Day 180. More pictures of Key West Florida U.S.A. On the Picturesque Panama

Our End of the World Sail away.

ATW's jumping in the pool

Some of our day in Key West

Miami in the morning.  Bags are all pack.  Dinner is over.  See you laters have been said.  Just Chillin with a glass of wine.  It has been amazing.   Love you all. Leslee & Bob

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 180 June 30, 2016. LAST PORT DOCKED IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA U.S.A. On the Picturesque Panama

Off the ship by 9:00.  Right after our face to face with Customs and Immigration.  Jumped onto the trolley to take us into town.  Walked around for 2 hours until 11:00 then we meet everyone at the Lazy Gecko for drinks and Pizza.  The at 1:00 pm about 55 of us walked to see the sights of Key West.  Really the pubs.  It was a lot of fun.  Below is Joyce we all walked to her beautiful Key West Home and had drinks.

Joyce and Craig place is the last place we are going to visit.  Here are a few pictures of our day.

Bob with mile marker 0 start of heading north. 

It hasn't changed at all. Been here back in the 80's and 90's.  Will try and post more later tonight.  At 5:00 pm was our sail way and we all got together from a group photo.  People were jumping in the pool.  We really had a wonderful time on this amazing Journey.  Tomorrow at 8:15 we are off the ship on the way to Largo.  Thanks for coming along with us.  It has been a pleasure to do this journal.  On our way home.  Leslee & Bob.

Alex cooling down at Joyce & Craig's

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 179. June 29, 2016. 2/2 LAST SEA DAY ENROUTE to Key West U.S.A. On the Picturesque Panama

The sea is special. The ever present horizon, fresh air, constant motion and the excitement of anticipation as each day brings the familiar along with the new.   But what makes cruising special, whether on Oceania  or on Holland America is the sense of community. Everyone is literally in the same boat – heading to the same places, sharing the same experiences.   Cruising brings together thousand of people, passengers and crew, doing different tasks but joined by a common goal and expectation.

Back before cable and the internet which gave us lots of choices for entertainment at home, there were basically 3 channels and everyone shared the same experience.  The last episode of MASH, Mary Tyler Moore, the whole country shared these events.   Now everyone is forging their own path and we have lost some of our sense of community.   Cruising brings some of that back.   But I fear the new Mega Ships with Anytime This and Anytime That and "wear what you want where you want" are starting to turn cruising into just another all inclusive – a floating hotel.

A cruise experience is a shared experience.  Everyone checks in the same day, goes to the same places, sees the same shows and eats the same food.

People come up the stairs, people go down the stairs, use the elevator.  We are all moving about this ship.  Today is a very sad day because we are finishing our packing.  Sending 4 bags home with Luggage Free and carrying off 2 small rolling duffels.  Hope to see them in Gananoque soon.  Tomorrow is our party with a lot of the ATW's at a passengers home that she is opening up for the day.  Then we board by 4:30 for our last sail away to Miami.  6 months gone in a flash I still cannot believe that we were able to experience this in our life.  We just heard about the Turkey International Airport bombing yesterday.  So sad pretty soon half these places where we visited will not be able to go anymore.  Sad Sad.

Last night dinner

was so much fun

Last night show. "Divas 3"

Packed most of everything this morning just a few last minute items.  Tonight we are back in the Pollo Restaurant for our last specialty dinner with Karen & Harold and Andy & Faith.   Until tomorrow.  Thanks again for joining us.  Leslee & Bob

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 178. June 28, 2016 SEA DAY 1/2. Enroute to our LAST Port of Call Key West Florida U.S.A. On the Picturesque Panama

We were really rockin and rolling last night.  This morning is a lot calmer.  Highs of waves last night were 10-12 feet.  All the or most of the ATW's were up in the Horizon between 9:30pm to 10:30pm, we had a mix and mingle with a lot of the crew members that you don't get to meet.  Like the 10 guys from the laundry department there were 5 of them there last night.  Everyone was giving them hugs and kisses.  We all love them.

They were so good throughout the cruise.  Never lost an item and nothing was ruined.  We THANKYOU guys so much.  At 10:30 pm we went down to the piano bar because their was a special concert given by a lot of the musicians.

Very private.  We thank them.  Also the other night we went up to Toscana and I finally had the Lobster.  It was so good. 

Wa- La.  Bruno awaiting to lift the lid.

