.

It may or may not be a family name.  His isn’t.

He and all the waiters work seven days a week,

14-16 hours a day for 10 months.

They have one hour off in the morning

And one hour off in the afternoon,

Unless something comes up..

Daru & DeRay

He ran to Wal*Mart when we were in Puerto Vallarto

on his hour off.  Pretty tricky.

His wife graduated from college in economics.

She sells cosmetics.

He graduated in hotel management because he loves people.

He was such a pleasant person.

I think he sold his soul to the cruise ship for 10 months

Because a business venture failed.

CHRISTMAS CRUISE - Part 1

Jonathan & Ed at castoff - leaving San Diego

 

Nothing happened

Everything was perfect

--the weather

--the activities

--the classes

--the food and entertainment

We waited for the defining moment. . .

Ed losing his artificial eye that has been

Coming out lately.

Eleven stories above; at least three below;

Three thousand people.

Oosterdam Holland America & Sapphire Princess

How would you ever find it?

But it didn’t happen.

No one got sick.

Not even for a few hours.

On the last night, at 2:30 AM

I woke up and felt for where I had laid Jonathan’s PJ’s

after he left for the Teen Farewell Party.

They were right where I left them.

Panic?  WHERE IS HE?

I go the bathroom in the dark;

Put on my shoes; find my card;

Turn on the light for a brief second

And HOLY COW!  HERE HE IS . .

Jonathan on his Perch

Sleeping peacefully in his perch

with all his clothes on.

“I came in at midnight,” he explained

the next morning.

Or we could have been kidnapped and killed in Mexico

But no; two women were brutally murdered on Main Street

In peaceful safe St. George instead.

We could have blown overboard when the wind whipped up

The Hugh Men

And 10-14 foot waves slammed the ship.

We could have had a fire in the kitchen and lost electricity;

We were prepared with head lamps,

Each and everyone.

Instead, the cruise

Was Blissful

Stimulating

Relaxing

Informative

Entertaining

NOTHING to complain about

Except to quote Ed,

“It was over too soon.”

OPPORTUNITY

I wonder

if I would have been a good soccer player

when I was little

if we had had soccer leagues in Orderville.

I wonder

how I would be in ballet

if we had had a ballet teacher.

Jeanette, Lucy, LaRue, Old Gyp, our trusty sheep dog, Lynn James, Shirley, Ramona, VeRene
at Dry Lake Point.

BONUS BLESSINGS

Even in early December

we were tired of winter and snow

freezing wind, sleet, fog and colorless days.

Heading to San Diego to catch the sunshine

on a cruise to Mexico,

I commented after waking up in Primm

with the sun shining brightly,

“It’s such a blessing to wake up to sunshine.”

“At our age," DeRay muses,
it's a blessing to wake up;

a bonus to wake up to sunshine.”

DeRay, Ed, Jonathan, Jeanette Hugh @ Puerto Vallarta