Monday, April 6, 2026
Fwd: Wedding October 5, 2025
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Wedding October 5, 2025
From: Michele Buelow <michele.buelow@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026, 2:39 PM
To: michelestraveltales.ranger14@blogspot.com
CC:
Fwd: Catching up!
I was shocked to see that my last blog was almost two years ago so this is a brief note to catch up.
Lovely Nora was born in June of 2024 and we were happy to welcome her to the family. She is almost 2 now and her sister,Piper, will arrive soon in April. That September we visited the Gansens in Ontario and enjoyed the Thousand Island area. I spent a lot of time and energy working on the planned cruise to Norway and Iceland in 2025.
During the winter, however, I started having issues with my left leg being painful and impeding my walking. I started seeing an Orthopedic doctor. In March we cruised for a week in the Western Caribbean out of Galveston. During the cruise the leg became worse.
When we arrived home in April I saw the doctor for treatment then followed up later in Kalamazoo. Nothing was helping. The weakness led me to fall down the stairs in May. I was in pain and couldn't walk so unfortunately had to cancel the upcoming cruise that I had spent two years planning. So disappointing!!?
I worked to get walking again and was able to participate in Allie and Jake's wedding in October mostly without an aid. It was lovely! We cruised on the Grand Princess from Pureto Rico in the southern Caribbean and then on the Sun in the Western Caribbean by taking my folding electric scooter.
My leg was not improving so I began to see a surgeon and am moving toward surgery in two weeks on my spine to fuse some of the damaged vertebrae. Hopefully this will give me back my mobility. After that we'll see what traveling I can manage!! Right now we are looking forward to a family vacation at a huge rental home in Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks in June.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Coming to an end.....
We have enjoyed the last days of this long cruise as best we can. Naps have helped shake the cruise crud enough that George played pickleball early this morning.
A first for us..we skipped the beach on Aruba. G had a rough night yesterday and was just too tired to do it. We've been here several times so know how lovely it is but very hot the beach is. A quick walk around the town then back to the ship was enough.
They served wine and cheese on the aft deck at sail away which was nice. I had a nice chat with a gentleman who lives on St. Croix now. Interesting to hear how life goes there with goats wandering around everywhere!
Today is a sea day, as is tomorrow, then we land in Ft Lauderdale and back home. we have until Thursday when we leave for Michigan and family. I'll be happy to see everyone again and look forward to Great Grandbaby Nora's arrival in June.
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Panama
Today we are crossing in the Panama canal. Old locks. Currently we are in the Milleflores lake then into Gatun lake before entering the second set of locks to the Gulf. Last time we did this we were in the new locks so it is interesting to see the difference. We have just been passed by a container ship on the new lock side.
Yesterday we docked at the new dock in Panama. Last trip we tendered in to the marina area. They had shuttles taking us to a hotel meeting space. Unfortunately for us it was a 20 minute walk BACK to the catamaran we had booked. It was called the Red Cat for obvious reasons. A nice thing here in Panama is that they treat the seniors very nicely with discounts on many things. They escorted us onto the cat first so we had seats in the shade. That was a nice perk!
We sailed and motored around the many ships waiting to enter the canal. Some wait weeks for their turn. It costs about $500,000. for our ship to go and cruise ships have preference.
Near the island of Taboga we anchored for a while for a bit of swimming. Many dove off the boat into the cool water. We didn't. Then we sailed around to the other side and the little town for everyone to get off for a beach day. We made a rookie decision to not wear our shoes so we couldn't walk very far on the very hot streets. What a stupid decision!! But we rented an umbrella and sat on the sand and went into the Pacific. Walking was impossible so we didn't go much further. Lunch was served with more drinks as we sailed away. Some young women on a girls trip were very interested in their hair extensions and makeup and spent about the entire time taking photos of themselves posing. Entertaining at least. It amused us as well as the French couple sitting with us. Many eye rolls!!
Everyone danced and had fun on the boat. What a nice day despite toasted feet!!
