Highlights of Week 2
We covered some ground this week and have seen 4 new countries and ports. And seen is the operative word. We are used to going some place and spending a few weeks and living like the natives!! That is our first preference but we are looking at our 30 days around South America as the Big Red Bus Tour! You know, like those wonderful tours you take the first day you arrive in a city to get your bearings!!! Our plan was to spend an additional 60 days exploring South America when we get off the ship and the cruise was an excellent vehicle to see a lot of the continent in a short time. Mission Accomplished!!
After awhile they all sort of look the same. This is a repositioning cruise so many of the ports we dock at are mainly to resupply the ship. We are also docking in the industrial areas because these ports aren’t quite ready to cruise tourism which has its good and bad points. Not much to see but you do get to enjoy small, unspoiled villages.
One thing they forgot to tell you, when it says Quito or Lima, they are often many miles in-land and if you want to see these places, it involves many hours back and forth and maybe an hour or two at the most at your destination…not exactly Dreamchaser ideals! So we usually explore the local area on our own.
First port of call this week was the large fishing village of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It has yet to be discovered and wonderful place to wander along the beach looking for a café to spend the afternoon.
We ended up at Vivian’s quite a ways down the beach. Cold beer, more ceviche and some tasty fish. Wonderful lunch and a great view!
Soccer on the beach is the national pastime.
We actually met two couples from Vancouver who were sailing on to the Panama Canal to spend the winter in the Caribbean. It is neat to see someone already living the dream!
Finished the day with a little island music as we headed back to the ship!
Second port this week was Puntarenas, Costa Rica, another coastal port. We decided to do the Corobici River rafting cruise and were not disappointed. Had a wonderful time, monkeys, parrots and all.
We were soon off to Manta, Ecuador, our first stop in South America. Manta is the jumping off point for Quito and the Galapagos Islands. Another day of walking the malecon, looking at local crafts and searching for the next lunch.
To see more photos of the ports of call just click on the red ports to visit "Dreamchaser Travels" at Shutterfly.
Puerto Quetzal to Lima - 2, 126 Nautical Miles
Till next time,
We covered some ground this week and have seen 4 new countries and ports. And seen is the operative word. We are used to going some place and spending a few weeks and living like the natives!! That is our first preference but we are looking at our 30 days around South America as the Big Red Bus Tour! You know, like those wonderful tours you take the first day you arrive in a city to get your bearings!!! Our plan was to spend an additional 60 days exploring South America when we get off the ship and the cruise was an excellent vehicle to see a lot of the continent in a short time. Mission Accomplished!!
After awhile they all sort of look the same. This is a repositioning cruise so many of the ports we dock at are mainly to resupply the ship. We are also docking in the industrial areas because these ports aren’t quite ready to cruise tourism which has its good and bad points. Not much to see but you do get to enjoy small, unspoiled villages.
One thing they forgot to tell you, when it says Quito or Lima, they are often many miles in-land and if you want to see these places, it involves many hours back and forth and maybe an hour or two at the most at your destination…not exactly Dreamchaser ideals! So we usually explore the local area on our own.
First port of call this week was the large fishing village of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It has yet to be discovered and wonderful place to wander along the beach looking for a café to spend the afternoon.
We ended up at Vivian’s quite a ways down the beach. Cold beer, more ceviche and some tasty fish. Wonderful lunch and a great view!
Soccer on the beach is the national pastime.
We actually met two couples from Vancouver who were sailing on to the Panama Canal to spend the winter in the Caribbean. It is neat to see someone already living the dream!
Finished the day with a little island music as we headed back to the ship!
Second port this week was Puntarenas, Costa Rica, another coastal port. We decided to do the Corobici River rafting cruise and were not disappointed. Had a wonderful time, monkeys, parrots and all.
Last port for the week was Callao, the port for the city of Lima, Peru. This is a huge area with a population of 8 million people. Our destination was the Miraflores area. A little touristy but right on the water with awesome views. We strolled through the neighborhood and the headed back to the water and lunch!
Local beers, fish and ceviche..do you see a pattern here??
Manta is a huge industrial port and probably one of the neatest things was watching the ship next to us unload a cargo of tuna. Pretty neat.
It was one heck of a week. Lots of beautiful places and wonderful memories!The Pisco Sours were killer…and the whole meal!Our new friends from the Lake District of Chile.
To see more photos of the ports of call just click on the red ports to visit "Dreamchaser Travels" at Shutterfly.
Puerto Quetzal to Lima - 2, 126 Nautical Miles
Till next time,
Don’t forget to relax and get some sand between your toes!!
Sante,
