Home again!

Yesterday morning we woke up to a snow-covered Prague. It was beautiful. The taxi arrived early (6:45 am) and we were ready. As Plan B, Gloria had thoughtfully purchased one-day tram tickets for us so if the taxi didn't show we could take the tram to City Center and catch a Taxi to the airport. We were plenty early for our plane. When through security (1st time) and boarded the plane before 11am and then waited while the plane was de-iced before take-off. Landed in London and went through security again (2nd time). Phylis and I headed for a restroom. When we came out, I noticed that she was trailing toilet tissue on her left shoe. She couldn't get it detached. Then I tried. By this time, we came into Chuck's view. We were his source of entertainment and frustration---that he couldn't get to his camera because he was loaded down with our coats and backpacks! Before we boarded the plane, we went through a 'secondary security search' - they hand searched all carry-ons and patted everyone down (3rd time). Half (approximately) the passengers were Indians who were employed by a banking company out of Milwaukee. They were on the way to a meeting there. Now we know who answers the customer service calls! Arrived in Chicago, went through customs, and out the International Terminal door to catch the bus to Rockford --all with five minutes to spare or we would have waited another hour. We were home by 9:30pm. Phylis stayed over so she could go to Crystal Lake this morning and the birthday party for Henry and Julian who turn 7 tomorrow. We love to travel, but it is always great to be home!
LAST MINUTE OBSERVATIONS FROM CHUCK----
1. Prague is a wonderful old European city with a lot of history. Despite going through some awful times in WWII with the mass deportation and execution of the Jews, the city itself came out of the war unscathed which is quite unusual for European cities.
2. It is interesting to note the architecture of old Prague (before 1940, city buildings were very ornate and beautiful), communist Prague (gray concrete cube shaped buildings with little imagination), and the post communist buildings since roughly 1990 (more modern glass and stone buildings which are just coming about).
3. The countryside looks similar to many areas of the Midwest with good soils and rolling hills.
The Czech farmers manage their wooded acres very well---trees are thinned, trimmed, and grown for firewood, posts, lumber etc. Farmers all live in villages rather than individual farmsteads.
4. Czech beer is excellent and appreciated there. Czechs consume enough beer for every adult to drink 84 gallon per year!
5. We don't want to walk on any more cobblestones for a while.

The last day in Prague

Today was the day to drag out the suitcase and start packing. I didn't feel very good so didn't go with Chuck and Phylis who took the tram downtown. They did some shopping and met Gloria for dinner. Thanks to Pepto Bismal and Lomotil I am feeling better. Gloria came back here to say good byes. There were several little snow squalls. More random thoughts. 1. There are few bicycles on the streets. N0t alot of cars either. Have never seen a traffic jam. Public transportation is the way to go. Also cars stop for you in a crosswalk. We have never had difficult crossing the streets. 2. Old Prague is beautiful. New Prague is more utilitarian and not so beautiful.
This has been a wonderful experience. However, we are ready for soft Charmin (me), his own bed (CA), her own car (PA) . We will miss the wonderful bread, someone to cook for us, and adventurous travel!

