Well we just got back from our week long cruise on the Mexican Riviera and it was a blast. Wayne, Laila, her friend Addy and I really had a fun, relaxing too much food time It started with Wayne and I on the first night being chosen as a wild and crazy couple to do on stage and compete to be the VIP for the rest of the cruise. I didn’t have to do much just cheer Wayne on and Wayne had to shake balls out of a box hooked on his back ( the funny part is he had just practiced this the Monday before at FHE family night with minute to win it games-- he succeeded then and now) He won - also because he’s very competitive. Laila was so PROUD-- we won a coveted plastic ship on a stick trophy, champagne ( which we gave away) reserved seats to all of the nightly shows, chocolate covered strawberries, wine ( which we traded from virgin pina coladas) priority tendering off the ship, 27 bingo cards to play, a private backstage tour with a cast member, and bragging rights. It also came with Wayne having to shake his balls the rest of the cruise whenever anyone went by him and said it. He was a very good sport.
We loved the ship. It had delicious food! A great breakfast buffet , An Indian Tandoor kitchen with fresh nan, a deli, a Mongolian wok, a burrito bar, a hamburger grill, a hand tossed 24 hour pizza place, and incredible desserts. This doesn’t take into account the nightly dining room experience. The fresh bread each night was delicious plus all of the chocolate melting cake and ice cream. Kind waiters who really took time to explain things like Indian food to the girls, remembered our names and made us feel special. We loved the dancing and singing waiter show nightly too.
We loved the soft ice cream on demand of course - breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks in between. (Wayne gained 9 pounds this past week and I gained 4) We definitely got our money’s worth.
We love the heat-- we had beautiful weather the entire time.
We loved going to Cabo San Lucas. We got a water tour and saw tropical fish and beautiful sandy beaches, an amazing arch and the bay was turquoise blue. The girls got braids in their hair, played in the ocean and we ate fish tacos.
We loved Puerto Vallarta. We shopped and Wayne got a stone carved chess set of Aztecs vs. conquistadors. It’s heavy and cool and he trudged it all over Puerto the rest of the day. The girls got a fish pedicure-- the funny part is Addy got a pedicure before t=she came , so the little fish didn’t have much to munch on, but Laila’s feet were full of dead skin-- the fish were in HEAVEN! Laila was a little squeamish. 10 fish were on Addy’s feet and about 110 were on Laila’s.
While in Puerto the second day, we did an extreme canopy excursion and it was EXTREME.
We rode a speed boat across the ocean to a quaint village called Api, then we got on a jeep and the ride was like the Indiana Jones rocking and jolting ride at Disneyland. We laughed a lot. Then we got on mules and rode them the rest of the way up the mountain. We did 7 zip lines, rappelled down 2 waterfalls, got absolutely drenched 4 times. Did 2 waterslides-- one was the highest in all of Mexico-- 2nd highest in Latin America. They give you elbow pads and a helmet with a face cage to go down it safely. I almost chickened out because of the steep drop but I’m glad I did it- even though I hit my face and boob on the side of the slide-( hence a boob sprain)
We LOVED it-- and talked about this the rest of the time. We have no pics, because we couldn't take our phones and they wanted a hundred bucks for the pics the tour took. No bueno.
We loved our balcony cruise ship room. It’s really the way to go since you spend so much time on the ship and this way you can find a bit of peace and quiet while enjoying the sun and ocean.
I like cruises because of the night life-- singing/dancing shows, karaoke, a piano bar, a great band, singing at the top of our lungs, an involved cruise director, line dancing...it all adds up to fun for me. We do about 1 every 5 years. This is our 7th one.
The girls were great driving down and back and it was an enjoyable 8 days for all of us. We are grateful for Addy Fox for putting up with us. She was an easy friend to travel with and she only got homesick a little.
It was great to be off the grid-- off my phone for a week-- I loved being disconnected. I read three books!
OUR FAVORITES OF EACH DAY:
Saturday March 30- Sea day
Wayne
1-VIP on the ship by shaking balls out of a box
2-parking where told you you couldn’t park
3-chocolate melting cake
Melinda
1- watching a Wayne win the shake your balls out game then having everyone walk by him and ask him to “shake his balls” for the rest of the night
2.Live music to dance and sing to.
