2nd February 2015- A day at the Californian Academy of Sciences

We had seen a video on the ship about the planning and building and completion of this major San Francisco project which is a combination of a large aquarium as well as tropical rain forest plus many other exhibits and also a planetarium.

So following an in room and self-purchased breakfast we picked up the Clang Clang, Ding Ding San Francisco cable car down to Market and Powel where we changed on to a municipal bus to take us in the direction of the Golden Gate park. The journey went through some very poor areas as well as some very nice area and needless to say the recently renovated town hall and concert hall looked great.

We arrived at the park and purchased the over 65 tickets and headed inside but first stopping for a cup of tea. It said English breakfast tea but in fact it was earl grey and not our favourites but hey ho at least it was hot. So after the tea we started looking around the main concourse and then down in to the aquarium where there are approximately 4500 fish of all types from little ones up to some really guys. There were tanks of small frogs and large toads, snakes and spiders and many different types of animals. The areas were split in to Californian Coast, Madagascar, Philippines etc and all well prepared.

A White Albino Crocodile

The roof of the structure has been designed specifically to be covered in wild flowers and some grasses and along with a huge amount of solar panels it is intended to be almost self-sufficient on power. We then went to the planetarium where there was a new production showing about life and the intermingling of all the animals and what place they have in the food chain, they did not say food chain but that is what they mean. This was a well-produced film and was very informative; our only complaint was that it seemed a little dark.

Lunch followed with an excellent chicken and vegetable soup and we also purchased a Caesar salad before we got the soup only to find that the soup bowls were huge and so that was enough for lunch and we would retain the salad for dinner tonight in the hotel.

A Fish

We then visited the tropical forest where you walk around the building going higher and higher until the top and all the time butterflies are whizzing past you or perched on various plants and hand rails etc.

This was a most interesting visit today and we left there about 4pm and caught the bus back to Market and Powel and stopped in the Westfield shopping mall where Jen got some new sun glasses and we also bout some food for our journey tomorrow. We saw some shrimp, a small packet of about 8, which we had for dinner back in the room and they were really so good, best we have had for a long while.

We did consider going North East out of San Fran but then was concerned about the weather and the fact that at night it can be freezing when crossing some of the mountains and then said to ourselves we came for the sun and warmth so let’s head south instead. We have planned to go to Monterey tomorrow and have found a good priced Hotel on Hotwire. We have to pick up the hire car tomorrow morning and so the journey to Monterey will only be a few hours subject to traffic and the final routing decided by sister mappie (Jennifer).

Jennifer has had a cold all day so let hope it better tomorrow.

Sunday 1st February 2015- A day around San Francisco

After having some Skype calls with family and looking at a slightly confused little Katherine, don’t think she fully understood who was on the screen, we went back to the Lori’s Diner, where we went yesterday, for breakfast.

Jen's short stack

Yesterday were trying to purchase this Wi-Fi unit and we had discovered that another Radio Shack, which turned out to be slightly out of town, had one and so a taxi was the only way to go. We arrived at this slightly out of town store and they the unit in stock and the girl went to a lot of trouble to set it up for us. In view of the location we had asked the taxi to wait which was a good move otherwise to get a taxi from here would be difficult to say the least. Setting up the unit took slightly longer than expected, you see we don’t live in the USA and have a ZIP code which without can be a pain so the store used their own details.

From there we headed down the waterfront piers and found that several of the old piers had been converted in to cafe's and specialised food shops with a really mixed bag of food from Chinese Dim Sum to specially prepared burgers (well this is America). We walked along for a while and listen to a couple of old rockers who played two guitars and they were really very good. We then took a tram rise down to Fisherman’s Wharf and wandered around for a while and eventually found a highly recommended by Trip Advisor seafood restaurant where we subsequently dined on fresh Dungeness crab and pacific cod washed down with half a bottle of Californian Chardonnay, all of this while looking out over the harbour where the container ships were coming and going. In the harbour of course are the famous sea lions which have now been given their own dock area for them to enjoy.

In past years there was strong consideration to moving them away but it attracted so much negative publicity whilst at the same time drawing thousands of people to the area that the local council decided to allow them to stay unmolested. We continued walking for a while and then headed for Safeway to purchase the cereal for tomorrow morning breakfast, we don’t want to spend loads of cash on the full English or equivalent as it’s also not healthy.

