DAY 2---ENSENADA, MEXICO

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Background Info:

Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the 3rd largest in the Baja California Peninsula just 78 miles south of San Diego. With a population of just over 500,000, its port is an important for commercial fishing and tourism. Over 700,000 cruise passengers come here each year. There is also a Mexican navy base, army base, and military airfield here. It has a mild climate which attracts snowbirds from Canada and the US. It has three main agricultural areas producing grapes for wine, olives, tomatoes, wheat, alfalfa, asparagus, green onions, and broccoli. You may have eaten some of these produced here.

Last Night:

                                               Pre-dinner cocktails in the Mariner Lounge.

         Then we went up to Sette Mari for dinner.  We were surprised at there were not many dining up there last night.  Later heard Prime 7 also had lots of open tables.  Very unusual!!!

Sette Mari's Chef Keegan accepted my challenge to make a veal parmesan as tasty as Chef Deon did when we were on Explorer end of November.

                                                                   Dara, our waitress

                                 Budi was our sommelier whom we've known since 2010.

                                                        Ronnalyn also served our wines.

                                                      The minestrone soup was excellent

My veal parm seemed too salty.  Rebecca had the veal lemone which was tasty but a little over cooked.

Today:

        

        We had requested room service to bring our breakfast between 7am and 7:30 but our door bell rang at 6:45.  We were still in bed so threw our bath robes on and let him in.  It was VERY foggy outside as the Captain was in the final stages of docking here in Ensenada.  It is 52 degrees this morning early but should warm up to 62 later.  The fog has mostly lifted but hazy.

                                                                 

 

                                                                      Friendly sea otter

                                                                 Gigantic Mexican flag

                                          Cruise terminal and people boarding the tour buses.

                                                   A Mexican visitor sitting on the rail.

                                                                          Putt Putt

                                                 Pool bar and tables for the pool grill

        I decided not to go on my scheduled tour today.  Nothing I need in Mexico and besides we will be back here again on another cruise this October.  We did go to the fitness center for our treadmill time earlier this morning.  It has turned into a very nice afternoon weather wise.  At noon we headed up to La Veranda for lunch.

   

     We ran into Douglas, the Food & Beverage Manager, and had another nice chat with him.

                                                               Pool grill salad bar

                                      Pool grill hot foods plus they grill burgers and other meats.

                                                   Pool grill--on the left is ice cream frig

We dined inside at La Veranda and I chose the seafood bouillabaisse (like a seafood stew).  It was so delicious, I had two bowls.  Also a small chicken cordon bleu.  OINK!

                                                    This is the lovely Ganna.  Waitress

This is the lovely Viktoriia, a wine stewardess.  Her name spelling is Ukranian but pronounced Victoria.

        We will be sailing again at 3pm for our next port of call, Cabo San Lucas.  Tonight is the Captain's Welcome aboard.  In past there has been a pre-dinner cocktail party in the theater with a receiving line of our ship's officers who would later be introduced by our Captain.  But now due to new covid protocols there will be no party and the Seven Seas Society party in a few days are both canceled.  No food or drinks now allowed in the theater.  The Captain will be introducing the officers on stage at 9:15 tonight just prior to the show.  Tonight's show is "Divos & Divas" by the singers and dancers of the ship's production cast.

        This evening's dress code is "formal optional".  I get to wear my tuxedo and Rebecca one of her fancy dresses.  So I will be doing my best James Bond imitation with a Grey Goose vodka martini pre-dinner.