Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 2 of 5)

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.

Would you consider cruising the Panama Canal? What about the San Blas Islands? I had the privilege of working in Panama for a while and then periodically making management visits to the Isthmus over a number of years. During that time I spent a lot of time at or near the “Ditch”. Back then I could truthfully say that I watched the sun set over the Pacific and had never been west of Chicago. Since my work there included offices at both ends of the canal, my visits included many rides on the Panama Railroad which runs along the canal. My interest in and fascination with the canal has never diminished. The engineering marvels designed into the canal in the very early twentieth century were amazing then and still are. Although it runs between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the water in the canal itself is fresh water fed from rainwater accumulated in lakes and fed by rivers.

Visiting the canal can be accomplished in two manners, from the Atlantic side into and back out of Gatun Lake or traversing the entire canal which is the most interesting and scenic crossing. More details on traversing the canal later.

Let’s take a look at how these voyages are made. Cruises to Panama and San Blas usually start in either Southern Florida or California while the shorter canal transits are usually part of a Western Caribbean cruise and limited to going through the three Gatun locks into Gatun Lake and vice versa. While the ships are at Gatun Lake time permits boarding the Panama Railroad at Colon and crossing the Isthmus into Panama City. This is a very interesting ride and passengers are able to see the towns and points of interest along the way. Guided tours enable passengers to see highlights of the city as well as the former Canal Zone. And, there is, of course, time for shopping.

Trans-canal cruises usually take place as part of ship repositioning when ships are being moved from Europe and the Caribbean to Alaska and the Far East for that season and vice versa.

While transiting or traversing the canal you will see locomotives or “mules” that are designed not so much to move the ships through the canal but, more importantly, to slow them down and to keep them in a straight line through the locks so they don’t bump the sides. The canal is now on its third generation of mules. The first was built in Schenectady, New York in 1914 by General Electric (Pictured at Left) and the latest by Mitsubishi of Japan (Pictured at Right). When traversing the canal your general direction is East/West but, because the canal is at the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama and the way it curves, you actually travel North/South.

Panama City is on the southern or Pacific side of the canal as is its former Canal Zone counterpart, Balboa. On the Atlantic or northern side are Colon and its former Canal Zone counterpart, Cristobal. Panama City is very urban and well developed while Colon primitive and focuses mainly on industry and support of canal vessels.

What is probably the most interesting part of a trans-canal cruise is a visit to Panama’s San Blas Islands. If desirous of going there, you must check the ship’s itinerary since only a limited number of ships stop there. This is where you will encounter one of the oldest indigenous populations in the Western Hemisphere. About 37,000 Kuna (Cuna) Indians have inhabited areas of the isthmus and the 365 San Blas Islands for thousands of years. These people have chosen to reject today’s ways and to live as their ancestors did. The San Blas Islands archipelago runs along the coast of the Isthmus. About 36 of the islands are inhabited by Kuna communities with an additional 13 communities located on the mainland coast, for a total of 49 communities. The 924 square mile Kuna Yala or territory is an autonomous area in Panama and divided into three caciques or regions. Although Spanish is spoken, the primary language of the region is Kuna. Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first Governor of Panama was married to the daughter of a Kuna cacique or chieftain.

Life in a Kuna village is very simple and somewhat primal. They are usually located at the mouth of a river where fresh water is abundant. Homes are huts constructed of wooden sticks or bamboo with thatched roofs constructed in only a few days by members of the community.

Being a matriarchal society, Kuna women are in charge of the families’ monetary resources and are often seen wearing gold earrings, nose rings, bracelets and necklaces. Families consist of many children some of whom attend community schools. The Kuna economy is mainly self supporting and they exist on what they grow, catch or make. Locally grown corn, pineapples, mangos and some root vegetables are eaten as are locally raised animals and an abundance of fish. They also import bananas and rice. Kunas are very good businessmen and their trading is based on the exchange of coconuts, lobsters and giant crabs. Kuna trade partners are Colombian trade boats (for coconuts) and Panama City restaurants (for lobsters & crabs).

One of the primary exports from Kuna Yala are Molas. These are brightly-colored examples of artistic expression designed and handmade by Kuna Indians even today. They consist of a number of different colors of cloth laid one top of another, the maker then cuts down through the various layers of fabric forming primitive yet spectacular designs of natural, mythological or geometric figures. These layers are then sewn with incredibly small and perfect stitches. "Mola" means blouse, and a Kuna woman usually makes a pair with related, but not necessarily identical motifs, which are then attached to the front and back of her blouse. They usually measure 16 x13 Inches each. Different, attractive, decorative, Ingenious, unique, are some of the words to describe this art form.

