The Cruise

#111 What a trip!

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A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned I was going on a 10-day cruise with my family. This cruise was a dream my grandson and I began discussing five years ago. There were delays along the way; the pandemic, a new baby, and two cruise cancellations.

But we did it!! He, his wife, their 10-month daughter, my daughter, also known as his Mom, and I returned recently from the Mexican Riviera. We sailed under the Golden Gate bridge, south to Puerta Vallarta, Manzanillo, and then north to Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and San Francisco amidst an array of beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The ship was huge - 18 decks, 14 food sites, a fitness room, casino, and outdoor movie theater - just to mention a few entertainment options. The staff was beyond friendly, organized, and helpful in every way.

My great-granddaughter was delightful - chattering, clapping, and waving. Many Grandmas and Great-grandmas stopped by to say hi.

We were at sea for five days, but surprisingly the time went by fast. And then there was food everywhere - good food - lots of food.

We toured Puerta Vallarta. Being a long-time movie star buff, one of my favorite sites was the home of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. As the story goes, Richard bought and renovated a house for Elizabeth as a birthday present and then eventually built a residence for himself across the street. A bridge over the road known as Puente Del Amor (Bridge of Love) connects the two homes.

The tour guide said the couple fought a lot - so when Richard was in the “dog house,” Elizabeth would lock the door between the two houses.

My other favorite was Our Lady of Guadalupe church, which was breathtakingly beautiful.

We were surprised to see heavily armed guards walking the pier.

The next stop was Manzanillo, the sailfish capital of the world. I had never heard of this delightful little town, but I will never forget it. We walked and shopped.

My favorite stop was Mazatlan. We shopped and had lunch at a restaurant by the ocean. As we sat there, the fog rolled in and out. We took a taxi from the ship downtown, and our taxi on the return trip was seats in the back of a pickup truck.

Our final stop was Cabo. We took a tour of the very crowded Cabo San Lucas and the equally uncrowded Cabo San Jose - like night and day. I ate my first churro and loved it - right, not suitable for my diet. My favorite stop was the glass-blowing factory. I couldn’t resist buying a glass turtle.

Then back to sea for three days. It was a fun, special trip filled with forever memories.

I want to share two articles with you.

1. How To Beat the Winter Blues. Going on a cruise was a great way to beat the winter doldrums, but most people don’t have that luxury. The author says, “Sometimes after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season slows down and we settle back into our routine, the cold and dark weather can leave us feeling a little blue.” She offers a list of strategies for surviving the winter months.

2. Put A Chink in The Armor The author says, “Projects or tasks resemble the boogeyman. The longer they loom over us, the more their legend grows, and the more insurmountable they seem. Every day that passes without progress further validates the difficulty and overwhelming nature of the obligation.” The author discusses I have found valuable.