Wow.  So dam good.  Ate my lobster but not the spaghetti.  Way to much.  Tonight we have our last ATW Dinner with all of us in either the Pollo or Toscana.  We have had 8 of these special dinners.  One for each of the legs we had.  So tomorrow is our last Sea Day on this cruise and at 11:00am we have a special "Fairwell Mimosa Party".   Tears will flow tomorrow for sure.  Thanks once again for joining us on this amazing journey we are on.  Leslee & Bob

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 177 June 27, 2016 ~ Docked in Cartagena, Colombia on the Picturesque Panama

When you hear of the name "Cartagena"  what do you think of ?  Drugs, killings, filth, "Romancing the stone" the movie with Micheal Douglas and Kathleen Turner.  Ok ok the last thing was a good thing.  But when we heard the port talk on Cartagena we were not surprised when they told us that Cartagena could be a little scary with drugs, drug-sniffing dogs, taxi drivers that took you for a ride, so called guides who jump into your cab and demand payment, a litany of security guidelines and the warning to stay in the tourist areas, along with the advice to take a ships tour. Other advise were:

1. See the Sail in because it is impressive
2. The real problem is the street vendors who see you as a source of money.  Dont make eye contact, dont give out money to beggars and just say "No gracias"
3. Bargain with the vendors and get the price down to 50 percent or less
4. Don't pay taxi drivers or guides until they bring you back
5. Don't buy Cuban Cigars because they are not from Cuba
6. Dont buy coffee.  Tastes like mud
7. Be careful of the emeralds. They maybe made from Heiniken Beer bottles
8. Take your own water.

Now for the real Cartagena.....

Its called the Pearl of the Caribbean, although its history is conflicting.  It was a gateway for gold leaving for Spain, and the slaves arriving from Africa.  Then came the pirates robbing them from their riches.  Massive forts were built.  They are still there today.
Cartagena has a Old Walled City, high rises buildings, resorts, hotels, castles, churches, palaces, museums. It's best to start sightseeing early, as the Cartagena sun is well and truly beaming by 10am. The humidity is intense and you have no choice but to dart from shady spot to shady spot - two minutes in the direct sun will roast you. But by 4.30pm the mercury starts to drop, creating the perfect temperature for a well-deserved cold beverage.  But that is when we need to be back on board by.

  What a great port.  Been here many times and it only gets better.  Now we have 1 more port which is Key West Florida.  So during our free time in the next 2 days we will be packing our bags that will be shipped right to our home in Canada.  We will only carry off our back packs and a bag of souvenirs.  Luggage free is great.  Hopefully we will get them in Gananoque on July 13

Jackaranda Tree

Fruit Lady

                                   Flamingos walking down the street to get to there pond.

Colors Colors Colors

Old vs. New  Towns of coarse

Pretty as a peacock

Love the colors of these old birds

Sorry I went a little crazy on putting the pictures on.  We had a great day as you can see.  Got back on the ship by 2:00pm and believe me it was so so hot.  Well we now have 2 sea days until our last port which is Key West and we have been invited to someone's home.  We are having a Beer and Pizza party for a lot of the ATW's.  So between now and then lots of final parties.  So sad cant think of that right now.  To emotional if I think of ay good bye to everyone.  Really they have been our family for 6 months. The crew even told us they are going to miss us.  Trying to take some pictures of most of them.  So until tomorrow thanks for joining us on this amazing journey of our life... Leslee & Bob 

Day 176. More of the Transit of the Panama Canal

 

Wow what a great day.

The new canal just opened today.  We heard the band playing and saw all the busses going in with the Dignitaries.  Then this huge container ship went down to open it. 

Largest container ship going from east to west opening the "The New Larger Canal". Followed by helicopters and lots of boats

Last new canal from the Atlantic side.

 

Tomorrow we are in Cartegenia Columbia.  Thanks for joining us on this 180 days of travel.   Leslee & Bob 

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big.

