Daniel & Lisa
to Marry!!
Yes today is the Day. We have spent months planning and it still happened in a way we could never have imagined. It was suppose to be quick and easy. . . . But fate had a different idea. . .
You see, when we decided to get married, we discussed all the options; a big wedding, eloping to las Vegas, going to the courthouse, or finding someplace exotic. . . It didn't take us long to decide to get married on a cruise ship. What better than to get married on the honeymoon?
Since we already have some life changing plans in motion, we decided that getting married around New Years eve was going to be the best option, so we started looking into cruises that would be a "New Years Eve Cruise".
Luckily it didn't take long. But that was just the beginning. Sadly, we found out that since our cruise ship is registered in Panama, the ceremony must be done within panama's waters or the other option was to get married in the port of San Diego, which we really didn't want to do. So we decided to see if we could get married at one of the Mexican ports.
So we finally decided to settle on a port and focus on getting everything done for that city and pray that we could get everything done by the time we set sail. We knew we had over six weeks, but even that seemed like not enough time. . .
So, getting married in Mexico is a little more difficult that we expected. Now, we started with surfing the Internet. . . for every web site we visited we found a different set of requirements to marry in Mexico. Each port had different requirements it seemed, Mexico had its own requirements, even each registrar had their own requirements. . . What is up with that?
It was maddening!! We finally tried the goggle search of "Getting married in Zihuantinejo". . . Ta Da!! we finally found a web site that had requirements and even the numbers of the three different registrars that performed marriages in Zihuatinejo. . .
After figuring out how to make an international call we listened to the phone beep unanswered (You see, the phone doesn't ring, it beeps. Kind of like when someone puts you on hold here in the states. . . it was a sign of things to come, a perfect metaphor for the Mexican lifestyle)
The second call went a little better, but only slightly so. . . The woman who answered spoke a little English, but not enough to know for sure that we were getting all the information we needed. We told her we would only be in town for one day and only 8 hours at that. Then she informed us that the registrars office was an elected office and that the current registrar was being replaced on January 1st. Even worse, he brought his own staff and that she can only give him and his staff the note that we will be there at 12:00pm on January 3rd, 2009. . . "But it should not be a problem," she claimed. . .
Now we had all the requirements (as well as what the getting married in Zihuantinejo web site had suggested) and it was time to get to work. Passports, birth certificates, medical exams, blood work, std testing, getting documents apostilled by the Utah State Lieutenant Governor’s Office and last, but not least, a tourist visa. Would six weeks really be enough?
Now, not feeling too comfortable with our conversation with the Hispanic woman at the registrar’s office in Mexico, we decided to have a neighbor who was a native Spanish speaker call all and verify everything. . . We gave her a list of questions to ask (everything from verifying our appointment to the cost and requirements.)
We found that we had gotten just about everything right and the only discrepancies were between what she said the requirements were and what the web site said, so we did it all just to be safe. . .
Now six weeks later and here we are in Zihuantinejo, Mexico
We apologize for the lack of pictures up to this point. Our ship didn't dock in Zihuantinejo, it actually anchored in the harbor and shuttled us in via the Tender (the Lifeboats)
Once we arrived at the docks, our first point of business was to get a tourist visa (Our last requirement before we can go to the registrar’s office to get married)
Like most tourist ports the taxi drivers are pretty aggressive, we managed to ignore the first few, but it became apparent that we had no idea where to get our visa done, so we asked one of the drivers. . . Which was the first step in a set of circumstances that would forever change the way we became married!
See the picture above? That's Juan our taxi driver. Juan is 56 and has two kids, been married 29 years. He owns his taxi and has been a driver for 20 years.
When Juan asked where we were going, we told him we were looking for the place to get our travel visas. .
Now here is the problem. Juan had NEVER had someone make that request. Why may you ask? Well the only place to get a travel visa is at the Mexican border or the Airport. You get this visa because they have no idea how long you are going to be in the country, but if you come in via cruise ship, they know you will be leaving in a matter of hours. (The visa is only required for stays of 4 days or more).
