Day 13, Sat., Oct. 1 Colombia

After breakfast and stretch class, we took a tour in Cartagena, a city of 1.5 million people, considered the most beautiful in Columbia. (Bogota, the capital, has 8 million people.)

We first went to the Old City of Cartagena. We saw the original wall to the city and then viewed the Fort of San Felipe de Barajas. This magnificent fort was built by the Spanish in 1533 to protect their new territory. It was the largest fort they built -- larger than the fort in Puerto Rico-- one of the greatest Spanish Military engineering constructions in South America.

From there we went to the Inquisition palace, where they now have on display the gruesome apparatus to torture and kill the witches, disable, Jews and any infidels. It was interest but hardly a happy place.

We walked around the streets of the Old City where we saw picturesque narrow streets and buildings in various stages of remodeling,(begun 14 years ago) making way for trendy shops, expensive apartments, and chic restaurants.

Along the way we visited the Church of San Pedro Laver. We learned about Pedro who took in slaves who were sick when they arrived from Africa. He then housed them permanently, rescuing them from slavery. He was later sainted. His skeleton is buried in a glass casket in the cathedral. (Slavery was ended in 1811 the same year as independence from Spain.)

The we went to las bovedas (the dungeons), which is a former jail now converted to 23 little shops where small businesses sell handicrafts.

A short dry away took us to one of the three islands off the new city. We stopped at Pierino Galllo Mall (for, whatever? Mor shopping) where we viewed beautiful high rises, condominiums and hotels with lovely beachfront.

When we returned to the ship, it felt good to sit and watch the day's movie, "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" a comedy/documentary about branding, advertising and product placement.

Evening entertainment was provided by James Stephens III, a very talented comedian. He has a law degree and PhD theology, plays the piano with great skill, and does marvelous impersonations, including Sammy Davis, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash and Bill Cosby, whom he will impersonate in an upcoming movie. He sells a DVD and a children's book he wrote with the revenue going to a foundation he founded to support needy children. He is someone to watch for.

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Location:Cartagena, Colombia

Day 14, Sun., Oct 2 at sea

After stretch class, we had a formal breakfast in the dining room (instead of the cafe) with Pat's friends, Barb and Olive. Then I went to my final Bootcamp workout (thankfully--it was quite challenging. I was congratulated for sticking with it!)!

Pat went to a talk on climate change and biodiversity in the tropics. The bottom line--the future is scary!

It was a beautiful day (sunny and 95 degrees) so we were. In and out of the pool a lot today -- until the end-of-the-day stretch class.

Dinner was formal, and we invited our new young friend from Ireland, Dani, to join us. Since she's traveling along she doesn't like to go into the dining room without a seating partner, and we have thoroughly enjoy her company.

The cruise song and dance troupe put on a fabulous show entitled "iBroadway". The lighting, costumes, music and dance was top quality. Quite a show!



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Location:At sea - after leaving Columbia

Day 12, Fri, 9/230/11 Panama City

From the port in Colon at the north (Caribbean) end of the canal a bus took us to "colonial" Panama City. Amidst a downpour (this is the rainy season from Feb to Nov.) we walked around the a promenade known as Las Bovedos and the French Quarter dedicated to the French who tried and failed to dig the canal between 1880 and 1900.



As the rain stopped we took a fascinating walk looking to the canal on one side and on the other side walking thru an area of buildings dating from the 17th century. The government has supported stimulus for private investment and so there are now beautifully renovated buildings next to those that were neglected for years. I would love to return in a few years to see the renovated area.

We then rode along a causeway that connect several islands, passing the construction of a museum designed by Frank Gehry (architect of the Guggenheim), ending at a resort hotel with a great view of the new Panama City. Among the skyscrapers (which were built mostly from 1960 or 1980 onward) is a condominium built by Donald Trump in 2001.

Our tour ended with a visit to the Miraflores locks observation center where we could see the ships going through from a different vantage point and enjoy a video of the history of the construction. It's hard to imagine what a monumental undertaking it was, requiring great vision, courage and faith in the future. I hope we can have leaders today who will build for our children's future!

Back on the ship we ended the day with a seminar on foot Reflexology, a stretch class, and an evening of entertainment with comedian juggler Barry John.

Tomorrow we will dock in Columbia -the last one before home! (I will be ready to come home!)
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Location:Panama City

On deck photo of Pat & Carolyn

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Location:Celebrity millennium

Day 11, Thurs, 9/29/11 passing through the Canal

Besides our Stretch class, swimming and eating, this day was totally devoted to the main reason we came -- to see and learn about the Panama Canal.

