tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32968758097746808212024-03-05T10:32:12.643-06:00Life's a Tripjust traveling through lifeLinda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-72286615371729226842013-08-24T16:55:00.000-05:002013-08-24T16:57:41.159-05:00Grand Canyon....Day 1....<div style="text-align: center;">
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Grand Canyon National Park</div>
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No photo can do justice to this magnificent place.</div>
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A mile deep and ten miles wide, it simply awes everyone who sees it.</div>
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Nearly five million people come here every year....from all over the world.</div>
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Our first stop was Desert View.</div>
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In 1930, the Fred Harvey Company hired Mary Colter, </div>
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to design gift shop and rest area here.</div>
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The result was the </div>
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Watch Tower.</div>
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Built to resemble the towers of Southwestern Indians.</div>
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She used weathered stones, to make it look old.</div>
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But, the skeleton of this tower, is steel.</div>
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Inside, a spiral staircase takes you up to different levels.</div>
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The walls are decorated with Hopi paintings.</div>
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Even the ceiling...</div>
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And, the windows all around this circular building, let you have a 360 view.</div>
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And, down into the park services.</div>
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Looks like you can no longer go up to the roof.</div>
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Back outside to wider views...down to the river.</div>
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A little closer...</div>
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A rafting group.</div>
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Looks like they're coming in to shore.</div>
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Maybe stopping for a while.</div>
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We walked around outside, enjoying more of the view.</div>
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Then, we saw people gathering and pointing. </div>
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A sure sign there's something to see.</div>
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A tree full of California Condors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxyIS_CuPKeHAFkEZ-GIfKjDEX50ZyMz6UDm3C2VkBUnZMIrAyMmZxDVV8Obur3IBltnTN2It5EGvsCpLo4SYx-cdm0vwydUbI2Wi-2jCUncDoy5rWrhlyt_Xg9pPEvEPxtlT2TWlsAw/s1600/condor+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxyIS_CuPKeHAFkEZ-GIfKjDEX50ZyMz6UDm3C2VkBUnZMIrAyMmZxDVV8Obur3IBltnTN2It5EGvsCpLo4SYx-cdm0vwydUbI2Wi-2jCUncDoy5rWrhlyt_Xg9pPEvEPxtlT2TWlsAw/s640/condor+4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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With a wing span of almost TEN feet, this is a BIG BIRD.</div>
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They were close to extinction. But, most of the remaining birds were</div>
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captured and bred in captivity. Their numbers grew enough to be </div>
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released back into nature.</div>
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They are quite impressive birds.</div>
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The day is moving along.</div>
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Time to go check in to our room.</div>
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Tomorrow will be our busy day.</div>
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Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-16005196646676965842013-08-22T18:18:00.000-05:002013-08-22T18:18:13.259-05:00On the Road Again...Day 2...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>I'm way behind on posting last year's trip.</i></div>
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<i>Trying to catch up.</i></div>
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**************</div>
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Up early and on the road.</div>
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As you can see...it's a long road, entering Arizona.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMm1oKoULXFCPsAokc5RrFC2v5Tywg5uWtDvaU3CbsebH-n46CDa60eFZisgRH6-7qcesC4vAA_y2RFU2AxRv54l5k_sI_QmwxjPYPYN1oJLPBRyOoATFifVenuetazppBGdaf4r1wgM/s1600/I-40+into+AZ+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMm1oKoULXFCPsAokc5RrFC2v5Tywg5uWtDvaU3CbsebH-n46CDa60eFZisgRH6-7qcesC4vAA_y2RFU2AxRv54l5k_sI_QmwxjPYPYN1oJLPBRyOoATFifVenuetazppBGdaf4r1wgM/s640/I-40+into+AZ+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We'd heard of a sight to see, in Winslow.</div>
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Remember the old Eagles song....</div>
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Standin' on the corner, in Winslow, Arizona...?</div>
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Well..Winslow put up a park, to celebrate it.</div>
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There's even a 'flat bed Ford', as part of the display.</div>
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It's just a wall, to represent a building....with reflections that remind you of the words of the song.</div>
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It's a quick stop, about two blocks off I-40, on the old</div>
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historic Route 66.</div>
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There's a gift shop there, just in case you need a t-shirt to remember your stop.</div>
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Next up...just a little west of Winslow...is the site of the Meteor Crater.</div>
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We were going to pass it by. But, what the heck....</div>
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we're here..let's go.</div>
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It's a big hole! It's almost a mile across. And, it's deep enough for a 60 story building.</div>
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Pretty impressive, and worth the hour or so stop.</div>
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Heading back out on I-40, we're nearing Flagstaff.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3RFIkztWEzHHgauo69LhAMKW5tS1KdLGWmw3I00SWpHwafue48FLuQnjmwwGUVjYU2eiFVoANA6IoLq4Yo8EOgWwZhOl8_4bp7px0qzg6b78g6N4_iM8VmxLWRQaxivOsj_babPiibg/s1600/AZ+hwy+89+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3RFIkztWEzHHgauo69LhAMKW5tS1KdLGWmw3I00SWpHwafue48FLuQnjmwwGUVjYU2eiFVoANA6IoLq4Yo8EOgWwZhOl8_4bp7px0qzg6b78g6N4_iM8VmxLWRQaxivOsj_babPiibg/s640/AZ+hwy+89+view.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We turned up Hwy. 89.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc_IrCw0WDqnwcWQ5IGXrtPUE4aSiTMS8W-S8DVjKD7SP_Et5pPR8_Apqwyj-O4ocVleVQRVz9__cHpTPEVXIv-hRlY2RrdRSjwZCAhSui7L4pTOZXWvSsUI4zPKEOgnvNAVbl1CPAJc/s1600/AZ+hwy+89+view+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc_IrCw0WDqnwcWQ5IGXrtPUE4aSiTMS8W-S8DVjKD7SP_Et5pPR8_Apqwyj-O4ocVleVQRVz9__cHpTPEVXIv-hRlY2RrdRSjwZCAhSui7L4pTOZXWvSsUI4zPKEOgnvNAVbl1CPAJc/s640/AZ+hwy+89+view+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then, onto Hwy 64,,,heading for the East entrance to the Grand Canyon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2H8Sit2gyyL5pFKFN1rLQy2fGZPj7ShR7we4EJRP2YTqiBBHN-P6jjHXml4uwFrdicHP80f9j_7YKDvMzedXBwJQH5vk7HDCft1IMaAIf5_ecmcl_ob90OqZqkT3MiuId5eEVI0MY94/s1600/AZ+hwy+64+view+3+Indian+stall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2H8Sit2gyyL5pFKFN1rLQy2fGZPj7ShR7we4EJRP2YTqiBBHN-P6jjHXml4uwFrdicHP80f9j_7YKDvMzedXBwJQH5vk7HDCft1IMaAIf5_ecmcl_ob90OqZqkT3MiuId5eEVI0MY94/s640/AZ+hwy+64+view+3+Indian+stall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are little stalls along the highway, where the Native Americans sell souvenirs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PJ7DQnP_BIuMibiG_xmrqyIgfkCsGM95YQKwCfFnpPUYB26dp19q7-50yTGx8kPCqomI3jMHb0QNPckIWWpkyigh6GizKwTyZhyphenhyphenJyFMc8NKk55b6Cjw_dFphmJmaWszTEEmJvlvr1Nk/s1600/AZ+hwy+64++outside+park+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PJ7DQnP_BIuMibiG_xmrqyIgfkCsGM95YQKwCfFnpPUYB26dp19q7-50yTGx8kPCqomI3jMHb0QNPckIWWpkyigh6GizKwTyZhyphenhyphenJyFMc8NKk55b6Cjw_dFphmJmaWszTEEmJvlvr1Nk/s640/AZ+hwy+64++outside+park+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another place we stopped along this highway, required a 'donation' to enter.</div>
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There are some good views of the east end of the Canyon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzw8YbPDNYjuTnO7YOz4KwIApkJErlNEkD-sUFpUmSuB569NyAofUbytDLixiNlzvJnm-ckn3pibIURsB81qMoxGBdg1e_GdWv6-vxaxbXHEbqNUEgvdExBAklfYzxz4srVwC1Qe19zc/s1600/AZ+hwy+64++outside+park+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzw8YbPDNYjuTnO7YOz4KwIApkJErlNEkD-sUFpUmSuB569NyAofUbytDLixiNlzvJnm-ckn3pibIURsB81qMoxGBdg1e_GdWv6-vxaxbXHEbqNUEgvdExBAklfYzxz4srVwC1Qe19zc/s640/AZ+hwy+64++outside+park+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Along this highway, you can see how flat it is, at the top of the Canyon.</div>
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The river eats it's way deeper and deeper.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We're almost at there....the Grand Canyon.</div>
Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-19164381934473616432012-10-03T16:29:00.001-05:002012-10-03T16:35:57.050-05:00On the Road Again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, here we go again.</div>
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Headed out in September, 2012, for the </div>
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Grand Canyon</div>
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and</div>
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Palm Springs.</div>
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It was really a <span style="font-size: large;">Rock Tour</span>.</div>
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Driving down I-10, through the Texas Hill Country.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVenxhZkA8tg2zO8nE0gwioXRYEpN2LcxfTkzXeYfv8VWkHPJ2CaCxIbg7uF5qSUknE7U8wFURMfWFKV7MwlX5tRUHszCpHLFXIsp6uYrKGtxlBqs1goX1mF1sBk5QMzWC5PY1bl5N_Q/s1600/I-10+Hill+Country.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVenxhZkA8tg2zO8nE0gwioXRYEpN2LcxfTkzXeYfv8VWkHPJ2CaCxIbg7uF5qSUknE7U8wFURMfWFKV7MwlX5tRUHszCpHLFXIsp6uYrKGtxlBqs1goX1mF1sBk5QMzWC5PY1bl5N_Q/s640/I-10+Hill+Country.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We're on our way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp5xcz1SLuIvk_HRKPe0a-V1dKVClKyRFNbinmYm6ws6Lt0BxFiXIH2pplZIdYCzo2H_lX5OmGLXLbCXYUBYnNYFHcMaAjWAVuk58x09WTcITlysBSED-Ob8MBRj6XSAbHG_RVC3Yph0/s1600/I-10+Hill+Country+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp5xcz1SLuIvk_HRKPe0a-V1dKVClKyRFNbinmYm6ws6Lt0BxFiXIH2pplZIdYCzo2H_lX5OmGLXLbCXYUBYnNYFHcMaAjWAVuk58x09WTcITlysBSED-Ob8MBRj6XSAbHG_RVC3Yph0/s640/I-10+Hill+Country+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's a long road.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oqe50EJIWk1AYZt-JN1dFqDeHw6fGpU0rTcOG6oP3pLvF8SOyLAsDtkvxZPDY2JyyMhzcs5b9bV3dn-cq6u0abK8VKNXGhVBFP-gpGcUdWCPKpNJZlcN5aWxLpSC7ygYy3AEBZaAKwE/s1600/1-10+toward+El+Paso.+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oqe50EJIWk1AYZt-JN1dFqDeHw6fGpU0rTcOG6oP3pLvF8SOyLAsDtkvxZPDY2JyyMhzcs5b9bV3dn-cq6u0abK8VKNXGhVBFP-gpGcUdWCPKpNJZlcN5aWxLpSC7ygYy3AEBZaAKwE/s640/1-10+toward+El+Paso.+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Heading west, toward El Paso. We saw many, many trains.</div>
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It's rugged, but beautiful country.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMNehlUQ9p8nVExDxBc_dz77VaZuQCrSgNhAT5WuOiTNPwzpwZiB91yTZQTAXvA8krDHNb6_0IPB-OtslqNQCkLMZiZixb1zZRd1MW5PF-00j2Pp91T0pUdDohHZ2qWf1PGLyVPPUH8Y/s1600/I-10+Hill+Country+NM+welcome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMNehlUQ9p8nVExDxBc_dz77VaZuQCrSgNhAT5WuOiTNPwzpwZiB91yTZQTAXvA8krDHNb6_0IPB-OtslqNQCkLMZiZixb1zZRd1MW5PF-00j2Pp91T0pUdDohHZ2qWf1PGLyVPPUH8Y/s640/I-10+Hill+Country+NM+welcome.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We crossed the state line, and stopped at the New Mexico Welcome Station.</div>
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Seems they like you to stay on the sidewalks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsPy-8ZeXLUjBnyMiuSo2gQXqbQpVu9dFrVPdXYQDw3yJsN_hMGRyNgQxTKV490fQbZH4RKCLKxGZmrNG0numWaDPQJBXnqORs9zhohMDTi_Yl3vY05KqeEvp1HaqeKyhmUAdz8UXG5w/s1600/I-25+above+Las+Cruces.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsPy-8ZeXLUjBnyMiuSo2gQXqbQpVu9dFrVPdXYQDw3yJsN_hMGRyNgQxTKV490fQbZH4RKCLKxGZmrNG0numWaDPQJBXnqORs9zhohMDTi_Yl3vY05KqeEvp1HaqeKyhmUAdz8UXG5w/s640/I-25+above+Las+Cruces.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We headed up I-25. This is north of Las Cruces. We're seeing more mountains in the distance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKPfgL1Cwz6tBZscj-CWjYBdVrxAS8Wg9bqmGCyW-gYEwjmud0RKMFSt-XvuNap7jwYQy6aVH_gKsRFqoZVXEh5hrW31RzEPscvxYTCiaO1pVwQjsFP90A_ePxVVeuzLzsR9yCQa7Bfs/s1600/NM+hwy+6+Red+Hills.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKPfgL1Cwz6tBZscj-CWjYBdVrxAS8Wg9bqmGCyW-gYEwjmud0RKMFSt-XvuNap7jwYQy6aVH_gKsRFqoZVXEh5hrW31RzEPscvxYTCiaO1pVwQjsFP90A_ePxVVeuzLzsR9yCQa7Bfs/s640/NM+hwy+6+Red+Hills.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At L<u>o</u>s Lun<u>a</u>s (yep..it's spelled that way...Os & As don't seem right) we turned up Hwy. 6. <br />
This let us miss the traffic in Albuquerque.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ2vaW6gQ9bqvwgzTXRXqBTMAczswZMJzHJFuEwl2bhoMo6QkU189nwww-z32aDjOFiTYSgOkv-rMg8hIgj-O9cqbxL34ybb7vPOnzdwKdqrD1V1QtONnoSdxr-p44Mjm96mt7APz8A8/s1600/NM+hwy+6+Red+Hills+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ2vaW6gQ9bqvwgzTXRXqBTMAczswZMJzHJFuEwl2bhoMo6QkU189nwww-z32aDjOFiTYSgOkv-rMg8hIgj-O9cqbxL34ybb7vPOnzdwKdqrD1V1QtONnoSdxr-p44Mjm96mt7APz8A8/s640/NM+hwy+6+Red+Hills+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And, to see some pretty terrific red hills.</div>
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Look at the two very different types of soil and rocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHMGH98LMiVw-omALasYKBb55wJCrR3cuojPrV-SKXWndM2TGfa4AzYN4KGgKfQWio9_Uy8GNv6gHVbWzIAm3usBPNt75I1N9a59Via39LpWZ0gW9Ut5y-3ejEe9D0AIk2s8sCp99yv0/s1600/I-40+Red+Hills.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHMGH98LMiVw-omALasYKBb55wJCrR3cuojPrV-SKXWndM2TGfa4AzYN4KGgKfQWio9_Uy8GNv6gHVbWzIAm3usBPNt75I1N9a59Via39LpWZ0gW9Ut5y-3ejEe9D0AIk2s8sCp99yv0/s640/I-40+Red+Hills.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hwy. 6 meets up with I-40, east of Grants, NM.</div>
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It gets a little steeper there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBIGQwUDhasB5QO9EO3xpDsWE6XpHocZkUGsvwBv3OC-WvWBCVwwIutCxyjGAGkSYwPKm9OIR4LcYyp7OzI74BgdGzBDxRqv8cDMUt09lQsSEuLMe7wTcBhhF0GfD5VATkoN6eugec7g/s1600/I-40+Red+Hills.+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBIGQwUDhasB5QO9EO3xpDsWE6XpHocZkUGsvwBv3OC-WvWBCVwwIutCxyjGAGkSYwPKm9OIR4LcYyp7OzI74BgdGzBDxRqv8cDMUt09lQsSEuLMe7wTcBhhF0GfD5VATkoN6eugec7g/s640/I-40+Red+Hills.+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This sign seems perfect for our trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxeXX8jxzEqjj5qHJu-NOrNoeZk5jwlj_omfkQ88jSQdfwZ9oLHYlz6lM2qEajyyUjHBHFWuSAD6JLknO6_67EIOKQ01mQE2IABu_nv5gQNevCel64HjT_Av42kzVQdGBOmkO_Ks5NKE/s1600/I-40+Red+Hills.+3+sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxeXX8jxzEqjj5qHJu-NOrNoeZk5jwlj_omfkQ88jSQdfwZ9oLHYlz6lM2qEajyyUjHBHFWuSAD6JLknO6_67EIOKQ01mQE2IABu_nv5gQNevCel64HjT_Av42kzVQdGBOmkO_Ks5NKE/s640/I-40+Red+Hills.+3+sunset.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We watched a rather spectacular sunset, and kept on going toward Gallup.</div>
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We didn't know that the town would be full. Something going on at the local refinery.</div>
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We stopped at every motel (& there are quite a few), and were told they were booked up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpbFGO0FeHfv5G4fuNhIKZN5XlZmi4HgWKeBUkfEy0DXJywDUKFOB3YXhEYJud2iEW_8ExkVcC2c6LKMKIUEH26XJpNOkczBPos82eepGXIias_BqT5xuj0Dw02jH-Ac-_lSQQzEwzoY/s1600/I-40+Gallup+Hotel+outside+front+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpbFGO0FeHfv5G4fuNhIKZN5XlZmi4HgWKeBUkfEy0DXJywDUKFOB3YXhEYJud2iEW_8ExkVcC2c6LKMKIUEH26XJpNOkczBPos82eepGXIias_BqT5xuj0Dw02jH-Ac-_lSQQzEwzoY/s640/I-40+Gallup+Hotel+outside+front+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But, as luck would have it, there were a few rooms at this historic hotel.</div>
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<a href="http://www.elranchohotel.com/">
The El Rancho Hotel</a> was built in the 1930s.<br />
Lots of old time screen stars stayed here, while they were filming<br />
Westerns out in those red hills. <br />
It's located on the old historic Route 66.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcW288FW65v1-CGG77PQfsCak7YZVKtufurFVZrO8LcBMmEeqwteosVS3XH_os8ge02FcoZpVxk6lkcUOAYXdIaTbKQdpLhshA27zyVclJMtceyj9nG6A2NrFYSHPC93TcG2Q8KI3Z-z0/s1600/I-40+Gallup+Hotel+lobby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcW288FW65v1-CGG77PQfsCak7YZVKtufurFVZrO8LcBMmEeqwteosVS3XH_os8ge02FcoZpVxk6lkcUOAYXdIaTbKQdpLhshA27zyVclJMtceyj9nG6A2NrFYSHPC93TcG2Q8KI3Z-z0/s640/I-40+Gallup+Hotel+lobby.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
It's old and small, but very interesting.<br />
We got what they call a 'single room'....that would be a room with one double bed.<br />
At least we weren't sleeping in the car, for the night.<br />
<br />
Each room is named after a movie star.<br />
Ours was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zachary_Scott">Zachary Scott</a>. Talk about a name from the past.<br />
<br />
There is the old hotel and a newer motel. We got a room in the historic hotel.<br />
<br />
The room was small...the bathroom <b style="font-style: italic;">tiny. </b><br />
But, we were tired and slept pretty well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2Trpa1eFgdjMG9zDURQldKzju2IhXEGoF8A2anIOSFgvQek8FeJQtSqVZmS4tnSzDVhJsM33ShlvZiVXReG3cvZjNYdtST8NnfNJPzDccXIX8JaQYSMhfLti-fsKpp6E_VNXC6MJKJc/s1600/I-40+Gallup+Hotel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2Trpa1eFgdjMG9zDURQldKzju2IhXEGoF8A2anIOSFgvQek8FeJQtSqVZmS4tnSzDVhJsM33ShlvZiVXReG3cvZjNYdtST8NnfNJPzDccXIX8JaQYSMhfLti-fsKpp6E_VNXC6MJKJc/s400/I-40+Gallup+Hotel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When was the last time you saw one of these on a hotel toilet?<br />
Historic, indeed.<br />
<br />
The end of Day 1.</div>
Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-72657250339607774932011-03-04T17:41:00.001-06:002011-03-04T17:41:57.293-06:00Sail Away with Us.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Tuesday, February 7, 2011<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnNKQBPrMsgyg7_dR0i8dfakkeGq2goSfamipdQhkdiiZ3vGiWm3fGbMMED1nTkd5s_Vo6IXIMyzAMvf-d3GOeVm7cO4r76EDM1XCj-C3V4CB4dpjaHb2ycK8Ccn2Sk7on0H-cdXzpvA/s1600/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnNKQBPrMsgyg7_dR0i8dfakkeGq2goSfamipdQhkdiiZ3vGiWm3fGbMMED1nTkd5s_Vo6IXIMyzAMvf-d3GOeVm7cO4r76EDM1XCj-C3V4CB4dpjaHb2ycK8Ccn2Sk7on0H-cdXzpvA/s640/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We had driven to Georgia, to visit with our friends, Jann and Al....and then, the four of us drove down to Fort Lauderdale, to start our cruise. We got there the night before, and had a lovely dinner at a restaurant on a canal. Lovely sunset, over the water.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6VMtbIyAeYUu4srwByOMM6I9I4OsP4lLIQ39WJM11hZaj4nmJftRwCKKTdGj2DRBSZvN0rhzjwWOXeGMOJ-hxkPZ0CBVbsvLe3UpPZk3cm9pbdMWnAdn8kytCa2EWRr7qPyhsIiYkro/s1600/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6VMtbIyAeYUu4srwByOMM6I9I4OsP4lLIQ39WJM11hZaj4nmJftRwCKKTdGj2DRBSZvN0rhzjwWOXeGMOJ-hxkPZ0CBVbsvLe3UpPZk3cm9pbdMWnAdn8kytCa2EWRr7qPyhsIiYkro/s640/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT76x6VnwWcvD1JrMOHbTdpVCmQCA26-UFiKMqkV4OgnfXMrOiRQ2csPMKek3QqF3gL4bxZgcFXzjR1haC0nJ-HZvTY7LPRu1qiHE2lAQL521gdGTx3dtuYUNY2r8-ZU6H39CRozmMw-4/s1600/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT76x6VnwWcvD1JrMOHbTdpVCmQCA26-UFiKMqkV4OgnfXMrOiRQ2csPMKek3QqF3gL4bxZgcFXzjR1haC0nJ-HZvTY7LPRu1qiHE2lAQL521gdGTx3dtuYUNY2r8-ZU6H39CRozmMw-4/s640/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Nice view, good food.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4-O_YdUBNvUgIKtKvN7NajAqvA5vQvwQy4sBS2x1fFj3isO3CiQYdI_o0LHAlOt8-eJPgvRF4u0VAVEHxOcRZU8tWR5R0rQrRvqJjr6B4m9_5Tr_DooWfPDgyHhJP1s13guQPoblmXs/s1600/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4-O_YdUBNvUgIKtKvN7NajAqvA5vQvwQy4sBS2x1fFj3isO3CiQYdI_o0LHAlOt8-eJPgvRF4u0VAVEHxOcRZU8tWR5R0rQrRvqJjr6B4m9_5Tr_DooWfPDgyHhJP1s13guQPoblmXs/s640/Ft+Lauderdale+out+to+eat+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We're already having fun.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Tuesday, February 8, 2011</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpPPX0fD_J6eWJyVLcePOaQFCbggZ9flbfujSlY3kkz5to9caWOuZUmAW-QvgEKLUccGzGw-K8b3C2jm3NW4YXcUyhj5B95399Em2yhUBWo6RhFoApKuALqOOFfh46Ke5Ph6KNb0v95w/s1600/Del+Ray+Beach+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpPPX0fD_J6eWJyVLcePOaQFCbggZ9flbfujSlY3kkz5to9caWOuZUmAW-QvgEKLUccGzGw-K8b3C2jm3NW4YXcUyhj5B95399Em2yhUBWo6RhFoApKuALqOOFfh46Ke5Ph6KNb0v95w/s640/Del+Ray+Beach+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Up early for breakfast. We have time to drive up A1A, to Del Ray Beach. We used to come to this area often, but it's been quite a few years since we were there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After our drive, we headed to the ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFjT-J7SgDRUkjM9gxvvikZnitAqa5czV-59Y8VRFIxcDJGDswIwtWtkE7e5wUiNUvpQHeXZClBC3L5oazjNFO1FVkWeJkCef_1YcHcVJwkTnt0xvK_Ftf0USM2WqfGyoSzEwFpH0bjs/s1600/1+embarkation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFjT-J7SgDRUkjM9gxvvikZnitAqa5czV-59Y8VRFIxcDJGDswIwtWtkE7e5wUiNUvpQHeXZClBC3L5oazjNFO1FVkWeJkCef_1YcHcVJwkTnt0xvK_Ftf0USM2WqfGyoSzEwFpH0bjs/s640/1+embarkation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jann seems to be wondering how we got our cabin so fast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aIjVuU5yufH0JGZkm4E4KEfnS8_0im2bxarqCue0vxUtX3R8Gw0pKBhfIzCngotmKXpuO90e2Khr9XiZ6BPtdM7aCAKC7GssDhFELPJ3pX6Fj1i-oUUfssVyYitezggTodCsQ4VjCek/s1600/Room+from+hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aIjVuU5yufH0JGZkm4E4KEfnS8_0im2bxarqCue0vxUtX3R8Gw0pKBhfIzCngotmKXpuO90e2Khr9XiZ6BPtdM7aCAKC7GssDhFELPJ3pX6Fj1i-oUUfssVyYitezggTodCsQ4VjCek/s640/Room+from+hall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Onto the ship, and straight to the cabin. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQ6bR-TqJDS2u61bANvOWJ772BhgdgPNUbq0Y3c7JyGzHFJCplVaUZyTKVcQjPSlWhnnmCfcYkQpITozIQawLi3IIUeQeVXMzNI-tqkyfyz4IN_xEakB8KmrstmboOLwM5eqPTgTmtI/s1600/The+room+from+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQ6bR-TqJDS2u61bANvOWJ772BhgdgPNUbq0Y3c7JyGzHFJCplVaUZyTKVcQjPSlWhnnmCfcYkQpITozIQawLi3IIUeQeVXMzNI-tqkyfyz4IN_xEakB8KmrstmboOLwM5eqPTgTmtI/s640/The+room+from+sitting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were pleased with our room. Deck 10, Caribe, room C206...way up front.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr44INQZx4qClNdWGsurToSXsMGyY7MvE82XqVZAterAlog424Nvh75SH5WTj14Az8kPNKtJzarWLjUlqFYXvlYcp7Yk6mGLX_JM4ZAeJXzsr2RaUf5uPHV65o0Zg_hcUyMKdh-Xi_oTg/s1600/bath+vanity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr44INQZx4qClNdWGsurToSXsMGyY7MvE82XqVZAterAlog424Nvh75SH5WTj14Az8kPNKtJzarWLjUlqFYXvlYcp7Yk6mGLX_JM4ZAeJXzsr2RaUf5uPHV65o0Zg_hcUyMKdh-Xi_oTg/s640/bath+vanity.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nice bath.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoop4ZZuTCorbfKzEJ1ulpBRN1AAcTLAAXdeYFf6xgK3NokeXpFa1FPtN1a-te300pqdhhmF7WIyFnBpAQkuDVWO0OeMgOf8Y2JoEpdHWT2p-EBjPscfhabHc3uxvjbQbacRNeKZTmaMY/s1600/the+room+bath+tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoop4ZZuTCorbfKzEJ1ulpBRN1AAcTLAAXdeYFf6xgK3NokeXpFa1FPtN1a-te300pqdhhmF7WIyFnBpAQkuDVWO0OeMgOf8Y2JoEpdHWT2p-EBjPscfhabHc3uxvjbQbacRNeKZTmaMY/s640/the+room+bath+tub.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mini suites have a bath tub. The step up into it, was high. But, we really liked the extra room.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCmMQ6qSEiMcqnt_2CX0hlzf2ZFm3pIkNwCxylsiWFPMBrPDbN03r4zdg9CgE4w-rWcN8GGiNJ0dBl2G5XPJWoSWNNE8q0NlZYgDuhpThekODHg1Mn_MHZwDZDseA5NvG3jhvl4xAQig/s1600/the+room+the+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCmMQ6qSEiMcqnt_2CX0hlzf2ZFm3pIkNwCxylsiWFPMBrPDbN03r4zdg9CgE4w-rWcN8GGiNJ0dBl2G5XPJWoSWNNE8q0NlZYgDuhpThekODHg1Mn_MHZwDZDseA5NvG3jhvl4xAQig/s640/the+room+the+balcony.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, we had some extra room on the balcony. Four chairs, instead of two.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhr-DyA29cjj5FGhc7v_VK2XwziHdL2PFX17kjYkqh4U513pM_ldlYAXYVcoixBQZRpqiquTNIIx6vil834Jl3zDTwWhAXh2R58Zoosm8YCjlc_mL5HK63nMXU8v-lfw67B5VqqpMjRM/s1600/Sailing+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhr-DyA29cjj5FGhc7v_VK2XwziHdL2PFX17kjYkqh4U513pM_ldlYAXYVcoixBQZRpqiquTNIIx6vil834Jl3zDTwWhAXh2R58Zoosm8YCjlc_mL5HK63nMXU8v-lfw67B5VqqpMjRM/s640/Sailing+away.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peter took a quick look out at the water.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9iBzTiwICmQc58j7RnoaY1NQr2luoFWuHjATt5qjriQzMrdmsLMzCUsACDNgTyI1kHngHekKIgjTpt8-55P_0B4EyknmLFZqBE_VhWKLXK3-8_wGdbi5W2Tbk9YBqi4EBYfxhIoMY3Y/s1600/Lido+pool+MUTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9iBzTiwICmQc58j7RnoaY1NQr2luoFWuHjATt5qjriQzMrdmsLMzCUsACDNgTyI1kHngHekKIgjTpt8-55P_0B4EyknmLFZqBE_VhWKLXK3-8_wGdbi5W2Tbk9YBqi4EBYfxhIoMY3Y/s640/Lido+pool+MUTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we headed up to the Lido deck, to meet the group for Sail Away.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They've installed the Movies Under the Stars screen. The stars were out all day, though. Noisy....anyway...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3ts1Qx9xSZj3ggV3ARxZzrzX385tjvMonhFOIiaWxAkp1hF2-CZsS7DFCAOIrHJrEIMbXYftB4Vjkji8UWWe2-uP_2a28TokU9HtYf_iWbFm1bjOblAnnDF8jaTNAbtqZDauDn7CzRI/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3ts1Qx9xSZj3ggV3ARxZzrzX385tjvMonhFOIiaWxAkp1hF2-CZsS7DFCAOIrHJrEIMbXYftB4Vjkji8UWWe2-uP_2a28TokU9HtYf_iWbFm1bjOblAnnDF8jaTNAbtqZDauDn7CzRI/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Met up with our group.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSopTaaaTot9i1k7bk0P0cWcjnLtyFwgicP9MxA68g3DOvYJjB0FuJ9ECUpyfGNpW5untPmhbUGwkH9O0TQpTsXRkrCe0dfH41g-XZjEP12K79bAWZ4Qj-MW8q0aAhEPaNMJ_QI0QiCY/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+joycey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSopTaaaTot9i1k7bk0P0cWcjnLtyFwgicP9MxA68g3DOvYJjB0FuJ9ECUpyfGNpW5untPmhbUGwkH9O0TQpTsXRkrCe0dfH41g-XZjEP12K79bAWZ4Qj-MW8q0aAhEPaNMJ_QI0QiCY/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+joycey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Joyce and I enjoyed the Sail Away boat drinks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCVzOMA237rPg7-HWxKMrLRI3-e0FBoUNmVHuK0t01n25mxhXCOKIw7V-Q9F9juDE7_XqFxX_B77PUDFbCM46g5NhaQ0lbCu5384u4qh1mLig1z9lQ7MLHyuIRrjj-hWVgrPsohi-67c/s1600/sail+away+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCVzOMA237rPg7-HWxKMrLRI3-e0FBoUNmVHuK0t01n25mxhXCOKIw7V-Q9F9juDE7_XqFxX_B77PUDFbCM46g5NhaQ0lbCu5384u4qh1mLig1z9lQ7MLHyuIRrjj-hWVgrPsohi-67c/s640/sail+away+party.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The staff was working to get people up and dancing. This was a party, after all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEQEdofk0HCPIeSHBz6C3qrVed4neLH6730ma_EaPJva2lyJM4G3sFYNCSHD6K879Gt6_dSkDqOnl7hKfO8dOjNQRg0_VgI5X8Gh4S30F8DC3QiaaYL7CUqXkGEx3L40R_2ltDNOcRBo/s1600/lauderdale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEQEdofk0HCPIeSHBz6C3qrVed4neLH6730ma_EaPJva2lyJM4G3sFYNCSHD6K879Gt6_dSkDqOnl7hKfO8dOjNQRg0_VgI5X8Gh4S30F8DC3QiaaYL7CUqXkGEx3L40R_2ltDNOcRBo/s640/lauderdale.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We sailed out, past the houses at Port Everglades.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k6nKTp8AmHBCAab1AhOnGBgydTIVnq6yrTMcu7H1SRTcWm-dQWwfiEZ3Cn1MxjrRrBIREcicx6CEsLZkJ98WK_qme5WR4r-4Hw8qcKyg8wTlXTX09Nl1bQCzQ3oQ3A8LK94yl07rcO0/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+greg+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k6nKTp8AmHBCAab1AhOnGBgydTIVnq6yrTMcu7H1SRTcWm-dQWwfiEZ3Cn1MxjrRrBIREcicx6CEsLZkJ98WK_qme5WR4r-4Hw8qcKyg8wTlXTX09Nl1bQCzQ3oQ3A8LK94yl07rcO0/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+greg+beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Out past the Lauderdale beach.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFracV3tE1wQN6q9AZtnGg7OSZN8HDKE4PFiR4LaLBp6oc7WC3DZFFwy9vxohLaB2FNnxTnVSJhdlfS3xWd633Gk86K1K7WjZEn6TWo8QxrWr3f0dOL__UpZv-armOag7ap5oLj6hw0QA/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+greg+beach+bye+bye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFracV3tE1wQN6q9AZtnGg7OSZN8HDKE4PFiR4LaLBp6oc7WC3DZFFwy9vxohLaB2FNnxTnVSJhdlfS3xWd633Gk86K1K7WjZEn6TWo8QxrWr3f0dOL__UpZv-armOag7ap5oLj6hw0QA/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+greg+beach+bye+bye.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGJ0iePR0oN9FWiOsSvGew6zYwAqMaHiwJ5G8eWnkCyxuyDsC5tTOdZL5vFkDL3-pX979n24XuFYv2NFKbIXZ9JttculTsi1f1_85wXy707rkVnudldqKpQQhAaU6XwZ0s5nc5aPnKQY/s1600/the+santuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGJ0iePR0oN9FWiOsSvGew6zYwAqMaHiwJ5G8eWnkCyxuyDsC5tTOdZL5vFkDL3-pX979n24XuFYv2NFKbIXZ9JttculTsi1f1_85wXy707rkVnudldqKpQQhAaU6XwZ0s5nc5aPnKQY/s640/the+santuary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had some time to explore a little. The Sanctuary is a private area. You can pay extra to spend time here. It's open for viewing on Sail Away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yCZwRrv4m_pIF5_u5kWmXkhKQZOlW3rn90Te_EhJgFMsXdlMZ3sdlQqdmeFBWlLhFVGtj6hHLKThdysTZGY6cM493QDLUAzA9pA1IqUX-x74eeZPb1Jk81AyK783CAx71Q3oqU9cEgg/s1600/the+sanctuary+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yCZwRrv4m_pIF5_u5kWmXkhKQZOlW3rn90Te_EhJgFMsXdlMZ3sdlQqdmeFBWlLhFVGtj6hHLKThdysTZGY6cM493QDLUAzA9pA1IqUX-x74eeZPb1Jk81AyK783CAx71Q3oqU9cEgg/s640/the+sanctuary+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a small pool, just below. Not sure how 'peaceful' this is. The children's area is just below this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyAZksj9h0uzhC7B1QXH6VMxhl6Cr8IMjFo6na8XKHsAojTj8rlQYzjQe0tvvbtKmDT2yK2F1xXpdvrxlj9H5GdcXKaGZiRGYyWvZHyrPux54qp8dUSl3b8pPuPzJYugV6PBFWo1GSJE/s1600/Muster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyAZksj9h0uzhC7B1QXH6VMxhl6Cr8IMjFo6na8XKHsAojTj8rlQYzjQe0tvvbtKmDT2yK2F1xXpdvrxlj9H5GdcXKaGZiRGYyWvZHyrPux54qp8dUSl3b8pPuPzJYugV6PBFWo1GSJE/s640/Muster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Announcement were made to go get our life jackets, and head down for Muster. Jann and Al were in the same Muster area. We all met in the Princess Theater.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy5r1268YFoEZKsd5YsdQ6QjagE4XN0_XQ01pWnSYrq-p2QKzqMdqc1SXjbA7JXV51DpvKhWYyn3Qgkr69njLgvRb2DwToVgsox7p7IQ5YlgznIRWnEwCX3CZH-Byce1keYl38tscW4A/s1600/muster+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy5r1268YFoEZKsd5YsdQ6QjagE4XN0_XQ01pWnSYrq-p2QKzqMdqc1SXjbA7JXV51DpvKhWYyn3Qgkr69njLgvRb2DwToVgsox7p7IQ5YlgznIRWnEwCX3CZH-Byce1keYl38tscW4A/s640/muster+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The crew gave us instructions on what to do, in case of emergency. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzHCMjAMx-hPOgQMFhyphenhyphenUIHOWkRukxZ_YQ0G-3_0lu_1dtS1B7WTLCetgMuOKpUf-gUNGrORMZykFj3JyB48ElIs0RpUktwwfHohEfDGrD_KES3ZYWp8BrUNdy7RgLDYMHK2nZVlbVdOs/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+in+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzHCMjAMx-hPOgQMFhyphenhyphenUIHOWkRukxZ_YQ0G-3_0lu_1dtS1B7WTLCetgMuOKpUf-gUNGrORMZykFj3JyB48ElIs0RpUktwwfHohEfDGrD_KES3ZYWp8BrUNdy7RgLDYMHK2nZVlbVdOs/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+in+sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, back upstairs in time to see Ft. Lauderdale disappear...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdFxiee42QfjJNnwTOUGXQMCtBxagQtQbaGeqMpsDI0LOwQcBILvz2HVwK76nEu2QiJXLd2JjxEO6ugH4dxuoNXn882KWky_UCi4oIo12BXmOYCW_r_bSiw4jp0J5kPBrHq1vls3i0g/s1600/sail+away+lauderdale+sunset+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdFxiee42QfjJNnwTOUGXQMCtBxagQtQbaGeqMpsDI0LOwQcBILvz2HVwK76nEu2QiJXLd2JjxEO6ugH4dxuoNXn882KWky_UCi4oIo12BXmOYCW_r_bSiw4jp0J5kPBrHq1vls3i0g/s640/sail+away+lauderdale+sunset+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">....into the sunset.