Shopping and the Philharmonic

Today was a little nippy so we all layered up with all the clothes we had. Had our hats on and hoods up on jackets. We started late because we knew that we would be out late tonight. After noon we took the tram downtown. Did some souvenir shopping and looked for food. We had planned to have another rulicke (long weiner in a tubular bun) but no vendors were to be found. Ended up at a Italian restaurant where we enjoyed pizza and calazone. The restaurant was down a long flight of stairs. There were open flame lamps on the table and one exit out ===The U. S. fire inspectors would go nuts. Decided to go sightseeing via the trams which we did. When we got off the tram we were trying to figure out how to get to the concert hall area. As we studied our map a nice English speaking young woman came up and asked if we needed help. It turned out that the Rudolfinum, a large well-lighted concert hall with a green copper roof built in 1876, was right across the river. We could see it from where we stood. All we had to do was jump on the next tram and get off at the next stop which we did. Had a cup of coffee and dessert at a coffee shop. Desserts here are very attractive but far less sweet than at home. Headed for the Rudolfinum and the concert. Gloria had purchased tickets for us in advance --9th row and center- perfect. The Czech Philharmonic played a concert of Martinu (a double concerto for two stringed orchestras), Dvorak (The Suite in A Major), and Bartok (A concerto). The Dvorak Hall is supposed to have the best accoustics in Europe. It was much smaller ( probably about 1100 seats) than we anticipated but very elaborate. Very comfortable seats with plenty of leg room. It was a wonderful music experience. Collected our coats, hopped the metro, then the tram and up the hill. We were home in about 50 minutes. Tomorrow is our last day here.

More adventures

This morning we ventured out on our own. Took the tram to the first stop and did some shopping at the Interspar---a local three-story shopping center. Found an ATM outside of a bank located on the lower level. It felt secure. We explored a large grocery store where we admired the wonderful supply of baked goods. It was somewhat like a Walmart in that it had groceries and lots of other non-grocery items. Also enjoyed a cup of McDonald's coffee. Back on the tram and carried our purchases up the hill. Put our feet up and had a snack while we waited for Gloria. This afternoon we explored New Town. St. Wenselas Square is the centerpiece of New Town with a huge statue of St. Wenselas on a horse. Later we were walking through a palace and there in the intercourtyard was another statue. This time the horse was upside down and St. Wenselas was astride the underside of the dead horse! Gloria showed us an ice cream shoppe that had been beautifully restored--crystal chandeliers, ornate ceilings, marble floors, etc. Gloria ordered a scoop of ice cream for each of us and Chuck paid. We picked up our dishes of ice cream and sat down. The waitress came over and plopped down an elaborate sundae. Turned out that Gloria had inadvertenly ordered a sundae in addition to our four dishes. Gloria is taking Czech language classes and has for several years. Czech is a difficult language, hard to understand and impossible to read. We had a good laugh and then split and enjoyed the sundae! Next we visited the Central Post Office. It is an ornate building where everyone takes a number when they walk in the door and then sit on the benches (arranged like pews) until their number is called. Phylis and I started to take pictures. All of a sudden an official started yelling " No Photos." Then he demanded that we delete any pictures that we had taken. He wanted to show us the sign that said we couldn't take pictures. Oh well. We then visited a 'communist' department store. It is really a store of the old style --much like the US department stores in the 40's and 50's. Then we set out to find a Pivovarsky Dum, a beer hall. A few wrong turns, but we did find it. It was quite modern, light and clean. All kinds of bottled beer lined the walls. Chuck consulted the fellow sitting at our table and asked him what kind of beer to order. We ended up with small, light beers on tap. Even Phylis had a beer. Also sausages, olives, beer cheese, and rye bread. Later we headed home. The metro and tram were body-to-body. Ramdom thoughts. 1. Lots of dogs. Many are not on leashes, but do not seem to be ferral. We did see a paper bag dispenser on a pole downtown. The sketch on the bags made it obvious what was to be put in the bag! Phylis took a bag for 'Bama. 2. Most of the young women wear tight jeans with sneakers or boots with high heels. 3. Very little English is spoken by the people in the stores or restaurants. We have overheard very little when out in public. Stay tuned.

3/2 posting from PV

Well, today it's my turn while Stella takes the day off from blogging and Chuck continues to "coach" from the sidelines. Today we took another bus tour--to Karlovy Vary. This is a spa town with mineral springs and where European royalty took the waters, got cured, and paraded on the promenade. Very interesting. We all tasted the mineral water and decided we didn't need any more cure! It is still a very popular resort area and was pleasantly slow in this off season. The weather was okay, pretty sunny, not very windy but also not very warm. We enjoyed the 2-hour bus ride west of Prague and were so close to Germany that we could see the border. We saw a large brewery (there are quite a few in Czech Republic) and lots of hops trellises. We noticed a lot of winter wheat and our guide said they also raise lots of potatoes and barley in that area. A lot of the small villages seem to still be in disrepair from WWII. We surmise they are mostly farmers living there as we never see a "farmstead." We also saw several bunkers left over from the war.