Day 176. June 26. TRANSIT thru the Panama Canal on the Picturesque Panama

Here are some facts /information about the canal:

--cost 144 million

--the canal is 51 miles long

--transit time is around 9 hours

--Gatun Dam was the largest earthen dam, 1.5 miles long and 105 feet high

--Gatun lake was the largest man made lake with 164 square miles and supplies the water for the locks

--Gatun Locks was the largest concrete structure on Earth,  1 mile long

--tolls are charged by twenty foot equivalent units for cargo ships and cruise ships by number of beds and a reservation fee

--the locomotives are called "mules" and are responsible to keep the ship from hitting the walls and cost 2 million 

--a ship is raised 85 feet at the start and then lowered the same amount at the end

--the Gatun locks has 3 sets of locks and are on the Atlantic side

--the Pedro Miguel lock is just 1 lock and the Miraflores lock is 2 sets and are on the Pacific side

--the NCL Pearl has paid the highest fare of $490,000 and the cheapest fare was 36 cents back in 1928 to Richard Halliburton who swam the canal 5 miles every day for 10 days and he was weighed at the end of the canal.  Ships need to pay for the transit 48 hours in advance with a wire transfer.  The Captain stated it cost us $169,000 to transit 

--from New York to San Francisco going around the horn of South America was 15,000 miles once the canal was built it was 6100 miles

--the canal is 102 years old and still operates basically the same as day.

Thank you Marilyn & Harry for all that information.  Helped me out a lot.

 

From the Pacific side locks

As we come to the bridge of America's.  Going from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.

Our second set of locks 

One of the tugs that they use to guide us thru the locks.  One at the front and one at the back.

These are the mules that go along side of the ship on both sides to guide.

 

So as you can see it's quiet the dream of one man back in 1534 when King of Spain ordered a survey.  Many countries like Scotland, France then America stepped in.  Which succeeded. Finished in August 15 1914 2 years ahead of schedule.  It was given back to the People of Panama in 1999.  As we transit this canal you notice the ongoing construction.  A multi billion dollar project to increase the canal's capacity is almost done.  In fact the official opening is TODAY.  yes that is right .  The current set of locks measuring 110 feet wide by 1,000 feet long will be joined by a second set of locks over 1400 feet long and 180 feet wide to allow for the larger cruise ships and container/cargo ships.  Part of the project includes the widening of the Gailland Cut through the Continent Divide with tie up stations to allow two larger ships to safely pass, as well as wider and deeper entrance channels leading to the new locks.  The project was supposed to be finished in 2014 by the 100 anniversary of the original opening of the Panama Canal.....

What a day this has been.  Lots of parties in and out of people's suites.  Started at 2:00 to see how many people we could get in a owners suite.  Drinks and snacks in 4 other vistas rooms.  Wow I need a nap.  So many memories to remember.  We thank you all.  Leslee & Bob

"You haven't really been everywhere until you've got back home" --Terry Pratche

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 175 June 25, 2016. SEA DAY Enroute to the Panama Canal on the Picturesque Panama

Lost another hour last night.  So now we are at central time.  We skipped the golfing this morning.  Instead we just watched all the activity in the Pacific Ocean.  Saw lots of pods of Dolphins chasing the flying fish for breakfast.  I put a short little video on FB.  Only 5 more days left and EVERYONE including crew are getting pretty sad.  It just been a wonderful group of people that we have gotten to know.  Yes they have been our family for 6 months.  

We had a few beers yesterday with Jackson & Willie in Puntarenas, and in Cabo they live in Vancouver B.C.

Beautiful sunset a few nights ago

The final quilt yes that was my square " Cambodia".

Tonight we have a private ATW cocktail party last one.  Gonna be a good one then we are having dinner in Toscana with Rob & Betty Ann.  Then we have a brand new show a vocal group called Divas 3.  Which I think we have seen them on Holland America.  

 Tomorrow we are all day transiting the Panama Canal.  Thanks for traveling with us on this amazing journey.  Leslee&Bob

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

Day 174. June 24, 2016. Docked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica on the Picturesque Panama

Today we arrived around 11:00am due to tides in this area.  Looked sunny but we could see a lot of black skies approaching.  We walked off the ship first ones off again and proceeded down this long long pier.  We were planning to do this beautiful beach but the weather just wasn't going to be a beach day.  So we walked around the waterfront, then down to the lighthouse.  It started to rain then it poured.  The skies really opened.  We ran into a restraurant that was completely open on the sides and we could people watch.  Had a few beers, then walked around we walked until my knee started to hurt.  We got in 12 km or 8 miles.  Here are a few of our pictures for the day.

Long long dock.  That's the back of the ship

Bob looks so small here against the lighthouse.  Yes I know I missed the top.

Another bout of rain coming in.  It is hot and humid.  We are soaked with sweat.  I hear a shower calling our names.  Had a great dinner with Peter a terrific waiter.

Terrific dinner and the show is Rick Star a Comedian.  He should be good.  So a sea day tomorrow than the next day is a transit thru the canal.  Thanks for joining us on this amazing trip.  Leslee & Bob

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big