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Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Costa Rica
Our last day on the Pacific Ocean.
We left Costa Rica late last night and are on our way to Balboa, Panama - this is where we will begin our transit through the Panama Canal. Bill and Ed Sobey did a really nice presentation last night on the history of the canal and also the logistical aspects of moving through the locks. Very interesting and exciting! We'll be starting our transit tomorrow morning around 6:30am. We are now on Eastern time. We had our final time change last night!!!!! I can't believe how hard it has been to lose 24 hours over the course of this voyage. Though we do gain 3 back as soon as we fly to California on Monday. ;)
Our time in Costa Rica was really nice. The first day we went on a zip lining canopy tour with SAS - there were about 20 of us so it was a nice size for a group. It was really fun to watch some of the students conquer their fears and have fun zipping through the trees. I'm uploading photos right now for you to see some good shots. There were 8 cables total (so 8 zips) and my favorite was over a big river gorge - I had time to look around and take in the sights. I asked the guide to give me an extra push so I could go faster! Bill and I figured out the higher you hold your knees the faster your speed so we were having fun!
The second day we had a delicious local breakfast (a huge plate of rice and beans and fried eggs with coffee) while we waited for the bus to Jaco (Ha koh). The ride to Jaco took about 2 hours along the coast and we hopped off and found a surf shop pretty quickly. Bill rented a board and hit the beach while I read. We had a lovely lunch with buttered shrimp and ceviche and some good local beer. Walked to our hotel and spent a quiet evening to ourselves. The hotel (which was more like a B&B as they served us a really nice breakfast in the morning) is run by a Canadian couple who built the place themselves a few years ago. They treated us to an upgraded room with 3 levels - such a treat! The whole place sits up on a hill overlooking Jaco with the ocean in front and mountains surrounding. The breeze up there was lovely and the whole atmosphere quiet and peaceful. I relaxed at the pool in the morning and read my book while Bill hit the beach for one more surfing session.
Caught the bus back to Puntarenas yesterday after a yummy lunch of guacamole, quesadillas, fish with rice and beans with a pineapple salsa and fried plantains. So delicious and our first reminder of food from home - we've been dreaming of burritos and salsa for weeks. Costa Rica was so pleasant and, to be truthful, we were limited to some of the least desirable areas. I would love to go back and spend more time exploring some of the less touristy regions and to learn more Spanish. In many ways, it was reminiscent of Santa Cruz and the ship felt very foreign after just a day away. Strange our perceptions when traveling sometimes.
We began packing last night. Without our lovely cards and goodies on the walls, our cabin looks very sad. Tonight is the Ambassador's Ball - a very special dinner for the entire shipboard community. Tomorrow the canal. Then it will be two more days of reflection and preparation for our transition back into the US.
*Woody - thanks for your lovely card and words of wisdom. And for the enticing map - I'm in!!!!
*Kiki - thanks for the card! Such a nice treat. And funny that you cut your hair as I have an appt on Dec 18th to do the same thing! My hair is super long and I'm also going to donate it to Locks of Love.
*Mary Hackman - I didn't get your card. :( But thanks for thinking of us!!!
More to come in these final days.
Looking forward to seeing many of you in the near future.
Much love,
heather ;)
We left Costa Rica late last night and are on our way to Balboa, Panama - this is where we will begin our transit through the Panama Canal. Bill and Ed Sobey did a really nice presentation last night on the history of the canal and also the logistical aspects of moving through the locks. Very interesting and exciting! We'll be starting our transit tomorrow morning around 6:30am. We are now on Eastern time. We had our final time change last night!!!!! I can't believe how hard it has been to lose 24 hours over the course of this voyage. Though we do gain 3 back as soon as we fly to California on Monday. ;)
Our time in Costa Rica was really nice. The first day we went on a zip lining canopy tour with SAS - there were about 20 of us so it was a nice size for a group. It was really fun to watch some of the students conquer their fears and have fun zipping through the trees. I'm uploading photos right now for you to see some good shots. There were 8 cables total (so 8 zips) and my favorite was over a big river gorge - I had time to look around and take in the sights. I asked the guide to give me an extra push so I could go faster! Bill and I figured out the higher you hold your knees the faster your speed so we were having fun!
The second day we had a delicious local breakfast (a huge plate of rice and beans and fried eggs with coffee) while we waited for the bus to Jaco (Ha koh). The ride to Jaco took about 2 hours along the coast and we hopped off and found a surf shop pretty quickly. Bill rented a board and hit the beach while I read. We had a lovely lunch with buttered shrimp and ceviche and some good local beer. Walked to our hotel and spent a quiet evening to ourselves. The hotel (which was more like a B&B as they served us a really nice breakfast in the morning) is run by a Canadian couple who built the place themselves a few years ago. They treated us to an upgraded room with 3 levels - such a treat! The whole place sits up on a hill overlooking Jaco with the ocean in front and mountains surrounding. The breeze up there was lovely and the whole atmosphere quiet and peaceful. I relaxed at the pool in the morning and read my book while Bill hit the beach for one more surfing session.
Caught the bus back to Puntarenas yesterday after a yummy lunch of guacamole, quesadillas, fish with rice and beans with a pineapple salsa and fried plantains. So delicious and our first reminder of food from home - we've been dreaming of burritos and salsa for weeks. Costa Rica was so pleasant and, to be truthful, we were limited to some of the least desirable areas. I would love to go back and spend more time exploring some of the less touristy regions and to learn more Spanish. In many ways, it was reminiscent of Santa Cruz and the ship felt very foreign after just a day away. Strange our perceptions when traveling sometimes.
We began packing last night. Without our lovely cards and goodies on the walls, our cabin looks very sad. Tonight is the Ambassador's Ball - a very special dinner for the entire shipboard community. Tomorrow the canal. Then it will be two more days of reflection and preparation for our transition back into the US.
*Woody - thanks for your lovely card and words of wisdom. And for the enticing map - I'm in!!!!
*Kiki - thanks for the card! Such a nice treat. And funny that you cut your hair as I have an appt on Dec 18th to do the same thing! My hair is super long and I'm also going to donate it to Locks of Love.
*Mary Hackman - I didn't get your card. :( But thanks for thinking of us!!!
More to come in these final days.
Looking forward to seeing many of you in the near future.
Much love,
heather ;)
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Finally - land!
Hi!
Just a quick note...waiting for customs clearance as we sit on the water outside Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. We are tendering (taking small boats to and from shore) this morning and then moving onto the pier in Puntarenas, which I can see from our deck, in the evening. Something about the pier not having room for us today...not sure.
It's been another long stretch at sea that included many fun things and lots of final classes and tests. The last day of exams was yesterday so the only academic work being done know is by the furious grading faculty. As a teacher, I do not envy them especially as we pull into Costa Rica for 3 days. Grades are due on the first day we leave this port - kinda brutal for them.
Just a quick note...waiting for customs clearance as we sit on the water outside Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. We are tendering (taking small boats to and from shore) this morning and then moving onto the pier in Puntarenas, which I can see from our deck, in the evening. Something about the pier not having room for us today...not sure.
It's been another long stretch at sea that included many fun things and lots of final classes and tests. The last day of exams was yesterday so the only academic work being done know is by the furious grading faculty. As a teacher, I do not envy them especially as we pull into Costa Rica for 3 days. Grades are due on the first day we leave this port - kinda brutal for them.
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