We Are Again Land Lubbers!

Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2025 by Paul

Our boat was not rocking, and in fact, we were up and moving at 7:00 am. The kids took our car to visit Jon’s father in Vista, California.

Before they departed, I tried Mary’s car to make sure it would go since we seldom drive it, and guess what? It was DEAD! We called AAA, and they came out and replaced the battery, and Precious felt much better!

The kids drove to Pete’s, which takes about 90 minutes, and they had a great day!

We took down Valentine’s decor and began putting up ST. Patrick’s Day decor.

Mary and I visited Jeff for a while before coming home, making dinner, and crashing around 9:00 p.m. It has been a long week!

Robin Is On Day Four

Day 4- Sailaway from Puerto Chacabuco as the ship was waiting to depart Maggie and I we were having our Dive-In Burgers and Bloody Mary’s on the Lido Deck, another dam ship was in the port with us, the Volendam. I couldn’t tell if we were moving or if the Volendam was moving and as soon as Maggie said “the captain will sound the horn” the Volendam’s Captain sounded their horn indicating they were departing first. Then suddenly the Captain of the Oosterdam sounded their horn but did a series which sounded like some kind of a melody. Then the Volendam’s Captain sounded their horn a few more times as they started to move. We thought the battle of the horns was over… but both Captains kept it going like that until the Volendam was out of the Oosterdam’s way. We and other passengers got a chuckle out of the “battle of the ship horns”.

Sail Day 4- February 22, 2025; today Maggie and I did not have a plan as the ship wasn’t docking in Puerto Chacabuco, Chile (Patagonia) until 11 a.m. I noted as we continue on down to the bottom of South America, the colder it is becomming. Today it is overcast, 54 degrees, windy and it could rain. We ordered our usual room service breakfast and then off to the spa we went (we normally go in the siesta hours knowing more than one senior will be sawing logs while we will have the spa to ourselves)… much to our delight the plan worked and there was only other person in the spa. We made our way off of the ship a bit past 1pm, to a port that had no town for at least 7 miles. There were tour guides waiting right there at the exit vying for tour business. Maggie knows how to handle these people and when quoted 50 dollars per person for a 4 hr. tour to the various sites, plus the town she said “no gracias!” We moved on a little further and she found a tour guide who she negotiated with for us, as well as two other women from our ship willing to share the tour so we all got the $25.00 pp rate. We went to various sights in the area, and Maggie with her great photographic eye took fabulous pictures I will get from her later.

We made it back to the ship on time and just before it started to rain. It was a different kind of rain than what I am used to, this rain was soft and quiet. Dinner at The Pinnacle was excellent as always, Maggie and I shared South American Rib Eye Tacos as an appetizer and I had the grilled lobster with Baked Alaska for dessert (my favorite). Maggie opted for the Chillean Sea Bass so I tried a little… it was delicious and I do not eat fish but I will have that next time! It was during dinner the Captain annonced the storm was in front of us and as the evening wore on we would experience 14 ft. swells, woo hoo!

After dinner Maggie got the roulette itch again however this time while I was watching her from a distance, some number’s popped into my head so I walked over there, got 200.00 in purple chips and told Maggie what numbers I was feeling then both of us placed chips on the numbers 0-00. We won on the first spin of the wheel! 35 to 1! The pit bosses came over to see what was going on and I told them it was beginners luck! I played a few more hands and walked away with a pocket full of money to help pay for my manicure and facial in the spa. As we settled into our cabin for the night, the ship started rockin’ and rollin! visions of Titanic was in my head as I fell asleep to the creaking sounds of our cabin and verandah furniture being pushed around by the wind.

?Robin

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Day 8 – We Made It Home In Spite Of The Taxi Triver!

Posted on Friday, February 21, 2025 by Paul

We are ready for the next adventure!

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

We were up early and checked every drawer twice before we left the room. Because we had “The Key,” we had breakfast service in the Grille, where we could watch the hustle and bustle of people getting off the ship. We were not in a hurry. We were moving so slowly that a sloth passing by gave us a judgmental look and said, “Come on, folks, I’ve got places to be!”

The room was about 50% full, so it was very quiet!

As we exited the grille, we found a lady holding a key. She got us through the lines in about 20 seconds, and everyone wondered why we passed them by!

Our porter was super! He grabbed everything and took us to the curb. I gave him $50, and he was appreciative! We then waited for our taxi, and we waited and waited. The taxi driver got hung up in traffic for quite a while. We were the only remaining passengers leaving the ship when the driver arrived.

While loading the bag, our original ported ran up from another job and said, “These are my people; I will load them up!” Our taxi driver loaded one handbag before passing out from the stress.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Joe drove our Tijuana Taxi, his new favorite chick magnet. We thought he would be in the grey Soccer Mom’s van!

Joe may want to keep this car to drive in the desert!

We got home quickly (because we all provided him directions after he went through three clover leaves attempting to avoid traffic). It was live Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!

Arriving home, we all kissed the Earth and thanked our stars for the safe journey home from the ship. In a cloud of dust and a hearty “Hi Yo Silver,” Senior Joe and his taxi took off again…probably looking for a paying customer!

