Picto Diary - 16, 17, 18 September - Bishop First Outing Off Ship Costa Rica
Above: Rambutan lady and TIMDT. Leon, Nicarauga. 17 September 2017.
Image by SpaGo.
SpaGo, Montage, and TIMDT went on a shore excursion to Nicaragua's second largest city, Leon.
The Regent Seven Seas Voyager docked at Nicaragua's principal Pacific Ocean port, Peurto Corinto.
Top of mind while here in Nicaragua are Iran Contra and a new canal.
Nicaragua Notes:
The Iran–Contra affair (Persian: ماجراي ایران-کنترا, Spanish: caso Irán-Contra), also referred to as Irangate,[1] Contragate[2] or the Iran–Contra scandal, was a political scandal in the United States that occurred during the second term of the Reagan Administration. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, which was the subject of an arms embargo.[3] They hoped, thereby, to fund the Contras in Nicaragua while at the same time negotiating the release of several U.S. hostages. Under the Boland Amendment, further funding of the Contras by the government had been prohibited by Congress.
The scandal began as an operation to free seven American hostages being held in Lebanon by Hezbollah, a paramilitary group with Iranian ties connected to the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. It was planned that Israel would ship weapons to Iran, and then the United States would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything in their power to achieve the release of the hostages.[4][5] Large modifications to the plan were devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council in late 1985, in which a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista, or Contras, in Nicaragua.[4] Wikipedia
The Nicaraguan Canal (Spanish: Canal de Nicaragua), formally the Nicaraguan Canal and Development Project (also referred to as the Nicaragua Grand Canal, or the Grand Interoceanic Canal) is a planned shipping route through Nicaragua to connect the Caribbean Sea (and therefore the Atlantic Ocean) with the Pacific Ocean. Its viability has been questioned by shipping experts and engineers.[1] "Major works" such as dredging will take place after the finishing of a Pacific Ocean wharf, whose construction was planned to start in late 2016.[1]
In June 2013, Nicaragua's National Assembly approved a bill to grant a 50-year concession to finance and manage the project to the private Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Company (HKND Group) headed by Wang Jing, a Chinese billionaire.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The concession can be extended for another 50 years once the waterway is operational.[8] Media reports have suggested the project would now be delayed or even possibly canceled because Wang's personal wealth declined greatly as a result of the 2015–16 Chinese stock market crash.[1][9] The Nicaraguan government has failed to present reliable information about whether or not the project can be financed, thus casting doubt over whether or not it can be completed.[10][11][12][13] The HKND Group says that financing will come from debt and equity sales and a potential initial public offering (IPO).[1] Wikipedia
Above: Bishop gazes at Regent Seven Seas Voyager. Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 18 September 2017.
Hat tip to TIMDT who suggested Bishop's first outing off the ship since leaving San Francisco over a week ago. TIMDT pushed the Bishop's wheel chair to this point and back to the ship.
Above: TIMDT, Bishop and Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 17 September 2017.
Above: Refueling Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 17 September 2017.
Above: Cone Projection of Hurricane Maria. 19 September 2017.
Regent Seven Seas Mariner exiting Panama Canal into Caribbean Sea tomorrow afternoon. First a one day stop at Cartagena, then head north in what looks to be the wake of the storm. No doubt our captain will keep us safe, even if it requires some unforeseen routing. But, pray for Puerto Rico, which does not have the luxury of mobility
Addendum:
Brings back memories. Phil and I took a similar trip on the Regent Mariner a couple yrs ago except we left Miami and ended up in LA and flew back. We also stopped in Guatemala (I am sure the same tour). Hope you are healing well and enjoying the cruise.
Bridge,
Palm Beach, FL
Are you going to get your blue ADA parking rear view mirror card? You could raise a few eyebrows in the ski slope parking lot with it.
Nathans,
Massapequa, NY
TIMDT got one for us. Seeing this oft abused practice in a new light. It helps.
Clock is ticking, so soon you should be kicking! Just over a month now since your get-off and subsequent leg bone patch (likened to an inner tube patch) and your bones should be knitting.
Your reportage on being in Antigua reminded me of my week-long stop there in 1997 on my way to the southern tip of South America on a well-worn 1981 R80G/S. I'd realized the limited Tex-Mex Spanish I had one my cranial hard drive was inadequate for smooth road adventures ahead, so spent the days during the week learning proper Spanish, nights being tutored by a local native on how to sniff out and survive nocturnal pursuits, the later best not described on a published forum such as this. Upon leaving Antigua I was well enough armed in Spanish and common sense to manage the rest of Latin and South America on my on, later described in my book RIDING SOUTH, and some in DOWN AND OUT..... 20 years later I suspect Antigua has morphed into a far different urban environment, one which can accommodate a busted leg Gringo hobbling around versus a well-beered Gringo stumbling around (but also suspect the rounded protruding cobblestones on some streets still remain an adventure on two good legs).
Soldier on. I look forward to our next meeting when we can walk, or stop while driving motorcycles, and talk about our "Whenwes," as in "When we" had our busted legs.
Regards,
Dr. G
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
Crow Agency, MT
Project Director - THE LOST MAN
Steve
Seeing the pictures of the streets of Guatemala reminds me of taking my son to Rome. Like Guatemala, the streets of Rome are often cobbled and moving a wheelchair over cobbles is a massive challenge both physically and due to all the ruts. Rome did teach me a new technique in dealing with rough streets and sidewalks. You pull the wheelchair backwards. The wheelchair and the occupant have the view of what is behind you while your arms are stretched back as you lean forward and pull the chair. The large back wheels that are fixed go over the cobbles and because you are going backwards the small front wheels are pulled over the cobbles and do not get caught in them.
The other advantage of helping someone in a wheelchair is that you get special access to the Vatican. You also see more of the Vatican than the normal visitor because you need elevators to get around inside. Most of the elevators are behind the barriers that contain the average tourist. I was helped by Vatican staff who would escort me to an elevator showing me the sights along the way. I also found within the Vatican, people including tourists were much more polite than normal. I guess they did have the "Fear of God".
That said, given the slight differences in size between you and Margaret, I understand why you were abandoned on ship in Guatemala. I am not sure whether cobbled streets or snow in a ski resort is tougher on the wheelchair dragger.
All the best for a very speedy and complete recovery.
The Pope,
Naples, FL
I spent a lot of time in Guatemala in the mid 80s. There was some serious crime then but as I learned recently from a man whose son is a mission president there it is now a disaster. Would like your views on what you heard regarding crime? Glad you are having fun as a handicapped person!
The Monk,
Salina, UT
Is there someplace in the world where you haven't spent a lot of time?