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to get ready for dinner....first night at sea.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-10941239185510465332011-03-04T17:41:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:41:29.027-06:00Aruba...Fridays, February 11, 2011...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDliNzVuTqBwq_4-EfqM9J4zXFtgloCPFHfQrhaHmgXOs-VgBRagAdCz6zkDdVdrhyphenhyphenRa7rb4zW9Q0MLIGXCnxRVhRlZcvcBkWEB-MfRxtMG-yzXHI93MdHm3z2qSDVWGzPyqKVRgyUSyg/s1600/coming+into+port+sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDliNzVuTqBwq_4-EfqM9J4zXFtgloCPFHfQrhaHmgXOs-VgBRagAdCz6zkDdVdrhyphenhyphenRa7rb4zW9Q0MLIGXCnxRVhRlZcvcBkWEB-MfRxtMG-yzXHI93MdHm3z2qSDVWGzPyqKVRgyUSyg/s640/coming+into+port+sunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We sailed into Oranjestad, Aruba, as the sky was beginning to lighten.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmH1qRROq-XB2597vTHuQYdgDtJ_ysHkfhx3tIBal1FmsIrbMOO41LBGNq_pybKSC9MQ_9Gp9RZdu07e24RGSKMCW_v_lTAp0MW4Dv1q1tBVdNHEo2-eNfZHywr-vDZYrCREl20QfhMo/s1600/coming+into+port+sunrise+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmH1qRROq-XB2597vTHuQYdgDtJ_ysHkfhx3tIBal1FmsIrbMOO41LBGNq_pybKSC9MQ_9Gp9RZdu07e24RGSKMCW_v_lTAp0MW4Dv1q1tBVdNHEo2-eNfZHywr-vDZYrCREl20QfhMo/s640/coming+into+port+sunrise+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oranjestad, is the capital of this small country. Aruba is on about 74 square miles.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSjcT6kzTmvNAGvwLJuGYAe7p8Hx49HQX17cdMFynSmXASXSQLq_lKSqgwKVowo5ea2Wil-O-4TFKCjCXQLDd4-MUkp9Jum4htv0fEYFQ-ELcWDJs7-ZQ1O9RV8oS-sESyFDZbRgEGDs/s1600/mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSjcT6kzTmvNAGvwLJuGYAe7p8Hx49HQX17cdMFynSmXASXSQLq_lKSqgwKVowo5ea2Wil-O-4TFKCjCXQLDd4-MUkp9Jum4htv0fEYFQ-ELcWDJs7-ZQ1O9RV8oS-sESyFDZbRgEGDs/s640/mountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It originally belonged to Spain. But, in 1634, it was taken over by the Dutch. It is now part of the </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dutch Commonwealth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In 1929, the Lago refinery was built on the island. It became the largest in the world, assuring Aruba's place as one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean. The refinery now belongs to Valero Energy Corp. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Aruba is a dry island. It's well below the Atlantic hurrican belt, and there's no 'rainy season'. Lots of cacti grow on this island. The largest agricultural product, is Aloe. Aruba is the world's leading producer.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrS0jZOvYaqIZ3wL1OyBs-uPmptYdp9eTUQeQ_0O2WxRIWRftMP_BDYvz7Ey7XIxBeeI6s_wjOWP_yriWND4wOYb_5KSj2hWZVA4wVOXEcStWEXiy96KsbkFjyJKhUYDBTS1YyV11dw0/s1600/coming+into+port+tying+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrS0jZOvYaqIZ3wL1OyBs-uPmptYdp9eTUQeQ_0O2WxRIWRftMP_BDYvz7Ey7XIxBeeI6s_wjOWP_yriWND4wOYb_5KSj2hWZVA4wVOXEcStWEXiy96KsbkFjyJKhUYDBTS1YyV11dw0/s640/coming+into+port+tying+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Pilot boat showed up, and they tied us up to the docks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ptBSj7euxr0C6iwIOn0LINN-9uyDY7u8NRC_tiGirPMJ9e9SVsBTp027YY6vz_kZlWPBC2D77DYcsfA2HKNkgmTrOuP7PSqK4gnliloLfabQBDjOFvWjYOm1Vy9OtvUWG2I4rlurEpo/s1600/coming+into+port+breakfast+on+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ptBSj7euxr0C6iwIOn0LINN-9uyDY7u8NRC_tiGirPMJ9e9SVsBTp027YY6vz_kZlWPBC2D77DYcsfA2HKNkgmTrOuP7PSqK4gnliloLfabQBDjOFvWjYOm1Vy9OtvUWG2I4rlurEpo/s640/coming+into+port+breakfast+on+balcony.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since we were here such a short time, we didn't take an excursion. We had time for breakfast on the balcony.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiIBCIwHT2LgbHzS3nIHr3ti4uXUccKKzXP6_P6aCsjXc468_U7NlcqaaCqEiT3LIrs24dYJ_SnnECxYy2Q3ead-EhCHQbeFsIMxC1XKzFnzg0m-rM17ycKqTUIkbotVwQD4LkJxq1Z8/s1600/port+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiIBCIwHT2LgbHzS3nIHr3ti4uXUccKKzXP6_P6aCsjXc468_U7NlcqaaCqEiT3LIrs24dYJ_SnnECxYy2Q3ead-EhCHQbeFsIMxC1XKzFnzg0m-rM17ycKqTUIkbotVwQD4LkJxq1Z8/s640/port+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It didn't take long for the sun to get high in the sky.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZwsRkGh6oi2dAJHr4d3uFYpZSJ2PA-YhUpDJN46MYE5sLxES0VG13hbKVIN_Y8N4VUvgCaYW-kmUawdsDDTTkt37t_ay9Fx6H9ZFVWiTmtYn2IYgyUZ6FZmJ-pGWRIfmYABUyKDHcJw/s1600/port+5+resorts+in+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZwsRkGh6oi2dAJHr4d3uFYpZSJ2PA-YhUpDJN46MYE5sLxES0VG13hbKVIN_Y8N4VUvgCaYW-kmUawdsDDTTkt37t_ay9Fx6H9ZFVWiTmtYn2IYgyUZ6FZmJ-pGWRIfmYABUyKDHcJw/s640/port+5+resorts+in+distance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see the large resorts in the distance. They're the sign of the number one product here....tourism.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwz0InlnNYjGydUHpf2stBK05vDvei8-xpOgcJCqcxlFMVMLAK-BHNmUhQcESZxbI46p-mD8c4OoMzJsUkLnVq9hjsl4hXEaLAEb7O2p-pPtGsKrVxun8W5L-IfNrsdX1Edyp2tBriTo/s1600/street+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwz0InlnNYjGydUHpf2stBK05vDvei8-xpOgcJCqcxlFMVMLAK-BHNmUhQcESZxbI46p-mD8c4OoMzJsUkLnVq9hjsl4hXEaLAEb7O2p-pPtGsKrVxun8W5L-IfNrsdX1Edyp2tBriTo/s640/street+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Off the ship, and you feel like you've walked into a Disney park. The streets are lined with colorful buildings.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9xdCtVmwMKtAIQz-OxihZ_qX1OedrR-IfmzLLkaIJ70j6LHi_QwF4oXz8g7ZfmUbYCWYxSoJ4QBKCGY6ROZh4_B0nae3hUmFPiJBwaYLmfk2Jd8mabyqFgPh9V7A5O9gTCh2xd5-Of0/s1600/street+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9xdCtVmwMKtAIQz-OxihZ_qX1OedrR-IfmzLLkaIJ70j6LHi_QwF4oXz8g7ZfmUbYCWYxSoJ4QBKCGY6ROZh4_B0nae3hUmFPiJBwaYLmfk2Jd8mabyqFgPh9V7A5O9gTCh2xd5-Of0/s640/street+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tropical colors and white, with the backdrop of that blue sky.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrXGUBVkcbS1tk9q6JCL5K-wfYGRCQ8YflEF7VRflEstr4tqwKi5p4iMG10icVjPGYlbvWYYdRO4E7Nih9sKXNLiOXFxlUWjMzTwHVPjXILt8DBqv0NMdMLL8OrbD0omBZwrelRjn1AQ/s1600/street+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrXGUBVkcbS1tk9q6JCL5K-wfYGRCQ8YflEF7VRflEstr4tqwKi5p4iMG10icVjPGYlbvWYYdRO4E7Nih9sKXNLiOXFxlUWjMzTwHVPjXILt8DBqv0NMdMLL8OrbD0omBZwrelRjn1AQ/s640/street+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsqYJZj6NTXw_Emp63nOVkscPf8zO95RNXEoNV1OG0HTChT-X2arRAUQCNrpOGiMH_tiVofaAsg-EGxQvSphptQhCeDES5k96u_RIGbApld9auzgDaU2Iq-DG_2Yw52_9eBVZYfyXUE4/s1600/street+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsqYJZj6NTXw_Emp63nOVkscPf8zO95RNXEoNV1OG0HTChT-X2arRAUQCNrpOGiMH_tiVofaAsg-EGxQvSphptQhCeDES5k96u_RIGbApld9auzgDaU2Iq-DG_2Yw52_9eBVZYfyXUE4/s640/street+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, one big thing to do here, is shop.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsvmUdAdTnz_ecyx-YovsCEhMJyKPogL-kHX_0-FgJ4cF3E_QbOvbpDp5I9JyRJkDGrzBksZViKNSCrUlvHzN8-LhfHLT0PatlRbEoFGk9HjtDnxrOj6GSrDWpEOae20STqtshyphenhyphenTLAgU/s1600/street+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsvmUdAdTnz_ecyx-YovsCEhMJyKPogL-kHX_0-FgJ4cF3E_QbOvbpDp5I9JyRJkDGrzBksZViKNSCrUlvHzN8-LhfHLT0PatlRbEoFGk9HjtDnxrOj6GSrDWpEOae20STqtshyphenhyphenTLAgU/s640/street+6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfY9F0734hbmgQCSqy97zKBCrkib-iSAL3ZFsY2JpwOjav2EV3DDSkbrH_DomMDo9pVy7vRqDxYA66YpiSFI3Cv4o1ARi8GrH370L5Wmkt-Hl64R_6rczTDlkE5Q3sPl-pZHisSHqpHA/s1600/street+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfY9F0734hbmgQCSqy97zKBCrkib-iSAL3ZFsY2JpwOjav2EV3DDSkbrH_DomMDo9pVy7vRqDxYA66YpiSFI3Cv4o1ARi8GrH370L5Wmkt-Hl64R_6rczTDlkE5Q3sPl-pZHisSHqpHA/s640/street+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0aBUd5vSyGayaM0_o56z_dVXiAsdKH0yLo_yg3Wg3TQiznyFx6hNayxPmaC1vZLoMbBpUWrK4zdIrf-NNOoIkusZ5vC2SH5CefBTXIgjiQkbZjPXGfvNypeZ9H_fW1lrVmHbwCVBV10/s1600/street+bell+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0aBUd5vSyGayaM0_o56z_dVXiAsdKH0yLo_yg3Wg3TQiznyFx6hNayxPmaC1vZLoMbBpUWrK4zdIrf-NNOoIkusZ5vC2SH5CefBTXIgjiQkbZjPXGfvNypeZ9H_fW1lrVmHbwCVBV10/s640/street+bell+tower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A bell tower chimed the time for us.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhGp4f4exUOKobDE7DdzhqNmFMP1Z7HhD-RPt5c6VbPpiozhB2nPyO5QVRlrTSrU6GaXl4bZiHFk0t-1DKorhODdfzDpRMLqVqHiKaR7dqJsNhmHoSYKJ1U6RCi8l3eyp_3BXSw5XR4c/s1600/street+bell+tower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhGp4f4exUOKobDE7DdzhqNmFMP1Z7HhD-RPt5c6VbPpiozhB2nPyO5QVRlrTSrU6GaXl4bZiHFk0t-1DKorhODdfzDpRMLqVqHiKaR7dqJsNhmHoSYKJ1U6RCi8l3eyp_3BXSw5XR4c/s640/street+bell+tower+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I climbed up some stairs to get a better view. Yes, that's our ship in the background.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoRJMyQid7kFR0Lmu02negNpsLTeIMfopAZUVq5U8Kku5J1jEaq4RBHrqB1dUzJxDSo7kOe127DJHjRqlM1VN3Fb4HAZKZ3ftAxV6s_3hC0kLtwgNUKmeC134AheO1DRF3u3hf_CXXc/s1600/street+bell+tower+figures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoRJMyQid7kFR0Lmu02negNpsLTeIMfopAZUVq5U8Kku5J1jEaq4RBHrqB1dUzJxDSo7kOe127DJHjRqlM1VN3Fb4HAZKZ3ftAxV6s_3hC0kLtwgNUKmeC134AheO1DRF3u3hf_CXXc/s640/street+bell+tower+figures.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Figures on the clock tower.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN4eOs1Gobcw-VM1ty3kU619CkZ3gZZLju2jNsbtb5ymlsUVhDWt2i_gDF5_RFukdmotKebVO2SFEDTzKUKFYlOEifA303A0TmQoCJXKeBlztSnHPy6JnIcnOvk86Wq4okE5AfNhXGxQ/s1600/the+ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN4eOs1Gobcw-VM1ty3kU619CkZ3gZZLju2jNsbtb5ymlsUVhDWt2i_gDF5_RFukdmotKebVO2SFEDTzKUKFYlOEifA303A0TmQoCJXKeBlztSnHPy6JnIcnOvk86Wq4okE5AfNhXGxQ/s640/the+ship.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our ship, through the palms.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrKTlyYarjhlqkBu1w5u4prYYAXP-VufhUn1b79zLeXka-m_mMQq9wSvGEMbCiRt0bvLNDiI39Oglqi4w_MK_C2DPx6Y63onKCmJUPcQCVZPZ3EQfY5KaLTgCT4bG_ss-ihZM5uQOVZE/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrKTlyYarjhlqkBu1w5u4prYYAXP-VufhUn1b79zLeXka-m_mMQq9wSvGEMbCiRt0bvLNDiI39Oglqi4w_MK_C2DPx6Y63onKCmJUPcQCVZPZ3EQfY5KaLTgCT4bG_ss-ihZM5uQOVZE/s640/starbucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of us needed more coffee...so, yes, after sailing for two days to get here...we stopped at Starbucks.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmFSySOkn-0M5AOddxcSep_8OH91t07LKO3WoxQXLXSqVVB-84sue1eBmP6_VblSREKyB0L77lpXbVRHfBRqGWUmdT5V1q0lb2ZNcGUFhKOUYP2F4FZx6AVIIaONyHqgrYaa-7jvPm28/s1600/post+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmFSySOkn-0M5AOddxcSep_8OH91t07LKO3WoxQXLXSqVVB-84sue1eBmP6_VblSREKyB0L77lpXbVRHfBRqGWUmdT5V1q0lb2ZNcGUFhKOUYP2F4FZx6AVIIaONyHqgrYaa-7jvPm28/s640/post+box.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have to say....I liked their mailboxes.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkX7TQzdOd2ZcwnmUJes1UPCnIXmMUqRhNI55GOWthoZOZIy6_wANtLPHQhdeA4Wz_RG-FbL7ki98NQJQgvQ0HpldmHEYhA89tiNayVUzew6YGJBP6uVgqSuDyiDT3rZ0WBW-FQm81z6I/s1600/street+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkX7TQzdOd2ZcwnmUJes1UPCnIXmMUqRhNI55GOWthoZOZIy6_wANtLPHQhdeA4Wz_RG-FbL7ki98NQJQgvQ0HpldmHEYhA89tiNayVUzew6YGJBP6uVgqSuDyiDT3rZ0WBW-FQm81z6I/s640/street+market.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were open air markets, as well.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B-haoAkWkY1vapbutjdyQNUU6H4YCDhV7i63WmkYtuCr-UC7fLMLtArbn0bxsu5iz0kmXyBcodoflovW5uunP1iYF90XIqb2o_AjKgVgZCDlJdeip4v8LxOLvGFM6nvocowS_SOHUUk/s1600/refreshments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B-haoAkWkY1vapbutjdyQNUU6H4YCDhV7i63WmkYtuCr-UC7fLMLtArbn0bxsu5iz0kmXyBcodoflovW5uunP1iYF90XIqb2o_AjKgVgZCDlJdeip4v8LxOLvGFM6nvocowS_SOHUUk/s640/refreshments.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, since shopping is such hard work...we stopped for some cool beverages.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNRm4QmPh3AkNrma4FzLN2J1oP2EkUO17jySrGEH0478xrzQ_UyC873z1ip-yRIsGVYMm3GCM2r1fbqrvEvOMuLDGmAZGnzi8VGG2IzCBUCRu5CnGnve_lUWN86YehyphenhyphenfRA0nrBv3KD4A/s1600/refreshments+decor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNRm4QmPh3AkNrma4FzLN2J1oP2EkUO17jySrGEH0478xrzQ_UyC873z1ip-yRIsGVYMm3GCM2r1fbqrvEvOMuLDGmAZGnzi8VGG2IzCBUCRu5CnGnve_lUWN86YehyphenhyphenfRA0nrBv3KD4A/s640/refreshments+decor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNdvZLFp195ShyMS6dKBNSb1lfip_CmQ7ckLKM98CFaAxW_RnMETIqZQkG7pV0q6qSXE5EKR0u31VoZvZWm-owVES-eobJr4ipl5fL5SCEvayemsemZWdLOqflIubFre-8knMJkjZU0w/s1600/refreshments+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNdvZLFp195ShyMS6dKBNSb1lfip_CmQ7ckLKM98CFaAxW_RnMETIqZQkG7pV0q6qSXE5EKR0u31VoZvZWm-owVES-eobJr4ipl5fL5SCEvayemsemZWdLOqflIubFre-8knMJkjZU0w/s640/refreshments+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Open air seating is just what they do, in the islands.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw_hEdqro8OdXBZFyix-JiTBGNhM05nAJ_hHOP8r4AIB-3aUGTynXfy4OLNRi7llcNETbYH_V7p2in_7TrUk9c8uWIyLikOaSVxF5QxrLBdwCVcOQwtoWfMqxyEnQwdJnTa-nd_2Ddcg/s1600/the+ship+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw_hEdqro8OdXBZFyix-JiTBGNhM05nAJ_hHOP8r4AIB-3aUGTynXfy4OLNRi7llcNETbYH_V7p2in_7TrUk9c8uWIyLikOaSVxF5QxrLBdwCVcOQwtoWfMqxyEnQwdJnTa-nd_2Ddcg/s640/the+ship+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not much time here...so, back to the ship.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotLOmNN5RzA6HgF9fYCyJU1miuk4Y3GfL6_L01wp5F2bcIMFJW5WFTE_Z-VL9AbgMR20ZzLzYkUnAe0TfVBz4bhiQz7wXVIpFUKB4760zJWQCCcmR-jMj_B5rpO6LDWMHmTWobORtgF4/s1600/port+with+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotLOmNN5RzA6HgF9fYCyJU1miuk4Y3GfL6_L01wp5F2bcIMFJW5WFTE_Z-VL9AbgMR20ZzLzYkUnAe0TfVBz4bhiQz7wXVIpFUKB4760zJWQCCcmR-jMj_B5rpO6LDWMHmTWobORtgF4/s640/port+with+mountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We weren't the only boats in town.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSo3ef495w6RLaUmyLd9bLzdhD_yo_-nZQIJq0TypX7Um4yhrVkFsCPb7DMq2Bc_zNKJ6_vigOWHpS3wXkkDtK0s01VpesCVO8N6F7UgdY7i8cQHpGMgyZDE7n1qELHKz6mHUROZM7Pw/s1600/port+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSo3ef495w6RLaUmyLd9bLzdhD_yo_-nZQIJq0TypX7Um4yhrVkFsCPb7DMq2Bc_zNKJ6_vigOWHpS3wXkkDtK0s01VpesCVO8N6F7UgdY7i8cQHpGMgyZDE7n1qELHKz6mHUROZM7Pw/s640/port+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDy42vWPGviqxyPgh0kFSnQqs_2_xrmV52qYka_uI8S7Xsss6HCSTLHuHQSuNEXWFbU-J7iK_Cl75uNbc5LiMeUnwotk9p4GRRr_Qv-gwVMjcQ1FH9pgQVgM28zyMuy0s_2wPp6UuPBk/s1600/port+pilot+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDy42vWPGviqxyPgh0kFSnQqs_2_xrmV52qYka_uI8S7Xsss6HCSTLHuHQSuNEXWFbU-J7iK_Cl75uNbc5LiMeUnwotk9p4GRRr_Qv-gwVMjcQ1FH9pgQVgM28zyMuy0s_2wPp6UuPBk/s640/port+pilot+boat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before long, the Pilot boat was back....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFTBDrZqMhjUESWWXs6tIGUXS46BQT2CNvN3q-VHegz8e5nwaEMJt92HafnrGnQm4j4gsxyqhyphenhypheng7R8P_PO_uy-7MD_YN8CMVGh7Kn1RPqe45RV-kp95uDiXuNbsX7Hhcv4yeSz9xyq6g/s1600/port+pilot+boat+untied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFTBDrZqMhjUESWWXs6tIGUXS46BQT2CNvN3q-VHegz8e5nwaEMJt92HafnrGnQm4j4gsxyqhyphenhypheng7R8P_PO_uy-7MD_YN8CMVGh7Kn1RPqe45RV-kp95uDiXuNbsX7Hhcv4yeSz9xyq6g/s640/port+pilot+boat+untied.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and, they got us untied.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ0_U1lBQBbmPG4jSHD_nwHOC5DPmDKkKLjlUCu9DGthme-Kyhmv3DzARtc9WooX1r0bYu1s4xNm8vAfqdxM3b3E0F7epPj4VNHExfzfUifV59UYDPn0Geqva4vPHVLcnZKHrKYsRNyY/s1600/port+sail+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ0_U1lBQBbmPG4jSHD_nwHOC5DPmDKkKLjlUCu9DGthme-Kyhmv3DzARtc9WooX1r0bYu1s4xNm8vAfqdxM3b3E0F7epPj4VNHExfzfUifV59UYDPn0Geqva4vPHVLcnZKHrKYsRNyY/s640/port+sail+away.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The engines roared, and churned up some sand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizN42CM6QiOlz7_HHGkZQQQcBQRtkgkrmwaiaadRnlG7lanpdnD6LgbFzMr56Cf4-OuUfHQB3W5tCw7n8ZsLvgGo_Djsdx8SxR9ARSxgWNsUMMYueNYQHjJRbOjWHNcb11_SscV2jOuY/s1600/sail+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizN42CM6QiOlz7_HHGkZQQQcBQRtkgkrmwaiaadRnlG7lanpdnD6LgbFzMr56Cf4-OuUfHQB3W5tCw7n8ZsLvgGo_Djsdx8SxR9ARSxgWNsUMMYueNYQHjJRbOjWHNcb11_SscV2jOuY/s640/sail+away.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, we sailed away.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAStA_DyVwEHxzDh_FTf8RXUT7H7zk-ZLYrB6VZ86RwuO4F_wE39BGDCZjAcjysLZ5w15JGf6JBjbNEGp6IzW_gVT_c1LnWpgVehNe9IVeVpPuBBgl30uFkS846g5ASB-rMZHWiellfA/s1600/sail+away+resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAStA_DyVwEHxzDh_FTf8RXUT7H7zk-ZLYrB6VZ86RwuO4F_wE39BGDCZjAcjysLZ5w15JGf6JBjbNEGp6IzW_gVT_c1LnWpgVehNe9IVeVpPuBBgl30uFkS846g5ASB-rMZHWiellfA/s640/sail+away+resort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Past beautiful resorts.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF_o_F3Iki1fSkGj5hXzQvoMGroR3r6velD0NRlWoIh1lVuGd5_KnwQAenby32-xgu8gdqgmV2YhRnosmqV7YzCDqbwRokCLpFjZqK7ZYjOwOZRQLbwnkJmT4ivuw98_drLvkPiuR7SI/s1600/sail+away+outer+islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF_o_F3Iki1fSkGj5hXzQvoMGroR3r6velD0NRlWoIh1lVuGd5_KnwQAenby32-xgu8gdqgmV2YhRnosmqV7YzCDqbwRokCLpFjZqK7ZYjOwOZRQLbwnkJmT4ivuw98_drLvkPiuR7SI/s640/sail+away+outer+islands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, outter islands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_stjhQhj-rEx3ZjpdA-evmeA3gk2JJDILczdGSvZFZqtWd9dAQe-98WPS591dIOBxhCCqUNyKtjvNZzVR7KgYwQ0RSFHBb6r1YEVAQHk9qH3i8res1hkiTIhsylnXN73yhkAT3RK2YXM/s1600/sail+away+outer+islands+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_stjhQhj-rEx3ZjpdA-evmeA3gk2JJDILczdGSvZFZqtWd9dAQe-98WPS591dIOBxhCCqUNyKtjvNZzVR7KgYwQ0RSFHBb6r1YEVAQHk9qH3i8res1hkiTIhsylnXN73yhkAT3RK2YXM/s640/sail+away+outer+islands+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the background, you can see the refinery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGPss0txnewnQ5asr0ktc4KqZzc4pethRrzx1Xa81YGTIsrsZ2q5ciSFTPoD13O4xdMQjZJ7Ke0eBTLZN8UtIUVevW1xSFTQT9Wg-_R1JJZRFRiOOkNrMn_bxkiHrRgg3I-KKdy7Hk3g/s1600/sail+away+outer+islands+resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGPss0txnewnQ5asr0ktc4KqZzc4pethRrzx1Xa81YGTIsrsZ2q5ciSFTPoD13O4xdMQjZJ7Ke0eBTLZN8UtIUVevW1xSFTQT9Wg-_R1JJZRFRiOOkNrMn_bxkiHrRgg3I-KKdy7Hk3g/s640/sail+away+outer+islands+resort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, in the foreground, another resort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aruba is one of the 'ABC Islands'....Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think Aruba deserves being an 'A'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqB_FGNdV-I970ROtzrUoo22sZqjsrqO52Ibmj_lXR6An0PcN7htTQ6zIs7tectJsTDfCh-zjgYKro6tCFGs2O90pg8_wqUkFSRQMwbgDr8_80MYbPl0wplJJMMsSBrge8upCEKf3384/s1600/license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqB_FGNdV-I970ROtzrUoo22sZqjsrqO52Ibmj_lXR6An0PcN7htTQ6zIs7tectJsTDfCh-zjgYKro6tCFGs2O90pg8_wqUkFSRQMwbgDr8_80MYbPl0wplJJMMsSBrge8upCEKf3384/s400/license.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Their happy little license plates, on One Happy Little Island.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-59188225479474645462011-03-04T17:40:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:40:35.204-06:00Cartagena, Columbia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday, February 12, 2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rQVXK4fV1Y2VxQ9CyICB3erkFSB4t46O0odl3p_m5Vn_4Vi-RgfUM6FpQkJsLWevPQvkwqDgO7s1EHHJ1dGBQeAi3yQFbvOucFuQtHjNVNv06bLz1iFCnvk6akWwcWxDsdr6m-VumwY/s1600/1+sunrise+over+columbia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rQVXK4fV1Y2VxQ9CyICB3erkFSB4t46O0odl3p_m5Vn_4Vi-RgfUM6FpQkJsLWevPQvkwqDgO7s1EHHJ1dGBQeAi3yQFbvOucFuQtHjNVNv06bLz1iFCnvk6akWwcWxDsdr6m-VumwY/s640/1+sunrise+over+columbia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up early today. We're headed into port.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today we go to Cartagena, Columbia. Whereas the canal is Peter's main reason for this trip, I like old buildings. So, this stop will be really interesting to me. Cartagena is an old city, some of it dating back almost 500 years. Cartagena was founded in 1533.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEvDnye6n8U-6bXpghAJiAQobgUyjzoQkFWOHMGSd-AsEXCR_W0tZzF-Z2_IBqwUr1jzSYOn9ijamBFAFyu38SPLGur6XqaTsOHU0xwyTDh_VMgKPSKojtPJbjYkkvWaJwrw2mJKbaCI/s1600/3+first+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEvDnye6n8U-6bXpghAJiAQobgUyjzoQkFWOHMGSd-AsEXCR_W0tZzF-Z2_IBqwUr1jzSYOn9ijamBFAFyu38SPLGur6XqaTsOHU0xwyTDh_VMgKPSKojtPJbjYkkvWaJwrw2mJKbaCI/s640/3+first+fort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We sailed past an old Spanish fort.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpU54DbYEQ5ssKLwbCE-kLtP53sQVPoRi00DPH8bUR1hxxx_VH7Ut1hNaf7WG2jNe6J97iN3UJucFOk-4o7VwKrtW2GghtDMmknaT_ipH1ZdfcHrgKYuvtvl1_HmBik698PbTVaBNP_w/s1600/3+first+fort+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpU54DbYEQ5ssKLwbCE-kLtP53sQVPoRi00DPH8bUR1hxxx_VH7Ut1hNaf7WG2jNe6J97iN3UJucFOk-4o7VwKrtW2GghtDMmknaT_ipH1ZdfcHrgKYuvtvl1_HmBik698PbTVaBNP_w/s640/3+first+fort+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">This one, built on an outer island, is one of several built to protect the city.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8809Z860KnkC-tLj2WD78uEZ3KtbECQZFsxQfDV56ZYQqF7fAjKd_CacIb2-DGXOhOlEqkcqP9mGbjo7f0gZKYNfxCyHrX4BYxDvOqSRiYh6qPomx56-_0bCnw4nsLWoVFlLLCokYivo/s1600/3+first+fort+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8809Z860KnkC-tLj2WD78uEZ3KtbECQZFsxQfDV56ZYQqF7fAjKd_CacIb2-DGXOhOlEqkcqP9mGbjo7f0gZKYNfxCyHrX4BYxDvOqSRiYh6qPomx56-_0bCnw4nsLWoVFlLLCokYivo/s640/3+first+fort+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Still looking strong.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAzfxkItKXJxp2YRMFfz3A6g4KDuCeJ7aONxbuem8436YsfmhFV7pSZWKCP94GRuFodr-wvMyWEHQi0tR78u28c7zRGbLkurLp9e9BOztAiTgiZWeImLzjCIf3zcVQMDdIwMZphsBLWA/s1600/4+fishing+fleet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAzfxkItKXJxp2YRMFfz3A6g4KDuCeJ7aONxbuem8436YsfmhFV7pSZWKCP94GRuFodr-wvMyWEHQi0tR78u28c7zRGbLkurLp9e9BOztAiTgiZWeImLzjCIf3zcVQMDdIwMZphsBLWA/s640/4+fishing+fleet+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The local fishermen were setting out for the day.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NL0jOlaJlUute-a9j_vjYvAfXulhyphenhyphenpTfCmACZ9aLwIoCoCY5dFrPglTWG5m_j04BpKCBzFfZs3q4Utp1e4u8WIcwMuQhHtmjyiK4zYr31YTZ-s_6E5QvvDjaRnHKJLEbY4xE2olcNaM/s1600/4+fishing+fleet+boater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NL0jOlaJlUute-a9j_vjYvAfXulhyphenhyphenpTfCmACZ9aLwIoCoCY5dFrPglTWG5m_j04BpKCBzFfZs3q4Utp1e4u8WIcwMuQhHtmjyiK4zYr31YTZ-s_6E5QvvDjaRnHKJLEbY4xE2olcNaM/s640/4+fishing+fleet+boater.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Some tie their small boats to the buoys.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirySOkq7MclOJOawfLYAueqLJJbkHC9j7Ek9-XofG2YWOPoI2Ou-UjGeC4U6gtjtO29ofwr0OHoLRA-FsfYQeWXHylxsNGvrWC9eozHoFlMK-AaP7qTLhPxR8Ovlq4fZWiBeCbzCQvSPU/s1600/5+outer+island+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirySOkq7MclOJOawfLYAueqLJJbkHC9j7Ek9-XofG2YWOPoI2Ou-UjGeC4U6gtjtO29ofwr0OHoLRA-FsfYQeWXHylxsNGvrWC9eozHoFlMK-AaP7qTLhPxR8Ovlq4fZWiBeCbzCQvSPU/s640/5+outer+island+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">They have a picturesque village.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsUGJp-w-OYhbzhaqJcBNSNmka6a8pALrpn1sUG__5Vj-aZsCGPRSv3_3dSN3Z7uZ50xg6ss2eVGfFSl-bHYoGqCmYSqzHpjZDAvsdSVz_0b1PBGdxIQRMz9J4UJzthJIBK5_dyl2HCY/s1600/6+cartegena+appears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsUGJp-w-OYhbzhaqJcBNSNmka6a8pALrpn1sUG__5Vj-aZsCGPRSv3_3dSN3Z7uZ50xg6ss2eVGfFSl-bHYoGqCmYSqzHpjZDAvsdSVz_0b1PBGdxIQRMz9J4UJzthJIBK5_dyl2HCY/s640/6+cartegena+appears.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Then, we could see the tall, white buildings of Cartagena rise up out of the water.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOejM3t_aTwAiUuy1FU0Wby8i1mGfEU-w46oTD5sKT7caBL9mhIFVbi6lLJ1zqwD74EldK30It4hExdEYlM1be72f-JC1Jk7Qpfsqshlb38ARca2CIk0TViZ2836lW3lIch2mxvYZarqk/s1600/6+cartegena+closer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOejM3t_aTwAiUuy1FU0Wby8i1mGfEU-w46oTD5sKT7caBL9mhIFVbi6lLJ1zqwD74EldK30It4hExdEYlM1be72f-JC1Jk7Qpfsqshlb38ARca2CIk0TViZ2836lW3lIch2mxvYZarqk/s640/6+cartegena+closer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Cartagena is a large city of a million people. Most of those buildings, are apartments and condos.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx_uxTwM8DVL8DGXy9zdRYORTQgXsloA3dwe-u69YQETgqGHxAzN2jEmC3VmNEPj9IDeM5rf-JbI0pzQXIHpUEj7GUhmdbCKyZJ8P6Iy6O23jxZnyBSUD37E97jPQU6Rg3y-_MoyMvAI/s1600/7+cartegena+port+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx_uxTwM8DVL8DGXy9zdRYORTQgXsloA3dwe-u69YQETgqGHxAzN2jEmC3VmNEPj9IDeM5rf-JbI0pzQXIHpUEj7GUhmdbCKyZJ8P6Iy6O23jxZnyBSUD37E97jPQU6Rg3y-_MoyMvAI/s640/7+cartegena+port+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We sailed into port.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Bd20pFoOjwtFerl8Qtl9dq8M-HuQ6HJ6K8UA97KLZ8NMpHWqq3SNPozQvSYU4lY0ror2DbBI2kMUnA1SKFdKcUx0FhEiD-nqwskfeEvkBjZs6hyDJCRamNTVSsGhEqft1OB8itfL5g/s1600/7+cartegena+port+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Bd20pFoOjwtFerl8Qtl9dq8M-HuQ6HJ6K8UA97KLZ8NMpHWqq3SNPozQvSYU4lY0ror2DbBI2kMUnA1SKFdKcUx0FhEiD-nqwskfeEvkBjZs6hyDJCRamNTVSsGhEqft1OB8itfL5g/s640/7+cartegena+port+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Passing this statue of Mother and Child.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5mtvjYK54SqVfzJLVYSDlpiREJPSPfQWpdIm9Q1OMC-OnoBjzHhqfy6hyVWMfwea98nUq6XVyD8zjweLpLpWiK0arxzssTWszDY0qMtk_ImfvaDpLADiap8qLimm44itqpxNO8DOZ6k/s1600/7+cartegena+port+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5mtvjYK54SqVfzJLVYSDlpiREJPSPfQWpdIm9Q1OMC-OnoBjzHhqfy6hyVWMfwea98nUq6XVyD8zjweLpLpWiK0arxzssTWszDY0qMtk_ImfvaDpLADiap8qLimm44itqpxNO8DOZ6k/s640/7+cartegena+port+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvvQCTHXu79SIGsnnsjAmsUUW7N_bLVQNWtuKJg2IaBP7tiWC1JvesrP0U-PhiMnACXi6KP70c9lDsY4alb3Y-FgUT65GLdaXv7P17qnBs2l_NY0rLqtmH-_WlvkhpJbMQXZ4xZg7EAk/s1600/7+cartegena+port+La+Popa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvvQCTHXu79SIGsnnsjAmsUUW7N_bLVQNWtuKJg2IaBP7tiWC1JvesrP0U-PhiMnACXi6KP70c9lDsY4alb3Y-FgUT65GLdaXv7P17qnBs2l_NY0rLqtmH-_WlvkhpJbMQXZ4xZg7EAk/s640/7+cartegena+port+La+Popa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Our pier let us have a view of the La Popa Monastery...one of the places we were going to see.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2YJc4hFMjVAwi8vPrMqE8b0K8jSmKi1QYpFBFbDSdnSy8tXPIE1Wf_atk6F3QbFsjEN58tXHjgAupXsHNIgFaOrpsCl2vd3bvpBzHtYTD4Ozaevz0qHUQkTTSkAYgr7sKf3vZkAaAo/s1600/breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2YJc4hFMjVAwi8vPrMqE8b0K8jSmKi1QYpFBFbDSdnSy8tXPIE1Wf_atk6F3QbFsjEN58tXHjgAupXsHNIgFaOrpsCl2vd3bvpBzHtYTD4Ozaevz0qHUQkTTSkAYgr7sKf3vZkAaAo/s640/breakfast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">While waiting to dock and be cleared in port, we had our breakfast on the balcony.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcIQGfK1keO6eC2-JFzydoJR2Kr36D6of0WRRSecD7dP8zDxast0UkeX-D_rPWoyMAWny9eYLnRSjkImWYMGNfw_jsr43sVl0CY_LlHYBbimESIJ5k_8VmX5Ky4yX0bTqsItZBYqTzmY/s1600/8+the+city+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcIQGfK1keO6eC2-JFzydoJR2Kr36D6of0WRRSecD7dP8zDxast0UkeX-D_rPWoyMAWny9eYLnRSjkImWYMGNfw_jsr43sVl0CY_LlHYBbimESIJ5k_8VmX5Ky4yX0bTqsItZBYqTzmY/s640/8+the+city+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We boarded the bus, and headed through the streets of Cartagena. This was a 'private' tour...not one set up by the cruise line. Our friend contacted Lee Miles tours, and got this set up.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfarj7s34i99YFIFpoyQc2t8xcRBZiqhQcE-21ysp0Id9H1obgfv1Qrkd6F9w4OSR8EVMunT7JotwU0LxYNWNphaonFr34akcjD-ZYjMKupBhKZNdtl58aLqRm49ie__HAnMNSQ24Oro/s1600/8+the+city+donkey+cart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfarj7s34i99YFIFpoyQc2t8xcRBZiqhQcE-21ysp0Id9H1obgfv1Qrkd6F9w4OSR8EVMunT7JotwU0LxYNWNphaonFr34akcjD-ZYjMKupBhKZNdtl58aLqRm49ie__HAnMNSQ24Oro/s640/8+the+city+donkey+cart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">I got the back end of this donkey, pulling a donkey cart. The trials of taking pictures on a moving bus.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dG2oCJxZkQ73cxihaSbpZsvl1KkZ6b9IjjXv0sdsrwjvNdm3Uzd_mvEfIReqXVeSgR02cUcUQ7iUtz9LqL3yMrupoO_ZyWkr0Vx36zAMQgcITHBmy6jQ6wgdd09l73SMMLvYzV38zgc/s1600/8+the+city+fruit+vendor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dG2oCJxZkQ73cxihaSbpZsvl1KkZ6b9IjjXv0sdsrwjvNdm3Uzd_mvEfIReqXVeSgR02cUcUQ7iUtz9LqL3yMrupoO_ZyWkr0Vx36zAMQgcITHBmy6jQ6wgdd09l73SMMLvYzV38zgc/s640/8+the+city+fruit+vendor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Fruit vendors everywhere.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN56iz_o0QQ7pJqkep12B18rKrf9WqZrWLohGQT9zJ2TNrCpTgCJCG9KScGooj3c5OENqCrwl1FY_IU-ZW2W24X-iLo4taC7Ha6_Nx-F35OOozQw17dOUDA_i4o2VHZ603VOvLp0IX-Ig/s1600/8+the+city+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN56iz_o0QQ7pJqkep12B18rKrf9WqZrWLohGQT9zJ2TNrCpTgCJCG9KScGooj3c5OENqCrwl1FY_IU-ZW2W24X-iLo4taC7Ha6_Nx-F35OOozQw17dOUDA_i4o2VHZ603VOvLp0IX-Ig/s640/8+the+city+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Open bodegas, selling all kinds of everyday things.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZxXC-ZCMdsYkFAvxcwW8jJGFbX3Gsihyphenhyphenqu3tOCQiZh6LXL4pSkwmQKri3Qqql8hAH3B1Mwx5pHtHGEA2ss2JiC_xYPccE10mU84iIdZGWcor8iJg46RGyqrdNwrsWATlcZqqnFi93l4/s1600/8+the+city+ruin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZxXC-ZCMdsYkFAvxcwW8jJGFbX3Gsihyphenhyphenqu3tOCQiZh6LXL4pSkwmQKri3Qqql8hAH3B1Mwx5pHtHGEA2ss2JiC_xYPccE10mU84iIdZGWcor8iJg46RGyqrdNwrsWATlcZqqnFi93l4/s640/8+the+city+ruin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Ruins of old houses.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0OgXgidAX82sCkx74_eFLAlQi9Ds-gk_CfTXcVPGwkaV7dfUxveXjkVDuZzC6P74cf7DZ5DkOK36-38SR89jTE_xSuLEYTReG64TPuJeQ_PvfHPzlZhlUQjPBgGhloHrFA47XxZwzXk/s1600/8+the+city+road+to+la+popa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0OgXgidAX82sCkx74_eFLAlQi9Ds-gk_CfTXcVPGwkaV7dfUxveXjkVDuZzC6P74cf7DZ5DkOK36-38SR89jTE_xSuLEYTReG64TPuJeQ_PvfHPzlZhlUQjPBgGhloHrFA47XxZwzXk/s640/8+the+city+road+to+la+popa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Then, up the hill...past makeshift houses.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Fg3vWB39EzQyyiAQ4EYQkxKTM30pm4W7nV2_eZl7J761Z60xD2zB1pcqYhaYS75C93qIgFDH8EOXW-FWp2zNQh_oLW7QBu0aIWfyuCNjwKAl7p59eNeOw0A_iRD-HLMxpKVoPCEXxs8/s1600/9+la+popa+stations+of+the+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Fg3vWB39EzQyyiAQ4EYQkxKTM30pm4W7nV2_eZl7J761Z60xD2zB1pcqYhaYS75C93qIgFDH8EOXW-FWp2zNQh_oLW7QBu0aIWfyuCNjwKAl7p59eNeOw0A_iRD-HLMxpKVoPCEXxs8/s640/9+la+popa+stations+of+the+cross.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">And, past the Stations of the Cross.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99mMI6Tmoucd9bm_9P_ZrhrOf2guZjZcbQXfCV4Ro2Lq7LhzPzNvK1udBMl2YZ5EfrBoxRTAWBUPy9xIjgE-FUHp5RjufPE9zw87fqsRBbZgW_HURKWoPk7V6OWMYNVtyGxVf0gUNm9Q/s1600/9+la+popa+vendors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99mMI6Tmoucd9bm_9P_ZrhrOf2guZjZcbQXfCV4Ro2Lq7LhzPzNvK1udBMl2YZ5EfrBoxRTAWBUPy9xIjgE-FUHp5RjufPE9zw87fqsRBbZgW_HURKWoPk7V6OWMYNVtyGxVf0gUNm9Q/s640/9+la+popa+vendors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Vendors are everywhere throughout the city. They are trying to sell all kinds of things. They do back off, though, when you tell them no.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYoX78tWfcRpbvS2v9nB3HWpu3rnjr-YWk_aNRetK6BRG6nZJO6KJtV_WEXkHQcjgkWCJ0Uxfx9uUHxcegdoSLoOQ2TIY2MKwPE-ZN4JLyalVBDRsg_mAToj0dj3TqUVA3aBlmFyqbKM/s1600/9+la+popa+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYoX78tWfcRpbvS2v9nB3HWpu3rnjr-YWk_aNRetK6BRG6nZJO6KJtV_WEXkHQcjgkWCJ0Uxfx9uUHxcegdoSLoOQ2TIY2MKwPE-ZN4JLyalVBDRsg_mAToj0dj3TqUVA3aBlmFyqbKM/s640/9+la+popa+7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">We were greeted by this large statue.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3nXNiHsEqwXMR-VtsmRkNKwgU0cPvrxdjJuxExjXUelHgaEBpdy_SXUk2-NQkRjSpOyw4Bk24OHnAFuptptSpF1vuAzGvNTOLroIl1fSM3UyrSVnziPPrbp0TRHdSsFZ3eYgiAG6KFU/s1600/9+la+popa+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3nXNiHsEqwXMR-VtsmRkNKwgU0cPvrxdjJuxExjXUelHgaEBpdy_SXUk2-NQkRjSpOyw4Bk24OHnAFuptptSpF1vuAzGvNTOLroIl1fSM3UyrSVnziPPrbp0TRHdSsFZ3eYgiAG6KFU/s640/9+la+popa+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">This is the highest point in the city. The view is spectacular.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgK_dA3hQe6QZhiBNdIfTiiZmmyguv4gAzvJt3S17ywPh8RW9XUaoUqjtBMk7DavgKeK8H8NNmhy3P_4Sk1me9x-5qJBsUSnDvjP-O90SUMpKgC4XqZs96CP9g_LX0rFf-nck8bjJvuQ/s1600/9+la+popa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgK_dA3hQe6QZhiBNdIfTiiZmmyguv4gAzvJt3S17ywPh8RW9XUaoUqjtBMk7DavgKeK8H8NNmhy3P_4Sk1me9x-5qJBsUSnDvjP-O90SUMpKgC4XqZs96CP9g_LX0rFf-nck8bjJvuQ/s640/9+la+popa.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztty69odeE4tBoZTYWBAiweHfOkonSoHAT1QFxFnaKQK7iZ5n5-JEAB8fvjHvxma1j2le7w5ewjjW3C32YzCCE2zovYM0A_qaTV_M-BUqhPCrZKJ_zcT-nZRxSItagRVz89UukgK1iHY/s1600/9+la+popa+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztty69odeE4tBoZTYWBAiweHfOkonSoHAT1QFxFnaKQK7iZ5n5-JEAB8fvjHvxma1j2le7w5ewjjW3C32YzCCE2zovYM0A_qaTV_M-BUqhPCrZKJ_zcT-nZRxSItagRVz89UukgK1iHY/s640/9+la+popa+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Our ship in the harbor.