This first photo is from the second formal night on Friday at nearly the end of our trip. It was deleted the first time I went through, so I added it and decided to leave it right here at the very beginning. More on that later...You have been waiting so patiently! Here you go! Our trip in picture form!
First of all, the process of getting from Wisconsin to California.
This is Glen bringing in ALL of our luggage into the hotel in one trip from the car! We stayed in Minneapolis the night before our flight so we wouldn't have to leave our house before daybreak to make our flight.
This is all of us waiting for our flight the next morning. My Mom made the lion pillow around Aidan's neck.
We were seated in two rows together. This was the first flight for all of us as a family. Chelsea, Lane and Aidan have flown before, but they were too young to remember...Chelsea did fly to N.Y. with Glen for her 16th birthday...I'm pretty sure she remembers that one!
Chelsea, Gabi and Glen were in front of me and the boys. Yes, my Mom made the purple and green monkey pillow for Gabi! Chelsea has a purple cat. Lane has a gray dog, but don't tell anyone! It would challenge his manliness!
Ginger ale and pretzels. The perfect snack for a flight!
Leaving the snow behind!
The kids in Temecula, CA where my brother and his family lives. This was a look out high above the valley with a wonderful view, and a death-defying drive to get there!
Lowell, Abbey, Max, Jake and Libby in front of their home in Temecula. It was so fun to visit them, even though it was very short.
We were there long enough to go to the farmer's market. Fresh strawberries in February just isn't fair! The flowers there were gorgeous! I loved this artichoke! So amazed by spring in the middle of my winter!
A view of the lake from the look-out.
After our visit with the Munzes, we drove down the other side of the death-defying hill into Orange County, and eventually to San Pedro where we checked into a lovely old hotel and met up with our friends, the Wildes. In the morning we opened the curtains of our hotel room and there she was...The Mariner of the Seas! Such a beautiful sight! We were getting VERY excited!
Through the check point, up the gang plank with a pause in front of the Royal Caribbean logo on the ship...only a few steps to go!
We boarded the ship and explored things immediately. This is the formal dining room and our table in it for the week. The food was ridiculously wonderful each night! Choices of appetizers, entrees, and of course, deserts! It was too hard to limit myself to one of each. To say I over-ate would be an understatement of EPIC proportions!
Micah, Lane and Aidan at the climbing wall on the 13th deck of the ship. This was one of their favorite places. Lane climbed once. I am glad I wasn't there when he did, and equally thankful that his wrist does not seem any worse for the experience!
After cruising all day Monday we had our first of two formal nights. This is the Wildes family. Paul and Heidi and their kids, Lydia and Micah. All cleaned up and somewhere to go!! These were taken on the helicopter pad at the front of the ship on deck #4. The row of square windows at the top is the Bridge where our captain was dutifully at work.
The Mills family all spiffy! It was fun to dress up! Even the boys seemed to enjoy it!
Glen and Paul crack me up!!
We made a large group, just the two families. We had a great time together!
Our first port was Cabo San Lucas. The weather was perfect! The color of the water breathtaking. Like something out of a movie. I was pinching myself all day! This is the arch at the very point of the peninsula. The Pacific Ocean is on the other side, we were in the bay side just off of Lover's Beach.
Looking down through the glass-bottomed boat at all the fish.
The seals sunning themselves.
Me sunning myself. The Pacific in the background. We watched a school of sting-rays play in the waves just off the rocks behind me. The Starbucks cup was a surprise that Mr. Paul had up his sleeve. He brought a bag of ice off the ship and purchased Tequila in Cabo and whipped up some beach margaritas for us when we got there. The kids snorkeled. It was a gorgeous afternoon.
On the tender, heading back to the ship in the bay. I couldn't believe we were riding on that ship! It is huge and beautiful! (How many times do you think I can use the word beautiful in this post?)
We sailed up to and around the Mariner to get to the door on the other side.
This is a great perspective of her. She is even lovely from the rear!
Once we were on board Glen and I went to the 12th deck to watch as we pulled out of the harbor. What a view! It was like being in a plane!
One of our many, many attempts at a self portrait while in the wind and setting sun on deck.
That night we experienced a strong wind, and I experienced sea-sickness! Whoa! After that I took a Dramamine each day and did not "toss my cookies" anymore! Smile!This was a toast to Heidi and me for our birthdays. We shared a bottle of wine that night.
The kids had "special" drinks to celebrate as well. Aidan is always happy to have a "special" drink!
Hmmmmm. Slightly out of order again. These pictures are from Mazatlan during the day before the toast and the yummy drinks. Please use your imagination to put them in the correct order!
Mazatlan
Shopping in Mazatlan.
One of the towel creatures that we found in our stateroom after dinner.
The lobster dinner on Friday night. Glen amazed us all by having two lobsters and an order of prime rib for dinner!
A "Sound of Music" statue on the landing of the staircase in the dining room.
The view of the three-story dining room from the statue. We dined on the first floor each evening. If you look closely, you can see the white jacket of the Captain Per Kristoferson at the table in the center of the room.
This is Raj from India. He was our waiter all week. He did a fantastic job of making each of us feel like royalty. I miss feeling like royalty!
A view of the kids' stateroom from one of the bunks. Our rooms were connected.
From the opposite direction.
A view of the Grand Promenade that ran down the center of the ship. Some staterooms had windows looking out into the promenade. The blue circle is a large piece of glass art. The Promenade was closed at the top, and actually the pools and hot tubs are directly over-head.
Glen and Paul...each with three desserts! (Paul looks smugly satisfied!)
Glen and Paul meeting Captain Per.
That is the last picture of the cruise. There were so many moments that didn't get photographed, and so many pictures that I didn't put in. You may have noticed that an entire port was missing. We experienced some illness during our trip. On Thursday we were in Puerta Vallarta. However, Gabi had been up sick the night before, so I stayed in the stateroom with her. Glen and the kids had a great time in port and went to a Wal Mart! Something familiar felt nice! There were shows every night. Eating and more eating every day. There were shops along the Promenade, laying out beside the pools on the deck. Cocktails in the beautiful lounges. Talking and walking and lots of laughing. We had a marvelous time!When we reached L.A. on Sunday morning we went to Hollywood. Can you see the sign on the hill behind Gabi?
A portion of the street was barricaded off. Heidi asked what event was happening? The answer...The Academy Awards! How cool is that!?!? There is the large golden Oscar outside the Kodak Theater!
Glen with Jim Carrey's hand prints.
No trip to California is complete without a trip to In and Out Burger!
Somehow we managed to squeeze in another meeting with Lowell and Abbey at the Santa Monica Pier. Truly a squeeze! We had fifteen minutes together before we had to race off to catch our flight home!
Then we were in the air and heading home. With the time changes, shuttles and drive time from Minneapolis to our house it was 3:00am by the time we reached our house. We went straight to bed and woke up at 11:00am! I had a fever on the flight, so Monday was a wash for me. Glen organized the children into a work force and they whipped the house and laundry into shape. My parents stopped by late in the evening to have Birthday cake for my Dad's 70th birthday. They were on their way to Texas and California by way of Madison and Chicago...don't ask!
So there you have it. Our trip in a nutshell. Over the next few days I will try to put a few more pictures and some stories. It was WONDERFUL! I would definitely do it again! I hope to soon! I've only been home for two days and I sorely miss being waited on at dinner and having someone clean up my room whenever I am out of it! Happy, happy memories!
