St Maarten

Sunday the 15^th of April 2012-04-15

A couple of day’s voyage has brought us to St Maarten and to the port of Phillipsburg. Again it is quite hot but there is a high wind which is believed to be part of the bad weather that USA is experiencing at the moment; however it has not spoiled in any way the enjoyment of the stay here. It’s a big Cruise terminal and there are 2 other ships in, one from Holland America line and one of the Costas.

This morning we were on a trip by bus around the Island which is in 2 separate parts. One side is part of Holland and the other is under French jurisdiction. As you pass over the border it is quite obvious the difference there is between the two communities both in the people and the environment. If one is truthful the French side does appear to be much better cared for. People making phone calls from one side to the other have to pay international tariffs!!!

We were here before about 9 years ago and Phillipsburg has changed so much. Whereas it used to be a walk to anywhere of considerable bumps and unkempt pavements and a town centre much the same, today there is a new development that takes in the town but has brought a whole new life to the sea front with a promenade, restaurants and cafes that look out over a wonderful beach overlooking the Cruise terminal. It is now a comfortable walk and very disability friendly.

Today has been great day, very enjoyable, manageable heat and colourful because of the environment and the friendly people.

Fd

more pictures to follow

Curacao

Friday the 13^th of April.

If all the Friday the 13^th’s are like this then in the colloquialism of the Assis “No Worries”! We arrived in Willemstadt Curacao this morning to yet another fantastic day.

We have been here before so we knew a little about what to expect. Out on deck when we arrived, we saw from the ship, together with all the other Dutch people who were excitedly also on deck, the lovely town with its pastel shaded Dutch style canal houses gradually getting nearer and then we were berthed and ready for the day.

We did not take the tour today but mad our way through the town on our own sampling the delights of “a Holland” in the Caribbean. It was hot again, but manageable and although we have been here before we found new places and things to see.This truly is a lovely place and with the local people not only speaking Papiamenti (their own language), but also Dutch, all the Dutch people on board felt very much at home and enjoyed the day very much indeed.

A big bonus for Suuske and no doubt all the other Dutch nationals was that the coffee in the coffee shops was what one expects to drink and not like the coffee on board which leaves a lot to be desired!

Fd 

Cartagena

Wednesday the 11^th of April 2012

We have been to so many places on this cruise and some, as you will have gathered, have been more surprising than others. Colombia and Cartagena in particular are the latest in this run of pleasant and extraordinarily wonderful surprises.

Cartagena is a U.N.E.S.C.O world heritage site and when you are here you understand why. The old city within the 15^th Century walls is a maze of tiny streets with houses and shops built in Portuguese style with wooden balconies and elaborate woodwork entrances and doors and porches. The church and cathedral also dating back to the 1400/1500’s are ornate with gold domes and well-appointed turrets towering over the little City with an extraordinary beauty.

We chose well today in the method of transport to discover this delightful place; we travelled through the narrow streets and squares in a horse and carriage! Wending our way through these streets was a unique experience. Not only could we see the sites but we could also smell the mimosa and other plants and trees that are prolifically planted in the streets and squares. The ancient buildings are used for business as well as residential and decorated in the old Portuguese style. Some of the buildings have evolved from their original purpose into more practical uses such as the Gaol which is now a shopping and market centre and the old convent is now a hotel.

Outside the walls is one of the biggest 14^th Century fortresses ever built and it is immense. The new city, which we did not visit. can be seen from the old City and it is immense with giant sky scrapers. It is built some way from the old City and therefore does not intrude into the beauty of this World Heritage site.

Colombia has a population of 50,000,000 and is one of the largest S/American countries. Again it is hot most of the year with 100% humidity. We were glad to be back aboard but only to get showered and venture out into the port area. This is one of the most interesting port areas. It has an air conditioned duty free shop surrounded by grassy areas and enclosures with pink flamingos and aviary with colourful tropical birds and parrots. There is also a very nice outdoor coffee shop and we spent a nice time here drinking coffee and delighting in the company of other travellers and the atmosphere of bird calls and wonderful smells of the flora and fauna.

This is our last port of call in S/America and now it’s on to the Caribbean.

Fd

Panama canal

Wednesday 11^th April 2012

What a surprise today has been and those of you who have been through the Panama Canal will know what I mean!

We started the passage through at 7.30 am and most people were on the decks fairly early to enjoy the passage and to see what it was all about. There are 3 locks, 2 which raise the ship 84 feet above sea level and 1 series of 3 to lower it again to sea level at the end of the passage through. What a great time everyone had watching and enjoying what proved to be a wonderful experience.

We were in a convoy of ships of all sizes but one only sees the one in front or behind. The actual mechanics of the locks are fascinating. 197000 litres of water are used for each ship and that water is eventually flushed into the sea. With about 45 to 50 ships daily passing through that is an awful lot of water and has to be replenished by the annual rainfall collected in the Gatun Lake which is between the locks.

