2023 - Panama Canal Cruise
Our ship for the journey is the Ruby Princess
2023 - Panama Canal Cruise
April 13, 2023 - Leaving MCI with flight to Houston, Texas. We left a day early to make sure about connections. Stayed in Houston at the Hampton Inn.
Came a bit early to the airport as was the first time for us to fly out of the new MCI Airport. Checked our bags and then went for a coffee break. The first kiosk was bad... After a bit of a walk we found this one that was good.
There it is our United Airlines plane. Left at 11:20 a.m. to arrive at 1:29 p.m. Nice smooth ride.
April 14, 2023 - To Galveston and to the ship
The trip to Galveston was via bus. It was about and hour ride.
Goodbye Galveston - Galveston is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas.
Our first place to go when onboard is the Slice Pizzeria and Coffee and Cones spot while we wait for our luggage to be delivered.
The first offshore drilling was in shallow northern Galveston Bay, where the Goose Creek Field was discovered in 1908. Several dry holes followed, and the field was abandoned. But a gusher in 1916 created the real boom there.
April 15 - 17 - Days at Sea
So many beautiful sunsets while at sea.
Sargassum (seagrass) is a type of leafy, rootless and buoyant algae that bunch up in islands and floats around the ocean. In the open sea, healthy patches of sargassum can soak up carbon dioxide and serve as a critical habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, turtles and birds. Closer to the coast in can wreck havoc by smothering coral reefs and altering the water pH.
Flying fish are ray-finned fish with highly modified pectoral fins. Despite their name, flying fish aren’t capable of powered flight. Instead they propel themselves out of the water at speeds of more than 35 miles an hour. Once in the air, their rigid “wings” allow them to glide for up to 650 feet. The winglike pectoral fins are primarily for gliding—the fish hold the fins flat at their sides when swimming. Their streamlined bodies reduce drag when the fish are “flying.” 12" - 18" long.
April 18, 2023 - Cartagena, Columbia. Cartagena is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. By the sea is the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings.
Cartagena skyline coming into view
Some local fishermen seen in various sized boats.
Three different fishing techniques using a fishing line, nets and traps. Many tours are offered for tourist to go fishing. Currently a fishing license is not required.
Many egrets seen while docked. Pictured is the Snowy Egret - see it's golden slippers.
Also saw lot of gulls and notice the Sandwich Terns.
The Port of Cartagena is Colombia's main container port and the third busiest port for transportation of grain. To the south is the outer harbour with a container terminal, coal terminal and several oil piers on the E coast side. Exports include coffee, oil products, vehicles, fruit and vegetables, nickel, resins and textiles. Imports include chemicals, food products, machinery, paper and other raw materials. Traffic figures: Approx 1400 vessels, 7,116,687t of cargo and 795,380TEU handled annually. A TEU or Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit is an exact unit of measurement used to determine cargo capacity for container ships and terminals.
Convento de la Popa · Perched atop the highest hill in Cartagena, this 17th-century convent offers spectacular views of the city.
Looking at the Atlantic Bridge which is a road spanning the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal.
April 19, 2023 - Panama Canal Passage. Some clouds which was nice on a hot day. No rain.
Beginning our trip to the first set of locks in the new canal.
In the upper part of this photo is seen a ship on the old canal.
Coming closer to the Aqua Clara locks, we see the guard house. The red object seen is a fire extinguisher.
A canal worker is ready to throw the monkey ball with a thin line to a lineman aboard the ship. Took him four times to get it there.
Male Great-tailed Grackles are long-legged, slender blackbirds with a flat-headed profile and stout, straight bills. Great-tailed Grackles have pale yellow eyes vs Boat-tailed Grackles that have black eyes.
With a very wide distribution and common to abundant population, the collared kingfisher is classed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Rough-winged swallow or Gray-breasted Martin?
The Gatun Dam is a large earthen dam across the Chagres River in Panama, near the town of Gatun. The dam, constructed between 1907 and 1913, is a crucial element of the Panama Canal; it impounds the artificial Gatun Lake, which in turn carries ships 33 kilometres of their transit across the Isthmus of Panama.
The brown pelican is a bird of the pelican family, Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water.
The target that the canal workers can practice on to improve their skills in throwing the lines to ships.
Breakfast as we cruise through the canal - thank you dear hubby!
Now on Gatun Lake. We saw several cargo ships waiting their turn to go East through the Aqua Clara Locks.
While transiting the lake we saw quite a few islands. Before the area was flooded these were mountains, now only the tops of those mountains are showing.
Here we see the old and the new lighthouses. The new one to the right has red or green lights letting the ship know if it is in the correct position in the canal.
The Centennial Bridge is located 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the Bridge of the Americas and crosses the Culebra Cut (Gaillard Cut) close to the Pedro Miguel locks.
