We sailed in early with a 0700 gangway time. I can understand this from a ship planning point of view. And perhaps for the convince of several of the more distant tours. But otherwise? Seriously? Nothing is open at 0700 in the morning.
We were at the far left pier as you face the shore. In fact, the port area looked completely different than the last time I was here. I am thinking it is both because of renovations and it also might be my lack of attention to what the larger ships were doing. No longer did we have to wade through temporary local booths, the shopping area was relatively new, shiny, and full of the usual tourist stuff plus a duty free shop that resembled every airport duty free shop. You had to walk through it to get back to the ship, thus encouraging sales.
But anyway. I didn’t get off till about 1100. My sole goal in doing so was to stop at Starbucks in the Galleria Note – Mexico, like Canada, is currently part of my AT&T coverage area. But according to to the Starbucks app, all the locations with in a few kms of the ship were closed. Right, I didn’t believe that for a moment so went out for a look-see. Out of the port, make a left, walk on the sidewalk along the main highway till I arrived at the pedestrian crossing and the Galleria. Went inside, enjoying the lovely air-conditioning to find everything open. Up the escalator on the left to the obvious open and busy Starbucks. Looked in the case. Well, what do you know? Not only did they have the “Mexico” thermos I wanted but also mugs from across the country. Apparently either there isn’t a restriction or no one cares to enforce the “local souvenir only” that seems to apply in the EU. US, and Canada. So should any one want a souvenir mug from anywhere in Mexico, please let me know and I can pick one up for you when I make the reverse trip in Oct-Nov.
Souvenir purchased. I wandered the mall – mostly high end good directed toward the tourist trade. Then stopped next door at Walmart to by some hair scrunchies and went back to the ship and my relaxation.
