Adios Mexico

January 1, 2013 en route Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – Recovery Day

After the extensive New Year’s Eve partying, it was no surprise to find ourselves breakfasting alone in the Restaurant on New Year’s Day.   What was surprising was learning that E had won a door prize (in absentia) at the New Year’s Eve dinner.  It was a magnum of Dom Perignon 2003.  Since we do not drink, and were not planning any ship’s christening in the immediate future, we gave the bottle to Gilbert (the Restaurant manager), thereby making a friend for life.

The rest of the sea day passed quietly with good weather and our trivia team continuing its winning streak, naturally all because of our team’s lucky Italian green ball caps inscribed “I Pirati di Corsaro.”

January 2, 2013 anchored off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – Where Southern Californians Go to Be in Southern California

By 8:30am, Silver Whisper had anchored off Cabo San Lucas’ boat basin, and shortly after 9:00am, we boarded a tender for the short run into the pier.  Walking through a shopping Mecca, we reached our tour bus for the tour of the day, entitled “Coastal Highlights.”  Our continued masochistic participation in bus-based tours was because of Mexico’s recent history of gun violence and other assorted criminal entertainments.  This did not inspire confidence in our usual approach to going about town on our own.  We figured (possibly wrongly) that there was safety in numbers, although a tour bus is a very large target.  Also, we are too old to fight or run!

Cabo San Lucas from the Sea of Cortez

This is more like Redondo Beach than the Mexican Riviera.

Our first stop was a glass factory, where traditional Mexican glassware and ornaments were made.  We watched as a glass elephant was formed and glass flowers were blown.  It was interesting, but not all that unique, and it was not Murano Island.

Glass Factory, Hand Blowing an Elephant

It looks easy, but probably is not.

Glass Factory, Hand Blown Glassware

Where is el toro?

Then, it was back on the bus and on to our next stop at a scenic overlook for photos, and our first free Margarita of the day.  (The tourism gods must have migrated here from Acapulco.)  The overlook, which was incorporated into a largely al fresco restaurant, did give good views of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, with el Arco (a hole in the rock) and the entire Cabo San Lucas area.

El Arco

Foreground, the Sea of Cortez; Background, the Pacific Ocean

Bay of Cabo San Lucas

Look!  There is room for more development.

Our next activity was to visit the old town of San Jose del Cabo, which was the original administrative center for the southern tip of Baja California.  Actually, San Jose has buildings more than ten years old, and they are occupied.  (Cabo San Lucas has suffered from the Great Recession.)  According to our guide, the town is now largely an artist colony, and there are large numbers of tourist-oriented art galleries operating (motto: “The tourist and his/her money are soon parted.”).  E and J spent most of their time visiting the local city hall and the church (Mission of San Jose de Cabo Anuiti).

San Jose del Cabo City Hall

Even the clock in the clock tower worked.

San Jose del Cabo City Hall, Interior Mural

More evidence of the continuing mural tradition in Mexico.

San Jose del Cabo City Hall, Interior Mural (Continued)

Ride with Poncho Via and Viva Zapata.

San Jose del Cabo, Bandstand and Plaza

Regretfully, no band concert at noon.

San Jose del Cabo, Mission San Jose de Cabo Anuiti

One of the early California Missions.

San Jose del Cabo, Mission of San Jose de Cabo Anuiti, Interior View

Think of it, 16^th Century monks carrying those plastic statues and LED lights all the way from Spain.

After walking around San Jose del Cabo for about an hour, it was back on the bus, return to Cabo San Lucas, and visit our final destination – a “typical” Mexican cantina, i.e., typical gringo tourist trap.  Here, as is Mexican tradition, we were offered another Margarita in a plastic cup and serenaded by the morning shift of mariachi singers.  FYI, the song, “Guantanamae,” is not Mexican but Cuban.  The cantina’s décor was a tribute to all types of Mexican handicrafts and folk art.   On escaping this cultural experience, we were taken across the street to view various types of cactus and aloes from which Margaritas are made.

Cabo San Lucas, Interior “Typical” Mexican Cantina

Do morning, evening or night Mariachis get higher pay?

Cabo San Lucas, Museum

We DID NOT get to go there!  Note: Chinese Christmas Tree.  They are everywhere!

During this entire tour, J was looking for a watch shop or other place to buy a cheap watch. His travel watch of 7 or 8 years had packed up, and he was getting tired of checking his bare arm for the time.  Although the tour drove pass those pillars of American commerce, Wal-Mart and Costco, there was no stopping.  So, J was forced to look at the duty-free store on the tender pier.  Regretfully, no cheap watches, but J gave in and spent more than his usual $19.95 for a watch.  He is still trying to learn how to take it on and off, and who knows what will happen when February 28 arrives.

Mr. Pelican Contemplates a Fish

Actually, he is thinking you can sell these gringoes anything.

Back on the ship, we had a late lunch, nap and watched the Silver Whisper up anchor and turn to seaward for a two-day cruise north to Los Angeles.

January 3 and 4, 2013 en route to Los Angeles, CA – Cruising Toward Okie Paradise

Departing Cabo San Lucas, we spent two days cruising northward along the Pacific Ocean coasts of Baja California and Southern California to reach Los Angeles -- America’s answer to Bollywood.  Most of our time was devoted to attending lectures, reading, writing the blog, and, of course, eating.  After the Panama Canal, J began his morning, 30-minute walks on deck, followed by a cappuccino and chat with his friend, John, who is the trivial pursuit team leader.  It is hoped that this walking will offset the consumption of an extra 2,000 calories a day from the ship’s meals.  (Well, one can rationalize almost anything!)

On the night of January 3^rd, Captain Corsaro and Hotel Cruise Director Norman Rafelson, aka Norm, invited World Cruise guests (staying on after Los Angeles) to cocktails and dinner in La Champagne.  Since J and E do not drink, we rarely go to La Champagne, which serves wine-paired dinners for an additional charge.  So, attending a dinner in La Champagne was a treat for us.  The dinner proved to be excellent (menu shown below).

2013 World Cruise Dinner Menu

So much food.  So little time.

January 4^th was packing day for passengers leaving the ship in Los Angeles.  By evening, halls outside suites were full of colorfully-tagged luggage, and departing passengers were trying to deal with departure issues, such as customs and immigration forms, passports and flights home.  The crew was also very busy, organizing luggage disembarkation and preparing for provisioning the ship for the next cruise segment to the South Pacific.