Happy Cinco De Mayo

My favorite television show as a child was Walt Disney's "Zorro," which of course was set in Los Angeles. The teaming of Antonio Banderas with Catherine Zeta-Jones in their salute to the franchise also ranks as one of my favorite movies. Pancho's in Manhattan Beach, where I had lunch with my friend Bill yesterday, brings to mind the idealized Spanish haciendas of those storied days of yore. The Numero Ocho Combinacion was delicious, and the setting on a balcony overlooking the patio area below creates a special ambiance at Pancho's.

Patio Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

Growing up in California, the influence hispanic culture runs deep. My family would go to La Fonda for dinner on Sundays when I was in grade school, and I would always order side orders of beans, rice and tortillas as my full meal. At home, my mother would make us what we called taco stacks, using a recipe she learned from Romaine, a Mexican-American who worked in my dad's beauty salon. Even Disneyland for me was highlighted by Mexican influence, with an inevitable lunch at Casa de Frito and, on one memorable day, a Zorro stunt show which my parents took me to see after I saw it advertised on my favorite show. That stunt re-enactment starred Guy Williams, TV's Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro.

Papas & Beer

Over lunch, Bill said he's ready to get down to Ensenada again on a short cruise from Long Beach, a trip he's done thrice with his daughters. He said he has his leather guy, where he buys a wallet or jacket, and his favorite cantina for imbibing an authentic Margarita. It's funny that a lot of people joke Ensenada is Spanish for "stay on the ship," because I too enjoy that stop. Personally, I prefer taking the tour to the fine wineries outside Ensenada, or taking the bus to

La Bufadora a short ride from Ensenada

La Bufadora to have drinks and chips at the rooftop bar of La Habana Banana overlooking the rugged coastline, but there's something to be said for Papas & Beer in town. In any case, it is an incredibly relaxing getaway, one that provides a surprisingly full vacation experience.



Wes & Senor Frog in Mazatlan

 It's a shame that news shows bombard us daily about the drug war criminals along the border, which has definitely impacted thought about travel to Mexico. However, if you stay away from troubled areas, remaining in the well traveled streets, it is no less safe than Southern California.

Amy plunging into jungle river outside Puerto Vallarta

The cruise lines move with the mood of their market, and as such they have been pulling ships from the Mexican Riviera cruises. Looking ahead for next season, you would be well-advised to book your Mexican Riviera cruise early, because there will be much lower capacity for these convenient sojourns to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Mazatlan may or may not be on the menu next year due to some problems primarily centered a good distance from the port, but whether you go to Mazatlan or get an extra day in Cabo or some other port, you shouldn't discount the value of visiting Mexico.

The Castle at Tulum

Anyway, if you go to a full-blown fiesta or simply dine at Taco Bell to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, think about how great it would be to cruise to some of the great ports of Mexico.

Carnival Splendor Pool

And by the way, this Cinco de Mayo let's salute Carnival, the fun ships that keep a regular presence for the Mexican Riviera, Baja and the Caribbean side of Mexico year round. While some people quickly dismiss Carnival, often without trying it, Carnival continues to deliver great vacation value for average families, couples, friends and solos looking for a fun, easy vacation.

Ensenada: February, 2006

Some people believe Ensenada is Spanish for "stay on the ship."

When you're on a three day weekend cruise on either Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas or Carnival Paradise, Ensenada is your only port, so you might want to check it out for yourself before accepting this translation.

Regular shuttle busses take passengers from the ship to downtown Ensenada for a nominal fee, but you can walk there in fifteen minutes. The stroll takes you past begging street urchins, bussed in from outlying villages by ruthless organizers who essentially act as pimps.  You'll also pass vendors hawking cheap sunglasses and other wares. Once you reach the downtown area, you'll find that while it may not be a charming Mexican village, it is much cleaner than it used to be. By noon, the streets are teeming with tourists buying sombreros, Cuban cigars and Hussong's tee shirts.

When we walk into town, our primary destination is usually Papas & Beer, a wild cantina where unsuspecting patrons are turned into human blenders by waiters who pour tequila drinks in them and shake them up. It's not unusual for some girls who've downed a few too many tequillas to end up dancing provocatively on tables. Going to a Mexican cantina like this, where the minimum drinking age is 18, has become something of a right of passage for some.

As you may guess, downtown Ensenada is not everyone's cup of tea. Many like to take a tour bus out to La Bufadora, a rare blowhole that shoots sea waves high into the air along a beautful stretch of craggy coastline.

The 45 minute drive out there is bumpy and not exactly the Loire Valley, but you do see how Mexicans really live, which should make you appreciate living in the USA. Once at La Bufadora, you find an extensive flea market lining the path to the blowhole. I personally like to have some tortilla chips and drinks at the rooftop bar of Havana Banana, which commands a gorgeous coastal view.

I consider the best excursion in Ensenada to be the winery tour. Surprisingly, east of Ensenada you'll find a couple of beautiful wineries that produce very good vintages.

The drive is certainly better than the trek to La Bufadora, and the wineries themselves are lovely.

My favorite, LA CETTO WINERY, has a bullring which, when we saw it on a previous cruise in September of 2001, was dramatically crowned in bougainvillea.

Muy bonita.


The cruise ships keep adding more excursions to make this port more appealing, like a new ATV and Wine Country Tour.

While you can certainly have a fun time staying on the ship to enjoy the pools and other onboard activities with Ensenada as a back drop, you might want to sample Ensenada before writing it off.