Hello! I hope all is well. In the video below, it's disembarkation day for my 3-day Carnival Cruise. It's always bittersweet to say farewell to a cruise vacation. However, there can always be a next time, which makes the anticipation for the next one so worth it. Carnival's disembarking process ran smoothly for me. I ate breakfast and also had the opportunity to watch the sunrise too! In the video, I share that moment, but if you don't want to watch that part of the video, you can skip to the disembarking moments. I look forward to my next cruise, hopefully, venturing to an international destination. Happy travels if you're booked on an upcoming cruise. Have fun and enjoy sailing the beautiful, friendly, seas.
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Friday, March 25, 2022
Taste of Mexico Carnival Cruise Excursion in Ensenada, Mexico #CruiseVacation
On Day 3 of my Baja Mexico cruise aboard Carnival Radiance, we arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. This was the day that all guests could spend some time off the ship and explore. I decided to get off the cruise ship a little earlier before the Taste of Mexico Margarita Madness excursion, to walk the promenade along the port area. I saw many beautiful natives enjoying their stroll with their children. I even helped some take pictures in front of the decorated Ensenada signs. It was a beautiful, sunny, day so I took photos and videos of the ship anchored at the port also. After walking almost to the end of the promenade I made it back in time for my 1:00pm meeting time for the Taste of Mexico Margarita Madness excursion. They were ready to go on time and we boarded a shuttle bus, driving through the busy, Sunday, streets. We were told that Sundays are often filled with more traffic, but I didn't mind taking in the views and landmarks as our guide explained things. We ended up in a more rural area of Ensenada, with endless vineyards and ranches. I enjoyed this part of Ensenada and this is also where we experienced the Taste of Mexico cooking class. We made three different quick dishes with fresh ingredients and products locally made in Mexico. I could really taste the difference in the tostada, tortillas, and beans, which I ate instead of the meat options provided. Everyone was very professional and welcoming. There were endless margaritas, which were blended and some people asked for theirs on ice instead. The cooking instructor was very clear and passionate about each item we prepared. The property was clean and the sun shined bright through the trees with a pleasant wind so being outside for this excursion was a real treat.
Lastly, we went to a Tequila tasting, where we learned about the process of making Tequila, very informative as well. Overall, I had a great time. In the video, I give you a glimpse into my experience and my review of the excursion as well.
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Fun Day at Sea on Carnival Radiance 2022 #CruiseVacation
It's a fun day at sea aboard the Carnival Radiance cruise ship! The video is below for you to see. I enjoyed walking around the ship, watching everyone have a good time. It really was a time for me to relax and take in the beautiful sun. It was a blessing to be able to cruise with so many people in a safe manner and have a good time. To begin the day, I used room service and had breakfast in my room. That came according to the schedule I requested, lunch for me was at the Lido salad bar, but I did get photos of all of the popular places by Guy Fieri and Shaq's Big Chicken for you to see. They were both very popular among the guests all cruise long. I participated in a group salsa dancing activity, with no contact due to the times, but it was a routine that made me break a sweat so I enjoy it immensely. Then, I went to an event to remember and recognize active duty military and also veterans. As a U.S. Army veteran, I always enjoy meeting other military professionals and their families. I am very appreciative that Carnival set some time aside for this event. There were plenty of events going on all day that would make you laugh. For dinner, I had the Indian option again, so nothing to share there. The nightly entertainment with a comedy show and then a stage performance, ended my night. Many people were in the casino late into the night though. I was definitely ready for bed to prepare for my excursion day in Ensenada, Mexico. That video is on the way!
