{"id":1104,"date":"2019-11-19T15:46:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T21:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kokomoman.com\/wordpress1\/?p=1104"},"modified":"2019-11-20T14:02:30","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T20:02:30","slug":"magical-mystery-tour-the-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kokomoman.com\/wordpress1\/2019\/11\/19\/magical-mystery-tour-the-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Magical Mystery Tour \u2013 The Good"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just in case you didn\u2019t get here by clicking through the top-level \u201creview,\u201d I want to tell you how phenomenal the Piano Bar (PB) was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PB entertainer was Ben Gentry. He is recognized in the \u201cCarnival PB world\u201d as one of the premier entertainers. Sure, Carnival has many good entertainers, but most can\u2019t do what Ben does. Somehow he makes friends with everyone who sits around his piano. It doesn\u2019t matter how young or… ummmmm… not so young they are. A couple of songs after you sit down, you are his friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oh the things Ben gets people to do… how does he do it? Standing room only.<\/strong> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Even more, after an evening with Ben, people around his piano have become friends with each other. I can\u2019t tell you how many friends I have made sitting at Ben\u2019s piano.  These new friends aren\u2019t friends for merely the duration of the cruise. I still communicate with many of them, and together we dream-n-scheme about when we will meet around Ben\u2019s piano again.<\/p>\n\n\n

Although I\u2019ve tried to analyze all this… tried figuring out how he does it… what he has that brings people together. It doesn\u2019t matter your age… sex… nationality… orientation… political bent… nor anything else. Everyone around the piano become friends. Sure… he has talent and charisma, but lots of others have that. Only a few can make the folks in the PB one happy family. I have come to only one conclusion… it\u2019s Magic. Ben has that \u201cmagic\u201d few have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am I overstating my position? Well… maybe. But, consider that, except for the annual Barbarians cruises, I selected my last seven cruises because Ben was the Piano Bar Entertainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So… Ben Gentry in the Piano Bar \u2013 Very, Very Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cozumel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I fell in love with Cozumel many years ago. On my first cruise to the island, I didn\u2019t plan to get off the boat. But once my ship docked (old town Puerta Langosta), there was something about the place that just pulled me in. I stood on the balcony and saw the magnificent blue water and could hear the music coming from town. We were straight across from Senior Frogs. I went into town, did a walk-about, and it became my favorite Caribbean stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, Carnival docks at their own area farther down the island. Sometimes I take a cab into \u201cold town,\u201d but more often than not, I don\u2019t even leave the compound right there at the dock. I get some good morning coffee at Cafe Punta del Cielo (Carnival\u2019s coffee is patooooyyyyyy). Cafe Punta del Cielo has good wifi and good coffee. I usually spend an hour or so there getting my wifi and coffee \u201cfix.\u201d. Then it\u2019s on to Pancho\u2019s Back Yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View of the Carnival’s cruise ship compound.<\/strong> Click to open larger view in a new tab.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll get something to eat and a Margarita… or two… or three at Pancho\u2019s Back Yard. Pancho\u2019s has the best Margaritas I have on any cruise. They use quality tequila and don\u2019t skimp on anything. The food is also excellent. I always sit at a table under an umbrella in the \u201cbeach area.\u201d It\u2019s not really a beach. Instead, it\u2019s a man-made \u201csandbox\u201d up next to the sea-wall. Just the same, I kick off my flip-flops and put my toes in the sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Toes in the sand at Pancho’s Back Yard.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I usually sit there for a few hours… sipping on Margaritas with a little Marimba music in the background. For lunch, I have either enchiladas or burritos. They are mmmmm \u2013 mmmmmmm good. Later in the afternoon… still sipping Margaritas… I order some Quesadillas nibble on; flour tortillas, cheese, sour cream, beans, and a dish of salsa.  One more Margarita, and then it\u2019s time to order a wheelbarrow to get me back to the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Margaritas at Pancho’s Back Yard<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a video that will give you a feel for Pancho\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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