Btimmer

Tonight was Casino Royale night and a dressy night so we decided to eat in the Main Dining Room. We wore our "special glasses" and had a nice dinner with 4 others. After watching the movie "33", we came across Florian and Captain Smit. Another picture opportunity presented itself. Then we found some cards.

Thanks for the question. I have a pretty simple setup. I generally shoot most with my Nikon P900 point & shoot which has an 80x zoom. I don't shoot in Raw. My other camera is my iPhone 13. I transfer most photos from the P900 to the iPhone using Nikon's wireless transfer APP. I do some simple and limited cropping and/or post processing on either the P900 or in an APP Camera+ on the iPhone. If snorkeling or more extreme activity is involved, I also have a DJI 3 action camera with me. I don't strive for perfection in my editing, but I do like close-ups of animals or flowers. I also don't tend to shoot movies as I dislike editing video because it is so time consuming. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Today finds us in our last Peruvian Port: General San Martin. It's another industrial port serving Paracas. Here the desert comes right down to the sea. My excursion today took us to the Ballestas Islands and to the Paracas National Preserve. Below are a few pictures and I'll describe it more in today's blog. We next have 3 sea days until our first Chilean port. Bottlenose dolphins Humbolt Penguin Before After Turkey Vulture Oyster Catcher It was a terrific tour by LAS Adventures.

Tonight HAL hit it out of the proverbial baseball park here in Callao, Peru today. First there was a wonderful Peruvian themed offering in the Lido including a ceviche bar. Then the evening entertainment was a local dance and musical group, Un Peru Para Todos (One Peru For Everyone). They presented an energetic, colorful, and fast paced hour of traditional Peruvian song and dance. Below are a few pictures and I'll write more in my blog posting for today. This was probably the best local talent presentation we've ever seen on a HAL ship.

We haven't filled out any sort of health questionnaire or declaration so far. I've also not heard of any Covid on board and there's not much coughing as well.

It's been a great independent archeological tour today at Salaverry, Peru with Las Adventures. The reports back from my 3 groups totaling 32 people is extremely positive. I'll post more pictures later after I download them from my big camera. (Ladder transport)

We're in Huanchaco, Peru having lunch. It's been a great archeological tour today with Las Adventures.

Tonight is a German theme at dinner.

Yesterday in Manta, Ecuador we did a nice tour with Narwell Tours called the Taste of Ecuador". We got to experience the fish market, a park hike, Montecristi, and more. All the details are in my daily blog. Below are a few pictures from the day.

Tonight is a German theme at dinner.

We've arrived in Guayaquil and we're not able to get off the ship. It's pleasantly warm with high clouds.

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As I posted in my blog, a meeting was held in Montreal in Nay and they critiqued their performance and reset expectations.

Tonight on our sea day it is the Captain's Gala Zaandam Ball. Earlier today Jeremy's coffee chat was with the management staff of the hotel department and they talked extensively about what went on behind the scenes to make this a Grand Voyage. L-R: Metka, Executive Housekeeper; Samantha, Manager of Entertainment; Ron, Manager of Food & Beverage; Joanne, Manager of Guest Relations; Florin, Hotel General Manager; Jeremy, Cruise & Travel Director More details about the above will be in my blog for today to be published later tonight.

I figured that they were thruster guards like shown above. They appear to be used due to their condition.

Today was our transit of the Panama Canal and I have posted a long narrative and many pictures over on my blog. It was a good transit although we got behind schedule and my wife and I had to miss the last lock and sailing under the Bridge of the Americas (not that we haven't seen it on our previous 6 transits), Tomorrow is projected to be a relaxing sea day on our way to our next port stop in Manta, Ecuador.

Before I share a bit about today's excursion, we were interrupted during dinner by the Captain's voice from the Bridge indicating that for our upcoming overnight stop in Guayaquil, Ecuador, for the first night, Sunday, 10/15/23, the ship gangway will remain closed and nobody can leave or enter the ship. For the next day, it is to be determined whether we will be able to leave the ship and / or whether shore excursions will happen. Below is a copy of the letter that we received. Today we took an independent shore excursion with Ricky Ricardo Tours. This tour did a large loop through the area near Puerto Límon. Along the way, we stopped at a fruit market and examined local fruit and sampled freshly squeezed sugar cane juice, drove through a banana plantation, took a hour long river cruise where we saw birds and sloths and a howler monkey, ate lunch at a Costa Rican restaurant and returned to the ship with two hours to spare. It was blazing hot and the air-conditioning was wonderful. There'll be more details in my blog for today, but below are a few pictures. We especially liked seeing the sloths once again.

The upgrade fairy waved her wand and we are now in 1818 (a window stateroom).

Don't spoil everything for us.

Yes they are!

Tonight after coming back to the stateroom we were surprized with a few gifts: a heavy shopping bag, a travel case, a sun hat, a wallet, and a 7,000 milliamp portable battery. It's the first time we've received anything quite like this.

Today for the first time I saw the bow painting for our voyage and photographed it.

And Canada's Thanksgiving Day was not forgotten. The "C" is missing (along with all the other letters!).

Wake view is the best view! Leaving Grand Cayman

We've been to Hell and back here on Grand Cayman Island on a $30/person taxi tour. I helped a fellow passenger get her international cell plan enabled and we toured the National museum and then got drenched in a passing rain shower before enjoying a meat patty (like an empanada) at the port. Its only around 90°f.