North , South and Central America on the Nieuw Amsterdam photo travelogue. Easter 2022 .

[scubacruiserx2]

We were thrilled to be headed back to shore and a Taxi - shore based visit

 

 

Our driver was close to our age and had a lot of experience in the area and as we spoke we realized that there had been a lot of growth in the area - mostly Americans . We asked for an overview of the area and wound up in a Costco parking lot .

 

 

 

He then took us to an area that he said was the Mexican area for a recycled glass blowing exhibition .

 

 

 

I 'm always amazed at how much skill that some people have

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We did do some walk around time and window shopping 

 

 

These sculptures were made from nuts and bolts and washers and screws

 

 

 

The Navigator of the Seas had pulled into port when we were in the city

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was the Pinnacle Gala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

A final day and lunch at the Pinnacle

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Last day at sea towel animal parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CaptJerry51]

Thanks for the great travelogue/review.

 

Is this "The End"? or more to come?  I still like the old movies where the final shot had "The End" superimposed over it.

[scubacruiserx2]

First time sailing into San Diego ( 05:32 )

 

 

We booked 3 days and nights on Coronado Island

 

 

 

Fog for the sail in

 

 

 

Last breakfast

 

 

 

Sail in at Point Loma

 

 

 

A Coast Guard welcome

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

15 minutes ago, CaptJerry51 said:

Thanks for the great travelogue/review.

 

Is this "The End"? or more to come?  I still like the old movies where the final shot had "The End" superimposed over it.

 

Is this "The End"?

 

Boy I hope not ! Although some people think that this would be an appropriate ending photo .

 

 

[oakridger]

Cute way they served your eggs Benedict breakfast plate!  Nice to see a bit of morning humor!

 

~Nancy

[scubacruiserx2]

6 hours ago, oakridger said:

Cute way they served your eggs Benedict breakfast plate!  Nice to see a bit of morning humor!

 

~Nancy

 

It sure was . After a 19 day day cruise there was a lot of excitement and change in the air .

[scubacruiserx2]

Between courses at breakfast I took a quick clip as we came in

 

 

 

 

We just had to wait our turn

 

 

We prefer to walk around or stay in our room and avoid logjams . It got very crowded here as we were leaving .

 

 

A little look while we wait

 

 

The port of San Diego

 

 

The Regatta in the foreground , the Midway is midway in the photo and the Coronado Bridge is in the distance

 

 

The USS Makin Island heading out to sea

 

 

 

https://www.navysite.de/ships/lhd8.htm

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Time for a final walk around ship

 

 

 

 

It has been almost 50 years since I first and last set foot in San Diego and some things like Naval Air Station North Island look similar

 

 

while others like this boat look radically different

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

When our color was called we went into the room with the agents and they took a photo of our passports and vax cards and placed a pink polka dot on our cards which we showed to exit the ship after picking up our carry on luggage . Exiting the ship we got our checked bags and crossed the street to meet our waiting guide Marcus . 

 We first took a quick ride to the Midway tied up near us .

 

 

The local Fire Department was out for some exercise

 

 

A drive through Little Italy where this restaurant was a old as my wife 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

In 1972 when Vietnam was still going hot and heavy I thought that the Navy would be a better option than being drafted into the army . I was told by the recruiter in Miami that I would go to boot camp in Orlando and go to school in Pensacola to be a Photographer's Mate if I signed with them .

  On the day that I left Miami in December it warm and I wore a short sleeved shirt . I was the only one given a ticket on an evening flight to San Diego and it was near freezing when we arrived there at about Midnight Pacific Time . We spent Christmas and New Year's Eve in Boot Camp and I was assigned to be the Recruit Chief Petty Officer which meant that I stood next to the Company Commander at photo time and I was in charge of the company when the CC wasn't around . 

 

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/293835/rcpo-position-offers-leadership-experience-recruits-boot-camp

 

 

It was perhaps the longest 3 months of my life and when I finished Boot Camp I was  assigned Hospital Corp School in Balboa Park , San Diego . After completing Corp School I was assigned to The Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina and finished with the Navy in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . 

 

This was like where we stayed in in the seventies 

 

 

And this is where we hoped to stay - The Del Coronado 

 

 

 

Some like it Hot

[scubacruiserx2]

Balboa Park

 

Air and Space Museum

 

 

Spreckels Pipe Organ is hidden in the building and is more than 100 years old

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Next up was a quick stop at the oldest part of San Diego - Old Town

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

The next stop was the Cabrillo National Park at Point Loma

 

 

 

There is an outstanding view of the city and the bay from here .

 

 

 

 

The Naval planes and ships

 

 

 

 

Liftoff with the city and the Nieuw Amsterdam in the background

 

 

USS John Finn

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There is a Federal Military Cemetery located here

 

 

 

There are many good places here for photos

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Lunch was at Liberty Station.

 

 

 

 

There were a lot of choices. Our daughter-in-law is from Peru.

 

 

Hawaiian was next door.

 

 

 

Lobster next.

 

 

 

But I have been craving Chili Rellenos.

 

 

 

 

 

[CaptJerry51]

I just discovered you are a serial documenter!  I am reading your review of the South America Zaandam cruise in December 2013.  That is my next dream cruise.

 

Thank you very much for giving us this day-by-day peek at the details of the shipboard and port experiences.  Much, much more than the cruise reviews section of the forums.

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, CaptJerry51 said:

I just discovered you are a serial documenter!  I am reading your review of the South America Zaandam cruise in December 2013.  That is my next dream cruise.

 

Thank you very much for giving us this day-by-day peek at the details of the shipboard and port experiences.  Much, much more than the cruise reviews section of the forums.

 

Guilty as charged . We did do a newer version on the Zaandam that also went to Antarctica and we spent some time Patagonia before our cruise in 2019 . New Years Eve was spent cruising from Antarctica .

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2622650-the-south-american-and-antarctic-experience-on-the-zaandam/

 

This may have been our favorite cruise followed by the Baltic , Norway and Iceland also in 2019 .

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2674531-baltic-norway-iceland-and-the-uk-on-the-zuiderdam-2019-with-photos/

 

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We booked our cruise with less than a month left but when we tried to book the Del Coronado for 3 nights in a row we were told that they couldn't accommodate us for our first night because they had many seminars and conferences . When we asked for a recommendation they mentioned the Glorietta Bay Inn across the street and said that it was available at less than half the price . It was a one bedroom with a kitchen and a living area and included a buffet breakfast . 

 

Glorietta Inn Bay seen from the Del Coronado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Inside the suite

 

 

 

 

 

 

We asked Marcus for a recommendation for dinner and he recommended Island Pasta for homemade pasta

 

 

 

 

Meatball and ziti backed with cheese . We were beginning to see Island prices

 

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We were surprised to see that the stores and restaurants closed fairly early and at about 9 PM the restaurant began refusing service . Earlier that evening we had treated ourselves to a walk around the boathouse on the bay and in front of the Del .

 

 

 

 

 Breakfast on the next day was a grab and go at the buffet which we ate in the room . It was very good and filling for a busy day coming up .

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

After boot camp we were given free time and so I went back to Florida to see friends and family and I drove back to San Diego with my car and surfboard which was a nice diversion while going to Corp school . One thing that I didn't do when stationed there was to hike Torrey Pines at low tide on the beach . It's a very nice hike but our knees were sure glad when we stopped and it took about 45 minutes to walk down !

 

 

 

 

A Torrey Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by scubacruiserx2