TravelStream™ news feed for member ohiolair on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ohiolair en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:46:11 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ohiolair/4/1258659920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ohiolair/4/1258659920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ohiolair/4/1258659920/tpod.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:46:11 -0500 50 DAYS at SEA at 50. . . .

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Cleveland, Ohio, United States

soon, i promise details soon!
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Port Saint Lucie, Florida, United States

More to come, I promise!
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Colon, Panama

DAY 10b PANAMA CANAL9 November 2009I was up early so I could be on deck to watch the day unfold. It had cleared up considerably, and promised to be a beautiful day to make the crossing.  We found the fore deck almost empty when we arrived, and quickly staked out our spot as close to the bow as we could.  Alan and Barbara joined us shortly afterwards, and we enjoyed coffee and the infamous "Panama Rolls", a doughy roll filled with a creamy vanilla pudding!The ship was already moving, and as we approached the Bridge of the America's the foredeck, as well as those above it, began to fill up, everyone jostling for a prime position, of which Michael and Barbara had the best.  Sailing under the bridge was inspiring.  It’s nothing special as bridges go, other than it was the only link from North America to South America for some time.  But it also marks our beginning of the Panama Canal experience.  I was excited.  As we sailed under the bridge the channel narrows, and you can see the dredges here and there waiting to start their day.  We pass a freighter steaming into the Pacific, and ahead of see the first Miraflores Locks.  Two locks side by side, the right one already filled with an enormous container ship.  You would think that the left one would be for the opposite direction, but the Statendam steams into the adjacent lock.  Amazingly, on this first dock only, they use guys in row boats to grab the ships lead line to take it to the shore where the “mule”, a small locomotive, awaits to help guide us into place.  And it is a TIGHT fit, with only a foot on each side of the ship (some ships have as little as 6 inches between each side of the ship and the lock, which is why they are building a series of newer, larger locks).   But amazingly, the ship never touches.  Michael and Barbara are still up front, Alan and I six feet behind.  Michael is waving to the mule operators and ground staff, yelling “buenas dias Senor!”.  He is being silly, and people around him are grousing that everytime they go to take a photo, Michael’s hands are in the way.  Everyone is excited, but especially  Michael.  It is THE event we have all been waiting for.  The lock behind us closes and the ship begins to slowly rise.  It is truly amazing the engineering that has gone into this.  As the gate sin front of us begin to open Michael screams “They’re opening, they’re opening!” to many chuckles around him.At one point we see the ships photographer ashore taking photos of the ship and her passengers from the sides of the Lock.  Michael grabs his attention and does the “Michael Pose” as our friends Ken and Ginger call it.  Michael calls it his “Gypsy” pose,a nd as he does the photographer takes the shot.  Again to the grumbles of a few around him because, once again, he has gotten his hands in someone’s photos.!The ship eases into the next lock.  The small “mules” are not only on rails, but on a cog track as well.  At the end of each lock it has a short, steep incline of about 20 to 30 feet to make.  You can hear its engine rev and the cogs engage as it climbs the short incline, then it zips up to the next level.  It’s kinda cool actually.  The gates swing close behind once again and the ship begins it’s second rise to the middle lake level.  It does not happen quickly, but does take about 45 minutes.  By this point, Michael is getting bored, it is beginning to get hot, and I am hungry.  We get a quick shot of the four of us, and head towards the back of the ship to see the locks in reverse!Looking over the railing at deck six, it is amazing to see the Maersk ship so close, towering above us with its cargo containers stacked high on her decks.  And looking over the side you can see how close the ship is to the sides of the lock.  