Guayaquil, Ecuador Tuesday 1/31/23

 Guayaquil, Ecuador, Tuesday 1/31/23  Oceania, Insignia

Last night the Insignia Band played on the pool deck, Level 9 while hors d'oeuvres were served.  

I usually try to eat my meals out on the back of the ship, Level 9, Terrace Cafe.

The Terrace Cafe is like a buffet, but I do not serve myself.  The crew does all the serving.  

Party last night by the pool with lots of dancing on Deck 9.  

The Fitness Center is also on Deck 9, next to the Spa.

This is the card/game room (Deck 9) which is often full of people on sea days.  There are a lot of mahjongg players.  Some play Chinese and others play American.  They also have board games available.

When I exit the Terrace Cafe, I can pass through Waves Grill which serves a limited breakfast and lunch menu.  

Dining in the Terrace Cafe.

This is what the pool deck (Deck 9) looks like during the day.  They removed these chairs and put in tables and chairs for the party last night.  

Dancers at the Pool Deck Party. The Insignia Band played and had a singer.  The Entertainment Team also took turns singing song.  The Entertainment Team consists of three men and three women.  They are very talented.

Another view of the pool deck.  

Monday, January 30, 2023 Peru cancelled/Pictures on board, Level 10

 Today we were supposed to be cruising the Pacific, but due to the unrest in Peru our schedule has changed.  Instead,  we are in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  This is not a safe place according to the website whatsinport.com.  I am choosing to stay on board today and tomorrow as we will be here overnight.

I was excited to go to Peru, but not so much to be here in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  I was planning to visit Pizarro which was founded in 1534 and visit a pair of immense adobe temples built by the Mochica civilization a dozen centuries earlier. Along the south bank of the Moche River, the two monumental “huaca” temples stand in the desert, built between 1 and 650 AD. The smaller of the two terraced pyramids, the Temple of the Moon, is built of some fifty million hand-made adobe bricks. I'm sorry I missed the adjacent Temple of the Sun which is the largest mud-brick structure in all the Americas – nearly four football fields long by two wide. I had a tour scheduled in Lima to visit a UNESCO site, Lima's Old City.  I was even more excited to fly over the Nazca Lines which were created 1,500 years ago and are spread over a 200-square-mile plateau.  They are giant drawings of animals, humans and geometric forms that were cut into the stony desert floor and are only visible from the sky.  I recently read that they had discovered more Nazca lines.  

So, I walked this morning, had breakfast and spent time deleting pictures which I can do for days...  I do find my time on the ship to be very relaxing.  There are a variety of spaces to sit.  I am sitting in the Horizon's Lounge (Level 10) which is a quiet place to sit with spa-like music playing at this time.  I have also come here after walking and looked out the front of the ship while I drink a cup of coffee.  At 4:00, tea will be served.  Later tonight, it will be Happy Hour (10:30-11:30) and the band plays.  I haven't been able to stay up that late.  At 11:30, a DJ takes over.  

It is relaxing to sit in a shady spot by the pool.  There is a library on this top level, which has lovely furniture and I will try sitting there someday soon.  

The picture above is the Artists' Corner.  I have not been there and don't really know about it.  It is in the corner of Horizon's.

Welcome to the library, I haven't gone there to read yet.  

It's 4:00 Tea Time in Horizon's and the Quadrivium Quartet plays classical music during tea.  

This is another angle of the library on Level 10.

Here are the goodies on the Tea Cart.  I always get a scone.  

January 29, 2023 Manta, Ecuador

 Day 15: Sunday, January 29, 2023  Manta, Ecuador 5AM-6:00PM Panama Hats.  dock near town center, free shuttle 15 min.

Manta is a port city on Ecuador's central coast. It's known for its tuna-fishing industry. This morning while I walking on the track it was interesting to watch the fishermen unload the frozen tuna that must have been caught recently.    It is called "The Tuna Capital of the World" for its important tuna production, one of the main Ecuadorian export products.  Manta is one of the most important economic, industrial, financial and commercial centers of Ecuador.  On the Ecuadorian coast, and due to the direct action of the Humboldt Cold Current from Antarctica, only 4 cities enjoy this type of subtropical and temperate maritime climate: Manta, Salinas, Santa Elena and Puerto López. The rainfall totals are much lower than other coastal locations.   

I took the free shuttle from the pier to the Cruise Terminal.  I walked around a bit and was approached by many vendors to buy food or stuff I did not want.  

I always select the photos in the order that I take them and they always show up any way they want.  

                                            The Police Station was along the walkway/Malecón Escénico promenade near the pier and by the beach.  Bars and restaurants are clustered along the Malecón Escénico promenade and nearby streets.

                                            Cruise Terminal

                                            The beach closest to the cruise terminal.  The popular Murciélago Beach is on             the city's northwestern tip.

                                            Murcielago Beach

                                            Some of the buses waiting at the pier for the passengers.

