PUERTO CHIAPAS,Mexico and PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica

Oct. 2:  PUERTO CHIAPAS : surprisingly flat after Huatulco's hills.

The crew shot out a line but missed the dock twice so the guys down there had to do some running.

 Puerto Chiapas is a new port and there's nothing to see, so we were going to take a taxi to the Izapa Maya site nearby but were surprised to find there would be a long wait for one so we just took a shuttle into the nearby city, Tapachula. 

A surprising number of streets had been torn up for repaving.

We were dropped off at the main square.

The Palacio is being restored, but the pretty senoritas posted in front of it are very happy to pose for a picture.

We strolled along several of the shopping streets.  Bryan was looking for a hat but couldn't find anything.  

In fact, most guys in Tapachula don't wear hats, and if they do, they favor the cowboy style.

I was surprised to see nuns in the jewelry store, but where else would they find rosaries?

It was very hot out and we could have tried one of the Mexican juices, but there was nowhere to sit so

 before long, we stopped for cerveza (beer) and

yummy tacos with meat and queso (cheese) at an open air restaurant where we were entertained by  

wandering musicians who cart this instrument from one place to another. 

Back at the main square,

Diana and I found another open air restaurant:

The musicians moved from one end to the other of this restaurant right by the main square.  Very enjoyable with an iced coffee.

Back at the port, I went shopping and found this lady who does beautiful embroidered work. 

It took her 3 months to finish one bedspread.

Good-bye, colorful Mexico!

********

Sat., Oct. 4:  PUNTARENAS

Wonderful looooooooong beach:  the waves crash in and try to slurp you out:  we waded on and on. 

The guys both bought hats, Diana got two great necklaces, and I found a perfect soft leather wallet.

  

CRUISING the PANAMA CANAL!

Mon.,  Oct. 5:  PANAMA CANAL

People take the canal SERIOUSLY.  They buy the T-shirts and the caps.  Maybe they frame the certificate you get at the end of the day!?!  One guy even told me that for him this was the whole point of going on the cruise. 

We were up top by 7:30 A.M. but already the crowd was 3 deep at the front of the ship. 

So Bryan boosted me up onto a rail and I got a good view.

Some people tried standing on deck chairs.  One woman fell off and was taken away in an ambulance. 

Another ambulance came for a guy who had a heart attack.

Women in national costume came on board to sell local handicrafts.

Eight little trains called mules pulled our ship through each lock.  There was only one foot of clearance on each side of the ship.

A huge man-made lake provides the water for the locks.

CARTAGENA: last Port of Call

Tuesday, October 6:  CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

There’s a nice statue of a lady in the harbor.

A taxi to the Old Town would have cost $20.00 each way.  

We let ourselves be persuaded to pay $60.00 for a round trip and the driver, Pedro, acted as our guide for 3 hours.

We stopped to take a few pictures in Getsemani, the outer walled town, where budget accommodations are located.

The Plaza de los Coches was once used as a slave market. 

  Now, you’ll find stands selling “local sweets”. 

The Museo de Arte Moderno is in the Plaza de la Aduana which was used as a parade ground in the old days.

The Convento & Iglesia de San Pedro Claver:  a Jesuit convent built before1650.

Part of the 3-storey convent is a museum.

  the cell of Pedro Claver (1580-1654) who ministered to African slaves – he was canonized in 1888

 Pedro Claver’s glass coffin in altar made of Italian marble

The Palacio de la Inquisición (from 1610) sat on the Plaza de Inquisición (now The Plaza de Bolivar).

Heretics were denounced at the small window with the cross on top.  By 1821, 800 individuals were condemned to a public auto-da-fé.

It was a hot day so we ended our tour at an ice cream parlour where we sampled the Colombian flavors.  Bryan chose arequipe (milk caramel), Diana coffee, Nestor mora (blackberry), and I had zapote (red avocado)!

All were good, but Bryan’s was the yummiest!

Check out the iguana :)

ASTORIA: first Cruise Port

Long boardwalk over trolley tracks along the river.  

Finnish settlement?

Note for a possible future visit:  The Holiday Express looks good and there are outside tables for a coffee looking out onto the water.  

The old Cannery Inn behind Diana:  even better.

Surprise attraction:  large Farmer’s Market:  One stall offered tastings of bakings:  their macaroons were outstanding!

These jams, jellies, and fruit butters were AWESOME!  Especially the

Cherry Jalapeno Jam.

STAR ATTRACTION: 

Daisy Drina Bosnian Restaurant

The AAA guide’s entry had me, as they say, at Hello.  The clincher was “authentic Bosnian food at this hospitable restaurant where the owners cook and serve”.  So no way was I going back to the ship without at least checking out the menu.

Diana & I went inside and asked for menus.  The rusty-haired, black clad guy behind the counter seemed authentic enough, especially when he growled, “You having lunch?” as he proffered a couple of long sheets. 

 “We’re thinking about it,” I responded, brightly.  

Sheets instantly retracted.  “You’re thinking about it or you’re eating?”

“Well, we’d like to see menus.”

In comes Nestor.  “Well, if we’re doing this . . .?”

By this time, I’ve seen Bourek on the menu.  Yes!

