South of America

A new continent to explore. Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Belize, and wherever else works in. Read more

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Day 58
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 12:41 PM
⛅ 91 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
Panama Monumento a Arnulfo Aria Madrid 8.952162, -79.5566038°57’8” N 79°33’24” W
Military Base
December 3, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
The Panama Canal is the reason the area is what it is today. The military and the Panama Canal company were huge shapers of the economy and of the land. You can see the obvious influence of Army construction in these buildings. The broad green space is the same width as the canal itself, complete with concrete pads representing the locks.Read more
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Day 58
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 2:18 PM
⛅ 91 °F
Altitude: 56 ft
Panama Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport 8.969688, -79.5535058°58’11” N 79°33’13” W
Panama City Mall
December 3, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
Went to the mall today. The mall was built on what had been the hanger and base portion of the US military Air Force Station. The enclosed area of the mall is huge! The building covers two floors in an odd zig-zag shape. It is about 50% occupied. But the stores that remain are popular American brands. Levi, La Coste, Polo, H&M and such. Even the food court contained, Popeyes, McDonalds, Subway, Taco Bell, and Burger King. If it were completely occupied I would guess that it would have been a sight.Read more
TravelerWow.... thats HUGE!..... the food court looks well appointed with recognizable shops too
12/4/23Reply
TravelerYes very large but only 50% occupied. But there were people walking about so it didn’t feel empty
12/5/23Reply
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Day 58
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 4:27 PM
⛅ 90 °F
Altitude: 33 ft
Panama Puerto Panamá 8.955042, -79.5364628°57’18” N 79°32’11” W
Hop-on Bus
December 3, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F
I’ve had great luck with hop on busses in various City. This was NOT a success. Only one bus runs the loop. Which means about 2 hours between getting off one stop and on the next. Two hours is a long time at any stop and the heat makes it really uncomfortable. Not recommended in Panama City with 90 degrees and 70% humidity.Read more
TravelerThats a bummer..... not well thought out by the tourism board....
12/4/23Reply
TravelerIt is possible to hop on at the port if you are on a cruise ship, but I would be afraid to not make it back around off in time to leave port.
12/5/23Reply
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Day 58
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 6:32 PM
🌙 84 °F
Altitude: 72 ft
Panama Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary 8.952337, -79.534638°57’8” N 79°32’5” W
Casco Viejo
December 3, 2023 in Panama ⋅ 🌙 84 °F
I really enjoy the old town area. The scale of The two and occasionally three story buildings and the Colonial architecture really blend well. It’s nice to see the revitalization and the way that tropical plants intrude into abandoned building and on roofs creates interesting visuals.Read more
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Day 58
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 7:19 PM
🌙 82 °F
Altitude: 59 ft
Panama Puerto Panamá 8.953942, -79.535478°57’14” N 79°32’8” W
City Sights
December 3, 2023 in Panama ⋅ 🌙 82 °F
Panama is a long narrow country mostly divided into two sections: Panamá City on the Pacific and Colon on the Atlantic side. High rises on face the Pacific Ocean for the view and the breeze. From all areas you can see the skyline.Read more
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Day 60
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 6:52 AM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 59 ft
Panama Puerto Panamá 8.953881, -79.5356898°57’14” N 79°32’8” W
Crossing the Isthmus
December 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Today’s adventure is to cross the isthmus’s to Colon. It is an arduous trip of 2.5 hours in a car. Then we will visit Portobelo Fort and a couple of islands then return. Like millions before us we are ready for the adventure and have packed accordingly.Read more
TravelerGr8 way to make me thirsty
12/6/23Reply
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Day 60
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 10:12 AM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Panama Isla Lintón 9.614138, -79.5850139°36’51” N 79°35’6” W
Two Monkey Island
December 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
This island originally was home to many many spider monkeys, now there are two. I’m. It sure if there was a Lord of the Flies, monkey version, but now there are only two left. They are well trained to leave their house when the tour boats come along an they certainly know how to beg for food.Read more
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Day 60
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 10:26 AM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Panama Isla Palina 9.61058, -79.5993729°36’38” N 79°35’58” W
Lovers Lane - Mangrove Style
December 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
The tour boat took us through a mangrove forest. It was called lovers land because the tree canopy joined in the middle. The water was clear and shallow.
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Day 60
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 2:56 PM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Panama Isla Grande 9.63058, -79.5638289°37’50” N 79°33’50” W
Isla Grande
December 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
Panama is full of surprises. I didn’t expect that there would be parts that resemble a tropical island from a movie.
