May 21, 2025

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO - GIRL'S DAY!!!

So I have been craving new clothes that fit, I have lost about 50# since starting this journey and my clothes are a tad loose and hanging. I really wanted to go to Bucerias, Mexico ( about 20 minutes north of PV)  where I spent last January with Bonnie & Steve and check the boutiques that run along Lazaro Cardenas.  Sarah & Sherrie were happy to join in and we made it into GIRLS DAY and went to 4 of my favorites shops along with  2 new stores and we all  found so many items! I got everything below for under $400 USD. Love the fabrics, patterns, soft, light weight, breathable materials, perfect for all our hot weather travels!!

We shared lots of laughs, had a nice lunch and capped the day off with Margaritas on the beach before heading  back to the Ship for Dinner! Was a great day and we vowed to make GIRLS DAY a much more regular thing!

SHIP SHENANIGANS - CLUE PARTY

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.

TERRACOTTA ARMY - XI'AN, CHINA

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.

XI'AN, CHINA - WALLED CITY

By Pat Patrick • September 15, 2026
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .