Page 16 - Tracy Anderson Issue

Cruising To Ensenada
By Laura Chavarin
Recently I tried to get my family to commit to a vacation in Puerto Rico to celebrate my daughter’s college graduation. Poetry Corner
They declined because they did not want to leave our dog, Sophi, for an entire week. (Yes, my kids are crazy…) They
did, however, agree to take a three-day cruise
to Ensenada, Mexico. We have been to Mexico
many times, and we love it, however, I don’t
recommend that you drive through Tijuana. Rhetorical Reality
Tijuana, or T.J., is really what’s crazy. So taking a
ship down past the border is the best way to get
to Mexico - short of flying. The two places that I What if I told you
have found discount cruise tickets are Vacations that there is only heaven.
to Go and Cruises Only. Would that ease your soul?
We met our ship up in Long Beach at the Carnival
Cruise Terminal. It was not difficult to find, and What if I told you
parking was only $9 per day. Boarding starts the only solution is NOT to think.
at 1:00 p.m. and I recommend that you aim to Could that ease your mind?
board as early as possible just to allow time for
unforeseen events; traffic, parking, ticketing What if I told you
mishaps, etc. The ship left promptly at 5:00 p.m., that it's ok to feel, to be.
as scheduled. We were a party of six so we got Would that ease your heart?
three cabins with two people assigned to each
room. If you have small children, then up to four people are allowed in a cabin, but I will warn you that the cabins are What if I told you
small. Our cabins were nice and clean and the staff was very accommodating. They are friendly and interesting because that you can create your life
cruise lines hire their staff from all over the world. They earn (and deserve) their tip, which is an extra expense that you as you like everyday anew.
should figure into the cost of your cruise, along with port charges that are not included in the listed price: A cruise like this
runs anywhere from $295 to $1200 per person depending on the type of room you choose and the time of year that you What would you do?
travel.
There are a variety of activities available on the ship which includes sunbathing at the pool or playing on one of the two
enormous water slides. There are Bingo games as well as Art Auctions. They have a variety of shows in the evening and By Pamela M. Waller-Niven
a casino. There is a weight room and a spa and on the top deck in the fresh ocean air, a running track and a miniature
golf course. There are nightclubs where my kids went dancing and there are kid’s activities available for small children
and teens. There is even a library on board. Each ship has different activities and the last time we cruised there was a
giant rock wall to climb. Some ships even have movie theaters.
Many people cruise just for the food. What I recommend as far as the food is concerned, be picky. Don’t eat everything
you see, but choose your favorites. If there is a line for the food, then it is probably worth the wait. You have nothing but
time on your hands, so wait in line. It is way too easy to overeat on a cruise and nobody wants an upset stomach. On
that note, I will also warn you that if you get motion sickness, then you may have a problem. Make sure to bring
Dramamine and ginger for nausea. If you awake with nausea then you will find company on the upper deck as everyone
else with nausea recovers with you. Trust me when I tell you that it does go away. Within a couple of hours, every Rhythm
passenger with morning nausea has cleared out and the party has begun again.
Ensenada is quaint and you can buy a bus ticket to the city from the cruise line or you can hire a taxi, which will be avail-
i have sung
able after you get off of the ship. The taxi is usually cheaper, but make sure that you negotiate your price before you get the song of loss
inside of the taxi. We chose to walk into the city, which was a 15-20 minute walk. We found a sunglass vendor along and am now allowing
the way and I was thrilled since I’d managed to break my sunglasses the first day on the ship. Make sure to negotiate my feet to move to its beat
with the street vendors. They expect it. If you plan to buy more than one of an item, make sure to ask, “What if I buy two
pair…etc.” While I recommend negotiating, I also remind you that Mexico is a third world country and that many Mexican
citizens depend on tourism to scratch out a living. Be aware of that and be fair. Remember, nothing is free. On the other finding the rhythm
of days and nights
hand, some shops are pros at taking advantage of tourists so make sure to ask for the price in dollars before you order once again
any food or drinks at street restaurants. Most vendors speak pretty good English.
We wandered through the fish market and the many souvenir stands. The best buy in Mexico is the silver. The key is arms lift up
to be able to recognize the difference between real silver and fake silver. Any vendor will tell you that it is real. Whether
hands slowly
or not they are telling the truth is questionable. I go by color but there is also an imprinted mark on the back of the move through the air
jewelry that is helpful in distinguishing the difference. In the big stores, pharmacies and restaurants, it is not customary to body bending to and fro
haggle, only in the streets.
The best part of Mexico is the food. I have eaten off of the taco carts for many, many years. The Carne Asada tacos are aware of the emptiness
the best! The cook grills the meat right in front of you and adds onion, guacamole and salsa to your liking. Don’t forget
now leaving
to add lime juice. The shrimp cocktail is another of my favorites. This consists of big shrimp cooked just enough so song turns to prayer
that the shrimp is still tender and moist served in a shrimp broth to which you add ketchup and vegetables like chopped
onion, tomato, cucumber and cilantro. If you are brave, then you can try the cocktail with “pulpo”(octopus.) If you don’t lead me
know how to prepare your cocktail, then do what the locals do. As I always say, “When in Rome…” Ceviche tostadas are to the next dance
another of my favorites but if you aren’t used to chopped fish marinated in lime (not heat cooked), then maybe you should
try it on a different visit. On our trip, we stopped at a restaurant that had fish tacos advertised out front for $1 each. They where I will celebrate
light, love and life
were delicious as was the authentic, Mexican Margarita.
During the many years that I’ve been visiting Mexico and eating street foods, I’ve only been sick once. The best advice again
that I can give you is to never drink the tap water. I was sick from the water not the food (Google: Moctezuma’s revenge).
Restaurant owners are careful to use good water for cooking.
“La Bufadora” is a popular tourist site in Ensenada. It is a spot on the rocky coast where, due to the formation of the
rocks, the ocean waves shoot up hundreds of feet into the sky like a geyser. It takes the better part of the day to go, and By Deeba Van Overberghe
there is a fee for the bus. Also, many wineries are popping up in Ensenada and I hear that it is the new hot spot. I have
not yet been, but I plan to go soon. Since the ship was only docked in Ensenada for one day, we chose to explore the
city by wandering the streets and saving the other events for a different trip. It turns out that our three-day cruise was an
excellent family vacation and of course Sophi was happy to have us home early… ¡Adiós amigos!