Gloria is at her language class tonight so we came back to our penzion after the bus trip. I peeled oranges, Stella is now washing the dishes (another adventure!) and Chuck is pouring wine and continuing to "coach." Stay turned for tomorrow's chapter! --pv & c & s

Touring the Jewish Quarter

As Chuck donned his freshly handwashed undershirt, he commented, "This feels like something washed in the country formerly called Czechoslavakia." --meaning rough and stiff. In the US we take a lot for granted: washers, driers, lots of hot water, lots of space. Travel gives one perspective. We took the tram/metro to the Jewish Quarter where 120,000 Jews lived in 1939. Just 10,000 survived the Holocaust to see the liberation in 1945. Today approximately 2,000 Jews remain in Prague. The ticket allowed us access to three synagogues, the ceremonial hall,and the Old Jewish cemetery. In the cemetery all the stones were at precarious angles because there were several layers (down through the years) of burials under the stones. There were displays of family heirlooms and treasurers, burial garb, and explanations of rituals and religion. The walls of the ceremonial hall were covered with the names of those who were never seen again. They were listed by families with dates of birth and last date seen. It was quite haunting. We spent about three hours there. We called Gloria and told her where we were. Somehow we got our signals crossed and spent an hour and a half trying to find each other. Wish we had pedometers on. Ate lunch at a pub . Shopped for souvenirs.

Sunday in the City

Today started slowly. We needed to get rested up. Phylis had room service (Chuck and myself) bring her breakfast and coffee. After Gloria came over we started exploring her neighborhood.
She lives in a panelec---the name given those apartment buildings built by the Communist. They were called panelec because the walls are made with plastic panels. HGTV's International House Hunters had a show recently that showed the panelec apartments. They stand 4 to 16 stories tall with elevators. Each apartment has a small galley kitchen, a WC (small room with toilet only), bathroom with sink and shower/tub, bedrooms, living room. Most apartments have balconies ---nice to sit on, but essential for clothes drying. Most apartments have a small washer, but never a dryer. About 85% of the citizens live in a panelec. They are set up in communities which have their own grocery store, school, playground, etc. During the Communist years they were all painted grey. Now some of the buildings are painted different colors or have designs painted on them. The individual homes are constructed of reinforced concrete blocks and finished with stucco. They are painted a variety of colors---cream, yellow, gold, etc. We also visited a shopping center near there for coffee and carbs! Although we never hear English spoken, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, KFC are present.
The weather was in the 40's but grey and with a bit of a breeze. Went downtown and scouted out where we are going tomorrow. Ate at a quaint French creperie. It was below ground level and located in a section that has quite a few French residents. We each had crepes: blue cheese and bacon, egg and cheese, spinach and cheese, and blue cheese and ham. We had cider to drink and a bowl of olives to nibble on. Total bill was $25 for dinner for 4. On the way home we saw people coming home from skiing in the mountains. Today we were on the bus 3 times, the metro 3 times and the tram 5 times.

Cesky Krumlov

Today we were on otur own. Gloria had purchased our tickets, took us on the tram route, and took us to the meeting place so she trusted us. We rose early and had breakfast. This hotel has a breakfast room and every morning a breakfast is set out: coffee and tea, apple and orange juice, hard cooked eggs, two cereals, two kinds of sliced cheese, sliced ham and sausage, two kinds of yogurt, plain rolls, rye bread, pastries, butter, jam. If we are hungry it is our own fault.

