WBPC May 6th 2013 Wonder

[Sparky47]

Did Dora help you fight off the vendors? They just really, really ruined my day. It was difficult to see what we were trying to see while constantly putting our hands on our heads and saying no.

May I ask why you put your hands on your head? Thanks.

 

[yukongirl123]

May I ask why you put your hands on your head? Thanks.

It was probably because they kept trying to put a panama hat on you....

Vendors kept doing that to my son, it was very annoying

 

[Crissup]

I agree about the aggressive vendors when we stopped at the old fortress. I think part of it is that a large tour bus pulling up to the curb just screams "rich tourists approaching", so the quickly gather. As I got off the bus, I was swarmed by vendors, and as I just kept working my way through the crowd of vendors, I could see them in my peripheral vision sweeping wide to run back up to the front for another chance.

After a few minutes, I just started laughing at the whole scenario. However, after about 5 minutes, they gave up on me and moved on to the next victi... I mean... Tourist.

I wouldn't let it sway my decision to enjoy the port, but you do need to be prepared for it and I wouldn't go it alone.

Sent via my iThingy

 

[MrsMork]

May I ask why you put your hands on your head? Thanks.

It was probably because they kept trying to put a panama hat on you....

Vendors kept doing that to my son, it was very annoying

Yes, the vendors with hats would put them on your head if you did not put your hand up to stop them. My friend bought a hat....the one they set on her head. No chance to look at what they had to sell. Worst vendor experience we have had in 14 cruises. Glad we saw a bit of Cartagena, but we are not anxious to return. St Lucia, Antigua and Medeira, all of those have vendors, who also are just trying to make a living, but they are not aggressive, I DID buy from them and we look forward to returning there. I told one vendor who would not get out of my husband's path "por favor, NO!" He said, "I am talking to my friend", indicating my husband. I told him "he was my friend first." He then walked away and others swarmed in his place.

 

[Sparky47]

It was probably because they kept trying to put a panama hat on you....

Vendors kept doing that to my son, it was very annoying

Yes, the vendors with hats would put them on your head if you did not put your hand up to stop them. My friend bought a hat....the one they set on her head. No chance to look at what they had to sell. Worst vendor experience we have had in 14 cruises. Glad we saw a bit of Cartagena, but we are not anxious to return. St Lucia, Antigua and Medeira, all of those have vendors, who also are just trying to make a living, but they are not aggressive, I DID buy from them and we look forward to returning there.

Ahh, thank you for clarifying - that makes sense; we'll definitely keep that in mind. And hi, Janice! We were on the October Hawaii cruise with you - my husband and I did the scavenger hunt you put together (he was the one that decided to not submit the answers but stopped in to see you to get the answers)...you did such a great job on that! He still talks about it and was hoping you would be on our September PC

 

[jlmarr]

We were wondering if anyone did any of these excursions and if you could provide any feedback:

In Puerto Vallarta we did the Tour of Walmart, and in Cabo the Tour of Find the Starbucks with Wifi. In Cartagena we signed on with a van tour outside the shopping area and actually had a decent tour from one of the locals.

 

[Robin"D"]

OK....how was the Wal-Mart there....?

are they set up as the Wal-Mart's here?

Did you see if they sell beer there?

THX

Robin & Angel "D"

In Puerto Vallarta we did the Tour of Walmart, and in Cabo the Tour of Find the Starbucks with Wifi. In Cartagena we signed on with a van tour outside the shopping area and actually had a decent tour from one of the locals.

 

[jlmarr]

OK....how was the Wal-Mart there....?

are they set up as the Wal-Mart's here?

Did you see if they sell beer there?

Pretty similar setup, and they do sell beer. One of our tablemates bought a six-pack in a soft-sided cooler to bring back to the ship. They have an open bakery area that looked interesting, but I wasn't sure if we could bring back unpackaged food onto the ship. All prices are in pesos so check the exchange rate beforehand so you can figure out the US$ price. There's a Sam's Club adjacent with an outdoor food court. Both stores are within sight of the ship, probably about a mile. There's an indoor mall next door which has, for one thing, a Starbucks with wi-fi.

 

[annichan]

OK....how was the Wal-Mart there....?

are they set up as the Wal-Mart's here?

