SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA EXPEDITIONS

MARCH  2012

It's time for another adventure.  Doing some research, we discovered Silver Explorer, the expedition ship in Silversea's fleet of cruise ships.  The ship will visit Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica for 12 days.  And, since we are going that far away from home, why not add 4 days in Galapagos?

Our adventure began March 10, 2012 with air flights from Bonaire to Miami then Miami to Quito.  After a delay in Bonaire, excessive time to clear Immigration in Miami, another delay in Miami  (the Avianca agent, in his broken English, said they would put us on LAN (an airline that we had never heard of) Randy asked "land, like you'll put us on a bus?"  The agent laughed; he thought Randy was really funny; we arrived in Quito, Ecuador at 1:30am; yes, that is not a typo.  The question arose "do we go to a hotel (30 minutes from airport) and then return to airport by 5am for the Galapagos flight?"  We would get maybe an hour of sleep?  We decided, like many other travelers, to 'sleep in the airport'.  What an experience - sleeping with other travelers, homeless people, ladies selling Chiclets, while the maintenance team started up the machine to clean and wax the floor.  It was 'musical chairs'.  So much for getting any sleep. So, 'sleeping in the airport' is one thing that we hope never to have to do again.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador      March 11-14

You all know about those rules to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight? Our flight to Galapagos was 6:30am.  And, before you check-in with the airlines, you must have your bags scanned by the agriculture department (for pests) and to purchase a permit ($10 each) to visit Galapagos; these two necessary offices did not open til 5:30am.  But, no big deal, the airline counter did not open til 6am. So as soon as we checked in, went through security, we waited 5 minutes before they started boarding the plane.  This is a small domestic terminal, so my description sounds worse than it was.

We arrived in Galapagos at 10:30am (the islands are 600 miles off-shore and in another time zone) after a 1-hour stop in Guayaquil.   Now, here's another example of travelling to island places.  The airport in Galapagos is on the small island of Baltra.  Baltra was a U.S. military base in WWII to protect the Panama Canal; then the facilities were turned over to the Ecuador government which still maintains a military base on the island, and the airport became the primary entry point for locals and tourists; no other facilities (i.e. resorts) are located on the island.  So, once we cleared Immigration, paid the $100 per person National Park fee, got our bags through Customs, we got on a bus to ride to the ferry dock; we boarded a 25-passenger boat to cross the mile-wide channel to the big island of Santa Cruz; then another 45 minute drive through the highlands to our hotel.  24 hours after leaving Bonaire, we are in Galapagos.  Time for a nap!

We stayed at Semilla Verde Guesthouse (which  means 'seed' 'green' in Spanish). The estate is located in the fresh, humid zone, 300 meters above sea level and only 15 minutes from Puerto Ayora town  (situated on the far south side of the island) to take advantage of amenities but far enough away not to hear it or get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life there.  And, because many of the most interesting outlying islands and other attractions of the Galapagos are situated north of the island, Semilla Verde offered a convenient base and less travel time to those other attractions.  And, being in the highlands, Semilla Verde assures no crowds or tour groups, no loud music, and no mosquitoes.  And, with 12 acres of re-forested land, the grounds are clean, with marked paths, to wonder through the trees, see the giant tortoises, watch the birds, and relax in the fresh air.  Only 5 rooms, definitely means 'no crowds'.  We enjoyed meeting a few of the other guests and hearing of their travel experiences.

After a short nap, we enjoyed a fabulous lunch and were ready for a tour of Santa Cruz Island.  Robert, the owner of Semilla Verde, guided us through the Highlands to see

• Los Gemelos (twins) which are two huge volcanic sinkholes created when the magma chambers became empty and the ground above caved in.  Since this happened maybe 3 million years ago, the land is covered with lush growth particularly the scalesia plants (endemic to the Galapagos and a member of the sunflower family) and the area is filled with many birds seen only in Galapagos.  The sink holes are like rings on a tree showing the volcanic history of the island, layer by layer.
• Lava Tube - a lava tube is formed when lava pours down from the crater of a volcano; the outside part of the lava flow, exposed to the cool surrounding air, cools and solidifies first; the lava trapped inside continues to flow, spilling out, leaving a hollow tube behind.  This tube looked like it was bored by machines.
• El Chato Tortoise Preserve - this is a large area, tropically lush, full of mosses spilling from branches, ferns sprouting from fallen trees, wide open green areas dotted with pools of water where the tortoises dunk themselves. We saw 15 of these BIG creatures (ET faces, huge shells, muddy holes).

