We had our 35th wedding anniversary on September 02, 2011. We had planned a quiet day but our son had a different idea. He sent us packing on a cruise to Mexico . It was a four days cruise on a ship called PARADISE of Carnival shipping Company, based at Florida.
The ship had some 2600 guests like us on board . What was amazing was the news that 35% of its crew was of Indian origin and so Indian food was readily available. PARADISE had 14 decks. At the 14th deck was a Jogging track and a mini golf course. Deck 13 had other sports facilities and Deck 12
was the open view area with the exhaust tail of the ship.Deck -11 had spa and other health equipment in the dome area---besides, the same deck also had open view stand of the ocean and safety boats tied on the sides.
Deck 10 (Lido Deck----centre of attraction) was the open deck with swimming pool, Jacuzis, Slides, dancing floor and open restaurant called Paris. Deck was also called LIDO DECK. Deck 9 was for various restaurants, Discos and a Cassino. Deck 8 called EMPRESS Deck had restaurants, library, bars, theatre, conference room. Deck 4-8 were used for living quarters----We were on Deck -4 called Riveria---room No 248. The entry to ship through a Gangway on deck No 7----where an open bar and offices were located-----Here through a dome, Decks 1-3 were Engine room , boiler room, crew rooms and other internal needs of the ship. Decks 7-14 were connected by elevators. Besides there was an Arts gallery on Deck-7.
Food is available in plenty. It is catered for in the ticket and the variety includes everything. Fruits, puddings, icecreams, beverages available round the clock. No alchohol is allowed from outside. It is available on board on payment.One has to give a notice for Indian meals in advance.
I do not recommend to carry too many clothes. Only casual wears will do with one odd jacket for the evenings on the open Deck-10. No need for bath robes and bath Towels------they are provided. Cash is Not allowed----Your Room Key is your cash card also-----you will have to deposit an advance and clear in the end. There are many shops which one can visit----there will be some auctions, too, on the evening prior to debarkation.
Don't buy your photographs unless you like them very much----Photos are sold expensively. Plan your off-shore excursion before hand----there are many options as per your taste----we chose LA BUFADORA visit----where sea water shoots up to 50 feet high in the air, as a plume through a hole in the rock. The local market there in Ensenada is expensive.
The total cost of the trip for a couple cost approximately $ 1160/- US . It includes your ticket ( Some 550 USD each for ocean side cabin----Inside facing costs about 390 USD/head) , your daily tips for restaurant and room service( 10 USD per day per head) and off- shore excursion (29 US D per head). In all, it cost my son around 1500 US Dollars for two of us, for the three days cruise---this includes purchases made by us worth 350 dollars on the ship.
(Mini write up on Mexico and Ensenada at the end)
View of the PARADISE Ship from the boarding Gangway
Front View of the Ship----- PARADISE
On The GANGWAY Leading to Deck-7 on the Ship ( at my back)----Movin in to board the ship
Corridor of deck RIVERIA ---DECK No-4---our cabin is on the right extreme end --R-248. There are three such corridors on each Deck for residential living. Each of the residential deck ( Deck4-Deck 8) has some 600 cabins
Inside of R-248
Inside of R-248----clicking self from the bed by looking into mirror on the closed door
Writing Table---Phone for making tele calls---even international calls---I did not---very costly.
Bath towel designs---the room attendants make and display on the bed while you are away.
Bath towel designs---the room attendants make and display on the bed while you are away.
Lido Deck (No-10)---Paris restaurant in the dark area
Lido Deck---swimming pool with a slide and jacuzis
Parting view of LONG BEACH (LA) when we sailed away
Another parting view of LONG BEACH
Police patrol boat keeping a vigil on the ship when it sails away-----
On the slot machine on the CASINO on the ship
Another Casino View
Dancing going on with band in play----This was on September 02---we too joined the crowd---after all it was our 35th wedding anniversary! And why not?.
Sun -setting on sept 02, 2011---Enjoying evening refreshments before dinner
On Deck -11---you can see the exhaust tail of the ship at the back----beyond that is opening for LIDO deck.
This is the view from inside the dome on 7th deck----You see the elevators and various decks upto-Deck 12.
Bar on Deck -7---the entry and exit deck----Office for your administration exist here.
Art gallery on deck -9
Art Gallery on Deck-9
Ready to leave for an excursion to LA BUFADORA---some 45 KMs away. Trip organised by Carnival in AC Buses.It was on september 03, 2011
On The ENSENADA Port before La Bufadora excursion.
Another View of Ensenada in the evening before departure
View of Ensenada town on a hill-and Ensenada port----Yellow buildings
View of Bufadora town--mostly inhabited by retired US Citizens
Bufadora Ocean side near PLUME Site
La BUFADORA----Open Market
LA BUFADORA----Point from where sea water is thrown up every minute as a PLUME some 50 feet high in the air----there is a hole in the rock through which it comes
BUFADORA in spanish means the BAY SURROUNDED BY HILLS.
