Manta Ecuador

Wednesday, Jan 12, 2011 – Manta, Ecuador
Even though Ecuador is one of South America’s smallest nations, it is a place of broad cultural diversity. The country was named for its latitude and Quito, capital since 1830, is situated on the imaginary line. Manta is the 2nd busiest port, after Guayaqauil. Just a few miles from the coast, banana, cocoa and rice plantations spread inland all the way to the base of the sierra. Panama hats originated in Montechristi, Ecuador! Their currency is the US dollar. There is a rich pre-Columbian history; the Spaniards/ conquistadors looted much Incan gold and introduced the horse to the region.

Cloudy and warm; the dock is large and we had the U.S. Navy’s HSV2 docked next to us. Of course, we tried to get onboard but were denied access. It is actually the catamaran ferry used in Hobart, Australia and has been converted to a Goodwill vessel. They dropped off water supplies in Haiti, an ambulance in Guatemala, built a classroom on an older school in Peru and will be in Manta for three weeks meeting with doctors, schools, orphanages and other military officials for training. It is all gray and has a huge cavity for storage. There were guards on the top deck and we saw a female guard, with a machine gun, at the front of the ship. There were Ecuadorian guards around the fort also.

Free shuttle to the port entrance and while still in the port area, we were approached to hire a taxi for $80 to go to Machalilla. We declined and outside the port, hired a taxi for $40 for the day. Jose was our driver and we found out the muffler on the car was bad so it smelled terribly as he was driving – stinky! But we had the windows open the entire time. We drove along E15, a brand new highway along the coast. Wonderful road with very nice views of the beaches, small villages with small restaurants, many colorful blue and white fishing boats, a small mining area for petrochemicals/concrete (hard to tell what it was for), desert-like canyons with spindly candelabra cacti…we continued for about 1.5 hours and then we approached the Machalilla National Park, one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world. The park preserves a small part of the country’s rapidly vanishing coastal habitats, beach, tropical dry forest, cloud forest and ocean.

After paying a park entrance fee of $5 per person, we continued on a dirt road for 4+ miles to the small village of Agua Blanca, an indigenous community. It is nothing more than a scattering of simple wood and bamboo dwellings and the citizens live simply with the wandering cows, pigs and goats (for meat only), chickens, birds, horses…the bamboo homes have beautiful designs and rooms can be rented for $6 a night. There is a small archeological museum with well-preserved ceramics and funeral urns. The sulfur pool is a combination of hot water and therapeutic mud and was in a relaxing setting. The citizens bathe there and are said to have soft skin and it is difficult to tell their ages. There is woman of 105+ years old in the village.

We walked through the forest and saw the algarobo tree, which as a green bark and is able to photosynthesize even when it loses its leaves. The ceiba/kapok tree yield a fiber that floats and doesn’t get waterlogged; it was used in life jackets. The birds were singing beautiful chirps and we saw the pigs wandering and in the yards of the homes. We treated the driver and guide to drinks and were pleasantly surprised when 5 drinks and one snack cost $1.75 total! Big spenders…

During the drive back to Manta, the driver tried to buy some fresh fish for dinner but they supplies were already sold. It was interesting that the fish were still there in the shop but had been sold.

Back in Manta, he left us at the Civic Plaza, where there was a large outdoor market with many vendors. All kinds of crafts: carvings from the tagua nut (similar to ivory), leather belts, silver jewelry, weavings, Panama hats (yes, they are made here in Ecuador), feather paintings, coffee beans…very nice market and I’m sure they do well when a ship is in town.

We walked back to the port, tried to get on the internet but failed and were ready to rest since it was quite humid and hot when we did not have the car windows to cool us down!
My choice for dinner was a shrimp/crab/scallop brioche, romaine salad with nuts and raisins and cucumbers/tomatoes/carrots, a seafood skewer with vegetables and carrot cake – my favorite!
Daniel Bouchet entertained, an Argentinian singer now living in Miami. Laundry and computer work and ready for bed!

I’ve pictures to upload but the connection is too slow…may have to wait until Lima, Peru/Saturday to attempt that one!

Panama Canal and Pinnacle Grill dinner

Monday, January 10, 2011 – Panama Canal transit – Up at 6 and it was still dark out! What did they expect us to see?! But we could see lights ahead as we approached the first lock. The canal is considered to be the 8th Wonder of the Modern World and has shortened the trip around South America by 7,872 miles. The concept of a canal was actually perceived by King Charles V of Spain, who, in 1523, prompted Balboa and Cortez to make a survey of the Canal area. But the project was too large for the Spanish and abandoned. The canal was finished in 1914, after the loss of over 6,000 lives from yellow fever and cholera.

