Saturday, November 07, 2009

can you spare a cruise?


When I moved to Melaque, a friend asked me if would still be here in November.


I told him: "I certainly hope so."


He then told me that he was taking a Mexican cruise with his sister, and that one of the stops would be Puerto Vallarta. He wanted to know if I would spend the day with them.


It sounded great to me. Of course, I would need to find accommodation for the dog.


Well, we know how part of that story has developed. When Jiggs died in October, it occurred to me that I not only could meet them, I could join them on the cruise. And that is exactly what I am going to do.


I am going to end up spending hours flying to and from Los Angeles to visit the country where I live. Better yet, it is the same cruise I would take for my birthday every year: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Places I have visited -- a lot.


But, I am looking forward to it because I will be spending time with my friends.


When I set up the reservations, I noted one big problem. There is only one direct flight from Los Angeles to Manzanillo each week -- on Saturdays. The ship returns to Los Angeles on Sunday. That means that I would have to stay in Los Angeles for almost a full week.


Now, I do not dislike Los Angeles -- exactly. I just found it hard to think of anything I could do for a week.


Then another group of friends came to the rescue. I have not been to Disneyland since the mid-1950s. My friends were more than willing to drag me back to the Magic Kingdom.


Surprisingly, I am looking forward to it. I will be wandering around with a group of techie-minded types. We can spend our time looking at how things work. For me, it will be like being in theater heaven. Better than a week at Fry's.


So, that is the agenda -- and not one secret item in sight.


I will do my best to keep you posted on this little adventure -- even if it is Mexico from the ultimate tourist's perspective. Assuming I can get enough bandwidth to upload photographs from the ship.


Let the adventure continue.

16 comments:

Islagringo said...

Can't wait to hear about this adventure and see the resultant pictures. Except please, no Mickey Mouse shots!

Tancho said...

Well you certainly look happy surrounded by nubile young pert bodies.....
Have a great time! There have been a few changes at Disneyland, it now runs about $80 bucks to get in. A tad more expensive than your last visit which was about 5 bucks if my memory serves me right. There are tons of stuff to look at in LA, next time you go, give me some advance warning,I can have a friend show you the workings of the LA water system ,(takes about two days).
Save the photos until your return, I understand the cruise ships have found another profit center for bandwidth.

Steve Cotton said...

Islagringo -- Photographs there shall be. Avoiding those ears is a fool's mission.

Constantino -- Nothing like youth to perk up the old man. I may need to go to an internet cafe at one of the ports if I am going to upload good-quality photographs.

Anonymous said...

Now this is exciting!! I know you'll have a wonderful time. Good for you. From my experience in the Bahamas the internet service is incredibly slow and expensive. We were on the Norwegian Sky and had an incredibly fun time. I would go back again in a heart beat.

- Mexican Trailrunner said...

I've taken that same cruise too and had a really good time, unexpectedly.

Hey, Stevie Wonder says now he knows what happened to his tie and he wants it back!

Steve Cotton said...

Kgroener -- Exciting it will be. It may not be as good as having family come visit -- as you have had lately. But it will do.

Mexican Trailrunner -- Pretty geeky tie, eh?

- Mexican Trailrunner said...

No, I like it.

Steve Cotton said...

Mexican Trailrunner -- I guess it is obvious I do, as well. Almost as much as I like the company.

Leslie Harris said...

Being a Souther California native, I have to say that there are TONS of things to do in L.A. I'm sure you will find something to keep you busy during your stay. And I look forward to the pics of my old friend Mickey! (I used to visit "The Happiest Place on Earth" several times a year!)

GlorV1 said...

Oh boy, fun, fun, fun. That's great Steve. Enjoy yourself and be safe. (don't forget to eat well too.)

Joe S. said...

Steve this is what happens when you don't watch TV. You've been duped into appearing in a sitcom. You think your friends are graciously entertaining you but....unless... are you writing or producing one??? Anyway see the attachment for my head shots for the role of your silver haired sidekick.

Steve Cotton said...

Leslie -- There are plenty of things to do in LA. I was just being snooty. I have looked forward to getting to the Getty Museum -- before it has to return ALL of its contents to their rightful owners. I still have not seen it.

Gloria -- There is eating well -- and there is eating healthy. I will eat well. No problem with that on a cruise.

Joe -- I have been living a sitcom for so many seasons, I doubt I would notice if I ended up being cast in another. You are more than welcome to be a sidekick of whatever variety you choose.

Anonymous said...

While on the cruise ship if you hit the casino try # 28 on the roulette table. My daughter used that number and won twice. $1400.00. That number just kept coming up over and over. The dealer said that was his number as well and wondered why she used that number. It was her age. Give it a try. She lost under a $100.00 in order to win the $1400.00.

Charles said...

Hi Steve - just got back from two weeks in PV - a little warm but not as humid as I expected. I am thinking we will probably do what Babs suggested when we move down permanently....winters at the beach and summers in the mountains. What ship are you on?

MarySF said...

Steve, Just found your blog. Wow, what a wonderful life you have. Have an interesting, exciting trip!This is the first time I've ever commented to anyone. Remember me? I spent a lot of time with Darrel back in high school.

Steve Cotton said...

Mary -- As in Mary Snyder? If so, I was just thinking about you and your brothers the other day. Welcome aboard!