We embarked on February 16th from Port Everglades and arrived in Cartajena, Columbia after two days at sea. We visited a local fishing village and learned how the fishermen cast their nets and make a living from the sea. We traversed the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific and enjoyed the scenery and the process of proceeding through the locks. We arrived in Costa Rica after another sea day, and enjoyed visiting a sloth sanctuary, riding the Rainforest Aerial Tram and a boat ride on the Tarcoles river and Guacalilo Estuary where we saw over twenty different bird species, including our first scarlet macaw in the wild. We also saw several large crocodiles along the river. In Corinto, Nicaragua, we visited Cortijo El Rosario Estate and enjoyed an equestrian show. The following day we visited Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala and traveled from sea level to over 7000 feet to visit Mayan ruins of Iximche. The cities of Guatemala reminded us of Cusco, Peru because the streets were so narrow. We also visited Hualtuco and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In Banderas Bay of Puerto Vallarta, we visited an eco-reserve near the Marietas Islands. We saw many different bird species as well as bottle-nosed dolphins and more than twenty humpback whales. Today we are at sea following the coast of the Baja peninsula. Looking forward to getting home soon. "Pacific Sunrise", from my watercolor travel sketchbook, was done while traveling along the coast of Mexico.