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57LNAvARmsQiCengN7zf4Asbuf0IJqZ5lMa7MT9T_e4VzI1wH5VV5z9X8SpfuhMpUn952CygQC0ajGl_Ngh46VEAp2WpbaKVxpM02Cora-e45cKOxSV2Z7qNYMhgKeLn1wWFWAyXlzzM/s1600/9+la+popa+view+of+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57LNAvARmsQiCengN7zf4Asbuf0IJqZ5lMa7MT9T_e4VzI1wH5VV5z9X8SpfuhMpUn952CygQC0ajGl_Ngh46VEAp2WpbaKVxpM02Cora-e45cKOxSV2Z7qNYMhgKeLn1wWFWAyXlzzM/s640/9+la+popa+view+of+fort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The San Felipe Fortress.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeLud-xsjo8AgqulXC8LvmvXtwdtFwhuQdHlidMRfoANbTjfmmkkt13UMxV03qZpE38mw774Ebid4P0OJAZu-6JZFHIpLUmWmu-AC5_UPTpuZK0k8SQj5bWDsEyugHTfJL_fvx1PBzsM/s1600/9+la+popa+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeLud-xsjo8AgqulXC8LvmvXtwdtFwhuQdHlidMRfoANbTjfmmkkt13UMxV03qZpE38mw774Ebid4P0OJAZu-6JZFHIpLUmWmu-AC5_UPTpuZK0k8SQj5bWDsEyugHTfJL_fvx1PBzsM/s640/9+la+popa+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Us...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJmiBGTqX2_KAFyilIsM4Wwjj_2iQV_VblsLM0pE1hoysbIdplLBRQ-8xETVLKU-EHkQI7MOYAYtRBnqD1uWQZy1nChfgLJFwq57mOmdPgOicQUXGHIFVESIXUz5bDCnI260kfHn-R-o/s1600/9+la+popa+thet+navy+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJmiBGTqX2_KAFyilIsM4Wwjj_2iQV_VblsLM0pE1hoysbIdplLBRQ-8xETVLKU-EHkQI7MOYAYtRBnqD1uWQZy1nChfgLJFwq57mOmdPgOicQUXGHIFVESIXUz5bDCnI260kfHn-R-o/s640/9+la+popa+thet+navy+woman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">This young sailor was leading a group of cadets on tour.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma4Wd6pL6b4QgktPHSw5LDS5RUTmqdmpnu9alybck9S7_21JEr5-fz1dPUPUFdcFUudaaBFjmULQkJ20tuKP_WTOVFxqF_6Ts1CdT8dzAxQfWNCNxh7Wf1q8F0OlasYCtN79EutJvG3k/s1600/9+la+popa+the+cadets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma4Wd6pL6b4QgktPHSw5LDS5RUTmqdmpnu9alybck9S7_21JEr5-fz1dPUPUFdcFUudaaBFjmULQkJ20tuKP_WTOVFxqF_6Ts1CdT8dzAxQfWNCNxh7Wf1q8F0OlasYCtN79EutJvG3k/s640/9+la+popa+the+cadets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fZw-8MMiLZafIpweTqjy_aUr37mGNz-d3denyWK0lwLnPkakA6E1M5159U0UgD5mdAohl3IY4MRjfKUfPFpPkGsrkBHREyneaYV7_if1uh0ygpdBl8fhc5b2QxWgfRb83e3YO3p2CB8/s1600/9+la+popa+courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fZw-8MMiLZafIpweTqjy_aUr37mGNz-d3denyWK0lwLnPkakA6E1M5159U0UgD5mdAohl3IY4MRjfKUfPFpPkGsrkBHREyneaYV7_if1uh0ygpdBl8fhc5b2QxWgfRb83e3YO3p2CB8/s640/9+la+popa+courtyard.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">The courtyard is quite lovely.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnpX0tBtcj_jgvZloiIlYx2LYPFE6sAwKDUMKWWiheB_i9FEMSRGt4FhvbHLYFSi7MBDRL2q4QjGlZvvDhN4pLuXzUWhAAngaMnlSbYeF6HP1_EWD1GgLdPqC7jMIefDotskNa7U4MB8/s1600/9+la+popa+courtyard+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnpX0tBtcj_jgvZloiIlYx2LYPFE6sAwKDUMKWWiheB_i9FEMSRGt4FhvbHLYFSi7MBDRL2q4QjGlZvvDhN4pLuXzUWhAAngaMnlSbYeF6HP1_EWD1GgLdPqC7jMIefDotskNa7U4MB8/s640/9+la+popa+courtyard+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPRVOOw4vUujc4NriRbVKmK1MSpL6K1Ar07OUySNRuwzFzM5T95lKRbwBzBPuUAbdv8lqmpXuBJhRZ3G4b1qH3nqZa4_OBM1SROGMgCLgM-Vyil2epC4srvbuSsLi8W29cig9hYCJB5Q/s1600/9+la+popa+courtyard+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPRVOOw4vUujc4NriRbVKmK1MSpL6K1Ar07OUySNRuwzFzM5T95lKRbwBzBPuUAbdv8lqmpXuBJhRZ3G4b1qH3nqZa4_OBM1SROGMgCLgM-Vyil2epC4srvbuSsLi8W29cig9hYCJB5Q/s640/9+la+popa+courtyard+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">That bougainvillea was just beautiful.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs4_D-MF-Fn4pNJCRy_Ll_nXRwxIpO3H6OxJ7ZvDJ5_rTC9pCKxsDItWmD0BC3FqjDiYSEDigfNxWR79mdcBCnyKsZYgs-1nS5pKEKj4woFoC1PoUwEmlD8GK7v6H3rISJRQRIbg2VUA/s1600/double+bougainvillea+la+popa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs4_D-MF-Fn4pNJCRy_Ll_nXRwxIpO3H6OxJ7ZvDJ5_rTC9pCKxsDItWmD0BC3FqjDiYSEDigfNxWR79mdcBCnyKsZYgs-1nS5pKEKj4woFoC1PoUwEmlD8GK7v6H3rISJRQRIbg2VUA/s640/double+bougainvillea+la+popa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">I've never before seen a double one.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jyosqaE1t0nbg1zs-oapq9QyjPwn1-uI4EO7cfS-S2LsfKfuRkS_EaIgaairwe2IsKztx863bYam2-Wpai00uX2NKWkvOwPmbpiX92mYusG3xJFDmj3RJvoW7HEY9k7hNaLWNJGB15c/s1600/9+la+popa+6+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jyosqaE1t0nbg1zs-oapq9QyjPwn1-uI4EO7cfS-S2LsfKfuRkS_EaIgaairwe2IsKztx863bYam2-Wpai00uX2NKWkvOwPmbpiX92mYusG3xJFDmj3RJvoW7HEY9k7hNaLWNJGB15c/s640/9+la+popa+6+%25232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Inside the sanctuary, the golden altar.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWuOgqap0PtiksfVivaDvRdaFP_XG-x7ZbzhGi0NRLs9wuziKFARxdjmmKH3gpOmd142C8z12kZj1JMh8hIu6l5qes2Xu2K_qbHlWBDWvPVDyAV4vI07zMatIICiBmVmhyphenhyphenOhxHilJ1lE/s1600/9+la+popa+military+presense+linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWuOgqap0PtiksfVivaDvRdaFP_XG-x7ZbzhGi0NRLs9wuziKFARxdjmmKH3gpOmd142C8z12kZj1JMh8hIu6l5qes2Xu2K_qbHlWBDWvPVDyAV4vI07zMatIICiBmVmhyphenhyphenOhxHilJ1lE/s640/9+la+popa+military+presense+linda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We felt quite secure, with all the military and police presence, throughtout town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Zdm_RHOFGth1srstQsYaHOUYmIRSfnKooV_897kghNsKQRiFGkyGl9Nn76Ae7OVNEeDnRxFlw33b1PdwfyxC4T7syu4HQQq1xYZvooGnncMjMdlYa2bJLSeWfQw6M4B5wi0N9D5LT8/s1600/the+fort+far.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Zdm_RHOFGth1srstQsYaHOUYmIRSfnKooV_897kghNsKQRiFGkyGl9Nn76Ae7OVNEeDnRxFlw33b1PdwfyxC4T7syu4HQQq1xYZvooGnncMjMdlYa2bJLSeWfQw6M4B5wi0N9D5LT8/s640/the+fort+far.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the bus, we headed down the hill, toward the San Felipe Fortress. This is the largest of a series of forts, built to protect the city. It took 150 years to complete.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cartagena was a major trading port for Spain, in the New World. It was especially important as a port for the precious metals that were shipped from mines in South America and Mexico, back to Spain. It needed a bit of protection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNsAZf776NC2_y0tetY522EOSn_JhnVIkCBiv71p5Dw4x4K8qGsuwwkREYUnH18SJW-2ieWlsYh1uz4S0WMwyS6z0SxP-S3n7vHWC9YfI2nMgR41O-9I4VOv2b47hAojt2VvYGOMTyLw/s1600/the+fort+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNsAZf776NC2_y0tetY522EOSn_JhnVIkCBiv71p5Dw4x4K8qGsuwwkREYUnH18SJW-2ieWlsYh1uz4S0WMwyS6z0SxP-S3n7vHWC9YfI2nMgR41O-9I4VOv2b47hAojt2VvYGOMTyLw/s640/the+fort+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The walls are tall and thick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uPX_ce5WeiF95A6CgmI6cUbgHvHrfjvO3B4OtvGdQjGNkiHsEUSjgEwtH-Rvnjws0rqCWyXAYphXSqgJk37tVcIKncDjfOVK7R8OImdm74uy9XU4Li8QYgm_CXA68B3vvbMBYoGql0g/s1600/the+fort+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uPX_ce5WeiF95A6CgmI6cUbgHvHrfjvO3B4OtvGdQjGNkiHsEUSjgEwtH-Rvnjws0rqCWyXAYphXSqgJk37tVcIKncDjfOVK7R8OImdm74uy9XU4Li8QYgm_CXA68B3vvbMBYoGql0g/s640/the+fort+8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Topped by gun turrets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1W7ng87BA8l7ka62GVjtIkfWRp9ij5IwB_gD9YKu94An4yP07HqOfh6luFJdbmXdrvYpJraSy6e7lsHgrjwWw-scVxHM4I8zGHcnkWPPGMAj97wZcM3eAZQhRV2Xx3wjzHU5lz34Kq8/s1600/the+fort+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1W7ng87BA8l7ka62GVjtIkfWRp9ij5IwB_gD9YKu94An4yP07HqOfh6luFJdbmXdrvYpJraSy6e7lsHgrjwWw-scVxHM4I8zGHcnkWPPGMAj97wZcM3eAZQhRV2Xx3wjzHU5lz34Kq8/s640/the+fort+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are a lot of stairs and tunnels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMlvb8VecoFJMs7JAhAJ1HuW8R__v9c3z-ZI4154XrdkWrwUsLRafyCVrE2j48wzB5DT9le_jUlxx4Qr81tSah2PQYOhiAsniEqa3KHJ9jyvqOxiMz8Ki2YW2aAc3ot8a0fztU67r2hE/s1600/the+fort+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMlvb8VecoFJMs7JAhAJ1HuW8R__v9c3z-ZI4154XrdkWrwUsLRafyCVrE2j48wzB5DT9le_jUlxx4Qr81tSah2PQYOhiAsniEqa3KHJ9jyvqOxiMz8Ki2YW2aAc3ot8a0fztU67r2hE/s640/the+fort+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ramps lead up to the fort. We had only a short time, so we only took a short photo stop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Sc3uETEj-wCRqyubv1AdbMRy75O6OH1otz0w1cbqo8k4fW3gEqQzbKyEOO0Q3T2FCFszVXHJHMoWtSENGsy7qPmUgHjNd6iaMPXUqBT4rrBcdK_-a8WPPESM3DaUuA8DXObEgtqeUE/s1600/8+the+city+the+wall+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Sc3uETEj-wCRqyubv1AdbMRy75O6OH1otz0w1cbqo8k4fW3gEqQzbKyEOO0Q3T2FCFszVXHJHMoWtSENGsy7qPmUgHjNd6iaMPXUqBT4rrBcdK_-a8WPPESM3DaUuA8DXObEgtqeUE/s640/8+the+city+the+wall+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We headed past the old city walls, to the old part of the city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UFIZ9M8DN_Mm5xf9hZRoi5w0mqxZozd_MfWPBmFjoikv3SublPZyKWGrxmdJlb8XqWp550k9wemEQtpUrGc1IqYYFQlxHoKNCykA6qRmDkNmMLNOJPgvcDtWycLd1eh3UYfLh0qVzH8/s1600/8+the+city+the+wall+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UFIZ9M8DN_Mm5xf9hZRoi5w0mqxZozd_MfWPBmFjoikv3SublPZyKWGrxmdJlb8XqWp550k9wemEQtpUrGc1IqYYFQlxHoKNCykA6qRmDkNmMLNOJPgvcDtWycLd1eh3UYfLh0qVzH8/s640/8+the+city+the+wall+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These walls were another protection from enemy forces. Thick, tall walls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF-5IW6UcQYRKGXC9s1y4-ch7FgXC-Q4xZ_1A30WiTCU_0Bzi4BbQepIoV5TVzkolE0Zumg4UE74vMqLFNy_3DrzjI4_4-CyH7gFFVOoFIPquP2mT_lQjRpKhliFmOhXdd32vqSXSZLI/s1600/8+the+city+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF-5IW6UcQYRKGXC9s1y4-ch7FgXC-Q4xZ_1A30WiTCU_0Bzi4BbQepIoV5TVzkolE0Zumg4UE74vMqLFNy_3DrzjI4_4-CyH7gFFVOoFIPquP2mT_lQjRpKhliFmOhXdd32vqSXSZLI/s640/8+the+city+8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got off the bus for a walk through the centuries old streets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-xsX0wp5QlIP6NZL5724BrEe9UG0nxEzkZB2V_2ByNlSwt7eGX3J-sB8BlPH6T4VowvSH_P6o6TDiSMilqVOuR3fwvP3PD0vAO7Fx5A67QFuqpYh60yXa7UHw8uSzQJJzcGQ_lMljPg/s1600/8+the+city+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-xsX0wp5QlIP6NZL5724BrEe9UG0nxEzkZB2V_2ByNlSwt7eGX3J-sB8BlPH6T4VowvSH_P6o6TDiSMilqVOuR3fwvP3PD0vAO7Fx5A67QFuqpYh60yXa7UHw8uSzQJJzcGQ_lMljPg/s640/8+the+city+building.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Colorful buildings....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mN9jK4FtTAYSZEb7Zb4cPkmkLazh_nDWyDG3DDqN-gbLboOV7RKo5MhZqKRvA0zoqut_eofHtHqNOVtYsoWNXkwEI68r3FLIr1Jp-kHklV8GMhOTVqDdWWAab6gHuMyjevikcQSbtSM/s1600/8+the+city+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mN9jK4FtTAYSZEb7Zb4cPkmkLazh_nDWyDG3DDqN-gbLboOV7RKo5MhZqKRvA0zoqut_eofHtHqNOVtYsoWNXkwEI68r3FLIr1Jp-kHklV8GMhOTVqDdWWAab6gHuMyjevikcQSbtSM/s640/8+the+city+9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and, decorations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9jRnzIxG_a2yOecORtsp4L3L15hil0cTkMZGflrGhyphenhyphen8rjyNSHn3TdvSgVCJxJA0tMibBc_Md7iB0I5JLG2IQ_os6JpU4tncUxX0UmQM8iJ-0OF-ndbzzoi1HD5nFc-53yar2bwtMsWI/s1600/8+the+city+building+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9jRnzIxG_a2yOecORtsp4L3L15hil0cTkMZGflrGhyphenhyphen8rjyNSHn3TdvSgVCJxJA0tMibBc_Md7iB0I5JLG2IQ_os6JpU4tncUxX0UmQM8iJ-0OF-ndbzzoi1HD5nFc-53yar2bwtMsWI/s640/8+the+city+building+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We passed a library....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-Ipgtu0p4MUD6WnoXb4J09WspvSZdn5a6drGuonMwVC364pCOy74KpKz3_k_V4fd4VO7cDpl-bDRW02ZCzw_hq7nPrPCsXXmg8oxP-hFJRGW6SdCuvI6erFWf-mJubDVuQf19acq4H8/s1600/8+the+city+building+2+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-Ipgtu0p4MUD6WnoXb4J09WspvSZdn5a6drGuonMwVC364pCOy74KpKz3_k_V4fd4VO7cDpl-bDRW02ZCzw_hq7nPrPCsXXmg8oxP-hFJRGW6SdCuvI6erFWf-mJubDVuQf19acq4H8/s320/8+the+city+building+2+bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...with a golden eagle. The look on his face may have been from the heat. It was beginning to get quite warm and humid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYa1H8_7neHrYVJlq59QksqgcASCyNleRdINSdcmkNNLkqhSjfB8fHh2WeNl4nhSun7IHrlPIOsZyRfzSPjN1igM8gU3SroIpWuZqcvVrJBvrUMZqrTSvYGR7HeAlKcbGSc-FqZfBIM2Q/s1600/8+the+city+fruit+vendor+2+with+police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYa1H8_7neHrYVJlq59QksqgcASCyNleRdINSdcmkNNLkqhSjfB8fHh2WeNl4nhSun7IHrlPIOsZyRfzSPjN1igM8gU3SroIpWuZqcvVrJBvrUMZqrTSvYGR7HeAlKcbGSc-FqZfBIM2Q/s640/8+the+city+fruit+vendor+2+with+police.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another fruit vendor. And, more police. They were in evidence, everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0u-Guy49B__tpFLsbATmAM3B-0sgvlozU3pQ1a0JVYzZtumgn-XLwjUI2mecTBkuUgasvjd6wA6h6fJH3zKtRnNypQf93exaqMwR90zaRGRjytdqgouGrcbS9BxPlGQekpc0c87hH1E/s1600/8+the+city+statues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0u-Guy49B__tpFLsbATmAM3B-0sgvlozU3pQ1a0JVYzZtumgn-XLwjUI2mecTBkuUgasvjd6wA6h6fJH3zKtRnNypQf93exaqMwR90zaRGRjytdqgouGrcbS9BxPlGQekpc0c87hH1E/s640/8+the+city+statues.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These statues were everywhere, as well. But, they're not statues....they're real people. They do a great job, standing so still in that heat. They appreciated our tips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJlxVrTv5BBZismFWoKucdVNfvEOAD6xDWB3G2TelILe6jW1RO08MDH1NPUS9nqm3HpsQtL6RuMYH29z6ZoGw7DUcj2wDU03xLRCdjnw51ug0HgRmiN5p2-kFrKaADSE_k091NvfvHLI/s1600/8+the+city+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJlxVrTv5BBZismFWoKucdVNfvEOAD6xDWB3G2TelILe6jW1RO08MDH1NPUS9nqm3HpsQtL6RuMYH29z6ZoGw7DUcj2wDU03xLRCdjnw51ug0HgRmiN5p2-kFrKaADSE_k091NvfvHLI/s640/8+the+city+park.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked on down the street, toward a park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgfb1C7jdFrbb-pX8W9u6PRJLevfmxRuFo4h0zUQY9WIO9HrahzCWHoYzKroa9SRTVu1M0y0Mfw2c2K_kCG4wb8EeOzBeEh8qyvurpYfwgpOlBwkcCThLKzh268xo1tHz3oEkdgyezj4/s1600/8+the+city+statues+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgfb1C7jdFrbb-pX8W9u6PRJLevfmxRuFo4h0zUQY9WIO9HrahzCWHoYzKroa9SRTVu1M0y0Mfw2c2K_kCG4wb8EeOzBeEh8qyvurpYfwgpOlBwkcCThLKzh268xo1tHz3oEkdgyezj4/s640/8+the+city+statues+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice more statues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu2Xr7mQGw-PsGRmm5urZ5yyLdoaFGobJSmdb6y3yRoBEH53EmFZ3lC8QujkBbiq7Z4QiK3yXB1NifYINMPL2HgM-z8uHinBMkkcOQvPFm1ysjeNCGDJaKsF95-bzAjAmpiqnqtvmbMQ/s1600/8+the+city+park+statue+of+bolivar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu2Xr7mQGw-PsGRmm5urZ5yyLdoaFGobJSmdb6y3yRoBEH53EmFZ3lC8QujkBbiq7Z4QiK3yXB1NifYINMPL2HgM-z8uHinBMkkcOQvPFm1ysjeNCGDJaKsF95-bzAjAmpiqnqtvmbMQ/s640/8+the+city+park+statue+of+bolivar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A large statue of Bolivar sits in the center.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVrTLjsDXRyugvcVfi-JWVZddcVsvrH5KOTmsVy5n7QtH6WjDE1XckNB_TsZ5xFoqosiUTU1iUOfj6YhRHa8Fj9i5wdgM-WGiFMq0CQ3emayMXvOam440k7K77dI1EIPP75pmlk2oA44/s1600/8+the+city+park+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVrTLjsDXRyugvcVfi-JWVZddcVsvrH5KOTmsVy5n7QtH6WjDE1XckNB_TsZ5xFoqosiUTU1iUOfj6YhRHa8Fj9i5wdgM-WGiFMq0CQ3emayMXvOam440k7K77dI1EIPP75pmlk2oA44/s640/8+the+city+park+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, of course, pigeons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6aUFhafCkjvQPF2-i3Uq2vJNT-bgnmVaRa7aC5sm4CtNWQM4ZAQAYmP3MC06w8zBAesEEpERhlkGy1I6uDY0MzVbjCdw-PUfgWkmpolRnyUC9kXOP6ZkPcM0KviN129vf74IpZAzql4/s1600/8+the+city+palacio+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6aUFhafCkjvQPF2-i3Uq2vJNT-bgnmVaRa7aC5sm4CtNWQM4ZAQAYmP3MC06w8zBAesEEpERhlkGy1I6uDY0MzVbjCdw-PUfgWkmpolRnyUC9kXOP6ZkPcM0KviN129vf74IpZAzql4/s640/8+the+city+palacio+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beside the park is the Palace of the Inquisition. It's now a museum, with examples of torture equipment and history of Columbia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vjEqTD2egcPGbatRYpYHO6gZWFDW7PLfMAsmhkFTv6iaaYIyZyxvC-V7Q02Fvw6WgOegi9Ya6a0h7TwO4_cueS-1yYCaepY0sJ1FZzaZEwx_uhcHC1h3SeXIros72c-m6VeJQIgNK3g/s1600/8+the+city+street+dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vjEqTD2egcPGbatRYpYHO6gZWFDW7PLfMAsmhkFTv6iaaYIyZyxvC-V7Q02Fvw6WgOegi9Ya6a0h7TwO4_cueS-1yYCaepY0sJ1FZzaZEwx_uhcHC1h3SeXIros72c-m6VeJQIgNK3g/s640/8+the+city+street+dancers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were lots of things to see along the street. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ6MepyoFeyg6TCuhuz9XfHFsMcNWsfGYXeVqTLBvmgUpuwlW3YGkHVGLiT9DblDcB4PrKhGTcQILNKQiK3o7J7YpIVfsL504q48tn5hh9dYySkps9bbsDgNVP4-oFn0Eb5Kgh5UL8vE/s1600/8+the+city+church+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ6MepyoFeyg6TCuhuz9XfHFsMcNWsfGYXeVqTLBvmgUpuwlW3YGkHVGLiT9DblDcB4PrKhGTcQILNKQiK3o7J7YpIVfsL504q48tn5hh9dYySkps9bbsDgNVP4-oFn0Eb5Kgh5UL8vE/s640/8+the+city+church+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg74pxWDY3OkvCzfzb8yvFN_kf_9k4ClILNbOJEw1cwN2Y3l2CvZZHQL3RwEqe7rCYvhyphenhypheny10XMN2IlHa9Oftt0msgo5Z9MpM5JaX4vtnqdsG_MVF5j8vw9mNYsakksA-FjvSDH36DNjU/s1600/8+the+city+street+scene+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg74pxWDY3OkvCzfzb8yvFN_kf_9k4ClILNbOJEw1cwN2Y3l2CvZZHQL3RwEqe7rCYvhyphenhypheny10XMN2IlHa9Oftt0msgo5Z9MpM5JaX4vtnqdsG_MVF5j8vw9mNYsakksA-FjvSDH36DNjU/s640/8+the+city+street+scene+5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q5Ya7Qxx_Qm3iE8PsTlPP95KHOSJashyA8Oe1Vpt4uHEcQn5iAL54btkCznVR9sLeP38BQkNnnKgSDPtqQGUyicD0ZEzI5tqODRHbhYXCPVu_LKlTd4wMszD912v91KhmdEu4tsTV74/s1600/8+the+city+cathedral+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q5Ya7Qxx_Qm3iE8PsTlPP95KHOSJashyA8Oe1Vpt4uHEcQn5iAL54btkCznVR9sLeP38BQkNnnKgSDPtqQGUyicD0ZEzI5tqODRHbhYXCPVu_LKlTd4wMszD912v91KhmdEu4tsTV74/s640/8+the+city+cathedral+artwork.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1y4Obt8tobZoA7AmCodsOAV8d1GhdXUKk9IZI4ApUHaw0bwAylVsPU9aUb_sEjvfusFSaw054ofCPRzQlWUmPYBvbRDVay0zL8jDu84MOmk-XTEdY79iShxzIvP7JlRxiooJwYc14Bw/s1600/8+the+city+cathedral+artwork+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1y4Obt8tobZoA7AmCodsOAV8d1GhdXUKk9IZI4ApUHaw0bwAylVsPU9aUb_sEjvfusFSaw054ofCPRzQlWUmPYBvbRDVay0zL8jDu84MOmk-XTEdY79iShxzIvP7JlRxiooJwYc14Bw/s640/8+the+city+cathedral+artwork+2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were several of these metal scultures, in the cathedral square.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIcsr7j51SYfh7hzgZuIoWHagH0N1xydmy74Pgi_0F_SIHvT2V2UOEjZ0wSCISeODkB0ARrE3ysM-mSz6dO_goQOZlrphVC7Q9NZ78xVVAH_O9Q2UqGhwaYG9sx82HMgbqmpZs0vgRhk/s1600/8+the+city+cathedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIcsr7j51SYfh7hzgZuIoWHagH0N1xydmy74Pgi_0F_SIHvT2V2UOEjZ0wSCISeODkB0ARrE3ysM-mSz6dO_goQOZlrphVC7Q9NZ78xVVAH_O9Q2UqGhwaYG9sx82HMgbqmpZs0vgRhk/s640/8+the+city+cathedral.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY7tBTAmQ35eWeN6BEMfiEhEvgrE8sVgvC1eWgOh8WNU_E3lF5XzS3goz5wVJMOgjb0PZRn5EmCajo-VSDf1CthwRE7sPPA1AxJm3r_CNXMspD-TPwsObg-CdG9Z9UZ-NCk3O5oRSi7k/s1600/the+claver+cathedral+claver+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY7tBTAmQ35eWeN6BEMfiEhEvgrE8sVgvC1eWgOh8WNU_E3lF5XzS3goz5wVJMOgjb0PZRn5EmCajo-VSDf1CthwRE7sPPA1AxJm3r_CNXMspD-TPwsObg-CdG9Z9UZ-NCk3O5oRSi7k/s640/the+claver+cathedral+claver+statue.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We toured the Church of San Pedro Claver. San Pedro was a priest who spent his life helping the slaves who were shipped into Cartagena. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDxflm14nZT686hAI4hYUppcFIbwMcTSBnrBdkVw7z0bCZyr4dj_5Hxf8pzbnTfPUSXUNNdANEH0n1R8H6IU5Ixw_PlSFNKTfs0m6fpFRsoFhO-YnMoYwe8fo3psii-GeE2suk70G1CM/s1600/The+claver+catherdral+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDxflm14nZT686hAI4hYUppcFIbwMcTSBnrBdkVw7z0bCZyr4dj_5Hxf8pzbnTfPUSXUNNdANEH0n1R8H6IU5Ixw_PlSFNKTfs0m6fpFRsoFhO-YnMoYwe8fo3psii-GeE2suk70G1CM/s640/The+claver+catherdral+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stepped inside, to another cool, inviting courtyard.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJHG1ufBqFdegb9OFJOTTIayqEF4jmbL_uK0IiH4gsRHQMMe7uFY5qrt3GxfELIfUZS7CumHjXib7Ol5RrRS9Bv7rbtuzFNpItSQlEouZD7vSNX4g9YwpMWRWzUr5sdxcSWz1FRyTRME/s1600/The+claver+cathedral+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJHG1ufBqFdegb9OFJOTTIayqEF4jmbL_uK0IiH4gsRHQMMe7uFY5qrt3GxfELIfUZS7CumHjXib7Ol5RrRS9Bv7rbtuzFNpItSQlEouZD7vSNX4g9YwpMWRWzUr5sdxcSWz1FRyTRME/s640/The+claver+cathedral+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A reminder that we're in the tropics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIETMltLgRVjNgi3Xpam3evOoo3Dig-rh-dOAGGN_acA45HiQyOdazyGYTfO3WWHrvJpKVJNkX0aPuVa_Jy3D6SgpCW3DeOcdmmB69JuOC7eyhKczeI6Y-lo_39kMFjOoAkL7WpBOD9E/s1600/the+claver+cathedral+8+altar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIETMltLgRVjNgi3Xpam3evOoo3Dig-rh-dOAGGN_acA45HiQyOdazyGYTfO3WWHrvJpKVJNkX0aPuVa_Jy3D6SgpCW3DeOcdmmB69JuOC7eyhKczeI6Y-lo_39kMFjOoAkL7WpBOD9E/s640/the+claver+cathedral+8+altar.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Father Claver died in the 1654, and was made a saint in 1888.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLSMtS5QuogpZyWtIM98rG5LrLq6ylIeJZ8wGU1uVRX3weKIzGC_4W2PcVubSe2gE-yxEDYFjiIhs07kT5Xe9ojFX3g0LqRRWVn6O_ietJNwkmWBtUSRKwKUbhXHUdV6ylRDYF5w-gs/s1600/the+claver+cathedral+8+altar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWLSMtS5QuogpZyWtIM98rG5LrLq6ylIeJZ8wGU1uVRX3weKIzGC_4W2PcVubSe2gE-yxEDYFjiIhs07kT5Xe9ojFX3g0LqRRWVn6O_ietJNwkmWBtUSRKwKUbhXHUdV6ylRDYF5w-gs/s640/the+claver+cathedral+8+altar+3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> His remains were re-interred at the base of the altar, and on view.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho45XG_eE0EKYT4iHVlkzDe-jUITjfKKzXl8yDz5sapqfAhKlUNVFLGJqSyPuLskMyeQrfa3AAkYxF9x9LktKJz9qlvwWun1x8giJY3k-usjjPesQ5B3BT8_5uKkJ1msuPrVsFuWsj2rU/s1600/the+claver+cathedral+dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho45XG_eE0EKYT4iHVlkzDe-jUITjfKKzXl8yDz5sapqfAhKlUNVFLGJqSyPuLskMyeQrfa3AAkYxF9x9LktKJz9qlvwWun1x8giJY3k-usjjPesQ5B3BT8_5uKkJ1msuPrVsFuWsj2rU/s640/the+claver+cathedral+dome.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are tributes throughout the church.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RRjSHwSLJANLYW7QusHGjUbXy9pYcoyaf68xT01H2NOdcIYbF5whVzW2LKzhBKSCcHxaO1jzD0CCgwDUTbkBbBhrUCqFLKDXlunKJzEeZEKo8RkzkqrxqHiJ1tVoDGs2WCM_69Td23g/s1600/the+claver+cathedral+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RRjSHwSLJANLYW7QusHGjUbXy9pYcoyaf68xT01H2NOdcIYbF5whVzW2LKzhBKSCcHxaO1jzD0CCgwDUTbkBbBhrUCqFLKDXlunKJzEeZEKo8RkzkqrxqHiJ1tVoDGs2WCM_69Td23g/s640/the+claver+cathedral+window.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTK84yy77CEM1qUZMtOCeuoH6AR77Bro-Lr8uGZP8vUhXtB6Zd5F8-J-gnJccFqKsr8QjBl4zfEPvAMkqqI3uI6SwztcJB5fa6x_I6yUlTs9QRx_DS9yRrVz6ZCA_qc2yiLhPcyJxfRU/s1600/8+the+city+the+beach+%2526+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTK84yy77CEM1qUZMtOCeuoH6AR77Bro-Lr8uGZP8vUhXtB6Zd5F8-J-gnJccFqKsr8QjBl4zfEPvAMkqqI3uI6SwztcJB5fa6x_I6yUlTs9QRx_DS9yRrVz6ZCA_qc2yiLhPcyJxfRU/s640/8+the+city+the+beach+%2526+wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Onto the bus again, and off to the last stop....the requisite shopping stop. We drove along the old wall...</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_NVJpy11cQ3T5CbvLcLqnp3h2Oc-kTcJ5BrURFUt9xt_wQkL7aV73TJQqeVGeXJbF1qGhpHt-MgVpPTlkEufXIBPvl8F3OvNFhdQEnJ9nnso1FLDhM5pEJvW7dT9kuY23w1z5jBByfA/s1600/8+the+city+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_NVJpy11cQ3T5CbvLcLqnp3h2Oc-kTcJ5BrURFUt9xt_wQkL7aV73TJQqeVGeXJbF1qGhpHt-MgVpPTlkEufXIBPvl8F3OvNFhdQEnJ9nnso1FLDhM5pEJvW7dT9kuY23w1z5jBByfA/s640/8+the+city+the+beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, along the beach...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EmVph-0NH3VGE8BiQz4JESnX8tPYPiLGZI06rsX8eJUa4A-fl8fzwQ1YcAMjWRPdP75wfgKxprISmNqWggJ5UroAoW8D9oNxgRs46RBHjV2V4pGlYfcksl05sY8V9v1V8k8bwkvIgEc/s1600/8+the+city+the+beach+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EmVph-0NH3VGE8BiQz4JESnX8tPYPiLGZI06rsX8eJUa4A-fl8fzwQ1YcAMjWRPdP75wfgKxprISmNqWggJ5UroAoW8D9oNxgRs46RBHjV2V4pGlYfcksl05sY8V9v1V8k8bwkvIgEc/s640/8+the+city+the+beach+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="558" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQVcBFoQFEhYnv-zJbZdznXUT0-oX2duNHGeqyHTZ_iWgW5AIHhHHpAOcDCuFIuablH9gKv8XU_tn4KDl8mcuH3VhhKf2IrpgeMt4hnR2HVwkMxJy5gLESc_X-VMnidWXWBGrUaJN4-0/s640/bougainvillea+shopping+mall.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bougainvillea in the shopping mall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaNVqh0RELrvm2Yz4dzkzDkRTtM4M5-LtQnMiv2VD6C5pvX6zu5UixilEows60YvfZj_4xRWjJdwE34F5Ir5XZ8kXkceD3vtpTp8nn6ZlV5VKqa7Mr0weSqV9l2y_QedFkn0aNd9CsJM/s1600/8+the+city+condos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaNVqh0RELrvm2Yz4dzkzDkRTtM4M5-LtQnMiv2VD6C5pvX6zu5UixilEows60YvfZj_4xRWjJdwE34F5Ir5XZ8kXkceD3vtpTp8nn6ZlV5VKqa7Mr0weSqV9l2y_QedFkn0aNd9CsJM/s640/8+the+city+condos.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An apartment building across the street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAYT8cK7uErFBwf2TW5R9XhgfQCGr2UfrGqaC0GMwSuCh2FRpRxxKaWPB8Da9ji4oIJrTbQeRKFoiHA-KwvH6n0nCiLa9NdjjbqFcDaYKIqIH834c_XQN5Scc8G26rXg3HKYKazR23So/s1600/our+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAYT8cK7uErFBwf2TW5R9XhgfQCGr2UfrGqaC0GMwSuCh2FRpRxxKaWPB8Da9ji4oIJrTbQeRKFoiHA-KwvH6n0nCiLa9NdjjbqFcDaYKIqIH834c_XQN5Scc8G26rXg3HKYKazR23So/s640/our+group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a good time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qfnbpoFOyEr4w-L5xXhH7xdmP7j1vR5ZUu2pep2shy3C8pi7NgvA_HQboJCzf_WtdyeDjsIJNC1pByxvMobPhdGvhq_rFbMmzZtCH0YS2smCdK_KHQB7M1yzkkvO6Q8xh8PsQd6etLc/s1600/three+girls+cartegena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qfnbpoFOyEr4w-L5xXhH7xdmP7j1vR5ZUu2pep2shy3C8pi7NgvA_HQboJCzf_WtdyeDjsIJNC1pByxvMobPhdGvhq_rFbMmzZtCH0YS2smCdK_KHQB7M1yzkkvO6Q8xh8PsQd6etLc/s640/three+girls+cartegena.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> ....and, learned some new things.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyaYZqH0Fs8HpHKD1g5DFUqbqfh7SfNcywKawvaEkomPgL3lkq5cmLk2aoQiHQI9HpUEQtA61NiCRtn7VFG-r0vkszJZTvO0BLHRGOMpAjjVNNhJO2M9mUP_rgxfVqnosYgK0C7B940M/s1600/8+the+city+the+wall+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyaYZqH0Fs8HpHKD1g5DFUqbqfh7SfNcywKawvaEkomPgL3lkq5cmLk2aoQiHQI9HpUEQtA61NiCRtn7VFG-r0vkszJZTvO0BLHRGOMpAjjVNNhJO2M9mUP_rgxfVqnosYgK0C7B940M/s640/8+the+city+the+wall+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the bus, for the final ride....along the walls,</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgkviRII9yeJt0VjhPwVhtkUa6CUmgsqJQYupkBtZlyWSUf7_-LOiC0o0gLGoXISnvtFL2KO_3jeR8n4X3L8Lbf6OV96uh8KrW7x3qf8chKdXo_wOnsPhKuPODTSTOGG2nNhv0cKel-w/s1600/8+the+city+the+wall+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgkviRII9yeJt0VjhPwVhtkUa6CUmgsqJQYupkBtZlyWSUf7_-LOiC0o0gLGoXISnvtFL2KO_3jeR8n4X3L8Lbf6OV96uh8KrW7x3qf8chKdXo_wOnsPhKuPODTSTOGG2nNhv0cKel-w/s640/8+the+city+the+wall+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">back to the ship.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6War0WhRfeWa-OP7LmL-auEbQ7TDUThvZ4gT-_UfIPKFrrALp0UPe9UU-VnwlT9P16SKG2mut6nTlDYfkBiiRSXZ7B3gapfHkodrafoN4bruOgDvNmJ-8LoJQ5Kxix7DWhUbJORNOY8/s1600/sail+away+fortress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6War0WhRfeWa-OP7LmL-auEbQ7TDUThvZ4gT-_UfIPKFrrALp0UPe9UU-VnwlT9P16SKG2mut6nTlDYfkBiiRSXZ7B3gapfHkodrafoN4bruOgDvNmJ-8LoJQ5Kxix7DWhUbJORNOY8/s640/sail+away+fortress.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To sail away past yet more fortress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3W42Nhb4CZlhQ-0AlP8wcaPhndHYh0qUraMgzwe8mJVQeA0UHSIvm0iX8u1aMKnrUI_DvwwSXm5EuH9Cf7piBiokY_gj6HxQaGUxWjtXhCIH1TOsHECSKRDxKT4VrEygaA1aO1kPzME/s1600/sail+away+fortress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3W42Nhb4CZlhQ-0AlP8wcaPhndHYh0qUraMgzwe8mJVQeA0UHSIvm0iX8u1aMKnrUI_DvwwSXm5EuH9Cf7piBiokY_gj6HxQaGUxWjtXhCIH1TOsHECSKRDxKT4VrEygaA1aO1kPzME/s640/sail+away+fortress+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cartagena, Columbia is an interesting place. I would've liked to have more time, to see even more of this city. Maybe next time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XHJ3yFgMThiQ-WDDaPLkq9cEu5LKpYcLz7LdpMzfn38QYnAfrKnXnwYtWRexm_FOCmibOFiJ7TS4LT5juQp1SZtfDEO1wGCYzYwr7vMhCRVwYXtWXR9Fr2jPQunRixTGg9L6kwOqPKI/s1600/8+the+city+stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XHJ3yFgMThiQ-WDDaPLkq9cEu5LKpYcLz7LdpMzfn38QYnAfrKnXnwYtWRexm_FOCmibOFiJ7TS4LT5juQp1SZtfDEO1wGCYzYwr7vMhCRVwYXtWXR9Fr2jPQunRixTGg9L6kwOqPKI/s400/8+the+city+stop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-48189410550844765212011-03-04T17:39:00.001-06:002011-03-04T17:39:44.807-06:00Canal de Panama....Sunday, February 13, 2011 <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-YV9fIuk3I9MTppzKMH-WvkSdr2lhfV3m8_xc7ChtSupd-a5k1I46H4VzFG4VPmOOF_qesb92dC141FHRxO1HRHaHsDWbYZJCTQOvaEaVjvtVJMWjCipg4EJPfSCvcrItYw8qtJs354/s1600/approaching+locks+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-YV9fIuk3I9MTppzKMH-WvkSdr2lhfV3m8_xc7ChtSupd-a5k1I46H4VzFG4VPmOOF_qesb92dC141FHRxO1HRHaHsDWbYZJCTQOvaEaVjvtVJMWjCipg4EJPfSCvcrItYw8qtJs354/s640/approaching+locks+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We set our alarm for 6:00 a.m., to be up in time to see our approach to the Canal. We threw on some clothes, and headed for the forward 'secret' deck. Not so secret, but we still got a good spot. Lucky our cabin was so close to the front.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It was way too early and too dark, for the first photos to come out.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPOUX9uhuqI_qYpM_p2_OVzthNd-x3Nk5GRX4-01-lK96x_q3-BUu0Yb1_B3wFwchqx0u0nAGOSlh4ZtFpHLIKpU4VOGmByDcMemO6YPT8IQYebbPPQ5Ez6zJg_YPAedXNPOa692x01A/s1600/approaching+locks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPOUX9uhuqI_qYpM_p2_OVzthNd-x3Nk5GRX4-01-lK96x_q3-BUu0Yb1_B3wFwchqx0u0nAGOSlh4ZtFpHLIKpU4VOGmByDcMemO6YPT8IQYebbPPQ5Ez6zJg_YPAedXNPOa692x01A/s640/approaching+locks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The arrow shows the pilot which lock to enter. Note the man in the small boat. He's coming out to tie us up. They still do it that way.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeaQMzKPzwinWsbLjQ8Hg1iCW3s6b7tvWgsk67mKnlSwdV5OXAA7uv2bqMF4A_h3WphrfTPiyKjFTc93lCO8Gkrd-xmvq_TtfnCTV6gzP67rFyGBBtwhxmPvZ4HO0GD-XeFh3V33Y3uA/s1600/approaching+locks+mules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeaQMzKPzwinWsbLjQ8Hg1iCW3s6b7tvWgsk67mKnlSwdV5OXAA7uv2bqMF4A_h3WphrfTPiyKjFTc93lCO8Gkrd-xmvq_TtfnCTV6gzP67rFyGBBtwhxmPvZ4HO0GD-XeFh3V33Y3uA/s640/approaching+locks+mules.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These machines, called Mules, were ready to guide our ship through. They are tied to the ship, and help keep everything going straight.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQT2Sl0te3DOg8XKr7ee31TzZOcMqYdOThoPm0C5TAgzN9DMmf3AOH1Z3rnZIboPiE_JL_4swNzopBQH0DyH5qtR_Y29V1bEVvxkWzTtpubBHWzmN7L8O6up46OfJpRm3Cgl-J74sQqY4/s1600/approaching+locks+gate+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQT2Sl0te3DOg8XKr7ee31TzZOcMqYdOThoPm0C5TAgzN9DMmf3AOH1Z3rnZIboPiE_JL_4swNzopBQH0DyH5qtR_Y29V1bEVvxkWzTtpubBHWzmN7L8O6up46OfJpRm3Cgl-J74sQqY4/s640/approaching+locks+gate+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">As we approached the first lock, we could see the tunnels on each side. That's a road that goes through the locks.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQUWh1rxYb-qlHycr_FYg1yxjbb9BEP_aaG7phiL7uFjkV2yVwsAuAfMa_RAUN_Zf3tMLyqQRpuWGwQ4EuHIQyjeILTn-IiyOzejtTStrxUv9pgjgCCGwuL64ntqyCN_Q3qsghKTari0/s1600/rotate+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQUWh1rxYb-qlHycr_FYg1yxjbb9BEP_aaG7phiL7uFjkV2yVwsAuAfMa_RAUN_Zf3tMLyqQRpuWGwQ4EuHIQyjeILTn-IiyOzejtTStrxUv9pgjgCCGwuL64ntqyCN_Q3qsghKTari0/s640/rotate+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The bridges rotate back into the sides.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2UGlkIKr1RKVzaQwU30SNd1UWhuKSqDJ5Dk6bBgUBWH97ICGfpd_8H4L0GbGf6mbzI9EsOLfIxWIKlyLbREo5_76DEDpIV7XSV1VfgVaBR0xF-Uy-QUm0EFNs-dI-7XNa_wYwsxdCjI/s1600/Panama+canal+traffic+jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2UGlkIKr1RKVzaQwU30SNd1UWhuKSqDJ5Dk6bBgUBWH97ICGfpd_8H4L0GbGf6mbzI9EsOLfIxWIKlyLbREo5_76DEDpIV7XSV1VfgVaBR0xF-Uy-QUm0EFNs-dI-7XNa_wYwsxdCjI/s640/Panama+canal+traffic+jam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The traffic was backed up, waiting.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDGGXYB80_3Guuwl74LCxx8v6rKHYG3RLp5kA3rzqDBySeF7n8Vuly3BkK2lY4b6Z7mdd0O_vTCPzLNnC5Ve5QN0HHR2ZZAk9psZP1aq95hm1lkbtkprhwOa8FpJ1ze4ybe33Xy1vkeU/s1600/approching+second+lock+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDGGXYB80_3Guuwl74LCxx8v6rKHYG3RLp5kA3rzqDBySeF7n8Vuly3BkK2lY4b6Z7mdd0O_vTCPzLNnC5Ve5QN0HHR2ZZAk9psZP1aq95hm1lkbtkprhwOa8FpJ1ze4ybe33Xy1vkeU/s640/approching+second+lock+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Through three locks, we would be lifted 85 feet, to Gatun Lake.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsLxT1YaiwGDXtpCIDZAl-ZwrW2vIk2bzTXtNTfPXCu19k9jeAxx8E_UHEKhpDb7lXXKfz_Ek_5R1YwiFgkWnOHJeCbkCzMrhP1QZFXqkKLWzsl11Tdg3Kk_r5XWEdr6fNAfi653Pynk/s1600/mule+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsLxT1YaiwGDXtpCIDZAl-ZwrW2vIk2bzTXtNTfPXCu19k9jeAxx8E_UHEKhpDb7lXXKfz_Ek_5R1YwiFgkWnOHJeCbkCzMrhP1QZFXqkKLWzsl11Tdg3Kk_r5XWEdr6fNAfi653Pynk/s640/mule+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The Mules, and men, work on boths sides of the ships.