2011 Panama Canal

Mexico and Panama Canal Explorer Voyage

December 4 – December 21, 2011
Queen Victoria, Cunard Cruise Line
Sandra Brems, Joe Schatz, Mike Flannigan, Darcy Nelson, Jamie Kirkebo,Don and Eileen Alsbury, Beth and Dale Willis

Earlier in the Summer

And so the planning is over and the going is closer. We fly somewhere around Dec 3-4 to arrive in time to depart Ft. Lauderdale on December 6. We travel 15 days arriving in Los Angeles on Dec 21 just in time for celebrating Christmas.

We did have a great opportunity to have everyone meet each other this summer; Darci Nelson, Jamie Kirkebo, Don and Eileen Alsbury, Sandra Brems, Beth and Dale Willis and our friend Mike Flanigan. Joe Schatz was off in Texas so we get to meet him in Florida. So everyone almost knows everyone.

The smart girls

The darling boys

Jamie and Darci have been on this trip about 4 times so they are "in the know". We will be relying on their experiences in making our decisions as to excursions. We are going on Cunard, Queen Victoria so we have to dress for dinner which none of us likes to do. So the six dress nights we may all be having dinner in our rooms. However, I am having Dale bring his tux just for fun!!!

This is a general picture of our trip other than we leave from Florida and return to US via Los Angeles. We are all excited and cannot wait until.............

The Real Deal Finally Begins

Our Itinerary

Prior to our departure many exciting things begin to happen. In October we were informed:

Seems that Mexico is becoming more difficult to visit. We are skipping Acapulco because of the security issues (the killings, etc.) and added a stop in Nicauragua. I have no other information as yet. The papers and emails are advertising that you can go to Mexico with 50% off of air and hotel. Mexico may be in a world of hurt over the drug wars.

December 3, 4, 5, 2011 Travel to Florida by the Entire Group….We have all traveled via different airlines, all from the West but in different ways on different days. We are all safely gathered and housed in the Hyatt Regency in Ft. Lauderdale. Both Sandra and Beth are really sick with some kind of a cold. They have both been in bed since arrival in Ft. Lauderdale. Joe has already tripped and fallen, bashing his hand and chin. Mike has lost about 5 of his “this and that’s” including walking off without his briefcase!

What a marvelous place Ft. Lauderdale has become. Known as the “Venice of America” due to the intricate canal system, and in the past decade has made a name for itself with high end boating and living. Beautiful homes; one right after the other…..then the boats….yachts…..wow!

Ocean Alexander 90’ or if you would rather Ocean Alexander 75’. Dale and Sandra could not decide which size was their desireJ and would best fit their life style. So they tried them both out….and decided on the Phoenix!

December 6 and 7 Tuesday and Wednesday.It was a scream getting ready to get on the ship, Queen Victoria, Cunard Lines. Due to the need for dress up clothes, everyone has bags packed to the limit….Huge piles of luggage up into the van to get us to the ship!!!

We made it on board and found our rooms. Our first night we were able to find our table of 10 located right in the middle of dining room. Mighty nice beginning!!! After departure at 9:00pm, we traveled all night. All day on Wednesday we traveled along the eastern coast of Cuba just making out the outlines of the mountains. On the ship, we explored, poked, and tried to pick our favorite waiters. None as yet! But we have found our Commodore’s Roost for late night and early morning quiet time. Beautiful room, BUT no Happy Hour nor coffee in the mornings. This ship holds around 1900 people which makes it larger by 2x’s than the Oceania Lines. However, we don’t seem to run into many people and don’t feel crowds are around us. We do have to pay for our cokes etc…. We have selected the Winter Garden area as our meeting place so everyone knows where to meet.

In the night on Wednesday we will turn right and go between Haiti and Cuba entering the Caribbean.

Thursday, December 8, 2011Another day at sea, the best kind of day…82 degrees….slight wind, unlimited food, great sun….tonight, was our first black tie dinner with meeting the Captain of the ship, everyone dressed in black and white, good dinner, good looking group. One of our best photos to date.

We will be torturing Mike for days since he has lost his ID card, room key, etc. etc. etc. even walking off without his briefcase

Friday , December 8 ARUBA finally!!!!!

