#things to do in ensenada port

[villabitterlin]

Exploring Ensenada Port: Best Activities and Nearby Attractions

Ensenada, nestled along the picturesque coastline of Baja California, Mexico, is a charming port city that offers a myriad of experiences for travelers seeking a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and cultural exploration. From indulging in delicious local cuisine to exploring the vibrant marine life, Ensenada and its nearby attractions promise a memorable getaway. Here's a curated list of the best things to do in Ensenada Port and its surrounding areas.

1. La Bufadora - The Natural Wonder:

A short drive from Ensenada takes you to La Bufadora, one of the largest blowholes in North America. Witness the impressive natural geyser shoot water high into the air, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Stroll along the vibrant marketplace surrounding La Bufadora to shop for local crafts and souvenirs.

2. Wine Tasting in Valle de Guadalupe:

Ensenada is renowned for its proximity to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's wine country. Embark on a wine-tasting tour and savor exquisite Mexican wines amid scenic vineyards. The region's Mediterranean climate creates an ideal environment for grape cultivation, resulting in award-winning wines that cater to every palate.

3. Explore the Malecón:

The Malecón, Ensenada's waterfront promenade, is a bustling hub of activity. Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade, lined with vibrant shops, seafood restaurants, and street performers. Enjoy the refreshing sea breeze and soak in the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

4. Indulge in Fresh Seafood:

Ensenada is a seafood lover's paradise. Head to Mercado Negro, the local fish market, to sample an array of freshly caught seafood. Whether you prefer ceviche, fish tacos, or a seafood platter, the culinary delights of Ensenada are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

5. Cultural Exploration at Riviera Cultural Center:

Immerse yourself in Ensenada's rich cultural scene by visiting the Riviera Cultural Center. This historic building hosts art exhibitions, live performances, and cultural events. Explore the art galleries, attend a concert, or simply appreciate the architecture of this cultural gem.

6. Hike to El Salto:

For nature enthusiasts, a hike to El Salto offers a rewarding experience. This waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery, provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The hike allows you to connect with nature and enjoy breathtaking views of the cascading water.

7. Visit Museo de la Vid y el Vino:

Enrich your understanding of the region's viticulture by visiting the Museo de la Vid y el Vino. This museum showcases the history of winemaking in Baja California, featuring exhibits on the cultivation of grapes, wine production techniques, and the cultural significance of wine in the region.

8. Whale Watching in Bahía de Todos Santos:

Ensenada is a prime location for whale watching during the winter months. Join a whale-watching tour in Bahía de Todos Santos to witness the majestic gray whales on their annual migration. The experience of seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is both awe-inspiring and unforgettable.

Ensenada Port and its surrounding areas offer a diverse range of activities that cater to the interests of every traveler. Whether you're a food enthusiast, wine connoisseur, nature lover, or culture seeker, Ensenada's charm lies in its ability to captivate visitors with its unique blend of natural beauty and vibrant culture. Plan your trip, and get ready to create lasting memories in this enchanting Mexican port city.

9. Relaxation at Villa Bitterlin - Ensenada Beach House:

For those seeking a tranquil retreat, consider staying at Villa Bitterlin, an Ensenada beach house that epitomizes coastal luxury. Nestled along the pristine shores, this charming villa offers a perfect blend of comfort and serenity.

With direct access to the beach, Villa Bitterlin provides an idyllic setting to unwind and soak in the breathtaking ocean views. Whether you're lounging on the sun-kissed terrace, enjoying a private beachfront bonfire, or sipping a glass of Valle de Guadalupe wine, this beach house provides an exclusive and intimate escape.

Indulge in the spacious and well-appointed accommodations, where the sound of the waves lulls you to sleep, creating a truly restorative experience. Wake up to stunning sunrise views over the Pacific, setting the tone for a day filled with relaxation and exploration.

Villa Bitterlin serves as a perfect base for exploring Ensenada and its nearby attractions. The proximity to the city allows you to easily venture into the heart of Ensenada for cultural excursions, culinary adventures, and seaside promenade walks.

Whether you're a couple seeking a romantic getaway, a family in search of quality time by the sea, or a group of friends looking for a beachside retreat, Villa Bitterlin offers a personalized and luxurious experience. Book your stay at this Ensenada beach house, and let the soothing sounds of the ocean create a backdrop for unforgettable memories.

[ensenadamassage5]

Unforgettable Relaxation with a Massage Therapist During Your Ensenada Cruise

Introduction

Allures of Ensenada

Let’s take a moment before we talk about the advantages of finding a massage therapist. Ensenada has to be appreciated first. The city is famous for its beaches, food, and culture. The location of Ensenada is just south of the U.S. border and it is a stop cruise ships pass through, bringing exciting things to do and see around town to the vacationer. Avid shopper wants to visit local markets, wine aficionado who is interested in visiting the nearby Valle de Guadalupe for exquisite wines, or just looking for a warm place to soak up the sun, Ensenada has something for you.

However, it will not be fun and exciting without a break with love and pampering. And for this reason, that is when a massage therapist comes into play.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Benefits of massage therapy include many ways that may enrich your cruise experience. It is after the long days spent around sightseeing. A session with an experienced massage therapist will help ease up the tension of the muscles, reduce all kinds of stress, and bring a feeling of relaxation. The following are some of the key benefits that you will enjoy from a massage therapy session:

1. Stress Relief

Cruising is exhilarating but also overwhelming at times too, as between the hustle and bustle of the ship and exciting excursions in port, you may find yourself a little frazzled. A massage therapist can help melt away stress that’s built up through your travels, so you may return to your vacation in a much more relaxed state.

2. Muscle Recovery

Perhaps you hiked, explored, or did any other kind of sport in the water. You most likely are quite tired in the muscles. A massage therapist might focus on the areas that have tension and ease soreness so you can get much more done without discomfort. This can prove to be very helpful for an Ensenada cruise as adventure lurks around every corner.

3. Quality Sleep

Good sleep is essential in keeping you energized while cruising. Massage therapy can help one achieve good, relaxing sleep. A massage therapist can help facilitate deep relaxation to easily drift off to sleep after an exhilarating day in Ensenada.

4. Improved Blood Circulation

Sourcing a Good Massage Therapist

The moment you feel a need to sign up for a massage session with a massage therapist on your Ensenada cruise, you will first want to research someone reliable enough to do the job. So find a massage therapist in Ensenada who has good reviews and a sturdy reputation. Online sources usually give lessons from previous customers. Recommendations from other cruise passengers can also take you to great therapists.

Explore Different Types of Massage

Massage therapy comes in many flavors-from deep tissue to aromatherapy. Take the time to look into the various types of massage and determine which one would work best for your relaxation goals. Be sure to pass these preferences along to your therapist so that they can tailor the experience to your needs.

Consider Location and Convenience

Since you are taking an Ensenada cruise, make sure that you keep in mind the location of the massage service. Most spas and therapists are close to the port; thus, you can easily find the time for a session. Always factor in some travel time to the spa and back so you get to indulge fully without a sense of hurry.

Timing Your Massage Session

Once you have chosen a massage therapist, it’s time to schedule your appointment. Here are a few things to remember:

1. Timing is Everything

Schedule your massage therapy time so you would not be in a rush, maybe right after a long day of shore excursion or before a dinner in the cruise ship’s formal dining room.

2. Advise Them of Your Needs

Informed your massage therapist of your needs or preferences prior to your massage. If you have sore shoulders or dislike heavy pressure, the better you communicate with him or her, the greater the experience will be.

3. Hydrate Before and After Massage

Picture wrapping up your day in Ensenada with a massage therapist working her magic on the sore muscles. The ambiance is composed and calm; sounds created by waves are a soothing background to this idyllic backdrop. As the therapist skillfully kneads all the tension out of your body, you may find yourself drifting into a peaceful state leaving behind the excitement of the day.

Conclusion

The many cruise experiences offered in An Ensenada make it a good destination for getting to know the different cultures and their cuisines. However, one of the most fulfilling activities you can engage in is a session with a massage therapist. It helps to gain the rewarding aspects of massage therapy beyond just the physical state of relaxation since it enhances your overall cruise experience. You get a chance to connect with the truth of why you enjoy traveling with rekindled well-being.

FAQs

1. What will a massage session feel like?

You expect to be in a relaxing atmosphere, with calming music being played in the background. You find the therapist who can use the skills you like. He would talk to you first about your needs and is willing to work on the areas which might be tight or painful.

2. How do I find a trustworthy massage therapist in Ensenada?

You may find a good professional massage therapist by looking online or in platforms or asking fellow people on the cruise.

3. What are the types of massage?

Different types of massage are Swedish, deep tissue, aromatherapy, and hot stone massages. Look at your relaxation goals and share them with the therapists before they start.

4. What’s the perfect time for me to reserve a massage appointment?

If you wish to do so, make it an early morning or later afternoon massage. It’s a great time to unwind right before any hectic days or even before any evening activity happening onboard a cruise.

5. Should I inform the massage therapist of special needs?

Yes! Be sure to communicate particular concerns, preferred pressure, special requests, etc. before starting the session, as this will make it possible for the therapist to tailor the experience for you.

[kaileerachele]

Cruising on a budget!

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged about cruising yet! If you want to travel on a budget, you definitely need to know about cruising. I can’t say I’m a cruising expert, however, I’ve been on three and I have another planned for November of this year. I have also only cruised on Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival has the best prices I’ve been able to find. Ok so let’s get to it… why go on a cruise?

It can be extremely inexpensive! Like under $300 per person for a 3 or 4 day cruise!! Your food, hotel, and transportation are all included. Most of the time, you would spend more just on hotels for the number of nights you decide to cruise. I really like Carnival because you can book through their website up to two years in advance and set-up a payment plan. If you like to have a travel budget, this makes things so simple!

As a mom, cruises are the absolute best. Guess who doesn’t have to cook, clean, plan activities, find restaurants, and book multiple hotels for about a week? Me!!! I took my two girls on a cruise for their Christmas present a few years ago with my mom and we had a blast. They loved the unlimited pizza, soft serve ice cream, and snacks. They also loved swimming, mini golf, the activities for kids (at no extra charge), meeting friends, and seeing new parts of the world. It was also fun to get dressed up fancy for dinner. I have actually been really impressed with the food on the cruises I’ve been on!

You get to easily see parts of the world that would be much more expensive to fly to and pay for lodging, food, etc. We have been on the four day Catalina Island and Ensenada cruise and it was great! Our next cruise is going to be a 7 day to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan. We have never been to those parts of Mexico and it a fraction of the cost to cruise there. My favorite excursions are the city tour activities, which tend to be the most inexpensive. I am also wanting to go on an Alaskan cruise. We live in the Pacific Northwest and can drive to the Seattle port. For the Long Beach port we have usually flown to and I have found flights for less than $200 a person to LAX.

Here are some other tips and tricks:

Plan a cruise in February, April, September, or November. The prices are much less!

If you tend to get motion sickness, bring anti-drowsy motion sickness medication with you.

If you are leaving from Long Beach, you might as well add a day or two at Disneyland, since it is very close to Anaheim! (See my Disney blog posts for tips!).

Cruises are great for large group trips, a ladies getaway, or couples trips. Everyone can book their own rooms, there is plenty to do, you can hang out together as much as little as you would like, and everyone has their own space!

I do recommend getting the travel protection so you will be refunded if your plans change.

I also suggest pre-paying for tips.

