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Panama Canal
  • Betty Rempel
Feb – Mar 2020

Panama Canal

This is our second time through the Panama Canal, 10 years after our first HAL cruise from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 23, 2020
    Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Winnipeg to Ft. Lauderdale

    February 23, 2020 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C

    On our way! Good flights, good weather and a shorter travel day going through Calgary instead of Toronto or Montreal. Thanks to Dan for getting up early to drive us. Checked our travel diary from 2010, the last time we went through the Panama Canal and saw he had taken us to the airport then as well. Had a good sleep and are now off to the ship. Free shuttles all around!Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    At sea

    February 25, 2020 in Curacao ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Awake early though that doesn’t make sense as our location is still an hour ahead of home. Walked a mile around the ship before 8 then showered and dressed for the day. Attended the grand opening of the new jewellery shop. Effy is now the tenant in the shop area and celebrated the event with more champagne. Seems to be the norm. Attended the shore excursion talk and booked an excursion for Curaçao.

    Had reserved a table at the back of the ship for the next three evenings but when we arrived someone was already sitting there. Francisco, who had made our reservation, spoke to us and assured us that we now have that table for the rest of the cruise. It pays to be kind to the staff.

    Went to the show which was just 30 minutes long. Excellent dancing, high energy. Since we had been up early and Vic wasn’t feeling 100%, we wen back to our room and watched tv until an early bedtime.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Curacao

    February 27, 2020 in Curacao ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Laranha oranges are wild oranges originating from the Spanish Valencia oranges that produce fruit twice a year. They are so bitter that even the goats won’t eat them but the Jewish Senior family, beginning in 1896, started using the rind, sugar, clove and cardamom to make blue Curaçao liqueur.

    They now make it in many other flavours like chocolate , coffee, rum and raisin, etc.

    Also visited a local cottage business started by a 10 year old girl and her mother who wanted more sending money for her family trip to Orlando. Now the whole family works at making lip balm, organic soaps and skin butters. The girl is now 17 sad finishing high school.

    Watched a folkloric dance and music performance. Very educational and beautiful. Even Vic got in on the action. If only I could have remembered how to use his video camera. Yes I realize now I should have just used my phone.

    Visited an aloe farm where they make shower gels and face creams. An aloe plant is ready for harvest after 2.5 years. You can also eat the gel And of course it has many healing properties. Our bus let us off downtown where we had a small gelato in place of lunch. 29*C and as long as you idle walk in the shade or catch a breeze it was comfortable. Got back to the ship by 4 pm to shower and have dinner. Went back out for the evening.

    The yacht moored across from our ship was a owned by Bill Gates’ business partner. He is wishing to sell it. It has a full sized helicopter, three power boats and at least six jet skis. Anyone interested?

    All aboard is at 10.    Read more

    See translation
  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Aruba

    February 28, 2020 in Aruba ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    So hot here! Had a walking tour this morning which included some local snacks, one was pastechi, similar to an empanada but with Gouda cheese filling. Lots of historical info.

    Found another wedding. Seems to be what we do on vacation. Nice iguanas!Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Panama Canal

    March 1, 2020 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Clocks ahead last night so the 5 am alarm felt like 6. Still dark when we got to our preferred viewing spot on Deck 4 at the bow, the lights of Colon welcoming us. Through the first locks at 7 and enjoyed the traditional hot coffee and Panama buns while listening to the Panamanian narrator describe the building of the Canal.

    By 10, it felt like we needed a snack so sampled the crepes with apple filling.

    A nap on the Promenade was welcome as we sailed leisurely through Gatun Lake.

    Stopped for lunch and a bit of a rest. 35C is pretty hot and hydration is essential.

    Watched our final passage through to the Pacific Ocean at Fuerte Amador where we had had an excursion 10 years ago. This was the only set of local where they used the row boats to move the ropes to the ship.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler
    1

    At sea along the coast of Costa Rica

    March 2, 2020 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Clocks back last night which generally would mean an extra hour to sleep. Apparently not in the cards for us so we walked the Promenade Deck for a mile or so before breakfast. The Dining Room opens for breakfast at 8 so we were at the doors at 7:55, just the the old folks we used to chuckle about when we were younger. They serve a lovely breakfast and the coffee is better the the Lido buffet. This may be our choice in the future.

    Mariners’ Reception at the World Stage this morning honouring Mariners with 200 or more sea days. There was one couple who had been on the ship for over 4 months. Their total sea days were over 1,000. A brunch followed for all Mariners complete with champagne and wine. Waked the deck later in the afternoon and saw tern, flying fish and later a number of small dolphins. There are always a number or other ship in sight, much different from the Atlantic crossings to Europe when one sees no other life for days on end.

    Gala night tonight complete with fillet mignon and crab. Other choices included duck breast and rack of lamb. Such difficult choices.