                                            Band on the pier entertaining us.

                                            This woman was chopping with a machete.

                                            The waves were quite big, but a lot of people were in the water at 9:00AM.

I thought I wanted a Panama Hat, but I doubt that I would wear it that often, so I did not get one.  

Friday and Saturday, January 27 and 28 are Sea Days.

 Sea Days have become routine at this time.  Walking the track, breakfast, Bridge Lesson 9:30, Speaker/a Holocaust survivor today at 11:00,  lunch 12:00, 1:00 Destination book club/Japan, 4:15 Trivia, tonight dinner in Toscana.  All is well.  

Wednesday & Thursday, January 26, 2023 Acajutla, El Salvador

Wednesday, 1/25/23, we were in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.  I was here in 2017 and decided I wasn't interested in riding for 90 minutes to visit Antigua again.  None of the other tours interested me enough to spend my money on them, so I stayed on board.  I did my laundry and relaxed.   

Day 12: Thursday, January 26, 2023 Acajutla, El Salvador 7-2:00 Don’t drink local water or food washed in local water. 

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America.  It is smaller than Massachusetts.  The Pacific Ocean, Guatemala and Honduras border El Salvador.  It is known as the land of volcanoes.  Primary foods include rice, beans and tortillas.  The population is about seven million.    

Acajutla is a principal port and handles a large portion of El Salvador's coffee exports, also shipments of sugar and balsam. A petroleum refinery and a fertilizer plant are industries in the city.  Fish and shell processing industries as well as tourism are important.  Beach-resort facilities are a part of the economy.  

Acajutla's name comes from the Nahualt language and means "where burned canes are plentiful".  Acajutla belongs to the hot land category and average temperatures are 81 to 104 degrees.   

We went through one checkpoint today, but because a picture was taken of our photo id's by the authorities as we boarded the bus we did not have to stop.  

Port: Acajutla, El Salvador Sightseeing ACJ-008  Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 3 1/4 hours) 

Tour Description

• Take in the stunning natural beauty of Cerro Verde National Park and its nearby volcanoes.
• Drive through the town of Izalco, which lies on the slope of its namesake volcano. Admire the colonial town of Nahuizalco along the colorful, aptly named Flowers Route.

Enjoy an enlightening driving tour that offers different perspectives of western El Salvador, including its volcanic landscape and colonial towns. You will first pause for photos at Cerro Verde National Park, a natural wonderland between three lushly landscaped volcanoes. The youngest volcano is Izalco, which began erupting in the late 18th century and continued for more than 150 years. The town of Izalco now lies on the volcano’s slope. The harvesting of cocoa once fueled the economy, although Izalco was known more as a mystical setting, as its indigenous Nahuatl people practiced traditional healing. Following a driving tour of its landmarks, you will stop for photos in the colonial town of Nahuizalco, which translates to “four Izalcos” in the Nahuatl language. The name refers to the town once having four times the population of Izalco. Nahuizalco lies along El Salvador’s beautiful Flowers Route, a byway bordered by fields of wildflowers.

                                                Izalco, El Salvador

                                            Young people entertaining us upon our return to the port of Acajutla.   

                                            Fruits and vegetables market in Nahuizalco.

                                            Church of Delores, platform to be carried through the streets of Nahuizalco.

                                            Church in Izalco, El Salvador

Three volcanoes, one is active and makes steam.  The one to the left used to be active and sailors referred to is as the lighthouse of the Pacific because they could see it from sea.  

                                            Church of Delores in Nahuizalco

                                                                            Izalco, El Salvador

Church of Delores, Nahuizalco

El Salvador was at war about human rights from 1980-1992. Seventy thousand lives were lost.  I'm not sure I understood my guide.  " A president in El Salvador is elected for a 5 year term.  The party in charge for three terms was corrupt.  The first president of the Guerrilla government is believed to have faked his death and absconded with $10 million.  The next Guerrilla president is believe to have run away to Nicaragua with $3 million.  Then there was a new president with a new idea. " 

Some businesses from the United States that I saw today included McDonald's, Mister Donut, Wendy's, Coca Cola, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Chevrolet and Kia.  I saw a sign near the hospital advertising X-rays for $17-$28.  In American money, that would be $150. to about $300.  I saw a lot of raw wooden furniture for sale along the road, but did not have a chance to ask the guide about it.    

Sea Day January 23, 2023 Monday/Tuesday Puerto Chiapas, Mexico 1/24/23

Sunday, we met four more people that traveled with Viking in 2017/2018.  That takes our total to 11 former Viking guests.  We are all here because we liked the idea of over 20 new ports.  

Today is a Sea Day, 1/23/23.  I started my day walking the track and then went to breakfast.  At 9:30,  I went for another Bridge Lesson.  It is a complicated game.  Today, the Solo Travelers are having lunch together and I hope to meet some new people.  Around 1:30, we are trying Chinese Mahjongg with some other World Cruisers.  