The drink packages are usually more expensive than the actual cruise and you would need to drink more than 9 beverages a day to make it worth it. That’s not worth it to me. There is also a soda package that is pretty reasonable if you are a soda person. They allow you to bring one 12 pack of soda per person and a bottle of wine though if you want to save $$

Once you know the ship you will be on, find a Facebook page about cruising on that ship to get tips and tricks from those who have already been on the ship. I have learned all sorts of great things on these!

You can prepay for Carnival gift cards on the website that you can use for anything on the ship that is extra. This way, you have already budgeted for anything extra and you don’t have a bill to pay at the end of the vacation.

There is a military discount and if you become a member of the loyalty program (it is free) you can get more perks the more cruises you go on.

I have seen that if you gamble in the casino on the ship that you will be sent amazing deals for cruises later, but I have not tried this. On the Facebook pages I have followed I have seen people get offers for pretty much free cruises-you just pay for taxes and port expenses. Again, I’m not sure how this works or if it is effective.

Go cruising and have a wonderful, relaxing vacation!

[snicketstrange]

Chabo Chapter -4

-4

Bertrand wandered the hauntingly silent deck of the Esperanto, each creak of the ship echoing his desolation. Having left Beatrice in a restless slumber in their cabin, he took solace in the cold embrace of the night, the taste of an apple turning bitter as he gazed upon the dark, churning waters. They mirrored the tumultuous thoughts of his life and existence.

Two years, two long, agonizing years since their wedding. Since the tragic day Beatrice lost the child they so eagerly awaited. It had been a day cloaked in despair, the bleakest in Bertrand's memory. Their recovery was a path riddled with thorns, and Beatrice, in her sorrow, often hinted that a child of Lemony would have been a comforting echo of her lost love.

But that echo remained silent, for the child never saw the light of day.

And it was all Kit Snicket's doing, one of his greatest allies. After all, Kit was doing everything in her power to halt the proliferation of the fungus. Yes, saving the world took precedence over their marriage. But what Kit Snicket had whispered in his ear lingered in Bertrand's mind like a haunting refrain. Something about making him happy for 15 years. How could she make such a promise? And what was she even talking about?

Bertrand sank into a chair, fear clawing at his heart, and the specter of melancholy that had been his constant companion since their tragic loss seemed to close in. He shut his eyes tightly, seeking refuge from the overwhelming thoughts. Beatrice's idea to embark on this voyage weighed heavily on him, her choice a cruel irony, steering them toward the desolate shores of southern Argentina, into the foreboding realm of Tierra del Fuego.

Dagwood approached and settled into the lounge chair beside Bertrand. They had crossed paths before on the ship, their conversations revolving around the reminiscences of their bygone teenage days when they had teamed up to unravel mysteries in Stan'd by the Sea.

"Have you ever thought about how life could be different if we had made different choices, Bertrand?" Dagwood inquired, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

"Yes, of course," Bertrand replied, his eyes reflecting a sorrowful smile.

"What if you had chosen to date Violetta instead of persistently pursuing Beatrice?"

Bertrand's smile turned even sadder. It was indeed a thought-provoking question.

"Well, in that case, I don't believe she would have married you," he replied with a hint of resignation in his voice.

"I wouldn't have given up on her either," Dagwood concurred.

Dagwood was one of those peculiar friends for Bertrand – someone he rarely crossed paths with, but when they did, they could talk about anything. He was the perfect confidant, someone you could trust with your most embarrassing stories, knowing he would disappear from your life for long enough that you wouldn't feel embarrassed bumping into him by chance.

"How's your marriage with Violetta?" Bertrand inquired.

"We have our ups and downs. Being in VFD complicates things a bit... but we knew it would be this way. She's waiting for me at the next stop, the port of Ensenada... But what about you?"

Bertrand recounted the entire Hermedy of the wedding day. And how the baby died. Dagwood listened to the story and felt pity for his friend. He lightly touched his back and spent some time in silence, digesting all that.

"But, how are you two as a couple?" Dagwood asked, his curiosity piqued.

- "I really don't know... I can't define our relationship."

- "Just try to put it into words."

- "We barely talk at home. She has her own room. Every now and then, I hear her crying behind her bedroom door. I think the only joy she has is when she goes to the library to read, or when she is cooking. But, they are utterly lonely moments for her."

- "Oh Bertrand, I'm really sorry to hear that... the death of the baby and Lemony must have..."

- "But that's just part of the story... Is it normal, my friend, do women want... you know... every night?"

- "No, certainly not."

- "It's very strange, you know... She spends the day ignoring me... but then, she comes and... just does unimaginable things... and it's so good and so cold at the same time..."

- "What do you mean?"

- "Her heart is always locked away, my friend. It's driven me mad. I yelled at her once, one morning, about it. I cried, my friend. And I saw her cry. That day, I mistreated her on purpose. And still, at night, she took the initiative as if nothing had happened."

- "That's undoubtedly strange."

- "She always brings new fantasies, which she sews herself. I have more disguises for our nights than in our VFD disguise kit."

Dagwood laughed.

- "She probably wants to get pregnant again, Bertrand."

- "She is already pregnant..."

- "Seriously! Congratulations to you both! This should have been the first thing you told me! You are going to be a father!"

- "Dagwood, thank you... She's been pregnant for exactly 13 weeks and 3 days."

- "Oh my friend, with so much activity, I doubt you could be so precise..."

- "You don't understand. Every night Beatrice comes to my room and after our activity, she always heads back to her room. But one thing always remained: she was always extremely demanding and meticulous about using protection. So I'm sure of one thing: She didn't want to get pregnant. Except on that one mysterious night exactly 13 weeks and 3 days ago, where, on the contrary, she insisted we forgo the usual precaution. I asked 'why is this night different from the others?'

- "And what did she answer?"

- "For some reason, she smiled and said that was the fourth wrong question."

- "And what other questions did you ask?"

- "None. The fact is that we always did it the way she demanded, and the result was her pregnancy."

Dagwood seemed incredulous.

- "My friend, I think your wife loves you. This worry is just in your head. Don't try to guess what your wife feels when maybe she doesn't even know. After all, you're a nice guy."

- "It must be that... but something is wrong, I don't know what it is. Since the Hermedy at our wedding, I can't get out of my mind something Kit Snicket told me."

- "What was it?"

- "That she would give me 15 years of happiness. To compensate me. Probably Kit convinced Beatrice to have this behavior."

- "Don't think like that."

- "Only 13 years of happiness are left and I'm not feeling happy even now. Imagine when it ends."

Dagwood laughed.

- "Enjoy it, many of us men would like to have such an interesting wife, and we have to beg for a little activity every now and then."

Dagwood and Bertrand said goodbye. Bertrand returned to his room.

Beatrice had disappeared.

[ensenada-beach-house]

Things to Do in Ensenada Mexico Travel Guide

If you are wondering what to do in Ensenada Mexico we tell you and you have come to the right place.

Welcome to Ensenada, a captivating port city nestled along the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. At the heart of this picturesque city lies the bustling harbor and waterfront area adorned with the delightful Malecón promenade, offering breathtaking views of the vast ocean. Ensenada is not just a destination; it’s an experience waiting to unfold.

As the proud owner of Villa Bitterlin, a charming beach house in ensenada mexico, I invite you to embark on a memorable journey in this enchanting city. Imagine waking up to the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore, with the golden sun casting a warm glow upon the sands right outside your doorstep.

Venturing beyond the comfort of Villa Bitterlin, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of wonders. The Riviera de Ensenada, once a bustling casino, has transformed into a vibrant cultural center, where art and history intertwine seamlessly. Delve into the rich heritage of the region by exploring the nearby Museum of History and the Regional Historical Museum, both of which narrate the captivating tales of Ensenada’s people and their past.

Nature enthusiasts will be delighted to know that migrating gray whales grace the waters offshore, offering a rare and awe-inspiring sight. Southwest of the city lies the magnificent La Bufadora blowhole, a natural marvel that never fails to leave visitors in awe. Witness the sheer power of nature as the ocean surges through the blowhole, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

For those seeking relaxation, San Miguel Beach provides the perfect oasis. Sink your toes into the soft sands, bask in the glorious sunshine, and let the gentle sea breeze lull you into a state of blissful tranquility. Guadalupe Island, with its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, beckons water sports enthusiasts and sun seekers alike.

Adventurers can explore the rugged beauty of Desert Trails, where hiking and exploring unveil the desert’s hidden treasures. The thrill of discovery awaits at every turn, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

At Villa Bitterlin, you’re not just near these attractions; you’re at the heart of an experience that combines luxury, adventure, and cultural exploration. Come, indulge in the magic of Ensenada, and let Villa Bitterlin be your home away from home, where unforgettable memories are crafted against the backdrop of the Pacific’s endless horizon. Book your stay today and let the journey begin.

[morganaspendragonss]

lost at sea, swimming back to shore (1/3)

for the anon who sent this ask ages ago and also for day 9 of @whumptober this is more of a prologue than a real chapter because life got in the way but more will be coming very soon. @tarlos-spain and i are collaborating again and, incredible person that she is, has already written chapter 2 💚 prompt: caught in a storm ao3

“Oscar, Oscar. Repeat, Oscar, Oscar.”

The call comes over the ship’s tannoy, waking Carlos from the light sleep he’d managed to fall into. He groans and flops onto his back, realising when his arm lands on the cold mattress that TK is still out; it gives him pause, but how much trouble can TK have got into on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?

(A lot, Carlos knows this. But it’s their honeymoon — he’s trying not to think about these things.)

He wants to roll over and go back to sleep, but the tannoy keeps blaring and voices are chattering excitedly outside the door, so he figures he may as well go and investigate. Whatever’s going on, though, Carlos is not getting involved. He and TK agreed: they’ve had enough drama for about ten lifetimes, and while it would be stupid to think there’ll be no more to come, their honeymoon is off-limits. It’s just the two of them, cruising peacefully around Mexico for seven days without a single emergency in sight. 

They’ve been at sea all day today, and though Carlos is looking forward to their stop in Ensenada tomorrow, the downtime had been welcome after spending the last three days exploring different ports. They’d spent most of the time taking advantage of the ship’s facilities, lazily swimming or lounging on deck until the weather turned and they fled back to the safety of their cabin.

TK had headed up onto the deck after dinner, a pensive glimmer in his eye, and Carlos had let him go with a kiss. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since then, but he figures it can only have been an hour or two; it’s still dark outside and he can still hear the storm battering against the windows, though the ship itself is fairly steady. It still lurches from time to time, though, conveniently doing so just as Carlos stands.

He grumbles and rights himself, then heads over to the door and steps into the corridor. Passengers from neighbouring cabins are all gathered together, and, listening closely, Carlos can hear them speculating about the nature of the alert, each idea more outlandish than the last.

It’s what happens when someone dies.

Nah, nah, it’s more than that, it means someone’s offed themselves.

Well, I heard it’s to do with something going wrong on the ship. Like a fire or we’re sinking or something. Like the Titanic.

Like the Titanic? Fuck off.

Carlos mentally rolls his eyes, but before he can offer his opinion — or, worse, someone asks him for it — the tannoy beeps and the captain starts speaking.

“Passengers, we have been informed of an incident in which a passenger appears to have fallen from the ship. The relevant authorities have been informed, and we will be stopping the ship and turning around. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

Carlos’s entire body goes cold, like it’s him who’s been submerged in freezing water. He tries calling TK, but he already knows he won’t pick up, just like he already knows what the captain comes to tell him when the head count has been completed and the identity of the missing passenger is confirmed.

TK is out there somewhere, and God only knows if he’s even still alive.

