Callao/Lima Peru January 16, 2011

Lima Peru
The ship docks in Callao Peru which is about 30 minutes to Lima depending on traffic.  Today being Sunday there was hardly any traffic.  The thing I noticed immediately about Callao was that it was  a  clean pretty port not seedy like most ports. I have to say I have wanted to come to Lima since I was in the third grade and read a book about a girl from Lima and I was not disappointed. We had a fabulous tour today it was to a private home to see Mr. Enrico Poli's private art collection.  There wasn't a spot in any of the numerous rooms where there wasn't a painting, or clay pot or mask.  The owner himself gave us the tour he is 87 years old and a character who dislikes the Catholic church and is obsessed with sex.  Very funny tour.  We then proceeded to Casa Luna which is owned by the Luna family and he has a collection of Nativities over 1500 of them.  Beautiful home.  We then went to the Plaza where they were having a procession for the patron saint of the Andes so there were people all over.  We then walked through the plaza to another private home called  Casa Aliaga.  This is where we had an outstanding lunch and it was built in the 1700s,  The hors'dovers were great chicken liven pate, gucamole and hearts of palm with mayo and a small pickle they were outstanding the lunch the first course was a warm asparagas souffle.  The main course was filet mignon, new potatoes, broccoli and carrots.  Wonderful followed by banana mousse with chocolate sauce.  Of course it was served with Peruvian Wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This was an all day tour and we didn't get back to the ship until after 5 in which Bill hi tailed it to the cigar lounge to watch the end of the game and I went  to the Galaxy Lounge to watch the Peruvian Dancers that they brought on board.  I went in between to the stateroom and Remi the Matre'D called and wanted to know the score and why didn't Bill call him.  He called the other day to so I told him Bill was in the cigar lounge and we went to watch the game with Bill only thing is he was rooting for New England.,  When we went for dinner I called him over and he wouldn't come he was hiding from me.  It seems he likes New england because Tom Brady's father cruises on here!  Oh well it doesn't matter since the Jets beat them!!!!!!!!  Go JETS.
Now I was only able to download one picture not sure why but the picture downloading on here is not easy much easier to send to fb.  So I will try later if we have internet.  We were warned again that it will be out alot lately so I wanted to post this while I can and if you want check out FB for more pix

Saturday Jan. 15, 2011 at sea enroute to Lima Peru

Today was a sea day and I had a very relaxing day.  I had a 90 minute hot stone massage followed by an hour facial.  I was so relaxed I didn't even want to go to lunch.  This afternoon I just read and relaxed.  Dinner tonight was the Neptune dinner very heavy on fish and seafood so last night I ordered Wiener Schnitzel for today and I arrived at the dining room they were all waiting for me.  Bill was still in the room watching football so I sat and had a glass of wine and waited for him.  The Veal was really good and Bill had yellowfin tuna which he enjoyed. Tonight the show was a women ventriloquist who was hysterical.  The shows are really good.  Tomorrow we will be Lima Peru and we have a tour when we return to the ship they will have Peruvian dancers for us.  So more tomorrow

Guayaquil, Eccuador Friday Jan 14, 2011

Guayaquil, Ecuador:  At the Jungle's Door.

Pronounced why-a-keel this city in Ecuador is the largest.  It creeps along the tangled banks of the muddy Rio (River Daul whee it meets up with the Rio  Babahoya to on the Rio Guayas,

Today we were suppose to go to the Galapagos Islands and since it was cancelled we decided to do the Coastal Hacienda /Chocolate Plantation  Now you all know I love chocolate so why not.  We had a scenic tour of the city of before heading out of town to the plantation.  Outside the pier as far as the eye could see there blocks and blocks and blocks of trucks loaded with Bananas they were loading them onto the freight ships for export to US and Europe.  Bananas are big business here.  In fact as we were driving back from the plantation we wee on a road right out of the moview "The In-Laws"  all we needed was someone to shoot out all the banana trucks!  My overall impression of this country is the port area is poor and dirty like most ports but was we ventured into the city it became much nicer and modern.  The Governor's office building is really pretty couldn't get a picture from the bus we walked through a beautiful park and the Botanical Gardens.  They have the most beautiful flowers.  We also past a wonderful flower market  they export lots of flowers.  When we arrived at the chocolate plantation they took my scooter out of the bus for me but this scooter is not the heavy duty one I was suppose to get so it konked out again half way up the hill.  We pushed it the rest of the way well not me Bill, the bus driver and some nice man on the tour with us.  I the hit the reset button and it worked the rest o the way.  Except there were no pathways and it was up and down hills.  the bus driver was a great guy he borrowed one of the workers Nissan's SUV and drove me all around so I wouldn't have to walk.  At one point we had to go over this narrow bridge with no railings.  I covered my eyes he looks at me and he covers his eyes also the two of us where hysterical!  Got to try fresh off the tree Guyva it was pretty good and Mangos,  Next we got to try the chocolate right out of the pod,  It is white and the seed is really the chocolate.  We had a wonderful lunch and then we headed down the huge hill to the factory. The bus driver held onto the scooter so I would not fall.  I tell you he was wonderful!  WE were shown how they make the chocolate got to taste the raw chocolate syrup like and then we got to sample the real stuff.  YUMMY.................  We even bought a bar to eat on the ship.  It won't make it home but it was good.  We tasted milk and semi sweet.  Dessert was chocolate chip pound cake, bananas, strawberries, pineapple and mango with chocolate sauce on it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yummy.
All to soon it was back to the ship where we were each handed a long stem rose before we got back on the ship.

