Judy & Bob's Travels http://jbvoorn.com Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Willemstad, Curacao http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7298 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7298#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 15:36:02 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7298 On March 23, 2013, we docked at the new Mega Terminal just outside of Willemstad, Curacao. The pier is within walking distance to the town, so we decided to walk there. Willemstad is divided into two sections, Otrobanda (“the other side”) and Punda, separated by the St. Anna Bay. To cross between the two sides there is the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge which swings open to allow for ships to enter the bay. When the bridge is open there are Passenger Ferries to get across.

We crossed the bridge into Punda and walked through the shopping district to the Municipal Market. From there we crossed the street to the Floating Market where Venezuela vendors bring produce and fresh caught fish are sold from their boats in the Waaigat Channel. We walked along the market and back towards St. Anna Bay. At the bay we saw the Queen Juliana Bridge, the vehicle bridge over the bay. On our way back to the ship we passed many of the local iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide Otrobanda Punda Pedestrian Bridge Bridge opening Passenger Ferries Punda Governor's Palace Shopping District Along Saint Anna Bay Town Clock Central Market Floating Market Produce Stalls Produce from Venezuela Fish Boat Fish Boat Queen Juliana Bridge Iguana QE on the Pier Leaving Willemstad ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7298 0 Panama Canal http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7269 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7269#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 15:15:48 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7269 We returned through the Panama Canal on March 21, 2013, this time from the Pacific to the Caribbean. Before reaching the first locks, we had a good view of the new lock construction that will increase the size of ships that can pass through the canal. Before entering the Miraflores Locks we took on the linesmen from the canal authority that will handle the cables attached to the “Mules” from our ship. After passing through these locks, it is only a short distance to the Pedro Miguel Locks. While in this lock we witnessed some small boats going the other way and were able to see the adjacent lock in action. We once again passed under the Centennial Bridge, through the Gaillard Cut and into Gatun Lake. We left the canal through the Gatun Locks and into the Caribbean.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide New Lock Construction New Lock Construction New Lock Construction New Lock Construction Linesmen Boarding QE Miraflores Locks Miraflores Locks Bringing the lines to QE Riding a Mule Mule at Work Miraflores Locks Miraflores Locks Pedro Miguel Locks Small Boats Being Lowered Small Boats Being Lowered Small Boats Being Lowered Centennial Bridge Gaillard Cut Leaving via Gatun Locks ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7269 0 Sarchi, Costa Rica http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7242 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7242#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 14:49:47 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7242 March 19, 2013 found us back in the port of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Today we went to the coffee region in the central mountain range to visit the town of Sarchi, known for it’s contraction and elaborately painted oxcarts which were used to bring coffee beans from the highlands down to the port. Sarchi is home to the worlds largest oxcart. We visited the colorful town square and then proceeded to the oldest oxcart factory where we saw the artists at work. From Sarchi we went to Grecia to see a  metal church made from pre-fabricated steel plates.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide Fruit Stand Roadside Vendor Coffee Plantation Coffee Plantation Church of Sarchi Church of Sarchi World's largest Oxcart Painted Wheel Ox Yoke Oxcart mural Painted oxcart Oxcart factory Sarchi Artist Painted tray Painting a small oxcart Oxcarts for sale Metal Church Metal Church ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7242 0 Granada, Nicaragua http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7214 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7214#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 15:19:43 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7214 On Monday, March 18, 2013, we anchored off the coast of Nicaragua near the town of San Juan del Sur. We tendered into town and took a tour to the colonial city of Granada on the shore of Lake Nicaragua, the second largest lake in Latin America.

Our first stop was to Lake Nicaragua, where we took a boat ride among the little islands that were formed by the eruption of Mount Mombacho. Many of the islands were homes to the rich and famous while others were just homes of the original inhabitants. There were many waterfowl and even some monkeys. There were local fishermen in boats and along the shore as well as others doing their daily tasks.

