Manzanillo, Mexico (MAR 7)

As mentioned in yesterday's post, having lost time passing through the Tehuantepecer the previous night, the captain kept the ship's speed significantly above her normal 20-knot maximum cruising speed all night long. 

23 knots may not strike the reader as that much faster, but on a ship this size it is a big difference. It takes a lot more fuel making it expensive (which makes the bean-counters back at headquarters unhappy). It increases stresses within the ship. It causes vibration can break things (e.g. pipe joints). 

The captain was no doubt regularly asking the ship's navigator how soon he could return to normal cruising speed and still meet our scheduled arrival time. Finally, that moment arrived.  At 0617, the vibration and ship noise suddenly dropped back to normal. We were doing 20 knots again. 

This morning we cruised along the Mexican coast. Weather was about 85ﾟ with partly cloudy skies and a light breeze.

At noon, we entered the harbor at Manzanillo, our first port call in Mexico. Our ship was instructed to anchor while local health officials came aboard. Eventually the ship was cleared to dock. There was not too much whining about the delay. Speaking for myself, I founded it comforting that we underwent and passed an external, official evaluation of the health status of everyone on board. 

Once docked (green circle), there was a further delay.  The stated reason was that customs and immigration officials had belatedly decided to come aboard for an inspection. Whether that was fact or a fairy tale, the ship cleared that hurdle too and people were allowed to go ashore.

There were lots of pairs of eyes watching disembarking passengers when Pam & I went ashore. We were watched leaving the ship and at three choke points along the pier. Watchers varied, the most intimidating being two Mexican Marines in full tactical garb, including balaclavas and mirrored sunglasses, carrying automatic weapons. I went for it and wished one of them "buenos dias", getting what I took for a friendly nod in return.

Once clear of security, we started wandering around. Although identified as a resort community, there was nothing that appeared resort-y close by. The beaches Pam examined through our binoculars had appeared uninviting even if we found a way to get to one of them.

Graydon & Sue from British Columbia

We perambulated around the section of the city near the pier for about 90 minutes.

Returning to the ship we went through the same choke points, this time two of which included a metal detector. At the entrance to the ship were two drug-sniffing dogs...and a guy with a sub-machine gun. They and others all suddenly went aboard and appeared to be headed for the crew's quarters. It seemed like an excellent time to mind our own business. 

Just as the sun was setting, someone pointed out to Pam some whales. We spotted three surprisingly far into the harbor, but not close enough for low-light photographing, so we just watched them roll along.  

Due to the delay in allowing people to go ashore, our departure time was pushed from 1900 to 2000. We hoped the captain would not make up the lost time by doing 23 knots again tonight.  My Navionics chart app indicated that would not be necessary.