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The Americas...North & South

December 2018 - February 2019
A 47-day adventure by Betty Read more
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  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 18

    Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

    January 16, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    It was only 34 degrees today and breezy yet this felt like the hottest day. Our ship was docked a 20 minute drive from the closest coastal town, Puntarenas, so we had free shuttle buses that would transport us to town. The buses were modern, air conditioned, 72 passenger buses. Our first stop was the wifi restaurant where one beer, one Coke and unlimited, high speed internet cost $5, which seems to be the standard price. JS lost interest after this and wanted to go back to the ship. I was able to convince him to sit in the shade at the beach while I explored. I found a small market with more trinkets that I didn’t want to buy and several beach front, open-air restaurants/bars. I walked 5 km and then we headed to the bus and back to the ship. I was so hot, red-faced and starting to feel like heat stroke was around the corner.

    We only spent 2 hours on land and it was very disappointing. We have such wonderful memories of our trip to Costa Rica 5 years ago with Alyssa. This area definitely didn’t do it justice. Again there were several, expensive tours we could have taken but they were going to areas we had already been to and most left before 8 am because there was considerable driving involved. Not our idea of a fun day.

    There have been 3 ambulance events so far on our cruise. The first was the seemingly stable patient taken off the ship by stretcher in Puerto Vallarta; the 2nd was in Puerto Chiapas where they just dropped off a wheelchair; and today a passenger was brought back to the ship by ambulance. The ship’s doctor got into the ambulance to assess the passenger and a short while later accompanied him back on board walking independently. I’m guessing that the passenger collapsed from heat stroke and recovered quickly enough to not require hospitalization. It’s an older crowd so things are going to happen.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 19

    A Day at Sea Off the Coast of Panama

    January 17, 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Our day started with a first-stage alarm going off at 6:30 am. It was a false alarm but it does make one think about safety, fire being the biggest risk. Safety is taken seriously. On day one it was mandatory that we attend a drill by gathering at our muster station, or “mustard station” as JS insists on calling it. Roll call was taken. A couple of days later the crew had a drill right up to stage three where all the lifeboats were prepared for rescue. Today I attended a presentation by the captain who spoke about safety features, such as 37,000 sprinkler heads, as well as the general operation of the ship from the bridge.

    The rest of the day was very relaxing....eating, reading, napping, walking and more eating. I went to another kitchen demo and a class on flower arranging. There is one florist and his budget for our two week cruise is a whopping $4600! His floral arrangements are beautiful. This evening was a dress-up event. JS and I took advantage of a free dinner at the fine dining restaurant, courtesy of CAA. It was one of the perks for booking our cruise through CAA, along with a $50 beverage card for each of us. Cocktails or wine are about $12 after taxes and an automatic 15% tip so needless to say we haven’t been drinking much. JS has been anxious to try a cocktail called “Penicillin” made with Islay scotch.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 20

    The Panama Canal I

    January 18, 2019 in Panama ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    We were scheduled to start our transit through the Panama Canal very early in the morning. I awoke at 5 am because I somehow sensed that the ship had stopped moving. I woke up JS and we headed to the bow of the ship that had been opened to passengers for this event only. The process was slow but fascinating and by 9:30 we decided to return to our cabin for a nap. The Canal is 80 km long and it took us until 3 pm to go from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

    Some basic facts:
    - partially built by the French but completed by the USA in 1914, with Panama assuming full operation in 1999 but open to all nations
    - over 20,000 workers died during the construction, mainly of yellow fever which is transmitted by mosquitoes
    - over 2 billion dollars is collected annually in port fees (our transit fee was $40,000)
    - there were 3 sets of locks that we went through, each was 110 feet wide and our ship was 106 feet wide leaving 2 feet clearance on each side
    - we started at sea level; were raised a total of 85 feet; and then lowered back to sea level
    - the water that is used to raise and lower the ships at each set of locks comes from Gatun Lake by gravity
    - there are 2 lanes side-by-side saving ships about 4800 km via an alternative all-water route
    - in 2016 a third set of locks was completed to meet the demand of the larger container ships.

    There was almost a party atmosphere on ship today. They served coffee and Panamanian rolls, a soft sweet roll filled with custard. Later a bar was set up on deck. An interpreter from the Canal Authority was on board and provided a commentary throughout the day. It was partly cloudy, hot, humid and very windy. On two occasions, while taking photos, a strong gust of wind made me lose my balance with one nearly causing me to fall. It was too windy to wear our hats and, since it was dark out when we first went on deck, we both forgot to use sunscreen and got our first sunburns of the trip.

