DAY 11-ACAPULCO, MEXICO

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       I was up early this morning as wanted to capture the beauty of sailing into Acapulco Bay for our 8:00 docking time.  Acapulco is best known as one of Mexico’s oldest and most well known beach resorts.  It became famous in the 1950’s and 1960’s when movie stars and millionaires vacationed on its beaches.  Today tourism remains important to the economy but that is threatened by corrupt police who extort money from tourists with threats of jail, and the ever present drug cartel murders common in Mexico these days.
       We were last here on a Princess cruise several years ago.  We remember sailing from the pier as a crew member who had missed the boat was running down the pier.  The ship sent a boat back to pick him up but we figured he was fired.
       No trip to Acapulco would be complete with seeing the La Quebrada Cliff Divers so I departed the ship at 8:25 am for today’s excursion, “Acapulco Highlights & Cliff Divers”.  The tradition of cliff diving started in the 1930’s when young men casually competed against each other to see who could dive from the highest point.  Today the divers are professionals.  They dive from a height of 140 feet into an inlet only 22 feet wide and 13 feet deep.  Today we watched the divers from the vantage point at the landmark Hotel El Mirador while enjoying a complimentary cocktail at 9:00 in the morning.  After the diving we were treated to a typical Mexican folkloric show.

                                Sailing into Acapulco Bay this morning at sunrise.

WHAT WE DID LAST NIGHT:
       We dined with Davor, the General Manager, in Compass Rose.  Another couple, David & Joanne, was also dining with us.  David had been a pilot for Fed Ex and was an ex-Navy pilot.  We had a nice dinner and lively conversation.

 This is the ship's idea of French onion soup.  Not nearly enough cheese for us but tasted good.

                          Rebecca and I did have the grilled red snapper.

                               I had apple crumble pie with ice cream for dessert.

                                            David and Joanne

This is the harp player at the show last night.  She was from Uruguay but now lives in Miami.

WHAT WE DID TODAY:

 There were several military guards nearby as I walked off the ship.  Actually the city had federal police with automatic weapons throughout Acapulco.  Tourism is #1 economically here so they do not was any tourists shot or robbed.

              This is an old fort overlooking the cruise terminal.  It dates back to 1500's.

                                            Inside the cruise terminal

            My tour for today.  Rebecca has not left the ship since boarding in Miami.

                          This is Ceasar, our tour guide for the 4 hour tour.

                                          Driving along the beach

                              More military.  I guess they are actually federal police

                          This cliff is where we are headed for the cliff divers.

                                  They will be diving from this cliff.

                              Leaving the bus for the cliff diving and show.

                                           Divers preparing for dive.

 This morning's show is just for Regent passengers.  The normal shows are in the afternoon.  This is the top level and only one diver is allowed to diver from here.

                                This is a lower level and 5 divers jumped from here.

                                           First one about to dive

                                           About to hit the water

 

                                          First diver returning up steps.

                                        Three divers at same time.

 The one who dives from the highest place says a prayer before making his dive.

                                  Following the dive were some local dancers.

                                            Dancing over the fire

                   This is the restaurant from where we watching the divers and show.

           Divers saying bye to us as we left.  Of course, they had a place for tips.

                                  Would not want to try to climb this tree.

                                    We stopped here for photos of the bay.

                                                 Bus was very nice

                                       One of the many Acapulco hotels

                                     This is the famous Las Brisas hotel.

       I got back to the ship from my tour at 12:30 and we went down to Compass Rose for lunch.  I uploaded today's photos while eating.
       At 3:00 this afternoon there was an exclusive "Mexican Fiesta" event for Seven Seas Society members in the theater.  Mexican drinks and hors douevers were served while listening to a fantastic mariachi band.  The band has traveled the world and won awards for their mariachi music.  I thoroughly enjoyed their show.  Below are some photos of them.

       It is now 4:00 pm and we are about to sail out of Acapulco bay.  I will publish this post and head up to watch the sail out.  Tomorrow will be another day at sea.