Today's trip was to Cesky Krumlov--a Renaissance city from 1100 to 1700 located two hours south of here close to the Austrian border. We took the tram to the city center and met the tour van (8 passenger). There was only one more tourist. We had our own driver and guide. It was great to leave the city and see what the countryside looked like. There was snow cover. We could see some small animals. The guide said that they were reeboks--little bitty deer about the size of prong horn antelope. Saw probably six herds which varied in size from 4 to 24. If there had not been snow cover, we would never have spotted them. The guide said there were wild boar in the woods along the roads. The terrain was rolling with wide fields. We spotted bales of hay, winter wheat, and plowed fields. Arrived around 11:30am and started walking with the guide pointing out the upper and lower castle (closed this time of year), courtyards, St. Vitus church, a zillion souvenir shops, etc. Of course, there were more cobblestones, lots of steps, and steep inclines. A river runs through the town. Had lunch--more dumplings--both potato and bread ones--and sauerkraut. After shopping for a while, we headed back around 4:00 pm. Our driver had a death wish and could easily drive in Mexico. If he wanted to pass someone,at 140 kph, the oncoming car had better move over. Instead of delivering us to the spot where he picked us up, he took us to St. Wenselas square. We didn't have a clue where we were. Phylis frantically looked at the map to try to figure out our location. Chuck went into negotiating mode. They eventually took us back to our pickup point and we easily caught the tram from there. Back to the hotel and watching the Olympics---of course, we can't understand what the announcer is saying. Just happy that Phylis was able to figure out how to turn the televison on!

Blogging from Prague

What an adventure---but let's start from the beginning. We left Rockford on the 4pm bus on Tuesday the 23rd. Flew out of O'Hare at 8:30pm. Four hour layover in London. Arrived in Prague around 5pm on Wednesday ==we are seven hours ahead of Central Standard Time. Gloria met us at the airport. We each had a backpack and one piece of wheeled luggage. We changed money and purchased five day transportation (metro, bus, or tram) passes. We boarded the bus, transferred to the metro (underground subway), transferred to the tram (streetcar) , and walked straight up a hill for two blocks all the while dragging our luggage. The airport is located northwest of Prague and our hotel is in the southeast part of the city. We had spent an hour on public transportation. We were totally exhausted. Gloria was excited to finally have us here and starting telling us her plans. We could only think of sleep. We are staying at the Wolf Hotel --a family-owned small hotel located in a residential neighborhood. It is very clean and modest. The shower is hot, the bed is comfortable, and breakfast good.
On Thursday morning, the three of explored our neighborhood. Found a grocery store and bought some supplies (wine, water, bread, apples). Gloria came back around noon. Took the tram to central city - 35 minutes. Spent the afternoon exploring Old Town. All the cobblestones made for difficult walking for Phylis and myself. The weather was beautiful - high in the 40's and sunny. Walked the Old Kings' Way---the parade route for a new king to be received by the town, the workers, the military, etc. Had street food for lunch. Ate a rulicke (mutnik --Al and Sharon) long hot dog in a round bun. very good. Went to the National Public Library--former monastery. Wonderful barrel ceilings,, a porcelain stove two-stories high, very historical. Walked across the Charles bridge, back under bridge, saw modern sculptures of babies, saw yellow plastic penquins along the river , back across the bridge. By this time our feet were ready to drop off. Had a cup of coffee in a heated outdoor restaurant by the clock--an astronomical clock built several hundred years ago--a common meeting place for people. Saw the Jan Hus statue. We hobbled to the Imperial Cafe for dinner while Gloria went to Czeck class. It was a white table cloth place porcelain panels covered walls and ceilings. The faucets in the bathrooms were golden swans who spewed water out their mouth-pretty memorable. Phylis had salmon, Chuck had lamb shanks, and I had rabbit. We each had a glass of wine. Our dinners were less than $30 each. We went to a nearby shopping center in search of an adapter for the computer and telephone charger.(We each brought an electrical adapter, but neither worked). Finally found one. Gloria met us and we took the tram back to the hotel. We were exhausted again. A little medicinal wine helped our feet!