    I was somewhat reluctant about taking this cruise as the itinerary didn’t interest me but transiting the Canal certainly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I enjoyed it far more than I had expected. I spoke with several other women who shared the same opinion. JS was particularly pleased with his bucket-list experience.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 21

    Cartagena, Columbia

    January 19, 2019 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    All I knew about Columbia was coffee, drugs and crime. Our ship arrived late for whatever reason and we weren’t allowed to disembark until 12:30. That was disappointing because for once there was actually a lot to see and do at this port. We teamed up with another couple from California and negotiated a taxi fare of $5 per person to go to the walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was beautiful with brightly coloured buildings, interesting architecture and wonderful views of the harbour. What spoiled the beauty for both of us was the persistent street sellers and beggars, mostly young children asking for one dollar. The street hawkers also followed us offering to get us a taxi, provide a walking tour, or special discounts at the many emerald shops. It was non-stop and frustrating to the point where I yelled “NO GRACIAS” at one of the sellers and he was actually taken aback by my response!

    The temperature was 33 and the humidity felt like 100%. JS doesn’t tolerate the heat and in short order he was whining about wanting to go back to the ship. He stopped at an outdoor cafe so he could buy a beer for $6 but by this time was too frustrated to figure out how the internet worked. The beggars and sellers came right into the cafe so there was no relief from them. There were quiet air conditioned restaurants we could have stopped at so I don’t understand why he didn’t chose that option. I was able to convince him to sit in the shade while I browsed a couple of the artisan and emerald shops. The Colombian craftwork was beautiful but expensive and would take up too much room in my luggage. Emeralds are mined here but they were also expensive and there was too much haggling involved even for me. I did enjoy a small artisan market and bought a couple of items.

    JS was getting anxious that we would miss the boat even though we had well over an hour to spare. There was another passenger removed from the ship for medical reasons so the departure was again slightly delayed. I’ve come to the conclusion that JS ought to limit his travels to temperate climates; where only English is spoken; must have no poverty; and doesn’t require planes, trains or ships. Surprisingly, for once he actually agreed with me! Must have been the heat exhaustion.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 22

    Rocking & Rolling

    January 20, 2019, Caribbean Sea ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    When we left Cartagena the ship captain announced that we would be encountering strong, gusty winds for the next 24 hours while we cruised the Caribbean Sea. The previous evening had been somewhat rocky but last night was the worst we’ve experienced as the Pacific Ocean had been very calm. There weren’t many people out-and-about during the evening and we walked like drunks as we moved about the ship as usual. We had planned to go out on deck to check things out but the door was near impossible to open and through the window we saw a man clinging to the rails while the strong wind tousled his hair and flapped his clothing. The wind was steady at 65 kmh with gusts up to 100 kmh. Sleep was restless as we would get roller coaster moments where you would feel airborne or you could feel the ship tilting one way or the other. There were a lot of creaking and thumping sounds as well but the ship carried on its northeasterly course and we survived the night. Even some of the senior staff said they were concerned about the waves and wind, especially since their cabins are below the waterline.

    Today it is still breezy with enough swaying that when I showered in the morning I was thrown against the wall when the ship tilted suddenly so after that I needed to hold onto the shower rail with one hand while I washed myself with my free hand. It was a very quick shower! We’ve been able to carry on our usual sea day activities. Believe it or not, I am usually up by 8:30 while JS sleeps until 9:30 or sometimes 10. We go our separate ways to do what interests us and meet up for a late lunch and dinner.

    The food has been very good in all of the restaurants...but not good for our waistlines! Most of the staff are from various parts of Indonesia. They have been the most helpful, friendly workers that actually seem to enjoy what they are doing and are happy to talk about their homelands. Most are on 6-10 month contracts and work 11 hour days with no days off during the entire length of their contract. I just cannot fathom working every day for that many months without a single day off! Their work day is from 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 11 pm. Some go to explore the ports but others take a nap mid-day. They work very hard but are paid good wages, especially compared to what they would make in Indonesia. Many are young and are saving up for their education, while the older ones send their money home to their families.

    It was our final Gala Dinner where JS enjoyed his steak and lobster. After dinner a special event was held in the Atrium where every chocolate treat you can imagine was offered. We then headed to the top deck on the ship to watch the lunar eclipse. iPads do not take good night time photos I found out. It was warm but breezy up there. The stars were brilliant and the eclipse made it a memorable evening.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 23

    Final Day at Sea

    January 21, 2019, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    It was a typical, quiet day at sea except the temperature took a drastic drop. After 2 laps I came indoors as it was cool and windy on deck, where people on loungers were nestled under beach towels. It seemed that everyone was winding down and preparing for disembarkation in the morning. After dinner we did see a very funny comedian and an excellent singer from the Netherlands, where she had won their version of American Idol. We used the last of our beverage credits so JS could finally try the Penicillin cocktail he was curious to try, which he didn’t really enjoy after all, judging by the face he made with each sip. My mojito was almost as good as the ones Alyssa makes.

