Read our second e-postcard:
Postcard#2

Iguanas along the Sarapiqui

MONDAY | February 4, 2008
Visiting Aruba

Hi:

Occasionally, during each of our Signature Journeys, we send home an e-postcard describing our journey - this will be the first of two or three during this journey.

We're having a terrific time ... and, with our weather at home, we feel fortunate to find ourselves in the warm Caribbean sunshine.

We began our journey last week in Costa Rica, a friendly, beautiful Central American country known for protecting its superb environment. During our first full day in Costa Rica, we drove eastward over the volcanic mountains towards the Caribbean coastline. There we boarded a well maintained boat to cruise down the Sarapiqui River for a cruise through the coastal rainforest. Along our route we saw howler and white-faced Capuchin monkeys, iguanas, interesting birdlife and a couple of crocodiles basking in the warm sun.

Dick Corson enjoys a fresh pina colada

Later that afternoon, we stopped at an organic pineapple farm to watch their operations. The highlight of our visit was when our guide took his machete to deftly slice open one of the field-ripened pineapples. The taste is indescribable: it was one of the sweetest, most delicious tastes of fruits ever. We could not get enough. We learned that the softer, and the more yellow the pineapple, the more it has deteriorated - just the opposite of what we thought we knew.

That evening we dined at one of Costa Rica's best restaurants, Grano de Oro: Superb cuisine in an old mansion now converted into a boutique hotel.

Exploring the rainforest    canopy

Last Thursday we left San Jose, bound this time for Costa Rica's Pacific Coast to board the Crystal Symphony. Before we reached the ship, however, we stopped to take a ride on an aerial tramway that climbs high into the dense rainforest. Each car moved slowly through the forest's thick canopy as we looked for butterflies, monkeys, orchids and the other permanent residents of the tree tops.

As much as we enjoyed Costa Rica, it felt good to board the Crystal Symphony in Puerto Caldera. Cool, sleek and elegant, we could see that our lovely ship would be a marvelous home for the next several days.

After a relaxing day at sea on Friday, early Saturday morning we approached the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Even though several of us have made the transit through the Canal before, it's still an awesome experienced to watch the waters lift giant freighters high into the air above us - all by means of brilliant century-old technology and equipment. The weather was warm but not brutally hot or sultry - as it can be in equatorial Panama. By the time we left the last of the locks on the Caribbean side of the Canal that afternoon, each of us had enjoyed the experience.

Our ship transiting the Panama Canal	Jeanne and Bill Wasinger enjoy a laugh

We all gathered for cocktails yesterday evening then dined in one of our ship's alternative restaurants, Prego. As the name applies, the cuisine was Italian and very good.

Of course, yesterday was Super Sunday. We were delighted that the ship arranged for reception of the game. They set up screens in one of their showrooms, in the theater and in one of the smaller lounges to show the game. Since we were receiving the international version of the broadcast, there were no commercials! Disappointing. Rather when the commercials came on the screens were silent and showed pictures of the field. But the engaging game kept us going. Hope you enjoyed it as well.

We're a little spoiled and having a great time. Wish you were here!

All the best,

Paul and Christine Niskanen