Punta sa Puntarenas

The 1st agenda was to attend a sunday mass at Parroquia de Puntarenas. Afterwards, I was joined by the girls for a  city walk. A gastronomic feast at Gagas Seafood Resto followed the 4-hour city tour. The day in Costa Rica ended with some flea market shopping. On our last visit, a day tour worth 35USD was done with Cris and Lynn.

Alone in Cartagena

Knowing the culture of a country is an adventure I am always willing to take; thus, even if I was alone, I explored Cartagena. 

Norwegian Star visited Cartagena  thrice in 2010 (November 8, December 1 and 8) and twice in 2011 (January 12 and 19).  A colonial city tour described the 1st visit. Fauna and flora was the theme of the 3rd visit. On the last visit, a drive to the Bocagrande with Jane and Lynn is how we spent the day.  The rest of the Cartagena days were spent surfing the net, doing Juan Valdez visits and mailing postcards.

For 20usd, i got myself a private tour guide and a taxi for a colonial city tour. The local rate for a taxi from Terminal de Cruceros in Manga to Centro Historico or the Old city is 10usd. However, Colombians taxi drivers ask for 20usd from tourist. Haggling is a requisite if one wants to tour Cartagena. Quibble with rates and charges; otherwise, prepare for a rip-off.

Cartegena’s old town is a city for walking, and its historic walled district feels like a Moroccan medina, with 400-year-old Spanish colonial buildings along brick streets. The palette is saturated with deep blue, dusty rose, burnt orange and ochre. Cool sea breezes and plenty shade make the old city feel quite comfortable even under a hot humid day.  The stone walls encircling the city are surprisingly intact and stretch for more than 2 miles. Walk west along the wide plaza on top of the wall; the Caribbean is on your right, and the lovingly restored medieval streets on your left. One can rent a horse-drawn carriage for a 15-minute ride across the old city, a Unesco World Heritage site, costs 30,000 pesos (1USD: 108pesos). The coachman will point out sites as one clip-clop along and, at sunset, will light the candles in the headlamps.

This tropical city in South America can also pulsate like a salsa party; drawing well-heeled socialites to its restored colonial mansions, fancy fusion restaurants and Old World-style plazas. Techno dance clubs keep Cartagena’s revelers up till dawn.  Want a more serene and relaxing vacation? White sand beaches and crystal-clear water are just a short hop away from the old town. Due to time limitations, our stay were limited to what the city can offer for a short 7-8 hour stay which includes city tours and sanctuary visits.

A free and unrestricted interactions with Cartagena’s fauna and flora was done in Puerto de Cartagena while a window shopping and “lost in translation” day was spent in Bocagrande.   

This stunningly beautiful city, despite its cocaine and drug-lords reputation, is a city worth exploring. 

Miami Miami Miami

Commencement of the new path that I’ve chosen: Oct 20, 2010  - first day in  Miami. Wyndham Hotel was my official residence which was a short ride from the airport. Eat and sleep were all I did. 

The next day, the port agent picked us up at the hotel. I  together with Per Abbe (Chief Officer), Anton Gromos (Surveillance Manager), Ioanna Haruic (Financial accountant) and Per Thomasson (1st Officer/Navigation)  reported to Norwegian Star at around 9AM. 

First day at work consist of a social meeting with the Fleet Medical Director (Dr El Yasser), VP for Environmental and Regulatory Compliance (Minas Myrtidis), and Director for Public Health (Don Furdock). The medical team went to lunch at the Market Cafe with the big 3 of NCL.

Oct 25, 2010, together with Brian Haughey, roamed downtown Miami. Nov 4 was our next date in Miami.

On Nov 24, 2010, I had a taste of Miami transportation system as I headed to Dadeland Mall to buy a MacBook Pro. This is also the day I got my I-95, our passport to US ports.

It was Dec 5 when we were again in Miami. A full crew immigration inspection was held at 545AM.  Miami Customs and Immigration is different from other ports. Paranoia is at its height and unreasonable vigilance is exemplified.

January 16 is the last time that Star visited Miami while I was onboard. Here is where Dr. Wood signed off. He is the 1st Ship Physician I worked with.  Dr Devon relieved him and was my partner until I signed off. 

