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Carnival Mexican Riviera Cruise
Posted by admin in Cruise, Cruise Bart, Mexican Riviera, Mexico, My Travelin' Tweeps, San Diego, United States on November 21st, 2009
Please follow CruiseBart on Twitter: CruiseBart
Cruising the internet looking for the best cruise deals, finding the best cruise-related websites and passing it on to the World of Twitter
Cruise Bart Cruisin’ on Carnival’s Spirit 
I didn't tweet much on the boat (at .55 a minute) but sent out a couple and read a few. The holiday was great! We had so much fun with the kids on board (save one small incident where my daughter went missing for a half hour in a friend's cabin).
We got into San Diego at around 2:00 on Friday afternoon and got over to the hotel using the hotel shuttle. The Holiday Inn at the Bay is really nice, I had zero complaints. Free internet, rooms seemed very clean, front desk staff were all nice, I really like it. Proof again that you should discount the worst 20% and best 20% of the reviews you read. Super close to the terminal and for the price (I think it was $129 for the bay view), couldn't beat it. Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas and the Carnival Elation were in port so we got to watch them pull out that night. The kids thought that was pretty neat, watching the ships pull away from the dock with the foghorns blowing. We walked down the boardwalk a ways, then went back to the pool and had dinner. Everyone sacked out early so I took my laptop and sat in the lobby for a while Tweeting.
Next morning, we got up and had breakfast. Dropped our luggage with the concierge and headed over to the USS MIdway. My son and I had a great time looking at all the different exhibits. My wife and daughter were very unimpressed and in reflection, I should have put them in a cab and sent them to the mall. Anyways, we got off the Midway around 4:00 and saw the Spirit just pulling into harbor. We were supposed to be able to start boarding at 2:00 but they were very late getting in from Hawaii. We grabbed our bags from the hotel and went through embarkation which was a bit of a nightmare. Due to the lateness, they couldn't get us boarded until about 5:30. The San Diego cruise terminal is really just a metal building and with no air conditioning, the San Diego sun made it a bit unbearable. Our kids were pretty good but I felt really bad for some of the seniors who had to endure that. Anyway, we got on and ran up to the Lido for some supper and refreshments. We went to bed at about 10:00 and apparently the ship pulled out at midnight. The kids got ripped off, in that we didn't get to see either the ship pulling out or coming back in. Guess that's reason to go on another cruise.
Sunday we woke up to find ourselves floating south in the Pacific Ocean. We could barely make out the coast but we were still close enough to see it. Got a couple pictures as we passed Cabo but it was pretty hazy. Had a light rain in the afternoon for about a half hour but it was so warm, it was like standing in my shower at home. We took the kids to Camp Carnival at 10:00 AM and after lunch they went back for a couple more hours. Lots of good activities to keep them busy.
Monday was a second day at sea and we spent it relaxing, reading, shopping onboard. Kids were in and out of Camp Carnival, hanging out with some new friends they had met. Had our first formal night which was a hoot, delicious lobster. Still have yet to be disappointed with a meal on Carnival.
The kids learned to make towel animals in the Camp Carnival
Tuesday we arrived in Manzanillo at 9:00. We took an excursion called Beach and Shop arranged through Carnival. Hopped off the boat on to a bus, headed down to the main square. They took us around to a couple small shops. Then we hopped back in the bus and went up in the hills above the bay to take some pictures.
Manzanillo is beautiful, seems very unspoiled although there is a lot of construction going on with new condos being built. Reminds of what Acapulco or Cancun were probably like years ago, before they got all built up. Jumped back on the bus and went to a beach club where we had lunch. Yummy nachos with refried beans and cheese melted over it. My kids just wanted hamburgers, yeesh, why do I take them anywhere I wonder? A couple hours, a couple Dos Equis and back on the bus to the ship. Got some good pictures of the kids in the sand and I think we agreed that Manzanillo had the best beach of the three places we visited.
Wednesday we arrived in Ixtapa. We took a bus through town and hopped on these little 8 person fishing boats out to Ixtapa Island. Had a great spot on the beach with umbrella-covered tables and lounge chairs. Spent four hours lounging, eating, drink Dos Equis (I think you will see a trend here). Kids spent the whole time playing in the water and we dragged them back to the table for a huge plate of nachos (again, another trend).
Into the little fishing boats and back to the ship for supper. Kids were in bed and we crashed out after all the sun, sand & Dos Equis.
Thursday we woke up to find ourselves in Acapulco.
We started off by heading to see the cliff divers. That was very impressive. Kicked myself for not buying a little handheld video camera prior to the trip. Got some good stills of them diving but a video would have been good. Across the street to a silver store for shopping and free margaritas (so glad my wife doesn't like tequila). Back on the bus and then a bit of a long ride to a beach resort. Short lunch (yup, a couple Dos Equis), sat by the pool for a half hour, took some pictures of the surf and then back on the bus. The ship was only in Acapulco for 6 hours so we should have taken an excursion with just one stop (either beach, cliff diving or shopping). Too much of the day was spent in the bus running from place to place.
