North , South and Central America on the Nieuw Amsterdam photo travelogue. Easter 2022 .

[scubacruiserx2]

4 hours ago, echoshipmate said:

Thanks for taking us back in time.  We did this very cruise, with a few port variations, on NA but from Seattle to Ft Lauderdale last October and are doing it again this October from San Diego to FLL. The first time we had the family cabana on the other side from yours, but this upcoming cruise we are in "your family cabana". What a treat that is to have such a terrific setting to view the world going by, not to mention the service from our attendants, Christian and Norvick, both great guys. You are bringing back wonderful memories of our trip down the coast, through the canal, into the Caribbean, the Bahamas. Your descriptions and pictures are adding to my excitement to be doing it again this October. Thanks for the refresher course, thanks for sharing the adventure.

Doug

 

Thanks Doug . We booked this cruise when there were only 3 weeks left before departure and all of the ports ( except Fort Lauderdale ) were new to us . We did have a lot to learn about the ports and so that kept everything fresh . We were on the ship in December but many of the workers had changed . On the previous cruise on the NA we had the cabin on the Starboard and the cabana on the Port which gave us views on both sides . Hopefully we may give you somethings that you haven't seen yet and maybe some new ideas . 🙂😎

[scubacruiserx2]

We were now approaching the last lock going South - The Miraflores

 

 

And we were thru and it was over

 

 

Passing The Bridge of the Americas and picking up speed

 

 

 

Edited May 13, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Sailing beneath the Bridge of the Americas in Panama City , Panama .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

As we headed South more of Panama City came into view 

 

 

 

This Canadian minesweeper was a long way from home - and so were we .

 

 

 

We didn't have to be in Bilbao or Seattle to recognize the Frank Gehry architecture or the Biomuseum . I really like the twisted green building in the

skyline the  The F&F tower (Revolution Tower), also known as “Tornillo", (the screw in Spanish) .  It is one of the most iconic buildings in Panama City. Located on Calle 50, in the heart of Panama City's bustling financial district, its 47 floors spiral 243 meters into the air, and are visible throughout the city.

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We had heard that the transit charge for the Canal passage was $380,000 instead of $450,000 so it's seems like the Captain of the ship got us quite a bargain . Perhaps he learned to haggle for the price like in Cartagena . It was a dress up night but we weren't feeling it and we went down for a visit to the uncrowded Lido and a quick late bite . We saw a number of the ship's officers and Robert Neary who was between shows . We said a quick hi and shared our appreciation for his talent . His 2100 show was our last stop for a long day and a welcome day off at sea .

Edited May 13, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Robert Neary's show included impersonations as well as songs from a variety of singers. The first up was Elvis .

 

 

 

 

 

Next was a Jerry Lewis impersonation of Dean Martin singing

 

 

 

 

Followed by Johnny Cash and the first Mariachi Band backing track that we heard

 

 

 

And a BeeGee's Disco song

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We awoke to a pink glow

 

 

 

And a Panama Red Sunrise

 

 

 

 

 

A calm day at sea

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our morning walk included breakfast and a walk on the promenade followed by Coffee with the Jukebox Rogues at BB Kings . They would be performing again in the evening .

 

 

And a quick visit to the Neptune Lounge

 

 

We saw a lot of these vases for sale in the Dutch Cafe on the Nieuw Statendam

 

 

 

Lunch and a snack at the Retreat

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

After dinner we wandered down to see the Jukebox Rogues again . My wife is , and I'm not a fan of Musicals . But here are a couple of the songs that I liked .

 

Grease is the Word

 

 

Singing in the rain ( The one guy had a slight case of happy feet ) .

 

 

 

The last song was the most difficult one to perform but they did a very good job on Queens tribute to Nihilism - Bohemian Rhapsody . Unfortunately my pocket camera was beginning to experience some problems with overheating and required a quick break so it comes in 2 parts , but I think it's worth a look and listen .

 

 

 

 

I think that part of the issues that I have with musicals is when I was about 10 years old my father took me and my brothers to see West Side Story at a  drive in ( Not to be confused with a Dive In ) . He had convinced us that it was a movie about gangs fighting with each other . But it was more like Zoolander with models Break dance fighting then real fighting .

 

Tomorrow we have quite an adventure planned in the Rain Forest of Costa Rica and we got more than we bargained for .

