We are in Ensenada, Mexico twice a week. Every Tuesday and Friday. Ensenada is not the prettiest Mexican town I've ever been to, but it's not the worst. It's about 100km from the US border. A lot of Californians come here to buy cheap booze and prescription medicines.
In three months I have done very little in Ensenada. It's a port that hasn't interested me much, which is probably not very fair. I haven't really given it much of a chance. Usually I use Ensenada days to sleep in or do my laundry. When I do get off the ship I usually do the same thing every time...
1 - Find a coffee shop, not even a local coffee shop, I usually head straight for Starbucks and their free internet.
2 - Go for a pedicure. So far I've been for two. At $20.00 for an hour long pedicure it's cheap and I love the calf massage - almost sends me to sleep everytime. I do miss having a bloom pedicure. I must remember to book one when I get home.
3 - Get a massage. I'm not sure why but I'm finding this contract way more stressful than the 6 months I spent on Liberty. The tension I'm holding in my neck and shoulders is unbelievable. I want to go for a massage everyweek.
4 - Eat fish tacos. Ensenada is apparently famous for it's fish tacos. I've been told they are even better if they are eaten at a street stall. The street stall aspect doesn't worry me, I've eaten more than enough meals from street stands in Mexico. But I do like to sit and relax to eat my meal so I usually eat my tacos at this hole in the wall... $6.00 for a beer and 3 tacos. I'm happy with that.
5 - Eat Chinese. Yep I know, why eat Chinese in Mexico when there's lots of good Mexican food?Because it's close to the ship, cheap and has fast internet.
6 - Shop. I haven't really done all that much shopping here either. I have a lot of souvenirs from previous trips to Mexico. Silver jewelry, pottery, art work, a tea set, wooden boxes, little animals with bobbly heads, Kahlua, Tequila and quite a few other things. And really there's not much different here. One local shop lady tried getting me to go into her store by telling me..."come on in, we have cheap crap, like made in China only it's made in Mexico". Really? That's your selling tatic? Not very inviting. There are two stores I like to look in.
Bazar Casa Ramirez: I bought my little star shaped light here, and some gifts for friends at home.
Cafe, Cafe: Good coffee and iron animals. I bought a blue and green fish. As a gift. But I think I'm gonna keep him for myself. Barb, I think you'd like the geckos.
So that's it. 13 weeks, 26 days in Ensenada and that's all I've done. Maybe it's time to branch out and give Ensenada a chance. I'm half way through my contract, I have 13 weeks left. That's another 26 visits to Ensenada. Well 20, because I'll be port manning for 6 of those days. So what to do? Maybe kayaking, a visit to the winery, a day at the beach, a trip to La Bufadora (the blowhole)... we'll see...