DAY 86---PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA

NOW TO VIEW MY JANUARY AND FEBRUARY POSTS YOU WILL HAVE TO CLICK ON THAT MONTH SO THOSE POSTS WILL BE DISPLAYED.

TO VIEW PREVIOUS POSTINGS USE THE "BLOG ARCHIVE" UNDER OUR PHOTO ON THE RIGHT.  THEN CLICK ON THE DAY OR DAYS YOU MISSED.  ALSO CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS WILL ENLARGE THEM.  I RECOMMEND THAT. 

Our position today is docked at Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.  

PUERTO LIMON BACKGROUND INFO:

        Puerto Limon is a port city located on the central, east coast of Costa Rica and is the 7^th largest city in Costa Rica with a population of 61,000.  The port is just 71 miles from the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, which is in the central part of the country.  None of our ship’s tours will be going to San Jose however.  Most of the tours are eco-tourism ones: jungle river cruise, rainforest, or wildlife related.  The port is a big one for the export of Costa Rican products.  

        Costa Rica is a Central American country with a population of over 5 million and is bordered by Nicaragua on the north and Panama on the south.  You may have wondered why we had on ports of call on our way down past Nicaragua.  Simple answer:  nothing to see on the east coast.  Cruise ships do stop on its west coast.  Costa Rica is the most stable country politically in Central America and has a higher standard of living.  Many older Americans have moved down here because of the cost of living and very good health care at more reasonable prices than in the States.  A lot of Americans will fly down to Costa Rica to have elective surgeries done.

        Costa Rica is a pioneer of eco-tourism with its many national parks and other protected areas.  In 2016 nearly 3 million foreign visitors came here with 1/3 of them from the US.  Tourism generated more revenue than bananas and coffee exports.  Industry and services companies make up over 90% of its Gross National Product.

LAST NIGHT:

                 Ice craving as we entered the theater for the Seven Seas Society party.

                    Paul, our cruise director, ready to go to the stage to emcee the party. 

                                                            Captain Aivo addressing us.

        Gudren, our Cruise Consultant, is also in charge of the Seven Seas Society on board.

                                             They had decorated our table in Compass Rose.

      Head sommelier, Emiliano, serving our nice bottle of champagne for our anniversary toast.

He had also provided this mystery red wine which was decanting.  Not sure what the wine was but certainly a nice one.  He knows I like big, full bodied, red wines.

                                            Marcia, Barbara, and Wiley joined us for dinner.

                              Restaurant Manager, Nino, wishing us a happy anniversary dinner.

                                                   Mario and Carlos took good care of us.

                                                  I had this foie gras as my appetizer.  Love it.

          Miso glazed sea bass that was marinated for 48 hours in the miso before cooking.

                            Karl Loxley has an amazing voice and we all loved his song choices.

Crystal Cashmore, one of the production show singers, joined Karl for a beautiful duet.  These two are definitely Broadway quality singers.

After the show we decided to go to the Horizon Lounge to have a night cap with our favorite bartender, Peter.  He made me this "Happy Happy".  It has Bailey's, Chambord, Godiva, Kahula, and heavy cream.

Should have had my flash on.

                                 Marcia showed up and then Karl stopped by after his show.

        Marcia and Karl are from the same home town in the UK.  Karl is leaving the ship today.

      When we finally returned to our suite we found this.  Karren and Regille had decorated it.

                                                        Two swans forming a heart.

It was a great day and anniversary.  Great friends to help us celebrate.  Our favorite dinner menu.  Formal optional dress night.  Incredible show.  And special treatment from our wonderful crew.  We should be again celebrating our anniversary on this ship in 2023 and 2024.

TODAY:

A forklift took the pallets off the truck and sat them next to the gangway.  Each box had to be carried onto the ship individually.  Apparently the port does have to proper forklift to set the pallets into the ship's hold.  I believe they were loading fruits and vegetables.  Also I believe the big coolers contained fresh fish.

They put a sign on the door I ran into in the gym.  Says a "fitness session is in session".  I'll call it the "Rick Weiler do not run into me" sign.

At 10:15 this morning as we were finishing up in the gym, they had another crew emergency drill.  As part of the drill they simulate making sure all suites are empty.  Then they put the "evacuated" sign on it.

After showering I went up to deck 12 to get these photos of the port area.  I had planned on walking into the fishing village today but it is so hot and humid I decided to stay in the air conditioning.  Last visit here on February 24th I did a tour.

                                                    Certainly not a modernized city.  

                                                        Some fishing boats anchored.

        This afternoon we watched a movie.  Not sure what the name was.  We had the noise again this afternoon.  It is like a vibration of metal that lasted over an hour and was louder today than usual.  Today it was even in the wall.  I called Reception and they sent up a couple girls from housekeeping who heard the noise.  They went down to Reception and reported they also heard it.  No long after I got a call from Hector at Reception saying they were checking it out but the noise stopped right before his call.  I went down to tell him the noise had stopped.  They are keeping a log of my noise complaints.

        It is 89 degrees here this afternoon.  We will be sailing at 5pm for Colon, Panama, where we will be docked by 7am tomorrow.  Colon is the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal.  

        The show tonight is an early one (6:15) as we will be setting our clocks forward an hour tonight at 2am.  The show features the production cast singers and it titled, "Music of the Night".  We will grab a cocktail from Peter in the Horizon Lounge at 6pm and head to the show.  We have 7pm dinner reservations in Prime 7 tonight.