[tarlos-spain]

Whumptober Day 9

Prompt: No. 9 THE VERY NOISY NIGHT

Sleeping in Shifts | Tossing and Turning | Caught in a Storm

Authors: @morganaspendragonss @tarlos-spain

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Pairing: Carlos Reyes/TK Strand

Title: Lost at sea, swimming back to shore

Summary: “Oscar, Oscar. Repeat, Oscar, Oscar.”

The call comes over the ship’s tannoy, waking Carlos from the light sleep he’d managed to fall into. He groans and flops onto his back, realising when his arm lands on the cold mattress that TK is still out; it gives him pause, but how much trouble can TK have got into on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?

(A lot, Carlos knows this. But it’s their honeymoon — he’s trying not to think about these things.)

Chapter 01:

“Oscar, Oscar. Repeat, Oscar, Oscar.”

The call comes over the ship’s tannoy, waking Carlos from the light sleep he’d managed to fall into. He groans and flops onto his back, realising when his arm lands on the cold mattress that TK is still out; it gives him pause, but how much trouble can TK have got into on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?

(A lot, Carlos knows this. But it’s their honeymoon — he’s trying not to think about these things.)

He wants to roll over and go back to sleep, but the tannoy keeps blaring and voices are chattering excitedly outside the door, so he figures he may as well go and investigate. Whatever’s going on, though, Carlos is not getting involved. He and TK agreed: they’ve had enough drama for about ten lifetimes, and while it would be stupid to think there’ll be no more to come, their honeymoon is off-limits. It’s just the two of them, cruising peacefully around Mexico for seven days without a single emergency in sight. 

They’ve been at sea all day today, and though Carlos is looking forward to their stop in Ensenada tomorrow, the downtime had been welcome after spending the last three days exploring different ports. They’d spent most of the time taking advantage of the ship’s facilities, lazily swimming or lounging on deck until the weather turned and they fled back to the safety of their cabin.

TK had headed up onto the deck after dinner, a pensive glimmer in his eye, and Carlos had let him go with a kiss. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since then, but he figures it can only have been an hour or two; it’s still dark outside and he can still hear the storm battering against the windows, though the ship itself is fairly steady. It still lurches from time to time, though, conveniently doing so just as Carlos stands.

He grumbles and rights himself, then heads over to the door and steps into the corridor. Passengers from neighbouring cabins are all gathered together, and, listening closely, Carlos can hear them speculating about the nature of the alert, each idea more outlandish than the last.

It’s what happens when someone dies.

Nah, nah, it’s more than that, it means someone’s offed themselves.

Well, I heard it’s to do with something going wrong on the ship. Like a fire or we’re sinking or something. Like the Titanic.

Like the Titanic? Fuck off.

Carlos mentally rolls his eyes, but before he can offer his opinion — or, worse, someone asks him for it — the tannoy beeps and the captain starts speaking.

“Passengers, we have been informed of an incident in which a passenger appears to have fallen from the ship. The relevant authorities have been informed, and we will be stopping the ship and turning around. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

Carlos’s entire body goes cold, like it’s him who’s been submerged in freezing water. He tries calling TK, but he already knows he won’t pick up, just like he already knows what the captain comes to tell him when the head count has been completed and the identity of the missing passenger is confirmed.

TK is out there somewhere, and God only knows if he’s even still alive.

[fernhillpl]

Imagination cruise day 3

Ensenada today - I was awake early and drew the curtain to see a big tanker go by. Then a warship looking thing.....

Today's excursion was the Ensenada. Our guide took us to our bus which took us to the Cultural Centre - an ex casino built in 1928. Just far enough over the border for people from USA (under prohibition at the time) to want to come down and gamble and drink! It was a magnet for some of the rich and famous. After the walk through we had a drink (coke, beer or margarita) I had the beer!🍻

Back on the bus to make our way to Santo Tomas winery for a tasting - liked the last of the four as it was sweetest and so most port in style. The bus then dropped us off in town for a short walk to a food stand for a ceviche to taste (yum) then more walking to another eatery for a fish taco ( what the locals eat) and from there to the shopping precinct where I got a silver ring and bangle. Probably paid too much for them but hey that's what you do on holiday!!!!

[justjoeyyy-blog-blog]

7/13-7/24

7-13-17 I got off work today at 10pm. I made rain go take pictures with me and see a comedy show. The comedian is from Chicago. Nice guy. The transformers and my little ponys were supposed to premier today but there was an issue on space and where they could change into their costumes. I can't wait to see what they look like. One of the guys who does one of the ponys is new. He's Israeli but lives in Canada. There's actually a handful of workers here that I've met who are Jewish. Lots of Israeli family's too. I looked on our tablet and the oldest person on this cruise is 104 year old. So crazy. No one from Missouri either. This boat has a shit ton of repeat cruisers because they all live so close to the port. I don't start until 2 tomorrow so I'm just gonna sleep in. I can't even tell you the last time I did that. I leave 2 weeks from today. So crazy. It's going by so slow thoughhhhhh. It's gonna be so weird being here for my last week without rain. And having a random roommate for a week too. 7-14-17 I have officially been here for 2 months. So crazy that I've only been here that short amount of time and I feel like I've been here forever. I met a family from stl. They didn't seem to care when I told them I was from there too lol. Their kids are in the hazelwood school district. Tonight I work the kids party which I've never done before. It's such a small space for the amount of kids that come to it it's insane. The kids love it though. I got to sleep in today which was so nice. Showed up late to lunch so I had to eat in the crew mess which was packed and didn't have a single table open. So I sat at the end of one of the long tables and tried to scoot away from the men sitting there. I've gotten really good at not making any eye contact with them. I'm seriously a pro now. I'm super excited because tomorrow I get off early enough to go see the epic rock show. I've seen the new cast do it once so I'm looking forward to it. Tonight I did the kids party for the first time. We had almost 50 kids in our tiny little room. There's not enough room at all. And it doesn't help that the room is long and narrow rather than having a big open space. Tomorrow is a sea day :/ hopefully the weather will be good so the parents take their kids to the pool. 7-16-17 I got to watch epic rock last night. Absolutely amazing as always. This cast has improved so much. They're so much fun to watch. I was supposed to get off today in Long Beach but my plans fell through with my friend so I ended up sleeping all day (I needed it, especially with going out the night before). Rain leaves in 4 days it's so crazy. During the sail away party today we had a camera crew come and record the ponys and transformers. It was the first time I had seen them and they were so freaking cool. This hasbro thing that we signed on to is a huge deal. Even the candy shop is completely filled with my little pony and transformer things. Seuss is not happy that we have another company on the boat. There's a lot of competition between them. 7-20-17 It's currently 6:30 in the morning and rain has officially left the boat. That was not an easy goodbye at all. I cried yesterday but this morning we were fine. I just got back to the cabin and it already feels so lonely. She's literally another version of me but from Texas and has a lot more hair than me lol. I know I'll see her again but it's just weird. I've been with her since day 1. We stayed up until 430 last night just talking. We have a new girl coming today. On the schedule it says she's moving into my room but I was never directly told of it so not sure if it's actually happening or not. It's her first contract. Hopefully I'll be able to help her out. It's been craziness around here. I leave a week from today. One more cruise in circle c and then 1 cruise in camp. I'm gonna be an emotional wreck. Lack of sleep doesn't help either. I've gotten so close to some of these people it's hard. I finally went parasailing with nick (gaston). Such a cool experience. I'll definitely be doing that again. I'm really sad to leave him. He's so talented it's insane. Watching him in the shows is so much fun. This past cruise was an interesting one. There was a girl from Australia that looked so much like my sister it was creepy. There were so many times I almost called her Jeri. We also had a boy who had a stroke when he was 9 and wasn't supposed to be able to walk or talk again. His hand and leg don't work that well but he still would help out with everything it was the sweetest thing. Our imagination Prom was really successful. We made it an under the sea theme and the girls made the funniest posters with tons of puns about the ocean and voting for them. I put up different colored blue streamers and blue balloons all around. This was my first group that actually danced to the music instead of just sitting there. 2 nights ago we had a stoplight theme party at the crew bar. You wear what color coordinates to your relationship status. So I wore green because I'm single. The shirt I wore was brand new and broke so that was nice. The DJ was set up outside which was really cool. It's where the smoking area is though :/ they had tons of stop light decorations it was so cool. I finally got to see the ponys and transformers in person. They're insane. It's impossible for me to get a picture because everyone is always wanting a picture and obviously the guests come first. The event they had was chaos. There's not enough room for the amount of people that actually show up to it and how things are set up is tricky too. This might be my last time off in Long Beach. I think me and Kody might get off around lunch and go eat somewhere. I kinda wanted to stop by the aquarium too. 7-20-17 I can't believe rain left today. I feel lost without her here. It's so weird. Me and kody woke up this morning to say bye to her when she left the ship. I know I'll see her again it just makes me sad that I don't know when. I went to lunch with kody and our new director. Then I went to Starbucks to check my laptop in which I discovered someone in Washington state used my debit card to by an XBOX game for $89.99...great way to start my morning. Xbox is refunding me but now I have to get a new card which is a huge hassle considering I'm leaving a week from today then going right to Chicago for the wedding. I also stopped by the aquarium to look at the gift shop. It's such a neat place. I don't think I'll be able to actually go though since this Sunday we have a meeting and I'm not sure what times I'll be working because I'll be in camp for that cruise. My kids this cruise are already super awesome and laid back. It felt really natural sitting there with them all night playing games and talking. I'm not sure what my last cruise schedule is so tomorrow could possibly be my last time in Ensenada. I'm starting to get nervous about packing. I don't even know where to start. It definitely helps that rains stuff is out and there's more space but it's still not gonna be fun. 7-22-17 Just finished my last cruise in circle c. Very bitter sweet. I'm ready to go home but at the same time it's gonna be so hard to adjust when I get back. We have people from corporate coming tomorrow so I had to stay even longer than 1 to clean extra well. There hasn't been air conditioning in circle c this entire time I've been here and recently it's been so bad. I've told numerous people about it and it still is not getting fixed. I get hot even when it's snowing so imagine how I am in there. A disgusting sweaty mess the entire time. 7-24-17 I can't believe I leave in 3 days. I don't think it's hit me yet. I packed and thankfully had enough room. I'm starting to get nervous thinking about saying bye to everyone. It's just weird thinking that I'll most likely never see them again. Possibly on other ships but you never know.

