Boyzz on the Silver Explorer, Fort Lauderdale to Guayaquil 2019

Another whole month of excitement and 28 whole days of pampering aboard the Silver Explorer.

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It all started well with Premium Economy from Madrid to Miami

Iberia lost a case, but we did without it in Fort Lauderdale : it caught up with us before we had to steer the ship out to sea for Captain Eric
Then into serious wining and dining - though we seem to have missed out on those afternoon teas this time
We even had a go at cooking our own food in Hot Rocks, but must admit the presentation was more refined in the restaurant

 

Once our presence on board became known everyone wanted to eat with us and have their photo taken with us
Mario, Nicki, the expedition leader, Danae, the padres, Arnie, our personal butler, Miriam. our favourie waitress,
the Staff Captain, Danae- again!, the Goan chef, who prepared us a special Indian feast, and Djamel, the hotel director

 

and Daryn, alias Father Christmas of 2018. Then we decorated a special table for Lynne's birthday bash

 

Wow!- were we treated royally( & yoga??) by Captain Eric & Kelly

So glad we were not pollywogs when it came to crossing the Equator! Taught good friends Kevin & Adrian a bit about Bridge!

Introduced to the Garifuna culture in Dangriga. Followed - the best bit! - by lunch at the Pelican Beach Hotel

Ashore at Guanaja Cay, then landed at Graham's Place for an afternoon of sun, sand & sangria

After a gruelling hike on Providencia Island- luckily we were carried- a relax with a cold beer on an idyllic beach

Then a tour of Cartagena -added driving a horse and carriage to our repetoire

 

The sculptures of Edouard Carmona were just perfect for us lads to perfect our modelling skills!

 

Had the presenters worried in this coffee tasting - but Colombian coffee, ugh!

 

A couple of margaritas for the padres please. Kevin just could not resist yet another photo with us!. Invited 1st to the yummy barbecue too

 

Such a perfect setting, and the madre got an easy swim too

Then, maybe the whole purpose of this trip, the transit of the Panama Canal - a long day for us

 

Dawn at the Atlantiic bridge; Pierre's lecture on the canal's history; up the 3 Gatun locks; pauso in the Gatun lake, providing time for lunch
Note the madre has the healthy option! Then on through the Miraflores locks and down under the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific

Next day a jaunt round old Panama City, best bit the yummy ceviche served with a cold beer at the end

A long trip from the boat to the river mouth; we bagged a zodiac, the more intrepid braved the locals' boats. A muddy, but colourful landing
Nervous of getting out of our bag, lest the kids thought we were a gift! . A strong headwind led to delay in getting back to the ship- scary!

Catherine, Val, Daryn & Isobel braving the rapids

Had to give moral support to the madre on a trip down the Sauvegre river; no helmets to fit us, so could
not actually help with the paddling. But Babsi came to the rescue . Looked calm at start & finish!

A trip to the Carara National Park form Punta Arenas was a flop: no birds, just a frog & millions of leaf eater ants

Achieved our dream of a banana boat ride (well . sit on!) on Tortuga and got quite friendly with this odd looking pig . A love in with Diansa

Again we skipped the next National Park at Manuel Antonio - as we said above " there's a limit to how much nature us lads can take" whereas we could twist Arnie round our wee paws when the padres left us alone !

But we regretted skipping Corcovado- such wet fun they all had there!, but at least the padres had some time to themselves for once

 

And such a short, calm ride to the beutiful Orchid Garden

Next port of call was a reserve at Golfito: glad we remained aboard as the padres returned drenched- a true tropical rain forest - all for nothing

A long haul out to the scenic Isla de Coco. Saw many birds & a seal on a calm zodiac ride

Yet another wet, read drenched!, landing, but we hadn't come all this way to stay aboard! Bounced over its iconic bridge. Left some food for 12 residents .

 

The Isla de la Plata was a highlight: wondrous blue footed boobies witht their eggs & chicks, and great views too
A padre photo of us with photagher Benn . Not just us in these photos- click to see more!

 

Then on to our penultimate port of call - Machala- saw the odd humming bird there!

Then on to Guayaquil and home- stayed in the backpack throughout that long journey, a bit tired of smiling at the camera.

When's the next holiday?