Viking World Cruise

What a glorious and wonderful life..... we are drinking coffee on our balcony and watching the El Fuego Volcano puff smoke as we sail into Guatemala. We were struck not only by the poverty, but also by the persistence and tenacity of the hawkers, who tried to persuade us to buy their wares. This is a land of many volcanoes, most still active, and lovely people who work hard and do their best to enjoy life. Everything grows here, including bananas and coffee. The Spanish influence is palpable and the veneer of Catholicism over the native Indian religion is still strong. Guatemala was wonderful, filled with colorful markets, volcanos puffing smoke, banana trees, coffee plants and sugar cane. I learned that a banana tree produces one bunch of bananas and then it dies and another one takes its place. We drove from the port to Antigua along a winding road that took us into the mountains. It was blessedly cool in Antigua with the high of 71 while at the port the high was 93. I bought several gifts that will appear at Christmas at the local markets. The bananas are in blue bags to keep insects away. Three sea days and then we get to go whale watching in Cabo. Every year on All Saints Day Guatemalan families gather together at the cemetery. They repaint the tombs of their departed loved ones in bright colors and cook out a barbecue there by the gravesite. Once the paint dries, children stand on the tombs and fly kites, symbolizing our connection with those gone to the skies. It is a joyous and colorful celebration of the union of saints below with the saints above. Banana trees—actually banana bushes. Each produces one large bunch of bananas then dies. Seeds the bush has scattered on the ground grow into another bush that repeats the process. The blue bags prevent bees or other insects from marring the fruit. Only perfect, spot-free bananas can be exported. Bananas with even the slightest blemish are retained for domestic consumption.Read more

We are in French Polynesia. Today we called at the port of Taiohae on the island of Nuku Hiva. This place is gloriously beautiful. The tiny town has no McDonald’s, no gas stations, not one shopping center, and hundreds of wonderful people. This was the port of call associated with the whaling ship Essex, which was demolished by an angry whale. This event was the basis of Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick. There is a lovely Roman Catholic cathedral here that tastefully incorporates the local architectural idiom. There is little to do here except hang out with the local residents and brush up on one’s French. I would return to this place in a heartbeat.Read more