I’m a big believer in the magic of travel. As my husband lovingly likes to remind me when I begin itching to plan our next adventure into the world, “you got that travel bug from your dad.” And it’s so true. I love travel and how it gets you out of your comfort zone, surrounding you with new faces, perspectives, experiences. It truly is impossible to travel and return the same person – and that’s a priceless gift. The magic of family, Christmas, and travel. Too good to be true. This year I got to spend Christmas with those I love most. I got to spend Christmas admiring lights on a palm tree. I got to spend Christmas in a sundress. I got to spend Christmas on a Mexican cruise! Truly, does life get better than this?
It’s a frequently discussed paradox that money spent on experiences rather than material objects manifests significantly more happiness. Our family knows this to be true; Justin and I were spoiled rotten with experiences of travel growing up – through travel, we were exposed to the greater reality of the world, and these experiences expanded the horizons of our young minds. Our family is are also very blessed to both enjoy each others company and have all of the material items we need. So! This year, rather than exchanging gifts for Christmas we decided to spend the money on an experience together instead. Best. Idea. Ever.
Our time on the ship was wonderful. Full of comedy shows, steam rooms, and showwwwtime dinners where Cameron tried frog legs, snails, and alligator among other things. We spent time at the midnight buffet, blackjack tables, laying in the sunshine, and most importantly we spent time together. Off the ship was even better as we explored charming Catalina Island – neat rows of palm trees line the streets that are adorned with darling shops, the vibrant blue and yellow paint peeling on the edges from the constant sea salt-fill breeze. Overgrown jade plants cover the ground while lemon, lime, and passionfruit trees fill the sky. Golf carts hum by you on the cobblestone streets (cars are for locals with work-related needs only) and you can’t help but be enveloped by the sense of tranquility that fills the air. We explored the Cubs Spring Training fields where they practiced from 1921 to 1951 and went parasailing where we glided among the clouds (highly recommended).
The next stop was Ensenada. Our crew boarded a bus and ventured an hour outside of town to kayak around a legendary and naturally occurring blowhole. Already a warm morning, the sunshine lent a special kind of magic to the excursion, and we were rewarded for the bumpy bus ride with a tremendous panoramic view of the countryside that rolls down until it bleeds into the ocean. Justin had his own kayak while Mom and Dad did a fantastic job coordinating paddle strokes on their first kayaking voyage. Cameron and I? We were seasoned professionals, having already been once before on our honeymoon in Hawaii, and had perfected the art of a couple’s kayak. I sit in front and take pictures while he paddles for us both in the back. I swear he says it’s easier if I don’t try to “help” and just look at that video footage I captured! Teamwork, baby. A few hours spent on the water, and we had worked up quite the appetite. Lucky for us, our darling kayak guide had a suggestion of an authentic Mexican taco stand close to where were kayaking. And these tacos. They were divine. I am nowhere near skilled enough to weave together words that would adequately describe how delicious these tacos were. Suffice it to say that the fried shark in the fish taco, paired with the extra homemade gauc, and contained in a tortilla that had been dough 30 second before came together for the best taco I’ve ever had in my life. And this is from someone who loves tacos so much we served them at our wedding! (You can see the tortillas being made in the video.) Our bellies full, we headed back into Ensenada to explore town and shop a bit. While we were rewarded with the standard Mexican blanket souvenir, it was also a sobering reminder of the levels of poverty that exist in the world and to be thankful for all we have.
After Ensenada we spent the next day and a half on the ship, enjoying some much-deserved R&R as the ship cruised back to Long Beach. As the sun rose fully over the ornate ship decor at breakfast the final morning, warming our faces, the journey came to an end. The rocking feeling of the boat, though? I got to enjoy that experience for an additional ten days…
Here are some photos of the trip, if you’d like to see.