A cable car ride back to the Hotel where we arrived just before 18.00 and after a well-earned shower we watched some rubbish American TV programs about solving murders  and ‘American Greed’ about this guy from Connecticut who ran a Ponzi scheme which lost hundreds of millions of dollars for the average guy in the street, bastard.

An evening of blogging and sorting out the photos and beginning to giver consideration as to how we get from here to Austin.

We mentioned yesterday that we might go to Alcatraz and/or take an open top bus ride but our 3 day bus pass covers all local transport including the famous San Francisco cable cars so not open top bus tour but might go the California Scientific Museum out in the Golden Gate Park tomorrow, but the decision will be tomorrow.

Saturday 31st January 2015- We are FREE

The sun came up over the Bay Bridge at around 0730 as we were just having a cup of tea and watching Sky Sports talking about the Chelsea vs Man City game later that day and getting our minds in gear for today’s efforts. Noel felt a little delicate after yesterday’s treatment but never mind, on with the show.

The Bay Bridge

By some chance were put again by the couple who bought an RV in Los Angeles four years ago and they were now going to drive from West to Eat and back again. So it was good to chat with them but the other two couples on the table hardly joined in so it was great to just chat with people who like travel with the occasional risk.

We were called to get of the ship at 0930 and walked down in to the terminal and pointed out our baggage to this big black porter who then whisked us through and found a taxi for us. We passed lots of what we considered elderly folks dressed very nicely in uniforms who, it appeared, gave up their time for a minimum wage for the fun of meeting people of cruise ships and helping them with any questions.

From our bedroom window

We arrived at the Scarlet Huntingdon Hotel on Knob Hill at around 10.00 and to early for our room which would be ready in half an hour sir. One hour later we got a different room and its nice with a great view over the city. We had a little rest and then walked down the hill and found a great ‘America Diner’ where we enjoyed tomato soup and a BLT with Jennifer having a Club sandwich and were both quite full after and turned down the ice cream.

The weather is really lovely, bright and sunny and about 19 degrees, so great to walk about. We then headed down towards Union Square and walked around the shops for a while whilst looking to purchase a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot unit but Radio Shack did not have and so eventually we gave up and would look on the web when we get back to the Hotel. By this time we had purchased our Tram passes from Walgreens and also some food for tonight’s in room dining experience.

We came part of the way on the tram but did not worry about photos as it was quite dark and dark and moving are not good for photos.

A pleasant evening ensued with Noel catching up with the BLOG, most of the post had been prepared earlier but with slow and limited and VERY EXPENSIVE Wi-Fi I gave up loading the Blogs and saved the purchased minutes to do email whilst communicating with my friends in Austin about Doctors and such like.

All the photos on our Phanfare blog are now up to date and can be seen by following this link.

Phanfare USA trip

We are planning a bus tour tomorrow and will look to do Alcatraz Jail on Monday.

Friday 30th January- San Francisco-It’s my kind of town

Well we got up early but we missed the arrival under the Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps we are little early me thinks. An early breakfast so as to be up early and available to have a day in the town and the need to seek some medical help for Noel.(won’t go in to details here). We had to collect a landing ticket from one of the bars and of course when you have 2000 people on board it can be a little crowded. Can’t imagine what it’s like if a really big ship pulls in with 4000 passengers plus another two thousand of multinational crew.

So waited two hours for our turn to get off and face immigration and by about 1030 we were in a taxi en-route to the medical centre which had been prescribed by the Travel Insurance Company and we got to this rather old building and slightly dirty waiting room littered almost with corpse’s, and signed in. I also had to phone the Insurance Company who had to approve the consultation and would need to approve any subsequent work by Doctors.

We had to wait for almost 90 minutes to see a Doctor and finally we were put in the room as the Doctor will be here in just a moment. After another 40 minute wait and me haranguing everybody that passed I understand yet again that the Doctor would arrive shortly as he was just finishing a staff meeting, What???