Phylis brought along a notebook computer. After finding the adapter, we needed to hook up to
WiFi. Found out that the computer had to be plugged in in order to get on WiFi. Then I could only get Czech on the blog and I didn't think you would appreciate that. Anyway, we got it together tonight.

Today we started out around 11am. We took the tram to the Castle--a major landmark in Prague. The Castle stands high on the hill above Prague. It was there when the Roman legions marched into town over 2000 years ago. It is a group buildings that houses the Czech government. St. Vitus cathedral is the centerpiece of the castle with large stained glass windows, etc. Today was much colder than yesterday with a breeze and mist. We walked down the very steep and long hill---stopping often to admire the scenery. Took the tram to the literary coffee house (where the politicians meet) for coffee and dessert. Visited the Baroque Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious. The Holy Infant of Prague is located there in a glass case. It is a wax sculpture, smaller than life size, presented to the Carmelites in 1628. The sisters dress the statue in elaborate costumes made of ermine and silk velvet. Went to a concert of Czech music in the Church in the wall built in 1178--built before the city walls were built. Should have been suspicious when the posters advertising the concert emphasized that the building was heated. The music was wonderful. Two violins, one viola,and one cello--excellent musicians, but it was cold and just got colder as we sat there. Had dinner at a Czech restaurant-goulash, sausages, cabbage and dumplings---delicious. Took the tram back to our hotel. Stay tuned.









Now that we had the adapter, the next step was hooking up to Wifi. Finally got that done and could get on the internet

Packing for Prague

Traveling to Prague has been on our radar for quite some time. Our friend, Phylis, has a friend, Gloria, who lives in Prague part-time. Gloria has been encouraging Phylis to come for a visit for several years. Late last fall we started making plans and met with Gloria in early January. She has helped us plan a busy and exciting 10 day trip.
Several people have asked if we are going to Czechoslovakia. In 1993, the country of Czechoslovakia dissolved. Two countries replaced it: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The two countries had been joined together as Czechoslovakia since 1918. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. (If you knew all that, just skip the paragraph.)
The Czech Republic is bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. The temperatures appear to be just a little warmer than Rockford. For instance, the 7 day forecast on the Internet has highs in the low 40s and lows in the 30s.
Chuck is looking forward to being in Eastern Europe, the layers of history, and the food. I am looking forward to the music, seeing the countryside, and the food.
Tomorrow will be a day of travel by car, bus, two air flights, and tram to our hotel. Stay tuned for the adventures of the Illinois travelers.

Sightseeing in Southern CA

Saturday was another cool and cloudy day. I must mention that Uncle Dale had wonderful tangerines and grapefruit which we enjoyed in abundance. After breakfast UD conducted a general tour of the area. That means that Larry was the driver and Uncle Dale was the navigator. Our destination was the Getty Museum, but we took a rather circuitous route getting there. Drove through the campuses of California Lutheran and Pepperdine University. Continued along the Pacific Ocean, through Malibu and Santa Monica. The hillsides were green due to recent rains and we could see where mud had 'slid' across the road in places. Getty Museum is a spectacular architectural treat perched high on a hill. Parking is far below the museum. Then you board the tram that takes you to the Museum --five separate buildings surrounded by gardens. We split up for our tours. Small world --Nancy ran into someone who had been on the cruise with us. Chuck met Butch Hasz from Lanark, former General Manager of Carroll Service Company. By 4:00pm we left and headed for Lawry's Prime Rib --one of Uncle Dale's favorite places. Dinner was a special treat followed by free dessert, compliments of the manager who is one of Uncle Dale's friends from Rotary. On the way back home we went by Groman's Chinese Theater (with all the stars on the sidewalk), the Disney Concert Hall, and many other Hollywood sights.
Today we attended church at Ascension Lutheran in Thousand Oaks. Chuck enjoyed a walk with Uncle Dale. Now we will watch the Super Bowl. Tomorrow morning we leave for home.
Two weeks from now we leave for Prague so check the blog and travel with us.

