Things to See

Now that the cruise has happened I need to start planning my next trip for "The List". I'm considering the following:

Chicago:
Frank Lloyd Wright Tour
Art Institute of Chicago
Superdawg
Arun's
Charlie Trotter's

South Dakota:
The Badlands
Black Hills

Seattle:
Pike's Place
San Juan Islands

Utah/Colorado:
Moab (Arches National Park)
Monument Valley
Mesa Verde National Park
Telluride
Million Dollar Highway

Northern(ish) California:
San Francisco
Wine Country
Yosemite National Park
Monterey Peninsula
Pacific Coast Highway (I'd go as far as San Simeon and see Hearst Castle)

Montana/Canadian Rockies:
Glacier National Park
Banff
Jasper
Yoho (maybe)

I'll just go ahead and tell you that I'm already planning the Utah/Colorado portion for this fall, but I think I can fit a couple of others in at some point. So, if you have any experience with any of these locations pipe up and let me know what you think.

Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa

Zihuatanejo doesn't have a dock to handle cruise ships, so you have to "tender in" in the life boats. A quick little 5 minute ride to shore.


We did another city tour in our own privately rented taxis. The guide took us to the top of the mountain where we found this house. This is my new dream home. Beautiful view, pool, good temperature, Zihuatanejo is really a spectacular little town.


We drove over the hill to a crocodile farm in Ixtapa where there were loads of iguana wondering around. These little guys (really not so little, a good 3 feet long) over a piece of papaya.


At the crocodile farm you walk out onto a small wooden pier and directly beneath you (not even 5 feet) are dozens of crocodiles. This guy wandered out of the water and decided to wait for a meal.


Seriously! Isn't it absolutely gorgeous!?

Acapulco

We docked in Acapulco around 11:30 a.m.; late enough that everyone was out on deck as we pulled up to the pier. We waited around a while before debarking as to avoid the crowds. Once off, Ana (the only one in the group who speaks Spanish) negotiated a couple of taxis, and off we headed for a city tour.

We started out at the cliff divers:




Then proceeded to an old hotel where lots of movie stars used to stay,




Did some shopping in a little market place,


and headed off across the bay to Senor Frog's.

If ever you're there, I recommend the nachos...ummm, yummy!

After "the frog" we headed over to the Fairmont Princess Hotel, and HOLY COW is it spectacular...especially at sunset.






While I enjoyed our day at Acapulco and the Bay is on "The List"


it mostly struck me as just another big, hot, overcrowded city, with terrible traffic it took forever to get back over the to ship side of the bay. The Bay is rightfully on the list, but I don't think I'd go on a longer vacation there.

Ash Wednesday

Ana took me to the Cathedral of the Madeline for Ash Wednesday Mass...my first Mass, I found it very interesting; the Cathedral is beautiful. I'll have to go back and take pictures.


For Lent I Will:
1-Be to work at 8:30 every morning. (I've slid into more of a 9-6 schedule)
2-Walk on the treadmill for at least 1/2 hour 5 days a week

Take to the Sea

We spent the next 2 days barrelling full steam ahead to reach Acapulco. The further south we traveled the more delightful the weather.

I was really suprised that I could always feel the ship moving. I thought on something that big I would rarely, if ever, feel the rocking of the boat. But feel it I did, Every. Single. Minute. Good thing I am apparently not prone to sea sickness.

2 Days of lounging, reading and eating...really the perfect way to start a vacation, no?

San Diego

After a long day of standing in lines at the airport, lines at the taxi stands, and lines at the cruise terminal we finally boarded the Carnival Spirit and set sail around sunset. After a full day of travel I went to bed shortly after dinner to save my energy for the first full day of vacation.

Back

Rested, relaxed and with lots of pictures and 2 more places crossed off "The List".