Oranjestad, Aruba

Brightly colored houses, vibrant street life, a distinct buzz in the air, all are part of the
experience when you visit the Schooner Market and watch merchants sell exotic fruit and fresh fish direct from tiny boats. The colorful Dutch colonial buildings grace the island’s capital. There are numerous duty free shops, outdoor markets, and restaurants close to the ship. NATURAL BRIDGE - The Natural Bridge was one of Aruba’s icons for decades until its collapse in 2005. Today, it still attracts tourists that remember it before the collapse. The Baby Natural Bridge is intact and close by. ANTILLA SHIPWRECKThe Antilla is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean. The ship was sunk in World War II and it now rests in 60 feet of water just offshore. The wreck attracts a multitude of colorful tropical fish and many parts of the wreck are overgrown with sponges.
DE PALM ISLAND
Located just offshore, De Palm Island features beautiful beaches, a water park with slides, excellent snorkelling with the famous blue parrotfish, and many other water activities.

Sandra went snorkeling this morning and the rest of us went to the beach!!! How many years has it been since we went to the beach Tonight we are all sunburned looking like healthy lobsters!

Saturday Dec 10, 2011 at sea

We have another day at sea; massage, watercolors, pilates, shopping, movies, and various other activities including another formal dinner dress and Mascarade Ball. Some of us went to the Royal Court Theater and enjoyed a Broadway Show of dancing and singing. We are traveling along the coast of Columbia, but just far enough away to not be able to see the coast.

Sunday, December 11, 2011 Panama CanalSo here we are finally hitting Panama very early in the morning. The ship is completely open in the front in crew areas so that we may be able to watch the passage through the Canal. We are joined by a continuous commentator all day as we traverse the three Locks and the Gateu Lake. Most of us were up by 6:00am, with a slight rain, watching the sunrise and observing the ship as it prepared to maneuver into the locks. We followed the Coral Princess and were able to see that we barely squeezed in the Locks. We are as big as the biggest ship that can go through the Locks. PanaMax is our title.

Once through the Gatun Locks and the Pedro Miguel Locks, we entered Gatun Lake and began our journey to the final set of locks, Miraflores Locks. The Lake is surrounded by lush jungle with pelicans, frigate birds and many others diving around the stirred up water as we passed. It took us all day to traverse from the Atlantic to the Pacific…daylight to dark! It was a great experience!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Rain rain rain!!!! We woke to rain and it followed us most of the day. Jamie and Joe decided they would not swim around the ship due to the rain today. Dolphins swam along side and ducks (I think they are called Muerre’s) flew along side us as we churned the water. We attended every briefing, watched a movie, went to painting classes and ate some more. Tonight we ate great food and dressed for cocktails. Mike presented Joe with an “Honor the Flag” pin. We all had a great time…

Jamie, Darcy and Beth cheered them on.....

Tuesday, December 13 Costa Rica, we get to get off the ship!!!! Yahoo!!!!!

Puntarenas, Costa RicaPuntarenas is one of the most important tourist regions of Costa Rica. Its coasts are decked by plenty of islands, inlets, beaches and beautiful natural treasures, which makes Puntarenas a tourist destination. Its territory offers a wide range of attractions supported by the sun and the beach, which are complemented with protected zones, continental and insular areas. This spectacular area very close to the Central Valley, a two-hours drive, 120 kms away from the capital.

SAN JOSE
The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Central America. Situated at an elevation of over 3,000 feet (914m), it enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. The Teatro Nacional and the National Museum are must see venues.

Costa Rica is well known for its fine coffee. Explore the interesting world of coffee from the field to the cup in an entertaining format at Café Britt.
SARCHI
The quaint mountain town of Sarchi is world famous for colourful hand-painted ox carts and other fine handicrafts.
COSTA RICA'S VOLCANOES
There are several volcanoes in Costa Rica. From Puntarenas you can visit either Arenal or Poas Volcanoes.
We awaken in the early morning hours as we dock sometime around 4:30 am but it does not wake us. We arise as usual…..longing for the café and hot milk. The dark clouds continue to hang around us as the sunrise begins..what will the day bring?

HMMMMM, it seems it brought rain, rain and more rain. We finally decided we would walk to town and see what we would see. Returning adventurers said….not much!! As we head away from the ship, the rain is falling….first stop at the first shop to purchase head gear. Aren’t they cute????

The boys were on a mission and succeeded in getting their medicine!!!All is well!!

The town of Puntarenas is really not much. We purchased coffee and treats and wandered around town…nah! Nothing….