Juan asked someone else where to get the visa. We told them we needed it to get married and all of a sudden Juan seemed to understand what we needed. Before we got into the Taxi we gave Juan our paper that had the registrar’s office address on it. He said it was no problem, "I will take you to Francisco, he do Your marriage." A stroke of Luck, our Taxi driver knows the registrar!! Or so we thought. . .
Now you remember Aculpoco? Well this was everything it wasn't. . . . This place is beautiful and peaceful, Quite and calm, a paradise!!
Juan drove us quietly through the streets, talking to us along the way. . .
After about 15 minutes, we arrived at a small parking lot that seemed almost like a courtyard. He led us through the beach front resort to a very nice woman who was the mother of Francisco.
From here we could see the beach and our cruise ship.
(if you look closely on the right, you will see Juan, our cab driver)
They got Francisco on the phone and informed him that we had an appointment at noon to get married. Juan handed Daniel the phone and he informed us that he did perform weddings, but he was about twice as much as the registrar and that if we had an appointment we should go there, but to understand that the registrar will do the ceremony in Spanish and he would do it in English. Daniel thanked him for his time and asked Francisco to explain that we needed to be taken to the registrars office.
At that point we were really grateful that we took the first tender off the ship. However, we had completely forgotten about the whole travel visa issue. . .
Back into the city we went. . . .
At one point, Daniel asked Juan if he like musica. . . Juan replied, "Of Course" and pulled out a CD from the console. "Here is something special, just for you two"
La Bamba came over the speakers. . . . . :) The America Version
Un chained Melody was next
Eternal Flame
Then. . . .We arrived at the Registrars office, or more specifically. . . the road just around the corner. . .
So, we hopped out of the car and ran across the street. . Walked about 50 feet to a classic Mexican alley Where we found the registrar’s office. . . . EMPTY!!
No they didn't move. . They are Closed on Saturdays!!
"No worries my friends, I take you back to Francisco, he marry you Okay?"
What do you say to that? except. . . . Okay
So back to the beautiful oceanside resort to get married. . . Except, again, we had forgotten about the Travel Visa!!
Fast forward thirty minutes. . . We are sitting at the resort, Francisco is looking at our documents. Telling us that we didn't have to have our birth certificates apostilled, that our medical Exams and blood work were no longer required and having them translated into Spanish was never required. He did like the passport photos though. . . And now the moment we know you are waiting for. . .
"Where are your Travel Visas?" Francisco asked.
We quickly explained that was the first thing we asked Juan and that he brought us there!
Francisco spent the next several minutes on the phone with someone he knew. After getting off the phone we explained that he knew someone that worked for the immigration department but he only had his brother’s number. So he had called the brother, explained the problem and asked him to contact his brother and then call us back.
Now, we had explained several times up to this point that we had to be back to the pier by 3pm local time. Giving us about 4 hours from the time Francisco was told to come down to the resort and marry us. . (just keep that in mind)
After about 10 minutes, the man called back and gave Francisco the number. He called and again, explained the predicament. . . . . After laughing and joking with the man, he hung up.
"The man is on the way, he will be here in 30 minutes to complete your visas"
We were shocked to say the least. So having a half hour to kill, we ate lunch. The best Mahi Mahi (or any fish) that either of us have ever eaten!!
The gentleman showed up, chatted a while, drank a vodka and tonic, then completed our visas.
Meanwhile, Francisco said he needed to go back to his office to get the ink pad for the fingerprints! An hour later, he came back. It was at that time we informed the it would be $100 US Dollars for the Visas. . . . Ouch is right!!!
Now remember that 4 hours we had to get back to the pier? it's now about 2pm, leaving only an hour to get the ceremony done and back to the pier. But we are in mexico. . . The Universal laws of time don't apply here!!
Everything moved very slow, unless, you are in a vehicle. . . Then everything seems to move twice as fast!! Go figure. . .
So it's at this time Francisco informs us that he needs to change out of this lovely Zihuantinejo-Ix tapa polo shirt and into something more appropriate. . . So he leaves. . .
