Cartagena, Colombia

We used our Aeroplan points to fly business class to Colombia. I booked the land package with kimkim.com and worked with Marine in Colombia.

Be aware of the visa fee for Canadians:
All Canadians are required to pay the new "Reciprocity Fee" of approximately $75. (Pesos 1 600 000. or US$70.) upon entry at either airports or seaports. Colombian officials have been collecting this fee for each entry.

Day 1 Thursday November 23, 2017

We were met at the airport and taken to our hotel, Casa Pizarro.

My first fresh fruit drink was corozo, a fruit that grows on various types of palm trees. It has a strong presence in the culinary traditions of Colombia's coast, dating all the way back to the arrival of African slaves.

Located in the area of Getsemani, which is where people live, drink beer and listen to street musicians. Lots of small restaurants and street murals. Easy walking distance to the touristy walled city. The hotel is small with a rooftop breakfast and lunch area with sun loungers. They serve a full breakfast. The pool is small but large enough to cool off and offers a place to relax surrounded by nice vegetation. 

Within the walled city is where we found all the cruise passenger and touristy shops, but history was everywhere.

Day 4 Sunday November 26, 2017

Day on the Pirate Island in the Rosario Island archipelago. 

We speak no Spanish, only English and had no trouble navigating the crowds. Window 1 to pay the tax, go through the turnstile, find your tour company, wait and then board. It took 45 min bouncing across the waves. All loungers, tables and chairs appear to be free for all. We didn’t leave the area where we docked, so don’t know about the rest of the island. By the dock is where the generator is, it's very noisy. Our tour included lunch of fried fish, coconut rice, salad, and dessert. We opted to take a snorkeling tour for 40,000 COP each. We took a boat to a bit calmer water. Jumped in off the boat and looked at coral (not very bright) and small fishes.

Next trip-Colombia Nov and Dec 2017

Anniversary at Harrison Hotsprings

46 years together!

View from our room at Harrison Lake

An afternoon hike

Sandy Lake Cove hike

Rocky path

The sun sets on the lake

Dinner at the Copper Room listening to the Jones Boys

Camping at Alice Lake-August 2017

Our yearly family camping trip was at Alice Lake, south of Whistler.

Four Lakes Trail hike with all

Our youngest member took the picture

Conference in Seattle-March 2017

Seattle isn't the cheapest city to visit so when I had an opportunity to go for work I jumped at the chance.

The Gum Wall-ewwww!

Pikes Street Market

Watch cheese being made at Beechers

All things cheese at Beechers at Pikes Street Market. Don't miss eating the mac and cheese.

Space Needle

We last visited the Space Needle on our honeymoon in 1971.

The 5 Point Cafe "Alcoholics Serving Alcoholics since 1929" was awesome!!

Panama in December

Cashed in our Aeroplan points for another trip in business class. Love, love, love business class.

December 3, 2016 we flew Vancouver to Panama.

We booked all of our land and tour with Anywhere.com

We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites. It is out of the city and on the canal. After 38.00 cab ride we entered a treed area and found our hotel. Our room on the second floor has a view of the Bridge of the Americas. The pool area faces the canal where you can watch ships come to and come from the locks and the yacht basin. The wifi is great in the room and by the pool. Breakfast is plentiful and comes with the room. With the sound of birds coming from every tree, we found this a very relaxing and well run hotel. TGIF Fridays is on site and the Yacht Club restaurant is within easy walking distance.

Yacht Club is an easy walk

Octopus ceviche

We went on an Embera Village Tour. We were picked up at the hotel and driven to a river where we got into a dugout canoe. Had a fresh tilapia lunch in the village. 

Street band at Bocas del Toro

Panama Canal

Staying in the mountains at Boquete

Ziplining overhead