Did you see if they sell beer there?

I will chime in and say that they most definitely sold beer there.
It was a bit of a hike from the ship and back (especially carrying a sixpack and a bottle of wine), but at least that way we walked off some of the alcohol calories in advance.

 

[aan1701]

Am I the only one who thought the Mall and Wal-Mart were super close? Here is my case. Pic taken from mall with no zoom with my iPhone. Maybe my definition of a hike or a mile is different from others but it seemed really really close to me.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[Robin"D"]

Thank you for the information. We are going on the WBPC September 2014, [CORRECTED, THX AAN1701]
Being the Wonder Home! We will be taking an "excursion" there...

Robin & Angel "D"

Pretty similar setup, and they do sell beer. One of our tablemates bought a six-pack in a soft-sided cooler to bring back to the ship. They have an open bakery area that looked interesting, but I wasn't sure if we could bring back unpackaged food onto the ship. All prices are in pesos so check the exchange rate beforehand so you can figure out the US$ price. There's a Sam's Club adjacent with an outdoor food court. Both stores are within sight of the ship, probably about a mile. There's an indoor mall next door which has, for one thing, a Starbucks with wi-fi.

I will chime in and say that they most definitely sold beer there.
It was a bit of a hike from the ship and back (especially carrying a sixpack and a bottle of wine), but at least that way we walked off some of the alcohol calories in advance.

 

[aan1701]

Thank you for the information. We are going on the WBPC September 2014, Being the Wonder Home! We will be taking an "excursion" there...

Robin & Angel "D"

Do you mean EBPC? Or are you doing the WBPC in May?

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[Robin"D"]

GOOD CATCH....

EBPC....correct!

Robin & Angel "D"

Do you mean EBPC? Or are you doing the WBPC in Mau?

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[LindaBabe]

Am I the only one who thought the Mall and Wal-Mart were super close? Here is my case. Pic taken from mall with no zoom with my iPhone. Maybe my definition of a hike or a mile is different from others but it seemed really really close to me.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

Unfortunately, although it LOOKS close, a person can't just walk out the gate and across the road. One has to walk all the way down to the end of the port, out the gate. out to the main street, cross the street, back up to the walmart and across the parking lot. it's at least a mile each way.

Beer is sold there, as well as vanilla and many other tourist souvenirs. I bought Mexican chocolate (formulated with a higher melting point), hot sauce, coffee, and salsa in juicebox size cartons for predinner noshing. Just a hint - buy your vanilla back in the baking supplies area - it's cheaper than in the souvenier section.

 

[aan1701]

Unfortunately, although it LOOKS close, a person can't just walk out the gate and across the road. One has to walk all the way down to the end of the port, out the gate. out to the main street, cross the street, back up to the walmart and across the parking lot. it's at least a mile each way.

Beer is sold there, as well as vanilla and many other tourist souvenirs. I bought Mexican chocolate (formulated with a higher melting point), hot sauce, coffee, and salsa in juicebox size cartons for predinner noshing. Just a hint - buy your vanilla back in the baking supplies area - it's cheaper than in the souvenier section.

I will have to respectfully disagree here. There was no way it was a mile I made it to the mall in under 10 min counting the time waiting for the light to change. It takes me longer to run a mile. Yes you had to go around the port area and stuff but it was not a mile. Oh well to each their own.

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[Politzania]

FYI - Part 2 of our podcast trip report is now available - this segment covers the Panama Canal transit and a couple of days at sea before & after the transit.

PM me for a link or google "Disney, Indiana"

 

[kitkat2704]

My family took a taxi from the port to Walmart and then back and it was $5.00 for all of us one way. I sprained my ankle pretty bad on the ship a few days before and couldn't handle walking to and back with bags. If your looking for small trinkets Walmart is awesome. Make sure you check the prices of alcohol on the ship before you get to Walmart some were actually more with the conversion rate. Also there is a small store closer to the entrance away from the bigger market. Way better prices then the market!! We got a ton of things and prices them out at the market and we saved probably 60%.

 

[OKW Lover]

 

[Robin"D"]

Very nice jeff

 

[granmaz]

That is a great picture.