We sat around all afternoon and visited. The kids did their wash since they are going to see Pete and Lisa tomorrow morning.

Mary fixed a small pastrami sandwich (without the pastrami) to hold us over until later in the evening.

Around 5:00 pm, we went to the Elks and had dinner, but at 7:00 pm, Old Mr. Sandman made a delivery, and by 7:30 pm, we were all in bed sawing logs!

Robin Is In Chile Today!

Sail Day 3 – Feb. 21, Puerto Montt, Chile; Weather 72 drgrees. We took a private tour with a small group of fellow passengers to Vincente Perez Rosales National Park to see the Petrohue Waterfalls, Orsono Valcano (where you can see the last eruption of ash in 2011 hardened on the ground in some locations), Puerto Varas, where we were treated with a lake side wine and traditional Empanada and finally the city of Frutiller where on the road to this city, the tour guide kept saying cooken but we didn’t know what he was referring to.. he said it a couple of times “the best cooken, wait and see”. Once we arrived in Frutiller he led us on foot to an authentic German Kuchen Bakery established by German immigrants 1846-1914! I immediately thought of Mary and her stories of life in Germany and going to Octoberfest with her and papa. Maggie ordered a fantastic apple strudle and I opted for staying on my diet. As it turned out our tour guide was a descendant of German great-grandparents although his Spanish language skiils and coloring were definitely Cillean. It was a great day.

?Robin

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Day 7 – Sailing Home Day Two; Tomorrow We Arrive!

Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2025 by Paul

Thank you, Jon and Sarah, for making us feel very special.

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

We popped up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7:30 am when the doorbell rang. It was our morning coffee, the thing that starts your heart every morning. We both jumped in the shower and got ready for the expected 8:30 am knock at the door; we were having breakfast with the kids.

Well, we got to the restaurant, which was packed, with a line about 50 feet long. Needless to say, we opted for the dreaded trough. It was pretty good, and Jon only went for two helpings.

As the crew danced through the Windjammer, I joined in the parade for a while! My ham and eggs nearly slipped off the table!

From there, we went to the photo studio to select our pictures! That was quite an exercise! Software designers ought to be made to use their products!

We had a delightful evening; the pictures will remind us!!

Then we went to the “Tribute To The Armed Forces” at the Grand Theater. It was pretty nice as they had the Navigator of the Seas Orchestra doing the honors. The entrance had a giant cake displaying our American Flag!

After last night’s lesson on snacking between meals, we opted to pass it by.

They recognized all the armed forces and played their fight songs. I picked the US Marines as a tribute to Pete!

On the move again, we went to the Suite Lounge and sat just long enough to decide to split up before taking whiskey at 2:00 pm.

Mary went to our room and packed 90% of our belongings, making it easy tonight. Yes, before you ask, we left something to wear when we woke in the morning. Otherwise, we would be walking off the ship in our jammies, a sight no one would want to see and live to tell about it.

At 1:30 p.m., the doorbell went off, and the kids picked us up to head to the Bamboo room again for another round of tasting, this time MacCallum Scottish Whiskey! We will be tasting 12, 15, and 18-year-old products. Below is MacCallum Sixty (hint: add up all the numbers)!

Ookie ookie, Santa was here!

Feast your eyes! After examining their color and sipping, we downed the shots to hear what everyone tasted.

Someone did not finish theirs!

We had a load of fun teasing the bartenders and making funny sounds as we forced down this foul-tasting stuff (I didn’t think it was foul, but the girl made faces that would scare Godzilla)

The four of them did well!

What time is it? It’s shopping time, and Mary is looking for a bargain sweatshirt outfit. It was funny to see Mary try it on, and both the saleslady and I had to assist her.

Mary needed a fleece-lined outfit, and there it was, 30% off.

We walked for a while and finally ended up in our stateroom, deciding we needed to visit the Bolero Bar before going to dinner at “Hooked,” the seafood restaurant. I plan to order oysters in honor of Vicky! Jon said he was going to attack the lobster!

The restaurant was small and very quiet!

We all got oysters in honor of Vicky, but first, we tried taking pictures using the booth mirrors.

Mirror mirror on the wall.

These suckers were huge!

Look at those babies.

Mary was a trooper and tried one, but she expressed her opinion with a ten-minute series of facial expressions that frightened the waitstaff, several of whom scampered out of the restaurant.

Mary expressed her opinion!

Then the lobster arrived; wow!

We ate lobster all evening long!

We wandered by the lounge to say goodbye to our favorite bartender before heading upstairs to crash!