Sightseeing in LosAngeles

Friday was our day of disembarkation at the SanPedro pier. By 9:30am we had had breakfast, finished packing, met in the Provenance Dining room, left the ship, went through customs, and claimed our luggage. Then we boarded a bus and headed towards LAX and a rental car. Drove one hour north to Moorpark, CA and Larry's Uncle Dale who is a retired Lutheran Pastor. Uncle Dale is 91 years old and a world traveler. He enjoys having company and sharing his travel experiences. After lunch we drove up to Reagan's Presidential Library which you can see from Uncle Dale's house. It was a rainy, cool (51 degrees) day with a brisk breeze. Hey, we've been in the tropics so it felt cool! The unfortunate part was that visibility was very low so we couldn't enjoy the beautiful scenery which is usually visible from the Libary. We always visit Presidential Libraries when possible so this was one more. When we returned to Uncle Dale's, he had set the dining room table with his new tablecloth from St. Thomas, Waterford crystal, and his finest silver and china. We enjoyed Filet Mignon (grilled by Larry and Chuck) and Champagne. Nancy and I are the kitchen crew. After we cleaned up, we called it a day.

Last port: CaboSanLucas

This morning we opened our balcony door and could hear the seals barking. It was still dark but we knew that we were near Cabo. Around 6:30 you could see the rock formations that are identified with Cabo and the lights of Cabo against the mountain/big hill background. At 7:45 we took a tender (actually our lifeboats) to the shore. We walked around this vacation area that is a haven for Californians and listened to all the hawkers wanting us to go on glass-bottom boat rides, or scuba diving or swim off Lovers Beach or see the whales, etc. Pelicans perched on many of the small fishing boats that were tied to the dock. Every once in a while they would swoop down and scoop up a mouthful of fish. Around 10:00 we went back to the pier and boarded a boat for Whale Watching. By the big rocks we could see the seals playing in the water. When we got a little further out we could see a baby Hump Back Whale (born a week ago with the birth weight of one and a half tons) and its mother. There was the classic spurt of water in the air and then the whales surfaced to take in air. They did not arc high like the National Geographic pictures you see, but we could clearly see them within 15 or 20 yards. We (along with about half a dozen smaller boats) followed them for an hour or so. The narrator on our boat was a marine biologist whose specialty was deep sea mammals. Then we came back in and boarded a tender back to our ship. By 1:30 we were moving out of the bay and on our way. Tonight at dinner the chef and his kitchen crew paraded around the dining room. The food has been outstanding. Dave, we had Beef Wellington tonight and thought of you. Sheryl, we had lobster - again- and thought of you. Tomorrow is at sea along with packing our bags. We will disembark on Friday morning.

Greetings from Acapulco

Saturday night right after we blogged, there was an announcement that we had a medical emergency. Instead of a leisurely trip to our next port, we were going full speed ahead and into a strong wind. It turned out to be a pretty rocky ride through the night. We arrived at Huatulco at 8.00 am instead of 1 pm. NOTE: we are onshore in Acapulco which means that the computer really wants to write in Spanish and keeps reverting to that and the keyboard is just enough different to be very confusing. Back to the story: the ambulance came and went. We went to church, walked to town, had lunch and then a tour. We are in HUATULCO. It is a created village. Mexico saw what a success Cancun has been and purchased land on the west side of Mexico and proceeded to build a fishing village for cruise ships since 2004 also hotels. The effect is a sanitized version of a Mexican village. The tour was rather disappointing. Of course there wasn't much to see in the first place. Today we are in Acapulco where we have been many times. We decided to skip the tours and get our own taxi....the driver kept calling it 'my truck.' I had visions of the four of us riding in the back of a pickup ...pretty picture, but he did show up with a Suburban. We did the usual silver factory, market, views, and Johnny Weismuller's (the original Tarzan) home. Back to the ship for lunch. Do you get the feeling we eat all the time ?...well, that's about right. Please excuse my typing. This afternoon we are seeing Mexican dancers. I'm sure they have margaritas. Tomorrow we are at sea.