Anyway the Doc arrived, I explained my problem in less than 5 minutes and said he is unable to help as they don’t have the facilities and knowledge and equipment to run the tests, great, and I would have to go to a specialist!!! Wow great waste of almost three hours.

Now as it happened I had been in touch, one week ago, with the friends we plan to spend some time with in Austin and asked to him to look for a specialist who can handle my issues and he had made an appointment for Friday afternoon for me. So off we went and got to this big medical building with attached hospital and there was just time to grab some soup and sandwich prior to seeing the Chinese Doctor. Again I had to phone the Insurance Company and assure them I had a referral from their Doctors but the new Doctors wanted some confirmation that they would cough up from the consultation to which they said they would, but only for consultation and not for treatment, which requires and approval and so on. By this time I was pretty upset and waited another half an hour whilst they sorted this out whilst the Doctor sat waiting patiently in his office waiting for all this to be sorted. Finally I was taken through, after I said I would pay the bill and claim it back, to be to be weighed and measured and have my blood pressure taken which was at remarkable level of 138/85 after today’s hassle plus a period of almost of 9 days of worry.

Half an hour later and USD 410 lighter I left the surgery with the knowledge that his work would take effect within two day and any problems give us a call.

And we complain about the NHS

We walked for a while but as San Francisco is one big hill and my old knees are not good at going steeply downhill we caught a taxi back to the ship where we arrived around 4.00pm and in time for a cup of tea and cake and a rest.

It had been a slightly fractious day but went for dinner in the main restaurant and interestingly talked to the Philippine Wine waiter about Manila where he was complaining about the crowds and birth rate growth which should be stopped, where have I heard that before, and then went to the theatre to see a six piece Dixie Band for about one hour, they are local San Francisco band but bloody brilliant and much better than the on board bands.

We sneaked in to the cinema and there was some empty seats and so we watched about 70% of the film ‘The Book Thief’ before retiring to cabin for the last night on board the ship.

An early morning again tomorrow as we need to have had breakfast, cleared the cabin and in the waiting station by 0915.

Thursday 29th Jan- Start packing today

We have now received all the instruction on how and what to do to get off the ship in Friday and Saturday. We actually have one night in harbour before we get off but still have to get immigration clearance on Friday.

So today we start the job of packing the suitcases in a good order.

At breakfast we met a couple who were about to pick up a small RV in SFO and drive to the East Coast of the USA and back and planning their route on a daily basis, a bit like us really. So we compared places and routes and it’s the first adventurous couple we seem to have met on board as most seem to want the full time safety of the ship in all the dangerous places around the world?

The first suitcase was finished quite easily as it contained all the stuff we won’t need any more like all the dresses and Black Tie and monkey suit. We had a light lunch in the Lido where the pool is but the roof is closed now due to the weather getting colder.

Finished packing the second case by mid-afternoon as the sun poured in through the window and the other two cases can only be finished tomorrow. Tonight we shall have a casual light dinner in the buffet and watch perhaps the last film we have which is film about George Harrison, it’s more of a documentary really so should be interesting although I have a canny feeling that we may have seen it on TV at some time in the past.  

The pilot from San Francisco port will board about 05.30 ‘ish and we are due to go under the Golden Gate bridge around 06.30  so will be an early start as we have to collect our ticket to get off from 07.30 unless they give us the special treatment again which would be good news.Oops have just learnt we have to queue up so yes an early start.  

Wednesday 28th January 2014- Schools out on Friday

We have enjoyed our trip, quite frankly more than we expected but having a good cabin really helps as you have somewhere comfortable to reside rather than sit on the various decks and bars.

It’s perhaps too early for trip reflections but immediately a couple of things come to mind that P & O could do much better. One thing that we think is a complete waste of money as each day you receive the following

-      Horizon Magazine which details the following day’s events

-      Two full size menu cards for lunch and dinner

Quite frankly all this info could be put on an information channel, I am not sure how much paper is involved but this ship is as sea for 105 days, so that’s 315 minimum per day for one cabin and there about 1200 cabins on board I think about 33000 bits of paper which as said could be put on the TV. Please also bear in mind that they need menus in the restaurants which should be sufficient.

