Days 807- 809- South American Cruise Days 11-12

 

I'm thrilled to share a Happy Thanksgiving from Lima, Peru, where we are immersed in an incredible cultural journey, constantly inspired by the boundless potential of human innovation and creativity. Even better we are able to share our journey with some friends.

Cruise Days 11-12 -Day 807 & 809

Nov 27, 2025

Nov 28, 2025

Callao (Lima), Peru

Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It's home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.

Celebrating Thanksgiving before we head out for the day

Welcome to Lima, Peru!

Miraflores is a neighborhood in Lima, Peru. We stumbled upon the  El Señorio de Sulco restaurant . We asked the waiter to surprise us with a couple of his favorite dishes. The first Pisco Sour.

A Pisco Sour is a frothy, tangy South American cocktail made with pisco (a grape brandy), lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and Angostura bitters, known for its signature foam and balance of sweet, sour, and herbaceous flavors. The classic Peruvian version uses Peruvian pisco and lime, while a dry shake (without ice) followed by a wet shake (with ice) is crucial for creating the foam, which is then garnished with bitters. 

Grilled Octopus - by far one of the best things we have ever eaten.

Ceviche is typically made by curing fresh, raw seafood (such as white fish, shrimp, or scallops) in freshly squeezed citrus juice. The acid denatures the proteins, effectively "cooking" the seafood without heat

Day 2- Food tour.

We stopped at the "Market" WOW! We as Americans are doing it wrong. Lovely looking produce everywhere! And that doesn't do justice to the ultra fresh fish, beef, and chicken. A very nice market filled with the freshest of everything for your cooking pleasure.

After the marketplace we went back to take a cooking class. How to make Pisco Sours and Ceviche. Funny part...It was at the same restaurant we stumbled upon the night before. 

Love Park

The iconic statue at the Love Park (Parque del Amor) in Lima, Peru, is titled "El Beso" (The Kiss). Unveiled in 1993, this 12-meter-long and 3-meter-high masterpiece was created by renowned Peruvian sculptor Víctor Delfín to celebrate passion, romance, and the lovers who gather along the coastal cliffs

Navy Lighthouse

La Marina Lighthouse is an active lighthouse set on high cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, in Miraflores a district of Lima, Peru. It is one of the most famous and visited lighthouses in the country.

Originally constructed in 1900 at Punta Coles, a headland near Ilo, the lighthouse was dismantled and reconstructed in Miraflores in 1973 by the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy. Since the move, it has remained situated in the appropriately named Parque el Faro, one of a number of popular parks above the cliffs in the city, which commemorates a century of Peruvian navigation.

The 22 meter (72 ft) iron tower has a gallery and lantern, painted a very dark blue, with two white bands. Its light can be seen for 24.3 nautical miles, and consists of a pattern of three flashes of white light, over a period of fifteen seconds.

Day 802-806 South American Cruise Day 7-10

 Cruise Day  7 -Day 802

Nov 23, 2025

Crossing the Equator

The equator crossing ceremony, or "Crossing the Line," is a long-standing maritime tradition where a ship’s crew initiates those crossing the equator for the first time. "Pollywogs" (novices) face trials to appease King Neptune, transforming into "Shellbacks" (veterans). It acts as a fun, often chaotic bonding ritual, featuring costumes, symbolic baptisms, and certificates

Captain of the Ship

It's a tradition to kiss the fish as you cross the equator. 

Cruise Day 8 -Day 803

Nov 24, 2025

Manta, Ecuador

Manta is a port city on Ecuador's central coast. It's known for its tuna-fishing industry. The popular Murciélago Beach is on the city's northwestern tip. Bars and restaurants are clustered along the Malecón Escénico promenade and nearby streets. The low-key Tarqui Beach has a waterside fish market. Nearby, the Central Bank Museum contains pre-Columbian relics from indigenous tribes.

Cruise Day 9- Day 804

Nov 25 2025

Days At Sea

When traveling with friends you get to have fun. Today was the Welch pick for group t-shirts. 

Cruise Day 10- Day 805

Nov 26, 2025

Salaverry (Trujillo), Peru

Trujillo is a city in northwestern Peru. It's known for the nation's traditional dance, marinera. The colonial center is home to the grand Trujillo Cathedral, with its bright yellow facade, and the blue Casa Urquiaga. Nearby, the neoclassical Iturregui Palace has Italian marble statues and a courtyard. West of the city, the huge adobe complex of Chan Chan is an abandoned city once home to the ancient Chimu kingdom.

