DAY 38---MAZATLAN, MEXICO (3RD TIME)

 

Here we are for a 3rd time in Mazatlan.  We were docked and the ship cleared by local officials by 8am.  It's sunny and 79 degrees this morning.

LAST NIGHT:

Murphy presenting the "Pirate" wine I had ordered.  It had a lot of tanins and needed to be decanted but Jeff and I wanted some red wine right away.  So I asked him to save the wine and we would drink it in Compass Rose the next night.  I had him bring us one of their complimentary reds, Cashmere cabernet.

I had asked for the butcher to send us these three ribeyes so I could choose two of them:  one for Jeff and one for me.  Rebecca had her usual filet.

                                                        All three of us had the crab cake.

I didn't care that much for my ribeye as it had a "char" on both sides.  Kind of ruined the taste of the meat.

                                    I had to look at this "very strange" piece of art all evening.

                                                 Kadek was our waiter in Prime 7 as usual.

Dara even came in from Compass Rose to sing.

Pastry chef made a BIG chocolate cake.  Then they cut big pieces so I cut mine in half and shared with Rebecca.  We took her big piece to Dara in Compass Rose after we finished.  Then we had them deliver a couple pieces to Sandy & Dana Wells' suite. I believe they were dining in Chartreuse.

                                                                        Way too big.

We finished dinner 15 minutes before the show, "Divos & Divas".  We got our usual front row stage left seats.

TODAY:

        I did not sleep well last night with runny nose.  I will not do my workout today but Rebecca went to do her treadmill time.  Think I caught a cold on the cooking tour a couple days ago as was sitting in back of bus with cool wind blowing on me.

        This is the commercial port that requires passengers to take a short shuttle ride to the cruise terminal.  As you may recall there is a pharmacy in the terminal so I plan to go get some Somit (Ambien) to help me sleep.

        I did take the shuttle to the terminal.  Lots of shops selling souvenirs and t-shirts.  There were actually 3 pharmacies.  They had boxes of 30 Ambien like sleeping pills.  They require a prescription in the States.  I did not need 30 so told her I just wanted 10.  So she opened a box of 30 and took 10 out for me.  $30 for the 10 but I cut them in half when I need to use it.

                                                               Very rough riding shuttle.

                                                                       

                                                            Got this for Jeff's birthday.

        Jeff left at 8:30 this morning on a 5 1/2 hour zip line excursion.  He's going to miss lunch on the ship but his tour does include a quesadilla.  There is also a stop at a tequila distillery for a tour and tasting.

Lunch in Compass Rose.  My usual empanada to start with followed by a small Caesar with 5 anchovies.

        This is the chili & tequila roasted snapper with roasted potatoes.  Not one of my favorites.

        Jeff emailed saying he was back on the ship at 2:30 and again hot and sweaty.

        We are not big champagne drinkers but this French champagne is one of our upgraded Titanium benefits.  I checked and it costs $85 in our Durango liquor store.  Siva is coming at 5pm to ice it down as we plan to take it with us to the Seven Seas Society party at 6:00.  We definitely want to be there as the Cruise Consultant will be announcing our names as the passengers with the most nights cruised on Regent on this cruise segment.  We now have 858 night sailed on Regent so with our up coming 143 night world cruise it will put us at 1001 nights.  So then we will become "Diamonds".

        Miso glazed sea bass is always on the SSS night menu in Compass Rose.  We've had two bad experiences with it so I have ordered veal osso buco with creamy polenta for Rebecca & I tonight.  Jeff is not a big fan of veal (not sure why since he loves beef) so not sure what he will select off the menu.

        We will try to catch Tom Franek's show after dinner.  Again, he is comedy pianist.

We are sailing at 4pm today and heading down to Manzanillo, Mexico, where we are scheduled to be docked by 11am tomorrow.  Tomorrow is caviar & champagne Sunday at breakfast.  Hope I feel better.

DAY 37---CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO (AGAIN)

 

Yes, I am feeling old as it is Jeff's 45th birthday.  He is going for a horseback ride on the beach in Cabo today.  We will be celebrating with dinner in Prime 7 with a very nice red wine and the pastry chef is making him a birthday cake.  This is on today's ship's tv.

Our position today is anchored just off shore from Cabo San Lucas.  Beautiful sunny skies and 76 early this morning.  The 3rd time we have been here on this cruise.  The "8's":  October 8th, 18th, & 28th!

LAST NIGHT:

                  Rebecca and I had the crispy fried shrimp as our entrees in Compass Rose.

                                                      Jeff had this Szechuan beef stir fry.

     Jeff had two desserts:  malva pudding and spiced baba au rhum.  I had the malva pudding.

    This is Donald, the head waiter who just arrived in LA that I mentioned in yesterday's post.

I went to Tom Franek's show.  I sat up in the balcony and left after about 15 minutes.  He was pretty good and played the piano in several really unusual positions.  Rebecca and Jeff did not go.  We will try to catch his next show.

TODAY:

Sunrise as we approached Cabo.  Lots of sport fishing boats heading out and some small dolphins playing.

                       Closer up view of the condos and hotels as we approached Lands End.

        We were fortunate this morning to have great views from our balcony as we sailed around Lands End and approached our anchorage.  The sun was also perfect for these photos.  Lands End is where the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California meet.

        We were anchored and tendering began at 10am.  Most tours were scheduled to depart at 10:30 and those folks had priority to board the tenders.  It was just after noon when they announced "open tendering".  I had considered going ashore after lunch but too warm--85 degrees outside.  Besides we have been to Cabo many times in past years.

While Jeff was "horsing around" (horseback ride on the beach).  Aries and Gale decorated Jeff's suite.

Aries let me in so I could take this photo.

        Jeff should be back from his tour around 2:30 so we will get the lowdown about his tour experience then.  He may want to grab a bite at the pool grill as it will be open until 4pm.

        So the plans for this evening will be drinks and pigs here in our suite at 6pm.  Jeff's birthday dinner will be in Prime 7 at 7pm.  I have asked Rommel (maitre'd) to have the ship's butcher select 3 of his most "marbled" 18 ounce bone-in ribeye steaks for me to look at at our table prior to cooking.  I will select two IF they are actually "prime steaks".  I was a pre-vet student at Southern Illinois University and a professor asked me to be on the school's livestock judging team.  We judged beef, swine, and sheep.  We would also grade the meats after butchering so I know the difference between the USDA grades of: prime, choice, and standard.  Prime is the best cut, of course, due to the marbling or amount of fat stands running through the meat.  This is what makes it tender and juicy.  So expect to see a photo of these steaks in tomorrow's post.  The pastry chef is supposed to be making a special birthday cake and I'm betting the staff will be singing too.

We'll be enjoying the La Sirena "Pirate TreasuRed" tonight.  NOT the Opus!  OUCH!!

        I hope we finish dinner in time to go to the production show, "Divos & Divas".  We have seen it once on this cruise and several times on our world cruise earlier this year.  It is a good one and want Jeff to see it.

        Jeff got back from horsing around at 3:30.  Said he was sweaty and very dusty so was just going to take a long shower and not eat until dinner.  I just took him some cold cuts and cheese however.  He was glad to get it.

        Well, the ship is scheduled to weigh anchor and depart at 8pm.  We shall be docked in Mazatlan, Mexico, by 8am tomorrow.

Late addition to this post.  At 5pm I counted over 100 sport fishing boats returning to Cabo.