The Bridge of the Americas seen in the distance is a road bridge in Panama which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Designed by Sverdrup & Parcel, it was completed in 1962 at a cost of US$20 million, connecting the north and south American land masses.
Biomuseo is a museum focused on the natural history of Panama, whose isthmus was formed very recently in geologic time, with major impact on the ecology of the Western Hemisphere. Located on the Amador Causeway in Panama City, Panama, it was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Panama City, the capital of Panama, is a modern city framed by the Pacific Ocean and man-made Panama Canal. Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic center, is famed for colonial-era landmarks like the neoclassical Palacio Presidencial and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars.
April 20, 21 2023 - At Sea
Early morning view of Panama City as the ship prepares to leave.
First and only sunrise photo I shot (I am not an early riser......
Meanwhile back with the dog sitter, Maxine is at the table waiting for food!! Looks like she is having a good time too.
April 22, 2023 - Costa Rica - Costa Rica is a rugged, rain forested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife. We took the countryside and cultural tour.
Along the way we saw many poor homes
Esparza sits on the Gulf of Nicoya, in the Puntarenas province. It is one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica, founded in the 16th century by the Spanish.
In the town of Esparza we got of the bus and crossed the street to the city square where the dancers were waiting for us. We were each offered a banana before the dance began.
The dancers were aged up to eighteen years old. They invited the tourist to join them in one of the dances. A lot of the songs were about the coffee plant. The tour guide was a very enthusiastic participant as he was promoting the native culture.
Picture as we left the square to get on the bus. Across the street from the plaza sits a Catholic church which was erected during the Spanish Colonial days. Sorry no picture of the church this time.
El Jardin - I think most tour groups in the area stop here. Lots of buses......lots of people.
There is a area where you can get food, another area that sells ice cream and snacks and then there is a large building that sells all sorts of souvenirs.
There is a area where you can get food, another area that sells ice cream and snacks and then there is a large building that sells all sorts of souvenirs.
White zebu cattle (Bos indicus) in Costa Rica are able to withstand high temperatures, they have a hump at the base of the neck, drooping ears and a large dewlap. Also known as Brahman or humped cattle.
In Costa Rica a young coconut is called a "pipa" (pronounced in English pee-pa). It grows well many places in Costa Rica, especially by the beach. Pipas are the same family as the brown hairy coconuts people are used to seeing.
In Costa Rica the large mango fruits are known as mangas, while their smaller counterparts are called mangoes. Mangas are the most familiar variety – oblong, about the size of a softball, and with smooth flesh – while mangoes are smaller than a baseball and have a slightly stringy fruit.
Our tour guide expounding the value of the coffee plant. Costa Rica is the only country in the world where it is actually illegal to produce any type of coffee other than 100% Arabica—the highest quality of coffee beans. A law was passed in 1989 prohibiting the planting of low-quality beans, encouraging Costa Rican farmers to pursue true excellence.
Some of the most popular species for surf fishing in Costa Rica include Roosterfish, Snook, and Jack Crevalle.
April 23 - 27, 2023 At Sea - a few of the activities.
Mysterious Duo performing beautiful music on a unique cello and violin. They played several evenings. To hear more:
https://youtu.be/vczTz7_TQlQ
Heather enjoying some shopping - finding some travel themed charms.
Time to connect at the Captain's Circle.
A few of the many crew members at the party.
Sushi demonstration
International Cafe again for some coffee, snacks, and of course tea-time every day.
Moving North and some people still want to relax in the hot tub.
The brown booby is a large seabird of the booby family Sulidae, of which it is perhaps the most common and widespread species. It has a pantropical range, which overlaps with that of other booby species. The gregarious brown booby commutes and forages at low height over inshore waters.
Immature Brown Booby noted by the mottled brown belly.
The masked booby is the largest member of the booby family. It is a little under three feet in length and has a wingspan of around five feet.
It has a white body; brownish-black wings and tail; and a long, pointed orange-yellow bill. It has a black mask around its eyes and bill and large, gray webbed feet.
April 27, 2023 - Cabo San Lucas - Tour - Coastal Highlights and San Jose del Cabo
Cabo San Lucas, a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, is known for its beaches, water-based activities and nightlife. Playa El Médano is Cabo’s main beach, with outdoor restaurants and numerous bars. Past the marina is Land's End promontory, site of Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) and El Arco, a natural archway in the seacliffs.
Tender boats also known as a water shuttle. They're used in destinations where there is no suitable place for the cruise ship to dock. Since we were on a tour we were assigned a time to board the shuttle for shore.
Fortunately the ocean was calm so it was not a challenge to get in and off the tender.
Coming near to shore we see the crowd of people and of course Senior Frogs.
