DAY 9---AT SEA ENROUTE TO PENTARENAS, COSTA RICA

 AS A REMINDER, TO VIEW PREVIOUS POSTS USE THE "BLOG ARCHIVE" ON THE RIGHT BELOW OUR PHOTO.  CLICK ON THE ONE YOU NEED TO SEE.  ALSO CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS WILL ENLARGE THEM FOR MUCH BETTER VIEWING.

LAST NIGHT:

Cocktails in the Mariner Lounge as usual.  We have asked for these jalapeno poppers (filled with cheese) every other evening for our hot canapes with our cocktails.

This is Adrian the new bar manager who stopped by for a chat with us.  This is his first day out of isolation.  All new crew must isolate for 7 days before being out with other crew and passengers.

I took this photo at 7pm looking towards back of Compass Rose.  Very eerie that it is not full as with other cruises.

                                                               This is Rey, a head waiter.

      This is the red wine I selected to have with dinner.  Rebecca had chardonnay as usual.

We both opted to have the beef bourguignon on a pasta as our entrees.  The meat was very tender and we really enjoyed it.  Believe me it tasted much better than it looks in the photo.

My dessert was chocolate profiteroles with vanilla ice cream in it.  Tastes better than it looks for sure.

       

YESTERDAY IN TAPACHULA

                           This is the cruise terminal outside our balcony in Puerto Chiapas.

Leaving for my excursion.  The port authorities are checking our vaccination cards and randomly checking some passengers with antigen covid testing.

                                               There were dancers and a band on the pier.

The tour buses were very nice.  More importantly, they were air-conditioned.  It was a 91 degree day and this is their winter! 

                                                                     My tour name.

         After a 45 minute drive we arrived at the Izapa archaeological site.  Our guide was Miguel.

3000 years ago 10,000 Mayans lived in this region and this site is where they had their rituals and sacrifices.  They built these mounds to be closer to who they worshiped.  Human sacrifices were also made.

This is a ball court but the game they played is not anything we know or do.  Apparently sometimes the loser was sacrificed.

Stones were carved without tools as there were none 3000 years ago.  The images today pretty much worn away due to the weather over the years.

                                                       We had a police presence all day.

                Next stop was downtown Tapachula.  Here we visited a church and museum.

                                                The museum is the yellowish building on left.  

                                                 This band was at the museum entrance.

                                                      Museums are not my thing.  

        I was by the bus to board but the driver was sleeping.  There were 4 policemen by the side of our bus and 2 more up near me by the bus door.  I noticed them looking at my shoes.  Finally one of them who spoke really good English came up with a paper towel and asked if he could clean my shoes.  I said no but then notice some do-do on the side of one.  Guess I got it at Izula.  So I took the paper and wiped it off.

        Marcia and I arrived back at the ship at 1:15pm.  I went up to the pool grill and grabbed a hotdog for lunch.  As I mentioned yesterday I was frustrated with the ship's internet (or lack there of) that afternoon.  It did start working after we sailed as the IT guy said it might.

TODAY:

        Our position at noon today was approximately 90 miles off the coast of Nicaragua heading to Costa Rica.  We are to dock in Puntarenas at 9am tomorrow.  It 81F outside today with sunny skies and smooth sailing.

        Basically our same daily routine today:  room service breakfast, an hour on the treadmill, showering, lunch in La Veranda.  In the afternoon we watched Terry Bishop's lecture on the history of the Panama crossing modes from the Atlantic to Pacific, "Road, Rail, and Canal" on our suite tv.  His lecture was at 10am in the theater but we prefer to watch it taped later so as not to have to wear masks in the theater.  His lecture today was on the "Road & Rail" building history.  Part two will be on the Canal  building on Sunday.  Speaking of Terry Bishop, the show at 9:30 tonight is featuring him with his comedy, songs, and tales.  Having seen him perform on other cruises we will definitely be at his show.

        After lunch we went to check out the boutique.  We have nearly $3000 of ship board credit to use or lose.  

This is the "Reception Desk" or what some call the Pursers Desk.  Any questions or issues will be solved here.

         This is the "Destinations Services" desk.  They deal with booking excursions/tours.

These Boobie birds are flying around the ship.  Sometimes they glide just a few inches off the water.  Wish I had my shotgun.  Kidding!!!

        I went back to the boutique and bought the neighbor who is watching our house, Melissa, a gift.  I think her and Ron will like it.

        I was to do a 7 1/2 tour to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, tomorrow.  It is hour and half each way on the bus so would be a long day.  So today I switched to a 6 hour tour to a craft beer factory with lunch.  Should be back on board by 5pm so I can watch the last half of the Raiders/Cincinnati NFL playoff game.  Back in the 1990's I was flying some B-727 trips from Miami to San Jose.

        Tomorrow evening all the specialty restaurants will be closed as there is a BBQ dinner under the stars out on the pool deck.  We are not big fans of eating outside in the heat & humidity.  Compass Rose will be open however.