Off to the sun: PSA goes to Mexico

PSA Journal, Jan, 2008 by Jean Timmermeister

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

There is no doubt at all that the appeal of a trip to Mexico's Copper Canyon was the big draw for the Photographic Society of America (PSA) 2007 Adventure series trip. The Adventure was planned right after the Holland America cruise line announced their new special shore excursion to the Copper Canyon. It did not disappoint! Four hundred cruisers signed up to take the special train into the canyon, selling it out by June on-line for the October departure.

Once again leading the PSA Adventure group was Past President Dick Frieders, Hon. PSA, FPSA, and his wife Judy of Batavia, Illinois. Regulars on all three PSA Adventures in addition to the Frieders were Mark Southard, APSA, and Patti, of Chicago plus Jean Timmermeister, FPSA, from Spokane. Back again were Carole, FPSA, and Edward Hagaman (from Blackstone, Virginia) and the Charlie Mahnkens (Burlingame, California). Each PSA Adventure cruise with like-minded photographers is great fun and just full of good fellowship.

Comments from some of the PSA passengers on the ms Ryndam, plus some of their images are shared here:

From Judy Frieders came the remark that the "highlight was the Copper Canyon tour, but a very pleasant surprise was the town of Loreto with the carved arches of trees over the main street of the shopping area, and the pelicans in the harbor." Little Loreto appealed to Paula Buzenius, (Irving, Texas) too, who said it was her favorite port. "It was not overly populated ... had extremely clean cobblestone streets, quaint but sophisticated shops, and its cathedral was the first to be built in Mexico. It had a small harbor where I sat for hours photographing cormorants, pelicans and blue-footed boobies fishing." Jerry Hixson, FPSA, of Reedley, California was seen photographing the pelicans, returning to the ship for lunch, then taking the ship's tender back to Loreto with bread crumbs from his lunch--hoping to attract the pelicans for more picture-taking.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The private train trip to the Copper Canyon (after a two-hour bus ride from the ship to Las Mochis) was in six railroad cars for the 400 cruisers plus a couple dozen ship's employees, as well as six tour guides. From sea level to over 7,000 foot elevation and back again, it was a very ambitious trip of 18 hours. A bit late returning to the ship ended in a return to the ms Ryndam after 11 pm with a full compliment of white-garbed ship's officers and other ship employees greeting the group on the dock. Dick Frieders felt that the day was certainly the highlight of the cruise, "Although long and tiring at times, the views from the train were incredible and there were plenty of Tarahumara Indians to pose for pictures ... when we arrived at our destination. A port that I really enjoyed was Cabo San Lucas. It's located at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula and a small boat trip provided access to Los Arcos and other very unique rock formations, for some great picture possibilities."

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Carole Hagaman agreed the trip was most exciting! "...getting to photograph the Tarahumara native women and children was great ... they seemed very kind, gentle, and willing to be photographed. Purchasing a basket opened the way to exciting images of them. The Pantenala dancers and flyers provided great images as well as performances ... the canyon itself was photogenic with different topography areas." From Edward Hagaman came the following, "The trip provided many colorful opportunities for photographs at each port of call. The trips were well organized and I enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow PSA'ers. The cliff divers were spectacular in their performances...the Mexican children were very photogenic. The young man who performed the rope tricks was very young and talented." Dody Bracken of Dallas was more general than most, "A wonderful voyage, great ship, delicious food, extraordinarily friendly crew, spectacular scenery, and a new appreciation for the Mexican culture." What more could anyone want?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mark Southard obviously loves cruises and remarked, "The cruise was great ... Holland does a superb job ... their staff is most congenial and professional ... the side trips were good. I thought the one to the little town of Loreto was the best: simple, no great pressure to buy 'stuff' (no running the shopping gauntlet) and I even got a great haircut at the 'peluqueria' for $5."

More from new PSA member, Paula Buzenius, "This cruise to Mexico was a treasure trove of photographic opportunities ... on board the Ryndam with its three-deck tall fountain in the center of the ship and mirrored ceiling above ... the stained glass in various locations and artifacts on display which were photographed for later collage use. Occasionally, dolphins would play beside the ship jumping, daring my camera to catch them air bound. Once on shore, there were opportunities for dynamic scenic photographs with or without Mexico's town development, shoreline or inland. In the populated areas photography of the daily lifestyles of the Mexican people beckoned to be taken, such as the umbrella street cart in a Puerto Vallarta square with its owner stripping sugar cane for sale. Having a love of nature I was delighted to have the opportunity to release newly hatched sea turtles and watch as they made their way across the beach to the sea. Boating on a river, I photographed blue, reddish and tricolor herons, egrets, and osprey. It was a wonderful trip and I am still smiling with the remembrance."