Tuesday, 21 August – Carnival Imagination, Ensenada MX

We wake up in Mexico, the sun is shining and we are moored alongside a wharf so it will be much easier to get on and off today.  But first breakfast, this is always the busiest time of day, at least it always is when we get down there, but there is a huge selection to choose from.

Good morning Ensenada, Mexico

Blue sky, boats and warm weather - heaven!

We go ashore and ride a bus into the town which is all of four blocks, two go this way from McDonalds and two go that way.  At least the bus lady recommends we stay within these four blocks. This mexican town reminds me of Fiji, just bigger.  We can’t read the signs! There are road side stalls, bars and eateries and hawkers, but they are not persistent, they leave you alone once you’ve said no thanks.  We only see a few barely roadworthy cars, most of them seem OK although not many are new.  See one horse and carriage taking tourists for a ride, then see a row of them waiting for punters.

All manner of candies, dried fruit etc, all well presented and covered 

Should have bought a nice Mexican dress, ole'

The bus ride was US$4 each, round trip.  After we walked the four blocks in the hot sun, we head back to the boat and find our usual quiet sunbathing spot on the top deck.  The trick is to have a bit of sea breeze to cool you down.  We don’t fancy getting in the pool, its looks a bit too green but we hope that is just the paint job, not the water condition.

Have a late lunch, this ship has the Taco Bowl I learned about on the Carnival ship to Alaska so that is my lunch today and Kim fills a plate of cold cuts, olives, cheese, salad etc. and tops it off with one of the serve yourself snow freezes.  They hardly ever have the strawberry (?) flavour, always just chocolate or vanilla or a combination on both.  Even the frozen yoghurt is still vanilla or chocolate.  Where's my pink icecream, huh?  Only had it once this trip.

Up to our fave place on the top deck again for another hour and then back to the room to cool down in the AC, have a wee rest before a quick shower (in hot water – thanks Mud, you are a good room steward and you bring us an icebucket every day) and head back up on deck to watch as our ship depart Ensenada.  We are the only cruise ship here today and we were the only one at Catalina too. 

Cocktails are next on the list and we try a couple of different bars to test their wares.  The Awesome Twosome play pretty good music and they are usually in the Atrium Bar in the evening, then pretty soon it’s time for the late seating dinner.  Tonight there are three new ladies at our table, a other and two young adult girls as well as Christian and Edith so it’s a bit more lively.  We finish in time to catch the Love and Marriage Show in the Dynasty Lounge.  Matey, our English Cruise Director, is not as funny as Jen from the Carnival Legend and we can’t help but compare.  Bed time next, good night!  Another cruise day done and dusted.  Tomorrow we will spend the day all at sea!