Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena was a Spanish stronghold on the Caribean from which Gold and Silver from the New World was shipped to Spain. The Old City was heavily fortified against the enemies of Spain who would raid and attempt to conquer this strategic port.

Cartagena, Colombia

An interesting inhabitant of the Old City.

Cartaqena, Colombia

Churches in the Old City.

Cartagena, Colombia

Picturesque street in the Old City of Cartaqena.

Panama Canal - bridge over the canal at the Culebra Cut

This was the area where the original constructors of the canal encountered the greatest difficulty. You can see the recent construction efforts to widen the canal at this very narrow point. This is a part of the effort to widen the canal and construct an additional set of locks that will handle every ship in the world or on the drawing boards.

Canal operations

Ship in lock and gates beginning to close

Canal operations

Ship in lock and gates closing

Canal Operations

Gates closed and lock filled

Cabo San Lucas

The most recognizable geographic feature of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is el Arco.

Cabo San Lucas

We watched this and one other whale in the bay of Cabo San Lucas.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is undoubtedly one of the most green, serene and nature filled places on earth. This picture is of the edge of the rain forest. Following are a number of favorite scenes from the rain forest.

Costa Rica

Alligators on the prowl. The locals call the two big ones Osama and Bill Clinton.

Costa Rica

The density of the rain forest is difficult to comprehend unless you are in it. From the floor to the top of the canopy, there is a myriad of trees, vines, flowers, ferns and moss.

Costa Rica

A common site in the rain forest is huge termite nest in a tree.

Costa Rica

Another unusual red flower from the rain forest. It attracts numerous insects and hummingbirds.

Costa Rica

This plant in the rain forest has beautiful red leaves.

This is for the birds

I was able to get this close up shot of an Ostrich with the long lens. Following are some of the best bird photos from the cruise.

A male Ostrich in Aruba.

A White Sea Tern diving into the ocean for a fish.

Is this a bird?

Beautiful pelicans were plentiful in every port in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia and Aruba. I was surprised that seagulls were absent in all of these places.

El Mono

This serious faced monkey did not seem too happy for our intrusion into his world - a small island in Gatun lake, Panama. He eventually jumped into our boat to get a piece of banana.

On the hook in Acapulco

A very interesting part of our vacation included a visit to the everyday market in Acapulco, Mexico where the common people (la gente) go every day for their fruits, vegetables, tortillas and meat. These are not refrigerated show cases, just old fashioned, open, street-side meat hooks filled with the day's offerings including the pig's head, a delicacy.

At Water Level

This is a photo taken from a small boat on the Panama Canal in front of an approaching container ship. These vessells are huge. You wonder how they will fit into the locks made 100 years ago for the size of ships of that era. But, they do fit with 12 inches or so of clearance on each side.

Panama City Temple

This will be the first of a number of daily postings of some very special photos taken during our recent trip to Central America and the Panama Canal.

The Panama Temple is, like most temples, on an hill, providing a spectacular view for persons just entering the Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean . It was very early in the morning before the sun came up when we spotted the Temple surrounded by the lush rain forest.