Posts
Morning everyone!
Not many days left to go… I’m getting sad now! I’m excited to come home, but dreading the cold. I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Jaco, but happy to know that the next time we meet, it will be a brand new adventure & I’ll get to fall in love with him all over again. (It’s not hard!)
Today was fairly uneventful… I’m recollecting a few days later, but if my memory serves me right, I undecorated the Christmas tree, did 3 loads of laundry, arranged flights for Mexico (22Feb-05Mar), and wrote a few more postcards. Yes, I know, it was an exhausting day. What can I say? Oh yes, a baked potato for supper. Same as last night; and probably the same as tomorrow night! :o)
I discovered that I am detoxing a drug (Accutane – don’t worry, nothing illegal!) I took in 2001-2002 that made me very depressed. I have been feeling rather blue the last little while & I haven’t been able to figure out what has been the cause of it. I will cut back on the dosage of the mineral that has caused the rapid detox & hopefully that will cure the blues!
As for the postcards… Well, I have written just over 50 & I inquired about posting them from Peru, then from Ecuador. It was $2.60/postcard! Yikes! Luckily I can post a few from Panama to the States, UK, & Africa for $0.55-0.75 each. That’s a lot better than $2.60! I’ll have to post the rest from Toronto or home. I know a stamp from a foreign place will be much more exciting to see than Canada, but I’m afraid I could pay for half your trip there with the money I’ll save in postage!!! I hope you’ll forgive me!!
I’m also happy to report that the sinus cold is firmly behind me & I feel that the lumps in my neck are feeling softer & smaller. It’s not as dramatic as it was pre-sinus cold, but it’s a small step in the right direction! I’ve also realized that my luxury days of backside injections are rapidly coming to a close. I’m going to have to start jabbing myself again. :o( NOT excited about that one! )
Tomorrow is Panama Canal. It’s been a few years since I’ve been through the canal, so I’m looking forward to seeing it again. We’ll dock in Cristobal & I’m excited to replace my missing butterflies! And, there’s no heat like Panama heat!
See you tomorrow!
Muchos besos,
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
.....::Recent Posts::.....
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Day 76 - Manta, Ecuador
Hello everyone!
I hope this finds you well! My apologies for not posting anything for the past few days! It’s been busy!
Today was Manta. I’ve been here once before & I’m sorry to say, it wasn’t that exciting. Last year, Jaco & I spent 1.5 hrs at the crafts market, had a fight about something & then came back to the ship in silence. Fun, huh?
Perhaps it was that lingering memory that helped me form my opinion for this year, but who knows? I took a shuttle to a local mall, visited the crafts market again & then came back to the ship. Jaco had to work, so I was on my own. I didn’t feel comfortable taking a taxi by myself, so I was restricted to the shuttle. :o(
I bumped into the Captain & his wife at the craft market & they offered me a ride to the ship in their private shuttle, so I joined them. I think the Captain has officially out done me in the game of shopping. It’s impressive! :o) Anyhow, I was visiting with his wife & the two of them had taken a tour outside of the city & she said it was really beautiful. She was so impressed she said she’d even consider moving there! Funny how two experiences of the same place can be so dramatically different!
Manta is the tuna capital of the world! Next time you have a tuna sandwich; I’ve sailed through the waters where that little fishy once swam! Alongside the pier you can see the fishing boats loading the day’s catch into the trucks. It was fascinating to watch!
FYI – the Panama hat originated in Ecuador. :o)
Have a great night & I’ll see you tomorrow!!!
Love & hugs,
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
I hope this finds you well! My apologies for not posting anything for the past few days! It’s been busy!
Today was Manta. I’ve been here once before & I’m sorry to say, it wasn’t that exciting. Last year, Jaco & I spent 1.5 hrs at the crafts market, had a fight about something & then came back to the ship in silence. Fun, huh?
Perhaps it was that lingering memory that helped me form my opinion for this year, but who knows? I took a shuttle to a local mall, visited the crafts market again & then came back to the ship. Jaco had to work, so I was on my own. I didn’t feel comfortable taking a taxi by myself, so I was restricted to the shuttle. :o(
I bumped into the Captain & his wife at the craft market & they offered me a ride to the ship in their private shuttle, so I joined them. I think the Captain has officially out done me in the game of shopping. It’s impressive! :o) Anyhow, I was visiting with his wife & the two of them had taken a tour outside of the city & she said it was really beautiful. She was so impressed she said she’d even consider moving there! Funny how two experiences of the same place can be so dramatically different!