We had a destination guide with us all day – yes, it does take all day to transit the entire canal! There are three sets of locks – Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores – and then we enter the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the ship, there were various stations for coffee, juice, panama rolls (soft rolls with orange jam inside!) and sandwiches. That was a great touch and people did not mind being outside as they still had access to the food and drink (it was hot and humid and drizzled all day). In your spare time…to view any ship transit the canal, please go to www.pancanal.com. We entered at 6:30 AM and left about 3:30 PM.

Average transit is 9 hours. Fastest was 2 hours, 41 minutes. Highest toll was $141,344.97. Lowest toll was $0.36 (Richard Halliburton was swam in 1928). There are approx. 9000 workers at the canal and it is 48 miles long. An enlargement scheme to allow for a greater number of transits with larger ships has been approved by the government of Panama, is in progress and completion is expected in 2015.

Went to my first tai chi class and really enjoyed it. The theatre was full of people!! And I could already feel the stretch and pull in my leg and arms muscles – taught by two Australians.
David Howarth, pianist, was the entertainer. He actually played “chopsticks” with real chopsticks!

There are daily movies onboard PLUS a DVD library of hundreds to choose from. Today’s movie was “Extraordinary Measures”. They also sold items made in Panama out on deck. There is a nice covered pool, two Jacuzzis and outdoor grill with a removable roof. Today was the first time we were up there and it will be very nice in good weather.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 – Went for Tai chi class and I like it – need to learn more of the steps and combinations but that will come. There are still about 60+ people in the room! Worked on a client situation that consumed much time; lunch in the dining room; Zumba class in the fitness center; computer work.

Pinnacle Grill dinner with the group; an exclusive event for the Ensemble Travel group guests which we have been working on for several days with a special menu! We had 35 guests for a 4 course meal in the specialty on-board restaurant. Dungeness crab cakes, spicy coconut soup or caesar salad, surf and turf or salmon and chocolate volcano cake with very nice wines. We filled eight tables and everyone seemed to have a nice time getting to know each other. Ran in to the Wajang Theatre to see the end of the Mitzi Gaynor movie, “Les Girls” from 1957.

Amsterdam Singers performed on the main stage; there were four men and two women. I liked the male voices dominating the singing. Then read about our next port of call, Manta Ecuador; crossed the equator at some time during the night so we will wait to have the “Neptune Ceremony” at another time but we were offered a glass of champagne during dinner.

Grand Cayman

Friday, Jan 7 – Arrived in Grand Cayman to sunshine and winds so we were not able to tender directly in to Georgetown. Grand Cayman government provided the tenders and we were banging against the pier as we docked. We are about 3 miles east of Georgetown and the island also provided a free shuttle to town. Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas ship was next to us… a huge behemoth next to the lovely Amsterdam!

We met up with Martha, manager of the Bernard Passman Galleries on Front Street, who is also from Delaware! Unique black coral sculptures and beautifully designed jewelry – you will be amazed by the sculptures! On the way there, we passed a lovely shop called Island Companies and received a replica medallion from the treasure of a sunken ship from long ago. And for the first time, I saw the stone Caymanite. It comes in a variety of lovely soft pastel earth colors (sold in jewelry form or sculpted. I really liked it! Bobett was our sales associate, so put her on your list for future visits to Grand Cayman! It is only found in the Cayman Islands and was formed 20-25 million years ago from volcanic activity.
They are located in the Island Plaza, right off the main street where tenders usually dock. www.islandCompaniesltd.com. Martha put us in touch with the old Starbucks café and we spent most of the day there using Skype and working. Felt great to accomplish so much in a quicker time than from onboard the ship.

We walked around Heroes Square, created in 2003, on the 500th anniversary of the island. And toured their General Assembly!! Lovely slate walls and slate desk where the mace is stored. The traditional British wigs are still worn and they represent approx. 50,000 people in their part-time legislature.

Grand Cayman is a British colony with no taxation. This was granted by king George III as a reward to the people for the rescue of all in the Wrecking of Ten ships”, which took place in 1788. This has attracted over 600 banks to the island with a population of 44,000. The country is also listed among the top four diving locations in the world.

As we tendered back to the ship, we could see the special insignia Holland America had painted on the front of the ship!! GRAND WORLD VOYAGE 2011. That was impressive!! Announcing loud and clear to all who care to know!

The sun was shining, we prepared for dinner and were called to find a lost guest who had not been heard from since 2PM. Searched each deck and found her asleep in the back of the ship. Relief.
Dinner of lamb chops and a very good dance trio, the STANDER DANCE TRIO, who have appeared on Dancing with the Stars and other professional dance shows.
Room status: only paperwork is now scattered around the room. All suitcases have been stored under the bed OR in storage on the ship. One gold star for that accomplishment! Now to clear out the paperwork and get on to enjoying the moment!

