Two days at sea

The further north we go, the cooler it gets, we did go in the pool today, but there is a cold north wind, so it’s warmer in the pool than out, we spent more time in the pool, than sitting around, the wind is biting.
We played shuffleboard with Jan and Mike, it is a very frustrating game, it takes you ages to get points, and when you do the opposition knocks you out. Anyway the boys won, and we moved on to ping pong, we played best of three and this time the girls won! We are all getting better, and actually managing to do rallies!
Today it is Pub lunch again, so we popped in for fish and chips, but we left the chips, time to cut back, we are getting so fat! Plus tonight is formal night. After lunch we played golf, they have a crazy golf course, which was great fun, the boys won again, but it took them twelve holes, before they won, we were very close.
We went back to the room, and changed for dinner, I actually got into my long black dress, felt bloated but at least I made it. Tonight it was farewell dinner, and we had lobster, and beef Wellington, oh boy what a dinner, we had the lobster as a starter, but they gave us the whole thing, it was gorgeous, what a pair of piggies we have been.
Before dinner, they had a choir singing carols, and the Captain said a few words, we were all given champagne, and after dinner they had a party in the Atrium, where they dropped loads of balloons, lots of dancing, lots of fun.

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Up early, washing and ironing done by 10am, Geoff had started the packing, in between the washing and ironing, we went to the Provence restaurant for breakfast, it was closer to the laundry, it was nice to be waited on.
When the washing was finished, we went for a talk on ‘behind the scenes’ which was all about the theatre, we were able to stand on the stage, and experienced what it was like to be a dancer, they don’t know if they have an audience or not, only by hearing the applause as they cannot see anyone from on stage.

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They took us into the changing rooms, and where they have all their dresses, very tiny, not sure how they cope, it was very interesting.
After lunch which we went for an Italian pizza, cooked especially as we wanted it, have to say we are being spoilt here.
After lunch we tried to play shuffleboard, but it was so cold we gave up. Then we played golf, it took us sixteen holes before we came to a winner, and that was me, I was chuffed, as I haven’t played for years.
We met Jan and Mike for dinner, which was very good as usual, then played dominoes, the boys actually won, well done.

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Three days at Sea

First day sailing, so Jan and I decided to do some washing, well we wished we hadn’t bothered, as everyone else had the same idea, Jan came up with lunchtime, and she was right, we managed to put the washing in before lunch, rush through a pub lunch, and take it out after, straight into a free dryer, that’s the darks done, whites tomorrow, plus of course there’s the ironing to do at sometime.
One of the restaurants converts into a pub once a week, you can get scampi and chips, fish and chips, chicken curry, and scotch egg and salad, last week they had steak kidney pie, fish and chips and a ploughman’s, it makes a change the only problem is it always clashes with a formal night. I went back to the room, where I was supposed to be meeting Geoff, he was longer than I thought, he had been roped in to do the “sexy leg competition”. and guess what he won! wish I had been there to watch, he won another water bottle.
After lunch and finishing washing we went on top deck and played shuffleboard with Jan and Mike, we were not very good at it, but the girls are leading. We then took our daily swim, jacuzzi and cocktails, met another couple from UK, who were giving us some great ideas for future holidays, they have certainly been to some great places.
Formal night tonight, well I decided I wouldn’t even bother to try my long dresses, and to wear the dress I had for the christening, just before I came away, well I did get into it, but oh boy it’s very tight, I think my boobs must have grown three sizes, strangely enough my hips are still ok! Geoff put one shirt on, he was so hot struggling with the collar he had to change too, but his suit fits him fine.
We had a lovely meal, then watched the show, and then rushed back to the room to change, and go and play table tennis, when we got there we came out at the wrong place, and ended up playing crazy golf, I really enjoyed it, after, we played table tennis, the girls lost by one point, so not disgraced. The table football was a joke, the boys just whitewashed us, after all that, Geoff went for a swim and then we all went to bed. Guess what we are still being told “I have the sexiest legs on board” ha ha ha

