May 18, 2025

ACAPULCO, MEXICO

We got news in the morning that the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, their first female president who won with an 85% approval rating, was visiting ACALPULCO and that she was going to be in the Port and wanted to say Hi to us! The port agent originally thought it would be at 11 am, so we stuck around to see her. But when that time came and went, we decided to continue off the ship to the beach as the certainty was waning. She did show up closer to 12 and some fellow passengers caught her below in the van and on the bridge. The crowds yelled we love you and she yelled back I love you more! Acapulco needs the investment of cash and positive attention, the town has been beat up by hurricanes in 1997, 2003, 2004, 2023 and 2024 ( this one was very severe - it hit at night and didn't leave any glass window intake!). In addition the cartels presence until 2018 has also had its toll on the once grand city. Claudia also went by new Hospital and Health care center that is about to open very shortly.

Link to video w Mexican President

We walked to a local beach but it was so crowded, we ended up taking a taxi to another beach further around the bay. The water was breaking very roughly, due the high swells we expirenced when coming into Port.  But the cool breeze and shade was lovely to lounge in and pass the afternoon heat away! Bonnie Steve and I chatted away the afternoon and caught up on the last year of happenings.

ACAPULCO at night is much prettier!

ENTERING HONG KONG HARBOR

By Pat Patrick • September 1, 2026
On Saturday August 29, 2026 we achieved another historic milestone on this circumnavigation of the World , we cruised into Hong Kong Harbor. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The land encompassed by Hong Kong is confusing. It includes part of the southern coast of mainland China, just below Shenzhen, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories . Looking at a map helps, but the rules changed so many times! I asked my buddy Chat several times, to tell me if what I was looking at was the Hong Kong that the British had owned for years. The answer was never straight forward!

HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 31, 2026
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is one of those bucket list places I have had in my sights for years. It's the iconic picture in my mind's eye, whenever I think of Vietnam . We had made plans to go with 8 others on a brand new, swanky Red Dragon Junk boat for a harbor cruise and overnight stay, but sadly the weather did not cooperate the whole 4 days we were in port. No ships were permitted to sail, per the local government. Many of us were bummed! This is typhoon session and there was a lot of rain and high winds our first couple of days - we were hoping it would blow out the last day and we could at least do a day trip but no luck! 

HAI VAN PASS to HUE, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 30, 2026
To get to the final stop on our Vietnam FUN Tour in Hue, we had our driver take us on the scenic route called the Hai Van Pass. This 3 hour drive took us back through Da Nang and then into mountains and along coast for what is generally a very scenic route. Unfortunately for us, it was mainly covered in clouds and fog.