After dinner in the Polo Grill, I walked the track again and ended my evening at the Insignia Production Company's Broadway in Concert.  

Today we are in Puerto Chiapas, Mexico.  I walked this morning on the track and took pictures of the birds flying overhead.  I think they are frigates.  

Puerto Chiapas is just 13 miles from the border with Guatemala.  The port is a small fishing and agricultural transport center.  Chiapas is the poorest state in Mexico, but many cruise lines stop here.   Chiapas rank second among the Mexican states in the production of cacao and also produces 60% of Mexico's coffee.  Other crops include sugar cane, bananas and other fruit.  Milk production is about 180 million liters or 47.5 million gallons.   

Izapa Ruins & Chocolate City (CIA-008)  January 24, 2023 Port: Puerto Chiapas Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 1/2 hours) 

• The climate is ideal for growing cacao, the main ingredient to produce chocolate. Anciently, chocolate was so valuable that it was used as currency.  We took a tour of Tapachula, a cultured city that revolves around agriculture.  Crops include cheese, 40 varieties of sweet corn, Chiquita bananas, mangos and coffee.  In addition to seeing its contemporary side, you will view historical sites such as the 18th-century Saint Augustine Church and ancient artifacts in the Soconusco Archaeological Museum."

The cocoa demonstration included the steps of fermentation, drying, roasting for 40 minutes, peeling, combining with cinnamon and sugar and enjoying.  

• Explore the ruins of the region’s largest Olmec and Mayan archaeological site,  While walking among the ruins, you will see large pyramids, altars and stone carvings that tell the stories of the Olmec and Mayan civilizations that lived here from about 1500 BC to 1200 AD. There are 13 historical sites in Chiapas.  The beverage they made from cocoa beans was a stimulant and the Mayans believed it gave them power,  

The Mayans played a game where they could only contact the ball with shoulders and hips.  The ball was rubber and weighed 2-3 kg.  There were two teams of seven people.  Some say the winners were sacrificed to live as a God and others say the losers were sacrificed to live as a servant.  

in the Soconusco Archaeological Museum.

PLEASE NOTE

This tour includes about 1½ hours of moderate walking, plus any additional walking at the guests’ discretion during free time. The order of sights visited may vary and the itinerary may be reversed.

Chocolate processing demonstration in Tapachula, the cocoa beans at the bottom center of the picture are roasting.

Processing chocolate demonstration in Tapachula, chocolate pods are at the bottom of this picture.

Chocolate demonstration in Tapachula, the individual beans tasted sweet.  I sucked on them until the sweetness was gone.  

On board the Insignia, Mariachi dancer from Sunday.

Mariachi dancers from Sunday onboard the Insignia.

Today's characters in Tapachula, I don't know the story behind the man with the mask and head dress.

Dancers today in Tapachula.

Mariachi Band that played on Sunday on board the Insignia.

Acapulco, Mexico January 22, 2023

 Acapulco, Mexico January 22, 2023  Sunday 

Historical Acapulco & Cliff Divers (ACA-003) SCHEDULED

January 22, 2023  Port: Acapulco  Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 4 hours) 

La Quebrada is where the cliff divers have been leaping into the sea since 1934. The jumpers from the highest point, jumped 132 feet.  The depth of the water is 15-20 feet.  The youngest jumper was nine  The oldest jumper the guide knows is 61.  The main industry in Acapulco is tourism.  Coconuts are harvested and every part of the coconuts are utilized.  Mining silver, gold, precious and semi-precious stones are other industries.  While we were riding around I saw Walmart, McDonald's, Circle K, Pizza Hut, Subway, BMW, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, Woolworth's and the Ramada.  

Another spectacular view awaits you at the Chapel of Peace, yet another landmark perched on the famed cliffs of Acapulco.  A family lost two children in an accident and this cross and chapel are dedicated to them.  

Finally, you will see the historical Fort of San Diego. Constructed over 200 years ago to protect Acapulco from pirates, the star-shaped fort now serves as the home of the History Museum of Acapulco.

Tour Description

Cruises Visiting This Port

• Delve into Acapulco’s past by visiting its most historical landmarks.
• Realize Acapulco’s connection to stars such as John Wayne and Cary Grant.
• Linger over a beverage at the hotel that Johnny Weissmuller once owned.
• See the Spanish-built Fort of San Diego, which protected Acapulco from pirates.

Gain a historical perspective of Acapulco by visiting some of its earliest attractions.  After watching the diving spectacle, you will proceed to the city’s affluent Caleta area, where stars such as Cary Grant and John Wayne once had homes. Hollywood also favored Los Flamingos Hotel, which famed Olympic swimmer and actor Johnny Weissmuller owned. The hotel has retained its original charm as you will see firsthand while enjoying a beverage there while overlooking the ocean.  

Ending my day listening to a mariachi band and watching dancers beside the pool..