Panama Canal Cruise
Part One
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Willemstad, Curacao
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Willemstad, Curacao
We had a wonderful trip and saw many new things. Our ports of call were in the Bahamas (Half Moon Cay), Aruba, Curaçao, Cartagena, Colombia, Colon, Panama, and Limon, Costa Rica. Good activities on the cruise (Holland America Line), food wasn't "great" so the best part of that is neither of us gained an ounce. Unheard of.
We took tours in all ports except Panama where we just wanted to stay on the ship and see all the activities in the canal - fascinating. Got up very early. We got up early many days for our excursions and that was the only bad part of the cruise.
I'm just going to post my favorite photos and a little comment. My favorite port was Cartagena, Colombia. Pulling into the harbor was breathtaking.
The hard part of cruising is that you only get minutes in huge countries, but I guess the little taste can be enough to let you know if you want to return for an extended visit.
Holland America Line - Zuiderdam
Everglades Port - Fort Lauderdale, FL
End of land
Sail away
One of the swimming pools
Real orchids on every table
Ms. Zuiderdam
Beautiful island
Most beautiful water I've ever seen
Beyond crystal clear
Fun to have room service
Haiti - my friend Lammy was on
Haiti doing her volunteer work, sent her a hug
Flower arranging demo on ship
Beautiful fresh flowers everywhere on the ship
Aruba Tour - Colors of Aruba
One of the ABC Islands, all ruled by Netherlands Antilles (Dutch)
Old Dutch Windmill
California Lighthouse, 1916
named after the SS California that sank in the area
Cemetery - after 6-7 years they take out the bones
clean them, put them in a box and keep the box in the crypt.
Family members can then be added to crypt as needed.
Quite a little hike to top. Nice view
http://www.aruba-travelguide.com/discover/attractions-and-sights/Casibari-Rock-Formation.html
These guys are big, a little spooky
Pretty emu egg
Beautiful Aruba Coast
Fun watching the waves crash
Thousands of stacked rock piles people have made for good luck.
They are all around the island.
They are all around the island.
We ate on 2nd floor here at Iguana Joe's
Gouda cheese totally surrounding shredded chicken,veggies & spice, baked until golden.
The original recipe called for an entire wheel of gouda cheese being hallowed out - can you imagine!!!!! Yum. Our favorite meal of the entire trip - called Keshi Jena
Pulling into Willemstad, Curacoa
A lovely carillon, 1953
Curacao Museum, 1853
Wild flamingos - a highlight for us
Hato Caves - long walk up, up to
caves, but very interesting.
Very large iguana sunning himself
Willemstad is one of the most picturesque
cities I've seen. You can see the floating bridge.
We toured the Curacao liqueur factory
and had samples
Bottling the liqueur, not high tech, but jobs for people.
Queen Juliana Bridge
We drove over it twice, quite beautiful views
I can't even believe how adorable the downtown is. One could take hundreds of photos here.
We had beer under the white umbrellas -- thank goodness
Rainy season, it poured twice that
day and I mean poured. Weird to drink beer when it is raining.
Queen Emma Bridge - an amazing floating bridge for foot traffic
that we got to watch open to let ships through.
Brion their local beer was very tasty.
Sunset on Part One
(to be continued)
What an amazing cruise! Boy I never know where I'm going to find you two next. You're both looking great.
ReplyDeleteThat water really is like nothing else on Earth, isn't it?