Postcard from Central America April-May 2007
POSTCARD FROM DISCOVERY
CENTRAL AMERICA TO THE UK
April – May 2007
On a beautifully sunny morning I arrived at Gatwick on Friday 20th April by 8 o’clock and bumped into a friend of a friend so had a chatty hour or so there before taking off on a relatively painless journey to Costa Rica via Dallas, although it was very long and I eventually fell into bed in San José exactly 23 hours after getting out of bed!
The Marriott in San José was a very comfortable place and I spent a lovely first day relaxing in the sunshine by the pool and had a quiet dinner in the evening. Early the next morning I was off on a 3½ hour bus journey to Puerto Limon where Discovery awaited us. I had only been on board five minutes when my friend Captain Michael called me and we had a lovely lunch together catching up. Managed a short time in the sunshine and then had a safety drill before watching us depart Costa Rica for Honduras. Had an uninspiring dinner table – meant to be eight people but only three ladies turned up!
Monday 23rd was a glorious day at sea so spent it on the deck soaking up the sunshine. The next morning am up early for breakfast before going on deck to watch us arrive at Puerto Cortes in Honduras. The authorities didn’t make life easy but we eventually got in twenty minutes late and I took a trip to Lake Yojoa in the centre of the country. A beautiful, if sometime nerve-wracking, drive to the Puhapanzak Waterfalls, where I had a swim, and then on to Lake Yojoa where we had a good lunch and a nice walk around the grounds of the hotel near the lake. Then back to watch us depart, quite late, for Belize, before a late dinner with another table of three!!
Up at 5.30 to watch us arrive in Belize, dropping anchor at 6am! By 7.30 I am on my way ashore to visit Belize City and the Mayan city of Altun Ha. It was a glorious morning but a rather disappointing morning tour – too much Mayan and hardly anything of today’s City. Back to the ship for lunch and then relaxed in the sunshine on deck for the afternoon and in the evening watched us sail for Havana at 6pm. Went down to dinner to join my three ladies for dinner to find that the Maitre D had moved another couple over to join us, and then – lovely surprise – the Captain came to join us. I had told him of my problems and he came to help which was wonderful.
Thursday was another day at sea which I spent out on deck in glorious sunshine, and in the evening it was the ‘farewell’ party for a large number of passengers who were leaving in Cuba. We arrived in Havana in the early morning in a very oily harbour, and at 9am I went off on a walking tour of Havana which was excellent and we saw a lot, and travelled to some of the further places by bus. Then back to the ship via a rum factory where we all imbibed just a little! Spent the afternoon relaxing on the deck in glorious sunshine.
On Saturday 28th I left early on a long day’s trip to the North West of Cuba to see a cigar factory, visit Vinales and have lunch up there. It was a very long day – ten hours – but the island is beautiful if very primitive out in the country. In the evening I met up with Michael and some of his officers and we all had dinner in the Yacht Club which was fun. A tired Captain retired after dinner and I had a night cap with some of the others! The next day was glorious and having had enough of walking around Havana I spent it relaxing on deck and had a buffet supper in the evening on the Lido Deck – all lovely with the roof open. Monday 30th was another day in Havana but I spent it on board – relaxed on the deck all morning and then found myself lunching with Michael and Gil, his colleague from Voyages of Discovery. Had another few hours in the sunshine in the afternoon before another full safety drill, and then a quiet dinner and an early night. The night however was interrupted as we sailed for Nassau at 2am and the Bridge is overhead so I could hear their fairy footsteps for quite some time! Tuesday 1 May was another glorious day spent out on deck and in the evening was the formal Welcome Party. Had a lovely evening on the Captain's Table.
Early on Wednesday May 3rd, I watched us arrive in Nassau. Had a walk around Nassau in the morning and then went off on a Yellow Bird Catamaran for a rum punch sail around Nassau; stopped for a swim on a beautiful beach and then back to the ship by 4.30pm. A quiet dinner and an early night. The next morning I got up late and spent the morning on the ship. After a quick and early lunch I went to join Michael on The Bridge to watch us sail from Nassau and then returned to the sun deck for the afternoon. Had a full table at dinner that night for the first time – not the most of exciting of people but at least there were quite a few of us! The next day, Friday 4th, was a day at sea which, sadly, was not particularly good weather. By lunch time there was a monumental storm so that was the end of the sunshine for the day.
Saturday 5th May was a pretty blowy morning but I spent it up on deck watching us cruise towards Bermuda. Saw Michael and he invited me back on to The Bridge for our arrival into Bermuda so after a quick lunch spent an hour or so on The Bridge watching us arrive in Hamilton – it was a fairly difficult arrival and in fact the Pilot ‘had’ the ship for most of the way. Once berthed I went off on a very pleasant cruise around the Hamilton waterways to see all the wealthy homes that there are in Bermuda and then walked around the town for a little while with Thea, one of my table companions. On Sunday I went on an excellent drive around the southern shores of Bermuda in a taxi with just five others which was very good. Also climbed to the top of Gibbs’ Hill Lighthouse and walked around the Royal Naval Dockyard. Back to a quick lunch and then I took myself off on a walk around the little town of Hamilton for a short while. When I got back to the ship the sun was still shining so back to the sundeck until it got too cool. At 6pm I went up to the Bridge Deck to watch the Captain take us out of Hamilton – took almost two hours to get away from the Bermuda islands!