We'll spend the day doing this crossing then to Aruba tomorrow. Tonight we dine in the Pinnacle grill again...yum!!!!
Panama canal
We are just entering the first lock of the old set. There will be inches on either side. "Mules" or Small trains pull us through.
We ate Panama buns in honor of the transit. It will take all day to enter the gulf.
Friday, March 29, 2024
Manta Ecuador
A nicer view today. Up at 5:30... breakfast came at 5:45!! Good thing I had clothes on!
It's hot already....and they say to wear long sleeves to protect from the sun. Good thing the bus has AC !!
Ecuador
After nice sea days sailing from Lima, we docked in Manta, Ecuador for the day. Thinking beach time would be nice, I signed us up to take a tour to Manchilla National Park and a beautiful beach. Yes, the beach was beautiful, but it took a two hour ride in the bus to arrive for only a 40 minute stay. A lot of the drive was along the ocean with the beautiful vistas to see, then up across the mountains. We didn't change into our suits at the beach as the time was short but George was able to walk the beach as he loves to do as I sat under an umbrella, thankfully!!, enjoying the lovely view.
This country is the cleanest we have seen. They must sweep the streets and pick up garbage all the time as none is to be seen. At the beach they did not let us take any food, granola bars, or tissues on to the beach. None of us would give up the tissues so our bus driver kindly took them back to the bus to save them for us. It's key to always have tissues and hand cleaner with you, especially a woman!!
At the next stop there was a one room museum to peruse to see the old burial pots, and a couple of tables of crafts that looked imported to me. A trail let into the dry tropical forest. We went in a way then turned around. There was so much sand in our feet and shoes and it was very hot. So we sat and tried to clean the sand better then discovered the little restaurant. A beer was just the ticket to enjoy in the shade until the group returned to the bus.
At last we drove into the narrow drive to the hotel for lunch. It was situated on the side of the mountain overlooking the Pacific ocean with a lovely view. Our lunch was Ecuadorian food. A chicken empanada, fish, shrimp, calamari, Russian potato salad (peas and carrots not celery), vegetables, and rice. For dessert was blackberry ice cream and cake roll with spiced pineapple. It was all good. Smiles all around.
Our drive back was long and not as picturesque as it went through the mountainous country. It is green now from rain but will be dry and brown again. There is very little color anywhere with the houses build of cement or clay bricks and dull color, little paint. Dry clay yards, even the goats were dull color. I can see why bright colors in cloth is a favorite with such a lack of color in the landscape. One exception was the hotel which was bright yellow with blue trim..so nice to see. (the waiters were very formal in black and white and so nice)
We were able to see a statue created to honor the Panama hat makers. It was a woman bending over a partially woven hat, a pillow on the top and her breasts holding it all together as she bent and wove the brim. The hats are made here by a small group of artisans and NOT in Panama. They got the name when T. Roosevelt wore one when visiting Panama canal. The hats can take a year to weave and cost $500. for a fine one. A really fine hat can fit through a ring.
At the port there was a nice terminal building and a few handicraft stalls. Less expensive hats were flying off the rack and the jewelry and scarves & alpaca items as well. I purchased scarves and some necklaces made from the Taugua nut. The nuts are found only here and look like large Brazil nuts. They are ivory color. For jewelry the nut is dyed but they also carved animals in the natural form. The nuts were first used for making buttons for a French company who kept the source secret for many years. I told the young woman who was working with her mother making the jewelry to leave some undyed as they would be beautiful and ivory-like in that state.
A cool drink and a stint in the hot tub, conversation with Gs pickleball friends, then dinner and a show ended our day. I am always pooped and sleep really well on the ship. Now it's another sea day as we sail to Panama. We crossed the Equator while we slept so this morning there will be a ceremony to celebrate. The new crew members go through the ritual and kiss a fish, get covered in whipped cream and pushed into the pool. Great fun. I think we will get a certificate. It will match the one from 2012!!
keyboard is working today!! Yea!! George is playing pickleball while I blog and get organized for the day.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Foggy
I'm sitting in the Crows Nest, a lovely space on the top deck at the front of the ship. A bar with coffee and drinks, games, comfy chairs and tables. Puzzle tables and more. It's always busy.
