Ensenada, Mexico

 

Yesterday was Ensenada day!!   After a light breakfast, we sat at our favorite table at the Mix Bar while Angie attended to some emails. The ship docked about 11AM and an ambulance was there to take the guest who needed blood to the hospital.  Hopefully they got the medical attention they needed.  At about Noon they announced that the gangway was open for anyone who wanted to get off the ship.  They had been able to plan some limited excursions for those that wanted them.  I think a lot of guests wanted to just set their feet on solid land after almost six sea days. We had an all day excursion planned for 2/14, the original day we  were supposed to dock in Ensenada.  That of course was cancelled because we docked so late on 2/13.  We didn't book another and stayed on the ship.

 

Angie had some filming to finish so I stayed at the Mix Bar enjoying the mild weather. Soon it was lunchtime.  I went to the buffet and they had a Caesar salad station with fresh romaine and all the fixings.   I made myself a delicious chicken Caesar.  The dressing they had was spectacular. Afterwards I spent some time at the Outriggers bar on Deck 15 aft.  It had a great view of the city of Ensenada.

 

I met up with Angie at the Mix and we both had a slice of pizza.  We soon headed back to the cabin to get ready for the evening.  Would we make it to the dining room?  Not tonight.  We decided on another light snack dinner.  The tapas at Vines included a delicious chicken wing (maybe leftovers from the Super Bowl) plus a poached shrimp with dill on a cucumber slice.  We then headed to the Happy Hour and had a nice chat with Gusti one of our favorite bar waiters.  

 

Next was some trivia at the Explorers Lounge. It was Famous Faces trivia. They showed you a famous face where the mouth or eyes were blacked out.   You had to write down who it was.  We did pretty well with 18 out of 25.  The winner had 22.  I guess we don't know what Marie Curie looked like.  I thought it was Susan B Anthony!!  Also missed some old time movie stars Greta Garbo and Grace Kelly. 

 

We headed back to the Piazza where Elua was playing a set.  It was a mix of Hawaiian music and crowd favorites. For one of the hulas it was impressive to see so many people performing the dance they have been learning all cruise.  They have a big Hawaiian finals show today at 11:15 where we'll get to see all the hulas they've done plus music from people that have been learning the ukulele.   We understand it will be about 90 people that have been practicing.  Definitely a show not to be missed. 

 

Did you know that it is pronounced OOK-elaylee?   There is not a "U" sound at the beginning.  And it is not something that is truly Hawaiian.  The instrument originated in Portugal and was brought to Hawaii in the 19th century. It has certainly become something you associate with Hawaiian culture and music.  Or maybe Tiny Tim.  Now you know. 

 

After that set we went to the Wheelhouse Bar to see a  duo named Cel and Tito. They played a lot of different dance style favorites. The ship has some wonderful dancers.  We've been watching from afar in the Piazza. We really saw them at their finest at the Wheelhouse.  We met some nice couples.  One of them has been married for 72 years and still dancing like they probably did at their wedding.  It was inspiring. Angie and I always say we need to get back to take more dance lessons.  After a couple of sets, it was time to call it a night. 

 

Today as I write this we await our special Champagne breakfast.  It's supposed to be delivered at 8:30 ship time. Then about 9AM we are due to set sail to San Pedro with an expected arrival tomorrow morning.  We'll debark the ship and then head to a hotel for a few days.  Then Saturday we will board the Carnival Panorama and meet up with a couple of our friends we haven't seen for awhile.