[backroadblues]

May 16, 2017 - Capri, Italy Ciao Tutti! I am frantically trying to get caught up on my Blog. I'm several days behind. So the next few posts may be rather brief but I will try to hit the highlights of each of the sites that we've hit. On this beautiful Tuesday morning we are all moving a little slow. It is not because we've all had too much to drink, it is more likely the result of the "food coma" that dining experience we all had from the night before. Today, we will be headed by ferry to the Island of Capri. We are not sure what to expect. We've read a number of different travel guides that suggest that one of its most famous attractions the Blue Grotto is not really worth the time and effort. The Blue Grotto is a seaside cavern that can only be reached by boat. From the boat that takes you out there, you have to transfer to smaller row boats that take visitors in in small groups because of the small size of the cavern. Neither Elisa nor Carolyn seem interested in taking a ferry only to get into a smaller boat and then get into yet a smaller boat to see the Grotto. So we have crossed this attraction off of our list. To begin our trip, we head down to the ferry landing to pick up our tickets from the small ticket office. If you weren't looking carefully, you might mistake this tiny building for a lifeguard tower. With tickets in hand, we await our ferry. Near the ferry landing, on exhibit, is a rusty old anchor, which we all think is what we need to keep "Moby" (Carolyn's suitcase) from rolling down the hills of Positano. ;-) The ferry ride over to Positano is very calm and smooth. Elisa decides she does not want to risk getting seasick, so we sit on the lower level out of the wind and enjoy a smooth ride. Trent decides to head up to the upper deck to get some pictures of the deep blue water and sheer cliffs that characterize the Amalfi coast. When he was walking / falling down the steep steps from the upper deck to get back to our seats on the lower deck, he slipped and caught himself with his left hand and arm. Unfortunately, in the process he twisted his shoulder and perhaps the added weight from last nights dinner also contributed to his injuring his shoulder. He was in pain for most of the rest of the day and we are hopeful that he will recover as it hurts whenever he moves it. We think perhaps he might lose a little weight now as he will only be able to eat with one hand. Upon arriving into Capri, we are immediately swarmed with hawkers for boat tours and restaurants. We all feel that Capri has been overly commercialized. The shops near the ferry landing are not nearly as charming as those in Positano. This entire area has the feel of arriving into the port of Ensenada. As beautiful as the setting is, we all feel a little disappointed. After exploring the lower harbor area, we purchase tickets to the "Finunculare", a steep tram that travels directly from the harbor the center of the town of Capri. The ride up is very steep and the floors of the cars sit like stair steps with each tiny car holding no more than 6 passengers - (who had better be good friends). The tram rides through the middle of a lemon orchard and the view out over the harbor and back to the Italian mainland is beautiful. Views of Mt. Vesuvius and neighboring Naples are spectacular, even though it is a bit hazy today. Upon reaching the top, we explore the small town of Capri and its many shops. After a lot of walking we consider walking out to some of the outlying sites - there are a number of ancient Villas on the Island - some of these villas were constructed and used by Roman Emperors as a summer retreat. There is also a sister town on the Isle of Capri - Anacapri. We are told that it too is very beautiful but once again we don't quite have the energy to make the trip. We consider the charm of Positano that we had just left and decide that we will say "Ciao" to Capri. We make our way back down to the harbor area and decide to find a shady cafe where we can enjoy some lunch and do a little people watching while we wait for our ferry ride back to Positano. Once again, we enjoy some beverages and a nice meal. It is fair to say that all the food we have had in Italy has been good - even when we have stopped at one of the many AutoGrills that line the Super Stradas. Some meals have certainly been better than most. One thing I can assure you of though is that if you think you will come to Italy and lose some weight because of all the walking you will do, we can assure you that such a diet doesn't work. None of us has been disappointed in the quality of the cuisine. We enjoy the ferry ride back to Positano in the open air of the upper deck. The ride back is beautiful and the waters so calm that many of us doze off under the warm Amalfi sun. When we get back to the harbor in Positano, we rejoice in the beauty and charm that it has to offer. Now that it is mid-week, the town is not nearly as crowded as when we arrived on Sunday. It is now much easier to make our way up the hill back to the main road where Most of the hotels are. Trent is leading us back and we make our way up using a different route. We head up toward the front of the beautiful little church that services the lower area of Positano. Off to the left side are a set of stairs that Trent assures us will lead back to the same spot on the main road that is very near our hotel. Although we are all tired we begin plodding up the steep steps. After we struggle up the first 200 steps, we think we will be very near the street - but no - we have only reached a landing area where we are afforded a chance to catch our breath and take in the beautiful view. After we are done taking in the view, we turn around and are greeted with a view of another set of stairs. This next set of stairs make the first ones look small and level. This set of stairs seems to reach up to the blue skies above and surely could have served as inspiration to Led Zeppelin's rock classic Stairway to Heaven. We also notice that these steps are leading away from our hotel. We now know that if we take these next 400 steps we will end up on the level above our hotel and probably 3/4 of a mile away. So, we decide to head back down the steps we had just come up - with all of us giving Trent the "international eye-roll" the whole way back down. As we reach the bottom of the steps we encounter a young Japanese couple, who look as though they may be on their honeymoon. Each of them are rolling suitcases - strong sturdy cases that look to be made of aluminum. The woman's suitcase dwarfs her petite stature. Each suitcase is of a size that makes Carolyn's "Moby" suitcase look like a minnow. The couple are looking up the steep steps and then back at their suitcases. The woman then says something in Japanese in a harried tone to her new husband. In my mind i imagine the translation of what she is saying as, "there is no f---ing way I am carrying this suitcase up those stairs." Undeterred, the husband, who is not much bigger than she is, grabs both suitcases by their handles and is now carrying them up the stairs. He groans a little under the weight but steadily makes his way up. We feel bad, knowing that what looks like the top of the stairs to them is only the landing to a much longer and steeper flight of stairs that can't be seen from the bottom. We hope that they are not staying at the same hotel we are, otherwise it may be a short honeymoon for that couple. Now that we are back in out room we have the time to shower and rest a bit before we are taken by shuttle up to La Tagliata. This is a restaurant that sits high up in the hills of the Amalfi Coast and overlooks the small town of Positano. Once again it is a good thing that we all had a light lunch of antipasto, pasta and a main course.... More later. Ciao

[drtanstravels]

We had a big year planned with a ton of traveling, the bulk of it for Anna’s work, but many of the trips over the coming months have been scrapped due to Singapore, and the world in general for that matter, being overly cautious of the Novel coronavirus. During March and April there have been ophthalmology conferences either cancelled or postponed in China, Taiwan, and Korea, and also a wedding we were supposed to attend in Thailand in April has been scrubbed due to many people being unable to make it because of travel restrictions. There was also some doubts about us being able to attend the 43rd Annual Macula Society Meeting in San Diego, California, but Anna had booked her leave early and it was a good thing, too; not only would she be making a presentation at the meeting, but she had also been inducted into the Macula Society late last year and there would be a welcome dinner at the meeting for all new members.

We had a few days to kill between our arrival in Los Angeles and the meeting so the initial plan was to hire a car and drive up to San Francisco for a few days. It was a cool idea, but I was a bit hesitant as well, because it is a journey that takes between six and eight hours from LA depending on traffic and I wasn’t all that keen on Anna driving that far while jet-lagged. She had also been to San Francisco several times before, however, San Diego is only 24 km (15 miles) from the border of Mexico, a place neither of us had been. We did a little homework and decided instead that we would spend three nights in Ensenada, a city in the Mexican state of Baja California, before attending the meeting in San Diego.

Friday, February 14, 2020 We had celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary at an awesome Kazakh restaurant the previous night and now Valentine’s Day was going to be spent on a hellish 15-hour flight from Singapore to Los Angeles, California. The flight didn’t suck because of the time, length, or our seats, it was an 8:00pm flight and we were in Business Class. What made it so bad was that there was a woman in the seat next to me who had an extremely young child with her that she insisted on taunting and playing with for almost the entire duration of the flight. When this baby wasn’t screaming and laughing with its mother, it was crying loudly, particularly as it got more and more tired, sounds that even my noise-canceling headphones couldn’t block out. Add to this how hot it was on the plane and it wasn’t a particularly pleasant flight. After several hours of the woman shrugging off the death-stares I was giving her and her child, a flight attendant could see how pissed off Anna and myself were getting so she moved us to a vacant set of seats at the back of the section. The noise was reduced a little and did eventually cease for a bit when the baby collapsed from sheer exhaustion, but it was still difficult to get comfortable because of the heat, resulting in me getting only about three hours of really restless sleep.

Tim, Tim, and Anna

Because of the time difference, we arrived, were off the plane again, through immigration at LAX reasonably hassle-free, and at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel at around 8:00pm the same day, the exact time we had departed. Once up in our room we showered, got changed, and then went down to have some dinner before hitting up the hotel bar in an effort to try and stay awake longer and fend off the jet-lag. After we had settled into the bar we got talking to a guy from South Carolina who was also called Tim. Tim was celebrating his birthday alone while he was away for work and was also stressed about planning his upcoming wedding. On the other side of us was another woman from around the same part of the country so she joined in the conversation, explaining the finer points of low country boil to us among other topics. After they left, Anna and I played some pool before heading back up to the room to get some sleep. We had a big day ahead of us.

Saturday, February 15, 2020 Our alarm went off at 10:00am, but things weren’t normal when we woke up. I was butt-naked in bed, my pyjama-shorts in a soaking wet pile on the floor, and despite not having drunk all that much at the bar, neither of us had a particularly clear memory of the latter parts of the previous night, particularly after Tim had left. I remember buying him a glass of whiskey for his birthday, but it gets quite foggy after that. In fact, the only reason I remember playing pool is because Anna told me she could kind of recall playing, triggering a brief recollection of the two of us laughing loudly as we struggled to even hit the balls. I know I hadn’t had a seizure in my sleep, Anna generally has a decent memory, and we both felt completely fine so it was all very strange. Had somebody put something in our drinks? Nothing of ours was missing, Anna checked with the credit card company and she had paid the bill at the end of the night, but we weren’t carrying any cash so perhaps if someone had slipped us a roofie, they didn’t bother taking anything when they realised we didn’t have any money and nothing sexual had happened to us. Neither of us could recall getting back to the room, but the bathroom floor was extremely wet so we had definitely showered before going to bed, the one thing Anna insists on, regardless of the situation. If I had got up in the middle of the night and sat on the toilet, that could explain the wet pyjamas. We could’ve spent the whole morning trying to piece together Friday night and figure out what had happened between bouts of dumbfounded laughter, but we had to be downstairs at 11:00am, because we had a driver picking us up to drive us to San Diego. We ended up chatting with our Mexican-American driver about things to do and see in Mexico, what to expect at the border, that kind of thing, as well as reconstruct the events of the night before, but after about an hour both Anna and I were sound asleep.

The drive to the Mexican border is supposed to take a bit over two hours from Los Angeles, but apparently we were delayed by almost an hour due to a car crash in the horrendous LA traffic, but we didn’t mind, it just meant extra sleep for us. We weren’t going to drive across the border, because that is supposed to take an extremely long time and the searches can be a bit of trouble so we were going to get dropped off and walk across the border to Tijuana with our luggage, as that is supposed to be a quite fast option. One of the first things I noticed when we arrived was that there was a Taco Bell on the U.S. side. Who the hell in their right mind would go to Taco Bell for notoriously diarrhoea-inducing Mexican-inspired American food, when you could just grab your passport and take a short walk for some legit tacos? The process of getting across to buy those tacos is really simple too and that’s not just because a portion of Donald Trump’s impenetrable wall blew over in the wind recently. We put our bags through an x-ray, had our passports stamped, and we walked across into Mexico. Obviously I couldn’t take any photos inside the immigration area, but here’s where we went through to Tijuana:

Approaching the wall

That’s where we’re going

About to cross over to Tijuana

Now in Mexico near General Abelrado L. Rodriguez International Airport

The next step was to take a 20-minute taxi ride to General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport to pick up our rental car for the next few days and then we just had to drive for about an hour and a half along the beautiful Baja California coastline, avoiding some enormous potholes along the way, and we’d be in Ensenada:

Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico, the third-largest in Baja California. Lying 125 kilometres (78 mi) south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula, it is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, “The Cinderella of the Pacific”.

One of the first settlements founded in the Californias, Ensenada has emerged as a cruise ship destination, aerospace center, and a jumping-off point for Valle de Guadalupe, a local wine region. It is said that the first Vitis vinifera made it to the region’s San Ignacio Mission in 1703, when Jesuit Padre Juan de Ugarte planted the first vineyards there.