It wasn't the Galapagos but it was a really nice day!


Bill eating his first piece of sushi not sure what it is going to taste like but he really liked it and ate it all.  Then had a box of food served it had black cod, beef and chicken.  I had Japanese Steak with tempura veggies....
For some reason this is the only picture it would let me upload and since the internet is so expensive I am going to wait until tomorrow.

Thursday January 13 enroute to Gyayaquil Ecuador

It seems I had the wrong date yesterday opps!  Today we had another sea day but we crossed the Equator so they have a ceremony for people who have never crossed before these people are called Pollywogs and they must report to King Neptune's court where they plead their fate.  Our stewardess Rubi was charged with short sheeting the beds and making the beds when someone gets up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  They throw all this colored stuff on them make them kiss a fish and then throw them in the pool.  It is really quite funny as most of the workers have never seen and are all happy and smiling and don't know what they are in for.  The captain on this ship is a great sport as he let them do it to him and throw him in the pool.  There were King Neptune Coolers to drink.  I know it had pinapple juice, rum and medori liquor.  Good.  After lunch Bill went to a lecture and I went to lie down.  Didn't have a good night last night.  Had a message and in the middle of the night I had such pain and cramps in my legs so I was a little tired.  After about 30 minutes and not sleeping I decided I would take myself to the shops and see what was new.  Tonight was an Informal night and we had reservations in Silk Road the Nobu Japanese Restaurant and Sushi bar.  We meet a very nice couple from Halifax and asked them to join us.  Smart move they are big Sushi eaters.  I had tempura veggies to start and Bill had 9 different sushi.  Eel, yellowfin, salmon and I am not sure what else.  I am trying to download the picture but it is not letting me so maybe tomorrow.

Anyway tomorrow we will be in Ecuador and no Galapagos so we are going to a Coastal Hacienda Experince.  We will then have a sea day on Saturday and Lima Peru on Sunday.  The seas have been really calm.  And really enjoying have hardly any passengers it is like having our own yacht~
Not letting me post any pictures so until tomorrow ..  Good night

Wedneday Jan 9th @ sea enroute to Equator

Today was another one of those terrible days at sea.  We started with a lecture by Dr. Jay Wolf who is a fabulous story teller.  We then headed up to the pool hardly anyone there.  I sat in the shade Bill sat in the sun and is now RED.  Went to a Latino buffet but I wasn't really hungry and nothing enticed me so I just asked for a glass of ice tea.  Well this was not good enough for Uzo or Zoltan(our waiter in the Dining Room)  One brought me the tortilla soup the other brought me a chocolate dessert!!!!!!!!  After spending a couple more hours reading and listening to the band by the pool it was time for our massages.  We each had a 90 minute Hot stone massage and  I have been lucky to have Camilla the last three trips on here.  She has even offered to come up if I am in pain and they are closed she is so sweet.  After the massage I had a quick shower up there and then had my hair done as tonight was formal night 2.  Ran down and dressed in time to go to our Crystal Society Cocktail party.  Then dinner tonight is one of my favorites.  It is the French Dinner  They have Escargot, onion soup (second to Melissa's I think they use wine in theres!) Bill could not make up his mind between the rack of lamb or the Coq au vin but he went with the lamb I had the Veal ala Mama basically it is veal cordon blue.  When Bill finished his lamb there was Zolton our waiter with an order of Coq au vin for him to try.  Dessert was grand marnier souffle and they come around and pour Grand marnier right into the souffle ymmmmmm.  We got so carried away speaking with the Matre d Remi that the show started.  It's okay we had seen it before so we hit the casino for a little while and then Bill went for his cigar and I came up to do the blog.

Tomorrow we will cross the Equator!  They have a ceremony everytime they cross it and it is quite funny I hope to take some pictures tomorrow.  No massages tomorrow but I do have a couple more coming up plus a facial.  ahh all this relaxing is killing me!

