The Canal and More

Hello All, we are at sea for two days, on our way to Half Moon Cay, an island owned by Holland America. That is our last stop before we get to Ft Lauderdale. We are almost ready to go home, but the entertainment continues to be good, the food too much and excellent, and the sleep deep. After we were in Nicaraugua, we sailed into the Panama Canal. We just fit in the locks, leaving only 2 feet to spare on the sides of the ship. They were very efficient getting us through, but we had paid for an appointment, and we saw many boats waiting their turn to go in the locks. On the east side of the canal was a huge harbor and ship facility with many cargo carriers and car carriers in port and some waiting outside that looked too big to go through. We decided they may unload, put their cargo on a train and then on other ships on the other side. We went up in the locks to go over the mountain and then down to go into the Caribbean side. Everyone was on deck at 5:45AM to see the Bridge of the Americas as we went under it.

On the other side, we sailed all night and stopped at the San Blas Islands. That was the most memorable place for me. The island people try to maintain their culture and live very simply, but they have given in and allow cruisers to go ashore to buy their crafts and see them in their native huts. The kids pose for photos for $1 and the men and children were diving out of their dugout canoes to catch dollar bills and coins the cruisers were throwing overboard. It made me so unhappy, reminding me of 19th century stories of visitors to Africa and the South Seas. I did improve their economy by buying molas, their textile embroidery pieces. It was very hot, 95 degrees and the humidity right up there with that temp!

Yesterday we were in Santa Marta, Columbia, a city resort and one of the oldest in Columbia. The cathedral is the oldest in Columbia. We went on a city tour and that included a visit to a beach resort hotel with a folkloric dance right down on the beach. That was pleasant with ocean breezes and beautiful dancers right in front of us. We traveled through their city streets on the way to our different destinations, and the population looked poor. The guide did admit they have 22% unemployment. That was obvious because there were lots of poor people along the roads. The cars whiz along, passing donkey driven carts. The guide assured us we were very safe and invited us to come back for a vacation. There were guards/police everywhere, with big guns and looking 14 years old, so we felt safe, I guess! We have one final stop on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, and I will put on a bathing suit there! Every day I've said I would swim, but the pools have been 92 degrees!!! and that is not very cooling. We plan to rent a small sail boat while on the island, and go swimming in the ocean. This trip has been all we hoped and more. We've loved it, but now I know we have to diet for a year before we can do this again. I have learned a few recipes, too; last night we had cold watermelon soup, with a dollop of lemon sherbet floating on top. Yummy! We'll be sharing that with friends when we get home. Today Janice and I are going to learn how to fold the towels like the stewards put in our rooms every night! Day before yesterday we learned how to fold napkins! Real brain drain, there. Mike and Jim refused to go along on that activity, preferring to hang out on the promenade deck, reading and sleeping. What a life! Much love, Jim and Virginia( Mom and Dad)