Situated on the coastline of Bahía de Todos Santos—an inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the peninsula’s Gold Coast—the Port of Ensenada is an important commercial, fishing, and tourist port. The city is home to a navy base, army base, and Ensenada Airport, a military airfield.

Besides being mentioned in the Ween song Bananas and Blow, why did we choose Ensenada? Well, if you read the above information, it says that there are plenty of wineries which Anna would love, but when we were reading up about the place we discovered there were also a lot of microbreweries for me. Add to this the fact that the city is known for its local seafood, particularly fish tacos and ceviche, as well as having some decent cheesemakers, and it ticks a lot of boxes for us.

We eventually arrived in Ensenada, navigated our way through endless junctions that inexplicably have ‘Stop’ signs on all four corners which make it difficult to figure out who has right of way, but before too long we were at our home for the next three nights, the Posada el Ray Sol. The scenery on the drive was beautiful, as was our hotel, so we were definitely off to a great start:

On the outskirts of Tijuana

Looking over a valley

We passed some gritty neighbourhoods of Tijuana, but this wasn’t even one of them

Now going into the hills

Our view was like this for the best part of an hour

Almost there

The living room of our suite at Posada el Rey Sol

Now our bedroom

walking toward the front door

Looking over the pool and spa in our hotel

A bad photo of us having our complimentary arrival mimosas

Because we had slept on the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego, we were feeling refreshed so it was time to hit the town. The sun sets at about 5:30pm here so it was already dark when we arrived and it wasn’t particularly warm during our entire visit, usually no more than 20°C (68°F) during the day and below 10°C (50°F) at night. It was time for dinner and Anna was on top of it, finding an enormous restaurant, Mariscos Bahia de Ensenada, where just the seafood dishes took up five pages of the menu! We were hungry and we wanted our first proper meal in Mexico to be an epic one, but definitely over-ordered because everything looked so good. Among the dishes we had were seafood tortillas, a mixed seafood soup, the daily special ceviche, ranch style sea snails, and some breaded oysters. It was fantastic, but we struggled to finish it all and if we continued to eat like this every night, we would both undo several years of weight loss. Once done we took our bloated selves back onto the street to find a place to settle in for the night. One thing we noticed immediately as we strolled around was that there was a hell of a lot of pharmacies around, some streets consisting of almost 50% pharmacies and it turns out that the whole Baja California region is a hotspot for medical tourism due to the high cost of medication and procedures in the US. Just take a look at what some health insurers from Utah are doing:

A health insurer in Utah is seeking to reduce prescription drug costs by flying state employees to Mexico, where they can collect medications at a fraction of the US cost.

The year-old programme involves about 10 state employees. The cost savings are so large that the insurance program can pay for each patient’s flight, give them a $500-per-trip bonus and still save tens of thousands of dollars.

One participant, Ann Lovell, a 62-year-old teacher, said she had saved as much as $2,400 by travelling from Salt Lake City to San Diego and then crossing the border, in order to refill a prescription for arthritis medication.

Now it all makes sense. Anyway, we made our way down Ave. Adolfo Lopez Mateos, the main entertainment street in Ensenada, stopping off for a few beers at a small bar, but to fend off the jet-lag we wanted something more happening, which led us to El Pato, where we’d spend the rest of the night, Anna drinking mojitos and me on the local beers. There was a really good band playing, sports were showing on huge TVs around the room, and we got to entertain ourselves by watching two women pushing 70 years old just dancing and downing tequila shots. Seriously, it’s completely normal for women my mother’s age to go out on the town and buy a bottle of tequila here!

Once we were done for the night we started to walk home, but accidentally went the wrong way and found ourselves in a seedier part of town. This was pretty evident when as we were walking past a hotel advertising rooms for 240 pesos (US$12.40) per night we saw police handcuffing a man against a wall while a scantily clad woman who all signs pointed toward being a prostitute went and planted herself on the street corner on this chilly night. Anna was a bit worried and decided to call an Uber, but I also needed to pee quite badly so I walked past the hooker and went around the corner to relieve myself in a nearby bush and when I returned our car was there. It turns out that we really weren’t that far from our hotel, the Uber only took about two minutes and cost us the equivalent of US$0.50. It would’ve been cooler if we had known about the local app, GrinGo. Yes, that is it’s real name Looking back at the scenes on the street, dinner, and our first night out in Mexico:

One of dozens of pharmacies in town

Viagraman is pretty big here

Our spot for dinner

One of the chefs doing his thing

Anna with just a portion of our dinner

That’s a juicy taco

A cool octopus sculpture

Knowing my luck this will be me by the end of this leg of the trip

In the first bar

Walking along the boardwalk

Now in El Pato

A portion of the crowd

Kicking back at our table in El Pato

Grandma’s starting to feel it now

Someone’s burning birthday cocktail

“Five minutes!! Please, Roxxy, I’m in the bathroom.” Classy.

Will use this next time

Sunday, February 16, 2020 There were plenty of cool cafes near where we were staying so we grabbed a latte each and once we had finished those we were going to get some tostadas for lunch at La Guerrerense. Pretty much every food guide in the area tells you that this is the first place you should go;��Forbes magazine hinted that La Guerrerense might have the best food in Ensenada and Anthony Bourdain described it after visiting the stall for the Baja episode of No Reservations like this:

“La Guerrerense, a humble street cart, is as simple as it gets; the most mind-blowing fresh, sophisticated, and colourful tostadas imaginable. Absolutely phenomenal.”

That’s good enough for me, but initially I couldn’t understand why we were going to a place that was supposed to be so good for lunch, not dinner. Anna is terrible at describing things so she neglected to mention that La Guerrerense is just a small family-owned food stall on a quiet street where it has stood since 1960 that opens at 10:00am and closes at 5:00pm or whenever they run out of seafood, whichever happens first.

When we arrived there was a decent sized crowd around the stall, some waiting to order and others waiting for their food. Anna loves sea urchin and that is their most famous tostada so naturally we got one of those, as well as a mixed ceviche with avocado and the “Campechana,” which consisted of tuna ceviche with prawns, octopus, sea snail, scallops, mussels, and clams. We waited for our tostadas to arrive and there is no way to explain how good these things were! We thought we had eaten incredibly well the previous night, but that had nothing on La Guerrerense. They may look simple, but these things are incredible and some people consider them expensive, but I’m more than happy to pay 110 pesos (around US$5.70) each for these:

The scene when we first arrived

Taking orders

Making the tostadas

Anna with our phenomenal lunch

I may as well get a picture of me holding them too

We finished our tostadas and the stall operates on an honesty system so we paid and then decided to explore some new parts of the city. Anna had read about a large flea market that was away from the tourist district of Ensenada, but one piece of advice we had received from our driver that took us to San Diego was not to venture too far away from the main tourist areas. The market was going to be a reasonably long walk, but it was a nice day and we figured if things got a bit sketchy, we’d just head back to the main area.

Our journey inland began by crossing a bridge that obviously separated the commercial and more upper-class areas of the city from the grittier part where most of the population can afford to live. First, we passed what appeared to be an old  convent that was now a cheap hotel, then we ventured into Fausto Polanco Hacienda, what was once a hotel established in 1948, now a boutique furniture store with some interesting art displayed around the place, the original facade of the building still pretty much intact and each individual hotel room set up as its own display. We weren’t supposed to be taking photos, but I managed to snap a couple of sneaky ones to show how beautiful the building was inside. Soon we were back on the street, still trekking toward the flea market. We walked past a motorcycle gang gathered together on the sidewalk, surrounded by their Harley Davidson’s and not long after we had past, one of them got on his bike and flew by the only two tourists around as loudly as possible for his own amusement, almost causing Anna to shit her pants. We soon approached a church that was having a jumble sale out the front which consisted predominantly of dirty old track pants and sweaters, as well as some headless dolls. We were still a 20-minute walk from the flea market we wanted to see, but based on the church sale we probably wouldn’t find much and what was there would more than likely have actual fleas so we decided to head back into town, passing a place that was rebuilding classic cars and guarded by a dog that looked like it wanted to kill you:

Now on the wrong side of the tracks

About to enter Fausto Polanco

Now inside looking to the back of the room

And looking from the rear

We encountered a lot of skeletal artwork, but this was one of the cooler ones

Definitely a different vibe in this part of town

The church that was having the jumble sale out the front

This was our view when we decided to head back to main part of town

One of the cars being restored

The scary guy patrolling the yard

A cool, but extremely long mural heading back into town

We returned to the Ventana al Mar (“Window to the Sea”), the boardwalk area we had walked around when we first arrived, this time to see it and the gigantic Mexican flag there during the day. We wandered around, looking at all of the stalls that were set up, mainly selling jewellery, food, and tourist souvenirs while live mariachi bands played. As we walked along the water we saw seals playing in the bay and before long we were at Mercado Negro, a fish market with rows of small stalls and restaurants selling dishes made from fresh goods purchased at the market. It was too early for dinner so we went back to the main streets, snapping a photo of me with a statue of Viagraman in the process. One convenient thing when walking around here is that pedestrians have the right of way when crossing the road, all the cars just stop and wave you across, no matter when or where you decide you want to be on the other side of the street.

As I mentioned earlier, one of Ensenada’s most famous dishes are fish tacos so when we began to get a bit peckish we went back to Mercado Negro to get some. The stall that was the busiest had just stopped serving so we went to the one next door and even if it was the second option, it was still an excellent choice. We got some tacos and a seafood stew, then went back into town to find a place to hang out for the night. As we were looking at different bars it occurred to me that the NBA All-Star game was being played so we found a small bar with some more great local beers that I hadn’t tried. We arrived at half-time and this year the game had been reformatted in honour of Kobe Bryant and the new changes made it really competitive compared to the snore-fest that it has been in recent memory, but there was one problem for us; the bar only had a few people in it, two smoking and watching from outside and a really fat guy at the end of the bar who silently let off these incredibly bar-filling farts periodically. It was like he was cropdusting, these things were an assault on the senses and they were beginning to make Anna feel sick. At first she would discretely put her scarf over her nose, but before long it got to the point that she wanted to send a message in the hope that he’d stop, so she started commenting loudly and coughing, but to no avail. When the game was over we knew we had to find a new place to go and it was Sunday night so we thought we’d go to a place that we had wanted to try the previous night, but had been far too busy: Hussong’s, the oldest bar in Ensenada, established in 1892, and the alleged birthplace of the margarita. When we first entered it was still extremely crowded with a band playing inside, but the guy on the door said there was another bar out the back in a courtyard with heat-lamps that only had a few people in it so that’s where we went. Naturally, Anna wanted a margarita and I wanted a beer so I went over to the bar, meanwhile a local guy was working up the courage to try to chat to her, eventually approaching Anna as I returned with our drinks. He turned around and only came up to my chest and I guess he assumed that the gringo had just cut his lunch, but was too big to bother with so he spent a large portion of the night staring at me and grinding the complimentary peanuts into the ground with his feet before we eventually were able to pull up a seat inside. A hilarious ending to a great day:

A child scares pigeons while his parents get churros

Anna among the stalls

Token panoramic shot

Walking down the boardwalk

A mariachi band performing

This picture doesn’t capture how enormous that flag is

A seal playing in the bay

Hanging out

Entering Mercado Negro

I don’t think that’s been driven in a while…

A really happy market worker

There are endless stalls like this, the seafood looks so good!