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: The Funky Finds in Flavortown: America's Classic Joints and Killer Comfort Food
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Embarkation Day Recap on Carnival Cruise 2022 | 3-Day Baja Mexico Vacation #CruiseVacation
It's finally embarkation day aboard Carnival Radiance. I have my passport, driver's license, boarding pass, negative Covid-19 test, and weekend bag. I boarded the ship in Long Beach, California, and parked my car right at the port. I do recommend watching your phone navigation closely so you don't miss the exit, which leads right to the port. It was a bit tricky. I missed it and had to go over a long bridge and go all the way around to try again...lol. I still got to the port on time. I gave myself enough time to get to the port and to allow for traffic. Once you park your car and go to the ground level of cruise parking, the entrance to the Carnival ship is straight ahead. There was a guide present, checking for my boarding pass and negative test. Then I went to another table to get checked in by another Carnival guide. Everyone was pleasant, professional, and had smiles on their faces. Then I walked up this ramp a ways to another photo check-in station for security purposes and then a final check-in at the counter, with a security photo also. Then, I sat for about 5 minutes and it was time to board the ship. Carnival lets you choose your boarding time so I chose between 11:00 and 11:30 since I normally eat lunch during that time. The rooms would not be ready until 1:30pm so it's normally a good time to grab lunch. I am taking a 3-day Baja Mexico Cruise, with one day at sea and then a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, and then back to Long Beach. This is a recap video of my first day getting settled into my interior stateroom, the sail away party, dinner (since I'm vegan I had the Indian cuisine each night), Bingo play, and the evening stage performance. Oh! There is a great opportunity to see dolphins during the sail away party too! I was at the right place at the right time to catch that moment.
Cruising is a great way to have an all-inclusive vacation experience (room, food, entertainment, and shore excursions) no matter how long you want it to be. It's a safe way to travel solo, with friends, or with someone you love. Carnival Radiance is a renovated ship so it was recently put back out to sea. If you have never cruised before, a weekend getaway is a great way to figure out if it's a vacation experience for you. There are many cruise lines to choose from and I recommend giving them all a go! Then, you can narrow down your favorites for future cruises. Enjoy! Day 2: Day at Sea, of my 3-Day Baja Mexico cruise, is on the way!
Saturday, February 19, 2022
How To Do Inspire Diagnostics At Home Health Test for #Cruise Travel
I recently took a 3-day cruise aboard Carnival Radiance from Long Beach, CA, to relax and recharge before I start my new career journey. My last cruise vacation was before the Covid-19 outbreak. First, I had to get tested for Covid-19 before my embarkation date in order to board the ship. On Carnival's website, here, they provide Vaccinated Voyages information and great details on how they are providing assistance to all guests. As of this blog post, you can get tested on your departure date at the port or at home within 24-48 hours before your embarkation date. The rules are constantly changing, with the cruise lines following CDC guidance, so make sure to look over their website for new options for vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. After reviewing their website, I decided to take the
I have included timecodes below to help you sort through the video information if you would like to see a particular section of the video.
Timecodes for this video can be clicked from the description of this video if you watch from my YouTube channel. However, if watching from my blog, scan through the video to these times below to get to where you want to see a specific portion of the video.
0:00 Intro
0:35 Purchasing and Scheduling the Inspire Diagnostics Test
5:09 A Look Inside the Inspire Diagnostics Box
5:36 Taking the Proctored Inspire Diagnostics Covid Test via Zoom Call
9:02 My Review of the Proctored Test Experience
9:41 Results of my Inspire Diagnostics Covid Test
10:11 How to Retrieve Your Inspire Diagnostic Test Results for Printing or Downloading
11:50 Conclusion/Outro
Some Cruise Essentials
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Planting Garlic From Cloves in Pots #Gardening
At the end of December, I planted garlic from cloves in pots. I purchased my garlic from the organic section of the grocery store. Since I saw that a number of other gardeners were having success growing garlic from cloves, I wanted to try this method. As a second-year gardener here in 2022, I am attempting to grow more and more vegetables and add new varieties as well. I planted the organic cloves of garlic on New Year's Eve in some amended soil with worm castings. I had to hurry because it takes about six months or more for the garlic to mature and have enough chill hours (4-8 weeks) from the weather. I spaced all of the cloves to be about four inches apart and an inch or so deep in my pot. Some also went into my raised bed. I followed the recommendation to add one to two inches of mulch (I used straw), which will keep the moisture in after watering them in thoroughly. After a couple of weeks in January, the garlic started to show signs of life. I was seriously shocked because at first, I thought weed seeds blew in the pot because we get so much wind during the colder months here in my part of Southern California. However, luckily, the foilage was from the garlic cloves. In the video, I will take you through the process of planting garlic from cloves in pots and then show you my update from the end of January, so it's been a full month of growth. I will keep you posted on my garlic harvest in June or the beginning of July. Stay tuned...
Some helpful books on gardening for beginners are listed below. These are some of the most popular resources and gardeners I am aware of today.
Organic Gardening for Everyone: Homegrown Vegetables Made Easy - No Experience Required!
The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-sufficiency in Any Size Backyard
Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live
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