A spectacle, that’s for sure.  We separate, Barb and Allan to shower for the day (we were all up early), Michael and I are to meet up in the Lido for breakfast.  We pass into the smaller lake Miraflores, the “mid level” before the last set of locks at Pedro Miguel. At Breakfast we pass through the Pedro Miguel Locks and begin our passage into the Culebra Cut. I have almost finished my book, “Path Between the Seas” and am in awe at the sights before us.  The Culebra Cut is an amazing feat of engineering.  Some 96,000,000 cubic yards of material was removed from it’s nine mile length, enough to tower 19 miles high if it was placed in a space the size of a New York block.  Some of the “hills” pointed out to us are actually made from the rubble of the cut.  Fuerte Amador, the causeway we docked at the night before, was created from the rubble of the cut by connecting several small islands!  And now you can see where they are beginning to widen the channel to accommodate even more traffic.  After breakfast we pass under an amazing suspension bridge that was opened just a few years ago to ease the traffic flow on the Bridge of the Americas. I am back on deck, taking in the scenery and listening to the commentator over the ships P.A. system.  We pass “gold hill” as we make our way into the cut, it’s steep sides rising above the ship.  It is awesome, and inspiring.  Time to relax and enjoy the scenery.I grab a beer and watch the world go by, lounging in a deck chair and taking the occasional photo.  I run into Sharon and Al, photos are shot, laughs are had and I turn even more golden (I hope).  We leave the narrowness of the canal and enter Gatun Lake, the scenery is tropical, and breath taking. Lunch, I am informed by Michael, is going to be in the Rembrandt Dining Room with Alan and Barbara.  I go change into something more appropriate and join them just as the dining room is opened.  We are quickly seated by the windows.  I notice there are quite a few ships around us, all anchored in the lake awaiting their turn through the locks.   We have passed through most of the lake and are nearing the Gantun Locks on the east coast of the alke.  Ahead I can see a HAL ship, the Zuiderdam we are told, nearing the locks, and behind us I see our partner, the Maersk ship, maneuvering into position to join us through the locks.  As I check out the Zuiderdam maneuvering into the locks, I notice you can see the steps of the locks and the Caribbean Sea in the distance.   Out journey is almost over, or so it seems.  But it is only 1:00 and we are not scheduled to be through the locks until four?  What I did not realize is how long it would take to traverse these two locks. On the other end there are three locks, of moderate rise.  On this end, there are two locks of much greater rise (or lowering in this case).  It would take the greater part of three and a half hours to clear the Gatun Locks and be lowered to the lever of the sea (which is the same on both ends, in case you are wondering).  Lunch is eaten, photos are shot, laughs had.  We really enjoy the company of Alan and Barbara.  They are very special people, and a whole lot of fun to hang out with.  After lunch I wander around deck, shoot a few more photos and then end up in the cabin.  It has been a long day and Michael is already napping, so we snuggle and take a brief restbit before the evening ensues.  It is to be another formal night.  I am getting tired of these actually.  I like getting dressed up, but every night is a bit much.  When I suggest to Michael we pass, he looks dejected and says we are going.  Ah well, another large meal.  I begin to wonder if I will fit in an airplane  seat on the way home?Later in the evening, I change into comfy cloths, blue jeans, my boots, a silk shirt, and head up to the Crows Nest where a party is going on!  I hang, listen to the music, drink a few beers and char with Ann and Charles from Calgary whom we met earlier in the cruise.  It is nice to just relax, and enjoy.  The highlight of the trip is over, or so most would think.  But I am actually more excited to see Cartagena, and to step foot on the South American continent!  As the evening wanes, and the Crows nest empties, I close out the night with shots with DJ Matt, and a couple of his co-workers.  Another ending to a GREAT day.  I have sailed through the Panama Canal, something I have dreamed of for 35 years!
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