ET in the Galapagos

What a great afternoon!  And, a wonderful dinner at Semilla Verde!

The next day, we did an all-day boat tour to Bartolome Island.  Up at 6am for a simple breakfast, drive to north end of Santa Cruz Island, board NAREL (36' trawler) for a 2-hour ride to Bartolome.  The boat was somewhat dated but comfortable and only 16 passengers aboard.   Bartolome Island is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island which is one of the 'younger' islands in the Galapagos archipelago. The islet is a volcanic cone that is easy to climb and provides great views of the other islands; it is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this islet, and the most representative landmark of the Galapagos.  We followed our guide along the wooden steps to the lighthouse overlooking the bay.  Lots of Galapagos Hawks flying around and landing close to the people.  Before a savory lunch, we snorkeled from the beach.  Then another 2-1/2 hour boat ride back to Santa Cruz Island.  A fun day!  And, another delicious dinner at Semilla Verde!

Smile!

For our third day, we did another boat trip to Santa Fe Island.  We enjoyed a fabulous breakfast at Semilla Verde before driving to Puerta Ayora to board SANTA FE III (50' trawler) for our boat ride to Santa Fe Island.  The boat was nice and comfortable, although limited shade on the upper deck.  We anchored in a protected lagoon for a walk at 'sea lion beach', a hike on the loop trail through the prickly pear tree forest to see the endemic land iguanas, and then finishing our visit with a snorkel among the sea lions.  Great fun!  We had a flavorful lunch aboard the boat before heading back to Santa Cruz Island and back to Semilla Verde.  After a refreshing shower, we went into Puerta Ayora for shopping and dinner.

SUMMARY -- Our 3-day visit to Galapagos ended too quickly.  So many places to see and not enough time.  The islands have lots of history - archaeological and political; the natural beauty is amazing; the critters on land are fascinating; the seas are full of life; and the skies filled with numerous species of birds!  An extraordinary place!

Watch our movies to get a taste of what we saw.

GALAPAGOS LAND

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_1fS-WwpDV69KLZuGbYejquLvCeWGnlJgA/view?usp=sharing

GALAPAGOS UNDERWATER
https://plus.google.com/photos/111994370383291023211/albums/5748042300729158561/5748058970653302578

      Sorry, this video got lost in Google Plus Photo system


QUITO, Ecuador      March 14

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is located in a valley at an elevation of 9200 feet; an area with 2.5 million people, surrounded by volcanoes.  We departed Galapagos at 11am, after stopping in Guayaquil and losing a time zone, we arrived at our hotel at 4pm.  Hotel Patio Andaluz is a boutique hotel with colonial style rooms and  just around the corner from the Historic Center.  We wandered through the streets seeing the Palacio Presidencial, the Palacio Municipal, La Compania San Francisco, the Plaza Teatro,  La Basilica - all the highlights of the Historic Center.  At one point, a man asked (in good English) if we needed directions or a guide; we politely refused his assistance.  He was persistent and we continued to refuse his services.  Finally, with a "cheap tourist" comment, he walked away.  About 5 minutes later, he came up to us again and repeated to offer his services; as if he didn't remember that he just called us 'cheap tourists'.

Quito has lots of sights of see.  Unfortunately, we only had the one late afternoon for the highlights.  You will see some of our pictures when you view our Ecuador movie (later down the page).

