Lima,Peru Dec.1 2017

With over 10 million people Lima is a very large city.Lima dates back to 1535 when it was first established

by the Spanish.Francisco Pizzaro dubbed the city Lima,City of Kings.When Peru got it’s independence in

1821 Lima became the capital.The city survived many wars and natural disasters to develop into a major

destination.Our first stop on our tour was Pachacamac Ruins which is a archeological site built between 800 and 1450 CE

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After touring the ruins we went for lunch.They had American as well as Peruvian food.Very good.

Our next stop was in Miraflores and Love Park.This park ran for miles along the ocean and had lots of

people walking running exercising and just enjoying the day.It’s a beautiful area.

 

This area reminds me of the park in Barcelona that Gaudi developed.Along the walkway is this seating area

made of mosaic.Very nice.

Sam and me

Kissing couple

Our last stop today was at a Indian Market.They have beautiful alpaca scarves among other things.

Tomorrow we will continue on with another tour of Lima.

Manta ,Ecuador Nov.29,2017

We arrived in Manta and found our tour guide where we boarded a bus. The first place he took us to was San Lorenza beach where we saw nesting turtles.They had been fenced off so people wouldn’t step on them.

Turtles in fenced area

After leaving the beach we went to Pacoche a wildlife refuge where you see Howler Monkeys,birds and other wildlife.You pass 3 different microclimates before arriving at the reserve. This is a heavily forested area  and the path can be a little wet and slick.We walked to the lodge where they had samples of various foods.

The guide showed us the Toquilla Palms which they would weave into small containers and were also used in making the Panama hats.

Next we proceeded to area where they showed us how they used a donkey hooked up to a wood circle that the donkey walks around  and it grinds the sugar cane into syrup which they then could make into hard rock sugar.Very interesting

Our next stop was to the Alfaro museum and Mauseloum.  

This is a newer museum dedicated to Alfaro president of Ecuador twice from 1895-1901 and 1906-1911.He was known as the Old Fighter.He was a outspoken liberal and would butt heads with the Catholic Church.He believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion.He also believed they needed a railroad connecting Quito to the Andes and the port.It would be a boost to the country and the economy. The R.R. was completed in 1908. His reforms did much to modernize the country.

Our last stop was in the town of Montecristo known for making the Panama hats.

We stopped by the church,and watched women making the panama hats.Sam and I decided we would like one so we each got one.

Woman working on  a hat.

Monument to the panama hat

Nov.26 2018 Panama Canal Transit

The Panama Canal is considered one of the 20th Centuries greatest achievements.It connected the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean thus making the journey shorter.In 1881 France began working on the canal but had to stop because of enginering problems and high deaths caused by disease. In 1904 the U.S. took over the project and took 10 years to complete.This was one of largest and most difficult enginering projects ever undertaken.  There are 3 locks that lift the ships up in the water. The water is lowered and the ship goes in the lock and fills up with water to go to the next level.This was amazing watching all this happen.It was a rainy day so everyone was inside watching all this take place.It took about 12 hours to transit the canal.The photos of the day won’t be very good because of the weather.

This is called a mule and and they help ship through the canal.

Bridge of Americas

Panama,Everyone should experience going through the canal at least once if they can.It is a wonderful and scenic trip.

Nov. 25 2017 Grand Cayman

We arrived today in Grand Cayman and what a disapointment. We took a tour of the island which wasn’t much and they took us first to Hell.Hell is a place where black limestone formations are in a area the size of a football field.

They even have  post office in Hell.

Then we drove by a blow hole.

Next they took us to a place where you can swim with the dolphins.Several people were in the pool with the dolphins and holding onto their fin for a swim around the pool.Of course their was the gift shop where you can purchase souveiners.Then back to the port where we walked around for a bit before returning to the port.Not a port I care to go to again.

Nov 23 2017 South America/ Grand Cayman

We boarded our ship on Thanksgiving day to sailaway to S. America. As we sailed away From Ft. Lauderdale it was a beautiful evening looking out at the city.

Sailaway

We found our rooms and ready for a great time

The next day we had our meet and mingle and met a lot of our cruises mates.

Our 1st port of call is Grand Cayman.

South America Nov 23 2017 /Grand Cayman

June 6 2017 Leaving Gilbert and Heading to Page

After spending 2 weeks in Gilbert waiting for our RV to fixed we were on the road to Flagstaff to pick it up. It has been very stressful situation. They told us several times it was ready and several times we made a trip to Flagstaff to find it wasn’t done.On the the 6th we went to Flagstaff and Sam checked a couple things on the RV before we took off for Page. Needless there was a problem and they had damaged a belt and another had to be ordered.Another day of delays. On the  7th we finally got out of there and made it to Page.We lost our engine on the 25th of April and finally got it on the 7th of June.I sure hope all of the bad things are behind us.

We arrived at the Page Elks where we spent 2 nights with water and electric.There was lots to see in the area but because we were way behind our schedule we were’nt going to see all the things we had planned.We did get out and went to see Horseshoe Bend.Horseshoe Bend is the number one attraction around Page. It is called a entrenched meander.The Colorado river surrounds the monolith and this is why it is called Horseshoe Bend.The hike down to the Bend is approximately 1.4 miles.I suggest that if you hike down to see the bend take lots of water and go when it’s cool.I am afraid of heights and couldn’t get closer too the edge.Here’s some of my photos.

It has been hot here but we did take a ride over to the Carl Hayden Visitors Center.This has a great view of the Glen Canyon Dam,bridge and Lake Powell.you can also watch the movie and take a tour of the Dam.There are several campgrounds around Lake Powell at marinas but also dry camping along the lake.Lake Powell is known for it’s Houseboats and water sports.You can take a boat ride up through the canyon to Rainbow Bridge and hike up to see the arch.