West Coast and Panama Canal
Sep 18, 2016 20:53:58 #
Hi Hogs:
We're off on a cruise in a couple of weeks that takes us from Vancouver, B.C. down the west coast, through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. Not hardly getting excited!!!
We're familiar with the coast down to San Diego, but after that, not so much. Ship stops at: Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Colombia and the "private island" (geeeez!)
Any off the beaten track suggestions?
Murray
We're off on a cruise in a couple of weeks that takes us from Vancouver, B.C. down the west coast, through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. Not hardly getting excited!!!
We're familiar with the coast down to San Diego, but after that, not so much. Ship stops at: Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Colombia and the "private island" (geeeez!)
Any off the beaten track suggestions?
Murray
Sep 18, 2016 21:17:41 #
It's probably not a good idea to stray too far off the beaten path.
Sep 18, 2016 21:45:11 #
Mac wrote:
It's probably not a good idea to stray too far off the beaten path.
LoL, Mac, or what....., you'll get beaten?!?! LoL
I've been to most of those places but never on a boat. And believe me, I've NEVER even been NEAR the beaten path!!!
Everybody has their own style of travel.
How much time do you have and when? Can you only go out during the day or can you go places at night? MANY things of interest happen at night, especially since some of those areas can get blazingly warm at this time of year.
Do you Scuba dive? Maybe you can arrange a dive in each of those ports, or at least some. Good luck
SS
Sep 18, 2016 22:28:08 #
SharpShooter wrote:
LoL, Mac, or what....., you'll get beaten?!?! LoL ... (show quote)
Hi SS
Thanks, apparently we need to be back at the ship by midnight when it overnights. I can scuba but Karin can't, so maybe a beginners dive... As to heat, oh yeah, I just looked at LA and it was 90. Here it's maybe 64.
Sep 18, 2016 22:53:28 #
Murray wrote:
Hi SS
I just looked at LA and it was 90. Here it's maybe 64.
I just looked at LA and it was 90. Here it's maybe 64.
LoL, LoL, Murray, it's 90 in LA??? LoL
Murray, 90 is what they set the air conditioners to in Chiapas and Panama!!! LoL
It was 98 here today, so lucky for us...., it didn't get to hot!!!
SS
Sep 18, 2016 23:47:47 #
SharpShooter wrote:
LoL, LoL, Murray, it's 90 in LA??? LoL
Murray, 90 is what they set the air conditioners to in Chiapas and Panama!!! LoL
It was 98 here today, so lucky for us...., it didn't get to hot!!!
SS
Murray, 90 is what they set the air conditioners to in Chiapas and Panama!!! LoL
It was 98 here today, so lucky for us...., it didn't get to hot!!!
SS
Guess I'll have to take some clothes off😅😅
Sep 19, 2016 06:44:07 #
I always go off the beaten path. When out of country I always hire a taxi cab driver for the day/agree on price before departing the dock. First request I make is take us were the Locals eat. From here I find the best food for the best prices and Always find folks to strike up conversations with. You will often find other foreigners like yourself that have been in country for awhile and they will share the Real places to visit.. Only country I see the presents a problem is Columbia. I've had more than one friend mugged in that country, so I would stay with a group while there. Have Fun.......
P.S. I always dress down as well, no fancy clothes, jewelry, ect..... Also, pick a driver that speaks english if needed, don't be afraid to walk down the line and find the right driver for you. Many are pushy, but you will find the right one.....
P.S. I always dress down as well, no fancy clothes, jewelry, ect..... Also, pick a driver that speaks english if needed, don't be afraid to walk down the line and find the right driver for you. Many are pushy, but you will find the right one.....
Sep 19, 2016 07:38:17 #
If you get off on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, the views of Panama City from Ancon Hill are very nice.
Sep 19, 2016 08:20:26 #
Anytime I am on a cruise, at each stop, I go to the taxi stand and ask a driver to take me to see the area. I tell him/her I want to see the tourist places, of course, but I want to see mostly sights and areas the natives know about. I have never been disappointed, nor have I ever felt unsafe or misused in charges. And generally I pay less than the tours the cruise line was trying to sell me. Of course, when you approach the cab you need to ask, "Do you speak English?" Then listen to how clearly he/she answers. And also, "What would you charge me to tour the tourist places, but I want to see mostly areas the natives know about?" Just a suggestion for your consideration.
Sep 19, 2016 10:20:35 #
Miamisburg Jim
Loc: Miamisburg, Ohio, USA
I did that the other direction, a good bucket list item. Went to Cartagena with no problems at all and that was the only place I was the least bit fearful of. I took a time lapse set going through one of the locks, going up and down and passing other ships going the other way. I had the camera where everything in the field of view was changing. Doing it again, I would include some of the patio to anchor the image.
