Friday, 8 November 2024

Ensenada, Mexico

Today is the final day of this short cruise. It seems I just unpacked and now I have to pack up again. That's one of the reasons I enjoy longer cruises (I have sailed several at 28 days). At least luggage doesn't have to be outside stateroom doors until midnight. So it will be a busy day until that clock strikes.

We are already docked in Ensenada as I arise. 

My shore excursion, "Ensenada City and Shopping" doesn't meet until 9:45am, so I have plenty of time for an Eggs Benedict breakfast in the Dining Room.

The tour group meets on the dock, from where it is a short walk to the waiting buses (several groups are doing the same tour). There isn't very much to see in the city, so the tour is really "Ensenada Drinking and Shopping." There are three stops--the first one is for wine tasting, the second is for Margarita drinking, and the third is for shopping. Fortunately, we have a really fine guide, a young woman with the prophetic name of Alexa.

The area of Baja California in which Ensenada is located is the main wine-producing region for the entire country. The tour visits the city headquarters of its oldest winery, Santo Tomas, founded in 1888. Visitors are offered three wines for tasting (and for purchase, of course)--but it's still a little early for me. But after the wine is finished, I do sample the offered fresh bread (baked locally) and cheese (from Costco), so I can taste three different olive oils that are also produced by Santo Tomas.

The second stop is actually the most interesting building in the city. Originally opened as a casino in 1930, the Riviera del Pacífico is a graceful white building that now serves as a conference center. The first owners of the building were an American woman named Margaret and her Mexican husband. When he proved to be a prolific adulterer she divorced him, even though she still loved him. After the divorce was finalized she went to a local cantina to drown her sorrows. When the bartender heard her sad story he said he would create a special drink just for her--the name of the drink became the Margarita. And a tradition was born--true story, according to Alexa (our guide).

The interior of the building is quite remarkable with several ballrooms and bars.

 

Alexa Demonstrates the Best Way to Make a Margarita--and Then We All Get Samples

At the third and fina stop of the tour we are given one hour to shop on a long street designed solely to fleece tourists of their dinero. It's safe and colorful and crowded--and you can purchase many drugs over the counter that require Rxs in America. Lately, the local pharmacists haven't been doing much business, as insurance seems to cover most of the drugs Americans use.

Homes in the Hills Above the City Go for Over a Million US Dollars

Back on board it's time for a quick cheeseburger and fries by the Lido Pool and then I spend the afternoon packing. I am having dinner in the Pinnacle Grill (the major specialty restaurant on board) at 8pm. But first I stop by the Main Dining Room to thank my two table stewards for their excellent and friendly service.

In the Pinnacle Grill I enjoy another glass of Vieux Cliquot French Champagne, Caesar salad with anchovies, lobster bisque with brandy and fresh cream, and beef tenderloin with lobster dumplings. For dessert I have simple but delicious key lime pie.

After dinner I manage to get my luggage out the door in time for collection and to work on the blog I published on Thursday. I will be using Holland American transportation to the San Diego airport at 9:30am, where I will be picking up my rental car for the drive to Los Angeles

After this blog entry you will next hear from me from Los Angeles.