2024 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

CHOCOLATE IN GRENADA (POST #21) 20 JAN 2024

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We enjoy a drive around Grenada, have a nice lunch and visit the House of Chocolate

ARRIVAL

The Zuiderdam arrived in St Georges around 7 am and moored next to the P & O line Britannia.  We were cleared by 8 am.

Zuiderdam crewmembers working on the hull

 

We booked a 3-hour private taxi tour using Viator a couple of days ago.  Our driver, Tony, contacted us via WhatsApp, and said he would meet us at noon at the Cruise Terminal at the base of the pier.  Here is Tony’s contact information and website.

WhatsApp   +1 473 420 0318 –
Booking Link HERE

It’s a short walk from the ship to the terminal – leave time to take some pictures of the Grenada sign at the end of the pier.

Grenada is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence on Feb 7th 2024

Some of the major attractions in Grenada are waterfalls and rum factories but we weren’t interested in seeing those, so we asked Tony to drive us around and give us a feel of the non-touristy parts of St Georges and Grenada.

We drove for about 3 hours over 27 miles along the blue line on the left side of this map

Born in Grenada, Tony moved with his family to the UK when he was two years old.  He lived in the UK until he returned to Grenada after retiring from the British Army.  Tony’s nice van was parked nearby and we were soon on our way.

Traffic signals were relatively new and policeman helped keep traffic flowing since the lights were not timed for every situation.

 

URGENT FURY

After about 30 minutes of exploring the city of St. Georges, we headed out of town staying close to the coast as we continued south.  Along the way, we saw some of the locations that were involved in the 1983 US Invasion, “Urgent Fury.”

This monument was commissioned by Ronald Reagan and commemorated the 19 Americans who were killed during the Grenada Invasion on October 25, 1983. Kirani James was Grenada’s first and only Olympic medalist.  He has helped fund the Grenada Olympic committee that helps develop local athletes.

 

ST GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

Continuing on, we drove through St George’s University’s beautiful campus.  This university is primarily a medical and veterinary college.

Entrance to St George’s University St George’s Library

 

We continued our tour past the airport before heading back to St Georges City where Tony dropped us off at a Sails, a waterfront restaurant a short walk from the port.

Judy with our driver and guide, Tony

 

SAILS LUNCH SPOT

Sails is less than 1/2 mile from the ship After our lunch at “Sails,” we walked back to the ship along the yellow path, passing thru the market along the way Carib is a local beer brewed on Grenada

Judy ordered a burger while I got the Seafood boil.  All the food was great, but don’t come here if you are rushed for time.

Seafood Boil

 

HOUSE OF CHOCOLATE

On the way back to the ship, we headed up to the House of Chocolate, arriving a few minutes before they closed.  They have a small exhibit describing how chocolate is made.  We picked up a few chocolate bars before heading back to the ship.

This is the small display inside the House of Chocolate There are two ways back to the ship from Sails – you can walk up this hill, or thru a tunnel.  We walked up the hill since we wanted to stop by the market on the other side

 

The St Georges market is a few blocks from the ship.  We browsed through some of the stalls and picked up a small bag of cinnamon and nutmeg.

We bought some Nutmeg and Cinnamon here The view of the cruise terminal as we sailed away

 

WORLD STAGE

Flautist, Andrea Amat, from Valencia Spain was the featured entertainer.  She started with a medley of fast tempo tunes.  She performed Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies alongside a huge video of two of her images in accompaniment.

Andrea played alongside large images of herself

Edited January 28 by The-Inside-Cabin

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Enjoying as always your posts. Blessed to visit Grenada many times. Grande Anse is beautiful and we enjoy buying spices for cooking back home!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

CARIBBEAN ISLAND DREAMS AT THE LIDO POOL (POST #22) 21 JAN 2024

JANUARY 28, 2024

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“Island Dream” a Grand World Voyage activity, was announced in advance during our pre-cruise planning information

ISLAND DREAM

 This was the announcement in the Daily Program

 

The LIDO market was decorated in an island theme and had a special menu HERE

 

 

Island Dream Lido Decorations

 

 

We arrived around 5:30 pm, with the party in full swing.  They were selling Piña coladas in a pineapple or an engraved coconut shell.  The coconut shell drinks were already sold out when we arrived.

