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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Nov 18, 2024 12:00 AM Panama - walking Casco Viejo
This is my third time in the colonial quarter of Panama City. Nowadays it looks much better than few years ago. Many buildinds were restored and painted...Casco Viejo with many cobbled streets still has colonial atmosphere. There were many churches in the past. Some of them like Santo Domingo are still in ruin, but cleared. Other - like San Jose with golden altar, San Francisco, the cathedral and La Merced church are nicely restored and open for free visit. In addition those ones has a/c which is so important in ever- present heat. In Plaza Mayor there is Panama Canal Museum. You can see many stalls of Kuna Indios selling their colorful handicrafts and of course panama hats. Casco Viejo is now safe with a visible presence of army and police. I survived 4 hours in the sun, high temperature and humidity. Now it is the time to rest and get ready for tomorrow's canal crossing!
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Nov 17, 2024 12:00 AM Only 6 deg North from equator!
Ufff.... Very hot and humid climate...
We are reaching Panama City. The passenger terminal Amador is located on a small, rocky island connected with a mainland by a long causeway. From the upper decks of the ship there is a great view of the skyline of Panama City. The terminal building is imposing by the size, but inside there is nothing except screening machines. No single shop, zero information. In the opposite front of the huge building the taxi drivers will hunt for you. Offering rental per hour (25 USD and more) excursions (from 40 USD) but you have to bargain. I paid 25 for one-way transfer of 4 people to Casco Viejo - Old City. No city bus or shuttle goes to the terminal. Shame!
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Nov 16, 2024 12:00 AM Puntarenas, not Punta Arenas!
Puntarenas, not Punta Arenas!
Weather today is warm but cloudy. We dock in the little port Puntarenas on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Do you remember? There is also other, more famous Punta Arenas on the Magellan Strait, where I was already 3 times...
It was raining lightly when I was disembarking the ship in the morning. We soon embarked the bus to drive lush-green hills to the little town of Esparza, where kids from the local school were singing and dancing for us national dances. We had a lot of fun. Then we went to the interior of the country to see and to try pineaples, papayas and other crops, also the locally grown coffee. A lot of river crossings on the way... Volcanoes was not visible because the clouds. In the afternoon in Puntarenas it cleared up and it was possible to take a beach walk, visiting cathedral built of irregular stone and Casa de cultura...
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Nov 15, 2024 12:00 AM Memories of Guatemala Antigua
I visited Antigua already twice in the past and now I am enchanted again. By its colors, climate and people. I started wondering from Monastery San Francisco with devoted people praying in the church. In the courtyard there was handicraft bazaar. In the Old Antigua there are other monasteries, partly in ruins. The nicest is beautifully restored La Merced. In some museums they charge from foreigners 30-40 quetzales entry fee. For 1 USD they pay 7,50 quetzales. San Pedro, cathedral, Santa Clara are also worth to see... But what I like most is the colorful traditional dressing of local people you can see in the streets and plazas. Just see my pictures...
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Nov 14, 2024 12:00 AM Landed in green and lush Guatemala!
We docked today in Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. This port is huge and nothing special for the traveller (nothing to see in the port) so everybody goes to Antigua - the former capital of this country, located on the level of 1400 m above the sea and surrounded by picturesque volcanos. It is around 80 kms on the bumpy road from the port to Antigua. On the way you will see huge sugar cane and banana plantations and plenty of palms planted for palm oil. Finally the bus will enter cobbled streets of old Antigua - great monument of the past, posted on the UNESCO World heritage list... Wonderful place for the traveller!
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Nov 12, 2024 12:00 AM Captain Stefan...
We have day at sea, saling south to Guatemala... In the morning I was working using my laptop computer. But in the afternoon our captain Stefan (he is from Finland) invited frequent passengers for the cocktail. He was greeting guests at the door of the lounge. He is taller than me! I introduced myself, he was impressed by my traveller's output and of course we took souvenir picture. If I remember well he is my 42nd captain... Then there were free drinks for everybody and opportunity to meet other distinguished passengers - most of them are Americans and Canadians, I met interesting people. Then in the evening we attended Broadway show in the theatre...
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Nov 11, 2024 12:00 AM Independence Day in Puerto Vallarta
I celebrate Polish Independence day today!!!
I have been in Puerto Vallarta already twice but every time I am enchanted. It is second after Alapulco Mexican resort on Pacific coast. The little port is located 6,5 kms from the Centro so I decided to use colectivo (city bus) to get there. Driver collects cash only fare - 10 pesos per head and will be happy to accept payment in USD (1 USD note for two pax). Colectivo has no a/c, windows and doors are wide open. Be prepared for the heat and sweat on the hot day like today. Puerto Vallarta has beautiful Malecon (coastal promenade) dotted by sculptures of Mexican artists, rows of palms and flowering bugenvilas. Today there was additional attraction: the big dolls (some 5-10 m high) left after tbe celebration of the Day of the Death - Nov 2nd. Guadalupe Cathedral is the main monument - must to see. Cobbled streets, bars and restaurants create special atmosphere in this lovely city. I had a great day!
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Nov 10, 2024 12:00 AM Viva Mexico!
Do you remember long peninsula of Baja California? At the end of this peninsula (it belongs to Mexico) there is a rocky, picturesque cape - Cabo San Lucas. There is no port so we were tendering to land in the little port full of bars, yachts and other attractions. It is hot! The main attraction is to take a water taxi (little motorboat) to picturesque Lovers Beach hidden between high rocks. Then I was climbing the hill - Cerro Colorado for the view. Sorry - 160 m below the summit the gravel road is closed so I enjoyed only limited panorama. Finally I found an Oxxo shop (for local people, with local prices) to buy .75 bottle of tequila (sorry, no rum here...) to be smuggled to the ship. The bottle cost me 5 USD. One glass on the ship costs 11 USD... I drink your health dear friends!
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Nov 09, 2024 12:00 AM Baja California...
Lovely, sunny day in the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is calm, only the moderate wind is pushing passengers to hide in the wind shelters. I was also sunbathing near the pool. Enjoying ice cream. In the afternoon we had a chance to meet ship's officers. I was talking with few of them. Nice people from India and Romania. Executive Chef is from India and he was impressed by my knowledge of his country. We took the pictures... Later I enjoyed wonderful sunset. The ship is sailing south along Baja California. Greetings from Mexico!
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Nov 08, 2024 12:00 AM San Diego - South California
Yesterday in the evening in San Pedro I boarded another ship heading south. Today we are already in San Diego - elegant city with many palms along the tidy streets. Strong sun since the morning" Blue sky! "Never rains in southern California!" - like in the song. I will take a long walk along the Bay and the Old part of the city to refresh the memories. There are still many Italian flags in Little Italy quarter and plenty of pubs and Cafe i Gaslamp Quattro. It is Worth to vision albo Old police headquarters cloce to the Port Village... Late in the day we will sail down to Mexico.
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