Live Journal – B2B Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires – Come Along For the Adventure

[Jim_Iain]

Internet Special - This is the first time I have seen this. Possibly the internet packages have not sold well. Today in the newsletter they have a special -

 

Manta Internet Special - $219 Unlimited - Elite and Elite Plus discounts apply and 50% off on second package in same stateroom.

[bunnyette]

 

 

 

Guide demonstrating how Toquilla Straw is split to make the fiber used to make Panama Hats.

 

 

Next we saw how sugar cane was processed.

 

 

 

 

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Lol you got both my husband & I in your photos. It was a good tour. Glad I wore good shoes for the rainforest hike.

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Lol you got both my husband & I in your photos. It was a good tour. Glad I wore good shoes for the rainforest hike.

 

 

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LOL- I was wondering who that good looking couple was in the photo.

 

It was an enjoyable day. I was glad I had good walking shoes. I did have to send my jeans out to be cleaned as I got mud on the cuffs.

[Jim_Iain]

Today we had a nice relaxing day at sea. The day began overcast and windy but has been improving as we head south.

 

 

Tonight is our second chic night. Michael’s club will have a special senior officer party tonight.

 

Tomorrow we will be arriving in Lima which will be an overnight port. There are approximately 80 passengers that are going to be getting off the ship for two days and going to Machu Picchu. We will not be doing the trip ourselves but Robert and David will be among those on this exciting trip.

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

We are in Lima for our second day. I am running behind because of the long tours. I will try to catch up when I have a chance.

 

As for temperature - still running cool. Lima reminds me of San Francisco - Marine layer comes in overnight and burns off by about noon. If in a sheltered area it is warm but if the breeze blows there's a chill in the air.

Our guide explained that the water is very cold like San Francisco and temperatures are affected by the direction of the winds. The climate here is very dry with only 2 inches of rain each year. The get much of their moisture from the fog.

[Jim_Iain]

We have really enjoyed our two days in Lima. The ship is docked at Port of Callao, which is an industrial port. Celebrity put on a free shuttle to Real Plaza Shopping Mall which is about 6 miles from the port. That sounds wonderful until you find that it takes 40-60 minutes to get from the ship to the drop off point. All non-Celebrity tours pick you up from the mall. By the time you add an hour onto the front and end of an 8 hour tour it makes for a long day.

 

 

 

 

 

Traffic in Lima is terrible and regardless of where your tour goes you are stuck in traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

We booked a 2 day tour with Kona Dave and had a really nice group of 9.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 - Lima

 

 

 

 

 

We were picked up by our tour guide, Claudia, at the mall at 10:00 AM. We initially took a drive through the city and were shown the many districts of the city and the interesting architecture on our way to Larco Museum. We drove by the Cathedral Lima where the Pope will be visiting in January. Our first stop was in front of the Presidents residence and office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2017 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Arrived in front of Presidential “White House” just in time for the ceremonial changing of the guard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Next stop - Basílica y convento de Santo Domingo

 

The Basilica is a 16th-century church with saints' relics, plus an attached convent with verdant inner courtyards. For those that were adventuresome and not affected by height, we were invited to climb the bell tower and enjoy the views of Lima

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2017 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

I poked my nose into a restoration room and politely asked if it would be ok to shoot a picture. I surprised myself and was able to carry on a conversation in Spanish.

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Just as we exited the church the presidential motorcade zipped by. It happened so quick I missed the limo

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

I was asked about the shows earlier.

 

We have made two shows so far. Both have been entertaining. Jesse Hamiliton - was very entertaining and is quite comedic as well as entertaining - be warned not to sit too close or you may end up on stage.

 

We did not see the Magician but the general consensus to those we spoke to did not care for him.

 

On our second formal night we went to Boogie Wonderland - West End hits from the 70'S. Also an aerialist was woven into the show. I found the singers were a bit off key and that is coming from someone that can't even hum in tune. I found myself constantly looking at my watch to see how much longer the show would last.