We have several framed molas in our home and they can be viewed as would a picture. I had an aunt who collected figurines, pictures and other representations of clowns. I had a pair of Clown Molas made just for her. When she passed away we inherited the molas and they are now part of our collection. When in San Blas you must consider buying one or more molas. As with the fine art they represent, they are to be viewed and enjoyed. When viewing a Mola think, what does it do, Is it alive, does it speak to me?

Although diving is not permitted in Kuna Yala, I would suggest you take along your bathing suit, fins and snorkel when visiting San Blas. The undersea flora and fauna are sights to behold.

Should you desire to take a photograph of a Kuna Indian, the usual tip is a dollar.

You need to Visit San Blas!

Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 1 of 5)

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.

How about the Sea of Cortez for openers? You say, where in the world is the Sea of Cortez? It may be closer than you think. Have you done a Mexican Baja or Mexican Riviera cruise? If you can answer yes, you were almost there. The Sea of Cortez is the body of water between the Baja California Peninsula and the mainland of Mexico. It is also known as the Gulf of California. It’s right around the corner from Cabo San Lucas and up the road from Mazatlan. The Sea of Cortez is both remarkable and unique. Its waters can reveal dozens of shades of blue in one vista and there are more than 900 islands within those waters. Many of the islands are uncharted and most of them are uninhabited by humans.

Cruises going into the Sea are often extended Mexican Riviera cruises so, if you haven’t done the “Mex Riv,” here’s a two for one special. Arizona residents and visitors may be familiar with Rocky Point. It is located in the Sea of Cortez.

The Weather

The weather is mild and pretty tolerable year round. The dry season is from December to April. Squalls or "Chubascos" are common from July through October. Hurricanes rarely reach up into the Sea and there is only one recorded hit on Guaymas which is on the mainland side about half way up the Gulf. Temperatures can range from the high 50s in winter to 100+ at the height of summer. Spring is fantastic.

What to Do and See

Walking tours and shopping for local crafts Kayaking and fishing

Water Sports including - Diving - Snorkel and SCUBA

Large rays, Sea turtles and Sea lions, Dolphins and Whale watching

The islands in the sea of Cortez are home to major whale breeding grounds when migratory whales appear after their trips back from Arctic and Alaskan waters. The largest of these marine mammals, the blue whale, which reach up to about 110 feet and weigh more than 150 tons, are easiest to spot in the waters near Loreto.

If you can, you should go to Copper Canyon, the Mexican equivalent of the Grand Canyon. Excursions are available from both of the cruise lines discussed below.

How to Get There

The Holland America Ryndam combines 10 to 14 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera with a sojourn up into the Sea of Cortez. We have sold this cruise to one of our best clients and plan to take it within the next year ourselves.

Cruise West offers 8 day/7 night Round Trip from Cabo San Lucas and 12 Day/11 night Cabo San Lucas to Chihuahua cruises. These are aboard the Spirit of Yorktown and the Spirit of Endeavor.

If you might be interested in one of these cruises call us at 888.694.6475 or drop us an e-mail to AZCruisGuy@hotmail.com. Let's talk about possibilities!

ALASKA - CRUISES AND CRUISE TOURS

Have you visited our 49th State? If you haven’t, what in the world are you waiting for? Think about a family vacation to Alaska.

The season ranges from May through most of September, with mid-June through mid-August being the prime time to travel. Though you may experience some overcast skies or even a few raindrops during this time, we have always found an abundance of clear skies and beautiful weather in July and August. A light jacket and a folding umbrella will be more than sufficient to keep you dry and warm, if the weather so dictates.

By not traveling to Alaska, you will have missed an incredible jewel and, you must take your children to Alaska. This is a magnificent state, rich in wildlife and an abundance of natural beauty. The capital of the 49th state is Juneau and the largest city is Anchorage. In the summer there is an additional bonus of having of daylight for most of the 24-hour period. We always suggest that if you go by cruise ship that you treat yourself to a balcony, as the sites are so plentiful day and night.

I must admit that I made my first trip to Alaska under duress. I thought that it would be cold and dreary and I am not someone who enjoys looking at animals on TV. But, Brad really wanted to go, and so we booked the cruise. WOW – I was amazed and fell in love – NO, it was not cold and dreary and seeing bald eagles soaring, whales breaching, salmon literally jumping out of the water, deer up close and personal and all the other animals in their natural habitat was a far cry from looking at National Geographic on TV.

Probably the greatest Alaskan experience is spending part of a day in Glacier Bay. The glaciers are both magnificent and beautiful and witnessing their splendor as they calve huge icebergs right in front of your eyes is a spectacle to behold. I was hooked. We have returned and look forward to returning again to see more of the inland area.

Many cruise lines send ships to Alaska for the summer months. Most cruises are seven days long, though a few are longer, and the cruise tours may range from 2 to 8 or 9 days on land before and/or after the cruise. Visits to see Mount McKinley or the Copper River or stays in Fairbanks, Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula are experiences that you won’t want to miss in your lifetime.