LIMA, Peru        March 15-16

Lima is Peru's capital and its largest city with almost 10 million people.  Known as the 'City of Kings', Lima has a long history and has progressed into a very modern urban city.  There are many old and new sights.  The climate is 'cool desert', meaning it is fairly dry but located on a coastal plain so temperatures range from mid 50s to mid 80s, year round.  We arrived at our hotel, Hotel Antigua Miraflores, in the late morning.  This boutique hotel with 40 rooms, each with a window facing the central courtyard, is located in the upper-scale neighborhood of Miraflores.  This B&B was originally a family mansion built in 1923; many of the original tiles, chandeliers, and woodwork remain.  The extremely helpful staff recommended a restaurant around the corner for a late afternoon lunner (lunch/dinner) which was delicious.

We boarded Turibus at 6:30pm. sitting in the upper panoramic level,  to view the city sights - the diggings at the ancient Huaca Pucilana (anicent cemetary); the Magic Circuit of Water (the World's Largest Complex of Water Fountains);  Lima's Historic District with its lighted palaces and churches; Larcomar shopping complex (very modern facility built on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean) - returning at 10pm.  We enjoyed the highlights of the city while our driver negotiated the hectic and chaotic traffic.  Time for a Starbuck's Chocolate Frapaccino!

We enjoyed a late breakfast then arranged for a taxi to the cruise port of Callao. We experienced more of the disorderly traffic getting from our hotel to the port -- a normal 20-minute ride took us almost 60 minutes.  Our taxi driver spoke very good English and he told us about the great economy in Peru and the wonderful people.  The security at the port required that our taxi driver leave us just inside the gates and could not drive us to the ship.  Eventually, we got a ride to the ship.

  SILVER  EXPLORER
March 16-28

The SILVER EXPLORER is an 'expedition' ship, purpose-built and designed specifically for navigating waters in some of the world's most remote destinations, including both of earth's polar regions.  A strengthened hull (with ice-class notation 1A) enables SILVER EXPLORER to safely push through the ice floes with ease.  A fleet of Zodiac boats allows guests to visit even the most off-the-beaten-path locations and an expert Expedition Team provides insight and understanding to each adventure.   As with all vessels of the Silversea fleet, passengers are pampered with luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals, complimentary beverages, and excursions guided by a team of experts.  With a crew of 117, the 132 passengers get personalized hospitality.  The Bridge is open at all times, almost.  Of course, there is a library, spa, fitness room, gift shop, theatre, several lounges and bars.

Our expedition, titled 'Rainforests & Cultures', took us along the tropical Pacific coast of Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.  The ship was in 're-positioning' mode (moving from the Antarctic to the Arctic).  Many times, these out-of-the ordinary itineraries do not attract as many guests - we had only 56 passengers!  We got royal treatment by the 117 international crew (a few of the crew were aboard the Silver Spirit on our World Cruise 2011; they still remembered our names).  With so few passengers, we were able to meet just about all of the guests aboard. Passengers ranged in age from mid-40s to mid-70s; everyone was active and participating in just about all of the excursions.

Captain Adam Boczek, from Poland, safely guided our ship to our various ports. The Expedition Team consisted of:

      Conrad, Expedition Leader, South Africa

      Danil, Assistant Leader, Latvia

      Claire, PhD, Ethno-Archaeologist, Canada

      Patricia, PhD, Ornithologist, Uruguay

      Marco, PhD, Marine Biologist, Argentina

      Christian, Historian, Switzerland

      Hans Peter, Botanist, Austria

      Claudia, Climatologist, South Africa

      Uli, Oceanographer, Germany

      Tim, Staff Assistant, South Africa

      Ray, Photographer, USA

These people were so eager to share their knowledge; it was so refreshing to experience their enthusiasm for their specialties.  And, all were very pleasant in answering questions, assisting guests into or out of zodiac boats, and presenting briefings and re-cap lectures about the sights we visited.

We enjoyed the intimate settings aboard the ship, yet we had to deal with some issues that, we felt, were not satisfactory - the Observation Lounge was closed for 3 days while several glass panels were being replaced; the fresh fruit was gone after 2 days and very little new stuff was added in Ecuador (we couldn't even get a banana for breakfast); it was always freezing cold in the Theatre; overall food quality was not as good as we had experienced on the Silver Spirit; there were no umbrellas for shade or rain protection for the first week.  Yet, we enjoyed the places we visited and the excursions for the small groups.  We did get tired of the excuse for changes in itinerary or times - "after all, we are an expedition ship".