The ‘Horizon’ Magazine reminds you of the use of towels and try to use them longer, which is fine and also don’t leave the tap running when cleaning teeth which is also fine. However when using the ship public wash rooms they have automated water delivery using a sensor which I think should work when your hands are in front of it, but no, it continues for some time up to 40 seconds after use, now this is a waste of money.

Oh well that’s today's gripe.

At breakfast this morning we shared a table with others and one couple have this strong belief that once they get off the ship in San Francisco that if not on an official tour they will most certainly die out there in the Wild West. What’s up with people, perhaps he is on benefits where the state takes care of you or has seen to many movies.

We are currently sailing up the West side of the Californian/ Mexican peninsular (it has to be the West Side or we would end up beached somewhere) with the plan of arriving under the Golden gate bridge on Friday morning, hopefully the weather will be fine for photos etc. Once we arrive then everybody must get off and go through US immigration, sounds like hours of endless fun.

A quiet afternoon after a quick snack at lunchtime and then later on to prepare for another black tie function, there are too many on this cruise and almost one every four days. 7 nights of Black Tie on 25 night cruise.

They had a special menu tonight and then the chefs and assistants paraded all around  the restaurant so you could clap them and I understand this is normal practise on these cruises, not sure why as they are only doing their job.

Following dinner a little break in the piano bar and then on to the Crow’s Nest for an evening (45 minutes) of classical piano and clarinet with mostly Gershwin numbers and they were the best act we have seen on the ship so far. And then back to bed with another hours’ time change and so an extra hour in bed again.

Tuesday 27th January- Cabo San Lucas

We arrived just after 0730 and moored off the city and over the next hour the tenders were ferrying the tour passengers over to the wharf to join their tours.

We on the other hand had a late breakfast and decided to wait until about 10.00 before we made a move to go and get a tender which was quite easy as we could jump the queue. We arrived in the Port area and their lots of American here on holiday by the sound of the accents and clearly some were getting ready  to have a few beers and watch some games which were listed fort all to see. In one place there was a choice of at least five games with many TV’s all around the room. We continued our walk along and around the very large port area being accosted every few minutes with people selling silver bracelets, hats and Cuban cigars.

In the main shopping centre there was an amazing amount of Chemists selling what we know as in Uk as restricted drugs including antibiotics and Viagra. It was now getting very warm and so we found a quiet little bar come restaurant where we were the only customers and could use their Wifi without any problems just to pick up email. We had tried earlier in another location but so many boat passengers using the system had slowed it right down to an unusable status.

We stayed in this little bar as Trip advisor had given it a clean account and although the menu was small the food was very good. It was rather hot to having a large meal which we had originally intended was not going to be possible.

By 2.30 the sun was beating down and were about 1.5 miles from where we get the tender and with so many passengers going to use this service we decided to go back early and so by 3.30 we were back on board and just in time to hear a live commentary of the last 15 minutes of the Chelsea vs Liverpool game which thank heavens CFC won by aggregate 2-1

The rest of the afternoon we took it easy and will go to the buffet for dinner tonight.

On the way out of the harbour we saw a number of whales tossing their tails and blowing great spouts on spray in to the air. It was a little too dark fort an effective photo so did not bother but watched them through the binoculars.

Didn't fancy any of the shows and so went back to the cabin to watch a film called ‘The Hurt Locker’ which is an excellent film portraying an American soldiers life in Iraq, whether it’s a true reflection of events only others can tell.

Now we have two sea days ahead before reaching San Francisco and I think for us it will feel like the end of a school year when they open the gates!

Monday 26th January- Another day at sea.

Usual light breakfast and after a little respite  we did our 1.5 mile walk around the deck a little earlier today as we wanted to go and see the results of the on board photo competition winners which was being shown in the theatre.

There were some excellent photographs from both the amateurs and also the professionals. The presenters, why three of them? tried to take it turns to comment upon the individual photos and some the comments were obviously valid whilst the other were a little silly however it was mostly the one presenter who did all the work.

With another Black Tie function tonight we went for a coffee and a cake for lunch and kept it light for the day.

We were planning to visit one of the rooms to listen to a classical music afternoon but got diverted by a documentary on the design and build of the Californian Academy of Sciences facility which houses a tropical forest where you can walk through the tree rood canopy and there is also a huge fish tank with half a metre thick windows where you can see nearly 4000 fish from little too large.

