Panama 17

 

Panama City

 

Off the ship then on to a bus

A tour of Panama City for us

A modern City mixed with the old

The tour guide told us about California gold

 

Panama’s a country all about transport

The canal, the train, the great sea port

From the Pacific Ocean to Caribbean Sea

Panama seems a good place to be

 

After the tour we did some shopping

But the ship’s deadline kept us hopping

Now back on the ship the seas are rough

Sleep tonight is going to be tough

 

No, it’s not going to be easy

Sis and I are both feeling queasy

When we have to get off our bunk

We wobble about as if we’re drunk

 

The plan tomorrow is San Jose

But all we can do now is pray

Panama 16

 

Excursion Tomorrow

 

Went through Panama Canal

Watched the process of the locks

Did a cooking class in the evening

Chopped potatoes and celery stalks

 

Tomorrow is coming fast

And then it will be today

Panama City and Colon

Then we’ll be on our way

Panama 15

 

Sailing day again

Painted orchids, walked, and ate

Canal tomorrow

Panama 14

 

Jamaica

 

Four very black people

wearing green and yellow

pounded on their drums

and danced,

welcoming our ship.

 

The hills were green,

the water blue.

 

I found the bus for our tour.

Once at Dunn River Falls,

we met our guides.

three friendly Jamaican guys

in their thirties or so.

 

We walked down many steps

to a lovely beach,

but we didn’t stay there long.

We started up the falls.

 

At first, I couldn’t imagine

walking up slippery rocks

in the rushing water.

 

We started up the falls.

The rocks were light brown,

probably sandstone.

Mostly we made our way

through ankle deep water,

but some places were waist deep.

 

I was glad for the water shoes Judy gave me.

I could feel where to put my feet.

We had to make a human chain

to help each other up.

Surprisingly, this method worked well.

Most of us would not have made it on our own.

 

It was quite a work out.

We’d look up and think that was the top,

but when we got there

we saw that there was more to go.

 

It was quite a project to get us all up there.

We all made it without major mishaps

and it felt good.

 

One man said, “We did well

for a bunch of geezers.”

Most of us were retirement age.

I can’t wait to get the pictures.

Panama 13

 

Second Day of Sailing

 

Water and sky, still.

But then saw a bird,

then land.

 

I took pics of sunset.

Also painted one.

Was supposed to be beach scene.

 

I turned mine Southwest

with a mesa, pine tree and lake.

 

I’m from Colorado,

what do you expect?

 

Panama 12

 

Cruisin’

 

I love being pampered on a ship.

I ate chocolate today, three times.

Yes, the diet I will have to skip.

I love being pampered on a ship,

Though when it moves we rock and tip.

We explored 9 decks, following signs.

I love being pampered on a ship.

I ate chocolate today, three times.

confusion, poetic asides Panama 11

 

Combatting Confusion

 

Mix lack of direction with eight-deck ship,

We wander from atrium to sun deck.

And with our room-number-memory slip,

Our schedule becomes a mess and a wreck.

Where we should be and when, we often check.

I missed an event because I forgot,

Have speaker and earbuds? No, I did not.

On our sailing day, there’s a long-time gap.

So we walk, play, view the ocean with thought,

Then we stay in our room and take a nap.