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCVzZS6Qor8QfZ7yc1R8UKH0V4jc8YTUzOxYgCUHXCqf1fJJeaUg14yCTmKRYIv90i7OfRq1Fhndfedo6J5IZvofeKVe7IZvwWboHYztvQf0r_FtydSTkT1Ot_fhinlv4BJPb7mrp-Uk/s1600/watch+house+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCVzZS6Qor8QfZ7yc1R8UKH0V4jc8YTUzOxYgCUHXCqf1fJJeaUg14yCTmKRYIv90i7OfRq1Fhndfedo6J5IZvofeKVe7IZvwWboHYztvQf0r_FtydSTkT1Ot_fhinlv4BJPb7mrp-Uk/s640/watch+house+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">The drive beside and through this watch house. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJnuLvoC_Isl62zCYrsDfB4tAdsqZCKeDlz-b8kVld0JvM4GMwLiIKvPBqkPPXqrqSapMGEvQqVEUZn17x3n44cCd8ncw_Dc0h1XtFqp-IEvhgCHs7Nqp7jJaJvwiHuWaNmS71v5-FMk/s1600/watch+house+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJnuLvoC_Isl62zCYrsDfB4tAdsqZCKeDlz-b8kVld0JvM4GMwLiIKvPBqkPPXqrqSapMGEvQqVEUZn17x3n44cCd8ncw_Dc0h1XtFqp-IEvhgCHs7Nqp7jJaJvwiHuWaNmS71v5-FMk/s640/watch+house+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Notice the ship photographers. They were everywhere, all the time.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSDCmRzu6YcZDGQv8_dJBsRDmjGpQhBH7iusTM-9D7ucB3zicIiplJLM3ox3vDO375I-FAqI6t72hcdaqztrsLZy74TF1kCRGHtfYL07E32_VGQc-1qMWDTZfmnHWegBMhLvrryR2zo8/s1600/watch+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSDCmRzu6YcZDGQv8_dJBsRDmjGpQhBH7iusTM-9D7ucB3zicIiplJLM3ox3vDO375I-FAqI6t72hcdaqztrsLZy74TF1kCRGHtfYL07E32_VGQc-1qMWDTZfmnHWegBMhLvrryR2zo8/s640/watch+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">These are the Gatun Locks....built in 1913.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7qtrqzm3NRyraDoL5GZ22MibS1bcAefjMdo6gjRGt9l4nergtk0M8tnxAtbQscbbT9z3q-7kY6YKo7DSNWsX2V_oi2YX_Oi7Xkm3YU6yTcbu2ukqn_ziKOfaAla1mRKtmRbce4CLRAw/s1600/gates+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7qtrqzm3NRyraDoL5GZ22MibS1bcAefjMdo6gjRGt9l4nergtk0M8tnxAtbQscbbT9z3q-7kY6YKo7DSNWsX2V_oi2YX_Oi7Xkm3YU6yTcbu2ukqn_ziKOfaAla1mRKtmRbce4CLRAw/s640/gates+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The gates are large and heavy. When open, they recess back into the wall.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPVxP6tSI5RIe6SlLysFtskM7ATdJ2dFH8g3O0AT9vxHuB3AlKDweDBtGJlTsmh_AZAlT88ss5Br3RQLy7rmzls1T1u_JASbbMaF5uTbGwm0wmOzdy9pGtBZNvvOGjHRzexWdKJjLFDk/s640/gates.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gates closed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihA2WP50xFdV_FekDSahIKXqvwOhZ-lGPVkjyI9wrdVWBaPpheMoJmRwSiaGaTc2caZXhSykZEiN8XxsRYtB8uJW2ibqtA__sewbxMcU0YAZ9QsPopX-M0hKgGEzfQi3AnCHbNV1N0q4/s1600/promenade+deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihA2WP50xFdV_FekDSahIKXqvwOhZ-lGPVkjyI9wrdVWBaPpheMoJmRwSiaGaTc2caZXhSykZEiN8XxsRYtB8uJW2ibqtA__sewbxMcU0YAZ9QsPopX-M0hKgGEzfQi3AnCHbNV1N0q4/s640/promenade+deck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from the Promenade deck....deck seven. It's a tight fit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QO9MCKo_8NiDwdW_NjlxuQpQd22HChXPkoQYBOnY850NYOB2SOQodTmAXm8EPwJGxEay8bFdBpY9wnmjyorSZuffvQG9E7WN16GXQtqtj6xmeH07czGf-MVEpdEVosm6iKsjhgvbRZ8/s1600/panama+ambulance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QO9MCKo_8NiDwdW_NjlxuQpQd22HChXPkoQYBOnY850NYOB2SOQodTmAXm8EPwJGxEay8bFdBpY9wnmjyorSZuffvQG9E7WN16GXQtqtj6xmeH07czGf-MVEpdEVosm6iKsjhgvbRZ8/s640/panama+ambulance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We learned later that this ambulance was there to pick up a lady from our ship. She had a heart attack. Scary...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HOQAhp3kOthiz8UyW88CYYfrZGoBblHSkWHMT6JbMUaPfocSvcWFLDs0gulUsibTbHh5g07jy_4y7JQR092j4ZiGWlzJvUyusn-YOy1nCVsZXC5bTOb3lKzv7onXxuGWzLFYfuJqEdI/s1600/gate+thru+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HOQAhp3kOthiz8UyW88CYYfrZGoBblHSkWHMT6JbMUaPfocSvcWFLDs0gulUsibTbHh5g07jy_4y7JQR092j4ZiGWlzJvUyusn-YOy1nCVsZXC5bTOb3lKzv7onXxuGWzLFYfuJqEdI/s640/gate+thru+window.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ran down to deck five, and got a not so good picture of the gate as we passed through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmvmcjrS5wFJn31Zv9WoPdnb725DqH9UlV7iKWYCUcGrnTO2wt-uMCfLAJ6RuAcJ-XOJ_yXJAYRsRNyqJ-u7W21r8fvdq6KKnMoyEMLi47bA_WEgvHUT0Whpafj_NxhJNJJuqUASpUUY/s1600/gatun+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmvmcjrS5wFJn31Zv9WoPdnb725DqH9UlV7iKWYCUcGrnTO2wt-uMCfLAJ6RuAcJ-XOJ_yXJAYRsRNyqJ-u7W21r8fvdq6KKnMoyEMLi47bA_WEgvHUT0Whpafj_NxhJNJJuqUASpUUY/s640/gatun+lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We came out into Gatun Lake. This lake was formed by damming the Chagres River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACAwcEafFIIeyUOo28gYpCstiIVRjGuancbsdZgug_R5y0VHb_j-8PgVRJQzMn5VMnLqyWlUNdcjy6MF8vdMvPU30h_Lh1YoR4X3eUwmhkyRa_UvzokyN8Blv6ckMb2GU_HToK4tb1i8/s1600/gatun+lake+dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACAwcEafFIIeyUOo28gYpCstiIVRjGuancbsdZgug_R5y0VHb_j-8PgVRJQzMn5VMnLqyWlUNdcjy6MF8vdMvPU30h_Lh1YoR4X3eUwmhkyRa_UvzokyN8Blv6ckMb2GU_HToK4tb1i8/s640/gatun+lake+dam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the dam, in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRX9o0I11V_WwXbfPd1RvjBsFm73lCWbrVQSh34kCIe3o5EuLpU87a_5iuB0kk5IJ0nYcwT9-ln93mXTiG1XS-2BSHREik-VRBrdzZNr0NKZzvsRoWOG9VkGoJ_JwFMldK13CrbECfHc/s1600/gatun+lake+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRX9o0I11V_WwXbfPd1RvjBsFm73lCWbrVQSh34kCIe3o5EuLpU87a_5iuB0kk5IJ0nYcwT9-ln93mXTiG1XS-2BSHREik-VRBrdzZNr0NKZzvsRoWOG9VkGoJ_JwFMldK13CrbECfHc/s640/gatun+lake+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a partial crossing...meaning we were only going through the Gatun locks, turn around, and come back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC7tbmgOjkEgA_YxudTbmYD3XNCtvzmGf-3hvdNvnVBYAVRWpxT5xzL13bv7PSGvHylk03JKugOMAIGBUriX5_ZS6JDwRcl11ttD9nBkQTKsMFYqvtusflJcYKJzZLBI1v0Sok-l-VbU/s1600/gatun+lake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC7tbmgOjkEgA_YxudTbmYD3XNCtvzmGf-3hvdNvnVBYAVRWpxT5xzL13bv7PSGvHylk03JKugOMAIGBUriX5_ZS6JDwRcl11ttD9nBkQTKsMFYqvtusflJcYKJzZLBI1v0Sok-l-VbU/s640/gatun+lake+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We anchored for a while....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9l5Z5lLk1yNZAJ93pb3GcGbscR8ALnyjVuQDWbeSKuXh-eVnw0OWHXykmvVrkIsMGZ3OZRC2A77omHfgLm4l5hpiclFdVEzZsUZwvWuHhBkaXZr_V38rm9VsYXcTKP8xqQQg7pHjTbg/s1600/gatun+lake+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9l5Z5lLk1yNZAJ93pb3GcGbscR8ALnyjVuQDWbeSKuXh-eVnw0OWHXykmvVrkIsMGZ3OZRC2A77omHfgLm4l5hpiclFdVEzZsUZwvWuHhBkaXZr_V38rm9VsYXcTKP8xqQQg7pHjTbg/s640/gatun+lake+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and, waited our turn, with the other ships. The locks go one direction half the day, then the other direction. The fee for our ship to traverse just these three locks, was $250,000. But, a savings for ships who would otherwise have to go all the way around South America, to get to the Pacific Ocean.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzLfJY6lglxp_9Itfq_U9nbpJ9Cx0GJRWn2djek1LgUdRN3QCetCXsYUFWY5uEoDNTDrD6OxshIZCXPRtCdWS1uBrmd0jtdtSuhEbMluVw7Lev_wu_k5G4Vy-agWPMXH7Y_TnpE28unE/s1600/work+area+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzLfJY6lglxp_9Itfq_U9nbpJ9Cx0GJRWn2djek1LgUdRN3QCetCXsYUFWY5uEoDNTDrD6OxshIZCXPRtCdWS1uBrmd0jtdtSuhEbMluVw7Lev_wu_k5G4Vy-agWPMXH7Y_TnpE28unE/s640/work+area+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More capacity is needed, so they are busy building three more sets of locks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxo3WDQg8npkG1xFK-oL0ayoXGWbSjYsAmuOyipTGqSVdtOH5j1YvNGpiZVHinV7fzMXJoet_WbfvIJFby0n11zKrzbCHHANQ9pPlIeo-aGTD0uzVR6Fnq_fc1sgvKl0P5_LO_XLD2TE/s1600/tie+up+boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxo3WDQg8npkG1xFK-oL0ayoXGWbSjYsAmuOyipTGqSVdtOH5j1YvNGpiZVHinV7fzMXJoet_WbfvIJFby0n11zKrzbCHHANQ9pPlIeo-aGTD0uzVR6Fnq_fc1sgvKl0P5_LO_XLD2TE/s640/tie+up+boats.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tie-up boats</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We headed back out, the way we came.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiI-i745By5x52VK4GjArHHvKfprzCl_oN2phci1cw5L5Ndbi8vZtZnJmByvfkcOsGnRmX518pI6d9OGu_emdXOLi2NjnMpfd2dAvzPq3yRSYeKUO52G9LZioIM9g0v_r_2bKxHSJwKw/s1600/canal+de+panama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiI-i745By5x52VK4GjArHHvKfprzCl_oN2phci1cw5L5Ndbi8vZtZnJmByvfkcOsGnRmX518pI6d9OGu_emdXOLi2NjnMpfd2dAvzPq3yRSYeKUO52G9LZioIM9g0v_r_2bKxHSJwKw/s640/canal+de+panama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36bU2dBJZFZ8h3Lx9l_UAwvWF0J1aKFDPySH3t7UisIZbacu_lNirwP72Aw4b8-OwHVoUZdZRc1QJJ4hVYH1TGGDvv4DNNkEmHxbwHN1gT815KHEcvQIMp6UmXWxIhWfio3vi3j7DZTs/s1600/headed+back+to+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36bU2dBJZFZ8h3Lx9l_UAwvWF0J1aKFDPySH3t7UisIZbacu_lNirwP72Aw4b8-OwHVoUZdZRc1QJJ4hVYH1TGGDvv4DNNkEmHxbwHN1gT815KHEcvQIMp6UmXWxIhWfio3vi3j7DZTs/s640/headed+back+to+sea.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back out, into the Atlantic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfKKVxV2hLNip6KYBvLsiDP26Zb9Gk7KkPAUpKP0XO58Yh__Iayup1kiMvzLFWttprcQdlMDu2WVKZuoXpMI3UTwiqfoMokpOLaU3XMNXnWMgl3BhrZ0-gWdFCT2yM7tLWu-N-xevvVw/s1600/headed+back+to+sea+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfKKVxV2hLNip6KYBvLsiDP26Zb9Gk7KkPAUpKP0XO58Yh__Iayup1kiMvzLFWttprcQdlMDu2WVKZuoXpMI3UTwiqfoMokpOLaU3XMNXnWMgl3BhrZ0-gWdFCT2yM7tLWu-N-xevvVw/s640/headed+back+to+sea+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEANbzvTPh-B_ldRB0sZ1Ja1whGxiAzQel2cAVT_uS-MwCAYzkLPOLcKkXkW8RLE16UX0c-ffSsYkDJRAoM3wVq1pFDCyUtqbf8hTgy9Be7YfTM8-ekyEcItF5cXmAFgHcZHUxNxt6KM0/s640/canal+light+house.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Passing by the eastern lighthouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKRtTJzcMbQFpFoz-3SY3mVKiWwdGjzamP02CoFWoR7f1uth834gOLMFk1rm3jx0Bh25tHdBG8JZjmRnrrPv6rRhpg5BCzLFvPoum6DaWegzCm5YiyLFlDySIHbSDl5dLSZkk1bk5RZo/s1600/headed+back+to+sea+ships+waiting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKRtTJzcMbQFpFoz-3SY3mVKiWwdGjzamP02CoFWoR7f1uth834gOLMFk1rm3jx0Bh25tHdBG8JZjmRnrrPv6rRhpg5BCzLFvPoum6DaWegzCm5YiyLFlDySIHbSDl5dLSZkk1bk5RZo/s640/headed+back+to+sea+ships+waiting+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back out, where ships sat, waiting to come through the canal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our transit was very interesting. A lot of hard work, struggle and deaths, went into building this engineering marvel. Some day, maybe we'll make the full transit....through all three sets of locks, from the Pacific, to the Atlantic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't get to dock in Panama. When we booked, we were supposed to dock in Colon. We've never gotten an official reason for the change....but, that's another story. We enjoyed the experience we had.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now...off for a day at sea.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-29131856143129574932011-03-04T17:39:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:39:10.050-06:00Costa Rica....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday, February 14, 2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRdBkbphpdmG8V9o6jhXDNGJZMoUILWRgd_56couua3QCF6MHRWzaQfi4vx60vG5ZQpc6YqOjxl_6fv2j-c73fR2xA6eJKFisWWAvjOolnIKU9uVCZNs3hyphenhyphen4AoRmXISVTZyjMaVoIrEQ/s1600/approaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRdBkbphpdmG8V9o6jhXDNGJZMoUILWRgd_56couua3QCF6MHRWzaQfi4vx60vG5ZQpc6YqOjxl_6fv2j-c73fR2xA6eJKFisWWAvjOolnIKU9uVCZNs3hyphenhyphen4AoRmXISVTZyjMaVoIrEQ/s640/approaching.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Valentine's Day....we came into the port of Limon, Costa Rica.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv3n2yZuAcCdRDWNFq-PpsJrlZaBQdAgV7PFGYAc91lemiC5O3iHLHQVgBZ9Kb5QXj5lJQMk9VbZHRlVtq52ib7s-DxxNvMXmVekxe6reXvvvMoSlf6LwTBPLGd_tmt6Bp3tGUa8QGG0/s1600/approaching+port+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv3n2yZuAcCdRDWNFq-PpsJrlZaBQdAgV7PFGYAc91lemiC5O3iHLHQVgBZ9Kb5QXj5lJQMk9VbZHRlVtq52ib7s-DxxNvMXmVekxe6reXvvvMoSlf6LwTBPLGd_tmt6Bp3tGUa8QGG0/s640/approaching+port+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">As we came in, rain was pouring down. Not surprising, for a place that gets around twenty FEET of rain per year.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Costa Rica is an interesting and peaceful country. In 1948, they disbanned their army, and put all that money into education. Everybody goes to school, as far as they want to go.</div><div align="center">They are very careful with the ecology. There are plantations, but they try to conserve as much of the rain forests as possible. </div><div align="center">Not having an army can be a problem sometime, though. Right not, Nicaragua has invaded one of their larger islands, and is clear cutting the forest. Their only recourse is the International Court. It'll be five years before anything is done. That's a long time for tree cutting.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkKw4Gs3mWTxiUdHO2MUYjp0H0gVLPNjWAsBFGSZsCxB13TZs55K3ER8d6XkawRyCM8fnrK3pV0Ta_W3iv_ZCuJVZbYvt-uTa0ZxjcGYV0bDgID4W8MlQ8facnMmL8VW6fx4rAUL9qM4/s1600/rainforest+tour+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkKw4Gs3mWTxiUdHO2MUYjp0H0gVLPNjWAsBFGSZsCxB13TZs55K3ER8d6XkawRyCM8fnrK3pV0Ta_W3iv_ZCuJVZbYvt-uTa0ZxjcGYV0bDgID4W8MlQ8facnMmL8VW6fx4rAUL9qM4/s640/rainforest+tour+entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think our main impression of Costa Rica is GREEN.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vhVC6pAK7hTODdbo4SLakZB_09sHG50k0rzajZlRbgk1sde11SmZ2BmDrchZ2CDb-xrT5QVDd7x8to8U5_iRMSeEBt_mfyrHi6B113P4A4-W1vFvX62UBaClGtm87qwxmlJZmL8pj5o/s1600/rainforest+tour+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vhVC6pAK7hTODdbo4SLakZB_09sHG50k0rzajZlRbgk1sde11SmZ2BmDrchZ2CDb-xrT5QVDd7x8to8U5_iRMSeEBt_mfyrHi6B113P4A4-W1vFvX62UBaClGtm87qwxmlJZmL8pj5o/s640/rainforest+tour+flag.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We signed up for a tour of the rain forest. A two hour drive, took us to a park with a fabulous tram ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArPps6O-k1m22t0_aYpcUfDHNdxORkOUj9NAB8R7NVaxrPdUZplaY-qVB8hUfuzrPspN6jPGu3NWlndz-CYOGiSBZzd2VLxvmT2YmdiU5tML4PvME36sS2LtOMXgLexlt3LWcuS3hedU/s1600/rainforest+tour+entrance+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArPps6O-k1m22t0_aYpcUfDHNdxORkOUj9NAB8R7NVaxrPdUZplaY-qVB8hUfuzrPspN6jPGu3NWlndz-CYOGiSBZzd2VLxvmT2YmdiU5tML4PvME36sS2LtOMXgLexlt3LWcuS3hedU/s640/rainforest+tour+entrance+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a popular place for tourists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDhzu6xPmpFoY9asH9VYVe3hJz_HxYVcjR0oMqIyqYvhywEHfcPf610mglQOGTqstpx4FxOWuvgR-bX00DIP-yx85RpKpSB8zmTb8vDeTE-vVzogWu9oGhoheo_H9d44eEI5yDiDKUcw/s1600/rainforest+tour+tram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDhzu6xPmpFoY9asH9VYVe3hJz_HxYVcjR0oMqIyqYvhywEHfcPf610mglQOGTqstpx4FxOWuvgR-bX00DIP-yx85RpKpSB8zmTb8vDeTE-vVzogWu9oGhoheo_H9d44eEI5yDiDKUcw/s640/rainforest+tour+tram.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tram was built with the smallest footprint possible. A low course, and one higher up. Both use the same towers, and cut a slim path through the forest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0coBNf5e7E4iTA7B6zPtqUKU1jMN0kN6PbZN01_y-ZjHHloyML0JrUKVyfGgMn9A0jIxkbO5Mz5piHxjJycivu856cD7IgV8CTx_7134PBTsZyxVid-YISPH8tCbQGrUI_oyezDCILj4/s1600/rainforest+tour+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0coBNf5e7E4iTA7B6zPtqUKU1jMN0kN6PbZN01_y-ZjHHloyML0JrUKVyfGgMn9A0jIxkbO5Mz5piHxjJycivu856cD7IgV8CTx_7134PBTsZyxVid-YISPH8tCbQGrUI_oyezDCILj4/s640/rainforest+tour+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plants are amazing. Layer on layer of green.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc22-t76By5I3gEqdb_aFHtxH2jP7N0d-EURaFContNUPMfHgdjUGaQSGQ0tiVYAVbBQ8a1shTp_uB9yLIBzJwqYY_vgBQJVG3cQMnhrvV5Dspns7EYq-NdSlPveSDROkBEae8QKxVco/s1600/rainforest+tour+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc22-t76By5I3gEqdb_aFHtxH2jP7N0d-EURaFContNUPMfHgdjUGaQSGQ0tiVYAVbBQ8a1shTp_uB9yLIBzJwqYY_vgBQJVG3cQMnhrvV5Dspns7EYq-NdSlPveSDROkBEae8QKxVco/s640/rainforest+tour+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmWZYCknKfzaDy7vIIkGQL8ixibqtHk5SMPBZUnJqrcpGlZ4vLJoGEyORq-__nPjIaDKzpo3bn6uMc3pABFrPzwHEPN4agxwIqr7OFY9ndBOXgbkvgkNP4L4HE0jsc595ug2Qgp4jxoU/s1600/rainforest+tour+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmWZYCknKfzaDy7vIIkGQL8ixibqtHk5SMPBZUnJqrcpGlZ4vLJoGEyORq-__nPjIaDKzpo3bn6uMc3pABFrPzwHEPN4agxwIqr7OFY9ndBOXgbkvgkNP4L4HE0jsc595ug2Qgp4jxoU/s640/rainforest+tour+5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qg-KyzhASBztrOWQI4O4lHBD0-Jm8OBoQaL0PPS4FAgaDr_fppgsmocXkCyvncYlczNafuELIL0wBDRhAHafbk_LMY_hYYixL5o0WVqvouNm-HC_JO6GUKJvXK7snIQ17L6g7PgedTA/s1600/rainforest+tour+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qg-KyzhASBztrOWQI4O4lHBD0-Jm8OBoQaL0PPS4FAgaDr_fppgsmocXkCyvncYlczNafuELIL0wBDRhAHafbk_LMY_hYYixL5o0WVqvouNm-HC_JO6GUKJvXK7snIQ17L6g7PgedTA/s640/rainforest+tour+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07gCj9TcZQrvrtfxRZd1X6LiG4FHrLAB1jKahF7-5nv9hHS90i6MbjUuY-aBNaut7pWG3xH-wS7rQbegDxWGTn9SUmIcMM7dWmLG9a9X1XmewkBMjyMz3ie7yGYhoamZkUOXwodMuGbo/s1600/rainforest+tour+roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07gCj9TcZQrvrtfxRZd1X6LiG4FHrLAB1jKahF7-5nv9hHS90i6MbjUuY-aBNaut7pWG3xH-wS7rQbegDxWGTn9SUmIcMM7dWmLG9a9X1XmewkBMjyMz3ie7yGYhoamZkUOXwodMuGbo/s640/rainforest+tour+roots.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roots drop down from the tree tops, to find the soil below. They in turn make a trellis for other plants to climb up to the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Ak4_zTNECvZk-In1JJeK0VShwON47wAQrhrwlePuTYUYqGUDSkZ1g2k6y2ApkwGIb9V8UC4z-7sZW0G0qGj5xKHqkuC9wfsxbv_YWFcig40g1V2k60rhWKD4ymijEOFW0_lq2nFmCc/s1600/rainforest+tour+tree+tops+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Ak4_zTNECvZk-In1JJeK0VShwON47wAQrhrwlePuTYUYqGUDSkZ1g2k6y2ApkwGIb9V8UC4z-7sZW0G0qGj5xKHqkuC9wfsxbv_YWFcig40g1V2k60rhWKD4ymijEOFW0_lq2nFmCc/s640/rainforest+tour+tree+tops+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the upper level, you can see across the treetops. Those tall ones are called Broccoli Trees, because of their shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm going to have to do a lot of research to find real names for all of these. Our guide gave us Latin names, but with no time to write them down, I've completely forgotten them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ljfdcxekPa0OAmdX5WTdUX3X3-Qkxi1Fl2nneToaD_iWoN4p0roq4cRYOjr2O3pyIrZG922F8sgrCAItUoBk8tbHbfvQBEiZffazzN3CJyD-stYJVO78AZAXR-e5PuMDIMQ41LyH4w/s1600/rainforest+tour+ladder+vine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ljfdcxekPa0OAmdX5WTdUX3X3-Qkxi1Fl2nneToaD_iWoN4p0roq4cRYOjr2O3pyIrZG922F8sgrCAItUoBk8tbHbfvQBEiZffazzN3CJyD-stYJVO78AZAXR-e5PuMDIMQ41LyH4w/s640/rainforest+tour+ladder+vine.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got off the trams, and took a short walk through the forest. They have paved a path, for easier and safer walking. You're advised to wear closed toe shoes, for safety.....snakes and...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQgNLSA7qkiJtRn1YKgABoMKjWrVJfKb-AGe_tp0XmuvbyRzn0DgfsL25WtPaVk8wdPm8aGYMfY4rNme14MlJRffNtOT0aHMb394HAExWyvoEdZxiHZnAxoxkDVz0BCbdkK7U_W1CzJ4/s1600/rainforest+tour+bullet+ant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQgNLSA7qkiJtRn1YKgABoMKjWrVJfKb-AGe_tp0XmuvbyRzn0DgfsL25WtPaVk8wdPm8aGYMfY4rNme14MlJRffNtOT0aHMb394HAExWyvoEdZxiHZnAxoxkDVz0BCbdkK7U_W1CzJ4/s640/rainforest+tour+bullet+ant.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...these critters. This is a bad photo of a Bullet Ant. We were told it was named that, because if it bites you, it feels like being shot with a bullet. A bit longer than an inch long, and not too friendly looking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-DNmLjYcln4p0eg4c49aAThIURv232L3ueSk-5bWDHi7E7_KZB1_Jd5BhKk-ZLh1dEq7t9GvKW_nniUKPWujgwIu26F8XfCEKe3GeNJk3FJOL6-EBPGkXp03SPRQVkgY-vF5SPmxSwk/s1600/rainforest+tour+leaf+cutter+ants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-DNmLjYcln4p0eg4c49aAThIURv232L3ueSk-5bWDHi7E7_KZB1_Jd5BhKk-ZLh1dEq7t9GvKW_nniUKPWujgwIu26F8XfCEKe3GeNJk3FJOL6-EBPGkXp03SPRQVkgY-vF5SPmxSwk/s640/rainforest+tour+leaf+cutter+ants.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although we didn't actually see them, there were signs of Leaf Cutter Ants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6byyuOaqEB-BBUlpqSdKLvFY9YXIhDtgfof0WvEtN-9S_W8Pl44aliN_Aqvrg5zYJqUUA7NAZ2-9yEVYw7ZYXctpSqfsZVf4CbI_fE6sjYW_b74fLmrQc26menN5aI_se800nvBhFaQ/s1600/rainforest+tour+leaf+cutter+ants+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6byyuOaqEB-BBUlpqSdKLvFY9YXIhDtgfof0WvEtN-9S_W8Pl44aliN_Aqvrg5zYJqUUA7NAZ2-9yEVYw7ZYXctpSqfsZVf4CbI_fE6sjYW_b74fLmrQc26menN5aI_se800nvBhFaQ/s640/rainforest+tour+leaf+cutter+ants+trail.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They eat the ever present moss off the trees, on their way to the tops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2aTWS0F83CFoYycHt7YgT1S8H7q5Lzb9dhRvrsHCWLOo1DAV6Pd84UluS8pkY6_v4uiYch1zFSr1PwSwfa_4bjxXNCel0wwbOCfC0AXLLXasizmJFg1XZq_TkksySRvlY2mD4qOATb0/s1600/rainforest+tour+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2aTWS0F83CFoYycHt7YgT1S8H7q5Lzb9dhRvrsHCWLOo1DAV6Pd84UluS8pkY6_v4uiYch1zFSr1PwSwfa_4bjxXNCel0wwbOCfC0AXLLXasizmJFg1XZq_TkksySRvlY2mD4qOATb0/s640/rainforest+tour+flower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was color, too, in the flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDVE-a9Fjn-otz__3sKNdDk83VpgDtgdq1k5sz3DgcXsGwDGp2AZsQv31SgzJGA8xu0oIJL6-bx4S7GABzP1kKuWQeNZhXSKmW4XoRu_gfZBIciDYjlPK8X0JNLSJ2BvGY_DBnuaXceM/s1600/rainforest+tour+bird+of+paradise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDVE-a9Fjn-otz__3sKNdDk83VpgDtgdq1k5sz3DgcXsGwDGp2AZsQv31SgzJGA8xu0oIJL6-bx4S7GABzP1kKuWQeNZhXSKmW4XoRu_gfZBIciDYjlPK8X0JNLSJ2BvGY_DBnuaXceM/s640/rainforest+tour+bird+of+paradise.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EQrl802ZFJyg1LO-zaBZMJ9vfc0jVvASVx3oaeFrAyIIEVoG-KaTKVtHfAueXA2csgp7AUcf9i_igdoAONF3Ug_LqREsCXiuW_DPnWmXsFZTQ_sOXnTs3t3-ImmJdsW36ZsnjAKsbYA/s1600/rainforest+tour+flower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EQrl802ZFJyg1LO-zaBZMJ9vfc0jVvASVx3oaeFrAyIIEVoG-KaTKVtHfAueXA2csgp7AUcf9i_igdoAONF3Ug_LqREsCXiuW_DPnWmXsFZTQ_sOXnTs3t3-ImmJdsW36ZsnjAKsbYA/s640/rainforest+tour+flower+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8tJgbKOwR9LsN8t5WkqqkCQtGoJG_d-BkkYGCPGIlw2A6COnUBd4UTc2Pp4toOpBbLoKgCFdekm30SZSxodDKLs1osEPEsXdielMPCx3aQlPhhqcuz6OSbzB3OONDVgRBJMLijv6EWU/s1600/rainforest+tour+flower+3+orchids+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8tJgbKOwR9LsN8t5WkqqkCQtGoJG_d-BkkYGCPGIlw2A6COnUBd4UTc2Pp4toOpBbLoKgCFdekm30SZSxodDKLs1osEPEsXdielMPCx3aQlPhhqcuz6OSbzB3OONDVgRBJMLijv6EWU/s640/rainforest+tour+flower+3+orchids+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh5PyEB1URzDD0WmTP-Oc_MhilRhbZbAuMiH_AjXvZ-7lp3G0UljV-XT3T2qmNK25o6VBggtYRLYD0GVAUB_NtiwHOXqX0G_ATID9U9nucAq8piRVAx7AOE1c69aTBFZkq4a4TacBd1I/s1600/roadside+african+orchid+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh5PyEB1URzDD0WmTP-Oc_MhilRhbZbAuMiH_AjXvZ-7lp3G0UljV-XT3T2qmNK25o6VBggtYRLYD0GVAUB_NtiwHOXqX0G_ATID9U9nucAq8piRVAx7AOE1c69aTBFZkq4a4TacBd1I/s640/roadside+african+orchid+trees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After a very good lunch of local dishes, we were back on the bus, for the return trip.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were lucky enough to be there when the African Orchid trees bloom. Only a couple weeks in February.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JVl0OaLe-ou2whOyoXEdFdTRIhKggvNLvi4-y_yTwvtL34PuzIdEZivx7vtHN_EhkzaTJXTA1uuuOUJdT0euEqYyr17Zhr4n-YjPoNka6JoPqlu-pW36pgu7msTM51-R5eQPmrLRD1s/s1600/roadside+banana+plantation+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JVl0OaLe-ou2whOyoXEdFdTRIhKggvNLvi4-y_yTwvtL34PuzIdEZivx7vtHN_EhkzaTJXTA1uuuOUJdT0euEqYyr17Zhr4n-YjPoNka6JoPqlu-pW36pgu7msTM51-R5eQPmrLRD1s/s640/roadside+banana+plantation+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We passed many banana plantations. The blue mesh bags are to protect the fruit from insects and from ripening too soon. Bananas are shipped green.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD2uS9fZFKjwR-H8AJ7YqpvAqetzu-wHf4-YOJdYwW9DOZ31YeEdwpHnqSr9d0zQCg2h1pA30d7Y2nXE4i4x-ylCwLKkDMnVA-5qRSkEbM2coPkm4l5lHFwHnjxJaUeOGW_vZvnY0Wls/s1600/roadside+pineapple+plantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD2uS9fZFKjwR-H8AJ7YqpvAqetzu-wHf4-YOJdYwW9DOZ31YeEdwpHnqSr9d0zQCg2h1pA30d7Y2nXE4i4x-ylCwLKkDMnVA-5qRSkEbM2coPkm4l5lHFwHnjxJaUeOGW_vZvnY0Wls/s640/roadside+pineapple+plantation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are pineapple plantations, as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjT6Jp3_nFmPsd2k3SbVBF2P5iplQFM8IhI-RU8ZDpRraFAJqcFmCcum0DS8kqyt4EUszefg7ELv2cWDb1HjUzzo9hyphenhyphenj8kJjdI9B3u1DyQDnYiQndEKwScJ_u6z_8ZVG-dKCYRGvfi2o/s1600/roadside+dracena+plantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjT6Jp3_nFmPsd2k3SbVBF2P5iplQFM8IhI-RU8ZDpRraFAJqcFmCcum0DS8kqyt4EUszefg7ELv2cWDb1HjUzzo9hyphenhyphenj8kJjdI9B3u1DyQDnYiQndEKwScJ_u6z_8ZVG-dKCYRGvfi2o/s640/roadside+dracena+plantation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, they grow many of the house plants we buy. Here is a field dracenas. We passed many more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUF0GfrV2dRFIGHpuqFa9XDs6qZnJuDkgawBZYhVsRp2jPm2fNKf1vfaG-09LcqxyAfeKy5f_d8icT9som0F2RByQS5Qx2-e-5ACsuytD-3pFqTuKxbi6ErhNOqQsH4KSj29LpizWb7I/s1600/roadside+fence+row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUF0GfrV2dRFIGHpuqFa9XDs6qZnJuDkgawBZYhVsRp2jPm2fNKf1vfaG-09LcqxyAfeKy5f_d8icT9som0F2RByQS5Qx2-e-5ACsuytD-3pFqTuKxbi6ErhNOqQsH4KSj29LpizWb7I/s640/roadside+fence+row.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even fence posts take root and grow into trees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLzBdAkNMOIBdygaog-UR8Tkut0Ly91IdZBcSkAXWNuNMNy0xR4T_mx7srlil-_4CLS-6JDDw4BDfFTIqlAAP31lTAvZpXvMDx9gXX4kIt2lAbpBTFzrrAJKzbBqgHVd9R3LKeHgTIsc/s1600/roadside+cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLzBdAkNMOIBdygaog-UR8Tkut0Ly91IdZBcSkAXWNuNMNy0xR4T_mx7srlil-_4CLS-6JDDw4BDfFTIqlAAP31lTAvZpXvMDx9gXX4kIt2lAbpBTFzrrAJKzbBqgHVd9R3LKeHgTIsc/s640/roadside+cafe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A roadside cafe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsQ_cmnqWGryy8HhppsZHGuNDDSmH6kSLnGWSaoKuOKAjYijzTDjYUpQKdrwCzKhiYgpV9KwWj9FJfutAUUIIJvtBxx3AiRghUYGpPMMLY78v4TjbwJA-p3x3wKi6Gv_5eLNi6TR0Hvs/s1600/roadside+living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsQ_cmnqWGryy8HhppsZHGuNDDSmH6kSLnGWSaoKuOKAjYijzTDjYUpQKdrwCzKhiYgpV9KwWj9FJfutAUUIIJvtBxx3AiRghUYGpPMMLY78v4TjbwJA-p3x3wKi6Gv_5eLNi6TR0Hvs/s640/roadside+living.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A roadside hut.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngg5JU0wIG-YaVo66kwV3hFwCzuIBBHvhrH71tvyX42mWYmU9aCQLYrj1jV5R1xYPSHAsCDMM7bZr-5qJz-BHuCWg4C7VkKAwtH8vt88tDUeevdw_AhaiZzJXFdGDql3KVnsu14e40z4/s1600/roadside+village+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngg5JU0wIG-YaVo66kwV3hFwCzuIBBHvhrH71tvyX42mWYmU9aCQLYrj1jV5R1xYPSHAsCDMM7bZr-5qJz-BHuCWg4C7VkKAwtH8vt88tDUeevdw_AhaiZzJXFdGDql3KVnsu14e40z4/s640/roadside+village+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Closer into town, a store and village street.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwKi9WLkO3bCyrJNDg9h-uCMts6Ld2qePJiT-WZnfj2Kj488BSdPfODyM1Gywmwv88fvykxBd3ZUCVCmcAMd_lM1gF_Gkl8zjVMwxVh7KGyFclOm2nRmpVrqJ6hIBiTzhWjbUeHLKkMg/s1600/roadside+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwKi9WLkO3bCyrJNDg9h-uCMts6Ld2qePJiT-WZnfj2Kj488BSdPfODyM1Gywmwv88fvykxBd3ZUCVCmcAMd_lM1gF_Gkl8zjVMwxVh7KGyFclOm2nRmpVrqJ6hIBiTzhWjbUeHLKkMg/s640/roadside+river.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We passed many rivers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIe1n0Ds4tkNt-pFNO2t_UF2ZBDaKMAzFqrdhIkgGSeJQ5aIHOmlmNnB9f5KrzwNOxH6ehyphenhyphenBfm-E2CM6ZRSYdIbVfFQn_t1KeP267ALggNO_o_uyLzcEFUt01mE5OvPcUOjHKDLzRDI4/s1600/roadside+river+and+mountains+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIe1n0Ds4tkNt-pFNO2t_UF2ZBDaKMAzFqrdhIkgGSeJQ5aIHOmlmNnB9f5KrzwNOxH6ehyphenhyphenBfm-E2CM6ZRSYdIbVfFQn_t1KeP267ALggNO_o_uyLzcEFUt01mE5OvPcUOjHKDLzRDI4/s640/roadside+river+and+mountains+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XEHBYGCaPaJhcI8fAesXXZku0Wohy8LZFdVSJ1LNA-ETVzz1DVDhg43M_w7JNjZcNmHzkYN4OT44QForYcBjajtIAgMFmM8yiIsvjRj0tY3uEEyz8Fp0SVCxkjusdh-kGgzY5fLSJjU/s1600/roadside+river+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XEHBYGCaPaJhcI8fAesXXZku0Wohy8LZFdVSJ1LNA-ETVzz1DVDhg43M_w7JNjZcNmHzkYN4OT44QForYcBjajtIAgMFmM8yiIsvjRj0tY3uEEyz8Fp0SVCxkjusdh-kGgzY5fLSJjU/s640/roadside+river+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4tQD91m6gIPP_IsaedMacgdCQ7Rm5fPDixMuteLNNjgte-eWQMMBc-P0xxKXJjWjh77sQbkzDZEBDRGVehCLjWBCji4GHtw8ZnazyvXuWPGtOMSLqYPqYPHEzx6jVOxMe_g9nalOMVY/s1600/roadside+sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4tQD91m6gIPP_IsaedMacgdCQ7Rm5fPDixMuteLNNjgte-eWQMMBc-P0xxKXJjWjh77sQbkzDZEBDRGVehCLjWBCji4GHtw8ZnazyvXuWPGtOMSLqYPqYPHEzx6jVOxMe_g9nalOMVY/s640/roadside+sloth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along the way, our bus driver...yes, the driver...spotted this Sloth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha52SsyX9JrjPskLw9ruvMypAfKBx8Kg7MhgPvPcKZ2-JDNR6M-z5IfqHW51qBYbLuz50ZOZp09bQ-RcIKAH9Wrr0fVwZ6dmKSPgbONSzc9jOZuRn8bLv80aauMCyDn8lDRZFVs2CfV0A/s1600/roadside+sloth+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha52SsyX9JrjPskLw9ruvMypAfKBx8Kg7MhgPvPcKZ2-JDNR6M-z5IfqHW51qBYbLuz50ZOZp09bQ-RcIKAH9Wrr0fVwZ6dmKSPgbONSzc9jOZuRn8bLv80aauMCyDn8lDRZFVs2CfV0A/s640/roadside+sloth+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He stopped the bus, so we could see...across the road....this little guy climbing in the tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw toucans, and small parrots...too far away for photos. And, we stopped again to see Howler Monkeys. You're not going to believe it....I didn't...but my batteries had died in my camera....ugh!</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, we did get to see them, anyway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamVKW07zObh-UkSiB3LjOP9YWht2tIm0yMA-4ur0XJciz4cjCckLQulKZo4mcIDNShlcOEwQhK2szTKptPfTgd1F98tvzsmRW_x8NnKMnSR9vkXmmx7yhY-66wSMrI-cThJ_TuK3x6R0/s1600/sail+away+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamVKW07zObh-UkSiB3LjOP9YWht2tIm0yMA-4ur0XJciz4cjCckLQulKZo4mcIDNShlcOEwQhK2szTKptPfTgd1F98tvzsmRW_x8NnKMnSR9vkXmmx7yhY-66wSMrI-cThJ_TuK3x6R0/s640/sail+away+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back on board for Sail Away. We passed this small island, just outside the port.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-Qt-b5sOlP4CETVpbgnOsuNJcEE6yg3Fw_A3v9HMhQSv4vDFVZIettosjllgsIJIsl9Ho7Ck-9LFzszEQdgpq0shEMUyvC-9G3Wdo4kffX7diX7XIBjbw6M5p6eN94pk1GGjlJmBVzQ/s1600/sail+away+1+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-Qt-b5sOlP4CETVpbgnOsuNJcEE6yg3Fw_A3v9HMhQSv4vDFVZIettosjllgsIJIsl9Ho7Ck-9LFzszEQdgpq0shEMUyvC-9G3Wdo4kffX7diX7XIBjbw6M5p6eN94pk1GGjlJmBVzQ/s640/sail+away+1+close.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We spotted this house...maybe a resort?....on the island.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyrQUV3MEu053wodd9YtetIp2bl8nBka_cReO_VpjQ-7DIvhJKnU7fxv0HUaH7J6p_Yv2x0rhVsY47o-v5WhNY2gbTrmcBPx9vN6EcJlx1hEgtyfCHPa42l2h_mlnJ8V-5-QQZ4PV6As/s1600/sail+away+port+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyrQUV3MEu053wodd9YtetIp2bl8nBka_cReO_VpjQ-7DIvhJKnU7fxv0HUaH7J6p_Yv2x0rhVsY47o-v5WhNY2gbTrmcBPx9vN6EcJlx1hEgtyfCHPa42l2h_mlnJ8V-5-QQZ4PV6As/s640/sail+away+port+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We sailed away from this beautiful place.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHm0cBW9gAcEagkcbmXhAjLqaSXrRIMr5zQ-Uv8khQK6HzFRUIQL7xzC-AmqcKCxPIh-Kz9vzpj7T3OFknRV1EfXXB6u6AIchxM5M45gau3mwtkL3St4hBS-TXGTLRvDqRtSnzb_VQCk/s1600/sail+away+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHm0cBW9gAcEagkcbmXhAjLqaSXrRIMr5zQ-Uv8khQK6HzFRUIQL7xzC-AmqcKCxPIh-Kz9vzpj7T3OFknRV1EfXXB6u6AIchxM5M45gau3mwtkL3St4hBS-TXGTLRvDqRtSnzb_VQCk/s640/sail+away+sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were blessed with a beautiful sunset.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHrDLJkJ4xChTRW1ZQE1M9Cfq85RkCJqa32LiDrkh5eQE3fKzQXSooHb00p6cPbcwGpeY5d6XdKeocnxIhPlB-rowAlf_3Qh8poKymrQa5hucMa1git9hYVPQyR7CBNK5kEaQE2PE9Gs/s1600/sail+away+sunset+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHrDLJkJ4xChTRW1ZQE1M9Cfq85RkCJqa32LiDrkh5eQE3fKzQXSooHb00p6cPbcwGpeY5d6XdKeocnxIhPlB-rowAlf_3Qh8poKymrQa5hucMa1git9hYVPQyR7CBNK5kEaQE2PE9Gs/s640/sail+away+sunset+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clouds gathered above the mountains. Ready to drop more rain, to keep everything green.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of those places we'd like to return to, for a longer visit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-8854589211207418192011-03-04T17:37:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:37:35.665-06:00Jamaica.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVl7ZeQT3bEBRpuOmUWrOVCJDWd1sgK8ahcVV6snyU0TqulnDBwC6rGsRDzz4m7pni5M5GRqMQkLJzHUTe-W0aIO2c73yK96KgrSvDVCSm8t-rYAIbFFjfg5qFej9l6lj-e2tOXV4Jdo/s1600/approaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVl7ZeQT3bEBRpuOmUWrOVCJDWd1sgK8ahcVV6snyU0TqulnDBwC6rGsRDzz4m7pni5M5GRqMQkLJzHUTe-W0aIO2c73yK96KgrSvDVCSm8t-rYAIbFFjfg5qFej9l6lj-e2tOXV4Jdo/s640/approaching.