Puerto Vallerta

Puerto Vallerta was my favorite city we stopped in. Most of our group went on the zip line tour, so the rest of us which was Me, Al, Lexi, Chad, and Al 4 took a bus to the beach.
It was so hot and humid it made sitting on the beach miserable. I wandered off for a bit to see if I could find a pool.I stumbled across the Grand Velas and couldn't resist swimming around in their 3 tiered infiniti pool.

It was amazing to say the least. Al came looking for me shortly after and found me in the pool...lol He knew it was a good idea so he joined me along with the rest of the group.
How amazing is this pool? Al, Lexi, and I were starving, but we couldn't eat at Grand Velas because it was all inclusive, so we decided to go walk around and find food. Al 4 and Chad stayed back and got kicked out....lol It was great while it lasted. I want to go back and stay there.
We all ended up eating at a little taco stand down the street from Grand Velas. I stared at it in the distance and secretly wished I was staying there and not in a4X4 room on a cruise ship.
After our beach/resort escapade we went back to the cruise ship to meet Coby and Shelly. We stopped at the mall across the street from the cruise ship and conveniently next to Wal Mart.
There was this random pool with huge clear balls you pay to put your kids in so they can float around in the water moving the ball like a hamster wheel. I was dying to see someone do it, but I think we were the only people there.
While we waited and waited and waited for Coby and Shelly, Al 4 took a nap and fell asleep just like this.
After we met up with Coby and Shelly we went to downtown Puerto Vallerta to have dinner. I loved all the cobblestone roads.Senor Frogs, Senor Frogs, Senor Frogs on every block of Mexico.
Al and I were laughing at the curbs because they are just like the ones by our house. Try parallel parking by these everyday. Getting out of the car is tricky.


Along the beach were the most amazing sand castles/art I've ever seen.Little Mermaid and King Triton
This one was crazy. How do you even make 10 people out of sand? Our final conclusion was that it was the last supper?

Art vendors
We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant with this fabulous view.
This was a random statue below the restaurant we ate at.
This guy was impressive. He stacks these rocks and people tip him.
Way random, but hey if he makes money off stacking rocks at the beach than all power to him.
A really cool cathedral. This is one of the most amazing street performers I've ever seen. He was covered in sand and didn't move an inch. It was unreal.
I seriously couldn't believe he was real. All of us in Puerto Vallerta
My favorite street I found. It reminded me of Italy.
Al and I watched the sunset on the beach. It was so beautiful.

Read at your own will......Master Baiter's, we won't jerk you around.
They sold these potato chips everywhere and then they put hot sauce and limon on them. A great little snack.I was trying to capture the sky in the next picture, but it was even prettier than this.
Before we went back to the cruise ship we found the best tacos ever. I'm sure nothing was FDA approved, but it was delicous and good news we didn't get sick.
I loved Puerto Vallerta and would like to go back someday and stay at Grand Velas.

Mazatlan Next!!

Cruisin 2010

Hi my name is Whitney and I'm addicted to taking pictures. We just returned from our Mexican Rivera cruise for Al's grandparents 50th Anniversary and I have a LOT of pictures. Good news, this year swine flu didn't ruin our cruise and we actually got to go to Mexico. We were on the Carnival Splendor Ship and it was amazing. This was my second cruise on Carnival and I liked it a lot more than Princess. However everyone has their own opinion because I have heard otherwise.
The Lido deck and my favorite layout spot.
One of the many spa rooms I loved spending time in.
It wasn't very warm the first day at sea until the sun came out that afternoon. Everyone was so relaxed laying in the sun.
Al was the black jack teacher on the cruise and coby was one of his students. Below....Al and Coby enjoying one of their many sodas with their over priced soda card. Al and I playing mini golf which is a lot harder on a cruise ship because the ball starts moving when the ship rocks. Al got lucky and got a hole in one because of it.
Lexi in the piano bar
Dinners were always entertaining with 35 of us. This is my favorite picture of Al 4. My Al was telling him how it was an hour earlier in Puerto Vallerta, but we still had to be on ship time. He was so concerned...hahahah. Me, Al, Brian, and Patty. Chad and Lexi and Chad blowing out his birthday candles. Happy 30th Birthday Chad!!

Shows on cruise ships seem to be the same every night. I don't really understand how they can compare them to Vegas shows?
Al #4 singing Kareoke. Huey Lewis And The News
Prepare to be entertained. Best Kareoke ever!!

and then comes the dancing. Sorry it's sideways.

One day Lexi and I were judges for the mens hairy chest contest. It was so funny and the guy that won was so hairy. He totally deserved to win!!

Every guy had to come up to each of us and show us his chest and dance. I had no idea what I got myself into.

The next picture of Lexi is so awesome. That guy had the longest hairiest eyebrows and chest. Don't worry we totally washed our hands afterwards.

Lexi and I with our sweet Carnival medals for being the best judges ever!!
Lexi going down the waterslide.

Al, Coby, and Jon playing in a Basketball Tournament.

They won!!

Al #4 dancing with our waitress during on of their performances.

More family pictures
One night during dinner this girl was standing outside the window taking pictures of herself in the wind. It went on for at least ten minutes and I thought I was going to lose it. It was so ridiculous.The only good show on the ship was with this comedian that looks exactly like Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons.
I took full advantage of all the picture opps on this cruise. I had a great idea one night to make a pyramid. Too bad it was the night all of the girls were wearing dresses.
This next picture is so funny. I had tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard. He was making us do the lamest poses, but that's why we did it....hahah. The girl after us had to lay down on the pillows with her hair spread ever around her face.Our last formal night we decided to give the pyramid one more try and get someone on the top to make it a real pyramid. Of course we were wearing dresses again. The most entertaining part was when we all fell on top of each other at the end. As you can see I'm not the best at Pyramids.

Another way corny picture was our pretend prom picture next to the fake dusty silk flowers. Oh man I can't believe people actually buy these.

and get ready for the best cruise picture you have EVER seen. I'm all about creativity and this one totally wins. When we got back from Puerto Vallerta Al and I went hot tubbing. Afterwards we got hot chocolate and were walking through the ship. I had the best idea ever to take a picture in my robe. Hey why not? Some lady walked by and was like oh my gosh that's the best idea!!

One of our last nights on the ship we all ended up in the Kareoke room. Deaven sang Journey and was amazing.

and Al sang Honky Tonk Badonk

I can't forget the towell animals. Cruise life was so exciting they were the highlight of my day.
One last beautiful sunset at sea.
It was so much fun to spend time with the Cameron family even though 2 kids, one spouse, and 3 grandkids were missing. It was also a blast to spend time with everyone else. Happy Anniversary Jacque & Lee. Thank you for letting us celebrate with you!!
Puerto Vallerta, Mazatlan, and Cabo pictures are coming soon.