    It’s been an interesting 2 weeks, the longest cruise we have taken and likely the longest we will ever take. Our ship, the Amsterdam, will be departing for a 4 month world cruise after we leave. I believe the fare is around $50,000 for 2 people and there are about 1300 people who have reserved. Even if I could afford it, I couldn’t be on a ship for that length of time. We did meet a lot of interesting people, all of them world travellers with stories to tell. It always surprised me that every single person I spoke to had travelled to far off places, mostly by cruising. I also briefly met Dolly, a 92 year old woman who lives on the ship full time. Another passenger told me Dolly came from Winnipeg but when I asked her this, she said “Winnipeg...never heard of it. I’m from San Diego but this is my home now”. She’s been cruising for years and gets special attention from the officers. It might be a better option than a personal care home if you can afford it!    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 24

    Orlando, Florida

    January 22, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    After breakfast disembarking from the ship went smoothly and quickly. Things went downhill from there unfortunately. We took a free shuttle to the Sixt rental car site, only to discover that there were 2 Sixt locations near the port and we were at the wrong one. Our rental location didn’t offer a shuttle so we had to pay $10 for a taxi. We arrived there around 10:30 but I had reserved the car for noon, allowing ample time for disembarkation and getting to the rental office. Well this plan backfired on me as they refused to release the car to us until noon even though it was sitting on the lot waiting to be washed. The clerk offered to put our luggage in the back room so that we could wait at a nearby restaurant. We agreed but then she came back with our luggage to inform us that the manager wouldn’t allow this. So we sat on hard stools in the main reception area for 1 1/2 hours knowing that they were playing this stupid game with us. When we finally got our car the clerk had the nerve to inform us that they strive for customer satisfaction and she would like us to rate them 5 out of 5. What a joke!

    We drove 3 hours north to Orlando where we had reservations for the next 11 nights. Our first reservation was at the Holiday Inn Vacations Orange Lake Resort. We had stayed there once before and we both thought we remembered how to get there. Wrong! We eventually had to stop at a Holiday Inn for help with directions. We made a short stop at Sam’s Club for food and wine but didn’t get to the resort until 7 pm. After taking our luggage to our condo we went to a nearby Publix then got lost trying to find our way back to our condo! The resort, at over 14,000 acres, is the largest in North America with over 2,500 condos. We had to drive back to the reception building to embarrassingly ask for directions to our condo.

    We have a very large 2 bedroom condo that I luckily found for $100 a night. The next few days will be a time to relax and do laundry. Since the property is so huge, we have no excuse for not continuing our daily walks. The temperature is considerably cooler than we have been experiencing. Today it was 24 but the next few days will be sunny but with temperatures only in the mid-teens. I won’t complain as I see that Environment Canada has issued an extreme weather advisory for Winnipeg!    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 29

    Orlando, FL

    January 27, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    It’s a rainy day in Florida with a temperature of 12. How I long for the dry heat of Central America! The rain is supposed to stop tomorrow but the temperature won’t return to seasonable levels until the weekend.

    Yesterday we moved to a new resort near Disney World for the next 7 days. It’s definitely a downgrade from the last resort. The timeshare is Blue Tree Resort at Lake Buena Vista and we are in a small one bedroom unit, 600 sq ft compared to the 1000 sq ft previously. It’s a typical, older but very clean resort and was a bargain at $400 for the week. When the sky clears we’ll explore the area on foot as it is in a very central location. In the meantime it’s a good day for TV movies and rehashing of the latest Trump fiasco.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Americas...North & South
    Day 32

    Idle days & good, cheap wine

    January 30, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    We are enjoying lazy days but make a point of going out every day for some exercise. Our biggest challenge was a 10 km return walk to Disney Springs, an entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, bars and everything Disney. We enjoyed lunch at an Irish themed restaurant where JS downed a beer and some Tylenol in order to survive the return trip. Since that exhausting day he now splits his 10,000 steps between afternoon and evening walks closer to home.

    One afternoon we had lunch at the Golden Corral with 18 other members of the TUG timeshare forum that I belong to. The annual gathering started at 2 and we didn’t leave until 9:30. It was an interesting group of
    travellers from across the US.

    Whenever I travel to Florida I am on high alert for alligators (they swallow people whole!); boa constrictor snakes (2,000 have been captured in the Elimination Program since 2017); and cockroaches (hate them!). So far I have seen one alligator in a small retention pond. Surprisingly, on one of my evening walks I encountered 2 white tail deer, one of which stopped on the sidewalk a short distance from me. I froze; she froze; we had a staring contest; and after a few minutes she ran into the nearby woods.

    Temperatures continue to be unseasonably cool in the lower teens and mostly cloudy. The local weathermen enjoy comparing Florida’s forecast to those cities affected by the Polar Vortex, emphasizing the fact that we have nothing to complain about. I am grateful to be here as I don’t do winter well. Brrrrr! Apart from that, the wine is good and cheap!    Read more

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