Mazatlan

After a smooth ride on calm seas we sailed into Mazatlan this morning a little after six.

Just after entering the channel to the Mazatlan harbor

We were escorted by the Mexican Coast Guard and after the "Piloto" had boarded to guide us in the pilot boat sailed along behind the CG boat keeping us company. The channel runs between islands and and ends at the piers in the industrial area. 

The old downtown area is near the church in the center of this photograph

After the docking procedures the gangways were attached to the ship and those going on excursions filed off the ship and boarded the shuttles for a short ride to the cruise center. The shuttles are "free and compulsory" for good reason since the path to the cruise center runs through an active commercial dock area and the authorities don't want a squashed passenger.

Aboard the shuttle we were greeted by a blue-shirted "Tourist aide" who gave us a quick briefing on getting around Mazatlan. He said he and other expats (he was from Australia) volunteer to assist tourists as needed. He said walking around Mazatlan was safer than walking in downtown Los Angeles. We saw several other blue shirts as we wandered around the downtown area. It was reassuring that they were available if needed.

We also saw many armed police on foot and the occasional open-back jeep-type vehicle with a driver, two armed soldiers and another manning a machine gun mounted above the cab. I'm not sure they were reassuring but it was good to see them making the streets safe for us.

The cruise center is a collection of souvenir shops, guides hawking excursions, timeshare counters, bars and even a restaurant just in case a passenger already felt the pangs of hunger.

The Mazatlan Cruise Center with many opportunities to buy everything from trinkets to timeshares

After running the gauntlet of the Cruise Center we negotiated with a taxi driver for a ride the the old downtown area. He took us on a circuitous ride through backstreets and alleys but the fare was fixed so we didn't care. When we got to the market I could see why he took those little roads because the main streets were clogged with traffic.

 We decided to spend some time in the central market which is huge building full of individual vendors of everything needed for everyday life. 

Butcher shop in the market with a full half beef on the back counter

After the market we visited the nearby church that we had seen from the ship. It was a nice looking building with beautiful stained glass windows and what looked like granite blocks. When I inspected the columns more closely I found they were built of concrete with a coating that looked like mortar and blocks. 

Inside the Church of The Immaculate Conception

In a nearby plaza we took a rest and watched the passing people going about their business. It was a restful little park with palms and other tropical trees. We had a restful break before negotiating with a driver of a golf-cart-looking vehicle who gave us an open air ride back to the ship.

Cabo San Lucas

Last night when we came back to our room there was a little mini-schnauzer waiting for us

Towel art Mini-Schnauzer

We anchored in the harbor at Cabo San Lucas this morning just before noon. Guests had started to sign up for tender tickets at 1000 and were waiting, sometimes patiently, in public areas for the shuttles to begin. We decided to have lunch first and let the rush die down. By the time we were ready to head for the beach there was no waiting and no tickets required.

After the ten minute ride to the jetty we wandered around the waterfront. The temperature was in the low eighties but there was a light breeze so it wasn't uncomfortable. There were lots of passengers walking around and drinking the two dollar beers instead of the much higher priced ones aboard ship.

I'll let the photographs speak for themselves. Well, with a short caption on each to help.

Entry to the harbor surrounded by condos and hotels on the hills

White beaches and white condos

Hawker signs waiting for the next tender

Sitting with Pancho Villa

Tourists waiting for the tender. Norwegian Jewel in the background

Our tenders with some luxury yachts in the background

Wild advertisement in the window of one of the many farmacias

Last tender was scheduled to leave the jetty at 1830 but we were back on board well before then. Some folks weren't and there were several announcements asking some errant passengers to contact Guest Services. I guess they all got safely back aboard as we headed out into the darkness at 1915 or so.

On Board the Norwegian Jewel

Our fiftieth anniversary cruise last year was so good (see a report on that cruise at the beginning of this blog, March 2015)) we thought we should do another cruise so we embarked on the Norwegian Jewel yesterday, 1/17/16, for a seven-day cruise in Mexican waters. Our first stop will be Cabo San Lucas tomorrow followed by stops at Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta and then back to Los Angeles next Sunday.

All aboard at Los Angles World Cruise Center

This ship is almost twice the size of the MS Veendam on which we sailed last year. Twice the size means twice the number of passengers, two dining rooms, eight other complimentary dining venues including two that are open 24 hours, six specialty restaurants with an additional charge, thirteen bars in addition to being able to order wine and drinks in the dining rooms and activities from morning until night. Today’s bulletin lists 98 activities beginning with the ones at 0700 with the last one beginning at midnight.

Then there are the pools and hot tubs, waterslide, gyms, library, internet café, golf cages, basketball courts, deck shuffleboard, cigar room, karaoke rooms, etc., etc. Plenty to keep you busy if you’re so inclined, or you can just kick back in a deck chair and relax.

This morning I walked for an hour around the Promenade Deck where there were not many walkers at 0715. At 1200 I attended a Digital Camera Workshop, at 1300 a cocktail party for returning Norwegian Cruisers and then watched the sun set around 1730.

Promenade Deck just after daybreak

In between these activities we had to fit in a little something to eat. Iko and I went to breakfast in one of the main dining rooms where I had a favorite breakfast, lox and cream cheese served with a toasted bagel, capers and onions. As expected the Norwegian chefs did a good job with two large thin slices of cold smoked salmon. After the cocktail party we stopped in the buffet for a salad and snack then tonight we’re going to the other main dining room for dinner. A highlight of the dining room experience is their tea service with a large preheated teapot and good quality tea.

The beginning of a beautiful sunset

Sun fading into the western ocean