A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

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The laundry-

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Cells and our guide-

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Showers-

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[drron]

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Yes bats make their home in the cells.A bigger visitor outside-

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[drron]

Solitary-

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I enjoyed this excursion.There was a snorkelling option but I am glad I didn't do that.the snorkelling was very good according to the pictures I saw but you had to go over very slippery rocks to get there and there were a couple of falls.I treasure my new knee enough not to risk it like that.

 

[drron]

Back to the ship and a quick shower before lunch.Naturally when the camera wasn't in hand the whales were close.but the last views of the island-

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We were given an escort.The day's activities weren't over though.

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[drron]

After lunch it was times up for the polliwogs.King Neptune boarded-

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Special attention was paid to crew members-

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[drron]

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That afternoon saw some more whales but at a distance.even with a good zoom these are the best pics.can you see the whale?

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[UpInTheAir:)]

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Love a fungi photo! Thanks drron

 

[drron]

Thanks Uppy.I will try to find some more.but back to the cruise-
That night was probably the best sunset-

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At the recap there was always music preceeding the presentations.Amazing the number of musically talented Fillipinos.Alfredo-

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I usually had to pop outside for the sunset though mostly not spectacular.Another dinner at Hot Rocks.Turned out to be very enjoyable-

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[drron]

The next morning saw us coming into Manta,Ecuador-

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Obviously a major fishing port-

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The birds were out in force over the fishing boats-

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We now set off for a coastal "resort' 90 minutes south of Manta.Meant to arrive at 2pm for lunch.First the city then past dry uninviting countryside-

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[drron]

Villages and a large cemetery-

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The epiphytes grow everywhere-

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[drron]

Going through a fishing village these frigate birds sitting on the wires-

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Then we got to the resort-

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We arrived at the resort just after 2pm.We were taken first to have a strange juice and see a display of Panama hats and crafts for sale.The hats began at $US300.Not what we were thinking about for our grandkids.
Then seated for lunch but nothing served for another 40 minutes.The first dish was a ceviche-hardly needing all that time.Ended up finishing at 4pm which was when we were leaving for the return trip so giving us some time to wander Manta.

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[drron]

The facilities were in one of the 2 rooms completed in the new block.Nice but what chance of getting one of those?

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Then taken to the other side of the highway for an Ecuadorian rodeo.

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What I didn't take a picture of was the woman walking on the animal's abdomen.

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[drron]

The stands were flimsy tied together with plastic rope which is why my pictures are not taken from there-

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No respect for their horses-

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[drron]

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I have deleted the photos that showed the injuries from excessive use of spurs on the horses.Most of us were back on the bus before the show ended.A very quiet trip back.Even worse no mention of the rodeo was made at the recap.A simple apology would have been advisable.

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A defunct salt farm-

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The Panama hat town Monte Christo-

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[drron]

The seaside and a fishing village with lots of fish restaurants-

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Many gated communities-

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[drron]

Getting close to the port there was a large crowd.Turned out to be a motor show-

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And one of the highlights occurred as we reached the ship-

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Caught the last of the sunset-

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[drron]

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The Zaandam leaves-

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We had dinner with a couple from Brisbane.Another nice night.Mrsdrron shows her appreciation.First Expedition staff member Carlos,though we called him Oscar which referred to his second fun loving personality-

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And Randy a waiter and Emilio a new wine waiter.Both are supporting their families.Emilio is new to SS but loving it.He is putting his 2 children through University.

 

[drron]

After the excursion at Manta which we thought was the worst Silverseas excursion we have been on I was looking at a better experience on the Sunday.We awoke of Isla de la Plata,Ecuador.Now Ecuador have a policy of always using local assets so even though the Explorer has it's zodiacs it is required to use local vessels to get us onto the Island-

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There was no way these boats were going to be effective getting us onto the shore.Apparently this is the charade that goes on every year.It always ends up with SS paying off the locals and then using the zodiacs.But only allowed to use 2.A fly by before I enter the zodiac-mrsdrron stayed aboard as there was a hill climb-

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[drron]

The guano is thick on the ground-

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And that is one of the producers.More arrive but as this has a large marine reserve surrounding the island what is a commercial fishing boat doing at anchor here?

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The island is very dry.

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Not long before we saw our first coughie-

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[drron]

coughies mating dance.Except there are 3,2 males-

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A newborn and some more romantic coughies-

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Although 2 eggs only 1 chick will survive-

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