On the Other Side

We made it to the other side – from the Caribbean to the Pacific. Where else but Panama do you get your hat out?

We learned that an authentic Panama hat really began and is made in Equador. I guess Panama Jack sells better than Equador Jack.

And, Wow! I forgot to use the word Lionfish in our last blog. Anyone catch that? I came to realize that in my 3:00 a.m. thoughts. Jay is our editor and he didn’t catch it either. We’re slipping.

So, now that’s out of the way.

We are at the end of 2024 and the last travels for the year. Our blog name is ayearwithjayandkelly.com. We named it in 2019 for one year of travel and here we are still writing. God is good all the time!

It took twelve hours from the time tug boats attached themselves to us until we were free from the locks. Amazing! No wonder they call it the 8th wonder of the world. What people went through to build this work of engineering art is astounding.

The construction and engineering geeks we are, I feel we have so much to share about Panama and the Canal.

Good morning, Norwegian Joy! We began the trek in Colon at 6:45 a.m. awakened by the cruise director’s announcement over the intercom. That was fun and very thankful so we could get up to see.

There are six locks – three on the Caribbean side and three on the Pacific side. They raise and lower the ship 85 feet. Gatun Lake, a man-made lake using the Chagres River, is in the middle of the six locks at 85 feet above sea level.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish Conquistadors, is credited for discovering the canal’s path in 1503.

France was the first country to attempt the great task of building the canal led by Count Ferdinand de Lesseps. (He was the builder of the Suez Canal.)

20,000 people died due to all the tropical diseases mostly carried by Mosquitos, which bankrupt France’s attempt.

In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt saw the importance of the canal and the US took over the construction. George Washington Goethals oversaw the majority of the excavation.

In 1914 the first ship went through the canal on the same day WWI broke out. Needless to say there wasn’t a celebration.

The US handed over the canal to the Panamanians in 1977 with a handshake we would continue to protect it since the Panamanians did not have a strong military.

Thanks for letting me geek out on history for a moment. My history teachers would be so proud and say, Finally it’s only taken her 50 years to appreciate history!!!

When we left the last lock the tide was too high for us to go under the Bridge of Americas. The high tide and low tide are 18 feet differences in the Pacific. (Caribbean tides are two or three feet). Since our ship is so tall, we sat out in the Bay until 2:00 a.m. waiting for low tide. We were asleep and did not see it. Here is what we saw out our balcony when we finally awakened.

Panama has a favorite number like Cartegena. It’s favorite is three.

Panama broke from Columbia November 3, 1903. They have three cities in the Panama City proper. There are three rivers, three man-made lakes, three locks, three dams, and three Canal operator houses.

Our day in Panama we saw the first lock built and finished in 1914, the Miraflores, with one of our naval ships going through. The Capella is a military supply and vehicle cargo ship. It is named after the brightest star in the constellation Auriga.

The little trains (called mules) next to the ship help guide them through the canal. Depending on the size of the ship, there are 6 to 8 mules attached at different areas of the ship. I thought those were so clever in the building of this canal.

This office building for the management of the Canal is built on a 85 foot tall hill representing how high or low each ship is taken by the locks.

Enough about the locks.

We met this beautiful woman from one of the seven indigenous groups in Panama called Embera.

She wanted to give me a tattoo, but I bought a keychain instead.

In a very small boat on the Gutan River we hunted for different animals.

We saw three types of monkeys – howler, white face, and Geoffrey’s spider monkey.

Trivia – it takes a sloth one month to digest a meal. That’s slow.

So many birds. Panama has 1,026 spieces of birds. We saw ant and termite nests along with beautiful butterflies. And no mosquitoes!

The ship’s crew was busy decorating for Christmas while we were all out exploring.

My favorite person on this ship. Valdi from India. I have loved our conversations each morning. I want to bring him home with us. This young man has great plans for his life.

My second favorite is this guy, Ramon, who sings to us and plays his tambourine all day long and reminds us to wash our hands before entering the cafe.

Thirty-six hours at sea, we landed in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. We’ve decided to stay on the ship.

Costa Rica is seeing the worse outbreak of Dengue Fever this year than any before. Since I’ve already spent eight days this year in the hospital with it, I’m passing at the chance for a second round. Could be fatal for me now. Our view from our balcony on the ship.