Manta is the tuna capital of the world! Next time you have a tuna sandwich; I’ve sailed through the waters where that little fishy once swam! Alongside the pier you can see the fishing boats loading the day’s catch into the trucks. It was fascinating to watch!
FYI – the Panama hat originated in Ecuador. :o)
Have a great night & I’ll see you tomorrow!!!
Love & hugs,
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
This is how we make Panama hats!
Making the hats - all day long!
The finished product
Mini Panama Hats!
Tuna boat empties into tuna truck
Tuna, tuna, tuna
Tuna Boat
About to empty into the truck
Here fishy, fishy, fishy
Monday, January 04, 2010
Day 75 - ANOTHER Sea Day
Hello out there! I’m pleased to say that after today, we have land for several days in a row & I’m very happy about that! I’m anxious to get off the ship & see & do a few things!
Today I joined Jaco for lunch. He had to attend the Captain’s Circle Luncheon. The Captain’s Circle is Princess’ loyalty program & every cruise they have a luncheon for the most traveled passengers on the cruise. Each table will have a senior officer sat with them. I joined Jaco at his table & we had a lovely couple from Connecticut, originally from Germany, and a Mother & Daughter from New York.
We enjoyed lovely conversation & the gentleman from CT shared a few Dachshund jokes with us, much to my entertainment! We all talked about American politics, healthcare, Tiger Woods, travel, and of course, cruising. It was a lovely lunch!
After our lunch, Jaco returned to the office to do a little more work & I ventured outside to sit & write a few postcards. Okay, so I got a little sidetracked… I watched the tail end of Stomp The Yard, sorted through a few photos & visited with Marco, the F&B Manager from Italy. He’s doing a few translations for Valentina & I. He was telling me about his travels through Thailand & how he went to the Tiger Temple. There were tigers, just roaming around like it was no big deal. Wow! Next on the list of things to do… :o)
Anyhow, here I sit, frantically trying to finish up my blog posts so I can get out of Jaco’s way…
Love you all & can’t wait to go to the health food store dressed like the Michelin Man just to stay warm… :o)
Muchos besos,
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
Today I joined Jaco for lunch. He had to attend the Captain’s Circle Luncheon. The Captain’s Circle is Princess’ loyalty program & every cruise they have a luncheon for the most traveled passengers on the cruise. Each table will have a senior officer sat with them. I joined Jaco at his table & we had a lovely couple from Connecticut, originally from Germany, and a Mother & Daughter from New York.
We enjoyed lovely conversation & the gentleman from CT shared a few Dachshund jokes with us, much to my entertainment! We all talked about American politics, healthcare, Tiger Woods, travel, and of course, cruising. It was a lovely lunch!
After our lunch, Jaco returned to the office to do a little more work & I ventured outside to sit & write a few postcards. Okay, so I got a little sidetracked… I watched the tail end of Stomp The Yard, sorted through a few photos & visited with Marco, the F&B Manager from Italy. He’s doing a few translations for Valentina & I. He was telling me about his travels through Thailand & how he went to the Tiger Temple. There were tigers, just roaming around like it was no big deal. Wow! Next on the list of things to do… :o)
Anyhow, here I sit, frantically trying to finish up my blog posts so I can get out of Jaco’s way…
Love you all & can’t wait to go to the health food store dressed like the Michelin Man just to stay warm… :o)
Muchos besos,
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
Our friends from Connecticut
Our friends from New York
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Day 73 & 74 - Callao/Lima, Peru
Hola! Como estas? It’s been fun trying to remember the Espanol I have learned over the last little while. Little by little, I’m learning this wonderful language!
Sonja, if you remember from past posts, rang me about 0945 to see if I wanted to go out with herself & James, one of the singers. Of course I did! We agreed to meet about 1100 & that was just enough time for Jaco to join us as well. We hopped on the shuttle & sat back for our 30-40 minute bus ride into Lima. The shuttle dropped us off at the Marriott hotel. The Marriott is right across the street from the Larco Mar shopping mall.