A tad racist for a Japanese restaurant

It looks like I stole Viagraman’s shoes

Our fish tacos before we added salsa, chilis, and guacamole

Anna with one of hers

Me with one of mine

Every different seafood soup we get is delicious

A sticker in Hussong’s

We finally made it inside once the place had emptied out a bit toward the end of the night

Monday, February 17, 2020 The region in which we were staying is famous for its wineries so Anna wanted to make the most of our last full day in town by doing a winery tour that afternoon. We decided to take advantage of the free hotel breakfast so we ordered some dishes, one of which resembled nachos floating in an oily sauce, however, I can’t remember what they were called. I recall mentioning to Anna that they were really unhealthy and she replied, “What, these chinchilla things?” She wasn’t parodying Super Troopers and I might not have know what they were either, but I knew for a fact that we weren’t feasting on small, South American rodents. After our traditional, greasy breakfast we were off on a tour of the Guadalupe Valley wine region:

The Valle de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Valley) is an area of Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, Mexico that is an increasingly popular tourist destination for wine and Baja Med cuisine. It is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the City of Ensenada and 113 kilometres (70 mi) southeast of the border crossing from San Diego to Tijuana. It includes communities such as Ejido El Porvenir, Francisco Zarco and San Antonio De las Minas, and had 2,664 inhabitants (2010 census).

Since the 1990s the association of winemakers of Baja California holds the Grape Harvest Fiestas in the Valley of Guadalupe and the town of Ensenada every year in August. The celebration includes wine tasting sessions, concerts and soirées, and samplings of regional cuisine and Mexican wines.

Wine tasting is available year-round, and several of the wineries have built up-market restaurant/tasting establishments aimed specifically at tourists from the United States. A winery tour is usually included on cruise ships that stop at Ensenada.

There are over 100 wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe.

Our private tour was through a company called Ensenada Sky Tours, with a private guide picking us up at 11:00am. Our private tour would include:

Exclusive private tour just for your group of up to 4 people (This is truly the best way to experience the Best of Baja!)

An extraordinary & personalized all-day & worry-free experience in the largest wine country in Mexico

Wine Museum visit

Well-equipped vehicle with a personal driver

History of the beginnings of wine making in the region, the process, and a tasting of unique wines & food at an an unforgettable scenery!

Bilingual tour guide & wine connoisseur

Lunch stop at one of the gourmet cuisine choices

Water & light snacks for the road

Photo stops

Our guide, Alejandro, was really cool and the first stop was a place that made cheese and cured their own salami. The cheese was unbelievably good, but obviously it would be difficult to bring any back to Singapore without it liquifying so we settled for some salami and then it was time to hit the road again. Over the course of the afternoon we would tour four different wineries and get to sample from each, as well as having a bite to eat, particularly oysters and more ceviche. The countryside was stunning, the tours of the wineries and wine-related museums were interesting enough, but just like when we were in the Alsace region of France recently, there was more information than I could possibly take in, but that’s probably also because I’m not really into wine. I did love the food and the cheese though, and Anna definitely embraced the wine, because she bought four bottles to bring back to Singapore and was also quite hammered by the time we returned to the hotel at 5:00pm so she required a two-hour powernap before dinner.

When she awoke we went back into town to celebrate a great couple of days in Mexico. Being a Monday night there wasn’t a whole lot of options, but we ended up at Papas&Beer, a place that is a bit of an institution. On this particular night they had karaoke, but it was all a little pedestrian, one person even stooping to singing Tequila, a song that only has one word in the lyrics! I love doing karaoke after a few drinks, but it was still early in the night, however, Anna kept nagging me to get up and do my thing. Everyone else was really only singing songs in Spanish so I made a deal that I would only sing Paloma Blanca by Georgie Dann, mainly due to how terrible it is. The video is even worse, I’ve probably used it in another post before, but I just love it. How did he actually get that pantsuit on?:

Unfortunately they didn’t have my song so I didn’t get up and make a fool of myself singing anything else while dead sober. Instead, we just kicked back and enjoyed our last night in town, comfortable in the knowledge that coming to Ensenada was a good choice. Looking back on a boozy Monday:

Our non-chinchilla-based brakfast

So many choices at the cheesemaker’s

Olives, too

Cheese makes me happy

Panoramic view from the first winery

Looking over a vineyard

I love me some oysters, too

Anna approaching another winery

The scenery here is really beautiful

Some tanks

Going down some slippery steps into the basement

A small portion of the barrels

Not a bad use for old bottles

An old cart

A wall full of bottles

More barrels in a different winery

This winery had a really cool bar

Sitting back on the balcony and staring at the hills

Ceviche!

Later that night in Papas&Beer

What the table next to us was eating

Oh, and if you’re wondering how that karaoke rendition of Tequila went, here it is:

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Today was the day that we had to drive back to Tijuana and cross the border back into the US, but we still had business to take care of on the way back. One of our Mexican friends in Singapore, Enrique Caballero, suggested that we stop off in Puerto Neuvo, a small town with a population of 135 people in the Rosarito Beach municipality. The reason for this was that the best way to cap off a weekend eating nothing but fresh seafood would be to pay a visit to a village famously referred to as the “Lobster Village” of Baja California. The village mainly only consists of restaurants, all of which serve lobster, so we pulled up a seat in a place called Sandra’s for lunch. Our last meal in Mexico consisted of a final serve of fish tacos, seafood soup, and two lobsters, the best possible way to finish this leg of our North American adventure.

We were back in the car after lunch and our time in Mexico had gone a little too smoothly, but that wasn’t going to be the case for long. We had paid for lunch by credit card, but when we were leaving Ensenada we still had 100 pesos (US$5.13) left and we hadn’t really bought any souvenirs so Anna got a small sombrero for Kermit, our dog back in Singapore. In what could’ve resulted in yet another instalment in the seemingly never-ending ‘T’ Factor series, we completely forgot that there would be several toll booths along the freeway and had blown our remaining local currency on a novelty hat for our dog! I searched in between the seat cushions as Anna drove, but fortunately when we arrived at the booths they accepted US currency, of which we had enough.

When we arrived in Tijuana and dropped off our rental car it was time to cross the border again on foot, as the waiting times when trying to drive back into the US can be insane! Unlike going the opposite direction, we had a tough time going back into the US for several reasons, all of which came down to the general incompetence and stupidity of the border security officer serving us. When we first arrived in LAX four days previously we had used the electronic immigration lanes and we still had valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) passes so everything we had done to enter the country was completely valid and legal. Anna went first and the woman working our immigration line was instantly suspicious, thinking that she was trying to enter with me illegally. She asked to see Anna’s ESTA pass so Anna showed her a .pdf file of it that she had saved on her phone. This wasn’t deemed sufficient and the woman replied sarcastically, “You need to print your ESTA out, but you would’ve known that.” Anna wanted to remind her that the letter ‘E’ in ESTA stands for ‘Electronic’, but instead said she hadn’t needed to in the past. This made the woman more suspicious of Anna’s intentions, claiming that it still needed to be printed out, a requirement we had never faced on any other occasion entering the US. She then kept asking why there was no passport stamp from when we had first entered the country so Anna told her we went through the electronic immigration queue. Still not good enough, the immigration woman said that she required a stamp, scrutinising every page of her passport individually to find it. Anna tried to humour her by asking back to me if I had a stamp, only to be met with, “Your stamp is not going to be in his passport!” Anna stayed calm and told  her that she was aware of that, but just trying to save her some time by seeing if I had one, knowing full well that I wouldn’t. The woman mentioned that I don’t need one because I’m a citizen, assuming the blue passport in my hand was a US one. Anna pointed out that it was in fact Australian and was then taken to a waiting area to be questioned and processed. Now it was my time. I received the exact same questions as Anna about the ESTA and passport stamps and I gave the exact same replies at first, but there were a few other enquiries she had, the first being why I hadn’t spent a significant amount of time in Australia. I told her I was there in January, but I hadn’t lived in Australia in almost 13 years and showed her my Singaporean ID. She kept repeating that I needed to spend a significant amount of time in Australia before traveling to Mexico. She also got curious as to why there were so many stamps in my passport, asking me what I do for a living. I replied that I used to be a teacher, but now I work as a writer. She got even more annoyed and asked why I spend so much time traveling so I pointed to Anna and said, “My wife over there is an eye surgeon, she has to travel a lot for work so I go with her. In fact, she’s a guest here this time.” This confused her so I got sent over to wait in the dock next to Anna, us both chuckling and shaking our heads, but before too long, a different immigration staff member came over, smiled, and tore up some forms that the woman had handed him, apologising for the confusion as he did. We were now back in the US and were told several times by a number of people afterward that American immigration don’t tend to put their best and brightest staff on the US-Mexican border Here’s our lunch in Puerto Nievo, some scenes along the way back, and approaching the border again from the other side:

Maybe it’s the quality of the avacados, but Mexican guacamole is so good

More condiments

Our seafood soup

Don’t mind if I do

A passible spread for our last meal in Mexico

That’s a look of pure anticipation on our faces right there

A Mexican knock off of Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Christ the Redeemer’

Approaching the border again

Nirvana had a song called Mexican Seafood and I always thought it was an analogy for not feeling all that great, because when I was growing up I thought Mexicans really only ate beef and chicken, not seafood, and I had heard it wasn’t that clean there. I couldn’t have been more wrong, if for nothing else, go to Baja California in Mexico just for the amazing seafood! I know I would do it again in heartbeat, even if it is a little difficult to leave.

Stay tuned for the second part of this post where we spend time at a resort outside of San Diego attending dinners, having drinks, getting awards, and driving around in a rental car that perpetually smelled of weed before returning to LA and flying back to Singapore. Also, if you’re skeptical as to whether it was worth risking being stranded in Mexico in order to buy a canine sombrero, decide for yourself:

Kermit doesn’t seem to mind it

Three days of beer, wine, and seafood in Ensenada, Mexico We had a big year planned with a ton of traveling, the bulk of it for Anna's work, but many of the trips over the coming months have been scrapped due to Singapore, and the world in general for that matter, being overly cautious of the…

[michaeljtraylor]

Learning when to let go of free

One of the hardest lessons to learn in travel hacking is knowing when to let go of a trip, particularly when it is ‘free’.

Recently, we took another gamble on Vegas.  For new readers (or those who didn’t keep up with this) when we ‘Vegas’ we don’t gamble in the same way that others do.  To the casual observer, gambling means taking some money, putting it in a slot machine or table game, and hoping for the best (regardless of card counting ability).

We approach the gamble very differently.  My upside is not connected to winning or losing money, but whether the event of gambling triggers enough Comp to come out ahead of either financial result.  If I lose $5000 but ‘win’ $50K in comp, I’ll take it.   For those who MS, compare this to the guarantee of paying ~$7 to buy and liquidate a gift card that earns you $25 vs paying ~$0 to Kiva but knowing that there will be an element of randomness to the fee you pay.

Our latest gamble didn’t pay off.  We were offered a free cruise on RCCL, but could get no further details.  It could be a 7 night on the biggest, sparkliest ship in a suite (spoiler alert, it wasn’t), or 2 nights cruise to nowhere on their oldest tug boat. We wouldn’t know until we went to the booth to pick up the certificate.  We rolled the dice.

Controlling the narrative

We stacked the odds in our favor by controlling the narrative of the trip. Rather than it being about going to Vegas to pick up the Certificate, it was about a nice vacation that incidentally involved us walking past this booth, and maybe hitting the Jackpot.  We used points for flights (outbound in First Class because we wanted to control the flow of the vacation) the room was comped, and we had several hundred in free money from MGM and Caesars to spend on food.

