This starts the 17 day cruise from Seattle through the Panama Canal and continuing to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. We had packed clothing for cool and rainy Alaska , hot tropical Caribbean and dressy evening dinners. Our suitcases were large and fully packed.

The 27^th was a quiet day at sea. The water was rough and some people fared better than others. Fortunately, Mitch and I seem fairly impervious to the rock and roll of the ship.

The 28^th and 29^th we were docked in San Francisco just a block away from Fisherman’s Wharf at pier 39 where the sea lions loll and claim the piers as their own. We opted to use a hop on/hop off bus for the two days. The first day was unusually cloud free and sunny. We took lots of pictures of the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz. We drove by innumerable famous houses and examples of interesting architecture including the “Painted Lady” Victorians. Lombard Street and China Town were also the route. The bus went through Haight -Ashbury where the 1960’s hippie movement flourished. We passed a house painted with a large picture of Jim Morrison, the lead singer of the popular music group known as The Doors.

The next two days were sea days. We occupied our time by going to food demonstrations, attending a galley tour and going to an ongoing game called “battle of the sexes.” The battle is both mental and physical and is done on sea days. The score went back and forth and was actually a tie. I think the advantage was given to the women on the last day. The competition involved subjects such as geography and music and the activities were bobbing for apples and twister.

October 2^nd we tendered at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The weather was very warm and humid. A ride on a glass bottom boat with a nice canopy was a perfect way to see the shore and marina. The rock formations and arches were numerous and spectacular sights. Boats like we were on were competing for space as well as skidoos, swimmers and body boarders. I was amazed that there weren’t any major accidents.

Monday we were originally scheduled to be at sea. At the end of the Alaskan cruise we were notified that Acapulco was no longer a port that cruise lines were using because of the rising crime rate. So, instead of being at sea we docked in Puerto Vallarta. We took a taxi around the area and enjoyed the local color and beautiful beaches. The most memorable moment in Puerto Vallarta is an odd one. We shopped at Walmart and were walking back to the port. I caught my toe on a piece of rebar and smashed my left leg and knee into a cement post. Ouch!

The next few days were sea days. We spent some time catching up on e-mails and reading books. High tea was beautifully served and the scones with clotted cream and fresh berry jam were divine. We went with our dinner companions Don and Carol (from British Columbia) to a specialty restaurant on board called the SS United States.

Friday the 7^th we docked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. We have been to pineapple, macadamia and banana plantations. This time we went to the Espritu Santo Cooperative coffee plantation. These folks say that Juan Valdez like their coffee better. We watched all stages of growth and processing and then did a little sampling. It is really good and we were tempted to buy some. Our next stop was Sarchi to see where oxcarts are made and decorated. The oxcarts truly are a work of art. The colors are vibrant and the patterns are intricate. They also do wood carving for wall hangings, furniture and jewelry. The best known oxcart or carreta maker is the family of Joaquin Chaverri.

Saturday was rainy and the sea reflected the gray color of the clouds. We were all a little anxious because the next day we were going through the Panama Locks and we hoped for perfect weather. Luck was with us and the day was clear. Traversing the locks takes hours. There are three locks but the two larger are the Milaflores and Gatun locks. The United States took over the project in 1909 and finished in 1913. The locks raise and lower ships and barges an incredible 85 feet. Traditionally mules are used for small watercraft at small locks. The “mules” used in Panama are electric locomotives.

Our ship had approximately 2 feet leeway on either side of the locks. We also sailed through Gatun Lake during the passage. Panama is working on a new and larger set of locks as ships and barges increase in size.

Monday the 10 we arrived at Cartagena, Columbia. We toured the San Felipe de Barajas Fortress which is the largest work of Spanish Military engineering in South America. We enjoyed looking at and feeling the cool air in the San Pedro Claver church. The Inquisition Palace is pretty self explanatory. It showed examples of many hideous forms of torture used to wrench false confessions from poor unfortunate victims. Our guide mentioned that very few of these were used in Columbia but they were used in Spain to find and destroy “witches.” A popular figure shown in statues is Simon Bolivar known as the “Liberator of five nations” who wrote the Cartagena Manifesto in 1812.

The next two days we spent cruising. We attended a bridge tour and saw the charts and many, many electronic screens that the ship officers watch constantly. The huge steering wheel is a symbol of the past. The wheel is more like a joystick used on a game. We had our last formal night and I started thinking about grocery shopping, cooking and doing dishes again.

Thursday, October 13^th we arrived in Ft Lauderdale at 7:00 a.m. By that night we were in Seattle and ready to continue our travels by truck.