 

Edited May 15, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Near Costa Rica

 

 

Sunrise at Punta Arenas , Costa Rica

 

 

 

View from the cabin . It's a long walk on a long skinny pier . It was so narrow the the buses couldn't turn around . If you backed down the pier you could pull forward when you left . If you drove forward on the pier then you must back off .

 

 

Guess where they are going

 

 

 

 

Volcanic sand  on the beach

 

 

We were loaded like pack mules for the days adventure

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We met our guide Kiki and driver at the end of the pier and headed out to the National Park in Carara about an hour away . We passed the Crocodile Bridge on the way where people were boarding small boats to go on the river . Kiki said that we may visit there on the way back when it should be less crowded .

 

 

 

This bird stayed busy

 

 

And wound up stripping a Banana stalk for a nest

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

 

Leaf Cutter Ants

 

 

 

Termite mound

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There are no guaranteed sightings in the Rain Forest like in the zoo but we like seeing what we can see . Kiki was a great spotter and with his scope he found many things that we didn't see . He did teach us how to look and listen and we did find a few things on our own .

 

 

 

 

One thing that we didn't have any trouble finding was the heat and humidity .  My shirt was and stayed totally soaked for our 4 hour walk . The wrist strap on my camera was likewise soaked . We did stay well hydrated though and worked up quite an appetite .

 

 

We did spot a couple of very tiny Poison Dart Frogs .

 

 

[canadarocks]

Wow......good for you to do a 4 hour walk!! Beyond impressive. Your photos are wonderful!

[scubacruiserx2]

13 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

Wow......good for you to do a 4 hour walk!! Beyond impressive. Your photos are wonderful!

 

It wasn't our plan but Kiki encouraged us on , even though 4 very old knees were yelling STOP !

[canadarocks]

2 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

It wasn't our plan but Kiki encouraged us on , even though 4 very old knees were yelling STOP !

Good on you both! 👍

[scubacruiserx2]

There was another group walking through the woods with us and we heard a commotion in the canopy top . A branch fell striking a man on the head causing him to remove his hat and rub his head . About 100' up we saw this pair of Spider Monkeys jumping and hanging upside with their tails while picking and eating leaves .

 

 

 

The one that got away was a Large Toucan that moved too fast for my camera as the autofocus went bonkers . We did see another good show of Cutter Ants 

 

 

 

The entrance and the exit 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

A couple of out takes from the park

 

 

We almost walked past this bathroom because it was camouflaged so well

 

 

Our next stop was at a beach called the Fisherman's Coop where we sighted a pair of wild Macaws

 

 

 

A very good lunch and a great view

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

A different view of the Restaurant

 

 

 

Ladies and Men's rooms

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We had requested a visit to the surf beach and overview nearby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We asked Kiki if we had time for an Ice Cream before we began the hour and fifteen minute ride back to the port .

 

 

 

Both KiKi and the driver began a mission to find a toucan for us to photograph by taking a more scenic way . It was slower and we encountered more traffic slow downs . At 16:30 we were due back on board and we started getting a little antsy and got our Pier Running shoes laced up . A stop for ID and bag search got us a little more nervous and we broke into a very fast walk/jog as the sun seemed to be fading fast .

 

 

About half way along the pier we heard the comforting sound of a bus behind us followed by 5 or 6 more later , these viewed from the ship . We had plenty of time for the sunset as we had been told that an hour had been added to our original departure time .

 

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

When we were looking at tours for this cruise we had booked a private tour in Corinto , Nicaragua because we were not a fan of the ship's tour . Before we left on our cruise we were told that the cruise season in Nicaragua had ended by April 3rd  . Still HAL continued to promote and sell their tours and it wasn't until the day that we boarded that we were informed by HAL that the port day would become a day at sea and that we would each receive $ 3.00 back each as the port fee was refunded . We started breakfast on a sweet note with a Hummingbird diet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

On the previous day in Costa Rica we had our dinner in the Tamarind 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The last night that Robert Neady performed was with a guitar only and the performer assuming the character of Neil Diamond . He tells the story of how the songs were written and performs them live .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

After breakfast on Thursday , April 14 th , we went to the Coffee Chat with the Jukebox Rogues where they share their background , influences and future plans .

 

 

 

 

Lunch was a Pizza at the Retreat and a couple of beers . The Pizza was pretty good .