Tonight’s dinner looked like salmon en-croute only it wasn't but it was still very good. We sat on a table for eight and the lady next to me within a short space of time was complaining about her husband who never goes anywhere or wants to do anything and spends most of the time in the cabin. It would appear they are caravan’ers who go to rallies all over the place but her comments about him not wanting to do anything is a bit odd but anyway she thanked me on her departure for ‘an entertaining evening’.

Jennifer also met when doing the washing earlier this week another woman who was complaining about her husband, she had been suffering from a cold and the husband made no attempt to get something from the chemist to rectify the problem or even attempt to the washing which had mounted up due to her being unwell. So talking to strangers about your personal matters seems a strange to us.

After the meal we went to watch a guy on the alto sax called Julian Strange who had been on Britain has got talent and he was pretty good when he wasn't drowned out by the ships band.

Afterwards came back to the cabin and watched the second half of the film called ‘The Ship that Rocks’ or something like that and it’s all about the early days of Pirate Radio and the Governments attempts to close them down. Amusing in places.

Tomorrow we arrive in Cabo San Lucas for the day where we board the tender to go to shore but it turns out due to our cabin status we get bumped to up the front of the queue and so will watch out for daggers in our back as walk past everybody and jump the queue

Sunday 25th January- Half a day in Huatulco

The Captain was right about the weather and we bounced around quite a lot during the night and somebody mentioned there was force 9 winds. All I know is that in the middle of the night I looked out of the cabin window and the sea looked very rough with the wind blowing spray into our balcony and when you consider we are about 80/90 feet up and about the same distance from the front of the ship that would confirm it was a little rough.

Nevertheless we went for breakfast as we arrived in Port and we allowed all those who were booked on trips to leave first and then about 1000 we left the ship and of course being plagued by the taxi drivers offering major discounts, I doubt, on trips around the town and to the beaches etc but we just wanted to walk around the town. Along the beach front there were quite a lot of bars with Wi-Fi but we found a Hotel in the backstreet's where they charged about $2.00 per hour, still expensive but better than nothing and so much faster than ship connections. We tried to call our daughter at home but they were out but were able to update our email etc.

You will some photos on the Phanfare website showing and extensive part build of new apartments covered with thatch where the building programme stopped over two years ago and now the thatch is coming off as the houses head in to dereliction, Such a shame and this cost somebody a lot of cash. As this was a Government sponsored area for tourism perhaps it was the government who built them?

We walked around the craft market but the owner was pissed off with me trying to take photos so I really didn't get any shots of all their stuff.

On the backstreet's of the town we found a local bar and no cruise passenger, just some locals, where we had a beer and watched the birds of the feathered variety. The a slow walk back along the sea front crowded with cruise passengers in bars and some on the beach for a swim. We decided to board early as they could use one ramp on this small jetty and we are glad we did as 30 minutes later there was a queue stretching all alongside the ship along the jetty and out in the town.

We had a light salad lunch but it still amazes me how much people can eat from a buffet and there were plates piled high with the roast of the day and all the trimmings and then an extra plate for chips. Jen looked around the pool area considering a swim but it is crowded and no doubt with so many passengers who do not have balcony cabins that stay in a cabin without windows have to spend many hours on the decks and elsewhere.

So we adjourned back to our balcony and then Noel took a little nap to help recover from the poor night’s sleep he had the previous night. Tonight it’s the ‘Best of Britain’ food in the buffet and so we shall probably go there for a small meal rather than the three or four course you get in the main restaurant.

Noticed just before we left the cabin that the film ‘The Departed’ with Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Gerard De Caprio is showing tonight and so after dinner our plan is to head back to the room and watch this violent and challenging film and try to understand it. We have both seen this film before but it was a bit confusing and so by watching it tonight we might get to understand it.

We lose another hour again tonight so we will be as from tomorrow seven hours behind the UK.

Saturday 24th January 2015- A day all at sea

A relaxing day where we took advantage of little to do but continued with our exercise programme with Noel doing his multiple lap walks on the promenade deck whilst Jennifer caught up with some washing.

