Mexican Cruise with Lindsey's new In-Laws

Lindsey's new in-laws, Kelly and Nadine Coy, asked Julie and I to go on a Mexican Riviera cruise with them and some of their friends and family. It was a great time to get to know them better. We went out from Long Beach so we got to stop in and be with my mom for her birthday. (Yes, the cruise was November last year, 2008. Life has been busy.)

Had to try the soft serve ice cream as soon as we got on board.

Fun with the Gang.

Hand-and-Foot was one of the favorite passtimes.

Our first stop...Puerto Vallarta.

Zip-line through the jungle.

Julie is so brave.
Interacting with the statues along the promenade.

Our second port...Matzatlan. The day began with a van tour of the island.

The markets were tempting.

But we waited for a real lunch, complete with Mariachis.

The cliff divers were worth the wait (and the big tip)

Nothing says MEXICO like a bunch of souvenir shops.

Ah..."all-you-can-eat" becomes a reality

Our third port was Cabo San Lucas where we tried parasailing

Lunch at The Office

A quick ride back to the ship...

...and another sunset.

Our last day at sea started slow...

..but ended with a great night of Philipinos singing

Beatles, Led Zephlin and disco hits.

We danced 'til our feet were sore.

Venice - September 9th

The hotel we stayed at was right on one of the canels

but the courtyard...

would never lead you to believe it.

The streets were picturesque

and the shops interesting.

But Venice is all about the water.

(and tourists)

Take a picture of me! (must be Taiwanese)

The canels truely sustain daily life in Venice.

the bus stop

mail truck

police (giving out tickets)

taxi

delivery truck

supply truck

lumber truck

freeways

and traffic jambs.

Even to cross the "street"

you needed a boy scout with a gondola.

Like the rest of Italy...

beauty was everywhere

and artists...

tried to capture it.

Some art just seemed to happen.

We were lucky just to be there.

A most unforgettable trip...

for which we are extremely grateful.

Verona - City Sites

Verona was our favorite city.

Life seemed more simple...

and serene.

This bridge, originally built with white marble by the Romans,

was bombed out during World War II.

The people of Verona loved the bridge so much that

they salvaged as much of the original marble as they could

and rebuilt the bridge.

This entrance lead Romero past love notes...

to Juliette's balcony

(pure fiction! not to mention the balcony built in 1934)

Inside the castle doors.

And out the back door.

These Renaissance stairs originally lead to nowhere

so a "more modern" building was built around them.

The whale rib has supposedly hung in this arch for
thousands of years, which will fall only when someone
who has never lied walks under it.

Verona - Windows

Verona - Doors

Verona - beginning with the 1st Century

Whether by night

or by day,

these ancient gates

are stilll impressive

even if they are

2000 years old.

These gates are much prettier from the front...

...than from the back.

Not all roads lead to Rome

but this one leads to the Roman arena.

Built in the 1st century...

this arena is extremely well preserved.

It has been used as an opera theater since 1913,

but in the past has been used for entertainment such as

gladiator battles, medieval executions, jousts,

circus performances and dances.

Augustus, the emperor, commanded from this box

before crowds of up to 25,000 people.

Back to Florence - Sept. 7th

Julie and I hurried back from Pisa so we could enjoy

the evening in Florence.

We went across the Arno River to the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Everyone sits on the steps...

and enjoys the view of the hills and city as the sun goes down.

Back in the middle of town the lyrics of "Ave Maria"

drew us to the Piazza della Repubblica.

A girl accompanied by an accordian was singing off in a corner of the plaza.

We found a place to sit and listen to several more songs

and watch people in the plaza.