Aloha...

First, my apologies for the gap between posts. It has been a long, busy, fantastic week.

Hawaii was amazing. I'm just going to post the pre-Christmas stuff first. Oh yes, Merry Christmas everyone :)

Our first stop was in Lahaina, on the island of Maui. After four days at sea and some very rough water, we couldn't wait to get off the ship. We were tendered and went ashore in a little boat. We ate lunch and strolled around the town, admiring the scenery and browsing in the shops. I found all the islands of Hawaii very beautiful, full of green mountains and clear water. The heat was the most pleasant heat I think I've ever experienced, hot but not humid, a perfect temperature.

Us at lunch. That an English friend of ours, Clive, who was with us for the day.



Coconuts














The next day we were in Nawiliwili (Na-Willy-Willy), on Kauai. The day started out promisingly, with plans to lounge at a nearby resort for the day. After a very long walk there, we were told we couldn't get day passes. Not sure what to do, we set off walking toward a mall that looked about a half hour away on our map. Fifteen minutes later, all of us hot, frustrated and cranky, we stuck out our thumbs. The first truck that drove by picked us up and we piled into the open back. There was a cute boy driving and he graciously gave us a (long) drive to the mall. The air was warm and fresh and all of us felt euphoric speeding through the green mountains and fields. It was the best part of the day :)

There were roosters running around wild everywhere on this island. We saw one run across the highway and very narrowly avoid getting flattened. We all screamed like crazy people. haha.
Cute boy who picked us up. Can't remember his name. Maybe Dan? Dave? Dale? Matthew McConaughey?

More Hawaii coming soon...

Look who came to see me in Hawaii!!!

Photo courtesy of Eliza


Mommy and Eliza showed up in Hawaii just to see me!!! We are having so much fun lounging on the beach I don't have time to post a new blog. But soon....

Cabo San Lucas

We had a short but beautiful day in Cabo, Mexico. Some kind person decided to schedule a meeting for employees in the morning, so it was noon before we got off the ship. We were not docked there, but tendered, so we had to be shuttled to shore in small boats.

Cabo was stunning to look at, somehow both ancient and modern at once, and obviously designed with aesthetics in mind. We ate a great sushi lunch at a really nice restaurant called Arts and Sushi, where they had local artwork on display. Then we wandered around town, but only for a small time before we had to head back to the ship.

I’ll get to visit Cabo two more times before I go home, and I can’t wait to explore it more fully.
In the tender boat on the way to Cabo

Cabo San Lucas

Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes :)

Villa Vera, Acapulco


They made my day. Keep commenting on here too, I love reading what everyone has to say!

We had another beautiful resort day in Acapulco last week. After a bit of nice shopping we headed to the Villa Vera, a free resort, where we proceeded to swim, lie in the sun and drink banana daiquiris for hours. After a quick bite for supper we headed out into the balmy evening air and decided to walk to Walmart instead of cabbing it. We took our time, and the hour walk was absolutely beautiful. Acapulco is actually a fair sized city and the air was full of the humid warmth we sometimes experience on the best summer nights at home. Instead of being sticky, the air was silky.

Love those late sails.

Five of us squished into a tiny cab




Cheryl took this... I think it's pretty cool looking



Me, Cheryl and Lindsay

Steven and Cheryl

Huatulco (Wa-tule-co)

On Tuesday we spent a short but beautiful day in Huatulco, Mexico. Cheryl and I got off the ship around 11 am and walked to a resort we had heard was nice. We swam in the pool there and took photos of the beautiful buildings and grounds. Then we wandered through the local market and looked at the crafts for sale.

For lunch we met Steven and Lindsay at a tiny restaurant with a patio and had delicious quesidillas and cold beer. The quesadillas were filled with ground beef, onions, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers and cheese, and I got an extra one with Pumpkin Flower in it, which is supposed to be a local favourite. After eating half of it, mouth on fire and eyes full of tears, I decided not to finish it, haha. The others were fantastic though. Two beer and four quesidillas, with a tip, cost me $8. Wow.

This is one of my favourite ports we have been to yet, mostly because of its simple but beautiful buildings and quiet setting.

Just a reminder, if you want to see a larger version of any photo, just click on it.
That's our ship

The resort we went to







This church is in the centre of the village. It is completely open to the air. Sooo beautiful. Check out the crow on the pew near that person.

Sorry about the really long post, I couldn't cut it down any more!

I had the most perfect day in Costa Rica

Market


Everyone said that Puntarenas, the port we were docked in, wasn’t much to see, but I went out anyway, planning to walk around. While the air wasn’t as oppressive as in Panama, it was hotter and just as humid. Wandering through the market, my body was covered in sweat and before my straightened hair was in ringlets. The market was overflowing with jewelry, wooden crafts and stalls of women selling food wrapped in huge leaves.

I wandered through the lanes for the early afternoon, then found a restaurant with a patio. I sat outside with a cold local beer and wrote in my journal, gazed around, and thought a lot. I felt very content that day. I ate a delicious meal, called home and spent the rest of my day walking on the beach, wading through the warm Pacific water as the sun set over the mountains in the distance.

I went back to the ship feeling refreshed and peaceful.




These men were playing beautiful, rhythmic music on this instrument that I can only compare to a xylophone.









This was one of the women selling huge leaves full of meat, veggies and rice to the locals.






Seabass and shrimp with sauce, rice, salad and beer. Yum!