Second Cruise in December

Our second cruise left from the same port of L.A. and after 3 days at sea we reached Puerto Vallarta, again.  This time we took an excursion to visit a Tequila Factory.  Where we walked through the steps of tequila manufacturing.  

agave plant

The beginning of our tour was a bus and walking tour. 

The Mercado along the waterfront had just been rebuilt after the huge hurricane that played havoc with the area.

The weather was perfect with a light breeze blowing off the ocean.

Then off  for a about a half hour bus drive to the the tequila factory.  The grounds were very beautiful.

We were served lunch with 3 kinds of tacos plus margaritas made with their  homemade tequila.  Wow, everything was wonderful.

We sat outside and ate as we watched the crew making the taco and cooking the shells before adding the fillings.

I took a peak into their kitchen.  It was so clean you could actually see yourself in the floor.  

A huge stack of harvested Agave plants.

Got a kick out of the restroom sign.  I guess this saying even goes on in Mexico.

Our tour took us back to Puerto Vallarta past small villages and numerous roadside fruit stands.

Then we were off to Mazatlan.  We had left our balcony door agar that night and as we arrived in port early in the morning we were awaken by the sound of roosters crowning and tropical birds.  Such  strange sounds to wake up to when you don't realize you are near land.

Huge Frigat birds where everywhere with the occasional Pelican swopping past the balcony.

Here we docked in the commercial area of the port with the sounds of town drifting from across the water.

Next port was Cabo.  The worst weather we encountered.  Pouring rain all day.  We spent the day on the ship.

The weather cleared as we left port.  Spotted this huge construction site.  Wasn't able to tell what they were building.

We arrived back in L.A. before dawn.  Nice view of the area as we arrived.

That was the end of our December adventures.  Time to drive home.  It was good to be back on land after 17 days at sea.

Happy Travels!

  

December Travel Part 2

The next day we arrived at Loreto Mexico.  One of my favorite spots in Mexico.  Population of 15,000   people with 1/3 being Americans.  Most people speak English with the help of the Americans and Canadians volunteering at the local schools teaching students English.

There are only a few cruises each year that stop here.   The town is located about half way up the Sea of Cortez.  The town is so beautiful. It was a very hot day but the overhead foliage makes for a lovely walk through town.

This is part of the town square where there is a marker in the pavement that marks the beginning of Highway 1, the original El Camino Real, which stretches the entire west coast all the way to the Canadian border.

This hotel is farther down the from the square.  I would love to stay here someday.  So beautiful.

The lobby looks like a quiet spot to while away a hot afternoon.

This spiral staircase goes to the roof where the pool is located.

The bottom of the pool is visible from the inside of the lobby.

This is a very old church, has a lot of great details.

And here  is the mayor's house and gardens, the gate was open and he invited us in to have a look around.

 The town was filled with beautiful foliage, too.

Someone just built this grass hut.  I wonder what it's use will be.

We found a donkey cart to take us back to the dock.

So many Fishing boats.

Again a great view of our waiting ship.

The moon was so bright as we headed back out to sea on our way to Puerto Vallarta.

Spotted this Iguana sunning himself on the rocks.

View from our balcony before I headed off to shop at my favorite dress shop.

Last look at town before sailing 3 days back to L.A,

Happy Travels!

December Travels Part 1

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  Now that the holidays are past it is time to get back to a regular routine.

We spent most of December on the high seas cruising to Mexico and made it home just in time to celebrate the holidays at home.

Our cruise left out of Los Angeles at the Port of San Pedro.  It was almost dusk as we sailed out of port.

Next day we spent the day at San Diego where hubby got to visit with an old class mate he hadn't seen in over 40 years.

Once out to sea we had the luck of passing another cruise ship.  Quite a rare site.  We have spent a lot of time cruising and have only seen another cruise ship at sea maybe one other time.  Looks like a Holland America ship.  We were on a Princess ship, our favorite cruise line.

Our second  stop was Cabo San Lucas.  Always love looking at the rock arch at Lands End,

We were anchored very far off the shore.

There was a boat race going on which made the tender trip to town close to 20 mins.  We stayed onboard that day.  No fun taking a small boat that far and we have been to Cabo many times.  Just spent a relaxing day enjoying the view from our balcony.

Our next port was La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. We took an excursion to see Hotel California in the small village of Todo Santos where we were served lunch, a variety of local cuisine.  One surprise we were served a pineapple tamale.  It was really delicious.

They were having a motorcycle rally.  The small quiet town was filled with bikes everywhere.

We were able to visit the towns beautiful cathedral.

Then had free time to visit several art galleries.  In one of the galleries I saw this adorable hummingbird carved out of avocado wood.

I thought this crumbling building was interesting with the wispy clouds in the sky.

The town was a lovely village and the weather was perfect with a light breeze blowing.

Spotted this truckload of goats on the way out of town.  Not something I see everyday.

Shot this view of the sea from the window of the bus on the way back to the ship.

And there's our ship waiting to carry us to our next destination.

And we sailed off into the sunset.

Happy Travels!

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year.

Safe and healthy and prosperous.

Happy Wishes for the New Year!

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with good friends, family and good food.

Filled with wonderful memories of Christmases past.

And a wishing you day brimming

 with joy and excitement from our house to yours.

Merry Christmas!