Robin Was At Sea (Day Two)

Day 2: Feb 20 – Sea Day; the ship was a rockin’ and a rollin’ all day and it wasn’t because Maggie and I took an early line dance glass! we had a lot of fun and learned 4 dances and followed up the dance workout with a power walk around the ship. We cleaned up and had a wonderful filet mignon lunch at The Pinnacle restaurant where the attentive server had noticed my Disney jacket and brought me a surprise dessert, two scoops of lemon sorbet and between them on the dish was a not-so hidden Mickey made out of a strawberry slice and two blueberries for ears. Very cute! After lunch we decided to try out our Picasso skills and took a seat in the art studio. We water-colored some kind of flowers; Maggie’s looked great, mine spoke to me and said “you need lots of practice!”. I needed a stiff drink after that art torture so we ventured to the many bars we like and made fast friends with the bartender serving Martini’s. Of course I had to have a few! Chocolate, Dry-3 olives, some concoction called Fashionista made with pineapple juice and I took a pass on the special of the day… a side-car Martini made with brandy (papa would have probably liked this one). Suddenly, Maggie got the roulette itch so off she went to the casino and I sat down in a nearby lounge to watch a trivia game being played. It didn’t take Maggie long before she was back. We headed to the BBKings/Rolling Stone lounge and spent the next couple of hours listening to hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Maggie and I are on the younger end of most of the passengers but we enjoyed watching them swinging and swaying while we finished off the night with a few glasses of an excellent Cillean red blend. During our ship shinnagins of bar hopping at least 4 crew members recognized and called her by name and one even remembered both of us being together on the Koningsdam in 2023. The bartenders are the best! I brought along something I found called a “Hangover Patch” …. it is actually a 12-vitamin patch that releases antioxidants, nutrients, and a host of A’s, B’s C’s and D’s. All I know is I put that patch on at 11:30 p m. and woke up 5 hrs. later to get ready for an early departure off the ship and I felt great!
>
> Love to all.

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Day 6 – Sailing Up The Baja Coast Toward Home Day One

Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by Paul

Today was the fifth anniversary of Sue’s passing. We especially enjoyed Colleen’s message on her Facebook account! Sue is indeed missed by all!

But life must continue, and Mary and I must do just that!!

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

Today, we get to relax! We got up at 7:00 am and piddled around the cabin, having a cup of coffee and watching Baja California pass by; we were sailing about twenty miles offshore.

Mary had a brainstorm, “Let’s go to the hot tub!” So we dressed in our swimming costumes and went to the “adults only” hot tubs! Mary bought me a hollowed-out pineapple that was filled with gin martinis! Slurp and burp, and it was gone. I was ready to jump in!

With my newly added confidence (gin does that to me), I did a high dive into the hot tub, sending a wave of water down the stairs and onto the deck. The next sound I heard was Mary exclaiming, “Who is that idiot?” I knew I was in trouble when Security showed up.

The only good thing was that I put my thong on correctly, and my little blow-up ducky arm floaters worked well because I did NOT sink! Later on in the day, I pondered whether or not it was the little blow-up duckies for the alcohol that kept me afloat.

I am so lucky! My thing fits no matter which way I put it on!

After my diving exhibition, we went to the trough (called the Windjammer Cafe) and had a quick breakfast before returning to our room to rest before the next meal. I should be more respectful and not call it “The Piggery.”

Next, we went to the Taste Of The Caribbean with Jon and Sarah. It was held at the Bamboo Room restaurant in the mall’s center.

It was quiet and peaceful inside (until we got there!)

The girls had on the appropriate attire!

Did You Know? Rum is also known as “Nelson’s Blood” because Admiral Lord Nelson’s body was submerged in rum after he died at the Battle of Trafalgar.

We went to the Bamboo Room and found great seats. There were only 14 of us today!

We received a complete recipe and history for the six rum drinks. It was fascinating to see how many drinks one could make with Rum!

They had us make six different rum drinks.

Jon and I checked Wikipedia to ensure we got the correct story. The bartenders did a good job!!

The drink’s history (as best they knew) was provided to us.

When it came Jon’s turn, he did not need measuring devices!

Jon volunteered.

The drinks were colorful and healthy, full of vitamin C due to the orange, pineapple, and lime juices used.

My little two-fisted drinker.

Who needs an electric shaker when you have Jon? The ladies in the group keep yelling, “Shake your booty,” whatever that means.

Jon and I were putting away the drinks, and being good guys, we assisted our ladies in drinking the results.

Here are some trivia facts about rum:

The origin of the word “rum” is unclear, but it may come from the word “rumbullion,” which means “uproar.”

History: Rum was first purified in the 1620s in the Caribbean and West Indies.

Use as medicine: Rum was used as a medicine.

Use as currency: Rum was used as a trading currency.

Rum and Lord Nelson: After Lord Nelson was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar, his body was submerged in a rum barrel to preserve it.

Rum and the American Revolution: The American colonists didn’t want to pay a tax on molasses to pay for the Seven Years’ War against the French.

Navy rum: The term “Navy Rum” dates back to the 18th century when sailors celebrated at the end of each day.

Rum and pirates: Many rums are named after pirates, including Captain Morgan, Pirate’s Grog, and Kraken.

Needless to say, we enjoyed our drink-making session, and we have even signed up for whiskey tasting tomorrow!

Like grandson, like grandpa.

Now, the professional has a chance to impress everybody. In addition to the usual ingredients, Sarah brought bat wings, the eye of a newt, and fish feathers. She decided not to scare everyone, so she did not wear her black pointed hat.

Sarah added some class to the bar staff.

You go, girl!