Key West Twice

It is known as mile 0 or the southernmost point of continental USA - Key West: Star’s port for 2 occasions. - December 4, 2010 and January 15, 2011.  Key West is a laidback community which sends an  aura of an old town where one can roam freely using bicycles and scooters. Some of the attractions found in the peninsula includes Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom House, Hemingway’s House found in Whitehead St cor Truman Avenue, Clinton Square, Higgs Beach, Key West Bight, Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center and Duval Street. At 19USD, one can get to see all these attractions aboard a trolley or a conch train. 

Dec 4 was spent in a shopping spree at Ross, CVS and Winn Dixie with Erika and Jen,. The girls had Buffalo wings (10 big pcs) lunch at  Schooner Wharf at 8.45USD each. Taxi ride to and from Ross costs 9USD. Fantasyvilla was one of our destination for the day. Star arrived in Key West -home of the Key Lime Pie - at 8AM and left at 4PM. 

A stroll up to Hemingway’s house was done with Jane, Aron and Cris on Jan 15. An all-american  lunch at Cheeseburger’s house started the day. We were lucky to able to witness the handicapped bicycle tour of Florida. Shopping and sight-seeing were the theme of the day. And Oh, the girls had Bath and Body Shop shopping galore on the last day that we were in Key West. And also, we bought a key lime pie and luckily, we were able to bring it onboard without it being confiscated. Wheew! It was definitely very delicious!

Puerto Quetzal

The Spanish expeditions to Guatemala started in 1519. However, it was only in 1524 when Spain conquered the land when Spanish soldiers led by Pedro de Alvarado defeated the Mayans. Guatemala declared independence from Spain in 1821. In 1960, the Guatemalan Civil War broke out and continued until 1996, when a peace accord between the guerrillas and the government was signed. Since then, it has been a democratic country. Guatemala has tourism as its increasing source of revenue. 

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala's largest Pacific Ocean port which serves a cruise passenger's gateway to its tourist attractions. However, offers little options for attractions near the port for cruise passengers. To see its tourist attractions, one has to sign up for a tour offered by the tour vans in the port or rent their own private taxi. As with most Central American countries, the population centers are located in the more temperate central highlands, rather than along the humid, tropical coasts; thus, are at least an 30mins to an hour ride from the port.

However, a craft market is just right at the pier where some very good priced woven goods (placemats, table runners, napkins) and other stuff. For those not into much sightseeing, the craft market in the pier might do. Peruse hand-crafted delights, ranging from traditional toys and costumes to ceramics, wooden sculptures and silver and jade jewelry. Everytime I had a good walk around the pier, I bring back a bag full of souvenirs for my family.

Twice have I visited Puerto Quetzal. During the first visit, Jen and I just walked around the Pier and admired the cultural crafts. A cultural show was held in the plaza nearby which occupied our afternoon visit. It was about courtship and a little history of Guatemala. The patterns of their native wear has many similiraties to Banaue's woven fabrics. 

I read that Guatemala is the Land of the Maya with food as hot as their volcanoes. However, I wasn't able to have a Guatemalan cuisine experience on both occasions that I was in Puerto Quetzal, hence, I can not agree or refute this claim.

Quetzal is the currency of Guatemala which is also the name of their national bird (the resplendent quetzal). In ancient Mayan culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency. At present, 1 USD is equivalent to 7.78 Quetzals.  A 5USD taxi ride will be able to get one into the nearest catholic church  which is in San Jose. Tours cost from  45USD for a tour of La Antigua Guatemala and 25USD for a 2-3 hour tour in the Iztapa area.

The 45USD tour consist of an hour ride to the old city and a 2-3 hour tour of the city. Antigua, previously referred as Santiago de los Caballeros, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site retains many historic edifices which includes the Cathedral of Santiago, the Church and Convent de Nuestra Senora de la Merced and the church and convent of Santo Domingo, Plaza Mayor and Museum of Santiago. The old city is one of the oldest and best-preserved Latin American cities with church ruins and baroque-style Spanish architecture. For over 200 years it served as  the military governor's seat. However, the city being prone to earthquakes, floods and fires, lost its capital status in 1776. It was renamed to La Antigua Guatemala which means "The Old Guatemala". Strolling Antigua's cobblestone streets reveals picturesque gems majestically set against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty.