 

The special Piña coladas were selling for $15 Island Dream pool decorations Kim and George show off the $15 Coconut Piña colada Elaine and Jo with the Pineapple Piña colada. Find Jo’s “Writer on Deck” blog HERE   Kimberly made a few announcements to start the fun Tomas hosted some fun party games

 

THE FLY RIGHTS

The Fly Rights were dazzling for their second show

[The-Inside-Cabin]

WALKING THRU WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO (POST #23)

JANUARY 22, 2024

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We visit three markets, cross a floating bridge and see a fantasy garden

CURAÇAO ARRIVAL

View of Willemstad from our Verandah. You can see the “Welcome to Curaçao” at the lower left and the promenade leading to the commercial district with some touristy shops.

This was our first visit to Willemstad, and we planned to take a food tour, but nothing was available for today.  We decided, instead, to visit one of the local food stalls in the Old Market and then walk about 1.5 miles back to the ship.

The ship arrived around 8 am, and we relaxed in our cabin until noon when we headed ashore.  We always start our shore adventures at the furthest point from the ship and work our way back to the ship. This way, we will have less distance to cover as the day goes on in case things take longer than expected.

Local women in period costumes posed for pictures by the Welcome to Curaçao sign at the end of the Mega Wharf. This is our walking route recorded on my Garmin GPS as we walked back to the ship from the Old Market in Punda.  Part of the route shown was in the taxi from the ship.

 

TAXI TO THE OLD MARKET

Taxis were readily available at the end of the pier.  I downloaded an APP called CLICK CURAÇAO, which is similar to Uber.  I didn’t use it, but it helped me estimate what a taxi fare should cost.

Erwin was our taxi driver

The app quoted USD 28 for a taxi from the Cruise Pier to the Old Market in Punda, so when the driver quoted me $20, I accepted immediately.  Erwin was our driver and dropped us outside the Old Market (Plasa Bieu) in 15 minutes.  Most people eating here were locals, with a few tourists scattered around.

Entrance to the Old Market “Plasa Bieu”

Inside the old market were about 15 independently operated food stalls.  The menus were posted in front.  We randomly selected “Mom’s Kitchen”.

Inside the Old Market Mom’s Kitchen Mom’s Kitchen menu board

Our server, Shury, was all smiles and very friendly.  I asked her for the house specialty, and she recommended the beef stew, which arrived hot and steaming in about 10 minutes.  We were here about 40 minutes before finishing up and moving on.  There are clean restrooms available.

Shury was very friendly. Mom’s Kitchen Beef Stew Enjoying Mom’s Kitchen beef stew

 

VISIT THE NEW MARKET

A short walk away is a large round building called “The New Market.”  The New Market catered to tourists and had a variety of souvenirs and similar products.  They also sold a variety of household items for residents.  We spent about 15 minutes here before continuing.

The New Market Inside the New Market

 

FLOATING MARKET & COCONUT

The floating market is actually on the quay wall, but the vendors arrive on boats and set up, and I guess that’s where the name came from.  A wide variety of fresh produce is available in addition to clothing, souvenirs, and touristy items.

Some of the Floating Market Vendors The shops sold touristy stuff plus fresh produce I sampled this fresh coconut – opened on the spot.

After leaving the Floating Market, we headed to the center of Punda, the area across Queen Emmas Bridge from the ship.

PUNDA & THE FANTASY GARDEN

We were delayed about 15 minutes when a violent rain squall passed overhead. We were able to find shelter and stay dry.

There is an art walk in Punda, which would be a fun way to spend a few hours.  We didn’t discover the details until after we left, but you can find more information HERE when you plan your day.

“Barika Hel” (Bananaquit) by Omar Sling are local birds known for being cheerful and working together as a team FANTASY GARDEN – another sculpture on the Art Walk – or “Jardin de Fantasia.” Inspired by a love for Curacao nature, it was made by famous local artist Nena Sanches and sculptor Esteban Ferrales. Typical Punda street

In the center of Punda, there are a couple of touristy signs in Wilhelmina Park – one saying CURAÇAO and the other saying DUSHI (meaning sweet, nice, or good).

This “Dushi” sign is in Wilhelmina Park (That’s a statue of her on the left).  The building in the back that looks like a church is the Curaçao’s Attorney General’s Office Building

Nearby was the Parliament of Curaçao, which I thought may have been a library – but I soon learned otherwise.  There wasn’t much to see in the lobby, but the receptionist was very friendly.