We leant later in the day that both Chelsea and Manchester City the number 1 and number 2 respectively were both knocked of the FA Cup by non-premier teams whilst Tottenham Hotspur also took a tumble. Watching Jeff Harding on Sky Sport News later in the day would show that he had lost it and was almost apoplectic and looked fit to burst.

It was Tex-Mex night in the buffet and they asked people to dress up in Wild West clothing, now where would get this type of thing unless you knew about the requirement in advance. We also saw one guy who had dressed up in his denims jeans and long black coat and he had on a large cowboy hat, he looked good but stood out like a sore thumb.

After dinner we went on the aft deck and listened to the music but it was a nice warm evening and so rather than listen to somebody else choice of music we moved to our own balcony and with our I Pods sat and enjoyed our music.

The newsletter arrived saying that our stop in Huatuclo is quite short, we arrive around 0800 but leave around 12.30 and so much for our planned seafood lunch. Also they are expecting some windy weather tonight but they will try to avoid the worst bits.

Friday 23rd January- A Mars Bar too far!!

No, not the famous Rolling Stones matter about a mars bar but the rumour going around the ship like wildfire. It would appear, the story goes, that two ladies were fighting over access to the heated dryer in the laundry maybe someone queue jumping but it would appear that one disgruntled lady went back to the dryer when in full swing and it was quite hot and inserted an unwrapped Mars bar which then covered all their clothes in said dryer. This led almost to fisticuffs with the Captain being involved in resolving the matter and the result being the lady who put the Mars bar in will have to pay for all the damaged clothing to be dry cleaned and with a warning if she causes any more problems would be taken off at the next port. Wow who said cruising was boring.

This ship is on a round the world trip from Southampton on 6^th Jan and returning to Southampton 105 nights later so nearly 3.5 months of going round in circles. Our leg from Southampton to San Francisco is a 25 night trip and thereafter it goes on to Hawaii and then Australia and around West Asia and back via the Middle East. That’s a long journey sitting in one place no matter how nice your cabin is. I think we are now beginning to look forward to dry land and a bit of roaming.

After yesterday’s busy and long day it was a day of taking it easy apart from doing about a two mile fast walk around the ship before lunch and to celebrate we had our first beer on board and it really tasted good. Noel spent some time catching up with the photo editing and to get them ready to upload whenever a suitable internet connection is established.

The weather today is a little grey but we were still able to see turtles, dolphins and flying fish and many sea birds.

In the afternoon we took advantage of not much to do and had a little zizz and then got ready for another Black Tie function. The food was good as usual and following that we went to the Crow’s Nest for a nightcap and listen to the so called singer. This woman really could not sing whilst taking a perfectly good tune and redesign it in to almost indistinguishable song. After three songs we had had enough and went back to the room and watched a film about Julian Strange the man who started WIKILEAKS and upset pretty much all of the world’s governments.

Another day at sea tomorrow before we arrive in Huatulco ,Mexico. 

Our pre-purchased internet time is running out fast so I will not upload the BLOG until the next port of call or until we arrive in SFO as need to save the time for emails.

Thursday 22nd January 2015- Atlantic to Pacific Ocean in 12 hours

We set the alarm for 0630 with Noel not realising that it needed to consider that latest one hour change and as a result we were up and dressed with first cup of tea at 0545 instead of 0645, Dah…

It was rather cloudy once it got a little lighter but anyway we went upstairs to an open deck area anticipating it would be empty but no there were quite a few people there who, I guess, may have had the same problem as us. The lock system is very impressive when you consider they were finished in 1914 and its not surprising when you watch the on board documentaries about the project who difficult it was and what a change when the Yanks took over particularly to make the workers facilities and health to be improved and rid the staff of yellow fever, malaria etc.

At around 0730 we entered the first of three locks which lift you up to the lake where we had anticipated leaving immediately to cross the lake but there was a traffic jam and so we parked up for two hours on anchor at which point we headed after breakfast back to the balcony on our room to watch the next few hours proceedings. The lake is surrounded by dense vegetation although in places you can see the railway line which was used to help build the original canal and now serves as a usual rail service from one side of Panama to the other. The journey is done very slowly as there are places where it’s extremely tight and impossible for two large ship to pass without an almighty bang.

