Mar 24, 2018 - March 18 - 26

We are slowly winding down our visit as we have just a week left. This week Nala the dog from downstairs figured out where we were and has decided to come up when she wants a cookie and just wait until we give in. She is a cute dog and very well mannered. We got together with our friends Derek and Judy for dinner as this was the last Monday before we all go home. As always the Monday deal at the restaurant did not disappoint. I had the stuffed chicken breast with potatoes. They always serve one dish as fish. On Monday it was stripped orange...

Mar 17, 2018 - BBQFest

I know it would surprise many of you but I did find a BBQ festival close to where we live. Even better I got a coupon that had two tickets to enter the festival and it came with 4 beer, for the low price of 11 dollars. A heck of a deal, so we went. The first issue is they give you the four beer all at once.As I don't drink beer this became Barry's issue. The second problem was they only sold beer and pop. This became my issue. The third problem I encountered was that it was different the same and different than any other competitions I...

Mar 16, 2018 - March 10 to 16.

Barry and I fell into a routine of swimming every day cocktails at 5 and dinner around 7. We have gone down to the marina bar to change up for cocktails. It is nice occasionally however I wouldn't want to do it every night. They charge 3.00 for a local brand beer which by North American standards is terrific. Here that is overpriced. At the grocery store a can of beer is .65 cents. If you buy bottles by the 24 they are only 59 each. We went to the marina bar on March 11 as it was a beautiful day and ripe for a spectacular sunset. I have...

Mar 9, 2018 - settling in the new apartment

So we have been here just over a week. We have gone into town several times for odds and ends. Trying to make it feel like home. From our back balcony you get a great view of sunsets and from the side you get some great sunrises. I have gotten up a couple of times just to sit and watch. Our time here is slowly coming to a close as we will be leaving here on the 28th to spend the night in Panama city and then on the 29th we spend the night in Toronto and finally return home on March 39. We are looking forward to getting home to get the...

Mar 9, 2018 - One Million Forty Seven Thousand Six Hundred And Thirteen Steps

Final step count as at Friday morning before we head to the airport. ONE MILLION! FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN Yes that's 1,047,613, we did it just as our travel log indicated a million steps and a few thousand more!!!!! There will be a few thousand more today walking around the airports but I will have to complete the final counts of all our journey when at home on Saturday. I hope you have found my travel log, interesting, amusing and sometimes funny. I have tried to tell the back stories rather than we did this and that....

Mar 9, 2018 - Pictures from around the complex

We have a small private beach here and a lovely restaruant. The restaurant has a special deal on Mondays which we will continue to enjoy for the remaining mondays. The deal is one appy, main course, desert, glass of wine and a cup of coffee for 22 per person. As it is cooked by a Michelin chef it is a good deal. THis week they had Tuna steak and Ribs for the main course. Barry of course took the tuna and he said it was the best Tuna he had ever had. Well thats all for now I will post soon.

Mar 8, 2018 - Our last day in the Bastimentos Islands

Today is Thursday and our last day on the paradise island, the weather has felt our mood as it is overcast and rainy. Had a late breakfast and saw the Sloth on our way down to the beach. The check out time soon rushed round and we are now sitting in the resting awaiting our boat to take us back to Bocas del Toros airport and Onto Panama City. Yesterday we had a trip to a cocoa plantation that was run by a couple Margaret (English lived near Brighton) and her Peruvian/American husband Henry, who had purchased this plot 100 acres from a local...

Mar 8, 2018 - Back to the American Trade Hotel

As we left the islands, the white faced monkeys came down reception to see us off and give me the opportunity for one more photo shoot to get some decent photos. It seemed to go reasonably well photographs attached. Had an afternoon flight off the islands, which was initially bumpy because of the low clouds and rain. But landing back in Panama after flying over the Pacific Entrance to the canal was hot and humid. We were met by Danial and his driver this time was his wife, Amy. She works for Copa airways and is herself flying to Washington...

Mar 6, 2018 - Tuesday in paradise

Woken by the alarm at 08:30, as the Rosa Resturant is closed today headed to the Point a Jamican style cafe were we had a light breakfast. Then we walked through the jungle and down along red frog beach. There were a few more youngsters and bars down this end, as there was a local hostel accommodating. It was a bit of a reality check as we had been used to not seeing anyone. After wNdering for a few hours and some photographs( run around) we headed back to our turtle beach area. As I had my camera there were no monkeys. Alison settled on...

Mar 5, 2018 - Monday in Paradise

Was woken by a flock of grey parrots settling in the trees that surround our villa. Lazily got up and sauntered down to beach for breakfast. Took my camera in hope that we would see the red dart frog and fortunately we found one, so reeling off some better photographs which I am now sharing. Came back to pool for some further lazing about in the now cloudless blue sky. The sun was just at the right angle and caught the female humming bird still brooding her two eggs, so attached some mor photographs. Now having a cool beer, by the pool and...

Mar 4, 2018 - Traversing the Panama Canal March 4 Morning

Traversing the Panama Canal March 4 Morning Considered one of the 8 Wonders of the World, the shortcut through the isthmus of Panama is an amazing engineering accomplishment. Considering its era, this accomplishment is even greater. Originally a French project and based on that country’s success with the Suez Canal in the late 19th Century, the USA took on the challenge after the French company went bankrupt. With hundreds of ships passing through every week, we in the Azamara Quest began our traverse early in the morning before...

Mar 4, 2018 - Traversing the Panama Canal - Afternoon

Traversing the Panama Canal March 4 Afternoon Gatun Lake is the most extensive part of the canal crossing and the widest. We had lunch during this part of the trip which actually heads north/south - not east/west! From Lake Gatun, we went back down 85 feet to the Atlantic side. There are three chambers in the Gatun locks, taking almost 2 hours to negotiate. As we approached this final set of locks, we could see the “French Lagoon” - a remnant of the ill-fated canal begun by the French company in the late 1800’s before the United States...