We visited four islands on our tour. Isla Grande was the largest.
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Day 61
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 1:30 PM
⛅ 88 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Panama Isla Perico 8.917875, -79.51968°55’4” N 79°31’11” W
Norweigian Joy
December 6, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F
Retirement means that you can literally take the slow boat home. 10 days from Panama City to Miami via 6 other ports and the Panama Canal. But for a 10 day cruise there are only two days at sea so there will be tons of time for visiting the ports.Read more
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Day 62
Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 1:52 AM
☁️ 81 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Panama San José Rock 8.918417, -79.5065788°55’6” N 79°30’24” W
The Canal - Pacific Locks
December 7, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F
Early morning wake up as we neared the first of the three locks on the Pacific side. 5:45 am and it was dark, and the lights of the canal cast an eerie glow. It took the ship over an hour to get through the first lock and into the second. It’s a slow rise, but you can feel it, and if you pick a point on the lock you can tell we are rising. There are three holding ponds adjacent to us that I think will fill and empty the locks. The canal says they reuse 2/3 of the water used for each lift. The water is fresh water from the reservoir not salt water from the ocean. In a drought, like now, the fresh water is limited thus slowing the number of ships that can use the canal.Read more
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Day 62
Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 6:46 AM
☁️ 77 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
Panama Cerro Aguadulce 8.9803, -79.5887378°58’49” N 79°35’19” W
6 Locks and a Lake
December 7, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
It took all day to get from the Pacific to the Caribbean. The locks were a slow process and then crossing the reservoir was slow, but it gave us plenty of time to watch everything go past and we moved from port to starboard and stern to bow, each time we saw new things.
It was enjoyable and an experience to have seen.Read more
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Day 63
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 6:27 AM
⛅ 77 °F
Altitude: 13 ft
Costa Rica Bahía de Limón 9.989731, -83.0217449°59’23” N 83°1’18” W
Costa Rica- Puerto Limon
December 8, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
This must be why there are ports fighting for cruise ships.
Welcome to Costa Rica, where the local time is 6:28 am and the cruise economy is in full swing.
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Day 63
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 10:42 AM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 59 ft
Costa Rica Río Blanco 10.010987, -83.10977210°0’40” N 83°6’35” W
Farm, train and boat
December 8, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Today is a tour from the cruise company. Billed as the ….. first stop was a farm to see how banana, coffee, and cacao are raised and harvested. Then a train through the jungle and along the coast, then a boat to….Read more
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Day 63
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 2:14 PM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
Costa Rica Mercado Municipal de Limón 9.99278, -83.0279229°59’34” N 83°1’41” W
Puerto Limon
December 8, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
This port seems like the arrival of cruise ships is still a new concept. The tour (a train, a canal ride and a farm visit), were all nice, but the town around the cruise ship dock had little for tourists and felt a little rough.Read more
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Day 64
Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 2:06 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Caribbean Sea 10.840872, -82.47728710°50’27” N 82°28’38” W
Sea Day
December 9, 2023, Caribbean Sea ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
This 10 day cruise has two sea days, the first is for the sail from Costa Rica to Grand Cayman. Plenty to do on the ship and we finished with a dinner at Cagney’s the steak restaurant on board. And we realized that with the drink package, we can create our own wine tasting menu so that was a nice add.Read more
TravelerChanneling BC when reading Grand Cayman 🥂
12/10/23Reply
TravelerNice
12/12/23Reply
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Day 65
Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 6:21 AM
🌬 81 °F
Altitude: 26 ft
Cayman Islands George Town Barcadere 19.312592, -81.36199919°18’45” N 81°21’43” W
Sloths
December 10, 2023 in Cayman Islands ⋅ 🌬 81 °F
I like sloths. As a species their family life and chill vibe appeals to me. The fact that they don’t bathe for weeks at a time would create issues for me, but I could adapt.
Sloths are slow, they sleep a lot and generally hang on trees and eat leaves in slow ways so,
How much confidence do you have in a mail service that has a sloth as their marketing mascot?
I didn’t put mail in to try it out.Read more
TravelerLol
12/12/23Reply
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Day 65
Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 12:48 PM
⛅ 84 °F
Altitude: 72 ft
Cayman Islands Miss Eden Bay 19.294883, -81.3814319°17’42” N 81°22’53” W
Snorkel - Grand Cayman
December 10, 2023 in Cayman Islands ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
The British West Indies, Grand Cauman. First it’s British and driving is on the “other side” second the cars are both left and right hand drive which must be a true driving adventure. Our adventure was snorkeling. First stop was a reef created by sinking the SS Kitiwake. We floated over the sunken boat for 25 minutes with free range to go over it. There was a group of divers below who were swimming around it… their bubbles were fun to swim through. The second stop was a reef just off shore. So many interesting fish. I used the GoPro and shot video. I will upload it soon.