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Are you ready to go along for the ride?  Rather than bore you with the day-by-day log of adventures, we will summarize the highlights and you can watch our movies.

PERU

Guanape Islands

One of several groups of islands off the coast of Peru, these islands are the breeding ground for thousands (we think millions) of sea birds that are the sole inhabitants; also there are large colonies of sea lions due to the rich, fish filled waters.    There is no soil, no water; nothing grows here.  One of the peculiarities of these islands is that for a period of ten years only two men may live there; in the eleventh year, hundreds of men pounce on the slopes in order to recover the bird's bequests - dried excrement, an acrid mixture of nitrogen and phosphor compounds, potassium oxide and quicklime, which blunts one's sense of smell.  It can be used as a fertilizer or for producing dynamite.  Its name is one of the few words the world borrowed from the language of the Incas: guano.

Chan Chan City  

Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimu civilization which lasted from AD 850 to around 1470.  The adobe metropolis (America's largest pre-historic mud-brick settlement) was the seat of power for an empire that stretched 600 miles from just south of Ecuador to central Peru.  By the 15th century, 60,000 people lived in Chan Chan, mostly workers who served an all-powerful monarch and the privileged classes of highly skilled craftsmen and priests. The site of the city (in a very dry desert region in the Moche Valley) receives less than 1/10th of an inch of rainfall each year, on average, but the Chimu people undertook a project to divert the nearly Chicama River and constructed irrigation channels which supplied water to the settlement. The city, aside from its water problems, was very prosperous.  The archaeological site is characterized by tall, mud brick walls enclosing the palace complexes with winding passages, long narrow corridors, meeting rooms, and deep walk-in wells.  Chan Chan's days of glory came to an end around 1470 when the Inca conquered the city, broke up the Chimu Empire, and took many of the craftsmen to their own capital, Cuzco.

Trujillo

The city, discovered by Francisco Pizarro in 1532, is located on the banks of the Moche River, near its mouth at the Pacific Ocean, in a valley of great cultural influence by the Moche and Chimu cultures, at their respective times.  The city center contains many examples of colonial and religious architecture.

Lunch was at a local hacienda for a delicious meal of Peruvian foods followed by a colorful display of the skilled horsemanship of Peruvian Paso Fino horses (horses bred for their natural 4-beat gait rather than a trot), as well as several northern Peruvian dances performed by the local marineras.

Temple of the Moon

These two huge flat-topped pyramids were built by the Moche culture which reigned in this area from AD 0-600.  El Nino weather provokes an avalanche of tragedies, deaths, floods, and loss of agriculture lands.  The Moche culture, to control the anger of the infuriated gods, sacrificed many young men with banns of blood offered in a natural rock alter formed in the base of a sacred mountain.  Excavations, which began more earnestly about 30 years ago, have revealed layer upon layer of ancient construction, uncovering wall after wall of colorful murals depicting blood-thirsty, fanged deities and exotic gods in the form of spiders, snakes, felines, and other marine creatures rub shoulders with lines of dancers, warriors, and naked prisoners, and scenes of ritual combat.  

Our expert archaeologist, Claire, was here in 1987 when one of the king's tomb was discovered and she was flabbergasted with all the excavations that have been made since then.  And, archaeologists are just beginning to work on the Temple of the Sun.

Isla Lobos de Tierra

Lobos de Tierra Island gets it name from its proximity to the coast (32 miles) of Peru and the presence of sea lions.  Lobo in Spanish is wolf, however in this instance, lobo refers to the sea lion which is thought of as a sea wolf.  Thousands of sea birds are attracted to the islands resulting in layer upon layer of guano which has built up over time.  We were literally 'in deep do-do'.

