Acapulco and Beyond

Well, we survived Acapulco with it’s multitudes of chicklet sellers and people wanting to take us to visit their family business in the local flea markets. We did however, find a Woolworth, of all things, and went in just to see what they had. It was a time warp back to the late 50’s but they had everything being sold these days. We wandered about the old part of town near the zocalo, the town square, which could have been anywhere in Latin America. It’s the same all over the world; the central plaza where everyone goes to socialize. We then headed for the hotel zone hoping to find a beach because it was very hot. We took a local bus for 40 cents each. No air conditioning, of course. Plus the added attraction of screaming babies, terrorist two-year olds and old ladies chattering endlessly. After glaring at Jerry with a death stare he finally agreed to vacate his seat. That was just after a 300 pound Mexican teenager sat down next to me, squishing what was left of my profusely sweating body. So we finally vacated the bus from which the only thing missing was live chickens.

We continued to walk through various hotels which were beautiful but had no beaches since they were perched high on cliffs. Dummies! We should have known we were near where the famous Mexican cliff divers did their daily encounter with death. Boy, are we stupid. We have been here at least three times before. How could we have forgotten about that. Just goes to show you what walking around in a 90 degree polluted city can do to your mind. So, just before I killed Jerry he agreed to return to the ship, but only if we could take the 40 cent bus back. The man spends thousands on a cruise and has to take the 40 cent bus! Actually, upon pain of death I made him take the 50 cent bus back…it was air conditioned, sort of. We managed to get off at the wrong stop and had to walk for blocks to find our way back, but we made it and threw ourselves in the ships’s pool and were revived instantly and I didn’t kill him, as I should have Dinner was almost bearable that evening since the super red (ultra rednecks) didn’t make it. Rumor was that he was repairing a Mexican tractor.

Next day was a sea day which was uneventful. Jerry got up early to secure chairs in the Solarium. You have to get there early to stake your claim, since those old folks are faster than greased lightning when they want that certain chair. They will knock you over with their canes to get the one they want. The only time they are faster is when they are in the buffet line.

That evening we had dinner with our friend, Lubi, who works for the purser’s office on this ship and who we met on the Constellation a few years ago. We had a fun evening with her, catching up since that cruise. She was the one who talked us into going to Macedonia that year, and we had a good laugh about that. It was so good to see that a bright young lady is being recognized and promoted in this company. So now it's two sea days till Cabo San Lucas. Love to all, P & J