Ruins of the Sun and Moon Temple 

(Huacas de Moche) are a massive adobe archaeological complex built by the ancient Moche civilization between the 1st and 9th centuries AD. Located just 15-20 minutes south of central Trujillo, Peru, this site highlights the political and spiritual center of the Moche empire

Trujillo Town Center
The statue in the center of the Plaza de Armas in Trujillo, Peru, is the Monumento a la Libertad (Freedom Monument). Created by the German sculptor Edmund Moeller, the monument was inaugurated in 1929. It represents the process of Peru's independence. It features three sections: the first shows a man crushed (symbolizing oppression), the second with arms back (the emancipatory struggle), and the top features a man with raised arms and clenched fists (liberation).

Dominating the main square, the cathedral is a vibrant yellow-painted 17th-century landmark.

The "blue house" on the Plaza de Armas of Trujillo (Peru) is widely known as Casa Urquiaga (also called Casa Calonge). It is a stunning, 18th-century colonial mansion distinguished by its Royal Blue facade, white window grilles, and historical significance

Located on the northern coast of Peru, Huanchaco is an internationally recognized surfing reserve and a historic fishing town famous for its caballitos de totora (traditional reed watercraft)

Chan Chan is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and the largest adobe (earthen) city in the world. Located on the desert coast of northern Peru near modern-day Trujillo, it served as the capital of the powerful Chimú Kingdom from approximately 850 CE until its fall to the Inca Empire in 1470

Day 795- 801 South American Cruise Day 1-6

2 years since the start of our new adventure-It was high time to give The Hut a timeout. Sailed through the Panama Canal , now heading south for some well-deserved R and R. It’s tough being retired, dont recommend it. Panama City is full of stunning architecture, great people, awesome culture and outstanding ceviche.  Enjoying the adventure!

Cruise Day 1 -Day 795

Nov 17 2025

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

Fort Lauderdale, also known as the Venice of America, invites visitors to explore its intricate canal system on a paddle wheeler or water taxi. Discover the city’s vibrant nautical lifestyle, upscale Las Olas Boulevard, and the cultural delights of the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. An airboat adventure through the Everglades offers an unforgettable Florida experience, solidifying Fort Lauderdale as a top cruise destination.

Beach Time

Setting Sail

Monica made us a room marker

Cruise Day 3 -Day 798

Nov 19, 2025

Georgetown, Cayman Islands

George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands. It lies in the west of the largest island, Grand Cayman. It’s known as a financial hub and a port of call for cruise ships. Tax-free shops cluster around Cardinal Avenue. The Cayman Islands National Museum is housed in a 19th-century building on Harbour Drive. It contains displays on local history, culture and wildlife

Cayman Island Sandbar Australian bartender 

Cruise Day 4- Day 799

Nov 20 2025

Days At Sea

‎⁨Caribbean Sea⁩

Cruise Day 5- Day 800

Nov 21, 2025

Enter Panama Canal Cristobal

The Panama Canal is an artificial 82-kilometer waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a conduit for maritime trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

 Sunrise ‎⁨Colon⁩, ⁨Panama⁩, ⁨Caribbean Sea⁩

Cruise Day 5- Day 800

Nov 21, 2025

Enter Panama Canal Cristobal

The Panama Canal is an artificial 82-kilometer waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a conduit for maritime trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Cruise Days 5 & 6 -Day 800 & 801

Nov 21, 2025

Nov 22, 2025

Fuerte Amador, Panama

Fort Amador, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is an artificial peninsula and key cruise port connected to four islands by the Amador Road. This former U.S. military base. (returned in 1999) is today a vibrant tourist site with cruise terminals, restaurants, shops, the Biomuseum and stunning views of the city skyline

Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City

The Arco Chato (Flat Arch) is a historic 17th-century landmark in Casco Viejo, Panama City, located within the ruins of the Santo Domingo Convent. Built around 1678, it famously stood for over 300 years without support, symbolizing stability and colonial engineering

The Plaza de Francia (French Plaza) in Panama City's Casco Viejo honors the French role in building the Panama Canal, featuring an obelisk with a rooster, busts of canal figures, and the French Embassy. It is a top attraction in Casco Viejo, offering panoramic bay views from the historic Paseo de las Bóvedas walls