The guano industry developed in the mid 1800's along all the islands of Peru, including Lobos de Tierra. However, today there are only a few faded buildings that are falling down; but, the island is still very much alive with animal life.  There is a sole park guard, kept company by a pet dog and tens of thousands of birds - pelicans, blue-footed boobies,  cormorants, and more. Birds swoop and soar overhead; perfectly camouflaged sand-colored lizards dart underfoot; along the surf line we find remnants of other species that called the island home, turtle carcasses as well as dolphin and sea lion skeletons.  The blue-footed boobies and pelicans nest everywhere and we saw numerous hatchlings and juveniles among all the adults.  And, always, thousands of birds diving into the sea for food or just flying overhead.

It was amazing just to wander among the nesting birds, of course, respecting their space.  The expedition team divided us into small groups and guided us around the island to view the sights.  The only drawback of the place is the smell. Phew!  Once we returned to the ship, it took a half hour to clean the guano from our shoes.  Should have had the butler do it!

Well, that summarizes Peru.  Now, enjoy our movies.

PERU EXPEDITIONS

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEhqBZG78w6-gT2L2CGfCIhHliExJl1N9g/view?usp=sharing

PERU - SEA LIONS, BIRDS, AND MORE BIRDS

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vjEF5dHm6POq2jSpXMErG3yXh8IuYxb5Hg/view?usp=sharing

ECUADOR

Guayaquil

Ecuador's largest city with 15 million people, Guayaquil is located on the Guayas River, approximately 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean.  The seaport is Ecuador's largest and the international airport is a major hub for international and domestic flights.

We had an active afternoon in downtown Guayaquil.  Driving into the city, we passed the Parque Centenario with the Monument to Freedom on our way to Centro Cultural Simon Boliver where we saw the 'steps' up to Cerro Santa Ana (the stairs lead past dozens of refurbished, brightly painted homes, cafes, bars, and souvenir shops) before entering the  Museum of Anthropology (displays of ancient pottery, artifacts, and sculptures from various cultures of Ecudor).  We moved on to the 'Plaza de las Iguanas' (populated by a large number of iguanas, in the trees and on the ground) which is across the street from the Cathedral Metropolitana (built in 1547).   Returning to the waterfront, we wandered along the 'Malecon' and a quick walk through the 'Mercado de Artesanos'.  

cacao plant

Beyond the city, we traveled along the coastal Pan American Highway to visit to Hacienda El Castillo, a large plantation growing cacao, mango, banana, and hardwoods.  We were greeted with very tasty cacao juice and plantain snacks before our guided tour of the plantation, primarily the cacao growing and processing; we saw how the new plants are prepared, grafted, and planted; we saw the fruit-bearing trees, the planting, fermenting, and drying of the cacao seeds. We saw the final processing of the seeds into chocolate powder and then into chocolate bars.  Of course, we bought a 1-kilo bar of pure dark chocolate for $10.  A wonderful lunch of Ecuadorian flavored food was served with ice-cold Pilsner beer while we enjoyed Andean music and traditional dances.

Isla de la Plata

The Machalilla National Park consists of several islands off the coast of Ecuador. One of the main attractions of the park is Isla de la Plata (Silver Island), so named when the pirate Francis Drake robbed treasure from Spanish ships and hid it on the island; much of this treasure was never claimed and is still hidden somewhere on the island.  Isla de la Plata is also known as the 'poor man's Galapagos' since it is possible to see many of the same species found on the much pricier and more distant Galapagos Islands.  The Humboldt Current helps preserve the ecosystem of the park.  You find nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, sea lions, iguanas, and a variety of interesting plant life.  The park guides lead you on several trails. However, heavy rainfall over the last month changed the face of this normally dry island; trails have been washed out or over-grown with vegetation.  Yet, we had a great hike seeing boobies, frigates, warblers, finches, and many species of flowering plants - what a wonderful mix of colors.

Ecuador's name refers to the Earth's equator which crosses the country.  At sea, ships cross the equator with special ceremonies to recognize and pay tribute to King Neptune. Silver Explorer celebrated with a 'Crossing the Equator Party' as we sailed into the Northern Hemisphere.

Well, that summarizes Ecuador.  Enjoy our movie!