What we thought would be a passage through a canal for 40 odd miles was nothing of the sort. Once you get up to the plateau and into the Lake the whole experience is just wonderful. The Lake is immense, with a vista of tropical rainforest and numerous Islands. The bird life is prolific and we witnessed a hawk just missing his prey a smaller bird, by inches. We also saw 4 crocodiles basking on the banks of an island. The whole day was spent out on deck observing this wonderful site of nature and of the ingenuity of the locks themselves. One of the wonders is to watch the “electric mules”. These are small locomotives to which the ship is tied and which run on rials alongside the ship as it passes through the lock. The ropes are cast off at the end of ther passage through. The whole concept and operation is just brilliant. From 7.30 in the morning until 5.00 pm it was a day of pleasure not to be missed and in equatorial temperature and sunshine.

We arrive in Colombo tomorrow!!

Fd 

Manta and Easter Sunday

Saturday the 7^th of April 2012

This is Easter weekend and probably the first one we have had on board a ship and certainly the first in the Pacific. We went to Good Friday service yesterday which was exceptionally good. The minister on board is an excellent speaker and conducts the most interesting services with a sermon that is always challenging and inspirational. We look forward to Easter Day.

Today we were able to spend time in Manta and Monti Christi in Ecuador; another lovely country and in contrast to Peru our last stop. Ecuador is a smaller country than Peru and although it has some of the same characteristics, for instance 85% Catholic and with striking scenery with rain forest and mountains, it is very much different. With a population of 14,000,000 it is somewhat poorer than Peru. It exports bananas, tagua, coffee and caucau; the tourist industry like Vietnam is only just taking off and they get an increasing number of cruise ships in each year. The climate is the same as Peru with only two seasons, winter and summer but they have a little more rainfall than Peru.

We are here over Easter weekend and it was lovely to see families with their children enjoying the holiday weekend. These people are tremendously happy and welcoming and hopefully the advent of new wealth will not create in them the same greed as in western society. The more we are here the more I sometimes feel sad and despondent at the way of life that has emanated at home and the way no one seems to be satisfied with a standard of life that completely  puts those of the countries we have visited in the shade as far as opportunity is concerned.

Today our tour went to a number of places staring with a factory! Yes a factory but one that manufactures buttons and other items made from the tagua nut. This nut is very very hard and when these things are made they look remarkably similar to ivory; so similar in fact that it takes a practised eye to tell the difference.

We went on then to the memorial of the revolution that gave Ecuador its freedom and the mausoleum for the people who died in the effort to bring that freedom about.

Following that we spent time in a little town built on a hill called Monti Christi. In the hot mid-morning there were hundreds of people there enjoying the holiday with others selling their wares. Of course Ecuador is the home of the Panama Hat and this was one of the items being sold prolifically. There is a wonderful church here set on a hill built entirely of wood and although not very old (20^th Century) it is already proving to be an iconic building. We also then went on to another museum where once again perfect items dating from centuries BC are on display. This is another place that has been great to visit and would be worthy of a return trip in the future.

Sunday 08 of April 2012

Easter Day and this morning we spent time in a fantastic Easter Day Service which was very well attended. Later today at teatime everyone will partake of the beautiful Easter simmnel cake baked by the chefs here on board.

I get very sad sometimes at the obvious double standard attitudes of some people. This morning a man was berating the Maitre D over the triviality of green bananas! He was so aggressive and rude but yet later smiling sublimely during the church service while others there were later being so racist in their conversations. Will we ever be so human as to accept people as they are with different skin colours and cultures or will be forever damned as the race that will always think ourselves superior just because we are white Caucasians’?

Fd

Pictures from Peru

peru day 3

Wednesday 04^th of April 2012

Last day in Peru and this has been a really special and lovely stay. Today we were back in Miraflores the seaside suburb of Lima but this time for shopping. It is a really nice place to be; modern and clean with Pacific waves crashing on the beach. Shopping mall is very good too, easy to get around and not too many shops to confuse you.

Another piece of information today and that is that Lima is 60 kilometres long and wide; quite a distance to travel end to end.

One more thing I would say and begin with a question. Why do kids in UK insist ona generally scruffy dress for school attempting to accessorise and alter their uniforms? In many of the countries we have visited including India, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, the South Sea Islands etc. the children attend school looking as if they are proud to go. Tidy and clean, uniforms spick and span, they look so much better. I feel that not just in this but in many other ways we in the UK have watched a decline in standards that make us look what we used to call “third world”. My rant for today over!!

We sail tonight at 11pm (your 5am) to Ecuador. Two days at sea with new entertainers and lecturers. If they areas good as last lot we should be pleased entertained and educated!!!

