Puerto Vallarta

Day 5 found me doing my most anticipated excursion yet – snorkeling with sea lions! We headed via private speed boat on a 40 minute ride along the coast of Puerto Vallarta. Passing gorgeous hillside homes, private beaches and stunning rock formations springing from the ocean. We were headed to a place called Las Caletas, a place that I highly recommend you all go to. It is a private compound that once belonged to John Huston. And it is AMAZING! Sand and stone pathways cut their way through the lush landscape of tropical trees and flowers. Palm trees rise along the coast, tiki torches wait for sunset to light the many secluded areas. A series of open air huts house bars, a restaurant, a shop and colorful hammocks to laze the day away. Every path you walk along leads to a new discovery and every vantage point is more beautiful them the last.
During our adventure filled day we held monkeys and kayaked, but the highlight by far was our encounter with Mara, a 2 year old female sea lion. She weighs about 230 pounds and might just be the cutest thing I have ever seen. You just want to hug her as she stares at you with large brown eyes. As our cast suited up to go into the water, we headed via boat to the platform from which Mara and her trainer interact with the guests. There is a second sea lion out there, a 9 year old male who weighs almost 400 pounds and is much more intimidating them Mara is. He is hanging out on the platform with his trainer. This wood platform is quite slippery when wet and not very large for the cameraman, 2 trainer, 2 large sea mammals and me! Every time the large male moves I am convinced he is going to knock me into the ocean!
I stayed on the platform while Mara swam with our cast, did tricks and kissed them all! It was just terrific. And before we headed into shore, I myself took the opportunity to pet Mara and get a kiss from her! It was really really amazing!
Las Caletas is definitely a place I would return to, it was an incredible day. Now we have 2 more days at sea to get back to LA!

Mazatlan!

Well, when I left you last I was headed into the crew bar. It was only a glimpse for me as we only stayed about an hour. We got what we needed and headed out. It was a little strange to be in “their” space. I felt like an intruder. I mean, this is the one spot all these people have to get away from everyone and let their hair down and there we were filming it! I was feeling a little guilty, so we made it fast. But I can tell you this, it is a nice, with cheap drink, people from all over the world, a great DJ, lots of dancing and I am sure plenty happens there! So, while I didn’t get to experience the full crew bar madness, at least I can say I have been there!
The following day, it was off to Mazatlan. We drove about 40 minutes up into the mountains, through many poor areas, past dilapidated homes with clothes hanging everywhere, metal roofs falling off. It was sad to see, but not entirely unexpected. We had a great guide who pointed out any sights along the way, including the Pacifico Brewery. We arrived eventually to a lush beautiful ranch that is home to the Huana Noa Canopy Tour.
There were fields and fields of blue agave plants (which are used to make tequila), much like you would see corn in the Midwest. It was amazing because for a distance, it painted the fields a cold blue shade. It was an amazing sight. Outside the main building was a HUGE, intricate Banyan tree. It was just so stunning, with little lizards resting cozily within its many branches. All around us were the Sierra Madre Mountains, rising in the distance, silhouetted against the blazing sun. What a perfect day!
So, we got outfitted in our harnesses and helmets, had a safety briefing and then it was off to 10 zip lines in the woods! The longest one was 900 feet in length over a valley of cactus and dense foliage. It was gorgeous. Each line had something unique whether it was the view, the distance or the speed. The fastest one, called “the Bullet” was just so exhilarating. I went speeding down this line, absolutely flying fast, so fast that I was unable to break myself as I approached the landing platform and I thought I nearly knocked the guide off the platform with the force with which I pelted him as he tried to catch me!
Though I am afraid of heights, this didn’t scare me at all. Or so I thought as we approached line 9. The platform was built into a tree about 50 feet off the ground! You had to walk around the whole tree to get to the other side of the other zip on a metal platform measuring about 2 feet in width! I was so scared of it. I was trying to scurry around the tree, hugging in as close to it as I could. I felt like such a baby, but I couldn’t even look down. Once I was hooked into the next zip and ready for takeoff, I thought the worst was behind me…..and I was wrong again!
I must interrupt this story. I am sitting at the pool bar on a beautiful night typing this. Picture it, the pool deck is very very quiet and empty as it is the dinner hour, and I am enjoying some quiet time and a warm Mexican breeze (and a Gin and soda) just feeling lucky to be alive. Suddenly, these 7 children just arrived screaming (and I mean literally screaming) for Shirley Temples. They must be about 11 years old and they are sooooo obnoxious. Where are these kids’ parents I wonder? And where do they get off being this annoying at such a young age? Ok, they just left and I think I am now deaf. Really???