Today they are blowing the horn every two minutes due to fog. I hope it clears up soon!
Finished one beaded bracelet and starting the second. Finishing them later.
This will be a low key day. Mariners lunch( for 3-5 star), pickleball, maybe swimming after and Lido supper. Tomorrow we have a very early start so we'll have to pack our day packs tonight.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
A busy few days!!
Grr, equipment fail! My little.keyboard refused to connect so back to two fingers!
We docked at General Sam Martin pier for Pisco Peru. There was absolutely nothing at the pier but a few vendors in a tent! The nearest town was Paracus and the focus of this port is the Nasca Lines. They required a long bus ride and flying over the marks in the earth. Since they are not even always visible, we chose to visit the Ballasta islands via small boat from Paracus. It was a mess at.the dock and a wait.in the hot sun but once aboard we enjoyed being close to the water and sea life. There were sea lions clinging to a channel marker, many birds, terns, pelicans and Humboldt penguins. Very tiny compared to those we have seen previously. We were able to see the Candelabra which is similar to the Nasca lines from both the small boat.and the ship.
These islands are covered in white bird poop, guano. They stand out compared to the clay covered hills on land. The guano is a huge part of the export products for Peru. Every few years they collect tons of it from the islands and sell at great profit as natural fertilizer. This is collected by hand!!!!
After the boat ride we stayed in Paradise for a drink created with Pisco. Pisco is a brandy made from grapes and is a specialty in both Chile and Peru. We have had Pisco sours and like them. With the drinks we munched cracked, roasted corn that looked like cow feed but tasted interesting.
The following day we docked in Lima for two nights. Those going to Machu Pichu left at the previous port and will return tomorrow night. A very quick, expensive trip!
Our choice was to do a tour of Lima with a guide. We.saw some.very very old contents with beautiful art and tile work, 1620. Also we walked to a main square to see the presidents house and government building. A visit to the gold museum was a reminder of the beautiful gold Peruvian objects we had seen before in Boca Raton.. What craftsmanship they displayed! I loved some of the jewelry designs though not the huge ear plugs or nose ornaments. Next was a quick visit to the Indian market where many many stalls held beautiful alpaca products and indigenous designs. It was too little time for me to choose anything so I held off purchasing anything. We had lunch consisting of several local dishes. I liked most of them but a few were not so good. Fish is the specialty here so it was served in many of the dishes. And again a Pisco sour!
It was a long day including over an hour each way on the bus. We struggled to understand our guide who was not exactly fluent in her English speech. She also had a broken speech pattern with lots of eh, ums and broken sentences. Between trying to understand and following her around trying not to get lost it was exhausting. To top it off this was palm Sunday and there were processions and services in the churches we visited. Interesting to see it all but difficult to wade through.
So. Room service and a quiet night finished our day. Our balcony view doesn't invite Lou going out there this port!!
The following day we took the shuttle into the Millefores area where we walked to a.shopping center cut into the cliff. There were all the stores we have at home but with some very upscale neighbors. The restaurants had spectacular views looking out to sea from up high. Lima is developing the lower shore area and adding to the many sports areas there already. Millefores is the newer , upscale area in Lima which is a big contrast to the central old area, dirty and unkempt.
We taxied to the Indian market by George striking a deal with the driver. I purchased a few items after wandering around then we used Uber to get back to the shuttle bus stop. Lunch on the lido deck.was relaxing and quiet with many off touring. It was a nice day.
Drinks in our favorite bar then dinner in the dining room with interesting couples followed by a folk show finished the day.
Now George is playing pickleball in a tournament after warming up this morning with a few games. I get myself organized and catch up with the blog. I'll send more photos but can't jam it up with.too many too fast. Next port is in Ecuador.
Monday, March 25, 2024
View from our balcony in Lima
Not every port is beautiful!! It's also noisy with beeping and bumping. A very busy port .
The other side of the ship wins this time!!
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