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">After a day at sea, we came into the port at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq8dEGTiqlj-dSBZK0xuTCvd2TGLDVK6ewSE8mIScLGCqDd9HwINIiBtdqC_KwOJlI5WG8WbfkaysPpRqYmPfEBSvUDxYGw1S9LFVn252ia8Wg-Nd4M6rfVKSL9aAQFWvrUsI7fLDeiw/s1600/approaching+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq8dEGTiqlj-dSBZK0xuTCvd2TGLDVK6ewSE8mIScLGCqDd9HwINIiBtdqC_KwOJlI5WG8WbfkaysPpRqYmPfEBSvUDxYGw1S9LFVn252ia8Wg-Nd4M6rfVKSL9aAQFWvrUsI7fLDeiw/s640/approaching+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Jamaica is a lush, tropical island.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ff_Co8OeqWMLLIglsb4UKBY-FlUaDsn-2ZlrxKi_fj29artL_LDCbpbeGHLL4rvbv1WdSBxZe5nDh5akwDN0fMC97UNwqF1oVzcwl7Y78UHOI7DseUlf2f1Tf2HNMEU-6wptyhxQgI/s1600/approaching+4+waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ff_Co8OeqWMLLIglsb4UKBY-FlUaDsn-2ZlrxKi_fj29artL_LDCbpbeGHLL4rvbv1WdSBxZe5nDh5akwDN0fMC97UNwqF1oVzcwl7Y78UHOI7DseUlf2f1Tf2HNMEU-6wptyhxQgI/s640/approaching+4+waterfall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center">Lots of rivers and waterfalls.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgtWjEDXUT_1uEB6texo-KWL84FFg8nDIu1iVSulYAmLCxnD_kA9k4j9G0RwoO3et-wXQXEZMfzyINuQ_p4VmtDsATDMZByOqXXWjVz6t2PyLUKnIGv6ckon279rcFtJBhDinJuENoo/s1600/port+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgtWjEDXUT_1uEB6texo-KWL84FFg8nDIu1iVSulYAmLCxnD_kA9k4j9G0RwoO3et-wXQXEZMfzyINuQ_p4VmtDsATDMZByOqXXWjVz6t2PyLUKnIGv6ckon279rcFtJBhDinJuENoo/s640/port+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Tourism is a big part of their economy.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkNl6imiPEu6tbtLZZkR-6-pQFctD1X5GcNEPyVxCbL6iMhlXCqpDygd6PGxTrvw9qGhGalxjtDePLjZpFvoJdbvZ-ytQW7LDlDsPfD1T0V2y2qB3uYTH0W5jxSZETxQB_diZv7-3lE/s1600/port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkNl6imiPEu6tbtLZZkR-6-pQFctD1X5GcNEPyVxCbL6iMhlXCqpDygd6PGxTrvw9qGhGalxjtDePLjZpFvoJdbvZ-ytQW7LDlDsPfD1T0V2y2qB3uYTH0W5jxSZETxQB_diZv7-3lE/s640/port.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We're headed for that beach.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDztkGWepbP95kS3eC7pSfM6awi7z1S1kDU-mMf0NBtIp5x8u4Zoaaa6vqBvPnSXumTRVUS57Wt5sv4ifoaoMXy91qe1BLOZR72Qo62uTLH0Bkybsu2tjKkw1wAyPkzeRuFfMoARg5t20/s1600/island+village+shops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDztkGWepbP95kS3eC7pSfM6awi7z1S1kDU-mMf0NBtIp5x8u4Zoaaa6vqBvPnSXumTRVUS57Wt5sv4ifoaoMXy91qe1BLOZR72Qo62uTLH0Bkybsu2tjKkw1wAyPkzeRuFfMoARg5t20/s640/island+village+shops.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We'd been here before. So, we caught a taxi and headed for Island Village. It's a shopping area, full of small shops and artisans.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAocibRGoous7OYIssxO9dmwAyWtyS2qHGCSWrfdvdZXyBccu7SfzEPvsaA8nel-6R9GTR5xAGsWcE9s0YuDem6wPUcKDl6Z5G8x5FAdw9Z4-TqFbEI7OqRF6TPz8Lmx6d3p1Aw14mQMw/s1600/island+village+shops+3+artist+basket+weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAocibRGoous7OYIssxO9dmwAyWtyS2qHGCSWrfdvdZXyBccu7SfzEPvsaA8nel-6R9GTR5xAGsWcE9s0YuDem6wPUcKDl6Z5G8x5FAdw9Z4-TqFbEI7OqRF6TPz8Lmx6d3p1Aw14mQMw/s640/island+village+shops+3+artist+basket+weaver.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">I bought some boxes, woven by this young lady. She weaves boxes, purses, baskets and bracelets, from Twist Pine. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYcRbSeaoxAcvYpgMd_ToTqAPECB847z1UhoKfNJ0Bjee1H11VU7NsvErqRm44GqBS-1DnBYbQZuHmR9t6W8UZtnbk_AhfAHHnIxDJMyHR5zRwm1ODZLL8nNZsccxLcKT10ttSlDg5C8/s1600/island+village+shops+3+artist+Charlotte+craver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYcRbSeaoxAcvYpgMd_ToTqAPECB847z1UhoKfNJ0Bjee1H11VU7NsvErqRm44GqBS-1DnBYbQZuHmR9t6W8UZtnbk_AhfAHHnIxDJMyHR5zRwm1ODZLL8nNZsccxLcKT10ttSlDg5C8/s640/island+village+shops+3+artist+Charlotte+craver.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">And, I bought a brightly painted parrot from this young lady, Charlotte. She carves them from cedar. She's signing my parrot. I loved the fish, but they were pretty big.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIpu1wtZbwih8wW-4ocF2RG0zv6PtFR1ASAnwH5mcLjeKfKnLrq_62Wq7VIVog4eleYAaLCSDJTBqFLv5cZ6-Q-dX94T3FhtE6sJgJgz_742zN8_N5JPbVdS7pZ8dvsSBS9pl7Fv9_04/s1600/island+village+marley+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIpu1wtZbwih8wW-4ocF2RG0zv6PtFR1ASAnwH5mcLjeKfKnLrq_62Wq7VIVog4eleYAaLCSDJTBqFLv5cZ6-Q-dX94T3FhtE6sJgJgz_742zN8_N5JPbVdS7pZ8dvsSBS9pl7Fv9_04/s640/island+village+marley+statue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">There are lots of tropical plantings. Here you see a statue of Bob Marley.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmfpdPOC8zFJXu3sfZILReqaG4CiSOdf231s3WuViT94RCyD7zlxn8pwQdRobNufC28HvR07UllNc6Xz6vkajcr-LEZkim5AXmXMtiGJDeIDfPu2BBGIe4JFSIyImQ5brumBLEsZEH5I/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmfpdPOC8zFJXu3sfZILReqaG4CiSOdf231s3WuViT94RCyD7zlxn8pwQdRobNufC28HvR07UllNc6Xz6vkajcr-LEZkim5AXmXMtiGJDeIDfPu2BBGIe4JFSIyImQ5brumBLEsZEH5I/s640/island+village+margaritaville+entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Our main reason for coming here, though, was Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVneGd1CZPnCPnCz59JQHPd90W5uzvlUba7FdJ6jIvLHSz3Il7BDBrft_Nx4HyQE8209C5j3sTweL7S6ew3Tquh1Xf621UDQHqREhYvSIgHtC7TRGLkmF8Ea15XePONJMTt-vS8HtqdiY/s1600/island+village+margaritaville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVneGd1CZPnCPnCz59JQHPd90W5uzvlUba7FdJ6jIvLHSz3Il7BDBrft_Nx4HyQE8209C5j3sTweL7S6ew3Tquh1Xf621UDQHqREhYvSIgHtC7TRGLkmF8Ea15XePONJMTt-vS8HtqdiY/s640/island+village+margaritaville.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div align="center">This is a great place to hang out.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZRnWArUbXVRiMGeeItQiGVdv5Zwl9gEpgszXrlVZcZapqhCMGe-0FRN7NTMtec0niZj3gLflcKDbfd3fIvU_bnX14F9z7Xlbbu2OYvLSsp9xKkTHinrCQ9PdIMWTGlcJqJn-Ggy_Qns/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZRnWArUbXVRiMGeeItQiGVdv5Zwl9gEpgszXrlVZcZapqhCMGe-0FRN7NTMtec0niZj3gLflcKDbfd3fIvU_bnX14F9z7Xlbbu2OYvLSsp9xKkTHinrCQ9PdIMWTGlcJqJn-Ggy_Qns/s640/island+village+margaritaville+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Open air, with some colorful tables and chairs...on the beach, in the sand, under a thatched roof.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtokgaWyjS9FdLYrdLqTKlJdiTkZMzwrRjnTrKGhv_aMhEfhX3nm_izRyHKhpQAkoHjw_VNvQU1aFGpD2Q-UZJzHp9f6vo4dzr4tPl60YrIo3h1kFRte9ve2b9CaFQ4UxTu_LhMIQs0Vc/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+6+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtokgaWyjS9FdLYrdLqTKlJdiTkZMzwrRjnTrKGhv_aMhEfhX3nm_izRyHKhpQAkoHjw_VNvQU1aFGpD2Q-UZJzHp9f6vo4dzr4tPl60YrIo3h1kFRte9ve2b9CaFQ4UxTu_LhMIQs0Vc/s640/island+village+margaritaville+6+group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">We had some beverages and snacks and enjoyed the atmosphere.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVgKIti0DipgbxbNNUzIucFH8W0-jHZkT-f4gJmAPpkIw_w3cage-vGZfBlSyrnbHLV-XiIyNzNSqOBUcD2d-8zL1TF07c5qDjt8JH8_iDgg8rPkfBarM5QPxB7NtXhvgFJsrlRaUz8/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+8+ship+from+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVgKIti0DipgbxbNNUzIucFH8W0-jHZkT-f4gJmAPpkIw_w3cage-vGZfBlSyrnbHLV-XiIyNzNSqOBUcD2d-8zL1TF07c5qDjt8JH8_iDgg8rPkfBarM5QPxB7NtXhvgFJsrlRaUz8/s640/island+village+margaritaville+8+ship+from+beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">As you see, it's not far from the ship. We didn't dock where we expected, which was at the end of the Island Village pier. A little far around the port, though..and, we didn't want to run the gauntlet of vendors on the street....so, the taxi.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZNpRvVGSfcrxljeu9tDMZBWQzBAv4DsMJSRZ8wX6XOCen9dr7HT3UqcYp6NUs1eCHXJCpjDmCnVfFLlJZwt8yKHcD-k1HEzH3H1R-Vs1qVZjVv2wLbbr_DV_y17skiOuVJJb1h3ia4o/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+beach+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZNpRvVGSfcrxljeu9tDMZBWQzBAv4DsMJSRZ8wX6XOCen9dr7HT3UqcYp6NUs1eCHXJCpjDmCnVfFLlJZwt8yKHcD-k1HEzH3H1R-Vs1qVZjVv2wLbbr_DV_y17skiOuVJJb1h3ia4o/s640/island+village+margaritaville+beach+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">There's a nice beach, with security. Those without a wrist band, are not allowed in.</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zYqT6flHMt-UzQdTj7uvNXYdyqmU5nENL63Tr6JeaWg11dZPe7KPl9pIQSRvBFrKYv-R4dymTb4Z6j5ECy6ld7t9i-XI3QhkaU2lvrw4V2eahVes1AcLWxAZcR-n4AuG3tZTgR0Atdc/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+7+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zYqT6flHMt-UzQdTj7uvNXYdyqmU5nENL63Tr6JeaWg11dZPe7KPl9pIQSRvBFrKYv-R4dymTb4Z6j5ECy6ld7t9i-XI3QhkaU2lvrw4V2eahVes1AcLWxAZcR-n4AuG3tZTgR0Atdc/s640/island+village+margaritaville+7+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>You can hang out in the pool, too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGsbwGZa6pzyeeZbJMwANNtm1FvdGWtI97S10frzOD9XtSmmpC_yD57z9KSW9CE57X_4iofArGMg-3E7DUmpHBHQaYcJWnwQF6kyi0xkvQVOsMIKFjIMzpxpE7P7NgYwKOVeM7m2Pzfw/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+7+pool+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGsbwGZa6pzyeeZbJMwANNtm1FvdGWtI97S10frzOD9XtSmmpC_yD57z9KSW9CE57X_4iofArGMg-3E7DUmpHBHQaYcJWnwQF6kyi0xkvQVOsMIKFjIMzpxpE7P7NgYwKOVeM7m2Pzfw/s640/island+village+margaritaville+7+pool+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Swim right up, for a drink.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2JBxHPB-R_Zs3C3omUfBUfe4NCfWVhXGusT07S7vZs4yY9L2-HjHSv0b4rkX5-QriOTTpodSCShA_Yo0ZKVIgkRnfBO1nXQl1gDaomWBXLsMi9enEmihAQp70mhhBZ7touzgfyeI08w/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+waiters+playing+trays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2JBxHPB-R_Zs3C3omUfBUfe4NCfWVhXGusT07S7vZs4yY9L2-HjHSv0b4rkX5-QriOTTpodSCShA_Yo0ZKVIgkRnfBO1nXQl1gDaomWBXLsMi9enEmihAQp70mhhBZ7touzgfyeI08w/s640/island+village+margaritaville+waiters+playing+trays.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Everybody was having a good time. The wait staff played music on the metal trays.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuMf1ynylk86jo-NPBu8-YgB5mFz2utRvfjzMZYMv1b7yO-U_WNSxRQFTmy0ia4myYVLqPkFQg9iZwvJir_04tZdwFcSX-hOq11sWHMvOYmj99u3sJ9zvUh7b7xaClQaKuKhwD-WpFjA/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuMf1ynylk86jo-NPBu8-YgB5mFz2utRvfjzMZYMv1b7yO-U_WNSxRQFTmy0ia4myYVLqPkFQg9iZwvJir_04tZdwFcSX-hOq11sWHMvOYmj99u3sJ9zvUh7b7xaClQaKuKhwD-WpFjA/s640/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This amply endowed young lady, was racing around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47fz8hBVzIW74HY4ev58cRFX7M1n-gDYyylBzSVQ5llfaI2hCikbokhv9ayz9syQCsNZn0s-YH_LR8o2RMLv5deTfwlYwjm3ZQRC0Wq3erxmMmmE283XGkRQ4OzXjdoRw2YjUsh_M16k/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47fz8hBVzIW74HY4ev58cRFX7M1n-gDYyylBzSVQ5llfaI2hCikbokhv9ayz9syQCsNZn0s-YH_LR8o2RMLv5deTfwlYwjm3ZQRC0Wq3erxmMmmE283XGkRQ4OzXjdoRw2YjUsh_M16k/s640/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Hiding inside the store.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpK6OjoEbDV8fT2BhjcsZM6FAq5jzeeP7RYrK3Zm0P9-B6i35PHqXxxmuiylVS2q9tb3wR4A7CkBHMI8yaRzFXTN5qUg5QP6-EBwLSX1w5eJ_h8viYfMa7sSB5gcGPkG61JoGHnKRQv4/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpK6OjoEbDV8fT2BhjcsZM6FAq5jzeeP7RYrK3Zm0P9-B6i35PHqXxxmuiylVS2q9tb3wR4A7CkBHMI8yaRzFXTN5qUg5QP6-EBwLSX1w5eJ_h8viYfMa7sSB5gcGPkG61JoGHnKRQv4/s640/island+village+margaritaville+island+woman+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div align="center">Chillin'.....</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmlhNyDYsB6sAl70e60G5SpMjJLhGeBA34NcMQIfai-TXU6x7cnwWCLskZSnXsqlWa6SLgquqJNpIh2TdPJJgUhlx1-Em2tHkMX9OzFSQ_dT23BYVsZYpJFHam-3RUAiT5uq1VRdc1n4/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+wall+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmlhNyDYsB6sAl70e60G5SpMjJLhGeBA34NcMQIfai-TXU6x7cnwWCLskZSnXsqlWa6SLgquqJNpIh2TdPJJgUhlx1-Em2tHkMX9OzFSQ_dT23BYVsZYpJFHam-3RUAiT5uq1VRdc1n4/s640/island+village+margaritaville+wall+art.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">Colorful decorations, everywhere.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">We Strolled on the beach, and even put our toes in the water.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp5cMZT8neaX3SWrw57dSJp8GKc0H7ur6QlUKTl8Dbup6BQJfXCmVa2ewNgox3mgu09E7La5Si4j9-MHhexIWbAjzPVnKjIYxN-Jlyfnnexgrbz6BhnbbbyeO9cpUQi4KaAIK3PG9b_U/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+water+jann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp5cMZT8neaX3SWrw57dSJp8GKc0H7ur6QlUKTl8Dbup6BQJfXCmVa2ewNgox3mgu09E7La5Si4j9-MHhexIWbAjzPVnKjIYxN-Jlyfnnexgrbz6BhnbbbyeO9cpUQi4KaAIK3PG9b_U/s640/island+village+margaritaville+water+jann.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSYxrWrb_bHCHdajhHVTrGGCSl-yzMkOqbuduNp7oANyA6RLICBMaP2a4SKnFwbL8c9IJ3mZ5lkLoXh20tW9zTJFgD-4iuGz277eGAU1mZjrZwsoW7-sEbcqsu44FZ7a3QYunBPK9gQc/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+water+linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSYxrWrb_bHCHdajhHVTrGGCSl-yzMkOqbuduNp7oANyA6RLICBMaP2a4SKnFwbL8c9IJ3mZ5lkLoXh20tW9zTJFgD-4iuGz277eGAU1mZjrZwsoW7-sEbcqsu44FZ7a3QYunBPK9gQc/s640/island+village+margaritaville+water+linda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
A little cold...but, Peter went in the farthest.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm0Ba3PZQlReYhMRokuWiMWpu_WdvmNxjW-6rnM3NkEzpY6W53kufT9jJ_JGAxujyzJWoktIpds6iQUy_NKbOwmG7JdVC6z9_-nwH4JXuxd2dnS7tHZiPztlSjXGlkt74QBGptHsYJo8/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+water+peter+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm0Ba3PZQlReYhMRokuWiMWpu_WdvmNxjW-6rnM3NkEzpY6W53kufT9jJ_JGAxujyzJWoktIpds6iQUy_NKbOwmG7JdVC6z9_-nwH4JXuxd2dnS7tHZiPztlSjXGlkt74QBGptHsYJo8/s640/island+village+margaritaville+water+peter+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkqQUmsu9QmUSKCyg2mivT5_7ZJ_Do9sWPGwuoiWWAdFeFFdwema3kqiw3L-XjPmJFSu3_7H5FqkgspYhQ84QywHxiVNZ2IPdF5FMm6OSkCKxqzcdjbFZaRfa5bH3W0Fb8xCAcroiksM/s1600/island+village+margaritaville+6+group+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkqQUmsu9QmUSKCyg2mivT5_7ZJ_Do9sWPGwuoiWWAdFeFFdwema3kqiw3L-XjPmJFSu3_7H5FqkgspYhQ84QywHxiVNZ2IPdF5FMm6OSkCKxqzcdjbFZaRfa5bH3W0Fb8xCAcroiksM/s640/island+village+margaritaville+6+group+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Ah, yes....a good times was had by all.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq5fUebQb4jTgKN1t8czVqOt0cQUXQxhrqf89xo3wuGEsFrF3WSWB4b1x0I5qKl3AEJSu_vAPo4XEFyZN4TLSHds9ceYsQCvDO1vNRJvI05qiIPkiff1F4VarflZz2RPbs82umN14fIk/s1600/trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq5fUebQb4jTgKN1t8czVqOt0cQUXQxhrqf89xo3wuGEsFrF3WSWB4b1x0I5qKl3AEJSu_vAPo4XEFyZN4TLSHds9ceYsQCvDO1vNRJvI05qiIPkiff1F4VarflZz2RPbs82umN14fIk/s640/trees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Back on the ship, and Sail Away...these trees caught my eye. I thought those were red blooms.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAqri5rXzKc2cOvOJYnBmVny8BS4A6QsXBP_x_P5_Zd6D8MtDkhVn_WvxaxvXbWem_tH8Zt8xwz2NcZnT61i5LOWSIMEwguASEstXmj26K4GHP1GZa1XtQ13UW3-bZnoSOx4wL5b5CwM/s1600/trees+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAqri5rXzKc2cOvOJYnBmVny8BS4A6QsXBP_x_P5_Zd6D8MtDkhVn_WvxaxvXbWem_tH8Zt8xwz2NcZnT61i5LOWSIMEwguASEstXmj26K4GHP1GZa1XtQ13UW3-bZnoSOx4wL5b5CwM/s640/trees+close.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">But, they were leaves. New growth?...old leaves? I don't know.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCk5NVbHuqfe0VYHDDSH3-TGJbfbvfdwOS9I8fgnNE2my2cbcpgo05YgcxcG9nlkfihb9saDTY0z5jnAial8HLHGDVNxbSu5zmp7pKeQQyApr9W2_SJDsiSx8KOFqlsgNhJWj_Rz9hQA/s1600/approaching+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCk5NVbHuqfe0VYHDDSH3-TGJbfbvfdwOS9I8fgnNE2my2cbcpgo05YgcxcG9nlkfihb9saDTY0z5jnAial8HLHGDVNxbSu5zmp7pKeQQyApr9W2_SJDsiSx8KOFqlsgNhJWj_Rz9hQA/s640/approaching+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center">The last stop....and we're headed back to the USA.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-58041815585433978682011-03-04T17:36:00.000-06:002011-03-04T17:36:36.188-06:00Island Princess...Days at Sea....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p7R-FS8FdkH1FCv6XQT9srIOczVfjx36StCU4EP45nPGdCipDr6M_jvPWrBD-gkXzor0WbwLQywDZUKdBn9kUKgghDSmcOMrznmaQJAE1F90Vi5Bcytcfs-Wwd04kEuHl6I8PpzIwJ8/s1600/The+Island+Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p7R-FS8FdkH1FCv6XQT9srIOczVfjx36StCU4EP45nPGdCipDr6M_jvPWrBD-gkXzor0WbwLQywDZUKdBn9kUKgghDSmcOMrznmaQJAE1F90Vi5Bcytcfs-Wwd04kEuHl6I8PpzIwJ8/s640/The+Island+Princess.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center">The Island Princess was built in a Panamax size....which means it was built to go through the Panama Canal.</div><div align="center">It sails mostly through the Canal and to Alaska. <br />
<br />
This was a ten day cruise, with four sea days and two formal dinner nights.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlsTsuYKr5m-_lDP1dR5xJkrZxjs0tUqPcgPVZYBLX0Pw9vK4zcLksuOZ8l8lQ0NDhpxD0gVS6usc9_Oqv1gmUyKpkRHiqaO4x6f24hgl5xAismfQgf7b_-Dcor3E2Fx3pHjMcJt9bCM/s1600/the+ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlsTsuYKr5m-_lDP1dR5xJkrZxjs0tUqPcgPVZYBLX0Pw9vK4zcLksuOZ8l8lQ0NDhpxD0gVS6usc9_Oqv1gmUyKpkRHiqaO4x6f24hgl5xAismfQgf7b_-Dcor3E2Fx3pHjMcJt9bCM/s640/the+ship.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our stateroom was up at the front end. There are two non-balcony rooms forward of our room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGFtlCnGcADkJGZyEwirvVfP208FCL86WqW4aUNX0yXprMaqTVLvUvS5TMdznAQ1eHMq9jcx7gWjB6nG_YEX1-sgGFgSECX7XjYxP_HORrrJxuFSmoSdTB27Cm6edmQXo5J8QWKuhAW0/s1600/secret+front+deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGFtlCnGcADkJGZyEwirvVfP208FCL86WqW4aUNX0yXprMaqTVLvUvS5TMdznAQ1eHMq9jcx7gWjB6nG_YEX1-sgGFgSECX7XjYxP_HORrrJxuFSmoSdTB27Cm6edmQXo5J8QWKuhAW0/s640/secret+front+deck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were very close to the 'secret' forward deck. Deck ten...go all the way forward and through two sets of doors. You're out on the front of the ship. Great to view the Canal crossing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBjA0CohqPWiDkD_wHNH0ygbq-UNItF376EginSGoBMSpAB-f-GFjMXLbmkYUIAuyjiUzyFkqCVRrdt2vveSeQz1ryDg5pER9gZvjP1Qm0KI2fK-2qf0rYACvynX7M1jmdCKQAX8agfE/s1600/atrium+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBjA0CohqPWiDkD_wHNH0ygbq-UNItF376EginSGoBMSpAB-f-GFjMXLbmkYUIAuyjiUzyFkqCVRrdt2vveSeQz1ryDg5pER9gZvjP1Qm0KI2fK-2qf0rYACvynX7M1jmdCKQAX8agfE/s640/atrium+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most ships now have a central Atrium. This one is three stories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXknkBYVWYVjIMv6_96tQnDGCTVK8qnVSAhERentVFZVyRWRtiqHbgZjumiFKc14fDebaxXYAP_fsvF83G1nSa6dmCWplKFxhO2qVIhNqXIPlSb8VyNNuutetg7rtl4HwZJJICKB6Mf8/s1600/atrium+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXknkBYVWYVjIMv6_96tQnDGCTVK8qnVSAhERentVFZVyRWRtiqHbgZjumiFKc14fDebaxXYAP_fsvF83G1nSa6dmCWplKFxhO2qVIhNqXIPlSb8VyNNuutetg7rtl4HwZJJICKB6Mf8/s640/atrium+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This area is midway between two floors. There were demonstrations and games held here a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fij3Xub4Y97_1bfAXh0sTz5Eh6bSi2cuaS1q9h3iA7B0ONJMOSb4ud1iLJzpouGB5NOmCb1X7P1rFXm1fucbxISca6z_M_48I-M3iTWSPS8-ijdpLN0hnDl33EwQx_G8bnmcQkf1e44/s1600/atrium+1+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fij3Xub4Y97_1bfAXh0sTz5Eh6bSi2cuaS1q9h3iA7B0ONJMOSb4ud1iLJzpouGB5NOmCb1X7P1rFXm1fucbxISca6z_M_48I-M3iTWSPS8-ijdpLN0hnDl33EwQx_G8bnmcQkf1e44/s640/atrium+1+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It took me several days to find it empty enough for a picture of the fountain. Notice the glass elevators. The go from deck five to deck eight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi35yQVtaxr9gF62R1R3L2gf-63SEKIDt3L-OhrfIuptm6l4U2_s2IR4qTF7mcVq81uRs56im_SqF1tomDk4GX1G5U2zowr7cyTzl8zGNuVX7PEiNQ7rzc4JrwmWj4kRtSD1jaI8q2-U/s1600/atrium+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi35yQVtaxr9gF62R1R3L2gf-63SEKIDt3L-OhrfIuptm6l4U2_s2IR4qTF7mcVq81uRs56im_SqF1tomDk4GX1G5U2zowr7cyTzl8zGNuVX7PEiNQ7rzc4JrwmWj4kRtSD1jaI8q2-U/s640/atrium+ceiling.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up to the 'starry' ceiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBDhRIdjw4nuSQde92cinVoKyqf50_twkK7-W9bfsiuZOND_j9WmsQoAaa75mkKWGKtNPk-uH6UbRypbBeD6kt1otWHyg_t0I7FVXRvGbyXZgOScmwLXTDBo3Q8jBOQE0s145LJ86ufg/s1600/atrium+music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBDhRIdjw4nuSQde92cinVoKyqf50_twkK7-W9bfsiuZOND_j9WmsQoAaa75mkKWGKtNPk-uH6UbRypbBeD6kt1otWHyg_t0I7FVXRvGbyXZgOScmwLXTDBo3Q8jBOQE0s145LJ86ufg/s640/atrium+music.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was live music a lot of the day, in the Atrium. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF7zI-fBXLn2Omo-pL8QtSrVRxvlIA8yejVxDOkNPYHCbh4S_1myLmZd58WYwq2LYmvpIbW0HHPffkQiDp_pSBAsJ4aYSFh3XryBpYNmwts_cE0FZV5tv7kRh1i-VkbNqIz3KPjy0oYo/s1600/bubble+towers+pax+service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF7zI-fBXLn2Omo-pL8QtSrVRxvlIA8yejVxDOkNPYHCbh4S_1myLmZd58WYwq2LYmvpIbW0HHPffkQiDp_pSBAsJ4aYSFh3XryBpYNmwts_cE0FZV5tv7kRh1i-VkbNqIz3KPjy0oYo/s640/bubble+towers+pax+service.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These bubbly tubes are by Passenger Services...deck five.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn5I1bK0bDmnocfbLpq1dbgSFseP-8iywZfHDKW7kSaPJbki5pSa8EX7KNwF0AbgcKdMRfaIw45UGRLMwe6CzLzLwrwRw2LnoWwBaWffO4YuymrmRriJgWupv9IlCcC78F_Azo2I4XJQ/s1600/boutique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn5I1bK0bDmnocfbLpq1dbgSFseP-8iywZfHDKW7kSaPJbki5pSa8EX7KNwF0AbgcKdMRfaIw45UGRLMwe6CzLzLwrwRw2LnoWwBaWffO4YuymrmRriJgWupv9IlCcC78F_Azo2I4XJQ/s640/boutique.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the shops, on deck six.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTaa4RrbuXOeO0WcCn_tKxh_L682c_qmmagGdsAwWVVfSPGN-NmzahfZUnZ7RSgtcK-6EY6nu2Io-l9SHiqfup_890PVVUfCtWznJ8VEwOKUOZ8I7PWFCNizSWJBa5jIb3Y3RtBDAUuU/s1600/giant+chess+set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTaa4RrbuXOeO0WcCn_tKxh_L682c_qmmagGdsAwWVVfSPGN-NmzahfZUnZ7RSgtcK-6EY6nu2Io-l9SHiqfup_890PVVUfCtWznJ8VEwOKUOZ8I7PWFCNizSWJBa5jIb3Y3RtBDAUuU/s640/giant+chess+set.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Outside, above the Lido deck...deck 14...was a giant chess set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTIFhIHLR4wje63C4kW9WwxkNG00OaUJ6qcRMq-zUiztVP9seTcT-ISVJucp40SDiNwB3Rg9DzeF_q8nGPlk0PKhaf8FR3H8fjvo6o24P1gvBkTxeWGyWo_N5cXr97_UXGP25MBNV5W4/s1600/giant+chess+set+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTIFhIHLR4wje63C4kW9WwxkNG00OaUJ6qcRMq-zUiztVP9seTcT-ISVJucp40SDiNwB3Rg9DzeF_q8nGPlk0PKhaf8FR3H8fjvo6o24P1gvBkTxeWGyWo_N5cXr97_UXGP25MBNV5W4/s640/giant+chess+set+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are also shuffleboard courts, and a caged in basketball court. We had gale force winds this day. Not many people were out playing games.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPqXKeiDTG47fmr4QDAFJ5HDPbbodAwmZWLyxPDxBhOTJe8VafAVvNl8JG7hSiccGePSwNckNOuPsXr6sAaiKa2p7p1jHaHugfdG_GgUX2Nz80YnrS-ycn1o9FHhxP6WpZbDZloQAG0/s1600/mini+golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPqXKeiDTG47fmr4QDAFJ5HDPbbodAwmZWLyxPDxBhOTJe8VafAVvNl8JG7hSiccGePSwNckNOuPsXr6sAaiKa2p7p1jHaHugfdG_GgUX2Nz80YnrS-ycn1o9FHhxP6WpZbDZloQAG0/s640/mini+golf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Down one deck for the miniature golf course. Whew!!....out of the wind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRt98ZAL00BXtzxj5X6SF5K-DfIzeg0S0BAE3r1d2RYQopnqYPQ0kcIceqjC18pAXlyULILC8ExGcz6gTpFuixiVqko7Unz6sVVJ5S3erg_qa7HxymMos1gWrPGCHrkJKBh1LdKvIjfs/s1600/Lido+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRt98ZAL00BXtzxj5X6SF5K-DfIzeg0S0BAE3r1d2RYQopnqYPQ0kcIceqjC18pAXlyULILC8ExGcz6gTpFuixiVqko7Unz6sVVJ5S3erg_qa7HxymMos1gWrPGCHrkJKBh1LdKvIjfs/s640/Lido+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Lido deck pool is the largest of the pools.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdkHYXz7UAVWVGcFY-AyyFhP1_pN78B3Ps5NdLsmdidiaAvpz-e3i08a5LAAs6ZrcfMs4Tq0ykw_Rg5Rmi0rI5g8NejcLROu6YA4zYxEXTlO9TwPNz4-Mj7b94aFY5XTcNPBn2EXiCVs/s1600/lido+pool+muts+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdkHYXz7UAVWVGcFY-AyyFhP1_pN78B3Ps5NdLsmdidiaAvpz-e3i08a5LAAs6ZrcfMs4Tq0ykw_Rg5Rmi0rI5g8NejcLROu6YA4zYxEXTlO9TwPNz4-Mj7b94aFY5XTcNPBn2EXiCVs/s640/lido+pool+muts+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is where the giant Movie Under the Stars screen is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFzEokSbwN9g6BiUGnnVYcMMsCKlWpBzLN9Tv03cAgvAmllgLPMu_tfiCakCa9Xj10mvnCbfV4gY0khEU84O7TSILOaQM8XxaCyALpV8xfEcmX_I5et4K68GynBExf6VLmVcC2NkXtuY/s1600/lotus+pool+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFzEokSbwN9g6BiUGnnVYcMMsCKlWpBzLN9Tv03cAgvAmllgLPMu_tfiCakCa9Xj10mvnCbfV4gY0khEU84O7TSILOaQM8XxaCyALpV8xfEcmX_I5et4K68GynBExf6VLmVcC2NkXtuY/s640/lotus+pool+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Behind the Lido pool, is the Lotus pool. It's covered by a glass roof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IA_-wsCDQMcTv9vVzlSwTNgfo_LyvaokpCpUzoBw5Vwz95VbIa9k9jshsnqScl7SmYl5p4BJbHEmslnWF2lJ366_vHChRR3mqu6QywEe_K3WZbg3ZyyTgFNIrOQl_XV56R_sF8LBsro/s1600/lotus+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IA_-wsCDQMcTv9vVzlSwTNgfo_LyvaokpCpUzoBw5Vwz95VbIa9k9jshsnqScl7SmYl5p4BJbHEmslnWF2lJ366_vHChRR3mqu6QywEe_K3WZbg3ZyyTgFNIrOQl_XV56R_sF8LBsro/s640/lotus+pool.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's pretty, and somewhat peaceful. This area also has the Lotus Spa and exercise rooms. And, the ice cream parlor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxqyGs9GRxvRkr2r08UuYr1xw1uaAQ0rwaqqrtaBk85CthBE2ffrzsQ-GtyKzYb9hNcRdIle4T3GJAeGDEe3YuX1hyrY94bTFCcMT3EPPCOJq9RCIJLKbnY5vLkmreqnDIPNeyYrnavs/s1600/provence+dining+rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxqyGs9GRxvRkr2r08UuYr1xw1uaAQ0rwaqqrtaBk85CthBE2ffrzsQ-GtyKzYb9hNcRdIle4T3GJAeGDEe3YuX1hyrY94bTFCcMT3EPPCOJq9RCIJLKbnY5vLkmreqnDIPNeyYrnavs/s640/provence+dining+rm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the Provence Dining Room. Traditional Dining was in this room. We had 'Anytime Dining' and ate in the Bordeaux Dining Room. The looked alike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ_mDjsQHjPJfnx_N8Bns6HPerHe59rGmSGoHEXCHeUgw2C4nRPv1POcTY2Ys976At7CKgi0OYZ8eatXvlMKk1sDDfG8jC3zSO6NiZJgStdX6J5efqQPjHsDIWn6idODZf2xBObROVgQ/s1600/valentine%2527s+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ_mDjsQHjPJfnx_N8Bns6HPerHe59rGmSGoHEXCHeUgw2C4nRPv1POcTY2Ys976At7CKgi0OYZ8eatXvlMKk1sDDfG8jC3zSO6NiZJgStdX6J5efqQPjHsDIWn6idODZf2xBObROVgQ/s640/valentine%2527s+dinner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They made a special decoration, for Valentine's Day Dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy2zJhftAXjhzwQsbEslaA0zUrd8otogycST9Ja46u-LiuRm2Hnkc39clfJ9sLjHy1J6Pw7YuryWJu6P3cG7DNxtVZjnPd8gyyWsUzCMOGppT_1T2LGkT340kZWCeuaJvFYfj2fdlZcQ/s1600/crooners+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy2zJhftAXjhzwQsbEslaA0zUrd8otogycST9Ja46u-LiuRm2Hnkc39clfJ9sLjHy1J6Pw7YuryWJu6P3cG7DNxtVZjnPd8gyyWsUzCMOGppT_1T2LGkT340kZWCeuaJvFYfj2fdlZcQ/s640/crooners+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are several lounges on this ship. But, our absolute favorite was Crooners....deck seven on the Atrium.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7Ga94yVyez35ISOC_Sk1N9MQ8jx9USWQUbJgAqwr6HfwpGIIFDBomZFsSroTgUk9fKc3S8RtUKhFcdE44naQXxIxycTKGkkuaLjH-KFiPCQzIoZoJVrdgxqj6sfRhB63LMRKAa1DZnU/s1600/crooners+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7Ga94yVyez35ISOC_Sk1N9MQ8jx9USWQUbJgAqwr6HfwpGIIFDBomZFsSroTgUk9fKc3S8RtUKhFcdE44naQXxIxycTKGkkuaLjH-KFiPCQzIoZoJVrdgxqj6sfRhB63LMRKAa1DZnU/s640/crooners+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Decorated with Rat Pack photos, it was a comfortable, central place to meet for drinks before dinner, or just sit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7DdnzyY6h2QVWy_oOJbD2nksM7sSYQn6XU2OoCLiLKJi2xCQ77ljGk0_Yd_VmFMUYnOcbNKMEKRk_Cv8UE-dNls_hMrzrfLT6nRboxYeX3Km3zgo6UrgPu3HOySjmSX8cCxE1yl6vVY/s1600/Beth+%2526+Joyce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7DdnzyY6h2QVWy_oOJbD2nksM7sSYQn6XU2OoCLiLKJi2xCQ77ljGk0_Yd_VmFMUYnOcbNKMEKRk_Cv8UE-dNls_hMrzrfLT6nRboxYeX3Km3zgo6UrgPu3HOySjmSX8cCxE1yl6vVY/s640/Beth+%2526+Joyce.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and, visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwSde9z4XyCmC9sehuuwHXHBSgXWiXTmps6fjgV26YSFZO3Wy5_oDr8EHde-qK32e8geOk_rEZkcob82i-LxIlWKfn6ZSdZQ92Gqkj538Qswa23-aptzcTrjVyIkIsB7ExaGRB08BuhM/s1600/Leo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwSde9z4XyCmC9sehuuwHXHBSgXWiXTmps6fjgV26YSFZO3Wy5_oDr8EHde-qK32e8geOk_rEZkcob82i-LxIlWKfn6ZSdZQ92Gqkj538Qswa23-aptzcTrjVyIkIsB7ExaGRB08BuhM/s640/Leo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The young waiters were all entertaining. This is Leo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dLPct1jCMrq1xVD5TaaGWiKtK-MQNoYFV9Mf00k7dGJLQLETcUaw8E8RcQYYstAQTCrYTKOFWWE_j8weE2gxGTAqRdEnoZEG9HgZjVU4Kn05kq4Ds4LOP5UTY3tqYKO9edJuTwrs67Q/s1600/Bar+tricks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dLPct1jCMrq1xVD5TaaGWiKtK-MQNoYFV9Mf00k7dGJLQLETcUaw8E8RcQYYstAQTCrYTKOFWWE_j8weE2gxGTAqRdEnoZEG9HgZjVU4Kn05kq4Ds4LOP5UTY3tqYKO9edJuTwrs67Q/s640/Bar+tricks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red pours a drink into a glass balanced on Francisco's head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX_s2xP8vcypyT7Yb_ZZ9ri3bVoKUojR7aQYYYi6WrN6xoLMODf0zye8_h3VJNkLNvE_VVFkiAtUpr9e2Q-WEJjGGZV2fnF7Jp54WaaYemJPTaCVDJyMNzdcyzhiFcQrVmbTCW0hT6OY/s1600/1st+formal+night+Beth+and+Francisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX_s2xP8vcypyT7Yb_ZZ9ri3bVoKUojR7aQYYYi6WrN6xoLMODf0zye8_h3VJNkLNvE_VVFkiAtUpr9e2Q-WEJjGGZV2fnF7Jp54WaaYemJPTaCVDJyMNzdcyzhiFcQrVmbTCW0hT6OY/s640/1st+formal+night+Beth+and+Francisco.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Francisco was quite the clown...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvc-wu9VhFAWnZXMp9RCvxA1rz0Pkssssi87p_kil1qw85MxuLs9oHCQmp3fiPbDbbZ7kXFZKdyYn6-cAytzrAWJpSAxzXTC1tz-TZM4YUQZH5-4mrU1XW9NtTUiDwTbga0iNSXBls27I/s1600/Francisco+and+Greg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvc-wu9VhFAWnZXMp9RCvxA1rz0Pkssssi87p_kil1qw85MxuLs9oHCQmp3fiPbDbbZ7kXFZKdyYn6-cAytzrAWJpSAxzXTC1tz-TZM4YUQZH5-4mrU1XW9NtTUiDwTbga0iNSXBls27I/s640/Francisco+and+Greg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.... and a really good magician. We never did figure out several of his tricks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We visited the casino a few times...more than we should, in fact. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AF7xwgg8ag5hadJTIT-tI0nhzVDIQrRPJ82j82LkjMw-B-W4F3tjItPacUuFUO_5e1WOp_uHPeo6uwXvcPkFCHvY0_vE4HfRoJKUSTlnjI5W7QUvfyii8FsSizcEnBm1XONVQAz7rrs/s1600/bingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AF7xwgg8ag5hadJTIT-tI0nhzVDIQrRPJ82j82LkjMw-B-W4F3tjItPacUuFUO_5e1WOp_uHPeo6uwXvcPkFCHvY0_vE4HfRoJKUSTlnjI5W7QUvfyii8FsSizcEnBm1XONVQAz7rrs/s400/bingo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">We played Bingo every time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiM80ikAKXYZJhl6vilM8x_qvTlS5HsO5W0SOC6wUzqYeHcILgagI6XNfZSAbnQHUl_vc0ePMWB74AafLucbmuMYB4jyR53896IQcI9y3Mm0Rjw77iJVlaZrA7pYLBvJMyEmTe_scr2c/s1600/tropical+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiM80ikAKXYZJhl6vilM8x_qvTlS5HsO5W0SOC6wUzqYeHcILgagI6XNfZSAbnQHUl_vc0ePMWB74AafLucbmuMYB4jyR53896IQcI9y3Mm0Rjw77iJVlaZrA7pYLBvJMyEmTe_scr2c/s640/tropical+party.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And, there were deck parties to attend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp7IlTtf-UHnmDAxrDxLD5JhU9GCMfvkhOHErUGWePxH6C4Pvdn3HclOOsy1ZBCl0YzTk2tr9hAEZn0feDV0mMfhbJyP7lXD-zs1IxVjyQUw-UEhgTUu9crORbVAkVhZ2z5yL6yWwRUs/s1600/2nd+formal+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp7IlTtf-UHnmDAxrDxLD5JhU9GCMfvkhOHErUGWePxH6C4Pvdn3HclOOsy1ZBCl0YzTk2tr9hAEZn0feDV0mMfhbJyP7lXD-zs1IxVjyQUw-UEhgTUu9crORbVAkVhZ2z5yL6yWwRUs/s400/2nd+formal+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was fun to play 'dress up' on formal nights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYCOdAUqiGFozjUUsHZtJppB2P0opcynYpmbyUw6pZv0-K87cZcAGAn6iuOmycPufiw8CUGD4HI-OUyQ3mJkLzEpWAQS371IZtI2PwmO58rD19qQ2LMFqbrd8Hp5l7Y-MTcaSz0ajs64/s1600/The+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYCOdAUqiGFozjUUsHZtJppB2P0opcynYpmbyUw6pZv0-K87cZcAGAn6iuOmycPufiw8CUGD4HI-OUyQ3mJkLzEpWAQS371IZtI2PwmO58rD19qQ2LMFqbrd8Hp5l7Y-MTcaSz0ajs64/s640/The+group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>We had a great time, with a great group of people.<br />
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I think we're ready to go again.<br />
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<br />