Us in the Main Dining Room after dinner

Tuesday Jan 11, 2011

Today we are in Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica

We decided not to go in today as it is a tender and it is a 15 minute tender ride and another 45 minute shuttle ride to the town.  We have been to Costa Rica twice before, just in November where we did a tour of a coffee plantation.  From a friend of mine from Cruise Critic who went into town there really was nothing there except souvenier shops so I am glad that I saved my strength and didn’t go.  I am really disappointed our full day in Galapagos has been cancelled.  Something with the charter plane and having to shorten the trip and most people saying nevermind so we will just have to go to the Galapagos on a different trip!  Not worth getting upset over something I can’t control.  Wo I don’t know what is happening to me I must be getting OLD where has all these patience come from????  Anyway this is a really relaxing trip and I really needed this.  I have read 5 books so far and I need to download some more.  Maybe I will go see what they have in the library!   

Bill decided that since he was not going into town he would go for a pedicure.  He had one in November and just loved it. I on the other hand had the task of doing laundry.  One great thing between being so empty and a port day I was the only one in the laundry room.  In between I have been sitting on the veranda reading and I started to nod off okay all this RELAXING is exhausting!  Time for a nap~~~.  more later .  We did go to the tea today because if it is not the chocolate tea I can say no to the desserts.  I really wanted a little something after my nap so I had a few finger sandwiches and a blueberry crumble.  Tonight the entertainment is a magician.  I am not sure if I will go not truly fond of magicians but hey it is something to do so I probably will go.  We have booked another trip for Ecuador to take the place of the Galapagos really wanted the one to the Inca ruins but of course that was another one you had to preregister for and was sold out they did have one to Quinto but that is 9000 feet and not for people with breathing difficulities!  Had a lot of trouble getting on the internet today I am writing this in pages and then I will copy and paste to the blog better way if I can’t get on.  We will now have 2 sea days tomorrow is our 2nd of 3 formal nights for this segment and the Crystal Society Members cocktail party!  Both Bill and I have hot stone massages booked so that is good and then I will have the hair done.  I realized when I unpacked that one large pile of stuff I needed is still sitting on the bench in our closet.  Almost all my capri sets and most of my hair stuff.  No Morroccan Oil no moose oh well.  I even forgot toothpaste.  I have never in all the years I have been traveling has this happened.  Lots of night time wear very little day wear so I will just have to sent out to cleaners and do laundry.  NO WORRY BE HAPPY.  Okay I am now even starting to scare myself I am so calm.......

Sunset from our balcony

 Papagayo Costa Rica

Bill enjoying his sugar free baked apple and ice cream dessert

my chocolate mouse, bavarian cream yogurt and citrus.

Tomorrow we will cross the Equator and I promise some pictures for all you  Polywogs!

Thursday January 10, 2011 enroute to Costa Rica

Today was another relaxing sea day.  we went to the lecture by Tom Feranta who happens to be a globalist and also lives in Scottsdale.  He and his wife Cheryl are lovely people.  Scared the crap out of us telling us that every minute 30,000 baby boomers are turning 65 and signing up for SS and how much is needed just to fund this.  Then he went on to tell how much the government wastes.  It is mind bogling.
Now I am so proud of myself.  Today was the Chocolate Tea and I did not go.  I repeat I did not go!!!!!!!!  I figured I have to start watching because I am not going to fit on the plane.  we sat out by the pool and read.  I wasn't in the mood to go in but it was beautiful out there.

We had dinner in the main dining room and as soon as I opened the menu I knew what Bill would have.  He had the Sole Meuinere and I had the Steak Diane.  Wasn't in the mood for venizon or chicken.  Anyway after dinner we hit the casino for a little while.  The show tonight was The Envelope Please all songs that have won academy awards.  Last night show was a great singer/performer from London's West End called Paul Baker and he sang songs from Broadway and boy could he belt them out!  Really enjoyed them.   Decided not to go to the show tonight Bill went for his cigar and I came back to the room only to find a letter from shore excursions about our trip to Galapagos.  It seems that the charter flight has been pulled so we will have to take a regular airline and it is cutting short the trip.  Need to go down tomorrow to find out if we still go to the turtle reserve and decide if we want to cancel!  Tomorrow we will be in Costa Rica as we have been here a few times already and just in November we are not doing an excursion but will just go around the port,

Tonight they delivered my scooter.  The mechanics took it apart and found a "fuse" or "circuit breaker" that was not working and fixed it.  This is definetely the difference in cruise lines,  I did not rent  the scooter from Crystal but from an outside source that supplies the ships!  They could have let me wait until the company got me a new battery/or whatever but no first they gave me their backup scooter that was just donated to them in November by the lady who died!  then they took the scooter and had the team work on it.  I am eternally grateful to them.

There are only 400 people on board and I think most of them are lecturers ,  Everywhere you go it is empty.  Quite nice at times.  The next segment (antartica) is 854 people so it will seem crowded even though it won't be.   Tonight was an informal night and I wanted to get a picture of us but didn't do it and Bill headed for the cigar lounge before I had a chance so no pictures.   Since I DID NOT GO TO THE CHOCOLATE TEA THERE ARE NO PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WISHING YOU ALL A GREAT NIGHT,