Then four days at sea – the first two of which were quite rough and very chilly. The second evening I was at the Captain’s table for dinner, which was good fun. The following day was slightly better weatherwise so spent quite a while lying in the sunshine but well wrapped up! Sat out on the deck all afternoon in the sunshine, but well wrapped up. In the evening met up with my table for a drink in the bar before dinner otherwise a quiet evening. On the fourth morning the sun came out and I spent the rest of the day on the sun deck – even saw whales and dolphins during the day.
On Friday 11 May I was up early to watch us arrive in Horta in the Azores. We berthed early at 7.30am and after a swift breakfast I was off on a whale and dolphin watching excursion. It was really great – saw quite a number of sperm whales and hundreds of dolphins. Took lots of photos – although there were a few good ones, seem to take far too many of the ocean!!! Spent the afternoon on the sun deck until the skies clouded over. In the evening had a quiet dinner and an early night. At 6am the next morning I was up to watch us arrive in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, but the pilot decided not to reach us until 7am so we cruised around for an hour and eventually berthed at 7.30am! Went on another whale and dolphin watching excursion but it was very poor. Did see some dolphins but it was very uncomfortable doing this in little zodiacs with tiny seats, and we got very wet! Once back on board I went up to watch us sail for Harwich at 2pm – after a while went on to the Bridge and whale-watched from there all afternoon. Another quiet evening dinner table and early night.
On Sunday 13th I went to a Discovery Club reception and then I was dining at the Captain's Table again - this time it was mostly his officers on the table - so had a good time! Monday 14th was a fairly rough day to start with but warmed up later so that I could read on the deck, but well wrapped up!
On Tuesday 15th, our last day on board. In the morning I went on to The Bridge to watch us cruise across the English Channel and then Michael invited me to join him for lunch á deux which was very nice. It was a pretty nasty day outside – typically grey and drizzly Channel - so it was a good day to pack up and catch up. I was up and out of my cabin early on Wednesday and watched us sail up to Harwich in freezing and windy conditions. We eventually berthed at 09.15 after a lovely cruise.
AMB
16.05.07
CENTRAL AMERICA TO THE UK
April – May 2007
On a beautifully sunny morning I arrived at Gatwick on Friday 20th April by 8 o’clock and bumped into a friend of a friend so had a chatty hour or so there before taking off on a relatively painless journey to Costa Rica via Dallas, although it was very long and I eventually fell into bed in San José exactly 23 hours after getting out of bed!
The Marriott in San José was a very comfortable place and I spent a lovely first day relaxing in the sunshine by the pool and had a quiet dinner in the evening. Early the next morning I was off on a 3½ hour bus journey to Puerto Limon where Discovery awaited us. I had only been on board five minutes when my friend Captain Michael called me and we had a lovely lunch together catching up. Managed a short time in the sunshine and then had a safety drill before watching us depart Costa Rica for Honduras. Had an uninspiring dinner table – meant to be eight people but only three ladies turned up!
Monday 23rd was a glorious day at sea so spent it on the deck soaking up the sunshine. The next morning am up early for breakfast before going on deck to watch us arrive at Puerto Cortes in Honduras. The authorities didn’t make life easy but we eventually got in twenty minutes late and I took a trip to Lake Yojoa in the centre of the country. A beautiful, if sometime nerve-wracking, drive to the Puhapanzak Waterfalls, where I had a swim, and then on to Lake Yojoa where we had a good lunch and a nice walk around the grounds of the hotel near the lake. Then back to watch us depart, quite late, for Belize, before a late dinner with another table of three!!
Up at 5.30 to watch us arrive in Belize, dropping anchor at 6am! By 7.30 I am on my way ashore to visit Belize City and the Mayan city of Altun Ha. It was a glorious morning but a rather disappointing morning tour – too much Mayan and hardly anything of today’s City. Back to the ship for lunch and then relaxed in the sunshine on deck for the afternoon and in the evening watched us sail for Havana at 6pm. Went down to dinner to join my three ladies for dinner to find that the Maitre D had moved another couple over to join us, and then – lovely surprise – the Captain came to join us. I had told him of my problems and he came to help which was wonderful.
Thursday was another day at sea which I spent out on deck in glorious sunshine, and in the evening it was the ‘farewell’ party for a large number of passengers who were leaving in Cuba. We arrived in Havana in the early morning in a very oily harbour, and at 9am I went off on a walking tour of Havana which was excellent and we saw a lot, and travelled to some of the further places by bus. Then back to the ship via a rum factory where we all imbibed just a little! Spent the afternoon relaxing on the deck in glorious sunshine.
