Back in the US of A. OK, so the USSR song is a little bit more lyric, but nonetheless, we are back in the states. And all that entails – which is quite a bit for the crew of the ship. The first challenge is immigration, which is – as usual for a ship coming back to the states for the first time all season – quite intense. Then there are the inspections and drills – and, well, it will be a long day for the folks aboard.
As for us passengers, it’s a pretty long day just trying to get off. Immigration is a challenge of course – and the number of passengers departing today also presents a challenge – but thank heavens for Carlos. When we are ready to go – and they have cleared the ship – he waltzes us right up to the front of the line to get us off the ship quickly.
Unfortunately, in the end, this doesn’t matter, because the Enterprise folks are not all buttoned up today. We can’t find the shuttle and waste at least 30 minutes waiting in the wrong place, before calling them again to ask when the shuttle will be here. They finally direct us to the meeting point – nowhere near where we are – and we manage to catch the next shuttle. But only barely. And surprise! We find out who has missed the ship. It is Zen Cat, this lovely, free spirited woman who had made friends with me in the Windjammer bar one night. She went on a private excursion, her husband did something else, and she didn’t make it back. They managed to be communication with each other (and he said the ship treated him very well, took him to dinner, etc.), and he got her to Tijuana where she could cross with only her driver’s license. So smart! So he was leaving the ship, and picking her up at LAX to just drive up the coast to SFO. Wow! He was going to Enterprise with us to see if he could rent a car.
So, off we all go to the office, where the disorganization continued. We all had reservations (except for our “missing wife” friend), yet, we all had to sit and wait for cars. We were at least an hour late for our reservation due to immigration, and still no cars? There were all these bogus explanations, like the cars came back damaged and they just had to wait on their boss to approve them renting them out in the current condition….uh huh. We ended up waiting there close to 45 minutes and finally they bring us a car – which btw was not damaged in the least. Really?
So finally we are on the road – and even though we are only driving down the coast to Dana Point, it’s still pretty frustrating and not at all like Enterprise normal service. But, we’re moving, so that’s all that matters. The drive is nice, we’re out of the city quickly, and moving through the hills and valleys of the Pacific Coast. Lovely scenery of farmland up the hills and coastline to our West. We arrive in Dana Point, a lovely little town that seems perfect to settle down in – but is probably way, way above the median home price.
We make our way to the Shwack Beach Grill for what is said to be the best tacos around. And they do not disappoint. We both have the fish tacos which are perfectly cooked and dressed and so very good. Siting on the covered porch with a cool California coast breeze – we couldn’t ask for a better day.
After lunch, we walk around a bit, snapping a few pix here and there of the great street signs and the view of the marina…
…then we head back to San Pedro, stopping on the way at the mall to buy baby presents for Jaime who just had his first child…while he was with us and his wife and son are in the Philippines. What a tough life!
Back in San Pedro, we pit stop at the San Pedro Brewing Company and have an entertaining conversation with a local – as well as some pretty good beer.
Finally it is time to head back, Enterprise this time works well, they load us into the van and we have a very personable driver with whom we spend our time discussing travel and life in general.
Back aboard, we prepare for our last sea day (amongst the contractors who are already working on the ship in preparation of dry dock) and disembarkation in SFO.
Can’t believe the trip is coming to a close. Seems like only yesterday we were hopelessly lost in the hills of Valpo…..
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