</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-76767353157527406922010-06-25T15:30:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:05:11.333-06:00*4250*...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFA53Oon_YR_t2cCyNOafcBFTPuiaa-MfhlCRB4iBuANHvF6PpbQd_3a0Xm6agUiiprbM9TV19Ubqw7tqRFh99l56mzHN7VuNEARQFaZbE2ShiwRZrypKcQAaQ7bGJ0Q3hhx4uh_Ufipc/s1600/3+badlands+sd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFA53Oon_YR_t2cCyNOafcBFTPuiaa-MfhlCRB4iBuANHvF6PpbQd_3a0Xm6agUiiprbM9TV19Ubqw7tqRFh99l56mzHN7VuNEARQFaZbE2ShiwRZrypKcQAaQ7bGJ0Q3hhx4uh_Ufipc/s640/3+badlands+sd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Dakota Badlands</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">That would be Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty MILES. That's how many miles we drove, on our Ten Day trip, to the Dakotas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUlOFRp0rWBwmcHSa6s-9mbV0O1q59OOnL_ksi9WmiVlhCbqeTxOrVaWZTDpXPqXQvCnNu3RWfqnKYu0tUXzuzR7YrEyjShPNuwhHk2rT3R1CHdslXKvzOVyBWCaUsQmUWmOtxpJJl7ch/s1600/1+Chimney+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUlOFRp0rWBwmcHSa6s-9mbV0O1q59OOnL_ksi9WmiVlhCbqeTxOrVaWZTDpXPqXQvCnNu3RWfqnKYu0tUXzuzR7YrEyjShPNuwhHk2rT3R1CHdslXKvzOVyBWCaUsQmUWmOtxpJJl7ch/s640/1+Chimney+Rock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chimney Rock National Landmark, Nebraska</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had two of our Austin granddaughters with us. We told them, when we left, that this was going to be a 'Rock Tour'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were many other big rocks in the same area as Chimney Rock. Chimney rock was a significant landmark, for pilgrims going west in wagon trains. It's sandstone...so, it's eroding a little more, each year.<br />
I'm always awed, by what people were willing to endure, to come across the country, in wagons or by foot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga72FooPE-_WCPpvgfzJWbj4I1S-u0suIXBRJvhFCHKS4CxdNBYAlIOyzO_05BhIMgNqO8Bmfrl23XVTk9qpJwJ_FwZ47B3KRK25FjXJjZiWk96aH6R8lcSuDL-Go0FvA1-ifm749WsEnf/s1600/2+Carhenge+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga72FooPE-_WCPpvgfzJWbj4I1S-u0suIXBRJvhFCHKS4CxdNBYAlIOyzO_05BhIMgNqO8Bmfrl23XVTk9qpJwJ_FwZ47B3KRK25FjXJjZiWk96aH6R8lcSuDL-Go0FvA1-ifm749WsEnf/s640/2+Carhenge+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carhenge, Nebraska</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were, of course, other intersting sights, along the way. Above is 'Carhenge'....a replica of Stonehenge, built with old cars. This was more interesting to persons in the 13 and 10 age groups, than some old rock.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5V11H2aSc4wFS8BH29NiVM_8vW0L8PHXD9-Du8NCEg1qTIhIF9QCRKjpYWfas7l-D460EvVl4pcBKxdVRS_QTAbOpOEQ3TPZAoovxQ7AMShcdmZYZhhu8xmQrrlucBC0JwT5BEl_Sui9/s1600/3+Rushmore+the+faces+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5V11H2aSc4wFS8BH29NiVM_8vW0L8PHXD9-Du8NCEg1qTIhIF9QCRKjpYWfas7l-D460EvVl4pcBKxdVRS_QTAbOpOEQ3TPZAoovxQ7AMShcdmZYZhhu8xmQrrlucBC0JwT5BEl_Sui9/s640/3+Rushmore+the+faces+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mount Rushmore, SD</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We met up with our daughter, and her family, in South Dakota. Then we set out to see the big Rock Star....Mount Rushmore.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy75HzkMbzZBDSIYhb0PjYvJNPXBwNm6WmA_dZiqwMxfyHQENGtdtDI_XVFew5W5zAYTfnEkz7IlVN7lgG4EFvmwmYSHemP49C0ia50VpTwhP46PKoGqhb5e4P9Z93KJeAEpZg5UdKRYI/s1600/3+Rushmore+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy75HzkMbzZBDSIYhb0PjYvJNPXBwNm6WmA_dZiqwMxfyHQENGtdtDI_XVFew5W5zAYTfnEkz7IlVN7lgG4EFvmwmYSHemP49C0ia50VpTwhP46PKoGqhb5e4P9Z93KJeAEpZg5UdKRYI/s640/3+Rushmore+museum.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is quite impressive. It took them many years, and lots of hard work, to create this piece of art.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The museum there, gives an idea of just how difficult this was to do....no computers, or today's technology.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKqDFom7j0YAWG9xVrFZzcQQx2CuwySv5_J-UrAXrhhh05XuXHhL_EjP_hsjclZf_sVKdPtaz22r0iQRbTlAD81x3Z1zTnJaoaGZkzpmfXRkcVnAZwWajUJwvFkDVGxpH0-hhVMdM5vnr/s1600/3+Rushmore+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKqDFom7j0YAWG9xVrFZzcQQx2CuwySv5_J-UrAXrhhh05XuXHhL_EjP_hsjclZf_sVKdPtaz22r0iQRbTlAD81x3Z1zTnJaoaGZkzpmfXRkcVnAZwWajUJwvFkDVGxpH0-hhVMdM5vnr/s640/3+Rushmore+kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of 'Rock Stars'....we had our own, right along with us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpYRb5ijLTggaeYsT7JLkOYZ70Km0UJEImGwNgMsdyttnlLYaQAZVLTbkqoIVZKIk72n7u-hHQB9WbxRFfO62S994uP8VScD_kcNT1qGRIvufxcEcze-PagjywMbsAMiOpnKP-mVwBoJB/s1600/4+Crazy+Horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpYRb5ijLTggaeYsT7JLkOYZ70Km0UJEImGwNgMsdyttnlLYaQAZVLTbkqoIVZKIk72n7u-hHQB9WbxRFfO62S994uP8VScD_kcNT1qGRIvufxcEcze-PagjywMbsAMiOpnKP-mVwBoJB/s640/4+Crazy+Horse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Close by Rushmore, is the Crazy Horse Monument. This has been in construction since 1948. They still have a long way to go. It's a monument to the Oglala Lakota people, whose leader was Crazy Horse.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's HUGE. Mount Rushmore, as big as it is, would fit in the upper part of the face of Crazy Horse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs2SvmhW0TAnhcij5uC4V112tNImKvVUFxflneOdEGHCiWABp73ZwTbBiHfp8Oq4Cg3MPg7-Fpc8u6QxLvx3Jk_AL8lJdnq2Jcy1msNgyKnMwLYddiWKBSxYHGMfyphRbTiAhsWAfLdQK/s1600/4+Crazy+Horse+model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs2SvmhW0TAnhcij5uC4V112tNImKvVUFxflneOdEGHCiWABp73ZwTbBiHfp8Oq4Cg3MPg7-Fpc8u6QxLvx3Jk_AL8lJdnq2Jcy1msNgyKnMwLYddiWKBSxYHGMfyphRbTiAhsWAfLdQK/s640/4+Crazy+Horse+model.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a private endeavor, funded by donations, gate fees and the gift shop. The children of the sculptor and his window, are carrying on his dream.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think Mr. P and I will see it finished. Maybe, our grandchildren will be able to.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiTnCU8U3uG6pRDPLtmzrsGFsjoNwf-qzwh94mxLqFBbE2sXWVK92I3gcQlEAKoxl3ixb2rpn-eX-F_-5LFwZ_JvuraIff1TbHRUgSFuh3JgYFvQ2wF3FGsB44n3Fn57ROTEVDHuXo-WN/s1600/5+%2B+Custer+Park+Black+Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiTnCU8U3uG6pRDPLtmzrsGFsjoNwf-qzwh94mxLqFBbE2sXWVK92I3gcQlEAKoxl3ixb2rpn-eX-F_-5LFwZ_JvuraIff1TbHRUgSFuh3JgYFvQ2wF3FGsB44n3Fn57ROTEVDHuXo-WN/s640/5+%2B+Custer+Park+Black+Hills.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Black Hills of South Dakota, are quite pretty.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k04o_FOg4xk86hYUh7bVBelrzI6cwRnBnLZFoFU60K9c9uAxgZsyBz_d51VaGe5ITnVe2nknGrpbREHjxzrl5DEeZpk9VGpE6z6_3nPbfajUBgFw-iCjVkdIkK0jj7OPSENl1n6lMq6-/s1600/5+%2B+Custer+Park+buffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k04o_FOg4xk86hYUh7bVBelrzI6cwRnBnLZFoFU60K9c9uAxgZsyBz_d51VaGe5ITnVe2nknGrpbREHjxzrl5DEeZpk9VGpE6z6_3nPbfajUBgFw-iCjVkdIkK0jj7OPSENl1n6lMq6-/s640/5+%2B+Custer+Park+buffalo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Lots of wildlife.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RNuHcPwrgcAJA9lKfn3YPp-lJK03D0Zh2A8Hnqz5AAkS-zy8K4oM_a458QeD7OrHb1TsDCmY9WfR3Qy8-0K3oFygePnJb9SE2815aQ5bOfa6FMTY29fOeFr1nuwopwVCLb6AGIvkqypV/s1600/5+%2B+Custer+Park+wild+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RNuHcPwrgcAJA9lKfn3YPp-lJK03D0Zh2A8Hnqz5AAkS-zy8K4oM_a458QeD7OrHb1TsDCmY9WfR3Qy8-0K3oFygePnJb9SE2815aQ5bOfa6FMTY29fOeFr1nuwopwVCLb6AGIvkqypV/s640/5+%2B+Custer+Park+wild+roses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>There are roses, growing wild along the roads.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsBdDGn051kHGTuarOrMJmtRNP2ntKM0wam4-jl-4clV5a2ajPLYMd6pMBSBfnd_2bR1bPi4RjBXS9mx6UyakTz8-0krSqFsOtfMiqyaE7GfEsLNPCMmK_fHYkdnp7A_9VFson6_vO5-R/s1600/2+wildflower+dandelion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsBdDGn051kHGTuarOrMJmtRNP2ntKM0wam4-jl-4clV5a2ajPLYMd6pMBSBfnd_2bR1bPi4RjBXS9mx6UyakTz8-0krSqFsOtfMiqyaE7GfEsLNPCMmK_fHYkdnp7A_9VFson6_vO5-R/s640/2+wildflower+dandelion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, the largest dandelions I've ever seen. That seed 'poof' is about six inches aross.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HsXhKOCONMv-EsfB7sn2RC2WZFOWHhJrXDSWj1-MSQfynenjP7rRkWnocAKqDTP1N1Un2p-2xoUdOCvJgdo382TU5DFkjJFPtwjQ3ndCjCEcbJigJpfPaxt5UPNAgUOh8B7prxHYILEC/s1600/5+%2B+double+rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HsXhKOCONMv-EsfB7sn2RC2WZFOWHhJrXDSWj1-MSQfynenjP7rRkWnocAKqDTP1N1Un2p-2xoUdOCvJgdo382TU5DFkjJFPtwjQ3ndCjCEcbJigJpfPaxt5UPNAgUOh8B7prxHYILEC/s640/5+%2B+double+rainbow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And, we were lucky enough to see a double rainbow. We could see the whole thing...but, I didn't get a good shot. It was the brightest rainbow, we'd ever seen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg348I89yelt9sVzVS_NosaR9nhMgCFT9n-7Z0Ehsbg1l_IQMmiQK4RDuI12G-5gYtJZd0lRy038dQC0P8RGFHr9EwrwXI0e1eawBAKUZDhfU47p_1KxFub4M08e75VXf6sqNXfb79g7r-/s1600/5+Mammoth+site+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg348I89yelt9sVzVS_NosaR9nhMgCFT9n-7Z0Ehsbg1l_IQMmiQK4RDuI12G-5gYtJZd0lRy038dQC0P8RGFHr9EwrwXI0e1eawBAKUZDhfU47p_1KxFub4M08e75VXf6sqNXfb79g7r-/s640/5+Mammoth+site+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
There is a Mammoth dig site, in the area. It was very interesting. They've found many whole skeletons of mammoths. And, they're still digging.<br />
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On our way to North Dakota, and our daughter's home, we saw on the map 'The Center of the Nation' site.<br />
It's a red letter point of interest, on the map. And, the travel book we had, said that in Belle Fourche there is a large compass to mark the spot. Only, that compass, is 20 miles from the actual site. We wanted the 'real thing'.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwZ6hV8XDue2gPwIQ1lCFFcofqGrjLIHXD8y9dx7s0M20pthRczlgC1bbUY2anWjTPylwIadVfZtnAZ_bkOL9yYee6jDa3KFdFwQoiAlWauutgmtc21hoV-61Y6PGSInW8mW_opkasgiP/s1600/9+Center+of+the+Nation+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwZ6hV8XDue2gPwIQ1lCFFcofqGrjLIHXD8y9dx7s0M20pthRczlgC1bbUY2anWjTPylwIadVfZtnAZ_bkOL9yYee6jDa3KFdFwQoiAlWauutgmtc21hoV-61Y6PGSInW8mW_opkasgiP/s640/9+Center+of+the+Nation+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So, we drove until we saw a sign pointing the right direction....down a gravel road. We drove down that road. Out in the middle of a field, is an American flag.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPB-LhYMt-at9yDPDu4ZKjUiPyIKHj4tcyWl-r-rXWA_2HoOPxIlmYP6H9iKYlTM5vFhsijSRenocSghF0vFpcDdhJ_2zEk5MGCfIiGPxwPt7jdD8bCz298UXVMHmU23F-4K6L0CXPLtK/s1600/9+Center+of+the+Nation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPB-LhYMt-at9yDPDu4ZKjUiPyIKHj4tcyWl-r-rXWA_2HoOPxIlmYP6H9iKYlTM5vFhsijSRenocSghF0vFpcDdhJ_2zEk5MGCfIiGPxwPt7jdD8bCz298UXVMHmU23F-4K6L0CXPLtK/s640/9+Center+of+the+Nation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
But, up on the road, was this sign....painted with markers, on the back of an old road sign. We thought it was a joke.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCbUgffWenyLYZfIyxq5wqcuqmJKUnI1XN_2b01s6xJBRYmJ-dza1Qs7NszDujbouaQx9UR6PNZ4f8b1GQ7Yta27yGBXF6GXAKDNgIpVJ_IvPAqStRJgtf29oEvONy-VvZvIUM6I0gWqY/s1600/9+Center+of+the+Nation+5jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCbUgffWenyLYZfIyxq5wqcuqmJKUnI1XN_2b01s6xJBRYmJ-dza1Qs7NszDujbouaQx9UR6PNZ4f8b1GQ7Yta27yGBXF6GXAKDNgIpVJ_IvPAqStRJgtf29oEvONy-VvZvIUM6I0gWqY/s640/9+Center+of+the+Nation+5jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Our son-in-law went out to check. Sure enough...this was the place. The geographical center of the United States....that includes all 50 states.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofjPlE-urFexqlUOyfx-YmIlcJvvANhncNyFZLvuxqTHXfMkDL7c6Ang6Gd5rc2tsCKgzvnFxJIththKXkbUasHuEwt0aoBhp1RS3sK3A5e5LmJu_lu7UWJEEI64F2HrI5QWK_OhIM_Ev/s1600/9+Center+of+the+Nation+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofjPlE-urFexqlUOyfx-YmIlcJvvANhncNyFZLvuxqTHXfMkDL7c6Ang6Gd5rc2tsCKgzvnFxJIththKXkbUasHuEwt0aoBhp1RS3sK3A5e5LmJu_lu7UWJEEI64F2HrI5QWK_OhIM_Ev/s640/9+Center+of+the+Nation+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I actually think we'll remember this more, than some piece of concrete twenty miles away, in town. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWUbONay_l4rYX0a19egT2afG4OZ1615xGGrZ2JFyxyEU-Wf5oyafaL6tqbxR3AFLyPr8Gfme5Z9sghF0Po_RXuq6_JREuZYUToAcdIV4IU_KQ_Hu0Shu6vcwTPWvmIdrY5WSPHCaJwmW/s1600/14+Hazelwood+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWUbONay_l4rYX0a19egT2afG4OZ1615xGGrZ2JFyxyEU-Wf5oyafaL6tqbxR3AFLyPr8Gfme5Z9sghF0Po_RXuq6_JREuZYUToAcdIV4IU_KQ_Hu0Shu6vcwTPWvmIdrY5WSPHCaJwmW/s640/14+Hazelwood+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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We spent a few days at our daughter's home. They've bought a house, built in 1902. It has a lot of work that needs to be done. But, I think it has potential. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjXsJ0Vm_vq2hkwbfvYp3TPFx94popfEAAeQlDkoNeO5ll8PzDMFwbm-qHx9z7_7cHZXq2A_GukUAvrsNMFipiDA6RVyJsF8XutS5rkgVxHrQ-ekZsUPGT0t5cl1mHNcdIq3klpRCj02g/s1600/13+ND+Scand++village+Minot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjXsJ0Vm_vq2hkwbfvYp3TPFx94popfEAAeQlDkoNeO5ll8PzDMFwbm-qHx9z7_7cHZXq2A_GukUAvrsNMFipiDA6RVyJsF8XutS5rkgVxHrQ-ekZsUPGT0t5cl1mHNcdIq3klpRCj02g/s640/13+ND+Scand++village+Minot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>About fifty miles south of their house, in Minot, is The Scandinavian Heritage Village. Most of North Dakota, was settled by people from Scandinavian countries....mostly Norway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbDQljkWx0s_ZVsXflpWuz47_t8gFmEnU3UegneO00SzZ6wKMLvFIjynbq7ri7dfuoki-qMq-pUgN-EM_jYORNix2glxQa8X4Stfy0UOHwQBeAZYMyl3fOVNtv529RvwwZLsgncgFoIYy/s1600/13+ND+Scand++village+n+finish+storehouse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbDQljkWx0s_ZVsXflpWuz47_t8gFmEnU3UegneO00SzZ6wKMLvFIjynbq7ri7dfuoki-qMq-pUgN-EM_jYORNix2glxQa8X4Stfy0UOHwQBeAZYMyl3fOVNtv529RvwwZLsgncgFoIYy/s640/13+ND+Scand++village+n+finish+storehouse+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finish store house</span><br />
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There are structures to represent the various Scandinavian countries.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQv3bNT45kZAlZWLeCU0ho2VoLCW_jgcJ4U-MLL8veMif4DLQfQesdzYV1Pthlx5VjTrUh-SFVcRhIP4vN07W8Vz7iqL05HzVjGlmjSHg6GohkrDUW_SrxPBP74AJBQ3JnrWwl1Askdmt/s1600/13+ND+Scand+village+swedish+horse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQv3bNT45kZAlZWLeCU0ho2VoLCW_jgcJ4U-MLL8veMif4DLQfQesdzYV1Pthlx5VjTrUh-SFVcRhIP4vN07W8Vz7iqL05HzVjGlmjSHg6GohkrDUW_SrxPBP74AJBQ3JnrWwl1Askdmt/s640/13+ND+Scand+village+swedish+horse+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Swedish horse<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HWPKXCsOdGXAlgFckzkgGZnYVabTIfcOVZ6XNxeOiLSQXK91ixdQo3WF3JIHxzWD5p0mZTBJVIbwBHvWYm3Nn23ZvPdSxf311tG8JQadwsWBEuB8Hzt8hIzfVx_kcjiNSy0tdRZpZvmt/s1600/13+ND+Scand+village+Norwegian+church+detail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HWPKXCsOdGXAlgFckzkgGZnYVabTIfcOVZ6XNxeOiLSQXK91ixdQo3WF3JIHxzWD5p0mZTBJVIbwBHvWYm3Nn23ZvPdSxf311tG8JQadwsWBEuB8Hzt8hIzfVx_kcjiNSy0tdRZpZvmt/s640/13+ND+Scand+village+Norwegian+church+detail+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The centerpiece, is this exact replica of a Norse church.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47MXuzlvK6uRcyCFDTKrjyDQc0URMnq2Lz05HyGQAl0FJrFlQrxnUwWNA8fo8ZQvXe1WA61vdomTSJDWy8XpXnu5o0Q_zF0Wx1o7XiCBtjWez9prV4WxKy5mOC_Fd6XfyX9SZB-GyYVI2/s1600/13+ND+Scand+village+Norwegian+church+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47MXuzlvK6uRcyCFDTKrjyDQc0URMnq2Lz05HyGQAl0FJrFlQrxnUwWNA8fo8ZQvXe1WA61vdomTSJDWy8XpXnu5o0Q_zF0Wx1o7XiCBtjWez9prV4WxKy5mOC_Fd6XfyX9SZB-GyYVI2/s640/13+ND+Scand+village+Norwegian+church+detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite lovely, and the docent there gave us a great deal of information.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwoocPq6D-KBTlAYf__qn3ezdKg0Gf28V0c3yZ8OY0_mopJQUTauIfrSKJc6Q3paw2Ecl6JVxG1V3VO8V2gwW4-qqEt_qJvb2u8rWKRkpLjK3CSbAA6mDm_BiIw_c2LA6Wql03I_uKIHB/s1600/14+Hazelwood+17+countryside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwoocPq6D-KBTlAYf__qn3ezdKg0Gf28V0c3yZ8OY0_mopJQUTauIfrSKJc6Q3paw2Ecl6JVxG1V3VO8V2gwW4-qqEt_qJvb2u8rWKRkpLjK3CSbAA6mDm_BiIw_c2LA6Wql03I_uKIHB/s640/14+Hazelwood+17+countryside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This was our first trip to North Dakota. Because it's the home of our daughter and her family, we're interested in the surroundings. It's mostly agricultural. Somehow, that amazes me. It is very cold, for very long. There is a short growing season.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nlhwLeyqNATMNDEdEAAccff3bP_ZMZD1Dbwd_fvZXHhNSVFk3qHygyqboJs3ZRT4hN2vWWmdoTIzTKSDgtxQkeOMgaTZHl7J5SzmIPUC9r8a9AdIQQfo9f97y4WOyYVQv8TWBQ4lyIkd/s1600/14+Hazelwood+16+canola+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nlhwLeyqNATMNDEdEAAccff3bP_ZMZD1Dbwd_fvZXHhNSVFk3qHygyqboJs3ZRT4hN2vWWmdoTIzTKSDgtxQkeOMgaTZHl7J5SzmIPUC9r8a9AdIQQfo9f97y4WOyYVQv8TWBQ4lyIkd/s640/14+Hazelwood+16+canola+field.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And yet, the fields are full and growing. Above is one of many fields of Canola. They are beautiful yellow fields. Later in the year, there will be fields and fields of sunflowers. The wheat and green peas are going strong.<br />
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I didn't get pictures of the lovely flowers of the neighbors. There are gorgeous peonies in almost every yard. Iris are still blooming and pansies and petunias are blooming everywhere. We missed the lilacs, unfortunately.<br />
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We had a great visit, and saw lots of countryside. We miss our daughter, our son-in-law, and those two preciouse grandchildren, already.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFZ9x3wstxUTHAXn6G7b1sumCczHkP6VbyBa4uEaSNd5xbhrP8lc2hZwqkeX-VtC58PKo_oDYsDRlGvkxUIRhG-3zaZQa4pDCjo-o-4bKptlHfMrZQOsbROM9kPXr4kNvnUW3_Ws_bAtW/s1600/States+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFZ9x3wstxUTHAXn6G7b1sumCczHkP6VbyBa4uEaSNd5xbhrP8lc2hZwqkeX-VtC58PKo_oDYsDRlGvkxUIRhG-3zaZQa4pDCjo-o-4bKptlHfMrZQOsbROM9kPXr4kNvnUW3_Ws_bAtW/s640/States+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
But, it's great to be back home.<br />
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</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-7563972107076808802010-03-26T10:59:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:00:38.722-06:00Riviera Maya...Flora and Fauna...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4N69D7vrEknDMQGDWpcKm_VNtjZOnisl6djtQvKyYiVZ1nZr2fe_IL4GODeS8YvmgS9uh5KhYkuOmEvyhyphenhyphenkTPGh3mc56dO_39GmdRxlFo-xsUbsiYkB4iWIuDVXjW1YBusGcto1aGwGr/s1600-h/plantings+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4N69D7vrEknDMQGDWpcKm_VNtjZOnisl6djtQvKyYiVZ1nZr2fe_IL4GODeS8YvmgS9uh5KhYkuOmEvyhyphenhyphenkTPGh3mc56dO_39GmdRxlFo-xsUbsiYkB4iWIuDVXjW1YBusGcto1aGwGr/s640/plantings+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div>If you've been following my journal of our recent trip to Mexico, you've seen some of the beautiful plantings around the area. Here, with the last post on this trip, we'll walk around the resort.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImrmzYXI5YiOy0CA5iZ5sHyVFVHDkvwGWqktyTqpjFV2VbiOmay82wOZg68nyTHm7foULhEx6gmBg7_SMu3k_MrYMMgN5mWmjOVvoPDEQMabxf16PLHje_x87NS3eGvB7Gw5c8aaLlJol/s1600-h/beach+pool+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImrmzYXI5YiOy0CA5iZ5sHyVFVHDkvwGWqktyTqpjFV2VbiOmay82wOZg68nyTHm7foULhEx6gmBg7_SMu3k_MrYMMgN5mWmjOVvoPDEQMabxf16PLHje_x87NS3eGvB7Gw5c8aaLlJol/s640/beach+pool+landscape.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The grounds of the resort, are very well manicured. Always clean and cleared of stray leaves. Most of the work done by hand. No blowers, here. There were power lawn mowers, but most trimming was with hand shears......and, there is a lot to keep trimmed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHDQ9q0bgk0C9i2tG6iXetEEpavOpRNhvT9g1X9uCMK-URhuimBju66uKNMukDLxP1Q7wJ54F_NqOU0weVWF2DoLy0x9XUZR1MqbGk4i2bga8pic15knBOGw354H9j7B0sRoWrZ6cLqke/s1600-h/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHDQ9q0bgk0C9i2tG6iXetEEpavOpRNhvT9g1X9uCMK-URhuimBju66uKNMukDLxP1Q7wJ54F_NqOU0weVWF2DoLy0x9XUZR1MqbGk4i2bga8pic15knBOGw354H9j7B0sRoWrZ6cLqke/s640/bridge.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">No plain old concrete bridges, here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fPqNwfBw_y-UMZgaEo6AfjAS9bxV5QHJ4yNIFBniQ5tNXGrDZpQ70ysgCNjG9D-mBpaSVXjplojvB4OdXsghsVLuod7LdskpbIXegra1KI4mpMW48DQe35Ot5bHy3uZi8RTK1Bi2VulB/s1600-h/flamingoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fPqNwfBw_y-UMZgaEo6AfjAS9bxV5QHJ4yNIFBniQ5tNXGrDZpQ70ysgCNjG9D-mBpaSVXjplojvB4OdXsghsVLuod7LdskpbIXegra1KI4mpMW48DQe35Ot5bHy3uZi8RTK1Bi2VulB/s640/flamingoes.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is an area with flamingoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEdD7XIZdkUl1PF3X0PG1C44ZqZBkSbbeNLhTACSwd3YepKuYaDs3CkmpMTtjTodDteB1j74vh9HUyp2qa7hMK5Rg1dsCJz1gFahZuSnMKUuG1KpgkulnMym8n8gswahauHQlfU8CxdWH/s1600-h/flamingoes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEdD7XIZdkUl1PF3X0PG1C44ZqZBkSbbeNLhTACSwd3YepKuYaDs3CkmpMTtjTodDteB1j74vh9HUyp2qa7hMK5Rg1dsCJz1gFahZuSnMKUuG1KpgkulnMym8n8gswahauHQlfU8CxdWH/s640/flamingoes+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They showed off for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-uLQvHBQEzSVDOhBbD18lDpnkeixpBuCMfmHJsvEOvxU8YvZqW-rmF5byQSilpMoHcfG4JIpJ3fq1CJQZVkZ70XrHBGfwGvziAiP2nY9WZlZ8L6dmoi_WaOV3wCttMQ2V9hPNxKo9HSF/s1600-h/crocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-uLQvHBQEzSVDOhBbD18lDpnkeixpBuCMfmHJsvEOvxU8YvZqW-rmF5byQSilpMoHcfG4JIpJ3fq1CJQZVkZ70XrHBGfwGvziAiP2nY9WZlZ8L6dmoi_WaOV3wCttMQ2V9hPNxKo9HSF/s640/crocs.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beside the golfcourse cafe, where we usually had breakfast, is a crocodile area. These small ones...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntlshSjqql9DbH7Sc8IcK8nFNXNe0i36SbvgkPyveVpX2Ie5d62RVNOBVuH79oY4wlVZ6LV0f3LCmGz3o2lUC8IT4XbUNGmT2fSmR_1iAFgok2if9i8N2QLCjL6PFq-Iwssz4Ro7CaRi0/s1600-h/big+croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntlshSjqql9DbH7Sc8IcK8nFNXNe0i36SbvgkPyveVpX2Ie5d62RVNOBVuH79oY4wlVZ6LV0f3LCmGz3o2lUC8IT4XbUNGmT2fSmR_1iAFgok2if9i8N2QLCjL6PFq-Iwssz4Ro7CaRi0/s640/big+croc.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and larger ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZToPa3OVc-BaEd_xJsP4yaO4z5wGo2sOu3r_A1QdHQBWd1tkVd5yhBO10eiWz73J_Sy0VAaTbWwHQqu-TWD2gymNJbRR5ayOG9uza1_sd6_6bmmooLnh9Xd3IstzYvsU7Nyj6D-58OysB/s1600-h/iguana+on+sidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZToPa3OVc-BaEd_xJsP4yaO4z5wGo2sOu3r_A1QdHQBWd1tkVd5yhBO10eiWz73J_Sy0VAaTbWwHQqu-TWD2gymNJbRR5ayOG9uza1_sd6_6bmmooLnh9Xd3IstzYvsU7Nyj6D-58OysB/s640/iguana+on+sidewalk.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Iguanas are everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbwYnFkHCxZCRneYKnauYhTxmGcZWg3QLqwdANgI1Xmd-R7RPPLxwO6BfdZPEG6SeBkPxKZeUMNL4vkBh_u2BTeoxPpCbhgOE_gx7yhd880LAS9a_j-IBv0iDbqh9RDyHywjEFa-m6JV_/s1600-h/iguana+on+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbwYnFkHCxZCRneYKnauYhTxmGcZWg3QLqwdANgI1Xmd-R7RPPLxwO6BfdZPEG6SeBkPxKZeUMNL4vkBh_u2BTeoxPpCbhgOE_gx7yhd880LAS9a_j-IBv0iDbqh9RDyHywjEFa-m6JV_/s640/iguana+on+roof.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrME3XOf8S9gKjfACixASqYn6NHv0u2Sxrcqb0sGzY7RYFZmPLPv4abV1QoikD0-ztpDJnTn4XxqkneYkbdxLu7YTPa29lvAaAlERvuKs-IlsqxxU4tKsRbVMFlRB3LcWyF2dNJTe8vIg/s1600-h/chachalaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrME3XOf8S9gKjfACixASqYn6NHv0u2Sxrcqb0sGzY7RYFZmPLPv4abV1QoikD0-ztpDJnTn4XxqkneYkbdxLu7YTPa29lvAaAlERvuKs-IlsqxxU4tKsRbVMFlRB3LcWyF2dNJTe8vIg/s640/chachalaca.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, birds we hadn't seen before. This is a Chachalaca. The photo doesn't really show his size. They're about the size of a small chicken.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp06Ix8wXnl99-psJ3GZtk-gk2ZXUkcYuDj9VlQAp7QrJyoecxZowzZjsq2wXVmUDd1_X9BFcbNV9nKvftIkWVGDyS8yRubNAaKC5ny55PpOJtv7pmWVpaDyhqTNkPqUGk1dbau64xRi-/s1600-h/yucatan+jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp06Ix8wXnl99-psJ3GZtk-gk2ZXUkcYuDj9VlQAp7QrJyoecxZowzZjsq2wXVmUDd1_X9BFcbNV9nKvftIkWVGDyS8yRubNAaKC5ny55PpOJtv7pmWVpaDyhqTNkPqUGk1dbau64xRi-/s640/yucatan+jay.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were lots of these Yucatan Jays.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxMWb3bxTq5YEUClCZLuqNbCEYKI_ogUQTNUnIJbt6TTK6228WorHNAgg_OzqHw-UM2gz_vIz2uqaX2LoUwenqzG3EbqgJk2oWJSRVgowmFXYyd5w8HDdS4KXM-BsAfKmztsU8X8I5IoI/s1600-h/yucatan+jay+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxMWb3bxTq5YEUClCZLuqNbCEYKI_ogUQTNUnIJbt6TTK6228WorHNAgg_OzqHw-UM2gz_vIz2uqaX2LoUwenqzG3EbqgJk2oWJSRVgowmFXYyd5w8HDdS4KXM-BsAfKmztsU8X8I5IoI/s640/yucatan+jay+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They swooped down to get some cookies, that we threw off the patio.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were lots of other birds. I'm terrible at bird photos, so didn't get any good shots. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsmFKtNAwrd9bEUriVxS_MoznYH7kd3rQoYNJujsFW_jACLkeaxixGwjOsfJ8ihdaV1Ieq2WIDxRDV-UAf3GBlMTZJMvniIUBBipVKv6h06Rrv223C3U5aryo69eGFikCDjwpDx2GHXHJ/s1600-h/paca+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsmFKtNAwrd9bEUriVxS_MoznYH7kd3rQoYNJujsFW_jACLkeaxixGwjOsfJ8ihdaV1Ieq2WIDxRDV-UAf3GBlMTZJMvniIUBBipVKv6h06Rrv223C3U5aryo69eGFikCDjwpDx2GHXHJ/s640/paca+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another visitor, outside our condo, was this little guy. The closest I could find, was that he's a Paca. He doesn't have the right markings, though. So, I'm just not sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP-Z12JJUnMfVRI9tAbXLy_tzzPEaUScMDGlqbvprWMv11WaJo2esK2sBn43S5JpMsnYRHXfzCXyNKE473FBr_cjxPWVCG013qb4cFHsxqEbsgiHejvFBosgBR7fjvUwIccDbpiqQIL24/s1600-h/paca+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP-Z12JJUnMfVRI9tAbXLy_tzzPEaUScMDGlqbvprWMv11WaJo2esK2sBn43S5JpMsnYRHXfzCXyNKE473FBr_cjxPWVCG013qb4cFHsxqEbsgiHejvFBosgBR7fjvUwIccDbpiqQIL24/s640/paca+3.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He came out to drink out of a puddle, left by the water sprinkler.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDwsR_fQeiBrVbu1zEPBE89p3u38df6bnFsnR1Sd2X8eIwohVmnKgEcPOyBnlgzwgLIUFHKeVcFiXhhSQkCP4aGBem2J0z_-8TNcKh9XjsR2WKZIGqUuvwJQITeEtS4-StRia5sJMo3gj/s1600-h/plantings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDwsR_fQeiBrVbu1zEPBE89p3u38df6bnFsnR1Sd2X8eIwohVmnKgEcPOyBnlgzwgLIUFHKeVcFiXhhSQkCP4aGBem2J0z_-8TNcKh9XjsR2WKZIGqUuvwJQITeEtS4-StRia5sJMo3gj/s640/plantings.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of the plants, were ones we recognized. Asparagus fern, coleus, Aztec grass, and purple heart. Cordyline was used everywhere, as hedges.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQAm1TK-WPY38zLlBJX8-7YQtewPpbRKG3xtwkTtHQ3k9lNjaXteghSEvPWBokyaRJLuZqNJcXqsYqTTt8ETjC5Abu6eAeR26LyygkcakordKge79D4sGHQ39Di0IliaKE280_bug_gJ8/s1600-h/grounds+2+moses+in+a+basket,+oyster+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQAm1TK-WPY38zLlBJX8-7YQtewPpbRKG3xtwkTtHQ3k9lNjaXteghSEvPWBokyaRJLuZqNJcXqsYqTTt8ETjC5Abu6eAeR26LyygkcakordKge79D4sGHQ39Di0IliaKE280_bug_gJ8/s640/grounds+2+moses+in+a+basket,+oyster+plant.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think, this is Oyster plant, or Moses in a Basket. It was everywhere....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9xDfa3OxJAwVn8bIeWnUoACHXaPwkqiIRNGMgjMPy6nFiT3eC6cNe6L3UwdIecg7Khvfplnq5tdbowKNFj3WQFITKZmxiW7pWpKLPHhOeD-uCrAJwGCmFSjtIddavo4qNuYy9ekn4q8h/s1600-h/grounds+2+oyster+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9xDfa3OxJAwVn8bIeWnUoACHXaPwkqiIRNGMgjMPy6nFiT3eC6cNe6L3UwdIecg7Khvfplnq5tdbowKNFj3WQFITKZmxiW7pWpKLPHhOeD-uCrAJwGCmFSjtIddavo4qNuYy9ekn4q8h/s640/grounds+2+oyster+plant.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...used as a thick, lush groundcover.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6_T6mFnZuBy1yo3pZH6zQjSfUnAmKvqCU9tx32EqdefjStP2Dg0TqrOrutOdfSBkHRdBfuvwXBPsJ3pavD8tJAThl1N8lqlFNWUyNin_pRssLccrK2qEpQIFdcoojgsdysmx7i4BaEn6/s1600-h/grounds+2+unknown+plant+variegated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6_T6mFnZuBy1yo3pZH6zQjSfUnAmKvqCU9tx32EqdefjStP2Dg0TqrOrutOdfSBkHRdBfuvwXBPsJ3pavD8tJAThl1N8lqlFNWUyNin_pRssLccrK2qEpQIFdcoojgsdysmx7i4BaEn6/s640/grounds+2+unknown+plant+variegated.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was even a lighter, variegated version. At least, I think it was the same plant. I want some of this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia9-i8GvsS-5B6oam_yCClhNwLD0zjdqMPYGoW2adcOH31UWon1b09Z2FRP8ZrEDPju8qXH0i5y5MD3ND1VUre2N3XDL0gFEa3if-TaeJPSo0ds3-2VHhTDowLiy_-8R3DDTykyYGt0pZ/s1600-h/grounds+3+Ixora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia9-i8GvsS-5B6oam_yCClhNwLD0zjdqMPYGoW2adcOH31UWon1b09Z2FRP8ZrEDPju8qXH0i5y5MD3ND1VUre2N3XDL0gFEa3if-TaeJPSo0ds3-2VHhTDowLiy_-8R3DDTykyYGt0pZ/s640/grounds+3+Ixora.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two different colors of Ixora. These make nice hedges.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WH_GSnvCK_5tiucLeAovLoESt4qd5DqpPYu0Pg5vrzwwRxJKPoGNC9wXiNvtZoimDjIrDHhyphenhyphen8YPk_pLVcKHx3kJIUPV5v0hpL17MKXFBf6eAFs9zCxCmDJlGbHSIKEMpNrhQ4o2OPMAc/s1600-h/grounds+ginger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WH_GSnvCK_5tiucLeAovLoESt4qd5DqpPYu0Pg5vrzwwRxJKPoGNC9wXiNvtZoimDjIrDHhyphenhyphen8YPk_pLVcKHx3kJIUPV5v0hpL17MKXFBf6eAFs9zCxCmDJlGbHSIKEMpNrhQ4o2OPMAc/s640/grounds+ginger.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of ginger, with big red spikes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJSOgqxHtRbDXpOBquMps-GOV2ObDDDb3JKzKyAo_AtTZzzl-rdBS_5zBScRUuDQVjcGIsgzUl2-8xFUUZC155-7vWzmreB8chP4Uu-iwtW-Y1QMP5r6WCfzkhlwYA7Rm607dqsrPKNN9/s1600-h/plumaria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJSOgqxHtRbDXpOBquMps-GOV2ObDDDb3JKzKyAo_AtTZzzl-rdBS_5zBScRUuDQVjcGIsgzUl2-8xFUUZC155-7vWzmreB8chP4Uu-iwtW-Y1QMP5r6WCfzkhlwYA7Rm607dqsrPKNN9/s640/plumaria.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, Plumaria.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX-J3DkdnBlP9J4j9XAfzcDmGAtqTzbAMSfyBtrJ1RZ573O-zxj53a0mMTCqEtO08OpF36vtiCQV6-iKbeq6tESTQTh_F-PsZ-asp74-Ah999xIrvKCSjH76hHHMxF6fAqulbDTS7_ZAm/s1600-h/crinkly+palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaX-J3DkdnBlP9J4j9XAfzcDmGAtqTzbAMSfyBtrJ1RZ573O-zxj53a0mMTCqEtO08OpF36vtiCQV6-iKbeq6tESTQTh_F-PsZ-asp74-Ah999xIrvKCSjH76hHHMxF6fAqulbDTS7_ZAm/s640/crinkly+palm.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This palm was starting out with crinkly leaves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ0_P70JhARs7mqRYa8OspCBf1SUL_Hk4VgIVCQ1dMuBRiDt73NVTBiSRKNOd2UxN6md-I5oaMBf-7u2HG98akpw-dXL4CK-I8-TKfusMWSR2A2yipum_xROeVA3wAKqgSgfWiTvHHU0W/s1600-h/grounds+2+unknown+shrub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ0_P70JhARs7mqRYa8OspCBf1SUL_Hk4VgIVCQ1dMuBRiDt73NVTBiSRKNOd2UxN6md-I5oaMBf-7u2HG98akpw-dXL4CK-I8-TKfusMWSR2A2yipum_xROeVA3wAKqgSgfWiTvHHU0W/s640/grounds+2+unknown+shrub.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some plants, I've seen before, but don't know the names. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k0pmZvgd7RXs-koh0EopNKrcKsvYHIsPf4Zl4QVxyGFwpy7duuf49rX_AsDMN9ibxkp_mAlR0-7CyA0mVsjhZywdEgC7M1_MEQq5n-izyG4mXq5qtzrHjgmJ0v1NSfFxR-CkmYz1Kzu0/s1600-h/grounds+4+unknown+shrub+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k0pmZvgd7RXs-koh0EopNKrcKsvYHIsPf4Zl4QVxyGFwpy7duuf49rX_AsDMN9ibxkp_mAlR0-7CyA0mVsjhZywdEgC7M1_MEQq5n-izyG4mXq5qtzrHjgmJ0v1NSfFxR-CkmYz1Kzu0/s640/grounds+4+unknown+shrub+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div>This is a similar shrub, with a bloom spike.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aNteQYKd9VocZg7Kvi9YDdVcWD7RB8tKAj9EXMqfivbuZTlOtbSZGxkY9imcadIc5tSD7oWBjKRJ8d9s8vl1ed7ZlSoqwZa92qrswQLBD8YcwZgrb-M6xDLjv_bnZSFr940BpBBZN9qG/s1600-h/grounds+6+thorny+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aNteQYKd9VocZg7Kvi9YDdVcWD7RB8tKAj9EXMqfivbuZTlOtbSZGxkY9imcadIc5tSD7oWBjKRJ8d9s8vl1ed7ZlSoqwZa92qrswQLBD8YcwZgrb-M6xDLjv_bnZSFr940BpBBZN9qG/s640/grounds+6+thorny+tree.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div>And, what kind of tree is this?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5vR_dNCLxShm2iHpfHg6_BFFdrD-3DSqyLJo2AgIfxDaj0eA2L7-Vo3UXhIqehm1HDNoqkX_SmExa3qLoVWUBjBKCZ-sggL7NXCEWZZ2xZ7Kpa16exL9oeAFLPKs9KTuNVn7VBgQ5Ele/s1600-h/grounds+5+unknown+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5vR_dNCLxShm2iHpfHg6_BFFdrD-3DSqyLJo2AgIfxDaj0eA2L7-Vo3UXhIqehm1HDNoqkX_SmExa3qLoVWUBjBKCZ-sggL7NXCEWZZ2xZ7Kpa16exL9oeAFLPKs9KTuNVn7VBgQ5Ele/s640/grounds+5+unknown+tree.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>Is this a white version of our Goldenball leadtree?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIl4UTGS4iHfNH9TIf5BtMOCurmqQAZqMVEQeBVOqLVC1DqZsjyetKTzHkobYcPnqOLleR83WX3is0NvY2aNkmuMuo2F57HKnUVAV_Wshq0megn2SgfOWEwzwty-xxaWTWOMR2m4TJkp/s1600-h/grounds+9+unknown+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIl4UTGS4iHfNH9TIf5BtMOCurmqQAZqMVEQeBVOqLVC1DqZsjyetKTzHkobYcPnqOLleR83WX3is0NvY2aNkmuMuo2F57HKnUVAV_Wshq0megn2SgfOWEwzwty-xxaWTWOMR2m4TJkp/s640/grounds+9+unknown+plant.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>This one has these flowers....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWkLk9r8buvZQMGqllh3vOY-N1X1EioDTL4cBZT1Eli2Lh4blA_R7RRnB1ryFyPDO3Sm-bothE6ACfiPVvMxJ0Ru8VWG_QqE7N1gHw2ZtnyyEnSyNFKwM160gDQ0lSn6bjyTqprBDNsXZ/s1600-h/grounds+7+unknown+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWkLk9r8buvZQMGqllh3vOY-N1X1EioDTL4cBZT1Eli2Lh4blA_R7RRnB1ryFyPDO3Sm-bothE6ACfiPVvMxJ0Ru8VWG_QqE7N1gHw2ZtnyyEnSyNFKwM160gDQ0lSn6bjyTqprBDNsXZ/s640/grounds+7+unknown+tree.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>....and, these pods.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFD6ZR6iYtxJbkt_Qv3LY_R9R9KO2astH39vLE6YPqSGEXsT9pVu6pOLCfUHszwziObE6vffzYWgoojptOzmyjcvLFUKcGDo0ZwZAh2sTsfCcUDUrAcAYmQwQ0l6qmc2zVsPpr44e0JHT/s1600-h/unknown+pink+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFD6ZR6iYtxJbkt_Qv3LY_R9R9KO2astH39vLE6YPqSGEXsT9pVu6pOLCfUHszwziObE6vffzYWgoojptOzmyjcvLFUKcGDo0ZwZAh2sTsfCcUDUrAcAYmQwQ0l6qmc2zVsPpr44e0JHT/s640/unknown+pink+flower.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>And, look at the size of these blooms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN4KWwLkVIGWLi7OiksruPgylnmuPAgFEE37BgzjHUctEjaST59MHSXqxlTf0KSjFd10d9RFwNZmyU3z5XX8doyTTb2q1lVRib9_Jxzkj85UV00qONNMNbYTWkoakLaw-ESLiikmvfRXq/s1600-h/black+poison+wood+tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN4KWwLkVIGWLi7OiksruPgylnmuPAgFEE37BgzjHUctEjaST59MHSXqxlTf0KSjFd10d9RFwNZmyU3z5XX8doyTTb2q1lVRib9_Jxzkj85UV00qONNMNbYTWkoakLaw-ESLiikmvfRXq/s640/black+poison+wood+tree+2.jpg" vt="true" width="426" /></a></div>In the rule section of the book in our room....yes, I read rule sections.....there was the warning:<br />