We’ve had some wonderful entertainment such as this group who play all Beatles songs.

Not that the Harris’ are ever competitive, however I will say my years of driving the winding backroad to Folsom has paid off.

Next stop, Puerto Quetzal, Guademala. Our tour took us up 5,500 ft to Colonial Antigua, Guademala.

Guademala is home to 37 volcanoes, 4 active ones. We watched two errupt.

Guadamala is one of the few places in the world to find jade. We visited a place that carves it into art and jewelry.

Colonial Antigua claims to have the most beautiful Starbucks in all the world due to its setting and paintings.

As we were walking through the town, this woman kept trying to sell something to me. Her phrase, “Your husband will pay”. She couldn’t speak much English, but she knew that phrase well.

Turning 15 for girls is very fun in Antigua. It is a great celebration. They believe at 15 they will make better decisions and be more responsible for their actions. Hmmm….is that how you would describe your 15 year old? I don’t know. In some cultures in Guadamala it is time to marry at 15. Ugh!

This celebration is very important filled with fun and delicious foods. A moment this young lady will tell to future generations.

Colonial Antigua is the third capital of Guatemala. The city was destroyed by volcano activity in 1527. You can still see the damage.

The streets are still cobble stone.

The area for the women to wash clothes is still available for use. No need for social media here. Just come and wash your clothes with the others in the town, right!?

There are several churches in this area that have been rebuilt. Some of them are used for church services and others for different reasons. One has been made into a hospital to care for the poor. Doctors from all over the world come to help.

Other churches are preparing for the Christ child, Jesus. This beautiful nativity is waiting for baby Jesus to arrive on December 24th.

There are competitions in the catholic churches around here for the most beautiful nativity.

The Guaduamalan’s love Jesus and so do we. Christmas is really about baby Jesus here. You don’t see many Christmas trees and other type of decorations. I love that. Jesus – the reason for the season.

We have arrived into the Mexican Riviera and the waters could not be calmer. Jay has spent the afternoon taking pictures of boobies until his phone battery died. Get your mind out of the gutter guys….boobie birds flying 50 miles from shore.

Whales everywhere! We are in Puerto Vallarta on a catamaran for the day. Orcas and humpbacks. Some of the snorklers said they saw a tiger shark.

We actually watched a group of five Orcas surround a humpback and ate its tongue, then left it for dead.

A very sad time hearing the humpback in pain and watching the struggle, however a time we had to remember God’s plan and how he provides for all the fish in the sea.

There were other animals and beautiful sites such as waterfalls, bamboo forest, and squirrel monkeys.

The crew on the catamaran were the best. They entertained us all day. Thank you for a great day, Vallarta Adventures.

Good morning, Cabo San Lucas!

This guy was standing his ground and not budging for any boats on the ramp this morning. Jay found some food for him to help his mood a bit.

More whales today. None were eaten in our sight, thank goodness. There were dolphins and manta rays jumping out of the water. They were too quick for pictures, so one more time taking pictures with our eyes.

We hung out on a luxury sailboat for a few hours taking in all the sights and fresh air.

On our way back to the ship it looked like there was a pelican wake surfing behind a fishing boat with a sea lion begging. We missed the pelican in the picture, however here’s the sea lion riding the wave.

To end our time in Cabo, dolphins came to see us off.

Stardate: December 14th. It’s my birthday! The number is double six’s if you are curious.

It began by a sweet happy birthday kiss from Jay. Then the celebration began with these precious ladies singing to me.

The gentlemen that made my fresh orange juice each morning wished me a happy birthday. Then my favorite Starbucks guy, Valdi made a peppermint latte for a birthday present.

The general manager (really for other reasons than my birthday) decided to send a birthday wish too. Let’s just say there was a little fopaux on their part they are not wanting to admit to, however we are getting a few little extras since we called them out on it.

Jay and I took a class to paint a sunflower.

I can’t think of a better way to end a special trip than with family. I’m ashamed to say Becky moved 1 1/2 years ago and this is the first time we’ve been to her house.

Jay and Becky planned a surprise party filled with family and friends. Truly what a way to end a wonderful trip.

This is it for 2024. We are coming home. We are so blessed to have written over 60 blogs for you in these past five years of traveling. We pray the Lord grants us more travel to share with you in 2025.

Merry Christmas!

Blessings, Jay and Kelly