Curaçao Parliament’s entrance Judy with a ChiChi doll sculpture.  On Curaçao, the older sister of the family used to be called ‘Chichi’.  The Curaçao Chichi® doll represents that older sister who is a strong, proud, voluptuous Caribbean woman.

 

CROSSING THE QUEEN EMMA BRIDGE

The Queen Emma Bridge, constructed in 1888, is a floating pontoon bridge that crosses St Anna Bay, connecting the Punda and Otrobanda districts of Willemstad.  The bridge is hinged and is opened using diesel engines, turning propellors mounted perpendicular, which lets it rotate parallel to shore in a few minutes.  Later in the afternoon, the bridge was opened to let the “Ambience” Cruise ship from Ambassador Cruise Lines, moored at Mathey Wharf, head out to sea.

Queen Emma Bridge The Governor’s Palace as seen from the Queen Emma Bridge

We crossed St Anna Bay and took an ice cream break at a Baskin Robbins just off Brión Square.

RENAISSANCE MALL AND RIF FORT

We browsed through a few of the touristy shops in the Renaissance mall.  There are also some high-end shops here as well.  A Starbucks is nearby.
There is a nice saltwater infinity pool for the exclusive use of the Renaissance Hotel guests (rooms about $400 a day).  We could take a peak using the stairs in the back of the “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” bar on the waterfront near the Zuiderdam.

You can see this saltwater pool on Google Maps, but not from the street.  It is part of the Renaissance Hotel Complex. Our final photo before heading back to the Zuiderdam

 

LITTLE MERMAID

There wasn’t a live show on the World Stage this evening, but they showed the movie – “The Little Mermaid.”

We have only scratched the surface of the many wonderful opportunities in Curaçao, and this would be a nice place to visit during a more extended land vacation.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Arriving in Manzanillo, Mexico.   This is our first  time here.   Any recommendations for a local restaurant?   We are here until 8:30 PM
 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Cruise rescheduled.    Everything after Sri Lanka gone.   Here is what we received.  
 

$500 OBC plus 15% FCC 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[REOVA]

Better safe ... but I'm sure many will miss Europe. Looks like the last segment of 2018 except the change of Ghana. (Which we didn't do). Time for safari bookings. 

[julia]

Pete: Quite the deviation from your planned itinerary, but not surprising at all.  How is the mood onboard regarding this and the compensation offered?  Upbeat? Complacent? Grumbly?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

5 hours ago, julia said:

Pete: Quite the deviation from your planned itinerary, but not surprising at all.  How is the mood onboard regarding this and the compensation offered?  Upbeat? Complacent? Grumbly?

Many are disappointed, but since this was not unexpected, most people seemed to be taking it in stride.  I will get a better feel tomorrow when we have our first sea day.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2024 WORLD CRUISE – RED SEA REVISION (POST #24)

After we returned from our day in Puerto Vallarta, we found our new cruise schedule had changed due to the troubles in the Red Sea.

Rumors have been rampant that our schedule would change due to the increased danger of commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea.

Today, we learned our new schedule.   Everything is the same through Sri Lanka – then we will head south around Africa.

Everyone on the entire cruise will get $500 of OBC and 15% of our base fare as a Future Cruise Credit (FCC)

HERE is a copy of the official letter from Holland America President Gus Antorcha

HERE is a PDF copy of the new itinerary

HERE is a PDF copy of the new activities

We are starting to review the ports and see what private excursion might be possible.   We are also considering planning Safari, but most lodges are already sold out.

 

Edited January 31 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT AND BURGERS! (POST #25)

JANUARY 31, 2024

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A long day transiting the Panama Canal ends with GIANT burgers served with cold beer by the Lido pool.

PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT

Panama Canal transits on a cruise ship start early, allowing for a full daylight transit.  As we waited our turn through the Gatun Locks, we could see numerous other ships at anchor waiting for their turn.  Ships may have to wait for several days or longer if they haven’t paid extra to reserve a specific transit date and time.  HERE is a website about waiting times for any Canal Nerds out there.

This data is from Nov 2023 Ships at anchor waiting for their turn to enter the canal

One interesting point is that the transit is north-south rather than east-west, and the Pacific Ocean exit is further east than the Atlantic Ocean entrance.

HERE is a website with plenty of details about canal transits on a cruise ship or a yacht!