Back to the Ship for evening tea----Inside Paris restaurant---Food is in plenty---all on the house---catered for in your ticket-----quality and quantity is marvellous----all kinds of menus available in all restaurants----we were alloted ELATION restaurant for dinner on Deck-8. Indian meals available.
At tha American Bar---next to restaurant ELATION on Deck-8
In THE CONVENTION HALL on Deck-9
SERENITY Beach side on the ship---strictly for adults
Lido deck----On extreme Left Side on a Moving ship on Sept 02, 2011
ELATION RESTAURANT on Deck -8---Around 5 PM on September 04, 2011
Shopping arcade on Deck-8
Theatre No-2---waiting for a comdedy show to begin
Entry to Theatre -1 and also Elevators for various decks at deck No-8
Moving for a Comedy show
Inside of round the Clock functional, PARIS RESTAURANT, on the LIDO-DECK---Deck-10---Early morning---- 5 A.M . on September 05, 2011
Another view of Shops !
Swimming pool and Jacuzis----People are busy
Swimming pool on Sept 04, 2011
Jacuzi----They won't leave this place ---we kept waiting--
Deck No-14---early morning 6 AM on September 03---Mini golf course and Jogging track.
Deck 14---Enjoying myself---strong wind is blowing
Debarking from the ship on the morning of September 05, 2011
Our trip was to ENSENADA town of Baja (pronounced as Baha) California state of Mexico. It is the 13th largest country in the world and 5th largest in Americas. It is the 11th largest economy as per PPP. With 112 million as population it is 11th most populous nation. It has mostly Spanish speaking people with 31 states and one federal district, which is the Mexico city in the lake Texcoco. The name Mexico seems to have various theories on its origion-----One such theory says it derives itself from the secret name of the GOD of WAR of AZTEC Indians who had a flourishing empire before Spain Conquered the country in 1521. His secret name was Mexitli and he lived in the centre of lake Texcoco----Co means place in Nuhati language (Aztec language) Thus MXICO implied where the God of war lived. Other theory attributes it to moon. The texcoco lake island where federal district is located is the centre of rabbit shaped lakes----which is interpretted Mettzli) (moon) and xictli ( navel)---thus Mexico.
The earliest human remains in Mexico are chips of stone tools found near campfire remains in the Valley of Mexico and radiocarbon-dated to ca. 21,000 BCE. Around 9,000 years ago, ancient indigenous peoples domesticated corn and initiated an agricultural revolution, leading to the formation of many complex civilizations. Between 1,800 and 300 BCE, many matured into advanced pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations such as: the Olmec, Izapa, Teotihuacan, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec,Huastec, Purepecha, Totonac, Toltec and Aztec: Mexica, which flourished for nearly 4,000 years before the first contact with Europeans.
These civilizations are credited with many inventions and advancements in fields such as architecture (pyramid-temples), mathematics, astronomy, medicine and theology. The Aztecs were noted for practicing human sacrifice on a large scale. At its peak, Teotihuacan, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas, had a population of more than 150,000 people. Estimates of the population before the Spanish conquest range from 6 million to 25 million.]
At the time of Spanish contact, Teotihuacan was no longer occupied, although the site was well-known;the population of the Aztec Empire and its immediate predecessors had become centered on Lake Texcoco, also in the Valley of Mexico, where the island city of Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325.
In the early 16th century, from the landing of Hernán Cortés, the Aztec civilization was invaded and conquered by the Spaniards. Unintentionally introduced by Spanish conquerors, small pox ravaged Mesoamerica in the 1520s, killing millions of Aztecs, including the emperor, and was credited with the victory of Hernán Cortés over the Aztec empire. The territory became part of the Spanish Empire under the name of New Spain. Mexico City was systematically rebuilt by Cortés following the Fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Much of the identity, traditions and architecture of Mexico were created during the colonial
It might interest the reader to know that in Indian mythology what has been refered to as PATAL DESH was probably MEXICO. I believe if you dig a tunnel fom India (hypothetically) it will come out in Mexico. If you look at the Globe, you will know what I mean. The history of Mexican Indian is as old as 23000 BC. They were a far advanced civilisation. Mahabharta records that a powerful King of PATAL DESH, called BRISH BAHU, had come to fight on the side of a losing side in Mahabharta war but Lord Krishna outmanoeuvred him and took away his head as a BRAHMIN-DAKSHINA----well! that is the myth.
Ensenada town is a small town in BAJA CALIFORNIA, but no different from any Indian Town. It has a population of 4.35 lacs and survives on Tourism, agriculture and Fishing. Petrol here is very cheap ----Surprisingly the per capita income of an Urban Mexican is around 28000/- Mexican dollars( 5,5 Mexican dollar= i US dollar)----And ruaral per capita is around 8000 Mexican dollars. It shows the gap amongst rich and poor---No doubts the richest man in the world is a Mexican.
(All the information on Mexico collated from the inter Net--culled and organised by me.)
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