    Costa Rica tomorrow. Meeting time for our excursion is 8 am so packed our bags this evening complete with sunscreen and mosquito repellent.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler
    1

    Costa Rica

    March 3, 2020 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Up before 6. Eager to get into land. Our excursion met at 8 and was a two hour bus ride to our first stop well over 3000 feet above sea level. We are definitely in the clouds as the excursion boasts. We have seen cashew trees, coffee farms growing only Arabica beans, the best coffee in the world. It is grown on hills with other crops planted among the coffee. This provides shade for the coffee and allows for another source of income. Unemployment is over 12% but the country very biodiverse.Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Nicaragua

    March 4, 2020 in Nicaragua ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Today we docked in Corinto and are going to El Viejo and Chinandega. We were welcomed on the pier by two groups of dancers, one modern group accompanied by a percussion group and one traditional group and traditional musicians. They played and danced for about an hour while we waited for our turn to disembark for our tour. About a dozen little girls in traditional dress greeted the first 100 or so passengers with gift bags. This port is industrial so if you want to see anything, you need to take a tour.

    This is the largest country in Central American . It means place with several deposits of water. 27% of the country used to be water. 7 active volcanoes . 6.2million inhabitants in Nicaragua and used to be the safest country in Central America. Political crisis in 2018 changed everything.

    First export is beef, then coffee, then gold. The gold mines are owned by Canadians and of course the currency is printed in Winnipeg.

    We stopped at the minor Basilica in El Viejo dedicate to Mary who is the patron saint of Nicaragua. Such a poor country and the children beg for money when you walk into the church. Th primary children go to school in the afternoon as the secondary students go in the morning.

    It is very dry though not a desert area. September as October are the rainy season.

    Our tour guide Bosco’s cousin’s. Holstein go to the Goethe Schule in Corinto. Bosch hopes to send his oldest son to English school next year.

    The temperature today is 36C though it feels like 40C because of the humidity. Gas is $1.20/litre.

    Visited a museum with artifacts from 3000 BC.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler
    1

    Guatemala

    March 5, 2020 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Our excursion through Shore Excursion Group met at 7:15 am. Our guide Adolfo and driver Jorge were excellent. Many improvements to the port since 2010, more restaurants and vendors. The road part way to Antigua has been twinned since 2013. There are bananas, sugar cane which is being harvested now so there are many tandem trucks on the road and four active volcanoes, one of which is smoking.

    There are 22 Mayan languages now though there use to be 356.

    Avocados cost 1 Quetzal which is about 25 cents.

    The smoke from burning sugar cane obscured the very of the volcanoes for the first hour of our ride but it seems to be clearing.

    Toured the basilica and smaller church on foot. Lunch at a restaurant housed in the ancient cathedral    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler
    1

    At sea

    March 6, 2020, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    We experienced quite a windy, rocky night, beginning at 2:30 am, with the worst at 5:30 am, described as hurricane force winds by our Captain, gusts up to 100 mph. Many outside cabins with patio doors were flooded. Our window was wind and water tight. By 9 am it had calmed considerably and the skies are blue and slightly less windy. By 11 it was 30C and gentle breezes. Our next port was changed to Manzanillo from Huatulco because of the high winds. Should be interesting to see a new port.

    Last night’s cellar master dinner was lovely. Our cellar master is the only female cellar master on HAL. Tihana is from Croatia and has a 20-year career aboard ships. This afternoon’s wine tasting should prove interesting. She was quite excited to tell us about it when we met in the corridor.

    By noon the seas were like glass and the winds were calm.

    The premiere wine tasting event was interesting, even the choice of glass or crystal makes a difference in the flavour of the wine. If you don’t believe me, try it at home.

    The plate of cheeses and seafood and chocolate was used as pairings with the various wines. The fat in the smoked salmon and the cheese smoothes out the acid in the wine with which it is paired. Who says vacation can’t be educational?    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Manzanillo, Mexico

    March 7, 2020 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    So we arrived at noon at this port because their health officials wanted to inspect the ship’s records. We were required to drop anchor well away from the pier for them to do so. They boarded the ship, examined the records and two people of interest and declared we were good to go. Then the pilot made his way to the ship and bright is alongside the pier. We were then told that Customs officials still needed to board the ship. We have finally been cleared to disembark 70 minutes after our scheduled time. I guess some palm grease was in order.

    So hot here again.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    More Puerto Vallarta

    March 7, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    What a lovely day! 28C. It was really nice of Carl to spend his day with us. We could have managed on our own but it’s so much nicer to spend the day with someone who lives here three months every year. He knew which streets to go down and which restaurants to go to. We tried some New Mexican food and tried some interesting tequila. Bought some vanilla to bring home and after putting in more than 16,000 steps, we decided against going to his condo and returned to the ship around 5. After showers we went for dinner and an early bedtime.Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Puerto Vallarta

    March 8, 2020 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Arrived here with an all clear an hour early at 9 am. Met Carl Wiebe at Sbux at the new mall. Vic says the mall is not new and was here already 10 years ago. He is right. Took a cab to the Malecon and walked to the Ocean Bar. Margaritas for $2. Can’t beat that!Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Second last day at sea

    March 9, 2020, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After what felt like a short night due to the clocks being set ahead last night, we visited Explorations Cafe for a good cup of coffee. Had to wait until 6:30 for it to open. We are along the Baja Peninsula today. Vic saw some whales this morning after we attended the Captain’s Q and A. Very interesting.

