Day 27 Zihuatanejo, Mexico

This morning we anchored in the harbor of this port and tendered in to catch our tour.  We were off to a small island to spend the day on the beach and do some snorkeling.  This is the port for Ixtapa which is a relatively well known city possibly because of the Club Med here.  We noticed a strong police/military presence and had absolutely no problems at all.

Tendering always adds a spirit of adventure when departing or joining the ship.  In addition to the challenges posed by climbing on a small tender boat which bobs around, you add the median age of our passenger list and it makes for great theater.  I always worry that someone will get seriously hurt during this maneuver.  We made it today without any problems. 

Once onshore we were bussed a few miles and put on some small boats to be ferried out to the island where we were to spend the day.  The island has three lovely beaches on it.  One was right in front of where we were to have lunch.  The second beach had a coral reef just offshore and the third was more open to the ocean.  As you can see from the pictures I decided to snorkel.  Let me say before you see the pictures, the life jacket I was wearing was made for a small child.  All evidence to the contrary and the culinary staff of the Rotterdam.   The water was nice and the fish were very pretty. 

We spent the balance of the day under umbrellas on the beach enjoying the warmth and avoiding the penetrating Mexican sun.  We avoided the shopping district just off the ship as it appeared to be crammed with the same items we have seen from the start of the cruise. 

Most importantly, when we returned to our stateroom there was a bottle of Champaign for Chris as her prize for winning the ships Oscar night predictions contest with a perfect score.   Congratulations to her!!!  To top that off, we won the trivia game just before dinner.

  

Day 26 Acapulco, Mexico

I ventured ashore here with a little trepidation due to the reports of violence here during the past few weeks.   Apparently, the drug lords are not threatened by a group of towel toting tourists on their way to the Fairmont Hotel pool and beach. 

We spent the day on the beach and around the pool at the Fairmont.  The day was hot with bright sunshine which made the sand on the beach feel like walking on hot coals.  There was a nice constant breeze that kept us comfortable although the fine sand would be swept up from time to time in light clouds of dust.  We had our own little hut/cabana all morning on the beach then after lunch we stayed around the pool area. 

This is a large city which is split in two because it is oriented around two separate bays separated an imposing hill descending to the ocean.  We docked in the northern bay and were bussed to the southern bay where the Fairmont is located.  Here, as in many of the other cities we have visited on this cruise, there is a noticeable police presence. 

The hillsides surrounding the bays are packed full of homes, apartments, condos, hotels and businesses.  Real estate here certainly comes dear with not an inch wasted.   As the day drew to a close we went up to the back deck to watch the Academy Awards on the large outdoor screen and see the hills turn into millions of tiny pinpoints of light. 

Day 25 Huatulco, Mexico

By far the nicest beaches we have seen on this cruise.  That is what this little port has to offer.  The recently expanded dock can now accommodate two cruise ships at one time.  The crowded little harbor boasts a myriad of water sport opportunities.

We took a motorized catamaran along the coast to see the many beaches this area is famous for.   Beautiful pristine beaches dot the otherwise rocky shoreline.  There we passed what once was a Club Med development but since their bankruptcy is now owned others who are trying to resurrect the facility into condos or a hotel.  Further down the coast we passed a house owned by Carlos Slim, one of the worlds richest men.   As you can see from the pictures this area has some beautiful developments and homes.  It seems that one of the reasons this has occurred here is that this is one of the few places where foreigners can actually own property in Mexico.  A policy, we were led to understand, designed to spur development.  It seems to have worked.

On the north side of the small costal village is an area formerly targeted for a large development that was cancelled in favor of creating a national park.  This preserve has some lovely beaches that can only be reached by boat. 

We were only able to see the village from the boat and therefore we do not have an accurate picture of what is inland.  I have the feeling that were we to drive a few miles in from the coast we would find an undeveloped backcountry consisting of jungle or forest.  It is like looking at the façade of a building designed to look grander and more elaborate than it really is.  Nevertheless, this would be a nice place to vacation if you enjoy water sports and great beaches.

After a nice relaxing day new had a special dinner at the onboard restaurant which was serving a special menu from Le Cirque, the famous New York eatery. 

Day 24 Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

This morning we docked in this lovely little port which has been rehabilitated in the last five years.  The Mexican government invested in upgrading this port facility with a wonderful result.  We were told that they only get about three cruise ships each month and during the rainy season months they get none as all the ships are headed to Alaska. 

They were very happy to see us and had a troupe of dancers on the pier to provide a bit of entertainment by dancing to traditional music.  The port itself is very small and can only handle one ship at a time.  You can see from the pictures what a pretty place the port is.

We took a bus into the city of Tapachula, about a 45 minute ride.  There we found a hive of activity surrounding the square in the center of town and the open air market a block away.  Once again, there was entertainment in the square where we saw a reincarnation of Poncho Villa singing, replete with a holstered hand gun.   There was also the obligatory flute player looking for tips.  We visited the museum which had some artifacts from the Aztec and Mayan cultures including an ornate skull decorated with turquoise and gold. 

We walked across the square to visit the outdoor market.  We have learned to visit these types of places early before the heat of the day.   I think the pictures give ample evidence as to why this is a good idea.  As hot as it was when we were there, consider walking among booths of hanging meat and fish when it is really hot.   We quickly decided to wait until we got back to the ship to have lunch.  The market was reminiscent of many of the markets we experienced in the South East Asian countries.   Refrigeration apparently is not deemed important to the sanitary storage of meat and fish. 

It was an interesting visit and I came away with a the clear understanding that Mexico is trying hard to improve their opportunities for tourism. 

Day 23 At Sea towards Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Another sea day and on top of that a “Formal” night in the restaurant.  It doesn’t get any better than that.   So after bouncing around the ship all day we climb into our best suits and stroll off to dinner.  Shortly thereafter back into our shorts and t-shirts for the rest of the evening.  Wasn’t that special!

I am having a hard time thinking of anything of interest to write about.  We have two more sea days at the end of the cruise so this problem may well reappear. 

Our next five stops will be in Mexico which will make seven ports of call in this country all on its west coast.  I can’t imagine there will be anything that we will not have seen on the western side of this country.  There won’t be a souvenir or a handicraft that we have not examined by the end of the cruise.  I guess it is better than shoveling snow. 

A shout out to Scott who has been the most successful at posting comments on the blog.   Thank you.  I do understand that others have tried but for some reason were unable to comment. 

Day 22 Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is an interesting place.  We booked a tour that took us on a short train ride and then on a boat trip through a mangrove swamp which was in a National Park.  This country has the highest literacy rate among all Central American Countries at 93%.  They have no army or military force and have a socialized medicine system.  On the north west coast there are some very wealthy areas that have attracted many Americans and other nationals to this place.  You would not want to be here in October and November since this is their rainy season when they receive six of their nine feet of annual rainfall. 

The train trip was not much to speak of since it only showed us some of the squalor of the poor people along side some cantaloupe farms.  One of these farms was operated by Del Monte.  However, this view of the country was not accurate since there are much nicer places. 

The second half of our day was much more in keeping with what this country has to offer.    Our boat ride through the mangrove swamp was a great way to see some of the local flora and fauna.  We were able to see some monkeys, an alligator, a macaw  and numerous other birds.  In addition, we saw cashew trees and a coca plant seed.    The cashew tree and what the actual raw nut looks like were a surprise to me.   Once they get the nut off of the tree they must roast the nut and remove the covering.  The nut is poisonous if it is not roasted.