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This past weekend I had the chance to visit Ensenada, Mexico via cruise ship. My expectations were set pretty low after having received quite a few "tips" pointing out that Ensenada is not the cleanest, safest, or most luxurious place to visit. Fortunately, when you aren't hoping for too much in the first place, there's nowhere to go but up. Which is probably why I ended up having a perfectly enjoyable time.
I was able to catch a city tour that included wine tasting at one of Mexico's oldest wineries, a visit to Ensenada's pretty & artful convention center, and shopping time downtown -- where I definitely paid my dues to the tourism industry by purchasing way too much cheap junk. I practiced my haggling skills, somewhat... although I felt kind of silly because I am certain that the locals live off of American tourists who are convinced they have fabulous haggling skills. (In reality, I'm pretty sure that most items are priced at about double the intended selling value anyway... hence all of the 50% off "sales" everywhere.)
[Inside the winery]
[Inside the convention center... one of the ceilings]
Seriously, these people must think we are pretty darn cheap... coming to visit their city on a fancy ship, and then beaming with pride when we can get a $10 item down to $6. I guess they're used to it.
[Downtown]
Afterwards, I took a slighly sketchy cab ride back to the ship. I was halfway expecting the taxi to fall apart (that poor car was shaking and squeaking like you wouldn't believe), but both the car and myself made it back in one piece. All in all, it was a fun outing with few mishaps.
Okay, so maybe I did get temporarily lost in downtown Ensenada. And this was AFTER the original tour bus had already departed, because our one-hour shopping allowance had come and gone. AND I had left my cell phone on the ship because certain people warned me not to use it outside of the U.S. So I guess that's what I get for taking too long and shopping too slowly. But you know how it goes... all's well that end's well.
Why are boys' razors always better than girls' razors? I am willing to give up my cutsie pink and purple shades for a sturdy (albeit ugly) black one with three blades that actually WORKS. From now on I think I am just going to buy boys' razors.
The crust is the best part of the pizza, don't ya think? It's what separates the amazingly good pizzas from the pizzas that are just mediocre. AND it tastes delicious. Thank you Dr. Atkins, but I think I will continue eating my carbs with a side of carbs.
Where has Anderson Cooper been?? How long does he plan to take vacation from his self-titled show?! Erica Hill may be ranked the second hottest female reporter in America, but she is NOT what keeps me coming back every night at 7 pm... and sometimes 8, 10, and 11 pm.
When I leave SLO this weekend, I think my first order of business will be to get food from a DRIVE-THRU! SLO is the only city I have heard of that bans drive-thrus, and I miss the ability to order cheap food while secretly wearing my pajama pants. Unfortunately, there is a high likelihood that I will spill ketchup in the car. Still totally worth it.
I wonder if I'll ever learn to bake? (FYI, I'm planning to bake cookies in the near future.)
I wonder if I'll ever learn to walk without falling. Or to carry objects without dropping them. So far today I have broken a wine glass, spilled my Diet Coke, and tripped at least once.
Speaking of wine, I don't really like it. I've tried to appreciate it, especially since all of my sophisticated future business colleagues will probably be drinking it, but it just tastes bitter. I do, however, like to drink apple cider from a wine glass and pretend like I'm drinking wine.
I really like my Apple-Mango-Tango flavored laundry detergent. It smells great AND it has a spunky name. Too bad it doesn't actually motivate me to do laundry.
I think I could go on for hours, but I'll spare you the inner workings of my brain. Besides, I should probably think about packing. Tomorrow evening I leave town, head to LA for the night, and then depart from Long Beach for my cruise to Ensenda, Mexico! This will officially be my first time out of the country. (Of many, I hope.) Cross your fingers that they let me back in!
No, not me. Everybody else.
Okay, not quite everybody. But lots of people. I guess that once you've graduated college, that's the thing to do. But why?
I'm not complaining or anything. While I'm happy for anyone who has found their soulmate by the age of 22, I honestly don't wish I was getting married. I'm content in knowing that marriage is not on my to-do list for the near future. I'm not anywhere near ready for that sort of thing.
In fact, most of the time I still feel like a kid. Not in the sense that I want anybody to take care of me, or that I can't think for myself. But in the sense that there are tons of things to see and plenty of experiences to be had before I want to tie myself down to any serious responsibilities. And besides, aren't you supposed to have some kind of profound revelation about life before you are mature enough to get married?
I'm not usually cynical. Really. But I can't help wondering if all of these people know what they're doing. Have they been in enough other relationships to be sure that they are marrying the right person? Have they taken the time to decide which qualities they want in a spouse? And if even the answer to those questions is yes, how can a 22-year-old be sure that they won't be an entirely different person by the age of 32? Or 42? Just saying.
By the way, when I finally do get married, I'm pretty sure I want to elope. More spontaneous, more economical, and less opportunity to change my mind. Of course, this will be after I've had my profound revelation, so I'll be old and wise by then, and maybe even decisive. (If my future husband is lucky, maybe I will even become less accident-prone.) Stay tuned.
In searching for bedding and sofas for my future grown-up apartment, I have reached a terrible conclusion: the world of adults is a dreary, colorless place. How difficult is it to find cheerful, bright, colorful items that do not have Hello Kitty or Power Rangers characters plastered all over them? It's as if you grow up and then suddenly everything becomes dull and grey.
No, seriously. I have decided that adults do not like actual colors. They like varying shades of brown and maroon. If they are feeling particularly adventurous, they will spring for a boring blue. I think they dislike cheerful shades because this just reminds them of how much fun they are NOT having at their cheerless jobs.
Don't get me wrong. I am excited to have a real job. Sure, sometimes I wish I could have an awesomely fun job... like a river rafting guide. Or Oprah Winfrey. Or the Watertown tree warden. How do you manage to become a tree warden, anyway? Do you have to go to school for that?? I guess it would help if I actually knew what a tree warden was. Hmm.
Anyway, the lesson here is that I don't want to grow up and begin hating all things colorful. Maybe if my business career does not pan out, I will become a designer and start a line of pretty housewares for adults. Please look out for that.
In the meantime, I plan to decorate with sunflowers and paintings of the ocean and cucumber-flavored candles. Please come over and visit!
