Adventure with the Garden Guy

 10:00 pm Tuesday Jan 10, 2023 Today I wanted to acknowledge Margret Thatcher Day, a holiday commemorating the visit of the Iron Lady’s visit to the Falklands in 1983. We will be among the fortunate to have the opportunity to visit these islands in part because of her resolve to not let the Argentine invaders from the islands. Without delivering a history lesson Argentina claims the islands belong to Argentina and in 1982 they sent a military force to seize the islands. Prime Minister Thatcher said no way and courageously sent in the British forces to liberate the islands and free the people. While the Argentine forces were busy planting land mines and rounding up the Falkland Islanders the British set sail and within a short time defeated the Argentine forces and set the islanders free to determine for themselves who they wanted to be. They chose freedom. A freedom we now can celebrate.  So as we remember Mrs Thatcher’s bold decision, walk amongst the Elephant Seals, penguins...

 Monday January 9, 2023 4:51 PM                                                                        Aztec Ant Nest This mornings Monkey Cruise got off to a slow start. With two gargantuan cruise ships docked side by side and about 3000 excited tourists that is to be expected. David, our new friend Missy and I were among the last to be called. We meandered through the bowels of our ship the M.S. Volendam to the Gateway and down the plank to the bus. It is about a 45 minute drive to the river boate and we could see more Howler Monkeys, Capuchins and Jeffrey’s Tamarins. Once we arrived we had time for a quick potty break before boarding our small boat where David struggled to adjust his life jacket. I wasn’t sure he would need it as it would make it more difficult for a crocodile to swallow him in case I ...

10:06 PM ‘Sunday Jan 8, 2023 No Mickie Bachrow is not chopped liver.  Both David and I were up late in anticipation of our transverse of the Panama Canal. The timing was unsure but we knew it would be early so we left the Bain curtains open. Sometime between 5:30 and six I was startled out of my sleep and saw lights from my bed outside. I practically stumbled out of bed and looked to see we were already in The canal. I tried to wake David but he was in a deep sleep so I quickly dressed and ran up the stairs, grabbed some hot coffee and made my way to the deck only to discover I had missed going under the first bridge. Apparently we had entered around 4:30am. It is really unbelievable what this canal with its locks and technology can achieve. I won’t bore you with facts and details as you ca read all that elsewhere just to say it is mind boggling. Let alone this was done in 1914. As the day went on the ship seamanly made its way through the locks and dams guided by a series of small...

11:40 PM Sat Jan 7, 2023   We woke up this morning to a beautiful day, our ship the Volendam was docking at Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. After quickly dressing I headed out to the deck and grabbed a quick coffee at the Lido Restaurant. Once on deck I was greeted by a vision of palm trees and lush hillsides dotted with homes and small building. The shy about swirled with flocks of Magnificent Frigate Birds and numerous Petrals and other smaller seas birds. David showed up with his daily oatmeal while I chowed down on a small bowl of stewed prunes. I went back for some real food which has become my usual scrambled eggs, fruit, hash browns, bacon and a chocolate croissant. We ate on deck and I chatted with several semi professional birdies and we talked about the Frigate. It was beautiful morning and we were hurried to catch our eco-tour to see the spectacular endangered Green Macaws at the Ara Manzanillo Refuge. To get there we Set out with a  small group  of 25 privilege...

  January 6, 10:20 PM  January 6th. On this historic day on the good ship Volendam it is a Sea Day. David and I slept in a bit after a night where I was troubled with bad dreams, in one I dreamt about my cat Bela. It could have been any cat and for some reason her lower jaw came off. No idea why or what that meant but in my dream I was scared and protective of my precious kitty. As this is a Sea Day the Daily Program was filled with educational programing and entertainment.  We have been asked, told to wear masks for the first three days and today was mandatory Covid testing for all the passengers. If we were under a certain threshold making would be lifted for all except the wait staff. There are a significant number of passengers who refused to wear masks. It clearly says, MASKS REQUIRED. Yet despite this a good number of passenger refused. Today was no different. At breakfast one of the waiters mask slide down his nose as he went out of his way to please a group of 6 p...

6:35 PM Thursday Jan 5 Ocho Rios, Jamaica  Welcome to Jamaica. We walked off the ship to be welcomed by the most intense rainbow I think I have ever seen. Then boarded our tour bus for a city tour and visit to the Konoko Gardens. Our tour guide was the mother of several children so much of what she told us about was the duration system. Children begin school as soon as they are potty trained. The education system is based on the British Colonial model and all student must wear a uniform bought and paid for by their parents. Parents also pay for student work books as each student has their own as a way to make it impossible for students to cheat or share their school work. Because parents have to pay for these fees most Jamaicans are well educated. Also teachers are strong disciplinarians and the kids live in fear of the teacher who are free to beat the students to keep them in line. There is no messing around. The students are also required to take vocational classes and most do so...