Second Day

We had a lay in, in fact I didn’t wake up until late, so we feel fit to play again. Breakfast was very busy, so we didn’t linger, Geoff wanted to go for a talk on Ships, it was all about the cruising business, he thoroughly enjoyed it, I went to do the ironing, and another load of washing, which worked very well, I met Mike and Jan, for coffee, Geoff was now listening to another talk on Mexico, our next port of call.
Meanwhile I finished the washing, and some of the ironing, we all met at the coffee Lounge and enjoyed coffee, and the boys had their brandies.
We stayed until lunch, then went to the buffet, where I had a little salmon, with a big salad, time to cut back! Otherwise I will not fit in to anything!
After lunch we took a swim, did lots of exercise, avoided the jacuzzi, but kept swimming, the sea is as calm as I have ever seen it, but the pool was like it had a wave pool in, it was great fun. Jan has disappeared to do the ironing, when she returned we went and played shuffleboard, it is quite a hard game, and sadly the girls lost, but we then played three games of ping pong, and we won, so all is equal on that front!
Another swim was taken before we changed for dinner, went to the show, which I fell asleep in, I am shattered. So an early night was taken. We get an extra hour in bed tonight, as the clocks go back one hour.

Third Day at Sea

Last night we had to change our clocks again, so we went back another hour, yippee an extra hours sleep, I think we are now seven hours behind UK! Well you would expect to wake up early, but no we slept till 8am, so we were late for breakfast and missed Mike and Jan altogether.
I caught up with the ironing, and Geoff watched a film on Princess Grace of Monaco, we then went for coffee, and after had a game of shuffleboard. We are getting better, and only lost by 2 points, which can’t be bad.
We went for lunch in the restaurant, the starters were very good, but we were disappointed with the mains, still can’t please everyone.
After dinner the weather has become overcast and chilly, with a lot of wind, but we went swimming and went into the jacuzzi, we stayed in for a while, it was warmer in the pool then outside.
We didn’t stay long, but went back to the room, to see if I could get into my long dresses, which I can, so will be wearing one of them for the last formal night on Friday.
The show started early tonight, and the guy had a fabulous voice, he could sing Ray Charles, Brook Benson, Louis Armstrong, he was amazing, really enjoyed it.
We then went to watch a film, then went onto a Country and Weston night, with an adult comedian after, so we had a busy fun evening.

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Nicaragua

Today we are having to be transported by the tenders into the port, as we are anchored off. When we arrived our bus was waiting, and took us immediately to Masaya, the country looks very poor again, mainly agricultural and tourism.
First stop was a market, dating back to the 1800’s, we were not impressed, although we did get a magnet. We walked around quickly, then went to the local square and got a coffee.
We passed several volcanoes, with several active, but they don’t seem to be bothered about them.

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We visited one, where we could see the middle still smouldering

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We then travelled to Granada, the heat is very intense, so hot, we escaped and went for a cup of coffee and tea, wow.

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We walked around this monastery, then came to a square, very pretty. Granada is located amidst the astonishing landscape of volcanoes and lakes, this historic city founded in 1524 features ornate Spanish churches, colourful colonial houses and a vibrant market.

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Costa Rica

Early breakfast as off on a trip today, rafting down the river!

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We had an hours coach trip, where most of the land is growing pineapples, bananas or coffee beans, that and tourism is how they make their money. Discovered by Columbus in 1502 and named “Rich Coast” on his fourth and final voyage to the New world, Costa Rica never lived up to the promise of gold or other riches like its neighbouring Spanish colonies. Puntarenas remained a sleepy village until coffee production in the late 18th century transformed the Costa Rican economy. By the 1850’s coffee had surpassed cacao, tobacco and sugar as the country’s number one export and Puntarenas’ port became a thriving business.
When we arrived we were warned we might get wet, and that cameras may get wet, and guess what mine did. There were eight boats with six people in, and we were the first to set off, straight over the first rocks, the river was running quite fast, so a lot of fun.

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We saw monkeys, kingfishers, iguanas, but no caymans which is just as well.

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If my camera dries out we might have more photos.
We meandered for about an hour then came to an opening, where a free for all started, everyone splashing everyone, because we were in the front we got soaked to the skin, it was so funny, Geoff was giving as good as he got, but I couldn’t seem to hit back, we had a great time.
We arrived at the point of the river where we suddenly stopped, and our fun was over, we walked to the restaurant, and had a lunch of local food, fish, beans, rice, plantain, followed by ice cream, simple but nice.
Having changed we got back in bus, and arrived back at the ship at 4.30pm, we decided to go for a stroll into town, to get a fridge magnet, getting quite a collection now! They had lots of little stalls, selling their local wares, we found one and purchased it, we then stopped for coffee and tea $3 not bad. Think it’s quite a poor place.
We slowly made our way back to the boat, had a swim, and soaked our weary bones in the jacuzzi, with a couple of cocktails, it’s dark now, but lovely to sit on top deck under the stars! Later there were calls for a missing passenger, the ship was ready to go but missing one lady, we believe she did turn up, but who really knows, the ship left a bit later anyway.
After our lovely swim, we changed had dinner and went to the show.