By mid-afternoon we were well on our way across the lakes and anticipated reaching the next set of locks which take you down to the Pacific Ocean but during the day the lovely Port Presenter did a non-stop talking routine try to explain things we


could all see. During the past few days we have had a lot of documentaries on the canal and also we were given a very good leaflet on the crossing so there was no shortage of information. Nevertheless she carried on talking whilst we went to our balcony to get away from her. One of her useful bits of information was that cars waiting for the road bridge to be open by the lock carried cars with mothers taking their children to school. What!

She then started reading details from the brochure given to every passenger as though we could not read; she needs a kick this woman.

By late afternoon we reached the next locks, first a single lock and then later the last set of double lock which we finally exited at about 17.30 and we understood from the Captain, that the cost of putting the ship through the canal was £ 220k  and as long as he does not ask for a whip round we should be OK. The Captain did come on several times during giving very good information in a very professional manner compared to miss Port Presenter.

We went under Bridge of Americas and out in to the Pacific Ocean leaving Panama City views as the sun went down. The buffet tonight was Chinese style food, I won’t say Chinese Food as it was not up to Hong Kong standards and we did wonder what the Chinese musician and his family thought of it.

It had been hot and sticky and mostly overcast during the day and the evening was pretty much the same and so we borrowed the DVD of ‘The best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ which is a nice film. We own this film and seen several times but it was still good to watch again, can’t wait until the new one is released.

I took a lot of photos during the day and so will have to work on those tomorrow but unable to load to our website until such we find a good internet speed which may only come in San Francisco.

Then an early night after a long day with another clock change tonight so perhaps a bit of a lie in tomorrow.

Wednesday 21 January 2015- Panama Canal tomorrow.

We were getting ready for Breakfast this morning and for about fifteen minutes the ship had stopped and was lolling about in the water covering only a couple of knots, so not really moving. Oops, what’s happening should we take to the lifeboats, gosh where’s the Brandy? Then we heard the Captain saying that they had stopped the ship to test the propulsion system and that we would start gaining speed again soon and this was a planned matter. He did refer to an earlier announcement saying the test was going to happen yet everybody we talked to did not hear it either.

So this was the talking point over breakfast including delayed Chiltern report and also as mentioned earlier another cover up of a Paedophile ring in Westminster and people are clearly sick of their Politicians of all types. We decided to have the big breakfast today and skip lunch and eat up some of the fruit that is building up in the cabin. We then went to see the presentation about the Panama Canal but the Port presenter has got such strident voice that its uncomfortable to listen too so we then went back to the cabin and watched a documentary of the building of the Canal which was fascinating and much better than listening to the lady showing outdated photos etc.

The usual over the loudspeaker update of what is happening entertainment wise today and of course there is a so much going on from line dancing, to Ipad training and many, many other courses which of course we, the passenger, pays for whether we want them or not. We don’t demand much in this respect but still we pay for it and so perhaps we will look for a ship without all this overhead. That’s the daily gripe, but otherwise we are enjoying our trip very much.

We did our usual walk around the deck and covered a couple of miles plus whether we do from the near front of the ship where we are to the restaurants which are at the back of the ship so a few hundred metres away. So we are trying to keep fit and to get ready for the hill walking in San Francisco. As usual you get some people who pile up their plate to almost what we would say is an unacceptable level and looking rather chubby from it.

We had a quiet afternoon and then dressed in the Black Tie for dinner only to find in the Buffet which we fancied many people did not bother and the next morning there was a strong reminder to all to follow the code or get thrown overboard

To round off the evening we went to the show to see a Chinese musician who played Hammer Dulcimer extremely well but clearly the theatre was not full which is quite a shame as he was very good. From our viewpoint he did not need the supporting band and we would have liked to hear slightly more Chinese music rather than the one tune that he played against well known, eg Tie a yellow ribbon etc etc which we guess he does for the majority who may not find Chinese music interesting. The musician seems to be accompanied by a large family with kids and parents so must be expensive for P & O

We have an early morning tomorrow as the ship arrives of the coast at around 0530 where they pick up the pilot and enter the first part of the canal at 0630