Cruise and Travel Director Kimberly started her scenic commentary at 6:30 am.  The bow was opened via Deck 4.  Passengers were also allowed to access the forward observation platforms on Decks 5, 6, 7 (normally closed to guests ) and Deck 9.

Passing under the Atlantic Bridge on our way to the Gatun locks When the bow is open, we can get a good view of our World Cruise logo painted on Deck 6

Panama Canal Rolls were served in the Crow’s Nest and on the bow.  You can find the Panama Canal rolls recipe HERE.

The Panama Canal rolls were still warm when served in the Crow’s Nest The Carnival Pride follows us under the Atlantic Bridge

Unlike transiting the canal on a shorter cruise, none of the viewing spots were crowded, as most folks have been through the canal many times.

Waiting for the ships in front to clear before we enter our first lock

Nothing happens too quickly during transit, and everything gets repeated several times as we transit.  The ship gets raised three times from the Atlantic Ocean and lowered three times to get to the Pacific Ocean.

I always find this big arrow interesting as it directs us to the correct side of the canal.

I spent the day checking out our transit occasionally and watched several lock doors open and close.  I always find that fascinating.

Looking aft as the Carnival Pride enters, a lock behind us. A better view of the lock doors opening and closing is available looking aft from the Seaview Pool A view of our progress as seen on the Cruise Mapper website.  The Ruby Princess was using the new locks We spotted the Ruby Princess as she exited the Agua Clara Locks It’s always fun to wave at the folks watching from the Miraflores Visitors Center

 

BURGERS AND BEER

Once we cleared the canal, we enjoyed some Burgers and Beers by the pool.  Beer was 1/2 price, waiters took our burger order (other choices were available), and they were definitely big enough to share!

A special beer bar by the Lido pool The Grand World Voyage Orchestra entertained the crowd while they enjoyed their burgers

Now that’s a BURGER!

 

PREVIOUS DAY HIGHLIGHTS

A few highlights from the prior day before we entered the canal.

Guest Chef Maria Zamora demonstrated how to make Costa Rican Ceviche and Authentic Patacones 

Table 89 dined in the Pinnacle Grill and I enjoyed the Clothesline Bacon Chef Ricky and Pinnacle Grill Manager Tina stopped by to say hi during our meal

Edited February 1 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Btimmer]

Sorry to hear about the itinerary change.  We're booked on the second half of the '25 World Cruise and I expect we'll have a similar deviation.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

7 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Sorry to hear about the itinerary change.  We're booked on the second half of the '25 World Cruise and I expect we'll have a similar deviation.

I would like to think that the Red Sea would be back to normal by then

[Alphen]

Question regarding the Amazon/Brasil part of your cruise; was there any additional VAT present on board, while in Brazilian waters and if so, was it only on purchases in shops, or also on bar drinks, drinks in the MDR and drinks and surcharges in specialty restaurants?  

Edited February 2 by Alphen

[The-Inside-Cabin]

12 hours ago, Alphen said:

Question regarding the Amazon/Brasil part of your cruise; was there any additional VAT present on board, while in Brazilian waters and if so, was it only on purchases in shops, or also on bar drinks, drinks in the MDR and drinks and surcharges in specialty restaurants?  

No - nothing extra

[The-Inside-Cabin]

QUEPOS, COSTA RICA – IGUANAS, SAILFISH AND SODAS (POST #26)

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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We explore the Farmers Market and stop by a Soda for lunch

ARRIVING QUEPOS

Our anchorage location off the coast of Quepos

Puerto Limon, on the Atlantic, is a frequent stop for Holland America ships heading to the Panama Canal.  On the Pacific side, Quepos is a port Holland America is visiting for the first time.  The Zuiderdam is the biggest ship to call on this port.  This is a tender port with a short ride and a protected pier in a small harbor, which makes for stable and fast shoreside tender operations.

After anchoring, the ship was cleared around 7 am.  Open tendering started at 8:30.  We headed ashore around 11:30.  We planned to explore the small town on foot and find an interesting place for lunch.

We shared the tender pier with Windstar Cruises

Most of the Quepos excursions involve a visit or activity in the nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, from zip-lining to horseback riding.

WALKING TO TOWN

Here is a map of Quepos showing our route for the day Several Iguanas were munching on flowers near the sidewalk across from the Marina

There is a slight uphill walk to the central Marina area, where you will find a few shops and modern restaurants.  Getting to town requires hiking up 30 steps, but we discovered an elevator tucked away under the Runaway Grill.  Keep walking past the steps and turn right under the restaurant, and you will find the elevator.