Costa Rica

Yesterday was a long day in Costa Rica which is a very beautiful country with lots of flowers, birds, agricultural products and scenery. We left the ship and started on a two hour bus ride in the countryside. Saw many fruit stands along the road --pickups filled with melons. After an hour we stopped at a store with a gorgeous garden and many souveniers. Behind the store was a butterfly house with big blue butterflies as big as your hand. Chuck tried to get them to hold still so he could take their picture but they did not cooperate! The guide insisted on calling it a "pee-pee" stop. After another hour we arrived at a village where we saw an iguana in a park and also a beautiful church with stained glass windows and a gold altar. Then we went to a coffee plantation and lunch. We saw all the steps in coffee processing including tasting a fresh coffee cherry with two beans inside. It ended with coffee beans in a bag ready to sell to us. Lastly we toured an orchid garden which also included very colorful tropical birds. Boarded the bus for an hour ride back to the ship and a gorgeous sunset. Today we are at sea.

Panama City

Yesterday we toured Panama City which doesn't have a harbour deep enough for the cruise ship to dock. We were anchored out in the bay and went to shore via tender (actually the life boats that are afixed to the ship). Our tour which lasted all morning took us through the historic city (just stone ruins of the original churches, etc.), the colonial city which looked like the French quarter in New Orleans with two and three story buildings with metal grillwork balconies, and the modern city with its skyscrapers and apartments. Also went through the part that was US military before Panama won its independence 1999. Very interesting. Spent the afternoon just enjoying the cool of the ship. Last night we ate at the Bayou Cafe --one of the special restaurants on the ship. The menu was New Orleans and so was the music. Today we are at sea. A small world story--yesterday we were on tour with a couple from Gratiot, WI. They originally said "Monroe" but then admitted where they really live. We frequently say that we live near Chicago --just saves a lot of time. Off to the library and a relaxing day at sea.

Going through the Panama Canal

The alarm rang at 6:45a.m. We were up earlier and ready to see the ship go through the Panama Canal. It is quite a process. There were three locks, then the lake, and then two more sets of locks. We supposedly set a record paying over $330,000.00 to pass through the canal. That cost is based on the number of passengers and other factors. Going through the PC saves boats approximately 8600 kilometers as opposed to going around the tip of South America. Anyway, the process lasted until about 3:30pm. We watched the mules (trucks on tracks) pulling the ship, waved at people on other ships, took pictures, tried to find the best view, and looked at the jungle. Very interesting especially when you consider how old the canal is and what all went in to the construction. The Panama Canal is now going through a process to widen the canal and be able to accommodate new wider ships. Today was also Nancy's birthday. Some waiters helped us sing to her at breakfast. We gave her a card and wished her Happy Birthday at lunch. Tonight we had roses on the table waiting for her, she had a cake with candles and wait staff sang again. Did I mention balloons by her door, too? Tonight we are sitting in the Pacific waiting to tour Panama City tomorrow.

