Maddie's Graduation trip

On June 6th we took Maddie and her friend Kelsey on a four day cruise. We flew into Long Beach on Monday and then headed for the cruise ship by taxi. Once on board we settled in for a fun four days. We left that evening for Catalina. I've never understood how it takes all night to go the twenty some odd miles to the island for a big cruise ship but the next morning we woke up and were there.

The morning we had made arrangements to go para-sailing. We had never done this before and was it ever fun. The views were spectacular.

After we got done with this adventure we then went over to a beach and the girls enjoyed the sun while Cindy and I went snorkeling. The water was a bit cool but it was still fun because back home it was rainy and cold. Of course with three girls we had to go shopping at the stores before it was time to head back to the ship.

 That evening was the formal dinner which is always a fun event and a great meal.

The next day it was off to Ensanda. It is really not a great city to visit so we were in no hurry to get up and get going. We watched some sea lions in the harbor and then decided to go into town by way of a local shuttle bus. As we rode into town they sold us on an excursion that was much less than the cruise offered. It included horseback riding on the beach and then going to the blow hole. We decided to do that and off we went. After a bus ride of an hour we came to a place along the road where we got off and the horses were waiting. Normally in the States I am too heavy to ride a horse but not in Mexico; they don't care. So off we went. At first getting to the beach was a little questionable with a ride past some run down places but once we got over the dune the beach was pretty.

It had a gold glimmer to it. We rode along for about 45 minutes. We really had a good time.

From there we got on the bus to go to the blow hole. This time it was interesting because the water really did shoot up high through the hole. You would hear a rumble and then a jet of water would shoot up. After watching that for a while you have to go though the flea market where every Juan, Pedro and Jose' tried to sell you something. Maddie was in her element because she likes to argue. After that it was back to town and our promised Mexican buffet meal. We got there and they said they were just cooking the food and to wait. We got drinks ($2 a piece) which was part of the free meal but you had to buy to get the free meal and then out came the meal. There was beans, rice, chicken fajita looking stuff and then something that looked like small tamales in a salsa sauce. I took some of everything. Beans and Rice were fine, the chicken was so so and then the unknown stuff. It was like biting into an inner tube. We asked the guy what it was and he gave us the Spanish name which meant nothing to us. We inquired a little further and found out it was boiled pig skin in a sauce. You like? Why did we ask where our free buffet was? Back to the boat where we knew what everything was that we ate. That evening we watched a comedy show and then had dinner.

The next day was a full day at sea as the boat headed back to Long Beach. We played trivia games, mini golfed, the girls flirted with boys, more trivia games, learned how to fold towel animals and more comedy acts. This was our fourth and final evening dinner. We enjoyed the service of our waiters who were from the Philippines and Malaysia.

The next morning was in Long Beach and the slow process of getting off the boat. We rode the public bus system to the airport. Got there in time for Maddie to flunk the security screening and get her usual body search and then on to the plane and back home. It was a quick Monday through Friday but it was enjoyable.