Oct. 30, 2011 - Salaverry, Peru

We went on a shore excursion from the city of Salaverry to Trujillo where there were the famous archaeological complex of El Brujo. We drove for about 1 1/2 hours on the Pan-American Highway before reaching Trujillo and then on a rather rough road past sugar cane fields to the town of Brujo that is translated as "the Sorcerer". The National Institute of Trujillo and the National Institute of Culture began a joint dig there in 1990. They discovered the "Huaca Cao highlights" - pyramids that reach up to 150 feet. The pyramids were built by installing a layer every 100 years over the previous layers thus covering what was created before. Here we saw walls covered with friezes and colored reliefs depicting complex scenes, characters, and geometric shapes. We also saw the recently opened Senora Cao Museum that depicted the life of the Moche people who once lived in this area.
I had read about this place in the National Geographic Magazine and was so happy to actual see this very historic site of the Moche people.
Tonight we are headed to Lima and are scheduled for 2 days of interesting shore excursions.

Pyramid built by adding a new layer every 100 years.

Inside the excavations with a mural at the back.

Murals on the wall.

More wall murals.

A grave site in the pyramid.

Recently opened museum and entrance.

A local taxi.

Another pyramid not yet excavated.

The back and dining rooms of the Veendam.

The harbor of Trujillo

Oct. 29, 2011 - Guayaquil to Trujillo

We had a day at sea to relax from Guayaquil to Trujillo. I attended a computer class that is being given on the ship. There are 7 days of computer classes that I am trying to fit in when we are not doing shore excursions. I also transferred my pictures to a memory stick for safe keeping. In the afternoon I had a nice nap so that I could enjoy the activities at night.
We had another formal night and were lucky that one of the ship officers joined our table for dinner. He was responsible for the ships environ security. Over dinner he told us his duties on the ship and his previous experiences in the English Royal Navy. After dinner we attending an amazing performance of an opera singer. Then we went to a chocolate display and tasting where there was a extensive display of deserts.
Dorothy and I have been on the ship now for 2 weeks and we feel as if these 2 weeks have gone by so quickly. Yes, we are enjoying ourselves. We are well and hope this note today finds you just as well.

Oct. 28, 2011 - Guayaquil, Ecuador

What a delightful day Dorothy and I had on an shore excursion in Guayaquil. We drove through the city to the Guayaquil Historic Park that was a project of the Central Bank of Ecuador to recapture Ecuador's culture. Once in the park, we walked on wooden boardwalk trails through mangroves. We saw various species that used to populate the ancient province of Guayas from deer to tapirs and from monkeys to wild cats. Then we saw a late 19th century suburb and then a local country-side farm - a hacienda complete with buildings.
After this we were taken to Seminario Parque at the center of Quayaquil that was dominated by a huge statue of the liberator, Simon Bolivar of this area from the Spanish rule. Also in this park were green iguanas that walked where we walked as well they were in the trees in the park. Across from the park we visited an impressive Catedral.

Bird found in mangroves.

Colorful bird found in mangroves.

Crocodile found in mangroves

Native hut.

Coffee merchant’s house

Impressive statue in park

Iguanas living in Guayaquil’s city square

Cathedral next to city square.

A statue of Ecuador’s national hero.

Memorial to men who died at one of Peru’s wars

Oct. 27, 2011 - Manta, Ecuador

This morning while we slept, we crossed the equator at about 12.30 in the morning. Now we are in the southern hemisphere. We received a certificate today verifying that we had made this crossing on this day.
We went on an early morning shore excursion to see Manta and Montecristi. Manta was once a small trading post for the Mantas and the Incans before it was conquered by the Spanish. In the last 50 years, the population has risen to 192,322 inhabitants. Its main activity is tuna fishing. Other activities are tourism and chemical industry with products from cleaning supplies to oil and margarine.
We visited the museum where we were told of the original inhabitants and how they lived. Then we went to a factory that produced Tauga buttons and cocoa beans. Next we went to a small operation that made mats and clothing items from the Aguara cactus. After this we traveled to Montecristi where we saw how panama hats were made. Of course I bought a nice white panama hat. Dorothy bought a beautiful table lace table cloth that we will use when our dining room table is extended for special dinners.
After this we returned to Manta to see how wooden boats are being built and where the boats come in every day after a morning of fishing. We also saw many tuna fishing ship that were in the harbour.