Larco Mar is built into the cliff side & is quite impressive. It is very clean & modern, offering the usual shopping luxuries. Jaco was particularly excited, as he had been here the year before & purchased a bunch of t-shirts from this little hole in the wall shop. The gal who worked there taught him a bit of Espanol & to his surprise, she was still working there this year! Again, he bought a bunch of t-shirts from her. Thank goodness the pink/hot pink t-shirt didn’t fit! The rest are very nice!
He enjoyed a gelato & then caught the shuttle back to the ship, in order to be back in time for his clinic. I joined James & Sonja at Starbucks, yes, Starbucks, and we made our way to the Indian Market.
I had been to the Indian Market the year before & enjoyed the handicrafts the Peruvians they make. It is quite inexpensive too! I picked up a new scarf, sweater & toque – it’s going to be bitterly cold! Btw, for those of you who are wondering what a toque is… it’s the Canadian word for winter hat. :o) It’s pronounced too-k.
We purchased our goodies, enjoyed some wonderful conversations & then ventured back to the ship. James & Sonja were making the most of their overnight on, or rather, off the ship. They were headed out for dinner & then to the clubs for a little latin dancing!
Once back on the ship, I caught Jaco in the cabin with another woman. Just kidding, just making sure you’re paying attention! :o) ‘He’s no Tiger Woods. He can’t play golf.’ – From the horse’s mouth. Jaco was headed for the gym, so I said I would get ready & by the time he was finished, we could go out for a nice supper.
We ended up hiring a taxi for $15/hr & then had him take us back to Larco Mar. There was a lovely restaurant on the waterfront & we enjoyed fresh squeezed juices, a brilliant salad & wonderful main courses. Maracuya (passion fruit) gelato was in order for dessert. It was a fantastic meal! Today was the first day I cheated on my diet, FYI! Don’t worry, I’m back on track today. Loathing every minute of it, but I’m back on it!
We didn’t visit the Old Town or main plaza, I’d been there last year & the light today wasn’t any better than last year! There are many other amazing things to see in Peru, however, I chose to spend a little more quality time with my husband, as his times off the ship are far & few between. I would love to spend a proper holiday in Peru, as there is a lot to see – Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, and of course, the other sights of Lima – catacombs, ruins, the Gold Museum… The list goes on & on!
The next morning, I woke up early to head back to Miraflores to pick up a few souvenirs I hadn’t been able to get back for the day before. I had only 2 hours to make my rounds, so it was a bit of a rush.
Interestingly enough, the taxi driver outside the Marriott wanted $5 USD to take me 12 blocks to the Indian Market. I overheard a German Spanish couple negotiating with an ‘unofficial’ taxi driver for $5 soles – equivalent to about $1.75 USD. I asked if I could hop in with them! Yup! Thank you very much! I paid $1 USD for my fare! Additionally, I needed 40 postcards. The ones at the pier were $1 USD each. At the Indian Market, they were $1 Soles each! Granted, they are not the prettiest postcards you’ll ever receive, but the price was right! :o)
On our shuttle ride back to the ship, the driver was thoughtful & drove us along the beach. We saw many surfers, the vines growing on the cliffs & La Rosa Nautica, an upscale & the only restaurant right on the water.
Apparently the city has 41 mayors. They compete amongst each other for popularity. It’s not a bad strategy, as some parts of Lima are definitely cleaner & better cared for than others. The area near the Marriott had beautiful flowers & gardens, there were many massive Christmas trees, lit up around the city. And of course, believe it or not, the park by the Marriott had the colorful cows, much like the ones you saw in Calgary, or the whales in Vancouver… I guess Cowtown follows me around the world! I’ll never escape it! :o)
Have a great night & while you’re googling Nazca lines, pop on that old song by 54-40 – Cheer Up Peru! :o)
Dulce suenos!
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
Sonja, if you remember from past posts, rang me about 0945 to see if I wanted to go out with herself & James, one of the singers. Of course I did! We agreed to meet about 1100 & that was just enough time for Jaco to join us as well. We hopped on the shuttle & sat back for our 30-40 minute bus ride into Lima. The shuttle dropped us off at the Marriott hotel. The Marriott is right across the street from the Larco Mar shopping mall.
Larco Mar is built into the cliff side & is quite impressive. It is very clean & modern, offering the usual shopping luxuries. Jaco was particularly excited, as he had been here the year before & purchased a bunch of t-shirts from this little hole in the wall shop. The gal who worked there taught him a bit of Espanol & to his surprise, she was still working there this year! Again, he bought a bunch of t-shirts from her. Thank goodness the pink/hot pink t-shirt didn’t fit! The rest are very nice!