    Took the Galley Tour for something to do.

    Lunch was surprising, large quantities of cold shrimp and king crab, also mussels and clams. What a treat!

    We were invited to a complementary wine tasting this afternoon. Seven stations with 12 wines and snacks to cleanse the palate. Carolynne won the raffle and chose an Argentinian Malbec. It will go well with the filet mignon and lobster tail for dinner tonight. Met Jody from Burlington who pulled the winning ticket. She is Inhouse counsel for an insurance company. Had a nice chat.

    Surf and Turf for dinner was nice and the show with Savannah Jack was fun. Again, early to bed. Must be getting old.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    Last day befor San Diego

    March 10, 2020, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Last day on board the elegant Rotterdam. After breakfast Carolynne and I sat in the outdoor hot tubs until it thundered and began to rain. Packed the majority of my things after a nice, warm shower.

    Decided to have lunch in the dining room as we hadn’t done that before. Menu the same as in the Lido but more relaxed and no temptation to go for seconds.

    Took advantage of a two-hour window to have a nice long nap. Raining anyway so perfect opportunity to do so. First rain we have had this trip. It had sprinkled a bit in Costa Rica but this was a serious rain.

    Attended afternoon tea where we met a woman from Washington State and another from Victoria, BC. Had a nice chat with them.

    Final dinner in the dining room where we found out that our waiter Rai was leaving the ship at San Diego to return home for a family problem. We hope things will work out for his family. Left his thank you tip at the purser’s desk for them to forward to him. Gave Andi and our wine steward Noel their tips and after the final variety show were able to connect with our room stewards as well.

    Went up to the Crow’s Nest for a final happy hour. Have never been so tired on a vacation. Surprised I could stay up long enough to do so. To bed shorty after 10.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    San Diego

    March 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Spent the day walking from our hotel in Little Italy along the waterfront, up through the Gaslamp District and back again.

    Lunch at Kansas City BBQ where a couple of scenes from Top Gun were filmed.

    Checked in and had a brief nap. Went out to Bolt Brewers, a sports bar for supper and to watch the Jets game. Good that we did. They won and now the NHL has cancelled the rest of the regular season due to the corona virus. Played trivia during the game and did terribly.

    Sleeping by 10 though the streets are noisy through single-panes windows and the air conditioning wasn’t set cool enough.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    San Diego day 2

    March 12, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Breakfast at Sbux around 8:30, then bought Hop On Hop Off tickets online. $48 pp. toured the Star is India, a submarine and a couple of steam ships in the pouring rain. The trolley took us to Coronado over a 2.6 mile bridge where we walked to the Beach and shared a corned beef sandwich at McP’s Irish pub for lunch. Beautiful resort area.

    Continued on The trolley to Balboa Park where weave a Japanese Garden, the Timkin Centre for Art where we saw a Rembrandt. Caught the second last trolley back to Little Italy. Met Jody and her parents from Burlington (from our cruise) on the trolley.

    Went back out after a small rest to find an Italian restaurant for dinner. Asked a young couple what they would recommend and they said Mona Lisa, the place we had had lunch 10 years ago. So we went there for the Mona Lisa special. Gave the last two pieces of each of our pizzas to a couple of homeless guys. It was nice to see their eyes light up. Walked about a mile along India in search of gelato and found a cool place called Salt and Straw but the line was really long. Found another place and enjoyed our dessert.$4.50 per single scoop. Almost 7 miles today despite all the ten we spent on the trolley. In bed by 9. Long travel day tomorrow.    Read more

  • Betty RempelPanama CanalTraveler

    The travel day

    March 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Friday morning, our last day here. Amid concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we packed our bags and had our last breakfast at Sbux. On our way back to the hotel after the pouring rain, we happened upon a tiny window service only doughnut shop called Devil’s Dozen. Treats to rival Oh Donuts. One caramel topped donut was $3 but was so delicious and browned butter caramelly that we had to share one. Took an Uber to the airport and met a lovely young man from Dubai. He is a dentist and owns four Uber vehicles. He wants to immigrate to Canada so I gave him my business card. He was amazing and the trip was only $15 Cdn for all of us. Lunch at the airport and our flight left on time. Good to be on the way back to Canada. Unfortunately just as we left I got a text from Stef advising that Mom had as a stroke and that she was in the hospital. I thank God that she is getting the care she needs.

    Our flight from Calgary to Winnipeg was delayed so our luggage was delayed coming off the carousel so by the time we got home by cab and into bed it was 3 am. And now to begin the 14-day quarantine.    Read more

    Trip end
    March 13, 2020
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