Last stop, Enjoy Ensenada.

It sure has taken me time to finish up this trip but here it goes!  After 5 days at sea we docked at Ensenada on Wednesday January 2, 2019!  We were there from 8-4:30.   I haven’t really loved this port but I will say it is improving and was cleaner and more updated than in past visits. We did our own thing here. The ship was offering excursions to La Bufafora which is a large marine geyser that can spout upwards to 100 ft!  We had been there before too.  There was a winery tour to Bodegas de Santo Tomas but we aren’t really wine connoisseurs so we skipped that. There was a Mexican Folkloric show which featured a lively mariachi band but we have experienced that also.  Two other wineries were also featured.  

They say the population of this town is about 414,000. The days was pleasant with a slight breeze blowing. We walked the  streets to get our steps in but didn’t buy a thing.  We didn’t want to have to pack one more thing in our suitcases.  I limit my souvenirs now to a pair of earrings or more cards, something useful and small!!  

The Main Street here for tourists is called Avenida Lopez Mateos.  The town was initially named San Mateo in 1542.   Sixty years later it was named Ensenada by the next conquerer.  Many Americans came here during prohibition to get their liquor.  Plush resorts and casinos were built to accommodate the lavish lifestyles.  Now they call this area the Cinderella of the Pacific. Olives and grapes are the main export here. There are three major research centers here which really surprised me : they focus on physics, earth sciences, education, telecommunications and oceanography.  From late December to early April whales pass through on their annual migration to and from the Baja region and her warm lagoons. 

Once we finished our exploring it was back to the ship. We finished packing and that night stayed  up for the final competition of the Voice of the Ocean.

Debarkation was a longer process than usual but we got it taken care of. We did our own picking up our suitcases on the pier. We called a Uber and got through security at the airport quickly.  

Tess picked us up at the airport in Phoenix.  All in all it was a great time.  Everything was good at our house except that the bushes and trees needed a good trimming. Slowly but surely we got everything done.  

Our next trip is in March when Tessie, Dan and I meet Krista and Zoey for a five night cruise in New Orleans!!  

Keep traveling and make a positive difference 

Seemed like a new sign to us 

This had water fountains and music. Many were enjoying this including us !

Seemed also like newer walkways with more building for the port areas. 

The river through town running to the ocean. We sure would like to see it free of the debris 

Downtown. 

Water flowing in and out with the tide

Another fountain close to the pier

Our ship at the pier