My friend Bob would have laughed at my basic photography skills and I miss him at times like this.Read more
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Day 66
Monday, December 11, 2023 at 10:14 AM
🌬 77 °F
Altitude: 56 ft
Mexico Huerto Familiar 20.481787, -86.97275520°28’54” N 86°58’22” W
Cozumel - island of Mexico
December 11, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ 🌬 77 °F
First thing I see getting off the boat is a sign for Senior Frogs. On My first cruise to Mexico, I remember having a great time at the one in Ensenada (I think). That was about 20 years ago.
This is my 7th country this trip! 27th country visited.
Today we visit Tulum ruins and swim in a Cenote. Another interesting adventure.Read more
TravelerI snorkeled in Cozumel once. Remind me to tell you the story sometime.
12/12/23Reply
TravelerI look forward to it
12/12/23Reply
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Day 66
Monday, December 11, 2023 at 1:44 PM
☁️ 79 °F
Altitude: 23 ft
Mexico Tulum 20.214842, -87.4296520°12’53” N 87°25’47” W
Tulum - Mayan Temple
December 11, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F
The Mayans were really in to buildings that worked like a calendar. When the sun shines through this window, it’s time to plant. When it shines through the other window it’s time to harvest. When it shines through this window it’s time to play a game and whomever wins gets sacrificed. There were so many nuisances to the architecture that I lost track. .Read more
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Day 66
Monday, December 11, 2023 at 3:13 PM
☁️ 79 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Mexico El Manatí 20.286383, -87.3959220°17’11” N 87°23’45” W
Cenote Swim
December 11, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F
A cenote (sen-o-te) is an underground river. Or more actually the cave formed from underground rivers. These caves were created millions of years ago with water from the ice age. Today there are areas with many of them and you can swim through and in them. There are three types, open, closed, and partially open. We swam through an open and a closed types. I used the Go Pro for the water shots and I will work on uploading shortly.Read more
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Day 67
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 9:44 AM
🌧 75 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Mexico Punta Chacchi 18.731047, -87.688518°43’52” N 87°41’19” W
Costa Maya Mexico, no exit
December 12, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ 🌧 75 °F
We docked this morning at Costa Maya where the dock is very exposed to the waves. The swells don’t feel that large but they crash on the dock creating huge waves. For now, no one can leave the ship for fear of getting washed off the dock. The other ship across the dock, the Carnival Mardi Gras, let some people off earlier, but they have all returned to the ship within the last hour.Read more
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Day 68
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 8:39 AM
⛅ 75 °F
Altitude: 62 ft
Belize Harvest Cay 16.476428, -88.40617516°28’35” N 88°24’22” W
Belize - Harvest Caye
December 13, 2023 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
When you are a cruise ship company and you want to have a port completely to yourself without port charges, no taxes, and free control, you build Harvest Caye tropical island. Just off the coast of the country of Belize. Swimming pools, beaches, zip lines, snorkeling, fishing, diving, drinking and food, basically the food groups of cruising. Light rains kept the temperature low and weather not too hot and snorkeling off the inner Great Barrier Reef made A great day all around.Read more
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Day 68
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 10:51 AM
🌧 77 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Belize Harvest Cay 16.470458, -88.4076316°28’14” N 88°24’27” W
Practice Drill
December 13, 2023 in Belize ⋅ 🌧 77 °F
It is nice to see that the crew practices these things. They off loaded the boats and floated around in a parade of circles.
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Day 69
Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 6:25 AM
⛅ 79 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Honduras Cerro Dixon Cove 16.312293, -86.54578316°18’44” N 86°32’45” W
Honduras- Roatan (island)
December 14, 2023 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Similar to Cozumel the island of Roatan is off the coast of Honduras. We arrived in the early morning and the seas are calm and the weather is cool. Today is snorkeling and a kayak paddle through the mangroves. This is our last day in a port. One day at sea and then we arrive in Miami on the 16th.Read more
TravelerYour up early!
12/14/23Reply
TravelerAre you seeing/experiencing any of the effects of the storm forming up in the gulf?
12/15/23Reply
TravelerI guess we must be and that explains why the swells are 18’ and the boat is rocking and rolling. But…. We are in such a bubble that I didn’t know there was a storm….
12/15/23Reply
TravelerYeeHaa, ride’em…
12/15/23Reply
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