It is the 1st February today and we arrive in Cabo San Lucas in Baja (lower) California, as we disembark from the tender boat there are young girls smiling, dancing as they welcome us on land. Once again lots of sunshine, sorry, I know it is freezing at home. Our dear friends, Linda and Kerry, met us here and together we enjoyed a trip in a glass bottom boat, so we saw many colourful fish such as clown fish, we went in close to the rocks around the coastline a...

A glorious sunny day awaited us, as we docked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The mountains and cloud Forests could be seen in the distance and lots of happy memories came flooding back to us of our wonderful time in Costa Rica, nearly eight years ago. The locals had all come down to the beach that day, as it was the weekend. We sat and watched the world go by as we drank a most delicious cup of Costa Rican coffee, a huge mug for only 50p. Before boarding we looked a...

Today we passed through the Panama Canal, one of the main highlights of our voyage. The experience was spectacular both from the engineering feat and the surrounding tropical scenery. Now we are leaving Panama City behind us and thinking of Melissa as we head towards Costa Rica.

As we crossed the Caribbean we had talks on the slave trade and it's abolition, and some history of Cartagena, the gateway to South America. We walked around the Old City of Cartagena, viewing the Spanish colonial architecture in the old buildings, squares and churches. It is easy to understand why the city was declared the 'Historical Patrimony of Humanity' by UNESCO in 1985.

Yesterday we could see the north coast of Cuba, on the horizon, as we continued our journey to Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is a coral island and is only 60 feet above sea level at its highest. We went ashore by tender (lifeboats). It is Heroes Day, so banks etc are on holiday but all the tourist and jewellery shops are open. Thankfully Anna has all the jewellery she needs. The Governor inspected the parade, saluting with their Second World War Lee Enfield Rifles...