Cannal Approach and Food

We are scheduled for a full transit of the Panama Cannal tomorow. Each ship of the 146,000 that transit each year is allocated a time to be standung by to enter the locks so exact time is of the essence. Miss your time slot and you may literaly have to wait days for a new one! Missing the time is not an option for a cruise ship so we will be at sea all today passing along the coast of Panama so that we can be in place on time tomorow. All being well we shall pick up the pilot at 0500, enter the first  lock at 0630 and finally exit the last lock at Gatun by 4-30pm.

I was able to talk to the food and beverage director today as I was interested how you provision a ship that is serving at least 15,000 meals day. He gave me a few example to the supplies they took on board in Los Angeles.

5,000 lbs Butter
24,000 lbs Beef
3,000  lbs Cereal
5,200  lbs Cheeses
1,800  lbs Coffee
13,000 lbs Fish
14,000  lbs Flour
7,600  doz Fresh Eggs
60,000 lbs Fress Fruits
2,400  lbs Ice Cream
2000   lbs Lobster
3,600  gals Milk
17,000 lbs Potatos
24,000 lbs Poultry
10,000  lbs Rice
 5.200  bs Seafood
 8,000 lbs Sugar
250 varieties      Wine
 4,000 lbs Veal
64.000 lbs Vegetables
9.000 cups Yoghurt

I have no idea how many shopping baskets that would fill be you can work that out at your leasure.
Apparently lmost all cruise shups use the same supplier -- now that is a contract worth having.

Costa Rica

Once part of the great Central American country was peacefully allowed to separate and become independant in the early 1900.s. It is the most progressive and democratic countries of the region. The have no military but do have universal health care
with a life expectancy of  79 years and very low child mortality. Education upto the bachelors level is free for all,

It has a national policy of eco-sustainable development codifying the protection of the environment and wildlife into its laws. Eco-torism has become a major industry.

We we able to make a mini exploration of the lowland rainforrest area close to the port -- Puerto Quetzal -- which included a river boat ride along a crocodile rich stretch. These crocodiles are able to live in both fresh and salt water.

The  heavily wooded bank of the river held a wide variety of birds many blending in with the foliage unto we were so close that the suddenly flew off as if out of nowhere.

This beatifully colored Bear Troated Tiger Herron ( so called because it call sounds like a puma which for some reason the local call a tiger!)   sta still fro a second to allow me to make this picture before it took of for a quieter tree

The white herron is a less skiteris bird and just ignored our passing.

Every where the were clumps of tropical flower in typically bright clours an often complex formations.

It is easy to understand why people from all over the world visit just to enjoy the extensive national parks and rain forest reserves on the sammll but very civilized country.

Antigua ,Gutemala

Guatemala is a country with a a checkered history right back to the fourth trip of Columbus to the Americas in the earlyh 1500's. It was not until 450 years later that it could be called a democracy when the ruling miltary dictatorship was overturned.

Distipite significant progress since then the country is one of the poorest in Central America, almost every family has some members working abroad. Many of those called "Mexicanas" in the US are really Gutemalans. If they can find work they are not choosey about what you call them.

A short vsisit ashore did not allow us to visit Tikal one of the best preserved Mayan sites anywhere but we we able to make a short visist the city Antigua. The word "antigua" in Spanish means old. It was originally the Spanish colonial capital of all of Central America however it was realized after a very short period and a sever earthquake that the area surounded by active volcanos was not suitable. The partially destroyed city was abandoned and a new capital buit at what is now Gautemal City.

During the early morning uphill drive to Antigua we were fotunate to caputure a minor erruption from one of the three vocanos

Shooting through a bus window at 50 mph on a bumpy road was quite a chalenge.

The City of Antigua is now designated a "World Heritage  Site". as such it receives significant financial help from UNESCO if it undertakes to maintain it's ancient buildings and exclude modern structures form the area. Any restoration musr follow the original design and use only the same materials and techniques. Over head powerelines, TV antennas etc. must be removed and no modern advertsing may be visisble.

Most of the antique buildings date from the middle decades of the 16th century.

As Always the Cathedral of a colonial Spanish town was cenral to the city. It has recieved significant restortion.

Mondern artisans are still very active in the city as this religious sturte shows

Many of the buildings seem to have been crushed internally as the roof colapsed leaving the very study walls standingThis one of the numerous churches and convents is a good example.

Every narrow street in the center of the historic districs has examples of the period and the destructive power of the earthquake that lead to the abandonment of the city.

p4,p5

Guatemala is dotted with major groups of Maya achetectural sites. Many hidden in dense jungle only now being discovered by satelte imaging. You often hear people saying "What happened to the Maya" , those who survived the brutality of the Spanish Conquistadores lived to populate this area. Their features just like those of thier ancient scuptures are seen today.

Unfortunately the exstensive literature was burned by Jesuit Missionaries in their religiuos zeal.

Chiapas

About 40 miles from the southern most border of Mexico with Guatemala is the commercial port of Puerto Chiapas named after the stae in which it is located.. Our early morning arrival allowed for my to take a light breakfast on the aft deck (breakfast is served untill 10-30am in 16 locations of the ship so several vsists are possible if your first breakfast does not carry you over till lunch!

The port itself has made an attempt to provide some shore facities for passengers like a couple of restaurants and a shopping area it is not really "Mexico". Mj had decided to stay on board as a week of doing nothing had worn her out, I took a local bus inland to the closest real town -- Tapachula.

Tapachula is the center of an acricultural area; it is a bustling little place which has only been grazed by tourism making it worth the bus ride to vsisit. The organised excursion from the ship do stop here

As the town is close to the growing areas and the sea an abundance of fresh food stuffs are available at very low prices. There are so few toruist here that the price does is not hiked as soon as they see you comming..

At 5.00 PM  we set sail for the Guatemalan port Puerto Quetzal close to the ancient capital city of Antigua and a ring of Active volcanos