Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Arizona – Sedona

Finally made it to Sedona. Beautiful area. Click the picture to see more…

 Sedona Arizona

Arizona – Montezuma Castle

Stopped at Montezuma Castle National Monument during a drive from Phoenix to Sedona . Pleasantly surprised by the 1,000 year old pueblo ruins. Very interesting as well as very easy to get to. Well worth the stop if you're in the area. Click the picture to see more…

 Montezuma's Castle

Friday, December 16, 2011

Cruise 2 – Day 14 – At Sea

One last day at sea on the final leg of our trip to Long Beach. Not much to show but did get a few good sunrise shots. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Cruise 2 – Day 13 – Cabo San Lucas

Was going to go scuba diving but the excursion was canceled – not enough people signed up for it. Went on a snorkeling trip to two different locations. Half the fun was the zodiac boat ride that was very bumpy but also very fast, passing all of the other boats and even jet skis on the way back. Unfortunately the visibility still wasn't very good. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Cruise 2 – Day 9, 10, 11 – At Sea

A few rough days at sea with high winds and large swells. But not even much in the way of sunrise or sunset pictures. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Cruise 2 – Day 8 – Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Day started out interesting as they tried to get the gangway from the ship to the dock. Because of the extremely low tide Deck 3 was too low. The alternative, Deck 7, was too high. Some people didn’t get off the ship until 1pm. Luckily I didn’t have any excursions planned so I just walked along the flea market along the beach. Click the picture to see more… 

Cruise 2

Friday, December 9, 2011

Cruise 2 - Day 7 - At Sea

Just another day at sea. Took a few pictures of some birds flying near the boat and clouds at sunset. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Cruise 2 – Day 6 – Panama Canal Part 2 – Pacific Locks

After a two hour wait in the lake we headed towards the set of three Pacific locks. Unlike the three Atlantic locks which are all one after another, for the Pacific locks we entered one lock, traveled further down a river and then exited via two more locks traveling under the Bridge of the Americas and ending up next to Panama City. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Cruise 2 – Day 6 – Panama Canal Part 1 – Atlantic Locks

First part of a one day trip through the Panama Canal. Took some sunrise shots but then mostly a series of shots showing how the ships enter each of the first three locks and are then raised to the level of the next lock, finally reaching the level of a large lake which provides all of the water for the locks. Interesting fact: no water is pumped into the locks. It all drains under gravity from the lake. In the morning, ships go from the Atlantic and Pacific through the locks into the lake. Then in the afternoon ships leave the lake to exit to the Atlantic or Pacific. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Cruise 2 - Day 5 - Cartagena Columbia

Fun day in Cartagena Colombia with interesting and colorful sights including a Spanish fort, local shops and a torture chamber for the Inquisitions. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Monday, December 5, 2011

Cruise 2 - Day 3 - Grand Cayman

Did a scuba dive in the Grand Caymans. Was hoping for great visibility, but like my experiences in the Florida Keys, winds are stirring up a lot of debris and so it wasn't too great. On the other hand, after 90 or so dives it was the first time that I've dived without a wet suit or dry suit. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Cruise 2 - Day 1 - Leaving Port

Started 2nd cruise from Tampa, 4.5 hours away from where the 1st cruise landed in Fort Lauderdale. Took a lot of pictures, many of which not everyone might find interesting, so feel free to skip the rest of the pictures or click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 2

Friday, December 2, 2011

Cruise 1 - Day 7 - Bahamas

Landed at Princess Cays in the Bahamas, then took a tour of Eleuthera island. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 1

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cruise 1 - Day 5 - St. Thomas

Arrived at St. Thomas early in the morning. Beautiful views just from the ship while eating breakfast. Then took a tour of the island with stops at places such as the home of the banana daiquiri. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 1

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cruise 1 - Day 4 - St. Maarten

Arrived at St. Maarten in the morning. Took a tour which included a stop at the beach then continued with sightseeing. St. Maarten is unusual in that half of the island is Dutch and half is French. Click the picture to see more…

 Cruise 1

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cruise 1 - Day 3 - San Juan

Arrived at San Juan, Puerto Rico in the evening. Took a tour of the old fort then walked back through Old San Juan to return to the ship. Click the picture to see more…

Cruise 1

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

St. Augustine Florida

Stopped by St. Augustine Florida late one afternoon. The area has really grown in the last few years and has a lot of nice little shops and restaurants, including the crepe place some of these pictures show. Click the picture to see more…

 St. Augustine

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Florida Keys - Day Six

Yes, Day Six. No Day Five blog, but the album linked to does have two pictures from day five. Highlights of the day: another trip to seven mile bridge, visit Bahia Honda State Park and finally ate at the Outback Steakhouse that is part of the hotel. Below is a picture from Bahia Honda. Click the picture to see more…

 Florida Keys

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Florida Keys - Day One

Today drove 5.5 hours from Orlando to Marathon in the Florida Keys just south of Key Largo. Not many pictures but managed to take some late in the day from the beach just behind the room I’m staying in. Click the picture below to see more pictures…

 Florida Keys

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Kennedy Space Center

Drove 1.5 hours from Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center today. Tomorrow I head for Key Largo area. Click the picture below to see more Kennedy Space Center pictures…

 Cape Kennedy