Mary enjoyed the activity, and we all wore our newly found T-shirts.

Like the T-shirts??

I drank everything but the last one, rum and ginger beer, yuch!

We tasted them all.

We decided to recreate the scene of the crime. Four people and twenty-four glasses of Rum, there has to be a song about that somewhere!

Grandpa Paul finished each of his creations (except the Ginger Beer).

The girls were able to coax us out of the Bamboo Room and go upstairs so I could grab a burger on the way to the Suite Lounge, where a deck of cards was waiting. out

The girls made sure we made it to the destination.

We escaped for the Bamboo Room and arrived at the fourteenth-floor lounge.

Mary had her marked cards, and we played four rounds of Crazy Eights. Why is it called Crazy Eights? The game first appeared as Eights in the 1930s, and the name Crazy Eights dates to the 1940s. It is derived from the United States military designation for the discharge of mentally unstable soldiers, Section 8.

We played Crazy-8s in the lounge after downing a hamburger.

After departing the lounge, we rested for a few minutes and headed to the spa for a couples massage! Oh my, that did me in. I was out like a lite within 30 seconds. When they were done, Mary and I wobbled to the room to get fancied up for dinner.

Dinner? Oh my!!

We found a dark booth in the corner of the Grille and had one more glass of wine before the kids arrived. I was so full from the burger I had three hours earlier that I ordered a salad and some Mac and cheese! All four of us were so relaxed after the massage! Oh my!

The Grille is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the main dining rooms.

We decided tonight was a great night to go to the room and crash. We did so!

We saw a Princess Ship heading for San Pedro out the window. She is supposed to dock on Thursday evening.

A fellow cruise ship began to pass us late in the day!

The last thing I remember is the news showing how things have changed.

Proceed To Day Seven —>

We Were Not The Only Ones Traveling!

2/19 – landed in Santiago, Chile after an 11hr. flight. on an older 787 Dreamliner. Had an economy seat against the window that gave a semi recline, some leg space in front and with a great wrap around neck pillow Maggie gifted me with, and the 1st class comfort pouch from Mary (nightmask, chap stick, hand lotion, etc.) I was ready for the 11 hr. flight. We landed in Santiago at 6:00 a.m. and after clearing customs was greeted by Holland America staff, who directed us to the nearest coffee shop, Starbucks. I was happily surprised to find the “Chile” coffee mug “Been There” series to add to my travel collection. About an hour later, Holland America had us board busses for the 2 hr. ride to the port, however it was actually a tour company that had suddenly been contracted by Holland America due to an outbreak of Norovirus on the Rotterdam ship over in Florida which had every ship in the fleet under an emergency directive to sanitize top to bottom. The Oosterdam having just returned from Antarctica had to deboard and sanitize which delayed our boarding time by 3 hrs. so we got a land tour and overview of the Chilean sights and a view of the beginning of the Andes mountains and a look at some vineyards as we passed thru. We stopped for 3 hrs. at a cafe/wine bar mini-mall and I was able to take a power nap before we got to the port. With Maggie’s priority access we were in Group 1 and walked right to our cabin and was surprised by our luggage waiting in our room. We were unpacked and clinking our first glass of sparkling bubbly in no time, dedicating our first day and Bon Voyage to Sue. Next stop was the Spa Hydro pool for rejuvenation after the 24 hr. travel day, then it was lights out.

Love to all, Robin

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Day 5 – Puerto Vallarta Was Beautiful And Bustling With Activity.

Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 by Paul

Correction: First cruise this year!!

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, water sports, and nightlife. The city’s cobblestone center is home to the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, boutique shops, and various restaurants and bars. El Malecón is a beachside promenade with contemporary sculptures, bars, lounges, and nightclubs.

Happy Eighth Anniversary!

Today, we departed the ship at 10:00 am and headed for the area west of the city. We caught the bus on the pier and drove for about 40 minutes.

We drove along Mazatlán’s Malecón, one of the longest oceanfront boardwalks in the world, stretching over 21 kilometers. It is perfect for a leisurely walk or bike ride while enjoying breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Our first stop was a cacao plantation. Mexico produces only about 1% of the world’s cacao, but the government is attempting to increase that percentage.

The Cacao Plantation is relatively new.

The facility provided a detailed history beginning in 5000 BC with the Mayans. Cacao was brought to Europe in the mid-1750s, and they made terrific progress in using cacao. They did, unfortunately, begin to add processed sugar instead of raw sugar. We bought some 80% cacao bars.

History is nicely portrayed on the wall.

Mary and I read every sign, and it was pretty interesting.

Looking good!

The cacao pod is large and comes from the limbs of the tree. The tree lasts 50 years. Cacao trees grow in a limited geographical zone of about 20° to the north and south of the Equator. The cacao pod needs a lot of humidity to grow.

A typical pod contains 30 to 40 beans; about 400 dried beans are required to make one pound (450 g) of chocolate. Read here for more information.

The Cacao Pods grow all over the tree.

We jumped back on the bus and drove a few miles to a tortilla “factory.” It was in the heart of a small town with dirt roads and stray dogs! Our tour guide lived in this town for a while and used to get the family’s daily ration of tortillas from this store.