Friday was a ship day, spent it relaxing and catching up on some sleep. Spent a bit of time in the casino, won $60 (which I promptly gave back the next day along with another $60). Enjoyed our second formal night, the waiters sang for us. Fun was had by all!
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Saturday was our last ship day and our last day. Spent most of the day relaxing, reading and then some packing in the afternoon. Enjoyed chatting with all the dining room staff we had met over the week as we enjoyed our "Last Supper". One of the waiters taught my son how to fold a napkin into a candle complete with a little flame that pops up. Now every time we go to a restaurant, he's folding napkins. I told him if he kept it up, I was going to put him to work on a cruise ship to help pay for his trip.
Sunday morning we woke up as we were pulling into San Diego. We had to be up to meet US Customs at 6:45 before they would let anyone off the ship (damn Canadians!!). We finally got off about 10:00 and jumped in a taxi.
We headed over to Paradise Point Resort in the Mission Area. I booked it the night before we left for $89. What a beautiful resort, my wife couldn't believe I got it for so cheap. We even managed to get checked in so we could drop our suitcases and then we walked around taking pictures, the kids fed the ducks and my wife walked the beach looking for seashells. In the afternoon, the kids played in the pool and I slept under an umbrella. Afterwards, we ate dinner at a little beach bar/cafe on the resort right on the dock. It was an amazing place. If you are looking for a good place away from downtown, I recommend it. It’s about 5 minutes from SeaWorld. Only complaint was the rooms smelled a little bit musty. There weren't any windows in the room that could be left open so I suspect the smell gets locked up in it. We left the door open for an hour or so before we went to bed and it seemed fine after that, maybe I was just used to it. Monday morning we got up, hopped on the plane and we were back in Calgary.
Hope you didn't have to duck out to get a bite to eat in the middle of my story. I was just so excited about our holiday it was hard to stop typing.
Thanks, Bart for sharing your family's cruise vacation with us. Looks like I have some ammunition when you tease me about tequila now–I get the impression not only do you enjoy cruising, you are quite fond of Dos Equis!! –Your Pal, Stephanie aka TravelDesigned
Denver-My Hometown
Posted by admin in Denver, JasonsTravels, My Travelin' Tweeps, United States on November 17th, 2009
Please follow Jason on Twitter: JasonsTravel
I'm a Denver based journalist who loves to travel and blog about it.
Denver, a front range gateway to the Rocky Mountains, offers so many opportunities for days out that it's difficult to take advantage of all of them even in a single year as a resident. I've certainly done my best over the last several months, but each day I learn of a few more things to add to my list that keeps me falling farther and farther behind. It's a joy though living here trying to experience it all though; I certainly won't complain one bit.
Nature is one of the main enjoyments for people that live in the area. From hiking, to biking, running, hitting the slopes, and more, most Denverites have a passion for the outdoors. It seems we continually rate near the top of so many lists for the healthiest places to live in the country, and this is a big reason as to why. Three hundred days of sunshine annually certainly doesn't hurt the cause either.
One of the best places in the Denver area to get out and enjoy a beautiful day is Roxborough State Park. The park is located a short drive southwest of downtown Denver in Douglas County. In 1903 a man by the name of Henry S. Persse built a stone house at the northern edge of the park with the intention of making it a resort, but thankfully that opportunity never materialized. Now the 3,339 acre park is a National Natural Landmark and a great place to enjoy hiking in the summer, snowshoeing in the winter, and wildlife viewing year round.
I took the beautiful three-mile-long South Rim Trail from the visitor's center making sure to watch for rattlesnakes sunning themselves along the trail. This is definitely their country and a ranger warned me to be careful of them as I hiked. The paranoia had a firm grip on me throughout my hike, but not enough to distract me from the spectacular views that are on display.
The same red rocks that offer such spectacular scenery in the park stretch along the front range from the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison. While both spots are easily within driving distance from Denver, the best place to view wildlife is at Roxborough. Despite the homes that sit on the west side of the park, animals are in an abundance in the park. Mountain lions and bears are common visitors, but on my day out I was fortunate to have a close encounter with a beautiful deer.
I came around a corner as I approached the end of the trail and was greeted by a grazing deer. It stood on the trail just on the other side of a small creek. I couldn't have considered my fortune to be any better as I snapped photo after photo only to come to one realization: it was a long way back on the trail if I decided not to disturb the animal so I could get to my car. I knew this wasn't exactly plausible so I cautiously approached with the hopes of my presence causing it to move along.
I made my way across the small bridge that spanned the creek but still the animal wouldn't move. I was now within five feet of it snapping away and it paid me no attention. Finally, as I used my camera phone, the deer was spooked by the digital noise of a photo being taken. It quickly bounded up on a small ridge along the trail and continued to graze.
I made it through and had an excellent wildlife encounter. It's true that I would've preferred seeing a mountain lion or a bear, instead of the deer, but certainly not in as close of proximity as I had this one. There was no reason to complain as well since I enjoyed another gorgeous Colorado morning as so many Denverites like to do.