Anyway, back to the final portion of the zipline. We go down the final line and all of us are gathered on the platform, again bolted into the side of a tree, and looking around. We know this is the final run but there doesn’t seem to be anywhere to go from here. The guide says he is going to show us how to get down. He is standing next to me on the platform and then he jumps and is gone. I am not exaggerating. He is just gone. It is a 30 foot drop to the ground and he has apparently jumped onto a separate rope and slide down. He then yells up that this is how we are expected to get down! For the first time, my heart starts pounding. I begin feeling faint. I can’t look down, much less jump off this platform into the sandy abyss below. I am having a hard time breathing. I am not practically sitting in the tree, willing it to hold me there until a helicopter comes and picks me up, of at least the fire company come with a ladder and a strong man to get me down.
So, the cameraman goes down first, he seems nervous, but makes it look easy. Then our teenager goes. She squeals quite a bit on the way down which does nothing to bolster my confidence. Then the mom goes. She and I exchange notes on the level of pure fear we feel before she drops out of sight. It is now my turn. I get harnessed in and told to walk to the edge of the platform. I am TERRIFIED. Literally, tears are starting to gather in the corners of my eyes. Our second cameraman is filming me for his own entertainment. I am shaking, feel nauseous, am on the verge of breaking into tears and I am silently trying to figure out how to push the tiny little guide that is asking me to walk to the edge off the platform so that I won’t have to do it. I slowly move to the edge, with tears overwhelming my eyesight. She tells me to “just sit” down in my harness and gently move off the platform. What?????? I slowly, very very s-l-o-w-l-y sit and let all my weight become the responsibility of guide one on the ground with a rope that will theoretically lower me to safety. It is at this moment that every thought I have ever had about my high register in the scale occurs to me: what if I am too heavy for him to hold me, what if I break the rope, what I go crashing down on top of him, what if I disturb the entire rotation of the earth with the enormous thud my gigantic body is sure to make on impact with the hard earth? All absurd thoughts I know, but I can’t control them.

I now sit in my harness, hovering like some bee over a flower, 30 feet above the ground yelling “get me down get me down get me down”. He holds me there for a bit because my terror is amusing to him. Finally, after what seems like hours, he starts to lower me and suddenly, it is fun! I am just dropping to the ground, weightless and flying. So fun! I landed and almost wanted to do it again, almost! Overall, what a great excursion!

Before returning to our floating home, we stopped for some food and shopping. I got some great trinkets and a gorgeous present for my beautiful niece! We then went to an ocean side restaurant to watch the sun set over the outlying islands while eating the BEST fajitas I have ever had, washed down with cold Coronas! Seriously, this is my job?