We stopped to get tortillas.

Evarardo Rodríguez Arce and Luis Romero invented the first tortilla machine in 1904. However, it was not popular because the tortillas were square. Fausto Celorio Mendoza is credited with inventing the first automatic round tortilla machine in 1947.

The shop opens early in the morning like a bakery and goes all day. The bags in the back contain corn.

The tortilla machine was invented in 1950.

We moved on to a honey-making facility just a few miles away and tasted several different types of honey.

From there, was had a few minutes to kill, so the driver stopped at the city plaza, which had a large church. We went in and walked around.

The churches are always beautiful, while the people live with much less.

Several jackfruit trees were in the plaza. Jackfruit is the largest fruit grown on a tree. A tree takes 5-7 years to produce fruit, and jackfruit trees produce 150- 200 fruits yearly. The fruit is picked in the summer and fall before it falls off the tree.
Jackfruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals you need for good health. It’s an excellent source of B vitamins, potassium, and vitamin C. Read more here.

Fruit trees grew in the town center.

We are on our way to “The Ranch,” which conjures up quite an image. It was not quite a ranch, but it is slowly becoming one.

We took the back roads.

We hit the tables running (after a margarita). Mary used her surgical talents to tie off the ends of the tamales.

Mary tied the corn husks for everyone.

The vegetable tamales were grilled, and the chef cooked chicken and beef. The smells were terrific: rub-a-dub-dub, bring on the grub!

Our tour guide was also one of the chefs!

Their lake was full of ducks! I can see duck tamales in the future.

Ducks everywhere.

We returned to the ship and went to the Suite Lounge, where we had Indian chicken and cold cuts. There, we watched as Mazatlan disappeared.

Goodbye, Puerto Vallarta!

Mary decided we needed to go to the shows tonight, so we headed to Studio B for the ice skating show! The drone display wowed us; watch the movie, and you will see almost 100 drones dancing over the ice.

The skaters did their routines well in such a relatively small rink.

Amazing skaters in Studio-B

We walked quickly to the main theater from the ice skating event and watched the juggling act. We were in the second row, and it was so funny that I almost spilled my wine.

We enjoyed the act.

From the theater, we met up with Jon and Sarah, who were in the Boleros Bar, so we could have a nightcap and do a little dancing. We managed to do some waltzes and cha-chas. We look pretty good, considering we each had two glasses of vino!

It was getting to be Oh Dark Thirty, so we headed to the tenth floor.

Good night, all, and Happy Anniversary, Jon and Sarah!

Remember to turn back your clock!!

Proceed To Day 6 —>

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Day 4 – Mazatlan And More Cooking Classes!

Posted on Monday, February 17, 2025 by Paul

Room service has arrived.

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

We were up early today to prepare for our cooking class. Since there were no tenders to deal with, we walked off the ship and caught a bus to the hotel. It was a short drive down the shoreline.

The entrance was quite impressive!

We walked through the lobby into a large open-air room adjacent to the pool. A table full of margaritas greeted us!

We were greeted with unlimited margaritas!

We examined the table but were warned about the heat from the serrano pepper. I took one bite while the girls screamed at me; it was no hotter than a jalapeno!! The serrano pepper is a type of chili pepper that originated in the mountainous regions of the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo. Its Scoville rating is 10,000 to 25,000. The pepper’s name refers to the mountains of these regions. It is commonly used to make hot sauces.

Oh my, we are making salsa.

It’s time to make salsa—or should I say magic? The surgeon went to work. I chopped, and she used a mortar and pestle to mash the ingredients into what looked like salsa. A mortar and pestle is a kitchen tool used to grind, smash, and mix ingredients. It’s a versatile tool that can be used for many cooking tasks, including making marinades, sauces, and spice blends.

She is about to use her magic.

Each table had to vote on who would be the table captain and whose job it was to keep the table under control after all the margaritas were downed. I was voted in and had to wear a blue hat!

I was voted “Table Captain.”

They made the mistake of asking if any table captains knew how to dance, so I performed my best and showed my best side.

Get, um, big boy. Mary ran up and put a dollar in my waistband! She also asked for change!

They needed volunteers, and the selection was based on how close your anniversary was! Jon and Sarah won and provided a great demonstration.

Dang, they look good.

They said it is so easy to make margaritas, but you can do it blindfolded.

This could be a problem.

During our visit, we made five different salsas. It was quite easy, and we bought their cookbook so we could make them at home. No more “out-of-the-jar” salsa for Senior and Senior Liles!

We lost count of the number of margaritas we downed!

Jon tried the hot peppers and agreed that they were not hot.

Go, Jon, Go!

We departed the Royal Villa Hotel around 2:45 pm.

The hotel was quite nice.

The kids were watching out for us all day to ensure Mary did not get into trouble. I, on the other hand, am a lost cause! I have decided my middle name is “Trouble.”

The dancers all yelled, “Jon!!!”

We walked through a shopping area, and Mary found some treasures.

Going home!

We could see our stateroom on the tenth floor.

