Friday 19th was spent ashore in Acapulco, Mexico. It's a typical Mexican city, quite interesting but a lot of them trying to sell us Gringoes things. Some very nice jewelry about, Mexican silver and Onxy. A pair of earings was bought at, I think, a good price from a jewelers in the old town market.We have had Patricia Neale on board for a while. She, you may remember, is the Oscar winning film star, who had a stroke and fought her way back to a good, but not ...

Hi, me again. I'm not having too much success at keeping this journal up to date. On the ship it costs 50 cents/min so I try to rush thro it and get in a muddle. I did a write up on Panama on my computer, but today I am in an internet centre where I have to use their lousy PC and not my Mac. So this is an extra. I have some photos also but they will have to wait. We are here in Acapulco, Mexico. Nice place, but I bit scruffy like most of Mexico. Weather is fa...

Very rough sea last night, but we arrived in Cartagena, Columbia this morning early, so all is now calm. Very interesting place. Lots of history. Our dear old Sir Francis Drake raided it in 15** (whatever) and burnt some of it down, but spared the rest on payment of a ransom.We took a mini bus tour for 3 hours, with a guide, for $10. Excellent value. Lots of poverty in the outer town, but the old walled city is beautiful, and no traffic allowed.Weather is hot, bu...

Tuesday was embarcation day. Turn in rental car at the airport. Taxi back to hotel, then shuttle to the ship, followed by long wait to board. Finally made it to cabin, very nice, to await arrival of large volumes of luggage to be stowed away in relatively small spaces. Two botttles of champagne awaited us with various invitations to cocktail parties.The QE2 and Queen Mary were moored nose to nose and should have sailed out together, but Mary was delayed so we lef...