On Saturday 28th I left early on a long day’s trip to the North West of Cuba to see a cigar factory, visit Vinales and have lunch up there. It was a very long day – ten hours – but the island is beautiful if very primitive out in the country. In the evening I met up with Michael and some of his officers and we all had dinner in the Yacht Club which was fun. A tired Captain retired after dinner and I had a night cap with some of the others! The next day was glorious and having had enough of walking around Havana I spent it relaxing on deck and had a buffet supper in the evening on the Lido Deck – all lovely with the roof open. Monday 30th was another day in Havana but I spent it on board – relaxed on the deck all morning and then found myself lunching with Michael and Gil, his colleague from Voyages of Discovery. Had another few hours in the sunshine in the afternoon before another full safety drill, and then a quiet dinner and an early night. The night however was interrupted as we sailed for Nassau at 2am and the Bridge is overhead so I could hear their fairy footsteps for quite some time! Tuesday 1 May was another glorious day spent out on deck and in the evening was the formal Welcome Party. Had a lovely evening on the Captain's Table.
Early on Wednesday May 3rd, I watched us arrive in Nassau. Had a walk around Nassau in the morning and then went off on a Yellow Bird Catamaran for a rum punch sail around Nassau; stopped for a swim on a beautiful beach and then back to the ship by 4.30pm. A quiet dinner and an early night. The next morning I got up late and spent the morning on the ship. After a quick and early lunch I went to join Michael on The Bridge to watch us sail from Nassau and then returned to the sun deck for the afternoon. Had a full table at dinner that night for the first time – not the most of exciting of people but at least there were quite a few of us! The next day, Friday 4th, was a day at sea which, sadly, was not particularly good weather. By lunch time there was a monumental storm so that was the end of the sunshine for the day.
Saturday 5th May was a pretty blowy morning but I spent it up on deck watching us cruise towards Bermuda. Saw Michael and he invited me back on to The Bridge for our arrival into Bermuda so after a quick lunch spent an hour or so on The Bridge watching us arrive in Hamilton – it was a fairly difficult arrival and in fact the Pilot ‘had’ the ship for most of the way. Once berthed I went off on a very pleasant cruise around the Hamilton waterways to see all the wealthy homes that there are in Bermuda and then walked around the town for a little while with Thea, one of my table companions. On Sunday I went on an excellent drive around the southern shores of Bermuda in a taxi with just five others which was very good. Also climbed to the top of Gibbs’ Hill Lighthouse and walked around the Royal Naval Dockyard. Back to a quick lunch and then I took myself off on a walk around the little town of Hamilton for a short while. When I got back to the ship the sun was still shining so back to the sundeck until it got too cool. At 6pm I went up to the Bridge Deck to watch the Captain take us out of Hamilton – took almost two hours to get away from the Bermuda islands!
Then four days at sea – the first two of which were quite rough and very chilly. The second evening I was at the Captain’s table for dinner, which was good fun. The following day was slightly better weatherwise so spent quite a while lying in the sunshine but well wrapped up! Sat out on the deck all afternoon in the sunshine, but well wrapped up. In the evening met up with my table for a drink in the bar before dinner otherwise a quiet evening. On the fourth morning the sun came out and I spent the rest of the day on the sun deck – even saw whales and dolphins during the day.
On Friday 11 May I was up early to watch us arrive in Horta in the Azores. We berthed early at 7.30am and after a swift breakfast I was off on a whale and dolphin watching excursion. It was really great – saw quite a number of sperm whales and hundreds of dolphins. Took lots of photos – although there were a few good ones, seem to take far too many of the ocean!!! Spent the afternoon on the sun deck until the skies clouded over. In the evening had a quiet dinner and an early night. At 6am the next morning I was up to watch us arrive in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, but the pilot decided not to reach us until 7am so we cruised around for an hour and eventually berthed at 7.30am! Went on another whale and dolphin watching excursion but it was very poor. Did see some dolphins but it was very uncomfortable doing this in little zodiacs with tiny seats, and we got very wet! Once back on board I went up to watch us sail for Harwich at 2pm – after a while went on to the Bridge and whale-watched from there all afternoon. Another quiet evening dinner table and early night.
On Sunday 13th I went to a Discovery Club reception and then I was dining at the Captain's Table again - this time it was mostly his officers on the table - so had a good time! Monday 14th was a fairly rough day to start with but warmed up later so that I could read on the deck, but well wrapped up!
On Tuesday 15th, our last day on board. In the morning I went on to The Bridge to watch us cruise across the English Channel and then Michael invited me to join him for lunch á deux which was very nice. It was a pretty nasty day outside – typically grey and drizzly Channel - so it was a good day to pack up and catch up. I was up and out of my cabin early on Wednesday and watched us sail up to Harwich in freezing and windy conditions. We eventually berthed at 09.15 after a lovely cruise.
AMB
16.05.07
posted by Anne Bullen | 10:37 PM
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