When I finished I made my way back into downtown for lunch at a favorite local restaurant. The Wynkoop Brewing Company is named for the first sheriff of the area, Edward W. Wynkoop, who in turn later suggested the city be named after the same man that gave him his appointment: Kansas Territorial Governor James Denver. Unfortunately though, Wynkoop also had a hand in the Sand Creek Massacre on the eastern plains of Colorado under Colonel Chivington, a hero of the Civil War Battle of Glorietta Pass.
The Wynkoop was founded in 1988 and once owned by Mayor John Hickenlooper. It offers a house brew suggestion next to each menu item, which is pretty spot on. All of the brews, which can also be enjoyed as a great night cap at the bar, are made right there and have great flavor. And for a state like Colorado, which ranks fifth in the breweries per capita category in the country, this is pretty important.
After a filling lunch I knew I needed a bit more exercise so I decided to stroll my way across downtown along the 16th Street Mall. The mall is the focal point of downtown Denver and offers a ton of great shopping, restaurants and sites – like Skyline Park. Parades also commonly cross the street throughout the year as people lounge and enjoy one of those sun filled days playing chess or people watching.
Enjoying the mall wasn't my destination at this point though. I was inspired to learn more about Colorado history from eating lunch at the Wynkoop, so I made my way to the historic Byers-Evans House Museum. 
The house is just a short walk south on Bannock Street from the mall and a few blocks west of the state capitol building in the cultural district of Denver. And while such places as the Denver Art Museum and the Colorado History Museum are great stops, I was intent on seeing the house; this was something that kept appearing on my growing list.
Two of the most famous families in Colorado history once lived in this house. One was the family of William Byers, the founder of the now defunct Rocky Mountain News newspaper; a paper that lasted nearly 150 years in the town but recently succumbed to economic woes. The house was built for his family in 1883 in an effort to escape an upset mistress in the Capitol Hill district of town. One room in the house, the tea parlor, is restored to how the Byers family had furnished it, but the rest of the house represents the Evans family, circa 1920.
The family of businessman William Evans, son of the second Colorado Territorial governor – John Evans – purchased the home in 1889. Governor Evans, who spent some time in the home, was appointed by President Lincoln and governed during the time of the Sand Creek Massacre. He is quoted as telling the residents of what would later be known as the Centennial State to, "go in pursuit, kill and destroy all hostile Indians that infest the Plains."
Unfortunately for Evans, these Indians were not hostile and he was removed from power. When he passed away his wife and daughter, Margaret and Anne, moved in with William and his family. Anne was an artist at heart and painted several pictures. She was a member of the predecessor to the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Art Society, which is a building that now sits in their backyard.
The family flourished in the home and lived there until they donated it to the Colorado Historical Society in 1981. It is now open for guided tours and different special group events. And while they say it's not haunted, known through paranormal testing, it has many fantastic stories that are worth taking the tour to hear.
So, with nature and history down, it was time for me to get cleaned up and enjoy a bit of the great Denver culture. I for one never knew Denver and culture ever really went together, but after living here for so long it's a misconception that I've been cleansed of; during the mining hay days an Opera House was opened in Central City that still holds summer performances
My night out wouldn't involve the opera or Denver's great performing arts complex though; I had tickets to a VIP premiere evening at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.The museum, more than 100 years old, sits on the east edge of the huge City Park right next to the beautiful Denver Zoo. It is a grand building that has as much as anyone could want in a natural history museum.
Traveling exhibits, which draw large if not sellout crowds, consistently find their way through the museum. The free cultural days that are offered by the city of Denver at all of its facilities, like the museums and the zoo, certainly don't hurt the cause either. An excellent planetarium and a spectacular IMAX theater are also great attractions for the museum and help keep visitors coming back for more.
After spending three hours at the museum though, and after a busy day, it was time to look into some of Denver's fine dining. Again, these words aren't necessarily believed to fit together, but the Denver area, particularly downtown, has some spectacular restaurants that won't break the bank. As we drove back towards downtown my lovely date made a quick call and was able to get us into the fabulous Vesta Dipping Grill on Blake Street, blocks away from the Wynkoop.
With an array of entrees from vegetarian to venison, this place has something to suit any palate. The food is melt-in-your-mouth good, and that's without the wide selection of unbelievably delicious dipping sauces.
We couldn't have been happier with our meal as we enjoyed the atmosphere and shared some excellent conversation; easily done since cell phones aren't allowed.
Unfortunately now, with so little seen of my great city, my day had come to an end. It was a spectacular day out and one that can easily be done again, albeit it not in the same manner, since there are so many great opportunities in Denver for every taste, sports definitely included. I mean heck, I'm a guy, and not once in the day was I even able to catch a game. But rest assured, there are plenty of opportunities for that too with so many great sports teams, college and professional, in the area. More on that another time though perhaps.
Thank you, Jason for sharing with us about your hometown adventure. You know I how much I love to follow you and I hope you will let us live and learn through your eyes again soon! — Stephanie aka TravelDesigned
Roxborough State Park
National Natural Landmark
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Garden of the Gods
Byers-Evans House
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Vesta Dipping Grill
Wynkoop Brewery
Sand Creek Massacre
Battle of Glorietta Pass
16th Street Mall
Denver Art Museum
Colorado History Museum
Rocky Mountain News
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Zoo
