Panama Cruise! (Featuring ONLY Mommy and Daddy!)

Alice recently spent a bit of time at Grammie and Grampie's house while Mommy and Daddy took a much enjoyed vacation!  While Mommy and Daddy missed Alice a lot, it was a really fun trip.

The trip began in Panama City, where Mommy and Daddy stayed for a couple of days:

A visit to the Panama Canal was necessary, of course!  It was very interesting to learn about the canal and watch some ships go through it:

Mommy and Daddy also spent some time in a section of Panama referred to as "Old Town."  Seeing the modern skyscrapers of Panama City just across the water from this beautiful but ancient area of Panama was a bit surprising:

The heavily armed security presence everywhere in Panama was a bit jarring as well.  We never felt as if we were in danger, but the approach to security in Panama is very different than we are used to in the U.S.!:

After a couple of days in Panama City, it was on to the cruise ship: The Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas:

Soon after boarding the ship, Mommy and Daddy learned that cruises are usually conducted in the language of the country from which it departs.  So, seven days of Spanish it was!  Luckily Mommy had taken four years of Spanish in high school but it had been a while so Mommy and Daddy played lots of charades throughout the week.  This did not hinder any of the fun, though!:

The American specialty, "Broasted Chicken" was available in Cartagena, Colombia:

Cartagena was a beautiful city!:

We were fortunate to be able to take advantage of modern technology at each cruise port, using our iPad, Skype, and WiFi hot spots, to see Alice's face and talk to her throughout our week away.  Here is Mommy, showing Alice, Grammie and Grampie the cruise ship:

Mommy and Daddy spent much of the cruise relaxing, which they both needed.  It was a perfect break from all of the hustle and bustle of regular life:

Mommy and Daddy also visited Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba during the week:

Mommy and Daddy had fun on the ship as well.  Here is Daddy climbing the rock wall...

And Mommy, reading a book in the solarium by the pool:

Mommy and Daddy very much enjoyed the trip but were very happy to be reunited with Alice at the end of it.  Giant thanks to Grammie and Grampie for keeping Alice company throughout the vacation!  Here is a link to the rest of Mommy and Daddy's vacation photos.