April 27, 2004
Last Mexico
Here's my last entry from the lovely cafe in Puerto Vallarta. It's been an odd cruise because we've had 4 weddings, so I've barely worked at all, which I think is a blessing, because from everything I've seen and heard so far, this is an unusually demanding lot of passengers. Mind you, one bad passenger ruins the whole bunch. Had a bit of excitement our first night out - I had gone to bed unusually early, and I sleep right next to the bow thrusters, so any time we start or stop, I hear it. Midnight, out of a dead sleep, I hear this grinding noise, peek out my portholes and discover that not only have we come to a dead halt, but I can see land - which by that time in our cruise, should have been far distant. We drifted and bobbed along for a good half hour, with no announcements or crew alerts, and then my neighbor came knocking on my door because she'd locked herself out (another long story) , and it turned out we were just stopped off San Diego to drop off a sick passenger. Still, it kept me awake for a bit.
April 21, 2004
Mazatlan
I have 8 minutes of internet card to use up in this dank little internet cafe in Mazatlan. The keyboards here all have at least one key that doesn't work, which makes typing something of a frustration. On this one it's the g that's sticky. Had a nice early night last night (skipping Island night, which is unheard of) so I was awake with the dawn this morning (dawn being 9:00). Now that the clouds have burned off, I'm planning a nice day by the pool, drinking chocolate bananas with Suzie, while Julie sits near us in the shade sipping water to remind us that we're aging and fattening ourselves prematurely.
April 20, 2004
Fun in Puerto
Had some excitement today at lunch. We were sitting in this lovely restaurant overlooking the beach, watching the police trucks cruise up and down, and suddenly I see all these guys on the beach with their hands above their heads, being handcuffed and searched, and finally loaded into the back of the truck. After that we went to Walmart. I love the Mexican Walmart, it looks just like the American version, except it's full of all sorts of interesting European merchandise. It's really sort of surreal. It's like Walmart, but somehow it's not. Loaded up a cart with cheap lotion and gatorade (the magical hangover elixir), and walked it all back to the ship.
April 17, 2004
Running in the Funhouse
Every time we sail from Cabo to LA, we go full speed ahead (I'm told against the current) and the ship tears through the churning waves, spray splashes up against my portholes, causing all natural light to be obliterated, and the ship bobs around like a toy (considering we never feel any motion at all on this ship, it's fairly impressive - but to be honest, it feels like a nice calm day on the Tahitian), and the wind blows chill and harsh across the deck. I somehow got in my head it would be a good idea to go running last night, up on deck 16 - there's nothing quite so entertaining as picking up my feet and having no idea when or how they're going to meet the deck - or if on this stride the wind is going to pick me up and slam me into the wall. At any rate, it adds a whole new dimension to the sport.
April 13, 2004
Pelicans
Party party party, sun sun sun. Well, actually, the last two days have been, work work work, party, sleep, then work again. But today finds me in Puerto Vallarta once again, heading into what passes for my weekend on this ship. Here's a picture of some pelicans that are ubiquitous around here. These particular ones were just sitting on the dock in Cabo.
April 10, 2004
LA Again
All illness is behind me now, and I am once again enjoying the cruising life as God intended. Late nights in the crew bar, martinis in the night club, giggling all the way home with my neighbor the piano player, with exaggerated hushing lest we wake up the grumpy dance captain. Today we are some 5 hours late into LA due to engine trouble, which means the whole day has been thrown off for both embarking and disembarking passengers. It also meant there was no kitchen service in the officers' mess today, as the kitchen had to produce an entire extra buffet lunch for all our retained passengers. It's never ending entertainment around here.
April 06, 2004
Puerto Vallarta Again
Back in my favorite sunny internet cafe again with local band playing outside. It's fantastic to be ashore now, as I was confined to my cabin for a whole day due to illness. I love my cabin, but 24 hours is a long time to stay there. I discovered the worst job on the ship must be the man who has to come sanitize the cabins of all the sick people. That, as near as I can tell, is his whole job - and he became my cabin steward for the whole time I was sick. I'm not sure, but that might even be worse than sorting garbage. Anyway, 24 fours solid napping has made me right as rain, and I'm ready to spend a busy day lying by the pool.
April 03, 2004
Pictures!
Here are the pictures I've desperately been trying to upload for a week. Finally made it ashore in Cabo San Lucas this week (difficult, due to trying to tender 3,000 people ashore and back in half a day), and it was lovely. Had fantastic breakfast tacos overlooking the bay.