Tick. . . .Tock. . . .Tick. . . .Tock
It's now 2:35 and Francisco arrives back at the resort. . . IN THE SAME CLOTHES HE WAS WEARING!!!
Luckily, a nice young lady had been keeping us company and immediately informed him that we had to get to the pier by 3pm. He acted surprised!! What, Really. . . Hadn't we mentioned it about a dozen times already? Why yes we had. . . .
So Francisco, in magical moment, defied the unnatural laws of time and space in Mexico, and he sped up about 2%. . . .
In about 10 minutes, Francisco had set-up a table with a fine linen tablecloth, the marriage documents and an ink pad out on the beach. . So we headed out to get married. . .
(Notice Francisco in is lovely blue polo shirt)
Now was the moment of truth. . . Would we both say "I DO?"
Yes, we did! ! ! !
We exchanged rings. Being the unconventional couple that we are, we went outside of the norm with our wedding rings.
Here is a picture of our matching puzzle rings.
(Oh. . . You missed the Kiss, darn!!)
(We got to sign the documents in duplicate & triplicate, that's five times folks)
(each!! Plus finger prints. . . . )
Now the most amazing thing happened while the ceremony was going on. . . Notice how crowded the beach is? Well, people began to flock over to us. In the above picture you will see Daniel signing an autograph for one of his fans. . . Just kidding. . . This lovely woman from Mexico City, Mexico. . Decided to take pictures of the entire event. She came up to us and told us that she would love to send them to us. She showed us and they were so beautiful. . We gave her our email address and thanked her. . .
After our kiss, the Beach woke up in a roar of cheers and clapping. . . We both almost started crying is was so cool!!
Everyone we passed said “congratulations!!”
Now it's 2:55pm and our day still has an incredible adventure ahead. . .
So there is no way we are going to make it to the pier by 3:00 pm, so we handed juan our tickets and asked him if he know how to get to the Dolphinarium. . . .
Good news!! Juan knew right where it was as promptly headed to Ixtapa. . . The ride was just as beautiful but ixtapa is much more of a tourist area. There are big hotels and shopping areas.
We got to stop by an international bank and pick-up a few more pesos to pay juan.
uPON ARRIVING AT THE Delfiniti Dolphinarium, we found that our tour group was running behind because they had been waiting for us at the pier. Oops!!
Once they arrived, we were taken back to the pool and fitted for life vests and introduced to the two dolphins we would get to swim and play with.
What amazing creatures!! Like little puppies, they just want to play and have fun.
We got to spend over an hour in the water with these two.
Daniel actually has a tan, but you would never know with this first class camera work. lol
We both just loved this experience.
We know our families wanted to be invited to our wedding. But really, how many people are swimming with dolphins and hour after getting married? we don’t know about you, but a reception line isn’t our first choice!!
So the dolphinarium had pictures and videos to sell, which we bought a couple to share with you. So feel free to send us $86 pesos per picture you enjoyed looking at!!
They had a DVD of the swim for $64 USD, which was a total sham, so we took some video of the tv they were playing it on. lol We’ll post it later on lisa’s blog!
We packed up and headed to the bus that took us back to the pier.
So here is a look at the tender boats that shuttled us to and from the cruise ship. The Carnival Spirit in the background through the fence.
A look back at the beach from the Tender
Another pic from the Tender out the other door. The sun is just going down. . . .
What a great way to end a beautiful day!!
The last shot from our Stateroom balcony!!
Oh. . . One Last thing. . . . Our little towel creature for the day. . .
ugg lisa, oh the suspense, thanks a lot
looks beautiful!!! congratulations
January 6, 2009 7:52 AM
Christina B. said...
Congratulations Lisa and Daniel! I wish both of you the best in your future together. I also wish I were on that beach right now. :)
January 6, 2009 8:52 AM
Janell H. said...
OMG LISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The pics didn't load yet but reading that incredible story!!!! Congratulations!!! I am so happy for your family :)
January 6, 2009 9:38 AM