We could see our room.

Mary and I headed for the suite lounge and met up with a new friend. We drank wine and saki for the rest of the afternoon.

It was time for dinner, and we were having “Dinner With The Chef”! We got to meet the chef who prepared each course, and we also made new friends.

Mary counted the glasses and got worried.

Oh my! There were a lot of glasses we had to dirty before dinner was over. Hic!!

Wine with every course, including dessert.

The kids are not kids, only in our eyes! They were delightful dinner partners and great conversationalists with everyone around the table.

They were on their best behavior.

Each course was like a display of modern art.

Each course was beautiful and delicious.

When dinner was over, everyone was done for the day. We then flew VFR to our stateroom and crashed! It was another fantastic day in Mexico.

Proceed to Day Five —>

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Day 3 – Cabo San Lucas Here We Come!

Posted on Sunday, February 16, 2025 by Paul

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

We had to change our clocks, but we forgot to tell the computers to change them so we were an hour late automatically. Mary had to rush to her 8:30 am appointment when they called at 8:45 am! She went to the spa, and I went to the coffee shop and brought her a latte. Mary without her coffee is a site you do NOT want to see.

On the way into port, Jon spotted the dolphins who came out to welcome us. He waved enthusiastically, but they just flipped upside down and started doing what looked like synchronized swimming. “I knew they were talented,” Jon joked, “but I didn’t expect a full aquatic performance! Next stop, Dancing with the Dolphins!”

There were hundreds of these critters jumping for joy!

We pulled into port at noon, and the weather was perfect! We left the ship around noon today and headed for our first Mexican cooking class.

72 degrees with a slight breeze.

The ship was too big to dock, so we took tenders to the city. It was a short ride and quite pleasant, with the temperature in the mid-70s.

We got a good view of the city.

We took a small bus to the METATE CAFE, where the class was taught. It was about ten minutes from the port along Highway One.

After arriving and settling in, we got a tour of the gardens before the cooking lessons began. Their property was interesting and well-maintained.

We got our sombreros so that we would be in the mood.

We got a drink along with the tour! As the day progressed, we had several drinks!

The day was perfect in terms of the weather.

They had a tribute to Mexican movie stars. The bottom left was Cantiflas, who played David Niven’s butler in the movie “80 Days Around The World”.

Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, known by the stage name Cantinflas, was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered the most widely accomplished Mexican comedian and is well-known throughout Latin America and Spain.

As he talked, we recognized some of the names!

During our tour, we passed their bar, and the owner pulled out a jar from under the counter of Mezcal, complete with a rattlesnake inside. Jon and I went for a shot of the Mezcal á la Snake. Like Grandpa, like Grandson; both goofy!

The snake had been floating in the jar for seven months, and Jon and I hissed for two hours afterward!

“Tequila Con Vibor,” as this potent admixture is known locally, is the result of a live rattlesnake drowned in a jug of mezcal liquor. Regional lore maintains that the dying serpent releases a cocktail of medicinal chemicals upon expiration, supplementing the liquor’s strength and charm.

Mezcal is made from the heart of the agave plant called the piña. The Agave genus is a member of the Agavoideae subfamily of the Asparagaceae plant family, which has almost 200 species. Mezcal is made from over 30 Agave species, varieties, and subvarieties, unlike tequila, which is made only with blue agave. 90% of Mexican mezcal comes from Oaxaca. Mezcal is generally consumed straight in Mexico and has a strong, smoky flavor. Though other types of mezcal are not as popular as tequila, Mexico exports the product mainly to Japan and the United States, and exports are increasing as the popularity of liquor grows.

When Mary saw what we were drinking, she shook her head in disbelief and backed away five steps!

The Robin pose!

We stayed by the bar for a while, and everyone was looking at us after we downed the snake-laden Mezcal. Hissssssss! Rattle rattle! We both sounded like 1910 Chevrolets; we only needed an occasional backfire. That may have occurred, but we didn’t tell anyone!

Jon was busy delivering a drink to a lady who had difficulty standing and walking. He is a good boy!

Back to our table! It was perfect, as we could see everything going on. We had Ceviche first, and we sent Vicky a picture.

Ceviche is a lean, healthy dish, high in protein and low in fat. Fresh fish provides omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health. Due to all the veggies featured, you’ll also find a fair share of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The ceviche was outstanding, rivaling Vicky’s special homemade ceviche.

We got a lesson in rolling corn, and Mary got into the mood. Corn was flying in every direction! I knew she was a bit corny!

A metate (or mealing stone) is a type or variety of quern, a ground stone tool used for processing grain and seeds. In traditional Mesoamerican cultures, women typically used metates to grind nixtamalized maize and other organic materials during food preparation (e.g., making tortillas).

She sang, “Roll Roll Roll You Corn, Merrily Down The Stream!”

We were served a pork leg, which was humungous. It tasted wonderful. Mary nibbled, and I had to eat the rest; I forced myself. Dang the luck!

We had flan for dessert. By the end of the day, we were stuffed and had dinner reservations at the Italian restaurant on board at 7:00 p.m. Oh my, I may have to wear a robe to dinner.