I know, I have been negligent in posting.  Internet aboard ship is kind of epensive, but I priomise to finish up the blog, complete with Photos by Monday! 
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AT SEA, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

:-(   Sotry to follow with better internet connections!
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AT SEA, Inagua, Bahamas

STORY TO FOLLOW!
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AT SEA AGAIN!, Los Santos, Panama

DAY 9, AT SEA and Fuerte Amador, PanamaNovember 8, 2009"Wake up Honey" Michael said, trying to rouse me from bed.“But it's only 8:00!” I groused back.“Honey, it’s 'Walk for the Cure’ this morning and I think you should go with me” he responded. Indeed, it was ‘Walk for the Cure’ this morning, and I should go, but I was a bit hung over and wanted to stay in bed. “Ok, I’m going to go get breakfast” he said as he left.  I rolled over and was quickly back asleep.Lights?  Why are the lights on?  “Honey, get up, you are going with me.  I don’t want to walk alone.” Michael prodded.  I sighed, rubbed my eyes and straggled out of bed.  It was going to be a LONG day!  But once I had my travel mug o’ joe, and we were walking around the Promenade 12 ½ times, I felt pretty good!  And it is for such a good cause.  Be sure to check out this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAbL08E0QUEHAL raised over 100,000$ for the Susan B Kohman Foundation Cancer research last year, (1,920$ on this cruise alone) and there was quite a turnout this morning!  I love sea days.  They are so relaxing, or so full of events and things to do.  Your choice, do as little or as much as you desire.  My desires usually run to being lazy, although I did go walking with Michael.   Today was especially nice because tonight we docked at Fuerte Amador, the entrance to the Panama Canal. Earlier in the day I once again sunned myself, my ultimate goal being the undying envy of everyone back home and at work (and to catch up on the sleep I missed by getting gup early).  Michael says its skin cancer, but I am using a sun screen, and being pretty careful.  I do seem to have a line around my neck though, and I could not figure it out until I put on a tank top this morning, and the mystery line matched that of the neckline of the tank top.  So much for the mystery,(Michael couldn’t even see a line).  Time in the sun, reading and enjoying the coast as we approach Panama is a dream come true.  It does not get better than that.  The ship had a bar-b-que on the lido pool deck beginning around 4.  We are set to dock at Fuerte Amador at 6pm, and the tenders into shore should begin shortly afterwards.  Most will be going ashore for tours and to explore, so they are throwing a party ahead so passengers can eat if they want. It was most delicious.  Michael discussed what we wanted to do, thinking we would go to the Ba’Hai temple, one of the few in the world.  But by the time we decided on just what we were doing, he realized it was going to be dark and we wouldn’t be able to see anything.Panama City was a total surprise.  A line of beautiful high-rise building make up its skyline.  It looks so modern, so exciting.  Too bad it was night.It took the ship awhile to get things organized.  Apparently the harbor waves were making it difficult, and unsafe, for passengers to be transferred form the ship to the tender.  That delayed things a while.  Michael and I waited, putzing online and making a plan of what were going to do the next day.  We figured by 7 or so they would be calling “open tender”, so there would be no line or waiting.  At 7:30 we went down to the Rembrandt Theater, where everyone waits for tender calls once you get a number.  Dani, cute adorable Dani was there.  I asked how long the wait was, and she said they’d not even called the last of the tours yet, and she guessed 30 to 45 minutes.  As I stood there a woman walked up and returned her tender tickets, saying her party was going to remain aboard.  Dani smiled at me, said thank you to the woman and handed me two of her tickets. “Twenty minute wait, max” she said to me.  We thanked her, asked her if there was anything we could bring her.  She paused, though hard, hesitated and then asked us if we wouldn’t mind, she was craving an Antonio’s pizza, Pepperoni and mushroom.  Sure we said, if they were still open.The ride in the tender ashore was a lot less turbulent than we were led to believe.  And fast.  Someone had said it was a 30-40 minute ride, but ended up being only 15 at the most.  We wandered around, dodging the cab drivers pestering us to be taken into the city, and ended up in a few of the proverbial gift shops since there was little else to do.  Michael called his father Bob, beginning the convincing that they should do this trip with us next year.  Antonio’s smelled heavenly.  We ordered Dani’s pizza, and sat with cocktails enjoying the only other repast ashore on the causeway, drinking!  It was beautiful, though our time ashore was short.   Once back on the ship we went up to the party at the Lido Pool and found Dani, who was ecstatic about the pizza.  She thanked us profusely, then quickly disappeared with her treasure.  It still makes me laugh to remember her expression and happiness over a pizza!
