The Cruise!

Okay to finally update everyone on the cruise. We had a wonderful time. It was the week before christmas. We got home on the 23rd. The kids were watching by S's parents and they all had a fun time. I think though that Nana and Papa were a little worn out. :-) Plus E had gotten a cough (which ended up being croup but was over it fast after seeing the dr).

Anyways, we went from San Deigo to Cabo San Lucas to Mazatlan and then to Puerto Vallarata. We had one day at sea on the way to Cabo and then on the way back from Puerto we had two days at sea. The one day down was just fine. We got to relax and check out the boat. I even got to see a whale off the side of the boat while I was walking the deck (M was running). Then in Cabo we went with J & C to their condo place. It was a great place and hope to be able to go back sometime with the kids in tow. We just sat around drinking, eating and talking at the pool. Then back at the ship M and I went shopping some. Found a silver bracelet I liked but the guy wouldn't bargain with me at all and I didn't think it was worth the cost (didn't find another one I liked the rest of the trip).

The following day we did a tour in Mazatlan of the Pacifico Brewery. It was alot of fun. Now I don't like beer but this was a fun tour. You got to see the brewery, the streets around it and the open air bus we were on did a side tour on the way back to the boat so we got to see some town and learn some things about the town. M loved the tour b/c at the end you got to drink Pacifico and/or Corona. And there was no limit. Whenever you were done you could ask for another. I had a pepsi and let me tell you it does taste different then the USA pepsi! It was little more "spicy". Plus on the ride back to the boat they were handing out beer too. We didn't get any time to shop in that town really. (that was one thing we would have liked ...two days at port - one for tours and one for shopping) We did stop at a "stop" on the way back and there was a stand there that we found a pirate ship for N.

The next day we were in Puerto Vallarata and we went on a boat tour to a fishing town called Yelapa. It was awesome. We saw dolphins and a mommy whale w/baby on the way there. Then when we were there we walked up through the town to the waterfall. Then got to walk back to the beach (sand is bigger there) and sit on the beach for about an hour. Then back to the boat and back to the city. Again we wish we would have had another day just to go shopping. The shopping was too far away (taxi ride) for us to go for an hour or so that we had. Then it was time to head back to San Diego.

Now after the first half day the water got rougher and the boat swayed alot. It was so rough that they had to close the pools b/c of the sloshing and such. It was fun to sit on deck and watch it do this. Plus it was too cold outside to sit and sunbath. I tried for about 10 minutes when everyone else was at a wine tasting thing. I went back inside and found a corner and read. Now unfortunately M found out he gets a little sea sick with this motion. Plus we aren't the time to party alot so it got kind of boring during the day on the ship. Now don't get me wrong...we loved relaxing but two days was a bit much for us.

We had a great time getting to see what a cruise was and having fun in the ports. Plus we got to hang out with M's half sister, brother-in-law, half brother and parents. Plus it was relaxing time for us to get to hang out together and no kids. We really do need this about once a year. (Get away as just adults.) :-)