That pig must have been 600 pounds based on his leg!!

The trip back to the pier was uneventful. We all went to the staterooms immediately and rested briefly before dinner. I could hardly wait to take off my girdle!

The Navigator Of The Seas was waiting for us.

The small hills surrounding the city were backlit by the dropping Sun. Although the temperature dropped a few degrees, it was still pleasant to be outside.

The sun was setting as we boarded the ship for the next leg of the adventure.

The view from the tenth floor was excellent, and we watched the boats shuffle people back to the ship!

There were some fantastic yachts at the harbor!

Jamie’s Italian Bistro had a delicious-looking menu, but we all opted for the smallest thing we could find; I even ordered a salad! As we attempted to finish our dinner, we saw people coming on board at the last minute. They looked like little ants! Oops, we were looking under our table, and they were ants!

We went to the magic show at 9:00 pm, and it was really great! The ship’s cruise director put on the show himself, which was terrific. After the show, we all took a vote, and the outcome was unanimous: head for bed! We were all pooped out.

Jon and Sarah went to the ice show and raved about the performances. While they were there, Mary and I sawed logs—mine was a redwood!!

Proceed To Day Four —->

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Day 2 – Sailing Sailng Over The Bounding Main

Posted on Saturday, February 15, 2025 by Paul

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

Can you believe it? Balloons at breakfast! The kids brought us treasures from last night’s festivities, which we slept through. The bright colors danced in the light, bringing a cheerful vibe to our cozy room.

We brewed a fresh pot of coffee, its rich aroma wrapping around us like a warm hug. After all, we had a delicious sushi feast to look forward to during our class at 10:00 am! The anticipation of those tasty rolls made our hearts race even faster. What a way to kick off the day!

We are ready to make our masterpieces.

When we got there, everything was ready, including the table covered in Saran wrap so we could use it as a workspace. They should have also covered the floor!

Ingredients? Check!

Mary always brings her travel purse on cruises; thank you, Miss Robin!

Mary loves her “Cruising Purse.”

Our first creation was a uramaki, and we used all the tools—bamboo and our fingers! A uramaki is a Japanese sushi roll with rice on the outside and nori on the inside. The name translates to “inside-out roll.”

Our first creation.

We watched the master at work; Sarah made them perfectly. The rest of us laughed our way through the process and had items that looked like a herd of wild animals attacked them.

The “almost” finished product!

We turned in our dishes to the head chef, and with the magic of a touch here and push there, he made them look pretty darn good,

Done with finishing touches added by the staff.

We downed our creations and decided not to go to lunch. We spotted Jon and Sarah at an empty bar; the rest is history, which we remember. One of these and one of those made for a super afternoon! The bartender remembered us!

We found an empty bar!

The girls saw the “mall,” and we were off and running. The windows along the top are rooms with windows facing indoors, which is not a bad idea! Last night, the crew hung a thousand balloons from the ceiling, and at midnight, let them drop! Jon and Sarah stayed up for the balloon drop while Mary and I sawed logs!

Time to shop!

We went up ten flights from the mall to the private Suite Lounge, where it was quiet, and we had our saki afternoon drink(s). Yummy!!! We watched the world go by and drank saki! Life does not get better than this!

Fourteen flights up, we found solitude from the hustle and bustle of ship-board life!

We had Kikusui Saki. This Junmai Ginjo is the most popular sake loved by many people in America. No other sake can offer the same experience as the Kikusui Junmai Ginjo. It is a fun sake to drink on any occasion. Extremely Clean and Crisp.

Hic! Need we say more?

Now, it was time for a quick nap before dinner. We returned to Chops Grill and devoured a boggle of wine and several steaks! We were good and skipped dessert.

Mary, as usual, looked magnificent this evening and again got several compliments from various ladies as we waltzed through the hallways. I even heard one man say to his wife, “Than old man’s daughter is beautiful!”

Time To Dine!!

We had a table by the window and watched the sea go by from our eleventh-floor perch. By the time we were finished, it was dark outside, and we scanned the sea for any signs of life. Jon had his maritime app running, telling us where to look, but the closest ship was still too far away!

We laughed and giggled for almost two hours!

Since we were Suite guests, we had reserved seating and sat in the second row, which gave us a great view of the stage! The dancing was great, and they attempted to play ballroom music, but the only piece we recognized was “Boogey Woogey Bugle Boy.” The Andrews sisters would have rolled over in their graves if they had.

The show was called “Ballroom”; while the dancing was great, it was T ballroom!

Earlier in the day, Mary lost one of her hearing aids. We looked all over the ship and wrote it off as lost. After the show, we stopped at a bar (duh!) and told the bartender that we had lost a hearing aid. I showed him mine, and he said, “One of my customers found it and took it to the front desk.”

Below is Mary’s hero—we call him Eagle Eye! We bought him drinks for the rest of the evening.

Mary and I danced a waltz and cha cha, and Mary danced with a gentleman to whom we had sat next. He was disabled, so they danced in the bar! We drank Brandy Alexander’s the rest of the evening.

Mary’s hero!