Mitzi Gaynor

Saturday, Jan 8 – day at sea and met some of the group around 10:00, 11:00 meeting and quick lunch in the freezing cold dining room! Then 2PM creative writing class, meeting with Pinnacle Grill manager for group dinner, cleaning up room and dressing for formal night, getting drawer fixed…the list never ends.

The dining room was decorated nicely with flags of most nations and then we were entertained by Mitzi Gaynor! What a treat! Of course, I went to both shows!! “Razzle Dazzle: My Life Behind the Sequins”. She came out in her sailor outfit from South Pacific, her lead role and changed into four glamorous gowns. She looked great and they have been running on documentary on her “specials” from TV and I really enjoyed seeing them – from 1960s-70s. She looks great at 76 and gave very good shows. A real thrill!

Sunday – Jan 9 – spent most of the morning running around the ship getting mixed up invitations (not by me, but housekeeping) re-delivered to staterooms and deciding on the menu and wines for the Pinnacle Grill dinner.

On the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Limon is an older port town with access to the coffee plantations and jungle canal/mangrove tours in the Tortuguero area to see the alligators and turtles. We were just walking around the main square and saw a large sloth above our heads! Not the safest place to be wandering around so be aware of your surroundings.

Shopping is for beautiful wooden crafts and jewelry and placemats! Really pretty and I had forgotten how creative you can be with an assortment of colors! They were filming a TV show at the waterfront so we hung out with the locals and watched some men try to pull themselves up a wooden wall using only their arms as they jump from one rung to the other – impressive!

1st day at Sea

Thursday, January 06, 2011 – We sailed past Cuba for most of the day and we glanced at it casually as we worked from the stateroom most of the day. We personally delivered about ½ of our group’s gifts (a mini camcorder!) and tote bags and welcome/tour confirmations. Great weather, meaning warm sunshine, with a fierce wind of 42 knots, or so we were told! We’ll be able to join in the fun soon enough...the bean bag toss(!), fitness classes, walking on the promenade, dance classes…and I am going to try the creative writing class! Room service for breakfast and lunch and a very nice dinner. Called everyone in our group and met quite a few. Rick Starr, comedian, was the entertainer. Last night we were introduced to the multitude of hosts onboard for entertainment: gentleman hosts, arts and crafts, bridge, ports of call, painting, creative writing…a few more than what we had onboard the Grand Voyage to the Black Sea in March-May 2010.

I do feel as if I am in my “home-away-from-home”.

Onboard!

Amsterdam – Wednesday, Jan 5, 2011
After a night at the Springhill Suites, near the port and Ft. Lauderdale airport, where we were working until 2:30 AM, the bus ride to the port was relaxing as we knew we were almost “there”. Sometimes you just need to know you are out the door and almost “there” so you can handle the next event. This was the first day of sunshine and it was quite appropriate, considering the circumstances of embarking on a world cruise!
Check-in was smooth; boarding was quick and we were in our room by 12:30 - #3324 with a window out to the promenade deck. Honestly, the room seemed small. The sofa and bed appeared huge and the empty space appeared minute. Oh dear. And there was very little luggage in here at the moment. How will we manage?? I don’t think I did any better packing for this world cruise than I did for the last one!! Ketut and Niyagon are our stateroom attendants (4th born in Bali and 3rd born in Bali – each son has the same name so you know their order of birth). We did not have time to go up for lunch and worked from the room and from the pier before dinner at 5:30. Table of 10 but we were six and then two latecomers appeared. San Diego, Victoria and Roanoke were our tablemates. Dinner was presently beautifully and I was famished! We finally set sail after 6:15 since it took longer to load the “stores” for the first leg of the journey. Met with the front office, figured out the computer logon/off; handled a $6,660 hold on my credit card from the cruise line!!!!; booked some travel and wished I was in bed! But the welcome show is next and then I will collapse. Several suitcases appeared and a few were emptied but the mess is still around us. I need to get organized tomorrow for phone calls and meetings…our first cocktail party is on Sunday!

We are near the ship....

After many silly mishaps along the way from Delaware to Florida in the car…shall I begin the list with realizing my car insurance card was not up-to-date in the car we were driving – such wonderful technology that they can email it me and I can stop at a hotel along the highway and print it?? To leaving my cell phone at McDonald’s after a trying day of computer issues?? we are finally in Florida!!!

Staying at the Springhill Suites by Marriott near the Ft. Lauderdale port and hope to get up in a few hours to make the final transfer of five large suitcases and a multitude of smaller cases from the car to the hotel shuttle to the ship! It has been a lovely 60 degrees+ and we hope it continues to warm up. Sail at 5PM on January 5. TODAY!