Encounter with an old civilisation

 TSH and Diva spent two days visiting Mayan ruins in Mexico and Belize. This was their first encounter with this culture and Diva was impressed that mathematicians were regarded as extremely important. Maybe back then she would have been a goddess?

One of the tours also involved tequila tasting, including some neat tequila. The most disgusting thing Diva has tasted in a long time,

Some guests climbed up the pyramids but TSH and Diva both decided that it was far too hot for such activity.

The food on board is as good as ever and the service is excellent – many waiters remember TSH and Diva and seem pleased to see them. Diva’s blue nail varnish and silver trainers have both been much admired by passing strangers.

Wildlife sightings: Iguanas of various sizes, a huge crocodile half out of the water, egrets, many black vultures. The guide said there were dolphins in the bay by Belize City earlier in the day but none were visible during the long transfer from the Silver Moon to the shore.    

First port in Peru – Salaverry

The scenery here is very different from earlier in the voyage, and very different from anything TSH and Diva have seen before. The coastal strip, where most of the population live, is very dry and sandy and there is little vegetation apart from where irrigation has been arranged using water flowing down from the mountains. As anyone who has bought asparagus in Britain will know, a lot of it is grown in Peru. Apparently 95% of the crop grown in Peru is exported along with a lot of artichokes. Behind the coastal strip are jagged, volcanic-looking mountains.

The bus used for this excursion was a double decker but very comfortable with seats more like armchairs and lots of leg room. TSH was amazed to see a steam engine before the bus had left the docks. It was on a raised plinth so presumably is of historic value.

Land is very expensive so people plan to build houses with many floors but many of the houses have only one or two floors with another started but never completed.

The first stop was at the Temple of the Huaca Dragon. This pyramidal temple is thought be 1,100 years old and has walls decorated with figures that resemble dragons. It is believed to be the first settlement of the Wari Culture in the Moche Valley.

The star visit was the second stopping point which was the Chan Chan ruins, which cover such an extensive area that it was only possible to visit one of the places. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the ancient capital of the Chimu Empire and is the largest clay city in pre Hispanic America. The reliefs and decorations were unlike any previously seen by Diva and TSH.   

On the way back to the ship the coach passed a Mormon Cathedral. Although the main religion is Catholic the second most common is Mormon.

The traffic lights show the count down to when they turn green resulting in all the vehicles starting to move before the green shows.

Many birds were seen at Salaverry ranging from the Black Vulture to sea birds such as Pelicans and gulls. TSH found it necessary to correct one woman who referred to the gulls as sea.gulls. That’s what having a zoologist daughter does for you. 

Looking after Pence’s rooms

One of the perks of the vice-presidential suite at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott is that a flight of pelicans appear as soon as the curtains are opened in the morning. Followed by other pelicans and black vultures at regular intervals.

Oh, did I not mention that when TSH and Diva arrived, the hotel was over-booked, people were being ‘walked’ to other hotels and that they were given the last available ‘room’? The receptionist said normally $2000 per night. This upgrade is the stuff of dreams. Massive living area with sofas and chaise longue. En suite bathroom (with toilet in a separate bit which is as big as many UK en-suite bathrooms) and separate toilet next to the utility room off the kitchen. Two very large flat screen TVs. Six double sets of doors onto four balconies on two sides of the hotel. View of the sea (as if they won’t see enough sea over the next two months) and of the cruise terminal. Enough towels to cater for a small spa. The pics below do not really do it justice.

TSH and Diva have now entered full holiday mode and are already forgetting the rigours of the 24-hour journey. Diva dozed off before take-off, woke when serious taxiing started and for one glorious moment thought she was landing in Florida.

Note: Is that upbeat enough for bird lady?

Food notes: Just hot drinks at Manchester, Pret sandwiches at Heathrow, over-spicy but otherwise superior curry and inedible (except they were both very hungry) bread on the BA flight. Pleasant late afternoon snack of sandwiches and mediocre scone before landing. Diva tipped whole glass of water over herself but dry air in the plane dried out clothes before arrival. TSH had removed contact lenses, thought the chilli on top of the curry was a green bean, and ate it. Not wise.

                                                                   Living area 

                                                                   TSH at the VP desk.