Tuesday 9/30
This morning, we arrived at the Port of Los Angeles, which is actually in San Pedro, south of Los Angeles. Again, having lived in the area, we had no desire to go offshore; however, Bob needed to get a prescription filled, so he walked until he found a pharmacy and then returned to the ship in time for trivia. Another quiet day, we enjoyed the slightly warmer weather. I did the walk around the ship on deck 3 and read my book club book Deadly Game by Michael Caine, his debut novel at age 90. It is an enticing read that has drawn me in.
Wednesday 10/1
After leaving Los Angeles, we sailed in the Gulf of Santa Catalina; we could see Catalina Island from the ship. Then we began to go along the coast of Baja California. Baja California is the twelfth-largest state by area in Mexico. Its geography contains beaches, forest, and deserts as well as mountains. The backbone is the Sierra de Baja California where Picacho del Diablo is the highest point on the peninsula.
After breakfast, Chairobics was first on my agenda, followed by Trivia. At 12:15 we attended a dance lesson, for the waltz. There are two instructors on board who are Ukrainian. Our dinner partners know them well. The basic steps went well, but when we started to do the turning, it got complicated. And the Waltz is supposed to be easy.
After dinner we went to the gala celebration in the Queens Lounge where we saw some very good dancers and some not so good. It is lovely to watch accomplished dancers. Because we went to the gala celebration we missed the show which got very good reviews. The Entertainer Jeri Sager will be back on Friday, so we will see her then.
Bob went to the presentation by Robert Thirsk called “Mission to Mars” which he found very interesting. Thirsk is a Canadian Astronaut.
Thursday 10/2
We began our day off the coast of Baja California abeam San Juanico Bay.
In the 16th century Spanish explorers arrived along the Baja California Peninsula. The initial explorer was Juan Rodriguiz Cabrillo in 1542. He was one of the first Europeans to navigate the Pacific Coast of North America.
As I was sitting at breakfast, we passed a pod of dolphins who were jumping in the air. Some appeared to be spinners. They kept it up until we passed. We must have traveled right through their group.
Since it was an at sea day again, my morning included Chairobics and Team Trivia. The morning lecture by Professor Doug Burgess was titled “Piracy Myths and Realities.” Three myths are that 1) Piracy is modern, 2) Pirates are violent criminals; and 3) Piracy only affects large shipping companies. The reality is that Piracy is complex, involving economic, social, and political factors. Prof. Burgess teaches at Yeshiva University and Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law.
In the afternoon classical guitarist Christopher Bundhun serenaded us with Latin music. Team Trivia rounded out the afternoon. After dinner the showtime featured ElenkaCello. I love cello so looked forward to the show. It was a show—Las Vegas style. She played an electric cello which did not sound at all like a cello. It was an interesting, high-energy performance, but I will skip the next one.
Friday Cabo 10/3
We arrived in Cabo San Lucas early in the morning. Putting the lifeboats in the water woke us at 5:30. Cabo is a tender port. We docked next to a Carnival ship also in port. Since we have been to Cabo several times and it was HOT, we stayed on board.
Several landmarks that we have visited in the past include the Iglesia de San Lucas, the Place Amelia Wilkes where you find the Natural History Museum, the Pabellón Cultural, and El Faro Viejo (Old Lighthouse).
We had both morning and afternoon trivia, but no chairobics, so I walked the promenade around the ship a couple of times. We took advantage of people being off the ship to find quiet places to read and work.
We pulled anchor about 4:30, so by dinner we had sailed past Los Arcos, the soaring rock archway that sits at the opening of Cabo’s harbor. This idyllic bay once sheltered treasure ships from the Orient and pirate brigs after those treasures.
We passed several islands: Campamento Aserradero; Campamento Morelos; Isla Marias Federal Penal Colony; and Roca Cumbre. Pacific Mexican underwater volcanoes, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, are significant geological features that are a part of the region’s unique marine ecosystem.
Now we have three sea days until we reach Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
The menus have been varied and delicious. We have choices of four Appetizers, two soups and two salads, and five entrees, different each night. Then if you don’t like those options, every night you can get Salmon, Prime Rib, or a Chicken Cutlet. The meals never got old because of the variety. Tonight our choices included Loin of Lamb, Filet of Rock Trout, Garlic and Thyme Parisse, Braised Cabbage, or Pasta Puttanesca. There were always Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten Free Options. Deserts were decadent, but after so many courses, I usually opted for the Sorbet. Our waiter Edgar and his assistant were wonderful. They always greeted us with a smile, know what we liked, and were so accommodating. Edgar was from the Philippines and had worked for Cunard for 25 years. That ways a lot about the company.