We were anxious to return to our safety line…Queen Victoria.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011Puerto Corinto, NICARAGUA

Corinto is a very small coastal town that is located on the northwest of Nicaragua. Even though Corinto only has a population of approximately 20 000 and the town itself is very poor, it is also home to one of the biggest harbor ports. You will definitely be able to enjoy one of the finest cups of coffee you have ever sampled in Corinto. The streets of Corinto are lined with quaint little shops and lovely church buildings. This is the first time that CUNARD has stopped at Nicaragua and the warnings were high about what we might encounter. Actually, it was very nice and the little shops just outside the port entrance were quite good. Better than the shops in Costa Rica at the pier.
Many of us took a tour this afternoon around the neighboring area, visiting churches and seeing some local dancing…becoming familiar with Nicaragua. The country is very poor and it is very apparent in the housing of the locals.

A perfect morning sunrise.

The mode of transportation are these small bicycles with the cart in front…Very few cars….90% of the roads are unpaved….very poor…though their little shops were cute and had some interesting items…

So …..Thursday, December 15, 2011, Guatamala.

Porto Quetzal, Guatemala

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. You may have a chance to witness Tikal, the ancient Mayan ruins where the terraced Pyramid of the Great Jaguar looms large. La Antigua Guatemala is a vision of colonial grace, as yellow churches and crumbling pastel houses are draped prettily in bougainvillea. Then it’s coffee time, so stop by an ecological estate to sample fragrant blends.
ANTIGUA GUATEMALA
Wander through the Mayan ruins that belong to this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, watch the street artists at work or sample local coffee in a small cafe.
CHICASTENANGO is home to Central America's largest outdoor market, where vendors from the entire Quiche region and beyond offer anything from Mayan ceremonial masks to souvenirs for tourists.
TIKAL
These ruins contain at least 3,000 buildings, some that date back as far as 600 BC.

LAKE ATITLAN
This spectacular lake was formed in a volcanic crater and has a magnificent backdrop - Guatemala's three volcanoes. Tajumulco the largest volcano decided to “puff” at us as we were driving by. We were all fighting to get a photo of the “puff”!

We then went on to the Filidelfia Coffee Farm and enjoyed a great tour as well as a delightful coffee and delicious croissant filled with ham and cheese… Yummy!. Our guide said that Starbucks purchases 25% of the world’s coffee… Hmmm..he may have meant of their company or their country. The city of Antigua is a UNESCO site and was excellent. Beautiful old cobble stone streets and houses with the walls right up to the street. There were very few upper floors due to the continuous earthquakes. The public market was so very interesting for good shopping. However, most of these ports have about the same shopping so not much different than what is offered by the other Central American countries. It is fun looking at the lovely colors etc…

Filadelfia Coffee farm…….fabulous market in Antigua…..

A sunrise to dream of…..

Heading toward Mexico, stopping first at Huatulco on Friday, December 16, 2011

Huatulco, Mexico Its full name translates as the Bays of Huatulco, and 36 inviting beaches are draped scenically along the nine lovely crescents here in the Mexican State of Oaxaca. This stretch of the Pacific shore is known for beautiful ribbons of white sand lapped by stunning azure waters as well as the local pottery, particular to the region, made from striking black clay.

WATERSPORTS Snorkeling and diving opportunities are abundant from the stunning beaches.
DEEP SEA FISHING
The waters in this area are great for fishing for sailfish and tuna.
GOLF
One of the best golf courses in Mexico is Tangolunda Bay, residing between the mountains and the sea you can experience magnificent views of the bay.

Certainly a beautiful bay with great potential….but again, a long way to go! Just a few shops and they are focused on resort types rather than crafts. So a bit of disappointment. More importantly we set up camp on the beach and had a great day under the umbrellas and in the sand.

On our way into the bay, we saw dolphins, turtles, and someone saw a sting ray. Fun!!!!
As soon as we got docked, we were in our swim gear and ready for the beach that was just off the ship..

Then the boy with the boa came by and all the ship workers couldn’t wait to have their photo taken with the snake wrapped around them….UGH!! Otherwise we had a great day…considered one of our best. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at sea.We had such a great time yesterday, we decided to set up camp on ship and play “go to the beach”…we did and we had just as much fun as at the beachJ

And to top off another perfect day….. a dynamite sunset……

Sunday, December 18, 2011 Manzanillo

We awoke to our arrival in Manzanillo…in the harbor of the city of Manzanillo. NOT where the fab resorts like Las Hadas sit on sea…no no no we can look across the bay and barely see the beautiful resorts. So we decide to fight the madding crowd and join a mass of Sunday strollers along the sea wall. The poor town was overflowing with Sunday people and vendors selling nothing of interest. It was also very hot. We could not get back on the ship fast enough, set up camp at the pool and ignore the sea side.

This was our last port before heading up to Los Angeles. Very disappointing. We now have two days at sea before we hit LA. Of course there will be a camp, and loads of laughing, but…. We are on the downhill side of this trip.