In the end, because we focused on spending the free money wisely, and willingly spent real money outside of those chains to experience things that mattered, the trip turned out really well. This offset the loss on the certificate.

Close, but no cigar

Our offer from MGM for RCCL

We came close to picking a 4 or 5 night cruise that visited Cuba, as we haven’t been before. I even took the step of seeing if we could work around RCCL’s Partial Cruise rules that specifically cite Nassau as a hotspot port for cabotage:

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger’s embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan for this was to find an itinerary that touched base in Cuba first, to clear Cabotage, then disembark in Nassau to stay at Atlantis (also for free) before flying NAS>JFK non stop. It would be a good example of how we splice together travel these days:

JFK>FLL on ‘whoever is the cheapest in pts’

Feb 16th: Would need 1 night hotel pre cruise (to keep stress low)

Feb 17th embark 4 Night cruise, but exit in Nassau

Several nights at Atlantis, and home to JFK 

(the cabotage issue would be that ‘short hops’ outside of the US require you to re-enter the US at the same point you departed, so a nonstop to JFK from NAS might be an issue.. Cuba might address that, but Cuba also isn’t the best Country to be leaning on to help clear up US immigration concerns… oh, and incidentally I’m currently exploring Naturalization, so that would be a factor).

Letting go of free

It was almost a great trip. The cruise fare for two would be taxes and fees only, so around $230, but once you add in the 3rd guest, and the onboard gratuities, we would be around $800-900.  Also, the ship wasn’t that sparkly.  I might pay $800-900 to experience the Oasis Class, but for the older ships, I didn’t think it great value.  

I understand that to someone else, it would be great value, but the final piece for us was that we really want to see Cuba, so the alternative option of flying nonstop JFK>HAV and spending a few nights in Cuba seemed a lot more immersive. There was a lot of fluff and waste with the cruise, so despite it being a deal compared to paying full rate, it wasn’t a deal to us.

The decision increasingly includes the following:

If we’re going to a destination to see it, does the ‘free’ trip cover the bases, or is it only somewhat OK? Traveling even to somewhere close like Havana takes a fair amount of time (driving to/from airports+flights+whatnot) so it is important to us to visually walk through how the vacation would feel. Perhaps it would feel fine on a cruise in some cases, but in others, and when the price is already perhaps more than immersion, the ‘free’ option doesn’t fit.

Factors on why our thinking may differ from yours:

Demand/Load – we have other options.  The cruise gig is now totally out of hand where we could book at least 8 cruises in the next 6 months to basically anywhere in the world.  While it is hard to do, especially with a new line like RCCL, something has to give else we will just be on vacation permanently.  If we had no other cruise options, I think we’d likely go for this one, but at some point, we had to say no.

So.. we didn’t hit the jackpot in Vegas this time around, but we learned to say no to free. When doing so, we also agreed that we could risk losing Atlantis too, as it wasn’t a good time to travel right now.  The next challenge for us is whether we can say no to the gamble. IE, if we are offered a similarly obscure ‘free cruise’ if we go to Vegas, will we decline unless they give us the details, or will we roll the dice again?  

Here’s some posts on what I’ve been doing on the gambling stuff, so you don’t have to search for it.  For those following, our offers are now down to 3 nights in a room vs suite, and $50 in F&B, and I am now getting marketing from Circus Circus vs Aria Skysuites.  Our trip to Vegas to pick up this Voucher is written up here: Storytelling through food. We spend $0 ‘gambling’ because actual casino gambling, no matter how savvy you think you are, is throwing away money. 

mLife Gold Complimentary Cruises

mLife Math & the bet, the ROI, and the next step

Introduction to Manufactured Spend: at Sea Edition

Aria Sky Suites, a Bromance made in heaven

The post Learning when to let go of free appeared first on Saverocity Travel.

* This article was originally published here

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8312273 https://proshoppingservice.com/learning-when-to-let-go-of-free/ from Garko Media https://garkomedia1.tumblr.com/post/183722193639

[garkodigitalmedia]

Learning when to let go of free

One of the hardest lessons to learn in travel hacking is knowing when to let go of a trip, particularly when it is ‘free’.

Recently, we took another gamble on Vegas.  For new readers (or those who didn’t keep up with this) when we ‘Vegas’ we don’t gamble in the same way that others do.  To the casual observer, gambling means taking some money, putting it in a slot machine or table game, and hoping for the best (regardless of card counting ability).

We approach the gamble very differently.  My upside is not connected to winning or losing money, but whether the event of gambling triggers enough Comp to come out ahead of either financial result.  If I lose $5000 but ‘win’ $50K in comp, I’ll take it.   For those who MS, compare this to the guarantee of paying ~$7 to buy and liquidate a gift card that earns you $25 vs paying ~$0 to Kiva but knowing that there will be an element of randomness to the fee you pay.

Our latest gamble didn’t pay off.  We were offered a free cruise on RCCL, but could get no further details.  It could be a 7 night on the biggest, sparkliest ship in a suite (spoiler alert, it wasn’t), or 2 nights cruise to nowhere on their oldest tug boat. We wouldn’t know until we went to the booth to pick up the certificate.  We rolled the dice.

Controlling the narrative

We stacked the odds in our favor by controlling the narrative of the trip. Rather than it being about going to Vegas to pick up the Certificate, it was about a nice vacation that incidentally involved us walking past this booth, and maybe hitting the Jackpot.  We used points for flights (outbound in First Class because we wanted to control the flow of the vacation) the room was comped, and we had several hundred in free money from MGM and Caesars to spend on food.

In the end, because we focused on spending the free money wisely, and willingly spent real money outside of those chains to experience things that mattered, the trip turned out really well. This offset the loss on the certificate.

Close, but no cigar

Our offer from MGM for RCCL

We came close to picking a 4 or 5 night cruise that visited Cuba, as we haven’t been before. I even took the step of seeing if we could work around RCCL’s Partial Cruise rules that specifically cite Nassau as a hotspot port for cabotage:

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger’s embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan for this was to find an itinerary that touched base in Cuba first, to clear Cabotage, then disembark in Nassau to stay at Atlantis (also for free) before flying NAS>JFK non stop. It would be a good example of how we splice together travel these days:

JFK>FLL on ‘whoever is the cheapest in pts’

Feb 16th: Would need 1 night hotel pre cruise (to keep stress low)

Feb 17th embark 4 Night cruise, but exit in Nassau

Several nights at Atlantis, and home to JFK 

(the cabotage issue would be that ‘short hops’ outside of the US require you to re-enter the US at the same point you departed, so a nonstop to JFK from NAS might be an issue.. Cuba might address that, but Cuba also isn’t the best Country to be leaning on to help clear up US immigration concerns… oh, and incidentally I’m currently exploring Naturalization, so that would be a factor).

Letting go of free

It was almost a great trip. The cruise fare for two would be taxes and fees only, so around $230, but once you add in the 3rd guest, and the onboard gratuities, we would be around $800-900.  Also, the ship wasn’t that sparkly.  I might pay $800-900 to experience the Oasis Class, but for the older ships, I didn’t think it great value.  

I understand that to someone else, it would be great value, but the final piece for us was that we really want to see Cuba, so the alternative option of flying nonstop JFK>HAV and spending a few nights in Cuba seemed a lot more immersive. There was a lot of fluff and waste with the cruise, so despite it being a deal compared to paying full rate, it wasn’t a deal to us.

The decision increasingly includes the following:

If we’re going to a destination to see it, does the ‘free’ trip cover the bases, or is it only somewhat OK? Traveling even to somewhere close like Havana takes a fair amount of time (driving to/from airports+flights+whatnot) so it is important to us to visually walk through how the vacation would feel. Perhaps it would feel fine on a cruise in some cases, but in others, and when the price is already perhaps more than immersion, the ‘free’ option doesn’t fit.

Factors on why our thinking may differ from yours:

Demand/Load – we have other options.  The cruise gig is now totally out of hand where we could book at least 8 cruises in the next 6 months to basically anywhere in the world.  While it is hard to do, especially with a new line like RCCL, something has to give else we will just be on vacation permanently.  If we had no other cruise options, I think we’d likely go for this one, but at some point, we had to say no.

So.. we didn’t hit the jackpot in Vegas this time around, but we learned to say no to free. When doing so, we also agreed that we could risk losing Atlantis too, as it wasn’t a good time to travel right now.  The next challenge for us is whether we can say no to the gamble. IE, if we are offered a similarly obscure ‘free cruise’ if we go to Vegas, will we decline unless they give us the details, or will we roll the dice again?  

Here’s some posts on what I’ve been doing on the gambling stuff, so you don’t have to search for it.  For those following, our offers are now down to 3 nights in a room vs suite, and $50 in F&B, and I am now getting marketing from Circus Circus vs Aria Skysuites.  Our trip to Vegas to pick up this Voucher is written up here: Storytelling through food. We spend $0 ‘gambling’ because actual casino gambling, no matter how savvy you think you are, is throwing away money. 

mLife Gold Complimentary Cruises

mLife Math & the bet, the ROI, and the next step

Introduction to Manufactured Spend: at Sea Edition

Aria Sky Suites, a Bromance made in heaven

The post Learning when to let go of free appeared first on Saverocity Travel.

* This article was originally published here

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8312273 https://proshoppingservice.com/learning-when-to-let-go-of-free/

[garkomedia1]

Learning when to let go of free

One of the hardest lessons to learn in travel hacking is knowing when to let go of a trip, particularly when it is ‘free’.

Recently, we took another gamble on Vegas.  For new readers (or those who didn’t keep up with this) when we ‘Vegas’ we don’t gamble in the same way that others do.  To the casual observer, gambling means taking some money, putting it in a slot machine or table game, and hoping for the best (regardless of card counting ability).

We approach the gamble very differently.  My upside is not connected to winning or losing money, but whether the event of gambling triggers enough Comp to come out ahead of either financial result.  If I lose $5000 but ‘win’ $50K in comp, I’ll take it.   For those who MS, compare this to the guarantee of paying ~$7 to buy and liquidate a gift card that earns you $25 vs paying ~$0 to Kiva but knowing that there will be an element of randomness to the fee you pay.

Our latest gamble didn’t pay off.  We were offered a free cruise on RCCL, but could get no further details.  It could be a 7 night on the biggest, sparkliest ship in a suite (spoiler alert, it wasn’t), or 2 nights cruise to nowhere on their oldest tug boat. We wouldn’t know until we went to the booth to pick up the certificate.  We rolled the dice.

Controlling the narrative

We stacked the odds in our favor by controlling the narrative of the trip. Rather than it being about going to Vegas to pick up the Certificate, it was about a nice vacation that incidentally involved us walking past this booth, and maybe hitting the Jackpot.  We used points for flights (outbound in First Class because we wanted to control the flow of the vacation) the room was comped, and we had several hundred in free money from MGM and Caesars to spend on food.

In the end, because we focused on spending the free money wisely, and willingly spent real money outside of those chains to experience things that mattered, the trip turned out really well. This offset the loss on the certificate.