[Jim_Iain]

Lima - Day 2

 

We had another fun day in Lima. Started by visiting the coastal highway with great views of Lima on our way to the Pachacamac Pyramids. It

is an archaeological site 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of

Lima

,

Peru

in the Valley of the Lurín River. The site was first settled around A.D. 200 and was named after the "Earth Maker" creator god Pacha Kamaq. The site flourished for about 1,300 years until the Spanish invaded.

We later had a lunch in an old home in Lima that had been converted to a restaurant. Wonderful meal. The only problem was the menu was 20 pages long and only in Spanish. The guide after trying to translate suggested she order the first course and we could share. It really worked well and we had a wonderful selection we would never have been able to do independently. The waiter then helped us select a main course.





We finished the day visiting the diplomatic area and stopped in the bohemian section of town for a little independent shopping.

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

Human bone

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

 

 

Lunch

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Arrived Pisco at 08:00 and they are clearing the ship. A bit of confusion this morning as they are limiting the number of busses into port and handing out tickets like a Tender even though we are docked. Oh well you roll with the punches. Good for us Michael’s Club Concierge found this out At 7:00pm and arranged for Suite guests to be escorted off ship without tickets when we wish to leave.

 

Temperatures are about 72, blue skies and dry

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Sunday - We docked early in Pisco and were met by our tour guide for a day's visit to this region of Chile.

 

 

 

First Stop - The Ballestas Islands

 

 

 

 

 

The Ballestas Islands are a group of small islands near the town of Paracas located within the Paracas District of the Pisco Province in the Ica Region, on the south coast of Peru. Composed largely of rock formations and covering an estimated area of 0.12 km², these islands are an important sanctuary for marine fauna like the guanay guano bird, the blue-footed booby and the tendril. Other notable species include Humboldt penguins and two varieties of seals (fur seals and sea lions), among other mammals.

 

 

 

We got onto small (24 passenger) high speed boats for our visit to the sanctuary. Many say that the Ballestas Islands are a poor man's Galapagos as it is close to shore. We were rewarded with a nice day that was a little on the coolside but clear. The boat drivers would get up close to the shore for us to view the sea life. These islands are a sanctuary so you are not allowed to actually set foot on the islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

I have to say the tour was one of the best I have ever had while cruising.

 

 

 

After the visit to the Islands we returned to Punto Paracas and had an hour on our own to shop and have lunch before we took off for the afternoon tour to the deserts of Pisco. The region is very dry (less than 2 mm per year). It was really windy an sand and dust would cover us as we viewed the stops on the desert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by Jim_Iain

[Maggiewooey]

Hi. Thanks for all the updates on your vacation . We definitely want to do this trip so interested in who your tour was with?

[gerelmx]

Jim Greetings, again thanks for your time and for sharing. Today its first Chilean port then two days on the high seas further south to San Antonio (my second name) and the day of B2B to start the second leg.

Continue the Bon Voyage. Buen Viaje y saludos

[Jim_Iain]

Hi. Thanks for all the updates on your vacation . We definitely want to do this trip so interested in who your tour was with?

 

 

 

 

Secrets of Peru. Glad I took a picture as all tours are starting to blend into one.

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Jim Greetings, again thanks for your time and for sharing. Today its first Chilean port then two days on the high seas further south to San Antonio (my second name) and the day of B2B to start the second leg.

Continue the Bon Voyage. Buen Viaje y saludos

 

 

 

We are really enjoying our day in Arica. Much different than expected. I wasn’t expecting the area to be a seafront desert.

 

 

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[kenevenpar]

I am just getting caught up. Thanks for reporting, I know how time consuming it is. Infinity was our first cruise back in January of 2002.

 

Ken

[Jim_Iain]

I am just getting caught up. Thanks for reporting, I know how time consuming it is. Infinity was our first cruise back in January of 2002.

 

Ken

 

My first ship was Millennium back in 2000 - I know you must have a special place in your heart for Infinity. I am really pleased with the ship but especially the crew. We have had no less than impeccable service thought the ship.