DAY 35: Saturday , NOVEMBER 16, 2019: RETURNING TO FT. LAUDERDALE AND THE FLORIDA KEYS

Up at 5:15 am but no gym. We were all packed so that was a blessing. We met Carolyn and Rick i. The Horizon Room for breakfast at 6, said good bye to Adrian and went to the Bayou Lounge to wait for our color/ number to be called. The ship was efficient and the process was smooth. They had coffee, tea, water as we waited. Perfect for Tom. I texted friends and family to check in. Great to hear from them. 

We recapped the highlights of the trip. We had many laughs. Now our trip is Ka—Put!

LOL

17th STREET BRIDGE

FT. LAUDERDALE SKYLINE AND LINDA AND DICK‘S CONDO.

VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE TO PORT EVERGLADES IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

We love this view, this entrance. So many times we entered this port by sailboat then Trawler. It was always amazing and enjoyable. I do miss that part. It was like coming home.

PORT EVERGLADES ENTRANCE IN THE DISTANCE.
LOVE THIS SHOT. WISH WE HAD A PHOTO OF BOTH OF US WITH THIS VIEW. 

So now that we are back, we are reminiscing about the ports we went to. We left Port Everglades the 6th of November on the Island Princess. At 1550 hours, we left port and headed to Grand Cayman.  The 7th of November was a sea day. We sailed past the Northern coast of Cuba, as the Captain pointed out. On November 8th we were in Grand Cayman. We were on anchor as many guests went ashore. We stayed on board exploring the ship. Such fun! 

SATURDAY, November 9th was at sea heading for CARTEGENA. A pilot boarded and took us through the famous narrow Bocachica Channel—used by Spanish gold and silver ships.

This city was okay. Our on and off tour was awful. The questions we asked the guides, they couldn’t answer. As I said that day, we changed buses 3 times. We couldn’t wait to return to the ship. At departure, the pilot was once again aboard guiding the ship through. 

On Monday, November 11th, we were boarded by. 3 Panama Pilots. Extra mooring crew and Pilots came aboard to take lines from the locomotives, otherwise known as mules. These mules helped us maintain position within the  GATUN locks. Watching this process was amazing. We anchored in the lake where we departed the ship to pick up a bus on shore to head to visit the new locks in Cristobol. This tour was another bust. We were on the bus so long and had to wait for the ship to weigh anchor in Panama and meet us in Cristobol. The tour guide didn’t know what to do with us after short tour so we drove over 1 1/2 hours through ghettos. Finally we returned to the ship. Other tours were late returning. We left Cristobol late. 

Limon , Costa Rica was our port for Tuesday, November 12. Again a pilot led US in.   We didn’t plan an excursion. It poured. We are in the rainforest after all. We did go into the village and brought some great gifts.

More to follow about our trip tomorrow!! We arrived at Long Key around 3:30 and set up the coach again— slides out/ awning open/ water on. Hard to say bye to our travel mates. We had a great trip. 

Turning my phone back on brought me many messages, emails, and voice mails. I called mom and answered friends and family. We are on terra Firma. 

Im still rocking, though! 🤣🤣