Excursions from the ships feature opportunities to go whale watching, be a dog musher, pan for gold, take a helicopter ride, walk on a glacier or a enjoy a train ride on the scenic railway, just to name a few. Brad thought that the experience of walking on a glacier was the closet thing he could imagine to walking on the moon.

Just a Little History of Our 49th State

From Wikipedia we learn that “Alaska (IPA: /əˈlæskə/, Russian: Аляска) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent. It is the largest U.S. state by area (by a substantial margin), and one of the wealthiest (per capita) and most racially diverse.

The area that became Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for 7.2 million dollars (at 2 cents an acre). The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912 and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. The name "Alaska" was already introduced in the Russian colonial time, when it was only used for the peninsula and is derived from the Aleut alaxsxaq, meaning "the mainland," or more literally, "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed." It is also known as Alyeska, the "great land", an Aleut word derived from the same root.

Alaska is one of two U.S. states not bordered by another state, Hawaii being the other. Alaska has more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined. It is the only non-contiguous U.S. state on continental North America; about 500 miles (800 km) of Canadian territory separate Alaska from Washington State. Alaska is thus an exclave of the United States, part of the continental U.S. but is not part of the contiguous U.S. Alaska's capital city, though located on the mainland of the North American continent, is inaccessible by land — no roads connect Juneau to the rest of the North American highway system.

The state is bordered by Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Canada, to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west and the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north.

Alaska is the largest state in the United States in land area at 570,380 square miles (1,477,277 km²), more than twice as large as Texas, the next largest state. It is larger than all but 18 sovereign nations.

A DOZEN QUICK REMINDERS FOR STRESS FREE TRAVEL!!!

1. Arrive at the airport early. This will help in a number of ways – you won’t be panicking in long lines as your flight time approaches and you still need to get through another long line in security. And, if you want to change your seat to the emergency exit row or the bulkhead, you at least stand a fighting chance.
   


2. Please get a passport. If you don’t need one now, you soon will and this is the absolute best way to verify your identity and nationality. Also, be sure that you know the Expiration Date on your passport since many overseas trips or visas require that your passport be valid for up to 6 months after you return.
   
   
3. If you are taking a cruise, be sure to log into the cruise line’s website as soon as you have made your final payment and fill in the Immigration and other necessary information. It will save you a lot of time when you are boarding the ship and whatever you do, never pack your passport! We once saw a couple of passengers delayed boarding while the cruise line located their baggage so they could retrieve their passports.
   
   
4. Here are a few more items you should never pack – Prescription medications, cameras, jewelry and your trip and/or cruise documents.
   
   
5. For Your own Peace of Mind - Make a copy of your passport and credit cards and keep them in a safe place, different from where the original documents are kept. And, when in a hotel or on board a ship, please remember to use the safe for your valuables and important documents.
   
   
6. Keep a supply of Zip Lock bags in all sizes. They are useful to carry make-up, liquids, gels and creams so that they do no leak all over your clothing. Larger sizes are also great for sorting groups of clothing like underwear, socks, children’s outfits, etc, etc…
   
   
7. Wear comfortable slip-off shoes when flying and wear or carry a pair of short cut socks. When you have to remove your footwear to get through security, they will slip off and back on easily and your feet won’t get cold or dirty as you walk through the security screening area.
   
   
8. If you are on a cruise, remember that you will have to put your luggage in the hallway outside of your cabin the night before you disembark. Do not pack everything – you will have to dress the next day for your journey home. Always keep a small carry-on bag in your cabin to carry your last minute toiletries, medications and the clothing or pajamas that you wore the night before.
   
   
9. For Airline flights, invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. They can be used to watch the movie, listen to music or just give you a chance for a good nap or to read your book. Also, your neighbor won’t keep talking to you if they think you are listening to something.
   
   
10. Things you need to bring along: Sunglasses and a good sunscreen especially when visiting the Caribbean, Mexico or the Bahamas at any time of year. A good pair of walking shoes, particularly for Europe where there are a lot of cobblestone streets. Always a good idea to bring along a simple first aid/medicine bag with some aspirin/pain relievers, antacids, allergy medications, topical antibacterial (Neosporin type item), band aids, motion sickness preventatives and the like. And… Don’t forget to bring your camera, extra batteries, film, memory card or whatever is needed. These items may not be easy to find while abroad and may be very expensive.
    
    
11. Put some identifying marking(s) on you luggage so that it can be easily identified. Remember that all black luggage looks the same at first glance. Place identifying information inside each piece in case an external tag gets separated.
    
    
12. Most important – remember to smile and keep your sense of humor – you’ll need it! A kind word goes a long way!