3.Balcony room
OUR FAVORITES OF EACH DAY:
Saturday March 30- Sea day
Wayne
1-VIP on the ship by shaking balls out of a box
2-parking where told you you couldn’t park
3-chocolate melting cake
Melinda
1- watching a Wayne win the shake your balls out game then having everyone walk by him and ask him to “shake his balls” for the rest of the night
2.Live music to dance and sing to.
3.Balcony room
Laila
Wearing the sea bands - I was a bit sea sick
Laying out by the pool
Watching dad shake his butt
Addy
Dinner in the dining room
Watching Laila try to catch a seagull
Sitting on top of cruise ship at night. Listening to music.
Sunday March 31- Sea day
Wayne
Lobster for dinner
Being the VIP- more wine and chocolate covered strawberries. Pina coladas
Nap
Melinda
Reading/ finishing Pres Nelson book in the sunshine
Piano bar with sarcastic piano guy
Dressing up
Laila
Playing basketball - free throw tournament
Meeting up with Andrew
Pina coladas at dinner
Addy
1.laying out even though I got burned
2.waiters dancing on the tables
3.waiter Hmung with the dimples
Monday April 1- Cabo San Lucas
Wayne
Comedian
Piano show
Sea lion jumping into boat.
Melinda
1.line dancing at the deck party.
2.Singing at the piano show.
3.Delicious dinner of tostado and Mexican style tilapia
Laila
Sea lion in the boat
Hearing from John the waiter how the Indian food was made
The beach
Stretch leg in the balcony
Addy
1.Cabo beach.
2.All the fish on the glass bottom boat tour.
3. When Wayne ate the Spicy Indian food
Tuesday . April 2- Puerto Vallarta
Laila
Meeting Rodrigo at the market. Mom bought an egg
Driving on cobblestone roads.
Fish foot spa. Fish attacked
Watching dad’s soda explode in Walmart
Addy
Asking Andrew for tampons
Beaded Spirit animals
Buying stuff for family
Wayne
Walmart shopping
Stone chess set with Aztecs and conquistadors
All the bathroom stops
Melinda
Beautiful Puerto Vallarta
Walking the marketplace
Delicious ship food- really good in the dining room.
Watching Laila and Wayne talk to everyone and be so interested
April 3 Wednesday - Puerto Vallarta
Melinda
Extreme canopy excursion. Speed boat, crazy hero ride, mule ride, Zip lines, Rappelling ,Zip coaster, Mexican food!
Afternoon nap
Seeing pure joy in Lailas face. Brought tears to me eyes
Wayne
1.zip coaster
2.on demand ice cream.
3.won a ship on a stick the first day so didn’t have to worry the rest of the cruise
Laila
1.zip coaster
2.eating ice cream after excursion
3.zip lining
Addy
1.zip coaster
2.talking to Robert - tour guide
3.mule ride. Had the fast one
Thursday April 4- Sea day
Melinda
Karaoke- singing Don’t rain on my Parade for Laila and Addy
Afternoon nap
The epic rock show- 80’s dance
Wayne
Rock show.
listening to Melinda at Karaoke
seeing a Whale off the back of the ship
Laila
1.mom singing karaoke
2.staying up til one with Addy, Andrew, Isaac and Anna
3.winning Scattegories
Addy
1.key lime mouse for dinner,
2. Epic Rock
3.80’s deck dance
Friday April 5
Melinda
1.Turkey avocado sandwich on pretzel bun and fries.
2.meeting Singer/ dancer Sophie from London who gave us the backstage tour.
3. Big sing along balloon drop
Wayne
1.VIP backstage tour for only us!
2. Final soft serve cone
Laila
1.word metamorphosis with Andrew.
2. VIP back stage tour.
3. Getting courage to ask Ben the singer/ dancer how old he was
Addy
1.back stage tour
2.all the waiters singing goodbye to us
3.lip sync battle
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