After our extra visit to Mexico we arrived on Tuesday 24th October for our scheduled visit to Cabo San Lucas
Our cruise through the Panama Canal started in Fort Lauderdale and would take us to Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and finally San Francisco and then onto Monterey.
Arriving at Cabo San Lucas
At 7 am I watched as the ship approached Cabo San Lucas. We were travelling very slowly and the ship’s tenders were already moved out ready to be deployed.
As I watched the sun rose up over the horizon and I had my first sunrise images.
The balcony again had cigarette smoke drifting across it as our neighbours above had a quick cigarette. After Coral Princess had dropped her anchor a Disney ship came up into the bay and also dropped her anchor.
Our tender to Cabo San Lucas
I chose to have the two specials for breakfast in the restaurant. These were Swiss muesli and a Mexican style omelette with all the trimmings. The embarkation off the ship was running very quickly as the ship’s tenders were being helped by small boats from Cabo.
Our boat to shore was one of these small boats. Before the dock we were counted out. Five of us were unable to go down into the seats of the boat as some of our fellow passengers had spread out or put their bags on the seats. No complaints from me as I had to stand in the open behind the crew and had great views all the way in to shore.
Cabo San Lucas
We had a bag check as we left the quay and then immediately we ran into our first locals trying to sell us trips. Trying to avoid all the barkers we walked through the gates signposted Downtown. Through there we found ourselves on a road lined with hotels and apartments. After walking along the road a little way we gave up and walked back through an arcade to the marina and the quayside.
This did mean that almost every few steps we were accosted to go on trips. It was very hot and humid as we walked towards the dolphin pool. We were not approached to visit this venue to swim with the dolphins, they were keeping a low profile.
We carried on walking all the way around the marina and went out into the downtown area by Diamonds International. After walking a few hundred yards we turned around and walked back to the marina as the empty shops and bars didn’t look very inviting. We went back all the way past where we had come ashore earlier.
The small public beach
The quay by the indoor market did not have any fishing boats docked as we passed. We turned past the market and were passing pickup trucks loaded with catches of fish. At the end of the street we turned left and we came to the walls of the Naval Base. As we passed the base a pickup truck was coming out loaded with soldiers. They were all armed with assault rifles and had their faces masked.
Once past the base we came to a public beach.
In front of us was a tower and behind that we could see the two cruise ships at anchor.
We sat on a ledge by a wall and chatted to passengers off our ship. They told us that the sea by the beach was hot enough to boil eggs. We sat in the shadow of the wall and watched boats coming and going into the marina or landing on the beach itself.
There was a sentry box at the end of the pier below the tower and we now had an armed sentry watching over the boats coming and going. On the top of the tower there was a large bird also watching over the beach. I have no idea what the species of the bird was.
We were getting hotter and hotter even in the shade and it was time to leave. I walked around the corner to see the rest of the beach before we left.
As we reached the road another pickup truck passed. This one was from the Federales and was again full of men with assault rifles all wearing balaclavas. The buildings opposite the Naval Base were in ruins.
Further along the road above us were more apartment buildings.
Time for a beer
We did go into the indoor market on the way back towards the marina. Inside it was 10 or more degrees warmer and even more humid. Once we had squeezed our way through the stalls and fellow tourists the quayside was a pleasant relief. Definitely time for a beer. Senor Frogs was playing music so loud that we carried on walking to the next restaurants.
We were seated in the raised shaded part of the restaurant overlooking the marina. Two of our fellow passengers from Australia came to share our table after spotting us as they walked past. They were originally from Scotland and had lead interesting lives. This ranged from running a B&B in the Hebrides to having an orchard in Perth. He was hungry and ordered french fries.
I had another beer as we all chatted and enjoyed the shade. Despite asking for separate bills, the waiter lumped it all together. To add insult to injury he hadn’t even added the bill up correctly. He became quite abusive when we tried to sort the bill out. This is one bar to avoid in Cabo San Lucas.
It did have an interesting quote though on a sign.
Wine is sure proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
Ben Franklin (and me)
After all the hassles we had had walking around this latest argument convinced us that it was time to go back to the ship after once last walk along the quay.
Back to the Coral Princess
We had a thankfully short queue to get on board one of the Cabo San Lucas provided tenders. The ship’s officers counted everyone onto the tender and just like our trip to the shore the local crew wanted more passengers on the boat. After a lot of negotiation, passengers in the forward cabin did slide along their bench seats so a third passenger could sit.
On our way back to the ship we had a last view at the public beach and the sentry there.
As this was a port day the only restaurant open on the ship was the Deck 14 food courts. This would be a first for us after our first day on board. The restaurant was very full but we did manage to find a couple of seats. I had ochra curry and rice and some fruit. We then went out by the pool and sat in the shade eating some of the delicious ice-cream.