10.25.2017 update from Colombia

The majority of the casual dining is on Lido, deck 15.  On every other Princess ship we've been on, there has been a Purell dispenser with a person reminding everyone to use the Purell before going in to get your food.  This ship only has two hand washing stations at each of two doors, which are rarely used.  We were told the sinks were added and Purell dispensers removed during  the dry dock upgrades which was spring of this year.  It makes us uncomfortable, but we always have our Purell.

Monday evening we went to a game show and could not find a table for two, our preferred seating.  We sat at a table with a couple from Florida, Jim and Leslie.  As usual, John told them that his mask was for his protection, that he wasn't sick.  And that he wore the mask because of compromised immune system due to the heart transplant.  The guy lifted his shirt and showed that he had an LVAD (left ventricular assist device)!  He is too old for a transplant (past 70 years old) but seems quite content with the LVAD.  John told him that he was impressed that he was on a ship, that John had been too timid to go far away from the UW Medical Center when he had his LVAD.

Tuesday we finally won at trivia with our teammates Beverly and Richard.  There was a terrific comedian, Troy Thirdgill, who is a friend of two of our tablemates.  He has done shows on every US military base at one time or another.  The audience appreciated that!

Cartagena, Colombia

We had a short time in Cartagena, from 6am until noon.  We walked to the cruise terminal  which was surrounded by a beautiful garden with tropical birds, monkeys, peacocks and flamingos.  While John was taking a picture, Colleen had a pretty and colorful parrot land on her back. The dead didn't wake up, but probably heard her.  She was wearing a green and white shirt with tropical trees on it which probably looked like a nice landing spot for the bird.  It wouldn't hop onto John's finger.  A groundskeeper came over and coaxed the bird onto his broom handle.

 

We took a cab to the old prison, which has been converted to a series of long and narrow shops.  Getting a cab was a trial.  So many drivers yelling at us.  So many drivers that only wanted to take us on full tour, not just to where we wanted to go.  They did not want to take no for an answer.  Understandable, as they only have a short window to make their money, but still....

On our taxi ride we noticed that there was no graffiti.  Interesting because we have seen graffiti all over the world.

Tomorrow is the New Panama Canal, the highlight of our cruise.

Colleen and John