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Panama Canal

Up early yet again, 6.30pm, we were hoping to get a good seat at the bows for the trip through the canal, well that was a joke, all seats had been taken up, mainly by the Chinese, but not a problem, as we found chairs on the side, next to a lovely lady who was a BA air hostess and her husband was the chief security officer on the boat, so she was there for the ride, good for her.
The Panama Canal is the result of a saga of human ingenuity and courage that goes back to the early XV1 Century when the Spaniards arrived on the Isthmus. Since then, the idea of building a route that would join the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was conceived.
The first firm effort to build an all-water route through Panama began with the French in 1880, but financial troubles and diseases made the initiative fail. After its independence in 1903, Panama negotiates an agreement with the United States for the construction of the Canal which the U.S. Would finish on August 15, 1914 and then managed the waterway until 1999.
At noon on December 31st 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the Canal, in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties negotiated with the U.S. Tied States in 1977.
The Panama Canal serves as a maritime shortcut that saves time and costs in transporting all kinds of goods. Since its opening in 1914, more than one million ships from all over the world have transited the Canal. The historic millionth mark was reached on September 4, 2010 with the transit of the bulk carrier Fortune Plum.
The inter- oceanic waterway uses a system with two lanes that operates as water lift and raises the ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake. 26 meters above sea level, to allow the crossing through so the Continental Divide, and then lowers the ships to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus.
The water used to raise and lower the vessels in each set of locks is obtained from Gatun Lake by gravity and poured into the locks through a main culvert system that extends under the locks chambers from the sidewalks and the centre wall.
However it works, it was fascinating going through, we watched the first three locks, then we came to Gatun Lake, which took us about three hours to go across. Gatun lake was formed by damming several valleys to form the lake, it was very pretty, we went into the dinning room whilst we were doing this, and had a lovely lunch, by the time we had finished it was time to watch the last three locks, as we were going through Celebrity Infinity was also going through, so that was ironic, as we had spent our last cruise on her.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, watching the big screen, as it was showing us going through, what a lovely day. Last but not least we came to Bridge of Americas, it joins the north and South America, it looked as though we were going to touch the top, but there was a small clearance.
The evening was spent at the show, and we then had an early night, as we were both stiff, I think it is the result of going. on the 4 wheel drive, never mind it was fun.
This cruise is certainly better than the last, everything is that much better!

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Cartagena

Another busy day, we arrived at Cartagena Colombo, about 9am and we went ashore for a 9.30am trip on the old favourite, the red bus company, but it was an organised trip, as it included a 90 minute walking tour!

We set off, and the traffic was chaotic, maybe it is everyone going to work, but the traffic was like a bad day on the M25, with the roads only having one or sometimes two lanes. Cartagena is a walled city, first thing we saw was Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, which is the fort of San Felipe, the most important work of Spanish military engineering in South America. We went from old to the modern part of the city, we saw the lovely beaches, and the hotel resorts. Having done the complete tour, we then got of at the “Old City” with narrow streets and Spanish Colonial buildings, first stop was the Hard Rock Cafe, where we were given drinks, and we were able to do some emails, but only for five minutes, we walked all around the city, and then went into an emerald museum where they showed us how they were mined and also tried to sell some. Geoff wanted me to have a pair of emerald ear rings, but I wouldn’t let him buy them, they were lovely, but I couldn’t justify him spending that money!
The old city was lovely, although we were hassled to buy things from street sellers, they had Panama hats, fans, necklaces, and loads of other things, we both said we would have liked to spend more time there, but we had to be back in the ship by 2pm. One day maybe we might return.

Back on board we had a quick swim, to cool down, it was very hot in Cartagena, then went for afternoon tea, in one of the lovely restaurants, the only trouble all the sandwiches had mayonnaise in, and guess what I don’t like that, so they went and made me some smoked salmon with cream cheese sandwiches, we had scones, jam and cream, plus cakes, but have to say it was not as good as our local one sells in Lo Pagan, the cream was not the same, but we did enjoy it.

Today’s show was a tribute to Whitney Houston, I enjoyed her, but Geoff was not very impressed, but she sang a lot of my favourite songs, we then watched “Inside Out” (Disney) on the big screen under the stars, by the pool, it was not cold at all, went to bed at 11.30pm very tired.

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