For every new location you go to, take a few pictures of signs to help you remember which country and city you were in, they all begin to look the same after a few weeks.
As some one said, no flashy jewelry or expensive watches visible. A waistband wallet to wear under your clothes for money and passport is wise. Don't carry anything in your wallet that you can't afford to lose, just to be safe. A bottled water sling is helpful so you can stay hydrated and not depend on local water.
Enjoy.
For every new location you go to, take a few pictures of signs to help you remember which country and city you were in, they all begin to look the same after a few weeks.
As some one said, no flashy jewelry or expensive watches visible. A waistband wallet to wear under your clothes for money and passport is wise. Don't carry anything in your wallet that you can't afford to lose, just to be safe. A bottled water sling is helpful so you can stay hydrated and not depend on local water.
Enjoy.
Sep 19, 2016 11:33:29 #
I just took a cruise in April/May that did the itin in reverse. Have bug spray with Deet that you put on away from your camera equipment. Carry just one camera with a versatile lens. I really didn't need a long lens the entire 15 days. I had two cameras with me, but the one I used had on the 16-80mm lens. The other camera had a longer lens and I only took 5 pictures with it. (We were taking pictures of container ships lining up to go through the canal. My husband then sent the photos to his customers-those container shippers. They were very happy.) Make sure you do not flash money or jewelry anywhere. I had absolutely no problem with anyone, but I didn't stray too far from our groups on shore excursions. On a good note, we did not see, hear or feel any mosquitoes in any of the five countries we visited. They were all included in the Zika "hot zone", too. Have fun and toast the UglyHedgeHog when you go through the canal.
Sep 19, 2016 12:41:46 #
Hey Murray,
Greeting from Vancouver, hope you like your stay here before the cruise. We are safe enough walking pretty well anywhere except perhaps the east end, where all drug addicts are. That would be just beyond Chinatown on Main St. You will know when your there!!!!
If you have time wander through Stanley Park to beautiful.
As far as where you are going in SA. Been through parts of there. I've traveled all over the world, wandered a lot off the beaten track, but no way down there. I was never so thankful to take a shore excursion through the cruise company than I was there. There were so many people that wandered on there own. Most lost their wallets & purses, cameras anything that wasn't nailed down. Taxi drivers taking you way, way out of the way then tried to drop you off if you wouldn't pay them more.
Costa Rica was good not many problems there. But Columbia yeah no way.
When even the ships people say don't wander around unless your with a group of you, you don't wander off.
Greeting from Vancouver, hope you like your stay here before the cruise. We are safe enough walking pretty well anywhere except perhaps the east end, where all drug addicts are. That would be just beyond Chinatown on Main St. You will know when your there!!!!
If you have time wander through Stanley Park to beautiful.
As far as where you are going in SA. Been through parts of there. I've traveled all over the world, wandered a lot off the beaten track, but no way down there. I was never so thankful to take a shore excursion through the cruise company than I was there. There were so many people that wandered on there own. Most lost their wallets & purses, cameras anything that wasn't nailed down. Taxi drivers taking you way, way out of the way then tried to drop you off if you wouldn't pay them more.
Costa Rica was good not many problems there. But Columbia yeah no way.
When even the ships people say don't wander around unless your with a group of you, you don't wander off.
Sep 19, 2016 21:02:59 #
martinfisherphoto wrote:
I always go off the beaten path. When out of count... (show quote)
Thank you Martin.
Good ideas... We've done the taxi thing a few times and it's always worked out nicely.
As to the other advice, agreed!
Thanks again
Murray
Sep 19, 2016 21:08:25 #
Creta1 wrote:
Hey Murray, br Greeting from Vancouver, hope you l... (show quote)
Hi Creta:
We're right next door in New West...
As to the rest, we surely won't Probably stick with the cruise line tours, as there's "safety in the herd". We too have travelled the world, but getting on in years, so caution is definitely in order.
Thank you
Murray
Sep 19, 2016 21:16:43 #
Flyerace wrote:
I just took a cruise in April/May that did the iti... (show quote)
Hi flyer ace:
Thank you!
Got the Deet covered. I thought I'd take 3 lenses (Nikon D7100). The 18-200 as base lens, a 100 mm macro for plants, bugs, frogs etc., and a 10-24 for wide angle.
We will be careful. We have been to dicey areas before, you're right, best to avoid.
Thanks again
Murray
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