We then went into Granada, where we had a carriage ride through the old part of town. We then toured the town square before returning to San Juan del Sur and our tender back to the ship.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide Anchored off Nicaragua Boat Ride One of Many Islands Island Home Great Egret Spider Monkey Fishing on the Shore Casting a Net Wash Day St. John of God's Hospital Street in Granada Street in Granada Local Transportation Immaculate Conception Church Local Vendor Vendors on the Street Plaza of Independence San Juan del Sur ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7214 0 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7180 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7180#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 15:23:50 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7180 Traveling down the coast from Los Angeles, we stopped in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on March 15, 2013. Today we toured the Old Town of the city. We started by walking on the Malecon (Seafront Promenade) past a Rock Sculpture Artist to the iconic Seahorse Sculpture and then on to the Main Square. From there we went into the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After leaving the church we went back out to the Malecon to another icon, The Arches, where there was a Folk Festival going on.

We left the city and traveled south along the coast to Mismaloya, the bayside village made famous by the film “Night of the Iguana”. We returned to the resort area of the city to Mango’s Beach Club to spend some time relaxing, watching Beach Vendors and the scenic coastline. As we left we had some panoramic views of this vacation resort city.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide View of High Rise Hotels Souvenir Shop Sculpture on the Malecon Rock Sculptures The Artist Seahorse Statue Town Gazebo Path to the church Front of Church Inside Alter Crown on Steeple Local Transportation At the Arches Local Dancers View of Mismaloya Along the Beach Resort Beaches Hat & Scarf Vendors View from the Ship View from the Ship ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7180 0 Long Beach, California, USA http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7134 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7134#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 15:32:39 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7134 We arrived back in the port of San Pedro  (LA) , California on March 12, 2013. We spent the day in Long Beach, where we toured the Queen Mary, which is now a museum and hotel. The ship was in service from 1936 to 1967. The ship was quite large, 106 feet wide and 996 feet long with 8 decks and the engine room to explore. This took us most of the morning and part of the afternoon. We  then took the free red passport bus over to the Boardwalk. We walked around the area and out to the Lions Site Lighthouse where we had another view of the Queen Mary across the harbor.

In the evening we left San Pedro at Sunset and traveled down to Long Beach for the first “Meeting of the Queens“. This was a big event with music from the Queen May and simultaneous commentary from the Commodore who was aboard the Queen Elizabeth. The show ended about 7:45 and we were on our way to Mexico.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide View of Queen Mary View of the Bridge A riveted ship Interior Promenade Deck Veranda Restaurant The Sun Deck The Bridge Wing Life Boats The Bridge Docking Telegraph Captains Bedroom Captains Sitting Room Main Hall Main Stairs Observation Bar Engine Room Along the Boardwalk View of the Lighthouse Across the Harbor The inner Harbor Aquarium Fountain Sunset over Queen Mary Queen Mary ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7134 0 Maui, Hawaii, USA http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7104 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7104#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:17:24 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7104 The Island of Maui in Hawaii was our port of call on March 7, 2013. We docked in Kahului in the commercial port. From our cabin we had a nice view of Kahului Harbor and the West Maui Mountains. Today we traveled to the Iao Valley State Park to see the Iao Needle, a lava remnant that rises 1,200 feet above the valley floor. On this site was also where King Kamehameha destroyed the Maui Army to unite Hawaii.

We than proceeded across the Island, between the West Maui Mountains and the Haleakala Crater, to the southern shore and the town of  Lahaina, an old whaling village that now houses many boutiques and shops some of which date back to the 1820′s. In Lahaina we walked along Front Street to the large Banyan Tree in the town park. We returned to Kahului via the same road passing the sugar cane fields and processing plant.