Keep walking past these steps and turn right under the Runaway Grill to find the elevator Quepos is a major center for big-game fishing

There is a taxi stand as you leave the Marina area, but we didn’t see any taxis waiting.

It’s about 1/4 mile from the Marina to the edge of town.  The sidewalk is level with excellent views of the Pacific and the beaches.

Walking toward town, you will see several signs advertising upcoming fishing events. There were numerous statues like this along our walking route.  I never could figure out their purpose.

Once in town, we headed down one of the main streets filled with shops serving the needs of the residents.  There were only a few touristy shops selling souvenirs.  The bus station was busy, and we spotted a few foreign tourists buying tickets and waiting for their bus.

The bus station was busy

 

FARMERS MARKET

The farmers market comprises an open-air market and a nearby covered area.  About 1/2 of the market sells fresh produce to locals, with the other half selling jewelry, T-shirts, and other products aimed at tourists.

 

PURE VIDA SODA

Scattered throughout the city, you will find small restaurants with the word “Soda” on the sign.  Sodas are small eateries featuring Costa Rican cuisine, where you can find all sorts of traditional Costa Rican dishes.  These spots are less fancy and much more relaxed than regular restaurants.

We spotted some fellow passengers finishing their meal at the Pure Vida Soda, which they highly recommended.  Spanish-only menus were available, but Google Translate helped review the options.  I asked our waiter, Ricky Iglesias, for his recommendation, and he suggested the Seafood Rice Platter.  In addition to the Seafood Platter, we ordered a couple of empanadas and Diet Cokes.

Empendadas

Seafood Rice Plate

Ready to try the hot stuff

Excellent Food!

The bill came to USD 22, and they accepted credit cards.

CASINO

On the way back to the ship, we stopped by the Casino to check out the Texas Hold’em cash game they would be running later in the evening.  The casino was empty except for the staff.

WORLD STAGE

Chris Pendleton, comedienne and fiddle player, put on another excellent show this evening.

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here is the Entertainment Outlook for the next 2 Weeks

 

Formal Nights -

3 Feb - Great Gatsby Theme

14 Feb - Valentine's Day

 

Theme Nights

Glamp Out - 6 Feb 

 

Sunday Brunch 

4 February

 

Bar Hop

4 Feb

 

Block Party 

9 Feb

 

 

 

31 JAN Entertainment GUide.pdf

[ScottishMaid]

Hi,

Both you and Writer on Deck mention that the visit to Quepos was a first for Holland America. I'm not sure who on the ship is telling you that. We went to Quepos on the Maasdam on September 18, 2018 and took a tour to Manuel Antonio Park, as shown by our photos. We went to Golfito the previous day.

Thanks for your informative commentary.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, ScottishMaid said:

Hi,

Both you and Writer on Deck mention that the visit to Quepos was a first for Holland America. I'm not sure who on the ship is telling you that. We went to Quepos on the Maasdam on September 18, 2018 and took a tour to Manuel Antonio Park, as shown by our photos. We went to Golfito the previous day.

Thanks for your informative commentary.

The Captain told us.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT SEA (POST #27)

27 January 2024

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The Lido Pool was transformed into an Ice Cream Parlor and hosted a Banana Split eating contest

FLOWER CLASS

Judy attended her second flower arranging class in the Ocean Bar.

Judy displayed her second flower creation of the cruise with the onboard florist, Anton.  Long and Low was the theme of today’s class.

 

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

The Zuiderdam Singers started the Ice Cream Social by performing a few Barbershop quartet-style songs.

Ice cream was served from long tables across from the Dive Inn using two serving stations.  Sous Chef Tiffany served Cotton Candy nearby.

The servers were busy for the first 30 minutes – then the crowd tapered off. The Cotton Candy was delicious Special Ice Cream Social drinks were available The Captain stopped by to get some ice cream

 

BANANA SPLIT CONTEST

At the other end of the pool, Tomas announced that the Banana Split contest would start soon and invited anyone interested to take a seat.  They were prepared to have two full tables participate, but only enough people for one table decided to enter the contest.  At first, I wasn’t going to enter, but when they had an extra spot to fill the one table, I changed my mind and joined in.

Then Kimberly explained the rules – you couldn’t use your hands or utensils, so you had to bury your face in the bowl and make the best of it.