ECUADOR  EXPEDITIONS

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19vt98CldKOSFTii33Txi8eDIWj7YlS3Mzg/view?usp=sharing

 

The one attraction of this voyage was the planned visit to Cocos Island, Costa Rica.  We had wanted to visit Cocos Island (known for its fabulous scuba diving and/or snorkeling) when we had our sailboat, PIZAZZ.  Due to circumstances beyond our control, we never made that trip; a big disappointment.  Now, here was the opportunity to visit Cocos Island.

We were disappointed, again.  The Silver Explorer changed the itinerary the day before our scheduled arrival.  First, several days prior, Silversea decided they were not going to allow anyone to snorkel (because two years ago, a guest was bitten by a shark ); so why was this decision made at this time? Why was Cocos Island in the printed itinerary for the last year? Next, we were told that the Costa Rican Customs made a change in 'clearing process' (the day before we were to arrive?).  Our guess, maybe the cost of fuel for reaching Cocos Island (300 miles off shore) for only 56 passengers was a determining factor?  Whatever, Silver Explorer is an expedition ship which means the itineraries 'are flexible'.

So, no Cocos Island, Costa Rica.  Let's go to Isla Coiba, Panama.

PANAMA

Isla Coiba
Coiba National Park, off Panama's Pacific coast, is a group of 38 islands, offering rich and well preserved natural resources.  Because Isla Coiba was Panama's version of Devil's Island from 1919 to 2004, access to the island was very restricted, thereby, 80% of the island's natural resources have survived untouched and flourished.

SILVER EXPLORER anchored off the northeast of Isla Coiba which gave us access to numerous landing sights and a variety of activities for the guests.

An early morning jungle walk on a monkey trail through the beautiful canopied forest from one beach to another. It's named the monkey trail for the white-faced Capuchin monkeys, which were spotted.  And, the 'birding' was great!




Also nearby was the small islet of Granito de Oro - this steep volcanic outcropping forms a structure which holds the beautiful white sand in place and creates a reef structure which shelters a large variety of beautiful marine life.  It is 'the aquarium of Coiba' that offers the casual snorkeler a diversity of large schools of fish, eels, and turtles.  The tide was receding so the white sand beach provided 'beach time' for guests alongside the numerous hermit crabs.  By the end of the day, the beach had disappeared under the rising tide.

The Ranger Station for Isla Coiba has another trail where you meet the pet crocodile, hike through the forest trying to spot the birds, or enjoy a swim to cool down from the hot hike.

SUMMARY -- This was an interesting stop.  We sure enjoyed our 2- hour snorkel around Granito de Oro; reminded us of the many snorkel adventures at other Panama anchorages while we were aboard PIZAZZ.   Enjoy our movie!


PANAMA  EXPEDITIONS

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNvkBesOmM31bq-xDkYvH0Sg6vXiFq1zPA/view?usp=sharing

COSTA RICA
Golfo Dulce

Casa de Orquideas (Orchid House) is a sanctuary for botanists and nature lovers.  The gardens are a continuous work-in-progress but are meticulously maintained by the on-site naturalists.  The guides walk you into the spectacular gardens and explain the different species of plants - orchids, heliconias, bromeliads, and many more; as well as point out the 100's of birds attracted to the gardens.



Santuario Silvestre de Osa is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center for orphaned, injured, and displaced animals indigenous to southern Costa Rica.  In the early days, it was an avian sanctuary but, today, is home to a variety of animals - spider monkey, ocelot, sloth.  We were greeted by Carol, the owner, and Poppy, spider monkey.  Then several guides took us deep into the lush tropical jungle and showed us some animals that are kept in cages before they are released into the wild.  Unfortunately, not all the animals can be released as some of them grew up as pets and are not trained to live a life in the jungle.

Drakes Bay
The pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula make this region one of the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica and is one of the most biologically intense places on earth.  Drakes Bay is located on the northwest coast of the peninsula.  Believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake, this bay is fabled to contain hidden treasures along the miles of coastline with rocky crags and sandy coves.

