The First Time I Left the USA

Our Honeymoon was: fantastic.  It was arguably the most relaxing thing I've ever done.  If anyone is looking for something to do for their honeymoon, I would highly recommend a cruise.  Once you're on the ship it is stress free (which is nice after your life being consumed by wedding).  Spencer did all the planning and arranging.  I just packed and showed up, but really it was so nice!  We didn't have to worry about spending too much on food, buying gas, finding a place to stay, or finding things to do.   Plus someone magically cleaned our room for us each day.  Bonus!  

To start things off, we drove to St. George on Friday, and stayed in our sister-in-law's parents' condo.  (Saved us some serious money).  We ate at 25 Main (amazing cupcakes) and had breakfast at The Bear Paw Cafe (my mouth is drooling just thinking about it).  We've both been to St. George many times, but had never eaten at either place.  I recommend both!

Crazy rainstorm between Cedar and St. George, of course, I was driving while Spencer  took pictures.

Saturday morning we drove to Long Beach, with a stop in Vegas.  I had never walked on the strip, so we spent about an hour and a half there.  Sunday, we boarded the Carnival Splendor in Long Beach.  Like I said, every meal was prepared (buffet style, sit-down style, or room service, plus 24-hour pizza and ice cream) which was awesome.  It also explains why people gain 5 pounds on a cruise.  For activities, there was plenty of music, sunshine, comedy shows, mini (really mini) golf, movies on the deck, dance parties, hot tubs/pools, and dance shows.   The Olympics were also going that week, so they were always being broadcasted on the deck, or in our room.  I was worried I'd get seasick, and the first night was pretty rocky, so we both took motion sickness pills.  Did you know those make you drowsy?   Yeah, we slept like 16 hours.  

Chillin' on the ship.  Did I mention they have a day devoted to chocolate?

 On Tuesday, we arrived in Cabo San Lucas.  Through an unfortunate series of events, we missed our snorkeling trip, and had to reschedule for Wednesday.  So, we spent the day going for a water taxi ride. (Note: If they tell you it has a glass bottom so you can see the fish, they're full of it.  You can't see anything.  Not. A. Thing.)  Then we walked over the the beach and played in the water.  I've only been to the beach in Oregon, or California in the spring.  So, I'd never experienced water so warm you really could just swim around and not get cold at all.  It was awesome.

On Wednesday, we went on our snorkeling excursion.  It was really fun, and we met this crazy old couple that loved us.  Really though, they loved us, especially after their 6th and 7th alcoholic beverages.  They also loved Cabo San Lucas, they bought a time share on a whim while they were there.  

Spen and me with the famous Cabo rocks, the cruise ship, and our free drinks.  We kept getting cokes and virgin drinks, because they were free and we wanted our money's worth.  

 Our last destination was Puerto Vallarta.  That place is so cool.  We both wish we'd had two days there, and only one in Cabo.  Cabo San Lucas feels like you're in a touristy American town.  Puerto Vallarta feels like you're actually in Mexico.  We jumped in a cab and headed to their boardwalk.  We window shopped, played in the ocean, and had a guy draw a picture of us (you know, the ones with the giant heads).  If we ever went again, I'd do the jungle zipline.

See that mermaid in the sand castle?  The kid did it with a spoon.  A spoon!

The worst part about our Honeymoon was it had to end.  We got back to Long Beach on Sunday and blitzed it home in one drive.  Monday morning, we were both working, and moving into our new place.  Now that it's winter, and I'm in yucky Logan, I want to go back so bad!  Oh well, someday.  And maybe next time we can go to the Caribbean, or on a Disney Cruise, or to the rivers of Europe.....