He enjoyed a gelato & then caught the shuttle back to the ship, in order to be back in time for his clinic. I joined James & Sonja at Starbucks, yes, Starbucks, and we made our way to the Indian Market.
I had been to the Indian Market the year before & enjoyed the handicrafts the Peruvians they make. It is quite inexpensive too! I picked up a new scarf, sweater & toque – it’s going to be bitterly cold! Btw, for those of you who are wondering what a toque is… it’s the Canadian word for winter hat. :o) It’s pronounced too-k.
We purchased our goodies, enjoyed some wonderful conversations & then ventured back to the ship. James & Sonja were making the most of their overnight on, or rather, off the ship. They were headed out for dinner & then to the clubs for a little latin dancing!
Once back on the ship, I caught Jaco in the cabin with another woman. Just kidding, just making sure you’re paying attention! :o) ‘He’s no Tiger Woods. He can’t play golf.’ – From the horse’s mouth. Jaco was headed for the gym, so I said I would get ready & by the time he was finished, we could go out for a nice supper.
We ended up hiring a taxi for $15/hr & then had him take us back to Larco Mar. There was a lovely restaurant on the waterfront & we enjoyed fresh squeezed juices, a brilliant salad & wonderful main courses. Maracuya (passion fruit) gelato was in order for dessert. It was a fantastic meal! Today was the first day I cheated on my diet, FYI! Don’t worry, I’m back on track today. Loathing every minute of it, but I’m back on it!
We didn’t visit the Old Town or main plaza, I’d been there last year & the light today wasn’t any better than last year! There are many other amazing things to see in Peru, however, I chose to spend a little more quality time with my husband, as his times off the ship are far & few between. I would love to spend a proper holiday in Peru, as there is a lot to see – Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, and of course, the other sights of Lima – catacombs, ruins, the Gold Museum… The list goes on & on!
The next morning, I woke up early to head back to Miraflores to pick up a few souvenirs I hadn’t been able to get back for the day before. I had only 2 hours to make my rounds, so it was a bit of a rush.
Interestingly enough, the taxi driver outside the Marriott wanted $5 USD to take me 12 blocks to the Indian Market. I overheard a German Spanish couple negotiating with an ‘unofficial’ taxi driver for $5 soles – equivalent to about $1.75 USD. I asked if I could hop in with them! Yup! Thank you very much! I paid $1 USD for my fare! Additionally, I needed 40 postcards. The ones at the pier were $1 USD each. At the Indian Market, they were $1 Soles each! Granted, they are not the prettiest postcards you’ll ever receive, but the price was right! :o)
On our shuttle ride back to the ship, the driver was thoughtful & drove us along the beach. We saw many surfers, the vines growing on the cliffs & La Rosa Nautica, an upscale & the only restaurant right on the water.
Apparently the city has 41 mayors. They compete amongst each other for popularity. It’s not a bad strategy, as some parts of Lima are definitely cleaner & better cared for than others. The area near the Marriott had beautiful flowers & gardens, there were many massive Christmas trees, lit up around the city. And of course, believe it or not, the park by the Marriott had the colorful cows, much like the ones you saw in Calgary, or the whales in Vancouver… I guess Cowtown follows me around the world! I’ll never escape it! :o)
Have a great night & while you’re googling Nazca lines, pop on that old song by 54-40 – Cheer Up Peru! :o)
Dulce suenos!
Maria y Jaco
xxxx
Pretty Cow! Just like I'm back in Cowtown!
Milla Rose - the T-shirt Girl!
James & a very pretty Bellaclava! Coming to a bank near you!
Jaco scanning the menu...
Giant Christmas Tree near Larco Mar
Coast line along Miraflores/Lima
Friday, January 01, 2010
Day 72 - Happy New Year & Isla Ballesta
Happy New Year everyone!
I hope this finds you well & not suffering from too bad of a headache! :o) Our NYE was pretty low key. We enjoyed a nice meal in the dining room & then ventured out to one of the lounges onboard. We rocked up just a few minutes before the countdown, shared a kiss between each other & with a few others around & that was it! We were both tired, so we went to bed! Does this mean I’m getting old?