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AT SEA, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Day 8- AT SEA November 7, 2009We were greeted by sunshine when walked on deck this morning. I was very pleased to say the least. After breakfast, Michael and I parted ways.  He was off to find a cozy spot to read out of the sun, and me off to my favorite deck chair to read IN the sun!  I do have a favorite spot on board.  A quiet spot where I like to lay out, read, watch the world go by.  It is all the way forward and as high as you can go without climbing the communications equipment.  It is always quiet and few people use the area.  And even better, it is just upstairs from the Crows Nest so beverages and/or ice are readily available as I bake in the sun.  I have taken to two constant comment tea bags to a full bottle of water and making sun tea as I lay out.  AS my tea brews I usually grab a plastic beer mug of ice from the Lido Bar and I am set for an hour or so of sun.As we plied the somewhat windy waters off Costa Rica, we were joined by a flock of Frigate Birds, gliding and diving along side the ship. They were fascinating to watch, and difficult to photograph.  The rest of the day was fairly quiet, although Michael did win at bingo, his first time to play while aboard.  And he didn't win only one, but twice in the same 4 card game, and he was the only winner both times and did not have to share the winnings with anyone else.  Needless to say, winning twice in the same day has made him persona non grata amongst the other Bingo-ers!  His winnings were added as a $201 credit to his ships tab.  Way to go Mikey!Cindy and Bud have arranged for the Cruise Critic group to have dinner at the Pinnacle Grill this evening.  16 of our new best (cruise) friends on formal night, the third of the trip.  And as an added bonus, Fred and Ann have invited everyone to their cabin, the "Penthouse Suite" (cabin 001 on the ships diagram) for pre dinner cocktails.  We arrived in our finery promptly at 5:45, and were greeted by not only Fred and Ann, but the Hotel Director of the ship, David, the ships acting captain, Paul, and a staff of three offering drinks and hors d'oeuvres.  I’ve never been in a LARGE cabin aboard ship, well, none of the Cruise critics had so we were all somewhat excited to see what it looked like.  It is large, by cabin standards, with a sitting area, a dining room and sleeping alcove.  About the size of a one bedroom apartment, a small one bedroom apartment.  It was lovely, and we got to meet a couple of people who had not made it to the earlier get together, including a charming gentleman traveling alone, Dennis!  All in all, it was a lovely evening, full of laughter and wine, good food and good converation.  I learned that Ann and Fred live in Williamsport Pa., and Fred is a disc jockey for a small radio station there!  Dennis does real-estate development and lives in upstate Florida,  Bud and Cindy are retired and live in Bullhead City, Dale and Pat live in Surprise Az. and Dale builds his own airplanes!  We’ve already become good friends with Alan and Barbara from Toronto (Alan works for a Japanese auto manufacturer) and Sharon and Al, who a semi retired librarians (Al was, at one time, and engineer as well).  It was fun to learn how everyone came up with their Cruise Critic “handles”! Fred is “Memory Merchant”, because of his spinning of 45’s.  Sharon is “Story lady” because of the library, Dale is “Pulsar Papa” because his favorite airplane he has built is a Pulsar, Cindy is “Sissy Ruth” named so because of her cat!  It is just fun,a nd apparently we are VERY fortunate to have such a lovely CC group!Dinner wound down early, but there was much partying to do.  Michael disappeared around 11, I went to the Crows Nest to see who was there, and there was none other than Elda and Val, two wonderful women I met on November 1st!  They are so much fun!  Around 12:30 I helped Val take Elda back to their cabin (she was worse for wear from an evening of cocktails).  I went back and closed down the Crows Nest bar with DJ Matt, Beth the Party Planner, and a lovely couple form San Diego whose names escape me.  But he is only 49, and retired!  Where did I go wrong!  
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Cartagena, Colombia

A story to come!  WOO HOO!  South America! 
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Panama Canal Zone, Colón, Panama

DAY 10 Panama CanalNovember 9, 2009Just a quick note: You can watch our ship, the MS Statendam transit the canal in real time via the canals website!Go to www.pancanal.com… we already transited the Miraflores locks, and the Pedro Miguel Locks, but you can watch us at the Gantun Locks at 1:40pm Eastern time!More about the locks and our transit later!C YA!
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