Summary of Cartagena de Indias and cruising through the Panama Canal - 31st March 2018

There is another Cartagena in Spain, the one we just travelled through is the 4th biggest town in Columbia. We had not booked an excursion and were pleased to find a tour in a tram style vehicle. They took us to the fortress and the wall that surrounded the old city, a walk through the old and the new city.

28th March 2018 Aruba

Caribbean Dutch Island with beaches and hotels - lots of pubs.

 Lovely warm climate

26th March 2018 Sea Day

Not a very good nights sleep - up at 5am, must be jet lag - listened to a lecture on Oranjestad Aruba and Cartagena of the indies, Columbia. They both sound very interesting and looks like we can walk around both of them. No need to get excursions. Went to the gym and then listened to my book, Outlander book 4. Looking at the security plus notes some of the time. No internet - posting  anything takes a really long time. Already used 50 minutes of the 250 minutes. 

First formal evening, the cruise ship dinner is very good. Three course meal - we share a table with two other couples.

25th March 2018 Continue boarding day

Fantastic reception and lovely boat, bought the coffee card. 15 coffees for $31 plus 15% Automatic service charge. Still best to buy as each coffee is around $5. Drinks, excursions, spa and coffees are the expensive part of a cruise. So we try keep everything except coffee down to a minimum. We haven’t found the laundromat - there must be one on board as the clothes wash charge is per item 1pair of socks $1.35.

After unpacking we went to gym and I ran on the treadmill while Michael did weights, then we found a basketball court and shot hoops for a while. The Island Princess seems to be a much smaller ship - necessary for it to get through the Panama Canal, it has just finished a sixty day cruise. The cruise staff was very glad to see us as the previous guests were of an older generation. Most of the areas on the ship have been renovated. We have a huge TV in our stateroom (big word for cabin).

The food is always great, 4 course meal. Our dinner time is 19:45: Shrimps to start then salad, seafood stew and then cheese and biscuits. We went to watch the show in the princess theatre, a comedian - was very good but I fell asleep in the show. In my defense these have been a long few days. 250minutes of Internet, I have used 13 so far, I wonder how long it will take to post this day? Seconds, interesting! No it did not post 🙈 I am going to try again now. No cellular service at sea. So somehow I got Carlos sms but cannot reply. WhatsApp instead!

25th March 2018 Boarding day.

Thank you Bob for taking us for breakfast at an amazing place in a gay part of the city with shops that have the name ‘out of the closet’ and lots of gay flags. Lovely people and awesome food. I had eggs Benedict with ham and broccoli, Michael had a Spanish omelet with tatter tots and as much coffee as we could consume. We have kept their key but will post it back from the next port.

24th March 2018 Fort Lauderdale

Took the water taxi and wow. The canals, houses and boats all on steroids. The military built a wall along the ocean and created the inter coastal waterway - stretches for miles and creates a water playground. Tidal canals with islands. These islands have extraordinary huge houses with boats moored alongside.

It is a hop on hop off service, so we could get off and walk along the beach or the beautiful busy streets with quaint shops. 

One of the boats took us to Hollywood in Florida, confusing yes also known as Margaritaville - a party town - spring break - so young adults come in droves.

Got back to the dock 9 and started the walk back home. This town in the US does not have beggars, no one sleeping in the streets, clean so unlike SA having walked down the street in Cape Town just recently, the difference is noteworthy.

We ate at a Peruvian restaurant Michael had chicken Salgado and I had a seared tuna salad. Very tasty and filling. Got home a half hour later and after packing, we slept very well.

Airbnb Fort Lauderdale

Michael picked us up from the airport and took us to his house. Lovely big bed with a hot tub.

We got lost yesterday walking back from the beach and town, 33rd avenue versus 33rd street, big difference. Eventually WiFi in Macdonalds and google maps came to the rescue. Walked 30 km and 4hrs to get back, through beach, town and parks. So interesting, names like sunset boulevard, los olas. 

Ate at an Italian restaurant - prawn salad for me and spagetti carbonara for Michael. Then the long walk home past 2 Wendy’s, 2 Macdonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC, Denny’s, Home Depot  all the brands.

Very different to any other city that Mike and I have walked through but very similar to Cleveland, wide streets with huge lanes. Lots of traffic all well behaved, their vehicles are a lot larger than ours and drive at a faster speed.

Drive in auto banks to the Bank of America, the old blends in with the very modern.

The flight to Dubai and Fort Lauderdale

Long flights - feels like the longest flight I have ever made. 12 hours to Dubai and an additional 15 to Fort Lauderdale.

Some good pics during the flight, looks like the Sandriver but it is actual snow - this is the area over Canada.

This is over the Great Lakes, difficult to see but the lakes are frozen.

Cape Town international to fly to USA

Ready to go on our cruise via the Panama Canal 

Cape Town international and offline blog utility not working

Not sure how exactly I am going to post while away - limited internet and no offline blog app. Blogger no longer a valid app and the ones I have managed to download google does not like.