Once upon a time in Mexico. . .

OK--I know it's been forever and a day since I've posted in this blog. . . but now that the weather is nasty and rainy and I am stuck at home, miserable with a cold. . . I decided it was finally time to write about much happier (and sunnier) days. . .

Hence THIS post.


A long, long time ago in a country far, far way. . . the time being early May of 2010 (Cinco de Mayo to be exact) and the country being Mexico. . . my gal pal and I and her daughter and a friend decided to take a Mexican Rivera Cruise. . . because after all, there's no reason not to when you crave natural Vitamin D as badly as I do.  (and when your friend calls you up and twists your arm until it breaks off and asks you if you'd like to go on a cruise with her and her daughter to celebrate the daughter's high school graduation)

That's the kind of friend I am.  I'll hop on board a luxurious ship and go to far away places and be fed FABULOUS food and see amazing sights and tour exotic places and shop for just about anything and be entertained and pampered all because I was asked to by a friend.  It just doesn't get much better than that.

We started out on a fabulous road trip down to sunny Los Angeles, California and stayed with my gal pal's parents before we boarded our Princess Cruise ship.

There's nothing like taking a cruise ship where they treat you like a Princess.  The food, the entertainment, the amenities and staff were incredible.

OK, so I might be a little fixated on the desserts--but the rest of the food was fabulous too!  In fact, when I was eating my morning pasty for breakfast I got a little plastic baby inside.  (kind of like a Mardi Gras King Cake)  However the only 'prize' I got for my effort was a puzzled look from the staff. . . 

And since this was a 'Princess Cruise' there was a night where we had to dress up and look the part--so of course gal pal and I were going over our 'dos'

Being pampered and waited on every single night was kind of addicting.  I never get the same attention at home like I did from our wait staff:  David, Elvis and Zane.  (Zane is the gal pictured below)  You can figure out which one you think is Elvis and David from the two other gentemen in the following pictures; 

Making new friends is also a ton of fun too.  (and these guys will be SHOCKED I finally found a picture of us together where we didn't have our mouths full of food!)

OK---now to the good stuff!  First stop was Puerto Vallarta:

My most favorite thing about cruising is coming into the ports and seeing the cities by sea.  There is nothing quite like it.  Of course--TOURING the cities and going on adventures are pretty darn fun too. . .

This bird couldn't resist a kiss. . . 

 Now I have a new BFF. . . I wonder if dear hubby will let me keep him. . . 

We snorkeled, swam, kayaked, dined and even had a finishing massage at this little Hideaway at Callitas.

Then it was on to Mazatlan and shopping. . . and I mean SERIOUS shopping:

So serious that we had to see some local talent do death-defying performances and dress up as deer and dance in colorful costumes--just so we could have the strength to make it throughout all the markets and stores:

  

One of those dancers looked vaguely familiar (like gal pal's daughter who had to join in)  but I digress. . . 

The thing you must remember about shopping in Mexico is the proverbial caveat:  'What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico.'  So it was a must to 'make nice' with the shop owners:

Shopping is hard work--so you need to take frequent beaks or siestas:

And  finally--what you must be sure to do is make 'friends' with anyone who went shopping with you (like gal pal's daughter) so that you can swear them to secrecy for any future fallout. . . .

Our final destination was the beautiful Cabo San Lucas where we swam and snorkeled and had a beachy good time:

I had a blast and  it was TOTALLY a Vitamin D overload of fun. . .sand, surf, sun and if my friends ever wanna twist my arm to go again. . . I will most likely do it --because, like I sad before--that's just the kinda friend I am.

'NUFF SAID!