A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

On the drive back you pass the Castle-part of a hotel and the whole building can be booked for a little over $US20000.But with 9 rooms OK value if you have enough friends!

.

.

.

.

.

.

And as we arrive back at the ship what better song to be playing than one of my all time favourites-Jamaica Farewell.
We were late back to the ship.Our butler told me Rojaan was already at lunch so straight to the MDR it was.After lunch we walked into town.Rojaan had already done this in the morning so the following pictures are from both of us.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

The markets were interesting-

.

.

.

.

.

.

Now to the CBD.Interesting neighbours-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

And the doctor was a better man than I-

.

.

The Jamaican dollar isn't doing very well and the police station had seen better days-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Took the long way back to the boat-

.

.

A must taste-Jamaican patties.This fellow didn't like getting a ticket-

.

.

.

.

The yacht club-

.

.

The water was so clear you didn't have to go snorkelling to see the fish-

.

.

 

[drron]

High tech training area for the Jamaican Defence Force-

.

.

An idyllic spot but it was now time to leave-

.

.

.

.

.

.

Roads to nowhere and a local school-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

Cruising the north east coast of Jamaica-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

And then of course the sunset-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

At dinner we were with 2 of the Captain's Choice couples.It turns out that the retired surgeon and myself did medicine together.it really is a small world.

 

[RB]

And then of course the sunset-
.....
..

At dinner we were with 2 of the Captain's Choice couples.It turns out that the retired surgeon and myself did medicine together.it really is a small world.

Do any of the Captain's Choice people ever discuss why they use Captain's Choice rather than direct with Silverseas?- I guess there are a variety of motivations

 

[amaroo]

Do any of the Captain's Choice people ever discuss why they use Captain's Choice rather than direct with Silverseas?- I guess there are a variety of motivations

So they can use one of these

 

[drron]

Mostly it was because they didn't like or have confidence in making the arrangements themselves.
Plus on this particular cruise you weren't able to book direct with Silverseas Australia-they directed you to Captain's Choice.We though booked direct with head office.
They usually do have separate excursions but on the Expedition ships there is no need for this.

Another interesting snippet about our stay in Port Antonio.Women were advised not to go into town unescorted though several did without problems.When we went into town we were asked where we were from.When we admitted to being Australian usually asked if we knew Shane Warne.Got on well when I told them I had been to Jamaica for the Worl cup in cricket.But reached legend status when I told them I had watched Patrick Patterson destroy Australia in a Melbourne test match in the late 80's.He was from the Port Antonio area.

 

[drron]

Time to resume.
The next day was a sea day.First we had a small brown bird on our balcony.Flew off when I got my camera out.Late afternoon and a coughy appears.circled the ship a few times.appeared to catch a flying fish or two but then took up a perch on the ship's bow.Ideal scanning for fish or even ticking off some more on his humans list-aussie-tick,kiwi-tick etc.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I watched this bird for over an hour until recap time-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

We had a very pleasant dinner with a mother and daughter from Australia.the mother was a classical pianist.she had had a very interesting career accompanying many great artists when they toured Australia as well as several Australians.The veal marsala as great and a very nice Chilean Carminere.
The seas had been just a little rough,it was raining with a fair bit of wind so snorkelling was in doubt.However the next morning conditions were quite reasonable as we anchored off Isla De Providencia.A part of Colombia off the coast of Nicaragua.Originally settled by English puritans it became a base for buccaneers.
So I went snorkelling.A few pictures from the zodiac first.Note the fort in the first photo-

.

.

.

.

.

.

That rock is known as Morgan's head.This is where we had our first snorkel-

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Now around to the other side of the island-the windward side so a bit of a swell

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

So on to the third snorkelling site.The swell was bigger here and my snorkel kept dislodging itself from the mask.I knew I was tiring so decided to head back to the boat.Looked around and saw a boat so headed to it.But the wrong boat.Of course it was white and ours blue so I did feel a little stupid.Now I was exhausted so waited till our boat got there.Had everyone worried but I had pulled out at just the right moment.
So the last underwater shots-

.

.

.

It was obvious I should sit out the 4th spot so took a few shots of the coast-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

When the others came aboard because the conditions had got worse we headed for the beach in those photos.one of the other excursions was to the beach-

.

.

.

After a drink at the bar we got back in our boat and headed back to the sheltered side of the island and to the harbour.A few shots on the way-

.

.

.

.

.

.

,

 

[drron]

Whilst I was snorkelling mrsdrron went into town.Not much there so she also walked across the bridge to Santa Catalina island-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

We met back onboard for lunch.the spicy food on this cruise has been excellent.usually pretty insipid but the spicy pumpkin and sweet potato soup,chilli con carne and the Szechuan beef were all very good today.
Spent the afternoon sorting photos but must have been a little tired as I found these of our early morning arrival at Isla de Providencia out of sequence.But better late than never-

.

.

.

I did like the modern coast guard vessel!

 

[drron]

That evening was the farewell coughtail party even though 2 more days to go.We dined alone and enjoyed the crab timbale,foie gras,coconut sorbet and vegetable lasagne washed down with some nice French wine.We retired early.
Friday arrived and we reached Pueto Limon,Costa Rica.You have got to like a country that abolishes it's Army.It did so in 1949 after a short civil War.In 2012 it abolished recreational hunting.
Ivan the Security Officer who checks you off and on the Explorer is from Costa Rica and told of the accessibility of their wildlife.He proved to be right.But first our arrival-

.

.

.

.

.

.

The welcoming committee was in place-

.

.

.

.