Wednesday, January 31 - At Sea

 We're in the Pacific Ocean, heading west and slightly north, to Kona, Hawaii.  Then Hilo and Honolulu.  Seas are calm with lots of birds and whales.  

Photos!

We got an extra hour of sleep last night so I was up early.  But the sky was dark.  This was about 6:30 a.m.

Once a month we have to have a safety drill

We'll set our clocks back a total of 4 hours as we spend six days cruising to Hawaii

I love this LED candle.  I use them every night at home and brought this one with me

Breakfast was one of my menu favorites.  Quinoa and wild rice, topped with a poached egg and accompanied by miso sauce and raw veggies

On deck five are photos of HAL ships of the past.  This looks like when we cruised into Manhattan in front of the Twin Towers in 2001

Smooth seas and sunny skies.  About 78/26

One of the two pools onboard

Deck 9, aft is a great place to hang out for fresh air, views and a drink.  There's a bar on the other side of the deck

I've successfully avoided the pastry section of the Lido

So many goodies

On the 2020 World Cruise, they had this buffet every Sunday.  This is the first time on this cruise.  I have a reservation!

I'm a fan of this giant painting

I had a healthy lunch so I could enjoy this cheeseburger for lunch

The safety drill took about 15 minutes and was well organized.  Some passengers were very, very cranky about having to do it

I was happy it was fast and we had a view while waiting

Beautiful evening sky with smooth seas

I opted for a lightish dinner in my cabin.  HAL makes the best French Onion soup, something I don't make at home.  And a cheese and fruit plate

Tuesday, January 30 - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico

I haven't been in Puerto Vallarta since 2001 and boy, has it grown.  Today I opted to just get off, walk around and do a bit of shopping.  Here's my day in photos:

Pulling in to dock.  

The weather started off cool and cloudy.  The clouds stayed for most of the day and temps got up to about 80/27.  Comfortable for a walk and exploring a nearby Flea Market

The area around the port was very clean, thanks in part to this guy

I quit drinking last year but this used to be a favorite Tequila

My cabin stewards, Rony and Mario, during a safety drill.  Rony (left) started our game by scaring the crap out of me when I came around a corner heading to my cabin.  Since then, we've both "gotten" each other.  Including the other night when I answered the door to Mario who had my daily cruise news and chocolates.  Yes, a handsome man brings me chocolate every night.  While I was talking to Mario, here came Rony's head around the corner.  He was on the floor and stuck his head into my room.  Goofball!

Yesterday, they left the door to their supply/work closet open.  It's near my cabin.  So I went in and stood behind the door.  Five minutes later, Rony came in.  He was focused, working and didn't notice me until I started giggling.  He screamed like the proverbial girl and grabbed his heart.  And finally acknowledged I got him.  The score is 3-3.  Rony says to be afraid.  I am!

I like to be on the only ship in port.  When I saw this Carnival behemoth pulling in to dock next to us, I grabbed my purse and went onshore before their 4500 customers got off

As usual in port, vendors set up tables to sell stuff.  Drugs and booze.  Both seemed to have plenty of customers as the day went on

I stayed near the port.  Compared to Manzanillo, which felt like I was in Mexico, it felt like I was in Florida.  Everyone I spoke to spoke English

I would have loved to go fishing with this guy

There were several party boats with music blasting.  And cruisers standing in long lines to get on

If they'd been cheaper I'd have gotten a Lucha Libre mask.  Would have been an excellent way to "get" Rony if I wore when when I answered my cabin door

$50 an hour

I just liked the looks of this tequila bottle

Food from the ship is not allowed into the country.  This guy was working with his professionally trained dog

As soon as the trainer gave him his treasured toy, he took off

I feel so much better about Buddy not coming when called.  This good boy did not care that his master was getting very annoyed as he ran around the port area

These seemed to be passengers from the Carnival ship

Crew drill!

The food has been excellent.  But I've found that Mexican isn't their forte.  I didn't go to this dinner.  I know they put a lot of effort into it

I've been wearing a beaching cover up I bought in Puerto Vallarta in 2001 ever since.  I bought this dress so maybe I should retire the old one.  Then again...nah

Sam's Club and Walmart were across the street from the port.  Nothing screams "Mexico" like Walmart

And a mall

My lunch view after I got back on the ship.  I'd like to see the inside of one of those condos in that hi-rise

Malaysian beans, shrimp and some sushi was lunch onboard

I leave the ship in Tokyo but most are staying on for another two months back to Ft. Lauderdale.  Rumors have been rife since the issues in the Middle East.  They announced the revised itinerary today.  Also, passengers doing the full world will get $500 for all visas purchased (which are no longer necessary); HAL will take care of getting newly required visas AND, passengers will get a 15% rebate of their cruise fare in Future Cruise Credit.  Very generous.  Since my portion of the itinerary isn't impacted, I get nothin'

I feel for the passengers, since I was on the full 2020 World Cruise that involved many itinerary changes and then was cancelled in March.  I got home March 27, 2020, just a couple days before the world shut down

See that little blue thing?  There's a person in it, using pedals to propel the thing along the track it is hanging from.  It must be quite a view.  The Carnival ship also had a two-story waterslide

Some photos of sail away

I'd like to find out who owns the two HUGE houses at the mouth of the port

I really want to go fishing

Have I mentioned Puerto Vallarta is huge?

Well, this is sad.  I went to dinner last night without my phone, so you'll have to use your imagination.  I had the shrimp cocktail and flatiron steak with veggies and roasted new potatoes.  With carrot cake for dessert