Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
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”.
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!
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!!