We left Maui just before sunset as the rain was falling in the valley on the other side of the harbor. After leaving the harbor we watched many Whales frolicking in the bay.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide View from our cabin Iao Valley State Park View of the Valley Iao River Iao Needle Iao Needle Countryside West Maui Mountains West Maui Mountains West Maui Mountains Front Street Banyan Tree Pioneer Inn View of Lanai Lahaina Harbor Southern Coastline Sugar Cane Plant Rain in the Valley Whales at play Whales at play Whale Leaving Maui ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7104 0 Hawaii, Hawaii http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7067 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7067#comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:35:13 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7067 On March 6,2013, we arrived in Hilo on the island of Hawaii, USA. We went to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to visit the Kilauea Volcano area, where we first visited the Jaggar Museum to get an overview of the area and its history. At the museum area we could see the caldera of  Kilauea, and views of Mauna Loa. There was also a distant view of Mauna Kea, these are the three major volcanoes that make up the island of Hawaii. From the museum area we went to the Steam Vents, which are cracks in the earth where steam escapes. We then had a chance to walk through a Lava Tube, a tunnel that was formed when molten lava forms the tube and than recedes leaving the tunnel. Our last stop was at Kilauea Iki, a side crater of Kilauea, that formed a giant lava lake and slag pile when it erupted in 1959.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide Inside Jaggar Museum Kilauea Crater Caldera Lava Rock Danger area View of Mauna Loa View of Mauna Kea Escaping Steam View of Kilauea Entering the tube Inside the Tube Inside the Tube Exiting the Tube Tree Fern Forest Tree Fern View of Kilauea Iki View of Kilauea from Iki Lava Lake Hikers on the Lake Slag Pile

]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7067 0 Bora Bora, French Polynesia http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7033 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7033#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:50:16 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7033 On March 1, 2013 we awoke anchored in the Bay of of Povai looking at Mt. Pahia in Bora Bora. We took a tour around the island with Tupuna Safari, which included both roads on the coastline and off road trails up to scenic overlooks. Our first stop was up to one of the WWII Gun Emplacements, where we had views of the surrounding area including our ship anchored in the bay.

We then went to Matira and up to a lookout where we saw Pointe Matira. We then went back down the hill to The Farm where they farm the black pearl that French Polynesia is famous for. Continuing on we went around the island and up to another lookout on Pointe Taihi to see the outlying islands, before returning though the tropical forest to the town of Vaitape and our tender. Before returning we wandered around the small craft market there.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

 

Title Slide Early Morning in Bora Bora Bora Bora Resort Tupuna Safari Tour The WWII Guns View of Mt. Pahia View of Bay of Povai View of the Point Black Pearl Farm Black Pearl Farm Polynesian Carving Polynesian Carving Fruit Buffet View of Mt. Otemanu View from Pointe Taihi In the Tropical Forest Countryside Shoreline Open Air Transportation Craft Vendor Marina Leaving Bora Bora ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7033 0 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7000 http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7000#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:27:56 +0000 Admin http://jbvoorn.com/?p=7000 On February 28, 2013 we arrived in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, on the largest of its islands, Tahiti. We toured the east coast of the island, stopping first at  Point Venus, the first landing place of the first European discovers. On this site was Tahiti’s only lighthouse. From there we traveled to the Blowhole Arahoho where the sea carved a opening in the rocks and waves erupt through the hole. We then proceeded inland to the Faaurumai Waterfalls. Our last stop was as the James Norman Hall Museum, the author of “Mutiny on the Bounty”. After returning to the ship we went out into Papeete. We went to the Municipal Market in the center of town and a craft market, that was located just outside the pier.

We went to a show by a Tahitian Dance group that was performed in the theater on the ship.

The thumbnail pictures below represent this stop on our trip. Click on any of them to see actual picture.

Title Slide View of Papeete Captain Cook's Landing site Tahiti's only Lighthouse Tahiti Shoreline Tahiti Shoreline Arahoho Blow Hole Black sand beach View of the Falls Hall's Desk Mutiny on the Bounty At the Craft Market Tahitian Floral Headpiece Le Marche Le Marche Vendor Fresh Milk Taro Root Fresh Fish Folklore Show Folklore Show Folklore Show ]]> http://jbvoorn.com/?feed=rss2&p=7000 0