'Do Not Touch the Black Poison Wood Tree'.<br />
So, of course, we set out to find out what a Black Poison Wood Tree was.<br />
And, we found it. See the black sap. That causes 'severe rash'.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHfuAYXAtJXb000-vRIBhAAtdR6ou1sg5CNjGZJU_664M-f7bvoveqMxaf2pH8t5ksNm8p52KXj5zJ0XqcejqJym6XmwgNodMCYdXyaGMK4-JJ7UvXmm506-TI6GUSqXGW-tzWW6BIICs/s1600-h/black+poison+wood+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHfuAYXAtJXb000-vRIBhAAtdR6ou1sg5CNjGZJU_664M-f7bvoveqMxaf2pH8t5ksNm8p52KXj5zJ0XqcejqJym6XmwgNodMCYdXyaGMK4-JJ7UvXmm506-TI6GUSqXGW-tzWW6BIICs/s640/black+poison+wood+tree.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>So, don't touch the Black Poison Wood Tree.<br />
<br />
There were many more plants. More colorful foliage, than blooms. It shows you don't have to have lots of blooms, to make a beautiful landscape. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxnGpg7_co0FKHkJNn8ryHCUQBBVepQVALbrhWvrTtz5iUFtWba8OMJYiCbEelCscRpUQhrgcrHgq_IKI2y5Rs4B9p3bbWCw9ZAmvv7loYwjPWPmcbif4S44Qm_U8nIdnO5L8TWijXrQK/s1600-h/grand+maya+pool+10+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxnGpg7_co0FKHkJNn8ryHCUQBBVepQVALbrhWvrTtz5iUFtWba8OMJYiCbEelCscRpUQhrgcrHgq_IKI2y5Rs4B9p3bbWCw9ZAmvv7loYwjPWPmcbif4S44Qm_U8nIdnO5L8TWijXrQK/s640/grand+maya+pool+10+island.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It was a great trip, with some great friends. We learned new things, caught up with each other's lives...<br />
and relaxed beside the beautiful blue sea.<br />
<br />
Changes in latitudes....brought changes in attitudes.<br />
<br />
We're ready to go again.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-7249992795596292992010-03-25T10:56:00.000-05:002011-01-26T10:57:59.284-06:00Riviera Maya....Playa del Carmen...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2YHcF1flz8xLHnrUU57BgLbakwcXygLVJcKkfcVtljv09fXVxmJd7MEf12KlIROG_8tQWAbR_lmLSycgHbtVKFiHcYvXlRUwvudDbdaHfRTSTXIjfbC596mgtOf4Z1jsHvmCwGQ2Tobr/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2YHcF1flz8xLHnrUU57BgLbakwcXygLVJcKkfcVtljv09fXVxmJd7MEf12KlIROG_8tQWAbR_lmLSycgHbtVKFiHcYvXlRUwvudDbdaHfRTSTXIjfbC596mgtOf4Z1jsHvmCwGQ2Tobr/s640/Playa+del+Carmen+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><br />
During our recent trip to the Riviera Maya, one of our days away from the resort, was to Playa del Carmen.<br />
Playa del Carmen, is a city of a little over 100,000 people. Their main industry, is tourism.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vDLWMv8OIOj_bmPLw9cJkwcEYrNfZggyBGHkqcVsxafaS3f1Bn8DCEOzNeiN5TfTJc7QOSR8BGaUS8aB8TdwYaB89bRrTyt1Rh0s9iFdkxslYRmA7xUubOv5YL6feYKI1OKbCLl4fZNO/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vDLWMv8OIOj_bmPLw9cJkwcEYrNfZggyBGHkqcVsxafaS3f1Bn8DCEOzNeiN5TfTJc7QOSR8BGaUS8aB8TdwYaB89bRrTyt1Rh0s9iFdkxslYRmA7xUubOv5YL6feYKI1OKbCLl4fZNO/s640/Playa+del+Carmen.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a good place to do some shopping.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6QEeaxVPQfWnMqrlpnZsp_IpvHUJXDR4iDvNByo2zuYI74iqkgoTbQC8r3FWGt69tH7j3XE2qIGK47JB2BSqKN6W7tNrS_g-P0eQSP1wD7qYZ4c8Z289F8-H1uaHEL3hlDK2SNxtejZZ/s1600-h/Playa+del+carmen+4+beader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6QEeaxVPQfWnMqrlpnZsp_IpvHUJXDR4iDvNByo2zuYI74iqkgoTbQC8r3FWGt69tH7j3XE2qIGK47JB2BSqKN6W7tNrS_g-P0eQSP1wD7qYZ4c8Z289F8-H1uaHEL3hlDK2SNxtejZZ/s640/Playa+del+carmen+4+beader.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped to watch these young ladies do some bead work. This shop had beautiful textiles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE01lJpRO0EjDzH17lREsPMlGenT204znfXlsjHFAVsRynOh8pmasOmjL9oXqqRGWfm-IX-O02JjKGAT5D9rxzSS2tnx-wyKUIpOCTS-FXkR2Oy51sEEb8xDxOdovaYV7llXKb4dy9ouGQ/s1600-h/Playa+del+carmen+7+Tequila+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE01lJpRO0EjDzH17lREsPMlGenT204znfXlsjHFAVsRynOh8pmasOmjL9oXqqRGWfm-IX-O02JjKGAT5D9rxzSS2tnx-wyKUIpOCTS-FXkR2Oy51sEEb8xDxOdovaYV7llXKb4dy9ouGQ/s640/Playa+del+carmen+7+Tequila+museum.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the back of a fairly large shop, is a Tequila Museum....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGD1w6n1pMYAn_5CPA2FBbH5M8jmVsTAyMPjGDQedbqssrAFRlMJ79-xcUQNWHXE70dHE4QiiWl4kgHUq9wBcQPX2eMk8ex_nGMk6R-uU6gTekHR4s1Zoep3he8DyYaUXb380dhaAzdY4/s1600-h/Playa+del+carmen+5+Tequila+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGD1w6n1pMYAn_5CPA2FBbH5M8jmVsTAyMPjGDQedbqssrAFRlMJ79-xcUQNWHXE70dHE4QiiWl4kgHUq9wBcQPX2eMk8ex_nGMk6R-uU6gTekHR4s1Zoep3he8DyYaUXb380dhaAzdY4/s640/Playa+del+carmen+5+Tequila+museum.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">....where you can hang out with these ladies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJmRvhFAkGggpqPJt5lKd1WQwJLSFF2QSa55LK86uvTxaR6WCMtjUlTt2pc0micvhdK4OMLfCQv8ZGFKjggRplHY9eu8aMmtmKqgImT21c-UeGZ9Pp46iG0yFfTN5OD0wmEMLazudKa9_/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJmRvhFAkGggpqPJt5lKd1WQwJLSFF2QSa55LK86uvTxaR6WCMtjUlTt2pc0micvhdK4OMLfCQv8ZGFKjggRplHY9eu8aMmtmKqgImT21c-UeGZ9Pp46iG0yFfTN5OD0wmEMLazudKa9_/s640/Playa+del+Carmen+3.jpg" vt="true" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Could this be one of their relatives?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdLlrcxicTO1PK-q8VVYai1RvNEbAn-Q7ZGg384FyhceOuehQdyGsHtDN_iBp9ehKc61k3iRf9H9VGIPJtxZmbUtxWps0AjaDZpKUzzwzik_rQn09MIIfHhZ02OQU8Oa3XXmAuT1TmhUu/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen+13+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdLlrcxicTO1PK-q8VVYai1RvNEbAn-Q7ZGg384FyhceOuehQdyGsHtDN_iBp9ehKc61k3iRf9H9VGIPJtxZmbUtxWps0AjaDZpKUzzwzik_rQn09MIIfHhZ02OQU8Oa3XXmAuT1TmhUu/s640/Playa+del+Carmen+13+beach.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took a walk over to the beach.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVrDLKK-RQVn1Z13WR_IblUhKmHlz8FzuVEvZVAb3tMQbhiUvup4vDD76YrZA7zBCHexds3VxEGm4GW1i3Y_SvH5pOd3-3IONkjztYC6A34gKU1aN4XxiyEzcOjHEPjscv6UK9ObJai6X/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen+15+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVrDLKK-RQVn1Z13WR_IblUhKmHlz8FzuVEvZVAb3tMQbhiUvup4vDD76YrZA7zBCHexds3VxEGm4GW1i3Y_SvH5pOd3-3IONkjztYC6A34gKU1aN4XxiyEzcOjHEPjscv6UK9ObJai6X/s640/Playa+del+Carmen+15+beach.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think for fishing, I'd want a bigger boat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem0dFmZHioY0op96S61ivgWQ7E4GD3gbOFJ1WNvvsHkFgUuU8ujzlV52_MAeSvmNfJzRKHxIZqh3fjXAG3Ff-fv-cA8Ynh6I7OFkoT-QmGtQhfrXwNBmI5J9w0PcsEZwaIFYUib33-nax/s1600-h/Playa+del+Carmen+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem0dFmZHioY0op96S61ivgWQ7E4GD3gbOFJ1WNvvsHkFgUuU8ujzlV52_MAeSvmNfJzRKHxIZqh3fjXAG3Ff-fv-cA8Ynh6I7OFkoT-QmGtQhfrXwNBmI5J9w0PcsEZwaIFYUib33-nax/s640/Playa+del+Carmen+8.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A nice lunch, and back to the resort.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-481947650947638092010-03-24T10:54:00.000-05:002011-01-26T10:55:10.960-06:00Riviera Maya....La Playa...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XW5ibpPmRpKvv4C04HvpI1LrndlIMdfMjsJMpkoaNtPx4p-08poZMDCQAeG3FEK89w3-fr_vbLihZWZVV-LKjHDP4BiXTH92W5qnrm2Y0HEuFsKZSO4HWoP_cAyoqIvjhoFVF1fmmsWT/s1600-h/beach+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XW5ibpPmRpKvv4C04HvpI1LrndlIMdfMjsJMpkoaNtPx4p-08poZMDCQAeG3FEK89w3-fr_vbLihZWZVV-LKjHDP4BiXTH92W5qnrm2Y0HEuFsKZSO4HWoP_cAyoqIvjhoFVF1fmmsWT/s640/beach+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Riviera Maya in Mexico. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Riviera Maya, is a line of resorts areas on the Yucatan peninsula, along the Caribbean Sea, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Our resort was part way between the airport at Cancun, and Playa del Carmen. It's a very large resort, with two large hotel/condo complexes. Both share the same beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVXa5ocKUET9Np9pUTqNFukc2AdoVCEp4Vb-Tf1hZRpUfD3NYOf7UXz9HqwMUdiHD-yJx1bzBZ1t4Lwwkv1Aw93rq9qKXZYVYvI8FxYA_PxLJ0Vgw_VRAbeJmsZVsYUyMXsKswUPzZ3kg/s1600-h/beach+10+long+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVXa5ocKUET9Np9pUTqNFukc2AdoVCEp4Vb-Tf1hZRpUfD3NYOf7UXz9HqwMUdiHD-yJx1bzBZ1t4Lwwkv1Aw93rq9qKXZYVYvI8FxYA_PxLJ0Vgw_VRAbeJmsZVsYUyMXsKswUPzZ3kg/s640/beach+10+long+view.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>It's a long stretch of beautiful white sand, gently lapped by the Caribbean blue water. There is a long line of coral and rock, along the beach. That makes it a bit tricky to get out into the water. We knew before we left, that this was the case. So, we made sure to take along some swim shoes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei5KwoZQNqxW9qOiI6lLrAhnizKSKIpg-x4zI-04b2VBY4f0yfdRM9WXVQzwe6ToHJi7z97RlJGvH-n-0dFzQhyJbViwQ0wOnpNK3Jrj5cAMIl_RxNz8M-5phKbDCgcGbDPMwmr8K2Cty/s1600-h/beach+9+Jann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei5KwoZQNqxW9qOiI6lLrAhnizKSKIpg-x4zI-04b2VBY4f0yfdRM9WXVQzwe6ToHJi7z97RlJGvH-n-0dFzQhyJbViwQ0wOnpNK3Jrj5cAMIl_RxNz8M-5phKbDCgcGbDPMwmr8K2Cty/s640/beach+9+Jann.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>But, this is March....and the water was COLD. This's my friend Jann, testing the water. She can usually stand water way below my comfort level. But, not here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszV4OHjDzktGYWxDynme48RY8LogA4E1v_qafC2WPyEwkPGiY_m1e4v7opE-umomFOod52eb8ZqcbE5dFgIWha87nm0DBd-IUMKnJbBuKRZPoHs80xAuGJjzcVDJeZxKqYpsw4zy2z15g/s1600-h/beach+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszV4OHjDzktGYWxDynme48RY8LogA4E1v_qafC2WPyEwkPGiY_m1e4v7opE-umomFOod52eb8ZqcbE5dFgIWha87nm0DBd-IUMKnJbBuKRZPoHs80xAuGJjzcVDJeZxKqYpsw4zy2z15g/s640/beach+4.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, it was still a nice place to hang out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQopvdVicgSdhTrtj8jqAfBYJaqYymi6Rorqug1lNyaqKBiEPdeAz2Hw-CceOA51ynHaYd7yWn5MqBos1BASec3xabtEcBIG3OfO9RYayh_3CfE15r7HUPaiyLUSN8OVRU7jqI6q9CtgYs/s1600-h/beach+11+ski+jets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQopvdVicgSdhTrtj8jqAfBYJaqYymi6Rorqug1lNyaqKBiEPdeAz2Hw-CceOA51ynHaYd7yWn5MqBos1BASec3xabtEcBIG3OfO9RYayh_3CfE15r7HUPaiyLUSN8OVRU7jqI6q9CtgYs/s640/beach+11+ski+jets.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can rent 'personal water craft', or schedule a snorkling tour. It was interesting, to watch the snorkle tour boats come back in, through a cut in that rock and coral. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8dZ7IVS0WW_08M3aAMo_IoHjnAdcYBr1BLSLyaO06QXzw78KpdIGMqDY3AAvcJHtybLPzpINaEtRS9ZSyjGeqiDknizrByOKzxXoyaoo7Is6frGaxEm71i5a4rUo0Q9O7joS70xmbAlh/s1600-h/Jann+and+Linda+on+pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8dZ7IVS0WW_08M3aAMo_IoHjnAdcYBr1BLSLyaO06QXzw78KpdIGMqDY3AAvcJHtybLPzpINaEtRS9ZSyjGeqiDknizrByOKzxXoyaoo7Is6frGaxEm71i5a4rUo0Q9O7joS70xmbAlh/s640/Jann+and+Linda+on+pier.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A pier there, let's you get out over the water, and see the beach from a different direction.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoYVmAo52OcHMWPTDNMnWw1iagX8A8Lhzl6r8hvqSMaMo8PypLZNolCM7NX9_RoGa_zPeSIr9Hw2P4GBZqnx0_lSfOiYr02c_3e9QFIhtiWiLqj9xhYStmf73UkKMlkExcFzs5ZobDE8i/s1600-h/beach+from+pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoYVmAo52OcHMWPTDNMnWw1iagX8A8Lhzl6r8hvqSMaMo8PypLZNolCM7NX9_RoGa_zPeSIr9Hw2P4GBZqnx0_lSfOiYr02c_3e9QFIhtiWiLqj9xhYStmf73UkKMlkExcFzs5ZobDE8i/s640/beach+from+pier.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From here, you can easily see the line of rock and coral.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5fA4Dt3JS8ZJA1gVPKi1y5oi2ea81YVb5zUqjk_MFyMlGXDHDWxNw7Y_MGP1XJRn8_qUMh1zB4okmkFhAeb7p-6PL_Cks07ctJPd4BlqlTEu9rAUO_fkoUJR3evbHtPk9e-rhZQxjmPI/s1600-h/beach+from+pier+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5fA4Dt3JS8ZJA1gVPKi1y5oi2ea81YVb5zUqjk_MFyMlGXDHDWxNw7Y_MGP1XJRn8_qUMh1zB4okmkFhAeb7p-6PL_Cks07ctJPd4BlqlTEu9rAUO_fkoUJR3evbHtPk9e-rhZQxjmPI/s640/beach+from+pier+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of palapas...shade structures....line the beach.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMsywS5gwW-Y_o0l4c66MClaocmCBMzeeSGKeg9HjUASz7z2jBwbOmgSrXjmiOOtKeP2VFt2OgfViLSVloX6Ntt9zrTDiWv8k7uOpGXhSaSSTeYA-ywt3nyxeXocGbTT22jBWy6oi6lWT/s1600-h/jar+reef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMsywS5gwW-Y_o0l4c66MClaocmCBMzeeSGKeg9HjUASz7z2jBwbOmgSrXjmiOOtKeP2VFt2OgfViLSVloX6Ntt9zrTDiWv8k7uOpGXhSaSSTeYA-ywt3nyxeXocGbTT22jBWy6oi6lWT/s640/jar+reef.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are rows of these jar-like things, on each side of the pier. We assumed they were for extra wave protection, but we didn't find out for sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QfhtZAP1xK5ZmxH1q77JDqGdr6nyVbXRlKBbMgaSPeMZ_H43TrmjlIhRwRSVg9UuuM9GXIX24L8hKgpx1amI4hj7Pc3Y6t6RpLpVJEpOBUzahAjft41r-ieewBmVufBFUwE7XAMEaejX/s1600-h/beach+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QfhtZAP1xK5ZmxH1q77JDqGdr6nyVbXRlKBbMgaSPeMZ_H43TrmjlIhRwRSVg9UuuM9GXIX24L8hKgpx1amI4hj7Pc3Y6t6RpLpVJEpOBUzahAjft41r-ieewBmVufBFUwE7XAMEaejX/s640/beach+3.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, the guys were with us. They just opted to not run up and down the beach with us, taking pictures and testing the water. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP2aGFZTQ8a8Ok_jvVE1WyzP40mkmOAg0o9BBwyRMzBmoDnkMCd1t_AxNOCVs_Yq63SWGuG5JoPUuMMtsDIYqzQFszU7UqG86qUCW-qnPSNMUiAUrLyrkjx8B2gyFOt2Er9RV7aaXHmaX/s1600-h/beach+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP2aGFZTQ8a8Ok_jvVE1WyzP40mkmOAg0o9BBwyRMzBmoDnkMCd1t_AxNOCVs_Yq63SWGuG5JoPUuMMtsDIYqzQFszU7UqG86qUCW-qnPSNMUiAUrLyrkjx8B2gyFOt2Er9RV7aaXHmaX/s640/beach+6.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sitting in the shade of a palapa....letting a nice young man bring cold, tropical beverages, was their idea of fun. Ours, too...for a while.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGufldGO36cUS7kgCE7B6M2qcbcKSJaQglVTHijwqpzPG8TTsRIcm6v7pjRFZLVRlgLHtrwOILVxW03dlGSCUe5Wna4byFqE3jYnFjamiBBku9Zy1f_ikfmktV30cD5eCLoI0GJU08eHJ/s1600-h/Pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGufldGO36cUS7kgCE7B6M2qcbcKSJaQglVTHijwqpzPG8TTsRIcm6v7pjRFZLVRlgLHtrwOILVxW03dlGSCUe5Wna4byFqE3jYnFjamiBBku9Zy1f_ikfmktV30cD5eCLoI0GJU08eHJ/s640/Pier.jpg" vt="true" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of the day, the terrace outside Havana Moon...one of the many restaurants there...was a good place to relax, with a glass of good wine, and a view of the pier and the beautiful water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until next time.....hasta luego.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-30216001863926961502010-03-23T10:51:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:06:02.591-06:00Riviera Maya...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeklvtmS1WNMRjbHf6L0pziKgMw_Y7bM7_1YhyYLNppPEKMSt-18N8T5Pc67DSJd7uLqxqva48oRSiuS5KHwKrqKLiDpVkfQia_9OCQh1vzJTVte2XDh_DRZk92YjmI55KQhrQUfIy_Zu_/s1600-h/Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeklvtmS1WNMRjbHf6L0pziKgMw_Y7bM7_1YhyYLNppPEKMSt-18N8T5Pc67DSJd7uLqxqva48oRSiuS5KHwKrqKLiDpVkfQia_9OCQh1vzJTVte2XDh_DRZk92YjmI55KQhrQUfIy_Zu_/s640/Pool.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>We just recently returned from a lovely week on the Riviera Maya. Our friends, Jann and Al, who live in Georgia, invited us to go along with them, for a great trip. We stayed at the Mayan Palace. It's a beautiful part of a huge resort. There is also the Grand Mayan, on the same grounds. There are not just many rooms. There are many buildings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2muF8HzM9IZzXlgA6Ke0CnghFlNc9AY3mYtrqMQqpJ41PluvmW7z6JJIzEhBR35T5Etn0_-G_ff3fCioeZ02zaZr1S0FWiVikaHtOQVkSXA77q22kJghHK1ivrf7_8sDtAx9cbdow8SQz/s1600-h/grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2muF8HzM9IZzXlgA6Ke0CnghFlNc9AY3mYtrqMQqpJ41PluvmW7z6JJIzEhBR35T5Etn0_-G_ff3fCioeZ02zaZr1S0FWiVikaHtOQVkSXA77q22kJghHK1ivrf7_8sDtAx9cbdow8SQz/s640/grounds.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The grounds are lush and beautiful. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPY6FytrT-_36O0XJs451DnQSe8tvr-pi4XYooulH7tSQrJiIP01j4R77WTPXr7sTJD0gHJjiAsjBRI8c2Zv382Spirf7UBuJ3UUwSACJyXwNUJJjXiUioDmxElCuHyMenWDu3lz3rITF/s1600-h/Pool+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPY6FytrT-_36O0XJs451DnQSe8tvr-pi4XYooulH7tSQrJiIP01j4R77WTPXr7sTJD0gHJjiAsjBRI8c2Zv382Spirf7UBuJ3UUwSACJyXwNUJJjXiUioDmxElCuHyMenWDu3lz3rITF/s640/Pool+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The main pool, is huge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlme2QbisjPimzXoLL5CcnLO2b59wagnNpvMAI6eOcQ9I0Q8pCForZ-OPTGDJGYyXtVkurr-v2-VngLVLUZcKs36R86pYEDLRZC0x3uI6KVpZSfoTLPfEdfDzkcAK-ZvAYMpQ_OnuVNw7W/s1600-h/pool+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlme2QbisjPimzXoLL5CcnLO2b59wagnNpvMAI6eOcQ9I0Q8pCForZ-OPTGDJGYyXtVkurr-v2-VngLVLUZcKs36R86pYEDLRZC0x3uI6KVpZSfoTLPfEdfDzkcAK-ZvAYMpQ_OnuVNw7W/s640/pool+3.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has areas for games and sunning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZyuXOFLXGJc-PEQ2vhwwuaDYOllynVjyRPztzzG-SzBFN_NtIVJpVul2lpbq_peTYhMMxk4r9sVwN3oI_L4ZQwu1wJXWzhJ9nZrKddfs85Sxt-OLCHoLc6Isd9BTXat3o2tswycm2nv/s1600-h/Pool+swim+up+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZyuXOFLXGJc-PEQ2vhwwuaDYOllynVjyRPztzzG-SzBFN_NtIVJpVul2lpbq_peTYhMMxk4r9sVwN3oI_L4ZQwu1wJXWzhJ9nZrKddfs85Sxt-OLCHoLc6Isd9BTXat3o2tswycm2nv/s640/Pool+swim+up+bar.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, not one....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX40Tq7VoWrcQbNirrQMhi5xmGLGip8gO5k3tXr0vsMbyNWyfAXPmBk-G6YnuTgZMXJMil_iB2N-nXSUVFSA_UoonX5GDJOr5C9wCFLu_ugOcRmubM_0BVv-xynGYIcmEmxBjQyDg9GEvN/s1600-h/Pool+swim+up+bar+%2B+cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX40Tq7VoWrcQbNirrQMhi5xmGLGip8gO5k3tXr0vsMbyNWyfAXPmBk-G6YnuTgZMXJMil_iB2N-nXSUVFSA_UoonX5GDJOr5C9wCFLu_ugOcRmubM_0BVv-xynGYIcmEmxBjQyDg9GEvN/s640/Pool+swim+up+bar+%2B+cafe.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...but, two, swim-up bars.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC_Q3o5EOVIxqvo9ieyMaIq6m_6HT60t7awwKeedCz0tLDWFC6kCIX-20aypzv9dWmcHNGIejlqjPRrUvr5mYYoT6Aq6CcWI8M1P6xDB6_DcKrqfcQe8Pa9WOl6pYxbxNhaa5QdEv9bYU/s1600-h/pool+serpent+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC_Q3o5EOVIxqvo9ieyMaIq6m_6HT60t7awwKeedCz0tLDWFC6kCIX-20aypzv9dWmcHNGIejlqjPRrUvr5mYYoT6Aq6CcWI8M1P6xDB6_DcKrqfcQe8Pa9WOl6pYxbxNhaa5QdEv9bYU/s640/pool+serpent+head.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interesting sculptures, decorate the resort. This...the head of a serpent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_PQDB4xRVTofxXa0vfGE8ytWOVIu0UyjYzdPI6nSCwFMItgRBU_SQtKuos72s77DdiPfFNtd4JKBsWd9l_6nXjI5ARrXHIQaviPNvvEsMaoDUFXh9uhXXTy5tcvFTpNHdSgZswEcgnn/s1600-h/pool+serpent+body+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_PQDB4xRVTofxXa0vfGE8ytWOVIu0UyjYzdPI6nSCwFMItgRBU_SQtKuos72s77DdiPfFNtd4JKBsWd9l_6nXjI5ARrXHIQaviPNvvEsMaoDUFXh9uhXXTy5tcvFTpNHdSgZswEcgnn/s640/pool+serpent+body+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It winds it's way along the walkway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMNo7WXy_6jVL3hRb0uy4dn8vIvb-jrk6_ig9d40hBh6W4SoaLWk-Ph5IuKeMw4XTdpe1N9-Sd7Qw_Ix_OnVQnV_QYu5maqjhicKXOwYhj0OOiUpykJ6RbjpZeQ0QjFXbFMuNh-s61YPj/s1600-h/pool+serpent+body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMNo7WXy_6jVL3hRb0uy4dn8vIvb-jrk6_ig9d40hBh6W4SoaLWk-Ph5IuKeMw4XTdpe1N9-Sd7Qw_Ix_OnVQnV_QYu5maqjhicKXOwYhj0OOiUpykJ6RbjpZeQ0QjFXbFMuNh-s61YPj/s640/pool+serpent+body.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quite a long serpent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8PvfmwcaVqYrI32Ja9_nCrXMblf8TEZ26LxI2T4s21eXaN8gBc5MEeCYcXpUjSxE9GqLGOUfXNQUCh01Zbk_y5eBqOy2NuEQa38nQwynJNApho3xaZ-6oHu1fx3VRUwYv9uzkxqixfsi/s1600-h/pool+%232+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8PvfmwcaVqYrI32Ja9_nCrXMblf8TEZ26LxI2T4s21eXaN8gBc5MEeCYcXpUjSxE9GqLGOUfXNQUCh01Zbk_y5eBqOy2NuEQa38nQwynJNApho3xaZ-6oHu1fx3VRUwYv9uzkxqixfsi/s640/pool+%232+river.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, this little 'river' winds around to another pool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG2sgC0zwKY6Uj-otHrBdCO-IAcnVxZHer2JPU1eCVjDpt8i_H948M1a82EU0nc2SPwX0Bpllh62KTZgnO20f2bw2Wlg7cyL2qkWOUeTffuc19-pQOg18UsPxdgQhOx9tf9vNdnBUeRX0/s1600-h/pool+%232+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG2sgC0zwKY6Uj-otHrBdCO-IAcnVxZHer2JPU1eCVjDpt8i_H948M1a82EU0nc2SPwX0Bpllh62KTZgnO20f2bw2Wlg7cyL2qkWOUeTffuc19-pQOg18UsPxdgQhOx9tf9vNdnBUeRX0/s640/pool+%232+2.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The edge runs along a small lake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCGieaphRVlkBLGcphwwDBNrNDWCP0q5PH-eaerYfBmU5ZqMl7w0nTZfA324DciXn51aKHJNUrCfnmf8WZ21oawicwPyeczokwjxbtoYe2T7Ei2ENXoSWz39CEKWvWZY2rcNjbECPlGnM/s1600-h/pool+%232+bar+Jann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCGieaphRVlkBLGcphwwDBNrNDWCP0q5PH-eaerYfBmU5ZqMl7w0nTZfA324DciXn51aKHJNUrCfnmf8WZ21oawicwPyeczokwjxbtoYe2T7Ei2ENXoSWz39CEKWvWZY2rcNjbECPlGnM/s640/pool+%232+bar+Jann.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jann on swings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The bar here, has swings for seats.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6cBGCABFeasa0-VTX6c1n1VfI7HZjNb9GuzYFc7ZdTHcAt35wN1S-nvdYtiVL_ovxz70r6oDkzbfgGiar_X1ntg6Y7TT-nPwLs0H6e-9_wSuK2VRgXbM8huluQiV-LTo_6CYxwBAhZbU/s1600-h/Grand+Mayan+entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6cBGCABFeasa0-VTX6c1n1VfI7HZjNb9GuzYFc7ZdTHcAt35wN1S-nvdYtiVL_ovxz70r6oDkzbfgGiar_X1ntg6Y7TT-nPwLs0H6e-9_wSuK2VRgXbM8huluQiV-LTo_6CYxwBAhZbU/s640/Grand+Mayan+entry.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We wind our way around to the Grand Mayan. These giant pots, with agaves, grace the entrance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKf3WCp-HSqyqNdlYLC1Oyshb_iNbDUUB0qkog07_qJoYlyrcvJI8yrZt2YCxvU03gK2n5ShUaJ9OppbCS2x6RfwLuXVg2xIcFfs175M8tFQF1monuN0SCJgc7C6iacet5aJxkXN490Ta/s1600-h/Grand+mayan+pool+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKf3WCp-HSqyqNdlYLC1Oyshb_iNbDUUB0qkog07_qJoYlyrcvJI8yrZt2YCxvU03gK2n5ShUaJ9OppbCS2x6RfwLuXVg2xIcFfs175M8tFQF1monuN0SCJgc7C6iacet5aJxkXN490Ta/s640/Grand+mayan+pool+13.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, another lush, lovely pool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdHb2NXyYM6JgEKxazrT6ZGSaAQ2YD2Ug4BS9MbHQtihfPGyGSTdXRZgT69h8-zaV46Txa8XB18d5ZBZIgAjcTIYhKT-Ow-hu33x7igtEgXlieew5d4SLYL-lFFDoCa71yL0PgOjkSlPM/s1600-h/grand+maya+pool+8+bridge+Jann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdHb2NXyYM6JgEKxazrT6ZGSaAQ2YD2Ug4BS9MbHQtihfPGyGSTdXRZgT69h8-zaV46Txa8XB18d5ZBZIgAjcTIYhKT-Ow-hu33x7igtEgXlieew5d4SLYL-lFFDoCa71yL0PgOjkSlPM/s640/grand+maya+pool+8+bridge+Jann.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Across a bridge, to an island. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvdeAinQPyGXA0p5gQ_dsRTKHVWvZHd3D_sBgrVVhEN5iZmjApe8H3Rmkk4LDPbQaZaPN8hGwVFQoz7NiAC9cOus9WUYVMAAxnteqGSmDQCmJBnQgp2KyundF8P_SYcJb8kjcwepQELfy/s1600-h/Grand+Mayan+pool+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvdeAinQPyGXA0p5gQ_dsRTKHVWvZHd3D_sBgrVVhEN5iZmjApe8H3Rmkk4LDPbQaZaPN8hGwVFQoz7NiAC9cOus9WUYVMAAxnteqGSmDQCmJBnQgp2KyundF8P_SYcJb8kjcwepQELfy/s640/Grand+Mayan+pool+12.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a tropical paradise.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnVM0_4SnZkEO4Tw2gXSkLUHMzSCqRMQyBU2tZoGyJNzIr31aVPovdDWe6ytPVn6pszGexcSPtUAYGckLXhN_8Jls73k2nzva17gDv8bj3jQm6_k9IWckHgtL9iaWigi_Xw3Ych0yfA4/s1600-h/garden+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnVM0_4SnZkEO4Tw2gXSkLUHMzSCqRMQyBU2tZoGyJNzIr31aVPovdDWe6ytPVn6pszGexcSPtUAYGckLXhN_8Jls73k2nzva17gDv8bj3jQm6_k9IWckHgtL9iaWigi_Xw3Ych0yfA4/s640/garden+design.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The grounds are packed with beautiful, lush plants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More plants, and the beach next. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for letting me share my trip with you.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-40223743095356317642010-03-22T10:49:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:06:38.711-06:00*Cenote*....Well<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbynPDIAenz-8FCCXVceKIRFKk3Eblclu5Zu6BSFgfhVVvDez5Uy5vaZP1dQO9LShMpOPMaY7umfj4TjNZHo5pVfGRddJQM_tE3vnECx1D9XS1Dh5R2c07n9MHu5DP1hqGk7duJOUvl6h/s1600-h/cinote+top+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbynPDIAenz-8FCCXVceKIRFKk3Eblclu5Zu6BSFgfhVVvDez5Uy5vaZP1dQO9LShMpOPMaY7umfj4TjNZHo5pVfGRddJQM_tE3vnECx1D9XS1Dh5R2c07n9MHu5DP1hqGk7duJOUvl6h/s640/cinote+top+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>In my last post, I shared our trip to Chichen Itza. I seem to be doing things backwards, here. We stopped here for lunch, on the way.<br />
<br />
The Yucatan peninsula is a limestone plain. There are no rivers or streams. Water is pretty precious. All around the region, though, are Cenotes. Cenote is the spanish word for well. These are sinkholes, natural wells. Some, such as those around Chichen Itza, were considered sacred. This one, is not.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholsjZukuhyphenhyphenwc1OcFhyWKS0WxpwZUtQ_ZJsLzJVBVTIRxTjh2J5HcL9dQejY9yo8KneAZ1q2O4hmMgMYVSOyKoN9i4SAP95n3BA_I6_YsiTXCxzO-NodTWyHg1niJjjzx0hMOQtQKcRqGg/s1600-h/cinote+entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholsjZukuhyphenhyphenwc1OcFhyWKS0WxpwZUtQ_ZJsLzJVBVTIRxTjh2J5HcL9dQejY9yo8KneAZ1q2O4hmMgMYVSOyKoN9i4SAP95n3BA_I6_YsiTXCxzO-NodTWyHg1niJjjzx0hMOQtQKcRqGg/s640/cinote+entry.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>The opening leads you down into the ground. There are a couple landings along the way, for those, such as I was, who don't want to go all the way to the bottom. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7ss1qdwUYD4qMepkX-QblAlu8ybN6SSAR_OFup18bPFcpIxsjKA6xtcGIlSUkeW95DZg2RIy0xqELtzOAMhb6I7Ev0NSAUIGQ4gqJ63sN3FC-3zbUwktXPVJCy1foX8_MdsiJzHaiwfF/s1600-h/cinote+entry+stairs+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7ss1qdwUYD4qMepkX-QblAlu8ybN6SSAR_OFup18bPFcpIxsjKA6xtcGIlSUkeW95DZg2RIy0xqELtzOAMhb6I7Ev0NSAUIGQ4gqJ63sN3FC-3zbUwktXPVJCy1foX8_MdsiJzHaiwfF/s640/cinote+entry+stairs+1.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stairs at the top are built of stone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HwBFNa4OnkNqv1Y8RRRKYRJqBkXYDqGX58_GUY7twt0WUVEucToZazDN5p6evjyTCcq1hXMFWZXgBMgtKq1coV8bmR_euM2ePVgVtEINCFDJcNhvFaaGTnZnMMlKfn1xiSQTRswmT-z7/s1600-h/cenote+entry+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HwBFNa4OnkNqv1Y8RRRKYRJqBkXYDqGX58_GUY7twt0WUVEucToZazDN5p6evjyTCcq1hXMFWZXgBMgtKq1coV8bmR_euM2ePVgVtEINCFDJcNhvFaaGTnZnMMlKfn1xiSQTRswmT-z7/s640/cenote+entry+stairs.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rest of the way, they're <em>chiseled</em> out of stone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvS5z-Nam3y2Tip5DH72SnDWAH0T0fuhB4XsAMtpqLBOYxvUC4JIKM1bWXP-NkF6SZV4710AihqjGdBGiNfeFAb09QYwDbtFqN56Wkj3P0k44FV7JSwyzMbRGN9jdoDYd4sv12TKOIOK/s1600-h/ceinote+entry+stairs+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvS5z-Nam3y2Tip5DH72SnDWAH0T0fuhB4XsAMtpqLBOYxvUC4JIKM1bWXP-NkF6SZV4710AihqjGdBGiNfeFAb09QYwDbtFqN56Wkj3P0k44FV7JSwyzMbRGN9jdoDYd4sv12TKOIOK/s640/ceinote+entry+stairs+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stairs are steep....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSvJOMVDCYvK9DJWwWUPLfKWGH9mpXMpnY81t2WNQ9C0S0BoQjvakjYoO8prTVlUI9XCAIf0UCQPAMxobkIO0CKBwuOKkgUvJKFwtPb9OFFUmeTbj2KW422nd4o9k02bV6_Ew_IKqL9y_/s1600-h/cinote+pool+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSvJOMVDCYvK9DJWwWUPLfKWGH9mpXMpnY81t2WNQ9C0S0BoQjvakjYoO8prTVlUI9XCAIf0UCQPAMxobkIO0CKBwuOKkgUvJKFwtPb9OFFUmeTbj2KW422nd4o9k02bV6_Ew_IKqL9y_/s640/cinote+pool+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">....and, wind their way down to here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnGIn4ih6OCC4-bWDk77Tun8OiQmeOms_KnqHDC68iuJV21QXQCx9BksmbZ6gq24SaIXuTTbInc9b8Q3EYJPH67duGf6czbAS1uFsjIhKPmI1_4KH6AgKRwLdglD0xZHPqBygidlwLgyf/s1600-h/cinote+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnGIn4ih6OCC4-bWDk77Tun8OiQmeOms_KnqHDC68iuJV21QXQCx9BksmbZ6gq24SaIXuTTbInc9b8Q3EYJPH67duGf6czbAS1uFsjIhKPmI1_4KH6AgKRwLdglD0xZHPqBygidlwLgyf/s640/cinote+pool.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quite a few people, in our group and other groups, decided to swim. We were content to just watch. The water was very cold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdjsiFMFtwczUZi4akhW3hz6Pi8xDfnZ6U5Eid93OqjZ4ed2348CZfJ_xbNa1mfttEIqR9WV0YrCvs5nwjBMIpKMhK3hx46NkTSF7NjDDlo-GirnNfTXUux2t_UqHSG-P_WHUbLp88LxC/s1600-h/cinote+pool+roots+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdjsiFMFtwczUZi4akhW3hz6Pi8xDfnZ6U5Eid93OqjZ4ed2348CZfJ_xbNa1mfttEIqR9WV0YrCvs5nwjBMIpKMhK3hx46NkTSF7NjDDlo-GirnNfTXUux2t_UqHSG-P_WHUbLp88LxC/s640/cinote+pool+roots+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water dripped down from the edges, above....and along the roots of plants growing on the rim. And, yes...the water was that blue.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94SPlHXFai0fosN0u6E67CTHwepY78RT39HNxucoWOtu-M_nK_rs8U7MDBGaB75S0ECPebQ-kBCzsFnZZoMYK8QViRDVd7dfcRUCNF9dwXH8DbnVr6DQfDhuFXeSPtpc6IAcHCKNbFMyo/s1600-h/cinote+pool+roots+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94SPlHXFai0fosN0u6E67CTHwepY78RT39HNxucoWOtu-M_nK_rs8U7MDBGaB75S0ECPebQ-kBCzsFnZZoMYK8QViRDVd7dfcRUCNF9dwXH8DbnVr6DQfDhuFXeSPtpc6IAcHCKNbFMyo/s640/cinote+pool+roots+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roots of lush plants, growing around the rim.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k3BkKjdsGLa_yLPyoAHRrwCidCMfqV0q9NjokRPxExdDSGBoQYQ5S9JDKqtg9dxBae_WyBJHvt5nnsky7zj9qZ9ZOjPTP4LpaAUSqEcvyDAlzC8FSAUaUL5Q3dZiQkrSM824FFLIEGaX/s1600-h/cinote+top+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k3BkKjdsGLa_yLPyoAHRrwCidCMfqV0q9NjokRPxExdDSGBoQYQ5S9JDKqtg9dxBae_WyBJHvt5nnsky7zj9qZ9ZOjPTP4LpaAUSqEcvyDAlzC8FSAUaUL5Q3dZiQkrSM824FFLIEGaX/s640/cinote+top+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, lush plants....a lovely lunch...and back on the bus, for the rest of the tour.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a wonderful, interesting day.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-80611712142984064932010-03-21T10:42:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:07:08.374-06:00Hola....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk8K8tSNtoX46wZvG0Km6y_IgQefaxWsJEZZlL5xhYqRgrS82YlMFO97fCxmus-0sIKAjcLlh8R1LdORyP0k0wgHTQJp1y7eNivRlVsezF0IWKxSVrT_YBWirSxTCbVrr2VEzVjjxt0Pi/s1600-h/pool+to+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk8K8tSNtoX46wZvG0Km6y_IgQefaxWsJEZZlL5xhYqRgrS82YlMFO97fCxmus-0sIKAjcLlh8R1LdORyP0k0wgHTQJp1y7eNivRlVsezF0IWKxSVrT_YBWirSxTCbVrr2VEzVjjxt0Pi/s640/pool+to+beach.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>It's the first day of spring. And, here in Central Texas, we're having a cold spell. Yesterday, was warm and sunny. Today, it's cold and blustery, with a strong chance of a freeze tonight. Hopefully, it's the last one of the season.<br />
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Two weeks ago today, we were in Mexico...lounging in the sun, beside the blue Caribbean Sea. I thought I'd talk about that, in contrast to the weather outside.<br />