Aboard the air-conditioned bus we are off to see the countryside and our destination San José
The large and impressive cacti that you can see all around the Los Cabos area is the Cardón cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) which is the largest cactus in the world. There are about 1200 species of cactus, all of them native to the Americas however the Cardón is endemic to the deserts of the Baja California peninsula. Some of the largest Cardones have been measured at nearly 21 meters (70 feet) high and weigh up to 25 tons. Slow growing plants and extremely long-lived, many specimens live to well over 300 years.
This is a riverbed. Technically summer is the Cabo rainy season but most of this destination's sparse rainfall hits in August and September. The annual rainfall in Cabo is actually less than seven inches, and most of that can come down during just a few storms.
A short walk from the bus stop is the church, shops, and the town square.
San José del Cabo is a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It’s known for its sandy beaches and colonial buildings. The San José missionary church, rebuilt in 1940, faces Plaza Mijares in the heart of the historic district. Nearby art galleries exhibit work by local artists.
This beautiful old church is set amid San José del Cabo's historic downtown area, a stone's throw from City Hall, Plaza Mijares, and the Gallery District. Located in the heart of the old town, San Jose del Cabo Church (Parroquia San José) was founded by Jesuits in 1730.
Off to the Patricia Mendoza Art Gallery
A lovely gallery in the heart of the art district. Wonderful paintings, sculptures and smaller pieces. The setting is ideal- there are tables in the shady garden where you can relax and a small bar serving excellent coffee drinks and great top shelf margaritas! There is even a chicken named Cuka who is very friendly with bar patrons.
Small sample of the art found inside.
Cute art work outside the gallery.
Found tables and chairs outside, under this beautiful tree.
We were served sandwiches and chose a hibiscus tea made on site.
Moving back into the Plaza Mijares we saw many statues.
Many galleries surround the town square.Entering the sculpture area - wish I had taken more pictures.
For more than thirty-seven years Juan Sotomayor has been working with different materials including glass, aluminum, wood, fiberglass and plaster. However, his most important material is iron. He has always had very good taste and the ability to create with admiration and love, the colors and silhouettes of the environment that surround him. He finds his inspiration with material that most people would consider 'JUNK' including screws, gears, chains, nails, etc.
More sculptures.
Pauquime Gallery - The Huichol beaded art is a tradition innovation and is constructed using glass, plastic or metal beads pressed onto a wooden, ceramic or papier mache form covered in natural beeswax from south Mexico.Common bead art forms include masks, bowls, animals and figurines. The Huichol bead work depicts the prominent patterns and symbols featured in the Huichol culture and it’s shamanistic traditions.Deer, corn, fire, peyote flowers, scorpions, eagles and other animals are incorporated in the Huichol art designs.Through their art work the Huichol encode and document their spiritual beliefs.
Impressive beadwork
=
More beadwork in progress.
Up close of the intricate beading process.
Ice cream shop in the square.
Yes
Pharmacy in the square. Many over-the-counter drugs.
More metal sculpture in the square.
How many colors do Bougainvillea flowers come in?
ONE - white. The bract colors are many.
Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the four o' clock family, Nyctaginaceae. It is native to eastern South America, found from Brazil, west to Peru, and south to southern Argentina. Different authors accept from 4 to 22 species in the genus.
Cabo San Lucas. Lots of wires. Also note the storage tanks atop buildings for water.
Glad no one needed to stop here.
Narrow streets - fruit for sale along the way.
Leaving Cabo San Lucas
Past the marina is Land's End promontory, site of Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) and El Arco, a natural archway in the seacliffs.
April 28, 29, 2023 - At Sea
Tea Time
White Mocha for Heather, Hot Chocolate for Harry, and Chia Latte for me :)
April 30, 2023 - End of the cruise as we dock in San Francisco in the early morning.
Arriving in San Francisco. The Port of San Francisco is the premier gateway to the world, hosting over 100 cruise ship calls and more than 400,000 passengers every year at Pier 27 James R. Herman Cruise Terminal and Pier 35 on The Embarcadero.
Golden Gate Bridge - one of the world's most beautiful bridges, there are many different elements to the Golden Gate Bridge that make it unique. With its tremendous towers, sweeping cables, and great span, the Bridge is a sensory beauty and engineering wonder featuring color, sound and light.
Coit Tower is a 210-foot tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California, overlooking the city and San Francisco Bay. The tower, in the city's Pioneer Park, was built between 1932 and 1933 using Lillie Hitchcock Coit's bequest to beautify the city of San Francisco.
Shuttle from cruise ship to San Francisco Airport. Here we picked up a Budge Rental car to continue our vacation in California. (Always walk around the rental car before driving away to check for any bumps, scraps, dents, etc!!)
Had a great time - looking for the next time we cruise with Princess!!
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