We order.  Rusty plunks down some bread. 

            “Is this your place?” I ask him.

            He reacts with horror.  “What?!? No!  Why would I do that?  Bosnian is too much work!”  Off he went, shaking his head.

Diana ordered salad.  Too heavy on goat cheese.

The sausage on Nestor’s cold plate was sour and tasty.

Bryan’s sorda or sorma? (cabbage rolls were good in spite of mushy exteriors)

I also ordered the Kafa.  Rusty actually explained the ritual.  First, you drink the cleansing water.  Then take a sugar cube out of the domed dish and pour the coffee over it.  A little shortbread cookie comes along, too!

“This is so interesting,” I said.

“Not to Bosnians,” was the reply.

While we were there, a horde of young Bosnians troop in.  An attractive, middle-aged, black clad woman appears. The chatter is fast and slavonic-sounding.  Tables are pushed together in a long line.  Crew from the Norwegian Jewel!

Too many to all fit at the long table.   Better luck next time! 

Sadly, few passengers ever make their way to the delightful Drina Daisy.

                        

CRUISE: Day 1 - 2

Sat., Sept. 20, 2014

I open our stateroom in The Norwegian Jewel – pop!  It glows with exuberant colors, but the cots are pushed together to make a double bed, and the safe is locked.  I rush out to get acquainted with the cabin steward, Angelito, who promises to fix anything and everything. . .  “Call me Angel,” he says. 

Next up, the Garden Café on Deck 12 where we snagged an outdoor table and a fabulous view of the harbour and the Lions.  Good food, too, especially the sauerkraut.

The Library: Picked up a couple of books, but I also brought a lot of books with me.  Jane Austen fans alert:  you would enjoy Maria Edgeworth’s book, HELEN.  

Dinner in the Azura Dining Room:  the grilled shrimp were fabulous!

Showtime Theatre:  Over-the-top jewel colors look great here.   The captain was very hammy, but the dancers, singers, and comedian held up their end.

Diana and I ended up the evening watching really appalling Karaoke in the Fizz Lounge.

In bed at 11:30.  Thinking:  “There’s a noise in our walls.  What is it!?

***********

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014

2:30 a.m.  Scratch, scratch, click.  The noise in the closet now.  Thinking I should get up, flick on the lights, and nail it.  Suddenly, Diana gets up.  There’s lots of light from the bathroom but the scratching continues.  Hmm.  I eye the tiny bar fridge with the overpriced drinks I won’t ever use.  I should unplug it, but I don’t.

4:30 a.m. Thinking might as well get up.

5:30 a.m. Orange herbal tea in the Garden café.  Staff bustling about.  An odd insomniac or two about.  Instant connections.

8:00 a.m.      Angel:   Good morning, Miss Eleanor.

                        Me:  No, no.  You’ve got to fix my fridge.  I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

                        Angel (shocked):  No sleep!

Inside the cabin: Scratch, scratch, Click, click.

                        Me:  See!

                        Angel (big smile):  Ahhh!  Ang- er!  In closet.

                        Me (puzzled):  Oh no, I’m not angry . . .  well, not really. 

Angel flings open the closet and pushes empty hangers away from its wall.

                        Angel:  Angers, Miss Eleanor.  Bang, bang.

He closes the closet and holds up a hand.

                        Angel:  Listen.  . . . See?

Silence.  Perfect, peaceful, silence.

MARY STADNYK's Roast Duck

            Mom and Dad always had animals on the farm; no homesteader could have survived without running a mixed farming operation.  Horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats (but not after one ate the clothes off the line), and poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, bantams), they had them all.

               Once Mom was getting set to press and then pluck some ducks to roast.  Unfortunately, she burned herself very badly with the iron.  No Minor Emergency Clinic those days.  Down to the dirt basement Mom went and plastered herself with cold mud.  When the mud pack heated up, she peeled it off and applied some more.  Accidents on the farm were just a part of life.

                                                             1963

Mary Stadnyk’s Roast Duck   

Rinse the duck.  Then coat it inside and out with a mixture of dry mustard and melted margarine.  Sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper and stuff it.

Favourite Stuffing for all Poultry:

2 tbsp. melted butter

1 onion

1 stalk celery

4 ½ cups soft or dry bread cubes

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp pepper

1 tsp thyme leaves  (or ½ tsp powdered thyme)

1 tsp poultry seasoning

½ tsp sage powdered

1 cup milk  (maybe less if bread is soft)

Preheat oven to 350.

1.  Finely chop the onion and celery.  Add to bread cubes in large bowl.

2.  Mix in spices.

3.  Pour on melted butter and mix.

4.  Moisten with milk.

5.  Stuff the duck.

 Roast slowly in covered roaster at 350 degrees for 3 hours (no matter how much it weighs).   Take the lid off the roaster for the last 45 minutes (to brown the duck).

The duck is done when it pulls apart easily.

Testing:  If you have a meat thermometer, test the duck after 2 ½ hours.  If the temperature is 170, the duck is almost done.  Take the lid off the roaster and let the duck brown for the last ½ or ¾ hour.  The thermometer should register 180 when the duck is done.