Close, but no cigar

Our offer from MGM for RCCL

We came close to picking a 4 or 5 night cruise that visited Cuba, as we haven’t been before. I even took the step of seeing if we could work around RCCL’s Partial Cruise rules that specifically cite Nassau as a hotspot port for cabotage:

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger’s embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan for this was to find an itinerary that touched base in Cuba first, to clear Cabotage, then disembark in Nassau to stay at Atlantis (also for free) before flying NAS>JFK non stop. It would be a good example of how we splice together travel these days:

JFK>FLL on ‘whoever is the cheapest in pts’

Feb 16th: Would need 1 night hotel pre cruise (to keep stress low)

Feb 17th embark 4 Night cruise, but exit in Nassau

Several nights at Atlantis, and home to JFK 

(the cabotage issue would be that ‘short hops’ outside of the US require you to re-enter the US at the same point you departed, so a nonstop to JFK from NAS might be an issue.. Cuba might address that, but Cuba also isn’t the best Country to be leaning on to help clear up US immigration concerns… oh, and incidentally I’m currently exploring Naturalization, so that would be a factor).

Letting go of free

It was almost a great trip. The cruise fare for two would be taxes and fees only, so around $230, but once you add in the 3rd guest, and the onboard gratuities, we would be around $800-900.  Also, the ship wasn’t that sparkly.  I might pay $800-900 to experience the Oasis Class, but for the older ships, I didn’t think it great value.  

I understand that to someone else, it would be great value, but the final piece for us was that we really want to see Cuba, so the alternative option of flying nonstop JFK>HAV and spending a few nights in Cuba seemed a lot more immersive. There was a lot of fluff and waste with the cruise, so despite it being a deal compared to paying full rate, it wasn’t a deal to us.

The decision increasingly includes the following:

If we’re going to a destination to see it, does the ‘free’ trip cover the bases, or is it only somewhat OK? Traveling even to somewhere close like Havana takes a fair amount of time (driving to/from airports+flights+whatnot) so it is important to us to visually walk through how the vacation would feel. Perhaps it would feel fine on a cruise in some cases, but in others, and when the price is already perhaps more than immersion, the ‘free’ option doesn’t fit.

Factors on why our thinking may differ from yours:

Demand/Load – we have other options.  The cruise gig is now totally out of hand where we could book at least 8 cruises in the next 6 months to basically anywhere in the world.  While it is hard to do, especially with a new line like RCCL, something has to give else we will just be on vacation permanently.  If we had no other cruise options, I think we’d likely go for this one, but at some point, we had to say no.

So.. we didn’t hit the jackpot in Vegas this time around, but we learned to say no to free. When doing so, we also agreed that we could risk losing Atlantis too, as it wasn’t a good time to travel right now.  The next challenge for us is whether we can say no to the gamble. IE, if we are offered a similarly obscure ‘free cruise’ if we go to Vegas, will we decline unless they give us the details, or will we roll the dice again?  

Here’s some posts on what I’ve been doing on the gambling stuff, so you don’t have to search for it.  For those following, our offers are now down to 3 nights in a room vs suite, and $50 in F&B, and I am now getting marketing from Circus Circus vs Aria Skysuites.  Our trip to Vegas to pick up this Voucher is written up here: Storytelling through food. We spend $0 ‘gambling’ because actual casino gambling, no matter how savvy you think you are, is throwing away money. 

mLife Gold Complimentary Cruises

mLife Math & the bet, the ROI, and the next step

Introduction to Manufactured Spend: at Sea Edition

Aria Sky Suites, a Bromance made in heaven

The post Learning when to let go of free appeared first on Saverocity Travel.

* This article was originally published here

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8312273 https://proshoppingservice.com/learning-when-to-let-go-of-free/

[nicholerestrada]

Learning when to let go of free

One of the hardest lessons to learn in travel hacking is knowing when to let go of a trip, particularly when it is ‘free’.

Recently, we took another gamble on Vegas. ; For new readers (or those who didn’t keep up with this) when we ‘Vegas’ we don’t gamble in the same way that others do. ; To the casual observer, gambling means taking some money, putting it in a slot machine or table game, and hoping for the best (regardless of card counting ability).

We approach the gamble very differently. ; My upside is not connected to winning or losing money, but whether the event of gambling triggers enough Comp to come out ahead of either financial result. ; If I lose $5000 but ‘win’ $50K in comp, I’ll take it. ; ;For those who MS, compare this to the guarantee of paying ~$7 to buy and liquidate a gift card that earns you $25 vs paying ~$0 to Kiva but knowing that there will be an element of randomness to the fee you pay.

Our latest gamble didn’t pay off. ; We were offered a free cruise on RCCL, but could get no further details. ; It could be a 7 night on the biggest, sparkliest ship in a suite (spoiler alert, it wasn’t), or 2 nights cruise to nowhere on their oldest tug boat. We wouldn’t know until we went to the booth to pick up the certificate. ; We rolled the dice.

Controlling the narrative

We stacked the odds in our favor by controlling the narrative of the trip. Rather than it being about going to Vegas to pick up the Certificate, it was about a nice vacation that incidentally involved us walking past this booth, and maybe hitting the Jackpot. ; We used points for flights (outbound in First Class because we wanted to control the flow of the vacation) the room was comped, and we had several hundred in free money from MGM and Caesars to spend on food.

In the end, because we focused on spending the free money wisely, and willingly spent real money outside of those chains to experience things that mattered, the trip turned out really well. This offset the loss on the certificate.

Close, but no cigar

Our offer from MGM for RCCL

We came close to picking a 4 or 5 night cruise that visited Cuba, as we haven’t been before. I even took the step of seeing if we could work around RCCL’s Partial Cruise rules that specifically cite Nassau as a hotspot port for cabotage:

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger’s embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan for this was to find an itinerary that touched base in Cuba first, to clear Cabotage, then disembark in Nassau to stay at Atlantis (also for free) before flying NAS>JFK non stop. It would be a good example of how we splice together travel these days:

JFK>FLL on ‘whoever is the cheapest in pts’

Feb 16th: Would need 1 night hotel pre cruise (to keep stress low)

Feb 17th embark 4 Night cruise, but exit in Nassau

Several nights at Atlantis, and home to JFK ;

(the cabotage issue would be that ‘short hops’ outside of the US require you to re-enter the US at the same point you departed, so a nonstop to JFK from NAS might be an issue.. Cuba might address that, but Cuba also isn’t the best Country to be leaning on to help clear up US immigration concerns… oh, and incidentally I’m currently exploring Naturalization, so that would be a factor).

Letting go of free

It was almost a great trip. The cruise fare for two would be taxes and fees only, so around $230, but once you add in the 3rd guest, and the onboard gratuities, we would be around $800-900. ; Also, the ship wasn’t that sparkly. ; I might pay $800-900 to experience the Oasis Class, but for the older ships, I didn’t think it great value. ; ;

I understand that to someone else, it would be great value, but the final piece for us was that we really want to see Cuba, so the alternative option of flying nonstop JFK>HAV and spending a few nights in Cuba seemed a lot more immersive. There was a lot of fluff and waste with the cruise, so despite it being a deal compared to paying full rate, it wasn’t a deal to us.

The decision increasingly includes the following:

If we’re going to a destination to see it, does the ‘free’ trip cover the bases, or is it only somewhat OK? Traveling even to somewhere close like Havana takes a fair amount of time (driving to/from airports+flights+whatnot) so it is important to us to visually walk through how the vacation would feel. Perhaps it would feel fine on a cruise in some cases, but in others, and when the price is already perhaps more than immersion, the ‘free’ option doesn’t fit.

Factors on why our thinking may differ from yours:

Demand/Load – we have other options. ; The cruise gig is now totally out of hand where we could book at least 8 cruises in the next 6 months to basically anywhere in the world. ; While it is hard to do, especially with a new line like RCCL, something has to give else we will just be on vacation permanently. ; If we had no other cruise options, I think we’d likely go for this one, but at some point, we had to say no.

So.. we didn’t hit the jackpot in Vegas this time around, but we learned to say no to free. When doing so, we also agreed that we could risk losing Atlantis too, as it wasn’t a good time to travel right now. ; The next challenge for us is whether we can say no to the gamble. IE, if we are offered a similarly obscure ‘free cruise’ if we go to Vegas, will we decline unless they give us the details, or will we roll the dice again? ; ;

Here’s some posts on what I’ve been doing on the gambling stuff, so you don’t have to search for it. ; For those following, our offers are now down to 3 nights in a room vs suite, and $50 in F&B, and I am now getting marketing from Circus Circus vs Aria Skysuites. ; Our trip to Vegas to pick up this Voucher is written up here: Storytelling through food. We spend $0 ‘gambling’ because actual casino gambling, no matter how savvy you think you are, is throwing away money. ;

mLife Gold Complimentary Cruises

mLife Math & the bet, the ROI, and the next step

Introduction to Manufactured Spend: at Sea Edition

Aria Sky Suites, a Bromance made in heaven

The post Learning when to let go of free appeared first on Saverocity Travel.

* This article was originally published here

Source: https://proshoppingservice.com/learning-when-to-let-go-of-free/

from Garko Media https://garkomedia1.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/learning-when-to-let-go-of-free/

[vacationimpossible]

Closed Border

We’re headed to Mexico next week and the last week has made us somewhat nervous. Last week specific land crossings at the US-Mexico border were closed for hours at a time. Last week President Trump threatened to completely close the US-Mexico border. It was not readily apparently whether he was referring to just land crossings or air and sea as well.

In an age where this president declares Canada a national security threat, Muslims illegal, and the border something he controls like a light switch anxiety is, I think, understandable for travellers.

We’re taking a cruise next week from Long Beach to Ensenada. Neither is a border town, so I admit (read: hope) the likelihood of politics interrupting our trip is remote but stranger things have happened. People who met all the legal requirements for entry into the US were denied because while they were in the air the president signed an executive order banning Muslims. If Canada’s a threat and Saudi Arabia a friend who knows what will come next?

So, let’s game this out. What would happen if the president arbitrarily restricts all travel to and from Mexico? There’s really nothing to prevent him from doing it. Even the American courts eventually accepted some version of the Muslim ban and when that ban was first instituted the courts did not move fast enough to save the trips of those effected. I freely acknowledge there is a lot more impact than just to tourists but as we are a travel blog I try to restrict the subject matter to that lest this become too political.

So, let’s say Mexico is taken off the table – what options does that leave us? US maritime and immigration law can be a funny thing. You can’t cruise to international waters without visiting a foreign port. Presumably this was meant to prevent certain kinds of illegal activity – people sailing out just far enough to no longer be subject to US and state laws for example and then doing the bad thing. But a 4-day sail out of Long Beach doesn’t give you a lot of foreign alternatives. It’s not like the east coast with a whole host of Caribbean countries at your cruising fingertips. This is the reason why Miami is the largest cruise port in the world and the west coast has precious few cruise options.

It’s a 4-day sail that includes Catalina. Even if we ditched Catalina I don’t think we’d have time to make it to Canada. Although who knows, these ships rarely travel at full speed.

I suppose it’s possible the ship could just do figure 8s between Catalina and mainland California the whole time. Maybe add a second day in Catalina. Make the whole thing never leave US territorial waters, like a short dinner cruise. The only real issue there is the casino and fun shops could never open because as I understand it they require International waters to operate. For the casino I think it’s a matter of state law, California isn’t exactly Nevada when it comes to gaming licence. And honestly even then if Nevada wasn’t land-locked, a ship would probably need to be licenced by the state to operate, even in their fictional, watery jurisdiction. As for the Fun Shops they might be able to open in a very limited capacity, but all the Duty-Free stuff would be off the table both literally and figuratively. So, you could get a Christmas ornament and some mouthwash, but the alcohol and luxury watches would probably have to remain just out of reach. I think Carnival would have serious issues with that.

Of course, in this volatile environment we could be worrying about the completely wrong thing – what if the US President decides the imaginary national security threat from Canada is suddenly the new boogeyman and closes the northern border instead?