More Sea – And Mexico!

21^st and 22^nd January, 2020 

Two days steaming north towards our next stop in Mexico and we quickly settle back into the routine of table tennis, gym, reading Scrabble, cards and general relaxing. There are lots of events if you want to take part including Build a Ship on a Ship, Guest Talent Show, classical recitals and lots of lectures (eg Bob Champion). We usually attend the evening entertainment comprising of something in the comedy, singing and dancing or magic department. The ship has its own theatre company who do a lot of the shows such as a Queen tribute, but we have seen Adele, Phil Collins and the Four Seasons to name but a few (not the real ones!), Some of the comedians are very good (though I think we have seen some of them before) and we had a very entertaining juggler. All good fun and all included. We sometimes repair to the ‘pub’ and listen to the on-board entertainers too.

And guess what, I managed to capture a sunset (finally, I hear you say!). Here you go…

OK, on with the tour!

Mexico!

23^rd January, 2020

Our last stop before San Francisco was Manzanillo, a busy port and industrial city. The port itself was not of great interest, so we signed up for an excursion with the ship called Sights of Mexico. We had a modern coach to take us on our trip, which involved a drive of about an hour and a half through agricultural land, with one of the largest coconut plantations I think I have ever seen.

Eventually we arrived at our first stop, the Museo Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo, a restored 18^th century Hacienda de Nogueras, just outside the town of Comala. In the absence of the internet, all I can tell you is that he was a designer, painter and illustrator who died in 2000. We were not allowed to take photos of his works, so you might have to look him up yourselves on Wikipedia. They were certainly interesting with the paintings often showing slightly twee people in them, though the pictures themselves being very precise and detailed. I am not sure now if I really liked them or not, but his designs for furniture and other bits and pieces were very nice.

What was even more interesting was the collection of pre-Hispanic pottery dating from around 500BC to AD600 with many pieces found locally in shaft tombs where entire families, their dogs and personal possessions were buried. Apologies, but that is about it for the moment, but I did fall in love with the pottery, which is why there are rather a lot of photos….

We then headed for the local small town of Comala. Now, there is something I have to admit I do not completely understand and that is the idea of Pueblo Magico, which is something to do with magnetic forces (I think) and anti-gravity. Anyway, our guide got our coach off the main road into a sort of lay-by where Jose, our driver put it into neutral with, presumably, the intention that we would then proceed up the slight incline ahead of us by magnetic or ant-gravity forces (or magic, of course). Sadly all that happened was that we then rolled backwards. I think Santiago, our guide was a bit disappointed to say the least.

We did stop for a free coffee tasting (very nice), a photo opportunity with a volcano (excuse the wires) and lunch in Comala (quite a lot of tortillas).

Comala reminded me a little of La Antigua Guatemala in that it was a grid-like town with similar houses and a town square, but it was considerably smaller and less spectacular, but did have one or two nice bits….

It was then back on the coach and back to Manzanillo. Not the most exciting tour, to be honest, but there we go, our choices in this part of Mexico were limited. I found a bar in Manzanillo and ordered what I now call my Wi-Fi beer and managed to do some very quick posting on the blog, though the last bit on the Panama Canal was done in a definite hurry as I had to get back to the ship. I think I was about the second last person to board.

We now have 3 days at sea before San Francisco. It has been getting a bit cooler and the fleeces have been in evidence about the ship a bit more. We had an excellent meal in the Indian restaurant the other night, for a change, I managed to win the individual quiz and also the table tennis, so my collection of gold stars is slowly growing.

One bit of news is that unfortunately they have measles in American Samoa and Fiji and this means that we will have to miss visiting the former and also Tonga and instead we will be diverting via French Polynesia. A great shame as I had really wanted to visit both of them, especially Tonga, but there we are, there is nothing to be done. And more importantly, it is tough on the Samoans and Tongans.

More news probably when we get to Hawaii after San Francisco….

Hi (it is little ‘ole me!)  I have been rather quiet not because I didn’t want to write.  I just wasn’t in the mood as my P’s was being a bit of pain and typing was proving quite difficult.  Anyway here I am.  I have been very caught up with the gym and exercise.  Unfortunately I can’t tell you that I have won any of the TT matches but I’m hopeful as there is still time yet.  When we hit S.Francisco, we’ll lose some members of the TT group.  There is a rumour that a small person will be joining us in San Francisco who is a brilliant TT player….can’t wait to see him.  So what has happened so far?  My Parkinson’s has been playing up in the morning especially and also in the evening.   There is room for increasing the dosage but I rather not mess around with the drugs until I get home.  Otherwise I’m playing quite good TT.  Everyone has been friendly and we have loads of laughs. More soon……