There was a morning 3-hour walk into the Corcovado National Park.  The zodiac landing operations can be part of the adventure; with some swell and breaking waves ashore, the staff and guests worked together so everyone arrived safely.  The local guides led us along the shore and into the rainforest where we saw some interesting frogs, ground crabs, lizards, and spotted a 3-toed sloth and several scarlet macaws; followed by refreshments of cool drinks, pineapple and watermelon.

Several passengers stayed aboard the SILVER EXPLORER to relax.  But, were entertained by the swarm of bees who decided to move aboard under a table on the Sun Deck.  It was the job of Staff Captain, Margrith, to take charge to get rid of the bees.

DRAKE'S BAY - BEE ATTACK

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cubGH2jWFYzD9VFNb7yvQSKF8wyoRqwKiw/view?usp=sharing

The ship re-anchored another 5 miles along the coast to be closer to a cove that offered swimming and hiking.  We are along the Pacific Ocean coast and there is always swell coming in -- the ship was rolling; very uncomfortably.  The captain immediately moved the ship back where it was earlier.  (We remember the few times that we anchored PIZAZZ in Drakes Bay and it was the rollyest anchorage that we ever experienced.)

So, we just had a longer zodiac ride to spend time on the beach.  Even in a somewhat protected cove, there was still swell and waves to deal with in order to exit the zodiac.  It was great to just walk along the beach, check out the tide pools, and enjoy a swim.  The Expedition Team seemed to go into 'panic mode' when the tide changed and the swell was bigger (yet 100 yards down the beach the swell was calmer).  Patricia found us, just lazily walking the beach, and said 'we are evacuating the island' which we wondered if she met a tsunami or something but she just explained that it was getting more difficult to get guests into the zodiac.  But, since the crew had refreshments on the beach, we had a beer before we 'evacuated' the beach.  This is certainly part of the adventure in expedition cruising -- being exposed to the elements means that we must always remain flexible.

Puerto Quepos
Puerto Quepos is well known by sport fishing enthusiasts and international bill fishing tournaments held in these waters routinely tie and break world records. Nearby is Manuel Antonio National Park where the ocean meets the lush rainforests and wildlife reserves; and, the beaches are considered the most beautiful in the country.  The biodiversity can overwhelm your imagination within the primary forest, secondary forest, mangrove swamps, lagoons, 12 little islets off and coast, and beach vegetation.  Guided hikes are available where you may see quite a varied selection of fauna of 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds; and, at times, dolphin and migrating whales.

A mangrove safari is another way to experience the fragile ecosystems where mixing waters of the ocean and the rivers make a unique place for the development of a diverse wildlife reserve.  The area is an incredible place for bird watching  -- kingbirds, hummingbirds, egrets, warblers, vultures, herons, ibis -- just to name a few. The boat ride is fun with the driver and guide pointing out the many beautiful birds, as well as the mammals living in the mangrove -- howler monkey, crocodile, iguana, silky ant-eater.

Well, that is the summary of Costa Rica.  Enjoy the movie!

COSTA RICA  EXPEDITIONS

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNvkBesOmM31bq-xDkYvH0Sg6vXiFq1zPA/view?usp=sharing

Puerta Caldera

The port sits near the mouth of the Golfo de Nicoya and is a key port for ships from all across the globe.  With an industrial complex built here to accommodate both cruise liners as well as cargo vessels,  Puerto Caldera plays a vital role in Costa Rica's trade with the world.

All too soon, it was time to disembark.  The cruise ended so quickly.  12 days were not enough.  We had a fun time exploring the 11 ports in 4 countries; 1758 nautical miles.  The 'expedition' adventures were well organized (almost too organized) and provided insights into old and new cultures.  As said above, it was refreshing being guided along by specialists in their fields; they gave more meaning and understanding to our excursions.  Our only complaint would be the lack of 'free time' at many of our stops; the team was too 'controlling' and 'regimented', to 'stay with the group', and 'hurry along, we are running late'.  We enjoyed the comfort and amenities of the SILVER EXPLORER!

As you can see, we had lots of fun times!

Until next time .......  we remain your friends, Lourae and Randy