The Iztapa tour, on the other hand, consist of a visit to downtown Iztapa, a local tortilla maker, a shark factory, El Capitan Restaurant, a mini private zoo and Chiquimalia Canal. A buko drinking stop and tortilla making and eating station were also included in the tour.cThe tour guide gave us tidbits of Guatemalan facts such as maize (corn) is their staple crop. In early days, according to him, the Mayans ate Amaranth, a breakfast cereal similar to modern day cereals. In addition, Guatemala has a consistent temperate climate which gave it the name the "Land of Eternal Springs". Crops such as coffee, sugar, bananas and cocoa are grown abundantly in the country. The country together with Mexico and Honduras occupies the Yucatan peninsula. The lowland forest of Peten is the home of the Mayans. Interesting informations enveloped in the tour. Definitely, a tour worth your while. 

The Panama Canal

Every transit to Pacific Ocean from Atlantic Ocean and vice versa was made possible by the Panama Canal which is approximately 37 miles long. This waterway was cut through one of the narrowest saddles of the isthmus that joins North and South America. 

The canal uses a system of locks. The locks function as water lifts; they raise ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake (26m above sea level); ships then sail the channel through the Continental Divide. 

Each set of locks bear the name of the town site where it was built: Gatun (Atlantic side), and Pedro Miguel and Mira Flores (Pacific side). The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun lake by gravity; it comes through a system of main culverts that extend under the lock chambers from the sidewalls 

and the center wall. The narrowest portion of the canal is Culebra Cut, which extends from the north end of Pedro Miguel Locks to the south edge of 

Gatun Lake at Gamboa. This segment, approximately 

6.2miles long, is carved through the rock and shale of the Continental Divide.

Ships from all parts of the world transit daily through the Panama Canal. Some 13 to 14 thousand vessels use the canal every year-5% of the world commercial transportation- at USD346,000. We enter Gatun Locks (3 locks)at 6:30AM to 8:15AM, Pedro Miguel (single lock) at 1:55Pm-2:55PM and Miraflores (double lock) locks at 3:20PM-4:30PM. At approximately 5PM, we finished our transit by sailing under the Bridge of Americas.

The canal has a workforce of approximately 9,000 employees and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing transit service to vessels of all nation without discrimination. 

California First: Reunion of Joys in the City of Los Angeles

 November 20, 2010 is not only the day I will see my cousin but also marks my 1st month in the United States. A celebration that is really worth looking forward to. 

For weeks, I have been counting the days. As eager as I was to see dear cousin Joy, I was up as early as 5AM. As soon as we were allowed to go out, I left cabin 4312. Taking snapshots of port 91-92 kept me busy while I wait for my lovely cousin. And, there she was riding a  silver BMW (5BKT230) with her husband, Homer Dao, taking care of the wheels.  After a nice long hug and exchanges of cheers, we were headed to explore the city.  

Thanks to the guys who invented freeways, even though, Port San Pedro is far from our destination for the day, we were able to get there in less than an hour. Our 1st stop, Universal Studios. Weather was not on our side today but it didn’t hinder us from pursuing our plans. Yup, we had our Universal Studio City Walk under the rain and with a very cold winter breeze. Luckily, Joy was a girl scout and brought me some clothing to keep me warm. The photographs taken were proofs that the rain was not a hindrance for us. It  was noon when we left the park but we grab some fries and American burgers before we left.

The next part of the day was the most wonderful part. We had an amazing race in Hollywood. In less than an hour, we went, explored  and posed in the different tourist spots in Hollywood. Homer was amazingly patient and talented in capturing kodak moments. We were not able to grab a formal lunch in a Thai restaurant down Hollywood boulevard but our stomach did not mind. It was a race against the clock after the kodak fun. However, Homer was still able to show the streets of Beverly Hills on our way back to San Pedro. 

It was a nerve wrecking last 15 minutes, why wouldn’t it? I will just have to fly to Cabo San Lucas to catch my ship if I wont get back in time. On top of that, I don’t have my passport with me. But, God always provide a way.