the last of Mexico... and a giveaway.

This is my finale. There will be no more major dumping of Mexico photos... until the next time I go. ; )

Manzanillo was the last port we went to, and it was actually a surprise, because the cruise was planned for going to Mazatlan, as usual. Halfway through the week, though, they decided not to port there, because of a lot of street violence that had been going on. Which is very sad, but I'm glad that they made the decision to be extra-safe, and it was fun to be able to go to a new place, since last time we went to Mazatlan.

It had a different flavor, because it's not a town that is so used to having cruise ships come in. So a little less touristy.
Right on the dock, this big mob of school kids were all yelling "Welcome to Me-hee-ko!"

New item added to my bucket list: ride on a motorcycle (preferably shiny and red) in Mexico with my man.

I can't get over how beautiful the streets are. And they had all these random, scrumptious street decorations. I can't think of an event they would have been for, so I'm not sure if they just always have them, or what.

They made me very happy.

I took this for you, Hadley! (she's the one with the online name of "Esmeralda Gatsby". : )

And, for those of you who want to see lots more photos of Mexico streets, the water, and food, here's a handy little slideshow for ya. : ) My mom and I felt delightfully dangerous as we ventured further and further into the city, where it started getting poorer and realer and so much more Mexican. 

And... because I love you and I missed you and thought of you while in Mexico... I got you some stuff. These earrings are made out of coconut shells...

And we bought them from Enrique who was friendly and sweet and told us that he was a Christian and he could see Jehovah in our smiles.

And a heart-shaped necklace. Because I love Mexico and I love you, and I'm sure that you either do or would love Mexico, too. : ) Two random comments will be chosen for the winners.

my love affair with Mexico...part two

The day we ported in Puerto Vallarta was one of the best days of my life. I'm ready to move to this city. Today.

Puerto Vallarta is shiny and blue and hot. Parts of it seem more American, since it has a Walmart, Burger King, Starbucks, etc... but it also has a deliciously Mexican old town.

All of the churches are just beautiful. 

Whatever this building is, I want to live in it.

Mexicans stake out territory all along the promenade and make truly epic sand sculptures, and then put out little cardboard boxes with slits in the top for tips.

This guy balances rocks. I have no idea how he does it.

One of the best things about Mexico is the streets. I just love them.

This is Carlos. He was the salesman in a china shop that we stopped in. He was literally in love with dishes, and after helping us buy excessively, he ended up taking us up the road and showing us all of the best spots to eat, etc. By the way--another thing I love about Mexico is that the guys wear white pants. I'm telling you, that doesn't happen enough around here.

According to Carlos' directions, we went to the upstairs portion of a flea market, which contained a bunch of tiny, dirty little kitchens. There were curvy Mexican mamas slapping tortillas into being, random dead fish lying beadily in boxes of ice, and a singular lack of anyone with white skin. My kinda place.

I had a sudden, violent craving for a coke, and so I bought one in an alluring glass bottle. Glass bottles are the best. Plus, Mexican coke has real sugar, which makes it way yummier.

Eat a real, slightly dangerous meal in Mexico. Checked off my bucket list.

Bethany was very uncomfortable with the whole situation and kept a sharp eye on our waitress. She says that she grabbed those beady fish and then served more food. But we didn't die, so it's all good.

I'm also going to live here.

I love all of the wrought-iron on the windows and doors. And the intense colors. The inside of this doorway was yellow, the outside aqua, and the door itself was red. Now you know why I should live here. :)

Another amazing church.

Drink a real strawberry margarita. Check.

Bethany enjoyed the margarita much more than the questionable tacos, and perked up pretty well. There are very few things she loves about Mexico, actually. It is everything that I love--colorful, loud, crowded, intense, reckless, spontaneous, with friendly, dark-skinned people. She prefers black-and-white, silence, solitude, no surprises, and cool, pale, and distant people. ; ) Sometimes it's confusing how we're sisters...

Guacamole. Oh, yes.

Back on the ship we... uh, ate more. : ) I swear that some of the Indonesian waiters' goals in life are to make girls fat. One particular guy at breakfast kept making us eat more and more pastries.

Notice the difference between our breakfasts?

Yep, this is how I roll.

(entering in Danielle's food photo challenge)

I think we had this every single breakfast--fresh-squeezed orange juice, which makes the gross weak pulpy stuff hide its face in shame.

Well, there's enough more photos for one last huge post... which will include something special for YOU!

I'm head-over-heels for Mexico, folks.

I'm back. Back from the excessive food and superb service and utter relaxation that is the cruise ship. And back from the glorious heat and color and crazy excitement that is Mexico. I miss it. I never, ever wanted to leave. It was a delicious trip. I'm exhausted and emotional and longing to go back immediately. I cope by listening to "The Boys are Back" repeatedly.

This was the very first picture I took. I read most of My Heart Lies South on the plane, and was therefore fully prepared to get married and live in Mexico for the rest of my life. If you haven't read this book, you must. Then you might understand why I am so desperately in love with Mexico.

I actually love flying in a plane. The cramped seating and ear-popping is worth it for that moment when you lift up off the ground, and then watch the world fade into a simple, beautiful pattern.

We flew to San Diego and immediately boarded the cruise ship. Some day I want to stay in San Diego--we've breezed through it twice now.

Of course I had a donut nearly every day. 

The majority of the crew on Holland America ships are Indonesian and Filipino. The captain is always Dutch, as well as various other members of the crew. Basically there are no Americans, except for the activities directors. The Indonesians are just awesome. They are super-sweet and cheerful, which is incredible, since they have to serve mostly very elderly and often grouchy types out in the middle of the ocean, away from their home and family. I got ridiculously spoiled by their awesomeness.

When I went on my very first cruise... I don't know how many years ago, I decided that I would marry an Indonesian prince.

Our room stewards--Jamjam and Moe. I stayed entertained by repeating Jamjam's name over and over again. 

Room service, baby.

The pretty gals I went with. : ) My mom and sister, Bethany.

Oddly, I have been longing for tiramusu. So when the strawberry cheesecake and the tiramisu were on the same night, I suffered much mental anguish.

In the end, I chose the tiramisu, which was absolutely amazing. Especially with black coffee.

Notice my spectacularly awesome camera strap. Thank you sistah. : )

This water. My word. It makes me want to jump straight off the ship and...drown. But I feel like even drowning would be rather glamorous in water like this.

Our first port was Cabo San Lucas.

It was so warm! I have a tan now... which is bizarre, in January.

Each one of these boats was calling my name... I have yet to ride a speed boat, laughing wildly, with my hair blowing in the wind. It's so on my bucket list.

Everyone is selling something--

"hello beautiful girls--take a look."

"good prices!"

"real silver!"

"ladies--do you need a bodyguard?"

Feeling very daring, I grabbed this iguana. He was pretty placid.
Mostly just had a very squishy underbelly.

White churches. yes.

I just had to take a picture of this sign. New blog name? ;-)

That's our ship. It's the same one we were on last year, too. We're pretty close.

I had this most days. Sometimes twice.

(entering the photo here)

So that was the first part of the week. On the first few days at sea, aside from eating, reading, and writing unadulterated nonsense in my inspiring cream notebook, I also watched all three High School Musicals. There's definitely a post coming up about that. : )

Lots more photos to come, but I'm trying to give this to you in non-chokable portions.