Lima, Peru and on

January 20th

Today we were in Manta, Ecuador. We hired a car, driver and guide for the day and went to Bahía Caraquez, north of Manta. We drove through the shore towns of San Clemente and San Jacinto. We climbed up the cross at Mirador de la Cruz for the spectacular views.

      On our days at sea Diane goes to trivia quiz  twice a day and lays in the sun. We have also been doing laps on the track. (On Thursday Barry did 101 laps ~9 miles and could not walk too well on Friday!)

January 18th

Today we went through the Panama Canal. It took the whole day! It was extremely hot, even for Diane! The locks were interesting to observe and we took lots of pictures. Brendan, we took some for you especially of the trains and heavy equipment.

          January 16th

      We were in Grand Cayman today. It was very windy so we decided not to go to a beach but instead to explore the town and use the internet. We stayed in town half a day and then Diane went back to the ship to get her "sun hit". Barry came back a bit later after taking many pictures.

LEAVING FORT LAUDERDALE 1/14

January 14th

Jan 14-16

  We boarded the Tahitian  Princess on Wednesday, January 14th. The embarkation process was easy and we were having our first trip to the food buffet by 2pm. The ship left around 6pm and they had a great Sailaway Party on deck with good music.

  Today, Friday, we are in Grand Cayman. It is hot here, but very windy. The captain was not even sure we would be able to tender in. We did not go to a beach, but hung out in the town.

   

    

Boston-Atlanta-Fort Lauderdale. JAN 12, 2009

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale area.

notice the difference between developed and undeveloped swamp.

SKY

Highway through alligator alley.

Atlanta airport.

Atlanta.

Boston.

Boston Logan.

photos of Guatemala--Sept/Oct 2008

Jan 13, 2009

We are relaxing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  79 F, wind chill 85.  We are getting tired of Taco Bell right next to our Comfort Inn.  This morning when we went to the complimentary breakfast most of the 350+ guests here were already there.  Food brings people out faster than free cash.  Since they had no fruit to offer i grabbed an orange juice and headed back to the room. 

This may be the last free Internet for quite some time.  Don't expect much from me here at 40cents/minute aboard the ship.  I guess they have to make up for the cheap cruise fares somewhere!  Our cell phone with Verizon is $2.49/minute on board.  Our phones will be stowed deep in some drawer with a permanent lock in the OFF position.  

Tomorrow at 11:45 am our reserved shuttle is to transport us to the Tihitian Princes at Port Everglades cruise port.  The ship is to leave at 4pm.  Grand Cayman Island is our first scheduled stop on Friday the 16th.  We expect to rent a car and do our own tour of the island.

We have been there before when we enjoyed Seven Mile Beach and some snorkeling there, and also StingRay City and another great snorkeling spot where i saw an abundance of sharks.   With the boat crew feeding them their numbers were steadily increasing.  Incredible.  StingRay 

City was also very special with the creatures so thick it was difficult to stand against their aggressiveness and the current of the sea.  Beware of the suction they can lay on you!  Hickeys 

anyone!

Diane in green shirt: relaxing at hotel.

Kody Pigeon:  Diane named this one because of his aggressive eating stye.

Sorry Kristi!  Just laugh.

Plant in hotel pool area.

Plant in hotel pool area.  Spot the differences.

Hint:  there aren't any.

Palm tree in pool area.  It looks like a giant dandelion.

Diane in yellow shirt.  Different shirt. Same smile.  On vacation she is happy all of the time.....

Isn't life wonderful!

barry funfar

Retirement has made all the years of work and toil, planning and saving seem worthwhile.  

My biggest appreciation in life is for my wife, children, and grandchildren, with parents, siblings, and friends close behind.

Life can be very good.

It helps being an optimist.....

                           Tuesday, January 6th

         I have been packing like crazy and am trying to be conservative, but it is not easy for that long! 

Hi everyone,

       Gregg asked for a copy of the itinerary, so here goes! I will list dates and ports and the days not mentioned are at sea.

      January 16-Grand Cayman Island

      January 18-Panama Canal

      Jan 20- Quito, Ecuador

      Jan 23 & 24-Lima, Peru

     Jan 29- Easter Island, Chile

     Feb 1- Cruising around Pitcairn Island

     Feb 4- Papeete, Tahiti

     Feb 6- Rarotonga, Cook Islands

     Feb 12- Auckland, New Zealand

     Feb 17- Tasmania, Australia

     Feb 19- Sydney, Australia

     Feb 21- Brisbane, Australia

     Feb 24- Cairns, Australia

     Feb 27- Rabaul, New Guinea

     Mar 2- Guam (Northern Mariana Islands)

     Mar 6- Osaka, Japan

     Mar 7- Hiroshima, Japan

     Mar 9- Seoul, Korea

     Mar 11- Shanghai, China

     Mar 14- Hong Kong

     Mar 17- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

     Mar 19- Sihanoukville, Cambodia

     Mar 21- Bangkok, Thailand

     Mar 24- Singapore

     Mar 25-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

     Mar 27- Port Blair, Andaman Islands

     Apr 1-  Mumbai, India

     Apr 5- Dubai, United Arab Emirates

     Apr 8- Salalah, Oman

     Apr 13- Safaga, Egypt (Luxor/Karnak)

     Apr 15- Passing through the Suez Canal

     Apr 16- Port Said, Egypt

     Apr 18- Athens, Greece

     Apr 20- Sorrento/Capri, Italy

     Apr 21- Rome, Italy

     Apr 22- Cannes, France

     Apr 23- Barcelona, Spain

     Apr 25- Gibraltar

     Apr 26- Lisbon, Spain

     Apr 29- Cork, Ireland

     May 1- Paris/Normandy, France

     May 2- Cruise ends in London (Dover) England

     May 2-6 We will be staying in London before flying home

          Just typing this in takes a long time! We hope to keep a great journal!

                            Diane