May 19, 2025

ACALPULCO, MEXICO - My Birthday 5/10/2025

I awoke early on my 64th Birthday, since my brother Michael had no sense of what time zone I am in, compared to him, on the East Coast! Then at breakfast my buddy and Beatles Fan, Bob Meyer, sang me When I Am 64 and promptly fed me on the iconic line - "will you still feed me, when I'm 64! ( I love how he opened his mouth out of habit, like you do when you start feeding toddlers, and want them to open wide and take a bite!) The day only got better from here!

I wanted a low key Birthday with just some of my close friends on the Ship. So I booked a tour for 8 of us ( L to R: Bosco, Memo, Sherrie, Sarah, Bob, Bonnie & Steve) to see some of the highlights of Acapulco and see the iconic cliff divers and finish with some local drinks and food. Mother's Day was celebrated the same day in Mexico (Saturday in lieu of Sunday) and so many places were booked out for weeks prior. Our guides picked us up at the port and drove us through a variety of neighborhoods so we could see first hand the working class neighborhoods in town and their schools, marketplaces and places of business.

Then we head to the southern end of Acapulco Bay, a wealthier section of town, up in the hills overlooking the harbor. The Five star resort Hotel Las Brisas is here, where every villa has an individual pool from their bedroom to their outside patio. Below is the Chapel of Peace  which opened in 1970, to memorialize 2 brothers who died in a plane crash. It has wonderful seaside views and the massive white crucifix is visible from almost anywhere in the city. Also glimpsed the unusual Arango House up in the hills.

Next we were back to the area just north of the Port,and the home of the famed dead defying LA QUEBRADA HIGH CLIFF DIVERS.

Below is video of tour put together by our guide Rudy.

The Tour finished with a stop at the Diego Rivera mural made from Venetian mosaic tile, at the home of Dolores Olmedo, philanthropist and art collector.

We had a late lunch of margaritas, enchiladas and fajitas at the central square, across from the Port. The same group all joined me later for dinner on the Ship - it was a FUN day!!

By Pat Patrick March 24, 2026
Today was such a special day, because I got to spend it with a great family I have come to adore! Stacy the ship's spa manager and I became good friends, from our first meeting! We have had so many laughs and long chats over my numerous appointments, I love my spa time! I've been lucky enough to meet her sweet sister Sharon and her boys Dylan and Ryan , when they visited the ship last November and today I got to meet Linley , Sharon's hubby and their Dad, Roland , who is visiting from Mauritius . We got together at their home in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne, for a special feast to celebrate Linley's Birthday and this mini family reunion, since we were in Melbourne.
By Pat Patrick March 23, 2026
Melbourne is great, I'm so glad we got more time here. Bosco planned a fun night of exploring for us! We took the tram into the CBD, and got off at the Yarra River Promenade , just as the sun was setting.
By Pat Patrick March 19, 2026
Happy St. Patty's Day All!