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Everything posted by scubacruiserx2
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In 1972 when Vietnam was still going hot and heavy I thought that the Navy would be a better option than being drafted into the army . I was told by the recruiter in Miami that I would go to boot camp in Orlando and go to school in Pensacola to be a Photographer's Mate if I signed with them . On the day that I left Miami in December it warm and I wore a short sleeved shirt . I was the only one given a ticket on an evening flight to San Diego and it was near freezing when we arrived there at about Midnight Pacific Time . We spent Christmas and New Year's Eve in Boot Camp and I was assigned to be the Recruit Chief Petty Officer which meant that I stood next to the Company Commander at photo time and I was in charge of the company when the CC wasn't around . https://www.dvidshub.net/news/293835/rcpo-position-offers-leadership-experience-recruits-boot-camp It was perhaps the longest 3 months of my life and when I finished Boot Camp I was assigned Hospital Corp School in Balboa Park , San Diego . After completing Corp School I was assigned to The Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina and finished with the Navy in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . This was like where we stayed in in the seventies And this is where we hoped to stay - The Del Coronado Some like it Hot
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When our color was called we went into the room with the agents and they took a photo of our passports and vax cards and placed a pink polka dot on our cards which we showed to exit the ship after picking up our carry on luggage . Exiting the ship we got our checked bags and crossed the street to meet our waiting guide Marcus . We first took a quick ride to the Midway tied up near us . The local Fire Department was out for some exercise A drive through Little Italy where this restaurant was a old as my wife
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Between courses at breakfast I took a quick clip as we came in We just had to wait our turn We prefer to walk around or stay in our room and avoid logjams . It got very crowded here as we were leaving . A little look while we wait The port of San Diego The Regatta in the foreground , the Midway is midway in the photo and the Coronado Bridge is in the distance The USS Makin Island heading out to sea https://www.navysite.de/ships/lhd8.htm
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We were thrilled to be headed back to shore and a Taxi - shore based visit Our driver was close to our age and had a lot of experience in the area and as we spoke we realized that there had been a lot of growth in the area - mostly Americans . We asked for an overview of the area and wound up in a Costco parking lot . He then took us to an area that he said was the Mexican area for a recycled glass blowing exhibition . I 'm always amazed at how much skill that some people have
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We have been on many small dive boats with many people of differing swimming levels and boatmanship levels but these ladies we up , down and all around and not obeying the Captain . We had hopped to keep everyone safe but we had our hands full in the moving sea . A clear boat We were relived when they got to go ashore safely After letting them off we had to pick up another couple at a different beach . The lady moved very rapidly toward the boat that was riding a wave to the shore and fell under the bow . Her waist and chest stopped the boat as the next wave pushed it over her . Fortunately she was okay and the husband only cut his foot . We were really glad to land safely and move on to the land portion of the tour with no one hurt .
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The people here were the most aggressive that we met in Mexico and were all around us try to sell and rub cologne , sunscreen and heaven else knows what both legal and illegal on and to us . We tried asking several people to phone our guide but most seem to ignore what we were saying and asking and just kept try to sell us . We waited almost half and hour before the first tender from HAL to arrive and they seemed to be in no hurry to come ashore . This guy phoned our guide several times and the message box was full . We phoned the Tours by Local number and spoke to someone in Scotland to try to reach our guide or a replacement guide without success . We finally committed after about an hours wait and he walked us to the marina to board a glass bottom boat . The narrow pier was blocked by a group of ladies dressed alike trying to figure out what to they wanted do . When they finally moved we saw this covered boat and grabbed a couple of seats with a couple of more people and prepared to shove off in the small blue boat . As soon as we started to leave the ladies decided to go and we had to board them and the 10 of us squeezed into the boat for a bumpy ride to the beach near El Arco .
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We were up early ( After moving the clocks back an hour ) for room service . This would be our only tender service this trip and it was a long ride to shore . We had requested a phone call from the concierge to let us know when we were clear to go ashore and so down we went . We were the only people waiting for about 15 minutes and they sent us ahead alone on a local tender . We were the first ones from our ship on the dock
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We had only tried the MDR on the first day for lunch . On this day they had a Prime Rib that my wife had wanted to try . They also had a Caribbean Lobster on the MDR menu for an upcharge and so we went to the Club Orange mat when we were hungry . We had wanted to see the dance company for the first time after dinner so that was the plan . French Onion Soup and Escargot to start . Things were fine until the Prime Rib which was tough and chewy . And the Caribbean Lobster was half a cold water lobster that was mushy and soft . It was prepared with Plantains and some rice and a few beans Caribbean style that was also mushy . We did enjoy the desert but hot the main courses at this service .
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There was a John Steinbeck short story about a pearl diver in La Paz who finds a giant pearl before greed turns it into a human tragedy The water was so shallow here that people just waded to some small boats Jesus and the Seashell Mermaid and a dolphin We saw this in a parking lot near the tourist information and grab a cab near here for less than half price to return Return to the ship
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We were in bright , early and cool in Pichilingue We were on the edge of the desert about 12 miles from La Paz near a cement plant that seemed to work 24/7 . The Free bus to the beach or the city came about every half an hour and were loaded with handicap people first and filled in empty seats that were left . The bus was going to be full And this was the 2nd line for the bus . We asked if any of the people wanted the cab or wanted to share and there were no takers . The driver offered to be our guide for 3 hours and we told him that we just wanted a ride . He didn't want to change and I asked Pat to stand in the bus line while I tried to convince him to just drive us . After the other bus left he changed his mind and we agreed on a price and we off . We passed the bus after about 5 minutes and enjoyed the 20 minute ride .