Monday in Cartagena, Colombia

When we woke up this morning, we could see that we were getting close to Cartagena. There was a line of cruise ships getting into harbor. Cartagena had 12 or more huge forts protecting them from the pirates. Of course, there are also the modern high skyscrapers in this city of 1 million people. We brought coffee back from breakfast and sat on our balcony watching the container ships being unloaded by cranes --using huge magnets to pick up the containers. Around 9 am we started our tour. During the bus ride, we observed the old walls of the city, the Spanish architecture, fortresses, and life in Colombia. After a bit, we started walking. Oh my, was it ever hot. Sweat running down my back, sweat running into my eyes,--oh well, you get the picture. Finally we hit the Hard Rock cafe for something cold to drink and respite from the beating sun. Eventually we went back outside and walked around. While waiting for the bus, we leaned against St. Peter's cathedral. I felt a plop on top of my hat. You guessed it: pigeons were above. One tee shirt vendor had a good laugh at my expense. The up side is that it landed on my hat, not my head! Came back to the ship for a late lunch. Happened to sit with a couple from PA. She had a cousin in Rockford --Jack Masters --of all people. A little more conversation and it turns out that he is a retired Lutheran pastor who started out in the Shenandoah Valley, VA --knew of Larry. Small world. That's it for today.

Sunday in Aruba

This morning we sat on our balcony and enjoyed coffee while watching the ship dock in Aruba. Aruba is a study in contrasts: a desert island in the middle of the ocean. It was originally a Dutch colony. There are still some brightly colored buildings and remnants of its Dutch history. We walked to the shopping area and looked around. In advance we had arranged to meet Marlow and Sherri Anderson, friends from church who have a timeshare on Aruba. A couple weeks ago we had discovered that they were leaving for Aruba on the 21st and so were we. We went to the appointed restaurant and they never showed up! We were disappointed, but realized that if something had come up, they had no way to get a hold of us. Tonight when we checked Emails, we found out 'the rest of the story.' Sheryl Crowell (Larry and Nancy's daughter) saw Marlow and Sherri in church. They will be in Aruba on FEBRUARY 21--not January. Oh well. The tropical sun is very hot. Yes, I wore a hat and long sleeves and slathered on the sunscreen. Tonight's entertainment was Brandy Chapman --a very good singer. We left Aruba after lunch and now we are on the way to Colombia.

Saturday at Sea

We have been at sea all day. The ship is moving faster today and the wind is more brisk. Today has been a lazy day ---almost have my book finished THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE. We went around Haiti and headed for the main channel of the Carribean. Today's buffet featured a huge dessert display--any flavor, any color, fruits, pastries, sugar-free, etc. Last night we went to a dance/song revue "Motown." Tonight we are going to the Comedy Club.

Friday at Sea

The world looks better after a good night's sleep. We were at sea today with a bright
Carribbean sun, warm soft breezes, and a calm sea. We slept late, ate (of course), read books, explored the ship and spent a lazy day. Tonight was a formal dinner (loosely interpreted means no shorts or tee shirts, but dressy). Our traveling companions, Nancy and Larry Matthews, poured champagne down the champagne waterfalls while Chuck took a picture. Then we went to the MoTown stage show--lots of dancing and singing. Our night took a turn when we checked Email and saw that Chuck's cousin, Wayne Schroeder, died today. Wayne was only 60 and Chuck's only Schroeder boy cousin. Very Sad.

We are in the Atlantic

The alarm rang at 2:20 a.m. Despite a thin glaze of ice, we made it to the 3:30 bus and headed for O'Hare. The plane left on time. The flight was very choppy (the pilot's words), but we made it to Fort Lauderdale. The dock is really very close to the airport so we boarded the Coral Princess in a short time. We are still getting acquainted with the ship. Food is good. We are tired. Off to bed. Tomorrow we are at sea and will catch up on our rest. sls

Getting ready for Panama

Friends,
As we were stuffing clothes into our suitcases, Chuck and I started thinking about staying in contact with our friends. In the past we have sent group Emails, but that fills your in-box with info you may not be interested in. Having seen "Julia and Julie' this past summer, I thought about a blog. That way you can check our blog if you are interested. If you are not interested, that's ok, too. Anyway----we are leaving for a Panama Cruise on Thursday. The most astonishing fact so far is that I have been packed since last Friday --an all time record for one who usually finishes packing within 30 minutes of walking out the door. Since then, of course, I have been re-thinking every item I put in the suitcase.
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That's all for now.
Stella