Sunny and warm in Hualtulco

This cozy little cove was right near the dock in Hualtulco. This port was a big favorite with the crew because they could walk to the beach, have a swim and a beer under a palapa, and enjoy the sunshine.   We went swimming here in the late afternoon, and the scene then was quite different from this peaceful shot.  

Say hello to your money! ATM at the port.

We river rafted down the Rio Copolita in zodiacs.    Although we had a guide, the 

group had to take matters into our own hands as far as directions (Steer LEFT!) which resulted in some mishaps, a bit of bickering, and  lots of laughs.  The river was low, so the rapids weren't difficult to manage.   

There are five pretty bays in the region, and some are being heavily developed.   There was a brand new Secrets resort and another newly opened all inclusive resort.  I couldn't help but feel like I'm too late...again....to this destination.

Puerto Chiapas..the one I missed.

I woke up the morning of our arrival in Puerto Chiapas feeling very nauseous, and just could not make it out of bed.   I was queasy and I couldn't face the heat and humidity and the bus ride up the hill to the first stop.  Rich went off on the Mi Pueblito tour, the highlight being a visit to a local chocolate producer.  I stayed in the cool suite and room service kindly delivered a light breakfast.

R posted some pics from the tour on his FB account:   How to Make Chocolate Like a Mexican

P to P pt. 2

On our way out of the forest, our guide pointed out this 15 foot long trail of worker ants carrying leaves to their colony.  

   

Then it was on to Pura Vida Gardens

We spotted these scarlet macaws high above us and watched them for a while.  They spread their wings a couple of times, and Rich cursed the limitations of our point and shoot digital camera, as the zoom feature has limitations.

Heliconias

  

We were enjoying this vista with fellow passengers and there was a gasp of delight when the macaws took off from their perch and soared across the sky.  Too quick to be caught on camera, but a beautiful memory!

Our guide and driver were so enthusiastic and proud of their beautiful country.  The driver often would stop the bus, jump out and grab a specimen, like the fruit of the cashew tree, and bring it back to the bus for our guide to pass around and describe.  On the way back to the ship, they spotted howler monkeys from the road and pulled the bus over so we could watch them play.   This is one port we will definitely be returning to!

Puntarenas to Pura Vida

Costa Rica was the port we most happily anticipated visiting.  Everyone I know who has visited there has loved, loved, loved it.   Our first stop was a tropical forest in the hills, and the path included three long suspension bridges that hovered over the dense forest below.   It is now the end of the dry season there and the hills were dry, so the flora was a bit subdued.  But we had a wonderful guide, Erik, who was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and eager to explain to us everything from photosynthesis to the Costa Rican education system.

Bromeliads

Suspension bridge

Scores of termite nests in all kinds of trees.

Our next stop was Pura Vida Gardens.  Pura vida translates as "pure life" and is the aloha of Costa Rica.  It's a greeting, thanks,  and all around expression of good will and wishes.

Note:

 More pictures to follow later this week as the shipboard Internet has ground to a halt.  I've tried to load pictures the last 3 days with no luck.  Will finish up early next week when I arrive home and have a reliable connection.

Transit day!  We got up on the top deck in time to see the approach to the first lock.   We would be transiting the passage with the Norwegian Pearl, seen here on the left entering the first lock.   

The Pearl has only 2 foot clearance on each side within the lock.  

The ship ahead of us has exited, the gates are about to open to let us in, and then will close behind us and fill to bring the ship up to the level of Lake Gatun.   Here's the view behind us to as we exit the first lock.

And then we enter Lake Gatun, where we travel at a very leisurely pace.  It will take 9 hours to travel the 50 miles cut across the continent. 

And it is hot.   And humid.  Very uncomfortable and for the first couple of hours, I would go back into air conditioned comfort every 10-15 minutes to cool off.  About 11 AM, we found a corner of the ship with a breeze and shade and soon were treated to a tropical downpour that substantially lowered the temperature and humidity.  

One of the biggest obstacles in the completion of the Canal is the Culebra Cut,  the artificial path cut across the Continental Divide.

You can't pass through this engineering marvel without acknowledging and honoring the tens of thousands who died constructing the Canal.   I was chatting with another passenger who said the transit  was especially meaningful to her because it was a chance to experience history, not just looking at  another historical point of interest.  We were able to see the marvel in action: the locks moving, the continuing dredging, the evidence of the prior engineering innovations.

Pins on the map

I have to admit it, pinning new destinations I've visited  on my tripadvisor map gives me pleasure.  And pinning Cartagena is not only my first visit to South America, but my second to a Cartagena in just 13 months.

We sailed into the bay between the two sections of the city.  Our tour is in the old section of town in the foreground.  For those who are interested in current news about Cartagena, Hotel Caribe,  is in the new section of town (the highrises on the pennisula).  Hotel Caribe is the site of the recent Secret Service Scandal.

Our tour guide, Luis, meets us  and we proceed through the morning rush hour to La Popa Monastery, where we took the panoramic picture of Cartagena above.  It's a madhouse up there, lots of tourists but the views are pretty good and we decide Luis is a retired sciences teacher, because we are learning alot about the natural resources of Columbia.  

Our next stop is the Spanish Fortress, built a long time ago:)  to protect Cartagena from pirates.  As we pull to a stop, the guide announces we have all of ten minutes to take a look.  I'm disappointed because it looks like a very interesting place, but perhaps I'll return someday for a second look. 

A short drive later, the bus driver lets us off in front of the walled portion of Old Town Cartagena, and we head off for our first stop, the Palace of Inquisition, imported from Spain in the   There's a rack, where they stretched the "heretics" to bring them closer to God.

 The Heretic's Fork.

The second floor was a cultural museum with loads of dioramas

And this rather angry looking gent.

The old town of Cartagena was lovely and I could have easily spent a couple more hours wandering around.  But the ship was leaving at 1 PM. so all aboard for the Panama Canal transit!

Rough going

We've had a rocky time at sea the last 24 hours.  We've been lucky, neither of us has gotten sea sick and only have taken ginger pills to ward off distress.    The rolling has been punctuated with an occasional boom!  a loud smacking wave followed by an up and down motion.   A few crashes could be heard in the kitchen while we were at dinner, but they didn't close the kitchen, and all stationery objects seem to be groaning or creaking.