* At 7:00 am we went under the Bridge of the Americas - entering the Panama Canal from the south.
* Off to the east we saw the high rise buildings of Panama City
* We passed through the Miraflores locks - raising 85 ft. Amazing engineering! (The largest concrete project of it's day...until the Hoover Dam).
* The water used to raise and lower the vessel 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 sidewalls and center wall.

* The top users are USA, China, Japan, and Chili.
* 14,000 ships past through each year.
* The canal was not used 'round the clock until 1963 when fluorescent lights were introduced.
* The canal saved travelers from NY to San Francisco 8100 miles by not having to go around South America.
* The cruise line paid $375,000 to go through the canal - $35,000 more this year than last.
* After passing through the Pedro Miguel locks and under the Centennial bridge we cruised along viewing lush rain forests on both sides.
* It took us about 10 hours to pass through Gatun Lake (manmade), Gstunlocks to arrive at the city of Colon.

Along the way we saw early activity building a third set of locks which will be open in 2014 (which is the 100th anniversary of the opening of the canal).
This construction is observing environmental factors that were not taken into account in 1914. For example, water-reutilization basins require less water than the current locks system, thus saving 60% of the water actually used.

It is being paid 1/2 from past fees collected and 1/2 from loans from 5 nations (which will be repaid from fees).

By the way, did you know that in 2000 Panama took over full operation, administration, and maintenance in compliance with the treaties negotiated with the US in1977. It is neutral, open for use by all countries.


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Location:Panama canal

Day 10, Wed. 9/28/11 at sea

This was a relaxing day with the usual  - stretch class, exercising in the gym, lectures ---plus.

The highlight was a viewing of the NOVA film "A Man, A Plan, A Canal" based on McCullough's study of the history of the construction of the canal. What an engineering marvel! We learned:

* French effort in 1880 failed
* Roosevelt launched the project 1905, finished in 1914
* $350,000 - the largest government project up until that time (only government can build something like this)
* it was the "moon landing" of it's era
* it is 50 miles long - twice the length of the Suez Canal
* the building resulted in 5000 deaths
*most of the workers were from Barbados, paid $.10/hour

The evening program was a pianist, "divalicious" Amy Abler. She was a terrific musician, but it seems that musical talent isn't enough; she had to also do a lot of theatrics!

We're going to bed early, so that we can get up early and watch the ship pass through the Panama Canal.


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Location:En route to Panama

Day 9, Tues. 9/27/11 Costa Rica

85 degrees and sunny. What a great day to visit a little piece of Costa Rica.

We docked at Puntarenas and traveled by bus southeast for about an hour to the mouth of the Tarcoles River.

We passed mangos trees and structures (all with metal roofs which are lighter than traditional clay tiles, making them safer in the event of earthquakes). Our guide gave us some background on Costa Rica:

* it is a little bigger than Switzerland
* population: 4 million
* tourists: 2 million
* 25% of population live in the capital, San Jose
* 1/3 of the land is protected (principally rain forests)
* 60% are considered middle class
* there is no military
* the country invests in education, health and water
* education is mandatory and free. Uniforms are required and subsidized by the government
* the government offers socialized healthcare
* the president is a woman

The bus took us to a jungle crocodile safari. (Costa Rica has protected crocodiles for 20 years.) We boarded a boat which took us slowly along the river. En route we viewed numerous beautiful crocodiles. Our guide tempted them out of the water with raw chicken. Once on land he fed them, managing got get them to open their huge jaws, drop the chicken into their teeth and jumping out of the way in time!



The guide also pointed out many of the 58 birds in the area. The herons and egrets reminded me of the estuary in Cabo. The pink Roseate Spponbill was new, as were the mangrove swallows that went past too fast to photograph.

Following our river trip we were treated to a buffet of fruit and opportunity to shop for local handicrafts - Including a lot of objects from local wood (ash and teak).

When we returned to the ship we had time to shop at a huge flea market near the port, boarded the ship in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset, dinner with Dani, and a comedy show with Louis Johnson.

Tonight we have to set the clock ahead AGAIN. Since we are near the equator the sun always comes up at 6:00 - no matter what time we go to bed and even of we plan to start the sea day with Stretch at 7:30!

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Location:Costa Rica