The next morning we were FINALLY on land. I’ve decided that I like cruising to PORTS, not a million days at sea! I never dreamed I would see land like this. It was nothing like I had imagined! It actually looked a LOT like Luderitz, Namibia. It was barren, desolate & absolutely nothing for as far as you eyes could see. It makes winter in Canada look a LOT more desirable!!! :o) (But don’t get any ideas!) Varying shades of sand & that’s about it! No trees, no rivers, no bushes, nada. And to think they built the city of Lima in terrain that is exactly like this! Luckily there is a river to supply Lima with water!
I had applied for the tour to Isla Ballesta to see the wildlife, but I didn’t get it. :o( They were both sold out. Not wanting to miss out, I thought I would go to the tour office & see if there was any space for me to purchase a ticket or if there had been any cancellations. Luckily, there were still a few seats left! I managed to squeeze onto the jet boat in the nick of time. Thank goodness for the older, slower passenger I spotted on the pier!
We took off at breakneck speeds for a 15 minute ride to the island. We stopped en route to look at the ‘Candelabro’ – a massive candelabra on the side of the sand dune. It was cactuses that had been planted in the shape of a candelabra. It is massive! Apparently it is visible from 15 miles away! They made it for the sailors, so they would know they were almost home!
When we approached the island, the first thing I noticed was the smell. Hello guano! (Espanol for bird pooh) The next thing I noticed was the swarm of birds overhead & on the island. I don’t think I have ever seen so many birds! Wow! We saw sea lions, pelicans, Peruvian terns, boobies (yes, that is the name of a bird), sea spiders (crab-esque critters), red legged Cormorants, and even the Humble Penguin. It was spectacular!
The swell was VERY intimidating! We would rise up 5-6 feet & then the water would wash back out & we would drop. The big deal you ask? Oh, nothing, except for the massive ROCKS everywhere! I was pretty nervous we were going to hit a rock, capsize & I’d be swept out to sea! Good thing there were so many interesting animals to distract me! We even managed to sea one lonely Blue Footed Boobie. So what, you ask? Blue Footed Boobies are from the Galapagos. This little fellow was clearly lost, either that or his internal compass was out of order!
On our way back, I spotted 2 pods of dolphins. I love dolphins. No matter how many times I see them, I still get excited & giddy, just like a little kid. They are so beautiful, fast & graceful in the water.
Once back on the ship, I had a quick bite to eat & then headed back out. I caught a shuttle to Paracas, a nearby fishing village. Before we left, I visited with the bus driver. His name was Gliserio. This is not a typical latino name, so I asked him about it. He is from the Highlands & his name is from there. I thought it was very unique & I liked the way it sounded. Anyhow, as it turns out, Gliserio drives bus for GAP Adventures, the travel company I used to work with! Small world!
Paracas was packed! It was New Year’s Day & I have no idea where all the people came from, but this little fishing village was filled to the gills! (pun intended!) People were in the water, on the beach, & they filled the little cafes & restaurants. It was pretty crazy! I wandered around, took a few happy snaps & then headed out of town to a monument on the hilltop. My main agenda was actually a little more sand; the monument was a side attraction! Happy with my sandy souvenir, I walked back to the shuttle & went back to the ship.
Paracas is a starting point for visits to the Nazca lines. I encourage you to google them. They are quite fascinating & I do hope that my travels will bring me back to explore more of Peru. There is a lot to see!
With that, I’ll bid you good night & see you tomorrow! Buenas noches, or bonus nachos, as my mother likes to say!
Love,
Maria & Jaco
xxxxx
I hope this finds you well & not suffering from too bad of a headache! :o) Our NYE was pretty low key. We enjoyed a nice meal in the dining room & then ventured out to one of the lounges onboard. We rocked up just a few minutes before the countdown, shared a kiss between each other & with a few others around & that was it! We were both tired, so we went to bed! Does this mean I’m getting old?
The next morning we were FINALLY on land. I’ve decided that I like cruising to PORTS, not a million days at sea! I never dreamed I would see land like this. It was nothing like I had imagined! It actually looked a LOT like Luderitz, Namibia. It was barren, desolate & absolutely nothing for as far as you eyes could see. It makes winter in Canada look a LOT more desirable!!! :o) (But don’t get any ideas!) Varying shades of sand & that’s about it! No trees, no rivers, no bushes, nada. And to think they built the city of Lima in terrain that is exactly like this! Luckily there is a river to supply Lima with water!