I didn’t think I could win, so I only made a halfhearted effort.  I didn’t see the winner’s technique, but he dove right in and finished the Banana Split in about one minute.  My only consolation was I managed to keep my shirt clean.  Two more Ice Cream socials are scheduled during the rest of the cruise.

The guest to my left was the winner!

After the contest!

We discussed our techniques afterward.

 

WORLD STAGE

Michelle Montiori was the featured entertainer and put on a fantastic show.

Toward the end of her show, she donned a life preserver as she sang Céline Dion’s big hit – “My Heart Will Go On,” while scenes from the movie Titanic were displayed on a big screen behind her.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Formal Night last evening with a Great Gatsby party in the Lido Pool from 8:30 to 10:30 and then moving to the Crows Nest at 10:30   

 

Great time 

 A few pictures - more later

Judy, Capt Frank and Alexandra

 

Chandelier over the pool

 

The Band

Winners of the Dance Contest

 

Jo "Writer on Deck" at The Junction

 

Pete with Cruise and Travel Director, Kimberly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Feb MDR.pdf

Edited February 4 by The-Inside-Cabin

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Ice cream social looked great. Now I am having ice cream!

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Ice cream social looked great. Now I am having ice cream!

 

Try eating a Banana Split in a minute without using your hands!

[The Other Tom]

Following

[The-Inside-Cabin]

MANZANILLO STREET TACOS (POST #28) 29 JAN 24

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We visit the World’s Capital of the Sailfish, walk along the 12 signs of the Zodiac and sample street Tacos on the street!

MANZANILLO ARRIVAL

Manzanillo is working to attract more cruise ships, and Holland America will probably stop here more often.  The ship moors at a long pier close to the center of the old town with a variety of restaurants and shops.

We arrived in Manzanillo around Noon with an all-aboard time of 8:30 pm.  Our plan for today was to explore the old town on foot and sample some local food.

We walked almost 4 miles on our loop through old town. The beach area is more touristy.

 

The Zuiderdam moored alongside a long, narrow pier

We left the ship around 1:30 pm.  Mexican agricultural inspectors, using dogs,  inspected our bags for contraband food as we left the pier.  Vendors selling souvenirs set up tables near the port exit.

Playing the xylophone as we exited the port security area

 

Taxi drivers offered city tours for about $20 an hour as we left the pier security area

A large Manzanillo city sign is just outside the port area.  These signs are becoming more common in many tourist ports around the world.

SAILFISH AND THE ZODIAC

Mexican sculptor Sebastián (born Enrique Carbajal González) created the large blue sailfish sculpture that dominates the downtown area.  He also made 12 smaller sculptures that represent each of the Zodiac signs along the harbor promenade.

 

Many of the twelve Zodiac sculptures as seen from the pier, with the large sailfish sculpture in the background. This sculpture was created by the artist Sebastian, marking Manzanillo as the “World’s Capital of the sailfish.” This is the Zodiac sculpture for Virgo, my sign

 

This was the sculpture for Judy’s Zodiac sign: Gemini

 

The Manzanillo sign is backward when we stood here, but I flipped the image in this selfie using Photoshop.

 

The streets were busy as we walked around town

Esquite, corn in a cup, is a common snack sold from food carts in Manzanillo.  Made from corn mixed with mayonnaise, cotija cheese or queso fresco, lime juice, and chili

STREET TACOS

We came across a taco stand near the main street.  We placed our order with a woman at a small table who gave us a small slip of paper that we handed to the cooks inside the truck. I ordered two tacos, one beef and one chicken, which were ready in a few minutes and delicious.

Place your street taco order here.  Each taco was 14 to 16 pesos, 80 to 90 cents, but sold them for 1 USD each if you didn’t have pesos

 

After we placed our order we got a ticket that we gave to the workers here. One pork and one chicken taco Colorful houses covered the hillside surrounding central Manzanillo

As we continued our walking loop, we walked through a local market just getting set up – or maybe reopening after a midday break.

Most of the vendors in the market sold fruits and vegetables.

 

We stopped here to replace Judy’s broken hairbrush.

BACK ON THE SHIP

Back on the ship, we decided to have dinner out on our verandah and ordered from the Main Dining Room menu.  Since we were at anchor, there wasn’t any wind; the weather was pleasant.

We enjoyed dinner on our Verandah with the lights of Manzanillo in the background