Fruit that produces many tauga nuts.

Tauga nuts are sliced for buttons.

Cocoa nuts being dried on a concrete slab by the hot sun

A manual loom making mats from cactus threads.

Dorothy buying scarfs from a woman in native dress.

A woman weaving a panama hat.

The cathedral of Montecristi on a high hill.

Market area next to cathedral.

Wooden fishing boats being constructed.

Port and beach in Manta.

Oct. 26, 2011 - At sea from Pamama City to Manta, Ecuador

I thought today being a sea day that it will be very quiet. However it turned out to be a very busy day. In the morning, I attended 2 lectures on editing digital pictures and on digital cameras. They are giving lectures on computers and digital cameras on the ship and I have found these lectures quite interesting.
In the afternoon they had a crossing the equator ceremony with King Neptune. Crew members who had not crossed the equator before were brought before King Neptune were judged and if found guilty, they were dumped in the swimming pool.
At night we had a formal evening where I wore my tuxedo and Dorothy wore her elegant evening dress. At our dinner table we were joined by the ship's chief engineer and his wife who was traveling with him. We had a great time and our dinner extended to over 2 1/2 hours.

King Neptune, his court and the prosecutor assemble while the prisoners are marched in

The prisoners are put in a cage waiting for trial.

The first prisoner kneels and kisses the frozen fish.

The 2 guards prepare the prisoner for sentencing by the court.

The prisoner is found guilty and thrown into the pool.

Another prisoner is prepared.

King Neptune makes his decision on the prisoners the court found not guilty.

King Neptune and his beautiful queen leave when the trials are completed.

All the prisoners and guards are thrown in the pool.

The queen refused to kiss the fish as she said this was gross.

Oct. 25, 2011 - Panama City

Last night our ship was at anchor in a bay just outside of Fuerte Amador. In the morning a tender took us to the marina in Fuerte Amador where we caught a bus for a tour of Historic and modern Pamama City. Our first stop was the museum where we were shown how the original people lived. Then we visited Panama de Vieja which is the original settlement made in August 15, 1519 by the Spanish conquistador, Petro Aries de Avila. This settlement was destroyed by the infamous Captain Morgan on January 21, 1671 who burnt the city and left with all the riches. We saw the ruins of the original settlement that are now being preserved. Instead of rebuilding the city at the location of the ruins, the city was rebuilt on a peninsula about 8 km from the original location. We visited this location and saw the old buildings and the very narrow streets. We saw in this place a church built with a altar area of gold.
What impressed us most was the new condominium buildings some of which had 80 stories high. Between the codominium buildings and the beach is a wide boulivard called Avida Balboa that has 4 lanes in each direction. This boulivard with the many new condominium building on the other side of the boulivard made a very beautiful looking city.
It was quite hot and muggy during the tour when we were outside. When we finally got back to the ship and had lunch, we had a heavy storm when it rained heavily for about 1 hour and then cleared up. This we were told was the usual weather of Panama City at this time of year.

Modern skyscrapers in downtown Panama City

Con examining ruins of original settlement destroyed by pirate, Captain Morgan

Gold altar that was painted black so pirate, Captain Morgan would not take it.

Cathedral in old Panama City.

Outside wall of former university in the old city

Skyline of new skyscrapers in Panama City.

Dorothy under beautiful flowers in walkway in old city

Narrow shopping street in old city

Cathedral in old city.

Dorothy in front of memorial to builders of Panama Canal.

Our cruise ship, the Veendam at anchor in holding area in front of Panama City.