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But, it's the first day of spring....the Vernal Equinox. That was a very important time, for the Mayan people. Since we visited one of their famous sites, I'll share that with you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvxMpYZdw_xMNsMGiWNZribbKyGhC_4m1StnC_Eruw1AJfFBXJh5fSxkLkyNYUc0g_7zjwuRRnc_xy6iHWrjNiHWu2GdAV9Yfz9R8JE8CJMSejHwd1CAXRv092i4Uv2KqUpQymIYr7F5t/s1600-h/kukulcan+pyramid+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvxMpYZdw_xMNsMGiWNZribbKyGhC_4m1StnC_Eruw1AJfFBXJh5fSxkLkyNYUc0g_7zjwuRRnc_xy6iHWrjNiHWu2GdAV9Yfz9R8JE8CJMSejHwd1CAXRv092i4Uv2KqUpQymIYr7F5t/s640/kukulcan+pyramid+1.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">El Castillo~~Pyramid of Kukulcan</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Chichen Itza is a large pre-columbian Mayan city. In the last few years, it has been designated one of the seven modern wonders of the world. The last time we were there....twenty years ago (ugh)....you were allowed to climb the pyramids and go into some of the structures. Today, that is forbidden. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The main attraction is El Castillo...the castle...or the Pyramid of Kukulcan. Kukulcan was a feather serpent god. His likeness is represented in carvings and structures throughout the area. He was worshipped throughout the region. The Aztec worshipped him as Quetzalcoatl.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The Mayans were fairly advanced in mathematics and astronomy. I'm sure you've heard the rumors about their calendar, and that the world will end in 2012. That depends on interpretation. But, I digress. Suffice it to say, the Mayans put together some amazing things. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnJSGjxXh0mULQ-Ad2CpD6QW3AnXNC70gxkpcTr22qX2isVaxt6ZEgHCP0jEpsqGDzP4MbVpsLz4ORLLZS_mFcOW5zizfW-upvAXqKi1B5DB7ECQVUARnjOLXEU4f9M02z8iwYSECEFAf/s1600-h/kukulcan+pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnJSGjxXh0mULQ-Ad2CpD6QW3AnXNC70gxkpcTr22qX2isVaxt6ZEgHCP0jEpsqGDzP4MbVpsLz4ORLLZS_mFcOW5zizfW-upvAXqKi1B5DB7ECQVUARnjOLXEU4f9M02z8iwYSECEFAf/s640/kukulcan+pyramid.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">El Castillo is more than 75 feet high. Each side has 90 steps. Those, plus the step up from the plaza on each side, and the final platform at the top, number 365 steps. At the bottom of each stairway, are the heads of serpents. At 3:00 p.m. on the afternoons of the vernal and atumnal equinoxes, the sun casts a jagged shadow along the sides of the stairway. As the sun goes down, it gives the effect of the serpent descending into the earth. There will be thousands there today, to see the phenomenon. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">There are concerts presented here, in the plaza. Elton John will be there April 3. The acoustics are such, that the performers don't need microphones.....amazing.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_te2z4EP1Ca04WA-lvRM9orU6VZXsD69G5cm57j_z5HwOt0QS4qhfadQ7K3EyfeySo6mbkxxnAJsOlPj4RX8mNmMOv0DxvTS9pOUVx-DJSFydAQtpCl4baauhpO62gfcffDEqe3nRY5HX/s1600-h/ball+court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_te2z4EP1Ca04WA-lvRM9orU6VZXsD69G5cm57j_z5HwOt0QS4qhfadQ7K3EyfeySo6mbkxxnAJsOlPj4RX8mNmMOv0DxvTS9pOUVx-DJSFydAQtpCl4baauhpO62gfcffDEqe3nRY5HX/s640/ball+court.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ball court, was an important part of this Mayan city.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKt0wWhFzEwgfqu5owZJtpqIUeQ5lSKZivq0HxZ3Lpmj0tCYQhxOOkH6JMWRqrWgQQrS__NJQYjnA4OOdVTBoXfGTNts3fN6HQ2a099SHhCCW5bblOgwLYiD-WoiBlhqzn7xOa-aBBJij/s1600-h/ball+court+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKt0wWhFzEwgfqu5owZJtpqIUeQ5lSKZivq0HxZ3Lpmj0tCYQhxOOkH6JMWRqrWgQQrS__NJQYjnA4OOdVTBoXfGTNts3fN6HQ2a099SHhCCW5bblOgwLYiD-WoiBlhqzn7xOa-aBBJij/s640/ball+court+1.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left"> The game was more than just sport. It seems to have been at least in part, a religious ceremony. Something like March Madness? Well....no. It was a bit more serious.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucexFLetxNAM-kpYFSzTcyLDv1SrnmIo5yExP2TqtiI9NgVmMMJ19M4OFJfsidNZMp-8bU3_K_g6rYnxe0sQo5mwUre7lu55rnaHpFTbSX6khk7-tSvOxyqFn6z9v2r4V-lLRGbJhk5h4/s1600-h/ball+court+4+goal+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucexFLetxNAM-kpYFSzTcyLDv1SrnmIo5yExP2TqtiI9NgVmMMJ19M4OFJfsidNZMp-8bU3_K_g6rYnxe0sQo5mwUre7lu55rnaHpFTbSX6khk7-tSvOxyqFn6z9v2r4V-lLRGbJhk5h4/s640/ball+court+4+goal+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left">The game was played with a leather ball. The players would bounce the ball off of their hips, to another player. The strongest and best player, would be named captain. His job was to put the ball through the ring, high up on the wall.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb4mvFjzwNI5djE3YY2ikWCmEzwcfBt40b2sshA8YtteQhrLEtK1YKZbzX-Nz20lahOslxda_FwGcpanJxSA79dxMztTH0vFHHvlEd9uob_X9kHSZwPGB0v3rTdCa3-pGcaQVWDBYcA94/s1600-h/ball+court+4+goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb4mvFjzwNI5djE3YY2ikWCmEzwcfBt40b2sshA8YtteQhrLEtK1YKZbzX-Nz20lahOslxda_FwGcpanJxSA79dxMztTH0vFHHvlEd9uob_X9kHSZwPGB0v3rTdCa3-pGcaQVWDBYcA94/s640/ball+court+4+goal.jpg" vt="true" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It seems, they also used sticks and some kind of device on their arm. Also, they had a boot on one foot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHzii1NGbsndon2Mwh3msBHUpl6K3g1GJ9t9tALeAIMBZQIJRLv5y-B1JIs0o82wnt3dJkUYm5wgqAhZZpIuPy7b6fuKdpciQO0p5NyNXw8C2Z7rO_WzlYVfVgaO_Kfv0208KcyM4IJth/s1600-h/ball+court+5+player+carving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHzii1NGbsndon2Mwh3msBHUpl6K3g1GJ9t9tALeAIMBZQIJRLv5y-B1JIs0o82wnt3dJkUYm5wgqAhZZpIuPy7b6fuKdpciQO0p5NyNXw8C2Z7rO_WzlYVfVgaO_Kfv0208KcyM4IJth/s640/ball+court+5+player+carving.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left">Decorative carvings, along the sides of the ball court, show players in full headdress and the game 'uniforms'. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UxdgAqjkyOEczVh5G9kncsqPDgwgFiulc87ZOQ0lEynrQ6WkmOz9aMg-HMSkBy50GEXUrgE9_-VTKZ66lKo7KrkO1jawhJVVLsP17x3Jw9ScbO5lOHctBiK_GNI0K2iGKfZS7pIlBcES/s1600-h/ball+court+7+king%27s+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UxdgAqjkyOEczVh5G9kncsqPDgwgFiulc87ZOQ0lEynrQ6WkmOz9aMg-HMSkBy50GEXUrgE9_-VTKZ66lKo7KrkO1jawhJVVLsP17x3Jw9ScbO5lOHctBiK_GNI0K2iGKfZS7pIlBcES/s640/ball+court+7+king%27s+box.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left">The winning captain would present his head, to the ruling Mayan King, who sat in this box. The king would then decapitate the captain. Strange reward....but, that was supposed to let the captain skip the 13 high steps of purification, and go directly to heaven. I hope it worked.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBShclElG_guS29H5RwbukQpTNVplOSilXlpzQnfjkAe32o9J4PAKiYYPWaoq84Q7sXRhvuepLU1ysp0aj9TUPzTqGYTiiJwGuDePKDyfVDZPDHfdnyxakrOAPZaQErFuoBNY5tAjXmhqp/s1600-h/tzompantli+wall+of+skulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBShclElG_guS29H5RwbukQpTNVplOSilXlpzQnfjkAe32o9J4PAKiYYPWaoq84Q7sXRhvuepLU1ysp0aj9TUPzTqGYTiiJwGuDePKDyfVDZPDHfdnyxakrOAPZaQErFuoBNY5tAjXmhqp/s640/tzompantli+wall+of+skulls.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left">Heads of the winners would then be displayed on the Tzompantli, or Wall of Skulls. Sacrifice and bloody rituals were a large part of the Mayan culture.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqLF7Mi-h9M4Rs4seBMbhDWweAC62-0ydqvZFa7tDlnFaXfOnbhpV-w3UoT_bhDepNd3r1zajF6AKGhMAAqYclc1ZkgI9PIHo_W9dIO45x8Mf2DybbF1eE5nXaxjAuYlKqDhfUgHbOn-_/s1600-h/victor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqLF7Mi-h9M4Rs4seBMbhDWweAC62-0ydqvZFa7tDlnFaXfOnbhpV-w3UoT_bhDepNd3r1zajF6AKGhMAAqYclc1ZkgI9PIHo_W9dIO45x8Mf2DybbF1eE5nXaxjAuYlKqDhfUgHbOn-_/s640/victor.jpg" vt="true" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As our guide, Victor, explained, the Mayan priests and lords ruled the people with fear. As an agricultural culture, they depended on the weather for good crops. The knowledge of mathematics and astronomy gave the rulers an advantage. They understood just when the rainy season was due to start....when spring started for planting and autumn for harvest. They used this knowledge to control the people. If the rain started after a sacrifice, the people would think the rulers were all powerful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Victor seemed to really love his job. You could tell he is quite interested in Mayan history. In fact, he kept us overlong for his part of the tour. We had less free time left than was scheduled. But, I wish he'd been with us throughout the whole complex. He was very interesting, and we learned a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zSJfrIUXTaVTJ4H_8usYCtOnJOede5GjmZGXEAEz-_q6Sjy7yNMT4fSHVFzjKYpEfuhpvU3RRxpMvIBRMUDMuB0mJ8cRCjR4KyXMDRbAuDBXR81rGJ28Cq_OXEqoTTlMGbcE4ZNYzs78/s1600-h/temple+of+warriors+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zSJfrIUXTaVTJ4H_8usYCtOnJOede5GjmZGXEAEz-_q6Sjy7yNMT4fSHVFzjKYpEfuhpvU3RRxpMvIBRMUDMuB0mJ8cRCjR4KyXMDRbAuDBXR81rGJ28Cq_OXEqoTTlMGbcE4ZNYzs78/s640/temple+of+warriors+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For instance, we're not sure what the Temple of Warriors was actually used for. There are square columns and round columns. We were told the square columns were to represent the warriors. They have carvings of warriors on each side. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CbT3qeuY5SVAH1OHrUm-ykhtVaOGzwuofUrtJ0SkoZVR8sbM5wLXs38iPGy44_uoXFhCpAxDQ7tq-C-F8QVoZ30TEn4lmICzivYstB7I5i-Jcq0gb5W-yOWutx6dIFDPAQCEi7xpLLa-/s1600-h/temple+of+warriors+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CbT3qeuY5SVAH1OHrUm-ykhtVaOGzwuofUrtJ0SkoZVR8sbM5wLXs38iPGy44_uoXFhCpAxDQ7tq-C-F8QVoZ30TEn4lmICzivYstB7I5i-Jcq0gb5W-yOWutx6dIFDPAQCEi7xpLLa-/s640/temple+of+warriors+3.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Up on the top, you can see the tails of more serpents. Also, the reclining figure you see in ads for the Yucatan is up there. You just can't see him from below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ9VZzO213S29FBfk69GX87d2uqWfGQ56xg3X_1KXWChF8bMmbfNxsszqOxA3P2v83rIpfGjhrk228zamCgqxFrbitCqtlpMqqnSJ8BgvdCXI8vasO5pives-mlbk6LzQ-_kB3TzYq72A/s1600-h/observatory+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ9VZzO213S29FBfk69GX87d2uqWfGQ56xg3X_1KXWChF8bMmbfNxsszqOxA3P2v83rIpfGjhrk228zamCgqxFrbitCqtlpMqqnSJ8BgvdCXI8vasO5pives-mlbk6LzQ-_kB3TzYq72A/s640/observatory+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next, we trekked off to the observatory....El Caracol. I learned later, that it is situated to have perfect views of the equinoxes and the motion of Venus. Venus, being the brightest star, was believed to be the sun's twin and a war god.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnqEExYgVeDdCCBWbMgBIH-00Vh640DFBaSeX73LotN5l68JuOk3IRF0MXSrFO_HF0F-u9tTS93X3q39m4ARH1NGY7tY5xEP4WJf3RY66Ubbnev_0tMB8QZ7GynI_uxZdsy077y5TvgjN/s1600-h/observatory+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnqEExYgVeDdCCBWbMgBIH-00Vh640DFBaSeX73LotN5l68JuOk3IRF0MXSrFO_HF0F-u9tTS93X3q39m4ARH1NGY7tY5xEP4WJf3RY66Ubbnev_0tMB8QZ7GynI_uxZdsy077y5TvgjN/s640/observatory+3.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see the resemblance to our observatories today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVRIfwK2jKEPnHkFPqJh2ujy2y_1GCmMhbPKC0Y1XOn9wPN1fA90xPu-2J-Kr0kn3bklcYH7Fhg3iK0lvtbbJhilS0kHV6Tgy_WzZIVup80ZyeRb9qJTHx81aauLxZFr_eSbhYl6T4YVE/s1600-h/observatory+4+side+building+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVRIfwK2jKEPnHkFPqJh2ujy2y_1GCmMhbPKC0Y1XOn9wPN1fA90xPu-2J-Kr0kn3bklcYH7Fhg3iK0lvtbbJhilS0kHV6Tgy_WzZIVup80ZyeRb9qJTHx81aauLxZFr_eSbhYl6T4YVE/s640/observatory+4+side+building+2.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are several buildings around the observatory. But, there are no signs to tell you what they are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrLbpaX43UERfDldy4gCtMdOQVpNCzbhlBSEQRCefMQZQfR6hlcZt_SYuVg01b988i3fqQIvuBNjc2IUH53dG4F0NpsLAhGw7GAsz2C-lG7HGS1Jhroh45gfcGeyP9hPIx4owMqCFrxbE/s1600-h/observatory+4+side+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrLbpaX43UERfDldy4gCtMdOQVpNCzbhlBSEQRCefMQZQfR6hlcZt_SYuVg01b988i3fqQIvuBNjc2IUH53dG4F0NpsLAhGw7GAsz2C-lG7HGS1Jhroh45gfcGeyP9hPIx4owMqCFrxbE/s640/observatory+4+side+building.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From later research, I think this is Las Monjas. It reminded the Spanish of a nunnery. But, nobody seems to know what it was for.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOzmxJBS2-8KJPGfWCW6TbRSf3ocxbBa5OD-LAc54w_O2Mu9wN7rR8a22cp-59vDFB15jC-QNmNna6Yu1_kab6xF5MOGc-r01VsV1V6I6je9KYweEqn_1aLcV4bqMta5J7w_tmsyGk9AX/s1600-h/observatory+4+side+building+dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOzmxJBS2-8KJPGfWCW6TbRSf3ocxbBa5OD-LAc54w_O2Mu9wN7rR8a22cp-59vDFB15jC-QNmNna6Yu1_kab6xF5MOGc-r01VsV1V6I6je9KYweEqn_1aLcV4bqMta5J7w_tmsyGk9AX/s640/observatory+4+side+building+dec.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All the building have decorations.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSG6JkUyfwqK9SOOUDFCL6Q7zc0eg0N-WsfOo96RBQwnbWb3De6dv9btTpgXRnSQL8P6tqc7xcrZg4nvqvtv_QQzYjI582gUK9eBJLbGfZoq4-eqKjLnyelaED-QnBT9ETNWHZL1qrEjS/s1600-h/serpent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSG6JkUyfwqK9SOOUDFCL6Q7zc0eg0N-WsfOo96RBQwnbWb3De6dv9btTpgXRnSQL8P6tqc7xcrZg4nvqvtv_QQzYjI582gUK9eBJLbGfZoq4-eqKjLnyelaED-QnBT9ETNWHZL1qrEjS/s640/serpent.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Serpents....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGaWmZWzln5tokJLO9UIW-QS4rNq8t4t32stpbpqnaeHOpKgklae0gO_CPjFk1-FItCIz9JO6CDzqCbUUCuepdgGH4ed_6smpMb6R8lbCBpeBHhMuSJNBL2XqVQcFJJoeUtAhpfJqeAJu/s1600-h/serpent+feathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGaWmZWzln5tokJLO9UIW-QS4rNq8t4t32stpbpqnaeHOpKgklae0gO_CPjFk1-FItCIz9JO6CDzqCbUUCuepdgGH4ed_6smpMb6R8lbCBpeBHhMuSJNBL2XqVQcFJJoeUtAhpfJqeAJu/s640/serpent+feathers.jpg" vt="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">....and more serpents.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90Ve3jvcyhHnaw13cbv84JWGJ6N1Q2oDBGzXRQAHDj09JHgFuyKrNXxm88CZJMEyLTqpGi2Bj-dpa-8pPiqOjmI7trhxtKoIf9A1XZI1X11SbERmZ5y5O-IdsEvbXzL1utNGmmraO9IW/s1600-h/jaguar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90Ve3jvcyhHnaw13cbv84JWGJ6N1Q2oDBGzXRQAHDj09JHgFuyKrNXxm88CZJMEyLTqpGi2Bj-dpa-8pPiqOjmI7trhxtKoIf9A1XZI1X11SbERmZ5y5O-IdsEvbXzL1utNGmmraO9IW/s640/jaguar.jpg" vt="true" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, jaguars.....symbols everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0teZZc4jWOR3qcOTIASLcPkqIJNGGI5m-c0VCT0nKkGm4ssa7AXFhwQCh-Te8klaRmwpRs8xSr1sU9T-B5JaXR7vEV5E40_oN4Z9Yuzu3N249FCvabzFZfSGCKmFbdwHNveJtDp27xiq/s1600-h/kukulcan+pyramid+4+new+stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0teZZc4jWOR3qcOTIASLcPkqIJNGGI5m-c0VCT0nKkGm4ssa7AXFhwQCh-Te8klaRmwpRs8xSr1sU9T-B5JaXR7vEV5E40_oN4Z9Yuzu3N249FCvabzFZfSGCKmFbdwHNveJtDp27xiq/s640/kukulcan+pyramid+4+new+stuff.jpg" vt="true" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, new areas being discovered. It might be worth another trip, some day. I'll do more research first.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXLF52d-slznxDSMsa17RsFFFcN3GN9WKjlLGqFWUnWN4q0-sRU3lDzI5hqUA1msxwh_3-Gnt3Wkjaadobts6aN9ggbO8hDBZuQf1X3pdkWWx-9kmS6KutdrJ7j0yQ_ppfQJimpb6yELe/s1600-h/kukulcan+pyramid+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXLF52d-slznxDSMsa17RsFFFcN3GN9WKjlLGqFWUnWN4q0-sRU3lDzI5hqUA1msxwh_3-Gnt3Wkjaadobts6aN9ggbO8hDBZuQf1X3pdkWWx-9kmS6KutdrJ7j0yQ_ppfQJimpb6yELe/s640/kukulcan+pyramid+3.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh...and, Victor told us that the stones missing from the structures, were taken by the Spanish, to build churches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMsJvdSaiEsNklySviv5tYHK65DLu6ZykCbHwWphwRk_8XriVGJmKOE36wMwZKWndHBYJRgBlGV2Y3hRg0KRWoTcQqYpuObiY18jD3ZMYEHGDGXBa5jELZ78z5blQvF48j54ubY94BwE8/s1600-h/mayan+village+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMsJvdSaiEsNklySviv5tYHK65DLu6ZykCbHwWphwRk_8XriVGJmKOE36wMwZKWndHBYJRgBlGV2Y3hRg0KRWoTcQqYpuObiY18jD3ZMYEHGDGXBa5jELZ78z5blQvF48j54ubY94BwE8/s640/mayan+village+church.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We drove past one, on our way through the small village, outside Chichen Itza, as we left.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you enjoyed this part of the trip. Next time, I'll show the Cenote, where we stopped for lunch and a swim.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy first day of Spring. I hope you're warm and cozy, wherever you are.</div>Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296875809774680821.post-68861607390591287002010-02-01T11:03:00.000-06:002013-08-22T18:37:10.004-05:00Vegas Views...Well, we’re back from Vegas. We had a great time….visited with friends, celebrated birthdays and had some fun.<br />
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The ‘Girls’ took a ride to The Strip, to see the new City Center complex. It’s a huge place, with several buildings. Way too modern for me, but there were some interesting water features. <br />
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This wall of water was my favorite. I hope you can see the scale of it. There is water running on a constant basis.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cl5-D-dYI/AAAAAAAABeY/dR51DgOTC1o/s1600-h/aria%20front%20fountain%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="aria front fountain 2" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cl6ZED6vI/AAAAAAAABec/2Bba1PemPME/aria%20front%20fountain%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="aria front fountain 2" width="644" /></a> <br />
But, it slows, then surges again, to give this curtain falling effect. Grasses and cyclamen are planted in front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_7uzzNGrbmbUYvqjs2zBl6TEEC1yEdHMaZBcyqvW_c5NetmMklU_MN5VIz3ouvL8a2bbm9YcoTR-AprH1XqJz4d4SngV9Jf9Vzq5p8fmXROWC7-bYT3bVVUDCi0ySRJM74yR3VEuyns/s1600-h/bellagio%20horse%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio horse" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPHZaY04QwHvrNV_azeTZaRTxQjrCac9LjMU7Q5R6bblrWUiQykOhZYI7_gkQ35oTAS4-zymMi89zHS_u8_IcCcCLcvmaJESkFo7DKsokJE3-THXxx152xz3gXAGfxZzydv3vbotlpSs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio horse" width="644" /></a> <br />
The best part of the ‘Strip Trip’, was the Chinese New Year display at the Bellagio.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulVOeERn6Nxz6rjhfnrnCTKA2zikKpOiJt0WTICaBjPob8fC6iURbiRUql3BQdLP9k3ngSMyDrAc9HfwRi65xhdqm4NEH0aXxpMsLvMnR8DkWG6KGZL2tkAwWqZ-c1-qMxU4lIN9TyEA/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20man%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese man" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cl9M8_m1I/AAAAAAAABes/qhJ5qCHUsV0/bellagio%20chinese%20man_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bellagio chinese man" width="324" /></a> A garden set up, with the symbols of good luck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5vIk4LVr0moANUPaXCRC_ntA0b0JU0-o42JD_2p3pBvumZ4c8PZemHVyRrvT-CKvSjPAZIHWGyyu81P0mxktnSlbcPoWHjuAwIR1nKoDDbzfJEbtR4KpDJoqcWIkWIYzSz_iDrUPkh0/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20man%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese man 2" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOfI7_CoYFfUnxLPCeUBwLYaU29QG9WZctdoY-xLVLvRvY0Ee49dmx-tLcAvdJa1weIEIi6Bcstz7JuFPgPwz9ozN5kOA-X2Husl_A_73Ss_cAyOcar_QDOfFdB9eDTg4zOxYQq3I4iM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bellagio chinese man 2" width="364" /></a>This giant Chinese gentleman, standing on golden coins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahVijiO6Ug_rXTRyBuHBU0ictnt4aUfVCGVZEPKjMafttRRxrDIrgCmSlDQT2VmG-sKCR4oOzB9B5vJIOAK4dcPWqaDKJ_OM8YgJnSzuta8ZqU5fLGIfmBmhedB4ZhY18ToHhaPuU094/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20tiger%5B4%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bellagio chinese tiger" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDpJcfU4ArbTS2f61-gsZWUjHHogHoK1QYXEX0-cHruLkL7qwmpKQcAvd_g-tSfNdVARJSOzGZldVBXMuxRzCcpLoqlvivDr6kwR21HW42qPxdM_foxfeSHzX2cpamTOmMazE1H5n8co/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bellagio chinese tiger" width="364" /></a></div>
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This is the year of the tiger.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZQBHgc0pdk1xaLea0MeNPWsMzc6Cb03U5vZtmMd_teuf-oMaObvvB5xG1MCjnoEl_rQTVOXeDhk4aVR1sdgpqhQnI1zYEr1_HlXYOBmulhGchKjK5J5L9nfp5Vw6z1X2cYjKuQCTuT4/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20lanterns%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese lanterns" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk8JDulZ7Kguz5LJTJr68hWA66cX_sC5hL7PezZPByCghkVTmYjys3N96HKowkoHLuWPKVbqrF6Lzo7jkS3geHnOq3LlJPnont9eHRcUeMTGfYf02myal3l_rZS0xLGWMGPAY2w47w9A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese lanterns" width="644" /></a><br />
I loved the red lanterns. Red and yellow are colors of good luck.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cmCQMs5FI/AAAAAAAABfI/n8k9LijRfXU/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20pandas%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese pandas" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWs7rnQyCKE1Oxxtbt3qzhxIMJS8WiNnA7E_IJs1dmQAjMGsspSLeQ6x7AAXZ2-FMOusSA7IE6s_dnKdEaCG7h9kG2O4DyprwmHT4vPogwN67H69xEDhCrBy-c1mr6tMZL2Wii-Ow4bA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="bellagio chinese pandas" width="644" /></a> These pandas were so cute. They’re covered with black mondo grass, and something else I couldn’t identify.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0rlox6cD0JxLyaE06ZwRKXr_efCmw_L0WJmITzw5HHPJYKmbhN6CFUn5NWSk9l3IH_8K2E07q9taNNh9RQTbQAYuBLPAjyLybB9GQsopE_uj_dlzIiHXQMjTxmgnSZKxNCHhpGh6pp8/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20panda%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese panda 3" border="0" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2ZjVHTfbloAr77tSD0KAnexq9_g6QUtBz1EdNDVg4X4atVDEiPnunNGgpgjBEZKmVqSjDIogRLDnuV2Ghx9k0s3Z2w-6b8fs7sGlxPPLtfTaVljZcYSm5d_RH1z0SSHUAyHkkPnWUtk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese panda 3" width="644" /></a><br />
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What a cute baby, in the bamboo tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj614_2iTA1KJTIQZXdSIW6FtCIHiKAN5YNsGBeryJEdkTHWoEQuA2r2zcBoAh75N5fN6XuLEnjovVyqvrQZoIrX-_cfseQZAZgjGrOnG7Qb7RTRIoONFMcqqPXlxMaR09wd9VPnzmslws/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20panda%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese panda 2" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cmG3JeefI/AAAAAAAABfc/eklzxyjbNSE/bellagio%20chinese%20panda%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese panda 2" width="644" /></a><br />
And, a large one rolling in this grass.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwexNedarK7LzN2d90y9eAx5v572L96x7VO1u0h_uww6pYojQUwfukvhwIj0Jezoht49TpJzpQEV2elxBKiN9j4crKVhVXnOtogm4n-Js3PEL4lpBm-ncQ_59Ngl1P08CzGkLVRi7tpHA/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20orchids%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese orchids" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq0ZFoeBSYYYj1d1gjzLvqsWjlvoqb9-kiuhDSk4zNrQca3SZ0dr2ebnAKX1dAVd7agNH63aovcmHqEjui53CRznHHoDmNkqEvdnYE3VLPPeBSdXe-9s67b1j3Hb0on9uv_di_Mgnrhk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese orchids" width="644" /></a><br />
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There were orchids everywhere. I didn’t get good pictures of any but these yellow ones. Not sure what kind they are.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsuzbtjCuXvApMpaEkadQbXXvjKr3WDTdQWp_qPqGDQcIMMwEGvLEBifHNDOrnFqDlXksNf2qZPMqhufZIgGXvUKcuvv0BpmxWeFSLewS3xkIcSsAXQnu1KhcI45mB0YlC3WmsC9bI9E/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20bridge%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese bridge" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmIf37_bVjQtNWgASzE2H7aVGPhQpQ0wlTowSx0t498HGk8pAnRnTtEeft-3Ni3qk8LG1H6x79PRU493P7swD-GxyTeZ9hucJad9PB0dx_n4uBiZ8QVw3KQi_OyocJ5EAVs8wLIUCB8k/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese bridge" width="644" /></a><br />
Very pretty, against a ‘Chinese Red’ bridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PFInEauGaGHmPcWFfb9UKzwN0H_qTRnb3jAOkcG71MfISxufJyWPH4_0NmxZD_FrsVSuAUYxNS96demJjvRVvCpoN2PFCesde2ulrf9f2YMjFzbdckcvSOMBSxm7oWgC-2z2Tbdxvi4/s1600-h/bellagio%20chinese%20flowers%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chinese flowers" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOFKwSEPZAk8ePt07DZ78WywiCF4WfQwPbkNYOeyzDQf3uz1v767BU10XFCHiM2IiywNBf47wLj2eA0D35YbZRHHRFZ93MyswtQ5O9vxIwjlEk7dxk-W3deKUrQTS_QgWDGIqEDf9YO0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chinese flowers" width="644" /></a><br />
I wished there were signs to tell you what things were. These interesting pink and purple flowers, made a lovely display, beside a pond. They’re not on the same plant. Does anyone know what they are?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjptNX6A-4M6icoivpkHsz0CXdypsJHpHQEmS-cR0qpCG7ATBjrF3gqOIhzjkqI-9GyCrXSt3rM6y0u_kDjnzHs1INYqEUf2gjK9TiHL0YRjhVMMLDzZvbHiU2J_ngsGyxnpuSaNBeMk4/s1600-h/bellagio%20chocolate%20fountain%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="bellagio chocolate fountain" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgWTLTYPsYK82-EHuaQwn4HrNPW6kTKMKlCh_LlzdexSeS7ki37iaPMu6cP9FlMvMFkEugdYpaD0tSwD82WijZE9-RH8It5aBMF2OaMKkhTeEBpiBdo_X1JI8mGscw03CQSkkWJ4iXyg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="bellagio chocolate fountain" width="364" /></a> </div>
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Just around the corner, is a gelato stand. This chocolate fountain was at the door. The picture doesn’t do it justice. It went way up above what is pictured here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMjwzg4NhQVvjd3iq-Z53fZpeVY-m9-dLnyhRYcjXSo98WzBMu1v1yKXhdzyxMGyULbrc6iUR9eFBDvihg6JBgVqvH-TYW5epH6iFZhAxlWSy__p38X05C6lpKeRNxhcsb1Ng0Mi_XwQ/s1600-h/harrah's%20gamblers%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="harrah's gamblers" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-F-mrLOGfURR6LuMFVNp_I7XR6Is_1z7uv9xyqwbygvKXIusgyP8ZwdNwsTPSF0-pSDVXTf1XzzxFlgdk04puP8mN6HcyLyfienbvEOmajUwxZHeRaTHbto-bR0KtfVdKbaRO6MHIAI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="harrah's gamblers" width="644" /></a><br />
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We went down the street to Harrah’s. No, this is NOT me and Mr. P.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCzuKgybHR4iTnye7ULDA7UTKiNXUjnppSKkidlRc8e3D2sbqWngYh9iT9vgYzg2mQubhmsfo54y9AHcMpjlhAkm_g0KdGj5RZOZfp1KztugkN42bhW_UcKBiqRXWR6yvIimjfO2AObo/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%20pioneer%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience pioneer" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMvbOClcjnDkCo54SkNRYKzcUbCFvaKEc_TPSckGPAPw4pc32wfKRUdg5maD0feJDFtwf5DaM6BFAtk208DF0edSBRJP0LAwZaOqPSavVA5-2XrEltckOQHtLCMXoESOn_xeTBIe3YCM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience pioneer" width="364" /></a> </div>
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We like to stay downtown. Less distance between hotels. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYSKqCNb4RXK3RO03tFhM8TJtyBAniwDJ5bWewFl55W8_xt5DxzcTNFstpg_G5nbhJ5Ff-7AqR8HFbilYacgixZ1bqZrZJOGmmpf_pVbcJc4WqBu1ItxirA6CXqLwvpgL-9ouvqNVVac/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%20nugget%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience nugget" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbXQzorlTJGr4RdmleUCs900ajEYHdpHI2D2Jal1f8ELvc77m5khFLzafSMjEVYyGJdezdmfAtcsIgLBPQND980Dlp-nK1JTngW_hI6GOybZ7HUG8YDBm8NebDsz2Ob0pgDkup_BR7lA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience nugget" width="644" /></a><br />
Most have been here for a long time. The Golden Nugget has been recently remodeled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi-mx7Hj3lF1_oj0luRhxbSdvweuuIOgRghXf8FhC9jnhBDJg0rcPCcRVAxUcha-WEjqG1wPeJuXvNqKn0lDj5uJ_tas22f1F_zjVnLWa_njTbh4GgRQrJpDc-ruiSsOIqvhwWwhcAzk/s1600-h/nugget%20lt%20fixture%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="nugget lt fixture 2" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG40uY_TqcYCc3ExvDfF_rXZQqItNVcZZKb_VcfsbZ_qdYkAqMSXi44eqFWNcNz19jnNSyfNfV26-xJMntCPrMIFhGl6H0-oFT-14denzft1P_Sfpp8jCskMprW1ZM-MclkiW8-CURMLQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="nugget lt fixture 2" width="644" /></a><br />
Colorful light fixtures are all through the building.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYybPoTzG2g3UaSJoC6NxcT2reK09LWkUGJgfJsD_lhrVD7CPKmafL01tXSW_lclqKPYcIGIN3_PEP9BiBqcDCAymKNXBXfWn1OCESL6uhPiYa6KE9uRgk-uicq3X0gK4NWtHIVaT7D4w/s1600-h/nugget%20pool%20slide%204%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="nugget pool slide 4" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlA_m0oWw99RUIuTMfU5b-ix4z5c7fywCzy9W9KUY40-13t9npDjyYpioPANwEtHwBmoTm6Wxt7KNdG1-6ee-aD-Btpjotv6wCtb-069KQwb6Vyphm_oIoJr5BvwZDKk1A4Q5NTlz7oc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="nugget pool slide 4" width="644" /></a></div>
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I was quite taken by the pool slide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC-LqRmeg3EGpE_OQaJnOmyix3nyC1VIWZw1xM9GQcfJfS90pIAxIOz9ZAY7dUrZFPOCn21k5QuYzX5lIQ7-anZNV4zW9ZM-yzg5vk5LOpZYup8medcnJaUT3XYBTMPGYaNXCPRwXzEg/s1600-h/nugget%20pool%20slide%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="nugget pool slide" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdtbAC51GDXbi8DkM_DzDvWCTNL2lrCL9qOq6as9ZpUxHsmaae054PzEMwpFRMG42XAIbYCymS58BJP21pXNCogZHivBZOplhhKhyphenhyphenqqpU15oGGO8YwJWd_OFdUlfh0R5MIZppUiJ-mLg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="nugget pool slide" width="644" /></a><br />
It goes right through the fish tank, in a clear tube. Up close and personal with sharks. Not my kind of ride. (Sorry for the blurry pics.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I4Ao1tfF9IiZqALfGfC5csF0Ixsx8slxcN1rRl9L4eUMp8MrPKL69TexaJio3LsS1xwtNXrJkuQpug7yz0VCm2UXmkS1YWKNVbnNqmGYW00oHOfr2gMqEyP7BeHlbpoFpA9ymtOkr9w/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience 2" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXT_jDmNFTGBM4pO-TgsObqv_x-cEG2d7vJMCm3fj4Lcew2pBGC-NbcIyt8l4BFe2ctExFsW3_qbMX1NETfqJBGJHf8r92JJCP3kDJQGhqU6OBMbnPnQDMn-xzUYu2FYOc_3Ea4kVrSE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience 2" width="364" /></a> </div>
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Back out on Fremont Street, it’s a festival every night, for the Fremont Street Experience.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PvOFGVVdcNzq93gjIGtL9xkhkQ3VfMKBmSOeA8n1PA5nJJhYom0mO2GFb2oln2UMQxbtu-kk9R9Hk5q4gc7iqqn1P4j07RMTiCeZ_WYH9TSmSVDHGSiCLkwC6ol26lG-c2BGWJAr1js/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience 3" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ANlEQQiJVS51j-1EzQ_54bopzx9AO8Oxxw8KSKvUVdvOMtW6s9sv0cZWbBEDErOIA_DCuIXq4ZhMWE2xbSa8GkkPx8SguAGYhZ5kgmp5uXiS5CvDkJo3_O9DKMmkiw-cKhykK2C6tLk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience 3" width="364" /></a> </div>
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Every hour, on the hour, there is a musical light show, on the 90 ft. high canopy, that spans several blocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ7tXr2yD_38OZG8LgW0SLgDZTccpdPa6rwK0uLy3SA5dptBwYFe17OCNS97h3TvhoTb_GwPie9t1EqaJDfBGjtPAk-K5CZCCuC-9UvNqzTYoivaGAUAVCGgx57W9zGe7iQ2S1pmDxkA/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVuGvUppuSAHAQK2iMNfSJTbzwVZk5siourYrWr3AoRmRC-hfMJyOzHNqfNxZAZBLceXqls0XQI-EgAVjpSU-U5RoxXGaGQyLJzWwLacNiwFRlCMRL75RVX-0FoQrQ5SELDr719xilrQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience" width="364" /></a> </div>
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It’s a different show every hour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_plmMB0IQHGQsTHM9EVF4R24uUUWS68faygsWJ6Wpvq8RWh1YsMs0Yf9crOp5KSx45TCOXe2Y1NpUrmdDcA5indt6Qt_5uOeKYKgaxOKZYlXTEUtc5zMinb7leIY9ny3Euu5vTD1Mt0/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%20painter%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience painter 3" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMDCUrj0Qgtk4nA6lIWtrH8EWY2q2PXoIFPTxSDQQBowHlRG6sLj5BrCJ9TV0GCswkz1mfN91ZGoxpNMpNkMMmedWSdkg1IWcRtRL8rpX6Gq7dGLbwQSrMkkFlysz2p7EZecRIHcS67c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience painter 3" width="644" /></a><br />
There are kiosks, selling jewelry, souvenirs, etc. We stopped to watch this young man do paintings with spray paint. Spray it on, scrape it off….</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKgBazHqzOWhyphenhyphentF_S8qeudGT82jj8M3sHOMifzglatZzWg0r24zQY61aPtZ94pJLlKap51e94dd-BR6Zy02DDKC381ox-lVmjFpeKNumf3Ngt_mx8frTQJOyAZMNeBR8-mO66UziCNNM/s1600-h/fremont%20st%20experience%20painter%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="fremont st experience painter" border="0" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg37evfVo1I052z5IN7H8We9oXpCttiH3olr1TcpqqQbDgrFPstFGE-bnK2_E_xFyMjKVg0kQQ2lFMXy59j8O-gaasyeWP4MpV4Wr_OsdtXsFzzC1rFUWufoemPqMEPNur-ckpDEHS2AA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="fremont st experience painter" width="644" /></a><br />
He does good work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy4p4xg5FjZ6JM7H-UQO-qLudSCN0qq7mcqH4g48RyestCUbYW4wYlZiG-5DP-30pO8ONHnYEvMivu9G27qPH2isL-XgeSQf6BbBUM7B57Kwa9DgQLqgtmonSRfyWOFa1BI1ck9KFnm8/s1600-h/room%20view%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="room view" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-D7criwezVs/S2cmbuWsPXI/AAAAAAAABhg/M8gbE9kufcA/room%20view_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="room view" width="644" /></a><br />
We had a nice view from our room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy3JvLYI8WfiXRSrVd-r8f9i7H_5CS1XOylHRBmSAkNwAjfwdoTQtRuINFHF4tBbEvqr7Jx9G9n13WD2FDv2vPXxsKGk76d6WR4iBUEbXyczT4MrQ0ik54DdMRsfJ3mvQAtyMwuVqwRQ/s1600-h/room%20view%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="room view 3" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDItxawSMhgmn3SL4srKvVvtEzE3Wf3rBqbANXfgesHSCklMfhTRwseJ-gNB7riJG80n90ow_nbD_ROOgv2RQv-kLNXNO73ftf420rlzeu6Ewr9xRrT43jcpDAU1CzwFWAlBWUq8nn-g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="room view 3" width="644" /></a><br />
Bright lights shining, all night.<br />
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Good times, with good friends. What more could you want?</div>
Linda/patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12639872362919575736noreply@blogger.com0