On my recent western Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Jade, our itinerary took us on a half-transit of the Panama Canal (did you know ships can slip into Gatun Lake and turn around?). Just after daybreak, the ship entered the canal and nearly all passengers on board gathered around the top ship decks or in the forward observation lounge.
During my recent Western Caribbean cruise aboard Norwegian Jade, we decided to skip the nearby ruins of Chacchoben and opted for the Dzibanche ruins at Kinichna in Mexico’s Yucatan along Costa Maya. It’s bigger and grander than Chacchoben, though farther away (100 minutes’ drive each way). As Wikipedia tells us: “The name Dzibanche means “writing on wood” in the Mayan language, taking its name from the sculpted wooden lintels of the Temple of the Lintels” (pictured in the gallery above). A major Maya city whose importance came to light just a few years ago, Dzibanche includes the Temple of the Captives, the Temple of the Lintels and the Temple of the Owl. We were able to walk freely on most
Recently back from a Western Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Jade. Our first stop was the historic coastal city of Cartagena, Colombia. We prowled around the thoroughly walkable historic walled district. It’s a charming collection of colonial-era churches, monasteries, plazas, palaces and mansions with street after street filled with shady patios and flowering terraces. One highlight was Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a superfort that dates to 1536. Rebuilt and enlarged several times over the years, it became the greatest fortress Spain ever built in the Americas. It’s impressive, with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and Cartagena’s cityscape.
Ibought my first drone one year ago this month and, although I haven’t flown it as much as I’d like, the DJI Phantom 4 offers some of the most eye-popping visuals I’ve captured in 2017. I try to head down to the Flying Drones for Fun meetup in Sunnyvale each month to get a little better at the controls and to meet fellow drone enthusiasts. (The next event is Jan. 20 on Treasure Island.)
Here are some photos from my afternoon in Loreto — on the coast of the Sea of Cortez, Mexico — during my sailing there aboard Holland America’s Westerdam in March 2017. Dance, arts and a food festival all led up to an evening concert on land headlined by Jonathan Coulton.
Here are some photos from my two trips to Cabo San Lucas — during spring break (March 2017) aboard Holland America’s Westerdam, and in 2016 aboard Ruby Princess.
Here are a few of my favorite shots taken during my sailing with Cruiseable destinations editor Janet Fullwood on Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf in the Caribbean, from March to April 2017. For the full flavor, see my Flickr albums of Wind Surf, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Barts and St. Lucia.
After years and years of taking cruises in the Caribbean, Europe, even the South Pacific, last month I finally took my first cruise to Alaska, aboard Holland America’s Oosterdam. July and August are high season for Alaska cruises, and the weather cooperated: some mist in Ketchikan, and overcast skies throughout, but no rain during the weeklong voyage.
Here are some of my favorite photos of my cruise with Janet aboard Wind Surf to St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, St. Barts, St. Maarten and St. Lucia in March 2017 and with Mary aboard Silver Spirit to Dominica, Grenada and Antigua in December 2016. Both visits took place well before the two hurricanes that tore through the region in September 2017.
Here’s a photo gallery of my trip to Kotor, Montenegro, aboard Viking Star in November 2015. The history and look of the place was absolutely mesmerizing! Loved the medieval Old Town, sitting right on the Adriatic coast, with its Romanesque churches, public squares and narrow winding streets. But what was most memorable was our trek up a steep winding trail above Old Kotor, which leads you up 1,350 steps to the ruins of the Castle of San Giovanni, some 4,000 feet above the bay. Took some epic shots of the city and bay along the way. We finished up with a late-afternoon dinner at Dalmatinska Konoba Cesarica, a family-owned restaurant where the waitress, a college graduate of Serbian descent, told
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