We headed to the room around 11:00 pm and crashed. I was sloshing after wine and several Brandy Alexanders. A Brandy Alexander is a brandy-based dessert cocktail consisting of cognac, crème de cacao, and cream that became popular during the early 20th century. It is a variation of an earlier, gin-based cocktail called simply an Alexander. The cocktail known as Alexander today may contain gin or brandy. Ice cream can be added for a “frozen Brandy Alexander.”

Proceed To Day Three —->

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Day 1 – It’s A Big Day! Valentines Day And Departure!

Posted on Friday, February 14, 2025 by Paul

Mexican Adventure: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 5 – Day 6 – Day 7 – Day 8

I knew that Mary watching all those Viking TV series while she was recovering would be a problem!

Joe picked us up and took us to the port using the van. We zipped right along, arriving right on time, 11:45 am. We got our bags checked in and walked to the boarding area. We bought “The Key,” which gave us priority boarding and muster check-in, so we were in the special luncheon facilities for Key members by 12:30!

It was a cool but beautiful day; the rain storms were gone.

We passed by the Iowa, and although it looked dangerous, it was pretty small compared to the Navigator of the Seas.

This battleship is a fantastic piece of 1940s technology!

Lunch was provided for us in the dining room, and of course, we started the day with filet mignon… and a glass of vino. I opted for a gin martini to get into the mood, and it worked. Before lunch, I was already battening down the hatches and suggesting that certain people walk the plank. All I needed was an eye patch.

We have arrived.

First things first, lunch!! It was nice to sit down in a quiet area and plan the rest of the day!!

Eat heartily, mateys! We have a special dinner, and a comedian is performing in the theater. Deck the hulls with waves of laughter.

We were dressed for the day; we got the memo about wearing red. Mary got many comments about her outfit as we strolled around the ship! I thought she was a standout for sure.

We got the memo about wearing red. We are Sailing through life, one wave at a time.

We went to see our room, and it was quite lovely. We did not have a grand piano this time, but I brought the iPhone and a Boom Box to cover all bases.

We were patient and watched TV.

We explored the room, which was pretty nice. The bowling alley was a little short, but we could get used to it!

The TV rotates; you can also see it from the bed! It turns 180 degrees!

As we sat in the Suite Lounge on the 12th floor, the ship began moving precisely at the predicted 4:00 p.m. departure time. The adventure really began! To the amazement of Mary, Jon, and Sarah, I jumped up and started singing “Yo Ho, Yo Ho—It’s A Sailor’s Life For Me” at the top of my lungs.

The reaction of the ship’s security team was interesting. Did I mention that the brig has padded cells?

We headed to our room, hoping the bags would have arrived. We did have all but one, and we now know why! Mary took her heating pad, and it was a no-no. They kept searching for more contraband, delaying that bag’s arrival for almost an hour.

At 5:36 p.m., the sun set over Catalina. You could almost hear the hissing of the boiling water!

Down it goes; see you tomorrow!

At 6:00 p.m., if you look carefully along the bottom, about 40% from the left-hand side, you can see the lights of the city of Avalon!

Good night Catalina, see you in a week!

For all my friends my age, I expanded the view!

Avalon says, “Hello.”

We had a Valentine’s Day Special Dinner at the steakhouse. Mary, Jon, and I ordered the lamb chops, which were terrific.

We are ready to eat!!

Done to perfection! I thought to myself (always dangerous to do) that “Mary HAD a little lamb”; she really did!

Oh boy!

The desserts were quite tempting; I had two. The key lime pie was quite interesting. I thought of Jeff, but it would not keep for a week. Sorry, Jeff!

The meringue was fabulous.

We will depart for the theater; one last gaze into her eyes! We sipped champagne all through dinner and didn’t even order a drink.

Everyone loved my jacket!

The Valentine’s Day cake was huge! We could not eat another bite, but Mary took a flower from the top and chewed on it until I mentioned it was plastic.

Oh my… it could be used as a lifeboat!

Jon and Sarah took the pictures we had taken to their room and were going to meet us at the theater. We did not see them, so they probably crashed. We went to the last of the comedians’ shows, which was pretty good. I was advised not to perform my “naked comedian” act as a follow-up to the show, so I stayed clothed, which was a good idea since it was cold outside.

We looked for some live music to dance to, but we apparently hit them at shift change, and the bands were on a break. We went to our room instead, where, to our surprise, two geese were making whoopies on our bed! I pointed out to Mary that they were NOT real.

She shared her roses with the geese while we got ready for bed.

Romance is in the air!

We watched TV for about 2.3 minutes before crashing. It was a good day!

Proceed To Day Two —->

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T-1 And We Are Ready!

Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2025 by Paul

We got a great chance to visit last night and are ready for a busy day! We had our coffee and then went to Girls Night Out.

We visited for quite a while before getting ready for Girls Night Out at the Elks! There were eight of us today, even though it was raining hard outside.

When we got home, the kids went shopping for shoes for the trip! Mary and I rested and made lists for tomorrow.

Now we get down to business and off to dinner. We picked up Dianne so she would not have to drive in the rain, and it was raining!!