Carnival Cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico

Last Sunday we drove down to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to pick up our good friends from Seattle, Mark and Susie Johnson.

The reason? A fun-filled three day, four night cruise aboard a Carnival cruise ship from Long Beach, California to Catalina Island and then on to Ensenada, Mexico.

It turned out to be as much fun as we thought it would be!

But first, an epic breakthrough . . .

Chocolatine
French Pastries and Tea Room

This is not a good picture but it serves a GREAT croissant!!!!

In nearby Thousand Oaks, we found a French restaurant that has just been sold by a man from Bordeaux to a couple from, of all places, LYON!!!

We had read about the sale in last Sunday's newspaper and decided to stop by to sample their wares on the way to LAX.

Their buttery croissants are, to say the very least, WORTHY!!!

I foresee many side trips to Thousand Oaks in my future . . .

HEAVEN!!!!!!!! 

Meanwhile, at the Port of Long Beach, our cruise began late Sunday afternoon.

Mark, Laurie and Susie

Did I mention that it is all-you-can eat aboard ship.

Love that Shirt

On this first night, we opted to just sit, talk and nosh instead of going to the dining room for a more traditional dinner experience.

We were all good with that.

Snail Art with Towels

On every cruise that we have ever been on, the room steward does these nightly, artsy towel sculptures.

By the way, we ate some very good escargot on our final night at sea.

Our first stop on Monday, only "26 miles across the sea" from Long Beach, was Catalina Island's Avalon Harbor.

We rented a four passenger golf cart to tour this delightful little community.

Mark and Susie above Avalon Harbor

Our Cruise ship in the distance

Picturesque Avalon Harbor with

their famous Casino on the far right

Hijinks at the local pet cemetery

Sassy Island Cat

Cool Mosaics at the Casino

The Chicago Cubs held Spring Training

on Catalina Island from 1921-1951

Not surprising when you consider that the Wrigley family, of chewing gum fame, owned both the Cubs and Catalina Island.

They still own over 90% of the island but no longer control the Cubs who they sold to the Tribune Company in 1981 after 65 years of ownership.

The Casino up close

This Art Deco structure first opened in May of 1929 and originally it was used as a ballroom and theatre. Today it also houses a museum.

There was never any gambling in this iconic structure. The Casino gets its name from the Italian word "casino" meaning simply a gathering place.

Not Real

On the other, much less inhabited side of the island bison do indeed roam. This is not one of them.

Avalon is one continuous postcard

Catalina incorporates tiles like these

into the architecture of several buildings

Our first day was in the books and it was a good one.

Now, it was time to head South of the Border to . . .

Baja California, Mexico

Only in Mexico

NO!

"When in Rome . . ."

After touring an interesting fish market near the harbor and doing a little shopping, we opted to grab a sidewalk table at a local watering hole and share in some of the local mores and folkways.

Oh boy . . .

The PC Memo has still not arrived

in Ensenada

A traditional Ensenada Hotel,

Restaurant and . . .

. . . Bar

I first visited the Hotel Bahia in the late 1950s with my family while vacationing in Ensenada. I remember it as having good food and a great floorshow featuring Aztec warriors and maidens performing traditional dances.

As an 11 year old boy, I was impressed!

On this nice Tuesday afternoon, we had the bar to ourselves and rekindled our friendship with many new and incriminating escapades.

I do have several nieces and nephews

We made it back to the boat with plenty of time to spare. I do not know if a cheeseburger ever tasted any better than the one I consumed once back on board.

Bayside Soccer Field

I took this picture from the ship's Deck 10, the Lido Deck. That soccer field you see is indeed, 100% dirt. The locals are dedicated to their national sport I would haste to say.

All that was left now was a very slow day at sea on Wednesday as we returned to Long Beach. 

Cruise Ship Smokestack

This was the view from the Pool Deck on our last night at sea.

It was great seeing Mark and Susie again with lots of time to catch up.

Good Times Indeed!!!

Reading Is FUNdamental!!!

The Sixth in Martin Walker's

"Bruno Chief of Police" Book Series

I have read them all and while this book would stand well on its own, it was a bit disappointing in its spot as the latest tome in the series.

Still, Walker took us on another fun trip through the landscape, wine and food of his beloved Périgord area of France's Dordogne département which is found in the Aquitane région of Gaul.

Available on-line only

A short story, it was a straight forward read about a minor crime in the Périgord at Yuletide that Bruno handles in his usual folksy way.