Cabo San Lucas

Today we went speed sailing in Cabo San Lucas. We were on a boat that won the America’s Cup for New Zealand. It is a small, narrow boat that was all function and no comfort. It didn’t have chairs, seat, areas to lounge or even a bathroom! It was hard core. The entire time the guests (us) were put to work. We literally have to be the crew of the boat. They of course had a crew, but 8 additional people were needed to “grind”. Grinding is a continuous turning of a lever to hoist the sails. It is hard work! The levers move so quickly and you are so concentrated, it is exhausting! The boat rolls for the side to side so often you lose your sense of balance and placement. You know how you see those racing boats on TV, and they are at like a 45 degree angle to the water? Yea, like that! From side to side. By the time you would get your footing as you were on the top side, staring down directly into the deep blue ocean, some commands would be shouted out, everyone would do their piece and then you would be at the bottom of the 45 degree angle, looking at a number of people staring down at you with terror in their eyes! While the bottom was a less stressful place to be, you were only inches from the water and felt that at any minute you would be jerking off the boat and into the water. And if you were lucky, you would be met by some of the whales that were out there instead of something else!
The crew of the boat was from all over the world, all of them avid America’s Cup followers and hopeful contenders. Real racers! And this excursion was no joke; our boat was racing another boat thwe whowl time. Really racing them. The crew worked so hard it was amazing to think that this was their job and they enjoyed it! I was exhausted watching them as they hauled rope, yelled commands and did all sorts of pother things that I don’t remember the name of!!!
Finally after what seemed like forever, they stop the racing (we won 2 out of 2 thank you very, much!) and start passing out the beer – Pacifico of course! Finally, a beer for St Pat’s day! And what a day it was – high 80-s, not a cloud in the sky, hot, hot sunshine and a great ocean breeze! You couldn’t ask for a better day in the office! I managed to get a little burned on my back, but it is all part of the gig! J
Before the sailing expedition I went out and explored Cabo a bit. It is so not what O expected. It is very much like a desert – not a lot of vegetation at all and very dry and barren. It reminded me of the interior of Aruba. The building industry seems to be in full swing with new construction on every hill top. Oh yea, and it was very hilly. Mountainous almost. Large mounds of sand and dirt with cactus and well, rocks really. And then there is “Lands End” which is the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula. The island juts out into the sea as large rock mountains with sheer cliff faces of white sand stone. There is a stunning white sand beach set in a cove with crystal almost green waters lapping its shores. I have no idea how one would get there but it was breathtaking. As your eyes continue down the mountains the sea cuts through them creating individual islands springing forth from the sea like the tops of icebergs. Towering rocks rising straight into the sky, each one smaller than the one before. Eventually the last one poke out the water, like the tip of a small child’s birthday hat, darker in color then the others, not having been pounded into white washed submission yet. You would barely notice it against the splendor of the larger formations, if you didn’t know it was there. This is lands end. The end of the west coast. Pretty cool.
I write this as I am waiting to go where few civilians have gone before – the CREW BAR!!!!! To those of you unfamiliar with the cruise industry – this is the hidden secret of all secrets, the place where the crew get to let their hair down, get drunk (on rumored 1.25 beers, which beats the 6 beers up top), be themselves, and presumably, all hook up together. We are shooting it for the show tonight of all nights bcs they are having their St Pats Party and the drinks are free! (Again reference the aforementioned 6 beers up top) This is big news. Since I took this position I have been angling to get to the crew bar and come hell or high water, it is so against the rules for a civilian to see what goes on under the main decks that I have been told repeatedly that I would never get in. Well HA! Tonight is my night! I am guessing by my level of anticipation and excitement that it will be a letdown. Much like every first date I have ever had. And many second and third and 3 year days, but I digress. This is the stuff legends are written about, fables are born of and memories are created by. Ahhhh the crew bar. Bring it!
And tomorrow, after my night of revelation amoungst the crew, I go ziplining in Mazatlan. The course is supposed to be amazing and really I can’t wait to see my camera men trying to film while zipping across the Mexican rainforests at 60 miles an hour and some hundreds of feet above the trees! Should be an interesting day! I will report back tomorrow night! Happy St Pats!

I promise to get some pics posted soon!!

Mexico!

Hi everyone! Well, I write to you from the English pub on the Mariner of the Seas. It is day of trip from LA to the Mexican Riviera.

I left Philly on Saturday feeling a little sad that I would not be in town for St Pats. It is by far my favorite week of the year and I was bummed to see my family getting dressed for the Springfield parade as I for the airport. I hear everyone had a great time at the Springfield and Philly parades!

I spent an uneventful and sleepy night in Long Beach CA before boarding the ship. It is your standard gigantic cruise ship to be enjoyed with 4000 of your closest friends! There are many young people on this trip - a lot more then usual. This is of course bcs it is Spring Break. Ah drunk college kids! Nothing better! As if my olf fat ass wasn't self conscience enough, I have to look at a bunch of 18 year old twigs in bikinis all day!

Shot all day on Day 1 and today. However, today I actually had a VERY rare 2 hours off during daylight hours and I spent 2 glorious hours lying in the sun, listening to my ipod, tuning out the world and watching the coast of Mexico go by! It was sooo nice!

I must head off to the Captains Reception now. Tomorrow it is speed sailing in Cabo San Lucas! I will write more then and post some pics! Hope you are all well!