MANZANILLO, MEXICO January 27, 2008

Manzanillo’s history as a resort on the Mexican Riviera just north of Acapulco is brief, but the port’s history is as old as the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Cortez first espied the harbor in 1522, when he chose the bay as the site for a shipyard. The city’s maritime heritage continues to this day: Manzanillo is the largest commercial port on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The vast expanse of shipping containers along the bay attest to that fact. It is a bus ride of a couple of miles to get out of the port. What draws travelers, however, is the bay’s scenic beauty; jungle-laden mountains rise above rocky coves and golden sand beaches. The local resort of Las Hadas is the resort where the movie “10” was filmed with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek (especially Bo Derek).

Speaking of Bo Derek, here’s a picture of Judy at a great little park in the middle of the town square in the town of Colina.

ACAPULCO, MEXICO January 26, 2008

Acapulco de Juarez, Guerrero, Mexico is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 300 km (190 miles) south west from Mexico City. It is the best harbors on the Pacific coast and perhaps the most beautiful.

Today we visited the cliff divers and watched them plunge into the ocean swells form 160 feet in the air at 60 mph. Not only do the divers have to climb up the steep rock wall and time the dive to synchronize with the ocean swells, but they must clear the 12 foot incline from top to bottom. This means that they must push out from their dive position at least 12 feet to clear the rocks at the bottom.

Many Hollywood stars have lived and visited Acapulco over the years. Today we visited Merle Oberon’s villa for lunch and a Mexican Folkloric Festival. The villa itself is beyond description. In a gated community in an exclusive area on the hillside-overlooking Acapulco Bay, the villa could have been an extravagant movie set. The theme of the “Arabesque Villa” was the east and Middle East with Moorish and India influences. High domed ceilings, minaret shaped doorways, horizon pools merging with the bay, exotic bedrooms and water running and falling could be seen everywhere. With its many stairs it certainly was not ADA handicap accessible.

PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA JANUARY 23, 2008

We first took an old train and then a river boat represented by the above two pictures.

Costa Rica means “Rich Coast” and the Spanish bypassed the country because there were no riches in the form of mineral wealth like gold. However, the country possesses other wealth like climate, diversity of terrains, extensive animal life and location. Being at the crossroads of North and South America the country and it people were the beneficiaries of extensive trade and interaction. This resulted in a very open, industrial and cosmopolitan society.

Today we took a look at a small section of the country first via a narrow gauge short line railroad. We rode on old wooden cars went basically thru the woods emerging occasionally on small housing areas with the inhabitants and children offering friendly waives. We then boarded busses and journeyed over very rough roads to a river in the mangrove area. Since this river opened to the Pacific Ocean it had brackish waters. After a short snack of some fruit and juice, we boarded a boat for a cruise down the river. We saw a lot of wild life: howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, black hawk, blue egret, and others I was not able to identify. Then we saw about 6 crocodiles from the smallest of 18” to a huge 8’ one, all very active in the 12’ deep river.

Then after the brush with the “wilderness” we were back to the ship for a lovely dinner with the flaming crepe suzettes for desert….what a life.

PANAMA CANAL January 21, 2008

The above pictures of the Panama Canal are in no paticular sequence but represent a wonderful day of an exciting new experience.

We saw literally hundreds of freighter in line waiting for their position to start the crossing. The ocean liners and cruise ships pay for and get a priority in line, so we did not have to wait for the few days to get through. They can pass about 40 ships a day based on cargo/passenger space. The most expensive transit was $314,000 and the cheapest was a swimmer (who took 5 days to cover the 50 miles) at $0.36. I understand the Queen Victoria cost $290,000 and the average is $60,000 each.

In spite of the normal impression that the transit is east to west the experience is that it is more north to south.

JANUARY 19, 2008 ARUBA

JANUARY 19, 2008 ARUBA

Welcome to Oranjestad, Aruba

Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island, part of the Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986. Aruba is a contrast; the island’s arid interior is dotted with cactus and the windswept divi-divi trees, while secluded coves and sandy beaches form its coast. Aruba’s long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it is a tongue that combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.

Ornajestad (English: “Orangetown”) with a population of 26,355 (2000), is the capital of the most important city of Aruba located on the southern coast near the western end of the island.

The town was built around Fort Soutman shortly after it was built in 1796 and Oranjestad has be the capital ever since. The for is still one of the town’s attractions, others being the tax-free harbor and the Willem III Tower, located near the fort. The city is named after the first King Willem van Oranje-Nassau, the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange.

We played the Terra del Sol golf course along the northern coast and it was pretty tough. There was a lot of cactus and sand and the watered fairways and greens. Better to be in the fairway.

We took this picture of the California light house on the northern end of the island in the background. Alongside Judy is one or our table mates Linda Russell from England. It was a pleasure playing with her. Next course is in Costa Rica. We are not sure if we are making the trek being 1-1/2 hours each way.

JANUARY 16, 2008 PORT EVERGLADES

JANUARY 16, 2008 PORT EVERGLADES IN FORT LAUDERDALE

WE SPENT THE DAY PICKING UP THE REST OF OUR LUGGAGE FROM OUR HOME HERE. IN THE FIRST PICTURE TAKEN FROM THE QUEEN VICTORIA YOU CAN SEE OUR HOME IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

THE SECOND SHOT IS FROM OUR HOME TOWARD THE QUEENS. THE QE2 IS ON THE LEFT AND THE QV IS ON THE RIGHT.

THE THIRD PICTURE IS FROM THE QUEEN VICTORIA LEAVING THE PORT AND PASSING THE QE2 STILL AT THE DOCK ON HER LAST VISIT TO THE PORT.

WE WILL SEE QE2 AGAIN IN SYDNEY. SHE WILL GO AROUND SOUTH AMERICA AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL.

JANUARY 13, 2008 PORT OF NEW YORK

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES

FIRST TAKEN AS WE AWAIT DEPARTURE FROM THE 49^TH STREET PIER WHICH IS THE STREET WE LIVED ON WHEN IN NYC.

SECOND AS THE QUEEN MARY 2 AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 JOIN US FOR THE FIRE WORKS IN THE NEW YORK HARBOR JUST NORTH OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

JANUARY 14, 2008 AT SEA IN THE ATLANTIC.

WE ARE CRUISING SOUTH DOWN THE EAST COAST OF THE ATLANTIC ON THE QUEEN VICTORIA AND OFF TO OUR PORT SIDE WE ARE STILL SHADOWED BY THE OLD QE2. SHE EVIDENTLY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THIS YOUNG QUEEN CAN HANDLE THINGS BEFORE SHE LETS GO OF THE REINS (reigns)