FD

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Fd

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Peru day 2

Tuesday 04^th April 2012

Second day in Peru and it has been as nice if not nicer than yesterday. Some more interesting facts about Peru; there are only two seasons a year, summer and winter. The temperature varies very little; from 18 degrees Centigrade to 36 degrees Centigrade. There is very little rain only 3 inches per year. (No hose pipe ban!!!) The water supply comes from the many rivers that flow from the Andes. 60% of the land mass is not habitable because it is either jungle or mountainous. There are 30 million people in Peru. With a climate such as it is we have enjoyed the stay because it has been moderate at about 27 degrees and this is the beginning of winter here.

One would think that with so little rain that it would be arid but it isn’t; there are great areas of greenery and the plants and trees in the city are watered every day by the city council. It truly is a beautiful place to be even though there are districts that look as if they could do with a makeover. The problem is the dust; it gets everywhere and apparently house have to be cleaned top to bottom every day otherwise it would be unmanageable.

Speaking of housing, I mentioned yesterday the shanties. Well the City authorities have a scheme of housing which enables people who are the bottom rung of employment the chance of some very nice flats in a new condo development. The system is that the flats are basic with rooms only fitted out to the minimum standard and that gives people the chance to have a flat and save up to fit it out with tiles and cupboards etc. They also get loans at a very good rate of interest at 7% over 25 years.

Any way enough about facts and figures, toady we went on a tour to the Larco Museum and the Indian Craft market.

The Museum was absolutely fantastic! Artefacts in perfect condition dating from 1500 bc to early 13^th and 14^th century. Some of these are so spectacular and pre date even the Inca period. Inca gold of course was not particularly the real thing because they liked glitter and things that shine. The previous time of Mochinta is the real thing but the detail in some of the pottery and glaze wear is unbelievable. (Oh and the coffee shop sold very good coffee, important to all Dutch people Suuske no exception.

The Indian craft market is also interesting with little shops and stalls with high quality craft art and silver on sale.

The driving here is really very bad, worse in a way then Mumbai. At least here the chaos is expected. Here there is supposed to be order and rules but here isn’t any adherence to them, consequently what you expect is not what you get. Lane discipline is non-existent and it would appear that all are entitled to drive on the outside lane on a carriageway no matter the size of vehicle or the speed travelled. In the City drivers change lanes and directions without regard for what’s behind or at the side of them and even the buses are prone to stopping in the outside lane to let passengers on and off. Very scary!

Altogether a lovely day and tomorrow we are back to Miraflores to a shopping mall before we sail on to Ecuador.

Fd

Lima day 1

Monday 03^rd of April 2012

This is our 1^st day in Peru and in particular Lima. It has been a most enjoyable day. Lima is a big city with wonderful architecture, a population of 9.000.000. There are vary degrees of affluence and poverty. It is beautiful city in the centre but has a number of run down districts where the infrastructure needs a bit of attention but once again even in these districts it is clean tidy with no litter and only one wall that we saw with graffiti and that was a planned one.

There is no social welfare here so if you do not have a job you get no money. Peruvians are very proud and resourceful so out of work people buy little bags of sweets, or drinks and sometimes other commodities to sell at a profit in the City.

Out of Lima on the mountainside are some shanties where the desperately poor live.

Today we were on a city tour where we visited the city centre with its marvellous squares and buildings and journeyed out into the suburbs where we saw the affluent new build apartments and the seaside resort of Miraflores. (we return here on Wednesday).

Our tour took in the City’s Cathedral which is large and very beautiful; very much Catholic with all the reserved iconic murals, statues, and austere pews etc. We also visted the Church and monastery of st Francis; this too is a magnificent building and both are remarkable in that the majority of the building has a wooden structure disguised by plaster and marble pillars. Both roofs are particularly intricate in their design.

Underneath the St Francis church are Catacombs. In history, when Lima was not so large, everyone was buried here, so obviously there are a considerable number of remains of bones and skulls!!!

It was also discovered that the main city square was the site of an original Inca City and another excavation they discovered an Inca pyramid dating back to 300bc. Work on this is in progress and we did not get a chance to visit it closely but it looks spectacular. The pyramids here are not like the Egyptian ones and certainly not designed as tombs as they are in Egypt. This one is constructed in various levels of platforms and designed to be a meeting palce for religious festivals.

We have certainly enjoyed today and tomorrow we go to a museum and an indian Market. Where we are berthed there are a number of stalls and shops selling locally made artefacts etc so we are looking forward to some shopping in the market tomorrow because there appears to be a a lot of local craft and art.

In the dock area where the stalls are was a couple of musicians palying pan piped and wooden flutes; some very musical playing!

Incidentally our cabaret last night was by a group called “Beyond the Barricade”; four very talented artists who have all been principals in “La Miserable”. If ever you see them on tour where you are it will be well worth going to see their performance; they are indeed excellent. Oh and I managed to get my photo taken with some of Black Watch orchestra today in Lima. So really pleased about that!

further pictures from Tahiti