Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!!

Hoping that the true spirit of Christmas is with you this season!!!

We had a great day, but with this special present under the tree, how could we not!!

The "Real" Panama Canal Story

This morning started earlier than most--we began our trip into the Panama Canal. With first light we entered the left side of the first lock (notice the arrow) with a freight carrier on the other side that made the trip very interesting.









We had 85 feet to climb--from the Pacific Ocean to the lake at the center of Panama.

We go into the lock and the water comes in to make the ship rise to the level of the lock in front of it. We had three locks to go through to climb that 85 feet.







When the water levels of the two locks are even, the gates open and the ship proceeds into the next lock. Amazing! Our ship is small enough to go through the locks--many cruise ships are too large--but we only had two feet on each side to spare!








Once we were through the locks we traveled the Gatun Lake. The water is brown but the land is green--why not--this is a rain forest.

As a matter of fact, last week the Canal closed for the third time in its 97 year history! There had been so much rain that the lake had flooded and the water level was too high for the lock.






We continued the 50 miles across Panama to the other side and came to the locks on the Atlantic side. Because we were a cruise ship, and we had paid a premium, we passed up the ships that were waiting to go through. Our toll was right around $200,000--payable in cash before we went through!!!!








We had been blessed with great weather for the trip, but we could see rain bearing down as we rolled into the locks that would lower us the 85 feet to the level of the Caribbean Sea.










The rain was quick and after nine hours of navigating from beginning to end we were finally through the locks and on our way to Cartagena, Columbia.

The Panama Canal--what an experience!!

Days at Shore

Our stops on the Pacific side of the cruise have been delightful. Our first was in Cabo San Lucas and the trip into the port was beautiful. The water was blue and the whales and dolphins played along as we entered the harbor.









Our next stop was Acapulco and we took a city tour through old Acapulco and made a couple of fascinating stops. One was to watch the cliff divers. These men, not all young nor in tip top shape, climbed the cliffs bare footed, then dove into the waters below, and climbed the cliffs back out. Amazing!












Yup, we are having a good time!

Today we are in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. There were many local craftspeople out selling their wares and some very interesting street food.


No snow here!!

The Island Princess

We boarded the ship in San Pedro, CA bound through the Panama Canal and ending in Ft. Lauderdale on December 20.

So far it has been fabulous. I'd show more pictures but this is costing $.55/minute and I just noticed it won't be posted until 12/14/10.

We've been to Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, days at sea, the food is great, nice people--can't complain!!

Palm Springs

We've parked the coach in Homestead and have flown off to Palm Springs. Renny and Marlene promised to put up with us for a couple of days and show us a good time. And that they did!! Besides enjoying their company immensely we ate well, went to the Palm Springs Follies (the youngest dancers were 57-58, oldest 81-83--but they were great!), went to the Indio Tamale Festival (ate the best tamales ever!), and met this mottley crew (friends from Thousand Trails Palm Springs--see Faye and Ken!!) for the Festival of Lights parade. What a good time we had!!

Happy Second Birthday, Macy!!!!

Here's our little miracle baby celebrating her second birthday! What a little love! She is one busy little girl and loves to do anything Addy does. She is a little chatterbox and it is so fun to talk and play with her!

Happy Birthday, Macy!!!! We love you!

It's Christmas Time

We have finally gotten to southern Florida, and because we are taking off on a Panama Canal cruise on December 2, we had to get "stuff" done. We had to bake some Christmas cookies with Brayden--he likes the rolling out part and of course the frosting and sprinkles part...
















and of course, the eating. We had to make kringla and he thought they were even better when he dunked them in frosting!









Rylan didn't care much about the cookies, but he was fascinated with the tree and the presents underneath--just his height!! And he can get to that Christmas tree in short order from where ever you put his down.