I had applied for the tour to Isla Ballesta to see the wildlife, but I didn’t get it. :o( They were both sold out. Not wanting to miss out, I thought I would go to the tour office & see if there was any space for me to purchase a ticket or if there had been any cancellations. Luckily, there were still a few seats left! I managed to squeeze onto the jet boat in the nick of time. Thank goodness for the older, slower passenger I spotted on the pier!
We took off at breakneck speeds for a 15 minute ride to the island. We stopped en route to look at the ‘Candelabro’ – a massive candelabra on the side of the sand dune. It was cactuses that had been planted in the shape of a candelabra. It is massive! Apparently it is visible from 15 miles away! They made it for the sailors, so they would know they were almost home!
When we approached the island, the first thing I noticed was the smell. Hello guano! (Espanol for bird pooh) The next thing I noticed was the swarm of birds overhead & on the island. I don’t think I have ever seen so many birds! Wow! We saw sea lions, pelicans, Peruvian terns, boobies (yes, that is the name of a bird), sea spiders (crab-esque critters), red legged Cormorants, and even the Humble Penguin. It was spectacular!
The swell was VERY intimidating! We would rise up 5-6 feet & then the water would wash back out & we would drop. The big deal you ask? Oh, nothing, except for the massive ROCKS everywhere! I was pretty nervous we were going to hit a rock, capsize & I’d be swept out to sea! Good thing there were so many interesting animals to distract me! We even managed to sea one lonely Blue Footed Boobie. So what, you ask? Blue Footed Boobies are from the Galapagos. This little fellow was clearly lost, either that or his internal compass was out of order!
On our way back, I spotted 2 pods of dolphins. I love dolphins. No matter how many times I see them, I still get excited & giddy, just like a little kid. They are so beautiful, fast & graceful in the water.
Once back on the ship, I had a quick bite to eat & then headed back out. I caught a shuttle to Paracas, a nearby fishing village. Before we left, I visited with the bus driver. His name was Gliserio. This is not a typical latino name, so I asked him about it. He is from the Highlands & his name is from there. I thought it was very unique & I liked the way it sounded. Anyhow, as it turns out, Gliserio drives bus for GAP Adventures, the travel company I used to work with! Small world!
Paracas was packed! It was New Year’s Day & I have no idea where all the people came from, but this little fishing village was filled to the gills! (pun intended!) People were in the water, on the beach, & they filled the little cafes & restaurants. It was pretty crazy! I wandered around, took a few happy snaps & then headed out of town to a monument on the hilltop. My main agenda was actually a little more sand; the monument was a side attraction! Happy with my sandy souvenir, I walked back to the shuttle & went back to the ship.
Paracas is a starting point for visits to the Nazca lines. I encourage you to google them. They are quite fascinating & I do hope that my travels will bring me back to explore more of Peru. There is a lot to see!
With that, I’ll bid you good night & see you tomorrow! Buenas noches, or bonus nachos, as my mother likes to say!
Love,
Maria & Jaco
xxxxx
Heading out to Isla Ballesta
Sand & more sand. And a buoy.
Interesting caves shaped by the water
Pelicans. One stopped for a brief visit.
The Humble Penguin.
I'm looking for my friend, the black & white one. Over there. Can you see him?
Sea spider
Peruvian Tern
American Sea Lion
More Sea Lions. They look as ambitious as I feel these days!
Boobies!
Dulce suenos!
The only, lonely Blue Footed Boobie!
Leaving Isla Ballesta
Enjoying some praline ice cream
Table Party Favours
This photo reminds me of Alice in Wonderland
Arlene, Derek's Girlfriend, Jaco & myself
Apres-New Year's Kiss
Our (poor) attempt at a self portrait!
NYE - the Captain & crew wish the passengers Happy New Year in many different languages. It was quite special!
Peruvian 7-11 & Desert Taxi
I suppose in the desert you don't have much need for a fire hydrant?
Valentina would really love this basket!
Fishing, swimming, it all mixes, right?
New Year's Day on the beach!
Oh, but they do start young to charm the ladies!
The monument & the only shelter for miles! :o)
Okay, so winter in Canada looks a little more liveable than this!
